Mandipidy

2012-01-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Lovely Lenora at Yellow Heart Art has put together a swap for some handmade peeps... and along with that, she has created this coupon code list for everyone. There are some great shops that are participating! Scroll below, and you can browse the shops, use their coupon codes, and be sure to check back later in the week at YellowHeartArt.blogspot.com for group giveaways from some participating shops happening this Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday AND Friday!

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COUPON CODE: homegirl is giving 15% off ALL items in her shop with the code "CELEBRATE", works worldwide too! Go on our friends in Europe and Canada, get shopping!

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COUPON CODE: enter SWAPLOVE at checkout for 15% off!

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COUPON CODE: enter SWAGER at checkout for 20% off!

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COUPON CODE: score yourselves 20% off EVERYTHING in the shop with SWAG20 at check out

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAG20 to get 20% off all these hair lovelies! GO GO GO!

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGSWAP20 to nab yourself 20% off! (WOOT!)

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COUPON CODE: If you enter SWAGSWAP12 at checkout you get 15% off on ANYTHING in the shop! ((US & Canada only please)) ((good till end of swap Jan 21st, 2012))

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAG10 at checkout for 10% off! ((US only please))

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAPWEEK for 30% off (WOWZAS!)

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAPWEEK and get 10% off anything your heart desires <3

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGSWAP at checkout for 10% off ANYTHING! (holla)

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGSWAP10 and get 10% off any and all items in the shop!

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PROMOTION: Free Shipping on all prints until December 20th. No coupon code necessary- all print shipping is already discounted. Free shipping available on U.S. print orders only with discounted shipping rates internationally.
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COUPON CODE: Enter "SWAGSHOP" at check out for FREE domestic shipping!

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGWEEK for 20% off anything in the shop! (she also has items for big people too! Fun iPad sleeves and purses)

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***IMPORTANT NOTICE*** Kristina had to put her shop in vacation mode during this week, please visit her "sold" section to see what items she has. She will be available for contact. She apologizes for any inconveniences!

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAG15 for 15% off these ADORABLE purses! (I should know I own 4)

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COUPON CODE: Enter "SAVE10" at checkout for 10% off anything you want!

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COUPON CODE: Enter "SWAPIT" for 15% off these hand stamped lovelies

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COUPON CODE: Enter "SWAPWEEKLOVE" for 20% off ANYTHING in her shop! (aww yeah!)

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COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGSWAP20 for 20% off these lovely rosies!

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Swag Swap Week is going on from January 16th 2012 - January 21st 2012. Coupon codes will expire once the week is over.

Why I Haven't Been Blogging...

2012-01-13T11:28:00.001-05:00

Heyyyyyy old friends.
Long time, huh?

I've kind of fallen off the face of blog world.

When I'm not spending time with this adorable little creature:

I'm catching up on sleep so that I can grow a cute Baby 2:

Yep :)
In August, I will be the mother of two children... potentially both under the age of one for a couple of days.
Life is crazy, but oh so blessed.

And as much as I love you all and blogging, my life is just a little too absorbed with babies at the moment. And I really want my babies to remember me as the one who adored them... not the one who was always on the computer blogging.
Not sure if this is the end of the ride, or if I will come back to blogging at some point, but I wanted to give a little bit of "closure" and let you know what is happening in the England household... just in case. :)

Drunkard's Path QAL... Finished the Quilt Top!

2011-11-27T22:16:00.000-05:00

So quick QAL update... last week I got all my blocks completed:

And while my turkey was cooking on Thanksgiving, I managed to put them all together:

Yay! :)

I am still trying to decide where I want to go from here... I love this design, and am not sure if I want to keep it this size, or maybe expand it so that it's big enough for our bed.

I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, if you have enjoyed seeing my quilt top come together, hop on over and see some of the others in this QAL... they will be linking tomorrow!

Thanks so much Kristie and Kate for hosting the QAL! I would have never tried to sew curves without your encouraging posts... and I have to say, they really weren't that hard! You guys rock! :)
I'm linking to these parties.

Handmade BLACK FRIDAY Sale Post

2011-11-25T05:00:00.006-05:00

You can click on any picture to visit the shop.
Please be sure to read ALL of the sale information below each ad before making a purchase.
Happy shopping!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY25 for 25% off.
EXPIRES: 12/3
Plus, get a free gift with purchase for orders over $30.
SHOP Along for the Ride NOW!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY20 for 20% off.
EXPIRES: 11/27
SHOP Apearantly Sew NOW!

Use code HOLIDAY for free shipping and a free gift (yoyo pin) with purchase.
EXPIRES: 12/17
SHOP Folding Chair Designs NOW!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY for 30% off.
EXPIRES: 11/30
SHOP Han Made Things NOW!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY for 25% off.
EXPIRES: 11/27
SHOP Kristin's Kreations NOW!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY15 for 15% off.
Or get 30% off a purchase of $70 or more! (additional discount refunded via paypal after purchase)
EXPIRES: 11/28
SHOP Mandipidy NOW!

Use code HOLIDAYWISHES for 20% off Moonbeam Wishes (stationary shop)
Use code SEASONSGREETINGS for free shipping at Dear Moonbeams (embroidery shop)
EXPIRES: 12/3
SHOP Moonbeam Wishes NOW!
SHOP Dear Moonbeams NOW!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY for free shipping.
EXPIRES: 11/29
SHOP Moxie Mandie NOW!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY for 20% off.
EXPIRES: 11/27
SHOP Petunia Blooms NOW!

Use code HOLIDAY40 for 40% off.
EXPIRES: 11/28
SHOP Pink Lemonade NOW!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY for 20% off.
SHOP Pretties By Meg NOW!

Use code HOLIDAY15 for 15% off.
Every purchase $45 and over gets a free 5x7 print of choice! (a $14 value! please see rules and regulations below to see if you qualify)
EXPIRES: 11/28
RULES and REGULATIONS: To qualify for free 5x7 print of choice the items in your cart must total $45 before shipping fees. If you apply your 15% off coupon code to your purchase then your order must total $45 before shipping fees AND after you apply the 15% off. If purchase is less than $45 after you apply your 15% off then you are not eligible for 5x7 print. Please leave a note in the "notes to the seller" box at check out letting me know which print you would like made into a 5x7. Offer excludes all customizable work (including blog design, logo design and customizable prints)
SHOP Yellow Heart Art NOW!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY30 for 30% off.
EXPIRES: 11/26
SHOP Yes Teacher NOW!

Heads Up...

2011-11-23T20:08:00.000-05:00

Want to snag some awesome deals on Friday?
Not really interested in getting out in the hustle and bustle?

Check back here for some awesome Black Friday deals from the handmade community!

There will be over a dozen awesome deals for you... right here, bright and early Friday morning. Don't miss it!

Quilted Argyle Stocking Tutorial

2011-11-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

Last year I made stockings for me and David... my ruffled postage stocking, and my monogrammed stocking:

So, of course, Sophia needed a stocking this year:

Materials Needed:
1/4 yard of pink fabric
1/4 yard of green fabric
1/2 yard of red fabric
1 yard of Christmas fabric (for lining and backside)
1/2 yard of batting
thread
scissors
sewing machine
iron

Cut out 3x3" squares of fabric. I ended up using about 12 squares of pink and green and 24 squares of red:

Sew squares into rows. Red alternating with green for some rows and red alternanting with pink for other rows.

Sew these rows together so that the red squares form diagonal lines. Then turn 45 degrees so that the squares become diamonds:

Sew as many squares together as it takes to cover your stocking template (I sketched mine last year on two sheets of 8.5x11" computer paper):

I chose to add Sophia's name with my embroidery machine... you could sew whatever you wanted onto your stocking to embellish it:

And then use your template to cut out the stocking shape:

Use embroidery thread to run diagonal stitches through the diamonds in an "X" shape:

Then see the end of my other Christmas stocking tutorials for instructions on putting together the rest of the stocking:

I'm linking to these parties.

Really?

2011-11-20T19:53:00.000-05:00

Has it already been 3 months?
Such craziness.

At this point, I cannot fathom what life would be like without her... though I imagine it would involve a lot more sleep. Speaking of, last night she slept for almost 8 hours solid! It was heavenly. She's also rolled over from her tummy a couple of times in the last 2 days, and she has become quite the talker- always rambling gibberish.

I adore her.

Drunkard's Path QAL Progress

2011-11-15T21:58:00.000-05:00

Checking in with my progress on the Drunkard's Path quilt that I am working on for OCD and Needle and Spatula's quilt-along. So far, I have managed to cut my pieces, and sew and trim 144 squares:

I'm using a variation of the Reflections of Love layout, and I have arranged my squares into diagonal rows of color:

Tomorrow, during Sophia's naptime, I will start sewing together my blocks. In the meantime, there's a huge pile of laundry waiting to be folded and a shower that is begging to be scrubbed out.

Christmas Cards!

2011-11-11T12:38:00.000-05:00

I love Christmas cards.
As a kid, I used to run down to the mailbox in anticipation every day during the month of December. I loved seeing the family pictures and how much our long-distance friends had changed over the year. So I get really excited about picking out our Christmas cards! Last year we used Shutterfly, and I loved how they came out:

Shutterfly has beautiful choices for all your holiday needs... Christmas cards, Hannukah cards, and even address labels to make sending your cards out easier.

I will definitely be using Shutterfly for our Christmas card again this year. I've been browsing through their selections, and here are my favorites:

If you're still looking for your cards this year, definitely go check out Shutterfly's website... and when you find something you love, you can get 20% off your order by using the code CARD20 at checkout... and orders over $30 qualify for free shipping with the code SHIP30.

Beauty

2011-11-06T12:02:00.000-05:00

Support Adoption.

2011-11-04T07:00:00.002-04:00

Have you met Danielle?
She writes a wonderfully uplifting blog called Take Heart.
And she and her beautiful family have begun the adoption process.

I so admire Danielle's heart for adoption and her willingness to trust the Lord as He is leading her family on this journey. But we all know that adopting a child can be a financial challenge, and the Burkleo family is working hard to raise the funds for the process.

That's why I have added a new print to the shop, designed for families who have adopted precious children into their homes:

(Also available in pink and blue.)

100% of the profits from these three prints will go directly to the Burkleo adoption fund. And while these prints were designed to express the love that I have seen in families who have adopted, they could also make a beautiful gift for a spouse, parent, sibling, or best friend! You can find these prints here in the Mandipidy shop.

Drunkard's Path QAL Progress

2011-11-02T21:25:00.000-04:00

I think I mentioned a few weeks ago... I've been planning to join the Drunkard's Path QAL, and I finally got around to starting yesterday.

I'm using two moda charm packs called "Northcote Range" and then I cut my own cream colored squares:

I picked the "Northcote Range" pack because the dainty prints reminded me of all the colonial stuff we saw during our stay in Virginia earlier this year. And I miss it.

Ok... so my goal for this quilt: I want it to be on our bed. That's queen size, people. I'm not planning on using the Drunkard's Path pattern for the whole thing, but it's still a hefty challenge.

Here's my progress so far (the blocks are NOT sewn together yet... just the squares):

My New Favorite Necklace

2011-11-01T07:00:00.002-04:00

I adore Sophia's little feet... when she was first born, I could have just stared at her tiny toes forever. So when I saw a custom footprint necklace in the shop Flirt and Flutter on etsy, I KNEW I needed one made with Sophia's footprints!

(Photo Credit: Flirt and Flutter)

The shop's creator, Kaleen, was wonderful to work with... and all she needed for the necklace was Sophia's hospital footprints:

I've worn the necklace every day since it came in the mail...

