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

List #11. Things My Family Taught Me

I’m doing the 30 Days of Lists Challenge this month and I thought I'd share one of my favourite lists from last week today.

#11. Things My Family Taught Me
o To respect my elders
o How to bake – My Mom taught me and has always been my biggest supporter
o About Jesus
o To do it afraid
o To have integrity
o To be kind to everyone
o To reach out to those who are hurting and those who are less fortunate than I am
o To try and see things from the other person’s point of view – this one my Dad taught me
o To love and not hate
o To listen more than I speak, and to never think or act like I know more about a subject in a conversation with anyone even if I do – another one from my Dad.  He told me that you can always learn something from a conversation, even if you are more knowledgeable about the subject than the other person, as long as you keep quiet and just listen.  It really is true and does work!
o To put my best effort into everything I do

My family has taught me way more things than just these, but these were the ones that I listed.  I am so grateful that God chose to put me into this family, they are so wonderful and are my biggest encouragers and supporters.  I truly am Blessed.

Happy Monday!

xoxox, R 

Sparrows

My sweet friend Penny sent me this adorable embroidery kit the other day in the mail.  It's a beautiful sparrow and she said it was to remind me of how God cares about the sparrows and about me too.  I can't even begin to explain how this is exactly what I needed to hear right now.  I stitched it up and it is now placed where I can see it every day to remind me of this important truth.  Thank you so much Penny, you are such a Blessing to me.

"Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny?  Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's permission...Don't be afraid!  You are worth more than many sparrows."  ~ Matthew 10:29, 31 GWT

xoxo, 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

Congratulations to the Winner!

Hello,

Well, today is the day!  The winner of the blogiversary giveaway is: Jules (Tanknit)!!  Congratulations Jules!!  I hope you will enjoy the project bag and stitch markers!!  

Thank you to all who entered, this was a lot of fun, and I hope to do it again soon.  I wish each one of you a wonderful weekend.

xoxo, 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: