Easter

 “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!"

Luke 24:5-6

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Happy Easter!

I have always loved this day, and having kids of my own makes it so much more special.

 we hosted our annual neighborhood egg hunt at our house.

Carrot cake cupcakes ready to go for the egg-hunters!

 Saturday night baking to prepare for our guests on Sunday.

Contented Sparrow's Sour Cream Almond Pound Cake

 it was dark and dreary before church plus Zachary had no interest in having his picture taken.  This picture of the kids looking off our front porch is the best one I have, but it sure is sweet.  I love how she's such a little momma to him.

 Off to church.

2/3 of my heart right there.  I'm holding the other third.

 post-church cookies.  Always a highlight.

In fact, we pick Zachary up from his nursery, and all we hear is "cookie" as he sprints for the refreshment table

back home to prepare for our guests.

We hosted my brother and his two kids and had a wonderful, relaxing, really nice time.

 I added strawberries plus freshly made whipped topping to the pound cake.

It was heavenly!

Happy Easter, from our family to yours!

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Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

 Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)

Fresh Start Palm Sunday

(apparently Claire thinks Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a rainbow donkey)

 

Hosanna Hosanna

Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna Hosanna

Hosanna in the highest 

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks

Yours Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause

As I walk from earth into eternity

Hosanna Hosanna

Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna Hosanna

Hosanna in the highest

~

Hillsong United

 

DIY Pillow Sham Tutorial

I just recently made two pillow shams for Claire's new bedroom, and about halfway through it occurred to me that others could probably use these instructions to make some of their own.  So I quickly started snapping a few pictures along the way with my cell phone (sorry!)
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 If you don't normally sew a whole lot, don't be intimidated...
if you can cut and sew a straight line, you can make these!

I made these using an envelope back, so each pillow sham is comprised of three pieces :

Front : 29 inches x 22 inches
Back : 20 inches x 22 inches (2)

After pieces are cut, you will need to hem one side of each back piece,
which is where the envelope will be.

On one piece, begin with the left side, fold it over apx 1/2 inch and iron, and then fold it again and iron.  Stitch the length of the hem to hold it.

 Repeat with the second back piece, this time hemming the right side.

 Lay your front piece down, right side facing up.  Then, lay your two back pieces down over it, right sides facing down.  The two back pieces will overlap several inches, creating your envelope.  Pin the pieces, right sides together.

 Sew around your entire rectangle, using about a 1/2 inch allowance.
(Be sure your envelope pieces are pinned well so they don't fold over as you sew!)

 Trim the corners, then turn your pillow right side out.
Push out the corners.

 Iron all of your edges so they are nice and flat.
You can re-pin the edges so they hold together well.

 Stitch the perimeter again, this time using an approximately 2 inch seam allowance.
~
That's it!

Go ahead and insert a standard size pillow, and you are done!
This is such a quick and easy way to spruce up a bedroom, let me know if you have any questions!

Interested in learning about essential oils?

 

I posted a bit about how my family got started with them here.

And you can visit my Cora Anne Essential Oils Facebook page

for more practical tips + information.

Insta-Friday

Happy Spring, everyone!

~

It sure doesn't look like Spring around here, but come summer when Michigan fruit trees are actually producing fruit, we'll be glad about this snowy-situation we find ourselves in.
~
Here's a peek at our week...

new Young House Love light fixture, being hung courtesy of my brother
(because anything electrical-related just scares me!)

did you know that Claire is the main reason we decided to have a second child?  Eric and I were so content with just one, but Claire began to ask and ask for a sibling, so now we have Zachary.  Looking back, I can hardly even fathom that we considered being done after one, especially when I catch these sweet moments between siblings.

learning to eat with a spoon is tricky business.

AND, it looks like we have another lefty in the family which means we now have three lefties and just one righty (me!)

 

hot tea + candles inside and pretending it's not freezing outside

 one thing here does not look like the others

 another hoop for Claire's new room
(we're sooooo close to being ready to set up rooms, I can't wait to show you!)

dinnertime behavior lately has been out.of.control.

 the whining and sobbing over what we're having for dinner has reached all-time high levels (especially considering I make such extremely kid-friendly meals)  So, I made a dinner expectations list, and two nights in our dinners have been MUCH more pleasant.

yes, this is a picture from last week. but I just couldn't resist one more.
seriously, just look at him!
~
So, here are my absolutely favorite things about Instagram:
1.  Catching small moments that I might otherwise look past
2.  Meeting such wonderful people, including Sara from the blog, August Fields.  She did a sweet write up this week, be sure to hop on over to her blog and check it out.  (And check out the rest of her blog too, seriously.)
~
Insta-addicts, find me on Instagram as : coraannedesigns




 

Fresh Start Sunday

Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.  Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.  Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

~
Psalm 119:33-35 (NIV)

Insta-Friday

It's Friday night, yessss!

I hope you're all having a great start to your weekend!

Here's a peek at our last week....

I tried encouraging Spring by wearing bright colors + ditching boots for ballet flats.

Claire told me I looked like an art teacher.  What does that even mean???

boys + overalls.  the best.

oh yes I did!

A new Home Goods just opened in my town.  Yes, this picture is of Target.  I tried going to Home Goods on opening day, but a few too many rude people in the parking lot made me think that even trying to go inside would be a mistake.  So I headed to my happy place instead.  And seeing as the entire universe was at Home Goods, I just about had Target to myself and it was awesome!

Easter baskets are done!

(I spy hohos)

Today was another stop-just-pinning-start-actually-printing day.

I love fabulous (free) art!

I checked another painting project off my to do list this week.

Craigslist has been so good to me, I can't wait to show you this new little dresser in its new home!

my peeps, butterfly watching at Meijer Gardens

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fellow insta-addicts, find me on Instagram as : coraannedesigns

 

 

 

Fresh Start Sunday

Source: myfabulesslife.com via Jill on Pinterest

Insta-Friday

Happy Friday, all!
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Whew, we've had quite a two weeks over here, so this upcoming weekend is more than welcome right now.  Here's a peek first at why these two weeks weren't my favorite... 

sick baby = sad mumma.  Zachary was the first to come down with the flu.  Our family is normally so exceptionally healthy, and this was our SECOND round of the flu this winter, I still can't figure out where we've gone so wrong this year.

 I think somewhere in the Mom Handbook it states that if a small human being throws up on you repeatedly, you are welcome to redeem your day post-bedtime with as much ice cream as you want.

and because having one kid with the flu is no fun, why not add a second?

This girl also suffered a week's worth of night terrors.
Horrible.
By far my least favorite thing to deal with as a parent to date.

I spent an entire day cleaning and disinfecting the house.
It was only 35 degrees out, but windows were open, this family needed fresh air!

and somewhere in the midst of trying to eliminate all the germs, I picked one up myself.  Blah.  I'm so so thankful that Eric was able to stay home from work for a day to help me with the kids, I really don't know how I could have done it otherwise!

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there, have I depressed you enough yet??

I promise it gets better, keep reading....

we still have a loooong ways to go on the house we're renovating,
but I did start moving some furniture into place which was so exciting!

working on a little art project for Claire's new bedroom!

oh, if you could just hear this boy laugh!

I called on my Instagram prayer warriors to pray for this girl that the night terrors would disappear, and we're so relieved that she has not had a single one since!
Thank you, Jesus!

our basement storage room currently looks like a half-finished project warehouse.
Ugh.
I WILL attempt to finish a few projects before I start any more new ones.
(maybe)

you're looking at the special person of the day at school.

BIG stuff!

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Have a great weekend, everyone!

Insta-Addicts : find me on Instagram as coraannedesigns