Archives for October 2015

October 30, 2015 By 1 Comment

Hello Friday!

I am so excited it’s Friday.  We’ve got sleepover plans tonight and then Halloween and swimming and Solomon’s last baseball game for fall league.  I just know it’s going to be a grand weekend.

Last night was my Noonday Collection party.  It was beyond fun.  Thank you to everyone who came out or ordered online.  The show is still open for online orders and we are so close to an amazing goal and lots of free stuff to giveaway.  If you would like to place an online order just GO HERE and our party will still get all the credit.  I did some birthday and Christmas shopping and cannot wait to pick out all the goodies to share with you guys.  I’m really really hoping I can get one of these amazing bags to mail off to one of you plus hopefully more.  Wouldn’t you just die if one of these showed up in your mailbox?!?!?!

 Noonday never ceases to amaze me.  I found some new favorites last night like the Minted Necklace, Velocity Necklace, Crescent Moon Earrings, Sharma Earrings and The Bazaar Bangles.  The cuteness is too much.

I did major cooking for the party.  I kind of just love for people to fill our house and eat.  I never want there to be lacking in the food department so I am an over-preparer.  I made sausage balls with hot sausage…always, ham & swiss poppyseed rolls, chips with salsa and queso…let’s be honest, this trio will be in heaven, a veggie plate, gooey butter cake, Nutter Butter Balls dipped in white chocolate, my favorite chocolate chip cookies and THE BEST iced sugar cookies.

I did eat a few pieces of gooey butter cake because A) It’s magnificent and B) it totally and completely reminds me of my mom.  I also partook in an iced sugar cookie as well…along with some other non-sweet treats.  You gotta live.  Then this morning I bagged up all the remaining items and sent them to school and Josh Kelley’s office.  #getthetreatsoutofmyface

The Made South Holiday Market is right around the corner.  I don’t think I’ve ever worked the way I am working for this thing.  Maybe it’s because my brother is hosting and maybe it’s also because it’s a big anniversary day for our family, but either way I’m giving it my all and working on some fun surprises for my booth and some giveaways for some lucky peeps.

 Sometimes I get in such a fury of work and busy I push my Bible journaling to the end of my list.  Last week I was really bad about this.  I made zero time for Jesus and a lot of time for everything I else I felt just HAD to be done.  This did not fare well with my heart and God quickly reminded me of what needs and deserves to be first.  This week I made it top priority and I can see a difference in my mannerism and thoughts and work ethic and relationships and and and.  He matters the most…without Him I’m nothing and oh the truths He’s been teaching me this week.  They have been good and lovely and hard to hear about myself, but needed.

2 Timothy 3:16-17  “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”

Friday is at hand now.  I’ve got two napping kiddos and 4 big kids to pick up shortly.  And the rest of the weekend looking big and bright ahead of me.

Happy Friday!

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October 28, 2015 By 3 Comments

Containers

It’s 10:30 pm.  The Royals Mets game just ended and Jimmy Falon is coming on.  I just finished making enough food to feed an army in preparation for my Noonday Collection party tomorrow night.  I do hope you’ll join us.  Even if you just want to come eat, laugh, hang out and get a hug…all are welcome!  And if you don’t want to come alone…don’t.  Ask a friend…the more the merrier.  If you can’t make the party and still want to order some goodies you can do that HERE or call your order in tomorrow night.  Either works.  Can’t wait to see everyone…parties are my favorite…especially when we’re coming together to purchase with great purpose.

I have been in full on hustle lately.  In the midst of madness God sat 2 Timothy 2:21 on my heart big time.

“Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.”

Saturday Josh was coaching his high schoolers in the last Full Count game of the season.  The games are always my favorite.  I love watching the guys play and Josh with his dad & brother coach.  Our kids run wild and our littlest throws endless fits in the grass.  It’s just what we do.  Every game I watch as these high schoolers give high-5s and fist bumps to all our kids, throw ball with Amon and chat with the boys.  There’s something about watching a teen grab one of our boys’ light sabers and then have an epic battle with Hudson in the dug out.  My kids beam.  They are absolutely containers God is using.

