But there’s something worth seeing here.

Do you have a fake family? I do. It’s the one I made up in my head and it gives my real family an impossibly high standard to reach. My fake family never fights during game night, they sweetly try a few bites of everything on their plates, and they never leave their dirty underpants on the bathroom floor.

My fake family and my real family have been duking it out in my brain lately. I suspect that Jen Hatmaker’s fake family lives next door to my fake family.

Nothing to See Here is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

Hi sweet friends! I hope you’re all enjoying your Memorial Day weekend. We’re in the midst of our annual Memorial Day mowing of the grass, planting of the flowers, and mulching of the beds. Such traditions we have.

But, I had to take a second to share a fabulous new site that I discovered this week. It’s Heartsy.me and it’s sort of like Groupon for handmade stuff mostly on Etsy. If that doesn’t mean anything to you, here’s the explanation direction from Heartsy.

Here’s how it works…In order to promote their fabulous goodies, Etsy sellers offer a Heartsy deal that lets you purchase a credit to their shop at a deeply discounted price.

The links to Heartsy in this post are referral links. If you sign up using my referral link, we SHARE a $10 credit when you purchase your first deal, . You get $5 and I get $5!!!!

For example, the seller that makes these necklaces (and lots of others!) is offering a Heartsy deal where you can buy a $45 credit to her shop for only $18! That’s a 60% discount! That necklace normally sells for $43 plus $2 shipping, so you can snap it up for only $18!

Here’s another one…

Later today, the seller who makes this handmade soap is offering a $25 store credit for only $10. I adore handmade soap, so I’m all over this one. If you’ve never used handmade soap, you’re missing out. The bars last a ridiculously long time and the smells are fab.

Heartsy offers something called a VIP Membership which lets you purchase tomorrow’s deals today and gets you extra credit on certain deals. For example, on the soap deal above, as a VIP, you would get a $35 credit (rather than $25) for your $10. But the VIP membership costs $7.99 a month so it’s only worth it if you think you’ll do a lot of buying. I’m sticking with the free membership for now.

The deals change everyday and you should check out each seller’s shop to make sure there’s something in it that you want before you purchase a deal. New deals go live each weekday so there’s always something new to check out.

Have fun with Heartsy and let me know what you think!

Deals on Etsy Stuff with Heartsy is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

I had such a ball with DIY Day ~ The Outdoor Edition this week! I loved seeing all of your outdoor projects. Maybe we’ll do it again soon with a different theme.

Here are just a few of my favorite things this week.

Chalkboard patio table @ Mother Load (Fun for the grown-ups AND the kids!)

Light fixture terrariums @ Zoom In (She made tons of these for her daughter’s wedding reception. Genius!)

This kitchen makeover from Family BLT is nothing short of spectacular! You have to click over to see the “befores”.

I desperately want to turn an old shed into a man cave for all my boys after seeing this awesome man cave space @ 3 Sunkissed Boys.

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I have been terribly remiss and not announcing a winner from fabulous Vintage Pearl giveaway. Forgive me! The winner of the $50 gift certificate from The Vintage Pearl is…Cheryl (no blog, but the “honda” address). Congratulations, Cheryl! I’ll be emailing you!

Favorite Things is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

Unplanned post here, but I got an email from Fabric.com and there are some smoking deals over there! This is important! Everything in the clearance area is an additional 30% off, if you use the coupon code below.

Save an additional 30% off Clearance at Fabric.com! Offer valid through 6/28/10 with code “CLEAR622″

Go into the Home Decor clearance, then the 65% off area for some awesome deals on trim, fringe and tassels.

There’s this 6″ bullion fringe that’s $1.95/yard after the discount. That’s CRAZY!

This 5.5″ chenille loop fringe would be $2.20/yard after the discount.

This brush fringe would be 73 CENTS/yard! Yes. 73 CENTS! As in, less than 3 quarters.

There are also some great deals on fabric that are worth checking out

I’m thinking about snagging some of this houndstooth check to recover some chair seats.

And this floral for coordinating pillows. They’re both in the 50% off area and would be $3.84/yard after the discount.

And Fabric.com always has free shipping on orders of $35+. No coupon required!

Save an additional 30% off Clearance at Fabric.com! Offer valid through 6/28/10 with code “CLEAR622″

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Fabric.com. Or maybe they’re an affiliate of mine? Either way, that means that if you click on my link and buy something from them, I get a small percent of the sale.

Cheap Fabric, Tassel and Fringe Alert!!! is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

You all brought tears to my eyes with your sweet comments and emails about DIY Day ~ The Season Finale. Thank you.

Here are a few of my Favorite Things from this week.

photo: Bill Israel

8 Ways to Find Motivation at Home @ Simple Mom

Lamp Revamp @ Lemon Tree Creations

Angie madeover her IKEA island using beadboard @ Seriously a Homemaker.

A bling-y DIY chandelier using hanging flower baskets!! @ Brassy Apple

Oh how I love Centsational Girl’s Patriotic Porch.

Favorite Things is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

We’ve built 2 houses in the last 8 years. We either like the process or we’re certifiably insane. Maybe a little of both. And while we love the home that we’re living in now, there are definitely some drawbacks that we’ll be dealing with this weekend.

Here’s what I see as the 3 biggest downsides of building a home vs. buying an existing home. Trees, trees and trees. Or perhaps more accurately, the lack of trees.

I don’t know how it works in the rest of the country, but in the midwest/northeast, new homes are usually built on reclaimed farm land. That means no trees. And if your land happens to have a few trees on it, chances are, the builder is going to clear them away to make the construction process easier. I know. All the environmentalists just had a heart-attack. But please don’t shoot the messenger. I hate it too.

Over the last 2 years, we’ve been slowly adding trees in the hopes of having shade and privacy before our kids go to collage. Last summer, we got a killer deal on 3 big dogwood trees that a local nursery couldn’t keep because they were getting too big. They cut us a major deal to take them all.

More often, we find smaller trees and hope that the deer don’t eat them to the ground before they get bigger.

And sometimes new trees don’t grow exactly how you envision and you end up with something like this Dr. Seuss looking maple tree. Or maybe it looks like a strangely shaved poodle?

So, this weekend, the re-forestation process continues. We’ll be planting 11 (yes, 11) evergreen trees (norway and serbian spruce for those who care). By Monday, I anticipate that we’ll be needing lots of Ben-Gay, ibuprofen and heating pads.

Somehow Memorial Day weekend is always a major work weekend at our house. Sounds more like Labor Day, don’t you think?

What are your plans for the weekend? Have you ever planted your own trees?

Note: If you’ve ever considered building a house because you think you’ll get what you want, think again. Unless you have an enormous/unlimited budget, you’ll always make compromises. You give up some things that you want in exchange for other things you want more.

In our case, we focused on the basic structure and layout of the house…the room sizes, configuration and positioning that we wanted…that meant giving up some other things like a gorgeous front porch. I dream of the day when we can afford to add the porch of my dreams.

Our Weekend Plans ~ The Downside of New Construction is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me.

Sunday Morning is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

Hey y’all! I’ve been interviewed over at the Modern Bird Studios blog. But this is no ordinary interview. Come learn why Martha Stewart has a restraining order against me and what my guiltiest pleasure is.

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway from Modern Bird Studios! It’s pure awesomesauce.

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I also have a bunch of giveaway winners to announce! The winners of the $50 Home Depot gift cards from DIY Day with Underwriters Laboratories are:

Lily’s Pad and Petals
Vintage Dutch Girl
House of Hepworths
Emma Calls Me Mama
Shine Your Light

Congratulations! If you haven’t already heard from me, then shoot me an email and we’ll get you set up!

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Finally, a HUGE thank you to my top referrers for the month of April! You rock!

• Thrifty Decor Chick
• Centsational Girl
• Beneath My Heart
• Hooked on Houses
• infarrantly creative
• The Inspired Room
• Swagbucks
• Blue Cricket Design
• The Shabby Nest
• Buzzings of a Queen Bee
• HGTV Blog

An Interview and Other Stuff is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

The devastation in the country of Haiti right now is unimaginable to me. I can’t wrap my mind around that kind of human suffering. I’ll be honest, sometimes my instinct is to turn away because I feel so helpless.

But that’s not what we’re called to do. We’re called to help in whatever way we can. Most of us can’t send boatloads of supplies or truckloads of cash. But most of us can help in a small way. And all those small ways can add up to a whole lot of help.

Within hours of the earthquake in Haiti, the Hope for Haiti blog had been created to raise monetary donations for the Red Cross and Compassion International (my favorite international aid organization).

At Hope for Haiti, you can donate as little as $1 and have a chance to win a fantastic prize. Among many other things, you can win 2 months of advertising on ASPTL for your shop or your blog! A $1 donation gets you 1 entry, $10 gets you 10 entries, $1,000,000 gets you 1,000,000 entries. You get the idea.

There are tons of prizes available, so check it out.

Hope For Haiti is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Photo credit: Dru!

Sunday Morning is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

Welcome to DIY Day! Are you ready to share your latest project?

If you’re new here, every Tuesday we get together to share our newest DIY projects. I’m really flexible about what constitutes a DIY project. A furniture makeover, an outdoor project, a holiday craft, some new artwork…maybe a great recipe?

Today we have a fantastic prize from my newest sponsor, YouCanMakeThis.com. This one is going to make all you DIYers/crafters/seamstresses flip your lids. YouCanMakeThis.com was launched in 2006 by Kim Christopherson, a mother of three, who wanted to share her expertise in creating handmade items.

Personalized Name Pillows

Kim reached out to other designers and together they began creating detailed, step-by-step guides that anyone could use to create beautiful projects to keep, give or even sell!

Reversible Patchwork Bucket Hat for Girls or Boys

YouCanMakeThis.com now has hundreds and hundreds (maybe thousands?) of downloadable patterns and How-to eBooks written by over 200 different designers. Each eBook gives you high quality instructions and patterns for fun projects that can be used over and over again.

She Loves Me, She Loves Me KNOT Handbag

One lucky winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to spend at YouCanMakeThis.com. All you have to do is link up a post to DIY Day this week. Maybe you’ll want to try your hand at the Reversible Wrap Skirt, the Sweetheart Crochet Scarf pattern or these fun Glass Jewelry Pendants.

There are even a few freebies at YouCanMakeThis.com! This tutorial for Frayed Rosettes is awesome! And it’s FREE!

Now let’s see those projects! Please…

1. Include a short description of your DIY project in parenthesis after the name of your blog. This helps people browse the HUGE number of projects. And you get MORE clicks!
2. Link to your specific post, not the main page of your blog. I HATE having to delete these. It makes me feel like a big meanie.
3. Link to this party from your post so everyone can get in on the fun.

Powered by MckLinky

DIY Day with YouCanMakeThis.com is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.

Psalm: 20:1-5

photo: Connieth

Sunday Morning is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

I’m happy that I moved my blog to WordPress, but there are a couple of Blogger things that I miss. One of them is being able to see all of your pretty faces when you comment on my posts. Since most of you have Blogger accounts (even if you don’t have a blog), your picture showed up next to your comments.

Hi Alisa!

I liked that. It helped me put your faces with your names and feel like I know you better. (It also prepared me to stalk you should I ever see you at that mall.) But now, I see a whole lot of this…

And this…

Did you know that you can have your picture pop up whenever you comment on WordPress blogs? I’m no genius when it comes to technical things, but I did it and it’s easy.

You just create a Gravitar account (and add your picture) and then whenever you comment on a WordPress blog, your picture shows up. Poof! Easy like pie.

PS. It’s free. I like free.

PPS. Come on. Try it. You know you wanna.

I Want to See Your Face is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.

The LORD’S loving kindnesses never cease, For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”

Lamentations 3:21-24

photo credit: dlemieux

Sunday Morning is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

If you like something new and a little funky:

And if you’re more of a classic:

Either way. Amen and Amen.

Sunday Morning is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

photo credit: James Jordan

Sunday Morning is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:11-12

photo credit: Hamed Saber

Sunday Morning is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

photo credit: Chantrybee

Sunday Morning is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

Leen the Graphics Queen (Trendy Home Decor Wall Decals)

Pink Pig (Utterly charming gifts)

Party Cupcake Ideas (Cupcake ideas for weddings, showers and parties)

Purple Lemon Designs (Customized stamps and stationery)

Feather Your Nest (Specialty gifts and housewares)

DISChangers (Adhesive disc plate hangers)

Sticviews (Personalized prints that go anywhere)

Business Minded (The Etsy sellers success kit)

These sponsors (and others before them) keep me supplied with spray paint and hot glue (and they help feed my kids too). I adore them!

Are you ready for some great Christmas projects? Check out my new eBook!

HUGE Thank You to ASPTL Sponsors is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friend. I hope that enjoy a day of love, laughter and gratefulness with your family and friends.

I am grateful for you.

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart is a post from: A Soft Place to Land

We have finally managed to sort out the issues with my wonky Google Friend Connect. If you joined my new site on Monday, you’ll need to sign up again with my Google Friend Connect thingy. The only way to fix the problem was to trash it and start over. So please add your pretty face again. Then my posts will show up in your Blogger Dashboard. Sorry!