5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...Things that make the weekend even better:

• A good book
• A craft project
• A Jane Austen movie
• New magazines to browse through
• Lovely weather

FOUR...Of my Favourite Authors:

• Jane Austen (big surprise there, eh?!)
• Lori Wick
• Janette Oke
• L.M. Montgomery

THREE...Foods I don't like:

• Butterscotch chips (or really, anything butterscotch to be honest)
• Meatballs in pasta sauce
• Fennel 

TWO...Songs that get me going in the morning:

• I Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles
• Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley 

ONE...Thing that is a theme in my life:

• Umbrellas

xoxoxo, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...of my favourite Disney movies:

• The Little Mermaid
• Peter Pan
• Cinderella
• The Aristocats
• The Jungle Book
• Robin Hood

FOUR...songs on my playlist:

• Yesterday ~ The Beatles
• Oh My Stars ~ Andrew Belle
• Old Time Rock & Roll ~ Bob Seger
• At Last ~ Etta James

THREE...Apps I use the most:

• YouVersion Bible
• Padgram
• Dreams&Goals

TWO...Bible verses I've been thinking about recently:

• "May Your unfailing love be my comfort."  Psalms 119:76
• "Do not remember the former things nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing and now it shall spring forth."  Isaiah 43:19

ONE...Thought for the week:

"God is with you.  Not only is He with you, but He cares about every detail of your life.  He cares about the big matters, He cares about the small matters, and He's telling you: 'Fear not, there is nothing to fear.'" ~ Terri Savelle Foy

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...Things I am thankful for:

• My Saviour Jesus
• My Family, pets and friends.
• My health
• The ocean
• This blog and all who read it :)

FOUR...Scents I enjoy this time of year:

• cinnamon
• cloves
• apple spice
• pumpkin

THREE...Bible verses that I've been meditating on lately:

• "Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice."  Isaiah 41:10
• "You, O LORD, are my refuge!  You have made the Most High your home.  No harm will come to you.  No sickness will come near your house.  He will put His angels in charge of you to protect you in all your ways."  Psalms 91:9-11
• "He restores my soul."  Psalms 23:3

TWO...Favourite things to do in the Fall:

• Go for a drive when the leaves are at their peak colour.
• Sit outside on a warm day with a good book and cup of tea.

ONE...Thought for the day:

• "Trusting God is realized when you act in faith, knowing what He has said is true.  Trust is not a passive word; it's an active word.  Make up your mind that you are going to believe God is for you, and put that faith into action.  Using God's Word, change your mindset, change your words, and go forward in victory!" ~ Joyce Meyer

xoxxo, R 

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Sorry it's been a while since my last post, I'm working on getting back on track :)

FIVE...Books I recently read and enjoyed:

Destined to Reign by Joseph Prince
A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano
Georgia on Her Mind by Rachel Hauck
The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck
Surrender the Heart by MaryLu Tyndall

FOUR...Things on my to-do list this week:

1. Mail some packages
2. Change bedding to Fall/Winter blankets
3. Clean...I've been slacking the last week or so
4. Plan baking for Thanksgiving this weekend

THREE...Songs I'm listening to today:

Kiss the Girl - from the Little Mermaid
The Florida Sun - The Almost
Respect - Aretha Franklin

Wow, that's quite the eclectic mix now isn't it?

TWO...Articles I found helpful this week:

What is your ideal day by Lemon and Raspberry (It's always good to dream about what our ideal day would be like so we can begin to start taking steps to making it a reality.)
How to Write Courageously by Marta Writes (I want to be a more courageous writer.)

ONE...Probably the only gingerbread house I would ever make that might turn out cute:

Sweet Gingerbread Scene 

My sister and Mom would totally get this!  Let's just say that I can make wedding cakes but a gingerbread house...

xoxox, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE…Weird things that make me cry:

o Classical music, it’s so beautiful I can feel it in my soul.

o Kermit the Frog singing Rainbow Connection

o Being Overwhelmed

o Commercials about Fathers with their little girls

o Seeing something truly beautiful, whether it be nature, architecture, art, etc.

