What to do Weekends #128

Happy Thursday Evening!  Welcome to the What to do Weekends Party! We hope you've had a wonderful and creative week!!

Linda and I each feature one of our own picks as a Bonus, we thought we'd like to start out with that!!

My Bonus feature for this week belongs to Jennifer @ My Flagstaff Home's Decorative Garden Ladder! I love it! Those of you who know me, know my love of ladders!

Usually, as you know,  we like to take a minute to share what we've been up to, with that said, as most of you know, I am still on the hunt for my new place, I put in some applications and got some good feedback, so please keep your prayers coming! (I'm T minus 24 days and packing like crazy!)

What to do Weekends #127

Happy Thursday Evening!  Welcome to the What to do Weekends Party! We hope you've had a wonderful and creative week!!

Linda and I each feature one of our own picks as a Bonus, we thought we'd like to start out with that!!
My Bonus feature for this week belongs to The very adorable Love MY DIY Home's absolutely too cute tutorial on getting those awesome Newborn Baby Professional Photos yourself!

Usually we like to take a minute to share what we've been up to, with that said, as most of you know, I am still on the hunt for my new place, so I'm going to ask you for your continued prayers in this.

 Linda, on the other hand, made these adorable little Summer Fun DIY Keychains! I think they are very smart and super fun!

You can find Linda Blogging here @ Crafts a la Mode

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As for me, The packing continues!

You can connect with me right here @ Shoestring Elegance

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Now onto My picks "Features" from all you incredibly talented Bloggers !!

What to do Weekends #126

Happy Thursday Evening, All, & Welcome to the What to do Weekends Party! We hope you've had a wonderful and creative week!!

Linda and I each feature one of our own picks as a Bonus, we thought we'd like to start out with that!!
My Bonus feature for this week belongs to The Crafty Blog Stalker for their great tutorial on making this
Beautiful Patriotic Wreath

Now, that I've shared my bonus feature, I'd love to check in with you all and keep you up to date on what's going on with Linda and myself.

This IS What I Am Doing!

My search for a new place to call home continues. Thank you all for your prayers and kind words!  I have woken up, to this song playing in my head, more times than I can tell you.  So, I am doing as it says and Fixing my eyes on the only One, who knows all and has planned every twist and turn in my life for His Good. 

 I truly know with all my heart that He has a divine plan for me, and will let me know when the time is right.  Until then, I am using the brain, He blessed me with, and looking at and trying every possible lead. Nothing yet. 

His timing is perfect, not mine. :) 

I will keep you posted. If I was not so set in my ways, I would declare what a wonderful adventure!

So, I am trying to remind myself, daily, (no matter how uncomfortable) that this IS an incredible opportunity for growth and time to draw closer to Him. Life has taught me, in hindsight, that every trial has a reason, and that I am better and stronger after going through each and every one!

Many Blessings to you all, today, my friends!

Theresa

What to do Weekends #125

Happy Thursday Evening, All, & Welcome to the What to do Weekends Party! We hope you'be had a wonderful and creative week!!

We've been talking, and decided to do things a little different. Since Linda and I each feature one of our own picks as a Bonus, we thought we'd like to start out with that!!

So, Since you are here, Me first!! 

My Bonus feature for this week had to be Bonnie's How to Make a Lavender Wreath!! I love lavender and have made a few of these over the years to hang in my bedroom, but Bonnie has an awesome tutorial to show you how!

Time for a New Adventure!

I have some news that I want to share with you today.

I have been abundantly Blessed for the past seven and a half years with this beautiful little two bedroom house that I have come to call home.  For those of you that have been following along with Shoestring Elegance, since I began just a few years ago, you have all seen, through each and every project or rose from my garden, how much I have enjoyed my house and living here, though every single picture, I have shared with you.(which also warms my heart to know those memories are captured, here!)

What to do Weekends #124

Welcome to What to do Weekends!

Happy Thursday Evening! Thank you all so much for your Participation in our party, we enjoy you all so much!  You are all SO creative!! Invite your friends! Help us spread the word!

 Thank you for returning and sharing with us each week! As usual, we like to let you know what we've been up to on these Thursday nights, as well.  We'd love it if you could visit the posts we're sharing with you tonight!

But first,

***NEW TO THE PARTY!***

**If you haven't seen your entry Featured, be sure to check both Blogs! Linda and I, are each picking one of our own bonus features. I will feature my pick and Linda will have her own favorite Bonus Feature feature at Crafts a la Mode!**
So, let's see what has Linda been up to this week!Linda has come up with an incredibly inspiring post for Summer!

A Hundred Ways To Make This Your Best Summer Yet!!

As for me, well, I'll explain what I'm doing in the next couple of days! Just saying, when you read it you will understand. :)
We hope that you will connect with us?! Let us know so we can connect right back with you!

You can find Linda Blogging here 

@ Crafts a la Mode

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You can connect with me right here

@ Shoestring Elegance

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Alright, now that we have shared ours, it's time to show off the best of yours!! On with this weeks Features!
So, what were my picks this week?!

What to do Weekends Linky Party #123

Welcome to What to do Weekends!

Happy Thursday Evening! Thank you all so much for your Participation in our party, we enjoy you all so much!  You are all SO creative!! Invite your friends! Help us spread the word!

 Thank you for returning and sharing with us each week! As usual, we like to let you know what we've been up to on these Thursday nights, as well.  We'd love it if you could visit the posts we're sharing with you tonight!

But first,

***NEW TO THE PARTY!***

**Started just last week, Linda and I will each have one of our own bonus features. I will feature my pick and Linda will have her own favorite Bonus Feature feature at Crafts a la Mode!**

So, let's see what has Linda been up to this week!

Well, she had an awful lot of fun, (I, actually did too!) with an awesome post and idea about How to Decorate a Room to a Song! I love it! So many  possibilities! Like this one for Bye, bye Miss American Pie! (I love this song!)

We hope that you will connect with us?! Let us know so we can connect right back with you!

You can find Linda Blogging here 

@ Crafts a la Mode

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Chalk Painted Mason Jars!

I have been a very busy blogger here, this Spring! I LOVE it!  The weather has been nice enough for beautiful blooms galore everywhere you look, yet cool enough that it's not uncomfortable and still a good time to have projects to do inside. It really would be the best of both worlds, if we weren't in the worst drought in history, here, in Northern California.

I am often asked, for one occasion or another to make floral arrangements. Whether it be for a church function, holiday festivities or family event. I imagine you have seen some of my arrangements, here, by now. If not, where have you been? And, Welcome!

(Distressed with twine, just baby's breath)

I am very excited that my Nephew is getting married in July! His quite, smart and savvy fiance, is a Pinner, a Cook, and a DIY'er, too, and quite gifted! So, when I heard she wanted a budget-friendly, country shabby-chic-ish reception, I, of course, asked what I could do.

What to do Weekends Party #122

Happy Thursday Evening, Everyone! Welcome or Welcome back to the

 What to do Weekends Party!

Thank you all so much for your Participation in our party, we enjoy you all so much!  You are all SO creative!! Invite your friends! Help us spread the word! Now,  we can't wait to see what you have been up to this week!!  Thank you for returning and sharing with us each week!  We always like to let you know what we've been up to all week also.

So, What has Linda been up to?  She's made some Blueberry Marshmallows, if you can believe it! And then S'mores.

Won't you connect with us?! Let us know so we can connect right back with you!

You can find Linda Blogging here 

@ Crafts a la Mode

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Spring Wreath ~ Celebrating the Seasons

Do you take time to celebrate all the seasons in your life?  Do you know what I mean? We celebrate things like Christmas, 4th of July, New Year's Day, Birthdays, 21st, 30th, 40th (over the hill and ready to roll), 50th (half-century) Thanks so much, society, for that little reminder.  Goodness, we even celebrate Groundhog Day! If we go to all that trouble for those holidays, surely we should, in some way, celebrate the 'actual' Seasons in our lives.

Which, I guess, is my way of saying, I like each season to be represented and celebrated at my home, for everyone to see, and all that visit, to know that I am embracing this and every other day of the year. There is no such thing as just a plain old day! Every single moment we are given is a Blessing from God! So let's do it right and celebrate that! 

What to do Weekends #121

Welcome to What to do Weekends!

Happy Thursday Evening and to the first What to do Weekends of May!  Today, was also the National Day of Prayer, if you want to read a little more about my take on that you can find it here.

Thank you all so much for your Participation in our party, we enjoy you all so much!  You are all SO creative!! Invite your friends! Help us spread the word! Now,  we can't wait to see what you have been up to this week!!  Thank you for returning and sharing with us each week!  We always like to let you know what we've been up to on these Thursday nights, as well. We'd love it if you would visit the post we're sharing with you tonight!

So What has Linda been up to? 

Linda just posted 15 Awesome Lighting Ideas for your Deck!

Won't you connect with us?! Let us know so we can connect right back with you!

You can find Linda Blogging here 

@ Crafts a la Mode

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National Day of Prayer

Lord, we pray.

Blessed to be celebrating at my church in our little town & providing some beautiful, donated colors of our America the Beautiful. Yet,  Lord, I pray for all countries near and far that you would begin a revolution of healing and Faith.

In Jesus Name, I pray.

Exciting News and So Much Fun!

Do you all know Joy, from her awesome blog she calls "Yesterfood"?? Every week she and Wanda Ann, from Memories by the Mile throw a wonderful party, full of Inspiration, good recipes and fun crafts! It is called Treasure Box Tuesday. Don't you just love that name?!  For quite some time, I have been popping back and forth to Yesterfood and sharing my little creations with Joy and Wanda Ann. so much fun!

Was I ever surprised, this week, to find out that Joy had picked me & Shoestring Elegance to be her Blogger of the Month, for May!!! I cannot tell you how honored I was and am! So, as with most all things, I had to share the news with you!

Joy chose Shoestring Elegance and Wanda Ann chose The Lou Lou Girls! If you have not had the pleasure of meeting all these incredibly talented Ladies, may I suggest you click on some of the links I've put, here, in this post and go take a good look? I guarantee you will enjoy yourself! They have never disappointed me and  I am always Inspired!

Joy even "fancied up" my little Blog button and is displaying it on her sidebar for this month!! Now I ask you, How Blessed am I?  It seems, to me, beyond measure, Not just because I'm Joy's Blogger of the month, but because God has blessed me abundantly with wonderful women in this whole Blogging thing that have encouraged, lifted and supported me, beyond my own imagination!

Happy Tuesday to you all! May you all be Blessed with friends and supported with encouragement that strengthens you to continue with what Inspires you! 

Want to start the day with an awesome & encouraging song? Click on the this video! It makes me smile, every time!!

DIY Chalk Paint Tray With Transfer: MY Failure & Victory!

This post is way overdue. I have, actually, had this tray for almost two years. It has gone through quite a few changes, before I finally got back to business and settled on this as my final tray. And, I have to say I am truly enjoying it now!

What to do Weekends #120

Welcome to What to do Weekends!

Happy Thursday Evening! Thank you all so much for your Participation in our party, we enjoy you all so much!  You are all SO creative!! Invite your friends! Help us spread the word! Now,  we can't wait to see what you have been up to this week!!  Thank you for returning and sharing with us each week!  We always like to let you know what we've been up to on these Thursday nights, as well. We'd love it if you would visit the post we're sharing with you tonight!

So What has Linda been up to? Just take a look at this yummy Summer Blueberry Jello Pie!

Won't you connect with us?! Let us know so we can connect right back with you!

You can find Linda Blogging here 

@ Crafts a la Mode

Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

As for Theresa, well, I finally finished that Chalkpaint tray I've been telling you about! You can read about it, here, tomorrow. Here's a sneak peak!

You can connect with me right here

@ Shoestring Elegance

Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Just a Couple of Guidelines 

that we'd truly appreciate you taking into consideration.

We have prided ourselves on being a "no rules" type of party, and that will not change. We would appreciate it if, however, you:

~You wouldn't link up the exact same post 2 weeks in 

a row, our readers will have just seen your entry and we'd 

like to keep it fresh for them.

~We'd love to encourage you to share some of your last 

year's Spring posts, too! Please, do have a look at Linda's & Theresa's blog style (or niche, so-to-speak) and link appropriate and like-minded crafts, recipes, projects and Inspirations! 

Now onto this weeks Features! always so difficult to keep it to our planned number. We'd love to feature you all!

~ What to do Weekends # 119

Happy Thursday Evening &

Welcome back to What to do Weekends Party Party!

We hope you all have been having a wonderful week! We'd like to take a minute

to  thank you all so much for your Participation in our party! We truly enjoy seeing all your creativity and wonderful insights!   Thank you for returning and sharing with us each week!   So, what have we been up to?

Look at what Linda has been up to:

Here is what Theresa's has been up to:

~We can hardly wait to see what you've been up to this week! 
We encourage you to share some of your last 

year's Spring posts, too!

 Let's get on with the FEATURES! YAY!

DIY~Make Your Own Vintage Floral Cone

I have had the most fun working on this pretty project!  I bought the stems (that I have always wanted  but couldn't afford) at Michael's because I had 70% off!!  That's the only reason I could get the ones I always wanted!  I'm telling you, watch the ads, wait and go in when you have a extra percentage off coupon pulled up on your smartphone!  I thought I bought them to make my Spring into Summer Wreath for my front door.  As I was working, separating the stems,  I realized how much sheer volume I had and quickly was aware that I could make more than just the wreath out of them! Woohoo!! So my brain started racing with ideas of what else I could do with this abundance of beauty!

~What to do Weekends #118

Happy Thursday Evening &
Welcome back to What to do Weekends Party Party!
We hope you all have been having a wonderful week! We'd like to take a minute
to  thank you all so much for your Participation in our party! We truly enjoy seeing all your creativity and wonderful insights!   Thank you for returning and sharing with us each week!

As promised last week,  we will be adding a couple EXTRA features this week from last weeks party!
So, what have we been up to?
Well, I don't know if you've had a chance to check our Linda's Yummy Blueberry recipes yet, but if not, her Blueberry Breakfast Bake is one not to be missed! So yummy!

As for me, I have been working very hard on trying to complete my newest chalk paint tray, that has turned into an Epic Fail! But it is is on it's way to becoming a Beautiful Success! I should be able to share that with you tonight or tomorrow. Trays and chalk paint, they are bit of an obsession of mine, but I do use them all the time!  You can check out my first Chalk Painted Tray out HERE!

***Just Couple of Guidelines 

that we'd truly appreciate you taking into consideration.

We have prided ourselves on being a "no rules" type of party, and that will not change. We would appreciate it if, however, you:

~You wouldn't link up the exact same post 2 weeks in 

a row, our readers will have just seen your entry and we'd 

like to keep it fresh for them.

~We'd love to encourage you to share some of your last 

year's Spring posts, too! Please, do have a look at Linda's & Theresa's blog style (or niche, so-to-speak) and link appropriate and like-minded crafts, recipes, projects and Inspirations! 

How Music Speaks To Us

Certain things just ring true.  Does that happen to you?

Sometimes they ring so true,  I have a deep need to share them.  My faith sung out loud is one of those things. Not just any song.  There are some songs, though, whose truth so reflect the feelings in my heart,  that they can bring a smile to my face that can't be wiped away,  or bring tears of utter Joy.

(source)
This is one of those songs.  I hope that it will light up your Friday night or anytime that you choose to hear it.  Not just listen, but hear.  Words have power.  I don't think anyone would question that.  So,  I guess, then,  the question really is...... are we listening to the right words?  I'm trying. I fail. Still, I try.