Big Announcement! I have (part of) a little store now.

MarigoldRoad's going brick and mortar!

Two weeks ago I answered the phone to a reassuring, cheery voice on the other line. Miracle number one is that I answered the phone call, for I didn't recognize the number. Here's how our conversation went, in a nutshell:

Hi, I'm Abbe Doll. We've never met, but we have mutual friends, and, I just wanted to pick your brain on something the Lord laid on my heart.

Um. Ok!

She's sounding excited, so, I'm excited, even though I don't love talking on the phone.

There's this quaint shopping area called the Green Elephant Village, comprised of three green victorian homes & one deli; one is a successful home interiors store, the other a bustling women's consignment store. The third building is vacant. And I feel like I'm supposed to have a store there
that helps Christian mompreneurs promote their businesses.
A community of ladies offering their handmade and vintage goods. It will be a place for women to shop and be pampered and blessed and loved on. There could be mom's craft nights there.

(at this point I'm SO IN)

And I want you to be a part of it.
The Lord kept bringing to my heart the names of six women.

You were one of them.
Mindy Harris.
How do I know her?
Call Mindy.
Find her.At this point I am practically giddy and not doing a very good job of covering up my excitement. I know I need to pray about it. See if the financial stuff jives (that's scary). Discuss with Shawnie.

Wow, Abbe, this is amazing. I will decide soon and let you know. Thank you.

Thus began a series of meetings, phone calls, and texts over the next couple of weeks (we had quite the deadline around the holidays).And yesterday, I signed my sublease for a little 8 x 8 space, all my own. This gets my feet wet to see how my stuff sells, to see if it does better than Etsy, to see how I like working in a boutique (a few hours a month; this is my favorite part of the whole thing; it's my dream).

MarigoldRoad
at the
Cottage Collective
located in
The Green Elephant Village
Coming in March!
(my headband: marigoldroad, earrings: PickingBlueberries, tshirt necklace: Laceymade)

And my heart on all of this? This unfolding story?

Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory

Our hearts unfold before Your throne
The only place for those who know
It's not for us, It's all for You

Send Your holy fire on this offering
Let our worship burn for the world to see
It's not for us, It's all for You

Chris Tomlin

Christmas

My parents have been in this home 18 yrs!

Mommy's chandelier.

Soap shop

Story/Evie's matching rompers: PokeADotShop

Bunny by Underground Vintage Studios

my t-shirt scarf: Laceymade

WIWW-Black Tights Always the Best GoTo

I'm not thin, but WIWW is still fun to do, especially when I get to borrow a sweet friend's clothes. New clothes aren't in our budget, but (most) of her clothes fit me! What a blessing.

Dress: borrowed, earrings: a gift, necklace: Rue21,
purse: vintage, tights: Target, shoes: Payless, cardigan: old; belt: Kohl's

Happy Wednesday!

Little Christmas Goodies for the Bitty Ones

Hat-Alecia Goodman
Cape-SuperPowerCapes

Dolly, BabyBeBlessed

Heart to Heart Guest Post: Ashley Moore, Wedding Planner

Hi, Ladies, how was your Christmas? We are still in the throes of celebrating with loved ones! This is such a special time of year. I am mostly giddy about girl time with my two sisters. Sisters are one of life's greatest blessings.

Let's move on with today's Heart to Heart!

Since my sisters don't live here, I naturally have a few VERY DEAR, very PRECIOUS "adoptive" sisters in Christ that know me to my core. There is something so liberating about being 100% transparent with another person, knowing she won't judge you or flip out. Ashley is one such person.
I wish all of you could meet her.
The neat God-thing is that she sought me out; I was immediately like, "seriously? little ole me? yes I wanna be your friend, too! Alot alot!"
It was just so encouraging. She's taught me that I don't have to seek my approval in other people. I am already approved by Jesus and he loves me as I am.

I also appreciate how Ash and I can keep each other in check in pretty much every aspect. Again, we have a way of communicating that just doesn't step on toes. It's a total respect thing. Like: "okay, Girl, here's what Scripture says, so, do you/I/we need to rework some things in our home, marriage, spending, parenting, etc?" Our relationship is also so easy-flowing because we have a lot of the same expectations of friendship, which happen to coincide with our overarching, innate character traits (we are people-people/idea makers).
Okay, so I'm sharing Ash now (don't you love her as my Etsy model?)!
***********

My name is Ashley Moore and I am a full time momma, wife, wedding and event planner. My passion for hope, people, serving, designing, and decorating have all given me the ability to do what I love and love what I do.

BLOG | FACEBOOK

What quality do you admire most in another individual?

The last few years I have truly yearned for genuine, transparent relationships with people/other women. I truly admire those that are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in and who give OUR GOD all the glory for all He has done in their lives. After all, He is the one who has given this life to us. We are to be good stewards of it.

Describe where you are in your heart/life in three words.

Challenged, HOPEFUL, Renewed

How do you relieve stress?

Journaling, MUSIC, crafting, eating......bad, bad, bad, but yummy, yummy, yummy!

What do you think people remember most about you?

The most obvious answer would be my height! I am 6 feet tall and I hear comments about it every day! On a deeper level though, my hope is that they would remember the peace and love I found in my Savior; despite all my mistakes. I am very welcoming, and live by the motto:
"the more the merrier"!!!

What is the best advice anyone has given you?

"I have found the paradox, that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love."

by Mother Teresa.

What in nature do you find most beautiful?

The Sun. It brings so much happiness to our hearts when it shines so bright. The way it sets, rises and peeks out from the clouds, all brings back good memories for me. I love the warmth it brings and the way it can bring a smile to my face on the worst of days....it is true what they say, it is one of the best forms of medicine a soul can receive!

What do you find most challenging about parenting? Marriage?

I have found as a mother of an almost 3 year old, that consistency is tough. Sometimes the things she does are just so cute and funny, and I find it hard to discipline. Then sometimes I find I am too tired for the fight and will let things slide. Oh Marriage. Those crazy movies made it look so easy and ALWAYS romantic!!! While I have found that this is not always the case, I have also realized that communication between two adults, living under the same roof can be quite difficult with all the different schedules, activities, hobbies, etc. Other than having Christ as the foundation of marriage, communication is the most important, both of which we are still learning and growing in.

What passage of scripture do you regularly rely on for encouragement?

This verse has gotten me through some of the toughest times in my life. I am so thankful that He has been at my side every step of the way, just as He promised.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Movie Rental and eating a whole box of Cheez-its in one sitting.....does it make it better since they are the whole grain cheez-its?!?!:):)

Last Minute Holiday Baking-Beer Bread

I recently went to a party that had this moist, buttery loaf of bread in the long line-up of potluck desserts. I mostly just ate the bread!

Then I found out who made it and got the recipe...this was my first time making beer bread. I had no idea how easy it is.

If you're scrambling for something to take to a gathering, consider this yummy treat!

1 can beer, 3 cups self rising flour, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 stick of butter, melted. Combine first 3 ingredients together and pour into a large, greased loaf pan. Drizzle melted butter over top. Bake 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

I made the presentation cute buy purchasing $.50 loaf pans at Michael's...I wrote the recipe on most of the white pans using a special marker meant for writing on porcelain.

These are now darling, inexpensive gifts!

On the printed/colored pans I wrote our names/the date/holiday greetings.

So cute!

How to Morph Chocolate Chip Cookies into Peppermint Cookies

Packaging by Martha Stewart, purchased on sale at Michael's.

We have really great neighbors. We don't live in a new neighborhood. Brand new houses simply aren't our cup of tea, nor are they in our price range. Our 1950s home has such charm and character and I want to live in it forever, if we can finish the basement. I dream of a master suite complete with jetted tub in the bath!! Ahhh....

Off track a little.

Back to the great neighbors thing. A sweet family living at the end of the block probably thinks I have no other wardrobe in my closet other than pj pants. And that I don't own a bra. I am typically in disheveled mom mode when I answer the door--I'm just not one to keep people waiting I guess.

This family brought us a tin full of wonderful Christmas cookies; I knew I had to have the recipe. Like right then.

Call me clueless but I hadn't really heard that you could put a pudding mix into cookies?

Where has this secret ingredient been all my life?

Here's how the recipe works. Below is the ingredient list for standard chocolate chip cookies. The peppermint variations are below that.Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 C. unsifted flour
1 tsp. soda
1 C. butter
1/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix
1 pkg. chocolate chips

Cream butter with sugars. Add pudding; beat well. Add eggs and vanilla mix really well. Mix flour with soda and gradually add to wet ingredients. Mix in chips. bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Chocolate mint cookies: Substitute chocolate pudding for vanilla pudding, mint extract for vanilla extract, and Andes chocolate mint chips for chocolate chips.

Peppermint cookies (these are what I made): substitute peppermint extract for vanilla and Andes peppermint chips (hard.to.find!) for chocolate chips. Still use vanilla pudding.
I also did yummy pretzel sticks. So pretty.What sweets are you whipping up for the holidays?
Also Shawn has notified me that it's "Harrises" not "Harris'" or "Harris's". How long have I had this last name? Oops.

WIWW-Freezing in Sleeveless

Linking up with Pleated Poppy's WIWW today.

Ash and I snapped some quick shots downtown...
I didn't like the cardigan ones so we did some sleeveless (brrrr).

Dress: Borrowed
Tights: Target
Boots: Payless
Headband: made by me
Necklace (in first pic): Soleil Selene
Cardigan (in first pic): local boutique
Wristlet (in first pic): EnticingTreats

Ash's headwrap: Prairieology

Christmas QUIZ

This cute Christmas quiz is circulating blogs...here are my answers.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrap them, even if there's too much tape and part of the box is showing.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? white.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? no.
5. When do you put your decorations up? Right after Thanksgiving.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? cornbread casserole or 7-layer salad.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? lying under the Christmas tree watching the lights blink, convinced they also made a soft "tink, tink" every time they blinked. With my sisters.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Santa wasn't hugely incorporated into our celebrations.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Currently, no (the kids are just getting a small amount from us). Growing up, yes.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? With ornaments from my childhood, handmade ones from Etsy, vintage glass balls, vintage tree skirt.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I dread it.
12. Can you ice skate? I think I could if a million dollars were at stake. It's been quite some time...I am the one on L.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? This Carebear.14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Remaining in awe of how a tiny person started a series of events that led to my freedom today.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Sugar cut out cookies.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? When my Daddy reads the Christmas story from the gospel of John before we open gifts.
17. What tops your tree? A vintage round tinsel blinking thing.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? At Christmastime, GIVING.
19. Candy canes: Yuck or Yummy? Yuck.
20. Favorite Christmas show? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
21. Saddest Christmas song? No clue.
22. What is your favorite Christmas song? Silent Night