DIY Jewelry Rack

We made this DIY Jewelry rack the same time as our apron rack, but I just hung it up last weekend.  I couldn't decide what I really wanted to use the rack for- it was originally to be for hanging towels but we don't have a place for it in our bathroom.  After realizing that my jewelry box from college (a tackle box) just wasn't cutting it anymore, I decided to hang it in our bedroom for my necklaces.  

The wood was originally one long piece that we cut into two sections for the apron rack and this rack.  

I purchased the wood for $1 at the local Habitat Restore.  We got the hooks for around $3-$4 each from Lowe's.  Jeremy and my dad cut the wood and drilled in the hooks this past summer.

Glad I'm finally putting this one to use!

Linky Followers

Have you heard that Google Friend Connect will be going away for blogs that aren't hosted on blogger soon?  (ie Wordpress blogs, etc.)  Although Faith. Home. Love. is hosted on blogger, I've heard that Google Friend Connect will soon be going away for everyone and they will begin using Google + instead.  


So, like many bloggers are doing already, I've added the Linky Followers beta widget to my sidebar.  Linky Followers is a new and easy way for people to follow your blog and a way for you to easily follow others back (or so I've heard).  And, the best part is that it is FREE!  


I would love for you to follow my blog on Linky Followers!  Just click the link on the sidebar. 

You can sign up for your own blog or just sign up to follow blogs {here}.

Plate Wall Inspiration

I'm collecting white plates and buying some plate hangers to make a plate collage in our kitchen.  Here's what is inspiring me...

both via The Nester

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What do you think- all white plates or a mix of colors (teals, greens, whites)?  We have off-white walls so my only concern is the white would not stand out very much.  But then again I like white on white.  I'd love your opinions!

Here's a picture as a reminder of what our kitchen looks like- our table is now turned with the short end against the wall, and the plates will be hung directly on the wall above it. 

Organizing Your Family Calendar

It wasn't until this month that Jeremy and I felt the need to really have a family calendar.  But with youth events, school events, meetings, and church stuff, it was getting kind of hectic.  Enter in Cozi.

Cozi is a FREE online program that allows you to share family calendars, to do lists, shopping lists, and more.  It is available to use on your computer as well as on a phone.

Jeremy found out about Cozi from one of our youth, whose family uses it to keep track of all their kids events.

We just set up our account this past weekend but so far it is working great.  I put up our weekly menu and Jeremy can access it anytime he is wondering what's for dinner that night- just by looking at his phone.  I can check to see if he has any extracurricular activities he is helping out with after school, and we are always have access to dates and times of youth events now.

We are excited to begin using Cozi, so far we love it! It would be perfect for a family with teens! Do you use something similar to help you organize your family calendar?

February Monthly Goals {Free Printable}

Here is the February version on the monthly goals printable. Click here to download a copy. (I figured out how to upload it in Google Docs, so it should be easier to download than last month!) I hope you enjoy!

 

Preparing for a Vegetable Garden

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This summer we want to plant our first vegetable garden!  A garden will supply us our own healthy, fresh, and organic vegetables, at what I think will be a fraction of the price.

 Because we are renting, we are considering container gardening- anyone have any experience with that?

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I was reading through my February issue of Martha Stewart Living and saw that she was beginning to prepare for her gardens this coming month.  According to Martha, February is the time to draft your planting plan for spring.  I'm guessing she knows what she is talking about, so I'm starting my planting plan now too!  

First up is a wish-list of veggies we would like to grow this year:

• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• Yellow Summer Squash
• Strawberries
• Bell Peppers
• Broccoli
• Onions
• Leafy greens
• Potatoes
• Green Onions

(We may not be able to do all of those- but it's a wishlist)

We also want to start an indoor container garden for herbs including:

• Basil
• Rosemary
• Cilantro
• Parsly

I would love to do our herb garden in something like this, but I'm concerned about there being no drainage.  

I'll probably do something more along these lines:

Do you have any gardening advice for a newbie?

