Neighbor Gifts and Homemade Bows

I am officially done with gifts … other than frosting my yummy chocolate cake for my family for Christmas day! But I wanted to share my neighbor gifts with you …

I saw this idea on Pinterest. I ♥ Pinterest! I knew I wanted to do this, so I found some HoHos and Ding Dongs and went to work. I made my own bows from magazine pages (again, I found the idea here on Pinterest … did I mention that I ♥ Pinterest??).

My homemade bows - aren't they great?

These make me smile … I love how they turned out :) … and the bows … well, I just ADORE them … I think there will be more of those to come!

HO HO HO from this Ding Dong!! I hope that your Christmas is filled with the JOY that only Jesus can bring!

Inspiration {loves} Pinterest

So I've been seeing Pinterest here and there around the interwebs lately. I finally received my own invite and I am in deep like!! I ♥ Pinterest. While browsing around the other evening I was inspired to finally start working on my kitchen. I had put it on the back burner after completing the living room and reading room (they just need knick-knacks and little touches that only come through a lot of antiquing an thrifting).

My first order of business? Make candle holders, of course! This was so simple and, if you are weird like me and have a stash of paper scraps and jars, it cost virtually nothing.

Some jars, some scraps of cute paper, some double sided tape (or scrapbooking adhesives), some wire, some tea lights and voila!

I promise I DID clean my windows JUST this morning … grrrrrrrr! Does anyone else find it impossible to get them 100% clean? I have literally tried everything. Between those windows and my unfinished window sills it looks quite messy here! Oh well … they're still cute :)

I saw this idea in this great book I picked up at the library:

And my crafting required listening to my newest thrift store find:

More Music for Relaxation … yessssss ♥ ! Now I think I'll go make a sign for the reading room :) … you can see that idea here on my Pinterest ♥

Scripture cards

I have recently come to realize that I do not have nearly enough of God's Word hidden in my heart. So one of my goals this week was to sit down and write a few verses that are meaningful to me right now in my life. I wrote them on index cards so that I can post them around my home. This one is especially speaking to me right now …

Let me say that again …

Better to be patient that powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. Proverbs 16:32

Yep. 'Tis better to be patient than powerful. Yet I live as though opposite were true. {sigh}

That one is taped up over my computer. I think I should make several of just that one verse and post them everywhere! Including in the car. Especially in the car!

I have written a few others and need to tape them up … on my mirror, on my fridge, etc. Something so simple, yet so helpful for me. Why didn't do this before now??

Summers' To-Do List

It's officially summer at our house … yesterday was the last day of school and we are now entering the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.  So here's my summer to-do list:

Plant flowers.  I want to decorate my home with fresh flowers in jars all summer long.  If I can't get them from my own garden, then I'll  get them from the farmer's market.  Either way flowers WILL fill my house!

Grow veggies and herbs.  My garden is small this year, but coming along nicely.  I even already have blossoms on my tomatoes!!  I'm so excited :)

Build these adirondack chairs.  It's really very simple … just open the box and put them together!  And then they need to be painted.  And then they need to be placed in the backyard and then I need to be placed in them :) … watching my girls play in the summer sun!

Spend LOTS of time with my girls.  I don't spend enough time just hanging out with them.  They are so fun.

Make lemonade.  A lot.

Make ice cream.  My hubby loves ice cream … he'd live off it if he could!  And home made is the best!

Watch the sunrise … and set!

Spend a relaxing week at the beach and explore a new little beach town.  I am sooooo excited about this trip!  We haven't been on a relaxing beach vacation in 6 years!  Oh, we've been on vacation, but I've had a baby or we've been to Disney (which is sooo fun, but not relaxing).  I'm looking forward to sitting and doing nothing for a week :)

Build something from scratch.  I don't know what.  Maybe a picnic table?  Maybe this one :)

Going to the lake.  We love our boat and the lake is 15 minutes away.  Always a fun time!

Crafting … lots of crafting!

Make cupcakes, of course :)

Spend time at the pool with Nana :)

Finish my living room redo and my dining room remake (into a sitting room/library).  This needs to be done!

Decluttering!  'nuff said!!

Go for walks.  Many times.  Long walks together.

Reading new (to me) books.  I just never have the time to sit and read fiction.  I love to read, but most of my time is spent reading how-to books.  I'm ready to sit in my adirondack chairs, soaking in the summer sun, drinking lemonade, opening a book and falling in.

Visiting the farmers market.  I love the farmers market, but I hate getting up early in the summer.  Thankfully the one I visit is now opening Tuesday evenings - yay!

Take tons of pictures!

Wow.  Lot's of things to do.  I better get off this computer and get moving!  Lydia is already begging me to get done here and help her learn to play with her pictures.  So bye for now :)

keeping inspiration ...

So I made a home inspiration notebook yesterday. It's so simple ... just a binder with sheet protectors filled with ideas from magazines.