inspire me // hearts

valentines day is just around the corner,

so i'm sharing some pretty lovey-dovey hearts

that are inspiring me today!

heart gift wrap // wood heart necklace // corner bookmarks

arrow heart tee // washi tape // heart + keys stamp

giving thanks // 2012

image found here - text added by me

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1

I really have SO much to be thankful for. That's part of the reason why I try not to skip over Thanksgiving in the rush to get to Christmas; it's a day set aside just for being thankful for what we have! But I also want to be a woman who is known by my grateful, gracious, thanks-filled heart throughout the year, not just at Thanksgiving.

So, from my heart, I am thankful...

...for an amazing & wonderful God. A God who has saved me, who wants a relationship with me, whose mercies are fresh & new every morning.

...for my husband. His love for me really reminds me of God's even greater, more amazing love. No matter how cranky I am or how sassy I get, Hayden loves me. I never, ever doubt that. He thinks I'm beautiful no matter what, he works hard to provide for me, he never thinks less of me for being "just a wife", he always supports me, he rarely questions the amount of fabric/yarn that I buy (ha!), he makes me laugh, and he's my best friend. Babe, I am so thankful for you.

...for my family. I'm thankful for my parents & how they raised me, I'm thankful for my awesome & fun sisters who love me & are always willing to help out, for my in-laws & that I have a good relationship with them - thankful for every single person in my family!

There is so much more that I'm also thankful for, but really, God, my husband & my family are the most important. God, I pray that my thankfulness would shine through each & every day!

What are you thankful for?

handmade holidays @ oh, sweet joy!

i don't know about you, but i love shopping handmade for the holidays!

yes, it can be a little pricier than heading to walmart/target,

but i feel like it's so important to support other handmade artists.

(heather's about handmade vs. store bought is definitely worth the read)

and you can find such sweet & unique handmade gifts!

this year i am honored to be a part of

Oh, Sweet Joy!'s Handmade Holidays gift guide,

along with a bunch of other amazing shops!

it's going on all this week (Nov. 11th-18th)

with seven different categories, lots of great gift ideas

and even discount codes so you can save a little when you shop!

paper

for the littles

cozy up the home

jewelry

accessorize

needle & thread

wear

you'll find Petunia Blooms in the accessorize category,

along with a special discount just for you gift guide readers. ;)

pale aqua & red petals // pearls // aqua drops // pink petals

so please, please, please,

go check out all the gift guide posts

& all the awesome shops!

xoxo!

holding onto this season of Thanksgiving

it seems like Thanksgiving gets overlooked more & more every single year.

oh, Halloween is over, let's get out the Christmas stuff!

(and even before Halloween is over, sheesh!)

don't get me wrong, i love Christmas.

i love it SO much. it's my favorite time of the year!

BUT, Thanksgiving is so important.

it's so easy to become complacent about gratitude,

and the reminder to be thankful is so needed.

beautiful card found here

all my Fall decorations are out.

pumpkins & gourds are still set out around the house.

i just finished making a beautiful wreath over the weekend.

reminders of the Fall season and just how much i have to be grateful for.

>> what are you thankful for today?

by the way, if you're already pulling out your Christmas stuff, I'll still love you! ;)

be mine, valentine! {valentine's swap}

happy valentine's day, everyone! 

I got to take part in Caroline & Alissa's Valentine Swap this year,

and I'm so glad I did!

I was paired with Ashley from Sugar Mama Bakeshop.

She sent me a fun little box of goodies...

I got a sweet valentine card, a DIY cupcake for 2 kit (similar to this),

adorable cupcake flags & even a Starbucks giftcard!

{she's good, obviously.}

It was so fun to bake up my own little cupcake yesterday!

And to eat it, of course... ;)

Ashley, thank you SO much for the goodies.

So glad I got to "meet" you through this swap!

Be sure to check out her blog & shop while you're at it...

hope you all have a lovely valentine's day! xoxo! 

{merry christmas q&a}

stole this from Libby...so fun!

1. egg nog or hot chocolate? I really dislike eggnog, but hot chocolate stirred with a candy cane is super yummy!

2. does santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? We don't do Santa at all, but presents should always be wrapped.

