i like choices...

...do you?

I've been so thrilled with the response to the fear to freedom necklace that we unveiled a couple of weeks ago that I decided to offer it in sterling silver, too!  It is now available in the shop here. 

we made it...

...exhale.  That's how it feels being here at my parents' home  - like  
one big satisfying deep breath.  
See you again soon - I'm sure to have many pics.  Ciao!   
 

where to begin?

I've been slowing up on advertising lately, to give myself some room to breathe {and play} and also to focus on some things that I need to do to prepare my business for the future.  This idea of planning for fall and the holiday season in the summer is new to me.  So strange!  And I'm hoping to be able to relax a bit and enjoy my family while on vacation the next couple of weeks.  

 

The fact that orders have been coming in this week at a slow trickle is very welcomed.  I have been making list upon list of what needs to be done and trying to figure out what aspects of my business I am now going to outsource or give to an assistant to do.  The phrase "time is money" has a whole new meaning to me these days.  It has taken conversation with a couple of encouraging & honest friends for me to realize I am at full capacity.  And there just isn't room to grow when you are tapped out.  In terms of a business that is growing, a bigger investment means a bigger return.  That's hard for a risk-sensitive girl and {I'll admit it} a control-freak like me.  While it is more comfortable for me to be doing it all...it's just not a possibility anymore. 

 

Back to my list!  I had breakfast with a friend yesterday and was complaining about how long it takes to get things done these days...you know, in between diapers, time-outs and that pesky responsibility of feeding my children...it is definitely the hardest thing about working/owning a business and staying home with my kids.  Before kidlets, my current list could be checked off in a few weeks.  Now...my goal is by December 31st.  No kidding!  Big *sigh*.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

 

Oh - and shout out to Chickabird/randL on etsy - I received this notebook (above) as a gift -  journaling and list-making is so much more fun with a freshly sharpened pencil & a beautiful notebook - it helps me stay focused and inspired.  It's the little things.   

*new design* :: tagged necklace

I'm stuck in another 'color rut' - orange & turquoise.  I guess it should come as no surprise.  Turquoise has always been my favorite color.  Elliot is really into 'favorites' and 'colors' lately.  Always asking me my favorite and I tell him..."you know...you asked me that yesterday...do you remember?"  And he says 'nicodemus'.  Ha!  You know how things get stuck in your head?  Apparently, at some point, when I said turquoise, he thought 'nicodemus'.  So, there it is...a new color name for Crayola.
 
This new eclectic design - added to the shop today....the tagged necklace.  You can personalize with names or inspirational words.  The necklace comes with one tag & one freshwater pearl charm (you can add more charms here).

sweet face

Apparently, my little man, Silas, looks just like me?  I don't know - you can't see it when it's you, ya know?  Maybe that is why every.single.human.being that comes in contact with him says 'she' and 'her'.  I know it's a common mistake...he is awfully cute...and then there's his lashes.  Again with the lashes - I know..I'm envious.  Elliot is the spitting image of Lance - especially when you look at photos of them at the same age.  I'm headed to my parents' house next week - you can bet some old photos will surface at some point during my visit - and I'm going to search for some of me at this age and compare.

{Don't let the sweet face fool you - he has been a stinkpot this week - something about growing 18 teeth at the same time, I think.}

 

the world feels a little smaller

It's fun making small world connections...especially through the internet & blogging community.  Because blogging can feel, well...lonely.  After all, I am sitting here in my house, boys asleep, husband folding laundry {I'm lucky!} and writing to you...and I don't even know who you are.

So, I found Sarah Markley a few years ago through another blog and re-visited about a year ago when she shared with the world about her affair that rocked her marriage.  She is a gifted writer and shares with raw honesty and vulnerability.  It really is such an admirable thing.  It's hard enough blogging about day-to-day life to anyone, everyone, no one -- wondering what people are thinking, worried about whether or not you come across as your true self, etc.  But to share your sin and open yourself up in that way is rare.  And refreshing.

So, after reading her story, I suggested her to come to speak to our MOPS group this past semester and she graciously accepted.  It was a great reminder to all of us in the thick of life with littles how to make your marriage a priority.  Fast forward a few months and we correspond a little bit more through a mutual friend....become Facebook friends...and realize we have even more mutual friends.  It's always wild when that happens.  It makes the world feel just a bit smaller.  Makes you feel like you have a history with each other...when you really don't.  I like that.

Go and visit Sarah today...where she eloquently tells the story of our friends serving in Thailand.  Say hello.  And while you're at it, enter the giveaway for a Fear to Freedom necklace.  

