Sprinkles, Prayer, Happy Pills and Flowers.......Being HAPPY on a Monday Morning!

Huh!

Being happy on a Monday morning isn't as

easy as it sounds.

Monday means work, school (some parts of the year),

 the end of vacation.........and who knows what else.

So how can we have a better Monday morning?

~Pray~

Saying a prayer and asking for a lil help would be a start:)

~Coffee~

Monday means coffee..........and lots of it! hahaha

~Happy Pills~

No silly, not THOSE kind of happy pills.

THESE kind of happy pills.

Make yourself a little set of happy pills for the office:)

~Flowers~

Stop by and grab a few on the way to work, or bring some from your yard.

Nothing fancy...just something to brighten the day!

If you're lucky enough to have lilacs like these from my

mama's yard, definitely bring them:)

~Compliment Someone~

Sincerely, genuinely honestly find something to compliment someone for.

Big, little.........make their day! (nothing better than a good cereal maker;)

~Be Positive~

Don't think of all you HAVE to do, 

or didn't get done last week.

This ia a NEW week.

 Don't look back, look forward.

~Wander~

That's right, take a few minutes to let you mind wander.

Think about an upcoming vacation,

about a special dinner you have planned,

think about sneaking off for an ice cream cone.........with sprinkles!:)

anything to make YOU smile!

And on this Monday morning........

know that you are loved!

xoxoxoxox

Suzanne

Maybe This World Needs Prayer, a Group Hug, and a Milk and Cookies Party!

photo:www.adoreevents.biz

and you think i'm kidding, right?

nope!

really, after this week. . .

year. . .

decade. . .

there's a whole lot of sense to this.

to me anyways:)

prayer is a given.

number one on the list.

because nothings really gonna change without it.

prayer and love. . . . .and Faith in God.

and a moral wake up call.

and some good ol' simple, Christian values.

but at least, let's start with prayer.

a group hug. . . .

you know what i mean by this, right?

there's so much hate floating around out there,

and while we can't "hug" everyone,

we can care.

and love.

and pray for them.

which is kind of like a group hug:)

and when all else fails,

we can throw an awesome party for those we care about.

a comforting, reassuring, 

remind you of innocent days kind of party.

like maybe a 

milk and cookies party!

i told you i wasn't kidding:)

actually, Robert Fulghum said it best in his book

All I Really Need to Know

 I Learned in Kindergarten

(one of my favorite books EVER)

“Think what a better world it would be if we all. . . .the whole world. . . .had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are. . . .when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.” Robert Fulghum

LOVE THAT QUOTE!

some of the pictures i'm gonna show you are

from a child's birthday,

which, in my opinion, is genius!

i mean, what else does a 1 or 2 year old even need for their party?

it's brilliant and adorable...what more is there?

other pictures are from weddings.

oh yes, some people know how to do it.

a rustic wedding, with great decorations and themed dessert tables,

like a milk and cookies table, a cupcake and ice cream cone table. . . .

and instead of confetti or rice, they throw sprinkles.

(are you listening girls?  because i know one of you

will let me plan a wedding reception like this someday:)

anyway, i hope you like these ideas.

and what am i trying to say here. . . .

oh heck, how could you not like them:)

alrighty then, let's get started!

photo: www.occasionsonline.com

i mean, these babies in their rustic chic setting should convince you,

but if not. . . .

this bride and groom have milk and cookies for the ride home.

cute:)

and some awesome party favors. . . . .

photos: www.swankypear.com, 

am i convincing you yet that this is a great idea?

photo:www.greenweddingplannerblog.com

photos: www.libbyjamesblog.com, party-wagon.com
 no one says you can't have other stuff at your party,
personally i think whoopie pies would be a fabulous idea too:)
photo below:shop.andersruff.com

 photo: glitterweddings.com

and because i'm kinda nice,

most of the time(;)

i'll share a few recipes with you.

one is mine, and it is a repost from a few years back,

but it's been pinned a lot of times so i'll make it simple and share with you.

These are so good, so white and sugary and look pretty wrapped in a

clear cellophane bag and tied with a ribbon.

