oh, sweet joy!

GROUP sponsor highlight + giveaway: honey & thread, all things loved blog, maddy n bella

2012-02-15T00:00:00.003-07:00

The winner of the Hollie Rogue "xo" typewriter key necklace is The Posh Daisy, who said:

Email me (ohsweetjoyATgmailDOTcom) with your shipping information and I'll send it along!

Also, we changed up the order of outfit & giveaway posts. You have a TINY amount of time to enter last week's giveaway, so hop on over , do that real quick, and come on back. Don't worry. We'll wait on you.

---

Honey & Thread is a sweet blog and an etsy shop, all in one! You'll find marriage adventures, thrift finds, and some cute prints to snatch up.

Today, you have the opportunity to win a $20 shop credit!

That's a lot of prints you can win. You can also use the code OHSWEETJOY20 for 20% off your purchase.

FInd more from Honey & Thread at the following places:

blog :: twitter :: shop

---

Next up, we have an Oh, Sweet Joy! blog sponsor veteran, Maddy N Bella. Courtney is such a sweetheart and creates such gorgeous jewelry! It's always an honor to feature her.

Today, she's offering up this amazing bracelet! GOSH, I see so much layering potential in this piece. It's so pretty! You can also score 15% off her shop by using the code MADDYNBELLA15.

Find more from Courtney at the following links:

facebook :: shop :: twitter

---

A brand new sponsor of mine, All Things Loved, is a blog that touches on a little bit of everything! You'll find giveaways, handmade inspiration, fashion, and motherhood. Eleanor has such an inspiring place on the web.

She also has a handmade shop, which is where her giveaway item comes from! She sells cozy scarves and decor. Today, she's giving away this chunky knit scarf. You can also use the code OHFREESHIP for free shipping through February 17th in her shop.

---

To enter this GROUP giveaway, simply tell me something positive about your day :)

To earn extra entries:

1. visit each shop/blog and tell me what your favorite items are from at least ONE of the shops

(one entry).

honey & thread * maddy n bella *all things loved/seam & fold

2. follow the Oh, Sweet Joy! blog via Google Friend Connect (one entry).

3. Follow @ohsweetjoy on twitter.

4. tweet/facebook/blog about this giveaway (one entry).

Feel free to use this:

Group Giveaway on @ohsweetjoy's blog! (Featuring @maddynbella, @honeyandthread, & All Things Loved blog!) http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985

love.

((guest post)) hand-carved stamps...from APPLES!

2012-02-14T00:00:00.005-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all! You get a bonus Valentine's themed tutorial this week brought to you by sweet Erika from Rouge & Whimsy!

---

Hi, I'm Erika from the blog and shop Rouge & Whimsy.

I love the almost rustic look of a hand-carved stamps. I've seen quite a few cute tutorials on Pinterest , but most require you get a block to carve a stamp from.

I have an even cheaper and easier way to make a handmade stamp using things you have in your kitchen right now... like a potato or apple.

Gather your supplies: knife, apple or potato, stamp pad, paper -- carve out shapes -- stamp onto paper.

It's super easy &fun! and of course, when you're done, you can always eat your remaining stamp supplies... I prefer mine with cheese. ;)

Thanks Kim for having me!

---

Thank YOU, Erika! I see some stationery in my future.

love.

((handmade monday)) oversized fold-over clutch tutorial

2012-02-13T08:35:00.002-07:00

Like the new duds? We're sprucing up the place, so click around and see what's new!

I have seen oversized clutches everywhere lately and I couldn't wait to get my hands on one! Today, I'll teach you how to save some pennies and sew one with a magnetic closure that is large enough to hold your iPad or e-reader, along with other necessities.

Let's get sewing!

Here's what you'll need:

thread

scissors

two fabric choices (interior & exterior)

magnetic closure

interfacing or felt

sewing machine

1. Cut out a pocket, mine ended up being 8X11 inches & fold it in half.

2. Cut out your outside fabric (mine was 11X15 inches). I used my iPad as a guide for how large I wanted it. Use that to cut out the interior fabric with the same dimensions.

3. Pocket: Fold the fabric in half, if you haven't already, and stitch up the sides, leaving a long side open. Turn it right side out and press, turning in the raw edges. Pin this onto your lining fabric and sew along the sides & bottom. This leaves a nice and clean top part of your pocket!

Here is a step-by-step photo break down.

Note: Make sure you do this before you sew your interior fabric. Not that I forgot and learned the hard way or anything...

4. Fold each fabrics lengthwise, with the right sides of the fabric facing each other. Sew up the sides of your EXTERIOR fabric and make sure you leave the top open.

5. Sew up ONE side of your INTERIOR fabric and leave a 3" opening on the other side. Again, leave the top open.

*I usually flip to the right sides & iron my pieces at this point*

6. Using the instructions on the packaging, install your magnetic snap. I didn't use interfacing on this clutch, but wanted to make sure the snap was sturdy, so I put a layer of felt in between the fabric and the snap.

7. Stay with me & read carefully. Keep the INTERIOR fabric inside-out and turn the EXTERIOR fabric RIGHT-side-out. Put the EXTERIOR fabric INSIDE the INTERIOR fabric. Line up the top (pin if you'd like) and sew ALL the way around.

8. Now, using the hole we left open earlier, pull out the EXTERIOR fabric and then sew up the edge of the INTERIOR fabric using a topstitch. Stuff the lining inside, press and VOILA!

I like folding it up a tiny bit so that the lining peeks through.

Options:

1. Make it in leather, which is next for me! SO fab!

2. Add a zipper, rather than the magnetic closure.

3. Make the outside colorful, with a solid lining.

4. Add interfacing to make it sturdier.

5. Topstitch the top opening.

love.

Pin It

ask

2012-02-11T18:16:00.000-07:00

One thing that I "regret" from running a full-time handmade shop was that I rarely had time to fully answer questions that people had about running a shop. I'd try and answer what I could, but bottom line, there were too many emails in my inbox and not enough hours in the day.

Now that I'm not running Oh, Sweet Joy! ((the shop)) full time, I have a little bit more time on my hands. This doesn't mean that I have time to answer every question (that is usually a page long email) that pops in my inbox, but I do want to answer the most pressing ones that you may have.

((photo source))

That said, if you have a question (or two) about running a handmade shop, leave them in the comments section below. If you'd rather, you can also email them to me (ohsweetjoyATgmailDOTcom). Depending on how many questions I get, I'll do a series of posts or just a long one :) Feel free to ask any other questions, as well. I'm working on a Frequently Asked Questions page and anything that doesn't really involve running an indie biz, I'll stick in there.

Ready? Ask away, friends.

