decorating for New Year's Eve

What are your plans for tonight? Staying up to welcome the New Year? Crashing early? Celebrating with loved ones, yummy munchies and board games? Snuggling up warm and watching a movie? Doing some online shopping of after Christmas sales (if so, don't forget the coupon code for 15% off of the shop - maybe a good time to pick up the Garland for Every Holiday set?)? If you're online, stop by the temporary landing page for our new website - still can hardly believe it's actually happening! - and sign up for the newsletter so you can stay up to date on sales and things :)

Right now, crashing early sounds really good, but I'm looking forward to a fun evening with extended family, maybe a game or two and some delicious goodies. And enjoying watching it snow. :)

 (one of the lovely bits of living in the midwest is having a snowy mailbox :D)

Have you seen the glittered votives making their way around Pinterest? I made some after seeing them and now think I need to make a few more - maybe in pinks and red for Valentine's Day ... :) These have been adding such a festive touch to our Christmas and New Year's decorations!

The rest of our New Year's decor is centered around our upstairs window. I recently found a small disco ball on Etsy (probably one of my most frivolous purchases yet :D) and combined it with a Snowflake Garland from the shop and a printable Happy New Year banner from theTomKatStudio.

Last year's version of the same window (minus the disco ball) - I made up the twinkle star garland as a last minute way to add a bit of festivity to our house and it ended up going in the shop and becoming quite popular! Kind of fun to see how God uses some of my random ramblings and spurts of creative experimenting :)
I'm thinking that some large balloons (maybe like these) and twinkle lights would round this out nicely - maybe next year!


I've been reflecting back on 2012 for the past few days (and would enjoy making up a year-end round-up post here) and can only come to the conclusion that God is amazing. And, because He doesn't change, that amazingness will continue in 2013.

Here's to a wonder-ful new year!


xo

Merry, Merry Christmas!

What a day to celebrate! The day that God, in His infinite mercy and love, sent His only Son to earth to live among us and be our Savior, ultimately dying (and rising again) in our place. Yes, indeed a day to celebrate.


I'm taking this Christmas a bit slower than usual. In fact, most of my Christmas cards are quickly becoming New Year's cards. : ) There are so many things that I wanted to do that didn't get done, so many things I wanted to make (a bunch of them are on my Pinterest board) that didn't get made. There's always next year, though! This year I spent most of my time cuddling our three(!) babes and learning Olivia's moods and preferences. Which is just as it needed to be : )

It seems that Christmas (not to mention December) has come around again so quickly this year. I'm hoping/planning to put up an end of the year recap post - so much has happened in the last twelve months! God has blessed us beyond our dreams, and are so, so very grateful. This next year is already shaping up to be even more incredible! (one thing being a new website - amazing! We're hoping for it to be live by the second week of January - while you're waiting for the real thing you can see our landing page at www.pltmarket.com sign up for our newsletter {yet another new thing!})


My gift to you this years is a shop coupon code (CHRISTMAS2012) for 15% off of your entire order, good until January 30, 2013. I hope you enjoy it! You have each been so wonderful, and I've been privileged to be able to serve you. :)


Blessings to each of you and your families this Christmas! May you make memories to cherish and enjoy the wonders of His amazing love.


<3

SALE, part 2!!!

Have you been enjoying the sale this morning? I'm looking forward to seeing what you've ordered and helping my sister send the goodies on their way to you!

If you missed the code this morning - or were waiting for the free shipping one instead? - here's the next one, and it's good until midnight (EST)!

CYBERFREESHIP

valid in the shop from now until midnight 

Enjoy! and happy shopping!

<3

SALE!!!

Here you go!

