Ghost Buster

"Do you believe in ghosts, Miss Orne?" asked Maud, who did, in spite of the comic explanation of this one.  "Not the old-fashioned sort, but there is a modern kind that we are all afraid of more or less," answered Miss Orne, with a half-playful, half-serious look at the girls around her.  "Do tell about them, please," begged Kitty, while the rest looked both surprised & interested.  "There is one which I am very anxious to keep you from fearing.  Women are especially haunted by it, & it prevents them from doing, being, & thinking all that they might & ought.  'What will people say?' is the name of this formidable ghost; & it does much harm, for few of us have the courage to live up to what we know to be right in all things."

-Jerseys, or the Girls' Ghost by Louisa May Alcott

Don't be haunted, sister.

Love {& Ghost-Busting},

-Bess-

10 Scarf Tying Ideas

Scarves are such an easy-peasy way to update an outfit + they're the perfect fall accessory for those downright chilly-cold blustery days - & there are so many ways to tie em!  Here's 10 styles to try this autumn from Stella & Dot!

Love & Scarves,
-Bess-

Hipster-ish Pumpkins

All you need are pumpkins, paint, & some decorative wood veneer pieces {I got mine from Michael's craft store}.  I found it took at least a couple layers of paint to cover each pumpkin, so be sure to allow time for drying in between coats.  Next, glue on your wood veneer pieces & let dry {you can use something like Elmer's or hot glue if you prefer}.

I have to say, I think the little specs guy is a cutie!

These might be heavy on the ish of hipster-ish, but it seemed appropriate at the time. =) 

Booyah {er, Love},

-Bess-

Decorative Stud Pumpkins

All you need are some decorative studs & pumpkins!  The studs should push in fairly easily, like a thumbtack into a cork board.  I found it can cause a bit of pumpkin juice to drip from the puncture, so dab that up with a paper towel & you're good to go!

You can even make an easy-peasy Jack o' Lantern face!

Pumpkin Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: Do you prefer faux or real pumpkins?  Or both?

Black Cat Fetish

I've got a thing for black felines lately.  I have no pets, but appreciate cat cuteness all the same.  Remember this cat beanie hat I made last year?  If you have a black cat fetish you should definitely go check it out...  Oh yes, & snag that free tag printable!

Meow Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: My hair was so long last year {it's about half of that currently}!

Fear Factor

It creeps in & stifles my daily life with its smoggy shadows. It seeks to overpower my being with its tentacles of angst & dread. The horrible & ever-imaginative “what ifs” it conjures have left me drained & burdened. It’s fear & it’s been chasing me...

My enemy knows it’s a weakness of mine & plays on every news bulletin & world wide crisis update.  Worry floods like crashing waves… what if… what if… what if…  I choke.  I can’t find the air.  I’m drowning in fear over… everything, & I know it’s not what God wants for His child.  I can find peace in trusting my Jesus.

I’ve learned I can show my love {an act of worship, really} by trusting Him, & because of that I will do it, because He first loved me & gave me His all {oh & wasn’t I so undeserving, but His love was greater than all that}.  It changes my perspective from that of worry, to that of loving my God.  Fear flees & is dispelled {vanishes – poof/presto} into beautiful love.  There will be times of weakness – when fears knocks & I peer out the peephole & pray for strength as it seeps under the doorway anyhow, but His love covers all that & His grace is sufficient.  I will return & repent to the freedom of love, & soon that crack in my door won’t be so large as it is now. 

I pray today, if fear in unraveling your peace, that you would change your perspective – look above the brewing clouds of foreboding possibilities & trouble & choose instead to act out that verb of love to your Holy Maker & trust Him.  He will be pleased.  You will be pleased & joy will turn the gray skies of the world to a heavenly blue.  It will be all right.  Whatever you face, you face it with the great I Am at your side… what a comfort it is.

Love & Peace,

-Bess-

P.S.: Here's some verses from the Word about fear & such.  Use em as your sword, sister!  Click here for lots more fear verses!

+ Click here for more on fear!

P.P.S.: Singing praises helps me put the focus off the worry & back on the rightful place: the all mighty Christ.  You might just want to try it, too.  This song inspires me to choose trust {& love}...   

"You Make Everything Beautiful"

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."

-Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: You are beautiful.

NEW "I'm Batty for You" Free Printable

Last October I offered this free printable...

{Click here to see the 3 different font versions you can choose from!}

This year, I've updated the design for ya...

{Hope you're as batty over it as I am!}

Try this printable framed {or stuck up with washi tape}, for a snail mail card, in a Project Life spread, gift tag, or whatever you wish!

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose the design you like best.  Click on the image, then right click & save to your computer {or copy & paste}.  Open in a word document, resize if necessary, print, & share with someone you're batty over!

CONDITIONS OF USE FOR PRINTABLES: My printables are free for personal use only. Feel free to share them on Pinterest provided you credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag}. If you want to blog about these printables, or share a project you created using them, it would be fabulous, just be sure to credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag} (feel free to use 1 or 2 photos, but please don't share the actual printable on your site - just add a link to it). Thanks & enjoy!

Batty for You!

-Bess-

It's Sweatshirt Weather, Darling!

There is a certain unnameable nostalgia in wearing a sweatshirt.  It's as comforting as mac-n-cheese & carefree like Saturday morning cartoon fests.  This autumn take your pick from the traditional kiddie casual to the updated classier fare.  Whether cheering in the football stands or roasting marshmallows at a snazzy bonfire get-to-together, one can't go wrong with a sweatshirt, darling!

Sweatshirt Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: I think we need a new name for sweatshirts.  If you think about the current moniker, it doesn't sound overly appealing, does it?

Song Love {October}

"Greater" by MercyMe


"Here I Am Anyway" by Josh Wilson


"Jesus Loves Me" by Chris Tomlin

Musical Love,

-Bess-

"How Can It Be?"

Sometimes I find myself down the road I promised I wouldn't travel again.  I live out the verse, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing." {Romans 7:19}.  It is at these times, when I am weak & vulnerable to further attack, the evil one whispers that God can surely not love someone as I.  In fact, His love completely baffles my human mind in those dark moments of failure - of sin -  how can He still love me after what I've done?  How can He still use me for His powerful, wonderful purposes?  How can He still call me daughter?

Sometimes things can't really be learned in this life {we aren't fashioned to fully comprehend every mystery}.  Some things just have to be believed.  It takes a trip in a rocket to fully unearth the principle of gravity - down here on the ground, it just has to be believed - or not.  Our belief in its power doesn't change its realities, whether on this earthen sod or dusty lunar crater.  I think God's love is the same - we can't fully understand it, but it is so {& unchanging (which is rather mind blowing to a sinner's heart)}.  We can choose to believe it & experience it or not, but it does not change its eternal existence - &, although our mortal minds cannot grasp such love this side of eternity, one day we will.  What a glorious day that will be when sin & grief are no more & where we can dwell fully in His love without question or doubt of its unfathomable might.  It is that Love that loves me when I am unlovable & caught in sin.  It is that mysterious, unaltered Love that lifts my downcast face & calls me daughter.  It is that Love who leads me back to the right path & reminds me He has a good plan for my life.

If you do not know Jesus as your Lord & Savior, I encourage you to visit the "Good News" page found at the top of this blog.  Jesus died for your sins & He can cleanse you & give you the hope & promise of heaven!  How can this love be?  In a word: Jesus.

Love from this Sinner {Who is Loved by Jesus},

-Bess-

P.S.: Jesus loves you, too.

DIY Sharpie Mugs

It really is that simple!  Draw your design with any Sharpie permanent marker, bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, let cool, enjoy - oh, & hand-wash {the dishwasher isn't too friendly with these creations}. 

I've seen this DIY all over Pinterest / the Web, but had never given it a try.  It worked great - it's just a little tricky writing on the curved-ness of a mug.  I can't wait to try out making more!

DIY Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What would you write &/or draw on your mug?

{Free!} October Quote Printable

Memories of watching the Anne of Green Gables movies on PBS when I was just a young thing are very vivid.  I grew up with Anne & she taught me things.  Oh, & Anne reciting "The Lady of Shalott" is such a piece of nostalgia for me {it's magic, really}.  It wasn't until I was older {by many years} that I actually read Lucy Maud Montgomery's beautiful story.  I cried when Matthew died {I was going to add that on to the previous sentence in parenthesis, but I felt it deserved its own space}.

In honor of October & L.M. Montgomery {she went by Maud (without an 'e'), by the way}, I whipped up a printable for you.  Yes, you... & because I can't decide which I like better, I'm giving you 2 to choose from.  

Happy October, Anne with an 'e,' you reside forever in the hearts & tomes of girlish youth - girlish youth, which blossom into strong bright women {who still have your book on their shelves}.

Love for the Printing,

-Bess-

INSTRUCTIONS: Click on the image above you like best & then right click & save to your computer {or copy & paste}.  Open in a word document, resize if necessary, print, enjoy - oh, & do tell your kindred spirits to pick one up, too!

CONDITIONS OF USE: My printables are free for personal use only.  Feel free to share them on Pinterest provided you credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag}.  If you want to blog about these printables, or share a project you created using them, it would be fabulous, just be sure to credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag} (feel free to use 1 or 2 of my photos, but please don't share the actual printable on your site - just add a link to it).  Thanks & enjoy!

Hello October!

I've been waiting for you.

For your crispness & color -

Oh, your color.

Spectacular.

How you invoke us to pull out chunky sweaters -

& stack firewood.

Your foggy mornings arise like ghost stories

& envelope the world in delicious mystique.

Hello, October.

Please stay awhile.

Love,
-Bess-