5 Oct 2018

Fall Friday

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So, I live in the South.  And it is totally not Fall yet in the deep South.  I love the cooler temps of the high 60s but that’s not really fall, just maybe early summer.

I did drive by a tree today that was changing colors.  But, I remember last year late November when all the trees in main drive of our neighborhood were yellow and red and orange.  That’s Fall.

But, I just wanted to take a few moments to help get you in the Fall mood – like a Fall mood board.

After taking a look at this list – tell me what your go-to  Fall loves are?

This candle is my favorite – maybe for all year, but definitely in the Fall and Winter.  I’ve had it for years and totally need a new one.

This Pottery Barn throw in gray – or in the light blue color.  For the nights sitting on the couch reading a book after the boys go to bed.

Loving these books right now: Oxford, Family, SkinnyTaste (comes in the mail soon), Half Baked Harvest, The Hobbit,

These cupcakes which I made today – but I just tasted and sent the rest to a catering event.

This new to me website.  If only I were that creative.  Need to step up my game a little bit!  For all the inspiration.  What sites give you inspiration for all you do?

My dream of going to this place.  Just a little out of our price range, but a girl can dream right?

These soups and writing from my friend.  Her inspiration in the kitchen inspires mine.  And we feed each other goodies throughout any given week.  Be on the look out from something new from her too!

This whole outfit from my friends up at High Cotton.

4 Oct 2018

DIY to Build Community

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Some times it is really easy to build community over food and pretty things.

Some times you need a project.  My friends over at A Hosting Home built a barn door for our Master bedroom and I will be doing another post on that soon to show it off – in love is a short statement!

But, my mister may be talented in many things, but when it comes to an “expert” home project, he’d rather bring some one in.

So I mentioned it to my friend Ivey yesterday and her and her expert husband in the home projects department – came over today.  How fast!  And we had fun, they worked, and had another mini food styling shoot with the new Best of Augusta magazine.  I saw my first photo in an ad in the magazine – here’s to more, right?

And we had pumpkin muffins.  And I painted.  Always paint, right?  And that is a great way to build community: projects, food, coffee, and pretty things.  All while wearing yoga pants and I hadn’t even showered after exercising.  It was ok.

And I’m ready to giveaway this Bible – perfect for the girl in grade school in your life.  Ok, I say girl because it is yellow and sparkly on the cover.  But, I mean, whatever.

Tommy Nelson sends some great things my way.  This is the International Children’s Bible edition.  Topics that kids may want to know more about are bolded within the text.  Beautiful full color illustrations portray different Bible stories.  It would be a great hardcover, durable Bible for your little girl.

How to win: just leave a DIY project you are working on – or would be a dream to work on. 

And if you are curious, my mister loves the pumpkin muffins at Panera.  These muffins are a copycat recipe.

This post was sponsored by Tommy Nelson.  All opinions are my own.

3 Oct 2018

Simple Fall Brunch

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Food is such a part of my story, that I love sharing it with others.

I remember the meal my husband cooked for me during my “year of vegetarian” when we met, dated, got engaged, and got married – he cooked the meal before he asked me to marry him.

There are food stories I have that bring a smile to my face and ones that bring me to tears – either because they bring sadness or deep hurt.

Weight has always been a part of my story as I have been heavy most of my life.  I wasn’t even the skinny ballerina during my one year of ballet in Kindergarten, and I probably had a plus size tutu for clogging in 4th grade.  I loved clogging.  And I still remember some of the steps.  And it still is a part of my story.  I remember specific life events and the weight I was when those events happened.  I’ve lost weight and gained weight so many times I’ve lost count.

But today, I got to share my love of food with new friends.  Being in the creative industry gives us a common ground, being mamas is another line of commonality, but today, we also got to enjoy loving food together.  And I enjoyed putting it all together.

One of my favorite things to do is be in the kitchen together with friends.  So, today, I still had to put this quiche together (go run by leeks and make this tonight for dinner).  And my friend jumped right in and helped.  We talked, photographed food, and made food together.  Food is one of the only things in life that every human has in common.  We all have food.

So, food is a wonderful joiner.  Hopefully.  Today, we joined over conversation about our motherhood journeys, food, creative business, weddings, travel, and community.

Having some friends over for brunch should not be hard.  And we through in a toddler too!  I just picked a few things to make – a quiche, fruit and cheese tray, and cookies.  I made the cookies yesterday.  The board is super easy with just some fresh fruit, cheese, and little danishes from the Publix bakery.

The quiche was made during the preparation this morning and my friend helped.  Don’t be afraid of help.  Allow friends (and family, including littles) to join you in the kitchen.  And y’all, even though I know how to make a crust, I always use Pillsbury rolled doughs.  So easy and yummy.

And the cookies, I just made them yesterday as I was home and the recipe said they would be better the next day.  Reading recipes is super important.  And I didn’t have dirty dishes from baking this morning.

And here’s a little hint: my floor hadn’t been swept, but for the most part my home was picked up.  Two things: having people over regularly keeps your home clean.  And if you pick up a little every day and have a husband and kids that help – it makes cleaning easier.  And you know what, your friends shouldn’t care if your home is super clean or not.  But, I think it is good stewardship of your home to keep it tidy.

The Fall – perfect time to bring people in, hear their stories, share yours, enjoy good food, and live life with other people.  And Hannah Anderson, who launched a new book yesterday, also wrote a piece today in CT about doing community with broken people (hint: we are all broken).  Go read it!

 

2 Oct 2018

Big Trucks

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Ever since my boys were little, they have loved mighty machines.  There was a show called Might Machines on Netflix for years that we watched constantly.  Always singing the songs.

My older boys favorite word before he could really talk was “boowah” – for bulldozer.

Tommy Nelson sent me a great book called Big Trucks, about these mighty machine friends.  It is a touch and feel book so it is helpful when teaching toddlers about tactile and touch and feel things.

I love the touch and feel aspect of this book, but also the encouragement between the main characters and the fact that they work together..

As soon as the box came to our porch, we opened it up, and have read it several times already. And now the younger is showing the older all about the touch and feel parts.

Great book for toddler (boys, especially)

Do you want to read this with your toddler – You can win one.  What was the first fun thing your child would say?

Thanks Tommy Nelson.  All opinions are my own.

2 Oct 2018

Something Blue Feature on Southeastern Bride

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It never gets old having your work featured on a national bridal magazine.  And let me tell you, its not because it is my work.  It is because a team of amazing creative vendors: women, men, singles, married, mamas, creatives…all hustling doing their thing – came together to do this!

Here are some of my favorites from the Something Blue styled shoot that happened a few weeks ago out at Pine Knoll Farms about 20 minutes away…out in the beautiful country, near where two of my friends grew up, long before I moved here.

 

 

 

Katherine Beasley Photography – check out her new logo too – I helped with it

Riner and Co planning

Honeycomb Florals

Hey Honey Cake

Dolce Darlin Macarons

Pastry Shells Cookies

Pine Knoll Farms location

House of the Bride Dress

And so many more.

 

1 Oct 2018

September Podcast Favorites

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September…it was a month of trying out some new podcasts, but for the most part I came back to the tried and faithful ones.

October is now here, but before we get too far into Fall, I wanted to share with you my favorite listens from the past 30 days.

Collaborate.  This one was a tough listen for me.  I’m all for collaborating.  I think it hurts though (yes, I’m 41 and rejection still hurts, blame it on my Enneagram 3w4 heart) when others reject your ideas for collaboration.  But, we move on.

Russ Moore on Cultivated.  So, these two people are in my top 5 right now.  So, when they team up for a podcast, that’s gotta be a winner, right?  So good. And no matter the topic either of these men speak on – just listen to it – you’ll get something from it.

Sarah and Sally and Tolkien.  So this one got me reading The Hobbit.  For the first time. I’m enjoying it.  We’ll see how long it takes me to finish though.

Shame. TGC putting out a talk from Mary Willson on shame.  Can I tell you how good this is?  Just go listen to it.  Probably my favorite this month.

Health and Leadership.  Really, health for anyone…he brings up a lot of good points.  And I would say this whether the host was a friend or not!

Autumn is Here.  Another one by Sally.  Good reminders as we head into a new season.

And if you head on over to Sarah’s podcast,  you can get a free download designed by me!

 

26 Sep 2018

High King of Heaven (review)

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Edited books are fun. Here’s why. You get so many different perspectives in one book.  Usually the authors are coming from one point of view or worldview.

