DelaneyGates.com

Sarah's Pink Bird / Nest / Tweet Tweet Baby Shower

Here are the highlights of the baby shower I gave for my sister-in-law, Sarah. It was held at an art gallery a couple of hours south of where I live. Jason and I made the centerpieces from branches in our front yard, I made the rest of the decorations and  my mother and I made all of the desserts. See the details, below!

That particular weekend of the shower, we had two parties to attend and then the following weekend (last weekend), we had three parties! We've been so busy lately that we haven't been able to slow down and just enjoy the Halloween season as much as we did last year, which I hate. We found some of the old Vincent Price movies that we love on Netflix, so I'm sure we'll watch at least a couple this weekend.

I may try to take the day off tomorrow so I can focus on playing catch-up around the house so we just focus on doing fun Halloween things until Monday. Getting up at 3 or 4AM to work on Simply Handmade, then working all day at my non-profit job,  then running errands, cooking dinner and enjoying quality time with the family (VERY important!) in the evenings doesn't leave too much time for some much-needed chores!

If you've found the secret for "doing it all", please let me know!

Vintage Green Baubles + 7 Random Things About Me

This little collection of vintage baubles is styled so nicely.

Check out the MyraMelinda Etsy shop by clicking on the photo, above.

Also, the lovely Nicole Underwood gave me a blog award! I'm supposed to share seven random things about myself, so here they are:

1. I highlight my own hair. I've always done this. I've tried a salon a few times in the past and they never do as good of a job as I do with the color and placement of the highlights...so I do it myself!

2. I read the Bible every day. Sometimes it's before I head out the door in the morning and other times it's before I go to sleep. I find that reading devotionals and corresponding scriptures together is great for day-to-day life application. It works for me.

3. I'm obsessed with spelling and grammar. Spelling and grammar mistakes stick out at me like a flashing neon sign. (I'm aware that I write in fragments much of the time, but it's my informal writing style. And, I won't change. Ever.)

4. I know a lot about the UFC. (The backstory behind the fighters. Their strengths. Their names, etc.) Jason and I rent every fight together on PPV and, last November, we decided we'd go to every UFC within an 8 hour radius of our home. (Dear Dana White, please schedule a UFC near us again soon.) A couple months ago, I noted something about a regulation as we were watching an intense fight and he said, "Whoa, for a second there, I thought I was with the guys!" I consider this a huge compliment.

5. I'm a homebody. And proud of it. Jason is too, so it works out well. Some of my favorite times are when we're just drinking coffee and reading together under a blanket on the couch. When Jason is away at military training, I love nothing more than to order some oriental takeout, sew, embroider, paint my nails and read fashion magazines.

6. I love watching old movies from the 1950's and early 1960's...especially ones including Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren!

7. My closet consists mainly of the colors: black/charcoal, all shades of pink, light green (which I wear to bring out my eyes) and turquoise/aqua.

Ok! That was fun. Now, instead of awarding specific blogs, I invite you to check out the blogs I have in my sidebar. They're mostly crafty blogs right now. I need to update my blogroll to include design, typography, art and fashion blogs. Let me know if you'd like me to include your blog in my next update!

Have a wonderful day, friends. :)

A Receptive Mind

In the middle of the night, I awoke from the most horrific nightmare I've ever had in my life.  So there I was, crying my eyes out, thankful for the comfort from Jason, knowing it was just a dream, yet so positively disturbed and distraught that I couldn't go back to sleep for quite some time. It felt so realistic. And it involved my sweet boy. And, until this morning on my way to work, his pained voice repeated in my mind countless times over. It was truly horrendous...

Then, while stopped at a traffic light, everything turned around. As I stared off into the space in front of me, a small child's hand reached up above the backseat and waved at me through the rear window. The child couldn't see me. He (or she) didn't even know if anyone was behind him to see it. But, Something told him to do that. And I'm so glad He did. Because now, I have the image in my mind of a sweet little hand raising up to wave at me. Positive thoughts are more powerful and more influential than negative thoughts.

I'd like to think that I was the one meant to be on the receiving end of that sweet little wave. It not only made me smile and succeeded in ridding my mind of those unpleasant thoughts, but it was also an excellent reminder to me that a Higher Power sends us signs in many forms...many times when we least expect them. It's up to us to be receptive and to make certain our mind remains open enough so we're able to understand the meaning intended for us.

God bless.

What a Piece of Paper Does Not Equal

A piece of paper does not equal knowledge.

A college degree doesn't make one immune from brainlessness + ignorance.

And, I've worked with several knowledge-filled millionaires who didn't go to college.

A piece of paper (or many, in this case) does not equal wealth.

I've never been able to drop a few thousand dollars at the drop of a hat, yet my life is filled with wealth.

Wealth is relative. The necessities for a rich life are different for us all. We all have a different value system and the things I think are important, you might not. And vice versa. And...that is okay.

A piece of paper does not equal a marriage.

There are countless couples who are legally bound, yet do not have a marriage.

And, there are also couples out there who are not legally bound, yet remain together and are just as dedicated to each other because they. want. to. be.

Don't ever let a piece of paper dictate your happiness, success or level of contentment. Your ever-evolving place in life should be written on your heart...by YOU. Not by an institution, society or any governing body. Try not to feel limited or bound by something so easily wadded up, burned, or torn. After all, it is just paper.

That is all. :)

Be Like a Flower

 

Be like a flower.

Lean toward the sun.

And soak up the light you need to feel alive.

I've found doing that helps to take away the darkness.

Right now, my light is Operation Valentine.

What's yours? :)