I love looking down and seeing her sweet little feet!

Kaleen can also personalize necklaces with your favorite song, your child's artwork, or a fingerprint (and probably anything else you have in mind, for that matter!):

If you'd like a special keepsake piece or are looking for a unique Christmas gift, I definitely recommend this shop!

I might be linking up here.

Happy Halloweeeeeen!

2011-10-31T06:50:00.001-04:00

I absolutely cannot wait to make a cute little costume and take Sophia trick-or-treating... but obviously that's not happening this year.

We did have a little bit of Halloween fun on Friday night, though. Last summer, we found a murder mystery dinner game set at a garage sale for $1, and we finally got around to hosting it.

To try to amp up the costume/halloweeny part of it, I set up a little photo booth using the photo props that I made back in August.

Yes, David was supposed to be an old man with a bow-tie collection, so he dyed his hair grey for the night. And I gave myself a "bump it" doo... by shoving a brown sock under my hair. Hey, whatever works, right? :)

I think everyone had a good time, and it was fun to have an excuse to dress up close to Halloween.

What about you? Do you need an excuse to dress up for the holiday? Or are you over the costumes?

If you're dressing up, I'd love to hear what you're going to be!
Have a great Halloween!!

Sponsor Love

2011-10-27T01:52:00.000-04:00

With all the baby stuffs going on over here, my sponsors have been pretty neglected these past few months...
So here are some of their lovelies for you to check out (click the pictures to visit their shop):

Sophia's Quilt

2011-10-12T12:54:00.001-04:00

I have always wanted to learn how to quilt, but I was way too scared to try it. I found a tutorial on the blog In Color Order, though, that made quilting suddenly seem like a piece of cake.
And really it was!
Here's my take on a warm/cool half square quilt for Sophia:

I wasn't 100% true to the warm/cool concept- since her room is pink and green, I kind of focused on that.

For the center of the quilt, I had a silk screen made with the image of Sophia's little footprints from the hospital at an etsy shop called Fibra Artysta. I silk screened her feet and used my Brother SE-400 to embroider her name above them.

I LOVED making this quilt... so I am making another one! I'm planning to join the Drunard's Path Quilt Along with OCD and Needle and Spatula:

I picked out my fabric on Monday, and I can't wait to show you!

I'm linking to these parties.

Woodburned Earrings...

2011-10-07T18:19:00.000-04:00

Pyrography is my new obsession...
It's fun, the smell of burning wood reminds me of fall, and most of my wood burning projects have been quick and easy.

Like these earrings:

1. Buy a pack of wood circles (about a $1 at Michaels)
2. Sketch a design on 2 of the circles.
3. Woodburn the designs.
4. Attach earring hardware.

Easy peasy and oh-so-much fun :)

Have a great weekend!
I'm linking to these parties.

Fall Wreath

2011-10-05T07:00:00.002-04:00

Hubs has always supported my crafting obsession...
He puts up with paint stains on every table top that we own and credit card statements with more money dished out to Michael's than to Safeway.

But I was still surprised this week when he asked me to make a fall wreath.
Sure, Babe... Happy to oblige. :)

Now our front door says "Happy Fall." :)
What's on your front door right now?

I'm linking to these parties.

Sweet Sophia...

2011-10-04T13:09:00.000-04:00

Haven't blogged about sweet baby girl since the week she was born...
Despite having called her Abigail for months before her birth, she just didn't end up looking like an Abigail to us. After weeks of referring to her as anything but Abigail (hiccup, sport, small fry, the kid... etc), we decided to call her by her middle name, Sophia. And it works. :)

Believe it or not, we already celebrated her 1st month:

She weighed just shy of 10 lbs at her 1 month check up...
I think it all goes straight to her cheeks.

We snuggle all the time...

Or just hang out...

She smiles at us now... my favorite thing ever.

But maybe not quite as favorite as this picture of her loving her daddy:

Ahhhh, I just melt. :)

Hey Old Friends

2011-10-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

Happy October!

I know the blog's been a bit sparce lately...
My apologies.

I've been changing diapers and trying to remove the stank of spit up from my clothes.

And cuddling. Lots of cuddling :)

To make it up to you, I've made you a fun 8x10 printable with one of my favorite Abraham Lincoln quotes:

Right click the image, click copy, and then paste it in a word document if you'd like to print it out.

And I will do my best to be a better blogger this month. Pinky swear.

Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes

2011-09-21T19:50:00.000-04:00

I love chocolate cake.
I love cheesecake.
I love cupcakes.
And I can do basic math...

Chocolate cake + Cheesecake + Cupcakes = BEST THING EVER.

So I had to try it.

And they were UH-mazing.

1. Preheat Oven to 350*

2. Make Cheesecake Batter:

CHEESECAKE RECIPE
Ingredients:
1/2 of a Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix
8 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Blend cream cheese and sugar.
Add 2 eggs and cake mix (half the bag).
Beat one minute at medium speed.
At low speed slowly add milk and flavoring.
Mix until smooth.

3. Make Chocolate Cake Batter:

Follow the directions on the box of Duncan Hine's Devils Food cake for the chocolate batter.

4. Line your tray with cupcake liners and pour an even amount of both batters into each cup.

5. Use a knife or toothpick to swirl the batter in the pan:

6. Bake at 350* for about 10 minutes:

7. Refrigerate, then serve:

Makes about 36 cupcakes.
I'm linking to some of these parties.

Guest Post: Alli @ Life on LeRoy

2011-09-18T14:33:00.000-04:00

Thanks so much Mandy for letting me guest blog for you while you are busy taking care of your new bambino! Having a baby is a huge blessing, embrace every moment! One of my biggest pieces of advice for you is to sleep when they sleep! The house cleaning, laundry, everything can wait! SLEEP! You will be better because of it. My little guy is 2 and I still take naps sometimes when he does ;-)

I’m a corporate world working mom. That’s one of the best ways to describe me. After spending days at the office I love to hop on my blog and let my creativity flow. I write a little blog called Life on LeRoy. I’ve always loved writing and blogging is one way I get to do that. For me, blogging is motivation. It motivates me to get out, explore the world, cook new things, visit new places and meet new people. I can honestly say I was never a big DYI’er until I started blogging. I get tons of motivation from reading awesome, creative people’s blogs! It makes me want to get out and make something cool too. And then blog about it of course ;-)

When I’m not blogging, I’m chasing around my 2 year old, tickle fighting with my husband, sipping wine on our patio, hanging out around a campfire, or snuggling and reading a good book. I believe that our lives are what we make of them.

I’m a natural worrier. My dad once shared this quote with me, “Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday, was it worth it?” Isn’t that great?!?! I practically live by that statement now and it's got me through plenty of tough times. Whenever I start to worry about something, I just turn it around and realize that most of the time the things I worry about in the future don’t even happen anyway.

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know a little more about me. Don’t forget to live your life to the fullest because you’ve only got one chance at it. Live with no regrets, no looking back and thanking God for all his blessings.

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Thanks so much Alli!
Alli's blog is full of inspiring and uplifting posts...
Go check it out!

How We Met...

2011-09-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

David and I met in college.

It all started when a friend and I started going to a ballroom dance club that met once a week at Florida State University. We loved learning how to dance, but the club was rather short on guys, and most of them were really creepy (and smelly) old men. So my friend and I decided that we would invite all the single guys we knew to the club. And David was a single guy that she knew from highschool.

So we met at a ballroom dance club... and given the fact that we hardly went a day without seeing each other from that point on, I'd say we hit it off pretty well. :)

We loved dancing together and trying crazy stunts that I would never think of doing now...

In the randomest of locations...

... because if there was one thing we had in common it was our love for doing random things spontaneously.

In our first couple of months as "friends" we got crazy lost trying to find a beach together, made a funky looking bird out of a toilet paper roll and feathers that we named Jamal and shared joint custody of for several years, watched a movie on a laptop on the Seminole head in the middle of Doak Campbell Stadium at midnight (not advised since it nearly ended with us going to jail... but there were no signs saying not to watch a movie in the middle of the football stadium at midnight...), drank 83921 strawberry-pineapple smoothies, and probably set ourselves up for more skin cancer than we care to know about.

We met in March... our relationship was facebook official in August... we were engaged in November... and married that next May.

When you know, you know. :)

Not that our lives have been perfect since then.
We were married in college, and someone should have decided that us stupid-heads weren't ready for it.

Most of our wedding gift cards were spent on essentials... like a nerf gun set and Friends season 7. Then we realized that we needed to return non-essentials like, say, a blender so that we could pay for toilet paper for the month.

Our first big decision as a married couple was to buy a rabbit for our apartment (despite the fact that our lease stated "no pets")...

We "potty trained" her and let her roam our home freely... eating the buttons off our remote controls and chewing every cord and cable that we owned.

Oh my goodness gracious, I have no idea how we made it through our first 2 years of marriage... it is by God's grace alone that we were able to pay our bills and didn't kill each other or accidently burn down our apartment building.

But I wouldn't trade a single second of it - good times or bad. I am so happy to be married to my best friend, and life just gets sweeter every day. So very blessed to have this wonderful, godly man to share a lifetime with!

Sandy a la Mode

2011-09-02T07:00:00.002-04:00

Sandy a la Mode is such a fun blog to read... uplifting and joyful, and her Flavors To Follow posts always have such wonderfully put together eye-candy.

My 2 year old nephew puts a smile on my face anytime I see him or think about him! He lives in California and I live in Missouri but we skype often, I have plenty of pictures of him on my blog to look at and I even have a few adorable voicemails saved on my phone from him.

Ohhh that's a tough one! One quote that I love is "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you'll land among stars." I always try and have a positive outlook on life and strive for the best in all I do.

Always be true to yourself and give credit where credit is due!

Be sure to check out some of my favorite Sandy a la Mode posts:
Flavors to Follow - Spring Dresses
Square Payment for Craft Fairs
The Biggest Antique Mall I Ever Did See!

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

2011-09-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

Ohhhh, the 90s.
Who didn't have one of these?

Or play hours and hours of this:

My first show-and-tell was one of these:

Me and my 1st grade bestie were totally going to dominate this...
I'd have been a purple parrot.

My incentive for finishing my dinner quickly most nights:

Taught me everything I know:

Was anyone else terrified of this?
I was always afraid it would break my ankle or something.

My mom called every McDonald's in town trying to track down the platypus:

And boy, Pizza Hut, did you know how to get me to read:

Roller Skating, Disney Afternoon, Cupcake Dolls, Chuck-E-Cheese, Goosebumps, Polly Pockets, Pogs, Sonic the Hedgehog, Gak, My Pretty Mermaids, Teddy Ruxpin, Land Before Time, PJ Sparkles, Light Bright, Care Bears, My Little Pony, Discovery Zone...

Have anything to add?

Hiya Luv

2011-08-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

Gina was one of the first blogging friends that I really got to know... I remember emailing back and forth with her and at some point realizing that I wouldn't call her a "blog friend" anymore... she was just a friend. :)

Between her full time job and commute, this talented lady somehow manages to keep up with THREE blogs (Hiya Luv, Scatter Girls, and #SetUpShop), stock an etsy shop, run a weekly #SetUpShop chat, and remain one of the most interactive bloggers I know. I think she has super powers.

Any moment that I can spend with Polo and Dave. There is a calmness about being at home. I work so much that when I am home I really cherish those moments.

I love so many quotes honestly, but I really like this one. "We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are." -Anais Nin

There will be ups and downs and that is ok. Be confident in what you bring to the blogosphere and know that what is important is to be the true you; not what and who others want you to be.

Impatience - A growing post
Awarded with Sugar - 10 Random Facts About Gina
Set Up Shop Tweet Chat Invite - How #SetUpShop started

Etsy... 3 Tips to Increase Your Views

2011-08-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

You've started your etsy shop.
You know you have a great product, and you can't wait to make your first sale.
You start posting your items...
And then click "refresh"...
Again...
Again...
Again...
No views.
No hearts.
No sales.

Sound familiar?

Let's face it... coming up with a great product is not easy. But figuring out how to market your product is even harder. And it all starts with views. Sometimes the only thing standing in the way of a sale is the fact that the right people haven't seen your product yet.

That being said, here are 3 tips that I have learned that will help you increase your views on Etsy:

1. Use Those Tags!
The biggest perk about selling on Etsy is that the website is so very searchable. Don't waste that! You are able to tag your item with up to 13 keywords... and you should absolutely use them all! It is worth the extra time and effort to make sure that your item will come up in as many searches as possible.

TIP: Not sure what words to use for your tags?
The Etsy treasury page has a list of what keywords are trending every day. If any of those words fit with your product, then they might be a good place to start.

Another way to help generate ideas is to look at a listing from a successful shop that you admire. Obviously, don't steal tags that are unique for their shop (ie their shop name, the name of their product, etc.), but it might help you brainstorm your own tags if you see what is working for another shop.

2. Spread Out Your Listings
It can be tempting to list all of your items right away, but don't! Thousands of people are searching Etsy every day, and the search results appear in the order they were listed. That means that if you list all of your "fabric covered earrings" on one day, an Etsy buyer may have to flip through 10-15 pages of earring listings to finally get to your items... if they make it that far.
However, if you take the time to list one pair of earrings every day, you will greatly increase the chances that someone will stumble across your listing.

3. List Items At Prime Time
The time you choose to list your products is also crucial. Try to consider when your target audience is most likely to be shopping online. For example, listing something at 5:00 PM EST on a Monday night when people are just getting home from work is probably going to get a lot more views than if you list it at 2:00 in the afternoon on a Saturday when people are out enjoying their weekends.
A great way to find out what days and times are good for you is by utilizing Etsy's new Shop Stats feature.

You can see exactly how many views you are getting at any hour on any day:

Based on that information, you can do your best to list items during times that you anticipate more traffic, with the hopes that even more people will see your creations.

End Result: The Snowball Effect
That's what I call what happens when all of these things come together... if your product is easy to find in a search, it will get more views. If it gets more views, it may get more hearts. If it gets more hearts, it will show up in more people's activity feeds (thanks to circles). If it shows up in more activity feeds, it will get more views...
You get the idea.
Views = hearts = views = hearts = views... and somewhere in there we are crossing our fingers for a purchase.

Have any other useful tricks you've discovered that increase your views? Feel free to use the comments as a place to share and discuss!
I'm linking to these parties.

The Sweetest Petunia

2011-08-29T07:00:00.001-04:00

You will love Jacky.
She is sweet and genuine and so is her blog.

I first fell in love with The Sweetest Petunia because of Jacky's color love posts... every week she picks a color and shares lovely finds that showcase it. Here's your chance to get to know her:

Definitely my amazing fiance. He can put a smile on my face like no one else. :) Between random texts, silly nicknames, and late night phone calls, it's the best!

"If you want to be happy, BE." I'm not sure who said it {I heard it from Gussy}, but it's the perfect reminder for me to choose happiness each and every day.

To blog for YOU. Being a blogger is wonderful, but there are days when it's easy to get discouraged. Easy to compare yourself to others. To feel inadequate. But when you blog because you truly enjoy it, it makes it all better.

the best day - the day we got engaged!
color love {aqua} - one of my favorite color love posts
what's making me happy... - The Sweetest Petunia is all about finding happiness in the little, everyday things of life, and this post really embodies that for me.

Guest Post: Kristin @ The McLendon Whereabouts

2011-08-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

When I was trying to get my blog scheduled up for my maternity leave, Kristin @ The McLendon Whereabouts was kind enough to offer to write up a guest post for ya'll.

If you don't already know Kristin, you will love her! She is lovely and genuine, and her love for the Lord is so apparent in everything she writes. Today she is sharing a little bit about herself and her sweet family, as well as a tasty recipe. Enjoy!

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Hi I'm Kristin! I am so excited for Mandy and her new little family of three! Welcome Abigail! And I'm super excited to be a guest on Mandy's blog while she's loving on her new little one!

Our first picture as McLendon-Party of three!

A little about me....I blog over at The McLendon Whereabouts...all about life's adventures that include being a wife to Robert, a new mommy to Jude Robert, and being called to full time ministry as a Youth Pastor. I also share about my adventure of having a little space over on Etsy called Kristin's Kreations.

I recently became a mom....on March 5th to a beautiful baby boy. We did not find out what we were having and now one of my favorite moment's in life was when my husband declared, "It's a boy!!" I come from a family of girls and I have one niece, so this little man has definitely rocked my little world.

We were extremely blessed by our community during this time of being new parents. We received meals every other night for almost 6 weeks. It was absolutely incredible! So in honor of Mandy and her new little bundle of joy I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite recipes. It's all in one dish, so it's the perfect dinner to take to a new mom (and it's pretty too!).

Here we go:

Lemon Chicken

6 tablespoons olive oil

2 lemons, 1 thinly sliced, 1 juiced

4 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

3/4 lb green beans

8 small red potatoes, quartered

4 chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 450. Coat a large baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Arrange lemon slices from 1 lemon in a single layer on the bottom of the dish. In large bowl combine remaining olive oil, lemon juice of 2nd lemon, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add green beans and toss to coat. Using tongs, remove green beans and arrange them on top of lemon slices. Add potatoes to same olive oil mixture and coat. Arrange on inside edge of dish on top of the beans. Place chicken in olive oil mixture and coat. Place chicken in dish. Roast for 40-50 minutes. Remove chicken and continue roasting potatoes/beans if necessary.

*Extra Notes: I sprinkle the chicken with lemon pepper for extra flavor. At the 2o minute mark I pull out the dish, flip the chicken over and sprinkle again with lemon pepper. With 5 minutes left to go I pull the dish back out and add about a 1/2 to 1 cup of water to create some juice. I like to have juice to pour over my chicken. I like canned green beans--so I usually use 2 regular size cans of cut green beans. I tried it last week with fresh green beans and it was super yummy too!

When bringing a dish to a new mom try to take everything in either a tupperware she can keep or containers she can throw away. Makes it that much easier for the new mom to not have to try to remember which container belongs to which person. With this dish you can cook it in a metal throw away pan and take it straight to the oven to her home! Also, don't forget dessert. New mom's like dessert!

{I originally found this recipe over on Kelly's Korner, Show Us Your Life Blog}

Thanks for having me Mandy! Praying blessings upon you and your family during this sweet, precious time!

Dear Hiccup

2011-08-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

Dear Hiccup,

The moment I saw you, it was love at first sight.

You are absolutely perfect...
from your tiny little feet

to your cute button nose.

Daddy is captivated by you.

And can you blame him?
With your bright eyes and your nice, round cheeks.

We watch you for hours, thrilled just to see you yawn.

Or completely taken by your beauty while you sleep.

I still cannot believe that you are mine.

Just don't grow up too fast, ok?

Love, Mommy

Abigail Sophia England... A Birth Story

2011-08-23T01:39:00.001-04:00

Abigail Sophia England
August 20, 2011
1:50 PM
7 lbs. 13 oz.
20 inches long.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -Psalm 139:13-14

Our birth story started over a week ago...
I had intense contractions every 5-6 minutes for several hours Sunday night (August 14), so we assumed that I was in labor and went to the hospital. However, I was only 1cm dialated and not progressing, so an hour or two later, I was sent home with an ambien to help me sleep.

But the contractions continued all week long.
Sometimes I would have an hour of relief in between...
Other nights I woke up every 3 minutes to intense pain.

At my doctor's appointment on Tuesday, I was still only 1 cm and Abigail's head still hadn't made its way into my pelvis... so my doctor got me set up for an induction on Sunday.

We tried EVERYthing that week...
Any old wive's tale (with the exception of eggplant parm and castor oil... bleh!) that is supposed to bring on labor. Walking, pineapple, spicy foods, bumpy car rides, more walking, sex... you name it, we did it.

By Friday morning, after almost a week of nearly constant pain and getting so little sleep, I was beside myself. David prayed with me that morning that God would let that day be the day, and that night at about 11:00 he talked me into going back to the hospital... I figured at the very least I could get another ambien and get some sleep that night.

You have no idea how excited I was when the nurse said that I was 4 cm. dialated, 100% effaced, and the baby's head was already down in position!

We were admitted to the hospital, and I progressed slowly, but steadily to 7 cm. At that point (about 9:00 AM), the doctor broke my water, and we expected things to move along again, but hours later I was still at 7 cm.

My nurse started talking about pitocin, which was my biggest fear. She said she'd put me on just a little bit, and a couple of contractions later, I was feeling it!

Everything happened really quickly at that point... I agreed to an epidural, after which they bumped up my pitocin, and about 1/2 an hour later I told David that I was pushing whether I wanted to or not!

(right after the epidural)

He and the nurse got me pushing through the next 3 contractions... I started hearing things about "baby's head," the nurse went running out to get the doctor (who was delivering another baby... but I guess I won out in the speedy pushing department), and about 15 minutes later this beautiful creature was thrust up on my chest:

I cannot describe my feelings in that moment... everything moving so quickly and feeling stuck in slow motion at the same time. Seeing with my own eyes that precious and mysterious baby that kicked and hiccuped and refused to come out for so long...

I was only vaguely aware of David cutting the chord:

The next thing I knew, we were alone in the room with our sweet baby girl... my head still reeling and trying to put into words how I felt about her.

I realize now that I never will be able to... such a beautiful, precious, amazing gift from God. My heart simply overflows when I look into her perfect little face, and it is the most amazing thing in the world that I get to share her with my best friend and love of my life.

Speaking of... David could not have been more incredible through it all. I was so well taken care of and absolutely blown away by the natural ease in which he has taken up his roll as "daddy."

She's already got us both wrapped around her little finger! She has a sweet disposition, although she is strong and determined. She cries very little, smiles at times, and makes the silliest faces that fascinate her mommy and daddy for hours. She hiccups just as much outside of the womb as she did inside, which has already lead to her nickname, "Hiccup."

We love her.

So thankful to God for His sweet blessing to our family!

And thank you all for your prayers and support during the pregnancy and delivery... you have been such a blessing to us!!

Easy Contact Paper Bunting Banner

2011-08-15T15:23:00.000-04:00

Back when I shared the wooden letters that I decorated for Abigail's wall, I told you that I had plans of what I was going to do with the leftover contact paper...
I finally got around to it this week.
Ta-da!
A bunting banner:

I got out my contact paper leftovers:

And I cut triangle shapes out of cardstock:

Lay them on the contact paper:

Seal and trim the contact paper around the flags:

Punch holes in the corners of the flags and tie them together:

Then drape the flags around the nursery:

I'm totally done with nursery decorations for now... just ready for Abigail to hurry up and get here!
I'm linking to these parties.

Right Now I Am Loving...

2011-08-12T07:00:00.002-04:00

Seafoam.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
I'm linking to these parties.

Goodbye Blue Monday

2011-08-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

I have never had such an amazing shop experience as the one I had with Goodbye Blue Monday.

First of all, they make and sell the most adorable little dolls on etsy.

