[be still my heart]

someday when i have a dining room...



and a million dollars, this is it!
this neiman marcus jewel is money! only a mere $2400.oo
isn't it pretty?
why do i even tempt myself?
well, it's fun to dream.


have you heard this song? it's been stuck in my head since last saturday. super catchy.
it's friday! yay!

[gravity]

i generally don't write long entries, but this one is worth the minute or two it takes to read.

john is the kind of guys you love to hate. he is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. when someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "if i were any better, i would be twins!"

he was a natural motivator. if an employee was having a bad day, john was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. seeing this style really made me curious, so one day i went up and asked him, "i don't get it!" "you can't be a positive person all of the time. how do you do it?" he replied, "each morning i wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. you can choose to be in a good mood or... you can choose to be in a bad mood. i chose to be in a good mood. each time something bad happens, i can choose to be a victim or... i can choose to learn from it. every time someone comes to me complaining, i can choose to accept their complaining or... i can point out the positive side of life. i choose the positive side of life."

"yeah, right, it's not that easy," i protested.

"yes it is," he said. "life is all about choices. when you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. you choose how you react to situations. you choose how people affect your mood. you choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood. the bottom line: it's your choice how you live your life."

i reflected on what he said. soor hereafter, i left the tower industry to start my own business. we lost touch, but i often thought about him when i made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

several years later, i heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. after 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

i saw him about six months after the accident. when i asked him how he was, he replied, "if i were any better, i'd be twins. want to see my scars?" i declined to see his wounds, but i did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"the first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be-born daughter," he replied. "then, as i lay on the ground, i remembered that i had two choices: i could choose to live or... i could choose to die. i chose to live."

"weren't you scared?" did you lose consciousness?" i asked. he continued, "the paramedics were great. they kept telling me i was going to be fine. but when they wheeled me into the e.r. and i saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, i got really scared. in their eyes, i read 'he's a dead man'. "i knew i needed to take action." "what did you do?" i asked.

"well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me." said john. "she asked if i was allergic to anything," "yes," i replied. the doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. i tood a deep breath and yelled, GRAVITY." over their laughter, i told them, "i am choosing to live. operate on me as if i am alive, not dead."

he lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. i learned a lot from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. attitude, after all, is everything.

you have two choices now!

-author unknown


i heard this story in sunday school and meant to ask the teacher for a copy but forgot as i hurried off to my next class. later that day after arriving home for some time, i wandered into my office and found it placed on my desk. sam read my mind and made sure to pick it up for me :) i hope to always remember this. pass it on.

[winner winner chicken dinner]

sam returned to our bed this morning ready to give me a farewell kiss before leaving for work, when i hit him up to pick a random number. "what for?" he inquired. "i'll tell ya in a sec" i played.

he chose.

and the lucky flower power winner is...

paige!!!

congratulations friend! please e-mail me with your address and i'll send this little package to you a.s.a.p.

thank you so much everyone for playing! that was really fun! freebies are always great, right? i wish everyone could win :(
but, check it out, i plan to do another one again soon!

my dear friend heather, the one with "the quiet hobby" (as she phrased it) lol offered to make some of these beautiful hairpins for a future giveaway!!! so keep checking for these!
aren't they gorgeous? this weekend she surprised me with them in this darling package. i love the tag & ribbon! so simple and classic!
my girls could not wait to wear them to church yesterday! so lovely. thanks again heather!

check out what my husband did on his "guys getaway" this weekend.
sam was filming, and his friend chad was driving! hilarious!

happy monday wishes,

[my first giveaway!!!]

dear readers,
please join in on my first giveaway!



in celebration of hitting 150 posts here on brightsides,
i decided to say thanks by sharing a little flower
power!



this prize includes this 0-3 month onesie, headband and these two big rodworks flower metal magnets!
i went a little nuts on the fabric flower rosettes and decided to share the love :)
maybe you want the split the prize up if you have a baby shower coming up or birthday.

and alicia, please pick the color scheme of your choice, i am sending you a headband! you have left the most comments and i love them! thank you! btw you are still eligible for this prize :)



just leave a comment to enter!

extra entries given for:
if you have/add my button on your blog
post about this giveaway on your blog, facebook or twitter

*please leave additional comments for extra entries

the deadline for entries is sunday at midnight
winner announced on monday!

[the box]

i keep walking past my perfectly ripe bananas time and time again as they sit inadequately on my kitchen counter. their yellowness cannot be missed and i know they're just aching for
a good old fashioned mash whoopin'.
lol!

it's high time i make some banana bread. i can't remember the last time i made it and it just sounds so fitting on this wet, dark, chilly day. mmmm, warm, moist, fluffy sweet bread.
as i began looking for my grandmother's famous recipe, i remembered this mess!




my handy dandy beat up recipe box.

just to stroll down memory lane for a moment, i bought this box a few months before i wed.
i was so excited to have my own box in my own kitchen with all my favorite documented methods. after copying many of my mom's cards and even some i saved from home ec, i decided to laminate all of them to ensure their integrity.

well, that never happened again! once "real life" set in (lol) this box has been shoved tightly with clippings, notes, print outs and chicken scratchings.

i cannot find my recipe.

it's about time i re-vamp, consolidate and organize my box. or should i start a binder? or, should i digitize & put them all on my computer? what is the best way?
i would love to know how you do it!
this will be a big job and i'd love to do it efficiently. i love recipes and have them coming out my ears! help!

are recipe boxes known to say a lot about a person?
if so, i'm in big trouble!

p.s. tomorrow is earth day!
maybe i should plant a tree or something :)
go here for awesome earth day fun on my favorite new found blog

[once wed]

bliss on a stick.

i knew i always loved pancakes!

isn't this the most delicious + quaint breakfast party ever?
this is my girlie photo inspiration for today. sensational!
these images first found on daisy pink cupcake just sucked me right in and i had to share this incredible website with you.

whether you are getting married or just heart weddings like me, your jaw will drop!
once wed is simply stunning!



Event Design: Ashley Meaders of The Flashdance
Amazing Photography: Jesse Chamberlin from Our Labor of Love


grant + ashley



Photography by Tec Petaja + Paper Goods by Rifle Design




mary + stefan




Photography by Erin Hearts Court + Event Design and Flowers by La Partie Events

[awesome blossom]

although not nearly as ugly, and hasn't said a word to me - yet, this blood red bud outside my door reminds me of the little shop of horror's plant. lol. scary! what a crazy show!

feed me seymour!



i'll let you know if she needs a drink!

hope you laugh today :)
i plan to enjoy this beautiful weather! seventies? oh baby baby! gorgeous!
happy monday!

[house of smith's]

thrilled to feature...

shelley and her husband cason are at it again...
working and blogging about making their house a home

when shelley asked if she could feature my blog on hers, i was so honored and laughed because i had been meaning to ask her if i could feature hers on mine. you'll just love this girl!
shelley is amazing. i love her style. i love her ideas. she is hilarious. she is innovative. she is famous. we are friends.
i love her goodness. i love her infectious laugh. i love her blog. you will too!

i am always so inspired and amazed at all her and her "help mate" do! talk about ambitious! they are driven (or at least shelley is and she bribes cason - lol!!!) whatever it is, can sam & i get a gallon of that?
oh yes, she shares tutorials and all kinds of fab tips too!

take a looksie! here is one of my favorites from her latest projects! so unique & pretty!




make sure to see more on house of smith's
and her wonderfully wordy vinyl blog too! i have a feeling you'll thank me :)

[numb]

washed-up
-adjective informal
done for; having failed completely.

coke bottle glasses, an e.k.g. monitor strapped to my chest, and black & blue arms was the visual of yours truly yesterday.

i looked hellacious!

this weekend i took a little trip to the e.r. - kinda scary!
after waking up with the right side of my body (face, arm & hand) numb two mornings in a row & not subsiding, i figured it was time to call the doctor.
i was told to head to the hospital right away - "it could be a stroke!" i was warned.
after poking, prodding and many tests, the doctors haven't been able to find anything wrong. no strokes. all the scans & tests have come back normal; so i am thrilled about that, but still a little stressed inside wondering. there is one more m.r.i. that i haven't heard back on...

then, on top of the numbness, my left eye somehow got scratched and turned bright red, hurting like a mother. out come the contacts, on go the glasses. i'm so blind.
we had potty training accidents (including poo on the back patio), tantrums, problem after problem, kids fighting, yelling at each other and making all kinds of messes,
homework had to be done, my husband was gone... pretty much endless torment.
i was washed-up! i felt defeated. done for. having failed completely. could this day be over? please!


i got through it. barely. on my last crippled leg lol!!! oh how blessed i am to have such amazing friends, family & neighbors though! i can't even express to you all the love i've been shown this last week! all of the meals, concerned phone calls, and goodies have meant the world to me! you are my heros! you saved the day yesterday and i couldn't have done it without you! i probably frightened you with my funky new "do", but thank you!

i would also like to publicly thank my Heavenly Father. he has helped me and blessed me beyond measure. i don't get down on my knees enough and ask for help. i know i should. i will.

now on to better days!

oh yes, i can't forget to tell you about this picture (above). my cute sister lindsey gave me this beautiful dish with hand soap and lotion inside. she told me i could use the dish as a "dish", or suggested i leave the pair in and place this decorative ensemble next to my sink. so i did. i love it! she's so innovative and creative!
i thought i'd share this cute idea with you!
thanks lindz! love you!

[fabric flower tutorial]

you probably already know how to do this or can totally figure it out on your own, but...

have you seen these cute swirly things floating around?
they're quite hot little items.
i bought a headband with these attached and decided this is something even i can do!
for a fraction of the price and a little fun, these are something you and your kids can make together! they're super easy - i promise!

this is the first time i've done this type of tutorial, so bear with me.

1. gather up any fun fabrics you desire. i found this fabric (shown) at ikea. they have so many fun funky fabrics with great colors & patterns. the awesome thing about this project is that long thin scraps and clips or hairbands will be all you need!

2. cut your strip 1/2 inch wide and as long as you wish (longer = a bigger flower) it doesn't need to be cut perfectly. the shabby edges are what give these little babies their beauty :)

3. start by twisting the fabric and begin circling it around each other. i twist the beginning (the middle and hold it down with my forefinger and thumb; and then use my ring finger to hold the roll in place. using my right hand i just twist the fabric as i go around and around itself.
if you like the tight look, twist the fabric tighter and use thinner fabric, or twist a bit looser for the fuller look.

4. keep holding it tightly together, and to finish it off, fold the end over on the back and hot glue it down.

5. from the back side, i lightly glued the seams together to make sure it all stayed tightly intact.

now, just pick your hairpin or headband preference. just hot glue them on to anything. i laid a piece of matching fabric over the ponytail holder/elastic headband to make sure they don't go anywhere.
there are endless possibilities for these puppies.
you can make broaches, add them to t-shirts, hats, make necklaces, anything!

please let me know if you have any questions or need to come over and have a lesson!

[happy easter: extra]

forgive me.

i told ya i was excited to trim this! grass fettish? apparently.
my beautiful nieces spent easter evening with us, and monday morning came lots of play!
they helped with the ever so anticipated "first grass cut"!
thanks girlies (below)
it was so great to be with you! do you have to go back home to indiana? we will miss you so much!