“Yo yo yo, this is your girl L-Money, comin’ at you live on the microphone with a bliggitty blogging tip to help give your John Hancocks some suga’ and spice. Bricka, bricka, what?! It’s gonna be tight, y’all. You feel me?” Before you all run for the hills, let me explain that intro. I taught 9th grade English for three years when we lived in Ohio, and I would sometimes start my classes in a {read more…}
Would you believe that I wrote my blog content for today in five-minutes? I almost don’t believe it myself. I am slower than a tortoise when it comes to writing. I write and re-write and re-write some more. Forget about it when it comes to a tutorial with photos of each step that need editing and watermarking. And to thicken the plot, I have this problem where I can’t do anything halfway…so I tend to {read more…}
Happy, happy Friday, friends! As you may recall, one of the highlights of my sister’s surprise visit last month was a crafternoon shared together working on a banner to hang above her books in her bedroom. It only seemed fitting to use book pages as our primary material and to incorporate a quote by one of our favorite authors, C.S. Lewis: “We read to know we are not alone.” How true, Mr. Lewis. How true. {read more…}
So often, summer passes us by like a hazy dream, but the summer of 2008, my sister and I were determined not to let it. We decided that if we could be intentional with our enjoyment both of summer and each other, we could savor our time more fully. Thus, Sister Summer Camp was born. Here’s how it worked: about once every few weeks, one of us would “lead” sister summer camp and plan out an afternoon {read more…}
For those of you lovelies who may have missed my guest post last week: When Jessica and Linz generously invited me to share something on their blog Sweet Athena on the theme of celebrations, I got to thinking not just about the grand fanfare celebrations, but the little ways one feels celebrated in a day. You know what I mean? Like that hug that you get out of nowhere from a friend. Or that tilt of the hat {read more…}
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been romanced by bookstores…especially used bookstores. They lure me in with their old, stale-book smells and promise of inscribed inside covers. They win my heart with their cozy aisles and reading nooks. And if I find a treasure – – oh, stop the presses – – if I find a treasure, I’m forever theirs. And I think I’ve discovered my new favorite bookstore in Orlando. It’s called {read more…}
Guest posts are kind of like playdates, aren’t they? You get to go over the house of your fun new friend for an afternoon, share your stories, meet their family and friends, and return home a renewed gal…(and probably wanting a new toy). Well, today I get to have a “playdate” over at Jessica and Linz’s blog, Sweet Athena. If you don’t know Sweet Athena, you should. Part of what I love about that blog {read more…}
Yesterday, my Brother and I navigated uncharted waters with fastenings of all kinds: buttons, zippers, snaps, and elastic. It was quite the educational experience. I even got to change my J foot for the first time and swap it out for three different feet a.k.a. “robot claws.” I felt really proud of myself when I got in the groove of poppin’ ‘em off, and poppin’ on new ones. (Oh, the small delights of a beginner!) Buttons: {read more…}
My husband Mark is pretty much one of the best gift-givers on the planet, but this year, he really outdid himself. I think my jaw dropped to the floor when I ripped open the wrapping paper to reveal this beauty: My very own Silhouette Cameo! In case you’re wondering, a Silhouette is an electronic cutting tool that connects to your computer, allowing you to cut fonts and images on a variety of materials from paper {read more…}
Our words carry weight. They can either tear down or build up, and I have always been a fan of the latter. So, what about claiming one word for the new year – – one word to inspire, motivate, and remind. Alright, I say. Let’s give it a try. Here’s my one word for 2013: Yes, that’s me. Ha! This photo was taken 10 years ago in 2003 by my friend Matt Gore. I was {read more…}
We’ll make new traditions in place of the old ‘Cause life without revision will silence our souls. -”Snow” by Sleeping at Last Tomorrow marks the start of a new year. A fresh start. An uncharted path in the woods. My lantern is at the ready. After reflecting on my blogging highlights from these first four months, it’s time to look forward. I have so many dreams and goals for The Thinking Closet – – in {read more…}
Merry Christmas Eve, friends! Just had to share this beautiful video in which the children of St. Paul’s Church in New Zealand tell and act out the Christmas story. There are so many magical moments in it – – I watched it three times in a row. I just couldn’t get enough of those precious accents. Look out for my favorite character: the third wise man. Thanks to my M.I.L. Rachael for sharing this with {read more…}
My sister Lisbeth’s blog was a part of the inspiration for me in starting The Thinking Closet. So, you can imagine how overjoyed I am that she is guest posting here today! We’re doing guest post swaps, so I’m over at her blog, squeeze it into little inkdrops, sharing my Indie Christmas mix. Feel free to stop by. And now, let the magic begin: Hello everyone at The Thinking Closet! I’m Lisbeth, the creator of {read more…}
Here’s my tutorial that was part of Sugar Bee Craft’s guest posting extravaganza last week. Enjoy! I don’t know about you, but it seems like I never have the right wrapping paper on hand – – don’t get me wrong, I have plenty, but it’s either too feminine or too childlike, not the right holiday or not the right size. So, I’ve been experimenting lately with alternatives to store-bought wrapping paper, and I’ve come across {read more…}
In case you missed my guest post on Blissful & Domestic last week, here it is in full! Keep in mind, this is meant to inspire- -not to inflict guilt. There are many ways to love our environment. These are just 10 of the ways…. So, let’s talk Christmas cards. I don’t know about you, but the thought of compiling address, stamping envelopes, and signing 70 Christmas cards during the busiest time of year makes {read more…}
If there’s ever a month for heart-warming, it’s December. So, to kick things off, I thought I’d compile a list of some of my favorite YouTube videos that are guaranteed to make you smile. After all, they involve kids. The soul is healed by being with children. ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky These videos will restore your faith in humanity and your hope in the next generation…if you ever lost it. 1. PS 22 Chorus “Viva La {read more…}
The hills are alive with the sound of blogging….
Blogging is an interesting bird. It’s one of those things that I’ll admit I had no real concept of before taking a leap to start this blog in September last year. Sure, I knew that all of those purdy pictures on Pinterest had to come from somewhere, but I didn’t really know all of the time, effort, and heart that one pours into blogging if you really commit to it. It’s an investment. And I {read more…}