Mel's Meadow

Spotted: Vanilla Ruffle Cake

2012-02-06T23:15:00.000-05:00

Today I was in Hobby Lobby picking up some party supplies when I spotted my ruffle cake on the front of a magazine! Or at least it was what my cake was supposed to look like. I guess I had the right idea... now I just need some ruffle practice =)

Holiday Weekend in San Francisco, part III

2012-02-03T11:00:00.001-05:00

{American Cupcake in San Francisco}

Some people look for art museums, others look for international cuisine... me? I look for local cupcake shops when visiting a new city. Believe it or not, if you look for a cute cupcake shop when you're out of town it will lead you to a nice/fun/interesting part of the city that you would like to see anyway. At least it's the kind of places I like to visit =) Sure enough, American Cupcake was located on Union Street which was one of the famous streets in San Francisco. As I mentioned, this was my favorite cupcake experience to date. I loved the lights, the presentation of the cupcakes, and all the extra details like the curly ribbons tied on the napkins. The frosting was smooth and fluffy and not as sweet as I usually like it, but I would visit this swanky shop again just for the atmosphere. It would make a great date night!

Holiday Weekend in San Francisco, part II

2012-02-02T16:41:00.000-05:00

{Miette at the San Francisco Ferry Building}

One of the draws of a large city is having the perfect place to spend a lazy Saturday morning like the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco. Each storefront had a table in the aisle filled with fresh juices, teas, pastries, produce and flowers. This was my kind of place! What made our visit even sweeter was Miette, a charming pastry shop that offered cookies, cakes and confections. I had my first macaron {pistachio} at this adorable shop and fell in love with their colorful cake stands on the top shelf. I'll take one in every color! Although we didn't make it to their larger store in Hayes Valley, this petite shop offered just the right amount of charm.

Holiday Weekend in San Francisco, part I

2012-01-31T15:14:00.000-05:00

{view from our room on Union Square}

After my mom and I spent a couple days in San Carlos for business last month we headed over to San Francisco for the weekend where my sister and aunt joined us. Even though we were just there for a couple days I felt we managed to see the main tourist spots and have a good amount of downtime for shopping, eating and visiting. One of my favorite parts of the trip was exploring Union Street where we started the morning with brunch, shopped both sides of the street well into the afternoon, and ended with my favorite cupcake experience to date. Overall, San Fran was a little too crazy for me so if this is my first and last trip that's fine by me...

{Golden Gate Bridge}

{Alcatraz}

{Pacific Puffs on Union Street}

{Cheengoo, an adorable pet shop where I picked up this for miles}

{That Takes the Cake, a small but charming cupcake shop}

Prayers for Baby Eli

2012-01-30T11:07:00.000-05:00

{baby eli}

Please join me in praying for this precious baby who has Pertussis (whooping cough) and has been in the hospital since Friday the 20th. Baby Eli is the grandson of one of my dad's best friends who lives out of town. He is in the NICU with a feeding tube, oxygen and an IV. He has mucus in his lungs and has developed pneumonia in one of his lungs and is now on antibiotics. The immediate prayer request is for the pneumonia to go away and for him not to develop any serious blood infections. We are also continuously praying for complete healing. There is no cure for Pertussis so it will take Divine intervention to heal this precious little boy. You can follow the updates for Baby Eli on my facebook page. Here is a letter from Eli's mom that she wrote two days ago:

Dear Friends,

Our six week old son, Eli, developed what seemed like a typical winter cough on January 11. The cough began to worsen and a week later the coughing episodes became so severe that Eli's lips were turning blue and he was eating very little. The pediatrician immediately admitted Eli to the hospital for monitoring and testing on January 20. The lab results ...indicate that Eli has Pertussis (whooping cough), which can be life threatening for babies under 6 months. Babies are not vaccinated for this illness until 2 months of age and we believe he contracted the illness from me, his mom, who also has whooping cough. In adults, it is not as serious, but it does result in a very brutal and long lasting cough...often lasting for 8 weeks or more and can be passed on to others until the germ is killed by antibiotics. So, I have been trying to care for myself as well as Eli, which has been difficult, however my cough is now continuing to improve slowly.

My husband stayed with Eli in the hospital, as I was too sick to stay. Eli seemed to be improving, but 4 days later on January 24 he began to decline.
The doctors then decided that Pediatric Intensive Care would provide our baby with more hands on care and a more controlled environment. We are told that there is no cure, no medicine that can fix Pertussis and the only thing the doctors can do is provide support as Eli struggles through this illness.
Eli has been put on oxygen, IV, and a feeding tube in order to introduce calories and nutrients, as he cannot eat. Right now his body is working very hard and they are watching his coughing spells. When he has them, he struggles with keeping his oxygen up and sometimes his heart rate.

This situation is very moment to moment, waiting, watching and praying.
Neither we nor the doctors are sure how Eli will do or how long this could take. Sometimes he looks good and sometimes he doesn't. Sometimes his coughs are bad, sometimes they are not. I've gotten to hold him only once, and since then they are afraid to let me hold him because it can cause difficult coughing episodes. So all I can do is rub his head and talk to him. We visit Eli several times a day, but they encourage us to go home at night in order to get much needed rest.

I also want to take this opportunity to educate you on Pertussis. It is more than a cough. It is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection which produces a violent cough and a lot of mucous secretions, which for adults is very difficult, but for babies is very dangerous. There has been an increase in Pertussis in recent years and adults are being encouraged to be vaccinated. This is something our children are vaccinated for beginning at two months, but for most adults, the last one we received was in our younger years. So the vaccination does wear off, which is something that I was unaware of. The vaccination is called DTaP and includes Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis. If you have not been vaccinated in the past 10 years, I want to encourage you, especially if you are pregnant or have a baby that has not been vaccinated for this yet, to please speak with your doctor as to when would be a safe time for you to be vaccinated. Even if your children are grown, I would encourage you also to receive a booster. I would not want anyone to experience the cough that I have experienced and you can easily pass it on to others before you even know you have it. Even if your doctor does not take it seriously or gives the impression that this is not really a current problem, please consider the vaccine. It would've only taken one shot to prevent my baby from having this horrible illness.

This is truly a difficult time for our family, but our Lord God has been very gracious in sustaining us when we feel like we can't take another step forward. I want to ask that you please pray for us and please pray for Eli.
I've attached pictures of him so you can see who you are praying for. God makes no mistakes, we are not out of His hand. We pray for healing, mercy, and His nearness.

Lamentations 3:22-24
22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him."

Love,
Melissa

{baby eli with mom at 6 weeks}

{7 weeks}

Strawberry Bread

2012-01-16T23:30:00.000-05:00

{strawberry bread}

The first month of the new year is half over and I'm embracing the routine that has found its way back into my life and home. With the weather a bit chillier and since I needed an excuse to use my Emile Henry Mini Loaf Pans that my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday, I thought it was best to start my week off with a warm breakfast treat. This easy recipe from my Secrets Savored book makes four mini loafs or two regular sized loafs. There's just a hint of strawberry in this bread so next time I'd like to make this to go with it.

Strawberry Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 T. cinnamon

1 T. allspice

1 t. soda

1 t. salt

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 1/4 cups oil

Combine first five ingredients. Mix the sugar, eggs and oil well and add to dry ingredients. Puree two small boxes of strawberries plus juice and fold into batter (I used 1 lb. of strawberries). Pour batter into two greased loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees until done. About 45-50 minutes until tops spring back when touched.

Snapshots of 2011

2012-01-02T20:33:00.000-05:00

{New Year's Eve}

The two of us spent the weekend in Nashville for some much needed R&R. It was the first year of our married life we rang in the new year out of town. I love the lazy days leading up to and following the new year. They give me lots of time to reflect and recap on the previous year. 2011 was an EVENTFUL year. If my blog posts didn't have dates, I would never believe (or remember) all the joys and sorrows this one year has produced. Here's what we'll remember most...

1. Bryant's back. Two words when put together in one sentence bring back lots of memories, emotions and lifelong lessons. Bryant's back injury actually occurred at the end of 2010 but this was the year of healing, waiting and living in spite of and because of that injury. Today Bryant is doing great. He is flying again and his back is steadily improving. We are thankful for the good report but also thankful for what we've learned and how we've grown in ways you only do during a season of trials.

2. I became a manager this year at work. I have welcomed the change and thoroughly enjoy my new position. I have a theory that the average person makes a significant change in his/her work every seven years. It was my eighth year in sales - I figured I was a year overdue!

3. House projects... not so many this year. A simple mudroom makeover is as far as we got. The list for 2012 has already begun. We'll see how far we get. Lest we forget, 2011 left a tree on our house (which we had removed)! Let's hope this next year brings blue skies and calm winds.

4. Miles turned 4 this year, and took 40 trips to the vet. Not really. Though it sure felt like it. Major knee surgery, minor nose surgery, a left ear infection and his first upper respiratory infection were the major events in his little life this year. In hopes to stay home more this year, I unofficially added "dog groomer" to my resume to prevent any more trips to the vet due to stinky mobile grooming vans.

5. We had a couple big birthdays this year... Ellie turned 1 and my Grandma celebrated her 95th! Bryant and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary and I met up with some dear friends this fall for our 10 year college reunion!

6. Bryant and I didn't take a big vacation again this year just the two of us. But we went on LOTS of trips with friends and family and a couple of short weekend trips which is becoming a real favorite of ours. The first half of the year we went to Cabo, Destin and Pickwick with friends. And the second half of the year we took 2 weekend getaways: the first to Greenwood and Jackson and our most recent New Year's weekend in Nashville. Family trips included Chattanooga, Orlando, Chicago and San Francisco. Posts on San Fran coming soon!

7. Our trip to Cabo was very special because we went with our friends, Sam and April. I am thankful for the memories that were captured in my heart on that trip. A few short months later April learned her cancer had returned and six months later the Lord called her home. Experiencing the loss of a friend was new to me - April was the first. But He was there. His presence and grace was manifested in April's life and in her death in a way I've never seen before. Bryant's grandmother also went home to be with Jesus this year. We've seen many friends and family go through heartache and suffering this year. And we have learned that He really is enough. Only Jesus. Only Him.

