Contentment

This morning I read Romans 13:14, "Rather, clothes yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." This spoke so clearly to my heart! Every so often I find my sinful nature slipping it's way back into a sort of thrify materialism. There is something I need to buy, some project I need to accomplish, some habit I need to form in order for me (and Caleb) to be at perfect rest. But when the Holy Spirit pursues my heart (and He always does!), I begin to see the folly in my discontentment and I instead find myself overwhelmed with joy!
Jesus loves me! Jesus delights in me! I am saved from death and able to live in freedom! Praise Jesus!
These realizations make home projects and shopping for fun seem a little dim, don't they?

All Naturale

New seasons makes me want to shake things up around our little duplex. So with the changing temps (highs of 92 rather than 102!!!), I have decided to create a few new goals for myself and for our household. (I think I still equate new school years with new years....wonder how long I'll be out of college before that habit wears off?)

One of these new goals involves a commitment to make from scratch many items that I normally buy. For example, why buy boxed brownie mix when the real thing takes about 3 seconds longer and is SO much better? Why buy linen spray when you can mix your own and decide what essence you'd like to use? Why scrub with Comet when baking soda and vinegar will create a little volcano in your tub AND make it clean!? In my quest, I'm looking for recipes for liquid dish soap and I'd LOVE to know any of your home grown tips.

Since I've been doing a little research, here are some of my favorite links for you to browse and enjoy!

Well Tell Me

Small Notebook

The New Homemaker

Freedom in the Restraints

As we move into fall, C and I have been reevaluating the ins and outs of our summer life and have come to the conclusion that reorganization is in order. After moving in May, starting a new job, getting used to a new budget and being "in between" paychecks for an extended period of time, we found ourselves throwing our former budget (and spending inhibitions) out the window for a season. We have been excitedly embracing our new part of the world, visiting the coffee shops, finding new places to eat, to enjoy night life, to shop. We had no idea what our finances would look like once we started getting paid and for a certain length of time, had no idea when that first paycheck would hit the bank. We borrowed on credit for the most part and I would pay off the bill on a weekly basis. But we were living very aware of our blissful carelessness.

This lifestyle completely destroyed my meticulous cash budget.

It hit me about a week ago that things needed to change. We are beginning to see the structure of our new finances and I found myself getting fretful over daily necessary expenses. I remembered somewhere way back in the recesses that we actually did used to enjoy living on a tight, cash-only budget. So last weekend I sat down with my calculator and drew up a plan. It would take a week and a half of cash budgetting (with a very tight budget) and we'd be back on track. We are perservering and as I somehow expected, I am beginning to feel absolutely free again. Once there is a blue print for where we are headed, a restraint to what we can and cannot afford, our perspective on our money is freed to become reasonable. I love knowing that we have a certain amount set aside for different facets in our lives. It makes spending so much more rewarding and absolutely free of guilt.

Freedom in restraints is found in so many areas of our lives...art, music, marriage, our faith. Once committed to a belief, a relationship, a canvas, we are set free to enjoy and discover all of the blessings and beauties within. Sounds like a funny way to describe the S family's new cash budget, but it's true! So here we are, just 5 more days to go and we've still got some money for the road. Date night tonight will be an in house affair, but who needs a fancy meal when there's Netflix and a $5 pizza?

Happy Weekend!

A New Season, A New Post

It's been so long since I've written and I am thoroughly ashamed. If I have any readers left out there, let me extend my gratefulness for sticking it out. My plan from here on out is consistency! I have terribly missed not having this outlet in my life.

There has been so much to happen the past several months, I'm not even sure how to catch you up! If we thought we experienced the greatest transition of our lives the first few months we were married, God had a lesson or two to teach us!

Since winter, we have almost completely turned our lives upside down. It became evident the middle of February that the Lord was calling us to help plant a church in midtown. Almost as clearly and quickly as that tidbit was realized, we "found" (our Father provided!) an adorable little duplex right down the street from 1. the new church venue and 2. our new pastor's family. What a tremendous blessing! And all at LESS PER MONTH than we were paying for the apartment. We moved in in May and are adjusting to support raising, Caleb's new bi-vocation-ness (not sure anyone's ever typed that word before) as worship director for a budding church and part time grocer, and our new neck of the woods. God is so faithful to provide and we are currently preparing for our church launch in late September, while also diving right into community and parish building with our new church body. It is such an exciting time!

So needlesstosay, while I have had just a ton to blog about, I haven't really made the time to actually sit down and write. I miss it, though, and I am determined to try to catch up exactly where I left off.

I think I'll save the new home pictures for another day. I want to catch our rooms in the new light of day, rather than at night.

I feel better having just updated the old space, however!

See you soon!

