It brings me great pleaseure to announce this “A lady in waiting” retreat. A friend of mine (via the www.) Rebekah Bentley over at www.aladyinwaiting.com is hosting what is sure to be a wonderful retreat packed full of great things. Her early bird registration ends soon, so check out the information below and make plans to head to Virginia. It is sure to be a time you won’t want to miss.
A Lady In Waiting Retreat

Join us October 21-24, 2008 in beautiful New Castle, Virginia for the first ever A Lady in Waiting Autumn Retreat!

Four days of fellowship, encouragement, and godly mentoring, tucked away in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains.

• Hands-on Titus Two Workshops on Hospitality and Whole Foods Cooking.
• A night of Pride & Prejudice 
• Teatime 
• Encouraging speakers 

Register now! Space is limited.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL!

Register by September 15, 2008 and receive a special package of downloadable gifts, including magazine subscriptions and e-books! 

REGISTER HERE 
The registration fee covers 9 meals and 3 nights’ lodging, in addition to bringing in great speakers and Titus Two mentors!

I found this article over on homemaking 911. I have found this site to be full of great information and resources. 

Just last night I had my extended fammily over for dinner. We did not set the table pretty and fancy, but the food was prepared special and my daughter made a dessert that was out of this world. Afterward, when everyone went home, Amelia and I joyfully cleaned the kitchen because the night had been so great. It just goes to show you, if you make the meal special, then the whole night will be.

 Set Your Table Contest

 I know you can set a pretty table, but do you do this for dinner regularly? If not, it would be a nice treat for your family to take the time to set the table in a beautiful, inviting way: serve all the food in pretty dishes, use the nice napkins, add some decorations. Use the good glasses. What if you do not have a set of “nice” dishes? Well, use what you have in a new and creative way. Beauty does not have to cost a fortune, but it can take time and effort.

I would love to see a picture of your beautifully set table. No digital camera? That’s okay. Set your table beautifully and send me a “word picture.” Describe it to the best of your ability.

I also know some of you have babies and toddlers, so it may seem silly to get out the nicest dishes when they are at risk for getting tossed or thrown. I understand! Perhaps you can set the table for a nice, special dessert just for you and your husband after the toddlers are in bed.

Theresa powers from Seasons at Home Magazine is donating a terrific prize for this one. The winner will receive a free copy of Seasons at Home Magazine from www.joyoushome.com, a $12.00 Value.

If you are sending me an entry with no digital pictures, you can add it in the comments below. Email pictures to me at: HomeMaking911@gmail.com

About the Author Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan, thankful mother to four children, ages 3-17 and an author, conference speaker and director of www.homemaking911.com. Visit her site for inspiration, encouragement and practical help in your roles as a godly wife, mother, homemaker or home educator. ——————————————————————————–

This article may be reprinted freely in your publications or on your website, provided it is reprinted in its entirety and the biographical information is kept intact. Thank you!

We are 1 week away from launching our largest apron giveaway EVER!! Below are 4 great web sites/blogs that will be hosting our give away. Begining in September you can go to one or all of these sites to sign up to WIN one of four Regency aprons or one of four Amish Apron patterns that we will give away this month.

Amelia’s Aprons has never given away aprons before and we have never given away this many products at one time.

So check out these sites and start looking for sign up information beginning in September.

Vaughnshire.com (registration to begin Sept 1st.) Beth and her family have a great blog that covers a wide variety of topics ranging from farm life raising a large family, political corruption and almost everything  in between.

Seasidetales (drawing to be held on ??) Sally has many encouraging words for homemaking and other great topics.

PennyRaine.com (drawing to be held on ??) Penny and her family have a wide variety of information and products. You can find information about homesteading, modest clothing and horses.

Faith and Family books.com ( drawing to be held Sept 12th) Theresa’s daughter over at http://www.virtuousgirlhood.com/ is helping her mom to take enties. Both have very nice sites with lots of resorces for biblical living.

please note that all of these sites may not list the contest at the same time. So if you don’t see it listed check back again later in the month.

Here is an article that I posted last year when it first came out. Before I lost all my blog content in a datebase disaster. I first found this article in an Above Rubies Magazine. Where I took the time to ask Mrs. Campbell ( the owner) if it was ok to post it on my blog. Well, it seems that the article has traveled full circle. From being posted here to being e-mail to me last night by my Aunt. It has traveled around the great big WWW and back again, so I thought now was a good time to re-post it here. I hope you all enjoy it.

 oh yea, don’t forget about the apron give-away starting the first of Sept.

The History of ‘APRONS’

Aprons I don’t think our kids know what an apron is. The principal use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children’s tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears . From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that “old-time apron” that served so many purposes.

Well we have locked in the 4 web sites that will be hosting the apron give away. I will post links later so that you can go check them out before hand. We have less than 2 weeks to go. It’s going to be great!!

Stay tuned for sign up information.

Hurry while supplies last. This fabric is just about gone and we won’t be able to get any more. Our Blue regency apron is going fast. Marked down for a 15% closeout special. Get yours today!!

Click on Image to go straight to the store information page. Don’t delay these won’t last long.

Amelia’s aprons will be hosting their first ever apron give away. Set to begin in September. We are hoping to find 2 other web sites to host our give away, so if you are interested in information about being a host site please contact us through the web site.

below are the items that will be up for grabs:

1st place

2nd place

Stay tuned to find out where to register to win these great prizes.