Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Warming Up: With Fall (?)

Fall Colors are here, even if the season hasn't caught up yet!

A few days ago when it was actually beginning to cool off, I got the boxes of fall decorations down and began the very enjoyable process of transforming the main areas of our home into a warm & soothing fall feeling! (It feels a little funny to write this as it's been in the 100's here in Southern California)!

I love getting groupings of fall colored items together to fill my clear vases and cake plates with. M & M's are my favorites, however seasonal nuts and leaves also look so pretty! I walk up and down the grocery store, farmers markets, and trader jo's looking for the fall-ish colors. I love the process!

Last year as we were getting ready to shoot the photos that are used in INSPIRED DESIGN, our front lawn was covered with the most wonderful leaves! Shades of orange, yellows and browns were simply breathtaking. Our garden comes on Fridays and so I wanted to make sure he didn't sweep, rake or blow that day. I explained it all to him, then began to get the house ready for the photographers arrival. An hour or so later while walking past our front bay window I was horrified! He raked up all the leaves, and smashed them into the yard/trash bin. Not believing my eyes, I guess, I ran outside to see where the leaves were! (Um, where did I think they went?) He said I'm so sorry, I forgot what you said! (Ugh, that was like 45 minutes ago, ugh, ugh, again ugh!) Oh, well, I thought it's just leaves I don't have to take photos, so I went back inside to finish up the inside. Low and behold, while washing my hands at the front sink, I see the gardner half way up our huge tree shaking the tree to try to make the leaves fall. (I'm seriously not making this up) I ran out to tell him to get down, he could get hurt! No big deal. I was hysterically laughing later!

One year when I couldn't decorate for fall...my daughter said to me, mom where are all the ceramic pumpkins and those fluffy leafy things you put on the mantle? Where are all the pictures of us with the pumpkins? Where are the dishes of candy corns & M&M's? Hey what's with nothing on the front door? Huh, I thought. She actually noticed all those years of "Fall" decor? Who'd have thought it? Not, me. I thought I loved it so much, and it made me so happy that it was worth all the puttering and placing things lovingly just so, but not sure all the people in my family did. But Hannah did. She said it just didn't feel like home without those touches for fall. So, out the boxes came, with the dust from the construction and all! I haphazardly put them out, so it would resemble our usual, but no. She said that isn't everything, and you usually do this, and that.

My encouragement to you today is simple: The little things do matter.

The little note to tell your friend thank-you. A note in your child's lunch, an email or facebook (if you are super hip) to say how much you appreciate an effort, and a simple glass bowl filled with candy corns. Who'd have thought!

I'll post some more fall ideas from this year, in a few days! For Now:

You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime. Dale Carnegie



Blessings to you!
Psalm 19:14
Roxanne
 photo signature_zps72c1a2bc.png

Sunday, September 26, 2010



What a wonderful day, the launch of Inspired 31 was! Here are some of the Mother-daughter, & Other Combinations of us! I have heard wonderful feedback from so many & feel like this is an idea whose time has come! A few exciting details to wrap our first meeting:

First: The lovely Mother-in-Law of Wendy & Melanie White, Leila White, won the Yamaguchi Gift, for her INSPIRED DESIGN book purchase! Billy Yamaguchi generously is going to give her a cut, and the salon a manicure and pedicure! Thank you, Sweet Leila, for coming and sharing in the fun & blessings of Inspired 31, and being a great mom and mother in law. How fun that there was 3 generations of "White"s at our Launch! Grandma, daughter, daughters in law, and granddaughter! Thanks for your generosity Leila, it is what will keep Inspired 31 going!

Secondly: As we had prayed, a darling "baker" is making 96 cupcakes for our next gathering. Macy Ens has a beautiful talent for baking! (I've seen the pictures, just wait girls, you are in for a treat!) I'm thrilled that Macy wants to be involved, and use her talents to bless you all!

Lastly: I've spoken with the speakers for upcoming events this last week, and they are all so excited to come and share with us! The "convictions" talk by Chelsea Cameron on October 17, our next meeting is certain to be convicting! Our cake lady send pics of her cakes, and I cannot wait!

Our Website is under contruction & We'd love to have you help if you desire to do so! If not, sit back: Enjoy & Be Blessed!

oxox
Roxanne (Mrs. P) and Hannah




 photo signature_zps72c1a2bc.png

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Inspired 31 Launch Huge Success












Sunday, September 19th was the launch of inspired 31, a teenage daughter & mothers & others Ministry! It was a day that was God-blessed and so much fun! We had an amazing turn out, with the perfect amount of room.

The scones were delicious, the mother-daughter teams, and girls, and speakers were great! Looking out and seeing the laughter and smiles on everybody's face, we knew we had something here :) !

The highlight however, was probably our wonderful sound/techie Drew and his great sense of humor and hard work that I think was my favorite part! Although, the teamwork of our amazing teenage girl steering committee was also a fave!

I'll post more pics on Thursday or Friday.

If you are inviting friends, pls have them email me asap., as we anticipate doubling our attendance and will, at a certain point, have to close the event! We are at 220 so far, we can take another 150ish!

God bless you all! Thanks for being there! If you'd like to help out, just let one of us know!
Roxanne


 photo signature_zps72c1a2bc.png

Monday, September 13, 2010



So thankful am I that for Inspired 31, God has gathered an amazing steering team. The teenage girls on the team have been prayerfully and energetically preparing to have a group of what looks to be 150+ Teenage, Mothers & Others together for a Casual Afternoon Tea.

As Hannah and I rehearsed in the room this afternoon, microphone and all...I was thankful.
When Danica prepared these lemon slices and melon balls while having me over to the Blaisdale Home, I felt so honored. As Teresa emailed me what she and Megan have prepared to sing, I felt amazed. As the teenage girls work together to make a "cool" yet spiritual space for mothers and daughters, I got chills....

All because it is an amazing thing to be part of "the plan"!
My prayer is through the preparations, and the launch of Inspired 31 that you are inspired, welcomed, encouraged and filled with joy, grace and peace. My prayer is Psalm 19:14 ....May the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be pleasing in YOUR sight, Oh Lord.

Simply...pleasing.....
Amen!
 photo signature_zps72c1a2bc.png

Friday, September 3, 2010

Inspired 31 Casual Afternoon Tea & Scones

Please join us for a Casual Afternoon Tea and savor the best chocolate chip scones ever made! Please bring a teacup if you have one.Mothers and Teenage Daughters (ages 13-19) are invited to attend the launch of Inspired31. This is a free event although donations are gratefully and cheerfully accepted.

For more information and to "officially" register for this event click on the following link:
http://www.hssegue.com/postings/events/1608-mother/-daughter-tea-with-inspired-31.html

I am organizing registration for this group/event through www.HSsegue.com , a free homeschool website. My girlfriend Tamma & Diane created this amazing website for homeschoolers (& others) to inform and organize the enrollment of classes, field trips, events and tutors. You'll love this website, as much as I do-AND it's free!!!!
PS if you are impatient like me, it takes about 60 seconds to register and is really easy to use!!! Trust me, Tamma says, "If Rox can do it, anyone can!"
 photo signature_zps72c1a2bc.png