Legacy Summit

Oh the shame...can't believe it's been so long since I posted!
In the meantime, we've had a whole lot of snow (for these parts), a couple of snow days, and one really pretty pathway that runs parallel to our apartment complex.


And then there was Valentine's Day, which was wonderful.


But this weekend is incredibly exciting!
DownLine, the ministry my husband works for, is hosting their first ever women's summit at Bellevue. With the likes of Kay Arthur and Donna Gaines speaking, I'm ready to buckle down, receive some truth, learn about discipleship and be inspired by God's Word.

Already over 1500 woman are signed up! How great is that?

Hope to see you there!


Much Love,
C

Hoping for Spring...

I am absolutely antsy for warmer weather and longer days. But it is January and I am trying to learn the discipline of living in the season I am in and living in it WELL. (Note: This obviously is not only true with calendar season but also seasons of life...don't we just love hurrying through one phase only to look forward to what follows that?)
How do you make your house look January-ish? I have gloves and jackets everywhere...and a coat rack hanging with our prettiest scarves. I am holding off on spring flowers and lightly scented candles. I figure we might as well wallow in the spicy scents and deep colors as long as it's dead winter...they'll be brightened up with hints of bright red in a few weeks anyhow for Valentine's Day!

We used our last wedding gift certificate at Pier 1 this past weekend.

We snagged new coasters with bits of blue, white, green, and gold. It's amazing how something that costs so little ($3.98 and on a gift card at that!) can add a little bit of brightness to our whole living room!

We also added a beautiful new lamp to the table by our front door. My Aunt Lynn had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of going through some model homes and picking out whatever she wanted FOR FREE!! I may have hinted that a new lamp would rock my world and she delivered!

This lamp is really much larger than it looks here. It adds a perfect sense of height to that corner of the room and the big white lampshade makes everything seem brighter. I'm experimenting with lampshades this spring. I'm hoping that if I change out the red shades we have to seasonal white ones, our living room will look breezier for spring and summer.

Finally, I saw this little happen-stance scene when I looked up from my computer this morning and I had to take a picture. Who knew your husband's boots could look adorable in your living room? :) Not I!

Hope you find a little happen-stance beauty during your day!

Much Love,

C

The Art of the Table

Wednesday...the middle of the week.

It's been balmy and rainy here. Stormy at times. Caleb and I had class this morning at 5:45 and when we woke up in the darkness, the lightning through the window in our bathroom made the room blaze blue. We shrieked (with delight). I LOVE having a window in our bathroom. I will have a very difficult time adjusting to not having a window in our bathroom, if that ever must be the case.

I thought I'd share what has become my new "go to" book for all things table-oriented. It was a Christmas gift from my mother who has the dream job of working in a bookstore. "The Art of the Table" by Suzanne Von Drachenfels (she married a Baron...how fun is THAT?).

This book is the perfect companion to anyone even remotely interested in tablescapes. Not only does Mrs. Von Drachenfels share with us the proper times for formal banquets versus casual soirees, she tells us the very history of table linens, silverware, and dining traditions. Wonderful! Fascinating! My husband does a marvelous job of pretending to be interested in these things when, while reading before bed, I gasp with excitement when I learn that there IS such a thing in existence as an actual ice cream spoon...

Hope you have a beautiful evening, friends!

Much Love,

C

Matthew 6:8

"For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him..."

How WONDERFUL!

Remember this sweet promise as you go about your day!

Much Love,

C

Silver Service

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! Ours' was lovely but far, far too short. I vote for a minimum three day weekend...anyone with me?

I got a little antsy this week with the bookshelf in our bedroom and decided to make some changes. Just didn't look "pretty" to me and the top of it had become a hot spot for all sorts of odds and ends. One thing led to another and I ended up going through the dark recesses beneath our bed and rediscovering some silver plated trays and platters my mother-in-law had given me. Although I am determined to use these lovely things on a daily basis later in our life when we own a home and entertain several times a week (!), I really have very little use for them on a daily basis now. But I am dead set against "saving" my possessions for more worthy occasions!! Now is a worthy occasion and, darn it, I want to show off my silver!

I decided to display them throughout our home...

This is my bouquet...which you've seen before...but doesn't the tray look a million times better underneath it?

Our bookshelf from afar...

And up closer. I decided to create a little "perfumerie" tray and display some treasures...jewelry boxes, a carnival glass bud vase, an antique powder puff, and perfume bottles from my grandmother. I used a square glass vase to elevate my favorite silk arrangment of roses. I'm not usually a silk flower gal, but these blooms from Pier 1 met my standards. :)

I am looking for ways to brighten up our bedroom for the spring and I think the gleam of silver has really helped.

And our nightstand...much benefitting from a lovely pewter tray given to us as a bridal gift. Again, the reflection of the lamp light really awakens this corner of our room.