FOUR…Things I need to focus on:

o God’s love

o My dreams

o Being positive

o Keeping my mind in the present moment and not in the future or the past

THREE…Of my favourite old movies:

o Hit the Deck

o High Society

o Guys and Dolls

TWO…Great articles I read last week:

Important Questions For My Frantic Soul by Emily Freeman

Finally. by Annie Downs (This is for all us single ladies) 

ONE…Yummy looking recipe for Fall:

Pumpkin-Pecan Cake Roll

xoxox, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

I know I said I was only going to do the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 posts for the summer, but I've been thinking about continuing them into the fall, at least for a little while.  I've been doing some planning lately and there are some changes coming up on the blog soon :)

FIVE...Interesting facts about me:

1. I am left-handed
2. I am a certified cosmetician
3. I am slightly afraid of squirrels
4. I have always wanted to go to Africa
5. I danced ballet for 8 years

FOUR...Colour combinations I'm liking right now:

Navy and light grey
Pink and Lime
Gold and turquoise
Tangerine orange and fuschia

THREE...Favourite Fall Things:

Cinnamon and fall baking spices
Pumpkins
Apples

TWO...Adorable embroidery patterns for Christmas...yes, it's getting to be that time- time to start crafting for the holidays:

Nutcracker Sweets - Christmas Ballet

Advent Tinies

ONE...Thing I did yesterday:

Mom and I made chokecherry jelly using berries right from our own yard.  That was the first time we've made it here at this house.  Sunday afternoon we were having tea out on the lawn and seen the berries were ready, so we thought we'd make up a batch.  It turned out lovely so hopefully we can make another batch once the other berries are ripe.

xoxox, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Sorry this is a day late!

FIVE...Adorable Free Embroidery Patterns:

Fall Embroidery Designs - Wild Olive
February Vintage Pattern Stitch-Along - Feeling Stitchy
The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me - Wild Olive (This song always makes me cry!)
Cute Bird - Craft Pudding
Lovely Butterfly - The Split Stitch

FOUR...Yummy recipes I'd like to try:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert
Pear Bar Cookies
Microwave Oatmeal Bars
Apple Pear Coffee Cake

THREE...Songs on my playlist right now:

Every Good Thing - The Afters
The Way You Smile - Newsong featuring Francesca Battistelli
Runaway Car - Matt Kearney

TWO...Books I read over the last few days that I thoroughly enjoyed:

Love Finds You in Maiden, North Carolina by Tamela Hancock Murray

She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell

ONE...Amazing article I read today:

Don't You Know Who I Am? by Kasey Bess

xoxoxo, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...songs on my playlist right now:

I Should Have Known Better - The Beatles
The Florida Sun ~ The Almost
My Guy ~ Mary Wells
These Boots Are Made for Walking - Nancy Sinatra
Hello, My Name Is - Matthew West

FOUR...Books on Time Management and Organizing I read and enjoyed recently:

Tell Your Time: How to Manage Your Schedule So You Can Live Free - by Amy Lynn Andrews
Organizing from the Heart: Change Your Mindset, Conquer Your Challenges - by Stephanie Baker, Beth Beutler, Karina, Whisnant   (I'm actually still reading this one)
What the Most Successful People Do on the Weekend - by Laura Vanderkam
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast - by Laura Vanderkam

These were all really good and I'd recommend each one if you're interested in getting yourself on a schedule or organized.  My absolute favourite though was Tell Your Time, it walks you right through how to find out what your life goals are and then how to schedule your time so that you actually end up accomplishing them.  It was so helpful and exactly what I need right now.  Organizing from the Heart is also extremely helpful in giving step-by-step directions on how to both organize your home and your life.  I'm not all the way through it yet, but so far, it is really great.  And both of the What the Most Successful People Do books were awesome and so inspiring!  I want to read her other book 186 Hours now. 

THREE: Quotes:

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." ~ Jane Goodall

"I find television very educating.  Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." ~ Groucho Marx

"You're trying to carry everything in your life by yourself.  And you are falling under the weight of it but that was never God's intention.  He doesn't want you to carry it yourself.  You can't do it, only God can do that.  And that's what He says, He says: 'I never meant for you to go through this by yourself.  I wanna go through it with you.  I wanna carry it for you.'" ~ Lacy Mosley

TWO: People I've been watching on YouTube lately:

Terri Savelle Foy - Love her!!

Miss Jen Fabulous - She has the best beauty tutorials I've seen.

ONE...Cute little dog on my knee:

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

This week's 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 is all about my travel favourites and places I want to see:

FIVE...Places I want to go to one day: Russia, Africa, Switzerland, France, and Germany. (Not to mention Australia, Japan, Austria, The Netherlands, China, Greenland, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Singapore, Bora Bora, Fiji...I could go on and on!)  

FOUR...Reasons I like to travel: It gives me a whole new perspective on life, learning the history, seeing a place I've only read about or seen in a book, and meeting so many different people.

THREE...Cities/Towns I fell in love with:
Narvik, Norway
Edinborough, Scotland
Dublin, Ireland

TWO...Of my most favourite places: Tivoli in Copenhagen, and York Minster in York.

ONE....My favourite moment when travelling: When I realize I'm "actually" there.  Nothing can beat that feeling.  (and I also have to add, the moment when you cross over the line from night to day while flying and the sun starts to come up.)

xoxoxo, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...Of my favourite quotes I came across this week:

"God will change your circumstances, but He'll change you first." ~ Terri Savelle Foy

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it.  You either have to laugh or cry.  I prefer to laugh.  Crying gives me a headache." ~ Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing." Leo Buscaglia

"My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me." Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)

"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life.  When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I wrote down "happy".  They told me that I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." ~ John Lennon

FOUR...Books I want to read soon:

Make Your Dreams Bigger Than Your Memories by Terri Savelle Foy

Happier At Home by Gretchen Rubin 

What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam

What the Most Successful People Do On the Weekend by Laura Vanderkam

THREE...Patterns I want to stitch up:

OINK by Wild Olive

Cute Days of the Week Bunting by The Split Stitch

Bloom Flower by Shiny Happy World

TWO...Things I want to make this week:

Another mug rug and a pin cushion.

ONE...Adorable sewing pattern I'm thinking of purchasing to make some baby shower gifts from:

Ruffle Onsie from Tookies by Trish

xoxox, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...

Geese on the beach this morning.

FOUR...

Songs I'm enjoying this week: Matt Kearney - New York to California and All I have.  Michael Bolton - Georgia On My Mind and M.C. Hammer - U Can't Touch This.

THREE...

Outings this week I'm hoping to attend: Afternoon tea at the Tea House, Lunch at the Pancake House and the Quilt Show.

TWO...

Dish cloths I crocheted over the weekend to go with a wedding shower gift!

ONE...

Tea towel I'm embroidering.

xoxoxxo, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...

Little Owls I embroidered.  The pattern is from the Wild Olive etsy shop.

FOUR...

Peacemaker

Denis Sullivan

Sorlandet

Pride of Baltimore II

Tall ships that went by our house last week.  These were such fun for me to see since I've long been obsessed with all things that have to do with ships, pirates, and British fleets.

THREE...

Embroideries that are soon to become mug rugs.

TWO...

Nail polish colours I bought yesterday - Minnie Style and Shorts Story.

ONE...

Song I'm enjoying right now - All Those Pretty Lights by Andrew Belle.

xoxo, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...More days till my sister comes to stay for a week!

FOUR...Times I went swimming on Sunday in the lake.  It's been very hot here the last few days, and I'm fully enjoying it!

THREE...Nail polish colours I'm wearing right now: Suzi's Hungry Again!, Red Lights Ahead...Where?, and Can't Find My Czechbook - all by O.P.I.

TWO...Books I've read recently: Savannah and To See Your Face Again from the Savannah quartet by Eugenia Price.

ONE...New thing I'm enjoying this week: Crossword puzzles.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...Of my favourite things about summer: The heat, the long hours of daylight, putting my toes in the lake, sleeping with my window open at night, the hum of the fan as I drift off to sleep.

FOUR...Yummy summer fruits: Bluberries, strawberries, rasberries and blackberries.

THREE...Neil Sedika songs I've been listening to lately: Laughter in the Rain, Love Will Keep Us Together, and Rainy Day Bells.

TWO...Goals for July: Get myself back on schedule with my healthy eating, sleeping and exercising, and study in the area of who I am in Christ.

ONE...Goal for this week: Do some sewing.

xoxo, R

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

FIVE...Things I'm really liking right now: Kites, trees, whales, bunting, and anything patchwork.

FOUR...Things I'd like to do this summer: Have a bonfire, spend as much time as possible outdoors, sew my first quilt, and start learning Norwegian.

THREE...Favourite Bible verses: 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.", Jeremiah 30:17 "For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord, because they have called you and outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no one seeks after and for whom no one cares!", Psalm 29:11 "The LORD gives His people strength.  The LORD blesses them with peace."

TWO...Books I want to read: Alice in Wonderland and To Kill a Mockingbird.

ONE...Favourite devotion from this week: How to Survive the Stress of Summer.

I'm thinking of making the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 posts a weekly thing every Tuesday for the summertime.  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.  And like before, you can join in too by posting your own list on your blog and leaving a link, or share your list in the comments.  I'd be happy to hear what everyone else's lists are!

xoxo,
R