Lent

I have never given up anything for lent before this year, but I was inspired by my pastor Jeff and the sermon he gave recently on radical generosity. He suggested that rather than simply give up something for Lent, give it up and take the money you would have spent on it during that time and give it away. You can find the sermon I'm talking about under the media page here and you can check out an additional post about giving on Jeff's blog.

I'm giving up sweets and deserts of all kinds. I don't spend an especially large amount of money on this, but I do enjoy it quite a lot... so through these 40 days my body is likely going to thank me. It might be very difficult, but sacrifice isn't supposed to be an easy or flippant thing. And I get the opportunity to be reminded to pray each time I want a sweet treat. I do have one exception: I get my honey in my tea. It's really required. Come to think of it, I probably need a new honey pot... mine has been gone for a long time. Maybe this honey pot?

Either way, I've got it easy. John is giving up coffee.

Reusable Coffee Sleeve

Inspired by the new opening of a coffee shop that actually makes good coffee (they get their coffee from the same semi-local roaster we get ours from at church... and we're a church full of coffee snobs), I recently made some reusable coffee sleeves with this tutorial from House on Hill Road.   Two for birthday gifts for friends, one for myself. :)  The tutorial is great, so simple.  I used two layers of upcycled wool instead of two layers of cotton and one of batting.  I find that the fewer components there are in a project, the fewer opportunities there are to make a mess of things. They took a matter of minutes to make and I must admit that I like whipping it out of  my purse when I go out for coffee.  I'm thinking I should probably make these and sell them at this new coffee shop.  Now all I need is a logo from my fantastic logo-designing husband.  Are you reading this, husband?  I love you.

Birthday Gifts

For months my husband looked in stores to find a stoneware travel mug that wouldn't adulterate the flavor of his coffee the way a stainless steel mug does. So, being the good wife I am, I simply found him one online for his birthday. (Does anyone else find the ease of finding exactly what you're looking for through the miraculous path of the Internet simply blissful?) But instead of just getting him one, I got him a set. Which is a nice way of saying I took the opportunity and got one for myself, too. And now it rarely leaves my side. It doesn't have a proper name as of yet, but since it's not a piece of electronics, it may not need one. I'll stick with it's given name now, the Element, from Highwave. (Also, check out their beer rings... those were a part of the husband's birthday gift too, and I got major points for that one.) I'm a sipper when it comes to hot beverages, so I love just using a travel mug all the time because they have lids and keeps things hot longer. This would also be good if you have a proclivity toward spilling your beverages. :) Now I'm just craving some fantastic coffee to put in it. I've been ruined by this from Reality Roasters.