Wordless Wednesday: Our Thanksgiving

 

 

      
 

       
            

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."

I have a couple of prayer requests for this week, if you think about it...

{1} I'm feeling a little overwhelmed this morning with homework that is due this weekend for my online college course...My teacher just posted the assignments this morning and he usually posts them on Monday morning.

I have 3 regular projects due this weekend (that aren't exactly easy), 1 quiz, and a major PowerPoint project that is due next week that I have to find time to work on... on top of everything else that we've planned for this week and all my other schoolwork.  

{2} Katie is going to take her major State Board exam tomorrow morning (which is like really, really, reeeaaallly big and kind of strict), so if you think about her during 7:00am until around lunch, please say a quick prayer for her (and her nerves).  It's her practical exam, so she will basically just work like normal in a salon setting and everything that she does will be graded.  It sounds pretty intense, if you ask me.  I think she'll do fine, though.  

{3} One last thing, would ya'll please pray for my dad too?  He is also having a stressful week with work and could use some prayer.  I won't go into detail, but he is really tired.   

*deep breath* :)

Yep, let's just say it's going to be a very long and very busy rest of the week for all of us, and I don't think I'll have much time to blog for the rest of this week.  We'll see.  Thank you for all your prayers, friends!

We CAN (and will) get through this week.


"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13

Talk to you all soon!  Much love! 

xoxo, 

Emily

Hello Monday {16}

{Hello Monday}

{hello new week and a long to do list}

{hello Bible time and breakfast}

{hello schoolwork (Oh, how I have not missed you these past few days on Thanksgiving break)}

{hello dog sitting for our neighbor down the street}

{hello beautiful Christmas tree and decorations around the house}

{hello leftovers from the weekend for lunch}

{hello running out to the mailbox and finding a sweet surprise}

{hello more schoolwork and making a few phone calls}

{hello editing pictures from the weekend and Thanksgiving Day (I'll post them soon!)}

{hello random texting convos with friends}

{hello supper/ family time}
{hello watching Terra Nova with the rest of the family}

{hello reading/getting ready for bed}

{hello sweet sweet bed}

This post was inspired by my sweet friends, Sarah-Anne and Lisa Leonard. If you want to participate in {Hello Monday} too, then please give credit to Lisa in your post. She is the first one to start this weekly blog series.

Simply Elegant Giveaway Winner!

  The winner of these two lovely items is....

                

Miss Raquel!!!!! 

Congrats, girl!!! Look for an email in your inbox from Kristen in the next few days!  

Thank you all for entering the giveaway!

Thanksgiving memories…

I have so many wonderful Thanksgiving memories floating around in my head today.  I knew this holiday was going to be hard on all of us, but I don't think I prepared myself enough for every single memory to come into my mind from the past years.  I love all the sweet family memories that I have to mind today and I think God is helping me remember them for a reason.  (to be thankful for all the Thanksgiving's that we had with Mom while she was with us...)

   

One of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving was when we went down to South Carolina and celebrated with my Aunt Cathy and Uncle Allen at their house a few years ago.  We had such a wonderful time down there...we all took turns cooking in the kitchen, sat on the back porch and listened (and laughed) as Mom and Aunt Cathy told stories from their childhood together, watched the parade and good Hallmark movies, we took walks in the woods, and rode their horses after we ate that afternoon...  Aunt Cathy and Uncle Allen are coming up here on Wednesday and Thursday this week and I hope we make more special memories.  I know it's not going to be the same, but I want us all to try and make it a good day.

Another special (and hilarious) memory I have of Thanksgiving is when we had it at our house, and after we ate our delicious meal, Daddy made us laugh until we cried with his funny faces...and the candy corn.  You had to be there to see how funny it was, but those are the special memories I have to hold on to as this Thanksgiving comes up... I just remember that Mom was laughing so hard that she had to go out of the room for a few minutes, so she could breathe and then when she came back in the dining room, she burst out laughing once again.  Mom and Daddy were best friends and one of the very best memories I have of them together was when they would be laughing with each other.  Laughter is such a wonderful thing. Mom had the best laugh in the world...it was contagious too.  I bet she is laughing and smiling down at us right now in Heaven and having a wonderful time with our Savior.  I wish she could tell us what she is seeing up there, though. :)

   

I just have to keep telling myself and encouraging the rest of the family that Mom would have wanted us to continue to celebrate Thanksgiving (It was her favorite holiday...) and the rest of the holidays coming up.  I'm going to keep pressing through, even though it does hurt that she isn't here with us to enjoy time with family, all the good food, watching the Macy's parade together, and fun times cooking in the kitchen. 

We have made it this far...and I know that we can, (and will) get through these first holidays...  Only with God's strength, though.  Thank you for all your prayers, sweet friends.  They mean more than you can imagine.

Thinking about you tonight, Mommy…

Thinking about all the fun memories we had making gingerbread houses at Mrs. Lori's house in December tonight, Mommy...  Miss you so much as we all start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas... I'm so blessed to have had such a beautiful and strong mother...

