Beautiful Words and Photos

Mollye Miller, whose sister, Lexi, was one of my bridesmaids, was a guest at our wedding and took some beautiful photographs, including these, which are some of our absolute favorites.





 All of the Roanoke College guests.

This one hangs in our living room.

Mollye just wrote a book review for a wonderful new poetry and art book that is coming out soon. You can find out more about how to get a copy of the book or to get in contact with the editor (Mica Valdez) here. As a lover of poetry and its ability to heal, I wanted to share this review and Mollye’s beautiful words. I also LOVE the lines she described from the poem“Indigenous Woman: Portrait of a Lady.”  
Enjoy!

Instant Upload #3

Enjoy our week in three measly cell phone pictures!
 I made this necklace for the upcoming MaDee’s Market! If you are a local reader, you should definitely try to make it and support a wonderful cause! Designs by Kara Kihm will also be there selling her fabulous dress line!
 They’re hard to see here, but I couldn’t resist getting AJH the Missoni for Target rain boots when I saw they had them in her size. They are super cute and her favorite phrase of the moment is “Shoe on, shoe on, shoe on” or “boot on, boot on, boot on,” depending on her mood.
 My hubby surprised me with these beautiful roses this week and they made the perfect addition to the bridal shower we held on Saturday for my soul sister, Valerie. It was a wonderful time full of love and vintage treasures.
Happy Monday!

Instant Upload #2

Enjoy our week in “instant upload” fashion….
 Somebody LOVES shoes. I often find her in my closet sitting right in the middle of all of my boots.
 She also loves her wagon. I think it reminds her of being at the beach.
One morning I found her in her baby crib going “night night.”
 This was my getup for The Avett Brothers concert. I was going for the Three’s Company/Dazed and Confused look with my high-waisted flared jeans. Though I’m not sure I pulled it off, it was a fun look and the hubby liked it.
 All I had was my phone at The Avett Brothers concert and this one of  Scott Avett  turned out kind of cool.
 I’m still doing hair feathers! I set up at the FDHS home football game last Friday night and it was a great success.
Here is one of my latest creations…it’s a custom necklace made for a past student to wear to the homecoming dance!
Happy Monday!

Instant Upload #1

I love the Insta-Friday link-up with Life Rearranged but have been missing out lately because Friday’s are normally too busy for me to blog. I have a fun, new feature with my phone and gmail account that uploads all of the pictures I take on my phone directly to my Picasa account in an album called “Instant Uploads.” I have no idea how I set it up, but I am loving it. Here are some of my latest pics from my “instant upload” album:
One of AJH’s fall fashion preview outfits:
Some of our choices of attire for AJH’s first VT football game:
This is always a pretty sight.
An impromptu swim after the VT game. AJH had to borrow a suit from her buddy, Townes.
 She actually went under for the first time and didn’t freak out!
One of my latest headband creations for an Etsy order:
Speaking of Etsy, I used some of my jewelry earnings to get these lovely boots. I have been wanting the Frye Jane Stitching Horse for a LONG time so when I found a deal, I couldn’t resist.
 I also found this cool mason jar soap dispenser on Etsy and couldn’t pass it up.
Fat Tire is now sold in VA and it’s a very tasty treat.
I “picked” this awesome bench right out of my in-law’s garage. They said it was destined for the dump, and I said it was destined for my dining room. Love the rustic look.
This is what we do on rainy days.
Happy Monday!

InstaFriday, Beach Edition

I am linking up again with Jeannett over at Life Rearranged for “Insta-Friday”! 
This week is a “beach edition” as we have been in Avon, NC living the coastal life since last Saturday.
We borrowed my in-law’s camera for the trip since we are STILL camera-less. I will post some of those pictures later, but for now, here are my “cell-phone pics” from the week…
Enjoy!
A yummy bloody Mary made for the hubby and me by my awesome sis.
The babe and me before a nice seafood lunch. 
AJH and her papaw, with uncle RWH in the background.
Pretty beach toes.

