Words... Have you noticed that there's been a war of words, especially on Facebook? Granted Facebook isn't REALLY our personal space.... but it feels personal to me. It's where I keep up with my nieces... one lives in Connecticut and the other in Arizona. It's where I keep up with the friends I've made in New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and beyond. It's also a work space for me... there are the blogging groups I belong to and there's my biz page for my blog, too. Words, memes, and other images have invaded the space where I usually I look forward to seeing … [Read more...]
They were popping up at every turn... little gifts in disguise. It was Saturday afternoon and I had unfinished work... the last thing I wanted to do was go for a hike. The day was gray. The only thing that got me out of my chair was knowing I needed to get my body moving. Small reason... but it was enough. I tied on my walking shoes and off we went. You know how I love nature... but I wasn't into it. And then I spied a little nest of mushrooms. And then there were more... White ones with flat tops and frilly … [Read more...]
What's your most favorite time of the year? Mine is Christmas. But not for all the reasons you might guess. The days leading to Christmas are when my creative juices are at an all-time high. You can usually find a mess somewhere in my home because I'm creating a storm of home decor and handmade Christmas ornaments and gifts. And when I'm creating... I couldn't be happier. Whether you're creative, crafty, or simply wannabe... you will want to grab your favorite drink, get your pinning finger ready, and get prepared to be inspired.... 31 times! 31 Easy Handmade Christmas Ornaments … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! Fall is here dressed in all her finery. I find myself oohing and ahhing around every corner as I travel around town. This must be the prettiest Halloween on record. Speaking of Halloween, Tim and I are picking up a couple of kids in our neighborhood tonight to take trick or treating. I hope we can show them a good time. What are your plans for the evening? If you missed stopping by this past week I shared some extraordinary goodness on the blog... There I was… sitting at the stoplight… | It’s JoyDay! Will You Join Me in Holding Up the Light? Make … [Read more...]
Do you remember that old saying, a smile is a frown turned upside down? The other day I found myself sitting at a stoplight and noticed that my mouth was set in a frown. What?! At that moment I realized my happiness had gotten up and left. If I'm in charge of my happiness... how did that happen? Before I answer that question, I need to ask... What is your happiness quotient? On a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the state of supreme happiness... where do you sit? Are you happy with that spot? I don't think I'm the only one who has … [Read more...]
As we finished up supper the other day I was surprised to look out the window and see how dark it was. The next morning, the sun didn't seem to break the horizon until after 8 a.m. With hardly a notice... we slipped into the season of darkness. There's another kind of darkness that we all seem to have slipped into as well.... it's the darkness of our world. It's almost palpable. I'm sure you'll agree that the darkness is pervasive on social media, especially in regards to the upcoming election. It might come through fear of the future.... anger and disagreement about candidates or issues... … [Read more...]
The countdown to Thanksgiving has begun! Have you already started shopping for your holiday pantry staples? With Thanksgiving less than a month away and Christmas nipping at TG's heels we all need to get prepared. This week's Project Inspire{d} link party has some fabulous recipes, decor, and crafts to inspire your Thanksgiving celebration. If you are a list-maker wannabe and like to have a plan for everything... than you'll love the detailed printable planner Megan from NEPA Mom has put together for you! I always make sure that I plan my table way in advance... that way it always looks … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! We had the most beautiful fall weekend. My latest post will give you a glimpse of how we enjoyed it. I hope you had a lovely weekend creating memories, and enjoying the fleeting beauties of the season. As we approach the "season" of gratitude, I thought I'd share this great gratitude quote I ran across.... When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. --Gilbert K. Chesterton Great words to live by. Yes? If you missed stopping by this past week I shared some extraordinary goodness on … [Read more...]
On this absolutely perfect fall afternoon, we took two neighbor kids on a hike. There was so much delight in discovery that Sarah said, "This place is a palace!" Not 100 steps from our home and we were in another world under the canopy of oaks and beeches. We took them on an incredible adventure... it was if we entered Narnia. As we left the palace of the pines we entered a mighty swath of dune grasses. At 6 and 10 their imaginations were in full force. "Where are we?" we heard multiple times. And multiple times we answered. Not a … [Read more...]
