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#followfriday

August 7, 2015

i thought it would be fun to start to share some of my favorite Instagrammers on Fridays!

first up….
@nestprettythings
-Vermont based Jewelry Designer, Photo Stylist, Owner of Nest Pretty Things

her jewelry… amazing!
her style… impecable!
i enjoy every photo that comes through and i think you will too.
i think i could live in her pictures!

@artbarblog
– graphic designer, art teacher, blogger, mom to 3 whippersnappers

i smile at all she posts.
i am inspired to start creating with my kids whenever i see her ideas.
her space is so cheerful.

@estherhavens
-Humanitarian photographer : Lover of people : Nomad : Visual storyteller : NGO story consultant : Speaker

Esther has CRAZY talent.
she goes everywhere and is able to capture SO much in that little IG square.
i love all of her photos (ALL!!) but i am most smitten with the ones in Africa.

@hey_jules_studio
– an artist & a mommy who never could pick a favorite color…

her feed started as a 100 days of rainbows project.
it’s super fun to see what she comes up with to rainbotize… it’s totally creative.
the popsicles could be the best picture ever!
i just found out this week that she has an etsy shop where you can buy these prints!
YAY!!!

@31Bits
-Fashion For Good. Using fashion & design to empower people to rise above poverty.

i love to see the jewelry… what’s new and all the colors…
but what i like even more is the photos of the women who make them!
i love to see their joy from the opportunity to have a different path.
a way to overcome.
hope!
and their kids are so adorable too… like melt your heart to pieces kind of cute!

and speaking of 31Bits…. click here to enter to win these two necklaces from their Fall Line that launched this week!
winner picked this weekend!

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Amanda - Meg, I know you have a deep love for Africa. You might want to check out @thirstproject (Thirst Project) on Instagram. They provide clean drinking water in Africa, one of their commitments is to provide all of Swaziland with clean water by 2022. My brother is there with them right now doing their photography, so there are some amazing images coming in right now. They are a great organization, and I thought you might be interested. Have a good evening!

Se7en's Fabulous Fun Post #284 - se7en | se7en - […] The most lovely colourful blog on the web, Whatever, has a #FollowFriday full of beautiful and inspiring instagrammers. […]

misty tharp - LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!!!!

I messaged you FOREVER ago about sending swag for your craft weekends. At the time, I was just starting out and didn’t have the $ to send enough, but I do now! Is it still possible for me to go ahead and send some your way?

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what i have read, will read & reading now

August 5, 2015

these are what i have read this summer:

Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way

i don’t know why i didn’t start this book forever.
i have had it for a long time but i finally opened one afternoon this summer and couldn’t put it down.
and then i got about 3 chapters to the end and closed it because i didn’t want it to be over!
i just finished it this week.
it was really good. i always have A LOT to think about when i read her books.
i LOVED Cold Tangerines last summer and this was equally good!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

I don’t know how it took me so long to get this book?!!
i LOVED her! I am a pop culture dork and thoroughly enjoyed all her references to show business and hearing how she got her start!
Mindy is way cooler than i already that she was!
and in the book she listed her top ten funniest scenes ever and she mentioned Kaitlin.
NO ONE has EVER mentioned Kaitlin!!!
Kaitlin was one of my most favorites of all the years.
watching those crazy skits i told craig “THIS is what i was like when i was 10! Kaitlin is ME”

when mindy mentioned that she loved Kaitlin, i knew that mindy & i would mostly likely be real life BFFs.

i tried to insert a video but it’s not working… but here is a link to it… KAITLIN.
(it’s totally dumb i know! but picture me at 10 years old & what life was like for adults around me)

Counting by 7s
i very rarely read fiction.
and honestly i didn’t know this was fiction when i got it.
🙂 so i accidentally picked a fiction book.
My friend Shannan said it was good & i was getting ready to go on my trip so i just ordered it no questions asked.
it was a heartwarming story for sure.
i really really liked it.
it made me want to read more fiction!

FullSizeRender-23 Called for Life: How Loving Our Neighbor Led Us into the Heart of the Ebola Epidemic

oh man.
this book was personal.
i was physically there… next door to Dr. Brantly when he was first sick.
i was in my friend’s living room when they found out their next door neighbor & best friend had contracted ebola.
we all cried and freaked out and worried together.
i have been through the hospital he talks about.
i saw the ebola unit he set up.
i felt like i was reliving that week last summer.
i stayed up late in the night reading this and was totally into it.
i knew the ending but i loved hearing all of what happened from Kent & Amber’s perspective.

This is what i am going to be reading:

For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards

i can’t wait to hear more from Jen Hatmaker!!

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Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World

Emily seems to have a way of noticing things that i don’t in the everyday so i am looking forward to hearing her take on this too.

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Yes Please

it’s Kaitlin herself. 🙂
why would i read tina fey and mindy kaling’s book but not Amy’s?
duh.
i am definitely reading this one.
i can’t believe i have taken this long… have you watched parks and rec?
we finally are binge watching on amazon.
SO FUNNY – in a totally DRY kind of way.

and this is what i am starting today:

Bread and Wine Cover

Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes

since the last two were so good i figured it’s time to start on this right away.
maybe it will inspire me to host a dinner party.
or at the very least… cook dinner for my family?
because honestly that has been a hard thing even this summer.
if it wasn’t tacos, burgers or spaghetti… we ate out.

so now…. let’s hear from you!
what are you reading? what is something i HAVE to read?
i promise to consider all of your suggestions.
even if they are fiction.

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Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year
So, so good.
Here is the synopsis so you don’t have to look it up 🙂 The church year is a uniquely Christian way of marking time. When Kimberlee Conway Ireton began to understand this, even the most ordinary incidents of her life began to resonate with the stories of Scripture. In this book, Kimberlee follows the structure of the liturgical year–from Advent to the second cycle of Ordinary Time–describing the origin of each observance and its ongoing relevance for our lives. In a word, The Circle of Seasons offers you structure–a simple and traditional way of building your life around your faith, rather than the other way around.

Lisa - I recommend “My Antonia”. I think it took place in Kansas. I recommend listening to the audio, if you can. It’s worth buying, it will probably be family favorite.

Alicia - Kaitlin!!! That is a fav of mine as well! And the fav of one of my best friend’s who I don’t live near anymore. Posted this to her FB page and enjoyed a wonderful laugh.

Lauren - Bread & Wine is my all time favorite! I buy it for gifts all the time!

Sharilee Ensz - Did I ever tell you my mom cleans for Kim. Both her office and her house!! And I believe my mom and cousin Heidi cleaned the Craft House 😀 Anyway my mom really love a book called Kisses From Katie. It’s very impressive. It’s about a girl named Katie. She was a normal teenager living here in America and she just left her boyfriend and her job and school and family to go to Uganda and idk what it ALLL led to but she ended up adopting nearly 15 children and making a lot of people happy. I KNOW you would LOVVVE it because I’m only thirteen and don’t like books like that and it’s my favorite book!! She also has a blog called kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com. Just on a side note, me and my whole group of friends idolizes you. One of them, Arica Litwiller, shes your biggest ‘fan!!!’ has a blog “ksdreamsarefree.blogspot.com.” You’re the one who inspired that blog!!!! Ok and tell Annie that she is ABSOLUTELY DARLINNGGGGG and tell Talby that shes beautiful but don’t let her get a big head. Haha. But please please read Kisses From Katie!!

Suzanne - This post could not have come at a more perfect time. My birthday is tomorrow (8/8) and my husband asked 2 days ago what I wanted. Bless his heart, this is not his love language, he is so good at so many other things. Anyway, I was having a hard time coming up with things on the spot and then I read this post. I gave him 2 books suggestions from your readings. Thanks so much and I am sure he would say a huge thank you!!!!!

Ranee - I love anything by Shauna Niequist or Jan Hatmaker, so good choices there! I just read two good fiction books, both by Marisa de los Santos…Love Walked In and Belong to Me–actually saw them recommended by Jen Hatmaker, so decided to check them out and was glad I did-just make sure you read Love Walked In first because though Belong to Me isn’t technically a sequel, some characters carry over and Love Walked In is first! 🙂

Mindy - I just re-read To Kill a Mockingbird in preparation for the sequel which apparent was written first. I have also started A Million Little Ways and have Gift From The Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh on the table beside the couch and it is calling my name. I love, love, love reading outdoors in the summer months.

Mickie - Well as much as I loved all of the book recommendations (and I have read Yes, Please and loved it) the main issue is this. How had I NOT see Kaitlin before? The timing was perfect because there are moments when I am with my son (now, 11) who at times is the male version of Kaitlin and I think “what’s going to happen when he is an adult…?” “Is this going to get better?” etc. And, because you are pretty sure you were Kaitlin, I am going to tell myself what I try to most days and that is Yes! We and he will find his way and fulfill God’s plan for him even if that involves playing our couch as drums while listening to both of his iPads at once (and maybe a little guitar too) which is what was happening this morning.

