reminder: Last days to save!

Hi friends! 

I wanted to pop in and remind you that today and tomorrow are the last days of the huge sale in the shop!  Almost all 8x10 prints (both art and photographs) are marked half-off and you can also save 30% off your total purchase by using coupon code ROSYHOLIDAY30 at the check-out! This even means you can save on the new art and photographs listed! 

Also, the shop will close December 14th until Spring…so don't wait! :) 

The stomach bug (It came. We conquered)

Well friends, you're probably thinking I've been swept up into the "Instagram is better and faster" world by my absence, but nope, you're not rid of me yet.  Two words: stomach bug.  Oh yeah, decided it'd visit every single one of us in the Torbett family.  BUT, it's over, we made it, and I'm back to eating! Wooohoooo! Friends, it is truly the small stuff isn't it?

I save photos. 

I save them like some people save cd's or memories or teacups.  

So these lovely photos have been sitting on the computer, patiently waiting their turn to make it to the big screen.  Today is their chance! I took these at the very tale end of summer, although by the looks of our ladybug invasion, summer hasn't quite left us yet.  What a tease! 

This is my neighbor friend's baby.  Isn't she a doll?!  While we were sick, we had four offers from friends to bring soup.  Do you know how heaven-on-earth that felt?  To be cared for, thought of, loved.  I intend to do that more for my people because it sure helped the long week feel better. 

I DID get the bicycle birthday party styled and photographed before the stomach bug hit, praise Jesus!  Just in the nick of time. I told Brett I'd been wanting to restart my health for a few months…but the stomach bug wasn't what I had in mind to restart it!

How are you lately and what are you up to?  I feel like I have a million things to share here.  The excitement of the holidays and two family birthdays coming up is making my spirit very inspired.  

I was beginning to have the thoughts the other day of how much stuff there is at the holidays-ideas, activities, food, gifts, etc.  It all started to feel like a giant pile of snow about to fall on me (my worst nightmare, as I'm always cold anyway) but then I heard the quiet whisper of God say "Why does it have to be like that?"

And you know what? He's right.  I understand that some of life is just so life-ish. It's not necessarily fun and it's sometimes stressful and we can't help it.  But lately I find myself arguing for the parts I can help. This holiday season I can choose less over more, I can listen when God says to text someone, send them a package, hug them, or be kind.  I can do less activities with the girls that actually mean more.  I can plug in less and worship/sit/relax/fall in love with God (and Brett too) more.  I can eat junk less and exercise more. I can read more, understand more, love more, worry less.

All of these choices are up to me.  I'm ready, with arms outstretched, to see where the spirit of God leads me this next season.  I'm giving myself some much-needed time off from the shop in a few weeks and I just know good things are in store. 

It's a holiday SALE in the shop (the biggest sale yet!)

Hi friends! 

I didn't mean to stay away so long (just a few days, but it felt longer) but I've been a busy little bee, working to get the shop ready for the holidays! I'm beyond excited to share the newest art prints and photographs (all 8x10's) to hit the shelves.  There's a bit of whimsy, some farm life, scripture, and the true meaning of Christmas all in the mix.

(original SOLD,

but 8x10 art prints available)

I've included a lot more scripture this time around, in art and photographs that aren't just for the holiday season, but that can grace your walls year-round.  I really put a lot of thought and prayer into what I felt like my own life needed more of and scripture was definitely the beat of my heart.  

I pray that these scriptures hang on your wall, or the wall of a friend's house, and strengthen and encourage you.

All art prints and photographs are available as 8x10's and ship in a sturdy, cardboard mailer.  I will notify you within 24 hours of your shipping date and each order is packaged with care. 

Now here's the really exciting part! 

 I'm having a HUGE sale in the shop that will only last for one week!  It's so big it's the last sale of the holiday season.  All previously listed art prints and photographs are already marked half-off and you can also use coupon code ROSYHOLIDAY30 for 30% off your entire order (even off the new inventory!).  

Sale good through Saturday, November 7th.  Then the shop stays open a few weeks longer 'till I close up Monday, December 14th until……..spring sometime. 

You can find my shop here!

Happy shopping! 