 Beach breakfast.

Loving her leopard print…and of course, that belly.
Ready for her closeup…
…And her first pink toenails! 
The boys were outnumbered this week, so the girls got a hold of AJH. 
 She also got feathered! Like mother, like daughter….
Have a great weekend!
life rearranged

InstaFriday

I am linking up again with Jeannett over at Life Rearranged for “Insta-Friday”!

If you’re wondering how to play along, here is her description: 

“Capture the silly little moments from your week and link up using nothing but cell phone pics! You don’t have to have an iPhone, but the rule is that your photos have to be phone pictures!  No real cammys allowed!!!”

We are STILL without a cameras, but hoping to get one when we get one soon!

Meet Henry, AJH’s best friend since birth. He’s named after her real black-lab brother, who is not quite as portable. After realizing her deep attachment to Henry we quickly ordered her two more and switch them out frequently. One of them is with her at all times!
7-11 was a big part of my life this week. 
It started with this tasty treat on 7-11-11. 
 And ended with this hilarious sign. Do you remember the wacky woman on RHOBH smoking those electronic cigarettes? I almost bought one just so I could re-enact that crazy scene.
You can watch it here.

If  you haven’t heard, I am LOVING some hair feathers right now. I have been having Feather Parties and will be setting up on Fridays from 5-8 at the Staunton Plant Company for their Homegrown Market. Come and see me if you want your very own feather hair extensions!
*We will be at the beach for a week, but I will definitely try to update next Friday with some more cell phone pics…beach style!*
 life rearranged

InstaFriday, from AJH

I am linking up again with Jeannett over at Life Rearranged for “Insta-Friday”!

If you’re wondering how to play along, here is her description: 

“Capture the silly little moments from your week and link up using nothing but cell phone pics! You don’t have to have an iPhone, but the rule is that your photos have to be phone pictures!  No real cammys allowed!!!” 
We are still camera-less so these pics are literally all I have this week (besides the ones I steal from my sister-in-law)!

This week is brought to you by our sweet baby girl, AJH…

I love walking on the patio, especially in my watermelon bathing suit…

When I get tired, I chill in my room on my cozy rug

I love sunglasses! (playing with them, but not wearing them!)
Happy 4th of July!
I also love fashion, especially rockin’ the one-shoulder onesie look
Have a good week!
Love, AJH 
life rearranged

Insta-Friday without Instagram

I am linking up with Jeannett over at Life Rearranged (the blog who told us about Cliffy!) for “Insta-Friday” for the very first time. If you’re wondering how to play along, here is her description:
“Capture the silly little moments from your week and link up using nothing but cell phone pics! You don’t have to have an iPhone, but the rule is that your photos have to be phone pictures!  No real cammys allowed!!!”
Instagram is a super-cool I-phone app but since I have a Droid, I have to use other camera apps, such as “Retro Camera,” ‘PicPlz” and “Camera360,” all of which work virtually the same.
This little game is especially fun for me because I am currently “real” camera-less…since the school year is over I had to give-up the fancy schmancy school yearbook camera and our point and shoot is broken…so for the past few weeks I have had nothing but my phone camera, which makes for some pretty fun pics. 
Enjoy!
Here is my girl, AJH, rocking her camo pants at the River, where my husband’s family has gathered every Sunday night in the summer for many years. She LOVES it and definitely has a little tom-boy in her nature…though note the pink that mommy had to add for a touch of girlie.
This is our morning routine…while mama brushes her teeth and washes her face, AJH sits in her bumbo and shoves a bagel in as fast as she can. She is quite the little eater…
On Tuesday I was pleasantly surprised to pick up this little munchkin from the babysitter in nothing but a tee shirt and big girl panties over her diaper. It cracked me up. She had gotten wet while playing in the yard and had no back-up clothes, so this was the funny ensemble we got… Seeing her in big girl panties was unbearably cute but also a little sad…I’m not quite ready for her to grow up that much yet…though being potty-trained sure will be nice!
This is the next book on my list…I am reading it to complete a book review for BlogHer and so far it’s very interesting…I never read Push or saw Precious (the movie based on Push) but I an tell this sequel is going to be just as compelling as those were said to be.
Last but not least…Thursday night was  impromptu date night. My sister-in-law volunteered to babysit AJH which was awesome. It’s pretty nice that we have so many family members so close-by. Little Miss Valerie heard this band on the radio Thursday morning, loved them, googled them, and found out that they were playing a show in our very own little town the same night. She notified me ASAP because the song she heard just so happened to have our little girl’s name in the title and chorus. The best part is that I absolutely FELL IN LOVE with the song and the band. I emailed the Mr. and told him we were having a date night and “no” was not an option. I love that I can find myself in a tiny music hall listening to some of the best sounds I’ve ever heard (REALLY!) on a random Thursday night. It makes me very, very HAPPY. The band, Spirit Family Reunion, is one of my new favs and I guarantee they will be legendary someday…
Thank you, Life Rearranged, for this fun little game! I have thoroughly enjoyed recapping my week in silly, cell-phone pics!

Make it Beautiful Monday: Fancy camera weekend

I borrowed the really nice yearbook camera this weekend and had some fun taking pics of my little model.
 
 Don’t you love her “Filly” shirt? 
My friend KKW got her this at the Gold Cup races last year.
AJH also went to her first “big girl” birthday party…
…and was really into the presents, which should bode well this Sunday at her own party.
She got to feed the doggies, which is her new favorite thing…
and practice saying “dog” with a real drawn out, country “O.”
She also got a surprise visit from Aunt T…
…who came in town to do pitching lessons for some of our local softball girls.
All in all…
it was a good weekend.
And in only a few days AJH will be ONE (!!!)
which means I’m probably gonna get all weepy-eyed do some sentimental blog posts
AND
it also means that we’re on the last stretch of my fundraiser for Sophie and Clara. 
Clara has been stuck at $303 for days now and I’d really like her to get as close to $1,000 as possible. 
If you’ve been waiting to donate..now is the time!
Anyone who donates between now and Wednesday will be entered to win one of my new headbands from the Spring 2011 collection.
Click on their buttons on my sidebar or click here for more details on how to donate.

Here are the rules for the giveaway:

1. Donate at least $10 to Clara, Sophie, or both between today and Wednesday, March 16th at midnight. Leave a separate comment for each donation made. Only those that leave a comment will be eligible to win the necklace.
2.Put the Sophie and/or Clara buttons on your blog if you haven’t done so yet. Leave a separate comment letting me know you did this. 
3. Post about the giveaway on your FB page or blog. Leave a separate comment letting me know you did this. 
4. Become a follower of my blog “Make it Beautiful” if you haven’t done so yet so you can receive updates on Sophie and Clara and how to help them. Leave a separate comment letting me know you did this.
5. Become a FB fan of my “Make it Beautiful” page if you haven’t done so yet so you can receive updates on Sophie and Clara and how to help them. Leave a separate comment letting me know you did this.
6. A random commenter will be chosen as the winner of the headband on Thursday, March 17th.
Also, don’t forget about the massage giveaway for all of you local ladies. If you donate between now and Wednesday and leave a comment on this post you will also be entered to win a 50 minute massage.
Thank you, thank you for all of your support thus far!
Love, P

Beautiful Pictures

We are so blessed to have met Jason and Tammy Keefer when they photographed Molly and Ryan’s wedding in 2008. They were such a hit that Ben’s cousin, Katie also used them to photograph her wedding last summer, and they have been back to visit several times. They asked if they could come take pictures of AJH and we were more than thrilled with the results. It brought tears to my eyes to see our little girl looking so beautiful. Yes, I see her all day, every day, but as any mother knows, it never gets old! Here are some of my favorites:

Thank you Tammy and Jason! You are amazing!