Embrace the Space

52 in 1: WEEK 36 - heart garland & fabric bulletin board

2012-01-28T22:09:00.000-05:00

I have been going crazy pounding out the projects this week. Yes! Two of my favorites were this cute heart garland that Brynlee and I made after I saw this tutorial, and this super simple fabric covered bulletin board.

Brynlee had so much fun painting the cardstock for the hearts... and Mac loved looking for daddy out the back door and being silly. :)

I've been overwhelmed with unpacking and decorating. I'm so anxious to make this place our home, so little projects like a bulletin board covered with some pretty fabric help (oh, I am so behind the times on this, but I kept muttering PUT. A. BIRD. ON. IT. as I worked).

Bulletin board = pretty. Red/orange wall = not pretty.

Sneak peek into next week's project.... ohhh I can't wait! Bye bye nasty red kitchen!

taking chances

2012-01-24T21:56:00.000-05:00

This week, we've had to take our chances on a few things.

Gluing back together my favorite cake stand after it busted in the move: success! Oh such sadness was in my heart when it was pulled out of the box broken. Luckily I got it at The Christmas Tree Shop and surely paid no more than a few bucks for it.

Ripping the carpet off the stairs to reveal pretty, clean hardwood: major success! Except pulling out the carpet staples was a major pain in the you-know-what. And don't even get me started on those ballerina legs and how my baby looks 7 years old.

Bright red lipstick: would-be success, if I ever finally got the nerve to actually wear it out of the house instead of rashly grabbing a tissue and wiping it off at the last second.

"Green" smoothies: success according to Mac and me, Brynlee's still on the fence (if you can't tell from the look on her face).

Colored jeans: success (in my opinion!) especially since I got them at Old Navy for 6 bucks. The experience was a little ego-shattering, since I had to go up TWO sizes to get these to fit right... I guess they don't call them "super skinny" jeans for nothing. Too bad their name doesn't rub off on me. They are a bit short too, so I'm thinking flats are in the cards to pair with these jeans, which means I won't be able to wear them until spring. Or later. Yay, Rochester winter! Oh, and I decided I must have cobalt blue too. Who AM I?!

And finally, I guess this last "chance" we took is participating in a family dance while we were out to lunch this past weekend.

Success! :)

52 in 1: WEEK 35 - cozy burpcloths

2012-01-21T22:48:00.000-05:00

My house is still such a mess. Not in complete shambles, but there is still so much stuff EVERYWHERE. Not to mention I haven't even got close to being able to pull out all of my decorative little doo dads. In unpacking, I'm learning to take it one day at a time. Small victories are still victories!

So the other day, Alyssa mentioned that she wanted to make some burpcloths for a gift. I needed to make some for Amy for a baby shower she was soon attending (which was today, nothing like me waiting til the last minute), so we planned to just pound them out as the kids went buck wild in my basement. And that's exactly what happened.

I know burpcloths aren't the most interesting or involved project for a 52/1 (even though the girly fabric is so pretty... I used the softest flannel), but, as I said, small victories. AND, knowing that Alyssa was going to come over and sew with me, I had completely organized my crafty/sewing area in the basement (full tour coming when I feel it's pretty enough to show off, ha!) the night before. BIG victory there! Ahh, it is wonderful to have a space to create. So wonderful. So grateful!!!

daybook

2012-01-18T14:00:00.001-05:00

Outside my window...

it's very cold but sunny. It was really windy last night so there are branches everywhere. I have to pinch myself when I look outside, because in spite of all the work to be done, we are in OUR HOUSE... we are home!

I am thinking...

that I just might need this... so cute! (Ahem, Valentine's Day?)

I am thankful for...

all of the wonderful people who helped us pack, move, and unpack in the past week. Not sure I really know how to truly express my gratitude.

I am learning...

that unpacking a house with a 14 month old is literally impossible.

I am creating...

my craft/work/sewing room.... oh it's gonna be so great. I'm so excited it makes me want to cry!

I am going...

to small group tonight... excited to see old friends and meet new friends.

I am hearing...

the hum of the monitors (B has decided that naps are a good thing) and traffic.

Around my house...

it still looks like a war zone but things are coming together. I took a video (that I'll share later this week) before I was able to tackle the boxes so I can chronicle all that we get done.

One of my favorite things...

is dancing in the kitchen with my girl and my boy saying "Pthlzzz" (please) unprompted. :)

A few plans for my week...

unpacking, girls' night, unpacking.

A picture...

(Or a few... some snippets of the past few days)

Empty {new} house

Kids on a shelf (as I unpack books)

Mac eating broccoli (it's a MIRACLE! I guess the trick is letting him do it himself)

Happy Wednesday, friends!

PCB giveaway winner!

2012-01-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

Oh this weekend has been nutzo. Nutso? Insane. But I promised a giveaway winner and here it is:

Lucky #29 is:

And I find this hilarious because I have personally known the winners of the last 3 giveaways I have sponsored! I swear it's not fixed. So glad my dear A-dubs is the winner, though!

Oh and we did make it safe and sound to our new house. Despite a snowstorm and all the little things that could have gone wrong and the stresses of a move, we made it. My house looks like an explosion of STUFF, but I'm trying to tackle one room/area at a time.

So.

Much.

To.

Do.

Breathe....

52 in 1: WEEK 34 - empty house

2012-01-12T23:32:00.000-05:00

I'm typing this post on my phone with no wifi, laying on the floor of the living room because every last piece of furniture we own is packed up in a moving truck. Well, other than the lovely air mattress that we will be slumbering on tonight. Yesterday and today was spent totally clearing out the house, packing boxes, and cleaning. Tomorrow we head out around 5am. I had to say some hard goodbyes in the past few days.

This move is so bittersweet.

daybook: moving on the brain edition

2012-01-11T13:20:00.000-05:00

Outside my window...

it's clear and chilly. It hasn't rained/showed for weeks, and we have had sun and clear skies. Tomorrow it's supposed to rain... the ONE day we will be packing up the moving truck. I am praying it holds off!

I am thinking...

that perhaps staying up until 5am packing my kitchen will affect/is affecting my productivity today.

Also, I'm thinking/highly suggesting that you should hop over to Keight's blog and enter her fun giveaways (do I spy a PCB giveaway?! Oh yes I do!) and don't forget to enter my PCB giveaway this week right HERE!

I am thankful for...

my mom and dad, who are watching the kids this week while we pack. I truly don't think packing this house would have been possible with my sweet rugrats underfoot.

Also, my love who turned 30 on Sunday! I had plans for an elaborate birthday post,

but they were squashed. Wonder why. Thankful that Ryan is understanding/not needy!

I am learning...

how much STUFF we have... makes me want to chuck everything and live a simpler life.

I am creating...

plans to decorate the new house! Speaking of creating, check out these. HILARIOUS!!!

I am going...

out to dinner with friends tonight, and have done so with various friends every night this week. Part goodbye, part break from packing, part lack of food in the house.

I am hearing...

Us and our Daughters. Oh, Phil LaRue, you will always be my teenage crush.

Around my house...

there are boxes everywhere. Duh.

One of my favorite things...

is talking to my sweet B on the phone while we are apart this week... despite the conversations lasting 7 seconds.

A few plans for my week...

do I really need to say it?

A picture...

My mom has been super diligent with sending pics of the kids this week. Love her and them.

That picture of Brynlee makes me weep. Miss them so much.

52 in 1: WEEK 33 - movin out and a giveaway

2012-01-07T11:30:00.001-05:00

So, guess what?

I've cleared out my dining room/craft (I still shudder at that word, can't we think of something better??) room/sewing room and packed it all up.

This is what it looked like prior/during the pack up:

Embarrassing!

And this is what it looks like now:

Obviously still needing some TLC, but better.

Clearing out and packing up this room was my big project of this week (besides getting and trying to recover from the stomach flu. YUCK). Why?

BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING BACK TO NEW YORK!

Like, next week. So life is going to be crazy(-er) and messy(-er) and (more) chaotic for awhile. We bought a house in Rochester (our home sweet home) a little over a month ago and will be packing up this upcoming week and heading out for good on Friday (Ryan's job is transferring back). I'm so excited and overwhelmed and sad and stressed. I'm so bummed to leave the sweet (now {rest-of-my} lifelong) friends we have made here in MA, but I feel like God has grown and molded me so much during this past year and a half, and I am so ready to follow His plan for me and my family. It's funny, because I felt like I had FINALLY "embraced the space" I had been given here and really, truly felt content. I think He just wanted me to give it up and surrender to His plan. He's funny. And amazing.

I'm also pumped to own a house again and my mind is brimming with PROJECTS! Oh, 52/1, you aren't going to be able to handle the plans I have up my sleeves. I can't wait to document the fun stuff we do to this house to make it more "us," which is funny because that's the reason I started this blog in the first place, when we bought our first house.

So, in this next crazy busy week, I will probably be a bit absent from the blog. I had been promising a Poppy Chain giveaway this week, and I won't go back on my word! So here it is: Just for fun and as my way of saying happy new year, one lucky recipient will win a $25 credit to my shop, plus free shipping of whatever the winner picks!

To enter:

Leave a comment telling what you would pick from my shop if you won!

Additional entries:

become a follower (or let me know that you already are) of my blog

"favorite" The Poppy Chain Boutique on Etsy

follow me on Twitter

Leave me comments for each method of entry! I feel kind of silly with all this "follow me" stuff, but I have to start somewhere, right? :)

You have until next Saturday night (the 14th) to enter and I'll pick a winner at random and announce the winner next Sunday, January 15th. Hopefully the dust will be semi-settling by then!

one word

2012-01-02T23:21:00.000-05:00

Early last January, I chose my "word of the year". Last year's word was warm. I wanted to become more of an arms-wide-open type person. More down to earth. The type of person that anyone would feel comfortable around.

I'm still working on being a warm person, but I think I have made progress. I hope I have. It's so easy to just close up inside myself and just do what I have to do, and not intentionally interact with others.

This year, I think my word will be patience. To be more specific, not so much with waiting for something to happen, but with people. I get so frustrated with people. I want to love people. Even more specifically, I want to be patient first and foremost with my husband and kids. Why is it that we often treat the ones we love most the worst?? Often, my patience tank is empty before we even get downstairs in the morning. The only person who is to blame for that is me. I desire to be more gracious, more calm, more understanding. My sweet family deserves the best of me, and it is my job to BE the best of me. Ryan is so calm, so patient with me and with the kids. I know that is in his nature to be so, but he just inspires me. I pray I can be the person my family deserves and the person I KNOW I was created to be.

Watch out, 2012. There's gonna be more deep breaths, more smiles when the only thing I want to do is scream.

Happy New Year, friends. Anyone else have a word for 2012?

Nourish Organics lip balm WINNER!

2012-01-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

And the winner of a Nourish Organics lip balm of choice is...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jenny is actually my cousin (in law)! Do you think Rafflecopter knew?! ;)

Get ready for another fun giveaway this week! Yay!

Happy New Year!

52 in 1: WEEK 32 - New Year's Eve appetizer spread

2011-12-31T21:10:00.000-05:00

Jason, Alyssa, and baby Harper made the trek here to MA this weekend to visit and have a fun New Year's Eve party (which, for us, mostly just consists of going to Ikea earlier in the day, making delicious food, eating it, putting the kids to bed, and trying to stay awake until midnight). We made yummy queso, bloomin' onion bread, typical frozen appetizer type munchies (mozz sticks, etc.). The queso and bread were delish. Please try them. You will thank me.

So glad to have some of our best friends with us for a fun weekend! The company of the sweetest, happiest baby in the world doesn't hurt, either.

I'm announcing the winner of the Nourish Organics lip balm giveaway tomorrow... you have a few hours left to enter! Happy New Year's Eve!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-29T23:23:00.000-05:00

In {quite a few} pictures...

Don't forget to enter my Nourish Organics lip balm giveaway to win a post-Christmas treat!

Nourish Organics lip balm giveaway

2011-12-27T15:06:00.002-05:00

I am so, so excited to be hosting a little post-Christmas treat today: a Nourish Organics giveaway! Not only do I now consider Raechel and Olivia (the sweet ladies behind Nourish) as my friends, but I really believe in this stuff.

Let's talk lip balm. Raechel and Olivia perfected the lip balm formula themselves, and I could not love it more. Made with organic shea butter and beeswax, the organic sweet orange lip balm is bright and citrusy, and the organic peppermint lip balm is refreshing and festive. The lip balm's formula is wonderful, so very smooth and hydrating. I actually bought a few lip balm bundles and gave lip balm to all the women in my family and Ryan's family, and they were met with rave reviews all around. My mom especially loves her peppermint lip balm; she loves how it feels on her lips, the scent, and how it is not waxy feeling. The peppermint is my favorite too, and it's definitely not just for Christmastime.

Somebody else loves the peppermint lip balm ("It's minty!")... my little thief!

I can't say enough how much I love Nourish Organics' products... and I can say that I've tried almost every one! I use the balms on my kids' rashy skin, the washes as a shower treat for me, and the sugar scrub is my favorite product. It looks and smells so amazing, good enough to sneak a taste ~~which I may or may not have already done~~. I love that only pure, safe, organic ingredients go into these products- and I know this first hand since Ashley and I were able to get a little sneak into Raechel's Nourish HQ during our Tennessee trip and even made some lip balms ourselves (note: we are not good lip balm pourers. Fail.). I feel comfortable using Nourish's products on my kids, even though they have eczema and super sensitive skin. I could not recommend the coconut balm more for those itchy patches! FYI: Mac's new favorite word is BALM.

Now that I'm finished with my gushing, I'm going to get to the giveaway part: Raechel and Olivia are offering a free lip balm (winner's choice of flavor) from Nourish Organics to one lucky recipient!

And the nitty gritty. You must be a follower of my blog to enter (I'm gonna check!) and visit Nourish Organics and leave a comment telling me which lip balm flavor you would pick or any other Nourish Organics product you would like to try. Be sure to enter your name in the Rafflecopter widget after you leave your comment so it will actually count as an entry! You can enter through the easy, easy Rafflecopter widget below until 11:59 pm Saturday December 31 (so technical). Follow Nourish Organics on twitter and/or facebook for additional entries!

Discount: Use the code thanksashley at checkout to receive $1 off lip balm bundles, now through December 31st.

I'll announce the winner New Year's Day!

To ring in the new year, get ready for a big PCB giveaway next week, right here! For now, go get some lip balm. And one of each of everything else. Consider yourself Nourished.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T00:56:00.000-05:00

daybook

2011-12-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

Outside my window...

it's currently 48 degrees. Not super Christmasy feeling, but I'll take it!

I am thinking...

that I really should get going on my plan to clean the whole house today.

I am thankful for...

the lack of snow! Bah humbug, right?!

I am learning...

how incredible a two year old's memory really is.

I am creating...

wrapped Christmas presents? Does that count?

I am going...

shopping with some of the teenage girls from church tonight... hoping it won't be too crazy at the mall.

I am hearing...

the Thomas the Tank Engine theme song... "They're two, they're four, they're six, they're eight..."

Around my house...

my boy is running around yelling "ball!" and "vroom vroom"! Love it.

One of my favorite things...

is a good game of Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja. Did I really just admit that?

A few plans for my week...

traveling to NY for Christmas.

A picture...

Or a few! We tried to get just ONE good picture of the kids before church on Sunday... you be the judge on how successful we were!

Between a finicky camera, on the verge of being late for church, and less than willing kids, I'd say the success level was a bit low. I think I am sensing a theme here...

{2010}

Haha!

52 in 1: WEEK 31 - Oreo bonbons

2011-12-20T11:47:00.000-05:00

Ah, the holiday staple. They are very rich, but that doesn't stop me from eating a dozen of them. I made them Sunday for a Christmas party that was last night, and they were a hit, as usual. The fun part? They look like they were a lot of work/complicated to make, but they are so easy and require like 3 ingredients. Shhhh!

And, because I'm ~~lazy~~ busy... here is the recipe linked back to when made them for Christmas a few years ago. This year, I just dusted them with sanding sugar and crystal sprinkles, but I usually top them with colored dipping chocolate. Make these, you won't be sorry (your waistline is a different story)!

52 in 1: WEEK 30 - more Christmas trees

2011-12-17T12:19:00.002-05:00

Neither of these ideas are original, I'm sure, but I wanted to do something Christmas tree-ish with the two remaining styrofoam cones I had. Here are some mini-tutes for what I came up with in pictures and just a few words:

twine tree materials:

Yay. Tedious but kind of fun to glue and wrap.

My little helper/gluestick thief in her pink tutu.

paper tree materials:

Cut 2" strips of paper, then make slits in the strips.

Ran out of the blue paper, but I thought the other paper looked kind of like a tree topper.

Pretty little tree cluster (including the ball ornament tree) on our tabletop.

Now if only I could finish my Christmas shopping...

13.1 #teamfmf

2011-12-15T12:30:00.001-05:00

Despite the fact that our TN trip was almost two weeks ago, I am going to try my hardest to document it to its fullest, because that's what it deserves!

Oh, boy. The trip, the people, the marathon. I really can't express the amazingness, you had to be there.

Ryan and I arrived in Nashville on Wednesday night. I had woken that morning with a suspicious sore throat and it had gotten worse throughout the day. By the time we got to Nashville I was like the living dead. Seriously, I was SO SICK. I was so delirious walking through the airport, yet was with it enough to observe how gorgeous the Nashville airport was- the nicest I've ever been in.

We stayed at a super cool hotel in Franklin, and I felt so bad that I was so sick and didn't appreciate it the way I wanted to. Honestly, on Thursday and Friday I was sure that I was not going to be able to run the race on Saturday and was truly just hoping I would not literally die. I don't get sick often, so when I do I get weird(er).

Thursday morning, we headed back to the Nashville airport (me drugged up with cold meds, ibuprofen, and throat numbing spray) to pick up Ashley, aka A-dubs. I knew I was gonna like this girl, but I didn't realize what an understatement that would be. She's a friend for life, HILARIOUS, and we've been texting nonstop since the race. LOVE her!

We nervously made the drive back to Franklin (come on, we were about to meet Raechel Myers!) and made a pitstop at Starbucks to bring peace offerings of caffeine. After a Ryan Myers and David Ferriss celebrity sighting, we headed to the Myers' house to spend the afternoon playing with sweet, sweet Hazel (Mac's future wife... she loved seeing pictures and videos of "Mac Mac" on my phone), making some Nourish potions (Ashley and I equally sucked at pouring lip balm... good thing we had Ryan to police us) and getting some behind the scenes action, being fed delicious food, and getting to know Raechel. I was feeling better, but between the sickness and being nervous I was a mess inside. Such an emotional rollercoaster this trip was!

After the Dukes' showed up, the guys got to work on some guy car stuff and the girls headed to Franklin to do some walking around and browsing in the cute, cute shops downtown. We met up with beautiful Olivia and did our thing. Then, we met up with the guys at a pub and ate so much delicious food (sensing a theme here? You think we were there to run?! Think again).

Note: these pictures were either taken with my phone, swiped from other people's phones, or taken by Ryan Myers. Quite the conglomeration!

Self portrait with Hazel
Olivia, Keight, me, and Ashley downtown
my baby's name carved on the table right in front of my seat at the pub, it made me smile
Raechel and me (wow, love that girl. She is more amazing in real life than I expected. She also handled the organization of this whole weekend with such grace and made sure we all felt so welcome. She's so inspiring to me.)

Friday was a day of nerves and fun. We picked up Ashley's (and now MY) friend Jenn at the airport around 9 and headed to Memphis. We ate some BBQ for lunch and headed to the expo to pick up our race bibs and such. We met the rest of our teammates and checked into our hotels. Dinner was pasta and fun times with our team. Bedtime was early but I tossed and turned for hours. I was such a bundle of nerves. I felt better when I was pumped up on medicine, but otherwise I was a sick mess. Plus, I was still so worried about my shin and hoping it would make it through the race.

We got up super early on Saturday morning (was it 5? 6? I don't even remember) and met up with everyone, all protein bar-ed, Gatorade-d and ibuprofen-ed up. We nervously made our way downtown and shivered in the cold. We (well, I) tried not to look petrified as Ryan (Myers) snapped photos of us as we got situated, pinned our bibs on, and stretched. I was feeling good, sickness-wise, and was gonna kill this race. No enlarged tonsils were going to stop me.

Team Kirnan and Team Ashley - both unstoppable

Eager and nervous- ignorance is bliss, right? Each of these people are so wonderful- I'm so privileged to call them my friends.

We parted ways and headed to our corrals- #13, baby! 11:30-13/min mile pace! Stop being judgy.

And we were off! Just like that.

me - Ashley - Katie - Kerry feelin good at mile .5- don't worry, that pep was short lived!

Katie Vick and I paired up and ended up running the entire race together. Let me tell you, that girl is awesome. Her knee was bothering her but she pushed through. Honestly, I would not have been able to keep going if it wasn't for her. We encouraged each other, took walking breaks together, and made wisecracks to each other all 13.1 miles. Love her! And, the best part is- she loves my kids (and she hasn't even met them yet)... live-in nanny, anyone?! ;)

Oh, Elvis guys. I know we were in Memphis, but sheesh.

We ran through the St. Jude campus at mile 4. This race was so emotional for me for many reasons.

First off, I was actually doing it: bum shin, sickness, and all. I never thought I would ever become a runner. I used to die running the mile in school. A 5k was a laughable fantasy. Here I was, in real running clothes, with real runners, running in a real HALF MARATHON with people constantly cheering and holding up signs on the sidelines. It was breathtaking.

Second, for the real reason we were running: for the patients and families of St. Jude. Those kids and families are so brave and go through so much pain on a daily basis. I think a little discomfort/sickness on my part is quite low on the totem pole of importance. The signs, the "in memory of" shirts (of children who lived very short lives, some losing their battles very recently), the high fives. It was almost too much to handle. I was choked up running through the campus, but the sign that got me and made me ugly cry was the one a girl, probably my age, held up at the campus' exit: "Because you run, I'm a survivor." Oh, those kids and those families. I definitely left a piece of my heart on those streets of Memphis.

Note: It is impossible to ugly cry and run at the same time, because you need to be able to breathe to run.
True story.

Third, the magnitude of what we were doing (running and raising money to support the treatment of the patients and research) really hit me when, as a mother, I thought about my own kids and what it must be like for the parents of those patients to see thousands of people running and raising money for their children. 13.1 miles is far, but how far would I run to find a cure for cancer if one of MY children were sick? I don't think I need to answer that in specifics, but I can say it would be FAR. With every step, I thanked God for my husband, my children, our health. Life is such a gift, and I must live as though I truly believe that.

The entrance to the St. Jude campus

Katie and I pushed through, stopping every few miles to walk and grab water and energy Chomp things. My shin ached and Katie's knee bothered her, and at about mile 9.5 my muscles felt like they had turned to jelly. I really struggled those last few miles, but we kept encouraging each other and putting one foot in front of the other. Pretty soon, the end was in sight, and the last little stretch was downhill into a stadium, which housed the finish line. We both got a burst of energy, sprinted down that hill, rounded the corner into the stadium (and heard our names being read over the loudspeaker, so cool!) and grabbed hands as we crossed the finish line. WE DID IT! 2:52, baby!!!

Jenn, Ashley, me and Katie at the FINISH - Me and Katie with our medals- not sure why:
1) my teeth look so huge,
2) my hat is poking Katie in the eye, and
3) Katie looks like a supermodel after running a half marathon. Grrr.

Exhausted and happy!

After the race, we went back to the hotel and napped, showered, and got ready for dinner. We went to a great BBQ (duh) place and ate and ate. I was lucky enough to snag a seat next to Keight, who is so stinkin beautiful and probably the funniest person I've ever met. Not to mention her kids and my kids are the exact same ages (just reversed genders) and she's a talented seamstress and fabulous wife. Hello, intimidation!

Don't miss my nub of an arm.

After dinner, we found another restaurant to just relax and hang out for a bit. The guys played around with the fat/bald/geek/whatever booth apps on Ryan's phone and we just enjoyed each other's company on our last night in Memphis. Aren't these girls so beautiful?! Let me tell you, each of them were even more beautiful on the inside, and I'm honored to call them my friends.

Sunday was filled with goodbyes and traveling. I was so sad to go, but so glad to get home to our babies. I had never left them for that long (almost 5 days) or been that far away from them (1,300 miles!) before. My mom did a great job keeping them happy and healthy but I was so glad to snuggle them again.

So that's it. We did it. And now I'm crazy enough to consider doing another 1/2 marathon in April. Who AM I?! Thanks again for the amazing experience, #teamfmf. Through your support, encouragement, and strength you all (ya'll?!) made me able to do something that I never dreamed I could do!

For a more thorough account of the race weekend, check out Raechel's post, or for a more hilarious one check out Keight's post!

daybook

2011-12-15T00:03:00.001-05:00

Outside my window...

it's really dark, except for the Christmas lights on my street. Pretty. And, the house kitty-corner from us has a light up Rudolph in the lawn whose head keeps falling off. Makes me laugh.

I am thinking...

about how sleepy I am and how I shouldn't be ignoring my list of things to do.

I am thankful for...

this season, my sweet family, new friends, new beginnings.

I am learning...

to chill out when I feel the need to keep my house pristine.

I am creating...

lots of jewelry! And a marathon post, FINALLY!

I am going...

Christmas shopping with my friend Mandie tomorrow night... I need to pound this out!

I am hearing...

the fuzz of the monitor and Audrey Assad... my new favorite.

Around my house...

things are still and the clutter is semi-under control.

One of my favorite things...

is seeing Brynlee's little legs kicking under the water during swimming lessons. Today was her last lesson, and she went from clinging to me to swimming on her own (with a floaty bubble thing) in 6 weeks. She's so confident now and I'm so proud of her.

A few plans for my week...

Christmas shopping, Christmas parties, organizing.

A picture...

My sisters (in law) and me a few weeks ago at the Christmas parade the day after Thanksgiving... how I love and miss them!

Happy Thursday.

be still

2011-12-13T14:58:00.001-05:00

I am just going nuts. More in my mind than anything, but no matter how many lists I make or how extensively I plan, I am overwhelmed by how much I have to do in the next week. Christmas cards, finish buying/making gifts, sending out both, packaging orders, blog posts (I'm so behind it's laughable), packing for the trip to NY for Christmas, trying to tidy up my disaster house, emails, and the usual daily activities and chores. So, this morning, I forced myself to just SIT with my kids, take a few pictures and videos of them playing, and just enjoy them.

Housework and duties can always wait... my kids are growing up so fast and that won't wait.

Mac's eyes are just so ridiculously blue... almost violet. I almost never edit my photos (unless they are too dark or to adjust shadows) because I'm too lazy, but sometimes his eye color is so intense I feel like they look almost fake! So I assure you, I'm definitely not ambitious enough to enhance them. :)

52 in 1: WEEK 29 - jewelry cheat

2011-12-10T02:05:00.001-05:00

I am a little swamped with jewelry making and packaging this week... so that's my project of the week. :) Not to mention (STILL) trying to unpack and catch up from our trip. Oh, and a marathon recap post is coming. Feel free to read Raechel's and Keight's recaps until I get my act together. How about a peace offering for being so behind? 20% off any order from my etsy shop with the code CHRISTMAS2011 until Christmas! Stocking stuffers, anyone??

what I wore wednesday: post 1/2 marathon edition

2011-12-07T18:43:00.003-05:00

I'm excited to link up with The Letter 4 today for their (and my) first What I Wore Wednesday!

(PS- these girls are for real. And big time. Like they were on The Martha Stewart Show a few weeks ago, and just went to NY to tape another segment. I'm trying to contain my jealousy.)

I didn't get any, ANY pictures from the marathon weekend except for on my phone. Sadness. So my fun post-marathon outfit was only captured with my phone while blowdrying my hair in the hotel (to send to my SILs to make sure they approved). Forgive the horrible quality! The colors are all distorted! I will try harder next time!

dress & belt - boutique in Wellsville, NY

tights - Target

boots - Old Navy

Ahh, I have such sorrow looking at this awful picture! I was so delirious after the race, I just was not thinking straight, let alone together enough to do a photo shoot :)

And for funsies (I think Keight is rubbing off on me), a shot of some of the girls after dinner... we were all practically sleeping sitting up:

Amanda - Ashley W - me - Jenn - Keight - Kerry - Raechel - Chelsea

Happy Wednesday!

checking in

2011-12-06T16:36:00.000-05:00

Oh, wow. Just wow. This weekend came, went, and I'm still wondering if it was a dream. Between our travels, me getting sicker than I've been in years, meeting new friends (like, for life friends), missing my babies, and running 13.1 miles, I find it hard to believe it all actually happened.

I have so, so much to catch up on and share... I want to share pictures from Mac's party, our family photo shoot, a fun Poppy Chain giveaway (for once, hosted by ME!), some fun projects, big family news, and, of course, a full marathon weekend rundown! Ahh, looking at that list makes me want to just take a nap. I'm not even unpacked from the weekend!

I will get posting as soon as I can catch up on life... but for now will leave you with this: PROOF that I tackled and defeated 13.1...

daybook

2011-11-29T14:34:00.000-05:00

Outside my window...

it is cloudy but the current temperature is 69 degrees. Whaaaaat?!

I am thinking...

about how nervous and excited I am to leave for Tennessee tomorrow. I have so much to do beforehand! I still haven't started to pack!

I am thankful for...

my momma who will be wrangling my kids for the next few days!

I am learning...

to not put a timeline on God's plans.

I am creating...

Christmas decorations! And orders for my Etsy shop!

I am going...

crazy. Haha.

I am hearing...

Brynlee talking when she's supposed to be napping and the hum of the washing machine.

Around my house...

it looks like a bomb went off! The glow of the Christmas tree makes me happy, though.

One of my favorite things...

is the sweet "muah" Mac lets out as he plants a kiss on me!

A few plans for my week...

to clean up and pack, send out some orders, catch our flight to TN, meet some new friends, run a half marathon Saturday... you know, no big deal.

A picture...

Carrie gave me the pictures she took from Mac's party and from our little family shoot (will share the rest soon) and I love this one of me and my boy right before his party:

Catch ya when I return... hopefully I will still have two working legs!

52 in 1: WEEK 28 - ball ornament Christmas tree

2011-11-29T01:33:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I saw these in Target:

And, of course, I was instantly determined to make my own version.

Materials:
-styrofoam cone base things (got mine at Joanns)
-Christmas bulb ornaments (got mine in the dollar bin at Target and on sale at Joannns)
-hot glue gun and glue

Pull off all the metal top things (I'm so technical).

With your glue gun, make a circle of glue on one of the cones. Press the ornament into the center of the glue circle, puncturing the styrofoam with the raw top of the bulb and securing the bulb to the cone.

Repeat. Over and over and over. And over.

I dug out some old, bigger ornaments that I had decided not to decorate with this year and used them to fill in some of the big gaps.

Hiiii!

This tree took longer to make than I had anticipated. It also didn't turn out exactly as I had envisioned, but I still think it's pretty and interesting to look at. However, I was totally expecting to be able to complete three trees with the bulbs I bought. They barely covered the one tree... oops. Lesson learned: just buy (gasp) the premade tree. I'm sure they have gone on sale by now, and it definitely cost at least as much as one sold in the store to make. Plus, it wouldn't take two hours (resulting in a mediocre project) to just go to Target and buy a stinkin ornament tree. Now, what to do with the remaining styrofoam cones... hmmmm....

52 in 1: WEEK 27 - Christmas tree

2011-11-26T22:12:00.002-05:00

This week has been pure craziness... but we did put the tree up before we left for NY for Thanksgiving. So, that's my project for the week: Christmas decorating. I wanted the tree to be up when we returned from Thanksgiving, especially since I will be going crazy preparing to leave for Tennessee (!!!!!) on Wednesday. I can't even think about it without feeling a bizarre mix of pure excited joy and pure terror.

Anyway, OF COURSE I didn't even take a cell phone pic of the tree, but I did get a pic of Brynlee decorating a little tree she found in the decoration box. It was so funny! I also got a video of Mac seeing the tree for the first time (since he was in bed by the time we began putting the tree up), complete with a mini-meltdown courtesy of Brynlee, messy livingroom, and a glimpse of the next month with a 12 month old and the ornaments:

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving... topped off by a parade on Friday night with Ryan's family. There is an annual day after Thanksgiving Christmas parade in a nearby town, ending with turning on all the Christmas lights in town. It was so fun! I haven't uploaded my camera pics, but I did snag one with my phone. LOVE! So fun! Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving!

getting ready with my boy

2011-11-23T02:09:00.000-05:00

It's about 1:30 am and I still have so much to do before I head to bed. Tomorrow afternoon, we are heading to NY for Thanksgiving. Despite my long to-do list, I wanted to be sure to record this snippet of life with my Macky boy.

I want to keep it real here. My life is not all perfect and beautiful and calm. It is chaos. It is messy. It lacks basic necessities like showers (on my part). I yell. I lose my patience. I procrastinate.

So, today (as usual) I packed my to-do list to overflowing. I needed to shower during naptime. Boo always seems to know when I NEED him to nap, and insists on waking up early to see what I'm up to. One hour in, he woke up screaming. Sigh.

He's been on a clingy kick lately, and insists on being held, especially while I'm trying to put on makeup or make dinner. I could just let him whine at my feet, but he clings to my legs and any movement on my part sends him crashing to the floor. His head is usually the first thing to hit. So holding him it is.

And sometimes when my bicep just can't take it anymore, this ensues:

And when he decides he's tired of me, he entertains himself. Not with toys, but with anything involving danger, excitement, making messes, or naughtiness. It's usually a combination of all four. SUCH a boy.

I have to admit, sometimes I just give up and skip the makeup or clean hair and save ourselves the time and trouble. I have to laugh (hours later, that is) looking at these pictures of my boy's mischief. I know it won't be like this for long (Brynlee is seriously so self-sufficient, as much as she can be at 2 1/2) so I try so hard to enjoy each stage, even when I literally can not keep up with him. I love his energy, his laugh, his sense of humor, his sweetness. He is changing and growing so fast, and I never want to forget this time... messy hair, chaotic house, daredevil boy, and all.

52 in 1: WEEK 26 - feather earrings -- Anthro knockoff

2011-11-18T03:04:00.001-05:00

Ohhh I am so excited to share these earrings! I've been wanting/wanting to make feather earrings for quite awhile now. I was browsing through the accessories on Anthropologie's site and found these:

LOVE THEM! The $38 price tag wasn't totally horrific, but I immediately thought about how I could SO make a knockoff version for cheaper! I ended up spending about $21 on materials at Michaels, but that was without anything being on sale and saving only $2 with a coupon. Boo on them for only accepting one coupon per customer, per day. One reason why I love Joann's... they take as many coupons as you can get, as long as the coupons are all different (having different codes or whatever). Anyway, I did spend $21, BUT I now have enough supplies to make like 20 pairs of these earrings (I'd have to get more beads, though) so I think it's a pretty good deal. :)

Materials:
- pretty feathers (I would have got bigger/stronger ones than the ones I got, live and learn)
- 4mm beads
- 6mm beads (or whatever size tickles your fancy)
- jump rings (notice my neverending supply in my pill-box storage)
- earrings (ear wires)
- closures
- thin chain
- a few headpins
- jewelry tools

1. Choose 2 feathers that are closest in appearance. I even trimmed one of mine to mimic the shape of the other one. Don't stress about the feathers having to look identical, I think the minor differences highlight the beauty of the handmade.

2. Pick out 2 identical closures (my pack was an assortment of sizes). Place the closure on the base of the feather and pinch the closure closed (ha) with flat-nosed pliers.

3. Pick out 3-4 of the smaller beads (however many you like, actually). Bend the end of the headpin into a circle with round-nosed pliers. String the beads on the wire. Cut the headpin wire down and finish off the end with another circle using the round-nosed pliers.

4. Measure and cut the chain to whatever length you like. As you can see, I cut my chain to about 1.5" and 1".

5. With a small jump ring, attach the round headpin circle to the closure holding the feather. With another small jump ring, attach the earring to the other rounded end of the headpin. Sounds kinda complicated, but you're just connecting the pieces here. No biggie.

6. String one of the larger beads on a headpin. Trim the headpin down and make a loop with the remaining wire with round nosed pliers. Before closing off the loop, thread the wire through the end link of one of the pieces of chain. Close off the loop.

7. Attach a jump ring to the other end of the chain. Repeat step 6 for the other piece of chain, and then attach the chains to the closure with another jump ring.

Then, repeat steps 2-7 to make another earring.

That's it!

Can't forget a silly mirror picture. Ahh, well. Wouldn't these earrings make lovely Christmas presents?

Please let me know if you try these... I'd love to see!

Happy Friday!

daybook

2011-11-16T13:46:00.002-05:00

Inspired by Arielle, I thought I'd start sharing a little {hopefully} weekly daybook. Gotta keep it real around here!

Outside my window...

the weather is cloudy but not (yet) rainy. I am loving this 60 degree November weather!

I am thinking...

about how proud I am of my dear friend Erin for ~~finally~~ opening her Etsy shop! Check out her lovely printable wall art.

I am thankful for...

friends I can be completely transparent and honest with. You know who you are!

I am learning...

what it is to have a heart and love for humanity. That life is about serving others and furthering God's kingdom. About what it is to be a woman of influence. I went to an amazing women's conference this past weekend and am just brimming with excitement for the changes God is stirring in my heart.

I am creating...

my 52/1 project for the week... I hope it turns out as awesome as I'm envisioning!

I am going...

to the post office, the library, and youth group tonight. Hoping to get a shower beforehand! Brynlee and I had (mommy & me) swimming lessons this morning and I currently look just LOVELY.

I am hearing...

Brynlee chattering over the monitor & pattering around her room (she's supposed to be napping) and Milo Greene -- they opened for The Civil Wars when Ryan and I saw them in Boston a few weekends ago, and to say that that show was incredible would be a shameful understatement.

Around my house...

the toys and clutter are surprisingly picked up. We were gone all morning, so that helps. :)

One of my favorite things...

is Dunkin Donuts mint hot chocolate. Yum.

A few plans for my week...

to get my 52/1 project and post done, go to the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn with some friends, package and send a bunch of orders (YAY!), hopefully get a run or two in, update Mac's babybook, write thank you notes for Mac's birthday party, and the list goes on. :)

A picture...

One year ago this week... oh my, my.

okay, and maybe a few more... we had a little family photoshoot with my sweet Carrie when we were home a few weekends ago and I am so in love with the little preview she gave me:

Hope you're having a lovely week!

52 in 1: WEEK 25 - hemming and hawing

2011-11-11T11:56:00.000-05:00

"Meddie" and Adam the other night at Mac's birthday dinner

Ok, so this week's "project" is not very interesting, but is/was time consuming and I think definitely worth using as my weekly project endeavor. My sis brought over a bunch of her work pants that were either too long, too short, or the hem had just fallen out of them. I FINALLY learned to do a blind/hem stitch (or whatever you call it) not too long ago (not like it's hard, I just never took the time to learn... my great grandma would be proud that I finally learned) so I agreed when my sister asked for some hemming. For all the free babysitting she does, it's pretty much the least I can do. :)

Next week is HALFWAY through my year-long 52/1 commitment... I promise I WILL do something fun and exciting. Perhaps a tutorial? Perhaps also fashion-oriented?? Stay tuned!

thursday ramble.

2011-11-10T12:36:00.000-05:00

For some reason, I feel like rambling on Thursdays.

Funny, because I feel like I have nothing interesting to say most of the time, but then sometimes I write posts in my head so fast that I usually forget most of what I want to say.

I'm still trying to dig deep and find that fun, crafty inspired feeling that has been so absent lately. Thank you, friends, for your sweet, SWEET comments on my last complain-ey post. They lifted my spirits so much.

This week, we are (still) trying to unpack from our whirlwind weekend in NY, which included Mac's birthday party. The pictures from the party are not yet in my possession (my DEAR Carrie was kind enough to be my photographer while chasing her own 3 kids around as well) but I will share them when I get them. The party was a great success, and Mac displayed some impressive cake smashing/inhaling abilities. Not like we expected any less from him.

We're also trying to get over the sickies over here. Nasty noses all around! Momma's also feeling pretty icky, with weird headaches and dizzy spells. I'm thinking sinus issues. I've been SO TIRED, too (FYI I AM NOT PREGNANT! Like, for sure.)... yesterday I napped, and then at night I planned to iron all of Ryan's work shirts, hem some pants for my sis, and watch the CMAs. Instead, I went to bed at 9. Oops. Woke up this morning feeling like I hadn't slept at all, even though I got at least 9 hours of sleep. Hoping to be a little productive during nap today... or maybe I'll just be productive in my dreams. ;)

Ok... GOOD news. I went to the doctor yesterday, and after an xray and and MRI... NO STRESS FRACTURE! He said there is swelling in my shin muscle and bone but no break. I've never been so grateful for "just" shin splints! Now I need to ease back into running, since I have taken a few weeks off and the race is in just a bit more than 3 weeks. Eeeek!

one.

2011-11-08T12:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my sweet little Boo turned ONE.

How is that possible?

How is it possible that I love him MORE every day?

How is it possible that I thought I couldn't be a mom of a boy?

Baby (toddler? :( ) boy,
You will never know how much your very existence has changed me; as a mom, as a person, and as a child of God. I've said it before and I'll say it again: You have perfectly filled a void in my life that I didn't even know was there, but looking back it's so profoundly clear to me how badly I needed you. God knew that, and He gave me the privilege of caring for and loving you as my son. I can't even adequately put into words how grateful I am for you.

Happy birthday my sweet boy!

*Last night, before we went out for Mac's birthday dinner*

52 in 1: WEEK 24 - birthday bunting

2011-11-04T23:35:00.000-04:00

Baby boy's birthday party is tomorrow. I'm up baking and prepping tonight, a bit anxious and a lot excited. This week, I made yet another bunting for the party. Can't go wrong with a bunting. I used extra fabric from Mac's room. It ended up being much longer than I thought it would be, but I still love it. Can't wait to celebrate my sweet boy tomorrow.

giveaway at Ask the Duplex!

2011-11-04T18:01:00.000-04:00

Ohhh how I love Ask the Duplex! Monica and Whitney, the "roommates" behind the blog, are so stylish and fun. Definitely a daily read for me. Today I'm sponsoring a Poppy Chain Boutique giveaway from my Etsy shop. One free item of the winner's choice! Go enter!

little red and the blue monster

2011-10-31T14:36:00.000-04:00

At our church's harvest party

Trying to get up on stage to sing with sissy!

First taste of cotton candy!

52 in 1: WEEK 23 - pumpkins

2011-10-29T22:52:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, we visited a local farm stand and picked up some pumpkins. And, as usual, we waited until just a couple of days before Halloween to carve them. The kiddos (including my big kiddo) had so much fun carving them (actually, Mac just toddled around and tried to put the pumpkin seeds back in the pumpkins) while I took a few pumpkin decorating ideas that I had mentally stored away and ran with them. After completion, I felt the inspiration that I had mentioned was lacking. Or perhaps it was the incessant snowfall today, because suddenly I also felt the urge to decorate for Christmas.

I'm loving all the new ideas people are coming up with to decorate pumpkins, especially the ones that involve fabric and spray paint. Inspired by Emily's pumpkins, the pumpkins I saw on the cover of October's Country Living, and the ones over at Tatertots and Jello, I was ready to roll.

The great thing about this project is that it was pretty much free, other than the cost of the pumpkins. Yes!

For the pushpin "K" pumpkin, I had wanted to use flat thumbtacks, but alas I had too few in my stash to complete the "K". Instead, I used the more obvious "that's a pushpin" pushpins, since I had like 100 of them. Oh well.

I lousily sketched a "K" and pushed those bad boys into the pumpkin.

Then I spilled ALL of the pushpins on the floor.

It took everything in me to not yell out in frustration (and fear since Mac was roaming about) but since the kids were right there and I didn't want to freak them out, I took a few super deep breaths and cleaned the tacks up. Phew. At least I got my tetanus shot not too long ago.

Then I took the pumpkin outside to get my spray paint on.

Does it look like a K? Not entirely. Do I care? C'mon, you know the answer to that. After the second coat of grey spray paint I actually began to think it looked semi-awesome. But then, I sent a picture to my parents and my mom loved it and knew what it was (because she's awesome), so she showed my did. She asked him if he knew what it was, and I heard him exclaim, "It's a 'B'!" Oh well. 1 for 2 isn't that bad, or I'll just keep telling myself that.

For the fabric decoupaged pumpkin, I used some of the yellow and grey fabric I have ~~hoarded~~ stashed away, leftover from Alyssa's shower and various other projects. I'm sure I'll get sick of it someday, but as Brynlee says, "Not yeeeeet!" I used some pushpins to hold the fabric in place, and even (in the far right picture) managed a perfect seam! All I could say was, "Oh, Brian! You're so great!" (Only my mom, dad, and Ryan will understand what that means. Long story.)

I watered down some Mod Podge and slapped it over the fabric.

I let it dry... and fell in love. With a pumpkin. Romantic. Ryan was jealous. At least, he would have been, if he wasn't so focused on carving ~~his~~ the kids' pumpkins.

Brynlee loved using her little play knife to help out... not sure why she looks mildly crazy in the bigger photo to the left.

Best daddy ever. The following pictures are further proof.

Ryan even drew a little pattern that matched one of the big pumpkin carvings that he and Brynlee did, so B could "carve" her own little baby pumpkin herself. It was the most adorable thing.

Our little front porch pumpkin project collection! Please take note of the snow. We got inches of this wet, heavy stuff today. Blaah.

We all had such a blast with our pumpkin projects. More so, we just had a great, quality time filled family day. We went out to dinner tonight and beforehand Ryan snapped these pictures of the kids and me. Most of the pictures looked more like the one on the left, but I love them anyway. How I adore my precious little family.

thursday ramble.

2011-10-27T15:19:00.000-04:00

Hi friends.

First of all, I want to say a big old welcome to any and all new visitors/followers stopping by from various giveaways and whatnot. Thanks for visiting and sticking around if you feel inclined to do so. :)

Second of all, I am just totally in a blah, uninspired rut these days. Not sure if it's the dreary weather, this time of year (hello, SAD), or what. I've also had to tidy up my long list of blog reads, partly because it was getting out of control, but also partly because I think TOO much inspiration leads to the blahs, for me anyway. It's easy to get down on yourself and feel inadequate when you see all the gorgeous and professional blog designs, projects, and photos out there in blogland.

Besides the blahs, I've been feeling simply like I can't keep my head above water. Totally overwhelmed by day to day life. I know it's more than just the winter blahs (and, no worries, I'm under a doctor's care :) ) but it's so easy to think that everyone else has it all together while you are drowning in the hecticness (apparently not a real word, but whatev) of the day to day. Working moms, how do you DO it?

I'm loving this new stage Mac is in: the mobility, the curiosity, the FUN personality that is shining through. It's been so hard to keep up with him, though... he is like a bouncy ball from one thing to get into to the next. Yesterday he bit his tongue so hard (he fell under my sewing table, which is in the dining room, which is a prohibited area, aka the best place to play ever). Blood everywhere, and I was afraid he needed stitches. I called my mom, who calmed me down and luckily the blood stopped. Poor baby. He's also been a fan of playing in the dishwasher, playing in the fireplace (he just knocks the screen right down) and eating ashes, ripping the outlet covers out of the outlet, and so on. We haven't had any more stairs incidents, thank God.

So I should be able to keep up with my healthily curious little boy and sponge big girl, right? Of course. Can I? Of course. It's hard not to think, though, that as a stay at home mom I really don't have the right to be overwhelmed. It's such a struggle.

So I'm led to my last topic/worry/discouragement. Since living here in MA, we've gotten to know some great people at our church and I've just arranged with a sweet teenage girl to come over a few times a week after school to hang out with the kids while I go for a run. Great idea! We all win, and I get to run when it's not pitch black out (which happens so early here already). I can train and even get a little break. So today, I'm going to pick her up and bring her over, but instead of having a nice run in the rain (LOVE that) I'm going to head to the hospital to get a few x-rays instead. With only a few weeks left until the half marathon, I fear that I have a stress fracture in my shin and have been in lots of pain for a few weeks. Deep breath. I am absolutely terrified that the doctor (who I will see on Monday) is going to tell me I can't train and can't participate in the marathon. I would be so completely crushed, especially this far into the game.

So, friends, I know it's silly and I am so blessed and should not be so discouraged, but could I humbly ask for some prayers that the injury is not too bad and I can resume running soon? And perhaps some prayers that if I DO have to recover longer than I would like, that I would have peace?

It feels good to get all that off my chest. I'm hoping to get inspired again quickly and get going on my weekly 52/1 post. I did add a few new items to my Etsy shop this week, but I feel like that's kinda cheating to use that as a 52/1. Perhaps I need to step out of my comfort zone and start tackling some "what I wore" posts or things like that. Thanks for letting me vent.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.

2 Chronicles 20:17

PCB giveaway @ FMF!

2011-10-24T22:31:00.001-04:00

The lovely Raechel is hosting a Poppy Chain Boutique giveaway! I'm giving away a $25 credit and and AND a free ring with any purchase through this Sunday! The giveaway only goes through Wednesday at noon, so get going... and hey, lurkers! Show yourself! You can earn an extra entry by doing so. :)

Raechel is also hosting a couple of other great giveaways so get over to her lovely blog and get entering!

52 in 1: WEEK 22 - Mac's party invitation

2011-10-21T16:52:00.000-04:00

We are having a FIRST birthday party soon.

My baby boy is going to be ONE. My walking, talking (well, he says like 7 words), newly opinionated BABY is going to be one. Oh, my.

I made up the invites this week. Yes, yes call me overachieving mother but I figure I can make real, tangible, paper invitations for my kids' first birthdays... then it's Evites from there on out.

It's going to be just a little party, but I'm excited to plan and decorate. Not positive of the "theme" (again, hate that word), but as per my usual it will probably be based on colors or something simple rather than Elmo or zoo animals. I don't mean to offend, but I think I'll hold off on those kind of themes until my kids actually request them. Until then, mean momma is in charge!

And yes, I obv blurred the location... just try and find us! Bwahaha.

corn maze

2011-10-18T00:45:00.000-04:00

We had lots of fun family time this past weekend. Ryan and I love to dub the days that it's just us and the kids "Family Day," and we intend to milk that corniness for as long as possible. We visited a little pumpkin patch with a corn maze on Saturday and the kids loved running around through the corn (well, Brynlee loved running. Mac loved toddling and picking up/throwing stones). Ryan loved trying to figure out the maze and then cheating by looking up the aerial view online. He's resourceful. That's why we have smartphones right?

Picture overload ahead. The light was just so beautiful, I couldn't stop taking pictures. I am no photographer, but it is awfully nice when the light and the scenery are just perfect!

52 in 1: WEEK 21 - braided scarf

2011-10-14T22:20:00.000-04:00

My mom and I ~~counted down the days~~ were so excited to take a little trip to a new fabric store near me when she was visiting last week. Aren't those bolts beautiful? (First pic taken stealthily if not a little creepily by me with my phone.) I picked up a bunch of goodies, including a few yards of some delicious Anna Maria Horner flannel (I know this line is a few years old, I just can't stop loving it). What will I do with the soft loveliness? I know not. Perhaps some pj pants for Brynlee? All I really know is that I LOVE IT (and we all know I will probably end up just hoarding it).

I also picked up some knit (which was actually the only thing I had actually planned on buying) so I could make a scarf with Keight's sweet braided scarf tutorial. They had SO many fun knits, but I settled for a solid and a stripe. Play it safe. I was happy to discover that these knits were the same brand (Michael Miller) so the blacks don't clash. I hate when that happens!

So, I really wanted to do a fun color combo like Keight. Yet, every color combo I tried just made me think of school colors or a sports team. So I wimped out and went with something super neutral and even went a bit dangerous with a stripe (scandalous)! Keight's tutorial was so easy to follow (once I slapped myself a few times and screwed my head on straight). I actually added a few hand stitches to the back of the braid to hold it in place and make it so I won't have to constantly adjust the fabric to make the braid just so.

Cheers to getting dressed like a normal human for the second time this week (ahem, on Friday night)!

Special note:
1. I apologize for the poor lighting! I hate taking pictures inside, but it's been so gloomy and rainy here this week, plus it's getting dark outside around 6pm already.
2. I wish I could take a "modeling" photo without looking so doofy! Sheesh!

Have a great weekend! We're hoping to do something fun (and fallish) tomorrow!

simple lace cuffs

2011-10-12T13:58:00.001-04:00

I shared a little tutorial a few weeks ago on how to make some easy lace cuffs. In case you missed it, here it is!

Today, I'd love to show you how I made these cute, kinda Anthro-ish lace cuff bracelets!

Let's get started!

Materials:
-one or more piece(s) of lace or crochet-look lace (you don't need much, only enough to wrap around your wrist)
-1/8' braided elastic
-buttons
-plastic wrap
-cup or other small cylinder
-fabric stiffener
-scissors
-needle & thread (coordinating color with your buttons, if desired)
-optional- Fray Check (even though I didn't use it, and if you use enough fabric stiffener you definitely won't need it)

1. Wrap the lace around your wrist and cut to desired length. I taped the lace on my wrist to see if I liked the length. I ended up using about 6" for my wrist, but I've been told that my wrists are kind of small. Wrap the cup (can you tell I have a 2 year old?!) in plastic wrap.

2. Wrap the lace around the cup and tape in place.

3. Arm yourself with the trusty miracle worker, A.K.A. the fabric stiffener.

4. Spray the heck out of that sucker! I soaked the lace with the fabric stiffener (I did this step out on my deck; it might be a good idea to do this step outside) and came back a few times to re-spray.

5. Let the lace sit at least overnight or until completely dry. Your lace piece(s) should now look like this. If you so desire, run a thin line of Fray Check along the cut sides of the lace pieces. However, I didn't do this and I'm pretty sure you'll be safe if you just use a ton of fabric stiffener.

6. Now it's time for buttons and elastic. Aren't those buttons pretty? I thought they looked very vintage-y and for $1.10 for two, I was sold.

7. Stitch one button onto the end of the lace, making sure the button is sewn VERY securely to the lace. See how coordinating thread might have been a good choice here? Oh well.

8. Now for a coordinating button! Ahhh buttons. Here's my collection. I love ~~hoarding~~ collecting buttons, fabric, thread, paper... it's a problem, people.

Found the winner!

9. Attach a strip of elastic measuring about 1 1/2" to the other cut end of the lace and secure the coordinating button on top of it to conceal the raw elastic edges. I tend to get a little over-zealous in carrying out my plans (which I make up as I go along) so sometimes I forget to take pictures of crucial steps. This was one of those times. But fear not, I made another lace cuff and I remembered the second time. :)

Here's the second bracelet:

Cute and easy, right?

I am in love with these lace cuffs! I wore one a few weeks ago with a simple outfit and I felt like the bracelet just gave my look a little something extra and special. And extra special. :) Enjoy!

Linking up at I heart naptime, six sister's stuff, today's creative blog, kojo designs, and tatertots and jello

ripe for the picking

2011-10-11T00:29:00.002-04:00

The weekend came and went, and was a blur. Ryan and I had a fun little getaway Saturday night, which included Niagara Falls (Canada), yummy food, a bit of walking hand in hand, and gorgeous, unseasonably warm weather.

Sunday morning, we picked up the kids and headed to Hurd Orchards. We've been apple picking there every fall for years, and it seems like every year lately there is a new spouse or baby (well, maybe because there really is!). Sunday was HOT. It was at least 80 degrees when we were in the orchard. I wasn't happy with the lighting, picture-wise (way too bright!) and we were all sweaty. Plus we didn't have a ton of time, since Meghan, Adam, Ryan, the kids, and I all needed to head back to MA in the early afternoon. Despite those few less than ideal circumstances, we had a fun time and carried on our tradition. My brother was even able to come home for a week so he and Shaina joined us. So glad. Perhaps there will be another spouse and/or baby added to the pictures next year?

my sister thought she was just so funny wearing her "catelope" (or whatever the heck it is) shirt!

52 in 1: WEEK 20 - little quilted blanket

2011-10-07T10:25:00.001-04:00

About a year ago, I picked up this cute little doll cradle at TJ Maxx for Brynlee for a steal. I even loved the color and didn't need to spray it (miracle)! Soon after I bought the cradle, I made a teeny pillow with beaded trim for it (disaster) and planned on making a blanket to go with it. And, in true Ashley fashion, here I am a year later just finishing it.

I wanted to do a quick project this week since my parents have been in town and I haven't had much free (project) time. We've filled all the extra time with plenty of endeavors (including a visit to a brand new fabric store with amazing prices, eeek!) so I'm definitely not complaining.

I measured the cradle to get a general idea of how big to make the blanket, and simply cut out two pieces of fabric and two pieces of batting (B's dolls like a plush blanket... high maintenance) and sewed them together. I finished off the edges with bias tape (and of course didn't get the double fold or whatever kind and had to wrestle with it and rip seams, surprise!) and voila. Cute little imperfect quilted blanket (that probably could pass for a pot holder but let's not talk about that) that Brynlee and her dolls can play with for a long time.

Now that I'm over 1/3 through this one-year-project-a-week commitment, I've decided to record a few things that I've learned about myself so far (or things that I've known but I'm just now getting the guts to admit). I've had tons of fun planning and keeping my eye out for projects that I want to try. I've made many, many mistakes, and realized how HARD and tedious tutorials are to create! Yet I do love doing them and now have immense respect for those whose blogs are devoted to tutorials.

20 things I've learned in 20 weeks:

1. When carrying out any type of project, I usually have pretty much no idea what I'm doing.
2. I make up my own rules and have a very hard time taking direction.
3. I like snacks.
4. The only way I truly learn to do something is to do it myself, make mistakes, then fix my mistakes.
5. A "quick and easy" project is never either for me.
6. I am so stubborn, which is likely the cause of my need to bang my head against the wall at 3am. I can not stop a project until it's finished, even if it takes all night.
7. I make a big mess. I hate putting away all my little sewing doo-dads.
8. I love fabric (okay, I knew this before, so I guess I should say I love actually USING the fabric that I ~~hoard~~ love so much).
9. So much inspires me.
10. I actually feel confident in my sewing ability (to a point).
11. I could poke around in Joanns for hours (and I do, until one of my kids either wets their pants or dumps a whole container of beads on the floor or throws a tantrum... one or all of those things may or may not have happened to me).
12. I need a craft room that has doors.
13. Coupons are like gold.
14. My house is a natural light photographer's nightmare.
15. Pinterest is a blessing and a curse.
16. I should have just bought a big glue gun and not the mini.
17. I can sew clothing!
18. A thimble would solve a lot.
19. I love my iron.
20. I get such a rush when I finish a project, especially if the finished product is actually semi decent looking. Such an awesome feeling.

Thanks to all who have shared this ride with me so far... more to come!

it's that time of year again

2011-10-04T15:28:00.000-04:00

I am over the moon excited to head home this weekend for a(nother) whirlwind trip. Ryan and I will be leaving the kids with my parents on Saturday night for a little overnight getaway to celebrate our 7(!) year anniversary (which is actually Sunday). Then, on Sunday we will be making our annual family trek to the apple orchard with my family to pick apples/eat apples/spend the majority of the time taking pictures rather than picking apples. It's a tradition I look forward to every year. The only bummer about this year is that my sweet baby brother will be absent, for he moved to AZ a few weeks ago. I'm so excited for Mac's first apple picking adventure (out of the womb) and Brynlee keeps telling me about how she is going to eat all the apples.

2010: Are you serious with that puffy face and larger than life belly?! I can't believe how much of a baby B still is here.

After we pick apples, we usually head back to our house, eat white chicken chili and apple crisp, and generally snuggle up and enjoy the rest of our fall tradition day. However, this year we have to jump back in the car and immediately head back to MA so Ryan can get back to work on Monday morning. Boo. I thought I'd at least share the white chicken chili recipe (again, since I shared it a few years ago here) and link up with Raechel as she is collecting slow cooker recipes today. Stay tuned for lots and lots of apple picking pictures, as per usual. :)

White Chicken Chili
serves 6 (I double it for my family and use my big crockpot)

Ingredients:
-1 48 oz can great northern beans, rinsed & drained
-2-3 C cooked chicken (I use 1 whole shredded rotissere chicken, it makes exactly 3 cups)
-1 C chopped onion
-2 garlic cloves, minced
-2 tsp ground cumin
-1/2 tsp dried oregano, crushed
-1/2 tsp salt
-3 raw carrots, sliced
-3 1/2 C chicken broth

optional but completely necessary
-shredded monterey jack cheese
-broken tortilla chips
-sour cream

1. In a 3 1/2 or 4 quart slow cooker, stir drained beans, chicken, onion, carrots, spices, and broth all together
2. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or on high 4-5 hours
3. Top with cheese, chips, and sour cream if desired.

on my heart

2011-10-03T00:29:00.001-04:00

I don't know how to say it any other way, so I'll just say it like it is:

Being a girl in this time and culture is hard.

Believer or not, old{er} or young{er}, regardless of race or economic status, the pressure is still on.

I must admit that I have had a huge increase in confidence since getting to where I am in life now. I have a family who supports me, a husband who loves and cherishes me no matter what I look like in the morning, and two babies who think I hung the moon, and close friends who would lay down their lives for me (and who I would do the same for).

Yet, am I confident enough just in myself? Is knowing that I am a daughter of the God of the universe enough for me?

I want it to be enough. I'm working toward it being enough. Growing up, that knowledge was definitely not enough. Yes, I was fortunate enough to grow up in a Godly home with loving parents, every form of physical and emotional security (for the most part), and had friends in my youth group that uplifted me.

So why was it necessary for me to always need to have a crush on a boy? Even though these boys rarely knew of my infatuation, it was an emotional security for me to have someone to keep an eye out for, whisper to my friends about, and be the reason to scrawl in my diary for hours. Many pieces of my heart had been given away long before I ever knew Ryan. We started dating when I was 19, which seems so young to me now. Sad to think about all that time I wasted pining after those oblivious boys, when I could have saved my heart for Ryan, and spent that time seeking out my Father.

Having a daughter of my own has truly opened my eyes to the pressures and yuck of this world. I feel like putting her in a bubble and never letting her out; never letting anyone harm her, break her heart, or make her cry. I want her to know how beautiful she is, not just outwardly, but inside, too. At just two years old, I can already see her heart for people. She is always asking, "Are you okay, momma?" and I know it truly stings her when she sees anyone distressed or upset. I wish I could just pour into her everything I know now and that prevent any hurt from ever penetrating her innocent heart. I know she does need to learn for herself to some point, but I will do everything I can to let her know how beautiful she is to her parents and to the God who loves her more than I could even know how to. I want her to be confident in who she is, and not apologize for who she was created to be. I still find myself wishing I was like someone else in more ways than I can count. I want her to know how worth it it is to seek God's plan and quit obsessing over the silly things that cannot be changed. I want her to know that her opinion does matter and that she is valued and respected, regardless of how young she may be.

This article has struck me deeply. I read it last week and our pastor brought it up in his message today. I know the idea of scantily-clad Rihanna is not even a taste of the influences that young girls today are succumbed to. I not only fear for my daughter and the untouched hearts of every little girl, but for the hearts of those providing this influence. I'm not here to preach or condemn, and I don't want to sound like a nagging mom know-it-all. Perhaps all I can do at the moment is pray for the hearts of those in such positions of influence, and pray for protection the hearts of those girls not yet affected.

Ahh, I did not mean for this to sound like a grade school essay, yet I fear it has come out that way. In school, writing was always my favorite task. Yet, then and now I still feel like I can never express myself in the way that I would like to and fully get my message across. Can you tell by this jumbled mess of words written prior? I was talking to my SIL Leah today, and I was lamenting to her about how I never feel confident enough to share my opinions or what I stand for with people I don't know well. And what she said to me will surely resonate with me for a long time. "Practice is the only way to build confidence in something." Seems obvious, but I felt like I was run over by a bus by that statement. The only way I'll get the guts to do something, to be who God made me is to practice. Pretty soon it will be second nature, and pretty soon I will truly believe in the girl God created and wants me to be.

My sweet Brynnie girl, happy and disheveled. Just the way I like her. :)

little walking man

2011-10-02T21:44:00.000-04:00

Ohh my. I'm not sure my heart is ready for this... but it's happening, whether I like it or not!

walking Mac from Ashley Kirnan on Vimeo.

52 in 1: WEEK 19 - lace headband

2011-10-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

I have obviously been a teensy bit obsessed with lace lately (see this guest post), and I just can't help it. I love the vintage feel, the girly-ness, and the cheapness of this headband. I had coupons, so it probably cost me five bucks tops to make.

