Share Some Cake; Get A Smile

November 5, 2018

fullsizeoutput_3e92When fall arrives so do all of my favorite fall recipes that have been locked up in the secret vault.  Just kidding.  Do you remember how Disney used to advertise this is your last opportunity to buy; after this date Cinderella will be locked in the vault FOREVER!  Except, that wasn’t really true, right? Nope, they came out on DVD.  Who knew?

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Ok, so, let’s talk all things tasty in the fall.  You know what I mean; those amazing, tasty recipes that just make you want to stand up and say Thank You, Fall!! You have made my day! Today, I made a very simple Apple Cake.  Tasty- yes! Simple-yes! Healthy–hmmm. Well, it does have apples–just sayin’.

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Just look at the chunks of apples! Love it! This was a special treat for my husband who has given me the opportunity to go spend a weekend with our daughter and another weekend with my parents.

So, as we continue our journey through this month of kindness, find a new friend or neighbor to invite over or to take cookies to or maybe share a slice of cake with a person who just needs someone to listen to them.

Give your time and you will receive a new friendship, meet new neighbors, or see someone light up knowing someone invested time into them.fullsizeoutput_3a5e

Have a wonderful week!  I look forward to hearing about your month of kindness and thankfulness!

XO,

Susan

 

The Season of Kindness and Grace

October 28, 2018
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Photo by Stokpic on Pexels.com

It’s been years since I’ve sat down to read a book of my own choosing.  Can you relate?  As a homeschooling mom of four kids, my days have been directed by academic reading more so than any other.  Kendall told me I need to take time for myself, find something fun to do, read a book.  Well, I did just that.  I found a quick read by Debbie Macomber titled Twelve Days of Christmas.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Showing Kindness for 12 days to one person to see if she could make a difference.  Easy right? Hmm?

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In today’s world, rushing to appointments, grocery shopping, picking up kids, we live our life in a whirlwind and don’t take the time to have a conversation or check on others. Our sermon today was Showing Respect to Others.  It just extended my heart felt desire I got from reading the book.  We need to show kindness, love one another, reach out and listen to those who need to be shown love and respect.

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As we enter into November, a season of Thanksgiving. I am going to make an effort daily to find that someone who needs help, or needs to be heard, or needs to feel loved or shown grace.  How often do we move in a fast forward motion with blinders on not really looking beyond ourselves, because it just might make us react.  It brings me so much joy to bring a smile to someone’s face.  To see them light up because someone actually cared or chose to take a few minutes to listen.

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Would you consider joining me on this journey?  Do it for a week, or a month or maybe for the rest of the year. Say Hello, hold a door, let someone go before you in line, leave a gift card for a random stranger.  The list goes on, but I would love to hear from you.  Share with us how you’ve shown kindness to another person.  Maybe, just maybe this will make a change within you as well,  Maybe, it will make a positive effect one person at a time.

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Give the gift of Kindness!

XO,

Susan

In the words of my children, what happened to fall?

October 23, 2018

fullsizeoutput_3e78As the picture above states “Welcome Fall”!!! Finally, we are moving out of the summer temps into some much cooler weather.  The crisp air brings a change outside as well as inside our home.

Mr Chaos asked me this weekend where I was planning on putting the Christmas tree this year.  That question was answered with “Really?”  Is that even a question, friends? Is there even the smallest of possibilities that there would be no tree?  I mean really.  At the end he said let’s just do a table top tree.  Did you hear my laughter?

So, with that, I began a shift of furniture in the family room.

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Do you see this big space I created?  That little chair is holding a spot for our tree. With the dogs helping me, I was able to give everything in the room a twist and a turn.  Sometimes, moving things around gives you a refresh.  That little bit of work can make you feel like you have new pieces in your room.

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I also traded out end tables,  brought some back in and moved others to other rooms. Do you see that bright orange tray on the coffee table?  I found that gem at a furniture sale years ago.  I’m sure my mom thought I was crazy picking up a bright orange tray. Seriously, what do you do with that after the fall? You keep on using it!  The cute little pumpkin on the tray is also from years ago.  Some of my favorite pieces that make me smile when they come out of the bins are from this sale years ago.

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We moved our china cabinet into the family room several months ago and it seems to be working out. The plan is to make it feel more like a bookcase than a china cabinet at some point.

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Here’s an in progress picture.  Moving pieces in and out slowly as well as adding layers makes for a warm, inviting space.  Fall is here friends.  Winter is just around the corner.  Can’t you feel the chill in the air?

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Have a wonderful day!

XO, 

Susan