Tony and Shayna

Crochet Covered Ocean Stones

2012-01-25T12:26:00.000-05:00

A Blanket for Oscar

2012-01-18T08:30:00.003-05:00

A Special Date

2012-01-13T09:45:00.003-05:00

We celebrated our 9 years of togetherness with a trip to Mother Earth Brewery and a fancy veggie dinner at Tokyo. It was all very good!!! Tony & I have so much fun together!! :)

Nine Years of Togetherness

2012-01-12T09:37:00.000-05:00

His alarm goes off at 5am and the ringing mingles with our dreams for approximately 5 minutes. I roll close to him and say, "Tony, your alarm is going off." The noise stops. Tony gets out of bed. I'm laying there, trying to figure out what day it is. Thursday. January 12th. Excitement enters. It is on the twelfth that we celebrate out monthiversary. How long has it been? How many months have we been Tony & Shayna? I do early morning math. 108 months. I get out of the bed, find my Tony and tell him, "Today we've been together for nine years." :)

It was nine years ago, that Tony asked me to have lunch with him after that Sunday service. My 18 year old self shyly asked my parents if it would be okay and they said "yes." He picked me up in his little white pickup truck (the one he drove to work in this morning; the one I walk with him too every workday morning, where we exchange hugs and kisses and "i love you's.") We ate lunch together at Ryan's Restaurant and talked the entire time about all kinds of things. We got back in his truck and we both said, "it feels like I've known you forever." And it really did. It felt so natural to talk to this guy named Tony who was two years and seven months older than me. I think at that moment, we both knew that we were meant to be Tony & Shayna for the rest of our lives. :) We walked around the mall for a while, talking and laughing. In pure jest, he shocked me over and over again in the KB Toy Store, rubbing his feet across the patterned carpet and touching my arms. He picked on me for saying "bince" instead of "since" and for calling hot chocolate "cocoa."

The Thursday prior to this, my dad had invited Tony over to my families house for dinner. Tony was in the same Sunday School class as my parents and my dad had taken a liking to him. We had beef stew for dinner and we sat around the table as a family playing SkipBo. I wish there were pictures from back then. I wish I would have journaled my thoughts. But I do know that Tony was an instant fit into our family ~ and it was nice knowing that he was "pre-approved" by my dad. :)

There was never an official, "Shayna, will you go out with me?" But we have always marked January 12th, 2003 as our starting point. And we've been counting the months ever since. Tony was my first boyfriend, my first I-love-you, my first kiss, my first everything. For several of my growing up years, I had prayed that God would lead me to a good husband, one that I could talk to about anything and everything, one that would lead me well. A best friend is what I prayed for, and God was so gracious to provide just that!!!

By the Hour

2012-01-05T19:14:00.000-05:00

A glimpse of my day - a picture by the hour. :)

9am

morning workout

10am

a good book

new patio and christmas fire pit :)

volunteer winter lettuce

11am

audio book started

company sheets freshly folded

12pm

leftover soup - yum!

1pm

super soft scarf for a dear, dear friend

2pm

a winter field while running an errand

3pm

taking the joy dare

naming 1,000 + gifts in 2012

4pm

prepping dinner ~ mashed potatoes, gravy, broiled onions, and salad

5pm

movie time ~ Hachi was a very touching movie

6pm

movie time continued

7pm

a clean kitchen

2012 - The Month's Draft

2012-01-02T16:56:00.000-05:00

I loved Ann Voskamp's idea of The Day's Draft ~ the recording of the day-to-day tasks and jotting down a focus for the day. I loved it so much, that I decided to pattern my yearly goals/recordings down in a similar manner, except mine will be a monthly report. My areas of focus will be:

Selah - a passage of scripture or topic to dwell on and chew on throughout the month
Room by Room - an area of my house that will be further purged & organized
In the Kitchen - new recipes to be tried
Reading Room - I'd like to complete at least 24 books this year
Gentle Domesticity - recording my handmade projects
Hospitality & Relationships - purposeful family and friend times :)

I look forward to posting my results toward the end of each month. Happy 2012 everyone!!! :)

My Life Now

2011-12-30T13:14:00.000-05:00

This morning I ask myself, what do I want my life as a homemaker - as Tony's homemaker - to be? What should it look like? What is my heart attitude in it? What are my motives? This is what my heart is feeling drawn to, during these last days of 2011. I don't want to just wash to dishes, just scrub the kitchen floor, just fold clothes, just make the bed, just cook dinner. I want these things to be done with purpose, remembering to do it all joyfully as unto the Lord. I heard recently that because Jesus was both 100% God and 100% man, there is a marriage between heaven and earth, there is a since of nobility as I meet the practicality of this day to day life. It is a great, high honor to be a daughter of the King with a husband and home to care for ... and I want to care for them well!!!

A super sweet, generous, warm-hearted girl who loves her husband, family, and friends very well. She is one of the dearest friends one can ever have. Because of the great love that God has put in her heart, she joyfully serves her family, treasures their everyday moments of togetherness, and practices a heart of gratitude on a daily basis... naming her grace gifts regularly. She has a love for domestic tasks, 400 thread count sheets, picture taking, & grand hospitality. When faced with trials, dark times, hurts, and agony, she recalls all the goodness and grace God has extended to her and her family through all her days, as well as the throughout history. She remembers that every cloud has on it some bit of silver lining and that God loves her oh so much. Her home is a true sanctuary, a haven, a resting place.

When my name is spoken of I so desire these character traits to be thought of. I want to be this person; this person that leaves a great god-honoring legacy for my children, grandchildren, great-great-great grandchildren. This is the bigger picture ~ that my life now impacts the legacy I will leave! This multi-generational mindset molds me this very moment and is the framework in which I want to live my life.

One who "keeps the house wisely and well, in prudent care and orderly comfort and cheerful peace, there, in the daily duties, trying and tasting her character issues in loveliness of bloom and blessedness of privilege, softly shadowing the household beneath its gracious power and unselfish gentleness; so that the heart of her husband rejoices in her, and the love which was planted within those wall strikes down its roots through all the thin soiled fancy and passion into the rich ground of manly reverence and honor, from which to draw a sustenance and life which shall keep it fresh and green in the midst of the years as those that are planted in the house of the Lord." -- from J.R. Miller's Home-making

Things I've found helpful as of late:

An interview with Rachel Jankovic

Baby steps to becoming an on-purpose home keeper
The heart of creating sanctuary

Christmas Dinner

2011-12-27T22:17:00.002-05:00

Our Home Come Christmas Time

2011-12-24T18:37:00.001-05:00

And more Christmas CHEER!!!! :)

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://heyitschristmas.bandcamp.com/album/hey-its-christmas-vol-2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Hey, It's Christmas! - Vol. 2 by Various Artists&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>
A merry, merry Christmas!!!! :)

Spreading Christmas Cheer

2011-12-24T01:29:00.001-05:00

<p>&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://folkangel.bandcamp.com/album/christmas-songs-collection-vol-1-3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Christmas Songs Collection Vol. 1-3 by Folk Angel&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

I have loved listening to these songs the past few weeks!! :) Today we braved the crowds in town to pick up a few gifts and all the groceries needed for our Christmas Eve feast. Once home, I fixed us curry mushrooms with thai infused rice for dinner. This eve before Christmas eve, we've watched a movie, played a few {competitive} rounds of Sorry Sliders, Tony's been working on a customers laptop, and I've been finishing up some handmade Christmas gifts. This day was extra special, since Tony didn't have to work!! Yay for vacations!! :) I hope you enjoy the songs as much as I have!!! :)

A Little Birthday Celebration

2011-12-21T14:59:00.002-05:00

Last night we joined our dear friends, James & Tinna to celebrate a birthday!! We had so much fun at one of our favorite restaurants (Macaroni Grille)!!

a sketch of James

my bestest friend and I

they sang him Happy Birthday in Italian and treated him to a slice of cheesecake

last minute doodles on the table :)

Merry Christmas Week!!!

