Loo-la-bee Simplicity

25 Days of Christmas

2011-11-30T10:31:00.000-06:00

Well, tomorrow is December first and I'm sure you are already knee deep in preparing for Christmas. I thought I would share just a few of our favorite (old and new) holiday traditions.

1. Celebrating Advent

The first is new to us this year. I have always wanted to have an advent calendar, but they were either ugly, too expensive, or I just didn't plan earlier enough. Well, about a month ago, a few of my girlfriends and I put on a Pin-It Party where we actually made an Advent calendar! I am so glad it is done and ready to hang on the mantle!

The calendar is just made of gift tags, flowers and circles cut out of card stock.

I attached the tags to a long piece of twine with some clothes pins from the dollar store that I painted blue.

My favorite thing is that we wrote activities for each day on the back of the tags! I love the idea of shared family experiences rather than candy.

This is were I found some activity ideas: All Things Simple

2. The 12 Days of Christmas

Amy Verlennich from Dandelion Seeds has a come up with a wonderful way for us ladies to bless our husbands during this season. We gals can get so wrapped up in gift buying, Christmas baking, and hosting parties, that we are over worked and stressed out by the time Christmas Day finally rolls around. How about taking 12 days to show our husbands that they rank first on our list? In Amy's own words...

" I decided to put a twist on the traditional 'Partridge in a pear tree' song and celebrate 12 Days of Christmas in SHMILY style. I made a commitment to myself and God to love on him for 12 consecutive days leading up to Christmas (no matter what I felt like...) and we made it all the way to Christmas day without an argument! I was so focused on doing things for him and having fun that it was really hard to get angry with someone I was loving on and praying for! Without realizing it, I had created a new tradition that we've been 'celebrating' ever since!"

It's a great idea, right?!? Head over to her 12 Days of Christmas post and learn all about it.

3. To Bethlehem

This tradition is one that our kids look forward to all year long! Todd Wilson from Familyman Ministries has created this super fun game called To Bethlehem that we LOVE to play together! (He also has 5 Christmas

books that we all look forward to reading each year) The board game is full of pit stops and really fun activities. It is definitely an interactive experience! Here are a few pictures of our family playing a couple years ago...

"visiting Elijah's rest stop...get up and flush a toilet."

There are also chances for fun family conversations when you land on a question card. Lots of fun topics like

"If you could go anywhere for Christmas, where would you pick?" Believe me, your kids will be cracking up and having such a blast that you will want to play this every night!

So, those are our favorite traditions for the season! I hope I gave you some new, fun ideas to share with your own family!

Happy Christmas!

Cyber Monday!

2011-11-28T12:45:00.000-06:00

It's Cyber Monday!

Who wants free shipping on their rosies???

Just enter FREESHIP in the coupon code box when you place your order.

Happy Shopping! :)

Are You Ready???

2011-10-28T16:17:00.000-05:00

It's been very quite here on the ol' blog, but I've been a very busy gal! Who has already started shopping for Christmas? I admit I have bought a couple things, but I have mostly been getting the shop ready!

Look at all those colors!!!

They make me very happy. :) And I bet there is a color in that group that would make someone in YOUR life happy too. Head on over to the shop and check everything out, and if thee is a color or pattern you like, but don't see, please let me know. I love special orders!

Tap...Tap... Is This Thing On???

2011-10-10T20:52:00.000-05:00

Wow! It has been exactly a month since my last post. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back over here. It was a nice break once I stopped stressing about it though. :) Today I thought I would share with you a few projects and recipes I have used from Pinterest this month. I always feel so accomplished when I actually follow through and use something I have pinned.

Peanut Butter Cup Crunch Brownies

All I can say is Oh ma' lordy! They were delish!!!

Homemade Body Wash

I have 5 kiddos and one of them has sensitive skin. This was a great way for me to save a TON of money on body was and make sure that it was safe for their skin. I think I will use less glycerin next time but this recipe was very helpful.

Simple Cabbage and Chickpea Soup with Fresh Basil

This soup was so warm and yummy! PERFECT for Fall. I added some zucchini and northern beans, just because. We also put a heaping spoon full of cooked Quinoa in the bottom of our bowls and ladled the soup over it. YUM!

And on a more personal note, I have been reading this book...

Started this journal...

and dwelling on one word...

I am amazed at how one little book can change your life. If you need some encouragement, godly wisdom, and a new outlook on your life, I HIGHLY recommend One Thousand Gifts.

Have a great week!

Plastic Bag Wreath {part 2}

2011-09-10T20:05:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share a little update I came up with today for the Plastic Bag Wreath.

A dear friend gave birth to a sweet baby girl today, so before we went to visit her, I whipped one of these up for her hospital room door...

Here is what I changed and added to make it sweet~new~baby~girl~worthy...

I used pink receiving blanket material to wrap the wreath. {you know, the super soft slightly fuzzy why~don't~they~make~this~stuff~for~adults stuff.}

Then I made a few flowers with the same material an my handy dandy die cutter and layered them in with the other flowers. It made them even more fluffy and sweet. :)

{see the extra little pink flowers?}

Then I took the original material that I covered the wreath with and cut a thin strip. I twisted it from one side to the other and pinned the right side with the pins from the flowers and then added a little pink flower on the left to pin the other side.

Then I just cut some triangles out of card stock, wrote out her name, and hot glued them to the fabric.

{here is the back-side view...}

And there you have it! A sweet update for a sweet baby girl!

Here is the wreath on her door...

Welcome to the world, sweet Lyza~Grace! We love you already!

Pinning and Singing - The One With Derek Webb

2011-09-04T21:53:00.000-05:00

Pinning...

This picture made me gasp. Literally. Where can I find a rug like this?!? LUV.

I have a little girl with sensitive skin. I have bought sensitive body wash for a while now and it can get expensive. I am trying this recipe out sometime this week. Can't wait to see if it works for her!

I think this is SUCH a great idea! I am putting this one in my pack pocket and saving it for later. :)

Singing...

I have always loved Derek Webb and his honest lyrics, which reminds me a lot of Rich Mullins. This song specifically, is very honest and so beautifully expresses how I think most of us feel sometimes. I hope you enjoy listening, but mostly I hope it makes you think.

You Made That Out Of WHAT?

2011-09-04T16:31:00.004-05:00

I am linking up with The Nester to share this sweet wreath tutorial.

She has challenged us to make a wreath out of material we wouldn't normally think to use. I decided to use...

Grocery bags!

First, grab a bunch of those plastic grocery bags you have piled up in your pantry. We all have em!

Then, fold one up and run it through a die cutter. Then another one...and another one...

{{If you don't have a die cutter, it will only take a bit of extra effort to cut them out yourself. But still SO easy!}}

I used white and brown plastic bags for a neutral look, but white and yellow would be sweet, kinda like daisies. :)

Next, you will need a Styrofoam wreath, some neutral material, scissors, and sewing pins.

Tear a few strips of your fabric and wrap it around your wreath and secure with a pin.

Then start stacking your flowers. I alternated colors and sizes and then secured them to the foam wreath with another pin...

I alternated the colors...

And filled the sides with just the smaller flowers to make it a bit fluffier...

And there you have it!

It took minutes to make and I had most of the stuff on-hand! :)

Isn't it sweet?? I love how flouncy the flowers are. I am excited about incorporating it into my Fall mantle. Stay tuned, and let me know if you make one for yourself!

