farewell {for just a little while} + giveaway winners.

greetings my dear sweet readers. today I am simply ecstatic to to be sharing with you all the blessed winner of my giveaway, so generously sponsored by sweet pea totes. it was so fun to host this little event, and recieve all of the sweet little notes; especially those of spring loveliness. I must say that miss elizabeth put into words exactly what was in my heart when she wrote, 

"The most beautiful thing about spring to me is all the light. It beckons me to rise earlier in the morning, streaming through my window all golden and warm, and in the evening, it is reluctant to go away. I also love how everything is made new once more."

And now, I am excited to share with you all the name of the winner. and she is...

>>--- miss rachel hipps --->

>>--- from arizona grown --->

congratulations, darling girl. please stop by and write me a small note containing both your first and last name, and your mailing address. I am so happy for you!

I also want to thank all of you who entered, again; it was such a pleasure working with sweet mary to bring this giveaway to life. thank you mary!

lastly, I just wanted to inform my sweet readers that I shall not be picking up my pen for just a little while. be at ease, and know I am not gone for good; I will just be taking a small break. in the meanwhile, don't hesitate to stop by ever so often to leave your 'calling card' and a sweet note. smile. 

love always,

-- the old-fashioned girl

>> --- pictures via pinterest ---> 

a breath of spring air | a giveaway for you {no. 1}

over the past few days, I seem to have contracted some sort of restless anticipation; as the idea of blooming blossoms, new born song-birds, cloudless blue skies, and the like have been near my heart as of late; creating, within me, a longing for the rejuvenating season that we resort to calling simply spring.

thus, I hope to bring you, my sweet readers, a breath of spring air in addition to a few giveaways hosted here at an old-fashioned girl. do enjoy!

miss mary is the beautiful owner of the beautiful shop, sweet pea totes; where she makes and sells beautiful wristlets, clutches, totes and various lovelies. with so many different fabrics, styles, patterns, and themes, mary's shop is absolutely brimming with adorable finds. each one simply sweet. while there seems to be ever so many, I just adore every design mary offers.

when taking a peak in, you will no doubt be overwhelmed with the abundance and variety of all sorts of totes, clutches, wristlets, and the like that can be found within mary's etsy. so many colors greet my beauty-searching eyes, and styles warm my fashion-loving spirit; I am at times hardly able to leave her page! smile. you simply must take a step into her shop; for I know there is bound to be something that will catch your eye.

today, as mary was so kind to sponsor me, and as spring seems to be an ongoing theme within the realms of my daydreams as of late, I am so pleased to offer one of my readers a gorgeous wristlet from sweet pea totes! 

>>--- the giveaway --->

upon contacting mary, she kindly informed me that she would make a special wristlet just for my giveaway. and this, my readers, is the lovely creation she came up with, entitled victorian rose. just the name reminds me of beautiful spring. this beautiful wristlet would make the perfect make-up bag, or perhaps even a place for precious items such as jewelry, hand-written letters, wax seals, and antique broaches. It is also an ideal place to hold the more modern valuables, such as your ipod, camera, phone, and the like. yet, it also could be used merely as a small purse, for a special night out. the possibilities are endless when it comes to such a beautiful wristlet as this! 

>>--- more details & pictures here --->

>>--- please note --->

• remember to complete the mandatory entry before moving on to additional entries. 

• be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

• this giveaway is open to US and Canadian participants only. 

• the winner will be required to provide both her home and email address.

• giveaway closes the 14th of march. 

>>--- how to enter --->

• mandatory | follow An Old-Fashioned Girl publicly
 via google friends connect.  

• heart sweet pea totes. 

• add mary to your etsy circle.

• like mary on facebook. 

• follow mary on twitter.

• follow mary's blog.

• post about this giveaway on your site, facebook, twitter, etc. {one entry per post} 

• tell what it is that makes spring beautiful to you.  

blessings,

--Johanna

strawberry scones.

this morning I had the lovely avocation of baking strawberry scones. for a while now, I have been in search of the perfect scone recipe; for to me, there is no better treat to go alongside tea than a homemade scone. and today, I think I finally found what I have been searching for. fluffy, yet not too light. sweet but not overly so. accentuated strawberry tang, but not too fruity. resulting in the perfect scone -- especially with the accompaniment of a hot cup of tea. smile. 

Strawberry Scones

>>--- adapted from eat, live, run --->

1/4 c. milk

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chopped fresh strawberries

1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 Tbs. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup cold, unsalted butter -- cut into cubes

1/2 cup half & half

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl add chopped strawberries, milk and vanilla. Stir to combine and set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together both flours, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Combine the strawberry mixture and half & half with the flour mixture, and stir together until a wet dough forms. Turn dough out onto your prepared baking sheet and pat into a large circle. Cut the dough into eight triangles like you are cutting a pie. Separate the triangles so that they are an inch apart. Bake for approximately 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove scones from pan promptly, and transfer to cooling rack. 

Makes precisely eight scones. 

>>--- for icing --->

1 box powdered sugar

1/2 cup salted butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

2/3 cup milk

Combine all ingredients with mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Transfer icing to small zip-lock bag, and snip a tiny corner off. Squeeze the desired amount of icing on scones. 

>>--- enjoy --->

much love,

-- the old-fashioned girl

missing tea & books.

at the moment, I find myself to be quite a jaded writer. expending all of my energies on a paper due wednesday can be a rather formidable task; and I am now rather wanton as to what there is left to say. the touch of my pen seems obsolescent, and I have momentarily lost my momentum. perhaps tomorrow I shall be renewed. 

yet, it is at times like these that I miss sipping on a steaming cup of black tea whilst losing myself in the folds of a beautiful story. that I may be captivated by beauty of another's words is one of the greatest joys; for the search of beauty within words seems to be inherent in my nature. when I read, it is not merely a novel, it is so much more...

It is a novel... or, in short, some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language.

>>--- Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey --->

sadly, I no longer have the pleasure of hours spent leisurely lost within the pages of a novel. life, bringing new demands daily, does not allow such an idyllic window of spare-time. yet, on occasion, I find myself dreaming of those long summer days ahead, in which I might pick up that which time forbids me now. 

meanwhile, it would seem that each time I walk past my bookshelf, titles such as 'the phantom of the opera', 'north and south', 'bleak house' and countless others beckon me. yet, as anne shirley put it, 

"looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them!"

what are some titles that you would recommend? 

love always,
-- the old-fashioned girl

>> --- pictures via pinterest --->

romantic february // seeking the One my heart loves.

today marks the first of february. how can this be? it would seem that not too long ago was the first of january. how time does fly. at times, I wish to simply sit and cry for the minutes that seems to be lost only too quickly and with such ease. at other times, I wan't to relive the moment which just elapsed, hoping to garner every ounce of joy that seeps through its porous nature. and yet, at other times -- indeed, at this very moment -- I wonder what the future holds; what shall unfold in this next stage of life. I'm longing to push away the vale of uncertainty that clouds my mind, and see the beauty of adventure beyond it.  

tonight, I hear whispers in my ear; "come away my love." february is the month of romantic dreams. and tonight, I am purposing to live this month for the One my heart loves most. while january was swept into a furor of business and a never-ending call to act, rendering me to drift away from the moments spent in His presence, it became hard for me to see truth. my days were so full of tasks and duties, that I began to forget what my life-focus truly was.

yet as stars seem to twinkle twice as bright after a clouded sky passes through, so does His abounding love and truth seem to radiate after moments which were void of His company. He is once again calling me to His side. pleading with me to know Him, and trust Him with my story. 

the first of each month is the beginning of a new chapter in life. what shall be written within it, I know not. for I am no longer the author. my pen, I have handed willingly to Him. however, on this beautiful, starlit evening I purpose to make this chapter of my life one full of romance and devotion; between me and my Jesus.  

tonight, a chapter of your story is about to be written.  

with love, 

-- the old-fashioned girl

a dream come true.

january 23, 2012 | chapter one>>-----> I awaken to the melody of rain pounding upon my window pane. as I take a peek out from my cozy haven, I watch and smile as the torrent of wind seemingly sweeps through the branches of pines and oaks, causing them to dance wildly about. 

I slip from under my covers, and my feet gently rest upon the carpeted floor. as my senses begin to awaken, my mind begins to swirl, and my heart fills with an inexpressibly joyous sensation. oh what can it be? such alacrity sounds within my very being. I look up, at nothing in particular, for my thoughts are far from my current situation. and I realize. today is the day. 

chapter two >>-----> the consistent rain, which was pounding on the windshield, seemed to resound the beating of my heart; and the windshield-wipers undoubtedly mocked the slow ticking of the laggard timepiece. as I looked out the window at the scenery which flew by, I apprehended the concept that today was truly a dream come true. I could not comprehend how six months of planning had passed so quickly, and this was it. the day we had been waiting for. thinking on. talking about. dreaming of.

chapter three >>-----> mama blows me a kiss as I step out onto the wet pavement, an open umbrella in one hand, a gift in the other. swiftly, I make my way -- overstepping puddles, and ducking streams of water which flowed from the awning's overhead -- towards the appointed meeting place. looking this way and that, I try my best to keep my faculties intact, for excitement was slowly taking over my senses. as I turn the corner, my intuitive eyes survey a small cafe. 

and I see her. my dear, darling lavender girl. 

my primitive vogue of walking, which had delivered me safe and dry up until this point -- was replaced with a nuance to run. and that I did. my feet took me strait through a deep puddle, and from that point on my poor leather flats had to endure the adversity of being soaked through-n-through for the remainder of the day. as for my floor-length denim skirt; well, let us just say that it appeared to be two-toned, for a damp, dark blue shade covered the entire hem, nearly twelve inches up. 

but we were finally together. and that was all that mattered. 

johanna & grace | twenty-twelve

a long, lasting hug was exchanged. my heart seemed to laugh inside with the pure joy which overflowed from it at that moment. how could this be? my dear, far-away friend standing right before me? it was too good to be true. it seemed to be a fairytale...

 chapter four >>-----> our first few moments together were spent in endless chatter within the shelter of downtown disney shops. time seemed to pass quickly, even though we rummaged one shop in particular nearly five times over; hoping that the rain would soon pass, allowing us to venture out. 

when it did, which was only for a brief moment, we hastened to the nearby coffee shop. the aroma of fresh-baked cookies, and hot coffee drifted to my nose, and I knew at once that a cup of hot cocoa and a snicker-doodle cookie would be just the thing. 

for the next hour or so, while the rain pounded the ground outside, dear grace and I were warm and content {with the exception of our wet feet} inside the coffee parlor. the time seemed to pass rather quickly, as each and every minute of it was filled with both lovely conversation and the exchange of several small packages which we had saved for each other.  

among the lovely goodies which were given me, were beautiful, handmade buntings! perfect for the photo shoot which we planned on having with the arrival of sunshine, and the removal of rain. 

chapter five >>-----> finally, the sun broke through, and the clouds dispersed; making way for a picture-perfect photo-shoot. as we made our way through the park, we inferred that the castle would make the perfect setting. snap. snap. snap. memories are made, smiles are recorded, laughter is caught in time. 

while many photo's were taken with an expensive nikon; many, many more were taken through the lens of my heart -- never to be forgotten. the curve of each smile, the warmth of each hug, the ring of each giggle, the sound of my dear friends sweet voice; while these can rarely be captured within a mere photo, they will never escape my memory; they will be locked within my heart forevermore. 

chapter six >>-----> skipping happily through, we traversed the park, snapping pictures here and there, determined to record every moment of the day. we slowly made our way to the mary-go-round, and raced to catch the spirited little pony's before they galloped away. after which, we found ourselves out side a strangely familiar tower... somewhere, somehow, we knew we had seen it before. 

once within the realms of this magical haven, childhood memories flashed before my eyes as the flash of a camera was procured. wasn't it not so long ago that I twirled within a sparkling princess dress, fantasizing I was dancing with my prince charming? now I am a young woman; yet, it still gives me a thrill to procure a picture next to my favorite fairy-tale princess... smile. 

from there, an adventurous spirit was awoken within us, and we made our way to indiana jones territory -- where I found myself transformed from the old-fashioned princess into miss jones. trading my crown in for a ... fedora. shocking, I know. smile. 

chapter seven >>-----> as the day drew on, we found ourselves giving heart-felt thanks together over a bowl of steaming cheddar-broccoli soup. the warm, cheesy flavor which soon filled the the emptiness inside, was enjoyed over a heart-to-heart conversation with my dear lavender friend. after which, we tripped hand-in-hand over to tower of terror, which we endured rode on three times, together of course. 

the toll of a nearby clock told of how the day was nearing an end.  

the sun set. people dispersed. time ticked by. and the end of each moment filled me with the harrowing reality that all was coming to a quiet close. and soon, the dreadful moment would come in which we would have to share our good-byes. 

chapter eight >>-----> the moment came. an embrace was shared. a farewell was said. and a wave escaped my fingertips. 

that night, I found myself once again tucked far beneath the covers of my bed. yet, sleep would not come. the memories made that day flashed before me, and I could not come to the realization that it was over. that day which had been waited for. thought on. talking about. dreamed of. 

a tear slipped down my cheek. a dream had come true. 

january 24 | chapter nine>>-----> sunshine pours through my window pane, awakening me from my slumber. as I take a peek out my nearby window, I watch and smile and listen as the wind gently whispers through the branches of pines and oaks, warranting a beautiful spring-like day.  

I slip from under my covers, just as I had the day before, and my feet gently rest upon the carpeted floor. as my senses begin to awaken, my mind takes me aback in time, and I find my heart is full of countless memories. oh what can it be? and then I remembered. yesterday, a dream came true.

chapter ten >>-----> today, a new dream is born. 

| the end |

with love,

-- the old-fashioned girl

postscript | read graces beautiful account here.

thinking about // speech, debate & brothers.

so many times, over the past few weeks, I have sat here. wondering what to write. pondering what to say. hoping I could figure where to start. pathetically enough, it would seem that just as I would envisage an idea, I would be called away by a demanding sea of tasks and duties. 

what can I say? for there seems nothing to be said on this quite afternoon within my home. while so much has elapsed within the few short weeks since I last wrote, I know not where to began. yet, as always, I shall try to pen down the thoughts in my heart and the words in my head as clearly as possible.

last week, tear drops fell from the heavens, and I found myself cuddled in a small corner, typing happily away while listening the the lullaby of pitter-patter on the window pane. this afternoon, the sky warrants a similar situation, and I find myself yet again hiding withing a corner of my home, happily typing away while listening to 'song for sienna'. yet my mind is far from my current situation. it soars far back into the torrent of life, where dozens of memories take me aback in time. to one memory in particular ...

brandon | johanna | manoah >> san diego tournament << twenty-twelve

january >>-----> flashback to the memories made during this beautifully hectic month. attending a speech & debate tournament with brothers is one of the greatest pleasures in life. they are events which never cease in giving me happiness and contentment in merely being. I believe it is the people with whom I spend my time with at these tournie's which make each one so very special in my heart. when going to these tournaments, I truly realize what a special place brothers have in my heart. 

while, in truth, I have but three brothers to call my own {{cameron, brandon, hudson}}, I find that I am adopting them all the time. so, today my sweet readers, I must introduce you to a few of those dear guys who fill my life with such joy and laughter.

>>-----> cameron, my darling oldest brother, is a simply amazing guy. he and I -- whether it be taking a walk on the beach, or sharing our birthday celebration together, or simply going out to see a movie on friday nights -- have made countless memories. he's fun, trendy, cute -- and well, just the best. and no, I am not biased. hee-hee. 

manoah | brandon >> inland tournament << twenty-twelve

>>-----> brandon is my uncommonly handsome older bro, and I count him as one of my best friends. he is simply the best when it comes to debating; actually, when it comes to anything, for that matter. spending time with him is so much fun, and the memories we have made are priceless.

>>-----> hudson, the little guy of the family, is simply a sweetheart. enough said. smile. 

>>-----> manoah is one of the those young men whom I have had to adopted as my brother. smile. he too is one of my dearest friends, and I feel beyond blessed to call him my brother as well. he is also a talented debater, full of passion and energy, and I love to watch as he and my bro work together as a team, and succeed in doing what they enjoy most.

>>-----> evan is another one of those guy's whom I look upon as a dearest friend and have included as a brother. he too is an amazing speaker who is truly on fire for the Lord in all he does. it is such a privilege to know him and his family. he is always there to give me a hug, share an encouraging word, ask me to dance, or make me laugh when I need it most. smile. 

>>-----> the list goes on...

these guys make me melt inside with sheer pride. they are such eloquent debaters. such passionate speakers. and without a doubt, true gentlemen. you can only imagine the happiness that has filled my heart when I hear there names announced at tournament award ceremonies. I all but went hoarse with shouting for them!

so welcome to a glimpse into my life. tournament's took a good part of my time this month -- and, yet, each one seemed to slip by so quickly -- leaving me full of anticipation and alacrity for the next. smile. 

today >>-----> the excitement has faded. the crowds have ceased. normal life has commenced. and once again, time has permitted me to pen my thoughts within this lovely, old-fashioned haven of mine. today, I just had to share with my readers those sweet guys in my life. my brothers are a few of the most important people to me. and I thank the Lord for them. daily. 

won't you introduce me to those sweet guy's in your life, deary?

love always, 

-- the old-fashioned girl