Monday's Message

Happy Monday my lovelies.

The first month of the new year is coming to a close and I wanted to check in with you.

Are you rereading the same the last chapter of your life

over and over again?

I want to encourage you to turn the page and make yourself ready to

move forward with what lies ahead.

Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Quiet Time

Wait for the LORD, be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes wait for the LORD! Psalm 27:14

Happy Weekend!!

Thursday Tablescapes

Simple and dramatic at the same time

I'm so Transparent

I wish I had a prize for each of you my lovelies!

Well... actually I will be having a HUGE give away in about a month to celebrate the launch of my new web/blog site so stay tuned for that.

Any who, back to my Bagology.

Yes, I LOVE me some glitter and sparkle and have in fact in the past I have carried the sparkliest bag I could find.

Now that I'm a bit more... mature shall we say.

I've been carrying the same tote bag for the last 3 1/2 years.

Thanks for posting sweet friends!

Maybe I can find a quiz about what our shoes say about our personalities. If you see one, send it over so we can all enjoy!

I'm sure it will confirm that I have multiple personalities, since I'm know for wearing more than one pair on shoes every day.

Hugs to all of you.

Bagology

Happy Tuesday my lovelies,

I don't think I've ever met a woman who didn’t have an opinion on handbags. If you're anything like me, I bet you have more than three handbags in your closet at any given time.

Have you ever wondered what your handbag says about you?

Anita Daniel published an article in the New York Times in 1945 addressing the science of “bagology”. According to Ms. Daniel's article, a woman’s handbag is of extreme importance to her. It’s the key to who she really is.

Check out the following handbag options and see what your handbag says about you.

Backpack – The backpack-carrier says to the world that she is a practical and genuine person. She is always prepared and not concerned with what others think of her.

Clutch - A woman with a clutch is confident in who she is. She doesn’t feel the need to carry her entire life with her and isn’t afraid to ask a companion to hold any belongings that won’t fit in her clutch.

Under the Arm- The woman who carries her handbag under her arm is seen as the definition of sophistication and class.

Oversized / Tote – Carrying an oversized or tote bag says that you’re a busy bee but also practical and prepared. Those with an oversized/tote are seen as fun-loving and personable.

Fabrics and Frills – It’s not just the style of bag you carry but also its distinguishing features that speak about your personality. Knit bags give off a warm and artsy vibe, whereas metal accessories signal someone with a rebellious streak. Sequins and sparkles aregenerally worn by those who like to be the center of attention whereas neutral colored bags say that you’re friendly and approachable.

I completely agree with this bagology diagnosis, what about you?

Can you guess what type of handbag I carry?

Tell us what you think your handbag says about you?

Monday's Message

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

Having a "microwave life" where everything is ready in a few minutes or even seconds is the desire of most people everywhere (including me).

Contrast that to God's "conventional oven" method.

When my husband and I began dating, I wanted to impress him by baking his favorite sweet treat. While I had never made an Italian Cream Cake, I was confident I was up for the challenge. After gathering the ingredients and following the recipe perfectly, I carefully place the cake pans in my mom's new oven.

When I removed the cakes, they appeared to be done, so I cooled the layers, then iced them with the yummy icing. I could hardly wait until dinner was done, so we could all enjoy the sumptuous dessert. As the slices were cut and served I could see something was terribly wrong! The cake layers which were supposed to be light and fluffy, were grey and uncooked. I was embarrassed and humiliated! "How did this happen?" I squealed?

My mom reminded me that I didn't set the oven timer when I placed the cakes in the oven.

Oh friends, I hope you will see the simple truth in my story today. Timing is very important not only in baking cakes, but in life itself. Our desire may be to have what we want when we want it, but waiting patiently on the Lord yields perfect answers in perfect time.

Avoiding a microwave oven mentality is one step toward a life of holiness. Applying God's conventional oven method to our lives, opens the door to blessing and answers we could never imagine.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

Quiet Time

2 Corinthians 12:9, "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." (NIV)

ReStore

Happy Thursday my lovelies.

These are the Before and After pictures from my time with Gwen

today at the

Matthews Habitat ReStore

Sorry for the fuzzy Before picture from the

Left Side of the room and the Bookcase.

The After picture of the styled Bookcase

This is the After Picture from the Left Side of the Room.

The drapes are more clearly seen.

The lamp on the table is one in a set. (See Below)

Close up of those cherub lamps. Someone had painted them pink and

we thought they went with the

Pink Sofa.

We found this Pink lampshade on a different lamp

and reused it here.

The fabric table covering is made up of four cafe curtain panels.