{{If you would like to see this wreath with a sweet baby girl update click here!}}

"
Tatertots and Jello

The Uber Smoothie

2011-09-01T10:52:00.000-05:00

I have been craving smoothies this week for some reason. Every time I was on Pinterest this week, I was pinning new recipes. I am calling the the Uber Smoothie because it is two awesome recipes smashed into one.

The first recipe I pinned is from this really fun site called Muffin Tin Mania. It is a wonderful blog with some really GREAT ideas for using muffin tins in special ways. I used the Green Smoothie Cups recipe as the start for my Uber Smoothie.

Here is what you will need:

2 cups coconut water

1/3 cup almonds

2 cups spinach

2 celery stalks, chopped

1/4 cup fresh mint

1/2 orange

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon ginger powder

2 cups frozen mango cubes

The only this I added to this recipe was a small scoop of this:

Then whiz it up...

Pour it into your muffin tins and pop those bad boys into the freezer.

And this is what you will get...

Super Uber, right??

Ok the NEXT smoothie recipe I pinned was the Monster Smoothie (check out the original recipe here) from Sing For Your Supper.

Uber Smoothie

1 green smoothie cup

1 banana4 or 5 strawberries1/2 cup fresh blueberries1 small peach (I left the peeling on but peeling it is fine too)splash of coconut water1 tablespoon Greek yogurt 2 teaspoons honey

1/2 cup crushed ice

{I actually used a honey flavored greek yogurt and there is honey in the green cups so I did not add the 2 teaspoons of honey here.}

{You can just barely see the green cup at the bottom of the blender.}

Then whiz it all up and presto!

The Uber Smoothie!

It looks very unassuming, but this smoothie is power PACKED and SUPER yummy!

Let me know if you give it a try! :)

Pinning and SInging - The One With Sam and Ruby

2011-08-28T21:20:00.002-05:00

This week my favorite pin is this poster...

Why? Well, I started Couch to 5K this week! And although I am VERY slow when I run and so far I have been unable to run every time my app has said RUN, I am still proud of my work. I am going to use this quote to remind myself that it doesn't mater how fast I run, at least I am running! :)

And my song this week is from one of my favorite groups, Sam and Ruby!

They are now a part of The Collective this Fall on The Sing-Off on NBC!!!

You can be sure I will be cheering them all the way. :)

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Introducing...

2011-08-24T17:53:00.000-05:00

Introducing our new Fall line of

Round-the-Rosie Necklaces!

Don't they just make you dream of crisp leaves and cool breezes??

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

From left to right:

Proud Peacock, Plum Pudding, Hot Mustard,

Olive You, and Spicy Paprika

And these are not our usual cotton rosies! These rosies are made of deep, richly colored linen.

Grab one (or two or three) for your Fall wardrobe!

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. " ~George Eliot

Come visit our shop today!

Pinning and SInging - The One With Ashton, Becker, Dente

2011-08-20T21:16:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a great week! Sunday Song has now been changed to Singing and Pinning (great idea, Natasha!!!) So from now on, I will be showing you my favorite pin of the week and THEN my Sunday Song pick.. :)

Pinning...

Here it is in all its awesomeness...

Seriously, how smart is this?!? A paint chip key chain of all the colors in your house! Yep. It's simple but brilliant. :)

and Singing...

It's an oldie but a goodie this week! This is for two of my dearest friends, Michelle and Winnie. :) If I had been given the privilege of growing up with the two of you during our dorky 90's, purple mascara, and poof-bang days, we would SO have been rockin' the three part harmony. OBVIOUSLY you needed a third voice. ;) I love you!!!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Making Kindergarten FUN!

2011-08-17T12:21:00.001-05:00

Do you have a child who is about to start Kindergarten??

Are you planning to homeschool and need some advice?

Well, get ready! This mom has been through Kindergarten 4 times and my 5th is starting next year!

Here are my 5 best helpful hints for homeschooling your Kindergartener:

1. Don't call it school.

This may sound strange, but let me explain. Learning should happen ALL DAY. It is important to use those questions they ask all day long as teachable moments. (Like we used our daughter's questions about what tadpoles eat and turned it into an exciting learning tool! All you need is Google. ;) Use the wonderful, God-given gift of curiosity to your advantage!

2. Don't make it look like school.

Many moms who begin homeschooling think that it has to look like school, having the kids sit down at the table and work through workbooks. My suggestion, again, would be to make it as far from a normal school experience as possible, Especially if you have boys. School is set up for girls. Sitting still at a desk all day long with their nose in a book is NOT what most kids think of as a good time. There will be plenty of time for that in highschool. ;) Mix it up and make learning fun! Go outside and draw their A B C's with sidewalk chalk.

Take a walk and pick flowers to learn their colors.

PURPLE! :)

3. Don't spend a lot of money.

My favorite tools for homeschooling in Kindergarten are free. Starfall.com has always been a HUGE help for me. The kids can work on their ABC's one at a time with great activities for each letter. AND they have free printables, so you really never need to buy ANYTHING! (they even have an app for your iPhone so they can learn while you are running errands. ;)

4. Make books better by creating more chances to learn.

For things that DO sometimes require seat work, choose books that are fun and colorful and have more than one possible subject in them. For handwriting, we like to use A Reason For Handwriting.

Their books have lots of color. The way I add extra learning into the book is by using the letter they are on to learn more about things that start with that letter. When they study P and color a penguin, use that as a starting point to study penguins that week!

5. Math can be fun too!

Programs like Mathusee have the amazing ability to do just that. I always thought that was an impossibility. I hated math in school, but I wanted my kids to enjoy every aspect of their learning, and Mathusee has been the perfect tool for us.

Most of all, just remember that YOU CAN'T MESS THIS UP. I promise! Kindergarten at home can be as much fun for YOU as it is for your kids. The most important thing is to enjoy each other and make your child feel loved every step of the way. Your child will learn more by watching you that he ever will from a book.I hope this helps you and even calms some of your fears about homeschooling. <3

A Cold In My Nose

2011-08-09T11:57:00.000-05:00

Don't you just hate a summer cold? It just seems to go against everything about summertime.

Well that's exactly what I've got going on today...

(btw, I highly recommend Sambucol)

What do you crave when you are sick?

For me, it is Tom Kai Gai. It is this amazingly yummy and super healthy Thai soup.

I crave it bad.

My sweet hubby came by with this to cheer me up...

Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow. I am planning to do some fall fabric shopping, I can't wait to show you all my new ideas for Fall Rosie accessories!

Have you seen Kellie's new Fall Bags???

They are sooooo pretty. I just LOVE Fall!

But for today I think I'll do some reading. :)

Hope you are having a good week so far. :)

Sunday Song - The One With Brooke Fraiser

2011-08-07T17:52:00.000-05:00

I love Brooke Fraser. I have a few songs I love but this one is my favorite. Its hard to sing without crying. I am so thankful that the lyrics of this song are true. No matter what happens here in this life, when it is all over, I will be found in Christ. Still standing. It doesn't matter how bad the day is. As long as this is true, there is hope.

I hope you enjoy it!

That Couch is UUUUUGGGGLY!!!

