I found the most wonderful tutorial that combines the beauty of fall with shabby chic!  Look at these gorgeous gourds and pumpkins that have been painted and dusted with glitter.  Aren't they wonderful?  Andrea at the Cottage Market was the one who came up with these beauties.  Please go stop by her place  to learn the "how to", and just say hello.

Blessings,

Feelin' Creative?

One of my new found places that I enjoy visiting is Pinterest.  I wouldn't suggest going there unless you have A LOT of free time!  It is a fun place to visit - so many images and ideas to stir your imagination!  The link I am sharing today from Melissa at In Stamping Mode is one of those wonderful ideas!  I have always loved shadow boxes.  I like little things and ways to display them.  Plus, if we have special pieces and we don't know what to do with them, a shadow box is a great way to display them.  Check this out.  I am just giving a teaser here by showing these two pictures.  Please go visit Melissa at her blog to get the whole story.

Blessings,

Working my Way to 1,000

      opportunities to sit down and read 

      being loved

      being forgiven

      the changing of seasons

      being a good speller

      seeing the world as text

     going barefoot

     glitter

 cute handbags

  love of reading

  aloe vera

  pink roses

  pink eye shadow

  pink lipstick

  pink clothes

  pink shoes

  pink gemstones

  pink Mary Kay cars

  online shopping

  blogging

  blogging friends

  friends who love and accept us as we are

  pink phone covers

  bling

  friends who help us get our yard looking nice

  friends who help us re-tile the bathroom

http://www.aholyexperience.com/

A Gathering Place Giveaway

One of my most favorite blogs is The Gathering Place.  It was the pink and shabby chic look that first drew me there, but it is Rebecca and her loveliness that shines through that makes me want to stay.  Look at this amazing giveaway she is doing.  Make sure that you go over to her place and enter a chance to win.

http://rebecca-gatheryeroses.blogspot.com/

It's Fun Being a Mom

First of all I want to say Happy Mother's Day to Beverly who hosts Pink Saturday.  Please visit her blog at howsweetthesound.typepad.com. 
People ask me what my favorite job has been (or I tell them), and I say "being a mom!"  I really do feel that way!  Today I was in a first grade classroom giving a counseling lesson and this little boy asked me if I was a mom (he gets points right there) and I said excitedly, "Yes!"  He said, "Well, Happy Mother's Day then!"  He then proceeded to hug me followed by the other children in the classroom.  Needless to say, it made my day!

Well, I was trying to think about what else I could post for this special weekend, I thought showing you something from my grandmothers would be fitting since they both loved pink.  I am certain that it runs in the family! 
This necklace was Mimi's.  I wish that I knew the history of this jewelry.  It is one of my favorite pieces.  I know that it is some type of enamel work.  It was probably bought in the 1920's or so.  I can remember going over to my grandmother's house and opening up her top dresser drawer that was full of jewelry (that must also run in the family) and I would pull out her jewelry box, wind it up and watch the ballerina dance up and down.  I love those memories.
My other grandmother, Grammy, loved pink the best.  She taught me to love crafts and everything pink.  She loved to paint her nails.  I always loved her dishwasher because the inside of it was pink.  Her bathroom was pink including the toilet, bathtub, sink and tile.  Nestled in one of the shelves of her bathroom was this Dresden ballerina.  I always loved this ballerina.  Every time I would go over there to spend the night she would run the bath water and put in those special bath beads that squeezed out "that stuff that smells good" and then dry me off with one of her special pink towels.  I would sit at her pink vanity chair and ask if I could get down the ballerina.  Of course, she always let me.  Thank goodness for grandmothers!  Thank goodness for mothers, aunts, and women who were like a mom to us. 
Happy Mom's Day everyone!
Mom hugs!!

April Woman of Hope

Happy Pink Saturday everyone.  I hope that it is full of blessings and that you are able to visit many of the amazing ladies who participate - especially our hostess, Beverly.  Today I get another distinct honor of sharing with you another Woman of Hope.  Her name is Elizabeth.  She is gifted in so many ways and has made me laugh (many times) until I cry.  I hope you enjoy Elizabeth's sharing heart and that you are able to glean something. 

This is a picture of the pond in their backyard that she and her husband put together.  It is full of lily pads and large gold fish and the sound of the water is mesmerizing.

 Here is a picture of some of her fruits that she has produced.

In the foyer you are greeted with a wall of crosses.

A peek inside.

Elizabeth and her husband rescue Dachsunds.  Meet Gracie.  I love Gracie. (I love you too, Iris and Spigot).

Elizabeth in her HOT PINK top - her color of hope.

Woman of Hope

What gives you the most hope? Knowing Jesus has my best interests and well-being at heart gives me such hope. I know that if I stop and listen I am more likely to follow his plan for me and less likely to go too far astray.
Tell us about yourself. I am a 50 year old wife and mother of two. I became a Christian late in life, but I was being groomed for a long time. My husband and I have been married for 22 years and we have a daughter who is finishing her first year in college and a son who is about to be a senior in high school. They are what I am most proud of and who I am most inspired by. Family and home are what really bring me joy. As far as my work life I have had a wide variety of jobs over the years. When I was in college I worked for two summers on the highway as a flag-girl, later I was a buyer of skiwear for a sporting goods company. I owned and operated a landscaping company for 22 years and a few years ago I decided to use my brain more and my body less so I went to Denver Seminary and got my Masters in Counseling. I have always loved people and my heart always goes out to those who are struggling. I believe that God called me to make this change in my life and I am now building my practice and loving the time I have to slow down and be more in tune with Him.

What do you consider your gifts? I believe that my gifts are compassion, mercy, and encouragement.
I have enjoyed many of your creative gifts. What is your favorite way to be creative? I have lots of ways that I enjoy being creative. I love, love, love, working on my house. My dad had a hardware store and I worked there for several years when I was a teenager. I learned to love all of the tools and gadgets and things that made things work. (Last week I was able to fix my washing machine AND my toilet and I felt like I had just painted a masterpiece!) My husband and I have worked on nearly every room of our home, sometimes going down to the studs and starting over. It is so fun to put it all back together and turn our house into a home. When I'm not revving up my table saw, I love to garden only now we do it for ourselves instead of for a living. There's a lot less pressure, that's for sure. When I got my bachelor's degree in Fine Arts I had the opportunity to draw and paint and sculpt. I really want to do more of that but currently if I feel like being quiet and creative, I pick up the knitting needles and make a little something, but I am far from being an accomplished knitter. I've got a long way to go there! Lastly, I love it when I can feel the creative juices flowing when I am sitting with a client, of course, that's really just the Holy Spirit giving me a new idea and that is just too cool!
What do you do to relax? I watch far too much TV (home and gardening shows, and movies mostly) and I read. Just finished Rob Bell's new book, Love Wins. Loved it!! Almost anything on the creative gifts list is relaxing to me too...even if it requires a lot of sweat and work, it is still relaxing to me, probably because it is so rewarding at the same time.
What is your favorite saying or verse? "Be still and know that I am God." Ps. 46:10 It is short, but it reminds me to slow down, stop, listen and know that God is with me and if He created the universe, He can handle my problem, whatever it may be. It just tells me to pause to reconnect to Him.
What color is hope for you? I love hot pink. It is bold and it reminds me of my favorite peonies that come up in spring, and spring always reminds me of hope.
What is hope to you? Hope is often defined as wishful thinking or a sense of optimism, I think it can definitely be those things, but it becomes so much more when you allow Jesus into the equation. His amazing love for all of us just assures me that everything, ultimately is going to be alright. Being secure in Him, allows me to be very hopeful.
Anything else you would like to add? One of the most important things that I have learned or come to understand is that God is so much bigger than we can fathom and he sees the big picture. When I stop thinking small and step back and get a different perspective of things I can face the harder things in my life. I also need to remember that my story and the story of those around me is not yet finished. There is more I can do and there is more that God definitely intends to do.

Psychology of Pink

In honor of pink Saturday, I thought that I would do some research on the color pink. I hope that you can visit lots of beautiful pink posts today including our lovely Pink Saturday founder, Beverly at howsweetthesound.typepad.com

While pink has different symbolic meanings, individual reactions to the color pink can vary widely. The following are some of the reactions to the color pink that readers have shared. (My comments are, of course, in pink)
Reader Responses to Pink
Pink is the color of all things that are fun about being a girl. (Agree)
Light pink represents a baby girl...pure, hopeful, soft, loving...the world at her feet and a wonderful future ahead of her. (Again, I agree)
Hot pink represents the passion felt by all women who has ever loved or been loved. (Yep)
The woman who wears many hats in life and drinks life in and lives with no regrets. I love the color pink. Every shade represents a different stage or phase in my life!
--Angela (smart girl – obviously a lover of the color pink)
My pink skin, being a mother, singing to babies, tranquility, peace, sleep, taking care of people, love and candy and flowers and spring sun rises, new beginnings, weddings, joy, heaven.
--Linda (wouldn’t you like to have Linda in your circle of pink friends)
It makes me feel powerful. I often feel the need to be shrouded in it. However some shades can make me feel angry.
--Nathan (We might need to talk to Nathan)
I'm painting my room pink. My bf was living with me and I painted her room brown.. it was cute, cozy, but oh so not girly. (If, however, the brown had some pink in it, I could make it work)
Anonymous (I think)

Pink to me represents the right to be a girl, to be yourself to speak freely and out loud. It associates so culturally to females that there's is nothing left to do then to say but "no boys allowed."
--Katie (I like her)
Ten days ago I had to put my 15 yr old Shi-tzu down. From the moment I began to mourn I could not get enough pink. I normally love to wear black and neutral colors that accent my red hair. I have always felt that grown women should wear pink sparingly and only in tastefully appropriate shades for the individual skin and hair tones. Now I find myself unable to wear any other color. I also feel drawn to pink things. I am no longer picky about shade...all pinks look beautiful to me. I feel childish about this and a little silly, yet if it helps me through the mourning process...who am I to judge the human heart or the psychology of color?
--John (what a guy)
Pink is my favorite color. I wear pink since I was in preschool now I am a college student and I still wear it almost every day. It makes me feel HAPPY!
--Gloria (Another smart one)
I like pink. I always have. As a child and then when I went on to adulthood and now in my middle age, I still prefer pink to any other color. I actually have made up our guest room in antique pink and other shades of pink. I go in there when I feel out of it. It brings me back to reality quick. (This gal didn’t sign her name…I was hoping she would because I wanted to see if I could go and stay in her guest room)
I wanted to dress in pink for one of my weddings- three so far. I finally did this last time, the wedding cake was pink and so were much of the decorations to include a balloon arch over the cake table. My granddaughter is named Violet-Rose- so this gives me an opportunity to buy her most of the clothes I buy her in these colors. Yes I like pink and I will continue to wear and be a pink sort of person until I die.
--Carol (They say the 3rd time is the charm – especially when you wear pink)
I find pink makes me feel comfortable.
--Donald and Sharon (not sure if it is Donald or Sharon that it makes feel comfortable, but probably both. My husband wears a pink shirt and light pink herringbone jacket – I promise, it’s tasteful, on Easter and looks fabulous, though he didn’t say anything about being comfortable…he does, however, get a lot of compliments)
Pink makes me feel wonderful because it is my favorite color.
--Jessica (I am sure that if I knew Jessica she would be one of my BFF’s)
Pink is calming in soft tones. Very gentle and soothing.
--Sunny (You’d think that with Sunny’s name that she would be talking about yellow, but once again, Sunny is a smart girl and knows her colors)
Pink has always made me feel pretty. When I look at pink, I think of innocence, gentleness, calmness, and babies. Pink baby lips, pink baby feet, pink roses are like baby roses and red roses are like grownup roses. I love pink!
--Kalin (I love that)
I hate PINK! I have a couple of dress shirts that are pink and I very rarely wear them. The apartment that I live in through the week has a PINK dining room wall, it drives me crazy, I almost did not rent the place because of it. If I could have found something different for the same price or less with the same amount of space I would not have rented it. NO MORE PINK!
--Connie (we need to talk)
Pink makes me feel feminine.
--Helen (Yeah, Helen)
I like pink. It reminds me of a baby girl just born and smelling of baby oil.
--Marlene (ahh, I like that)
Pink is a happy, playful color. I find myself surrounded by pink even though my favorite color is green. I am coming out of a long bout with depression and pink makes me feel good, calm and happy.
--Angela (I agree with you, Angela)
Pink makes me feel both strong and weak, a perfect harmony of feeling delicate and dominant.
--Dueling Dualities
All of a sudden now that I've just turned 49 I have the need to wear pink! I feel like I need to wear some pink every day. It might be reclaiming my girlhood. It also could be that I'm enjoying making friends more and pink is the color of friendship.
--Sherry (another smart girl)
I LOVE PINK. Pink is pretty, girly, loud, bold, fun, and sometimes sexy. It bothers me when people dislike pink, it's like they're subconsciously rebelling against youthful femininity or something. I love being a girl, so I love pink, and I always will...but in response to Connie, I would never ever paint a wall in my home pink.
--Linda (you go girl, but I do have to disagree on the pink wall - I am currently an owner of some pink walls and they are awesome)
Young and silly - pretty, little, girlie, frilly...
--Vivien (thumbs up)
Pink is thought to have a calming effect. One shade known as "drunk-tank pink" is sometimes used in prisons to calm inmates. Sports teams sometimes paint the opposing teams locker room pink to keep the players passive and less energetic. (Seriously?)
Credit to: http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/colorselection/p/pink.htm

