Classical Homemaking

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Pretty Pinks and Greens for the Homemaking Party

Lefton and Limoges---two of my favorite things!

Every now and then, I like to do a "Pinks and Greens" post. This is my favorite color combination and I feature it in many parts of my life. Remember the post I did when I was waiting for Kynthia to arrive?

This past weekend I was out hopping from one yard sale to another and ended up finding some really fun things for my Etsy shop. A few of them are already listed if you'd like to stop by and visit. The highlight of the day was this delicate Haviland tea cup and saucer I found at a church fundraiser!

It's my second piece of antique Limoges---which is very hard to come by around here! I think collecting pink and green Limoges will be a lifelong quest for me!

Here it is with my other Limoges piece.

Yesterday, I stopped by Salvation Army for a minute to see if they had anything neat for my shop. When I saw a little pink tea pot, I snatched it right up. It was heavy and the bottom was very worn---two good signs that it's a sturdy antique.

Turns out, it's a piece of Weller Pottery from the early 1920s. Check out eBay for more on Weller Pottery, but I think it's safe to say I snagged something worth a little more than the $4.00 I spent on it!

I really considered putting it in my Etsy shop---I even took photos of it tonight. But, as I was editing them, I realized how much I already love this little pot---so it's staying right here with me!

I'm so glad you've stopped by the Homemaking Party! I hope you'll link up some of your favorite posts and visit others' to encourage them as well.

I love to feature some of the neat posts that are linked up so please make sure and put my button or a text link on your blog so you'll be eligible to be featured!

Here are a few of my favorites from last week's party:

Alison at Mumtopia shares this great story of what they found while doing some work on their home. She has such an awesome way with words---love her blog!

Nicole at Children are a Blessing shared a subject near and dear to my heart: Are Children a Blessing or a Burden? Have you seen my sidebar family picture? I think you know my answer!

This chair from Maureen at It's All Connected is just so amazingly awesome!! In fact, let me ramble for a bit. I was just thinking earlier how irritating it is now that everyone is saying "amazing" for everything. Ok---it's like last year when everyone was saying "epic". That's irritating. Not everything is epic. Or amazing. Except for this chair. This chair is amazing. My Mom has one of these sewing chairs with the lifty-uppy lid. I'll just let that sit and steep for a minute.

Thanks to everyone for the great posts!

If you have been featured, please grab a button!

Have you entered my Giveaway for a box of Sprout Organic Toddler Snacks? Check it out!

Make sure and stop by the Summer Fun Giveway Hop! I'm giving away a gorgeous Shabby Chic package---and there are many more prizes from some other awesome bloggers!

Now for the linkup. Please remember to return the favor by adding my button or a text link to your post. Have a great weekend!

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.

Linking with:
Homemaking Party @ Hope In Every Season
Vintage Thingie Thursday @ Coloradolady
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Pearls and Lace Thursday @ Faith, Grace and Crafts
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Create It Thursday
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
Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Fit & Frugal Family Friday
From the Farm
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey
Show Me Saturday
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
A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage
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
Tuesday Link Up Party
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
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Wednesday Link up at Adorned from Above
Shoe Lace Linkup @ Living In the Shoe
Home Link Up at Raising Arrows

Sprout Organic Toddler Treats---Giveaway!

It's Giveaway Time again here at Hope In Every Season! Many thanks to my sponsor, Sprout Foods, for providing our family with some yummy organic treats to try out! Do you want to ditch those sugary "Fruit" Snacks? Try Sprout's Organic Toddler Treats! All of Sprout's products are made with organic produce, whole grains, and proteins.

We were sent eight different flavors of Fruit & Veggie Crispy Chews and Fruity Yogurt Bites to try out. You can enter to win your own box of samples below! Even though they're made for babies and toddlers, all our kids---toddlers to teen---enjoyed these tasty treats.

Some of our favorites were Orange Carrot Yogurt with Real Mango Pieces, and Purple Berry and Carrot Crispy Chews.

Would you like to try some out on your little ones? Head to the Rafflecopter widget below. In the meantime, here are a couple coupons to get you started:

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Here are more ways to connect with Sprout:
- Like Sprout on Facebook
- Follow Sprout on Pinterest
- Follow on Twitter @SproutFoods
- Follow Sprout on Instagram
- Enter the Sprout Sweetie Monthly Photo Contest

In exchange for this review, Sprout Foods provided our family with a box of free products. All opinions are honest and are my own. Check out the new Sprout Foods website at www.sproutorganicfoods.com.

Giveaway open to US Residents. Winner will be drawn June 26th.

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Blessed at Home #7: When to Say, "No"

Welcome to Blessed At Home. We sincerely hope our readers have been blessed by these articles. Please visit the Contributor Page to read more about this excellent ministry from some of your favorite homemaking bloggers.

Today's featured contributor is Misty from Simply Helping Him.

Howdy!

I'm Misty Leask: Princess of the King of Kings, Joe's Help Meet, Mother of 2 blessings, and a Texas cowgirl always. My passion is being the Help Meet God created me to be, just as He created Eve for Adam. I was placed by my husband's side, and there I will remain to help him in every way possible. Most often, you'll find me teaching my children, caring for our home, cooking/baking, gardening, or writing.

