"frugal entertainment"

I have to tell ya'll about one of my favorite frugal finds!! Did ya'll know that you can watch wonderful Jane Austin movies & tons of other great movies on Masterpiece Theater on PBS? They are by far some of my favorite versions of the films. I have been watching them for months now- so fun & did I mention.. it's FREE!!!!

Emma is my very VERY favorite- much better than the Gwyneth Paltrow version. It will make you want to live back then- (but you will really want a dowry) unless you find someone like Mr. Knightley to sweep you off your feet....

p.s. Josey has joined in my obsession of the theater!!! Joey took her into the city to a children's theater version of Les Mis. He said that her smile stayed on through intermission & still on the car ride home.... ahh be still be heart!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend- we are starting our 2 weeks off for:
Spring Break!!!
Thank goodness.. A-man refuses to share Priss anymore!!!

p.s.s.- THANK YOU for all of your sweet e-mails, comments, & prayers for my neck. I am SO much better- Ya'll are so precious to me!!!!!

"Spring is in the air..."

Today it's going to be near 70 degrees here (sorry if it's cold where you are)... But we are LOVING NC right now!!! I thought that I'd try my hand at some spring headbands.. What do ya'll think???

I made- blue, yellow, pink, & purple.. but ya'll know that I ADORE the PINK the most (your Aunt Ashly is saving one of these precious pink ones for you Sweet Paige)!

I
(heart)
SPRING!

Happy Birthday
Tyler Evan!!!!

WE (heart) you too!!!

"what is your weight"

I took these little hot off the glue gun- "by A" St. Patrick's Day clips to my Beth Moore study yesterday. Each of the girls have at least 1 girl & I wanted to bless them as they bless me each week!

We are in the 4th chapter of Esther & WOW I thought I knew the story already, but my eyes have been completely opened to a much bigger & RICHER story. This week we learned how "it's tough being a woman thrown a giant-sized weight". Now practically speaking that sounds "like other people with much BIGGER problems & not us", but I believe that the weight that she is speaking about is whatever you keep & do NOT leave @ the cross... Just know beloved- God loves you so. He is hard at work in your life, and the same eye that's on the sparrow is on the wristwatch!!

p.s. A-man & I were in a bit of a fender-bender yesterday... Today I'm praising GOD for: his hand of safety that was on everyone involved, the fire trucks that made the very scary situation very FUN for the A-man- (he is still talking about them), & for modern day miracles such as.... muscle relaxers!!! Somehow though I can't help to feel as though my "weight" has changed a little bit this morning.... NO longer am I concerned about broken cars & messed-up schedules; I am THANKFUL I have another day with my beloved ones & that's more that enough for me!!

"it's WHO I am..."

Well.... Prissy's presentation went in her words "perfectly GREAT". Joey said that she got a little shy (quiet) & that her teacher wanted her to play the video first (by the way the audio didn't work on the post yesterday- you were suppose to hear her sweet voice reading her passage??) & therefore changed her flow... and therefore she lost her place, but QUICKLY recovered! I'm just glad that he went & not me- I think I would have been forced to over-rule the teacher & go with Prissy's plan.... but I'm quite sure that is why God let Joey take her & not me! It's who I am- I have never been- NOR ever will be the momma who throws her little ones out into the cruel world alone. And with this being said- you will understand why I was up until midnight making "rainbow" cupcakes with cream cheese icing & sprinkles for her class (as part of her "visual aides"). I knew they would get her a clap @ the end & I also knew that she needed one last little bit of confidence going in. YES.... It's who I am & I make no apologies & no excuses for it...

I used 1 white cake mix & divided into rainbow colors to go along with
her verse & to go along with my St Pat's cupcake cups...


Then I layered them on top plastic gold & silver coins as though they were @ the end of the rainbow!!! So cute & sassy for the special occasion!!!!

"Josey's bible presentation"

Today Josey is presenting her very 1st oral bible project.... I must say that I am nervous for her (I know you already knew that..)! She prayed for Jesus to take away her belly bugs & for her daddy to stay until she finishes (as luck may have it.. he has the day off)- coincidence I think NOT! Josey is both beautiful on the inside & out. She is ALWAYS the very first to encourage others & to say nice things about whatever project that I may be doing. "Momma you are so good at that & NO that isn't awful Momma- it's wonderful" are said around this house almost daily. Jesus definitely resides in her heart & I know that He will shine through her today- as He does everyday!!!!! I wanted to show ya'll the little video that they (Joey & Priss) made to go along with her presentation. I only wish that ya'll could have seen us trying to make Prince Phillip, Prince Eric, & Price Charming into- Peter, John, & Jesus- hysterical!!!! Josey just kept saying "I know I have better looking boots for Jesus to wear Momma- do you think he looks good enough?"

"all things turquoise"

I have have a new obsession with turquoise (and just happen to have a sofa in that color- my next living room.... maybe???)! It looks smashing paired up with some YUMMY white- and ya'll know how I feel about that!

My pitiful birdcage looks sad in comparison to this "bird castle" from Anthropologie... I mean really..... what other store can make you want to be a blue bird???


and this sweater speaks for itself (from the new catalog)...



Now I have to show you what came today...

I bought these white slip-covered chairs from ikea (thanks Jenny for the tip). They are sturdy, lovely, & handsome additions to my "new" dining room! Try to imagine these chairs painted white too- what do ya think? They came just in time to use for group tonight...


HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

some "smiling" faces

Yesterday was a bit overwhelming... Joey woke up the a little stomach bug (is it just me or when your man is sick it is the VERY worst). He is NOT an unkind or demanding patient... I just need him so much that when he is out-of-commission all is just NOT right in the world. Practically speaking keeping A-man quiet & trying to get his mind off of the fact that "daddy" was in the bedroom, yet he didn't want to wrestle just plain didn't penetrate the force of my 2 yr old! Needless to say- he is on the mend & is among the living today- PRAISE GOD!!!! I let Priss have free will with my camera & I must say she captures some pretty sweet moments in the mist of my despair (children are the best in bad situations).

This is A-man, Lucy, & Annabell (which he calls baby Paige- he is a little bias to his little cousin). These little guys were student in Prissy's class yesterday afternoon...


Lucy sporting her new flower pin that Priss made for her- "doesn't she look fabulous Momma?" was the comment I kept hearing over & over!!! I can totally see my Priss as a fashion designer one day- maybe she can get me samples- ha ha!


and this one I took--- I see this little "smiling face" everyday & I adore it!!!! I know one day she won't appreciate the little dimples of her childhood... but I will ALWAYS love them!!!!

p.s.

Happy
belated Birthday
Grandpa Harris!!!
we love you...