Archives for February 2013

February 28, 2013 By 7 Comments

Online Shopping Love

When I find something or a company that really is amazing, then I’m all in.  I will buy and buy and buy again from them.  I love unique and different little small businesses that have heart and bring cool items to the table.  So today I thought I would share a few of my favorites.  Some I have bought from a million times…some I am new too, but was impressed with our first encounter.  Just throwing out some props today.  Enjoy.

Noonday Collection – Where to even begin with my major love affair with Noonday.  They are crazy awesome and actually released their new collection today.  I just spent the last hour trying to narrow down my new purchases.  Way, way, way too much goodness going on and what amazing hearts behind it all.  If I could, I would move to Texas and beg Jessica (the owner) for a job.  It would be a happy day.  Definitely want to give Noonday a big fist bump or high-5…whichever they prefer.

Hey Yo Yo – I am a lover of all lovely party supplies and this shop is my one stop shop…easy.  They win and win and win again.  Crazy awesome customer service and seriously they are fast…like lightning fast.  And everything they sell is cool to the beans.  So fun and colorful and unique.  Definitely my favorite party supply shop.

And I present to you the World’s Greatest Cake Topper ever.  And…you’re welcome.

Pick Your Plum – If you have never ventured onto Pick Your Plum and signed up…please, please for the love of all things crafty do so TODAY!  You know I don’t like texting lingo but, OMG…they are a fave for sure.  They offer a wide variety of craft deals Monday-Friday at great prices.  It’s always something different and fun and crafty.  Love Pick Your Plum.

Walls Need Love – This is a new company to me and they actually asked me to try out some of their products.  I think what I genuinely liked the most…besides their awesome stuff…was they told me to “be honest”.  Word.  I can do that.  They sent me the Pattern Birds On A Wire and the Tennessee License Plate Raccoon adhesive wall decal.  They have such a large collection and everything is really unique.  So crazy cute and so easy to use too.  Seriously had zero problems with applying them other than my lack of being able to apply things straight.  Ha.  I didn’t get the raccoon print put up straight the first time, but I just pulled it down and reapplied.  And the instructions are easy to follow.  Totally give Walls Need Love a thumbs up.

I put an old frame around mine.

And Hello Apparel – I just recently discovered this company and am totally smitten now.  Love just about everything they sell.  And their sale prices are crazy good…like $5 good.  I have bought up Harper quite a few little cheap goodies and they are all so stinkin’ cute.  I may have done a little “treat yo self”ing and gotten myself the Arrow Tee.  Totally going to be purchasing the Anchor tee in the future too…it just must be done.  If you see me wearing it in the future…act surprised.  Their stuff is just too awesome not to share.

Amon pretty much needs this onesie.

I think I’m going to buy Courtney…aka preggers…this tee.

So those are just a few of my favorites.  What are yours? Do you have any really great online hot spots that are just major bookmarkers?  Would love for you to share!

Happy Thursday!

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February 26, 2013 By 4 Comments

The Highlights

I take a lot of pictures everyday.  It’s just what I do.  I was looking through my pictures from today and here are the highlights…the good parts…the things I loved about my Tuesday.

How Huddy left the coffee table before he headed out for school.  He asked that I didn’t clean it up because he wanted to cut all his newly drawn knives out when he got home.

And Huddy’s paper sheath.

Lunch with Amon and his love of cheese.  It’s true love.

Finding this lovely little note from Harper on my desk.  “I love you my mom.  You are the best mom in the whole wide world.”  I like that she thinks I’m the best even though I mess up ALL.THE.TIME.

God bless Cadbury Creme Eggs.  Totally a favorite part of my day.

Running with my niece Campbell.  She is so funny and sweet and I love our chats.  She’s a chatter and I love that about her.

Harper reading Marvin. K Mooney Will You Please Go Now to me.  This was my favorite book as a kid.  The first book I ever read and I read it to my mom one million times.  So many times she had to duct tape it together.  I may have cried like a giant baby while Harper read.

And a night stress run.  Getting a few more miles closer to 62.  Only 2 days left.  Better get on it.

So what were your favorite parts of your day?  I hope you had lots.  I especially liked my Cadbury egg 🙂

Happy Tuesday!

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February 25, 2013 By 11 Comments

A Cupcake Shower

Courtney is having her first sweet kiddo, baby girl Delaney, at the beginning of April and Courtney is also a true lover of the cupcake.  She’s a cupcake connoisseur.  It was a no brainer when thinking about a theme for her baby shower…cupcakes for sure.

Courtney and I have known each other for like forever.  It’s been a long long time…like childhood long.  We’ve been in a small group Bible study with 3 other good friends for over 4 years.  We’re pretty much BFFs with Beth Moore.  But when you share a life changing event and connect on this crazy different level that you didn’t really want, but happened anyways, something new takes place and blossoms and grows and changes into the most amazing thing.  And you find beauty in the ashes.

Courtney’s incredibly sweet dad died suddenly in August of 2011 and then mom died in November.  That’s just not normal.  It’s certainly not common…the odds of two friends losing such significant loved ones…parents…is just too rare.  I remember dreading Courtney and her crazy amazing family…her mom Sandra, her sister Stef, her brother Jacob and his wife Miranda… coming to the visitation and funeral…it was too soon.  Way too soon to go back to that place and those reminders and fresh memories.  But there they all were.  And they stayed.  And they called.  And they sent cards.  And they brought food.  And they visited.  And they loved on me and Josh and our kids hard.  And a long, long time after the funeral was over  and done with, they were still there.  And now here we are a whole 15 months later and they’re still standing right along side us.  Their family is precious and rare.  Their love is big and grand.  God has used this family and their grief to minister to me and mine.

So Courtney and I began texting.  It started the day her dad passed…texts of prayers and encouragements.  Texts of “I’m just so sorry.” and “This just sucks.”  And it continued.  We literally text every single day.  Monday-Friday we greet the day with a text from each other.  A “You can do this”, a “You’ve got this”, a “It’s okay if today totally sucks and you cry all day long and emotionally eat like crazy”…it’s just what we do and I love it.  Courtney understands the ins and outs of grief and mourning and sadness and bitterness and she extends her hand and heart to me and I extend my hand and heart to her right back.  We have a mutual agreement and accountability.

And even though I wish we did not have to share this bond.  Even though I wish life with her sweet Dad and my sweet Mom were back, I’ve been challenging myself to find the beauty in this mess.  And there sits Courtney…and Sandra, and Stef and Jake and Miranda.  These people that are truly beautiful inside and out and love like mad.

Because joy is a little harder to come by lately and looks a bit different, I knew when we started planning Courtney’s baby shower, we wanted it to be simply wonderful for her.  We wanted Courtney to feel loved and surrounded and encouraged.

With Delaney joining their family there will be great joy, but also deep sadness.  He will not be there to meet this grand little baby girl and they will all be certainly thinking of him all along and on her birth date.  I remember how heart wrenching and glorious it was at the same time stepping off the plane with Amon and rushing to find Josh and the kids and the crowd of people I knew were waiting.  It was true joy finally being together as a family, but such deep sadness as well knowing Mom would not be right up front waiting to snatch Amon out of my hands as she did with Harper, Hudson and Solomon.  And so we wanted this baby shower to be just for Courtney and to bring a brightness to her day.

And when it was all over with…I think it did just that.  It brought a bit of joy and brightness to her day and she felt loved and celebrated.

Courtney you are beyond loved…you are cherished.  And Delaney will bless your socks off and I cannot wait to meet her.  Thanks for being the incredible woman you are.

Happy Monday!

Link Love:  Cookie Recipe and Icing Recipe

Cupcake Cookie Inspiration

Mini Reeces Cupcake Idea

Straws and Cupcake holders from Hey Yo Yo

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February 22, 2013 By 2 Comments

Insta Friday

Here we are again.  It’s Friday.  I’m glad…you’re glad too..I just know it.  And yes, another installment of Insta Friday.  Without further ado…a weeks worth of Instagram pics.  I’m pitterpatterart.

  My boys are strange little specimens.  They do and think up the strangest things and I often wonder if it’s just my boys that are so weird.  I think it might be “boys” in general though.

Gold is back yo.  Just imagine these filled with all different shades of orange and pink flowers…I think it’s going to be lovely.

In the Kelley house we have chores you do just because you are a member of the family and then we have extra chores you can do to earn a little moola.  This is one of their chores they do just to help out.

I use to chew the fire out of this stuff as a kid.  One of my favorites.  Jackpot finding it in the Target $1 bin.

Key fob heaven.

We’re officially all 80-year-olds…and loven’ it.

It was a very Happy President’s Day to us.

The sweetest and littlest wee Kelley.  His cardiologist is smitten with him and he totally rocked it.  Best.Baby.Ever.

They decided they wanted to purchase something with their own money.  Narrowing down a book choice is very difficult.

Sol ended up purchasing a Stormtrooper “Barbie”.  Who knew these existed.  Made me laugh out loud.

