Archives for October 2016

Today is it!  This is the last day of our Socktober fundraiser with We Help Two.  I can’t even tell you how much I have loved this fundraiser.  We are closing in on a $1500 goal for our adoption expenses…you guys, that is insane.  PLUS so so so many pairs of socks to give away.

Yesterday we attended a good ole’ church potluck celebrating Room In The Inn workers.  I could have burst into tears approximately 17 times.  Josh Kelley was scanning a church brochure and pointed it my way…they are in need of socks!!!!  Well look at that.  And instantly we both knew where we would be taking all these socks.

Here’s the other thing I really really love.  We Help Two sent us samples of all their socks including the pair they donate and Josh Kelley just raves about the donation socks.  He even asked why we can’t purchase those…hahaha.  He’s kind of particular about his socks and he says they are the best.  I cannot say how much I love that the donation socks are such amazing quality especially for cold weather.  Makes my heart want to explode.  This is such a sweet ministry.

So, today is the day!!!  We are closing in hard and fast on such a massive goal.  Grab your socks by heading over to the We Help Two online sock store.  When checking out you’ll be prompted with Name of Organization You Are Helping just type in “The Kelleys“ and our family will receive 60% of your purchase to go towards our adoption expenses.  We have heard the best feedback from those of you who have already received and are wearing your socks.  Such a fun, sweet gift that has a triple purpose…fun gift, supporting our family & son and giving back to our local community through the gift of well made socks.  Triple threat.

Thank you guys so much for all your support and help already.  We are just blown away.   As always  feel free to share this and help us spread the word.  Today is the last day…let’s make it awesome.

Happy Monday!!!

If you haven’t heard about the Nashville based company Branded Collective, well, take note.  This is an awesome company who reaches beyond themselves and into their community employing survivors of human trafficking.  Their jewelry is awesome with a great price point.  I wear one of their bracelets almost every single day.  A classic staple piece that goes with everything for sure.

THIS crockpot chicken noodle soup is soooooo good and super simple.  I used 4 cups of stock and only 1 cup of water plus lots of carrots and celery to make it a thicker soup and every last Kelley devoured it.

Our newest little guy was born in the year of the snake and I’m really and truly considering getting a snake tattoo.  Never ever ever did I imagine myself dreaming about snake tattoos.  Hahahaha.

Loving THESE dessert booties by Toms.  Get on my feet.

I’m making Rice Krispy treats today for the ump millionth time.  They do not get old.  They do not wear out.  They are like the perfect dessert.  They sustain me.  They will most definitely be in heaven.  Sooooo, basically they are like manna.  BTW, I always add sprinkles to our rice krispy treats.  Always!

Loving these new pieces.  They’re headed out to their new owners today.

SOCKS!!!!  Monday, October 31st…Halloween…is the last day to place your order.  Head over to the We Help Two online sock store and snag your fun socks.  When checking out you’ll be prompted with Name of Organization You Are Helping just type in “The Kelleys“ and our family will receive 60% of your purchase to go towards our adoption expenses.  Would love to see some sock pictures for those of you who are rocking these awesome socks.

Meg has some amazing pillow covers in HER SHOP.  Seriously.  Every last one of them pretty much need to be on my couch.

Stationary forever you guys!!!  All the money from these packs of handlettered stationary head towards our adoption expenses.  Perfect little give back gift.  Hit up MY SHOP to check out all the sets.

And I can’t believe I’m about to type this, but I finally officially finished Genesis.  Hallelujah.  Praise Jesus.  Now onto Exodus.  Someone hold me and feed me cookies.

Hope you enjoy your weekend.  Happy Friday!

I wanted to drop in today and let you guys know about 2 upcoming local events.

1.  A new friend is hosting a local Christmas sale in the Nashville/Bellevue area next Thursday, November 3rd from 5:30-7:30.  There are several other small businesses who will be there as well.  This is a great opportunity to snag some Christmas gifts and support small business as well as our adoption.  Even if you just want to come out and say hi and chat, come on!!!  I will have stationary sets, key fobs and a few small canvases.  Head over HERE and check out all the details.  Message me HERE or email me if you have any questions.

2.  When we announced our current adoption a crazy kind friend said she wanted to put together a Bible journaling class at a local church.  Then things spiraled out of the most amazing and kind control and our sweet Noonday Collection ambassador Rebecca will now be at the class as well.  Our family not only receives the money from the class, but also 10% of all sales from Noonday items as well.

