{Sharing} 2014 Valentine's Day Mantel

Well here she is!

My Valentine's Day mantel...the only Valentine's Day decor I have out.  Didn't take long to create this as I pulled most things from my china cabinet, craft room, and decor stash. 

I did buy the pink burlap rose and the scrapbook paper in the wire frames but that's it! I used some vintage Valentine note cards for the banner.  Easiest banner I think I'll ever make!

And remember my printable? It's free! Click here.

Tomorrow's the big day! Hope your prep is almost done if not already!

Happy Thursday!

{See my Link Parties Page for the shares.}

{Freebie} You Stole My Heart Printable

Well I managed to decorate my mantle for Valentine's Day.  I'm a little sad that I didn't get to do more.  I guess the bright side is, that I didn't nag my husband to put up the Christmas decor.  Yes it is still in my craft room! Actually it's a little depressing! 

Moving on to happier things!

If you haven't noticed, I love printables! Especially ones you can frame and in seconds you have an easy decoration! I realize this may be a little late but I will be enjoying this on my mantle for a good week! Probably longer!

Heart graphic found at The Graphics Fairy.

I'll be sharing my mantle on Thursday!!

Happy Tuesday!

{See my Link Parties page for the shares!}

Vintage Gwen Chapel-The Right Time To Worry

Let me ask you a question.  

When do you worry about tomorrow?

At this very moment? 

Immediately when you open your eyes every morning? 

All day long?

Well for the past few months, a couple times a week if not more, within 5 minutes of being awake, Lil Hunkie is asking...."what'd we gotta do tomorrow, momma?"

And it dawned on me recently that my response sounded like I was quoting scripture!!

"I am not going to worry about tomorrow when I just started today!" or "We haven't even gotten through today, why worry about tomorrow, you turkey!"

Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So the right time to worry is NEVER! 

Worry is the best form of self torture.  It benefits you nothing and if it benefits you nothing then it's really taking away from you. Lil' Hunkie is 4 and has yet to learn the concept of time.  

What's our excuse? What's mine?

You know what? 

I shall overcome worry by teaching Lil' Hunkie that God will take care of our tomorrows. 

His Word says so.  And I believe His Word!

Be blessed and have a great week lovelies!

Orange Spice Tea Gift Mix & Free Valentine Gift Tag

Confession time.

I've not hardly made coffee at home since December. It's not because I wanted to cut down, it's because I've had something very yummy to take it's place! I was at my friend Valerie's house in December and she had a hot drink bar....cocoa, chai tea (uh, it's yummy too!) and orange spice tea.  She'd given me some of the orange spice tea before so it was the first thing I went for remembering it being good!

Well I decided to make some for my siblings for Christmas and kept the leftovers and have been enjoying it ever since! 

(I also won some of her chai tea at Bunco in January so who really needs coffee? Ha!)

Well you know me, I gotta share the goodness! And  I thought I'd gussy it up for Valentine's Day with a free printable gift tag! Here's the recipe....

Valerie's Orange Spice Tea Mix

*passed down from her Grandma!

2 cups Tang

1/2 cup instant tea with lemon (no sugar)

2 cups sugar

1 packet Koolaide lemonade

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground clove

Stir together or run through a food processor or blender for a finer powder. 

Pour into you favorite jar to gift and add a tag!

*To make: mix 1 tbsp with 1 cup hot water and enjoy!

(I wrote this on the back of a tag.)

--------------------------------------------

This is just stirred together.  

When I spooned it into the jar it automatically layered somewhat! 

Since this mix is orange, I thought it'd be fun to make the tag an orangey color and not do the traditional pink or red. And Lil' Hunkie requested to make cookies on Tuesday night so I saved some back for props! 

And now for the tags! This is my first time making tags to share so they are a little big. 

And here's just a single image...

The lovely teacup graphic came from the awesome Graphics Fairy!

Feel free to re-size these but they are for personal use only.

My Blogiversary is coming up quick...Valentine's Day in fact and I've been collecting things for a giveaway and yep, adding a jar of mix to the pile! So stayed tuned!!

Happy Thursday lovelies!

{See my Link Parties page for the shares.}

Soiree Day-Valentine's Day Tea Party Round Up

I have something really fun to share on Thursday and it has to do with tea. 

 So I thought I'd round up some pretty Valentine's Day Tea parties!

Vintage & Feminine Valentine's Day Tea Party 

at Domestic Fashionista 

image found on Pinterest, courtesy of Domestic Fashionista

Old Fashioned Love-Valentine's Day Tea Party at 

In Awe Of Your Grace

image found on Pinterest, courtesy of In Awe Of Your Grace

Valentine Tea Party at The Frosted Petticoat

image found on Pinterest, courtesy of The Frosted Petticoat

And there's two things that are tea party staples...sugar cubes and scones, right?

Found some dressed up for Valentine's day!

DIY Sugar Hearts at JoJo and Deloise

image found on Pinterest, courtesy of JoJo and Deloise

White Chocolate, Raspberry & Macadamia Scones 

at Redpath Sugar

image found on Pinterest, courtesy of Redpath Sugar

Man those scones look so yummy! 

Make sure and check back on Thursday!

Happy Tuesday!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Scripture Spotlight

This past Monday SheReadsTruth started a new reading plan, This Is The Gospel. 

{SheReadsTruth is an online community where we study the Bible together, it's quite awesome!}

Man has it been good!

In Friday's reading one scripture just completely tore me up and I couldn't help but let the tears fall.

1 Corinthians 15:14

"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."

This is how the Amplifed reads....

"And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain [it amounts to nothing] and your faith is devoid of truth  and  is fruitless (without effect, empty, imaginary, and unfounded)."

Useless, vain, devoid of truth, fruitless, without effect, empty, imaginary, unfounded.

One necessary thing negated those words...

The Resurrection.  

He did rise! He didn't stay dead!

Just let that sink in.

It was probably more the Christ didn't stay dead words that led to the waterworks. I rely a lot on my faith to get me through....right now it's the struggle of being a good parent...it's rough business being a toddler let me tell ya! And so for me to read that my faith is not in vain because He is risen...well it was like a breath of fresh air...like God was saying  "It's all going to be ok".  And at just the right moment that I need to be reassured.  

Will you be reassured with me?

Go HERE to read Friday's devotion.

Be blessed!