This is the Before picture from the Right Side of the Room.

This is the After from the Right Side.

We hung drapes in the corners and used tiebacks.

The clock doesn't work, but it makes a great piece of art.

We moved this pink antique sofa in front of the window and

brought in another sofa from the room we styled last week.

Assorted pillows from the pillow bin brought the colors together.

This is the coffee Table After we styled it.

The glass had sticky tape residue and multiple attempts

to remove those pesky, sticky pieces of

packer's tape were unsuccessful.

After hunting around the cleaning closet, I tried this product.

Believe it or not, it worked perfectly.

I think I'll add this product to my grocery list.

That's our project for this week, my lovelies.

I can hardly believe how these random items

came together so well.

I'm gaining so much knowledge from Gwen on how to

use what's at hand

to

create something beautiful and useful

in order to bless others.

All of this is a great reminder

to use what the Lord has placed in our hands

to bless others.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,

not for men,

since you know that you will receive and inheritance

from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.Colossians 3:23-24

I hope you'll share your experiences on

creating beauty and blessing others.

It's Here, It's Here!!

No, I'm not the crazy Christmas Target lady, but I'm so excited!

I just purchased my first copy of the

HGTV magazine.

I sat in my car for 20 minutes perusing each page.

There are so many fabulous pictures and ideas in the magazine.

I think this laundry room is more than fabulous!

Maybe that's because I don't have a laundry room.

My laundry closet is efficient, but this room is a DREAM.

Here are a few helpful laundry tips from the magazine

-A sink for hand-washing: A two minute soak in the sink isn’t enough. You need to soak stains for at least 10-30 minutes to really make a difference.

- Bins for sorting: Don’t just separate by color but also by material. You don’t want to wash fuzzy fabrics like chenille and flannel with corduroy or permanent-press items, which can be magnets for lint.

- Countertops for folding: Don’t fold clothes hot right out of the dryer (we know – we all do it!). You can wind up with creases that are hard to get rid of.

- A rod for hanging: A rod is hey for keeping shirts smooth and crease-free. Take collared shirts out of the dryer a few minutes before they’re dry to prevent the neck from stretching and the collar from getting floppy.

- Did you know: You should clean the inside of your washing machine to keep it and your clothes smelling fresh? You can put the lint screen from the dryer in the dishwasher? Hot pink, bring green, and electric blue can bleed more than other colors in the washing machine? Using too much detergent can actually make your clothes dirtier.

- 3 stain busters to have on hand: Rubbing alcohol for ink. Raise armpit stain remover for getting out touch sweat stains. Blue dawn dish soap for grease.

Speaking of Cleaning

Check out these interesting tips...

When was the last time you cleaned?…

-Your hairbrush: Beauty experts recommend washing your hair brush every two months. First pull out all stray hairs with a comb. Fill a sink with warm water and a squirt of soap or mild shampoo, and soak your brush for 15 minutes. (If your brush has padding, boar bristles, or a wooden handle, swish it back and forth in the sink and then rinse to prevent the brush getting waterlogged.

-The inside of your coffee machine: Clean your machine after every dozen brews. Insert a coffee filter and fill the reservoir with two parts white vinegar and one part water, and run the machine through one full cycle. Then, repeat the process twice with cold water and filters.

- The produce bins in your fridge: Scrub your bins every few months to keep produce flavors fresh. Empty the drawers and remove them from the fridge. Dip a cloth in a mixture of 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart warm water, then wipe down the inside and outside of each bin. Avoid household cleaners, which can make food taste like chemicals. Be sure to rinse the bins in warm water before returning to the fridge.

Happy Laundry and Happy Cleaning

Hello my lovelies,

I'm putting the priming and painting on hold for the day to clean

and

make our home ready for tomorrow's

Bible Study.

I'm so excited to be see my sweet Bible buddies

and

to study this wonderful book.

What are you studying?

Monday's Message

We are well into the January my lovelies and perhaps you need a little

re-calibrating as you continue in your pursuit to read God's word on

a daily basis.

Our pastor recently shared this and I wanted to pass it along to you.

Seven Daily Psalms:

Sunday: Psalm 24... God the Creator-Re-calibrating your life.

Monday: Psalm 48... God in His City-Rediscovering the Church

Tuesday: Psalm 82... God the Just Judge-Reengaging in Justice

Wednesday: Psalm 94... God the Avenger-Remembering the

God of the Covenant

Thursday: Psalm 81... God the Forgiving One-Returning to the God of Grace

Friday: Psalm 93... God the Holy King-Recognizing the Divine Majesty

Saturday: Psalm 92... God of the Covenant-Re-telling the Great Story

Quiet Time

Micah 5:4-5, And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.

