wall art

Have you seen all of the unique wall art on {etsy}?

I doubt it is allowed on our apartment walls,

but if it were... these are my favorites

I'll take this bed too :)

headboards

squeaky clean

I have found this new love for cleaning.

Usually organizing and folding laundry brought enough satisfaction

that the actual cleaning was more of a hassle, 

but lately I have been cleaning everyday!!  

The following products might have something to do with it.

These are my favorites for keeping everything clean:

with a wonderful eucalyptus scent and crazy strong cleaning ability

this natural mild abrasive cleaner works wonders!!!

and this natural fiber sponge below can rest right on top of the bottle!

I hate sponges because they get nasty and gross, but this one

is reusable... just put it in the dishwasher:

this is a great shower cleaner... just spray the shower down before you leave in the morning

no need to rinse it off or scrub the tile

This is used often in our house and we don't even have kids!!

Fabulous for your purse, car, office... okay, everywhere!

M

If you don't have a magic eraser please run out an get one or two or three.

You'll be amazed- it's truly magical.

Okay, now it's your turn!
What are your favorite cleaning supplies? 

purely beautiful

1-{oncewed} 2-{heyzee} 3-{letteredcottage} 4-{myhomeideas} 5- {unknown} 6-{southernaccents}

in the morning

"But I will sing of your strength,  
   in the morning I will sing of your love;
   for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble."

Psalm 59:16

Summer BBQ

This GORGEOUS weather has me ready to grill out and have a party!
Today was 80 and tomorrow is supposed to be 85!!
Anyone else ready for a summer barbeque??

Pick up cheap glasses (dollar store!) and paint

a strip of chalkboard paint to personalize drinks

{southern living}

I love these condiment jars from {potterybarn}

you must have a food tent to keep the bugs away

{crateandbarrel}

place your indoor plants into your favorite teapot, 

snip your favorite flower from your garden and place in a simple bud vase

or even place a bowl inside of a bird's nest and fill with gorgeous blooms
Move them from in to outdoors as the centerpiece

{marthastewart}

and don't forget the grill :)

{crateandbarrel}

I will never forget

Here are some pictures from our Chicago marriage retreat before Easter.  I am so glad we received this little binder when we arrived so we could take notes during the sessions, jot down quotes and reminders for the future, and work through the activities together.  I'll share some things in this post, but I know there will be more to come. 

"Every marriage is either moving toward oneness or drifting toward isolation.  Oneness in marriage involves complete unity with each other.  It's more than a mere mingling of two humans- it's a tender merger of body, soul, and spirit"- Dennis Rainey

"Our selfish nature focuses on and becomes critical of our spouse's weaknesses, mistakes or failures to meet our expectations.  Our disappointment and disapproval of our spouse can lead him or her to feel rejection, discouragement, anger, and bitterness, resulting in even lower performance."

"The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of a woman.  For I have accepted God's idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am, and all that He wants me to be." Elisabeth Elliot

P.S. (When we got home Vali had another allergic reaction.  Her face puffed up again and we still don't know if she ate something or was stung by a bee?  ...

She is doing fine now, but she sure loved the extra attention :)

kites, curls, and Easter eggs