2011-08-05T05:19:00.000-05:00

Our homes, as much as we would love them to, cannot look like Pottery Barn Catalog all the time. Sometimes we have no inspiration, sometime we have no moola.

Well, hang on to your hat, because my sweet friend, Kellie, over at Nest Full of Posies is having an AMAZING giveaway on her blog today!

Do you have one of those couches that has been passed down from family member to family member and seen better days? No judging here. I had one of those bright red couch and loveseat combos for the longest time and I actually ORDERED them brand new!!!

Yep, that's right. Talk about a mistake. {{Again if you have one of these, I am not judging. I just lost all love for those couches after about 5 years. 2 of which I spent trying to cover them up with ill-fitting slipcovers.}} I have now gone through a whole "I hate red phase" that I am now slooooooowly coming out of.

So if you have a comfy couch that has seen better days, head on over to Nest Full of Posies and sign up for her giveaway. You have LOTS of ways to enter and 4 people will win the slipcover of their choice!

This one is my favorite...

Oooooohhhhh, Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!!

Like I said, Hurry!! :)

Giveaway TIme!!!

2011-08-04T19:14:00.000-05:00

Do you 'like' us on Facebook??

Do you like our Gray Chambray Rosie Necklace??

Better head on over and check out the giveaway we've got going on!

Pinning, Pining, and Procrastinating

2011-08-03T15:43:00.001-05:00

How do you like that title?

But really... How often to I actually use the ideas that I pin on Pinterest?

I have been trying to.

I shared some recipes that I used a few weeks ago.

Well, this is not that kinda post. This is just some ideas I thought were awesome and would love to hack if someday the mood should strike me.

Should YOU use any of these ideas, I would love to know!

Are you ready for the awesomeness that is my pinning habit?

Ok, here we go...

Canvas + Crayons + Hot Glue Gun

I know! Shut. UP. Right?

See this lamp?

I bought a lamp at Goodwill for $3 months and months ago that I think would be AWESOME if I painted it.

What am I waiting for???

Do your kids love Angry Birds?

I thought it might be fun to surprise mine with something fun for a boring summer day.

Have I done it yet? umm... no. But still... how fun would this be?!?

I pinned this idea because my son always says he would like to have a "burger buffet".

His birthday is in September. How fun would it be to surprise him with this?!?

He.would.flip.

And the last thing I pinned...

Who am I kidding? I can't sew. If I could figure out a way to make one of these using hot glue, then MAYBE.

So all of this silliness to say this...

I waste a lot of time.

Wanna join me? :)

How to Feed a Tadpole

2011-08-02T10:23:00.001-05:00

Sometimes God just drops teachable moments in your lap. Being a home schooling family, we try to use those moments to our advantage. This weekend, our daughter told us that our swimming pool was full of TADPOLES, and then the questions started.

"How did they get there?"

What do tadpoles eat?"

"What if they die???"

So, Nana pulled up the info on her iPhone and here is what we found...

This site had great information on tadpoles. How long it takes them to become frogs, what tadpoles eat, and how to take care of them. It also tells you how to make your own tadpole food! So here is what we did...

Boil a head of lettuce for 10-15 minutes

Drain the water

Let cool and then chop into small pieces

Make two snack bags of the chopped lettuce. One for the fridge to feed the tadpoles and one in the freezer for later.

Then feed your tadpoles! Just a pinch here and there.

and guess what???

They liked it!!!!

And we liked to watch... :)

We will keep you updated on how the tadpoles do and what happens next!

Yay for fun learning!!!

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings...

2011-08-01T15:48:00.000-05:00

Last night a couple of my girlfriends and I had a "Favorite Things Party". We decided that we wanted spend a total of $15 per person and share some of our favorite things with each other. We had so much fun, I thought I would share the idea with all of you! :)

Here are my favorite things that I chose to share...

1. The Hunger Games

2. Across the Universe

and

3. EOS Sweet Mint lip balm

Then I bagged it all up...

and put a bird on it...

because this video is one of our favorite things too...

Here was the gift table... OH the fun about to be had!!!

But first we had to eat some of our favorite things...

YUMMMM-O!!!

Then it was present time!!!!

First, the girls opened my gifts to them. Then, Amber and I opened our gifts from Adrianne:

Adrianne's favorite things are:

1.Photography (isn't her photo gorgeous? Can't wait to frame it!)

2. Pearls (with birds on them. Ha!)

3. Pocket Bac from Bath and Body Works

4. Super Rich Body Cream in Shea Butter (also from B&BW)

and

5. CRAZY SOCKS

of course the socks and pearls had to be tried on immediately...

Too cute!

Then it was Amber's turn...

1. A blank canvas (because my dear friend is also a beautiful artist)

2. Loreal Mascara

3. Wrigley's Cobalt Gum

and

4. Wholly Guacamole (which she loves to put on tortillia wraps at lunch)

We had an awesome time and we can't wait to do this again soon. We are thinking next time should be our favorite music. And you know what that means...

Have a great week! <3

Playing House

2011-07-28T20:52:00.000-05:00

This week.we have been house sitting for some dear friends and I have really been enjoying the chance to play house.
The FAVORITE part is cooking on their A.Ma.Zing WOLF range.

Aaahhhhhhhhh! Can you hear the angels singing? :)
So I thought I would share a couple of the recipes I used this week.

This recipe from Melissa d'Arabian
(which is seriously yummy and I have used many times)
I made the chicken with mashed potatoes and extra gravy. YUM-O.

and then I tried out this recipe from The Pioneer Woman (LOVE her) for the first time.

The family loved it, but I did add some rotisserie chicken just in case the hubs didn't like the fact that it was a meatless meal. It was delish and I doubled the recipe so we have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I'm wondering how it would taste cold? Hmmm...

So, even thought we are still in a holding pattern with our own home, it was so nice to play house this week. I even enjoyed doing the laundry. GASP! :)

Thanks to our sweet friends who invited us to stay in their home. We loved every minute of it!

Hope you are having a great week too!

Carnton Plantation

2011-07-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

There's this little place in Franklin that has stolen my heart.

Carnton Plantation

It's amazing.

See the blue ceiling?? LOVE.

Isn't it dreamy?

Lots of brick and chippy paint...

Nooks in the brick with little surprises...

Beautiful old trees...

An A.MA.ZING garden to walk through.

Like I said... dreamy.

The history of Carnton is amazing. The home was turned into a make-shift hospital during the Battle of Franklin. The owners, John and Carrie McGavock designated two acres of land adjacent to their family cemetery as a final burial place for nearly 1,500 Confederate soldiers killed during the Battle of Franklin.

This one makes me cry every time...

A book has been written about Carrie. "The Widow of the South"

I love visiting Carnton. If we happen to be in Frankin, there is no doubt that I want to at least drive by and say hello. It's interesting how strongly I feel about a place we just discovered a few years ago. From the moment I caught my first glimpse, I was smitten. I'm sure you can tell. ;)

Hope you enjoyed my little tour. Do you have a place that is extra special to you?

I would love to hear about it!

Sunday Song - The One With U2

2011-07-24T14:29:00.001-05:00

The first time I heard this song, I cried. They sang it on David Letterman and my first thought was "millions of people are hearing these words!" I am always amazed at WHO God uses and HOW he uses them to share His love. No one is perfect, but I like seeing how the guys in U2 allow God to shine through them. One of my favorite quote is actually from Bono. He said, "I'm holding out for grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity." I love that. I know who I am too, and I am also holding out for grace.

