skip to main |
skip to sidebar
So this week has been pretty hard. Terrible, in fact. And I've found myself wishing that this week had never happened so things could just be normal. But that can't happen, and in retrospect, I'm glad about this.
You see, even through the most difficult of times, God still blesses us with lots of positives. I'm really happy I'm beginning to see those.
1. I've been blessed to see several beautiful sunrises this week, which seems a bit abnormal for this time of year.... I guess they always happen, but there's usually thick layers of fog blocking my view.
2. I treated myself to two carmel frappuccinos from Starbucks this week. Mmmm, such a treat. (I knew all that change in my change-purse would be put to good use.)
3. After doing 4 loads of the kids laundry at work yesterday, I dreaded coming home to do ours. When I arrived, I found all my clothes neatly folded on the bed, and the laundry hamper empty. Thank you, Heath. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help. (oh, and he did the dishes. :)
4. This week has brought an overwhelming presence of love from my past and present friends and family. It's so nice to receive these texts, emails, and phone calls. What a blessing to know how much we are loved and cared for.
5. Mt. Hood has been hiding for a while, but I've seen her 3 times this week from the barge. What a beautiful sight.
6. The kids decided not to take naps yesterday. (Why, oh Why?!? No, that is definitely not the positive.) I think Shirley (their mom) noticed my stress levels were high, so yesterday afternoon we did something abnormal. We danced around the kitchen and made chocolate iced cupcakes. It was magic. And, we each got our own spatula to lick at the end. Tristan got the whole bowl and paddle... I'm glad I wasn't there to put him to bed :)
7. Last Thursday, I used my JoAnn's coupons and bought supplies for watercolor painting. I was debating on whether or not to keep the set... I'm glad I did. It's provided a good outlet for me this week. You should try it...
8. I'm finally starting to feel comfortable in my job. I didn't think nannying was beneath me, I just never expected to be doing something like this. My full-time job is being a mom to these two kiddos, and you know what? I'm pretty darn good at it. I love taking care of them and receiving their sweet hugs and kisses each day. I am so thankful for this family.
I'm sure there are other positives, but I just started to allow myself to see them. Give me a few more days, and I'm sure I'll come up with some more.
I love you all. Thank you for reading.
Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
Heath and I were lucky enough to spend a full week at my parent's house for Thanksgiving. A trip down south was greatly appreciated, and I was blessed to land my nanny job the day we left for Franklin. What are the odds? It was a wonderful trip, filled with good eats, time with family and friends, and memorable sight-seeing as always.
Much to my dismay, Heath and I decided not to purchase a christmas tree this year, or put up Christmas decorations for that matter. Being gone the week of Thanksgiving, then spending three weeks in Texas, our tree would be dead and sorry looking by the time we got back. I was sad about this, but there's always next year. My parents had quite a pretty tree to admire though....
While we were in town, we celebrated Christmas with my family as well. It was a treat to have Christmas 1 month early! :) Thanks mom and dad!
We were also lavishly treated in the food department. Oh my goodness, I don't think we've eaten that good in a while. It was mildly depressing when we came home to vegetable plates and pasta dishes. If you live in Franklin, please go eat at Wild Ginger for me!!! I'm begging you.... get the Skittle salad and the Firecracker sushi. Then call me and tell me how good it was. I want someone to enjoy it if I can't. SO GOOD.
We spent Thanksgiving with grandmom and granddad Daniels, along with mom's side. We took lots of pictures, and cherished our time with granddaddy.
Heather and Matt with their puppies.
Neal with his new puppy, Chevy.
Family picture....
So, if you've never been to downtown Franklin, you should stop what you're doing and just go now. Walking down Main St. continues to be one of my favorite things to do while I'm home. The stores have changed overtime, but the buildings have so much character and it reminds me so much of my childhood. I liked this store window... it reminded me of Anthro.
While visiting downtown Franklin, you can treat yourself to a some Sweet CeCe's. It's soooooo yummy!
We were lucky enough to see gmom and gdad twice while we were in town. We spent a day with them alone right before we left. Granddad was much more talkative this day with out so many people around. We shared lots of laughs and special moments together. And took this wonderful picture...
On one of the non-rainy days (yes, the rain followed us from Oregon), mom took Heath and I to Radner Lake in Brentwood. I loved taking pictures and enjoyed the sunny sky. It was a good day.
Though I was not able to see everyone I wanted (there's always next year :), it was a great trip, filled with nice memories and lots of love. We love our Tennessee family. Thank you for treating us so well.
I have a lot to be thankful for these days.
-My God who knows me so well and shows unconditional love. I have learned so much about patience and trust this year (and I am still learning).
-A loving husband who has been full of encouragement and understanding these past few months. I'm so glad to share this adventure with him.
-A cozy home that has already been blessed by our family and friends.
-Precious families to share the holidays with... We were spoiled by my parents this Thanksgiving (I'll post more on that later), and are excited to visit our Texas family in just a few short weeks! Heath and I were able to share some much needed time with Granddad Daniels. I am very thankful for him and the time we were able to share last week.
-A church community that has blessed us already! May we continue to grow in relationships and Agape love.
-Our Portland friends! Thank you for embracing us and making us feel a part of your community. :)
-On a less important, but still thankful, note.... I can still wear my wedding dress! I slipped it on for a while last Sunday and enjoyed its beauty.
-Though there are many more things, I will end my list with this: I am thankful that I have a job! As of last Monday, I will be a full-time nanny for two little ones that live on a barge. Yes, that's right, a barge... really it's a large houseboat, but it's fascinating for sure. Yesterday was my first day! Pray that I transition smoothly into this full-time gig, and that the kids warm up to me quickly. I'm really excited and blessed to be working for such a lovely family!
Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving friend. I have missed you!
Heath and I went to the Japanese Garden last week. One day a year, they have free admission to the gardens! I normally costs $9.50 per person, so we jumped at the chance to go. Though crowded, rainy, and cold, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!
The Japanese Garden is located next to the International Rose Test Garden that I have mentioned before. I've been told it's a great place to go for the whole day, to meditate and appreciate natural beauty. Going on a free day, we experienced the beauty... not so much the peace and quiet though. :)
Enjoy my colorful leaf pictures! I'm pretty sure this might be my last post of them... they are dropping fast. Hope Tennessee still has some left for us!
Just so you know, it's supposed to rain the whole time we are in Nashville. We cannot the escape rainy, gloomy days! It hasn't been too bad, though I would appreciate one occasional sunny day! I've had a hard time taking pictures for my etsy shop because I've had no natural light. Oh well.
Texans, we'll be saying hello in less than one month. Tennesseans, we'll be there Monday! Have a lovely weekend, dear friend.
Anyone else out there use Shutterfly? I've been on their email list for a while now, and they send out pretty incredible deals. Well, it's about to be Christmas time and they have really cute Christmas card designs! And, if you blog about this promotion, you get 50 free cards. Woohoo! Shipping usually runs around $3.00. (Unfortunately, you can only get this deal if you blog about it.) The offer is good until December 31. I was going to make my own Christmas cards, but who can beat free?!? Shutterfly is a wonderful place to purchase photos and use it for photo storage as well! Shutterfly has so many cute and classic christmas card designs! They will look perfect on my fridge. :)
My favorite Christmas cards are: Gift Tag Story, Gorgeous Gift Tag, All of Us, and Retro Christmas. You can also search for your favorites by clicking this link.
If you have never used Shutterfly, simply sign up and receive 50 free 4x6 prints! Great deal huh?
http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/
Click the link above and get started fellow bloggers! I'm anxiously awaiting your lovely Christmas cards. :)
A dear friend recently encouraged me to blog more, so I will. But I warn you, this post is random and has no theme at all. Enjoy :)
1. Two weeks ago, Heath and I attended a marriage seminar in Seaside, OR. Overall, it was a great getaway and really encouraged us to keep growing and learning more about each other. We stayed for the whole six hour seminar (which was a bit lengthy if you ask me), and were then awarded with a free hotel stay by the beach. Not too shabby, eh? Anyway, there was a swing set on the beach...
2. Two weeks before that trip, we visited Seaside with Jared and Michaela. We played lots of games and enjoyed exploring the city. I really just wanted to share what Heath's hair looks like in 60mph winds...
Made him five inches taller I tell you! (He just got his haircut yesterday and looks very handsome. smile)
3. The birds were on attack at the beach. At first, they followed us and we thought it was funny... it wasn't funny after 10 minutes. Katie Buckel, I'm pretty sure you would have passed out.
4. I love Trader Joe's! We have one about 5 minutes from our house and I visit it often. It's not a place for staple grocery items, but I buy my meat and specialty things there for sure. They also have the most beautiful, afforable flowers! I purchased this lovely bouquet for $4.99 a few weeks ago.
