It was my pleasure to spend some time in this book earlier this week learning how to compost, use vinegar to remove water rings from my coffee table, and properly pack a suitcase. Erin Bried's new book, How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew, shares practical tips and tricks for simplifying life by learning to do it yourself. She's compiled 108 lessons ranging from how to make a week's menu to winning a silly argument into ten categories for easy reference. I guarantee you'll learn a few things.
Erin got to know ten women who lived through the Great Depression and listened to their stories about how it shaped their lives and habits. Their lessons on home remedies and cutting costs are just as relevant now as most people are having to make changes in their spending habits. Included are short bios of each of the grandmothers and direct quotes from their interviews that make me want to sit down with my Grandmother and Meemaw and hear more of their own stories of growing up on a farm and living through WWII as young adults.
How to Sew a Button would be the perfect gift for anyone who may still need a lesson or two in domesticity (don't we all), so I'm offering my copy to one lucky reader who leaves a comment in this post sharing something helpful they've learned from their mother/grandmother/great-grandmother. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only due to shipping costs (sorry internationals) but we'd still love to hear your stories. Giveaway is open until Friday at midnight and a winner will be announced on Saturday.
Thanks, as always, for reading!
xoxo,
Rachel
178 comments:
This looks like an awesome book! My mom taught me how to can tomatoes and my dad taught me how to sew. I still use both skills today :)
My mom taught me how to make a perfect pot of chicken chili in the crock pot. :)
My mama taught me how to throw together a meal using whatever is in the house. It never ceases to astound my husband how I don't always need a recipe!
What a great book! My mom has taught me so much, but one of the crafty things I'll always remember is how to how to make beautiful Christmas cards. Every year we watch White Christmas and make bunches of them. =]
oh this book looks beyond lovely!
My Mom has taught me so many different domestic ways, folding a fitted sheet & towel properly have definitely stuck with me! & my Dad being a carpenter taught me at a young age the power of tools!
Thank you!
~Emily
My wise and great mommy taught me to cook..so now my hubby apreciates our meals especially how i add a spanish twist every chance I can get! =)
My mom taught me how to crochet when I was very young (six or seven) and it's been something that has stayed with me my whole 21 years of life. I am ever so grateful for her showing me how to wind the yarn around my fingers, and pulling that hook through the correct hole.
-Chelseabird
creativechelsea@yahoo.com
My grandma taught me when I was little how to catch a mouse if it's eating the candy in your living room. I don't have any mice yet, but I hope one day I'll be able to lure one in! :D
The summer before last, I decided to take several 3day-weekend trips to visit my grandparents. I would call my grandmother in advance and plan the menu for the whole time I was there. As soon as I would arrive she would be ready and I photographed her cooking away in her old 1950's kitchen. I made sure to also photograph the recipes and my cute little grandpa coming in all dirty and ready for lunch. That was their last year on the farm. I am so thankful for the time I spent with them there. I plan to make a little "grandma's cooking" book someday.
I know i can't really enter due to being here in Canada, but still wanted to say great giveaway AND
my mom taught me that even if you don't know how to do something the best, or you don't have the right supplies, you can always make it work for you and do it your own way.
ummm, HELLO! Gussy would like a copy of this :)
Everything you post on here is so unique and lovely! My mom taught me how to make jelly from fresh fruit. So much tastier than store bought!
My mom taught me how to clean... the RIGHT way ;) Even into my teens she was there to show the nooks and crannies I'd missed, or how to clean something the best way possible. I wasn't really grateful then, but I am now!
The most treasured thing my Grandma has taught me is unconditional love. Love for your family and particularly the man in your life. My Grandma has lived through so much, held her head high and stood by her family the whole way.
My Grandma is Superwoman all the way and I love her! xoxo
My grandmother taught me many things, she was the ultimate crafter and online shopper. I definitely inherited that from her. It's funny my sister and I were just talking the other day and my grandma knew how to do things 100 times better than our mother and our mother knows how to do things 100 times better than us! I miss my grandma everyday, I'm so thankful that i got to know her. I'm also very thankful for my mom who made me do 4-H, i hated it then but i love that i know how to do things now!
This book seems perfect! My grandmother taught me not only how to make bread and cook, but to be polite and have manners. Somehow this has stuck with me throughout my life.
i'll have to count my psuedo mother in law. she's taught me how to cook. she invests every tuesday to give me lessons. i feel like this has really empowered me and made me a more confidant partner, mother, and woman.
My mamma taught me how to combine flavors when cooking. Now I can make great dinners without having a recipe nearby. And usually the concotions I make taste better than when I follow a recipe, thanks to her.
My grandma has taught me how to be generous with food & hospitality because that's how she is & almost overly, she can't help herself. My mom taught me how to sew, she is a seamstress.
My grandmother has always been very prim and proper. She had rules such as no soda cans or elbows on the table, and tried to teach me where the utensils go in a proper place setting ( I still always get it wrong). Sadly there were miles of distance between us, and while I have many great memories there were no real lessons. Except just one, it is very hard to be prim and proper if you sneeze while eating coleslaw, and if you do the only thing to say when it shoots out your nose is "excuse me" while wiping the table and making it very obvious it should never be mentioned again.
oh my goodness, this book! i was/am very close to my grandmothers, and even had the opportunity to have a relationship with my great-grandmother. they taught me to sew, how to be a good wife, cooking secrets, and are solely responsible for my love for vintage!
I am blessed to have 2 Moms, a step-mom and a birth mother.. Whom I love and have a relationship with.. They have taught me the importance of being encouraging to others,they both have been in their way..
Nana taught me how to suck up the spiders with the correct attachment for the vacuum cleaner. Go Nana!
My mother taught me to always leave houses cleaner than how I found them (I babysat for years as a young teen), to make something with garlic to whet your guests' appetites, that taking a half an hour to yourself will often increase your productivity, how to stretch meals when times / budgets were tight (oh, tomatoes, how well you serve us!), how to make a night in seem more exciting than a night out, and that smuggling in a bag of popcorn will save you $6 at the movies.
oh my gosh...this book sounds amazing!
my mom taught me how to love people and invest in relationships which i appreciate and i wouldn't change a thing. sadly...i did not learn domestic skills from her. i've picked up some along the way, but i'd love to learn more!
my Grandma taught me how to cook yummy, simple, healthy food!
that book looks like so much fun :]
This looks awesome. I don't really have a pleasant story to tell about stuff I learned from older women in my family. My parent split when I was one and a half and I was raised by my single Dad and my two older sisters. We weren't close to any family, so I never knew my grandma's. Now that I am older and married my husbands mother and sisters inspire me a lot and have taught me some pretty sweet thing I will cherish such as, how to make the perfect apple pie.
If I don't win I think I will have to buy this book! Thanks.
that books looks fantastic! my grandmother taught me how to fold a fitted sheet.
My mom taught me how to thread a bobbin, break up with a boy, and nurse a hangover...but not necessarily at the same time.
Samantha B Simmons :)
my great-grandmother taught in a one-room school house when she first started teaching. When I was four, she taught me to read. Pretty useful, that
My mother taught me how to sew when I was around eight years old,she would give me lots of scraps and let me make doll clothes...they were really something, but she always told me they were beautiful because I made them with my own hands. My momma is 78 years old now and she still teaches me how to make things and we spend time together every chance we can and make wonderful things.
My mom taught me how to sew and to have the "I can make that" attitude.
oh that book looks delightful! cant wait to read it and put it to good use!!! my grandma taught me so much but i think the greatest lesson i learned from her is that laughter really is the best medicine!!!
My grandmother taught me the importance of hand-written cards, sent by post. There is nothing like a letter in the mailbox to perk your spirits after a tiring day.
My beautiful mom has shown me that you can still be a wonderful mother, wife, daughter, and sister through the tough circumstances the life puts you in... even if you can't sew or iron properly (which is why we need this book!) :)
that book is lovely!
My grandma taught me how to embroider when I was 5 or so. She also taught us (her grandchildren) how to clean properly. She has a huge house and we'd always miss corners when sweeping and mopping. She taught us how to can fruit and wash clothes by hand and also how to fold hospital corners.
This looks like a great book! My grandma taught me to sew and I still try to work on something every day. My mom is currently teaching me to knit, and I hope to learn to crochet from a dear friend. I remember my great grandma crocheting when I was a kid (still have everything she made for me!), but I was too little to learn (or want to learn). Thanks so much for sharing something from your library!
Mom taught me -- by example -- about selflessness and the importance of being a hard worker.
both my parents taught me all sorts of seemingly old-fashioned things, from sewing and using tools to folding napkins and canning.
out of everything my mom taught me, the most helpful has been not to air my dirty laundry. if you tell your friends the details of a bad argument with your husband or kids when you're still upset about it, then later, even when you're over it, those people will still remember those details and it will taint their opinion of your family. not to mention it doesn't do your relationships any good either.
my grandmother taught me how to sew and no matter how much money you have you can always make things pretty!