3. colored lights on tree/house or white? I prefer white; it just coordinates better with everything {to me}.

4. do you hang mistletoe? Never have, but it might be kinda fun. ;)

5. when do you put your decorations up? I like to celebrate one holiday at a time, so definitely after Thanksgiving. It at least has to be December.

6. what is your favorite holiday dish? Hmmm...I'm actually not sure. I really like stuffing with lots of gravy on it.

7. favorite holiday memory as a child? Going to pick out a Christmas tree, then listening to Christmas music while we all decorated it.

8. when and how did you learn the truth about santa? It was never an issue because we never did Santa. I used to get in trouble with other parents for telling their kids that Santa wasn't real {when I was like 5/6}.

9. do you open a gift on christmas eve? Nope.

10. how do you decorate your christmas tree? White lights, red & gold-ish balls, some special ornaments & snowflakes. I used a red tablecloth for a tree skirt, too! ;)

11. snow! love it or dread it? I thought I hated it, but then we spent last Christmas up north with my grandparents and I loooved it! I wouldn't want to live in it, though.

12. can you ice skate? It's been like 10 years since I went ice skating...I really want to go again soon!

13. do you remember your favorite gift? Hmmm, not sure. I've had a lot of favorite gifts over the years!

14. what's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Celebrating the birth of the Savior, spending time with family.

15. what is your favorite holiday dessert? If it includes chocolate, I'm happy!

16. what is your favorite holiday tradition? It's always been special that my dad would read us Luke 2 on Christmas morning before we could open gifts.

17. what tops your tree? Growing up, an angel {from my parent's December wedding}, now a star.

18. which do you prefer: giving or receiving? I really love giving...but I also really enjoy receiving. :) 

19. candy canes: yuck or yum? YUM. I've already eaten too many this season...

20. favorite christmas show? I really love Holiday Inn. Bing Crosby AND Fred Astaire in the same movie!

21. saddest christmas song? The Christmas Shoes. Hate it. Won't listen to it ever. {also, Matthew West's One Last Christmas is terribly sad, too...}

22. what is your favorite christmas song? Um...I love so many Christmas songs! Chris Tomlin's version of Joy to the World, Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, O Holy Night, a bunch of the Christmas hymns, etc, etc.

How about you?

so thankful.

I'm taking the day off tomorrow to spend time with my husband & our family,

so I'm posting some things I'm thankful for early...

Oh, and be sure to stop by on Friday!

I'll be sharing some great handmade Black Friday deals

that you won't want to miss.

{our leaves for my in-laws' thankful tree}

I have SO much to be thankful for.

I really, really do.

I'm thankful that my Father's grace is all-sufficient,

no matter how many times I mess up.

I'm thankful for my wonderful, amazing husband.

I'm thankful that this year he is my husband, not just my boyfriend.

I'm thankful for how hard he works.

That he helps me out in so many ways.

That he makes me a better version of me.

That he loves me through all my craziness.

I'm thankful for my family {which is now a lot bigger!}.

I'm thankful for the way my parents raised me,

even though I didn't always agree with them.

I'm thankful for my 4 little sisters.

I'm thankful that I have great in-laws.

For my friendship with my sisters-in-law.

For my sweet nieces & nephews.

I'm thankful that my husband fully supports me in

being a stay-at-home wife {and someday, mother!}.

Thankful that I can serve him by taking care of our home.

That it gives me time to pursue all my various projects.

That he doesn't say anything when he comes home to a crazy crafting mess...

I'm thankful for my husband's job.

That even in all the crazy changes,

God has been faithful & provided so much for us.

I'm thankful for our cozy home.

Thankful for a place to call our own.

I'm thankful for the ability to create.

For my hands & the things they can do with fabric, hot glue, etc.

For my sewing machine.

Thankful for my little shop, Petunia Blooms.

For color, needles & thread, crocheting, and more.

I'm thankful for music.

Thankful for the years of piano lessons I've had.

Thankful that it's something I can use in my church.

Thankful for all the music I can listen to on Pandora.

For all the inspiration music holds.

I'm thankful for good books.

Thankful that my mom taught me to love reading,

all those years ago.

Thankful for libraries & book stores.

Thankful for all the things I've learned just through reading.