Oh my gosh, I'm making myself hungry for sugar cookies at 9:30 in the morning!

*note. . . .these are not cut-out sugar cookies to decorate, but more like a classic

sugar cookie you would buy in a bakery.

you know, back in the day:)

AMISH SUGAR COOKIES:

Beat Well:

1 C Sugar

1 C Powder Sugar

1 C Butter

1 C Corn Oil (We used Canola Oil)

~~~ Beat the above ingredients, then add in:

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Cream of Tarter

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

4 1/2 C Flour

mix thoroughly

Baking Directions:

Drop a heaping tsp on greased or parchment lined cookie sheet.

Flatten with a glass bottom dipped in sugar.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 min. or till edges are golden.

(we add a sprinkle of sugar when they come out too. . . what can i say:)

not in the mood for sugar cookies?

how about some big, soft, ginger cookies!

 go to allrecipes for the yummy recipe:)

 that's it for today.

i hope you have a milk and cookies kind of day:)

xoxo

Suzanne

My Top 10 Most Popular Posts of 2012. . . .Fruit Loops, Swamps and Shabby Chic

well!

i've never done one of these posts before.

i have to say, it's kinda FUN looking back on the year.

and it's really COOL to see which posts are the most 

POPULAR for your readers.

as you can tell by the title,

my blog posts are all over the place.

and my readers are looking for fun and

interesting posts about decorating, parties, FASHION and treats:)

 i thought i'd list the 10 posts, with a link to take you to each one,

just in case you missed out, you know:)

before i do,

thank you to the many, many wonderful readers who visit my blog

on a daily basis.

that is so much more than i deserve,

and i am so grateful!
i wrote 147 posts last year, and here are

My 10 Most Popular posts of 2012,

starting with 

number 10 and working down to number 1. . . . 

10.  for mom......a shabby chic dream cottage and soft, cuddly puppies......

9.  Cool Summer Treats and Cool Stuff to Do in the Heat of Summer!



8.  I Love LIME...the spring trend is NEON!


7.  Spring Fashion Week 2012...Pretty as a Princess



6.  Aloha...Palm Sunday, Bunnies, Bunny Bait and Hawaii




5.  lessons in decorating from a country girl/surfer girl/cowgirl....




4.  My Life in Candy

3.  i'm just crazy about mirrored furniture............




2.  (This one cracks me up)  Swamp People Birthday Party



never can tell, can you?:)

and my number 1 most popular post of 2012. . . . .

1.  fruit loops, prayer, recipes and Oscar dresses... 





so there you have it.
i have to say, this really surprises me. . . . .
but in a good way.
and i think it tells me something.
as i said before, my readers know they can come for a light,
fun, happy, pretty, positive blog post.
no rocket science here. . . .
my blog is what it is. . . .
and so am I:)

xoxoxoxoxoxo
Suzanne

Just Silence, Tears and God

those are not my words.

i  found them in a blog post done by

 Hannah, The Rustic Chick.

i love her blog!!!

love it, love it, love it!

she is my go to person for cowgirl stuff.......

fashion, cowboy wisdom.

i even found one of my favorite devotional sites from her,

Campfire Cowboy Ministries.

Hannah is actually closer to my girls age than mine.

but that's ok.

it just means they can relate to the Rustic Chick when they visit.

and if i see something i think they should see (like dating wisdom:)

you can bet i share it:)

before i get to that (cause there are some cool quotes i want to share),

i have to explain the title to this post........

silence, tears and God.

Hannah sent out a prayer request this weekend.

her mom was having problems and undergoing tests.

moms are special, right?

just hearing this is enough to make one drop to their knees.

i found out this morning her sweet mom has a brain tumor

and is facing surgery tomorrow morning.

please, please please PRAY!

i remember last year 

when my dad was having surgery, 

i had people from all over the world praying.

it was such a comfort!

and God saw him through that surgery.  

In the end, he did not make it.  

he had fulfilled the purpose God had for him here on earth,

so he brought him home.

making him whole again yet breaking our hearts.

even though we knew he was in Heaven, still heartbreaking.

it's hard for me to even think about still.

i am blessed to know where he is right now

and that i will see him again.

how do people cope without that?

i can't imagine.

i had my own MRI a few years back........

to R/O (rule out) a brain tumor and MS.

not fun, waiting for those results.

they ruled out the brain tumor.

but not MS.

 i'm okay..........

and this isn't about me.

it's about Hannah's mom.

Hannah has such a strong faith in God,

which is the other reason i'm crazy about this young lady.

she knows he is holding her hand.......and her mom's.

but she still needs our prayers, so please pray.

and maybe you can visit her blog at this link and get to know my

 cowgirl "friend" for yourself:)

either way, thank you for taking the time to read this

 and for praying for Hannah and her family.

now for those cool dating quotes i found on her blog,

the Rustic Chick,

 and i shared them

IMMEDIATELY

with my own shabby chicks:)

now, don't you just love these?

and they came from the blog of a young girl determined to live a 

fun, happy, carefree, cowgirl kind of life.

a young lady whose head and heart are in the right place.

whose Faith is a wake up call for the rest of us.

Praying for your mama Hannah!

xoxo

Suzanne

cowboys, prayer and cowboy church.......

oh. my. GOODNESS!

last saturday night, Miss J and i went to our very first rodeo.

hey.......any excuse to wear boots and cowboy hats

 (forgot the hats though:)

and a chance to see real live cowboys in this

tropical world we live in.

and like i said...

OH

MY

GOODNESS!

did we have a special night or what!?!?

actually, for us wannabe cowgirls,

it wasn't a whole rodeo but bullriding from

the professional bull riders.

but it was enough and it was COOL, trust me!

let me tell you, those are some HUGE bulls!
it was just really cool, seeing the cowboys with their hats on, leaning over the bull cage,
helping the rider get seated on that wild thing.

clearly, everybody has a job to do......
a very important job, since this is
ONE TOUGH SPORT.
and it is definitely a sport and these are very talented athletes.

the night started with music blaring and fireworks,
as well as the letters PBR (professional Bullriders)
set on fire on the floor.
you had to see it.
the arena is dark, the giant letters are burning and the announcer starts
to introduce the bull riders.
when their name is called, they walk through the flames to line up in a semi circle.
quite spectacular.

but the MOST spectacular thing was when the announcer asked
the audience to stand for the invocation.
Prayer!
at a public sporting event in America.
imagine that.
Prayer.

and what a prayer it was.
basically, this is what it said.......
they prayed for safety for them and their families.
prayed for our soldiers, our country, the President, the Colorado shooting victims.
they thanked God for his many blessings.
they prayed for forgiveness of sins and yes, much more.
it was something else!

i noticed the cowboys, some holding their hats on their chests,
some kneeling, some on all fours.

clearly, they took this very seriously, as we all should.
and the audience was very reverent.
also quite surprising for a big arena full of excited people.

this had me so stunned and moved,
that i went home and looked up the rodeo, bull riding, and cowboys praying.
guess what.......
now i'm even MORE impressed!
these men know that what they do is very dangerous.
in interviews, they refer to the power of prayer.
they know that guts and bravery are never going to be enough.
these men rely on their faith every time they get on the back of one of those bulls.
in a world of "political correctness".........
they PRAY.

they pray over the bull rider as he sits atop the bull, they pray in the locker room
before they come out, and they pray in front of the crowd every night.

and that's not all.
their faith is so important, that there are now
"Cowboy Churches" all over the country.
wherever there is a bull riding contest, there is cowboy church.
whether they meet in the bleachers, in a barn or in a little country church,
they gather to worship and pray.

one pastor said they have simple services........
filled with country/gospel songs and a simple message to take them through the night and into the next day.
lessons to use, lessons to live.
and plenty of prayer.
we had a pretty remarkable night.
moving.....that's what it was.  very moving.
so good to see prayer like that at a sporting event.

i'm not suggesting that these men are perfect.
they are no more (or less) perfect than the rest of us.
they just seem to wear their faith boldly.
i was so impressed that night and look forward to the experience again.....and again.
quite a lesson for us all:)
God Bless the American Cowboy.....
and God Bless All of you, Too!
Suzanne