Happy Monday!

 

taking time...

...this week to s l o w down.  Enjoying some play time with the boys after a few very busy weeks.  Today, it was a ride on the carousel...

 
and playing in fountains.   



I know...it's been a quiet blog week.  Feeling a lot like this lately.  But I could never put it into words as eloquently as she does.  Speaking of...is Creative Thursday new to you?  I've been a fan of her art for awhile.  Don't own a piece of her work.....yet.  She's one of those artists that makes it so difficult to choose, because every print is better than the one before.  Love that!

Have a great weekend! 

 

*new* design

a beautiful modern mum print...accented by a sweet freshwater pearl...

 
I am loving this color palette with a crisp white blouse.  In the shop now!

 

celebrating baby

I threw a shower {with lots of help, I might add - the only way to do it!} for my dear friend, Rachel, yesterday - it was a beautiful afternoon in a gorgeous backyard setting {thank you Meredith!}.  Rachel is a natural-living-mama, so it was only fitting that we throw an eco-friendly shower...with as little waste as possible...and we even played up the color green everywhere we could.  

The invite ::  Words and I don't get along very well, so I scoured the interwebs for a verse for the invite...I found several cute ideas and merged them into:

  
pink or blue?  it remains to be seen,

but for jon & rachel, we're all going green

organic & clean, chemical-free

it's an eco-baby shower for our mother-to-be

I know - she hardly looks pregnant - and she's only 7 weeks from her due date!!  So not cool for the rest of us. {*wink}



For favors that doubled as placecard holders, I planted succulents in glass teacups - I scored and found all 16 teacups in one thrift store.  An easy and inexpensive idea.  Plus, Rachel used to live in England and is a big tea lover, so it was another way to add a personal touch to the shower.  

Last week was crazy, and as much as I wanted to make some fun cupcakes, time did not allow.  So, I procrastinated and found myself looking for a carrot cake, the day before the shower {eek} and found one at Costco.  It was delicious, but.  Oh my.  Look at what they did to it...
 I saw the potential.  There is no need for that much sugar on top of an already sugar-laden cake.  Am I right?

So, now that the shower is over...I'm even more eager to find out whether or not she's having a boy or girl!  Won't be long now.  

amy's farm

We went here today...

 

It was fun!  I'm tired.  See you tomorrow!

more birthday & a giveaway

You didn't think that was all with the birthday pics, did you?  Here's more...

Here's a great {and inexpensive} idea for birthday favors.  We don't do large birthday parties {yet - maybe one day we'll get there, but so far, our tradition has been one friend per age - seems appropriate and doable}.  I made t-shirts for the little ones attending...and of course, one for Elliot, so he wasn't left out.  The tees - not a fancy brand - just Hanes or Fruit of the Loom - in a package of 3 or 6 - and transfer paper - print your image - iron  it on - easy peasy.


Cake-eating...
  

 

Laughing, opening presents, playing with the paper & boxes {certainly not the gifts}, friends, good food, gorgeous weather, an all-around great day...

And, there's another giveaway happening today!  Can you stand it?!   And a discount code.  So head on over to Mom-Nom.com for a chance to win.

birthday boy

So, little Silas turned one this past week.  And now I get the whole - the 1st birthday party is more for the parents than the baby - deal.  Although, I think that I deserve a lot more than a birthday cake and playing with friends.  What a rough year.  I still can only claim 7, maybe 8, full night sleeps in the past year.  Something's wrong with that.

In keeping with tradition {can you call it a tradition when you've only done it once?}, I made Silas a shirt for his birthday party.  For Elliot's 1st, I used a Curious George image from the Jack Johnson cd...our soundtrack from his 1st year.  So, in thinking through this last year, I decided to go with a character from Where the Wild Things Are...he's definitely a Wild Thing - and that's taming it down a bit.     

 

It all seriousness, the spunk in Silas can really be fun - he definitely greets life head on - has a lot of perseverance.  And he is turning into a sweet, sweet boy - is a bit of a mama's boy - still cuddles - will climb onto things he has no business climbing on - and loves to get into trouble.

Sidenotes on the photo above :: Is it just me or do I look 10 years younger with Elliot...and it was only 2 1/2 years ago?!  Eek.  And Silas' thighs?  Oh my cuteness.

fear to freedom necklace

This, my friends, is a really special piece to me.  It was created with a friend who is {with her family} living in community with and loving the people of Thailand.  After spending time with their family over the past few months, the heart they have for the Thai people is obvious...and contagious.  I am humbled to partner with them and I share their vision of translating fear into freedom in Thailand.  It's why I'm so thrilled about sharing this piece with you.  Plus. Isn't it pretty?!

 

You can read a little more & find it in the shop here. 

Giveaway :: One Fear to Freedom necklace is up for grabs!  Post a comment, on this post, and be entered to win.  You have until Noon (PST) on Friday, June 11th to enter.  I will use a random generator to select a winner and notify you by email.  So...if you do not have an email address associated with your google account, puh-lease leave your email address in the comment so I can contact you.  Thanks!

**UPDATE** :  Winner is Comment #44 - HopeWhispersBeauty.**

Thank you everyone, for your comments!!!

kelle hampton :: enjoying the small things

I'm so glad my friend, Erinn, introduced me to Kelle Hampton's blog recently...she was telling me about a beautiful post that Kelle had written recently about the birth of her daughter, Nella Cordelia where she also recounts the shock of learning Nella had Down Syndrome.  Her account of the birth and days thereafter is powerful, vulnerable and honest.  It's worth a visit.  The photos alone tell a beautiful story.

Also. Kelle is hosting a giveaway now until Tuesday.  Stop by to enter to win a $50 gift certificate to Bel Kai Designs.  
  
Had a great time celebrating our little one today - will be sharing photos Tuesday!  Happy Sunday to you...

taking flight :: shutter sisters collection

I am a big dreamer.  I have far more ideas than time.  I know I've shared my dream of living in Paris or a small town - somewhere in France, owning a boutique, etc, etc...but that is really only one of my dreams.  There have been and will continue to be many, I'm sure.  At times, my problem is achieving balance between finding contentment where God has me yet excited about the possibilities of where He could one day take me!  

I was so taken with the images that Meredith Winn sent over for the piece we are collaborating on...the newest design in the capture collection...and the theme of taking flight.  I am right at the crossroads of some important decisions pertaining to my business and there have been times recently that I just stand here, frozen, not knowing the next step to take.  I am currently taking Kelly Rae Roberts' e-course - Flying Lessons - and am being challenged on this very issue every day when I am reading through our curriculum - so apropos with the timing of this necklace.

 
I love how simple and high-contrast the images are...the images are set in sterling silver bezels with layers of resin.  The necklace is available in three lengths - you can find it  in the shop today.

Read more about the necklace in Meredith's own words - and enter a giveaway here. 

*Also - don't forget about this deal - good through next Wednesday, June 9th!!
 

huntington library

 
Whew...I'm exhausted.  My day started early with breakfast with a friend at my fave spot in long beach.  It is such a great way to start a day - I highly recommend it {the breakfast with a friend part}.  Then, the boys and I drove north to the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens.  Wow.  Incredible.  Magical.  207 acres of pure beautifulness.  I think we only saw 15% of it - I'm already itching to go back to see the rest.  It  felt very reminiscent of visits to Maymont {Richmond, VA} growing up.  I have fond memories of spending time there with friends.  Have I mentioned how fun it is to have children and live in Southern California?  This marks the fifth week in a row that we have done a day adventure with friends...and while the days take a lot of energy and sometimes drain me dry, I'm always glad we took the time to explore all there is to see & do in this part of the country.

 

And, so I told a fib...the new shutter sisters necklace will not be unveiled tomorrow...wait for it...until Saturday.  It's worth the wait.

su-su-summertime!

 
Simple images - a dandelion, paper lanterns & a bike - in vivid summer colors on a 16" sterling silver ball chain.  Wear them together - or separate - it's like three necklaces in one!  *FREE* - with your $40 purchase...starting NOW through June 9th.  

Another Capture Collection Necklace unveiled on Friday...pretty sure you'll love it...see you then!

cherry blossom earrings

So, it's not a new design, but this cherry blossom print is a bestseller in our necklace and rings...so, while I was pouring some other orders today, I thought I would just go ahead and make these earrings.  Why not?  They're just so cheery! 

 
I got so much done yesterday, I'm thrilled it's already Wednesday.  I'm sure I would not be so ecstatic had it been a crummy day.  Hope your week is swimming along - the holiday sure helped...

our weekend...

was filled to the brim with friends, time at the beach, bbq'ing, having fun...Monday holidays throw me off...since today feels like a Monday now.  The fact that it's Tuesday makes me fret a bit.  I have a ton of work this week.  I know it'll get done, but I've lost a day.  Eek!  And planning for this little man's 1st birthday, too - so hard to believe.

 
I am hoping to add several new pieces to the shop this week.  Check back!