Sewing Fun!!!!

This is just one of those random fun things... I decided I was going to make a purse for Mini-Me! Well, it actually turned out pretty well. The only thing I am going to be changing is I will be adding a big fun button to the purse strap end. I will be letting her pick what buttons she wants :) My mom is being AWESOME and is letting me borrow her machine.... If any of my friends are curious about a really neat machine, the Brother XR1355 is SUPER easy. It doesn't even require the foot pedal! (Surprisingly enough... I like this. No extra cords around my legs!)

Anyway, here is the first purse I have made. Hopefully more will be made soon!!!  Mini-Me loves it!


With Love,
~Tabitha + Mini-Me

Amish Friendship Bread: Part One!

Woohoo! I am working on something called Amish Friendship Bread! I'm going to be doing some experimenting with bread recipes and the starters!

All of my recipes come from the Friendship Bread Kitchen. She has a HUGE collection of starter options and recipes to use your batter in!

I will be making four different starters and experimenting with them. Each one will have a starter in a plastic ziplock bag, as well as a one gallon glass jar. These are the four starters I will be doing.

1: Original Amish Friendship Bread Starter

2: Gluten Free Amish Friendship Bread Starter

3: Gluten + Casein Free Amish Friendship Bread Starter

4: Sugar Free Amish Friendship Bread Starter

I am asking my blog readers to participate in this little endeavor along with me! Please go to The Recipe Box and help choose some recipes for me! I will be setting up a little voting/survey type thing as soon as I figure out how to do it. I need two recipes for each starter. Please help me choose some. There are just so many!!! Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Have a great day!!!!!

With Love
~Tabitha + Mini-Me

I am so much more... And so are you :)

Last week I spoke with one of my lovely friends. She is one of my fellow birth mothers, and she was really having a bit of a rough week. She is only a few months post placement, and has been struggling with adoption consuming her life. I told her that I understand how all-consuming that BirthMother label can be. I challenged her to think about all of the things that make up who she is. Her hobbies, her interests, her background, her heritage... all of the little things that make her who she is. And she did an amazing job on her blog post. I told her that I would do the same... talk about all of the things that make me so much more than "Just" anything :)

I am not just a birthmom... I am also the mother to a precious little girl who is my entire world... every day she does something that makes me laugh or smile, even when I'm having the worst days.

I am not just a birthmom... I am a singer. I love music. I love to learn new songs, and love filling my heart with music.

I am not just a birthmom... I am an artsy craftsy chick. I like to sew, knit, and other random arts and crafts. I'm not particularly wonderful at any one of them, but I am fairly decent with many :)

I am not just a birthmom... I am a Christian. I love my Savior with all of my heart, and strive to walk in His footsteps every single day.

I am not just a birthmom... I am a proud truckers kid. My daddy has been a trucker my entire life, and has been a shining example to his children of what persistence and dedication look like. He has never given up on us, and has always done his best to provide for his family. My daddy taught me that no matter what, he will always love us, and is always there for us. He taught me that no matter what, never give up. Plus--How cool is it to have a dad who has traveled to every state in the continental US, hauled trucks for the circus, for monsters inc on ice, for cirque du soleil, and for ACDC!!!!!  Plus, there was that Christmas season where I got to ride in the truck with him, and we got stuck behind a Christmas parade... right behind Santa and we were in a big red truck!

I am not just a birthmom... I'm a daughter. I love my mom. She has always been there for me, and has always been ready with open arms and a hug. She taught me to be thrifty and crafty both... Even though sometimes those two are mutually exclusive.....

I am not just a birthmom... I'm a sister. I love my little brother. Ok. My younger brother. Kiddo isn't so little anymore.... Nope. He's a bike riding gamer that is completely idolized by Mini-Me! NO ONE is allowed to mess with my brother... except me of course :p

I am not just a birthmom... I'm a girl who is borderline obsessed with faeries. I love faeries. I collect them. I refuse to listen to anyone who tries to convince me that they do not exist! I do believe in magic! I do!

I am not just a birthmom... I'm a girl who loves being up a tree whenever she can be. I absolutely LOVE being up a tree. There is something so peaceful about it.... and Mini-Me is following in my footsteps... slowly but surely.

So I am not JUST a birthmom... I am so much more. And for all of you who get stuck in the "just a..." spot? Whether it has to do with work, parenting, being a birth mother, etc....  You are so much more than "JUST" anything. I love you all :)

~Tabitha