Landon's Toy Box

I found Landon's Toy Box that is owned and run by Holly through my handmade communities online.  Immediately I fell in love with the peg people that she makes and sells.  She even can custom make some of them to your liking with your color and hair style choice, eye color, and more depending on which peg person you are wanting.  She makes a train conductor and princesses that can be custom made that I saw and put on my Christmas list to get the kids since I have a train and princess lover. When I got the peg people I loved them and could not wait to give them to the kids.  The kids loved them and have been using them a lot in their creative play. Here are the kids with the peg people they got.

Now the peg people in action.

 The princess hanging out with other princesses!

Mr. Train Conductor keeping an eye on the trains!

Mr. Train Conductor checking on Toby!

Take a few minutes and go check out Landon's Toy Box. She is always coming up with new peg people to make. You can find her on Facebook at Landon's Toys Box, and her shop can be found on Storenvy here.

Storenvy Cyber Monday Sale

Looking to buy handmade this holiday for your gifts to family and friends? Yes, then you will want to check out this awesome Cyber Monday Sale! 50 Storenvy Shops will be having a 30% off everything sale.  Make sure to set some time aside to go handmade shopping online on December 2nd. My store Unique Creations by Tracy will be participating in this special sale! Lots of my other friends including Kiser Krafts, Violet's Buds, Lu & Ed, The Mollie Shop, Landon's Toy Box, and many more. Click the picture above to go to the main link with all the shops that are participating. #StorenvyFlash30

Hair Bow Holders

My daughter has a large collection of hair bows for her hair, which end up all over the house.  I have seen lots of ideas that I wanted to make that would hold her bows, but just never got around to making them until a few weeks ago.  At the end of the summer we took a family trip to Kansas City and while we were there we went to the Strawberry Swing Festival, so I could meet a couple of the ladies I have gotten to know online that are in the handmade business like me.  One of them was Melanie, from Violet's Buds, and she makes some of the cutest hair clips, which we have several of them.  When we went to her booth I loved how she had them all displayed on pictures frames.  After the festival Melanie wrote a blog post on her blog, Violet's Buds, on how to make them which you can find here.  I decided these are  the ones I have to make, so I gathered my supplies and made my own.  The one thing I did differently is I used scrap book paper instead of fabric. Here is a look at mine, and go check out Melanie's blog to see how to make your own.

A Simple Change by Judith Miller

 

A Simple Change by Judith Miller is the second book in her series Home to Amana.  I did not realize this was the second book in a series until I finished reading it, so you don't need to read the first to read this one. Jancey is living with her parents in Kansas City volunteering as a teacher in an orphanage.  Her parents decide to go back to the Amana colonies in Iowa where they originally met when Jancey's mother became ill. Jancey's parents leave the decision up to her if she wants to go with them or stay in Kansas City. She is torn about leaving the children she teaches and being with her mother for what time she has left on earth.  Jancey has been seeing Nathan, who works for her father, and he does not want her to go either but is it for love or for money.  Jancey decides to go with her parents.  There are lots of rules and changes Jancey has to adapt to at the Amana colonies.  Will Nathan woo Jancey back to Kansas City or will true love and a new way of living keep her in the Amana colonies?

Before reading this book I had never heard about the Amana colonies and am now interested in learning more about them. I read a lot of Amish books so reading about the lifestyle at the Amana colonies was very interesting, but I think fans of Amish fiction would enjoy this book too.  Now that I know this is the second book in a series I want to go back to read the first and then read the rest of the series.  Judith Miller is a new author to me, so I also want to look for other books she has written and check them out. I felt she did a great job describing the Amana colonies that I could actually picture it while reading the book. Several of the characters in the book that Jancey meets in the Amana colonies seem like wonderful people that I would love to be friends with and would to hear more of their stories of life growing up in Amana.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Handmade Week #27

I really enjoyed sharing with all of you the other week my favorites from the Happy Handmade Link Up at Daft Crafts, so I thought I would do it again. This week I picked favorites with my daughter in mind.

Up first is this beautiful Falling Leaves Flower Collage Hair Clip by Violet's Buds! We have several of her hair clips and love them!

 

Gabby the Glitter Pig by Just For Littles is another item that my daughter would love.  She loves piggy banks and a piggy bank with glitter would even be better.

