This weekend is the official start of summer and I am so ready for summer... you too? I love seeing everything green and blooming. And then there are all those wonderful balmy breezes. After spending a major part of the year inside... I'm enjoy being outside sans boots and hats and jackets. What do you love about summer? How would you like a weekend getaway or a day of pampering? I'm excited to join my blogging pals in this $450 PayPal CASH Giveaway Click the link here to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway ends at 9 PM EDT on Sunday the 24th. Now it's time to show-off your Great … [Read more...]
Who could use a little extra CASH? I see that hand! This week I'm joining up with some blogging buddies to give away $450!!! Enter below and be sure to share the giveaway with your friends! There are lots of chances to win! a Rafflecopter giveaway Just in case you missed all the extraordinary goodness from this past week... What's that Delightful Fragrance You're Wearing? | It's JoyDay! Plus...Project Inspire{d} Link Party Features: 11 Ideas to Creatively Recycle and Repurpose Items for Your Home Stop back during the week for more extraordinary goodness. Be sure to head over to see … [Read more...]
Have you ever thought about your aroma? Did you just tilt your nose down and take a whiff of your shirt? I'm not talking about your perfume, toilet water, or cologne. I'm not talking about whether you used deodorant after your shower, though that is probably a good idea. There's another kind of scent that I have in mind. We have a spiritual fragrance. It's the essence of who we are. You might know someone who has a wonderful essence. So lovely that you wish that you could wear that same fragrance. You also might know someone who has a less than wonderful essence. You probably find … [Read more...]
Another super fast week for me... but not in posting new inspiration. I've got a lot on my plate and because I'm no longer the "ever ready" bunny, I just can't seem to squeeze enough time out of the week. So, please forgive me for just being around on the weekend. I miss you hanging out with you here. But, for brief snippets of daily inspiration, beauty, and all things extraordinary... be sure to jump on Facebook. Now it's time to show-off your Great Ideas from this week's Project Inspire{d} Link Party! I get really excited when I'm able to meet the challenge of using what I have at home either by … [Read more...]
This weekend my Facebook feed was filled with photos of moms and grandmoms with their kids of all ages and college grads holding diplomas and guys and gals all prim and proper for prom. What an exciting, busy, and memorable time of the year! I think May is second to December for busyness. Thanks for taking time to stop by and check out everyone's great ideas and share yours, too. Just in case you missed all the extraordinary goodness from this past week... 3 Steps to Having Joy Like Jesus | JoyDay! Plus...Project Inspire{d} Link Party Features: 12 of the Best Backyard Barbecue … [Read more...]
Does it seem crazy to think that we can have the same joy as Jesus? It does... but Jesus told us we will be as joyful as he is. Not could be. We will be. I have told you this so that you will be as joyful as I am, and your joy will be complete. ~ Jesus John 15:11 GW I don't know about you... but I really would like to live a life of joy. What do you think it would look like to live a life of joy? Maybe we should start with the definition... For one it might be to be happy all the time, singing, humming, wearing a smile continuously. For another it might be a … [Read more...]
It's Mother's Day weekend! For many of you it's a time to honor mom or hopefully be honored. For others... like me... it's time to purchase and plant annuals. Container gardening is my favorite kind of gardening... hands down. I love creating containers. But, first it starts with lots of greenhouse hopping and planning and scheming to put together the perfect pots and window boxes. If you'd like a little inspiration... here are a few posts that should get your green thumb blooming. How to Plant a Window Box Garden :: Tutorial & Planting Tips Nine Steps :: Create an Extraordinary Container … [Read more...]
I am so in love with Spring! Yesterday afternoon I saw my first Baltimore Oriole of the season. And then as I was looking out the kitchen window at suppertime, a hummingbird made his appearance. He flew to the spot where the hummingbird feeder usually hangs and it wasn't there, yet. Two of us were really disappointed. Between the beautiful birdsong and the blossoms bursting everywhere, it's a delight wherever I turn my eye. The Bradford pear trees and tulips and azaleas are blooming. I've been snapping photos of wildflowers along my walk. Hopefully, I'll be sharing them … [Read more...]
This morning I was reading some writings of C.S. Lewis, when these words leaped off the page at me: It is the difference between paint, which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through. He was talking about how we start our days. If we were meeting each other for coffee at Starbucks in the morning, I might ask you, "Did you have a good start to your day?" It's an innocuous question. Purely conversational. And of course, I would hope you had a great start. Because we're friends, you won't cloak your answer with the usual dismissive remark. Instead, you'll tell … [Read more...]