I'll do my best to answer questions honestly and as thoroughly as possible!

love.

playing piano in the moonlight

2012-02-09T00:00:00.005-07:00

I can't get enough of this music video. It's beautiful and sweet and makes me feel all warm & fuzzy. My friend, Lauren Ledbetter, ((who is a super talented stylist)) helped with the styling of the video and is a baller.

Enjoy some sweet inspiration!

Perfect Kiss Official Video from Marie Hines on Vimeo.

I just bought Marie Hines' album on iTunes and l-o-v-e it. Seriously. Love.

love.

Pin It

Sponsor Highlight + Giveaway: Judy Kaufmann

2012-02-08T00:00:00.007-07:00

We changed up the order of posts on you this week. You have a TINY amount of time to enter last week's giveaway, so hop on over, do that real quick, and come on back. Don't worry. We'll wait on you.

---

When I received an email from Judy Kaufmann, I was so humbled and giddy. After all, I own one of her prints and love it, her work is second-to-none & beautifully unique, and I mean, the woman's home was featured on Design*Sponge! Needless to say, I'm thrilled to share her work with you all today.

Judy lives in Barcelona, Spain (jealous!) and creates gorgeous prints that are, both, colorful and whimsical. She is a very humble woman and if I were Judy, I'd be ranting and raving about my successes, gorgeous color pairings, and features/press I've received. However, when I asked for a bio, she gave me this:

I'm Judy Kaufmann, a Barcelona based Freelance Illustrator who likes to draw animals, people, houses, cars, trees and everything repeatedly.

Love her sense of humor too - exhibit a: check out her twitter bio. :)

Today, Judy gave me the opportunity to pick which print we'd give away. I thought this one was perfect, so Judy is giving away this awesome print - oh, the possibilities of colorful frames! It will go with any decor, and can be customized with a funky, modern, bright, or simple frame. Perfecto!

You can also use this code if you see another print you can't live without, which is a great possibility. You simply can't beat 20% off great art.

You can find Judy at the following places on the interwebs:

shop :: blog :: twitter :: iPhone cases on society6

---

Mandatory Entry:

Head on over to the Judy Kaufmann Etsy Shop and tell me which print is your favorite!

Extra Entries:

1. Follow both Judy Kaufmann (@JudyKaufmann) and myself (@ohsweetjoy) on twitter. (one entry)

2. Be a follower of Oh, Sweet Joy! Blog via Google Friend Connect. (one entry)

3. "Like" Oh, Sweet Joy's Facebook Page here.

4. Tweet, Facebook, OR blog about this giveaway. (ONE entry)

Feel free to use this:

I just entered to win an amazing print from @JudyKaufmann at @OhSweetJoy's blog! http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985

That's a possible FIVE entries! I hope you win!

love.

this ain't your grandma's skirt

2012-02-07T00:00:00.004-07:00

When I gave a talk at a MOPS meeting a few months ago about style & outfitting, one of the first things asked when I opened the floor for questions was, "So...you said that pattern mixing is a fun trend. But...how do you know what patterns to mix?"

For me, I almost always pair a stripe with some sort of floral. It's easy, it's fun, and it doesn't look like a 4 year old picked out your outfit.

Whoa. Hey there white & pasty January legs.

Sweetheart Necklace - Lisa Leonard Designs

Striped Boatneck Tee - Old Navy

Belt - Anthropologie

Clutch - Hobo International

Watch - Fossil

Skirt, Mary Jane heels - Dillards

I seriously love this look. It has a sweet vintage feel, but with a chunk of purple hair and hipster glasses it isn't TOO sweet ;)

Anywho, what are your favorite patterns to mix?

love.

photos courtesy of Jessica Povenmire

Pin It

handmade monday: ((tutorial)) lace-trimmed layering slip

2012-02-06T00:00:00.036-07:00

Sometimes skirts/dresses are a tiny bit too short.

Sometimes you just need an extra little detail to your outfit.

Sometimes you simply can't turn down adding some lace to your look (hand raised).

Today, I'll be showing you how to add lace trim (or any trim for that matter!) to a slip so that you can add a little length to some of your garments that you just can't part with.

Let's get to it!

Here's what you'll need:

Sewing Machine

Thread

Scissors

Lace Trim

Slip

Pins

Measure your lace around the bottom of the slip to see how much you will need & cut.

Pin lace to slip. (I just put mine on top since the kind I purchased won't fray.)

Top stitch all the way around, sewing the edges together at the end.

(Make sure you sew them together inside out, so the outside looks finished)

Now, if that isn't the most drab photo I've ever seen, I don't know what is.

But that's never here nor there.

Here are some fun ways to style your new & improved slip.

You can:

1. Pair it with a tunic to make it more of a dress length.

2. Pull it up underneath your bust and where it with a flowy blouse.

3. Wear it underneath a skirt that is a tad bit short.

For the record, these are still too short for me to wear & not feel like a hoochy-momma. Next time I'll be using longer lace or crochet trim ;)

love.

Pin It

linked up here!

favorite things friday: skirts

2012-02-03T00:00:00.007-07:00

There's nothing more functional and versatile in my closet than skirts. Here are some of my favorite skirt finds lately :)

1. Yarn Plumes Skirt - Anthropologie

2. Cassidy Skirt - Corey Lynn Calter

3. Mila Skirt - Fossil

4. Amelia Striped Skirt - ShopKempt

5. Fair Trade Secret Skirt - ModCloth

Tell me about your favorite skirt!

My favorite is one that I got on suuuuuper sale at anthro (this one!). It's floral and has almost every color in it, so I don't have to think too hard about what to put on top. That's SUPER important to this indecisive girl.

love.

rise & shine

2012-02-02T11:51:00.001-07:00

I had a slow start to my morning today. I haven't been able to fall asleep the last few nights and that has resulted in groggy, sleep-deprived morning routines. BUT Chase comes home tonight and I can't wait! The sleepless nights will be made a-okay.

Have a wonderful Thursday, everyone.

love.

orange, lace & some birds

2012-02-01T00:00:00.013-07:00

Happy February!

Make sure you take a gander at our February sponsors over there on the right hand side bar. They are all kinds of baller.

Asymetrical Tee, Crochet Tank (similar one in red here), Bicycle Necklace - Anthropologie

Denim - Levi's

Over the Knee Socks, Orange Layering Tank - Urban Outfitters

Boots - Target

Watch - Fossil

The sun came out to play last week, here in Boulder. This resulted in a cheery, orange outfit & an outfit post. You'll be seeing a lot more of these soon. :)

((outfit posts, not orange outfits - just to clarify))

Also, can we just talk about how cool this fence is?

"Put a Bird - or 20 - On It!"

love.

Photos courtesy of Jessica Povenmire.

