Simply Feather

No Promises

2011-06-12T19:27:00.000-06:00

the last nine months have been...busy. i don't like to use the word "busy" because it seems to imply that life is moving faster for me than it is for others, and i just don't believe that's true. but, we have been busy...but a different busy than we/i have been accustomed to. and with new busy there's change, and with change there's adjustment. there's been a lot of adjustment.

i spent the last 3 years of my life at home raising my three kids and mastering the art of stay-at-home-momdom. i loved that period in my life. and i'd like to believe that i was very good at it. as was documented on this blog, i nurtured my creative side and spent my days creating beauty within and around my home and drawing from the other creatives in my life (on-line and off) to drive my passion for life even more.

and then life changed.

and i truly love this new change. this new busy. this new life. and i think i'm quite good at this, too.

but this new life does not leave room for the creative soul.

actually, i take that back. there's always room for creativity, but the creativity i'm using now does not match the creativity that i used to build this blog. are you following me? because that is what has kept me from continuing here in this space. my world nine months ago does not match my world now, and i built this blog on my life of last year.

and now i *might* want to reconcile the two.

after we returned home this afternoon from a family adventure, i urged my kids to sit down and journal their days' experience. and then i realized that journalling is exactly what mama needed to do, too.

so i'm here.

no promises.

definitely no sewing.

no painting or drawings or other creative pieces.

my simple photography and simple words.

simply feather.

Owly Baby

2010-12-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

i'm absolutely drooling over this project from owly baby!

antique frame, linen, simple embroidery...that's near perfection for me.

don't you just love it when you find that thing that you didn't even know you were looking for?

apparently, i've been looking for this project. now, i've got to find a really great frame.

bummer...i guess i'll be thrifting today!

A Little Vintage Number

2010-12-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

i just introduced this little vintage number to my office this afternoon...

a metal rolling typewriter cart-turned printer stand.

i fell in love with it when i first saw it on craigslist, and fell even more in love with the price...

5 bucks.

and 1 mile from my house.

couple that with it's beautiful, original green color, and we have near perfection!

welcome home, my friend!

that, my friends, is near perfection.

A Christmas Full of Blessings

2010-12-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

as i'm cooking here in the kitchen this morning, preparing for the eve's festivities, i can't help but feel a huge sense of joy. this will be our first christmas spent in this house, a place that i can now lovingly and comfortably call home. this is home and i am full of happiness and love in this space.

we are blessed beyond numbers, not because we have things or the right home or all the right stuff, but because we recognize...we recognize that family makes a home, family and friends and those relationships bring us the most happiness in this life.

i am blessed today to be a mother, and although that role can be cumbersome and busy and stressful, i get to care for these children.

i am blessed today to be my husband's wife, and although he didn't take out the garbage or gaze into my eyes this morning, he will make up for those minuscule offenses by being by my side and smiling with me as we watch our children anticipate the magic of the season.

i am blessed today to be a sister, and although i must admit that i am no longer strong enough to do damage to my brothers in a living-room wrestling match, i get to put up a weak and squealing fight...just to know that adulthood does not keep them from wanting to touch me.

i am blessed today to be a daughter, to hear my parents' love in their words, to feel their love in their touch, and to see the love and pride in their eyes.

and i am blessed today to be a friend. the saying goes, choose your friends wisely, and i must say i have surrounded myself by a remarkable and inspiring handful of beautiful friends. the blessing is not in having friends, but being loved by them.

may this christmas find you all well...well loved, well blessed, and well fed!

merry christmas, my friends!

The Office

2010-12-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

step into my office...

keep in mind that when we moved in, it looked like this. i knew when i moved in that this little corner on the left would be where my desk would sit, with those beautiful built-ins right behind.

i love this room...maybe the most. i spend a lot of time in here with my from-home office, and i host weekly business meetings out of this room.

you can see where the dining room connects to this room...

this is the view from the front entryway. this room is what spawned the painting on the ceilings. notice in the "before" picture that there was red on the ceiling. that took a lot of primer to correct! i edged the square in a nutty yellow color, which is also my hallway color. eventually, i'd like to get some gold-toned curtains on the windows.

this is the view from my desk. i love looking out the window, although i look forward to spring when i can really work on the scenery out there!

this room was the first room finished, and that was weeks ago, if not a month now. this weekend i worked on the hallway and laundry room, which i look forward to showing soon!

if you need me, i'll be in the garage. i have doors to repaint!

The Dining Room

2010-12-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

it's time to bite the bullet and share some before and after photos with you!

i've been holding out, but that's just because i don't feel like anything in complete yet.

i'm going to go ahead and reach for a B- here and accept that perfection isn't necessary!

so these pictures are of my dining room. the dining room and attached office/den/livingroom (how do you know which one is which?) were the first rooms i painted.

when we moved in, they looked like this:

i had more than one issue with these rooms. mainly, the red. on just half of the walls

(and do you see that red was painted up on the ceiling? yuck.)

and then there was the wallpaper border. i'm sure it looked good with someone else's things, but not mine.

this is the same little nook you saw on the right in the before photo.

i chose a color palette before i painted, and the dining room is a bit darker in color than the office/den/livingroom. i was shooting for a grey undertone, but ended up with more of a slate blue hue. i've never been a blue girl, but i am loving the feel of this color and scheme. it blends nicely with the kind of yellows i'm drawn to.

i spent almost two weeks re-working these rooms.

first the wallpaper had to come down.

then the walls were painted.

then the trim was painted, and color then edged back on.

then the ceilings were painted,

...and here is where i learned my first major lesson in this house;

alwaysalwaysalways paint ceilings and trim before walls. especially ceilings!

so then i went back again to edge the wall color against the newly painted ceiling.

that was a lot of edging! twice.

but it's done, and i'm at peace in these rooms,

and my eyes like what i see!

and all is right in the world...

until i walk past that sea-foam green den!

Comforted

2010-12-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

sometimes the peace and comfort one is looking for...

is right in front of her.

What This House Says About Me

2010-12-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

we're moved in, almost completely. yet, i'm not settled.

is this normal?

have i been oblivious to the experiences of others in their new homes?

i have not blogged about this house, beyond a few vague pictures in the beginning. for most of a month, i didn't write, didn't blog, and didn't photograph. anything.

i'm getting into a reflective space...i'm looking back at the last month and trying to figure out how i got here, what emotions i've been suppressing, and what feelings i have been running from.

in those weeks of packing, the physical move, and the unpacking, and in the endless days of painting as of late, i truly never felt the desire to pick up my camera. so much of my writing is about visuals. visual stimulation and inspiration.

this house have been completely UNinspiring.

the original paint colors in some of the rooms left me physically unable to be in them. by staying away from the dingy sea foam green in the livingroom, i didn't have to be reminded of the yucky feel the room left me with. i didn't decorate, arrange, or even face that space for weeks. i literally kept my back to the livingroom while in it's vicinity.

with these kinds of feelings about the house, there was nothing to share with anyone. my mother-in-law repeatedly asked me to send pictures of the house. i had pictures (i took pictures of every corner of the house before we moved in),but i could not get myself to post them, or to even send them, ...out of fear.

what if i show you our house and you don't like it?

i don't like what i see now, but i have a vision for this house and it's potential.

what if you can't see the potential?

what if you see it for what it is:

neglected

disjointed

outdated

overgrown

then what does that say about me?

my home has become a reflection of who i am, but this house does not reflect who i am or who my family is.

am i crazy?

let me also say this:

i am very proud of this house.

what this house does represent to me right now is the team effort of my husband and i. we are hard workers, and honest people. my husband is financially smart and savvy, and has always led us to smart financial decisions.

and i'm thrifty...and sometimes i'm frugal.

we've earned this house: we've never gotten wrapped up in "bigger is better" and we've never bitten off more than we can chew.

someday, this house will become our dream house.

the house my kids grown up in. the one that my kids bring their friends to.

the one that is inviting, warm, and full of love.

that's really all that matters.

and that's what i'm working towards.

In the Beginning...

