where's she been?

Yeah, it's been a little while since I posted.
Where've I been?
Aside from the normal goings on of life (which we'll get to) there has been a lot of analyzing and self-searching going on in this little brain of mine.  And if I'm totally honest, some insecurity too.  You know that lie where you think you need to have it all together to be worth sharing yourself with others?

Yeah, well I mistakenly buy into that from time to time but I'm always reminded that blogging is an outlet for me.  I don't always have something profound to say and that's ok.  This is my place to share my creative loves, my fragile soul and strengthening faith, as well as the little moments that I just don't want to forget.

On that note, here's little bit of what's been brewing at the "Hilltop Homestead" lately. Yep, I've dubbed the new place.  A little idea I stole from my sweet friend Amanda that I'm blessed to have "met" through blogging.  You should go check out her "half-acre-home-on-the-range" and "happy foods" garden over at Chaos and Coffee.

To say we love our new place is a bit of an understatement.  I am obsessed with the fields and skies that I am now blessed to see every day.  The only downfall of our new home is the wind, man it really whips living on the top of a hill!  The crazy disheveled hair it gives me is a small price to pay and Hubsy always liked me in a baseball cap anyway :)

Barns *sigh* I just love 'em!

My favorite field.

Sun setting right through the hole of a dilapidated barn....gorgeous.

The busyness of life has picked up a bit again as we head into spring which means Hubsy will be working all.the.time.  Boo.  These months are hard on us but we do our best to get through them, making memories where we can.

Sometimes a quick card game before bed helps us to unite as a family at the end of the day.

A little adventuring helps too - our first Geocaching experience - we're hooked!

Making our mark to make our new house a home.

Life is a cycle of resting and working, dreaming and growing. The secret is to treasure all of it!

Make it a great week friends ~ There is much to be thankful for and hopeful about!

not for me but for You

One of the greatest seasons us upon us.  No not Spring, not in Pittsburgh yet at least ;)  But that of the season of Lent which leads up to the ultimate celebration we have as Christians.  Easter Sunday, the day Jesus conquered death and with it, our sin.  Lent is a time of preparation we as believers experience through prayer, repentance, and sacrifice or self-denial.

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Self-denial is something we as humans really struggle with,  so deep rooted is it in us to seek our own pleasure.  But when we think of what Christ went through for us, that much love, that much pain endured...it becomes such an act of love to make some sort of small sacrifice in honor of Him.  Many times we only see the self-denial, the rules, the limitations.  We don't see the actual freedom that comes through obedience.  Obedience is hard for me even though I understand it will lead to a greater good.  Probably for many, but definitely for me.  Too many times I choose what I want "for the now" instead of what I need for eternity.  But I am learning.  And thank God He still loves such a beautiful mess as me anyway.

And so this year I am sacrificing sweets, and I'm a little nervous about it.  Lots of people give up sweets for lent, but they probably don't fret much about it.  You may have seen some of the healthy choices I've been making on Facebook and Instagram but don't be fooled,  I am still a hard-core sugar addict.  This is something that frustrates me to no end.  That I in my own power can't get control over it. 

I have given up sweets all-together for lent once before, about 10 years ago.  And have given them up a few times since then but I always built in a cheat for myself knowing how hard it was before.  Saying I'll give up sweets for all the days except Sundays or I'll give up sweets but I can still have one little piece of hard candy after dinner.  It's so foolish, I know.  I'm certainly not proud of this line of thinking.  But this year....this year with His grace I will truly do it.  Because I know that if I truly do it for Him and not for myself then He will provide the strength.  Those years before...I was really just doing it for myself.  To say I gave something up.  That I sacrificed something I love for Jesus.  But I didn't really do it at all.  It was a farce.  I am determined to make a true and honest sacrifice this year for my Lord, and I know He will help me when I call upon Him.

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One of the most difficult times that has caused me problems in the past is that both of my sons celebrate their birthdays during Lent.  It'll be tough to not participate in the birthday ritual of cake and ice cream.  It's easy to make the excuse that it is a special occasion, which indeed it is, but I'm too good at rationalizing.  I can find a  reason that every day is a special occasion ;)  I'm just going to have to focus on the other ways we celebrate and not just the cake an dice cream part.

Do you participate in Lent?  Are you sacrificing anything or perhaps adding something?




*PS - I also like to add something to my life during this season that I don't normally do.  This year I am doing the Renee Swope's "A Confident Heart" daily devotional. I can't wait to see how God will change me by committing to daily time with Him.

finish this | week 8

What a week! It seems like life has been all over the place this week.  It's fun to take a little break and "finish this" :)


1. My favorite comfort food is
Lasagna! Lasagna! Lasagna! That ooey-gooey-cheesy-metly goodness is just oh-so-hard to resist.  Hubsy's recipe is my favorite, he uses cottage cheese instead of ricotta.  And it's a rare treat too because he doesn't make it very often.

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2. My most memorable birthday was
my first birthday party with school friends.  My birthday is in the summer so I never got to celebrate it in school with my class and one year my parents had a party for me at our house with the whole class invited.  It was awesome for me at that young age and it really made me feel super special to be able to have a party with kids other than my cousins.  Most birthdays these days are pretty quiet, definitely no party involved.   Hmmm...maybe I need to remedy that ;)


3. The best karaoke song is
every song!  I am a singer, albeit a terrible one.  I love to belt out pretty much anything.  I used to get embarrassed when I was younger and I would be out running errands with my mom and she would start singing whatever song was on in the store.   I was all 'I don't know this lady, I just happen to be walking beside her'.  She would always laugh at me and tell me I would do the same thing to my kids one day.  And I totally DO!  I love to sing along to any song that's on and watch them roll their eyes at me.  Oh and Hubsy just loves it too, he's always telling me that "Karaoke night isn't until tomorrow" while he tries to mask himself behind his glasses/hand/hat whatever he can find to hide behind. 

