A Woman's Haven

Another Week…

2012-01-24T00:23:00.001-06:00

Another week has gone by in our wait for our little bambino to be born! The weather here in Michigan has been wet, snowy, windy, and icy leaving me indoors most of the time. My days mostly consist of working from home, housework, family, reading, computer, and t.v. Sore hips and acid reflux our keeping me up most nights until 4 a.m. or later. Once everyone gets off to school and work I am able to catch up on some Z’s until late morning, but I feel like my days and nights are backwards. Our bags are all packed in anticipation for the arrival of our little one. Ultrasound last Friday indicated that our little one may not be so little upon arrival! Estimated size was 9 lbs. 4 ounces! OUCH! Not looking forward to that! Just trying to stay positive and keep my spirits up! We are just so ready to get this party started so that we can welcome the new addition to our anxious family.

In preparation for the baby I have been collecting recipes on Pinterest.

Here are a few that I plan on making in the weeks following the birth of our baby.

Easy Peasy is what I like!

Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti

{Source}

Baked Potato Soup

{Source}

Baked Pesto Chicken

{Source}

Baked Eggs

{Source}

I just love Pinterest!

Shades of the Season #8

2012-01-17T21:54:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my craft, food, & photography party.

Please link the following items:

Seasonal photos
Seasonal décor
Seasonal crafts
Seasonal recipes
Please grab a button & link back to A Woman’s Haven so others can join the fun!
Please follow A Woman’s Haven too!

Every Tuesday I am hosting a Home Tour Series called House Haven Tour. Take a look at some of the previous tours {HERE}. I am always looking for more participants to the series. If you would like to participate email me at awomanshaven@hotmail.com

Our nursery is 99% done. I have to complete a project with the dresser.

Take a look at the entire post {HERE}.

Grab a Button!

Counting Down the Days

2012-01-17T19:25:00.001-06:00

38 weeks and counting down the days until the birth of our little one. My belly is big and I am uncomfortable. I had forgotten how the last month of pregnancy feels. The anxiety, anticipation, and even fear. It can be very emotionally draining! At this moment I feel like I have been pregnant for so long that I can’t see myself NOT pregnant. Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed having our little peanut growing inside me. We can’t wait to meet him or her!

Now that our nursery is complete I feel like I have no inspiration to work on anything else! I feel like I am just in limbo waiting until the BIG moment. I have been looking around the house gathering items I can use for photo props with the baby. I am really looking forward to taking photos of our newborn.

Here are some photos that are inspiring me…

{Source}

House Haven Tour: Emerald Cove

2012-01-17T06:42:00.000-06:00

Hello there!

I am Michelle from Emerald Cove and I am so happy to be here to tell you why our home is our haven.

I live not far from the shores of Lake Michigan and even though we have four seasons, I consider myself a beach girl all year.

Over the years I have transformed our house into our "beach cottage" by surrounding us with memories of days on the beach, summers at Glen Lake and treasures from dear family and friends.

Emerald Cove is a little cove on Glen Lake, MI that was named (by some dear friends) because it is as green as an emerald on sunny days.

It is a spot sheltered from the wind and anytime we are there it brings peace and comfort to our souls.

This photo of my daughter paddling on Glen Lake was the inspiration for many of my choices.

Let me show you around.

Shells and driftwood are my main accessories and you can find them just about anywhere in the house.

Treasures from friends and memories adorn one wall of our family room.

A favorite vintage map of Leelanau County Michigan hangs over our faux fireplace in the kitchen.

Aqua bottles and faux coral dress up the hutch in the kitchen.

My reading corner in our family room. I love using sheers in the house, they are soft, still let the sun shine in and I love to watch them blow in the breeze.

Our master bedroom lightened up for that beachy feel.

My daughter's room transformed into her beach escape.

And my son's room shows off his love of sharks and the beach.

I am lucky to be able to create such a place for our family and coming home feels like stepping into memories of times that I cherish as well as the people we spent them with.

Thank you so much for coming into my home and seeing why it is our haven.

Thank you Chas for inviting me, it has been such a pleasure.

Nursery Feature

2012-01-15T12:44:00.001-06:00

Our nursery is featured over at {Tatertots & Jello}today!

Nursery Reveal

2012-01-10T09:08:00.001-06:00

Get ready for a ton of photos. I am 99% done with the nursery. I have one more step to complete the dresser as soon as the embossed wallpaper arrives in the mail. I love how it turned out! I started the project in August. Most everything was purchased second hand except for the crib and glider rocker. The dresser was my great grandmother’s. I have had it for sometime now and thought it would perfect for the nursery.

The gallery area above the dresser are all repurposed frames that I picked up at Goodwill and yard sales. A fresh coat of Rust-o-leum’s Lagoon in Satin.

My sister made the stacking toy. She is receive all the talent for sewing. It is not my strong suit. I am hoping to do a post on all the items she made for the baby.

One of my favorite items in the nursery are the yarn wrapped lamp shades I made. You can read more about them {HERE}.

This is the gallery wall above the crib. I painted the tree to serve as a thumbprint sign-in tree for the baby shower. You can read about that project {Here}. The clown art are from curtains made by family members for daddy’s nursery over 35 years ago. I think they go perfect here too!

Another item made for the baby shower were these tissue balls. I then made them into a mobile for the room.

Grandma made the clown lamp for daddy’s nursery and it now has a new home in our little peanut’s room.

For now the curtains are just basic white shears. I made a couple fabric rag garlands to top them off with some color.

Click {HERE} to see all posts regarding BABY.

View my {Linky Parties} page to see the parties I am participating in.

House Haven Tour: The Lovely Cupboard

2012-01-10T00:58:00.001-06:00

Hello there! I'm Heather from The Lovely Cupboard.

My home is a haven because it's a collection of things that make me feel comfortable, grounded, and inspired.

I used paint colors that have an icy cool feel as you move from room to room. Whites, grays, blues and taupe make me feel at ease.

I appreciate the use of bold paint colors in other homes and know how enlivening they can be, but they aren't for me. I feel relaxed with my color palette.

I feel grounded as I see pieces around my home that were passed to me from my mother and grandmother.

Many of them were collected from their travels all over Europe and Asia.

While heirlooms are only things, and things cannot buy us happiness or heritage, they do make me feel connected to family and serve as a constant reminder of where I come from.

I feel inspired by the process of creating a room over time. My rooms never stay the same long, and I'm learning allow a room to evolve with me as I grow and change as well.

Thank you Heather for sharing your haven!

2011 Favorite Posts: Part 1

2012-01-08T22:43:00.001-06:00

January

{Self Portrait}

{Beach Glass Shadow Box}

February

{Tweet Treats}

{Scenes From My Weekend}

March

{Crafternoon: Spring Wreaths}

{Shades of the Season: One last look at Winter}

April

{Craft Room: Lamp Transformation}

{A Day At Lake Michigan}

May

{Crafternoon: Paper Cone Flower Baskets}

{Spring Blooms}

June

{Kids Fun: Liquid Chalk}

{From Bud to Blossom: Summer Poppies}

View my {Linky Parties} page to see the parties I am participating in.

Some More Nursery Decor

2012-01-08T22:00:00.001-06:00

I love easy projects! For this one I started out with a flat canvas and painted a favorite saying of mine on it for the nursery. Instead of painting the frame I just wrapped it it white fabric. I love how it turned out and it looks perfect in with all of the other pictures above the crib. I can’t wait to do a full nursery reveal which will be coming soon!

Visit my {Linky Parties} page for the parties I am participating in.

Nesting

2012-01-08T21:48:00.001-06:00

In preparation for the other half’s diaper party I had two days of nesting around our house. My house is the cleanest it has been throughout my entire pregnancy! Which feels great!

Christmas tree was taken down and decorations stored away for next year.

I kept a few décor items out to have some “winter” decorations. I really didn’t get much Christmas décor out this year. With the pregnancy it was very minimal so I wanted to keep a few of my favorite items out a little longer to celebrate the Winter season.

I still love my stained glass wall hanging aka old kitchen cabinet door found at Goodwill for $4.99. Read about the transformation {HERE}

36 Week Belly Shot

2012-01-03T17:46:00.001-06:00

I grew some more over the last four weeks, but I feel like I have also dropped some.

I would love to give an update saying how wonderful I feel, but I would be lying if I did. The truth is that I am not sleeping, my belly feels enormous and heavy, baby is pushing on everything and my hips hurt and are soar most days. I still love feeling out little one move around, but more often than not it also causes major discomfort. I am eager and anxious to meet our little one and to see if we are having a boy or a girl. Our due date is January 31st, but I would be very surprised if I make it that long. At this point I can’t imagine being this uncomfortable and working for the next four weeks.

House Haven Tour: A Nest For All Seasons

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

Please welcome Amy from {A Nest for All Seasons}!

I am a professional photographer and blogger based out of Hershey, PA and am the author and photographer behind the blog 'A Nest for All Seasons'. The blog uses photography to illustrate basic principles of gardening, cooking and DIY design all while raising three little boys.

I live with my husband, three little boys, a cat and 4 hens on a few acres neighboring up to a Christmas Tree Farm and down the road from Hershey Park.

We are very blessed to live the country life we have always dreamt of and I love sharing our experiences growing produce, teaching our boys lessons from the garden and cooking naturally.

Our home is a haven because I try to carve out nesting spaces for each person -- spaces that each person can feel warm, protected and safe in.

For our boys, we created tents that fit over their beds and an outdoor fort and secret garden for them. The tents originally had fabric sides out of plaid patchwork, but my crazy rough boys ripped the sides and destroyed them. Leaving the frame allowed them to create their own nests and every night there is a different set of sheets, blankets and pillows draped over the frame and propped up to create their very own nests. The fort and secret garden were also framed and built, but the design and ever-changing functions of both are completely up to the boys!

My husband literally carved himself a secret room downstairs complete with swiveling panels and trick locks. his room houses a few of his favorite things - books, photos of travels and allows him to have a spot he can retreat to.

My nest is my office space. I took a small nook in our dining room and created a space that is just perfect for me. A large, white clean working space and a view of the garden. No one is allowed to step a foot on the white carpet under my desk and no one is allowed to touch my papers.

Even when I am not physically in my space, walking past and seeing my clean, beautiful nesting space makes my home a haven.

Thank you Amy for giving us a glimpse into your nest!

You have a wonderful haven for you and your family!

2012 Manifesto

2012-01-02T23:21:00.001-06:00

2012 Manifesto by chastity-holmquist featuring yellow gold jewelry

Daily Wisdom: Why Complicate Life

2012-01-01T14:49:00.001-06:00

{Source}

{2011} A Year in Photos

2011-12-28T01:57:00.001-06:00

I am always reminded of how full our life is when I go back through the year and organize our photos. Here are a few of my favorites.

Chicago Trip

Christmas Cove Beach (Michigan)

Critter Curiosity

He asked and I said yes!

Waiting for the parade

County Fair Carnival

Mother’s Day Walk

Blossoms

Autumnal Splendor

Fall walk

Lake Michigan

State Capital Dome

State Capital Apple Blossoms

Tigers Game

Whitecaps Game

11/11/11 First Snowfall

Cold Winter Morning

A Spring Snowfall

Baby Bump

A peek in on our little one

Lake Michigan

Visit my Linky Page to see where I am linking to.

Shades of the Season #7

2011-12-27T22:49:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my new craft, food, & photography party.

Please link the following items:

Seasonal photos
Seasonal décor
Seasonal crafts
Seasonal recipes
No rules other than please link back to A Woman’s Haven so others can join the fun!
Please follow A Woman’s Haven too!

Thank you to all who linked up to last week’s party! I can’t wait to start seeing some inspiration for New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day as well as more Winter inspiration. It’s a great time to share resolutions and organizing tips as well.

Here are a few features!

I loved the Western Snowman story which was shared by {Ruby Jean}!

{Keeping it Simple} shared a collection of household ideas.

{Petite Passions} shared a adorable gift she received from her Mother-In-Law.

Grab a Button!

Fun Family Crafts Feature

2011-12-27T17:46:00.001-06:00

My Mason Jar Snowmen were featured on Fun Family Crafts. Check it out!

Daily Wisdom

2011-12-27T08:24:00.000-06:00

{Source}

Idea File: 25/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-25T19:55:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

{Bakerella} showed us how to make these adorable milk snowmen!

Idea File 24/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-25T19:41:00.001-06:00

Cute candy cane cake pops by {Gordon Gossip}.

Winter Wonderland Feature

2011-12-23T13:40:00.001-06:00

My Coffee Filter Wreath from my Baby Shower Winter Wonderland post was featured at Homework last week.

Idea File: 23/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-23T06:57:00.000-06:00

{Day 23}

{Sprinkle Bakes} has a recipe to make Eggnog Pudding.

Please visit each link to “Pin” on Pinterest.

I love the above idea, but would love the credit on Pinterest to go to the original websites/blogs.

Happy Pinning!

Idea File: 22/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-22T06:42:00.000-06:00

{Day 22}

{Craftzine} has a recipe and tutorial on how to make this Cranberry Pomegranate Sorbet.

Please visit each link to “Pin” on Pinterest.

I love the above idea, but would love the credit on Pinterest to go to the original websites/blogs.

Happy Pinning!

Idea File: 21/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-21T06:52:00.000-06:00

{Day 21}

{My Blessed Life} has a recipe to make Peppermint Bark Cookies.

Please visit each link to “Pin” on Pinterest.

I love the above idea, but would love the credit on Pinterest to go to the original websites/blogs.

Happy Pinning!

Heart Therapy: What are my Values

2011-12-20T23:11:00.001-06:00

What are my values?

Education: beliefs and philosophy on education for myself/family:

I believe sometimes LIFE is our educator. I do believe a formal education or skilled training is obviously important, but I don’t feel that our society should be set measure success by education alone. I know some wonderfully talented individuals who don’t have formal training in their craft and are very deserving of success.

Politics:

I like to keep up-to-date on current events. My job requires me to have regular contact with my local and state legislators which has forced me to look at politics differently than I did before. I like to debate some issues, but I don’t get too worked up about much in regards to politics.

Religion: I am a very spiritual person.

Parenting: How do I want to raise my kids? :

I hope my kids are to be open-minded, compassionate, helpful, respectful, loving children who carry these values and more into their adulthood. I want them to be productful individuals who give back to their communities. We are very family oriented. A favorite saying of mine is…I surround myself with friends who are like family and family who are like friends. I hope my children use this mantra when they choose the people who they want to surround them in their lives. I hope they will stay true to who they are in the decisions they make for themselves throughout their lives. Also teaching them about positive thinking & gratitude.

Love Relationship: What characteristics are most important:

Shared values, security, partnership, communication, trust, loyalty, fun, and the patience to grow with each other through life changes.

Men: who is the ideal man for you (if you aren't married)

I have my ideal mate.

Friends: what kind of friends am I attracted to?

open minded, compassionate, honest, fun, creative, someone who can think for themselves, someone who is true to themselves, someone who is willing to look at themselves, their strengths and their faults. Someone to have good conversation. Positive people

Movies: what kind do I like best?

Romantic, period pieces.
ex: Pride & Prejudice

Books: Favorites?

Self help, Inspirational, spiritual, quotes. A couple of my favorite authors are Jodi Piccoult & Elizabeth Gilbert. The Red Tent is a favorite book of mine.

Jewelry: What is my style?

Silver, gemstones, bangles, earrings, bracelets, and rings. To see a few of my favorite pieces view this {Style Statement post}

Fashion:

Feminine, coordinated, and classic with punches of personality.

Cars: If I could buy any, which 2 would I choose?

Not sure

Architecture and House Style:

I love two story victorian, cottage style homes with lots of character.

Furniture:

Comfy…a mix of new and old…

Gemstone:

Moonstone

Weather:

I love the four seasons. I love getting outside and capturing the essence of each season through photography. I love rainy days for cuddling up with a blanket and a book. I love warm, sunny days for picnics on the beach, I love the silence of a winter snowfall and the smell of a cool, crisp Autumn evening.

Geography: favorite landscape:

I love living in Michigan. I am an hour away from all sorts of different landscapes. Beaches of Lake Michigan, Forest and rivers, Urban, farmland…love it all.

Season: All of them

Music for Listening:

I am loving Adele right now. I have a wide variety of tastes when it comes to music.

Music for Dancing:

Hip-Hop! Pop

Leisure Time Activity:

Reading, My blog, crafting, decorating, Family time, dinner & drinks with friends.

Kick-up-your-heels fun:

Girl time! DANCING!

Exercise:

Yoga, walking, cardio

Television Show:

Parenthood & Vampire Diaries

Food to cook/eat

Pasta dishes, salads, fruit and soups

Restaurant:

Various…I like to try new things.

Shopping Place

Local shops, Meijer, Target, Kohl’s, TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Thrift Stores, Goodwill, Mall

Vacation

I love road trips. I love taking the train to Chicago. Anywhere beachy

Sport to play

I don’t play any sports, but do to coaching being a part of lifestyle I watch a lot of boys and girls basketball…college & high school. I enjoy watching football also.

Color

I am loving shades of grey right now. Red, Eggplant purple, dark teal, aqua and white are also a few of my favorites.

Fabrics:

Colorful, Feminine, and sometimes lacey.

Flowers: Peonies, babies breath, lavender, hydrangeas, and roses.

Conversation: about what and with whom?

I love getting into deep conversations with people and finding out about who they truly are and what matters to them.

Favorite Age Group to hang out with?

Late 20’s to Late 30’s

I hope you enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about me!

Shades of the Season Party #6

2011-12-20T16:59:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my new craft, food, & photography party.

Please link the following items:

Seasonal photos
Seasonal décor
Seasonal crafts
Seasonal recipes
No rules other than please link back to A Woman’s Haven so others can join the fun!
Please follow A Woman’s Haven too!

Thank you to all who linked up to last week’s party! I loved looking at all the great seasonal projects, décor and photography! There were all so inspirational! I wish I had more energy this point in my pregnancy to do more projects of my own.

Here are a few features!

{Rae Gun Ramblings} shared some great projects from her crafty friends. What fun to get together with friends on a regular basis and craft away! Also check out her tutorial for some cute Christmas bustle skirts.

Aimee over at {It’s Overflowing} shared how she added this beautiful yellow to her Holiday décor this year. I love it!

My at {Space 46} shared her simple gift wrapping ideas. I love this simple, but pretty look!

Grab a Button!

Idea File: 25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-19T23:34:00.001-06:00

Week 4: Food

{Day 19}
{Cooking Classy} shares a recipe for these yummy cookies!

{Day 20}
Find the recipe for this Cranberry Ginger Fizz Cocktail on {Creative Culinary}

Please visit each link to “Pin” on Pinterest. I love all of the above ideas, but would love the credit on Pinterest to go to the original websites/blogs. Happy Pinning!

Idea File: 25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-19T23:24:00.001-06:00

Well I fell off the Holiday wagon for a bit! If you haven’t noticed I sometimes start things and get distracted before finishing. I often come back to finish, but I take the long, scenic route in the process.
I left off on Day 7 during week two of the Idea File: 25 Days of Christmas series.

Week 1: Holiday Décor
Week 2: DIY Gifts
Week 3: Gift Packaging
Week 4: Food

Here is a recap:

{Day 1}
{Day 2}
{Day 3}
{Day 4}
{Day 5}
{Day 6}
{Day 7}

Let’s get caught up!

{Day 8}
{How Joyful} has a nice tutorial on how to make this adorable braided bracelet.

{Day 9}

{Wit & Whistle} shares how to make these chalkboard mugs. I am adding this to my “To Do” list!

{Day 10}

This project from {Kayla Danelle} would make a wonderful gift for your favorite couple!

{Day 11}

This cute little bookmark by {Simple Serendipities} would make a great gift for a booklover.

Now onto Week 3: Gift Packaging

I love simple gift packaging ideas!

{Day 12}
{The Poetry Lifestyle Blog} uses old textured wall paper to wrap these lovely packages.

{Day 13}

{Hello Sandwich} gives us a tutorial on how to make a cute gift bag.

{Day 14}

This nest gift topper from{Helana & Ali} is adorable

{Day 15}

{Two Shades of Pink} has many wonderful ideas for gift packaging!

{Day 16}
{It All Started with Paint} uses old book pages for this gift packaging idea.

{Day 17}

{Blue Cricket Design} made these snowman cups for gifts packaging.

{Day 18}

{Creative Mint} always has beautiful ideas for gift packaging. This simple white box decorated with markers is no exception!

Please visit each link to “Pin” on Pinterest. I love all of the above ideas, but would love the credit on Pinterest to go to the original websites/blogs. Happy Pinning!

Wishes for Baby Tree Feature

2011-12-19T22:27:00.001-06:00

Stop on over to {At Home With K} to view my project feature and to link up to her Terrific Under Ten Tuesday Party!

Baby Wishes Tree Feature

2011-12-19T10:01:00.000-06:00

Stop on over at Everything Under the Moon to see my project feature. My Baby Wishes tree was one of the most viewed links from Bedazzle Me Monday Party.

Project Feature

2011-12-13T18:22:00.001-06:00

Visit Sweet Little Gals & At Home With K today to see my project feature and to link up to their wonderful parties!

Shades of the Season Party #5

2011-12-13T17:31:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my new craft, food, & photography party.

Please link the following items:

Seasonal photos
Seasonal décor
Seasonal crafts
Seasonal recipes
No rules other than please link back to A Woman’s Haven so others can join the fun!
Please follow A Woman’s Haven too!

Thank you to all who linked up to last week’s party!
Here are a couple features!

{Pear Tree Farm} gave us a little tour of all the Christmas red around her house.

{Ruby Jean} shared a tutorial on how to make these beautiful felt ice skates.

Jessica from {Four of a Kind} let us a peek in on her family as they decorated their Christmas tree.

Grab a party button!

Tis’ The Season For Hot Cocoa

2011-12-13T15:33:00.001-06:00

I LOVE sipping on a warm, creamy cup of hot cocoa this time of year and like many others I am addicted to Pinterest. I love having all of the things that inspire me organized all in one place! Here is some yummy hot cocoa inspiration: Hot Cocoa Station {My Sweet Savannah}

Layered Peppermint Hot Cocoa

{Gordon Gossip} Snowflake Marshmallows {Big Black Dog}

Snowmen Hot Chocolate

{Meet The Dubiens} Red Velvet Hot Chocolate {Une-Deux Senses} Need an invitation to Pinterest? Become a follower and I will contact you with an invite. Leave me a comment letting me know.

Baby Shower Activity: Gender Predictions

2011-12-10T16:08:00.001-06:00

One of the last activities we had before everyone left at the end of the baby shower was a photo giving your prediction on if we were having a boy or a girl. It was fun way to end the day!

Visit my {Linky Party} page to see what parties I am participating in.

Baby Shower: Winter Wonderland Decor

2011-12-10T15:51:00.001-06:00

The color scheme for our gender neutral baby shower was Winter Wonderland. Our little one is due in January so we thought it would be fun to embrace the season and use lots of white in the décor. I decorate my home in white, blues, snowflakes, and clear glass this time of year so that it extends beyond Christmas and we were able to use some of the items I would already have out at this time of year. All most everything was hand made by myself or family members.

Visit my {Linky Party} page to see what parties I am participating in.

Baby Shower Activity: Wishes for Baby Tree

2011-12-10T15:28:00.001-06:00

Another activity at the baby shower was a Wishing Tree for Baby.
Each guest filled out a wish for the Baby and hung it on a branch.

The tree was made by spray painting some tree branches white.

Visit my {Linky Party} page to see what parties I am participating in.

Baby Shower: Thumbprint Tree Sign In

2011-12-10T14:58:00.001-06:00

I painted the tree to hang over the crib in the nursery and wanted it to be used as a memento from the baby shower as well. We had each guest stamp their thumbprint for leaves and sign their name in that spot.

It will be a great addition to the nursery and a wonderful reminder of all the family & friends who gathered together to celebrate the birth of our little one.

Visit my {Linky Party} page to see what parties I am participating in.

Baby Shower Activity: DIY Onesies

2011-12-10T13:54:00.001-06:00

Items needed:

Onesies {various sizes}
Stencils: We made ours out of contact paper so that they would stick to the material.
Paint
Sponges
Small pieces of cardboard
&
Lots of creativity & fun!

Step 1: Cut your design out of contact paper
Step 2: Stick contact paper stencil to material {onesie}
Step 3: Insert cardboard in between the layers of fabric
Step 4: Dab paint onto material & stencil
Continue to leave stencil on fabric while you layer different colors.
Step 5: Pull off stencil
Step 6: Let air dry

See all the great designs my baby shower guests come up with.

Activity tip: Stencils were precut and applied to material with cardboard inserted in the onesies before guests arrived so they could just grab the design that they wanted to decorate. Creativity was supplied by the guests.

Visit my {Linky Party} page to see what parties I am participating in.

Project Feature

2011-12-09T19:56:00.001-06:00

My clay ornaments are being featured over at {36th Avenue} today. Check it out!

Post Feature Today!

2011-12-08T06:57:00.001-06:00

A project of mine is featured today at Katie’s Nesting Spot. Stop by!

Shades of the Season Party

2011-12-06T18:34:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my new craft, food, & photography party.

Please link the following items:

Seasonal photos
Seasonal décor
Seasonal crafts
Seasonal recipes
No rules other than please link back to A Woman’s Haven so others can join the fun!
Please follow A Woman’s Haven too!

Thank you to all who linked up to last week’s party!
Here are a couple features!

{Randee’s Organized Chaos} shows us how to do a Christmas centerpiece just like the pros do.

{Neathering Our Fest} shared how they decked the halls of their home!

{Little Glass Box} gives us a peek of her woodland inspired Christmas tablescape!

Grab a party button!

Belly Shot: 32 Weeks

2011-12-06T17:20:00.001-06:00

Here is a progression of how I grown. I started showing really early at about 8 to 10 weeks. By 20 weeks you could definitely see the growth. I had a lot of growth between 20 weeks and 24 weeks and then it tapered off between 24 and 28 weeks. Now between 28 weeks and 32 weeks it is definitely obvious that I had more growth again.

