Tell me I'm not alone... there's nothing better than coming home to a clean and well-organized home! Yes? That's why I'm excited to share some fantastic home organization ideas that will make your day... maybe year... run smoother. And we all need that! Take a few minutes to check out all the inspiration... and don't forget to pin this and your favorites, too. 8 Tips & Tricks to Organize Almost Every Area of Your Home Easy Closet Space Solutions on a Budget from Paint Yourself A Smile Hanging DIY Hidden Jewelry Organizer from H2O … [Read more...]
Do you have a friend who's going through a tough time? Have you ever thought that YOU could be her bright spot? That you could be the one to shine a warm sunny light into the shadows of her life? We really do have the power to brighten someone's day. Make a point this week to carry the sun around with you and SHINE for all you're worth. Then just maybe your friend will say... “When it was dark, you always carried the sun in your hand for me.” Seán O'Casey To encourage you in this sunny endeavor... I created this FREE printable art quote for you. Download and print out … [Read more...]
When I was growing up I used to hear people talk about how to know God's will for your life. It's a question to which we all want an answer. Better yet... a direct message, email, a text from God would put us all on the right path. Or so we think. I know that there are times when I'm perplexed with indecision and I wish for His "handwriting on the wall." God doesn't work that way and even if we had a personalized life plan in our hands Fed-Exed directly to us from Him... we would still pick and choose what feels good to us. What?! I hate to admit it... but how many … [Read more...]
Tell me I'm not alone... the BEST part of a Super Bowl party is the FOOD! Yes? Maybe you're a fan of the commercials? Now that we get a preview of the crazy expensive commercials via social media ahead of the big game, well, that sort of takes away from the fun. But the food... seriously... it hardly matters who wins or loses (Haha! This year I don't even know who's playing!! I know!!) if you're in the company of good fans / friends and amazing food. That's why I'm excited for this week's features from Project Inspire{d}. There are some truly crazy good recipe ideas you'll want to check out and … [Read more...]
I did it!! I decorated a spot in my home with a Valentine's Day theme using leftovers, something thrifted, something upcycled, a few of nature's elements, and all topped off with a few items from the "dollar" aisle. It's colorful, a wee bit whimsical, graphic, and makes me smile. And I had another excuse to use my new roadside rescue side table. Now, I have to tell you, I didn't plan to decorate for Valentine's Day in such a big way. My original plan was to make a sweater wreath and place it on my new rustic door that I had propped up on my new whitewashed table and create a … [Read more...]
I wonder how many times I've quit or given up while standing upon the precipice of a big breakthrough? It's easy to become overwhelmed and weary in the midst of life's challenges. At the risk of sounding trite, I want to encourage you to... Hang in there. Push yourself one more time. Trust God to help you. Believe it can be done. Don't give up. "Keep the faith. The most amazing things in life tend to happen right at the moment you’re about to give up hope." If you need this encouragement or know someone who does, please take the time to … [Read more...]
Have you noticed how our hope can waver? In the midst of winter and the never-ending gray... hope seems tentative. But... come a blue sky sunny day... hope shines bright! If you're floundering, there is ONE thing YOU CAN DO to find your HOPE again! On those days when you feel hopeless, you're not alone. Lamentations... the book filled with laments reflects those feelings we sometimes share... I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the … [Read more...]
I'm a huge fan of red! And hearts! And though I'm not a big romantic, I do enjoy doing a little bit of decorating with red and white and hearts. A month after all the Christmas decor has been down, there's something fun and whimsical about getting a little bit crafty and sprinkling a few hearts in my home decor. That's why I'm excited for this week's features from Project Inspire{d}. There are some really great DIY ideas you'll want to check out and try your hand at for Valentine's Day. Take a few minutes to kick back, relax, and check out all the features... and don't forget to pin this … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! Have you noticed? There seems to be so much angst in the world these days. So on this day when we honor the memory and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., I thought it appropriate to create a printable, quoting his words... "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." LOVE is caring, forgiving, and stands up for what's right. LOVE is what disarms people and opens up conversation. And in the end... LOVE will have a bigger impact on the world than anything else. If you would appreciate this reminder in the form of a … [Read more...]
