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One Fantastic Easter Table!!!

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Twigs Easter Table

Sometimes I don’t feel like the awesome self that God created me to be.

Sometimes, even when I’m writing posts about Being Grateful, trying my best to make you laugh, and trying my best to make me laugh at myself, I can’t pretend to feel like everything is perfect.  

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But that’s okay. I gave up perfectionism quite awhile ago and exchanged it for a life of living with as much authenticity as I can, and it is a much easier way to live.

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So when I’m feeling a little frustrated that this broken wrist of mine makes it hard to create or write, or even type . . . when slowing down allows feelings I’ve been burying with busyness to surface and reminds me of how much I miss friends I left behind . . . wayyy over on the opposite side of the country . . . it’s okay.

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 It’s good to feel sadness over being so far from people that I love.

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It reminds me that I’ve been blessed with good, good friends . . .

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. . . and family who I love more dearly than they can fathom.

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So when I’m forced to slow down and the feelings arise I embrace the sadness, thanking God for the many people He’s placed in my life that have brought me such joy . . . and thanking God for the new friendships He’s developing here in this, our new community.

Last week, since I couldn’t paint or construct or sit typing for very long I went to a favorite new place here in Greenville, SC.

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TWIGS is a wonderful home and garden shop where I like to go to soak in beautiful displays and be amazed at the creativity of others.

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Last week I went into TWIGS to buy a few tulips for my front door arrangement (check it out HERE) and they allowed me to photograph their Fantastic Easter Table!

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Isn’t it over-the-top stunning?

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I also snapped a few photos of the display that greets you as you walk in the front door.

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Do you see the bushels of mini-watermelons?  This store always brings a great big smile to my face!

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I’ll be in a cast for at least five more weeks so you may see the posts slowing down a bit.  While my mind is full of ideas, my right hand isn’t cooperating very well and typing is a SLOW and somewhat painful process.

I hope you were inspired today by some fabulous Easter decor.  For more ideas check out my Pinterest board:  Spring/Easter Ideas  I think you’ll love it!

Blessings,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
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My Secret to Great Looking Arrangements Using Faux Flowers

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I am thifty. Yes I am.  But I also like my Faux Floral Arrangements to look good!  And while I’d love for my home to be filled with fresh flowers all the time, I don’t have the budget to replenish them each week.

Do you want to know My Secret to Creating Great Looking Arrangements Using Faux Flowers?  In this post I’ll share with you the Spring Basket I just put together for my front door.

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I started with a door basket made from loosely woven vines and lined it with some sheet moss.

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Then I tucked in some really nice looking purple and pink sprigs of faux lavender purchased at Michael’s, and some little sprigs of white flowers from my own stash.  The basket, the moss, and the flowers were, so far, very inexpensive . . . especially with coupons. I only shop Michael’s with coupons and I have the store App loaded onto my iPhone so I never forget my coupon at home.

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The next addition to my basket, and the crowning glory, were three gorgeous faux tulips.

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Buying a few realistic flowers to add to the less expensive flowers IS my SECRET to creating a gorgeous arrangement.

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  Having a few stunningly beautiful flowers tucked into an arrangement really makes it special, as they draw your eye directly to their beauty.  These particular tulips look so real that you want to touch them and, when you do, they even feel real!

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While realistic looking faux flowers can be expensive, I only needed three for this smallish basket, and they will last for years to come.

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Last year I got to go to the LA Flower Market (pics HERE).  It is HUGE . . . blocks and blocks . . . and the prices are unbelievably LOW (unless you include the airfare to LA).  My local source for faux flowers is Twigs, in Greenville, SC.  Their single stem flowers, swags (like my kitchen swag HERE), and pre-made arrangements are fantastic.  I like to go there just to walk around and soak in the beauty!

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So were my beautiful tulips a little expensive?  Yes.  But since I’ll have them for years to come they were, in the end, a very thrifty find. If you liked this post please don’t forget to Pin It!

Now, do you know what would make my door pop even more?  Color!  Yes, I’ve been pinning pretty doors to my Exterior Door Colors Pinterest board for awhile now, so watch for some changes coming up soon!

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Happy Spring y’all!

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Freedom Friday – On Being Grateful

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I had a little accident in the garage last week.  We were hoisting a car top carrier to the ceiling when it fell, hitting me in the head and knocking me to the floor.  After lying there for a bit, deciding if I could get up, I finally did!  I ended up with a bruised backside, a lump on the noggin and a small fracture in my wrist.  I actually put off having my wrist x-rayed until this week when it didn’t seem to be getting any better.  Can you believe that I put it off because I didn’t want to seem like a wimp?

Anyhoo . . . it could’ve been much worse and I’m thankful to God that it wasn’t.

Welcome to FREEDOM FRIDAY – A devotional, emotional, spiritual and sometimes hysterical series that I will be sharing on occasional Fridays, in addition to my regular Old Things New posts. Why?  Because though once bound in chains Christ has set me free –  FREE to live, to love, to dance, to sing, to be who God created me to be!

