VHS Heaven

When I was on the hunt for picture frames and tea sets at charity shops this week, I came across more than one place that was getting rid of all of their VHS tapes. Are we the last people on earth with a VHS player? I think so! View the rest of our extensive charity shop VHS collection here and here.

One shop was selling the last minute ones for 25 pence each. The other was binning them in big mail bags and begging people to take what they could grab for 10 pence each. After spending just five pounds, I came home with two picture frames, no tea sets, and 14 VHS tapes - including Sister Act and Sister Act 2 on one tape. His eye was most def on this sparrow. Yesss... 

Since Nathan was into drugs instead of Disney as a youth, I'm looking forward to being with him the first time he sees Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Mary Poppins, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Here's to 3,475 more minutes in VHS heaven!

What was your favorite movie on VHS?

Feeling Like Home

Today I put pictures on the wall for the first time since we moved to England. Can you believe that? 

Well, in the North Barn, we weren't allowed to put holes in the 13th century stone walls (understandable). In this house, I've just been busy working and whatnot, and I didn't really have any pictures to put up other than the five we brought with us from America. 

So, this half-term holiday I've ponied up and taken the week to get myself sorted. I printed photos at Boots, bought some picture frames at some charity shops, Tesco, and T.K. Maxx (T.J. Maxx's British cousin), enlisted Pamela's artistic eye and Nathan's brawn with the hammer, and got 'er done.

My efforts were almost thwarted when I realized that I left our Sampley family Christmas picture on a shelf at T.K. Maxx yesterday. Thankfully someone turned it in and I reclaimed it today. I proved myself to be the photo's rightful owner by actually being in the picture.

Pamela and I put them on the floor and swapped them round and round before committing to putting holes in the wall.

Here they are! There's an empty frame on the top right, I realize. I'm going to put a picture of my handsome husband in it. This one:

It's the only one of him by himself without his mouth open. :)

Here's my nieces section. Lorie took these pictures. Here are some more. She always gets a gem or 50.

My sister's fam (by Lorie), a photograph that reminds me of the almond orchards back home (from Etsy), and a picture of MAD's 130th birthday party (thanks Bobbi Jo).

My sweet mom and dad (another gem by Lorie), Nathan and me at my school (with the cathedral in the background), and the almost-escaped Sampley Christmas card picture.

The sailboat picture I bought from a street painter in Romania. I actually bought two similar ones. Then, I got them framed, wrapped them up, and gave them both to Kristi (my college roommate and famous chocolate chip cookie baker) for her 21st birthday. I told her she could keep the one she liked best and I would keep the other so we could have a little reminder of each other in our homes forever. Joel took our wedding pictures, which you can still see online here. I still feel like a movie star when I look at them.

And looky here! It's Nathan's Christmas gift, the painting of the North Barn. Watch him opening it here.

I love our new homey room. Next stop, curtains!

Doing any home improvements this month, readers?

Let Them Eat Cake!

This week I've been on a fantabulous half-term break, and I've been loving every minute of it! In addition to going to a lot of the Exchanged talks (worth a thousand listens!), I've been baking cakes. I thought of myself as kind of a one trick pony when it came to desserts (can you say, I've probably eaten my weight in chocolate chip cookies since moving to England?), but these turned out pretty nicely.

First up, a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting for Valentine's Day.

I didn't want to spend money on cocoa powder when the recipe called only for 1/2 a cup, so I used two packets of hot chocolate mix from my MIL. Totally something she would do!

Happy Valentine's Day Sam and Jen!

Next, a lemon poppyseed cake for my Focus group (university girls' Bible study) yesterday. This was my fave.

It was light and fluffy, probably due to the five egg whites it called for. I've never separated eggs whites before. I'm fancy.

Giant bright green Ikea knife? Check!

I found these two recipes on Pinterest. You can follow my food board here, or get the recipe for red velvet cake directly from here and lemon poppyseed cake here.

Happy half-term everyone!

Love Mug

Nathan and I walked into town yesterday, where he read a paper for a... paper reading thing. He got dressed in his camel hair blazer, it's maiden voyage. I didn't pack it to take to England, and he was really, really bummed about it, so we rescued it from our attic in Atlanta when we were home over Christmas. Mary Lou gave it to him last Christmas, and he likes it because he says he looks like Ken Culpepper. He wanted me to take his picture, but his fancy shoes were in my backpack for the walk, and he was wearing some sportier ones. 

"Just cover my feet with your hands," he said.

Here he is!

For Valentine's Day, we and Dave Ramsey agreed not to get each other anything. Nathan does not have the gazelle-like intensity that Dave and I have, but I wasn't that sad that he gave me a sweet card, to be honest.

He made me breakfast in bed. He is saying "I love you" to the oatmeal, eggs, and fruit, but it looks like he's about to sling some Spiderman webbing.

And he gave me a new mug, which he bought for only one pound at Tesco while I was sleeping this very morning. I love his face in the mirror. :)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Read my generic thoughts about this very bittersweet holiday here, see what I got last year here, and a very cool Valentine's cake here.

I made a red velvet cake from scratch to take to some friends' house for dessert. I'll let you know how it turns out... :) What are your plans to celebrate love today?

And happy birthday to my dear friend, Beverly.

The Best Apology Note from a Student - Ever

Dear Mrs. Parker,


I am sure you know what this letter is about. However, I would like to apologise for my part in the disappointing behaviour at *fill-in-the-place*. This should have been a pleasant evening, sharing a meal and good company. Instead we have let ourselves and the house down with our inappropriate actions.


Having had time to think about this, I appreciate the effort and gestures which went into planning such a treat and am aware of the consequences and implications for which we are responsible. I know we must have spoilt your night and wasted your free time, so again, I am very sorry.


Best wishes,
*a lovely, articulate 13 year-old English girl, author of the best apology note I have ever received in my teaching career* 

First Winter Snow

I was beginning to think that last year's snowfall (if you follow the link, the pictures are at the end of the post... after my ranting) was a completely freak incident. So far the winter has been really mild. No snow, a few heavy frosts, but nothing major. The grey-ness and darkness has been a bit depressing, but it could be a lot worse. I've seen temperatures in the 60s and 70s in Atlanta and California, and I was wondering if winter now may be an every-other-year kind of thing.

I was actually excited to get some snow on Saturday afternoon. After brunch, I took our Saturday school kids to the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery. We walked there from school. I made them wear their uniforms. I'm evil. But I let them wear overcoats! 

Anyway, after our experience there, we were walking back when it started snowing lightly. It was the first snow for at least five of the kids - two from the Maldives, two from Taiwan, and one from Hong Kong - which was fun to watch. They kept walking with their mouths wide open and saying, "So cold!"

This morning before church we took a few snapshots in front of the house. In case you were wondering, there's peanut butter on toast on the paper towel (or kitchen roll for you UK readers).

I slipped and slid down Gilesgate Bank on the way to church due to poor footwear choices. But they are my favorite boots, my mom's vintage Bass boots! Good thing I had Nathan to hold on to. I was sweating almost immediately, not from the vigorous walk, but rather from the mini-heart attacks I had every 10 seconds I thought I was going to fall down and break my neck. Next time I'll be smarter about that.

What's the weather like where you are?

Happy Birthday Winnie and Al Pal

Today's a special day for some dear, dear girls. Happy 1st birthday to my sweet Winnie Paige, and Happy 31st to Allison. Love and miss you both bunches...

My sis and Winnie

An incredibly flattering pose of the both of us