Idea File: 19/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-06T06:24:00.000-06:00

Week 1: Holiday Décor
Week 2: DIY Gifts
Week 3: Gift Packaging
Week 4: Food

{Craft Snob} made these easy and cute bookmarks. A great stocking stuffer!

To see more inspiration from Idea File: 25 days of Christmas…

Week 1: Holiday Decor

{Day 1}
{Day 2}
{Day 3}
{Day 4}
{Day 5}
{Day 6}

Mingle Monday: Christmas Wishlist

2011-12-05T15:34:00.001-06:00

Meg asked us today what is on our Christmas List. I am loving circle scarfs and I love this knitted, dark blue one. Burt’s Bees products are a favorite of mine and always on my list.

Maurices Gift cards.

It really is the closest clothing store to wear I live without driving for an hour or more so it tends to be my favorite for that reason.

Pandora Baby Charm…one to represent our pregnancy and a birthstone one once the baby is born.

I Love finding Mint Chocolate M&M’s in my stocking.

I would love a new, bigger camera too, but with baby coming along I want to wait. I also have a couple photo books started on Blurp that I may send for as a gift to our growing family.

I really am a simple girl and very practical at that so I often don’t add frivolous things to my gift wish list. I like things that are tried and true to what I like and things that I will use on a regular basis.

Hope you enjoyed seeing what is on my Christmas wishlist!

Project Feature

2011-12-05T07:10:00.001-06:00

Featured today over at Keeping it Simple!

Idea File: 20/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-05T06:27:00.000-06:00

Week 1: Holiday Décor
Week 2: DIY Gifts
Week 3: Gift Packaging
Week 4: Food

Onto Week 2 with some great DIY Gifts!

{Stylizimo} shows us how to turn a plain candle into an instant gift.

To see more inspiration from Idea File: 25 days of Christmas…

Week 1: Holiday Decor

{Day 1}
{Day 2}
{Day 3}
{Day 4}
{Day 5}

DIY Clay Ornaments

2011-12-04T19:51:00.001-06:00

Here's what you'll need...

• 1 box baking soda (about 2 cups)
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 11/2 cups water
• Sauce pan
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Plastic wrap

Here's how you make it...

Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring consistently, until it is too thick to stir with a spoon.

2.
Cool for 15 minutes, or until the dough is cool enough to touch. Knead it for about 5 minutes, or until smooth. If somewhat sticky I used a little cornstarch on my counter and hands to help.

Once you have molded it, it will take 1-2 days for the clay to dry. I used cookie cutters to make shapes and then used stamps to imprint with words or shapes.

Here are a few of the unpainted ornaments.

I colored the ornaments with a mixture of water and food coloring. I highlighted the imprint with glitter. You can paint also.

I had a few like this one that cracked or had bumps. I am going to try to sand with a light sandpaper to see if that takes out some of the imperfections.

I also experimented with making a ornament out of a toilet paper roll. I think we have all seen these and other crafts made from a TP roll.

I was very pleased with how it turned out also!

Visit my {Linky Party} page to view the parties that I am participating in.

Come back on Wednesday to participate in my Shades of the Season Linky Party!

Idea File: 21/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-04T06:12:00.001-06:00

Week 1: Holiday Décor
Week 2: DIY Gifts
Week 3: Gift Packaging
Week 4: Food

{Lisa Roy} has made this simple, but cute fabric wreath and she shows us how to do it too!

To see more inspiration from Idea File: 25 days of Christmas…

Week 1: Holiday Decor

{Day 1}
{Day 2}
{Day 3}
{Day 4}

Idea File: 22/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-04T06:06:00.001-06:00

Week 1: Holiday Décor
Week 2: DIY Gifts
Week 3: Gift Packaging
Week 4: Food

{Crafty Minx} shows us how to make DIY Bottle Brush Trees. I love the idea of having different colors!

To see more inspiration from Idea File: 25 days of Christmas…

Week 1: Holiday Decor

{Day 1}
{Day 2}
{Day 3}

Idea File: 23/25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-02T07:36:00.000-06:00

Week 1: Holiday Décor
Week 2: DIY Gifts
Week 3: Gift Packaging
Week 4: Food

{The Cottage Market} shows us how to make this wonderful doily ornaments.

To see more inspiration from Idea File: 25 days of Christmas…

Week 1: Holiday Decor

{Day 1}
{Day 2}

Idea File: 25 Days of Christmas-Day 2

2011-12-01T06:54:00.000-06:00

Week 1: Holiday Décor
Week 2: DIY Gifts
Week 3: Gift Packaging
Week 4: Food

{BHG} has the instructions for this cute pom pom wreath trio. They used pom poms…I thinking I am going to use cotton balls. Photos to come when I tackle this project.

To see more inspiration from Idea File: 25 days of Christmas…

Week 1: Holiday Decor

{Day 1}

Idea File: 25 Days of Christmas

2011-11-30T07:19:00.001-06:00

Leading up to Christmas I want to share some of the items that have inspired me for the holidays. Each week there will be a different theme.

Week 1: Holiday Décor
Week 2: DIY Gifts
Week 3: Gift Packaging
Week 4: Food

First up…

{Katie’s Pencil Box} has a tutorial and pattern on how to make these glittery letters!

Shades of the Season Party

2011-11-29T22:16:00.001-06:00

Good morning! Welcome to my new craft, food, & photography party. I love seasonal photography and projects and thought it would be fun to create a weekly party.

Please link the following items:

Seasonal photos
Seasonal décor
Seasonal crafts
Seasonal recipes
No rules other than please link back to A Woman’s Haven so others can join the fun!

Grab a button!

Shabby Apple Necklace Winner

2011-11-28T20:33:00.001-06:00

Through the Looking Glass

The winner of the Shabby Apple necklace is

Random Integer Generator

Here is your random number:

************************************

Sailing with bare feet said...

I am a new follower of A Woman's Haven!!!
So cute !

November 17, 2011 3:25 PM

************************************

Please Contact me at awomanshaven@hotmail.com with your shipping info so that I can forward it to Shabby Apple.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Easy Peasy Mason Jar Snowmen

2011-11-28T17:02:00.001-06:00

This was an easy project that the kids and I completed a couple years ago.

Items needed:
Mason Jars
White Tissue Paper
Mod Podge or watered down glue
Black Marker
Orange Cardstock

We cut the tissue paper into 1 inch stripes and then glued onto the outside of a mason jar. Using orange cardstock we cut out a carrot shaped nose and glue onto the jar. Once the glue was dry, we used a black marker to make the eyes and mouth.
It was that easy!

Add a small battery powered tea light candle and you are all set.
We made a set of eight and then lined them up our stairs.
The snowmen give the stairway a fun glow at night.

