Life is good in my little world. Welcome.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
countdown to the baby shower
I'm so excited--only four more sleeps until my big baby shower!!
Since everyone obviously has their invitations now, here it is! I cropped out all the personal info. We loved the umbrella theme for an April shower!! And I adore the brown and blue combo.
Then I found umbrella address labels on Etsy and had her customize them to match! This is a sample, from
Little Art Studio
My mom has gifts from her plus my Florida aunt and grandmother, so she asked me to make tags! These go with the umbrella and blue and brown theme--so cute!! A similar tag will go on the favors, too. Yes, I'm making stuff for my own shower--we gotta keep it "in house," when possible!!
As a side note, I love to talk--so when there's any party in my honor, I give a little speech. I put myself to sleep at night occasionally, practicing what I'll say at the shower. The main idea is that we have been so blessed with this baby, after suffering a miscarriage with my last pregnancy. In fact, when I first learned I was pregnant, I calculated my due date as May 13, the very day in '08 that I miscarried. I felt like that was God's way of saying, "I'm making it up to you." Not that He owed me that, or I deserve it--it's just another reminder of how God redeems!
SO! I wanted a sort of "theme verse" for the shower, to write on the back of the goody bag tags--and I think I found it last night, reading my devotion. I read the verse and explained it to my hubby and he said, "Yeah, that's perfect. The Holy Spirit just confirmed that for you," and I thought he was kidding (he likes to challenge me sometimes, to explain myself)--but he wasn't! He totally "got it" and said he thinks the ladies will "get it," too...and even though it may be a little unconventional for a shower verse, here it is...
Jeremiah 31:13 "For I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." KJV
The shower is, above all, a time to rejoice! Not just in me, or in Ethan--but in God's goodness and grace!!
So things are really coming together!
Of course I'll be sharing more details after the big event--I can hardly wait!
Since everyone obviously has their invitations now, here it is! I cropped out all the personal info. We loved the umbrella theme for an April shower!! And I adore the brown and blue combo.
Then I found umbrella address labels on Etsy and had her customize them to match! This is a sample, from
Little Art Studio
My mom has gifts from her plus my Florida aunt and grandmother, so she asked me to make tags! These go with the umbrella and blue and brown theme--so cute!! A similar tag will go on the favors, too. Yes, I'm making stuff for my own shower--we gotta keep it "in house," when possible!!
As a side note, I love to talk--so when there's any party in my honor, I give a little speech. I put myself to sleep at night occasionally, practicing what I'll say at the shower. The main idea is that we have been so blessed with this baby, after suffering a miscarriage with my last pregnancy. In fact, when I first learned I was pregnant, I calculated my due date as May 13, the very day in '08 that I miscarried. I felt like that was God's way of saying, "I'm making it up to you." Not that He owed me that, or I deserve it--it's just another reminder of how God redeems!
SO! I wanted a sort of "theme verse" for the shower, to write on the back of the goody bag tags--and I think I found it last night, reading my devotion. I read the verse and explained it to my hubby and he said, "Yeah, that's perfect. The Holy Spirit just confirmed that for you," and I thought he was kidding (he likes to challenge me sometimes, to explain myself)--but he wasn't! He totally "got it" and said he thinks the ladies will "get it," too...and even though it may be a little unconventional for a shower verse, here it is...
Jeremiah 31:13 "For I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." KJV
The shower is, above all, a time to rejoice! Not just in me, or in Ethan--but in God's goodness and grace!!
So things are really coming together!
Of course I'll be sharing more details after the big event--I can hardly wait!
Reading in bed
Reading in bed before I go to sleep at night is now a daily activity, so Andrew has seen me do it many times. I recently picked up "My Utmost For His Highest" and often read from it to Drew while we're all getting ready for bed. I'm not sure how he ended up with it but the other night, he crawled into his bed with it and started reading to Daddy like I do.
Then he had a little personal reading time, too. Yes, it was upside down.
So cute! I wonder if they have a preschool version of this book??
**** UPDATED!!! **** They DO have a preschool version!! Thanks for the head's up, K! :)
"Jesus Wants All of Me"
on Amazon
Then he had a little personal reading time, too. Yes, it was upside down.
So cute! I wonder if they have a preschool version of this book??
**** UPDATED!!! **** They DO have a preschool version!! Thanks for the head's up, K! :)
"Jesus Wants All of Me"
on Amazon
Monday, March 30, 2009
weekly verse for 3-23
This week's verse was Psalm 119:11 "Your Word have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against You."
I'm with Beth on this one--this is the entire reason that I NEED to make it a spiritual discipline to memorize God's Word. I may not always have a Bible to refer to or an index card to pull out (or BlueLetterBible.com, for that matter!) so I will need to rely on my own memory. Already, I find myself often pulling up verses I've memorized over the years to calm my nighttime anxiety or settle my spirit about a situation. Plus, when I'm tempted to worry or gossip or watch a violent movie, I remind myself of an applicable verse to "think again" and thus avoid sinning.
Good verse!
Check out other entries at
The Power Of Your Love
This week's verse:
"I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God: I will gird you, though you have not known Me." Isaiah 45:5 (NASB)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
New Spring bookmarks {free shipping}
For a limited time
In My Etsy Shop
ORDER BOOKMARKS AND YOUR ENTIRE ORDER SHIPS FOR FREE!!
"Blossoms & Butterflies" bookmarks, just added to the shop!! Lovely to give inside a card, as a "Thinking of You" gift or to use as a tag!
Stock up on Spring cards, tags and more!
When you order any set of bookmarks, your entire purchase ships for free!!
So hippity-hop on over there and start shopping! :)
Proudgrits11 on Etsy
In My Etsy Shop
ORDER BOOKMARKS AND YOUR ENTIRE ORDER SHIPS FOR FREE!!
"Blossoms & Butterflies" bookmarks, just added to the shop!! Lovely to give inside a card, as a "Thinking of You" gift or to use as a tag!
Stock up on Spring cards, tags and more!
When you order any set of bookmarks, your entire purchase ships for free!!
So hippity-hop on over there and start shopping! :)
Proudgrits11 on Etsy
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Craftin' away!
Sometimes it's fun to just experiment and make something cute for myself, rather than trying to make it appealing to the masses (not to mention, near-PERFECT) so it can go into my Etsy shop. That's what these are. I saw the idea in a book yesterday, to have the paper flower pot with stamped flowers. I already had these watercolor flowers and didn't really have plans for them, so...after a lot of trial and error, I think they're at least...recognizable!! I like the black background and shorter pot better.
I think I'll enjoy coming up with variations of this, and using the idea for cards, too.
**** If you are HEATHER, my Spring Swap partner, don't scroll down!! ****
I don't want to ruin the surprise! :)
These are going out in the mail this weekend, along with some other spring goodies. She told me the colors of her daughters' bedrooms and I already had the As and the paint, so I whipped these up.
Here they are, in process.
And after sealant. They still need a ribbon attached--I'm workin' on it!!
I finished this one for baby Ethan, too. It's a much bigger letter. Rather than hanging it, I'm picturing leaning against the wall on one of the wood ledges I registered for.
He's rolling around and jabbing me as I type, like he knows I'm talking about him! :)
I'm loving brown and blue! And, of course, polka dots are always fun!
I actually did a tutorial on the Christmas tree ornament version of these if you want to check it out.
Initial Ornaments Tutorial
It's been fun to "get my craft thing on." What projects are you working on??
I think I'll enjoy coming up with variations of this, and using the idea for cards, too.
**** If you are HEATHER, my Spring Swap partner, don't scroll down!! ****
I don't want to ruin the surprise! :)
These are going out in the mail this weekend, along with some other spring goodies. She told me the colors of her daughters' bedrooms and I already had the As and the paint, so I whipped these up.
Here they are, in process.
And after sealant. They still need a ribbon attached--I'm workin' on it!!