2011-12-20T11:19:00.001-05:00

Pictures taken by our dear friend, Marcus of Crown Rights Media

Not Just Ears for Hearing

2011-12-17T19:59:00.001-05:00

Why, God? -- "My dear daughter, all things come to you with purpose. I have purpose and nothing can get in the way of what I am doing and desire to do in and through you. The suffering. The pain. The crisis that may arise. The wonder. The blessings. The provision. All come out of My love for you and have purpose in drawing you near to Me."

This is a sure read for those going through a tough time!! Dear Christian, remember that you are not alone in your trials and that the one who love you the MOST is carrying you through. :) Click here to read ~ http://resolved2worship.xanga.com/757698820/not-just-ears-for-hearing/

He Gives Us Peace

2011-12-16T08:39:00.000-05:00

Peace
be still
lay all your worries down
be still
oh my soul
our God is in control

and if God is FOR us
then who shall I fear?
and our God is FOR us
so lay down
be still
He is God

Hallelujah
our God has overcome
hallelujah
our Lord Jesus Christ has WON

and if God is FOR us
then who shall I fear?
and our God is FOR us
so lay down
be still
He is God

December Happenings

2011-12-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

So apparently I decided to take an undetermined "hiatus" from this little blog of mine. I could blame it on pure busy-ness ~ but I won't. :) December has offered many opportunities of family & friend togetherness times. We've been to Georgia and Virginia. Watched a few Christmas movies. We're doing our annual reading through Christmas Making by J.R. Miller. There's been fancy dinners with new recipes. New rounds of Words with Friends on our iPods. Birthday celebrations. Christmas ornament making and crocheting gifts one stitch at a time. Pretty winter decor is sprinkled throughout our home. There have been opportunities to share the everlasting gospel -- the Reason for the Season!! Sweet fellowshipping with my siblings in Christ. Just this week I've made homemade pudding, oatmeal cookies, and chocolate cake; and it is only Wednesday (eeek). Followed by workouts for sure ~ indoor and outdoor. And to top it all off, Miranda is officially my sister!!! :)

A Fabulous Birthday & Thanksgiving!!!

2011-11-26T21:06:00.001-05:00

We had a family-filled Thanksgiving with lots and lots of yummy food and sweet fellowship!! AND the day before that was my birthday ~ Tony surprised with a super special date night in Raleigh and the Forks Over Knives cookbook. :) Family gifted me perfectly ~ a pretty necklace / earring set, soft pleather purse, cute turkey photo holder, new fuzzy boots, delicate trench coat, handmade sisterly-love photo frame, organic dark chocolate, and a very pretty mirrored jewelry box all from the people I love LOTS & LOTS!! Oh, and we can't forget my annual ho-ho cake made by my mommy!! :)

The Fab-4 ~ lined up in order of birth. And right behind us is portraits from several years back. :)

Lots of yummy Thanksgiving food at my parents house ~ there were 12 people gathered around the table this year.

Opening birthday gifts :)

Family :)

27 Birthday Goals

2011-11-26T20:41:00.001-05:00

27 birthday goals to accomplish before my 28th birthday, in no particular order!!! :)

1. Make this pretty pretty sparkler hat just for me!!
2. Create lots of DIY home decor with my love
3. Have a couple photo shoot with lots of balloons
4. Prepare all 125 recipes from The Forks Over Knives cookbook!!
5. Find a pretty sparkly case for my phone
6. Try lots of new hairstyles
7. Lord willing, become a mommy ...
8. ... and create a super special baby room
9. Host a crafty party for some girlfriends
10. Crochet three more blankets by Christmas 2011
11. Lots and lots and lots of date nights
12. Make a new keychain
13. Complete Tony's childhood scrapbook
14. Sister / Mommy time for sure
15. Read lots and lots
16. Crochet something challenging (TBD)
17. Listen to all of the Narnia audio drama from Focus on the Family
18. Devotions with Dabney throughout the year
19. Create a playlist filled with songs that make me happy
20. Stand up paddle board or kayak in the sound
21. Extend lots of hospitality
22. Test the claims of a satin pillow
23. Cut my own hair all year long
24. Be a more consistent pen-pal
25. Advance my nutritional knowledge
26. Hold a plank for 3 minutes
27. Simplify (aka purge) our closets

Wa-la!! Let's see how many I can cross off during my 27th year of life. :)

26 Birthday Goals (wrap-up)

2011-11-21T08:54:00.001-05:00

Last year I wrote my first-ever birthday goal list ~ 26 things to accomplish during my 26th year of life! I enjoyed glancing at this list throughout the year and making a point to cross things off. It's just one more thing that reminds me to take joy in all the little things that make up life. All grace-gifts from a God who loves me lots. It definitely inspired me to do things that I may have otherwise put off. In just a couple days from now, the clock of my 26th year will strike twelve and I will be 27 years old. Here's a wrap-up of all the goals I accomplished this year :::::

1. Turn our home into a winter wonderland for Christmas 2010

2. Plan something super special for our 100th month of togetherness {May 12, 2011} ~ life was crazy busy during that season filled with school work, but that Saturday we spent the day at Atlantic Beach. The drive was loooong. We sang songs, talked, danced, listened to sermon jams. I crocheted along the way. We watched the surf competition for a bit, enjoyed some yummy mexican food for supper. The we spread a blanket out on the beach & enjoyed some drinks; took in the joy of the scenery that surrounded us. A cloudy sky, the many granules of sand, the sounds of ocean waves. A sweet mom cuddling her baby close and singing lullabyes to him, while the husband and little sister played in the water. We laid there & talked. Then we ordered red eyes at an espresso shop and with cups in hand took a short walk through a water/forest preserve.

3. Read classics from JR Miller & Charles Dickens ~ I completed :: A Christmas Carol :: A Gentle Heart :: The Best Things in Life :: Secrets of a Beautiful Life :: Things to Live For :: Christmas Making

4. Write a goal list for the Christmas 2010 season!!

6. Grow in my nutritional knowledge ~ I feel like I've made great strides this year!!! Some key players in this are the ToneItUp girls, booty calls with my sister, and most recently the eye-opening documentary, Forks Over Knives, and lots of health-minded books from the library. :)

9. Complete my first crocheted purse

10. Paint a large sunshiney canvas for the laundry room ~ these have made our laundry room all the more cheerful. Still need to take the final shots!!

12. Make something lovely with knitting needles

15. Grow a pretty little garden

16. Eat at Macaroni Grille with my Tony ~ it has become one of our favorites & we even had a little graduation celebration there with some super sweet friends!! These shots are from our first date there, while waiting for our buzzer to go off; we took lots of goofy pictures to pass the time. :)

17. Blog, blog, blog throughout the year ~ yep!!

20. Buy more pretty dresses ~ yay!!

21. Enjoy my free meal from IHOP

23. Super fun vacation!!! A trip to the outer banks to celebrate 6 years of marriage!! :)

26. Take life day by day :)

this chilly fall day

2011-11-17T14:02:00.001-05:00

I'm loving my cozy frog socks, homemade chai latte, & warm striped sweater. :)

Soaking in the Sunshine

2011-11-14T14:08:00.001-05:00

Lo-lo-loving this sunny fall day!! Perfect for sitting out in the backyard & delving into a good book!! Among other books, I'm currently working my way through "The Crazy Sexy Diet" by Kris Carr. I would love to hear what you're reading these days!!

Giving Thanks for Simple Blessings

2011-11-13T17:31:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we celebrated 106 months of togetherness!!! :) The day before I enjoyed a shopping-filled day with the Denham girls - then once home Tony & I jetted over to Greenville to meet up with some sweet friends at the Carolina Ale House. Needless to say, Friday was a late one. So our 400 thread count sheets (and the chilly fall air) beckoned us to stay bundled up for most of the morning. It was real nice! :) For breakfast I tried a new banana bread recipe and served it with honey tangerines, apple bites, and coffee.

Our slow paced morning was followed by some shopping at TJ-Maxx ~ we bought wine glasses, pretty anthropology-like bowls, and a $4 dress (yay for deals). That evening we hung out with some friends on base ~ we took a long walk together, browsed the BX and enjoyed a yummy veggie dinner & awesome fellowship. :)

I've started working on some Christmas DIY's. After 6 years of marriage, I think we've finally learned our own Christmas "style" ~ so let the decorating begin. After Thanksgiving, of course! :)

I have been l.o.v.i.n.g. our lengthy walks at the Cliffs of the Neuse. The leaves are so, so pretty!!!!

A dear, dear blog friend sent me the card a couple weeks back. Brought a HUGE smile to my face and praise to my lips for this friendship connector we call the world-wide-web. :) Dinner is in process ~ tonight we're having Roasted Brocolli & Sundried Tomato Penne with Rosemary Olive Oil Bread and kale salad. My sweet husband is in the spare room working on a laptop and reading out loud from Driscoll's Doctrine book. Our homemade Cider has turned out to be a great experiment. Fernando Ortega's voice is coming through Pandora. We have so very much ~ so many blessings ~ to be grateful for!!!

Part 2, Surf City Vacation 2011

2011-10-20T16:01:00.004-04:00

Thursday evening we rented two cruiser bikes from 50 South Surf Shop. Tony's was silver and mine was pink with a basket. :) We rode them for a few miles while the sun lowered along the horizon.

Friday morning we set out for a bike adventure. We rode from our beach house to the Quarter Moon Bookstore & Coffee Shop, 6.2 miles away. It was seriously so much fun!!

Half way there...

Tony had iced espresso - I had iced coffee. Then we leisurely browsed the store, read a couple short stories together, and purchased The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. We have really enjoyed reading it and have a goal to finish that and The Hobbit prior to seeing The Hobbit in theatre next December!!

Rabbit trailed to the ocean side...

And then to the sound :)

Tony's coming back for me; I had stopped to take a picture.

That afternoon, after some time on the pier & in the sand, we set out for another bike adventure - a bike pub tour. We were totally inspired by our friend Tom. Not many places were open, but we found a few. :)

That evening, our last night there, we all gathered at Daddy Mac's Beach Grille for a fabulous dinner and great view of the sunset!!

Saturday we took our usual "last day" photos on the deck. :)

Surf City Vacation 2011

2011-10-19T10:34:00.002-04:00

The sun set and rose seven times during our family vacation at Surf City, NC. It was so relaxing and fun and adventurous. Like a much needed full system reboot. We moved "all" our stuff into the beach house and made it home for an entire week. Our bed was graced with our trusty 400 thread count sheets and flannel comforter. The kitchen was stocked with lots of yummy food and drinks. The blinds were opened to let as much sunshine and beachy scenery in. uno attack and cards were placed on the edge of the long dining room table. The sound of waves drifted through open windows. The beach was our backyard for a whole week. The pier only a block away. And lots of quaint little shops within walking distance.

the morning view from our deck

morning cartoons

Walks along the sound :)

cloudy days

long walks in the sand

hello crab

this little bird walked beside me for about 3 minutes :)

laid under the trees

good night moon

a looong morning walk at south topsail where the ocean meets the sound,
lots of rain clouds in the near distance :)

lots of time soaking in the sunshine

and watching the waves roll in

Tony & I fell in love with the Tickle Monster book and complimenting monster gloves!!

Something Lovely

2011-10-19T09:30:00.001-04:00

Make something lovely with knitting needles. That was one of my birthday goals for my 26th year of life ~ and I was able to complete my very first knitted project while at the beach for an entire week. :) I took rosey cotton yarn and twisted it into a turban that can be worn as ear warmers or a neck scarf. You can make your own lovely "It's a Cinch Head Wrap" by following the free pattern here.

Mid-Week Date Night

2011-09-29T20:52:00.000-04:00

Around the Table

2011-09-28T14:44:00.000-04:00

Our Memere' & Pepere' have been in town this week which has resulted in lots of yummy-filled family dinners and outings. :) We've gathered around my parents big round table three times and our table once. Tonight the plan is to have a farewell meal at a local restaurant. It has been such a wonderful week and I'm glad that Tony & I are truly able to enjoy it without schoolwork hanging over heads. It's real nice!!!

Late Summer Salsa

2011-09-20T20:55:00.001-04:00

On this last day of Summer I picked a bowl full of green tomatoes from my garden and fixed a green tomato salsa to go atop our herbed potatoes at dinner time. {Dice tomatoes with onion and drizzle with olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper} Simple and oh so good!!!

Brittany's Birthday

2011-09-20T20:51:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, my little sister became one year older. She met me in town while I shopped for her gift. We tried on lots of dresses, but decided to settle on some fancy accessories. The family gathered together for dinner ~ bbq'd turkey with homemade mac & cheese, green beans, and cole slaw. Mmmmm! And mom didn't slack at all in the cake department. She fixed a yellow cake with chocolate sprinkled buttercream frosting. It was all so good!! We enjoyed our time together celebrating the "baby" of the family!!! :)

Business in Augusta

2011-09-20T09:02:00.003-04:00

Friday afternoon we loaded up our little white rental car, the one with no cruise control, and made our way to Augusta, GA. It was primarily a business trip, but we aim to make an adventure out of everything. :) So while Tony drove, I read out loud to him and crocheted some. We turned up the radio to sing and dance. We talked. and laughed. and sat in silence. Things that the bestest of friends do ~ enjoying our time together. After the clock moved forward about 7 hours we checked into our cozy hotel room. We freshened up and scouted out restaurants with large tap lists -- because we like variety and love to try new things! Google helped us find Rooster's Beak Friday night and Mellow Mushroom Pizzeria the next. :)

Most of Saturday, Tony worked & I hung out at the hotel. I took a nap, read, crocheted, worked out, painted my nails, caught up on email, and ate lunch by myself in the hotel steakhouse (a veggie quesadilla). In the evening we took a quick walk near the Savannah River, enjoyed a "Philosopher's Pie" at the pizzeria, and strolled the night time streets of downtown Augusta. Tony worked a few hours on Sunday before we took a more scenic, lesser traveled path back to our home sweet home (hwy 64 through Charlotte). We admired the rolling hills, lakes, rocks, and rivers. We drove out of the way a little and waited nearly an hour to eat at Taco Mac. :) It was worth the wait! We did more reading from The 4 Hour Work Week and The Search for God & Guinness. Two great books that have made it to our favorite list!!! Hours passed by as the wheels on our car went round and round. We paused for a short nap, reenergized with coffee and some chips & salsa. As the moon took it's place in the sky, we parked the car in our driveway, glad to be home! :)

Weekend Glimpse

2011-09-13T08:57:00.002-04:00

This mornings crisp air lured me into our backyard where the grass needs trimming and a couple parts of our fence need to be repaired from sweet hurricane irene. I sat there with my glass of fresh apple juice and J.R. Miller on my iPod. Today's Miller nugget ~

"True Religion is the great master-secret of all happy home life! The spirit of Christ alone will enable us to live together in perfect peace and love. The presence of Christ in the home is a perpetual blessing. We cannot be selfish, we cannot wrangle and strive, we cannot be bitter and unkind, we cannot be irritable and unreasonable, when conscious of the presence of Christ. If only we can make Christ an abiding guest in our home, and if we can keep ourselves aware of His being with us, our household life cannot help but grow wondrously sweet!"

Tony took the day off on Thursday and we were at Surf City by sunrise. See all the little specks in the water? They're surfers and Tony is one of those little specs. Hurricane Katia, although way out at sea, has been creating some nice surfing conditions on our coast. I took an hour-long walk that morning and the specs were sprinkled all throughout the ocean. In the afternoon we met up with some friends and the surfing continued all the way 'til dinner. :)

I took video footage with Tony's iPod, read from one of my favorite books - The Search for God and Guinness, and worked on my first crocheted lace project. I love the delicacy that comes with working with thin cotton and a tiny, tiny hook. Twist here, twist there, and before you know it you have a beautiful flower.

Saturday we set up the white board in our local park - one means by which to share the gospel with someone. Tony wrote some keywords on the board accompanied with a simple drawing. This opened the door for missional conversation with a guy our age.

That's Miranda - all dressed for the Luau. :) After the park, Tony & I joined some family & friends for good conversation, great food, and live music!! We had a great time!!!

This is our friend James who is completely in his element above - burning the grass in our driveway with a blow torch. :) After church on Sunday we had a yummy lunch of Thai Pineapple Rice, then the guys tackled our driveway while I cleaned the kitchen and fixed a blueberry cobbler. <-- That is me in my element. :)

Happy Tuesday, dear readers! I hope it is a wonderful one!!

This Mornings Workout

2011-09-01T14:34:00.006-04:00

Brittany and I tackled lots of steps, running up and down a big hill, jumping jacks, side slides, push ups, and step ups. Then we topped it all off with some toning and zumba!! A banana kale smoothie was our special treat at the finish line. :) Ashley was with us on Tuesday for a similar workout -- so much fun!!

Miss Hurricane Irene

2011-09-01T08:51:00.002-04:00

Miss Hurricane Irene brought lots of rain and wind Friday night and all day Saturday. Our power was lost at 11am Saturday and returned at 2am Monday, although for most of that time we were able to borrow Tony's parents generator. During the storm, we mostly stayed snuggled inside on the couch. The blinds and doors were open so that we could take in some of the action happening outside. And my pretty raincoat was put to good use a few times. When it comes to storms, I definitely have a bit of my dad in me -- wanting to get a closer look and feel of the storm. From the inside, it was kind of comical to watch our newly built fence fall apart one panel at a time and land flat on our little hedge trees that we've been trying to grow for 3 years. :) Thankfully none of the panels broke beyond repair and we are only missing one. It must have taken flight. Repairs are coming along nicely.

Some weekend activities included, a pancake breakfast while we still had power, reading, crocheting, scrabble, revamping ShaynaMade and Seedshakers, a workout, some finishing touches on our sunshiney painting (pictures coming soon), movie time, popcorn, sun coffee, and lots of togetherness time. :)

All Done!!!!

2011-08-31T15:04:00.001-04:00

I am now officially married to the greatest [hottest] graduate from Florida Tech University. And I still get to share a dorm room with him. ;) This has been a long three years and we are so grateful to God for giving us the strength to finish. Last Friday (on the eve of miss hurricane irene), Tony submitted his last assignment and took his very last stressful exam. As soon as he pressed the submit button one more time, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off us. It was surreal (still is)! We kept saying, with much enthusiasm, we're really done. We're done with school. That was really are last test. No more school work .... over and over we repeated these truths, as our brain had a hard time comprehending this new reality -- life after school!!! :) There on the couch we sat, together, all done. We lifted up praise to God for the completion of this three year journey.

After hugs and kisses and a very squeally YAY from me, we got dressed up nice and enjoyed a cold one at Mother Earth Brewery. We sat out back, side-by-side, on their pretty patio and thoroughly savored our time together. Congratulations started to pour in from facebook (thanks to our dear family and friends). They made the night even more special! Chick-fi-la was our evening snack, followed by a dance party at home. :) We dimmed the lights, turned up Pandora, and danced the night away. It was so much fun, just the two of us celebrating a really HUGE mile stone in our lives. :)

And now for some pictures that have sprinkled my blog during this journey. :)

In the beginning :)

Great "healthy" snack while doing school work. :)

Way too many late nights!! Read this little "poem" I wrote on one of those late nights. :)

No work, no school, and minimal chores for an entire week. Priceless!! :)

It was a very tough journey that took a toll on us mentally and physically!! God's sweet grace carried us through!

Enjoying life

2011-08-17T10:35:00.000-04:00

Our weekend delivered lots of togetherness time. Extra hours wrapped in our high thread count sheets. A well detailed brewery tour. Over an hour long, thoroughly enjoyed conversation with a complete stranger, while we sipped on our flights. We are strangers no longer, thanks to facebook. There were moments with friends and family. A little skateboarding. And much time spent at our local movie theatre.

A lot is wrapped up in that last sentence. Our church is currently in transition mode and actually had service at the theatre Sunday morning. In the evening, we went with a couple friends to watch "Cowboys & Aliens." Upon exiting the movie, it was pouring down rain and apparently had been for much of our movie-watching time. The parking lot was crowded with cars trying to get out, but the firefighters did not deem it safe to do so, as the only road coming into the theatre was flooded with water knee deep. We sat in our cars for thirty minutes, heard that it was going to be nearly two hours before anyone could cross over, and took it as a sign to go watch another movie with our friends. Haha. "Captain America" was our second choice and paired well with twizzlers. :) About an hour later, our movie was abruptly stopped and we were told that we had to go ahead and cross the flooded road as another line of thunderstorms were on the way. So along with lots of other cars, we drove through the knee deep water and made it safely to the other side. It was all very exciting! :)

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In other news, we've been pet free for most of our married life. Several years ago, we found three blind baby mice under the stove. We didn't have the heart to kill them, they reminded me too much of the pet hamsters I had while growing up. We instead tried to feed them milk. They ended up passing away within a week... which I guess is a good thing. ;) More recently we had about a dozen baby black swallowtail caterpillars in our garden. Although they're maintenance free, they felt like pets as I went to check on them each morning. One by one they've disappeared - either taken by their rival wasps or in my mind they snuck off somewhere and built themselves a cocoon. While they were here though, I captured some photos and video with my phone, as my stand alone camera is still not working. :(

*****
I saved a variety of sunflower seeds from my garden. Soon, everything will be cleared out and we'll be adding some fresh compost to our garden beds. Can't wait!

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Mint Sorbet nail polish has been my favorite the past week.

*****
Last night we had a mid week adventure and decided to let our creative juices run. Pictures will be posted when we're all done. Blank canvas + cheerful paint + specially selected wine + music playing in the background + homemade bacon cheese fries = = a wonderful time with the man I love most!!!! You, my dear readers should try it sometime. ;)

This morning ~ a new day

2011-08-10T11:27:00.000-04:00

Our alarm went off at 4am. We were side by side in the car thirty minutes later. And arrived to the beach we call ours just in time for the sunrise. It was the last good day for surf-able waves from the tropical storm out at sea and Tony didn't want to miss it. He surfed. I walked on the shore for nearly an hour. Then journaled and read for a bit. All while God's handiwork was displayed in shades of blue, orange, and pink. We left shortly after the yellow ball gleamed over the ocean waters. We both had worked up a hunger and anxiously drove home. There we had a big breakfast of cheese grits with scrambled eggs and mandarin oranges. Then Tony got ready for work and the day proceded as normal. "We should do these early beach days more often." :)

The Mountains

2011-08-10T11:06:00.001-04:00

After 20 days, our air conditioner unit is back up and running--all rooms in the house are now cooled to 70 degrees and it's real nice to be able to walk from room to room without feeling like you're going into a sauna. There were times when parts of the house registered in at 100 degrees. Thankfully we were able to get a window unit early on in this adventure, which made it all bearable and for the most part things proceeded as usual. This kept the dining room, front living room, and kitchen cooled, so that is where we did most our living. Needless to say our house was a bit disorderly. So today I spent a lot of my day straightening up the house and it is back to normalcy for the most part. :)

Now to play catch up with lots of pictures.

Starting with our trip to the mountains last weekend. We left super early and were to my Mimi's house by 6:30am for breakfast. Upon our arrival she had coffee brewed and was so sweet to prepare breakfast for us all. She's the best Mimi ever!! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with her, Keith, Nikki, and my Aunt Gayle. Sweet moments! :) And as usual, the visit was way too short.

From Mimi's we took the scenic route to Asheville, stopping by Chimney Rock to walk on river stones and stick our feet in the mountain water. :) We would love to carry a big truckload of rocks back to our house -- and some of those rolling green hills too.

Once in Asheville we shared lunch with our dear friend Marcus at Bier Gardens. Great food, drinks, and fellowship!! :) We each ordered a beer flight with our meal, where we were able to sample 4 different beers of our choice (they had lots to choose from). After sipping all and rating them least-best, I will finish them off through the course of my meal in that same order, leaving my favorite for last! My favorite this time around was an ace pear cider.

After an afternoon nap at our hotel we met up with about 20 other Christians to proclaim the gospel at the Bele Chere festival. There are several hundred thousand people that attend this festival every year. We typically set up on various corners to pass out gospel tracts and talk with those that are willing to listen. There are always lots of great conversations. Saturday morning we went to minister at the abortion clinic, then back to the festival for the evening.

On our way home that Sunday we took the scenic route once again and ended up hiking to see the Lanville Gorge and Waterfalls. :) They say the gorge is "North Carolina's Grand Canyon." Well, don't get to excited. Haha. When we finally got to the gorge, Tony said "this is definitely not the grand canyon." :) Still beautiful and a fun time together though.

9 Days of Juice

2011-07-31T19:18:00.010-04:00

After watching "Fat Sick & Nearly Dead" via netflix, we decided to have a juice semi-fast of our own. I filled 2 carts with fresh produce, coconut water, and herbal tea for our 9 day excursion. :) Our fridge was packed and the excess flowed onto the counters and surrounding shelves. During these days our air conditioner went out, our juicer broke, and our car had to be towed. Eventful week for sure. We enjoyed the juice combinations (some pictured below) and were "full" most of the day. The evenings were tough, which is why I called this a semi-fast. ;) Overall it was great and I would totally do it again.

Pineapple Gazpacho Soup

2011-07-22T21:59:00.000-04:00

Perfect for those hot summer days that you don't feel like cooking and

your air conditioner stops working. {yes, that really did happen}

Diced pineapple
Chopped bell pepper
Fresh cilantro
Lime juice
Red onion
Salt & pepper
Apple cider vinegar
Sliced ginger root

Combine all together in the blender, pour into a big bowl or pitcher and let it chill in the fridge for several hours. Pour in a bowl and enjoy. I didn't include measurements because it is kind of a "make it to taste" recipe. Obviously you want more pineapple than anything else. :)

A Summer Night

2011-07-16T23:48:00.000-04:00

Our backyard beckoned to be occupied this evening. I crocheted. Tony read out loud. We are loving the privacy that comes with our new fence! Earlier in the day we picked blueberries together. Some were blended with raspberries, banana and yogurt for an afternoon treat. A blueberry pie is in our very near future. Once inside, we cooked dinner together -- jalapeno poppers, tomato sandwiches, and sprout salad. We enjoyed cuddle time on the couch watching the The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. And now bed time has arrived. Side by side we lay in our high thread count sheets. :)

Ken visits & we build a fence

2011-07-12T13:38:00.003-04:00

pretty things in my garden :)

From Wednesday - Wednesday our dear friend Ken stayed at our place. We teased him and said that we purposely planned to build our fence the week he was here so that he could help. I guess you can say he earned his food and lodging (and even a movie ticket). ;) He and Tony's dad were a great help!! We worked on the fence for 4 days straight. It was a LOT of work, but oh so worth it!! This past weekend, Tony and his dad added the gates. Now all that is left is to finish packing the dirt and trimming some of the tops. Then it will be all done.

