New Beginnings

If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies.

-Author Unknown 

Changes are always difficult. It's so much easier to just keep doing what we've always done. Why? Think of it like stepping outside and walking down the sidewalk to get your mail in just your underwear. We feel so vulnerable! We would rather do what we know we are good at and what feels comfortable to us. But where does this lead us? It leads us into a routine lifestyle where we end up only taking in breaths of the stale air in which we are familiar with. It leaves no room for fresh air to showcase our true colors in a world where God placed us for a purpose !

This is the place I'm at right now in life. Starting a new career is a scary thought for me. I will be the first one to admit that I am okay with routine in my life. It's comfortable, safe, and it's what I know. 

However, I will also tell you that once I get out of my safety boat and jump into the dark waters full of risk I usually end up happier than when I was in my boat. 

Here's the beauty in it, we have nothing to lose! 

Except for maybe a few miserable people in our previous journey that were only holding us back and who needs them anyways!?

We get a fresh start, an open door, a new beginning!

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your eyes on Him, and He will never leave you nor forsake you

 

Maryn Dawn

What a delightful weekend this has been. 

My dear cousin Maryn Dawn made the trip in to visit me before she heads off to start her career in Indiana.

Being an older cousin somewhat feels like being an older sister at times (minus the arguments). 

With us, it's always been hair and make up, hand-me down clothes, and juicy stories.

Nothing has changed.

Her contagious giggles, sensitive heart, and lovable hugs are just a few things I love about this girl.

 I am so proud of who she is.
Beautiful. Inside and out.

 

{Check her out}

Simplicity

When I look at this picture I think.... Simple. 

It is a much needed rainy day here, and I like to think of it as my simplistic day. 
Everyone needs a simplistic day now and again to gather life's pieces and organize them.
slow down. kick your feet up. 
 For me, it consists of staying in doors with a lit candle, reading, reflecting, organizing. 
I hope everyone can slow life down and have a simplistic day to call their own.
Simple. As. That.

Coffee Filter Wreath

Holy Sweat Monkey! 

Can you believe this heat wave we are having? I can't even go outside without feeling a loss of air in my lungs. Glasses fog up, pits start sweating, and no one lives up to the term good looking.  The saying "it's so hot outside you could fry an egg" would be pretty accurate right about now.

 So what does Tessa do when its 105 degrees outside? Crafts of course!

A wreath made from coffee filters.

I have seen these things all over blog land and decided it would be a good day to try and make one.

Here is a tutorial if you want to try one for yourself! 

Best of luck dear friends and stay cool !

My Little Missy Monroe

Red, White, and Blue Trifle

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.  -Elmer Davis

Get this recipe HERE 

Summer Lov'n

Long days.warm breeze.vacations.new projects.sunshine.water. bare feet. cookouts. friends. bike rides.weddings.bright colors.ice cream.

All reasons why summer is by far my favorite season.

Now get out there and enjoy it while it's still around!
Here's to a long weekend full of memory make'n and summer soak'n
:)

Tags

Ready to craft with me?

This is a fun and easy way to hand make tags for gifts, labels, jewelry.

 

All supplies were bought at Hobby Lobby.  

 Clay = $2.00 

Cookie Cutter= $. 50

Vintage Typewriter Stamps=$5.00 

Have fun with it!

Shake up.

Does anyone feel the urge to give your house a little shake up every once in awhile?
Rearrange rooms, paint old furniture, switch out room decor.
I did and do. 

After the labor is finished I always walk away proud.

I've had this book shelf since college days, and although it has served me well in its black suit, it was time for a fresh look.

I love the way it turned out- and all for the price of.... a little left over paint!

Truly Grand.

Over the weekend, I made the journey to my parents home town of Cincinnati, Ohio to visit family.

Blessed am I to say I still have my grandparents around.

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.  

-Douglas MacArthur

Daughters Day

Fathers day is supposed to be about serving your dad... making sure he has his feet kicked up, beer in his hand, and ESPN on right? 

Not this Dad. 

After a nice lunch out he put his working boots (loafers) on and came over to clean my gutters, walk my dog, and blow out my garage. I'm pretty sure he got the definition of Fathers Day mixed up with Daughter Day because if this were really a holiday, it would have been yesterday.
I am blessed to be his.

Happy Fathers Day, Dad !
I love you.

Perfect Peace

There's a song by Laura Story called "Perfect Peace" that has really spoken to me lately. It's a great reminder in the midst of a tough season that God is the only one that can give us true comfort and peace if we lean on Him.

 The song inspired me to create this print out:

Feel free to click on THIS LINK and print one for yourself !

May you always have Perfect Peace.

Goin' to the Chapel .

I may be a little biased when I discuss what an amazing wedding it was on Saturday, but it was one of the best weddings I have ever attended.

The bride was glowing, the groom was beaming from ear to ear, and the rest of the details such as the food, music, and drinks were all superb.

As the bridesmaids gave our hair one last curl, our lips one last swap of gloss, our necks one more squirt of perfume before walking down the aisle, I whispered to Kelly " Are you nervous?" ... her reply... "Not at all, just ready."
I would be lying if I didn't tell you that at that moment my eyes welled up with tears. Their marriage is a match made in heaven. They were both so ready and so confident in their love for one another, and that is a beautiful thing. 
To Kelly, a best friend and a now beautiful wife.
xoxo

Big City Friends.

Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold.

What is life without friendships?

 As the days draw closer to the wedding of one close friend, so does the friendship of another that now lives her life on the other side of the country. After being away from my other partner in crime for a year and a half, the three amigo's reunited in the windy city of Chicago. You know true friendship when time slips through the cracks and when we do reunite it's like we haven't skipped a beat. We always pick up right where we left off. People grow up, move on, take a different path in this thing called life, but I do believe that some friendships only get finer with time, and this is one of them. Even as grown women, we all three put our hands on top of one another and make pacts to the wildest of dreams and promises.