Hope you enjoy the song.

Saturday Snapshot

2011-07-16T20:16:00.000-05:00

Today's snapshot is a picture of my booth at the Farmer's Market. This was my first time having a booth.

I enjoyed meeting people, and I loved it when little girls would stop by and look at everything.

They seem to be drawn in by all the bright colors. I must still have a lot of little girl left in me. ;)

Hope you all had a great Saturday!

Sunday Song (One Day Late) - The One With Ella Fitzgerald

2011-07-11T15:55:00.000-05:00

{{Sorry I am a day late. We were without internet yesterday. I know, The horror. :) }}

She needs NO introduction. I don't think I have ever met a person who doesn't at least appreciate the amazing Ella Fitzgerald. (and I'm not sure I'd care to. Just kidding ;) I have a few quirks when it comes to music. One of them is that for me, Ella is great to listen to in the Summertime. On a hot summer day, she makes it just a bit cooler. And since today is a SCORCHER here in Tennessee, it's time to pull out your Ella.

Stay Cool!

Saturday Snapshot

2011-07-09T09:05:00.000-05:00

Today's pics are things I have been working on all week.

A Rosie Headband...

and the Round-the-Rosie Cuff Bracelet...

I can do them in any color or pattern! Here is a red...

and a multi-colored...

I have been working hard over here!

Next week will be even busier because I am going to be building up my products for the Farmer's Market!

So excited!!!

The Rosie Cuffs are already listed in the shop if you are interested.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! :)

P.S. Last week someone asked about the pictures I have been using. They are from the Instagram app. I am addicted to it! Its lots of fun and you can share them on facebook and twitter too. Hope that helps! :)

Kenya Dig It?

2011-07-08T10:55:00.000-05:00

Hello there! Sorry I've been so quiet this week, but I have been BUSY working on some new things for the shop! Today I am introducing you to...

The Dig-It Daisy!

Aren't they sweet?? I love how flouncy they are! ;)

But they aren't just sweet and flouncy. They have a special purpose.

These Daisies are part of a fund raiser for the

Tumaini Miles of Smiles Orphanage.

Each year, my dear friend Amber hosts a fund raiser called Kenya Dig It. The purpose of Kenya Dig It is to raise funds for the Tumiani Orphanage. She also takes a trip to Kenya every year with a physician, nurse and people who do wound care as part of a mobile medical clinic.

This year I created a flower pin (and a necklace coming soon) to help with the fund raising. 50% of the proceeds of the Dig-It Daisy will go straight to helping the children at

Tumiani Miles of Smiles.

Each flower pin is $12, or you can also get the full set of 3 Daisies for $34.

They look great on a jean jacket, clipped to a headband, or stuck on a tote bag.

And on the back is a little reminder to pray for the children you have helped.

so... U Dig? :)

If so, come visit the shop!

Sunday Song - The One With Jason Castro

2011-07-03T15:22:00.001-05:00

Today's Sunday Song is a special song because my husband sent it to me one day. He knew I had never heard it and he said it reminded him of me. Then he got me the cd for Christmas! Pretty sweet, huh? :)

So since we celebrated our 16th anniversary this week, I thought I would share our song with you. Hope you enjoy it!

Have a wonderful 4th!

Saturday Snapshot

2011-07-02T06:52:00.000-05:00

Well, I hope you all had a great week! We are off today celebrating our anniversary. :)

So here are a couple snapshots from this week...

I went RED! (and I am LOVING it! :)

We were out shopping yesterday for some new shoes and having no luck. When we walked into the store,

I told the Pixie to cross her fingers and this is what she did...

How adorable is she?!? :) This must be the correct way to do it though, because we found the shoes! ;)

Hope you all have a happy Saturday WONDERFUL holiday!

Sweet 16

2011-06-30T22:01:00.000-05:00

They met one night.

She "piqued his interest".

They drank tons Diet Coke and laughed till they cried.

He says he knew from that very moment.

{She was only 16.}

Two years later, they made it official.

It's been 16 years now.

She has been with him longer than she hasn't.

And she loves that thought.

But mostly, she just loves HIM.

Happy Sweet 16, Charlie.

I love you more. <3

New Chicken Recipes Anyone???

2011-06-27T10:41:00.001-05:00

The past few weeks, my Mom and I have been trying out some new recipes. Some we found on Pinterest (are you addicted yet??) and some from recipe sites. We have been trying to jazz things up a bit, because we were stuck in a rut! Here are a few of our favorite NEW chicken recipes. We have tried all three of these and they were each a big hit with our large family. (Believe me, if we can find a meal that all 9 of us like, we feel like we just hit the jackpot!)

Famous Butter Chicken

via allrecipes.com

I think anything with "butter" in the name, HAS to be good, right? Well, it was! Yumm-O!

Baked Pesto Chicken

via Kalyn's Kitchen

I made quinoa to go with the chicken. There was tons of yummy liquid in the bottom of the pan to pour over the quinoa. It was DELISH and had TONS of flavor!

Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo

via Eating Well

Oh boy! I think this was my favorite.! Sooooo much flavor and very little effort. You have GOT to try this one! :)

So, do YOU have any yummy new recipes you have tried out lately? Let us know! And let me know if you try any of these out. I promise you won't be disappointed. :)

Sunday Song - The One With Keane

2011-06-25T20:41:00.001-05:00

I really don't know much about this band, but this song is so romantic. And being the girl I am, I get all swooney (yes, it's a word. ;) when I hear it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. :)

Saturday Snapshot

2011-06-25T10:55:00.000-05:00

I worked hard this week getting this cute little display together for a local shop.

I love the rainbow of Rosie Clips!

Macy found a new way to use her Rosie... ARRRGH!!!

Happy Saturday Everyone!!!

Giveaway and Blogiversary!

2011-06-21T17:30:00.002-05:00

Do you love our new Gray Chambray Round-the-Rosie Necklace?

Well then, head on over to Yellow Songbird and enter to win this beauty!

P.S. It's official! It is our 1st Blogiversary!!!!

Thank you for following along this year! We have had a blast and can't wait to see what the next year will hold!

All shop items are under a DEEP discount, so even if you don't win the giveaway, you will get a great deal AND a coupon code!

Thanks again from us!!!

2011-06-20T12:31:00.000-05:00

All Round-the-Rosie Hair Clips are now $2!

TONS of new colors!

And fun patterns!

So sweet in little girl's hair.

But also cute for any age!

Add a Rosie Clip {{or two or three}} to jazz up a purse, shoes, jean jacket, ANYTHING!

Come check out the shop and pick your favorites! :)

Saturday Snapshot

2011-06-18T07:57:00.000-05:00

The Pixie doesn't like to swing alone...

So she invited Melody.

It's no fun to swing alone.

Happy Saturday!

Shop Sale and a New Necklace!

2011-06-17T12:01:00.000-05:00

It's Friday and we are having a sale! Everything is on sale and our Round-the-Rosie Necklaces have gone from $30 each to $20!!!

(AND if you are a facebook fan you will get an extra coupon code, so go check it out!)

AND we have a new necklace to share with you today!

Our Gray Chambray Round-the-Rosie Necklace!

