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Thursday, October 16, 2014

God Is.



Through the disappointments, God is.
Through the uncertainty, God is.
Through the financial hardships, God is.
Through the break ups, God is.
Through the diagnosis, God is.
Through loss, God is.

I am so thankful this morning that:

God is loving.
God is forgiving.
God is merciful.
God is compassionate.
God is loyal.
God is on our side.

Because God is, I can rest in the promise that through all things, both good and bad, God is working on my behalf. He will take all of my past experiences and use them to shape me into who He wants me to be.

And, above all, God is able.
He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we could ever imagine.
Ephesians 3:20.





Be blessed today!



Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Instagram Inspiration


It's a rainy, gloomy day here in North Carolina and I thought we needed a little visual stimulation to cheer us up. So, I turn to Instagram. I am sharing some of my favorite Instragram Inspirations from this past week.


@societysocial | @stylewithinreach


@theblogissue | @missbethanykate_

@laylagrace | @amysagedemik

@theblogissue | @casas_and_lulu


@ballarddesigns

@sheinside_official

@moonandlola

@ourvintagefarmhouse


Be sure to check out some of these great Instagrammers and follow them.
You can follow me at @jennbrittdesign. I look forward to connecting with you.









Monday, October 13, 2014

The Hub of a Home (The Kitchen Island)

I have often said the kitchen is the command center of a home. I have heard it also called the "war room" in politics....haha.  Well, inside the command center there is what I call a hub. It's the kitchen island. A hub according to wikipedia is "the effective center of a region or network". Some synonyms for the word hub are core, heart, center, focal point, and nucleus. I think the kitchen island can appropriately be called all of these.

Many things happen at the kitchen island. Not only is it a place where we eat, but also a place for kids to do homework, adults to do bills, a buffet, and a gathering place for friends and family to talk, share, and celebrate. A lot of love can be found around the heart (island) of the kitchen and so many wonderful memories can be made.

Here some inspirational images of some beautiful kitchen islands.

Nest of Bliss

classic * casual * home

Modern Hepburn

Southern Living

I have copied a devotion from Karen Ehman. She is a wonderful wife and mother who speaks about the love of Jesus. Her devotion today was "My Magnetic Kitchen Island". Please read and be encouraged.


OCTOBER 13, 2014
My Magnetic Kitchen Island
KAREN EHMAN
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:15-16 (NIV)
My kitchen island is a hoppin' place. Some days it's littered with stray school papers, bills needing to be paid and coupons for a local pizza joint. Other days it's laden with sacks of groceries from the local supermarket waiting to be put away.
Papers, cans and cartons aren't the only constant callers. My island is also a people magnet. Family members often gather here, usually for a quick bite to eat before heading to or returning from school or work.
But perhaps the greatest magnetic pull occurs during times of celebration. Formal holidays as well as random, spur-of-the-moment, informal gatherings.
At Christmas and Easter, it pulls double duty as a buffet bar, showcasing the cuisine extended family brings for our celebrations: Uncle Kevin's barbecued meatballs, Grandma Margaret's fancified veggie tray, Aunt Loriane's melt-in-your-mouth fudge.
But it's the informal gatherings I have come to treasure most. The times when my children's friends pull up a stool and inquire, "Mama Karen, whatcha got that's good to eat?" The everyday moments we celebrate around my kitchen island: A completed English paper ... a chemistry concept finally understood ... the arrival of wrestling season ... braces coming off.
I think we sometimes make our faith so complicated. Yes, there are deep theological truths we should seek to understand, but there are also many simple commands tucked in the pages of Scripture. Today's key verse is a great example: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
I see three simple ways to love others in this verse:
1. Praise God by professing His name with our lips.
2. Do good.
3. Share with others.
And what is the result from us performing these straightforward actions? It pleases God.
As loved ones, friends, and even strangers gather at my magnetic kitchen island, this verse remains ever on my mind, along with its three directives.
I look for natural — not forced or contrived — opportunities to speak of God and His goodness.
I try to do good: Assist a teenager with his homework. Fix a broken strap on another's backpack. Help a 20-something young woman sort out a difficult relationship.
And I share. Our home. Our food — no matter how humble and un-gourmet. Our dishes (that sometimes get chipped or broken). My time. My heart. My faith.
I smile when I think of how such small "sacrifices" done in Jesus' Name please God. And while cooking, cleaning and exposing your dishes to potential damage might seem like inconveniences at first — yes, even sacrifices — they not only please God, but can bring us pleasure as well.
Opening our lives to sacrificially celebrate holidays, holy days and even the everyday gives us opportunities to serve. It beckons us to be others-centered. Such serving brings us joy, produces fond memories and creates lasting connections, soul-to-soul. Showing love can be the avenue God uses for someone to begin a relationship with Him and they respond — due in part to our words, deeds and shared possessions.
How might the Holy Spirit be tapping on your heart today, prompting you to speak truth, do good and share life? It might not be gathered around the kitchen island, but your very presence and prayerful attitude can be a magnet that draws other souls to you and points them straight toward Him.
Father, may I pause today to ponder how to speak, act and share in such a way that it draws others closer to You. Give me both ideas and the ability to obey this simple verse. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 37:3, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness." (ESV)
Hebrews 13:1-2, "Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." (NIV)

Be blessed today. 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Elegant Eclectic


Elegant:  pleasingly graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.
Eclectic: deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
Eclectic design is most often very personal and appreciates treasured items.

With eclectic design, you can use a wide range of elements from different styles. You can mix and match and "break the rules" of design.  I simply love taking an eclectic space and making it elegant with sophisticated balance. Mixes of form, color, and pattern can be used to create a beautiful, cohesive space.

A few tips in designing an eclectic space is to:
-Find a common thread with your elements
-Don't be afraid to mix and match (wood tones, finishes, furniture pieces, etc.)
-Balance your mixes
-Incorporate some symmetry
-Showcase what you love
-Be careful not to clutter

Elegant spaces can at times be intimidating, but an elegant eclectic space can be warm and charming. Here are some examples:

source

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So go ahead, you have permission to "break the rules"