Newest Finds

I'm an addict when it comes to Bed Bath and Beyond. I LOVE this store! I'm not positive, but I'd be willing to bet money that it was a WOMAN who began the franchise! Last month I completely redecorated our guest bathroom- today I went and did the same for our master bathroom. Here are some fabulous finds I fell in love with!

I fell in love with this wall decor! I ended up putting it over the toilet in our master bathroom.

I also fell for these face towel stands! A unique way of displaying them! I found them much more attractive than the rings/bars that screw into the wall. I bought one brushed stainless steel last month for the guest BR. Today, I got the venetian bronze for our MB.


This is perhaps my favorite! I LOVE these toilet paper caddies! You store extra rolls in the canister. Once again, much more attractive to me than screwing the bar thingy into the wall. The GB has the brushed stainless while the MB has the venetian bronze. Too cute!


I thought this cute waste basket went well with my other buys!


After picking out more candles, clocks, and other decor, both bathrooms are officially redecorated! I'll post pictures later this evening!

On another note, I was finally able to pick up our armoire today! I couldn't be more pleased with it! It adds that finishing touch to the room! I'm just amazed that someone could build something like that! All of the details are hand done- to me that adds more character to the piece. I'm definitely going to post pics tonight (I've got to hang a few last minute sconces, etc.) I'll also blog about the adventure my brother and I went on to get the piece!

It's been a great day filled with shopping, eating, and best of all- DECORATING!

My love affair with a trash can

For months and months I've been looking for a new trash can. I had specifics that I wanted: stainless steel, fingerprint/smudge proof, large size, and a flip top. Well, the one I found had everything I wanted except the flip top. It's the kind with the foot pedal (ugh..). It's supposed to be child friendly in that the lid closes very slowly to avoid smashing kid's fingers. Okay, I haven't any kids so I'm not sure why that idea is so appealing to me. After doing my homework as far as features and pricing, I found this one at Lowes and I'm in love!

Simplicity

Today I decided to go ahead and change my blog. I was originally planning on using one of my Christmas designs. (See previous blog). However, I drastically changed my mind! For a while now I've had big, showy blogs. For the first time ever I opted on a simple blog. Surprisingly, it's my favorite design of all! After all, it's not the look that makes a blog great- it's the content! I was a bit apprehensive about saving my changes and showing it off. I've updated just about everything- so take a look around and tell me what you think!

It's no surprise that this week's Quote of the Week revolves around simplicity.

“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.”
Frederic Chopin

Rain, Rain don't go away......

...because I want to wear my new rain boots to work tomorrow!

After standing in the rain, getting splashed by puddles as cars drove by, and having my pants soaking wet around my ankles during car duty this afternoon, I headed out in search of some cute rain boots! Found these at my favorite shoe store! I can't wait to wear them for my kindergarten kidddies tomorrow! Please, please, please let it rain!

From our nest to yours.....

I've been doing a bit of blog designing for the holidays and here's what I've come up with....







I won't decorate my blog for Christmas just yet....but it's on my mind! I love these and can't wait to change my blog for the holidays! Hmmm...but which one will I use? What do you think?

I can't believe it's over....

My six month reading affair with an Old Order Amish girl, Hannah Lapp, has come to an end. Okay..... before you jump to crazy conclusions, let me explain!


Back in May I began reading the first book of the 'Sister's of the Quilt' book, When The Heart Cries, by Cindy Woodsmall. It was awesome! I ended up reading books one and two in three days! I couldn't put it down (which is my criteria for whether a book is good or not)! I was heartbroken to find that I would have to wait from May until the end of October to read the last and final book. Well, I finished book three with tears spilling down my cheeks a few minutes ago. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend you read this series! This series is what got me so hooked on Christian Fiction about the Amish! I've read dozens of Amish series since this summer- can't get enough! See my previous blog on this subject!


The story ended very well- I hate getting attached to good characters and then having the story end badly! It's one of those books where you think about the characters and miss them once you've finished the book! Well, I'm definately going to miss Hannah, Paul, Luke, Mary, Matthew, and all the other people from the story.

So, go and pick up all three books and read them! Or, visit this link to learn more about it!

Over the weekend I picked up my next book on the list to devour. I fell in love with the author, Francine Rivers, a few years ago when I read her story Redeeming Love. This was actually one of the books I did for our Merry Heart's Book Club at church. Redeeming Love is my all time favorite! So, I picked up her book 'Atonement Child' and will start on it this evening! Click on this link to learn more about it and the author!

Here's to all who share my love of good books and finding friends in characters! Happy Reading!

A fortelling of what's to come?

Today my kindergarten class held a mock election. We made super cute banners with streamers as we discussed what election day means. As I was hanging them in the hallway I asked each student who they wanted to vote for. The results...... Obama 15 and McCain 4 - Obama wins! While my kids were excited about Obama winning and we had a good time, I sure hope the real election doesn't turn out that way! So, who has my vote?

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is my favorite holiday! Happy Halloween Everyone!

Pumpkin Patch Fiasco

Today I could very well lose my mind.

Today I experienced my very first field trip as a teacher. We took our kindergarten class to Circle S Ranch pumpkin patch. Well, let's just say it was interesting to say the least. On the way to the pumpkin patch our school bus broke down. Keep in mind that were are about 25-30 minutes away from school, stranded on the side of the interstate, with about 6o 5 year-olds, three foster grandmothers, three parents, and three teachers. Fabulous.....absolutely fabulous. While riding along on the interstate I made the comment that jinxed it all- "This hoopty sounds like it's about to break down." Five minutes later we're all smelling diesel fuel. Ten minutes later the bus is boiling out smoke so bad that you just about couldn't see the other traffic. Twelve minutes later we're on the side of the highway......stranded. As we're pulling off to the side of the road, we go over the 'grid' or whatever it's called (the shoulder part that makes the loud noise). Well, when the kids hear this and see the smoke, they go crazy! Fabulous....absolutely fabulous. To top it all of I'm car sick and about to hurl everywhere. Fabulous....absolutely fabulous.

So, the bus driver radios back to base and assures us that help, and a better bus, is on the way. Then state troopers arrive- better known as the "po po" by the students. Suddenly, the bus if filled with comments like: "Oh no, it's the po po" and "Ooooo, someone done called the po po". I could have died! We waited about 30-45 minutes for another bus to come. Then the fun begins. We're having to transfer all of our coolers, boxes of sack lunches, and students from one bus to another safely- while interstate traffic is whizzing by. Fabulous.....absolutely fabulous.

Once we arrived at the pumpkin patch things started looking up. The students had a wonderful time! I would recommend Circle S Ranch to anyone interested in taking a field trip or family fun day! They had hay rides to the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, a hay pile for playing in, limbo, bean bag toss, sack races, horse shoe games, space jump, basketball, and an animal farm.

Here are a few pics.....

Pic of the school bus hood up...complete with smoke and all.....this was waaaayyy after the heavy smoke had disappeared.

Me...amidst the chaos. Fabulous....absolutely fabulous.

The students received small pumpkins while the teachers were given one large class pumpkin (or puh-kins as the students call them!). I carved ours this afternoon before the students went home. Tonight, I'm baking the seeds to take as a 'treat' for them tomorrow!

Tomorrow everyone is allowed to wear their PJ's to school to celebrate READING! This evening I found the cutest pair at the mall. Tomorrow I'll post pics of PJ day and of the CUTE, CUTE, CUTE fall art projects we've done this month!

Stay tuned....

