Our Wedding | Part I

January 17, 2018 Shyla Yoder

Our Wedding | Spring, June, whimsical, meadow, blush, pink, coral, soft green, ivory, romantic, barn, gold, classic, bridals | Loveshyla.com

Dress | Stella York, Lavender Bridal, Dover, Ohio

Our Wedding | Spring, June, whimsical, meadow, blush, pink, coral, soft green, ivory, romantic, barn, gold, classic, bridals, bridesmaid, dress, ring, inspiration, planning | Loveshyla.com

White shirt for competition/ business professional)

Maids & Tuxes | Blush Fashion, The Back Tux

White shirt for competition/ business professional).jpg

Our Wedding Flowers
Our Wedding | Part II (Getting Ready)
Our Wedding | Part III (The First Look)
Our Wedding | Part VI (The Wedding)
Our Wedding Video

Winter's Call To Rest

January 4, 2018 Shyla Yoder

Hello Winter! When the holiday’s end and the year closes, you are left with crisp, white, snow covered landscapes, chilly-wrap-a-thick-scarf-around-your-nose air, early evenings and late mornings, cups of hot chocolate and a desire to
S l o w D o w n.

Winter calls us to slow down.

The sun goes down earlier, calling us to stop working sooner. The temperature plummets, making it harder to go to-and-fro. Business slows, callings us to spend longer mornings at home with our families and cups of coffee.

I sometimes feel a slight stress creeping in upon a new year when I think of everything that will happen and all that I’ll have to do, even if it’s months away. Seeing everyone’s goal planning, I worry that I’ll be behind! What my body really wants to do is rest, take some time with no demands and recharge.

Not everyone feels stressed thinking of a year- my husband for instance, who doesn’t know what the word stress means. He is a problem solver and gets energy in high-stress situations or the thought of a year that will be demanding. He says – bring it on! The planner in me needs to know what is going to happen and how I am going to tackle it. Then, I can rest! So, I sat down to look over my year and wrote down some goals and placed them accordingly on my calendar, leaving space to rest in January.

I hope that you’ll obey winter’s call to rest. I think the Lord gave the season intentionally and our bodies will reward us for taking time to recharge, even my superhero husband.

This is Bingo, Wayne's farm dog from his Horse Training days. He is loyal, sooo well trained, and keeps me such good company.

Here’s to spending less time rushing and engaged to technology and more time living in the present, feeling the steam on our nose when we drink our morning coffee, watch the birds, play in the snow, reading paper books and magazines, playing games with our families and not having a plan at all!

Merry sweet, slow winter.

Homemade Marshmallows, Hot Cocoa Station & Christmas Florals

December 15, 2017 Shyla Yoder

Good Afternoon. It's Friday, December 15th and I'm sitting in our little brick house, pine needles and cinnamon roasting on the stove, tree decorated, cookie jars filled and cards strung...

What is it that makes Christmas special to you? Do you love cookie baking with children in tow, flour everywhere? Do you love gift-giving, tying up paper-wrapped packages with ribbon and bows - filling your hands with hot chocolate, warm, fuzzy blankets in front of the fireplace glow - or is it stringing the lights around the Christmas tree while the world fills up with snow?

I love all of those things, each and every one the most. In fact, I tend to embrace all of the Christmas joy without leaving any activity behind. It's a wonderful thing, the warmth and the cheer, which the whole world seems to reciprocate in such a cold, bitter season, isn't it?

I believe it is. But, I'm so thankful, that when all the cookies are baked and pine put in place, that there's a deeper peace in my heart from a Savior who came to the world, with love in his heart, to save us all - which is the best gift of all!

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

— Dr. Seuss

|| A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ||

|| HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS ||

My first time and this had to have been my favorite Christmas activity yet! Homemade marshmallows (see recipe at bottom) are so easy, fun and delicious! I was surprised at how soft and fluffy they were.

See how to make this easy design by Pine and Crave here.

|| SWEET LITTLE GIFTS ||

I like to give little homemade gifts to my friends each year at Christmas. I try to think of something simple that doesn't cost a lot but is sweet. These marshmallows, with a little chocolate and crushed candy cane, did the trick this year! I filled up little treat cups from Target (gift wrap aisle) and wrapped with cellophane and string.

|| DIY CRANBERRY ORNAMENTS ||

Some leftover Thanksgiving cranberries + floral wire + wire cutters + your imagination = DIY ornaments. A great pop of red for the tree!

|| CHRISTMAS FLORALS ||

One of the floral designs I did this year for a Holiday event!
See more at: FLORALS

|| HOT COCOA STATION ||

Hot Cocoa is my....... FAVORRR-RITE!!
Making a little station is super easy, a fun countertop decoration and just a scoop away from all kinds of yummy hot cocoa cups! Ingredient suggestions: Your favorite Hot Cocoa (dark chocolate or double chocolate are my fave), Marshmallows (big, small or homemade!), peppermint sticks (the porous kind that melt well) or crushed candy cane, Gingerbread men, caramel, sea salt, cocoa powder shaker, cinnamon.

LINKS // Homemade Marshmallows: Ashlee Marie (easy, basic) or Pine and Crave (peppermint) // See the rest of the Christmas florals and my other creations here: Beauty // Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows: Pine and Crave || Christmas Inspiration: My Instagram

I hope you enjoyed this little festive Christmas post and no matter what you did to celebrate this year, that you can enjoy something small today, just where you are!

A very Merry Christmas to you!