.black friday.

.black friday. Instead of spending a ton of money on Christmas gifts that people will not appreciate, consider this:

Please visit advent conspiracy to give more.

.happy thanksgiving.

picture source: http://brantfowler.blogspot.com/

This year I am thankful for:

• God.  He blesses me with much, much, much more then I deserve.  I will never be able to thank Him for the life He has chosen for me. 
• My husband.  I am thankful everyday for the love God gives us for each other.
• Lydia.  You are truly a gift from the Lord.
  

.thanksgiving.

.thanksgiving.  Happy early Thanksgiving everyone.  I love Thanksgiving.  I think it is the best holiday.  Partly because it gets overlooked in the mad shuffle before Christmas. Partly because I get to eat delicious food all day without the guilty feeling.  But mostly because it's a day where we all reflect on our life and say a big thank you to God for all that he blesses us with.  It is amazing that God gives us so much and we can celebrate together in that blessing to praise Him.  .thanksgiving.

 

 

Autumn & everything after $15.00

erm originals $25.00

.simply.simon. $25.00

raw art letterpress $18.00

.oh, hello friend.

.oh, hello friend.  I just want to get this out before I die holding it in any longer.... ahhhhhhhh, totally screaming like a little girl in a great, an awesome way!  In October I signed up for Pattie's, of My Structured Choas, Shop Swap & Blog.  I thought it would be a great way to get some lovely mail.  I ended up with Danni from oh, hello friend as my partner!  Hence, the release of joy in my first sentence.  Seriously - I am still giddy about it!   Anyhow, Danni's blog is awesome, inspiring, super pretty, and just lovely to stare at.  Her designs are cute as can be, and her shop is adorable.  I also love that she loves some of the same  random things I do; rain, Africa, travel, making lists, lip balm...etc.  I think we would be really good friends if I did not live in Wisconsin, and her in California. 

Here is a little info about the shop swap.  Danni was a darling and sent me so many lovely items. First, her packaging is super cute all around.  I would love to get some decorative tissue paper like this to wrap some gifts in for Christmas.

After unwraping her tissue paper I discovered a couple little gifts.  I received a business card, a post card, and a lovely little book lable sticker.

Inside the brown package was a roll of decorative tape.  The tape is great, I could not get a good detailed shot of it though because it is really little.... you will just have to trust me.

I also got a pocket mirror.  These are currently in her shop, lovely lace pocet mirror, and sell for $5.00.

Then I opened the little envelope and received a hair pin.  Here is a link to her hair pins.  She sells them as follows:  one for $5.00, two for $8.50, and three for $14.00.  I have already worn mine and it produced some nice compliments.  It really is adorable.

I also pulled out a mini magnet.  This little thing looks like its not strong but it can hold its own!

Thank you Danni, I love all my items!  I will have my interview with Danni up shortly, so you will all be able to get to know her a little more.  How she creates, why she started crafting, what inspires her, etc.  Please come back, you won't want to miss it. .oh, hello friend.

Visit Oh, hello friend:  blog, shop, twitter, & facebook.

.thanksgiving baskets.

.thanksgiving baskets.  So thrilled to have been a part of this:

 

.trust.

"So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you." 
1 Peter 4:19

Have you ever been stuck in a hard situation.  I mean a really hard one, a rut?  One of my best friends is there.  She is between a rock and a hard place, and was smashing her head silly against both on the issue.  Instead of continuing to be buried under the avalance of crap, she decided to trust the Lord and follow His way.  Because, lets be honest, His way is all that truly matters.  If you do his will "he will never fail you" - isn't that the most amazing truth out there!  I love knowing that.  Because my friend knows what God wants her to do, she is at peace.  God is not going to fail her.  Yes her decision was hard, yes it hurt people she loves, yes she suffered over the choice at hand, but guess what - God is not going to fail her.  God knows what is best for her and she trusts only Him.  Are you in a place that needs the Lords help?  Turn over your life to Him & he will never fail you!

.paper garland.

.paper garland.  Have you been to Shabby Chic Crafts?  This girl is super cute & creative.  This week she has been posting easy Christmas projects you can make to decorate with or give away as awesome gifts.  On Tuesday she posted an easy way to make Christmas garland with paper scraps.  I thought I would give it a go - these pictures are my version. 

Speaking of Christmas before Thanksgiving.... I alway told people I thought that it was a sin to decorate for Christmas before the big Turkey day.  And here I am decorating before next week.  When did I become ok with this?  Is it because it's Lydia's first Christmas?  I don't know the answer to that but I have Christmas spirit already & I don't intend to hide it away until next Friday.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Go to Shabby Chic Crafts to check out her paper garland and other festive gifts.  .paper garland.

.hunters.

.hunters.  Ok... so I am a day late on my whimsical Wednesday, but here it is anyhow.  I live in Wisconsin and that means opening deer hunting season is starting, this Saturday to be exact.  I thought it would be good to show the guys and gals who hunt that I appreciate them doing so.  Here are a couple items I found through etsy searching for hunting items.  I think they are all cute, and I know cute is not in a hunters vocabulary but that's what these are, so that's the word I am using.  The artists who make these items are way talented and super creative.  Anyhow, good luck all you hunters, please stay safe, and get the big thirty pointer you all dream of.  And a special good luck to Alyssa, my sister.  She has been hunting for many years now & has not gotten one yet, this is your year - I can feel it.  .hunters.

Medicine Bow Baskets $275.00

Blyth House Creations $12.00

Byrdie Creations $6.00

Rustic Style $378.00

.love.

"...love one another deeply, from the heart."
1 Peter 1:22

.love. This verse has been on my heart for a week now.  It states very clearly what we need to do, LOVE.  And lets all face it, we say we do; we say, I love my husband, I love my sister, I love my parents, I love my children.  But, do we always? No, we don't.  These past few weeks have been really hard for me.  My daughter is clinging to me, not letting me do much else then hold her.  She is either getting teeth or has decided to have one of the worst personalitites a baby could have.  It has been hard, and I have not been loving.  Peter did not put in this verse, love one another deeply, when they are being loveable.  He didn't say, love them but only when they are nice, caring, thoughtful, obidient.  He said, love one another deeply, and from the heart.  No matter what.  I am working on this each day.  It seems so simple, but I believe it is harder then we all think.  Love someone today, deeply. .love.

.8+5.

.8+5.  Oh baby girl, you are growing too fast.  So fast in fact that I did't even have time to post a happy 7 months and now we are well into our 8th.  Happy eight months, plus five days, Lydia.  You sure are keeping us busy. 

This is you right now:
   pulling toys constantly out of their box
   army crawling your way to trouble
   happy when I am in the room (this is no joke, I can't leave the room without you worrying where I have gone)

Mostly I see:
   a little girl who is growing too fast.  One that I love to death, even when you drive me CRAZY.

little facts about you:
   you say ma, ba, da, ga.... a lot.  your little body makes a lot of noise & I believe you will be quite a little talker.
   you still fit into size 6 months clothes, and even some 3 month shirts.  your a little peanut, but hey someone has to be in the tenth percent.
   you always want whatever we are holding over your own toys.
   your laugh is hilarious, its more of a sweet giggle.
   you laugh when I blow raspberrys on your belly, really loud.
   you finally like bath time and you cry when its time to get out, even if your covered in goose bumps.
   you have the biggest blue eyes I have ever seen on anyone, they are simply beautiful.
   you always want the next step, you look at older children and want to do what they can.
   your favorite baby food is carrots, however you would rather eat what we are.
   you know you should not play with the cords on the ground, but they are better to play with then your toys. 
   you are shy around other babies, just taking them in and smiling.  It takes you a while to warm up to them, you are quiet & shy at first.
   you like to be held in a standing position.
   you love the toys that are in your crib, especially the fish & bubbles one.
   you love to hang out with daddy, but only until you are tierd, wet or hungry, then its mommy all the way. 
   we love you more then you will ever know.

.veterans day.

.thank you troops.  Today is veterans day & to celebrate say thank you for all our troops my selections for today were all found searching through key words like military, army, navy, air force, and troops.  My Grandpa served in the Army during the Korean war, my husbands Grandpa was in the Navy during the same war.  My cousin served in Iraq, many friends from high school & college are serving as well.  Thank you to anyone who is serving or who has served.  Also thank you to all the wives and children.  Their sacrifice is far greater then I can imagine, I only get glimpses when I talk to my friends who's husbands are gone.  THANK YOU! .thank you troops. 

Ice House Crafts $12.99

Dolphin Moon Creations $26.00

Terrill's Tiles $15.00

cardinal house $14.50

Freedom is not free... Thank a veteran today!

.owls.

.owls.  Owls are IN right now.  It seems that everywhere I look I can find an accessory or little decoration of an owl.  This is good because I like owls.  I love my owl spoon rest.  I adore Lydias owl shoes.  I also love the owl detail I put on one of her wet bags.  I love them.  Owls are cool.  Here are some more owls that I may have to bring into our home.  .owls.

ginia 18 $6.00

Ben and Oliver $15.50

coure $46.00

Pretty Raccoon $37.00

If you love owls, go to etsy & type in owls... you can seriously lose yourself looking at the birds of flight all day.  They are so cute & adorable.