Just a Few Thrifty Finds

 For the most part (big grin), I've been really good about limiting my time going to garage sales and thrift stores. Temptation is hard to conquer when you're staring at a perfect thing-a-ma-gig for that perfect project you just imagined while looking at the said thing-a-ma-gig (know what I'm saying?), so I've been trying to limit temptation by just not going...

But, I can't be super-woman all the time, and I have stopped at a few sales and stores every now and then. Here are my latest finds!

• 1 yd of some retro fabric for $1... I'm thinking either a tote bag or a dress for Peanut :) They threw in the hem ruler for free!
• How could I pass up two VHS's on country dancing? I love line dancing... I'm the one at weddings who will gladly show anyone interested how to do the Electric Slide or the Cupid Shuffle or even a line dance I learned in high school. Grizz called me a nerd when he saw these, but he has agreed to learn to 2-step with me!
• Three Little Golden Books and a "Little Toot" all for $0.50 each.
• And finally, I found a rather large collection of Sunday School songs that I want to learn to play just in case I become like my mother and help lead the singing once Peanut is old enough for SS! This was fifty cents at a local thrift store :)

The "Little Toot" needed a close up :) He was too cute to pass up!

One of the main reasons I don't feel bad for picking up a few finds is because I sold all of this on Craigslist this past week (TV not included)! I posted 6 things on Tuesday and I dropped off the 5th item this morning. The only thing that hasn't sold yet is our coffee table; if it doesn't sell, we'll just take it home. Success!

Remembering the Music

Two years later: Remembering the music of our special day... music just adds so much to a wedding ceremony, and we wanted our music selections to be unique yet traditional. 

Here's what went down:

This was actually at the end of the ceremony... instead of having everyone say the Lord's Prayer together, I asked one of my college girls to sing it. I already had a CD with her singing it, so I knew it would be an amazing finish to the ceremony. 

 Our piano player was a good friend of ours who actually married Grizz's cousin. She was a choir teacher, but she is a stay at home mom - their first little one is about 8 months older than Peanut! Anyways, a little back story: about half a year after meeting this amazing piano player who has a wonderful voice to match, a group of us went up to Mt. Carmel near Alexandria, MN for a winter weekend of friendship, snowshoes and xc skis. We held our own church service where this girl sat down and played just about any hymn from the book we asked her to. She also played a gorgeous version of All Creatures of Our God and King - a popular hymn that a Christian artist recently added his flair to. Soooo, when we were deciding what congregational hymns to sing at our wedding, we of course had to include Grizz's now-cousin-in-law playing All Creatures of Our God and King. My college girl lead the songs while the piano played.

Congregational hymns (played with piano and a vocal leader):

• All Creatures of Our God and King - traditional hymn redone by the David Crowder band
• Mighty to Save - Hillsong United

(If you've never heard either of these songs, I suggest you search You-tube!)

We chose to have congregational hymns over having soloists as a way to include the congregation in our special day. However, as I was searching for first dance songs, I found "This Day" by Jadon Lavik. It is not very well known at all, but I fell in love with the lyrics. When I shared it with Grizz, he just up and offered to sing it while playing the guitar. Yes, please!!

Solo

• This Day - Jadon Lavik

 On a side note... it was incredibly awkward to stand up there without him! Well, it was a bit awkward to stand up in front of everyone throughout the ceremony. No one ever talks about that! I resisted the temptation to look out at everyone, as I did not want to see that all eyes were on us. Ugh. Even during the congregational songs... have you ever just stood and stared at your guy and sang for two entire songs? Haha. It's just one of those things I have to laugh about when I think back to that special day :)

 Last but not least, I needed to have the organ playing at least sometime during the ceremony. There's just something so inspirational about organ music in a church sanctuary. I would choose that over a piano any day. Luckily I have an aunt who still plays the organ (it's becoming a lost art!); she gets called on to play at weddings a lot. She played for our prelude, processional and recessional... this is the part we get very traditional!

Prelude:

• Music chosen by organist

Processional:

• Wedding Party - Canon in 'D' (sometimes referred to as Pachabel's Canon)
• Bride - Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring

Recessional:

• Trumpet Tune

That's all folds... the music at our wedding ceremony. I can't believe it's already been two years... it is so fun to look back and reminisce!

*Photography by Black Studios.

Christmas in July: Sing with me?

I needed another cool weather reminder... it's another hot day in the apartment!

 I found these pieces of Christmas music a few months ago, I think. I knew right off the bat that they would not be staying in their pristine condition :)

~Santa Claus is Coming To Town and White Christmas were found for 50% off at an antique store.
~The Beginner's Carol book was found at a flea-market-thing for very little as well

 I fell in love with the front cover of this sheet music!

 And isn't that just the perfect picture for a White Christmas?

 The piano book has the cutest illustrations, too!

 So sweet!

Since these were purchased for a low price, I didn't feel one bit bad about ripping them up and using mod-podge to adhere them to some canvas. Here's a sneak peak!

I want to add some rub-on words before showing you all of my creations! I'm thinking they'll be perfect for gifts or for hanging on our own walls :)