little bit by little bit

Today, our Elf on the Shelf, Oliver made his first appearance.

The other Christmas elves are going to be a little later showing up and spreading Christmas cheer.

All because a little something we call The Book is due in 3 (gulp) days.

All is well (as can be) in that department, BUT I am under very strict orders from Sweet Man NOT to let any other elves in until this weekend.

So for now, it is Oliver, our Advent wreath and a few random bits I have picked up this month. But I can't complain. Pretty sure by Monday it will look like a tinsel bomb exploded.

Make Do [and make lovely] Mondays - Giveaway x 2

Want some of this?

Then enter win your copy of  the latest issue of  Inspired Ideas

I am giving away one copy and so is my new sweet friend Marci 

over at Dandelion Farm Girl

That means 2 copies will go to 2 very lucky readers!

To enter leave a comment here on this post

AND then go to over to Marci's giveaway to enter for a second chance to win.

My winner will be announced on Friday- just in time for you to get all crafty for the weekend!

Best of luck to you all and Happy Monday!

Crazy Thankful

Earlier this month the boys and I got to tag along on a field trip to see replicas of the Nina and the Pinta.

I didn't go on the boats, but I could see from above just how small and open they were.

This makes me think that those travelers with Columbus were either desperate or crazy. Or maybe a little of both.

This Thanksgiving I would like to send a big, sloppy, wet, Nina inspired THANK YOU to another group of nutty folks.

My family.

Over the course of the past nine months as I have worked on the book (writing, making the crafts, staging the parties for the photo shoots, testing the recipes over and over) there have been many moments of desperation and crazy thinking on my part. Despite all of this, my family, every single one of them, has stepped up to the plate, has thrown their lot in with mine, and have come to my aid and rescue over and over.

So far my experience is a little bit like having a baby. You are not ever 100% sure of what you are going to get. But regardless of whatever comes next, whether this thing flies or not, I know that standing beside me is a group of wonderful, amazing, talented and supportive people who love me more than I deserve.

Today I am crazy thankful for them.

Belated Halloween Picture and Countdown Continues

9 Days till Deadline

I just keep saying "you can do it" in a Speedy Gonzales voice to myself.

loving

The newest addition of Souvenir 

featuring some of my favorite blog friends and heros

You will have to go sign-up to see the whole issue- tres cute!

this time last year

This time last year Sweet Man, myself and our three boys headed off for a great little week long getaway.

 This time last year, the book was just a tiny unformed idea.

 And now here we are. Two weeks from my first deadline. 

The boys have gone to my parents for the week and I am, for the final time this go round, hunkering down.

No work. No kids. No meals to plan. No parties to throw. No carpool or music lessons or martial arts.

Just me, buckets of coffee, my computer and my playlist on Spotify,

The past month has been topsy turvy, emotions running high as the deadline pressed closer.

We have all dealt with the stress in different ways.  I know I have not been the easiest person to live with at times, of that I am fully aware.  This has been a learning process for all of us.

And really, there is still so many more steps to go.

But for now, I can only think of this one: Finish.

So starting tomorrow that is what the next seven days will be about.

And for that I am extremely thankful.

Thursday's Confessions- Shameless Promotion and other stuff

OK, first of all I hope you are supporting handmade and small local shops this holiday as much as possible.

(I grabbed this button from Jenny Holiday-feel free to do the same!)

It really it is the best way - occupy your small independent shops and craft shows and spend your $$$ there.

Second of all, speaking of supporting the small and handmade, if you have not purchased your copy of Inspired Ideas you simply must! It is by far my #1 go-to for Christmas inspiration .

You will not regret it and you may even be inspired to make some wonderful Christmas goodies, like this precious stocking.

Wordy Wednesday- watching

OK, so pretty much all the words in my life at the moment are the ones going from my fingers to my computer. No reading is really getting done.

But every now and then I have to zone out.

I have to watch something that is mindless, that has nothing to do with anything of substance.

Something fun, and pretty and fluffy.

Last night I found my new light and airy  bit-o-fluff on Hulu.

Hart of Dixie on CW

The show stars Rachel Bilson as New York Doctor who inherits a practice in Bluebell, Alabama and all the scrapes she gets into while living there.

The show is a little bit like Gilmore Girls meets Sweet Home Alabama meets Men in Trees

There are tons of funny characters, small town charms and southern eccentricities

my favorite characters so far are the mayor & Lemon

They had a secret love affair and now there is all sorts of tension since Lemon's fiance is back in town.

The mayor is funny, a snazzy dresser,  and he has an awesome kitchen.

Plus he is good looking. 

What's not to love?

 I have to admit though that my favorite part of the show might be Lemon's fashion sense. It was her picture that I saw on Hulu that made me even watch the show in the first place.

I love her blatantly retro style.

