Holy Candy Batman! Today's Halloween! (and a winner)

Monday, October 31, 2011

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So did you all enjoy your Halloween? We sure did!
These are the costumes I was supposed to make. Thanks Mom for bailing me out! She's awesome!

We had Mummy Dogs and Mummy Pizza for dinner. The boys loved making their own, what fun!

Happy Halloween! Did you enjoy your day?

The randomly selected winner of our gathered clutch is comment #14 - Amanda! Congrats girl! Email us with your mailing address and we will get it out soon. And to everyone that entered thanks so much for checking out the site.  
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What I love about the thrift store! {Link Up}

Friday, October 28, 2011

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Real quick, have you checked out my giveaway for a handmade gathered clutch? Link is in the sidebar over there
<---------------------------------------!

Alright you guys are always finding some fantastic stuff! And many of you that sell your finds inspire me to do so as well. Yeah, I've been checking out your etsy shops! And some of you sell in consignment shops too.

Selling is a great way to keep the thrift hording to a minimum. It's satisfying enough to have these thrifted items in your hands for just a bit until it sells isn't it? I bet it also tackles that " hum??? but do I really need it" issue, doesn't it? If you do sell your finds let us know your thoughts if you don't mind.

Thank each and every one of you that linked up last week! Lets see a couple shall we? I said it before and I'll say it many more times, I'm a sucker for old Pyrex!

Look at this great set Kiss My Brass found! Is that great or what?


And check out this vintage mirror at A Woman of Notes. She found a couple others too, go see!

Lots of great stuff! Are you checking out the links?

Here are a few of my finds lately. I totally have a creamer collection! I love the small ones and I use them to hold EVERYTHING! Most are crystal or glass, so I kinda get excited when I find a small one that's ceramic.

 Vintage button refills.

And these baby's! I was so happy about this find because I have actually been putting off buying wooden spoons for about a year now because of the cost! I hate the cheap ones cause they get nasty real fast.

 Brand new in the package! And just look at that price! You can't beat that!

And this my friends is what I love about the thrift store. Thanks for reading! So what did you find?

Linking up at:
S- Fleamarket Finds M- Apron Thrift Girl Tu- House of Grace, Coastal Charm, F- Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Thrifty Groove S- Penny Worthy Project
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What Do I Know of Holy? {Mighty to Save}

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

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Today I have another free printable designed for you by 517 Creations!




I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this saying!

And this is one of my favorite passages of scripture in the entire Bible.

What a beautiful picture of how powerful and at the same time how loving our God is.

You can frame it and display it in your home as a reminder of our great God who saves!

Or simply download it and use it as a desktop background or screensaver for your computer!

It was inspired by one of my favorite worship songs of all-time, Laura Story's "Mighty to Save."

Go HERE to listen to it if you are not familiar.

For some reason God has laid it on my heart to pray that he will "move the mountains."

I have been praying this prayer for several months now related to different things.

I love the line in the song that says, "Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save."

No matter what the mountains are in our lives, we need to know that God is capable of moving them.

Will you {I} trust that God is in control and that He knows what is best for us {me}?

The hard part for me is not knowing that God is powerful enough but being able to say like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego...

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. {Daniel 3: 17-18}

If you are familiar with the story of my friend Melanie of Happy Hartman Farm, you know she faced some major mountains in bringing her son home and that she saw the faithful hand of God through them.

Listen to what she said on her blog after FINALLY rescuing her boy and bringing him home from the mental institution in Eastern Europe that her family adopted him out of after he was put there because he was born with down syndrome...

I am reading a book I picked up in the airport and I really like it and highly reccomend it,,, Title: THE DIRTY LIFE a Memoir of farming, food, and Love. There was something I read that really struck me... here it is

When we would talk about our future in private, I would ask Mark if he really thought we had a chance. Of course we had a chance, he`d say, and anyway, it didn`t matter if this venture failed. In his view, we were already a success, because we were doing something hard and it was something that mattered to us. You don`t measure things like that with words like success or failure, he said. Satisfaction comes from trying hard things and then going on to the next hard thing, regardless of the outcome. What mattered was whether or not you were moving in a direction you thought was right.

