A Good Thing.

Last week I was talking with the kids about Christmas traditions, which are their favorites, and what new ones they'd like to start.

They told me that they've always wanted an advent calendar, which we've never really done.
The only one we've had came from Mrs. McClenahan at school.
None of us could even remember if it was The Boy or The Girl who made it in class.
(By the way, I still have a hard time calling her by her first name. She'll always be Mrs. McClenahan to us.)

I clicked over to her blog and saw her talking about Advent calendars, and the very first image popped out to me. And wouldn't you know, it's a Martha Stewart project.
You should all know how I feel about Martha, by now... We're BFF's.

So that day the kids and I headed to the dollar store to gather up cute Christmas-y socks.



We just used twine and clothespins already on hand.
It is so cute, so easy, and we have a new tradition!



We're ready for Dec. 1 to start counting down to Jesus' birthday.

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Do you have an Advent Calendar? What types of things do you put in it?
You can also check out lots of other Christmas decor at Hooked on Houses. Fun!!

ELVES!

That's what we are.

Elves.
Jammin' to Christmas music.
Smelling amazing candles.
Staying sane. (okay, not really on that one...)

Y'all know how to shop when a sale is thrown at you!
We are crazy busy and having fun.
I'll try to put up a real blog post soon, like with pictures and everything.
Because that's what good bloggers do.

But now this Elf needs to get back to work.

How's your Christmas shopping going?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your day is filled with warmth, love, relaxation, plenty of food, and a gratefulness for all you've been blessed with.
(there will be no Fingerprint Friday post tomorrow, due to the holiday weekend.)



We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

Happy Holidays, Black Friday, and new designs.

In talking with some other people lately, I learned that the phrase "Happy Holidays" is taboo.
Many Christians get upset about it. Many are offended if someone says it to them.

And imagine how silly I felt, because I'm a "Happy Holidays" kind of gal!
I always say it in person and on my Christmas cards.


I am a Christian and have never hidden it. I'm not trying to "take Christ out of Christmas."
I've just always felt like it includes all the end of the year holidays!
It covers Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.
In my head, I'm just wishing you a happy season, not taking Christ out of Christmas.
So if someone says "Happy Holidays" to you, take it with a grain of salt.
They may genuinely be wishing you a happy season, Christmas and all.

Speaking of... Black Friday is a holiday right?
It is around here. We love it. The Man gets up and goes out with the crazies at 4:00 or so in the morning.

I sleep in and go about 8:00 with a strong coffee in hand.
I usually don't even have anything specific in mind to buy. I just love the madness of it all! I love watching the people, and the hustle and bustle.


But if you're one to stay home and shop online, we have a little deal for you at The Rusted Chain. Because we love you. (especially you. Yeah, you. In the blue shirt. You're our favorite...)

***Enter TURKEY25 and get 25% off your entire order! That's huge. It's like a buy 3, get one free.

But wait! There's more! Oh yes, this is my cheesy infomercial voice!!

If you mention "freebie" in your paypal notes (right under the shipping address), we'll include a free stamped pendant with your order.
These are pre-made and can't be custom, but will be a universally appealing word like "hope" or "faith". (It must be mentioned in your notes. We can't add it later if you email us. Sorry.)

These expire Monday night.***

We have a couple new items as well.
Dancing Pearl earrings


Words To Live By necklace


Now Ho Ho Ho, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to you!!!

A pretty little wreath.

Before I ever saw Martha's version of a button wreath, I was making them my own way.

I think mine are cuter. And more solid.
Don't tell Martha.



Start with memory wire.
It's in the jewelry making section at craft stores. It has a memory. Duh.
No really. It's made of steel and it always holds it's shape.
If you use regular wire, you have to bend it into a perfect circle and that's tough to do.
If you use memory wire, just snip off a ring of it with strong wire cutters.

With round nose pliers, bend a loop on one end.
Then start threading shank buttons.

You can usually buy bags of them at thrift stores.

I collect vintage shank buttons. Yes, I'm a nerd. But they're perfect for this project!
As you load them on the wire, they'll flip flop themselves in opposite directions.
When you get to the end, grab your round nose pliers again and loop it through the original loop.
It takes some strength, but you can do it.


Tie on a pretty ribbon and you're done!
I love the vintage beachy feel this one has.
(I should have squeezed in a few more buttons to help hide the wire, but on well.)


So cute and so easy!
Have you been doing any holiday crafting lately?

Today's random.

The weather is beautiful.
It's a perfect Fall day.
Sunny and gorgeous.
I love coffee.
I want to rest all weekend.
But I can't.



Today I'm shooting a wedding. I love shooting weddings.
Tomorrow I'm shooting a senior. I love shooting seniors.

Some days I wonder if a time will come that I'll have to choose one of my businesses over the other.
For now, I just keep juggling.
I love both of them so much. And they both keep growing.
The Man is great at pitching in when I get swamped.
I'm swamped.

Several people have asked if I'm doing the blogger ornament exchange this year.
I can't.
I'm crazy, but not that crazy.
It was super fun and if someone else hosts one, I'll look at joining in.
But I'm already stretched way too thin.

If I'm stretched so thin, why am I not skinny? Hmmmm.
I want to be one of those people who loses their appetite when they get stressed.
Instead I just eat. Lots and lots. And BTW, stressed is desserts spelled backward.
So there.

I've done a good job lately of making nice meals for my family. They love it.
And I haven't forgotten to bring my kids home from church or anywhere, so I'm doing okay.

What about you? What are you doing this weekend?
Do you tend to take on too many things at once, or do you balance it all pretty well?

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
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This week we had our first real snow of the season.
Brrrr. But it was so beautiful! And such a great reminder of God's mighty hands.

Numbers

Number of hours I slept last night: 8
Number of sips of coffee with eggnog I've had today: 5
Number of times I've smiled so far: 5
Number of loads of laundry I need to do: 6
Number of emails I need to answer: 43
Number of miles I drove over the weekend: 626
Number of days I've listened to Christmas music: 5
Number of Christmas presents I've already bought: 9
Number of lbs. I've lost since exercising regularly (this time): 0
Number of times I've complained in the last 24 hours: 967
Number of stockings hanging in my studio: 3
Number of cupcakes I ate over the weekend: 3
Number of shirts I'm wearing: 3
Number of people who will read and comment on this: 9
Number of times I've worn my favorite boots lately: 34



***
Happy Fall Tuesday to you!
We're swamped here lately. I'm trying to stay calm. Eating dark chocolate.
Having plenty of coffee. Trying to stay on top of the mountain.
Silly question: When was the last time you had a cupcake?

p.s. The winner of the Holiday with Matthew Mead giveaway is The Matthews Family. Congrats!! Email me at joshandbeki AT yahoo.com please.

Relaxing...

Gorgeous weather.
A stack of magazines and catologs.
Hot tea with cream, in a stolen mug. (it's a long story...)

I always like my hot tea with cream.


What are your plans for the weekend?

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
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This week, there's beauty everywhere I look!
Happy Friday!

Thank you!

To all who have served and are currently serving our country.
Thank you.



God bless you.

A Fall walk....

With the gorgeous Fall weather lately, we're taking lots of walks.



Shadow shot. It was crazy windy!
My hair is almost to my waist right now. I can't wait to get it cut.
And I had on a chunky sweater. My waist isn't really this wide or lumpy.
Really.



A few self portraits. I've mentioned before how uncomfortable I am in front of the camera.
But I'm making a real effort! And it's getting easier.
My arms are too short to get a wider shot.
And I'm too lazy to use a tripod.
So everything is an extreme close up.




Lilo jumped on me right as I was taking this.







The colors, the boots, the chunky sweaters, the crisp air, the cinnamon coffee... I'm loving it all!

*****
How is your Fall feeling?

*****
p.s. If you haven't entered the Matthew Mead Holiday giveaway, please do!

A happy {HOLIDAY} giveaway!

Ho Ho Ho!



Many of you are thinking it's too early for Christmas.
Many of you are totally ready for it right this second.
I really don't mind either way, as long as I don't have to listen to Wham's Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart... Ugh.

Something I've been looking forward to for months is the Holiday bookazine from Matthew Mead (and his crew).



I was already excited about it and had purchased my copy (only available for purchase online), but when I heard that I would have a little feature in the magazine as well it made it all the more exciting!

My copy hasn't arrived yet, but I'm anxiously checking my mailbox every day.

And today the Matthew Mead crew has offered one to you!



All you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas song.
And if your favorite song is by Wham, you're disqualified.
Okay, kidding...

I'll pull a random winner in a week. (available to U.S. residents only please)
Happy Monday to you!

Pumpkins Pigs and Piercings.

I woke up this morning and suddenly feel like it's here.
Fall. The season. The baking. The shopping. The rush. The madness.

It's here!
The weather has been unseasonably warm lately so that's made it a bit tough to get in the mood.

But last weekend we did go to the pumpkin patch.
It was so warm we were sweating. But the sunshine was beautiful.
I'll take a heavy dose of Vitamin D any time I can get it.





I love pigs. I'd want to get one or two on our farm except they stink.
I don't love stinky things.
Does anyone know why this pig would have a pierced nose?

Rebel? Fashion? Something she did in her teens that she now regrets?






Hay ride. Made The Baby incredibly happy.



And now comes the part where Beki confesses embarrassing things, assuring the readers that she's a wreck.

We did buy pumpkins.
They remained in the trunk of my car until last night.
I've told the kids we'll carve them today. A whole week after Halloween.
But now that we live in the country, we don't have neighbors to laugh at our sad jack-o-lanterns so no one will know.

Except you.

What are your plans this weekend?
Me: Baking. Sipping pumpkin pie coffee. Burning apple scented candles. And carving pumpkins.

p.s. The winners of the recent giveaway are Laura and Angie! Congrats! Email us at TheRustedChainInfo at yahoo.com please.

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
-------------------


"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds." (Psalm 148:7-10)

Still recovering...

I'm still recovering from vacation.
Still catching up on laundry and emails.
Still editing photos for people who are patiently waiting.
Still shipping lots of jewelry orders every day.

My house needs help. I need a housekeeper.
The Man doesn't think I do, so that won't happen.

My kids need warm clothes. They seriously have no long sleeve shirts.
Fortunately they have pants. I've just not had time to shop!

So today it's: edit photos, work on jewelry orders, clean my mess of a house, or shop for clothes for my kids.
They all are of equal importance.
Maybe my kids should come first. That's what good moms do, right?
Yeah, let's go with that one.

This quote is one of my favorites and it's been on my blog sidebar for ages.
It became my mantra when I was making hundreds of Blessed necklaces for Haiti, and didn't have any employees back then to help.

I love it and loved seeing it up on the wall at Disneyworld.


What's going on with you this humpday?

Cupcakes anyone?

I love cupcakes. Really, who doesn't?

And I love what a big trend they are right now.
When I went on the behind the scenes tour of the Martha Stewart Studios, they even commented on how big cupcakes are.
They were working on November and December issues of the magazines and including lots of cupcake things.

I've known for a long time that I wanted a cupcake stamp, but they're surprising hard to draw!
My only requirement was that it have a heart for a cherry.
After numerous sketches by different people, Heather, one of the girls who works for me, came up with this adorable one.
And immediately I knew it was right.

I had it made into a stamp and it's exclusive to us!
Here are a few designs with it.

Celebrate Everyday


Life is Sweet


My Sweeties ... perfect for a mom to show off her sweet kids!


I love them!
Which one is your favorite?