tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71706539817398080422024-03-05T04:29:21.465-05:00Pancakes & Glue GunsJackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02895772638058161447noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-2299862410131798372016-03-19T08:54:00.003-04:002016-03-19T08:55:06.006-04:00First Birthday Cake Smash & Sprinkles: Paper Flower Party DecorOur precious baby girl turns one today and I'm sharing some wonderful product photos by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeatherBooysenPhotography/">Heather Booysen</a> of <a href="http://www.heatherbooysenphotography.com/">Heather Booysen Photography</a> of our set up.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqOnZEexKMMefJvF2dmszm10C8W7cVzBBY26H5KSnTuvfXE8JudRjlpVw5w4jgGov0rMFUY6PvwGkbo4rfSAKAH8R_5ooSlTWTmDPZ4C1oXbtG3umxHOFeFkOZnmJmdYoqDHCQ6DtBdE/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqOnZEexKMMefJvF2dmszm10C8W7cVzBBY26H5KSnTuvfXE8JudRjlpVw5w4jgGov0rMFUY6PvwGkbo4rfSAKAH8R_5ooSlTWTmDPZ4C1oXbtG3umxHOFeFkOZnmJmdYoqDHCQ6DtBdE/s640/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsifC7hTkMbN2PhHHCFGw-qyzdK0tCCJMY1O7F_DSOd9hqcdjwB5KWBUaVtgxH83t1mqjPaIiRoFbzPCUfDjEPEyGJ3aCnjijSd9K7AP30d679yImHzBSMU2XdK-npDC5t9CFMl0Bozp0/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsifC7hTkMbN2PhHHCFGw-qyzdK0tCCJMY1O7F_DSOd9hqcdjwB5KWBUaVtgxH83t1mqjPaIiRoFbzPCUfDjEPEyGJ3aCnjijSd9K7AP30d679yImHzBSMU2XdK-npDC5t9CFMl0Bozp0/s640/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOm4nCtt2sD7z3ks4Ul91os-OTHCo1zneggdddYqcF_yiNrgS82omP0ohG4lyeC5WTYt7FhJcLWMh3yvnOSQpegOWSphVa22RhksVbcAr_qdmQ5EwhPkd75Au9tcanV6wiR0DTaW6LwU/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOm4nCtt2sD7z3ks4Ul91os-OTHCo1zneggdddYqcF_yiNrgS82omP0ohG4lyeC5WTYt7FhJcLWMh3yvnOSQpegOWSphVa22RhksVbcAr_qdmQ5EwhPkd75Au9tcanV6wiR0DTaW6LwU/s640/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-38.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYquCBzWwbGqw9khQty_tCd0ejVrz2vcvRnLRG6T2kfqb1_ezw5rtPkpwaq238g_8OgEffB4sOegnVlY2GV_vHyGfMPRT1qvCcbfWJC8DIA_SHVrtkuStANNmOQUSG2agYbswoWUcGZw/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYquCBzWwbGqw9khQty_tCd0ejVrz2vcvRnLRG6T2kfqb1_ezw5rtPkpwaq238g_8OgEffB4sOegnVlY2GV_vHyGfMPRT1qvCcbfWJC8DIA_SHVrtkuStANNmOQUSG2agYbswoWUcGZw/s640/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-39.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSPn-6oXjF0EURn5yUzn9IDmTvWjiJZ7RRp2dgnm9Feu7Qczo49ND4C3HUtEUa8jVKV6ByzW9rgFg5Nq6yubFf_W5s4lNyeU82NRpF_fuX3kDvIcOu8ormW8dSRDjrO3fZBoItC8vod8/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSPn-6oXjF0EURn5yUzn9IDmTvWjiJZ7RRp2dgnm9Feu7Qczo49ND4C3HUtEUa8jVKV6ByzW9rgFg5Nq6yubFf_W5s4lNyeU82NRpF_fuX3kDvIcOu8ormW8dSRDjrO3fZBoItC8vod8/s640/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpU0VPP9CKdUcBdxKzBVe3SbkNdYL4Mtmhle-X4GdFR-J054Bhw-EvzS8ZBeUqLYSmjB98Se_ldP7zRvBjLODuQV56RJBfUU4aZqLYS40TIK4CYxyGAYD_UeRnjT31W5G9fCP-h1Clfw/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpU0VPP9CKdUcBdxKzBVe3SbkNdYL4Mtmhle-X4GdFR-J054Bhw-EvzS8ZBeUqLYSmjB98Se_ldP7zRvBjLODuQV56RJBfUU4aZqLYS40TIK4CYxyGAYD_UeRnjT31W5G9fCP-h1Clfw/s400/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-42.jpg" width="266" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh414HW7e3QNTlLLM4gPky6qZ5MY6tJKpzcevnRCXd4pc7Vr4auPKIjxNpxiHbEWzdGtmaGTfo5ySx_6dUxhsy4GTCIG6ZRxMfx2CbFjy9YaWY9OEVaiIXZRHTbNXMydQRKwi-JnuvYD24/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh414HW7e3QNTlLLM4gPky6qZ5MY6tJKpzcevnRCXd4pc7Vr4auPKIjxNpxiHbEWzdGtmaGTfo5ySx_6dUxhsy4GTCIG6ZRxMfx2CbFjy9YaWY9OEVaiIXZRHTbNXMydQRKwi-JnuvYD24/s400/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-43.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtVBg_M680zaxFF7CecnXbAZpuObTVAVWXOmCbmGbpC5ZxcnWO-fmGovhEnBXNwmCF4FvlZjI8SsugySN_tP4ekoMRSMVovNLGFLAHWhN3BpYnIlDc3VCZOQ4o4vt8rJm8GSHs5WqvdY/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtVBg_M680zaxFF7CecnXbAZpuObTVAVWXOmCbmGbpC5ZxcnWO-fmGovhEnBXNwmCF4FvlZjI8SsugySN_tP4ekoMRSMVovNLGFLAHWhN3BpYnIlDc3VCZOQ4o4vt8rJm8GSHs5WqvdY/s640/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-76.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb36T3KRLleoDQynOTyMrraYuXvIb3WEsF_0tNf2Czr1b8e-WpQEeF0Tzwq0IkQhwwiwxMclnvkFKmTrn3gtUy0d95ukwjQ9LHl2OkagROY68dOlv1j64dRaJAk2hx0jahR0dponaKxI/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb36T3KRLleoDQynOTyMrraYuXvIb3WEsF_0tNf2Czr1b8e-WpQEeF0Tzwq0IkQhwwiwxMclnvkFKmTrn3gtUy0d95ukwjQ9LHl2OkagROY68dOlv1j64dRaJAk2hx0jahR0dponaKxI/s320/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-77.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyalujTVN4oVC1A_L8Tbl_BLTCReu6bgCmf1XaRLHs-ciLb_tIPAOp-bIwARUY7fiMZzDEyd0xH3OdGTZUzW7ELiAlosZBIr-BRpK1CpV4KWUy24SJjoFHiZZPFGxtydLeb-o6qDIDiu8/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyalujTVN4oVC1A_L8Tbl_BLTCReu6bgCmf1XaRLHs-ciLb_tIPAOp-bIwARUY7fiMZzDEyd0xH3OdGTZUzW7ELiAlosZBIr-BRpK1CpV4KWUy24SJjoFHiZZPFGxtydLeb-o6qDIDiu8/s320/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-79.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLqDO0xxplT_Bbb2pjtqtWSxC6l-_sKITE_6NiOUuRq4FY5ucSPem-cShVjORzGQGYi7muRf2y1zbiLS0Ezk07r_2q5t-jK8FUaHE8fFXS4QEs3FmswJEzcV7NI98r4M8n8K2nKlQ0vI/s1600/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLqDO0xxplT_Bbb2pjtqtWSxC6l-_sKITE_6NiOUuRq4FY5ucSPem-cShVjORzGQGYi7muRf2y1zbiLS0Ezk07r_2q5t-jK8FUaHE8fFXS4QEs3FmswJEzcV7NI98r4M8n8K2nKlQ0vI/s640/LydiaDeVoreFebruary2016-80.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can order a chalkboard like this<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/268868129/first-birthday-photo-prop-paper-flowers"> here! </a></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-55326240763500135932016-02-27T21:38:00.000-05:002016-02-27T21:47:47.612-05:00You know what keeps me from posting on my blog? Someone else's vision of success.You know what keeps me from posting on my blog?<br />
<ol>
<li>I think that everything I say has to fit into a "strategic vision" for my brand and if my thoughts don't fit somehow related to paper flowers, weddings or parties, then it doesn't have a space here to be shared. </li>
<li>I'm afraid that people will disagree with my beliefs and be dramatic about it. </li>
<li>I'm nervous that something I post will always alienate someone: if it's about starting a business it would be difficult for a follower to read who is having a hard time with their business or finances; it if's about parenthood, a follower who is struggling with infertility would feel alone; if it's about weddings, a follower who is single would feel left out...and the list goes on about everything.</li>
<li>The combination of the above makes blogging seem more like an over-analyzed fake business task rather than an actual outlet where I share what I'm interested in, tips/tricks and *gasp* my feelings and beliefs. </li>
</ol>
Anyone else have these thoughts?<br />
<br />
Here's what I'm preaching to myself to combat these thoughts - I'm hoping my public reminder will provide some accountability and may also help some of you out there too.<br />
<ol>
<li>I didn't start this blog to be a marketing space for my paper flower business. I didn't start this blog to amass followers. I started this blog to share whatever I wanted, to have fun doing so, and to talk about Jesus to those who weren't necessarily searching the internet for him. Telling myself my blog has to follow all of these rules out there that others have created to ensure "successful blogs" isn't working for me. It's a standard I can't keep and I don't want to. I don't want the "success" they describe. (Sidenote: I make this sound so easy - but I constantly have to remind myself <b>"you don't want THEIR success, or rather anyone else's but your own definition of success."</b>)</li>
<li>Jesus never said followng him would be easy. Why do I expect that everything I say that involves Jesus online will be met with virtual hugs and heart eye emojis? What do I have to lose? More importantly what do I have to gain?</li>
<li>I struggle with this in all aspects of my life. I need to pray before each thing I post, ask for wisdom, and then walk confidently in my decisions realizing I'm not perfect and never will be.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
Maybe you're not a blogger, but what is it that you're holding back doing because you're afraid it doesn't meet someone else's version of success? Hosting a bible study that doesn't offer gourmet snacks and hand lettered invitations? Sending a thank you note because you don't have a matching card and envelope that actually says "thank you" plus it's three months late? Starting an Etsy store becuase you think your products aren't as great as those on the front page? Delivering a warm meal to your new neighbor or a new first time mom because you don't own a single cookbook? Hosting a birthday party at home because every pinterest idea you've tried has failed and your house is a mess?<br />
<br />
Friends, remember that our success isn't defined by pinterest, by a blog course, by the number of sales in an online store, by the number of likes on a facebook status, by the number of friends we have, or by the number in our bank account. Success is building God's kingdom and doing so in WHATEVER unglamorous (according to the world's pinterest standards) way He calls you to do it.<br />
<br />
So post your honest blog post, send your uncoordinated and likely late thank you note, upload a picture to instagram that wasn't professionally edited, host a cozy and real bible study, deliver a novicely created but likely yummy warm meal, and throw an imperfectly perfect birthday party.<br />
<br />
<3<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmB5uzQ8qAssXU1RfgemB8bPMpf4SPblD2CaJD7JfD3pibblc9UnUwSVQyiehbECdaSgS3PrT4_YtXaYfAGsW8sJqza4WV7-0gQO6Q8UTb6Grib8bcM7rG5v_mfwiuduVlvD5oyJ2MQM/s1600/2016-02-27+21.45.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmB5uzQ8qAssXU1RfgemB8bPMpf4SPblD2CaJD7JfD3pibblc9UnUwSVQyiehbECdaSgS3PrT4_YtXaYfAGsW8sJqza4WV7-0gQO6Q8UTb6Grib8bcM7rG5v_mfwiuduVlvD5oyJ2MQM/s640/2016-02-27+21.45.44.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-64588333737397548392016-02-14T17:24:00.001-05:002016-02-14T17:29:46.131-05:00Happy Valentine's Day! His unqualified love for imperfect me. <div class="MsoNormal">
“It amazes me what this little girl will crawl over and
through to get to you” my husband chuckled as my eight month old daughter made
her way to me across the field of toss pillows, laundry baskets, and dining
room chairs. A sweet thought, but my heart sank.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Lord, what I WON’T crawl over and through to get to you” a
tiny voice in my head retorted. “Lord, I’ve put you in a convenient box and I
open it up when dinner is cooked, laundry is folded, and my post-it list of
thank you notes is finished.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“But if from there you
seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart
and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My daughter seeks me with all of her soul. I watch her eyes
and she is intently focused on me. Only me. Her eyes don’t wander, they don’t
reflect a distant stare. They lock on me and no obstacle will block her from
coming. I sustain her, I fulfill her, I provide for her every need. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>He sustains us, He
fulfills us, He provides for our every need. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friends, our love for Him should be that simple. He wants us to desperately, easily, and
innately seek him. Every moment I look
in my daughter’s face I am reminded of His love for me. His unqualified love for imperfect me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for
you, O God. My soul thirsts for God for the living God.” Psalm 42 1-2 ESV</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s nothing complicated about this relationship. The
deer doesn’t schedule a time to quench his thirst. The deer doesn’t prepare
herself and her habitat to approach the stream. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>But most importantly,
He keeps pouring grace.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But here is where it gets good. What about when we don’t
approach him easily? When we focus on our to-do list first? He opens His arms
wider, He calls to us louder, He gently points all things in our life back to
Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His grace is un-ending. Every morning is new. Lord, may we
remember we are your daughters (and sons). You sustain us, you fulfill us, you provide for
our every need. I pray that we crawl over vacuums, recipes, empty gas tanks,
grocery carts, and laundry piles with our eyes and hearts solely fixed on you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is blocking you from being in constant communion with
the Lord? What do you stand to lose if you crawl over these things? Friends, we know what we have to gain. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Valentine's Day <3 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O6nSMGb_MNYLPrlacT2WQ3vLCV-zn8mdgzRX77DUsclzaKB6Ldoo0pbEtr9tHR76OsjFmaoDTi8P21Hc3J1Z0qxN1yTbmsa0I0AwclpmcVKlivpjSLeXH_CUKpx98eOCBULiVdATFEo/s1600/2016-02-11+14.39.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O6nSMGb_MNYLPrlacT2WQ3vLCV-zn8mdgzRX77DUsclzaKB6Ldoo0pbEtr9tHR76OsjFmaoDTi8P21Hc3J1Z0qxN1yTbmsa0I0AwclpmcVKlivpjSLeXH_CUKpx98eOCBULiVdATFEo/s400/2016-02-11+14.39.24.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-36379465590104974362016-02-12T12:27:00.002-05:002016-02-14T17:30:29.619-05:00Free Printable: Snow Patrol Chasing CarsA long, long, LONG time ago I made this printable for the gallery wall in our bedroom since I walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of this song. I put it up in my Etsy shop but then took it down as I realized I shouldn't (can't) sell lyrics that I don't have the rights to.<br />
<br />
*Sidenote: If you do this on any prints or items, think carefully and do your research - you very likely can't! Same with items like "NFL inspired" or any sports league/movie/etc.*<br />
<br />
I somehow get tons of views to my shop every day from this printable pinned on Etsy and I want to redirect the traffic here to where it is actually available...for FREE. Holla.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cI-yzC78NzdWS2RAR6ee1x6eXUBWr_fLsQMGmqxd7flo9fVv8HgapjedFcZURhdaXJi5WsSOt4wk-rfKe0Wzz-hrFtMQ4qtSkwUGgV0jzbSSHei1BjxBzO0TiGCX1qyqI0XR74GBZaU/s1600/Snow+Patrol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cI-yzC78NzdWS2RAR6ee1x6eXUBWr_fLsQMGmqxd7flo9fVv8HgapjedFcZURhdaXJi5WsSOt4wk-rfKe0Wzz-hrFtMQ4qtSkwUGgV0jzbSSHei1BjxBzO0TiGCX1qyqI0XR74GBZaU/s640/Snow+Patrol.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDuisSrMSxK2hLyq0XxAL_waJuNFa5Hu0wFH6WAMzyfuqAWAYi1wMNKT2wO4nI6GAe2WBTiQIoNuptBO7VFcMfNYy0UMVfI_nVkyNgiYtRFTsu9v2LDJCc-jztetXOmxkLK2uC9a814M/s1600/Snow+Patrol+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDuisSrMSxK2hLyq0XxAL_waJuNFa5Hu0wFH6WAMzyfuqAWAYi1wMNKT2wO4nI6GAe2WBTiQIoNuptBO7VFcMfNYy0UMVfI_nVkyNgiYtRFTsu9v2LDJCc-jztetXOmxkLK2uC9a814M/s640/Snow+Patrol+2.jpg" width="490" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEXsHbg8nrpWwgNk6ennRTHmHyA7QNmUSK9VxpaNGnCZqOuwR67wc6QBnQouVN4AFgns6v6vJFkzZiX8oZ2Eg8kYAcD9-OyUHU7IAUhmjQMoEqMDTkzIBWQQBIBT8gyrtVe5Np6o8qoc/s1600/Snow+Patrol+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEXsHbg8nrpWwgNk6ennRTHmHyA7QNmUSK9VxpaNGnCZqOuwR67wc6QBnQouVN4AFgns6v6vJFkzZiX8oZ2Eg8kYAcD9-OyUHU7IAUhmjQMoEqMDTkzIBWQQBIBT8gyrtVe5Np6o8qoc/s640/Snow+Patrol+3.jpg" width="490" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-3901450275247056032016-02-11T16:08:00.001-05:002016-02-14T17:30:48.691-05:00An Ideal Customer? Find confidence in YOU.I've heard this thrown around a lot but never thought it applied to me. I thought it applied to photographers or wedding planners booking their ideal client that matched their brand and dream image.<br />
<br />
I haven't been worrying about an ideal customer at all. <i>I also haven't been worrying about my own style at all.</i> Instead I spent the last year producing products to fit the market. Burlap and lace. Got it. Yellow and Gray. Got it. Blush on blush on blush? Got it.<br />
<br />
So when I was asked about my style and specifically to show pictures of some of my favorite orders and color combinations I was stumped. I thought for sure they existed until I started scrolling back in my camera uploads, further...and further...and further. My products didn't look like me. They looked like me thinking too hard and too carefully about what I think everyone else wants. Did I confuse you? Case and point.<br />
<br />
That, friends, is a big mistake. You know why I didn't make designs that were 100% me? Because it's scary!<br />
<br />
Because I like unique color combinations.<br />
<br />
Because I like bold and bright.<br />
<br />
But if I'm being truly honest. It's mostly because I am afraid my sales will totally plummit if I make what I love.<br />
<br />
I think as artists we need to find a balance. If we need to make money, we need to make money and we can always target whatever market we want. But we can't lose our creative identity in the process. Because then, our businesses are just businesses, not creative businesses.<br />
<br />
I'm making a promise to myself to make what I love, to be inspired by the colors I love, and to share that with you. I'm excited to see what is in store!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cXQH8BQXuMdf9IKsxC8t28z74hzlJa6Y7sCwcdAIaQHjW3AW44RdI13GuW3zOPYKMN2pAeO5HI-sz4wBLLSRI_bjQTUCzA67uao8Cztw78feWVsL0t1b4RKbn1eErGNe1xIxCvrrpvU/s1600/2016-01-08+12.07.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cXQH8BQXuMdf9IKsxC8t28z74hzlJa6Y7sCwcdAIaQHjW3AW44RdI13GuW3zOPYKMN2pAeO5HI-sz4wBLLSRI_bjQTUCzA67uao8Cztw78feWVsL0t1b4RKbn1eErGNe1xIxCvrrpvU/s320/2016-01-08+12.07.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-89562486892408821992016-02-03T15:10:00.000-05:002016-02-11T16:09:57.266-05:00Ice Cream Birthday Party - Mini Chalkboard Signs and Paper Flower DecorWhile late adding these (like seriously at least over a year...), it doesn't make this precious party any less sweet! Jennie Tewell of <a href="http://jennietewell.com/">Jennie Tewell Photography </a> put together a dreamy ice cream birthday party shoot that involved over fifty talented vendors. Check out the <a href="http://jennietewell.com/styled-ice-cream-birthday-party-mobile-alabama-photographer/">full blog post from Jennie</a> to see more of these perfectly styled pictures. I'm sharing those with our chalkboards in them below:<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_191532529"></span><span id="goog_191532530"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbU4kFi2hjSZr5QmG8yCiJ-oYtZjhUiTpTWV89LoU3mJKhX5RynUhJBpRk35je3QiJt3AwkdykE8wMteujzzIyLsxg0nlvxXGJ9gsutEJgao_aa_-iHYfV2FBdUnBF9tH77B6M728bvk/s1600/JennieTewellPhotography-103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbU4kFi2hjSZr5QmG8yCiJ-oYtZjhUiTpTWV89LoU3mJKhX5RynUhJBpRk35je3QiJt3AwkdykE8wMteujzzIyLsxg0nlvxXGJ9gsutEJgao_aa_-iHYfV2FBdUnBF9tH77B6M728bvk/s640/JennieTewellPhotography-103.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWosb6f-Yxitni-ndoNrkQVC-W7MhGy3nTTv6I3opIqUwsORFq6PHeiQdfAKtyNcj1RmbGsdYPw87dLNZ_kh1ym2nAzOS60ryoE9SXn74NPNQ2bryQ0DWSMNltzZyqRKhBm0QZins_U18/s1600/JennieTewellPhotography-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWosb6f-Yxitni-ndoNrkQVC-W7MhGy3nTTv6I3opIqUwsORFq6PHeiQdfAKtyNcj1RmbGsdYPw87dLNZ_kh1ym2nAzOS60ryoE9SXn74NPNQ2bryQ0DWSMNltzZyqRKhBm0QZins_U18/s400/JennieTewellPhotography-7.jpg" width="266" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SjFVW8wz0A5qoURs1GMTUoxWH5thFrJnf2lTqXeLj6BqKLy9gM3WpOpzFhDYA-bLiRrkJjwM4euaWdE2p4Qhlfq2F2J1ZP2uN0SWbx9Oe3oUcr3V7JnuNVm5UO_4Y7uVfepLAzZlF4E/s1600/JennieTewellPhotography-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SjFVW8wz0A5qoURs1GMTUoxWH5thFrJnf2lTqXeLj6BqKLy9gM3WpOpzFhDYA-bLiRrkJjwM4euaWdE2p4Qhlfq2F2J1ZP2uN0SWbx9Oe3oUcr3V7JnuNVm5UO_4Y7uVfepLAzZlF4E/s400/JennieTewellPhotography-53.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-jJJzf4kb72Lo3V8aZnt8XRg6kJw-9lYe2KT7hBOXIEukoT9q0RkclmSPDZCZXfpm1AeVbZLjv8KfdGbeJB8kijcIP1LZRc2p4MRy4J4BtoEgbTjjaS0hjakbMjfU7XjWR8_gdxEkp4/s1600/JennieTewellPhotography-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-jJJzf4kb72Lo3V8aZnt8XRg6kJw-9lYe2KT7hBOXIEukoT9q0RkclmSPDZCZXfpm1AeVbZLjv8KfdGbeJB8kijcIP1LZRc2p4MRy4J4BtoEgbTjjaS0hjakbMjfU7XjWR8_gdxEkp4/s640/JennieTewellPhotography-54.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpboUqvm4aE59OtxjUxsM2hke5U4l90YOqrIAAiOf1e8Ig0WmFTooaX7eYBJwLDJveGlhqws3Uh7kZJCPvSjjlxb8BlLxzzrX-kZ_XSV1qYxZpNUCUxnVHosbGeobtAHavscy3w3J9J6g/s1600/JennieTewellPhotography-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpboUqvm4aE59OtxjUxsM2hke5U4l90YOqrIAAiOf1e8Ig0WmFTooaX7eYBJwLDJveGlhqws3Uh7kZJCPvSjjlxb8BlLxzzrX-kZ_XSV1qYxZpNUCUxnVHosbGeobtAHavscy3w3J9J6g/s400/JennieTewellPhotography-57.jpg" width="266" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wJdULfnt2s1Vy7IBzEpALseRFG4bMoyAn8jlgKdv5nT02HoO7Umh3f9CDvUM6-yIR42yzj7s1mp89vci9DRVpyb8dQbeyg87-H-4zmR6yXZTRwceMtvN4Ti2bUdb9OR6L0E0VxPOUt0/s1600/JennieTewellPhotography-125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wJdULfnt2s1Vy7IBzEpALseRFG4bMoyAn8jlgKdv5nT02HoO7Umh3f9CDvUM6-yIR42yzj7s1mp89vci9DRVpyb8dQbeyg87-H-4zmR6yXZTRwceMtvN4Ti2bUdb9OR6L0E0VxPOUt0/s400/JennieTewellPhotography-125.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNA-aGy50HaL4fFawho-1pwsNNeDt3u5DNQzHUceTpEgRzTEi48HpnRCp2y0U8yLe2o1Dra54lw25GYcHzZ1lubajZFJwSPluhNwxryDxkNTIE-XQcjz2udko2t_1naX7iocVSDPW2t4/s1600/JennieTewellPhotography-104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNA-aGy50HaL4fFawho-1pwsNNeDt3u5DNQzHUceTpEgRzTEi48HpnRCp2y0U8yLe2o1Dra54lw25GYcHzZ1lubajZFJwSPluhNwxryDxkNTIE-XQcjz2udko2t_1naX7iocVSDPW2t4/s640/JennieTewellPhotography-104.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-36393900885860565092016-01-28T11:18:00.000-05:002016-02-14T17:31:03.974-05:002016 Word of the Year: IntentionWhile I originally intended to publish this post on the first of the year...stuff happens, aka other posts I wrote and instead of following my rule of adding them to my schedule I just published immediately. It's a work in progres.....<br>
<br>
My "word of the year" in 2015 was <b>surrender.</b> December 29th, 2014 was full of excitement and fear. I had just seen my daughter's chubby cheeks on a 3D ultrasound and while one of the best days ever, it also made my fear of delivering her that much more real. (Do. not. worry. I will not be sharing any labor details or words that will make any one squeam. That's just not my thing.)<br>
<br>
What could I honestly do to ease the fear and worry of everything that came along with childbirth and sheesh, raising a child? <i>Surrender. </i><br>
<br>
Doing nothing meant doing everything.<br>
<br>
Surrendering my fear and worries to Jesus. As I meditated on this word and His Word throughout 2015 I came to understand that surrendering was the best way to show His glory in my circumstances. Not writing more blog posts, not attending more birthing classes, just surrendering.<br>
<br>
Surrending was me reminding myself that I know His Word is true. Surrendering didn't mean I trusted that He would hand me a pain-free and complication free situation. And it was this truth that made surrendering difficult. It was me surrending to his sovereignty. Recognizing that no matter what the circumstances I could walk boldy into them knowing that He is sovereign over our family's life.<br>
<br>
This would have never been my first instinct. In fact my exaggerated fear of labor was totally used by the Lord to draw me closer to Him. Because honestly, what else could I do? I practiced breathing exercises...a few times..., I tried to do some pre-natal yoga....a few times...I read a lot of horror stories on the Bump and other places...a lot of times..., there just honestly wasn't anything no matter how far into the depths of google I got that would ease my worries or guarantee me a pain free or complication free process. The only thing I could trust in is that the God of all created my body perfectly to handle this situation.<br>
<br>
Funny that I preface that sentence with "the only thing" instead of "the best thing."<br>
<br>
But anyway, surrendering to His sovereignty, His perfect plan, His living and active Word, His truth...nothing but amazing things came from that. And that is the most detail you'll get into my delivery experience.<br>
<br>
<br>
But I want a life of surrender, not just surrendering to my absolute fears. And I'm working on it day by day.<br>
<br>
Now I'm moving towards a year of <b>intention.</b> Intentional choices in all aspects of life. Because when you are truly living a life of surrender to the Lord you recognize the importance, or maybe a better word is potential, of each moment.<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHMilV_A6w_TV6JuLOmAaLq0hO7AoKpBBsTIzxYyqWhGXfLMa2-z39107_OOai55nG4iZOuopG265AMQfCa_SSzQDX_GrlmiTzLKArBHPtSEgigqH0I4Bv6IKbc7bpJd_o1RqVpzbXIw/s1600/2016-01-28+11.04.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHMilV_A6w_TV6JuLOmAaLq0hO7AoKpBBsTIzxYyqWhGXfLMa2-z39107_OOai55nG4iZOuopG265AMQfCa_SSzQDX_GrlmiTzLKArBHPtSEgigqH0I4Bv6IKbc7bpJd_o1RqVpzbXIw/s400/2016-01-28+11.04.25.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<br>
We have a lot of changes coming up this year for our family and all the more reason to make the most of our time and create strong foundations as we move into this next chapter!<br>
<br>
I'm particularly seeking to be more intentional in:<br>
...social media activity<br>
...relationships with friends<br>
...moments with Lydia<br>
...moments with my husband<br>
...business decisions<br>
...scheduling time to be creative<br>
...budgeting and meal planning<br>
<br>
Last year I really did stick with my word and I'm hoping I do this year as well!<br>
<br>
Want to order your word of the year or one little word on a chalkboard to display as a physical reminder? <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/168930437/paper-flowers-word-of-the-year-one">You can here! Custom colors and custom word. :) </a><br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexQs_4m2j_DlzFoid5KYsMwqo85LqXuUY_RHT6z-WbmaTrmPtzDDr57IEIyCjDASSZ13XA5XP_U0aTNjrLCfA7HIEdcDPoqEMxn-ptHRV4EE-E5J4ak1FaJ0bNcc2khMc3LqgFneqgiI/s1600/2016-01-28+11.06.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexQs_4m2j_DlzFoid5KYsMwqo85LqXuUY_RHT6z-WbmaTrmPtzDDr57IEIyCjDASSZ13XA5XP_U0aTNjrLCfA7HIEdcDPoqEMxn-ptHRV4EE-E5J4ak1FaJ0bNcc2khMc3LqgFneqgiI/s400/2016-01-28+11.06.23.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-57571330167202030052016-01-19T18:50:00.000-05:002016-02-14T17:31:20.502-05:00Creative at Heart Birthday Bash: Photos and Reflection + You are definitely "good" enough.On one of the first days of January, a fellow creative friend and I headed out to Richmond for the Creative at Heart Birthday Bash. This was an event celebrating one year of the <a href="http://creativeatheartconference.com/mission/">Creative at Heart Conference,</a> a conference that provides education and inspiration to all types of creatives. Now, I actually hadn't gone to any of their conferences the previous year, you know having a baby and all, so I wasn't sure this was appropriate for me to go to - but MY did their pictures look gorgeous advertising the event. I read on their website that this wasn't just for alumni of their conferences but for new faces who were potentially interested in the future. Ok, yes, everyone says that but did they really mean it?<br />
<br />
I could have spent days overanalyzing this convincing myself that this wasn't for me, I wasn't good enough to go to something like this, I'm not a "real creative." And the list goes on and on. But something <a href="http://jessconnolly.com/">Jess Connolly</a> of the <a href="http://theinfluencenetwork.com/">Influence Net</a> said during a webinar I attended was (quoted to the best that I remember :)) "Who told you that? Who told you that this event wasn't for you? That you aren't good enough? That you aren't a real creative? God certainly didn't tell you that. Can you imagine your child looking up at your saying "I'm not good enough"...don't do that to your Father in heaven either!"<br />
<br />
And that is the truth!<br />
<br />
So we bought tickets and headed out. I'm not going to say I was suddenly perfect and didn't second guess my outfit, how I introduced myself, or if my business cards looked good enough..because I did. But I reminded myself of the truth Jess shared and went in!<br />
<br />
Friends, I am SO glad I had the courage to go to this, it was just a lovely event with finishing touches on every detail. First of all it was at <a href="http://paisleyandjade.com/">Paisley and Jade</a>. <i>Pause right now and go look at their website, but don't get sucked in. Come back to me. But do it. Seriously. It's gorgeous. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Second, the speakers were phenomenal!! So encouraging and real. They talked about the exact insecurities and fears I highlighted above. <a href="http://www.nataliefranke.com/">Natalie Franke</a>, photographer and founder of the <a href="http://www.risingtidesociety.com/">Rising Tide Society, </a>spoke about not believing the lie that "everyone else is successful." She talked about how we are flooded with success stories on instagram and gorgeously photographed highlight reels of life. In fact, there were a lot of failures that led to those successes and we shouldn't be afraid of them. We should also define our OWN version of success and not struggle trying to figure out what success is to the world around us or how to get to the place someone else is at on instragram or on a blog, etc. It was wonderful and exactly what this girl (me) needed to hear, as I'm sure many of the other lovely creatives did too.<br />
<br />
So what does this mean for you? First - check out the <a href="http://creativeatheartconference.com/annapolis#annapolis-intro">Creative at Heart Conference coming to Annapolis, MD</a> this March. I won't be there but hope to go in future years when baby girl is a bit older and can handle being away from me for more than 35 seconds (seriously, that's what we're at right now with this whole teething thing...). Second - don't ever think you're not good enough. Don't ever think you're not creative enough. Don't ever think you just don't fit in in this beautifully curated instagram world. Remember that many of the accounts you are following are BUSINESSES. They are advertising. They aren't writing a feel good blog. If you're looking for business mentors try to meet the people behind the feeds, join a <a href="http://www.risingtidesociety.com/tuesdaystogether/">Rising Tide Society Tuesday Together</a> group (it's free and I'll talk about this in a future post next week) and get to know people in person.<br />
<br />
You are a creative masterpiece, you are made in the image of our awesome God and you are certainly, definitely, good enough.<br />
<br />
Now enjoy some drool worthy photos from <a href="http://hopetaylorphotography.com/">Hope Taylor Photography</a> and find the rest of the vendors involved listed below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGBqUGafVHNYv7uaQs_3jmXV3hmzpDxv1fvecPJNez8F4w_ZubJi8xIhVuJCYwUr0X4iFYrCqTOsDwrszLA0vTlGqErv2XrclltPRA-MXkl1zl-c-xqZHA2uZ8fRYW2tJJxyG8uezZS0/s1600/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGBqUGafVHNYv7uaQs_3jmXV3hmzpDxv1fvecPJNez8F4w_ZubJi8xIhVuJCYwUr0X4iFYrCqTOsDwrszLA0vTlGqErv2XrclltPRA-MXkl1zl-c-xqZHA2uZ8fRYW2tJJxyG8uezZS0/s640/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSlCwhZcD8QdUlU5Xeaf8eb7PhH_34g9oZju2yyQKJReD0m1TnVBrmazdaevWzQ3QQ6hipgFOBIZSjNpEDL3y9khQDYBd-gf5NWR66mMAtudNSmZ6ieLAR0xm0a6ChIdPXAofCOLuq34/s1600/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSlCwhZcD8QdUlU5Xeaf8eb7PhH_34g9oZju2yyQKJReD0m1TnVBrmazdaevWzQ3QQ6hipgFOBIZSjNpEDL3y9khQDYBd-gf5NWR66mMAtudNSmZ6ieLAR0xm0a6ChIdPXAofCOLuq34/s640/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0077.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M5gdR49ptDsV-K_JzpQpZP3Rmrw7xou-fDJceMmf2yoLIy5RRh7aYZL8i4lDUeHxuLnfnm9vlykduYTemrAZOEc2MH_cfemy38wEbD5Adavo516FXEfuvgUGLqmXiHV7N6nDuFmKRy0/s1600/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M5gdR49ptDsV-K_JzpQpZP3Rmrw7xou-fDJceMmf2yoLIy5RRh7aYZL8i4lDUeHxuLnfnm9vlykduYTemrAZOEc2MH_cfemy38wEbD5Adavo516FXEfuvgUGLqmXiHV7N6nDuFmKRy0/s400/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0088.jpg" width="266" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZxRvKyiGP9yDBtnDNhn79GBsHdZwD6WAGS76q8JjOEnby1ed1q-UYhAaPycBAoKPM-I8zyJZBzsPzsXtDyctXgR6VKMgpi6H7vdvpHMxT7pKTiiSnhZooTxXMhSV8Eksr9yRAEuqQos/s1600/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZxRvKyiGP9yDBtnDNhn79GBsHdZwD6WAGS76q8JjOEnby1ed1q-UYhAaPycBAoKPM-I8zyJZBzsPzsXtDyctXgR6VKMgpi6H7vdvpHMxT7pKTiiSnhZooTxXMhSV8Eksr9yRAEuqQos/s400/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0111.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSOXCTvj7ecpv2Eb9ACo3e4bnwPEh0YnVOTXU8xM5JoIz4ZBww_hKGAUdQf8Fc9cnjjZ2Lr2J1taObiNPWwtJhCHZtyS4hHYlKXy5snKAmwoG5AIpOUOn_1V4Bk_pUKIszUExiKBnVlg/s1600/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSOXCTvj7ecpv2Eb9ACo3e4bnwPEh0YnVOTXU8xM5JoIz4ZBww_hKGAUdQf8Fc9cnjjZ2Lr2J1taObiNPWwtJhCHZtyS4hHYlKXy5snKAmwoG5AIpOUOn_1V4Bk_pUKIszUExiKBnVlg/s640/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0109.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmVQtDk3cc8MTgrjfZ_GRSzqkWGAbuidUQOEphiAXAx5EsiJf9G5PM7XsM5OYVADeuSQwPwqCg537cJyq2ZEBjTQFF-vEekqrqIfw6xrt1hWNRjHgNplxWVfuWGioefQRM5SbjPtzKno/s1600/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmVQtDk3cc8MTgrjfZ_GRSzqkWGAbuidUQOEphiAXAx5EsiJf9G5PM7XsM5OYVADeuSQwPwqCg537cJyq2ZEBjTQFF-vEekqrqIfw6xrt1hWNRjHgNplxWVfuWGioefQRM5SbjPtzKno/s640/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8erJsvmNRF83RqQ86W2FEEywDNZK6tYRY4ilLyQyG7HL-rmocyMgznht-CQPqR7RQVJYC2jkActTAqU1LOdDJ42LApeDv61QkljqXCtwgeShOSHC_CfMb-NfGXYIdHDOmPT-sJtzygI/s1600/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8erJsvmNRF83RqQ86W2FEEywDNZK6tYRY4ilLyQyG7HL-rmocyMgznht-CQPqR7RQVJYC2jkActTAqU1LOdDJ42LApeDv61QkljqXCtwgeShOSHC_CfMb-NfGXYIdHDOmPT-sJtzygI/s640/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0122.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9zytfbs7v3jX-haOYUQmkkiKe_iw4tsOI9yz0CsVqoJ2cU1W3bzzjxBhXALWAWnlQ0fh8PdKKvY8bejDhY6MZ5NBmNpffU_IRyI9cZeoHmyEDAoOr4ZxelI7HIHj8L8h7pXcPMJy-Sc/s1600/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9zytfbs7v3jX-haOYUQmkkiKe_iw4tsOI9yz0CsVqoJ2cU1W3bzzjxBhXALWAWnlQ0fh8PdKKvY8bejDhY6MZ5NBmNpffU_IRyI9cZeoHmyEDAoOr4ZxelI7HIHj8L8h7pXcPMJy-Sc/s640/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0136.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6qSkj_19IuCgnTlUXFclzKvh9yeyRiR8WCLdKdaEb3UTc0YJtQmuErMhhXtWNptG_xVNG6KqK4DgDRS87VsqmTHI-wgeTOZ5Ry_lyCD_rky88S-eDnHfnprtN4KIBh_x6MMEnievgq8/s1600/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6qSkj_19IuCgnTlUXFclzKvh9yeyRiR8WCLdKdaEb3UTc0YJtQmuErMhhXtWNptG_xVNG6KqK4DgDRS87VsqmTHI-wgeTOZ5Ry_lyCD_rky88S-eDnHfnprtN4KIBh_x6MMEnievgq8/s640/Creative+at+Heart+Birthday+Bash-0143.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Photography: <a href="http://hopetaylorphotography.com/">Hope Taylor Photography </a><br />
Venue:<a href="http://paisleyandjade.com/"> Paisley and Jade</a><br />
Videography: <a href="http://theherrintons.com/">The Herrinton's</a><br />
Name-Tags: <a href="http://jesscreates.com/">Jess Creates</a><br />
Florals: <a href="http://www.solovelyweddings.com/">So Lovely Weddings & Blooms</a><br />
Cakes & Sweets: <a href="http://www.sorbysweets.com/">Sorby Sweets</a><br />
Sponsor/Mugs: <a href="http://www.risingtidesociety.com/">Rising Tide Society</a><br />
Behind the Scenes, AV: <a href="http://www.handspuncinema.com/blog/">Handspun Cinema</a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica neue', Helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-60903747659033869972016-01-15T16:00:00.002-05:002016-02-14T17:31:44.378-05:00Rebranding: who we're working with & how we knew it was time! + Questions to think through if you're considering rebranding.Up to this point in my business I thought I had to be good (read - perfect) at everything. This shop helps support us while my husband is in school and therefore I haven't had much of a budget to invest back into growing my business. Because of this, I have found myself wearing all of the hats: accounting, strategic business decisions, crafting, packaging and shipping, logo design, product photography, trademarking and business formation, social media marketing etc. I started this business because I wanted to make paper flowers. I wanted to put them on crosses, I wanted to put them on tiny signs and I wanted to share a piece of my passion with people everywhere. I did not start this business because I wanted to learn how to take and edit photos in Lightroom, how to strategically use social media to market and run promotions, how to apply for a trademark, and the list could go on and on. <br />
<br />
Naturally I understand as tiny shops starting out without money to invest we HAVE to do all of this our selves. However, when you're stressed because you're not spending any time being creative and instead you are trying to learn 15 new skills and not only learn them but be PERFECT at them, it might be time to take a breath and step back.<br />
<br />
For me, that meant that there are a few things <i>I just had to let go of. </i>(Italics because I want you to know that it was and is still not an easy thing for me!) Learning how to be a professional product photographer was one of them. Learning how to be an SEO (search engine optimization) expert was another one. And most importantly, learning how to be a graphic designer and website creator....I'm done with that! I've spent countless hours fiddling with fonts and logos and spending money that adds up on bits and pieces here and there. I've also spent hours upon days upon weeks learning some basic HTML coding to make the tabs and social media buttons at the top of my blogger up there. See them? Yeah, you better appreciate those things because I'm pretty sure my husband didn't see me for a week.<br />
<br />
I'll talk more about letting some of these other things go in later posts but for now I'm going to focus on the biggest one:<br />
<br />
<h2>
re-branding and website design. </h2>
<i>**Before you read this. If you're thinking there's no way you'll ever have the funds to pay someone else to do ANYTHING for your shop, don't get discouraged. I honestly never thought I would either, and this may not be an appropriate decision for you, now or ever - who knows?! Our businesses are all so unique and working to achieve different goals. I'll be sharing in the coming weeks about how to lessen the burden of product photos, making etsy listings, social media marketing, etc. All things you can do for free or a small monetary investment to take a load off and give it your best shot for success!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Yes, re-branding and desiging a website is definitely a financial investment. But it's just that, an investment. We prayed about this and felt that now, three years in and in the final months before my husband starts his new job, was the time to give things a final push. To see what the capacity of this little shop is and to fine tune our processes so that when we do move and start up a new routine we know *as much as we can* about what the shop and we can/can't handle.<br />
<br />
Here's some of my thought process and advice I'd offer to you, yes you, you unsure business owner who doesn't think your shop is good enough for a re-brand, or you - you wild thing - who keeps no business records and is slowly eating into your child's college fund pursuing your crafting passions!<br />
<br />
I encourage you to first set financial goals for your shop because this can be a rather large expense. For instance:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>when I reach two months in a row with XX profit I will invest in a branding package, or </li>
<li>when I reach a year of XX income from my shop I will invest in a website outside of Etsy.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I think having goals like this in mind that you write down, talk about, and stick to, can be extremely freeing. *Cough* While I didn't do this, sitting down with my husband at the end of the year and looking at trends, revenue, and profit led to some great goal setting conversations and the decision that I'm now at a benchmark where this is appropriate. Boy, would they have been helpful to have earlier!<br />
<br />
If you're wondering exactly what that looks like I'll share a bit more that I normally would for the sake of helping you think it through. It means that:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>last year I had enough profit to cover this branding package and website re-do without putting us in a bad financial situation.</b> Do you have profit set aside from your business? Are you willing to make the jump right at the beginning and invest your personal money in this, or wait and try your best and invest business profit (if you earn any) later? </li>
<li><b>my shop has started to stall/decline when it comes to profit because of more competition. I know the potential it has financially for us and we want to invest in this branding package to attract customers, keep up with and surpass competitors, and see if we can get it back to what it use to be and beyond. </b>Who is your competition? Is your business declining? What does your logo/website/etc look like compared to your competition? Why specifically do you think updating your look would help you stand out amongst the competition? What other issues could there be with your product or business practices beyond your look?</li>
<li><b>we have a specific monetary goal in mind to help us pay for student loans that we start payments on in November and investing in the business now will hopefully help us invest in our personal future later. If it doesn't work - that's totally fine. But at this point if we didn't try we would always wonder. This gives us enough time to build the shop up before those payments begin. </b>What is your goal for your business (personal, financial, etc)? Is it worth investing in? Investing how much financially? Are you and any other financial decision makers on the same page? What evidence do you have that rebranding will help you meet financial goals? What if rebranding doesn't help your business? </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
So, now the best part.<br />
<br />
I am literally over the moon excited to show you the mood board for our new/updated look coming soon by Chelsea of <a href="http://www.23and9creative.com/">23&9 Creative</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvc2aQ7yVAAwg7PKMI86df4NdFZvfbVwKCLXKZLCRG5fR-NaYiUnrXSMzPmuvcqWV9EHaRmEKfPImzWBBA_KEQrwPpF_qaQhoaBHciTlFm21MW857-UajFkloSA9kJFEt1JvANjarMDU/s400/iPancakesAndGlueGunsMoodboard-01-01.png" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2imgGhTvJCHWXT0OChin_nZHo8Ul6Eov_1QrU4dOHtVr39O9EPL_dPDoRfbNgRc6OWYAKrvnNrPKLoQ8Ou8jp2034gf4q9NQPFtkhfbg9SKawUysJC3FnIwcnrVkhl5ygSroHjvcUCdk/s1600/PancakesAndGlueGunsMoodboard-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2imgGhTvJCHWXT0OChin_nZHo8Ul6Eov_1QrU4dOHtVr39O9EPL_dPDoRfbNgRc6OWYAKrvnNrPKLoQ8Ou8jp2034gf4q9NQPFtkhfbg9SKawUysJC3FnIwcnrVkhl5ygSroHjvcUCdk/s640/PancakesAndGlueGunsMoodboard-01.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
What do you think?! I'm so in love.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-44148905046848875452016-01-13T21:14:00.002-05:002016-02-14T17:32:21.446-05:00Three Years of Paper Flowers, Pancakes and Glue Guns StyleI can't believe today marks three years since opening up shop. I remember the moment so clearly! I've actually decided to share more about my journey to becoming a full time creative and how the shop opened soon, so I don't want to share too much about those initial conversations. But, keep an eye out for that later this year. For now, I can let you in on a preview. It involved (in no particular ord<br />
er and skipping some MAJOR moments) growing my own flies in a science lab, waitressing, failing a polygraph while wearing the itchiest tights known to man, and having a baby. *Insert ALL the emojis here.*<br />
<br />
Anyway, to celebrate this milestone I've compiled some of my most memorable projects, moments and mistakes. This post will just be a bit of overview and a timeline and I'll share more practical tips I've learned next week.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjNAVKjTxVk2sbldztdpCNiBpsIvAHNgNCIpEKyHPDKfNvrl2hhdkqATODPJMX3ufy2IK68oKRGJ5A7q8XZqgMQjTu11JvqUaXurHaB2zd8f4ekIYm0hZarSbMtheWgb2m161Lc2XMuw/s1600/blogpost5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjNAVKjTxVk2sbldztdpCNiBpsIvAHNgNCIpEKyHPDKfNvrl2hhdkqATODPJMX3ufy2IK68oKRGJ5A7q8XZqgMQjTu11JvqUaXurHaB2zd8f4ekIYm0hZarSbMtheWgb2m161Lc2XMuw/s320/blogpost5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>*Sidenote. Yes, I did go to college. The apostrophe just didn't look good with this font so I decided to ignore grammar and go with what I liked.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for praise hands emoji" border="0" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></a></div>
When I think back about my shop and look back on my numbers and sales you can't find any clear patterns. The fact that there wasn't a clear growth trajectory or a moment when things started getting real is evidence to me of what I've known all along - that it's not just me, it's not just my decision to change a title or tag it's God's sovereignty over my life and that means, yes, my shop too. *insert praise hands emoji* Ok, don't worry, I won't insert any typed emojis anymore.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep1kwIFgfk2Sy7tGEFrEcYa9SUy79mM7uyQi5n_3aTpZYkoeaoPatDzYVmpsrIqYLJMiGBbKUgyABBp-dR_Ts-GmoLNyBMobhOr9YBv73JagUj49HvAjiTd2DJ4qMnN2UTATng1gX8HA/s1600/2013-09-07+21.34.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep1kwIFgfk2Sy7tGEFrEcYa9SUy79mM7uyQi5n_3aTpZYkoeaoPatDzYVmpsrIqYLJMiGBbKUgyABBp-dR_Ts-GmoLNyBMobhOr9YBv73JagUj49HvAjiTd2DJ4qMnN2UTATng1gX8HA/s320/2013-09-07+21.34.54.jpg" width="320" /></a>When we moved to Williamsburg almost three years ago, we were excited but nervous. Sidenote - look at that picture!! We look like babies!! Wow, I've even had a baby since this picture. Wow. Ok anyway, we were going to be a one income family and incurring quite a few student loans while my husband went to school. My shop was selling about 2-4 items a month leading up to that August. I had been "in business" for 8 months. Well, August 1st comes and we move in. I didn't bother to put my shop on vacaction, because why? It was manageable and easy.<br />
<br />
Once here, suddenly our lives weren't filled with families on weekend and friends during the weekend, it was just us. And while my husband was physically at school it was just me at home for a good chunk of the day without any kiddos or friends. I really think the Lord knew this was a pivotal time in my life, well of course He did, but you know what I mean. I had been wanting to spend time in the Word to get to know my God on a personal level but life was busy and it was just a thought in the back of my head most days that I didn't act on. Well, now here and alone, it was easy to do. I didn't have to turn down parties or family get togethers. It was a sweet time to myself to schedule time to work from home and time to spend in the Word.<br />
<br />
And friends, it is crazy. When you are in the Word your life changes. Even if you were a believer before, the bible just breaths life into your every day. It brings a different purpose, energy, everything. And the more time you spend in it, the more it makes sense and the more it directs your life. It's true. I bet everything on it. And I was totally ok being alone here. Because even when I had to be reminded, I was never really alone.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
So what did this have to do with my shop? Well for the first time in my life, it felt like my priorities in life were in line. When I first opened up my shop, I did it for me - to bring some sense of purpose to my life that had been totally thrown out of whack by an unexcected career change. And don't get wrong, there's nothing at all wrong with that. But then I started to get more and more wrapped up in it. When someone purchased something I was excited, when they didn't I was really insecure. My identity was too wrapped up in this. But, God. He's so merciful friends! The more time I spent in the Word the more I started to figure out where this shop should fall in line when it comes to my priorities and my identity and things started happening.<br />
<br />
By the end of that semester I was bringing in enough to cover almost all of our monthly expenses and sometimes extra. It was amazing! When we started the adoption process and it covered exactly what we needed for initial fees. Sometimes with excess, sometimes down to the exact dollar.<br />
<br />
Then things got busy and I got comfortable. Over the next year it was a refining process. My sales would rise and fall as would my communication with Jesus and there's not a doubt in me that these two weren't completely related. It started off as a bit of a struggle and ended as an easy conversation with a friend. And I love that the Lord meets us where we are and speaks to us each in our own circumstances. He gifted me these creative talents and then used this little shop to build our relationship. How cool is that?<br />
<br />
<br />
We are all works in progress. Small business owner Jackie, she's definitely still a work in progress. I'd be lying if I said I didn't know how many followers I have on instagram or exactly how long it has been since my last sale. But, God. His grace is unending and he is refining me through my paper flowers. He's refining me through each one of my customers who has purchased from me. I love that I've sent a creative piece of my journey with Jesus out to all of you, and I seriously thank each and every one of you so gosh darn much!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
So a few highlights to share, who doesn't love pictures?!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>March 2013</b> My first sale. This blue bird went to a lady named Terri. I cried when I sold it. I cried again when I shipped it out. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://img0.etsystatic.com/012/1/7126517/il_570xN.433779782_abvq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paper Flower Blue Bird" border="0" height="400" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/012/1/7126517/il_570xN.433779782_abvq.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<h2>
<br /></h2>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>March 2013 </b>The first set of chalkboards I sold. I took this picture and the bird picture on the seat of my <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S09874120/">ikea chairs. </a> Too bad they are now legitimately covered in coffee stains and pieces of L's mushed up food. I'm laughing out loud just thinking about staging a photo on these crazy chairs.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://img0.etsystatic.com/009/0/7126517/il_570xN.439270768_f683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mini Chalkboard Signs burlap and lace - wedding, table numbers, party, dessert or food label" border="0" height="400" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/009/0/7126517/il_570xN.439270768_f683.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>August 2013</b> The <a href="http://pancakesandglueguns.blogspot.com/2013/08/diy-paper-flower-wall-take-2.html">paper flower wall I made</a> for my office when we moved. Here's the initial set up (which has since become a nursery that my baby never sleeps in!)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm1vY8kFBibZUVG2mZDDxlnFfXBPkzm2re58JmVZ8BtqJs3ts0avdVoCuE7qq3TO4AIM6EpS8UPWVTs1k5ZHLywhSKX2gjSxwOpy7jemYdvvYfPuaRq6gtieFw_zPmxIQmDvo-7WOSUU/s1600/Photo+Dec+07%252C+12+29+22+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm1vY8kFBibZUVG2mZDDxlnFfXBPkzm2re58JmVZ8BtqJs3ts0avdVoCuE7qq3TO4AIM6EpS8UPWVTs1k5ZHLywhSKX2gjSxwOpy7jemYdvvYfPuaRq6gtieFw_zPmxIQmDvo-7WOSUU/s400/Photo+Dec+07%252C+12+29+22+PM.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><b>November 2013</b> Ornaments to help <a href="http://www.pancakesandglueguns.blogspot.com/2014/04/hearing-his-voice.html">fund our adoption</a>. The funds later went to <a href="http://noordinarylove.org/">No Ordinary Love Ministries. </a> </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzowpnrV6rsh_BsYFMrDj2EPiZDqeAJj4eJwvG5EUwl1UERb1KNQ1RWXVpAPdMZelgWySGJCf-Iyz7EcZi6tCfuYCCvZHTS3QZ-8PNMBxFIGIh9mr0lWArwMAwW2btAO1PciJzNF1rg7A/s1600/2014-11-16+18.12.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzowpnrV6rsh_BsYFMrDj2EPiZDqeAJj4eJwvG5EUwl1UERb1KNQ1RWXVpAPdMZelgWySGJCf-Iyz7EcZi6tCfuYCCvZHTS3QZ-8PNMBxFIGIh9mr0lWArwMAwW2btAO1PciJzNF1rg7A/s320/2014-11-16+18.12.01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>June 2014 </b>What the chalkboards looked like now.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEoT_F759Z2lhcJWQoyZ4UJ-5XsQGGgl37ZMQcqoEx1jY5PD9LuP96F1ZsX03Kgor8qPrXAj6OpGVEdONLfyb768n-0s5ukUNNCdpPj6hI8wKtxCqr31wcJpYrY_GkjJs7nKEusKoMzY/s1600/JennieTewellPhotography-125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEoT_F759Z2lhcJWQoyZ4UJ-5XsQGGgl37ZMQcqoEx1jY5PD9LuP96F1ZsX03Kgor8qPrXAj6OpGVEdONLfyb768n-0s5ukUNNCdpPj6hI8wKtxCqr31wcJpYrY_GkjJs7nKEusKoMzY/s320/JennieTewellPhotography-125.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>November 2014</b> Chalkboards to <a href="http://www.pancakesandglueguns.blogspot.com/2015/09/fall-gender-reveal-white-pumpkins-paper.html">announce our someone very special </a><3 </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oz4LUEdV2gM3e4mF6V0eQ59wgcpg0AnbQQh8RNJJwTenWqHkLdQJwtA-KBqlzZbdE0IPfYB5LW7UDWQWcBRRlIGgquXFgIcN4YXJNz7oRjWfjlUb-KK35vNaCaKm0TmaunP_UMQHyfM/s1600/2014-10-29+21.08.23-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oz4LUEdV2gM3e4mF6V0eQ59wgcpg0AnbQQh8RNJJwTenWqHkLdQJwtA-KBqlzZbdE0IPfYB5LW7UDWQWcBRRlIGgquXFgIcN4YXJNz7oRjWfjlUb-KK35vNaCaKm0TmaunP_UMQHyfM/s320/2014-10-29+21.08.23-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><b>December 2014</b> <a href="http://www.pancakesandglueguns.blogspot.com/2015/06/paper-flower-party-favors-shop.html">Party favors for a special friend's birthday</a>. One of the first times I intentionally put my products in front of people I knew! </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmFTXgj4KtC4xJfmf_0lGQ9TYYvi5NGeD4NLe_XOOTSNxvaI2-0JNWVjqe-br85Ht9pPnId7a8gJhlDYVGLteVsNawCmM7Ca7EGUZhrK2DcLaL764ql-7eNfbB_aHQW7XMAscH9AsUMw/s1600/2014-12-05+16.03.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmFTXgj4KtC4xJfmf_0lGQ9TYYvi5NGeD4NLe_XOOTSNxvaI2-0JNWVjqe-br85Ht9pPnId7a8gJhlDYVGLteVsNawCmM7Ca7EGUZhrK2DcLaL764ql-7eNfbB_aHQW7XMAscH9AsUMw/s320/2014-12-05+16.03.53.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
....insert big break here. Let's call it "The third trimester/being a huge whale and it's tough to use a glue gun without dripping it all over your belly + labor/delivery/recovery + a very mobile infant who likes to eat my flowers... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But here is a cute picture of her little legs when I first started to make flowers again after she was born. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZajSjhD1FoKZbD6id-OJXd9Ono-fWU8_n4M1KG-WJvzy7wKs6L3Llh4pgg-IKgKy3N2eRXjXF4lTIWI0ue1VZPDE7FbKg3xBpJwZajITPQIV7L-vt1muXsXNd5CDCZyaXEwcJ4D_FFM/s1600/2015-04-06+17.18.14-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZajSjhD1FoKZbD6id-OJXd9Ono-fWU8_n4M1KG-WJvzy7wKs6L3Llh4pgg-IKgKy3N2eRXjXF4lTIWI0ue1VZPDE7FbKg3xBpJwZajITPQIV7L-vt1muXsXNd5CDCZyaXEwcJ4D_FFM/s320/2015-04-06+17.18.14-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<li><b>October 2015</b> the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/calvarychapelhandmademarket/">Calvary Chapel Handmade Marketplace</a></li>
