Gathering {a new collection coming next week}

Gathering {a new collection coming next week}

by | Nov 13, 2013 | All

It has been a busy (but fun) fall and I thank you for your patience while you have waited for our winter bag collection. Next Monday we will have new bags (and a few other treasures) in the shop. We can’t wait to show you what we have been working on. I know you...
San Miguel {and lessons learned from my friend}

San Miguel {and lessons learned from my friend}

by | Nov 6, 2013 | All, Travel

If you are lucky enough you will find a friend that will deal with desperate phone calls and pleas to fly to Mexico to create art. If you are lucky. I wouldn’t have taken this trip without Alexis.  So glad I don’t know what it would have been like without her. If you...
The 12 Artsy Days of Christmas {2013}

The 12 Artsy Days of Christmas {2013}

by | Nov 4, 2013 | All

  I am back from San Miguel, Mexico and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. As soon as I empty my suitcases and kiss all over my family I will share photos. I left in October and came back into November.  I am going into some of my favorite months with friends...
Week Three Sneak Peek {and a brand new course}

Week Three Sneak Peek {and a brand new course}

by | Oct 26, 2013 | All

Here is a little peek into week three of Home for the Holidays! It has been such a fun course and I am inspired by the talented and kind women that are a part of the course. I can’t wait to create so many fun, easy and inexpensive gifts for friends and family....
Do You Want More?

Do You Want More?

by | Oct 24, 2013 | All

Until recently our Benjamin preferred to sit with Kelly and me in the sanctuary each Sunday. If the pastor asked if anyone wanted to accept Christ…Ben would raise his hand. If the pastor asked if anyone wanted healing for back pain..Ben would raised his hand. If...
Good Morning World!

Good Morning World!

by | Oct 21, 2013 | All

It was a short night for the adults here at casa Oliver. We were getting all of the videos up for week two of Home for the Holidays. I wanted to give you a little peek into week two because it is soooooo good! These women are amazing! {You can still join us} Week two...

Weekend Inspiration

by | Oct 19, 2013 | All

Happy weekend! We are busy getting week two ready for Home for the Holidays. I wanted to share some of the beautiful things that made me smile this week. Enjoy! Early this week my new Avett Brothers CD arrived and how can that not make a girl smile?  *** Just another...
Life Around Here

Life Around Here

by | Oct 17, 2013 | All

It just hit me today that I leave for San Miguel, Mexico in 10 days. Just hit me! With our three week adventure on the east coast and the launch of Home for the Holidays I had kind of not thought of it. I don’t know how I forget the countdown for the first ever...
Sneak Peeks {Week One}

Sneak Peeks {Week One}

by | Oct 14, 2013 | All

I can’t believe that the first week of Creatively Made Home {Home for the Holidays} is almost here! Only TWO more days! I wanted to share just a little, tiny sneak peek of week one. Week one will be all about decorating for the holidays. Besides all of the decor...
Dream Maker {Everyone Should Have One}

Dream Maker {Everyone Should Have One}

by | Oct 11, 2013 | All

I always had the mom that told me I was special and talented and could do anything. You know…the mom that tells you amazing things about yourself and you roll your eyes. You think your mom tells you nice things about yourself only because she is your mom. That...
A Living Magazine {and a video for you too}

A Living Magazine {and a video for you too}

by | Oct 9, 2013 | All

Before I get started I wanted you to see a video that I made just for you. I wanted you to hear a little bit from me about the course and why I would even make it in the first place. {and yes…I have bangs now…and I am really diggin’ them and so is my...
Two New Originals {Available To Purchase}

Two New Originals {Available To Purchase}

by | Oct 8, 2013 | All

Good Morning! I am so excited to tell you that I have two new originals for sale. Let me tell you a little about each painting. “The Greatest of These is Love” This painting is of three young girls all dressed in creams and whites. On their heads are...
In The Jewelry Box {My Current Favorites}

In The Jewelry Box {My Current Favorites}

by | Oct 7, 2013 | All

I am a creature of habit. I like coffee first thing in the morning. I can’t work on the computer without my hair being pulled back. I like to watch movies with the lights off. I have five books at once on my nightstand so I can read according to my mood. Whether...

I am tired of being quiet {and I have a lot to say}

by | Sep 30, 2013 | All

We have been on vacation for two weeks now and between all of our history absorbing, coffee drinking, marathon walking, children fighting or hotel hopping…I have had time to think. I have written many times that I am a doer and this often leads to me not...
Fall Decorating Ideas {Finding Fall Favorites}

Fall Decorating Ideas {Finding Fall Favorites}

by | Sep 26, 2013 | All

I wanted to do this days ago but vacation was getting in the way:-) It is taking me 20 times as long to get anything done, upload photos etc. I will work on it for 5 minutes, save it and then we are off on another adventure:-) It was such an honor to be included in...
Finding Fall Home Tours 2013 {Decorating For Fall}

Finding Fall Home Tours 2013 {Decorating For Fall}

by | Sep 16, 2013 | All

So excited that today is here! I am honored to be a part of such an incredibly talented group of women. Thank you Better Homes and Gardens for sponsoring the tour and sharing our homes. {You can find more fall inspiration on our Finding Fall Home Tours Pinterest board...
Finding Fall Home Tour {16 Bloggers and BHG!}

Finding Fall Home Tour {16 Bloggers and BHG!}

by | Sep 13, 2013 | All

Are you getting ready for fall, baking too much, lighting candles in every room and wearing your UGG boots everywhere? No? Is it just me? If you are ready to jump into cooler weather, baking, yummy soups, hot cider, open windows, colorful leaves, bonfires and pumpkins...
Pumpkin Spice Latte {made from scratch}

Pumpkin Spice Latte {made from scratch}

by | Sep 11, 2013 | All

    When fall is even remotely near I begin craving a pumpkin spice latte. Because of my allergies I am not able to purchase one from a cafe because of the dyes in the syrup. I have tried different recipes over the past years, I have tweaked many recipes and I...
Teen Boy Bedroom Makeover {before and after}

Teen Boy Bedroom Makeover {before and after}

by | Sep 10, 2013 | All

Let me tell you…this project was a doozy. Everyone shares girl room makeovers but no one is spreading the love on teen boy rooms. Let me backtrack a bit. Our Jack is 13 and has had the same paint on the walls for the past 10 years. 10 years. When his friends...
Jennifer Rizzo Designs

Jennifer Rizzo Designs

by | Sep 6, 2013 | All

Each week I will be featuring one of the teachers in my brand new class Creatively Made Home {home for the holidays}! This class will begin October 15th. {last week I featured Andrea Fowler of Keeping It Cozy} This course will be all about loving on your family,...

Ramblings on a Wednesday Afternoon

by | Sep 4, 2013 | All

I hope you are all having a great day. We spent the day at the creek doing school with my sister and her children. It is one of our favorite back to school activities that we do each year. There is something so peaceful and magical about the grassy hills, creek, huge...
Keeping It Cozy {Andrea Fowler}

Keeping It Cozy {Andrea Fowler}

by | Aug 30, 2013 | All

Do you know what an amazingly fun job it is to hand pick women to be in my courses? Not only do I get to reach out to these incredibly talented women hoping they will be in the course….but then they tell me that want to do the course! How did this happen:-) The...
An Australian Wedding {Simple Beauty}

An Australian Wedding {Simple Beauty}

by | Aug 28, 2013 | All

Few people know their style as clearly as Cathy Penton. Photos of her home will make you swoon! (Lucky you that she is one of the teachers in the new Creatively Made Home {Home for the Holidays}) I have been blessed by her friendship though blogging for many years...
How We Celebrate Birthdays

How We Celebrate Birthdays

by | Aug 26, 2013 | All

I love birthdays! One whole day to love on just one person. One day that allows you to give a person a glimpse into how much their life…means in yours. It was almost 15 years ago that our birthday tradition began… It was my birthday during our first year...

Flashback Friday {My Favorite Makeup}

by | Aug 23, 2013 | All

Last days to get the brand new Creatively Made Home {home for the holidays} at the early registration price of $48! Registration is open. On August 26th the price will go to $58. ********** {originally posted on May 9, 2012} Hello everyone! I am back from teaching in...
A Brand New E-Course {and a giveaway too}

A Brand New E-Course {and a giveaway too}

by | Aug 20, 2013 | All

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED Last fall I launched Creatively Made Home {creating a home that reflects your heart in everyday living}.   I wanted to create a course that celebrated what really matters in your home…..you, family and friends.   I also...

Flashback Friday {Protect This House}

by | Aug 16, 2013 | All

{originally posted on July 4, 2011} This week I went into Under Armour to get some new clothes for Jack. Every time I am in there I love their slogan. I think it is genius and it is thought provoking to me. {Protect This House. I Will} We make choices every day in how...
You {Are Loved}

You {Are Loved}

by | Aug 14, 2013 | All

Music is such a daily part of life in our home. Whether it is coming from our phone, MP3 player, computer, turntable or CD player…music fills our home. I shared this song the last week of my The Journey of Letting Go {creating beauty from ashes} course and after...
New Prints In The Shop

New Prints In The Shop

by | Aug 7, 2013 | All

I have two new prints in the shop! Come on over and check them out… Flower Girl Crown of Roses These new prints are being printed on high quality watercolor paper. This paper and quality is exceptional for creating the depth and detail of the original work....
There Is Room For All of US {Melissa Loves}

There Is Room For All of US {Melissa Loves}

by | Aug 5, 2013 | All

I am a big believer that there is room for everyone when it comes to your gifts and what you have to offer this world. Your gifts are beautiful and big…and so is this world. Awhile ago I wrote THIS post about making room for creative people around you. I hope...