Pin It

Sponsor Highlight + Giveaway: A Hollie Rogue

2012-01-31T00:00:00.004-07:00

Happy Tuesday! Last call for February sponsors! I'd love to have you :) Email me if you want to hop on last minute!

---

Let's start with some giveaway winners & then throw in another giveaway while we're at it! :)

The winner of the No Brainer Wardrobe e-book & the Rags to Stitches Large Ad is:

The winner of the Oh So Antsy mini state necklace is:

The other two winners of the No Brainer Wardrobe are:

If you didn't win any of these giveaways, go here & here to make sure you take advantage of the discount codes!

---

Today, I get to tell you about one of our new sponsors, The Hollie Rogue!

I'll let Andi take it away so you can learn more about this great blog & shop.

Hi, I'm Andi and I'm a wife, mom, former elementary teacher, and 1/3 of The Hollie Rogue Shop. My two sisters and I opened our etsy shop in November of last year and design handmade, vintage-inspired and crocheted accessories. I love using antique pieces to create something new and updated like my typewriter key necklaces and antique earring rings. My sister, Emily, hand-embroiders gorgeous pendant necklaces (can be customized for your color choices) and my sister, Gretchen is the yarn expert. I also write about my perspective on parenting, marriage, faith, and crafting over on my blog, The Hollie Rogue. Please come say hello---new friends are my favorite!

Andi has so generously offered up one of her gorgeous vintage typewriter key necklaces - that's a $35 value! You can also use the code SWEETJOY25 for ALL of February if something catches your eye :)

After you enter the giveaway, make sure you check out all that The Hollie Rogue has to offer at the following links:

blog // Facebook // twitter // shop

Mandatory Entry:

Head on over to the Hollie Rogue shop and tell me which item you'd love to have!

Extra Entries:

1. Follow both The Hollie Rogue (@TheHollieRogue) and myself (@ohsweetjoy) on twitter. (one entry)

2. Be a follower of Oh, Sweet Joy! Blog via Google Friend Connect. (one entry)

3. Tweet, Facebook, OR blog about this giveaway. (ONE entry)

Feel free to use this:

I just entered to win an "XO" typewriter necklace from @TheHollieRogue at @OhSweetJoy's blog! http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985

That's a possible FOUR entries! I hope you win!

love.

favorite things friday ((cupid's arrows))

2012-01-27T00:00:00.005-07:00

There is something about arrow prints on home decor, clothing, and printed items that makes me smile. I love the almost bohemian look it gives. Valentine's Day is approaching, so today's Favorite Things Friday is all about arrows!

Source: etsy.com via Kim on Pinterest

Source: laurenmoffatt.net via Kim on Pinterest

Source: urbanoutfitters.com via Kim on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Kim on Pinterest

Happy Friday, friends! Have a wonderful weekend :)

love.

happy birthday to my bestie!

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today is my best friend's birthday! Instead of getting all sappy, I just wanted to celebrate with a funny picture.

Let me also explain the red-neck-ness of this picture. We were at a staff retreat at our cabin in Almont and on a break, we were shooting ~~beer~~ errrrr coke cans that we threw in a tree. Normal, right? Add a trucker hat and an axe as a prop and you've got yerself a dern tootin' great photo opp.

& we also just so happened to both be wearing ~~jean shorts~~ jorts.

Happy birthday, Ari!

Here's to celebrating many more with you.

((even though you are not in town and I'm pouting about it))

love.

bold prints

2012-01-25T02:00:00.002-07:00

I used to only wear solids and if there was any pattern, it was only in texture. Even though I have had an ongoing love affair with textiles for years, the "print" bug never bit me until recently. And now? I can't stop.

For example, I purchased this blouse and this blouse a while ago. Seriously? Snails? Weird looking owls? On a shirt?

For real, though, I love seeing my personal style evolve as I push the limits with what I'm comfortable wearing. Here are some prints I'd love to have in my wardrobe. They're a little bit quirky and a little bit awesome. **wink**

Here are a few favorite prints I've found cruising around the interwebs.

((1)) ((2)) ((3)) ((4))

If you're a jeans and a solid tee type of girl, no worries. You can bring in some print with a simple & pretty scarf, like this one from Old Navy that is a measly $14.94!

aaaand speaking of prints, this is my new favorite fabric. I just ordered some to make a kickin' spring & summer dress out of. CUTE!

((source))

love.

recipe ((izze cocktail))

2012-01-24T00:00:00.003-07:00

Here we go with that color scheme again.

I love a good cocktail. I had one similar to this at a local sushi place before Christmas and decided to try my hand at making one at home. I'm no bartender, but I'll say so myself that it tastes pretty darn identical. I hate getting out my shaker, mostly because I can never get the top off. This way, you can shake your adult beverage in a mason jar, pop in a straw and it's all cute and hipster and presentable and stuff.

Here's what you'll need:

This drink is nothing fancy to make ((although it does taste like a dreamsicle which are kind of fancy)). If it was, we wouldn't be keeping it so ~~klassy~~ classy by buying vodka in a plastic handle. Oh, and those clementines are simply for decoration purposes.

Phew. Glad we got that out of the way.

Using the breakdown above ((or to taste)), pour in your ingredients.

Put the lid on & shake, shake, shake it like a polaroid picture.

Put in a straw and sip away. You're welcome.

love.

linked up here!

handmade monday ((DIY shoe clips))

2012-01-23T00:00:00.012-07:00

I'm kind of a shoe hoarder. I do purge often, but I can't help it. I just love shoes. As the weather starts to warm up (hardly), I thought it would be fun to add some shoe clips to some "old shoes" to update them a tad. The best part? They're interchangeable and removable!

All you have to do is buy (super cheap) shoe clips at your local craft store or from a supplier on etsy. Make your embellishments & make sure you back your embellishment in felt so it doesn't scratch the top of your shoes when you add the clip. The possibilities are seriously endless. I used huge covered buttons, made some peonies, rosettes (duh), whimsical pinwheels, and two styles of bows. Easy Peasy!

While I was making these, I assumed most of you would be able to figure out how to assemble them. After I made all of them, I realized that was probably super lame of me to assume, so I looked up some tutorials for you for the ones that aren't self-explanatory.

Fabric Pinwheels

Fabric Bows

Fabric Peonies

I'd love to see what you come up with! Vintage brooches, crazy feather arrangements and some sort of sparkles would all be fun.

Which one is your favorite? This one is mine:

love.

linked up here:

& Mique's Pity Party!

advertise

2012-01-21T00:00:00.001-07:00

I'd love to have you as part of the Oh, Sweet Joy! family in February. If you're interested, e-mail me (ohsweetjoyATgmailDOTcom) for information regarding current sponsorships.

love.

BOGO! (if you email me by Monday, January 23rd, and sign up for a one month regular size {125X125} ad, I will give you the month of March for half off!))

