Father's Day...

I am often in awe of God's grace in my life... His infinite grace to save me, a wretched sinner... And just after that, His grace in giving me such a loving and gentle husband... It is often said that a wife falls in love with her husband all over again when they have children... This was certainly the case in my life... Seeing Jay with his 'girls' brings me more joy than I could ever describe... He is patient with them... He listens to every word and cry... He plays with them in a way that would never occur to me... He cares for them with genuine compassion... And to see the love in their eyes when they see him... Well... It's priceless to me...

Argyle...

I've been thinking a lot about Father's Day this week... And for those of you who know Jay, the father of my girls... Well... You know that he adores argyle... It's a bit of his thing... And I adore it... So in honour of him... Enjoy the argyle!

1. Cake
2. Wreath
3. Storage
4. Socks
5. Vests
6. Placemat

On the Road...

Good Monday morning friends! I'm taking a break from offering a giveaway this week... No need to fret... Next Monday there will be another fantastic giveaway awaiting you... There just wasn't time this week to promote the giveaway as I need to... Why? Well... As you read this, I will be on the road with my girls and my parents to visit my dear cousins in Ohio!

When I was growing up, my twin cousins Amy & Karen lived several hours away... Despite the distance, we saw one another often and I long considered them two of my best friends... When we were in high school, they moved with their family to Ohio... They met boys south of the border and married there... I had the lovely pleasure of standing up with both of them in their weddings... Flash forward several years... Amy still lives in Ohio but Karen has moved with her family to Arizona... This week, Karen will be in Ohio, so I'm a road trip to re-connect with them after nearly THREE years! When I last saw them, I was just barely pregnant with Brennah... Now between the three of us we have NINE kids! Amazing what the Lord has done!

My parents, the girls and I will be visiting (and shopping... Oh 'Target' how I have longed for thee) for a few days... And then I'll be heading back home on Thursday morning... Such an exciting week... Brennah is beyond thrilled to meet all her cousins... And I can't wait to see the twins again... Some things never change... And for that I am truly thankful! Have a great week and I'll be back with a lovely giveaway next Monday!

(l-r: Alan, Uncle Gary, Amy, Tom, Me, Grandpa & Karen, circa 1983)

{The Gilded Bee} Giveaway Winner...

Congratulations to Amber {Blog + Shop}... The winner of this week's giveaway! Thanks to all who entered and thank you especially to Sasha for generously donating $40 in store credit!

Weekend Project {Homemade Lemonade}

I LOVE lemonade... I drink it all year long... And in the dead of winter, I can taste summer! Yet I've never, ever made my own lemonade... How sad is that? So... Today is my beloved husband's birthday... And I adore him... In honour of his birthday, we're hosting a few friends... What better way to celebrate than some homemade lemonade... A great weekend project idea! (See the links below the picture for recipes)!

Enjoy and happy weekend! And don't forget to enter this week's giveaway with 'The Gilded Bee'!

1. Watermelon Berry Lemonade
2. Mint Lemonade
3. Traditional Lemonade
4. Tangy Citrus Lemonade
5. Cucumber Lemonade
6. Blueberry Lemonade
7. Strawberry Lemonade

Lemonade...

1. Lemons
2. Lemonade
3. Spiked Lemonade
4. Blueberry Lemonade
5. Pineapple Lemonade Coolers
6. Lavender-Infused Lemonade
7. Lemonade Stand

8. Raspberry Lemonade

9. Strawberry Lemonade
10. Pink Lemonade
11. Lemon Verbena Lemonade
12. Lavender Lemonade Coolers
13. Barrel Lemonade Stand
14. Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

{DON'T FORGET to Enter this week's 'Gilded Bee' Giveaway!}

A Late Spring Brunch...

Last Saturday, we enjoyed a lovely spring brunch... With authentic crepes, wonderful fruit and even better company!

{And don't forget to enter this week's Giveaway... $40 from 'The Gilded Bee'}

Mint Lemondade...

1. Dresser

2. Yellow Ranunculus
3. Bouquet
4. Mint Lemonade
5. Lemon Drops
6. Sugared Lemons & Eucalyptus Centrepiece
7. Lemons & Yellow Roses
8. Mint Flats

{DON'T FORGET to Enter this week's 'Gilded Bee' Giveaway!}

Giveaway {The Gilded Bee}

I am so excited to introduce you to one of my favourite Etsy shops, 'The Gilded Bee' for this week's giveaway... Sasha has graciously offered $40 in store credit to be spent in her shop! Full of lovely items to make anything pretty, I'm sure you too will find so many items to inspire you!

{Shop}

{Blog}

Sasha has taken the time to answer a few questions!
What does a perfectly ordinary day in your life look like?
"It involves a lot of paper. I make things, esp. for my shoppe. I cook. I read. I play with my cats and dogs. I blog. I take as many photo's as I can squeeze in."

What time of year most inspires you?
"Late spring/early summer. Right now actually. :) I garden, and love flowers very much."

What do you think of as comfort food?
"Chocolate :D and soup. :)"

If you could hop on a plane, without giving one thought to your budget, where would you go?
"In my fancies: the UK, Southern France, and Australia."

What are five things you would like to do in the next five years?
"1. create.
2. learn another language
3. read 1,000 books
4. travel somewhere outside of the USA
5. be healthy, and laugh a lot"

This giveaway runs from June 7th - June 12th at Noon (EST)

1. Visit 'The Gilded Bee' and choose your favourite item from the shop... Come back here and leave a comment along with your email address, mentioning your favourite item...

