a good saturday

So fun to have family here for the weekend! Thrift shopping......Barb's cup & saucer.........

.......................& my $1 red & white ball!!!

and some.....brick wall photo shoots......................

food for the soul

I just love a good devotional book. I know I need to dig into the Bible more on my own....and I am working on that with baby steps- I did get a concordance out the other day (our 4 year old sits on that mammoth book to be high enough at the table- is that awful??...well at least I knew where it was)

But to be able to pick up a book that has a verse and then applies this verse to my life!?! I love this. My sweet Aunt Connie and Uncle Gerry work for Positive Action for Christ and they gave me this book, Apples for Teachers (by Frank Hamrick), which Positive Action puts out. I absolutely love this book. Really, I think it applies to parents as well- and just about wisdom in general and how to live out this wisdom in your life- each day takes a Proverb and explains it and expounds on it. I love the focus on scripture...this is where we are going to get wisdom to make the right choices- wisdom to say the right thing. Wisdom to parent!!!! Lately I have been overwhelmed with my lack of wisdom as a parent-and realizing HOW MUCH prayer and help from God it is going to take to raise them in the right way.

We have been trying to work on character development in our house. The kids just seem (and for sure they get it from me) to be selfish! I know- what a shock- we are all selfish- but you know what I mean - there are some days when you just want to tear your hair out because of the fighting. Today I picked up Apples for Teachers and the title for "apple 53" (there are 180 devotions or apples in all) was Wisdom in Character Development....I can't type the whole devotional, but this reminder was a good one:

Teachers, begin with a list of Christ's qualities and work on them with the class: kindness, gentleness, consistency, obedience, serving others, meditation, prayer, and putting others first.

See, this is the kind of reminder I need each day- this is a positive way to develop the character- instead of harping on all the things that are wrong, wrong, wrong!!! I need to focus on what Jesus is like- take the lead and start the day off talking about Jesus and what He would do.


We got this little devotional book {Gospel Meditations for Women by Chris Anderson and Joe Tyrpak} for Mother's Day at church. I have really enjoyed going through each day and reading the suggested passage and then hearing what the authors have to say about a number of different topics.

The one that stood out to me was the devotion entitled: The Fool-Proof Test of Godliness...want to know what it is? Should I make you buy one to find out? OK- I will tell you....according to James, true religion is demonstrated by controlling your tongue- and it gives lots of scripture to back this up- wow- what a conviction to me. Each devotion boils the topic down to how the Gospel can affect our lives. So for that particular day, the last line was: let the Gospel affect your speech. And there are others; let the Gospel affect you view of fellow sinners....let the Gospel remind you of God's great love....

This is a good one! I would recommend it. You can order one here for $2.50.

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I am getting a giveaway together--I have ordered some Apples for Teachers and will giveaway 2 of those and some of that red polka dot fabric...and there was something else too...., can't think of it right now......check back next week, probably Tues.

Have a happy Memorial Weekend!

how to have the most messy day possible

take some koolaid (or in our house mixade....we shop at Aldi)

Add half cup of water to each packet to make a sweet smelling paint

mix each color in a little bowl.....

allow 3 kids to paint...

then decide that you may as well make those cinnamon rolls now since the kitchen is already dirty.....

little hands like to help.....

...especially when it has to do with lots of flour

little mouths (??) also like to eat the finished product....

"Mom, I adore this day"

I still can't decided if doing all the messy stuff on one day was a good idea or a bad idea..........

just when I thought patchwork could not get cuter

Jill posted this car on her adorable blog. Oh hello patchwork car! Can I frame you and put you on my wall?!?!?

Then I saw this on Steph's creative blog- she is a quilting genius! I just want to eat this quilt it is so adorable!

hello....goodbye...hello...goodbye.....rock.....rock...

before

snatched from the side of the road- thanks to a dear friend who rescued this poor lavender rocking chair

during

I was tempted to keep it like this- no dots, stripes, flowers, butterflies, plaids. I thought about it for a minute- but then my brushes spewed forth paint...........

after

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Along the same lines of color and decorating with color:
I took my little "S" to the bathroom at the library and she said the bathroom was ugly. I was a little surprised since the bathroom was very nice, clean, new, painted beige and grayish colors. I asked her why it was ugly and she said, "because it needs more colors!"

(I have created a monster)

the couch/sofa saga

I love our green couch. This couch has been with us for 10 years- thanks Gigi and Pops for the hand-me-down!

(one of our previous houses)

We got a slipcover made and have lived with this green plaid for the 10 years. It is just the comfiest couch- I slept on it for the third trimester of my 3 pregnancies- awww. I just found out that I can throw the slipcovers in the washer- I always thought I had to dry clean it- I have no idea why I thought this- I am just slow- so after 10 years we have finally cleaned the slipcovers and I am so happy that it is clean!

