Natural Egg Dyeing

We try to avoid artificial dyes and flavors as much as we possibly can, but it seems to be in everything these days. Especially around the holidays, like say Easter with all of its cute dishes containing colored eggs. No problem! You can dye eggs with natural ingredients around your house or from the store. 

Dyeing eggs is one of my favorite Easter projects! Seriously I love dyeing eggs! Last year around this time our little cousins from the farm down the street came over for an egg dyeing pizza party! We had a blast! 

Things You Can Use To Dye Eggs:

Orange - Yellow Onion Skins, Cayenne Powder or Chili Powder

Brown - Tea, Expresso Powder or Coffee

Blue / Turquoise - Red Cabbage or Blueberries

Pink - Beets or Cranberries

Yellow - Tumeric Powder, Lemon, Carrots, Saffron or Orange Peels

Lavender - Grape Juice

Purple - Red Wine 

Green - Parsley, Green Tea Spinach

Red - Yellow Onion Skins + 2 Tablespoons Vinegar 

We used red cabbage, instant coffee, canned beets - we used the juice from the can as one dye then boiled the actual beets for a second one- and spinach. If you are using a solid vegetable instead of liquid like the juice of the beets or grape juice, chop the vegetables and boil until the water is colored.

Find containers that can hold the dye plus several eggs (bonus points if they have lids too!) Homemade dyes don't work as quickly as the pellets of food coloring so expect to soak them for several hours to overnight depending on the look you are wanting. We left ours for 9 hours. 

Related Article: Boiled Egg Chicks

Boil desired amount of white eggs, prepare dyes and pour into containers. Place eggs into the container of dye, make sure all of the egg is covered. Place in the refrigerator until the desired color is reached.  

Related Article: Easter Traditions

Here are some old pictures of Brianna and I dying eggs- told you I loved doing it!

Egg Wreath Bread

Need a fun recipe for Easter? We got you covered! Try this delicious and super easy braided loaf with beautiful colored eggs (tutorial coming soon!). It's perfect to go with dinner or served with coffee in the morning before you head to church.  

Ingredients:

1 Cup Spring Water Warmed
3 Tablespoons Grass Fed Butter
2 1/2 Cups Organic All-Purpose Flour
3 Tablespoons Raw Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Salt
1 Teaspoons Cinnamon
1 1/2 Teaspoon Active Dry Yeast

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Directions:

Bread Machine Way:

Place wet ingredients in the bread maker, Then add flour. Put salt, sugar, seasonings in different corners then make a small well in the center and place yeast in it. Mix on dough setting, when finished remove to a lightly floured surface. Divide into the equal pieces, roll pieces into ropes. Braid ropes together linking ends. Brush with egg and sprinkle sugar over the top. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until golden. Add colored eggs to the top and serve.

Related Article: Greek Easter Cookies

The "By Hand" Way:

In your bowl add liquid ingredients (oil and water) that have been warmed (not hot) with your sugar. Sprinkle your yeast on top and cover and let set in a warm draft-free place in your kitchen until bubbly. Slowly mix in the remaining dry ingredients. With a spoon or fingers start mixing until combined fully. Let rise for 20 minutes then begin kneading. Let rise again. Pull it out of the bowl Divide into the equal pieces, roll pieces into ropes. Braid ropes together linking ends. Brush with egg and sprinkle sugar over the top. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until golden. Add colored eggs to the top and serve.

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Friday Paid For All Of It

It's dreary, rain is in the forecast and the clouds look burdened with it- nearly ready to overflow with tears. My heart aches for so many friends going through life's trials. If only I could fix them... It's amazing how dark life can seem, how dark a day can seem.

This week, in just a few short days Good Friday will be upon us... for us, it is an especially sad day. A day we lost twins - Faith & Hope sisters and daughters we never had the blessing of meeting. How fitting that the work should feel as bleak in the face of such loss, an unborn child and innocence sacrificing His life to save a world. Not a world of people that were deserved it, not a world of blameless, "good" people, but a world that willingly sent Him to the cross. A world of sinners, lost (and quite happy with it) a world that couldn't see that the answer they had so long sought was right in front of them.

It amazes me how when we want something, we close our ears to the wisdom of others and shut our hearts to the truth before us. We see and feel what we want instead of listening.

We allow our pride to lead us right past the manager and find ourselves holding the nails driven into a cross. We grip our heavy burdens with an iron determination to hold on to the guilt, and the scars refusing to forgive ourselves despite the fact that He has already forgiven us. We claim those sins over and over again despite the fact they've been paid at the cross. We try to pay for them over and over when they've already been paid.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12 NIV

Related Article: Friday Isn't The End Of The Story

The pastor at our church likes to say it something like this, God has thrown our sins in the lake and forgotten them hanging a no fishing sign- but we keep going back to that lake and fishing the guilt over the choices out.

