The Day the Birdie Came to Tea

Have you ever begun a project with full intentions of gifting it away, only to fall in love with the finished project and struggle with the urge to keep it for yourself?

That's exactly what happened with me and my birdie spool this past weekend!

For a week now, I've had the perfect gift in mind for one of my swap partners---but now that it's finished, I just don't think I can part with it.  Is that horrible?

I found this sweet birdie in a bag of miscellaneous Easter decorations from Salvation Army.  Her little beak was wide open and she was calling for me to do something crafty with her.  So, I placed her in a tiny nest that my daughter Lynzie crocheted and set her on this little spool that my mom gave me.  She seems so happy and cheery now---and looks so sweet with my other vintage spool decorations!

I think I need to keep her!

Isn't this tea cup and saucer pretty?  It belongs to my mom and she let me borrow it today to share with you all.  I love the little silver feet and the pretty mauve roses.  It's very light and delicate.  Thanks, Mom, for sharing your beautiful cup with me!

Have you visited my Homemaking Linkup? I'd love to have you join!

Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

Thanks so much to Creative Jewish Mom for featuring this craft on her blog!

Linking With:

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations  
Friends Sharing Tea @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog
Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques & Teacups 
Teacup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Through Life
A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage
Domestically Divine @ Far Above Rubies
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
Tending the Home Tuesday
The Bliss Project Linkup @ Grace-Full Intentions
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Restored It Wednesday
Home @ Rose Chintz Cottage  
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz 
Watcha Work-Up Wednesday 
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants 
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Shoe Lace Linkup @ Living In the Shoe
Homemaking Link-Up Weekend @ Hope In Every Season
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Pearls and Lace Thursday @ Faith, Grace and Crafts
Transformation Thursdays @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Legacy Leaver Thursday @ Leaving a Legacy
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable  
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Family Fun Friday @ Moms and Munchkins 
Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Show and Tell Saturday @ Sassy Little Lady 
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey
Sunday Showcase Party@Under the Table and Dreaming 
Craft Schooling Sunday @ Creative Jewish Mom
Sundae Scoop @ I heart nap time
The Creative Homemaker Hop 
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper
Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life
One More Time
Blue Monday@Smiling Sally
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Craft-o-Maniac Monday  
Motivate Me Monday 
What's In the Gunny Sack? 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill 
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Mondays with Countrified Hicks
Manic Monday @ Cupcake-n-Bake  

The Refueling Station

This morning at 3 am, I prayed God would help me get up at 6:00 and spend some time with Him.  At 5:30, when I was awakened by sick kids again, I prayed God would help me get up at 6:00 and spend some time with Him.

6:15 am: "Dang, I'm late!"

But it's 6:26 and even though I'm late, I'm up and I'm spending time with Him.

Even though I know the babies are going to be in asking for breakfast any minute now.  The boys are going to be up playing Legos®, and the girls are going to want to share the night's dreams, I'm spending time with Him.

6:28 am:  Even though one baby just came in and said he has a tummy ache, I sent him back to bed because I'm spending time with Him.

6:29 am:  Even though my husband just came back to bed and is on the phone calling in sick to work, I won't be distracted because I'm spending time with Him.

I must have this time.  I haven't had it in days and my tank is running out and before I completely break down, I have to spend this time with Him!

  Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

This article was featured in Issue #105 of The Christian Home Magazine.

Linking with:

Courtship Connection
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 
Domestically Divine @ Far Above Rubies
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
Tending the Home Tuesday
The Bliss Project Linkup @ Grace-Full Intentions
Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Homemaking Link-Up Weekend @ Hope In Every Season
Legacy Leaver Thursday @ Leaving a Legacy
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Desire to Inspire @ A Royal Daughter
Family Fun Friday @ Moms and Munchkins 
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Show and Tell Saturday @ Sassy Little Lady 
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Craft Schooling Sunday @ Creative Jewish Mom
Sundae Scoop @ I heart nap time
The Creative Homemaker Hop 
Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life
One More Time

Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 

Easter Eggs with Heinz® and Paas® --- Part One

Our family is really big on keeping traditions---almost to the point of getting obsessive about it!  Like most American families, we dye eggs as part of our Easter celebration.  However, we have a couple of traditions that may be unique to our own family.

