Embrace the Camera!

The kids were able to excavate some ancient Terra Cotta Warriors a few weeks ago at the Children's Museum.

I LOVE our Children's Museum and I LOVE that Delaney is getting to the age where she participates and really plays.  It is such a fun age and I can't wait to see what comes next!

(Hmmm...I just realized that in a black and white picture, it looks like Del is not wearing pants.  Rest assured she is- I just choose to squeeze her chunky little legs into skin tight stretch pants. 

 She'll thank me later).

Are you embracing the camera this week?

Tag...You're It Jewelry Price Cuts

We have been working on a new pricing system.  Those of you who own your own handmade business know that pricing items can be complicated, to say the least.  

We have a new pricing system that I think will work much better for us. 

Yes, some prices had to be raised.  There are some pieces that take a LOT longer to make than others, and we had to take that into consideration.

However, quite a few pieces DROPPED in prices.  

I have included a few, but there were actually over 20 different necklaces with price drops!!!

Mother's Day, Graduation, and Father's Day are all coming up!

 [ Hint Hint ]

Hunger Games PAR-TAY!!

Is there anything more fun than dressing up and pretending to kill each other with a group of church friends?  

I don't think so. 

My good friends, who are also sisters, hosted a Hunger Games Party.  Yes, the books are written for middle school age kids AND the central theme is about kids as young as 12 killing each other in a televised event, BUT if you haven't read them, you should.  

I even talked Mark into reading them, and I don't think he's read a non- textbook since the Bush Administration.  

These are the same girls who held the amazing Twilight Party last year. And I will stay friends with them forever since they throw great parties and always have cute party favors.  

And yes, we did recreate the hunger games.  

They had squirt guns set up in a pile and after the games began, we had to fill our guns and then try to kill squirt one another.  

My gun shot water about 5 inches out, so I was killed by a supersoaker early on.

 Our dinner included hot dogs squirrel that we had to cook ourselves over a fire and rolls from Peeta's dad's bakery.

A few of them went to the midnight showing, but Mark and I are going to go this weekend when we have a baby-sitter.  

I get violently angry after 11 o'clock a night, so it is best if I am asleep by that time.

Happy Hunger Games!

Pinterest Love

I love the colors of these natural dyed eggs AND I feel a little safer eating them later...

We already have a bird right outside the window that has been waking me up.  

I do prefer it over the sound of a screaming toddler waking me up.

This has nothing to do with spring, but it is permanent marker on a lampshade.  

So cute, but what would I write??

A local tractor supply always has baby chicks to hold around Easter.  

I will definitely be holding one.

And, yes please...

Headed to a Hunger Games party tomorrow!!  

On a sad note, my camera is broken [again], so I can't take pictures while we fight to the death.

Embrace the Camera

Who doesn't love a giant children's consignment sale??  On Tuesday, Brodi and I shopped at

Whale of a Sale, which is held twice a year. 

I honestly do almost all of my shopping for Del there. I buy all of her summer clothes at the spring sale and her winter clothes at the fall sale. 

I am fully admitting that almost everything Delaney wears has been worn by some other little girl at some point. 

Sometimes I feel bad, but most days I feel smart. 

 

I usually stick with the $2-$3 outfits, but this year I splurged a little...

 I found this Matilda Jane dress for $20.  It would be around $60 brand new.  I know it is not "Easter" colors, but I think it will be her Easter dress.

I also splurged on this petunia pickle bottom for $40 (at a consignment sale is was TOUGH to pay $40) BUT a brand new bag is $198, so I feel good about the purchase.

And I know most parents might regret this plinky annoying piano, but Del LOVES playing keys, so I couldn't pass it up.  It retails for $70 and I bought it for $15.

Hope you are having a great week!  Don't forget to embrace the camera!

Monday Musings

Here is what is keeping me happy on an otherwise rough Monday...

Beautiful weather ALL WEEK

having my DSLR camera back and not having to use my phone for pictures

pineapple and coconut frozen yogurt from Orange Leaf

being able to watch the first season of Downton Abbey on my Kindle since we got rid of cable and I am now obsessed

knowing that Mark is on spring break this week, which means he comes HOME after work

preparing to shop at a huge consignment sale tomorrow, Whale of a Sale

Brodi designing a new facebook banner for us, which I am loving

blueberry and raspberry frozen yogurt from Orange Leaf

getting a new Dymo thermal printer for  Tag...You're It jewelry shipping labels

Happy Monday!

a needed reminder

On my way home from a crazy day yesterday, a song came on the radio.  I had heard it before and knew the artist, but I could relate so well to the song, that I felt like it was written just for me.

I have never really struggled with whether I thought the job of "mom" was important.  I know it is the most important job I will ever have and I take it seriously.  I think I was more questioning whether or not I was doing my job to the glory of God.  Am I mothering in a way that would bring God glory or am I worn out, frazzled, short tempered, and too busy with other things to be a mother who brings God glory? 

Being a stay-at-home mom is tougher than I ever thought it would be.  We have our wonderful days.  I love taking her to the park, and to get ice cream, and snuggling on the couch and watching Elmo, running with her through the house while chasing each other with strollers, and watching her grow before my eyes. 

But we also have the days where I just need TWO minutes to myself, and I shut the bedroom door to just take a breath.  And then I hear a soft voice coming from the crack from under the door "mom-ee?" "mom-ee?" "mom-ee?"...and I realize I don't get a breath to myself and open the door with
tears in my eyes
because I just wanted two minutes. 

I hope the words to this song remind you too that no matter WHAT you are doing in life, the most important part of that job is doing it the glory of God, since He, in fact, made you. 
Sometimes we all need a reminder...

Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman

You're picking up toys on the living room floor

For the fifteenth time today

Matching up socks and sweeping up lost Cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips

And head out the door

And while I may not know you, I bet I know you wonder sometimes does it matter at all

Well let me remind you it all matters just as long

As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you

Cause He made you

To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face

And tell the story of grace

With every move that you make and every little thing you do

You may be hooking up mergers, cooking up burgers

But at the end of the day

Little stuff big stuff in between stuff

God sees it all the same

And while I may not know you I bet I know you

Wonder sometimes does it matter at all

Well let me remind you it all matters just as long

As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you

Cause He made you

To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face and tell the story of grace

With every move that you make and every thing that you do

Well maybe you're sitting in math class

Or maybe you're on a mission in the Congo

Maybe you're working at the office singing along with the radio

Maybe you're dining at a five star

Or feeding orphans in Myanmar

Anywhere and everywhere you are

Whatever you do it all matters

So do what you do don't ever forget to do

Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you...

  Via

Some of our daily adventures...

Eating a thin mint cookie for the first time

 "Hiding" from a diaper change

 "coloring" with the black marker

 "cooking" her water soup