Christmas Gift Exchange || Euro Vest

I'm not one to normally post a lot of pictures of myself, it's awkward.  However I really love these Euro Vests, and putting them on a mannequin does not do them justice.  So here are some pics of me modeling one of my Euro Vests that are going up in my Etsy Shop this week.

For the 3rd year in a row I did the Handmade Gift Exchange hosted by Craftoholics Anonymous.  This year, my partner said she loved purple, so I immediately thought of my vests!  Glad you like it Kassie !!

Here is what she gifted me:) And because I'm being lazy, I stole the pictures right off her post... I know, i know...  I love them!  Wyn has been sleeping with the Kokeshi doll, calling it her "wood baby" LOL!

And here are some pics of here donning the gifts I sent!  LOVE it!! Yep, stole this pictures too...

Mommy Tips 101 || Edition 2

Well... I thought it appropriate for edition 2 to have a funny story. Because as moms, if we can't learn to laugh at all the ridiculous that happens we WILL LOSE OUR MINDS!

About 3 months after Sean was born, Jason and I planned to go out on our first date. It was the first time I wore a non-maternity dress, and I was looking pretty good (if I do say so myself). I was back to my size 4! Seriously, I was looking the best I had looked in months.  I had gotten a decent amount of sleep the night before, I didn't have bags under my eyes, I had straightened my unruly hair, I had a mani-pedi, etc. etc. You get it. Right before we left, I nursed my lovely son. He then spit up on me. Of course, I did not have time to change. We had reservations and were already almost late. Ok. Fine.
I'll deal with a little spit up on my dress (strike one). We leave, and as we are driving to the restaurant it seems a storm is brewing. No big deal. I like rain. Oh wait. I straightened my hair (for the first time in FOREVER). We get to the restaurant and I get out the car. Down-pour. Straight hair is no more (strike two). Ok, spit up on dress, hair a mess. I am going to enjoy this dinner. I am going to enjoy this dinner. A glass of red wine later, and I'm feeling good. Crab cake delicious. I order my creme brulee. Take another sip of red wine. I suddenly feel very warm. Hmm... I know one glass of wine shouldn't make me feel all warm. Oh... I know. I forgot to wear breast pads and am currently leaking through my bra (strike three). As we go to leave, my heel breaks. By the end of the night, I was laughing pretty hard. Our second date attempt was much more successful, thank God!


Lesson Learned: Things don't always go as we plan. Learn to Laugh at yourself.


Many thanks to the amazing mom who submitted this :)

Gold Tipped Shoesies

So I saw this link on Pinterest le zoe musings || diy gold tip baby mary janes

And a couple days later we each had a pair...

What started out as one pair for miss paisley lead to a pair for each of us. They have been worn several times, love our updated kicks :)

Feel free to check out the link above for her tutorial!

Pursued

"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're
mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When
you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a
rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end — Because I am God, your
personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for
you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That's how much
you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole
world to get you back, trade the creation just for you." Isaiah
43:1b-4 (The Message)

Every woman wants to be pursued. Wants to feel wanted.
How romantic is that!
That "God shaped hole" in me that I remember hearing in a song when I
was younger. And ah-ha moment! That's what that means!! More
romantic than the Notebook -- sorry Nicholas Sparks, but true...

Mommy Tips 101 || Edition 1

I'm starting this series because I am constantly impressed and amazed by moms. All of those other moms out there like me.  The mom's short on time, low on money and always feeling like their house is a mess. I like to pretend I'm a domestic goddess—I'm not, plain and simple I'm not. Although I love all things domestic –sewing, cooking, cleaning, organizing, working hard to make memories and traditions  etc… I'm far from having it mastered HOWEVER I love to hear how other people conquer it all! I work 3 days a week - which is somewhat new, I used to work full time with 2 little ones so I know
the struggles of being a working mom, and the craziness of getting kids up, dressed and out the door (and those occasional hiccups such as forgetting a bottle or diapers--yipes!), only to then come home and think "now what to make for dinner and how can the house possibly be this messy?". Being home 4 days a week I feel like I can also relate to the stay at home moms as well—the craziness that comes with being home with your kids all day and trying not to become unglued and the financial strains that come when you decide to take that leap and stay home.

So a little back story….

I have 2 little girls. Wyndham (2 ½) and Paisley (1). My husband and I knew that we wanted kids close together and knew it would be kind of wild for a little while.  But... we didn't exactly plan for 18 months apart, so when Wyndham was just over 9 months old and we found out I was baking a baby again we were a little shocked—but looking back now we love how it turned out and think we'll go ahead and keep them both.  And... I have no family around. Mom, Dad and all 3 sisters all live in Florida. So we know that craziness of balancing two kids pretty well! The double diaper duty, tossing diapers across the room, code brown in the tub kind of craziness!

So I have been bugging annoying polling my other mommy friends for their stories, advise and tips on how they do it. I plan to share on here lots of mommy tips, rookie mom mistakes (things that we have learned the hard way…), ways to save money, save time, and keep up on cleaning while still being a good mom! So many of these tips that my friends are sharing with me I really really wish I had asked about earlier. Seriously, MOMS NEED OTHER MOMS!! So sit back and enjoy the reads, there are some pretty hysterical stories to come as well!

Life Lately || According to my iPhone