Materials:
- 1 to 1 1/2 yards of lace/crochet lace
- 1/8 inch braided elastic
- button
- needle & coordinating thread
- scissors
- tape measure
- iron
- sewing machine
- Fray Check -- only if needed

Don't forget the coffee.

1. Cut the lace to the desired length of your headband. I measured around my head from crown to ears (where I would normally wear a headband), and cut my lace to about 17".

2. This step is totally optional, depending on the type of lace you are using. Mine is a trim, so one side is flat and the other is scalloped. I wanted both sides to be scalloped, so I cut TWO 17" pieces and pinned them together, matching up the flat sides. I then sewed down the center line.

3. Cut your elastic. I used about 5 1/4". Make sure to cut more/less depending on the size of your head, but I figure my head is pretty average sized.

4. Fold one end of the lace over about 1/4". Press with an iron. Then, fold one side of the lace over (about 2/3 of the way across the lace) and then fold the other side over.

5. Press, and repeat step 4 on the other side. Press.

6. Open the sides of one end of the lace and place an end of the elastic in the middle. Close the sides and pin.

7. Stitch the sides closed with the elastic in the middle. Make sure to go over your stitches a few times to make the elastic secure. Repeat on the other side of the lace.

You can stop here, if you like, and end with a plain lace headband. Pretty! Or continue on, and add a embellishment.

8. I decided to go with a trusty rosette to embellish my headband. I'm getting rather tired of fabric rosettes, but I like the dimension the lace gives. I used another piece of lace that was about 20" long, but you can use more or less, depending on how big you want your rosette to be. Start with knotting one end of the lace. Twist the lace and then wrap around the knot.

9. Continue twisting and wrapping the lace, until you've used it all. Tuck the end of the lace underneath the rosette, and hand stitch the rosette together. Here is where you can use a bit of Fray Check to make sure the ends don't fray (duh). I passed on the Fray Check and made sure to just stitch really securely. Add a button to the center of the rosette.

10. Hand stitch the rosette to the headband.

All done! You're welcome for the mirror shot. So not awkward, right? Ah, well, it was either that or one of the kids take the picture, and Mac's in a "throwing stuff" phase, so I think the mirror shot was the safest bet. :)

Linking up at I heart naptime, six sister's stuff, today's creative blog, kojo designs, and tatertots and jello

guest post @ The Letter 4

2011-09-30T22:50:00.001-04:00

I'm sharing a little tutorial over at The Letter 4 today. Stop over and find out how to make these cute, quick, EASY lace cuffs. TGIF!

a midweek giveaway

2011-09-29T22:43:00.000-04:00

Let the giveaways roll! Sweet Carlotta is hosting a Poppy Chain giveaway over at her inspiring blog. I'm giving away a shop credit and a discount during the giveaway! Go enter!

a day at the farm

2011-09-29T01:50:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned previously, Ryan, the kids, and I went to a children's discovery farm this past weekend. We went last fall (when I was hugely pregnant... I look back and don't even recognize myself) and loved it, so there was no doubt that we would go again this year. Brynlee loved feeding and snuggling the animals, and Mac just took it all in. I concluded that we need a pet baby goat and chickens. Always a country girl at heart, right here.

Pictures can tell a story better than I can!

giveaway day at The Letter 4!

2011-09-27T00:15:00.000-04:00

Looooove this blog! The Letter 4 sisters are so cute and inspirational. And they are featuring my Etsy shop today... head on over to see how you can win an item from my shop!

amazing change

2011-09-24T22:25:00.001-04:00

We went to a fun farm/petting zoo place (they call it a "children's discovery farm") today and the kids had a blast. Before we left, I remembered a few pictures that I had taken last year before we went to the same place. I wanted to recreate the shots to see the differences the year had made, and I am just floored by what I see. Life and growth is such a miracle. Let me never take that for granted.

52 in 1: WEEK 18 - library book tote

2011-09-23T22:35:00.000-04:00

I've been feeling a little uninspired lately, crafty/sew-y wise. Not sure why. I have a bunch of sewing books that I've been wanting to dig into, but no time (as in, a stretch of time) to really get into an unfamiliar project. I took the kids to the library for the first time the other day and was blah-ed out by the plastic bags they put the checked out books in. And, a la Raechel, I decided to make a cute bag to carry our library books in. I knew I had a pattern for a sturdy tote bag in one of my books, so I thumbed through them (hello, inspiration, we meet again) and found the perfect tote in this book. I hit my favorite place to ~~drool over~~ buy fabric, and stocked up.

The bag was truly a labor of love... I wanted to throw in the towel many times (and had to use my seam ripper more times than I care to share) but I had promised Brynlee a pretty bag for her library books, so I sewed, ripped, and sewed some more until I triumphed. And until 3 am. I think it looks pretty stinkin good, especially for how impatient I get with long projects like this.

Don't be fooled by the extra-credit fabric strips around the top of the handles... they are a pretty mistake coverup. Fooled you!

And my pretty model showing off our new bag.

Can't help myself... she just melts me.

Sister's library book of choice? Anything Max and Ruby. She loves to laugh at Max's antics, and perhaps she can identify just a bit with Ruby's older sister bossiness? :)

52 in 1: WEEK 17 - burlap fall wreath

2011-09-17T23:09:00.003-04:00

I am so ready for fall. The air is nice and cool and I've been burning pumpkin candles for a few days. While visiting for my birthday, my mom jokingly remarked how I still had a (spring) forsythia wreath on my front door. I had figured I could stretch it through the summer, but for fall it was a no-go.

(Please excuse the icky country blue door... one of the downfalls of renting!)

I had been wanting to make a wreath like this for awhile now. I thought a fall wreath using burlap would be perfect! I love the ruffles.

Special note: If you have any anxiety about cleanliness and/or psychology-major-self-diagnosed OCD, don't use burlap. Use another kind of fabric. Just trust me. Or just have the vacuum very close to you at all times.

I was so excited to find that I had a whole box of fall picks from last year that I had completely forgotten about.

Love it! Happy {almost} fall!

Linking up at I heart naptime, six sister's stuff, today's creative blog, and tatertots and jello

28

2011-09-16T22:06:00.000-04:00

I turned 28 yesterday... oh my, that sounds old. I had a day of nothing planned. I had cleaned all day Wednesday so I wouldn't feel like I had to on my birthday, plus there is just something so relaxing (to me) about having a spotless house. I chilled in my pjs with the kids all morning, sipping coffee and watching Super Why with Brynlee. At 11:30, I heard my doorbell ring a few times. I figured it was UPS or something, so when I opened the front door I got a surprise: my mom and cousin Mary has driven 3 1/2 hours just to spend my birthday with me! My mom had driven to Mary's the night before (which is halfway between my parents' house and our house) and lied to me that morning, saying she was "in the car on the way to the hardware store to get stain for the potting shed". Sneaky!!! They brought me a beautiful cake, took me and the kids to Chick fil a, which is 45 minutes from us (and so worth it!), and really boosted my spirits. You see, I am a weirdo and always tend to get a little emotional and down on my birthday (especially since living away from home). Not sure why, but I've been like that for a long time. Ryan and I went out to dinner to our favorite place while my sister watched the kids. It was perfect!

My beautiful cake, which was decorated with vintage birds, of course!

reasons to smile this morning.

2011-09-12T11:54:00.000-04:00

fresh hydrangea

this face

my little artist's work

new books

the KLOVE app

baby boy napping peacefully

Happy Monday!

Monday giveaway

2011-09-12T10:51:00.000-04:00

Megan from Homemade Ginger is hosting a Poppy Chain Boutique giveaway over at her LOVELY blog today. I'm giving away an item of the winner's choice and offering a discount too. The giveaway ends Wednesday, so hurry over and enter!

a Saturday 5K

2011-09-10T23:53:00.000-04:00

I figured with the St. Jude Half Marathon coming up in less than 3 months, I had better do a couple of races this fall to get into the groove. This morning, I participated in a 5K to benefit our town's Special Olympics.

I was so nervous! I haven't run a race in four years, and I was so jittery beforehand. I am NOT a morning runner, nor do I run well in heat/bright sunshine. This morning's race included all of those things. Yikes!

Beforehand, feeling jittery but rather cocky and confident. I was put in my place very quickly!

I started off pretty fast, with my first mile time clocking in at 9:16. I am so convinced that running is like 75% mental and 25% physical. I wish I could just turn my brain OFF when I run. I try hard to get lost in thought about projects or something else I love, instead of yearning for the miles to go by faster or thinking about how hot and dizzy and tired I am feeling. I started to focus on how many people were passing me and how slow I seemed to be compared to them, and I slowed down even more. Then the couple taking turns pushing a disabled boy (actually he was probably closer to teen-age, so he must have been pretty heavy) in a stroller passed me and my ego deflated completely. Then, at about mile 1.5, a huge hill loomed ahead of me. I pushed up the hill and turned the corner at the top. The stretch ahead looked pretty flat, so I just kept going, even though I so badly wanted to stop. The last half mile or so was almost completely downhill, which I was so grateful for. Ahhh.

I loved seeing Ryan and the kids waiting for me at the finish line. I slowed down for the last 20 yards or so, so Brynlee could run with me. She LOVED being able to run in the race and cross the finish line! I gotta say, it was adorable.

I finished at 32:09, with a 10:21 mile pace. I wanted to top at around 30:00, but keeping in mind all the factors that were against me, I'm okay with my time. I did finish 4th in my age group, but there were (ahem) only six women in my age group, so I'm not sure how proud of that ranking I should be. Haha.

Sweaty, tired, and so glad to be finished and holding my babies again. And that is Brynlee's "cheese" face, lovely.

I'm hoping to do a few more races before the big one. It really does feel amazing to cross the finish line, even after a measly 3 miles. A few of my Finding My Feet team members ran a 10K last weekend (you HAVE to read Keight's post... hilarious and so touching!) and I can't even imagine racing double what I ran this morning. Plus I have 6.5 to pound out tomorrow to keep up with our training regimen. At least it helps me not feel so guilty about the huge Chipotle burrito I had for dinner tonight or the yummy Trader Joe's coffee ice cream I just finished off. :)

52 in 1: WEEK 16 - ruffle camera strap cover

2011-09-09T23:50:00.003-04:00

When visiting us last weekend, my sweet parents-in-law requested ideas for a birthday present for me. I hadn't thought too extensively about what I wanted to ask for (my birthday isn't until next week) but I did know I had wanted a camera bag for a long time, specifically this one. I told my MIL, and she quickly ordered it, and it showed up on my doorstep today. It's roomy, smells good, doesn't look like a typical camera bag, protects my (meager) camera equipment, and the color is more beautiful in real life than any picture can depict. Oh, and it sports a rosette. Perfection. I'm in LOVE.

I've been wanting to try Raechel's camera strap cover tutorial for a long time now, and I thought such a pretty bag deserved a pretty camera strap as an accessory.

Wow, it's hard to take a picture of a camera strap cover while you're wearing the cover on the strap with the camera attached... this was take 27, I believe.

I used an old shirt for the blue knit ruffle, and a Kate Spain fabric that I've been hoarding for a few months for the body. Ruffling is the bomb! So fun. Love the little lens cap pocket. Don't look too closely at my ~~crooked~~ stitches.

Running a 5K in the morning... I'm wayyy more nervous in than I should be! Goodnight!

10 months

2011-09-07T15:08:00.001-04:00

My baby boy is TEN months old today. How is it that one year ago right now I was hugely (and I mean HUGELY) pregnant? I had no idea how this little boy would change my life. And now he's almost ONE. Make it slow down!!!

Mac is now cruising all over, standing alone, and has taken one or two steps at a time, but usually just sits right down and crawls instead. He has two teeth (in the front on top) but that's it so far. He dances when I sing or tell him to dance, and gives high fives. He thinks just about anything is hilarious and is a total momma's boy. The bond between Mac and Brynlee is now becoming more pronounced and I LOVE when they laugh at each other in the backseat of the car. He loves to seek out a laundry basket full of freshly folded clothes and pull every last item out. I left him overnight at my inlaws' for the first time the night of Meghan's wedding (they took Brynlee and Mac home with them so we could party hearty... I have Ryan's dance moves on video!). I felt so bad being away from him, especially since he had a fever from teething. He's getting tall and skinny and still won't hold still for a diaper change. He loves his daddy so much and reaches out to someone when he wants them to pick him up. He's starting to like to read, and will sit still for just a bit longer to be read to. He also loves to stick his finger directly up my nose, pry my mouth open and drag his nails across my gums, and attempt to rip my earrings out of my ears while I feed him. All boy, I tell you.

I am daily still in awe of the blessing this little boy is to me. He's everything I didn't know I needed. When I hold him at bedtime and pray for him I am just overwhelmed with gratitude. God knew how badly I needed him, even when I shamefully cried at my 20 week ultrasound, disappointed that I wasn't having another girl. I've never been so glad to be disappointed.

girls' night

2011-09-06T01:23:00.001-04:00

These girls are my net. Love you all so much... so glad we were able to escape for a night out when I was home last week. How I treasure these times!

Carrie, Rachel, Amy, and Becca

lace earrings

2011-09-04T22:16:00.004-04:00

I did a tutorial a few weeks ago on how to make these lace earrings... and I'm sharing that post here today! :)

I'd love to show you how I made these lace earrings, inspired by a pair I saw at Anthropologie last weekend. These earrings were so simple to make, and I love the vintage, time-worn feel to them. I love making jewelry, but you do NOT have to have a lot of jewelry making experience to make these earrings. The jewelry tools are a good investment, and they are honestly not expensive, especially with a good old 40% or 50% off coupon. :)

Materials:
-a piece of crochet-look lace, maybe 1/4 yard (I got mine at Joann's for $1, regular price)
-chain
-jewelry findings: earrings (ear wires) and metal ring things (jump rings)
-scissors
-jewelry tools
-disappearing ink pen
-not pictured but VERY essential to this project: Fray Check

1. With the disappearing ink pen, trace the part of the lace that you would like to make up the earrings.

2. Cut out the pretty new lace shapes. I'm a fan of the more "teardrop" style. :)

3. Run a line of Fray Check along the edges of each lace piece, being careful with the lace since it will probably unravel quite easily. I let the Fray Check dry overnight and put another line along the edges of the lace the next day and let dry. I wanted to make sure those puppies weren't going to unravel on me!

4. Measure and cut 4 equal pieces of chain. I started out with them each being 1 1/2" long (but as you'll see shortly, I cut the chains down a but because the earrings were much too long for me... you can always cut the chain, so overestimate!). Then, using 2 larger jump rings, connect them to the top of the lace, making their spacing even.

5. Attach the chains to the jump rings. Then, connect the ends of the chains with a small jump ring, and add an earring wire to the small jump ring. Close the jump ring securely.

6. Pretty. Try the earring on!

7. If the earring is too long, cut the chains down to make the 1" long and reattach. Try the earring on again and see if the length is to your liking. If not, feel free to shorten again, but I ended up stopping here and using the 1" chain length.

8. Repeat steps 4-7 to make the other earring. Try them on and love your new vintage-look accessories (that cost wayyy less to make than their $32 inspiration earrings)!

I love these earrings! You could also try tea-dying the lace, dying the lace with different colors (like the Anthro ones) or even crocheting your own (if you have that awesome skill, which I definitely DON'T but hope to someday!) and attaching the earring findings to them. Enjoy!

Linking up at I heart naptime, six sister's stuff, today's creative blog, tatertots and jello, chef in training, and boerman ramblings

52 in 1: WEEK 15 - bead cluster necklace

2011-09-02T23:19:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago, my SIL Leah visited us and she wore this gorgeous beaded necklace. I snapped a picture on my phone, inspired to make one for myself. And that I did!

Materials:
- assorted beads
- chain (thick and thin)
- jewelry tools
- jump rings, headpins, and a lobster clasp

1. Cut the thin chain to your desired length. I cut the chain to about 32 inches. Ready the lobster clasp and two small jump rings.

2. Attach the jump rings and lobster clasp to the ends of the chain.

3. Attach a piece of the thicker chain (I used about an inch after cutting down the original piece a bit) to a jump ring and string it on the long chain.

4. Choose your headpins. I loved these pretty ones! (Don't mind my bandage, I had a little razor blade incident! Yikes!)

5. Choose 8-10 (or so) coordinating beads. I love the shades of blue, green, and pewter!

6. Slide a headpin through one bead. Cut the wire down (I'm now noticing my pictures are out of order in this step... sigh) and make a loop with the remaining wire. Attach the loop to a jump ring and add it to the larger chain.

7. Repeat step 6 with the rest of the beads, adding the beads along the length of the chain. You could even add ribbon to a jump ring like Leah's inspiration necklace, but I opted not to with this one. Mostly because I forgot to. ;)

8. Pretty. And easy.

Somebody else loves it too... fun to play with while sitting on momma's lap.

I love how a long necklace like this can dress up even an old, boring t-shirt (like mine). Let me know if you make one, I'd love to see! The possibilities are endless. Yay!

Linking up at I heart naptime, six sister's stuff, today's creative blog, tatertots and jello, chef in training, and boerman ramblings

proof of the toof

2011-09-01T16:16:00.001-04:00

Happy Thursday! :)

braided leather headband

2011-09-01T00:13:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago, I did a guest post on how to make this fun leather headband. I thought I'd share it here on my blog, too. I'm trying to get my act together for a weekly 52/1 post too, but I thought this would help bide my time a bit. :)

Today, I'd love to show you how to make this headband, inspired by an Urban Outfitters headband. I love making "knock off" accessories, and this headband was easy to make and I am so happy with the way it turned out.

Let's get started!

Materials:
-leather (or suede, or even strong fabric) scraps that are at least 22" long
-grosgrain ribbon
-1/8" elastic
-scissors
-glue gun
-Fray Check
-tape measure
-needle and thread

1. Measure your head all the way around (like how your would wear a headband). Cut the leather into SIX strips, 1/2" wide and the measurement all around your lead long. My measurement was 22", so I cut six 22"x1/2" strips.

2. Take three of the strips and stack the ends on top of each other. Hand sew the ends of the strips together.

3. Take a clothespin and pin the sewn ends of the strips to something sturdy; I used the back of a chair. Tightly braid the strips together. I tried to keep the smooth part of the leather on the top part of the braid, but let just a bit of the underside show.

4. Braid to the end of the strips, and pin the ends together with another clothespin.

5. Stitch the ends of the braid together and trim off any excess leather to make the ends even.

6. Repeat steps 2-5 with the other three strips of leather, resulting in two leather braids.

7. Stack the ends of the braids together and stitch together.

8. Repeat on the other ends of the braids.

9. Cut a 4" piece of elastic. Stitch one end of the elastic to one end of the braids, then stitch the other end to the other end of the braids. At this point, I tried the headband on to make sure the elastic was tight enough to fit my head. If it's too loose, you can always take the elastic off one end and cut the elastic down a bit (or if it's too tight, cut a longer piece of elastic), then reattach it and make sure the headband fits your head.

10. Cut a 2" piece of ribbon. Using the glue gun, run a strip of glue along one side of the ribbon. Glue the ribbon to the end of the braids where the elastic is stitched on, and wrap the ribbon around, gluing the ends of the ribbon on the inside of the headband.

11. Apply a bit of Fray Check along the unfinished end of the ribbon to prevent fraying.

12. Admire your trendy, handmade headband! Urban Outfitters has nothing on you! :)

I am in LOVE with this headband! I think I'm going to make a bunch more in different colors! Enjoy!

Linking up at I heart naptime, six sister's stuff, today's creative blog, tatertots and jello, chef in training and boerman ramblings

Meghan and Adam's wedding

2011-08-31T01:05:00.000-04:00

If I could describe Saturday's wedding in one word, it would be flawless. Everything went as planned, and beautifully so. Perfect weather, cooperative flower girl, radiant bride, gorgeous flowers and decorations (done by my mom, of course!), beaming groom, beautiful setting. No detail went unthought of. The day didn't go by without a few entertaining surprises for the guests: Adam pulled his iPhone out of his pocket as the pastor announced that they were man and wife, and Adam took a picture of himself and Meghan at the altar with the guests in the background (and of course promptly posted it to Facebook, with the caption "WE'RE MARRIED!!!" underneath). Meghan sang a gorgeous song to Adam during the reception, surprising the guests and, most of all, Adam. Also, the whole bridal party did a fun, surprise choreographed dance. LOVED that! Rewinding a bit, the bridesmaids threw Meghan a (tame ;) ) bachelorette party on Thursday night. So fun! Meghan also wore our great grandmother's (our mom's mom's mom... whew) crystals around her neck for the wedding. It was her "something old," and was given to our great grandmother as an engagement present from our great grandfather when she was only 17. My mom even displayed a picture of our great grandma wearing them in her engagement pictures... talk about a special touch. Brynlee was ecstatic to be the "flowa durl" and walked down the aisle perfectly, strewing rose petals as if she did it everyday. I was so proud of her. My MOH speech went well, and the best man's (Adam's brother) speech was hilarious. We had a blast just celebrating and dancing the night away. I'm so proud of my beautiful sister and my new brother in law.

*Special thanks to my sweet Carrie for the beautiful pictures of the ceremony... I don't know what I'd do without you, my friend!*

giveaway @ My Yellow Sandbox

2011-08-30T22:52:00.002-04:00

Cute Abby over at My Yellow Sandbox is hosting a great giveaway this week! Not only could you win lovelies from my Etsy shop, a fun Mark makeup bag and other goodies are also up for grabs. Head on over and enter!

coffee, kids, and haircuts

2011-08-29T23:24:00.000-04:00

Last week, Carrie, Alyssa, and I (along with all of our kids) spent a lovely morning at Leah's house. The kids played, the mommas chatted and sipped coffee, and Leah gave Trey and Mac their first haircuts! I was incredibly nostalgic about the whole thing, of course, and was able to salvage a few snippets of Mac's hair to put in his baby book. He is growing up too fast! He also got his first tooth yesterday, and has about five more coming in. He was a miserable, drooling mess today. Poor baby!

I could not be happier with Mac's cut and the boys look just so cute! I love that they have had so many of their firsts so close together. I love that they were born only 10 days apart. Carrie, I can't believe they will be ONE before we know it! Sniff. It's so amazing to watch my kids with my best friends' kids. And, oh boy, do they outnumber us!

There is yet ANOTHER PCB giveaway starting tomorrow... check in soon for info on how to enter!

PCB giveaway at Scissors and a Whisk

2011-08-28T14:54:00.000-04:00

It's Sarah at Scissors and a Whisk's blogiversary and she is celebrating with giveaways galore. I'm offering a $25 credit to my Etsy shop and a coupon code as well. Head over to Scissors and a Whisk to find out how to enter! Yay!

Wedding craziness is over... and it went flawlessly. Details and pictures to come!

52 in 1: WEEK 14 - a bride's emergency kit

2011-08-23T23:33:00.001-04:00

This week, we are preparing for my sister's wedding. So much to do, and trying to enjoy the time and avoid stress... but we all know it's inevitable to feel that way in getting ready for such a big event! I decided to put together a little (figuratively, since it turned out to be quite a lot of items!) emergency kit for Meghan's wedding day to hopefully at least slightly alleviate a little bit of her stress and anticipation.

I kind of went crazy with this one. That travel-sized aisle at Target is dangerous. Here is what I included:

1. travel bag
2. baby wipes
3. feminine products
4. cotton pads
5. Tide to Go and Shout wipes
6. flossers
7. bobby pins
8. travel toothbrush and toothpaste
9. cotton swabs
10. clear nail polish
11. contact solution
12. hairspray
13. body spray
14. lotion
15. Clif bar
16. nail files
17. mouthwash
18. first aid kit
19. safety pins
20. lint roller
21. ibuprofen
22. gum and mints
23. mirrored compact
24. lip balm
25. pen and paper
26. sewing kit
27. tissues
28. blotting sheets
29. deodorant

I think Meghan will be quite prepared! I know she probably won't need most of these items, but it will be nice to not have to worry about the what-ifs on Saturday. I'm getting so excited!

Mac got his first haircut today (sniff!)... pictures soon!

a {tute} sweet tutorial

2011-08-23T14:49:00.002-04:00

I'm sharing a {tute} sweet Tuesday tutorial over at {trulie-scrumptious}! Find out how to make these Anthro-inspired lace earrings and leave some love for Ashlie and Rozalynn, the lovely sisters behind it all!

a trulie scrumptious giveaway!

2011-08-22T13:18:00.001-04:00

Let me introduce you to some of the sweetest girls I've ever "met"... Ashlie and Rozalynn of trulie-scrumptious! These girls are sisters who both contribute to their adorable blog. They feature all sorts of great tutorials and cute stories. I'm super excited to be sponsoring a giveaway this week on their blog. I'll be giving away any one item in my Etsy shop and offering a discount to my shop during the giveaway as well. Please stop over and visit their {trulie} wonderful blog!

my babies' baby blues

2011-08-20T23:04:00.000-04:00

After nap today...

she still wants me

2011-08-19T00:39:00.000-04:00

Some days, I feel like just one big old parenting FAIL. Short on patience, snappy, moody.

Today was one of those days. Yesterday, too. And probably the day before, too.

Granted, Brynlee was whiney and tired and disobedient, but she's two. I'm not. I'm the mom. The adult.

After a rough bedtime (Ryan was working late) and a stressed mommy trying to pack for the two week trip back home (with a written to-do list that is still longer than the number of lines on the paper), here I sit, already early morning, on the couch to catch my breath.

And over the monitor, I hear "Mommy!"

I quickly turn on the video screen and see Brynlee roll around a bit and then lie still again. She was obviously still sleeping.

I tear up at the thought that, even in a deep sleep, she still wants me. Regardless of the day's frustrations, my evaporating patience, and weighted busyness. I'm still her mommy. She is so quick to say "I'm sorry Mommy," when she disobeys and I know she means it. So quick to apologize, even before I've cooled off. And she is so quick to offer forgiveness too. "It's okay Mommy." And she gives me another chance, again and again. No grudges, but a clean slate. If that's not the most perfect picture of God's grace then I don't know what is.