Oooooohhh!!! Isn't it GORGEOUS?!?

The pink ribbon is removable. Let me tell you, this necklace goes with EVERYTHING!

So head over to our shop and check out our sale!

Happy Friday! :)

YES Snacks

2011-06-15T14:59:00.000-05:00

Hopefully this post will bring a little sanity to your summer. My kiddos could munch all day long, so I've come up with something we call "Yes Snacks". I felt like I was saying no all day and I didn't want them to think that was the only answer I would ever give. The kids know if they ask for anything on this list, I will always say yes. (But they still have to ask.) Here is a list of some of our yes snacks:

Fruits

Veggies

Cheese Sticks

Almonds

Pistachios

Pretzel Sticks

Annie's Cheddar Bunnies

Yogurt

Applesauce

Today I replenished the yes snacks and decided to jazz it up a little for the kiddos. I don't make it this pretty every day, but are they worth it? YEP!

I made some yummy and healthy dips to go with each. I really didn't use a recipe but here is what I used:

Veggie Dip

Greek Yogurt

Dill

Garlic Powder

Salt

Pepper

Fruit Dip

Vanilla Yogurt

Natural Peanut Butter

Raw Honey

That's it! So easy and SERIOUSLY yummy. Did they like it?

I think so. ;)

Sunday Song - The One With Kristian Stanfill

2011-06-12T19:59:00.000-05:00

This week's Sunday Song is from Kristian Stanfill.

I love his music! I have many favorites from him, but his newest song is probably my favorite. We sang it today in church to go along with the last bit of our study on the Lord's Prayer. "Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one." It was very moving. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I Believe In Pink

2011-06-08T14:24:00.001-05:00

This afternoon while I was playing on Pinterest, I noticed a bit of a trend to my pinning.

via House Beautiful

via Marie Claire

via ? found on Pinterest

via

via ? found on Pinterest

...Apparently!

Are you on Pinterest? I'd love it if you'd follow me so I can follow you too!

Sunday Song - The One With Rich Mullins

2011-06-04T22:00:00.001-05:00

I believe I was 14 years old when my mom took me and a few friends of mine to a Rich Mullins concert. I remember he walked out with a white t-shirt, blue jeans with holes in the knees, and bare feet. I had listened to his music all throughout my childhood, but now that he was in the same room as me, it was like I fell in love. Not with him, but with everything about him. From the moment he walked onto the stage, I was captivated. I think it was his ability to speak about the things of God and his struggles with such honesty. He was just so real. Some of his songs even seem child-like. I think what hit me was his humanness. Is that a word? Like David. A sinner but a man after God's own heart. He wasn't the normal church-going Christian I was use to. That is what I desire so much for others to see in me. I long for it in my life. And when I listen to his music, the longing is can be unbearable. (In a good way.) When I listen to Rich's music, I have to immerse myself. I can't just listen to one song. I have to listen till I feel saturated. His music makes me feel God sitting next to me. If you have ever heard him, I'm pretty sure you know what I mean. It is so hard to pick one song, so I picked two. Be With You is probably my favorite. I hope you love them both as much as I do.

Saturday Snapshot

2011-06-04T08:56:00.001-05:00

My oldest turned 14 yesterday! CRAZYNESS.

He is like a little kid with presents. He had to open them as soon as we were all awake. :)

He requested Grilled Cheese and Bacon Sammies for lunch and Ree's Brownies as his birthday cake. They were both awesome! Then we did a little shopping with his birthday money and finished off the day at Steak n Shake for dinner.

I think he had a pretty good day. ;)

Round the Rosie Hair Clips!

2011-05-31T12:09:00.001-05:00

Introducing the Round-the-Rosie Hair Clip!

10 patterns to choose from!

Closes with a strong alligator clip.

Perfect for little girls OR big girls!

Click here to order!...

Time to Breathe

2011-05-26T11:28:00.002-05:00

Yep, we are still trying to breathe around here.

We were recently offered some special time to retreat and relax with some dear friends who counsel pastors and pastor's wives for a living, and we jumped at the chance. We still need to work out some of those lingering feelings that make our stomaches twist in knots.

So this weekend The Man and I are getting away for a while.

And we really need it, lemme tell ya.

Because honestly, sometimes, this is what I feel like...

Lets just say it's pretty, but it's also a mess.

I am praying that we both relax and completely decompress before we have to head back to life.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend and get the chance to chill for a while.

Sunday Song - The One With Ray Lamontagne

2011-05-21T22:26:00.000-05:00

So, this week I discovered Ray Lamonagne. On my own. Why has no one ever told me about him?? Where have I been?? Hiding happily under an Adele and Civil Wars rock, I suppose. Don't worry, I was happy there. But then HE showed up. Now I am a VERY happy girl. So here is my favorite so far. If you love Ray and have a fav, let me know. I'd love to check it out! :)

Saturday Snapshot and Giveaway Winner!

2011-05-21T16:13:00.001-05:00

The MAN ran his first 5K today and the kiddos and I are sooooooo stinkin' proud!

He even beat his best time so far!

GREAT JOB Babe!!! Whoohoo!!!

And now what you have all been waiting for! Our Dayspring Giveaway winner is...

Jennifer Mizell!

Congratulations Jennifer and thanks to everyone who entered! Don't worry, it won't be our last giveaway! LOTS of fun stuff on the way! :)

Quick Reminder...

2011-05-20T18:12:00.000-05:00

Two things...

1. The Dayspring giveaway ends tonight! Make sure you leave a comment here!

2. If you don't like us on Facebook yet, you are REALLY gonna wanna. Just sayin'. ;)

(IN)Couragement and a Giveaway!

2011-05-18T17:24:00.003-05:00

{{GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED}}

I just signed up to be a part of the Summer Book Club over at (in)courage. Have you even visited their blog? It really is, well, encouraging! I have been blessed by each of their writers and their real, honest, posts. The book we will be reading is The Fitting Room by Kelly Minter. I am so excited to get started!

This week, I received a package in the mail from Dayspring. Don't you just LOVE getting packages? (Especially when they have super cute stuff inside!) Here is what came...

Isn't it awesome?!? I can't wait to put a cute picture of me and the man in it!

And what better way to display it?? Sometimes I forget how important it is to have scripture in your home. This is such a great way to accomplish that, don't you think?

And guess what? They also gave me a $20 coupon code to giveaway! Want to get a picture frame just like mine? It's only $20! (shipping charges do apply so that would be a little extra, just so u know.) But you can pick out anything from the shop that you want. This is a great time to think about birthdays, graduations, or anniversaries that may be coming up. OR you could go ahead and order that item you have had on your wishlist forever. :)

So how do you win?? Well, first, you have to be a follower of this blog, so go over there ---> and click follow! ;) Next head over to the Dayspring shop and have a look around. Now, leave me a comment telling me what you very favorite thing over there is. Easy peasy! (just one comment per person, please.)

The giveaway ends Friday at midnight and I will announce the winner sometime Saturday.

Now go for it! :)

*I have received free product from Dayspring to use in this blog post but my opinions are my own. :)

Sunday Song - The One With Hanson

2011-05-15T15:24:00.000-05:00

Hanson first came out with their song, MMMBop about 14 years ago. Crazy, huh? I always had that song stuck in my head, but I never knew what the words were! Well, they are all grown up and they have a new song that is just as infectious. (But this time you can understand all the words.) It's a very fun song! Great for driving or dancing in the living room with two twirly girls. (or so I assume... ;) I hope you like it!

P.S. If YOU do a Sunday Song, I would love to check it out, so let me know! :)

Saturday Snapshot

2011-05-14T08:57:00.001-05:00

Happy Saturday!

Burlap and Blue

2011-05-14T08:51:00.000-05:00

I am so thrilled to be a new sponsor over at

burlap and blue

Go visit Linda and check out her beautiful site!

Pretty in Pink!

2011-05-14T00:04:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure what took me so long, but I have added PINK to the list of Round-the-Rosie Necklaces!

Isn't it gorgeous?!? I LOVE this new color.

All our Round-the-Rosie Necklaces are now $30. Got a special occasion coming up or a gift to buy for a friend? Go check out the shop!

Sunday Song - Mother's Day

2011-05-07T23:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to my amazing Mom!

And thanks to my Loo-La-Bees for making me feel like the luckiest Mommy ever! :)

This is for all my Momma peeps. ;)

Word to tha Mutha. ;)

Happy Mother's Day!!!

On The Fly Entertaining

2011-05-05T11:19:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had a friend call and say, “I am five minutes away, can I drop by?” This use to happen to me once a week. And I actually don’t mind! I love spur of the moment visitors, but for a lot of us, this can be a stressful situation. In the morning and early afternoon my house is usually a mess because we have been homeschooling. So when I get a phone call like this, my kids and I spring into action. It is a pretty funny sight! “Noah, put away everything on the table. Parker, pick up the living room floor. Jackson, go straighten up your room. Miley, please watch your sister while I get dressed.” (Yes, I am often in my pajamas.) This is usually how we get things ready for a visitor, but what if it is close to lunchtime when they call? No, I don’t plan on feeding everyone a meal, but it might be nice to offer our visitor a snack. Well, I have found some things that I can whip up very quickly AND cheaply with very little stress on my part.

{It doesn't hurt to have a pixie and a puppy on the look-out either. ;) }

My very favorite idea required a purchase. I went to a Pampered Chef party recently and purchased a Stoneware Fluted Bunt Pan, and it has already paid for itself.

The only reason I bought it was so I could use this recipe. I knew it would be perfect for a quick treat! All you need it a boxed cake mix and a can of pie filling! When my grocery store has a sale on these items, I stock up my pantry. You can use any flavor you like, but what I like is this:

1 box Chocolate Cake Mix
1 can Cherry Pie Filling

Mix two ingredients. Spray your bunt pan and drop mixture in. Place in microwave and bake for 12 minutes! THAT’S IT! You can sprinkle it with powdered sugar to if you like. This recipe makes entertaining very easy. (No, I don't sell pampered chef and I haven't received compensation for this plug. :)

You don’t always need food to make a good impression. Sometimes offering a yummy drink in a pretty glass is just as fun! This next recipe is so quick, easy, and inexpensive that it is perfect for on the fly entertaining!

{Dinah's Dishes}

FRUIT TEA

Southern girls love fruit tea and we don't mind spending the time it takes to make it. But when you have someone heading to your house, this is a quick and easy recipe for Fruit Tea. If you have some tea already made and in your fridge, it makes this recipe twice as fast.

1 can Orange-Pineapple juice
1 pitcher of ice tea

Combine juice and tea. Slice lemons and limes for a pretty presentation.

So there you have it! A couple of recipes that are quick, easy and helpful for spur of the moment entertaining. Just remember that advanced planning on your part always works to your advantage! Stock your pantry with these ingredients so that you will be ready to entertain your drop-in guests.

P.S. I have lowered the price on our Rosie Necklaces from $35 to $30 AND you can still use the BLESSEDNEST coupon code for and extra 30% off. It's a GREAT deal, so hurry over to my shop and pick out your fav! :)

This Blessed Nest

2011-05-03T19:34:00.002-05:00

You can find me over at This Blessed Nest today!

Make sure you visit because Kellie is one of my favorite bloggers! Her site is so adorable. I know you'll love it too. :) AND if you check out my post, you will also get the best discount I have ever offered! Whoohoo!!!

Mother's Day

2011-05-02T11:07:00.002-05:00

Still looking for a Mother's Day gift?

Head over to my Etsy shop! Today and tomorrow only use the coupon code FORMOM to get a 20% discount! Hurry, Hurry, HURRY!!! :)

Sunday Song - The One With Amy Grant

2011-04-30T21:54:00.007-05:00

I have loved Amy Grant forever and I share this love with my beautiful friend, Carolyn. There are a million songs I could choose today, but I picked this one for an extra special reason:

Laura and Paul are havin' a baby!!!!!

(I took their engagement pics a few years ago. This is one of my favs.)

And that means...Carolyn is going to be a Grandma! O.M.Geeeee!!!!

Carolyn, I cannot believe you are gonna be a Grandma, but let me just say that you are gonna be the sexiest Grandma I've ever known, that's for sure! ;) {I still think "Auntie Carolyn" would work too... just sayin'} :)

So this is for you. I love you TONS and miss you every second of every day.

Saturday Snapshot

2011-04-30T10:30:00.001-05:00

We celebrated the Royal Wedding with blueberry tea and apricot biscuits!

Easter Pictures

2011-04-25T10:13:00.002-05:00

We hope you all had a lovely Easter!!!

Sunday Song - The One With The Civil Wars

2011-04-24T00:00:00.028-05:00

This week's Sunday song comes from one of my favorite groups, The Civil Wars. I have loved Joy Williams for many, many years. My girls even listen to one of her albums at bedtime. So, when I heard about her new group, I was very excited. The Civil Wars' music has been described as "hauntingly beautiful" and I couldn't agree more.

I picked this song because I love how honest the lyrics are. Joy says this about the song: "Love has a way of ripping you apart just as much as it has a way of holding you together, and this piece is a gut-level-honest tug and pull of affection and affliction felt between two lovers." Marriage is not always easy, but it's the give and take and the sticking to it that makes it sweet.

I hope you love it as much as I do!

*If you write a Sunday Song post please let me know in the comments! I would love to drop by your blog! :)

Saturday Snapshot - Easter Edition

2011-04-23T00:00:00.005-05:00

"Henceforth, your trunk will be thin and twisted, with white blossoms having four petals in the shape of a cross. The outer edge of each petal will show nail prints stained with red, and the center will be like a crown of thorns as a reminder to all." ~The Legend of the Dogwood

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. Mark 16:5&6

Happy Easter!

Canvas Upcycle

2011-04-22T19:02:00.011-05:00

Remember my Glue and Canvas Art post? Well, I had a minor fail on my first try. I was going for one of those swirly free form trees.

I don't think I did too bad, but it just didn't turn out how I'd hoped. That meant I had a used canvas sitting around being wasted, so I came up with a new project!

First, I cut some fabric to cover the canvas...

Then I hot glued it on...

Made some rosies and attached them with hot glue...

And now I have some cute little rosie specimen art!

And since I was in an upcycling mood, I took a canvas that had a hole poked in it and glued a map to it. Now something completely un-useable is super cute and sitting on the mantle!

