New Blog!!

I am so excited to announce this!

A friend and now fellow blogger has joined the wonderful world of blogging!

She was married in June and is discovering the joys of providing for her husband and learning how to care for her home! I have loved seeing her facebook statuses for the past few months and now I am super excited to read what she has to say and steal use some of her helpful hints!

Be sure to hop on over and read about her Adventures in Homemaking!

22

So many things can sum up a birthday.

Balloons.

Cake.

Gifts.

Celebrations.

Excitement.

All of those are very exciting. I love birthdays. I love celebrations. It doesn't matter if it's mine, my sister's, my neighbor's, or the cashier's in the grocery store. I love to celebrate another year of life.

Life that began because someone made a conscience choice to say yes.

Yes to life as it was meant to be. Yes to a chance to see life outside of the womb. Yes to growing a human and giving birth to said human. Yes to stretch marks, late nights, early mornings, puke stains, slobbery kisses, stinky diapers, and life.

Life.

So today I celebrate another year of life. Life that my mom chose to give me! Today I am thankful that God chose to create me!

So, Happy Birthday to me!

She wore that Wednesday

**Please pardon the mess. When you have a wedding just 3 weeks away the house tends to suffer!**

Whew! What a crazy weather week in our area! 70's, 50's, snow, and mid-60's! The snow day we had really wasn't what I was hoping for but, I did get off half a day and we were able to make snow creatures (pictures to come!) so I suppose it wasn't a total loss! =D

Today was catch up day! I leave for TN on Monday, tomorrow is ESL prep, and Friday is my birthday was today was errand running day! So, after my jog this a.m. and a quick shower operation creative nanny dressing was under way. It is SO easy to live in jogging/yoga pants, tees, and Jersey cardigans when you're with kids. It is! But, the this whole "dressing stylish with femininity and Biblical modesty" didn't really look too fondly on yoga pants! So, I dug a little deeper!

Pulling out my FAVORITE not so skinny jeans (you can see my tips for the those in this post) and a simple black cami half, the outfit was underway. Since the temps around here have leveled out to mid-60's a beautiful I wanted nothing too heavy or thick. But, the wind still reminds you that it is indeed February and flowy tops and flip flops are not the way to go!

So I grabbed my ALL TIME FAVORITE thigh length thin cable knit button down. Super easy to put with almost anything and the perfect weight to wear in the dead of winter under coats or the coolish fall/spring days paired with a button down or simple cami!

The outfit needed some pizazz. I needed some easy. So we compromised and I went with a thin cotton scarf and hoop earrings! No too shabby and super easy with my hip rider!

Nothing to keep fixing and all machine washable just in case that precious hip rider leaks...anywhere!

So, I call it Nanny Necessities which rolled perfectly into meeting this evening!



Scarf - walmart
Cardigan - Land's End (which is the BEST brand ever!)
Jeans - walmart
cami - target
cream colored flats - JC Penny's

wanting to {go}

I am taking a break from the fun craft stuff for a minute to share a heart issue with you.

It really is no secret that adoption has been on my heart for so long. I desire with my whole being to be a mommy to one (a LOT) of these children one day!

For the time being I love researching and making myself as aware as possible with the orphan situations around the world. One blog that I just love to follow is extremely informative when it comes to adopting the unadoptable. Witnessing the rescue and restoration of her darling little girls has been incredibly exciting, encouraging, and a fabulous reminder that "He will not leave us as orphans!" You can read her family's story here.

The last several days she has posted specifically about the institutionalized children in Eastern Europe. Let me give you a little insight into the specifics of EE orphans. All of these children are "unwanted" "unloved" and confined to cribs to spend the rest of their days staring at blank walls, wasting away to nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing!

At 6 years old and older most of these precious children can't walk, talk, or sit alone. At 6 years old they are removed from what has the possibility of giving a family to be locked away as prisoners in mental institutions. They are never touched. Never cleaned. Never hugged or kissed. Never held when they fall down. Never given back scratches, high fives, good jobs, good night kisses, chicken nuggets, chances to play outside, warm beds, clean clothes,...love.

It literally pains me to hear about some of these children and I am SO very thankful for people that I have enjoyed reading about who enjoy serving the Father by bringing these children into a loving, safe, and growth encouraging environrment...not only an environment but a family.

I have to admit that God has planted a seed in my heart that one day I would love to witness or possibly be a part of.

I would LOVE to see a constant presence of Christ followers caring for and serving these least of these. I would LOVE to spend some time giving these children who have not had the privalege of being chosen a chance to "feel" this side of eternity. I would love to find a way to work in one of these institutions.

I believe with my whole heart that the best and surest way to save these little ones is to give them a forever home and I am thankful so many are stepping up. Unfortunately the sad truth is that they won't all be matched. For those, I want to {go}.

Put me on a plane and point me in the right direction.

I don't know how God wants this to look but me in my humanness is very aware of the sad truth and aches to see a change.

Please take a look at NGJM and specifically her posts the last few days. The more people who know, the better.

Praying for these little ones tonight while I crawl in my warm bed under a safe and warm roof. While I know that I can get up in the morning and stand, converse, and eat.

Lots to pray about...lots.

Shadow Box Clock

So, I seem to be back on top of things...for a week at least! =) This isn't the only thing suffering. My poor English class hasn't met (officially) in weeks! Last night I was texted by one student asking if we were ever going to get past this particular section in the book! Then with the worst English he could muster proclaimed that he was getting badder in English! Oh my!

