He is Risen!

Happy Easter to you and yours, and remember the reason we celebrate! 

Living He loved us. Dying He saved us. Buried He carried our sins away.

Rising He is justified.

 

(Easter Subway Art courtesy of Craftaholics Anonymous. Frame courtesy of Shabby Blogs.)

D-A-W-G-S!!

So I'm just dying to brag a little bit about my amazing little sister, Shannon! 

Not only is she super talented, gorgeous, and loves the Lord, but she is now one of the newest cheerleaders for the University of Georgia Bulldogs!  (For everyone who isn't from the South, it's not dogs, it's dawgs! lol)  To read her incredible journey to this point read this!

She is truly inspiring, and I am blessed to call her my little sister.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Ok, so I'm stealing this idea from my Little, Caroline.

 

1. Harry Potter

Right now, I'm watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (wow, what a mouthful!), and I love it!  I think this is in large part due to my fanaticism about the books, but ever since I picked up the first one in sixth grade, I've been hooked!  I'm super excited for HP7: Part 2 to come out in July!  My brother-in-law, Ian, and I already have a date to go see it in 3D!  Can't wait!

2. crocheting and crafts

I am almost halfway through the first of three baby blankets for babies due in August, September, and November.  I am so grateful that my grandmother taught me how to crochet and that I can create handmade goodies for those who are important to me.

I am in the middle of several other crafts at the moment, but the problem is I can't just run out to Micheal's like I used to back home (or even Walmart for that matter!).  The closest Micheal's is across the border in Plattsburgh, NY, and if I wanted to go shopping in Plattsburgh, I'd have to drive 45 min, cross an international border, drive another 20 min, find whatever I'm looking for, and then pay import taxes on once I get back to the border.  Kinda a hassle for just a few craft supplies.  But as soon as I get what I need, be on the lookout for a zipper rosette necklace and a revamped bookshelf! :)

3. the weekend of May 7th

May 7th is our first anniversary! I can't believe it's been a year already! So much has happened since our wedding, but I love where we are in our lives and am excited for where we're going!

 I am excited for Friday, May 6th for an entirely different reason however! My mom is coming to visit!  I am soo stinkin excited!! Her company has been invited to a workshop and awards banquet which just so happens to be in Montreal, and they've asked her to represent them at it!  She's coming in on Friday, and we'll have the whole weekend to hang out and see the sites...not to mention Sunday is Mother's Day!

4. a good book

I started reading this book about a week ago, and it's a great read so far! I've heard about the book series before, saw the movie previews, and thought it sounded pretty interesting. Something Borrowed hits theaters May 6, so I'm trying to finish by then! It also doesn't hurt that John Krasinski (Jim on The Office) is in the movie either! ;)

 5. hockey

For anyone who doesn't know, my husband is a HUGE Boston Bruins fan!  The first round of playoffs are going on now, and like baseball (I think! lol), it's best of seven.  Boston is playing Montreal first round, the 32nd time in history this has happened.  The two teams have a notorious rivalry, and the series is 2-1 Montreal with game 4 tomorrow! Who would have ever thought I would like hockey? lol

On another note, we've had several people in my family become seriously ill in the past few months.  My grandfather on my mother's side came down with pneumonia early this year, had a month long hospital stay, and is in a rehab facility, recuperating.  My aunt, Stephanie's mom, is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer and being unbelievably brave and positive.  And just this Sunday, my grandmother of my father's side suffered a stroke.  Doctors don't see why she can't make a full recovery, however, there is a long road ahead.  She is still in the hospital now but will probably be moved to a rehab facility by the end of the week. 
I would sincerely appreciate you keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

btw

By the way, I don't know if you noticed my new button!  I'm kind of proud of myself for making it! So if you would, please, add my button to your blog!




In case you aren't familiar with adding a button to your blog,  copy the code in the box to the right.  Add an html gadget to your blog, paste the code there, and click save! It's that simple!
Thanks!

Nifty Thrifty Centerpiece

I was reading the other day on one of my fav blogs (and for the life of me, I can’t find which one it was!) about how she finds all kinds of things for her home at the thrift store. She said she’s addicted to great deals and just can’t resist. She buys things, and totally revamps them with spray paint, ect.
Well, I decided I was going to scope out my local thrift store! Right off the bat, I found tons of dried flowers, mason jars, lace, zippers, and a roll of grey cotton t-shirt material. Notice the 50 cent tags… yeah, I walked out for a grand total of $3! And I had a uses in mind or at least 3 projects! So, if the thrift store can help my crafting budget, why the heck not??
So first, I got to work on the mason jar centerpiece! The lace I got was super antique-y/vintage, and I thought it would add just the perfect frilly touch to countryish jar. (And yes, it says CANADIAN MASON JAR! lol I didn’t even know they made different jars here! Cool little addition once it does make a journey back across the border in a few years!)
After gluing the lace, I headed to our back porch to assemble the flowers bc I just knew they were going to make a mess! I was right. :) But after putting it all together, I love it!