And if you remember, Abigail's room is mostly green and brown, decorated with little baby deer...

Well, I about died when I saw they had doll with a close color scheme and covered in little deer!

She is perfect for Abigail's room!

And here's the kicker... I had her special ordered with a different style of hair and face than the listing. Their website said it could take up to 6 weeks for the dolls because they are made to order, and I was totally prepared to not get this doll until after Abigail was born. However, I was holding this doll 5 days after I ordered it! Crazy quick delivery and an amazingly adorable product... you can't beat that!

And, for the record, I was not compensated for this blog post at all... I'm just overwhelmed with the awesomeness of the shop and had to share! Go check out Goodbye Blue Monday!

WIWW... 39 Weeks Pregnant

2011-08-10T07:00:00.016-04:00

I was really hoping that the title of this post would be "WIWW... 1 Week Un-Pregant"... but little Abigail is still making herself right at home in my belly. Today is my due date - cross your fingers for me! :)

Saturday:
Walking, walking, walking... trying to get that baby out! We walked around a lake, up and down Old Colorado City, and in Manitou Springs.

Dress: Gap
Tank: PacSun
Flip Flops: Reefs
And, of course, Ali :)

Sunday:
Church (and a sweet surprise baby shower afterwards... so blessed by our wonderful church family!)

Dress: Penny's
Shoes: Traffic
Wristlet: Target

Sunday Afternoon:
Picnic and more walking around a another lake.

Shirt and Sunglasses: Target
Tank: Kohl's
Skirt: F21
Necklace: Tiffany and CO

I link to these parties.

Sufficient.

2011-08-09T09:34:00.000-04:00

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

{source}

Just that.

Right Now I Am Loving...

2011-08-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

Baby Things.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

I'm linking to these parties.

WIWW... 38 Weeks Pregnant

2011-08-03T07:00:00.002-04:00

Friday:
Went to see Captain America with some friends...

Dress: Thrift Store
Cami: Target
Leggings: F21
Flip Flops: Reefs
Locket: from the hubs

Saturday:
Walking around downtown (trying to go into labor)...

Blouse: Target
Skirt: Ross
Headband: Made by me (tutorial here)
Flip Flops: Reefs
Photo props: Made by me (tutorial here)

Sunday:
What I wore to church...

Dress: Target
Necklace: Family heirloom... David's grandmother gave it to me when we got engaged.
Flip Flops: Reefs (only shoes I can get my swollen feet into!)

And just for Shannon...
What I Wish I Wore Wednesday:
Borrowing from Natalie Portman's maternity wardrobe...

HOW does she keep her feet from swelling?

I really hope that this is the last pregnant edition of WIWW... fingers crossed that Abigail makes an appearance sooooon!

I'm linking to these parties.

Photo Prop Tutorial

2011-08-02T07:00:00.002-04:00

Photo props are the bomb diggety right now.
So I decided to make some last week...

And David and I had way too much fun with these this weekend...

I took pictures of all the steps when I made the props, but accidentally erased them before uploading them to my computer (oops!)... so this tutorial is brought to you with some snazzy gimp sketches by yours truly.

You will need:

* 2 packages of fimo clay: red and black
* 4 wooden kabob sticks

Each package of clay will make 2 mustaches or lips,
so break them in half:

**************************************************************

1. Begin with half of your black clay.
2. Break clay in half.
3. Form each half into a "whale" shape.
4. Form the two "whale" shapes together.

You can use a knife or toothpick to scratch "hair" lines into the clay.
Insert the sharp end of a kabob into the side of the mustache.
Bake according to the clay packaging.
**************************************************************

1. Begin with half of your black clay.
2. Form into a slight arc with both sides swooping down.

You can use a knife or toothpick to scratch "hair" lines into the clay.
Insert the sharp end of a kabob into the side of the mustache.
Bake according to the clay packaging.
**************************************************************

1.Begin with half of your red clay.
2. Break clay into a half and 2 fourths.
3. Form the half into the bottom part of the lips and the fourths into two "whale" shapes.
4. Form these three shapes together to form lips.

Insert the sharp end of a kabob into the side of the lips.
Bake according to the clay packaging.
**************************************************************

1.Begin with half of your red clay.
2. Break clay into a half and 2 fourths.
3. Form the half into the bottom part of the lips and the fourths into two "whale" shapes.
4. Form these three shapes together to form lips, but leave a hole in the middle so that it appears that the mouth is open.

Insert the sharp end of a kabob into the side of the lips.
Bake according to the clay packaging.
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And then have some fun with your creations...

I'm linking to these parties.

August Lovelies...

2011-08-01T07:00:00.017-04:00

It's time for the August Sponsor Spotlight!
Be sure to check out the blogs and shops of these talented ladies!

Today is Emmy's grand re-opening of her shop
And she's offering a 10% discount!
Just use the code: MANDY10
And be sure to check out her lovely paper goodies!

BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK
*********************************************************

Hannah is offering 20% off her adorable shop
with the discount code MANDIPIDY!
Check out her cute bow-adorned lovelies!

SHOP | TWITTER
*********************************************************

Kimberly has a bunch of DIY recycled craft posts on her blog-
really unique, easy, and fun ideas
for people to recycle items around the
home or items found at local thrift stores.

BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
*********************************************************

Lindsay is offering you 15% off her shop!
You can redeem the discount with the code Mandy15.
Valid through August.

BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK
*********************************************************

Use the coupon code AUGUST11
and get 15% off Amy's shop!
Go check out her dainty accessories!

BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
*********************************************************

You can get 25% off Kristin's shop!
Just use the code: MANDIPIDY
Go check out her lovely pins and headbands!

BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
*********************************************************

You can use the code MANDY
to get 15% off purchases in Jill's shop!
Go see her ruffled lovelies!

BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK
*********************************************************

Paige just announced her Danielle Burkleo Adoption Line...
50% of all profits will go to the Burkleo's adoption fund!
And you can get 30% off your purchase
by using the code TAKEHEART at checkout!

BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK
*********************************************************

Right Now I Am Loving...

2011-07-29T07:00:00.002-04:00

Bright and Happy.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

I'm linking to these parties.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

2011-07-28T10:27:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning I got up, packed a lunch for the hubs, and settled down on the sofa for my morning routine.

I had a little quiet time, I checked my email, and I started visiting some blogs... when suddenly I ran across this:

Gina and Rachel had thrown together a virtual baby shower to celebrate the arrival of Abigail! I have no idea how long this had been planned or how they coordinated it, but the effect it had on me was no different than walking into a surprise party! Once I realized what was going on, I had so much fun hopping from blog to blog to read the sweet posts that my friends had written...

Some people posted how they would decorate if all of us could celebrate in "real life"...

{source}

Some people had wonderful lists of advice for a new mommy...

Others shared fun clothes, nursery decorations, or toys that they thought might inspire me as I prepare for Abigail to arrive...

Or ideas of what Abigail might be when she grows up...

{source}

Other ladies shared precious gifts that they had made for Abigail...

I really felt like I was at a baby shower with all my dear friends! And it was so neat to see each of them celebrate in a way that reflected their talents and their blogging style.

My heart is overflowing right now... I feel blessed beyond measure to know such sweet, thoughtful, and supportive people as I transition into mommyhood.

Thank you Gina, Rachel, Lindsay, Sarah, Megan, Annie, Chrissy, Shannon, Bev, Ashlee, Allison, Jessica, Wendy, Melissa, Ashley!!! I am going to print out all of your lovely baby shower posts so that I can show them to Abigail one day!

{source}

I am so thankful for each and every one of you!!

WIWW... 37 Weeks Pregnant

2011-07-27T08:35:00.000-04:00

Friday:
Date night with the hubs. We went to a pub at the Broadmoor called "The Golden Bee" where they have live piano music... and everyone is encourged to sing along. Pretty fun :)

Dress: Target
Sweater Top: Ross
Shoes: Traffic
Peacock Earrings: Made them (click for tutorial)

Saturday:
Went with the hubs to the downtown farmers market and a local coffee shop for breakfast.

Shirt: Ross
Tank: F21
Shorts: Kmart
Wristlet and Sandals: Target
Big Cup: Sonic... Really, this cup should be in every single WIWW picture... I go nowhere without the cup. Here's how it goes down: once a week this pregnant woman goes to Sonic for a 1/2 price big cup of raspberry sprite. Then I fill the cup every day with ice and water and it goes with me EVERYwhere for the rest of the week. That is how I cope with the summer as a mega prego.

Saturday Night:
I showered mid-day, so ended up wearing a different outfit when we went to a friend's house for dinner/games that night:

Shirt: Kohls... I know it's a weird shirt, but it's one of my favorites!
Tank: F21
Shorts: Kmart
Flip flops: Reefs
Necklace: Antique Store

Sunday:
What I wore to church:

Striped Shirt: Marshalls
Mustard Tank: F21
Skirt: F21
Wristlet: APearantly Sew
Locket: from the hubs
Flip flops: Reefs

I'm linking to these parties.

I Am Not In Control...

2011-07-24T11:23:00.000-04:00

I like to feel like I'm in control of life.

On Friday night, I was overwhelmed with the thought that Abigail could come at any moment. That terrified me. I'm not too worried about the actual delivery itself... just the fact that I have no control over when she comes.

I'm a planner. An organizer. A list-maker. A detailed person. Sure, I can be spontaneous... if I am in control of it.

God has been good to show me through my anxiety over when the baby will come that I AM NEVER IN CONTROL.

I can plan and make lists and schedule my life... but in the end God is in control of every little detail. Today, I could lose the baby, my husband, our home, my family- everything.

It made me think of this passage:

And he (Jesus) told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

For the man in the parable, the fact that God was in control of his life came as a rude awakening... caught off guard in the middle of his grand plans, he learned too late that he had no control over his life.

For Christians, this truth should bring us so much comfort, though. I am rejoicing this morning that the One in who is in control of Abigail's arrival has NEVER let me down! I can put my faith in the fact that she will come at the perfect time because His plans are perfect. I am so thankful that I don't have a say in the matter!

If there is something that you are struggling to keep control of this morning, I encourage you to let it go. It's really not yours anyways... God will be in control either way.

I've seen people pinning this verse all over pinterest lately, and I think it's fitting:
"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Boldly lay your burdens at His throne... you'll find He's been holding them all along.

Have a blessed Lord's day!

I Want To Learn More About YOU!

2011-07-22T19:48:00.000-04:00

I'm looking in my sidebar, and I am blown away by almost 1000 followers! As excited as that makes me, it also makes me a little sad because I have no idea who most of you are... so I was hoping you would help me get to know more about you. If you would take this super short survey, I would be oh-so-grateful! And/or feel free to leave a comment telling me a little bit about you... I'll be sure to pop over to your blog or shop to check it out if you leave a link!
Thanks!

Right Now I Am Loving...

2011-07-22T07:00:00.002-04:00

Wedding Inspirations.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

I'm linking to these parties.

Mandipidy Facebook SALE Tomorrow!

2011-07-21T10:57:00.001-04:00

The only thing that frustrates me about selling prints is that I have to deal with a printer. And printers can be unpredictable. Paper jams, ink smudges... you never know when the machine won't work correctly.

Usually the result is a completely mangled piece of canvas cardstock... but sometimes, the blemish is so small that you can hardly tell it's there. I strive to sell only high-quality prints in my shop, so if I see anything wrong with the print, I reprint it for the customer.

This has left me with several almost perfect prints, and I think it would be a waste to just throw them away. Sooooo, I'm having a "Scratch and Dent" facebook sale tomorrow!

