WWJD and Home Chalkboards

Sounds like a pretty random title, but they do actually go together!!  :)  Let me explain.

When I was younger...I can't remember exactly when...I would say around late middle school/early high school the newest trend was to wear necklaces and bracelets that said WWJD {What Would Jesus Do}.  For some reason those did not sit well with me...it might have been the fact that the people that were wearing them were not showing the best example of what Jesus would do!!  I thought- we should already be asking ourselves that question, why should we wear a bracelet that reminds us.  Regardless, I didn't like them.  

Now...onto chalkboards.  Yes, it will all make sense in a minute!  I am IN LOVE with chalkboards in homes.  I have helped make lots for our biz and I have three in my house {with plans for more}!!  I plan on using my chalkboards to display love notes to my family AND love notes from GOD!!  I LOVE being able to write out verses on them and read them daily!!  What a boost to our hearts and souls...a word from God, out of the Bible can change your outlook on a bad day, or when dealing with a difficult child, maybe after a rough day at work and it can help keep our eyes on Him rather than on ourselves.  

Now tell me..what is the difference in the above two examples?  Is there one?  Both "methods" push a closer relationship with Christ as well as having us show His love to others.  

Fast forward a LONG time...and some maturity and spiritual growth later {ha!} I came across this verse Sunday:

 ^{Deuteronomy 6: 6} These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands {WWJD bracelets} and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes {or chalkboards!!!} of your houses and on your gates. 

And it finally clicked!!  Ha!  We are CALLED OUT to "display" all that God has done for us AND declare our love for Him!!  How awesome!!  I desperately want and NEED to "impress" Bible verses on my children, my husband...myself!!  We all need the daily affirmation of reading about God's love for us, His discipline for us, His commandments for us, His direction for us, His calling for us, His desires for us, His guidance for us...did I say LOVE?! :) 

So....WHICHEVER method you choose to proclaim the great word and show the love of Christ will be perfect!!  Awesome!  Don't ya think?!  

Can't wait to go make another chalkboard!!  Teehee! ;)

  

I'm Ready...95 days...

...till I start decorating for CHRISTmas!!!  Maybe it's the stinking heat, suppressing summer or the fact that I'm ready to look at PRETTINESS all the time...but I am READY to whip out those CHRISTmas decorations!!  And I hope to make a few new things this year!  Each year during the first week of December I decorate for CHRISTmas...then I feel like I am taking them right back down!!  So to avoid that "feeling" again this year I am putting them up WAY early.  I've decided to decorate for Fall mid-September and start my CHRISTmas decorating November 1st!  I think that makes sense!!  :))  So here are a few projects I want to tackle....

Source: blueroofcabin.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

{this project is TOTALLY possible...I have the crate, I can find the logs...easy peasy!}

Source: Uploaded by user via Ashley on Pinterest

{well...what can I say?  We have 6 people in this house and this would be ideal!!  I happen to have a curtain rod available...so no excuses!}

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

{had such big plans to make this last year and didn't...but really it's an easy one, so I know we can do it!  Such a fun family project!!}

Source: lh5.googleusercontent.com via Ashley on Pinterest

{I would have to really be on the ball to get current winter-ish pics for each stocking.}

Source: farm2.static.flickr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: bluecricketdesign.net via Ashley on Pinterest

{LOVED this the first time I saw it.  WANTED to make it last year.  NEED to have it this year!!}

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

{Can't forget a wreath!!  I'm slightly obsessed with wreaths...oh, I lurve this one!!}


And now for a little reminder of my decorations from last year....


  





Are you dreaming of a White CHRISTmas yet? ;)  And don't worry I've got some cute Fall things planned as well...I haven't forgotten that wonderful time of year!!  I will share a post on that later!!  :)

Future DIY

Just thought I would share a couple of projects I plan on attempting in the near future {whenever I have a job and some moola}!!  Whatcha think?  Any big or small projects coming up for you?!

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

{I know for sure that I am making a "You are my sunshine" canvas...and I know where it's going, but haven't decided on the exact design yet}

Source: smallchichome.com via Ashley on Pinterest

{I actually found these this week at Hob Lob, but they didn't have a lot of pretty ones to choose from...just one cute design...hmm, maybe so many people are making these that their stock is just low!}

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: megduerksen.typepad.com via Ashley on Pinterest

{okay...really on this one I'm not so much "making" the project, but putting it to good use...I just need one of these crates...hint, hint mom and dad...I'd be your best friend if you picked one of these up at Canton next weekend!!  Haha!!}

And moving on to some decorating pins....not so much crafting but easy decorating!!

