Hats for Our Pregnancy Resource Center

 

It's no secret that I love making knitted baby hats.  I usually have a small stash of hats ready to be given away to the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit or nursery. Our local pregnancy resource center shared on Facebook that they were in need of newborn hats, so I was able to clear out my stash and make some additional hats to share with them. 

Most of the hats were knitted in the round on double-pointed needles, and a few were made on a knitting loom.  

I found some tissue paper and a bag before taking them to bless some sweet babies and mommas!

Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nails

I had to share some of my favorite new finds for my nails!  These are the Ohora semi-cured gel nails that I have been loving recently.  They come in strips that are only semi-cured, so you shape and clip them down to your nail shape/size before curing them under a LED light that is free with the first purchase.  They last incredibly well for me, even working full-time hours as a nurse. They don't chip like polish does for me, and out of the countless sets I've worn now, I have only had one nail strip pop-off.  They stay on well for me, but I can remove them faster than any nail polish.  I can get 2-3 different uses out of each set, each of which last about 2 weeks.  

This is "N Pixie Dust" which is one of my favorites!  I wore it to Disney World this spring because the name was just so fitting :).  It is a sparkly gold with big glitter flakes in it. 

This is "N Felice" which is a stormy periwinkle blue with sparkly accents at the base of the nail.  

This is "N Cream Light" which is a solid pastel pink.  

This is "N Heimish" which is a multicolor set that has a dusky pink, brown, and glittery gold. 

I have also used "N Juliet," a dusky coral color that I always receive so many compliments on yet have no pictures of, and "N Tint Red" which is happy cherry red. 

If you want to try out these fun nails, use the link below for $5 off your first order!

https://i.refs.cc/YoLK6iww?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjoxMzgzNDg2NjExfQ%3D%3D

Happy 4th of July!

 

Happy 4th of July, Friends!  I hope you have a blessed day filled with celebration!  

A Delicious Summer Cooler

With the summer heat upon us, a cold drink is a refreshing afternoon addition.  This iced tea is one of our favorite treats, and we always keep a box of tea bags handy for this purpose.  

What you'll need:

1-quart mason jar filled with water

2 "Raspberry Zinger" by Celestial Seasonings tea bags

2 Tablespoons sugar

Optional:  1 Squeeze of fresh lemon

I start out by stirring the sugar into the mason jar of water until it is dissolved completely.  I then drop two tea bags into the mixture, put on the lid, and let it sit in the fridge for at least eight hours.  After the time has passed, I pull out the teabags and squeeze some fresh lemon juice into the tea if I have some on hand.  The last thing to do is enjoy!

Books I have Read this Summer

In addition to the books mentioned here that I wanted to read, my list grew and these are other books I have enjoyed this summer:

Saved at Sea by Mrs. O.F. Walton

This is a Lamplighter book.  Though written for young children, Lamplighter books are so precious and encouraging and I can't resist the occasional one for enjoyment.  My love for lighthouses and "The Solid Rock" hymn met their match with this book.

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

This is one of my all-time favorite books!  I'm sure I have already written about it here many times.  I still get something new out of it every time I read it!

Love Takes Wing by Janette Oke

This is the 7th installment in the Love Comes Softly series.  This one had a different feel to it than the other books in the series, but it was good in its own unique way.

Love Finds a Home by Janette Oke

This is the 8th and final Love Comes Softly book and may have been my favorite yet!  So many loose ends were tied up and it all came together beautifully in this book.  Now I'm wanting to reread the entire series again just for the fun of it :).

Evidence not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose

This book was recommended by a friend and I cannot stop thinking of it.  It took me a while to get through it.  Like books such as The Hiding Place, it is not all flowery and leaves you in a more somber mind than it found you.  It was humbling, inspiring, and made me thankful for what I have.

Grandmother Elsie by Martha Finley

This is the 8th Elsie Dinsmore book and one I started a *very* long time ago.  Like all the others, this one was full of sweet, simple truths and an enjoyable quick read. 

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

When I read about this book on a blog, I immediately wanted to read it.  I love historical fiction, and this one was delightful!  The remaining two books in this series are on my reading list when school lets out again.

What books have you enjoyed this summer?

Emily

Summer 2020 Book List

I always look forward to when school lets out and I can begin books I have been desiring to read.  I read so much for school that when I do have free time during the semester I don't feel like using it to read for fun.  Tragic, I know!  This summer will be a bit different as I am taking a research class online and working.  However, I know I will take the time to enjoy some of these books this summer:

1. The Story of My Life by Helen Keller.  Helen Keller was someone who always fascinated me when I was younger.  I read every book the library had about her at the time, and then reread them again and again.  Something about her story and obstacles really caught my attention.  For a while, I was even trying to teach myself to read Braille because of her.

2. Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung.  This tiny little book intrigues me and I now want to read it! 

3. These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  I was obsessed with Laura Ingalls and her prairie life when I was younger.  I watched all the TV episodes and read all the books up until this one for some reason.  Though it seems silly, I want to read this one and the last one ("The Last Four Years") for closure all these years later.  This should be a quick read, and everyone needs one of those every once in a while!

4. The Confessions of Saint Augustine.  Interestingly, the back cover of the book notes that this is the first autobiography ever written.  That's pretty neat!

5. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.  I read this book for a Classic Christian Literature class during high school and really enjoyed it.  It is written from such an interesting perspective.  A Bible Study group I'm in mentioned it and it made me want to read it all over again!

6. Love's Unfolding Dream by Janette Oke.  This is the next book in the Love Comes Softly Series for me. These remind me of a grown-ups version of Little House on the Prairie.  They are light reads and very enjoyable.

7. Meeting God at Every Turn by Catherine Marshall.  Catherine Marshall is the author of Christy - one of my favorite books of all time.  The inside cover of the book describes it as a "spiritual autobiography."  I'm excited to dig into this book and see what wisdom can be gleaned from Catherine Marshall's life. 

Time to grab a cool drink and get busy reading!  What does your summer reading list look like this year?