Juniper's 1st Christmas

I can't believe were a week away from Christmas! I am sooo happy that I have all my Christmas presents bought, wrapped and all my etsy orders out so that everyone gets them in time for Christmas. I had been putting Juniper's Christmas pictures off for too long and realized if I didn't get them done this week I wasn't going to get cards out until after Christmas.

I did this Christmas shoot by myself which was a lot harder than I thought especially since Juni can't sit up by herself yet. I usually get someone to help me steady her while I take pictures. Anyway one thing I learned from this was less is more. I spent 50 dollars on stuff to set up her little scene... half of this stuff you don't even see in the pictures! I hadn't planned on spending that much but I got way to excited. I wanted to make her an ice princess but the crown idea I had seemed a little too dangerous so she turned in to snow princess! I was inspired by that new movie frozen... I can't wait till she can watch cute movies with me and somewhat understand them.

I really like taking pictures of her instead of getting someone else to take them... it's just fun for me. Plus I am one of those people who have a strong vision of how I want things to look so it's hard for me to let anyone else try to do things or make things I need. It is a problem that I need to work on for certain things in my life.

Juni will be 5 months on the 20th I am soo proud of her because she has already discovered her 1st word... momma!!! I caught her saying mom a couple weeks ago when she would get really frustrated and wanted my attention. I couldn't believe it because I didn't understand how she would even know the word since I haven't said it toward her. Then my mom and sister pointed it out and I started saying momma to her a lot. Now she says it really clearly and she says it when I am not paying attention to her. I figured she most have picked it up from me yelling mom when I wanted my mom to come see something Juniper was doing. I really didn't think that would be her first word so Merry Christmas to me! Seriously she is the only thing I need under my Christmas tree this year to make me happy!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Wanted to wish you all a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. I was hoping to go see my grandmas grave in Tennessee but little girl will have to wait she is still too helpless. She definitely runs the show but god I love her! I'm hoping to get her in a cute little dress and go to the drive in, maybe cook out and enjoy a small fire outside. Fingers crossed!

Happy Fourth!!

I hope your fourth is filled with colorful fireworks, good grilled food, family and friends!

I just put up these new rings in the shop and they sold fast... just a few more in the shop!

USE COUPON CODE JULY4TH AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF YOUR ORDER IN THE  SHOP!! GOOD THROUGH THIS WEEKEND ONLY!!! 

DIY Heart Belly Top

Two more days till Valentines Day! I'm not sure exactly why I am so excited but I think it might have something to do with the love that's growing in my belly! I'm 18 weeks now... almost halfway! Hard to believe!

Anyway I thought I would show that love by updating an old sweater of mine!

Supplies:
Top, scissors, sewing machine or needle and thread, material for heart

I began by cutting this heart out the old school way. Folding a square piece of fabric in half and cutting like you did in elementary school. I cut it really big at first so I could adjust it to fit the sweater. This flannel is from an old dress I had!

Then I pinned it into place on the front of the top.

Warning I am not the best sewer in the world. In fact it aggravates me because I can't hardly sew a straight line but I took my time and adjusted the sweater around the sewing machine as I went very carefully!

What do you think?

My Favorite Valentine Etsy Picks

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I am actually really glad it is friday today! I wanted to show you some of my etsy valentine themed favorites. I usually try to pick at least 10 things but to be honest it was hard to find anything really cool specifically for valentines day on etsy. Which totally shocked me. I feel like the search is a lot harder than it was when I started a year ago.


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PS Don't forget to Enter the Giveaway here

and check out and enter the latest sketchbook prompt here I finally added a picture of my sketchbook page on it!

Also if you know of anything really cool valentine themed etsy items drop a link below!

Enjoy your weekend and I will see you Monday!

DIY Valentine Love Book

I never buy a card for someone special. I always feel like I need to make something more special! For the past couple of years I have been making Justin little handmade scrapbooks of us for valentines day. Last year I made the very popular 52 reasons I love you (deck of cards). This year I wanted to make something smaller and simpler because time is of the essence around here.

This book is super easy and made of paper lunch bags! It's a project that can be done in a hour. Plus it makes a great keepsake to hold your memories :)

 Supplies... looks like a lot but all of this can vary.
All you really need are the basics to make the book..

• scissors
• lunch bags (I used 5 to have 10 pages but you could do as little as 3! oh and they are nice if they are white but I have used brown bags before too!)
• Assorted ribbon, trim or string
• hole punch 

Extra fun Scrapbooking supplies... (can be anything!) ex. stamps, paints, papers, punches

and don't forget your memories... letters, flat keepsakes, photos!

To make sure I punched each bag in the same spots I used a pencil and the first bag I punched to mark the other bags.

Double knot your ribbon and trim if it's too much!

Some ideas for decorating your pages...

I used our fingerprints to make hearts!

 The neat part is that you have storage pockets between the bags that have the openings!

A great place for all those love notes! I used cute little paper clips to keep them shut!

And there you have it!

Get creative and look around your home for things to use on this project.... ps those hearts are paint sample chips!

So what do you think?

New Year Goals for 2013

I sat and thought about these for the past week and have been ever so patiently waiting to let you all see. Part of me wants to keep them hidden away because of the fear of failure and the other part says this will help make it happen.

The other thing that drives me crazy is I am realizing that this year is going to be one of the most interesting years of my life. It's probably going to just happen like it needs to without me being able to really control what actually happens. I can already see a difference in just being pregnant and how it effects what I want and need to do. I literally have really really good days where I feel like I can do anything and there are only a few of them. Who knows when their going to pop up right? Then I have really bad blah days where all I care about is if I am going to eat. Those days happen more than they need to but I am starting to understand that it is what it is.