Friday paid for all of it, Friday was God's day to remove it all to the lake and hung a giant NO FISHING sign. Friday was the day that carved away anything the could separate you and God, like a giant chisel carving away your past and leaving only the sacrifice. Friday is a day of darkness, but it's also a beginning. Every week we long for Friday- the end of a work week but it is also the  BEGINING of something new.

Good Friday marks the most unjustifiable act in history- and also the biggest act of love. He was God, he didn't have to go through that horror. But He loved you, and He loved me so much He went and he paid the price you and I could never have hoped too so that Sunday could be the happiest day. He paid the price so that the darkness of Friday, could be overshadowed by the light of Sunday.

Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 NIV

On the cross, He said "It is finished" not "I am finished" On Friday he wiped clean our slates, but on Sunday he flipped the page and started a new story. Because the one who died for us walks with us. As much as the world likes to tell us Easter is about chicks and eggs and bunnies, Easter is none of this. Easter is about The Lamb, who loved you so much that he lay down His life to save you. He's God those nails didn't hold Him to those pieces of wood- love did. He bridged a chasm so wide we could never cross, in a way only He could out of love.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

DIY Egg Garland Tutorial

One of my favorite things to decorate for is spring! I love the colors, the flowers, the baby animals (you know me- I love baby animals), ok I admit it I love everything about it. A few years ago I made this egg garland out of a bunch of our chicken's eggs. This is super easy to make and so cute! The perfect touch of farmhouse spring! 

Supplies:

Eggs

Yarn or Twine

Step 1: 

Poke a hole at each end of the egg and use grandma's method of blowing eggs - by putting her lips on one end of the egg and blowing- or my method -sticking a straw over one of the holes and blowing-. Wash the eggs thoroughly and allow to dry.  

Related Article: DIY Egg Wreath

Step 2:
Tie a knot in one end of the string, you want it big enough that the egg won't slip over it. Gently push the string through both holes in the egg, continue adding eggs until you reach your desired length. Tie another knot in the string and you are done.

Related Article: DIY Spring Garden Wreath

Spring Decor At The Cottage

Spring at the Cottage is something to see, nature puts on a show like only it can. The daffodils are the first to poke their heads above the ground soon the plumbs and peaches follow in dazzling white and pink blossoms. The Bradford pears show up next not to be left out, then the pear trees and finally the cherry trees. It's a show to be seen, I love watching it every spring. It never ceases to surprise me as I look out the window every morning and the view has changed. 

The front porch is the first thing people see, so we wanted it to be warm and inviting and perhaps hint a little of what's to be found inside. 

Around the door is the same grapevine garland base that you saw on our Christmas Tour but redecorated for spring with some pretty florals and greenery. The wreath is a basket we picked up from Hobby Lobby several years ago and filled with pink tulips and moss. 

We repurposed some garden decor to the side of the door, paring it with a bucket filled with miniature rose plants and a bunny. 

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The bench is a yard sale find that we just couldn't live without! We added a chunky blanket and some pillows from our SHOP and Ross.

On the other side of the door is this adorable wagon turned flower cart loaded to the brim with hydrangeas, roses, and tulips. We added a some galvanized buckets and black and white crocks to the mix.

Related Article: The Best Spring Farmhouse Decor On Amazon

Pink and white miniature roses in galvanized buckets mirror each other on each side of the fireplace. Above them, we hung this adorable sign from Hobby Lobby. In the center of the mantel, we chose this gorgeous veranda shot. I love how it gives the mantel hight and stands out against the wall.

More flowers grace each side of the fireplace, along with our homemade egg garland. Check out our tutorial HERE.

Black and white crocks filled with bright pink and yellow flowers are the focus on this side of the mantel. We added a small chick sculpture and a crown of thorns to the mix as well. 

We paired garden decor with a galvanized bucket filled with hydrangeas on this side of the mantel, along with a small nest, crystal cross, and small duck sculptures.

Related Article: Spring At The Cottage

We wanted to bring some of the colors from the mantel into the rest of the room so we added milk glass bud vases to the side table with our garden globe.

Throw pillows from Ross and a small egg wreath add some color to the love seat. Want to make an egg wreath? Check out our tutorial HERE.

There is something beautiful about nests, so many shapes and colors and styles. They are works of art. We added dried roses and blown eggs from some of our birds to the nests for a splash of color.

In the kitchen, it's milk glass vases, white crocks, and hydrangeas! I love how it adds a splash of color to the white.

What is your favorite area? Tell us in the comments!

Koulourakia - Greek Easter Cookies-

These cookies are so good! There perfect to go with tea or coffee in the morning or just as a quick treat. The perfect mix of orange and vanilla and lightly sweet. 

