Pretty gift from my sister

My sister surprised me with this cute little box for storage.  I have already put crafting items in it and placed it in my crafting room.

Purchased this cute little flower bowl at the thrift store.  I also picked up this cute little bird at the same store and glued it to the bowl.  I then added a few pretty craft items. 

Drinking two cups of black tea a day may help cut your ovarian cancer risk by up to 31%,say researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.  They looked at the eating habits of women ages 25-55 for more than three decades and discovered that those whose diets were high in cancer-fighting compounds called flavonols (found in tea as well as red wine, apples and grapes) and flavanones (in citrus fruits and juices) were less likely to develop the disease.  From Good Housekeeping magazine, March 2015 edition.

So drink your tea!

Hanging Pictures Without Frames

I ENJOY DISPLAYING MY KID'S PHOTOS ON THE WALL HEADING UP MY STAIRCASE.  pROBLEM:  I KEEP KNOCKING THEM DOWN BECAUSE WHEN CARRYING MY LAUNDRY BASKET DOWNSTAIRS, I HIT THE FRAMES WITH THE BASKET IF I'M NOT CAREFUL.  THE PHOTO FALLS DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS ONTO MY WOOD FLOOR, AND THE GLASS FROM THE FRAME SHATTERS, AND I HAVE A MESS.  sO I DECIDED I NEEDED TO DISPLAY THE PHOTOES SO THAT THEY ARE TIGHT UP AGAINST THE WALL.  wHILE RESEARCING THE INTERNET, I FOUND SOME NICE AND UNIQUE WAYS TO DISPLAY PHOTOS SO THOUGHT i'D SHARE:

 

Hanging Pictures without YOUR TYPICAL frames:

v  Hang a clothesline and use clothespins

v  Tack to a large board, either vertically or horizontally AND HANG BOARD ON WALL

v  Hang a ladder from the ceiling and tie string from the rungs; punch hole in top of photo and tie string through hole AND PHOTOS WILL HANG DOWN NICELY FROM STRINGS ON LADDER RUNGS.

v  Washi tape TO CREATE FRAME AROUND PHOTO

v  Insert PHOTO onto clipboard and hang clipboard

v  Hang mini command strips; use hole punch on top of photo, insert string or lace or twine and tie to photo; HANG PHOTO ON COMMAND STRIP

v  Two-sided Velcro--ONE SIDE OF VELCRO ON WALL, ONE ON BACK OF PHOTO

v  Magnetic hangers--ONE SIDE ON WALL, ONE ON PHOTO

v  Sticky tack or photo putty ON BACK OF PHOTO

v  Use pretty scrapbooking paper as background and either use stick tack or double sided tape to attach photo to paper; attach to wall using stick tack.

v  Purchase (or hand paint if talented—lol) a large wall cling in the shape of a tree; sticky tack photos onto the branches of the tree

v  Re-love an old door or window and use window panes as frames

 

v  Hang pretty ribbons vertically, either contemporary or traditional looking ribbon, on wall and hang photos from the ribbon—hole punch photo and just tie ribbon through.



This is how it turned out, folks.  I used coordinating scrapbooking papers as frames.  Less Bulky.  I won't knock down frames when I am carrying the laundry basket down the steps!

The Gift Exchange

The Gift Exchange

 

About five years ago, my sister and I decided to exchange Christmas gifts in January at a restaurant.  We do this in January because December, as everyone knows, is already busy and filled with gift exchanges. 

 

We involve my daughter Julia and my sister’s daughter, my niece Megan in our gift exchange in January.  Cracker Barrel is usually the restaurant of choice.  We all gather at the restaurant, sit and eat and chat a while, and then it is time to open our gifts to each other.  It is a lot of fun and something to look forward to after the holidays are over. 

 

Gift exchanges, especially at Christmastime, are a reminder of the Ultimate Gift Exchange done between Christ and us.  Christ gave His gift to us first:  He went to the cross for us and gave His life in order that we might gain our lives back.  What is our gift to Him?  I believe the gift He most desires from us is our love and devotion.  

 

Christ’s gift to us:  His life.

Our gift to Him:  Our lives – loving and serving with love with Him.

The Best Gift Exchange Ever!

By Sue Menarchek with inspiration from His Spirit