Homemade swap

I am seriously considering doing only a homemade Christmas this year. For one I love to make things, and second my daughters cheer team just qualified for Nationals in Florida which is in two weeks. So my bank account is officially in a state of distress.

What about a homemade swap? I have not really thought about any of the details since I am a fly by the seat of my pants type of gal and I am sure I am not the only one who has ever come up with such an idea. I am a flower making nutcase. In the post below is one of my designs. Wouldn't it be fun to swap for something else homemade but different so we could have a variety of goods to give. HMMMM....... ideas anyone??

And what is a post without a picture

Not only do I do flowers, I also do wreaths. I am singly handedly obsessed with them. I could seriously count 8 of them in my home as we speak. I have left the idea of the swap in a comment on a blog that I recently found and I rather like it. I found her etsy shop first and then poof I found the blog. I have my eye on one of her flower necklaces. Like I said, I like flowers. Let me just tell you her recipe for the maple syrup dressing is divine it really could change your life. I am off to create something oh who am I fooling I am off to clean something. I am expecting at least 25 on turkey day how about you? Let me know what you think about the swap???

Cheers!

flower necklace

Well I finally finished my favorite necklace ever. I love the romantic, yummy colors of this one. Every time I wear one I get asked at least 5 times where I got it. So I thought I would put a tag on this one. You can wear these with anything and it takes your outfit to a whole new level. A plain t-shirt has never looked so good with one of these bad boys around your neck so here you go.....

She is $30.00 email me at westcoastnester@yahoo.com

On another note I received this email this morning from a mom who I have prayed with.

"In conclusion, be strong in the Lord (be empowered through your union with Him); draw your strength from Him; (that strength which His boundless might provides!)

Ephesians 6:10

I am listening, I am listening.

Blessings

Longing

I am longing, longing for change. I went to a beautiful conference this weekend. It made me search, deep inside of myself to unwrap some layers of ugliness and lies that society, and the devil himself have placed there. I long to be free. Free from the ugly lies that I tell myself. That I am not worthy, that I am not good enough. That I do not deserve to be set free from my past sin. That I am not loved.

One thing slammed me straight in the heart. That I am free in Jesus Christ. I always have been and I always will be. That I am loved, that I am beautiful and that I am good enough. Just as I am flaws and all.

That did something, it unleashed a furry of creativity. Journaling, painting, creating. I just had to get it out. It was the strangest thing and the most exhilarating. Here is what happened in my creative awakening

This one is my favorite mix of colors yet. I just have to put the chain on it and it is ready to wear.

I still long to let it ALL go. I am getting closer. I am grateful in knowing that God is carrying me every step of the way.

Taking down the cobwebs

Yes, I know this poor little blog has gotten completely forgotten about as life gets busier and busier. I took a ton of pictures of my Halloween decor that I have never posted so here is a peek as I take them down dust of the cobwebs and begin to put up fall.

This was a neighbors house as we trick or treated. She had full blown Michael Jackson video projected onto her garage with surround sound and lights. My girlfriend and I were glued to her driveway dancing and then a bunch of kids joined in. It was a lovely evening with family and friends. Ok, I really will try not to let the cobwebs form on this blog again.

I am wearing my voting sticker are you?

What happened?

Not sure what happened and how all this time has gone by from blogging. Life, and Summer baby. Last night my daughter and I decided to make homemade strawberry freezer jam. Oh my gosh, so EASY and delicious. We poured some over vanilla ice-cream last night, yikes was that good. Here is what they looked like when done. I am going to give some to the new neighbors, even though we are new neighbors too and nobody has brought me homemade strawberry freezer jam. I'm just saying.

It went from this

to this baby!

Oh yeah. This recipe you do not have to cook, did you hear me peoples you do not have to cook this. After we finished the jam we made homemade pizza with the homemade pizza crust we made earlier in the day. I made the pizza on the grill because it was to hot to turn on the oven. Yikes, pizza on the grill kicked my butt. It turned out great, but kicked my butt.

Not sure where all the domesticating is coming from. Today woke up and did yoga, made two loaves of homemade french bread which is rising as we speak, prepared beef roast for sandwiches that we are having for dinner and stuck it in the crock pot, did two loads of laundry working on third, returned all emails, cleaned, dried and put away all dishes by hand (dishwasher is broken for two weeks, handyman said). Cleaned and prepared third floor guest suite for guests that are no longer coming, had seven cups of coffee. Which is probably why all things on list have been done so far.

Off to check on bread and make decorations for the 4th.

Martha Stewart eat your heart out sista!

Flower Power

I have been a bit absent. I went up to the desert on a Church retreat. Our church has been planning the retreat for a year so it was so nice to see the fruits of our labor unfold. To see so many women blessed (180) of them. I arrived thinking we had Friday to our self to relax and enjoy the resort. It did not turn out that way. It became a day of getting all last minute things put together. I went to bed that night with a complaining spirit. I did not like that side of myself. I really prayed that night that He would release me from all that negativity. He did, but not without some life lessons learned.

What an amazing God I serve. He brings joy and light to me even when I don't deserve it. What an honor to serve Him .

On another note I have been making flowers like crazy. Here is the latest necklace that I have for sale. I used vintage scarves and fabrics and some old vintage buttons of my grandmothers.

Will be adding this one to my etsy shop by Monday. If you are interested in getting your hands on this beauty before I list it shoot me an email @ westcoastnester@yahoo.com It is on sale for $45. When it hits etsy it will be $55

Hope you enjoy every part of your weekend. Oh ya, and Happy Mothers Day!

Flowers

and more flowers. That is what I have been up to.


so far total is seventeen. I am making them for the retreat team for our church. We will be wearing them this weekend up in Palm Springs for a weekend getaway Beth Moore retreat. I am counting the days.



And these beautiful lilacs were given to me by a lovely lady on the ministry leaders team. I had a meeting at my home last night and she cut those from her tree. I have never had fresh lilacs in my house before. They smell just divine.

And these pretties I picked on a hike yesterday. They were growing wild in the hills behind my house not sure what they are called but I love them.

Going to dinner at a friends tonight and then another last minute retreat meeting to wrap up all the loose ends. We have 180 women coming and I am so excited to be spending the weekend in fellowship with them.

Off to finish adding buttons to all the flowers. Wishing you all could join me. I could really use the help.