Everything is AWESOME!

Last week we celebrated eleven years with Gabe. I just can't believe he is already eleven!
It was a rather Lego-y birthday, hence the title of this post... We had just seen The Lego Movie so we were singing, "Everything is Awesome" the whole time!

 Everyone thought that the little green candies were peas...

 A gluten-free, vanilla cake with cream cheese icing is always a good mix.

We usually don't have as many candles as we need, so we just put them in the shape of 11.

 Eli said that his drawing was Gabe's wedding suit.

 He got from cards to letters to...

 You guessed it, Legos!

I, too, got him some Legos.

 After cake we ate dinner. 'Cause what's a birthday without eating cake first?
We had a dinner of his choice. Corn on the cob and what we call, "meat muffins." 
 It was quite scrumptious.

I am so blessed to have Gabe as my brother. Our whole family is blessed by him.
 He has such a sweet heart and is always smiling. His happy attitude cheers us all up on rough days. 
We don't always get along, but he never holds a grudge.
 I love my bro. 

He's AWESOME!

Love,
Hagen

A Christmas Giveaway!

Hello Friends!
We are thrilled to announce our first ever giveaway!  We have to admit, it wasn't our idea originally. Thanks to Lauren at Musings of a Flower Child for the idea. Head on over there and check out her Vintage Christmas Giveaway!

It was so fun to collect all the items and of course we discovered them in thrift stores and flea markets or made them ourselves.

 The lucky winner will receive:

• Milk Glass candy dish
• Cocomels- Diary free caramels
• Vintage cookie tin
• Vintage pin
• Christmas paper art by Hagen
• Six pack of hand crocheted snowflakes by Layla 

This giveaway is not sponsored and is open to US residents.

The giveaway begins today, Dec. 14, 2013.

And will end Christmas eve, Dec. 24, 2013.

You have ten days, so hurry and enter and you just might be the lucky winner!

May the odds be ever in your favor!

Love,

Layla & Hagen

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hagen & the beach...

Hello Friends!

We didn't take any pictures for our usual Wednesday post, but I did snap a few of Hagen at the beach this weekend...

 

I really like this one. She brightens up my world!

Isn't she so darn cute?!?!

I hope you enjoyed these pictures...
Which is your favorite? Honestly, I can't pick!

Hope you are having an awesome week!
Blessings,
Layla 

Recipe: Lime-Orange Jello

Spring is here in Texas! We had a lot of rain last week, and now there are flowers popping up everywhere. I know Hagen is happy, she loves taking pictures of flowers! 

With the mild heat, we needed a nice treat to cool us off. I was short on ingredients, so went searching on the internet... I came across Whole New Mom's recipe for homemade jello. 

Here's my version...

What you need:

4 Tbsp gelatin

1/4 cup raw sugar

1 1/2 cups boiling water

3 cups cold water, divided

Juice from 4 limes 

Juice from 1 orange

1/2 tsp orange extract

1/2 tsp grated lime rind

1. Put gelatin in a large bowl, pour in 1 1/2 cups cold water. Allow gelatin to soften while water is boiling.

2. Add boiling water to gelatin, and stir until dissolved.

3. Add the remaining ingredients, including the other 1 1/2 cups cold water.

4. Pour into 13x9 pan.

5. Refrigerate until set, about 5 hours.

Enjoy!

I would like to try this recipe again, using honey as a sweetener. 

My younger siblings had never eaten Jell-O, it being full of sugar and who knows what! When I put a bowl of this homemade jello in front of them, they didn't know what to do with it!

    Do you like jello? If so, what is your favorite flavor?

Blessings,

Layla 

 

 

What She Wore Wednesdays- Wool Skirt

Hello friends!

I know today is Saturday, and you are probably bummed that we didn't do a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday post. I was on the truck with Dad this week and yesterday was my birthday, is that a good enough excuse? No, you say? Well, I am going to try to make it up to you and catch up on those posts....

This week we did pictures on the tracks again... it's so much fun!

Hagen went vintage with a really old wool skirt, a stripped button-up, flats, and curly hair!

 A close-up on her shirt. I love the floral fabric on the cuffs.

 Showing off her button bracelet she got for Christmas from her sweet friend.

-What She Wore-
wool skirt: from a friend $0
button-up: from a friend $0
flats: from a friend $0
 purple tank: Wal-Mart $3
 
Such a cute, vintage inspired outfit for only three dollars! I think that's amazing, what about you? And aren't friends amazing? I love hand-me-downs!


Now, I promise I will get you all caught up on the happenings around here, and maybe even do a little extra posting, to make it up to you...

Until next time...
Blessings,
Layla 

  

 

What She Wore Wednesdays- Striped Skirt

Hey dear friends!

Do you miss seeing our outfits? We miss posting them! I did a post, What She Wore, 2 weeks ago and now we want to start doing What She Wore Wednesdays. I think it should be fun. Now you will have more to look forward to, I hope!

I am posting my sister, Hagen's outfit. I have to say I absolutely LOVE her outfit! I was literally jumping around with excitement while I was taking her pictures!

 

I think she looks so vintage-y, but with her own twist!

Literally!  I am happy with how this little twisty up-do turned out. It took me all of 2 minutes to create, mostly because we didn't want to lose daylight! I am thinking of doing a little video tutorial. Would you be interested in that? 

 (( sigh))

 Bliss...

 <3

 

 As I have said many times before, she is amazing at posing!

It just comes naturally to her, I guess...

-What She Wore-

lacy top: Old Navy $6

skirt: made by her $0

jacket: Wal-mart $8

flats: from a friend $0

This adorable outfit cost only $14! And not to mention, she did a wonderful job of putting it together, don't you think?

I am looking forward to doing tomorrow's I <3 Thursday post, are you?

Blessings,

     Layla       

I ♥ Thursday {No. 3}

It's Thursday once again. So sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Layla's  ♥ 's

This is my favorite cleaner! It works on everything, and doesn't scratch. It has been around since 1886. It's only 98 cents at Wal-Mart!

 As I said last week, I am still loving skirts and cardis! But I am also loving boots and leggings, too!

  I am in love with my guitar this week. I finally memorized Amazing Grace! 

I am also loving this song. I love this folky music!



 Hagen's ♥'s

I have been wearing my hair in two messy braids this week.... And I love hats.....

I have been loving my keyboard! 
I thought this picture matched perfectly...  ♥

   
I also am loving ice sickles! 
I took this pic by the way.... :)

I LOVE this song! I've been singing it since I heard it! The video is cool too....


Well that's what we're loving! Hope you enjoyed!
What are you loving?
Blessings Layla & Hagen
 ♥

The Birthday Princess

This weekend, our little sister Matilda, turned 7. We celebrated with a very girly birthday tea party!

 She was so excited to lick the beater's. That's the best part, isn't it?

Cake and Cookies!
(I promise the recipe is coming soon!)

Best Friends and Sisters!

We are so blessed to have you as our little sister! You are so girly, yet you can stand up for yourself! You inspire us daily to be better sisters. We love you!

Hope you are having a wonderful beginning of the week! Blessings,
Layla & Hagen 
 

Beautiful Friends...

This year we have met so many wonderful people, who are beautiful inside and out.

I am blessed to know each of you, and I pray that with the new year will come a new and refreshed zeal for the Lord.

I also pray for you, whether you stumbled across here, or follow this blog... that you will be blessed this new year! Thank you for supporting our blog and listening to our ramblings. 
HAPPY NEW YEARS!
Blessings from the Lord,
Layla and Hagen