Bloglovin' Blog Hop

If you're looking for Whimsy Wednesdays you can find it here. Otherwise, continue on down to mingle with some amazing bloggers!

I am super excited to be hosting a Bloglovin' Blog Hop with , Barb from Second Chance to Dream, Jacqueline from The Detox Diva, Tabby from Shipwrecked on Fabulous Island, Kimberly from Here's What I Think About That, Jennifer and Nicki from Practically Perfect Princess, Stephanie from The Slogans, Ang from Juggling Act Mama, Niki from Glossy Blonde and Jaime from Mom's Test Kitchen for the month of August.

What's Bloglovin' you ask? Well, only the greatest way to keep track of the blogs that you love. With the discontinuation of Google Friends Connect (GFC) for non-blogger blogs like myself, I decided that I needed to find another way to keep up with all of my favorite blogs that are not hosted by blogger. I stumbled upon Bloglovin' and I am in love! It is very similar to Google Reader, in that you can see the beginning of the post and the first picture attached to the post. Plus, Bloglovin' automatically updates your posts. Another added bonus is there is a Bloglovin' application for IPhone and Android devices. Woohoo! Like I don't spend enough time reading blogs. Now it's a simple touch. Love it!

In order to participate in this hop, you need to have Bloglovin set up for your blog. You can find a super easy tutorial here. I promise it'll take you less than 10 minutes and you'll thank me down the road.

There’s only a couple of rules:

1. Please follow your host – The NY Melrose Family and your co-hosts Second Chance to Dream, The Detox Diva, Shipwrecked on Fabulous Island, Here's What I Think About That, Practically Perfect Princess, The Slogans, Juggling Act Mama, Glossy Blonde and Mom's Test Kitchen (They are the 1st ten blogs linked)

2. You MUST link up your Bloglovin' url to participate.

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3. Post our button for the blog hop on your page to promote the fun. You can grab the button from my sidebar. The more the merrier so shout outs about the party on Twitter or Facebook would be greatly appreciated.

If you're interested in co-hosting next month shoot me an email at russej10{at}gmail{dot}com. I also have some sponsor spots still available for September, which you can find here. Alright, so let's have some fun and mingle! Please remember to ONLY link up your Bloglovin URL.

10 Fall Wreath Tutorials

I'm getting my fall decorations out and decided I need a new fall wreath.  Don't we need a new one ever year???  If you're like me you have enough supplies on hand to make more than one every year.  I went to Pinterest to search for some ideas and here are 10 Fall Wreath Tutorials.  On Sat. I'll show you the one I made. 

Don'tcha just LOVE this wreath with the super cute hounds-tooth pumpkins?  

Tatertots and Jello

This  is super cute and fun as well.  I love the fabric she chose.

The 36th Avenue

The burlap ruffle is fun on this wreath.

Jones Design Company

Monogramed wreath with fabric flowers.

Embellishing Life Everyday

I really like these burlap flowers.  I wander if they ever droop after a while?

Craftaholics Anonynous

Another twist on the burlap and monogram.  

Sweet Passions on a Thrifty Dime

I love the green with the the colors of the felt!

Lauren's Creative

Along for the Ride

I think this is super fun, but I'm not sure I have it in me to make all those pom poms.

Nature's Heirlooms

Here's a grapevine monogrammed wreath.  Simple but classic.

Little Lovelies by Allison

Make sure you stop back and see what my new fall wreath looks like.

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Sunday:

My Life's a Treasure,  Under the Table and Dreaming,I Heart Naptime,Raising Memories

Monday:

Skip to my Lou, Craft O Maniac,   Keeping it Simple, Creating Really Awesome Free Things, Between Naps on the Porch ,The Girl Creative, Mad in Crafts, I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Serendipity and Spice, Booggieboard Cottage,  Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Eye Heart, I Gotta Try That, Kampen Lane, Making the World Cuter,Debt Free Mommy, The Dedicated House

Tuesday:

Sugar Bee Crafts , The Kurtz Corner, Not Just a Housewife, Claiming our Space, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog , Crafty Confessions,  A Bowlful of Lemons, Funky Polkadot Giraffe , Coastal Charm, Simply Sensational Tuesday, Pinkopotamus, Krafty Kat, Cornerstone Confessions, Growing Home Blog, Off the Grid at-30

Wednesday:

Lil'Luna, Southern Lovely, Full Circle Creations, New House New Home New Life, In the Old Road, Nutmeg Place, Simply Done Wright, The DIY Dreamer, Gingersnap Crafts , Seven Thirty Three, Creations by Kara,  Raising Homemakers , Women Living Well, Embracing Change,  NY Melrose Family, Cheap Crafty Mama, JAQ Studio, Someday Crafts, Practically Functional, Adorned From Above, Cute Everything, White Lights on Wednesday Uncommon Designs

Thursday:

The Thirty Sixth Avenue, House of Hepworths, 52 Mantels, Somewhat Simple, Delightful Order ,Shabby Creek Cottage, Yesterday on Tuesday,  A Glimpse Inside, Live, Laugh, Rowe

Friday:

Little Becky Homecky, 30 Handmade Days ,The Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, While He was Napping, Tatertots and Jello,Sassy Sites, Craftionary, What About Co, Prudent Pantry, Here Comes the Sun,Six Sister's Stuff, Two Sasters, One Artsy Mama, Miss Information

Saturday:

Natasha in Oz, Bowdabra Blog, Cheerios and Lattes, Funky Junk Interiors, Young and Crafty, Be Different, Act Normal, A Vision to Remember, Positively Splendid, Craft Envy, Serenity You, Too Much Time On My Hands , One Creative Mommy, Fingerprints on the Fridge,Full Hands, Full Hearts

15 Fall Children's Crafts

I am on "Grandma" duty all this week.  My granddaughters LOVE and I mean LOVE to do crafts at my house.  Normally I go out and buy some but this time I thought I'd do a search and see what I could come up with.

Here are my finds:

I think this scarecrow is soooooo cute! And I have all the supplies on hand.

Paper Bag Scarecrow


This one is so pretty I'd display this every year, and I have all the supplies on hand.  Festive!

Patchwork Acorn

When my granddaughters saw this one they loved it!
No cost to this one at all.

Foliage Friends

Here's a classic fall craft.  The contact paper place mats.   Always fun!!

Autumn Leaf Placemat

Here is a tissue paper tree.  Another free or very low cost project.

Fabulous Foliage Art

I thought this was super cute!  And it would use up all the buttons I collected for scrapbooking.

Button Indian Corn


Great use for extra pumpkins seeds.  At my house they are never extra we LOVE roasted pumpkins seeds.

Pumpkin Seed Craft

These would keep them busy for a while and I love the variegated colors of tissue paper.

Tissue Paper Leaves

I LOVE this!  A great way to get a nature walk in and then head home to start gluing.

Family Sign

Here's another classic.  The apple prints.

Apple Print Bag

Leaf printing.  I'm a little leery of the painting ones.  Lot's of messes possible.  But isn't that what G-ma's are for?

Fall Leaf Prints

My granddaughters will love this one!  Look at the cute cupcake hat.

Toilet Paper Roll Scarecrow



Another fun pumpkin seed craft.  

Pumpkin Seed Necklace


I am such a sucker for a journal and add nature to it and my 17 years of homeschooling come right back to me.  This is something they could keep for years.



Create a Nature Notebook

I'm so excited to create some fun memories with my girls!!!  Do you have any tried and true crafts you do with your kids?

If you need more Kids Craft Ideas you can visit the following posts.  Don't let the holiday throw you.  Just pick something you like and adapt it.

15 Kids Easter Crafts

15 Kids St. Patrick's Day Crafts

15 Kids Winter Crafts

15 Kids Valentines Crafts

15 Kids Christmas Crafts

15 Kids Thanksgiving Crafts

15 Kids Halloween Crafts

15 Kids Fall Crafts

 If you enjoyed this post why don't you subscribe via Facebook, RSS Feed or Email so you don't miss anything. 

My Life's a Treasure,  Under the Table and Dreaming,I Heart Naptime,Raising Memories,Full Hands, Full Hearts

Monday:

Skip to my Lou, Craft O Maniac,   Keeping it Simple, Creating Really Awesome Free Things, Between Naps on the Porch ,The Girl Creative, Mad in Crafts, I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Serendipity and Spice, Booggieboard Cottage,  Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Eye Heart, I Gotta Try That, Kampen Lane, Making the World Cuter,Debt Free Mommy, The Dedicated House

Tuesday:

Sugar Bee Crafts , The Kurtz Corner, Not Just a Housewife, Claiming our Space, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog , Crafty Confessions,  A Bowlful of Lemons, Funky Polkadot Giraffe , Coastal Charm, Simply Sensational Tuesday, Pinkopotamus, Krafty Kat, Cornerstone Confessions, Growing Home Blog, Off the Grid at-30

Wednesday:

Lil'Luna, Southern Lovely, Full Circle Creations, New House New Home New Life, In the Old Road, Nutmeg Place, Simply Done Wright, The DIY Dreamer, Gingersnap Crafts , Seven Thirty Three, Creations by Kara,  Raising Homemakers , Women Living Well, Embracing Change,  NY Melrose Family, Cheap Crafty Mama, JAQ Studio, Someday Crafts, Practically Functional, Adorned From Above, Cute Everything, White Lights on Wednesday Uncommon Designs

Thursday:

The Thirty Sixth Avenue, House of Hepworths, 52 Mantels, Somewhat Simple, Delightful Order ,Shabby Creek Cottage, Yesterday on Tuesday,  A Glimpse Inside, Live, Laugh, Rowe, Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons

Friday:

Little Becky Homecky, 30 Handmade Days ,The Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, While He was Napping, Tatertots and Jello,Sassy Sites, Craftionary, What About Co, Prudent Pantry, Here Comes the Sun,Six Sister's Stuff, Two Sasters, One Artsy Mama, Miss Information

Saturday:

Natasha in Oz, Bowdabra Blog, Cheerios and Lattes, Funky Junk Interiors, Young and Crafty, Be Different, Act Normal, A Vision to Remember, Positively Splendid, Craft Envy, Serenity You, Too Much Time On My Hands , One Creative Mommy, Fingerprints on the Fridge,Full Hands, Full Hearts

Saying "See you later", Not "good-bye"

Have you ever had to watch your child pull out of the driveway and drive right into adulthood?  I have four times and it never gets easy!

Two weeks ago I watched my 4th child Andrew drive away to move to Flagstaff AZ.  My heart was torn! I knew it was a good decision for him to strive after his dream and I really wanted him to go out into the world, but did it have to be so far from home?  Did he have to be 2100 miles away?

I had so many questions flowing through my mind- Can he make it on his own, this can be a very cruel world?  Did we teach him enough?  Will he live what we taught him?  Will he ever come home? Will he get married to someone in AZ and then only be home at Christmas? The questions could go on and on if I let them.  

It's very hard handing your child to the world!  It takes "trust" to a whole new level.  Do I trust God enough to take care of him?  I'll be honest there are times I doubt that He will.  What if God gets to busy? What if He forgets about Andrew? ? ( I know, I know that's not how God works in my adult head but the childlike part of me isn't always so sure.}

So what do I need to do?  I need to give God these concerns and fears and to live my life the way Heb. 11:1 & 11:6 call me to.  "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see". "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him".

It's all a faith walk!  Daily I have to choose to believe that God will take care of my son.   So you see  I didn't say "Good-bye" to Andrew that day but "See you later".

Here are some pictures from our seafood boil "see you later" dinner.

  Have you had to say "see you later"  to any of your children?

 If you enjoyed this post why don't you subscribe via Facebook, RSS Feed or Email so you don't miss anything. 

 Skip to my Lou

Craft O Maniac

  Keeping it Simple

Creating Really Awesome Free Things

Between Naps on thePorch 

The Girl Creative 

Mad in Crafts

I Should Be Mopping the Floor

 Serendipity and Spice

Booggieboard Cottage

 Sumo’s Sweet Stuff

Eye Heart

I Gotta Try That

Kampen Lane
Making the World Cuter
Debt Free Mommy
The Dedicated House

Sugar Bee Crafts 

The Kurtz Corner
Not Just a Housewife

Claiming our Space

Reasons to Skip the Housework

Tip Junkie 

Today's Creative Blog 

Mommy By Day Crafter by Night

Crafty Confessions

 A Bowlful of Lemons

Funky Polkadot Giraffe 

  Coastal Charm

Simply Sensational Tuesday
Pinkopotamus

Krafty Kat
Cornerstone Confessions
Growing Home Blog

Lil'Luna

Southern Lovely

Full Circle Creations

New House New Home New Life

In the Old Road

Nutmeg Place

Simply Done Wright

The DIY Dreamer

Gingersnap Crafts 

Seven Thirty Three

Creations by Kara

 Raising Homemakers 

 Women Living Well

Embracing Change

 NY Melrose Family

Cheap Crafty Mama

JAQ Studio

 Someday Crafts
Practically Functional
Adorned From Above
Cute Everything
White Lights on Wednesday
Uncommon Designs

20 Fall Printables

Fall is coming, whether I'm ready or not.  I've always had a love/hate relationship with fall.  I know, I'm weird, but I really have a hard time with a lack of sunlight.   I am really trying to learn to enjoy it and be present and enjoy the beauty. Part of enjoying the beauty for me is decorating my house with fall decor.  I'll be pulling out my fall stuff next week.  I always like to do a search to see what's out there and pick one or two things to add to my collection. I'll be sharing some of those things with you soon.  Today I did a search for Free Fall Printables.  You can add a lot of festive fun to your home very inexpensively by using printables.  

The first one is one I made to share with you:

You can download it HERE:

The Crafty Scientist

The  36th Avenue

Be Fickle

Blooming Homestead

The House of Bledsoe

Craftily Ever After

Boxer Cleats and Me

It Is What It Is

The Creative Paige

Beth Proudfoot

The Pink Doodle

Adventures of a Betty Crocker Wanna Be

Craftily Ever After

Craft Buds

Money Saving Mom

Boxer Cleats and Me

Vintage Marigold

Blooming Homestead

Craftily Ever After

Ready or not here Fall comes!!

Do you have a favorite Fall Printable?  Leave the link and I'll add it to my list.

 If you enjoyed this post why don't you subscribe via Facebook, RSS Feed or Email so you don't miss anything. 

My Life's a Treasure,  Under the Table and Dreaming,I Heart Naptime,Raising Memories

Monday:

Skip to my Lou, Craft O Maniac,   Keeping it Simple, Creating Really Awesome Free Things, Between Naps on the Porch ,The Girl Creative, Mad in Crafts, I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Serendipity and Spice, Booggieboard Cottage,  Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Eye Heart, I Gotta Try That, Kampen Lane, Making the World Cuter,Debt Free Mommy, The Dedicated House

Tuesday:

Sugar Bee Crafts , The Kurtz Corner, Not Just a Housewife, Claiming our Space, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog , Crafty Confessions,  A Bowlful of Lemons, Funky Polkadot Giraffe , Coastal Charm, Simply Sensational Tuesday, Pinkopotamus, Krafty Kat, Cornerstone Confessions, Growing Home Blog, Off the Grid at-30

Wednesday:

Lil'Luna, Southern Lovely, Full Circle Creations, New House New Home New Life, In the Old Road, Nutmeg Place, Simply Done Wright, The DIY Dreamer, Gingersnap Crafts , Seven Thirty Three, Creations by Kara,  Raising Homemakers , Women Living Well, Embracing Change,  NY Melrose Family, Cheap Crafty Mama, JAQ Studio, Someday Crafts, Practically Functional, Adorned From Above, Cute Everything, White Lights on Wednesday Uncommon Designs

Thursday:

The Thirty Sixth Avenue, House of Hepworths, 52 Mantels, Somewhat Simple, Delightful Order ,Shabby Creek Cottage, Yesterday on Tuesday,  A Glimpse Inside, Live, Laugh, Rowe

Friday:

Little Becky Homecky, 30 Handmade Days ,The Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, While He was Napping, Tatertots and Jello,Sassy Sites, Craftionary, What About Co, Prudent Pantry, Here Comes the Sun,Six Sister's Stuff, Two Sasters, One Artsy Mama, Miss Information

Saturday:

Natasha in Oz, Bowdabra Blog, Cheerios and Lattes, Funky Junk Interiors, Young and Crafty, Be Different, Act Normal, A Vision to Remember, Positively Splendid, Craft Envy, Serenity You, Too Much Time On My Hands , One Creative Mommy, Fingerprints on the Fridge,Full Hands, Full Hearts