Ahhh, I love a happy ending. :)

*P.S. To all those sweet stalkers out there, you know who you are, I would love to hear from you! If you visit and enjoy what you see, please say hi! :)

Spring Chicken Lettuce Wraps

2011-04-20T21:40:00.003-05:00

When the weather turns warmer, I find it quite hard to convince myself to turn on the oven or cook over a hot stove, so I have a few go-to recipes in my back pocket just waiting for a warm spring/summer evening. This recipe is the first one I think of. My friend Amber made it for me one night and since then, it has become one of my favorite recipes. Here are the things you will need...

Living Lettuce

(Any wide leafed lettuce will do. Iceberg or Romaine would work fine.)

Rotisserie Chicken

Sriracha Hot Sauce

Chickpeas

Garlic

Greek Yogurt

Lemon or Lime

Cilantro

Tomato

Avocado

(salt, pepper, and cumin)

First I make the hummus. (There will be lots left over so I buy extra veggie such as red bell peppers or carrot chips to dip later as a snack.)

Drain and rinse 1 can of chickpeas...

Next, I add 8 oz. of Greek Yogurt, the drained and rinsed Chickpeas, 2 cloves of Garlic, a handful of Cilantro, juice of 1/2 a Lemon or 1 Lime, 1 Tbs. Sriracha Hot Sauce (This is hot stuff so it's up to you how much or even IF you add this, but it give a wonderful flavor to the hummus.) Salt, Pepper, and Cumin to taste.

Now just whizz it up in your blender to smooth and creamy. In the end, I needed a bit more liquid, so I added 2 Tbs of Newman's Own Olive Oil and Vinegar Dressing. This adds another great flavor punch too. If you don't want to add this you can just add a bit more yogurt.

Now find yourself a sweet little helper and start building your lettuce wraps! :)

Spread the hummus over the lettuce...

Then add your chicken, tomato and avocado. And voila! You have an amazingly yummy, and super easy dinner!

Wouldn't they be great of a picnic??

YUM!!! Hope you love them as much as I do! :)

Sunday Song - The One With Ingrid Michaelson

2011-04-16T21:58:00.000-05:00

When I think of Ingrid Michaelson, one word comes to mind. Adorable. She has the cutest personality, but my favorite thing about her is that she smiles when she sings. Seriously, adorable. She always makes her audience laugh, but she writes such beautiful, and honest songs. She is even better live, and that's another thing you can't say about most performers.

I picked this video because it shows how she always makes a song sound so effortless, but if you are paying attention, there is a depth you don't find in many other voices. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! I'm sure she will show up again for Sunday Song. :)

Saturday Snapshot

2011-04-16T21:50:00.001-05:00

This is Miley with just one of the ten 4-leaf clovers she found this week. I don't know how she does it. Maybe St. Patty babies are extra lucky? ;)

I Name Things

2011-04-16T17:19:00.001-05:00

This post is actually about a few of my favorite things, but also I feel the need to address the fact that I love naming my favorite things. It's weird. I know it's weird. I'm cool with it. You have already been introduced to The Amazing Crown Lamp, so I thought it might be fun to share a few of my favorite things with you!

First, is my gigantic 13.25 qt Le Creuset cast iron pot. I had been wanting one of these for a loooooong time, partly because Ina Garten uses them on her show and I am all about the Barefoot Contessa. I found it at a bargain store here in town for $165. The cheapest one I had ever found online was around $500. If you can find a deal like this, it is soooooo worth it!

Her name is Birdie.

Last week ordered a Sizzix Big Shot because of Ashley's recommendation . {Her blog is so beautiful. When my blog grows up it wants to be just like her's.} This thing is so cool! I had to MAKE myself not cut up every piece of fabric in the house because it is just so much fun.

Her name Trixie.

Last is my new {make-ur-blog-look-fancy-shmancy} Nikon D3100 camera that hubby surprised me with on Christmas Eve. I cried.

Her name is Salma, as in Salma Hayek, because she is dark and lovely. ;)

Ruthanne over at Eclectic Whatnot was having a sale last week and I ordered this pretty camera strap slip cover. I think Ruthanne must enjoy naming things too, because many of her slip covers are named after a female book/movie characters. So fun!

This is the Josie {GROSSY} Geller. Isn't she pretty??

So, there you have it! I'm sure I will have more favorite things to share with you later, but these are my favs right now. What are some of YOUR favorite things? I would to hear about them!

Little Red House Photo Shoot

2011-04-11T09:00:00.003-05:00

See my new blog header?? L.O.V.E. Yesterday, just for fun and because the weather was so lovely, the kids and I ran up to my friend Amber's house. She has this adorable little red storage house in her backyard that I have always thought would be a great backdrop for kiddo pictures. So, I loaded the kids up and promises of sonic milkshakes if they all cooperated. {I have 5 kids after all. It's HARD to get em' all smiling and looking at the camera at. the. same. time.} Here are my 2 favs...

My handsome men...

and My little ladies

It's a very good thing we went yesterday, because we are suppose to have storms all day today! Happy Monday everyone! I hope YOURS is sunny! :)

Sunday Song - The One With Bruno Mars

2011-04-09T23:30:00.010-05:00

When I found Natasha's blog and discovered that she had a link up each week for sharing music, I was so thrilled, and even mentioned how I wished I had been the one to come up with the genius idea.

Well, I am sad to say that Natasha has closed her blog and thus, her linky party will not be happening each week. I was so bummed about not having the chance to share my favorite songs each week. So... I have decided to carry on the tradition! Basically, I plan on posting a Sunday Song every week and I was wondering if anyone else would like to? It won't be a linky party, exactly, but if you do a Sunday Song post I would love you to let me know in the comments. There is also a button I created over on my sidebar ---> if you would like to link back to MY Sunday Song.

Ok, so on to my post...

I have been blessed with an AMAZING group of girlfriends. I would never want do life without them. They have been lifting my family up in prayer throughout the past 6 months as we look for a new job, and I could never thank them enough. When I heard this song, it reminded me of them, so that is why I chose it for this week's Sunday Song. Since he hasn't actually made a video for this song, I found this one. I must award cool points to the maker for her adorable illustrations and also for including a lightsaber. (I DO have three boys, after all. ;) I hope you enjoy it.

*And to my gals... (you know who you are) I am so thankful for you and I love you all soooooooo much!!!!!

Breathe

2011-04-09T19:51:00.002-05:00

Our family has been searching for a church ever since we moved back to my home town. We visited around, but we would always end up going back to the same one. Every week I tried hard not to cry, and many weeks I would look over and see a tear sliding down my husband's cheek. It had been a long time since we had heard God speak so clearly.

A few weeks later, we had the chance to attend a fellowship for people who were interested in joining. I stood beside my husband and listened as he told the pastor where we had come from, what we were going through, and why we were there. When my husband was done speaking, the pastor looked him in the eye and said "Breathe deeply, my brother."

For days, his words were all I could think about. "Breathe deeply." It is the only way we will ever heal. And sometimes it is all we can do. Breathe. I believe these were the very words of God, spoken from His heart to ours.

I have been planning to share this little story with you for a while, and I'm not sure why I waited so long, but maybe it was so that I could also share with you this next bit of news. My husband was offered a full-time job this week! The job is here in town, so we will be able to continue living with my parents as we catch up on bills and save up for whatever is next. We are relieved and so grateful for His provision.

