Girl's Night. Orange Pebble Studio Style.

Before I had ever heard of The Orange Pebble Studio, I had fallen in love.

I wandered in two Christmases ago and was enamored.  

I looked at each item, and my soul seemed to sing.  

As I wandered, I touched each piece and took in the stories that each told. 

Words upon art were calling my attention as if I were reading them for the first time.

Soar, Dance, Sing, Loved, Twirl, Cherished, Worthy

They were touching a part of my heart that I had long ignored.

I walked out of the studio that Christmas with an ornament that said, Be You.

For some reason it was calling my name, but I had yet to know why.

The following January, the dots began to connect.

I began a journey to my heart to find my true self.  In order to Be You, I needed to find out who that You was.

This journey led me to Kim, the creativity behind The Orange Pebble Studio. 

Tonight, Kim graciously hosted us in her studio for one last girl's night before Finley comes home.

Kim's studio is filled with all things creative.  

There are no rules.

There are no expectations.

.... just the invitation to create, 

to find the beauty in the mistakes.

As the night went on, we found ourselves worrying less and playing more.

...allowing our hands to work, and our hearts to sing.

We made room for grace and found great freedom in letting go.

Thank you, Kim.... for a night that really wasn't about creation, but the creating.

Tis the Season....

 ....for gift buying, errand running, cookie baking, constant wrapping, sick days, late nights, over-tired kids, melt downs, constant clean-ups, dishes to pass, Christmas cards, party details, 

the birth of our Savior and ....

MINUTE-to-WIN-IT!

Because nothing says Christmas like cookies on your head,

the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,

awkward photos,

sibling rivalry,

ornaments hung on the yard stick with care,

close calls,

intense concentration,

card games upon beer bottles,

convulsion like head whipping

paired with swanky hip swinging,

green noses,

and one amazing family!

Ornament-y Fun

Things are getting crafty in this neck of the woods.  In October Katie kicked off our first craft night with clipboard crafty-ness.  November brought a wreath making marathon at Kmac's house, and last night we got creative and whipped us up some mighty fine ornaments on Goldnerod.

What we have discovered in our latest crafting adventures is that women are craving community and cannot get enough when it comes to crafts. And, lets face it, they can't say no to a couple of hours laughing with friends.

There is something so raw and rewarding about creating something with your own hands, adding personal creative touches, and ending up with a finished product that looks drastically different from what you started with.


And there is also something raw and rewarding about hosting craft night.  For the first time since I left the classroom, I was able to create something for others to enjoy.  And, with the help of Pinterest, I had a plethora of ideas I was dying to try out, all of which involved my favorite decorating medium: chalkboard paint.

My inspiration started here and led me to my basement, with the windows wide open, {chilling the house with crisp forty degree air},  a roll of contact paper, and my all time favorite: a can of chalkboard spray paint.  And, with one quick coat, that took a total of 5 minutes I ended up with this very rewarding chalkboard runner. As each guest arrived they described the dish they brought in chalk. {For the record, I HATE contact paper, and this was fool proof}

As an added bonus, after the girls had left, the boys got their turn to chalk it up on the chalkboard runner.  It was the highlight of their morning and evening and morning again and occupied them for quite some time.

After I realized how easy the runner was to make, I decided to try my luck and use even more spray paint for the Hot Chocolate Bar {inspiration found here}.  With the plastic planters I found at the dollars store for $0.50 a pop, I couldn't lose.  

When they were done, I added some fabric squares and voila we now had the option to add some mallows,

a hazelnut wafer {or two},

an extra shot of dark chocolate or a hint of mint,

some creamy caramel,

or a classic candy cane to our warm hot chocolate.

And, with a few last minute touches,

craft night #3 was a success thanks to these wonderful women,

and a few ornaments I never thought I was capable of making.

Give some women a night away, a cup of hot chocolate and some yarn and they can change the world.

I linked to....

I've been P{inspired}...

It was approximately three months ago that my life changed forever.... 

After a couple email invites from Katie, I finally logged on and signed in to see what this Pinterest was all about, and it was love at first sight! 

Now 547 pins later, I can say without a doubt, that what started as a mere fling filled with little substance, has now blossomed into a full blown love affair.

And here are the Top 5 Reasons why I love Pinterest.

