Memorial Day

On Saturday, we had a memorial day picnic at our church.  We were so excited that our friends Dan and Sandy could make it with their son, Benedict.  It was great to have 3 out of my husband's 4 college roommates together with their families (the 4th was at the hospital as their second child was born the day before).  It was so nice to be able to get together.

Zoe & Ben (and Robin from our youth group)

Gosh I love her! And she loves Ben

He's not so sure

The Daddies and their babies =D

My baby was ready for a nap

On Sunday after church we had a special visitor on her way home from the hospital:

The three baby girls at our church =D

I also got to spend some time with my side of our family that weekend as well. And then we spent some time with Aaron's dad as well on Monday as his birthday was on Tuesday.

Aunt Court & Zoe

What a great weekend!

Cold Hands Warm Hearts

When I saw that Ilene and Sandy were hosting a Cold Hands Warm Hearts swap, I had to participate. I love gloves!  I'll let you in on a little secret.  In high school gym class, I'd wear gloves because it was so cold.  Yep, I was a nerd. 

I was so excited to be paired up with the beautiful Katie, of The Bright Life.  She's so awesome.  I love reading her blog.  She's inventive, creative, talented, and best of all, she's a believer!  I've been super encouraged by reading her new advent series.  You should totally check it out!

When I received my package I was so grateful!  Katie just picked things that fit my personality so well. I wish that I would have taken better pictures, but have been lacking the motivation/ability to take a lot lately (with hubby working).  These don't do justice for the beautiful gifts I've received.  

Sweet, sweet Katie, sent me that beautiful little card, explaining all of the gifts that she had sent.  (I wish I would have thought to do that). That little bundle of lace includes buttons that I can use to make more things for my shop.  So excited to use them! 

Oh, and the lace, that's the sweetest part to me.  It's left over from Katie's wedding gown that her mom MADE for her.  So precious!!!

She gave me those lovely brown gloves on the left (which I had to break out when the furnace was accidentally turned off in our apartment).  I LOVE the gloves and booties for our little one.  Katie also gave us those beautiful cards :). 

And also included were these beautiful prints of Scripture verses.  I absolutely love them.  I just haven't had a chance to get frames for them yet, but I will!!! I think I may need to hang them in my "craft room." 

If you like the prints that you see, be sure to check out more of Katie's design work in her shop!

Isn't Katie the best??? Thanks so much again Katie for being a great partner and thanks Sandy and Ilene for hosting!

When you get four pregnant ladies together

You get a line-up:

 Sky (16 weeks), Phanango (22 weeks), Sandy (24 weeks) and me (30 weeks)

Phanango and Sandy were both visiting with their husbands.  It was so nice to just take a walk with everyone and then chat with the girls. 

Hehe and our friends Sally and Justin came over with their little one (who's not so little any more!!! He's a big 2 year old).  After we got done taking all of these photos.  The little man decided to use our friend's phone to take photos of me, but I had to be standing against the wall.  I played a long for a little while but then was just too tired of standing. 

What a fun weekend! :) 

Love, 
Amanda

P.S. Did you check out these new clutches? Elegant Pine and Classy Pine

They are one of a kind (and aren't made yet so can be changed slightly if needed).  I mailed some out for a charity raffle and really liked them so decided I'd be able to make one of each for the shop if anyone is interested. 

P.P.S. I still need to right a Duggar post.  I've been so encouraged by them lately!

P.P.P.S.  We start up youth group tomorrow.  If you could be praying God would have His way there we'd GREATLY appreciate it! 

My first Award

Remember how I talked about Sarah of Yes, Teacher Crafts???

She's adorable and super sweet.  And she gave me an award! 

Rules of the award: To share seven things about yourself and award seven more bloggers this award. Be sure to let them know you awarded them so they can pass it on!


Here we go, seven random things:


1. I danced for 10 years of my life. My senior year of high school I danced 24 hours a week.  I also had to take tests for our ballet method we practiced. I'd get excellent in style, musicality, and theory; however, I'd barely pass the actual dancing part =P!

It don't mean thing if it ain't got that swing! Do wa do wa do wa do wah! etc!

2. I love coconut.  We had these for dinner last night, although, I didn't have bread crumbs so I used ritz crackers, and next time I would not use condensed milk.  They were slightly too sweet. 

3. I very much admire the Duggars.  You know, soon to be 20 Kids and Counting.  They have an amazing faith and are a great example of what a Christian family can look like. LOVE. (More on that later though)

4. I was not a Christian until February of my freshman year of college (Thanks to my friends Sally and Robin!) so almost 7 years.  I remember packing  my little Bible from VBS thinking, "I may need that." HA God is awesome! 

