Friday Faves ~ Free Printable Kitchen Sign

Y'all know this girl loves sweet tea. 

Love it.

Drink it daily.

Drink large amounts with way too much sugar. 

I'm ok with that. 

So this weeks Friday Faves is in honor or my favorite beverage (besides coffee) 

Print, frame in your kitchen on your porch, wherever sweet tea is served. 

Who's with me? 

Anyone else in love with the official year round beverage of the south? 

Happy Weekend Friends ~ May you and yours enjoy life this weekend! 

Pinot Picasso ~ Palmetto Area Paint Studio

Our girls bible study group was ready for a fun night out! 

So to Pinot Picasso we went! 

Carmen the owner, and our teacher for the night, was spectacular! 

Not only was she such a patient and fun teacher but she is such a gracious hostess!

The cost for the class, delicious snacks and fabulous glasses of wine was $35

you just can't beat that for a night out with the girls and something to bring home.

The painting of the night was "green fish blue fish"
Since we are all gulf coast girls this was the perfect selection for our group

The start 

The finished product

A few of the girls with our teacher, the wonderful Carmen!

Thank you Carmen for such a fun night out! 

We are really looking forward to your August class line up.

I know you will see many of our faces there. 

For more information just visit her site here

You will want to go I promise! 

Bringing a meal, more than just a yummy dish!

Hello there! 

Last night I posted a picture on Instagram and it generated lots of comments, questions, and a few texts. 

So I thought, this would be the perfect blog post with more information! 

What is this picture you ask? 

Ok, here it is! 

please pardon the cell phone picture, I was not planning on this becoming a blog post. 

Our sweet friends have a new addition to their nest so of course a meal was in order. 

Food is one of my love languages, I am convinced of this. 

Having my home full of the people I love, good food and drinks, well I am happy as a bird with a french fry. 

Going to a restaurant with some of my favorite people, well that too just makes my day! 

And the hubby and I are always scouting out the best steakhouses in any city we visit. 

So yes, food, drinks and lingering over conversation and laughter, makes my heart happy.

I also love, just love, making food and taking it to people. 

It has always been something I have really enjoyed....

Naturally because I can't do anything simply, I have to doll it up a bit. 

And since you asked, this is what I did this time. 

The menu was perfect for summer:

Chicken Salad with Grapes on Croissants fresh from the bakery

Summer Fruit Salad

and a Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Each dish was in a foil pan wrapped with foil.

I truly believe when you bring someone a meal, as nice as it is to give in a pretty dish you 

don't want to put them out by asking them to return your dish, unless it's one you're gifting them!

Since this was a busy momma I wanted to make a yummy meal and keep things as simple and did not want her to have to go to the trouble of returning anything!

Next I used rectangle doilies, these are the placemat size.

Doilies are a must in this house, every size and shape.

Use them for entertaining almost every time! 

The doilies were wrapped around the pans and secured with a tulle pink bow.

On top I used my computer to make the monogram tags with the dish listed below the monogram. 

There are also little pink baby carriages that were affixed to the middle of the bow I cut using my 

Die Cut Machine. 

This was super easy and looked so cute! 

It's so fun to brighten up the receivers day and love on friends. 

It is the unexpected that so many times speaks to the heart!

So there you go friends, you asked, I shared!

Now, go on out there and share the love.

Is there anyone in your world who could use a meal? 

It doesn't even have to be fancy.... 

A momma who worked a long day and could use 2 pizzas and some cokes delivered at 5:30? 

Maybe your neighboor who lives alone and may not cook full meals anymore for just one person.

If you look, I promise you will see, and you will be blessed beyond belief!

Anchor Invite - Printable Freebie

Y'all know this girl loves a good party! 

My heart is happy and full when my home is busting at the seams with my favorite people.

We also know nothing sets the tone for your get together like a perfect invitation!

Recently I created these for a little party we're having this summer but they were just too adorable not to share! We love all things nautical so this fit the bill perfectly! 

The only thing I ask is that do share how you use them! 

You can click and save then edit using your favorite editing software. 

Enjoy! 

The Pearl Event ~ The Triple Strand ~

These women are amazing. 

Cherish, Sibi, and ChaCha... they are too cute. Too cute for words.

Their hearts are huge and God is doing awesome things in and through these women. 

Their stories of grace, redemption, forgiveness and identity are precious. 

Their pieces have been made whole in His lavish grace, which is my hearts desire.

Seeing women made whole in Him. 

There are no words big enough for this event. No words.

I will try and wrap words around this event but know it is so much bigger, so much more special. 

The Pearl Event is such a special event for women and if you have been before you understand.

If you have not been before, pray about attending next year.

One thing I can say with certainty is this was God's show.
We all just sat back and watched Him show up.
He orchestrated every last detail and oh my stars did He blow us away.
He blew me away.
It truly is amazing when you sit back and give Him the space to move using you as a tool in His huge scheme what He is able to accomplish. It will never cease to amaze me and it always brings me to tears.



This precious girl front and center was our worship leader, together with her band they led us in worship...
preparing Him room to move and work and heal and love.
Her name is Michaela McLaird
She has a fabulous new CD out called The Morning Sun. Available through the link above via itunes.
Y'all she has such a unique yet powerful and rich voice.



Yours truly had Session 1
All I can say is that there was such healing in sharing my story. Which really isn't even my story, it is His story, His story of what He has done in my life and His faithfulness to me.



Session 2 was led by the lovely Cha Cha ~ of The Heartfelt Home.
God has moved in her life in such a big way.
Those of you who follow her blog know some of her story but getting to know her over that weekend...
really hearing her pour out her journey of being emptied and then filled by Him.
Such hope, such promise... and there is so much in store for this lady.
He is using her in big ways in her home church in ways she never saw for herself... But God.
Just look at what He is doing!



Session 3 was led by the precious Cherish Pinson of Southern Soulmates.
Y'all this girl is a doll! Love her to pieces.
She walks with grace, beauty and such courage.
Her story is one of heartache but it ends with such redemption in Him.
It is a true testimony of healing, grace deeper than the sea and love that covers all.
To hear her speak brought me to pieces. I was a wreck.... What He has done in her life is so powerful.
She was such an encouragement to me....  there are just no words! No Words.



Our Sweet Sibi wrapped up the day with Session 4 and our HeartWork.
Her blog can be found here. 
If you don't follow, do yourself a favor and become a Pearl Girl! You will be blessed.
Y'all hers is a path full of challenge... Things that were meant to destruct and harm and to ultimately keep her from her Savior, from an intimate relationship with her Father....But God, as Sibi always says, But God.
Sibi's "But God" is amazing, there is no other explanation that it's all Him.
She is true woman of faith, prayer warrior and daughter of the King.
She seeks Him with all her heart and mind and obeys Him even when it doesn't make sense...
She trusts whole heartedly and He uses her willing spirit for His glory and drawing women unto Him.
Sibi has been such a kind friend to me over the years and I am so grateful for her life.
I am so grateful that she says yes to God and and shares the pieces of her story offering hope when
the world is crashing down on us.... she walks her faith and lives her love of Him.
Thank you sweet girl for putting this all together. For saying yes to Him, for listening to Him speak in the midnight hour... for sacrificing, for loving, for every detail down to the last pearl.
and as Rachel always says, "You are loved"



The infamous pearls....


Sibi and her graphic designer did such a fabulous job on the programs. Gorgeous...



If you have been to a Pearl Event you have seen this video... It brings me to tears every time.



You know I love this one with Love Being a Nonny, she's so stinking cute!

at the end we got to love on these women and hug their necks and adorn them with pearls like the princesses they are... and it blessed me beyond words. Aren't they precious?



Wish I had a better shot of the room... so gorgeous. What a setting!



The Green Room for the Speakers and their Hubbies.
Spent a few quiet minutes in here with my sweet guy before the day started and he spoke truth over me that I will never forget. It's written on on the walls of my heart....



The Gardens at the Entrance, these roses are to die for.
My Sweet friend Cherish told me what they were... and now I forget... but I want them in my yard.

 I mean really, look at these babies! That is beauty. God has such an amazing creative side.



If you have never been to a Pearl Event, when Sibi holds one again you can be sure I will post it all over this blog to let y'all know!!! But go. This is something you can't miss. Grab your momma, sister, cousins and friends, load up that car and head on over. Sibi will welcome you with a big ole hug a squeal and a laugh.
You will be blessed beyond belief.

sweet mason jar invites

As a lover of all things southern, food, culture, literature, travel, and just life

mason jars are no exception.

Growing up in a family where tradition was important and food was central to family gatherings

I can remember mason jars in my great grandmothers cabinets 

when I would visit on Saturday mornings with my Papa. 

Maybe that's why I love them so much, it brings me to a place in time with 2 people I wish I could 

have known and done life with as an adult.... as a momma. 

Our bible study community group is closing out our Spring Semester Study... 

I love these girls y'all. They are precious. They love well and laugh hard.

We've only been together about a year but the ties run deep 

and when one of us is in need you should see these girls rise up and love each other well.

They rally and support and love from the overflow of their hearts. 

So with the close of the semester I just had to honor them.

I want to love them well... so dinner at my house it is. 

This is where the mason jar invites come in. I found the template on line through pinterest and then 

used a program on my computer to format it to my needs. 

Y'all they turned out precious! 

What I have envisioned for this evening, well, I just hope it turns out half as well as I have

made it in my head... because these girls they just deserve it.

Take look at how cute they turned out...

Are these sweet or what?
Love love love them!
the information is all on the back and they are tied up
with lovely puffy bows!
The tablescape will follow suit....
this year my word of the year was "love"
I wanted to make a concerted effort to love those around me well...
Love out of the overflow of my heart with His love and His compassion...
Having the opportunity to be with these girls this year has been such a joy.

More pictures to come after our dinner next week!
In the meantime, love out of the overflow of your heart....


If you would like the template for the Mason Jar you can visit
Working on It Wednesday

you are enough

I have learned a lot about hospitality over the last few years.

Since getting married and hosting a myriad of holiday dinners,

 birthday parties, family BBQ’s and more!

I have learned exactly how much food to plan for 6 people or 50.

I have learned where to find the best prices on meat, flowers and invitations.

I have learned how to time it all just right so the food stays warm and the drinks cold.

As a new wife and mother, I admit, these were the things

 I thought were so important to having the perfect soirée. How foolish!

It was imperative that the napkins matched the plates and the flowers just the right hue.

Then it all changed.

Then I one day realized, it didn’t matter.

It doesn’t matter.

Yes all the trappings of a lovely party sure are wonderful for the eye.

There is a little shop in town that sells the latest Caspari’ products and I would be lying if I didn’t say I swoon over them every time I am in there or that I don’t buy them either!

I do, I love them.

Spoiling my friends and family in our home, well, that is my husband and I’s love language. 

We love, love, love, to have our home full of people we adore.

But what I came to realize is that there were times I would not host because the house wasn’t clean enough, or I didn’t have the time to make it all “just so”.

I came to realize the insanity of that mentality.

The people we were hosting loved us and enjoyed us just as much as we did them.

They weren’t coming to sample my latest pinterest appetizer 

or feast their eyes on the décor of the theme.

It was the connection we all wanted.

How often as women do we hesitate to extend our love, our hearts and our homes through hospitality because we feel we just aren’t going to measure up?

How many blessings have we denied ourselves because of that way of thinking?

How many blessings have we withheld from others?

For me, the number is higher than I would like to admit.

The measuring stick we all use is different.

For some of us the measuring stick is the latest edition of Coastal Living or Southern Living. Our family rooms and kitchens have avocado green laminate counter tops and dark brown cabinets and 70’s lighting instead of the crisp clean white cabinetry and granite counter tops gracing the glossy pages of the magazine. So we don’t extend the invitation.

How do I know? Ahem…

Or maybe your measuring stick is your best friends remodel

 or the figment of perfection you have created in your mind.

The message is the same sweet friends.

You are being lied to.

You don’t measure up.

You aren’t enough.

What will “they” think?

When this happens I want to encourage you.

Stop.

Stop, right where you are in that thought and 

think about the last time you had a wonderful time at a friends home.

What do you remember the most?

Do you remember what you ate?

Maybe.

Do you remember if her dog’s hair was balled up in the corner 

or if her sink had the mornings toothpaste still in the sink?

No. Likely not.

What you do remember is “who” was there.

What you remember is “how” you felt.

The special people around the table, the laughter, and the hug good bye

 and the “y’all come back now” as you went to leave.

Guess what?

That is what they will remember too.

They will forget if they ate on paper or china.

They will forget if they had pizza or filet and lobster.

But they will never forget their time with you and the way you made them feel.

As time has passed I’ve eased up on myself and my expectations.

I’ve forgone the real plates more often and picked up the Dixie plates.

I’ve been more comfortable accepting my guests offer to bring a dessert.

You know what happened?

I spent more time on the important things.

I spent more time reminiscing with a girlfriend over a glass of wine.

I spent more time watching the kids jump in the bounce house their stomachs aching from the laughter or play a game of tag with their friends well into the dusk night hours.

I spent more time loving on and leaning into the folks who walked through my door.

At the end of the night I was tired and my feet ached but my heart was so full.

One of God’s greatest blessings can come through hospitality.

Showing our love, His love, through such a practical demonstration of service.

Those friends who don’t know Him but love you….

Maybe they will get a glimpse of his unconditional love and grace through you.

Maybe it will open a door to a life time of freedom in Him

they would have not otherwise known.

The funny thing is,  the hospitality that we extend to love on and bless others is so much more than a meal to feed their bellies, it refreshes their spirit… and ours too.

Fellowship with others through service is such a precious gift.

Don’t let the enemy fool you into thinking you aren’t enough.

He is always trying to find a way to stop us from showing God’s love to the world.

Hospitality can be such a practical and hands on way to show those around us God’s love.

Don’t believe that voice that says “you aren’t enough”

You are enough.

All you need to do is open your heart and home to those around you.

They will remember your generosity and kindness for years to come.

You are enough. Your home is enough.

When He is a part of you and your home, it is always enough