Wouldn't you love a few ideas to transition your home decor into fall? Picking up a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch will work, but it probably won't last past Halloween and if you're like me, you'll want to have some lovely decor for Thanksgiving, too. This week's Project Inspire{d} link party had some fabulous ideas to help you transition through the season gracefully. If you have a fireplace like Duane, you'll love how she used one word as the focal point of her mantel. Maybe you don't have a mantel, but you have a buffet or a sofa table that needs some help. Kristi gives several tips to … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! How was your weekend? Here in West Michigan, we're finally starting to see some pretty color. The word on the street is that we're about 2 weeks behind. But, who can complain when we haven't had a freeze yet, and today we've enjoyed 70 degrees? I'll take it! What's it like in your neck of the woods? Even though Mother Nature might be behind on coloring our world pretty, the calendar still continues to turn faster than fast. Halloween will be here before we know it. If you're on the hunt for some cute and clever Halloween food ideas for all the kiddos in your … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! How was your day? Today I struggled... seemly seeing all the not-so-good things in my day. That's a dangerous place to be. And so the realization led me to put together this graphic that encourages me to "look a little harder." Maybe it will be helpful for you, too. Look for something positive each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder. Did it help? I hope this quote was just the little encouragement you need. If you missed stopping by this past week I shared some extraordinary goodness on the blog... How to Make Easy … [Read more...]
Have you ever had a problem with yellow-jacket wasps at your house? At our first house we had ground bees one summer... but never bees or wasps IN our house. For the past few months, we've been living in an apartment. It's in a nice wooded area and we see turkeys and deer across the road regularly. That's how I like to enjoy wildlife... with a little distance between us. So, when I got stung on my foot in my apartment a few months ago, I immediately let the owners know, and informed them that there was a nest in the back outside wall. We later discovered that there was … [Read more...]
Thinking about doing some things to refresh your home for the upcoming holidays? If you have guests coming, you're sure to get a few ideas from Bless'er House's fabulous bedroom makeover. Maybe you're tired of your window treatments and wish you could figure out how to make them fabulous and on trend, then you'll flip over what H2O Bungalow did to her window blinds. Or maybe you're a little short on funds to make a new purchase, see how a little elbow grease, creativity, and paint can make a huge, but inexpensive transformation. This week we have some fabulous inspiration lined up for you! … [Read more...]
Would you like to give your Christmas tree a nautical look? Since purchased coastal ornaments can be expensive, I made my own driftwood sailboat Christmas ornaments, and you can too, it's really quite easy. But, first I want to say, "Welcome!" Today is Day 4 of the second year of 31 Days of Handmade Christmas Ornaments blog hop which features 30 extraordinary bloggers, plus me. Each day you can expect to be inspired with all kinds of lovely Christmas ornaments. Last year I returned to living on the Lake Michigan coastline after being away for … [Read more...]
Looking for some creative Halloween treats to wow your co-workers or your kids' friends? Maybe you haven't even realized that it's October and the end of the month will be here before you know it. Don't get caught at the last minute wondering what you're going to do. Check out these 20 clever ways to make cute and creepy treats for Halloween. You're going to thank me for giving you a head start on your planning and for reminding you to check out these cute and creepy ideas from last week's Project Inspire{d}. Don't forget to pin your favorites to your Pinterest boards, too! More … [Read more...]
Have you ever wondered how to pray for someone? Maybe someone in your family or a close friend has gone off to college for the first time. How do you pray for him? Maybe your friend is in a new job... or maybe they are in an old job that has challenges every way they turn. How do you pray for her? There are so many scenarios. Someone needs prayer and you're at a loss. I have a prayer for you to pray and it comes straight from the Bible.... This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; that you will see … [Read more...]
