a few things...

> last night, i finished reading the lost memoirs of jane austen, & i really enjoyed it! it was a sweet story, with a blend of fact & fiction, on jane austen's life... there were a couple of quotes at the end that i loved...

"i believe there is a kind of happiness to be found in everything in life, in all that is good & pleasing, as well as in that which is sad or poignant."

"i have come to believe, in the end, that there is no shame in truth, only freedom; & that, in time, every tale has a right to be told." -quotes by syrie james

> yesterday, i got a pretty new light pink nail polish, it is supposed to smell like cotton candy when it's dry!! can't wait to try it!! :)

> i am starting a new Bible study, next week!! & i am excited!

> we are supposed to get 1-2" of snow tonight... & it makes me think of this pretty music video...

> click here to enter my giveaway, for a cute hand-knitted scarf...

winter giveaway: a cute & cozy scarf

it has been a while since i have offered a giveaway, so i figured now would be a perfect time to have one!! & because it is winter, i thought it would be fun to giveaway one of my hand-knitted scarves!
this giveaway is for:
a hand-knitted forever scarf, in misty blue
{pictured below}

 this is a circular forever scarf. it can be hung around your neck to be long & skinny, or it can be wrapped around your neck twice, for more warmth! the yarn is bulky; 85% wool & 15% mohair.

to enter the giveaway, just leave me a comment to this post!
& tell me what your favorite thing is about winter??
for extra entries you can:
+1 be a follower of my blog
+1 share about this giveaway on your blog
+1 visit my etsy shop & tell me what your favorite item is
(you must leave an additional comment for each extra entry)
this giveaway will end on January, 26th!

:)

over the weekend: the mountains

this weekend, i took a drive up to the mountains, with my mom & sister, in my mom's brand new car! we even took my doggie! :) there was a lot of snow, but it was a really nice day! we "hiked" around a little bit & my doggie loved it so much! on the way home, we stopped & got baskin robin's ice cream, my favorite! :) 

it was a fun day & i was glad to actually get out my camera & take a few photos...

:)

i love these words...

^ a photo of yesterday's sunset, taken with my fuji instax mini

inspired by: watercolor

i love watercolor paintings! they are so bright & colorful! i just discovered a wonderful watercolor artist on etsy, so i wanted to share some of her paintings... they give me the hope of spring, in the middle of this snow & winter... i know it's pretty early to be thinking about spring, but i am anyway... :)

her lovely shop is: Watercolor By Muren

inspired by...

...this photo shoot.

it was styled by her & photographed by her

& i think it's really cute!

:)

new in my etsy...

** new 8x8 print for sale in my shop **

resolution: read more books.

i don't have a set list of "new years resolutions", but i would say that one of them is to read more!

reading makes us grow & learn! it definitely should be an important part of our daily lives!
i love to read! ♥

here's what i am currently reading:

i got the lost memoirs of jane austen by syrie james from the library recently, because i love jane austen! i wasn't sure what it was all about, but since i started reading it, i have been loving the story!
(i am about halfway through) it is a "historical fiction" about jane's life, love, & writing. it is really fun to learn more about her, through a light-hearted fictional story!


the other book i am loving right now is more last-minute knitted gifts by joelle hoverson of the purl bee. a current goal for me is to be able to successfully knit from reading patterns. in the past, i have only done the basic knit & purl stitches straight through to make a simple scarf or hat. i really want to learn how to do more interesting stitches! which is why i am so excited that my mom got me this book for christmas! it has tons of beautiful projects, for all skill levels, that are broken up into chapters based on how long they will take. i have already started a scarf from the book, called the "big lace scarf". it repeats 4 rows, so the pattern is pretty easy! i am not always good at keeping track of where i'm at, but it has gone pretty good so far. :) here is a picture of the project i am working on now! it's so pretty!

another one of my big goals for this year is to read something from the bible everyday! i often use our daily bread, because it gives a short devotional along with a verse & additional scripture you can read too! i like that it is short, because then i can try to meditate more on the selected verse(s). & i can take it one day at a time! also, i will be starting a new beth moore bible study on daniel, later this month & i always grow so much through reading her studies, so i am excited for that! :)

there are so many great things to read out there!
what are you reading right now?

favorite etsy finds: sparkle

i have always loved wearing pretty rings! :)

& i love the simple style of all of these rings, that i found on etsy.

they are all handmade & the stones are so so pretty!

unfortunately, they are (just a bit) over my budget right now...

hehe!!

it is still fun to look!!

^^  by kate szabone & for sale here

^^ by one stone & for sale here

^^ by garnet girl designs & for sale here

hello 2011!

^ photo print by erin jane. for sale on etsy.

i can't believe another year has come & gone...

there is so much to reflect on & so much to be thankful for.

i have said it before on this blog, & i will say it again...
i am truly blessed!
2010 was a good year!
i had many special memories...
& i really believe that i have grown in my faith!
for that i am most thankful! :)
however, to be totally honest, 2010 did have few hard times for me...
& this new year is starting off with a lot of the same uncertainties & challenges from last year... however, one thing that i tried to really focus on in 2010 is how important it is to have faith & joy, no matter what life's circumstances are! there is a beautiful quote, from a wonderful devotional book called, "Springs in the Valley", that really sums it up best...
"there is a joy that is attained and another joy that is given. the first joy needs things to make it joy- congenial circumstances, attentive friends... the second joy, joys because it is filled with a bubbling spring of internal and eternal gladness- a gladness because it is always in God and God is always in it. it glows and grows under all circumstances- it sings because it is a song."
that quote has always had so much meaning to me!
there was also a Bible verse that meant a lot to me in 2010...
"in THY presence is fullness of joy" ♥ psalm 16:11

it is simple, but i believe that is what makes it so perfect!

through that simple & perfect verse,

i know that no matter what may come in 2011...

God is my Joy, always!

:)

happy new year!