tiny reminders

it's about to get personal on this blog. ready?

I'm coming up on a hard week, next week. 

the first week of November marks the anniversary of both my mom's and my brother's deaths.

i will write more on that some other day, some other time.  but for now, I will just say that even though it has been years, it still hurts, its still hard and I still need encouragement.

and regardless of who you are and what you are going through, i bet you could use some too.

so i came up with the idea of "tiny reminders".

every month, at the end of the month I am going to post a new free download.  it will always be a 4x4" encouragement piece to hang on your wall and remember.  the reason i made it so tiny is because, for some reason, i always read the little notes that I hang up around my house, but I never read the words on the bigger artwork in my home.  I don't know why, but the tiny ones are never overlooked for me.

so hang these by your kitchen sinks, at your kid's diaper table, in your car.  Wherever your life needs just a little more love and oomph. because let's face it, we all need some oomph from time to time.

To download this month's "tiny reminder" CLICK HERE!

and then find yourself a little frame or some tape :)

xo

Life with the girls

photos by christen

A lot of people have been asking me lately about how its going with two girls. My response actually surprises myself sometimes.  "It's great."  And it really is.  Never had I imagined that my heart could hold this much love for two such small tiny people. And never had I imagined that I would be able to manage life with two little kids aged two and under.

Our days are sometimes chaotic, sometimes calm, but always filled to the brim with love.

Haddie and June weirdly complete each other too.  June is just enough sweet to add to Haddie's spice of life.  

I know that I'm not just a mom, I'm their mom.  I know the ins and outs of each of them and that is where God has placed me.  Its not always glamorous, and more times than I would like,  I am comparing my life to those who live life in the childless lane. Those without the responsibilities of a little one around them... but I know that I am being shaped in the most remarkable and wonderful way.  The girls and God are teaming up to refine me.  

and I'm thankful.

How to make inexpensive birth announcements

I have two kids now.  Two! The idea still amazes me and I'm almost 2 months in. Little June Marie was born in early July and ever since then, life has gotten a bit more complicated, in a good way.

So, I didn't want to complicate the whole birth announcement thing...

I spent $4.00 on june's birth announcement, and it was EASY.

Want to know how?

Shutterfly gives new customers 50 free prints just for signing up on their site. 

50 free prints= 50 free birth announcements, woot!

I just uploaded the photo announcement that I had created, and they sent them to me.

No fussing around with cutting, or spending lots on ordering.

Just easy.

And guess what? If you have a wee one, I have June's birth announcement layout on sale in my shop.

Which means that the stress of figuring out birth announcements....its gone :)

Winner, Winner!

The winner of the custom family portrait giveaway is Catherine!

Cathering please get a hold of me via facebook of email

And for those of you who didn't win, fear not!

I am offering 15% off for anyone who entered the giveaway but did not win.  Please just mention this post in your email to me.

Custom Family Portrait GIVEAWAY!

How about a little family love to go on your wall? I'm giving away one custom family portrait!

To enter this giveaway:

1) Leave a comment below with something quirky about your family. I'm looking forward to reading these :)

2) For a second chance to win, share this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter and leave a second comment telling where you linked (FB or Twitter.)

Three winners chosen at random, giveaway ends Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at midnight EST.

the third.

hellloooo third trimester, i am really feeling you now.  i can't believe that I am already 2/3 done baking my second daughter.  it's a little frightening and a little exciting all at the same time.  With A LOT of pain thrown in.

Here are the new discoveries i've had being pregnant the second time with a 1 year old in tow:

1.) resting isn't an option anymore.  i mean there are pockets here and there, but mostly, you're on your feet and the feet hurt.

2.) preparing for baby is kind of obsolete.  basically i've thrown some newborn clothes into a box and called it good so far.  uh oh.

 3.) that whole don't lift anything over 25 lbs thing?  well, i don't think it comes into play when your child weighs 30.

4.) even though its a lot of work baking and taking care of a baby on the outside, there is nothing sweeter than seeing your first born kiss your second while she's still in the tummy.  nothing. better.

now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go rub my feet.

 

Paper Dolls!

Have you had a chance to check out the new paper dolls in the shop?!

I created these because I remember the sheer joy that would come out of playing them when I was little.  And now that I think of it, how brilliant was that?!

Soooo much cheaper than a real doll (even though my parents spent 100's on those as well, I'm sure)

Hopefully, my daughters will like the paper type more than the real type. Here's to wishful thinking :)

old timer

Every once in a while I take a step out of my usual design aesthetic and create something different.

I'm glad I did with this wedding invite.

Just the right touch of cute, nostalgic, and vintage.

good things

good things right now:

-the sun is shining. spring?

-my custom portraits are really taking off, even seen on Design Sponge.

-next Sunday my man and I are going on a weekend getaway.

-chocolate chip cookies. enough said.

-baby girl # 2 kicks and squirms to say hello inside of me.

- you are reading this post, which means someone cares :)

Happy Weekend to You!

Also..

Two girls!

It's valentine's day so I thought what better way to announce that we are having another little GIRL.  I can't help but think about Stephanie and DJ Tanner, or those rockstar tennis sisters, or the president's kids.  They all make sisters seem so cute.

But then again, I know they will be teenagers one day. And well, I remember what it was like to be a teenage girl :)  can't imagine what it would have been like to have another one growing alongside me.

tell me, do you have a sister? What was it like growing up with her?

aaannnddd... it's been a month

a month!

a whole month since I have blogged.  mostly it is because things have been moving at record speed, but also i have been preoccupied with this little bean growing inside of me and the little one that runs around outside of me that sometimes things like this blog get the boot. 

i have been creating new things though (besides a baby) and I wanted to show them to you and then also let you know that I am alive and will be blogging more than this :)

here are some new things in the shop and otherwise! check back soon for even more. 

custom family portraits

custom wedding prints (pssstt... valentine's day!)

 

 printable wedding invitation