handmade giving - wood bead barrettes

happy wednesday, folks!  i am over at la famille today with a simple, quick, but oh so good tutorial for wood bead barrettes.  alicia is one of my favorites and it won't take long over at her place to see why.  and this handmade giving series she is running is chock full of lovely ideas for all sorts of people in your life.  go take a look if you are still in need of christmas gift inspiration or pin away for future occasions.  happy making and giving!

xoxo,

annalea

 

he's still our champion

my monthly contributor post for beautifully rooted is up today. 

it is a father's day inspired DIY that can be easily tweaked for the non-father and even non-male champions in your life.

written last month, the irony is not lost on me that this post is being published exactly a week after our own champion papi was laid off.  we are hanging in there, friends.  after gazillions of phone calls, a thousand internet searches, and a dozen or so resumes submitted, there are several promising leads on the job hunt.  the big question is whether we will be able to stay in champaign or whether we will be moving before summer's end.

one thing is for sure:  jesse is still our champion.  his worth as husband and papi is not tied to his job and earning potential.

here's to running a race and completing the task as champions of His grace.

xoxo,

annalea

grace on a thursday

 today you can find me over at leslie's.

only click over if you want to read about the radical kind of love that has kept my marriage together.

xoxo,

annalea 

advent in the heart and home (guest post by La Famille)

Hi, Annalea peeps! It's me, Alicia, the other A.H.

I'm so happy to be here in Annalea's space. It's a such nice spot in blogland, right?

She has such a beautiful heart. I just love her.

She asked me to come over today and talk about advent....

well, here's how I really, truly feel about the four precious weeks leading up to the hap hap happiest time of the year....

it is StReSsFuL on a mama!! Can I get an *amen*, sistas??

It just is. The goal for most of us is to create this lovely, memorable, fun, meaningful time for our kids and it really is a lot of pressure.

Plus there's the planning and wrapping and shopping and spending a bajillion dollars...

am I making you feel anxious?

I'm sorry...wait for it...there is a point to this post.

My mom is really smart. Like really wise. And she's always telling me I'm making things too hard and trying to do it all perfect instead of just flowing with the go...

so I thought maybe with our life changes as of late, that I'd try her simpler, less crazy approach.

What I did this year was take all the fun things I wanted to do, simplified them, and mushed them all up into a fun snowball...

here's what we're doing this advent:

One Fun and Simple Christmas Activity a Day

We've done a little advent calendar for the last few years, but this seemed simpler because then I didn't have to remember little treats for their calendar PLUS a fun activity per day. SO everyday when the kids get up I have an envelope ready for them to open...and on it is an activity to do that day. I found this idea here and made it my own.

Last night we got hot chocolate at Starbucks after dinner. Something we never do and cheap...the kids cocoas are $1.25. Simple, but fun.

The other day we painted pottery. This is expensive and something we only do once a year, so it's special. They each painted a Christmas mug for hot chocolate.

Tomorrow it's cut out snowflakes. Easy, but fun and Christmassy.

Other ideas?

make a snowman

wrap gifts (you're gonna do it anyway, right? might as well make it an activity :))

buy gifts for each other

make a gingerbread house

Christmas crafts

get Christmas tree

put lights up outside

bake cookies

bring cookies to a neighbor

eat breakfast for dinner

make snow angels

This is a picture of the advent boxes I made and used in years past. You could do this idea with boxes or a traditional calendar, just with activities written on paper in each box.

The Jesse Tree

We've done this for years and years. You can read more about our Jesse Tree tradition HERE.

Christmas Stories

We have so many Christmas books and we would be reading one each night anyway, so how's about wrapping up 25 of them with newspaper and have your kids take turns opening them so they think it's super fun and special?? Great idea!

Christmas Crafting

We do a few Christmas crafts every year. Sometimes I go crazy planning, but this year? Not so much. We're keeping it simple...using stuff we already have on hand.

A few years ago I did a series on Christmas crafts...you can find some ideas HERE.

Bottom line, girlies...let's keep it simple. For real. Let's not just say, "yes!" let's actually DO IT! I don't want to feel stressed right now because for my kids, it's the best time of the year EVER! Let's follow suit, huh? If we're out of wrapping paper and it's December 22nd...don't go to the store. Get some newspaper and do it up recycled style. Let's not try to be Martha's or even half Marthas. I'd like to think back of Christmases at our house and remember joyous days and snuggly nights.

Wishing you all a truly simple, beautiful Christmas.

home made lovely

love·ly/ˈləvlē/

1. Full of love; loving.

2. Inspiring love or affection.

3. Having beauty that appeals to the emotions as well as to the eye.

4. Enjoyable; delightful

 would you come over to heather's place and check out what i think makes a home - our home - lovely?

this is as close to a full house tour i have ever done.

thanks, heather, for the opportunity to share and for this fab series.

simple tips for a good party

thank you.  you guys are da best.  i felt loved and supported after sharing about my lost groove.  i am hoping to find creative ways to be present, but still get a little break.  today is one example of that.  :) 

last year, i was a guest over at wild olive to help celebrate mollie's birthday.  i thought i would repost my simple tips for a good party here today, since i am kind of a blogging slump.  plus i like to get these guest posts on my own blog at some point to keep them all together.

i love a good party and, in my opinion, a good party makes you feel special.  i don't always have the time or energy to plan out all of the little details, but just a few personal touches can make the smallest event memorable.

 

here are some of my simple tips:

• dress up your food.  whether you get a take-out pizza, make a cake from a box mix, or heat up frozen appetizers, everything looks nicer on pretty plates.  thrift shops and garage sales are great sources for affordable serving pieces.  better yet, borrow from friends and family.  and remember, things don't need to match, just coordinate.
• take photos.  set up an easy photo booth with a flat sheet hung over a bookshelf or on the wall.  take a few minutes to capture some fun shots of your guests.  as much as we all love candids, this is a great way to make sure you get a photo of everybody.
• make a banner!  i love personalizing parties with a banner.  i wrote up an easy tutorial last year that works well for this.  or if you can invest in a set of alphabet stamps, they quickly transform punched or cut paper into something sweet and special.

my biggest tip?  a good party is more about the guests than anything else.  true hospitality is more concerned with a welcoming atmosphere than a perfect menu or beautiful table setting.  if the planning gets in the way of this, you need to scale back.

there are so many simple ways to transform a gathering of loved ones to something special.  what are some of your favorites?

a sip of summer

today i am over at a bit of sunshine sharing a tasty sip of summer.

come on over and check out my peach-y sweet sangria recipe.

an interview at naptime diaries

today you can find me over here.

jessi had some great interview questions for me.

you can read some of my thoughts on passion:

right now, it takes near everything i have to just get up in the morning and be accountable for my husband and littles.  i guess you could say i am passionate about being a wife and mama - about living my life well.   not perfectly, but with excellence.

and you'll find this quote from c.s.lewis:

But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

come over to naptime diaries for the full deal.
xoxo,
annalea

p.s. the just.lovely.things giveaway will remain open until 9pm tonight.  go enter!

set a course for wild olive

i am sharing a little nautical makeover and some thoughts on embracing limitations over at wild olive.  thank you, dear mollie, for your hospitality..

the annalea ensemble

here is my guest tutorial for kojodesigns from last september.

this post was my first ever guest gig and boy was i nervous.  i really wanted to a great job for kirstin and jordan.  thanks girls for inviting this newbie to the craft blogging world.

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this is an answer to some of my post-pregnancy wardrobe woes.  my littlest little is 9 months old and i have hit that point where i really want to up the fashion factor.  (and the fall just makes me want new clothes.)  my goal was to find something that would work with my still-changing figure and the changing seasons.   so i bring you the annalea ensemble.

things you should know about me:

1) i am not a seamstress.   in fact, this is only the second clothing project i have taken on for  myself.  which means a) only basic sewing skills are needed for this project and b) i do not have the most elegant sewing skills.  if it gets the job done, then i am going to do it.  if you know a better way, go for it (but share your secrets too, please).

2) i tend to use what i have on hand and i recommend you do the same.  this is a wardrobe refashion.  i think most of us have similar  items in our closets to use.  go dig them out!  you will feel like a rockstar.  i promise.

earlier this year, my wardrobe went through a deep purge.  i ended up with a huge pile of tees and tanks that were a bit too short.  seriously inspired by the lovely ensemble dress a la anthropologie, i came up with a brilliant solution.  why not add turn some of these discards into something fabulous?

materials used:
a too short (but fitted) tank top
less than 2 yards of 45" wide fabric (pre-washed and ironed)
.75" wide elastic
straight pins, sewing machine, thread, rotary cutter, cutting mat, iron, ironing board, scissors

step one:

cut two rectangular pieces from your fabric.  using quilting fabric, i kept the original width of 45".  this gives a nice, full skirt.  then i measured from a high waistline to just below my knee, added 4.5" for seam allowances and came up with 32".  i knew this would be my most flattering length, but do what works best for your figure.

step two: 

place your rectangles right side together and sew along the short ends.  no need to fold under your seams, because these sides are the selvedge edges and will not fray.  nice, right?

step three: 

take the top of your tube (this will be your waist, one of the 45" lengths) and fold over a .25" seam.  then fold over a 1" seam to make the elastic casing.  (remember to make this wider if using wider elastic.)  sew along the bottom edge of this casing, leaving an opening to thread through the elastic.

i calculated the length of my elastic by wrapping it around my waist and then subtracting about 3-4".  use a safety pin to help with the threading.  since there might be a large discrepancy in lengths of your elastic and the casing, this might take a bit of finagling.  once through, sew together the ends of your elastic and close up the opening of the casing.

 step four:

 take the opposite end of your the tube - this will be your bottom hem.  fold over a .25" seam.  then make a wide hem.  i folded over a 3" seam.  sew along both the bottom and top edges of the hem.

step five:

next, put on your tank and skirt and decide on placement.  this took me a while as i wanted it to sit just right.  when in place, pin together.  carefully remove the now pinned dress.

step six:

sew the top and skirt together (through the elastic, near the top edge), stretching the elastic and waist casing while stitiching.  i am sure my stitches were kinda all over the place if looked at closely, but once the elastic pulls back together, it is not noticeable.

you will have to trim away the excess fabric underneath.  i used pinking shears and chose a knit that would not fray (meaning no zig-zag stitching the ends).

my favorite part:  it only takes 1-2 hours to complete.  one night sewing at its best.  that is about all i can handle some weeks.

 

flips flops, flats, heels, or boots. . . tights, leggings or skinny jeans. . . layered over a tee or under a sweater. . . there are crazy possibilities.  i wear mine while home with the littles - barefoot and comfortable for reading books on the ground or looking stylish while making lunch.  but by simply throwing on a belt and cardigan, i have a quick and easy date night look.  (true fact: even with a messy, unwashed ponytail and almost no make-up because your baby won't take a nap, wearing this dress will make you feel better.  i promise.)

i am a bit obsessed with this design.  i have made three dresses so far and have plans for several more.  i love their versatility, layer-ability, and just plain cuteness.  simply changing the colors and patterns gives a brand new look.

now go refashion your wardrobe into something fabulous!

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thanks kirstin and jordan for having me over last year! 


right now the girls from kojodesigns and craftiness is not optional are cohosting a series called the sincerest form of flattery.  check out the very talented guests and fab knock-off tutorials.

families need rest

i have the pleasure of being a guest today at wild olive.  mollie is hosting family week.  if you get a chance, the posts would make wonderful weekend reading.  i particularly liked hearing from her mom on faith.  and i am so loving the idea of making a family crest.  

for my contribution, i took the opportunity to talk about observing the Sabbath.  i know many of you have expressed interest in hearing more about that.  below is my full post, but please do stop by wild olive and say hi for me.

thank you sweet mollie for allowing me to take part!

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after almost 11 years of marriage and 6 years of parenthood, the hart clan has finally figured out something crucial to our survival.  it doesn't involve more frequent and higher quality family nights and we have not discovered the secret to more peaceful mealtimes.  in fact, we are not doing anything.  instead we are doing less.

our family chooses to set aside one day each week to rest.

this is not an original concept.  you might be familiar with the idea of observing the Sabbath.  work 6 days.  rest 1 day.  and repeat.  taking weekly time off from the to-dos and choosing to let the world go on without our contribution for 24 hours.



our family was not always faithful about seeking rest.  

we would too often let busyness steal from us.  we were neglectful of making rest a priority.  it was easy to get sucked into the many good things around us.  but this kept us from experiencing the greatness available.  the result was an off-balance life that left us tired and dissatisfied.

our family needs a weekly rhythm.

this one day gives us that rhythm.  by allowing a day of rest, the other six are more fruitful.  there is more energy.  we seem to work harder knowing that we have reserved the time to rest.  there is more creativity.  leisure time is not taken for granted.  there is more peace.  our minds are refreshed after the weekly break.  there is more love.  relationships are cultivated and emotional needs are met.



our family is learning to define rest.
 
rest can look different.  we believe it is important to focus on God.  we worship Him through music and reading the Bible.  the littles play instruments and act out stories.  

that focus also includes God given pleasures.  we cook brunch together.  we feed souls as well as bellies.  we get outdoors on a trail or in the garden.  we read, dance, pray, build, sew, play, and nap.  we choose to unplug from the world on our days of rest, which means no computer or television.  we attend an evening worship service with our church family.  we enjoy who we are and what we have.

but let's not lose sight of the why.  we don't spend a day of rest because we are tired.  we keep the Sabbath because it is an opportunity, to stop and admire what God has made.  it is a gift to enjoy who we are and what we have. 



our rested family is not just surviving, but thriving. 

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time for a DeStash

here's a sneak peak of how i use up felt scraps.  

do you want to see more?

i am guest posting over at kojodesigns today. 

(love those girls!!!)

go check out the DeStash fun! 

gifts from the heart 2011, week two recap

what a fun two weeks we have had!  thanks for reading along.  hope you found lots of inspiration and some new blogs to enjoy.  

here is a recap of our second week of the gifts from the heart series.

cupcake felt board

mollie from wild olive

    

sweetheart and bubble love necklaces

stephanie from my secret garden

banner wall art

nicole from deliajude

altered coaster valentine's art

annie from peppermint plum

clay heart necklaces

andi from beautiful ordinary day

i want to give a very special thanks to the nine wonderful women who generously shared their gift ideas.  you guys rock!

find the recap of week one here.

join our gifts from the heart flickr group and add your own creations to the pool.  we would love to see what you come up with!

(the winner of nicole's giveaway can be found at the end of her post.) 

box of year round yum: guest post at kojodesigns

i don't know about you, but i think finding handmade gifts for teen and college aged guys can be hard.  check out my guest post at kojodesigns for a simple idea that might help.





those ladies have been hosting a great month of gifts for guys tutorials.  you can find something for all ages and tastes.

thanks kirsten and jordan for letting me contribute!