Simply Helping Him was born as God directed my heart and hands to teach, encourage, and share what Help Meets were created to be. I know how difficult it can be to truly grasp and move forward with submission, obedience, and trusting God through it all. In "my" lil corner, I write about topics from marriage and Bible Studies, to Family Training and Family Fun Days. I'm also blessed to have several Help Meet Contributors share once a month about their passions as a Help Meet.

Today's topic is, "When to Say, "No." As a homemaker, do you sometimes feel drawn to things that take away from your primary ministry?

Misty, Simply Helping Him

I have a difficult time saying "no", and I always have. God must have known this, because my body can only take so much before I physically get sick. I am learning how to say "no" more, as I'm getting older--whether it be "no" to yet another activity for the kiddos, or a ministry that I'm passionate about, but can't fulfill a specific position yet.

Sometimes too much, even of a good thing, is just too much. Our kids need down time, just as much as, if not more than, we do. Seeking God's will for every aspect, every part of our lives is key. He will not leave us, and will not allow us to be lost along our ways--as long as we are seeking Him and His direction for our lives.

Prayer and time in God's word is where we should always begin.

How can we expect to know His will for ourselves and our families if we aren't spending time with Him, seeking His guidance?

Sarah, Hope In Every Season

I used to be a people-pleaser who craved the attention and praise for a job well done. I would be involved in as many activities and "ministries" as possible, to the point of neglecting my homemaking and homeschooling, mostly for the attention it brought me.

As I began to grow in God and learned to really love myself and who He was making me, I realized that what I was doing was wrong. My self-worth was no longer based on the many things I could do; but, instead, on who I was in Christ.

I now believe, and practice, that if anything is taking away from my responsibilities within these four walls, it is eligible for the chopping block. I truly believe that my husband and family are my main ministries---and there's plenty here at home to keep me busy right there! Throw in some times of refreshing for myself, and pull out a tiny bit of time for my extended family and a couple close friends, and I'm bordering overwhelmed right there!

Of course, God will send things my way now and then that He wants me to get involved in---but they're small and they're not super time consuming. Maybe I need to take an afternoon to visit with a hurting friend or make a meal for a family who has lost their wife and mother---God still does call me outside of this home, now and then. But, if I will take the time to really listen, I'll realize that, often times, it's my old people-pleasing nature popping up again. It's in these times that I'll remember I'm to be a God-pleaser first!

Mrs. Smith, Just a Country Girl

There are many, many times in life when we have to say no. As a

mother, I think we say it more than any other word! But today I'm thinking of other times when we need to say no.

As Christians, we all have things we can't do; and most of the time, they are different for each of us. I've known Christians who say they can't listen to country music because it mentally takes them to a place that isn't good for them. When a true Christian says they cannot do something that sounds so normal to the rest of us, it's usually because GOD told them not to, and not because THEY don't want to.

For instance, I know there are certain types of television that I can't watch anymore. Shows that probably most of you watch--dramas, mostly. I can't watch them because they fill me with worry. "What if that happens to my child?!" This is NOT Godly. God doesn't place fear into our minds. And so I knew that it was time to say NO to these programs, so I wouldn't worry about my family irrationally for the rest of time!

Another big one for me was Facebook. I can almost guarantee everyone reading this has a Facebook account. Is that wrong? Absolutely not. Is that wrong for ME? Absolutely. You see, Facebook became such a negative place for me that it was even interfering with my marriage! People weren't real on there, and they weren't my friends. Oh, they were "friends", but they weren't friends, in the true sense. And my husband absolutely hated it. I knew this, but couldn't bring myself to delete my account. I'd hear the Lord "nagging" at me, but still, I

kept on with it. Then one day, I just realized that I NEEDED to get off of there for good! And so I did. And you know what? I didn't miss it. I didn't miss my "friends". And my marriage improved greatly! It was time to say no, for the sake of my marriage.

From these two examples, I can tell you that in your calling as a mother and wife, it's time to say no when you hear the Lord softly saying so. If you don't take heed, eventually you will hear a loud

saying so! ha! (Perhaps your husband...hee!) If you feel that feeling; if you are filling your mind and heart with negativity or garbage or useless information...it's probably time to say no.

For the sake of your families, I urge you to look into your lives and find that "something" that it's time to say no to. You'll know it. And I applaud you for taking that step. :)

Christy

As a mom to two grown children and nine grandchildren, I try to say, "yes" as much as possible. Having said that, when should a homemaker say, "no?"

Say no to the people or activites that would take you away mentally and physically from your homemaking duties. If you are trying to please every person in your life, you will end up a very tired and unhappy woman. Saying no, sometimes, to the outside world, is actually saying yes to yourself and to your family.

Linking with:
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
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Wednesday Link up at Adorned from Above
Shoe Lace Linkup @ Living In the Shoe
Home Link Up at Raising Arrows
Homemaking Party @ 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
Desire to Inspire @ A Royal Daughter
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Fit & Frugal Family Friday
From the Farm
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Show Me Saturday
Teach Me Tuesday @ Growing Home
Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios
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
Tuesday Link Up Party

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