When I buy our egg dying kit, I am very strict about what kind I get.  I always buy Paas® brand. That's the brand I remember my mom buying when I was a kid, and I just don't think Easter would be complete without the cute little animals on the Paas® box.  I wonder if they have names?  I'll look that up and let you know in Part Two.

This year, Paas® and Heinz® have teamed up for a special project to benefit the Make-A-Wish® Foundation.  They've created this adorable egg-decorating app, and for every egg you decorate virtually, and send to a friend, they'll donate $1.00 (up to $25,000) to Make-A-Wish®.  (Ends March 31st, 2013)

My mom and I have already been decorating some and sending them back and forth.  Here's one she did for me:

A week or so ago, we received this awesome basket of goodies from Paas® and Heinz® to use in our egg decorating this year.

There were several really fun and new-to-me Paas® products in there, along with some Heinz® vinegar and coupons for more.  I'll show you more about the products in Part Two so make sure to come back and check it out.

One of the fun products Paas® sent were these Deggorating Doodles Coloring Pens and Stencils.  The kids had a lot of fun with these and are planning to use them again on round two of our egg decorating.  (Yes, we have to have a round two...have you ever tried decorating eggs with nine children?  Ha!)

Lynzie made polka-dots and swirls on hers, Cainan made some neat traditional designs, but Elisha's was the family's favorite.  He made Humpty Dumpty~~awesome!

Even little Kynthia got in on the fun...

She started out watching, then she wanted her own egg to color on.  Before long, she got a little hungry so I peeled it and Daddy gave her a bite.  She ended up devouring the whole thing while the rest of the kids dyed eggs!

Another tradition we have is one Jamie started the first year we were married.  After we dyed eggs and brought everything into the kitchen to clean up, he had an idea and called me over to the sink.  He ran the water and started pouring the colors, one at a time, into the stream of water.  It looked pretty as the water changed to a different color and we've done it every year since.  It's just a fun, quirky thing that everyone looks forward to, and I appreciate that he makes it fun for us.

In Part Two, I'll show you more of the neat products we received in our basket, as well as share a little history on those adorable Paas® critters if I can find any!  Please make sure and check out the virtual egg-decorating app and send some pretty eggs to your friends.  Remember, every egg sent is another dollar toward blessing people through the Make-A-Wish® program. 

Useful Links:

Paas®/Heinz® Decorating App
Make-A-Wish® Foundation
Paas® Website
Heinz® Website

Hope In Every Season has been compensated with free products for the purpose of promoting the Decorating App.  All opinions are honest and are my own.

Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

Thanks so much to Lisa Lynn from The Self-Sufficient HomeAcre for helping to spread the word!

Linking with:

Blue Monday@Smiling Sally
Craft-o-Maniac Monday  
Motivate Me Monday 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Matrimonial Monday @ A Proverbs 31 Wife 
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill 
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Manic Monday @ Cupcake-n-Bake
Courtship Connection
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 
Domestically Divine @ Far Above Rubies
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
Tending the Home Tuesday
The Bliss Project Linkup @ Grace-Full Intentions
Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Home @ Rose Chintz Cottage  
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz
Watcha Work-Up Wednesday 
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants 
Rednesday @ It's a Very Cherry World
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Homemaking Link-Up Weekend @ Hope In Every Season
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable  
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Friday Free For All @ Young & Crafty
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ TT&J 
Family Fun Friday @ Moms and Munchkins 
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Show and Tell Saturday @ Sassy Little Lady 
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey
Sunday Showcase Party@Under the Table and Dreaming 
Craft Schooling Sunday @ Creative Jewish Mom
Sundae Scoop @ I heart nap time
The Creative Homemaker Hop 
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper
Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life
One More Time