Even when she wears something more modern, like this maxi dress, she manages to find a way to put a cute vintage spin on it.

She almost always has a hat on or a flower in her hair, and she believes in Southern tradition to her core.

I mean, really, what is not to love about that?

OK, time to get back to the serious work at hand.

Fluff break over.

Thanksgiving Craftiness

Under normal circumstances we would  be hosting Thanksgiving at our house.

But these are not normal circumstances.

So instead, I just planned a virtual  Pinterest inspiredThanksgiving Hoopla.

You can read all about it here

Make Do {and Make Lovely} Monday- Randomness

Today I am making-do with what I have left on this project:  2 weeks and some change. I promise not every post will be a countdown between now and then. Maybe just every other post...
But let's not talk about that. Let's talk instead about what I am going to do when it is all said and done...

When this is all over I am going to have several very stout drinks.

And go away for a couple of days with some of my oldest gal pals

And do some Christmas shopping - for me, for supplies, for all my loves.

And then I may repeat the process four more times. Could you blame me?

PS- Anybody know what all these needles and sticks are for?

They sure are pretty but I have no idea what they are (except for the red one.)

sundays challenge

Remembering Because

Today I am remembering.

I am remembering that because of our armed forces my grandparents met at Camp Robinson during WW II when my grandmother was a dental hygienist  and my grandfather's unit came through.

That because of our armed forces my sister has been able to travel the world.

Her eyes have been opened, her world expanded, her understanding of the human condition enriched because of my brother-in-laws service in the military.

Because of our armed forces, my parents little town Arkadelphia was cared for and kept safe after a devastating tornado, the National Guard helping in so many ways.

And because of our armed forces we exist as a country still. A country were we are free to disagree.

I know it is not always popular to support our military, to fly an American flag, to say our pledge. I have friends who will not write a post like this today. That might even poo-poo the whole idea. But the truth is, if you live in America you probably have been helped or benefited in some way by all those who have served or are still serving our country.

I do not always support all the decisions our military leaders make.

Or our president.

Our my mayor.

Or my husband.

Or my best friend.

Or my pastor.

Or my children.

Living in community with other humans means that there will always be a difference of opinions, which is good. The freedom to debate and share ideas and to change our minds is one thing I love about our country. But I don't love throwing the baby out with the bathwater, it's too simplistic. Life is more complicated than that and so are these issues. 

So today I am personally grateful for our armed force, for the way it has benefited my life and for all of those who have given their lives doing what was asked of them, in service of their country. My prayer is for their families, and for all of our hearts, that they may they be tender towards those who believe differently than us on this day. 

Thursday's Confessions - 20 Days

The countdown is ON.

20 days till submission.

(kate winslet, momma, & artist, hard at work. love the bare foot and messy hair. in the original you can also see a sippy cup on the table.)

This is where the rubber meets the road.

The iron is in the fire.

The peddle is to the metal.

The shoulder is against the plow.

Prayers are coveted, needed and counted on.

Wordy Wednesday- listening

Have you discoved Spotify?

It is my new best friend when it comes to listening to music,

I already have several Christmas play list created with all my new and old favorites.

Here is a sneak into a few of my  selections

THE VINTAGE 

She & Him

As always, the perfect mix of mellow and happy.

Christmas On the Bandstand

This was a $3 dollar find a few years ago in a sale bin. I love this album, it makes me feel like I have stepped back into time.

\

White Christmas Soundtrack

Snow, snow, snow....Need I sing more?

THE OLD SCHOOL

Amy Grant

My childhood Christmas' all tied up with a bow

Micheal W. Smith

Still love the drama

THE NEW SCHOOL

Third Day

Christmas that sounds good turned up loud

Sara Groves

My all time favorite. 

So that is a little sampling what I will be listening to this holiday...

What about you? What are your favorite Christmas albums? I am always looking for more!

make do {and make lovely} mondays -it's beginning to taste a lot like...

Guess what is all shiny and bright and ready for you?? The newest - holiday - addition of Amy Powers' INSPIRED IDEAS magazine. The most crafty, colorful and inspiring online magazine evah. I mean seriously. WARNING:This magazine is not for those who only like white, beige and gray. If you don't like stuff and don't feel a kinship with Magpies, if you don't have stashes of ribbons and buttons and bits of thread, then this might not be the magazine for you. However if  you don't mind glitter dusting everything, if you love vintage ephemera and if you go to sleep dreaming of sugar plums all year long, then please continue...

I am so honored and excited to share that I have a little yummy-to-eat treat featured in this issue! My Cup Of Cheer, inspired by the North Pole. But ya gotta go get your copy to find out more. Wink, wink.

So just wiggle those fingers on over the keyboard and  go check out the newest Inspired Ideas issue ( you can even see a itty bitty sneak preview here) and purchase your online copy. Trust me, this is a great deal for the money and you will be using these happy projects for years!