I was in Harper’s class helping with an art project and all I could think was how blessed we are by our local school and our teachers.  I’ve been thinking about them a lot this week.  We have damn good teachers.  They are asked to do so much.  They are stressed and overwhelmed and stretched so flippin’ thin and yet they keep showing up and loving on all these precious littles…including ours…and so much more.  They do everything and then are asked to do more.  They are definitely the kind of containers God is using.

I had to grab some groceries today and as I walked through the store I chatted with different employees.  I love our Kroger and not for any other reason other than their sweet employees.  Each time I get to talk with Gayle, Jim, Richard, Kieva, Mandy, Shellie, Derek and so many other amazing people.  I was loading my groceries into my car and I heard Scott say hello.  He was walking in from the parking lot…he works in the meat department…and he grabbed the older lady’s cart next to me while calling her by name and then helped me load the rest of my groceries and then took my cart as well.  Scott is definitely the type of container God is using.

Every time I go to the bank I think about Mom.  It was her home away from home…these were her people.  I go through the drive-thru 10 times out of 10…because…5 kids!  Each and every time I’m greeted by Ms. Linda and Ms. Lisa.  They have known me forever ever ever.  They love me and my kids so well.  They have given our children approximately 4,672 treats and each and every time there are cheers.  It does not get old.  They look up my account number despite me being a very capable 32-year-old who should know her own account number by now.  They shred papers for me.  They order me checks and help me fix my card when going out of the country.  They, along with Brian, basically keep me afloat.  And no matter what they smile and laugh and just make me feel loved.  They are the type of containers God is using.

Over and over again I see these crazy good people just doing what they do…day in and day out, but with such great purpose.  I want to do what they do.  I want to just do my thing, but with such love and care like they do…making people feel like they matter…that they are seen and known and loved.

“Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.”

Just yes!

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October 26, 2015 By 4 Comments

Important Monday Things

A few things this rainy Monday in Nashville:

Our sugar detox finished up yesterday and shockingly we’ve decided to keep at it because Josh Kelley and myself are feeling amazingly good.  I’m not drinking my one-a-day spark anymore (that was my caffeine) and not crashing around 3 everyday like I use to so this is awesome.  We’re eating all meals at home which is saving us money to use on better things like others.  And we both shed a few pounds as well.  I totally recommend Marta’s sugar detox…it’s no gimmick and it’s all about eating basic and easy.  I’m a believer.  And I can’t say how prep-work was huge for me and making life just easier in general.

This crockpot pot roast is insanely good and provided lots of extra lunches.  Just make it like now.

We legit didn’t cheat at all.  I even baked 1000 cookies and served a Dairy Queen ice cream cake…this is madness people, madness, but I’m so glad we stuck with it.

And let’s not even discuss my feelings about passing on a caramel apple bar at church last night.  Holy Moly!

Josh and I did eat some amazing Ethiopian food for a quick lunch date today.  GOJO in Nashville is crazy good…so much so, we decided while eating we were going to have an Ethiopian Christmas party for our family and have them cater.  So flippin’ good.

My big Noonday Collection party is this Thursday.  I promise not to feed you a bunch of chia seeds and flax, hahahahaha.  I haven’t gone that mad party people and you know I believe baked goods can change the world…still do 🙂  Anyways, I’m food planning and getting ready for a fun ladies night.  I cannot wait. I’m already making my gift list for all the things I’m going to purchase too…think Christmas!!!!!  This is the perfect time to purchase with a purpose.  I only support companies I whole heartedly believe in and Noonday is high, high on my list.  They’re amazing.

The more people who purchase the more goodies I get to pick out for a big thank you giveaway.  It’s going to be too fun.  And if you can’t make the party or live out of town just head over HERE and make your online purchase and our party still gets the credit.  Thanks in advance for supporting such a great group of artisans all over the world.

 And I made 235 key fobs last week.  This may sound like an exaggeration, but it’s shockingly not.  Made South Holiday Market here I come.  I’m going to work my tale off for the next 20 some odd days and try and make this thing happen.  Grab a ticket today and come by my booth and say…I’ll probably give you a hug!

Happy Monday.

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October 22, 2015 By 1 Comment

Faves

There’s been a sick kid in the house which ate up my day yesterday.  Typically I work on Mondays and Wednesdays while the littles are in MDO, but yesterday was pretty much for the birds and snuggles.

Quick post for today with a few favorite things:

This picture…these are what we call Hudson’s “dead eyes”…he does them often.

This baseball player…definitely this baseball player.

This verse in 1 Timothy.  Just a big YES!!!

This Noonday bracelet.  I love all things Noonday, but there are 2 pieces of their jewelry which stand as my favorite of favorites…the practically vintage happy day necklace from long, long ago and the Metric Cuff.  I seriously wear this bracelet every single day.  It’s redonk.

This picture from Disney.  They are trying to remove the sword in the stone with all their little might 🙂

THIS art project I found on Pinterest to do with Harper’s 3rd grade class.  So so excited about this.  I think it’s going to be a great fall project.

 

These cookies.  Oh man, oh man.  They are speaking to me.  I’ll probably dream about them tonight.

 

 And Ngugnwane.  God knocked our socks off and we’re just going to keep going where He leads.  Next up, a garden for fresh veggies.  We’ve got a new page all set up and ready to go.  Check it out HERE and please feel free to share, share, share!

Happy Thursday!

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October 20, 2015 By 7 Comments

5 Things

Hi!

1.  The sugar detox is still going strong…I did not eat the skittles.  Josh Kelley and I have not cheated any and we both feel great.  Do I miss cookies?  Well, of course.  Who wouldn’t miss cookies…and popcorn…and other crunchy things.  I love a good crunch, but we’re still going strong.  We’ve been trying to get creative with foods so they don’t get monotonous.  BLTs with turkey on coconut bread, fried cauliflower “rice”, chicken and lime soup and nuts & water with lemon are still my go-to.  The fried cauliflower was delicious and the entire family devoured it…I added a bunch of shredded chicken to it and extra tamari.  The chicken and lime soup is all made up and sitting in our fridge…I’ll report back.

I’ve never cooked more in my life and we do major food prep on Sundays.  So washing and cutting up all our veggies, washing all the fruits, prepping multiple meals ahead of time to make them quick during our busy week and cooking all our meats.  I think one of the keys to this is being prepared.

Sidenote:  I started soaking our fruits in 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water for 10 minutes and it has prevented molding.  I was shocked.  I could not believe it worked, but it has and now I’m a believer.  Thank you Pinterest.

2.  Sunday we absolutely wore these 2 out.  I mean OUT!  And then they were adorable sleeping like little zombies on our couch…which our littlest wrote all over with a brown marker last week.  We shall never speak of this again.  Ugh!

3.  Probably should have put this under #1, but oh well.  I didn’t get to sample these because they were eaten up immediately and Harper said they were the best pancakes I’ve ever made.  I could have partaken because I left out the honey/maple syrup.  I was thinking about topping them with almond butter and berries, but then all these small humans devoured them before I knew it.  Gone.

4.  I hope you added the Noonday party to your calendar.  And if you can’t make it, don’t forget you can order any Noonday items HERE and our party still gets the credit.  Perfect timing for Christmas and you are making those purchases count.

And 5.  I finished up a few last orders and now I am in full on Made South Holiday Market prep.  Yesterday I cut out 5000 pieces of key fob fabric 🙂  This whole show thing is brand new to me, so we will see how this goes.  If you want to snag some PPA goodies in time for Christmas grab an early bird ticket for the market and come check out our booth.

Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start.  It’s practically, almost Friday!

Happy Tuesday.

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October 19, 2015 By 3 Comments

Noonday Love

If you’ve come around these parts for any amount of time you already know how much I love Noonday Collection.  I remember when this company first started and Jessica let me give away the most amazing necklace made in Ethiopia…and it’s had my heart ever since.  Now Noonday is growing by leaps and bounds and I just can’t support them enough.  Making purchases which have great purpose is super important to me.  Supporting these companies which are reaching far beyond their little communities and into the world just makes me giddy.  With Christmas right around the corner, it seemed like the perfect time to host another show.

So here’s your official invite.

When:  Thursday, October 29th

Where:  Our house

What Time:  5:30ish-830ish

There will of course be yummy food and drinks and tons of laughter.  I promise to do something awkward because it’s kind of my party trick…you know, that thing I just do.  There will be amazing Noonday products to look at, look books to drool over, I promise to feed you well and I’m sure to give you a big bear hug.

The more people who purchase, the more free items we get to pick out.  Then we are going to take those free items and have a big “thank you” giveaway.  It’s sure to be fun!

If you are not local or cannot make the party, no worries!!!  You can still make a purchase online even now by GOING HERE or you can call in your order party night!!!  2 great and easy options and our party still gets the credit which is amazing.  Think Christmas or birthday or a “treat-yo-self” purchase.

 

So mark your calendars now…maybe you already have 🙂  Invite a friend or more.  The more the merrier is always my party moto.  I’d love to fill our house up with amazing women supporting such an amazing company.  And feel free to pass along the info to all your peeps…email me or shoot me a message HERE if you need additional information.

I’m so excited I can barely stand it.  These are the things I love to mark in my calendar, shop and bake for.  It will be such a fun night so please feel free to join us.

Happy Monday.

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October 16, 2015 By 5 Comments

Friday Thoughts: “Surrender”

I was just now standing in our kitchen watching Harper and her friend play in the backyard and then I felt my bloggy urge.  I do this sometimes when my emotions feel off kilter and things feel semi awry in my head.  I think, “I know.  I’ll type all these messy feelings out and then send them off into the inter webs.  Yes, good idea Self.”  Now I’m standing in the kitchen with my laptop and typing away.  Josh Kelley got off a little early and needed to pick up something at his parents so he took all the boys with him.  Our littlest is drawing like Picasso on her magnadoodle…by the way it’s her fave.

Things feel way out there to me today.  I’ve been worrisome lately too.  This is not me.  I am not a worrier partly because Mom was SUCH a worrier, so I made this pact with myself “You shall not be a worrier.  Not ever.  Ever. Ever.  Ever.  The end.”  I actually down play things I should probably take more seriously.  But now all of a sudden I’m letting my mind camp out on a whole laundry list of kid worries:

Harper’s worth and beauty in Christ alone.  Amon’s heart defect <—–this one is huge for me…if I give myself even a millisecond it can spiral.  Hudson’s sensitive heart and all the emotions he feels. Solomon’s heart and how he is processing being adopted.  We’re not instilling in him & Amon enough Ethiopian culture.  Middle school & high school.  When Josh and I lose are cool are we causing permanent damage and can yelling at your kids kill their little brain cells 🙂  We need to enjoy them more.  Am I passing on my emotional eatingness <—real word.  Do we expect too much from them.  Are we too hard on them.  Will they love me when they’re grown, will they love each other when they’re grown and will they love Jesus with reckless abandon, etc, etc, etc.  This is not where I like for my thoughts to be.  The other night, clear as day while cutting 5 bajillion letters, His still small voice, which I feel I hear so rarely, said “surrender”.  I immediately grabbed a piece of paper and wrote it down “surrender”.  Such a small word with such a larger than life meaning.  I have been repeating it to myself over and over and over again.  He wants it all…including them.

Littlest is still with us.  We sat in church with her and her parents Sunday night and I could have easily wept a big river.  Why would God allow us into this work He is doing?!?  I mean, front row seat of His redemption and grace and mercy and love…for all of us.  We don’t deserve it and yet here it is for everyone.  No one person more deserving than the other.  I sang my heart out because it just felt like one of those precious, sanctified moments.  I felt so undeserving, but crazy grateful God would allow us into these people’s lives.  I don’t know when she will be going home…I think soon, but I just keep repeating it “surrender”.

I’m doing a show for the first time…The Made South Holiday Market.  Strike that.  I did a small craft show at a local church one time maybe 7 years ago.  It went horrible.  I don’t think I sold one thing.  I’ve attempted to block it from my memory.  Anyways, my brother offered me a spot and I accepted.  And then I went into a full on tailspin.  I make to order.  I never have stuff just sitting around.  This is a legit show.  In a month.  I immediately started panicking like what had I done.  I don’t even know how to set up a booth, but I was clear headed enough to know I wanted lights and lots of white bunting.  This is the extent of my brain.  I was literally sweating.  And then I remembered to just surrender.  Let it the flip go Laura and if you flop, you flop.  And if you soar, you soar.  Either way, the world still spins and God is still on His throne.

I realize I struggle with about 5,000 things.  I like to down play them to myself to feel better and then all of a sudden they all creep in at once and I freak out.  I’m a total emotional eater…hence my desire to do a sugar detox…day 5 by the way.  I wish my business was stronger.  I have no idea how the Bible journaling video will be received, but I bring the awkward.  It feels like God is planting new seeds in my heart which pretty much terrifies me.  Contentment with the state He has us.  Bills, bills & more bills…oh and a leaky bathtub, ha!  My Mom feels really distant now which is a new hard…4 years seems like a lot and yet a little…do you know what all has happened in 4 years?!?!?!  I might have stared at her handwriting a little too long today #creepy  Friendships are hard for me…I don’t do them well and our family is large which might make people take a step back.  I find worth in all the wrong things…like “likes” on Instagram.  I give too much thought to how a blog post will be received.  When someone asks me to participate in something that feels “big” I immediate question if they really knew who they were asking…inadequacy spills in on cue.  And the list rattles on.  I type this all out to remind myself to “surrender”.  He wants it all.  Every little piece.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  And I’m working on handing it over because I know I’m not made to carry this stuff around, but it feels risky letting it all go.  I’m a constant work in progress, but when I do let those pieces fly off I feel lighter and know they are in much better hands than mine.

So this is me today.  It feels messy, but I have a sneaky suspicion I’m not the only one.  I’m about to finish up making tacos for a wild little gaggle of children…the best kind.  I bought Skittles to go with tonight’s popcorn and movie.  Repeat after me:  I will not eat the Skittles.  I will not eat the Skittles.  Hope you amazing people have a great weekend.  Thanks for stopping by, reading and always being so dang kind.  You are such rare and special ones.

Have an amazing weekend.  Happy Friday!

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October 14, 2015 By 6 Comments

Day Three {Sugar Detox}

I typed out an entirely different post, but then my emotions got a little wild and I couldn’t find the words to finish up all my whirly, swirly thoughts racing around in my brain.  It’s what I do.  Maybe another day.  We just have big emotions going on around these parts lately…good, but big.  So I jumped shipped and thought I’d share a little about how the sugar detox is going via pictures and a few words instead.

(B is for boiled and the picture made me laugh)

So it’s surprisingly been much easier than I imagined.  Now with that being said it is just day 3 and my expectations were death…so I’m still breathing, I’ve killed no one and that combo is pretty much a win.

I haven’t been hungry at all.  It’s lots of meats, most veggies and some fruits & nuts, but for realz zero sugar/artificial sweeteners…in anything…or added to anything…and a bunch of zero other things too.  I think the main thing I’m missing so far, other than my norms like cookies, is my spark once a day.  I’m not a coffee or tea drinker so I’m missing an afternoon pick me up with the caffeine.

I’m also doing strange things like saving bacon grease, eating macadamia nuts and keeping a food journal.  I don’t even know who I am anymore.  The food journal is interesting, but is awesome to keep me accountable and on track.  Also, if we keep this up (I made Josh Kelley participate too) it will be handy to have on hand to look back over foods, recipes, etc.

I drink tons of water anyways, but it feels like I’m drinking even more and I’ve started adding a lemon wedge to my water once a day and it’s a great flavor change up for me.

So I guess the jury is still out.  Done with day 3 and headed into day 4.  I like a challenge and JK is the best kind of live-in accountability, so we shall see how this rides out.

Happy Wednesday night!

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