I finished this one for baby Ethan, too. It's a much bigger letter. Rather than hanging it, I'm picturing leaning against the wall on one of the wood ledges I registered for.
He's rolling around and jabbing me as I type, like he knows I'm talking about him! :)
I'm loving brown and blue! And, of course, polka dots are always fun!
I actually did a tutorial on the Christmas tree ornament version of these if you want to check it out.
Initial Ornaments Tutorial
It's been fun to "get my craft thing on." What projects are you working on??
I'm going unplugged Friday!
Care to join me in unplugging for the day?? There's no telling what we can all accomplish without the electronic distractions of life interfering!
On March 30, we'll all link up to report on the results!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Toile Party!!
Go get your Toile fix over at
Pretty Organized Palace
I'm new to POP, so I'm wondering...is it pretty and organized...or just pretty organized??
Either way, I do adore toile and would love to add more to my decor. So far, this is all I've got, but I have one friend that uses this cup and saucer every time she attends one of my tea parties! I've tried to give it to her but she insists that it wouldn't be as special.
I got it at an antique store in Globe, Arizona, the city where my husband and I were set up and hit it off, back in 2001, over Thanksgiving weekend. We go back for Thanksgiving every year and the women in the family have made it a tradition to hit the local antique stores on "Black Friday," which is when I snagged this beauty, probably four years ago!
Notice the detail of the tea service to her right. Such a pretty tea pot! And the trees and statue in the background. It looks like he's handing her the tea cup and saucer. He kinda looks like a young George Washington, no??
There's a different picture on the back of the cup, too.
I am way into black painted furniture so I thought it would be a fun accent. I adore it!!
Thanks for stopping by! Can't wait to get my fill of toile eye candy now...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Pregnancy update
I can hardly believe that I have only have (just over) 6 weeks left until my due date!!
On the one hand, time has flown by but all it takes is one person saying, "You haven't had that baby yet??" to make me feel like I've been pregnant forever.
The other comment I'm getting lately is "You look like you're about to pop!" A sales clerk in JoAnn's looked over at me and said, "You look like--" and I said, "Stop right there, I don't want to hear it!! I have over six weeks left!!" Grrr. She said, "Oh, but that baby has already dropped!" and I told her, "OR...I'm 5'9" and have extra space in my torso so it just looks that way." Come on now!!
Just say I look good, OK, people???
ANYway, I'm feeling well and have been fortunate to have not caught a cold or anything worse than a 6-hour stomach bug during this pregnancy. Besides slightly puffy ankles and feeling winded, I can't complain of any symptoms. I feel very blessed to be complication-free thus far!!
I went to my OB this week at 33 weeks and she was attending a birth, so the nurse only checked my blood pressure and Ethan's heart rate (which went up from the 140s to the 160s as she listened because he was squirming around so much!!) and both were right on. YEA!!
Depending on Ethan's position, I have days where his movements are sharp and take my breath away, then others where he's doing these big rolls, which are almost painful. I know I'm feeling his feet up in my ribs--that's probably the worst part. I feel slightly uncomfortable pretty much all the time now...BUT, I am still sleeping like a champ, thank the Lord!
And here's are some recent pictures for those who are interested. These are all from 33 weeks. I got a few new tops and my hubby wanted to know why, with being this close to the end and I said, "Well, I'm HUGE...and I want to feel pretty!" So there.
Saturday after an Easter egg hunt...
...and Sunday after church.
I've told ya before, I'm the type who sees pregnant pics and wants to see the bare belly to get the REAL picture, so...for those of you out there like me, here ya go!
If you comment, remember...just tell me how good I look!! :)
On the one hand, time has flown by but all it takes is one person saying, "You haven't had that baby yet??" to make me feel like I've been pregnant forever.
The other comment I'm getting lately is "You look like you're about to pop!" A sales clerk in JoAnn's looked over at me and said, "You look like--" and I said, "Stop right there, I don't want to hear it!! I have over six weeks left!!" Grrr. She said, "Oh, but that baby has already dropped!" and I told her, "OR...I'm 5'9" and have extra space in my torso so it just looks that way." Come on now!!
