Your The Star First Monday February 7 2022

WELCOME to the February 2022 "You're the Star" Blog Hop!
Before we continue onto the Linky party I wanted to share from my blog:

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Even as a little girl I loved to create! Now that I am grown and have a castle of my own! I adore crafting and decorating it! I hope you follow along with me for fun things to make, recipes to make, and things to buy soon!

I hope you will follow along! I am excited to share some organizational inspiration!

organizing the craft room

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WELCOME to GARDEN feature week of the February 2022 "You're the STAR" blog hop!
Meet your GARDEN week Hosts 

 
This week is GARDEN feature week
Swing by the GARDEN Hosts blogs:
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

This is a month long Linky party featuring YOU!

There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories.  Just to be clear - this is NOT a themed party - you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month. 
The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#1 GARDEN - gardening, homesteading, recycling, outdoor activities &/or preserving (this can include any type of green living,  repurposed ideas, outdoor concerns, posts relating to farm animals etc all while remaining family friendly)




(All features were chosen from the January 2022 "You're the Star" blog hop)

Our Root Cellar & How We Came To Have One by Scratch Made Food

Orchid Beauty by Mille Fiori Favoriti

How Branches Make a Magazine-Worthy Room by Cottage Shoppe

January Hibiscus by Comfort Spring

If you've been featured then please grab a STAR button below:

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All Hosts/CoHosts will post this blog hop on every Monday of each week.

Please link up your family friendly blog posts below!

It wouldn't be a linky party with YOU!

(IMPORTANT NOTE: by linking up you understand that you might be featured next month and if so, we will use some of your photos from your post - rest assured - we will always link back to your lovely blog.  We might also share your fantastic posts on social media.  Also, you may link up as many family-friendly posts as you like & YES - other blog hops &/or giveaways are welcome {giveaways and blog hops will NOT be featured though}  Thank You & ENJOY! )

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So This Love Part 2

 

I have to admit I have really had a great time, 

getting decorations ready for valentines day.

Getting lost in my craft studio at my sewing machine was just what the doctor ordered.

I have never left my Christmas Tree up year-round before. So I must admit I was super excited when I took the decorations off and realized it was just gonna get new ones! 

So last week I showed you how I made cinnamon apple sauce as well white salt dough ornaments! They turned out super cute and smell amazing! 

So This week I finished the hearts up! I stuffed them and sewed them up.

I wanted to change the rag garland for the tree and I really went back and forth between solid white or tea-stained or red and white.

I went back and forth for a few days.

So I cut strips of white and red fabric so I would have both knowing no matter what I would use it for a future project.

So I grabbed my scissors and fabrics and set to work! 

I decided on solid white for the tree. I knew it would help the colors pop. Using primitive colors is a little dark so I wanted to be able to soften them a little bit! The white would help with that! Later if I decide to it can always be tea-stained later.

then I was inspired to make a heart wreathe! 

So I grabbed a clothes hanger made a heart shape and used red and white-colored fabrics. 

I thought it would be pretty lit up on my front door, I love the soft glow of Christmas lights. I have them all over the house.

It has a very soft ambiance and makes a room feel warm and homey.

Once everything was completed with this part of crafting. I put everything in my bin and I took a break for the evening! Overlook my foot in that last photo! 

The next day I felt like I needed just a few more things to make before I would be satisfied.

So I grabbed some brown packing paper and cut hearts out of all shapes.

I set off to finish creating... I glued hearts to sticks added bows and made a heart arrangement in the white pitcher.

Finally, everything was completed and all I had to do was to decorate. I decided to try to keep things simple and add to what I already had decorated rather than taking everything that my home is decorated without. This is something I would normally do. Having Sle Lupus has made me do things a little differently. I found when it came time to decorate it was more relaxed and not as stressful. So much more enjoyable and it didn't make me near as tired. I love how it turned out!

I decided as well to only decorate the living room where we spend most of our time.

The simplicity of it complimented the feel the room already had! 

I can't wait to plan the next project for the house!

The hearts will stick around till I change things out for spring.

