i am here!

Indeed, I am here!  I apologize for the lack of posts. I've had quite a few things taking up my time lately.

Yep...I found these little guys on our street about 3 weeks ago.  They were abandoned in a rubbermaid container and left without any food and water.  Their ribs were clearly visible and they were dehydrated and malnourished.  I took them in and cared for them and they recovered quickly!  Now, 3 out of the 4 pups have good loving homes! :) 

Isn't it something that it's already September?  And with that, school has begun!  Even though I'm not starting school (and I don't have kids starting school), I want to share some cute lunch notes with you from Twig and Thistle.  You can download them here!

Enjoy!

i LOVE flea markets

Yep...I recently discovered that flea markets are one of my very favorite things!  Yesterday I went to the Hartville Marketplace with my aunt and cousins.  I've been there before, but this was the first time I browsed through the flea market outside the marketplace.  At first I found myself overwhelmed at all the vendors.  I felt as if I was at a HUGE garage sale!  Despite feeling overwhelmed I was able to find some pretty cool things! :)

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

I came across these bottle caps and necklace at the same vendor and I paid $2 altogether.  A steal?  I think so! 

     I saved the favorite for last.  When I saw these antique keys, I became so excited!  The woman selling them had a pile of a bunch of old keys.  She probably thought I was crazy when I spent such a long time carefully selecting my new found treasures! :)  The older woman gave me a deal because I bought four.  She sold them to me for $4.  {{If you go to the flea market, you'll have to visit her.  She's such a sweet woman and she also sells her homemade candy--which is delicious!}} Lately I've been adoring key necklaces and now I can put together one of my own!  I wonder what else I can do with these keys?  Any ideas???                                                                                    

{try this at home}

Do you care for kiddos and sometimes run out of ideas to do with the kids???  If so, read on!  I would like to share a little something with you. :) 

This idea came to me while babysitting my younger siblings, Collin (7) and Hope (5).  We call it: activities.  Pretty creative, huh?  I know I should come up with a better name!  But that's the name for now.

We start by writing out "activities" (hence the name) on strips of paper.  After folding all the strips, we place them in a bowl.  You can probably guess the next step. :)  I have the kids take turns in picking an activity to do.  Here are some activity ideas: short games (e.x. Go Fish, match games, etc.), read a book together, and prepare a snack (popcorn's our favorite).  If you have high-energy kids, include a slip that tells them to run around the house several times! ;)  Also, I included small chores for them to do.  They were motivated to finish them so they can go on to the next activity! :)  The possibilities are endless!  Be creative!

humbled by grace

"All my changes come from him who never changes.  If I had grown rich, I should have seen his hand in it, and I should have praised him; let me equally see his hand if I am made poor, and let me as heartily praise him.  When we go down in the world, it is of the Lord, and so we may take it patiently: when we rise in the world, it is of the Lord, and we may accept it thankfully.  In any case, the Lord hath done it, and it is well.


It seems that Jehovah's way is to lower those whom he means to raise, and to strip those whom he intends to clothe.  If it is his way, it is the wisest and best way.  If I am now enduring the bringing low I may well rejoice, because I see in it the preface to the lifting up.  The more we are humbled by grace, the more we shall be exalted in glory.  That impoverishment is to be welcomed."

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith by C.H. Spurgeon

a good one for you...

I recently watched That Darn Cat while babysitting my younger siblings.  I've seen it several times before but I didn't remember it being so entertaining!  If you watch it, pay attention to the outfits Hayley Mills wears.  They're very cute and classy! :)

flower shirt giveaway>>>

Isn't this shirt cute?!  Head over to Tea Rose Home and you can enter to win it!  If you don't win it, you can learn how to make it and tons of other cute stuff.  Sachiko's blog is darling: please check her out!

proverbs.

"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man."

 Proverbs 3:3-4

my wonderful friend as of late...

a favorite thing

  cool shot found here.

Have you taken a look at the moon lately?  It's simply gorgeous!  I realized that the moon, especially when it's full, is one of my favorite things!  There are times when I can't keep my eyes off it. :)  It always reminds me of a song that Sara Groves wrote:

You are the sun shining down on everyone

 Light of the world giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant I can hardly take it in
And everywhere you are is warmth and light

And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can't be a light unless I turn my face to you

Shine on me with your light
Without you I'm a cold dark stone
Shine on me I have no light of my own
You are the sun, you are the sun, you are the sun
And I am the moon






 

Vintage Ideas for Modern Living

I became aware of Amy Butler as I browsed through one of her books while babysitting.  I ordered Found Style from the library and I'm already a fan!  This husband-wife duo own and operate a design studio in Granville, Ohio.  They also create fabric, graphic, and product designs for their studio.  Check them out here!

"Sometimes you have to look beyond the history of an item to see its potential."  Found Style

"Good style is ultimately a found style--stumbled upon, discovered, and collected over time.  It is easier to hire a designer, choose to be either shocking or conservative, to use massive clutter or leave rooms nearly empty for effect.  But homes that feature a true sense of style are most often those that have been lovingly assembled over time, piece by piece, matching old and new with creativity, common sense, thriftiness, and occasional humor."  Found Style

simple yet delicious

As my mom and I were preparing dinner yesterday, we're trying to figure out what to eat along with our breaded chicken and green beans.  My mom mentioned we could reheat some leftover egg noodles and throw some peas in with the noodles.  I thought maybe I could find a recipe real quick online.  Sure enough after Googling "recipe with noodles and peas", I found one that called for ingredients we had.  The recipe was the first one on the list! :)  Anyways, it came out tasty and extremely easy!

Here it is:

Egg Noodles with Peas and Parmesan
Recipe found at cookthink

1/2 pound egg noodles
3 tablespoons unsalted butter  (I used regular salted butter.)
1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas, thawed  (Because I didn't have time to let them sit out, I defrosted the peas in the microwave a little. Make sure you keep an eye on it and don't let it cook all the way.)
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup grated parmesan

1. Bring a large pot of water and 2 teaspoons salt to a boil. Add the egg noodles and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes.  (I skipped this step because I used leftover noodles.)
2. Melt the butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. When the foam subsides, add the peas. Cook 1-2 minutes, until peas are tender and heated through. Add the red pepper flakes and a light sprinkling of salt and pepper.
3. When the pasta is done, drain and add it to the butter and peas. Toss to coat. Stir in the parmesan and serve.

Pretty simple, huh? :)

ideal

The other day I came across a quote from the girltalk blog.  I found it encouraging and thought provoking!  I think I need to read every day. :)

"Here we have a picture of God's ideal woman...Faith in God that sees beyond present bitter setbacks. Freedom from the securities and comforts of the world. Courage to venture into the unknown and the strange. Radical commitment in the relationships appointed by God....This is the woman of Proverbs 31:25 who looks into the future with confidence in God and laughs at the coming troubles: "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." Ruth is one of "the holy women who hoped in God...[and did] not fear anything that is frightening" (1 Peter 3:5-6). It is a beautiful thing to watch a woman like this serve Christ with courage….Whatever else the great women of faith doubted, they never doubted that God governed every part of their lives and that nothing could stay his hand...Nothing--from toothpicks to tyrants--is ultimately self-determining. Everything serves (willingly or not) the "purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will" (Eph. 1:11). God is the all-encompassing, all-pervading, all-governing reality." --John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence, p. 35, 44

read {a} book

I have been super busy with regular summer activities and yet simply taking the time to enjoy these summer days! Hence the lack of posts. :)

If you had a peek into my life, you would find me doing the following: sleeping in, spending time in God's Word, creating goodness in the kitchen, playing the game Blokus with family & friends, working, babysitting, drinking way too much ice tea & eating way too much ice cream, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and reading good books.

Speaking of books, I came across some personal book plates awhile back.  They're from the Image Zoo Spark blog.

 What do you think?  You can download them here.

I also found this picture while blog hopping.  Aren't the books and bookends cute?  I think my future sister-in-law, Katie, would like the owl bookends. :) 

This picture came from The Little Green Notebook where Jenny shares home decor inspirations and DIY projects.  Even though I looked at only two blog posts, I like her already! :)  Please take time to check her out!

Cute, don't you think?!  I like the way she accessorizes!  Found at Urban Weeds.

I thought this is pretty cool. :)  It was generated from an original photograph!  Go here to find more.

Are you prepared for summer?  Download this summer calender for free! 

I'm back...

These are a few photos from my trip to NC...

...and here's one from the NEXT conference in Baltimore.

Brooke's pic