When you are sick....

Hello friends!! I have been dealing with food poisoning or a stomach bug. I have been under the weather for a few days. All my plans for this week came to a crashing halt. 

                                         I had to throw a little humor in this post!!! 

Are you a homebody? I am on the most part! I love to be at home although I do love a good hike, walk or outdoor time and a few trips here and there along with some lunch or coffee days out BUT on the most part I do love to be at home. 

I have been stuck in the bed or close to the "home" for particular reasons :) (you are spared the reason) for most of this week I have been enjoying reading blogs, Pinterest scrolling and reading when I am not feeling too sick to my stomach. I am not watching YouTube or any type of movies or shows until April 1st. This has been a tad challenging during this time. As it is always easier to put on a cozy show and sleep on and off when you are sick. 

Here are a few fun things I have come across to "kill" the time while getting better. Some of the things have made me excited about spring!

                                                     What a neat idea!!! Image off Pinterest.

Ever heard of Birdscaping?? I haven't and as I LOVER of ALL THINGS BIRDS, I plan to use some of these ideas from this article! How to Birdscape a Small Yard! Check it out! Also, another quick article here!

Here is a neat Idea!!! This looks so easy and cheap to do! I need some for our back patio!! I would put mosquito repellent candles in mine. It is planting pots! Genius! Check below!

                                                                   Image from Pinterest

Although.... Food has not been at the top of my list to think about I am searching for our Valentine Dessert Idea. 

                                                                  Image off Pinterest

Oh.... and I love all things Lemon! My mom and I love lemon stuff. But our husbands and other family do not! So, when we get together alone, we often eat lemon things or gift each other lemon things.

This looks neat...

A slow cooker Lemon Cake!!! Full instructions here!! I sent this to my mom as well. 

I have been going down a lot of rabbit holes in the last few days! I also looked at some outfit ideas for the spring. I like to use what I have already or thrift things. I get inspiration on Pinterest how to change up what I already own. 

I would not consider this a wedding guest outfit BUT I do love the flow of this comfy and feminine look of this outfit. I already own some similar things I might can make this outfit!!!

                                                                       Pinterest

This is so classy!!! I have a similar white skirt and a light denim button up top! So, this would be a cute twist of those two things for the spring/summer. I need a belt though!!!

 Pinterest

I will leave you with this!! I love milk glass. I used to collect years ago. Isn't this table centerpiece lovely for spring/Easter??

Pinterest

Until next time.................

February Creative Goal Complete~ Book Nook

Hello Friends! The first Monday of February I posted a post called One Simple Thing at a Time. I shared my goals and simplified them into ONE simple thing to do per certain areas in my life. I got my pantry done!! Woohoo!! Plus, some more decluttering because I was inspired!!!

One thing I wanted to do this month was FINALLY finish my Book Nook kit that I have been working on for months. These things are so fun and so neat. BUT they are tedious. I honestly, could have completed this months ago but I really just had LIFE and put it on the back burner. I have other things I want to create but I want to finish the unfinished before moving on to new things. 

So....Welcome into this precious little bookstore....

Wait... hold on.... let's start from some of the construction I began Monday to finish this. I pulled all my stuff out on Monday and completed it. It only took me 45 minutes. I didn't realize I was so close to finishing this. It has been a while since I had all of it out (like October) and I am glad it is complete. I love it.

Yes! Yes!! Every little book.... LIKE EVERY SINGLE ONE.... I put together and put sticker wraps on and let me tell you.... it was TEDIOUS! Tweezers are such a good companion for this. :) 

Every single shelf, every little detail, all the wiring was constructed. Nothing comes ready in these Book Nook kits. This shelf you see was completely constructed by me. 

All the little details on the shelves like the lamps, the cash register and books... EVERYTHING....was put in place and built. Whew!!! 

So here we are again!!!!! All lit up and ready for us to take a look inside this tiny magical book nook world.

Look at that cute little shopping bag added by the register!!! It is just precious. I even love the little doorknob I added!

I got this kit off Amazon for my birthday this past summer. Yes, THIS PAST SUMMER. I started it a month later then I was busy with Hiking season and then life happened and I would work on it here and there over the months. 

I love it!! I can't wait to make more! But.... I will work on some of the other things I have first and then get me another one!! I have created a favorites list of ones I like on Amazon!!

Today (Tuesday) I had the best of intentions unfortunately my stomach didn't agree and I have been feeling a little sick since Sunday and today was pretty bad. I didn't get some of the things I had planned but that is okay. I got the most important. :) I had to get out no matter what and go to the store and library. Which turned out to be a VERY QUICK outing because I felt so bad. 

I did grab two books from library! 

I have been reading a lot lately on my kindle but I wanted a book to hold. I know... sorry... I am just like that every now and then. :) 

I started The Girls with No Names, but I just had to stop because I felt so bad and really it seemed like it may be deep and I needed FLUFF so I will come back to it but I may pass on it for a bit and read the cute little Patchwork Mysteries Book. It is Cute FLUFF. These kinds of books always make me smile and feel cozy without putting much brain capacity and emotion into it and every now and then I need that. :) 

I made chicken and dumplings tonight for the family. I didn't each much as I was scared I would get sick. So, we will have plenty of leftovers for tomorrow too! YAY! Derrick (hubby) had a meeting, so he didn't eat. 

Well, I hope you have a lovely day! Thanks for hanging in there with my ramblings....

With Love,

Chrissy T

Tuesday's Tea~ Ross Mansion Valentine's Tea

Hello Friends!!! I am so excited to share my past Tea experience with you. This past Saturday my "Tea Friend" and I traveled to Hattiesburg, MS, to Ross Mansion Bed & Breakfast for their annual Valentine's Tea. We had such a lovely time. THE FOOD was FANTASTIC!!! So.... hold on because we have A LOT of pictures!!! Here we goooo....

I can't imagine what this lovely place will look like in the spring. It has a carriage house and gardens. We didn't really look around because it was pretty cold and truly it was all barren. 

                     They used the same sign to greet us as last year, but I love it and it is so welcoming!

My friend and I before we headed indoors. Now, you will notice in a lot of my pictures on my blog I am wearing sunglasses. FOR one.... they are a part of my wardrobe. :) Two- I have extremely sensitive eyes! (Fun Fact)

My sweet cup of the day!!! This is one of my favorite parts.... seeing what teacup will be at my setting. 

I actually own one of these cups in the pattern. 

Our table for two!!! There were around 25 people at this Tea throughout the many rooms of the house. All random strangers to us. This time our tables were all separate, we didn't get to mingle this time.

Our napkins were made into a "Valentine" and sealed. Inside of it was a vintage postcard for a gift. I loved this!!!!!

Okay!!! Let's talk food! It was the BEST food we have had a Tea. Last year's food was very good too. But they topped their game this year. 

The scones were the best I have had in a very long time. Everything was delicious. I chose Indigo Punch Tea and I love this tea as it has such a neat color with a fruity twist. My friend chose Lady Grey.

And before we wrap up, you will notice I always have the same dress on in a lot of my "Tea Experiences" that is because I bought this dress just for these occasions. I love having a special dress that I get multiple wears out of for just Tea Experiences. 

We enjoyed lovely singing off and on during our time. Ivy is the singers name, and she is a lovely person.

                     

                      To be honest, I wasn't feeling the best. I still chose to go and made the best of it. 

 It really was the best time! I am thankful to have a friend that loves to do this with me!!!! We are planning our next venture for next month!!!!!

I hope you all have a lovely day! Thanks for popping in!! See you tomorrow!!!

With Love,

Chrissy T

Ladies Crockpot Recipe Swap~ Fun Hostess Idea

Hello Friends!!! I have had a BUSY but BLESSED weekend. Saturday my Tea friend (Jen) and I traveled for a Valentine's Themed Tea at a mansion a couple of hours away! It was splendid! I will share tomorrow for Tuesday Tea.

BUT the BIG FUN event of the weekend was held on Sunday. Myself along with my Ladies Ministry Event assistant hosted a fun small group Ladies Crockpot Recipe Swap! It was wonderful and probably one of the best fun ideas we have hosted in a long time for our church ladies. 

We did have a smaller turn out due to the Superbowl (US thing) and sickness, but it was perfectly lovely and I actually really enjoyed the cozy group!

We called it a Crockpot Night of Comfort and Cozy!!! We had asked each lady to bring their favorite comforting crockpot (slow cooker) dish along with the recipe written or typed out. We provided recipe cards for people to sample each dish and then choose to write recipes of the dishes they liked. It was so awesome and the food was all so delicious. 

I made Pizza Dip THAT WAS SOOO GOOD!!! Here is the recipe!!! It was so easy, cheap and a hit!! I also made a crockpot dessert called Heaven in a Crockpot.....my friends...... IT WAS SO INCREDIBLY GOOD, EASY, AND CHEAP!! It was a hit. Recipe is here!

We encouraged each lady that they CAN do all things THROUGH Christ and that He comforts us as we do whatever we are led to do!!! We gave a practical but fun little "happy!" A can of veggies to add to a comforting meal later on with a reminder that WE CAN!!!

Here are some other set ups of the tables and things we did! We had such a fun time. We did a race to complete a word search puzzle on all Cozy words. We did a Get to Know You Bingo (it was a hit) and we put up posters asking people to share a comforting thought of encouragement for all of us to read throughout the night as well as share how Jesus has comforted us. 

Do you see me???? These are some wonderful sweet ladies!! I laugh so much with them!!!  OF COURSE, we had some door prizes!!! Comfy blankets and chocolate!!!

My sweet assistant and MENTOR!!! I love this sweet lady so much. Her name is Cindy!! Cindy is a "retired" pastor's wife and now I am her Pastor's wife. We work so well together and treasure this lady of grace, class, and wisdom.

We had such a wonderful evening!!!! If you are looking for a neat hostess idea for church ladies or an idea to do with family and friends, this was a HIT!!!

I will be honest I slept in today (Monday) and I have had to really pace myself after last week's productivity and the weekend. This is actually a smidge of what was done because I had to host a speaker and family for lunch and clean the church before Sunday. But I will spare you all that. :) My weekends are usually a normal persons Monday-Thursday packed into two days as a Pastor's wife. Mondays tend to be a little lower key for me. I do a little reset of the home and then catch up on laundry and rest and read a lot more on this day.

I can't wait to have you POP IN TOMORROW for TUESDAY TEA!!!!

I am also adding this to Sweet Tea & Friends monthly Link Up! Visit here. 

With Love, 

Chrissy T