A Ballerina Story

Once upon a time, a little girl named Emma had a birthday party. The festivities began when her friends gathered to hear a story about a girl who dreamed of becoming a ballerina.

The youngest of four children, this little girl loved her big brothers.

And she wanted to be just like her sister, a beautiful ballerina. As the story unfolded, Emma's friends realized that dreams do come true.

Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. The little girl was ...

A Real Ballerina!

And with the closing of the story book, Emma and her friends found themselves with the opportunity to become real ballerinas too.

Photo book from Shutterfly

Ballerina Tutu Invitation

This frothy pink invitation told guests we would have tutu much fun at Emma's fourth birthday party.

To make a tutu invitation, I searched Microsoft Word for a piece of clip art with a tutu. When I found one I liked, I imported it into my document and edited away everything but the leotard. I re-sized the leotard and placed a text box on the bodice with party details. I printed the invitations on pink card stock and cut out the leotards. I punched two holes in the bottom of each leotard. Then I made a tulle bow, securing it to the front of the invitation with a length of ribbon threaded through the two holes and pulled taut. A second tulle bow tied to the back with a pretty bow completed the tutu. And a strand of adhesive pearls at the neckline added a final feminine detail. (Scrapbook paper, rolls of 6-inch wide tulle and pearl embellishments from Michael's.)

Emma's party was full of giggles and twirls, so come back each day for all the ballerina fun!

I'm linking this post to Today's Creative Blog

Ballerina Birthday Girl

I love this picture of 2-year-old Emma counting down the hours to her first ballet class. Now one year later, 3-year-old Emma is counting down the hours to her fourth birthday -- and a ballerina tea party! Girls from her ballet, preschool and Bible classes will be joining us for a delightful afternoon of twirling tomorrow. I'll be on my toes every day next week, so be sure to stop by for all the fun!

Not Minding Our Manners

A few months ago I took my younger three children out to eat at a sandwich shop where the highlight of the dining experience is getting free ice cream. Wedged between Mary Ashley and Emma on our bench seat, I could not easily slip out of the booth, so I asked 7-year-old Christian if he would like to get ice cream for everyone. "It will be like we are customers at Christian's Scoops," I encouraged.

Christian's face brightened at the suggestion, and he hopped up to take our orders.

"I want swirl in a cone," 5-year-old Mary Ashley said.

"I would like swirl in a cup, please," I added.

"Squirrel in a cone for me!" 3-year-old Emma called.

"OK," Christian said, "That will be two swirls in a cone and one swirl in a cup." He turned on his heel to head to the ice cream machine.

I watched in amusement as he fulfilled his duties -- eyes sparkling as he waited in line for his turn; brow furrowed as he strained to reach the tower of ice cream cones; and lips curving into a contented smile as he filled the cone in each hand with ice cream. He hummed softly as he bounded back to the table.

"Thank you, Christian," Emma and I offered as Christian extended his hands to the girls. But Mary Ashley's face clouded when Christian placed her cone on the table in front of her.

As Christian headed back to the machine to get my ice cream, Mary Ashley whined, "Mine doesn't have enough!" Discontent seemed to bubble up through her little body -- starting in her feet and working its way up to her eyes, where hot tears threatened to spill over.

Afraid she would hurt her brother's feelings, I put a hand on Mary Ashley's legs, now kicking the air as she continued to whine. "You have plenty," I shushed. "Christian was being very sweet to get you ice cream, and you need to tell him thank you." As she shook her head no, I scolded under my breath, "If you cannot act nice about it, you won't have any ice cream at all."

When Christian returned to the table, my cup and his cone in hand, he took a seat in the booth across from us girls. As he t00k his first bite, Mary Ashley slid out of the booth and sidled up to him. "I need more ice cream," she nagged. "I don't have enough." On and on she complained, until ultimately she lost the privilege of eating her ice cream at all.

Later that night when I went to bed, I thought about the events in the restaurant. In the moment, I had been most concerned about Mary Ashley's poor behavior. Had she asked nicely for a little more ice cream when she saw her cone, I probably would have consented. But her temper tantrum dissolved any chance of getting what she wanted.