The neighbor girls made beaded necklaces while we worked. And there's a picture of my fishtail bracelet.

The nails marked the spot. The auger strained to get through our very hard ground. After an overnight water soak and in combination with post hole diggers, a heavy spike, and the auger we were able to dig 40 some holes 2 feet deep. :)

Lowe's delivered all the materials on Thursday!! :)

The very first corner :)

July 3rd we celebrated Shonda's birthday!! Complete with a new pet turtle that stuck his tongue out at the camera.

Mrs. Donna's beautiful garden!! She has blessed me with many tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, bell peppers, and spaghetti squash. :) I've already fixed one large bowl of salsa and will be making another batch tomorrow.

On the fourth, we had my parents over for dinner and then joined more family to see the fireworks.

On Ken's last night here, we went to see Cars 2. I loved it!!
The evening was topped off with Brooklyn's Pizza & Krispy Kreme doughnuts. :)

Our Anniversary Trip -- Part 3

2011-07-06T10:28:00.000-04:00

Saturday afternoon we checked into our fancy apartment at Oasis Suites. It was pretty awesome! We enjoyed wine, showers, time on the balcony overlooking the sound. For our anniversary dinner I prepared steak, italian potatoes, the last of our garden peas, and dinner rolls. I cooked in my black high heels and anthropologie ~ special occasion, you know! ;) I had went into the bedroom to add some final touches to my outfit, while Tony added some final touches to the table. I could hear him shuffling around out there. I came out to all the lights dimmed just right - greeted with a sweet hug and kiss by my Tony -- and a very pretty wrapped box on the table. He surprised me!! The largest bottle of Miss Dior Cherie with a tiny clutch and travel size perfume. Love it!! And surprises are definitely one of my "love languages." ;)

The rest of our evening: Tanger Outlets, sun set, ocean waves, ice cream, and trivia on the balcony.

On Sunday I fixed cinnamon raisin french toast with blueberries and raspberries. We attended "Church of the Outer Banks," then made our way to the "S-Turns" at Rodanthe. We parked our car right past the no parking signs and climbed over the {hot} sand dune ~ once just to look at the ocean, twice to carry our things to the beach, and Tony actually climbed it a third time to retrieve my woven hat from the car. I sat on my brightly colored blanket with my hat upon my head and journaled about our days events. :)

Next stop was Frisco. We walked down a loooong, hot dirt road to get to the beach. Those with 4 wheel drive are able to drive their car right up to the ocean. After a few hours at the ocean, we started our long pilgrimage back to the car. It way off in the distance -- around the curve to the left. Back at our apartment, we enjoyed some time in the hot tub. We got our showers & into comfy clothes. We watched some TV and had a vegetarian dinner. Then we crawled in the very comfortable bed for 1 more night. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Monday morning we had a big breakfast on the balcony.We packed up everything, took pictures of our home away from home, and clocked out at 11am. :)

On the way home we did a drive by of Plymouth and a brief walk through the oldest incorporated town in North Carolina ~ Bath. It was a quaint little town filled with history.

On our way to lunch...

We used our Olive Garden gift card from Joey & Chrissie!!

Our waitress told us about this giveaway at the local Harris Teeter ~ so we went to get the information. If we win, it will be a good excuse to buy another one - that way we can ride together. :)

It rained, rained, rained a lot of the way home.

And were greeted with this beautiful evening sky shortly after reaching our sweet abode. We had so much fun celebrating our sixth year of marriage!! :) X's and O's to my love!!

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Sketches from my journal -- when we toured the Hatteras Light House, there was a sweet elderly lady sitting on a bench, sketching the lighthouse with all the trees in the forefront. It was beautiful and had lots of detail. That put me in a sketching mood the rest of the trip. So as I journaled, I embellished my words with little drawings. ;)

me on the beach with my loosely braided hair and woven hat, water bottle, and vogue

the two of us in the hot tub

our little squirrel friend

our loooong pilgrimage to and from Frisco beach

the love tree at Jockey's Ridge

Our Anniversary Trip -- Part 2

2011-07-03T22:18:00.003-04:00

From Cape Hatteras we went to Jockeys Ridge State Park to see the sand dunes. They say the temperature of sand can get 30 degrees hotter than the actual air temperature.

A lady was very kind to take our picture in front of the "Love Tree" at Jockey's Ridge. It is a live oak and black cherry tree that grew together at the base. The lady wished us a happy anniversary and many more to come. :)

The we went to the Kitty Hawk Memorial. We listened to a brief lecture/demonstration on the history of the Wright Brothers. Actually sat with some friends that we just happened to run into. :)

"...it is a wonder that they can raise anything at all." :)

Back to Jockey's Ridge for a picnic -- sprouts, egg salad, crackers, and trail mix.

We found a little squirrel friend that loved almonds and raisins.

As we were finishing up, some other people started to come to the picnic shelter, the squirrel flattened himself up agains the tree -- his attempt at hiding. ;)

Our Anniversary Trip -- Part 1

2011-06-29T19:09:00.004-04:00

This past weekend we had a lot of fun celebrating our sixth wedding anniversary!! I am so grateful to God for my amazing husband! He is truly my bestest friend -- the one I want to spend all my days with!! :) All of our pictures are taken with our phones & iPod, as my point and shoot decided to act up... now let the pictures begin!!

We started with ShaynaMade pizza, wine, and "The Collision" debate between Doug Wilson & Christopher Hitchens

All packed up and ready to go. It's amazing how just the two of us fill the car up perfectly for an extended weekend at the outer banks. I teasingly told Tony, "I don't know where we'd put kiddos if we had 'em." ;) I foresee a bigger vehicle in our future.

A beautiful sunset down hwy 171 (Martin County). Tony stopped the car so that I could get a picture. :) The sky continued to fade into richer shades of pinks & oranges & blues. About an hour prior to this pretty scene, we spotted a fairly large black bear (at least 200lbs) prancing across the road in front of us. That was quite exciting!! On this trip we also saw a mouse, a cat, a crab, and a turtle all crossing the road. :)

Making a blanket stitch by stitch ~ as the wheels on the car go round and round.

Early Saturday morning our feet touched the sand along the Cape Hatteras shoreline. We greeted each other with a hug and kiss and "Happy Anniversary's." :)

A little souvenir I found while taking a morning walk.

Breakfast at the Shipwreck Cafe. We read through some anniversary messages on Facebook and a very sweet email from a very sweet lady! It added just the special touch to our morning meal.