5 things i've learned about running a handmade shop

2012-01-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

I'm over here today sharing 5 things I've learned about running a handmade shop.

Happy Thursday!

love.

color crush ((orange & aqua))

2012-01-18T00:00:00.001-07:00

I've always been drawn to the color robin's egg blue & likely always will. I usually pair it with coral or yellow, but for some reason, lately I've been looooooving it with orange! It makes the robins egg blue look more aqua and honestly, it makes me anxious for spring like crazy.

It all started when Chase gave me those tulips I mentioned here. I put them in an aqua mason jar as a vase and it all went uphill quickly. I also scored a cute vintage looking gumball machine and put some orange jelly belly's in it ((yum!)). When I found the round tray, I knew it would be perfect for a little grouping of pretty orange & aqua things on our coffee table.

What's your favorite color combination these days?

love.

sponsor highlight + giveaway: oh so antsy

2012-01-17T00:00:00.007-07:00

It's not too late to enter last week's giveaway, so click here to enter! Hurry! :)

---

You might remember Oh So Antsy jewelry from the Handmade Holidays Gift Guide! I'm excited to have Jessica's shop back as a sponsor for January and get to brag about her work a little bit more!

I feel like everyone has a deep connection with their state. As a Texan living in Colorado, no matter where I live in the future, there will always be a special place in my heart for those two states. I also love to show my Texas pride with the ever popular state of Texas shape around our home. Jessica makes custom state necklace and places the heart where YOUR heart desires! I can imagine them layered with other beaded necklaces for a fun & eclectic look.

I'd love to rock one of these necklaces around my neck to keep Texas close to my heart ;)

Here is a little bit from Jessica about Oh So Antsy:

Nearly one year ago, my little handmade business began. A friend had the idea for a few of us girls to put together a craft booth at an upcoming event downtown and suggested I make some knitted items. I knew in the few short months before the event, I would only end up with 3 or 4 things to sell. Then it occurred to me to use my new silver jewelry making skills to create a few pieces for the show!

I worked very hard in the following months cutting and hammering away in my make-shift living room studio (where all of my work is still done), as well as designing and making business cards, and working so hard at getting an online shop opened by the end of January, my birthday month. So on January 31^st, just in the nick of time, I officially opened my shop. The craft show was relatively unsuccessful, but it really gave me the push I needed to get my small business going. The jewelry I was making changed quite a bit, from the beginning, when I started getting a lot of custom requests for state and country shaped necklaces. I recently started adding tiny versions of the states and countries which are SO cute and fun to make. I have a few new things planned in the near future and I can’t wait to share!

I am so surprised at how far I've come in one year. My business has grown more than I could have imagined in a short time, and I'm so thrilled and thankful for all the support I've received and connections I’ve made.

---

Today, Jessica is giving away a custom tiny state necklace, which is a $34 value! Not only that, but you can use the discount code OHFREESHIP for free shipping on your next Oh So Antsy purchase!

Find more from Oh So Antsy here:

BLOG
FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Mandatory Entry:

Head on over to the Oh So Antsy shop and tell me which necklace you'd love to add to your jewelry collection!

Extra Entries:

1. Follow both Jessica (@OhSoAntsy) and myself (@ohsweetjoy) on twitter. (one entry)

2. Be a follower of Oh, Sweet Joy! Blog via Google Friend Connect. (one entry)

3. Tweet, Facebook, OR blog about this giveaway. (ONE entry)

Feel free to use this:

I just entered to win a state necklace from @OhSoAntsy over at @ohsweetjoy's blog! http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985

That's a possible FOUR entries! I hope you win!

love.

((handmade monday)) DIY fabric watch bands

2012-01-16T00:00:00.005-07:00

Way back in the day, I used to work for Fossil. I still love the company and would rock their apparel and accessories, alike, on the daily if I could afford it all....I digress.

It was during my days at Fossil that I became a bit obsessed with watches. I have way too many ((that consequently need their batteries changed)) & I really think watches are the most underrated of accessories. I have a few watch faces that are missing their straps and so I decided to make some pretty bands for them. I have no idea where the watch face photographed came from, but it, too, needs a new battery.

Here's all you need:

Fabric

Trim ((optional))

Thread

Some sort of snap ((I used pearl snaps because I'm country like that))

Sewing machine

Here's all you have to do:

1. Measure around your wrist to see how long you need your strap to be. Make sure you leave room for sean allowance, overlapping & snapping. I rhymed. Giggle.

2. Determine how wide you'd like your strap and double it plus half an inch or so for seam allowance.

3. Cut out your rectangle.

4. Fold it in half (long-ways) right sides of the fabric facing each other.

5. Sew around the 3 raw edges and leave an opening on the long side.

6. Flip right side out and press.

7. Top stitch around the edges.

8. Add your snap or velcro or whatever you decided to use.

9. Insert fabric through your watch face and voila!

I was playing around and made a woven five strand braided band as well. I added crochet lace trim to another. You could find vintage watch faces at a thrift store or even just an old watch and take the band off. It's just so fun & the possibilities are endless!

Have fun :)

love.

favorite things friday: pinterest projects

2012-01-13T15:03:00.002-07:00

I can't wait to try these projects!

Source: fellowfellow.com via Kim on Pinterest

Source: gingibersnap.com via Kim on Pinterest

Source: burdastyle.com via Kim on Pinterest

Source: maiedae.blogspot.com via Kim on Pinterest

Source: littleloveliesbyallison.com via Kim on Pinterest

Don't these all seem like so much fun!?

Have a great weekend, y'all.

love.

ps. Do you follow me on pinterest? Click here, if not!

((If you want to, of course)) ;)

((thursday))

2012-01-12T12:01:00.001-07:00

The ground is covered in snow, the sky is the brightest shade of blue, the sun is shining and these tulips ((from Chase)) on our coffee table are showing off. Aren't they pretty?

I just got back from breakfast with a friend and now I'm headed to do some cross country skiing.

((sigh.))

I love days off.

How's your Thursday lookin'?

love.

linking up with linday's "it's the little things" link up party!

29 ways to stay inspired & creative

2012-01-11T00:00:00.001-07:00

this list is in my personal shopping binder at work and i love reading it weekly. i don't know where it originated from (please let me know if you know!) but i thought i'd share.

1. make lists

2. carry a notebook everywhere

3. try free writing

4. get away from the computer

5. quit beating yourself up

photo source

6. take breaks

7. sing in the shower

8. drink coffee

9. listen to new music

10. be open

photo source

11. surround yourself with positive people

12. get feedback

13. collaborate

14. don't give up

15. practice, practice, practice

16. allow yourself to make mistakes

17. go somewhere new

18. count your blessings

19. get lots of rest

20. take risks

photo source

21. break the rules

22. don't force it

23. read a page of the dictionary

24. create a framework

25. stop trying to be someone else's perfect

photo source***

26. got an idea? write it down

27. clean your workspace

28. have fun

29. finish something

love.