8. The Lord has opened a couple of ministry opportunities up for the two of us. Bryant has spent time at the Warriors Center once a week ministering to the residents and I have been discipling 10th grade girls at our church. These opportunities have been a time of growing for us and are always the highlight of our week (and year)!

9. I couldn't complete this list without mentioning The One Year Chronological Bible which has been and is a huge part of our lives. Reading through the OYCB twice has given me a strong outline of God's story. This year I am determined to know more of God's story - the details. I want to start filling in the pieces so that I know it completely and can share it anytime with anyone. Iva May says, "You don't know what you can't recall." And I am so very excited because Iva May is writing all new devotional material for her blog!

10. I would sum this year up as a time of waiting. Everyone goes through times of waiting. How we respond in this infamous time of waiting is so very important. Waiting is one of the tools God uses to develop His children for leadership. I wouldn't trade this time of waiting for anything. It's in this time that we can experience God in a way that only those who wait on Him can experience Him. His Word is true, His promises are sure and His faithfulness endures forever. "Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength." - Isaiah 26:4

Happy New Year, everyone!

see snapshots of 2010 and 2009.

Christmas with my niece...

2011-12-29T08:54:00.000-05:00

{Christmas morning}

On Christmas morning Bryant's family came over for brunch at our house. It's obvious when looking through the pictures who the center of attention was! This was the first Christmas my niece was able to open her own presents and lead puppy dog around the house. It's humorous to watch the difference between boys and girls' gifts. From camo pants to flowered dresses and army helmets to baby dolls, it's quite clear what puts on a smile on their face! And you don't need night vision goggles to see that... although I know two little boys who are probably using theirs as we speak.

Christmas with my nephews...

2011-12-28T11:17:00.000-05:00

{Christmas Eve}

We had a wonderful Christmas this year and enjoyed having my sister, brother-in-law and two nephews in for a visit. Christmas Eve we all went to the evening service at church and then gathered at my parents' house for a delicious meal. There were presents galore and it was a fun night of opening our gifts one at a time or for the boys two or three at a time. Everyone met on Christmas for a matinee and then came to our house for dinner. We had a surprise guest for the boys... one of Bryant's friends is a Germantown Police Officer and he came by just in time to have dinner with us. What a fun night! You can imagine the hilarious conversation and questions that were asked at the dinner table. My favorite was when Max said, "Josh, Josh, I think I heard your radio go off. You better check that."

{three sisters}

{opening army helmets from mom and dad}

{Officer Josh and Bo}

{The pilot and co-pilot}

{wearing Uncle Bryant's flight suit}

Twelve Gifts of Christmas: the second through twelfth gift

2011-12-24T12:08:00.000-05:00

Giving Twelve Gifts of Christmas this month was fun and challenging at the same time. I spent the season reflecting on what it means to give, what makes a good gift and how much we should give. There were a few laughs too when I wanted to give our doorman in San Francisco cupcakes and then realized he probably was just going to throw them away. Would you eat something from a stranger... especially a tourist?? And it was harder than I thought to give 12 gifts to complete strangers. I think next year I will include acquaintances like my friends over at the nail salon, hair studio and my favorite dry cleaners. Here's a rundown of this year's Twelve Gifts of Christmas...

the first gift... mini Starbucks

the second gift... an unexpected tip

the third, fourth & fifth gift... One Year Chronological Bibles

the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh & twelfth gift... stockings filled with surprises

We give because He gave first.
Merry Christmas!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

2011-12-23T11:18:00.001-05:00

It's always fun to exchange baked goods for the Holidays. This year I made Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes for my Christmas work party. I almost resorted to buying this year's gift but I'm glad I found the time for these little delights. I made Martha Stewart's One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes and was pleased with how well they turned out versus how easy the recipe was. I knew from past experience that safflower oil makes a moist chocolate cake {just note a little goes a long way}! For the icing, I was determined to find a recipe that does not use cream cheese. I prefer a fluffy, creamier peanut butter icing that's not weighed down. This Peanut Butter Icing seemed to have winner ingredients and it was confirmed by my mother telling me it was the best peanut butter frosting she had ever had! I topped them off with Reese's Minis and packed them in with green paper shreds. These turned out so well I'll probably remake them next week for the neighbors. See last year's holiday work gifts here and neighbor gifts here.

Twelve Gifts of Christmas: the first gift

2011-12-04T17:32:00.000-05:00

{short caramel apple spices}

The only disappointment about the holidays is when you find yourself fighting off the seasonal cold (and if you're real unlucky, the flu). The month of December is too short to be spent staying inside and resting... like I have been the past two days. It makes me feel like I'm missing out on all the festivities. I wanted to spend the weekend buying presents for loved ones and singing Christmas carols at church, but instead I made a visit to the local minor medical office. I really appreciate that they are open on rainy Sundays so I brought a little holiday cheer with me to show my appreciation. And then I had the idea... why not give more of these unexpected gifts during the Christmas season? As I'm out this month there will be plenty of opportunities to take an extra five minutes and think of others. A cup of coffee is not expensive but the act of kindness is priceless. What better time of year to share the love of Christ with a lost world? Join me by giving twelve gifts this Christmas to a complete stranger and either blog about it or leave a comment sharing your story.

Burlap Table Runner

2011-11-28T21:43:00.001-05:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day and for the first time in nine years of marriage I spent the remainder of the holiday weekend decorating for Christmas. Every year I travel to Nashville the week after Thanksgiving for a short business trip. And this year I'm still pinching myself that when I come home in three days my house will be warm, bright and merry {big pat on the back}. I'm really pleased how my DIY burlap runner for my dining room table turned out. I usually omit a table runner since I can never find one I like, but this year I improvised and bought two yards of burlap from Hobby Lobby. I think the burlap adds just the right amount of warmth to the table without compromising the rustic, natural feel of the garland.

{cut the ends of the burlap with pinking shears to reduce fraying}

{gather the ends and tie with a 4" wired ribbon}

{fill the center with garland, pine cones, jingle bells and acorns}

Miles is 4!

2011-11-16T19:13:00.001-05:00

{bird watching}

Miles turned 4 last Friday on 11.11.11! The party had to be postponed because he had minor laser surgery on his nose last Wednesday. Poor guy, this has been a rough year! First his knee surgery in the spring and now this. Hopefully this next year will be filled with good health and yummy treats. We'll have to spoil him this Christmas by putting lots of these in his stocking. Who would have thought I could love this little guy so much?

...

Happy birthday, mister miles!

Coconut Milk Smoothie

2011-11-14T22:14:00.000-05:00

{strawberries, blueberries, frozen banana & coconut milk}

I usually pass on smoothies due to my milk allergy, but this new found substitute for milk has my blender back on the counter most days. I've always wondered if I could have coconut milk. It seemed too good {and creamy} to be true - like there was some hidden dairy in there somewhere. It does say "dairy free" right on the container so I'm just gonna have to go with it. I have really enjoyed this healthy mid-morning snack the past couple of weeks. Today I mixed in some Vitamin C powder to get ready for cold season. And since you can't take your blender with you {most days}, keep it simple and add it to the breakfast menu.

Free Evening

2011-11-10T16:56:00.001-05:00

{my calendar}

I've had somewhere to be every night the past 7 nights. Last weekend I went to the women's conference at our church and Monday night I was invited by a friend to a Downline Ministries event to hear the author of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed both events. I walked away from the weekend reflecting on how everything in my life is a reflection of the Gospel - my marriage, my womanhood and even the way I dress. Monday night, Dr. Coleman spoke about being a "world Christian." A world Christian lives today with the awareness, desire and passion to make disciples in every nation. It's understanding that being led by the Spirit is a necessity in fulfilling the Great Commission. These two complementary truths have given me much to think about this week. Tonight I'm looking forward to a little downtime that's hard to come by this time of year.

Tribute to April

2011-11-03T23:05:00.000-04:00

Thank you for all of your prayers this past week and for your continued prayers. Last Friday, April took her last breaths on this earth and took her first breath in eternity. Her funeral was on Monday and it was a beautiful day. A hard day but a beautiful day spent remembering precious April and praising the name of Jesus. April's life will be remembered by her faith in God and her love for her family. She was truly a Titus 2 woman and a Proverbs 31 woman.

My first impression of April as we met for dinner many years ago was a godly woman who was faithfully praying for her husband. It was her encouragement that led me to read this book some years later. God blessed Sam and April with three children in eight years of marriage and she was a wonderful mother.

April was a loyal friend. She was genuine, trustworthy and thought more highly of others than herself. She was sweet inside and out. Her beautiful smile was always present. Even in her two year battle with breast cancer, she remained steadfast to who she was in Christ Jesus. His ambassador and faithful servant.

I'll never forget her response the night she found out her cancer had returned. It was one of complete surrender to the Father's will. The first words out of her mouth were, "Jesus is coming back soon. And if he wants to take my life..." And then instead of words came an exhale. Except it wasn't an involuntary exhale as one does without thinking, it was a release from within. I saw her submit her will, choosing to believe God is good and His purpose divine.

April would be the first one to say that God is good and His plan has meaning and it has hope. April's legacy is a legacy of faith and submission to the Master's plan. Her story has now been added to those in the hall of faith. She is now a part of the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us and encourage us to FINISH WELL. And from her view I know she'd say, "It is worth it. HE is worth it."

Prayer Needed

2011-10-27T14:27:00.000-04:00

{January 2011}

This has been a tough week. My friend, April was moved to a hospice house on Tuesday. There have been few words this week and many prayers. Please pray for my friend and her precious family. April has three children ages seven, six and two. Her mother-in-law wrote this CaringBridge Journal entry on Tuesday. A verse that I've been meditating on lately has been my anchor this week, "Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength." {Isaiah 26:4}

Answers in Genesis

2011-10-25T11:03:00.001-04:00

{ark encounter opening spring 2014}

On Sunday, Ken Ham from the Answers in Genesis ministry, spoke on apologetics and the book of Genesis at Bellevue. If you have never heard him, he is amazing! Have I mentioned that Genesis is my favorite book of the Bible? I could listen to him for hours just soaking up His wisdom and knowledge of the Scriptures. And I had no idea how many resources they offer! I really wanted to purchase one of everything, but considering I already have a lengthy reading list I decided on just two books for now. You can view my selections here and here. But then when I was looking on the website, I was intrigued by this book and added it to my order with this to get free shipping. I'm already looking forward to taking a trip to the Creation Museum and cannot wait for this full-scale Noah's Ark to be built! What a great outreach project to invest in. If you are interested, you can donate HERE.

Dynamic Views

2011-10-24T22:32:00.000-04:00

{flipcard}

I just discovered Blogger's dynamic views for blogs. You can view any blog in these seven different views: classic, flipcard, magazine, mosaic, sidebar, snapshot and timeslide. Magazine is my favorite although flipcard is pretty cool too. The impressive part is that you can view any blog this way by adding "/view/" and then the view name to the URL. For example, to view my blog in the classic view you would type this in the URL: melsmeadow.blogspot.com/view/classic. Pretty neat stuff, huh? Using Blogger's dynamic views would be a great way to get an overview of a blog and check out any posts you might have missed. Blogger, I think you really outdid yourself on this one!

{Pinterest Recipe} Mini Maple Pancake Muffins

2011-10-17T11:43:00.000-04:00

I'm a total trend eater. Always have been and still am to this day. I eat a certain food for a period of time and then one day it hits. I don't start to burn out... I am burned out! You never know what 24 hours can bring in the life of a trend eater. Pancakes were a big hit on the menu around the high school/ beginning of college years. Since then... well, you know the drill... not so much. But when I saw this new take on an old favorite, I thought I would give this easy recipe a try. Too bad I forgot to add the sugar to the batter. As a last resort, I sprinkled some sugar on top. And I used semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate which made them taste more like a chocolate chip cookie. There's nothing better than starting out the week with a homemade breakfast treat.

Herman Cain Visit

2011-10-14T20:56:00.000-04:00

{Cain's tour bus parked in W. J. Freeman Park}

This morning Herman Cain came to Bartlett to rally support for his 2012 presidential campaign. I work within walking distance of the Bartlett City Park which was where his 45 minute speech was given to local supporters. Cain spoke about his 999 plan and expressed his full support of Israel and our military. I especially liked his closing remarks, "In God we trust and In God is our trust." On his way out, my dad and I shook his hand and I took a couple of close-ups. God bless you, Mr. Cain!

Girls Gone Wise

2011-10-13T23:19:00.001-04:00

Today I signed up for the women's conference at our church next month. The three main speakers are Mary Kassian, Carolyn McCully and our very own Donna Gaines. I am looking forward to this weekend studying God's Word and reflecting on what a wise woman should look like in today's world. To register for the conference, click HERE. Tickets are $20 if purchased before October 15th.

{Reading List} October

2011-10-12T10:15:00.000-04:00

If you're like me you have more books on your reading list than you have time to read. I always seem to have a dozen books that I want to read (and are sitting on my bookshelf) but by the time I get to them some other title has grabbed my attention. The worst is when you start a book and then put it down long enough that when you return to it you have already forgotten the beginning or it's hazy at best. I would love to finish a book without having my next one already picked out. My husband feels the same way and we decided the solution was not to stop buying books but to read MORE. So we have determined to pick a book each month and stick with it! A book a month is pretty doable, right? So here's my pick for October and this is his. I had already started my book over a year ago (gasp) but now is a good time to jump back in since we are currently reading the Gospels in our Chronological Bible. His pick is actually one of those books I bought awhile back and never got to (see what I mean?). He says it's a real eye opener of past and current events. I realize we are already a good ways into the month but I had to finish one other book before we got started. So tell me, what's on your reading list this fall?

The Delta

2011-10-11T10:24:00.000-04:00

{lunch spot on Main Street}

On our way to my college reunion, we stopped in Greenwood and stayed at The Alluvian for a night. We had a wonderful time during our stay with great food, an afternoon spent at the spa, and a trip to the coziest bookstore I've ever seen. The next day we went on The Help tour and saw the local homes they used in filming the movie. We were given an individual tour of the Cotesworth Plantation in North Carrollton which was used for Celia Foote's house. We were told that the actress, Jessica Chastain that played Celia Foote, is a vegan. So when she takes a bite out of the fried chicken in the movie it's really just tofu that they made to look like a piece of chicken. It's too bad because they sure do know how to make fried chicken in the Delta.

{Baptist Church}

{Hilly Holbrook's House}

{Aibileen Clark's House}

{Celia Foote's House}

{breakfast table where Celia Foote and Minny Jackson shared a meal together}

Food for the Soul

2011-10-10T13:10:00.000-04:00

{breakfast on the patio}

We have really enjoyed our October weather so far. My sweet husband made me breakfast Saturday morning while I was preparing for my discipleship group. The rest of the day was spent in the same laid back manner and I was able to finish some much needed reading. If you have not read this book, it is a must read! The Master Plan of Evangelism is an easy read and will revolutionize the way you look at Bible study, discipleship and evangelistic methodology. I wish I had read this book a decade ago. I am looking forward to hearing Dr. Robert Coleman in person next month!

"Men are God's method." - E. M. Bounds

Erika's Consignment Sale

2011-10-06T22:28:00.000-04:00

This week I've been moving summer clothes to the back of my closet and bringing fall pieces to the front. My sister and I thought about having another closet sale like last year but decided to go ahead and take some of our pieces to Erika's Ladies Consignment Sale. Erika Cobb has offered a fall and spring consignment sale each year in the Memphis area for the last eight years. Last fall was my first time to go to the sale and I scored a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress! The sale runs from next Thursday, October the 13th to Sunday, October the 16th with Saturday and Sunday being half off days. Mark your calendars - it's worth a visit!

College Reunion

2011-10-03T23:12:00.001-04:00

Saturday night I went to a college reunion in Jackson with the girls I lived next to for four years. It has been 10 years since we all graduated but somehow getting together again made the time feel like it had just been a few years and not an entire decade. We mostly laughed during our time together - you know the deep belly laugh that is good for the soul. I love my girls and treasure the time we spent together. Not everyone was able to come so we decided to make this an annual event. Until next time...

{Kathryn and I were in each other's weddings that were three months apart}

{Cathy and Carrie, my dear friends of 20 years! We met in seventh grade, cheered together, went to college together, were in each others' weddings and have stayed in touch to this day.}

First Birthday

2011-09-27T10:01:00.000-04:00

This weekend we celebrated our niece's 1st birthday! The weather was perfect for her outdoor birthday party. She got the hang of opening her presents and her personalized red wagon was a bit hit. I think she would have been content to spend the rest of her party in it! Ellie livened up for the camera after she had some sugar in her. And by the end of the party when we were all sitting down she was still walking around. She made it to the back door and looked outside like, "Party over?"

{Pinterest Picks} Fall Wish List

2011-09-22T23:49:00.000-04:00

{J.Crew ballet flats}

This week I've been thinking about my fall wish list. I've been wanting some tan/cognac flats for awhile. These classic leather flats have just enough sparkle to make a statement. And wouldn't they look great with a mustard cardigan or jacket? I've decided I need something that color for my closet. I bought a new pair of skinny jeans recently. I had been wanting a comfy, everyday pair that I could wear even if I wasn't having a "skinny" day. But I'm thinking I could use one more pair of trouser jeans to complete my fall wardrobe. My $14 Gap trousers have about run their course. Wouldn't these new pieces would be great for a road trip? My hubby's been trying to get me to go camping. I told him if he packs the car like this I'll go anywhere! We're looking forward to our niece's 1st birthday party this weekend. Her mommy has planned the cutest theme for her party. A party always makes the weekend better.

Ruffle Cake

2011-09-19T21:00:00.001-04:00

Sunday we spent the time in our Life Group class honoring our teachers and celebrating their birthdays. The ladies in our class decided against a massive store bought cake and we all brought homemade cakes instead. I decided this would be a great time to practice my cake decorating skills. Cupcakes are easy to frost since you have such a small workspace, but decorating a whole cake can be intimidating to me. That's why I went with the forgiving petal tip from Wilton. I used the No. 104 and liked the size ruffles it made. I will definitely be using my petal tip again the next time one of my homemade cakes needs to make an appearance.

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Muffins

2011-09-14T20:28:00.000-04:00

My new obsession is proving to be quite practical. I was planning on making my go-to Banana Bread since my bananas were overly ripe but after seeing these I decided to switch up my menu. And if you read the complete recipe you'll notice they are pretty healthy too. At least healthier, with only half of the sugar and applesauce in lieu of butter. I'm already looking forward to waking up in the morning. Who doesn't love a homemade breakfast treat?

Germantown Festival

2011-09-10T22:40:00.000-04:00

{small scripture block from here}

Today was a great Saturday. My mom and I went to the Annual Germantown Festival this morning and the weather felt like a perfect fall day. I'm glad we went early because by noon the temperature had crept up into the 80's. One of my friends had a booth with her and her husband's art that they sell to support their ministry. It was definitely the cutest booth at the festival and I couldn't leave without snagging several of her pieces. Some for me, some for gifts and some for the holidays (which I'll have to save for later).

{cherry limeades}

{very appropriate for fall and my living room}

Pinterest: My New Obsession

2011-09-07T09:01:00.000-04:00

{sneak peek of My Pins}

Dear Pinterest, you've really outdone yourself. A single place where I can keep all my party ideas, recipes and current wish lists is so amazingly convenient. O Pinterest, where have you been all my life?

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-06T21:37:00.000-04:00

{lots of presents for mom's birthday}

Our holiday weekend was very relaxing. Filled with a quiet dinner out, a Sunday afternoon shopping trip and breezy mornings spent outside, this weekend was just what I needed. The cooler weather is starting to roll in proving Labor Day weekend officially marks the end of blazing hot summer days. Bring on the fall!

{sniffing around the fence to locate mr. chipmunk}

{added these to my newly organized closet}

{made these irresistible cookies}

{wrapping up the weekend with a bath and blowout}

Blindingly Bright

2011-09-04T23:27:00.000-04:00

If you had seen my closet five years ago, it would have been remarkably neutral. Mostly black and gray with some navy and brown accents. One of the most important things I've learned in building my wardrobe is the importance of COLOR. And my closet has thanked me! Bright, pops of color look good on almost everyone. And color is in this fall... especially jewel tones. So as the weather begins to change, reach for a few colorful options to keep your days bright and your nights brighter.