4. Boots make me feel
sassy.  Whether it be fashionable knee high boots or hiking boots, they make me feel like I can tackle anything.

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5. I am grateful
for God's faithfulness this past year.  I used to suffer from TMJ pain pretty much daily.  After years of nothing my dentist or doctor recommended working, I finally pursued chiropractics and it has been a literal God-send.  I then began to suffer from significant fatigue and inability to focus.  I finally listened to the inner voice in my head telling me it wasn't just normal "mom-tired".  Went to have blood-work done and found out I was low on iron and been taking supplements ever since which has helped a good bit.  And just when we thought we had no hope of selling our house and moving to our humble hilltop homestead, God stepped in and found a way.  I prayed fervently in all of these areas and God answered, maybe not right away like I wanted ;) ...but in His time.  I am so blessed and so very very thankful for it.

Happy hump day!

link up here!

industrial farmhouse | wall decor

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As more and more painting gets completed at our little country house, we are finally starting to embark on the final touches of decor.  When it comes to making a house feel like a home, it's not until the wall decor begins to go up that it really comes together and feels like your sanctuary.  At least that's how I see it.

Farmhouse style is all about the richness of texture.  The more worn the better!  So I'm sharing some of my inspiration with those of you who enjoy this style of decorating as well.  Got a favorite?

1. DIY LOVE sign
2. old barnwood art
3. fine art photography - autumn
4. aqua bottle wall decor
5. farmhouse wreath
6. primitive candle sconce
7. hanging lantern

Happy Monday friends!
Make it a great week!

DIY body butter

Remember my post about eliminating?  I'm talking toxins here :)

Beauty products are at the top of the list as far as toxic exposure to your body.  I used to think of my skin as armor essentially.  But no, anything that goes on your skin get absorbed directly into your blood stream and bypasses your liver altogether!  Which is why your toxin exposure from beauty products is even more concerning than the ones from the foods you eat. 

Hey beauty products,, you've been warned!  You are first on my list to attack and reclaim health for my body.  Today I thought I'd share a great DIY and all natural (organic even) alternative to body lotion.

Behold the body butter.

It could not be easier and only consists of two ingredients...

 * 1 cup coconut oil (organic if you can)
 * 10-12 drops essential oil of your choice

That's it.  Easy right?  Put the coconut oil in a bowl, add your drops of essential oil (I used eucalyptus for a little pick me up), and mix on high for 6-7 minutes.  Whipping the coconut oil helps to give it a much smoother buttery texture.  The essential oil adds some lovely fragrance and depending on the one you pick can have additional health benefits as well!  Win-win.  Then get yourself a pretty little air-tight jar to keep it in.  I think this sweet mason jar works well don't you? 

Let me know if you give it a try, I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

finish this | link up week 6

This is my first link-up with Nicole {Three 31}, Lisa {The Coastal Chicster}, Becky {The Java Mama}, and Jen {The Arizona Russums}) for the weekly series called Finish This.  And with this being Valentine's week, the prompts are all about love-y dove-y stuff :)

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 1. I celebrate Valentine's Day by...

making some sort of love notes or something handmade.  Usually Valentine's Day, while important, does not get any room in the budget for gifts, so my instincts are to go to something handmade or service-y to show my love.  This year I made coupon books for my boys with little coupons for one-on-one time, extra video game time, and even a mandatory family dance party :)  Hubsy is getting little love notes hidden around the house, in his car, etc.  It will be fun to see how long it takes him to find them all :)

2. My heart goes pitter-patter for...

eyes that express adoration.  You know...."that" look.  The one Hubsy gives that says "you are awesome, I'm so hooked on you".  Yep...that one.

3. When looking for romance, my best advice is...

initiate.  Since I've been with Hubsy for almost 20 years, my advise is more for those already in a relationship.  Hold hands, even if your just running errands.  Be sure to hug him and take a moment to re-connect when he gets home from work.  Even just for those few seconds.  Give his bum back a little rub when you pass by ;)

4.  My favorite love story (real or fiction) is...

The Notebook...enough said.

5. The best relationship/love/dating advice I ever received was...

Hmm....this one is a toughie.  I don't think I've really been given much in the way of relationship advice but here are a few things I find to be true and inspiring.

Wishing you all a love-filled (in all its various forms) Valentine's day!

industrial farmhouse | lighting

When I first got married, I wanted everything in my home to be "just so" and look very "adult".  I think I was trying to convince myself that I truly was all grown-up ;)

Now I find myself gravitating to decor pieces that are constructed from substantial materials and perhaps a bit worn looking.  A reflection of how I view myself now ten years into marriage?  Maybe so!

I'm sure moving to the country has a wee bit of something to do with it as well.  Open fields, old barns, and run down bridges can be very inspirational!

One thing our sweet new abode needed was some new lighting.  And let me tell you, when it comes to industrial farmhouse style...the lighting is where its at!

Just look at these drool-worthy fixtures....such texture, such character!

1. chicken wire lantern
2. wrought iron sphere
3. classic bell pendant
4. harlowe wire and glass pendant
5. nautical lantern
6. whitney pendant


A unique light can make a huge impact on the feel of a room.  If you follow me on IG you'll know I went to my favorite source, Pottery Barn and chose this Rustic Glass Pendant.  Ain't she a beauty?!

Rustic Glass Pendant

I had so much fun picking out new lighting. 
Are you in the market for some new lighting? I hope these provide some inspiration for you as well!