Sasha - If you want awesome but kind of heartbreaking realistic-fiction, Rainbow Rowell is the best. Eleanor and Park and Fangirl…

Stephanie Wilson - I am just starting Yes Please and I AM SO EXCITED. And now that you mentioned Mindy’s book I am going to have to read that too….

kimberly oyler - meg!! kaitlin is my favorite!! i know almost all the words. i knew i liked you.

beth larson - Ihave read all three of the Shauna Niequist books y’all mentioned and they are 3 of my all time favorites, (also LOVE her new devotion book and if you liked the others you should get SAVOR).
Another book I loved is a compelling memoir called Blackbird, and one more lighthearted summer read, Hit by a Farm(nonfiction).
I enjoyed your suggestions.

Angie - I read Yes Please and loved it!

Sarah Lahrman - I am so glad to hear how much you loved Bittersweet. I haven’t read any of her books, but this has been on my list to read and I will have to move it to the top! Right now I am reading “Brain on Fire” by Susannah Cahalan. This is actually a memoir about a 24 year-old and her life-saving diagnosis of a very rare auto-immune disease of the brain. This is totally NOT fiction! I am about half way through the book and it is incredible.

Tracy - Don’t forget to put Mindy Kaling’s new book on your list! Comes out in September!

susan - May I suggest listening to Yes please instead of reading it. Amy reads it but also has Carol Burnett on the audio book, her real parents read on it, Seth Myers reads parts on it. I loved it and I think it was extra special to listen to.

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - Oh my gosh? How have I not read Mindy’s book?! And I was going to mention Amy’s to you . . but you got to it too 🙂 I loved her book! Humor And pearls of wisdom dispersed.

April R - I needed some new suggestions. thank you 🙂
And for mine…non fiction I am rereading Elisabeth Elliot. I was so sad to hear she died recently. She lived a long inspiring life. Her writing has meant so much to me. My favorite is Keep a Quiet Heart. There are also the letters to her daughter – both are easy to read because they are a collection of writings. Her book Passion and Purity is equally wonderful.
For fiction I like to tell others about Francine Rivers Lineage of Grace. It’s five short stories based on real people from the Bible that really brings them to life. So maybe it’s not totally fiction.

csl - I have devoured all of Shauna’s books, but my very favorite essay of hers is “Thin Places” in Bittersweet. Lots to ponder! I also LOVED Tina’s and Mindy’s books and was NOT impressed with Amy’s. I reeeeeally wanted to enjoy it but it just didn’t click with me, for some reason. Happy reading!

Brittney - I’ve read all three books (Tina, Amy & Mindy) and Amy’s was by far my favorite! I listened to the audio book and laughed so hard I cried!

Julie W. - I thought I was a huge Amy Poehler but I’ve never seen Kaitlin. How have I never seen Kaitlin??????? I’m crying into my coffee laughing so hard. Thanks for the introduction!

Sandra K - Yes, Please by Amy Poehler was fantastic – one of my favorite books that I’ve read recently – enjoy! 🙂

Rhiannon - Thanks for all the book recommendations. I love hearing what others are reading/have read. You will love Yes, Please! I loved it and I felt as though I could hear Amy saying the words. She’s so funny and such an interesting journey she’s had. I never knew how close she was to Seth Meyers until I read that.

Kerri - Well, just today I read a list of high school football receivers to watch for in the upcoming season – and noticed a Duerksen kid from Hesston is on the list… 🙂

Lori Sammartino - Meg, I never read fiction either till I was at a tough transition point in life a few years back and a friend gifted me this book by Jan Karon.At Home in Mitford. It’s one in a long series, and it definitely made me a convert! I feel like it was food for the soul and have begun to form my own collection of books in the series, to treasure and revisit! You must check them out!

Kristin S - Fantastic list!

Lee Ann - My library actually had “counting by 7” in the electronic version so I’m going to start it tonight!

Lee Ann - I LOVE fiction. I only read non-fiction when I have to (book groups) 🙂 Bread and Wine is her BEST book! I started with that one and was slightly disappointed from there. I did it in a book group setting and every time we met we would bring the food from the book. So good!

For some fiction fun – read “Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty.

Cant wait to read all the suggestions you get. I need a good book.

Kari - I love that you remember Kaitlin! My husband and I would tape SNL so we could watch the skits later, she was so funny! I heard Yes, Please is great as an audio book because Amy Poehler reads it.

Jenn - I read Called for Life the moment I saw it on your Instagram feed. Oh wow! Amazing story and so well written. I kept thinking, “you were there!” What happens to me when I read such a great story, fiction or nonfiction…I want more. So, I’m wanting to read two books about Liberia. Another America and The House on Sugar Beach. I had no idea how Liberia was founded so I’m quite fascinated about learning more.

Corinne - If you want to read a fiction book you should read “Annie Freeman Fabulous Travelling Funeral” by Kris Radish. It was the first of hers I read and I have been telling everyone to read it since. All her books are great I powering female type books but this is still my fav

Stephanie - I always recommend to anyone to read Nourishing Traditions. It’s part cookbook, part history book–THE most interesting book! I’m not one for fiction either. I’m getting ready to start Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well, The Marketing of Evil, and Brain Maker.

Jen - I don’t listen to a lot of audio books but Amy Poehler’s is fantastic! I recommend listening to it because not only is it written well, but when she’s reafing from it, it is incredible.

Shelby Brooks - Some of my favorites/ones I read this summer!

A Holy Ambition by John Piper — about the importance of world missions

Radical by David Platt – crazy awesome good about living radically for Christ

Every Bitter Thing is Sweet by Sarah Hagerty – about her struggle with infertility, seriously such an sweet and inspiring read

Dorothy Must Die and The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige – twist on the original Wizard of Oz story and what happens after Dorothy leaves. So good!!! One of those where you just can’t put it down!

Alicia @ Investing Love - Oh my worrrrrrrrd!!!! Kaitlin!! I loved her!!!

When I know I”m annoying Jarrod by asking too many questions, I’ll just be like, “Rick Rick Rick Rick!!” We die. Loved that skit.

Talia - @ Colleen – I loved, “Everything I Never Told You.” A great story. Also loved reading, “The Gravity of Birds.”

Lizzy - I love love loved Mindy’s book & Amy’s was beyond words. I’ve never laughed and cried so much while reading a book – though, may I suggest listening to the audiobook for Yes Please, Amy (as well as some other glorious folks) read it, and there is just something about listening to Amy read her words so sincerely that made it that much more enjoyable. Although, I did listen to the audiobook after reading it as well.

Heather S. - Counting by 7’s is on my daughter’s list for literature this year. Looks like I’ll be reading that one, too. 🙂

Colleen - Everything I never told you by Celeste Ng… Be warned it’s fiction but reads like non-fiction (from another reader ambivalent about spending time learning about anything that didin’t “really” happen!)

Katie Skiff - I almost picked up Called for Life, but I got stand Strong by Nick Vujicic and need to start it. I just don’t sit and read as much in the summer. Too many things to spray paint!! 🙂 All look good, so I’ll save this post for the future!!

Kallie B - You will not regret starting Bread and Wine! I’ve read it 3 times. I can’t stop highlighting – it’s the greatest. Love all your choices to read this summer!

Rachelle - Our book club met last night so I was super excited to read this post this morning. While we read mostly fiction I am looking forward now to ordering the Jen Hatmaker book For the Love. Check out the Nightingale by Kristen Hannah and Me Before You by JoJo Moyes. Last night we had a Skype session with Violet Howe who is writing the Tales Behind the Veil series – Diary of a Single Wedding Planner… It is a very sweet story even your girls could read!

All were hits with our small group.

Enjoy and Happy Reading!

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31Bits Fall Collection & giveaway!

August 3, 2015

One of my FAVORITE companies is 31 Bits!
They are launching their Fall Line today and it’s beautiful!

in case you weren’t sure if i truly love 31…. see photo below.
🙂
those are all my personal 31 pieces.
yes… i am in love with this company!

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i love their style obviously but i also love their Mission!

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Our goal is to empower people to rise above poverty. On top of that, we create products with exceptional quality and sophisticated design. It’s a win/win

8e5470e744a758f2aac2725ff9df1adb bitspic 31bits2 b5ec09408f24c28b754dfe0db0f25ef0 31bits
i have two awesome things to share with you in this post!

#1 – You can use the code MEG15 to get a 15% discount on everything you order at 31Bits – good for all of August!!!
you guys… do your christmas shopping! Birthday shopping! Treat Yo’ Self!
every piece you purchase from 31 Bits helps empower women!
it’s RAD!!!