Spotted: BB Dakota Audri Red Dress

2011-09-01T23:39:00.000-04:00

{BB Dakota Audri Red Dress}

I spotted my anniversary dress this morning on The Today Show. Lindsay Stodden was wearing it on Kathie Lee & Hoda. You can watch her inspiring story about her sister, Leah, on Hulu.

95

2011-09-01T10:42:00.000-04:00

We spent last weekend in Chicago celebrating my Grandma's 95th birthday! We had such a great time with all of our relatives. I always loved our Chicago visits when I was younger... playing with our cousins and having big family dinners. It was neat to see the next generation "meeting" each other and playing together. This was the first time that all the boys were old enough to remember their cousins and they had some fun times. Saturday, the whole gang met at McCarthy Park for a family photo and they looked so cute in their black and white shirts.

Chicago has the best breakfast places and bakeries! We always get our fill of yummy pies when we're in town and this visit was no different. We had strawberry rhubarb pie, raspberry pie and the seasonal peach pie. Another tradition is taking Grandma out for breakfast. Grandma and I share the same love for breakfast =)

On her birthday we took Grandma to Egg Headz Cafe and we were all in waffle heaven.

I'm looking forward to seeing the group photo of all 30 of us together. Here's a shot of our family with Grandma sans Bryant.

Happy birthday, Grandma! You get lovelier with each passing year!

{Beauty Tuesday} Lengthening Mascaras

2011-08-23T16:43:00.002-04:00

We expect a lot out of our mascara. We have believed the ads that claim our mascara will meet all of our needs. At least our lengthening, volumizing and curling ones. With so many choices out there, the trial and error required to find the "perfect" mascara can be overwhelming. I've determined from all of my mascara purchases that I am most happy with the brands that lengthen my lashes. I typically go for smooth formulas with no clumps and intense color. Here are several of my favorite lengthening mascaras... one for every price point!

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Black; $5.84 at Target

Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black; $14.50 at Macy's

Hourglass Superficial Lash Mascara in Carbon; $26 at Sephora

Cargo Lash Activator Curling Mascara in Black; $35 at Ulta

Anthropologie Fix

2011-08-23T14:34:00.000-04:00

One fruit that always makes it on our weekly grocery list is berries. Most mornings you'll find either blueberries, raspberries or strawberries washed and patiently waiting for the next bowl of cereal or oatmeal. A too common annoyance in our home is having to throw any of these pricey organic berries out because they weren't eaten soon enough.

Last time I was in Anthropologie I ran across these eye-catching bowls and determined I needed a couple of them for my new "fruit bowls." They have officially replaced the Tupperware bowls that always seemed to get lost amongst the refrigerator shelves.

Inside Out Bowl in Kelly

Atom Art Bowl in Red

And these Mini Latte Bowls were too cute to pass up! They are just the right size to hold honey mustard or salsa for Mexican night!

Project Green Fork

2011-08-17T20:58:00.000-04:00

Recently I've eaten at two lunch spots, Just for Lunch and Cosmic Coconut, where I've seen this logo on the shop window. Project Green Fork was designed to help cut down on environmental waste and to encourage recycling for local restaurants. We like to recycle and love local small businesses, so we give PGF a thumbs up! Go to their website and check out which restaurants are already certified for Project Green Fork and which ones are on their way to being green.

Nueve, Nove, Neuf, Neun

2011-08-16T21:55:00.003-04:00

It doesn't matter what language you say it in, nine is significant! It's the last year before we enter the double digits! Bryant and I celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary this month and are so thankful for what God has done and is doing in our marriage.

I love finding out the meaning of names and numbers. I find it very interesting that the name often "fits" the person. Last year when we celebrated our #8, I looked up its meaning and just loved it. Eight was "new beginnings." This year is just as fitting. Here's to #9... I love you, babe!

nine = marks the finality or end of a matter; the perfect movement of God

Something the heat is good for...

2011-08-03T22:06:00.000-04:00

watermelon

cherry tomatoes

My 2nd Blog Anniversary & a {GIVEAWAY}!

2011-07-31T23:57:00.009-04:00

This month marked my two year blog anniversary!! And to celebrate I'm sharing 2 of my latest obsessions: YoLo Frozen Yogurt and Emi-Jay Hair Ties.

Well, technically I go for sorbet instead of frozen yogurt but you can get a cup full of whatever you want with this $5 YoLo gift card. And if you haven't tried Emi-Jay Hair Ties, you'll be hooked after wearing this one called Tropical Turquoise from their summer collection.

To enter the giveaway simply leave a comment sharing one of your summer favorites. It could be a fun activity, summer trip, or even a new purchase?

One reader will be selected at random and winner will be announced on ~~Friday, August 5th at 10:00 p.m. CST.~~ Time's up! Winner is Rachel!

Thanks for reading these past 2 years!

Cake Pop Favors

2011-07-28T21:56:00.000-04:00

I learned a few things last week when I made these cake pop favors for a baby shower.

Like...

1. Safflower oil is not a good substitute for canola oil when baking a cake. It repels candy melts.

2. Kids love oily chocolate cake balls as a mid-afternoon snack after swimming in the pool. Especially with a little frosting on top.

3. Keep extra candy melts and paramount crystals on hand when making cake pops. Like DOUBLE the amount you think you need. **Big thanks to Hubs for driving to Mary Carter in the middle of his packing for a long trip to retrieve the aforementioned supplies.**

4. You must melt the candy melts in a medium sized bowl vs. a small bowl that heats up too quickly and overcooks the candy melts. Because then you have lumpy candy and you're back to #3.

5. Humid, hot July is NOT the season for cake pops. Check back in the fall.

Oh for the *former* love of baking!

Mudroom Makeover

2011-07-26T17:37:00.001-04:00

One of the most frequented rooms in our house is the mudroom. At any given time this room can be overtaken by laundry on drying racks, bags set aside for Goodwill, and pool/gym gear. So when we saw this unique piece on closeout at La Maison Antiques our wheels started spinning. I loved the open shelves for storage but wasn't sure if it would be a perfect fit. Since it doubles as a server, I knew it was a great piece that could work in several rooms if we wanted to relocate it down the road. And one thing I've learned about buying for your home... if you love it, get it.

My instinct was right. It looks GREAT in the mudroom and I managed to fit everything in this room that was there before except now it's in neat little rows. Take a look...

Monday's Menu

2011-07-18T11:15:00.000-04:00

Every year when it's rhubarb season we make at least one recipe with strawberries and rhubarb. Last year we found a delicious crumble with hazelnut topping. This year we made this Rhubarb-Strawberry Coffee Cake for breakfast. Here's to soaking up those summer mornings.

Summer Favorites

2011-07-08T21:44:00.000-04:00

too too hot by Essie

Nothing says summer quite like Gigi's Cherry Limeade Cupcake

(Rachel, I should have tried a bite of yours!)

My favorite poolside accessory is this Summer straw hat from J. Crew

Gigi Sandal by Sam Edelman

Faithful Servant

2011-07-07T23:41:00.002-04:00

Bryant has always been close to his grandmother. He has many stories and childhood memories of spending the day and night over at his grandparents' house. One of my favorites is when he was younger and was spending the night at their house. He was all tucked in the twin bed in the guest room and his grandma was about to leave when he told her how cold he was. His grandparents were in the habit of turning the heat off at night even in the winter to save money on utilities and because they told him they enjoyed the crisp air. Without missing a beat she put an extra blanket on the bed and told him, "You'll be fine. You're hot-natured."

After she made that statement, Bryant went right to sleep. He took what she said to heart and went to bed warm. I love that story. It's funny how one little story can describe someone so well. She was always good with her money and her word. What Grandma says, is just the way it is.

A month ago Bryant spent the day at his grandmother's house helping her plant a garden full of squash, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, peppers, basil and cilantro. That would be one of the last memories he would share with her. A couple of weeks after their visit she went in for stomach trouble and after taking several tests the doctors said she had spots on her liver that were probably cancerous.

Everything happened very quickly after that initial doctor's visit. She went in for several different tests - none of which were conclusive. Last Wednesday the 29th, she was admitted to the hospital for dehydration and was scheduled to go home in a couple days. Friday morning things took a turn for the worst and all the results from the previous tests all pointed to the same conclusion. Bryant's grandmother was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer and had an aggressive tumor that was changing rapidly.

It was that morning we received the phone call that the doctors didn't expect her to make it through the weekend. Most of this last week has blurred together except the details of that morning. I had just finished working out and was running a few errands around the Poplar area. It was a few minutes after noon and I stopped in Panera Bread to grab lunch before heading to the hospital. As I was walking to my car, I heard the chimes from Christ United Methodist Church playing, "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us." I sat in my car with the windows rolled down and just listened until the last note. And then I prayed. For that day and the days to come.

I saw Grandma at the hospital that afternoon and prayed with her. She kept asking for prayer. I prayed what Pastor Steve had just preached on the Sunday or two before. I prayed that the Lord would send angels to minister to her while she was in the hospital. Her pastor from Ellendale Baptist came and prayed over her as well. As he came in the room he addressed her as, "the Lord's faithful servant." I don't know what my life will look like at 81 years old, but one thing I do know is how I want to be known. What better title is there in all the world other than the Lord's faithful servant?

Over the weekend we saw the Lord answer many prayers. One of which was that Bryant made it home late Saturday evening and was able to see his grandmother. Another blessing was that she woke up on Sunday and Bryant was able to speak with her. She surprised the doctors and made it through the weekend, through the Holiday and even the next day. But nothing catches Him by surprise. All our days are numbered and He knows them every one.

Yesterday Grandma took her last breaths on this earth with her family by her side and with the angels carrying her to His side. She is deeply loved and will be greatly missed. But this we know, our loss is her gain.

Early let us seek Thy favor;
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With Thy love our beings fill;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Sheffield Summer Sale

2011-07-05T23:27:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite places to shop for the home is Sheffield Antiques Mall. I will drop in from time to time and more times than not walk away with a unique find. On occasion it's a large piece, more often it's a small find and then there's the in-between piece that doesn't make or break a room but adds just the right touch. It can be a piece of art, a unique accessory or in this case a wooden stool.