To celebrate my blogiversary this week, I'm giving away the fabulous book, "Love the Home You Have." Be sure to enter my GIVEAWAY. Plus... there's still time to enter the GIVEAWAY for the colorful Ball mason jars and craft supplies. Mother's Day is only a week a way! I can hardly believe it! If you're looking for some wonderfully refreshing salads and appetizers to serve for Mother's Day Brunch, these will surely a delicious addition to the menu. This time of year I love a great salad and can't wait to give these yummy looking recipes a try. Refreshing Salads and Appetizers Please … [Read more...]
Grace. Daily Grace. I don't know about you... but I need an abundance of grace to get through the day. Good thing God's grace is constant and overflowing. What about my grace? Sometimes I am not all that gracious. It's hard to understand how we can be given so much and then turn around and be stingy with what we have. I'm not talking about stingy with stuff... I'm talking about stingy with grace. How are you in the patience department? Me? Not so good. In fact, my husband often points it out to me. In a good way which … [Read more...]
Today is a special day for An Extraordinary Day! To begin... let's go back a few years. After losing my job in 2009, I suddenly had more free time than I was accustomed to having. So as I was preparing to host a fall open house for my Longaberger business, I decided to go online and do a little exploring for fall decorating ideas. Spending time online was not new to me, quite the contrary. Usually I spent my time online researching things for children's ministry, or nutrition. Important stuff. [wink] I had never even thought about exploring the interwebs for home decor ideas. That bright fall day … [Read more...]
It's so good to have you join us for this week's party! I was seriously amazed by the creativity brought to last week's party. Let's just say, you made it super challenging to choose features. There were so many great ideas... I wish there was room for all. Thanks for coming by today. I hope you can make time to stick around to get inspired and maybe even make a new friend or two when you "meet and greet." Just in case you missed all the extraordinary goodness from this past week... Hanging Mason Jar Posies for Mother's Day and Giveaway Is it Possible to have True Joy and … [Read more...]
I received the same Ball® Jars being given away. All opinions are my own. Did you know that I absolutely LOVE mason jars? Back before they were popular, my aunt, when downsizing gave me a few boxes filled with vintage Ball® jars. I thought it was the best gift ever, and used them to decorate my sweet saltbox. Several moves later, the jars were popping up all over the place and I found them among my boxes and started using them here and here. As much as I love those vintage Ball jars, my heart would pitter-patter whenever I spied an amethyst or purple mason jar. However, I never saw one in … [Read more...]
Lately, I've been thinking about joy. This morning I even prayed to have more joy. As I was doing so I realized that I am blessed with a beautiful life. Even if my current situation isn't what I hoped, planned, or even desired. For some time, things have not gone my way... but isn't that true for all of us? And so today... I'm going to concentrate on walking with God. Allowing him to direct my path. Being quiet and listening to him. Because when I do... There I experience joy. True joy. And contentment. You direct me on a path … [Read more...]
Beautiful DIY Home Decor Ideas - 12 Ways Please "pin" this image and stop by those featured and "pin" their great ideas, too! Curtain Design by BesaGM Interiors Ash Dresser Makeover by Lost and Found Decor Bathroom Makeover by Clean and Scentsible Air Dry Clay Projects by Delineate Your Dwelling Embossing Plaster Dresser by Orphans with Makeup A Powder Room Redo by Cookies, Crafts, and Chaos Target Inspired Window Cabinet by My Creative Days Big Boy Room Custom Wall Gallery by Five Marigolds DIY Coffee Table by C.R.A.F.T. Faux Orb Chandelier by Illistyle Fresh Berries DIY Sign by Lilikoi … [Read more...]
You might roll your eyes at this super easy tip. It's like, Duh! Ah... but don't be so quick. I didn't learn this tip until I'd been keeping house for close to ten years. One day I was in the office and a volunteer popped in. She said she was off to clean someone's house. It wasn't something she usually did, but the pay was amazing and the job was easy. She went on to say that the lady of the house evidently wiped down her bathroom sinks every day, so they were quick to clean. I'm sure you wipe down your bathroom sinks every day. Right? Well, that wasn't the case at my house. My … [Read more...]
