Giveaway Day

In the spirit of giving Thanks week, I thought it might be fun to have a giveaway.  These little pins have been my new creative outlet lately.  If you win, you may choose one of the three above OR have one made in your favorite color.

Here's how to enter:
Leave a comment telling me your favorite gift to give at the holidays.  It can be for any age ... I'm just looking for some neat-o ideas!

I will choose the winner on Wednesday and post it on Thursday.

Sunday Rest

Give praise to the LORD, 

proclaim his name; 

make known among the nations 

what he has done.

1 Chronicles 16:8

Say It Ain't So

While I was out and about doing some Christmas shopping today I happened upon a fashion statement that I haven't seen in a long time.  Since 1989.  

Grey sweatpants hiked up to expose the lily white skin of her calves/shins; keds; big hair; and to complete the look: a gold chain that I'm pretty sure she bought by-the-length.  Remember those days?  

Total 80's coolness.

As I shared with my sister-in-law my regret of not capturing the moment with my phone camera, she told me about the current "hot item" at the GAP:

 Get out.  This is the actual picture from their advertisement.    My arches have never been the same.  I know you wore them too if you are over the age of 25.  You know you did.

Guess what else I ran across during my shopping spree:

 Fame!  I wanna live forevah....  Yes.  They're back.  Even though they make my feet look petite, my ankles look like they've been abused (by stirrup pants, possibly??)


Not to worry.  I hear these are making a comeback:

Tiny ankles, tiny feet, saggy butt.
Perfect.

Tablescapes (part 2)

Today I am sharing a few more wonderful table top ideas from a women's event I recently attended.  If you missed out on yesterday's pictures, click here for inspiration.

Glitters Like Gold  This table was full of sparkles.   I loved the gold and red theme.  (The green was someone's folder that happened to be in the picture, but the whole table was done in red and gold only).  So classy and sassy!

For Kids of Every Age  This candy themed table would appeal to the child in everyone.  Click on the picture to enlarge and see the detail.  I loved the idea of putting gumdrops in a glass votive holder.  So fun!

 Heights of Harvest  Notice how this table used several small items to make a big statement.  I love the martini glass filled with M&Ms and the use of real twigs and leaves.

 Merry and Bright  This table was so fun!  Check out the place card holders (printed with a verse).  They are ovals with a ribbon running behind to look like a giant piece of candy!  I'm partial to red and white, so this one made me happy!

 Gorgeous and Girly  What a fun surprise for the eyes!  It was such a treat to see pink for Christmas.  I loved the pink tule wrapped around the bottom of the apothecary jars.  The glass dot plates were her grandmother's.  What a treasure!

Natural Beauty  This was such a simple yet elegant table top.  A faux berry wreath with a vase of fresh flowers in the center.  I loved the use of soft turquoise with the red.  The table runner was simply a strip of fabric cut to the size of the table.  No sewing involved!

What colors would you use for your Christmas table if you could do something really different this year?

Tablescapes (part 1)

Each year our church hosts a women's fellowship to prepare our hearts and homes for the holidays.  It is such a fun morning because each lady has the opportunity to sign up for a couple of practical seminars and attend a brunch while listening to an inspirational speaker.

There are usually about 25-30 tables decorated by different women.  I gain so much inspiration from these tablescapes that I thought I'd share them with you.

 Fall Bounty  A metal pumpkin (larger than a basketball) is filled with pumpkins, acorns, apples and gourds.  The square tins were filled with chocolate as a party favor.  Gorgeous!

 Whimsical Winter  I loved the lime green and bright red on the table. Everything about this table made me happy.

 Rustic and Warm  The use of natural elements (pinecones and live holly) along with lanterns and plaid made this table so inviting.

 Happy and Bold Everything about this table was joyful.  I loved the brown, red and bright green.  The centerpiece was different from every angle.  The picture above is one side of the table and the picture below is the view from the other side.

 Creative and Simple  This is a centerpiece using what she already had:  the fall wreath from her front door, some beautiful leaf candles and mason jars with votives.  If you look closely she tied twine around the jars and slipped silk leaved under the twine to decorate the mason jars.  Brilliant!  Oh, and check out the party favor (bottom left): flower pins for everyone.

 You Can Do that to a Gourd? This was amazing!  She cut the top off the gourd and planted cabbage and pansies inside.  I loved the natural beauty.

 Funky and Festive  This table went beyond the traditional red and green.  Talk about creative, look at the bowls under the tree and holding the giant ornaments.  She took a soup bowl, turned it upside down and placed a plate/serving bowl on top to give it some height.  Wow.

She also used her fine china as a charger so that she could use the fun paper plates.  Less mess too!

Tomorrow I will show the rest of the table ideas.  Which one is your favorite so far?

To see the ideas from past years, click here and here and here and here and definitely here.  Or just type "table" in the I'm Looking For... box on the right.

Monday Request

Hello Friends! It's a little dreary here today, but sometimes I like a cloudy afternoon.  I want to sit on the couch with a book and read until I fall asleep.  It probably won't happen, but that's what comes to mind on an afternoon like today.

Remember the sound coming from the telephone on the Charlie Brown cartoons?  Waa-wa-waa-wa?  Sometimes when I type the words on this blog I think it comes across just like that: waa-wa-waa- wap.  Some bloggers prefer the lecture style:  this is what I have to say, take it or leave it.  Some bloggers prefer the dialogue version: here's what I think, what do you think?

I fall into the second category.  I like to write, but I also like to hear from you.  Lately my "comments" section has been drier than a crusty western ghost town.  For a girl whose love language is "words of affirmation" it's been tumbleweed blowin' dry.

 I want to know a little more about you.  Well, I really want to know a lot more, but for today how about you just answer a simple question.

What is your favorite cold weather drink?


It's super easy to comment.  Just click on the "sweet thoughts from friends" below.  You can answer anonymously.  You don't have to have an account to leave a comment.

I'll read the comments and pretend that we are sitting on my couch sipping our favorite drinks together. :)

Sunday Rest

Great are your purposes

and mighty are your deeds.

Your eyes are open to all

the ways of men;

you reward everyone 

according to his conduct

and as his deeds deserve.

Jeremiah 32:19