{Vintage Berry Basket}: A Collection of Summery Berry Scents!

Ah, sweet summertime!  Even though it's usually hotter than heck here in Texas, summer is still my favorite time of the year.  Swimming, Picnics, lots of free time to spend with friends and family...really, summer is just the greatest!  So, to kick-start the season I've made up a little goodie basket with three of my favorite Berry Scents!  AND, they are all sweetly nestled in a vintage wooden berry basket!  This and an assortment of other gift items (soy wax melts, handmade jewelry, vintage goodies) is available right now in my shop!
 

Oh, and don't forget to use my coupon code SUMMERLOVIN to receive 10% your entire purchase...all summer long!

Blessings, Grace

Freedom! {4th of July Decor}

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; 

therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.  

Galatians 5:1

Since the 4th of July is just around the corner I took some time yesterday to update our front door to honor the upcoming birthday celebration of our country.  Lucky for me I usually have lots of leftover crafting items, so the cost breakdown of this little project was only $5!...$2 for the wreath, $2 for the wreath hanger and $1 for the little flags.  I had the rest of the items already!

The FREEDOM banner was made using some cut up pieces of an old pair of blue jeans, some white cotton fabric I had on hand, painted with some leftover red craft paint.  I hot glued my bunting to some jute upholstery webbing.  

For the wreath I just wrapped some American flag ribbon I've had for just ages around the wreath and hot glued it to secure it to the wreath.  A simple bow made from upholstery webbing and two small American flags complete this simple wreath.  

Not bad for 5 bucks, huh?!

{{{{{{{{{Happy 4th of July!}}}}}}}}}

Blessings, Grace

Linking up to:

The Rat {My Not-So-Girly, Real Life Adventures with Boys!}

If you've seen Grace Note Gifts on Etsy or Facebook then you might think that I'm a total girly girl...you know, the type of girl that always is cutely dressed and accessorized with something like these...

After all, I make some pretty girly stuff, and my home usually smells like heaven...

But in real life, I'm a mom to two, cute and ever mischievous little boys.  Most of my life revolves around feeding their hungry little mouths, laughing at their silly "boy noises" (I'm talking burps and toots here!), breaking up tussles over toys and hunting for the next cool looking bug or creature.  That's probably why I try to go girly in other areas of my life...aka my Etsy Shop...I gotta get my girly in somewhere!  Because when you're a mom of only boys, there just isn't a whole lot of girly going on!  Here's a snippet of my "real life" from a blog post I wrote on my personal blog...I thought y'all might like to see what I do on a normal day!  :-)

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When you're a mom of boys (or at least a cool mom, lol!) you think differently about wildlife.  The interesting world of worms, bugs and small creatures is something that is intriguing and a part of daily life.  So, today, after chasing grasshoppers (Big Brother caught one!) and feeding ducks it was only fitting, when I saw a smallish, baby rat sort of crawling aimlessly of our our garage, that I should catch it!  Yes, I know that's sort of gross, yes, rodents are pests but my boys were so excited, and I wanted to feed their curious little minds.  And, while I may have screeched like a little school girl during the retrieval process, I came out victorious and the baby rat was caught!

If you think of rats like the cute little one off of Pixar's Ratatouille then really, they're sort of adorable.  Too bad this one can't cook a gourmet meal though, that sure would come in handy!

So here's our new little friend.  We'll keep him around a day or so and then let him go to face whatever his fate is...

Here's to all moms of boys who go out of their comfort zone to please and appease curious little minds!

Blessings, Grace

Happy Friday, y'all!

My New Outdoor Happy Place! {Container Gardening}

This past week I worked in the oft neglected "flower bed" on the side of our house.  I don't exactly have a green thumb, but I can keep container plants alive relatively well...they usually last a couple of months or so!  I repurposed some old, cast-off chairs to aid in holding my plant containers.  I gave them each a fresh coat of indoor/outdoor paint and I think they really liven up this little area.  I also added some fun bunting and some wall decor to add interest to the back wall behind the garden.  A few other cheerful touches make this one of my favorite places to look at during the day...and at night it is almost magical with the lights I have strung overhead.   

So what do you think of my new outdoor happy place?

Blessings and Happy Monday!
-Grace

Linking up to:

 

The Power of Words

The last several months I've been made even more aware of the power of words and the impact that meditating on truthful words has in my life.  I tend to overstress a lot of times, and doubts and negative thinking clouds my judgment and makes for some very unhappy days...so, I decided recently to surround myself with Scripture and other words of wisdom and happy little texts so that my days are filled with thinking on what's true and not with negative thoughts.  Since I am in my kitchen a majority of the day (it seems like between feeding my little guys, cleaning up and preparing for the next meal I'm always in this room!) I decided to put a lot of the words in here... 

 When it comes down to it, I am more than blessed!

My Motherhood Mantra

Words of comfort and photos of precious people!

Great words to live by!

Three little birds...one of our family's favorite songs!  :-)

Love this verse!

One of my favorite poets. 

What words encourage you???

Happy Monday, y'all!

Blessings, Grace

Linking up to:

And the Winner is.....

Courtney Elizabeth!  Your name was randomly selected as the recipient of my first giveaway!  For your choice of Soy Wax Melts fragrance, please just visit my shop and let me know which one you'd like from my available listings.  And just shoot me an e-mail to gracenotegifts@gmail.com with your address and I'll get your wax melts & cute little owl earrings out to you asap!

Thanks to all of you who participated, I'm already coming up with ideas for my next giveaway, and it's going to be pretty fun!  It involves getting something and giving something, so everyone is going to be happy!  :-)

Hope you all are having a blessed week!

Blessings,
Grace

Friday: A Great Day for a {Giveaway!}

Hello there folks, TGIF!  Things here have been a little stressful lately...I don't really want to go into any details, but I will let you know I'm out of the hospital, recovering nicely, and in need of some fun!  So, what better way than to host a giveaway!

I'm celebrating today on behalf of the many people that are slowly but surely finding out about Grace Note Gifts!  I've received over 100 likes for my Grace Note Gifts Facebook Page, and what better way to thank all of my sweet fans than to offer them up something for free!  Woohoo!  :-)

Up for grabs...

One of my Hand Poured Soy Wax Melts, winner gets to choose from list of available fragrances (see My Shop for Fragrance Descriptions).

AND winner will also get these adorable owl earrings!

Who doesn't love sweet lil' owls?!!  A chance to get two awesome gifts...for free...just for commenting!  Doesn't get much better than that!  :-)

All you have to do to enter my giveaway is to visit Grace Note Gifts on Etsy and just let me know which item(s) you like best by commenting here---that will get you one (1) entry!

Want extra entries?  Post about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook account or both and let me know you've done so by leaving an additional comment---that equals up to two (2) extra entry chances.

Really want to go for it?  Additional entry for following me here on my blog!  Leave me a comment letting me know you're following me (or are already following me).  That's 4 entries max per person!  Entries taken from now until Monday night, May 21st, and Winner will be randomly selected and announced Tuesday May 22nd!  :-)

PLUS, to continue celebrating over 100 Likes on Facebook I am offering up all of my items in My Shop at 10% off by using coupon code LIKE10 at checkout!  :-)

Let the fun begin!

Happy Friday, y'all!
-Grace