love, life, and a smile

We had a fun time at the zoo this morning (a post on that later) with great friends. I am utterly exhausted so OF COURSE I needed a project to keep me awake (since the kids napped at the zoo and in the car - doesn't it always work out that way?). I've been wanting a Mumford & Sons quote displayed somewhere in our living room area that I can see every day. Their music and lyrics brings an instant smile to my face.

So here's a not-so-glam, but super quick project. I already had this frame on one of our living room bookcases with "family" on it. I just ripped off the paper from the circle scrapbook paper backing and replaced it with a quote I designed on the computer using a Pea Noodle font and one I found on another free site. It is just printed on color and printed on a piece of card stock. If you haven't checked out the fonts on the Pea Noodle website, you really are missing out. They are SUPER cute!

It says: "Where you invest your love, you invest your life" from their song Awake My Soul

Happy Thursday everyone!

Love to Cali

There is one song I remember my Gramps singing to me when I was a little girl, and now my mom and I both sing it to Eli. We tell him every time that Gramps used to sing this to us too. I'm not quite sure if he knows exactly what we are talking about but he definitely knows who Gramps is! His face lights up when we mention his (or Grams) name!

Grams & Gramps (and the whole Cali clan), here's some love from us to you!

Words: I love you, a bushel and a peck,

A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck,

A hug around the neck, and a barrel and a heap,

A barrel and a heap, and I'm talking in my sleep about you.

(You bet your pretty neck I do,

Doodle doodle doodle, doodle doodle doodle

Doodle doodle doodley doo - omitted by E)

I think if the videos were edited right, there would be a complete song in there somewhere. Just know that the tradition is being passed down and that we LOVE our Cali fam!

My comfort

Jesus says:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

I pray my SOUL will find rest in Him today and everyday.

Happy Monday!

A little switcheroo

I created a collage on our living room wall not long after we moved into our new house about a year and a half ago. I like the collage IDEA, but I felt like it was a little too busy for the wall above the couch and I just could NOT get used to the brown couches and the black picture frames together. I know some people are totally cool with it, and that's great. But there's just something about it that didn't look quite right to me.

SO, I've been thinking of making some large frames from old wood for a while, but soon figured out that making frames was a lot harder than it seemed. About 2 weeks ago, M had given me the day off to get some errands done. So, NATURALLY I made my way to DSW, Ross and Hobby Lobby. I'm VERY productive like that. :)

That day Hobby Lobby just happened to have all of their frames 50% off. I wanted to browse the sale but didn't really think I would find what I was looking for.

But then there they were. In all their glory. Beaming in a light shining from above.

Ok, not really. But they WERE just what I was looking for. Rustic, old, beautiful wood. And I love the coordination with the couches. It's a much cleaner look than before.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

When M got home from work, I showed him my project for the day and asked if he liked it. He proceeded to say, "Yeah, I really like it.....now can we keep it that way for at least a year?" I just laughed. Who is he kidding? And where would the fun be in that? I need the OPTION of rearranging, repurposing, recreating household items to keep my creative juices flowing. You ladies know what I mean. (At least that's what I told M to back up my opinion!)

{Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Rice Grain matched in Home Depot's Behr, Off-white fray swirl pillows-Marshall's, Suzani print pillow-Etsy shop, Picture Frames-Hobby Lobby}

Today, I am thankful

Today, I am thankful for answered prayers and for a gracious and loving Father who has chosen ME to be HIS.

Today, I am thankful for my first born.

Today, I am thankful for my baby boy.

But most of all, today, I am thankful for this man.

I am very undeserving to have a family like this and am thankful in a new way today.

I can't get you outta my head!

I have had these songs stuck in my head recently. Granted, I don't agree with EVERYTHING in the lyrics, but I seriously could listen to these over and over and over and over and.....

You get the picture.

Without further adieu, I present my songs of the week. (Oh, and I am always up for listening to new music, so please proceed with your recommendations!)

M and I were trying to find this show online last night and the only ones have all the background music tampered with. There's some legal issues since they used so many songs without permission (this was before all the copyright laws). Anybody who has ever watched this show knows that the music MAKES the show. We tried to watch an episode but it just wasn't the same. So sad.

Now, I can't get the theme song out of my head.

This one stirs up the wannabe hippie in me. Ahhh......LOVE it!

Mumford, how I love thee.

M used this as an example in youth group Wednesday night and it's been playing over and over in my head ever since. Thanks a lot. At least it's a good song.

And this one. Oh, this one. I just LOVE the sound of it. Beautiful.

What music have you been listening to?

Ode to P-Dub

Oh P-Dub, my P-Dub,

Thanks so much for coming

to the great city of Memphis,

To you I came a'running.

Your the coolest gal

and an awesome senorita.

You said we were "fun girls".

You really should have joined us for some 'ritas!

My life is now complete

For you brought Marlboro Man too.

It was the greatest Friday night

And I owe it all to you!

Disclaimer: All contents of the above poem may or may not be true. I may or may not have actually came "a'running". Don't embarrass me with flattery of my poetic abilities. I know I missed my calling.