Uncategorized

You are Awesome!

Jun 13 2018 Leave a Comment

In this week’s blog post, I just want to talk to you about you.

You are Awesome!

I don’t know you, so how can I know that you’re awesome? It’s simple. You and I are children of God and God don’t do mediocre.

Everyone I know is amazing (even the ones that I don’t necessarily like). I try every day to see the spark of God in everyone I meet. Each and every person has the light in them and I love to take the time to learn what that spark is.

The Special Light

Every once in a while, we meet someone who has that special light about them. They have a glow that tells you that they have a powerful and special connection with God and Jesus. That relationship can change how someone behaves and I love meeting people who are walking in the light.

God is Everywhere

Those special people are sometimes people whose faith I don’t know. They might not go to my church or even believe what I do, but you can sense that wonderful in them.

Altogether in the World

One of the lessons I try to remember every day is that even those people who are doing things I disagree with, they are children of God and can be forgiven their sins. That doesn’t mean I want to hang out with really bad people, but it seems that these days we work hard to find reasons to not get along with each other. Politics, religious beliefs, even taste in music, we look for reasons to separate from each other.

One of the missions of Have Faith Boutique is to create reasons for everyone to be able to be and feel special. Here we can create gifts for people that are distinctive and personalized.

Just wanted you to know…

I wanted to write a blog this week to let you know that you’re awesome. I know that you have the spark of divinity in you and I hope to someday meet everyone and meet everyone and it personally.

Wedding Gift Etiquette – The 2018 Guide

May 30 2018 Leave a Comment

Knowing what to give each year for all of the weddings that you’re invited to can be exhausting.

There are some very simple ways to make sure that you’re getting them the right gifts and at the right value.

Buy off of their registry – Nearly every couple has a gift registry. They’ve done the thinking for you. Simply buy off of their list. In the best cases, their list will show what has been purchased so that they don’t 18 punch bowls on their wedding day.
Entertaining, kitchen, and bed and bath – Household items, like great kitchen appliances are perfect gifts. It’s the type of thing that you can struggle to acquire, particularly when you’re young.
Not less than $50 – Fifty dollars is the minimum that you can spend. The price-per-plate idea is bad. Even the wealthiest people in the world have begun to opt for less expensive affairs. Part of the guide to what to spend is based on where you live. As you know, $50 can buy a lot more in a rural area than it can in New York City.
Coworker or distant relative – $50 to $75
Relative or friend – Up to $100
Close relative or close friend – Up to $150
City-dweller – Over $200 won’t be too much
Go big – Gather your money and buy a really big ticket item. For example, a television, a cruise, or a great mattress are all possibilities if you pool your money. If you have an office with 30 people and everyone kicks in $50, you have a decent pool of money to buy one really large gift. Again, look at their gift registry for those items that they list that they put there as a bit of wishful thinking.
Personalized/customized – Gifts that are engraved for the couple are great, as long as it’s something practical that they can use. A personalized bath mat is much more useful than an engraved cake server. Think about what’s useful and give them that. The days of spare fine china and “good silver” are kind of gone. It’s a nice idea as an investment for someone, but it’s not something that they will use a lot (unless they live in the Hamptons). Think about their lifestyle to make these types of decisions.
Deliver in two months – Although it seems like a customary idea to bring gifts to the reception, don’t. The happy couple, headed to a hotel for the night or on their honeymoon are now having to worry about getting a lot of gifts to the house. Deliver, or have delivered, your gift within two months. Never let it go more than a year. If it does, just forget it and know that you missed the mark there.

The rules of what to give have changed. Even in wealthier circles, there is a move toward more practical gifts, but the spending rules are the same. Simply pay attention to giving a great gift that cost enough money to feel like you care.

Most importantly: Actually care and pay attention to what they need. For example, if it’s a teacher that’s getting married right after graduation, money to pay students loans or even a gift card to an office supply store can be a great gift. Since you don’t have to (and shouldn’t) deliver it at the wedding, you can visit and explain the logic of what you’re doing.

Christmas Tree Decoration

Oct 19 2016 Leave a Comment

Simple to make, Felt Christmas Tree Decoration – The perfect craft for your Fall afternoon.

I absolutely LOVE to decorate for the holidays, but I always find myself so busy that I don’t plan ahead and then all of a sudden it’s Thanksgiving and I’m scrambling to get everything out of storage. For some reason this year things seem to be different. It’s not even Halloween yet and I’m already planning for Christmas – like this Felt Christmas Tree.

This cute Christmas Tree can be made in one sitting very easily. My daughter and I sat down last Saturday and made this one.