This morning I prayed for direction in writing this post. As usual, there were no lightning bolts nor was there any handwriting on the wall. My heart was open to hearing from God. And he didn't leave me wondering for long. I opened Bible Gateway and the verse of the day popped up. Here it is... If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also. 1 John 4:20-21 I had already been concerned about … [Read more...]
It's been cold here in the Great Lakes! And there's nothing better to beat back the cold than a hot steamy bowl of homemade soup. Mmm. Good! Nearly every week, I'll roast a chicken, remove the meat from the bones, and gently simmer the bones and some veggies for at least 24 hours so I can have the elixir of the gods... delicious, healing, bone broth. Often I made homemade chicken soup with the broth. Sometimes I go wild and make another hearty soup, but chicken is our mainstay. We love it and enjoy it for several days. That means I have simplified my meal planning in a BIG way. I love not … [Read more...]
It's rare for me to pop on the blog for a random chat. But here I am! First of all, I'm a little excited about an upcoming feature series that I will be hosting with some good blogging friends. You know how I love to make something from nothing? Well, that's just a little hint about what we have in store for you very soon. Not long ago my husband was helping a builder friend with a little demolition work. It was good for him because guys can work out their frustrations when they have a good demo project. It was good for me, because as they were throwing debris down the chute to the … [Read more...]
If you love cornbread and are looking for a way to make it a nutritional powerhouse for breakfast, then I've got an... Easy and Hearty Breakfast Muffin Recipe for You Do you ever go through your pantry and wonder how did you ever get a box of such and such? It's crazy how things appear out of no-where. As a true northerner, I always pass on cornbread. So why would I have a cornbread muffin mix in my pantry? I haven't figured that out. But, shortly after discovering it (and wondering who I could pass it off to) a cornbread breakfast muffin recipe landed in my inbox. Typically I wouldn't … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! I started the year off by setting new goals and working to improve my skills in several areas. So often I struggle because everything isn't perfect. I want all my ducks in a row... but you know... sometimes the conditions are not perfect. Am I alone? I'm guessing not. That why this Alan Cohen quote, "Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect." really hit home for me. If you're like me... you just might appreciate having this quote in front of you. I created a FREE 8x10 printable art quote for … [Read more...]
We are a week into the New Year. Already time seems to be going by too quickly. There are so many things I want to accomplish. New goals being set. I'm trying super hard to become more productive with my time. And, I even started a little accountability support group of sorts with two other blogging friends. We learn together, share tips, encourage each other, pray for each other, and speak Truth to each other. Speaking Truth is a big one for us. It's so easy for us to get sucked into the lies of the world. You know the lies you have to fight each day. That's why it's so important that we … [Read more...]
Have you swept your house of Christmas? I haven't swept everything away. I have a little silver vase filled with rose hips and white pine that still looks amazing... another vase filled with drying winterberry branches... and two evergreen wreaths festooned with pretty rose hips. I also have a small tree that's undecorated except for its white lights. This is my transition from Christmas. There's something about nature's elements that I don't quickly tire of. Unfortunately, the wreaths will need to come down this next week as they are starting to show their dryness. On the upside... that … [Read more...]
Have you even had a wall mounted bare fluorescent light bulb blind your eyes? It's awful! Have you wanted to fix it, but there didn't seem to be a way to attach a shade? I have a simple and inexpensive solution for you. First, I need to warn you.... this is NOT a pretty post. It's utilitarian all the way! Bare fluorescent strip lights are popular over sinks in apartments. We all agree that when washing up pots and pans it's helpful to see what we're doing. But, Hello! A bare light two feet from our eyeballs!! What were they thinking? Obviously, it was the bank … [Read more...]
