F R I D A Y F A V O R I T E S
I cannot wait for this evening so we can kick off our long Labor Day weekend! We don't have any plans yet, but they always seem to find us. The weather has been gorgeous the past few days, and it looks like the 80 degree temps are here to stay for a while. I hope to spend plenty of time outside with the boys, soaking in the late-summer sunshine! Here are a few of my favorites as I look back on this week. . .
Yesterday, I shared the fall touches around our house. . . pumpkins and red leaves and apple-scented candles! Thank you to those who linked up with Astleigh and me! I have loved getting a peek into your homes. If you missed out, we'll be doing a Halloween decor link-up AND a Thanksgiving decor link-up in the next couple of months!
I'm so excited about today's giveaway! I remember first listening to Nichole Nordeman back in 1999 with her beautiful song, "To Know You". Sixteen years later, she has retained her signature sound, and her lyrics are so full of meaning and passion for the Lord. My mom just saw her a couple of weeks ago at the "Women of Faith" conference in Philadelphia, and she said Nichole's concert was wonderful! I have really enjoyed listening to her new EP this week, and I think you'll find it a gem as well. :)
"Nicole is a
recording artist and songwriter for Sparrow/EMI CMG, with numerous
number-one and top ten singles to her credit and cumulative CD sales of
over one million. A two-time Gospel Music Association winner for Female
Vocalist of the Year,
she has won a total of nine Dove Awards, including the best-selling
album, Music Inspired by The Story. Her best-known songs include
"Holy", "Legacy", "Brave", "This Mystery", "Why", and "What If". She
lives with her family in Tulsa, Oklahoma."
"Before things in our lives can be resurrected and given new life,
certain things must die. Before beauty blooms in spring, roots must do
the hard work under the hard frozen soil of winter. Before you renovate
and re-build, you tear down the parts of
the structure that are weak or damaged or dangerous. Before we make,
we must unmake." Nichole Nordeman
The title track, "The Unmaking" is my favorite song on the album. Here's the acoustic version on Youtube, which sounds very similar. Give it a listen, and enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post!
Today, Astleigh and I are announcing our Autumn Scarf Swap!! What celebrates fall like cozy
scarves?! We thought it would be a lot of fun to send scarves to one
another in the spirit of a new season when the temperatures are chilly, a
Starbucks PSL is in you hands, and the leaves are bursting in color.
Sign-ups start now and will go until September 15.
Send either Astleigh or me an email committing yourself to send a scarf to
another blogger. You'll need to include your mailing address and blog
URL. By September 21 you will have received the gal you'll be sending a scarf to. Please have the scarf in the mail no later than September 28.
We
want this to be an enjoyable experience for everyone, so if you sign up
please be sure to mark your calendar to make sure a scarf is on its way
to your blogger by the twenty-eighth of the month. Scarves should range
between $12-$15 in price. We'll all share our scarf exchanges the
following week in a blog post on October 7!
Astleigh and I are looking forward to the swap and hope you join us for a some festive fall fun!
My email: racheljulia31@gmail.com
Astleigh's email: hillcollectionblog@gmail.com
Last night, we had an impromptu ice cream run, and the boys were big fans of that! My chocolate marshmallow flavor was fantastic, and I loved getting out of the house for a bit. The ice cream shop with cow-decor also boasts real train cars, live goats, and other entertainment, so it is the whole package :) I got a few great photos from our little visit.
My fifth favorite is the peaceful hour that I spent at the salon on Wednesday! My hair hadn't been trimmed since last October, so it was due time. Though it doesn't look like I chopped much off (3 inches), my hair feels lighter, I am loving my fresh ends!
Enjoy your extra-long Labor Day weekend with friends and family!
For a chance to win the Nichole Nordeman giveaway, enter the Rafflecopter below!
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
You are so beautiful! Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteJulia
Thanks so much, Julia!
DeleteLove Nicole Nordeman! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteShe's fantastic! You're welcome :)
DeleteI love the new hair! I am definitely going to participate in the scarf swap--that's so much fun!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lauren! Shoot me an email with your info when you get a chance! :)
DeleteLove your hair! Looks so healthy and beautiful! I'm loving your fall decor too- I need to get mine up. Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Keri!!
DeleteYay for ice cream runs!!! Fun to get in some last summer activities while it's still nice out! And your hair looks so fab! I am so in need of a good hair cut too ... have a great weekend!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kaitlin! I have a few more summery things I want to do before it gets cold! :)
DeleteScarf swap sounds so fun! Great idea:)
ReplyDeleteThanks! We'd love you to join us!
DeleteI love all of your fall decorations, so cute! The scarf swap is such a good idea! I hope you have a super fun long weekend! (:
ReplyDeleteThanks Sophia! You too!
DeleteGreat pics as always! Have a super weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you friend!!
DeleteChocolate marshmallow ice cream sounds amazing! I love the picture of your boy's little feet :) Emailing you now about the scarf swap! So fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you'll join us, Kylie!!
DeleteI love the scarf swap idea! But I feel like I might forget in all the chaos with our wedding coming up so soon. Boo! Love the pictures from the ice cream trip. :) I'm so excited for my next hair cut!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we'll do a Christmasy mail exchange, so you'll have to join us then :) :)
Delete