This paragraph comes after she explains all of the subtle comments and actions of those around them that were giving help and support but really didn`t think they`d make it and it was obvious. And how it would wear on her.

I don`t know, I can see alot of paralells of this to our adoption process,,, not just about all of the uncertainty of it all... And the months of hard work... where others pitched in to help, but couldn`t help to let their concerns be heard,,, sometimes more obvious and sometimes a bit more manipulatively. But also our hearts... many cannot understand our hearts. And then there are those that just seemed to get it completely, even if it was not something they were interested in doing at the time. Don`t get me wrong, I am not complaining, we appreciate every penny, every prayer, and every encouraging word... Even from the doubters :)! Trust me we know that we have struggles ahead... We have older children, they are not special needs and there has been heartbreak and trials and our patience tested to the core. We have little bitty ones, and they are not perfect, nor are we... So such as life... Here we go... My husband always says that nothing worth having ever comes easy!

Oh how she inspires me.

She will never know how much her journey has blessed me.

And I love how my friend Jen of Team Chase 4 and Counting {who is in the process of adopting 2 children from Ethiopia} put it when she said...

The journey is difficult, it stretches me in every aspect, but it is SO worth it. Not just because of the end result {which I look forward to with great hope}, but because of what I am learning along the way.

And that, my friends, is what I truly believe it is all about: the journey.

I encourage you to cherish the journey.

God uses it to bless us, to teach us and to make us more like Christ.

And even though it is tough, it is worth it.

And you just never know who you are blessing along the way.

Linking Up With {Encouraging Words Wednesday}
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So happy I can (sorta) sew! {Giveaway}

Monday, October 24, 2011

26 comments
Looks like a great day for a giveaway huh? Do you remember my new hobby? Well this gathered clutch tutorial by Noodlehead is one of the first things I wanted to try.

It came out pretty good for a beginner don't you think? I know where I messed up (it's minor) and I'm sure you pros would know. But I'm pretty proud of it!
Who knew sewing could be so fun and not sooooo stressful after all? I think I've caught on pretty quickly! A little instruction was all I needed. Who knows you may see some lovely sewn items in the shop one day. Wouldn't that be great?

The Giveaway
One lucky winner will get this lovely clutch made by yours truly!

to enter:
Tell us, have you checked our our website? If not what are you waiting for? Answer either question in the comments section before extra entries will count.

extra entries:
• Blog, tweet or facebook about this giveaway with a link back  = 1 entry each. Each can be done daily!
• Follow the Cap blog.
• Like Cap on facebook.

• Leave a separate comment on this post for each entry. • Make sure we have a way to contact you, should you win. • Last day to enter 10/31/11 at noon Pacific time. • GOOD LUCK!!!
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Thrifty Goodness Link Up

Friday, October 21, 2011

6 comments
I sure love seeing what you all find! How about you? We only had 3 of ya link up this time so you all get a feature! Yay!

Cheerful Thrifty Door found this great cloche that she is GIVINGAWAY! Better hurry cause it ends today!

My Cowboy's Wife found some great stuff. I am loving the bobbins/spools!

Helen and her Daughters found lots of great vintage items including several lovely linens.

Thanks for linking up ladies we love having each of you join.

So did you find anything great this week? I got a few more Halloween things to share. Actually these could carry me through Thanksgiving too. Lovely ceramic pumpkins at half off paying a whopping 1.31 for the set! They look oh so lovely sitting on my mercury glass candlesticks. The perfect little pedestal for these fellas.

And these pretties! At first I thought they were glass pumpkin ornaments then I realized the are place-card holders. How pretty would these be on a fancy Thanksgiving table setting? Half off and paid 30 cents for the set!

And this my friends is what I love about the thrift store! So how'd ya do this week? Find anything fantastic? If this link up ever becomes large we will go ahead and switch over to the thumbnail linky. For now we're gonna stay with the free one. Hope you don't mind.

Linking up at:
S- Fleamarket Finds M- Apron Thrift Girl Tu- House of Grace, Coastal Charm, F- Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Thrifty Groove S- Penny Worthy Project
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What Do I Know of Holy? {When I Stand}

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

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Today is huge day of celebration for me and Worthy of the Prize Sports Ministries!