As I replayed the scene in my mind, however, it was as if the camera panned from Mary Ashley to Christian. And I realized that Christian's attitude was not affected in the least by his sister's actions. As Mary Ashley kicked her feet, whimpered and cajoled, he remained calm -- even offering to get her more ice cream. He didn't lash out or act defensive. In fact, Christian's expression never even flashed a moment of disapproval.

Thinking of Christian's good-natured handling of his sister's tantrum, I couldn't help but think of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; Love never fails.

Too often when wronged, we feel like we are being long-suffering and patient simply because we have not unleashed the full force of our anger on someone who has wronged us. Like Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz, who felt righteous in telling Miss Gulch, "For 23 years I have been dying to tell you what I thought of you! And now ... well, being a Christian woman, I can't say it!" But we are not really being the bigger person in an encounter when our actions make the other person feel small.

So that night as my head hit the pillow, two ideas drifted through my mind. First, chivalry is important. Thoughtful actions and polite speech promote harmony and make us amiable companions. But second, true love is gracious in overlooking the missteps of others.

As a mother, I continually remind my children to say "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am," "please" and "thank you" because I want them to grow into polite members of society. But I am thankful that sometimes they remind me that on the worst days when we don't mind our manners, it's a blessing to have people in our lives who are merciful in not minding our manners either.

And that gift of unconditional love beats a free ice cream cone any day.

Lovin' Every Minute of It

Happy February! I am so excited for this month's upcoming events. We will celebrate Emma's birthday this weekend, and I can't wait to share all the details with you here. Then next week will be full of sweet treats and surprises for all my Valentines. The following week I'll be sharing a special evening of fellowship with friends during our first ever book club. And the final week I'll head to Georgia to spend a weekend with sisters I've never met for a ladies day. I can hardly wait! This month will be busy, but with so many dear ones to share it with, I'll be lovin' every minute of it!

Photo by Allison Hilyer

A Little Pitcher of Joy

"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size." -- Gertrude S. Wister

Bookmarked: A Cup of Comfort for Writers

I recently discovered A Cup of Comfort for Writers, edited by Colleen Sell. What a find! Seasoned and aspiring writers alike will enjoy drinking from this cup. Here are a few passages that I have bookmarked.

"I write because I am standing at an intersection in my life and your life, and, while you hurry past, I am recording the world around both of us. I am taking note of everything, and I want to hold it up to you, mirrorlike, so you can see what I see." -- Camille Moffatt

"Plato said, 'the life which is unexamined is not worth living.' But I don't think he meant examining should take the place of living. I don't think he meant we should be so busy mining our adventures for meaning that we don't have time to live them. ... I know that life and art can mix, enriching both. But the danger -- the danger I recognized when I saw my son hunched over a notebook instead of marvelling at the landscape -- is that art can overpower life. It can, for a long moment, actually replace the experience of living." -- Lauren Kessler

"I thought about what my husband had said, and realized I had fallen into the same trap so many aspiring writers do; I was spending too much time aspiring to write and very little time actually writing. Even though I finally had time to pursue my dream, I was still making it a low priority in my life. I was talking the talk, but wasn't writing the write." -- Brenda Kezar

This title has introduced me to this inspirational series of books. Find your own Cup of Comfort here -- with inspirational stories, upcoming events, submission guidelines and editor Colleen Sell's blog.

Hydrangeas at the Door

These silk hydrangeas add soft color to our front door, reminding me that spring will be here soon!

Slumber Party Notes

Sleepover Munchies: Friday night we kicked off Mary Ashley's slumber party with supper. Her first menu suggestion was chicken noodle soup and black eyed peas, but that didn't give me a lot to work with. So we went with her second choice: poppy seed chicken with rice, green beans, fruit salad, rolls, cupcakes and spumoni ice cream. Yum!

Saturday morning we enjoyed a simple breakfast menu of bacon and pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. Lemon-slush punch was a special treat for the little girls. My sweet friend Lori Adkins shared this refreshing recipe with me. She served it at her wedding to rave reviews. I made it for our New Year's Day brunch, and set aside a bag of the frozen mix to pull out for the slumber party.

Lemon-Slush Punch

12 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate
12 ounces frozen lemonade
46 ounces unsweetened pineapple juice
9 cups warm water
2 1/2 cups sugar
28 ounces ginger ale

Mix sugar and water until dissolved. Add juices. Freeze in 1 or 2 gallon freezer bags. Take out 3 hours before serving to thaw. Put in punch bowl and add ginger ale (cold if possible). Note: This should be slushy. A dull knife may be needed to chop it up some.

Slumber Party Fun. Joe's sister gave the girls the game Hullabaloo for Christmas, and they have really enjoyed it. The girls at the party enjoyed playing several rounds, although you do have to keep the group quiet in order to hear the directions. The biggest hit of the party was the gift at the top of Mary Ashley's wish list: Bendaroos! The girls enjoyed covering our walls with all kinds of artistic creations, and my boys have made some impressive works of art in the days since.

Sleepy Head Favors: Earlier this week, I shared photos of the pajamas I made for the guests at our sleepover. I was so proud of the girls! They were so sweet and well-mannered. As a reward for doing so well at their first slumber party, as the girls left we let them choose a shimmering body mist spray. I found these at JC Penney. I loved the colors, and they coordinated perfectly with our cupcake theme.

From start to finish, Mary Ashley's slumber party was a dream come true -- much like the Birthday Girl herself!

Slumber Party Table

Inspired by Hostess with the Mostess and bloggy friend Donna at Party Wishes, I knew months ago that I wanted to transform our dining room into a bedroom for Mary Ashley's slumber party.

I turned our dining room table toward the wall so I could prop pillows from Mary Ashley's bed against the mirror. Then I topped the bed with extra linens, including a pale blue matelasse coverlet I had in the closet. Instead of using a chair at the end of the table, we slid an ottoman to the foot of the bed.

Here is the table all set up for dinner. Each girl found a gift at her place -- coordinating pajamas I made for all the girls.

Pretty details added to our dreamy tablescape: Mary Ashley's favorite Build-a-Bear friend all dressed for bed; pink cupcakes decorated to match the girls' pajamas; a lime green teapot filled with lush pink roses; and a few favorite bedtime stories stacked on a blanket at the end of the bed (and known only to me, these books represent past themes we have used for Mary Ashley's birthday parties).

This table was a cozy spot for all the girls to gather for supper Friday night, although it has confused 3-year-old Emma, who keeps asking if she can sleep on that bed!

Dream Girls

Here are the little girls who spent the night with us Friday for Mary Ashley's first slumber party. They were all so precious!

Before we ate, I let them open their presents -- coordinating pajamas! They all changed into their PJs, and all night I felt like I had seven sweet little daughters all dressed alike.

With her closest friends gathered near to celebrate her birthday, what else could Mary Ashley wish for?

Here are our sleepy heads Saturday morning, still giggling after a late night! Since this was the first sleepover with friends for all the little girls, I thought a few might get homesick during the night and want to go home. Little did I know, the tears would come Saturday morning when the party was over and it was time to go home!

We hope they will all come again soon for another slumber party!

The Cupcake Compromise

This year instead of making a birthday cake for daughter Mary Ashley, I planned to make cupcakes to coordinate with the girls' pajamas -- enough to share with her kindergarten class and slumber party guests. But when we stopped by the grocery store last week to pick up a few ingredients, Mary Ashley burst into tears.

"Why do you have to make my cupcakes?" she choked out between sobs. "Why can't we just buy them like everybody else?" It surprised me how hard I took this. I honestly felt like I had been stabbed in the heart. I was on the verge of tears throughout our shopping trip, and had to apologize to Mary Ashley when we got home for being short-tempered with her .

We came to a cupcake compromise: store-bought for school and homemade for home. Mary Ashley was excited to pick out chocolate cupcakes from the Wal-Mart bakery for her class, and at home she was eager to help me bake cupcakes -- even licking the beaters just like always. With fluffy pink icing and sprinkles, the cupcakes I decorated coordinated with the cupcake appliques on the girls' PJs.

Friends have encouraged me that Mary Ashley will appreciate my efforts to make things for her when she is older, and I took their words to heart.

I guess she just needed the extra maturity of turning 6. After she blew out her candles, I slipped into the kitchen to do some cleaning. One of the mommies who joined us for dinner laughed as she repeated what she overheard Mary Ashley say to the other guests:

"See, I told you these would be much better than the ones we had at school!"

Sweet Dreams Pajamas

Mary Ashley's slumber party over the weekend was a big milestone for us and the little girls who joined us for the weekend. I wanted to do something special to initiate the girls into this fun girlhood tradition, so I decided to make pajamas for them -- eight pairs in all!

I loved the idea of making something they could wear during the party. And I hope they will remember fondly their time at our house when they wear them again -- maybe even to their next slumber party!

For the pajama pants, I used McCall's pattern 3906, shortening the length to include coordinating ruffles. (I could save a lot of time sewing if I didn't love ruffles so much!) I found the pink swirl flannel at Hancock Fabrics. The turquoise micro-check used for the ruffles and bow at the waist came from local sewing shop Beth's Heirloom Sewing. For the tops, I used long-sleeve tees from Target. These super-soft shirts can be worn with pajama pants or to school. I embroidered the shirts with different cupcake appliques from Bunnycup Embroidery. Of course, the Birthday Girl got the cupcake with a candle!

Bring on the sweet dreams!

The Dreamiest Slumber Party Invitation Ever!

I have been anticipating Mary Ashley's birthday party for months, so excited to host our first girls slumber party! Our theme inspired this sweet little bed invitation, which I made using scraps of fabric leftover from sewing projects for the girls. The little green pillow folds down to reveal party details, including drop-off and pick-up times.

Mary Ashley Is Having a Slumber Party
And We're Dreaming That You'll Come!

This is one of my favorite invitations ever, and I think it would make a great birthday card, as well -- especially when you see the fun surprise I tucked inside! Find the card-making directions below, or keep scrolling to see the surprise.

Directions. To make this 5"-x-7" invitation, start with a blank folded card. Adhere a rectangle of fabric to the front of the card with a fusible web like Heat'n'Bond. This will be the fitted sheet. Next, sew a scalloped edge along a strip of fabric to make the bed's top sheet. Cut fabric away from the scalloped edge. Iron this strip of fabric, pressing the edge under to make a crease. Glue the unfinished edge of the top sheet to the back of a scrap of chenille fabric, folding the scalloped edge over the front to give the look of a top sheet folded over a coverlet. Pull the coverlet and top sheet around to the back of the card, and hot glue the edges around the sides and bottom of the invitation. To make the pillow, secure a monogrammed scrap of fabric to the front of a small rectangular card with fusible web, and use a glue stick to fit a little paper inside the card with party details. Hot glue the pillow card to the top of the invitation. Cut a coordinating piece of scrapbook paper, and glue it to the back of the card to cover the raw edges of fabric. The invitation is complete!

My original plan was to tuck a little card into the pocket made from the invitation's coverlet, or maybe a photo of Mary Ashley. But then I discovered the perfect idea ... .

A Custom Paper Doll!

I was so tickled to find someone on Etsy who makes custom paper dolls! Upon ordering, simply e-mail a photo of your little girl to SandyFordDesigns, and Sandy will e-mail back digital images of a personalized paper doll and five sets of clothes. You can re-size the images as needed and print as many as you like. Sandy was prompt and easy to work with. She even added the top and shorts to the paper doll at no extra charge. I really hope she will get lots of business because she charges very little for a truly special keepsake. (Wouldn't this be a great surprise to e-mail to a special little girl?)

And, look! Those pink pajamas are a perfect fit for our slumber party theme!

I cut out a Mary Ashley paper doll for each invitation and printed the clothes on extra cards. Across the bottom of one of the cards, I added "Help Mary Ashley get dressed for the party!" The paper doll slips easily into bed, and extra clothing can be stored in the pocket that resulted when I wrapped the coverlet around to the back of the card.

Shown here together, paper doll, clothes and card make a perfect invitation and play set all in one!

Wake up to more dreamy slumber party ideas all week!

I'm linking up with Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

And DIY Day at Soft Place to Land

Little Bit Cute

Emma and Mary Ashley have been enjoying the beanies Aunt Shana made them for Christmas, and now you can enjoy her creations, too! Through Valentine's Day, blog readers can get 10 percent off at her new Etsy shop, Little Bit Designs by mentioning "littleloveliness" in your convo. Congratulations to Becky Bell, who has won the yellow beanie!

Happy Birthday, Mary Ashley!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

We will be celebrating Mary Ashley's birthday this weekend, and I cannot wait to share all the fun with you next week! We are hosting our first slumber party, and I think I am more excited about it than the girls.

The Little Bit Designs giveaway winner will be announced tomorrow! See Tuesday's post to enter.

Photo by Nathan Prichard; Edited by Katy Larson

Signs of the Times

But who can clean bathrooms when you can play with The Danielson Designs Studio?

Preview personalized pieces customized with favorite Bible verses, quotations, monograms and more.

The Nester is giving away a $50 gift certificate from The Studio. Contest ends tonight!

Little Bit Giveaway

Well, after yesterday's goof, I think you need a real giveaway! I am excited to announce the opening of my sister-in-law Shana's Etsy shop, Little Bit Designs. Shana makes trendy accessories for the modern girl, with custom-made hair bows, headbands and beanies that are sure to please.

For a limited time, get 10 percent off your Little Bit Designs purchase by mentioning "alittleloveliness" in your convo. And after you visit the shop, leave a comment below telling me your favorite item and you will be entered to win a fresh yellow beanie accented with a daisy (sized to fit little girls ages 1 to 8).

The winner will be announced Friday!

Get a Free Photobook

In the midst of a busy week preparing for Mary Ashley's 6th birthday and celebration, I can't resist squeezing in one more creative project: creating a free 8x8 hardcover photo book on Shutterfly. Get yours free -- a $29.99 value -- with the code JANBOOK. But you'll have to hurry! This offer ends January 13.

Update: Oh, no, friends! I'm so sorry to learn this is an account-specific promotion. You can find photo book discounts and a free shipping offer here. While you're on the site, register for a Shutterfly account so you can stay abreast of special offers. I apologize for any inconvenience my announcement caused! I was just too eager to share a good deal.

Photo from Google Images

This Little Light

When I reconnected with a former classmate from college through Facebook, I had in my mind that my life mirrored his. Both married, both parents to four children -- I assumed Thom's family lived a comfortable suburban life just like mine. What I recently learned about his family, though, amazed me. After watching the video below, I could hardly tell Joe about the Hazelip family's ministry for the emotion bubbling up inside me as I considered the great courage, compassion and faith they demonstrate daily.

If you cannot view the video above, find it here.

Initially Thom visited Nashville's inner city looking to invest in property, but God drew the Hazelips to invest themselves in the lives of the people there instead. Thom and his wife, Michele, now make their home in one of the poorest, most crime-ridden neighborhoods in Nashville. Their lives are intertwined with the people of their community, and their home has become a refuge for many of the residents.

I have been so inspired by Thom and Michele and the journey that has led them to establish Front Porch Ministry. I admire their courage in setting down roots in a neighborhood many of us would fear to visit. But I think even more, I admire the family's purposeful living for Christ and their openness to serving no matter the need. For more information on the Hazelips' impact in Nashville's inner city, visit the Front Porch Ministry web site or support the organization through Facebook causes here.

I believe Thom's example of living on the front porch can inspire us all. Whether we lend our support to the Hazelips' efforts in Nashville or look for our own opportunities closer to home, their story shows us the difference a little love --and a lot of faith -- can make.

So let's all step out on our own front porch this year, determined to turn the light on and let it shine as a beacon of hope in 2010.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house" (Matthew 5:14-15).