We walked to the top of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse ~ a first for the both of us! Even shared a little kiss at the bottom, right near the threshold. :)

hello moon, hello sun, hello dad

2011-06-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

Saturday we had a lovely breakfast in bed and watched the movie Tangled. Vanilla yogurt, topped with raspberries, and drizzled with healthy chocolate syrup (made from raw cacao nibs, honey, and coconut oil). It was awesome and definitely a new favorite!! In the afternoon we gave our yard some attention with a weed eater and mower. In the evening we enjoyed a fabulous dinner with some sweet, sweet friends. Then we met Tony's parents at the beach. We all stayed up late talking, watching TV, looking at pictures, catching up on facebook, and eating cookies. After a few hours of sleep, Tony & I walked one block over to the ocean. There, Tony surfed, I captured some memories with my camera & took a lengthy walk. The moon and sun could both be seen. We enjoyed breakfast with his parents then packed up the car and made our way to church.

hello moon

hello sun

Sunday evening we went to my parents house to celebrate DAD!! Lasagna, salad, and rosemary bread graced our dinner plates. Coffee and pig-pickin' cake was for dessert. There was lots of talking and laughter. Garden & shed admiring. And some even prefaced dinner with a round of Skip-Bo (Miranda won)!!

hello dad

being silly with Joey

Pictures "borrowed" from Chrissie ;)

A lovely sunroom

2011-06-17T18:26:00.000-04:00

Isn't this sunroom amazing? I love all the little details. I will definitely look to it for inspiration when it comes time to decorate our little outdoor nook... one day. Click over here for more pictures. :)

In the garden - 06.16.11

2011-06-17T08:25:00.001-04:00

Sunflowers open face toward the sun--opening one by one. Green tomatoes slowly turning a shade of red, and some orange. Cilantro flowers attracting happy little critters. :) The pea bed cleared with all remains stacked onto the compost pile. Soil was loosened and cucumber plants transplanted. Those bean beetles are still wrecking havoc, but new leaves continue to grow. An unknown culprit really likes broccoli leaves. A security camera may need to be set up to catch him or her red handed. ;) Two little raspberries on the verge of turning bright red! One for me and one for Tony!

Gift & Grace Moments

2011-06-14T19:15:00.003-04:00

I have been reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp as of late. Well worth the $4.99 to download it to my iBooks app on my iPod. It has been an excellent read thus far, and I can't recommend it enough. Just wanted to share a little snippet that I read last night.

To set the context, Ann is a mother of six. She had just been expressing much gratitude for all the beauties near and around her garden and kitchen: sunflowers, yellow finches, vases filled with flowers, quilted runner that her mama stitched for her... her heart is filled with joy as she gives thanks to God for all these "little" things.

Then her children come in for lunch - brothers start to bicker and shoot harsh glares across the table. One throws a piece of toast at the other. Ann's joy quickly begins to fade... now for the quote:

"How do I have the holy vision in this mess? How do I see grace, give thanks, find joy in this sin-stinking place?... God tries to gently drive the words of Caussade from the knowing of my head to the bleeding of the heart: You would be very ashamed if you knew what the experiences you call setbacks, upheavals, pointless disturbances, and tedious annoyances really are. You would realize that your complaints about them are nothing more nor less than blasphemies--though that never occurs to you. Nothing happens to you except by the will of God, and yet [God's] beloved children curse it because they do not know it for what it is.... What compels me to name these moments "upheavals & annoyances" instead of "grace and gift"? Why deprive myself of joy's oxygen?

...Really? I lay my head on the table. Do I really smother my own joy because I believe that anger achieves more than love? That Satan's way is more powerful, more practical, more fulfilling in my daily life than Jesus' way? Why else get angry? Isn't it because I think complaining, exasperation, and resentment will pound me up into the full life I really want?When I choose--and it is a choice--to crush joy with bitterness, am I not purposefully choosing to take the way of the Prince of Darkness? Choosing the angry way of Lucifer because I think it is more effective--more expedient--than giving thanks?

... [and there is always something to be grateful for]. Father, thank You for these two sons. Thank You for here and now. Thank You that You don't leave us in our mess. Thank you for toast. Thank you for cross-grace for this anger, for the hope of forgiveness and brothers and new mercies." I look for the ugly beautiful, count it as grace, transfigure the mess into joy with thanks..."

Obviously, the chapter goes on. I pray that these words will be an encouragement to you on this here Tuesday!! May our hearts be inclined to give thanks always!! And may King Jesus fill our hearts with much joy!!

Date at Lilly's Pizza

2011-06-12T23:01:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon we had a lovely lunch at Lilly's Pizza {a new favorite that some sweet friends introduced us too}. We were snuggled in a little corner--sitting side by side. Perfect for picture taking and catching up in the social media world. :)

The end of the week

2011-06-09T10:33:00.000-04:00

This ocean we've claimed as ours serves as a wonderful retreat--a reward of sorts--when alll the school work is done for the week. I take long walks. And twist yarn into blankets. Tony surfs. We walk around town. Enjoy pizza on the deck. Admire the setting sun. Dance and lip sync in the car. Talk a lot.

Operation: Mexican Bean Beetle

2011-05-27T12:02:00.001-04:00

Meet the mexican bean beetle. He's a relative of the oh-so-pretty ladybugs that have taken lodge on my monster cilantro plant. However, this beetle is nowhere near as nice as the ladybugs. This mexican bean beetle and lots of his little friends {that look just like him} were having a party in my garden--munching away on the leaves of my lima beans, kidney beans, and black beans.

I like parties, I really do. But this one was out of control. So I'm happy to report that I knocked the guest list down by about 100 this morning. :) My organic methods (weapons) of choice...

Bowl of soapy water, chopsticks, and my trusty fingers. I simply guided them one by one onto my hand, then tossed them in the soapy water. They swim for a few seconds... then they sink. Mission accomplished. ;) Some of them put up a good fight. The chopsticks came in handy when they fell to the earth below the bean plants. I couldn't get them to crawl on my finger, but they would latch right on to the chopstick and into the "pool" they would go. Funeral services for those mexican bean beetles pictured here will be held in the field behind our house.

