November In Pictures

** I'm starting something new by sharing a collection of my favorite Instagrams of the month, this should be fun**

P.S. You can following my on Instagram: @elizabethpfink

Five Faves: Advent Calendars

Tomorrow starts Advent. Do you have an advent calendar for this year? Well fear not, today I have pulled together five ways to count down the days to Christmas that can be made out of things you already have at home or printed right off the internet.

Starting with this printable tiny city from Mr. Printables. They would go great on a windowsill or on top of a dresser.

 Second, I think it would be really fun to make 25 paper snowflakes (like these) to add to your windows one day at a time.

Idea number three, how cute would it be to make 25 of these clothespin dolls, you could make them all at once or make a new friend everyday!

Number four: If you feel like it isn't a true advent count down with out a few yummy treats or little gifts, you could easily whip up some paper cones to fill with your favorite special things.

And last, but not least #5 Glass Jar Snowglobes. I plan on filling 25 jars with faux snow and bottle brush trees, like these. And bonus I'll be reusing some of my dyed trees from last year!

Will you be making any handmade advent calendars this year? Do you have one you pull out every December 1? Do share!

Live: Well Lived Weekend

(looking out from my Aunt and Uncle's deck on Thanksgiving)

I certainly enjoyed my long weekend. It was full of family time, turkey eating, costume sewing (so much sewing), baby shower attending, game playing and much giving of thanks!

But now I am ready to turn my thoughts towards Christmas. I'm looking forward to rounding up my favorite ornaments, advent calendars, Christmas movies and cookie recipes with you over the next few weeks.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

As I run out the door to share a meal with 60 of my closest relatives I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I recently heard Ann Lamont one the radio talking about her new book Help, Thanks, Wow in which she writes about what she considers to be the three most basic prayers all people say; the desperate plea for help, the involuntary uttering of thanksgiving (she says that this prayer is really known as "thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you") and the often inaudible expression of awe at the created world. So this morning as I was thinking about what I would write to wish you a happy thanksgiving, it seemed better to take a chapter from Annie's book and in place of a list of all that I am thankful for (it would take all day to read) I wish you a day where you can give thanks for all the ways your needs have been met and you have been rescued from your trials and for every way you are amazed by workings of our glorious God!

Live: Walk

 You want to take a little walk with me and Amelia (the dog) around my parents neighborhood? Oh good. Let's go!

 This squirrel was not very happy to see us. He just yelled and yelled.

 A movie was filmed here over a year ago. And it has been sitting empty ever since.

 This block has the prettiest out buildings, which make for the best allies.

 Another house used in a different movie.

 One of my all time favorite houses, painted a sunny yellow with a darling sun room.

 Old neighborhoods have the best sidewalks.

 One of many crooks and crannies that my friends and I loved to ride our bikes down when we where kids.

 I have always loved that pea green building downtown.

Back home again.
Bonus: Not only did I get to take a nice walk on a beautiful fall day, I ran into two of my cousins (one home for Thanksgiving) while out. There is nothing like being in your own neck of the woods.

Oh and if you couldn't tell, I am officially an Instagram user. You can find me here. Don't worry it isn't all highly documented walks, there are twinkle lights too.

Rest . . .

This here blog has been a little quiet over the last few weeks. The best word to describe these last few weeks is rest (with a few suffixes for good measure).

Rest-ful:

• I spent a great weekend with a few of my college friends, Beth and Karin, at the beginning of November. It is so enjoyable to just hang out drinking coffee and laughing with those girls. 
• I've been rewatching season three of Gilmore Girls (with season four waiting in the wings). I continue to be tickled pink, by things like Jon Hamm popping up as Lorelai's boring date.
• Winter is banging on our doors and I am ready to pull out the down comforters and handmade quilts.

Rest-less:

• I spent most of the last week living with my sister while my parents were out of town. I can't tell you how glad I am to be moving back into my own home.
• I have a few projects I hope to finish up by the end of this year, but I have 2013 on my mind and all the great things I plan to do with that year. So glad I have Thanksgiving and Christmas to distract me.
• I just finished up watching season two of The Walking Dead. Now I'm just thinking about how I can get my mitts on the already aired season three episodes.

Am I the only one who feels a little restless this time of year? Or do you feel the same way too?

P.S. This little person is three today. Much love to my niece Evie!

Share: Beautiful

A little beauty for your Monday morning . . .

 We sang this song at church on Sunday. It made me think of the images I have seen of the universe. So I thought I'd share.

Beautiful by Phil Wickham

 I see Your face in every sunrise

The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes

The world awakens in the light of the day

I look up to the sky and say 

You’re beautiful

 I see Your power in the moonlit night

Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright

We are amazed in the light of the stars

It’s all proclaiming who You are

You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

 I see you there hanging on a tree

You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me

Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne

Soon we will be coming home

You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

 When we arrive at eternity’s shore

Where death is just a memory and tears are no more

We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring 

Your bride will come together and we’ll sing

You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

 I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I am never not amazed when I see images of this wonderful place we live. All these images and many more from space telescopes can be found on this website.

Celebrate: Cozy & Bright Baby Shower

It is no secret I love a good party! And I really love putting on a pretty shower. I think it has something to do with being from a big family where there is always someone getting married or having a baby. It also means that we are all a little over pastel purple and baby pink (who isn't?) so for the up coming shower we're hosting for my sister in-law we are going for a slightly brighter pallet.

Okay start with the invite, I just love this orange heart "Baby Love" invitation from tinyprints, it is cute and girly with out being syrupy sweet. So with an invitation chosen I thought the theme to build around it was Cozy & Bright!

Step two, select a few decorations, I like to go simple and homemade. For this shower I'm thinking something like these colorful paper chains and a sweet cardboard tube heart (see also pompoms).

Next add a few fun details like heart straws and crazy sprinkle cake.

Finally find prizes or thank you gifts that people actually want. I like the idea of giving out tiny brightly colored cactus.

What do you think? Wanna come? Or do you think it is blasphemes to not us pink for a baby girl?