Just say I look good, OK, people???
ANYway, I'm feeling well and have been fortunate to have not caught a cold or anything worse than a 6-hour stomach bug during this pregnancy. Besides slightly puffy ankles and feeling winded, I can't complain of any symptoms. I feel very blessed to be complication-free thus far!!
I went to my OB this week at 33 weeks and she was attending a birth, so the nurse only checked my blood pressure and Ethan's heart rate (which went up from the 140s to the 160s as she listened because he was squirming around so much!!) and both were right on. YEA!!
Depending on Ethan's position, I have days where his movements are sharp and take my breath away, then others where he's doing these big rolls, which are almost painful. I know I'm feeling his feet up in my ribs--that's probably the worst part. I feel slightly uncomfortable pretty much all the time now...BUT, I am still sleeping like a champ, thank the Lord!
And here's are some recent pictures for those who are interested. These are all from 33 weeks. I got a few new tops and my hubby wanted to know why, with being this close to the end and I said, "Well, I'm HUGE...and I want to feel pretty!" So there.
Saturday after an Easter egg hunt...
...and Sunday after church.
I've told ya before, I'm the type who sees pregnant pics and wants to see the bare belly to get the REAL picture, so...for those of you out there like me, here ya go!
If you comment, remember...just tell me how good I look!! :)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The STUFF of life
Or more aptly titled, "Learning To Let Go."
A recent magazine article I read pointed out that the first step in the 'Reduce ~ Recycle ~ Reuse' cycle is to REDUCE. As in...STOP BUYING MORE 'STUFF!' OK, that's how I interpret it, anyway, because I really like 'stuff!' And use what you have, for goodness sake. Look for new uses for old things, "shop" your house when you want to redecorate or spruce up and give the items you no loner use away to someone who needs them. Some of that fits under the recycle and reuse categories, of course, but that's the whole idea--one thing leads to another!
I'm saying this passionately because I've really got to get myself in gear to begin the reduction process. I do this occasionally, and ruthlessly (that's what my mom and I call it) go through my STUFF and give stuff away or throw stuff out. I just took two huge shopping bags and two garbage bags full of stuff to the local Goodwill. Mostly clothes and housewares I no longer enjoyed. but now I'm thinking of other things that are cluttering up my life that #1, I don't need, enjoy or have space for anymore and #2, that someone else could really use. And it's time to let go of that STUFF.
Example #1: See the white canisters on the counter, right of the sink? I had a friend over almost two years ago, to help me reorganize my kitchen and I told her I never used these and wanted to get rid of them, but she said 'every kitchen needs a set of canisters' and that they looked nice, so I kept them. Haven't opened a single one of them since. It's time to let go.
I'm finally realizing that I'm a visual person and to actually use something like a canister, I need to see what's inside--otherwise, I'll forget about them altogether. If I can't see what's inside, it's like they don't exist! Anyone getting rid of clear canisters??? :) I really think that if I can see my flour, tea bags, etc. on the counter, I'll use them more and they'll be more visually appealing.
Here's what I'd like to replace them with. These are from
Williams-Sonoma
The set of 3 is $99! Whoa!
Maybe I'll opt for these, affordable at $10 for the set of 3! From
Cost Plus World Market
Aaaah, but I'm wary of plastic...so maybe these square, glass guys from
BB&B
Example #2: A white rocker I bought while pregnant with our first son. I had illusions of sitting in it and nursing him, rocking him to sleep...the usual delusions of a new mom. Little did I know that I wouldn't be able to sit in a hard chair for over a week after he was born and that I'd quickly became a pro at nursing laying down, thus eliminating the need for a night-time nursing hang out beyond our bed. Plus, he never did like to rock, he preferred being bounced on my birthing ball! To top it off, our live-in sister-in-law received a beautiful Cracker Barrel rocker as a gift last year and we definitely don't need two rocking chairs. Not to mention how they tend to get too close to the wall and chip away at the paint. It's time to let go.
So I'm really trying to look at my surroundings with new eyes and decide what items I can REDUCE. And I'm going to try to be better about not bringing in new STUFF unless it is something that is both useful and beautiful. If it happens to be Earth-friendly, all the better!
I'm by no means a 'tree-hugger' or an environmentalist or any of that...just a person trying to care for the planet Earth God has given us.
How about you? What STUFF do you need to let go of?
A recent magazine article I read pointed out that the first step in the 'Reduce ~ Recycle ~ Reuse' cycle is to REDUCE. As in...STOP BUYING MORE 'STUFF!' OK, that's how I interpret it, anyway, because I really like 'stuff!' And use what you have, for goodness sake. Look for new uses for old things, "shop" your house when you want to redecorate or spruce up and give the items you no loner use away to someone who needs them. Some of that fits under the recycle and reuse categories, of course, but that's the whole idea--one thing leads to another!
I'm saying this passionately because I've really got to get myself in gear to begin the reduction process. I do this occasionally, and ruthlessly (that's what my mom and I call it) go through my STUFF and give stuff away or throw stuff out. I just took two huge shopping bags and two garbage bags full of stuff to the local Goodwill. Mostly clothes and housewares I no longer enjoyed. but now I'm thinking of other things that are cluttering up my life that #1, I don't need, enjoy or have space for anymore and #2, that someone else could really use. And it's time to let go of that STUFF.
Example #1: See the white canisters on the counter, right of the sink? I had a friend over almost two years ago, to help me reorganize my kitchen and I told her I never used these and wanted to get rid of them, but she said 'every kitchen needs a set of canisters' and that they looked nice, so I kept them. Haven't opened a single one of them since. It's time to let go.
I'm finally realizing that I'm a visual person and to actually use something like a canister, I need to see what's inside--otherwise, I'll forget about them altogether. If I can't see what's inside, it's like they don't exist! Anyone getting rid of clear canisters??? :) I really think that if I can see my flour, tea bags, etc. on the counter, I'll use them more and they'll be more visually appealing.
Here's what I'd like to replace them with. These are from
Williams-Sonoma
The set of 3 is $99! Whoa!
Maybe I'll opt for these, affordable at $10 for the set of 3! From
Cost Plus World Market
Aaaah, but I'm wary of plastic...so maybe these square, glass guys from
BB&B
Example #2: A white rocker I bought while pregnant with our first son. I had illusions of sitting in it and nursing him, rocking him to sleep...the usual delusions of a new mom. Little did I know that I wouldn't be able to sit in a hard chair for over a week after he was born and that I'd quickly became a pro at nursing laying down, thus eliminating the need for a night-time nursing hang out beyond our bed. Plus, he never did like to rock, he preferred being bounced on my birthing ball! To top it off, our live-in sister-in-law received a beautiful Cracker Barrel rocker as a gift last year and we definitely don't need two rocking chairs. Not to mention how they tend to get too close to the wall and chip away at the paint. It's time to let go.
So I'm really trying to look at my surroundings with new eyes and decide what items I can REDUCE. And I'm going to try to be better about not bringing in new STUFF unless it is something that is both useful and beautiful. If it happens to be Earth-friendly, all the better!
I'm by no means a 'tree-hugger' or an environmentalist or any of that...just a person trying to care for the planet Earth God has given us.
How about you? What STUFF do you need to let go of?
Friday, March 20, 2009
Spring Reading Thing
What's on your Spring Reading List?? This goes from today until June 20. The idea is to post about the books you want to read this Spring, then report back on your progress in June. Maybe reading others' lists will give you more ideas!
Check out all the details, and link to your own list, by visiting
Callapidder Days
Here's mine so far (with links to Amazon):
1. "The Sugar Queen" by Sarah Addison Allen
2. "The Space Trilogy" by C.S. Lewis
3. "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks
4. "The Undomestic Goddess" by Sophie Kinsella
These are all books by my favorite authors so I WILL be checking out other lists to get some more ideas!! With a new baby on the way, there will have to be time spent sitting--so why not read a great book?? :)
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