I've often wondered if a stool would work in our kitchen next to our back door and windows. We have a lovely orchid that unfortunately can't get enough sunlight when placed on the kitchen table. So the orchid permanently resides on our kitchen floor next to the window where it gets the perfect amount of sunshine. Well thanks to the annual summer sale at Sheffield we picked up this wooden stool and I think it works well in our space.

No more orchid on the floor and we gained an extra seat when needed =)

The Sheffield Summer Sale is 10 to 40% off most vendors and lasts until July 10, 2011.

Hodgepodge

2011-07-01T23:18:00.001-04:00

one: I finally read this book that a friend recommended...

I loved it! Definitely ranks as one of my top three favorite classics.

two: I recently finished this book that another friend gave me for my birthday last year.

It was wonderful! It was encouraging and challenging at the same time. I highly recommend it!

three: The Fresh Market is becoming my go-to-place for more than just groceries. Have I ever mentioned they have the best selection of roses and for only $7.99 a dozen? They always do a great job arranging them for me too. This week I picked these up for my neighbor who is recovering from surgery...

four: My latest obsession... bracelets! I'm loving this Clover Double Wrap Leather Bracelet in black from Stella & Dot.

Or I'd take this Clover Single Wrap Leather Bracelet in purple to add to my collection.

five: I am really enjoying my Pure Barre classes! I've been to 10 classes so far and I'm thinking I'll be sticking with PB for quite awhile. And you gotta love their lingo such as, "working toward that pure barre ledge"...

six: I ran across this Durham Desk last week and was inspired.

I'm thinking it would be a good fit for my home office and love the idea of switching out the desk chair for a settee as seen in their catalog. It's very unexpected but could work well in the right space.

Summer: Part 1

2011-06-19T00:03:00.000-04:00

It's been thirty days since my last post. Wow, time flies. Especially during the month of June. Ever since I have had my current job, summers come and go so fast. We're talking wicked fast.

But just because there hasn't been any recent posts doesn't mean there hasn't been any blog-worthy activity ;) Here are a few highlights to prove it...

two birthdays celebrated... one on my side and one on his

two weekend getaways... one with family and one with friends

two trips to the airport... one to drop off and one to take off

two celebrations... one to mark the start of a season and one the end of another

two books finished... one in six months and one in six days

two reasons to travel... one for business and one for family

two nephews loved... one with hugs and one with kisses

Fuzzy Blogger Photos

2011-05-19T13:14:00.001-04:00

By now, I'm sure you all have noticed your photos look fuzzy when uploaded to Blogger, right? And if you haven't I've noticed them! I noticed right away around five weeks ago when this issue with Blogger started. Seriously, Blogger? You need to fix this!

But in the meantime you can follow this workaround for clearer photos. All you have to do is save your photo as a PNG file before uploading it to Blogger... and no more fuzzies!

Instructions for Mac: If your picture is in iPhoto, go to File -> Export. Click on PNG for file kind. Then you can save it on your desktop. When you upload your picture to Blogger, choose the PNG that you saved on your desktop and not the original that is in iPhoto.

Hope this helped...

Friday I'm in Love

2011-05-13T22:30:00.000-04:00

Just in time for the weekend :-)

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T23:40:00.000-04:00

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.

- George Cooper

DIY: Colored Chalkboard Frame

2011-05-07T09:31:00.002-04:00

This is a proud moment for me. Who would have thought I would be adding those three capital letters to one of my blog posts? Now, don't judge too harshly because technically only half of this project was a DIY, but it's a start, right?

I was invited to a blessing dinner several weeks ago for one of my dear friends who was expecting her first little girl. The invite said to bring a blessing in the form of words and a gift. My blessing to the new mom was a blessing on words. Words that teach her little girl God's Word and ways, words that are kind and encouraging, and words that praise and not criticize. For my gift. I thought of using chalkboard paint to show how she can leave encouraging notes for her daughter and words from Scripture for teaching and instructing. My inspiration came from one of Natalie's posts. If you haven't seen her blog, it's a must!

With a quick trip to Sheffield Antiques, I found this framed picture with the picture raised in the middle surrounded by burlap and thought it was perfect for my chalkboard frame. To make this project from scratch, you could make the frame yourself and insert your fabric of choice. And you could use wood or glass in the middle of the frame as the chalkboard surface.

Step 1: Tape the edges of your surface so the paint doesn't get on the burlap or fabric. I used Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Tint Base in Raspberry. They have over a dozen colors to choose from! Cover the surface completely with the chalkboard base and let dry. Reapply until you reach the desired coverage and thickness. I used quite a few coats since my background was darker and switched to a mini-roller instead of brush to eliminate streaking.

Step 2: Once the surface is completely dry, staple ribbon to the back of the frame for hanging.

Step 3: Add a piece of colored chalk. Since the frame I used was recessed, it was perfect for holding the chalk in place. Her colors were pink and yellow, which looked really cute together.

If you want to make this DIY, make sure to start your project early. *In order to test your finished project, you will need to let the paint dry for 3 days. Once cured, you have to prepare the surface for chalk by rubbing side of chalk over entire surface and then erase. Don't forget to throw in a chalkboard eraser!

And here is the finished project...

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them... you shall bind them... you shall write them..." - Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Shop Local:
Chalkboard Tint Base: Home Depot
Ribbon and colored chalk: Hobby Lobby
Chalkboard eraser: The Knowledge Tree

Pure Barre

2011-05-04T23:03:00.000-04:00

Tonight I finally was able to attend a class at Pure Barre. The popular franchise opened in Germantown at the end of last year and they are doing so well they will be opening up a second location in Midtown this year. The workout combines strength and stretching exercises and incorporates Pilates and the ballet barre - which I'm a firm believer in both! I've taken Pilates and ballet classes for several years and absolutely loved them, so when I heard that PB mixes these elements in a 55 minute class I had to try it. I'm all about low-impact exercise with maximum results! The best part is that they have multiple classes a day/seven days a week which works with my busy schedule!

And did I mention they sell Lululemon yoga wear?!!

Fair Analogy?

2011-05-03T18:23:00.002-04:00

Watch this video of college students asking their peers who support raising taxes on the rich if they would be willing to redistribute their GPA's to help out fellow students with lower grades.

What do you think, is it a fair analogy?

To read the full article from The Blaze, click HERE.

Easter Cake Pops

2011-05-02T22:41:00.001-04:00

I had been planning on making these for Easter, but since things have been kind of cRaZy around here lately I decided to keep it simple this year. I used white candy melts since they were already in my pantry and pink and yellow jimmies because nothing says spring better than bright, happy sprinkles. The inside was just as sweet with lemon cake mixed with lemon frosting.

My cake pops looked a little wind blown since I used a thin sheet of Styrofoam to hold them up, but they seemed to fit right in with all this weather we've been having!

{Spring Storm} April 2011

2011-04-30T12:51:00.003-04:00

For the last four weeks, we've seen storms every week here in the Mid-South and they always happen to be on a Monday. Our part of town saw quite a bit of damage on Monday, April 4th as straight line winds uprooted many trees in the area. My husband and I were home when the tornado sirens started going off. We were both in our master bedroom getting ready to head downstairs when Bryant said, "We need to go NOW." He later told me that he was hearing branches hit our roof (and there are no trees on that side of the house).

I had just finished putting my shoes on (something I remembered is important if a tornado is headed your way) and as I was walking out of our closet into the bathroom I heard a very loud noise. My first thought was that the tornado must be right by our house and the damage has started! Bryant, a.k.a "Mr. Landscaper", knew exactly what it was - that the neighbor's Sweet gum tree had just fallen on our house. If you know Bryant, you know this nickname fits him well. Not only could he tell you where every tree is located at our house and at the neighbors' house, he probably could tell you the layout of each yard in our entire cove ;)

As soon as we heard the loud BOOM, we immediately ran downstairs to take cover and I started praying and texting my friends who I knew were out in the storm not to head back home and to take cover where they were. One of my friends in our neighborhood had her fence blown down on both sides of her backyard. It was such a strange sight to see; it was clear that the path of the storm went straight through her backyard and nothing in its way was left standing.

Overall, we were very fortunate. If a 60 foot tree had to fall on our house, it fell on the perfect spot. It fell on the corner of our house where the two walls meet which acted like a reinforcement against the weight of the tree. We were told if it had fallen on the side of the house instead of the corner, it most likely would have gone through the roof. We also believe the tree fell very slowly since Bryant heard the branches beating against the roof before the fall. The tree's slower momentum on the way down was another blessing in that it didn't have enough force to fall through our roof and into our house.

We had to wait until the next day to have the tree removed since all the cranes were tied up in the city. There were trees down all of over the city in streets, on cars and in houses. We were very blessed that our damage wasn't greater than it was. On the outside of our house, the roof and gutter needed to be repaired and the walls in our master bedroom needed some work. When the tree hit, the corner of our master bedroom wall cracked all the way down to the floor as did the wall by the window frame on the front of the house. None of the damage on the inside of the house was structural so with some dry-wall repairs and fresh paint we are back to normal over here. We will need to have our front lawn smoothed out and possibly resodded after the tree service truck and crane drove on our lawn to get access to the tree.

We are very thankful for the Lord's protection through these storms! We received several remarks from neighbors and friends that drove by stating they couldn't believe the tree didn't fall through our roof. It was a pretty spectacular sight to see this huge tree just leaning on the corner of our house. Spring Storm 2011, you are just another opportunity to praise our GREAT God for His mighty care!

Wednesday's Answer

2011-04-28T23:21:00.001-04:00

Last Tuesday, I asked for prayer for my dear friend who was faced with the possibility of her breast cancer returning. The next day she received some heartbreaking news that her cancer had indeed returned and had spread to her liver, lymph nodes and bones. Over the next 48 hours the shock of the news began to settle and the sobering reality of what may come produced an ache in my heart and a longing in my soul.

On Friday, April received the full report from her PET scan and overall, the report was seen as encouraging. Instead of stage 4 cancer, April's diagnose remains at stage 3b. April does not have liver cancer but breast cancer that has traveled to her liver. And the cancer is not in her bone marrow, but the calcium part of her bones - mainly in her chest wall and sternum.

