Planning Ahead

Next Saturday, I am hosting an Origami Owl party for a friend of mine. I have never even been to one of these types of parties so I'm not sure what to expect. I did look at that catalog and I would love to get one of the lockets for a grandmother. This one is similar to what I would want. It is funny that the sample I found of what I like actually has three boys and two girls in it since that is what my grandbabies are. But the birthstone colors would be different in mine. I just love this.

I had it all planned out. I was going to have the theme a tea party since I have all kinds of tea pots and tea cups. 

Of course, I don't drink tea which is crazy since I have so many tea items. One pot may have to serve lemonade. But I kept getting stuck on a menu. What to do, what to do??

Then I got up this morning and when I checked Facebook to see what everybody was up to, I saw this in my Pyrex Passion Facebook group.

I just bought this exact bowl last week. This reminded me that we are still in the midst of fall and my house is decorated for fall and Halloween. So now I am thinking I may need to do a Harvest theme. I've been checking out my Pyrex this morning and I have some great fall pieces that I could use for serving. 

Plus I have a lot of wicker baskets, which reminds me of fall. Not to mention my new fall tablecloth and centerpiece along with a new milk glass serving tray and my ghost cookie jar That I could incorporate for the theme.

My coffee table in the living room is already fixed for fall and I could place some mints and nuts in the little candy dishes on it. 

I guess I will be visiting Pinterest for some fall food ideas. I want something simple and easy that doesn't have to be fixed at the last minute. Maybe something in a crock pot or some finger foods. I will have to decide soon.

Any thoughts on food ideas would be appreciated!

Loving Beth Moore

My sister and I were talking the other day about our mutual love of Beth Moore and her bible studies. My sister is currently attending one on The Beloved Disciple. The first one I ever attended was A Heart Like His: A Study of King David. I have also attended one on Jesus the One and Only as well as Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman. 

 

Beth holds your attention with every word she speaks. Whether she is using a bible situation to bring you closer to God or sharing a personal time of her life to teach you that we are all human, she can bring tears to your eyes and laughter to your soul. She sprinkles her stories with humor and seriousness. For those of you who have never heard or seen Beth in action, I thought I would share one of my favorite video clips from one of her meetings. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

What the Fed Ex guy brought

I got a Thirty-One order in for one of my customers today. I am in love with the new Snow Daze pattern. This is the Little Carry All Caddy.

I think my next buy will be the Medium Thermal Tote. I'm not sure what pattern I will get it in yet. But the snowmen are cute. 

I am in love with these little snowmen. I'm taking up orders to try to earn a new product they are coming out with in the spring. If anyone wants to see the fall catalog or is interested in purchasing anything, please visit my site at www.mythirtyone.com/brendakeefer.

The next few months...

We are coming into that time of year when my life gets busy, busy, busy. And I love every minute of it. My calendar is already filling up.

It is the middle of October and I still have three more Bible Study meetings to go to this month. I'm making brownies to take to the next one. We are going to have an ice cream social as part of the bible study.

There is a 9 mile yard sale one Saturday that I want to go to. I got some good deals at it the last couple of years.

There is a baby shower for my son-in-law's sister-in-law that I will be going to. One night I am going to help decorate the Fellowship Hall and then the next night I will be going back for the shower.

I have a Thirty-One meeting to go to one Saturday. Those are always fun and we always get a free Thirty-One product for attending. I'm making a dessert to take to that one, but not sure what I will make. Thinking about my chocolate cinnamon cookies with chocolate icing. 

That same night, I'll be having my first Origami Owl party. I met the consultant through our mutual Thirty-One businesses.



Trunk-or-Treat is coming up at church and I like to go see all the little costumes the kids come up with. We get a lot of homemade unique ones, not just store bought.



My daughter can't get off work for my granddaughter's first school party so I told her I would try to take off work and go to it in her place.



Then, of course, trick-or-treat is coming up when all the ghosts and goblins prowl around the neighborhoods looking for candy.



And all of that is just in the next two weeks. I think I need to take a nap just thinking about how much I have to do this month.

Weekend Wrap Up

First off, I want to give a great big Congratulations! to my granddaughter, Alexis, and her cheer team for getting Superior at the competition yesterday.

I've had a busy weekend and got a lot of stuff done around the house. But I did manage to squeeze in some shopping time at some local antique stores. I finally found the Pyrex Town & Country divided dish that I have been looking for for months.

And I found the snowflake one also. I was thrilled. They were both well under $10 each. 

I use them at my Thirty-One parties and for Thanksgiving & Christmas for chips and dips, or queso cheese and nacho chips. But a lately in one of my Pyrex FB groups uses her to serve spaghetti in one side and salad in the other for her family's dinners. I was so thrilled to find these.

I also found this vintage dish towel which I am loving. I have been looking for a tablecloth in this vintage pattern, but never could find one that wasn't stained or was big enough for my table. So this is a perfect way to have that pattern in my kitchen. 

 I went to Joanne's Saturday and picked up some more Christmas pieces for some projects I am doing. 

And some glittery ribbon and rick rack for the projects. 

I finally got my Halloween decorations out. It just isn't Halloween without my ghost cookie jar. 

In Sunday School class yesterday morning, I was admiring the dotted curtains on our classroom window. 

Upon closer inspection, I found they had been made from a felt backed plastic tablecloth. What a cute idea. I never would have thought of that. 

My mother loves to read, but she doesn't get out as much as she used to. A friend of mine gave me a box of books to take when I go in to see Mom next month. They were all her favorite authors. Mom is going to be thrilled. I called her last night and read her the name and most of the descriptions of everyone of them. She can't wait to get them. There were well over 30 of them.  

As I was reading them, I noticed one had a card still in it for a bookmark. I pulled it out to look at it and just had to sit there and smile since this is my absolute favorite bible verse in the world. If my friend doesn't want it back, this is going in my bible. It was an awesome find to end my weekend. 

Harvest Time

"And these are the days of the harvest

The fields are all white in Your world

And we are the laborers that are in Your vineyard

Declaring the Word of the Lord"

I always test out any craft we make for Sunday School class so I can know how to tell the kids to do it. Today was an easy one. I thought it was appropriate since it was about Harvest.

This is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a time of blessings as we are reminded of the bountiful grace God bestows on us daily. 

I found some inspirational posters for harvest season that I really like. And I wanted to share them with you today. 

I love exciting days....

Yesterday was one of those days where I just kept getting little blessings. 

The first one came when my boss walked into the office first thing yesterday morning. One of my co-workers and I asked him about taking Columbus Day off. She was telling him that where she used to work, they took all the Federal holidays off. Without any persuasion, he agreed. So we now have an unexpected three day weekend. Can I get a WOO HOO?

On Thursday, I got a message from one of my friends who had a milk glass plate she wanted to know if I wanted it. Of course, my answer was yes since it was milk glass. When I got off work, I went and picked it up and fell in love with it. It wasn't just a plate, but the 14" cake plate. I love it. I'm going to make brownies in a round Pyrex cake pan tonight and turn them out on my new plate. Then I'm going to put a lace doily over them and sprinkle powdered sugar. It will be so pretty on my new plate. 

Then when I came home, I had this box waiting for me. 

Thirty-One is always giving us incentives for reaching our goals. The latest is our Believe and Achieve incentive that lasts for 7 weeks. I made my goal the first week.  

The reward was the new Pour and Store in Navy Lotsa Dots that will be coming out in our spring catalog in January. I am in love with this thermal and the pattern is going to become one of my favorites come spring. I can't wait to see what else they come out with in this pattern.  

I just found out yesterday that Double R Farms in Kodak, TN is having their Fall Festival today. I really enjoyed it last year. I think I will head over their today and check out the craft booths, have some Holy Smoke barbecue and listen to the bluegrass/gospel music. It should be a fun time. 

Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend.