Birthday Banner

Yesterday was Miss Addy's birthday!!  We will actually be celebrating on Saturday when some family is in town visiting, but I made this super fun banner to hang in our living room for the week!

Right after I posted a photo on my facebook page I had a friend ask if she could order some custom letters for a banner.  I did those for her her right away and thought maybe some other people might want some.  In one evening I sold 6 banners!  Crazy!  I am now making and packaging some for a local shop!  Stay tuned, as I will be featuring the shop next week.

I do all the cutting on my cricut. The creativity comes into play when picking my paper combos and layouts. It has been fun.  I even did one for a newborn baby photo shoot.

Also stay tuned for Addy's birthday cake post.  I'm planning a Disney's Frozen cake. I haven't worked with fondant in a while, so I'm hoping I haven't lost my knack for it!

Family Year Books (and Shutterfly Deal!)

One of my goals the past couple of years has been to stay on top of our family's photos.  With the digital age, and cell phones it is super easy to just store everything on our computers and Facebook and call it good.  I definitely want photos to be tangible and in order so I don't have a mess on my hands 10 years from now.

I used to be a scrapbooker, but I have found that I just don't have the time and it had become quite a burden to me.  I now have been making digital scrapbooks!

The only way I have managed to "keep up" on this is my husband allowing me time to sneak away to a coffee shop and work without distractions.  I got 3 months behind after I had Cece so I spent 3 hours a few weeks ago finishing up our 2013 album!

I make all my albums on Shutterfly and then I wait to order them until they have their awesome photo book sales!  Currently they are offering up to 50 percent off depending on the size of the album (sale is good through 3/18/14).

My albums end up having 70+ pages in them and this one cost about $80.  I just love them, and so does Addy!!  She goes through them often talking about what we did and remembering things.

I sort everything out by month so there is some order to it!

I have 2011, 2012 and 2013 Done and in our home.  I think I will just combine our "life before kids" into one big album in not as great of order.  Life was just a lot more boring then!

What do you do to preserve all your photos??

Eat your veggies!

I have a new favorite kitchen tool!  I purchased these awesome freezer pop molds for the Christmas stockings and have been LOVING them.

We have a fruit/vegetable issue in our household like I'm sure many of you do.  Addy will gladly eat applesauce and grapefruit for fruit, but she struggles with every vegetable and almost every other fruit mostly for texture reasons.  Because of that, we have tended to rely on smoothies to get her greens in.  She will drink a smoothie with probably her entire allotment of veggies a day, but sometimes we don't have the time or energy to make a smoothie.

Now we make smoothies a couple times a week, but make extra and freeze in these molds so I can just grab one out for lunch super easily!  You can also use them for yogurt if you rely on convenience go-gurt for your family.  It will save you money, and you can buy a less sugar filled yogurt to put in them.

We put lots of spinach in our smoothies, so they always end up green!

What are your tricks for getting your kids to eat veggies without a fight??  I really don't want our dinner times to become a hostage negotiation every night.

Need smoothie Ideas??  This book is free for ebook today on Amazon!

Homemade Laundry Detergent!

I did it!! I actually made homemade laundry detergent.  I've been seeing people do it, and pinning it left and right and finally decided to take the plunge after trying a sample of some from a Women's event my church put on.

Here's the recipe I used adapted from Being Creative Blog
-1 76oz box of Borax
-1 4lb box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
-1 55oz box of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
-3 Bars of Fels-Naptha
-Essential Oil (a few drops)  I used Young Livings Lemon!  (totally optional)

I started by grating the 3 bars of Fels-Naptha in my food processor.  You can use a regular cheese grater too, but I wanted it done fast! I then put on my chopping blade and made it even more fine, so it was almost a powder.

Once that was done I got a trash bag and dumped everything in it and mixed it all around so the ingredients were equally distributed.

Only need to use 1-2 TBL per load, which means this amount should last us about 8 months (I do approximately 6 loads of laundry a week).

