Call Me the Bag Lady

I was recently contacted by the fine folks at CSN about doing a product review. Needless to say, I was thrilled to agree to it. The last time they contacted me, I was very pleased with the world globe I received. This time they sent me the item of my choice, a beautiful brown computer bag. Know why I love it so much? It has an abundance of pockets! I love a bag with pockets. A place for everything and everything in its place. :)
A few features I love are

1)The shoulder straps. Long enough to fit on my shoulder, short enough to not be dragging the ground.

2)The weight: very lightweight without feeling cheaply made

3)The "feet" on the bottom that protect it from all the yuckiness on the floor (in top picture)
4) The price. You know I'm all about a good bargain. At $32.99 I think it is very reasonable. You even have a choice of brown or black. Maybe you like something a little more colorful. Check out their wide selection of laptop bags and totes.

If you are a "bag lady" like me, you can never have too many bags. Unless they are under your eyes.

Sunday Rest

Whoever would love life

and see good days must

keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from deceitful speech.

He must turn from evil and do good;

he must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are

on the righteous and His ears

are attentive to their prayers.

1 Peter 3:10-12

In Unrelated News...

1. Is this a familiar sight at your house? Fall ball just started up this week. My lil man got moved to the next age level and looking at the various sizes on his team reminds me of God's sense of humor. It's hilarious to watch this age scramble for the bases, pick clovers and try to look tough all at the same time. I am so thankful for a sport that my big and lil man can enjoy together.

2. Last week I hosted a Girls Night Out... In. We indulged in these. S'mores brownies. Oh yeah, baby! It's like having a campfire without the stinky smell in your clothes afterwards. Would you like the recipe?

3. There is a reason queen size beds are made. This is how my girl sleeps every. single. night. Forty-three names, personalities and specific sleeping spaces. Girls are relational, right?

4. I'm still mulling over and savoring the events surrounding the wedding. With the bride's family being from the Michigan, I learned that there are some wedding customs that vary between the north and south. Did you know that in the north cash is more likely a wedding gift than a wrapped present? I think it is a great idea! It saves the new couple the headache of having to do returns, plus they can use it to purchase necessary items (like a vacuum!)

Apparently a bridesmaid luncheon is a southern thing. I didn't realize this until it was met with puzzlement from the bride and groom. Here in the south it is a nice luncheon given to the bride and her girls the day of/before the wedding. It is a time for the bride to honor her bridesmaids and for them to enjoy each other's company before the craziness of the day begins. How about your area? Is it just a southern thing?

5. We enjoyed PERFECT weather in the mountains over Labor Day weekend. 68 and sunny. My body obviously isn't used to perfection because I came home with a nasty head cold. Yes, I'm whining. No one is allowed to whine at our house except me.

6. Sunday will be our first time back to church in three weeks. I am so excited to be back with our church family and worship together. As an added bonus, it is the start of a new sunday school year for the kiddos and the big reveal of our make-over of the welcome/worship areas.

Hugs!!!

Artsy-Shmartsy

I used to adorn my walls with anything cheap and stylish. As I've gotten older I have changed my criteria: cheap and meaningful (and hopefully stylish)

Sometimes those two are hard to put together. On our recent cruise, I mentioned to my husband that I really wanted to find a piece of art in Grand Cayman because that island has a special place in my heart. We searched and searched. All of the art was ridiculously high that day (I've heard they up the prices when a ship is in port). So I started looking for 5x7 greeting cards and came upon these two treasures by the same artist:

Frames: $3 each, Walmart

Mats: $1 each Hobby Lobby

Greeting cards: $2 each

Total for (2) 8x10 pieces of art: $12

I applied the same idea a couple of years ago while visiting Europe. Even though the prints were smaller (4x6), having three in a large frame created the illusion of a large piece of art:

Frame: $15 Michaels (mats included)

Prints: $3 each

Several years ago I visited my brother in San Diego and fell in love with the coastline. I picked up some 11x14 prints from a small vendor at La Jolla beach. They now adorn my guest bath:

Prints: $12 each

Frames: $10 each Target on clearance

Speaking of Target, I couldn't pass this tin sign up in their dollar section.

Each year our family attends a summer festival in the mountains of NC. Last summer a local artist (who sells her work for $$$) donated a copy of her version of the festival, with all proceeds going to the town. It is (nearly) poster size, so it fills our upstairs hallway nicely.

Print: $10 (actually free, thanks mom!)

Frame: $3 yard sale

For other ideas on inexpensive ways to adorn your walls check out this, this, this and this.

Sunday Rest

Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil;

cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:9-10

Saying Goodbye to Summer

Don't you wish you could capture time in a bottle and save it for later? As summer comes to a close, I feel a little melancholy. Not because the weather is changing; but rather because it is an end of a season of life, of sorts. I look back at pictures from summers past and grin at their little tiny bodies in adorable bathing suits and sigh with a contented, yet almost mournful sigh. How did they grow so fast? It happened right before me and I stood by, blissfully unaware. Oh to stop the moments and treasure them forever! That's what cameras are for, right? :)

I look forward to the fall and all that it has to offer, but today I am going to relish in the last glimmers of summer.

~~~Happy Labor Day Weekend~~~

Wanna-Gonna

1. I wanna pull out the pumpkin spice candle, but I'm gonna wait another week or so.

2. I wanna go jean shopping, but I'm gonna stick with my shorts since it's 93 degrees.

3. I wanna complain about our new healthcare benefits, but I'm gonna just pray we don't have any reason to visit the hospital. Ever.

4. I wanna deny that I'm grumbly about my son's wacky baseball practice schedule. I'm gonna just be thankful that my husband is taking on the season's duties.

5. I wanna be able to type this post without interruption. I'm gonna choose to be happy that my children still need me.

6. I wanna read a book in a quiet corner. I'm gonna be thankful that my kids love for me to read aloud to them about King Arthur and other quality literature characters.

7. I wanna rant about the inconsideration of not RSVPing when I've opened up my home to others. I'm gonna put my big girl panties on and not take it personally.

8. I wanna pout because Trader Joe's did not have pimento cheese spread yesterday. I'm gonna see it as an opportunity to make another visit to T.J.s in the very near future.

9. I wanna have a pity party about feeling unappreciated. I'm gonna brag that my husband does a great job of making me feel appreciated in my role here at home.

10. I wanna take credit for coming up with a list of wanna/gonna. I'm gonna be honest and tell you that my dear friend Amber came up with the idea.

Whatchu wanna/gonna?