Top 10 Tuesday

Some fun ideas for crafts that would be super simple and in many cases, you probably have some of the stuff for them laying around the house. These are adorable.

I would imagine this would be a wonderful sound as a wind chime.

I love when they glue jars to candle sticks. It's too cute.

Kleenix holders that are adorable. These would be a cute gift idea for someone you just want to brighten their day.

I love this. And it would be easy to find the items at yard sales and thrift stores. So you wouldn't have much in them. 

You all know how much I love my teapots. I am definitely going to do this. And I have everything I need right here at the house. So it won't cost a thing. Even have some stuffing for the pin cushion.

I love these scrapbook paper clipboards. Too adorable. 

I have posted this before but never got around to making it. I need to see what kind of ribbon and fabric I have.

Oh my gosh! This is the ultimate birdhouse for somebody like me that likes books. I am going to accumulate some old books at yard sales to go with some I already have and try this. 

And last but not least, I am forever seeing little plates and saucers for just .25 - .50 cents at yard sales. I love them but don't buy them because I don't have a use for them. Well, I will now. 

There you have it. My top 10 for this Tuesday.

Monday Mornings....

Mon·day

ˈməndā,ˈməndē/

noun: the day of the week before Tuesday and following Sunday. 

.....and that is about the best thing I can say about Monday.

I am looking forward to my day. Lots of exciting things ahead.

Going to dinner tonight at Cracker Barrel with my Thirty-One sisters to discuss our conference travel plans and new updates on what to expect at conference this year.



One of the speakers at conference this year is Andy Andrews. He wrote a book called The Traveler's Gift and we had a session at our retreat in February from this book. I found it in good condition for a penny and $3.99 shipping on Amazon. It's supposed to arrive this week. I can't wait to read it before we hear him speak.



And I have a few more orders to collect over the next couple of days to close out my Thirty-One Party. Right now, I am at $90 worth of free products since I am the hostess. One thing I am getting is the Go To Tote to carry to conference. I have this bag in Navy for the fall/winter. But I want one for spring/summer. Since it will be for conference and to carry to advertise Thirty-One. I am trying to decide which of these I like the best. Opinions are welcome! What do you think?

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Oh Happy Day

My favorite rendition of this song was from the movie Sister Act 2. May God bless you on this beautiful Sunday and may He always give you happy days. 

My Meandering Mind

Last night it was about 5 or 10 after midnight and I had been working on some decorations for a shower. As I walked into the living room to turn off the TV, the show that had come on caught my eye. I sat down a second to see that scene. Fast forward it is 1:00 a.m. and I have been glued to the screen. I am now officially addicted to Saving Hope. Since I rarely watch TV, I'm not sure if this show is new or 10 years old. I just know I really liked it.

By the time it went off, I was wide awake again so I went back to folding fans for the decor for a wedding shower tomorrow. The hubby-to-be will be at the shower as well and they want baseball incorporated into the decor since he is a huge fan. We are going to incorporate an old bat, ball and glove. My daughter is helping so she has some of the decor that she is gathering. Not sure how this is all going to turn out, but I know it will be fun.

Woke up to the fog laying low this morning in the trees. 

I love the fact I can watch the sunrise...if I just didn't have all the wires in the way. I don't really notice them until I take a picture.

I love enjoying a cup of hot chocolate on my porch while the sun rises. 

I'm heading out this morning for a quick run to East Knoxville. I need some material from Joann's for bathroom curtains. It's a beach theme so I am hoping to find some "beachy".

Hope you have a great weekend.

Faith Filled Friday - The Open Door

For the past 6 months, my life has been filled with old doors closing and new doors opening. Moments of deep despair and days of optimistic hope. The loss of a loved one, changing jobs, moving homes. And through it all I have found the strength to just step out of one door and enter through the next one. I wrote this blog many years ago. It is so appropriate to my life now that I had to post it again for Faith Filled Friday.

We have all heard it said that when God closes one door, another door opens. I believe this is true. I also believe that the open doors are there all along. But because of our stubborn ways and willful nature, we are unable to see the open door God is providing us. We are too interested in doing things are own way, choosing our own paths. We will walk through the wrong door...day after day, month after month. God provides us instructions and courage to take the road less traveled and head through the open door.