5. I've had a good week in Etsy sales. One of my magazine inserts was featured on the Etsy email last Friday, and by Saturday, I sold all of the files I had! Wonderful, but I wish I had more in stock now. (If you have been hanging on to any magazine inserts, I'd love to take them off your hands!) Anyway, I am now the proud owner of lots of these beautiful rose buds... they are small and adorn the ear beautifully. These would be lovely stocking stuffers. :)
6. I like to go for walks around our apartment complex. After long days of job searching online and crafting in the living room, it's nice to enjoy a little sunshine when I can. This is what our road looked like two weeks ago. The cold front brought wind and ran, so the leaves now blanket the ground.
7. And this was the tree next to our door. I loved looking up and seeing this vibrant red. I'm already looking forward to seeing the colors change next year.
8. I am proud to say that I have completed all of our christmas shopping. (We are celebrating Christmas with my family during Thanksgiving this year and I am so excited to be in Franklin again!) I suggest that you start your Christmas shopping as well. Shoppers tend to be more anxious and crabby during the holiday season, so finish it before you're stressed like the rest of them!
9. I love Heath. He's my best friend, and I'm glad I can share this journey with him. It's been fun.
Okay, that's all I have. Hope to see you soon.
Favorite guy, you say?!? Some of you might think it's my husband... or maybe my dad. Well, they are pretty great, but you would be wrong.
It's my granddad Daniels, who turns 82 years young today! Happy Birthday!
If you've ever met my granddad, you know that he is a wise and faithful man. He has always welcomed company and warm hugs, and loves to laugh often. He's gone through quite a few changes the past 3 years or so, but I've watched him transform into a more patient, kind hearted individual, and I love him dearly for that.
Take a moment to pray for him, and these 82 years he's graced this earth. I never knew how much I could love this man, but I do. A lot. And I miss him, so much. Can't wait to see you in two weeks, granddad. Looking forward to my hug!
You might remember this post I did several months ago.... Since August 31, I have been washing my hair with baking soda and an apple cider vinegar mixture and have been pleased with the results. I have been even more pleased with my other recipe, though.... Homemade Deodorant.
I know, I know. This sounds even more crazy and over the top, but I am so glad I tried it! After researching the harmful effects of some store-bought deodorants containing aluminum, I wanted to find a healthier and cheaper alternative. It has always been difficult for me to find one that actually works, so this was another experiment that seemed worth trying.
5-6 tablespoons coconut oil*
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch
A few drops essential oil (optional, I used about 8 drops of tangerine oil)
Whisk the baking soda and cornstarch together. Slowly add the coconut oil and work it in with a spoon until it maintains a deodorant-like consistancy. (This takes a few minutes, just be patient.) I decided to add a few drops of essential oil, but the coconut scent is also pleasant. You can either scoop it into your old (clean) dispenser or place it in a small container with a lid (which I did) and apply with fingers with each use. I had a bit left over, so I did both. If you choose to use your old dispenser, you will need to keep your deodorant in the fridge. Just think of it as a nice conversation piece for your guests. :)
I am so pleased with this recipe! It keeps me smelling fresh all day long and has not left any residue on my clothes. Here's a few recommendations if you choose to try this for yourself:
1. Coconut oil can be found at Whole Foods, CVS or Walgreens, or online. It can be fairly expensive, but it can be used for many things, and will last you through 4-5 deodorant recipes. (I bought mine at Whole Foods and paid $12.00. I also bought my essential oil at WF for $4.00.)
2. I had irritation on my skin for several days and believe it was caused by putting the deodorant on right after shaving my arms. Now, I try to shave my arms at night time, and have not experienced any more skin irritation.
3. I would not suggest wearing this with silk tops. At least wait until the deodorant has dried, which usually takes about 5 minutes for me.
If you try this, please let me know if they worked as well for you! Hope you have a wonderful week!
So, this isn't a done deal, but I might be making a lovely brides wedding invitations! Just to have the opportunity to do this is so exciting for me!
I've been collecting vintage fabrics for a while now. I know, I know.... buttons, stamps, fabrics... what else can she collect? :) I listed some fabric bunting (flag) cards on etsy, and have had more inquries on those than anything else! Who knew bunting was so popular?!
I sent samples off to the bride last week; hope to hear from her soon! Here's what I came up with:
She's using pinks, yellows, neutrals, and whites for her August '11 wedding (she's planning ahead), so I put together a sample card of all the fabrics I thought would work...
Three different styles for the invitations.
I also included a sewn gift tag that complements the invitation style.
I've really enjoyed having my Etsy shop open. I've made 14 sales in my first month. (7 went to my new friend, Amy. But, they still count! :) I will be restocking my shop with lots more flower earrings in the next few weeks as well. Keep me in mind for Christmas, birthday gifts, and bridesmaid gifts!
Happy creating!
