[inspiration from others...]

like adding a little personal touch to your gifts?

I love this post from my friend Janel...I receive so much of my creativity and ideas from this little one and thought I would share this cool idea on making a corsage for your candles!!! Candles often can seem like the..."I don't know what else to get you, so I got you a candle" gift---BUT not with these little touches - the candle becomes the accessory to the cool corsage!

[for a "how-to" fun project...check out the link below to Janel's blog!]

http://janelkaden.blogspot.com/2009/12/gift-ideas-candle-corsage.html

[making baby clothes???]

Remember that baby shower I made invitations for? (see previous post!) Well...I was talking with the new mom and dad to be a couple weeks ago [steve & kimi] about how the majority of baby clothes are pretty generic and how should I say it...just plain "baby" looking...WHY can't babies dress hip too? So, after our conversation, I decided I was going to try and make baby landon some cool clothes.

With the help of my friend Kevin who owns EMBRACE APPAREL [www.embraceapparel.com...check it out-such great stuff!!!] I picked up some pieces from American Apparel to play around with. Steve & Kimi love the mid-century modern look so I found some leftover fabric I had in my craft closet (yes, I have a craft closet, ha), dusted off the 'ol sewing machine and went to town!  It was SO MUCH FUN making them and creating unique little pieces of art...so much fun that it has sparked an interest in making this into a little side business!! Steve & Kimi loved the clothes so much that Kimi, the marketting MASTER, is helping me create a business plan market them to local boutiques and shops through out the Long Beach/L.A. area!

NOW, I NEED YOUR HELP!

We are trying to think of a name for the line and COULD USE YOUR HELP!!!  Baby Landon's nickname is TURTLE and since he was the inspiration behind this project starting, it is only fitting that the word turtle is in the name...AND I want to keep the mid-century modern look...any ideas???? 2 free onesies if your idea becomes the new name!

this is so much fun :)-------enjoy your day!

[one for one]

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysE2VlyvdnI

Personally I love my TOMS shoes...I like wearing them. I like giving them. I like feeling cool every time I put them on AND I  like smiling to myself knowing that some kid around the world is feeling the same way.

Give the gift of TOMS this Christmas...everyone likes them!!! Ideal for teachers, that special someone, your parents, your children, your dog and your best friend.

There are so many amazing styles to try and if you simply can't decide which ones to get someone there are gift cards available on the website as well!

My awesome friend Megan is an affiliate with TOMS SHOES because she truly lives the principle of giving. She sacrifices her time, talents and love to everyone she comes in contact with...and just but putting her name "meganfate" in the 'discount code' area you too can be blessed by getting a little bit of money off our shoe purchases!!--Feel free to use/share the discount code: "meganfate"

PAY IT FORWARD and give to more than just the people you know!

www.tomshoes.com

hmmmm what to do....

A great friend gave me this cool black screen as a gift a few years ago and ever since I got it, I have always wondered how to decorate it just perfectly for Christmas!? Most normal people don't loose sleep over things like this but I do!!! So, as I was watching the amazing (and might I add, incredibly informative) HGTV Channel this weekend, a show came on about decorating celebrity homes for Christmas...I fell in LOVE with the look they designed for the singer Jewel's home!!! They had put this garland on her tree that was made out of old, vintage Christmas cards and I thought to myself..."I COULD totally do that!" Almost simultaneously my head turned and my eye caught the black screen in the corner--then all of a sudden there was a spot light illuminating the corner and I heard the words, "pick me, pick me...I want some Christmas Garland!"

I had to oblige and go through with it now :) So there began my fun project for the week! [YOU can DO IT TOO!!]

1. I quickly looked through my stash of old Christmas cards and designs to find some I liked

2. I copied them onto textured paper with my home printer

3. I cut them out and glued to a backing (a colored piece of cardstock---don't worry about making the lines perfect when you cut...it adds to the uniqueness & vintage feel)

4. I then glued it onto another piece of cardstock in which I had scalloped cut the edges

5. last step punch holes at the top - add a few glitter accents throughout - HANG & ENJOY :)

{I was thinking about making some of them just plain ornaments with a ribbon or possibly Christmas Cards or tags for gifts...let me know if you have any more ideas!!}

[make a jersey...make more fun]

Our family is a  little....how should I say??um....interesting? My grandparents gave land behind their house to their children and we all grew up on this one beautiful plot of land back in the woods in Mechanicsville, VA. So, ever since we were little kids we played together...we were all we had. A few times we played nice and sometimes-actually usually, there were tears.  One sport we have all grown to love is football....we...uhhhh, kinda like it a lot.