Source: theyellowcapecod.com via Ashley on Pinterest

{LOVE LOVE LOVE the little moss balls in the wire basket}

Source: etsy.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: save-on-crafts.com via Ashley on Pinterest

{I know boring picture...but I have BIG BIG plans for burlap....finally decorating above our kitchen cabinets!!!}

I love Pinterest...maybe obsessed...surely not....quite possibly could be....probably not....right? :}

Black Widow{S}

I.am.tired.of.seeing.these {in my backyard}!!!!

Yep, I just killed ANOTHER black widow in my backyard.  I went my whole life never seeing one in person, and in the last few months I've seen/killed 100 4!!  UGH.  :((  My dad gave me some spray...I haven't used it...guess I should, huh?  And maybe I should get rid of EVERYTHING all toys, the grill, the sand/water table in my backyard to eliminate any hiding places for those scary boogers.  Oh and while I was playing She-ra and protecting my littles, I angered LOTS of ants...and they attacked.  My adrenaline was rushing so I didn't notice them till I got inside.  I literally had "ants in my pants"!!  Ha!  Anywho...I am now waging war against the evil Black Widow!!!

Wish me luck,

Ashley She-ra

B's FIRST Haircut

My baby girl had her first haircut last Friday....yes, she is four....yes, I said her FIRST haircut!!  And we decided to donated to Locks of Love...well that was the plan!!  Here's the story: :D

So here she is...all ready to donate....but mommy got cold feet!!  It would have made her hair SO SHORT.  And I just wasn't ready for that.

So we took the rubber band out and decided to just get it cut to past her shoulders.  Cute!  Look at ALL.THAT.HAIR!!

Gaga and Grandpa (and Aidan) came with us for the big event!!

Well, after a while the hair dresser told me that we could still donate and it wouldn't be as short as we expected!!!  Yay!  AND I got to keep a few little curls for her baby book!!  So we went for it!

THE.BIG.CUT.....

Be still my heart....4 years of growth simply gone!!  I would have cried {like Gaga did} had I not already cried on numerous occasions preparing for this day. :(

So short...but pretty darn cute!!

All done!!  She looks like such a big girl!  And I know...she is, HOWEVER she IS my BABY girl!!

I'm so very proud of you sweet B!!  You look precious AND you were so generous to donate your hair to Locks of Love!!  LOVE YOU.....BIG!!! :))

Foyers

Today at Kelly's Korner SUYL series we are showing our Foyers...Foyer is a bit of a grand title for my little abode!!  But a foyer is what we call it!  :)  So on to the pics...I will tell you it was HARD getting good angles on everything, so please keep that it mind!! Ha!  Enjoy!!

This is coming through the front door...I would show you the wreath on my front door, but it is not much to speak of!  It just didn't come out full enough when I made it.  Anyways....when you enter the right is my daughter's room, the left is the kitchen...

No, that is not a picture of our family!  Ha!  It's a pic of OUR bfff's {best family friends forever}...cheesy, but true!!  Love LOVE the candle...smells so good!  If you have one, you know what I mean.  :)  This shelf usually holds my purse and Owen's diaper bag....but I moved that for the picture!!

{no....you do not see dust on that shelf....NO.you.don't!!  teehee!!}

My ginormous clock!!  It's great...it is NEVER wrong.  I'm too stupid to explain how, but it is aligned with a satellite or the earth or something that causes it to always give the correct time...it even adjusts at Daylight Savings time!!  And below that is our bag holder!!  I love it so much and it is EXACTLY what we need in this house.  Each kiddo has a backpack and that alone takes up most hooks.  I might have taken, say 10 bags off the hooks to make it more presentable!!  Maybe not...but probably!!! :)  I could have a slight problem with bags/purses/totes!!  

If you would like to see the tutorial on my Welcome Home board, go HERE!!

We have a couple of little niches that I love, but are sometimes a little hard to decorate.  I'm not thrilled with this area, but I just thought of an awesome way to decorate this particular one!!  Tutorial and pics to come soon {well, as soon as I get the project done}!!

Now remember I told you some of the pictures aren't gonna be great because of the angles...well, here is what I was talking about!
I found this humongous frame in my parent's garage, spray painted it and hung it!  The pics of my kids are from Spring 2011, but I love them and just haven't changed them out for more recent pictures!!

Another tough angle....I love these shutters!!  I don't think the picture does them justice.  Coupla open frames, wreath, rosettes and ribbon and voila!!

And here is looking from the other direction...our living room.  Pardon the balloon...we play here ya know!! ;)  I hope you have enjoyed my little foyer!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!  Can't wait to check out everyone else's foyers!!  

Wordless Wednesday...Yummo!

{sweet Madi came for a visit the other day and we made COOKIES....yummo!!}