Great give away!
My grandmother tried to teach me that children should be seen and not heard...yeah, that didn't work! Lol. :)
Both my grandmother's lived in Europe, so I hardly saw them. My mother's mother lived on a small rural house and there I learned that fresh eggs from your chickens taste the best!
Loving reading books like those! A must on my wishlist: )
Both my grandmother's lived in Europe, so I hardly saw them. My mother's mother lived on a small rural house and there I learned that fresh eggs from your chickens taste the best!
I would love to give this book to my sister when she graduates from HS! (Also- for myself!) My dad taught me to cook, and my mum taught me to be kind to everyone =)
I would love to get this book for my sister when she graduates from HS! (also for myself!). My dad taught be how to cook and back, and my mum taught me to be kind to everyone =)
My mom taught me how to be a better mother and wife. Something I am grateful for. Would love to win this book.
my mom taught me how to sew and crochet. she's awesome! :)
My Mom taught me how to bake bread, sew, garden, can all the fresh produce, keep house. So many things! Now that I am married I am extra thankful for all that she taught me because I use these skills every day.
I would love to win a copy of this book!
My grandma taught me how to can goods, so that I can have yummy, fresh food all winter long! By the way, my grandma can play a mean "wipeout" on the piano...
Yum! I learned how to make chicken & dumplings from my Mema. She was so good about passing on "from scratch" recipes but was also the queen of "semi homemade" before it ever became a fad. This is our first Christmas without her but the lessons (cooking, sewing and crafting) she shared will live on for a very long time.
My mom taught me how to do laundry when I was in third grade...I actually love doing laundry to this day (weird I know). She taught me lots and lots of things though, most importantly how to be the best Mother and Wife I can be...she's the best. :)
My Gammy taught me about make believe. She didn't have a stuffy house like some grandmothers. She let us have full run of the basement (she even brought a teetter-totter down there!).
For each season me and my sisters would decorate the entire basement with paper snowflakes or four leaf clovers.
We would put on "plays" for her. I will never forget how hard she would clap at the end.
You could never say thank you enough to a person who taught you how to have fun with just some paper and scissors. :)
I have learned so much from my mom that it would be hard to narrow it down to just one great skill. She's a great cook, and I've learned quite a lot by just observing her prepare a meal.
My grandma taught me how to sew and to cross-stitch. What a great giveaway. I hope I'm the lucky winner!
I learned how to embroider from my Grammie--something I still do today!
Sarah M
What a great book! My grandmother taught me how to make the best rolls in the world. They take a lot of time, but are WELL worth it.
what a cool book!
my grandma taught my to forgive, but not to forget haha.
and my mom taught me that no two gap stores are ever the same.
:-)
My grandma taught me to sew a button on and various other simple sewing skills. And I am grateful. A lot of my friends know nothing about sewing, and while I'm not a seamstress, I can get by nicely. Thanks, Grandma! ;)
My grandma taught me how to bake and how to crochet--my most beloved skill I have learned! She passed away this past summer, but I will always treasure our times together when we would crochet together.
courtneykimsey@gmail.com
I think about my Grandma everyday, and am so lucky to have 20 years worth of journals that she left behind, in which she wrote everyday! I am only into reading the 4th year (1988)and her entries about daily life remind me to find joy in living a simple life and to always appreciate a good friend :)It is not what you have, but simply how you use it.
My mom taught me my love of crafting. During summer and winter breaks she would always have craft projects to keep us busy. This also taught me how to entertain myself.
My grandma never throws anything away. Boxes, wrapping paper... when I received gifts from her as a child i knew the label on the box would have no relation to the contents. Now i do the same thing and have a stash of used boxes and paper in the basement.
my mom taught me that if you don't have something, you can probably make do with something else or without.
My mom taught me how to do laundry!
xoxo
christen
My grandmother taught me to embroyder when I was 5 years old! At 8 I was using her REAL sewing machine. She never thought I was too young to do anything that I wanted to do and I always tried to take that approach with my daughter when she was young. :o)
My mom taught me how to be a good mom-and lots of little things like instead of using baby scissors to cut baby fingernails just use your teeth and bite them-no chance of hurting baby and their nails are so soft they bite right off. She taught me to make a baby/child feel secure at night to gently place their blanket over their cheek (the one that isn't against the bed)-it works! She taught me that nobody remembers what you made them for supper they only remember the desert-so true. I could go on all day but I'll spare you that! I also agree-if I don't win, I may buy this book!