I love "shopping" our house and I think the trays help to compartmentalize our accessories, as well as add some beauty.
I am trying to learn how emphasize my collections without looking stuffy...I'd love more ideas as to how to do this, if you have any suggestions!

Hope you all have a beautiful Monday! If you're like me, it was a little hard to face the new week this morning. But be encouraged! Our Father is not a Father of fear and He is with you, even in your times of suffering.


John 9:1-3
"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'
'Neither this man nor his parents sinned ,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'"


Much Love,
C

What else are you doing right now...?

I read in an article this week that some official survey somewhere reported that the most successful, powerful, and wealthy women in the world all report that they do NOT multi-task. HOW is that possible?!

I have thought about this all week. I am constantly multi-tasking. But the more I considered the issue, the more convinced I became that I am, in fact, NOT very good at multi-tasking. I just try it all the time. And fail. Mostly.

Pretty interesting, I thought.

A perfect example happened this week. I decided to 1. spend time with my husband 2. watch Friends and 3. cut out articles and pictures I want to save from magazines so I can purge my huge pile of publications....all at the same time....
I ended up, instead, focusing mainly on my magazines, slightly on Friends, and not paying my husband absolutely any attention at all.
I was, therefore, failing miserably at all three tasks because the entire point of pulling out the articles was to inspire updates in our home, which I ultimately do so that WE will have a home WE both will love and enjoy. I was "watching" Friends with him because WE love to watch it together and the whole point of not having anyone over that evening was so that WE could spend time together alone. Failed, failed, failed.

Ahh! These are the lessons I'm learning! Thankfully, the article I had read was fresh on my mind and I realized quickly what a mess I was brewing up. So I threw my scissors down (non-violently) and curled up by my husband on the couch.

Crisis averted. Multi-tasking eschewed.

Just one more day in the life of the first year....! :)

The Beauty of the Holy Women

Transform your dwelling space a little today with a fragrant candle and a hot cup of coffee (or hot chocolate or tea). I did this at work and it soothed my lady soul!

So what about resolutions? Got any good ones, friends? I'm all about short term goals because the discipline I can muster to get through the next 6 weeks is the only kind of discipline that will make those next 6 weeks count towards lifetime habits.
SO.....here it is!
I am not wandering around Target. I am not “browsing” an online store.
I am not flipping through magazines with an eye for anything but a new recipe or way to store socks.
I am refusing the temptation of a coupon.
Six weeks of non-frivolous buying, ladies.
Anyone wish to join me? Just think how this could change us!

Downline started up again last night and the ladies plunged ourselves into Womanhood study. This passage really woke me up:
1 Peter 3:1-5
"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful."
Isn't that WONDERFUL!?

Much Love!

Happy 2010!

In all of that last post's hoopla about furniture rearrangement, it ended up that we needed only to 1. Move a bookcase out of the living room and into the bedroom, 2. Shift the two smallest pieces of furniture down the wall a few feet and 3. Switch the rocking chair from the bedroom to the living room. This did not take hardly any time at all and yet greatly affected the look, space, and "seatibility" of our living room.

This is a horrible "before" picture. However, you can see the antique sewing machine with computer on top sort of floating on that far wall and the black pie cabinet just hanging out to the left of that.

This is the new plan!

We both feel like there's a ton more space and the wires to the computer and stereo are much more neatly tucked into that corner back there (which is good when toddlers visit!). I love the pie cabinet being the focal point of the room. That's the first piece Caleb and I ever bought together...we got it at a craft's fair the fall of our engagement and we love it.

This is just a picture of the other side of the room. It's pretty cozy for us...as you can tell by the fact that someone had just been lying on that love seat. :)

I hope everyone's New Year's break was as relaxing as our's! We had such a great time holed up in our apartment watching 'Friends' and 'Seinfield' on dvd (Christmas presents!) and catching up on some reading. We went to see a movie, watched sweet Cecily Smith for a while Saturday evening, did a little shopping and got a lot of rest and sleep! The only real work I did was to quickly reorganzied two closests and the bathroom cabinets and it was so much easier to start back to the grind today having everything put up, cleaned up, and freshened up.

I did get to try out the new cookie press I got for Christmas...

These are Vanilla and Nutmeg Sugar Cookies made with my new Springerle press from House on the Hill.

Each cookie is a medieval woodcut scene of family life...a lady spinning yard, a man herding sheep, etc. They were unbelievably easy to make and they are just about too pretty to eat.

Thanks for reading my little blog, friends. I know it's just nothing at all, really...certainly not life-changing but I really enjoy posting about our itty bitty home. It keeps me motivated to always be making things better! If you haven't already, I highly recommend looking through my short reading list. The blogs these ladies have written are really fun to read and very inspiring. They really know what they're doing when it comes to decorating and keeping a home fresh and pretty.

Much Love!