ruts & stuff

You guys. I've been in such a weird rut. What happened to all those things that said the second trimester of pregnancy is supposed to be blissful and energetic?!

My cool brother is getting married in 2 weeks. Ah! He's all grown up! Also, I'm in the wedding. I found this dress...

So amazing right? Yeah... it was not accommodating to my baby belly. Sad day. However, becuase I ordered from ModCloth {they're also cool}, I got this sweet little head wrap as a free gift.

Call me Aunt Jamima!

love & I need more motivation stat!
e.

Coming this Spring...

 You guys. I'm pregnant! And SO excited! Also, I gave up eating pork after I made the mistake of reading a lot about pigs and their gross-ness. Anyway, today I went to pick up a pizza... and bought some of Papa Murphy's pepperoni. To eat. Just me. Seriously... they smelled SO good when I walked in there. I couldn't resist.

love and don't judge me. plus pregnancy makes you weird about a lot of things. ok that's all.
e.

Zzz

You guys. I've been so absent. But I've been so tired. I literally eat, work and sleep.

  However, I've got some pretty exciting news about the shop coming up, so stay tuned!

Things like this will be going on sale

to make room for things like this (actually it's just a pile of fabric b/c it hasn't been created into something yet)

Anyway, I'll keep you posted about the funness coming soon! I'm SO excited about it I can hardly wait!

love & naps,
e.

screaming on the inside.

This week. has been. insane.

I leave for Sweden on Saturday (!) and I don't think I've ever lived a longer week in my life. I had all these great plans to blog a head... prepare to be gone, you know... get ready to leave the country for a bit. But nooo...

We had raw sewage back up in our kitchen at work two days ago. raw. sewage.

grossed out.

But I leave for Sweden in two days. If I focus on that, I think I can make it. I hope.

Did I mention raw sewage. Ok, just making sure.

have a better rest of the week!
e.

lunch lady life

Wow. Those five days went so fast! Wasn't I just counting down to the start of a new school year?

This was end of May- thrilled that there was only 3 more days of school before summer break.

This was this morning. Coffee needed to start the school year off right.

Well, it happened. Today. And I survived.

There were definitely times I was flustered. (there are a lot of new regulations) But I'm alive. And get to do it all over again tomorrow.

Remember: you love the kiddos- and that's why you do it.
e.

school-house rock!

So I definitely should be sewing napkins for an upcoming wedding... or cleaning my house.. or putting finishing touches on gifts in the making.. However. Have you noticed how every where you look school is on the horizon? 


I'm not in school anymore, nor do I have children in school. I work in a school... but I'm not a teacher. So the school year doesn't hold that certain... heaviness. excitement. anticipation for what's to come. Ya know what I mean. But do not be fooled... This girl LOVES school supplies. Again- absolutely no reason to buy them. But I love them. 


So instead of sewing, gifting, and cleaning... I found these fun school-related items on etsy. And I fell in love.

Isn't this the perfect start to the alphabet?! {source}

And of course we all need calendars. This would definitely keep me on track.

I always wanted a book strap to carry my books. Hello Tom Sawyer! {source}

This is for my plan for global domination. Oh, I didn't tell you I'm taking over the world?

Simple. Colorful. My kind of pencil. {source}

And these would help me stay organized. Don't you just love that natural paper color with the pop of color? Me too :) {source}

Annnnd.. the end. (This reminds me of a certain friend named Stefane :)

 {source}

Ok, now I really should be sewing...
e.

The Fox River 8

Seriously. I don't know what's happened. I've become completely lost in a tv show.

Prison Break.

Ever heard of it? Yeah well, I'm watching it online... All 4 seasons. I'm in the middle of Season 2... and like I've implied... I'm addicted. It's bad.

If you know hear from me in a couple days, you may need to call someone.

Just sayin.

bazinga.

This morning I found my first grey hairs. WHAT!?