After whetting your appetite for a week, here's the sale code I've been promising:

CYBER30

 (valid in the shop from now until 12 EST)

and at noon I'll be listing the code you can use for free shipping until midnight! I'm posting it here and on the facebook page so as many of you can see it as possible, and I'd really love it if you could share it with your friends too - everyone loves a sale! :)

Snowflake and Christmas garlands

It's good on everything in the Etsy shop, so stock up on Christmas garlands and everything you'll need for your holiday celebrations : ) 

You can even use it on the new Garland collection (it's already a 20% savings - that's an amazing deal!)!

Enjoy and happy shopping! 

<3

thankful for ...

... you!

And so many other things :)

via

This year has been so crammed full of blessings! And even when things don't seem to be blessings, this year I've been learning that having a thankful heart helps to change my perception of them, helps me to see them as gifts in their own way. Because no matter what, God is good. He is many other things as well, but along with them all He is good. And so faithful.

And so this Thanksgiving I'm most thankful for His faithfulness. Blessings to you and your loved ones as you celebrate this Thanksgiving and the many blessings you enjoy!


<3

(and don't forget to come back Monday for the coupon code!)

weekly shop update

So, I've been trying to blog a bit more regularly here (have you noticed ;D?) and part of that has been keeping you updated on shop happenings once a week (-ish). :) So ..... this week there are a few things to cover!

The first is ........ next Monday (as in, a week from today) is Cyber Monday! (can you believe it's here already?!) And I'm having a bit of a sale for you! I'm going to try to make it a bit more fun than just having a standard sale though - there will be a time sensitive coupon code. And it will only be on my Facebook page. (but I'll alert you on Twitter and here, too, just in case you miss this)

From 7am 'till noon EST you'll have a chance to use the code to get 30% off of your order (maybe the best sale I've ever had!) and from noon until midnight you can get free shipping. Pretty great!

And the second bit of news is ....

... there is a new item in the shop! Or actually, a new package of items :)

We're now offering the 12 Months of Decorative Joy - a collection of gorgeous garland for each month of the year! I'm now offering the 12 months of gorgeous garlands collection! This is a set of 12 different garlands, each 10 feet long (for a whopping total of 120 feet!), that are in a variety of themes to span your year of decorating and celebrations.

You will receive one of each of:
- Snowflake Garland ( http://www.etsy.com/listing/91745386/snowflake-garland-10-feet-long)
- Romantic Red with a Single White Heart Garland (like this but in a 10 foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/85495701/romantic-paper-hearts-garland-red-with-a)
- St. Patrick's Day Garland (like this but in a 10-foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/93773728/st-patricks-day-garland-clover-shamrocks)
- Rabbits and Vintage Flowers Garland (like this but in a 10-foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/94843948/rabbits-and-vintage-flowers-bunny)
- Paper Lace Garland ( http://www.etsy.com/listing/69693850/paper-lace-garland-10-feet-long)
- Patriotic Stars Garland (like this but a 10-foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/75402152/stars-garland-red-white-and-blue)
- White Fabric Scallop Garland (like this but in a 10-foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76165008/white-fabric-scallop-garland-8)
- Yellow Fabric Scallop Garland (like this but in a 10-foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/106121494/yellow-scallop-garland-12-lemon-fabric)
- Thanksgiving Paper Circles Garland (like this but in a 10-foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/112261762/thanksgiving-paper-circles-garland)
- Pumpkin Paper Doily Garland (like this but in a 10-foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/81643305/pumpkin-paper-doily-garland
- Christmas Paper Circles Garlands (like this but in a 10-foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/64038578/paper-circles-garland-red-crimson-white)
- Twinkle Stars Garland (like this but in a 10-foot length: http://www.etsy.com/listing/99419170/twinkle-stars-garland-glitter-stars-and)

Combined, they will provide you with a piece of garland or bunting for just about every occasion during the year!

And one of the best things about this set? Buying this collection gives a savings of almost 20% over buying the garlands individually (I know, wow!).

There you have it - two announcements. And how I wish that "Baby is here!" was topping the list :D All in His timing though....

Hope you are enjoying a wonderful Monday at the beginning of your Thanksgiving week! Anyone have super scrumptious plans? I'd love to hear about them!