There is no distance that can come between us to take away our friendship, but when our paths do cross I am the happiest, and right now... I am one happy lady. 

Art of the matter.

A little bit of Northern air always does the body and soul good.  Of course with a little bit of wine and close friends and family to go along with it. I hope everyone had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend and took some time to remember the fallen soldiers that gave us our freedom so that we would be able to enjoy all that this land has to offer. This past weekend made me even more thankful for those that fought on our behalf, because I was able to soak in a relaxing vacation with a sense of freedom in a little place that really is a world of its own... Door County, WI.

Just about everything you touch, taste, or smell has to do with cherries. Which, in my mind just screams summer is here! 

From white pebbled beaches, to exotic colored forest, to breath taking sunsets, God was shining in all His Glory.

 Everyone just seemed at ease up there. No McDonald's, no Target, no Chili's Restaurant... which means no hustle and bustle, only leaving room for pure relaxation and nature to enjoy. I do realize I talk about the fact that life goes fast quite a bit on here, but I was reminded once again how true that statement really is. When we remove ourselves from our mundane lifestyles, and take the time to look around us, we find that His art surrounds us everywhere we go. It was nice to be able  to focus on that this weekend in a place where my every day life style didn't really exist. 

We all need this once in awhile, don't we?

Happy Short Week My Dear Friends!

Maid of Honor

and because of this... Saturday was an honor for me. Throwing a shower for a friend who you consider family is easy to do. Plus, I really enjoy playing hostess once everything is in order.
One reason I enjoy hosting so much is because of all the good left over food I now have to eat for the rest of the week. The cupcakes, however, I could probably do without since the goal is to try and fit into the dress in just a couple weeks.

I recently saw the movie "Bridesmaids", which if you haven't seen yet and are in the mood for a good laugh it's a must see. There is a scene in the film where the bride asks her best friend to be her maid of honor and of course the friend is honored and accepts the job, but after doing some research on the duties required, she starts to panic. I am sort of at this point in the process...

Have I done everything I am supposed to do? Is there anything I am forgetting? Does she feel like she can really rely on me with everything?
19 days out and I feel like there is still so much to do. Your best friend only gets married once and I want it to be memorable. I'm cherishing every moment we spend together. 
We're getting there!

Oh mother.

Mother's Day. 

Do all Mothers around the world enjoy having this day be centered around their "to do list" because they know their children won't complain about helping out because after all ... it is their day.

Clean out hot tub. Wipe down screened in porch. Put up awning on deck.

It's a good thing I'm a pretty good daughter and this day only comes but once a year ;)


Have you ever thought about the generations of mothers passed before you? Do you think your mother and her mother and her mother and her mother all shared similar characteristics? Do you see yourself becoming more and more like your mother the older you get like I do? Do you think this is part genetics or how we were raised? I would love to travel back in time and transform myself into a fly on the wall just to see if my great great great grandmother was anything like my mom.

Beautiful. Inside and Out. Hard working. Determined. Forgiving. Generous. Selfless.

To all you great mom's out there. Your day is over. But remember your children never stop learning from you. No matter your age. Keep up the great work!

Innocence

Child like innocence
A word of differences
Scared and yet curious
Knowing yet pondering
Seeking thoughts of many'
Growing beyond the imagination
Striking the fancy of others
Playful with the backyard world
Small in stature
Giants in their world
Innocence of a child
Trusting and yet so loving
Hands so small place in another's
Sunshine smiles, rosy cheeks
Laughter so sweet
Eyes of a clear soul
Pure as it could be
Children are born as a canvas clean and pure
Their sweetness and loving eyes
Gentle smiles and sweet laughter
Giants as care givers help paint their blank canvas
This I say stop and watch what you shall do
For when you shape and paint a childs world
So this they shall become
As giants to paint another canvas of a child
-Donna L Hughes

Mystic Roses Died

"Crayon Angel's songs are slightly out of tune and my mystic roses died"- Fleet Foxes

What can I say? April was a rough month for me. 

I let the stress of life get me down. Blogging was put on hold while I cleared my mind of it all.

But I am back after taking a deep breath of new perspective air.

Vacations are perfect for that aren't they? A wise man by the name of Dad once said "we don't realize when we are in the moment that we are making memories until we are out of the moment itself."

Good reminder to cherish what we have while we still have it. 

One reason I love photography. Being able to capture that moment, that memory for a lifetime.

One thing I've realized this past month is that our feet are not on solid ground unless they are standing on the trust and promise of our Heavenly Father. We may think we have it all together and can handle the trials that face us on our own but in an instant it can all be swept away. 

Laura Story sang it perfectly " What if trials of this life are our mercies in disguise?"

With that, I am back. So hello dear friends :)

Spring Flings and Things

Well we did, done, and we will do it again.

Flea Market shopping season has once again begun.

Every time I go, there seems to be one particular item that everyone goes ga-ga over and you see people carrying it around all day. Pussy willows were the hit this trip around. Of course with my luck, I bought 2 bunch's at $5.00 a pop and the minute we walked outside, there was someone selling them for $1.00 a pop. Guess who became the brunt of the jokes for the rest of the day? I suppose it does pay to shop around before you buy the first thing you see. Oh well, just means I will appreciate mine that much more :)

 {by the way, if you are like me and enjoy people watching , flea markets are the place to go}


Besides the weather man telling a big fat whopper to the locals regarding the temperature for the day, we had a great time filled with a little shopping, laughter, and wine. What more could you ask for?