And She Realized That It Was a "Good Thing"...

Yes, I've been away from blogging for a couple of weeks, but rest assured, all is well! In fact, I would have to say that taking a bloggy break every now and then is, as dear Martha would say, "a good thing".

At first I was frustrated by the "writer's block" that appeared. I had a post (still in my drafts section btw) with pictures uploaded of the wonderful time I had at the Eddie Ross event all ready to go...but the words wouldn't come. I thought of a million things to share with you, but everything seemed like drivel when I tried to write it out. And quite frankly, it seems like a waste of my time and yours to just type out a little bit of nothing with a picture and post it. (Though sometimes those are my most commented on posts....hmmm...)

As Day 1 of "Not Blogging" turned into days 4, 6, and 10, I began to realize that this bloggy break was good. Good for my soul. Good for my family. Good to actually give me time to pursue the design & decorating I love to do. Good for me to pursue another idea and dream. Just GOOD.

I actually considered not blogging anymore at all. But then realized that the camaraderie and friendships I've developed with you all, not to mention the fun creative and inspirational outlet that blogging has given me is also a good thing. And so The Blessed Nest goes on.

The change is that I will not apologize for "not blogging" in a while. I think too many of us feel like we need to say "sorry" when we haven't posted for a bit. This is really such a shame! And I think that it actually goes against why we blog in the first place! :)

If I blog about home and family and decorating and hospitality, but spend so much time focusing on my blog and what to blog about that my home, family, friends, ministry, and personal creativity suffer as a result, what does that say about me? About my priorities? I certainly can't write a post inspiring you to make a welcoming home if I'm too burnt out from time on my computer editing words and pictures to make my OWN home a welcoming place to be.

And so, as I continue to post here (and love doing it!), from time to time you may see me taking a bloggy break. And I will come back when the time is right, feeling refreshed and inspired by spending time doing what is truly inspiring to ME!!

And that is a very GOOD THING!

Why Blogging Is Fun!

Wanna know one of my favorite things about blogging?

It's getting to meet other bloggy friends in real life!

Yesterday I had the best time meeting Jennifer Rizzo from Sanctuary Art! We met for coffee and talked and talked (and talked some more!), and even scored a couple of fun things at the thrift store next door, too! We had such a good time & I loved getting to meet another friend! :)

I've been lucky to meet several other amazing bloggers over the past couple of years, & have found that bloggers are friendly, welcoming, fun people! It's so easy to get along when you know you already have things in common, and have already "met" each other through visiting each other's blogs. I have met bloggers from all over the country, and feel lucky to have these wonderful friends!

Love y'all!

What do YOU love about blogging?

Is it the friendships?
Expressing your creative side?
Finding new inspiration?

Share with us in the comments!

**************************************************************************

...and stay tuned...

I've got a project planned for this little guy, the canvas drop cloth...
...come back tomorrow to see if my little experiment worked or not!
{let's really hope that it works!}

Home is...Easter 2010 Memories

Today I'm joining Sandy at The Reluctant Entertainer for her series "Home is..."



I love Creating a Welcoming Home, and this Easter Celebration was a fun way for our family to continue some Easter traditions we already had and also to create new memories in our home!

For our family, our celebration focuses on the Gift of Life that we have been given through Jesus. The fact that He has Risen!!!

So, after we attend Easter Morning church services, we spend the day as a family celebrating with food, fun, & fellowship!

We traditionally have an Egg Hunt for the children, and this year the weather was beautiful :) so we were able to have it outside.

The girls loved gathering tons of eggs filled with treats, new hair accessories, coins, and more treats!

Home is special because of the memories we make there.

Home is creating, and then continuing, family traditions that will bond your family's hearts even closer together.

Home is celebrating with family and friends!

Hubby's parents and grandparents came to town for the weekend, and we had such a fun time together! A huge family Easter dinner was prepared and enjoyed by all. We ate foods that are traditionally eaten by Hubby's side of the family, and laughed and talked the afternoon away!

Home is hearing the sounds of giggling children, feeling a warm hug, smelling an Easter ham in the oven, tasting sweets brought by Grandma, and seeing the smiles on your loved ones faces.

Home is making a welcoming, lovely place for your family and friends...not just because you can, but because you care.

A Welcoming Home begins with a Welcoming Heart!

I set a simple Easter table this year, using what I already had.

Bright ribbon in Springtime shades of green and pink gave a fun pop of color to the table, and complemented the pink roses in our centerpiece.

Votives filled with peanut M&M's gave the sweet-tooths something to nibble on!
(plus the colors went with the table!)

The wonderful memories we made here as a family this Easter made our little house feel even more like HOME!

For more ideas on HOME, please click on the
"Creating A Welcoming Home" link
(under Inspiration) on my left sidebar!

Family Fun Day & A New Magazine

{The Fam @ DisneyWorld in February!}

This week is my kiddos' Spring Break. So today Hubby took the day off of work so that we could have what we call

"Family Fun Day"!

On a Family Fun Day, we try to plan an outing or activity that everyone will enjoy! Sometimes we clue the kids in as to what we'll be doing, while other times (like today!) our fun time is a complete surprise!!

(We'll be going to the Zoo & having a picnic....Shhhh!)

We try to choose things to do that are generally pretty inexpensive, but give us plenty of time to laugh, play & have fun together.

Do you ever have a Family Fun Day with your family?
What sort of things do you like to do together?

{I'm keeping this post short & sweet today, so that I can focus on my family!}




In other news, look what is going to be coming to us this fall from
none other than Matthew Mead:

Head over to Holiday with Matthew Mead to find out how you can win the opportunity to have your blog or online shop mentioned in the magazine. Holiday with Matthew Mead is a "book-azine" celebrating and offering inspiration for the Christmas holiday season. To be released in October 2010, Holiday is offered via online orders only - in limited quantities - and will not be sold on newsstands. But, by simply following the BUY HOLIDAY MAGAZINE link below their banner, you can reserve your own copy of this beautiful magazine, with guaranteed delivery of the magazine straight to your mailbox! Holiday with Matthew Mead is144 pages of holiday inspiration with well-known and admired designers, bloggers and top-notch features, printed on beautiful paper and not drowning in ads!

Now, head on over for your chance to win!

My Top 10 Disney World Tips

We had a WONDERFULLY "magical" Disney World vacation!
Thanks so much to all of you who left tips for us here, they were a huge help!

Now that we've "done Disney" I thought I'd share what our family considered our
Top 10 Disney World Tips:

1. Do your homework before you go.

If you want your vacation to go as smoothly as possible, then Plan, Plan, Plan! Not only was the Disney site a helpful place, there are many other books and web sites that you can check out for free. Your local public library is a good place for the latest books, and there are several free websites too (our favorite is Mousesavers.com -- free and it saved us a TON of money on our hotel with a special discount code they offered).

The Disney website also describes each of the rides and shows, and lets you know height requirements, whether it's good for kids, if it's scary (...and yes, Snow White's Scary Adventures DID in fact scare the bejangles out of my kids...), if it could cause motion sickness, and just generally cool information about each attraction. Use this to plan which rides your family would like to see & which ones to skip. This will save tons of time at the parks, as you won't be scratching your head & arguing what to see/do next.

Make dining reservations WAY in advance. I believe the window for Advanced Dining Reservations begins 180 days in advance. Trust me, if you want a special Character Dining meal, you'd better make those reservations ahead of time!


2. Celebrating something? Let Disney know!

If you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, 1st visit, or family reunion, then make sure Disney knows! They'll make sure it's extra special for you! Go to the front information desk area and let them know that "It's little Billy's birthday!" and you'll be given a free button to wear, sure to bring some special attention your way. Also, if you let them know when you make dining reservations too, you just may get a little surprise!

We were celebrating our oldest daughter's birthday while we were there, and she really loved the attention! Not only did tons of Cast Members (Disney employees) and Guests wish her, "Happy Birthday, Princess!", but at our meals they decorated the table with confetti and gave her a free cupcake/or small cake with a candle to make a wish upon!

3. Characters, Characters!!!

Whether you have kids or not, it's just plain fun to see and visit with the Disney Characters! There are tons of chances to see so many characters at each of the parks, but we especially enjoyed these 3 tips:

1. Go to at least 1 Character meal. We did a couple of them, and had to agree that the breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table in the Castle was our favorite! You'll get a little more time to chat with the characters (but don't expect them to stay for tooo long...they do have many other guests to greet!) and get autographs, as well as pose for pictures. Our kids loved it, and so did their grandparents, it was really fun! Talk about making memories!

{above the girls are "wishing on a star" with Ariel, The Little Mermaid}

2. Camp Minnie Mickey Greeting Trails at Animal Kingdom. We got SO many pictures and autographs there, and didn't have to wait for too long at all.

3. Let your older kids get Character autographs. Honestly, I didn't think they'd care much for an autograph book, but since so many people said "You've GOTTA get autographs!", I came up with a solution -- an autographed photo mat! We LOVED this idea, and so many others thought it was clever, too! This way I can frame & display a photo of each kid at Disney on their playroom wall, where they'll look at it often and remember the fun!


4. Don't be a Fuddy-Duddy!

If you are a royal stick-in-the-mud party pooper, then this vacation is not for you. Be silly! Have fun! Join in & be a carefree goofball! Get in some pictures & ham it up! You'll have a much better time & your family will love it.

{And if the dancers & singers from High School Musical 3 come drag your husband into the act for a minute or two....just laugh & take lots of pictures :) !!}

Chances are that everyone else is too busy having fun with their own family to notice how silly yours is being! :)



5. Beat the crowds.

Ok, this is a big one, people! Plan your vacation so that you aren't there over spring break or holiday weeks like everyone else is, and you'll be SO glad that you did!

We went the 1st weekend in February this year, and hardly had to wait in line for rides or shows longer than 15 minutes at the most! {we pretty much walked right onto the Kilimanjaro Safari ride at Animal Kingdom...see above pic}

Also, I cannot stress enough how important it is to arrive 15-30 minutes early at the parks before they open. If you do you also get to see a parade or little show, too! Most people sleep in and arrive later in the morning/early afternoon. You'll have ridden all the cool rides and be ready for some ice cream by the time everyone else straggles in and waits in line for much longer than you had to!

6. Wear super-comfortable walking shoes -- You're gonna need 'em!

What else can I say? This pretty much sums it up. Just trust me. And bribe someone in your family to give you a foot massage every night.


7. Let Disney know if you have Dietary Restrictions/Allergies.

This was so amazing! Just shoot them an e-mail & they'll e-mail you back a form to send in with all of your allergy info, & where and when you have dining reservations so that the chefs can make sure you will have a safe meal.

Eating counter-service meals or snacks? Disney also e-mailed me a complete list of what I could eat where at each of the 4 parks. Fabulous!

Let me just say, that I had appetizers, meals, desserts, & snacks everywhere I went, and it was flavorful and yummy-good! A chef or manager came to speak with me at each restaurant and would either walk me through the buffet or prepare my meal & serve it himself to ensure that it would not be contaminated and would be safe for me to eat. I was thoroughly impressed with each chef's knowledge about my gluten "allergy", and felt completely at ease.

This will definitely be worth your while!



8. Pack smart!

In your suitcase: Layers, layers, layers. {My kids above are wearing 4 layers on top due to temps in the 40's we didn't see coming. Good thing I packed lots of things to layer!} You never know what the weather is going to be!

In your backpack (for taking to the parks): A couple travel-size umbrellas or cheapo plastic ponchos from the dollar store for when it rains (It WILL rain, and if you're not prepared you'll be shelling out the big bucks to pay for a Disney poncho...like us. Don't go by the weather for the day...just bring the ponchos. Thank me later!), snacks snacks snacks and some bottled water, camera, autograph item & sharpie, medicines, a printed "itinerary" for the day including meal reservation #'s, a plastic bag for any "messies" or to protect items from getting wet, Purell or wipes, cell phone, sunscreen, etc. Leave some room for jackets coming off and for souveniers.


9. Go with the Flow.

You're not gonna be able to do it all, and THAT'S OK!!! Recognize when people in your party are getting tired and take a break. Get a snack & sit down for a bit, or go back to your hotel for a couple of hours till it's time for dinner & fireworks. Otherwise you'll fall asleep while waiting for a table at meal-time or your small kids (& then you) will have a meltdown.

Just relax & enjoy it moment-by-moment!



10. Best spot to see the Wishes Fireworks at Magic Kingdom: (Probably our favorite tip!!!)

On the bridge between Main Street and Tomorrowland! Just almost under the Tomorrowland sign there is a big bench. Go EARLY & stake your claim! A popcorn vendor was close by & we had popcorn & watched an amazing fireworks show that was directly in front of us! If you want to see Tink fly, you're in luck, cause she'll fly practically overhead. We wouldn't watch the fireworks from anywhere else!

The Castle was lit up with changing colors known as "The Kiss Goodnight"!

Main Street at nighttime was incredible!

Bonus Tip: Keep your camera at the ready!

We were looking at one of the beautiful gardens at the Magic Kingdom, snapping a few pics, when a kind cast member came up to us and told the kids to watch the Castle, cause in 5 more seconds something neat was going to happen....


....What a cool shot of some "Disney Magic"!!! You never know what surprises are around the next corner, or what precious faces your kids may make, so keep the camera ready to go!

Hope you enjoyed seeing some pics of our vacation!

Advice Needed!

I could really use your advice!

You see, I've been super busy getting ready for our 1st family trip (MY 1st trip, too) to Disney World soon!! Yippee!!!

But I'm nervous that I'm packing too much...or leaving something important behind....or will regret only having one pair of shoes....or that my kids will get sick riding something quaint and simple like the "Dumbo" ride....or that we'll miss the fun, "it" things for kids and families...


Let's just say that my imagination gets the better of me sometimes.


I've read books and checked things out online, but I'd really love to hear it straight from you all!


I need to hear from you....


What great tips do you have for me?
What are the best things to have in a backpack for a day in the parks?
Will my kids survive without an autograph book, or will they whine for one?
The best things you brought with you?
What should you have left at home?
Money-saving tips?
Fun things to do with grade-school aged kids?
Your best Disney advice?


Pllleeeeeeeeeeeeeaase let me know!

Thanks so much, I know I can count on y'all! :)

Let It Snow!

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful!

And since we've no place to go,

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!"


Are you getting any snow today?
Here in the Chicago area we're supposed to be getting several inches!

The girls were very excited, till it came time to bundle up before leaving the house for school. Then our living room turned into a 3-ring circus!

Someone stepped in a wet puddle left over from yesterday's melted snow by their boots and had to change socks. Then another child came to me looking like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, complaining that she couldn't snap the hard snaps on her coat nor could she put on her hat with her fat gloves on. After getting on dry socks from the "puddle in the house" incident, my youngest was crying because her pinky finger wouldn't fit inside her new gloves. Sure enough, it was sewn wrong inside & I've got to order another pair!

My little Southerners had better get used to winter again in the Midwest!
:)
LOL!!!

After dropping the girls off at school this morning, I drove around snapping a few wintry pictures!

The first picture is from the Christmas decorations in my girls' bedroom. It totally reminds me of them! One with reddish hair, and one with blonde!
I love this! It looks so vingage-y and cute!!

And the picture below is a sneek peek of my kitchen decorations
(which you'll get to see very, very soon!),
based around a:
"Mrs. Claus's Sweet Shoppe"
theme!

Till next time....

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Creating A Welcoming Home...

{above awareness sticker from www.zazzle.com}

.....When You Have A Chronic Illness.


If you have been reading my blog for a while, then you know that my passion is inspiring women to Create Welcoming Homes! You may have seen a recipe or two that were gluten-free as well. But I've never shared with you my story. And I had done this on purpose. Ain't no disease out there that's pretty, people. However, I know that there are millions of women out there who have a chronic illness of some kind, who desperately want to Create A Welcoming Home for their family even though it may be difficult, and just might be inspired to know that they are not alone. And that's why I'm sharing with you today.

(And if you are blessed to be healthy, then read on anyway...it may give you an understanding heart for a friend.)


Hello, my name is Stacey...and I have Celiac Disease.