God has, once again, proven himself to be faithful and constant. We know that He is for us. He always will be. And that makes it much easier for us to breathe.

Are You A Fan???

2011-04-05T09:51:00.000-05:00

Have you 'liked' us on facebook yet? If not, today might be a great day to stop by... just sayin'. ;)

Loo-La-Bee on Facebook

Sunday Song - The One With Corinne Bailey Rae

2011-04-02T21:41:00.003-05:00

I chose to feature this song today because I can't get it out of my head! I hum it all day long and wake up singing it in my head. I love it for lots of reasons...

1. Her voice is so smooth and sweet.

2. It's fun to listen to while your driving.

3. It helps me BREATH. (more on this in a later post)

4. It sounds like Spring, which is apropos. :)

So here it is! Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Round the Rosie Posie Pin

2011-04-01T19:30:00.001-05:00

We have a brand spankin' new product to introduce and it's a real cutie!

Introducing...

The Round the Rosie Posie Pin!

Isn't she sweet?? Yes, yes, it's a she. ;)

Everyone sing it with me now!

"Ring around the rosie, your jacket needs a posie!"

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Etsy!

2011-03-31T12:30:00.001-05:00

Well, It's official! LooLaBee Simplicity's shop is now on ETSY! Yahooooooo!!!!! Come check us out!

I am also the newest sponsor over at This Blessed Nest , so go check Kellie's blog out too!

New Round-The-Rosie Colors!

2011-03-29T22:08:00.002-05:00

Are you getting ready for Easter? Our Round-the Rosie Necklaces would go beautifully with your Easter attire! Here are a few of our new Spring colors...

Spring Green

(a really bright, crisp color)

Pure White

(It looks GORGEOUS with denim.)

...and you have already been introduced to our Sunny Yellow. :)

Aren't they such happy colors?

*Don't forget about our limited edition Spring Rosie Necklace.*

Shoot us an email at simplyloolabee@aol.com if you would like to place an order! Color requests are always welcome, and there are lots more pictures on our facebook page, so come 'like' us!

When You Don't Have A Home

2011-03-25T13:17:00.001-05:00

It came! Spring arrived!

I LOVE Spring. But then something else showed up. I began feeling a bit jittery. It finally happened. Honestly, I knew it would. Discontentment. This is something I really dislike about myself. I wanted nothing more than to decorate with birds and eggs and nests and tulips, or even paint a room in a bright robin's egg blue.

I knew that not having a home would catch up to me soon enough. It actually took longer than I expected, so that's good, right? But Spring arrived and here we are. Still waiting on God. Sometimes I wonder if He is paying attention. I know He is, of course. I trust Him and I believe what He is planning is better than anything I ever could. This is where I quote 2 Peter 3:9 and remind you and me that God is not slow in keeping his promises. Some might call that a Sunday School answer. I have become sick of that phrase. I LOVED Sunday School. I learned a lot there and yes, I learned the answers to my questions in bible verse form. What's wrong with that? Jesus answered questions with bible verses too. I'm ok with Sunday School answers. (Sorry. **steps off soap box**)

I pray and ask God to help me enjoy this time. Time with my parents that my children and I haven't had in years. I am so thankful for that. I am thankful for parents who were not just willing, but EXCITED to have us. But it keeps coming back. This is not my home. Which reminds me of another bible verse. :) It also reminds me of my favorite quote... "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy , the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." C.S. Lewis

When I read that quote for the first time, i cried. It struck something deep in my soul. That is exactly how I feel. I feel as if NOTHING can satisfy my desire for home. Which leads me to another question. WHY did God make me this way! I actually typed this with a big silly smile on my face, because it sounds so dramatic. I don't mean it that way, but I can't think of a better way to say it. Why do I have such a strong desire to nest? I think it has a lot to do with my spiritual gift. Hospitality. It's hard to be hospitable in someone else's home. Actually it's pretty much impossible. And that's ok, for now.

God gave me a desire, a yearning, for home. And I know that if He gave it to me, I don't have to feel guilty about it. But I can't allow it to overwhelm me. So for now, I dream.

I dream of a home with robin's egg blue walls and a vase full of tulips. I dream of a big table full of friends, food, and laughter. And I dream of a home in heaven that I don't have to redecorate because God prepared it for me and He knows just what I like. :)

Linking up to This Blessed Nest's Spring Fling

Ruffled Satin Flower Belt

2011-03-19T14:22:00.002-05:00

I have been kinda giggly all week about this birthday gift I created for my friend, Amber. I am seriously in love with it! Since it is now in her possession I can finally share the pics...

It's a Ruffled Satin Flower Belt!!!

Isn't it sweet??

LOVE.

I'm thinking this may end up in my product line. :)

Happy Birthday, to my "Sista"!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T13:11:00.003-05:00

and Happy 8th Birthday to our Miley!

(We take a picture like this every year on St. Patrick's Day)

(this is last yr's)

We began the day with Daddy's waffles. He usually makes them on Saturdays but Miley requested rainbow waffles as her birthday breakfast!

Here is all the colors...

Aren't they pretty?!?

I made Miley a flower for her hair. :)

These are some treats I made for a tea party my dear "sista" Amber threw in Miley's honor.

Amber gave Miley a gift of paint and canvases, and then she let Miley paint in her art room!

If you haven't checked her blog out yet, now is a great time! She is doing a painting every day for 30 days.

She even painted one for Miley today. :)

I can't believe she is 8! I am so thankful for my Miley!

Hope you are all having a very Happy and GREEN St. Patty's! :)

P.S. Amber is having a giveaway over at her blog, Art Tu Brute?! Head over there now and enter to win a piece of art! Become a follower of her blog and make sure you leave a comment letting her know I sent you! ;)

Glue and Canvas Art

2011-03-15T22:37:00.006-05:00

I had a cute idea that I wanted to try for Spring Fling and I'm really excited to show you how it turned out! First you will need:

Elmer's Glue

Canvas

Craft Paint

Black Sponge Brushes

There are a million pictures that go along with this craft. I apologize in advance. I want to make sure you see each step and understand what I did. I hope you don't mind. The pictures are also darker than I would like because it has been so cloudy! Boy, I have made this post sound really great, huh?!? ;) Don't worry, it will be! :)

First, I found a cute clip art picture of a bird and printed it out. I thought about making a stencil but then I thought it might be easy to draw. (I know it won't be that way for everyone and my suggestion IS to make a stencil or maybe even use a transparency.)

Here is my drawing...

Now, take your Elmers Glue and trace your outline...

And then flood it in...

Here is a birdcage clip art I found online...

Here is my drawing...

And the glued up version :) ...

And then I drew a word and traced it with the glue...

I let them dry overnight just to make sure.

Now its time to paint!

Here are the colors of paint I used...

(Sunny Yellow, Light Peony mixed with Bright Pink, and Calypso Sky)

I painted them up and then hot glued some raffia to the back for hanging...

And here they are all cute and hanging!

Im kinda excited about how they turned out! I think I want to spray some glossy clear coat on top. They dried a little too matte for my liking.

**side note: i know im a little strange, but the yellow bird kinda reminds me of a marshmallow peep. ;) **

You can do ANYTHING here! The only limitation is your imagination. :)

Linking to:

The Pity Party

Tatertots and Jello