Ingridents: 

Dough:

1/2 Cup Grass-fed Butter (Softened)
3/4 Cup Raw Sugar
2 Free Range Eggs
1/4 Cups Organic Milk (warmed to 80F)
1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Orange Zested
2 Teaspoon Non Aluminum Baking Powder
2 1/2 Cups Organic All-Purpose Flour

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Topping:
1 Free Range Egg (beaten)

1 Tablespoon Water 

Sesame Seeds

Directions:

In a large electric mixer bowl, mix butter and sugar until fluffy, add the eggs, and beat until light colored. Add the milk, vanilla, orange zest, and baking powder mixing as you add. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350. Pinch off one inch sections of dough and roll them between your fingers and the countertop into a 7 inch rope. Fold rope in half and twist the two strands together. Continue with the rest of the dough (should make around 30). Place the cookies on a silicone baking mat or parchment-lined baking sheet, keep them about an inch apart. In a small bowl break one egg and add 1 tablespoon water, brush each cookie with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 15-20 minutes (once they turn a light gold color they are done). Let the koulourakia cool for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling

The Sea Before Us Book Review

You guys know how much I love to read, so when we get the opportunity to review and share our favorite books with you we are so excited!! But today is special, today we are sharing a book from one of my very favorite authors Sarah Sundin. I read almost every book she has ever written (the ones I haven't are on my to-read-list), so when I happened to see this one on NetGalley I quite literally squealed! I love every book she's written!

Are you ready to embark on a journey with a new set of beloved characters in an all-new series!

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The year is 1944 American Naval officer has arrived in England to help prepare for D-day, He meets a ÒWrenÓ in the Women's Royal Naval Service Dorothy and they become good friends. Dorthy pieces together reconnaissance photos with holiday snapshots of France (including those of her families summer home) in order to create an accurate map of Normandy. Wyatt's job is to turn the maps into naval bombardment plans. Both Dorothy and Wyatt have painful pasts that haunt them, but their shared experiences pull them together- Dorthy must resist the pull her bereaved father depends on her and her heart belongs to another man.Wyatt has too much to lose, and he fears his efforts to win the war will destroy everything she has ever loved.



The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've read almost every book by this author (the others are on my list!), so when I heard about this one I was THRILLED! I love her work, and this book is no exception. I read it in two days flat! DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK! It is an absolutely wonderful read, filled with great characters, real-life struggles, and heartache thrown against the uncertainty and loss of war. Received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for our honest review.

View all my reviews

Find it on Amazon HERE. Also check out the rest of her books HERE you will be glad you did!

This post contains affiliate links.

Our Gorgeous Rug From Natural Area Rugs

You guys and gals may have noticed we have a new rug in the living room, especially if you are following us on Instagram! If you aren't following us yet find us HERE! This beauty is Natural Area Rugs vintage rug line. It's called Sarafina Vintage Oriental Rug, we got the 5x7 compliments of Natural Area Rugs - thank you guys so much!! 

They have so many amazing rugs and it was so hard to choose our favorite for the living room! But finally after much agonizing and list making we decided on this one. We are so happy we did!!! We absolutely love this rug! The colors are perfect for the house, the blue & grays fit perfectly with our other decor.

Related Article: Our Shipping Crate Coffee Table

It comes with a rug pad to keep it from sliding around your floor which is awesome especially when you have dogs (or kids!). It's soft and isn't annoying to walk on with bare feet which is great for this house because we very rarely wear shoes. The adore lounging on it like a giant dog bed.

The company was started in 1972 and have made it their mission to be to be the best reputed direct importers and manufacturers of rugs in the United States. They offer a wide variety of choices to choose from and even do custom orders! Most of the products used in their rugs are 100% natural and every rug they offer is handcrafted. You are literally getting a work of art for your floor! And they offer free shipping on all orders!

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The rug showed up on our doorstep super fast (we weren't even expecting it when the doorbell rang) and I don't know who was more excited us or the dogs! It showed up all wrapped up, but not so heavy that we couldn't lift it. We had house guests when it arrived and everyone super excited to see it and I had lots of help moving the coffee table so we could stretch it out. Of course, the ends wanted to roll back up (totally normal!) but after a few days of leftover pumpkins sitting on the corners, it was perfect!

We've been having an absolute blast playing with the room and experimenting with different looks!

We've had it for several months now, and we are still in love with this beautiful rug! It just gives the room a warmer touch and adds a splash of lighter colors to our dark floors. Plus it fits the color scheme year round! Whether it's Christmas or summer this rug is going to look stunning! 

Its beautiful pattern catches your eye as you walk in the room, we've gotten a lot of compliments on it (Thanks again Natural Area Rugs!) What do you think? Have you looked at their other gorgeous rugs? We have our eye on their white shag rug for one of the guest bedrooms.

PS. Check out our line of Farmhouse inspired pillows!