***like the inspire print? click the photo source link and use the code INSPIREU for 10% off! :)

GROUP sponsor highlight + giveaway: rags to stitches, no brainer wardrobe, & pamplemousse1983

2012-01-10T14:32:00.004-07:00

I hope everyone's week is off to a great start. Let's keep it going strong with a GREAT giveaway!

---

Pamplemousse1983 is a shop with both wearable and displayable art. Maryam is a super talented photographer and has just about the most darling baby girl I've ever seen! Her blog is inspiring and full of tutorials, recipes, and behind the scenes into her business. I especially love her "Thursday Things" posts!

Use the code OHSWEETJOY for 25% off any of the necklaces and/or prints in Maryam's shop!

Find more from Maryam at the following:

blog // shop // twitter

---

Do you go to your closet and take a deep sigh every morning, not knowing what to wear?

The gorgeous Haley from The Tiny Twig has put together a STELLAR e-book, The No Brainer Wardrobe, with tips on how to have your very own "no brainer wardrobe." Learn tips from Haley on how to find your style, build your wardrobe with go-to staples, and fit your body type well (and SO much more). As a stylist and personal shopper who has read this entire e-book, I can honestly say that this will be a priceless resource for you ladies who are struggling with what to wear.

Haley is so incredibly generous, y'all. Not only is she giving away THREE copies of The No Brainer Wardrobe, but is also offering the first TEN people to jump on this offer & download the e-book 50% OFF with the code SWEETJOY. ((HURRY!))

Find more from Haley here:

blog // twitter // e-book

---

Rags to Stitches is a handmade boutique, as well as a lifestyle blog. It is run by Alissa, who is both creative and beautiful. She is a mommy of two and is simply inspiring. Her shop consists of handmade goodies that are sewn with gorgeous fabric. You will find laptop & iPad cases, carseat canopies, wipe cases, and other useful items for moms :)

Alissa is offering one reader a chance to win a large ad space on her blog (a $25 value)! You can also use the following code to get a baller discount on her laptop or iPad "snuggles."

Find more from Alissa here:

Blog // Shop // Twitter // Facebook

---

To enter this GROUP giveaway, simply tell us what the highlight of 2012 has been so far!!

To earn extra entries:

1. visit each shop/blog and tell me what your favorite items are from at least ONE of the shops

(one entry).

pamplemousse1983 * rags to stitches boutique * the no brainer wardrobe

2. follow the Oh, Sweet Joy! blog via Google Friend Connect (one entry).

3. tweet/facebook/blog about this giveaway (one entry).

Feel free to use this:

Sponsor Highlight + Group Giveaway on @ohsweetjoy's blog! (Featuring @thetinytwig, @pamplemousse1983, & @ragstostitches!) http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985

love.

real marriage

2012-01-05T11:58:00.002-07:00

I thought long & hard about whether or not I'd write a review on this book. I'm trying to settle down the energizer in me and not "stir the pot" as often as I do. I have a lot of people on my blog roll & twitter feed that despise Mark Driscoll. The last thing I wanted was them to have ammo against me and try and get in a 144 character debate with them. But here I am ((and i will not debate with you via twitter)).

I wondered why I felt the need to defend him, and so that I can be completely honest with my bias, I will say: We are planting a church with Acts29. Acts29 is a network of church planters that was founded by Mark Driscoll. I guess that's why I feel so defensive when people attack his character, his heart, & his books/sermons.

I will also say that I used to really dislike Mark Driscoll. I haven't agreed with many of the things he has preached about in the past, the way he did it, or the manner in which his tone reflected (in my wrong opinion) pride. There was one thing he said (that is not worth mentioning) that put a bad taste in my mouth and so my opinion of him was low. Unfortunately, this is what happens when you are a pastor who is often in the media and that is preaching truth that comes straight from the Bible. People start to cling to ONE thing you've done wrong and completely write you off, which is what many are doing with this book.

Not okay, Christians. Get over yourselves.

However, once I actually started listening to more of his sermons, once I listened to him speak live a couple of times, read this book, and read a prayer that he sent to the Acts 29 churches regarding the book, I started to see that he was a just a man who never claimed perfection, to know everything, or to have it all together. I saw Mark Driscoll as a man who wanted the best for Christians, the best for marriages, and the best for God's children. He is equipped and called to pastor and is using his gifts honorably and boldly.

---

Let me start with this quote,

"We do believe it can be used of God to help people, which is why we wrote it."

They did not write this book to make money. In fact, they gave away thousands of copies and sold many at cost (I only bought mine for $10, which means they got zero profit from it). They did not write this book to become famous. They wrote this book with a heart to help Christian marriages. The end.

I'm not going to go through every chapter and say what I agreed and disagreed with. I'm tired of bloggers doing that and taking snippets of the book out of context to say, "Pastors are not qualified to be sex therapists," ((last time I checked they never claimed to be)) "his admittal of mistakes & sins disqualify him for marriage," ((because that's obviously the gospel ::sarcasm::)) etc.

However, my overall review of the book is this:

We live in a culture that generally doesn't take the vows they make on their wedding day seriously.

We live in a culture that is constantly worshipping idols (i.e., money, food, sex, material things, spouses) rather than God.

We live in a culture in which the divorce rate is way too high.

We live in a culture that is sex-crazed and more open with sexuality than ever.

In this type of culture that we are surrounded by, I believe that, as Christians, this book can absolutely speak to the heart of most issues in marriage and help us evaluate our own marriages to better glorify God.

Gary Thomas said it well in his book, Sacred Marriage, when he challenged us with the question, "What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?"

I appreciate SO much that Real Marriage claims that other than Jesus & the gospel, a marriage should be based on friendship. I agree 100% that if you aren't best friends with your spouse, you aren't enjoying marriage to it's fullness. I loved the Fruitful Reciprocal Intimate Enjoyable Needed Devoted acronym used and the further explanation of each of those & how we can be better spouses by dwelling on the scripture that supports those.

I was also pleased to see the importance of grace, forgiveness, and repentance talked about in such detail, with scripture to back it all up.

This was one of my favorite snippets on this subject:

Conflict is inevitable and can actually be good. Some of the times I've grown the most is when I've disagreed with Chase on something and I had to seek wisdom from others, the Word, and prayer.

I appreciated Mark's call to the fellas to be better men. He challenges the guys to put down their game controllers, grow up, get involved in a good church, and lead their families well.

Honestly, I could have done without Chapter 10 in it's entirety, which is the bulk of what has been so controversial. There were SEVERAL things I disagreed with in this chapter from his interpretation of scripture (but I'm no theologian or scholar or expert) to the things he was essentially condoning. What I DID appreciate was him challenging readers who are struggling with these questions to one, make sure it didn't go against their or their spouse's convictions and two, ask

Is it lawful?

Is it helpful?

Is it enslaving?

Even though I didn't find this chapter helpful or enjoyable, I do hope that this chapter gives people freedom on what to say "yes" or "no" to.

The Respectful Wife chapter is another blog post for another time, but I will say, respect & submission is a two way street and I learned a LOT from this chapter.

Bottom line, Mark & Grace discuss their sinful pasts freely and without shame. They are honest, their sin has been forgiven and they are trying to use their pasts to help others live the most fruitful marriage possible. You can't knock them for that. They don't need me to defend them, but I hope that you can read this book to help your marriage succeed, be the best spouse you can, and fall more in love with each other & with Jesus together.

love.

Try saving on Real Marriage with this Barnes and Noble coupon.

sift my soul

2012-01-04T00:00:00.001-07:00

While just starting this post, I'm already wondering how long it will take me to actually hit the publish post button. I'm wondering if I have the guts to go through with being this honest and real. I'm doubting that I can even digest this enough to make sense in type.

I'll try anyways, because God placed this heavily on my heart and disobeying Him doesn't really work out for people most of the time. This is going to be long, so you've been warned.

---

This weekend, Chase and I took a couple of college students to the Resurgence College Conference in Seattle. In attending this conference, I was NOT aware of how the Lord would convict me and call me into a better life living in the peace of the Gospel.

In one of the sessions, Bill Clem, a pastor at Mars Hill, challenged us to pray about what goes//what stays//what needs to be added, so that spiritually, I can live the life God intends for me. The good life. The abundant life. The holy life.

So let's back up a bit.

About a year ago ((January 2011)), Chase and I moved to Boulder to help plant a church, this church. About that same time, I figured it would be wise to pursue my blog & shop full time. This meant handmade conferences, craft shows & markets, more time on the computer writing blog posts, pretty much studying fabrics, making sure the designs in my head weren't already being sold ((what a novel idea! but i digress)), social networking, etc.

Then teaching a sewing class was added.

Then a job at Anthropologie was added.

I had friendships that needed to be nurtured that I didn't have time for and wasn't willing to make time for ((awesome, huh? no.)) Those friends weren't willing to give up, which I love and appreciate now, but at the time it just added stress to my life that I was bitter about. I felt they were selfish and didn't want what was best for me, so it just resulted in turmoil and me knowing I was the selfish one and that I was letting them down. That crushed me.

I also had a husband ((and still do, duh. but I'm speaking in past tense so let's stick with it)). A husband that needed me to make meals for him, go to the grocery store, do the laundry ((which I usually didn't do)), clean the house. I was working at home, after all, it only made sense and was also biblical for me to be his helper. He was a full time student. A full time pastor. A full time friend. A full time husband. He needed help and I accepted that role when I said, "I do."

Before the weeks even started, it seemed every single possible time slot was already filled. I felt out of control & hopeless.

You can also imagine that with the lack of time on my hands, I stopped pursuing the Lord. I stopped reading the Bible. I didn't feel Him. I didn't hear Him. I didn't think I needed Him. I was far from near to Him. I went to church on Sundays because, well, we were planting a church and my husband was the executive pastor. Can you imagine what people would think if I didn't show up with a smile on my face ready to worship and serve? If I didn't volunteer to joyfully serve in the nursery ((that only seemed to push a larger wedge in between me and the other wives because I didn't have a baby to talk about diaper rash and sleeping patterns))? If I didn't get out my Bible and nod to the sermon? If I didn't sing my harmonies when serving with the worship band?

Oh, the facade. The ugly, hardened, mask of a faker.

I was letting myself down. I was letting my community down. I was letting down my Heavenly Father who only wanted me to be honest with myself and with Him.

cue panic attacks.

They were every so often throughout the summer. I'd have them alone, that I never talked about or told anyone about. I'd have them in front of Chase when we'd argue about something petty like laundry or something. They were getting out of control, but I felt if no one knew about the ones I was having in my studio while Chase was working, then I would be able to cover it up and deal with it on my own. If there's anything God has taught me over and over, it's that I suck at doing things on my own. Even though I think I'm a Bad A at it.

Then I just sucked it up. When I felt one (panic attack) coming on I would simply distract myself. Go for a run, turn on some oldies and sew something, bake, whatever it took. This worked for a few months until just recently. Stress from spending the holidays not with family, stress from work, stress from getting five blog posts a week published, stress from money, stress from having too much on my plate, stress from seeing my facade fade. Stress that I was putting on myself. This stress just overpowered my body.

I'd feel my face tingle, my chest start to tighten, my hands start to shake, dizziness, my heart pounding, tears flowing, breath just NOT able to be caught.

It's terrifying to say the least and I hate it more than anything.

I'm thankful for a husband that will sit with me, hold me, pray for me during these panic attacks. I'm thankful for a husband that will call me out & tell me that I'm living in fear. Living in stress. Living in a state of panic that is NOT okay. But more than anything, I'm thankful for a God who will slowly call me to himself telling me to lay it all down and draw near.

---

Something clicked this weekend as I prayed for what needs to go in my life. I *HAVE* to let go of the fear & anxiety that cripples me. I have to fight it, rather than being passive and a victim of panic. I have to flee from stress. I need to trade fear, stress, and anxiety for peace, prayer, and time in the Word.

I still don't know why God has us go through seasons where we don't feel Him. I guess it makes us appreciate the times that we feel the Holy Spirit through worship, through healing, through living in community. I'm not saying I'll never have another panic attack. I just know that I'm taking a step in letting God fix this. Because I'm letting go of control. I'm letting go of the facades. I'm letting go of fear.

When we lived in overseas, we had to sift the flour ((sometimes up to 3 times)) to get all these disgusting worms out of it. It was a gross process, but the end result was fine, pure, and white flour. All I know that even though it hurts like hell, I pray the Lord continues to sift my soul of the things that poison it. For me, that's pride, materialism, selfishness, jealousy, idolatry, and bitterness - just to name a few.

If I have to struggle for the rest of my life as the Lord pries these things out of me, I can rest in the fact that it's been paid for. The debt is paid. The slate is clean. and THAT's the truth & gospel I need to cling to daily.

Come to me, all who are burdened and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
((matthew 11:28))

love.

//edit//

thank you for all your kind words & prayers ((except for you, anonymous)). many of you have left wonderful scripture and i wanted to list that here for others of you to reference. it appears to be many of us in this boat! my heart is heavy for all of you. praying for peace.

Deuteronomy 31:6
"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still. ((LOVE THIS!))

John 4:18
"...but perfect love drives out fear."

Zephaniah 3:17
"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Matthew 5:3
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."

toms ((ballet flats!))

2012-01-03T00:00:00.001-07:00

I bought my first pair of toms in 2006 and have since then been a huge fan & have purchased ((and have been gifted)) multiple pairs. Part of me wishes toms would employ families in need rather than outsource to China, but that's neither here nor there.

I recently got rid of my toms wedges ((SO uncomfortable!)) & I can't wear regular toms to work, so I was SUPER excited to see that they're coming out with ballet flats this spring!

Both, the blush & burlap ones, are calling my name. Let's hope the price is right for these pretties!

((once these come out and are proven comfortable, none of you will have an excuse for wearing jeans & tennis shoes any longer. you heard me.))

love.

favorite thrift find to date.

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thrifting is SO fun for me. I love digging through junk, the thrill of the endless hunt, the vintage charm, the crazy color combinations, having to talk myself out of buying something I TOTALLY don't need. Ari is usually my thrifting partner and last week we went to the goldmine of thrifting in Colorado, the Longmont Flea Market.

You all probably know by now that I work at Anthropologie, which means I look at this cutie pie every day I work. He winks at me and I usually consider winking back. My colleagues may think I'm weird, so I ~~usually~~ don't wink back.

Lo, and behold...I found the inspiration behind this guy - a pair of vintage salt & pepper shakers. Sadly, I spent $30 on them and have since found them for $10 ((oh well!)). But isn't it cool to see something vintage remade into something larger scale and gorgeous?!

What's your favorite thrifted find?

love.

a year in review, thanks to instagram

2011-12-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

I took over a thousand photos via instagram in 2011. That is quite ridiculous and I'm only a tiny bit embarrassed about that, but I was surprised at how accurate these snapshots portray my year. From moving to Boulder to starting Oh, Sweet Joy! full time. From craft shows to conferences. From long days at the studio to long days at anthro & outfit schmoutfits. From frigid winter temps to beautiful Colorado summer weekends spent in Almont.

Sometimes words just don't do it.

((and let's be honest, if a picture is worth 1,000 words - then we'd be in trouble time-wise. you do the math)) They're kind of tiny, so feel free to click to enlarge.

I think someone likes the nashville filter.

Adios, 2011 & Hello, twenty-twelve!

love.

seattle or bust

2011-12-30T00:00:00.004-07:00

((photo credit))

Chase & I are off to seattle today! We are taking a couple of college students that attend The Well to this college conference at Mars Hill. I'm SO excited! I'm so looking forward to being led in worship by King's Kaleidoscope, hearing the Word brought by Mark Driscoll and other solid folks, and spending New Years in a fun place ((with lots of coffee in the mix)).

We went to Seattle in the Spring of 2010 and I loved it. Click here to check out the post from that trip.

What are your favorite spots in Seattle?

We'll definitely be hitting up Cupcake Royale, Top Pot Donuts & Cherry Street Coffee House. Yum Yum Yum. To top it all off, we'll be spending New Year's Eve at a semi-formal masquerade party! How fun is that?

Have a Happy New Year, Y'all!

love.

a home tour ((living area))

2011-12-29T15:11:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd show you around our new place ((I suppose it's not so new anymore, but we are finally all settled)) in the next few weeks. Since we're in here the most, I found it appropriate to start with the living area. Right before we moved, we got our new sofa & chair that I've been saving for FOREVER it felt like. I wanted to be able to pay "in cash" and not put it on a credit card.

We bought Henry ((the sofa)) and Everett ((the chair)) from west elm and we're so happy to have them as part of the Davis family ;)

In the middle of writing this post, I went thrifting and came home with this globe. Best sixteen bucks I ever spent. ((I say that a lot)) That said, I had to move some things around. SO, if there are a few photos that are different than others, that's why.

Anywho, here are lots of photos with some break down information at the end.

Enjoy ((& click if you need to enlarge a photo))!

VINTAGE
embroidery hoops
pyrex bowl holding jelly beans - ((thanks memaw!))
globe
turquoise ball jar
red teapot
coffee table
quilt
blanket holder//bench
photo of Chase's grandparents on mantel
green crochet throw
"no fires in here" sign
yellow lamp
ceramic owl

FURNITURE
computer hutch - thrifted ((thanks mom))
sofa & chair - west elm
gumdrop pillow/ottoman - handmade

ANTHROPOLOGIE
patchwork flower pillow
fox tea towel ((made into pillow))
chrysanthemum vase on mantel
wooden ribbon spool
candles
anthology mag

HANDMADE
paintings on wall
embroidery hoops
gumdrop pillo
fox pillow
texas pillow
texas & colorado wood fabric art: my little buffalo

WHOLE FOODS

billy balls & gerber daisies

FABRICS USED
amy butler wood fern, vintage silk, joel dewberry ironwork, handpainted, lotta jansdotter

OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS
firewood basket, green, aqua ceramic birds - pier 1
lampshades, photo frames - target
orange glass bottle - container store
sequin pillow - bed bath & beyond
elephant pillow - sri lanka
owl coasters - west elm
computer - apple ;)

Everything has a story, and that's my absolute favorite part of this room. The photo on the mantel makes me choke up because it's of Chase's grandparents at our favorite place ((the cabin in Almont, Colorado)). Chase stole the sign from an old abandoned house in nowhere, colorado ((don't turn us in!)). The fabric in the large hoop is from Chase's grandmother's stash, and the pyrex was gifted to me by my Memaw. It's the perfect color, no? I painted the paintings when we first got married and my mom recently gave me the patchwork flower pillow that I've wanted for YEARS! The photo collage on the mantel is of our honeymoon in New Zealand.

This room is where I blog, where Chase and I watch tv & movies, where I relax, read, sit by the fire, watch the snow fall and drink hot chocolate.

What's your favorite item in your living room?

love.

((FOUR!)) giveaway winners!

2011-12-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

Hiiiiii!

Has everyone recovered from Christmas? Good!

Just wanted to pop in and tell you all the winners of the last four giveaways.

The winner of the Shine Project necklace:

The winner of the Knotty Tots beanie & leg warmer set:

The winner of the much love, illy $25 shop credit//ad space on the being emma blog//lil noodle bug $30 store credit:

The winner of the free LARGE ad space on Casey Wiegand's blog:

Ladies, CONGRATS! Email me ((ohsweetjoyATgmailDOTcom)) & I will forward your info along to the designated blogger/shop owner!

If you didn't win, make sure to take advantage of these discount codes for a super limited time.

Knotty Tots

lil noodle bug

Much love, illy

love.