But alas, the slipcover is not going to last much longer- there are places where it is threadbare. I know it will be coming soon- so I am preparing and saving for the time when we have no other choice but to toss the slipcovers(s). Here are our options:

(1) a new or used sectional sofa- this is what our friends had in this house before we rented and finally bought it from them. I mention sectional sofas because we have two couches now and the other couch is on it's last leg too (bought from the Salvation Army for $45)- so a sectional would totally solve this problem of needing 2 couches. We need the seating- we often have people over and need this much seating (and more). Who has a sectional sofa? What is your opinion?


(2) Have someone make a new slipcover for the green couch and a new slipcover for the red couch - I could also paint the wooden part on the red couch.

(3) Start looking on Craig's list for used couches



So those are the boring details of the mincy couches. I am leaning towards getting new slipcovers- because the couches are still good on the inside (they have good hearts :)

Tell me, just for fun, what do you call it? couch, chesterfield, davenport, sofa.........

Also, I have been thinking about purses because we are going to have a purse exchange at church- sounds fun, right? We all bring old purses and come home with new (to us) ones.

So what do you call that? Purse, pocketbook, handbag,...............reticule

The Whimsy Cottage

Where can you go to find a selection of the cutest whimsical fabric, notions, sewing books, and patterns? The Whimsy Cottage, of course! I am happy to introduce you to Sara..............

I have enjoyed following Sara's blog for awhile- she is a great writer and very funny. So when I discovered she started an online store- I was excited for her and am a big fan already. Here is what she says:

Growing up in Central Pennsylvania, my appreciation for vintage style and fabric began at an early age. The small town we lived in had O.R. Laney's 5 & 10 and our favorite place to buy fabric was (and still is) Verna's Fabric Shop.

The tin ceilings, hardwood floors, and candy counters of O.R. Laney's were a magical place for me as a child. My fondest memory is of Mrs. Hassinger weighing my candy corn -- she had the prettiest white hair.

Going to Verna's was always very special. I can remember seeing the clotheslines filled with dresses -- there were 17 children in their family afterall! With a horse and buggy hitched outside, inside you'll find cottons in a rainbow of colors, bonnets, wooden toys, & suspenders for the boys. The Whimsy Cottage is my way of bringing these places to you -- minus the horses.

Check out these adorable vintage dishtowels! You can see them here and remember my Birthday is June 26......:) They are on sale too....and I love that you get a set of 4.

My favorite! Already becoming one of the family- remember the garland........

There is my own Snippets Red Polka Dot 5th from the left. I am happy with my purchase, and the customer service was great.

Yo-Yo Fashions book

Dog Dots Blue- so cute!

And look at this adorable pattern (Are you taking notes, Mom?!)


I am happy to say that The Whimsy Cottage is a new sponsor of the art*house- so please go and have a little visit to this adorable country store and be inspired! I would love to know what you think and what you would buy- I already bought my number one polka dot favorite- but number 2 would definitely be the vintage towels- or maybe an Amy Butler pattern??!

tiny treats

A sweet friend gave me a copy of Tiny Treats. What an adorable little book of ideas!

cute candy flowers....

stick those flowers in a cone "pot"

doughnuts out of..........cheerios!!!

jello watermelon slices with lime peels!

Adorable.


These tiny treats are on our list of "things to do this summer"
(and we need to get that list ready- only 10 days left of school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Who is out of school already? Do you have any plans for the kids?

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P.S. the owl is for sale and looking for a good home (although he has found a happy place on my wall for the time being)


p.p.s. We went to the art museum last week and the best part?!?! The wall of their restaurant! Love that hay!

tuesday's tutu shot

This is our 4 year old girl. Each day is a new outfit- a new tutu ensemble. She twirls and spins. She sings and acts out stories. I love this age. I love the everyday conversations. Today's question: "do policemen live in a house?"

Please don't grow up, my baby............

I am linking to Tuesday Unwrapped at chatting at the sky.

painting & pizza

mmmmmmm chocolate brown, orange, yellow, green, cream mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Chicken Caesar pizza

bake a pizza crust- cool a little
spread on Caesar dressing
add some cooked chicken (cook chicken coated in Caesar dressing)
top with romaine, shredded mozzarella, pepper, & Parmesan.

mmmm- another good food network recipe! That picture looks awful- but it was good.

patch garland

Remember the paper globes we had hanging in the kitchen? I miss them terribly. I want them back- although, they have found new places in the house and I can't bear to move them....so this happy little patchy garland will stand in for the globes.

See the white fabric with red dots? It's new! I can tell you where it is from soon and I am thinking of giving some away- just a little, I can't bear to part with it all.

Hope your Monday is nice! Mine started with this passage:

My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 62:5-8

What a great way to start the day! --God is my rock and my strength!!!!!