Christmas Picture Out-takes...

Over the weekend we made our annual trip to the Barber farm to take our card pictures. Last year Halle couldn't sit up or walk so our options were limited, but this year she is up and running! It proved to be tricky to catch them both at the same time, but we had fun and got some great shots. Some of these are just funny, and some may end up on the card... we'll see!

Halle's dress (from this post), by the way, is now available in the shop along with the matching shoes. I had just enough fabric left to squeak out two pairs of the mary janes and the dress~ I love it so much!

Happy Cyber Monday! Today is the last day for my sale~ ALL booties are just $12 and ALL Bib/Burp Cloth Sets are $12 too!

Friday Love~ We are very Thankful!

Hebrews 12:28 "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptable with reverence and awe..."

I hope your Thanksgiving (if you're in the states...) was wonderful! We had a great day with extended family eating too much, sharing old stories, and watching all the children play. Everyone was happily exhausted after the festivities and slept well as soon as their little heads hit the pillows. I can't take credit for most of the food, but I thought I would share some pictures.

Love this girl: Halle is very into 'reading' right now. Also notice the blur of only-underwear-clad Remy in the background.

Love this outfit: Pre-dinner show at our apartment. Halle sports a felt lunch bag on her head and Rem's shoe on her foot. Remy (again in the background) is relaxing in a diaper box. That's normal, right?

Love the food!: Appetizers

My cousin's gorgeous table before the eating frenzy

The spread... I tried my Great Grandma's cornbread dressing for the first time and it was a hit! In fact, Trace ate some for breakfast this morning!

My pumpkin pie

Grandma's chocolate cream pie~so pretty!

Halle, post-nap, chowing down

Remy and youngest cousin, sweet baby Zola

I also want to mention that I'm having a sale in the 2 sweet things shop from today (Black Friday) through Cyber-Monday!  Still Free International Shipping and all Bib/Burp Cloth Sets are $12 (marked down from $17) and all Booties are $12 (marked down from $15-$16). Happy Weekend Shopping! I think we're going to spend the day getting our little tree out and maybe decorating~ I can feel some Christmas music coming on!

Here's My Turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! We are busy slaving away in the kitchen getting ready, but I thought I would post this video from last weekend. While in Illinois, our wonderful hosts had a player piano. I'm not sure if you can quite catch her expressions, but Halle thought that she was making this music and was so impressed with herself. Have a great day!

~Thankful~

Thank you cards by Raego

Happy Pre-Thanksgiving! I wasn't sure if I would be around the computer tomorrow. It seems I am suffering from a bit of 'senioritis' as the move approaches, and I think Trace is feeling the same. We are so excited to be doing the work that we truly believe God has called us to- it's hard to wait here! I even packed a few boxes this morning. It seems early, but at the same time, I know that 5 weeks will fly by, and I hate to have it all to do in that last week. So I am determined to do a little each day. I started with 'Donate', 'Keep', and 'Sell' piles today. So far the 'Sell' pile is winning, love that!

 Halle is on the mend, I think, but was up most of last night coughing. I'm hoping we get to go out tomorrow, but we're going to play it by ear. Thanks for your prayers for the little angel!- We know that God has been watching over her!

Sorry this is another fairly uninspired post. I seem to have lost my blogging mojo in the hustle to get ready for craft shows, Christmas, and moving... I hope to be back to my chatty self soon! Happy Thanksgiving! I am so, so, sooooo thankful for every day!

Happy Day!

Hey y'all! This is just a quick update due to a sick little curly-haired girly, but I just wanted to 'shout' some big news over the rooftops! This weekend our family travelled to East Peoria, Illinois to visit a church there. Trace interviewed for the youth & worship leader positions. The church family was wonderful, including the Senior pastor and his family, who were friends from our days in Indiana. After extensive grilling (just kidding, it really was great...) we drove home last night. After we got home, the pastor called, and he extended the 'call' for us to come join their congregation there, and this morning we called back and delightfully accepted.

We are thrilled about this transition, as it feels like such a perfect fit and like the thing God has had us waiting for. We have tremendous peace in this decision! We will likely be moving the end of December/first part of January, so it is quickly approaching. Yay, God!

Well, a coughing baby has awakened, so I need to go. Hopefully I'll be back with some regularity this week. Happy Monday! And thanks to so many of you who have been praying for us as we have been trying to figure out what God wants for our family.

Wednesday...

Hello, lovelies! I am taking a bit of a blogging break this week... I just needed a bit of rest, and I think I write better with a clear mind. Yesterday I decided to not 'work' on things for my shop and make something for my sweet girl. It was nice to just create without the pressure to take pictures, get it listed, etc. I found this adorable fabric and immediately thought that Halle needed a new outfit.  Here are a couple of peaks at her new dress and shoes. I plan on layering the dress with leggings and a bodysuit. She's napping right now, or you know I would dress her up in it and get some pictures!

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

Drumroll, please...

So we're still sporting bed-head and mismatched jammies around here, but we wanted to get on here and announce the winner of the Crafty Mama Giveaway. Thanks so much to all who entered, and thanks to Aviva for sponsoring it! With a little help from Remy and his Bob the Builder hard hat, we picked a winner. (Poor thing, I made him do everything in slow motion so as to take pictures... I am blogging too much, I think!)

And here it is! Username bison61 is our winner~ Congrats! I have emailed you for info!

I'm off to get everyone dressed and ready to start the day. Happy Tuesday~ I'll be back later!

Manic Monday

I was thinking that I might post something of substance today, but after Halle had an HOUR LONG tantrum in protest of nap time, I just don't have it in me. I know you find it hard to believe that either of these two angels could act so wildly, but it's true!

I wanted to remind you that if you haven't yet entered my giveaway, today is the last day. You can enter here. I will be back here tomorrow to announce the winner of the clip set from Crafty Mama Designs.

I did also get a few new things listed in the shop, including this darling little skirt and some nursing covers.

Happy Monday~ I'll see you tomorrow!

Friday Love~ Hope

Hope Sign by Honey Buzz

Hope. The awesome thing that a Christian has... it's sometimes hard to hold on to in dark days, but it's there. Much like God himself, never waivering. Hope. Trace and I have had a rough year. There have been many days when we have felt forgotten and frustrated, wondering if the things we thought we were doing for God were nothing more than things we were doing. Does that make sense? In many moments we looked at each other and to God questioning the choices we had made thinking that we were doing what was in his will and then we'd wait. Doors would close. More waiting. 'Wait' is not a command we like to hear. But even in the darkest of moments we knew, in that place way below the surface of our emotions and feelings, we knew that God's plans for us are good. He promised us they were.

Hope.

Today not much has changed. We think there may be a light at the end of this 'tunnel', though I can't talk about it here yet. I'll keep you posted, but whatever His plan, we are certain God has great things for us. I love this!

Ephesians 1:11-12
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Jeremian 29:11-14
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harms you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."

Happy Weekend!

The Problem with Santa

In the car the other day, a commercial said 'Christmas is Coming!'. Remy excitedly repeated as a question, and I responded by asking what that meant. My heart was broken as his immediate response was 'It means Santa is coming!'. I quickly launched into a sermon of sorts about it being the birthday of Jesus, and while I think he got the message (and I have been pounding it into his brain ever since...) I have been deeply disturbed by it since then.

A little background here might be necessary. Never have two parents been so deliberate as Trace and I in trying to leave Santa and American commercialism out of Christmas. We just last year got our first tree, and that was only because Remy seemed so excited to have one.  We do give gifts, but not to excess, and really try to emphasize that it's the giving that really makes the day. That is how we honor the birth of the Messiah. I didn't grow up believing in Santa, and once we became parents it just felt like lying, and we weren't willing to do that to our kids. When Remy has asked about Santa, upon seeing him in malls or movies, we just tell him that it's all pretend. He's just a man dressed up in a suit... some people like to pretend that he comes to their house... etc.  Now we don't want to have the kid who ruins it for everyone, but at the same time it isn't for us.

