{Crochet}

Welcome to

A Weekly Pinterest Link-Up & Hop

(Share pins, meet others who love "Pinning", get inspired!)

First Time?  It's simple just follow these rules:

 Please follow your hosts: Courtney & Kimberly

& Our Lovely Guest Host: 

Courtney of Optimistic Mommy

then

 Link up your favorite pins post for the week

and

Link back to the party!

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Each week a winner will be chosen to flaunt the title of "Pinning-est" for successfully wowing us with the best Pinterest find.  The winner will be featured/announced in the following week's post!

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This morning I took a little window shopping trip to try on some things.  I tried on a gorgeous tangerine crochet top, which has in turn led me to search this trend.

via LibbyStory

via NastyGal

via ColdWaterCreek

via StyleMePretty

via ChicWish

via InHerStilettos

via Aldijana

via TrashtoCouture

So, what do you think?  Is a crochet top on your list of wardrobe additions for the Summer?

THANK YOU to all who linked up last week!

This week's "Pinning-est" is:

Jessica of Sugar in My Grits for this adorable painted wooden spoons pin!

Source: littlebitfunky.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Jessica, feel free to grab the button, and flaunt it!

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WANT TO BE A GUEST JUDGE? 

Email us!

Are you "Pinning"?  

Come on, everyone is doing it.  

Join us MONDAYS for weekly sharing of Pinterest finds.  

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Link up your PINTEREST INSPIRED POST below:

***

Link up your PINTEREST profile below:

{TacoWraps}

You can also add other toppings as you desire.

I love this recipe because it is super easy to prepare, 

and it is incredibly healthy and carb-conscious.  

I hope you'll try it and enjoy! 

{SunBerry}Spa Water

 


 

{6.8.12}

Late last month, my cellphone finally quit on me, which in turn led to me finally purchasing a new iPhone4S (the previous one drown in a freak-water-bottle-emptying-out-in-my-purse accident).  I'm so happy to be on instagram again, because it is such a great way to document life in pictures and stay connected with you.  My poor little point-and-shoot is feeling a bit neglected lately!
If you want to follow me, I'd love to have you - @baxtronlife is my user name.
Here are my last few weeks in photos.
P.S. Ever seen a video of a crazy woman bashing the crap out of her previous cellphone as a way to release pent up anger and frustration?  Stay tuned.


Linking up: LifeRearranged, Imperfections, A Good Life. 

{FeaturedLovely}Meet Chelsea of In These Shoes

Hello!  My name is Chelsea and I am guest posting for Courtney today because the poor dear has Carpal Tunnel in her hand!  Take a minute to pray for her if you think of it.  I blog over at In These Shoes.   I am a 20-something should-be-done-with-college-but-I’m-not-quite English Secondary Education major.  I write about what God’s teaching me as I spend time with him and in his word.  I spill the mushy-gushy details about my blossoming romance with my husband of almost one year.  I’ll also share the occasional art project, movie/music/book review, and outfit (because I love all of those things too much!).

Last year a mentor/friend of mine introduced me to the idea of self-awareness as a means to knowing God better.  She helped me to do this via the Enneagram personality test, and since then I’ve become evangelistic about it.  For those familiar with the test, I am a Helper (2).  This means that at my worst my natural bent is to focus on other people’s problems as a means to ignore my own.  At my best, it means I am a selfless servant naturally pouring out tenderness and encouragement to others.  Since self-awareness isn’t my natural bent, I have to choose to work harder at this.  

I think that getting to know God as we get to know ourselves works out in a couple of ways:  

1. We are made in his image:  it’s in the bible, check it out.  This means that there are characteristics of the Creator in his Creation.  Nothing is more exciting than seeing a trait in myself that I recognize as something I love about my Heavenly Father.  It’s kind of like being a Daddy’s girl and thinking about the great things you inherited from him.  

2.  We recognize our need for him in our shortcomings.  As we better understand the areas and patterns of our struggles, we begin to understand our need for God.  Where I am weak, he is strong.   I am made in God’s image, but I also have a sinful nature.  As I get to know myself (for better and for worse) I see my need, and God’s desire, to restore me to my original condition.  This drives me to greater closeness with the God that I love. 

On that note, you guys have heard of Audrey Hepburn, right?  *wink*  I’ve always loved her quote: 

via Wanelo

So, in the interest of myself, and you getting to know me better, I wrote my own “I believe” statement.

I believe in dancing.  Like fools.

I believe that love can last forever if you work hard at it.

I believe that there is grace bigger than all of our mistakes.

I believe in chai and frosted mini wheats.

I believe in playing soccer in the rain.

I believe in holding hands.

I believe that giving is happier than receiving.

I believe in pink gerber daisies.

I believe that each person has something unique to teach us about life and God.

What would your “I believe” statement say?  How are you getting to know yourself, and God, better?

***

Courtney here:

I "met" Chelsea via the MayDay FollowFest, and I've been so impressed by her understanding and ability to express the meaning she finds daily in God's word.  She has a beautiful way of sharing her insights.  I especial love her own paraphrases of scripture, which she calls the "Chelsea Standard Version." Thanks so much for blessing me by helping me out today lady!! XO

{FeaturedLovely}Meet Elise from Dear Family

Hi everyone! I'm Elise and I blog at Dear Family, I'm so happy to be over here today, but I am not happy about the circumstances. Pray with me for Courtney's wrist please! Feel better soon.

 

Today I brought some cake with me. Not just any cake, chocolate cake, chocolate butter cream frosting, whipped chocolate ganache and on top, chocolate curls.

Recipe here.

The reason I brought this chocolate treat over here today, is because I needed a little "pick-me-up".

My goal for this year has been:

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

-Eleanor Roosevelt 

Now, I can't pretend that every day is full of exciting adventure that has a heroic ending. But until yesterday, all these brave/scary things had quite (to my surprise) happy endings! 

Last night, was to be my first class of a two week "maintenance summer class" with the Milwaukee b
Ballet School. After quitting ballet for over 5 years and joining again this winter, I have had quite the difficult task of remembering french, remembering the positions, remembering combinations and the ever-so-difficult task of attempting to make my body move like it used to, or at least how it should. 

I nervously made the drive downtown, parked my car and paid the meter (all while sweating profusely) I was 30 minutes early, just what I wanted although everyone inside gave me looks that made me rethink my decision. I wandered around the Jodi Peck Center, wishing that if I had to take an advanced class "couldn't it at least be at the Milwaukee Ballet campus I take class at, the one by my house?" In a new building, I stumbled through several different doors until a kind girl pointed me upstairs to the dressing room. I quickly changed and the second I stepped foot into the studio, where other dancers were already warming up, I knew. This class was definitely above my level. I knew right then, I would be making many mistakes. At that very moment, my confidence left me. Confidence in ballet class is crucial, I promise you will make a mistake if you do not have it. 

From an outsider's perspective watching the class, they would probably tell you that the combinations were lovely. The dancers were lovely. The jumps, turns, barre and pointe work, absolutely stunning. They would also probably tell you that there seemed to be one girl in class that was just not yet ready to be taking this class - I'll let you guess who that was.

I left pretty embarrassed, in fact the entire class I was trying to figure out a way to slip out without being rude to the teacher. But, this was my scary thing for the day. It took courage and loads of prayers. On the car ride home, I repeated to myself "My worth is not in my performance or talents". I am so happy this is true. As for next week, I will be joining in a slightly lower level. I'm certainly not giving up!

See why I needed some chocolate today?

I hope you have some too, while trying something that requires courage. 

And you can always let me know how it goes!

Love,

Elise

***

Courtney here:
Thank you so much Elise for helping me out as I give my hands/wrists a rest, and for sharing this story!  It is so hard to share some of the let downs and discouragements we face, and I admire your boldness and courage, not only in sharing, but in persevering through the class even though you knew it was beyond your current skill level.  XOXO

{Tending Your Marriage}Garden

I am not a gardener.

But, last Spring I decided throw a few seeds in a few pots, 

almost like a science experiment.

I hoped that perhaps some of them would grow.

My Father-in-Law also gave me a couple of Tomato plants.

They grew like cedar trees, tall and strong.

They flowered, filling me with visions of homemade salsa.

And then…

No fruit was found on them.

Gardening is not an easy task.  

I'm not even sure that I would claim to enjoy it,

but there is something in my nature that desires to do it, 

and to succeed at doing it.

Marriage is a lot like gardening.

For most of us, we start out with a grandiose vision of what our garden will look like.

We envision an abundance of brightly colored blooms,
all flourishing together under blue skies and sunshine.

But, often to our shock and dismay, we find ourselves frustrated by the lack of fruit we are producing.

Like gardening, Marriage takes hard dedicated work.

The work of humble hands and hearts.

When I look at the old weathered clay pots sitting on my patio, I am reminded of God's word.

We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

Each of us is like a clay pot being molded and shaped as we seek God in our lives.

In our Marriages we start as two clay pots,
but over time God allows us to be broken down and re-formed together into one.

As He fills us with the new fertile soil of His spirit living within us,
He gives us the responsibility to sow good seed.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21


We have a choice, we can either sow good seed into our marriage or bad seed.  

When we sow strife, discontent, misunderstanding, resentment and unforgiveness,
our marriage, like a delicate flower wilts and withers.

When we sow good seed: quality time, love and respect, empathy and compassion, and most of all, GRACE, our marriage produces new life.

How blessed we are to have God, the master Gardener,
to continually reveal to us the condition of our marriages by the fruit He brings forth.

How is your garden growing?

Are you seeing the fruit that you desire or is God revealing some weeds that need to be pulled out?

God wants your marriage to flourish like a beautiful garden, ripe with fruit.

by Alicia Jo McMahan

Invite Him into your garden today…

You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11

Images used in this post have been licensed for my use with permission from their owners, 

please do not use these images without approval.