How does pink make you feel? Do you associate pink with certain qualities or situations?

 Happy Pink Saturday!!

A Bling Gift from One Bling Girl to Another

I received the most fabulous gift from a dear friend of mine - I just love it!!  First of all the packaging is scrumptious!  The outside is a burgundy damask fabric and tied with a satin ribbon.  But, what's inside is what's really wonderful!  The card says, "Every girl needs more Bling."  Don't you just love it?!  Inside is a wonderful antique bottle filled with vintage jewels, a beautiful ivory silk rose, vintage pieces of lace, softly hued tissue paper, strands of pearls, a pink chiffon bag with a tiny glass pink elephant inside, a miniature gourd, pieces of diamond confetti, chenille lace, pictures of Victorian women....I could go on and on.....What makes this so special though is the love that was put into this....this special lady took the time to think of this and put it together knowing how much I would love it.  When people put their heart into the gifts they give, they have an abundance of friends.  It is no wonder that this dear person is surrounded by so many lovely friends.  I count myself as blessed to be one of them.  Thank you, Cheryl.

Happy Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday and Happy Almost Valentine’s Day! I put together my own box of valentine candy – eye candy. I love pink and all shades thereof and sparkly things. Here is to all the wonderful Pink Saturday ladies. May your day be blessed and full of pink, chocolate, sparkly things and LOTS of love!

Thank you, Beverly, for hostessing our wonderful Pink Saturday gathering! Please stop by and say hello to Beverly!

Reminiscing

Turn Around

Where are you going, my little one, little one

Where are you going, my baby, my own?

Turn around and you're two, turn around and you're four

Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door

Turn around, turn around

Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door

Where are you going, my little one, little one

Little dirndls and petticoats, where have you gone?

Turn around and you're tiny, turn around and you're grown

Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own

Turn around, turn around

Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own

Turn around, turn around

Turn around and you're the young girl going out of the door

Where are you going, my little one, little one

Where are you going, my ba-by, my own?