<ul></ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/calvarychapelhandmademarket/"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CNnXScOsb9h0a56e40r58wGWHILOZC7gytg4nnLzjaof4g2MfMpAW2JGf62zWjUd_bNsNlhDJxJYbz24oFzfU3M4TLr8h-FYp5MsaEUmkG8LEoP61tFAIZ8cKmms74ONfoppr3AUb28/s1600/2015-10-23+21.40.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CNnXScOsb9h0a56e40r58wGWHILOZC7gytg4nnLzjaof4g2MfMpAW2JGf62zWjUd_bNsNlhDJxJYbz24oFzfU3M4TLr8h-FYp5MsaEUmkG8LEoP61tFAIZ8cKmms74ONfoppr3AUb28/s400/2015-10-23+21.40.23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>August 2015</b> Ruth from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LightandDarkShop">Light & Dark Shop</a> made a water color of a new product I was working on. (I think this was/is one of my favorite moments/things!!)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIx3Ulq4jF_m0mOCjzRrn2NlQrJvm_JfxOIbzZbAQpyJj78Z8_DPUb9-2YA7BpDFFDdGSmsKUSdvPdMC7Bk9IjpDXUSQodBY61g_O4kE4isMKWW7OA0-MEB3B28o5A8venxBnIxB2uRY/s1600/2015-11-24+13.52.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIx3Ulq4jF_m0mOCjzRrn2NlQrJvm_JfxOIbzZbAQpyJj78Z8_DPUb9-2YA7BpDFFDdGSmsKUSdvPdMC7Bk9IjpDXUSQodBY61g_O4kE4isMKWW7OA0-MEB3B28o5A8venxBnIxB2uRY/s320/2015-11-24+13.52.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><b>January 2016 </b>What the chalkboards look like now. Plus. We are totally re-branding over the next month or two and finally opening up a website independent from Etsy!!! More to come on that later, but I am so, SO pumped and excited to share with you about who we are working with and show you progress along the way. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNt58gX3ai0CvdidoD5kuUwXA3I_F6laNNayqXpBO-nx-25TTQ3vcynBxMWv8q9nw0Ur4ngCgiziJ_VeN82HrdmNim8mUTuG_Vu-NIC2lM44ShKvpXlicHHlcIrgfunKRa2vDvjtkfqg/s1600/2016-01-13+10.59.01-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNt58gX3ai0CvdidoD5kuUwXA3I_F6laNNayqXpBO-nx-25TTQ3vcynBxMWv8q9nw0Ur4ngCgiziJ_VeN82HrdmNim8mUTuG_Vu-NIC2lM44ShKvpXlicHHlcIrgfunKRa2vDvjtkfqg/s400/2016-01-13+10.59.01-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Friends thank you for reading, for supporting my shop, for helping make my dreams of being a full time stay at home mom/creative real, for being encouraging, for inspiring me, for everything. I love each and every one of you! And just because I don't know you personally doesn't mean I don't remember your name from a purchase in the shop. You'd be surprised how many orders and names I remember, I truly value each one of you. *Insert heart eyes emoji.* Just couldn't help myself.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-7058366769430217612016-01-10T21:19:00.001-05:002016-02-14T17:32:40.114-05:00Don't worry I'm still here. I can't think of a title. This is a post about blogging in 2016.One thing I pride myself on is the consistency of this blog.<br />
<br />
Hilarious.<br />
<br />
My little piece of the internet went from a wedding planning journal to a DIY paper flower wall series. It detailed my journey in trying to become a pinterest home maker (don't remember this part? yeah I barely do either...hahaha) and then became a pregnancy journal. I could actually list about ten more topics.<br />
<br />
It's a pretty common piece of advice that consistency is key in building a readership and voice for your blog.<br />
<br />
WOMP.<br />
<br />
Well, I don't have consistency but I can tell you it is a goal of mine for the future. A lot of topics go as quickly as they came because I never want to force a post or write about something I don't care about. I'm also not going to lie and tell you I'm definitely going to be consistent this year, because well - that's just setting myself up for failure. But I have good feelings about where this is going for 2016.<br />
<br />
I'm hoping to use this blog as a place of encouragement. Encouragement for everyone but I'm hoping it will specifically resonante with creatives. Creatives who are struggling building a business, who are overwhelmed with an unexpectedly successful business, who are putting their business before their marriage, who don't have a business but desperately want a business, who are working a 9-5 and side creative business and totally stressed out, who are too afraid to share their art but want to. I want to offer encouragement for all of these types and do so by sharing personal stories, highlighting other creatives' stories and spotlighting business to help gain exposure among other things.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyonCwxVgaNFdcLN5jrw2P7pGfXRMJquK89CI2eohC-bftqnnM7gYANOmoXaf9fWFT3K2xVCgk9J3P5jLhQoGH1buFIPqNnZEj-2NTjlOf1PnEh-2w22fgi4Hs3PDQuICG0Gbz6noa1Ko/s1600/blogpic1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyonCwxVgaNFdcLN5jrw2P7pGfXRMJquK89CI2eohC-bftqnnM7gYANOmoXaf9fWFT3K2xVCgk9J3P5jLhQoGH1buFIPqNnZEj-2NTjlOf1PnEh-2w22fgi4Hs3PDQuICG0Gbz6noa1Ko/s400/blogpic1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It won't only be that. You'll still hear from me about my paper flowers and about the bajillion huge life changes we have coming in 2016. Hey, maybe we'll even try to get a bit of that fantastic pancake art back up here.<br />
<br />
Sound interesting?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-50430800037261116682015-11-26T12:11:00.001-05:002016-02-14T17:33:19.320-05:00Free Printable Gift Planning Worksheet: Intentional & Stress Free Shopping<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Thanksgiving!!! </div>
<i>But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)</i><br />
<br />
I put together a printable shopping/gift guide for the holidays to hopefully help keep things more intentional as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales flood our social media accounts and mailboxes.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhEejJ8k-mxekZovWAF9TuScs8a1-eY1osmIQ6iN-pTmDMMrbKnxzn3qDo_ZkrHPZub183wzEOAbDpnkX45-1hVqWAR5Pl42gy7rAIu8Cc25oJVzXfW15DsNkHxWd-SS0HPQt37h8gNI/s1600/2015-11-26+11.04.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhEejJ8k-mxekZovWAF9TuScs8a1-eY1osmIQ6iN-pTmDMMrbKnxzn3qDo_ZkrHPZub183wzEOAbDpnkX45-1hVqWAR5Pl42gy7rAIu8Cc25oJVzXfW15DsNkHxWd-SS0HPQt37h8gNI/s320/2015-11-26+11.04.24.jpg" width="320" /></a>The first page serves as a simple list to write out each recipient and the obtained or planned gift. I highlighted mine to show who I have completed and who is still missing. **Family members if you zoom into this....I'll respect you.**<br />
<br />
The second page is a table to fill in shops and sales you want to check out over the weekend (or whenever) it gives you space to write down a promo code or sale time and then items you're looking at.<br />
<br />
Here is mine filled out but with a somewhat obstructed view to make it slightly more difficult for my gift recipients to zoom in. You can save and print the two images below if you'd like to use it for yourself this holiday season!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPgnaUVxeAXLEHZdzhGC-OR3NclGn72BN3QyFz8rX1HQqWPwJCTBG-5o6IhRACnzZE5Kbu3nevCd8EH9ECuKtVO_eESSXFjDS9FBtJD73cDP_vF1BdXu6D2syefQvGVytdPoa-edFQh0/s1600/pcgg_giftplanning_Page_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPgnaUVxeAXLEHZdzhGC-OR3NclGn72BN3QyFz8rX1HQqWPwJCTBG-5o6IhRACnzZE5Kbu3nevCd8EH9ECuKtVO_eESSXFjDS9FBtJD73cDP_vF1BdXu6D2syefQvGVytdPoa-edFQh0/s640/pcgg_giftplanning_Page_1.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4-uJNftabMVQgleehGh0L593xUh4Qdcfx4vsFUeJ3LQQSZw4qZ5GsDcENYqkR5U1i1KqkkeEzfweP5O5rszwQxM_E0Q3GhFWmzjlT8UXDvMHTyWV4zhhkmareGsNclIaj6jCyluVtU8/s1600/pcgg_giftplanning_Page_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4-uJNftabMVQgleehGh0L593xUh4Qdcfx4vsFUeJ3LQQSZw4qZ5GsDcENYqkR5U1i1KqkkeEzfweP5O5rszwQxM_E0Q3GhFWmzjlT8UXDvMHTyWV4zhhkmareGsNclIaj6jCyluVtU8/s640/pcgg_giftplanning_Page_2.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What would you add to make this work better for you? Happy Thanksgiving and happy intentional and stress-free shopping! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
PS digital floral clip art from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SmallHouseBigPony">SmallHouseBigPony</a> check out their beautiful and affordable collection!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-42080908618426749912015-11-25T23:00:00.001-05:002016-02-14T17:33:49.927-05:00Mompreneur Life: Launching a Holiday Line at InsieMamaAfter my daughter entered the world I never knew my heart could love so much - but I also did not expect continuing to manage my small business to be as difficult as it was (is). I have a particularly bad sleeper (<i>No thanks, don't need any sleeping advice. Still love ya'll but don't need it!</i>) which has made the naptimes and early evening time that I thought I'd have to myself everyday practically non existent. Or, let's be real when I do get a moment... Naptime = personal time? Nope. Naptime = cleaning the house like a madwoman, preparing food, picking up cheerios that have been practically fully digested then spit up and smushed into the carpet (sorry landlords if you're reading this..............)<div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0973/2792/files/Blog_2_image_large.png?5133923217166324901" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0973/2792/files/Blog_2_image_large.png?5133923217166324901" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from InsieMama.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Anyway, I was connected by Heather of <a href="http://www.heatherbooysenphotography.com/">Heather Booysen Photography</a> to Danielle of <a href="http://www.insiemama.com/">InsieMama</a>. As soon as Heather mentioned that her friend was starting up a business to specifically help mompreneurs (loving this word) think strategically about their business I emailed her. I don't normally talk about my business with anyone else or seek advice, so the fact that I emailed her right away actually caught myself off guard. Well, fast forward and <a href="http://www.insiemama.com/pages/meet-our-mompreneurs">this partnership has been amazing</a>! It was just the right amount of support and encouragement I needed that I could be both a mom and small business owner. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Danielle also runs an online boutique showcasing her clients which I highly suggest taking a look at, and particularly now because I've just launched a <a href="http://www.insiemama.com/collections/stellar-bloom">holiday line on InsieMama</a> and wanted to give you all the full details! </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
The items available are pictured below and will only be available through her <a href="http://www.insiemama.com/collections/stellar-bloom">InsieMama boutique</a>, not through my Etsy shop! They are also limited and will only be around for this Christmas season. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsN-7rEfZyJfPpXDOjj72TXhm4K1CGXWP1l57FaclUyq9B7pwUM6XMU42TZqgDWdoTerjNjdtaLgLh0p-bP9vGd4oYWFCg4XXTJUXU5hp_jfxZB2Szxrdm4UhOsvoHXNsk2AEQZiFC8iU/s1600/insiemama3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsN-7rEfZyJfPpXDOjj72TXhm4K1CGXWP1l57FaclUyq9B7pwUM6XMU42TZqgDWdoTerjNjdtaLgLh0p-bP9vGd4oYWFCg4XXTJUXU5hp_jfxZB2Szxrdm4UhOsvoHXNsk2AEQZiFC8iU/s200/insiemama3.png" width="200"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A8uRhGL8z6SUbcG51pJCux3KBP1n1v1HJihxcsXaE_4KilunfJPlqxtaHdW6ahjhoKbH5Zq_b6ZPyITMhYiS2C5CQe52Nr28irOjKjumi8GHxmnCMWssbv5CW_OcyNB6U0DD3nKxXGk/s1600/insiemama4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A8uRhGL8z6SUbcG51pJCux3KBP1n1v1HJihxcsXaE_4KilunfJPlqxtaHdW6ahjhoKbH5Zq_b6ZPyITMhYiS2C5CQe52Nr28irOjKjumi8GHxmnCMWssbv5CW_OcyNB6U0DD3nKxXGk/s200/insiemama4.png" width="198"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZNGM-3F99715YdMBkaQWJIqLd1hRmpCPzs5fTwV5LkAmBAxJilGi_PAxqF11m72gAJHkRx388pLkeVFV2kPK9647fwjtFizx8rwyzmV9KG1GKSjyCAAds0aXS-DIsTXgPzQsGes_ly8/s1600/insiemama5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZNGM-3F99715YdMBkaQWJIqLd1hRmpCPzs5fTwV5LkAmBAxJilGi_PAxqF11m72gAJHkRx388pLkeVFV2kPK9647fwjtFizx8rwyzmV9KG1GKSjyCAAds0aXS-DIsTXgPzQsGes_ly8/s200/insiemama5.png" width="200"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2l2rUA7McGLWSuQm2ftMEUPijcJAs1UCTDZoHcCz4OVB-0GX7HiIPjvsdu0-7eri6pZXX2oEMIWLk0iloD5KUz0_Keq20OPsaaSn9VF5KSzDD6oSsog7QryagJI2pGTTA0ahKoA5Z7lg/s1600/insiemama1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2l2rUA7McGLWSuQm2ftMEUPijcJAs1UCTDZoHcCz4OVB-0GX7HiIPjvsdu0-7eri6pZXX2oEMIWLk0iloD5KUz0_Keq20OPsaaSn9VF5KSzDD6oSsog7QryagJI2pGTTA0ahKoA5Z7lg/s200/insiemama1.png" width="200"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppyNBQybBsqKR0f0b9i5zlf7X4CTxJYh1u74JM47H5W0wQSPdGmJ4sMH4RGHNp1K5V_Ee260PBzpNJKv4hrgITsvjKd5LtLaD6V62wpql4Vta6r3qoiuSI65jhLfwIDZX5Sef04w4_2k/s1600/insiemama2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppyNBQybBsqKR0f0b9i5zlf7X4CTxJYh1u74JM47H5W0wQSPdGmJ4sMH4RGHNp1K5V_Ee260PBzpNJKv4hrgITsvjKd5LtLaD6V62wpql4Vta6r3qoiuSI65jhLfwIDZX5Sef04w4_2k/s320/insiemama2.png" width="319"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What do you think?!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div>
<br></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-57420874448715073462015-11-25T22:28:00.000-05:002016-02-14T17:34:03.278-05:00Small Business Saturday Shopping Guide - A Highlight of My Favorite
ShopsI'm pretty conflicted on how I feel about Black Friday. You know the common statement that it seems so wrong to spend time thinking about how thankful we are for what we have and then rush out to buy what we want only a few hours later. Well, just because everyone says it and you're probably tired of your Facebook friends "taking a virtual stand about it" doesn't mean I'm not partially agreeing. However, I've also scored some amazing Black Friday deals so I can't hate on it too much...<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<i>But</i>, I have come to really love Small Business Saturday. As a small business owner myself, I try to shop almost exclusively at other small businesses and especially for holidays and gifts. Throughout the past year I've stopped by quite a few shops and have gotten to know many of the owners behind the scenes. I've rounded up some of my favorites in a full list below and also featured a few specific gift ideas here: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaVOmtS9DBzXXPCjuDxIHkdTi8zIg7Ai68mKM59ZVJMMOn_IhR9MUJeJJg4VVdh1QExEhWV1NywQGz-O4Shq7Lj4CKXps_npPvm9A9778itY5E6kOkEx4YO67iHMiay2gLtFPVTYD3ic/s1600/pcgg_giftguide2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaVOmtS9DBzXXPCjuDxIHkdTi8zIg7Ai68mKM59ZVJMMOn_IhR9MUJeJJg4VVdh1QExEhWV1NywQGz-O4Shq7Lj4CKXps_npPvm9A9778itY5E6kOkEx4YO67iHMiay2gLtFPVTYD3ic/s640/pcgg_giftguide2.png" style="cursor: move;" width="580"></a></div>
<div>
Featured Items: </div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/121675836/hanging-wall-cross-funky-gift-paper">Pancakes & Glue Guns: Bright Paper Flower Hanging Cross</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/235630070/custom-order-18-nikki-doll-in-baby-pink">Fox & Owl Designs: Custom Order Nikki Doll</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kristinschmuckershop.com/collections/candles">Kristin Schmucker: Holiday Candle</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/199048357/floral-earrings-hand-embroidery">Gulush Threads: Hand Embroidered Custom Earrings </a></li>
<li><a href="http://store.lifelivedbeautifully.com/give-me-jesus-journal-planted-study/">Life Lived Beautifully: Planted Bible Study & Give Me Jesus Journal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/243287988/anemone-single-flower-band-or-alligator">Fancy Free Finery: Single Anemone Headband</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/223169826/basketted-bunny">Galarples: Basketted Bunny </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/239582286/where-you-invest-your-love-hand-lettered">Oh Deer Creative: Where You Invest Your Love Tote</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/243864745/for-god-so-loved-the-world-rustic-wood">Vine & Branch Design: For God So Loved the World Hand Painted Wooden Sign</a></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
And below you'll find the full list of favorite shops I shopped at this past year. Take time and look through these - so many categories and fun things to find! </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6HlsojDqWXMss5qe4JJGTwhU1pbpwc-lnmTLbov1hjbKEPZVcx4OGyBkbITeNuKMW4I8PQkg-W-Y5hyphenhyphen8nnqCX30_sY3xITO7UlcCSigxflhj_-M_W74pJfi1ZguPHVIQV8qwnA7CaGU/s1600/Picture3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6HlsojDqWXMss5qe4JJGTwhU1pbpwc-lnmTLbov1hjbKEPZVcx4OGyBkbITeNuKMW4I8PQkg-W-Y5hyphenhyphen8nnqCX30_sY3xITO7UlcCSigxflhj_-M_W74pJfi1ZguPHVIQV8qwnA7CaGU/s320/Picture3.png" width="320"></a></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/chesapeaketides">Chesapeake Tides</a> Nautical Items Inspired by the Chesapeake Bay</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/cleverbetty">Clever Betty</a> Keepsake Calendars, Plushes, & Wall Signs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
<a href="http://cultureflockclothing.com/">Culture Flock Clothing</a> Retro and Funky Clothing (think sloths and E.T.)</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoBeeDesigns">DoBee Designs</a> Metal Stamped Jewelry</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/fancyfreefinery">Fancy Free Finery</a> Felt Flower Hair Accessories</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FoxandOwlDesigns">Fox and Owl Designs</a> Custom Order Dolls</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GulushThreads">Gulush Threads</a> Hand Embroidered Jewelry </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Galarples">Galarples</a> Miniature Hand Crafted Creatures</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kristinschmuckershop.com/">Kristin Schmucker Shop</a> Candles, Bible Studies, Study Accessories & More</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://store.lifelivedbeautifully.com/">Life Lived Beautifully </a> Bible Studies, Journals, Mugs, & More</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/minibackdrops">Mini Backdrops</a> Small Backdrops for Photography & More<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoBeeDesigns"><br></a><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/OhDeerCreativeShop">Oh Deer Creative</a> Art Prints, Printables, Wedding Accessories, Totes & More</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheOliveTreeDesigns">The Olive Tree Designs</a> Jewelry, Art Prints & Journals</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PancakesandGlueGuns">Pancakes & Glue Guns</a> Paper Flower Party Decor & Gifts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/vineandbranchdesign">Vine & Branch Design</a> Hand Painted Wooden Signs & Digital Prints</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-1010542053813827712015-11-12T22:46:00.000-05:002016-02-14T17:34:15.702-05:00Hot Topic: Virtual Wedding Invitations? And a blue & peach wedding inspiration board.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Seeing as I work with colorful paper everyday and am constantly looking for wedding color trends, building this wedding mood/imspiration board was an excellent business exercise for me. First of all, can I just say, I am so in love with this color combo. Peach was an accent color at our wedding and is the main color in my business branding - but wow peach + these shades of blue is really just gorgeous - artsy and eclectic, but timeless. I haven't used peach and blue together in any of my paper flower creations in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PancakesandGlueGuns">the shop </a> but you can bet you'll see some soon. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Check it out. The details are listed below the image.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFAdkQd3I0WJlpI-D3hLdXlacxRckZAhEZegs3wralZFGjHORmZV0wBIXc_2wyNfXpmd1uFCFopcZASTcARKyWkDGYB_p5Fxbo8iQfoKQIU_eaI2ZohctdMbtSANbBCBjsxnzQpFQDFI/s1600/PCGG_paperlesspostpicture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFAdkQd3I0WJlpI-D3hLdXlacxRckZAhEZegs3wralZFGjHORmZV0wBIXc_2wyNfXpmd1uFCFopcZASTcARKyWkDGYB_p5Fxbo8iQfoKQIU_eaI2ZohctdMbtSANbBCBjsxnzQpFQDFI/s640/PCGG_paperlesspostpicture.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Mason Jar Peach
