...and I'm led from Grace to Glory

In February 2011, our choir learned a new song and it is still one of my favorites today. I wrote a blog post about it I said the following:

....."Hallelujah, what a morning, when I reach for His nail scarred hand. I will go from grace to glory on the banks of the promised land."

Now to some people those are mere words. It's just a song. But to me, they speak of a brighter tomorrow. A foundation of  HOPE. A love everlasting. A grace that knows no bounds. Divine mercy.

Isn't it the most wonderful, peaceful, fabulous feeling to KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that even though we may stumble and fall, He is a forgiving God; a just God. And that our faith can see us through until that most beautiful day when we can go from grace to glory and see Him on the banks of the promised land.

I have been looking for this video for several weeks and finally found it this morning. I hope you take the time to listen to the words and that you appreciate their meaning as much as I do.

A good find....

I normally wait till I get done with my weekend running to post pics of any good finds that happen. But I was so excited with yesterday. My friend, Stevie, and I went to some yard sales and picked up some pretty decent deals. I'll post those on Tuesday. However, when we were done with the yard sales, I asked Stevie is she wanted to run to the big antique mall on the main strip.

 And since she was needing her Pyrex fix same as I was, we went. When we went to the booth on the second floor where you are always guaranteed to see tons of Pyrex, I was looking at eye level and wasn't seeing anything that caught my eye when she pointed down and said isn't that the pattern one of your new pieces was in?

So I looked down and saw this......

And when I saw it was in mint condition....with the right lid...which is rare around here, I fell love. When I saw it was only $15 I knew it was coming home with me. I am very excited to add this to my collection.

Random Thoughts for Today

I received a Pyrex pie plate yesterday that I traded for. Now to learn how to bake a pie.

Well, actually, I can make one pie. I don't eat pie except for Graham Cracker Pie and I do know how to make it. Make a graham cracker crust, heat in the oven about 5 minutes to "set" it, add instant vanilla pudding, make meringue with egg whites and sugar, cover meringue with graham cracker crumbs and heat in oven till the meringue is browned just a little. I think I may make one of these this weekend.

I am going to an estate sale this morning. It has tons of stuff from what I am led to believe. We will see. I am looking for my normal vintage items, but the main thing I want is a piece of furniture for my home office. I would love to have a new used desk. Perhaps something along these lines.

 

I would be thrilled to find some type of chest for my craft room.

But the one thing I am really looking for is a table for the craft room. In a perfect world I would love a drop leaf table, but they are so hard to find at a good price.

I am also going to be on the look out for curtains. Something along the lines of lace with a valance.

And I would love to find a vintage tablecloth with pink, blue or yellow flowers.

I know I am dreaming that I will find any of these today. However, starting this morning I have a four day weekend to scout around for some bargains. Maybe something will turn up.

FedEx and UPS both paid a visit....

I love getting deliveries...especially when FedEx and UPS visit on the same day! I took up a Thirty-One catalog party where I was my own hostess. Simply by word of mouth, I took up my party and earned a lot of free products and was able to buy the Lunch Break Thermal for just $5.00. As a result, because I am a consultant, I earned Level 2 of the Ready, Set, Sell incentive that Thirty-One offered consultants in August. Here is everything I got absolutely FREE...and it all arrived on the same day. I was thrilled. 

For having the party, I earned the Organizing Utility Tote in Citrus Medallion. We are going to the beach next month and this is going to be my beach bag to tote my stuff to the beach for the day.

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I always take peanut butter & crackers and a little container of dill pickles with me. It helps my tummy if I get too hot or need a snack. I got the medium thermal to put them in to keep them from getting too hot in the sun. 

This is a Pocket-a-Tote which goes through the grommets on my Utility Tote above to create an interior pocket for things like my room key, my watch, etc.

Of course I had to get the coordinating sunglasses case to keep my sunglasses in. I have reader sunglasses for while I'm sitting reading at the beach and regular sunglasses for when I want to take a walk or just sit and enjoy watching the ocean.

I think this made a very neat set for my trip. I can't wait to use it. And the material of these totes are the type that sand will wipe off of with a damp cloth.

In addition, I earned this Thermal Lunch Tote. I plan on putting a drink and some snacks in this to put in the car for our drive to Florida for our vacation.

I already have the Essential Tote and Mini Zipper Pouch to go with it. I earned those two earlier in July when I had another catalog party, so they were free as well. This is what I will keep up front with me. I carry my plastic canvas project, my book, camera, and snacks in this bag and keep change in the zipper pouch for when we stop at rest stops. These three make a nice set. 

Now, because I had such a good order in August, I met the requirements to earn level 2 of the incentive. I got free fall catalogs and mini catalogs as well as some sample swatches of new fabrics for part of the incentive. Here is the rest of what I earned in the incentive.

This was the whole reason I wanted to have the party in the first place, I wanted to earn the new Mini Cindy. It is an adorable purse for fall and winter that is fashioned after the bigger version, the Cindy Tote. I am absolutely in love with this and can't wait for cool weather to start carrying it. I love the Black Houndstooth pattern.

The next item I earned is the On a Stroll back in the new Black Chevron pattern, which I have fallen in love with. This bag is awesome for mom's with the big fish net pocket, one zipper pocket and two small fish net pockets. It can also be used on a walker. Upon checking it out though, I am going to hang it on a couple of hooks in my craft closet and keep some of my craft supplies in it. The two hooks will unhook and lock around the headrest in a car to carry items in your backseat as well for children or travel.