House Haven Tour: A Little Glass Box

2011-11-23T07:40:00.002-06:00

A BIG TURKEY WEEK hello to you all! I’m so excited to stop by and share my house on A Woman’s Haven. You can normally find me over at {A Little Glass Box} but today I am so lucky because I get to play hooky and visit with all of you on Chas’s amazing blog!

I am a military wife with a one year old, who makes it a priority to find time to enjoy fun food, design, and DIY projects on a daily basis. I would say my design style is eclectic and comfortable. Let’s face it, with a wee one and two furry friend we have learned to be flexible in our aesthetic and adapt our design around our family. We recently moved from our 105 year old row house in Baltimore to a rental country casa right outside San Francisco.

I would love for you crazy kids to stop by the ole’ blog some time and say hello!

One of the things I love most about my home is all of the natural sun light. I am constantly surrounded by a warm glow which is both cozy and comforting to me. I also love the personality this small little house has to offer. Between reclaimed wood floors as ceilings and exposed rock in the dining room there is no lack of good bones in this space. It has been quite an adjustment to be renting again for the first time in five years, but it has really opened me up to a whole new world of design possibilities and projects.

One of the challenges of this house is how small some of the rooms are. The living room is only 9.5 x 8 but I have not let that stop me from going big with design.

I have worked hard to use every square inch of space including creating an “office” in the kitchen or a “mudroom” in the entry way. I love mixing key splurge items with inexpensive craigslist or thrift store finds and that is the method I used for every room in the house.

Our space really works for us and at the end of the day that makes my heart happy and keeps me going.

Thanks so much for having me! I hope you found some inspiration in my lil’ rental house!

Court

Idea File: Peppermint Bark Cookies

2011-11-23T06:16:00.000-06:00

{My Blessed Life} shows us how to make these simple cookies. Yummy!

Blog Buttons

2011-11-22T17:59:00.001-06:00

Feel free to grab a button!

Idea File: Snowmen Advent Calendar

2011-11-22T15:07:00.001-06:00

You would never guess this was made from the plastic capsules from gumball machines! Head on over to {Whimsy Love} to see how she transformed them into this cute Advent Calendar.

Idea File: Charm Pendants

2011-11-21T08:04:00.000-06:00

You can find the tutorial on how to make these cute charms at {Ruby Jean}. These would be a cute Christmas gift!

Idea File: String Art

2011-11-20T10:26:00.001-06:00

{JK JK} walks us through how to make this cute string art for the kitchen.

Idea File: Repurposed Jewelry Organization

2011-11-19T11:03:00.001-06:00

I have had a lot of webpage views and questions regarding this specific jewelry organization project and I just wanted to clarify where this idea came from. This is a project that I found on {Better Homes & Gardens}. I showcased it in a post with various repurposing ideas giving credit to BHG, but I still get a lot of questions regarding the project that I can’t answer because I have never done the project.

Here are a couple of projects that are similar to the above organizer done by other bloggers.
I think both projects turned out lovely.

{Thrifty & Chic}

{Liz Marie}

Here are a couple other projects from {Better Homes & Garden} that I have been admiring using repurposed items.

{Maillardville Manor} repurposed silverware trays to display her jewelry.

{IHeart Organization} frames a radiator grate to hang earrings.

Idea File: Button Up Your Cup Cozy

2011-11-18T15:50:00.001-06:00

{Simply Notable} gives us the instructions on how to crochet/knit these cute little cup cozies!

Idea File: Vintage Doily Snowflakes

2011-11-16T10:10:00.000-06:00

Tutorial featured on {Dos Family}

Idea File: DIY Burlap Lamp Shade

2011-11-16T07:07:00.000-06:00

{The Rooster & The Hen} show us how to make a lampshade out of burlap & embroidery hoops!

Idea File: Puffy Paint Letters & Art

2011-11-15T07:24:00.000-06:00

{Virginia & Charlie} shows us how to make puffy paint letters to be used on canvas art. So clever!

Guest Post: Between U & Me

2011-11-15T06:18:00.000-06:00

Hi All! I am Courtney and my blog home is over at Between U & Me! I am so happy to be here today at A Woman's Haven! I love coming here and checking out all the awesome inspiration that Chas has to offer!

Today, I'm going to do a little tutorial on how to make the EASIEST custom jewelry hanger, that you can hang right on your wall. These ones I did in pinks and greens for E's room. I'm also going to do a little walk-through of E's new "big girl" room since I'm super excited it's finally finished. Well, sort of finished. I'm never ACTUALLY finished. I'm always tweaking something here or there. Y'all know what I mean, right?

What you'll need:

2 pieces of styrofoam

2 pieces of scrapbook paper

Screw-in hooks

Hot Glue

Sawtooth Hanger

Spray Adhesive

Embellishments

1. Start out by cutting your scrapbook paper to fit your styrofoam. Don't forget to cut strips to cover the sides.

2. Then, using your spray adhesive, adhere the paper to the styrofoam. To make the stick hold even better, spray your surface and then let it sit for 1 minute before you adhere the paper to the styrofoam.

3. After the glue is nice and dry, decide how many hooks you want hanging down for your jewelry to hang on. (I decided 4 would be good for mine.) Measure the space evenly for your hooks and mark your spots. Then, take your screw-in hooks and apply a little hot glue to the tip and then shove it in where you have made your marks.

4. Again, use your hot glue gun to apply the sawtooth hanger on the back. Position it in the middle and towards the top.

5. Lastly, embellish the front. I decided to add some glittery letters that read "sweet" for my "sweet" little one. Voila!

Here is her "big girl" bed and L's old guardrail (which is why it doesn't match). I thought about painting it, but she's not going to have it much longer so I didn't bother. The butterfly mobile is a Pottery Barn knock off that my mom made for E.

When E gets older and I'm convinced she won't electrocute herself on that pretty lamp she has on her dresser, I'll move it to the bedside table along with some other little knick knacks for her.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial and that you'll come over to Between U & Me and say "hi!"

Visit Between U & Me

2011-11-14T07:22:00.000-06:00

Head on over to Between U & Me to view my guest post and all of the other great inspiration Courtney has to offer!

Idea File: Stylish Foot Warmer

2011-11-14T07:18:00.000-06:00

{V and Co.} shares this tutorial on how to make a foot warmer using cute fabric.

Nursery Lampshade Feature

2011-11-13T21:19:00.001-06:00

Featured at Everything Under the Moon. Check it out!

Shabby Apple Giveaway

2011-11-13T20:16:00.001-06:00

Shabby Apple is an online dress boutique selling women’s dresses, casual dresses, skirts, and women’s apparel. Whether you’re looking for evening dresses, blouses, the perfect skirt, or the perfect accessory you can find something that is right for you! They even have a line maternity dresses!