Prices for items at Walmart
Borax: $3.97
Baking Soda: $2.24
Washing Soda: $3.24
Fels-Naptha: $0.97x3 = $2.91

TOTAL COST: $12.36

I wish I would have taken pictures, but I'm not in a blogging mindframe yet so I missed my opportunity.  That being said Addy "helped" throughout the entire process which was super fun!! I love this age where you can get chores done with "helpers!"

My Family

I promised some photos of my new precious babe so here they are! 
Cecily Frances born 11/29/14 (ses-a-lee)
6lbs 11.5oz
19 inches long
Her nicknames include Cece, sissy, sister sue, and little C

We had our photos taken by Tricia Barnea Photography.  Our other photographer moved away but she recommended Tricia and we are sooooo happy with how they turned out!  I really wanted more than just a newborn shoot, and Tricia does family/newborn sessions so we all could be included in the photos.  


If you ever decide to check her out tell her I sent you!  We will definitely be using her again!

Deck the Halls

We decked the halls before we left town for Thanksgiving.  I was a lot less excited to decorate this year and I have no idea why.  We pared down our normal decorating.  We normally have an upstairs tree and a downstairs tree, but basically left all of our decorating to our upstairs living area, and kept it much simpler this year.

Our buffet near our dining area.

Since rearranging our living room, we moved this sofa table upstairs.  I love having it upstairs so I can create a little display to compliment whatever season we are in.  I LOVE my Willow Tree Nativity Set.  We have all the pieces now. I didn't put them all up this year - just keeping it simple.

You can see my homemade advent calendar hanging on the wall.  I get so many compliments on this and I am so proud of it because it is one idea I actually mostly came up with by myself!! :)  

And here is our tree. We used our smaller tree upstairs this year.  But I love my homemade stockings and tree skirt just as much this year as last year!  

We have successfully trained Addy not to touch all but ONE  ornament on the tree.  She gets to touch and play with one of the mouse ornaments and she goes and gets it almost instantly when she wakes up in the morning :)  She also calls every mouse "mimi mouse" and every muppet "elmo."  Oh she is so adorable.

Wednesday nights I come home from youth group and put Addy to bed, clean up the house, and enjoy 1 hour of me time (Jon is still at youth group).  This me time is especially nice when it is surrounded by a lit Christmas Tree and a Scentsy warmer warming Snowberry.  I love Christmas.

I reread this blog a month or so ago to set the tone for Christmas in our home this year.  It was challenging to me last year as we have been learning to navigate Christmas with a child.  I encourage you all to read it and take away what the Lord has for you. Regardless of your opinions of Santa or Gift Giving I think there is probably a nugget for almost everyone in there.  

Blessings to you this Christmas!

Guest Post: Getting Ready for Motherhood

I'm excited to feature my first guest post!  When Katie contacted me she shared her passion for new moms I agreed to share her article with you!  I have a lot of people in my life who are very new moms, or will be in the next few months.  I found many of the tips she offered to be things that were extremely helpful to me in the early days of motherhood.  

Getting Ready for Motherhood

Guest post by Katie Moore

Motherhood is a rewarding and challenging experience that begins right after delivery. Having a new baby is a momentous occasion, but it can be overwhelming at first. Mothers who build a solid support system, take time for themselves and prepare for the unexpected may find the transition to motherhood easier.

A Support System

Motherhood is fraught with moments of uncertainty. New mothers may feel unsure when it comes to dealing with crying and fussiness, feeding, illness and sleep issues. It can be difficult to deal with these situations, especially when new mothers are exhausted. Knowing where to turn for assistance and support can help new mothers feel less anxiety, loneliness and frustration. Women with a strong support group tend to experience fewer symptoms of post-partum depression than women who have little or no support.

Focusing on Mom’s Needs

New mothers spend so much time attending to their newborns that they may neglect to take time for themselves. However, after giving birth, it is important to get enough rest, eat healthy, stay hydrated and nurture oneself. Many mothers find it beneficial to sleep when the baby sleeps, even if it's not at night. If a newborn wakes often at night but takes several naps during the day, mothers can rest while their babies nap.

Keeping healthy food available to nibble on throughout the day can help new moms maintain their energy and stay healthy. Snacks that don’t need to be heated and that can be eaten with one hand are easy to grab while holding the baby. Foods like nuts, bananas, smoothies, rice cakes with peanut butter or crudités require little to no preparation and can help keep blood sugar levels steady throughout the day. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is critical and will help new moms feel more energetic and alert.

Prepare for the Unexpected

Although having children is a lesson in giving up some control, new mothers can still prepare enough to be able to handle unexpected situations with a clear head. Prior to delivery, mothers can enroll with an umbilical cord blood banking service, which stores collected cord blood for potential use as a medical treatment for certain illnesses in the future. Some mothers may also feel more confident if they have taken an infant CPR class. Post delivery, keeping a list of important numbers, such as those for the pediatrician and poison control center, can save valuable time in an emergency. 

Newborns don’t necessarily follow a particular routine; their needs change as they grow and develop. Just when it seems that life is becoming predictable, a newborn may change his or her patterns. When experiencing growth spurts, babies may feed as often as every hour. Although it is culturally expected for babies to sleep through the night, infants younger than four or six months old generally need to wake to eat during the night. A baby may wake up every hour one night and sleep for six hours the next night. Being prepared to handle changes in patterns can help new mothers feel less overwhelmed. In fact, when it comes to motherhood, expecting the unexpected can be the first step in making life a little easier.

While newborns present a challenging lifestyle after birth, being a mother is a loving and exciting experience that gets better with each day. Soon, when her baby starts to crawl and walk, a mother will miss the beginning months of a baby that only needed her.

"This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche.  If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26."

Sunday Snippet: He is Risen

We had a low key quiet week which was such a gift to me.  Spent many nights home together as a family which is my favorite place to be!!

Yesterday we had an awesome photo shoot with Vintage Buttercup Photography.  I will be posting more that later this month when I get all our photos but I had to post a couple of the photos she previewed on her Facebook Page.  I love her finishing of the photos!  She adds a vintage touch if you didn't notice which really softens the photos.  I LOVE them!  I'd encourage you to "like" her facebook page because she often has mini sessions available where you can pay a very reasonable amount to get a few shots of your kiddos or your family.

 Loving her hilarious kissy lips

I very rarely find a photo that I like of myself!! I LOVE this photo!

I want to keep is short but I have to share that Easter is by far the most meaningful holiday in my life. When I speak of Easter I mean Christ's death and resurrection.  I am so grateful that through His sacrifice for us I have life.

I am grateful that someday I will spend eternity with Him,  but right now in the day to day, I am grateful that my life has meaning and purpose!

So what does this mean to me as a mom in this phase of my life?

Every diaper I change, and every routine we have in our day to day life is a chance for me to express Christ's love to my sweet daughter.

My job as a mother is valuable.  No one else gets the privileged of being Addy's mother.  God put me in her life for a specific reason and I need to be obedient to Him and thank Him for the special gift of her life.

My purpose on this Earth is crystal clear.  Regardless of whether I am a stay at home mom, or a working mom my purpose is to glorify God.

I do not have to be perfect.  In fact, I can't be perfect.  The more I realize that, the more I am free to let God lead me and trust Him with Addy's future.  This is much more peaceful than freaking out every moment wondering whether I'm doing something "wrong" as a mom.

Be encouraged mothers - Your life has meaning and purpose.  Are you living for it?  Joy, peace, and rest are freely offered.  Are you receiving it?  Be blessed today in whatever you do!

The Quest for The Perfect Sippy

At around 8 or 9 months we started offering Addy a sippy cup of water with her meals.  Never in all my life did I realize that finding a sippy cup that worked well would be my biggest frustration in having a child.

We have been through the ringer trying to find the perfect cup.  What is perfect?  Well after figuring out what I didn't like about each one we've tried I have determined that a perfect sippy cup contains the following attributes:

-Does not leak

-Lid does not pop off when thrown or dropped (but mostly thrown)

-Milk flows fast enough that baby can actually drink

-Milk flows slow enough that baby does not have a coughing/choking fit every time she tries to drink.

-Dishwasher safe 

Here is the journey (and my reviews) to the quest to find the perfect sippy.

We started off with the NUK starter cup:

 It didn't leak, but addy figured out how to rip the entire spout off the bottle leading to a huge spillage (SOOO grateful we have wood floors and NOT carpet through this quest).  The flow is also pretty slow.  She would tend to get frustrated that she wasn't getting enough.

Since we spent quite a bit for the NUK sippy, and it wasn't what we dreamed, we decided on the cheap $2 sippy at Walmart. It was the Munchkin Mighty Grip Spill-Proof Cup

What a hunk of junk.  Seriously leaked and the spout came apart within two uses.  That one hit the trash in no time!

We then were gifted this awesome Tupperware Early Ages Eco Complete Baby Set from my mom for Christmas.

Seriously love this entire set.  These are the sippys we've actually used the most.  

Taller sippy without the handle: A bit too high of flow, and it does leak if upside down.  We let her drink out of this at the table, but it's definitely not one that can be carted around the house.  

Shorter handled sippy: Good flow, but if she drops it and it falls just the right way the top pops off and milk goes EVERYWHERE.   Isn't this set adorable though??  We put Addy's snacks in the formula separator since we didn't use formula, and it is so handy!!

Next onto the Playtex Learning Curve Toy Story Insulated Sippy Cup  

I dropped $8 on this set at Walmart.  I got it home, took it out of the package, washed it, put milk in it, gave to Addy.  She drinks. She yells.  She tries to drink again.  She yells.  Nothing comes out.  I take cup into my own hands and try to drink.  NOTHING coming out.  NOTHING.  Yes this cup is completely spill proof, but even I could not get either one to get a substantial amount of milk out.  I put them in a bag with the packaging and take it back to walmart today saying these are ridiculous.  I was very nice of course and I explained my story to the lady and she laughed with me.  Then we walked to the aisle and after looking at the one's we hadn't tried yet we landed on:

Philips AVENT Hard Spout Magic Trainer with Handle, 9 Ounce

We got home and opened it very carefully (fully prepared to return it), cleaned it, filled it with milk and low and behold with the Hallelujah Chorus was ringing in my head, she drank.  This is it.  We found her.  The perfect sippy.  No leaking.  I shook it upside down for 10 seconds and only 3 little drops landed on my hand.  Milk actually comes out when you try to drink, and it is the perfect flow (no choking or gagging).  It has a screw on top so the cap won't pop off, and the spout cannot be ripped out because it is hard and not rubbery.  Obviously I could not be more thrilled about this discovery. 

Obviously this may not be the "perfect" sippy for all kiddos but my goodness if you have had the same issues as me, I had to share my findings. 

NOTE: I was not given any free products or paid to write any of these reviews.  I am doing this out of the goodness of my heart so my readers can be spared curdling milk in their carpets.  :)

A Simple Party Plan

Simple Menu.  Simple Cake.  Simple Guest List.  Simple Gifts.  Simple Decor.  

Simple was the mantra as I planned Addison's birthday party.  

I wanted it to be special, and I wanted her to know I put thought into it (when she saw photos), but I didn't want to go crazy overboard and stress myself out so I didn't even enjoy the preparations or the day itself.  

I am amazed at how much preparation even a simple party plan took, but I loved every minute of it (well maybe not the three frustration filled hours of frosting the birthday cake).  

This was the main table containing cakes, fruit, chips, punch, and cake pops.  The kitchen bar (you can see the corner in the bottom left of the photo) is where we had our sandwich making supplies.  I am loving how beautiful this table scape turned out!

The gift table had some balloons and a bunch of flowers from Costco. These were the "big ticket" items in the decor budget.  All the banners were basically free with paper I had on hand already.

I had a backdrop planned for this wall, but when I arrived at my aunt's house she informed me that she had made this beautiful quilt for Addy.  It was more perfect for my backdrop than my plan, so I just added my simple decor to the chair itself and it was wonderful!

The Decor:

Homemade Through the Year Photo Garland ($6 photo cost)

Homemade Flag Banner ($1)

Homemade Table Squares ($15)

Balloons ($6)

Flower Bouquet ($15)

Homemade High Chair Banner (free ninety-nine)

Surprise Homemade Quilt from My Aunt 

The Menu:

Croissants & Rolls 

Homemade Meat/Cheese Tray 

Pinterest Punch 

Homemade Chocolate Cake/Cupcakes with Homemade Butter cream frosting 

Cake Pops

Fruit Assortment 

Chips 

Homemade Ice Cream made by my aunt & uncle 

The Guests:

Family from British Columbia, California & Washington

Our dear friends Will & Julia

Big thanks to everyone who came! It was special to have so much family there.  Addy is so loved.  Also thank you to my aunt & uncle for letting us use their home for the party, and for the set up help!

On Balance

I'm not especially eloquent in expressing my thoughts and feelings on paper.  At one time I thought I would be a high school English teacher and writing was such a release for me.  I wrote every English paper with so much thought and intention.

Once the assignments stopped, I stopped writing.  I don't write much about my personal feelings on this blog, there are many reasons for that, but I do want to share some things I've been learning on this motherhood journey occasionally, since I know a lot of my readers may be walking a similar journey in their own lives. 

The first 6 months of Addy's life I stopped EVERYTHING to get through that adjustment period.  I stepped back from my ministry serving as a youth leader, working out of the home, helping my husband on a more practical level at work, going to the gym, and the list goes on. 

The past 6 months I have been slowly navigating how to still be me in the midst of change and how to integrate more things into my life without creating chaos and frustration.  I can't put ministry, physical activity, and my well being on hold for 20+ years while my child (or someday children) are under my care. 

Some weeks I think I'm doing well balancing it all, and then other weeks I feel completely off kilter and wonder why I'm stressed and cranky.  I am learning there is no fool proof solution to finding this balance.  For me, being aware of the unbalance has been crucial to getting closer to finding it. 

What I do know to be true (for me) are the following:
1. Spending time praying, reading, and in quiet make my whole day feel more purposeful.  It's like a sports team huddle - regroup and get energized and go about my day with purpose and intention.  It helps me find purpose in the mundane.

2. I feel so much better about myself and am in SUCH a better mood if I spend some time doing physical activity.  Some days I go to the gym or for a walk and some days I don't.  If you were a fly on my wall you could tell by my mood which days are which!

3. I still need to be serving others and reaching out.  It is so easy to get stuck thinking everything is about me.  The result is complaining (mentally or vocally), discontentment, and wanting more stuff.  My primary "service" IS to my family, but I have found it so great to get back involved in serving in our church and using my gifts in that way too.

4. I cannot and should not yes to every church activity or community service opportunity.  Like I said in number 3 - my family is my first service.  I don't want Addy growing up thinking that we were so involved in "other stuff" that we didn't have time for her.  I have already stepped back from some things that I thought I'd pick up again because she needs me, and I love that.

5. Finding an outlet is a necessity for me.  Something separate from work, or household tasks needs to be a part of my life.  I've been finding that outlet in different areas such as reading, crafting, blogging, going to dinner with a girlfriend.  I just need to be intentional in taking some "me" time, I am a much happier person when I do.

These are some things that I've been learning that apply to my journey.  I am leaving today for a 24hour Women's Retreat.  This will be my first night away from my little one.  It wasn't easy for me to sign up but I know that I need to take that step and take that time.  Another balancing act!

What have been some things that have helped you find some balance in your life?