give thanks.

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff thats getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust you know exactly what you're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff you use

lyrics by Francesca Battistelli

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.     1 Thessalonians 5:18


Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;  His love endures forever.    Psalm 107:1


And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.      Colossians 3:17

DIY: pretty holiday nails

I read a blog post the other day by Whitney Port about awesome nail trends. (you can go to her link by clicking here)  My absolute favorite was her spin on french manicures where she used glitter for the tip instead of white.  I didn't really want to pay to go get them done somewhere, so I decided to try them myself at home!

Colors by OPI: base polish- "bubble bath" and glitter polish- "mad as a hatter"

The first step I did was apply the base color "bubble bath" (it's even a great color just to wear by itself as a nude):

I then waited a few minutes for the base color to dry (I am very impatient when it comes to letting my nails dry!) I tried a few different techniques for applying the glitter but the one that worked best for me was applying it with toothpicks, it allowed me to be more precise and make the line look a lot more clean than just using the nail brush:

Once the glitter dried I also applied a cheap clear top coat that I picked up from the drugstore and I was done!  I think they turned out pretty cute, and really fun for the holiday season!  You could always experiment with different polish & glitter colors too!

Hope I gave you some pretty ideas to try on your nails for the holiday season!  And if you do send me pics!  I'd love to see what you come up with! :)

Thanksgiving Place Cards

I made these place cards for thanksgiving dinner this year, my inspiration was the pine cones and my love for vintage looking scrapbook paper :)

I made 25 place cards in all, each with a different vintage background, it was a little time consuming, but easy enough that I could watch a movie while making them :)

Supplies:
Pine Cones (of course!), scrapbook paper, craft eyelets, paper puncher (for the corners of the name cards, and also for the leaf design on each card), ribbon of your choice (I used a thin copper colored ribbon), thin sharpie.

Steps:
The first thing I did was cut out the paper for the cards.  The vintage scrapbook paper I used for the back was cut 2" by 3", and the white front that I wrote the names on was 1" by 2", and then I attached them together using double sided tape.

I then pulled out my paper punchers (so handy!) and punched off the corners of the vintage scrapbook paper and I also punched out the leaf design that I attached to each card.

Next, I attached the eyelets to put the ribbon through, the eyelet kit I have is from the company stampin' up, but you can get them at most craft stores, they're easy to add to the card, and a lot prettier than just using a hole puncher.

Next, I hand wrote the names on all of the cards, I like hand writing just because it seems a little more personal, but you could very easily print it off the computer, your choice.

Last, I tied the place cards with ribbon to a pine cone and voilå! Done!  


*A little finishing touch that I added to each card (that isn't visible in the picture) is that I stamped Colossians 3:16 which says "sing to the Lord with thankful hearts" on the back of each place card.
Hope I gave you some cute ideas, have a wonderful thanksgiving!

wonderfully made.

I read an article the other day that really stood out to me.  I, like most girls, grew up playing with barbie dolls and dreaming that one day I would literally grow up to be a barbie (ridiculous, I know).  In the article I read from O magazine model Katie Halchishick poses to show what someone would have to go through to get the 'perfect' Barbie body.  Here's a breakdown of what she would need on just the upper half of her body: brow lift, jaw line shave, rhinoplasty, a cheek and neck reduction, a chin implant, scooped-out shoulders, a breast lift, liposuction on her arms and a tummy tuck...  Um, OUCH!  Let's be serious, this model Katie is a beautiful girl, who does not need a single one of these procedures, but it's so crazy that those are the things that this beautiful girl would have to go through to look "perfect".

Our society today is OBSESSED with perfection.  It drives me crazy.  Society has this image in their head that "THIS is what beautiful is."  I'm sorry, but the world would be a pretty boring place if all women were made from the same mold.  

Pslam 139:14 says "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  The verse does NOT say I am fearfully and perfectly made.  I had a hard time believing that I was wonderfully made after I had my son, Caleb.  Let's face it, you will never find a barbie with a stretch mark.  It was very difficult for me to accept my "post baby body" even though everyone was telling me I looked so great for having had a baby.  As much as I wanted to, I just could not accept their compliments.  It's difficult to realize, but your body is temporary, and sometimes it serves a greater purpose.  The best example I can give you is Jesus, the one person that was ever made perfectly.  Before His death, His body didn't look so perfect though, He was whipped and beaten and disfigured but His body served a greater purpose, to give us eternal life, in the same way that my body, and so many women out there who have had babies have been used to give life.

I use to strive for perfection, it was exhausting.  It did not make me happy and I was left feeling unfullfilled. Instead I had to realize that true beauty comes from the women that realizes that God has made her wonderfully and loves and accepts her body, "flaws" and all.  Don't get me wrong, there are still days that I am way too hard on myself, but I have to remember that I am beautiful just the way that I am.  Love the person that God made you to be, not the person that society tells you they think you should be.

Dear You, Sincerely Me

Remember when people use to write letters instead of just constantly texting each other?  I have always just loved getting letters from friends & family in the mail!  My latest project has been hand making cards and sending them, its so much fun and so easy to do!

For the cards that I make the materials I use are: construction paper, paper punchers of different shapes and sizes, stamps & ink, a glue pen, and scissors, and then I just get creative with it :)

Here are a few that I have made this week, hope I give you some fun ideas! :