Archives for February 2014

February 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

The Highlights

I always get a little extra hop in my step on Fridays.  The weekend means later starts each morning and more lingering.  And making up for things like missed baths 🙂  This week was full and good.  Lots of fun things going on.  Lots of things to be thankful for.  My weeks highlights in no particular order:

Working on orders.  Canvases and key fobs this week.  Love taking all these custom orders.  Love working to create a product the customer loves.  And I’m still open to orders.  Makes my busy hands and heart happy.

Making it past the half way mark for the 21 day fix program.  Eating good, not letting my emotions rule my choices, busting my butt and feeling really, really good about all of it.

This a-freakin-mazing Kind healthy grains…it’s like granola, but not.  Loaded with good stuff and kicks my sweet tooth cravings.  I bought one bag at first and may have gone back the very next day and bought two additional bags because I wanted to already have back ups on hand in the weeks to come.

Date night!  It involved steak and cooked broccoli and a mall trip where we contemplated walking around with each others hand in the others back pocket of their pants…like all the cool kids are doing these days.  We decided to save that move for another date night.  I got to spend a H&M gift card which I’ve had 4-eva!  And we browsed the Old Navy and Fossil outlets like we owned the places.  Perfection.

I got a little break yesterday from this dude and it was just what I needed.  I love him to pieces pieces, but he drives me insane insane.  The busiest child I have ever had.  Into everything.  All the time.  Cannot go to the bathroom without a catastrophe happening.  I breathed in extra deep during my few hours of peace and when we were reunited, he hugged my neck extra tight.  I dig him.

Lunch with Jessica…internet friend and owner of Noonday Collection.  She was in town for a show and we made lunch happen.  And I’m so glad we did.  Loved meeting this sweet friend, fellow adoptive momma and business owner in the flesh…real life yo!  Lots of good conversation.

And that you guys are too nice and supportive and kind.  March craft classes are totally on.  There are just a few spots remaining and I am incredibly grateful.  Over the top grateful.  Thank you!

These are the remaining spots:

Friday, March 21 from 5:30-9:30…2 spots available

Saturday, March 22 from 12:00-4:00…3 spots available

Just send me a message HERE if you would like to snag a spot or few 🙂

Have an awesome weekend and Happy Friday!

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February 27, 2014 By 3 Comments

March Craft Classes

Hola!  So I have spots available for two craft classes in March.

I wanted to try two classes this time around…a night and day class.  Here are the dates and times and the number of spots available.

Friday, March 21 from 5:30-9:30…2 spots available

Saturday, March 22 from 12:00-4:00…3 spots available

Location:  Our house.

Price: $100

I will provide all the instruction, craft supplies, food and drinks.  All you need to bring is yourself…and maybe a friend or friends.  What a fun girl’s day or night.

We will do two crafts…a letter canvas and a fabric wreath (pictures posted are from some examples).  Each craft is very adaptable for each individual.  You can create the way you create…use your unique individualities.  They can be as much or as little as you desire…you can change and add and take away…create how your heart desires to create.  And a wide variety of supplies are available to you.  If you are interested or have any questions please send me a message HERE.  Spots will go first come, first serve and are limited to 12 due to space.

The goal is you will leave with two crafts you can do again on your own.  No special equipment required…you can do it!!!  Hope you will consider joining me.

If I need to go to just one class for March, that’s totally cool.  I’m realizing spring break weekend wasn’t the greatest planning on my part, but honestly, I totally didn’t even think about it.  Like I didn’t even know Harper was on spring break that week.  Again with the never knowing when a holiday is.  I can only keep up with big holidays…Christmas and Thanksgiving…and that’s it.  So we’ll see what happens.

Hope you guys have an amazing day.

Happy Thursday!

Happy Monday!

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February 26, 2014 By 2 Comments

A Few Links & Things

So excited to open crafting spots tomorrow.  I have a firm committed 9 spots right now.  This may increase a little depending on responses I get today, but I’ll probably have around 15 spots available for tomorrow.  I will post all the details…how many spots for what days and times.  If I need to just do one class this time around, I’m totally okay with that.  I’m new to all this and just starting out, so I’m going to roll right along with it.  No worries and no stressing.  I completely forgot to factor in it’s spring break the weekend I chose, so that has left a lot of people unable to make one of the March dates, but a hefty wait list for April.  So we shall see how it goes.  Eeek!