With our dining table is stained with a red hue and the curtains are red and gold damask, this extra pop of color in our very ‘seagull’ (a.k.a. beige) dining room and kitchen is the perfect touch!
So just what am I going to do with those zippers, you ask… Stay tuned! :)

Hallelujah!

Right this second, I am sitting on my back deck, getting a sunburn.
I couldn't be more thrilled! :)
I almost forgot what the sun beating down on my skin felt like.

Things That Make Me Smile…

1) what I like to call ‘one liners’ that I find while doing my daily devotions; here’s a list of some that I’ve come across lately…

Proverbs 3:5a Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.

Psalm 32:8b I will counsel you and watch over you.

Romans 8:28 God works for the good of those who love him

Psalm 63:4 I will praise you as long as I live.

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

2 Samuel 7:18 Who am I, Lord…that you have brought me this far? (This must have been the inspiration for ‘Friend of God’)

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous…He will never leave you or forsake you.

2) pregnant people/babies…

2 members of my extended family and 3 people from my limited Canadian social network (lol) are having babies in almost consecutive months! (June, July, August, September, and November!) While we are not ready for beautiful, bouncing bundle of joy ourselves, I’m ecstatic for the people in my life that are welcoming such wonderful blessings into this world! This also means multiple diaper cakes and baby blankets in my immediate future! :)

3) kindergarten

I started volunteering with a kindergarten class a couple of months ago, and I love it! I have missed being in a classroom so much, so this is a great way to get back in the swing of things and get my foot in the door while I wait for a work permit. The education system here is different than what I’m used to, so I’m taking advantage of being able to learn first hand! And the kids! The kids are amazing! Yes, there are always going to be those few students that somehow manage to drive you nuts, but every one of them is totally worth it! The teachers, too, are incredible. They are so understanding of me and my circumstances and try to make me apart of their classrooms. I even had the opportunity to chaperone a fieldtrip to the Biodome! (Which I keep telling myself I’m going to upload those pictures!)

I have to pause for a minute, because as I’m writing this, I’m looking out onto my back porch, and it’s snowing. Why is it snowing? Because it’s too cold to rain? But it’s above freezing…(barely)? It’s sunny too…!? At least it’s not sticking.

Snow. Something back home that would have been cause for some serious elation. Canada, however, has ruined me of that. Hopefully we’ll move back to the South, and snow will once again bring a smile to my face. For now, the sight of this unwanted fluffy white crap is making my motivation to go for a run later virtually nonexistent. Oh well. Back to what I wanted to blog about…

4) weddings

Who doesn’t love a wedding?? And it just so happens that I have the honor of standing next to 2 beautiful, blushing brides (what is with my alliteration today? lol) in the next 12 months! I will be flying home in May for Miranda’s wedding, and I can’t wait!! And Lolly is getting married next March, and Brian and I are already trying to plan our trip back for that! We’re so excited even though it’s a year away! :)

I’m also saying some prayers and thinking wishful thoughts that there might be another wedding thrown into the mix in 2012…wink, wink! You know who you are! ;)

5) sisterhood

This weekend, Alpha Gamma Delta sisters all over the world will be celebrating International Reunion Day, IRD. All chapters and alumnae groups across the globe celebrate this occasion on the same day by sisters coming together wherever they may be for themed festivities and fellowship. Initially, I was upset that I would be missing out this year, but a few weeks ago, I received an IRD invitation in the mail from an alumnae group out of Ottawa. I was overjoyed! I’m excited at the prospect of meeting ‘Canadian’ squirrels and extending my sisterhood experience across to a different corner of the continent.

6) visitors

A handful of sorority sisters, other friends, and a couple of family members have expressed a real interest in wanting to come visit me in the great white north this summer! I have to say (in my feeble attempt to persuade them) that it is beautiful in the summertime. There are so many fun things to do in the wonderful weather, and it actually gets just as warm as back home! So please, please, please come visit me! Besides, I’ve really been wanting an excuse to go on the Amphibus and have some Beaver Tails in the Old Port of Montreal! ;)

That’s enough for now…but now onto some laundry…not something that really brings a smile to anyone’s face…but this laundry sign certainly would bring a smile to my face while doing laundry! lol I have to make one! :)

My Newest Obsession

Recently, I have become obsessed with window shopping on Etsy.  If you’ve never heard of it, Etsy is a website that is an online marketplace for all things handmade, vintage, ect. You can buy anything from art, to purses, to quilts, to wedding supplies, to geekery (whatever that might be, lol).  One of my sorority sisters, Lindsey, has a shop, Ten Thirty-One, that is absolutely to die for! (Stephanie, you would love it!)  Oh, and can you guess which of these masterpieces I would kill for (ah-em, Mom!)?? 

Anyway, there are so many wonderful shops and items that I would love to own (like this sign in Boston colors for my husband’s hopefully soon-to-be man cave) (or any number of headbands or necklaces from this shop), that I thought I might share! Happy shopping!

Oh, and P.S. I also found this great site that is just like Groupon for a lot of items that are sold on Etsy, Groop Dealz.  Super fun! And again, happy shopping!