Relaxing Afternoon

One of my favorite things to do is relax at a local coffee house and enjoy the atmosphere. It even helps when you enjoy it with a friend!

I am preparing for a "staycation" with my husband this weekend. We had plans for an actual vacation this weekend, but the plans fell through when we could not find a dog-sitter. Owning a dog can be hassle! I'm still excited to shut the world away and hang with the hubby!

What are you doing this labor day weekend?

Motivation of the Day

Findings Around Target

While out shopping at Target, I often dream about what I would buy if I had unlimited money. Today on my blog, you are going shopping with me. Here are some finds I found at my local Target that I would snatch up if I had the money. 

First, I should warn my readers that my husband and I have a clock obsession. We have at least one clock in every one of our rooms, except the kitchen. We are actively seeking out a clock to fit in with out kitchen decor... but that's another story.

While this clock is not a good fit for our kitchen, we have been looking at it ever since Target put it on the shelf for $9.99. It's a perfect little clock for a small, unoccupied area. I think we'll buy it soon. It comes in many different colors, but I think I like the red the best. Cute, amiright?

Next, I found a bunch of lamps that I love. All kinds of colors and shapes! I really love the simple silver lamps, but a little punch of color in a room never hurts!

I love the coral color and simple shape of this lamp! It ran around $20.

Same lamp but in another color, more neutral. Still love it!

Fun and funky yellow lamp with a cool shape!

More expensive, but pretty awesome lamp!

Next, I moved on to amazing pillows! I have no idea why pillows are so expensive, but I would take any of these off of Target's shelves if they were about 1/4 of the price.

I think that last pillow is my favorite. The shape and simple sewn-in design is really eye catching. I might be dreaming about that pillow for a while! I also really like the blue coral pillow, and I think it would be great in a sea-themed room. What do you think?

I hope you enjoyed my small shopping trip to Target. What have you found there or at any other of your favorite stores lately?

Gluten Free Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

I have decided to dive into the world of gluten free baking. I have some friends who cannot eat gluten products, and I would love to be able to cook for them, or just learn more about gluten free products. Really, it's very interesting! I am finding out that people have been able to make flours out of so many things! Tapioca? Almond? Coconut? Sure, no problem! It's fascinating. 

I am already craving some fall foods, since I really really want it to be fall already. Hence, I recently made some pumpkin cranberry gluten free muffins with some gal friends of mine (25th and Skillern and Lisse Livs Life). I was really skeptical of these muffins, first because I had never made any gluten free product, and I was slightly changing a recipe that I found online, and I know the dangers of changing recipes (especially gluten free ones!). However, these turned out FANTASTIC. I cannot stop eating them! My husband loved them as well, and my friends each took a bundle home with them, too.

You can easily substitute or add in your favorite muffin ingredients! I did not add in any nuts into this recipe, but walnuts or almonds would be fantastic! Any type of berries or dried fruit would also be an amazing addition.

Enjoy!

Give Us This Day Free Printable

Today I am offering you a free printable of one of my favorite parts of the Bible - The Lord's Prayer. This is just a snippet, as it is made to be in the kitchen (but you do not necessarily have to put it there).

You can get the full version for download here. 

Enjoy and God Bless!

New Art Piece for A Friend

I have finished a painting for my friend Melissa of Lisse Lives Life.  I used mostly house paints again, so it was a cheap gift! One of my secrets to painting cheap is to buy really crappy looking paintings at the thrift store, prime them, and paint over them. It is much cheaper then buying full prices new canvases at the craft or art store. 

I don't really have much to say about this painting other than that I like it a lot! It's abstract and fun, and that was my goal. I hope you like it, and sorry about the poor pictures. My camera apparently hates taking pictures of my art. Oh well!

I hope you enjoy my art! God bless!

Motivation of the Day

I have struggled to seek out ares in my life boldly. It's more like I approach things I am doing with a timid disposition, afraid I may fail or disappoint someone else. 

I feel like time for boldness, especially since I have realized how short life really is. I need to seek God's will for my life boldly. I need to seek success with my career boldly. And I need to seek marital bliss with a bold and aspiring attitude. I want to carry on this saying with all the areas in my life, and I hope you do too.