(song by Malvina Reynolds)

Do you remember this song? Every time I hear it, I get teary eyed and no more so than this year. This year my daughter graduates. She is the youngest and her brothers have been gone for a few years. Don’t you wonder where the time goes?

Wasn’t it just yesterday that you were curling her hair for her first dance recital? Wasn’t it just yesterday when she poured red nail polish on the brand new carpet and then asked if you were going to call the police? (I love that one). Wasn’t it not too long ago that a boy broke her heart, that she got her driver’s license, that she hugged you and said that she just needed her mom? Now, she is on the last half of her senior year, trying to decide what college to go to and continuing to grow into a beautiful young woman. She is everything that I dreamed she would be. This post is not only for moms getting ready to prepare their children for the next chapter of their life but especially for you, my beautiful daughter. I am so very, very proud of the young woman you are and the woman you are becoming. I am blessed!

Please visit to Beverly, our wonderful Pink Saturday hostess.

Happy Pink New Year

I love to hang pink pretties from our light fixture....they are, of course, PINK.


I am looking forward to this pink new year. Not only is my attitude pink, but so is my planner!

Every year I put out a basketful of pink poinsettas that are lit up with tiny white Christmas lights...

Because I am choosing to start the year IN THE PINK, I thought that I would share with you some of the changes I am going to make with my PINK attitude.

One of the gifts that I got for Christmas is the book, “Eat Right For Your Blood Type.” I have heard about it, and it seems to make sense. Sadly, I should not have some of the things listed for my blood type such as cheese (sad), wheat (sadder), and coffee (saddest). That’s not to say that I am going to forever give these things up. NOOooo. My plan is to do this in January and then we’ll play it by ear…I do like to enjoy life. However, I will not be giving up coffee and the dollop of cream.
The next pink change I will be doing is posting more with my blog. By the way, how do you like the background? It is from the art of John William Waterhouse. I like it. The site where I got these graphics has some other wonderful graphics too – so hard to decide…which brings me to my next pink change…
Use what I have….yes, this will be a big pinker for me. You see, I have focus issues. I can hardly walk into Hobby Lobby and come out with only what is on my list…I seem to take detours as I hear certain sections of the store calling my name. Recently I have walked in their front doors saying, “Focus, focus, focus” to myself much like they did on the old Mervyns commercial (is that the right one) where the lady stands at the door and says, “Open, open, open.” It really works, you should try it. Another one of those weak places for me is any sale that is going on and that includes online AND thrift stores. How do they get rid of such fabulous items? I really do believe in the motto, “Another woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure.” I am not beyond dumpster diving – just ask some of my local art friends. In fact, because I am going to use what I have (and if you saw what I was talking about, you would shake your head), I plan on having several “creative” items to sell….hmmm….we’ll see.
Well, I’ve told you about my pink new year. I would love to hear about yours.

Happy Pink Saturday brought to you by our extraordinary pink hostess, Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/.

The many faces of pink

Last April my son got married and we received the beautiful gift of his bride. She chose Gerber daisies as her flowers and the colors of the wedding were fuchsia and green. As I reflect back over their celebration of marriage, I thought about the color of pink and the many faces it has. This darling face is Becca's niece and flower girl. We'll call this pink face "precious pink." This is my son(s) and his friends who traveled many miles to celebrate this special day. I like this picture because it looks like a rainbow going across them.

This is the very happy groom. Note the chair is made out of skis...they got married in Lake Placid, NY....I keep telling them that I am going to come and "visit" for an extended period of time.... This pink face is very happy.
They surprised everyone after the wedding and bought the wedding party these silly glasses. "The pink faces of fun."

more silly pink faces

My younger son giving his speech to his brother and bride. "The having fun pink face."

"The adorable pink faces."

"The priceless face of pink."

"The pink face of joy."

Some of her bridesmaid's gathered in a circle for this picture. "The many faces of pink."

Please go show your beautiful PINK face over at Beverly's place who started the idea of PINK Saturday.