Our family room is a combination of Black, Red & White. You can see the picture on the wall behind the Felt Tree in the photo below. I know these aren’t Traditional colors for a Christmas Tree, but I wanted to coordinate with the room. My ultimate goal is to put another full sized Christmas Tree in this room, using the same colors. For now, though, this mini tree will have to do.

Materials Needed:

*Styrofoam Cone for the base (Whatever size you choose – you can even buy multiples in different sizes to group together)

*Hot Glue Gun

*Hot Glue Sticks

*Felt in multiple colors (with or without glitter. I’m a glitter gal all the way! haha You can use different shades of the same color to create an ombre effect)

*Scissors

*Ruler

Step 1

Decide which color you want to start with. I chose Red for the base of mine. Cut a 1″ strip of felt long enough to wrap around the base of the Styrofoam cone.

Step 2

Next, you will need to prepare your felt for cutting. I chose to make mine 2″ x 1″. The easiest way I found was to use a ruler and draw lines on the back side of the felt so I knew where to cut.

If you have super sharp scissors, you will be able to cut through multiple layers of felt at once, making it much quicker.

Step 3

Cut your felt along the lines you just drew and you will have a pretty little pile of felt rectangles like this.

Step 4

One more cutting job before we begin applying our strips to the base.

We need to shape our rectangles into points. Starting at the bottom center of the strip, cut a curve from the bottom center half-way up the side. Repeat the same for the other side.

Now your rectangles have points to be our leaves for the Christmas Tree.

Step 5

Time to fire up the hot glue gun! You will begin by applying the 1″ strip we cut to the base of the cone. You may notice that there is a gap between the top of the felt and the cone. Don’t stress out over it because the “leaves” we apply next will cover that right up.

Step 6

Now we will begin adding the leaves to the tree. Starting with your base color, align the point of the strip with the base of the cone. If there is any white showing through from the cone, move the strip down until it’s all covered, so that all you see is the felt.

Continue working your way around the cone until you complete the circle. When you finish one row, simply move up a bit and start the process for the next row.

You can choose how many rows you do of each color, depending on how many colors you use.

Step 7

The final row will be done slightly different.

Take one of your felt strips and place it directly on the top of the cone.

Step 8

Fold the tip over the side and continue around to complete the final row.

And…..all done!

Other Variations

There are obviously a lot of different things you can add to this. Here are just a few ideas…

*Add “ornaments” by gluing beads or sequins to the tip of each leaf.

*Add a tree topper – fuzzy, sparkly ball; star; angel; etc.

*glue strands of beads as garland

*Display several different sizes on a serving tray for a beautiful centerpiece.

Your Turn!

I absolutely LOVE to hear from you. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you thought of this Felt Christmas Tree craft idea. Anything you would change? Anything you would add?

I’d love to see some of your photos, too! You can jump over to our Facebook Page and post a photo of your Felt Christmas Tree on our wall.

Spring

Mar 18 2016 Leave a Comment

Goodbye Winter…Hello Spring!

It’s that time of year again…

Seasons are changing.

The snow is melting, flowers are blooming, and those pesky allergies will soon be in full swing, UGH!

(UGH to the allergies, not the B-E-A-Utiful flowers.)

Beat those allergies!

Here are just a few tips to help you survive the coming allergy season:

1 – Remove shoes and clothes when coming inside to keep the pollen from transferring to everything you touch.

2 – Wash your hair before bed. Pollen can settle in your hair throughout the day becoming bothersome at night when you’re trying to rest your body.

3 – Vacuum at least twice a week (including your furniture) to remove pollen.

4 – Keep your windows and doors closed. As tempting as it may be to enjoy the beautiful spring weather, it’s just not worth it if you suffer from allergies.

5 – Wear a mask when doing outdoor work. If you must be outside (mowing, etc), wear a mask. This will cut down on the amount of pollen you breathe in.

6 – Wear sunglasses when outdoors. They won’t block everything, but will certainly block some of what will try to fall in your eyes.

7 – Check your air conditioner filters and make sure they are fresh.

Enjoy Spring!

Now that you have done a few things to cut back on the pollen count around you…it’s time for you to enjoy Spring. What better way than to shop for new goodies for you home in bright, spring colors!?

Have Faith Boutique has just what you need…from doormats to shower curtains. You are sure to find the perfect thing to brighten up your home this spring!

You are Awesome!

Wedding Gift Etiquette – The 2018 Guide

Christmas Tree Decoration

Simple to make, Felt Christmas Tree Decoration – The perfect craft for your Fall afternoon.