Shabby Apple has graciously offered to give readers of A Woman’s Haven a necklace from there accessories line. They have a great assortment of vintage inspired jewelry! The item that we are giving away today is
Through the Looking Glass

To enter to win this amazing necklace:

1. “Like” Shabby Apple on Facebook and then leave me a comment saying you did so.

2. Become a follower of A Woman’s Haven and leave me a comment.

3. If you are a current follower leave me a comment telling me what you are inspired by today.

That’s it! Three easy ways to win!

Giveaway ends November 28th!

Before you enter there are a couple rules…

1. Giveaway is for U.S. Residents only. You must have a U.S. shipping address.

2. You must be a follower of A Woman’s Haven in order to win.

3. No exchanges on the winning item.

If you would like to make a purchase at Shabby Apple here is an exclusive 10% coupon code for A Woman’s Haven readers: womenshaven10off
Be sure to make your purchases now because the coupon expires in 30 days!

First Snow Fall on 11/11/11

2011-11-11T09:34:00.001-06:00

Although Winter is by far not my favorite season I do love photographing the beauty of Winter. Last night was our first snow fall. I love the enchantment and wonder of the first snowfall. It seems to slow everything down and quiet our environment.

Idea File: Paper Scraps Magnets

2011-11-11T06:04:00.000-06:00

{SEI Lifestyle} tells us how she turned paper scraps into adorable magnets to hold her daughter’s projects from school. How cute!

Newest Belly Shot

2011-11-10T17:10:00.001-06:00

28 weeks! 12 more weeks to go!

The need for naps are kicking in again. I have moments of feeling good and moments of extreme fatigue. Getting up at night is once again increasing. I had a good month or so where I was only getting up once throughout the night. My belly is feeling so heavy and stretched some days. Baby is very active and using me as a punching bag most days. I love it!

Idea File: Sharpie Lampshade

2011-11-10T15:29:00.001-06:00

{A Little Glass Box} shares how she decorated a lamp shade simply by writing on it with a black sharpie marker. How simple and fun!

Idea File: DIY Mercury Glass

2011-11-07T05:25:00.000-06:00

{Martha Stewart} gives us the instructions on how to make mercury glass candleholders.

New Nursery Lamp Shade

2011-11-06T18:13:00.001-06:00

Check out {this} & {this} post for more nursery photos.

Link up to my Shades of the Season Party {Here}! A new weekly feature every Sunday!

See my {Linky Parties} page to view the parties I am participating in.

Nursery Art

2011-11-06T17:59:00.001-06:00

I made some easy art for the nursery today. First I cut out some letters from tag board.

Then I gathered Mod Podge and some scrapbooking paper in the colors of the nursery and just covered the letters in the paper.

What do you think?

Check out {this} post for more nursery photos.

Link up to my Shades of the Season Party {Here}! A new weekly feature every Sunday!

See my {Linky Parties} page to view the parties I am participating in.

Idea File: Marshmallow Wreath

2011-11-06T17:22:00.001-06:00

{Food Network} has this cute marshmallow wreath in it’s collection of food wreaths.

Shades of the Season Party

2011-11-06T11:35:00.001-06:00

Good morning! Welcome to my new craft, food, & photography party. I love seasonal photography and projects and thought it would be fun to create a weekly party.

Please link the following items:

Seasonal photos
Seasonal décor
Seasonal crafts
Seasonal recipes

No rules other than please link back to A Woman’s Haven so others can join the fun!

Daily Wisdom

2011-11-06T05:31:00.000-06:00

A Grateful Heart!

See my {Linky Parties} page to view the parties I am participating in.

Daily Wisdom: Word Art

2011-11-05T21:15:00.001-05:00

I had some fun tonight making word art from a few of my favorite sayings.

See my {Linky Parties} page to view the parties I am participating in.

Idea File: Thankful Garland

2011-11-05T19:48:00.001-05:00

{Silver Box Creative} has a free printable to create your very own Thankful Garland.

Coffee Talk Tuesday

2011-11-01T16:51:00.001-05:00

Good Afternoon! I am a little late in posting this today because of internet troubles…ugh! I will say that not much really happened this last week. I had a couple days when I was homebound from not feeling well. I didn’t sleep for a whole night which threw off my sleeping schedule. I am a little nervous as I enter my last trimester of the pregnancy that I will have even more trouble sleeping.
But…

I am very grateful for the movements of my little one each day. I had forgotten how uncomfortable baby hiccups can be, but getting to place J.J’s hand on my tummy as we lay in bed in the morning for him to feel how strong the movements of the baby have become brings me a lot of joy. My friends and family have begun planning our baby shower which has also renewed my faith in how much support I have surrounding me and our baby. It has been fun to have creative input in the baby shower planning process because I love planning things like that. Pinterest has been a fun resource to collect ideas and inspiration. It is my new addiction!

Ashley at Eisy Morgan prompted us to speak about Fear in her weekly Heart Therapy series. It is nice to be able to say that right now I feel okay. I am not fearful of anything right now. I am grateful for that! I look forward to the holiday season and our new addition to the family. I look forward to the changes our family will make with this addition. I look forward to completing the nursery. Having said all that I am a complex, emotional woman who can change quite quickly from time to time. Today I don’t fear anything, but tomorrow I could. The worries I had a couple weeks ago could creep up again and plague me, but today I will relish in the feeling of not being fearful and having faith that things will work out the way they are supposed to. My mantra in my life has mostly been to have faith that what is supposed to happen will happen and even if it is difficult from time to time there is a lesson of growth or self awareness nestled within that moment of difficulty. When I begin to get fearful I try my best to remind myself of this.

What is your mantra in tough times? What do you remind yourself when life throws you disappointments?

I love hearing others stories so please share them with me. I think one of the greatest things we can do for each other is to share our stories so that others may not feel alone in their times of need.

Don’t you agree?

Linking to:

{Virtual Coffee}
{Heart Therapy}
{I Am Grateful For}

Until next time…

Halloween Fun: Slime Recipe

2011-11-01T16:21:00.001-05:00

Mix equal parts of liquid starch and white glue into a bowl.
Add a few drops of food coloring. I choose a few drops of neon green and then added a few drops of regular green. Mix together until all liquid has disappeared.

All packaged up to give away on Halloween!

Another fun project is making spider webs out of coffee filters. Just fold and cut like a snowflake.

Glue on a spider and glitter and you are done!

See my {Linky Parties} page to view the parties I am participating in.

Link up to my Shades of the Season Party {Here}! A new weekly feature every Sunday!

Idea File: Thankful Tree

2011-11-01T06:27:00.000-05:00

{Simple Vintage Girl} made the adorable thankful tree. Great idea for practicing gratitude with a family.

Idea File: Oak Leaf Burlap Garland

2011-10-30T07:04:00.000-05:00

Oak Leaf burlap Garland at {Craftberry Bush}

Idea File: Glam Halloween Wreath

2011-10-29T07:07:00.000-05:00

{Days of Chalk and Chocolate} made this cute and glamorous Halloween wreath.

Idea File: Chalkboard Wine Bottles

2011-10-28T07:14:00.000-05:00

{Desperate Craftwives} show us how to paint old wine bottles with chalkboard paint. How cute!

Idea File: Painted Bug Bottles

2011-10-28T06:56:00.000-05:00

Cute Décor idea for Halloween from {The Wicker House}.

Simple Meal

2011-10-28T05:08:00.000-05:00

Today I woke up feeling a nauseas for the first time in a few months. I made some mint tea to help settle my stomach.

I also just wanted something simple for dinner and the first three months of my pregnancy I ate a lot of potato dishes which seemed to help with my stomach being upset.

I mixed together:
1 package of Simply Potatoes
Garlic
Dried Basil
Dried Italian Seasoning Mixture
Preheated the oven at 400 degrees.
Baked for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes I took the mixture out and topped it with Parmesan Cheese and Bacon Bits.
I then switched the oven to broil and broiled for another 10 minutes to give the top a little crisp.

Steamy, yummy and so simple.

My simple dessert:
Carmel & an apple…yum

See my {Linky Parties} page to view the parties I am participating in.

Link up to my Shades of the Season Party {Here}! A new weekly feature every Sunday!

Computer problems

2011-10-27T18:06:00.001-05:00

I am experiencing computer problems and lost my header…ugh! Hope to get it figured out soon.

Idea File: Favorite Projects

2011-10-27T13:55:00.001-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to include some of my projects in my Idea File feature. Projects have slowed down to mainly nursery projects since finding out about our pregnancy, but that’s okay. Next Spring & Summer I will be tackling our downstairs bathroom, creating a pantry in a closet, turning our garage into a “man cave”, a kitchen transformation and yard, patio, and garden changes. These were all projects that I had planned for this summer until I slept most of the summer away with pregnancy exhaustion and nausea.

Dyed Doily Banner

Lamp Transformation

Child’s Play: Liquid Chalk

Painted Urn

Tweet Treat

No Knit Scarf

Beach Glass Shadow Box

Painted Mantel Sign

Gallery Wall Project

Upcycled Kitchen Additions

Mason Jar Snowmen

Travel Map
Frame Transformation

Crafternoon: Paper Cone Baskets
Crafternoon: Spring Wreaths
Crafternoon: Embroidery Hoop Art

Nursery Sneak Peek

See my {Linky Parties} page to view the parties I am participating in.

Link up to my Shades of the Season Party {Here}! A new weekly feature every Sunday!

Idea File: Chalkboard Treat Buckets

2011-10-27T07:21:00.000-05:00

{Heather Bullard} made these cute treat buckets from garden peat pots. Very Cute!

Idea File: Vintage Teacup Candles

2011-10-26T07:06:00.000-05:00

{Georgia Pond} shows us how to turn vintage teacups into candles!

Autumn is coming to a close

2011-10-25T10:22:00.000-05:00

Colors are fading and leaves are falling…

Idea File: Lace & Ribbon Chandelier

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

{Andrea Dozier} made this pretty chandelier.

Coffee Talk Tuesday

2011-10-24T22:35:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! Thank you again for coming on by for me to share my thoughts with you again today. This last week the topic of fatherhood has been weighing on my mind lately. You see I grew up with a father who was mostly absent from my life and I worked hard for a many years to make my marriage work so that my children had their father present in their life. Since my divorce 4 years ago my children have learned a new and uncharted aspect of their father…one that I quite often sheltered them from.

When I decided to separate from my husband it was shocking news to my two young children. My ex husband and I were very good at pretending for our kids that everything was okay between us so they never had any idea that there were problems. There has been many hurt feelings since the separation and divorce once they began seeing a more selfish side to their father. Again an aspect of him that I sheltered them from. Throughout all of the adjustments, disappointments and hurt I would always reassure my children that there father still loved them…Until I had my counselor tell me to stop.

He explained to me that by reassuring them I was teaching them that it was okay to hurt and disappoint and that is how they would eventually see love. He asked me this question…Did that kind of love from him fulfill and work for you? Him asking my that was very profound for me and changed how I approached my children’s relationship with their father. I quit making excuses for him and his behavior and I quit trying to control how my children viewed their dad. Don’t get me wrong I still listened and comforted them, but I just approached it differently than I had before.

My daughter is sixteen now and very much has a mind of her own. She sees things that I can’t shelter her from, can’t protect her from, and can’t explain away from her. Her relationship with her dad is very rocky and she no longer spends time with him. Seeing her in pain breaks my heart because I know all to well the thoughts and feelings that a young girl can take on when they have an absent father. I try to tell myself this is her path in life and that what happens to her now shapes who she is becoming and that is already planned out for her by a higher source. I hope she takes the stronger path and doesn’t fall to many times from how the relationship with her father has effected her, but again all I can do is listen, comfort and guide from my position as her mother. It has been hard for her and hard for me.

I am very grateful to now have a wonderful man in my life that does not bring hurt and disappoint along with the relationship. I know that if I had not learned the lessons I had from my first marriage that I quite possible would have missed or dismissed this person when he came along.

My hope is that my daughter doesn’t have to go through those same life lessons. I hope that she doesn’t look for validation from the wrong people. I hope that she recognizes good people when they come into her life. I hope she knows herself well enough to know what she deserves and what she doesn’t. I hope she knows what love should be and what it shouldn’t be. That is my hope for her future.

Linking to:

{Virtual Coffee}
{Heart Therapy}
{I Am Grateful For}

Until next time…

Link up to my Shades of the Season Party {Here}!

Sneak Peek: Project Nursery

2011-10-24T22:00:00.001-05:00

I have been working on our nursery little by little. There have been lots of mini projects. Lots of painting of picture frames, baskets and shelves. I have a lot more projects I am working on with more to come but here are a few photos of different areas that are put together for now.

Here are a couple previous posts with projects:

{Burlap Dream Art}
{Lovely Embroidery Hoop Art}
{Painting Projects}
{To do List}
{LOVE Letters-Before}

See my {Linky Parties} page to view the parties I am participating in.

Link up to my Shades of the Season Party {Here}!

Daily Wisdom

2011-10-24T07:14:00.000-05:00

{Dainty Doll House}