2010-12-02T12:04:00.000-07:00

this house.

where to begin?

i guess we begin at the beginning?

okay, the beginning...

how did we come to find this house?

with the housing market the way it is, my husband has been chomping at the bit to get into it somehow, but we knew that there was no way we could sell the house we were in for what we thought it was worth.

and we loved our house. and our neighborhood. and that woodstove!

but everyone dreams of more space, more character, more...home.

a few months ago, we came upon the idea of purchasing a home on the market then renting our current home. we stared looking around (bank-owned homes only) and quickly came to the kind of house we were looking for:

older

in need of tlc

basement/bonus space

rooms for everyone

and...a pool.

my husband and i move quite quickly, so within a week or two we had made an offer on a house.

i was in love.

in my head, i was moving in.

but that house was not meant to be our house.

but this house, this one we now own, came into play.

we loved it on paper.

we peeked in windows and snuck around back over the weekend.

the morning of our viewing appointment, the bank dropped the asking price $20,000.

we walked in, loved what we saw, and signed an offer right there.

and here we are.

if only moving in and settling were that easy.

i had no idea how difficult the move would be, physically.

i had no idea how huge the transition would be, mentally...emotionally.

i had no idea that i would move in and not feel at home.

and that is where i've been struggling.

Snow Day

2010-12-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

i know.

what happened to me, right?

life happened. business. move. transition. repeat.

i think i'm in a place where i can get back to this blog. i need to. not only have i not been blogging, but i haven't been writing. and the writing is where i process, identify, and grow.

i have a lot to say about this house. i need to write about it. i think i'm ready to do that, but i have had so many feelings about it, had so many emotions over it, and i'm not really sure where to begin.

i just know i have to do it in order to understand how i feel about it right now.

this house and i...it's a working relationship.

but for today, everything got cancelled.

school.

church.

appointments.

even business.

and i forgot about the house long enough to get outside and remember what it's like to be a kid, in the midst of the most perfect snow day.

{Moving} Day 5

2010-11-06T19:20:00.000-06:00

today we:

drank coffee

cuddled caterpillars

jumped in the frigid pool

watched football

hauled every least piece of furniture from the old house

assembled beds

made chili

took naps

played in our panties

made business calls

drank tea

unloaded and unpacked boxes

cleaned floors

laughed at silliness

cried from exhaustion

sat with friends

cuddled on the couch

drank wine

and at the end of the day, we are very blessed and thankful for the ones who surround us.

{Moving} Days 3 and 4

2010-11-05T20:24:00.000-06:00

the kids had the last two days off from school, and although we are in the middle of moving,

i felt it was important to slow down yesterday and settle into the new house.

we moved just a load or two yesterday, allowing the kids to just be in the new house.

my oldest daughter has been especially stressed with this transition. not necessarily over moving, but the process of moving. she, like me, thrives in organization and routine. her little emotions just could not be controlled in this out-of-controlled state of living.

which is why yesterday's goal became moving into the house everything we needed to live here.

mattresses, especially.

and so, moving day 3 and 4 have been all about living here in this house. we have done much more unpacking and arranging than we have packing and moving the other house. and the kids are starting to find freedom and happiness here, which makes me feel more at home.

this space that you see in the pictures is a little cubby off the upstairs bonus room. the kids have spent most of these two days making this the library.

the room itself is like a triangle, and angles down to the floor on both sides. it is a cozy place where the kids can feel secluded and safe and wonderfully independent. i have stayed away from this space, allowing them the freedom to set it up and use it as they please. they brought me up this evening to see it...

it was perfectly finished.

puzzles

games

puppets

books arranged by series and content

cozy pillows

stuffed animals

and i don't think i mentioned that there are swinging salon doors at the entrance!

no wonder they are sleeping in there tonight.

{Moving} Day 2

2010-11-03T18:35:00.000-06:00

we are in just enough that we could sit down for dinner together tonight.

delivered hot and delicious by a dear friend of mine.

it was just perfect.

my mom is a rock star...she and i hauled the table, couches, club chairs and my big ol' desk over today.

by ourselves.

i left for a few hours today and came back and she had the living room completely livable. complete with plants and decor.

we will be fine, i'm starting to see...

{Moving} Day 1

2010-11-02T16:37:00.000-06:00

we got keys right before dinner last night.

we recruited strong men to demo the old carpet and pad so that the carpet could be layed this morning.

those men worked their tails off last night!

so here we are, my babe and i, hauling boxes by ourselves today and unpacking bits here and there.

that little one was such a trooper today, i tell you!

we got most of the kitchen completely moved in, and as you can see, some of the living room items placed.

i'm on my way to pick up mom from the airport.

she'll spend the next week here with me in this chaos!

The Lull

2010-11-01T14:03:00.000-06:00

i spent the morning at my good friend's house, slowly sipping hot tea and playing memory with our girls. it was needed, especially since i am sitting in one home waiting to get into another.

i'm living in chaos and disarray and boxes everywhere...

and if you don't know me well, let me just tell you that i do not thrive in disorganization.

so,

my family is slipping.

the house is out of control, i am out of control, and the kids are...worse.

the continuous whining drives me to scream.

there is fighting and bickering and screaming fits every hour.

dinner is fend-for-yourself affair, which means we are going through cereal at an embarrassing rate.

bedtimes have slipped, so morning routines have shifted and have become a complete debacle.

and while i am aware that the kids, too, are stressed and in limbo and trying to get attention wherever they can, i just want to be alone.

but my kids? they just want more of me.

how do i balance both?

i have been giving this time of reflection today, and i realize that this move is going to give us all a fresh start.

a new house will make room for all new rules of living.

i intend to reinstate family dinners

creative time together

patience

understanding

bedtime routines

attention, focus, and concern.

it starts now. right.now.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T16:13:00.000-06:00

find fright wherever you can...

eat as much candy as you can...

and have a great halloween!

Slow Down

2010-10-30T18:12:00.000-06:00

i took the afternoon off from packing to carve pumpkins with the kids and their neighborhood friends.

it was needed.

the kids needed my attention

and i needed the girl-time with my good friends.

slow down.

that's what i have to remember this week.

slow.down.

we closed on the new house yesterday, and anticipate keys by the end of the day on monday.

i don't know what to expect next week,

but i will keep you posted through pictures.

i miss you all. i miss your stories, your pictures, your experiences and your support.

i'll be back to normal soon, i hope.

at least, a new normal...

THIS

2010-10-27T14:21:00.000-06:00

for the most part, i'm avoiding THIS...

because i don't want to be living in a house boxed up like THIS...

or memories stacked on top of each other like THIS...

...but i have to.

and i am.

and so my house is beginning to look like THIS.

Fall in Montana, and a Season of Change

2010-10-24T08:11:00.001-06:00

the colors here in montana a stunning.

the trees are abundant in yellows and gold, and my eyes are feasting!

big things are happening this week for our family...

my business exploded over the weekend and i have many meetings a phone calls scheduled,

and in the midst of that excitement i have to come to terms with the fact that we are closing on a house on friday.

i am full of emotion over these two life-changers.

excitement, fear, anxiety, trepidation, joy...

wish me luck!

I'm Outta Here!

2010-10-21T16:04:00.000-06:00

a bit of random, unedited randomness for today...

i'm headed off for a weekend away with my mom. a long, three day weekend, to be exact. that starts the night before...

are you feelin' me here?

i'm getting away!

you might not hear from me for a while.

actually, you WON'T hear from me for a while. i'm not even taking my computer!

(but if you just can't live without me for that long, you can follow my updates on facebook! see? we're never too far away!)

have a great weekend, dearies! i'll catch you here on monday!

Dreaming in White...

2010-10-20T13:00:00.000-06:00

emily henderson

erin valencich

emily henderson

we close on our house next friday. i'm in carpet and paint sample mode...

Giveaway Winner and a Surprise of My Own!

2010-10-19T16:38:00.000-06:00

it's time i finally announce the winner of the csn stores giveaway!

the winner will be sent a $55 promotional code to use on any of csn's 200 stores.

*drum roll*

seriously, where's my drum roll?

*drum roll*

(thank you)

and the winner is...

elissa from birch swinging

elissa did some shopping before entering the giveaway and she's excited for the

"cuisinart smart stick hand blender please and thank you ;-)"

have fun with that new blender, elissa!

i felt like i had won a giveaway of my own when i opened the mail yesterday!

i received a thank you note from the lovely danyelle at [dandee]

for having her over this summer.

what a doll. shouldn't i be thanking her? i think so.

just look at this lovliness danyelle sent over! the packaging was so simple, yet elegant and beautiful. i didn't want the unwrapping to end!

she sent me a darling little moleskine journal embellished with bunting,

and this simple heart pin, just the perfect color to wear with my autumn sweaters.

these bits of love can all be found in her etsy shop.

thank you, danyelle, for your kindness. i loved every minute of your visit over here!

Choosing

2010-10-18T12:05:00.000-06:00

this morning i am choosing to make life lovely.

today i could be crying

i could be overwhelmed and frustrated

i could be dwelling on the weekend's crisis

and focusing on the negative...

let me explain:
we discovered lice in our home this weekend.
more specifically, i discovered lice in my daughter's hair and then my neighbor discovered the nits in my hair.
it was not pretty.
seven hours were spent yesterday just trying to rid our heads of the nits.

if you have never experienced lice, then i pray that you don't. especially in girls. with long, thick hair.

and now that ~~we've~~ i've done the job of spreading insecticide and combing and picking out nits and checking and re-checking for more,
i'm left with the clean-up;
the imperative step in the removal of lice that consists of washing every.single.strip of fabric that either of us could have come in contact with.
all bedding, pillows, mattress covers, down comforters, blankets,
towels, towels, towels,
sweatshirts, clothing, throws, and more pillows.
and then there's the chemical spray that must be sprayed on all fabric surfaces that can't be washed.

and i woke this morning unable to walk in my laundry room. the room that gets us in and out of the garage in the morning before school.

we climbed over the mountains of laundry still waiting to be scalded in the wash cycle.

but i'm not upset.

i'm not stressed.

i'm not crying or overwhelmed or dwelling on the negative.

i choose to look on the bright side of things here...

because there is always a bright side.

the blessing lies in the fact that this happened on a sunday,
a day in which we were all home, with no pressing plans.
the blessing lies in the fact that my neighbor is a teacher, and so was also home on that sunday, and spent her entire afternoon picking nits out of my hair. very few people would be willing to do that.
she is gold, i tell you!
and before she left for school this morning, she dropped off her house key for me so that i could run two loads of laundry at a time, all day.
the blessing lies in the fact that i work from home, so i am able to spend today washing these pesky little buggers from my home without missing a day of work.
the blessing lies in the fact that my husband recognized my anxiety yesterday and stepped in to help me with my daughter's hair. he tag-teamed with me to complete jaelyn's hair (a process that took the both of us three hours to complete!)

and my favorite...the blessing lies in the fact that lice slowed us down. brought us very close together, quite literally, and gave us a huge amount of time to spend together. that, my friends, is priceless.

and that is why i'm choosing to make today lovely!

head on over to heather's to see how other bloggers are making their monday lovely!

Five {Things} on Friday

2010-10-15T17:17:00.000-06:00

5 things i did this week:

visited the local pumpkin patch. twice.

lead a bible study course that i had no business leading. it was way over my head!

looked at carpet and paint samples

took care of a sick child

planned a major business launch event, that occurs this evening

5 things i expect to do next week:

attend my daughter's karate class, and participate

have coffee at a friend's new house

procrastinate the process of packing up our house

take my kids to a halloween party

drink lots of tea in the afternoons!

5 things i'm grateful for this week:

the possibility that we found the home we will raise our children in

amazing business partners

friends who are willing to drive 8 hours to help me launch my business

moms

the ability to run to the store and pick up anything we need, any time

5 things i avoided this week:

laundry

toilets and tubs

packing

my childrens' homework

any food considered "healthy"

5 things that make me laugh, every day:

callahan's buffle

the way camden says adult..."bidought"

my brother's and their facebook posts, which never make sense

the fact that callahan is always running around naked, even outside

and jaelyn's ability to read 24/7. even with friends over.

enjoy your weekend, friends!

The House That May or May Not Be

2010-10-14T14:44:00.000-06:00

these may or may not become the numbers that define our location in this world...

these may or may not become the hooks that hold our towels after a long swim...

this may or may not become the mantle that holds our family photos...

this may or may not become a window from which my kids will gaze...

this may or may not become the chandelier that lights our family dinners...

these may or may not become the floors that we walk on, play on, live on...

this may or may not become the garage doors that we drive into each and every day,

as we arrive at the place...

that we may or may not call home.

*big changes may or may not be happening! it looks like we just might truly be buying a house...

I Have Something for You!

2010-10-12T14:17:00.001-06:00

this giveaway has expired.
the promotional code goes to elissa at birch swinging!

i am so excited for all my readers today,
because i have something very special for you!

it's a giveaway!

whoohoo!
csn stores have graciously offered my readers a $55 promotional code to use at any of their online stores!
fifty-five dollars, my friends!
csn has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from stylish handbags, to modern
bar furniture, or great cookware!

and i did some shopping for you, too!
look at these great products that i would spend my $55 on, if i had it
(which i don't. 'cuz i'm giving it to you!)...

how about this teakettle...

or a set of these matching mugs (which come in the same color!)?

oh! or how about this tea press?

yep, i'd get that tea press.

if you hadn't noticed, fall is on my mind here in idaho,

and that means morning, afternoon, and evening cups of tea for me.

anything to stay warm!

i know you want that $55, so i'm going to make this very easy for you...
all you have to do is visit csn stores and tell me what you would redeem that promotional code on!

*this giveaway will close on sunday, october 17

The Pendulum Swings

2010-10-11T07:19:00.000-06:00

i'm out of touch with writing.

i'm out of touch with my morning routine.

i'm out of touch with my creative self, which explains why i'm out of touch with my blog.

the bottom line is...

i'm out of balance.

big changes are happening here

(there's more to share, and i'll get to that another day)

and my pendulum is out of whack.

it's swinging at the extremities, but i'm beginning to desire the swing back to center.

i'm in a high-energy cycle, and i know from experience that the crash will be rough and painful if i don't force some personal restraint. but i'm driven right now, internally driven, so trying to slow down produces anxiety over missing out on something major.

today, though, i'm going back to comfortable, tried-and-true routines to balance my soul. this began with the 5:30 am alarm that woke me this morning. the coffee, meditation, and writing before the kids woke. it began with a long morning stretch to loosen and invigorate my body.

i will continue on this morning with my old routines and make space for work somewhere in the spaces in between. because that's what i had intended all along...

i'm linking up this morning at blessed little nest.

When the Pictures Don't Turn Out

2010-10-10T19:24:00.001-06:00

sometimes my pictures don't turn out. there are always those shots that i wish had turned out, but didn't.

usually they are like these ones; blurry.

i tried to photograph in a hurry

without checking my iso or my lighting

using one hand to photograph while trying to maintain the moment i was having with the baby

so, not surprisingly, the shot didn't turn out. but i really don't care.

when i look at these blurry pictures, i'm able to look past the shakiness.

past the blur.

past the poor framing and terrible location.

these pictures are about a moment with child.

a moment in which i realize just how big she's growing. how long her legs dangle from my waist.

how she still hugs my neck with both arms, all the way around.

how she fits perfectly snug against my frame.

how she hold my neck and my cheek in her hand.

when you choose to look past the shaky parts in life, you will always find bliss.

Backyard Harvest

2010-10-08T17:38:00.000-06:00

harvesting the sunflowers each fall is a highlight in my kids' year. i'm not quite sure what makes it such a momentous time, but camden especially has been talking about harvesting sunflowers since the late spring day we planted the seeds.

i've been ~~nursing a headache on the couch~~ working in the house most of the afternoon and didn't notice the kids cut the big sunflower head off the stalk. i love that they have ownership of things like this; that they know those sunflowers were grown for their own enjoyment.

currently, they are packaging the sunflowers up in small baggies so they can sell them.

my neighbors don't know it yet, but they will be purchasing raw, unseasoned sunflower seeds for $5 a bag. i won't let on how unappetizing that sounds...

A Quote From the Comment Box

2010-10-06T15:57:00.000-06:00

a wonderful mother, friend, and blogger left this quote my comment box yesterday. i'm still soaking it in...i hope you do, too.

"It’s important you reveal more about who you are, not just what you know. You can’t just talk to people’s heads or only appeal to their intelligence; you have to talk to their hearts. You can’t move people with logic. They cannot just hear you…. They have to feel you. And they will only feel you if they know you, not your title or résumé, but your story, the truth of who you really are and how you got here—both the triumphs and the failings. This is what will make you real and make you available to be connected to and able to influence and motivate others."

The Vehicle

2010-10-05T16:11:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I just have to write. I don’ t know what my words will form into, but I have too many of them keep inside. I need to regurgitate all the emotions and feelings I’m experiencing, and the only way I know how is to put them into words.

I’ve started something new. New, exciting, uncomfortable…and HUGE. The changes happening within me are monumental. My brain is changing, my thoughts are changing, my dreams are changing, and it all started with a business.

A business? Are you for real? I know. This little early childhood educator, this little stay-at-home mom has started a business. And I have no right to start a business. I hate numbers. I don’t understand budgets or 401K’s or strategic moves or return on investment. I have no background in personal relations or marketing or networking. And now I’m trying to explain how the process of jumping into a career in which I have absolutely no right to enter is changing my life. Did you hear that? This is a life changing moment for me.

I entered into a partnership with a pair of women who are revolutionaries in their field. I’m following the lead of smart, business-savvy women who are so bright, so brilliant, so…everything I’m not. I’m following because I see that they are achieving something I want. They have minds that I want. They have confidence that I want. And they have lifestyle that I want for myself, my husband, and most importantly, my children.

My heart is following the passion of these women. My heart wants what they have and feels the spark of passion being passed from them to me. But my mind? My mind is in protection mode. It wants to keep me from failure, so it reminds me each and every day that I am not wired for this kind of work. I was not created to be that kind of woman. I am not good enough, and I have no right to think anything different. The very thing my mind is trying to protect me from is the very thing it is setting me up for.

I spent two days at the company’s national conference. I went through the motions for a few hours, maybe even that entire first day. But by the middle of the second day, I began to feel a shift. I started viewing this company, this business, very differently. You see, this isn’t about me working a business or learning sales tactics or trading business cards like silly bandz. This is a lifestyle. This is a vehicle for personal growth and development. And it just happens to fit into my personal mission statement, written just two months before partnering with this company.

My mission statement reads something like this:

“My goal is to live my best life. My best life can only be achieved when I live under the knowledge that all I am is good enough. I am good enough for God, good enough for my husband and family, good enough to be and do anything I desire to do. I will strive to live authentically and enthusiastically and work to spread this same message to every person I come into contact with. All I am is good enough.”

I listened and watched an elite group of people coaching and inspiring others to drive this company forward. But not because of money or status, but because this company is about building relationships. I get it. And now I can see it and live it. Because since starting this company just 6 weeks ago, I am focusing my attention on people. Other people. Not just me, or my immediate family, or my comfortable circle of friends. I am making eye-contact with every single person I come into contact with each day. I introduce myself to any and every person that I come into contact with for more than 10 seconds. I want to know the name of the gal who pours my coffee in the morning. I want to ask the gentleman next to me on the plane to tell me what his part of the world is like. I want people to be affected by my smile, to remember my warmth, and gravitate towards the passion for life oozing from my skin. Because then, I can tell each and every person that, this day right here? Is a great day to be alive! Because all you are is good enough!

Like I said, I’m in a HUGE place right now. I’m transforming into someone eager to be coached. Teach me the business model. Give me the tools I need to spread this company to the world. Because this company just happens to be the vehicle in which I carry out my own personal mission. How many of us get that opportunity?

Five {Things} on...Saturday?

2010-10-02T07:04:00.000-06:00

*huston, we may have a problem...

i'm currently in new orleans for a business conference.

it is amazing and wonderful and i'm full of excitement!

but...

i'm not able to get to this space as much as i'd like.

i'm going to go ahead and post my friday's post of 5 {things}.

keep in mind that i wrote up the post on thursday evening in the denver airport,

and am throwing some pictures together without editing!

i'll try to get back here on monday to fill you in on all the fun i've been having...

......................................................................................................................................................................

5 things i did this week:

..took my girl scout troop to a trip to the firehouse..

..went to coffee and did some major thrifting with my bestie..

..did some house hunting..

..spent an evening with my parents, which is such a treat!..

..ate ZERO bowls of cereal..

5 things i did yesterday:

..flew to new orleans, ya'll!..

..met new people everywhere..

..typed up this post in the denver airport..

..painted my fingernails (as opposed to just my toes), and i know they won't get chipped today because i'm not doing dishes..

..placed love notes and treats on my kids' beds before i left..

5 things i know i will do in new orleans:

..eat amazing food..

..wear more pairs of shoes in this two days than i will in a month at home..

..and come home with some serious blisters because of them..

..get outstanding training..

..purchase way too much of a good thing..

5 shoes i brought to new orleans:

..my favorite running shoes, just in case..

..a cute navy blue sandal with a tiny wedge heal and ankle straps..

..a tall black wedge..

..classic tan peep-toe pumps, with a leather bow on top..

..maroon patent leather flats..

**that's all i've got time for...i'm off to convention!

The Buffle

2010-09-30T12:16:00.000-06:00

the buffle

the big 'ole hot mess going on with your hair in the back.

often results from friction between the back of the head and another surface,

and occurs after sleeping or riding for periods of time in a car seat.

other common descriptions of the buffle include:

nappy

frizzy

squirly

messy

the buffle can be tamed, using leave-in conditioner and a comb and resulting in beautiful curls, but the maintenance can get cumbersome.

so, more often than not, the beautiful curls are forgotten.

and the buffle is the norm.

The Boy

2010-09-29T12:44:00.001-06:00

the boy is such a man...

he hunts

climbs mountains

eats constantly

sports flushed cheeks and sweaty hair

writes about shooting elk in his school journal

avoids my kisses

misses his target in the bathroom if you know what i mean

he wears dirt under his fingernails like i wear lipstick

but that man of mine shows signs of being just a boy...

he wears bright-colored bracelets around his wrists, and sometimes his neck

he bear hugs me when he returns from a long hunt, as if he thought he'd never see me again

he has a set of stuffed animals that i occasionally find tucked under his arms in the morning

he plays house with the girls

he curls up in my lap during church, allowing me to rub his head and cheek

he likes me to read him bedtime stories at night, in my bed

the boy is at once and man and a child.

and as a mother full of fault, i wish him to be a man when he is whining like a child

and be a child when he appears to be too grown for my mothering.

part of my job, it seems, is to embrace the moments of both sides of him...

live in the now...

love the independence of the little man emerging before me

and cuddle that little boy when he's milking a flesh wound.

My Moment/Their Moment

2010-09-28T17:50:00.000-06:00

this is my moment right now.

their moment...

playing school

together

by themselves

and working silently

studiously

lovingly.

Skipping Out

2010-09-27T11:44:00.001-06:00

the mornings have been absolutely serene here lately.

cool, yet comfortable,

sunny and bright, but not too warm

quiet, reflective,

...lovely.

so this morning i skipped my regularly scheduled programming (the gym)

and went for a walk.

the baby and i geared up and headed out for a brisk, high-energy walk.

74 minutes.

i can't tell you how far we walked, but i can tell you what the stopwatch app. read on my phone.

then we came home and i stretched outside on the cool concrete patio.

it was just the perfect way to begin my week,

and it was so energizing and peaceful...

i might skip the gym every morning this week for the same thing!

visit heather at blessed little nest and see how others are making today lovely!

5 {Things} on Friday

2010-09-24T13:38:00.001-06:00

5 things i'm grateful for this week:

..i was able (for the first time) to volunteer in camden's class and observe him in his own life..

..like a real adult, i had lunch with my mom and my husband this week (with a toddler in tow...but still!)..

..my husband. he works had so that our family can have and do the things we want..

..my faith..

..fly swatters..

5 things about me that are both blessings and curses:

..i'm driven..

..i'm constantly seeking knowledge..

..i'm motivated..

..i'm full of emotion..

..i'm guarded..

5 things i accomplished before 8 o'clock this morning:

(and why that gives me permission to dink around the rest of the day)

..completely stripped and washed the bedding of two beds because of overnight pee issues..

..unloaded a "clean" dishwasher only to discover that nothing got clean. so i washed everything by hand..

..then i googled how to clean a malfunctioning dishwasher, and proceeded through the steps..

..showered, dressed, dried and straightened my hair, and applied makeup for the day..

..cleaned the shower, tub, and floor of my bathroom..

5 things my kids accomplished this week:

..jaelyn has successfully captured and housed a multitude of grasshoppers this week in her new bug house..

..camden has practiced each and every night this week his 4-square skills on his dad..

..callahan has managed to keep her potty accidents contained to non-carpeted floors this week. thank you, baby..

..jaelyn is working to master her multiplication tables, while catching on to the fact that division is just those same tables, backwards..

..camden managed to share over half of his new silly bands with others. i sent him to school with a new pack of 24 on his arms on monday. by tuesday he came home with less than ten...because he gives them to kids who don't have any..

..jaelyn joined karate last night. it's a no-running sport. she likes that..

5 things i can do better next week:

..yell less..

..listen more..

..cleaning house..

..making dinner..

..focus on the small stuff..

what five things will you strive to be better at next week?

Virtual Coffee

2010-09-21T14:37:00.000-06:00

if we were really meeting for coffee today, i would immediately take one of maegan's muffins. and i would eat it really slow and dainty-like so that no one would guess that i can't stop myself from eating these days.

it's getting out of hand.

and if i don't stop shoving food in my mouth to suppress my stress,

huston will be having a huge problem.

then i would comment on how cute maegan looks in her new hat, and where did you get it? target, really? i'll have to stop by there on the way home...

if we were really meeting for coffee this morning, i would ask virginia to hand me the tall rainbow cup from her cupboard. it's colors are speaking to me. and then i would talk lego's with her. 'cause she and i both seem to be inundated with legos at the moment. they do tend to take over my living space!

and then i would mhmm and nod as i related to her parenting frustrations. girlfriend, welcome to the club.

if we were really meeting for coffee this morning, i would be so excited to help alita's son learn to pedal his trike. there is nothing more fun than watching a child pedal off on his own. and then i'd wish i hadn't worn my new (to me) anne klein heels i found at the goodwill this weekend. but, like i always remind my daughter...beauty is painful. get used to it.

if we were really meeting for coffee this morning, i would return lisa's big, soft hug. i would listen to her story about photographing the forest floor during a rain pour. and i would drool with inspiration over her pictures. and secretly wish it would rain a beautiful rain here so that i could get down on the floor of it, too.

if we were really meeting for coffee this morning, i would tell amy how greedy i get over my time in the morning. how i wake up at 6 am every morning in anticipation of getting a head-start on my day. which means space and silence. if i can get that first, even 20 minutes of it, the day will be golden. if not...well...i'll just leave it at that.

thanks for meeting today, gals. gotta run. i'll just take another muffin to go, k?

i've gotta get these shoes off...

meet the other ladies for coffee at

Details of Life

2010-09-20T14:30:00.000-06:00

my husband spent four days in the mountains hunting...

four days parenting alone can be a lot. it takes a lot of effort to be "on" all the time.

the one they go to for owies.

the one they go to for food.

the one they go to for questions,

and questions,

and more questions.

and food.

after my husband got home, he spent time outside playing with the kids.

i didn't want to play, but i wanted to be around them, so i grabbed my camera and sat in the yard.

when i'm looking through the lens of my camera, i focus on the details.

the naked little legs.

the bare feet pedalling around and around.

the little quadricep muscles protruding as she pedals.

the smooth skin on her back.

the independence this little one is gaining.

the self-confidence she possesses.

the way she observes the world.

this process brings me back to center.

it erases the whines of the day, the bickering, the frustrating moments.

it reminds me to live for these moments...

the moments captured through my lens.

as well as the moments i spend focusing on the details of life.

that is what makes life lovely!

i'm linking up today with heather's life made lovely series at blessed little nest.

How To Make a Bug House

2010-09-19T14:08:00.002-06:00

my oldest has been wanting a bug house.

apparently, she and the other kids in her classroom are running a covert operation on the playground:

they capture grasshoppers and keep them in a plastic baggie (with holes punched in it) during recess,

then before coming in to the classroom they transfer them into another student's bug house.

to further aid and abed this underground activity, i agreed to help jaelyn build her own bug house.

we looked online for directions to build one, but most of them were using recycled materials. she was quite specific in her requirements. the design of this bug house is completely hers; all i did was help her execute her vision.

we purchased three pine boards: 1/2 x 4 x 24" for $2.20 each.

we made three bug houses, so i figured that each board would be sufficient for one bug house.

once home, i used the table saw (oh, how i wish i had a picture of that!) to cut each board into four pieces:

2 4x5's, which were used for the sides

2 4x6's, which were used for the top and bottom

we also purchased a roll of aluminum screening. i got the cheapest roll because we only needed a bit of it.

it was $6.98.

we also got a box of hinges ($2.28) for the doors

and a box of hook and staples ($2.26) for securing the door

and not shown: a bundle of rope for the handles ($2.48)

our total bill at the home improvement store was $24.23, and we made three bug boxes. do the math and that makes the cost of each house $8. not bad, right? and we have tons of screen and rope left for other projects...

okay, so now to the how-to:

after cutting the boards into the appropriately sized pieces, the kids sanded the corners and edges with sandpaper.

next, we came up with a plan for the door.

now...keep in mind that i did all of this with the kids while my husband, and all the other handy men in the neighborhood were out hunting. i do not have any specific names for the tools i used here. bear with my inexperience...

we decided to make a circular door, because we have a drill bit that makes those in my husband's tool box. i used the biggest size. and it took me forever to figure out how to attach it. but i did it.

'cause chicks with power tools are amazing!

and that's my son snapping photos...he's hilarious in his framing.

here's a perfect example of his picture-taking skills...

notice that my rear-end is the main focus in this shot? it could be because of those loud green shorts (honestly, only worn when i'm working in the yard or on bug houses), or it could be that his height makes my rear a prime target. i dunno. but i included this shot because it just made me laugh. go on, you can laugh, too.

okay, i apologize...i totally digressed.

here you can see how i used that circular door-cutting drill bit to cut a circular hole.

redundant?

i know.

so as not to confuse you...that messed-up piece of wood you see to the left is being used to protect the surface of my cheap pine bug door from being imprinted with the clamper-tool's circular clamp.

redundant again, i know.

okay, so i failed to get pictures of the entire process of attaching the bug door with hinges and then attaching the lock. you can scroll down to the end of this tutorial and see how we attached them. it's not hard, just time-consuming: mainly because they are tiny little nails and such and i was trying to assist three children in attaching them.

however, after you are finished installing the door hardware, then you can install the handle. there is not formula here, either. and, as a matter-of-fact, the kids were given free license to drill the holes wherever. eyeball it. that's how i roll.

then we simply cut a length of rope, singed the raw ends with a lighter, and then threaded it through the holes. the knots in the ends will secure the handle, and will be placed on the inside of the house. and, no, the kids did not use the lighter. that is NOT how i roll...

now, the real fun begins! get our your hammer and nails...

making sure your bug door and top handle are in the appropriate location, put your house together like a box. we did spread a bead of wood glue before nailing the ends together, but i'm not sure it's necessary? i dunno...again, the men were gone.

i nailed one nail in each side to secure the frame, then it was up to the kids to finish. i tried very hard to allow the kids to do most of the work. they used the drill many times on their own, with success. i had them drill small pilot holes for the door hinges so that getting the tiny screws in there was easier. i was always assisting and supervising, yet i let them fail some, too. especially when it came to the hammering.

after the frame is nailed and secure, we moved onto the final step of attaching screen to the two remaining sides.

i placed the box down on the screen and cut around it, leaving about a half-inch of room to work with. i then helped the kids fold the ends under, but we did it upside down:

placing the screen on top of the box, fold up and in. then flip it over to attach it.

warning: the cut aluminum screen is sharp. i cut it with a wire-cutting-type scissor i found in the tool box and carefully removed the scraps. the kids did all the folding, and there were no cuts.

then i attached the screens with an industrial stapler all around the outside.

the kids then went back and pounded the staples in well with a hammer.

that's how we did it. we had a picture in our minds how it would turn out, but we just made it up as we went along.

with the three kids, it took us all afternoon. i suppose if i'd have done it myself, i could have done it in an hour...but that wasn't the point. the kids did most everything themselves.

their ages? twelve, 8, and 6.

i bet you can guess what we're hunting for today!

Project Peek

2010-09-18T19:48:00.000-06:00

just a little taste of what's to come tomorrow...

the kids and i have been busy operating power tools while the daddy's away.

i've got to get back out there and clean up the mess.

i hope you are operating your own fun this weekend, too!

Five {Things} on Friday

2010-09-17T13:27:00.000-06:00

let's change things up a bit today...

how about five {words} on friday?

5 words i'm considering this week:

authenticity

success

fear

dream

courage

5 words/phrases i use instead of the word go:

git!

let's kick it!

move it!

march!

get on it, already!

5 words i would use to describe the bible:

foreign

complicated

intimidating

amazing

revealing

5 words banned from my vocabulary:

hate

shut up

loser

psych

any 4-letter word followed by the word you (side note: while i do admit to throwing four letter words around frivolously, i do not use them at people. big difference.)

5 words i cannot spell without spellcheck:

their

friend

surprise

neighbor

restaurant

(and yes, all five of those words were just corrected!)

what five words would you use today?

Snapping the First Day of School Photo

2010-09-16T13:30:00.001-06:00

i'm going to pull the mom-card for a moment, here,

and bust out the typical "first day of school" photographs that we all make out kids pose for.

bear with me...

i just took this picture yesterday. and actually, i probably wouldn't have if callahan hadn't pulled out a backpack to wear to her first day of mom & tot preschool.

i had a little tote bag for her, but no...

it has to be a backpack like bubby and sis.

and so spawns the mommy moment.

ask her how old she is and she'll tell you she's bibe.

lemme translate that for you...she's five. because we tell her she doesn't get to ride bubby's bus until she's five.

don't you just love that? they ask you to put the name tags on their backs...

so they'll actually stay on!

i'm pretty sure she spent most of her day at the waygo table. not to be confused with the lego table.

there's my baby.

sitting in a preschool classroom.

wearing panties.

actually eating playdough.

never had a haircut.

not opposed to throwing a fit during circle time because she can't play with the tool bench anymore.

and not the least bit shy about grabbing a second cookie at snack time. from the girl next to her.

Tuesday Morning Coffee

2010-09-14T16:31:00.002-06:00

i'm joining the fine bloggers over at amy's place for virtual coffee...

if we were really meeting for coffee this morning,

i would be running a little late.

i've been sticking this little contraption up my nose every other hour since yesterday.

tmi?

well, since you're my friend you get to hear the details. right?

allergies decided to forge their attack on me at 3 pm yesterday afternoon.

they came on fierce and strong and i am...

defeated.

i'm in a haze caused by acute saline asphyxiation and allergy medications.

*ahhh choo, sniff...sniff*

excuse me.

i would tell you all about the new company i'm working for and how my days are changing now that i'm working again.

how i run around town talking on my bluetooth all day like i'm someone important,

and i secretly feel like i am.

*ahhh choo!...ahhahhh chooo! sniff*

excuse me.

how i'm trying to balance housework and mothering and family life and creativity and work into the same 24-hour day that was already full before i began working.

i would tell you that i am going to new orleans at the end of the month

*squeeeeee!*

for the annual rodan + fields conference *sniff, sniff*

and how exciting this is because i've never been to the big easy and i can't wait to meet all my business partners that i've been talking to on the phone for the last month.

if we were really meeting for coffee today

*ahh choo*

excuse me again.

i would complain that i have nothing to wear.

how it's not really summer anymore so flowery, bright prints don't seem to fit the season,

but it's still too hot for jeans, let alone boots and sweaters.

so, what's a girl to wear?

then i would tell you that my sister's getting married!
that she has asked my kids to be in the wedding;
the girls to be flower girls and my boy to bear the rings...in a bird's nest!

i would start talking really fast and using big arm motions *sniff, ahh choo!* 'scuse me to describe how she wants to make all the wedding invitations and decorations herself.

i would tell you that my mom called today and said i had been requested to make buntings for the wedding using my grandmother's stack of handkerchiefs! and i would gush over how beautiful that sounds and how inspired i am now with a fresh project on the horizon.

and then i would say,
"so what have you been up to all week"
and then i'd try my hardest to pay attention as you told me about your new project at home and what cute things your little boy is saying in between the sneezing and the dripping and the fog and haze caused by...
by...
by...
*achooo!*
wha?

dearie, i've got to get home now.

My Work Space

2010-09-13T14:32:00.000-06:00

i thought i'd give you a little peek at my work space.

granted, this isn't really my creative space,

but it is where i spend a good chunk of time each day.

i spend time networking with people, building a business,

and editing photographs.

i'm keeping up with the 365...how are the rest of you doing?

space is always limited, isn't it?

but i try to keep things organized and accessible;

sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

i must admit, the doesn't's are currently stashed out of the frame...

in reality, i spend a lot of time in this space. when i get tired of computing here, i move my computer into the kitchen. the scenery is brighter in there, and there's more action.

welcome to my space.

my corner office.

(you're ignoring that blaring head hanging over me, aren't you? i thought so, i am, too.)

drop on by anytime...the door's always open!

In the Backyard

2010-09-12T13:58:00.000-06:00

my garden fairy...

she stands tall, weathered yet stoic

in the midst of scattered garden spots in the backyard.

amid flowers in pots, in beds, and in window boxes,

vegetables in planters,

herbs along the borders of a desolate sandbox,

beans winding around a vintage tripod,

my garden fairy keeps watch over it all.

beautiful or not, thriving or not,

she does not care.

this garden isn't about lush, productive varieties;

rather it is a means of providing brief moments of joy, teachable moments, and bites of food grown ourselves.

as summer fades and fall trickles in, the backyard shows signs of both seasons.

taking a cue from my garden fairy, who is always smiling here in the garden,

i chose to soak in some of the same scenes she sees every day.

these pictures remind me that

my garden doesn't have to be the perfect oasis...

it just has to be my oasis.

Five {Things} on Friday

2010-09-10T07:24:00.000-06:00

5 things i did yesterday:

..enjoyed a double playdate with my girl lindsay and her daughter..

.savored a vanilla soy latte..

..connected via facebook with a long-lost high school friend..

..re-learned common denominators over my 8 year-old's homework..

..ate three bowls of cereal. at one sitting..

5 things i intend to do tomorrow:

..sleep in..

..take a long, hot, bubbly bath..

..make white chocolate chip banana pancakes..

..sip tea in the warmth of the afternoon sun..

..create. anything..

5 tabs always running on my computer:

..http://www.hotmail.com/, because i must stay connected..

..http://www.facebook.com/, because i must network..

..http://heatherquisel.myrandf.com/, because i must work..

..http://simplyfeather.blogspot.com/, because i must write..

..http://www.etsy.com/, because i must shop!..

5 quotes (from simple abundance) i'm loving:

.."courage is fear that has said her prayers."..

.."trust that the same power that gifted you with your dream knows how to make it come true."..

.."the world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. but above all, the world needs dreamers who do."..

.."christ has no body now on earth but yours; yours are the only hands which he can do his work, yours are the only feet with which he can go about the world, yours are the only eyes through which his compassion can shine forth upon a troubled world. christ has no body on earth now but yours." ~st. teresa of avila..

.."you must do the thing you cannot do." ~eleanor roosevelt..

5 things callahan repeats too often:

.."i want ah-wheam" (translation: ice cream)..

.."bubby, bat op. BAT.OP!" (translation: camden, back off!)..

.."i hab a hugh penis" (translation: ...figure that one out yourself)..

.."tum dit me" (translation: come get me)..

.."WHITE NOW!" (translation: right now. often used in conjunction with the above mentioned phrases, as in come get me RIGHT NOW, or i want ice cream RIGHT NOW, or BACK OFF RIGHT NOW!)..

happy friday!

I Can't Get Enough

2010-09-08T16:36:00.001-06:00

in the last few weeks, i've come across some posts that just make my eyes feast and my jaw drop.

these are just a few of my favorites...

i'm a huge fan of aimee ray at little dear tracks, and creator of doodle stitching. i've checked out her book from the library countless times (why don't i just purchase it, already?!)

would you look at her ribbon-wrapped embroidery hoops? awesome.

mollie johanson at wild olive offers free printables for these magnetic page markers.

print on cardstock, cut, and add magnetic strips to each end, and fold over your page. simple genius. i can envision strips of ribbon...

tales of a junkaholic

and i've seen so many creative weddings online recently. i'm just smitten with this handmade wedding first seen on poppytalk. go see more amazing pictures straight from the bride's blog, tales of a junkaholic.

jaci at blue china studio has got to be one of my favorite blog artists. blue china is a household name around here, especially when lindsay and i get together. we drool over jaci and her graph paper and her images.

you've got to go over and check out this build-your-own-snake-habitat that jaci put together for her niece's birthday. the habitat, of course, is for a pretend snake. that girl is after my own heart...

until tomorrow, girlfriends!

The Comment Box

2010-09-07T13:13:00.000-06:00

over the weekend, i was inspired by the words written about marta's comment box in this post. it made me think about the importance and value held in my own comment box...

the comment box might be the most important feature on my blog. more important, perhaps, than the content of my posts. it is the comments placed in that box that validate my position. they enrich my thoughts, ideas, and opinions on the world. they enlighten my world by helping me to understand that i am not alone.

through the comment box, my words are given meaning and value.

i place a lot of stock in the comments that i receive from my posts. i have made many connections through that box and have developed friendships, pen pals, and confidants. and i've discovered who i am as a creative person.

thank you.

to every person who has ever left me a comment here, thank you.

i value your connection to me.

i value the time you spend reading my words and investing in my thoughts.

most of all, i value YOU,

and what your words have to offer this world.

Weekend Scenes

2010-09-06T08:58:00.002-06:00

just a few scenes from this weekend. it's the first weekend of hunting season, so my men have been in the mountains. sometimes, it's so refreshing to hang with just the girls. i'm sure it's the same with the boys...

i'm linking up today with maegan's sunday creative.

this week's theme was timeworn. the little frog prince above sits in my garden and reminds me of the princess that i am...

A Message for You

2010-09-04T16:59:00.001-06:00

virginia kraljevic illustrations

you make it happen.

do you hear those words?

let them soak in for just a second...

YOU make it happen.

believe in yourself.

take the bull by the horns, ladies, and achieve what it is you're dreaming about!
i'm out to do the same today...

Five {Things} on Friday

2010-09-03T19:33:00.001-06:00

5 things i did yesterday:

..prayed for a new baby working her way into this world, with known heart problems..

..drove to my daughter's school three times..

..ate lunch with my 2 year-old and held a conversation..

..re-started my morning routine of writing in my journal..

..picked out a new lipstick and gloss for fall..

5 things i didn't do this morning, and might not do all day:

..laundry..

..make the beds..

..turn on the computer (obviously, i caved on this one!)..

..empty the dishwasher..

..drink me coffee (totally made up for that one this afternoon!)..

5 things i did instead:

..sat down and had breakfast with the kids..

..went to the gym..

..sat out front and watched callahan ride her tricycle..

..mowed the lawn..

..sat down again and had lunch with callahan..

5 emotions i felt this week:

..confidence..

..fear..

..optimism..

..frustration..

..anticipation..

5 things i'm looking forward to this coming week:

..making time to get creative!..

..finishing my latest book,the help..

..meeting business goals..

..getting back to bible study and reconnecting with some of my favorite women..

..the 3-day weekend, of course!..

have yourselves a fun weekend, friends.

Just One

2010-09-02T17:17:00.000-06:00

* these words are from my personal journal, written earlier this week. raw and unedited.

it's just callahan and me now. the other kids are both in school full-time this year and, once again, i find myself as the mother of one.

the mother of one...

it's a peaceful role, really.

without the constant sibling banter and the talking over each other and rivalry and bickering,

the two of us find ourselves hearing each other and holding conversation.

what a concept.

i'm reminded of the time when i first became a mother. those two early years when my whole life revolved around just one child.

i was a confident young mother; not without flaw, but i didn't know that.

i've often said i was a much better mother of one;

i was more patient, calmer, more consistent and insistent of follow-through.

i read more stories, gave more hugs,

made eye-contact and was always in conversation--

teaching, explaining, singing...

it's a refreshing feeling, this kind of renewed motherhood.

it's a reminder of simpler times

(not better, just simpler),

when i knew i was giving my child everything she needed.

for the first time in callahan's life,

she's getting all of me;

unplugged

unstressed

stripped of all outside noise and distraction

focused

renewed.

and i'm also getting all of callahan.

not baby #3 or third in line or screaming to be heard;

just callahan.

and just me.

Let's Go With...Random!

2010-08-31T17:37:00.002-06:00

oh, my goodness!

i knew there was a reason ya'll were my friends...

i'm still blushing from your comments on yesterday's post.

i'm sure i don't deserve that much flattery, but i'll take it anyway.

thank you for making my day.

today you are getting some randomness from me, because that's just the way this day is playing out. i don't know that that's a good thing...
the owl above was my subject this morning for my 365 photo shoot. i found him and that ginormous wall clock at the goodwill on sunday. i sorta collect owls...but not all crazy cat lady-style!

the 365 project is going well. i got my act together last night an created a little side button over there so that you could monitor my progress. ...or just peek in on my from time to time. or admire. whatever suits your mood.

my goofy ol' self is showing you where...you see it? i know, it blends in. i had to use my binoculars to find it. wanna borrow them? here...

now, while you've got my binoculars focused on my new 365 sidebar button, check out the new feature right below that. that's right, it's my facebook widget. in case you hadn't heard, i went all social-media happy and finally joined. much to my mother's glee. if you're on, look me up. we're friends already, but we could make it official!

love ya, dolls. happy tuesday!

I'm Lovely

2010-08-30T14:49:00.001-06:00

heather at blessed little nest...

she's just inspiring...

and she's at it again with a monday ritual called

take life and make it lovely.

like most women (i think), i struggle to love myself and the body that i see in the mirror.

i'm not 18 anymore:

i can't eat like i used to

my abs don't work like they used to

and they certainly don't look like they used to!

i apply more makeup than i used to, because i think i need to

my teeth aren't as white as i want them to be

and my freckles are darker than i'd like.

so this morning i just stared at myself in the mirror.

grabbed my camera and attempted to take shots of myself.

not shots at myself. just of myself.

to focus on the me that is lovely. the me that is raising 3 kids.

the me that is smart. creative. loving. loyal...

the me that wants to take this world by the horns and own it, dammit!

and now that i've sworn on the internet, i'm gonna throw in a few outtakes and hope you forget all about that....

now you go on and make your life lovely today!

365 Project

2010-08-29T15:49:00.000-06:00

I have seen them all over the blogosphere:

365 projects, usually photography,

in which you take one picture every.single.day...

for 365 days.

i've envied these bloggers for months and wondered if i could do the same.

would i want to?

i knew i could, but i just never started my own.

...perhaps it seemed too long a project. my attention span does not go far.

it seems i just needed a push...

maegan beishline, creative genius she is, is beginning her 2nd 365. As in, that crazy girl just finished an entire year of taking photographs every.single.day, vomiting or not, and wants to do it again! Only this time she wants to include others. build a community of support for 365-ers.

...like me.

i'm on Day 3 of my 365. i have to find a groove with this project. get my photo mojo moving.

i will not let myself fail at this.

anyone else want to join me and maegan?

Five {Things} on Friday

2010-08-27T18:10:00.001-06:00

5 things i did yesterday:

..my usual morning walk, before sunrise..

..drove my daughter to her first full day of school..

..met my son's first-grade teacher..

..ate out for dinner and enjoyed two glasses of wine..

..avoided the heat..

5 things i'm grateful for today:

..automatic washing machines. and dryers..

..big opportunities..

..teachers who my children love..

..great reads (The Help)..

..routine..

5 things that will change now that the kids are in school:

..i will be down to just one child at home. does anyone remember what that's like?..

..i won't be feeding masses of children all day..

..i'll get back to a regular gym routine..

..it will be so...quiet around here..

..driving time. tripled..

5 songs playing on my ipod this week...constantly:

..plain white t's rhythm of love..

..eminem beautiful..

..lady gaga eh, eh (there's nothing else i can say)..

..nora jones chasing pirates..

..dave matthews band crash into me (because they're coming to boise!)..

5 things i want to better at as a mother:

..reading to my kids..

..making eye contact..

..truly listening to what they aren't saying..

..giving them my full attention when they're with me..

..lowering my expectations..

have a great weekend, my friends. i know some of you are posting your own 5 {things}. if you are, leave us a link in the comments so we can visit you!

Keeping Me Busy

2010-08-26T20:49:00.000-06:00

this is keeping me from getting my art on:

this may or may not be the best platform for this,

but i thought i should bring you up to speed:

i have recently teamed with a skincare company built by this country's best-known dermatologists.

i've been working my little tail off these past two weeks trying to pave my way here in boise.

i've got a lot of work to do, but i know i can do it.

i won't go into details here, but you can now follow me on facebook!

i've joined the masses and am now a social media junkie.

so when it looks like i'm posting pictures of my kids from last year or projects that seem a bit outdated, you'll know that i've been working too much and trying to cover my tail here on my blog by posting projects and activities found in my photo archives.

shame on me, i know...trying to do it all!

Quick-Fix for a Photo Frame

2010-08-25T21:25:00.000-06:00

here again, i am terrible at remembering to take before photos.

i've had this photo frame for some time now, and while it was cute and all, it just didn't match my style. the frame itself was a dark-stained wood with silver acorns and leaves in the middle.

i started this little makeover by giving it a few coats of white spray paint.

even then, the acorns and fall leaves weren't doing anything for my airy summer vibe.

this is where the quick-fix comes in...

get your glue guns ready, girls! that's all you'll need!

I cut four strips of scrap booking paper the width of the acorn vine and the length of the square.

am i making sense?

then i just hot-glued those strips right on the vine.

it's not a stellar project, but it's effective. squint your eyes and you won't see the seams of the paper!

i do a lot of squinting around here.

the picture in the frame is of lindsay and i at the chalk art festival. my favorite memory of the summer.

Stealing from the Garage

2010-08-24T20:12:00.000-06:00

if you leave beautiful work like this in your garage, hanging in a cracked and broken frame and full of cobwebs,

i will take it from you.

that's exactly what happened with this lovely.

i took it from my mom's garage.

it was in a frame that was too small... and the glass was cracked...and it was dirty.

it needed some love.

once i took it out of it's worn frame, i was drooling over the stitching.

it was perfect! and the colors were so vibrant!

of course, i wanted to know who made this piece, but mom doesn't remember...

her mom? her sister? could i send her a picture?

here's your picture, mom.

so i rescued that hand-crafted piece and gave it a new home. i think i could find a better matte to frame it in, but it's way better than the frame that housed it before. in the garage.

...did you catch that i found it hanging in the garage?

for now, this cross-stitched alphabet has a new frame and a new residence inside my house.

it won't be going back to the garage.

but, if mom wants it back, i suppose i'd give it up.

...begrudgingly.

Drooling Over Spices

2010-08-23T20:28:00.000-06:00

*sigh*

come on, admire it with me.

the perfectly labeled spices, the clear, perfectly-sized jars...

isn't it just...

perfect?

please tell me you understand the need for this sort of...

organization?

labelling system?

overly obsessive neatness?

tell me all your spices are in glass jars with matching labels.

no?

really?

oh, how i do love my little spice cupboard now.

i worked on this project for days:

cleaning jars, scraping off old labels, typing names and checking spelling

(time? thime? thyme?),

cutting, pasting, drying.

and the end result is so delicious to my eyes.

am i the only one that is drooling over this?

just tell me there's a little pool of spit on your chin.

please?

A Message For You... and me

2010-08-21T14:41:00.001-06:00

prints by Erin Jane Art Prints on Etsy.

Believe these words. What will you make happen today?

Five {Things} on Friday

2010-08-20T15:39:00.000-06:00

5 things i did yesterday:

..watched my kids swim..

..caught up with old friends..

..avoided the internet..

..avoided housework..

..bought a new silver cuff..

5 things that challenged me this week:

..sending my mom back home..

..meeting new people..

..my baby, who is "dabbling" in potty training (i'm an all-or-nothing kind of girl)..

..a misunderstanding between friends..

..believing in myself..

5 things i'm grateful for this week:

..i was taught early to exercise and eat right..

..one word...LEGOS..

..my husband supports me and believes in me..

..i have stellar friends..

..and my kids are kinda stellar, too..

5 things that keep me from achieving my dreams:

..fear of rejection..

..self-doubt..

..self-criticism..

..knowing that i am not good enough..

..or smart enough..

..or savvy enough..

(i know that's way more than five. i thought i would spare you the self-loathing, here...)

5 ways to overcome myself:

..ignore the negative thoughts...they are trying to fool me, anyway..

..journal my fears..

..talk out loud to people who build me up..

..visualize my dreams..

..prove myself wrong by taking action..

what 5 things are on your mind today?

Moments Like This

2010-08-18T14:12:00.000-06:00

capturing moments like this make me feel so incredibly accomplished as a mother.

Family Napkins

2010-08-16T14:21:00.000-06:00

i finished up my embroidery project this morning. it's been on my mind for some time...

to make a set of family napkins. with my mom here (and a broken sewing machine) we've been doing a lot of hand-stitching, so it was the perfect time to get these little napkins finished.

i stitched up a napkin for all five of us plus one extra. the white fabric is from a vintage pillowcase.

fyi...a standard pillowcase makes 6 squares, each one approximately 10x10 inches.

each of the kids got to choose the color of their thread. i've never really been taught embroidery so i just kinda made up a stitch, i think. but in the end i am so happy with these!

now we can use our napkins more than once, and nobody gets someone else's dirty napkin. use your own dirty!

Sunday Stitches

2010-08-15T16:15:00.000-06:00

the three of us have been at the kitchen table all afternoon...my mom, my oldest daughter, and i.

we've been creating and cutting and stitching and sewing.

it's going on four hours now,

and it's wonderful!

mom's here for just one more day,

and i'm trying to soak her all up.

5 {Things} on Friday

2010-08-13T15:52:00.000-06:00

*these pictures are from a trip to the old penitentiary historical museum. although i've lived here for almost 15 years, i had never been here. i love the look of the worn, weathered buildings. beautiful, in a strange way...

5 things i did yesterday:

..hand-stitching. i'm working on a set of family napkins. will show later..

..napped with my baby..

..morning walk, coffee, gym (that's one thing, i promise)..

..thrifted my way around town with my parents..

..ate lunch at a favorite restaurant, on the patio, in the middle of the day...without kids..

5 things i did today:

..took a day trip to an old mining town in the mountains..

..ate ice cream in a homemade waffle cone..

..picked river rocks..

..picnicked near a stream..

..made dinner reservations for this evening..

5 things i picked up while thrifting this week:

..a handmade, hand-stitched quilt for $12..

..a tablecloth..

..white quilted pillow shams (2)..

..a vintage leather and grass-woven handbag..

..wooden napkin rings (6)..

5 serene moments i enjoyed this week:

..watching my son paint a watercolor, and then giving it to his granny..

..kissing my oldest goodbye as she left for her first slumber party, caboodle in hand..

..stitching by hand next to my mom and daughter, with the baby in my lap..

..the sound of legos being combed through in their bucket...it means the boy is creating..

..that moment of peace that comes while stretching after a hard sweat..

5 things that challenged me as a mother this week:

..when to let my children slumber overnight, and how to make it okay for one and not the other..

..the baby's need to cling to me, and my need to be free..

..and the knowledge that if she didn't want to cling to me, i would miss her affections..

..legos...all.over.the.house!..

..paying attention to each child individually, and being able to encourage and support them in their own challenges..

A Package Just For Me!

2010-08-12T19:36:00.000-06:00

my friend, erin of art by erin leigh, sent me these lovely cards and prints. i was so thrilled to receive them.

and look at her darling sketch on the envelope! so cute!

thank you, erin.

i absolutely love my prints!

Leave Room to Dream...

2010-08-10T21:26:00.000-06:00

i found just a few moments yesterday to reconnect with my watercolors. it's been too long. but they were quite welcoming towards me, i must say.

the canvas underneath my art materials? i have a stack of these canvas "flags" already hemmed by hand. i've had them a while, with the intention of letting the kids paint them and hang them in the yard. some of them have made their way to the kitchen table as art mats, though. the one shown above is mine. simple, direct, dreamy...

leave room to dream

Saturday Market Eye-Feast

2010-08-09T12:31:00.000-06:00

i haven't been down the local city market for a year, maybe more. such a shame, i now see. i should be down here at least once a month. we bought some of that luscious lettuce, some cucumbers, peppers, and garlic. i bought a local riesling for myself and jaelyn picked up this mondo cinnamon roll. do you see the size of that thing? and that's only half! i swear, the full roll was bigger than her head!

but, she finished it. and i'm happy to report that i finished the riesling!

when i came upon this booth i had to stop and gape. mouth wide open, drool forming, and all other senses shut down so that my eyes could completely feast on the loveliness before me.

seriously, while i was gasping with wonder one of the gals tried to introduce herself and the line to me, and i put my hand up and told her to wait until my eyes were finished soaking it all in! i couldn't move!

i just think this vintage fabric-turned-drum-shade is gorgeous. every one of them. you can see more of these lovely shades at dot&line home accessories, the shop.

i might be sporadic this week, lovelies...my mom flies in for a week!

Don't Read About This Giveaway. It Lowers My Chances...

2010-08-08T14:19:00.002-06:00

i'm writing this post to try to win something, people. i don't want you to read this, or follow any of the links, or pass the word around, or anything. because then my chances of winning go down. so actually, just stop reading altogether right here, k?

okay?

i can tell that you are in the mood to ignore. and that you aren't going to listen to me at all. fine, have it your way. but if you win we can't be friends anymore.

at least for 2 days.

maybe 3.

i can hold a grudge sometimes.

did you see that craft gossip

is giving away three etsy shopping sprees? worth one hundred dollars each?

did you see that?

three!

three winners. no joke.

i just have to create a wish list and then blog about it to be entered into the giveaway.

and i already have a wish list! i listed 5 of my current etsy faves just the other day,

right here in my 5{things} post!

but if i only get to spend a hundred bucks, i suppose i'll shorten my list to:

these

and this.

now, pretend you never saw this post. or heard about this giveaway. because i do want to be your friend. just not if you win.

*wink, wink* i so love you!

A Message for You...and the Newlyweds

2010-08-07T14:47:00.003-06:00

what lies behind us and what lies before us

are tiny matters...

compared to what lies

within us.

~ralph waldo emerson