Blogging Patti

So let’s make this Freedom Friday a little bit fun!  When I found out I had a fracture and would have to have my hand immobilized I was pretty bummed.  Hubby gave me the assignment of writing down 10 things I was grateful for.  Leave it to him to do that!  So . . . two days later and the list is complete and ready for your viewing pleasure:

TEN THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR:

10. I can take a break from working on projects (even though it is killing me just a bit).

9. I get to spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing leisurely dinners (do you know long it takes to chop an onion with one hand that doesn’t have an opposable thumb?).

8. I only need to shave one armpit.

7. Health, strength, and pretty nails (Wink, wink to my friend Leslie).

6. Wonderful daughters who make fun of our exploits and if they don’t stop may have to move home and take care of us!

5. Grateful we are still young (yes we are) and our daughters don’t have to move in with us again (I do love them though)!

4. Two hands that will work together again soon and will be just as good as new.

3. Thankful that the accident wasn’t worse than a bruised backside, a lump on the noggin and a small wrist fracture.

2. Touched that my husband takes responsibility for the accident (no, Kelly, it really wasn’t your fault), cares for me, and takes good care of me.

1. Happy to have this time to slow down and reflect on all that I’ve been blessed with.

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 LIFE IS GOOD . . . VERY GOOD!

Blessings to you dear friends,

My Signature

 

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:

Spiritual SundaysBeauty in His Grip Button

What Joy Is Mine

Project Inspire{d}

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Holly Barrett

purposefulfaith.com

Joy Dare Blog

a-wise-woman-builds-her-home


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Barbie SwihartEquipping Godly WomenDance With Jesus


countingmyblessingsAmanda’s Books and MoreSandra Heska King - Still SaturdayFaith Along the WayRenewed Daily - Recommendation Saturday

Mondays Making Your Home Sing Mondays The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings A Proverbs 31 Wife Darling Downs Diaries The Art of Homemaking Mom2Mom Linkup
Tuesdays Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky Cornerstone Confessions Titus 2 Tuesday Teaching What is Good Time Warp Wife Solo Deo Gloria Sisterhood More of Him Testimony Tuesday
Wednesdays A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Juana Mikels Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays A Little R & R Whole Hearted Home So Much at Home Mom’s Morning Coffee Women with Intention
Thursdays Serving Joyfully/Thriving Thursdays

3-D Lessons for Life/Thought Provoking Thursdays The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop I Choose Joy
Fridays A Look at the Book Christian Mommy Blogger Fellowship Fridays Blessing Counters Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays Faith & Fellowship Bloghop Grace & Truth Linkup
Saturdays Still Saturday The Weekend Brew
Sundays Spiritual Sundays Sunday Stillness

MORE – From Messes to Miracles – Book Giveaway!

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Life can be downright “messy” can’t it?  Have you ever felt as if there was something missing in your life, or had a longing for MORE that nothing could satisfy?  Have you ever wished for a different version of your life?  How about a different version of YOU?

That is what author and speaker Tammie Head was longing for when God met her and rescued her from a life in the sex trade industry, by personally whispering to her heart,

“You were made for more.”

MORE Messes to Miracles

I was thrilled when I was asked to review this book, especially since I relate so personally to the subtitle, “From Messes to Miracles”, in my own life.  From the time Tammie Head began her personal walk with Jesus she had a hunger to learn everything she could about the God who had saved her and a passion to share His Word.  Though she has been teaching the Bible for years, in this book she steps out in faith for the first time to share her story, and even as she wrote she found herself wondering what people would think of her when the messiness of her life was revealed, how others would respond to hearing of the less than lovely places God had rescued her from.  The wondering was stopped with the question,

“Do people know how good your God has been to you?”

In this inspiring story of God’s redemptive power, Tammie shares her past but her focus doesn’t remain there long as she turns our attention to God, the Redeemer, the One who changed her life.  She states that,

“Any significant change in our life begins with encountering God first.”

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Tammie’s writing inspires us to seek after MORE of God than many of us have ever done before, in our normal routine of going to church, reading a daily Bible passage and saying a prayer.  She talks about how our Christian culture has raised us to dress up and put on happy faces no matter what’s going on in our lives because “good performance is highly esteemed.”  She stresses the necessity of inviting God into all the messy places of our hearts so that He can bring about healing.  Wide open hearts is where our encounter with God begins!

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Are we ready for MORE in our lives? It begins with seeking after MORE of God.  And, “If we want more of God we must let God do more in us.”  This takes surrender.

In this book Tammie will lovingly teach what it means to fully surrender and the steps to walking with God.  She will ignite in you an excitement to know God the way she herself has come to know Him.  She will inspire, encourage, exhort, convict, and, in the end you will want to jump on board for an exciting life of MORE!

I recommend this book to all believers, new and old in the faith. For new believers, this book will teach you how to experience MORE of the same miracle working God we read about in the Bible, and for more seasoned believers, it just might stir up something new and exciting in your faith as it challenges you to stop doing Christianity in the same old way.  For both groups, this is a great book to read and to share with an unbelieving friend!