1. It stimulates both my left brain and  my right brain at the same time.  The left side of my brain is pleased with the nice and neatly organized structure of Pinterest, and the right side of my brain dances with joy each time I see something new and creative. It's the best of both worlds, creative and logical, all at the same time.

2. There is a place to find everything. And, I mean everything.  If you're looking for a pair of boots and where to buy them...pinterest it.   If you are looking for a new recipe to try...pinterest it.  If you are looking for outfits to wear for family pictures....pinterest it.  If you want to know how to make homemade Mod Podge....pinterest it.  If you have no idea what Mod Podge is but want to find a craft to make with it.... yep, you guessed it, pinterest it.  I can almost say I like it better than Google, because with each search there's a picture. Who knew?

3. Fun with friends. What can I say, I am a girl who loves community and there is no better virtual place to find it than Pinterest.  It's like taking one long shopping trip with your best friends.

4. It's Real. Most pins are from real people, leading real lives. 

5. It's P{inspiring}. I cannot tell you how many times I have been to Hobby Lobby since I was introduced to Pinterest.  I have never been so motivated to craft, and it's all thanks to Pinterest.

Since I started my pinning journey I have made,
 

 T.V. Tickets

P{inspiration}

Not just 1 Topiary....

but 2 Topiaries
P{inspiration}

 A Memory Jar
P{inspiration}
 

A Letter {H}

P{inspiration}

A 'Store me I'm Important' Clipboard 
{one for each boy}
P{inspiration}

A Peanut Butter 'Cheese Ball'

P{inspiration}

and...Clean Eating Fried Rice
P{inspiration}

 

How have you been P{inspired}?

These are a Few of My Favorite Things...

...when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad. ~ Julie Andrews

I absolutely love the Sound of Music.  It is one of the few movies that I could watch over and over again and one of the reasons is for this song.  Although, I am not feeling sad, I thought I would capture a few of my favorite things as of late.

Favorite Blog: The Lettered Cottage I love following Layla and Kev along on their remodeling journeys and I love their clean, crisp, cottage style.  Added bonus: they are adopting a child from Ethiopia, what more is there to say?

Favorite Keurig Cup: Green Mountain Coffee Nantucket Blend. It's bold, it's nutty, and it comes in a close second to Joe.

Favorite Wine {s}: Yes, I have two.  One is soft and sweet for summer, and one is rich and bitter to suit my usual taste in wine.  The first is Mascato by Barefoot.  At 6 dollars a bottle you can't go wrong.  The second is Pinotage by Hudsonville Winery, and although it is a bit more expensive, it is worth the upgrade.

Favorite Word: Maddening. mad.den.ing. an adjective. definition: driving to madness or frenzy.  I don't use it often, but if I were to use the word I would hypothetically use it in a sentence like: Boys, it is maddening when you don't listen the first time.

Favorite Workout:  My friends and I have been working out for six months now, and we have done many different workouts that I have loved, but my new favorite workout is water aerobics.  KT found this workout and as we found out last week, it's not just for those with silver hair.  We were huffing and puffing and found ourselves sore the next day, all of which are components to a great workout.

Favorite Show on T.V.: The Bachelorette...what can I say, I am a romantic at heart and always root for the underdog.   

Favorite Children's Book: The Treasure Tree: Helping Kids Understand their Personality.  Katie introduced me to this book, and I wish I could have read it 20 years ago.  As Steve and I read it to the boys, we were laughing out loud at the way this book so perfectly portrays the strengths and weaknesses of our own personalities.  It is a perfect book for any age and has opened my eyes to the many facets of who I am.

Favorite Pastime: Spending time in Community.  We are so blessed and the boys are at the age in which they crave to be social. Whether it is time at the cottage, talking after church or at a play date, we are thankful for our Home Team and love spending time with them.


What are some of your current favorite things?

my favorite thing

if i were oprah, and if i had a list of my favorite things, my camelbak water bottle would be top on my list. i love it, simply love it. this is saying a lot, because i do not enjoy drinking water. but with this patented water bottle i am now refilling it multiple times a day. i think it is the straw that has me sold. it is spill proof, time proof and dummy proof. the bottle is bpa free too. in fact, i will be buying one for my entire family this Christmas.