My mother taught me how to cook! And many many other useful things that I didn't realize just how important they were until I became a mother myself.
my grandma taught me how to make the most delicious dumplings with just a bit of flour, salt and water. mmm!
My great grandmother, though we never met, taught me that nothing is strong enough to bring you down. She moved to America from Austria Hungary with 13 children fleeing Nazis all on her own.
My grandmother taught me how to have a good conversation.
My mother taught me how to crochet and make a perfect bed.
wow, the book looks amazing, i was just about to add it to my wishlist, but maybe ill wait until after this wonderful giveaway! my mother taught me how to sew a button and other sewing basics, among so many other little things she taught me. now that she is gone, i wish i would of paid a bit more attention. i would definately love this book! thanks!
My grandmother tried to teach me to knit. While an expert knitter, she was not known for her patience, and the lessons always ended in tears. Luckily, she also taught me great self confidence and self reliance so after years of failed lessons with her, I bought a book and taught myself. In her last years, we were able to sit and knit together and she would laugh and tell me that I learned it the best way there is!
my grandma taught me patience with everything, and that you don't need measuring cups in the kitchen. that showing someone else how to make your favorite recipie is the best gift (for more than one reason). my mom taught me it is okay to cry over anything, especially in front of other people - and that my pride is not worth more than my love for others.
My grandmother taught me that it is possible to find your true love and have a loving, respectful happy relationship for over 60 years.
My great-grandmother taught me to crochet! All I remember now that she's gone is chaining, but I remember the time we spent together even more.
i will always remember this-
when i introduced my now hubby for the 1st time to my grandmother i was quite nervous. i really wanted her to like him. so anytime she would ask HIM a question i would answer for him, not on purpose but just because i was nervous.
she kindly pulled me aside and let me know that it wasn't proper to speak on anyone's behalf especially if they are right there with you. it's an important etiquette lesson that i learned from her.
also other lessons, always send thank you cards, take your elbows off the table, excuse yourself from the table if you need to get up.
My sweet gram taught me to make the prefect biscuits--without using a recipe!
My mom taught me that no one is ever paying as much attention to me as I think they are.
I'd love to win the book...the author graduated from the same high school as me!
What a great book! My mamaw taught me so much. She still lives on her and my papaw's huge farm. She can milk a cow, slaughter her own meat and cook dinner wearing a dress and ruffled apron. She taught me how to make the perfect breakfasts, with from-scratch biscuits and gravy. I remember helping her cook breakfast and then sitting at her table eating from her pink melmac dishes. I also remember watching her quilt HUGE beautiful quilts by hand, make Christmas cards, and crochet (often while shouting at college basketball games on television). She can literally do anything.
Margaret
Among a million other things, my mom taught me to sew. She also taught me to love animals, to be a good mama, and to be independent. I am so grateful!!
My grandmother taught me to always remember the good times with your husband and don't harp on the bad...it's the good ones that will get you through a lifetime together. My other grandma taught me how to make the most amazing cupcakes you'll ever eat :)
My grandma taught me to bang cake pans on the counter before putting them in the oven to prevent air bubbles from forming in the cake while it bakes.
My mom taught me alot,
She got me started in piano, she taught me how to cook, how to iron a shirt.
So I guess you could say she taught me to be a domestic hubby...lol..so I think that counts for alot!
I'd love to be able to surprise my wife with this book, I think she'd find it a great read!
My mom taught me how to make gravy. It's one thing I've had to teach my husband who has taught me a thing or two in the kitchen.
My mom taught me how to sew... my dad taught me how to make EVERY dish in our culture. they're so awesome.
I remember watching my mom and dad get dressed to go to parties when I was little and I envied everything about her from the jewelry to the red lipstick. My mom taught me fashion -- classic fashion with a little sparkle always added.
I didn't get to know my Nana all that well, and my Grandma passed before I was born. But I had plenty of Aunts and my Mom to teach me many things. My mother taught me to how to clean until everything's spotless, and to this day I can't help but clean any mess right away. She also taught me to love so fully. My mother had me and my 6 siblings and still managed to take in foster children all the time, of all different backgrounds. This taught me so many things and, there is always enough love for everyone.