I also got the new Flat Iron Case. This is a big case and I really like it but I don't use a flat iron or a curling iron for that matter. I was taxing my brain to decide what to use it for. It has a divider in the middle so on one side I am store my several pairs of good scissors and the other side will hold my knitting needles and crochet hooks. Another perfect way to help organize my craft room.

This is the True Beauty Bag in Paisley Day. It has pockets on the outside and inside along with loops to hold your shampoo and conditioner so they don't spill. I love this bag. 

It comes as a set with this makeup case in Navy Lotsa Dots.

I love the way the makeup case folds out and has two interior zipper pockets and room for makeup brushes.

This little Baubles and  Bracelets Case is just too adorable to keep your jewelry in, especially when you travel. 

It comes with two snap sections that can hold your rings or earrings and three little pouches to hold your individual necklaces so they don't get tangled.

I also got something they call a badge buddy. A lot of the Thirty-One purses have a D ring inside them. I plan on using this for my hotel room key so I can clip it inside my purse and not have to dig for it when I get back to the room. 

But what surprised me the most was how much I fell in love with this new Cross Town Wristlet. I thought is was cute and I was looking forward to getting it so I could check it out. But I am amazed at how excited I am about owning one of the these. This thing is fabulous. 

It comes with an adjustable strap so you can wear it over your shoulder or as a cross body. It has two individual zipper pockets that are very roomy, my cell phone even fits in one of them.

It opens up to hold your ID and cards and I love the little strip that snaps down over your cards so they don't fall out when you open the wallet.

And what makes it even more special is the fact that the strap can be removed with a click of the lobster claws on both sides. Notice the dark blue little square on the left hand side in the center?

You just slide that out and close the wallet back up.....

...and you have an adorable wristlet. I am in love. Of everything I got, I think this excites me the most. 

That is all my freebies. I can't believe I got all that and it didn't cost me a penny. The only thing I bought was the Lunch Break Thermal in the Hoo's Happy pattern. This was on special for $5.00 for Hostesses so I got it.

So just for making some Facebook contact and phone calls with a few of my friends, I ended up with over $300 worth of FREE products and the only thing I am out of pocket is $5 bucks. Now you see why I love Thirty-One. 

Chocolate for breakfast...

I've been planning to do some baking for some time now, but just never could seem to get in the mood. Yesterday evening, I decided to bake some cookies around 5:30. At 6:00, I set the cookie mix out. At 7:00 I got my Pyrex bowl down. Then I decided to fix my supper. When I was younger, Dairy Queen in our neighborhood had what they called an English bun. It was a top sliced hot dog bun and they grilled the sides. It was divine. At the store yesterday, Pepperidge Farms now has that bun. So I had some hot dogs with sauce (chili), mustard and onion and read my book while I enjoyed supper. 

Finally at 8:00 I finally got everything out and got ready to start.

First I did the brownie cookies. I figured if I got tired after one type, at least the girls could get their brownie cookies at work tomorrow since they requested I make those first.  

They are so simple. If you use Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownies, the directions for cookies are on the side of the box. It is simply the mix, 1/3 cup oil, 1 egg, and 2 tablespoons of water. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes, depending on your oven. I use parchment paper on my cookie sheets every time I bake cookies. they are a little chewier and not super crispy that way. 

It made 24 cookies. 

While I had everything out, I made the oatmeal chocolate chip ones from a mix. I just wasn't in the 'bake-from-scratch' mood last night. They turned out good. Now I have an assortment for work. Of course, my daughter saw me post this on Facebook for the girls at work and now I have to swing by and drop her some brownie cookies off before we both go to work. I'll be in big trouble if I don't.

So I am having chocolate for breakfast this morning, needless to say.

Fabulous Finds

My weekend wrap-up had to be delayed until today so I could have the time to take pics of my fabulous finds. I visited antique stores, thrift shops, a couple of yard sales and the local Dollar General. Very thrilled with everything. I did find one piece of Pyrex, but it wasn't my pattern. However, the price was so cheap that I bought it and will be posting it for trade in my Pyrex 4 Trade Facebook group. 

I found these vintage glasses at a yard sale for .50 each.  I just loved them. 

And I found these vintage Federal mugs at an antique store for just $3.50.

I don't know if this is vintage or not. I am not sure about glassware like I am Pyrex, but I do know it is pink and it is pretty and I had to have it for just $5.00.

Bought this for .25 cents just because I liked it. Especially since I love using my big mixer when I'm baking. 

I bought these for .50 cents for the whole box just because I need the little gold tops of the ornaments to put on one of my Christmas crafts I'm doing. 

I love fall fragrances in candles. This one makes me want to bake a spice cake with caramel icing. It smells so good. 

I bought a tall Santa like this a couple of weeks ago, now I have the shorter one. 

Got my yarn and wood beads to go with the ornaments above to make my ornament project.

I loved this little placemat. Don't know yet where I will use it. 

Too cute not to get for just $2.00.

A neat little fall chalkboard. 

I got some ribbon to make my Twig Trees I found on Pinterest.

This is the 3rd heart shaped tin I have found. I guess I am officially collecting heart tins now.

I got this at Family Dollar. I'm using it to store my scrapbook paper in. 

I found this adorable basket at Family Dollar as well. Not sure what I am going to use it for, but I love it. 

I picked up some scrapbook sheets at AC Moore at 5 for $1.00. They have some awesome designs and I have some plans for these. 

I also bought some for non-holiday projects. 

Well, that was all my fabulous finds for the weekend. Hope you are having a good week.