Lastly, she would love this Twinkle Monster by Kiser Krafts. Twinkle Monster loves ballet and all things girly just like my daughter.

 

 Hope you take a few minutes and check out these awesome shops!

Lysol Power and Free -BzzAgent Review

 

I received Lysol Power and Free Multi-Purpose Spray and Toilet and Bathroom Wipes free from BzzAgent for a review.  When I am cleaning I want to know that what I am using is killing the germs and bacteria, but the harsh odor of bleach that is in most cleaning supplies makes me sick.  I am tired of having to ventilate my house, getting headaches, and worrying about my children when I use cleaning products with bleach.  I jumped at the chance to try the Lysol Power and Free products from BzzAgents.  The spray is so nice to use and you can see it bubble after you spray any surface.  Yesterday I used it to clean my messy stove top after cooking some eggs.  I was able to spray and use. There was a pleasant odor that was not over powering so I didn't have to open the kitchen windows on or turn the fan on the stove on. My husband came home and could not believe how clean the stove top was and asked what I did to it.  I told him that I used the Lysol Power and Free Multi-Purpose Spray and he said we are going to keep using this then.  The Wipes have come in handy in doing quick clean ups especially around the toilet since I have a 4 year old boy that does not have the best aim all the time.  I have even used the wipes to go around the house and clean light switch plates and doorknobs. Besides the ease of using these products I love that they do not have the harsh odor of bleach.  They actually smell pretty good, and are not overpowering. No more opening windows, wearing gloves and masks to clean, and keeping the kids away.

The Lysol Power and Free Products-

• Use hydrogen peroxide to release thousands of micro-bubbles that penetrate and dissolve tough stains
• Requires no gloves, masks or protective eyewear (you don’t even have to open the windows to clean!)
• Kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. When used as directed.

Photo Challenge Day 13-15

Day 13 - Corner

 

Day 14 - Tool

 

Day 15- Colorful

Photo Challenge Day 9 - 12

Day 9 - Favorite Room

 

Day 10 - Entertainment

 

Day 11- Where I Stand

 

Day 12 - Paper

 

Photo Challenge Day 5- 8

Day 5 - Clean

 

Day 6 - Black and White

Day 7 - Far Away

 

Day 8- Outdoors

Photo Challenge Day 3 & 4

Day 3 - Water

 

Day 4 - Technology

Happy Handmade Features

I have been periodically taking part in Happy Handmade at Daft Crafts blog.  This week I thought I would start sharing a few of my favorite items from the link up!

 Up first is this Superhero Doll from The Mollie Shop! I know quite a few boys that would love a superhero doll of their own.

 

Next up is this very cute Copious Kelly Bag from Zeeuh.  I love the bags she makes, and this one is just so colorful and perfect for any mom on the go!

 

These turquoise tear drop earrings from Mystigail Adornments are one of my favorite colors! I have to say I love all the jewelry that she makes!

 

 

I picked this next item for my son because he is a train fanatic. Landon's Toy Box is a store I have been just introduced to this week! She makes peg people for kids, and isn't this train conductor perfect for train lovers! 

 

 

Hope you take a few minutes and check out these awesome shops! Stay tuned next week for some more great handmade items.

August Photo Challenge

I am going to participate in the August Photo Challenge by The Idea Room Blog.

Day 1 - Hat

This is one of my favorite pictures of my kids.

Day 2- Family

This was our last family picture at my daughters junior kindergarten graduation.

Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer

Stealing the Preacher is the second book in the Archer book series by Karen Witemeyer.  It is is a historical christian fiction book, and my favorite of this genre now! Even though it is the second book in the series you do not need the first to read this one, but I do recommend it if you want to read it see this post.

Crockett Archer is on his way to interview for a position as a preacher.  On the way there the train he is riding on is held up and he is taken captive. The head of the gang that takes him hostage is a retired outlaw and he takes Crockett back to his home to his daughter whose birthday wish was for a minister. When Crockett finally is able to leave to go see if the position is available his mind keeps going back to Joanna Robbins, the outlaws daughter, that has been praying for a preacher to fill the position in her area and hopefully lead her dad to God. Even though Crockett feels he is being lead to lead the people in the town he was to interview, God has other plans for him to become the preacher for Joanna's church.  There is a spark between Joanna and Crockett will it lead to more, will Crockett be able to lead Silas, Joanna's dad to God? If you want to know then you will just have to read this book because I don't want to spoil the ending.

There is some humor, romance, religion, and some dark situations in this book which made me laugh and cry. I love romance in Christian books because it is not over done and smutty. Religion wise it has a lot more then most Christian fiction because the story is based around a preacher. It was really nice to get to know Crockett more in this book because there wasn't much to him in the first story. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books that will be in this series and getting to know the rest of the Archer men too.

I received a free copy from Bethany Publishing Company for an honest review.

Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould

Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould is the second book in The Courtships of Lancaster County.  This book can be read without reading the first book in the series.  Addie is the only daughter in the Cramer family.  She has always had to be responsible for so much because her mother can't handle doing many of the daily chores of an Amish family.While her brothers are aloud to do whatever during their rumspringa period, Addie's parents expect her to be good and do everything they ask of her. Her parents have even picked out who they want her to marry which is the bishops son.  Addie is not sure that she has feelings for him, and doubts it more when the Mosier family moves back and she meets Jonathon.  The Cramer and Mosier families have had a falling out in the past and they still do not get along. Addie and Jonathon try to figure out what the caused the families to have dislike each other so they could fix it.  When Addie's parents find out she has been seeing Jonathon they get upset and do everything they can to stop the relationship. Will she follow what her parents want her to do or will she stand up for herself and go after the one she truly loves?

I really enjoyed this book! It was interesting to see that Amish families don't always get along with other families like families outside of the Amish.  From everything I have read it seems like they are such a tight community that things like this would not happen, but again they are human so it can happen to everyone.  Addie was such a wonderful character, and I loved how she stood up for what she believed even though her parents tried to put a stop to it several times.  I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series that Leslie Gould writes. 
I received this book free from Bethany House Publishing Company for my honest review.

Check It Out

My shop is the featured shop of the week over at Violet's Buds! Go check it out to learn a bit more about me and my shop! There is also a giveaway going on for one of my owl pillows that I am sure you will want to enter!

Also, I was a sponsor shout out on Not Done Growing at the beginning of the month!

Lastly, I did a recipe review over at Simply Homemaking at the end of May!

Swept Away by Mary Connealy

Swept Away is the first book of Mary Connealy's that I have read. It is also the first book in the series Trouble in Texas.

About the Story -
Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't all that upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. She prayed for a chance to get away, and then came the raging flood. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.

Luke is heading home to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men who killed his father are working hard to ensure Luke doesn't make it alive. He has no choice but to keep moving. Still, he can't just abandon Ruthy, so she'll have to come along.

His friends--a ragtag group of former Civil War soldiers--take a fast interest in the pretty gal. Luke thinks that's rather rude--he's the one who found her. And the more time he spends around the hard-working young woman who is a mighty good cook, the more he finds himself thinking beyond revenge and toward a different future. For the first time in a long time, Luke is tempted to turn from his destructive path and be swept away by love.

My thoughts -
At the beginning of the story I had a really hard time getting into the book, but as it went on the harder it was for me to put down the book. The very end was the best with all the action in regaining the ranch. I love history so I enjoyed the back story of how Luke and all his friends met when they were prisoner's in Andersonville Confederate Prison. They all then moved to help him regain his ranch that was stolen. I hope to get to know them better in the future books of this series. Ruthy was a wonderful character that had been through a lot and I loved seeing her get right in the action of it all.  If you enjoy western or historical fiction and romance then you will enjoy this book.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for an honest review.

The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

From the back cover:

When Jodi Winfield comes to Lancaster to house-sit, the last thing she expects to find is a disheveled little girl alone on the side of the road.  The young teacher is mystified when she learns there have been no reports of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since can't speak English.  It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere.
Then Jodi turns her attention to Hickory Hollow --and the cloistered world of the Old Order Amish -- in search of answers.

My review:

I am a big fan of Beverly Lewis and her books about the Amish.  The Guardian was another one of her great books!  I can picture myself being in the story with the characters in this book.  Jodi, who is not Amish, comes into the lives of Amish by an unfortunate accident where an Amish child fell out of a wagon.  Jodi is still dealing with the death of her sister and having a hard time still believing in God, and doesn't want to have children with her fiance once they get married even though he wants to when she goes to house sit for her cousin. Jodi finds the lost little girl which leads her to the Amish world. The Amish world just might hold the answers she needs to move on with her life.  Jodi is not the only one looking for answers and how to move on after death of loved ones. Maryanna, the mother of the child that fell out of the wagon, and Joshua the neighbor of Maryanna are both dealing with their own issues after losing loved ones. I loved how it ended even though it would be considered predictable.  I am just one of those that love a happy ending.  Look forward to reading many more of Beverly Lewis's books!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for a honest review.

Summer

Where has the time gone? I can't believe that in two weeks my kids will be out of preschool and we will start enjoying the summer.  This summer comes with a lot of mixed emotions for me.  My daughter is graduating from junior kindergarten and after summer will be starting kindergarten.  She is so excited about this, while I am struggling with it.  At times it feels like it was just yesterday that I had her, and now I am going to have to let her out into this big world.  My son will still be with me for another year while attending junior kindergarten four days a week for three hours each day.  I know it will be a big adjustment for him too.  He does not know what to do if his sister is not around.  Normally we always take a family vacation over the summer but we won't be able to this year since we went to Disney World earlier this year.  Since, we won't be going any where I want to make this an extra special summer.  I am all ready working up a list of fun activities to do this summer, and will make sure to share lots of them with all of you. 


Do you have any fun plans for this summer?

It's My Birthday and More!

 
Today is my birthday! We had a fun day planned, but the lovely never ending rain in our area prevented the fun from happening.  Ended up spending the day relaxing, crocheting, reading a book, and playing around on the computer.  One day it might stop raining and finally warm up so we can enjoy the great outdoors.  Tomorrow will be my 1 year anniversary opening up my store, Unique Creations by Tracy, on Storenvy! Can't believe it has been a year!  Thanks to all the have supported me through this journey! Look forward to seeing what year 2 will bring me. If you haven't seen all ready to celebrate today and tomorrow I am having a 30% off sale in my store.  Just use code 1STANNIV to get the discount which is good on all items in stock and custom orders. 

Interchangeable Headbands

My 5 year old daughter loves to wear headbands and bows in her hair.  I thought it would be nice to make one headband that she could switch out the colors of flowers to match her outfits.  When she saw what I was making she couldn't wait to wear them, that she wore one today to school. Here are some pictures I took today of her and the headband with flowers. I am not sure how many flowers I will put with each headband to sell at this time.

These will be available in the shop soon in sizes newborn through adult! How many flowers do you think I should sell with each headband?

Winner!

The winner has been decided in the owl pillow giveaway! Check the giveaway post to see if you were the winner.  If you did not win keep your eyes open because I will be having a big sale next week to celebrate my birthday and anniversary of the shop!

The Color of Hope by Kim Cash Tate

The Color of Hope picks up where Hope Springs (you can find review here) left off. I fell in love with Hope Springs and was so happy when Booksneeze asked me to review this one.  I received this book free from Booksneeze for an honest review.  Kim deals with real life issues in her books which I love. In this book she deals with racial issues, romance and bullying.  I love that she does not take sides when dealing with the racial issues.  She really lets you get to know these characters and you feel like they are family or friends that you are cheering along with, laughing with, or crying with them. The people of Hope Springs are dealing with a divided community over racial issues. It is unfortunate what happens to bring this community together, and it left me in tears. I highly recommend reading this book! You do not need to read Hope Springs before this book unless you are really interested in getting to know the families better, but I recommend it too. I look forward to reading many more books by Kim Cash Tate.

The Poll Results .....

The results of my poll on which animal to crochet are in, and there was a tie! Elephant and monkey tied, so tomorrow I will have a post up on my facebook page to break the tie! If you would like to see the results you can go here!  Thanks for voting!

1 Year Giveaway

Well, it is finally time for my 1 year giveaway! I will be giving away one of my most popular items which is the ..............owl pillow! I make these owls in mini, small, medium, and large size! The winner of the giveaway will get a large owl and choose what color they would like their owl to be made in. Here are a few pictures of some of the owls I have made! Giveaway runs from 4/10/13 at 12:00 a.m. to 4/17/13 at 12 a.m.

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