Wednesday, May 25, 2016

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!


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

 These ladies shared their hearts and their stories fearlessly!

 Persnickety Prints

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

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

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

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





Saturday, May 7, 2016

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.