Makes My Heart Smile Award!

Dee at Sassy Designs was so sweet to give me this wonderful award!

Thank you so much Dee for thinking of me!

So here are the rules for the award:

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog (just right click on the image and copy, then paste to your blog post)

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award

3. Nominate 10 blogs

4. Put a link to their blogs

5. Leave a message for your nominee's

Blogs that make me SMILE~

1.http://boundbythelove.blogspot.com/ Whitney at Bound By the Love (my daughter at Auburn University). I love to read her blog and see her love for the Lord and her creations! She makes me SMILE!

2.http://justsomethingnannamade.blogspot.com/ Faye at Just Something Nana Made. I love to read about the strength and encouragement that she finds from the Lord! She encourages me and that makes me SMILE!

3.http://www.rrmama.com/ Beverly at RR Mama. I love to read about her family and daily life with her two boys! She makes me SMILE and often makes me roll over laughing!

4. http://dreamsofpurelove.blogspot.com/ Bev at My Creative World. What can I say about Bev~ Everybody loves Bev, A heart of Gold and a spirit to match! She makes me SMILE just thinking of her!

5.http://asplendidadventure.blogspot.com/ Mary at A Splendid Adventure. (Bev and Mary are sisters) I had to meet these girls and they did not live too far. What a wonderful day we had! Incredible artist! She made me SMILE on the day I met her and I am still smiling from our visit!

6.http://lynnslovelies.blogspot.com/ Lynn at Lynn's Lovelies. Oh my goodness, her crochet work is incredible. She makes me SMILE because her work reminds me of my Aunt Olie!

7.http://kaishon.blogspot.com/ Rebeckah at Life with Kaishon. Her photography of children is amazing and her thoughts are so wonderful! She makes me SMILE because I know she loves children so much!

8.http://lindajos.blogspot.com/ Linda at Linda Jo's Obsessions. Her blog reminds me so much of mine~ It covers so many topics and I enjoy them so much. Love her post on Art! She makes me SMILE because she is so interesting!

9.http://onevintagehag.blogspot.com/ Debbie at One Vintage Hag. You could say she is my boss. LOL I rent a small area from her at Vintage Village. Our blogs brought us together and that makes me SMILE really big! I love HER!

10. http://tiedupmemories.blogspot.com/ Tracy at Tied Up Memories. Her blog is so wonderful and fun. And Vintage has a special place in my heart. Every time I pull up her blog and I am greeted with her header I SMILE!

Gifts to Encourage!

Some of the treats I left in my kids book bags and

lockers to encourage them through their days!

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by everything that you get out of your "groove" totally? Well, that is where I am at...... "Groove less" and Lost! I have had so much going on the last couple of months that somewhere I lost ME! I have not been able to do a piece of art since I arrived home from my ART RETREAT! (Isn't that a hoot... go somewhere and be so inspired and come home to tired to react on your inspiration!). Hopefully this is the week to pull myself back together, get back into my daily routine! Because of this lack of enthusiasm or whatever is causing my "rut" I am listing some of my favorite encouragements hoping to be inspired, encouraged and at the same time offering you ideas to encourage others! LOL

7-UP: 'Seven up-lifting' thoughts for a good week!
Angel: Thanks for being such an 'angel'!
Apple Cider/Wassail mix: A little something to spice up a cold winter day!
Basket of Bath Items: When you feel like a basket case, take a break, and slow your pace!
Bath salts: Some days can be a strain on your body and your brain, so when you feel stressed, a hot bath is best, it truly will help keep you sane!
Bubble Gum or Bubble bath: May your day bubble over with fun!
Cupcakes or Cake: You take the 'cake' _______. We think you're first rate!
Candle: Thanks for letting your light shine!
Cinnamon Rolls: Here's a sweet treat 'rolled up' with warm wishes!
Donut: 'Donut' you know we love you?
Gummy Bears: You're 'beary' special!
Jolly Ranchers: Have a Jolly day!
Kool-aid (with pitcher): Thanks for being a 'kool-aid' when things were tough!
Life Savers: You've been a life saver!
Loaf of Bread:
For being there when you were 'kneaded',
for 'rising' to the occasion, large or small.
For never 'loafing' on the job and
Helping others 'heel' through it all.
No matter how you slice it, you are an amazing person. Thank you for all you do!
Measuring Cups or Spoons: Wishing you a joy beyond measure! (Great Wedding gift topper)
Nuts: I'm nuts about you!
Oven mitt filled with treats: I have to ad-mitt, you're a great neighbor (friend, teacher)!
Pasta and spaghetti sauce: Have a pasta-tively easy dinner tonight!
Peanut Brittle: It doesn't matter how you break it, you're the greatest!
Pencil and Notepad: Just a note of Thanks!
Pie: No matter how you slice it, you're a great dish!
Popcorn or Caramel Corn: Just 'popped' by to wish you well!
Popcorn Balls: Hope you have a ball!
Rice Krispie Treats: Snap, Crackle, Pop! I think you're tops!
Root Beer: We're 'root-ing' for you to have a great day!
Salsa and tortilla chips: Have a hot and spicy day!
Snicker's bar: When I am around you I snicker!
Soda: Pop, pop, fizz, fizz. Oh what a great dad you is! (Fun for Father's day)
Soup: You're Souper!
Sparklers: I love to see your sparkling smile, it makes me want to smile!
Swedish Fish: Catch the spirit!
Sweet Treat: Wishing you a day filled with sweetness!
Sweet Treat: You're so sweet. Having you as a friend (neighbor) is a real treat!
Whopper: Hope you have a 'whopper' of a day!

