S-A-L-E

Everyone loves a good sale!

All of my bags have been marked down 40% to make room for new products!

Take advantage, have fun, support a maker!

Love ya!

Elevate 2016

I guess it's official now!

I am a real blogger because I went to a blogging conference!

I don't know how true that statement really is, 

but I will tell you I had the most amazing time at Elevate 2016!

I got to be in a beautiful place full of amazing women!

There was a perfect line up of activities and speakers for this creative soul!

Liv and Hope

I got to hear speakers that made me laugh and cry and think!

The Crafted Sparrow

 These ladies shared their hearts and their stories fearlessly!

 Persnickety Prints

I got to meet lady bosses that shared their products with us.

Me and My Big Ideas

Having time to create during the conference was one of the best parts!

O'verlays decorative fretwork

I got to talk with blogging friends that I had only known from my screen face to face.

 Belong Magazine
 Diary of an Addict

It was a gift!

A gift to recharge.

A gift to be inspired.

A gift to learn more about blogging!

A gift to make connections with so many mamas!

I was blown away by Jen and Summer's attention to all the details,

the way they love their tribe,

the community that they have created!

I am beyond grateful to be included into such a great circle!

I am still processing everything I learned,

but I already have plans to attend next year too!

Elevate 2016, you ROCKED!

*All photos are by the AMAZINGLY talented Chrissy Delacy of 
Let Me See You Sparkle Photography

On Being a Mom

At eighteen years old I would have told you I'm not going to have a family 

because I'm going to be a doctor and that lifestyle is not fair to a family.

Fast forward four years and I became a mom to an amazing tiny little man.

What in the world was my eighteen year old self thinking?

A lot of buzz around the internet talks about 

being a mama as this super hard exhausting task.
Here's the thing...
it absolutely can be hard and exhausting, but that is not all.

I look back and think how in the world did I have 3 little boys 4 and under, 

work full time, finish my teaching credential, and my master's degree?

It really comes down to one thing.

I finished and survived all of that because I was a mama.

I wanted time with my boys,

I wanted better for my boys,

and I wanted to set an example for my boys.

I did the hard things because I was always thinking about my life with my boys.
Was I tired?
You bet.
Was I frustrated at times?
Most assuredly.
Was it totally worth the early mornings and late nights?
Absolutely.

Now I am stubborn by nature and a hard worker,
so this might just be how things work for me,
but I know in my heart doing all of the hard things comes back to my boys.
Making a good life for them was the push to get things done.

So on this Mother's Day I look back and think
how in the world could I do life without my men?
The short answer...
I couldn't.
Being a mama brings me such joy.
This life is exactly what I was meant to do.

Mama is by far my favorite title.

Open Hands

When I read a story about parenting with open hands my heart hurt, but I knew it was exactly right.

On Sunday I did the hardest thing I have done as a mama...

I left my eighteen year old 1,550.2 miles away from home to begin his journey.

Austin, Texas is his new home. 

Let me tell you I was a hot mess.

The tears would not stop and when he had tears too it pushed me over the top.

It was everything I had not to pack him back up and bring him home with me.

Some how through the tears I drove away.

We had an amazing five days of getting him set up to live on his own.

We figured out routes to get to his school.

We shopped and stocked up on essentials and groceries.

We explored his new city. 

I knew he was ready, but I wasn't so sure my heart was ready.

Then Monday evening came and the texts started flowing in.

His cohort was great.  He liked his instructors.

The facilities were awesome and the perks were going to be wonderful.

I felt the heaviness lift as we knew he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

We had chosen wisely and his future looks so bright.

Austin and Texas in general blew me away. 

What a great place for Zack to begin the next part of his life! 

Parenting with open hands is not for sissies,

but when you see your kid thrive it's totally worth the hurting mama heart!

Makers Gonna Make

If there is one thing that is predictable about me it is that I must be busy.

I have to make things or be doing something all. the. time.

Can't help it...

Spring break was here and I was so ready for it!

Did I sleep in...a little.

Did I rest...you bet.

Did I work on a huge project...of course!

 I have the privilege of being a part of the Elevate Conference in May 

and I wanted to send a little something for the swag bags.

Seventy-five little somethings to be exact.

There were points where I thought I was surely out of my EVER. LOVING. MIND.

for agreeing to provide seventy-five mini zipper pouches for all the ladies.

But I stuck it out and got them all finished with loads of time to spare!

 I love all the fabrics.  

