One Word Resolutions

I stopped making New Year Resolutions when I was in High School.
I never saw success with them but that's probably because I never followed through with them.
My resolution had always been to lose weight or to be more organized.
That's all changing this year.
Last year, I read a lot about creating 'One Word Resolutions'. They're supposed to easier; easier to remember, easier to do, easier to succeed with.
I can do easy.
So I picked my one word. I probably picked the hardest word out there for me.

Simplify.

Simply my life. Simplify my priorities. Simplify my time. Simply my stuff.
It's similar to organizing, but it's still different.
I want need to simplify my life and my home.
We have so much stuff that I'm starting to feel claustrophobic. You would think, with how often we have moved, that we would pare ourselves down the bare minimum. Boy are you wrong!
Nostalgic Husband + Spoiled Princess + Home Business = VERY crowded home.

Here's to a successful 2013!

2012

It's fairly safe to say that I'm looking forward to the end of 2012.
This was an incredibly rough year for our family. It was definitely one of those years where I counted my blessings daily. Praying for better but knowing that things could always be worse.

We moved - twice - and had to readjust to new surroundings. Who know what I hate about moving? Trying to become familiar with the neighborhood grocery store. Even the Wal-Mart is set up differently.
We've said goodbye to friends but have yet to say hello to new friends.
Ella finally met her Great-Great-Grandpa. They're officially best friends.
Steve was - and still is - unemployed for the majority of the year.
Steve and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary.
Got my own office when we moved for the second time. I love being able to make a mess and then close the door! A good sense of accomplishment.
Steve went back to school and is working towards a Computer Tech Degree. It makes him happy and that makes me happy.
Ella found her voice and jabbers all day long. She also has no sense of "Stranger Danger"...
Drove to Arizona to attend our best friends' wedding. Best. Wedding. Ever. And Ella was a champ on the 11+ hour road trip!
Steve and I both became iPhone users and I'm addicted. I can't speak for Steve though...
I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us.

I have high hopes for 2013.

Christmas Day

We had a very busy and eventful Christmas this year!
Since Ella was a little older, I was a little more excited about her opening presents...she didn't start to grasp the present-opening-skills until later in the day. I have 1 - ONE - picture from Christmas.
At least it's of Ella. And she's saying "Cheese!"

 

Could she possibly be any cuter?!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

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Here's a Secret...

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I've had a variety of shops on Etsy over the last five years. Some have done better than others, but one thing remains the same: the harder I worked + the more I believed in myself, the more successful I was. I still get giddy with every single sale. I know that feeling won't go away anytime soon and I don't want it to. 

I have the best job. I love what I do. That's my definition of Success.

{ You Can Do Anything }

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 Reading at the Library

 Baxter, Lola, & Ella (& Minnie!) trying to escape...

 Worked on some new items for the shop!

 Ella watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while sitting on Minnie AND wearing Minnie

 Snoozing...

Playing at Church. Obsessed with her tights!

Farm Country

Ella's Poppa J has been wanting to take her to the Thanksgiving Point Farm Country for quite some time. He really wanted to see her pet some of the animals. Since Thanksgiving Point has Cornbelly's Pumpkin Patch right now, today was the perfect time to visit Farm Country - no one was there!

Ella loved it. She more than loved it. She didn't want to leave!

She was fascinated by the goats and kept trying to pet the horses. She wasn't so sure about the pony ride in the beginning, but then she cried when she had to get off.

We sure enjoyed some time as a family with Poppa J.

Falling for Inspiration

With Fall approaching, I find myself longing for Spring again. As much as I adore Fall, it's the precursor for Winter.

I despise Winter.

I try to absorb every ounce of the short Fall season that we have in Utah. I obsess over Pumpkin-Spice-anything, jump around on the fallen leaves to hear them crunch, and even start my Christmas shopping.

My shop is stocked with fall fashion for all ages and I'm finalizing my holiday accessories. If only my baby girl would keep hair clips or headbands on!

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Meet Essie's 'Bordeaux' color. Eeeeeeekkkk! I'm usually not a fan of such drastic colors, but I love love LOVE this.

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 Is this home for sale?

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Again, not normally a fan of skinnies, but intrestingly enough, I find myself searching for Hunter Green Skinny Jeans...

 Fall items now available in my shop!

Creative Spaces

I had been hoping and waiting for an office to call my own for months. I wanted a sewing space, a computer space, and a work table. My wish came true when we moved a couple of months ago but I've been struggling. I spend A LOT of time in there so I wanted a sanctuary; I wanted it to look like a magazine. 

Who am I kidding? I am so completely right-brained that my office will N E V E R look like that. Ever. I've been trying my best to keep the floor clean so my baby can be in there, but that's about it. There is fabric & stray thread on every surface. I know my strengths, but I'm learning my weaknesses: I rock at color combos but the word "organization" is not in my vocabulary.

When I get stuck on organization or need more inspiration for my office, I go to Pinterest. 

(I looooooooove Pinterest!)

I love looking at other offices, other places where people create. I even have a board dedicated to Creative Spaces! Here are some of my favorites and some of my personal inspiration.

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 I absolutely love these DIY Chalkboard Hangers! Such an easy & simple way to keep sewing projects together and organized.

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Wouldn't this make a sweet sewing desk? Obsessed.

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I love how clean Noodlehead's sewing space is! It's so pretty!

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As much as I swoon over closet offices, I have to be realistic. I have too much stuff and it would never work for me! No matter what though, I will always love them.

Welcome!

Here's what you need to know about me:


I'm a wife & a mommy to a personality-filled 1 year old.

I'm really good at 'burning the candle at both ends'.

In trying to save money, I do my best to cook at home. Sometimes I win...sometimes I fail...

I'm a fabricaholic and I have no intentions of giving that up.

No matter how hard I try, I am completely unsuccessful at Pancakes. However, I rock at French Toast AND Waffles. Boo-yah.

I'm an Etsy-Shop-Owner and I love being able to sell my creations.

I L O V E to sew. I like to call myself an intermediate sewer.

I have lost my fashion sense & style. I don't know where it went.

I'm a sucker for feel-good movies. And Vampires.

There! Now you know a little more about moi. Maybe I'll become a decent blogger one of these days.