Here is the final project, hope you enjoy the pictures!

The big tree is so pretty in reds and white! I may have to do a red and white Christmas them this year!

I fell in love with the heart that I made for a runner to hang off the chest in the living room that I made another runner for the mantle too!

Love Love the little hearts on the tables and the ones that made a tree skirt.

I made a heart arrangement in a heart arrangement in a white pitcher.

I ordered the pitcher from Hobby Lobby on sale for I think $5. It turned out adorable, I did not put a styrofoam ball inside of it instead a made a circle out of cardboard. Punched some holes in it so the stick the hearts were glued to would stand.

I didn't want to make permanent arrangements in the pitcher! 

I wanted to be able to use it in a different capacity in the future.

 

On my side table beside the chase, I usually set on. I took the lamp out and added a little primitive tree with lights on it. Put it on a timer like all the other lights

It looks super adorable with red glitter pip berries, white salt dough hearts, and little lanterns. There's a lantern for each grandbaby!

It still needs a little bow on top, I need to get the right kind of ribbon to make a bow for the top.

The thing that I love best about all of this is most everything was things that could be made very simple and very inexpensive. If I had to give a price for what I have in supplies I would guess maybe around $12.

I know my time is a huge part of it. 

However, I loved every moment spent doing it.

You can transform your castle too! It just takes a little time and creativity! 

If you see something that you would like to have and don't have time to do it yourself! Email me  shelliealmondministries@gmail.com and I would be happy to create for your castle to give your home a touch of Valentine's Day magic.

Thank You so much for coming by and allowing me to share my creative journey with you!

I know your time is like mine precious, so thank you for sharing some of yours with me! Please know I am praying for you this week.

Remember you are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

See you again soon, until then what can you dream of creating! 

That would make your castle feel more magical!
From my castle to yours!
 Wishing upon a heart with you,

Snow aka Shellie

Grab Some Tea and Lets Catch Up!

It seem hard to believe that August is literally just around the corner! Spring and Summer have came and almost to an end.

I had not intended to be away from my blog for so long. However life has happened. Memories made and milestones have came to pass!

I would like to share some of that with you today and plans for the rest of the year!

May was an extremely busy month for my sweet family.

My oldest Amber graduated from college. With an associates degree in respiratory therapy.

She worked so hard to see her dreams come true we couldn’t be more proud of her accomplishments!

She took the next step of being an adult and moved out into her very first house about 15 minutes away. It’s such a cute little house nestled on a local lake with the most amazing views.

She accepted a job working at Brenner’s  Children’s Hospital in the picu and nicu unit.

She has set out on a new adventure and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for her!

My youngest Christian, also graduated high school with honors just a week after her sister!

We had a joint graduation ceremony with one her close friends!

It was really a cool day for both of them to celebrate such a milestone with each other and close family and friends.

It’s seems odd to think that both of my girls have now graduated high school!

Starting the adventures God has for them!

Christian plans to take some classes at our local community college. She truly has a passion for writing and history. I can’t wait to see where these passions will take her.

Our homeschool is now officially closed and as odd as it is to say… I am now retired … There Is no longer any need for lesson plans and hours of looking for curriculum. It seems so odd really.

May 21, my sweet hubby and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary!

We didn’t really do anything big this year. We just spent a quiet day together…

Sometimes that is what’s need more than a fancy getaway!

I honestly can say that quiet date meant more than he could ever know! I am beyond blessed to be married to my best friend !

We finished May our with our last family vacation as a family of four. We rented a beautiful little house at the beach. We spent the week walking the beach watching the waves. Spending evenings laughing and playing games.

We all know in our hearts that the structure of our family is changing. Amber has met a guy who I believe has stolen her heart forever…

I believe, we will be adding new members to our family as time goes.

I learned a few things while on vacation this year ! These lessons have settled on my heart and ministered to me in such a way…

I have held onto this list I journaled to share here…

Even still I have found myself reading back over it weekly reminding myself of these simple things… I hope they inspire you as well!

Beauty is not in the size of your body! It’s in the confidence that you have in yourself.

It’s okay to be proud of your own work
I had personalized a shirt and was complimented... was even told I should ask them and try it on jeans ! At first I was kinda shy about it! The girl told me it looked like it was ment to be that way! I needed to sell my creations! I made me proud to be noticed

It’s okay to stand out and be noticed... I sported a cute spf umbrella as we shopped this week! I didn’t mind the glances lol
I smiled and held my head high because after all a flare free day is worth the glances ! I am pretty sure I am living in the wrong time period!

The best memories don’t cost a dime  


It’s okay to admit that your tired !
you don’t have to run here there and yonder to enjoy time together. Sometimes staying put creates the most laughter .

My favorite kind of shopping is when I find a really good deal
Like $5 shirts

I adore watching sharks play in the ocean
From the pier
Although they a very powerful there is something majestic about how they mysteriously lurk in the ocean

Seeing everyone’s beautiful out side area has made me very excited to continue to work on ours… making our home all that I dream of to be…

It’s okay to dream of having a oasis of your own someday.

Life is short find something everyday to smile about even if you don’t feel like it.

You don’t need to take a picture to of all you do… instead enjoy the moment and the people your with. After all the memories in your mind play back the most beautiful stories!

With all of that being said … we didn’t take a lot of pictures this vacation. Instead we choose to stay off of our phones and enjoyed each other.

I have learned to embrace me. All the changes that has came… I have learned to love myself and not be so hard on the things I can change.

Scales are just numbers …. it can’t measure the beauty of confidence that comes from self love.

Here is the very few pictures we captured while on vacation!

June and July have been just as busy… we celebrated my sweet hubby’s Birthday! I am so thankful for each and every year God gives me him to celebrate!

Our church is growing and doing well. I still love working with the kids each week! I actually choose our Christmas play for this year today ! I know what your thinking! It’s to soon ! I promise you it’s never to early lol!

August will prove to be just as busy!

My hubby will be preaching revival at a one of my best friends church. Her husband is the Pastor of SoundSide Baptist Church.

I am so excited to spend a week with them. Sometimes miles can make you lonely for those who understand your life!

We will be attending a leadership conference 2 weeks after revival in Virginia.

I just hope I can keep up lol!

My health is still very much a yo-yo. I started a biological medicine called benlysta. We have had some good things come from that and some relief shots. My last cardiologist appointment revealed for the first time in two years there is no sign of fluid on the heart. That was a huge answered prayer.

My lupus blood work showed it is stable. I repeat my labs the end of August.

I am being sent to a new lung doctor. In hopes of understanding why I can’t breathe when I try to lay back to sleep and experience pain. We are hoping to find answers.

I am thankful for the adjustable bed. I just miss sleeping with my husband!

All though we have had some huge milestones! I have had several hard bumps along the way. I have had bronchitis, severe fatigue, I had to have oral surgery, and I learned that my gums are extremely inflamed. I am not able to be out in the direct sunlight without precautions. The sun and heat send my lupus into severe flare every time! All though I have found ways to enjoy the summer , I have to be very careful. This is just a few things. We haven’t stopped praying and believing that it is going to get better. We just need more time….

This leads me to what is I store for my blog in the coming months!

Now that I won’t be planning for school in the fall! I will have lots of time to commit to my blog and writing. I really hope to be able to devote time to finishing some short stories I started and a book I have been working on. I also have gained a brand new sewing and craft room. When my oldest moved out. So I am excited to get back into sewing and crafting. Christmas will be here soon and I would love to make some homemade gifts this year!

I was able to do some sewing before my oral surgery ! Here are some snapshots of what have been working on!

I still love to sew doll clothes the very best. My sweet little princess at church has a Birthday soon and her wellie wishers needed a new dresses! I also gave sewing for newborns a try!

I have missed sharing with you guys …. Again I am sorry for the absence… it really has been a very busy season! I look forward to being back and catching up!

Thank you for stopping by and sharing apart of your day with me !

Blessings and Prayers …. Shellie