Ignoring Reality

2011-05-25T16:32:00.000-04:00

Last week a sweet, sweet friend gave us free tickets to a Kinston Indians ball game. We enjoyed the enthusiasm of fans and some yummy concessions. It was a Monday night--the night where we usually ignore the reality that there is indeed school work to do. Ha. We've been talking a lot about how different life will be when he's allll done. It's been nearly three years; three years of inconsistent sleep and lots of stress producing assignments. It has taken a toll on us for sure, but we have learned so much along the way. Things that we hope to put to practice after he graduates. Graduates!! We are beyond excited to be almost there! :)

P.S. I've been experimenting with lots of fun braids as of late!! I guess you can call it my Spring/Summer trend. :)

Weekend Glimpse

2011-05-16T14:20:00.000-04:00

Celebrating Mom

2011-05-11T13:33:00.002-04:00

Sunday we all gathered together to celebrate our sweet Mommy!! We had a fantastic dinner, watched old home videos, took lots of pictures, and a finale of dessert and coffee. :)

My beautiful Mom

Dinner Time

We had bbq chicken, pesto pasta, spicy green beans, turnips, and cheddar biscuits

Handmade card from Miranda :)

We love showering her with gifts!! :)

The Family

Miranda and Chrissie

Mommy's girls

Itty Bitty Brittany :)

Miranda & Matthew

Sarah's Bridal Shower

2011-05-08T13:20:00.001-04:00

The Denham Girls :)

In the garden - 05.02.11

2011-05-03T09:12:00.000-04:00

Turnips

Pretty Variety Of Lettuce

My Biggest Cilantro Plant Ever

Broccoli

Arugula Flowers & Red Toes :)

Rows of Corn Taking in the Sunshine

Joey is 23

2011-05-02T13:13:00.002-04:00

His Birthday Weekend

2011-04-28T08:30:00.001-04:00

With the exception of a few hours Monday morning, we had a four day weekend! It was awesome!! Friday we relaxed at home, delivered 30 ShaynaMade coupons, drank free coffee from Starbucks, got new phones, and attended a late night Good Friday service. Saturday we slept in a little, had green smoothies for breakfast, got dressed for the big city, ate lunch at the Flying Saucer, and shopped for clothes. Sunday we went to church, then had fabulous birthday/Easter celebrations at our parents' homes. Cookout for lunch and lamb for supper. Monday beckoned for lots of yard work ~ freshly mowed grass and lots of time in the garden. :)

Spring & Summer Wreath

2011-04-26T20:48:00.000-04:00

This beautiful 18" grapevine wreath was handcrafted by my mom with lots of extra tender, love, and care. It is perfect for the Spring and Summer days ahead, with hints of pink, blue, green, and yellow. It is even embellished with a pretty yellow butterfly and a silk pink bow. This wreath is ready to ship and is looking for a door to call its own. I'm sure it will be a cheerful addition to your home. Click here for more details.

Together we have lots of fun!!

2011-04-22T08:57:00.000-04:00

It has been an awesome year, my love! May there be many, many more!! :)

In Atlanta

2011-04-20T23:45:00.000-04:00

We were able to venture to Atlanta this weekend to spend time with a dear friend. We enjoyed great food, drinks and late night talks. It was a lovely little get away; just the two of us. In other news, tomorrow marks Tony's twenty ninth year of life. And I must say that I am so very grateful for him. It looks like school work is on the agenda for tomorrow .... but come the weekend we plan on having some fun celebrations!!! :)

{Giveaway} You can win a scarf!

2011-04-15T12:15:00.000-04:00

Macaroni Kid (Lagrange, Kinston, & Goldsboro) is hosting a giveaway for one of my handmade lacey scarves--and you can win! Macaroni Kid is a great resource for moms especially, but even I benefit from this weekly newsletter. Danielle (the publisher mom and a long time friend) does a great job of gathering all the local kid-friendly events into one fun and easy-to-read e-mail. She also sprinkles it with lots of great tips and ideas for families. Right now, Macaroni Kid is having a Spring Subscribe-a-thon with some fun giveaways. You can read all about it by clicking here. This is how you can win:

1. First you need to open the entry form . Take note that there are lots of ways to earn extra entries listed at the bottom of the form. For instance...

2. Like Macaroni Kid on Facebook.

3. Follow Macaroni Kid on Twitter.

4. Like Shayna Made on Facebook.

5. Follow my blog by pressing "follow" there on the left side. You know you want to. ;)

Best wishes everyone!

Stripes for Nolan

2011-04-15T09:44:00.000-04:00

Here's a baby blanket I've been working on for a special little boy. The colors are to match his room decor, think giraffes, lions, elephants, and monkeys. These shots were taken a couple weeks ago when we traveled to Raleigh. I love when I have lengthy riding time during the day as I'm able to get a lot done. The little striped border is now finished and all that's left is to weave in the lose strands. Then it will be packaged pretty and sent to his momma. ;)

Say hello to my new sparkly shoes!

2011-04-14T12:24:00.000-04:00

Saturday night we dressed up fancy, enjoyed lots of fun conversation, sat side by side at a local mexican restaurant, shared a horchata (mexican rice drink), played dress up at the mall, enjoyed the evening thunderstorms, and went for a late night movie complete with popcorn. I am so grateful to God for my amazing husband and all the fun we have together! :) Tuesday was our 99th monthiversary. We celebrated with a nice veggie meal, putting new spark plugs on the car, and school work. Romantic, I know. :)

In the garden - 04.08.11

2011-04-09T15:18:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I spent two hours in the pretty sunshine--fluffing up more soil and planting sunflowers and corn. The birds were kind enough to sing to me as I worked. My pet earthworms seem to be populating well and I only discovered one tiny grub, whom was cast way out into the galaxy (aka the field behind our house). Tony stayed up super late last night and finished all his school work for the week, which means that toniiight is date night!! Can't wait! :)

Do you see me?

2011-04-06T15:16:00.000-04:00

I was recently featured in this treasury, "A Glass Full of Lemonaid". :)

DIY Book Art

2011-03-31T11:14:00.000-04:00

Check out this DIY to make your very own Silhouette Book Art!! I can't wait to create some for our home sweet home! :) Our week seems to be zipping on by - school load has been less this week, but sleep still lacks. Weather has been mostly rainy and cold ~ great for all my cold crops in the garden. And for cuddling under cozy blankets, sipping hot tea. There have been some fun ShaynaMade orders to come through this week. Can't wait to show some of the designs here over the next couple weeks. :)

Those Awesome Sprinkles

2011-03-24T10:38:00.000-04:00

Photo Source

As of late, our life has included much much school work, sprinkled with some awesome moments! :) Like taking our famous "in-the-car" shot on date DAY! We had a completely school work free weekend and we totally soaked it up. Saturday morning we trained like a tri-athlete (ran 3 miles, biked 14, and swam 20 laps). In the amount of time it took Tony to do all that, I was able to complete most. I was only half mile shy on the running, 3 miles shy on the bike, and 4 laps shy in the pool. But it is a-okay because we were totally rocking out the stationary equipment at our local gym and although my awesome husband was a few miles ahead of me -- we were really side-by-side the entire time. :) After our workout, we got all cleaned up and dressed up nice and ventured to our state capital for a day in the big city. We enjoyed a visit to the Aviator Brewing Company, some cheeseburgers to-go, shopping, and a great Italian dinner with friends ~ all topped off with espressos.

Some more SPRINKLES:
Big family dinner with pretty strawberry shortcakes and a round of Apples to Apples.
Our lunch time workouts together.
New fruit trees in the front yard.
Going through the car wash.

Making sheet forts on the front porch and laying under the stars!!
Birthday parties for the little people in our life.
&
Watching our garden grow.

Happy Thursday, dear readers!! :)