22 February 2018

Spring Is In the Air on this Thursday Favorite Things

Hello Sweet friends. One thing is for certain, Spring is in the air. Even if it is still a month away, it seems to be popping up all around from the daffodils and hyacinth in my mother's yard to our wonderful TFT party. There is no shortage of creativity and beauty. With the flu season as serious as it has been this year, and no, my family was not immune, I was happy to see this recipe for Elderberry syrup in the party. Such a great way to combat it. I believe one of my co-hostesses, Nina from Vintage Mama's Cottage wrote about it, as well,  here.
Okay, off to check out all your beautiful links. Thanks so much for joining me.

15 February 2018

Pretty In Pink Inspirations and This Week's TFT

I just love the gentle softness of all the beautiful hues of pink.  There's something very "Spring-y" about it, isn't there?! It seems that as we get closer to the end of February the pull towards all things Spring is inevitable.
We've enjoyed our Autumn breezes,  we've celebrated with our family and loved ones for the holidays, bundled up, burnt our fires and now we look to the promise of Spring.

08 February 2018

DIY Valentine's For Everyone and TFT

Hey friends, in case you weren't already aware, Valentine's Day is just six short days away! Not to worry, we've got you covered with every kind of DIY Valentine there is from Thursday Favorite Things! Check out these awesome options from last week's TFT party. Truly, this was your one-stop shop for "How-To" cover everyone on your list.

04 February 2018

February's Ruby Magazine is Out!!

So excited to be part of this wonderful ministry! The latest issue of our online Christian women’s magazine is up and full of Inspiration! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Sorry, I'm a little late this month.  Please click on the Ruby for Women tab above to read more Issues or to connect directly with the Ruby blog.
RubyFebruary2018

01 February 2018

Thursdays Favorite Things (My First One As a Co-Host)

Good Morning, Friends! Welcome to Thursday Favorite Things (aka TFT)! I am so excited to be joining Katherine from Katherines Corner and a Wonderful Group of Blogging Women as a co-hostess for this fantastic weekly blog party! I'm so glad you are here with me, Welcome! 
Everything's coming up roses, or at least flowers and fruit!  After a week of rain and onto a cool week here in Northern California, this is about the time of year that I start buying more and more flowers to bring the promise of Spring into my home. My Features for this, my first week with TFT, seemed to be doing the same!

31 January 2018

The New Year Brings Some Exciting Changes at Shoestring Elegance

Hi Friends!  First, I must apologize for my absence the last couple of weeks. I had hoped to make some beautiful new changes around the first of the year with Shoestring Elegance, but alas, that awful flu struck both me and my parents.  If you know anyone who has had this year's version of the flu, it is quite all-consuming and draining to say the least.
Thankfully, I am back and sharing some exciting news with you!  
First, sadly, I must tell you that I will not be continuing with "The What to do Weekends" party moving forward. I have co-hosted 157 wonderful weekend parties with my dear friend, Linda, from Crafts a la Mode and have loved every minute of it. Linda is a wonderful friend, that I will, hopefully, have for life, and with whom I am certain I will collaborate, in numerous ways, here, in the future. Thank you Linda for the awesome ride! 
Linda's Blog party is so successful, she hardly ever needed me, but we sure had some great fun together! 

11 January 2018

What to do Weekends #259

Thank you so much for joining us this week at the new WTDW!
Love all the talented bloggers linking up here!! I love this party!  If you are new to the party, thank you for joining us and please check out the party board, it's on the sidebar. 
Please follow Linda and Myself in some way.
You can find Linda Blogging here Crafts a la Mode
Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
You can connect with me right here @ Shoestring Elegance
Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest 
Thanks!
Busy Week, my friends! Here are just a couple of my faves! I have pinned more to the party board, though!! 
Embroidery Hoop Orbs – Easily Make Your Own from AKA Design

04 January 2018

What to do Weekends #258~ Welcome to the First Party of 2018!

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a very Happy Christmas and New Year's 
 I am excited to begin 2018, if I can used to saying and writing it!  Time to move on to bigger and better and, hopefully, healthier times.
Love all the talented bloggers linking up here!! I love this party!  If you are new to the party, thank you for joining us and please check out the party board, it's on the sidebar. 
Please follow Linda and Myself in some way.
You can find Linda Blogging here Crafts a la Mode
Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
You can connect with me right here @ Shoestring Elegance
Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest 
Thanks!
Angie @ Country Chic Cottage How to Make Tea Light Candle Holders

January's Ruby Magazine Is Out!

Hi Friends! Back with you again, here at the beginning of 2018, to share the new Issue of Ruby Magazine! The January Issue is out! I am honored and happy to tell you that, not only do I love this magazine and the group of incredible Christian Writers included in it, but two more of Shoestring Elegance's articles or blog posts have been published in this month's Issue!

01 January 2018

No Resolutions... Just Gratitude... (How to Start and Keep a Gratitude Journal)

Happy New Year! Do you sit down and write out New Year's Resolutions?
It really doesn't matter if you are reading this on January 1st or May 1st,  start now.
While resolutions might be an excellent motivator for many, I challenge you to go beyond resolutions, that can easily be forgotten or cast aside when life gets busy and, instead, begin a life-changing practice, called Gratitude Journaling. Have you ever Gratitude Journaled before?  Have you heard of them and thought what a great idea... I should try that?  Maybe next year...maybe when I have more time... maybe when I have more to be grateful for... Whatever the reason is that has prevented you from starting this endeavor, may I tell you that you are in a place to begin this process right now. If you have a pen/pencil and a piece of paper, you can start today. If you have been even more blessed, you have a notebook or a journal someone gave you that is lying around waiting to be written in. 

21 December 2017

Merry Christmas and WTDW Party #257

Merry Christmas at The What to do Weekends party 2017! Can you believe in just a few short days, that will go all to fast, it will be 2018?!!
I hope it was a wonderful year for you all. I, personally, am glad it is in my rearview now. Time to move on to bigger and better and, hopefully, healthier times.
You Ladies are all SO talented!! I love this party!  If you are new to the party, thank you for joining us and please check out the party board, it's on the sidebar. 
Please follow Linda and me in some way.
You can find Linda Blogging here Crafts a la Mode
Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
You can connect with me right here @ Shoestring Elegance
Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest 
Thanks!
Here are just a few of my favorites this week.
Most Viewed this week, belongs to Cecilia from The Thrift Store Addiction for her beautiful Rustic and Romantic Christmas

14 December 2017

What to do Weekends #256

Hello, friends, and welcome to this week's What to do Weekends party! I'm so glad you're here! I pray that your December is off to a good start and that you're able to enjoy this special season.
  Have you got your Christmas shopping and baking done?!! I'm still just scratching the surface of what I need to get done.  I hope you are more ready than I! From the looks of this weeks party, you are already in full Christmas swing! Here's hoping I catch up soon. :)  You Ladies are all SO talented!! I love this party!  If you are new to the party, thank you for joining us and please check out the party board, it's on the sidebar. Now, time to get on with the party! Please be sure to follow in some way.
You can connect with me right here @ Shoestring Elegance
Thanks!
Once again, you guys did not disappoint! So much to see, so little time! I'm always amazed at the amount of talent that is shared at this party. 

Most Viewed Post belonged to
Mary and The Boondocks Blog for her post,

07 December 2017

What to do Weekends #255

Hello, friends, and welcome to this week's What to do Weekends party! I'm so glad you're here! I pray that your December is off to a good start and that you're able to enjoy this special season.
  Have you got your Christmas shopping and baking done?!! I'm still just scratching the surface of what I need to get done.  I hope you are more ready than I! From the looks of this weeks party, you are already in full Christmas swing! Here's hoping I catch up soon. :)  You Ladies are all SO talented!! I love this party!  If you are new to the party, thank you for joining us and please check out the party board, it's on the sidebar. Now, time to get on with the party! Please follow myself and Linda while you are linking up! 
You can find Linda Blogging here Crafts a la Mode
You can connect with me right here @ Shoestring Elegance
Thanks!
Once again, you guys did not disappoint! So much to see, so little time! I'm always amazed at the amount of talent that is shared at this party. 
Here are just a few of the highlights!
The Cutest Homemade Snowman Ornaments Ever


04 December 2017

Quick and Easy Rocky Road Recipe

If you're anything like me you're rushing around a bit to get all your Christmas baking and shopping done. Isn't it such fun?!  Sigh...
In actuality, I LOVE every single bit of it. This past weekend all my available sisters, nieces, sister-in-law, etc.. got together at my Mum's house and we did our Holiday baking day together. There is something very special about these days. We take every single day together as the gift that it is. 
Okay, Onto the Recipe! This is one I make ahead and bring to share with my Mum and my Sisters on our baking day.
Rocky Road! I love it and honestly, this recipe couldn't be easier! 
I just love the combination of roasted nuts. I make it with 3 different kinds, you can make it with whichever are your favorite, total nuts 2 cups.

01 December 2017

New December Ruby Magazine ~ Have You Seen It Yet?!

Happy December, Friends! I'm so glad you are here with me! It truly is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year for me and my family and this December is no exception. I'm thrilled to be able to share with you a wonderful and inspirational online magazine (that I just happen to be published in) alongside some truly gifted ladies. The Magazine is called Ruby. You may have noticed it before, on my sidebar, or down at the bottom of my blog page, here. Those beautiful monthly calendars on the side are also the artwork the Ruby Magazine. By the way, it's printable.
What is Ruby?
 Ruby is an "online Christian women's magazine, published monthly, which features inspirational articles, devotionals, stories, poems, parenting and family life articles, book reviews, crafts, recipes, and so much more."

30 November 2017

Happy December and the What to Weekends party #254

Good evening friends! Welcome back to Shoestring Elegance and this week's What to do Weekends party! I hope you all had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving, I enjoyed this year with some wonderful friends and, of course, great food. If you want to see more about what was on my menu, check it out on Shoestring Elegance's Instagram page.  If you linked up the week before Thanksgiving, check and see if you were one of my Features Here. 
Can you all believe tomorrow is December already?!  Have you got your Christmas shopping and baking done?!! I'm still just scratching the surface of what I need to get done.  I hope you are more ready than I! From the looks of this weeks party, you are already in full Christmas swing! Here's hoping I catch up soon. :)  You Ladies are all SO talented!! I love this party!  If you are new to the party, thank you for joining us and please check out the party board, it's on the sidebar. 
Please follow Linda and me in some way.
You can find Linda Blogging here Crafts a la Mode
Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
You can connect with me right here @ Shoestring Elegance
Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest 
Thanks!
Here are just a few of my favorites this week.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year has begun! 
Mason Jar Snowman from The Bombshell Bling 
Angie from the Country Cottage Cottage shared her adorable tutorial DIY Candy Cane Wreath from Burlap

29 November 2017

Features from the What to do Weekends Party #252 Thanksgiving Week

Hi friends, a little late is better than not at all, right?! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I wanted to be sure and post some of your incredible creations from the What to do Weekends party #252! Thank you all so much for linking up! I'm still pinning all your talented Features and taking notes. (wink) No fuzzy intro today just your awesome Features! 

23 November 2017

Happy Thanksgiving and What to do Weekends #253

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. We are enjoying the day with our friends and Family and pray that you are doing the same. Please feel free to link up and look around.

16 November 2017

What to do Weekends #252

Welcome to Shoestring Elegance and this week's What to do Weekend party! I'm so very glad you are here. Such an incredible amount of talented people out there. Thank you for taking the time to link up to our party and share your awesomeness! Please follow the Party Board! (it's on the sidebar)
Onto this week's Features! Fall is here, and you all are providing plenty of Inspiration for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Carol at the Red Painted Cottage shared her Simply gorgeous Chic Rustic Thanksgiving Table I just love these colors.
If you haven't already followed Linda and me you can use these links! 
You can find Linda Blogging here Crafts a la Mode
You can connect with me right here @ Shoestring Elegance
Thanks!

Cozy Blanket Ladder Upcycle for under $10

I am a child of God, walking with Jesus, daughter to my wonderful parents, sister to four, 3 sisters and one brother, I hope a good friend to several and an Auntie and Great Auntie to many. I cherish all of those titles, but being an Auntie has brought me so much joy that I can't adequately express. 
As a general belief system, I believe my home should be welcoming and make any and every person that enters comfortable. It is a reflection of who I am, how I was raised, an extension of my Faith and how I want others to feel. Comfortable welcomed and loved. Which leads me to this project that I'm sharing with you today.   
Full disclosure for me, one of my "Guilty pleasures" are throw blankets! Throw blankets or blankets of every kind, size, material, or color. I just LOVE them!  This love started many years ago when I only had a couple. But, whenever the grandkids, my niece's and nephews, would come over, I would make a point of having a "slumber party" of sorts, where we would all snuggle up and watch a good old movie, play and eat something fresh that I had just baked.
Inevitably, every single one of them would want my blanket throw, or would definitely have a favorite of my other two or three. I loved this! For many years we had, what I called, the "Blankie Box" and the kids, and a few of the adults, all knew exactly where it was, which one they wanted and that they could help themselves. Which tickled me pink with so much joy.