Photo: Kat Ritenour Photography

Robin is in the bottom left, and Sally is the only one in Plum :)

5. Growing up the only "vegetables" I ate were corn and potatoes.  Yes, I know now those don't count as vegetables.  I eat a lot more now, however, only if they are cooked. Veggies raw just are GROSS. Oh and so is lettuce.

6. I could survive on pierogies (and probably chicken fingers). 

7.  I worked in retail once for 3 months.  Least favorite job ever!  I wouldn't do that again (at least at the same store). 

And now, to pass it on to seven other lovely bloggers:

Karen at Celebrate Life

Caroline at Good Times Never Seem Sew Good

Erika at Rouge and Whimsy

Laura at Along for the Ride

Kelly at The Pretty Bee

Melanie at With Love from Lanie

Jana from Giggles, Glitz & Glam

Feel free to leave me some random comments about yourself too! I'm off to make some pierogies.

 No, I'm not kidding.

But I am also going to make a fruit smoothie to make it "healthier" =D. 

Baby Shower #1

This past weekend was filled with lots of fun and excitement and busy!  But, that's life.  I'm not entirely convinced that life ever slows down.

***Warning: I'm terrible at taking photos so all of the photos sprinkled throughout are actually from the baby shower.  You have been warned.  You may proceed.***

Friday night, we went to my mom-in-love's for dinner and some board games for my birthday.  It was wonderful, she made 3 different soups and a casserole that I really love and got us some ice cream cake! YUM YUM!  Then when Courtney got home, we played some Boggle and Settlers of Catan.  I love both of those games, so they did a great job picking out what to play that night!  Courtney's only complaint about the game is that we were done playing (at 1:15 am or so).  (I had to be up by 8 so I knew it was time to get ready for bed, or else I MAY have played another).  Aaron got the bed ready for us and then we snuggled with a little precious Conner puppy, who is really not that little anymore as he's going to be 6 soon.  

Me and Mom Wood

Courtney and Me

la sigh, I remember when I first met Conner he bit my ear as a wee lil corgi puppy.  

Then on Saturday, after we found Aaron's wallet, it was off to breakfast with my former roommates.  We went to Perkins and had a very nice breakfast.  My card from Meg was hilarious (she knows I love chocolate), I also received Persuasion, a Jane Austen based film, and Bonhoeffer (which I can't wait to read).  It was so nice to just get to see all of them again.  :) 

Sally, Me, Meg, Liz

Then we went home, got ready and had lunch with my parents and sister, Kristin.  We went to a local Italian restaurant and it was soooooooo tasty!

Kristin and I

Mom and Me (I tickled her to get a pseudo real smile HEHEHEHE)

Daddy and Me

Then it was finally time for the baby shower.  (Are you tired yet?)

We played some games: Name that nursery rhyme, guess the circumference of Amanda's tummy and Baby Bingo.

Then we, well, I, opened gifts.  Apparently I was too fast as my sister got very few "OK" pictures.

This little bear is super cute. He plays peek-a-boo with baby and raises his arms/blanket to cover his face! ADORABLE!

And this little rocking chair has been in our family for 4 generations.  It was my grandma's, then mom's, then mine, and now baby's!

Hopefully in the spring though we can give it a fresh coat of paint and a new cushion! :) 

Daddy, Me and Baby makes three!

And then daddy showed up to help us load up gifts. 

It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon! 

Surrounded by people that love us and care about us and our wee one on the way! 

How did you spend your Saturday???

I've got more to come as Aaron planned a special date for me Saturday night ;). 

P.S. 

Don't forget you can still get FREE SHIPPING until November 10th, with the code: BIRTHDAYSHIPPING.

Laura's 2 year Blog anniversary (GIVEAWAY)

My friend Laura,

from Along for the Ride, is adorable, and fun, and supportive, and a great woman of God and super sweet. 
Anyway, she is having her 2 year blog anniversary GIVEAWAY DAY!

Did you see that $600 worth of prizes.  She has giveaways going on from 29 wonderful handmade shops!!!

You should totally stop by and check it out! Way fun!

(Oh and you might get a chance to win store credit ;).)

Overwhelmed by Love

This past weekend Aaron and I were out of town.  When we came home, I found this box on our stairs. 

Elizabeth O. ??? I think I know who that is, I better send an email just to make sure!  Yup, yes this sweet, precious gift came from the lovely and thoughtful Elizabeth over at The Young Retiree.

Anyway, I got out my scissors and had to open up the box.  Look at how nicely everything was packaged. 

Pretty tissue paper (It was wrapped nicer but I didn't take pictures last night as I opened the gift.)

Lovely little card!

Our first official baby gift. 

 

Look at this beautiful blanket. Elizabeth's grandmother is so sweet! She made this beautiful blanket for us! 

I can't wait to get baby home in January and wrap him/her up this lovely little blanket!

Thank you so much Elizabeth!!!

Elizabeth also just started up an Etsy shop.  Make sure you stop by!

