Gratitude Giveaway

It's my 600th post! Geeesshhh... That's a lot of gabbing!! We've been through some amazing things over the last two years, haven't we?! Roses and thorns together in the same thicket. Our lives are always a mix of the sweet and the sad but ladies, you have been sweet friends! We've grown together. Sometimes blossoming. Sometimes wilting. We've prayed together, laughed together, even been junking together.

And so to celebrate this Beautiful Life, let's have a giveaway. No rules. Just sign up on this post. The winner can choose from a free 6 month membership to French Cupboard for those of you that have an online boutique or a $60 shopping spree at the French Cupboard boutique of your choice! The winner will be selected by the random blessing generator on Friday, May 1st!

And Decor to Adore is having a giveaway for her 200th post too. When you've signed up here, hop over there!

Vintage Veil

On Sunday we attended a 50th anniversary party for my aunt & uncle. Seeing her vintage veil got me longing for some beautiful old wedding lace. Yes, I have buckets of old lace but you know how moony I get about good old lace.I found this wedding dress last Spring and I'm still moving it around from one room to another so that I can admire it all the more. Right now it's a makeshift window treatment in the living room.
Sometimes when I really need a romantic fix, I visit this scrumptious shop!

I love the look of lace in the outdoors. Something rustic, something delicate.. I found this one Here

I've been admiring this one at Faded Plains for while.

Is it ridiculous to want lots of old wedding dresses just to decorate with?

Mini Websites

I haven't the slightest idea how I came across this but what a fun bit of information.
Make your own websites ~ Free!
Click the Photo or Visit My Mini Website

Paperie

Oui, Paperie!

I've been adding some vintage papers to the shop.
1933 Handwritten Ledgers

1904 French Sheet Music
Oui, it's Friday Flea!

Rarely, If Ever

One day I'll get it right!

Have you ever noticed that on the rare day you efficiently run the errands, the children are falling apart at your feet and by bedtime there's no toilet paper in the house?

Or is that just me?

The Ol' Standby

Is there any rhyme or reason to what we claim as a "favorite" item? I have two favorite kitchen utensils. 1) A little old pitcher with crazing and discoloration. It's too small to be used for much of anything on a daily basis but it's perfect for occasional things like warming syrup at breakfast or gravy at dinner. 2) A gianormous sterling spoon that I seem to use for everything.
One is small and has very specific uses while the other is huge and used for nearly all my cooking & baking & serving.



Not unlike each of us. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God... Sometimes we get a special assignment. Sometimes we're the ol' standby. Seems random, but God knows where we are most useful.

Metamorphasis

I thought I'd share some sweet repurposed items that I saw in one of our neighboring towns. Thriftique is located in Roscoe, IL in a historic two story house.
The owner told me that she found these folding doors in the shed out back when they purchased the house.

Now that's a window treatment!

What are you repurposing this week?

Matters of the Heart

Ransomed

I know I've posted this video before but today it seems fitting.

I was sitting at my desk this morning pondering my Good Friday post. As I sang along with this song, my daughter came over, leaned on the arm of my chair. She looked from the screen and back to me again like maybe she was waiting to tell me something. A moment passed, I don't think I even realized I had closed my eyes. Ever so softly, from behind me, I heard her humming along.

My 18 year old son was cooking bacon. As he gathered the plates and walked toward the table, a mans voice chimmed in with my little girl, her mommy and Chris Tomlin.

Oh the joy that filled my heart to have that moment!

Doo-Dads

I'm not a fashionable girl, not in the traditional sense. But I do like to change handbags & shoes with the seasons. Since we are "financially challenged" this Spring, I'm repurposing & altering like crazy. This is the accessory doo-dad that made my today a little more ME.

Easter Nest

Happy Monday! Happy Easter week!

The kids have SAT's this week and I feel like I'm the one testing. Homeschool moms know where I'm coming from on this. Feels like a test of my teaching abilities. But the good news is that I'll have a few days to relax... work on the nest. How are you spending today?

Authenticity

This week I re-learned a valuable lesson...

Sometimes the authentic-looking thing is a better choice than the actual authentic thing. Case it point: Crested Urn $3 at Old Time Pottery

Chippy Bust - $4 at Old Time Pottery

I'm a firm believer that authentic bargains are just as valuable as authentic history! If we aren't thrifty with what we have, we won't be blessed with more.

Here's a verse that has stuck with me all week: You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. Because no matter how we pretty up our homes (even thriftily), it's building of the body of Christ that really matters.

Dance

It's been a while since I posted this photo but it's one of my most favorite. It was taken thirty-some-odd years ago. My mom... doing a worship interpretive dance.

This video has such a gorgeous message!

Be brave ~ DANCE!

Folly

I'm foolin' around - er, I mean, guest posting over at Couture de Papier today.

Please stop over for a visit.