Tribute to The Ultimate Sacrifice...

Thank you to everyone who has made a sacrifice and continues today to make a

sacrifice for the protection of the USA!!!

John McCain may not have won the Presidential race, but Senator McCain and his family has always made the ultimate sacrifice of serving our Great Country!

Thank you to All and God Bless YOU and YOURS!

Bug Must have been Temporary...

As you can tell, I have my followers back up and all is well! It must have been one of those bugs crawling around in blogland again! Thank goodness for the exterminators!!! Now, I can back to some serious blogging!
Hugs,
Yvette

??Removing Followers to use Blog??

All of a sudden, I started having problems with my blog! A message would come up as soon as I pulled my blog up saying that it would have to abort.

I looked it up on the internet and it said to remove my followers. I did and now it works!

I hate the fact that I can't have my followers up. Does anyone have a solution?

Thanks!

Sweet Tweet Swap...

A GREAT big Thank you to Ele for hosting the "Sweet Tweet Swap"! I received my swap from Hope and I want to say thank you for being so incredibly sweet! I know I had a wonderful time putting together her goodie box. For the sweets there was only two things that I could include ~ pink Hersey kisses and pink Reese's cups! I also added one of my domino necklaces, some sweet rose petals, a birdie to sit on her shelves, an ATC card created by one of my favorite artist, an Altered Art Fairy sitting in a birds nest by another one of my favorites and last but not least a wonderful birds nest with three precious eggs! I hope you enjoy it all Hope!

NOTE: If you are not a visitor to Ele's blog, you have to go and visit.... So AMAZING!!!! www.abitofpinkheaven.blogspot.com

Finally~ My Art & Soul Project...

I promised you I would show you my project from the Art & Soul Retreat!

I had the best time making this piece. Lisa Kaus is an incredible instructor!Game Pieces, Key and Locks, Watch Pieces....

So many things on this one piece!
Recycle through your Art Pieces!

Jelly Bean Flower Vase...

For both of my showers, I made a Pink and White Jelly Bean flower vase. This is so easy and it really gives your table setting a big "bang"!

To make it all you have to do is get two vases, one being a little smaller than the other. I purchased mine at the great store.... Hobby Lobby! You insert the smaller one into the larger one at the store to make sure that you have room for Jelly Beans to go all around it. If it is shorter don't worry, you can put Jelly Beans in the bottom to lift it up. When you get home place the vases into position inside one another adding Jelly Beans in the bottom to make sure that the lip of both of the vases are close to being at the same level. After this you want to fill Jelly Beans in between the two vases all the way to the top! I am sure that you can do this with other types of candy easy, I just like the Jelly Bean idea and it has lasted for four weeks in great condition!

For one shower I was able to cut and use the snowballs from my garden. My last shower the peonies were blooming beautifully in my garden and the dark pink and white worked well!

I hope you try this idea.... Simple and Beautiful!

Bridal Shower~ The many scepters of the Queen....

I had my niece's bridal shower this weekend and we had the best time! Today I wanted to share something that I came up in the middle of the night to present to both of my niece's at their bridal shower before they opened their gifts.

It turned out so cute and everyone loved it!

A splendid adventure happens when the

hearts of friends come together.
E Adams

~The Many Scepters of the Queen~

Lauren, You are now taking one of the biggest steps of your precious life. As Aaron’s wife and the future mother of his children, you will be taking on many scepters as the Queen of your palace.

At this point I present the "LOVE" scepter above!

Always remember no matter how big or small your home is, a home is built with the hearts that reside in it. You will fill it with treasures and memories of the life that the two of you will build together.Lauren, as a Princess of the King, God has given you directions to go by. You will find those directions in Proverbs 31. It is and will be all the guidance that you need to be a Wife of Noble character. Proverbs 31:17 tells us that she set about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for the task. I know you will be keeping a beautiful home. You will dust everything with love so that it will be sparkling when your husband arrives home and when you entertain your guest.

I now present her with a feather duster scepter (purchased a feather duster at Target)!

You will keep your dishes spotless and have them prepared with the best of meals.

I present her with a soap scrubber wand scepter (purchased at Target to match feather duster)!

You will help your husband clean the windows so that you both can wake up to see God’s creation made just for the two of you.

I present her with a window cleaner scepter (purchased at Target to match)!

You will clean places that you a times can probably not bear,

Present her with a toilet cleaner scepter (to match from Target)!

but then you will be glad that you did because You will complete a task that you never imagined just to retrieve a toy for your child.

Present her with a toilet plunger (also to match)!

Lauren, Through all of this your children and husband will praise you and called you blessed! They will shower you with roses and honor you because, Lauren, that is what you will deserve and will have earned.

At this point I am constantly throwing fake rose petals all over her!!!!!

As a Princess of the King, God will say, "Job well done my child as the Queen of your home and As Aaron’s wife, you have honored the Larkin name."
Lauren, Aaron will love you and help you be the woman that God has intended for you to be all this time. We all love you and know that You will daily strive to be the Proverbs 31 Woman that God intends for us all to be.
Love,
Aunt E

This was so much fun! I will tell you that it takes two people to do it,

one to read and one to present!

You want to have someone reading that will put a tremendous amount of emotion to it!

I give God all the honor and glory for coming up with this..... He awoke me from my sleep in the middle of the night and said, "Get up child, I have something for you"!!!

God is Good..... All the Time!

My "Celebrities"....

I was driving home today from Athens (Home of the UGA Bulldogs) and once again my mind started drifting away. I was thinking about celebrities of today and basically how few role models we have for our children. I thought about how as adults we put so many people on pedestals, looking at how they live their life and desperately desiring the same life for ourselves. What is it about people on TV, politicians, athletes that we have this thought process that tells us they are smarter, stronger, better looking...... Well, basically that they live this incredible perfect life. After topping one of the hills on Highway 78, all I could see was the puffy clouds in the sky. My first thought..... Wow, I wish Jesus would just swipe us all up right now so that we could be with Him! Then I started thinking about in Heaven I couldn't wait to meet my "celebrities" there....... To see Jonah and his adventure with the whale......

Talk to David and hear of his mighty adventure against Goliath

And Noah...... What faith to go against everyone and know that God was speaking to him
Two of my favorites, Ruth and Naomi..... The most beautiful story of love and devotion

And my favorite role model..... Paul! We never knew what the "thorn" was, but he lived with it and knew that God had a job for him to do. He suffered, but he suffered for God's Victory!

Yes, these are my role models..... the one's that I one day look forward to talking and fellowshipping with! Praise God for His Wonderful Word.... It's there that we find some of our truest heroes and role models.

Art & Soul....

Hampton Roads Convention Center in Virginia

As a student of Architecture, this was such an awesome structure!
Is this not cool?
A small picture of the room where we
could purchase all the goodies we wanted and needed!

And now ...... for the best~ a picture of Lisa Kaus and me!

Lisa made everything so simple and I was amazed at her thought process.

Her work has always intrigued me.... I think that is because of her love of using shapes, beeswax and most importantly her imagination~ So creative!

A work in process.....
I loved this class and my piece of art that I was creating.

My wonderful and talented table partner, Amanda. One of the things I found so amazing about our class .... Each piece was totally different. Lisa was awesome to encourage us to use our own thoughts about our own work~

I will try to put up a better picture of my piece tomorrow

and the piece that I purchased of Lisa's~

Home again...

Yes, I am back home! I had my treatment yesterday as soon as I got back and I am trying to allow the meds to kick in! I cannot wait to share with everyone what happened at ART & SOUL! It was amazing.... Everything about it! I loved the class that Lisa Kaus gave! She is an incredible instructor and motivator! I also learned so much about new products available to us. The Art and Soul store was enormous and I must have visited the store four or five times. AND Vendor Night~ WOW..... Could not believe it. The only bad thing about it~ TOOOOO Many people pushing and shoving to see items. I am always the one being pushed back to the back and busy apologizing for accidentally hitting someone. For you that pushed and shoved~shame on you! You can usually purchase an item over the internet, not need to be rude. And while I am at it... Always and I mean always get permission from the artist to take pictures of their work. I was amazed at the women taking pictures and not buying anything from the artist. NOT COOL!
Besides to many people at Vendor Night, everything else was perfect!
I will try to put up some pictures tomorrow!
Hugs,
Yvette