Sunday Singing Loud & Proud!

Okay, I don't share videos very often at all, but this one really made me smile so I just had to share it with you all! I hope that it makes you smile too!  What an adorable dog this is, singing loud & proud for all to hear!  I think you could say he's belting it out :)  Tonight, he has inspired me to turn the music up loud & sing too!!  ♥  Happy Sunday!!

Don't forget to stop by this week's blog hop, Saturday Around The World, to promote your blog!  And maybe you'll be the one I choose to feature as this week's Featured Blogger!  Yay!

Bad Paperback? Turn It Into A Wreath!

I am absolutely loving this DIY project from Living With Lindsay!  I had to post it for you all right away :)  How cute is this wreath made from the pages of a paperback?!  I've never seen anything like it!  And if you're a bookworm library lover like me, it will speak to you too!

You could go buy a cheap novel that you have no desire to read...or if you've started a book that turned out to be awful {I know that's happened to me!}, turn it into something pretty instead of throwing that filth into the trash!  I can see this wreath next to a big cozy reading chair.  Oooh, I'm getting crafty in my old age.  Did you know I'll be 25 tomorrow?!  Such an old woman...

Now, where's the German version of Hobby Lobby when I need it?!  ♥

Does Your Dog Watch TV?!

Layla, my sweet Dane girl, couldn't take her eyes off the TV tonight while I watched The National Dog Show!  It was so cute!  And when the commercials came on, she'd look over to me or to Lucius...  But her attention immediately went back to the dogs when the show returned!  At one point, she even walked up to the TV to get a closer look!

From the big dogs...

To the little dogs...

She was hooked!

Have you ever caught your dog watching TV?  I wonder if they really know what they're paying attention to!  Either way, it sure was cute watching Layla watch TV!  Don said I should record the Dog Show next time & play it for her once in a while ;)

Happy Friday, Everyone!!  Have a lovely weekend!  ♥

I'm Wearin All My Favorite Brands, Brands, Brands, Brands

I'm proud to say that I'm pretty sure this song made it big on German radio well before it hit the States. We're so advanced over there ;) This song makes me dance in my car like I'm in the coolest party ever! Yet...I'm usually by myself. That's normal, right?! :)


I gotta share this hilarious comment someone left on the video's YouTube page:

In my history class we were talking about the transcontinental railroad and my teacher asked who invented Dynamite and I said Taio Cruz and I got in trouble rofl  --eth1128

Hope you're in the party spirit, girlies!!! ♥

Postable Jewelry

How would you like to receive a cute postcard in the mail that not only holds the words of a friend or loved one but also holds the pieces for a new ring?! London based designer Nutre Arayavanish has made just the thing: Postable Jewelry.  These pretty postcards are made of wood & can easily be sent through the mail to their happy recipient!  You just pop out the pieces, put them together, & slide your new ring onto your finger!  I thought this was adorable -- & oh so creative!

Images from Nutre Arayavanish's website

Now, I know you wouldn't wear this "diamond ring" to your next cocktail party, but that doesn't make it any less fun! I'd love to open my mailbox & find one of these wooden whimsies waiting for me!  Postable Jewelry can be purchased at Tender Product {London} & SF MOMA {San Francisco}.

Fit For A Queen Bee!

Two wonderful things to smile about today: 1} I was able to Skype chat with my hunny for over 30 minutes tonight! Being able to see him was oh so fantastic. It makes everything easier when we're able to talk, especially without checking on the time every few seconds. Oh, deployment, you can be done, & 2} I now have over 100 readers!  Lovelies, you made me smile!  Thank you!

As I sat in my bubble bath last night, enjoying my book & my tea with honey, I was also pampering myself to a face mask--a honey face mask actually!  Sounds sticky, right?  Right, but it's also super hydrating, which my little nose needs after being blown so many times!  Then, while turning my head to keep my doggies from licking the delicious sweetness off my face, I realized just how many uses honey has!  And I thought I'd share in its wonders...  You know, for fun!  And beauty tips :)

{ Let's Look At Some Sweet Facts About Honey }

• Honey never goes bad.  Isn't that amazing?!  Archeologists found 2,000 year old jars of honey in Egypt & behold, the honey was just as delicious as ever!
  
  
• Honey contains many vitamins & antioxidants & it's a natural sweetener, but it contains no fat, no sodium, & no cholesterol!
  
  
• In honey, you can find everything needed to sustain life...even water!
  
  
  
  
• Honey can both attract & absorb moisture, so it can be used to prevent scares & to treat burns!  And because of its ability to retain water, honey is the perfect moisturizer.
  