I Can't Find My Phone

I cannot tell you how many times I've said those words..."I can't find my phone".  Today I stumbled upon a website to help me out in my times of need:

A website that will call your phone for you!  Genius.   www.icantfindmyphone.com

What Women Want

I know it's been quiet around here lately.  I've been busy working on some of my goals for 2012!


I don't know if you noticed, but in my 2012 goals list I mentioned that one of my goals was to launch a women's ministry at our church.  I've been working up a proposal the last couple of weeks, and I'm getting ready to meet with the pastoral leadership this week.  Be praying that I can clearly communicate my heart and vision for this ministry as well as keep my heart focused on the number one goal- women coming to know Jesus and growing in Him daily.  


As I was reading and preparing for the proposal, I remembered this quote that I had read while I was in college.  It's about what women really want in life.  I was so struck with how much it described my own desires, that it is engrained in my mind.  


I thought I'd share it with you today. 


Women generally, no matter their age, religion, or marital status, want basically the same things: 


 In their relationships with men, they want faithful fathers, brothers, husbands and sons who love and respect them, rather than mocking, ignoring, or hurting them. They want fun, but meaningful sexual relationships
 In their relationships with women, they want honesty, and true sisterhood, as well as older women who can mentor them.
 They want the satisfaction of bearing and rearing children well.  
They want a place to call home-not simply an apartment or house, but an affectionate, safe "sit by the fire" home where they can be themselves without fear and where others can come to receive something from them.
They want a sense of significance, of doing something that really counts in the world. Something only they can offer.

(via “Does Christianity Squash Women” by Rebekah Jones)

BUT most women have lost hope that this “dream” can come true. 

How about you.... does this describe what you want in life?  Have you lost your hope in this dream?  I pray that through Christ we can all discover abundant life through fulfilling our God-given roles and joyfully serving Him.  I truly believe it is only through Him that these dreams and desires can be fulfilled in a woman's life.  

I'm excited to begin developing a ministry to help women understand that!

Monthly Goal Printable {Free Download}

I wanted a place to break down my yearly priorities and focus into bite sized monthly goals, so I went on a search for a monthly goals printable sheet.  I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for so I decided to create my own.  I found a beautiful weekly goals sheet here, but I needed one for monthly goals.  I decided to basically just make a similar version of Jana’s- I hope she doesn’t mind!  I'm sure she probably made hers in Photoshop and I was scrounging around Word trying to make it look right!

 

It is broken down into my different priority areas, so it may or may not work for you- its all according to your own priorities. 

If you’d like a copy you can download one here

It seems that the outside edges were cut off a bit on Scribd because of margins, and I’m not sure how to fix it.   If you’d like me to send you my pdf version just send me an email asking for it at faithhomelove@gmail.com

Enjoy!

12 Books in 2012

I plan to read at least one book every month this year.  Here is my list for 2012 so far.


January- Spiritual Disciples for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
February- Made to Crave by Lisa Terkeurst 
March- Women Reaching Women by Chris Adams
April- Margin by Richard Swensen
May- Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day
June- Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman
July- Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick
August- Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
September-  Knowledge of the Holy AW Tozer
October-  Transformed Lives: Taking Women’s Ministry to the Next Level by Chris Adams
November- The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine
December- One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp


Continuing Reads throughout the Year:
Jesus Calling
Home Comforts


Last year I made a reading list for 2011 and was pretty proud of how many I actually read. 


Books I read in 2011:


1. Becoming a Woman who Pleases God by Pat Enis and Lisa Tatlock
2. Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
3. His Needs, Her Needs by Willard Harley
4. Saving Your Marriage before it Starts by Les and Leslie Parrot
5. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

6. Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey
7. The Family by Dorothy Patterson
9. The House that Cleans Itself by Mindy Stuart Clark
10. It's My Turn by Ruth Bell Graham
11. Letters from Ruth's Attic by Ruth Bell Graham
12.Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman
13.  5 Star Living on a 3 Star Budget by Feinburg
14. Handbook for Minister's Wives by Dorothy K. Patterson
15. The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace


These were not on my original list but I also read:
16. The Help
17. Home Comforts (it is a household management book, and I’m still making my way through it but it has so much useful information in it!)

I’m linking to The Nester’s party