Not because we are pro but because we truly enjoy the time with each other....I believe so much in the power of football that I have a few tips for you to start your own family football team

TIP ONE: 

make jerseys...it makes for more fun...

I finally designed and had jerseys printed for the fam...our teams are the DUCKS vs. the BUCKS

TIP TWO:  

have 2 designated, appointed or elected ALL TIME captains.
Selection of teams becomes much easier. The two captains discuss and divide the group fairly...this way NO one gets picked last and feels like they are the worst player on the field....AT LEAST I appreciate it :)

TIP THREE:

football is a TEAM sport
Everyone plays on every play...no one just stands on the line and runs around the field without purpose. This is why it so important to have great captains -- they direct plays and get everyone involved!!

TIP FOUR: 

fans are a necessity
My mom pulled out some cheerleading moves for the 70's..VICTORY VICTORY is our CRY....V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!!!

TIP FIVE: 

go big or go home.
Why not play tackle football?

let me know how it goes & enjoy :)

[not responsible for any injuries that may occur before, during or after any game to come as a result of this blog...play at your own risk! ha]

[the beauty of the moment]

Life is fast. In the book of James our life is described as "but a breath". A BREATH...that's it? Just a breath? My life seems much more complex, long and crazy to be just a breath! Compared to the eternity we have waiting for us, our life is simply a breath.

We can take this knowledge and look one of two ways:

Because I am just a breath, it doesn't really matter what I do with my life because I am not here that long..what difference does it make. Why care so much? Why not live for myself? Why not just do what I need to get done so I can have the things I want?

OR

BECAUSE life is short, I want my life to be genuine. I want to live in such a way that my family, friends, and strangers know how precious this life is. Why not seize every opportunity to make a difference? Why not love those around me, especially those living under the same roof,  and find ways to encourage them to truly flourish? Why not be careful to not fill my life with too many "things" that I miss the beauty of the moment.

[The difference lies in the discovery of whether or not life is about YOU or OTHERS]

I came home to Virginia for my first Thanksgiving in seven years this past week. My typical holiday break/trip home is filled with as many activities, plans, and parties that I can possibly fit in. I would leave a family gathering a little early to go meet up with a friend and then after staying up too late, get up super early to meet someone else. I was constantly going and ended up giving each person half of me because for the most part I was either worn out, exhausted or my mind was preoccupied with the next thing on my agenda....this trip I decided to be intentional.

There were unexpected surprises I was able to have because I didn't over plan...three hour conversations/visits that just randomly happened with my aunts and uncles, a day trip to Charlottesville with my mom and sister, long walks in the crisp fall air with great friends, hours of playing football with my cousins...

Sometimes we fill our lives with too much and other times we don't seek to love and invest in others enough. It is a fine balance - and one I am STILL learning. However, the more I remember that my life here on this earth is temporary and short, I am challenged to seize each moment whether that means taking time to laugh and snuggle with my mom on the couch or genuinely listen to a friend in need. Our life is a group of moments...but it is just a breath. Are you making the most of it today or just getting by?

[who plans a babyshower on a monday?]

As Kimi walked into Me 'n Eds pizza parlor, Ashleigh, our little partner in crime asked the hostess if they could sit in the back room [winking and nodding her head in hopes the waitress would get the hint that THIS was the lady to whom the crazy baby shower in the back was for and to play along]...she didn't get the hint and responded with, "oh, no you can't, there is this silly baby shower going on back there...they have a photo booth and a big banner, streamers everywhere...it's cute, you should take a peek."

Kimi, confused looked at Ashleigh and said, "weird...WHO has a baby shower here? And on A MONDAY night?? crazy!" And off she went to order some pizza.

Ashleigh texted that the plan was spoiled and on the count of 3 we slung open the partition divider,  yelled surprise, popped poppers and started playing/dancing/singing to "BABY BABY" by the wonderful Amy Grant which then transitioned nicely into "Hit Me Baby One More Time" by Brittany Spears....Kimi turned around, just stared trying to figure out who the surprise was for until she realized that those were all her friends dressed up as babies and pregnant ladies having the time of their life and that this party was ALL FOR HER!!!