  
• Honey is nature's energy booster!  It provides a concentrated energy source that helps prevent fatigue & can boost athletic performance.  It supplies 2 stages of energy: the glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly & gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly, providing sustained energy.
  
  
• And my favorite: Need a glow?  Mix a half cup each of honey & milk & add them to your warm bath.  After 20 minutes, Voila!  You're a Queen!  You do know that Cleopatra used this potion herself, don't you?!

And a lovely yellow tub to go with your honey, courtesy of { Girl Learning Along The Way }.  If your bathing style is a bit more posh, look at this fabulous tub!  Need some mood lighting?

Now, if only honey could cure my cold!  Goodnight, everyone!  ♥

Fancy A Spot Of Tea, Love?

I've always loved tea. Growing up {& even still!}, my Mom had an entire pull-out kitchen drawer devoted to her teas. In fact, her collection has spilled over onto the drawer below because she has so much!  She has every kind of tea that you can imagine: African red tea, coconut white tea, ginger green tea... whatever tea your little heart may desire!  Needless to say, I've inherited this love.  And although my collection isn't nearly as diverse, I still drink tea just as often as when I was growing up.  I do wish I had my mom's kitchen drawers to go to, though!

And this weekend, I've been drinking more tea than usual.  Much more!  That's what being sick will do to you.  Poor me!  But it's easier with a tasty cup of tea, & honey!  I think that I need to resupply, however.  My collection is running dangerously low!  My two favorite brands of tea are Celestial Seasonings & The Republic of Tea -- I'll have to stock up when I go home!  I think this Hot Apple Cider Tea sounds delicious for fall!

And I have such a cute tea kettle too!  My brother got it for me for Christmas last year.  Ah, a Chantal Bridge teapot!  Mine is Tiffany blue, to match my Kitchen Aid Mixer!  But the green one is awfully cute, & I like all the glasses pictured here too!  From Chantal.Com

Thank you all so much for your sweet comments about my last post.  I am feeling much better today {emotionally, at least!} & have made up my mind to make the best of all that this next year has to offer.  Whether I keep myself busy with knitting classes & Bible Studies or I find a way to go home for a while, I will remember that this is temporary.  And that God is with us!  Helping us each step of the way.  Your notes made me smile.  I have fabulous readers ♥  Thank you, dears!  And a big welcome to you all who are new!  Hello!

{ Fun fact:  Did you know that my parents live 10 minutes from the Celestial Seasonings headquarters?!  It's true!  And I wish that I could go there now...  On their free tour, they open the door to the Peppermint Room & let you take a whiff!  It's a sure cure for a cold! }

How About A Jump?!

Eleven-o'clock in the morning & a comfortable 66 degrees outside.  It's warm enough for me this way!  I like it when it's not HOT.  The dogs are fast asleep on the sofa.  Don's on his way home from work.  What should we do together today?!!

I'm in need of some pure happiness & laughter right about now. No, I haven't yet been able to wrap my head around what's about to happen, but I still feel it there...  I especially can't comprehend the length of time that we're going to be apart.  But how can you possibly understand that when you haven't gone that long without each other before?  I'm so thankful that I'm not going this alone.  Our families are absolutely wonderful, I'm surrounded by other wives who are going through the same thing, & of course I have Layla & Lucius to keep me company :)  I know that it's really going to hit me hard before too long, & I'm not looking forward to that at all.  I'm ready to get it over with, to have the crying behind me, to be coping just fine & keeping myself busy.  For now, as we continue to prep & buy last minute things & pack his bags, Don & I are honestly still so at peace.  And I know where that is coming from!  Thank you, God!

As I was perusing some of my favorite blogs this morning, I ran across a family's photos on the beach, all of which they did cute jumps for!  {Simply Seleta is a great design blog!}  How fun!  Then, at the end of the post, Seleta gave a link to a site showing the work of photographer Philippe Halsman, who made famous the "JUMP" covers of TIME magazine.  Apparently, he ended photo shoots by asking the celebrity to jump!  His theory was that jumping really shows off your personality.  I'd have to agree!

So, to bring you a smile on this lovely Tuesday {& to bring a smile to myself as well}, I'm posting some of my favorite of the celebrity JUMP photos!

Audrey Hepburn, 1955

Brigitte Bardot, 1951

Danny Kaye, 1951 {Time for me to watch The Court Jester or White Christmas!}

Grace Kelly, 1959

How could you not smile while taking these pictures, whether you're the photographer or the subject?!  Maybe when Don gets home from work, we'll take some jumping pictures to make us laugh & smile :)  You should try it too!