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Then today I received two more packages.  That just doesn't happen around here.  After being super excited.  I remembered to not just rip open the packaging, but rather got out my camera so I could take some pictures. 

I received this cute little package from Amy of One Artsy Mama.

I received this BEAUTIFUL necklace as part of a giveaway!  Isn't it precious!  I love it because the pearl represents our little ones due date (and hopefully little one will be born in January not February). Please don't be late little one!  We can't wait to meet you!  

I am sitting here wearing just a t-shirt, but I had to put my necklace on.  I love it!

Thanks Amy!!! 

Oh and did I mention she made my blog button to the right over there??? So beautiful! I love it!

Be sure to stop by her shop as well!

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And then, there was the package from Sarah from Twillypop.  Oh MY Goodness.  I opened this gift and cried.  Who am I that God should bless me so much??? I haven't met Sarah apart from our twitter conversations and she sent me the most beautiful package today.  I was just overwhelmed by her generosity.  God is just so good!

Ok, before I start bubbling over again with thanksgiving, take a look at these beautiful gifts. 

Isn't this packaging just darling???

Oh did I mention there was a very cute little matchbook notebook in there as well?  What a beautiful surprise.

I opened up the package and saw these beautiful necklaces.  (In my excitement, I forgot to take a picture of how nicely she had them packaged). 

There was this gorgeous peach colored necklace.  I think I might wear this to my baby shower!

Then there was this lovely Sky Blue necklace.  So beautiful.  The photo doesn't do justice to this beauty!

And then there's this one! Swoon!  Can not wait to wear this lovely pink and navy necklace. 

Sarah, Thank you so very much.  What a huge blessing to me. 

Please visit Sarah's Shop!

Thank you ladies so very much!  What a blessing you were to me today! I can not thank you enough!

Praise God for His love for us!

Wonderful Bloggy Friends and Giveaway

So I know I've mentioned her on this blog before, but I just adore Karen of Celebrate Life With Us.  She has such a wonderful heart for the orphan and is just oh sweet!  She has a wonderful little girl and today they are heading to Atlanta to meet up with Papa.

Well up on her blog today is a giveaway.  She very generously offered me the opportunity to do a giveaway on her blog!  I'm so thankful for that!  Why don't you stop by her blog, enter the giveaway and read more about how she and her hubby brought their sweet little girl home???

She also runs this adorable little shop too with lots of fun products with wonderful colors! 

Little Things: Of a Lost Camera

Last Friday when we visited our great friends, the Schulers, I forgot my camera there.  It made me a little sad this week because I couldn't take pictures to put up for my little things post.  However, here are some of the little things that I'm very thankful for this week.

CONTACTS

I put in new contacts I think Sunday morning.  I absolutely LOVE new contacts.  It's so nice not to have my contacts glued to my eyeballs any more.

Source

SALVATION ARMY

Praise God for Salvation Army!  Not only are they an awesome organization for the work they do to promote the Gospel, but I also love to shop there.  The greatest part is knowing that by shopping there I'm able to help others come to know Christ.  We were also able to donate our yard sale left-overs to SalVal this past week.  Its nice to have floor space again.  I bring this up because I was able to get some items there this week that will be transformed into new items for my shop :D.  We also got Where In the USA is Carmen San Diego? the board game!!! Can you talk about excited??? And for 2 bucks it's a steal.  Can't wait to play it with our friends!

Source

COOLER WEATHER

I'm so excited about the cooler temperatures. That means that fall will be here soon which means many things: many birthdays (including mine), Thanksgiving and after that WINTER.

And Winter means: Christmas, New Years and BABY!!!!! 

Also at SalVal this week, I got a beautiful coral sweater that I'm planning on wearing for my date night with my husband tomorrow!  Still not sure quite what we're doing but it'll still be fun!

MMMMM fall colors! Mums! Yay! 

(Taken Fall 2009)

VISITING FAMILY

This week we got to visit our Aunt Sally and Uncle Jack!  We loff them!  Aaron had tutoring in their town so we made an impromptu visit.  We ended up spending most of the afternoon with Aunt Sally and got to spend a little time with Uncle Jack when he got home from work.  We played Settlers of Catan with Aunt Sally and she decided next time we play, she'll skip the wine. HAHA it made for a lot of laughter though!

KICKS

This Saturday was the first time I felt baby kick.  I can't believe I'm thankful for kicks but I am.  I'd be even more thankful if I could feel them more frequently so I know baby is doing alright.  Can't believe tomorrow we'll be 22 weeks.  WOAH! Like 18 weeks to go, Scoob! (Excuse the random Shaggy impersonation). 

What were some things you were thankful for this week.  What were some of the little things that brightened up your day/week? 

Linking up with Lindsay from 

Aisle to Aloha

OH and I almost forgot.  I might get to meet my friend Karen this winter!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITING!