DIY Yarn Monogram Letter

As I was looking for a fun project to get into, I found this super cool monogram yarn craft that is super simple.

EVIE S. THINGS OF BEAUTY shared this DIY YARN WRAPPED MONOGRAM project. I love how simple this craft is, and how perfectly it would lend itself to everything from Valentine's Day decor, to a wedding, birthday party, or baby shower. She used a cheerio box to make this! Grab some yarn, an old cardboard cereal box or two and go letter crazy! See the full tutorial over on Evie's blog RIGHT HERE.

Amazing Grace... A Gift

This evening I began my normal blog browsing and found a new blog called http://thenester.com/. The first post on this page caught my attention. It was a youtube video about the book, One Thousand Gifts, which I had never heard of. The book is currently on Amazon's Best Seller List and I am going to need to check it out. This video touched every chamber of my heart and reminded me of God's amazing grace that I often miss because of scheduled days and busy nights. How important it is to take a few steps back, calm our hearts, and shift our perspectives. Enjoy friends!

Sarah Jarosz

One of my very favorite artists that I have recently discovered is Sarah Jarosz. She is a soulful 18 year old that has some serious musical roots deep in her spirit. The first time I heard he sing, I stopped and tuned out all the sounds of the world and focused solely on her words. She has a very unique voice and sings songs that everyone can find a part of themselves inside. I highly recommend her album, as it is one that you want to hear its entirety... not just a few songs. Please take some time to listen to her and see what you think. I am anxious about her new tracks that will be released this May. I have a feeling she can only get better, if that is possible.

Enjoy and Be Blessed!

A new home for my books.

I have loved BOOKS for as long as I can remember. Great books take you to new places, teach you new things, and challenge you to go beyond what you already are. I have a variety of books that serve a variety of purposes. Finally, they have graduated from my closet shelf to their own little home in our new library. I have always wanted a library. My grandmother had and still has one in her house and I love to walk in and just browse all her books. We found our bookshelves at Ikea and they are full of books and objects that tell a story about our lives. Daniel and I each have our own glass case with different things that explain why we are the way we are. My side has my log home, where I grew up, a clock set to the time of our wedding, a film lovers journal and my grandfather's homemade cookbook. Daniel's side includes his pictures from his travels, his Snake Eyes GiJoe, and Optimus Prime Transformer. If you came into my library, these are some of books that you would find on my shelf. 1. Five 2. Goldie Hawn: A Lotus Grows in the Mud 3. The Leadership Challenge 4. Couples Who Pray 5. The Noticer 6. The Pact 7. Three Weeks with My Brother 8. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families 9. Parenting isn't for Coward 10. Living Artfully

These are just a few that stand out to me that have made an impression! What books do you have on your shelf? I love hearing about great books. I am currently reading Outlive Your Life By Max Lucado.

Happy Reading Y'all and please share your favorites!

Back to Blogging 2011

After a month of a blog-free life, I am more than ready to get back into writing! Daniel and I have spent the past month moving into our new home in Mount Holly, NC. We've cleaned, organized, and organized some more. Now that life is slowing down a bit, it's time to liven up this blog. As January has unfolded quite nicely, I anticipate what the rest of the year has to hold. My hope is that this blog continues to offer insights and inspirations and in the mean time, teach me a little bit more about this so-called life. In celebration of a Place to Land, I am posting one of my favorite songs by Ben Folds that is quite fitting. Enjoy the song.... Landed

Cupcake Fanatic

What is it about cupcakes? Lately, they are all the rage. Cupcakes in so many shapes, colors, and sizes. Cupcakes for weddings. Cupcakes for birthday parties. Cupcakes are everywhere. My very creative friend Tracey Harrelson is C-R-A-Z-Y about baking cupcakes. She has declared me an official taster of her cupcakes and I am MORE than okay with that. My husband had to get in on the testing too. So he is officially one of her testers as well. What I love about Tracey is her passion for baking. She will bake and bake and bake, until it is juuuuust right. I can guarantee you that within each of her cupcakes is a piece of her heart! Her latest batch of cupcakes were Snickers! Let me begin by describing the icing: smooth and creamy, not too sweet, with caramel and snickers on top. Below is a picture. Inside, she baked a mini-snickers that added to the amazingness of them!

Side-View (notice the cute polka-dot paper wrapper)

View from the Top

Lastly, I must tell you about Tracey's fabulous Cake Pops. She made these for me a few months ago and I can not tell you how excited I was to see these waiting on my desk at school one morning. I promise, if you had one, your day would be DELIGHTFUL! She made them again for our after school gathering today and they were a HIT! Everyone had to get 2 Cake pops since she made Chocolate and Vanilla! If you would like to see how she made these, you can visit http://www.bakerella.com for the recipe. There are lots of neat treats on this site! The picture below is of the Cake Pops she made today that are made to look like Musical Notes--- NOW that is something to sing about. All I have to say is BAKE ON TRACEY! You are wonderful!

5 Kernels

This evening, Daniel and I were eating dinner with with Rosalee and Steve (my in-laws), discussing the day and sharing cute "kid stories" My mother in law is a wonderful teacher who puts thought into every word that is spoken to her children. She told me a story about the Legend of the Five Kernels.I had never heard this story and was immediately hooked. Posted below is the story. This simple story will remind you of the struggles that the Pilgrims and Indians endured. This year, our family will share in the same tradition passed from the Pilgrims. Enjoy and Blessings to all this Thanksgiving Season!

It was very cold for the Pilgrims that first winter.

Food was in short supply.

Some days, they had only five kernels of corn.

When spring came, the Pilgrims planted the remaining corn.

The sun and rain helped the seeds to grow

and much food was harvested in the fall.

Every Thanksgiving thereafter, the Pilgrims placed

five kernels of corn beside each plate

to remind them of their blessings.

The first kernel reminded them of the autumn beauty.

The second kernel reminded them of their love for each other.

The third kernel reminded them of their family's love.

The fourth kernel reminded them of their friends...

especially their Indian brothers.

The fifth kernel reminded them of their freedom.

This Thanksgiving, let us all remember the blessings of our lives.

Count the kernels, count your blessings.

Christmas Fun

So tonite I am headed to the Southern Christmas show with a few friends and can't wait to be surrounded by amazing homemade goods, great food, and neat ornaments. To get the season started I thought I would post something handmade that I found on http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com. This simple, but sweet Christmas card may need to be given out this year. If you would like to print this free card, simply click on the link underneath the picture.

If you want to get a jump on printing out Christmas goodies, here's a hand-drawn holiday card, compliments of Mufn Inc.

Dare you to Move

Everyday we step out of bed, into the shower, and then into the rest of our day. Everyday God is daring us to move- to make something happen. The song Dare you to Move, by Switchfoot is by far one of my favorite songs. It makes me think of the children of this generation and what a different world they are born into. It also reminds me of the everyday trials that everyone faces. As we makes mistakes, we learn and we "pick ourselves up off the floor" My favorite line is "I dare you to move like today never happened. Easy to sing, but so hard to remember. We walk around with scars on our hearts. Scars that many do not know about. Scars that have changed our whole life. Please take a moment to listen if you have the time.

And remember.... All of us are insecure. All of us are damaged. All of us are loved.

The Oak Inside the Acorn

"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A few years ago my mom bought me this book, The Oak Inside the Acorn. This book, by Max Lucado, tells the story of a little acorn that is so scared about leaving his mother Oak. Before he falls from her limbs, she tells him over and over again that " Within you is a great oak. Just be the tree God made you to be." As you journey with the little acorn, you hear of his fears and worries, but as he matures and grows, he begins to understand what his mother meant all along. Although this book is intended for young children, it is a perfect reminder to us as adults that God is still working in us and through us. This sweet story of the acorn is a powerful moral lesson, one of growth, regeneration, potential, patience, and faith. This week I will be reading this story to all the second graders at Ida Rankin, in hopes they will take away this message and walk away wondering "Wonder what I could be one day?" Have a blessed week everyone!

Feels like Home....

As many of you know, Daniel and I are anxiously waiting for our home to be built. We drive by daily and dream of memories we will make in our new home. I've been thinking lately how I have had many "Homes" throughout my lifetime. My first home was a Log Home on Belle Rd in Point Pleasant. I had many homes during college in Huntington, WV. I have a Home here at my In-Laws while my home is being built. But to me having a home is so much more. To me home is a weekend with my mom, or laughing with my dad, telling jokes with my brother, or fun days with friends. Home is listening to my Ma Ma Lee's stories, a day spent with the children at school and home is laying in bed blogging. To me, the meaning of home is connected with comfort, relationships, family, relatives, friends and traditions that give meaning to our lives. My idea of home has so many layers. Home to me can be a warm blanket, a new book, a candle burning, and a prayer. Home is a word that makes me feel safe. Think today about what reminds you of home. While you're thinking, listen below to the song, Feels like Home, By Edwina Hayes. It is so pretty and makes me feel well.... home.

Dignity

I've been reading a lot about bestowing dignity. According to the book, 10 Conversations You Need to Have with your Children, every human being has value and every human encounter is a fresh chance to let him know it. Some people believe in human kindness, others believe it is to love and be loved, but we also need to remember to confer dignity on all of God's creatures. It made me think, "Do I practice this daily." Well....sometimes, is what I told myself. Let's clear up the definition of the word before going an deeper. This is what dictionary.com stated.....

dig·ni·ty

   

[dig-ni-tee] Show IPA

–noun, plural -ties.

1.

bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect orappreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion orsituation.

2.

nobility or elevation of character; worthiness: dignity ofsentiments.

Sounds to me like it is our job to impress value upon the lives of others. When you smile at someone, ask about their day, offer a compliment, you are conferring dignity. You bring them to life. Whenever you make someone feel that they matter, you lend them dignity.

Let me know of ways that you confer dignity to others....

Thanks for Reading!

Life Planner

Okay, I will admit it.... I LOVE PLANNERS.... CALENDARS.... ORGANIZERS and I am always on the lookout for the perfect planner. As I was blog browsing last week, I found the absolute b-e-s-t planner ever! Found it at http://www.erincondren.com. Erin is a stay-at-home mom and has twins! She is amazingly creative and her designs are so fun and funky.

I quickly messaged my mom and added this to the Christmas List! She personalizes the front of the planner to your pleasing and adds lots of personal touches throughout the planner as well!

Below is a video of what is inside the planner and how she puts it together. If you have time, please watch. If you can't stand planners and think this was a waste of time..... kindly disregard the video and return later for more postings!

Humble Me....

Church was awesome today. Both Daniel and I walked out of church seriously thinking about our own lives in relation to the sermon. We read of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the Gospel of Luke. In this parable, two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: God, I thank you that I am not like other men --- robbers, evildoers, adulterers --- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner (Luke 18:9-14). Do you know what Jesus said about the tax collector? "I tell you that this man, rather than the other went home justified before God.

Kendell asked his congregation which of these men that we felt like we were most like... He also reminded us that we all draw lines in life.... we say this is good and unacceptable, and this is wrong and unacceptable. However, when we draw these lines, we always draw ourselves inside of them. And it's true. At least for me.

This week I am praying that God will humble me and give me the wisdom to look at others with judgement-free eyes and a loving heart. If you have time, stop and listen to this song. The song is By Addison Road called "What do I Know of Holy?" Have a blessed week everyone!

andrea

Sophie Dahl

I learned about Sophie Dahl this past summer as I was perusing all the fun books in Anthropolgie. I noticed this interesting little pink cookbook. As I read through I was amazed. Each section of the cookbook was divided into seasons, starting with Autumn. Each season had sections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas. I realize that I have blogged about her before, but I wanted to post another blog with a video of her making Peanut Butter Fudge. It is up next on my "Must-Try" desserts. She is so real and delightful to listen to and watch. She makes every ingredient seem heavenly. I actually made one of her recipes this evening called Peasant Soup. It was so yummy and the husband was most definitely impressed.

Enjoy the video...