Anyway! Let's get to the real reason of the post! I am so excited to share this with you guys! I love, love, LOVE how these turned out! I was looking for a creative craft to make for the parents of my kiddos. The theme of the gifts is always an easy task to come up with...um, the kids! The actual gift is not so easy. I found this on Pinterest and decided I love the idea. But I didn't want to plaster one picture on the face and call it quits...I never go easy!

Then I found this idea while doing some other research one day...again, loved the idea but not the set up! I could feel the idea forming I just couldn't picture it!

Finally, one day while spending some time with an awesome Aunt, we headed to my new favorite store and there it was. Perfection! A shadow box ringing in at $9! Oh yeah in a big way!

So I grabbed 2 and got to work!

First order of business was getting the kiddos to cooperate...um, no small task, in case you were wondering! =)You get a lot, I mean, A LOT of pictures like these!




Then in the hundreds thousands of shots fired you discover that your children are capable of sitting still, holding a piece of paper, and looking cute!

*Disclaimer* There are no pictures of the process! While I was doing it I was fearing greatly that it wasn't going to turn out! Low and behold, fabulous idea, flawless execution, and failure photography!**

After shoving some food in them and throwing them in the bed I got to work!

Because I don't do tools (well) I had my dad drill the back of the shadow box for me! Measure from all four corners and X marks the spot!

I used the clock stem to size up the drill bits. I found one that fit snugly and neatly! Dad drilled it and I began reassembly!

Because most shadow boxes are backed with Styrofoam all that took was a puncture with the clock stem. That way I assured that it would be that perfect size!

I slit the fabric backing and tucked in the edges around the click stem so it looked neat! Then I got to pinning the pictures with the straight pins from the shadow box! Awesome! Easy! and Fun!

Notes on the clock kit: I purchased the clock kit at Hobby Lobby! They have an awesome variety of clock making kits. I chose the simple kit and purchased additional hands because I didn't really like the ones that came with it! If you time it right they go on sale occasionally for %50 off so you can knock out what you need for around $5!

The only other things you need will be:

a. the straight pin if you don't like the ones that come with it! I entertained the idea of silver flat head straight pins but after putting in the straight pins I loved the way it looked!

b. material backing if you don't like what comes with it. I thought about scrapbook paper and I am thinking I may go that route next time! For these clocks I LOVE the simplicty but I have some other ideas and I may go with the scrapbook feel next time!

c. photo paper and ink! duh!

And the finished product!

There are about a gazillion different ways you could go with it! I thought about adding a typed up verse to the back for about 20 seconds. I didn't like the way it looked and took it down but I'm sure it would look cool to make it with a verse!

Have fun making it yours! Be sure to link back when you create you masterpiece! I would love to see them!

Happy Birthday BEAN!

Today the Bean is 11! Say what!?


I can't believe this child is 11! She is what my parents called our surprise. They were done with Madalee and God decided to remind them that He knew best!


Bean was born just 9 days before my birthday! Here I was 11 and thinking she was stealing my thunder. Come to realize she was just adding lightning!


She has been an awesome amount of energy and excitement in this family! The room is much more exciting with her in it!


Bean loves animals, horses and dogs particularly, little kids, her friends, listening to music, going on adventures, getting dirty, and being active! Her current obsessions have been found in the forms for Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. She doesn't enjoy school but she does a great job at it!


Happy Birthday Bean! I love you so very big much!


Enjoy you last year of being a preteen! Next year it's all over!

She wore that Wednesday

I have been playing around a bit with my style! Trying to find what works. What doesn't. What fits. What I like and what I don't. I am not a trend setter but I am not the least bit settled with the trends! I prefer unusual, different, vintage, outdoor preppy, and pieced together.

Here are some looks I've made just to suit the pursuit of modest fashion! Follow along with me as I defy odds of what the world says looks good!

So this Wednesday was the celebration day of the Bean's birthday! We are headed to a very healthy dinner of Chick-fil-@ and sweet frog! Got to love an 11 year old's requests! Since April has decided to give a sneak peek of spring 6 weeks early, after showering this afternoon ugg boots and sweaters were out of the question!

So I came up with this: Antique Bohemian!
Cardigan - Old Navy (but, it was a hand-me-down, so NO telling how long ago that was =D)

Peasant top - Target last month on clearance for $6! Yeah baby!

Skinny jeans - Walmart. Believe it or not I love the way faded glory jeans fit. Not all but occasionally they come out with a style that really works. I purchase skinny jeans a size larger than I wear because I like to have the straighter feel with out the suffocation! Besides I love the wash on these! Perfect to complete the antique sun washed feel!.

Off white flats - JC Penny (wedding shoes! shhh!!! don't tell!)

I threw on some vintage looking bangles from Christmas! Wally world again folks! No shame! Some aged-washed cut metal earrings (not that you could see through the mane!) and we're set to go!
I even let my hair follow suit with the whole look! Let it run air-dried and wild! I threw some tamers in it because I would not STAND it finding it's way in front of my face!

Super comfortable! Super fun!

And yes, I do the whole tacky teenager self mirror pictures. Again, no shame! =)

Has it been long enough!?

Hello bloggy friends!...that is if I still have any!

This has been extremely barren. Not intentionally. See my sister and her fam took the stress inducing journey east to spend a week with us and I was not about to interrupt family time!

With all joking aside these past weeks leading up to my other sister's wedding coming up in March have been FILLED with events, showers, planning, dress making, etc. It looks as if the remaining weeks left may prove to be on the emptier side but busy none the less!

Well, welcome to my very not so exciting blog! Stay tuned. We will have a much more exciting posts coming up! Several tutorials and maybe some news! As my 12 in 12 mentioned I have been busy coming up with several ways to eat differently, spend time with the Father differently, and move differently!

Stay tuned! You won't be disappointed!