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All Sparkled Up

~ Like dew hanging from the tip of a leaf, a single bead or word adds sparkle where there was none. BE the bright!

All Sparkled Up

Tag Archives: family

On my worktable – artificial flowers

21 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, crafts, family, flowers, home, home decor, Inspirational, On my Worktable, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

artificial flowers, crafts, family, flower arranging, flowers, home decor, On my worktable, spring arrangements

Today my worktable was full of flowers for the spring arrangements. The bins have been in the living room for over a week but I finally had time today. It’s always a pleasure to arrange the flowers, even though they are the same ones I’ve used for years. At the end of a season, I pull all the flowers out of the vases and sort them by color in bins, then they go to the attic. It’s good to start fresh each year so I mix and match the flowers to suit the season and mood.

The arrangement for the foyer. I'll probably add a little more at the base. It looks a bit too tight but I'm crazy over the color.

The arrangement for the foyer. I’ll probably add a little more at the base. It looks a bit too tight but I’m crazy over the color.


The bare brances were in the corner through winter, strung with lights and crystal snowflakes just to add brightness to the room.

The bare brances were in the corner through winter, strung with lights and crystal snowflakes just to add brightness to the room.


The same bare branches now share the space with artificial dogwood and greens. The lights were taken off the branches and placed in the vase for ambience.

The same bare branches now share the space with artificial dogwood and greens. The lights were taken off the branches and placed in the vase for ambience.


I love the new arrangements! They make me happy. =)

Not in the photos: son’s twin size mattress on the floor in the living room because we have to tear out the downstairs bathroom and completely redo it due to a major leak.
Not in the photos: the flat screen tv right in front of the large dogwood arrangement in the corner.
Not in the photos: tears shed because another one of our children moved out last week and we’re all missing him and wishing him well and cheering for him in his new job in another state.

Two of my sons. Noah on the left moved south last weekend. We miss him! Very glad for the job opportunity though.

Two of my sons. Noah on the left moved south last weekend. We miss him! Very glad for the job opportunity though.


We all have a choice on what to focus on. I choose to focus on what’s good and bright and beautiful and sparkling in life. You can have brightness if you choose. Sometimes it takes a lot of work, like clearing a garden of weeds. You have to yank out bad thoughts and deliberately hack at unwanted vines. But it’s possible and totally worth it.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Ph 4:8
The arrangement for the living room table. The velvet-petal roses are showing their age but they are still beautiful.

The arrangement for the living room table. The velvet-petal roses are showing their age but they are still beautiful.

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Happy New Year 2014!

31 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, crafts, family, New Years, sparkling

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2014, craft idea, crafts, family, homemade party hats, Japan, New Year's Eve

We got THE coolest package from Japan from our daughter yesterday. She and her husband sent us a whole box of crazy cool treats! We’re going to try them tonight. We’re a fairly adventurous family but I’m going to need some bravery tasting dried squid meat, eggplant hard candy and beef & zucchini chips! My guess? Delicious! I’ll let you know.

The evening will be simple – playing card or board games and listening to neighborhood fireworks at midnight. Food will be homemade baguette toasts with hummus and cheeses and a veggie tray. Also those awesome Japanese treats. And we’re going to make party hats from old rolls of Christmas wrapping paper, with a prize going to first and runner up designs.
25 Awesome Party Hats
Party Hats DIY
Homemade Hats
DIY Party Hats
That ought to be silly fun and I’ll be getting rid of excess old wrapping paper too. Reduce & reuse ftw!

Happy New Year to you all!

A tiered server is piled with treats from Japan. We didn't have confetti so I quickly snipped a handful of used Christmas ribbon to make some.

A tiered server is piled with treats from Japan. We didn’t have confetti so I quickly snipped a handful of used Christmas ribbon to make some.

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There, in the woods, a flower fairy!

28 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, family, flowers, grandkids, photography, sparkling, sunlight

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

costume, family, flower fairy, flowers, granddaughter, grandkids, imagination, photo, photography, wood fairy

In her little black boots, she stepped lightly between the trees. I observed her world, being ever so careful not to disturb the magic.
Flower Fairy -1

Flower Fairy-2

Flower Fairy -3

Flower Fairy-4

Flower Fairy-5

Flower Fairy-6Flower Fairy-7

Flower Fairy-8

Flower Fairy-9

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Flower Fairy-13

Flower Fairy-14

Flower Fairy-15

She had the dress but needed something for her hair. So I made her a floral hair wreath and wand. But she provided all the magic.

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Endeavor

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, family, grandkids, Little Plastic Bears, photography

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

beach, bears, endeavor, family, hms endeavour, Little Plastic Bears, photography, photos, Sunset Beach NC, toy boat, toy ship

That’s the name of a British research vessel, built in 1764. The HMS Endeavour explored uncharted oceans in the South Pacific.
The Little Plastic Bears long for the sea in the Endeavor. The Little Plastic Bears long for the sea in the Endeavor
But the tide didn’t come in.
Longing for the sea
The ts Endeavor (toy ship Endeavor) piloted by Little Plastic Bears never made it to sea, despite her best effort to summon the waves.

Despite her best effort to call the waves, the bears didn't make it to sea.

Despite her best effort to beckon the waves closer, the bears didn’t make it to sea.

NOTE: If you would like to purchase a print of that photo, it is listed here on 500px.

Perhaps this year we shall sail.

Perhaps next time we shall sail.

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Soap Bubbles on Mother’s Day

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, grandkids, sunlight

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Tags

bubbles, family, soap bubbles

Soap Bubbles on Mother's Day

My granddaughter and bubbles.

It was a marvelous Mother’s Day.

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Barbie, Chelsea and Ken play Triopoly

13 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in family, funny, grandkids

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Barbie, family, funny, grandchildren, humor, Ken, playing with the grandchildren

The conversation during the invisible game went like this…
“Let’s play Triopoly, Barbie!
Ok, Chelsea. You take your turn first. Thank you.
Here, Barbie, have some money. You can have lots of money!
Move this piece, Ken. Ok, Barbie, here’s more money.
I’ll take some money. No, Ken you can’t have any money.”

The game ended abruptly…
“Ok, so Barbie and Chelsea won the game so Ken is grumpy because he lost.
So Ken is hanging by his feet from the table because he is grumpy.”

Barbie, Chelsea and Ken play Triopoly but Ken gets grumpy because he lost so he hangs from the table by his feet because he is grumpy.

Barbie, Chelsea and Ken play Triopoly but Ken gets grumpy because he lost so he hangs from the table by his feet because he is grumpy.

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Spinning Tales

02 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, Easter, family

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

dancing, dress, family, granddaughter, spinning, Spinning Tales

My daughter-in-law entered a drawing and won several amazing items from Spinning Tales, a company that makes the most charming spinning dresses ever. Here is a photo of my granddaughter spinning in this dress.

My granddaughter spins  in her Spinning Tales dress.

My granddaughter spins in her Spinning Tales dress.

My son Gabe Monroe took this photo, beautifully capturing the dreamy moment.

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