Girls Night Out

I'm horribly late on posting this being as how it happened 2 weeks ago......but I'm posting it nonetheless. My fellow Sunday School member and kindred spirit, T, and I decided to have a girls night out. For months we had been planning on visiting Paint & Pals in Mobile. Well, we finally got around to it. We spent the afternoon eating, shopping, having girl talks, and then painting. So, here's a quick recap of our fabulous trip!

After driving for 2 1/2 hours to get to Mobile we were starved. T introduced me to this fabulous Bar-B-Q shack. It was adorable! The food was amazing and the atmosphere was unique! I will definitely pay this place another visit! Those hot wings and baby back ribs were sinful!

I loved this picture next to our booth.
"Husband: Where's all the grocery money I give you?"
"Wife: Stand sideways and look in the mirror!"

Antiques were everywhere! Hope this isn't where they keep the food!

After stuffing our faces we headed to the Bel Air mall to do some shopping. I will admit, I took my entire month's shopping allowance thinking I would find some super cute buys. Not the case! It never fails- when you have money and are wanting to go shopping, you never find anything you want! Case in point, I left the Bel Air mall with only three items- a cute pea coat jacket, PJ bottoms for the hubby ( I always try and bring him something home), and the SATC movie! I was a pitiful shopper to say the least!

After shopping as much as we could, we headed over to Paint & Pals studio- which is located right behind Bel Air mall. This place was fabulous! You check out their website and pick a night you would like to come. Each night they paint a different canvas. We happened to sign up for 'Open Canvas' night- this is where you pick any canvas from their site or any picture you like from Art.com and they walk you through the steps of painting it! You sit with girlfriends, sip wine, listen to music, and paint your canvas! T and I are kindred spirits in our love for hobbies, crafts, painting, decorating, etc....We had a blast to say the least! I painted 'Chinese Blossoms' and T painted 'Funky Red Cross'. We're already talking about going back soon! Here are some pics....

If you're interested, here's the link to Paint & Pals.

Baptisms, Baptisms, and more Baptisms!

First I must apologize to all of my faithful readers. I realize that I've been a horrible blogger lately- blame my kindergarten babies, they wear me out!

Anyways, I HAD to blog about this past week. Giving all glory, honor, and praise to my Christ, I was able to witness several of my friends and one family member become baptized!

Last week was revival at my brother's church, Calvary (where Bobby and I were wed). He has been called to join the ministry to preach the gospel. So, after giving his life to Christ, he was baptized on Wednesday night! I couldn't have been happier for him. This is truly an answered prayer that I was able to take OUT of my prayer box! Thinking back to when I was first baptized, I remember how exciting it felt knowing that I was following Christ! In Christian love, I pray that the Lord blesses my brother and his friend, Alex, who was also baptized with him. Here are a few pics.....

About to go under....sorry it's so blurry.

Josh's friend, Alex, about to go under!

Last week was also our churches revival and, to say the least, God was present! We had several of our church members rededicate their lives- and we also had several new decisions. My good friend, and kindred spirit, Theresa and her three daughters were baptized along with our pastor's daughter! Whew, how wonderful is that?

Theresa's oldest daughter, Sarah. (Sorry the pics are so dark).

Theresa has the most adorable set of twins- Lindsey and Olivia. This is Olivia- she was so tiny Bro. Mike had to hold her up for pictures! Too cute!

Here is Lindsey!

Here's my good friend, and painting pal, Theresa!

Priceless picture of her face!

Here is Bro. Mike baptizing his oldest child, Tay'lr. Too sweet!

I am so proud of everyone who gave their lives to Christ and became baptized!

On Saturday, Theresa and I ventured to Mobile for a girls day out- which included an awesome trip to a painting studio, Paint and Pals. I'll blog about it tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Beauty shop addict....

I just left the beauty shop with a new haircut. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE going to get my hair 'beautified'....I think I'm addicted. I try and go once every 4-5 weeks. Each time I leave with a new style. I can say with absolute certainty that I have the best stylist around! So, with a new cut and feeling fabulous, I'm ready for the weekend! =)