My grandma tried to instill in me that I shouldn't go outside with wet hair. She was terrified we'd get sick if we weren't warm and bundled properly. It eventually caught on!
My grandmother taught me how to knit and not get pushed around by anyone. My mother taught me how to bake, sew and make a bookshelf out of anything!
My momma taught me how to knit when I was in grade school. If only I had kept up with it, I'd be knitting sweaters now instead of scarves. :)
Book looks so fun!!! I have always been inspired by my Nannie (great-grandmother). She crocheted, played the piano & was an amazing artist! Just like me :] She taught me how to crochet & when she passed, I inherited her 500+yr old piano. So cool!!! She knew how to throw the BEST teas parties too. She also lived on lover's lane. How cool is that?
My grandma taught me how to sew. I took a long hiatus, but I'm excited to start again with my new sewing machine! :)
Oh my gosh - I totally picked up this book and looked at it the other day at the bookstore... but didn't buy it. Maybe I'll go back and get it. Merry Christmas to me! :) Thanks for the recommendation
what a fun book! I had to really think about the lessons i have learned from my abuelas and mother. my most valuable lesson is that handmade is great. be it crochet, sewing, cleaning or cooking everything should be made with love.
Oh my gosh - I totally picked that book up and looked at it the other day at the book store. I didn't get it, but maybe I'll go back! Merry Christmas to me! :) Thanks for the recommendation
What a lovely book, I am oh-so excited to read it no matter what.
As a kid, my mom would get together with one of her sisters and we would all make grape jelly from the grapes that grew behind my aunt's house.
It was my grandma who showed me how to make a quilt, made my first one at 12! From there I started to scrapbook and crochet. Love it!
my mom taught me how to cook a delicious pot roast with lots of carrots, potatoes and onions!
Baking powder for an upset stomach....
My mother told me this and it works everytime!!!
My grandmother was a professional seamstress, a kindergarten teacher, and an amazing chef. I learned so much from her. She taught me a sewing trick I used this week. When you are sewing a tube, like a belt, sew a ribbon inside it and then just pull the ribbon to turn the tube right side out!
My mom taught me how to wrap presents, and sew. Now that I'm married my mother in-law has shown me a lot of things. She is a little more crafty and loves to cook so she has shown me her secrets and tips on cooking and sewing.
My mum taught me that you can get blood out of everything including whites by soaking items in heavily salted water overnight and then washing as usual. works every time!
I've heard about this book before,but have yet to grab it. Your enjoyment of it is so encouraging to go get a couple as last minute gifts for some of my friends.
things i learned from my mother and grandma. How to sew and crochet, the best way to boil a egg, calling your female friends "girlfriend".... I didn't realize i was misleading people until i got older.
to always check out a stores clearance section and get stupidly excited about a great $3 find. Save all leftovers no matter how small. homemade trims in between haircuts, how to dye your own hair, the difference between want and need and how to work around the need.
how far a car can actually run on empty and never go barefoot and in your jammies when playing this game.
I love my grandma and mom, remembering all these just makes me laugh.
My great-grandmother passed two important things down through our family: the first, toothpaste takes the sting IMMEDIATELY out of ant bites. Secondly, pickle juice isn't only for morning sickness. Anytime you over eat in the sweets (or are just sensitive to them like our family), curl up with a pickle and a shot of pickle juice.
My Grandma taught me that shouting never helps in an argument. If you want something ask nicely. Always have coffee and the paper ready in the morning. Working hard pays off. Pray, pray, pray. If the man doesn't pay he isn't worth it. Encourage your husband. It's good to have a good cry. Dusting your house makes it automatically appear cleaner.
what a great book! yays.
my mother taught me that baking soda and vinegar will clean your WHOLE house!! super safe and suuuper inexpensive.
thanks for the giveaway friend.
xo.
My great grandmom who is now dead taught me so many things, i was young when i used to visit her (around 12) but she taught me how to crochet! whenever i crochet i think of her :)
-Christine
My grandma passed down her amazing (and super simple) Rhubarb Kuchen recipe.
This looks like a great book! My mom taught me how to sew, even though i would get ridiculously frustrated with it she never gave up.
My grandma taught me how to make a GOOD tasting meatloaf.
My Gramma taught me to arrange flowers & sew (I still use the machine she made all my mother's clothes on growing up) and my Grandma taught me to bake.
great giveaway! my mom taught me how to crochet
Oh man, what haven't I learned from my grandmother? I guess the most valuable thing she taught me is how to be a strong, happy and self-respecting woman. With an education. She's totally the greatest.
I nnnnnnnnneed this book! My mom and grandmother are the opposite of domestic-they don't cook or sew or knit or craft or...you get the point. I've been following Jaime and Jacinda on "Prudent Baby" for advice.
My mom did teach me how to fold a fitted sheet though-for whatever thats worth!
My paternal grandmother taught me to make pie crust and how to use witty puns in everyday conversation. My maternal grandmother (who ran the cosmetic's counter at Filene's for 20 years) taught me how to properly pop a zit without doing major damage and how to make a killer Old Fashioned.
My grandmother taught me to forgive people who hurt me. If I dont't forgive it just continues to hurt me. She always forgives and has been the best example.
WOW, Rachel, this book looks amazing. I'm putting it on my Wish List... I also think it would make the perfect "mom" gift (or clueless roommate, perhaps?)! Thanks for the recommendation.
My mom recently came to visit and taught me how to use my sewing machine. It was awesome and opened up a ton of creative possibilities for me
When I was around 8 or 9, my mom taught me how to do embroidery. Which was nice, since i was the only girl living with 6 brothers! I never really had anyone else to bond with. She used to make the most beautiful flowers, and of course mine looked like crap! :)
My mom taught me how to make french toast. I'd love to have this book for myself and then pass it on to my sisters.
My mom and grandma taught me the value of secondhand goods - thrift stores, garage sales, and others leftovers can be treasures (and a way to save money). They taught me to appreciate good craftsmenship, and to work hard.
mosier at gmail dot com
This is so awesome!
My mom taught me not to worry about what other people think, and to go after what I want. She also taught me how to use coupons!! She is the coupon queen =P
Looks like a fun book! My mom taught me how to cook some of my families favorite dishes and my grandma showed me how to crochet when I was 6:)
I love this book - so great! Rachel you are so sweet to create a giveaway from something in your own library!
I have a pretty long list, but I'll keep it to this:
My grandma taught me a love of all things crafty, the importance of organization and reusing things, cooking and how to properly set a table. My grandma was also queen of semi-homemade back in the day! And she taught me how special a handmade gift can be.
My other grandma taught me that little baby boys get really mad when they need to poop (hehe) and if you wipe their bottoms with a wipe it can get things going.
My dad taught me how to garden and how to decorate stylishly using offbeat things or repurposed items. He also was a carpenter so I learned about power tools early!
And my mom taught me the joys of thrifting, how to sew (though I've never been as good as her!), that lemon and honey fixes what ails you and how to live simply but live well.
My stepmom taught me how to make a mean bloody mary :)
My Grandmother taught me to always wear a slip with a skirt..."that way the sun doesn't shine through your legs" she would say.
My mother isn't super domestic, but I did learn something that has helped me apprecitae life a little more. She taught me to always make things special. Low on money? Plan a "free" date to the bookstore and read magazine and hold hands. Or, get your favorite meal from a restuarnt and bring it home. Use the good dishes and cloth napkins and enjoy eachother's company for a lot less than eating in the resturant. Hype things up, too. Making cookies? Make a cookie date with your man. Put on some festive music, light a candle and just enjoy eachother's company!
I love that my Mom infused this sense of "every day is something great," in me. Make the most!
:)
Xo,
Violet
(My OpenID display name is all messed up, sorry about that!)
My Grandmother and Mother are so much a part of who I am but I remember being very young and my Grandma told me that everything looks better if you go stand in front of the mirror and put on a little lipstick:) Now that I'm older I know it's not about the lipstick but the act of looking yourself in the eyes and basing all of your decisions on what feels right and true to you.
My mom taught me that windex window cleaner will take baby food stains out of baby's clothes...This saved many onsies for me...just spray on before washing!
The absolute, most wonderful thing my grammy taught me was how to sew! Just simple needle and thread stuff. It started me on my very crafty creative path to quilting, costume making, little miss mend it. Gotta love Grandmas!
My mom taught me not to judge a book by its cover and my dad taught me how to change a tire.
Being that I am of filipino decent, both my mother and grandmother have taught me how to not only perfect steamed rice but also to perfect a wonderful recipe called Chicken Adobo. If you haven't tried it before, it's a must. It's delicious!!! <3
Oh this book sounds fantastic!! I will definitly pick up a copy if I don't win :)
But, my mother and grandmother have taught me to be strong and love always. They showed me how to push through the hard times and to never forget your family. I will always remember this.
Thanks Rachel for sharing with us!
XO
All the grandkids appreciated the small room that our grandmother set aside as just for us. It was filled with a kitchen play set and so many bins of old-fashioned toys that we were thrilled to have a room just for us so we could stay out of the way of the adults!
With my grandmother's home in mind, I have a bin in my apartment of toys, puzzles, etc. set aside so that it can be easily found by my niece and nephews when they visit. I have to say that the youth group kids I volunteer with at my church also pull out that toy box when there are events at my home.
Both my mom & my grandmother taught me the finer points in cooking, especially baking. My love of food and cooking comes entirely from them!
My mom taught me to put apple cider vinegar and a little dishsoap in a dish to catch pesky gnats and fruit flies in the summertime. Works like a charm.
(Hard to choose just one thing she taught me...fix minor plumbing problems, change a light fixture, rip out tile in a bathroom--doing your own demolition majorly cuts costs!)
I learned how to be witty and sarcastic from my mom. She was always able to come up with the funniest things to say. We have the same attitude :D.
my mom mostly gave me old wives tales that usually end up being true. like if you see cows laying down, it's going to rain. or if it rains while it's sunny, it will rain the next day. kind of helpful when you don't have the weatherman by your side :).
How Fun! My mom taught me how to do my own laundry at a young age. I complained about this when I was young, but was thankful when I went to college and realized many other girls had not been taught the same thing.
this book looks amazing! my grandma's house was always filled with the smell of something delicious cooking. she taught me that filling your family with home cooking is filling them with love. and how to make the perfect mashed potatoes :)
My Grandma taught me how to bake and knit, and my mama taught me how to cook & sew! Thanks goodness for the amazing ladies we have in our lives.
this looks like a great book...
from my grandmother i've learned how to knit and from my mama how to sew and bake :) i love being able to learn from them because it means one day i'll be able to pass what they've taught me down to my children.
my grandmother showed me how to make her delicious salsa. it's so delicious and a total crowd-pleaser. she makes it in her blender.
my mom showed me how to perfect the salsa recipe. she makes it in her food processor.
What a great book! My mom taught me to add the laundry detergent to the water BEFORE add the clothes...leads to less detergent spots/.
What a fun book! My grandma taught me how to sew on a button. And it sure comes in handy because there always seems to be a missing button on my clothes...
My dad taught me how to cook. My mom taught me how to be tolerant of other people (which comes in handy living in a college dorm) and how to clean (also a useful skill in the dorm).
My Grammy taught me to make homemade chicken and noodles. Not much beats that!
My Granny told me "Tell your husband you love him everyday!" (someday...I WILL!)
Gosh, where do I start?
Both my Ouma and Granny lived through the Great Depression and WWII. They taught me the value of the handwritten letter, the goodness that is watermelon pickle, and the power of a great hostess, but most of all it is from them that I learned that handmade is better.
my mom taught me to cook anything and everything. she always was very nice about letting my sisters and i experiment in the kitchen under her close eye, no matter how crazy and messy it got!
now i'm just trying to wrangle in some of those mad canning skills she has..
Love this book! Even if Santa doesn't let me win, I will order it! :) My Mom taught me how to answer phone with etiquette, Help a customer like no body's business and how to dress to the nines! My Godmother taught me that being creative is a way of life!
PS I love your blog and have been reading it in Google reader daily!
I have learned so much from my mother, she is truly my hero! She has taught me that no matter what you go through in your life, just smile and stay strong. This is a woman who has lost one of her breasts to breast cancer, lost a son very tragically on her own birthday, had a massive heart attack and stayed with a man who cheated on her for 21 years of their 22 year marriage for the sake of her children! She is the strongest person I will EVER know! I am so very blessed to have this woman in my life and I pray that I have her for many, many more! I love you mommy!
xoxo~Meg
So Fun! There's always new things to learn!
That book sounds great! My Mamaw taught me that they won't buy the cow if they get the milk for free. And also how to make fajitas. My hubby loves them!
My family has taught me oh so much. My Onnie has taught me how to be a good partner in a relationship, and that love can last. My Grandma has taught me how to love unconditionally. My mom has taught me how to be a strong role model for the children in my life.
