Grace at Home No. 446

Hello friends! Welcome to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes and spheres of influence places of grace and beauty.

In case you haven't already seen it, I want to be sure you know about a wonderful giveaway. I know, I know--it's easy to think that internet giveaways are just a scam, but this one is not--it's just a group of women who are pooling resources to offer two great prizes. The first prize is a $225 gift card to the retailer of your choice (yes, you get to pick any store!). The second prize is a package of books and other gifts, with a value of over $200. My book Mythical Me is one of the prizes in that second package. If you'd like to enter, simply click here for all the details.  There are multiple ways to gain more entries, and you can do as many or as few as you like.

Here are some links from last week's party I think you'll enjoy.

Do your dining chairs need an update? Niky from The House on Silverado recovered hers easily and cheaply--and she shows you exactly how to do it.

Would you like to have a wreath that can welcome folks during the fall and then transition to Christmas? Elizabeth from Pinecones and Acorns will show you how to make this gorgeous wreath (no glue or wire required!).

Want to get a head start on Christmas decorating? Lisa from Fresh Vintage by Lisa teaches how to stencil with more than one color (and I love her idea of stenciling on a blackboard!).  

Looking for an elegant side dish for Thanksgiving dinner? Renae from Peacock Ridge Farm can help! Check out her baked sweet potatoes with maple glaze.

Or maybe you'd like something simple and fun to greet your guests. Linda from Crafts a la Mode will show you how to make this fun cheese ball.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful day for giving thanks--but how do you make giving thanks a daily habit? Michele Morin from Living Our Days can help.

And Lauren from LaurenSparks.net can help you to persevere in thankfulness.

Of course, the Advent season begins right after Thanksgiving. If you're looking for a prayer guide to use during Advent, I'd be delighted to give you one. Click here to gain access to several free resources, including Waiting Together: An Advent Prayer Companion.

Thank you to everyone who linked up!

Now for today's party.  Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your space with truth, goodness, and beauty. I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you.  Please include the permalink to your post, not your blog's home page.  Please let people know that you've linked up.  No more than three posts per person, please.  Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo.  And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

An amazing giveaway

Friends, have I got good news! Just in time for the holidays, I have an amazing giveaway to share with you.

I know, I know--it's easy to be skeptical about online giveaways, but I promise you that this one is legitimate. It's easy to enter, and there are two prizes. That's right: two separate winners will be selected.

 

Here's the scoop. My friend Becky Beresford lovingly cares for a community of women she calls "Brave Women." Once a week she features a writer sharing the way she's found courage (click here to read the way I needed courage). 

Well, Becky is celebrating the three-year anniversary of this community, and to celebrate several of us "Brave Women" writers have teamed up to offer prizes to two lucky winners. Here we are:

The first prize is a $225 gift card to your choice of retailers (seriously, you get to choose!).

The second prize is an amazing package worth over $200, and it includes all these goodies:

You could enjoy all these gifts yourself or give away each piece and bless a bunch of people in your life.

All the details of the giveaway can be found here. You'll see that there are lots of ways for you to gain entries; you can simply complete the ones that work for you.

This giveaway isn't sponsored by anyone except this group of writers. There's no catch; we just pooled our resources to bless two readers.

I would be so happy if two of you were the winners of these fabulous prizes! 

Grace at Home No. 445

Hello, friends! 

If you're in the U.S., you know that today is Veteran's Day. If you're like me, there are some special veterans in your life. Here's my favorite:

That's my son Will, who is a pilot with the U.S. Navy.  Actually, Will is still on active duty, and he was deployed when his son was born. Seeing the sacrifices Will and his family make has made me even more appreciative of the men and women who serve in our armed forces, so this day when we pause to appreciate all veterans means a lot to me.

Today I'm happy to share with you some highlights from the last Grace at Home party. 

Thanksgiving is approaching! If you're planning to host Thanksgiving dinner this year (I am, praise God!), you might like these ideas for decorating.

Lori from Dining Delight created a beautiful tiered tray for her kitchen. 

Ann from Ann's Entitled Life made a silk flower swag for a lantern, and she gives step-by-step directions for making your own.

MaryJo from MasterPIECES of My Life shows how you can make a beautiful centerpiece for any season just but filling a wooden bowl. 

Planning a road trip for Thanksgiving? If you have little children, you'll appreciate this post from Dave and Jamie of PhotoJeepers.

If you have little ones at home, you might want to make some fun pumpkin pie playdough. Joy from Artful Homemaking shares her recipe.

Would you like to incorporate some lighter fare into your Thanksgiving dinner this year? Jennifer from Wanderlust and Wellness shares a beautiful spinach salad recipe that looks just right for the Thanksgiving table!

As Thanksgiving approaches this year, most of us are seeing many more people than we were at this time last year. I was challenged and encouraged by this post from Amy at Wasteland to Graceland: As One Who Has Received Grace, Am I Living a Life of Grace?

And on a very practical note, Michele Morin from Living Our Days shares a simple way to hit our "mental reset button." 

Thank you to everyone who linked up!

Now for today's party.  Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your space with truth, goodness, and beauty. I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you.  Please include the permalink to your post, not your blog's home page.  Please let people know that you've linked up.  No more than three posts per person, please.  Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo.  And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter