Handmade Half-Apron

I have been working on a new project this week and wanted to get it out to you guys in time for Christmas!

This is a ruffled half-apron, using some of Amy Butler's new fabric collection, "Love". I am absolutely in love with this fabric and think it goes together quite nicely to make a really fun, girly apron! The apron ties together nicely around your waist with a nice sash that can be tied into a cute little bow.

With Christmas right around the corner, I wanted to extend this to you guys--I think they would make great gifts!

Anyway, if you are interested in purchasing one please email me: benandashcarter@gmail.com

I am charging $25 each + shipping (probably between $4-5)

I am not putting it on etsy quite yet, so this is a special friends & family deal :) Also, if you like the design, but the fabric does not suit you, we can work on that too ;)

I think I'll go to Boston...

Ben and I sing that song around the house a lot...

I am not really sure why, we do kind of weird things when its just the two of us, but I think part of the reason that we sing that particular song is that we both would love to visit Boston some day.

and on Friday, Ben actually got to GO to Boston!

He got in from his flight on Thursday evening, and after the debrief was informed that he was going on a crosscountry to Boston, MA for the weekend.

Although it wasn't under the lax, vacation circumstances you would normally hope for, it was kind of cool to think that his job can take him there so easily!

But don't be too fooled by the mirage of coolness, because unfortunately this aviator had to study and flight plan the whole time he was there...bummer.

I wish I could have been a stowaway in the luggage. Maybe someday...

So it was just me and myself and I this weekend.

Thankfully, the other student that Ben flew with has a wife that he had to leave behind too, so Erin & I got to hang out with each other most of Saturday afternoon & even got to go to a free Lonestar concert. Good thing they are the only country band that I like.

I also took my pre-Nursing entrance exam this weekend & by God's EXTREME grace scored really well! (I wasn't exactly the most disciplined about studying for this one)

All in all, it was a good weekend--even though I missed Ben terribly. I didn't realize how lonely & boring it gets without my best friend at home. I am glad he is back :)

I almost feel famous...

So I can't really take any credit for this, but I just found out that the photographer for our wedding was a Top 10 image winner for this photo in contest for BRIDE magazine/WPJA.

Weird. But cool.

Here's the link to his post about it and the judge's comments if you care to take a look:

http://www.philipthomasblog.com/2009/10/13/top-ten-image-winner-for-2009-brides-magazinewpja-contest/

The judge's comment was touching, but almost made me laugh because this picture always reminds me of how out of it my mom was on that day. Seriously, she was in a daze, floating around the room...she hardly remembers coming up and putting her head on my shoulder at all. I guess thats why you hire a photographer!

But I do love this photo of me and my mama and I am glad that Philip is using it :).

yipes!

***UPDATE***

Just found out that Ben passed his first T-1 flight! Praise the Lord--thank you for your prayers!!

He did really well!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ben has his first flight in the T-1 today!! Definitely keep him in your prayers...we will let you know how it goes!!

ben's new friend...kind of

This is a picture of the T-1a Jayhawk, the Air Force Jet that Ben will soon be flying. We're still deciding whether it is really our friend or not.

For the past week, he has been getting really intimate with it and all its inner workings--learning everything about this little jet. Almost like getting to know a best friend or a spouse...but well, not as friendly or forgiving when you forget what one of its buttons do.

Ben has been taking test after test on the systems of this plane, its emergency procedures, and some other stuff that was probably too complicated for me to remember.

God has been really merciful to him and he has passed all of his tests so far! He has one more to take tomorrow, and then could start flying as soon as Wednesday.

He is pretty exhausted, actually we both are. Ben said that the Air Force should give me half a wing when he gets his wings because I help him study and kind of act as his wingman. :)

I'd be down with half a wing.

Anyway, the point is....these past couple of weeks have been hard. The Lord has really been sustaining us, but Ben especially is really exhausted and still has soooo much to do.

One of his instructors made an analogy of a flight student going through T-1 training as being like a person stranded on a little boat, with all of these vicious alligators coming at him/her.

To defend their self, the person has to club the nearest alligators first and focus primarily on them, but at the same time, keeping their eye on the alligators that are coming up behind the others, because if you drop your guard, they will get ya.

May sound a little silly to some of you, but it describes very well what Ben & the other students are going through. It seems as though they have this never ending list of things they have to get done and they have to slow down enough to decide which ones take priority, and use good time management to balance the rest.

So its one of those weeks where we know 100% that we won't get through it without the Lord's divine hand. Please pray with us that Ben will have energy & perseverance to get through this difficult week and that he will complete all the things expected of him this week. Pray that he will be a shining light to instructors & students and that the peace of God will guard his heart and his mind in Christ Jesus.

Just so you know...

Jesus answered my prayer today and fall came to Pensacola. :)

YAY! I am so thankful for this beautiful weather. Thank you Lord!

home decor idea

This is a picture of the wall in our dining area, right behind our dinner table. Although its a pretty bad picture, at a not so great angle ( I blame it on the overhead lamp...it always gets in the way), I wanted to post it because I got all these vases for super cheap!

So if you have a problem knowing what to do with some empty wall space, and want an inexpensive solution, here's one way to do it.

The wooden shelves were given to us by some friends who were simplifying their house, so we thankfully got those for free, but I am pretty sure you can find them at places like Home Depot or Lowes for pretty cheap. They were given to us in their "natural" form, so we used some black paint we had on hand and painted them up to match our dining room table.

Then I went to Ross (but Marshalls or TJ MAX is great too, depending on what you have in your area) and was able to find all these really fun vases for super cheap! We are talking like $3-6 dollars each! The total cost for the five vases was probably equal to the cost of one vase at a normal retail store.

So even if you just need some vases & aren't looking for any decorating ideas, seriously check out one of those discount stores--you just can't beat that!