A girl and her hope chest

Good morning! I've had this post up my sleeve for a few weeks and finally am putting it up:) This is a glimpse into my hope chest. There really isn't much in there, but what you see is very special.

My dear friend Kaitlin is the one that really got me excited about having a hope chest! My parents gave me one for my 21st birthday, and Kaitlin started me off with a lovely set of mocha bowls:)

*****

Bella, my stuffed lamb who sits on top of the chest:

My birthday present from Dad and Mom-a gorgeous Norwegian wool blanket:

My kitchen collection, almost all gifts from Kaitlin over the years:)

The Family Treasure coloring book by Noble Rose press-this is so sweet, and when I found it on sale, I had to have it for my hope chest:

A Carl Larsson (whose art I love!) tray and some yarn that I've been saving:

And I leave you with some good advice:D

xoxo, Elise

Fall Fashion Challenge-Final Day!

Hats were mandatory today!

Elise:

Hat: Nordstrom Rack

Turtleneck: Lands' End

Skirt: from my good friend and adopted sister, Rebecca:)

Boots: Emu

Libby:

Hat: Nordstrom Rack

Shirt: Lands' End

Skirt: Homesewn

Scarf: Bulk Herb Store (years ago)

Ellie:

Hat: from Elise

Scarf: from Mom

Shirt: JJill

Skirt: Banana Republic outlet

And now we're done! It's been a lot of fun and encouraged us to try new combinations. Thank you for putting on this challenge, Ashley! :D

Fall Fashion Challenge-Day 6

We're almost done! It's been fun, but there have been a few times when we just wanted to wear something not-so-well thought out:) Today's challenge was to wear a fall trend.

Elise-PLAID:

Shawl: handknit by me!

Shirt: a present from Dad-it has a cardinal in a pine tree on one side:)

Skirt: Pendleton

Boots: Seychelles

Libby-WESTERN:

Shawl: unknown/anonymous:)

Shirt: Target

Skirt: homesewn

Boots: Born

Ellie-POLKA DOTS--AGAIN:)

Scarf: silk and pretty--don't remember where it came from though.

Blouse: Zara

Skirt: ??

Shoes: Barefoot Essentials

Fall Fashion Challenge-Day 5

Today is polka-dot day! Easy for Libby, because her closet simply bursts with dots:) I chose to wear a different print, stripes, as I don't have many polka dots in my wardrobe.

Elise:

Shirt: LLBean

Cardigan: from Janna

Skirt: Anne Klein

Stockings: JCrew--gift from Libby:)

Libby:

Wrap Cardigan: JJill

Tank: JJill

Skirt: Downeast Basics

Ellie:

Cardigan: Gap

Tank: LLBean

Skirt: Eddie Bauer

Clogs: from Elise

Handkerchief: Vintage:)

(I think Ellie gets double points for combining unusual colors as well as wearing dotty-ness:)

Fall Fashion Challenge-Day 4

I am late getting this up, because our internet was really slow yesterday. Better late than never:)

The challenge for day 4 is to dress like your favorite era. We all like many different eras, so it would have been hard to choose, but we don't own a lot of costume-ish clothes. So we just did the best we could with what we have:)

Elise-late 1800's Western pioneer:

Hat: Nordstrom Rack

Blouse: J.Crew

Skirt: Homesewn

Boots: Christmas present last year

Belt: Sundance Catalog clearance

Libby-1940's housewife:

Dress: Eddie Bauer

Belt: Target

Shoes: Sofft

Smile: Her own:D

Ellie-1950's cutie:

Shirt: Jjill

Skirt: Homesewn

Shoes: Banana Republic-years ago

Belt: from Elise

Scarf: from Mom

Fall Fashion Challenge-Day 3

Today's challenge was to wear bold tights.

Elise:

Top: Eddie Bauer

Skirt: Homesewn

Stockings: American Eagle (several years ago)

and my Christmas boots!

Libby:

Top: JJill

Scarf: Bulk Herb Store (several years ago)

Skirt: Eddie Bauer

Stockings: Sock Dreams

Ellie:

Sweater: St. John's Bay

Skirt: For the Republic brand

Stockings: from Libby

Heels: Barefoot Concepts and adorable:)

Unfortunately, none of us were able to keep our stockings on all day, as it got too warm :'(

But we are looking forward to some colder weather so we can really wear them!