Fabulous Feature Friday

Happiest Friday my lovelies,

The weekend has arrived and I'm spending the day with some of the ladies from my Covenant Group.

Laurie, Gwen and I are making a day of it.

We're visiting

The Sleepy Poet

and the newest

Black Lion

here in Charlotte.

While we're checking out some home decor inspiration,

here's a fabulous site from Glidden paints.

You'll find some great inspiration to assist you in choosing colors for your home.

It's Thursday my Lovelies,

This is where I'll be today; volunteering at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

My friend Gwen is a master at using what's a hand to make something wonderful!

I'm going to lend a hand and my strong back as we decorate and stage one of the "showrooms" today.

Check out the Before and After pictures below

This is Before picture from the right side of the room

This is the After

This the Before from the left side of the room

This is the After

I LOVED my time with Gwen at the ReStore today. I can hardly wait until next week.

Happy Tuesday my lovelies,

If you've ever spent any time in the hospital with family or friends, you know how exhausting it can be.

I'm taking a time out today to lend my best friend Lisa Barlow a hand.

Lisa's dad is in the hospital, and I have the honor and privilege of bringing him a cheery hello, Lisa a bite of lunch and a bit of company.

What would you most like to receive if you are the one standing watch in the hospital?

Happy Tuesday my lovelies,

I'm happy to know I have lovely friends tackling the same cleaning and organizing projects.

While I continue to prime and paint the molding in our home, feast your eyes on this lovely collection of silver shimmer.

Small and quaint or large and grandiose, I must say I had no idea just how much molding there can be in any home.

While I'm busy wiping down dust bunnies from the toe shoe molding, send me your best cleaning tips and the products you like to use.

I found a great tip from HGTV on the best and cheapest (less than $1.00 per bottle) cleaning product.

Stay tuned...

... I'll reveal it tomorrow.

Monday's Message

ORGANIZED

1. Arrange into a structured whole; order: "organize lessons in a planned way".
2. Coordinate the activities of (a person or group) efficiently.

I'm knee deep in cleaning out closets, dresser drawers, the kitchen pantry. Anything really in my house that holds anything...

I'm not sure what's happening, but right now I'm obsessed with cleaning and organizing.

Here are a few of my favorite products

I love these honeycomb drawer organizers. They only a a moment to snap together and they have transformed my sock drawer and my foundation drawer.

Having new flatware organizers are not only good in the kitchen, but using them to organize your makeup and toiletries is a great idea.

Of course my favorite organizing tool is the huggable hanger.

What about you friend, what are some of your favorite organizing products?

Quiet Time

Psalm 16:7-9, I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,

Happy Friday my lovelies,

Well... we are about to finish up the first week of the New Year.

... Here's a little scripture encouragement for you.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

If you're feeling like Lucy as you pursue your own baby steps...

... be encouraged...

You might not be the best or fastest or fittest gal on the block...

...but

Remember...

While you're working hard taking those baby steps...

Here are a few pops of pink for you...

I Don't Do Resolution

I don't do resolutions. There, I said it...

...I believe New Year's resolutions are a set up for failure...

Each of us had resolved to accomplish grandiose and saintly things in the new year...

... and after a few short days we fall right back into old habits and the old way of doing things...

Instead of resolutions, I prefer to take baby steps.

Proverbs 4:12

When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. (ESV)

I love the confidence this scripture offers me.

Although this new year is uncharted territory, we can walk with confidence that the Lord will open up the way for us "one step at a time"...

It's not necessary for us to look far in front of us or around corners...

... each of us should just take one step...

... Soon, our wobbly and tentative baby steps will become strong and steady...

Remember the Lord's promise to be with us...

... The Lord will order our steps to help us maneuver around road blocks...

... and He will uncover His path for us...

... as we take one step at a time...

What about you friend, will you share your baby steps?

Happy New Year

'

Happy New Year my lovelies,

Once again we find ourselves at the beginning of a new year and the time we all set about making resolutions or promises to "do things differently".

It's a time to start over, begin things "anew".

The slate has been wiped clean.

We have one more opportunity to do life better than we did last year.

I hope your 2012 will be filled with:

Endless possibilities to ponder God's goodness and faithfulness to us.

Gratitude for the blessings you have and will receive.

A heart and lips full of Praise for the Lord who gives us a fresh start, a clean slate everyday.

"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness."

- Lamentations 3:21-23