#2 – I AM GIVING AWAY THESE TWO NECKLACES!!
one lucky winner will receive these two pieces in beautiful fall colors – i LOVE the gold!!

to enter: leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite piece you see at 31Bits.com (fall collection or anything they carry!)

I will choose a winner on Sunday August 9!

GO TO 31BITS to shop today!

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Denise - I have a turquoise necklace and I love it. I kept the tag telling me about the woman who made it. I love that even more.

Ashley Thurman - I LOVE 31bits! My favorite is the Rustic Rotunda, I keep going back to that one!

Beth - I really like the color combo on the Crackled Tartan bracelet. Such beautiful things!

Mary H - I love them all. But choosing I would love to first have the Romantic necklace and the Malta Melody bracelet.

Roganne - Love the Mediterranean Strands! So gorg!!

Roganne - Such a beautiful line! Love the Mediterranean Strands! So gorg!!

Susan in KS - the romantic and the banjo – thanks!

Arlene - The
84 inch long necklace. Delightful jewels. Inspiring story of it’s beginning and purpose.

Ashley - Love the antiquity necklace in their fall collection!

Amy N - Oh.My.Goodness. So hard to pick just one! I would have to say the Gold Romantic is wowing me!
Thanks for the chance!

Kasey - I love the Mojave Melody necklace.

Liz Wilson - Lunar Light necklace or Flora Frenzy bracelet. Ok, who are we kidding?! I would love anything from 31bits!!

Jeri - Um, just one? Love the Serenade Spike bracelets!

Shauna - I love the crackled tartan bracelet!

Bethany - I love the fall collection! Have my eye on the Ferngully & the Evergreen Dream necklace. I’m a fall girl through and through and LOVE this year’s collection.

Kristel Armes - They are all beautiful! I really like the antiquity necklace.

Heather Ivy - Hi Meg! I have two 31Bits piece of jewelry. One is a sweet yellow beaded necklace given to me by one of my best girls, who teaches me every day how to better my walk with Christ in all the light that she shines in the world! If I win, I would return the gift to her with the winning necklace because I KNOW she would adore it! I just went to the site, and I’m a bracelet girl, so the top ones I LOVE are the Flora Frenzy (because it would match my yellow necklace, hello?!), the Rhamba Row and the Dharia…aren’t they beautiful?! xoxox

Staci Torgerson - I am in love with Ferngully as well as its name. So thankful for companies like 31 Bits that have a conscience!

Whitney Russell - I love “The Dreamer”.

Kim - so pretty….my favorite is Heather Strands in Navy&Periwinkle! love it!!

Mignon jones - I love everything…but my favorite is the Heather Strands in blue!

Jan - Love Sea Swell!

Rachel - Probably my 2 favs are The Globetrotter and The Dreamer. Love those 2 pieces. But really, I see the kids jewelry is so affordable and beautiful. My 13 year old and 11 year old would love them! Thanks for reminding me about this company – I see some Christmas gifts in their future!

nicole - LOVE this company & their product is AWESOME! For me, The Dreamer…love it!

Angela Alvarez - I love the necklace The Romantic! Its beautiful!

Lindsey - So hard to pick! They are all AMAZING. My favorite is the Dreamer.

Jackie Hughes - Love the Rhamba Row bracelet!

Jennie - I love the canopy!! They are all so pretty!

Audra Reed - I was going to say the Ferngully necklace, until I clicked on the bracelets! I never buy bracelets first, but I am loving all of them. I would buy all of the Daphne bracelets to stack, stack, STACK!

jenni carlisle - I love The Dreamer or Seqouia Stack from the new collection…gorgeous!

Meredith Welborn - I have wanted the Whimsy Trim headpiece for longer than I can remember. It’s a lovely, grown-up alternative to wearing a flower crown (which I also love) in public.

Dana Byers - I love the “dot” layering bracelets! (well, actually all of the bracelets!) It’s just so hard to pick a fav..the necklaces are so stunning too! Thanks for sharing!

Rita - Love the bright color of some of the bracelets – especially CRACKLED TARTAN.

Gabby - Hi Meg! I love the Odette in coral. Thanks for your wonderful, colorful, fun blog!

colleen from alabama - the Hiya wrap. It fits my style perfectly! Annnnnd, I love me some bracelets! the more the better but I almost always have some kind of cuff. It is truly beautiful.

Stephanie - Oh my goodness, so many favorites! But I’ll go with the Mediterranean Strands!

dawn - ferngully is ah-mazing!!

Karen - I love Mojave Melody. Gorgeous.

Kim K. - I love ALL 31Bits pieces, but especially the pieces with gold and cream. Those colors just speak to me 🙂

Alyssa - The Dreamer! It is simple and would go with most of my outfits!

shaunie - The Lunar Lights necklace is my favorite

Michelle - Love everything! Think their bitty bracelets are the cutest.

Angela - Great cause and great jewellery!
Angela

Robyn - The dreamer!

Liz R. - Love the Mediterranean Strands necklace!

Kim P. - The cream & gold Canopy necklace is one of many favorites!

GB Jost - I really love the 2 necklaces that you are giving away…too hard to pick just one from the site…

Shardell - I am in love with the Dahlia necklace. What a great cause!

rachel - I forgot the most important part…haha. My new fave are the Bitsies. 🙂 so dainty.

rachel - I love everything about their jewelry…the shape, the colors, the story. So fun!

alice - The Dreamer necklace and The Globetrotter bracelet are my favorites. All of their jewelry is beautiful.

Jenny M - I love the Lariat necklace!

Cassandra - It’s a tossup between Arroyo bundle & the Lariat! So pretty!!

Allison H. - Love the new Bitsies line for girls! 🙂

Sarah Lahrman - They are all so beautiful! My favorite is Hemlock Stone. Totally jotting this down for Christmas presents 🙂

Lesley - I’m absolutely smitten with “The Dreamer’ necklace! So pretty!

Big D and Me - I love the Dreamer necklace and the Heather Strands necklace but really everything is beautiful. Thanks so much.

meg duerksen - I don’t remember any dorks at storyline! So there! We were all having such a good time. And I want to go with Bob Goffs group! How do I get in on that?! Seriously!

Becky B - Arroyo Bundle!!!

Angie - I like the Ferngully necklace and the one in this post!!!!

Melissa - I’m a little in love with this jewelry. Sooo beautiful! The rustic rotunda necklace is amazing!

Twyla - Arroyo bundle in turquoise!

amy jupin - the cedar twist or the hiya cuff bracelet could be my new fall faves. i wanna win. mmhmm.

Michelle Erstad - Evergreen dream~but they are all great~definately adds personality to any outfit!!

kristie browning - any of the bracelets…riptide or cedar twist

Emily - Love The Lariat! You can wear it with anything!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - Rustic Round or Whimsy Pine ♡

sharon - they are all so unique. the hemlock stone is so very cool. thank you for the chance!

Kayla - Love the lunar light necklace!!!:)

Brooke C. - The Dreamer

Casey Davis - Love 31 bits! I learned about the company this past spring when visiting with the women that make these necklaces while I was in Uganda with Restore International (Bob Goffs organization)!! PS- I dorked out and said hello to you at the StoryLine conference last October 🙂

Gretchen - I love their bracelets! So hard to narrown it down, but loving both the Dharia and Cracked Tartan bracelets.

Lindsay F. - Wow, so tough to decide on one… They’re all gorgeous! I’m loving Sea Swell in marble gray!

sandy johnson - I love the Globetrotter bracelet! It is beautiful. All of their things are beautiful but it is my favorite.

Kerri - “The Artist” bracelet!!

Kristen - I like The Romantic (necklace)

Heather B - Ah! I love so many of the pieces at 31bits! I think my absolute favorite is the globetrotter bracelet. The colors are vibrant and wearable – so beautiful!

Nicole G. - The Dreamer is definitely my favorite!

Jenna - love them too! Heather strands are my newest fav!

Amanda C - I LOVE the dreamer! So cute!

cathie w. - love the creative.
so pretty on it’s own, but makes an impact when grouped together.

Caroline L'Heureux - I love love the Heather Strands!

Emily P - The Fashionista bracelet! They’re stuff is beautiful and I love giving them as presents!

Dana S - I really like the entertainer – because I love to entertain.

Kathie - IT is hard to choose, but I have narrowed it down to: Ferngully, Tribal Verbana and Arroyo Bundle (it is on SALE)!!!!

Kathy - So many beautiful choices! But I will say ‘the dreamer’ is definitely a fave!

Patricia - Love the globetrotter & daphne bracelets — I’ve got several of each in different colors. Love them!

Amy Jo - The dreamer necklace is my favorite! Lots of cuteness!

Gretta - I love each and every piece!! How fun!

amy - anything red is my fav!

Peg - Love the Arroyo !!

Terri F - I love them all! I would have to say the Riptide and Daphne bracelets are so simple and fun. I love the colors.

KWolff - This is such a cool company! Thanks for sharing it with us!
My favorite piece is The Dreamer. A very close second is The Fashionista.
Now, off to make my wishlist for those who give me gifts. 🙂

Terri - I’m in love with the Saharan necklace. I love the beautiful shades of blue in the beads. I also love the philosophy of the 31 bits company and agree that it is a win win!

sarah moske - I love Aria!

DianeM - Wow…beautiful jewelry <3 Thanks so much for the chance to win some. I have a thing for bracelets, and I fell in love with "The Creative" and "The Globetrotter", "The Stetson Roe"…I could go on but you said 2 & I already had to include 3…lol
Smiles, DianeM

Peggy - I love the Canopy necklace

nora - I like the Cacti Double and hey! It’s on sale 🙂

Natalie Hesselschwardt - I love the Inspirer and the Dreamer. And the bitsies are too cute for words! I just bought one for my daughter for her birthday!

Dana S. - Ferngully all the way! Beautiful & happy colors.

Vicki Esh - I am in love with the Hemlock Stone necklace! So amazing!

deb meyers - cedar twist and rhamba row bracelets!

Sarah - Meska Knot bracelet

Jaime S - Hands down the Ferngully-such a perfect piece!!

Elizabeth smith - Love the multi colored ones… And the ones of yours… And the layered ones… And the new ones for our littles!!

Andrea crichton - I looooove the Odets layers!!!!

Mendi - Oh my to choose just one! I would have to say Mediterranean Strands.

Robin Anderson - I love the sequoia stack!

Dawn - I love all their jewelry! I own several things of theirs and I love each one! My favorite fall piece is the crackled tartan bracelet!!!

Mariam - The Mojave Melody is to live for!

Eric - My wife might like the Sequoia!

God bless!

Linda - OMG! I fell in love with the Radiant Meadow necklace and so many more…!

Laura kibbe - I’d pick out the Dreamer

Sarah Skloss - The Meska knot is on my wish list!!

Wade - The Santa Fe one is pretty fab!

Emily - Love these! If I had to pick a favorite, I think I’d love ‘The Romantic’ necklace–so classic!

Laura kibbe - Love The Dreamet

Doris - I love the Bandero necklace! Thanks

Jackie - My favorites are the Free spirit necklace and the dreamer. Beautiful jewelry with a great purpose.

Laura - Oh my goodness – everything is amazing! I really love their persimmon & crackled tartan bracelets!

Cheri Simpson - I love the multi-colored bracelet The Adventurer! They are all beautiful!

Heather Burkey - I LOVE the artist bracelet! …but also love their mission and pretty much the whole lineup’

Deb A. - It is too hard to pick just one. They are all fabulous. The Globetrotter bracelet is gorgeous.

Gretchen D. - The flora frenzy very cool,but I also love the simplicity of the Daphane.

elma - I love the Rhamba Row Bracelet!!!

Jenny Damewood - Hard to choose a fav but the antiquity necklace is so rad!!

Becky - Ooooooo Meg! I love, love, love everything about these necklaces! I especially want to get the Mojave Melody Necklace in BOTH color schemes. How would I choose?

Maureen Polderman - FernGully and Lunar Light! But really, I love almost all of them…and I love even more what 31 bits stands for and how they empower women to change their life circumstances and situation. Such an amazing thing!!

Jenna - LOVE them all but if I had to pick one, it would be the Mojave Melody! LOVE!

Hannah Hill - I have and love their classic romantic style of necklace. I love the simple style !!

Rachel V - I love The Dreamer necklace!

Sarah D - I LOVE 31Bits, too! The Persimmon bracelet is my favorite on the site right now.

Meggan D. - I love 31 Bits, too! My favorite is the Lariat… love it!!

Bridget Bond - Oh that Antiquity necklace is so unique! I love it!

leslie - the dreamer is awesome! Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂

Chris - I like the pink Threaded Thistle bracelet.

tinaehb3 - I love the Canopy and Heather strands but really they’re all beautiful!

Michelle Bain - Antiquity! love it!

Rebekah - I love 31 bits, too! I adore the arroyo bundle. Stunner!!

Jenny hoesli - I love love the dreamer!!

Cortney Hardy - Hmmm… how could I ever decied? Today, my fav is Mirage Tres. But today might be different!

Ann Wagner - Love that Hemlock Stone necklace (and every single bracelet!)

Whitni - I love The Entertainer necklace! My sister went to Africa in 2006 on a mission trip and brought some necklaces home that were similar to these. They are gorgeous and the way they are made is amazing!

Ashley K - The Wild Willow or the Romantic!! Gorgeous!! Love the mission!

Stephanie T - I love the Snapdragon bracelet!

Stacy Mc - Love the sequoia stack necklace. Would make a great birthday gift for myself.

Erin - my favorite is daphne bracelets :))

Maggie - Rustic Rotunda!

robbie - I Love the Persimmon Bracelet!

Amy - So much cuteness! I especially love the Dahlia necklace and the Flora Frenzy bracelet.

Nancy - I love them all but Aria really stood out for me. Thank you.

Kit - I love the ones you have chosen! But Canopy is also really cool, and looks like something I would wear a lot.
I have a 15 year old son who is very interested in fashion and design. I’m going to show him the 31 Bits website as an example of how design can bring glory to God and be a part of Kingdom work. Very cool!

Brenna - The Inspirer in black. Love.

Sarah - I like the Dahlia necklace!

Sarah - Has to be Mediterranean Strands.

Jacki Balderama - I love everything, but one of my favorites is the Mediterranean Strands. I love the colors and long necklaces are my favorite!

Shawna - Medina Cascade or almost anything for that matter.

Dana Summers - So many cute pieces. My favorite is “The Dreamer” necklace. Thanks for the give away.

Lori L. - I have been ooohing and ahhhing over this website for about 1/2 hour now! Love the summery colors of the Citron Escape necklace!

Melanie E. - Oh my goodness. They are all so fun. I love the lunar lights necklace.

Michele - Mediteranean strands necklace!

chrissi - i am loving that harvest moon necklace. just beautiful.

Liesl - who wouldn’t take ANYTHING from 31 bits! such fun stuff! i got my first piece in my stitch fix last spring. next on my list is a bracelet….thinking The Fashionista!

Tracy - I like the Riptide bracelets!

Becky Kindel - Soooo many gorgeous pieces!! Tough choice – but I’d have to say my favorite is Lunar Light.

AmandaK - Canopy necklace was very pretty. I like the Fashionista bracelet too!

Kathi - I love everything, my favorite is The Fashionista. Thanks for the chance to win.

Sarah Rollins - I just love the kids jewelry! The fruit frenzy bracelet and necklace and the friendship bracelet sets are so sweet!

Caitlin - I love the Romantic necklace in multi-color!!

Alexandra Horn - Love the name and the necklace: Ferngully

Patti - I love the Rhamba Row bracelet…it has purple in it and my mom has Alzheimers and purple is the color for Alzheimers for research. It truly needs more attention and funding for research.

Lori - I love the Arroyo Bundle necklace and The Collector bracelet 🙂

Debi Brown - I love the evergreen dream necklace but everything they make is beautiful!

april R - the free spirit or the dreamer – love how they can be colorful and playful or elegant and classic depending on the color choice… but mostly i love the idea of handmade and helpful.

Kim - The Adventurer bracelets

Ruth - I LOVE the Lunar Light necklace…but I love the mission behind 31bits even more!!

Robin C. - Swooning over The Canopy and The Entertainer necklaces. just beautiful.

Lori - I love, love, love all the gold–bracelets and necklaces–and love what’s happening through their hearts even more!

Amanda - The simple, classic white “Entertainer” is beautiful. Thank you for always introducing us to such amazing and worthy companies.

Brady W. - How could you ever choose?!? I LOVE the dreamer necklace and the globetrotter bracelets!

Elizabeth Cannata - The Dreamer is dreamy!! I love love love it!!

Amy - Oooh, I love the Aria but really it’s hard to just pick one!

Laura Senger - Choosing is hard when it is all so bright and beautiful, but the fashionista was my favorite! 🙂

Amy - Oooh, I love the Aria but really it’s hard to just pick one! Such beautiful bright pieces!

Melissa G - “The Dreamer” has my name all over it! I clearly need to do a bit of shopping for myself!

Leigha Seese - My favorite piece is “the Fashionista”! It reminds me a LOT of your blog, with all the rainbow colors, plus it’s intricate and totally adorable.

Tammy Allen - Love the “Dreamer” necklace and all the bracelets!

Sandy C - I love 31 bits jewelry. I have purchased a piece as a Christmas gift but have yet to add a piece to my collection. I love it all but I have my eyes on the Sequoia Stack!

Whitney - I love the Romantic necklace in cream/gold!

Michelle - I’ve been loving “The Dreamer” in multicolor… all the heart eyes for that one!

Janel - Love the cream and gold canopy necklace! And I love your new deck makeover!!!!

Anna - Love them all but the Dreamer makes me swoon!

ColleenMarie - I really like the Arroyo Bundle

Amy - I love the Sequoia Stack! Both colors that it comes in are amazing!!

Kathy - Love 31 bits…love Mediterranean strands’

Stephanie Zielke - The single bracelets that I can stack…love them…

Rachel Perez - I love the Evergreen Dream…..it reminds me of my sweet friend Annette from Kenya.

Debi - I love the Ferngully but the Dahlia is a close second!!

Kristen Rounseville - Oh my…Ferngully and Aria…swoon worthy

Kyra - A favorite is the Sequoia Stack-love the tri tone colors!

Sabrina - I love the Heather Strands Necklace! But everything from 31 Bits is beautiful and awesome!

Melissa - live the owami bits bracelet

E - Gorgeous pieces and such a good cause. Thank you for this fun giveaway! The Heather Strands necklace is so pretty, especially with all those shades of blue.

Julie W - Love the Dreamer necklace; so pretty!

Suzanne Abbasi - I love your piece named, Rogue! The blue is beautiful and the design is perfect! I may need to spend half my paycheck on your pieces!

staci torgerson - I love The Canopy in black. The gold/cream is just as beautiful but the darker black caught my eye. I love even more that this company has a conscience! To empower women to become independent and self-sufficient in more ways than one is so commendable. Thank you 31 Bits!

Sherri - There were so many that I loved! I couldn’t decide on just one!

Kate R - I love them all but especially the Ferngully necklace. So so pretty 🙂

Justine - Ferngully necklace and dharia bracelet are my favorites!

katrina - So many lovely pieces…one of my favorites is the Lunar Light necklace! gorgeous!!

Brianne C. - Wow! Beautiful jewelry! I have my eye on the Heather Strands necklace.

Ann P - The Bastilla Bib necklace is one that caught my eye, but there are so many pretty ones, it’s hard to choose a favorite!

Emily - I love the crackled tartan bracelet in turquoise, burgundy and pink. Such a beautiful color combo!

Natalie - Canopy in cream

Melissa - The Arroyo Bundle necklace!

Janine M - I really like the colors in the Lunar Light necklace. They are all beautiful.

Sandy - I don’t wear a lot of jewelry but love bracelets for a simple touch. The Collector is my favorite, all colors, and I love the description! Thanks!!

Kim - My favorite 31 Bits necklace is- all of them! Ok, I’ll pick one- The FernGully necklace is my absolute favorite. One because of the name of the piece, two because I loved the movie and three because the necklace looks like it is made up of blue and green dewdrops. I can almost see the little fairies from the movie playing catch with them. 🙂

Laura - I really like the dreamer! So pretty!

Sarah - I like the Meska Knot bracelet.

Kelly Clarke - Hello Meg! My favorite is the Bastilla Big necklace because it can go with a nice dress or a plain white t-shirt; which I’m typically dressed in following my kiddos around in!

Michelle - The Fashionista bracelet! I love wide bracelets.

Rebecca Kaufman - My favorite is The Dreamer!!

Melissa Ann - How am I supposed to pick my favorite? They’re all so cute and knowing it goes to support an awesome ministry makes it even better! But if you force me to choose, I choose the Lunar Lights.

Michelle - The Dahlia! It is so pretty and bright! 🙂
Thank you for letting people aware of this INCREDIBLE company!!

Jenny McDaniel - Thanks for the giveaway! I love the lariat necklace in the fall collection!

Jessica - I love this company too!

My favorites are the Rhamba Bay & Daydreamer bracelets and The Dreamer necklace!!!

Carrie C. in VA - Daphne bracelets!

Marilyn M. - I thought the ferngully and odette were versatile and beautiful pieces.

Jenna - i love the harvest moon and the hemlock stone necklaces!

Carly - I love the dreamer necklace!

erin - I love the entertainer necklace.

Sheila - I have the Lasso bracelet and love it — I see it in the sale section too! I really like the Dreamer necklace – so many great ones to choose from!

Kristina - Love it all. Especially Persimmon bracelet!

Arlene V - I love The Romantic!

Holly - love the arroyo bundle…so cool!

karen - Hi Meg, wow, all so beautiful! My favorite are the Daphne bracelets, and I would wear 5 at once, all different colors. 🙂

Jennifer W - I love the Daphne bracelets. I want them all!! 🙂

Andrea - I big red puffy heart my first 31 Bits purchase of a wrap paper bead bracelet. I first learned of 31 Bits from you, Meg!

Crackled Tartan is my new #1 on the wish list – all the colors!

Traci Jones - The Rustic Royunda necklace in all it’s black and gold beauty needs to be mine!LOVE.

Jennfier W - I LOVE the Daphne bracelets! I want all of them! 🙂

Milena - Oh my goodness – so hard to choose just one! I’d have to say either the Dreamer necklace or the Evergreen Dream necklace – both are gorgeous. 🙂

Kelly - Absolutely LOVE the Santa Fe necklace!!! Love this company too!!

Julie - i love the gold too!

Tania - I love all the gold! So fun

Michelle C - I am loving the Citron Escape necklace. So cute for summer!

Robyn B - I would be hard pressed to find something I didn’t like! The Dreamer necklace caught my eye, because I’m on a major “mint” kick. But I’d be happy with one of everything 🙂

Laura in Sacto - I love love love Hemlock Stone!

Cathy Robinson - I can’t decide between Ferngully and the Dreamer. Love 31 Bits!

The Chubby Dove - i love what this company does for women!
my current fave is the ferngully necklace.

Ana G - Wow, how do you pick just one favorite?! I’m going to have to go with Saharan Threads- I think that’s what it was called. Thanks for the chance to win!

Lindsay Soetaert - If I had to choose, I would say Evergreen Dream and Canopy, but every piece is amazing!

Julie - Pretty sure I ❤️ every necklace but I keep going back to the rustic rotunda.

Kristin S - That gold! Love it!

Favorite thing on their site right now? The Romantic necklace. Simple with a little sass.

Maria - I love the “Romantic” necklace…but the “Dreamer” is beautiful too…so many wonderful choices…thanks for the chance to win!

Emily Currie - Love all the classics, especially the Dreamer necklace!

Samantha - I love theOdette Layers necklace!

Denissa - I LOVE the Aria necklace!

annie - Love the Entertainer necklace:)

Shelly - I love the Entertainer in black or gold/white!

Ali - I love longer necklaces and 31 Bits! My favorite is the Mediterranean Strands…gorgeous!

Karie - I love The Dreamer!

Denise LaRue - It’s so hard to pick just one ,but maybe the Rustic Rotunda ?
They are all fabulous 🙂

Rita - Love The Artist bracelet!

martha - Hi Meg, I can see why you are in love with 31 Bits jewelry. I am totally a bracelet girl. I love wearing something on my arm and when I’m doing something “blah” (maybe banking…or waiting in the doctor’s office) looking down and seeing a bright cheerful piece seems to make things feel better. Color does that for me. Not expensive jewelry but usually has meaning. These really are perfect.. “the creative” is my favorite. Looking down and seeing a few of those would cheer anyone up! Right? 🙂

Jen J. - I really like the Dreamer Necklace 🙂

Amber - The two you have chosen are gorgeous! I love their bright colors and their purpose. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve enjoyed following your blog since I met you last year. It’s been a year since you were in Liberia. Sorry Kent ruined your trip. 😉
Jake and Alex are with me this week. It’s glorious!
Peace, AB

Dauri Kreidel-Reimer - I LOVE the Artist bracelet!

Preethi - Love the Gilded Bauble necklace!

Jenn - The Hemlock Stone necklace is just stunning. My birthday is coming up soon, I might need to take advantage of that generous discount ;).

Ashley - Okay, so I love the ALL, but the Dahlia necklace is gorgeous.

Jena - Love! My fave…..Mirage Tres!

Amy Woods - Oh my! So hard to pick one, but I would say my FAVE is the Daydreamer bracelet in Tangerine and Brick red!

Jennifer B. - I love the Fashionista bracelet. So many fun colors together!

Jane - Love the Saguaro necklace.

Heather E. - They are all gorgeous but I LOVE the Romantic, Entertainer, and the Odette Layers, because they are simple and would pair well with anything!! Definitely getting some of my Christmas shopping done on this site!

Kristin Dunaway - The Menara Jumble in hot pink! Love for your blog all way from Germany!

Melissa - meska knot bracelet is the the boom!

Karyn - I love the gilded bauble! What a great cause!

megan - Man oh man, I love them all! Especially partial to any of the long strands… maybe Heather Strands??!!

Stephanie - Oh, I just love them all! I think my new favorite must be the Romantic in gold.
Thanks for the giveaway!

Jenn - Love the Entertainer necklace!

Amy Weber - It’s a tie–The Dreamer & Ferngully. Gahhh give me all the greens ones! They are awesome.

Michelle - Oh it’s so hard to pick just one…but if iI have to I’ll say Lunar Light!!!

Sara - Thanks for the chance to win! My favorite necklace is the Ferngully…and what a fun name!

Jenn - love the saguaro
and the Saharan threads
the free spirit is also one I would love to have

April - I mean, how do you choose? I narrowed it down to Aria, Evergreen Dream and the Bastilla Bib and that’s just necklaces! 🙂

Emily O. - My fave has got to be the Dreamer necklace!

Deborah - Love so many of the items, but especially love the Hemlock Stone necklace.

Kelly - FERNGULLY!!!

Valerie - So many to love! Lunar Light is gorgeous and I want a whole armful of the bracelets!

Kathie M. - Furngully & the Dreamer!! Love them both!! So pretty!! What a great fall collection!

Heather B - I adore the spruce spiral bracelet!

Jennifer - LOVE the Lariat necklace! Might have to pick something up for myself!!

Monica K - It’s so hard to choose! But I’m eyeing up the Arroyo Bundle Necklace!

Becky K. - The adventurer bracelet is so cute with it’s great colors!

Jen - I love Dahlia!

Tiffany - Mediterranean Strands necklace…the colors make me happy!

Stacy P. - Mediterranean Strands—so pretty!

Daina Funk - Saharan threads are sooooo pretty….love all the colours and the length of this necklace.

Kim B - I love the Mirage Tres necklace, beautiful!

Amanda Baird - I love so many things! The bitsies are stealing my heart right now- my little girls would love them! I also love the romantic. I think I could wear it everyday.

Mary - I love them all but I’d have to say the Mojave Melody necklace. Swoon!

Mary - So hard to choose, but I’d have to say the Mojave Melody necklace. Swoon!

Annette - Love everything, but especially love The Dreamer! BTW…your collection of 31 bits is amazing!

raquel brown - I love the ferngully, two of my favorite colors. Love the purpose of this company ,looks like I have discovered a new beautiful place to shop….

Nicole Marir - I love The Entertainer if I had to pick only one. Goes with everything!

jamie - all there bracelets. i would like all their bracelets!

Julie H. - So many pieces that I love, but if I HAVE to pick one then I pick Aria. 🙂

Natalie - I love 31 bits too! Beautiful jewelry and a great cause. My favorite right now is the Evergreen Dream necklace in Citrine/Navy/Teal

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loving the deck…

August 1, 2015

since the beginning of july i have spent every evening (and morning) out on the deck.
all the heart eyes!

so this was our deck….BEFORE.
last summer and this summer until the beginning of july.
it was so depressing.
literally.
i would go out there and feel cruddy.

i started with flowers.
i went to find some… and in july in kansas it’s not an easy task.
Just like with most places you are supposed to start in late spring.
but i was not motivated then… i was motivated now!
so i started at home depot.
they had Pentas and basically everything else was dead – SO DEAD.
so i bought the pentas.
then i went to Menards… they had cladiums.
then to Lowes… they had black eyed susans and petunias.
then walmart… they had vinca plants and zinnias.
then to my local nursery and got all the vines and draping plants and filled in with more vinca.
i went to world market and found cushions 50% off because it’s JULY!
and target for the fun picnic blanket that i turned into a tablecloth.

i found this old cornice at an antique store in our town and thought “YES! This will help with character!”

craig hung it up for me the same day!

i blogged about our white table HERE.

the lights were also from target in the home & garden department.
to hang the lights…i could not find gutter clips in july either.
they claim they are seasonal (christmas) but i claim that is dumb… because it is.
after much discussion with a dude at Ace Hardware we decided that maybe some heavy wire would work?
and it did!
i bent wire into S shapes and bent it over my gutters and then strung the lights through.
i would have hung more but i didn’t think we had a ladder tall enough and craig wasn’t home to show me where the tall ladder was…
🙂

with all those cute details you barely notice the gigantor speakers right? (ha ha ha)
those speakers are not attractive but they ARE effective.
they are awesome for our movie nights.
maybe i will paint them?! i mean why not?! recover the black speaker with cute fabric?
anything would look better than giant black speakers.
but like i said… they work great! so they stay.
that old metal office cabinet i also found at an antique shop.
i want to paint it bright yellow but i haven’t had time yet.
and it weighs a TON so i have to be very ready because the men in family won’t want to move it twice.

i really like having mirrors in outside spaces!
they reflect more light and the views are always pretty.

i had LOTS of containers from when we redid the patio at the farm house.
(it was soooo cute and i miss that yard a bunch!)
almost all of my containers are old and junky that were other things originally… lard cans, galvanized buckets, trash cans, a bread box and a wash tub.
i bought a few BIG bags of dirt and got busy planting every container i had.

this white cabinet has been everywhere in all the houses.
it originally was an old built-in in our Illinois house basement.
it came with the green glass knobs!
for awhile it was annie’s dresser, then held our games.
it was in my craft room… the living room… my bedroom…
and now it’s on the deck!

and i am guessing some one is going to ask how i hung things up on the siding?
well… i tried to find siding clips and couldn’t.
so i decided to just hang it like i would inside… and i put a nail in the wall.
that is making most of you cringe and pass out but it’s not aluminum siding… it’s wood.
and life is about more than having perfect siding.
so i did it.
the end.
ALSO… the small signs are hung with 3M command strips.
which could be one of the worlds best inventions ever.

having chalkboards outside make for silly stuff that the kids feel like writing… right now it says “Justin Bieber 4 Life” and no one even likes Biebs anymore here so it’s just funny what will be written here.
the rainbow pillow cases were from IKEA.
the polka dot cushions are from Target… i just ordered even more.

animals
everybody loves the deck… even the grasshoppers.
🙂

every morning i wake up and have my coffee out here.
it went from the worst space in the house to AWESOME.

and i trash picked that white iron lounge chair over 10 years ago.
🙂

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Becky Kindel - I love how you’re able to make spaces so colorful, inspiring, and inviting. And that lounge chair is the best thing ever!

Lori - Meg- I would live on your patio if I could. The transformation is amazing! I just love it!

Your blog was one of the first I started reading years ago, and it is still one of my favorites 🙂

Melissa - Love love love – it’s amazing how much color and flowers can trasnform a place

Chris - This space is so happy! How you manage to keep all those flowers looking beautiful is like a miracle to me;)

chrissi - best deck ever.

Heather - Wow! I have serious porch envy right now.

Beth - O.M.Gee I have a major girl crush on your deck right now! We have a patio space that I have been milling over ideas to make it more enjoyable and homey. This post inspires me. I’m making it happen in the coming weeks. #goals

Karina - I love your deck. I would spend all my time out there too! (Where did the cornice go in the after pic? Please tell me it didn’t fall!)

Linda - You have an amazing ability for putting together space. I love it! I wish I knew ho to pull things together like that!

Mickie - Love, Love, LOVE it! I love to spend time on our patio too but I have to admit that yours just looks SO happy! And, I can always use happy. It just makes me want to hang out there with my coffee in the morning and wine at night. The perfect beginning and ending to a day!

jen - It looks great! Now will you please come to CO and do mine? 🙂

Rachel - Absolutley goregous! I LOVE it! Toally love your sense of hunour too x

Lisa - Of all the pictures you’ve posted on Instagram and on here I never noticed the speakers until you pointed them out. Haha! I guess I’m not very observant. Or they really aren’t that noticeable. I’m sure you’ll come up with a cool way to cover them but even if you don’t they really don’t stick out.

Lisa - Love what you have done out there, it’s beautiful!

Kristin S - Fly to NC and redo my BORING deck. In five years I’ve sat out there maybe… twice?

Renee - Do you have any advice on planting so many different flowers, especially when they’re sharing a pot? And keeping them all so alive and vibrant?

amyjupin - looks amazinnnnnggggggggg!
let’s layout and work on our tans and drink taladas!

Erin - looks great!! I love every thing! Almost bought that picnic blanket at target today. It was marked down. Now I want to go back for it. Lol!

Jenny B. - Meg, you amaze me! It looks wonderful! I actually did not notice the giant speakers until you pointed them out. Then I laughed because, hello… they are huge! 🙂 I was more interested in the fact that your electrical outlet is up high, as if it was put there just for stringing lights! This post makes me want to go out and decorate our back porch! It also makes me think about using some stuff outside that’s not necessarily made for outside (like mirrors, chalkboards, and school chairs!). Love all that stuff… Also, I remember when you got the Trex patio furniture, and I searched for it on Walmart’s website, and it directed me to a giant T-Rex lawn ornament. HAHA! 🙂

El - Where are your cropped white pants/jeans from that you are wearing with the green shirt in the 4th picture? Love the beautiful flowers!

deb meyers - …and those of us who bought oodles of potted color in spring may or may not have just heaved the sad and crispy remains into the compost…

ann a - We ate at a Mexican restaurant recently that had speakers up in the corner next to the ceiling. They were painted with big bright flowers (right on the black stuff). Your deck is unbelievable! (Except I believe it bc everything you do is awesome.)

Jeanie - I think your yard is wonderful. We enjoy our deck so much too. I just ordered a cow print and am anxiously waiting on delivery. I have to admit that I saw your family last night a at Stearman. I was so freaked out. It was like a celebrity sighting. Ha! My husband said. “You could tell her how much you love her blog”. But I was too star struck. Anyway, cute green dress and your family is darling! What nice teenagers you have. You are exactly the way you represent yourself on your blog and that is neat.

natalie - i am OBSESSED. girrrrl, this is SO GOOD. p.s. i buy plastic light clips at the thrift store because you’re right – they’re seasonal & that’s just plain dumb.

Kristen - I think it looks amazing! I love all of the little touches you added, but pretty much everything you create is amazing. 🙂

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Annie’s first pie

July 30, 2015

craig was gone for the weekend and i mentioned to annie that we should surprise him with an apple pie when he got back.
i said “you could make it yourself… he’d be so happy!”
and that was all it took.
🙂

who doesn’t love to use the Apple Peeler-Corer ?
all kids love this kitchen tool!
it’s a fact.

we use the Pioneer Woman cookbook Perfect Pie Crust recipe.
like the original first cookbook from way back when.

funny side note… apparently we don’t have a rolling pin anymore?
it’s now on my grocery list but i guess i left my rolling pin at the CH so we used our can of cooking spray as a rolling pin to make do.

we used the apple pie recipe from The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen cookbook.

SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

it was totally delicious.

craig was super impressed with annie’s baking skills and effort.
we made homemade ice cream and invited some friends over to enjoy it with us!

and it made the world’s best breakfast… hands down.

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Deb Meyers - Flaky Crust is the gold standard for pie baking and SHE DID IT. Just look at those flakes! great job Annie… it looks SO good.

Kathleen W. - Beautiful pie Annie !! Apple pie for breakfast is the best, enjoy !

Lori - So awesome! I’ve always wanted to make apple pie from scratch. Way to go Annie!

Jenny B. - I love it!! I have seen several kids her and my son’s age do some amazing things lately. They are growing up so fast!! I showed him the picture of Annie with her pie, and he said, “Wow, if I married her, I wouldn’t have to cook!” Ha! He is always thinking ahead. 🙂 By the way, my boys think they will do the cooking when they have families of their own because my husband is the cook in our house (you are welcome, future daughters-in-law). 😉

beth - that looks amazing! Love how she piled it mile high~ : )

Aimee - Next time if you don’t have a rolling pin…use a chilled bottle of wine…the dough doesn’t stick to it!

Kelly - Love that Annie made it on her own! My Mom makes amazing apple pies, and I love having a slice for breakfast!

Bridget - Great idea on the breakfast … it’s basically a better-for-you pop tart :o)

Bethany - Pie for breakfast is the best!

Julie - Great looking pie – love having leftover dessert for a breakfast treat:)

Lisa - Love seeing kids bake and cook! where did you get that adorable mug?

Amy Woods - Ahhhnnnnd now I’m needing apple pie. And coffee.

But Annie, you are awesome girly!

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7 things to love on a monday!

July 27, 2015

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i love these shoes?!
i saw them at Finish Line but I’m guessing they are everywhere Nike is sold.
i didn’t buy them but i do love them.

i want to eat this.
tonight!
immediately!

i am LOVING these mugs from Emily McDowell!
her work always makes me smile (and sometimes seriously crack up!)
just this morning i had to take my coffee & go outside because the volume of words coming out of my children’s mouths was too much & too loud for the first five minutes of being awake.
i need that mug.

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this is my FAVORITE shampoo & conditioner.
every time i wash my hair i stand there and breath in that amazing smell.
i can’t stop myself.
and why would i?!
it’s so good.
i love the coconut scent too but this one is my most favorite.
you can get it at target or walmart or even your grocery store probably.

59f8a5857a89842f7397f68b9410cf2f (this is not me… it’s the stock photo on amazon)this is me! those are my feet and hey look! a dime on the floor! score!

i had someone email asking me for the link for my favorite workout pants that i shared awhile back.
they are the High Rise And Shine Capri on amazon.
they go up OVER the muffin top and hold it all in.
🙂
and that is why they are my favorite.
i have black, midnight, jade and the dark magenta.
i wanted to show how bright the magenta is… there is no being shy in these capris.
ha ha ha
but i like pink!
and bright!

have you used Chatbooks?
it’s an app for your phone that makes your phone pictures into albums.
i have been using them for my Instagram photos. 🙂
but you can use them for any phone pictures and even make books from hashtags!
how fun is that?
use this code below to get your first book free…. (there are restrictions so check the fine print)
i love how easy it is.

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and last but not least for today….
Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine featured my Cow Print in their August Issue!
i love the details they chose for that baby space!

so to celebrate i am having a sale on all prints in my shop!
Use the code 20OFFPHOTO for a 20% discount on prints through July 31.

annnnnd their may just be a bunch of Mini Scrap Bunting over there too.

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jill - I tried emailing you but it wasn’t going through. I would like to order 2 prints with your discount and would like a small mini bunting. Wondering when you will have some next?
Thank you
Jill

jaime - haaaa!! the best mug is the one that says basically i just want to go home and take my pants off!! that’s so me! #leggingsforever thanks for sharing all this good stuff and the polka dot shoes are in my shopping cart until i can justify buying them for myself. miss you friend xoxo.

Kelly - Love love love your blog! So refreshing !!!

phyllis - What Kathi said!

Jenny B. - Love the photo book! Congrats on the magazine feature! And YAY for bunting!! 😀

marie - Love the mugs…thank for the link!

P.S. The mini bunting is really cute too!

mia - Congrats on the magazine feature! That’s awesome!

Kathi - Thank you for being here. When I’m feeling down your blog and images always make me feel better. 🙂 Congrats being featured in Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine. You’re Awesome!

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meg’s week of summer… part 2

July 23, 2015

chicago2
it feels like a long time ago already but my super-fun-week-of-no-mom-business continued after the beach with my girlfriends. I got home at 11:00 pm on a tuesday night and left again at 11 am the next day with the Mr. for Chicago.
we had gotten U2 concert tickets waaay back in the fall with our chicago besties & the date had finally arrived!
i love going anywhere with craig and a U2 concert is icing.

he used priceline and got us a hotel room right in the middle of the city. 🙂
we are fancy like that.
i tried not to push for it (staying downtown) but it was definitely what i wanted.

i felt like the art work in our hotel was surely an original and hung just that day for me.
hee hee hee
i did really love it and made myself believe that no other rooms in that hotel had the same painting as mine.

i could sit and watch this view for hours.
and at night… ummm people don’t close their curtains.
so i got to watch all kinds of stuff in all those apartments… HA!
the city is so awesome! 🙂

we wandered around pretty much every where in chicago.
we looked at buildings and fancy cars and i people watched every second.
at one point i said to craig “can you PLEASE pay more attention to the people?! i have no one to share my thoughts with if you don’t see anything that i see.” 🙂 we look at different stuff. he’s noticing architure and i am thinking “where would a dress like that even be sold? it’s so interesting!”

and then it was TIME!!! (worst picture ever but the only one of all 4 of us)
dave & jenny took the train into chicago from the suburbs and met us for dinner before the concert.
this is at least our fourth U2 concert together!
our love runs deep.

i didn’t mean to cover Adam.
or did i?
he’s not favorite.
although i have never actually heard him speak… so that is probably why.
silent people make me slightly nervous.
like maybe i talk too much??
not like he was actually standing there… or ever going to talk to me anyway… just saying why he is my least favorite of the four.
and i promise i would talk to him if we were ever together.
he would probably end up being my top favorite because i am usually wrong about the quiet guy.

you guys… this is how close we were.
that is bono.
he walked right past us.
and then climbed up on the stage right in front of us and it felt so surreal.
we had floor tickets for the first time in all the concerts we’ve been to (which is more than 4 because we have been without dave & jenny too) someone figured out that where the best place to be was and we did that. we were against the wall in front of the stage!
FRONT ROW.
it was amaaaaaaazing!

another horrible picture but showing that the only space between Bono and me was that security guard.
and that really is bono – not a hologram all lit up.
i clearly needed to change my camera settings but i was too into the concert.

they had two ends of the stage and went back and forth the entire time.
the screen was HUGE and went up and down and from see through to full screen.

they pulled this girl up on stage and sang “Mysterious Ways”
she was totally shocked to be up there but not shy at all.
i always joked that i wanted it to be me up on stage but once i saw her… young and wearing the U2 t-shirt and dancing SO FREE!
she was perfect!
i kept thinking what an amazing memory this is for her.
i felt like a mom.
and she reminded me of my Lauren.

THEN Bono gave her a cell phone and it was hooked up to the huge screen and had her film them to the song California.
and she knew every word!
she moved all around and was singing her heart out the whole time.
he asked her name and she said “Katelyn.”
and asked her about chicago and she said “i actually came from mississippi for this concert tonight”
i mean… what could be better?!

you can see bono’s huge face on the screen above… bono loves the close ups.
that piano came OUT OF THE FLOOR!
the floor just opened up and the piano came up from a laying down position!
like it hinged up.
it was CRAZY!!!

best craziest most awesome night!!
so glad we came and got to experience it all again with jenny & dave!

one thing we do on our no-kid trips is get dessert to go.
we are never hungry for dessert after a meal anyway but at midnight… YES!
so if we see a dessert we like somewhere we get it to-go and enjoy it as late as we want.

we explored ALL over (walking in flimsy glittery flip flops – poor planning on my part) the city the next day.
we walked for about 8 hours straight.
craig never loses energy.
i do.

chicago4
we had lunch at Quartino.
we had walked by it the day before and it looked perfect so we came back… and it was!

if you go to chicago… you should eat there!
we sat outside because i LOVE sitting outside on a nice day especially with the city as the back drop.
but then i went inside for the bathroom and it was by far my favorite restaurant bathroom EVER.
i am a weirdo – i know.
but it was beautiful! i would like duplicate all of it at my own house!

that is craig’s favorite building… it is very creative!

we walked and walked and walked.
chicago3
and ate and ate and ate.

i never get to go inside a Blick Art Supply store so when i saw it i was all over that!
we found these faux vintage anatomy posters for lauren.
she was so excited when i texted and asked if she’d like these.

chicago5
so craig got his exercise and architure fix and i got to look at paint and color.
win-win!

as the sun was going down we searched for a spot to eat (outside again)
and we found Streeterville Social because it was literally the building right in front of us.
ha!
it was a really beautiful place… and it was brand new!

we have been married for 20 years.
it doesn’t feel like that.
i love getting away with him… no kids and no work.
it’s truly different.
being at home with the kids & regular life is good too but something changes when we can be all alone together for more than an evening.
we have been doing little trips every few months for a few years now.
a big long trip would be wonderful but for right now this is so good too.
i love these trips.
and him.
🙂

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nakcus - Ooooooh I feel like I was there at the U2 concert! Thank you sharing your pics and your amazing seats! Love this and everything else you post 😉

Kimberlee Jost - Bono!!!!!!!!!!
I have decided I must go to a U2 concert before I die.

Melissa - I’ve been reading for years and years and have never commented, but I had to comment on this one! I’m a Chicagoan, and Quartino is my favorite restaurant in the whole city. Looks like you had an awesome visit!

I don’t remember how I came across your blog, but I liked it right away for all the beautiful color, and also because my husband is from Clearwater. Your Kansas pictures always make me so happy because we don’t get there to visit nearly often enough.

Kathy - You are so cute! Thanks for sharing the whole concert experience! I feel like I was there! minus the actual music. 😀

Angie - Thank you taking so many wonderful pictures of Chicago. I lived there all my life until I moved to the suburbs. I don’t get to experience the city life as much as in my younger years. Makes me want to take a little staycation downtown this summer…mmm

Michelle Erstad - I LOVE that sink from the restaurant bathroom~designing my dream lake cottage in my head and that is the sink I WANT!!

April R - haven’t commented in awhile but i just had to here – this is deeper than walking and eating and concert attendance and I’m so inspired. Marriage should be treasured and celebrated! we’ve never really had anyone we could trust to watch the kids (military moving around so much) so we don’t do anything like this as a couple – sad – but reading this i know we should do something for just us…something, I’m going to pray and brainstorm and google to find some things we can do.

I’m so happy for you and admire you and the Mr. for building and growing your marriage – congratulations on 20 and thanks for sharing and inspiring <3

Patty - Meg, I have been loving your blog for a long time. I rarely comment, but always look forward to and appreciate your posts. This one, though, I have to thank you for. My daughter moved to Chicago an year ago, and I have not yet been able to visit her. She shares an occasional photo, but I have no sense of the city she’s in. Thank you for giving me a glimpse of the world she’s inhabiting. And, happy twenty years to you and the mister!

Tiffany - I love this! My husband and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary! We had 2 nights in St. Paul/Minneapolis, and I was smiling through reading your post, because it could have been mine. Many of the things you wrote I was like- yep! That’s us! We hadn’t been away from our kids for 2 nights in a row for 4 1/2 years! We loved our time just us so much! Hopefully it won’t be another 4+ years before we do it again. So happy for you that you had a wonderful time!

Lori - I’m glad you posted about your trip. Beautiful and looks so fun! Happy for you!

Christy - It looks like you had a fabulous time! I sure hope that was a chocolate cake shake in your cup from Portillos! They are AMAZING!

Erin - I love seeing my beautiful city through the eyes of tourist. I’m glad you enjoyed your time together. good choices on the Giordano’s and Portillo’s. :o)

nora - I just saw them at MSG on Sunday night – on the floor, too! It was soooooooo goooooooood! Larry is my favorite.

Jenna - LOVE these pictures!!! It helped fill my Chicago fix for a little longer till I can go back. Thanks for sharing and making my day … So glad you got to go!

Lauren - My friend and I just took a girls’ trip to Chicago last weekend and it was amazing! By far one of my favorite cities ever!

Jenny B. - P.S. I gave the bunting I bought from your shop a few months ago to a friend at her baby shower tonight. She’s having her 5th child – her first girl! She loved the colors (lots of pink and orange and green). Love your shop! 😀

Jenny B. - Love!! I thought of something to comment after almost every photo, but as soon as I thought of something new, I forgot the one from before… So… I do remember thinking that your seats were awesome and The Edge was looking right at you in that last concert pic! 🙂

Dana Powell - Love this, and your hair looks great! You have been on my mind lately (long-time reader but infrequent commenter- sorry!) We normally live in France and went to a restaurant in Versailles right before we left (we are planting a church there). It’s called Le Cheese Club and it looks just like your house (subway tiles, green stools, etc.)! They were also playing, ‘All About that Bass’ in the version you posted on your blog a while back and I finally leaned over to my husband and confessed that my blogger friend Meg would love this place. 🙂 He definitely thought I was a weirdo at that point. To add to the weirdness, we just got back from Chicago and Michigan last week and I actually thought I saw Waffle there and then a family that looked just like yours from far away. When we got to the US, I was so surprised to see that you had been both places and around the same time even. We also stayed at a former scrapbooking house in IN that reminded me a lot of the Craft house. It was all so bizarre, maybe one day we’ll actually cross paths in real life. Ha!

Michelle from Australia - I transited through Chicago on my way to Buffalo last year. On my ‘completely on my own leaving my family at home in the other hemisphere trip’ 🙂 And then we all transited through Chicago on our way between Denver and Virginia Beach in December.

So two flights in and out of Chicago but haven’t yet made it out of the airport.

Maybe on the next trip to the USA? Here’s hoping!

Lisa M - We love Chicago! Beautiful and clean. A great walking city!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - omgosh. i follow you because of course, well, you are just awesome. but now? with the ‘you’re-intense-people-watching-and-why-isn’t-hubby-doing-the-same-thing-so-you-can-gab’ scenario? —we are like, brathars’from a different mothar!! (except sisters 🙂 🙂 🙂 )

Jenn - Love the pics, love, love Chicago! Its such an awesomely cool, funky, fun city. I love U2 too! What a fabulous experience.

chrissi - one of my favorite posts ever. thanks for sharing.

Kelly S - You are the CUTEST. Your hair rocks. It’s so long. Great post with fun pictures. There is a train that goes from my town (Lansing, MI) to Chicago, and it’s really a blast. It takes you right downtown by the pier. I can’t wait to do that again some day. Did you see Oprah? 🙂 Thanks for sharing your trip. I’d love to see what books you have been enjoying lately.

Kelly - Amazing pictures!!! My husband and I saw U2 in Dublin 6 years ago…best concert of my life! In the perfect city to see U2!! I have felt like we can’t top that one, but we would looooove to see them again and try. We also love to see the Avett Bros as a “couple hobby” since they tour around us more, and we have more chances to see them. Have you listened to Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors? Also a favorite. Try their Good Light album if you haven’t heard them before.

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