Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Pastel Finds

Today my children and I took a little trip to the Goodwill. As I was looking around  I came across this whole stack of Fiesta Ware.... My Mom and My Aunt both collect Fiesta Ware. I don't, though I do collect all kinds of pastel dishes... I never wanted to pay the price for the Fiesta Ware

I also came across a blue Fiesta platter and this pretty teapot and teacup. The Teapot says Sadler England. The teacup is Wildflowers and says Queens England. The prices were to good to pass up!

The platter was only $1.99. So there was no way it was staying behind.

The whole stack of dishes was only $3.99. Now how is that for a bargain?.... that is 4 saucers and 6 plates! I was shocked... So they came home and I think they will be perfect because I know these are sturdy plates. They will go with those cute, little cottage napkin rings I got a few weeks back... I think I will sew myself some cute little napkins over the winter....  While I'm waiting for spring...my favorite time of year...  I hope you have safe and blessed day.

xoxo,
Amy Jo


Monday, October 29, 2012

OOH The Wonderful Wizard of OZ


Although we don't really celebrate Halloween... this time of year always brings a remembrance of when we did... I just loved to celebrate it... one of the best parts was that every year The Wizard of Oz came on T.V.

It is my favorite movie of all time!! I remember being so scared the first time I watched it....The witch seemed so real...

Dorothy was so lovely with her blue check dress and ruby red lips to match her slippers.
Oh and the flying monkeys.....such a fearful thought...
The witch would stop at nothing to get those slippers...
I love how the whole movie was directing your heart toward home.... teaching young hearts that there really is no place like home......

This month I think I will have a family movie night... and watch the best movie of all time.... Anyone want popcorn?




Blessings,
Amy Jo

Friday, October 26, 2012

Time Warp Wives


I thought this was so interesting and thought others might enjoy watching it!


Blessings,
Amy Jo

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Finally Some Fall

I finally added that little touch of fall to the front porch... although it is still not cool. It is 89 degrees today... But I must give in.

I went to Joanne's and Michael's and found all of the Fall things are on clearance... They had most of there stuff 70% off. I thought this pumpkin was so pretty.

I got this wreath for $14.00. I love the cattails and pears..

This tablecloth was just a few dollars.

I only paid $4.99 a piece for the scarecrows and the pumpkin man..

Even though I put it all off,  I am so glad that I decided to decorate when I did.The prices were right to pick up some new things... and it does put me more in the fall spirit! Happy Fall Y'all!

Blessings,
Amy Jo

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Found Treasures

I know, I know, I haven't changed my porch decor... It is still very warm here and I haven't felt like changing it.... but I think I will this week.

"Marigold brought the big  white box into her mother's bedroom and put it on the bed. Her eyes were shining and her lovely red-gold hair caught the sunlight and flamed gloriously, lighting up her happy brown eyes with topaz glints." 
I have been enjoying reading Grace Livingston Hill. She was a Christian author in the first part of the last century... I love her books, and after buying them I realized I have read quite a few of these years ago. But, I really love them and want to collect them all if possible. One that is not showing that I bought is Rainbow Cottage. If you can get a copy of any of her books, I don't think you will be disapointed!

I found these adorable cottage napkin rings at Goodwill.

They were orginally 3.99 a piece and I got four of them for 2.99. I think they are so darling... I can't wait to use them in the spring.

Blessings,
Amy Jo


Sunday, October 21, 2012

20th Anniversary!

A reporter asked the couple, "How did you manage to stay together for 65 years?" The woman replied "We were born in a time when if something was broken we would fix it, not throw it away"....

My husband and I celebrated 20 years of marriage this past week.... My, how time has flown....I had a special delivery that day. A beautiful bouquet of flowers...It was all in spring colors.... my favorite... Fall colors would have been disappointing to me... he knows me well...

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. Proverbs 24:3

 Marriage is a beautiful and wonderful relationship and a gift from God. I have been so happy to be married to my wonderful, hardworking husband... he has been my best friend, confidant, and biggest encourager.

Leaning on God to guide our marriage I hope we have many more years together.....
"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Today we finally have had our first taste of fall.... it was in the 60's in the morning and has warmed to the lower 80's. Levi and I went walking for 50 minutes and it was wonderful. The wind was blowing and the air was a little crisper than our usual high humidity. I hope fall is here to stay...It makes you not want to waste a minute by sitting indoors.... I think we will spend the afternoon on the porch doing school work...

Blessings,
Amy Jo

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Blessed To Be At Home

Lately I have been doing a massive amount of cleaning... and honestly I feel so blessed to be able to do it.... I feel so happy to be able to stay at home and carry out all of the wonderful homemaking duties. My husband works extremely hard and wants me to stay at home. He has never wanted me to work. I have a few times over the years but it was always because I wanted to. He was never happy with it.

You know how it goes... you are working full time and the house gets a little messier and you eat out a whole lot because... well, because who feels like cooking after working all day? And besides there is laundry to do and homework to supervise. Showers to take and lunches to get ready .... then you wake up in the  morning to start all over. So for our family it just never worked. We feel like Titus 2 should be the model for our home. Me staying home and running all of the household.  Him providing  the money we need.We home school and we own a business. I do all of the office work. He always says "You don't have to get a "job" you have a job right here.  He is absolutely right of course. This job is my favorite. I can not think of one I would like better.
Out of all of my duties, my very favorite things to do is the decorating, cooking, and baking. I remember when we first got married I devoured every homemaking book I could get my hands on. It was very fascinating to me. It still is. Being a romantic, I tend to dream up ideals and long for the perfect home... which we all know will not happen until we step pass the pearly gates. But still a girl can dream, right? I think that is why I am drawn to these vintage images... They look so idealistic.... But enough rambling.... I just wanted some reason to share these images....;)



Happy Homemaking,
Amy Jo 


Monday, October 8, 2012

Constant Busyness.....

Last Friday we went to see my nieces baby.... she named him after my late brother. Very special. This is my daughter holding him.... He is so sweet and just content to be held and loved. Who doesn't love a baby?

It has been a while since we had visited her. We went to her grandparents to see her. They started a deer farm....

They were very friendly and loved to be petted....We visited my mom as well and then we meandered home and looked at a few houses along the way.... a favorite past time of mine.

We decided to paint the office and I love the way it turned out. This is light french gray by Sherwin Williams.  This room really needed painting. Even though the house is on the market I decided to paint it in a color I would want to live with in case it does not sell.... This was in a Cottage Living Magazine at least a year back and I have been wanting to try this color...

I bought the curtains at Target and I love the linen look..... they filter the light and are quite lovely. This is a work in progress and one I am left waiting to see if I will get to finish... We have also been working on the laundry room... I will share that with you later.... We had a showing Sunday afternoon... but we never heard a word from the realtor.... I am beginning to wonder if we are  meant to sell. I think most people want a very contemporary look in a home. This house is very cottagey.(is that a word?) and the bathrooms need updating. And although I love my kitchen I think most people would want to update it as well. But all things are possible. Right? I have been behind in my visiting and postings....as we have had a constant busyness that seems to be the order of the day.....hopefully not for long.

Blessings and Hugs,
Amy Jo

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Home For Sale (update)

Well, our home has officially been for sale for two months. So far we have had six or seven showings but no one has made an offer. We really don't know what will happen. I have been looking in the areas that we want to be in and I have found a few homes that I like....but we must wait for this to sell. Lord willing. I am sure most of you have sold a house before and you know the drill. Everything must be pretty well ready to show at all times. (not always easy with a teenager in the house) But oh how wonderful for everything to be in top shape! So for now we are waiting and praying.... and cleaning!! LOL

xoxo,
Amy Jo