Thursday, November 29, 2018

Homespun Cozy


I'm really enjoying just using what we have to bring cozy and festive decorations to our home for Christmas! It is always fun to look at my bins of decorations and come up with new ways to display things.

This little wagon by our front door is a great spot for some greenery, lights, a thrifted pair of ice skates and my pallet tree! So cozy and welcoming!


This thrifted memo board just rests on top of the toile memo board I usually have there! Adding a few little Christmas touches finish it off making it feel festive.


Vintage ornaments fill this tray on the coffee table with battery operated star lights and a few pinecones - now to keep Scout from thinking I put the pinecones there for him!


Farmy wall is always a favorite spot in our house! The chicken feeder is on loan for now! An easy little decor idea is to use a favorite piece of wrapping paper and clip it to a clipboard! Hang a mini wreath or in this case, a napkin ring, to make a cute and free decoration!


A big sign like this is perfect over our nativity display. There is normally a large memo board in this spot and I simply turn it around towards the wall and rest this sign on top of it.


Changing out the quilt on the back of this bench, adding a Christmas pillow {and later a few Christmas books to the basket underneath} really dress this wall for the season. Little touches like swapping out a hoop art for a Christmas one or hanging a metal nativity on top of a hoop are little changes that add seasonal charm.




I love the coziness of the lights out and just the glowly lights lit - dreamy!

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Vintage Jello Tin Candle Holder DIY


This can hardly be called a tutorial or a diy because it is so simple to make! These little Jello tins are in abundance at thrift stores - I love using them to hold tea lights, little things on tables, etc. This set of copper ones were 4/$1 at a church sale we stopped at recently!


I had plenty of popcorn so that is what I used, but you could use sand, sugar, dried beans, etc. to put in the bottom of your tin. Fill about 2/3 full.



Fit a piece of craft moss or moss from a nature walk into the top of the tin - cut a hole in the middle for your candle.


Slide a thin beeswax taper candle into the hole - we found a box of these at the same church sale!





Fun little addition to your Christmas decor and celebrations!

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Advent Ideas


A very homespun advent "wreath" this year using all things I already had on hand: an enamelware bowl, beeswax candles in vintage spice jars, greens from the yard and pinecones collected from nature walks.

Here are a few ideas if you are looking for some meaningful Advent things this year:

- First Songs of Christmas devotional emails from Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
- Book of the same title
- 12 Days of Awareness: Come Expectant and Encounter Jesus free prayer series from Val Marie Paper 
- Hallelujah: A Journey Through Advent with Handel's Messiah - I'm doing this with my kids this year!
- one of our favorite annual traditions: Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar
- Slow and Sacred Advent family activities for Advent and their hashtag is a visual feast of inspiration
- Ann Voskamp reading The Night Before Advent

Tell me about your favorite inspirations or resources this year!

Monday, November 26, 2018

Slow Thanksgiving


This is the only picture I took on Thanksgiving Day! Hard to believe! But we enjoyed a slow week with plenty of down time.

I had three cysts removed from under my hair this week and taking it easy was just the thing. We went to some friends house for Thanksgiving dinner and had a relaxing and enjoyable time.

Green bean casserole, twice baked potatoes, pecan pie and rolls were my contributions. We also had our traditional Thanksgiving breakfast of pumpkin pancakes and sausage.

I've enjoyed watching some Christmas movies on Amazon Prime - this time of year makes me wish for the Hallmark channel, but I'm grateful for friends who invite me over to watch theirs! ;)


We took a few days off of school and I enjoyed time to just do things around the house. I cooked two pumpkins that we'd been using for decorations and pureed the pumpkin to freeze for use during the year. Also, cooked turkey bones and made stock - yum! I have two more pumpkins that need to be cooked this week.

Instead of going Black Friday shopping this year, I enjoyed staying home and getting all of our Fall decorations put away. We also got out the Christmas bins and I had fun slowly adding Christmas cozy to our home.

I love it that our girls are old enough and willing to put the outside lights up - what a gift!

Christmasy pictures start tomorrow! Have a great week, friends!

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving!


"Now, our God, we give You thanks, 
and praise Your glorious name."
1 Chronicles 29:13
Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Ten



 








Today marks ten years since my Dad was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. I have had many mixed feelings thinking about this - but this week, two things have been lodged in my mind:

It is Well
When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, "It is well, It is well with my soul!"
It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Job 1:21b, "...The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

 The bottom line is He is still good. And I will give thanks in that! The above photos are one per year from 2008-2018 as a celebration of the things we've enjoyed together during these ten years.

Slow Day