Still running my way to 62 miles this month.  Just a few days left.  The other morning it was a whopping 27 degrees….super, crazy cold…and I might have robbed a few people.

They always want to do silly faces.  Always.

Baby comb overs are pretty rad.  It makes me take him much more seriously.

Harper had an early morning bath this morning because I’m not even going to tell you how long it had been.

And today was an all day bake-a-thon.  Two Gooey Butter Cakes, a batch of Brownie Oreo Cookie Cups and a whole slew of sugar cookies for Courtney’s shower.  It was a good day…a very good day indeed.

Hope your day was good too.  Enjoy your weekend.

Happy Friday!

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February 21, 2013 By 9 Comments

#parentsoftheyear

Sooooo, today was one of those days.  You know the one?  The one where I may have thought Amon was going into cardiac arrest because I looked over and his lips were blue…just the perfect hue of blue to send me into way crazy panic thinking immediately, “This is the moment they trained us for.”  And then I started going over all the steps in my head only to then realize he wasn’t acting like he was in cardiac arrest and then when I further assessed the situation I noticed a very wet slobbery paper gun drawn with a blue marker and then further realized Amon was not in cardiac arrest, but had just been eating one of Hudson’s 5 gazillion paper guns.  The even sadder part of this story, is this is the second time this has happened.  I have decided I shall remove all blue markers from the house.

Today was also one of those days when we may have gotten Sol and Huddy’s sandwiches switched in their lunch boxes.  Giving Huddy, who is allergic to peanut butter, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and Sol, who is not allergic to peanut butter, the sunbutter and jelly sandwich.  Huddy’s teacher called and said he came to her and said he thought his sandwich had peanut butter on it…after taking a few bites.  I asked if he was breaking out in hives…he was not, so I just assumed he was mistaken, but then thinking about it more, Huddy had never questioned his sunbutter before and is pretty accurate when it comes to his food.  After talking to Josh, he remembered Huddy’s sandwich had the crust on it and Sol’s did not.  I then shortly after received another phone call from his teacher saying he had thrown up.  I asked if she remembered if his sandwich had the crust or no crust, turns out Huddy had the peanut butter crustless sandwich.  Red lights may have been run and this momma may have driven like mad to their school to dose the kid with Benadryl.  It reiterated the fact that he has apparently not grown out of his peanut butter allergy.  In the car he talked about how it didn’t hurt his belly, but that it made his throat feel really funny.  Goodness.  On the way home Sonic sprites with the “good ice” were snagged and then we laid on couch and watched a movie.  I think I will have a very stiff drink for dinner.  You know, because, well…it was just one of those days.

Happy Thursday.

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February 20, 2013 By 3 Comments

Currently…

Listening:  Imagine Dragons.  Maybe my most favorite album of 2012…minus Babel by Mumford & Sons…of course.  Buy the CD or download it asap and thank me later.

Eating:  Nothing.  I just finished up 6 miles, so there is nothing I want to eat right now.  I did however eat some Tex Mex trail mix in the car rider line before my run and I wouldn’t advice that.

Drinking:  Water.  Lots and lots of water.

Wearing:  Oh I look hot right now.  Running clothes.  Navy mesh shorts with paint stains all over them and my Color Run tee from last year.  And I got photo bombed by a small pirate.

Feeling:  Mixed emotions.  I have a lot going on in my head today.  I miss my Mom, but I’m excited about the possibility of seeing my small group Bible study ladies tonight.  And I’m excited about Courtney’s baby shower this weekend.

Weather:  Super sunny and super cold.

Wanting:  A day in our house alone.  Can you imagine the possibilities.  I would get soooooo much done.  It would be glorious.  Oh and a cook.  I really need someone to cook dinner for me.

Needing:  A solid nights sleep.  Dang you second tooth Amon is cutting.  It doesn’t take much to please this chic.  No way.  Just give me an uninterrupted 8 hours sleep and I would be gold.  Make it 10 hours and I’ll kiss you on the lips.

Thinking:  About my Mom and Amon…she would have absolutely been diehard smitten with him.  And Africa.  I want to go back so very bad and I might have found the perfect opportunity.  Crossing my fingers I’ll be headed to Swaziland in 2013.

Enjoying:  These 4.  Josh and I are crazy blessed and I know I take them for granted so many times.  I’m working on remembering what a huge gigantic gift they are.  I’m working on reminding myself the days are fleeting.  I’m working on remembering they are God’s children…not mine.

Happy Wednesday!

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February 19, 2013 By 2 Comments

Ace of Hearts

Cardiologist appointment days are super nerve racking.  I reminded Josh a few nights ago that Amon had an appointment this week and he said, “Wow, all of sudden I feel like I could throw up.”  That’s pretty accurate.  Of course we want to know how his heart is doing, but there is also this great nervousness that goes right along with the anticipation.  How is his heart doing?  Is everything working like it should?

So when today’s appointment was done, we sighed a big sigh of relief.  Amon’s heart is doing well and his scars are still healing up nicely.  His chest is even less raised than it was last visit which is great.  He still has a leaky valve, but his heart appears to be handling it just fine.  All was well and of course he was amazing as always.

Oh the curls.  Goodness.

Everyone was fantastic at the doctor’s office…including all the big wee Kelleys too.  They were really fascinated getting to see Amon’s heart.  Maybe we’ll have a heart doctor in the family one day.  And we enjoyed Chick-fil-a for lunch.  Success.

Oh and Amon’s first little tooth has finally cut through.  Ignore my fingers all in his mouth.  You do what you have to do.  It’s the cutest tooth ever.

Hope your day was good too.  Tomorrow is Wednesday…the weekend is already so close.  Yipppeee.

Happy Tuesday.

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February 18, 2013 By 9 Comments

Hugging A Door Mat

I’m sad to report that this weekend the last of the Valentines cookies were eaten.  It was a very sad day…a sad day indeed.  Courtney’s baby shower is this weekend which means I will be making some more in the shapes of cupcakes.  Do you see just how sweet that is…an incredible sugar cookie with frosting in the shape of a cupcake…it’s madness.

Good thing I bought waaaay too many Girl Scout cookies from some friends of ours girls.  Josh ate an entire box of Samoas before he even got home with the cookies.  If you know Josh Kelley this will make you just as angry as it did me because the dude is tall and thin and apparently does not gain weight.  Which further increases my belief that I too would be thinner if only I were taller and that Girl Scout cookies are clearly from the devil.

Josh also brought home a bb gun, along with those devilish cookies.  I anticipated just how crazy Huddy would go.  He was super excited, but out of everyone…that girl right there enjoyed it the most…fancy headband and all.

Some families rotate chores or seats, we have to rotate who feeds Amon.  This kid is in high demand I tell ya.  High demand.

And why wouldn’t he be.  Have you met Amon?  He’s all sunshine and rainbows, and big eyes and big hair and then throw in that heart condition and goodness, you don’t have a chance.

He’s literally into everything and crazy about everyone.  You can’t do anything is peace anymore with out this dude right there beside you.

He loves the vacuum.  He chases it around everywhere and get’s all up in its grill.  He has increased my vacuuming time by at least 50%.  I have to try and move him really far away and then run back and vacuum as much as I can before he’s back.  He’s crazy in love with it.

When brainstorming for a good “thank you” favor for Court’s baby shower, it hit me…wouldn’t most women dig a key fob?  Done and done and all in our shower colors…oranges, corals, pinks, tans and turquoise.  Loveliness.

Harper was out of school today and is again tomorrow.  God bless President’s Day and parent teacher conferences.  We have big plans tomorrow.  Cardiologist appointment, Chickfila, Charlotte’s Web movie from the library and parent teacher conference.  Big day.

And this morning in my cross fit class our fearless leader Todd handed me a bag and said his wife Christy…who is awesome…said they should buy this for me…so they did.  In the bag was the most amazing door mat ever with this big anchor on it.  Grief is like this big roller coaster and it just goes up and down, up and down.  Lately I have felt like I was on a steady decline…crying all the time…just down in general.  I seriously wanted to hug Todd and drive to their house and hug Christy and then I wanted to hug that door mat tight and crawl over into a corner of the gym and just have a good sob.  No worries, I did none of that…I held it together, but may have had a good cry on the way home from class.  I immediately ripped the tag off and placed it on our front porch.

The thing that seems to bother me lately is that I feel rather lonely in my grief…like I’m one of very few people who still remember her and how amazing she was.  I know it’s not true, but when you don’t have many people to talk with about her and reminisce about all her memories you begin to feel she is being forgotten.  I tell my kids stories all the time and I’m going to make damn sure that in our Kelley house Grammy will not be forgotten.  They will remember and remember well her love and grace and kindness and laughter and boldness in Christ.

Most people who know me understand what the anchor means to me and my heart.  So I was thrilled about this door mat.  Something to remind people who come to our house of this amazing woman and her legacy.  Just another reminder of her.  Thank you so much Christy and Todd…I bet you never knew just how much I would love a door mat.

Hope your day was grand.  Here’s to another week.

Happy Monday.

 

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