Discounted prices on prints with tiny blemishes:

Or bent corners:

And a couple of discontinued Mandipidy prints that you will no longer find on my etsy site:

I will specify exactly what is wrong with each print so that you know what you are getting, and the pictures I post will be of the actual print you will be receiving if you purchase the item.

This facebook sale will run like all my other facebook sales... here's how it goes down for those of you who are new to this:

1. I will post pictures and discriptions of the items for sale on Mandipidy's facebook page. All prices will include shipping fees.

2. The FIRST person to comment on the post saying something to the effect of "I want it" gets the print.

3. All payments will be made via paypal, so please either leave your email address in the comment or message it to me (Mandy@Mandipidy.com) so that I can send you the invoice.

Sale will start at 9:00 AM EST and go until the prints are sold. If you have any questions about how it works, feel free to email me or leave a comment.

WIWW... 36 Weeks Pregnant

2011-07-20T07:00:00.018-04:00

Linking up to The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.

Friday:

Shirt and skirt: Target
Tank top: Garage sale (originally American Eagle)
Shoes: Toms
Locket: from the hubs

Saturday:

Top: JC Pennys
Red Tank: Forever 21
Shorts: Kmart
Flip Flops: Reefs
Earrings: KVJewelry

Sunday:

Shirt: Marshalls
Jeans: Motherhood
Necklace: Lisa Leonard
Sandals: Target

Double Headband Tutorial

2011-07-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

Once upon a time I had a headband that I adored.
I wore it for my senior recital:

And then my dog ate it.

It's been a year since Ali ate the headband, and I still miss it. So I decided to recreate it.

You will need:

3 elastic hair ties
ribbon
scissors
hot glue

1. Pull one hair tie through another.
2. Put a knot in the second hair tie to secure the first.
3. Do the same thing at the other end of the second hair tie.
4. Thread the ribbon through one of the loops.
5. Hot glue the ribbon around the loop.

Measure out how long your ribbon needs to be to go around your head.
Cut the ribbon to that length, thread it through the loop that is directly across, and secure it with hot glue:

Follow the same steps to create the double band:

I love the effect that the double band has... it looks very "grecian goddess" to me. Perfect for a fun date night outfit:

I'm linking to these parties.

Remember... and Bless the Lord!

2011-07-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

As I sought after God this week, this passage became my declaration before the Lord:

Psalm 103: 1-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
I love that David had to remind himself not to forget all that God had done for him... it is so very easy to forget God's overwhelming goodness. Doesn't this passage just make you want to jump for joy because of the unmerited favor we have received from God? I especially am loving verse 4:

"Who redeems your life from the pit."
Remember back to when you were stuck in a pit of sin. How glorious was that first moment when the Lord redeemed you? To feel the weight of your sin lifted from you and the freedom that came from knowing and understanding God's grace for the first time...
BLESS THE LORD!

In good times... in bad times... whatever the situation is, praise cannot be held back from God when we remember the great things He has done for us!

{source}

Remind your soul to remember God's goodness and give Him praise!
Have a blessed Lord's day.

Right Now I Am Loving...

2011-07-15T07:00:00.004-04:00

Yellow + Coral + Turquoise.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Want Help Starting a Handmade Biz? Workshop GIVEAWAY!

2011-07-14T07:00:00.003-04:00

*****UPDATE*****
This giveaway is now closed, and the winner is...

Kristin will get to attend the #SetUpShop workshop to learn how to grow her shop. Congrats Kristin! :)

***********************************************

Maybe you've already heard of #SetUpShop.
Back in January of this year, Gina started a twitter chat that enabled handmade shop owners to connect, engage, and help each other set up their handmade biz.

These chats have been a huge success, discussing all sorts of shop-related issues: marketing strategies, blogs, branding, pricing, giveaways, shipping, etc. It has become such a success, that #SetUpShop now has its very own blog site where you can connect and engage on a whole new level!

WHAT RESOURCES DOES #SETUPSHOP BLOG HAVE FOR YOU?

1. The blog is a great way to catch up on a chat if you miss one, as Gina posts the chat transcripts after the session. Many talented and successful shop owners participate in the chats, so there is lots of wisdom to be gleaned from the tweets.

2. Every Thursday there is a "New Item Thursday" linky party where you can link up a product from your shop that you want to share with the community. Who doesn't want some free views on their newest listing, huh?

3. Gina is now offering two workshops to help people who are either interested in learning how to set up a shop or how to make their shop more successful.

Setting Up Shop 101: The Ins and Outs
Thinking about opening a creative shop but you are not sure about the logistical details of selling your creative wares? You are in good company. As handmade businesses continue to flourish, the selling of unique handmade wares are not going anywhere anytime soon. During this workshop you will learn that setting up shop may be right for you.

You Set Up Shop. Now What?
You have a shop and you stock it often with new wares. You blog, advertise, interact in social media and are curious how to increase your sales. This workshop will cover: branding, advertising, networking, target market, using Google Docs to organize your business, discount codes, conferences, craft fairs, etc.

Interested in attending one of these workshops? You can register here or here... OR you can WIN a chance to attend for FREE!!

That's right, it's a GIVEAWAY!
Gina is offering one of my readers a chance to attend one of these online workshops for FREE!

To enter:
1. Leave a comment stating which workshop you are interested in and why.
2. Follow #SetUpShop the blog.
3. Follow #SetUpShop on twitter.
4. Blog, tweet, or fb about the giveaway.

Four ways to enter!

Please leave your email address so that I can contact the winner.
Giveaway will run through 7/18.
Winner will be picked by random.org.

WIWW... 35 Weeks Pregnant

2011-07-13T07:00:00.001-04:00

Linking up to The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.

Saturday:

Blue Shirt, Capris, Sunglasses, Wristlet: Target
Striped Cardigan: American Eagle
Flip Flops: Reefs
Locket: from the hubs

Sunday:

Mustard Tank, Stripped Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: Motherhood
Necklace: Handmade by me
Sandals, Wristlet: Target

Monday:

Black Dress: American Eagle
Lace Cami: Ross
Jeans: Forever 21
Necklace: Mandipidy
Shoes: JC Penny's

Oh, and just because it's fun, Friday was Cow Appreciation day at Chick-fil-a...

Friday:

White Dress: American Eagle
Leggings: Ross
Spots: Fabric Scrapbox
(It's worth noting that I have a yarn tail on my backside too...)

Revealing the Nursery...

2011-07-12T09:53:00.001-04:00

For some reason it is hard to get quality pictures of Abigail's room... something about the way the light comes in just isn't very conducive to picture taking, but I wanted to take you on a tour of the nursery :)

With the help of craigslist and some DIY, we were able to furnish and decorate Abigail's room for right around $300!
The crib came from craigslist:

Got the bedding here.
And I shared how I made the letters above her crib here. The polka dots behind them are just pieces of scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby that I stuck to the wall before David hung her letters:

The changing table was also a craigslist find:, and that little hamper was 80% off at Hobby Lobby:

We bought the bookshelf at Walmart, and those baskets in it were also on crazy clearance at Hobby Lobby... I paid less than $2 a piece for them.
The rocking chair was also from craigslist (thank goodness for craigslist!), and I shared how I reupholstered it here.

I didn't like the wall art that went with the bedding set, so I decided to make my own:

What I did... I scanned the images on her window valence:

And then printed them onto canvas paper and framed them:

And Ms. Megan @ Moonbeamwishes made the sweetest little hoop art for Abigail that fits perfectly in between the two prints AND matches her letters perfectly!

It completes the wall:

I still have a couple more things that I am hoping to finish before Abigail gets here... like a bunting banner, a blanket, and a plush deer that I am working on, but I wanted to go ahead and show you the big picture.
I'm linking to these parties.

Ask, Seek, Knock.

2011-07-10T07:00:00.006-04:00

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

{source}

David and I both feel spiritually dry when we are in Colorado. I cannot explain it any better than that. It's like a mild spiritual famine. God seems far away. The Bible does not seem as exciting. We feel a little bit dead inside.

Dry.

If I'm being honest, it makes me not even want to bother reading the Bible. I don't feel close to God either way, so what's the point?

But then I came across that verse this morning, and decided to claim God's promise to me: I'm going to seek Him believing that I will find Him. Jeremiah 29:13 also says: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." I have been seeking half-heartedly for a while now... and God has promised to be found when we seek Him with our everything.

The New Living Translation of Matthew 7:7 really shows the persistence that I have been lacking: "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."

These verses so encouraged me this week... I hope they encourage you on your walk with the Lord as well!

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Right Now I Am Loving...

2011-07-08T07:00:00.006-04:00

Summertime fun.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

My Very First: WIWW... 34 Weeks Pregnant

2011-07-06T07:00:00.003-04:00

Never done a What I Wore Wednesday post before...
But when Lindsey explained why she does it last week, I felt like I could use some accountability to get out of my sweats too. Plus, it's been so long since I've shown you the bump, I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone. So here it is:

Friday:

Blue Halter: Ross
White Tank: Forever 21
Jeans: Motherhood
Flip Flops: Reefs
Earrings: Itty Lovies

Saturday:

Gray Dress: Thrifted at Plato's Closet (Originally Gap)
Pink Cami: Old Navy
Black Cardigan: Target
Sandals: Target
Necklace: Lisa Leonard's Family Crest

Sunday:

Lime Tank Top: Billabong from Pacsun
Green Skirt: Gap
Yellow Cardigan: American Eagle
Yellow Purse: Target
Grey Flats: Traffic
Locket: Present from hubs :)
Pearl Bracelet: Arise and Shine

Monday:

Blue Blouse: Target
Tan Shorts: Kmart
Shoes: Toms

I'm linking to The Pleated Poppy.

20 Months in the Making... Tutorial

2011-07-05T07:00:00.002-04:00

If you have been following Mandipidy since the early days when the blog and shop were called Mandy's Yellow Corner, you may remember this post (but you probably won't because I'm so sure I only had like 3 followers when I wrote it!). I had just stumbled across a project that I had started 4 months earlier and never finished.

Well, I've been cleaning out closets and drawers to get ready for the baby's arrival, and guess what I stumbled across again:

Yep... 16 months later, and I still hadn't done anything with them.

(What they are): I used the basic photo editing on my phone to "tweek" a picture of David and me by playing around with the colors. Then I got them developed, cut them down to 4x4, and glued them on top of 4x4 tiles from Home Depot:

I still thought it was a cool concept, but I had no idea what to do with them, and I wasn't going to put them in the closet for a third time. So I was literally holding the bag over the trash can when I saw this:

While I am absolutely going to keep my Mailbox Love painting, I wasn't planning on hanging it on the wall again. So I took apart the frame (which was a matted 8x10) and used the cardstock insert that came with the frame as my base:

I could not fit all 9 tiles, so I picked my favorite 6 and arranged them like so:

And I hot glued them to the cardstock:

Without the matte, the tiles were just the right size to fit inside the frame, which is now hanging in my bathroom:

Whew! It may have taken me 20 months to finish it, but I think the end result is worth it! ;) I'm linking to these parties.

It Is Well With My Soul

2011-07-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

"Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" Job 2:10

It's so easy to think that you are strong when you are thriving. It's so easy to believe that God's sovereign hand is good when circumstances are good. It's so easy to trust Him to provide when you see His provision.

Until this week, I honestly thought that I could trust God in any circumstance. I would have sworn that my response to a bad situation would be "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21)

But twice this week, when faced with a minor setback or a painful situation, my immediate response was to shake my fist at God and ask "why me?" I literally threw some tantrums. It wasn't pretty.

I am so thankful to have a God who says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) Because, gee whiz am I weak.

We practice for our church's worship music at our house on Thursday nights, and this week "It Is Well With My Soul" was one of the songs that was rehearsed. If you are unfamiliar with the lyrics, or have never read the AMAZING story behind the song, you should definitely go check it out. I desire so greatly to be able to say like the Aposle Paul and so many others that "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Phil. 4:11) My prayer this week is that God would give me the faith to face any situation and respond with the words "It Is Well With My Soul."

My Soul Shines

Have a blessed Lord's day!

Enjoy...

2011-07-02T13:08:00.000-04:00

July Group Sponsor Spotlight

2011-07-01T07:00:00.059-04:00

I'm trying something new with my sponsors this month... instead of having a "sponsor spotlight" anytime I get a new sponsor, I have decided to have one group post featuring all my sponsors every month. So if you scroll down, you will find links and a brief bio for all my sponsors, as well as a special coupon code, blog series, or shop item that they wanted to highlight this month. Please take a moment to check out these talented ladies and see what they are sharing with you for July. Enjoy!

MY RUFFLED LIFE
BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Mandipidy readers can get 15% OFF any purchase of ready-made items by using the coupon code MANDIPIDY at checkout. And be sure to check out Ashlee's adorable new design... the "Hi" Wristlet.
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LOTS OF JEWELS
BLOG | SHOP | TWITTER

Cherie is offering FREE SHIPPING on any orders from her shop for the entire month of July!
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FLAMINGO TOES
BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Be sure to check out Bev's adorable new etsy item: Cucina Earrings in Red.
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ALONG FOR THE RIDE
BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

I'd like to highlight my new blog series called "Finding God." Each Tuesday myself and guest bloggers will write about where we found God throughout the week. Others can link up and share their stories. From my blog: I have found that God is often in the little things. In the delicate things. In the things we sometimes overlook. In the challenges that make us stronger. I have found God in many, many things and people and situations. Where have you found God?
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Whimsical Poppysmic
BLOG | SHOP | TWITTER

Chrissy would like to offer you a coupon code for 20% OFF your entire purchase in her shop by using the coupon code BIGMOVE20!
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Hiya Luv
BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Gina is turning 30 this month, and in celebration she will be offering 30% OFF her shop the week of July 20th! Just use the code: MYBDAY30 to get the discount.
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AFTER 9 To 5
BLOG | SHOP | TWITTER

Ashley is offering 15% OFF any purchase from her shop... just use the code MANDIPIDY at checkout.
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DandLs DangLs
BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK

If you want to find all sorts of giveaways, sales, coupon codes, and friends, follow DandLs DangLs on facebook!
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ANNALEA HART
BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

i recently began a new series on my blog called a day in the life of her, which is working to dispel the superwoman myth. the first few features have been so encouraging and amazing and i have great guests lined up each thursday for the rest of the summer. join us and be inspired!
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PINK LEMONADE
BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK

Mandipidy readers can get 25% OFF of Paige's shop... just use the code MANDYROCKS to redeem the discount.
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KRISTIN'S KREATIONS
BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

I'm excited about new things being in the shop! First new items are in honor of my new little one! For a complete shop update and a special coupon code click here!
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MAMA JILL
BLOG | SHOP | FACEBOOK

Jill is offering Mandipidy readers a discount to her shop with the code MANDY! Go check it out!
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Place I Love Prints...

2011-06-29T07:00:00.001-04:00

I've not mentioned much about my shop in a while, so those of you who don't follow on twitter or facebook may not have seen my new Place I Love Prints.

I have loved designing them, and am currently working my way through the 50 states. There are 11 states in the shop right now, and I have several more special requests that I have just completed that I will be listing over the next couple of days.

On a really exciting note: I was happily surprised on Monday when some twitter friends let me know that my New York print was featured on the front page of etsy!

My first time on the fp! :)

Place I Love Prints are currently available individually and in sets of 2, 3, or 4 states... buy multiple prints and you can save up to $21.

If you are interested in a state print that you do not see in my shop, please shoot me an email and let me know! I'll bump it up on my to do list.

Tuesday Tutorial: My First Re-Upholstery Project

2011-06-28T07:00:00.002-04:00

We found this rocking chair on craigslist, and the seller offered to deliver it to us for $15... can't beat that, right? The only problem was that it didn't really match the nursery bedding that I had picked out. So I got to try my hand at my first re-upholstery project and make some slip covers for the cushions:

First, I cut fabric around the cushions, making sure to leave plenty of "wiggle room" on all sides:

Cut another piece for the back side:

And then pinned them together around the cushion with the back side of the fabric facing out (I did not pin around the bottom side... I left it open so that the cover could be removable):

Then, I sewed around the cushion with my sewing machine, following along the trail of pins:

Three sides stitched up, I removed the cushion, turned the fabric inside out, and then put my new slip cover on the cushion. I followed the same steps for the other cushion:

And now it matches the baby decor! It really was not as hard as I thought it would be. Once I figured out what I was doing, the project took less than an hour. I'm linking to these parties.

Mail Love...

2011-06-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

Random.org has been super kind to me of late...
I've won two awesome giveaways from Lindsay and Amy's lovely blogs... with loot from some of my favorite stores:

[1] Eclectic Whatnot [2] Paint Me A Picture [3] Gussy Sews [4] Toms Shoes

I am always amazed when I get something in the mail and the quality far exceeds my expectations. These four shops are those kind of shops... expect great things from them, and you will probably still be blown away.

What are some of your favorite mind-blowing shops?

Tuesday Tutorial: Peacock Feather Earrings

2011-06-21T07:00:00.003-04:00

I've been in love with peacock feather earrings for a while now, but I can never seem to find any that tickle my fancy just right. They're either too big or small or have weird beading in them... And I just wanted something simple. So (you know me) I decided to make my own.

Materials Needed:
Peacock Feathers (2)
Scissors
Thin String (I used crochet thread)
Earring Bases (the dangly kind)
Mod Podge

I bought the feathers at Hobby Lobby- two for $2.49:

But they come WAY too long:

So you probably want to cut them to reasonable lengths:

And then trim around the rounded part of the feather too:

It took some trial and error to find the length I was looking for... here's my first attempt- cute, but still too long for my taste:

This is how trimmed they were in the end:

Then, I cut a small amount of thread and strung it through the earrings:

I laid the end of the feather in between the two ends of the string like so:

I added just a bit of mod podge to make absolutey sure that the feather's not going to fall off. (I used the core of the extra peacock feather I cut off as the "toothpick" for applying mod podge)

And then I wrapped another piece of string around the feather and strings and secured it with a knot (that I then secured with a drop of mod podge):

Do the same thing for the other side, and then enjoy wearing your peacock feathers:

I'm linking to these parties.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:7-11

So thankful this Father's Day for a father who showed me a glimpse of God's love. I love you Dad!

And a happy 1st Father's Day to my hubs too...

You are going to be an amazing dad to our little girl! I'm so blessed that it's you.

Tuesday Tutorial: Nursery Wall Art (Part 1)

2011-06-14T12:51:00.000-04:00

Since we found out that I was pregnant, I knew I wanted the baby's name to be hung on the wall in wooden letters. I always thought I would use fabric and mod podge to decorate the letters, but it just so happened that Michael's had some lovely contact paper on clearance this week, and it was just the colors I wanted:

Materials Needed:
Wooden Letters
(Hint: wait until Hobby Lobby has a 50% off sale on their wall art... I got my letters for $1.50 each!)
Contact Paper (I used 3 patterns)
Xacto Knife

(Yes, that is my massive pregnant belly underneath... it would not get out of the picture)

Cut contact paper to fit your letters:

Peel off back of paper and adhere to front of letter.
Make sure there are no air bubbles on the front.
Using an xacto knife, trace around the letter:

Do this for each letter. If you are using multiple colors of contact paper, alternate as you spell out the name:

As a fun side note, I have lots of contact paper left, and I know exactly what I am going to do with it! Stay tuned. :) I'm linking to these parties.

Sweet Stories...

2011-06-13T07:00:00.003-04:00

I have gotten so many sweet notes from people who have purchased my "Bushel and a Peck" items... The lovely stories are so touching, and so I thought I would share a few with you:

"My grandmother passed away in November. She was an incredible woman...a WWII veteran, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, and truly an inspiration. She sang "I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck" when she hugged me...all my life. She sang it to MY mother all her life, and she sang it to my kids. I plan on giving this to my mom as a nod to one of our favorite shared memories. Thanks again." -JB

"This product so touches my heart. My nani always, always sang this to me. She has Alzheimer's now -- still knows who people are, but I fear that's going to be the next thing to go... The song unfailingly makes me cry ... but this will be a sweet mother's day card to send to her :)" -JY

"This is going to be my mother's day card to my mom. my grandmother (mom's mom) used to always sing this song :" -SM

Do you have a "Bushel and a Peck" story?
I'd love to hear it!

If God Is Good, Why Does He Allow Pain? (Romans 1:18-32)

2011-06-12T07:00:00.012-04:00

There is so much hurt in the world... How could a good and loving God allow it?

Text: Romans 1:18-32
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

This passage of Romans states that God has made Himself known through His attributes and through His creation, and that every person knows deep in their own heart that the God of the Bible is not only real, but that He is in a place of authority over them. To deny God's existence is, according to verse 18, to "suppress the truth."

Think about it: can you think of a society at any point of history that has not had to deal with the existence of God? If God is not real, why is it that people from all different ways of life and spanning massive periods of history have always gravitated toward this idea that there is a higher power at work? Why would so many imaginations conjur up the same concept? Paul lays out the answer right here in Romans 1:
"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

I hate getting caught without an excuse. Imagine having a dream teacher who printed the answers to the final exam in the syllabus that she handed out on the first day of class... you have no excuse if you show up unprepared for that final.

OR

Imagine being warned by a loving God who has done His part to reveal Himself to you that you are bound for hell, and never heeding His words.

Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 of this passage all begin with similar phrases:

Therefore...
For this reason...
And since they...

"God. Gave. Them. Up."

One of the consequenses of sin is more sin. Or to quote Saint Augustine: "Sin is its own punishment." Because God has revealed Himself and given us a way to be reconciled with Him, but yet we have chosen to reject Him and go our own way, the Bible says that He has given us up to our own choices.

Read through that list of evil in verses 29-31.
envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness...
...foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
The list goes on and on.

And thank God it does!
(Say what?!)
You heard me.
Thank God that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men."
I will even go so far as to say because God is good, He allows bad things to happen.

Let me get all down and personal. The worst times in my life, the hardest struggles that I have gone through, and the deepest battles with sin in my own heart have lead me to seek God in a way that I never otherwise would have. When my heart is hardend toward God, I see the damaging effect of sin in my life, and it causes me to seek Him all the more.

Look at the gospels: Jesus was a friend of tax collectors and sinners. The worst of the worst flocked to the Son of God, while the "righteous" scribes and pharisees plotted to have Him killed. Those who knew the painful consequences of their sin were eager to turn from their wicked ways.

In the Old Testament, God often gave the Israelites up to captivity and other hardships as a result of their sin. It was not because He no longer loved them. They had not pushed Him too far and caused Him to forsake them indefinitely. Because He loved them, He allowed bad things to happen, with this loving promise:

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 2:14

I am not saying that bad things are always a result of sin... absolutely not! Job is a perfect example of a righteous man who was afflicted with great hardships. But just because God allows bad things to happen does not mean that He is not a good and loving God. Our sin makes this world a hard and painful place, but we can rest in the fact that "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jer. 29:11

Have a blessed Lord's day!

GIVEAWAY: Hoop Art from Whimsical Poppysmic

2011-06-10T07:00:00.001-04:00

I have a special giveaway lined up for you today from:

Meet the creater of this lovely shop, Chrissy:

I am Chrissy and I blog over @ Whimsical Poppysmic! My family and I moved to the suburbs of Chicago almost 3 years ago from Germany and will be moving back this August! My love for crafting and creating lead me to open my Etsy shop Whimsical Poppysmic last December - and it is so much fun! I love tweeting, so why don't you come and tweet with me!

I would like to offer you all a discount of 15% with coupon code FUN15!

Sweet!
Chrissy is also giving away this lovely hoop art:

To enter:
1. Visit the shop and let me know what your favorite item is.
2. Follow the blog: Whimsical Poppysmic.
3. Follow Chrissy on twitter and tweet about this giveaway.

Open to EVERYONE!
Winner will be picked via random.org.
Ends 6/17.

And don't forget to get 15% off with Chrissy's code: FUN15!

Tasty Thursday (Greek Chicken Kabobs)

2011-06-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

Me and my hubs don't always see eye-to-eye when it comes to food... but we both LOVE us some good Greek food! I modified this recipe from Barefoot Contessa to make these yummy Greek chicken kabobs the other day, and mmmmm, it was delish!

Ingredients:
3-4 chicken breasts
2 tablespoons minced garlic (I used chopped garlic in a jar)
2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Salt
4 small red onions
Wooden skewers

Cut the chicken in 1 inch cubes. Combine the garlic, rosemary, thyme, olive oil, vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl. Add the chicken cubes, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

Chop onion into thick chunks. Alternate chicken and onion chunks on the skewers.

Then I just threw them on my Foreman grill.

I also grilled cherry tomatoes, olives, and slices of zucchini:

And followed this recipe for tzatziki sauce, and we practically dipped the whole meal in it.
yum, yum, YUM.

I'm linking to these parties.

Tuesday Tutorial - Adding Media Button Links To Your Blog

2011-06-07T07:00:00.009-04:00

Everyone has those easy-to-find media buttons on their sidebar these days... so I decided it was time for Mandipidy to jump on board. While I was at it, I figured I would write up a tutorial for anyone else who is interested in adding button links to their sidebar.

1. Decide what you want to link to. Twitter, facebook, feed burner, email... pick a handful of ways that readers can easily follow you. Here is a list of icons that I have rounded up... feel free to right click and copy any of them that you would like to use (or you can find or create your own).
All of these images are 49 x 49 px:

RSS FEED:

TWITTER:

FACEBOOK:

GMAIL:

ETSY:

FLICKER:

FEED BURNER:

YOUTUBE:

2. Once you have saved your images, upload them to your photobucket account. You can use the editing options to tweek the colors, resize the images, or add borders if you would like.

3. Create a place in your sidebar for your icons to go. To do this, go to your blogger dashboard. Click "Design." Click "Add a Gadget" in your sidebar:

A box will pop up with many options. Choose the option that says "HTML/JavaScript":

Another box will pop up. This is where you will put your code for your media buttons:

4. Go back to photobucket, and copy the html code for the image that you want. To do this, let your mouse hover over the image you want. When you do, an options box will pop up. Click on the html code to copy it:

5. Paste your copied code into the content box in blogger:

6. Change the first web address in the code to direct to the proper webpage. Here I have highlighted the web address that I am going to change:

The button is an etsy icon, so I will replace the web address with the web address for my etsy shop and click "save":

Follow steps 4-6 for each button until you have all the icons that you want to have on your sidebar.

Let me know if you have any questions! And if you aren't into designing your own blog, I now have a services page with rates for custom blog designs.
I'm linking to these parties.

It Was Faith All Along (Romans 1:8-17)

2011-06-05T07:00:00.002-04:00

Salvation Through Jesus Was Not a New Promise... It Was the Completion of the Old Promise.
Text: Romans 1:8-17
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Let's jump all the way back to the beginning of the Bible: Genesis. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God provided a way for mankind to be made right with God again- faith in His son Jesus Christ.

"Wait a second... Jesus didn't die for the sins of mankind until thousands of years after Adam and Eve lived."

True. But just the same, every person who obtained a righteous status with God in the Old Testament did so through Jesus.

"What about all the animal sacrifices that God had His people do to cover their sin?"

It wasn't the blood of animals that pleased God... the Bible says: "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Paul begins this passage of Romans by rejoicing that the faith of the Roman church is being proclaimed throughout the world. He doesn't praise their good works, their righteousness, their knowledge of God, or their obedience to His laws... he thanks God for their faith.

He ends this passage by saying "For I am not ashamed of the gospel (good news of Jesus)... for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"

Ok, that "as it is written" part... that's an Old Testament throwback:
Habakkuk 2:4-
"[T]he righteous shall live by his faith."

And the "from faith for faith" part? I think it's easier to understand in the NIV:
"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Think about that phrase: "By faith from first to last"... from beginning to end. Since the beginning of creation, God's way of restoring us to a place where we are right with Him is revealed by faith.

Take Noah:
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Heb. 11:7)

Or Abraham:
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. (Heb. 11:17)

Or Moses:
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. (Heb. 11:24-26)

Of all these men, the Bible says:
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar... Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Heb. 11:13,16)

Noah, Abraham, Moses... their hope was the same as our hope. Noah wasn't trusting in the ark to save him. Abraham and Moses knew that their sacrifices were merely a temporary forshadowing of something greater to come. Just as we look back with faith to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross as our hope for salvation, these men looked ahead in faith with the same expectation of God's coming provision. Romans 3:25-26, when speaking of Jesus's sacrifice says this:

"This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

God's righteousness is proved throughout the ages by Jesus's death on the cross... whether you lived 6000 years ago and were looking ahead in hopeful expectation, or you live now and are looking back 2000 years in faith of what God has already done.

"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Hope always has and always will come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that seeing God's sovereign hand all throughout history will give you a deeper appreciation for His grace and mercy.
Have a blessed Lord's day!

Tasty Thursday (Healthy Honey Wheat Bread)

2011-06-02T07:00:00.001-04:00

One of my goals on returning to Colorado (and consequently, owning an oven again) was to experiement more with baking. Specifically, baking bread. My husband has this vision in his head of me, a culinary goddess, strutting around my kitchen in an apron, and baking amazingly delicious, fresh (and healthy) breads. I am not opposed to the idea... just intimidated.

But I made a "to do" list on our 20+ hour drive back out here...
And "bake bread" was the 3rd thing on my list:
1. Own a plant.
2. Keep plant alive.
3. Bake bread.

Surprisingly, my first attempt wasn't half bad:

I used a couple of recipes as a guideline and then tweeked them to come up with this:

Healthy Honey Wheat Bread

Ingredients:
1 packet active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup honey
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
5 1/2 cups whole weat flour
Bake: 375 degrees F for 30 min
Makes: Two loaves

In a mixing bowl, add yeast, water, honey, olive oil, salt, cinnamon, and allspice.

Add flour gradually to make a stiff dough.

Knead on well-floured surface until smooth and satiny, 8-10 minutes.

Place in greased bowl. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, 1.5 to 2 hours.

Divide in half and shape into balls. Cover with bowl and let rest for 15 minutes.

Shape into loaves. Place in well-greased 9x5 or 8x4 inch pans. Cover and let rise until light and doubled, about 1 hour.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until deep golden brown.

The result was quite tasty! The only thing that I was disappointed with was that the bread was very dense and not "fluffy" at all. My ideal bread would be crispy on the outside and like a pillow on the inside... any recommendations on how to achieve that?

I'm linking to these parties.

Tuesday Tutorial (Pressed Flower Necklace)

2011-05-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

One of the things I loved about Virginia was how green it was.
The trees were beautiful, and there were flowers everywhere.
So while we were there, David and I enjoyed collecting leaves and flowers and pressing them in books so that we could bring some pretty memories back with us.

And that's how this necklace came about:

Materials Needed
Freshly picked flower (or leaf...)
Pendant tray with glass insert
Paper
Clear-drying jewelry glue
Scissors
Chain

1. Take a walk and find a pretty specimen outside... make sure it is the right size to fit in your pendant tray.

2. Press the flower or leaf you have collected inside a book. I recommend that you place a paper napkin on either side of the flower to better dry out your flower and protect the book pages. Also, depending on how heavy the book is, you may want to stack some other books on top of it for a better result.

3. Let the flower sit for at least a week. Then remove and admire your handiwork:

4. Remove the stem from your flower:

5. Spread some glue on a piece of cardstock and adhere your flower:

6. Add more glue to the back of the glass insert and adhere it atop your flower:

7. Let dry according to glue specifications.

8. When glue is dry, cut the excess cardstock from around the glass insert.

9. Apply glue to tray of the pendant and insert the flower/glass insert.

10. Place something heavy on top of the pendant and allow it to dry.

When it's dry, string the chain through your pendant and enjoy wearing the little piece of spring you captured:

I'm linking to these parties.

Jesus Rose from the Dead... What's the Big Deal? (Rom. 1:1-7)

2011-05-29T07:00:00.226-04:00

Why is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ CRUCIAL?

Text: Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus died.
Jesus came back to life and still lives today.
Do you believe that?

I'm not surprised if you don't.

Raise your hand if you know someone who has died.
Raise your hand if 3 days later they were hanging out with you again.

It's an incredible thing... ridiculous to even think about.

Jesus died.
Jesus came back to life.

If you are reading this, you can probably relate to one of these two thought processes...

1. You think it's a bunch of nonsense. Maybe you don't believe in an afterlife, or you think the Bible is a bunch of crap. I don't blame you, but I beg you to keep reading this post. What could it hurt, eh?

2. You call Jesus "Lord," but the awesomeness of Jesus's resurrection is lost on you. Perhaps you've heard about it too many times, and now it's just something you take for granted. Maybe you will appreciate it in a new light after we look at the ramifications we would face if Jesus had not risen from the dead.

So why would it be a big deal if the resurrection of Jesus had never happened?

Let's say you bump into Bill Gates on the street. He likes your face, decides to give you a million dollars, and writes you a check. You run to the bank, excited to make the deposit, but when you get there, you realize that the check is not signed. The slip of paper is absolutely worthless without his signature at the bottom. Lame sauce.

Scenario two... you are a sinner. God's holiness requires that sin be punished by death. Jesus lives a perfect life, fulfilling everything that God had laid out in the law and through the prophets, and dies on the cross for your sin. But without His resurrection, there is no promise of life for you...

Bill Gates promising you a million dollars or Jesus promising you eternal life mean nothing if their promises aren't backed up by actions. If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, His words are as insignificant and worthless as an unsigned check from Bill Gates.

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."
Corinthians 15:17-19

"We are of all people most to be pitied"...
And that is why Jesus's resurrection is so critical.
As His followers, all of our hopes depend on it!
We would be fools if we were following a dead man.

The apostle Paul knew that he was serving a live and risen Savior... and for good reason: Jesus Himself had appeared and spoken to Paul (Acts 9). In fact, before Paul had this encounter with the risen savior, his name was "Saul," and he was one of the greatest persecuters of the early church.

Paul began the book of Romans by defining himself in 3 ways:
He's a servant of Christ Jesus.
He's called to be an apostle.
He's set apart for the gospel of God.

The word "apostle" is from the greek word "apostolos" which means: "one sent forth." So Paul is God's ambassador, sent to go forth with His message. That message is the gospel ("good news") of what Jesus has done.

He starts to define that good news beginning in verse 3 by telling us about this Jesus who has sent him forth.

First, he shares Jesus's credentials as a man: "Descended from David according to the flesh." Jesus's earthly liniage is from King David's line. While this is an important fact (fulfilling many Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah), it is not nearly as important as the second credential that Paul presents us with...

"Declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead."

I like the way the NLT says this verse:

"And he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord."

The resurrection is proof that Jesus was who he said he was: the Son of God. Without the resurrection, Jesus is a liar and our hope is in vain.

"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead!" (1 Cor. 15:20)

And because there is a resurrection, we have proof that Jesus is the Son of God.
If Jesus is the Son of God, we know that He mediates with Holy God on our behalf.
If Jesus is our mediator, we have a hope in our future.
And that hope should give us boldness to proclaim Jesus's resurrection like the apostal Paul.

Praise God that we serve a risen Savior!
Have a blessed Lord's day.

Remember Me?

2011-05-27T09:49:00.001-04:00

Hey, I'm Mandy... remember me?
Been a while, eh?

Between moving back to CO, getting settled back in, and catching up on prenatal procedures, life's been a bit crazy.

And I'll admit...
I've felt a little bit overwhelmed with the idea of blogging.

I thought I might quit.

So I considered long and hard,
and I think I've come up with a weekly schedule that I can mantain:

Sunday: Sunday Devotional
Tuesday: Tutorial Tuesday
Thursday: Tasty Thursday

God post (1), craft post (1), food post(1)...
My three favorite things.

But for today, I wanted to give you an update on the baby.
If you follow on twitter, you've already heard:
Baby E is a GIRL!

She's perfectly healthy...
Everything looks great...
And she's right on schedule...

Weighing a little less than 3 lbs, she's at the 51st percentile for size.
Way to be average, kiddo, way to be average.

We are so thankful for a healthy pregnancy so far.
God has been kind.
And we are looking forward to meeting little Abigail this August!

And now it's time to get this girlie's room put together.
So tell me...
What is your favorite place to shop for baby things?

Handmade With Purpose... Aftermath

2011-05-03T07:00:00.006-04:00

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in handmade with purpose!

There were so many wonderful causes that were supported by handmade artists during the month of April, and it was so very exciting to see the funds that were raised for various charitable organizations!

1/2 of Mandipidy's profits from last month are going directly to Compassion International... and thanks to your support, we were able to raise $75!
Thank you so much to everyone who was a part of this effort!

If you are interested in hearing updates on future events from handmade with purpose, you can follow the blog here.

"Take Me Home to the Place I Belove..."

2011-05-02T11:16:00.000-04:00

I'm not a Colorado girl at heart...
Or a Florida girl.
My heart has always longed for the soft rolling hills and luscious greenery of the Appalachian Mountains.

David and I got the opportunity to soak up some of that this weekend in Charlottesville, VA.

We rented a cute little cabin:
(And took a couple of pictures of my belly exhibiting Baby E at 25 weeks...)

We got to visit Thomas Jefferson's beautiful home, Monticello:

We spent a lot of time in downtown Charlottesville, one of the cutest and happenin' little downtowns I have ever seen:

And enjoyed a chocolate mocha cupcake from an adorable little cupcakery downtown:

Perfect weekend. :)
What's your idea of a perfect getaway weekend?

Mother's Day Card Tutorial

2011-04-29T07:00:00.001-04:00

Mother's Day is fast approaching, so I have an easy peasy tutorial that you can whip up for mom...
An embroidered mother's day card:

Materials Needed
Blank Card and Envelope
Tracing Paper
Pencil
Embroidery Thread
Needle
Scissors
Cardstock and Glue (Optional)

Trace the following image with tracing paper:

And apply it to a blank notecard. Then stitch along the lines with embroidery thread.

When you are finished, you can adhere another card or piece of cardstock to the inside of the card cover to hide the backside of the stitches.

I'm linking to these parties.

Wedding Gifts Ideas... From ETSY

2011-04-27T07:00:00.004-04:00

Weddings, weddings, weddings...
SO many weddings this time of year!

That's why I've put together this little collection of unique wedding present ideas from etsy... enjoy!

[1]
Monogrammed plate from Aedriel Originals:

[2]
Custom pillow cover from [cozyblue]:

[3]
Personalized candle tray from Bragging Bags:

[4]
Mr. and Mrs. forks from Lorelei Rose:

[5]
Personalized license plate art from Recycled Art Company:

[6]
And if the happy couple has a good sense of humor, a Mr. and Mrs. Frankenstein mug set from Lenny Mud:

Why Are We Celebrating Today?

2011-04-24T07:00:00.004-04:00

I was so encouraged while reading through Romans today, and reminded of the glorious truth that we are celebrating this weekend...

(Feel free to use this printable if you'd like!)

He is Risen!
Praise God!
I pulled some verses and I hope they will bless you as well:

I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Rom. 1:16)

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Rom. 3:19-20)

The work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Rom. 2:15-16)

There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil... (Rom. 2:9)

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)

The wages of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23)

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom. 7:24-25)

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)

Christ Jesus is the one who died– more than that, who was raised– who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Rom. 8:34)

Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law... the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe... and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Rom. 3:21-22, 24-25)

We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Rom. 3:28)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:1)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:1)

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rom. 5:11)

I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)

Have a blessed Lord's day!

♥ Saving Money Living Life ♥

2011-04-21T09:17:00.001-04:00

Krysten @ After "I Do" has a blog Big Sister / Little Sister Mentor Program that she has put together, and I signed up to be a part of it. My lovely "Little Sis" is Heather over @ Saving Money Living Life:

She and her friend Jessica write this wonderful blog about coupons, deals, and how to "make couponing manageable without being overwhelming." I don't know about you, but I could sure stand to learn some of those skills!

Aside from daily deal alerts, these ladies also post real life tips on how to get more with less money... like this fabulous post about Jessica's Bathroom Renovation on a Budget:

Or this tasty recipe {amidst the tale of a series of culinary mishaps}: A Kitchen Fiasco

Or {for all you wedding planners out there} you may be interested in this Wedding Wednesday Series.

And if you hop over now, it's not too late for you to enter their Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway! {Open through 4/26}

Seriously though... who doesn't want money saving deals and budget tips? Heather and Jessica are such sweet, wonderful ladies with lots of fun, economical stories and projects to share! Want to keep up with Saving Money Living Life?
Boom.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter

3 reasons why TWITTER is a normal part of my daily routine...

2011-04-08T20:12:00.001-04:00

You may recall this post from last September.
I expressed the fact that I was "ill-twitter-ate," but that I really wanted to figure the twitter thing out.
Some of your responses were really helpful and encouraged me to keep trying to use twitter... in fact, I spent the next day glued to my twitter screen trying to make sense of it all.

Since then I have grown to love twitter.

I want to share with you 3 reasons why twitter is a normal part of my daily routine:

(1) Twitter promotes an open environment where bloggers can connect with other bloggers and develop more meaningful relationships.

One of the things that I most enjoy about blogging is the dear relationships that I have gained with other women all around the world. I have met so many wonderful ladies who have inspired me, encouraged me in my walk with the Lord, and been there for me during difficult moments. I don't even categorize some of them as "blogging friends" anymore... we're just friends!

Twitter has played a huge role in developing these relationships. While blogger allows you to comment back and forth on each others posts, and email provides a way to delve a bit further into someone's personal life... Twitter helps you to connect with someone in a more conversational setting. By responding to someone's tweet with a "@" you are bascially engaging in a conversation with them. For example:

Mandipidy: I have no ideas for dinner. Anything easy that doesn't involve an oven?
OtherPerson: @Mandipidy I have a great recipe for blah-bitty-blah... I'll message it to you.
Mandipidy: @OtherPerson You rock!

Ok, that's a silly example... but you get the idea.

Months ago, 3 other ladies and I tweeted at each other about one day meeting up and eating cheesecake together. At the time it seemed utterly silly... but just last week I did get to meet one of those ladies for cheesecake! We happened to be ridiculouly close to each other, and because of the relationship that we had developed over many a conversation on twitter, I was thrilled to get to meet her and another friend in "real life."

If the "@" feature of twitter is daunting to you, take the plunge and give it a try! You might be surprised at how friendly people are in the twitter setting... and you may soon find yourself planning a cheesecake date with someone.

(2) Twitter provides a networking opportunity for businesses to promote their goods and services to potential customers.

I'm going to be honest... this was why I first started using twitter. I had heard that it was a great way to spread the word about your business and share promotions, and so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon... without much success at first.

I did not understand that in order to be an effective tweeter, you need to be consistent. Hopping on the network every couple of weeks (or even days) is not going to establish a firm base of followers or insure that the links you tweet are viewed. Consistency is key. That is why "daily routine" is part of the title of this post... it really requires a commitment if you want your tweets to be at all effective.

That being said, if you do successfully establish an audience of followers who are interested in your tweets, twitter can be a highly effective way to spread the word about your blog, shop, product, event, etc. Honestly, I rarely seek out a blog post in my blogger dashboard or google reader these days... I get to most of the blogs that I read on a regular basis via links on twitter. The same is true for handmade goods... most of the etsy shops and listings that I find are in tweets. And I know from personal experience that twitter has increased the views that my etsy shop receives by leaps and bounds! It usually does not result in a sale right away, but at least it is getting the name of my shop out there to potential customers.

(3) Twitter is a great place to find support, feedback, and encouragement from like-minded people.

Of my three points, I believe this last one to be both the most wonderful and commonly abused aspect of twitter.

Because twitter becomes a network of friends and relationships, it can feel like a "safe" place to "vent" when something goes wrong or a place to seek advice when you are having a problem. I'll share a silly example: I love me a good grilled cheese sandwich, and Steak and Shake's is the best. Sadly, the closest Steak and Shake is like 100 miles away... so finding myself in a craving predicament, I threw out some tweets like this:

Mandipidy: Cheddar cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich... does that sound right? #lookingforthatdinertaste

I got an overwhelming response of helpful answers... including this one which included a link to Steak and Shake's recipe!

While that is a silly example, the point is that twitter is a quick and effective way to find an answer or get people's feedback.

A much more significant example actually occured this afternoon (while I was in the middle of writing this post!)... my husband called me to let me know that because of the government furlough that may begin tonight, the government will no longer house us on base while we are here in Virginia. I tweeted:

Mandipidy: And so much for security... we are no longer deemed essential and have to find some other place to live for the next few days. #trustingGod

I was overwhelmed with responses from people saying that they were praying for us... some blogging friends even offered to let us stay with them if we couldn't find a place to go! That's the beautiful thing about twitter... it can become a community of close-knit people who care deeply about each other!

Sadly, like all good things, there is also a potential to abuse this community. Gossip, cliqueness, hurtful messages... it is unfortunate that people bring these into twitter as well. As in all aspects of life, we should strive after Ephesians 4:29 in our twitter relationships:
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

{Handmade With Purpose}

2011-04-06T15:48:00.000-04:00

I shared a little bit about Handmade With Purpose a few days ago...
But here's the official list of participating shops for those of you who are interested in supporting this wonderful event:

- Show quoted text -

Over 20 handmade shops and blogs have joined together to give back.

During the month of April 2011 each of the participating shops

will be donating proceeds to the charity of their choice.

Please help us give back by:

-buying handmade goods from participating shops

-sponsoring participating blogs

-donating to designated charities

-spreading the word on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter {#handmadewithpurpose}

-visit our blog, Handmade with Purpose, to receive updates and future information

Handmade with Purpose:

Aisle to Aloha Studio