and a Happy New Year.......

Christmas went by in a hurry, didn't it??

It's always a little sad for me taking the Christmas decorations down, everything just looks so.... well, not magical :(

My sweet Nola, was so sad to see the tree put away that I had to think of something quick.

So.. we dressed up our mantel to get it ready for the New Year...with her help, this is what we came up with...

It's bright and shiny, perfect for ringing in the New Year!

too bad my pictures are pretty terrible... not too many bright and shiny days here lately :(

We used our Christmas twinkle lights around the chalkboard window to give it some shine. the bottle brush trees also get to hang out for just a bit longer too :)

We added some "super snow" to a few mason jars, we are always hoping and wishing for snow around here so this fake snow will be great to display while we patiently wait for the real thing to fall....

have you seen this stuff before?? I read that movie sets use it a lot because it looks so real, and let me tell you... it does! 

Also... if you look just to the left of the snow, you will see my awesome candle holder that my sister in law made me for Christmas! {she claims not to be very creative....wrong!}

I added a pocket watch under my little handmade cloche {a stemless wine glass with ornate thingy glued to the top} Time set for midnight, naturally ;)

And to top it all off, Nola and I made a ton of Sculpey clay snow flakes to hang from the ceiling. 

All in all, I think we still have a bit of a magical look..... it made her smile, so you know it was worth it to me!

Here's one last look at our Christmas Mantel... and our New Year Mantel too.......

Happy New Year, friends! 

linked to:

Happy Hour Link Party

Blessed......

I have been trying to think of how to write this post for two days. You see, on Tuesday, Liam and I got to deliver the coats that we had been raising money for. Selling these necklaces, which you all embraced and blessed us by buying.

We got there, to the after school program, carrying these bags of  20 coats and it was supposed to be a joyful thing. You all allowed our family to bless 20 children with warm coats for the winter.... and yet, I had a heavy heart. But I continued on in, dropped off the coats, shared hugs, and then Liam and I were on our way.

As we pulled out of the parking lot, I started praying. Praying for the 20 children that would have these coats. I didn't know exactly which child would receive each coat, but I knew God did... so I prayed for them. I prayed that they would be proud of their new coat, that it would be something that they would have chose for themselves. I prayed that they would see that there is kindness in the world, and there would be others to lend a hand up in life if you needed it. I prayed that maybe the kindness would spread, and that they would bless someone else too.

I prayed and I prayed as I drove..... it was about 20 minutes into my praying that I thought about something that took my breath away. While I was praying for these 20 children with new coats, I knew why my heart was so heavy. I also had 20 other children on my mind right then.....

What happened in Newton, CT on Friday shook me to my core. I still can't seem to wrap my head around what happened that day. I remember hearing about it, and knew that if I turned the TV on, I would see images that would break my heart. I didn't turn the TV on, I just started praying. 

To know that the lives of the students, faculty and families involved in that day would be changed forever, is just almost too much to think about. Because as a momma to three beautiful babies, I can't imagine a single day without them.

 But what I do know is that there is still good in the world.

Gandhi said it best with this quote, 

"Be the change you wish to see in the world"

Those words resonate with me...

So, if I want the world to be a more kind place, I, myself, must be more kind.

If I want the world to be more understanding of differences, then I, myself, must be more understanding.

If I want the world to be more giving, then I, myself, must be more giving.

See where I am going with this?

What our family was able to do on Tuesday, thanks to you all, was pass on a little goodness that is in this world. Plant a small seed of kindness.... and for that I am truly grateful.

I can think of no better way to pay tribute to those innocent lives lost than to continue to teach my own children that we are blessed beyond the "things" in our lives. We have each other.

Thank you all for giving us the opportunity to give back.

We are so very grateful..... and blessed.

Coat shopping with my babies.....

Giveaway From Bound With The Word.....

Today, I am excited to introduce you to a new friend of mine! Brandy, from Bound With The Word, and I met a few weeks ago at a craft show. I was so inspired by her work and her story that I asked if she might share with all of you...

Here she is to tell us about her work...in her own words....

Bound With The Word is a line of jewelry that I, Brandy Klaers, handmake. All jewelry that I create either have scripture on them, or are inspired by scripture. I make bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings. My line is offers options for men, women, and children. Customers can personalize their jewelry by choosing their own verse, and colors. The special thing about wearing Bound With The Word jewelry is that you are speaking life to yourself, and to all those you come in contact with! 
Bound With The Word was created a little over a year ago in 2011 after having several circumstances fall into place. First, I had been praying to God for a way to raise money to go to India with the organization named Hope Again. Second, I am always making something with my hands, and at that certain point in my life I was enamored with polyshrink plastic. And then third, I desired to know scripture so well that it would be written upon the table of my heart as it describes in Proverbs 7:3.
One day as I was reading in my quiet time, Deuteronomy 6:8 jumped out at me, “"And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand,” and a light bulb went off! J I created some bracelets with my favorite verses and then I posted some pictures on face book. To my surprise I had several people who actually wanted to pay me to make them some as well! Two months later I opened an Etsy account and within one year, the Lord had answered my prayer of being able to raise the money I would need to travel to India! Now I use my profit for my family, and also to help support other minsitries.
My jewelry making business has been such a blessing in unexpected ways! Its not only a business but a ministry. Customers will often share the reason why they are buying, and their prayer requests with me. Cancer of a loved one, celebration gifts for a little league baseball team, a death, needed encouragament, a gift to a Sunday School teacher, baptisms…I am honored to be able to be trusted with many tender hearts. 
I still am waiting for God’s timing for me to go to India with Hope Again. We are currently raising money to build a children’s home in Pune, India. To learn more about Hope Again please visit:www.hopeagaininternational.org.
To purchase from Bound With The Word please go to:www.etsy.com/shop/boundwiththeword and please “like” my face book page as well at www.facebook.com/boundwiththeword

I was so inspired by Brandy's work and the message that she shares with every one of her beautiful pieces.

You can see more of her work in her Etsy Shop and on Facebook, I hope you will take a look around and find something that inspires you too!

Today, Brandy is giving away one

 gray damask John 14:6 scripture bracelet with black leather bands along with a John 3:16 gray ring to match. Retail value: $15.50

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below!

{open to US only, please}

Good Luck to you all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway