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http://dash-of-sparkle.blogspot.com/

Hmmm.....

Exciting changes to come!!!!

STAY TUNED!!!!

Fabulous Finds for my Lovely Ladies

Today we're shopping for our:

Culinary Divas

Barefoot Contessa

I just got this book for myself a couple weeks ago and...I love it! Great recipes and lots of entertaining ideas.

Williams Sonoma

This is an Ebilskiver Pan. I got this for my mom last year and it has been a yummy gift. Super easy to use and you get some pretty amazing filled pancakes. I highly suggest the recipe book that is available for purchase!

Pioneer Woman

Do you follow this blog? If you do not....please go read it here right now! She is hilarious and an amazing cook. I'm hoping Santa has gotten my hint that I really want this cookbook for Christmas ;)

Anthropologie

Who doesn't want to look beautiful while they're cooking? Fun gift for any gal who loves spending time in the kitchen. Anthropologie has tons of designs!

Fabulous Finds for my Lovely Ladies

Tis' the season...can you believe it?!?!

Where has this year gone?

Though this past year has gone by ridiculously fast, I am over the top excited that the Christmas season is upon us. It is my favorite time of year and for so many reasons but that's another post for another day.

I started my holiday shopping earlier this month and finished up most of it on Black Friday (great deals)!

Thought I would pass along some ideas for those wonderful friends and family of yours. This week...we'll focus on those lovely ladies in your life.

Today, let's shop for:

The Hostess with the Mostess

Crate and Barrel

How fun are these little name card holders? Perfect for those hosting lots of holiday get togethers.

Crate and Barrel

Cute Cute Cute. Enough said!

Anthropologie

Cute book for a fun gal. Takes you back to those Mad Men days.

Anthropologie

LOVE this pitcher. Take note: they have the entire plate set to match!

Anthropologie

This smells amazing! Perfect to set the mood for all those guests.

Captured by Me

Took my sister out for a photo session earlier this week.

Here are a few of my favorite shots...

Don't Forget to...

Your vote counts!!

Captured by Me

Just sitting here enjoying this beautiful fall day and daydreaming (and being totally envious of all who live there!) about NYC...

Thought I would share some of my favorite pics from our last trip up north...

LOVE the Big Apple!

Do the Work!

Had to share this incredible devotion from one of my favorite sites, Proverbs 31.

Enjoy!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Do the Work

Marybeth Whalen

"Then David continued, 'Be strong and courageous and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the temple of the Lord is finished correctly.'" I Chronicles 28:20 (NLT)

I pushed the computer aside, convinced that the task I was attempting was impossible. I couldn't fathom completing the work I had ahead of me and I needed a mental break. Picking up a Christian book I was reading, I carried it upstairs to the treadmill, deciding to pound out my frustration and read at the same time. I had no idea I was about to have my own personal revival.

Several pages into the book I read today's verse. Have you ever had a verse jump off the page at you? Well, this one did. I thought back to my frustration with the work I was facing earlier and felt God speak to me through this verse. Quit telling me how impossible the task is and just do the work, He said. Don't forget I will show up each time. Not so you can boast about your abilities, but so you can boast in Me.

After my time on the treadmill, I raced downstairs to email a friend of mine who I had complained to earlier that day. I told her how the verse had ministered to me, and how I was going to simply do the work. She wrote back that she had been praying for God to speak to me about the task that was overwhelming me. I had a new motto as I recommitted to the task at hand: Do the work. Whenever I started to get discouraged or overwhelmed by the hugeness of the task, I reminded myself: Do the work—three little words that got me through one of the biggest challenges of my life. Perhaps you need to hear those three little words today.

Are you facing a challenge in your job? Do the work.

Does your marriage need to be rebuilt? Do the work.

Are you worried about your ability to be a good mother? Do the work.

Are you dealing with a personal hardship that just seems too big to overcome? Do the work.

Are you struggling with debt and financial issues? Do the work.

Do you want to eat healthier, commit to regular exercise or lose weight? Do the work.

Is there a dream that God has planted in your heart that seems too big for you? Do the work.

Make no mistake: sometimes the work will be hard. Note that our verse today didn't say "Lay around and hope things get better." The challenge we face is not in focusing on how hard the work is, but in seeking the God who has promised to show up as we work. We offer our best efforts and trust that He will multiply them. We will see Him supply the words, the resources, the energy, the time, the patience, the grace we need. But first we must do the work. Just like the priests had to first step into the water before the Jordan could part in Joshua 3:15-16, so we must begin working before we can see the solution appear.

What work do you need to start doing—or keep doing—no matter how discouraged or disheartened you feel? I pray that you will see Him at work on your behalf today as you do the work He has called you to do. Do the work, and He will be with you.

Dear Lord, help me to look to You and not to the hugeness of the work I have ahead of me. Help me not to be afraid or discouraged. I thank You for Your promise that You are with me and that You will not fail me or forsake me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

TGIF

Yay yay yay!!

One of my best friends is coming in to KY for a visit....

so so SOOOO excited :)

B and I are looking forward to a fun weekend with Shawn!!

Hmmmm....

Currently suffering from severe writer's block....

Be back soon...

PS....is it Friday yet?!?!

Had to Share...

(Photo by Brooke Slezak)

"Chaos is a friend of mine" ~ Bob Dylan

My daily thought from Real Simple Magazine...

This week has been full of chaos and I'm looking forward to enjoying a beautiful, crisp fall day...

Happy Friday!!!!

Captured by Me

This is one of my favorite shots from our CT trip....

So peaceful and serene.

Captured by Me

Ok, well...not really captured by me but by our tripod!

This was on Bayview Beach in Milford, CT.

It was chilly and windy but it was still a gorgeous setting in a quaint town.

We feel so grateful that were able to have a whole week to explore our new "home", Connecticut. It was absolutely stunning up there....changing leaves, water surrounding you, apple orchards buzzing with locals.....great trip!

More pics to be posted throughout the week....

Back to the Grind

Last week was spectacular!

B and I enjoyed an entire week together...just the two of us.

Details (and pics!) coming soon about our trip....for now just trying to get back in the swing of the things.

I definitely have a case of the Monday's!

How I Love You So....

Real Simple Magazine....

How I love you so....

I have about an hour before I'm headed back to teach more classes (what?? time to unwind??)

I know....rare!

Back door open....cool breeze coming in and Real Simple Mag in my hands...

GREAT afternoon!

T.I.L (Things I'm Loving)

Changing leaves....

Chilly mornings....

Sweater....

Boots....

I LOVE Fall....but of course the changing of the season also comes with allergies, sore throats, colds....and the worst....chapped lips.

This lip scrub could possibly be one of the best things ever created....I'm not kidding! I use it every morning and so far....no chapped lips. It makes your lips so smooth and it tastes yummy too. If you do not own this you MUST go purchase it right now at your nearest LUSH store....seriously....go now! It's amazing!

Enjoy....

Sorry!

I have done a poor job of blogging the past couple of weeks.

It's been crazy busy lately....

Promise to write soon!!

Weekend Update

The weekend started off with a bang....B completed his written board exam! He studied and prepared so much and for so long. I know he was relieved to have the test done and over with. And we celebrated by going to Harry's for lunch....yum :) We'll find out in a just couple of weeks how he did....until then.....we wait!

Saturday was a fun day with my mom and sister. We spent most of the day in Louisville shopping, eating and of course more shopping ;) It's rare that we have a day to spend the whole day together so it was nice to take advantage of that time. We had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory....it's ok....you can be a little jealous. Haha! When I got back to Lexington, B and I had a fun night just lounging around and watching our new season of The Office. Love that show!

Big things were on the agenda for Sunday....church, I was going to a high school to set a piece on a team, and we had a guest teacher at the studio. Too bad I did nothing but lay on the couch.....the stomach bug finally bit me. It's been going around and I guess I was bound to catch it at some point but I wish it hadn't been yesterday and today. I really hate missing work but today I'm down for the count. Thankful for my hubby who took great care of me yesterday :)

Until yesterday...my weekend was great! Looking forward to another productive week (well...after today!) and counting down to next weekend (is that bad?!?!).

Happy Monday!

Fall is Right Around the Corner...

65 degrees and gorgeous outside...

My kind of weather.

I LOVE this time of year!

Captured by My Hubby!

B and I haven't whipped out the camera in quite some time, so yesterday we took advantage of the gorgeous weather and an afternoon off...

Love these pics that were captured by my hubby!