Living out in very very rural Florida a lot of time was spent farming, so my Maw-Maw taught us out to pick and shell peas. It was hard work but I really do miss sitting out on the back porch running peas throught the sheller with her :)
My mother is the kindest person I know. People are naturally drawn to her, and anyone can spend hours talking to her about just about anything. She's taught me that a positive attitude and an open heart are truly the keys to a happy life.
OMG! This looks amazinggg!
My Great-Grandmother taught me how to make Scottish oat cakes and to laugh off mean people. : ) She would have loved this book.
My grandma taught me the importance of home cooked food straight from the garden. And how to make the most amazing macaroni and cheese! I miss her. Thanks for the chance to win!!
My aunt taught me the best way to make enchiladas. I have scored so many points doing this meal that I can not stop thanking her. I love the recipe and my aunt for sharing it with me. :D
my stepmom taught me how to sew. about thirty times. for some reason it doesn't stick. i wish it would! i keep trying :)
that book sounds awesome! i got to check it out!
My Grandma taught me basically everything I know.
One of the more unique is recycling all mail.
She'd cut the envelopes and paper into the same size and use the blank sides as scratch paper. She would bind them into mini notebooks. She probably never bought a small notebook in her life.
She was a genius. :)
my mom taught me that you can't make fudge when it rains because it won't set right. (it's things like this you can't learn in a book) :)
My sassy little grandma taught me that if you act like a doormat then you will be treated like one : ) Wise words!
how fun is this book! i read your blog all the time and you don't have to include me in the giveaway but i just wanted to say thank you for being so inspiring. :)
happy holidays!
My mom taught me how to make pie crust. It never fails to impress. She also taught me to love art, I remember when I was a little girl we had a closet in the hall. On the very bottom, where I could reach, she had a whole cardboard box full of hundreds of sheets of colored and white paper, and a whole shelf of markers and crayons and pencils and paint and glue and scissors. And she let me get up at 4 in the morning to make art projects on the hallway floor.
So cool! I have my grandmother to blame for planing the crafting seed in me early on. She taught me how to EMBROIDER! We picked out coloring books and transferred the images onto flour sack material embroidered them and then cut then make them into blankets or dishtowels. In her last year of life she was in town for Christmas and couldn't walk very well, so I pushed her around in a roll chair in Jo Anns as we picked out materials for what was to be our last project together. She was a magical woman and not only did I learn how to embroider, sew, and make a mean brandy alexander, but she taught me how to forgive and forget and keep on loving. :) Thanks for doing this. xoxoLaura
my grandmother taught me how to play cards. my great grandmother taught me how to eat a grapefruit.
my mother gave me me a good tip- if you add too much salt to a stew or soup, put in some raw potatoes- they'll soak up salt, then just remove them. This tip has saved many a meal :)
My mom taught me to not deny my talent. To create what was in my heart and mind and to not let anyone tell me different. She taught me that if it isn't out there create it and use what you have before buying new. She taught me to not ever say I can't when it comes to creating. It is something I am teaching not only my daughters but my son also. I am teaching my son that crafts are not only for girls but boys too.
Grandma taught me how to sew, paint, garden and plant trees. I'd be lost without her. My mom taught me to cook, she is the best.
my mama taught me how to knit...she is a knitting machine :)
i have learned to leave my heart where ever i work and am. and that way i'll know that i did my best
my grandmother taught me everything to know about cooking and baking. she taught me that measuring spoons are silly when you can just eyeball it. (tastes better that way) she taught me how to bake the most amazing cakes and icings from scratch. she taught me how to make the most of an empty pantry...a meal fit for a king from an empty fridge. she taught me tricks of the trade, and when it's just easier to by it in a box than make it from scratch. :] she's an amazing cook and i owe all my culinary talents to her!
seems like such a great book and a fun read!
MJ
my mom taught me how to be self sufficient, that i'm the best person to go to with any problem i have that needs solving :) i've always been grateful for that one.
i SEW need this!!! :)
Oh, what a great book! One of the many things my grandma taught me that I'll be eternally grateful for is the importance of photos. She took many and always carefully labeled and stored them. I think this is where I got my scrapbooking gene ;) And now I'm blessed to have inherited her family photos from as far back as the late 1800's. They're amazing!
My grandmother taught me how to sew. The things we made together are treasures to me now!
I didn't win this book, but my father-in-law owns a bookstore and I asked him to order it for me when I saw this on your blog. I started reading it last night and it's so GOOD! Thanks for this post!
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