April is trying to get an appointment with MD Anderson as early as next week to determine which treatment she will receive and where she will receive it. They are looking to begin her treatment as soon as possible since the cancer is considered a fast-growing cancer and because April is already experiencing pain due to the inflammation in her chest wall.

Please continue to pray for healing for April and for wisdom and direction for the upcoming decisions that will have to be made concerning her treatment.

I will never forget Easter Sunday 2011, as I sat with April's family - all 18 of them filling two rows in the Bellevue sanctuary- watching them praise and worship the Lord.

I received the following text on Tuesday of this week. In the course of one week a prayer that was offered has been answered-- although not as we wanted it to be answered-- and from the answer a response has been offered --that of ourselves would never have been offered.

The Christian's Weapon is Praise. Praise is the opposite response we have to problems, but since this world is going the wrong way, would that not make the opposite response correct? Praise is what Jesus taught us to pray, "Hallowed be thy name". Praise is the Conclusion to the troubles of Job. Like Job, we respond with questions and defenses, concerned about our life and reputation. Praise puts us in a position where we are concerned about the Lord's life and reputation. Praise is the supernatural response that our natural mind would never discern.

Tuesday's Prayer

2011-04-19T10:08:00.001-04:00

Please pray for my dear friend, April. She is a breast cancer survivor who just went to her six month checkup only to find out that she has a spot on her liver. Her blood work looks very positive which is very encouraging. She goes in tomorrow, Wednesday morning, for a PET scan. Pray that the results will come back showing she is cancer-free. I am so thankful that we have a place and a Person to take our requests to.

O LORD, heal my friend for there is healing in no other. One WORD... one touch... is all we need.

{Spring Weekend} Chattanooga

2011-04-18T12:24:00.001-04:00

Choo Choo! That's what we heard all weekend, three weekends ago when we met our nephews in Chattanooga for the weekend. They are about some trains, especially the coal trains that make electricity. At least that's what they tell me ;)

Since Bryant wasn't feeling well, it was just me, my sister and dad that met my older sister and her family for the weekend. We had a great time and rode lots of trains!

Friday we went to the TN Aquarium in downtown Chattanooga. It was fabulous! The boys said their favorite part was petting the stingrays.

As were walking downtown after dinner that night we came across this brick bench on the sidewalk. I got a picture of them before the train picked them up ;)

We stayed at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, an historic hotel that once used to be a train station. You can imagine their delight with all the trains on the property!

Saturday we rode on the Tennessee Valley Railroad's restored vintage train. The boys found this red caboose at one of the stops.

And the best part of the trip for me was that the boys decided to forego staying in one of the train car hotel rooms for an adjoining "regular" room with Aunt Mandy, Aunt Missy and Papa Adams. How sweet! If you knew how much they loved trains, you would realize that was a BIG deal. I loved hearing a little knock on the adjoining door first thing in the morning... followed by a big smile on the other side.

Spring Happy

2011-04-13T21:32:00.000-04:00

I wasn't having the best day yesterday so my sister texted me at 3:53 p.m.

A: I have a surprise for u
Me: What
A: Something cute, something sweet, something informative
Me: When do I get it
A: Tonight. I can be at your house at 5:30 p.m.

When I came home this is what she had waiting for me...

And the "something sweet" was a Muddy's cupcake. How sweet is my little sis! Every time I wear my bracelet I'll think of her act of kindness and her love that she showed me on a day when I really needed it. And as her card said I will know I am loved by our GREAT GOD.

{Spring Break} Destin

2011-04-12T22:17:00.000-04:00

For Spring Break, Bryant and I spent the week in Destin with some friends. This was Bryant's second time to go to Destin. He's definitely a fan and even more so since we discovered 30-A. Technically we already knew about this popular vacation spot, but on this trip we spent half of a day driving along this scenic route and checking out all the famous beach communities. We are in LoVe with Seaside and are trying to plan when we can go back.

Not far from Seaside in Grayton Beach, we found a local favorite for dinner. If you haven't been to The Red Bar, it's a must! Next time you're at the beach, stop in for some great food and a fun atmosphere. Instead of passing out menus they bring a large chalkboard to your table with their famous six entrees. And they had reasonable prices considering the portions were very large. And don't forget dessert...

We got the Key Lime Pie, but next time I would get their Chocolate Pecan Brownie Pie... at least I think that is what it was called. Or maybe we'll go in the morning and get their Belgian Waffle...

The point is, we'll definitely be back!

cRaZy SpRiNg

2011-04-07T23:42:00.003-04:00

Now that my blog is back in session, you may wonder where I've been since spring has arrived? A little here, there and everywhere. Here are the highlights of our crazy spring thus far...

Spring Break

Spring Shower

Spring Cleaning

Spring Sickness

Spring Weekend

Spring Storm

Spring Repairs

Is it summer yet?

Happy Saturday

2011-03-19T23:55:00.000-04:00

Who said dogs only laugh with their tails?

Thought for Thursday

2011-03-17T00:29:00.000-04:00

Relax daily.

Rest weekly.

Reflect monthly.

And if possible...

Retreat quarterly.

Spring Fling

2011-03-11T08:28:00.000-05:00

Well, hello there.

It's so nice to finally meet you.

Happy Birthday, Dear Starbucks

2011-03-10T21:25:00.000-05:00

Look what popped into Starbucks this week...

CAKE POPS!

Birthday Cake Pop, Rocky Road Cake Pop and Tiramisu Cake Pop are all part of the new Starbucks Petites menu. Eight mini treats all under 200 calories will now be available along with your favorite Starbucks drink.

And to top of the sweetness, stop by your local Starbucks today through Saturday from 2:00-5:00 p.m. and pick up a free Starbucks Petites with the purchase of any handcrafted beverage.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

2011-03-09T09:54:00.000-05:00

For those of you that are reading the Chronological Bible we are about to finish up the book of Numbers. Last week I wrote quite a bit in my journal after reading the passage from March 2nd. A couple of nights ago I sat down and compiled my thoughts into a "lesson". I'm glad I took the time to make it cohesive - it's not every day that you see your physical situation mirrored in the pages of Scripture. And when you do, you must write it down...

This week in Numbers we see that God gives instructions, and lots of them. He gives specific instructions on setting up the Tabernacle, who was qualified to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and how to consecrate the workers for God’s work. All these detailed instructions were very important because after the work was completed and the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it (Numbers 9:15). The cloud was the presence of God meeting with his people. He gave them a cloud by day and a cloud that looked like fire at night to guide them from evening until the next day.

“Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the LORD’S command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped.” – Numbers 9:17-18

“On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. They set out, this first time, at the LORD’S command through Moses.” – Numbers 10:11-13

God gave the Israelites a visual so they would know when it was time to move. When the cloud stayed, they stayed. When the cloud moved, they moved. While we as believers don’t have a physical cloud to follow when making decisions, we have something greater. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit lives inside us and speaks to us the way in which we are to go. Isaiah 30:21 says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

So what can we learn from this passage on staying put or moving? There are four truths we can learn from Numbers 9 and10 on when to stay and when to go.

1.) The decision to move is not ours to make; we are to wait for the Lord to speak. Seven times in chapter 9 and 10, it says the Israelites set out “at the LORD’S command.” We’ve already seen several examples in our chronological reading where decisions were made based on human reasoning instead of the Lord’s prompting. Remember in Genesis 12:10 when Abram left Bethel to go down to Egypt when there was a severe famine in the land even though the Lord didn’t tell him to go? That didn’t work out so well for him and Sarai. And neither will it for us when we make our decisions based on the flesh and not of the Spirit.

2.) When God tells you to move, it is because He desires to bring glory to Himself. Numbers 10:35 says, “Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, ‘Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.’”

Strong’s Concordance gives the Hebrew word for “rise” in this verse as “quwm” which is defined “to establish, to arise, to set, to come about.” Moses wanted the LORD to receive honor and praise in their move. Wherever they were going, he wanted His Name to be established among the people and for all His enemies and opponents to fall before the Living God.

And look at where He led them to rest in Numbers 10:12… in the Desert of Paran. The word “Paran” means “ornamental.” It comes from the Hebrew word “paar” which means, “to embellish, to gleam, beautify.” When God tells you to move, it is to glorify Himself – to show you His beauty.

3.) When God tells you to stay, it is because He desires to strengthen you in your situation and empower you by His Spirit. Numbers 10:36 says, “Whenever it (the ark) came to rest, he said, ‘Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.’”

The Hebrew word for “return” in this verse is “shuwb” which is defined as “to turn back, return, restore, recover.” Strong’s Concordance goes on to explain it is “returning along a path already traversed – not necessarily with the idea of returning to the starting point. The opposite of going out. It signifies empowering or strengthening.”

When God is telling you not to make a move but to return to your situation, he is saying you will not return alone. His power will go with you, restoring you, and strengthening you for what lies ahead.

4.) We won’t always understand God’s directions. It says in Numbers 9:19-22, that sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days, sometimes just for a night, and other times up to a year! Can you imagine what it was like not knowing if you were settling for just the night, a month or an entire year?

God’s instructions don’t always make sense to us. He tells us in Isaiah 55:9, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We may not know immediately what God’s instructions mean and we many never know this side of heaven. Iva May says, “Every puzzle crafted by the hand of God has a purpose that will one day become clear.”

We are called to obey whether it makes sense to us or not. We can trust Him. For God’s Word promises us in Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

O LORD, make us sensitive to Your leading. May we dare not go without Your Presence and may we never stay when our moving would bring glory to Your Name.

{Beauty Tuesday} Healthy Spring Skin

2011-03-08T15:48:00.001-05:00

Now that Spring break is on my radar, I'm one happy girl. A little bit of sunshine goes a long way - for your soul and your skin. But even during the winter months one thing I never take a break from is my sun protection. If I don't put anything else on, I make sure to wear sunscreen every day. Even on overcast days the sun's rays are still making their way through to our skin.

