Texas Thanksgiving and this week....

So, we had a great week visiting Chris' family in Texas. It was a looooooong car trip down there (and an even longer one back), but we are so thankful for the time we got to spend with each of them. Our boys were in serious need of some grandparent and cousin time and we so loved catching up with brothers and sisters. There are some really exciting things going on in our family!!

We did some birthday celebrating!

I'm still a little in shock at the fact that I have a 6 year-old!! It's craziness!

We spent some great time with cousins in Arlington and did a little trip to Legoland for the birthday boys!

We had an amazing Thanksgiving feast at the B&N Otts Inn in Austin! : ) They cooked up an amazing meal and we got a surprise visit from Chris' sister Brooke...who flew in from Cali. It was a great week!!

We are glad to be home though and I'm ready to get things in gear for the Handmade Hope Christmas Boutique this Saturday here in Wheaton!! I've got tons to do and tons to make between now and Friday night!! Lord, help me!

So, it's going to be a bit of a crazy week! But, we have so much to be thankful for and our cups are very full! 

Hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving!!

New Items in the Shop!!

I've been crazy busy trying to get stuff done for my trunk show last week, 

the Handmade Hope Christmas Boutique in a couple of weeks,

and a little retail show after that. WHEW! 

It's been crazy...but I realized that I still really need to get some inventory listed on

my actual site for all the lovely people who might check it out and want to do 

some holiday shopping.

So...I've listed a few new things for you to check out!

Like this little heart elastic headband for little ladies...

Or a pretty layer flower hair clip...

or a pretty flower elastic headband...

or maybe a little something special for you!!!

So go check it out here!!!

Hope you are having a great Thursday!

The weekend is just around the corner!! YAY! : )

Handmade Hope with Hand & Cloth

So, I'm helping to create a Christmas Boutique here in Wheaton!

It's my first time organizing and event like this...it's a little overwhelming

and a whole lotta fun! HA!

So, I thought that occasionally I would link up posts that I've been doing on the Handmade Hope blog and let you guys in on some of the amazing vendors that will be there and some of the amazing organizations that will be represented as well.

Today, it's Hand & Cloth...and organization that provides dignified work for women at risk and coming our of trafficking. It's amazing! They create the most beautiful handmade blankets from saris! 

Need a gift for someone?? You just found it!

Come check it out here!

Otts' Family Thankful Tree

First of all, it seems that I may have not  have finished my Happy Day project...

needless to say, we have had a very busy last few days!!

The most important thing that happened was this amazing conference on Saturday...

Wow!! I'm still processing all the amazing things that God spoke 

at this conference.

Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be unpacking it here over the coming weeks!

But, today...I wanted to share our little (and free!) 

family project for Thanksgiving!

I first saw the idea here...and actually at my fabulous friends Shelby's house too!

Isn't it cute?! God has been speaking to us a lot about 

cultivating thankfulness

and this is a great way to do it and add a little fall decor to your house.

Also, my boys LOVED doing it too!!

I have a pitcher on my dining room table that I figured would be perfect for our

thankful tree!

Gavin with our new tree! Sticks from the yard, some extra card stock, 

a paper punch, and some yarn...DONE!!

We each wrote what we are thankful for on each tag. Mine was that I'm thankful

we get to go home to Texas for Thanksgiving!!

The boys were thankful A LOT for Legos! HA! They also drew pictures of family members...

it is really sweet!

So, there's a lovely project for you for fall...not to mention free which is always fun!

I'm also about to print out a cute chevron "give thanks" banner from Pinterest! YAY!

Have you printed out this yet??

My lovely friend, Megan, has this wonderful printable on her blog!

Mine is on a shelf in my living room! Beautiful!

Hope you're having a wonderful fall day!

We have much to be thankful for!

Linking up with...

Happy Day Project: Day 4

Buy a book for a friend...that's the challenge for today!

I've been dying to read this book...

ever since I watched this video...

Watch it!! If you hear yourself this in video then you should read this book too!

I really feel like God is going to speak something really good to my heart through this book and I'm so excited about it!

I have an amazing friend, Shelby, who I so wanted to read this book as well...but I couldn't afford to buy a book for me and a book for her...so, I ordered one while it was crazy on sale online and figured I'd read it really quickly and pass it along to Shelby.

But, then, this amazing lady from

sent me a text this morning saying that for her Happy Day Project...she would be sending me a copy of "Grace for the Good Girl" and guess what???

it's even signed by Mrs. Emily herself...what? So awesome!

Isn't it funny how we give out of our own need and God sees our desires and blesses us in the most unexpected ways through amazing people in our lives!

I love that about Him!

Thank you, sweet Jenni!

And, Shelby, I have a book to give you! HA!!

*Oh, and on a side note...we have our first vendor's meeting for our Christmas Boutique here in Wheaton! So excited to talk to everyone and really get the ball rolling!!

Check out our event Blog!

Happy Day Project: Day 3

Day 3: Give a gift card to someone who is homeless

So, I jumped into the Happy Day Project loving the idea of being challenged

to do an act of kindness every day this week alongside 

others all over the country. It's an exciting thing!

However, after looking at the challenges, I also realized that some of them 

would not be easy for me to do and would need some adapting.

We are very tight financially right now as my husband looks for a job here 

in Chicago...so...buying a gift card, or a book, or ANYTHING

is next to impossible.

But, I didn't want this to stop me from taking on the spirit if the challenge.

So, I've just had to make modifications along the way...

"ain't no thang!"

So, today...instead of a gift card to someone in need...

we sent a food donation to Micah's school for the annual food drive!

I know what you're thinking...hot chocolate?? It was on the list...promise!!
And everyone deserves a treat, right?! HA!

Someone will be blessed by our small but yummy donation 

AND we had an opportunity to show our boys how we can

help others in need! WIN WIN!

Happy Day!!

Happy Day Project: Day 2

Write a handwritten note to someone...

I honestly can't remember the last time I wrote a letter to someone without a reason...

like to thank them or tell them congratulations.

So, I LOVE this challenge today, because

it encourages me to do something I rarely do.

I love getting letters in the mail...

honestly, any mail that isn't a bill is a blessing.

An Anthro catalogue, a letter, a package of supplies

 for my shop. I love it all! HA!

Heather at Life Made Lovely made this beautiful printable

paper that I'm writing my note on today!!

I can't wait to give it to someone...

Don't forget to check out Joy's Hope for today's printable 

and charity!!

Oh...and write someone a letter today!

It's cold and rainy here...

a perfect day to write a note and work my tail off 

for my first ever Trunk Show TOMORROW!!!

WHAT?!