Author: jennifer

Little Things Matter

Musings on Life and Beauty

Yesterday my little one found the missing button for her sweater.

She came running to me, holding it.  We found some matching thread and did some mending.

pink sweater with heart buttons and needle
As I did it, I realized what a tiny little thing I was doing.  It only took a couple of minutes.

But what a big thing it was for her.


Many times we feel we need to do something BIG.  Sometimes we don’t do anything because we feel we don’t have time or resources for that big thing.  Yet most of the time our hearts are lifted most by the little things that people do for one another.  I once read that if something needs doing and it can be done in the next two minutes, the most effective thing is to do it now.  Yesterday I wondered how many thoughtful things I could do in two minutes?


Small, thoughtful, compassionate things.  They really do matter.

A word of encouragement, a compliment, cost us nothing but the time it takes to utter or write them.

I made a list of little things I’m going to do more of, because it will be good for me and good for those around me.


What little thing could you do today for someone?

One comment ,

Mystery of the day

Musings on Life and Beauty

At approximately 5:30 a.m. my 6 1/2 month old baby went back to her bed.  With a full stomach and fully clothed, she slept peacefully until she woke up again around 9:00, kicking and waving her arms and growling and smiling.

And naked.

WHAT?  How on earth did that happen?

Her clothes were laying next to her in her crib, completely snapped up.


A quick check of all other occupants of our home confirmed that NO ONE had been near her.

How on earth did she get out?

She seems pretty pleased with her accomplishment.  My only guess is that she somehow wriggled her entire body out the neck.  (Keep in mind that the baby monitor was on and we heard…. nothing.)

I’m afraid we may have a baby Houdini on our hands.

And with that, I’ll wish you a happy day.

Trying to keep my children dressed, Hopeful Homemaker

4 comments

Bird Nest Place Card Holder DIY (like Pottery Barn’s)

Decorating

A month or two ago I spied these cuties in the Pottery Barn catalog:

I really liked them, but at $24 (plus shipping) for a set of 4, that was awfully steep.

Then I spotted some little 4 inch birds nests at a craft store for 99 cents each, and decided to make my own.
Here’s what you need:  nest, wire, wire cutters, pliers, spool or dowel about 1 inch in diameter.


I began by making 4 loops in my wire, each about 4 inches long.


I then pinched the other ends of the loops and wrapped the wire tightly around them.


Next I measured about 20 inches from where I’d just wrapped and cut my wire.  This left me a nice long piece to work with in securing the nest to the base and for making the paper holder.


Now push the end of the wire up through the bottom of the nest.


Push the nest down to where the loops are, and then decide how far above the bottom of the nest you want your loops for securing a place card to sit.  Then, using your spool or dowel, wrap the wire tightly around the dowel to form a good circle.  I wrapped mine 3 times.


Remove the dowel and twist the wire at the base of the loops to secure them together.


Now push the end of the wire back down through the bottom of the nest (in a different spot for better stability) toward the loops.  If the nest seems a bit floppy when you hold it upright, then loop the wire back up through the bottom of the nest and down again to secure it.  Then tightly wrap the end of your wire around the base near where you wrapped previously.  Use your pliers to tuck the ends of the wire in.


Now decide on the height of your place card holder and carefully bend the ends of your loops to form the base.


My nest had some long pieces sticking out in random places.  I chose to clip them so I could have a more compact piece that won’t catch on things when I use them.


Fiddle with the base until your nest stands without tipping.


Now squeeze your loops on top together and make sure they will hold a piece of paper.


I like it!  Each of these holders took me 5-7 minutes to make, and because I had the black wire on hand, the entire project cost me $4.00.  SO much better than $24 plus shipping.  I have a feeling I’ll enjoy them even more because I made them.

bird nest place card holders
Now to use them!  These would be fun at an Easter dinner, but you could also use them to hold little trinkets.


Hope you’ll try it!

Posted at DIY Day , Transformation Thursday and Blue Cricket Design .

15 comments , ,
1 … 453 454 455 456 457 … 525