Sometimes there are no words...

Today my dad would have turned 58...

His courageous 5 month battle against pancreatic cancer ended tragically in October...

I don't really have words to express how I'm feeling today--a little over three months after his death...

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

If that's true, maybe these pictures are enough to express the thousands of words that are swarming around in my head that I just can't seem to piece together...

Daddy with me...

Papa holding Lydia Grace for the first time...

And Eli...

 Walking me down the aisle 5 years ago...

Walking my sister down the aisle just days before he passed away...

Speaking of my sister...
She recently wrote two beautiful posts about our daddy on her own blog.
One was about her wedding day.
The other was written today.

Hug and kiss those you love!   And cherish every moment!  That's all I know to say...

Chocolate Berry Smoothie

Here's the recipe for this decadent smoothie...

Ingredients

12 ounces of frozen berries

2 1/2 cups milk (2 cups go into the smoothie; 1/2 cup is frothed and used as a topping)

4 tablespoons of sugar

Chocolate candies (I used Hershey Kisses.)

Chocolate syrup

Strawberry topping (optional)

Directions

1. Mix the frozen berries, 2 cups milk, sugar, and 8-10 chocolate candies in the blender.

2. Pour into glasses and top with frothed milk, syrup, strawberry topping, and a chocolate candy.

3. Enjoy!

Mini Valentines Made with PicMonkey

(Click on the image above to download and print.)

Using PicMonkey to create your own mini Valentines is fun and easy...

1. Choose "Create a Collage" from the site's homepage.  Then pick the template that you would like to use.  I chose the "Square Deal" option with 9 boxes.

2. Go to the "Swatches" option and place the desired backgrounds into each square.

3. Save the collage.  Go back to the main homepage and choose "Edit a Photo".  Choose your saved collage from your files to begin editing it.

4. Click on the "Sweethearts" theme to add hearts, text, and other graphics.  Once you have created your Valentines, you can save and print the page.  Cut them apart and give them away.

Happy creating!

Happy Sunday

Valentine's Day Breakfast

Gearing up for Valentine's Day?  All it takes to make this Valentine inspired breakfast is toast, Nutella (hazelnut spread), heart shaped cookie cutters, and soft fruit like bananas or strawberries that can be cut into the shape of hearts.  Don't forget to add a few sprinkles just for fun.  The kids will eat it up! Pun intended! Because I can be a little cheesy like that...

Happy eating!

Happy Sunday

Happy Sunday

Get creative with fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics and Trims!

I'm a list person.  I love checklists!  I've already made a list of the sewing projects that I want to complete this year.  Will they all come to fruition?  Probably not...considering that it's a pretty extensive list.  However, the gorgeous fabric that Diana keeps stocked in her Etsy Shop will certainly keep me inspired to sew.  I love buying new fabric!  It is fun to imagine what it could become--a skirt, pillows, appliques!  The sky's the limit!  A gorgeous fabric always gets my creative juices flowing, and Raspberry Creek Fabrics is a great source for gorgeous fabrics!  Take a look at these...

Bright Multi Colored Fabric Bundle
Riley Blake Designs "Dress Up Days" by Doohikey Designs
Riley Blake Designs "The Sweetest Thing" by Zoe Pearn Bundle

I've got some great projects on my "To Sew" list using fabrics from this fabulous shop!
What would you make?
Happy creating!

It's a new year! Get organized with Tisa from Tisa's Creations!

Was one of your resolutions for the new year to get organize?  If so, Tisa from Tisa's creations can help with these great products from her shop...

*Pictured above...
Chalkboard Stickers
Handmade Round Clipboards
2013 Desk Calendar
Chalkboard Tags

I love it when things are organized and labeled.  I put some of the chalkboard stickers from her shop on containers in my kitchen to label their contents--sugar, flour, brown sugar, cornstarch...  I tied the chalkboard tags onto some baskets I have in one of my closets also using them for labeling.  What would you use yours for?

Happy organizing!

