Maggie Whitley Designs

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

  • mamahood
    • homeschool
    • Maxwell
    • Natalie
    • Marigold
    • Landon
    • baby things
  • faith
    • 23 identities we bear – PDF
  • inspiration
    • our home
    • books
    • lifestyle
    • marriage
    • homeschool
    • simple living
    • we’re debt free!
    • book recommendations
  • creativity
    • sewing
    • embroidery
    • tutorial/DIY
    • hair + beauty
    • craft project
    • knitting/crocheting
  • devotionals
    • (in)courage Devotional Bible
    • 31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer & Doer
    • Tanzania + Compassion
  • new? start here
You are here: Home / inspiration / for fun / Seeing beauty.

Seeing beauty.

October 28, 2013 · 7 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, seasons

perfume-gussy-sews

Our weekend came & went just as quickly as they always do, but this time it felt so much more beautiful. Zack and I have spent some serious time re-connecting this past week — you know how they say it’s so easy to get into a routine once you have a baby? Well, that was totally us. We knew we needed to put more effort into our day to day with each other, and slowly we have been. It’s been wonderful :) We’ve been starting the day with our Jesus Calling devo. Having morning coffee. Making sure a home cooked meal is on the table at night. On our walk Saturday through the neighborhood I couldn’t help but notice all the pretty leaves and flowers and colors, happening right before us. There’s so much beauty to be seen, and it’s usually right in front of me. I’ve been seeing it so much more quickly these last few weeks, and I think a large part of this is because a few relationships have been mended. It’s not always easy to forgive or to be vulnerable, but it’s always worth it.

Here are some things on my mind worth sharing, in no particular order //
1. Aren’t these the prettiest perfume bottles (photo shown above)? Found at Lundeens in Culver City, CA

2. Zack’s mom is coming to visit Tuesday, and shortly after that my parents are coming to visit. Family time = happy time :)

3. Reading this post about wearing a uniform has changed my perspective on how I get dressed, which makes me excited about getting dressed in the morning. It’s also made my goal of wearing a lot of color super fun/easy.

4. Cristina Robeck took our family photos yesterday (sneak peek is below) and you guys, I’m smiling so big! If you’re in the Los Angeles area you must contact her. She’s booking sessions for Christmas photos and I know you’ll be happy with the art she’ll capture for your family.

5. I had an incredibly freeing idea on Saturday evening while reading the book A Million Little Ways. If your nightstand is empty and you want to feel encouraged in your purpose, read Emily’s book. Your heart (and your dreams) will thank you.

6. Zack found a photo of me super pregnant with Maxwell and he can’t look away ;)

7. I’ve been planning our meals with the help of Pinterest and it’s made grocery shopping so much easier. I made this recipe last week and it was super delish, not to mention it was totally homemade and quick (30 mins).

8. Wanna giggle? ;D

flowers-gussy-sews

leaves-fussy-sews

fall-colors-gussy-sews

family-gussy-sews

There’s a lot of beauty this time of year, as things begin to change.

Do you see it?

Help us with our Gussy Sews community survey? 16 easy questions to answer. We’re giving away FOUR – $50 Gussy Sews gift cards as a little “thank you” for completing the survey.

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn


7 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, seasons

Join over 4,000 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

« Our Market Totes are on sale!
Enter to win a $100 Pear Tree Greatings gift card! »

Comments

  1. Cassie @ Live.Laugh.L0ve. says

    October 28, 2013 at 4:16 am

    I’m so happy y’all are reconnecting so soon rather than realizing it years later. Your photos are gorgeous, isn’t it amazing how much beauty there really is when you take the time to notice it?! :) I can’t wait to see the rest of y’all’s photos y’all got done! Such a beautiful little family! I’m also going to be buying that book ASAP!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 28, 2013 at 10:49 am

      @Cassie @ Live.Laugh.L0ve., Oh my gosh, yes. Yes to everything you wrote :) Did you buy the book yet?????

      Reply
  2. Diana Foree says

    October 28, 2013 at 7:06 am

    I always love your pictures of So. Cal and the flowers. When I see them, I miss seeing the ground cover and their colorful blooms and all the succulents everywhere. Of course, the great Fall and Winter weather too! Glad you had a special weekend with your family. Blessings

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 28, 2013 at 10:50 am

      @Diana Foree, Yesterday during our photoshoot we saw a succulent WALL! Ahhh, it was so gorgeous!

      Reply
  3. Maggie says

    October 28, 2013 at 7:39 am

    I love seeing pictures of Max! He’s so smiley!

    Reply
  4. Sarah says

    October 28, 2013 at 9:36 am

    everything is just so fun in this post. Love the family picture!!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 28, 2013 at 10:50 am

      @Sarah, Thanks Sarah!!! xo

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
READ MORE >>
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

recent posts:

  • On writing regular letters. January 19, 2021
  • The books I hope to read this year. January 12, 2021
  • Merry Christmas! Plus, adding a little warmth to my home. December 21, 2020
  • Life around here! December 15, 2020
  • 10 “field trips” ideas for your homeschoolers (Detroit & beyond) September 2, 2020
  • 7 books we are reading aloud this year August 19, 2020
  • A fall-themed homeschool resource! August 12, 2020
  • Studying the Bible July 30, 2020

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Join over 4,000 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

need some encouragement?

I wrote a 7-page refresher of the identities you bear when you are rooted in Christ. Click the image below to download, save + print.

TOPICS I WRITE ABOUT

maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
We’re driving home in the dark of the winter nig We’re driving home in the dark of the winter night after a beautiful, hard & intentional couple of days working on a project ✨I’m committed to work on this this year; 2021 is already great. 🤩🤐😘
Ohhhhh, this year. Ohhhh, specifically these last Ohhhhh, this year. Ohhhh, specifically these last 3 months. I’ve had more anxiety than ever, and it’s seriously putting me on my knees in prayer —almost daily. My mind and chest aren’t unfamiliar of the attacks, but the grip it’s had on me since September has been so strong. The attacks are painful. But... Worship music has been one of my main healers. 🎶I know God is close to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18), and singing this truth really soothes me. Social media has been a big trigger for anxiety for me. I don’t want to “miss out on my life”, which is why I’ve hugely stepped back in posting and scrolling. 

One song in particular comes to mind:

“We step into Freedom. 
We step into all you have for us.” -Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson

There IS freedom from the anxiety attacks. For me: music, scripture, eating healthy, vitamins, rest, crying, prayer, honesty — these things help tremendously. Also getting up and MOVING when my anxiety sits on me like a boulder, that helps too. 🖤

Another soothing truth is from the end of Psalm 34:19 — “many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the lord delivers him of them all.”

Seriously. Thank you lord. Thank you for music and for rest and for the words in your book. I need them. I need You. I need Your freedom. I trust you’ll deliver me.
Nearing the end of my “20 letters in 20 weeks” Nearing the end of my “20 letters in 20 weeks” challenge. Many stayed in Michigan, but mail was also sent to Colorado, Texas, California, Indiana, and Arizona. I loved this personal exercise! I have just one question: who will be my pen-pal for 2021? ✏️💌
We piled in the car this morning for a nature walk We piled in the car this morning for a nature walk. When I finally walked out and sat down, they shouted, “THE QUEEN! EVERYBODY CHEER FOR THE QUEEN!” (yes, they really call me that...☺️💓☺️)

I brought our basket of mittens and gloves and hats. The older two brought RC cars. Bauer the dog came along; we had a wonderful time on our walk.

The afternoon was harder, but overall the day was sandwiched between two really sweet time slots.

Bedtime tonight was wonderful. We read two chapters from our read aloud and Max lost another baby tooth.

This job I have, it really wears me down AND fills me up. It’s a constant take away AND fill up. Even when the moments feel so fitful, I know the story is rich. 

🕯🌙 Hello, sweet slumber. You’re carrying my babies away to a peaceful land. Goodnight, my children. Goodnight.

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodissanctifying #naturewalk #michigan
There’s a woman on Instagram I check on every co There’s a woman on Instagram I check on every couple of weeks because she is so sparkly & cheerful. She shares little pep talks, she wears fuchsia lipstick. She says, “like so, like that” when she’s explaining something. She’s a hoot. I love the joy that bursts from her eyes when she talks. In her own unique ways, her perspectives pull back the fog I often find myself in. I’m a weary mama, and her energy and gentleness feels nurturing, though I haven’t met her... I would love to meet her. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼I’m inspired by the snippets of life she shares online. Thank you, Tabitha for sharing your light. 🕯💓💄🌿@iamtabithabrown
What has kept you and your home busy as of late? F What has kept you and your home busy as of late? For us, it’s this…

The sound of Julia Robert’s calming voice is playing in the background of our playroom. Yesterday we finished another read aloud, Charlotte’s Web, so today my children are watching the movie. Knowing in-detail the lessons they are learning, along with reading books together, definitely adds to the joy of motherhood; the joy of teaching my children and being with them for so many hours each day. We experience so much together. Even when things feel chaotic at home, when I can’t call something by the correct name they still long to be near me and work alongside me. Tired has been a dear companion to me for the last seven years, but my children are gentle with their responses.