I'm thankful for my little corner of the blog world.

Thankful for the lovely ladies I've "met" through blogging.

Thankful for your encouragement, dear readers.

I'm thankful to be me.

For this wonderful life I've been given.

For finding joy in the everyday.

So much to be thankful for,

and not just on Thanksgiving. :)

What are you thankful for today?

{eight things}

{one}

It's a Tuesday morning that feels like a Monday morning. Blah...

{two}

I had a lot of fun over the weekend with some of the people I love the most!

{three}

I live 20 minutes away from the beach, but I almost never actually go to beach.

Sad, isn't it?

{four}

I did go to the beach this weekend!

It was a lot of fun. :)

{five}

It was a great weekend, but not the most productive.

I have a lot to do this week!

{six}

 The fireworks yesterday were so pretty, but so loud!

The Sweetheart said that next year, I'll have to bring some earplugs...

{seven}

I looove kiwis. They are SO yummy.

{eight}

I am an extremely lucky girl.

Look who's going to be mine in 95 days...

Wouldn't you agree? ;)

{happy weekend} + a discount code!

({color love} will return next week...)

Hello lovelies!

It's Friday, and I've got lots to do...

The Sweetheart has family visiting from out of town,

it's my sister's birthday tomorrow,

I'm trying to finish up bridal shower gifts,

pretties for the shop...

{it's been so cloudy here, I haven't had a chance to

take any product photos to show you...sad.}

So I'll be pretty busy this weekend!

It is a holiday weekend {happy 4th!}, 

so I thought I'd share a special discount code...

Use the code HAPPY4TH for 15% off your next purchase,

this weekend only! The code will expire on Monday night.

{the shop}

Happy shopping! :)

he is risen!

{source}

Because He died, I am forgiven,

Because He rose, I have hope for the future...

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Come and see the place where he lay."

Matthew 28:6

Have a blessed Easter.

hello, 2011!

Today is the last day of 2010.

Tomorrow is the first day of 2011.

Wow, time seems to fly!

There are some things that I definitely would like to accomplish in 2011.

And Mique posted this fabulous printable that I'm going to use for sure!

{Thanks, Mique!}

There are some things I'm determined to do, some that I'm

still deciding on, and of course, just for fun!

I'll be posting more on the things I'd like to accomplish in 2011 later.

In the meantime, I hope you & yours have a safe and happy New Year!

a {white} Christmas!

Yep, I had a very white, snowy Christmas!

It was quite lovely. My family & I went sledding, threw snowballs,

made a {very small} snowman...a great way to spend our holiday!

{a little background: I always thought that I hated snow, but then I realized that the last time I saw snow, I was only 7 years old. I think all I remember was being really cold!}

We made it home last night, and I'm very glad to be home.

My own bed to sleep in, all my various projects in easy reach,

a little warmer weather, and Target & Starbucks only 5 minutes aways! :)

There's still time to leave a comment here to win a special surprise from me to you.

I'll be announcing the winner on Monday.

Have a lovely day!

merry christmas! {& a giveaway}

{lovely photo via}

Because it's Christmastime,

and because I love all of you readers...

I wanted to give something away to one of you!

Of course, if I could, I'd give each and every one of you a gift,

but you know how it is. :)

I'll be putting together a special surprise gift,

which might include some Petunia Blooms lovelies.

I promise it'll be good!

To enter, just leave a comment.

Blog & tweet it for extra entries.

Merry Christmas!

{open to US only, please. the winner will be randomly chosen and announced January 3rd.}

{the holidays}

{source}

For as long as I can remember, Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year.

The music, the lights, decorating the tree, putting out the nativity, buying/making & wrapping up gifts, etc, etc.

My sisters and I would always tumble out of bed as early as possible.

Retrieve our stockings and wait {rather impatiently} until we could wake up our parents.

But before we open any gifts, we stop.

We read about the true reason for the wonderful Christmas season.

We give thanks for the many blessings we've been given.

And it's always made for a wonderful Christmas morning.

*****

We will be leaving bright and early tomorrow morning to spend Christmas with my grandparents.

There will be a special post going up on Christmas Eve, and then it'll be

pretty quiet around here until I get back.

I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful holiday!

creating a {mostly} handmade holiday

{source}

I love handmade. I really, really do.

So this year for Christmas, I decided that I wanted to make as many gifts as I could.

I'm almost done!

My gift list included an array of crocheted projects, sewing, and a little hot glue. :)

I found three ideas that would be so fun to give as gifts, just in case you need some ideas.

{a flower}

via Trey and Lucy

I made a few of these flowers {in a smaller size} into pins.

They're so lovely, and really, really easy.

I just hot-glued mine instead of sewing them.

{one-hour neckwarmer}

via good knits

If you know how to crochet, this is the perfect easy gift idea.

I've made three of these already!

{and many thanks to Lisa for sharing it with us!}

{ruffled pouch}

via life in grace

I haven't made this pouch {although I have made some other ruffled goodies for gifts},

but it looks so cute, and the step-by-step instructions look fairly simple.

Edie also hosted a {12 Days of Handmade Christmas} if you need more ideas!

What have you been making lately?

{brrrr...}

source

{no, it's not quite that cold...*wink*}

I've lived in Florida my entire life.

I do love it, but I also love cold Christmases.

To me, it's not quite right to be able to wear shorts on Christmas Day...

I woke up this morning to 45*!

{and it feels like 37*}

Needless to say, this Florida girl is shivering.

But I'm excited to bundle up in scarves & sweaters, and I hope this weather lasts!

What's the weather like where you live?

{25 days}

{source}

I adore Christmastime.

It's my most favorite time of the year!

And Christmas is only 25 days away...

Oh, and my birthday also happens to be on Christmas day, so that's even more excitement!

I love listening to the classic Christmas tunes, decorating the tree, finding gifts for family & friends, wrapping up the gifts, baking holiday treats, and all of the other fun of the season.

What's your favorite part of Christmastime?

{happy thanksgiving}

{source}

Today I will be baking apple pies, cleaning up, crafting Christmas gifts, trying desperately not to listen to Christmas music until Friday, and pondering all the blessings I have.

Hoping you & yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

*****

I'll be back on Monday to announce the giveaway winners!

{blessed day}

Yesterday was a beautiful day.

The weather was gorgeous.

I found a dress {in my closet} that I liked wearing.

I baked berry muffins for Easter breakfast at church.

My parents gave me a pretty Liberty of London scarf.

And I drank coffee with lots of creamer.

We had a lot of visitors at church {which cheered up our pastor}.

My dad {the music leader} broke a string on his guitar. And we made it through anyway.

Two of my dear friends were home from college.

I ate lunch with my family {and it was SO good!}.

Then I went to be with my sweetheart and his family.

We played Words with Friends together. :)

Went for a walk in the lovely weather and had a good time just being.

Now, life returns to the daily grind.

Spring Break is over {sadly}, but it is my little sister's 17th birthday today, so we're still celebrating.

And "the daily grind" is not necessarily a bad thing.

I just may need some more coffee to get through it. :)

I hope you had a beautiful day, too. Please feel free to tell me about it!

A Little {early} Christmas

Christmas Tree

Yes, today it's Christmas a little early. But I love Christmas so much I couldn't resist, it being the first Monday in December and all. So to celebrate the season, I've put together a little quiz for ya. Because I love to answer questons!

{ When do you put up your Christmas Tree? }

Late. I'd like to put it up earlier (like the first of December), but my mom likes to wait until a week or two before Christmas. So we don't have any decorations up yet.

{ Favorite Holiday drink? }

I can't stand eggnog, so I'd have to say hot chocolate. But I could drink that anytime!

{ Favorite Christmas song? }

Right now it's O Holy Night by Barlow Girl. Winter Wonderland is also and all-time favorite of mine.

{ What do you like the most about December? }

There is so much I love about it. Here in Florida, the weather starts to cool off, Christmas lights go up, presents are given, parties start...It's just fun to me. Yes, it is very busy and very hectic, but I enjoy it. And of course, my birthday also happens to land on Christmas Day, so that's an extra dose of fun for me. :)

Okay, now it's your turn. Pick one of these questions (or all four!) and leave me a comment with your answer! Or you could post it on your blog and leave me the link. I'd love to hear about your Christmas!

And by the way; Merry SITSmas!