Mrs. Darcy's Coffee Shop - Gods And Kings

Snow flurries gently floated toward the ground where they turned the pavement white. The door opened and she couldn't help but smile as she stepped through into the small coffee shop.  Lizzy smiled "ahh your back. What can I get you?" She ordered, peppermint tea and a scone. Then turned and studied the shelves of books... A white spine with gold lettering on the forth shelf three from the end caught her eye. She pulled it from the shelf, settled into the chair by the fire and cracked it open to the first page...

Today's book is God's and Kings. An amazing book by Lynn Austin. It is book one in her Chronicles Of The Kings series. It follows the life of King Hezekiah (or Hezzy as we have nick named him... Hey its cute!) The story starts with Hezekiah as a young child being dragged from his bed and jerked into the world of adults as he witnesses his father sacrificing his older brother to "Moloch" [Molock] the "god of fire". It continues as her learns the love from his grandfather of the One True God, and fights for his life. I don't want to give away the story so I'll stop there. If you enjoy a great biblical story, this is definitely a series to read!

Click on the picture to buy it on Amazon. 

Sock Bun Tutorial

This post has been sitting in drafts since we were on vacation so I decided to finally get this up! Hope you enjoy!

The bun can be high on the head or down low.  Where ever you want your bun to be that is where you need to make your ponytail.  I wanted mine lower on my head so that is where I have it.  Make sure it is tight so the elastic band won't just slip off. I like to spritz my hair with a bit of water before I make the bun.  This will make curls or waves for when you take the bun out. Pretty easy. So, here we go. 

Step:1 Start with a pony-tail.

Step: 2 Pull your hair through the sock thing-y ( You can buy a sock bun thing or you can take the toe off of a sock and roll it up from the toe to the top and it will make a great sock bun form.  A more mens sporty sock will of course give you a bigger bun a dress sock will give you a smaller bun.)  and pull it to the bottom ends of your hair.

Step: 3 This is where the spritz of water helps.  You then fold the ends of your hair over and tuck them under the sock as above.  Try to get all the ends in the bun.

Step 4: Fold the sock & hair outward moving up the ponytail so that more hair is wrapped. 

Step: 5 Stick your thumbs into the center and flip it inside out again and again working your way up the ponytail.

Step: 6 Keep flipping try to keep the hair pretty tight.

Step: 7 Here is where it gets a little trickier. You need to keep the hair between the back of your head and the bun pretty straight while still twisting the hair around the bun piece and grab any shorter hair that would be loose ends and put in the bun.

Step: 8 Fold one last time so that bun is snug against your head like the picture above

You can finish off if you want with a hair spray or mousse to just hold it if you have lots of little ends but other than that, it is done.  If you find it loosening up just fold it in tighter during the day.  This needs no bobby pins or any fasteners.  Enjoy!  Let us know what you think.  Share your pictures with us!  We love to see pictures!

Silk Leaf Skirt And Sweater

Good morning! Well the snow and ice has all melted from last week, at least most of it, There is still a few slick places. Most of last week we were stuck at home but at the end of the week dad was finally able to get out and go to work but he had to park at the bottom of our 150' straight up a hill driveway. Sledding was fun though especially at night, when its hard to see to dodge the trees and the hole or two the dogs dug... ok and the telephone pole. But very very cold! We could only stay out for short amounts of time. It warmed up a little Sunday and we were finally able to get out and run to the store for chicken food.

Sunday was my grandma's birthday. I miss her so much... It seems so weird to not have her here.

It's cloudy here today and cold. We haven't been able to clean up after the ice storm yet. The chickens are just glad that the tarps we had around the coops to keep them dry and warm are off during the day now. As for me? Well I can't wait for spring! Tired of the cold weather ready to start planting. :)

Today I am wearing a brown and cream skirt with a leaf pattern on it, black sweater, tear drop necklace and black boots.

Shirt: Vintage Store

Skirt: Vintage Store

Boots: Vintage Store

Jewelry: Necklace: A gift Earrings: Walmart

Have a great week!

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah: 43:2

4 Valentine's Day Outfit Ideas

Happy Valentine's Day! I thought I would put together a few outfit ideas for today, so here they are. Enjoy!

 Dress: Ross

Sweater: Vintage Store

Necklace: Burke's 

Earrings: A Gift

Bracelet: Clair's

Shoes: Vintage Store

 Dress: Ross

Sweater: Vintage Store

Shoes: Vintage Store

Necklace: Burke's

Earrings:Burke's

 Dress: Ross

Necklace: Walmart

Earrings: A gift

Bracelets: Clair's

Shoes: Vintage Store

Skirt: Ross

Shirt: Vintage Store

Shall: Burke's 

Necklace: A gift

Mrs. Darcy's Coffee Shop - Pride and Prejudice

Mrs. Darcy's Coffee Shop... The words hung above the door on an weathered wooden sign. It creaks slightly on its hinges as the cold winter wind push it back and forth. The wind nipped at her face, turning her cheeks a light pink color and tugging at her thick brown sweater. A small pile of snow rested beneath the large window. Pressing her hands like a small child against the panes she looked inside the small brick building. A fire flickered in the large fire place, in front two large chairs called to her. Shelves of books lined the brick walls. A customer stepped out of the door thanking Lizzy for the Coffee, the smell of fresh brewed coffee and sweets floated out on to the cold sidewalk. Something about this shop called her name, like an old friend. Her hand reaches for the door-knob and closes around it stepping into the small brick shop on a cold puff of wind. "Hello, what can I get you?" A smiling young Lady asked from behind the counter. The name tag on her apron read "Lizzy". She stepped up to the polished wood counter and order a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll. "Help yourself to an adventure" Lizzy said as she handed her a plate with one the big cinnamon rolls on it.  Then settled back into one of the big chairs by the fire. Slipping her feet out of her shoes and curled her stocking clad toes beneath her, and began to nibble at the cinnamon roll.

A book on the shelf caught her eye... Carefully she sat the plate on the small table beside her and went to retrieve the book. Pride and Prejudice. She sat back down as Lizzy delivered her cup of steaming hot coffee to the table beside her cinnamon roll. "Ahh one of my favorite..." she nodded to the book "Enjoy." Lizzy called over her shoulder. The book's cover looked ancient... the pages beginning to yellow with age. The coffee shop seemed to fade as she flipped to the first page...

Pride and Prejudice, one of my all time favorite books (and movies for that matter). A classic story of family... It follows the world of Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters Jane, Mary, Kitty and Lydia as a wealthy young gentlemen named Charles Bingley rents a manor house near their village. Mrs. Bennet's greatest wish is for her daughters to marry well, and much to her delight Jane catches the eye of Mr. Bingley at a local dance. Life takes a dramatic twist as Elizabeth finds herself falling in love with Mr. Bingley's friend Mr. Darcy a man she can't seem to help arguing with... This is definitely a book worth reading!  It will keep you enthralled in this romantic story until the last page... and maybe for a long time after. So order a cup of something hot and maybe something sweet and snuggle into a comfy chair in front of Mrs. Darcy's fire place and enjoy an adventure.

Click on the picture to visit this book on Amazon

California Trip | Day 8

Hi there! Today we are heading home... :( . I don't want to leave!!!!!!!!!! Wahhhhh!!!!!!!! Sorry. I'm ok now. (Wink) Anyway today we are leaving CA. I miss everyone already! Mom and I keep joking that as soon as dad turns around we are going to take off running and go back to the beach. As I sit here, LA County fire department slips in from the boarding terminal to treat an older lady in a wheelchair. She only speaks Spanish so they are having a little bit of a hard time talking to her. I glance over and I can't help but chuckle at the 51 on there hats. Now I have to watch Emergency! Gee I love that show! Have you ever seen it?

Well we're here in Chicago. It's dark and from what I could see while landing its snowy here. The airport is full of people waiting for their flights. We had to run to where our next flight was supposed to be boarding... key word be supposed. In reality our flight was delayed and we got to stretch our legs for about 30 minutes. Next it's about an hour and half flight to Nashville, and then we will be back at our house and we can all go to bed!!!!!! Weeeeeee! Ok yes I am tired... very... ve...ry... tire...d... ZZZZZZZZ.... Hmm... what? Sorry! Our wonderful friend dropped our dog off at our house this morning so she would be there when we got home. Thanks Trish! You're the best! 

Today I am wearing a cream and brown leaf patterned knee length skirt and brown long sleeve top, black shoes, a white and gold necklace and pearl earrings. (Note to self check the weather for when you get home so you aren't freezing while waiting for the airport shuttle to take you to the car ~ Me) 

Shirt: Vintage Store

Skirt: Vintage Store

Shoes: Walmart

Jewelry: Necklace: Burke's 

Earrings: Burke's 

California Trip A Day At The Beach

My Sis and I heading to the beach!

Good morning friends! How are you all? Wow, who knew a week could go by so fast! We are heading back home tomorrow. "Home" that seems so strange to say now... as soon as I stepped onto the beach it felt like home. I hate to leave... I love it here so much! We have had such a great time, but there are still so many things we want to do. So much more time we want to spend with our family. Ahh, another time... So here we are, in Huntington Beach again. The place where my mom grew up. She is smiling again, it has been so long since we have all really laughed. It's such a beautiful place... at least as much as I've seen it from walking on the beach the last two days. Tonight my Aunt Debbie joined us after we dropped a bowl of soup off to our cousin who is pregnant and has a cold. :(. Wish she felt better so she could come with us.  Aunt Debbie is waiting for us at the restaurant to stay out of the breezes (she has a cold too).  She said to take our time, I can't seem to drag myself away.  It is like trying to say goodbye to a very old friend.  People buzz around me asking me to take their photographs too.  Everyone is so friendly and having such a good time. Ahhh, let me memorize the sound of the sea lapping the shore and the gulls flying above.

So, today I am wearing a tan/brown shorts and a white tank, silver cross necklace, and black sunglasses. I also somehow managed to get stuck with a black sweatshirt (weird thing is I didn't bring a sweatshirt my dad did...) and shoes? Umm no they stayed in the car! Sis is wearing a pair of green shorts a white top, black hat with a cross, a shark tooth necklace, and brown sunglasses (and of course it has fancy shiny jewel things on the side. After all we are twins!). She also brought her corduroy jacket.

Me:                                                             Sis:

Shirt: Target                                             Shirt: Target 

Shorts: Vintage Store                             Shorts: Vintage Store

Necklace: Mission San Juan Capistrano     Necklace: SeaWorld

Sunglasses: Ross                                       Sunglasses: Burkes

                                                                  Hat: Ross

See Day 8 Here! 

Keep up with our adventures (there are lots of photos)!