Mad Sewing Skills, Strep, and BUNCO {InstaFriday}

Bath and Body Works has THE best candles ever.
All other candles just have a waxy smell.
Or they have this weird strong vanilla smell, that makes me feel like I'm choking in the back of my throat, no matter what the fragrance is.
Starts with "yank"...
End with"ee"...
Not that I'm naming names or anything.



Lately, I have just needed to be here.
Yeah.



Something about a Merry Go Round just screams, "Take a picture of me!"
I don't know what it is about them but I oblige.
Every time.



This boy made his acting debut this past week.
He takes 5th grade Drama at our homeschool tutorial.
Who waited till the last minute to make his Indian costume?
::raises hand::
This momma.
Was up till 1am making this.
Who can't sew to save her life?
::raises both hands::
Moi.



Watching him come alive on the stage made all the glue gun burns I got worth it.



He seriously has the bug.
Complained the whole way home that it was over and that he has to wait till Spring to act again.
Did I mention his older sister was the Stage Director for his play?
Or that I have two kiddos with the acting bug?
Or that I'm looking to hire a seamstress?



This past week my husband and I were part of the BEST surprise birthday party.
My friend/mentor/past tutor of my kiddo/homeschool mom with kids in college turned 50.
Man, I hope I look this good when I get there.
She's gorgeous!



The night was filled with soups galore, laughter, cake, and BUNCO!!!
Can you believe it was my first time playing?
Ever?
Where the heck have I been??
This game is so fun.
Plus it lends itself to the ADD within.
Non-stop action.
With a little cardio thrown in from time to time.
Yes, I lost a lot.
That's ok...I needed to burn off that cake.



Adam was the Bunco Queen...errr, King.



I am such a blessed gal to have people like this in my life.
They make me look good.



Monday nights usually mean Bible Study for Adam and SSMASH (Secondary Students Meeting at Someone's House) for Maggie and Tyler.
That means I usually get this boy right here all to myself.
He makes the best coffee date.



Thanks to Kroger fuel points I filled my husband's truck up this week for $1.60 off per gallon.
Usually takes $70ish dollars to fill.
Mommy like.



Speaking of Kroger....
Check your prices people.
Organic does not always cost more.



My boy wanted to learn to sew.
"Sew" we did.

Little did I know he would break out into 101.4 fever within 20 minutes of taking this picture.
Strep.
Nothing more humbling than your child with fever.
Nothing reminds me quicker that He is God...and I am not.
Many prayers and antibiotics later, he's back to building Legos and racing hot wheels.
Makes my heart smile.






"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Girls Gatlinburg Getaway {It's Tradition}

Lodging for 3 nights: $70
Dinner at Bullfish Grill: $40
Mountain Views: Free
Shopping: $$$$$









A yearly getaway with friends that know me better than I know myself sometimes...
And love me still....
Priceless.

  


"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

No Make-up, Dishes In the Sink, and Emergency Coffee Dates {InstaFriday}

Walked into Maggie's bedroom this week and found this.
Apparently poodles make excellent math tutors.



Adam went on his first ever "Man Hike" this past weekend.
He's all head over heels and stuff.
Apparently it was "love at first night sleeping in a hammock".
Have at it my love.
I'm kinda having this scandalous fling with my bed and food that wasn't meant to be eaten in space.



Bought this candle a week ago today.
It's halfway gone.
I kid you not.
It's like piping fall straight up the nostrils.



Speaking of fall and nostrils...I am such a sucker for the smell of wood burning.
Maybe it's because I grew up with a wood stove in the house and it makes me feel all 8 years old again.
Maybe it reminds me of my daddy.
I don't know the reason...I just know I love the smell of a fire and fall is the perfect excuse to saturate my clothing with it.



A girlfriend text me late Thursday night to ask for prayer.
She was having a really bad week.
I called another mom that I knew could relate.
What came next was what I like to call an ECD.
Emergency Coffee Date.
So thankful for friendships that do not require make-up, brushed hair, or matching clothes.

And yes, I brought pumpkin donuts from Dunkin Donuts into Starbucks.
I'm sorry ya'll, I big puffy heart love their lattes...but their desserts are like eating sugar sprinkled cardboard.
I dared them to say something.
I was fully prepared to point out how much I paid for that donut and how much I just paid for their fru fru drink.
Clearly they were getting the better end of my business.