Here are the details:

Join us Sunday, November 6th from 2-4pm at First United Methodist in Gallatin, Tennessee for Bible journaling instruction and Noonday goodies.  Knock out some Christmas shopping while helping support artists and families around the world, as well as our adoption process.  This is a free event open to the public.

If you would like some Noonday items, but cannot make the class, again, you can place an order online HERE.  Abby Broche will be listed as your hostess.  10% of online sales will also go towards our adoption expenses.  I must take this moment to mention Noonday’s BOGO Birthday sale…so awesome.

 Hope to see some you at these events and don’t forget the last day to order socks for our Socktober fundraiser is Monday, October 31st!  Head over to the We Help Two online sock store and snag your fun socks.  When checking out you’ll be prompted with Name of Organization You Are Helping just type in “The Kelleys“ and our family will receive 60% of your purchase to go towards our adoption expenses.  Let’s tell everyone we know 🙂

Happy Wednesday!

Socks:  So we’re down to one week left in our Socktober fundraiser.  YOU GUYS…we are closing in fast on a massive goal.  You have already made almost 90 pairs of socks for donation happen.  It absolutely blows my mind.  Last day to order cool fun socks is October 31st.  Let’s just think right now about all the people in our lives who need fun socks for birthdays, Christmas, thank you gifts, just for the heck of it gifts, etc.  These socks are not only so fun and good quality, but they reach beyond just being a gift and help us with our adoption expenses and for every pack of socks sold our family gets to donate a pair to a local shelter or school.  Triple win kind of gift.

To get in on the sock action just head over to the We Help Two online sock store and snag your fun socks.  When checking out you’ll be prompted with Name of Organization You Are Helping just type in “The Kelleys“ and our family will receive 60% of your purchase to go towards our adoption expenses.  And feel free to help us spread the word.

(Our socks in the wild ^)

Christmasy Things:  I recently got my Noonday order from our fundraiser and I am head over heels in love with their Christmas ornaments and garland.  Like crazy in love.  The ornaments are made in Vietnam, Guatemala, Afghanistan and India and the garland is from Uganda.  They are so UH-MAZING.  Some crazy kind friends are hosting another big Noonday party for our family in just a few weeks, but the party link is already set up so if you want to snag some ornaments and garland (or any other Noonday goodies) before they are gone head over HERE and place your order. (Abby Borsche will be listed as your hostess.)  Our family will receive 10% of your purchase to go towards our adoption fees.

Tennessee Skies:  I love the sky.  I love clouds.  I love the colors and shapes.  I am always pointing them out to the kids because God is simply the most creative.  I love love love how the skies preach straight to my heart.  He has been showing off crazy hard lately.

Tallahassee:  I spent less than 24 hours in Tallahassee, Florida this weekend for a Bible journaling class.  Tallahassee folks are apparently the nicest!!!  I had the best time and just felt so so loved on.  These ladies really know how to welcome you in and make you feel like we’ve been friends for forever.  Every.Last.One.Of.Them.  I also came home with less stationary!!!!  Raise the roof.

And any lady who thinks I’m capable of helping them choose a paint color for their house is definitely a lady I can hang out with 🙂

 Hudson:  He is truly his very own little person.  Nothing or no one can change who he is.  He just marches to his own beat with the biggest heart and a giant smile.  Chaos can ensue and he’s steady.  I loved looking up and seeing him sitting there in his own little book world amongst a busy, bustling ball field.  Gah, I love him!

Walk To School:  If I haven’t said enough about how much I love our school let me add reason #457 to the list: National Walk To School Day.  I teared up approximately 23 times in the short little walk from our HG Hills store to our school.  Our teachers.  All the kiddos.  All the parents and grandparents and guardians and friends.  I just couldn’t.  We simply have the sweetest school and I can’t believe we could have missed out on all this goodness.

And Prayers:  We are really asking God to do the unbelievable and unthinkable and unimaginable in our newest little guy’s life and heart.  We are praying big and bold.  We are believing in the wondrous and super natural.  Yesterday we went to church with Josh’s parents and it was such a sweet time.  Harper came down the row and showed me a little prayer card she filled out and was turning in.  She asked the church to pray her little brother would come home soon and that God would heal his heart.  I teared up instantly.  I wanted to squeeze her into 1000 pieces.

My friend Di sent me a photo of a prayer card she’d drawn up for our boy.  It was crazy cute and had all the different details, big and small, written around his name.  It made me cry.  Again.

My friend Kimberlee is in Thailand this week.  She sent me this text and I bawled.  I could never ever express what this kind of prayer does for my momma’s heart.  This deep and sincere love and thoughtfulness absolutely floors me.  I want to be more like Harper, Di and Kimberlee.

Here’s to another week!  Just think what all this week will hold.  Let’s hold fast to Him and His promises.  Let’s hold fast to the fact that His ways are absolutely outlandish and we can’t even dream up what He has in store.  He is so flippin’ good.  Happy Monday!

1.  I’m headed to Tallahassee tomorrow night for a Bible journaling class Saturday morning.  I’ve been packing and getting all my supplies together.  Plus I’m taking a ton of our stationary to try and sell.  Is it wrong to pray these ladies would buy every last pack so I don’t have to bring them back home via my carry-on?!?!  When I’m going on a short trip I hate to check a bag.  Also, every time I pack my travel toiletries I think about the Walton Family and their little girl.  I don’t even know the Walton Family, but saw their adoption fundraiser back around the first of the year and snagged the cutest travel toiletry bag.  Goodness do a I love a good product that supports not just a business, but also families.  I looked it up today and they are actually still selling them.  Head over to the Fair Trade Fashionistas site and grab one.  Such a great Christmas gift.  I absolutely love mine and has held up great…and its quite travelled.

2.  Sock sales are still going strong.  I love the simplicity and the sweetness of these socks.  The fact that we get such a high percentage of each sale to go towards our adoption expenses and we get nice warm socks to give to a local shelter or school is crazy awesome.  Bethany has just been the kindest and is truly so excited for us.  She sent me this shot of more socks headed out today.  You have until October 31st to place your order.  Just head over to the We Help Two online sock store and snag your fun socks.  When checking out you’ll be prompted with Name of Organization You Are Helping just type in “The Kelleys“ and our family will receive 60% of your purchase to go towards our adoption expenses.  Thank you again a thousand times over for ordering socks.  Who knew, right?!?!?!  Socks.  I hope I never ever ever get over the insanity and sweetness of Jesus.

3.  I’ve been working on more sweet little canvases.  The “grace” canvas is actually listed in my shop HERE if you need a little gift for someone.  If you purchase it today, I will ship it out tomorrow before I head to Florida.

4.  Why, oh why, does Instagram keep doing this to me?  They clearly hate me and want me to eat yummy savory pizza and really, who am I to argue with Instagram??!?!

 5.  Amon and I had a few solo hours together this morning.  We ran some errands and early voted.  I thought this was my first time to vote, but then upon bragging to my best friend Ashley about how adult like I was feeling she reminded me I had voted once right out of high school.  I seriously was cracking up at what dorks we were.  This is absolutely something I see myself doing even now…my kids would LOVE people waving and cheering at us.

5 1/2.  Also, if you are an IPhone user please please please tell me you have updated your software.  I’m a major creature of habit and fight tooth and nail these kinds of things, but the GIF feature has changed my texting game for forever.  It is so so hilarious and I pretty much respond to everything via a GIF now.

6.  I’ve really been liking sharing our weekly meal plans with you guys lately.  I totally forgot to do so this week.  Tonight we’re having Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup…I did 4 cups of stock, 1 cup water, 2 large chicken breasts and lots of celery and carrots.  Other things we ate/are eating this week and weekend…easy chili with THIS seasoning, chicken tortilla soup, beef stew, tacos and ancho chicken with cilantro slaw.  For the ancho chicken instead of the avocado cream they make I do the following (found it somewhere and adjusted so not my own, but have no idea where I found it) A whole avocado, 1/2 cup cilantro, 1/2 lime squeezed, 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (Hudson cannot do dairy anymore so I actually just splash in some almond milk now instead) 2/3 water, 1 tsp salt, 1 TB garlic powder and 1 TB cumin.  We always have a good bit leftover, so thinking I might start cutting the recipe in half.

6 1/2.  And fun fact about the above chicken tortilla soup recipe which isn’t really mine.  Ha.  My family on my Mom’s side has their own cookbook.  Generations of amazing cooks, but sadly I just never could get my cooking act together.  My mom didn’t want me to not have a recipe in our family cookbook so she submitted one on my behalf without me knowing…I don’t even like sour cream.  Hahahahaha.  Found out “my” recipe made it in when a cousin told me how she loved my chicken tortilla soup recipe.  It still makes me laugh…similar to when I realized my mom’s infamous chocolate chip cookies recipe was the same one on the back of the Nestle chocolate chip bag.  Hahahaha.  In an effort to “Laura Kelley it up” AKA “how can I make an easy recipe even easier” I made two adjustments, plus fixed my name all via my ball point pen.

Okay.  That’s it for today.  Hope you guys are have had a great week.  Tomorrow is Friday and I’m pretty stoked.

Happy Thursday!!!

So we don’t have access to watching our sock progress, but Bethany at We Help Two did email me yesterday and said sales were going great!!!  You guys & SOCKS!!!  God is so crazy good.  Thank you, thank you for buying and sharing.  Our Socktober fundraiser will go for two weeks so between now and Halloween I will probably mention buying socks approximately 47 times.  Don’t hate me.  Here’s a live in action picture of our socks headed off to school.  The cutest, I told you!

PS: We bought zero new school clothes this year and it’s really showing up on Hudson. #bellyshirt

Don’t forget to head over to the We Help Two online stock store and snag your fun socks.  When checking out you’ll be prompted with Name of Organization You Are Helping just type in “The Kelleys“ and our family will receive 60% of your purchase to go towards our adoption expenses.

I was just bragging to Josh Kelley yesterday afternoon how calm, cool, uncrazy and hands off I’ve been in the wait so far.  And then we received several emails from our agency and my blood pressure surely went through the roof.  We had to sign a few more papers last night as our little guy’s papers have traveled to a new location.  I even figured out all on my own how to use our printer as a scanner and email the documents back immediately.  Can I just tell you how proud I was of myself!?!?!  I do not do technology well…a thorn in my side if you will…but anything for my baby boy.

I think about him a lot.  Like a lot a lot.  I wonder so many things and think all the thoughts about him and his heart and just how God is holding him so tightly right now.  I pray all the time about his transition and the loss he has and is going to suffer and beg God to be exactly what he needs and to allow our fierce love for him to cover language barriers.  For God to speak comfort and love and safety straight in to his little heart and soul.  I got my hair cut today and might have gotten my friend Brooke to buzz the underside of my hair and then edge in a heartbeat line underneath my remaining hairs.  Crazy??  Ummm, yes.  But sometimes momma’s do weird things for their kiddos.  Call my weird.  I’m embracing it.

So there you have it…a reminder to buy socks and to tell everyone you know plus one of the many weird things I’ve done while waiting for a son to come home.  I’m so glad I could enlighten you with my wisdom today 🙂

Happy Wednesday!

Well here I am again typing before you just a girl trying to raise funds for our adoption expenses.  Hahaha.  You guys are the kindest for putting up with all this fundraising.  Really and truly you are.  So thank you!!!  And here we go again.

Today we’re kicking off a two week Socktober fundraiser.  Patterned socks are all the rage right now and we’re here to make those socks do more than just warm your feet and style your shins & calves.  Isn’t God just the most creative and best?!?!  I mean, let’s just reminisce over our past month and a half of fundraising.  So far He’s used jewelry and accessories from around the world, panda tees, bundt cake, key fobs, stationary, bible journaling classes and now socks.  Yes, I really do like God.  He’s my jam.

We Help Two reached out to our family and shared about their amazing sock fundraising website.  Not only do they help families fundraise, but they also give back on top of that.

So let’s break it down.  Here’s how it will work:

Starting today through October 31st, you guys can head over to the We Help Two Sock Store and make your sock purchases.  When checking out you’ll be prompted with Name of Organization You Are Helping just type in “The Kelleys“.

Our family receives 60% of your purchase!!!!!!  That’s a crazy high percentage you guys.  Crazy high.

We Help Two ships you your socks. (try and say that 3 times fast)

For every pack of socks sold, We Help Two will also give our family a pair of socks to donate to a homeless shelter or local school.  Seriously, does it get much better than this.  Fun, funky socks, adoption and give back…they had me at “socks”.

I’m always super particular about what I share with you guys because I want things to be legit and good.  We Help Two so kindly sent us samples of all their sock options and the Kelley family is in love.  Everyone has been rocking their socks and we’re all super pleased.  Solomon and Josh Kelley are the biggest fun sock guys now.  Solomon might have to wear a uniform to school, but he rocks some funky socks with it now too.  It’s the cutest.

This is such a great Christmas or birthday gift.  Maybe just a “Hey, I like you” gift.  Stocking stuffer at it’s finest.  And you get to tell the recipients their gift made a bigger impact in this world.  Ahhhhh, I just love it so much.  It makes me teary because it’s just an honor to participate in these things.  We feel so crazy blessed.

So there you have it.  2 weeks people.  2 weeks to order socks for every person in your life.  Dads, moms, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, neighbors, strangers, grandparents, nieces, nephews, favorite banker, postal employee, produce gal at your super market.  Come on.  Everyone loves a fun pair of socks.  And please help us share.  Let’s take to the inter webs and Instagram, Facebook, Tweet, Pinterest and email like there’s no tomorrow.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  We are praying audacious, giant, impossible things for our boy because God is in the audacious, giant and impossible business.  Makes my heart beat faster.  He is good!

Happy Tuesday!

You guys, I have so many things to tell you about today.  Ahhhh, exciting things.  Maybe not like crazy exciting, but semi to kind of exciting never the less.  Okay, where to begin.  I’m just going to dive right into all the random goodness.  I’m feeling bullet point-ish today.  Let’s begin.

*We have another fun fundraiser starting up tomorrow.  Are you already thinking Christmas??  Josh Kelley mentions Christmas every single day.  He loves Christmas like I love sugar.  Anyways, let’s all think Christmas because this fundraiser is such a fun little gift or stocking stuffer for pretty much everyone you know.  Details coming tomorrow.

*I took a little walk down memory lane via my blog and found all these precious pictures.  My big kid date last Monday has really taken up major residence in my brain.  I just keep thinking about these 3 as littles together.

And this picture made me gasp.  Gosh darn do I miss her.

*Friday night I stayed up far too late putting together a new board on Pinterest of all the shops I love who reach beyond themselves and into the world.  With Christmas just around the corner thought I would make things a little easier on myself and wanted to share it here too.  You can check it out HERE.  Tons of great companies…purchasing with purpose.  I’ve seriously purchased from almost every one of these businesses.

*Speaking of purchase with a purpose…MY SHOP is still stocked full of stationary and my online Bible journaling class.  All money is going straight towards our adoption expenses.  Tell your family, friends, neighbors and strangers.  Tell the world 🙂

*Harper and I we’re twinning the other day and I made her take a minimum of 37 pictures with me.  I have LOVED seeing you guys in your panda tees.  I mean really, makes us feel all the love.

*Made me laugh out loud.

*Completed some canvases last week and it’s kind of my true artistic love.  I love to sew, but canvas work really owns my color loving, creative heart.

*Sad shoe news to report:  So I got my awesome Oliberte shoes only to find out they are too small.  Apparently they run small and it’s eBay and I haggled them down on the price and there are no returns.  There was lamenting and gnashing of teeth and tearing of my sackcloth.  And now I am trying to stretch the shoes out by shoving my big fat feet in them while wearing extra thick socks everyday around the house.  It’s the worst.  In other news, I might be selling these bad  boys if my stretching technique fails.  Alas.

*Last week Solomon ate leftover Easy White Chicken Chili 3 times for snack after school.  He totally cracks me up.  Chili for snack.  Gah, I like him.

*I’M STILL IN GENESIS AND DON’T THINK I’LL EVER FINISH.  Maybe the all caps was a little dramatic, but it sure does feel like I am never going to finish Genesis.  Ever.  Must press on.  Must finally finish Genesis.  Harper said the other day, “You think you’ll finish reading the Bible in 5 years?”  It’s not looking like it Harper.  Geez.

*I made 3 pretty tasty treats this weekend for friends.  THESE, THESE and the fattest, sprinkle covered rice krispy treats in all the lands.  In my wise old age of 33 I have decided if I had to pick one dessert to eat for the rest of my life it would be the traditional rice krispy treat.  Every time I make them, the smell alone instantly reminds me of my Mom.  Ahhhhh, I just love it.

*And we had a really hard weekend with our littlest.  I wish I had something better to say, but it was just a hard weekend and last night ended with me feeling more down and out rather than rested like the weekend usually does for me.  There was a lot of frustration and anger and shame and not my best parenting at all.  I wanted to run away, but His mercies are new every morning and I get another shot at this thing…grace, grace and more grace…give me all the grace cause I’m a hot mess.  Added bonus…today I get a few hours solo to breath and create and just be by myself.  It’s going to be good.

Happy Monday!