With so many options to choose from in the sun care category, the first choice is deciding whether to combine your daily moisturizer and sunscreen in one or to use a stand alone sunscreen. It depends on your lifestyle and if you prefer the simplicity of one application or the flexibility of picking and choosing your favorites from a couple skincare lines. These are some of my top picks...

Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 - Neutrogena

Solar Defense Organic SPF 30 - Image Skincare

Obagi Nu-Derm Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35

Eminence Tomato Sun Cream SPF 16

Little Poser

2011-03-07T23:23:00.002-05:00

You might remember Miles' First Gig last month. The outdoor shoot went really well and we were ready to call it a day when the photographer said he wanted to try a few indoor shots. He began taking pictures of the model by herself when Miles started whining from behind the camera. Next thing I know he runs up to her like "hey, aren't you forgetting something?"

I'm so glad we got this shot - it's one of my favorites and was used in the new Laurelwood Shopping Center directory. You can pick one up this month at any of the Laurelwood stores.

Happy Saturday

2011-03-05T11:58:00.000-05:00

My sweet man made me breakfast this morning! French toast stuffed with hazelnut spread and strawberries! And you'll notice in the picture the syrup has a rich color - it's Organic Birch Syrup from Alaska. He brought back a 3.4 oz little jar when he went to Anchorage last year and I just noticed the price tag on the back is $7.49! It was hands-down the best syrup I have ever had - I shouldn't have poured so much on my plate!

Friday I'm in Love

2011-03-04T17:01:00.000-05:00

I have been singing this song by Matt Maher all week long. I absolutely loVe it.

See if you can listen to it without shouting these words EVERY time.

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead
He's alive! He's alive!

Day 109

2011-02-28T23:47:00.000-05:00

I really do prefer to blog about the lovely things in life. Or at least the simple things. Things that are easy and effortless, like my recent blog posts. Like cakes and cookies.

But unfortunately... life is not all about the pretty. At least not this life.

But then that's where faith comes in. It enables you to put one foot in front of the other even when the days haven't been so pretty. Or predictable.

And after the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, you begin to see something you never would have been able to see before. Yesterday with all of its unpretty moments has created a beautiful today. These are my days, our days.

And their number is 109.

I realized it was time for a new update since I kept getting the question, "Is B in town or out of town?" I guess my lack of posting since Day 37 would lead most to believe he was off flying again.

Nope. 72 days later and his feet are still on the ground.

After his second visit with the neurosurgeon several weeks ago, he was told he needed another eight weeks of time off to continue healing. And so the waiting and the prayers continue.

There have been a couple of hiccups the past couple of weeks at work with all the paperwork that has to pass hands concerning B's status. We are hoping it gets resolved in the very near future.

But whatever tomorrow may hold we know it is Secure. It is the hope of unseen beauty.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time..." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

Happy Saturday

2011-02-19T22:18:00.001-05:00

Don't you just love happies? Those little gifts that are fun, upbeat and brighten your day. The best part is when they are totally unexpected. These happies would be sure to put a smile on my face.

Sugaree's Rainbow Cake, $4.20 at Holiday Deli & Ham Co.

Emi-Jay Hair Ties, $3.50 at Sachi

Fiona's Strawberry Puffs, $12.00 at Williams-Sonoma

Caspari Paper Cocktail Napkins, $5.00 at CaspariOnline.com

LOVE

2011-02-14T11:01:00.000-05:00

Friday I'm in Love

2011-02-12T00:08:00.000-05:00

Nothing says, "BE MINE" better than Essie's Limited Addiction nail polish. I'm thinking of going red for my valentine...

What's Valentine's Day without a sugar rush? Check out this adorable 6" Glass Cake Stand in pale pink from Shop Sweet Lulu.

Every time I go to Anthropologie, I am tempted to pick up one of these Clothbound Penguin Classics. These embossed canvas covers are so irresistible you might just find yourself starting a book club!

Jane Iredale's mineral makeup is a new love of mine. I recently picked up her PurePressed Eye Shadow in Allure.

Verses for 2011

2011-02-10T23:32:00.000-05:00

Dear Mandy

2011-02-09T23:52:00.001-05:00

Please bring me back some of these from Beverly Hills...

I'll take these,

passion fruit

caribbean chocolate

Sicilian pistachio

or these,

pretty please.

Friday I'm in Love

2011-02-04T22:05:00.020-05:00

"My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather." - Terri Guillemets

Until then these winter favorites are coming in handy.

ORIGINS Ginger Souffle

Panera's Mint Crinkle Cookie

Smartwool Mountaineering Extra Heavy Crew

Artful Blogging Magazine

Therapist

2011-01-28T21:49:00.000-05:00

Blue Skies

2011-01-25T20:12:00.035-05:00

It's always this time of year the winter blues seem to kick in. Thought we could all enjoy a reminder from one of my favorite singers that Blue Skies are on the way!

First Gig

2011-01-24T20:25:00.055-05:00

Look who got to be in Sachi's January mailer! The night before the photo shoot the owner wanted one more accessory to complete the look of the "Parisian cafe" set.

Model? Check.

Free People dress? Check.

Tea cup? Check.

Scones? Check.

French Poodle? Oui oui!

We always knew he had big things ahead of him.

Hot Chocolate

2011-01-22T23:40:00.000-05:00

My sister-in-law gave me some hot chocolate over the holidays. Anyone who knows me well knows I've had my fair share of hot chocolate over the years. It's pretty much one of my favorite things in life. Everything's better with hot chocolate. A date, a shopping day, a late night and especially a SNOW DAY.

This hot chocolate recipe is actually non-dairy and is one of the best recipes I've had that uses water instead of milk. Beware, it is so addictive!

Non-Dairy Hot Chocolate Mix
-16 oz. non-dairy creamer
-1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 cup Nestle's Nesquik

Mix all ingredients in large bowl and stir thoroughly.
Add 3 tbsp. of mix to 6 oz. hot water.
Top with whipped cream for all those lovers of cream (Hubs) and a soft peppermint stick for all those lovers of mint (Mel).

The Grace Card

2011-01-20T20:06:00.000-05:00

This week I attended a screening for the newest faith-based film, The Grace Card. It was filmed here in Memphis and most of the actors were volunteers that attend a local church. After the film we were asked to fill out a comment form. One of the questions was "What three words would you use to describe this film?"

My three words were Heavy. Powerful. Timely.

This movie is not your typical light-hearted entertainment, but has a very serious and pertinent message. The anti-racism message is very timely for our country and especially our city. What is so powerful about this film is that it addresses the source of the problem and offers a solution. The only solution.

Grace. God's grace offered to man which then enables man to forgive others. I walked away from the film feeling hopeful. I highly encourage you to support this film and mention it in your social circles.

IN THEATERS 2-25-11

Snapshots of 2010

2010-12-31T12:24:00.003-05:00

Another year is turning over and this morning I have pressed the rewind button for a little while in order to remember, reflect and rejoice for all the days that the Lord gave us in 2010. This year has really been a sweet year for our family. Here are the highlights of our year...

1. Bryant was home more this year! I mentioned last year that his schedule slowed down the last half of the year. It seems his slower schedule carried over to 2010. Even with Bryant becoming qualified to do aerial refueling this year, he hasn't had to increase his number of trips and we have both enjoyed having him home more.

2. I went part time this year and love it! My slower schedule + Bryant's slower schedule = loving life in 2010.

3. We celebrated 1 year in our new house this year! Time goes by quickly but in a way this house seems like it has been home for much longer than a year. We are now finished with all the big projects we wanted to do this year. Our most recent projects entailed: small updates in the master bath, wood shelving in closets, and painting the exterior of the house.

4. Miles turned 3 this year. He's sweeter than ever and his personality is more even. He loves company more now and only gives a warning bark when someone comes in instead of sounding the alarm.

5. I couldn't leave out our newest addition to the family, our 3 month old niece, Ellie. Buying for a girl is fun with all the dresses, bows and ruffles!

6. We didn't take a big vacation this year, instead we had our first Staycation! After all our work on the house, the week at home was perfect. We did go on several short trips to Pickwick, Muscle Shoals and San Antonio. Plus, I visited a city I can now cross off my travel list, Vegas.

7. Bryant and I both turned 30 + 1 this year and celebrated 8 years of marriage! He was home for his birthday this year for the first time in several years. In fact, he was home the entire month of December, a first in 5 years.

8. We joined a new Bible Fellowship class this year. We absolutely love Eric and Penny Brand. It is a blessing to sit under such a gifted teacher of God's Word. We are very excited about the class and look forward to what God has in store in the years to come.

9. We have seen the healing hand of God in the life of a dear friend. A year ago our sweet friend, April, was diagnosed with breast cancer and today she is cancer-free. We give our Healer all the praise and glory!

10. I read through the Bible chronologically this year. And have just finished reading through the New Testament for the second time! I read it like a novel from the beginning to the end. I finally get God's story.

11. My blog celebrated its 1 year anniversary this year and received a new look. I ♥ Penny Lane Designs.

12. This year I have learned that without faith it is impossible to please God. It is so simple yet it is so difficult. It's all He requires. It's all that matters. I can lay all the other stuff aside- the things I think are mine to offer God - and all that is left that really matters is if my heart trusts in God. The trust that completely relies on Him to come through for me and the dependency on Him that drives me to desperately seek Him to give me wisdom for this life. And as I am living this faith life, my heart rests in perfect peace knowing my God is able to do exceeding ABOVE all that I ask or imagine according to the Power that works in me. And my response can be nothing less than a life offered in continual praise to Jesus Christ, who is worthy of power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise forever and ever.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." - Hebrews 11:6

Candy Cane Cake Pops

2010-12-23T23:58:00.003-05:00

I finally made my first cake pops! I've been wanting to try Bakerella's cake pops for awhile, and when I saw these festive treats on Hostess with the Mostess I just couldn't hold off any longer. They reminded me of my favorite candy from Godiva, the Candy Cane Truffle.

I had a lot of fun making these cake pops. They were time consuming, but now that I've made them and know what to expect I don't think it would take as long the next time. Adding the red ribbon to the lollipop sticks took an extra 30-45 minutes, but it completed the look. Plus I didn't have to decorate the pops with any detailed faces, so that saved some time on the other end. I would recommend adding the ribbon before dipping the cake pop as it's much easier to be precise without cake on the end of your stick!