Leaf pile

I've heard it said often how much kids take away-sleep, money, etc. 

Only looking at that tiny 1% of the equation simply isn't true. 

My children haven't taken away from my life at all.  

In fact, all my best lessons about joy, trusting God, wonder, imagination, living in the moment, prayer, curiosity, and delighting in things for the simple pleasure of fun have all come for my girls. 

They have no concept of gathering "likes" as many as the leaves, 

no mindset that includes a social media status. 

They are just simply delighted, begging me to rake up the leaves so they could jump in them. 

Lessons from the leaf pile. 

Homemade Pumpkin Seeds

We finally had a break in our summer temperatures long enough for me to feel a bit of fall inspiration.  Last weekend we loaded up the girls and Nana, heading to our local produce stand filled to the brim with pumpkins.  We picked out just the perfect ones, a job the girls took quite seriously.  Once we came home and started carving silly Jack-O-Lantern faces in the robust pumpkins my eyes gravitated towards the bountiful bowl of seeds.  Surely we wouldn't just throw them out.  

Although I'd never roasted pumpkin seeds before, I decided to give it a try.  Only taking a few minutes, they turned out savory with just the right amount of crunch.  Meeting the approval of both our family and weekend company, this healthy little snack has been the perfect treat to munch our way into the new week with.  I hope you'll give them a try! 

The directions to make these are quite simple.  I didn't use a recipe but you don't even need one.  I washed the seeds very thoroughly, removing any strings and then let them sit in the colander overnight to dry out.  Next I put them in a mixing bowl with some extra-virgin olive oil, kosher salt, cinnamon, and a bit of cayenne pepper.  Last, I baked them at 300 degrees, stirring every so often until they turned crispy (but not burned).  

Art Update…scenes from the studio.

Happy Monday!  Are you ready for this week to start?  I hope so and if not, here's to another cup of coffee and a bit of Jesus to get your feet dancing into the week.  Or at least treading slowly into the week.  I'm excited to pop in and share some updates on my art lately.  I'm always, always making art no matter if it shows up on the blog or not.  In fact, my camera is almost always loaded with pictures of art as well.  Sometimes it just takes a few days for the words and blog posts to catch up to the photos.   

If you follow me on Instagram (I'm "therosylifeblog") then you've already seen sneak peeks at the bicycle birthday party I was hired to decorate for a sweet two-year old boy! 

From award ribbons to pinwheels, both big and small, I've had the most fun making the decorations for this party! I'll be styling it all this Sunday and photographing the party as well.  I was honored to be asked and can't wait to show you pictures of the final product.  

I shared this painting on IG and was surprised at the response.  I started this painting on the back of an old piece of Subway art, one of my first DIY projects.  The idea was to put paint here and there to use up those tiny bits of paint I always have leftover at the end of my painting time (a.k.a. when the girls wake up!).  This was purely a "let your fingers do their thing" kind of painting and I even had Anna Ruth help me on it a few times.  All that to say it's sitting in my studio and begging to be properly finished and it's loud and too colorful and I like it.   I'll keep you posted on the finishing touches. 

Some days I have maybe 10 or 15 minutes to create alongside the girls and I don't feel like getting out a bunch of paint or supplies so instead I'll grab my gratitude journal box.  It's simply an old vintage box filled with scrapbooking  paper, ephemera, and tape.  On a good day I quickly jot a list of gratitude.  On the rest of the days I make pages ahead of time just for the fun of it and leave them ready for filling in with my words.  Here's a peek at the journal so far!

This season of my creative life is busier than ever and I like that.  

Between the bicycle party, Halloween, the holidays, and two birthdays in our own family coming up, I'm a busy bee.  My mind is quite full of ideas and I look forward to sharing a whole lot of creative ideas with you in the upcoming months! 

I'll also be adding Christmas to the shop soon as well! 

There will be new art prints, a handful of new products, and a SALE when it all hits the shelves so keep your eyes open!  This will be the last sale of the year, with my shop going on vacation starting Monday, December 14th.  I hope you'll keep The Rosy Life in mind for your Christmas shopping this year! I'm excited to share my other favorite handmade shops with you as well so stay tuned!