This book, edited by John MacArthur, such a scholar and pastor for decades, is all about the Kingship of Jesus.  Covers many topics and all grounded in Scripture.  Not just tagging a Scripture, but grounding their conclusions in the Word of God.

Since you do have so many personalities in the writing, I found some of the book to be haughty in its language, tone, and how it applied the Word.  But, other parts I felt were winsome and engaging.

If you need a book to help you through maybe a time of the liturgical calendar year, to focus on King Jesus, this would be a helpful one.  And it would make you think and get to know your own way you can be winsome and engaging with the authority of Jesus.

Thanks to Moody Publishers for sending me this book to review.  All opinions are my own.

30 Aug 2018

August Podcast Roundup

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AUGUST PODCAST ROUNDUP

Now that school has started back I have more time to listen to podcasts in the car while I’m driving around town or working on art projects at home – or just cleaning or cooking dinner.

So, here are a list of my favorites this month.  Some are new, some are older.  But, I hope you listen to them and are encouraged like I was.  And if you have any podcasts that you’ve loved (specific episodes, please tell me about them!

The Turquoise Table.  Not one of her’s in particular but her tagline “gather small, love deep”.  I love that.  I love having a few people at a time at our table.  Not only because we don’t have a huge table but more importantly because I love being about to talk with people.  And if you have lots of people over at once you get a bunch of short conversations instead of deep meaningful ones.

Sally Clarkson – quite a few this month:  This one on cultivating creativity in your children was probably my favorite one all month.  Such a good reminder of grace and the gospel in this one.  And you will wanna check out her latest one’s with Sarah (her daughter) on Book Girl.

I’ve been to many women’s conferences.  I wish every woman, whether a speaker or not, would listen to this one from Christy Wright.

Mamas or teachers of little ones will love this podcast for early readers.

Bret Lott shares on creativity and writing and being a Christian in the secular world.  

Amber Tysl joins my friend Sarah to talk about hospitality and thrifting.  I really wish I could sit down with Amber – who is a mama, photographer, thrifter, DIYer, and loves hospitality. I think we could be friends.

This Isaiah 61 episode of The Summit Church’s Praying the Bible – spot on!

 

 

 

29 Aug 2018

Homespun

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Partnering with Audra Jennings to bring you a review of Homespun.

I’ve really liked some Amish fiction over the years, probably ever since college when I toured the Indiana Amish country during a friend’s wedding.  Simplicity and faith and order and quiet.  Those were pretty intriguing to a 20 year old.

Homespun is a book filled with hospitality, family, friendship, community, faith, and a host of other topics.  All written by women who are in the Amish or Mennonite communities.  These are not fiction, which I love.

I really felt like I was sitting down with many of these authors and having coffee or swinging on a porch swing in the Autumn air.  Just chatting, hearing their hearts – and much of their heart is the same things that find their root in my heart.

If you love memoir type books or biographical essays – I think you’ll really enjoy this book.

 

21 Aug 2018

Dinner for Dinos

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Meal times at our house aren’t where I want them – but nor are they are bad as they once were.

AD

I remember when our older was little, we’d spend every night sweeping up the crumbs on the floor thinking this season would last forever.  Then we had a second little boy.  So, the season stretched on.

But, then you know what, they learn how to eat.  Now, we seldom have to sweep the floor, though my husband is gracious and sweeps our eating area!

Now, we don’t have to deal with messes all the time, but instead we are teaching our boys how to have conversation at the table, no burping at the table, not to try to be silly and make the other one laugh at the table, how to sit and wait for everyone to finish or not start until every one sits down, not to bring toys to the table.

Instead, we want our table to be a life-giving spot. A spot to talk, enjoy good food, talk about our days, share life together.  We’ll get there.  Its not where I want it to be – but we can take steps every meal to get there, right?

Do you have any tips on how to make meal times

better with young school age kids?

Tommy Nelson sent me this book about dinosaurs and dinner.  Yes, I thought it was a perfect book for our family because sometimes we have dinosaurs at the dinner table with us.  In this book the author talks about shopping for food, the health benefits of certain foods, eating foods you may not like, setting the table, eating everything and not burping, and enjoying the food.

So, if your kids love dinosaurs and you want a book about how to eat at the dinner table – then this book is for you.  You can win a copy of this book for yourself.  Just tell me

What is your child’s favorite meal? 

What meal will they gobble up and ask for seconds and want every meal?