So writing goals has been difficult but it doesn't hurt to reach for the stars. I will be happy to see at least some of these goals happen before next year and it's exciting to have them somewhere solid where I can't lose them. Then next year I can really see what the heck I was thinking and if it was worth it!

So here they are organized in 3 main lists... see my tips for new year goals
here and a reflection of the past year here

Business Goals for 2013
*my main focus is money and being organized (gives me a headache just thinking about it).

• Create a Visual and Serious Business Plan
• hire an accountant / file taxes
• Become a real business (license)
• Separate Business money and personal money
• Website
• Advertise 
• Finish business books and study
• Be more organized 
• New and Improved Product
• take a seminar

Blogging Goals for 2013
*my main focus is being more organized and creative in blogging.

• Get more organized 
• Take the time to plan / make a planner
• Devote a day and Schedule for Blogging
• Get more Creative with posts / fun new features
• Improve Photography/ take more pictures
• Keep a Idea book
• 2nd post art exchange and more fun ways to interact with followers
• Connect with other Blogs
• Improve blog layout / clean up the rough edges
• Finish Blog E courses

Personal Goals for 2013
*my main focus is to be happy, organized, and enjoy this special year of becoming a new mommy.

• Be a great mommy / keep up my Baby Book
• Clean out Junk from Apartment and Simplify
• Drink more Water
• Stretch every Morning / Cardio 5-7 days of the week
• Try to Cook one new meal every Month
• Spend quality time with pup/ take him on more walks
• Start a Savings account for a house (with money in it)
• Paint for fun
• Meditate more
• Enjoy more weekends
• 365 day project ---> self portrait / take pride in the way I look
• Redecorate 
• Start paying school loans
• Keep an organized weekly schedule and meal plan for the week
• Prepare for baby
• Take more everyday pictures and develop! Take more video!

So there you have it. Those are my goals, still a little ifffy about sharing them but I like to push myself into the uncomfortable unknown sometimes. 

Happy New Year to all my followers and friends! No matter what happened in 2012 lets try to keep it in the past and move on to better ourselves working on making us the happiest we can be!

ps I will be 3 months tomorrow!

I would love to hear one New Year Goal you have for 2013!

How to Make Successful New Year Goals

I always tend to write a huge list of resolutions that pertain to everything from my personal life, relationships, business.... ect. It's honestly kind of annoying because the list is just that a list. I usually end up only marking off a few of the many resolutions I make every year. Today I want to share with you my new approach to resolutions that will make them more successful this year.


1. Changing Resolutions to Goals:
Here is the definition I found for resolution on wiki...
New Year's resolution, a commitment that an individual makes at New Year's Day
A commitment which to me means set in stone and if you break it you feel horrible about that. So why don't we change it up and call them goals instead? Here's the wiki definition for that...
A goal is a desired result an animal or a system envisions, plans and commits to achieve—a personal or organizational desired end-point in some sort of assumed development
Desire... that sounds a little more pleasing and I am still going to commit to achieve it but I will plan to make that happen. Seems less stressful to me.

2. Organizing your List:
Taking your large extensive list ranging from cleaning the home to making more business connections and putting into smaller lists can make your thought process a lot simpler. I am putting my goals into three small lists business, personal, and blog. That makes it easier for me to handle them. 

3. Creating the plan of attack:
Making your resolutions into goals means you need a plan of attack and that always brings up the chances for success. Take the time to dream up what each might entail in order to get there. Maybe you need to make so much money in a certain amount of time or you need to lose so many pounds in so many weeks. Write all of that down as condensed as you can so it doesn't overwhelm you. Focus on the important factors.

4. Posting Reminders and Memos in clear Sight:
Take the time to create eye catching/ cute signs as reminders and put them in the places where they make sense or where you look every day. Maybe in your closet where you pick your clothes out in the morning or in the bathroom right above the sink. If you plan on losing weight trying sticking a sign in the pantry to remind you to eat good. If your trying to save money stick a note in your wallet beside your cash. 

5. Share Goals with a Friend:
Having someone to talk about your goals can help you understand them better and give you perspective. A friend can also be a kind reminder or a goal buddy if they want to achieve it with you. Having a workout buddy is the best!

6. Schedule one day of the Month for Reflection and Adjusting:
Choose one day out of the month to look at your achievements and see what is working. If losing 20 lbs in a month isn't happening (god knows that's kinda impossible) then adjust and make it more reasonable for you. Adjusting isn't giving up it's giving you a better chance at success.

7. Rewarding Yourself Along the Way:
Rewarding is just a way to give yourself a pat on the back for a good job. It's also motivation to keep on trucking... so remember that!

8. Be Confident:
Always say I can, I will, I am and never say never! I think this is the most important success tip!


What do you think? What are some of your goals? How do you keep up with them throughout the year?

Christmas at my Place

Guess what??!! I FINALLY GOT A NEW CAMERA!!! and I am totally in love! If you been following along my camera has been broke for around 5 months... it still worked but I had to hold the lens on and I couldn't adjust anything so it was mere luck and pure aggravation to get a good shot. So I kinda stopped taking pictures with it and used my phone to fill in. My camera didn't just get handed to me though... I actually saved up the money and paid cash myself! I swear it feels so good when you can do that for yourself but it's harder to hand over that cash then to slide some plastic!

I didn't get to capture the happy holiday moments this year like I do every year so when I brought my camera home tonight I ran around the apartment testing it out. The perfect excuse to show you what my Christmas looks like in our apartment!

I made some cinnamon  ornaments this year... that one above was just for pup!

We hung stockings but didn't fill them... opps.

Made a popsicle snowflake for fun!!

and loved on my pup... his first and only Christmas with just mom and pop!