I also really miss hearing your voice and telling me what needed to get done... I can hear you right now..."You are always one step ahead of me, Emmylou." :)

Love you forever and always,

♥ ♥ ♥Your one and only Emmylou ♥ ♥ ♥

I’m looking forward to…

 Before you read any further...this post was inspired by the talented and beautiful Carlotta from "Pastor's Girl's Ponderings".  It was completely her idea, but I loved the idea so much that I thought I would make my own "looking forward" list and share it with all of you.  Thanks so much for the inspiration, Carlotta!  You’re awesome. :)

I wrote out my own “looking forward to” list this morning.  I think it will help me get through the long cold months ahead.  You should make your own list!  Just be sure to give Carlotta credit where credit is due.

“I’m looking forward to” list:

{Fall 2011/ Winter 2012}

Cozy blankets and watching movies with my family.

Football games.

Enjoying the crisp weather and pretty trees.

Fall photoshoots/ my Senior pictures.

Coffee dates with friends at Starbucks.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.

Christmas music, candles, good food, and parties to attend throughout the holiday season.

A trip to Williamsburg with family in December.

Breaks from school…

A whole new year.  (2012!!  A very exciting year for me…graduating, turning 18, etc.)

Visiting with family and Christmas shopping.

Baking adventures in the kitchen.

Possible snow?

The Regeneration concert in February!!  (So excited!)

Drinking hot tea, apple cider, and hot chocolate.

…and warm sweaters, cute boots, pretty scarves, and gloves.

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Soooo, what are you looking forward to in the next few months?

Simply Elegant Giveaway

Kristen of True Elegance is sponsoring this lovely giveaway.  She recently opened a jewelry store called "Simply Elegant" and is selling her jewelry using her blog "True Elegance"… She makes beautiful jewelry and I think many of you will enjoy her looking at her work.  Click here to check out her shop.  You won’t be sorry you clicked that link. 

Isn't this necklace & earring set so pretty?

   

It's the set Kristen is giving away to one of Practically Pink’s faithful readers! (Yes, one of YOU lovely people)

It is a lovely bronze, green, and off-white pearl set that is perfect for autumn.  *sigh*

{How to Enter the Giveaway}

Mandatory entry:

Leave a comment about one of your favorite things about Thanksgiving or something you’re thankful for this week.

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Extra entries:

Leave separate comments for each "entry." If it says "2 entries," leave two comments, etc.

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Follow Kristen’s blog- {3 entries}

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Blog, Tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway and leave me the link. {1 entry}

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Follow Practically Pink. {1 entry}

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Buy something from her shop. {10 entries}

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Like Kristen on Facebook {2 entries}

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This giveaway ends on November, 21st, 2011 when the clock strikes midnight. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me after I publish the giveaway results or another winner will be drawn.

P.S. Thank you, Kristen for emailing me about hosting a giveaway for you!  I’ve found a new favorite jewelry shop. :)

Hello Monday {15}

{Hello Monday}

{hello bright sunshine pouring through my windows and my (not so lovely) alarm clock waking me up early}

{hello quick shower, then Bible time and breakfast}

{hello late start on schoolwork}

{hello getting ahead on lots of other subjects besides my online college course (Yay!)}

{hello “playing nurse” with my patient Katie (Please pray for her; she can hardly talk because she has a sore throat)}

{hello chatting briefly on Facebook with my cousin (Caroline) while eating lunch}

{hello more schoolwork}

{hello cleaning up the house and talking to my grandma}

{hello scheduling my senior pictures with my very talented friend, Lindsay}

{hello supper prep and playing Wii bowling with Andrew}

{hello supper/ family time}

{hello replying to emails/ blogging/ and getting ready for bed}

{hello lovely bed}

This post was inspired by my sweet friends, Sarah-Anne and Lisa Leonard. If you want to participate in {Hello Monday} too, then please give credit to Lisa in your post. She is the first one to start this weekly blog series.

Did YOU win the giveaway??

Watch the video below and see if you're the winner... 

Congratulations, girl!  Email me at: practicallypink@gmail.com to claim your awesome gifts.  :)

P.S. I'm so sorry that I haven't posted any other outfit posts this week!  It's been a really busy week and I've had a lot of different school assignments to accomplish, so I didn't have a whole lot of time to blog the last couple of days.  I'm sorry, ladies!  Forgive me?

Fall Fashion Challenge (Days 2 and 3)

I've decided that I'm going to begin participating in the Fall Fashion Challenge this week and just be a day late.  It will definitely be a challenge trying to keep up with the rest of you (very fashionable) ladies.  *Ahem*  I'm afraid my sense of fashion might be lacking...a lot, but we'll see what ya'll think about my outfits. Haha!  :)

Yesterday, I did do the challenge, but I didn't have a chance to post my pictures before bed. 

Day 2 challenge: colors that don’t usually go together.

This one was a little difficult for me at first because I had to actually pick out clothes that kind of clashed, but still went well together.  I finally decided to go with navy, brown, and a teal/ green scarf.  It’s different, but I think it goes together pretty well.

                              

                           

brown pants: Target // scarf: Kohls // brown flats: Target? // navy sweater: Walmart

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Day 3 challenge: {Bold Tights}

The challenge for today is bold tights. I didn't have any "bold" tights, so Ashley said that I could wear knee socks instead.  Also, you can't really see the pattern, but they are blue, gray, and white striped socks.  They're not too bold, but fun at the same time!

    
Also, I've never done this before, but I thought I would be "bold" and try something new in the fashion area of my life today.  What do you think of my new blue jean dress? 

Does it look like a dress because it's actually one of my jean skirts that I turned into a strapless dress. Surprised? :)

      
Yeah...I'm not sure I like it. Does it look weird to you? I was trying to make it look similar to this. Please be honest and tell me if it looks strange. I asked my family, but I got lots of different comments. :)

 

jacket: I can't remember what the store is called! // skirt/dress: Chadwick's on sale // brown boots: Katie's (I love having an older sister!) // brown belt: Katie's // "bold" socks: Walmart

That's all for tonight, ladies!  Let me know what you think of my outfits.  I'm off to go relax a little with the rest of the family before bed...maybe, I'll go read a book?  :)

Would you please vote for me??

I feel so blessed tonight. <3

I found out today that my blog has been nominated by YOU, my sweet followers, for not one, not two, not even just three, but four “homeschool blog awards” on the HSBA Post!  Thank you so much!  I didn’t even know that I was nominated until tonight when I went to vote for someone else.

I would absolutely love it if you would vote for me—here are the categories I have been nominated for…

Best Homeschool Blog Design

Best Encourager Blog

Best Homeschool Variety Blog

Best Crafts, Plans & Projects Blog

Just click on each of the links to vote for Practically Pink and spread the word, if you don’t mind!

Thank you so very much, my lovely blogging friends. You have no idea what this means to me. :)

“Wait for me as I wait for you…”

‎"I don't know if we've ever met or if we've known each other for years and are already friends…{via}

…I have no idea where you are right now, or what your dreams might be…

…but I do know that I will wait patiently for you and will continue praying for you to grow closer to the Lord through each year.{via}

Darling, wait for me as I wait for you. 

Lord, please help me to guard my heart during these years and grow in my walk with you, so that I will be ready when you bring that “special someone” into my life.”

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” -Psalm 27:14

Free Shutterfly Christmas Cards!

I know it's a little early for this, but I got an email a few days ago from someone that works at Shutterfly and they mentioned that they're offering free holiday photo cards for bloggers like me and you again this year.  I thought some of you might want to know about it with Christmas coming around the corner.

We ordered cards from them last year and they are all super nice and easy to work with.  The website uploads your pictures very fast and the cards looked great when we got them in the mail.  Seriously, we had so many people tell us how much they loved the cards when they got them in the mail!  I’ll definitely be ordering again from Shutterfly, and you really should look into it as well.

Shutterfly has many beautiful Christmas card designs this year, but I think my favorites are probably these:

HERE,  HERE, HERE, and HERE...

Go sign up here and see if you qualify to receive 25 free holiday cards for bloggers this Christmas! 

...or you could always just comment here and let me send you discount codes for 25 free holiday cards from Shutterfly.  Keep in mind that only 3 people can use these, so the first three people that comment on this post are the only ones that will get the codes.  Just leave a comment your email address and I’ll send you the codes in a few days! :)


Happy card making, friends!  Thank you again for doing this Shutterfly! 

Wordless Wednesday: New Hairstyle!

Almost Wordless Wednesday: A Walk in the Woods…

Last week, we went on a beautiful walk in some nearby woods with some friends.  The woods are right outside of town and have beautiful walking and biking trails…

We had such a lovely time just spending time with our sweet friends (the Furloughs) and enjoying God’s beautiful creation. It was absolutely breathtaking back there and it was nice to just spend a little time to “enjoy what God has created around us” and not be thinking about everything else that is going on in life.

Sweet Elizabeth…she is such a blessing to me.  God knew that I would need someone like her to brighten my day and to make me laugh every single time I was around her during these last couple of months...  Seriously, she is one of the cutest little girls that I know.  I love her so very much.  Btw, sweet girl, I hope you had a wonderful birthday on Monday!  I can’t believe that you’re 6 years old!  Happy Belated Birthday! :)             

               

The guys (Trey, Josh, Andrew, and Nate) wanted to look for Civil War bullets while we were there.  They found a few when they went out there the last time, but they really wanted Andrew to be able to have some of his own.  They finally did find a couple in the end as we were leaving and most of us had already packed back up in the van.  It was pretty awesome to say the least.  How many times have YOU found bullets from the Civil War era?

The water was gorgeous, but it was absolutely FREEZING!

                          

                           

Mrs. Danielle was so sweet to call us and ask us to come along with them that afternoon.  I love spending time with her too.  It’s nice to have a sweet, encouraging, and loving, “Christian mom” to talk to when I’m having a good (or bad) day.  She always helps me feel better and makes me feel so special and loved.  I love her so much.Also, I’m super excited that she is expecting baby #5 in June.  We’re so happy for them! :)

         

Thanks again, Furlough family for letting us tag along!  We had a lot of fun and would love to do it again sometime. :)