The Gift of Friendship

My best friend is getting married in less than a week....

It's had me thinking about how blessed I've been to grow up with her.

We spent our summers on the lake.

Spent our springs watching baseball.

Spent our falls back-to-school clothes shopping and trying to schedule the same classes.

Spent our winters coming up with crazy ideas or artsy projects.

She is the only person I've met that has been able to make me laugh so hard that I can't breath and am seconds away from peeing my pants. I'm quite reserved, and it takes a lot to make me laugh...

but she always seemed to have the recipe. 

My thankful thoughts for her lately have also been triggered by my reading of the book 

1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

I really enjoyed the book and have been counting my gifts every day.

I decided to get the book as a {somewhat late} bridal shower gift for my sweet Kayli.

I know she will enjoy it too. 

I wrapped it in a crocheted table runner, tied it with some more lace, 

and added a silk flower in place of the bow. 

We basically have the same shabby-chic, boho style. 

It makes shopping for her very easy and fun!

Although I'm still trying to figures out a wedding gift...

The date seems to have creeped up fast!

Wednesday after work we start our trek down to Alpharetta, GA.

It will be well worth the 16+ hours of driving to see her, meet her man, and celebrate her day! 

I will try to get some pictures of her beautiful boho wedding to share on here, 

but also I am a bridesmaid, so I will probably be very busy!

I'm not even sad that tomorrow is Monday, 

because it simply means that I will be closer to wedding time!

I haven't seen Kaylin since my wedding over 2 years ago...

and this trip is the highlight of my summer, since buying a house seems to be taking way too long...

Wish I had some news to share there, but unfortunately the date just keeps getting pushed back.

But, as Ann would tell me...practice eucharisteo. 

I am thankful for the beautiful day, weekend, and upcoming week.

I am so thankful I get to see my Kayli girl, and I am thankful she found herself a husband!

I hope you'll join me in counting your blessings this upcoming week...

It's quite fun!

Blessings,

Olivia

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Adorable Outdoor Table Makeover

Yes, another outdoor table makeover! Why? Because my parents love me! 

This cute little outdoor table and chairs was my first anniversary present from them!

Remember not that long ago when I shared my parent's outdoor patio table makeover?

The glass top had shattered, and they made it look all cute like with a wood top... ;)

You can read more about it HERE!

Anyways, one day my mom was at the dump dropping off the garbage and she saw the base of the table and chairs just sitting there. Yes, at the dump!! Looking all adorable and FREE. 

With her recent project in mind, she asked if she could have them. 

Of course she could have them! They were at the dump because they didn't have seats or a top!

(Ohhh silly, wasteful people....)

Just let my mother's creative mind get going (and my father's handy carpenter skills!!), and you've got your self a whole new table...and probably a much cuter one that how it looked originally.

It came with this lovely, natural patina. I love the chippy goodness! 

Maybe that was another reason it was at the dump, but my eyes are just like

CHIPPY = BEAUTIFUL! 

And then, there is this amazing color on top! The pictures don't even show how beautiful it is.

It's a combination of a few different colors I guess, so sorry, I can't tell you the exact name or anything.

It's like a blue/gray/emerald green/beautiful. 

Now I'm just missing the house and cute patio to put it on. ;)

Thanks mom and dad!!! Love yous!

Blessings,

Olivia

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The Most Precious Wedding Gift

This truly is the most precious wedding gift that my husband and I received from our wedding last summer. This lovely and hand-crafted ceramic dish was a gift from the Maid of Honer - my little sister.

My sister Maddie is a very talented artist in more ways then one. She has worked with about every medium now, but I remember back in the day when she would paint on scraps of wood. She is an amazing painter, cake decorator, sketcher, sculptor, musician, and overall creator. She constantly creates beauty! And I know she could make a career out of it is she chooses to do so.

It is tough to see in this picture, but underneath the crackled glass bottom it says our names and wedding date in the clay! You can kind of make out the 2013 right in the middle. That makes it even more personal and darling.

She actually made this gift in one of her advanced art classes in high school after Matt and I had gotten engaged and long before the wedding. She is good at keeping a secret I guess! If I would have created this beauty I would have been bragging about it to the world as soon as it was done!! She is a humble artist though, which makes her that much more lovable. 

I absolutely adore these white flowers along the edge! She just knows me too well...

There are seven of them too! This is exciting to me because the number seven means perfect and complete (in Biblical meaning). So I really like the number seven. Also it represents the month of July when we were married. 

These pretty flowers also came with the gift...she told me, "There are six, for the number of kids you two want to have." So sweet! :)  But now Matt and I better stick to what we said! Lets hope I like motherhood...

They even have holes that go through there bases so I can string them if I want to! She thought of it all, that wonderful sister of mine. 

Can you see why this is so precious to me? Such a beautiful, personal, one-of-a-kind gift. I love it so much, and I love my beautiful sister that created it!

Blessings,

Olivia

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