Speaking of pumpkin.
It has got to go.
I find it irresistible in whatever form it comes in.
In fact if Starbucks wanted to slather some Trader Joe's pumpkin butter on their cardboard desserts I might just eat them.



A surprise trip through the drive thru + offering my youngest anything he wanted = pretty much the happiest 10 year old boy on the whole planet.
He kept telling me all day, "Mom, I just can't stop thanking you for letting me get that pumpkin coffee today."



Moms, DO NOT underestimate the power of sometimes throwing caution to the wind...forgetting all the rules...and just being a "yes!" mom.



Twice a year LCA (homeschool tutorial) offers our Jr. High and Sr. High students an opportunity to do service projects in the community.
Yesterday a group of teenagers headed out with rakes and gloves to help a few elderly people clean up their yards.
I love these kids to pieces.
They inspire me.



It is good to know that we can count on Netflix to have such well rounded movie categories.
Something for everyone.



I was challenged this week to jump on board with #thenewpretty.
The motivation behind this?
Be real.
I'm all about it here on my blog.
But posting a picture of myself sans makeup???
Skeery stuff.
But why though?
That's a whole 'nother post I'm sure.



Now that you've seen my wrinkles and my dark spots...
Here's my sink.


Happy first weekend of November friends! :-)





"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

   

Lord of the Rings, Chocolate Gravy, and Name Dropping.{InstaFriday...on a Monday}

This happened this week.
It was too hot outside to do much else.
Man...I sure wish my legs were as tan as InstaGram makes them out to be.
I love pedicures but have a love/hate relationship with the massage chairs you sit in.
Love the massage..hate the jiggle.
It really is disturbing.
I just go to my happy place and tell myself that the guy doing my pedi doesn't notice.



112 degree weather is the perfect excuse to stay home all day.
And do some organizing.
Nothing drives me battier than a fridge in chaos.
See that upside down ketchup bottle in the bottom of the door?
It makes me twitch.



There...that's better. ::exhale::
My mom saw this picture and called me to tell me that she didn't really see a difference.
I love her for it.
Really I do.



My little sister finally got engaged.
By finally I mean it is about time they did.
Not "we were fearful she'd be an old maid" finally.
My mom felt I should have clarified that on InstaGram.
I love her for it.
Really, I do.



We had Ashten over after church Sunday.
She had never seen Lord of the Rings.
Wha?!
No wait...there's more.
She had also never had chocolate gravy.
I know...it's disturbing isn't it.
That poor, poor girl.
We took care of both in one day.



We had a fabulous Fourth.
Water sponge ball fights.
Hot dogs on the grill.
And Ol' Glory on my plate.
My mom made this.
And I really do love her for it. :-)



Who knew cherry tomatoes could steal your heart?
They have.
Every morning they greet me like little ruby red pearls strung on green.
Little miracles.
I can't help but sing this song every time I hang out in my garden.



Random fact: That cello player? I know her. Meet Cara.  She accompanied me on a Sunday morning for worship once. I got so lost in her cello solo during the bridge that I almost forgot to come back in. I big puffy heart love a cello.



While I'm shamelessly name dropping, let me mention this guy.
His name is Rhett and he's about to be all kinds of famous.
I had the privilege to lead worship with him for most of 2011.
Before he went and got all "I've got to go on tour" on us.



He's amazingly talented...and sings 'How He Loves' like no one else in my book.
See, I had to snap a photo...it's that good.
To this day I cannot sing Revelation Song without hearing his South Carolina twang harmonizing with me "you are my everythang".

He has a new album that he is promoting "When Mercy Found Me" and I'd love for you to head over to his Facebook page and Twitter page and show him some love...would ya?
Heck have a listen while you're there.
He's a swell guy and his music is....real, raw, and authentic.
In other words, rare.
I'm super proud of him and you can tell him I said so.

This is the real reason I live in Nashville...so that ridiculously talented folks like Cara and Rhett can make me look good.



When I was a kid I remember thinking that new shoes made me run faster.
Now I'm 36.
I don't run.
It's the cheap shoes I'm after.
They just fit better don't they?
$12 Crocs.
Thanks Shoebuy.com





"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

InstaFriday {Love Day}

Valentines Day isn't something we typically "do" around here.