💞💬More on my blog! #maggiewhitleydotcom
It’s the season of perpetual hope. 🎄✨📖Of It’s the season of perpetual hope. 🎄✨📖Of books that shape our minds, of anticipation, of creative projects that mar our kiddos clothing (but morph our memories into beauty). Oh right! There are cookies cooling on the counter — gotta go! ✌🏻
Keeping my hands busy (making wooden bead garland Keeping my hands busy (making wooden bead garland for our tree; link posted to Stories) and my mind inspired (watching HGTV). I really enjoy the quiet of the evening after a full, rich day. God is so kind to give this to me today. What have you received today? 🎄💫📿
This guy is my steady; my Zack. This is a latergra This guy is my steady; my Zack. This is a latergram from October, from one of our many fall adventures with the kids. We had so many fun day trips, I don’t even remember where this was taken 👏🏻⭐️. I’m gonna guess Cranbrook Gardens.
This morning I sat on the front porch and read my This morning I sat on the front porch and read my book & drank coffee. The birds were with me, nearly a hundred of them. Fluttering from rooftop to treetop to hiding inside the bushes. So beautiful and calm. Mother culture... the path to joy in motherhood & homemaking.
Well kiddos, we had a great summer together! 🥳👏🏻🛴⛱🍦🤸🏼‍♀️🎨🎹🏊🏻‍♂️🧺🎠📚📺🍿🌿🌷☀️🚲

Thanks for coming along with me to the pool, nature trails, the park, hosting friends in our backyard, reading adventures, popcorn & movie night, art, planting flowers, planting a garden, bike rides, neighborhood walks, lake swimming, and supplying the ice cream truck w/ roughly $84 this summer. 

I loved our time together! 🥰🧒🏼👩🏻👧🏼🧒🏻

And the great news is this: we have autumn to enjoy together, too! 👏🏻🌾🍃🍂 so thankful.
Even if you don’t have students learning at home Even if you don’t have students learning at home, these ten “field trip” ideas will give your day a boost. 

When your mind feels foggy, step outside. When your home feels too small or too big, step outside. When the bickering is loud or your internal criticism is high, step outside. 

Give yourself (and your family) the joy of an adventure away from the home. 

🌾Visit my blog for the full post, link in profile or #maggiewhitleydotcom
It’s come to my realization there’s plenty of It’s come to my realization there’s plenty of time these days to craft a letter when I wash dishes, take my kids on a walk, or take care of our garden. All that silence, it makes my internal monologue even louder 🤣. 

Many times we are out & about in the neighborhood and I think, “oh the flowers surrounding your porch are lovely!” Or, “wow” (to the elderly man) “you have such a great smile, thanks for sharing it with us!” Wouldn’t it be great to jot that down in a card and send it through the mail as well?

We are always in need of community & kind words! 🌷💬

I remember many years ago, when nearly pregnant with another baby and our personal finances were THE PITS, my best friend came over with $500 cash. Just to bless us. She also included a personal note. Of course, I’ve always known how special personal notes are, but this card really meant so much.

And so I’ve decided as the year-end nears: wouldn’t it be nice to send a letter a week for the final 20 weeks we have left in 2020. Me thinks so 🙂. 

Community & kind words: I’m coming for you!

PS. wanna join me in sending 20 cards by Dec. 31?
🖤working on our school room, mid-process update 🖤working on our school room, mid-process update! this wall is inspired by @mygrandparentschair 👏🏻 

I saw her feature in a recent issue of “Better Homes & Gardens” and I was all 🤩🤩over her foyer. I’m using 1/2” black masking tape (mistake-making friendly) instead of paint, also renter friendly. 

Working on this project has been so good for my mental health. Doing > worrying.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

POPULAR POSTS:

  • How we paid off over $65K in debt in 3 years
  • Gift wrap made from Real Simple magazine
  • Living with joy & refreshment
  • Having a TV detox & minimizing our toys
  • How we paid off $42K in debt in 2 years
  • How to style your wavy (or curly) hair
  • How to sew a zippered pouch
  • How to accurately price your handmade items
  • How we are getting out of debt
  • How to make a freedom change
  • What to focus on when you "stay at home"
  • Twenty "20-minute crafts" you must try
  • Having something to look forward to

devotionals written by Maggie:

the (in)courage Devotional Bible:
Proverbs 14:1 and Lamentations 5
31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer and Doer:
on Simplicity

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.