Winter Wonderland

This week we are enjoying cold weather -- a rare treat for us in Alabama. I am thankful for at least a few days to enjoy snuggling up by the fire with a cup of tea. With its winter wonderland tablescape still in place since our New Year's Day brunch, our dining room is a perfect spot to gather this week for a steaming hot bowl of soup.

The children helped me pull this look together for the party. See yesterday's post to learn how the boys decorated these sparkly candles. Clustered on a silver tray with cotton snow, silver beads and glittery wired ribbon, I can enjoy this wintry look throughout the month. Silver stars and icicle ornaments dangle from the chandelier, and sheer ribbons flutter in the candlelight. Fresh greenery tucked into the branches of the chandelier completes this refreshing wintertime look.

Here's to drawing closer to the fire -- and each other -- in the New Year!

Lighting the New Year

I'll share more photos of our wintry dining room tablescape tomorrow, but first wanted to share this easy idea for adding sparkle to holiday candles. I loved this idea on It's the Little Things That Make a House a Home and knew it would be a great way to fill the dining room with light at our New Year's Day brunch. To make these, simply use a sponge brush to coat candles with Mod Podge, and roll the wet candles in a tray of Epsom salts.

Since my children -- like me -- seem to thrive on creative projects, I let my boys (ages 8 and 10) make these candles as a reward for accomplishing some of the less enjoyable tasks on their to-do lists. With no assistance from me at all, the candles turned out great and looked so lovely on the table! At the party I pointed them out to a couple of schoolteachers, and we all agreed this would be a great classroom craft for their elementary-aged students to make for their parents.

Tomorrow, more wintertime sparkle!

New Year's Day Brunch

For years I have wanted to host the young families from our church for a New Year's Day brunch. My dream came true last week, and what a great way to start off a new year!

To make this party a little easier to pull off, I asked guests to contribute to our menu of breakfast favorites. Families signed up to bring something from one of these categories: breakfast casserole; grits or breakfast potatoes; doughnuts or pastries; fruit, veggies or cheese; breakfast meats; or other family favorites. We enjoyed a good variety of dishes, and even with several families bowing out before the party, we had more than enough food.

For our part, we added fruit, cheese and doughnuts to the buffet. The house smelled wonderful with Joe serving up pancakes and bacon fresh from the griddle, and the kids loved dipping into the vases I filled with cereal. (Of course, I had to use the sweet ones because they are more colorful!)

Silver and turquoise ribbons, ornaments and curly branches added fresh wintertime touches to the buffet.

Piled high on this tiered server, a simple assortment of pastries, fruits and cheeses sparkled for the new year.

It was great to start off a new year keeping several of our New Year's resolutions -- among them spending time with loved ones and studying the Bible. As for laying off of sweets, I guess that one starts this week!

Happy New Year!

The final days of 2009 were a flurry of activity as we readied the house for company, but all the hard work was worth it in the end. Or should I say in the beginning? We opened our doors New Year's Day for a brunch for the young families from church. It was great to start the year off with some of our dearest friends -- all determined to keep a spiritual focus in 2010.

One of the benefits of planning a New Year's Day party was finding deep discounts on Christmas decorations. I found quite a few ornaments perfect for wintertime celebrations. I'll share some more ideas throughout the week, but wanted to start with the wreath on our front door. I wanted to sparkle for New Year's, so glittery turquoise and pink ornaments and curly branches from Wal-Mart added the glitz we needed. Wooden numbers from Hobby Lobby -- painted with glitter paint and tucked into the wreath -- welcomed party guests to 2010.

Last year held many special moments, and here's to doing it all again in ...

Christmas Dinner

As I was putting the finishing touches on our Christmas table, my mom came in the dining room and said she hoped I wasn't going to any extra trouble because she and my dad were there. I had to laugh as I looked down at myself, and I told her you could hardly say I was going all out. I was still in my pajamas, after all!

And that's why you will see pictures of our spiffy Christmas table, but not the lazy hostess!

I hope you have taken some time to linger in your PJs this holiday season. I highly recommend it!