Hello!

Hello! I have missed you all! Our summer was rich and full of fun things and I did not spend much time on the computer. Just after school started back, I went to San Francisco with my hubby. So things are just getting settled around here:)

San Francisco

So here is our summer in a nutshell.
Travel:
Spartanburg, SC for a couple of weeks to visit my family. My nephews were there too!:)
The kids and I went to Isle of Palms for a week in August.
My hubby and I went to Charleston for a quick getaway. The Killer's concert at Daniel Island was awesome!
San Francisco for a week. My husband went out for a conference and I tagged along.

The Ups:
Celebrated my daughter's birthday with a Ben and Jerry's birthday party!
Went to the White Water Rafting Center right before school started.
Celebrated our son's birthday at Carowinds.
Saw my cousin who lives in Seattle when we were in SC.
My parents took me to the mountains for my birthday. We shopped, had a great lunch on the porch at The Wrinkled Egg, and enjoyed ice cream at Piggys.
Went to boy scout camp for parent night. Always so nice for a mom to see that her son is enjoying every moment and not getting sunburned:)
Celebrated our 18th Anniversary.
Spent lots of time with my sister and my nephews.
My children went to Washington DC for a week with my sister.
Playing racketball with my family...finally found a sport we all love!
Going to the Farmer's Market.
Meeting the author, Mary Alice Monroe.
Spending time with college buddies and their children.
Went tubing with friends in Todd, NC.
Robin Mark came to our church for a mini concert!
Bowling with our youth group...love those kids!
Time with dear friends.

The Downs:
My son was sick on Little Polka Dot's birthday. His fever was high and lasted several days. This resulted in blood work and some tests at the hospital. It was a long scary week and fortunately everything turned out okay.
I got a little cranky at Isle of Palms. Me in a condo for a week with lots of people...even people I dearly love, is just not a good setting. So I had a good cry and a little flip out moment in front of my mom and then everything was better.

Music I loved this summer:
The Killer's Miss Atomic Bomb.
Avicii's Wake Me Up
Ryan Scarborough's album, Working to Build.

YouTube favorites:
Kid President's-- A pep talk from Kid President to You
Already Falling--- a beautiful dance from the Academy of Dance Arts.

So now, it's your turn! What have you been doing lately? I would love to know. I hope you all are doing well and I look forward to catching up with you!

xoxo,
Elizabeth

Homemade Peach Pie Recipe

 

 

What do you do with half a bushel of fresh South Carolina peaches? In our home, my children eat them like you eat an apple... fuzz and all! And I peel and slice the juicy fruit to have with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And sometimes... we make peach pie:)

This is the way my mom taught me to make homemade peach pie. And her mom taught her... and on and on and on. I can vividly remember making pie at our kitchen table. My mom slicing peaches while I used a fork to mix the crust until it was just crumbly enough. She always let me taste a bite of the crust before we sprinkled it over the pie. This is one of those recipes I just whip together by memory.

Homemade Peach Pie
8-10 fresh peaches
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. flour
1/2 stick butter (4 Tbsp.) , softened
dash of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Rub a pat of butter over the bottom and sides of a shallow pie plate to make it non-stick.

Peel peaches and then slice them into the pie plate. I use as many peaches as it takes to fill the pie plate to the top. Usually 8-10.

In a medium bowl mix sugar, flour, and softened butter with a fork. I cradle the bowl in one arm and use the other hand to press the mixture against the side of the bowl with a fork. This mixture will eventually get very crumbly. Continue mixing until you do not see any big lumps of butter.

Pour the flour mixture over the peaches. Use a fork to gently spread the mixture over the top of the pie. Do not press down too much... you want the crust to be light and crumbly.

Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon over the flour mixture. And you can add a few very small slivers of butter to the top of the pie if you would like too.

Bake the pie on the center rack at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes. (I always put it on top of a cookie sheet in case it runs over.) At first, it does not change much, but after the pie has been in the oven a while, the juice starts to flow out of the peaches and you will see it start to bubble around the edges. I like to continue cooking until the crust is golden.  Let the pie cool down for a bit (at least 10 minutes) before serving.

This pie will make your family happy and your home smell heavenly!
I hope you enjoy!
Please let me know if you have any questions about the recipe. I will be happy to reply.

xoxo Elizabeth

Chores: A Summertime Routine that Works for Us!

Summertime!
Like most moms, I am thrilled to step away from the school and after-school activity rush for a while! This is our first week out of school and I am establishing a routine that seems to be working for our family. (My son is 12 and my daughter is 9.)
I want us to have lots of fun this summer. I also want my children to help around the house and understand the importance of contributing to our family.

