Christmas in my art.

This is Friday's post on Monday. Yes! Again, this season leaves me busy and not able to fulfill my Friday blogging commitments. I am a no lines on the page kind of girl anyway as my BFF Tricia would say.

Although it does work because I will be a bit tied up this coming Friday.

This Christmas we decided to decorate our tree in something a bit less trendy or traditional.

John's 1st  mother (who passed away when he was 4) made some amazing ornaments that

 are in need of displaying! We are the proud owners of these pretty hanging balls of art!

They are royal looking.

I love them.

I call this one Marie Antionette

This one is my favorite!

 I love having family things to proudly display. Especially when they are as special as these.

What art they are! How inspiring too! They must have taken FOREVER to do since each one was done in its entirety by hand..each detail. See! Christmas is such an artistic time. I love all of the different expressions of creativity that this season brings.

And no tree is complete without these two precious babes beneath!

Have an Artsy Fartsy Friday on Monday this week and be blessed as you enjoy all of the beautiful expressions of art from other people's hearts. XO!

Colorful Immagination

The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination.  

~Ward Elliot Hour

 

 

 

Christmas Dressing

 I love dresses. I wish I had more reasons to wear them. I wore one to teach in yesterday and my students asked if I was attending a funeral or formal event after class. Sadly, dressing to the nines for no reason in weird 'round these parts. From birth until about age 25 I've always gotten new church dresses for holidays like Christmas, Easter, Arbor Day and Groundhog Day. OK not really on the Arbor Day or Groundhog Day dresses but it seemed like me and my mother found lots of reasons to buy that perfect little dress to celebrate the season. What girl doesn't love to dress up once in a while!?  Ever since I was little I looked forward to dressing up in the perfect dress. I don't think I will be getting that oh-so-perfect holiday dress with accompanying designer tights and patent leathers this year.  But don't you worry! In  the true Christmas spirit I have been dreaming luxurious dreams and have come up with a few wonderful ditties that I would love to own.   I love that they all have clever names. This makes them even cuter!  Holiday Cheers to being Christmas dressed!

Plaid Judgment Dress in Keen

 

Tea Ceremony Dress ( I love tea. I love ceremonies. I love dresses. Check!)

 

Je Ne Sais Quois Dress ( exactly!)

Home for the Holidays

The Marion ( possibly my favorite!)

Horizon Line (weird name, cute dress)

Don't cry, it's just Christmas!

Sometimes this season of gift giving, party planning, event attending and traveling can be a tadge stressful.  In my moments of stress (which have been few this year) I refocus on the whole purpose of Christmas. My Jesus was born. And my God ,who is the ultimate gift giver, gave me freedom from stress and worry when gifting me life more abudnant and joyful. Also, it's the gift that keeps on giving. Yeah. It's eternal- no big deal. So when the stress of what to get your mother in law gets you feeling less than merry and jolly- breath, pray and focus on what's important. The love behind the gift. The meaning of Jesus' birth and the purpose of this season.

Eating pretty

What a creative outlet the Christmas season is!

Everywhere you look there are colors, patterns, homemade goodies and friends gathering to celebrate.

These things inspire me to be even more creative in my gifting. Not just getting gifts but GIVING them out of a heart of inspired uniqueness.

Well speaking of unique creatives take a look at some of these pretty eats. You can't tell me that you don't love eating pretty things.  Now, some of the marzipan fruits are a bit nauseating but overall a well decorated cookie or cake just adds to the feeling of festivus in my tummy!

 

Try not to lick the screen :)

 

 

 

 

 

And what about these lovely works of art?!

I do well to get my graham cracker and icing structures to resemble a house at all.

Oh to have days and resources to mix art and food  for a living...

  

                                                                      a wee house!

 

Have an Artsy Fartsy Friday and an inspired weekend! XOXO

Tis the season..

..for me to be too busy to blog lately.

Getting up at 6:00 am to teach and then having other priorities that leave me little or no time for anything else besides work makes it hard to keep posting. I mentally post though. Does that count?

What a busy time of year! This month is full of things that inspire me. Christmas lights, shopping, giving, bright colors, baking and family. Christmas carols, celebrations, galas and most importantly intense reflection on my Jesus's birth. What a great time of year!!

My mom totally had pins like this on her sweet holiday sweaters when I was young. Cheesy but an oh-so-good reminder..

Get your pie on

 despite differning reports today is National Pie Day and Eat a Red Apple Day...

who knew?

So my tribute to one of my favorite hobbies, PIE!


Go eat one...or eat an apple pie and kill two birds with one stone. ( Don't really kill them though)

Another husband post..

5 Loves

I was tagged forever ago by my friend Karis to blog about my top 5 obsessions. It has taken me a while to come up with things that I am "obsessed' with. I wouldn't necessarily call these things obsessions but they are definitely things I love and am passionate about besides the given, my husband, my family, my Jesus.

So onto things that inspire me and make me happy that yes, I do tend to obsess over:

Cats! 

Check this out first:

 I am a self proclaimed crazy cat lady. I DO have a sweater, socks, holiday nostalgia that sports cats, kittens and various felines. My two cats, Dante' and Lola-Jean are the sweetest things. They are obsessed with me. And I too am obsessed with them.

Toes in the Sand!

Beaches=bliss. Time off= relaxation. Exploring new places= inspiration. Travel= fuel to my soul!

 

 

All things domestic!

Making my house a home. Baking myself into a frenzy and then redecorating to calm down. Finding cute little additions to make my space uniquely mine. Finding ways to be more Martha. Finding ways to be a domestic goddess. Cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening, party planning, remodeling refurbishing, rearranging! Love it all.

Come to my house and see! Let me cook for you and help you relax. Maybe I will sew you a set of curtains while you are there.

Ambiance and decor!

Whether it's dim lighting, perfect placement of throw pillows, an arrangement of wall hangings, or the perfect candle adding a welcoming smell to my house, I LOVE having ambiance. Truth be told, I pick restaurants based off of ambiance. I will suffer through tough steak and over-priced food to be able to relax and feel at ease because of ambiance.Places that make you just say "ahhh" and breath a sigh of relaxation.

 

and saving the best for last....

Friends!

OH MAN. This one I am obsessed with. Kindred spirits. Real connections. A partner in crime, prayer, laughter, shopping etc. I love being around people who get me and vice versa. Someone who is like you but adds perspective and depth to your life while inspiring you all the while. That's something to be excited about!

 

So here are my few friends that I am tagging to do the same:

Kim, Corinne, Tiffany