Drink Inspiration: <a href="http://www.theperfectpalette.com/2014/05/wedding-colors-navy-blue-and-peach.html">The Perfect Palette, drink tags by Evermine </a></li>
<li>Blue Vintage
Jar Centerpiece Inspiration: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/563653709587651523/">Pinterest</a> (This doesn’t seem like the original author - if anyone knows the actual direct
source please let me know.)</li>
<li>Invitation:
<a href="https://www.paperlesspost.com/cards/category/wedding-invitations3?card=23870">Paperless Post, Heron Heralds by Rifle Paper Co.</a> </li>
<li>Floral Arch
Inspiration: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/floral-wedding-ideas-with-wow-factor_55c000b0e4b06f8bedb5c7f6">Huffington Post Article, photograph by Heart and Colour</a> </li>
<li>Bridesmaid
Dress Inspiration: <a href="http://www.poppytalk.com/2014/02/spring-trends-from-bhldn.html">Guest post by the team at BHLDN, Anthropologie’s weddingbrand on Poppytalk</a> </li>
<li>Cake
Inspiration: <a href="http://www.weddingchicks.com/2014/07/14/blue-and-lavender-wedding-ideas/">Wedding Chicks Compilation – Cake by Crumb & Berry andphotographed by 1486 Photography</a> </li>
<li>Bouquet:
<a href="http://www.watson-studios.com/#!/pages/blog/blackberry_farm_wedding_paige/">Blue Anenomes, photograph by Watson Studios</a> </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
And now, what if I told you this was a <i>virtual </i><a href="https://www.paperlesspost.com/cards/category/wedding-invitations">wedding invitation</a>? <a href="https://www.paperlesspost.com/">Paperless Post</a> provides the option to order paper invites as well - but in more interesting news, provides a virtual option. Ask me three years ago as I was planning my wedding and I would have unequivocally told you no, that was not an option for me. However now, I'm 90% sure I would go with a virtual option. Listen, I love stationery (recently pointed out to me that you spell it with an "e" whoops, did you know this?!) but it seems like wedding invitations are stuck on the fridge and then remain there for an awkwardly long time.<br />
<i>(For instance: oh my goodness did you hear so and so had a baby?! Wow, it seems like just yesterday we were at their wedding. Oh, wait - look, here it is, the invite from four years ago still on our fridge! It was September 8, 2011, how sweet. Wait, why do we still have that? We should trash that....) </i><br />
<br />
Anyway, I think I'd opt for a small magnet save the date that matches the invitation and then have the formal invitation be delivered electronically. I'm not giving up on a hard invite entirely, that save the date magnet is still there - or maybe a postcard.<br />
<br />
But listen friends, you can either save money utilizing this option (about 125 for $90 on this particular card pictured above) or save it and spend instead on your photographers or fresh flowers (my two main priorities). And not just an afterthought, but a serious consideration - you save yourself the headache of collecting and arranging RSVPs. The electronic system Paperless Post has is easy to use and professional. It doesn't make it seem any less like a wedding, in fact, the layout of their system is very formal and aesthetically pleasing and utilizing the system to send and coordinate invites seems like a wedding related task, not like managing a random evite asking your guests to bring their favorite side and a lawn chair.<br />
<br />
Oh and let me repeat again about the easy part. Having all of the invitations and guest count listed out right there for you? That's a game changer. Figuring out RSVPs is a last minute task, and listen - last minute bride you is a lot different than the bride who picked out her formal stationery six months prior. You have a lot less patience for the little details, and coordinating the guest list and seating chart is not little details!<br />
<br />
Also, consider this - you can still order a printed invitation from them or another printer, maybe just a handful to send to grandparents who aren't real thrilled about this internet craze and give as a momento to parents and for yourself of course.<br />
<br />
Like I said before, I'm 90% sure I'd do it this way if I could do it again. What do you think?! And what do you think about this color combo? What other combos would you like to see inspiration boards for?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-50761203513462913752015-09-29T14:32:00.000-04:002015-10-07T18:15:10.874-04:00Inexpensive Gifts: other ideas for digital downloads & printables<div>
I'm not sure if you are an Etsy or Instagram shopper, but several times a week I find myself interested in yet another art print that is usually a digital download (aka print it at home yourself). We are definitely out of wall space in our home which means I never gave these awesome prints a second thought, until now. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Recently I found a few that I just couldn't say no too and had to figure out a way to do something with them. I came up with three ideas: notecards, a dry-erase to-do list, and a non-traditional picture frame collage. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">, notecards are a fantastic way to use printables! You can purchase two or three different printables and create a whole set of cards. If someone in your family is an avid card-giver you could really get serious with this idea finding printables for various occasions and creating a whole set of these. I grabbed a printable from one of my favorite go-to shops for cute and inexpensive printables, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyPrintShop">Pretty Print Shop</a>. Once you have the image I inserted it into a Microsoft Word document. I changed the margins of the page to "narrow" at .5" all around and then resized the image until two would fit on one page on the right side of the document. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrPpCXeYQ7Shgdd1A-Tn7xYefMuN0SP8Vo-_6W5AGnAHJrwFljwqPRkbeCjzO11no8FNEYyznLWOwFbMCb-JK9a7ZwSiNuXFJEHjqthQP4kb8iUZ1AN6G9SDB_r0qMxGhw0i80Ujoi_g/s640/blogger-image-354351955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrPpCXeYQ7Shgdd1A-Tn7xYefMuN0SP8Vo-_6W5AGnAHJrwFljwqPRkbeCjzO11no8FNEYyznLWOwFbMCb-JK9a7ZwSiNuXFJEHjqthQP4kb8iUZ1AN6G9SDB_r0qMxGhw0i80Ujoi_g/s640/blogger-image-354351955.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Now I usually prefer Microfost Publisher for these kind of projects but went with Word here as I think that is what most readers are comfortable with. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I printed four pages of this document. Two on cream cardstock and two on white cardstock. If you think you might start doing this often keep an eye out for the sale at Michaels when their packs of cardstock go on sale for 5 for $10. I've never seen a better sale and it actually happens quite frequently! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Alternating white and cream gave it a fun look:</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzRXg5b7vhxSs4UJzeLX0SakKU0OI1Fk_5HrLSPQmG6Y1edXxaGpjLvfZaXgfUfjIOsra7MWRQVcXA_zSYzbBrHM6LWPqv7dV3vFBWyX3j9JDwvsfIQbxWutkA_SMo0ffY_yW9KEgyv0/s640/blogger-image--1391933742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzRXg5b7vhxSs4UJzeLX0SakKU0OI1Fk_5HrLSPQmG6Y1edXxaGpjLvfZaXgfUfjIOsra7MWRQVcXA_zSYzbBrHM6LWPqv7dV3vFBWyX3j9JDwvsfIQbxWutkA_SMo0ffY_yW9KEgyv0/s320/blogger-image--1391933742.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo4GCFcz7Aw7Mz_-G9ZJy0FSLDTSKYxJ2b0cIR6ZOyL5IQ3N5GC56KUDzs7yIxJ1mZ-EHuWu8x83LsafRdyf3Z-1Qawtl8z1vXcbg9i9fkRzrM7zT2qfkOqSbT1Mhc6RSQy-L6jIxcuw/s640/blogger-image--1528766717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo4GCFcz7Aw7Mz_-G9ZJy0FSLDTSKYxJ2b0cIR6ZOyL5IQ3N5GC56KUDzs7yIxJ1mZ-EHuWu8x83LsafRdyf3Z-1Qawtl8z1vXcbg9i9fkRzrM7zT2qfkOqSbT1Mhc6RSQy-L6jIxcuw/s320/blogger-image--1528766717.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Second idea can really be adapted in quite a few ways. This is for a dry erase list board. This is really as simple as buying a clear glass frame, or any frame really, and putting a printable alongside a plain lined piece of paper. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I love the idea to potentially use this as a way to memorize scripture as well. If you're looking at a to-do list daily, glancing at scripture each time is a great way to ground yourself when those tasks start piling up. I didn't glue anything down in these frames so it would be easy to change out every so often. The picture below shows one of my all-time favorite printables from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/vineandbranchdesign">Vine & Branch Design. </a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6Gb6Oy6Dgws3VNwoX6u51XpqzNLR8YOlmEk5S05YTxlKTsDzT8kqSAwAfTQQfROyVpMrj7sgADV0fNoqILfQFrlzactKAjUDF2WjFFO4P68xPCaAqJAxY4jFwaE9TH4s84Ly3WKekfU/s640/blogger-image-3637096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6Gb6Oy6Dgws3VNwoX6u51XpqzNLR8YOlmEk5S05YTxlKTsDzT8kqSAwAfTQQfROyVpMrj7sgADV0fNoqILfQFrlzactKAjUDF2WjFFO4P68xPCaAqJAxY4jFwaE9TH4s84Ly3WKekfU/s640/blogger-image-3637096.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">What I did do is place a piece of white cardstock behind my lined paper to make it appear less transparent. You could use this for a grocery list, prayer list, to-do list, birthday list, etc. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuGhQQ_IVUrcdNqqx87K1O9UujZBTpqv_iqo9dxUuAuUacwv52K2Ozj4_vjhtJgje4bk3Hd8k2ZsnOCJp89cEFini21sMB127KJl-jgNT7AVlc73nSrWI4t0MpTCMcHg_88Qbaceaej8/s640/blogger-image-487201765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuGhQQ_IVUrcdNqqx87K1O9UujZBTpqv_iqo9dxUuAuUacwv52K2Ozj4_vjhtJgje4bk3Hd8k2ZsnOCJp89cEFini21sMB127KJl-jgNT7AVlc73nSrWI4t0MpTCMcHg_88Qbaceaej8/s320/blogger-image-487201765.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">And you can always put <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/pancakesandglueguns">paper flowers</a> on anything!! ;)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX32EWAqqnUoHCm7RV5AmUX6WYHhwG5_nLZQD0xebaFMoQofLbeqJ5LIO7MLtEEhs0dprHZfEEUon3ZlAADfZqjcSjYqmMlIzY2ulg9hzhREt7PhITdsKv0qVEQxLYbq9cC-XEH-9yTw/s640/blogger-image-946226843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX32EWAqqnUoHCm7RV5AmUX6WYHhwG5_nLZQD0xebaFMoQofLbeqJ5LIO7MLtEEhs0dprHZfEEUon3ZlAADfZqjcSjYqmMlIzY2ulg9hzhREt7PhITdsKv0qVEQxLYbq9cC-XEH-9yTw/s320/blogger-image-946226843.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Last, but potentially my favorite because of the adorable baby making an appearance, is a way to make a more personalized and less traditional picture frame gift. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU0CBLjBGyhzQ5K1dWHWOWaOHJyvQ7yTShT6cLUUrprSanWdJjN1b_skA4j2FsKlSTPn5fDl6o7mqzrMNEG1Fd-K3H7733EuzJL3amQYi4iFkdr2sCYF64_ZPs6Lvmb5aa6NGI-n0J7k/s640/blogger-image--845470038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU0CBLjBGyhzQ5K1dWHWOWaOHJyvQ7yTShT6cLUUrprSanWdJjN1b_skA4j2FsKlSTPn5fDl6o7mqzrMNEG1Fd-K3H7733EuzJL3amQYi4iFkdr2sCYF64_ZPs6Lvmb5aa6NGI-n0J7k/s640/blogger-image--845470038.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">First of all, I am so in love with that baby and that print about motherhood from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/echoesofmercy">Echoes of Mercy</a>. So what better than to put them together? You could look for prints about particular family members, locations, bible verses, special occasions, etc. A few other ideas that come to mind is a picture of a cityscape or landscape paired with an engagement picture or graduation picture at that location, a printable about what a name means paired with a newborn picture, a printable with a bible verse about family and a family picture, etc. See?! The possibilities are endless! I put this in the same type of frame as the second idea here, but you could find any frame you desired to dress this up a bit more if you wanted to. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwOX_qaNkbv6rAwXZ_ZBL3PqNteU3lsIkqHIhOZZlbB47e-JjgjbUAjVYR9WdfVUppVGtrNEN1rg7NA5yu7q745tDhlULM0OaLQFytlL_vCA8ZyiHz42D09DTscIkzwY6wqqm3thH8a4/s640/blogger-image-522878810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwOX_qaNkbv6rAwXZ_ZBL3PqNteU3lsIkqHIhOZZlbB47e-JjgjbUAjVYR9WdfVUppVGtrNEN1rg7NA5yu7q745tDhlULM0OaLQFytlL_vCA8ZyiHz42D09DTscIkzwY6wqqm3thH8a4/s640/blogger-image-522878810.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">More about the shops: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Kind, Thoughtful, Thankful print - Pretty Print Shop </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.prettyprintshop.com/">Website</a> | </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyPrintShop">Etsy Store</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/prettyprintshop">Facebook</a> | Instagram: @prettyprintshop</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Fruit of the Spirit print - Vine & Branch Design</b> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/vineandbranchdesign">Etsy Store</a> | </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/vineandbranchdesign">Facebook</a> | Instagram: @vineandbranchdesign</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Motherhood print - Echoes of Mercy </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/echoesofmercy">Etsy Store</a> | </span>Instagram: @echoesofmercy</div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-82030577917854672032015-09-28T15:43:00.002-04:002016-02-11T16:10:26.648-05:00Fall Gender Reveal: white pumpkins & paper flowers This time last year I was 16 weeks pregnant and anxiously awaiting the 20 week appointment on October 24th where we would find out if baby L was a girl or boy! We went back and forth about the idea of a "gender reveal party." I'm the girl who literally melts in a puddle at work when the office has a cake for birthdays (not just my birthday - but the entire month of March birthdays) yeah, so drawing a lot of attention to myself wasn't something I was totally interseted in.<br />
<br />
And then once we had decided that gender reveals were kind of silly and just asking for attention, I rolled over in bed one night (I was still able to roll side to side, unlike my later beached whale of a self) and said "HI, so, remember how we don't want a gender reveal? I think we DO want a gender reveal!" And then I never looked back. The planning began that night as I laid awake.<br />
<br />
Since we are displaced right now and living out of state while the husband attends law school, this was a perfect reason to get to see a few friends and family.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xgUxmkx5tbYZ4mShEToNOAgmTNpaw0tm6WgJEscEdPxTbz92BwBaV9rsubuMVD0YZPOzg2zdL10H0mYEJuzu_1eUCLjGu4aRx612jMzCbv_VTHbP_km4mXub0GXiUi6CGIwsguhae68/s1600/2014-10-28+16.38.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xgUxmkx5tbYZ4mShEToNOAgmTNpaw0tm6WgJEscEdPxTbz92BwBaV9rsubuMVD0YZPOzg2zdL10H0mYEJuzu_1eUCLjGu4aRx612jMzCbv_VTHbP_km4mXub0GXiUi6CGIwsguhae68/s320/2014-10-28+16.38.59.jpg" width="240" /></a>We had our ultrasound appointment on 10/24/14 and then the reveal was scheduled for 11/1/14. Talk about a week of madness!! I put together this box for a friend and asked her to open the envelope, use the clip, write on the chalkboard, and lace up the hockey skates with pink or blue!! You might remember the hockey skates from our <a href="http://pancakesandglueguns.blogspot.com/2015/09/looking-back-hockey-baby-announcement.html">pregnancy announcement here.</a><br />
<br />
Finding out on the 24th and waiting a full 8 days until November 1st was easy about 5% of the time and difficult the other 95% of the time. However, at this point in my heart I was almost completely sure baby L was a girl. We even had our name picked out and occasionally called her by her name before the official reveal. And no, I swear we didn't peek.<br />
<br />
I would be lying if I said we didn't think about opening up the envelope and finding out ourselves before the actual gender reveal in front of our families...but ultimately we stuck with the game plan and waited until the first.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TIgLPyi_LR1Rm0jj-b0hw7QF-kDBeC5TnjhIqdAmeW914CQ4LZuze-MdZtiLTHQLDegympqu_rBMfv_559Msj4kNEzqOz9i9jWBPBziRbnkTlfDbXcM2AOgcV51HZGFjbMNEak6_UkY/s1600/2014-10-30+10.08.58.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TIgLPyi_LR1Rm0jj-b0hw7QF-kDBeC5TnjhIqdAmeW914CQ4LZuze-MdZtiLTHQLDegympqu_rBMfv_559Msj4kNEzqOz9i9jWBPBziRbnkTlfDbXcM2AOgcV51HZGFjbMNEak6_UkY/s200/2014-10-30+10.08.58.png" width="112" /></a></div>
One of the toughest moments was getting this text from our friends who wrapped up our box, knowing they had seen the confirmation of our little peanut's gender and knew before we did!!! In this picture the skates are all laced up and the box is full of the pink or blue goodness!<br />
<br />
The friends we asked to help us with this were a couple, where the guy attends law school with my husband. His fiance-now WIFE-(how cool! and confirmation again that I wait too long to blog) sent him in with the box. No one in torts, or civil procedure, or whatever legal class it was had any idea that the silver box with the big white bow on it sitting in the aisle held the biggest secret about our new addition!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTeyxm4f96JbgGq1flQD5xDVK2JVMIDAucWEOy5PCQk-1FuPqO2VHMhRroS0Vj9XWFvfnLkK9AYZ6vcxRIn0-fE1zk5yPI7TbvYNH_hyAIOf7AgcRXYip18gdBpvrJA3pA9Maw50BzQI/s1600/2014-10-30+09.55.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTeyxm4f96JbgGq1flQD5xDVK2JVMIDAucWEOy5PCQk-1FuPqO2VHMhRroS0Vj9XWFvfnLkK9AYZ6vcxRIn0-fE1zk5yPI7TbvYNH_hyAIOf7AgcRXYip18gdBpvrJA3pA9Maw50BzQI/s200/2014-10-30+09.55.40.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
Instead of keeping it with him, my husband brought the box out and left it with me while I waited for him to finish class. <br />
<br />
I then had to sit there in the cafe staring at the box for the entire duration of the class and consider that I could definitely, most certainly, peek and it would be fine - in fact I think I even justified that it could be funny since I always unwrap all of my Christmas presents early and then wrap them back up. But I didn't. (Or did I?.......???)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So for the decorations, the second best part to actually finding out! Because we were finding out the day after Halloween we didn't want to completely ignore the season and go with decor in bright florals as is my usual go to, but instead decided to go with fall neutral colors and pumpkins. We went to a great pumpkin patch near us that had unique colored pumpkins in pale shades of almost pink and blue and white!<br />
<br />
We first picked out 30 small pumpkins for each guest to write their name on and place on the table next to either a girl or boy sign to show their guess. Here's our trunk full of white pumpkins. They are cute right?! A good blend of integrating the season but not being stuck with orange everywhere.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY4B1KoojmyBPlJZYfG0480GU7xfKl6PY9b9fQ3tbk9Xzqwywz6GNblOX386RkFA-ZFphif4qNcJe8bknce5QVR_mzL-pq71H0OCbkJ3h-PuwmL_r0G5_HJGHCcgBbboh4yBCMnL9X8I/s1600/2014-10-11+14.07.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY4B1KoojmyBPlJZYfG0480GU7xfKl6PY9b9fQ3tbk9Xzqwywz6GNblOX386RkFA-ZFphif4qNcJe8bknce5QVR_mzL-pq71H0OCbkJ3h-PuwmL_r0G5_HJGHCcgBbboh4yBCMnL9X8I/s320/2014-10-11+14.07.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And here's how the table came out with two pumpkins - one a baby girl, and one a baby boy that we asked guests to sit their mini pumpkins by. We cut the tips off of the pacifiers and then glued what was left of the pacifier to the pumpkin. Now, although I knew, knew, KNEW in my heart it was a girl I couldn't risk being wrong in front of the whole crowd - so I put my pumpkin on the boy side. My husband was honest and put his by the girl pumpkin. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq3EwWlAQcDTg-Z4cJ6_Vi9XvGv26UBgK1AINJ45hF0rvS0qNTczPcZ5TpzDd7P2vY4dZuNg5pK5eCrlDIqTZDjLDQ0-1nxNA-0m7TWOd5XIh7Cz2JrQhEtGrNN8fmX8iAF8es0_Bd4A/s1600/2014-10-31+16.50.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq3EwWlAQcDTg-Z4cJ6_Vi9XvGv26UBgK1AINJ45hF0rvS0qNTczPcZ5TpzDd7P2vY4dZuNg5pK5eCrlDIqTZDjLDQ0-1nxNA-0m7TWOd5XIh7Cz2JrQhEtGrNN8fmX8iAF8es0_Bd4A/s320/2014-10-31+16.50.36.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdJy0nn7azMf0LHVoM7_Jvl5FHLGpvLhJZwM_9FK7d3L3qClZjEsDCoLpjPz7W9VnBvkr65jwJez5GlgqxmaFjmiQvfzKNuW0YZQTLu0gNxqdB_z8Ul-afTRsZPm7g70eF6PdHc41yFQ/s1600/2014-10-31+16.50.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdJy0nn7azMf0LHVoM7_Jvl5FHLGpvLhJZwM_9FK7d3L3qClZjEsDCoLpjPz7W9VnBvkr65jwJez5GlgqxmaFjmiQvfzKNuW0YZQTLu0gNxqdB_z8Ul-afTRsZPm7g70eF6PdHc41yFQ/s320/2014-10-31+16.50.48.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I also made the chalkboard signs below to hold up once we figured out what he or she is and then a chalkboard sign that listed some of the wives tales. I tell you, I didn't get too much advice when pregnant, but boy did I get quite a few guesses about the gender with very serious explanations as to why they were 100% sure they were right based on how I was carrying, my attitude, complexion, sickness, etc. I think 9 out of 10 people guessed boy. And at the gender reveal almost all of the pumpkins except for 6 were on the boy side!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBE4WbI1IkxZ4EsVAv3AxSd3BV-D8axMUdK3pFrOPXfPtL8YgtRlG4sWBTsXt42W0u5lqmrfYLeD-GG6GZlyc0oalZYj70wZBCRhTDAIm3GR_yKhpFqZaV5b4eIASSGj4L8rp7E4h47Y/s1600/2014-10-29+21.08.23-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBE4WbI1IkxZ4EsVAv3AxSd3BV-D8axMUdK3pFrOPXfPtL8YgtRlG4sWBTsXt42W0u5lqmrfYLeD-GG6GZlyc0oalZYj70wZBCRhTDAIm3GR_yKhpFqZaV5b4eIASSGj4L8rp7E4h47Y/s320/2014-10-29+21.08.23-2.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q0ma8SwpHZFTA77ndpNA_epNgYEWtx1_QI3k-_KDKplcB6-kYjCP4DuQ0-PmcZ0P_Lu99AhXjx8f5HF8lfxhD_rCmOASiXnqm25txMfBw963QSI6DdIx7lcuaJsfzXQmqpnG1oUpcBQ/s1600/2014-10-29+21.59.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q0ma8SwpHZFTA77ndpNA_epNgYEWtx1_QI3k-_KDKplcB6-kYjCP4DuQ0-PmcZ0P_Lu99AhXjx8f5HF8lfxhD_rCmOASiXnqm25txMfBw963QSI6DdIx7lcuaJsfzXQmqpnG1oUpcBQ/s320/2014-10-29+21.59.58.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's how the table where we stood to find out ended up coming out. We also brought one of the canvases from the <a href="http://pancakesandglueguns.blogspot.com/2013/08/diy-paper-flower-wall-take-2.html">paper flower wall take 2</a> that is now currently housed in the nursery! Also take a look at those pumpkins - they definitely look pink and blue, right!?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFDRCHsKmgPdMVFnYBdFtN3dA7SXKzCu1hLrnP2B004wrlOpI93NST7Z7pBCM_3PNS2cUuChxEY8No3C4DHYZK8Y76weopGF3q-hVh9QlRURMdofKhaVlAGsWVutIEB4Kot_K9ajPgls/s1600/blogpic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFDRCHsKmgPdMVFnYBdFtN3dA7SXKzCu1hLrnP2B004wrlOpI93NST7Z7pBCM_3PNS2cUuChxEY8No3C4DHYZK8Y76weopGF3q-hVh9QlRURMdofKhaVlAGsWVutIEB4Kot_K9ajPgls/s640/blogpic.png" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And of course no party is complete without some baby head cake pops from <a href="http://www.sweetsandtreatsbyshanelle.com/">Sweets & Treats by Shanelle. </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWb9E-gNp1wBZCQpUtVLoYnYbZS_7NyD9mCBqh2pTFr5xAtBPvar9RpENMldET1NC1XPQHnBTMlyg-piiW_5Vz4DtYUe5DaFpYk0_o4nOXk7140lI28hB2L1UjE2u4yjZhWrPNT21FOcQ/s1600/2014-10-31+13.08.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWb9E-gNp1wBZCQpUtVLoYnYbZS_7NyD9mCBqh2pTFr5xAtBPvar9RpENMldET1NC1XPQHnBTMlyg-piiW_5Vz4DtYUe5DaFpYk0_o4nOXk7140lI28hB2L1UjE2u4yjZhWrPNT21FOcQ/s320/2014-10-31+13.08.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ytWv-I0i85ijR_YqpPaQPatGqcSGCWugugRnu8-7OjemM3J6XpRG3cBFWZAT_hZuBO_oqR70433ovp4vPYgofdiy5tPOVtCg7Vz5mC-_wMGGf64-JgAIkeKDHoSl5DqEBxLLFy57gC8/s1600/2014-11-01+18.28.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ytWv-I0i85ijR_YqpPaQPatGqcSGCWugugRnu8-7OjemM3J6XpRG3cBFWZAT_hZuBO_oqR70433ovp4vPYgofdiy5tPOVtCg7Vz5mC-_wMGGf64-JgAIkeKDHoSl5DqEBxLLFy57gC8/s320/2014-11-01+18.28.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
And.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JtyrmKTT3TY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JtyrmKTT3TY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg419TCisZTir6S8b80R_T9XgmMZ_FinJpQi_BbkNMpTSOHfO-ABy1RcT7qFjK34LMJQ3ZvR4krF69S6rR0K3hI9XZA6DsS564roTe5SBtBcC0y8cxGiHavHzYySKhvACgnrqcq0vD6pqM/s1600/2014-11-01+18.56.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg419TCisZTir6S8b80R_T9XgmMZ_FinJpQi_BbkNMpTSOHfO-ABy1RcT7qFjK34LMJQ3ZvR4krF69S6rR0K3hI9XZA6DsS564roTe5SBtBcC0y8cxGiHavHzYySKhvACgnrqcq0vD6pqM/s320/2014-11-01+18.56.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">We were thrilled! Little L's cousin heard the news in Alaska...and was not as thrilled. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Umx_R6-gaDs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Umx_R6-gaDs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-pin-color="red" data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" data-pin-height="28" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png" /></a>
<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
<script async="" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-42726571152649265732015-09-26T22:38:00.004-04:002015-09-28T21:37:25.602-04:00Trending Right Now on Romantic Radio...Just dropping in to write a quick line about something that happened yesterday. My husband and I were in the kitchen woefully discussing how we have all been sick this past week and hopefully how little L's lack of sleep was related to her illness and would soon be back to "normal."<br />
<br />
L was sitting happily in her bumbo chair drooling and boogering all over the place while sucking furiously on the bumbo seat safety strap. Right then in the middle of our mess my husband starts dancing with me in the kitchen like we used to every day before my belly grew too large to move, much less dance.<br />
<br />
We were laughing at L and her slobbering mess, commenting on how we used to dance like this all the time and we missed it and then just kept dancing away. It was adorable. He's adorable. He used to always hum <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEwFik6ObJs">the song we danced to at our wedding</a> when we danced. But this time it sounded a bit different. I listened closely and realized that the romantic tune I was gliding around our miniature kitchen to was....<br />
<br />
Pop Goes the Weasel.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Oh, parenthood.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-39218321048472076362015-09-24T17:11:00.004-04:002015-11-26T12:11:43.440-05:00Daniel 2:14 With Prudence & DiscretionI recently was reading through Daniel as part of a <a href="http://shereadstruth.com/category/plans/daniel-plans/">She Reads Truth study</a>. I kept returning to one verse that I completely missed when reading this chapter previously.<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Daniel 2:14 (ESV) Then Daniel replied with <i>prudence</i> and <i>discretion</i> to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. (Emphasis mine) </div>
<br />A little back story, a decree had just gone out that all wise men in the kingdom were to be killed. The captain of the guard Daniel is speaking to here knocked on his door to kill him. Friends, to KILL him! And as we read, Daniel replies to them with prudence and discretion.<br />
<br />I'm not sure about you, but I cannot confidently say that if someone knocked on my door not only with the intent but the legal authority to kill me, that I would respond with <i>prudence </i>and<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> discretion. </i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Hysteria and panic? Probably. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now this story tells me something amazing not so much about Daniel, but about our God. Daniel surely wasn't able to collect himself with that level of poise on his own. Our God can provide the calm in the storm, the ability to speak with prudence and discretion when facing death; He is the ultimate comforter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Unlike <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrayForPastorSaeedAbedini">Pastor Saeed </a>, imprisoned for his faith and battling death daily, I would imagine that most of us don't find ourselves in a situation as dire as Daniel's every day. But maybe we do find ourselves in these: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">...having to face a tough colleague or supervisor at work</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">...feeling the need to defend ourselves in gossip among friends, family, or colleagues </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">...having parenting decisions questioned by friends or family members </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">...receiving unfair blame for something we didn't do </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">...feeling the need to defend attacks against the Word of God online (or any soap-box cause on Facebook really)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
And in these situations, Lord, may we seek you first and respond with prudence and discretion!<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6fU7ob4tfRfFjC2HwqwV1DJOkaZTRTz0xxoWC-72nf9dZTsbDUlakVM6tns5M5CO1bKkekrGBmvWIdRaGD5OwTyRjwwNkOdnf48h11ORZPVmvNA5tbcrQgqLXAjgjf36N4IkBfKb-xY/s640/blogger-image-1791526365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6fU7ob4tfRfFjC2HwqwV1DJOkaZTRTz0xxoWC-72nf9dZTsbDUlakVM6tns5M5CO1bKkekrGBmvWIdRaGD5OwTyRjwwNkOdnf48h11ORZPVmvNA5tbcrQgqLXAjgjf36N4IkBfKb-xY/s400/blogger-image-1791526365.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And look at that, a nifty little image! Want to make one on your own? This is using PicLab for adding text on the image and eZy Watermark lite for the watermark. Both are free apps!</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-69051954242721257042015-09-20T22:56:00.004-04:002015-09-20T22:58:00.344-04:00Looking Back: Hockey Baby Announcement<a data-pin-color="red" data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" data-pin-height="28" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png" /></a>
<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
<script async="" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <br>
Can't believe it has been almost a year since we posted our baby announcement! We took this photo and shared it with our friends on 10/14/14. We did, however, tell our families right when we found out we were pregant. More about that decision and their reactions later.<br />
<br />
The day we posted this on Facebook was also the day that I realized I never before had ever received so many likes on one photo. Now, whenever I post a photo without the baby in it - 3 <i>maybe </i>4 likes total. But with the baby? Guaranteed 50 every time, and within minutes. It's like Facebook actually quantifies the fact that I am totally old news now.<br />
<br />
Anyway, back to the purpose of this post. We met playing hockey at the University of Maryland and hockey continues to be a big part of our lives so we figured why not let the world know we were welcoming a little one by purchasing a pair of baby Bauers from Canada?<br />
<br />
I searched and searched online, and the smallest size I could find was from a Canadian seller on ebay. They are obviously way too big right now, but adorable none the less. You'll see these skates again soon in an upcoming post about the gender reveal!<br />
<br />
For now, this is just a quick post to document the announcement. I still can't believe I'm sitting here in bed with the little creature cuddling next to me while typing this. I can remember taking this picture like it was yesterday!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4fZBdYL4guUTTaX5r-3IHGHIKSjgBDNej7n_2Tc9HKxY_PESphAJaNPSts36nKix8DoLBLxuxQOwmWoONwTk2eDOgH9_Whi2V-cHuQ9pPbV4dmgiKja6N_b4kbXkD07q3CvmWPXFBcw/s1600/hockeyannouncement.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4fZBdYL4guUTTaX5r-3IHGHIKSjgBDNej7n_2Tc9HKxY_PESphAJaNPSts36nKix8DoLBLxuxQOwmWoONwTk2eDOgH9_Whi2V-cHuQ9pPbV4dmgiKja6N_b4kbXkD07q3CvmWPXFBcw/s640/hockeyannouncement.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Any other hockey announcements out there? I'd love to see them!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-7592737687379964602015-09-12T20:34:00.001-04:002015-09-12T20:52:38.393-04:00Babywearing Photos! What? Yes, like a mama kangaroo.<a href="//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/" data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" data-pin-color="red" data-pin-height="28"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png" /></a>
<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
<script type="text/javascript" async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>
My wonderful photographer turned friend, Heather of <a href="http://www.heatherbooysenphotography.com/">Heather Booysen Photography</a> recently took a few babywearing photos of little L and me :) I had never seen or heard of taking photos specifically of wearing your little one, but I wear L so much I really, really, love having these pictures!<br />
<br />
Might I add Heather also took our maternity photos, "fresh 48" hospital photos, newborn photos and now these. So, I'm a fan -couldn't recommend her more!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mpiDREr_gNOh-76iBChWefZzWP2t-HBZivu-rXsAcIki70lNiEu5Ej1Mi0HRp7oPfMn6ZHOYMtlYNWBbhgX-iYMdO38eSz57wEoVfDKmkIW3rtMQQyQ4BfjCtJGI77JiPWZK_GG9x3o/s1600/2015-06-26+16.45.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mpiDREr_gNOh-76iBChWefZzWP2t-HBZivu-rXsAcIki70lNiEu5Ej1Mi0HRp7oPfMn6ZHOYMtlYNWBbhgX-iYMdO38eSz57wEoVfDKmkIW3rtMQQyQ4BfjCtJGI77JiPWZK_GG9x3o/s400/2015-06-26+16.45.12.jpg" width="300" /></a>One of the reasons I love these photos so much is because of a photo I found of my mom wearing me. I thought it was so sweet but also hysterical to see how things changed.<br />
<br />
First of all, I straight up look like a bag of potatoes. And I'm pretty sure that's a drawstring around my head. I love it! I was only 3 weeks old in this picture <3.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfsJ6DdHPJ_yMfrGZf0N91NYFcQNZpKrCIVUg8488IdZtWreIFRQTh9-UiMHelhZRby0a9oYEjxBeKIVq856t5Hb0R-zTu9zmlCVG8V-AjIxvC_PaNB1TRJlY_cmFvK68wEPVpGaxAHo/s1600/2015-06-28+20.13.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfsJ6DdHPJ_yMfrGZf0N91NYFcQNZpKrCIVUg8488IdZtWreIFRQTh9-UiMHelhZRby0a9oYEjxBeKIVq856t5Hb0R-zTu9zmlCVG8V-AjIxvC_PaNB1TRJlY_cmFvK68wEPVpGaxAHo/s320/2015-06-28+20.13.52.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And then here I am carrying L when she was 2 weeks old. I'm pretty sure I was wearing her completely wrong in this photo. I just sat her in there all squished and I think her feet were coming out the bottom where my hands are :O!!<br />
<br />
So, these pictures really are precious, right?? Now you can likely understand why I was so excited when Heather told me about something new she was trying with the babywearing photos.<br />
<br />
So, before I share the professional pics, a few things about wearing L:<br />
<br />
1. I use an Ergo. I tried a Baby K'tan and some sling thing and I just looked like a T-Rex. I couldn't get any freedom with my arms (I know I was doing it wrong, but I just gave up). I seriously looked like this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="funny-T-Rex-little-arms-cartoon" src="http://static.themetapicture.com/media/funny-T-Rex-little-arms-cartoon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: http://themetapicture.com/missonderstood-t-rex/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2. When L was 2 weeks old - 2 months old the only way she would sleep for more than 20 minutes is if I had her in the carrier. We'd take three walks around the neighborhood - each 2 hours long. Yes, you read that correctly. So I was walking 6 hours a day. And you know what that meant? That my mom got three phone calls a day. However exhausting it was, I was so thankful for a March baby which meant walking outside during the nice spring weather! And thankful that my mom didn't block my number. I'm pretty sure a lot of our conversations went like this:<br />
<br />
Me: "So today....wait, I forgot what I was going to say."<br />
Mom: "That's ok, what are you doing?"<br />
Me: "Um...walking, yeah! That is what I was going to say! I'm on a walk."<br />
Mom: "Ok great hunny"<br />
Me: "So what are you doing?"<br />
Mom: "I'm running some errands"<br />
Me: "Cool, I'm walking."<br />
Mom: "That's great hunny"<br />
Me: "What did you say you were doing again? Oh right, errands. I'm on a walk - did I tell you that?"<br />
<br />
And that ladies and gentlemen is probably the most detailed, scientific look you're going to get into the mom of a newborn's brain. It has improved slightly, <i>but not much. </i><br />
<br />
3. L still LOVES to be carried. There are times during the day when she is just fussy and looking at me like "you know what I want." And I reach for the Ergo to strap it on and her excitement is visible. She used to get in the Ergo and fall right asleep, but now she'll stay awake and content for almost an hour and then drift off to sleep for a bit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-F4Sl9_IhLeUcvzY4W9-7tiGlArnft1Ujsk53xakSvJw1x0hOvlyEskzZYkVUnwIh2k6K9HzTlxPl0QDL3cjMfDHxgjK7V5DeUzQY_uw2aY7Ohvx9L0-4mnEpH93KrVqGUAClsm02lw/s1600/2015-05-26+11.58.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-F4Sl9_IhLeUcvzY4W9-7tiGlArnft1Ujsk53xakSvJw1x0hOvlyEskzZYkVUnwIh2k6K9HzTlxPl0QDL3cjMfDHxgjK7V5DeUzQY_uw2aY7Ohvx9L0-4mnEpH93KrVqGUAClsm02lw/s200/2015-05-26+11.58.11.jpg" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmld03UL167tb-GKBG2kwb2wAjRGcJG-zoxI9VZjUHNBjpIXV8lCCr34A4BOCqRKaoTX2wrRCo23nJ-d7oHBGO28PYujj8Xz8AekLA45-n3caUjy60m2ne4YtexcvBAIniH8ejiimTP10/s1600/2015-05-30+08.18.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmld03UL167tb-GKBG2kwb2wAjRGcJG-zoxI9VZjUHNBjpIXV8lCCr34A4BOCqRKaoTX2wrRCo23nJ-d7oHBGO28PYujj8Xz8AekLA45-n3caUjy60m2ne4YtexcvBAIniH8ejiimTP10/s320/2015-05-30+08.18.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYGmvZ56S6-NpZp_vX9k0sXkUKS0myy8IimR0F2O2YlthFoshtva25PXCMhK4kip0hBPO7hytlw3p2o-joSQX7u_f6q4K8dJt4VxseCy55chjEkusEHI9aL0i0GPAklMiBewBZoUR7Yg/s1600/2015-08-02+11.09.47-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYGmvZ56S6-NpZp_vX9k0sXkUKS0myy8IimR0F2O2YlthFoshtva25PXCMhK4kip0hBPO7hytlw3p2o-joSQX7u_f6q4K8dJt4VxseCy55chjEkusEHI9aL0i0GPAklMiBewBZoUR7Yg/s200/2015-08-02+11.09.47-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2v7CkR4E7MLi1lJ9_NeOgQ8NQ8MPXWRk5F1-Cdehyphenhyphen7hAWQSnrBJ9U7fL8X6cqEOdPwch1GmvqgDztc3AtKAWc4v36iu9ZEImzdKA_zd1I0oZR3AnoQzQzeutA0lm8h8pZqUiAaqmY5M/s1600/2015-08-22+12.27.43-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2v7CkR4E7MLi1lJ9_NeOgQ8NQ8MPXWRk5F1-Cdehyphenhyphen7hAWQSnrBJ9U7fL8X6cqEOdPwch1GmvqgDztc3AtKAWc4v36iu9ZEImzdKA_zd1I0oZR3AnoQzQzeutA0lm8h8pZqUiAaqmY5M/s200/2015-08-22+12.27.43-1.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC_exx80Bu0Vo32aFjbj7om-2n6_INVZfdmPWJTGJQsZy4HPJ9-6Y13tHfXArllJv0a2j_5kR-XF_mFv5cU7KfMZo_eRmM_MbWljohV3FzUN4Lia6Et2HenJXcgFbC7AR9vWIII0hum4/s1600/2015-09-05+09.10.10-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC_exx80Bu0Vo32aFjbj7om-2n6_INVZfdmPWJTGJQsZy4HPJ9-6Y13tHfXArllJv0a2j_5kR-XF_mFv5cU7KfMZo_eRmM_MbWljohV3FzUN4Lia6Et2HenJXcgFbC7AR9vWIII0hum4/s320/2015-09-05+09.10.10-1.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVJLBFmwjzVOhVIlI_kaZr9hUymGsYVITY5MNEFOFJOVKPnKQNR1wf7tvmXuURP_wyOFfJtyFqVF8kNhUnYenjHOaz6DUCZfDYvemSzK1sHT2swzXj7m6oXCUEPFT9LN8rItqSbdhDj4/s1600/2015-09-05+09.20.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVJLBFmwjzVOhVIlI_kaZr9hUymGsYVITY5MNEFOFJOVKPnKQNR1wf7tvmXuURP_wyOFfJtyFqVF8kNhUnYenjHOaz6DUCZfDYvemSzK1sHT2swzXj7m6oXCUEPFT9LN8rItqSbdhDj4/s320/2015-09-05+09.20.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
4. I carry her everywhere. The Farmer's Market in Colonial Williamsburg, through the entire church service, on every Target run, to story time at the library. I love it, she loves it. Now that she is 6 months, she is probably in it on average once a day for about an hour and a half.<br />
<br />
5. I'm thinking about buying the Ergo 360 where she can be carried looking out at the world instead of facing me, but not sure I'm ready for that hefty investment. Anyone have one and think it's totally worth it?<br />
<br />
And now...here are the professional pics!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXF4Mwuzx4hBSv1oBno4pBXMOKASp6B6MDVSTrb6zs8sRxj0KyhfkMVpvQT1PsQ-jYYxwd4rDpvQX878sSex-HPu28VNxhtKygMfEIM032S7r2HIOp198YXaNSur5W_eDiVaDuBJvQrU4/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXF4Mwuzx4hBSv1oBno4pBXMOKASp6B6MDVSTrb6zs8sRxj0KyhfkMVpvQT1PsQ-jYYxwd4rDpvQX878sSex-HPu28VNxhtKygMfEIM032S7r2HIOp198YXaNSur5W_eDiVaDuBJvQrU4/s200/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-1.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZ3n46IDKrGmW88wtGC1n35fynfZA4WWQEfE9ZT4BG-qolDP7llhfvM1AItpbpW0bXMLIWD5q4ntllfNs6XsbfcxiSmYs1b-hCQZDWMk0DU7yN1S0159DPQgaiLxc6LdUZKhV3PWOyQU/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZ3n46IDKrGmW88wtGC1n35fynfZA4WWQEfE9ZT4BG-qolDP7llhfvM1AItpbpW0bXMLIWD5q4ntllfNs6XsbfcxiSmYs1b-hCQZDWMk0DU7yN1S0159DPQgaiLxc6LdUZKhV3PWOyQU/s200/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-3.jpg" width="132" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfwqJORfsqN8JWJwHa8icM8fCBm-ywggvH7xNB0EJwZn6WqZBUFBzrRIU7d4FNV0-qbKV6IDfjbKMaI8XPeoZaJdZdx6m9eaxtqJRwRAlKbH8cgKigcqiVNmKhWv_Ufj4sTN-B6ILuw0/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfwqJORfsqN8JWJwHa8icM8fCBm-ywggvH7xNB0EJwZn6WqZBUFBzrRIU7d4FNV0-qbKV6IDfjbKMaI8XPeoZaJdZdx6m9eaxtqJRwRAlKbH8cgKigcqiVNmKhWv_Ufj4sTN-B6ILuw0/s200/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-4.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlipjDmkgPKG8WY3twO1alR5vMaCO4VWygG_Qk8wLroc-oGalqs6sWvqIJCfdQnMji0PMwea2l9iR6igaM2wLpZB_LcPsO-AdIrk5zlhHzT7WXAouw2CE1P1IQb3BFMCi34wYQ3GF-Xw/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlipjDmkgPKG8WY3twO1alR5vMaCO4VWygG_Qk8wLroc-oGalqs6sWvqIJCfdQnMji0PMwea2l9iR6igaM2wLpZB_LcPsO-AdIrk5zlhHzT7WXAouw2CE1P1IQb3BFMCi34wYQ3GF-Xw/s400/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCrebWDm3I909T9Vp2azh0Ig_y5QdRT61OQ6s8Cb27fkAtHkrERyshLFtFX-v2kQa325QBWtToEGfSJSH_pb0RZfvU9gr2ztCWnYCqRxs_t1YnZsS04JaYuy75YsTqecqjlqYPU8Q-vI/s200/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-7.jpg" width="200" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DzSOfHD45hOSLKl6RdmI0pIv4LxIwKvGhkQSwFQAiDw8IGce0e-eGRUcva4aQ8fuKyommOMmMpOwLZJJjLdgI3unVPYWI6fXXW8ZOsgp5HFArZu-WkHAyCs2BVQbZSetmUXlfCmvVXY/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DzSOfHD45hOSLKl6RdmI0pIv4LxIwKvGhkQSwFQAiDw8IGce0e-eGRUcva4aQ8fuKyommOMmMpOwLZJJjLdgI3unVPYWI6fXXW8ZOsgp5HFArZu-WkHAyCs2BVQbZSetmUXlfCmvVXY/s320/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-8.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk4PA8CzlDJJR8NVwpTQq2KQHzI5fAL3WIn_ZyFBAuH0dVZbu_ftEA3VW-Vp1kTONv5Y1i1Ivi6ouwvcVp7BUM8IGTYHG4qyfDZDzl4GDMfcip2Sy28MyNSyQtK9jHQ5DuBxmwgqFonE/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk4PA8CzlDJJR8NVwpTQq2KQHzI5fAL3WIn_ZyFBAuH0dVZbu_ftEA3VW-Vp1kTONv5Y1i1Ivi6ouwvcVp7BUM8IGTYHG4qyfDZDzl4GDMfcip2Sy28MyNSyQtK9jHQ5DuBxmwgqFonE/s320/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-10.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRR5XWaqjAEqChf_3hBBJqPAx4G0OSCsKbc3QUCw6VvtypSlCHpdQ95YBZ4qa49wrbN4e3sCs_03f0Jwnt9tNsqNtH8uw_9P_R_H0RWeqtW8qk2rrktKb1z7YpApbb15yVKBCoxTDZHg/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRR5XWaqjAEqChf_3hBBJqPAx4G0OSCsKbc3QUCw6VvtypSlCHpdQ95YBZ4qa49wrbN4e3sCs_03f0Jwnt9tNsqNtH8uw_9P_R_H0RWeqtW8qk2rrktKb1z7YpApbb15yVKBCoxTDZHg/s200/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-9.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfQzTAz42atqzNm5G7YAbxNXpqw1PHERLoRlm1JOAIi14t6KSP98CbpofrxIDqXslgO6IEfikYeXHibE7_038EFIMbol8znCPqVVNso0Ck4xTvW_GZrlMgB_C32BgVop6PeVKI4vHDHU/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfQzTAz42atqzNm5G7YAbxNXpqw1PHERLoRlm1JOAIi14t6KSP98CbpofrxIDqXslgO6IEfikYeXHibE7_038EFIMbol8znCPqVVNso0Ck4xTvW_GZrlMgB_C32BgVop6PeVKI4vHDHU/s320/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-11.jpg" width="213" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttwUUqcuWbqKMuYq5GnVCuW7ofIwvK4p2zFpx0yuUodYnW5idVj1o31oXTtujyCpabem84vaxCN3DMPPDi50f-WGY7utWgD6VdK2HgzXdqQrTTnQk2cOlcZsnWue6-q47-dHoHtWV-vM/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttwUUqcuWbqKMuYq5GnVCuW7ofIwvK4p2zFpx0yuUodYnW5idVj1o31oXTtujyCpabem84vaxCN3DMPPDi50f-WGY7utWgD6VdK2HgzXdqQrTTnQk2cOlcZsnWue6-q47-dHoHtWV-vM/s320/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-13.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEKiDkRhUaNLoFcjjzfYDrqXhN7RZIy4zGe6OUyTXM9oTTHVIqwX-c99StDRXozdqXN0ZVsa-VJVwwetp_GdD6XpedTsXipbFv4S2tGGJtRMknEXY_GsJO5n4ekdEC9ToRUc6KtvMsns/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEKiDkRhUaNLoFcjjzfYDrqXhN7RZIy4zGe6OUyTXM9oTTHVIqwX-c99StDRXozdqXN0ZVsa-VJVwwetp_GdD6XpedTsXipbFv4S2tGGJtRMknEXY_GsJO5n4ekdEC9ToRUc6KtvMsns/s400/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2GDrFpYX1OBIqXsGiVexVNVNZKLCxMHgPFZ2k4guQKMGmzfYvTm6wv8i8jQwtuqKOUXEx06nNwg4QEVg_7kngtJYgeryoxFeca3qZdLTAdQzSxtF-aOoj0Encnh3o9j87KZyNoOP07A/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2GDrFpYX1OBIqXsGiVexVNVNZKLCxMHgPFZ2k4guQKMGmzfYvTm6wv8i8jQwtuqKOUXEx06nNwg4QEVg_7kngtJYgeryoxFeca3qZdLTAdQzSxtF-aOoj0Encnh3o9j87KZyNoOP07A/s400/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-2xokCTVGb2XTQGEkw6Z9dJlUXjobCM1Fs46s6kmmlKye3YWxBgEzr7tiLKiaNqUBhCQIhyphenhyphen6dh5YTcmo8QCq4QV9emUuE6J89rWfvr-cKxSsyS8jmQvxK1pZe2zTdh_qA16WWcnn8Jc/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-2xokCTVGb2XTQGEkw6Z9dJlUXjobCM1Fs46s6kmmlKye3YWxBgEzr7tiLKiaNqUBhCQIhyphenhyphen6dh5YTcmo8QCq4QV9emUuE6J89rWfvr-cKxSsyS8jmQvxK1pZe2zTdh_qA16WWcnn8Jc/s400/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdRqaObB3q9JToaw8i-rD8fguWORZJHq57TGFRKuirpwtDJ1OpOmOHTw6I-2sHY-Tiz1fFKIbxLSgJpLtmKO2gikDORS-_GG0dAxr9JVDb-GgcDrVo-11ZrGPZuLrCLEIO_ralDKdC7M/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdRqaObB3q9JToaw8i-rD8fguWORZJHq57TGFRKuirpwtDJ1OpOmOHTw6I-2sHY-Tiz1fFKIbxLSgJpLtmKO2gikDORS-_GG0dAxr9JVDb-GgcDrVo-11ZrGPZuLrCLEIO_ralDKdC7M/s400/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmYG4MWcPSBA4fZRET0AjB-NFzpZu5ePlF6GQPTmKW-RKXeHMqtWoXkzgWIALLke-ANLqipEjaFbpWbrwlff21rdJ-gTuGZN1PvvbOarBWHlv3PL0qqO43bbq3caKHg_Z1U8mHvBaNBc/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmYG4MWcPSBA4fZRET0AjB-NFzpZu5ePlF6GQPTmKW-RKXeHMqtWoXkzgWIALLke-ANLqipEjaFbpWbrwlff21rdJ-gTuGZN1PvvbOarBWHlv3PL0qqO43bbq3caKHg_Z1U8mHvBaNBc/s400/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcgsErA_n_9YOYKrI4FbV-NSbDwLweKHWX3uFzmS-wa1L7YktnDsOFSUge6CmzaziN0WwTuR31MzRVxMqNWOzi6lCNq-ynmzE5zaMI613mnb-mmZcHrJn51H2Lv2jFw4InYJ4xkatINc/s1600/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcgsErA_n_9YOYKrI4FbV-NSbDwLweKHWX3uFzmS-wa1L7YktnDsOFSUge6CmzaziN0WwTuR31MzRVxMqNWOzi6lCNq-ynmzE5zaMI613mnb-mmZcHrJn51H2Lv2jFw4InYJ4xkatINc/s400/JacquelineDevoreBabywearing-19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Heather Booysen Photography</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>http://www.heatherbooysenphotography.com/</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Love. Love. LOVE!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
And just because they are adorable:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.nyparenting.com/assets/photos/2012/8/2012_08_sif_health_kangaroo_z.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="132" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: <span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.nyparenting.com/stories<br />/2012/8/sif_health_kangaroo_2012_08.html</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://goodnature.nathab.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/NHA19-Mother-and-tiny-baby-Sepilok2-1024x653.jpg" height="127" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: http://goodnature.nathab.com/top-ten-<br />
cutest-motherbaby-wildlife-photos-a-mothers-day-tribute/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.zooborns.com/.a/6a010535647bf3970b0148c7c70f83970c-500wi" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="160" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: http://www.zooborns.type pad.com/zooborns/koala/page/2/<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/" data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" data-pin-color="red" data-pin-height="28"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png" /></a>
<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
<script type="text/javascript" async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-8803482210080397562015-08-25T17:45:00.002-04:002015-09-12T20:54:35.606-04:00Recapping the Second TrimesterSo this is coming obviously late - but I still wanted to document the second trimester as my lack of sleep is already causing many of my pregnancy memories to fade!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp4oHROIjEnbnY5GvO3dfsbp-kciCsKtd23vG-odwOZBtgfEwSjBYXKoe68ycBkbFFxPml1wskzKkDByYkBusxWOGEAg6HPL_D9oZLtHTSMWZy0XRZciIKU__UIxeODOvMLb3gMR3BPI/s1600/2014-10-11+10.17.18.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp4oHROIjEnbnY5GvO3dfsbp-kciCsKtd23vG-odwOZBtgfEwSjBYXKoe68ycBkbFFxPml1wskzKkDByYkBusxWOGEAg6HPL_D9oZLtHTSMWZy0XRZciIKU__UIxeODOvMLb3gMR3BPI/s320/2014-10-11+10.17.18.png" width="180" /></a></div>
Oh my gosh look at my TINY little belly. And guess what else happened during week 14? I got my MOM CUT! Ladies, you totally know what I am talking about. I had the sudden urge to just chop it all off, I think I said "the baby is just going to pull it all out anyway." But at the same time, I wasn't being entirely practical. I opted for some side bangs that required serious maintenance. Yeah, because if I figure out my hair care routine now it will be a breeze to manage when the baby is here. HA. If you all could only see my locks right now as I'm writing this and the little peanut has been out in the world for 5 months!<br />
<br />
I won't have captions really for the rest of these, but wow is it crazy and incredible to look back at these pictures. Little L (what I'm going to call her from now on because so many other bloggers make this look like the cool and SAFE thing to do. Let's face it she's plastered all over facebook and instagram, me not typing her name isn't going to help anything, but I kind of like it - it's like my own Gossip Girl feed with her own little code letter) Ok that was such a serious stream of conscious run on thought I don't even remember what I was typing before. Oh - right, Little L was growing so fast in there!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcSD_2hZ7A4ekFlhJs89ol5b5K6wxnxDlV5nU7O31O2ZLxpg8LkgXZZShCQq9ICwvG8bQWhNa0TJ362Qp9WfCM4Df-OfeiAh15arRx1MSRAjKsHWrsrBblpolPhzMzvWw96NBaCBYuvk/s1600/2014-09-27+10.26.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcSD_2hZ7A4ekFlhJs89ol5b5K6wxnxDlV5nU7O31O2ZLxpg8LkgXZZShCQq9ICwvG8bQWhNa0TJ362Qp9WfCM4Df-OfeiAh15arRx1MSRAjKsHWrsrBblpolPhzMzvWw96NBaCBYuvk/s200/2014-09-27+10.26.51.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpHN1ZWjllXBdubl41U51miCFVKWj67qKJwt4J3qQFzC7YBp5N8PCnygBddUa7zguzvwiGx39sZkmLfmJXqrD-C2qWoPg7B610D8aBnVDoQgmnnN9DWIH8Q5LkerChktMh-SDinMtfKg/s1600/2014-10-11+10.15.34.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpHN1ZWjllXBdubl41U51miCFVKWj67qKJwt4J3qQFzC7YBp5N8PCnygBddUa7zguzvwiGx39sZkmLfmJXqrD-C2qWoPg7B610D8aBnVDoQgmnnN9DWIH8Q5LkerChktMh-SDinMtfKg/s320/2014-10-11+10.15.34.png" width="179" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjgsxqcAMxWyh0TBPT8Uv9zL2WFyOREes9E_0wZ8gserdihQfZwqRTRuiHopbvwAHzErxj6n6IK7CyDpjCgmka6OEXYvx5ZCFsaLgtlGl4JN03Y2_z0BPQ53FHQ8laQZdwBzITyEktu0/s1600/2014-10-11+10.15.20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjgsxqcAMxWyh0TBPT8Uv9zL2WFyOREes9E_0wZ8gserdihQfZwqRTRuiHopbvwAHzErxj6n6IK7CyDpjCgmka6OEXYvx5ZCFsaLgtlGl4JN03Y2_z0BPQ53FHQ8laQZdwBzITyEktu0/s320/2014-10-11+10.15.20.png" width="179" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So - as you can tell my haircut went south REAL fast. That's why week 15 is smaller than the others. Looks like a mangly little mess. But I pull myself back together around week 16 and finally bought a pair of maternity leggings as you can't really tell here but cramming my legs into my old tights was like trying to get sausage back in its casing. Yuck, gross reference, but totally true and impossible. Also totally true that I am wearing those maternity leggings right now and will probably continue to the rest of my life. The way they hug my belly is just so comforting. HA, if only I was kidding. And then we get to week 17 the week when my non-maternity shirts started looking a little strange and I totally gave up on my hair cut - cute the remaining second trimester pictures with a headwrap. Cheetah no less. I have a feeling I'll look back on these in twenty years and laugh, or maybe I'm looking back right now and laughing. <-- truth.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDk1qq43kAFNbStdvilFdPp_9F5kvImz1v2X8cyCuLMRnMsabFYDxou502bHCMWmLTYAIh_QWQ1LEAJYeSMk4IDRrKoV7ooMclYfNlRxxGjqzqGoFgq5ylgQTtQ2jLG0DUCHLTf6HI30U/s1600/2014-10-13+13.06.03.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDk1qq43kAFNbStdvilFdPp_9F5kvImz1v2X8cyCuLMRnMsabFYDxou502bHCMWmLTYAIh_QWQ1LEAJYeSMk4IDRrKoV7ooMclYfNlRxxGjqzqGoFgq5ylgQTtQ2jLG0DUCHLTf6HI30U/s320/2014-10-13+13.06.03.png" width="180" /></a>Week 18 - my favorite picture. My belly looks so tiny but starting to get round and I feel like it finally popped this week. Oh, and yes I had been feeling little L moving in there since week 13, can you believe it! She was a pretty constant mover and I loved that. I filled up at least two iphones worth of storage taking videos of my stomach waiting for her to move. No lie, I had to get a new phone and my first bout of pregnancy rage came out while doing so - but that's another story and actually really not a time worth dwelling on. If you're wondering where pictures from week 19, 20 and 21 are...well I felt like a big blob and just didn't take pictures. Regretting it now? Kind of - but I still remember that feeling. I actually understood why they say "couch potato." I got to the point where I could describe myself as nothing other than an imobile potato just laying on the couch. And not even a sweet potoato, a plain one. Another post will follow this one about the gender reveal during week 20 & 21 - my favorite FAVORITE part of the whole pregnancy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4zSMAtvhN7ImawzuA2XyiNJNY-v_oFSKNAh4EvWA5aub32tC5VbDw1Gcx9cE55z-RU80yFSMwDQ9utyfUATvYaobNEmD1Pbqu6kS3_4n8QzPY7PzotFZ-Fzmqxa4imGuPqzj81NXZqs/s1600/2014-11-13+13.52.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4zSMAtvhN7ImawzuA2XyiNJNY-v_oFSKNAh4EvWA5aub32tC5VbDw1Gcx9cE55z-RU80yFSMwDQ9utyfUATvYaobNEmD1Pbqu6kS3_4n8QzPY7PzotFZ-Fzmqxa4imGuPqzj81NXZqs/s320/2014-11-13+13.52.06.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI84Zw3thPx-arz3UKjkdC_npDHaZKIEllap4h9QY4rC6bW55hgs-d8I_Zzp5_H8PQNn2V-z7yfjpN7VXuEzN3-3ryBoE-C1FYyYql0zMYgyxgYax6letQ0t_8ILGX4ssZ22zgz3XGe3w/s1600/2014-11-20+17.54.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI84Zw3thPx-arz3UKjkdC_npDHaZKIEllap4h9QY4rC6bW55hgs-d8I_Zzp5_H8PQNn2V-z7yfjpN7VXuEzN3-3ryBoE-C1FYyYql0zMYgyxgYax6letQ0t_8ILGX4ssZ22zgz3XGe3w/s320/2014-11-20+17.54.45.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I didn't realize it but my feet were starting to grow - starting from this point forward these were the only shoes that fit and I actually went on ebay and desperately bought another pair of uggs a size up. You know I was desperate if I bought them used (listen used clothes are totally fine, but shoes - oh boy.) Especially UGGS! They are just warm sweaty sweaters for your feet you can't wash. And me and some girl on ebay have that connection now. Also, you will notice that I have completely given up on the bangs, they are clipped up. And yes, that is where they remain today.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGqsFHGDAlLuaAD6lQplSNLzt1NqRmwQH7Ak0w2dYbdgIKeXG2njkwTLc9sf57FklnazNtL_d856widgnxjDEcJrlInBRpOg8BVX15pxebCXZharoJTGeQF5C3drqpWJz67ZVjQvap7c/s1600/2014-11-25+12.46.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGqsFHGDAlLuaAD6lQplSNLzt1NqRmwQH7Ak0w2dYbdgIKeXG2njkwTLc9sf57FklnazNtL_d856widgnxjDEcJrlInBRpOg8BVX15pxebCXZharoJTGeQF5C3drqpWJz67ZVjQvap7c/s320/2014-11-25+12.46.30.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And last but not least, my favorite pictures - week 26. Our matching Jesus Saves Bro shirts from Riley Clay Designs. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5SvXHk6dA0hXn0Secqk6WNQOyeSkxgRA143ILlIj8_Q0U9o4uKjKqIFQuSCEnulpFcoD-Cty17mNFumQmSkCWIhZ7j_MJWRFn5_SA9clPvtGKi0HGq7eoUTvwHYd-Jlu22FFtbatZww/s1600/2014-12-13+08.51.17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5SvXHk6dA0hXn0Secqk6WNQOyeSkxgRA143ILlIj8_Q0U9o4uKjKqIFQuSCEnulpFcoD-Cty17mNFumQmSkCWIhZ7j_MJWRFn5_SA9clPvtGKi0HGq7eoUTvwHYd-Jlu22FFtbatZww/s320/2014-12-13+08.51.17.png" width="180" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q1VYBry25WyubU9OzHtd0XMPC2il8tOnUQYSRbeZuTljKUHG6O5quMLFqIyF_z3r8To8hWLCizPrf_CVnrDhttLcAxs2gJVrL9UGNoeWHUeH2-tlT9KW1v9TgMh_hpWq0YcK8wpQGCM/s1600/2014-12-13+08.51.57.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q1VYBry25WyubU9OzHtd0XMPC2il8tOnUQYSRbeZuTljKUHG6O5quMLFqIyF_z3r8To8hWLCizPrf_CVnrDhttLcAxs2gJVrL9UGNoeWHUeH2-tlT9KW1v9TgMh_hpWq0YcK8wpQGCM/s320/2014-12-13+08.51.57.png" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Because Jesus does save, bro. :*</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/" data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" data-pin-color="red" data-pin-height="28"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png" /></a>
<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
<script type="text/javascript" async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-27648977372626675862015-06-25T11:28:00.000-04:002015-10-04T23:05:58.273-04:00Paper Flower Party Favors & a Shop Recommendation<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilkRgtr5EqhmNywiAhJPviSEwFG3TWAyFwC2X_03ItgyOG0nL-CEjJYWKbY_FaRg5EQKMttzUetnC-VnN6wYiCmrdyYaVNzIlyOLThx_Vp86hNltetxFlQXg4MJZps29rZQeZiFlWyTo/s1600/2014-12-05+15.34.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<br />
I feel like I start all of my posts with..."Well it's been a few months..."<br />
<br />
Well it's been a few months (ha!) but I'm here to share a project from back in December and highlight an awesome shop. A group of women from my church threw a surprise birthday party and I contributed the favors. You can see the final favors below - they are clothespins with magnets, a paper flower and a printable card. We clipped them all to a standing tree branch thing (?).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrDNdIcqmLFkAC0K05s_1_6Ss-KOK-LW4uGVeBAVNJKlabp1u9g22noqi1NOXRyb_-wHYvKl8j5ded3L9hMy-z8bD0lntcr58wx_RRGeiOeiICgDEnLXfBRUYXppIxxQ8OmVgpxnXTO8/s1600/2014-12-05+16.03.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrDNdIcqmLFkAC0K05s_1_6Ss-KOK-LW4uGVeBAVNJKlabp1u9g22noqi1NOXRyb_-wHYvKl8j5ded3L9hMy-z8bD0lntcr58wx_RRGeiOeiICgDEnLXfBRUYXppIxxQ8OmVgpxnXTO8/s400/2014-12-05+16.03.44.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilkRgtr5EqhmNywiAhJPviSEwFG3TWAyFwC2X_03ItgyOG0nL-CEjJYWKbY_FaRg5EQKMttzUetnC-VnN6wYiCmrdyYaVNzIlyOLThx_Vp86hNltetxFlQXg4MJZps29rZQeZiFlWyTo/s1600/2014-12-05+15.34.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilkRgtr5EqhmNywiAhJPviSEwFG3TWAyFwC2X_03ItgyOG0nL-CEjJYWKbY_FaRg5EQKMttzUetnC-VnN6wYiCmrdyYaVNzIlyOLThx_Vp86hNltetxFlQXg4MJZps29rZQeZiFlWyTo/s320/2014-12-05+15.34.08.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGznCYrVoij0Y6RupzB1H5txC8SIr-RX_qNKxtL_2sItzPLMnOTM5BZVeCYo2j_uaUdrjN2CbDp0bF24zOSSNEnfB0HY3jvIl3R2EYcSkY3AyMEUJP6_wRqHshwLTcn9TW3Tk7o7vCj78/s1600/2014-12-05+15.56.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGznCYrVoij0Y6RupzB1H5txC8SIr-RX_qNKxtL_2sItzPLMnOTM5BZVeCYo2j_uaUdrjN2CbDp0bF24zOSSNEnfB0HY3jvIl3R2EYcSkY3AyMEUJP6_wRqHshwLTcn9TW3Tk7o7vCj78/s320/2014-12-05+15.56.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7yuAbOjr7SXFkElN9sXa4Cl4hxGaNAOa_jvvs7o-JEEJd4KBZrDoL7byv7oWD3fo73izfNS8oIGN0cYNtCxD9lsb-46sGw1Mbq8gPzDOMcttOT5urCDsolGxeNmlne9EMYlLLqsKo8I/s1600/2014-12-05+16.03.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7yuAbOjr7SXFkElN9sXa4Cl4hxGaNAOa_jvvs7o-JEEJd4KBZrDoL7byv7oWD3fo73izfNS8oIGN0cYNtCxD9lsb-46sGw1Mbq8gPzDOMcttOT5urCDsolGxeNmlne9EMYlLLqsKo8I/s320/2014-12-05+16.03.53.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFel2KroCdyekQbmta-TFyD8gK8Ie-OS1Y2hVI6kOOkhSjQSkADEg4zSHx8EsQcgazirQCAPxh5By7MFfB3VQdTSBrGHtVJ3fbcDgShvCJwMkjr9w_vB4s_8XoDpNm-gGVymEd7yVZ7vg/s1600/2014-12-05+16.04.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFel2KroCdyekQbmta-TFyD8gK8Ie-OS1Y2hVI6kOOkhSjQSkADEg4zSHx8EsQcgazirQCAPxh5By7MFfB3VQdTSBrGHtVJ3fbcDgShvCJwMkjr9w_vB4s_8XoDpNm-gGVymEd7yVZ7vg/s320/2014-12-05+16.04.16.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
The cards that were clipped in them were from one of my favorite shops - <a href="http://valeriewienersart.com/">Valerie Weiners Art</a>. You can find the printables <a href="http://valeriewienersart.com/shop/mirror-cards-printable">here.</a><br />
<br />
You can also find paper flower clips <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PancakesandGlueGuns?section_id=17308062&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3">in the shop</a>!
<a data-pin-color="red" data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" data-pin-height="28" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png" /></a>
<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
<script async="" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-48086559420853887922014-12-18T14:56:00.001-05:002015-09-12T20:54:56.118-04:00Recapping the First TrimesterI wish I was feeling good enough to have posted updates on here live-feed so I could go back and read them. Now that I only have 3 days left of my second trimester I want to step back and remember my first two trimesters, and then hopefully the third will have a bit more to share!<br />
<br />
<b>So, to sum it up. </b><br />
The first trimester was like riding on a kids mini rollercoaster where I barely fit into the seat and the ride just keep repeating without asking if I wanted to get off. The rollercoaster was also playing tacky elevator saxophone music and smelled like cheese-steaks, frozen-yogurt, pizza and lunchmeat that I couldn't eat.<br />
<br />
<b>So how was that you ask?</b><br />
Well I'd be a fool to tell you it was anything but amazing! (Can you tell I'm writing this from a much better place now, and not currently stuck on that roller coaster??)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz-EReoRZGm54QQj1aHTYHhlErouJiPtuauk3TnXbf_BMi52lz1r47D_HBid50jDHkTuF00crVhxl7KGI0PG5zgka6dQSEkM8icWYTVyBy66RS_PEWYiq1ddjjRKT_opJGcrwvN5iAiM/s1600/2014-07-09+18.54.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz-EReoRZGm54QQj1aHTYHhlErouJiPtuauk3TnXbf_BMi52lz1r47D_HBid50jDHkTuF00crVhxl7KGI0PG5zgka6dQSEkM8icWYTVyBy66RS_PEWYiq1ddjjRKT_opJGcrwvN5iAiM/s1600/2014-07-09+18.54.12.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
We found out really early that I was pregnant, I believe I was 4 weeks and the ride started at 6 weeks. We also told our family right away, but I'll have a post about why we decided to do that later.<br />
<br />
<b>First Semester Documentation</b><br />
Look how thrilled I was in this obligatory bathroom selfie (side-note: actually seeing the toilet in this picture is just weird, I'm obviously not a pro and didn't know to close the doors to create a nice little backdrop.) This is the day after I found out and I'm trying as hard as I can to rationalize that I already have a bump at 3/4 weeks. Turns out I was just bloated from an unhealthy diet ;) I felt like I just had to do one of those pictures though! I'm thankful I did because things went downhill after that and I had no interest in the least to document that time period by photo.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>But on a positive note, I survived. So what are my thoughts looking back? </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I shut down my shop for three months and had to rely completely on my husband to make dinner, grocery shop, and do pretty much everything as he started his second year in law school. I never liked to ask for help and I pride myself on being independent and constantly busy. The dependence I built on him was something I should have built much earlier, the trust in him that grew (when I didn't know it could) is something I am SO eternally thankful for and I know we will be better parents because of it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As crazy as it might seem, especially to those of you in the middle of it, I actually do have to say that I'm really thankful the first trimester was hard. I was forced to slow down. I was forced to spend time by myself thinking and seeking the Lord. I was forced to rest and understand the necessity of rest. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Lord knows us. He knows I <b>wouldn't</b> have stopped, I would have kept going, I would have pushed harder with my Etsy shop and everything else in my life so that I could "get ready" according to what I thought was best. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I look back, I kind of laugh and I'm glad because I say "Yup, Lord - that was literally the ONLY way to give my body the rest it needed." He knows us so much better than we know ourselves. The one or two days I did need to go into my office for work I pushed myself way too hard and was physically sick and sore for days afterwards. It's hard at the beginning to realize the gravity that a little human is inside you and <i>needs </i>you to put their needs first and that means resting while they suck up all your energy. :) You can get so caught up in keeping up with the pace of the world because you don't "look" pregnant and most people don't know!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I realized how important it is to rest and refuel your body, and for me initially it was physically - but soon progressed to spiritually. When you're body is exhausted and you're not able to get up or move, you find new things to occupy your now seemingly endless "free" time. For me that was picking up bible studies that I had started but not finished and just being able to take my time in them without the normal pressures of my busy life that seemed to always take precendence previously. Building this tiny routine when I wasn't feeling well helped build the desire to find a way to make this work when I was feeling better. Had I not been forced to slow down I would likely not be making as much progress as I am incorporating studying the Word into my daily schedule. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now, let's have an honest moment here - had I written this blog post during my first trimester - I'm not sure what it would have said - probably nothing positive at all and in all capital letters it may have only said WHEN WILL THIS END?!?!, but that's why I waited until now to hopefully encourage someone instead of commiserate. (We of course can do that too!) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then, of course, feeling her start to flutter around at about 13 weeks (crazy it was so early) made me literally forget everything about the endless nights awake crying and just staring at the ceiling. I phsyically can't even recall what it felt like beyond knowing it happened. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You'll get through this - rely on the Lord, seek Him, be thankful for the miracle He's given you to take care of for Him and remember that it all will end and that you're stronger for it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/" data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" data-pin-color="red" data-pin-height="28"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png" /></a>
<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
<script type="text/javascript" async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170653981739808042.post-39944482189796293162014-12-12T16:06:00.001-05:002014-12-12T16:06:23.875-05:00Finishing up 2014I feel like sometimes when December comes around, people are so ready for a fresh start they start to wish away the end of the year in hopes of a better January where you can start new routines, diets, hold yourself suddenly more accountable ;) etc.<br />
<br />
I decided a few weeks ago this was not going to be the case for me. I have some unfinished business and I'm settling into a routine right at the end of 2014. And you know what, I think that's good for 2015! Instead of all the pressure mounting, I'm going to work on strengthening that routine and really establishing it in 2015. You know, until the little one comes and at that point my routine will likely just be hers :)<br />
<br />
The first thing I started with seems SO silly. I had been looking around online for Christmas gifts and found so many adorable journals I wanted to get...for myself. Because I justified, well if I get new journals I will get newly organized. Well somehow I controlled myself on that one and decided I was going to find all of the journals in our place right now and vow to use every last page. How many of you have ever actually finished a journal??? I was so surprised at the amount I had, with 10-20 pages of scrawled notes or to-dos that had been cast aside. Again, it might sound so small - but it was my first step. So, you'll be proud to know I finished my first one up, filled with to-do lists, grocery lists, priorities for work, meal schedules, everything in one place. And then, I tossed it. Friends, I've NEVER done that before. You know how great that felt? I saw all of these tiny minute things that had piled up, I stuck with it and filled up a book full of them and then once I had used it, it's done.<br />
<br />
I'm now onto journal #2 and about halfway through and this seemingly insignificant routine/goal has made me feel surprisingly accomplished.<br />
<br />
All I googled was "finish your journal" and this image popped up - so others must have the same issue ;)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-and-finish-your-journal/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOpaSPOwh1W3j5LJUnTwxaD8n4V78WzNrCEHt7oNenMohkcnUA8BigRcDv0X9EwZRFs-DzmYpXrmHDO0usRxwL8dcQ0aUnIvXtw-DDe5DBUe1CwZXVOLdFzCGWMY6tL70eMISAoZw2jI/s1600/keep-calm-and-finish-your-journal.png" height="320" width="274" /></a><span id="goog_289768736"></span><span id="goog_289768737"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The second goal of mine was to go back through my <a href="http://shereadstruth.com/how/">She Reads Truth</a> studies and finish what I didn't start. (Sensing a theme here?) I attended a class through the <a href="http://theinfluencenetwork.com/">Influence Network</a> about how to just get into God's word - and they specifically marketed it as appropriate for those of us who pick up a million bible studies and projects and don't often see them through. They don't have it up on their site yet for you to purchase an archived version, but when they do I'll pass it along. It was really REALLY great.<br />
<br />
So I'm working on the Advent study and the study in 1st & 2nd Peter at the same time:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://shereadstruth.com/2014/09/30/peter-apostle-jesus/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pMnqBmubW3C_wdDF5Ov3fsIwpLYwYrG5kZxK6G33-a1hqF2Ozi9K3aQprwO7jFOs4X1e3FDsqsvVID3pn421IUfMMiEpV87ISI-31aqpv0mq-6mPsRiVkULMBstVwO2PTqQbiXVYyp0/s1600/SRT-Peter_day1_alt.png" height="200" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/30/first-promise-messiah/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhPVvYaUfcNb_fWkntU0rOcGQfA6uWXTJn-ce-4NydcEbyuvW8D81aqLKT-BHvJx79dP1Iw8HFvnDN4gaP4bIzlsUkdYkRQwGlOCogD996ijUoGyvoxfGfDkrRk1VzsgQNALEHLpQdvA/s1600/SRT-Advent_instagram_day1.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
The third goal of mine is to actually spend time planning the week's meals. I have this <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/201038933/instant-download-meals-grocery-joyful?ref=shop_home_active_3">printable, and others from Joyful Papery</a> and I love her style. Click the picture below to go to the listing.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/201038933/instant-download-meals-grocery-joyful"><img height="243" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/031/0/8999973/il_570xN.644521413_9qtc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We really only eat three different meals because that's what I know how to cook so it's been pretty easy to start doing this and the grocery list on the side really is enough for what I need! I told myself I would make one of these templates myself, but honestly - let's not hold ourselves back from just accomplishing our goal by making all of these other small tasks that get in the way! This was only $4.00 and seriously everything in her shop is awesome :)<br />
<br />
So, finish journals, keep up with bible studies and plan meals - I think that sounds like a perfect way to finish 2014!! :)<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014981307287886738noreply@blogger.com0