Our basic schedule... and you all who know me well know this is not set in stone. :)

We do chores in the morning. The children's chores do not take much time. My chores take longer and I also try to pack Etsy orders and check email. (The kids usually have screentime, play LEGOS, swing in the backyard while I am finishing my chores. Whatever they want to do is fine.)

After lunch, we go do something fun!
A trip to the pool.
Go to the LEGO store... my children are good savers and they use their own money for toys.
Play board games.
Go to the library.
Visit the bakery:)

I love this routine... work in the morning and play in the afternoon!

Daily Chores.
They do not get paid for these.

Everyday
Make Beds
5 Minute Around the House Pick-up. (Check every room and pick up your things. Put them where they belong.)

Monday
Clean Rooms

Tuesday
Empty Trash - Kitchen/Kid's Bath (They alternate each week. If my son empties the kitchen trash this week, my daughter empties the trash can in the kid's bathroom.  Next week, they switch.)

Wednesday
Clean Bathroom - Guest Bath/Kid's Bath (They alternate each week. Cleaning the bathrooms took some serious training last summer. And a refresher course this year. )

Thursday
Empty Laundry Baskets. (I just have them dump their laundry baskets in the laundry room.)

Friday
Vacuum Your Room. (New this year. I need to teach them how to use the vacuum cleaner.)


Extra Chores
If they want to do these, they earn a little money. I keep a running list on the pantry door of extra chores I think of during the week.  After they have completed the chore, they write their name next to it so I can remember how much I owe them at the end of the week.

Examples of Extra Chores
.25 Sweep Front Porch and Walk   ______
.75 Sweep Back Porches and Stairs  ______
.05 Take Kitchen Laundry up to Laundry Room ______
.25 Wash and Dry a Load of Laundry ______
.25 Fold and Put Away a Load of Laundry ______
.10 Brush Buddy's Teeth ______ (maybe I should pay more for brushing the dog's teeth...)
.25 Water Flowers--early morning only so the sun does not scorch the leaves. ______
.25 Sort Socks in Random Sock Basket

I really like this system because it gives them a chance to earn extra money and it saves me from all those extra things that always need to be done!

Allowance
We give our children allowance each week. $3. This is not based on chores, behavior, or grades. My husband and I started doing this when they were very little. I like this system because they have learned that they can save their allowance and use it for whatever they want to buy. When we are out at a store and they see a toy/doll/video game they would like to get, they don't beg for it. They spend their money if they have it, or they save up to buy it themselves.


I would love to know how you all handle chores and allowance. What works for you? I think you just have to find a plan that works for your family. There are no right or wrong answers. For us, we don't worry too much about kid's chores during the school year. They are so busy with school, homework, and activities that trying to add chores into the mix creates alot of stress.

Questions? Comments? I can't wait to hear from you!
xoxo Elizabeth

p.s. I am closing Polka Dot Skies Saturday to enjoy time with family and friends! If you need anything today or tomorrow, use coupon code HAPPY25 to get 25% off your order! I will ship orders on Monday.

A Summertime Collaboration!

What do you get when you combine charming doll bedding and fun accessories?

 Happiness!

 My sweet friend, Kelsey, and I have created matching quilts and accessories! Perfect for girls who love their dolls! 
  
  You can find these precious doll quilts along with sheets and ruffle bed skirts in Kelsey's shop, Quietude Quilts . Kelsey is offering a special coupon for 15% off "everything but beds". Just use code POLKADOT when you place your order at Quietude Quilts. (expires July 16th,2011)

   Ponytail buttons are available in my shop, Polka Dot Skies . I have a coupon code for you to use in my shop. QQUILTS  for 15% off your order! (also expires July 16th,2011)


A big Thank You to our lovely model! Isn't she just adorable?

Catching Summer

The days are getting shorter. School begins soon. Fall catalogs are arriving with oh-so-cute cozy clothes. Boy Scout camping trips are being planned.


I'm not ready to let summer go.


I just need another dewy morning picking blueberries...
Some quiet minutes searching for the perfect books at our library...
Another snack time in the front yard shade eating cold popsicles...
A few more sunny trips to the pool...
One more week digging in the sand...
Another chance to watch my children climb their favorite tree...
More time playing Legos and imagining castles, aliens, and aircrafts...
And one more evening falling asleep in the mountains with the windows open.

How about you? What are you doing to catch the last few moments of summer? I would love to know!

July

July is...

fruity popsicles on the front porch steps
reading with my children during afternoon thunderstorms
building dripdrop sandcastles at Isle of Palms
relaxing evenings in the pool
baskets of South Carolina peaches
quiet time at the library
finding the perfect spot to watch the fireworks
late suppers of fresh corn, juicy tomatoes, and cold slices of watermelon
and one entire month free from school.

Why are you fond of July? I'd love to know!