The Texas Rangers are going to the World Series and my book is FINALLY going to print!!! Wooohooo!!!


In celebration, we are having a BIG giveaway on the Worthy of the Prize facebook page including an autographed baseball signed by THE Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers and a faith memory pack from Scripture Art Designs {the company of Josh Hamilton's wife and sister-in-law who I happen to be in partnership with} and MUCH more!

Be sure to hop on over to our facebook page and join in the celebration!


So I found this on Pinterest the other day and I.fell.in.love.

Seriously, this is my life goal. The very reason why I live. The very reason why Worthy of the Prize exists.

When all is said and done. When the great race has been won. I want to be found worthy of the prize.

Growing up, I always knew that God had gifted me with these athletic talents and abilities for a reason, a chosen purpose---more than just to win an earthly prize.

This great gift I have been given
I am not worthy of
It’s only by the wondrous grace
Of my Lord above

So I wait upon you Oh Lord
I do not want to fall
It’s your will I desire
Only your will above all


I know you have great plans for me
But I just feel so lost
What do you have in store for me?
I will go despite the cost


It is me my sweet child
That you are yearning for
It is me who is your destiny
I am your great reward


My plan is for you to know me
And to become just like my son
I promise to come back for you
When all is said and done


For now enjoy my presence
Lead others to my grace
Don’t worry about tomorrow
Simply live life for today

{The Journey, Erin Vick Franklin}

They are for his glory, to bring others to his name---to win a heavenly prize, the ultimate prize in Christ.

You can read more about how to gain the ultimate prize in Christ here.

It is my hope and prayer that when I stand before the throne at the end of my life, I will be able to say with Paul:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day---and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. {2 Timothy 4:7-8}

What are you living for?!

By the way, the ipad 2 {or $550 cash} giveaway is up and running! Check it out here.

Happy Wednesday and Let's Go Rangers, WIN IT ALL!!! :)


Linking Up With {Encouraging Words Wednesday}
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Past Halloween Ideas

Monday, October 17, 2011

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Just taking a moment to share some of our past Halloween ideas! Click on the pictures to be taken to each post.
Dollar store Halloween decor. This one will set you back $4.

Adorable Halloween and fall soap favors with free printable tags.



And this little thrift store guy wanted to say hi! lol!

Hope these inspire you just a bit! And don't forget to snag our free 5x7 Halloween print HERE. Print and frame and you're good to go!

Have a great week folks!
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What I Love About The Thrift Store Link Party & Halloween Printable

Friday, October 14, 2011

11 comments
Okay so I'm thinking the name (What I Love About The Thrift Store) is a bit too long lol! What do you think? Got a better name? Lets Go Thrifting, Thrift Me, Thrift is Me, I Love Vintage, My Thrift Fix, Lovely Vintage, Thrifty Goodness...

I want to share 2 things this week just in time for Halloween. First is this vintage costume pattern. It's dated 1978. I actually picked this up online cause I am making the Batman and Robin costumes for my boys. Do you get the Hub channel? Well every night before bed my boys watch the old Batman TV show, so this was the perfect costume choice for them this year! I love homemade costumes, this is my first ever as I just started sewing this year. Batman is started but wish me luck on getting these completed in time!

Next I have this old frame that I picked up for 95 cents.
I don't know about you but many, many times I love the things I find just the way they are. Yeah, sure, some need makeovers but for some reason I usually end up liking the old vintageness of the things I find. How about you? My uncle says I have an old soul. What ever that means??? All I did to this frame was add a Halloween print I made that you can snag for free below.
Snag the free printable here. It's 5x7 and you can have it printed at your local photo lab. Click on the image, then right click and save and it's yours!

Thanks to everyone who linked up last week! Everyone is finding some great stuff! Isn't it fun to see the awesome things people find?

Cheerful Thrifty Door picked up some old Pyrex. I love old Pyrex. So much in fact that I even got some as wedding gift when I got married. Yep wedding gift from the thrift store! Love that! I think it was actually from an antique store. Either way I love it!

It's Still Life found this neat pitcher and many other old things including some like new aprons.

Find anything lately? Share it! We'd love for you to join us.


Linking to: CSI Project, Eighteen25
S- Fleamarket Finds M- Apron Thrift Girl Tu- House of Grace F- Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Thrifty Groove S- Penny Worthy Project

S- The DIY Showoff, Under the Table and Dreaming, MThe Girl Creative, MM Party at BNOTP, Making the World Cuter, Skip to my Lou, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping it SimpleT- Coastal Charm, Tip Junkie, All Thingz Related, Today's Creative Blog, Hope Studios W- Trendy Treehouse, Blue Cricket Design, Someday Crafts, My Backyard Eden, Room to Inspire, Creations by Kara, Just a Girl, T- The Idea Room, Yesterday on Tuesday, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Somewhat Simple, Beyond the Picket Fence, Tidy Mom, Fireflies and JellybeansF- It's FUN to Craft, The Shabby Nest, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk InteriorsS- Along for the Ride, I Heart Naptime
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What Do I Know of Holy? {Strong Enough}

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

4 comments

So many times I feel like this simple pot of clay.

Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed.
Perplexed, but not in despair.
Persecuted, but not abandoned.
Struck down, but not destroyed.
{2 Corinthians 4:8-9}

Hanging. by. a. thread.

Seriously.

Have you ever felt this way?

And yet God in his infinite wisdom chose to house his greatest treasure, the gift of his son Jesus, inside of me. An ordinary, highly breakable clay pot. What was he thinking?

I'm definitely not strong enough for the task. Are you?

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. {2 Corinthians 4:7}

God wants people to draw their attention, not to us, but to the treasure inside of us. It is God in us that makes us beautiful. And it is God in us that makes us strong enough to house his glory.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. {2 Corinthians 4:16-18}

Matthew West says it perfectly in his new song Strong Enough. I absolutely love it. And him. It is one of my favorites right now. Listen to it and let me know what you think.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. {Philippians 4:13}

I don't have to be strong enough.

Don't forget to checkout the upcoming ipad 2 giveaway. It's less than a week away.

Linking up with {Encouraging Words Wednesday}
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Pretty Yard Space

Monday, October 10, 2011

4 comments
I love pretty spaces in the yard. One area we FINALLY finished is pretty much a focal point in our backyard. The triangular shape of our yard leads your eye right to this point. This area holds our deep pit and if you've seen one you know it's not much to look at. They are handy to have but they are not pretty. I wanted to hide it!

Wish I had a before picture but I only got a during and after. Picture if you will, a deep pit, dirt with the wood fence behind it, all retained by railroad ties. The railroad ties were pretty cool but having small children they were a health concern due to the chemicals used to treat them. So we tore those bad boys out and replaced them with retaining wall bricks. These are so easy cause they literally just stack.

So here's our during picture. So far what we've done here is add the new 2 foot retaining wall, a fountain and a section of rod iron fencing to hide the deep pit. We planted jasmine on the rod iron and it filled in beautifully! Deep pit hidden! Now this area actually sat this way for a couple of years. 1 year for the rod iron fencing one year for the fountain and finally...

...the after and I LOVE it!!!

We added stepping stone pavers and gravel around the fountain. Due to water splashing from the fountain that area was constantly wet and muddy! We packed the gravel a few inches deep so the water now sits below the gravel and the muddy water problem is solved! We added two potted plants that we already had at each end of the jasmine wall.

Next we planted the ground cover from seed which you can see starting to grow over here. This ground cover is awesome! It's called dichondra and here is what I love about it. It grows fast, handles full sun, it's hardy (you can walk all over this stuff), drought tolerant, can take the heat and it's BEAUTIFUL! Just look at that bright shade of green but pay no attention to that weed!
Isn't this a lovely space?
 It's nice to look at, has a lovely sound from the fountain, and it's doing a fantastic job hiding that deep pit!
We need to restain that wood fence and I still want to add a sitting area here but that's another story. I have the perfect iron table and 2 chairs that I need to refinish. Another project for another day though!
So this is one lovely space in a yard that I love that my husband works so hard at maintaining. Thank you sweetie! You do a terrific job!

Linking to:
Funky Junk Interiors
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What I Love About the Thrift Store

Friday, October 7, 2011

4 comments
Hi y'all! Thanks for linking up again last week. This link party totally inspires me to get out there and find some thrifty goodness. How about you?

Owl Really had me drooling over her thrifty finds! Check it out!

And how about this beautiful punch bowl set from Tatter and Fray? She found several other cocktail sets too.

I just have a few things to share today. This lovely milk glass dish full of goodies! Is that rose necklace awesome or what? Love it!
And this my friends is what I love about the thrift store. ← Link party name right there. Finally got one, a few of you have asked. What I Love About the Thrift Store. 
So how about you? Find anything lately?

Linking up at:
S- Fleamarket Finds M- Apron Thrift Girl Tu- House of Grace, Coastal Charm, F- Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Thrifty Groove S- Penny Worthy Project
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What Do I Know of Holy? {Waiting}

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

1 comment

So, these are my little guys. Over at Worthy of the Prize, they are known as Little A and Little E. I love them to pieces. Aren't they adorable?! :)

A few weeks ago we finally took them fishing, after much prodding. They had just gotten new poles, which by no coincidence are Cars {as in the movie} themed. They are addicted to all things Cars {and now Cars 2}. Thanks for that, Disney Pixar! ;)

Anyway, they had an absolute blast. And the craziest part is that they did not. catch. anything. nothing. nada.

I don't know if the fish were asleep that day or if we did not have the right kind of bait, or what. Bottom line. The fish weren't biting.

And yet, my boys were smiling. They were simply enjoying being there at the fishing pond with mommy and daddy, casting and reeling in, over and over again, using their brand new fishing poles. There was no place on earth they would have rather been that day.

They were waiting with joy for fish that never came.

Waiting is not easy. We're not a patient people. When days turn to weeks and weeks turn to months and months turn to years, you can't help but wonder if God is still working on your behalf. But rest assured, He is! Just as your children were born when they were ready {after 9 long months of waiting}, your dreams and miracles will hatch at their appointed times. So, hang in there and wait with joy. Whenever you are able to finally embrace whatever it is you're believing God for, it will be more than worth the wait!  {Daily Wisdom for Mothers, Michelle Medlock Adams}

I happened to take Michelle's class a few years ago at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference. She is fabulous. But when I first heard that term wait with joy, it blew me out of the water. As if waiting on God is not hard enough, we are supposed to wait with joy?!

Have you ever been through a time when you were seeking God for answers and no matter what you did, "wait" was his only answer?

It is a tough lesson in faith, let me tell you. And I am slowly but surely coming to terms with the fact that...


Do you trust God's timing? Is there anything you are waiting on God for these days? What can we join you in prayer about?

You too, be patient and stand firm. {James 5:8}

And while you are waiting, make sure to check out the upcoming ipad 2 giveaway, you don't want to miss it! :)

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Linking Up With {Encouraging Words Wednesday}
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Spelling Word Necklace

Monday, October 3, 2011

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Along with lots of reading for homework, we also have many spelling words every week. I've found that my boy absolutely does not like writing his spelling words! It's like pulling teeth people!

We have to get creative around here for spelling practice. We've already shared one way we practice spelling words but here's another that we've recently come up with. A spelling word necklace!

I think this idea is great because they practice their spelling as they build their necklace. But the other great thing is that they actually like playing with it and can carry it around EVERYWHERE. They can practice their words at hummmmm....lets say on the way to school, at the doctor/dentist or any waiting room, at a restaurant, you get the idea!!!

It's very interactive and hands on! Anyway this is just one thing that works for us, hope it comes in handy for you too. Happy learning!

Linking to:
S- The DIY Showoff, Under the Table and Dreaming, MThe Girl Creative, MM Party at BNOTP, Making the World Cuter, Skip to my Lou, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping it SimpleT- Coastal Charm, Tip Junkie, All Thingz Related, Today's Creative Blog, Hope Studios W- Trendy Treehouse, Blue Cricket Design, Someday Crafts, My Backyard Eden, Room to Inspire, Creations by Kara, Just a Girl, T- Yesterday on Tuesday, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Somewhat Simple, Beyond the Picket Fence, Tidy Mom, Fireflies and JellybeansF- A Few of My Favorite Things, It's FUN to Craft, The Shabby Nest, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk InteriorsS- Along for the Ride, I Heart Naptime
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