Target Tuesday #2

August 24, 2011 2 Comments
Today I’m going to link up again with “Fabulous But Evil” for Target Tuesday! 



This fun bloggy game is a place to list all of the fabulous things we want/have from Target. 



I couldn’t pass it up this week because I have (once again) recently made some great finds at our local “Tar-jay.” 



Most of my finds were for the wee one.
Genuine Kids from OshKosh™ Infant Toddler Girls’ Outerwear Light-Weight Trench Coat in Tan :
 
Purchased by her Mamaw Sandy
  
Circo Jannie TG Boot in Berry:
 
These will look so cute with her black skinny jeans.

 As seen together here while doing her best “America’s Next Top Model” pose:

Toddler Girls’ Cherokee® Jenna Suede Boots in Pink:

 I love those suede laces!

I also found all of these items today and many were on clearance or under $5:

I love the “jeggings” and aqua tutu skirt. 

And for momma:

Mossimo Supply Co. Juniors Sleeveless Dress


I love the country feel of this pattern. 

Mossimo Supply Co. Tee

I am a sucker for soft tee shirts!

I hope you enjoyed my finds! Now, link up with Fabulous But Evil and share your own goodies!

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: , ,

What have I been up to?

August 17, 2011 4 Comments
I feel like the summer has FLOWN by, and for the first time in years… I am not even sad.
Because right now, every day feels like summer.
And though I fear sounding all annoyingly gloat-y..I must say, I couldn’t be happier.
After seven years, I will not be headed back to work as a teacher this fall. I will miss my co-workers, and of course the kids, but I am VERY thrilled to be able to spend more time at home with my daughter. This is what I have always wanted as a mother and feel so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a “stay/work at home mom.”
While I am not physically going to work every day, I have been staying super busy with blogging for Where to Get Engaged, and Christopher William Jewelers, as well as doing hair feathers, other crafts, and making jewelry.
Here are some of my latest jewelry projects:
I made the brown and pink necklace for the silent auction at Music for MaDee, in MaDee’s favorite colors (top left). The tropical necklace was intended for a bride-to-be but when I was off on the shade of blue she wanted, it ended up as a baby shower gift for a great friend (top right). The necklaces I completed for a bridal party turned out very pretty (bottom left) and I have been really loving these flower stud earrings lately (bottom right). If you’re interested in buying any of these pieces for yourself, message me, visit my Etsy shop, and if you’re local, come visit me at MaDee’s Holiday Market on October 22nd, where part of my proceeds will be given to The MaDee Project.
Speaking of Music for MaDee, I did hair feathers at the event and stayed very busy the entire time!
 It was a huge hit and I had so much fun meeting all the cool clients of all ages.
Our neighbors had a HUGE yard sale last Saturday and I found this simple shelf.
(I didn’t take the “before” pic. until I had already started painting!)
I thought it would look great in the color of my front door.
And make an excellent display for my hair feathers and earrings.
We bartered some treats from our garden when our gracious neighbors refused to take any money for the shelf…that’s my kind of deal!
I hope to write more soon…but in the meantime I will be kissing this sweet face.
Filed Under: Beautiful Things, Fashion, Handmade Crafts, Jewelry & Home Products Tagged With: ,

How do you answer “the” question?

August 10, 2011 3 Comments
 
It started on our wedding day.
Maybe even before our wedding day. 
“So…when are you guys gonna have kids?”
As a young couple in our early twenties we normally responded with the politically correct answer of, “We’ll see…”
Five years later we were blessed with this little doll.
Yet, now that we have AJH, the questions have not ceased.
It’s not even the somewhat subtle, “So, when are you guys gonna have another baby,” that we often get. Most people just flat out say, “Sooooo, are you guys trying for number two?”
And it’s okay. This is not a rant. I am grateful that people are generally interested in our life and I have probably asked the same thing to my own friends. I think most of the time people are just making small talk and really just don’t know what else to ask a young couple.
So while this post is not a rant, it’s more of a discussion:

How do you answer “the” question? 

This is my typical response:
“Um, yeah, we’re sort of trying, but not really trying trying (whatever that means?!). I guess we’re not trying to get pregnant, but we’re not trying to stop it either.”
That makes sense, right?!?
When people are fairly persistent and say things like, “So, why haven’t you guys had a baby yet?” (meanwhile our daughter is barely 17 months old)  I am tempted to reply with, “Actually, I was pregnant a few months ago. But it didn’t work out.” 
But I haven’t said that yet. 
I don’t want to come off as “Debbie Downer” or sad “miscarriage girl” so I normally just pretend we didn’t go through that experience. 
But is that the right response? In my heart of hearts I think the answer is no. 
I have a lot of friends that have gone through the same experience or simply just can’t get pregnant and I have to wonder how difficult this question must be for them.
From my experience, I know that denying that it happened isn’t going to make it go away.
(I think the older I get, the more I actually believe the cliché, “the truth will set you free.”)
And sadly, miscarriage is now part of my truth.
A portion of this post from Life Rearranged on what to do/say when a friend experiences loss really stands out in my mind.
“Often people are afraid to acknowledge dates [and loss] for fear that the parent
will be reminded or upset.  The thing is, the parents need no reminding.
 The dates are always there.  Always looming.  Even years and years
down the line.  Your remembering will be comforting, not harming.  Get
out your calendar.  Mark down birth dates, death dates, due dates.  Send
a simple “thinking of you” card. Make a quick phone call. Do not be
afraid to use the baby’s name.  You will be a little light in a very
dark day for them.”
In this post by MemoMuse, she describes miscarriage as a “silent empty box.” She says, “There are so many women out there feeling this same feeling today,
yesterday, tomorrow.  It covers me like a vine nobody can see.  Much
like a bean pole vine grasping to anything its tendril can reach. Something sturdy, mounted in dirt, standing upright.  This vine of
sadness can’t grasp onto nothing.  So I grasp and curl around words. 
Around people I trust.  Around acknowledgement that it happened. That’s
its over. That I need to grieve.”
I couldn’t agree more.
While our pregnancy was lost fairly early at only 9 weeks, it was still a loss. It was hard. Hearing of other December due dates is hard. Seeing others having babies 21 months apart is hard. It’s all hard.
But it’s okay. It happens to so many of us. Maybe we need to stop pretending it doesn’t happen and embrace it for what it is. A hard loss.
Maybe acknowledging my current truth is the best way to answer the question. 
I long to cling to “something sturdy.”
So, when are my husband and I going to have baby number two?
Actually, I was recently pregnant, but it didn’t work out. Now we are just waiting to see what happens. Thanks for your concern. 
What is your answer?  
What is your truth?
———————————————————————————————————-
PS–If you’re wondering what else to ask a young couple in awkward social situations besides, “when are you having a baby?” try one of these “safe” topics:
-have you been on any vacations lately?
-how is your job going?
-what kind of music have you been listening to?
-or even just,  what have you guys been up to? (besides baby making!) haha
Filed Under: Beautiful Life, Pregnancy Tagged With: , ,

Target Tuesday #1

August 2, 2011 6 Comments
Today I’m going to link up with “Fabulous But Evil” for Target Tuesday! 
This fun bloggy game is a place to list all of the fabulous things we want/have from Target. 
I couldn’t pass it up this week because I have recently made some great finds at our local “Tar-jay.” 
My first find is this Xhilaration Spaghetti Strap Scoop Neck Dress in a fun Turquoise Print.

 I wore it to the Homegrown Market at Staunton Plant Company where I set up on Fridays and do my hair feathers! I love the print, and…it has pockets! Score!

My next find, are these amazingly soft shirts. I AM OBSESSED. For only $12.99, shirts this soft are a fab. find. I can’t find a good pic. online, so here is one from my camera phone. 

These are my two fav. colors right now: lime-y green and, of course, aqua!


Finally, I loved the vintage look of this Merona belt. 
It really cinches the waist and the leather has a very rich look.

I hope you enjoyed my finds! Now, link up with Fabulous But Evil and share your own goodies!
 
Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: ,

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