Here's my story:

I was blessed to be a happy, healthy child and teenager. I was active & energetic through college, when I first started noticing that something was definitely wrong with me.
I started to drastically lose weight. I had always been thin, but doctors were stumped. A couple of months later Hubby & I were engaged, & I had gotten down to 100 lbs, was drinking 3 "shakes" a day full of calories to put on weight (SO disgusting, by the way), eating non-stop, and could.not.put.on.weight.

They did all sorts of tests, checking everything from full-panel bloodwork to check my thyroid or for anemia, all the way to drinking barium and having scans done to check if I had cancer. Nothing showed up.
They said that they didn't know. And chalked it up to stress.

By my wedding day, I had gotten back up to 110.

Fast forward a year, literally just after our 1 year anniversary.
I had gotten terribly sick with "the flu". I couldn't keep anything in me, was passing out from dehydration, and had gone to the ER twice already. I was taking a medicine cocktail of several different things, but nothing was working.
I was having diarrhea up to 20 times a day. And I knew for sure that my husband of one year would keep his vow and love me forever "in sickness and in health" when he quietly and lovingly cleaned up a messy bed and mattress when I was too sick to even wake up to make it to the bathroom.
A week in the hospital, a colonoscopy, some unsure signs and symptoms, and once again....doctors said "I don't know" and sent me home. It took another 3 weeks before I was better.

In the years that followed, I had been told "I don't know" and sent on my way more times than I could count.

After my daughters were born (only 15 mo apart), I couldn't shake the tiredness and nausea that I had felt during my pregnancies. I felt sick to my stomach much of the time, and was exhausted, but we thought maybe it was just hormones out of control. But, it didn't go away after I gave birth.
In fact, it had gotten worse.


By now, my days were filled with 2 little babies...and then as time passed, 2 little toddlers...draining what little energy I had out of me. I spent most of my time at home on the couch, trying to get a migraine to go away, or trying not to throw up, or trying to catch a few minutes of sleep since I was just always so exhausted. Some days were pretty normal, and some were not. I put on a happy face for the world to see. Friends and family were mostly unaware that I felt so badly. Who wants to hang out with a "sicky"? I got really good at faking like all was well.

I had to teach my husband to cook, since I could no longer function well enough to do that everyday anymore. Some days I'd be so ill that I would tell my toddlers to "bring Momma a bowl and bring me some cereal/or a snack, and I'll pour it for you". I cried a lot about that.

After having finally had enough, I cried when I went to an allergist who said that I was allergic to several things, one of which was wheat. Praise the Lord! Finally, an answer!! After some more testing during the next 2 years, I was officially diagnosed by a gastroenterologist as having Celiac Disease.

How am I better now?
Well, I eat Gluten-Free. It's the only way to stay healthy. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, & rye, and oats are avoided due to contamination issues as well.
I still have some health issues due to being undiagnosed for so long (around 10 years). But overall, I am lightyears better than before!
(for more info: www.celiac.org)


Why am I sharing this with you??

Honestly, I didn't really want to. But it was on my heart to share anyway!

I do want to encourage many of you out there who do have health problems, yet desperately want to create a haven for your family. You want a Welcoming Home! But I know that it may be harder for you than for others. I know. I understand. And I want to tell you that
"You are not alone!"

It is very possible to Create A Welcoming Home!
It takes LOVE, most of all. That's what your family needs most!!
Do what you can, when you can, the Lord knows your limitations & your strengths.
Don't fall into the trap of blaming your illness for not doing anything around your home.
Keep things simple & easy. De-clutter & simplify in every area.
Your "to-do list" for the day won't look the same as most people's list, and that's ok.


Whether it's arthritis, migraines, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, diabetes, cancer, celiac disease, etc. know that you aren't alone...that I care...and most of all that God cares about you!
If you desire a Welcoming Home, then He will honor that desire!!

Find a Bible verse that gives you encouragement!
Here's one of mine:
"...Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord". Deut. 8:3



Thanks for listening to me today! I know that this varies from my usual posts, but it was on my heart!

For more encouraging posts, check out (in)courage, a new incredible website, like a little home away from home, all for encouraging women!