A few other cake pop tips: Don't forget to add the peppermint extract to the cake batter! I remembered that minor detail while the first cake was in the oven. Also, I used paramount crystals as a thinning agent in the candy melts as recommended by a local baking shop. Without the crystals, my candy melts would have been too thick for that perfectly smooth, Bakerella-style candy coating.

For the crushed candy canes, I used King Leo Soft Peppermint Stick Candy instead of hard candy canes. I would definitely substitute the softer candy again. For the second design with bright red candy melt stripes, I would use a smaller tip next time. I used the #4 tip on these, and it gave me a thicker stripe than I wanted.

I gave some of these cake pops to co-workers at our Christmas party. I wrapped them individually with mini treat bags and leftover ribbon. Then I placed the pops in brown paper mache gift bags that were just the right height for the cake pops to peak over the edge. Bryant cut small pieces of Styrofoam for each bag so the cake pops would stand up straight while transporting them.

I didn't know what to expect when I took my first bite of cake pop. Let's just say there will be many more in my future =)

Shop Local:

Brown Paper Gift bags, Mini Treat Bags, 1/8" Red Ribbon: Hobby Lobby

King Leo Soft Peppermint Stick Candy: Cracker Barrel

Paramount Crystals, Lollipop Sticks, Candy Melts: Mary Carter Decorating Store

Peppermint Extract: Kroger

Santa's Workshop

2010-12-22T23:55:00.001-05:00

I LOVE wrapping presents. The evenings before Christmas are spent wrapping several gifts each night with either Christmas music or Christmas movies playing in the background. And if I need the channel changed... well, I have a helper for that.

This year Bryant bought me a card table to use for my wrapping station. How did I ever get by without it? Puppy decided it was also a good hiding spot - guess he was worried I was going to wrap him too.

Day 37

2010-12-18T11:55:00.001-05:00

Since my last update, things are improving slowly but surely for the back patient. The day before Thanksgiving we visited the neurosurgeon and he verified that B is on the right track with his physical therapy. His second appointment is in eight weeks to make sure he is progressing as expected. He won't be flying for three months to give the disc adequate time to heal.

I don't think we'll ever forget this year's Thanksgiving dinner as B stood up at the end of the table and ate his dinner standing up! He didn't sit down for the first time until the following week and it was for only three minutes on the way home from PT. The next week the sitting progressed to 10 minutes. And this past week he has been able to drive himself around and sit down for meals at home. As long as he has a break to stretch in between periods of sitting, even if it's just standing up for a few minutes, he then is able to sit again. He's fine when we're out running errands - the in and out of the car gives him the breaks he needs. His pain has subsided for the most part and now he is focusing on reducing the stiffness in his lower back.

Last night at my work's Christmas dinner party was the first event of the Season we've been able to attend. Tomorrow morning we plan to go the worship service which will be another solid hour of sitting for him. The therapist told him to begin increasing the amount of time he sits starting this weekend and decrease the number of stretches and exercises at home. He is going twice a week to PT and will continue those visits for quite some time.

The sunny side of the past few weeks is that we have been together. This is the first time in the past five years that B will be home for the whole month of December. He's never missed a Christmas, but this year he won't be missing the weeks that lead up to it. We also spent his birthday together which he is almost always out of town for. I've been able to be at home most of this month with him and we've only been getting out when we have to. We welcome this change of schedule even though it's due to unwelcome circumstances.

We are praying for the God of reversals to completely heal B through physical therapy. "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see." - Acts 3:16

The 1st Bake of Christmas

2010-12-15T00:32:00.002-05:00

I'm in the mood to bake. And to decorate. And to package all my goodies and give them away this Season. To neighbors, co-workers, family and friends and even doggies. Yes, I have all my bases covered this year.

I'm starting the Holiday baking frenzy off with something easy - a gift for the neighbors. Every year I have good intentions to bake for the neighbors but never get around to it. So this year I decided to start early and split up the baking. I figured most will appreciate a healthy baked good especially when sweets are too easy to come by this time of year. I found this yummy recipe for Coconut-Cranberry Muffins from Cooking Light. Their recipes always seem to turn out great.

I have six neighbors to bake for, but instead of making all the muffins at once I decided to spread it out over the next week. The batch I made today made 14 muffins, filling up two boxes for the neighbors and leaving four for us.

In a couple of days, I'll double the recipe and take the remaining gifts and we'll have some more fresh muffins for breakfast. Plus it's nice to have time to talk to the neighbors as we deliver the gifts and not to be in a rush to deliver all of them in one evening.

I tied a ribbon around the box and added a Christmas card since I had extras this year. I think in years past I was always concerned with making something elaborate and missed the whole point. I hope this simple gift is received for what it is. A small act of kindness for those closest to home.

My Man

2010-12-11T10:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to the love of my life!

Gifts For Him Under $75

2010-12-08T10:07:00.000-05:00

From left to right: Pure Badger Brush, The Art of Shaving, $55, theartofshaving.com; Oil Finish Shot Shell Bag, Filson, $30, filson.com; iPod shuffle 2GB - Silver, Apple, $49, Apple Store; Skipjack Men's Polo Shirt, Southern Tide, $72.50, southerntide.com; G2X Pro Dual-Output LED, SureFire, $65, surefire.com; Cleanshine Quillaja Hair Wash, Molten Brown, $28, moltenbrown.com; Vintage Shark Tie, Vineyard Vines, $75, vineyardvines.com; Smoked Pearl Traveler (20OZ), SIGG, $21.99, mysigg.com; Flannel Shirt, Filson, $75, filson.com; Decision Points, George W. Bush, $18.89, amazon.com; Eau de Toilette Spray 2.5 oz., Polo Double Black, $57, macys.com; Black Lab boxers, J.Crew, $18.50, jcrew.com

Flipped

2010-12-07T09:57:00.001-05:00

Last night we watched Flipped and I loved it! Too bad they don't make more movies like this one.

Gifts For Her Under $50

2010-12-06T10:31:00.001-05:00

From left to right: iPhone 4 Hard Cover, Kate Spade, $40, katespade.com; Blacksmith Stand With Dome, Pottery Barn, $49, potterybarn.com; Wally Print Flip Flop, Tory Burch, $45, toryburch.com; Large Pearls of Friendship Sterling Silver Necklace with Pink Pearl-18 inch, Dogeared Jewels & Gifts, $38, Sachi; Ditty Bag in Twirly Birds Navy, Vera Bradley, $25, verabradley.com; LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler, Sephora, $40, sephora.com; Leonora Scarf, Anthropologie, $48, anthropologie.com; Purse Spray, Daisy by Marc Jacobs, $45, macys.com; A Perfect World Intensely hydrating body cream with White Tea, Origins, $31, origins.com; Align Ultra Mat, Lululemon, $28, lululemon.com; Pink Grapefruit Soy Candle, Archipelago, $24.50, Post 31 Interiors; The One Year Chronological Bible Daily Devotional Study, Iva May, $25, orders to ivamay@att.net

Penny the Celebrity Poodle

2010-12-05T11:51:00.000-05:00

I've had lots of time this weekend to catch up on reading my favorite blogs. On Thursday, Bakerella posted quite the unexpected surprise! Not just because she hung out with Blake Lively while she was in New York or the fact that Blake loves to bake. The biggest surprise was seeing a current picture of Blake's Maltipoo, Penny!

You may remember when I was looking for my perfect pup on the internet, I wanted a chocolate brown Maltipoo like Penny. I had seen a picture of Blake and her puppy and was just smitten!

Surprisingly, Penny has lightened up a lot since her puppy days. I was told that Maltipoos get lighter as they age and when you look at the pictures below you can see how light Miles has gotten since he was little. While I was googling older pictures of Penny, I ran across a picture of her when Blake first got her... and she's red! I never realized she had red in her! I was told that Miles' dad was a red poodle and that is where he got his shade of apricot. If you want anything other than a white Maltipoo, you need one with some red since that is obviously where their color comes from. Look how similiar Penny and Miles look when they were younger. Since Penny is a teacup, she kept her short ears and has more of the Maltipoo face. Miles has long legs and more of a Poodle face. Wouldn't they make a cute couple?

Stocking Stuffers Under $20

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From left to right: I Love Macarons, Hisako Ogita, $9.93, amazon.com; Ultra Mentha Lip Shine, C. O. Bigelow, $7.50, Bath & Body Works; French Lavender Bath & Shower Gel, Alba, $8.95, Whole Foods Market; Lip Glaze Set Blissful, Stila, $10, stilacosmetics.com; Take Note Cube in Versailles, Vera Bradley, $16, verabradley.com; Shea Butter Hand Cream - Travel Size, L'OCCITANE, $10, Sephora; Crochet Ruffle Knee Sock, Free People, $20, freepeople.com; Tea And Toast Butter Dish, Biscuit, $12, Anthropologie; Cashew Crunch, Dinsthul's, $18.95, dinsthuls.com; Mango Pitter, OXO, $13, Williams-Sonoma; Small Rhinestone Stud Earrings, Free People, $18, freepeople.com; Womens French Terry Pajama Pant - Bankers Gray, Gilligan & O' Malley, $14.99, target.com

Friday I'm in Love

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Merino Cool by Essie

Starbucks Short Cup - the perfect companion for all my Christmas shopping!

Wire Birdcage Ornament from Pottery Barn

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Grand Ole Opry House. Would love to see the Rockettes in New York!

Group Fun

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Something I look forward to during the Holidays is spending time with friends and family. I have a sweet group of friends from high school that still get together ever so often even though two have children and one lives out of town. Our moms are good friends and hang out regularly. The weekend before Thanksgiving we were able to get the whole group together for a night of sharing old memories and making new ones. Bryant was laying on the couch upstairs the whole night and afterward commented that the noise never stopped! I guess that's what happens when you get a bunch of cheerleaders and their moms together =) I just can't believe that it's been 13 years since we graduated together!

My sister and her family came to visit for Thanksgiving. My nephews are now five and three. L told me about the Snowy Nights in My Big Backyard at Memphis Botanic Garden that she heard about from C. It was a lot of fun! I'm so glad we thought to snap a picture of all of us on our way out.