Let me see.  So Susan and I are on day 10 of our 21 Day Fix and so far, so good.  I am honestly really loving it.  I would tell you if it was horrible, but it’s not.  And I’m not starving.  Did I want a piece of cheesecake the other night?  Why yes, yes I did, but I’m sticking with the 21 days.  I am eating healthy, drinking my gallon of water every day and getting my workouts in.  My running has lagged because I have noticed I don’t have quite as much energy to get my longer runs in.  But I decided to be okay with that for 21 days.  So I’m not going to hit 70 miles and that is totally okay.  And I can see the results.  It’s hard to argue with something when you can actually see it working.  And our friend Dana has now joined us.  Things like this are so much more fun with friends.

 

 

I was asked a little while back to lead a craft session at the Made To Love retreat in Knoxville, Tn in April.  I have never met any of the ladies who are putting it together, so honestly I was a little nervous about committing to something like this…especially when you don’t know anyone.  After more emails flowed in, all the ladies seem super sweet and passionate and like they are working really hard on the retreat.  I think it is going to be a sweet time.  And I may have wrangled Brea into taking the road trip with me.  And I will be teaching a craft session, it will surely be a great time 🙂  Check out the Made To Love site and all the details and maybe I’ll see you there.

Josh Kelley and I have been on a date night roll in 2014.  We made a big, firm decision to make sure we carved this time out for us.  And we permanently lined up Anna…the sweetest baby sitter ever…for the same night every week.  And she’s gold.  And kind.  And responsible.  And last week we had to cancel due to bad weather…and Harper cried…big, big tears.  Anna is just the best and has a mighty big heart too.  Right now she is working on trying to raise $2,200 by March 19th to purchase Bibles for kids in Belle Glade, Fl.  Seriously, what an amazing teen she is.  You can help Anna out with a donation and read all about Anna’s goal HERE.  With just a few dollars we could help purchase lots of Bibles and encourage a teen with a mission minded heart.  Sounds like a win, win.

And last, but certainly not least, Noonday Collection just released their new spring line last week.  By now you have surely heard me talk about Noonday and how amazing I think this company is.  It’s love people.  Big love.  And I’m having a party!  Mark your calendars right this very minute.  Mark them.  Do it.  Get those calendars out.  Get those pens and highlighters.  Thursday, March 27!  You guys, I want this party to be huge.  I want us to rally together in the name of fashion and fun accessories, but most importantly, to empower woman and families around the world.  I want our house busting at the seems with ladies.  I want our trunk keepers website to be over run with internet orders for this party.  Make it a girls night.  Tell your friends.  There will be good, yummy food and drinks and I’m already making my list of all the goodies I’m going to purchase.  The new line is killer.  More details to come!

So just a little housekeeping for today.  You guys bless me in such an amazing way and I am incredibly grateful you stop by for a read.  Here’s to a really great day!

Happy Wednesday!

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February 25, 2014 By 8 Comments

Craft Night #1

Saturday rolled around and it was craft night time.  Josh and I worked hard getting everything ready.  It was a lot of work, but good, fun work.  I loved trying to make everything just right and getting everything set up and preparing food.  It’s like my dream job.

The ladies started rolling in and I was thrilled to meet everyone.  Nikki, Karen, Leslie, Shannon, Kirsten, Lori, Mary Leigh, Laura, Megan, Jenny, Kirsten and Lauren were a complete delight and a fantastic first group.  They were kind and nice and helped each other through out the whole night.  They laughed and worked hard.  And they loved Susan.  It was so much fun.  What a creative group they were too.

All of their creations were awesome.  And these were no easy tasks, but they rocked them well.  I loved how everyone’s was so different and how each lady made the project their own.  Love all the final products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some of the ladies shared their phone pics with me too.

 

 

And my trusty assistant Susan…aka…Ms. Flowers.  She was amazing.

Susan and I are doing the 21 Day Fix challenge together so we cheersed with our 4oz of wine.  She measured it out precisely.  We’re committed yo!

I am opening spots up for my March art classes this Thursday!  I’ve already emailed my wait list ladies about the spots, so they will get first choice.  If you would like to get an early invite, just shoot me a message HERE.  I am going to have two dates available…a Friday night and a Saturday day…12 spots for each day.  Hoping I can fill them up.  We shall see.  If not, we’ll do one class on Saturday.

Thank you to all my first time ladies who came.  You blessed me in such an amazing way and I am so grateful.  You made the night extra fantastic!

Happy Tuesday!

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February 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Nice People

You guys!  You guys, you guys, you guys!  Craft night?  Yeah!  It was love.  Like I totally loved it.  When the last lady walked out the front door I did a strange celebratory dance and Susan and I squealed.  And I think each of the new ladies I met, once they could get past my awkward ways…saying the word “so” too much, openly admitting I was crazy nervous and then using weird descriptive words like “noose-ish”, I think they had a really good time.

I so adored meeting new friends and hanging out and teaching and assisting and creating and putting our minds and hands to work.  Thank you to each of you who came.  You amazed my heart.

So much more coming on the night later this week…maybe tomorrow even.  I’m kind of super anxious to show all the pictures, but still gathering some up.  So today I will share some of the crazy kind people who sent goodies for the night…sponsors if you will.  Can I say that?  Like my tiny little craft night has sponsors?!?!?!

First, I super missed Mom Saturday.  I miss her all the time, but Saturday was such a big day for me…for my heart…my confidence…my letting go and trusting Jesus that I was in fact heading in the direction He wanted me headed…and on those days the “missing my Mom like crazy” factor is on high alert.  After the night wrapped up and I was walking up the stairs with a giant basket of fabric to put away I noticed it was after midnight and all I could think was how she and I would have still been on the phone hashing out the whole night and her wanting to be the very first person I called when the night ended…how she would have wanted every last stinkin’ detail.  And I cried…because when you have someone that good and grand and supportive and encouraging, it’s so very hard when they’re gone.  She was my #1 cheerleader.  She easily thought I was crazy sometimes and would tell me, but always followed it up with, “Well, if anyone can do it, Laura you can.”  She believed in me fiercely and it’s a bit hard when that is gone.

But let me tell you.  When you have friends & family & strangers who rally around you and lift you up, it sure takes the edge off a bit.  Josh put in lots of time and work helping me set up, not to mention putting up with my crazy mood ups and downs.  He’s a keeper…for realz.  Susan…or Ms. Flowers…was a giant cheerleader for the night.  She bopped around our house chatting and laughing and helping assist all the ladies…and they all loved her.  And when you have people who on their own decide to send in amazing goodies for the ladies, well, that makes me all weepy like.  Because here’s the truth.  I’m small time.  I’m a tiny dot on the map in the blog world.  I don’t have much weight or pull on the inter webs, so I was shocked when these amazingly kind and generous people made and mailed in these items.  They took a chance on me.  They just up and decided to give.  And to be kind in this crazy cool way.  They decided to share with others and I am truly and deeply grateful they did.

So here are our “sponsors” for the very first PPA craft night.  Check out their shops.  Buy some goodies.  Let them wow you with their creativeness and their hard work.  If you don’t see the something you were looking for, ask them about a custom order.  I know they would love to work with you.  They deserve it.  These are good good people.  People I’m blessed by.

Sasquatch Design Society is helped run by some sweet friends Nick & Marcie.  They screen print the coolest tees and design crazy awesome vinyl decals.  They seriously make the best stuff.  Nick is their designer and is insanely talented…one of those artists who all the other artists are totally jealous of.  Really, really talented.  They donated two music lyric wall decals…”Where you invest your love, you invest your life” and “Home is wherever I’m with you”.  And they do custom orders.  So if you don’t see what you’re looking for, shoot them a message and ask about a custom order.  You can check them out on their website SHOP or their ETSY STORE.

DoBee Designs is run by sweet Sara in Australia.  She makes all kinds of fun goodies and uses her craft to help spread awareness about human trafficking.  She specifically helps with My Refuge House, one of their homes in the Philippines.  Sara sent awesome necklaces for each lady, but also makes tons of other things like hair clips, bookmarks, earrings, badge reels, etc.  You can check her out on her WEBSITE or FACEBOOK PAGE.

Broward Patch is run by Jen, a creative wife, momma & photographer.  Jen makes all these awesome handmade camera goodies and she sent all the ladies a camera strap.  What, what!  And they are sooooooo nice.  She even makes the smaller point and shoot straps as well.  The fabrics are gorgeous and the straps are soft and comfy.  Jen you are just nutso nice.  You can check her out on her ETSY SHOP.

Lifelines Designs is run by Dana.  Dana does all my digital artwork…business cards, buttons, return address labels, Christmas cards, invitations, you name it and she does it digitally.  She is amazing talented and is now venturing into prints and custom prints.  Dana sent a whole set of paper goods…napkin wraps, cupcake toppers, etc along with several adorable prints.  You can check her out on her ETSY STORE or FACEBOOK PAGE.

Blueberry Silver is run by the talented Angela.  She rocks some custom handmade jewelry.  I’ve been following her on instagram since receiving her email about sending in a door prize for craft night and I literally have to resists the urge to overly like her stuff and creep her out 🙂  She is one talented lady.  I’m in dire need of, ummmmm, well, quite a few of her pieces.  You can check her out on her FACEBOOK PAGE or INSTAGRAM.  She has a WEBSITE too, but it’s having some work done right now, so check back.

Tammy, a super nice local lady also donated an amazing burlap door hanger.  It actually showed up with one of the ladies attending craft night, so I totally failed to get a picture.  Tammy also doesn’t have a store right now, but I might start harassing her to open one up 🙂  Thank you so much Tammy!  You are too kind and crafty.

And there may have been some PPA key fobs, Timbali Crafts and Noonday Collection as well because every woman needs a key fob and Timbali and Noonday are near and dear to my heart.  They must be shared.

There you have it.  Generous and kind and talented artists.  Thank you, thank you, thank you…to each of you.  You blessed my heart in a very big way.

Happy Monday!

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February 21, 2014 By 3 Comments

Happiest of Nervous Fridays

Such a wild and crazy day.  So much to do.  Started out a bit rough, but we’ve turned it around.  Everyone has cooled their jets…mainly me.  I’m always the root of our problems it seems…me and my bad attitude and lack of grace.  But the happy is back now.

And tomorrow = big day.  My first official craft night…like where ladies I don’t know come to our house…to craft…and hang out.  I can barely handle it.  CANNOT…CANNOT…wait to meet everyone.  So excited.  So nervous.  So, just everything.  I think it’s going to be a really grand day.  And I find my mind wandering far into the future when this may be a regular occurrence and that makes my heart want to jump out of my chest with anticipation and more excitement.  Thankful to God for the chance at this adventurous ride.

Happy Friday and have a fabulous weekend.

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February 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ABCDE & F

A)  Craft night…two days away…holy cow.  So flippin’ excited and nervous and I just can’t wait.  After I get this one under my belt, and all goes well 🙂 I’ll share the March dates.  They will be made available to the ladies on my wait list first and then I’ll make the remaining spots available here on my blog.  Oh goodness.  So so incredibly fun and exciting.  I just can’t even express how full my heart feels.  Cannot wait to meet and craft with everyone who’s coming on Saturday!

B)  I’m 4 days into my 21 Day Fit Challenge and I’m really enjoying it.  Here’s the other thing…Susan and I just figured out it’s actually called the 21 Day Fix Challenge.  We’ve been talking about it and telling everyone and hash tagging it up on Instagram…yep, wrong name.  Ha. But I’m sticking with me #21dayfit because I’m committed to the wrong hashtag already.  So far I am learning a lot and feel great.  It’s all about portion control and eating the right foods and getting in your exercise.  They give you the prettiest rainbow colored boxes so you can visually see what your portions should look like and I seriously thought I would starve…and I haven’t.  They are really good portions and you get to eat lots of healthy foods that are good for you.  If you want to learn more about the program you can contact sweet Marta and she will get you all the information you need.

Susan and I have been working out at like ummmmm, 4:45am, which is redonk, but we have to so we can get it in.  We have resolved to taking zero face pictures because, well, it’s 4:45am.  Who looks good that early?!!

 

 

C)  We can do hard things.  It’s true.  Like when I made some friends my absolute favorite cake, Bunny’s Cake, yesterday and did not, I repeat, did not have a taste test to make sure it wasn’t poisonous.  It was a flat out miracle.  Praise Jesus.

D)  Key fobs.  Golly, I love the color.  They make me happy and it makes me even happier to be mailing them out all over the place.  I’m feeling a little behind because I still have several canvas orders in mid work…which drives my OCD brain crazy, but I have to get my first craft night finished and then I’ll get back down to business.  Thank you for your patience all you canvas order people 🙂

E)  I was kind of afraid Amon was leaving his randomly falling asleep days behind…He just hasn’t been randomly falling asleep lately… that is…until today…when he got a little too comfy eating his Cheerios…and it made my day.

And F) You guys had me totally cracking up yesterday about all your kid’s clothing quirks.  You care-less kid dressers made me feel normal.  And all you ladies who dress your kids nice and keep them stylin’ thank you for making up for my ragamuffin kids…you give kids everywhere a good name 🙂  Glad the world is made up of so many different types of people.  It’s awesome.

Happy Thursday!

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February 19, 2014 By 14 Comments

Kids Clothing Confession

As an adult lady, I totally wish I was more stylin’.  I’ve tried, I really have, but just have a terrible sense of style.  I constantly rock tees and cardis, the same 4 pairs of jeans, the same three pairs of shoe and a few dashes of jewelry.  It’s my MO.  So when it comes to my kids’ clothes, guess what, I’m the same way.  What they wear does not stress me out.  I buy all the boys clothes at one consignment sale and most of Harper’s there too, throw them in their dressers and they dress themselves.  It saves me time and energy every day.  And you may gasp, but they have no church clothes or church shoes.  Eeek.  Some of you are dying right now.  That’s right, the same clothes and shoes they wear Monday-Saturday are up for grabs on Sunday as well.  I think God is totally fine with it.

We live in a small house.  We are still looking to move…EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. but the housing market is kind of craptastic right now.  Our house has a grand total of 2 closets…one in our room and one in Harper’s room.  Oh there is also this tiny closet under our steps that holds our vacuum.  Forgot about that bad boy.  The boys have no closet.  When we look at houses, I always admire the closets.  I dream about closets.  Closets make me all hot and bothered and blush a crazy shade of red.  I can’t wait for closets.

Ever since Hudson was born they have used the exact same little green dresser.  First drawer: undies & socks.  Second drawer: pants.  Third drawer: shirts.  Fourth drawer: PJs.  It’s a free for all when they get dressed…whatever suits their fancy.  And they are so rough on their clothes, I buy a very minimal amount because more than likely it will end up stained and with a hole in it.

Side note:  I noticed after taking this picture the boys were proudly displaying a pumpkin stem in their room beside Sol’s Skylander.  They have so many weird things collected, but this is one of my favorites.

Since Amon came along, we’ve been talking about getting a bigger dresser of Mom’s out of storage.  Here’s Amon’s “closet”.

Yep.  Those two little baskets hold all of his clothing and they reside on a shelf in our closet.  And when I’m behind on laundry…he’s pants less…which is often…because I hate laundry…and toddlers are allowed to go pants less…not adults.

Harper, goh…it’s the same song just more colorful.  Ha.  We bought her little dresser before she was born and painted it white.  It’s so beat up and old and the drawers are all wonky, but I love it.  I’m just realizing my sneaky OCDness…same as the boys…First drawer: undies and socks.  Second drawer: pants/skirts/tights.  Third drawer:  shirts.  And fourth drawer: Pjs.  Pay no mind to her crooked lamp shade.  You can’t stop looking at it can you?!?!?  IT’S.ALL.I.CAN.SEE.NOW.

Sidenote:  So what about that monkey picture?  Nice interior decorating Harper.  After she watched Night At The Museum with Susan, she tore this sucker out of one of Josh’s magazines because it reminded her of the monkey in the movie.  Cracked me up.

Harper actually does have a closet, but it’s main purpose is to organize toys that belong to everyone…puzzles, games, legos, craft supplies, kitchen toys, etc.  Other than that there are a few dresses, jackets, dress up stuff and one lonely snow suit.  It also holds everyone’s jackets since her room is by the kitchen and back door.

I know when you have a baby you tend to have way too many clothes bought up.  After Harper’s first year I remember sitting in a sea of clothing and realizing she hadn’t even worn some of the outfits once and most of them she had only worn a few times.  That kind of thing overwhelmed me for some reason.  When you have a small house and not a lot of space you typically only hang onto things you really love or need.  Same goes for our kids’ clothes.  And it’s one thing I can do to make our life just a little more simple.  The things I do for my sanity.  So if you see us out and the boys are dressed like ragamuffins with holy pants or Harper is colorfully dressed in wrinkled stripes and plaid and rainbows, just remember I had nothing to do with it 🙂

Happy Wednesday!

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