My Sweet Grandma Goes to Jesus

My beautiful godly grandma just passed away.  She's with Jesus now - with her husband & with my daddy.  She lived an amazing full life.  Ninety-eight years & she had a sharp mind until the end.  My mom was able to fly up & spend the last few moments with her mother.  All the daughters (4) sang hymns to her... sang her to Jesus.  That seems to be the perfect way to go - peacefully with song.  I wish to live such a full life, where I meet Jesus softly sleeping with singing all around.  What an amazing lady she was - living for Jesus & now living with her Savior forever.  

-In Memory of My Dear Grandma-

-Bess-      

My Favorite Christmas Tunes

You know, I've always had a Mixpod music player playing tunes on my blog.  I just switched to my Christmas player the other day... & I got to enjoy it for about a day.  Yesterday when I got on my blog, all ready to hear Christmas music, I heard nothing.  I checked my speakers {yes, they were on}, then I checked my player at the bottom of the blog, clicked it, & found Mixpod had shut down!  Silence is not golden!  So, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite Christmas tunes the "old fashioned way." 

Jesus, Savior by Chris August


He Made A Way In A Manger {Not sure the artist singing this version (my favorite version of this song is sung by Anthony Evans), but I loved the presentation here.}


Welcome to Our World by Chris Rice


How Many Kings by Downhere

 I absolutely love each & every one of these!

Love & Merry {Christ}mas,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are some of your favorite Christmas tunes?

I'm So Thankful

a few of my blessings

Thank You, Lord, for all You've given!

Thankfully,

-Bess-

Thanksgiving Nails {Easy As Pie}

Apply a coat of nail polish, let dry, & make a crisscross {pie crust inspired} pattern using an alternate color.  

Can't wait for the pumpkin pie!

You're beautiful!
-Bess-

My Candlestick Pilgrim Girl

Yes, strange title, I know, but it is a strange item.  

I found this peculiar little candlestick holder at Goodwill.  It was strangely appealing, so I debated its purchase - however, not long, as it was something like .40 & then half off!  Then, I took my purchase home & thought about what I could do with it.  Since Thanksgiving is almost here, I decided to make it a little pilgrim girl.

I took a scrap of fabric, a bit of white eyelet, & a beeswax candle I'd had forever...

& created this!

Love the back detailing of her hair!

Strange I admit, but I thought I'd share this unusual mini project I did.

Thrifting Love,

-Bess-

10 Simple Thanksgiving Ideas

click here for free printable

Love & Thanksgiving,

-Bess-

P.S.: Click each image to visit Polyvore & find the links to each of these photos for further information & ideas!

Bess' Thanksgiving Style Menu

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Bess-

P.S.: Here's a link to my first Thanksgiving Style Menu.

"The High Calling" Weekly E-Newsletter Review

Each week The High Calling releases an e-newsletter out into the wide wide world wide Web.  This free e-newsletter typically showcases a new audio segment that can be listened to {or read, if preferred}, 3 new articles, & a new video segment.  The tag line of The High Calling, "Everyday conversations about work, life, & God," is a good one line mission statement for the site, which focuses on living fully as you meander career paths & the ups & downs of the workplace & life in general.  

The articles were encouraging & easy to read + not too lengthy.  Both the audio & video were of excellent quality, creative, & inspiring in subject {these were my favorites}. The faults I found were there was little to no scripture, which would have enhanced the pieces further & the majority of the articles were more simple encouragement, than spiritual depth, like a liquid Chicken Soup for the Soul diet, rather than a deep nourishing spiritual meal founded upon scripture & the Word.    

Here's a link to past e-newsletters to browse: here

Here's the video from the e-newsletter I reviewed:




Check out The High Calling e-newsletter for yourself!  

Love,
-Bess-

I received a $10 gift card from Handlebar Publishing for my honest 

review of The High Calling's e-newsletter.

DIY Cake Stand

It seems a fact that anything placed on an elevated cake stand looks decadent & "fancy."  I've always wanted one, but they can be pricey.  I finally thought to myself, "Why not make it?"  So, that's what I did!

What You Need:

-sturdy candlestick {Dollar Tree}

-plate {thrifted}

-Krazy glue {Dollar Tree}

What To Do:

Follow your super glue's instructions carefully.  All I did was affix the candlestick to the center of the underside of my plate with Krazy glue {which worked well}, & left in the above position overnight to ensure it was well bonded.  Pretty simple!  I want to make more.  Maybe a tiered cake stand next!

Fancy Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: I stamped another pumpkin - this time with "LORD OF THE HARVEST."

In Search of the Perfect S'more

There is something essentially cozy about s'mores.  Thus, this autumn the quest begins to find the perfect one... if such a one does exist {surely it has not gone the way of the dodo bird}.  =)

Ingredients:

-cinnamon sprinkled graham cracker

-Hershey's Symphony bar

-jumbo marshmallow 

I've had the above contraption for over a year & yet to use it once!  So, I dug in the bottom cupboard & pulled out its box.  It's called Micro S'mores, & allows you to conveniently make s'mores in the microwave.  It worked rather well.  

Finished results: positively scrumptious!

Love,

-Bess-

Go Vote: 2012

Today's the day to get out & vote!  It wasn't until 1920 that U.S. women won the fight to go to the polls & let their voices be heard.  Exercise your right today!

Love & Patriotism,

-Bess-

In Which I Turn 1 Year Older

Yes, today is my birthday. I can’t believe it! I feel like I’m getting really old – at least my age makes me feel so. I have a quiet sort of day planned. I had a stack of pancakes with blueberries for breakfast; I’ve already done a load of laundry; & posted to Diary of a Single Girl {check it out if you like}. I pray this shall be a special year! {I seem to be in a strange poetic state this morning.  Laundry will do that to ya.  Well, not really.} 

 Thanks to all my lovely sisters-in-Christ & each & every reader! 

 Love you!

-Bess-

P.S.: I wish I had a slice of that pink cake right about now.  Yum!

Modest Autumn {Runway Rundown II}

Modesty & Inspiration,

-Bess-

P.S.: What's your favorite look?  It's hard for me to choose, but I think Rachel Zoe & Honor are especially fabulous.  What about you?   

Stamping Pumpkins {Tutorial}

For some reason the title of this post brings to mind the classic I Love Lucy stomping the grapes episode.  However, we will not be smashing pumpkins {hmmm, I just unintentionally dropped the name of an old rock band - strange} with our feet or any other of our extremities.  We will be using rubber stamps, darling! =)

What You Need:

-rubber stamps {smaller ones work best}

-pumpkin

-ink pad

I can't believe Thanksgiving is about 3 weeks away!  I decided to use my small alphabet stamps to "print" Thanksgiving-themed messages on my mini pumpkins {Give Thanks & Blessed}.  Be careful, the ink can smear & rub off if you aren't careful - this can be beneficial in case you mess up {just wipe clean with a damp paper towel}.  

I love stamping pumpkins!

I'm working on decorating for Thanksgiving...  I found this mini chalkboard at Walmart for less than a dollar!

Thankfully,

-Bess-