2. For an additional entry, link to this giveaway on your blog, come back here and post an additional comment with the link and your email address...

3. For an additional entry, tweet about this giveaway on Twitter, come back here and post an additional comment with the link and your email address...

4. For an additional entry, link to this giveaway on Facebook, come back here and post an additional comment with the link and your email address...

5. For even more entries, POST again (Blog, Twitter, Facebook) at any time later in the week, come back here and post an additional comment with the link and your email address...

* YOU MAY ENTER UP TO FIVE TIMES FOR FIVE CHANCES TO WIN!

The winner will be randomly chosen and posted HERE on the blog on Saturday... Please check the blog on Saturday to see if YOU are the winner! Enjoy... Please help spread the word and thanks again to Sasha of 'The Gilded Bee'!

{Pretty Swell} Giveaway Winner...

Congratulations to Chantilly McKinnon aka Thursday of 'My Girl Thursday'... The winner of this week's giveaway! Thanks to all who entered and thank you especially to Katie for generously donating the Floral Garland!

Stay tuned on Monday for a BRAND NEW weekly giveaway!

Weekend Project {Doily Table Runner}

Inspired by the lovely the tablecapes from yesterday, I was thrilled to come across this project idea from Ashley Ann, 'Doily Table Runner'... Isn't it stunning?

This week's lovely giveaway from 'Pretty Swell' ends tomorrow! Be sure to enter!

Oh So Pretty Vintage Tablescapes...

1. Carter & Cook Event Co.
2. Outdoor Table
3. Vintage Plates
4. Vintage Book Centrepiece

5. Outdoor Table
6. Jars and Trees
7. Vintage Plates

Be sure to enter this week's giveaway... A floral garland from 'Pretty Swell'!

Where Has My Baby Gone?

One day I woke up and she was a little girl... I'm trying to figure out when that happened...

Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway!

Pink & Ink...

1. Pink Drinks

2. Cameo Jewelry
3. Pink Box
4. Blush Bouquet
5. Pink Panther Poms
6. Pink Pearls
7. Wide Open Fine Art Photograph
8. Sweet Love Save the Dates

AND don't forget this week's fantastic giveaway with 'Pretty Swell'!

Giveaway {Pretty Swell}

This week's lovely giveaway is courtesy of Katie, from Hawaii (anyone else jealous)? 'Pretty Swell' is a shop full of beautiful handmade floral garlands... Katie has generously agreed to donate a six flower garland of the winner's choice... Fantastic or what?
Lovely Katie has taken the same to answer some questions...

What does a perfectly ordinary day in your life look like?
"An ordinary day in my life goes like this... Wake up with my daughter... play and take care of her...do something fun with her go to the beach or meet up with friends... let her sleep while I work on my fledgling business! ... then spend the evening with my husband. pretty average but Pretty Swell! (ha! get it?)"

What time of year most inspires you?
"ohhh I love the summertime! it has always been my favorite because it means going on vacation with family and lots of playing."

What do you think of as comfort food?
"comfort food is always a dessert for me... ice cream, cupcakes, chocolate souffle! yum"

If you could hop on a plane, without giving one thought to your budget, where would you go?
"South Africa... but Italy is always tempting."

What are five things you would like to do in the next five years?
"1. have more children
2. paint more(I graduated in fine arts and i just don't paint enough anymore)
3. work hard to build Pretty Swell
4. travel somewhere new
5. learn to cook consistently and effortlessly"


This giveaway runs from May 31st - June 5th at Noon (EST)

1. Visit 'Pretty Swell' and choose your favourite item from the shop... Come back here and leave a comment along with your email address, mentioning your favourite item...

2. For a second entry, link to this giveaway on your blog, Facebook page or Twitter page, come back here and post a SECOND comment with the link and your email address...

The winner will be randomly chosen and posted HERE on the blog on Saturday... Please check the blog on Saturday to see if YOU are the winner! Enjoy... Please help spread the word and thanks again to Katie of 'Pretty Swell'!

{Yvette Inufio Photography} Giveaway Winner...

Congratulations to Kait of 'Kait Must Wait'... The winner of this week's giveaway! Thanks to all who entered and thank you especially to Yvette of 'Yvette Inufio Photography' for the fantastic photographs!

Stay tuned on Monday for a BRAND NEW weekly giveaway!

Weekend Project {Hanging Handkerchief Vases}

If you were as inspired yesterday by all the lovely vintage handkerchiefs as I was, I hope you'll enjoy today's Weekend Project Idea... 'Hanging Handkerchief Vases' from 'Once Wed'... Aren't they pretty? Enjoy... Perhaps I'll give them a try this weekend... Here's hoping!

Vintage Handkerchiefs...

1. Vintage Handkerchief Bouquet
2. Vintage Handkerchief Table Runner
3. Vintage Handkerchief Save the Date
4. Vintage Handkerchief Pillows
5. Hankies on the Line

6. Lovely Engagement shots of Danni from 'Oh Hello Friend'
7. Handkerchief Wall Art
8. Vintage Handkerchief Banner
9. Vintage Handkerchief Card
10. Vintage Fabric Wristlet

A May Day...

A stunning day in May... The weather perfect... The sky blue... The bridal wreath in bloom... The girls happy... Perfection...

Brennah {2 Years, 4 Months Old}
Leah {6 and a half Months Old}

Sugar Plum Berries...

1. Girl
2. Silk Flower Hair Clip
3. Outdoor Table Setting
4. Plums
5. Flowers
6. Estelle Fascinator in Raspberry Pink