But sometimes, when we can't see our way to do His will, He will close a door to us so we are forced to step out on faith alone and walk through the new door He has opened. When we do, we find joy and peace unknown. Opportunities begin to come our way and the benefits of obeying His will are innumerable.

It is a sad commentary on our lives that we have become so obstinate and so self-absorbed that when we pray asking for His help, we still want to continue trying to do it our way...or worse yet, try to tell God how He should handle it.

My prayer for each of you is that you take that step of faith and walk through the door God is providing for you. Do not be afraid or dismayed. Look at it as a new journey, an uplifting opportunity and a road to rewards that are beyond our wildest dreams.

Altoids Tin

When I was at the beach, this was in a General Store and I thought it was so cute. 

Upon closer inspection, I noticed it was simply an Altoids box covered up. So last night, I decided to see what else you could make with those cute little tins. I was blown away. You could spend hours finding new ideas. Here are a few of my favorites. Perfect for tea bags. Place some of your favorite bags in the tin, get a small gift basket and add a new coffee cup, a pretty coaster and maybe a favorite book or some snack cookies and you have an amazing "anytime" gift.

Back to school kit.

What a wonderful Countdown to Christmas.  

A cute tooth fairy spot.

An emergency kit for those times you need a little repair.

This is my favorite. Look at the pics "framed" in the lid. They add little beads to make legs, covered cardboard to divide the box and a pretty clasp.

They just rolled up felt and inserted in this box to make a ring box. I am definitely doing this before I go to conference.

Aww, a cute teddy tin. But I would put something on the lid of the box. Paint or scrapbook paper. 

Tic Tac Toe fun. Great to keep in the car for kids on long trips.

Another great one for kids. They can draw with chalk on the lid, or use the notepad and crayons inside to draw that way.

I love this one. I think because my grandson Colby would probably love this. Especially when he is having to patiently way somewhere like a restaurant or something. 

I saw several ideas I may try to do. I will update with pics if I do. 

Featured Friend

Many years ago, I joined Beech Springs Baptist Church. My grandson, Caleb, was only about 4 years old and it was time for VBS. I agreed to help out in his class. The lady I worked with was Missy. Never did I dream what a bond we would have. From the start, it felt like we had been friends since birth. I can talk to her about anything, anytime, anywhere. We have shared laughter, tears, and enough secrets to fill a book. She hooked me into VBS and then into her class as a craft helper and it has just grown from there. 

For those of you who have read my blog for a long time, you may recall about four years ago my daughter and I held a shower for her best friend Anya. Well, Anya is Missy's daughter so it has worked out great for all of us that our families have intertwined so well. 

Anya is now the mother of an energetic, entertaining 2 year old that keeps his mommy and his Nana Missy on their toes. Missy also has a son who is friends with my son-in-law and is the youth pastor at our church. He is filled with joy and laughter. Everyone who knows him loves him and he is full of fun. Even though he is an adult he will be the first one to tell you he is just a big kid. We never know what great bright idea he is going to come up with next. He's one of those people who says "I have a great idea...." and you just pause and wait for the shoe to drop.

But he does have some fantastic ideas. Last year was one of them. He loves bow ties. He decided it would be good to challenge all the fathers in the church last year to wear a bow tie on Father's Day. Then it was decided if they were going to wear bow ties, they could do an all male choir that Sunday morning. He did and it was a great success. Needless to say, last Sunday he challenged them again to wear their bow ties and we had an amazing turn out. Here was our all male choir yesterday morning for the second year in a row on Father's Day. 

All the men looked fantastic and the choir sounded great. But to me, the best of the best yesterday was Missy's husband Steve and their grandson Aydin, (Anya's baby). The white shirts, bibs and bow ties just made for the cutest Pop Pop and his little buddy ever. 

Why bibs? As Steve posted on Facebook with this picture "Aydin & I wore bibbed overalls with white shirts in honor of my hard working Papaws and Uncles. Thank you for your examples of how to be a real man"

Thank you Steve and Missy for being such good friends. I love you both.