Yeah. It's finally happened. I told two good friends {who shall remain nameless}. All they could say to me was: "Welcome to the club." So much for pity.

In other news, I was listening to the radio today... That new 'boy band', One Direction came on with their hit "One Thing". Anyone heard it? Uhm! Hello Backstreet Boys "I want it that way"! Same tune- I would almost bet money on it. Who's with me?!

Also, if you know what this is about- you are my friend. 

Ok, that's all.

happy day, loves!

june has escaped me...

It's July already... and I've been MIA from the blog front. SO busy with things I plan on telling you all about.

But for today, I shall sit. And sit some more. Thanks for understanding :)

Some things to look forward to? Another Pies the Limit... A Wonderful Wedding Weekend of festivities {with pictures, of course}... and more about why I LOVE my magazines.

Here's a sneak peak at the beauty of the wedding...

A perfect backdrop to a perfect wedding :)

love,
lazy me

{Oh, praise Him}

Sometimes you just need to know life is going to work out. That everything is going to be okay.

I've been pondering a lot of "life" things, lately.

We don't always feel that way- depending on what may be going on. But it's the truth, is it not? Doesn't it always start to look up at some point?

I'm believing for that. Hoping in it. Trusting the Lord.

I can see a light at the end of this tunnel... and for that I am happier than I thought I would be.

Thank you Lord for what you do... are doing... and are going to do.

Oh happy day loves!

O.

Today I had a realization.

But let's backtrack for a second.

I've always loved Jackie O. You know, Jackie Kennedy-Onassis. Yeah, her. She's beautiful. Oh-so-regal. And I've always wanted to be her. Ok, so I don't know her at all... but I want to at least look like her. And have her clothes.

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

So back to my realization. I believe Jackie and I would have been kindred gypsy spirits. I think Jackie liked herself some gypsy style and didn't even know it :) I mean, how can you deny it? She loved to tie her hair back with a scarf. And I bet if there were a lot of pictures of her wrists, she would love bracelets too. Just sayin'...

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

Ok. That's all for my totally weird and random rant. I know I'm not alone in my beliefs about Miss O... Who's with me?

happy ranting loves!

it's that simple.

I read REALSIMPLE Magazine. I've been subscribed for about a year and a half and couldn't tell you the amount of money I spend buying issues off the stands before that.

I love reading it. I always feel slightly less crazy. More organized. Light-hearted and not alone after reading. It really is a simple magazine {no pun intended}. The layout is perfect. Colorful and eye-catching.

One of the millions of reasons why I love it... the editor's note in the beginning. She is hilarious. Maybe she doesn't mean to be. But every time I read the note, I'm laughing and thinking to myself "Oh, Kristin. We're such good friends. I'm so glad you came over today."

Yeah. I might be crazy.

Kristin Van Ogtrop {managing editor} has her own blog on the realsimple website.


http://simplystated.realsimple.com/author/kristinvanogtrop/

Seriously, try just reading ONE of her entries.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know about the hilarious editor's note in my life. I must continue on, however, because this issue has what looks to be like a 'to-die-for' summer drink recipe section.

found on pg. 104 in RealSimple July 2012 issue.

The things are that important in life...

Happy Sunday!

lazy day

Seriously you guys. I have no drive to sit down and write a blog. And this saddens me. I have so many things to write about. So, today I shall not. But I promise that starting tomorrow I'll have my blog-writing-drive back. Cross my heart.

Happy Lazy Saturday, peeps!

three, 3, tres, trois

You know what I just realized? Summer- for me- is just around the corner. As in this Friday is the last day of school. See, I'm not IN school anymore. But I do work at one- making my summers just like the kids. Which I LOVE! (I mean, of course as a responsible adult, I'll work through the summer doing other things. But let's pretend otherwise for now)

You know what I also just realized. I have so many things looming on a loooong to-do list in order to prep for summer. Why is it that I need to have certain things done in order to fully enjoy the beginning of my {fake} summer break? I'm not really sure, either. But thanks for trying to answer that for me. 

I've got this other list. Things that are more important than petty to-do lists. Like graduations and grandparents in town. And that basement project I got myself in to. Which of course is at the bottom of the more important list- just to clarify my priorities. Anyway, off to work I must go.

3 days and counting!!

Happy Wednesday, loves!

icky sicky

This is me. Today. A peak in to my whole weekend, actually. I'm sick. And I hate being sick. I'd rather be puking my guts out for a day than have an icky cold for a week. Ah! Make it go away, please!

100

I've been pondering how to write this post for a few days. It's nothing big, or anything really important. But it is my 100th blog post. Yay! I've been blogging since 2007, so one hundred maybe isn't that many blogs in what, 4.5 years? But, that's ok. I'm not in any kind of contest :)

For my 100th, I wanted to take you back. {And myself back, for that matter} And reflect on some of my favorite posts over the years :)

This is the fist blog I ever wrote. I was living in Hawaii, working for Youth With A Mission, and we always did a "beach day" for our students on the first day of the Discipleship Training School. I was involuntarily stung by a jellyfish. You should probably read the whole story.

This is the night I got engaged! It was a beautiful May evening... and we got married less than 4 months later :) So in love then {obviously!} and still SO in love!

This little guy was in the post I wrote about some of the mission trips I've been on around the world. I love him dearly and wanted to take him home with me... along with just about every other kid I've met.

In this post I showed you the porch project I did as a surprise for my hubby :) It's so cute- I wish I had all the time in the world to sit and drink coffee out here.

The last post I was reminiscing about didn't contain any photos. But it was all about my concerns, excitement and curiosity in selling items I make. We all know how that turned out- Hello Etsy shop and 5 sales so far! I'm glad I took the leap of faith. It's been a blast creating things with love.

Reading through so many blog post made me realize how much I love writing and sharing with you guys. I know sometimes no one even reads them... But it's nice to have a place where I can at least pretend people are listening ;)

Happy Friday! I have a feeling it's going to be a good one!

I recently caught Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland on TV. I never liked the movie as a little girl- the Disney version, I mean. But this one is very pleasing to the eyes. The imagination that went in to it astounds me. The costumes and makeup- the best part, in my opinion. See- how could you not be intrigued? 

{I borrowed all these pictures from here}

I found a few things while browsing the world wide web... And was inspired a little :)

This Alice inspired vintage dress is darling! {source}

This gorgeous ring would definitely NOT fit in my jewelry box! {source}

This tutorial is perfect for those Alice curls :) {source}

This vintage print is so pretty {source}

Fashion inspired by the Mad Hatter {source}

And of course the Mad Hatter makes everyone want to drink tea our of pretty cups {source}

A vintage dress fit for a Queen {source}

This ornament would fit perfectly right on top of my head {source}

So, are you inspired now? What movie inspires your fashion and decor?

a good deal.

You know how sometimes you just find that really good deal that you MUST share with anyone who's willing to listen?? That's happening to me right now. I found this sweet little thing thrifting yesterday... it was $0.49 ...                                                            

It holds rings. In case you didn't already figure that out. And if you know me at all, you know I heart rings. Like, more than I have fingers for. Before, I stored them in other sweet little things, like this:

                               ... Oh. You want a better look at all the cool rings I have? Ok!

     


   

       tuh duh!
     i love them :)










As you can see, I'm all about the statement pieces. Like that huge red one- it's definitely been referred to as the "finger shield". What can I say?

                                      Currently I'm loving this one {it was my gramma's}:

 

 

~please excuse the naked nails~

                                                  







                                                                              

But my most favorite ring? This one ---->

It's a promise. A covenant. A symbol of my husbands 

love for me. I will always cherish this ring the most.

Oh, and I almost forgot... That sweet little thing I scored thrifting? Fits all my rings perfectly :)

 Go put on some jewelry and have a happy Friday!