I have a lot to teach her as she grows, but boy do I have a whole lot more to learn from her.

Love you baby girl. Forever and no matter what.

52 in 1: WEEK 13 - true love burlap bunting

2011-08-17T11:42:00.000-04:00

This week, I sewed a burlap bunting for a friend who is getting married on Saturday. They are having the reception in a big barn and she wanted a bunting like this to hang across the barn entry. I love how it turned out!

I am so bummed that is grainy, nighttime cell phone picture is the only picture of the bunting that I have. I took a bunch of nice daylight pictures, and I stupidly cleared my camera's memory card before checking what was on it (I had taken a bunch of pictures of an upcoming tutorial and decided they were too dark so I wanted to just start fresh, but forgot I had taken pictures of the bunting just like an hour prior). Boo! Oh well. I have a million other things to do this week before I head home for Meghan's wedding (which is next Saturday, eek!), so onward I go!

featured!

2011-08-16T09:24:00.001-04:00

I'm being featured today over at Craftionary! Stop over and find out how to make this fun, UO-inspired headband, and say hi to Hani while you're at it.

Happy Tuesday!

52 in 1: WEEK 12 - Anthro-inspired leather ruffle flats

2011-08-11T00:15:00.005-04:00

I've been dying over the shoes and accessories at Anthropologie lately. I am also obsessed with flats. I saw these ones and knew I could make a knock off version (with my own twist) for wayyy less than the original $148 price tag! Plus I like how mine are rather imperfect and quirky. And as much as we don't want to admit it, fall is quickly approaching and I only have a few more weeks to comfortably sport my fluffy flower sandals. How about a little tutorial for a cute fall shoe?

First, materials needed:
-plain ballet flats (I got mine at Target on sale for $12)
-leather scraps, or you could definitely use stiff fabric ($7 for the whole bag of leather scraps)
-E-6000 or other super-strong glue
-scissors
-20 large-ish beads, 16 small-ish beads
-scissors
-not pictured: needle, coordinating thread, clothespins

1. Cut four strips of the leather you would like to use. You need TWO 6"x1" strips and TWO 9"x1 3/4 strips. (The measurements don't need to be exactly the same as mine, but the big strips need to be the same size and the little ones need to be the same size. Plus, you will be cutting off excess length at the end so feel free to make the strips a little shorter, but I overcompensated because I ALWAYS have to have a little too much- I like to be prepared in life!- rather than have too little in the end.)

2. Choose 20 larger beads and 16 smaller beads. They don't have to be all the same color, but I like the more uniform look. Set aside half of each size beads to begin the first ruffle.

3. About 1/4" down from the top of one larger strip, bring your threaded needle through the leather, back to front. Add a bead to the needle, then bring the needle through the leather again, front to back, making the stitch that the bead is attached to about 1/2" long. Bring the needle through the leather again, back to front, this time leaving only about 1/4" gap between the end of the last stitch and the beginning of the next. Pull the thread taut, making the leather ruffle, with the bead in between the ruffles. For the next stitch, add one of the smaller beads. Continue stitching across the leather strip until you have used 5 large beads and 4 small beads, making sure to pull the thread taut between stitches to ruffle the leather.

4. To finish the ruffle, make sure to keep pulling the thread taut and knot the thread in the back of the leather strip. Repeat step #3 with one of the smaller strips of leather and knot the thread then the ruffle is finished. Cut the excess off of the ends of the leather strips where the ruffle ends.

5. Trim the edges of the top part of the ruffles (where the beads are a little closer to the top than bottom), rounding them out a bit (more or less, to your liking).

6. Position the larger ruffle on the shoe where you would like it to lay, with the end of the ruffle where the beads are closer to the top of the leather closer to the tip of the shoe (ahhh, not making sense... just look at the picture). Leave a space below the ruffle so you will be able to glue the smaller ruffle to the shoe as well. Spread a thick layer of the E-6000 or other strong glue to the top of the shoe where you decided the ruffle should lay. Carefully glue the ruffle to the shoe. Spread another thick layer of the glue to the shoe under the larger ruffle and glue the smaller ruffle down, overlapping the larger ruffle a bit. Make sure the beads are closer to the tip of the shoe, just like with the larger ruffle.

7. Using clothespins, pin the smaller ruffle to the shoe where the ruffle was glued and let it sit overnight. Make sure not to get any glue on the clothespins, or they will become part of your shoe refashion as well! Eeek!

8. Repeat steps 3-7 for the other shoe. Trim the top of the larger leather ruffle if you see fit. I love the character of these ruffles!

Wear your lovely creation now or save them for the fall when the itch to break out the flats begins! You can always embellish flats with fabric rosettes, a cluster of beads, fabric/leather ruffles without beads, buttons, etc. Target had these great patent "leather" purple flats in red, black and taupe too. So cute! And what a cheap makeover... sure beats the almost $150 Anthro version!

Linking up at I heart naptime, six sister's stuff, today's creative blog, and tatertots and jello

finding my feet

2011-08-10T00:02:00.000-04:00

So I'm going to do something a little crazy. I have been wanting to run a marathon for awhile now, inspired by my SIL Leah. I've run on and off throughout the past 10 years or so, but never more than a mile or two at a time. I ran the RWC Homecoming 5k a few years ago and that was the extent of my race experience. So when Raechel (whose blog I've read for ages) extended an open invitation to get a team together and run the St. Jude Half Marathon in Memphis in December, I died a little inside, knowing that there would be pretty much zero chance that I would be able to participate. Not only did I want to have a great goal like running a half (and have the accountability because I would HAVE to run it after being sponsored and all) but I thought it would be just so great to meet up with some blog friends in real life. So, after talking with Ryan and hemming and hawing for a long time, I pulled the trigger and registered for the race.

I am so stinking nervous. Not about meeting friends I've only known in blogland in real life (since this is not the first time we've traveled great distances to do so... that was one of the BEST trips ever!), but I am scared silly to run those darn 13.1 miles and literally not fall over and die during or after. I have worked up to 5 miles, and being part of a great team is encouraging me greatly. The Nike+ challenges that our team have been participating in have stirred in me a deep rooted competitiveness that I didn't really know was there! I definitely have finally, for the first time ever, truly experienced a runner's high. I'm addicted!

Please feel free to visit our team page and become a sponsor. Every little bit helps this great cause. I'm super grateful for this opportunity, and I'll be sure to document my progress as December 3rd approaches!

late night newsy-ness

2011-08-09T01:37:00.000-04:00

I know that's not really a word. I like to make up my own. I'm feeling chatty tonight and thought I'd do a big, messy post about a million things that I've been wanting to share but haven't yet. I am super wide-awake (even more than my normal night owl nature), perhaps from the runner's high I received after pounding out over 5 miles tonight?! More on that soon.

First off, do you love my new header? My sweet friend Erin designed it for me, along with my Etsy banner and logo. This girl knows what she's doing! Feel free to contact her through commenting on her blog or her facebook fan page for access to her graphic design goodness.

Speaking of my Etsy shop, I stayed up until at least 2am last night listing a ton of new items. And here I am again, flirting with 1am. I'm so excited about getting all of my new items listed, and I'd love to extend a coupon code just for my friends who visit here on the blog... through next Monday, 8/15, please enter the code "EMBRACE" at checkout for 20% off your order! Yay!

This past week was a little crazy. I made a quick almost two day trip back to NY to meet my dear, dear friend Alyssa's sweet new baby girl! Harper Lynn was born Thursday evening (the 4th) and I was able to visit the next evening. Then, the kids and I packed up and headed back to MA Saturday morning after I made one more quick visit to the hospital to love on baby Harper. Oh, she is so tiny. Poor Alyssa has had to deal with a bunch of post-birth complications, including (but not limited to) spinal headaches and crazy exhaustion. Plus she had a long, long labor and had a fever/infection when Harper was born, so they have had to keep Harper in the hospital for a few extra days. Fortunately (in a twisted sense) Alyssa is also still in the hospital trying to heal from her complications, so they haven't had to go home without baby Harper. Alyssa did inform me tonight that things are looking up for both of them, so please pray they will be able to go home soon! Alyssa is my HERO! She is amazing.

Holding tiny baby Harper made me realize how big my baby boy is getting... who by the way turned NINE months old on Sunday!

Oh how I love that boy. He is just so full of joy and has such a laid back, happy, silly personality. And now he has now been officially "out longer than in"! He is now waving, clapping, crawling and pulling up like CRAZY, letting go to stand alone sometimes, eating puffs and cheerios whole (well, has been for awhile) and totally just goes with the flow in everything. He absolutely says "more" and yells "NO!" all the time, but I'm pretty positive he just likes to say it since he says it randomly. Still no teeth, but I can totally see them under the gums. He is partial to me (which I might love just a little) but has not shown any signs of stranger anxiety quite yet. He has been doing his "shy boy" thing where he puts his head down and smiles when someone he doesn't know well talks to him. Cutest thing ever. He is a wiggle worm and will not lay still for even a second for me to change his diaper. I have to chase that naked booty all day long since he flips over and flees EVERY TIME right after I remove his diaper when changing him. He has a scream that could break glass, a smile that makes you feel like all is right with the world, and a laugh that you just can't help laughing along with. Plus he and Brynlee are totally becoming best buds, which delights me to no end. Never knew I could love so deeply and fiercely.

Ohhh Macky Mac, you have your momma's heart. I hope you always respond to "Boo boo"!

Sissy is busy being a big girl. Potty trained, putting on her own shoes and clothes, playing with big girl toys, singing entire songs, dancing, drawing faces on paper. I feel like I blinked and now she is a "big durl" who wants to do everything herself, in her own timing and in her way. I may or may not be able to identify just a bit.

She loves singing and playing guitar with daddy.

Love, love, love. Can't say it enough.

***

So, back to running. I'm running a half marathon! I'll write about the details tomorrow. I'm finally getting sleepy!

52 in 1: WEEK 11 - leather bracelet

2011-08-04T22:24:00.000-04:00

I have had this little project in the back of my mind since I saw this post months ago. Now usually I like to put my own spin on these projects but I loved the original so much that I totally copied it. I love it. The bracelet is so cute and was so easy to make! I have a big bag of multicolored leather scraps (that I scored at ~~the most dangerous place for me~~ The Franklin Mill Store for $7) so I was excited to finally get this bracelet done. Stay tuned for a few more leather projects that I have up my sleeve!

a beautiful day in Bosty

2011-08-04T13:16:00.003-04:00

This week is just getting away from me and I'm not really sure why. All I do know is that I needed to write a new post here so my awkward modeling pictures wouldn't be the first thing that appeared on the top of the page! (PS- I wasn't always so awkward... check out my 4 year old self!)

Anyway, Ryan's brother Justin and his wife Amy made a quick trip out to see us this week, so yesterday we left the kids with an AMAZING babysitter and headed to Boston ("Bosty," as Brynlee used to say) for the day. I've never left Mac all day like that, so I was a bit nervous but it went splendidly. We walked (and walked, and walked... I am so sore today) around, ate delicious food, shopped, crammed into the subway cars like sardines, got sunburned, took in a little history, and (for the grand finale) attended the Red Sox game in the evening. It was a great game and Boston won at the bottom of the 9th with two outs with a home run. Ryan and I aren't huge baseball fans (like a certain girl's husband) but it was so fun. They were playing Cleveland (who Justin roots for), so we were a bit apprehensive being seen with Justin and his Indians jersey and hat. We didn't get hassled at all, which is always good. I felt a little bad, though, that Justin and Amy came all the way out to see their team lose, but even they thought it was a great game. It was so wonderful to walk around and have a little kid-free time (last summer walking around Boston was atrocious for me between the heat and being hugely pregnant!), but of course I lugged my camera along with a dead battery. Boo. When will I learn? I took a few with my phone, but I wish I had taken more!

I took this to send to my friend Amy (we stopped here last year when she was visiting) but didn't get to stop in. I am still regretting not popping in for some Oreo cake!

Boston harbor

Fenway... so fun!

52 in 1: WEEK 10 - "blue dress" sew along

2011-07-30T19:01:00.001-04:00

This week, I "sewed along" with Kojo Designs! Sweet sisters Kirsten and Jordan both contribute to this blog and whipped up a few-days-long tutorial dubbed the "Blue Dress Sew Along". Over the course of about a week, they provided a shopping list and step by step instructions to make a cute, belted, strapless summer dress. So fun! It was pretty easy to make, especially considering that this is the first dress I ever sewed for myself.

I made a fun belt and a matching yellow belt (not pictured). I love it!

Getting my picture taken is probably my LEAST favorite thing in the whole world, and it took a lot of guts for me to actually "model" the dress. So embarrassing. A super model I am not! Oh well. At least I have a pretty new dress!

she {hearts} it... giveaway!

2011-07-28T13:53:00.001-04:00

My etsy shop is being featured today on the wonderful review site She {Hearts} It. I'm giving away a $25 credit to my shop and offering a fun discount too! Check it out! Also, make sure to follow She {Hearts} It, these sweet ladies feature unique, eco-chic products, discounts, and giveaways every day!