Banana Pudding Parfaits

Food posts seem to become more frequent when I'm pregnant.  I was having a fierce craving for banana pudding, so I made these...

I used my favorite vanilla pudding recipe from an old Betty Crocker cookbook gifted to me from my mom.  You may be able to see from the picture that I've written in my own little note reminding me to include a step that she always does.  She is a wealth of cooking secrets.  I've started trying to write them all down.  The pudding was layered with vanilla wafer crumbles, bananas, and whipped topping.  (I love using Dream Whip, but any whipped topping would work.)  Little mason jars made the perfect container for this delicious dessert.  Craving satisfied!  Baby C.J. must have a sweet tooth.

Love bananas?  Click here for another great dessert idea that uses this tasty fruit--my recipe for Banana Pudding Milkshakes.

Happy eating!

It's a new year! Get decorative with Jamie from Jaysworld!

I always get inspired to "spruce up" the house at the start of a new year.  Already furniture has been finding a new home, things have been moved, new items have been added...
I'm even in the process of redoing the nursery that Eli will share with baby Caleb who is due in March.

Have you been doing your own redecorating?

One beautiful way to add character to your home is with the use of vintage books.  One of my favorite things about Jamie from Jaysworld is her ability to stage and create lovely book arrangements.  Her blog has some inspiring ideas.  Jamie's shop houses beautiful collections to help you get decorative for the new year.

How does Jamie get her shop ready for a brand new year?

"I love the new year! I begin to search everywhere and anywhere I can to seek all the new and upcoming colors for spring and summer! I will then begin to create collections in those colors! Staying ahead of the game is fun for everyone!"

-Jamie

Vintage 3 book collection
Classy 5 book collection
Cozy Home Collection with 6 books

Happy decorating!

Happy New Year! Get inspired with Kim from Stitchwerx Designs!

It's a brand new year!  Time to get inspired...

What inspires you?

Kim from Stitchwerx Designs shared with me her answer to that question...

"I get a lot of inspiration from the people, places and things that touch my everyday life. I also get great ideas from reading and watching movies and shows as well as just browsing the internet to see what is going on in the world.

I always keep paper and pen by my bedside, often waking up at 3 a.m. to sketch something out or make notes. (I have dreamed several of my best designs!) My best advice is to keep your eyes and ears open all the time, be observant and don't be afraid to try new things."

-Kim

Kim is the creative talent behind the fabulous blog, pattern shop, and textile shop--Stitchwerx Designs!

*Pictured above:
PDF Sewing Pattern for a Girl's Dress
Crochet Pattern for a Ribbons and Bows Sweater for Dogs
Animal Pillow Sewing Bundle

Kim's designs are both beautiful and colorful!  Be sure to visit her at her blog where she has a plethora of tips and tutorials and at her shops where you can see her inspired pattern and textile designs!

I'd love to hear where your creative inspiration comes from!

Happy inspiration!

Word and Verse for 2013

Last year I chose a word and verse for the year rather than making resolutions that may or may not have come to fruition.  I found that the verse truly became instrumental in 2012.  Having decided to make this a yearly tradition, I began actively thinking yesterday about a verse to serve as my anthem for the year 2013.  The year 2012 was a difficult year for many reasons--the biggest hardship being the tragic loss of my father to cancer.  (Side note: Years ago, my dad took this picture of the deer shown above.) 
God lead me to places of needing to have complete trust and faith in him during 2012, so of course those words came to mind.  Trust?  Faith?  As beautiful as those words are, they just didn't seem to fit.  Believe, hope, peace and other words all began running through my mind.  What word could possibly sum up leaving behind the hardest year I have ever faced and entering into the promise of a new year? One word kept coming back to me though.  In fact it kept showing up in scriptures, in songs...

That word was STAND.

Ephesians 6
 ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm...

Yes, when you've done everything you can...

just stand!

Stand firm in faith and the promises that God has given in his word because it is truly him that is the source of our strength.  He enables us to withstand the valleys and climb to the highest peaks!  So here I am...

ready to stand and see what God has in store for my life this year.

Happy New Year!