Our anniversary is the week before and so by the time the big day o' love rolls around, we just always feel like we've covered all that.

Apparently, this year, my man felt like he had forgotten something.

Making me fat.

My man: 1

Me : 0



It's ok though.

I know how to fight fire.

My man: 1

Me: 1



Then came the sucker punch.

While I was busy consuming copious amounts of buttercream, he had another mass weapon of destruction up his sleeve.

Antiques.

My man: 2

Me: big snotty ball of putty in his hands

I never stood a chance people.

A piece from the year I was born.

Complete with color galore.

He gets me.



Our homeschool tutorial hosted a Valentine's Banquet this week.

Did I mention my son is almost a man?

Or that we are trying our hand at courtship? {Apparently arranged marriages are a hard sell these days...sheesh.}

Or that these are uncharted waters for us and we do not pretend to have all the answers?

Or that some folks think we're nuts?

Or that we don't really care because from what we see of dating these days and considering the rate of failed marriages in our country, it seems more like a tutorial on how to get divorced one day?

Or that we feel much safer trying our hand at something that once produced marriages lasting 50+ years?



This picture doesn't have anything to do with Valentine's Day really but it does have to do with love.

Poodle love.



"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Jesus Loves Me

He loves me more than my father.

He loves me more than my husband.

He thinks I'm beautiful even though on the inside I am so very ugly.


He thinks I am perfect even though I see so many flaws.


He does not remember a single thing I have done in my past to disappoint Him. 


He does not give up on me when it takes what seems like forever to understand what He is teaching me.


He does not get offended or hold a grudge when I do things my way instead of His.


He knew that He would face a brutal death, at the mercy of beaming faces, just to save my life.


He knew it would take 21 years of pursuing me before I would fully accept His love.


He found me to be worth it all.

"And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and 
how deep his love is." Ephesians 3:18

"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8


May you know His love today.


Happy Valentines Day!





"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

InstaFriday {That Time I Cut Five Inches Off My Hair}

Spent last weekend celebrating my 13th wedding anniversary.

You can read more about our adventures in annivertiquing here.

We ran across this and I just loved it.

It reminded me of my Maggie and all of the creative women I meet here through the wonderful world of blogging.



On Monday my mom and I went thrifting and I snagged this precious pillow made with the yummiest vintage fabric.



The rest of my plunder.

I figure if Nester can hang horns on her wall and make them look cool, surely I can rock some George and Martha silhouettes.

That family portrait was my fabulous find of the day.

It had me at round wooden frame and convex glass.

I'm just gonna pretend we are related somehow.



This will be my new dining room table.

By the way, this is not my house in the picture...didn't want you to send the crew from Hoarders my way.

It's in my garage for now...just need to find 5 chairs that speak to me and I will move it inside.

Considering leaving it the natural color that it is and just adding color to my chairs.



If you homeschool and have an iPad, you need MathBoard.

You're welcome.



Had a really refreshing time out with a few ladies from church.

Thank goodness they make me laugh cause I inhaled way too many appetizers in one sitting.

Laughter does burn calories right?

Right???

And yes that is a ginormous piece of chocolate cake, sitting under mounds of chocolate drizzled ice cream, sitting in front of me.

How the heck did that get there?!



I saw this piece last weekend at an antique store and fell in love with it.

But it was the first store we had gone into and I didn't want to spend most of my budget right away.

I thought I would come back at the end of the day if was still speaking to me.

It was....but they were closed.

I nearly cried.

Fast forward to Monday evening...

My husband brought it home to me.

This time I did cry.

My man gets me.

Just look at it....made by a sweet little 8 year old girl in 1837.

Ok, so I have no idea if she was sweet or not but it's what I choose to believe.

It was that backwards "S" that stole my heart.

When I look at it I can't help but think of how her mother must have been so proud of it...or the fact that she and her family are gone now...but I have their sweet Emma's embroidery work hanging in my house.

::sigh::



Remember last week when I said I needed a haircut?

Well, I pulled the trigger.

I took the 3 pictures with me and told her the things I liked and hated about each and she gave me the Renee version of the 3.

I actually wanted to go a little shorter but she's smart and all and told me to let it grow two more months so that my layers would be perfect.

I love it.

Amazing how sassy good a new "do" can make you feel isn't it?







"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"