<3

because we need to remember

 Memorial Day weekend has arrived! Which means school is letting out for the summer - and summer is here!

 There's something special about Memorial Day that I really love - it doesn't hurt that tons of retailers celebrate it with sales! - and that sets it apart from most of our other holidays.
 So many of our other holidays and celebrations center on gifts, "me", and so on, but Memorial Day is about remembering other peoples' sacrifice, celebrating and honoring it and them.
 We gather together, barbeque, eat watermelon, maybe light a few fireworks, watch for the first fireflies, and we remember. 
 They say "freedom is not free", and it is so very true. Pretty much anywhere you look in our nation today, you  see the result of someone's sacrifice, whether it's their blood on a battlefield securing our freedom or their sweat and tears to maintain it. And it's what makes America amazing.

 Kind of sobering when you really think about it, isn't it? And so, we celebrate! Celebrate the people and the miracle that America is.


   (and, in keeping with the spirit of holiday sales, you can use the code "CELEBRATE" for 20% off in the shop until Monday night - enjoy!)


I made the above wreath a few years ago and thought I'd share it again (and maybe make it again for our front door?). It's the simplest thing, really, but still has quite a bit of impact. I took a heart shaped berry wreath and stuck American flag picks in it, letting them "wave" in the breeze, and then hung it on our door. So simple! 



*I'm linking this at Making Monday Marvelous and a few of these fun blogs - check 'em out!

sweethearts

Sweethearts

(this garland was actually my husband's idea - one day he saw me making a Hearts By the Yard garland for a customer and suggested that I make one all in red but with one white heart - my Sweetheart has the best ideas!)


I love February. It's not my absolute favorite month, but I love it.

Partly because in California where I grew up, February was the start of Spring (now, in Indiana, Spring comes more toward the middle of April - still not used to that at all). The bulbs would bloom, the trees blossom, and you could start wearing t-shirts again - on some days.

But another reason that I love February is because it marks some important "firsts" for me: the first time John told me "I love you" (it was on the phone and I was so startled that I hung up on him - poor guy!), the first time John met my family, the birth of our first baby, and the day I opened my Etsy shop, to name a few. Plus it has Valentine's Day in it. :)

I can hardly believe that the shop has been open for a year now! I've had 45 sales so far, and it's been a wonderful year. Thank you all for joining me in it. You have all been so sweet and encouraging. :)

As a special thank you to all you darling readers, I've created a coupon code just for you to use during February. When you place an order just enter the code "1YEAR" to get 10% off of your order.


So, why do you love February? I love reading your comments!
Also, I'm linking this to a few of these fun blogs. You might love heading over and checking out some of their amazing Valentine's Day ideas - and I'd love it if you would spread the word about the coupon code for the shop. :)

sale!

Hancock Fabrics has a bunch of their buttons on a really good clearance sale - 80% off! So I picked some up.

I really love these wooden ladybugs. :)

And these bears.
I have some ideas on what I'm going to use them for, but we'll see. They'll be darling, though!

Also, I'm having having a sale in my Etsy shop! Today through Cyber Monday, November 29, you can get 15% off when you use the code THANKSGIVINGSALE2010. And, in case you're wondering, this is on top of the $5 back when you buy any combination of a cookbook and apron.

Holiday shopping?

 Strawberry and Chocolate Floral Apron

I'm sure I'm not the only one who is trying to stretch their budget when it comes to gift buying this year, so I'm having a sale over in the shop to help!

 Vintage Good Housekeeping Cookbook

When you buy any apron and cookbook in the same transaction, you'll get $5 back.
That's $5 that you could use on a gift for someone else.
Or to get a Chai Latte.
Or to buy the ingredients for peppermint bark.
Or to send an Operation Christmas Child box. Yep. :)

Mommy + Me Apron Set

Remember to enter the giveaway for the CSN Store giftcard!