((a Christmas recap))

2011-12-26T00:00:00.001-07:00

Our day started with just the two of us, with bed-head, opening presents next to a cozy fire and sipping coffee. We had friends over for brunch and all watched Elf with full bellies of pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and Stumptown Coffee.

Later, we all went sledding and then Chase & I went on a "backcountry" cross country skiing excursion. After chatting with our families on the telephone, we made a delicious dinner of steak, baked potatoes, and asparagus. We finished up the evening with a hot chocolate, watching Miracle on 34th Street. I was overwhelmed with joy, Christmas cheer (seriously), and an overflowing heart of thankfulness.

This was my first Christmas away from "home" in Texas. My first ever Christmas eve not spent at Memaw and Grandy's. I kept praying that God would comfort me when I might wish I wasn't spending Christmas in Boulder. That He'd remind me that Love never fails and knowing that I adore my family and they love me would be enough. I prayed for the gospel to be enough and for the gospel to be the premise of this holiday that has become mostly about materialism. Chase & I made several new traditions this year including Christmas eve Chinese food, Target stocking stuffer sprees, taking advantage of the white christmas and playing in the snow, etc.

I feel spoiled rotten this year, from gifts to friendships & family to my job and my community. I live in a beautiful place and God is pouring His blessings in us daily.

During Christmas eve and Christmas day, I kept finding myself sitting back and shaking my head. Shaking my head in disbelief because I dont deserve any of this. I don't deserve a family that sends extravagant gifts. I don't deserve the incredible material things that I will likely forget about in a few months. I don't deserve the iPad that I'm writing this post from. I don't deserve the new dress that Chase bought me that I'll likely be wearing at work today. I don't deserve the cross country skis that He also surprised me with.

I'm a sinner. I'm selfish. I'm often a brat. I'm prideful. I surely don't deserve a God that loves me, pursues me, forgives me, and blesses the junk out of me. I simply don't deserve it.

But isn't that how God works?

He sent His Son to be born a humble birth, knowing that He would later die for all of mankind, on a cross for all of our sins. Grace. An undeserved gift. To all that would receive it and call Him "Lord."

Amazing.

I want to dwell on that and be MORE excited about the gospel and MORE thankful for salvation than any Fossil bag or Apple product. I want to be overwhelmed by God's grace and let that play out in my life every single day. I want my heart to yearn for people to know Jesus more than my heart yearns for a new pair of Tory Burch flats.

I hope your Christmas was wonderful. I hope you cherished time with family & friends. If you got awesome gifts, enjoy them. Thank God for them. Bless others with them. My prayer for myself and Chase is that we would never be more excited about material things than about the gospel. I pray that the gospel would transform our lives so that we would use everything we have to honor Him.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

((matthew 5:14-16))

love.

merry Christmas to you & yours

2011-12-25T00:00:00.002-07:00

wishing you a day of :

memories made

abounding love

reflection of God's goodness

laughter

delicious food

cherished moments with family

counting your blessings, one by one

overwhelming joy

Merry Christmas!

love.

sponsorships now available for January!

2011-12-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

Advertising is something that totally changed my blog and shop from a hobby into a business. It was a scary step to take, but it totally paid off and was so exciting.

Highlighting new shops & sharing my AMAZING sponsors to my readers is truly one of my favorite things about blogging and I'd love to have you as part of the Oh, Sweet Joy! family. Nothing is more exciting than seeing small businesses & blogs grow because they chose to take the leap of advertising!

E-mail me (ohsweetjoyATgmailDOTcom) if you would like more information on advertising with us in 2012. I will send along an info sheet and answer any questions you may have.

You won't regret it! Let's make 2012 the year your blog or handmade business booms, shall we?

love.

christmas parties are fun

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

What's more fun than getting dressed up to go to a Christmas party?

Nothing.

I mean, you've got great friends, a wonderful reason to celebrate, yummy food, and delicious (and spiked) warm beverages. Add a photo booth and you simply cannot go wrong, friends. My sweet friend, Laura, was such a great hostess! She's from Chicago and is quite the fancy one ;)

That top photo may be my favorite of all time of me & the hubs.

Here's the party outfit close-up, complete with a comparison of how I took it from work to "play."

((wink))

Shout out to instagram. If it weren't for this little app, zero percent of my life would be documented. I will probably also look back in 10 years and wonder why all of my photos have weird borders around them and are discolored.

love.

sponsor highlight + giveaway: casey wiegand

2011-12-20T10:39:00.001-07:00

You know those people that you instantly feel close to? Like you've been friends for years and years because they just exude energy and make you feel like they care about you like family? That's Casey. She has an amazing heart and has captured the love of many bloggers in the past year. She blogs about life, art, inspiration, fashion, and what I appreciate most: she blogs about the hard stuff, not just the happy things of life.

Here is some of her work:

She is a stellar mom, a talented artist, runs A Little Artsy and her blog, The Wiegands.

Here's a bit from Casey, herself :)

Hi! My name is Casey Wiegand, I am a freelance artist, wife and mama.

I love painting and sharing our life through my blog...where you can expect pieces of my perspective on life, faith, kids, marriage, with touches of art, creative inspiration, projects and things I love along the way. I am married to the love of my life and we have 2 sweet babies (in the hopes of lots more)!

---

Today's winner will win a large ad space on Casey's blog, which is a $100 value! Advertising is HUGE in promoting your small business or blog, so you should definitely enter this if you want to grow!

Find more from Casey here:

blog: www.thewiegands.com

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Casey-Wiegand-Art/175899174261

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me your favorite blog that inspires you the MOST ((and leave a link?!))

Extra Entries:

1. Follow both Casey (@CaseyWiegand) and myself (@ohsweetjoy) on twitter. (one entry)

2. Be a follower of Oh, Sweet Joy! Blog via Google Friend Connect. (one entry)

3. Follow Casey's blog via Google Friend Connect. (one entry)

4. Tweet, Facebook, OR blog about this giveaway. (ONE entry)

Feel free to use this:

I just entered to win a LARGE ad space on @CaseyWiegand's blog over at @ohsweetjoy's blog! http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985

That's a possible FIVE entries! I hope you win!

love.

favorite things friday: christmas list

2011-12-16T00:00:00.002-07:00

It's been a while, eh? Well, don't get too excited, I'm still being a total slacker.

Exhibit A:

Favorite Things Friday = Christmas List Screen Shot

Thanks, Pinterest, for mapping it out so pretty and such. Feel free to send me any of these items. Or a candy cane. Or a Dr. Pepper. I like sugar in any form, really.

While we're on the list making subject, I'd also like

1. someone to hang up all the clothes that are currently on my floor

2. a new set of tires for Libby ((my jeep)).

3. The song, "Santa Baby," to be deleted from history.

Thanks, Santa.

~~Baby.~~

love.