Stationery card

I have really tried to be on here more, but time seems to have gotten away from me this year to date. I hope to post more in the coming new year so that you who do follow will not be bored to tears anymore with my lack of effort. I promise...I'll really try! One reason I have been basically hiding is that we are expecting! Yes, this next May we will add another little one to our family of three! It's been a long journey this year to get pregnant. We've had a disappointment or two, but things are well on their way now. I have been doing my best to be ready for the Holidays early this year in order to not be overwhelmed while I am so tired and sick. I just finished my Christmas cards using Shutterfly again. I can never say how much I love their easy to use project creations. I have used them for years now and have been religious about uploading each months of our photos to the site for safe keeping as well as family sharing. Check out this card I created below for this year! 

Very Merry Memories Christmas Card

Create beautiful photo Christmas cards at Shutterfly.com.

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Valentine's Day Prep

Time for some Valentine Day Love!!!  I used my favorite photo site once again to produce some personal Vday cards this year.  I am a consistent customer to Shutterfly and use it's free website sharing function to keep my family and friends in check on what we are up to each month.  Because of this, I often get great coupons and freebees from them.  This particular card was a free one that will be sent off to an non-disclosed grandparent.  I am sure they will love it more than any store-bought one because it highlights their most favorite person in the world, my beautiful Emily!

Card

Paintin' Perfect

Dining room before

So, I've been a busy painter this last week.  We had a planned week vacation from being parents (Em spent the week up with Gma & Papa up in MN), so I decided to tackle a painting project while I was toddlerless.  The room that seemed easiest to take on was my new dining room.  It's square, has easy to cover wood floors, and was easiest to pick a paint color...or so I thought!


I had picked out a lovely shade of blue called "Adrift" from Lowe's.  Once I got it home and started to paint it was drying very blue...too blue.  My MIL Teresa came over a little later to help and as soon as she walked in I told her i hated it.  I could tell by her face that this just saved her the need to lie to me.  "Good," she said "Because I was going to have to say WOW that's blue!"  So, then I was in a dilemma, I had already purchased 2 cans.  I thought it was a nice blue, but too bright, and maybe a bathroom blue I called it...then it hit me I could use this color up in Emily's bathroom later on.  This may not have been the exact blue I would have picked, but it will do and I won't be murdered by my husband when he finds out I had to go back and spend more money on paint. 

The next trip to Lowe's went better and I picked a more grayish blue called "Lighthouse Shadows".  This one still turned out a little more blue then I wanted, but in the end it had the effect I wanted. 

After

 

Now I know what you are thinking, great room, ugly light fixture and I couldn't agree more!  We have a new light fixture picked out, but it will have to wait a month until we have time and funds.  Here's the fixture I want to put up in case you are interested or just want to buy it and send it out to me...Pottery Barn Light.  Picture it above the table and without the wicker shades...perfect right!

Summer Randomness!

It's been a few weeks now and the new house is really starting to take shape.  We have almost all the boxes unpacked and things are finding their places slowly.  This is why I have been MIA with the blog, but when life gets crazy some things fall by the wayside for the time.  Crafting is another thing that has been put down at the moment, but I hope to be back in a creative swing by the end of the summer.  Until then, I would love to share some fun things I have found lately...

• Now that I own a home I love love love Lowe's and Home Depot!  I hated these stores before but now when I walk through the doors I find they hold endless possibilities!  Pretty sad I know but it's true, this girl will now add Lowe's gift cards to her Christmas lists...haha.
• I seem to be addicted this summer to magazines and catalogs.  Every night before bed I have been curled up with Better Homes & Gardens, Country Home, Southern Living, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and on and on... I think this has to do with the above comment about home improvement because I am perusing to find ideas for the new house. 
• A favorite new blog of mine that was shared by my MIL Teresa - The Pioneer Woman.  Please check her out.  She is the author of the children's book Charlie the Ranch Dog, and is a hilarious and industrious woman.  She has wonderful recipes, gardening and home improvement advice, plus lots of fun giveaways.  Emily loves her book and picks it most night to read before bed.  
• Lastly, I LOVE my new front porch!  We have gotten it cleaned up, killed the few carpenter bee's that threatened to attack it, and have planted some late flowers in my newly unpacked pots.  The hubbie and I have been spending some evenings out there just getting used to the peace and new neighborhood.   Hopefully some time soon some of you can come visit it!  :)
 

Father's Day Cards

Below is the great card that I made over at Shutterfly for the Grandpas in our family for Father's Day!  I love this site because they have great deals and fun designs.  I have a family website created through them and use it to keep our family and friends easily updated on our doings and new monthly photos.  If you ever want to make a family webpage check them out.  Now I'm all set for Father's Day!  :)

Dad Collage Navy Father's Day 5x7 folded card

Modern greeting cards and party invitations by Shutterfly.

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Too Busy to Craft!?!

Too busy to craft!?!  Yes, it's true...I've been too busy to be crafty lately.  I have been good about keeping up with my favorite crafty blogs, and buying a few crafty projects for the future...but too busy to actually do anything!  I have had the best intentions...I bought plain t-shirts to applique for Emily and a friend, and I have a few baby gifts ready to make for someone who is expecting, but time has been slipping away from me.  I've decided to just give up for now with trying to get them done before the big move and have packed it all away in a few boxes.  It's a bummer since I really wanted to finish these few things, but something has to give when life gets crazy and it's usually the hobbies right! 

In the meantime, I have been getting excited for the new house and decorating Emily's new room.  I have many fun ideas and they keep expanding in my head.  I have found a few great Etsy shops with children's art that I love and want to share: petitcollage, ApplwoodKnoll, amberalexander, and papersparrow.  All of these creative ladies make some beautiful and whimsical pieces that are unique. 

I also wanted to share a new crafty site that I have found is about ready to launch.  It looks like it will be a nice place to find and share projects.  Check it out if you are interested!  Craftsy!

Happy Mother's Day!

The day I became a Mommy to Ms. Emily Ann

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  I hope you have a great and relaxing day however you choose to spend it!  I got to sleep in and then enjoyed a lovely pancake breakfast cooked up by my wonderful hubby!  Emily helped me open my cards too!  I already enjoyed a week full of shopping for Mom!  But gifts aside, it has been a beautiful warm, sunny weekend and I plan to relax and enjoy this sunny Mother's Day!  Enjoy yours!