Fall Fashion Challenge-Day 2

Today's theme is colors that do not usually go together.

Elise chose marine blue and goldfish orange:

"cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them"

Orange beret: handknit by Elise

Blue blouse: Old Navy

Belt: Sundance Catalog (clearance)

Skirt: Cabi

Libby chose to wear white with off-white:

Blouse: Eddie Bauer outlet

Vest: Jantzen

Skirt: homesewn, from the Marie Madeline Studio Route 66 skirt pattern

Ellie is wearing spring green with turquoise:

Sweater: from Libby

Top: Talbots

Skirt: homesewn by the Marie Madeline Studio Street Fair Skirt pattern (can you tell we really like them? :)

Till tomorrow!

-Three sisters

Fall Fashion Challenge-Day 1

Ashley over at Bramblewood Fashion is hosting a Fall Fashion Challenge this week, and at Ellie's suggestion, all three of us are participating! We think it will be lots of fun and force us to be more creative in coming up with outfits.

Here are our outfits for Sunday/Day 1:

Elise:

Turtleneck: Lands' End

Skirt: Sundance Catalog (clearance:)

Belt: Sundance Catalog (clearance)

Boots: Christmas present last year

Libby:

Pale green blouse: Gap

Creamy vest: Jantzen

Gray skirt: Kohl's

Brown heels: Naya

Ellie:

Jacket: American Eagle

Sweater: JJill

Skirt: from Elise

Shoes: Shoe outlet:)

Today there was no "theme" to follow, so we just wore what we wanted to wear:) It was a really long day at church, and we played for a bridal shower in the afternoon. So what you see is three tired girls:)

A laugh for Tuesday

Good morning all! We are in the midst of a whirlwind of packing and preparations, but I wanted to do one last post to share a funny video with you. We have watched it numerous times and still laugh.

Another thing you might like to know......

I can do her voice almost perfectly:D

A Precious Gift...

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Proverbs 17:17

Today is the birthday of my sweet friend, Kaitlin.

God was so kind to give her to me as a close friend almost 9 years ago! Our friendship grows stronger each year, and I thank the Lord for Kaity's sweet spirit and love for Him. She encourages me to put my relationship with my Savior first!

Here are just a few of the many pictures we have taken together over the years...

Our first band concert together...

Our first couch picture...

My first trip to visit KK out West...

I'm sorry KK, but I couldn't resist putting this one in:D

You look pretty cute in a mustache.

Practicing our herbal knowledge together...

I look forward to many more years of iron-sharpening with you, Kaitlin! May Jesus be your first love this year, and forever!

Thanks for being such a sweet friend!

I love you.

She works with her hands in DELIGHT

There are those among my fair readership who have expressed an interest in seeing what I've been working on recently.

Here are a few of my recent projects.

Fresh whole wheat bread...

A new spring cardigan in cheery cherry red....

Have a closer look:D

My cross-stitch sampler...

Now you know:)

Charity

I just finished reading "The Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis. I was rather disappointed by it, until I read the last chapter, "Charity". It was excellent! So I recommend the book just for that chapter. :) One part of that chapter stood out to me particularly...

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"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.

I believe that the most lawless and inordinate loves are less contrary to God's will than a self-invited and self-protective lovelessness. It is like hiding the talent in a napkin and for much the same reason "I knew thee that thou wert a hard man." Christ did not teach and suffer that we might become, even in the natural loves, more careful of our own happiness. If a man is not uncalculating towards the earthly beloveds whom he has seen, he is none the more likely to be so towards God whom he has not. We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it."

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As a note of caution, I skipped one of the chapters, as I found it not really necessary for my edification:) I do not agree with everything Lewis writes, but enjoy his books nevertheless.

Before I started "The Four Loves", I read "The Great Divorce" in 48 hours. It was really good! I haven't sat down and finished a book that fast in a very long time. What next? :)

A very long post with lots of pretty pictures

Hello all,

I've been finding lots of beautiful and inspiring photos recently, and decided to share a few with you. Enjoy!

Just plain pretty...

Fashion...

(maybe I'm a dork, but I think yellow socks and clogs can be cute:)

Hair...

Last but not least...

Happy Spring friends! :D