The combinations that I hope will bring on smiles and all the heart eyes.

Since I actually had time to spare I decided I wanted to do a couple of projects 

for the house and even something for me!

One new pillow for the family room and one new zipper pouch for my bag.

If there is one thing I have learned in trying to have a little business 

it is that you have to get back to the root of how all this sewing began.  

I started sewing for our home and my hubby and my boys.

Giving myself permission to make something for fun is the key to not getting burned out.

I want to always have the feeling of wanting to sew.  

If it turns into something that is a chore I have defeated the whole purpose of my little shop.  

Sewing is my therapy, sewing is my joy.

Who Needs a Basket?

I don't know about you, but having clutter around the house makes me a little crazy.

Add in holidays and things can get out of control.

Easter baskets and I have a love hate relationship.

I love making baskets for my boys,

but I hate that there is this basket lying around when the treats are long gone.

I came up with a solution that is quick and cheap!  

Two of my favorite words when I'm crafting!

First, gather all your materials.  

Seriously, I bet you have everything you need without a trip to Michaels!

1 Kraft Medium Bag

1 Piece of Scrapbook Paper

1 Piece of Felt

1 Pair of Scissors

1 Bunny Template

Pencil

Glue

Print out your bunny template and cut it out.

Trace it on the back side of the scrapbook paper.

Cut out the bunny and cut a circle from the felt.

Glue the bunny onto the kraft bag.

Glue the felt circle onto the bunny.

That's it!

See, I told you it was quick!

Have fun filling it up with Easter treats! 

Just fold it away for next year when the kiddos are done!

I have been using the ones I made for my boys for a few years now.

 I love how easy it is to pull them out of the cupboard!

So simple and no clutter to added to the house!

Simple Tips for Rearing Amazing Kids

When a teacher asks your husband and you if you're going to have more kids 

you might get a weird look on your face.  

When she goes on to explain that your boys are amazing, 

you understand, she wants more kids in her class like yours.

How did we rear such awesome kiddos?

Here it goes in a nutshell...

1. Say what you mean and mean what you say.  

Our boys know that when we tell them something 

we will do our best to follow through, good or bad.  

Idol threats or unkept promises are not how we do things around here.

2. Set boundaries. 

Kids need to know what is and is not okay in your family.  

If we told them something was not okay we surely followed through if they crossed the line.  

If kids know the expectations they will meet them.

3. Have routines.

From the time our boys were little we did things with them a certain way.

They always knew what to expect because we had a routine.  

Not always flying by the seat of your pants gives kiddos security 

and it helps everyone have a better day.

4. Listen to their stories.  

Our kids come to us and talk about everything.  

One thing their dad and I do almost without thinking is stop what we're doing and listen.  

All the little stuff they shared as munchkins has opened the door, 

so sharing teenager issues is totally normal and common.  

People have been surprised when the boys tell us about things

 that they did that were not great choices. 

 They know they can share anything with us 

because we're not going to start screaming.

5. Hang out together.  

Giving your kids your time is so simple, yet it can be totally overlooked.

Dinner is a great time to all be together.  

The middle of a Sunday afternoon is a great time to be silly, watch a movie, or just talk.  

Reading to my boys every night before bedtime 

will always be one of my favorite memories.

6.  Let them be kids.  

Our boys were mud loving, dirt digging, play fighting, paper creating little guys.  

We did not push them to be academic all-stars until it was time for them to go to school.  

Their job was to learn and grow and explore.  

We tried sports here and there, but we never pushed a busy schedule of activities.  

We firmly believe they need time to just figure things out.  

We do not need to fill every moment of their day with something. 

7.  Be encouragers. 

If your kid loves drawing make sure they have paper, pencils, and crayons to bring their heart to life.  

If your kid wants to make video games get them into programming. 

If your kid is a reader take them to the library or thrift store.  

If your kid is a builder make sure they have things to build with everyday.  

If they are excited about something, be excited with them!

8. Laugh with them.

When guests stay in our home they almost always comment on the laughter heard here.  

We love to laugh and some things that kids say or do are just hilarious.  

Teaching them to enjoy life is an awesome gift.

It is not hard or expensive to guide your kids into growing up to be amazing. 

The most important thing we have given our boys is our heart.  

We love them.  

We show it by setting boundaries, following through, listening, encouraging, and giving them our time.

I'm sure there are a million other little things we have done, 

but it all comes down to the most simple and valuable thing a parent can do...

Love your kiddos fiercely.