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As BETH MOORE said of Tammie, “This young woman is a gift to the body of Christ. You will love Tammie Head and you will love what God does through her. Above all else, by the time she’s done with you, you will love her God.”

I love Tammie Head and her God. I feel like I’ve come to know her personally after reading her story and I believe you’ll feel the same way too!  You can find the link to order the book MORE on my sidebar under “A Few of my Favorite Things” . . .

AND . . .

You can also enter to win a copy as Icon Media has generously offered a FREE copy of the book to one of my readers.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I will announce the winner on March 31st.  Please don’t forget to share this review with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.  You just might change a life! 

Blessings,

My Signature

I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:

Spiritual SundaysBeauty in His Grip Button

What Joy Is Mine

Project Inspire{d}

TuesdaysButton

Holly Barrett

purposefulfaith.com

Joy Dare Blog

a-wise-woman-builds-her-home


Photobucket

Thriving-Thursdays1

 

 

 

 

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Barbie SwihartEquipping Godly WomenDance With Jesus


countingmyblessingsAmanda’s Books and MoreSandra Heska King - Still SaturdayFaith Along the WayRenewed Daily - Recommendation Saturday

 

 
Mondays Making Your Home Sing Mondays The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings A Proverbs 31 Wife Darling Downs Diaries The Art of Homemaking Mom2Mom Linkup
Tuesdays Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky Cornerstone Confessions Titus 2 Tuesday Teaching What is Good Time Warp Wife Solo Deo Gloria Sisterhood More of Him Testimony Tuesday
Wednesdays A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Juana Mikels Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays A Little R & R Whole Hearted Home So Much at Home Mom’s Morning Coffee Women with Intention
Thursdays Serving Joyfully/Thriving Thursdays 3-D Lessons for Life/Thought Provoking Thursdays The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop I Choose Joy
Fridays A Look at the Book Christian Mommy Blogger Fellowship Fridays Blessing Counters Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays Faith & Fellowship Bloghop Grace & Truth Linkup
Saturdays Still Saturday The Weekend Brew
Sundays Spiritual Sundays Sunday Stillness

Preserved Boxwood Wreath Tutorial and Other Thrift Store Crafts

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 Savvy shopping.  It’s a family tradition . . . passed down from mother to daughter.  My mother never learned to drive but when I got my license you’d better believe she made sure I got a lot of practice . . . and the best way to practice was to drive to shopping destinations all over the greater Seattle area.  One of her favorite places was the gigantic Goodwill Store in downtown Seattle!  It is the biggest thrift store I’ve ever been to and it is amazing!

I don’t know if you know this Savvy Shopping Tip, but thrift stores are the BEST places to shop for seasonal decor . . . and right now they have their Seasonal displays right up front for your shopping pleasure!  Ceramic eggs that have lost their cool?  No problem . . .

Mossy Decoupage Egg

Cover the egg with sheet moss and a bunny graphic and it will be cuter than ever. 

Empty plastic eggs from Easter’s past? 

Decoupage eggs

They will be beautiful displayed in a basket once they’ve been decoupaged with Spring napkins.

A plain old basket with no pizzaz?

Mossy Basket

Moss it!!! To see the complete tutorials for these adorable projects, click on the links HERE, HERE and HERE.

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All that leads me to the main subject of this post, how to make a Preserved Boxwood Wreath.  My boxwood wreath began it’s life as a grapevine wreath adorned with silk flowers that were well past their prime!  Thrift stores and garage sales are a great source for inexpensive wreaths in need of a makeover.  You only have to look beyond the surface and imagine . . . what . . . might . . .  be . . . 

Of course that is the main theme of Old Things New!

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Grapevine wreaths are great to work because they are woven together loosely enough that it’s easy to tuck boxwood stems (even silk flowers . . . pretty ones) between the gaps, and their tight woody branches hold your stems in place as you work.

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I tucked my individual boxwood pieces into the wreath with each stem going in the same direction.

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Then I added green florist’s wire, wrapping it around the wreath several times to hold everything securely in place and to tame unruly branches.  I was careful to hide the wire under branches on the front side of the wreath.

partial wreath

If you prefer a “well-groomed” look to your boxwood you can achieve that by doing a little trimming with pruning shears.  I chose to leave my boxwood just a little bit wild!

For more boxwood ideas you can link back to my Decorating With Preserved Boxwood post HERE.  There you’ll also find the link to where I purchased my preserved boxwood in bulk (the thriftiest way to go by the way).

I don’t want to forget to remind you that Farragoz, the online painting course shown on my sidebar has a LIMITED TIME OFFER for my readers only going through the end of March.  The course, normally offered at $150 is being offered for $99.  This is a great value for this amazing online painting course and the only way to link up to the special offer is to click on the link below.  To read more about the course you can link back to my full post HERE.

Farragoz Special Offer

I know it’s been a pretty harsh winter for many and I hope it’s beginning to feel more Springlike where you live.  Doing a Spring project sure helps to make it feel like it is a bit closer.  If you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to Pin It or Tweet It!


Blessings to you my friends,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday: