Currently

I've noticed a lot of bloggers posting about what is happening in their lives currently. I think it's really neat to see what people are actually up to and thinking about so I decided to share what's been going on in my life. Who knows, maybe it'll become a weekly thing.

Currently...

• I have started keeping a 'thankful' journal where I take a moment each day to write down a few things I'm thankful for. I also keep track of inspirational thoughts, quotes, and bible verses as well as product ideas. Since I've started the journal I've noticed a change in my perspective and I've become more positive and thankful. 
• I've started working with a couple of lovely girls who started Songs Against Slavery. I'm working on re-opening my shop so that 25% of my sales will go to SAS. Please click on the photo below and check out their website and see what they stand for. 

• Here's a preview of one of the products I'm working on (crochet turbands!):

• I've been feeling baby Estes #2 moving around a lot! I can hardly believe he's already the size of a mango. They sure do grow fast! I'm almost halfway to the finish line and he has so much more growing to do. Nothing can compare to how wonderful it is to feel your baby moving inside your abdomen. God is so good.

• Noah has Mother's Day Out today so of course I went to Target. I found this cute little clutch wallet. I'm going to use it this weekend to carry at the craft fairs. I usually bring my giant purse but I always get so tired lugging it around.

• Lastly, I think we've decided to paint our door and frame like this one! I'm so excited! It'll be a huge change from the dark grey. 

Source: designindulgences.com via Mandy on Pinterest

What are you up to lately? Have you made anything recently? Are you going to a craft fair this weekend? I'd love to hear what is going on in your life!

-Mandy

'mini' table runner DIY

Y'all, when the gals over at nwaMotherlode asked me if I would do a DIY post for them I jumped on board. I had been wanting to make something for my table anyway so I made this little Fall inspired 'mini' table runner. Go ahead and check out the DIY here. 

While you're there check out their about page and take a look around their site! :)

Have a blessed day!

-Mandy

Fall Yarn Wreath DIY

Y'all, I made a yarn wreath. I have a lot of respect and admiration for those of you who make & sell them for a living. You either know something I don't or you have an excessive amount of patience. Can I please have some of yours?! I seem to be lacking. :) Anyway, here is how she turned out!

Oops, I should've grabbed the next size bigger straw wreath....it looks a little small for my front door so I'll have to find a spot for her inside the house. I shouldn't have a problem finding a spot though. And hey, looking on the bright side, I'll get to look at her all the time. So, you know what that means...I've got to make another wreath for my front door. I'm thinking burlap.

If you want to make a yarn wreath for yourself, do it! There are lots and lots of tutorials online. Just check pinterest. Here's the link of the one I referenced for help.

Happy Fall y'all!

Mandy

Insta-Friday

Yesterday was Noah's first day back to Mom's Day Out. He only goes once a week. It's a nice break for me and really great for him because he gets to socialize with other kiddos his age. Anyway, he usually isn't too happy about me leaving him but this time he gave me a hug and told me bye-bye. I guess he won't have to get used to it again this time. :( My little man is growing up!

And look what came in the mail for me while Noah was at MDO! You can safely bet I will be attempting to make some these little beauties in the near future. 

I decided I would take Noah for ice cream and to pick out a new car after MDO yesterday but he didn't really want ice cream. He was too excited about the prospect of getting a new car. As you can see from the picture below he ended up getting a whole set...when the price is right, right? Anyway, since he didn't want ice cream, what kid turns down ice cream? I decided to get a soda from sonic and popcorn from target. It took me back to when I was in elementary school and we would have movie and popcorn days. Did your school do that every once in a while? I remember it being a welcome treat.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I know were going to a camp-fire style fellowship tonight as well as venturing out to the lake tomorrow so we're planning to have all kinds of fun. Maybe I'll manage to find a little time to make some macarons too.

-mandy

DIY PLAY DOUGH

Yesterday I perused pinterest in search of fun things to do/make with toddlers, things that help them learn as well as have fun! Among other things I found an AWESOME play dough recipe that calls for JELL-O. Um, fun! Here's the link, you'll definitely want to do this with your kiddos on a rainy day or any day, really.

Noah and I had a lot of fun playing with our home-made play dough. We made pizza, cookies, a bird, we really enjoyed just squishing it with our hands AND since we used JELL-O (the berry flavor) it smelled really good, not to mention it's a pretty color. I know Noah really enjoyed it because he played with it quietly for a good 30-40 minutes. I'd say that's pretty good. We're definitely going to be making more, maybe even tomorrow. I think we'll make yellow so we can mix some blue with some yellow and make green! 

Here's the link to the recipe again (click the picture):

Wisdom Personified

Wisdom...

says noble things,

speaks what is right,

speaks truth.

wickedness is an abomination to her lips,

every word she speaks is righteous.

her instruction is more precious than gold, silver, & jewels.

nothing compares to wisdom.

pride, arrogance, evil, & perverted speech are her POLAR OPPOSITES.

she has counsel, sound wisdom, insight and strength.

she brings riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.

(from Proverbs Chapter 8)

"I [wisdom] love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me." Proverbs 8:17

"For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death." Proverbs 8:35-36

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is insight." Proverbs 9:10

I've been thinking about wisdom in Proverbs lately. The verses seem to say a lot about the words we speak having a great deal of importance and power. According to what it says, a wise person would not speak perversely or utter untruths they would speak life, wisdom, and truth.

 Proverbs 10:11 says "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life..."  

"The lips of the righteous feed many." Prov. 10:21

"The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near." Prov. 10:14

There are a ton of verses similar to these in Proverbs that share the same ideas about wise/righteous words bringing forth life and blessing while perverse/wicked words bring ruin and death. 

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." James 1:26

James Chapter 3 says a lot about taming the tongue and the importance of it. I wanted to type it all out but I you can just go read it if you want to. 

"With it [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." James 3:9-11

I am a child of God, a god of love. I am not of this world, I am a new creation and an ambassador for Christ. I want the words that leave my mouth to be representative of who I really am! I want my words to be a fountain of life. I want to build with gold, not hay and sticks that burn away. I want my words to be valuable not worthless as soon as they are spoken. If you're a brother or sister in Christ then you know what a struggle it is to control your mind and tongue. We literally bless God one second with our words and then say something completely ridiculous and uncalled for in the same breath. This really shouldn't be. I'm going to be working on this in my own life; purifying my mind and taming my tongue to be more like wisdom personified in Proverbs. Who's with me?!

Tickle Me Tuesday

Hi everyone! I thought I'd give some love to some of my favorite handmade shops for this Tickle Me Tuesday. 

I just bought this lovely ring from NSPottery and I've been wearing it nonstop. The ring is adjustable so you can wear it on any finger or either hand. I've been wearing it on my pointer finger like they have it displayed in the picture below. :)

NSPottery on Etsy

I've seen the lovely cards of riverandbridge floating around on instagram and decided I had to have this set of french macaron thank you cards. I've recently become obsessed with the actual french treat so these were a must have. I chose the pink set. 

riverandbridge on etsy

When I first saw this print I knew it was meant for my kitchen. I love tea, teal, and yellow. I've had this print sitting in my kitchen waiting to be framed and hung on the wall for awhile. Were getting an old hutch from my husband's parents and I'd like to hang it by it. I can't wait to get it on the wall!

penandpaints on etsy

Lastly, I couldn't pass up this lovely head wrap from Jacky of the sweetest petunia! She really makes the cutest hair accessories.

Petunia Blooms on Storenvy

That's it for this tickle me tuesday! Will YOU be a part of the next one? :)