The night was spent with GREAT pizza,  friends and words of wisdom from mothers, traits we admire about our mothers and encouragement to Kimi with the 1 word that embodies why she is going to be such an AMAZING mom to baby turtle.

We ended the night by all laying hands on kimi and praying for her...I realized in the middle of the prayer that one hand was on her shoulder and the other was on my belly just rubbing away like there was an actual baby inside...is that strange? OR does that make me a natural at child carrying?

...oh, one last detail! dessert was crushed up candy bars mixed with chocolate & carmel syrup packaged nicely in cute little diapers :) yummmmmy.

why be boring?

[...because you can!]

So....one could stay in their house to finish up a little bit of work...one could be healthy/responsible and cook a delicious meal...one could be boring.........

OR

You could take a little walk (or drive) down to the quaintest european coffee shop on your block and have a chai for dinner :) ...THAT is the beauty of being an adult...you can do that!

Don't get stuck in a rut! Go out and explore your city...you'll gain more creativity, meet interesting people and might possibly be able to compete with the incredible chai I found!

[the best smelling candles in the WORLD]

So I just moved into a new apartment and these candles have brought SO MANY delightful smells to each room....I wish so much that the internet had a scratch and sniff tab...how cool would that be? Maybe there could be a button that you just push and out PUFFS a certain smell...just POOF there it is and then you know you want to buy a case of these candles for you & all your friends!!! ha...poooof...just envision it.

BUT in all honesty...everyone that comes in my room picks up my candles and comments on how incredible they smell even when they are NOT burning....my friend Kimber hand makes each candle from her home studio in the quaint Outer Banks of North Carolina with love and tender care plus she gift wraps/boxes them up SO CUTE!!!!!

WARNING: you will never want to buy any other candles after purchasing these. Check out the website and buy some candles today that will change your life!!!

http://icraft.ca/theouterbankscandleco

[be prepared for goodness]

[trust]

why is it so hard to trust the Lord? 

So what does it really mean to trust the Lord? We hear this verse so much that it has become a typical christian cliche.  In the "good times" of life it's easy to say "YA trust the Lord! woohoo" but when life is hard, when you are confused at what your future holds or lost in the circumstance you find yourself in, often times that fIRM tRUST seems to WEAKEN. The problem comes when we lean on our own understanding and stop recognizing the true nature of God. Our own desires, wants and feelings get in the way and we find ourselves lost in a sea of self-pity, bitterness or doubt. The Lord promises us as we trust Him with all our WHOLE heart, leaning not on our own understanding and acknowledging Him in all we do...HE will make our paths straight. NOT perfect, but straight. He leads us straight to His heart and in Him we find peace, contentment and joy to continue on despite what comes at us.

I was told lately that the way we live our life depends on how we grasp two things...
1) how you view God & 2) how you think He views you

What is your view of God? Is He the God of compassion to you? How about loving, gracious or trustworthy? What does God think about you? Do you hear Him call you His beloved? Do you know He takes great delight in YOU? Do you believe sees you in the midst of your pain?

Our life circumstances can often skew our view of how we see God and what He thinks of us....HOWEVER....even though our views change God never changes, His love for us is never ending and everlasting.

[may these final words bring a source of hope and trust]

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

                              [Hillsong United]

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever
[hebrews 13:8]

[kimi's baby shower]

Kimi and her husband Steve are some of the most giving and caring people I have ever met in my entire life! I am constantly challenged by the way they live life and am excited to have the opportunity to honor such amazing people.  They give so much to everyone and now we get to give back a little love through diapers and too many onesies...the invite just got sent to the printer and thought I would upload a sneak peek! [check back in to see pics of the shower after it happens!]

[unveiling conference]

This weekend {november 13-14} I have the privilege of hosting the "unveiling girls conference" at North Coast Calvary Chapel in Carlsbad, California. UNVEILING seeks to challenge girls to live a holistic life of purity by unveiling the lies and embracing the truth of God in a safe environment.

For more information go to...http://www.northcoastcalvary.org/unveilingconference/
There is still room available for you to be a part of this! I'd love to see you there :)

[a new place to lay my head]

I recently moved to Long Beach from San Diego and finally found the perfect place in the charming Belmont Heights area....I love our new place :) This weekend I spent some time [along with the help of Priscilla and Taylor] hanging curtains, shelves, etc...there is still a lot to do but it is started to feel more and more like home! I'll post more pictures as we finish up decorating....this is just a little taste for now!