So after what I shall call 'the incident' in the car, my immediate reaction was to email my mom about what a failure I'd been. My own son thinks Santa is coming!  And she quickly reminded me that it's not my failure, but rather further proof that we live in this broken world among people who just haven't seen Him yet. I get so tired of this world sneaking into my home... is that selfish?

In the days since, I have found moments ripe with possibility to talk to Remy about ways we can celebrate Jesus' birthday. My boy does love a good birthday party! He decided that we need to take cupcakes down to the 'hungry guys' (we help feed the homeless guys downtown sometimes). He thought they might like party hats too, an idea that I thought might not fly so well, so I think I successfully talked him out of that.

And on the topic of Santa, why does it seem that I am the only person who thinks it's a bit creepy? If I were to tell you that some huge man in red velvet knows where you live and watches you all year long to see what you are doing. Then one night he comes and sneaks into your home, eats your cookies and milk, and leaves you gifts. Wouldn't you call the FBI or something!? I can't believe more children aren't terrified and traumatized!

Now I'd like to hear from you. How do you blend tradition and festivities without going overboard? How do you remain Christ-centered among a world of reindeer and presents?

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

Wednesday Wish List

Happy Wednesday! I've been thinking a bit about winter decorating, so I've decided to do a little 'wishing' today for things I'd love to have around our home. Remy is just this year at an age where he gets into every holiday, so I think he would love any of these items. If I was patient enough to wait on a treasury, this color combination would be my feature- something about turquoise and red just makes me happy!

** Edited to add: I did wait for a treasury! You can find it here and leave some love!  **

rikrak felt Christmas Stocking by rikrak

Peppermint Heart Bauble by Lupin

Winter Mittens Gift Tags by Chichiboulie

Oh Christmas Tree Pouch by Sweet Irie

Festive Holiday Animal Frame Ornament by Pipoca Handmade

Mini Wreath by Ravenna Girls

Christmas Countdown Calendar by Queen Vanna Creations

Hope you enjoy todays picks! Also, don't forget to enter my first giveaway here (or below...). I also added tons of new dresses, booties, and SALE items to my shop yesterday!

My First Giveaway! ~ Crafty Mama Designs

Good morning! I am very excited about the feature today because it includes a giveaway of some of my favorite things! I showed you Halle's new hair clippies a few weeks ago, and she has been wearing them a ton since then. I can't say enough good things about them, so I asked Aviva, who has the etsy shop called Crafty Mama Designs, to tell us a little bit about herself & her shop.

Tartan Plaid Snap Clips

"My name is Aviva and I'm a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) getting crafty in my "spare time"- ha! Mostly after the kids' bedtimes and into the wee hours, that is. I started making hair bows and clips for my daughter, and became so addicted to creating them that I soon had more than she would ever need... even for a girl who loves her accessories!

"My daughter has really been my inspiration- mostly out of necessity! She has crazy curly red hair, and so I started making clips to keep the hair out of her face and (slightly) under control! She's a girly-girl for sure, and now she loves to check out my ribbon stash and pick out what I should make for her next.

Winter Applique Clippies

"I really love to use fun, bright colors and whimsical patterns for the hair clips in my shop. I think any set in the shop would be a great gift idea-- they make fun stocking stuffers or party favors too! I pay a lot of attention to detail and offer my crafty creations for affordable prices, because I just have so much fun doing it!

Crochet Layered Flower Clippies

"I'll be running a promotion towards the end of November, so to stay updated on the details, become a fan on Facebook or follow me on Twitter! I do have a blog, but it's sadly neglected right now since I’m having too much fun making clips!!"

Where you can find Crafty Mama Designs:
~ her etsy shop: http://craftymamadesigns.etsy.com
~facebook: http://facebook.com/CraftyMamaDesigns
~twitter: http://twitter.com/CalifCraftyMama
~blog: http://CaliforniaCraftyMama.blogspot.com

Be sure you check out her shop and add it to your holiday list! I swear the little non-slip grippers she can add to her clippies are miracle workers~ Halle hasn't been able to pull them out a bit! I get so many compliments, and at her awesome prices you can afford to stock up to match every outfit.

Retro Winter Snowflake Clippies

Now here's where it gets really exciting! Aviva has offered to giveaway a set of clippies from her shop to one of my readers. So cute! Any set, excluding the dozen clip started sets, is up for grabs! All you have to do is go to her shop, decide which set you would like (that's the hard part because they are all so adorable!) and come back here and comment your choice. Entries only in the US and Canada. Only one entry per person, please! The giveaway ends Monday, November 16th, and I will announce the winner here on Tuesday the 17th. Easy, right?!

Velvet Mini Bow Clippies

Let There Be Light!

Proverbs 31: 25 "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at days to come."

Well, My first show was Saturday, and what a bust! The weather in middle Tennessee was one of those 'Garden of Eden' type days where all you want to do is go outside, and I do believe that is what people did! Very few people came out to the show, and most sellers left disappointed. But today I am taking a cue from my beloved (and sometimes rival) Proverbs 31 Woman and having optimism. There were many good things wrapped up in this poor sales day, and I am determined to fix my eyes on them. Here they are:

~ It was great to set up my booth and see how it all worked together in the given space. I even remembered to take a few pictures for you. (I am starting to think like a true blogger, I think, and am finally keeping my camera handy.) 8 feet by 8 feet is not as large as it appeared in my dining room! I was pretty happy with how everything looked in the tiny space.

Here is my whole booth.

A stand of burp cloths

Baskets of Booties

~I also realized that had I completely sold out of everything (a girl can dream, right!?), this next month would have been super crazy. With an out of town trip coming in two weeks, Thanksgiving, and a show on December 5th, I would have been in a mad scramble to make more stuff, and I think my family may have suffered for it. I NEVER want to do this at their expense!

~My lovely friend, Estera, accompanied me to the show, and it was great to be able to spend the day with her. We don't see each other often enough! Trace also had a great 'Daddy Day' with the little people. Remy had been telling Halle for a week that 'Daddy Day' was approaching, and they had a blast!

~I am thankful that I had inventory to take this morning to Zoe & Friends, a shop in Hendersonville, TN that is going to start carrying 2 sweet things! I first met Nicole, the owner, a few years ago when Zoe's was a consignment shop. She has since moved to a different location and now specializes in hip, designer children's clothing and accessories. The things in her shop are so, so cute, and I am so excited to be a part of it! You can check out her website here, and even shop online. If your local, be sure to check it out up by Indian Lakes Village.

The moral of the story, I guess, is that God continues to take care of us. I wouldn't have chosen for it to work out the way that it did, but in hindsight, it works out so well. It's a good thing that I don't call the shots, I think.

P.S. I am having my first sale in my etsy shop!! I have added FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING on all items and have created a sale section here. I hope you'll check it out. I will also be adding several new dresses and skirts tomorrow.

Happy Monday!

Friday Love

Hey all! Sorry I have been a bit of a blog slacker this week. I have been in a crazed state of 'too much to do', I think. I sort of declared today as a day off (until tonight when we go to set up my booth!), so Halle and I dropped Remy off at school, went to Target for a little 'therapy', and now we're having a quiet morning at home. On with the love!

Today I'm loving:

~This sweet mama:

When we found out that Halle was going to be a girl, I think the phase we have entered is the one that I looked most forward to: mommyhood. (Hers, not mine.) It amazes me that Remy and Halle can be raised in pretty much the same conditions, and yet they are so different! Several weeks ago, my girl picked out a 'baby' at Target, and since then she has loved on this sweet little doll constantly! She takes her (yes, sometimes by the leg or dress, or neck...) and lays her on a clean diaper. She hugs and kisses her baby and dances around with her. It is positively the sweetest thing!

November 1st also marked Halle's 15 month-iversary. We went to the doctor, and the first thing he asked me was if she was eating well. I laughed because I thought certainly he was kidding, but it turns out that our 'chunky monkey' isn't so chunky after all and hasn't been gaining quite like they had expected. He asked if she was a picky eater, to which Remy replied 'Have you seen her cookie dance?'. On cue she did the dance, and I think the doctor is pretty sure she is existing on cookies! Why don't docs ever ask if I'm eating well?

~This verse:

Last Sunday, our pastor preached a sermon on Luke 20, and though I had read it a zillion times, verse 18 jumped off the page and spoke to me.

"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

I don't know that I had ever stopped to think about that, and it nearly wrecked my quiet times this week. Being broken by the One who can put us together again is such an awesome (and painful!) thing.

~New blogger friends:

I have 'met' a bunch of great bloggers through etsy and twitter lately, and I'm having so much fun reading about their work. I have added several to my 'daily reads' section on the right, and I hope you'll check 'em out and give some love!

I'll be back next week with all the details from my show, and I will also be having my very first giveaway! Stay tuned because it's a great one! Happy Weekend!

Fabulous Feature~ In Honor of Design

A month or two ago I mentioned the Shop Swap that I would be participating in, organized by Patti at Structured Chaos. Well, amidst the chaos at our house this last weekend I was delighted to receive a package from my swap partner, Anna Liesemeyer, who owns the etsy shop, In Honor Of Design. Her package was lovely, from her sweet business cards (first picture, below) to the wonderful items from her shop. Here's what was inside my gift:

Sweet brown headband with interchangeable bow clip

Bright pink crochet hat with interchangeable clip

Cream bloom multi-use clip

Here is a little about Anna, in her own words:

~A bit about yourself: "I grew up in Ohio, lived the past 8 years in Atlanta, and I just moved to Kansas this past summer! It was a big switch, but I am closer to family now, which makes it worthwhile. I am blessed to have an incredibly supportive husband and beautiful baby boy. I am a brand new etsy artist, but art and design have been a part of my entire life."

~What made you start your business: My love for art and design started at a young age. My sister and our friends would make catalogues filled with designs of shoes and accessories. We would shop in each others magazines and write pretend checks! I laugh when I think of it, but I never thought this would be a foreshadow of my future;) I went on to major in Art Studio. The past few years I have been an art teacher and graphic designer. My arts and crafts were a side hobby. As a new mom, I have decided to take it to the next level so I can be at home with my baby boy. I have loved every minute so far!"

~What you plan to accomplish with your business: "At this point, I would love to develop my ladies accessories line further as well as polishing my brand identity. I just started selling my pieces in my first gift store in town, and I would love to have professional tags and packaging."

~What you get most out of having your own business "I would have to say the feeling of creating and designing is so invigorating. I love seeing my pieces on happy faces. Its also so inspiring to meet so many incredibly talented crafters and artists along the way.

~Your favorite independently owned online shops: "Ooh so many. I have a new favorite every week! Here a few new etsy artist shops I love:
Zelaya
found paper co.
Hooray Design Shop

~Ways we can keep in touch with you:
etsy Shop
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter
Blog

And of course I had to include a few pics of Miss Halle in her new accessories. She wore the hat to church on Sunday and EVERYONE commented how cute it was! (And the girlie wearing the hat, of course!)

She loved the headband!

Y'all really should check out her shop and show some love. She is already selling like hotcakes, and I'm sure with the holiday season approaching she'll be crazy busy!