It's a new year...

Hello everyone!! 

and Happy New Year!!

I have been MIA for a few weeks, and here is why...

I decided to take a 2 week break from all the social media that fills my life. I deleted Facebook and Instagram from my phone, and took a break from writing blogs. It was so refreshing! 

I find myself on a daily basis obsessing over what is going on in other people's lives. {I don't even know why?} I decided it would be healthy for me to step back, relax and enjoy the life I have and all our blessings. Around Christmas time it is so easy to get sucked into the Christmas "I want it all" idea and start to feel sorry for yourself. So I abandoned social media....and I am so glad I did!!!

My husband had almost 2 weeks off and it was so much fun to have him home. I spent my days soaking up family time, playing outside with all the boys, and really just using my time more for my family than for trying to impress all my "followers". I took only a few pictures along the way, but not nearly as many as I take when I want to Instagram every detail of my life. It was nice to put the phone and camera down.

If you have never taken a social media break, I would highly recommend you doing so. You start to think differently and become more productive with your time. I know I did!! 

I don't typically set resolutions for myself in the new year, but I do like to give myself a challenge. So this year I am challenging myself to spend less time on my phone and computer, and more time in the moment. I don't want to miss a second of the precious time I have with my boys. They are going to start school someday and I won't have them all to myself. I also need to spend more time in the Word and focusing on my relationship with the Lord. I just signed up for a new Bible Study that starts this month and I am so excited. I am excited to meet with other women and share our hearts. I am excited to grow, learn, and be renewed. I also am a part of MOPS {mothers of preschoolers} and it is a great group of Mom's that all get together to laugh, eat brunch, learn, and relate to each other. I highly recommend it for any Mom.

Our year ahead is going to be a fun adventure. We have 5 more months in our home, then we are moving to a new place for Wesley's residency. We are excited for all the new things to come and we can't wait for the journey ahead. 

So here's to a new year, new challenges, and new adventures!!

PS: These pictures are just a few of the ones we took on Christmas day. It was a very fun time with family!

If you really knew me...

If you really knew me....

You'd know that I am really short and have had to hem almost every pair of jeans I have ever owned.

You'd know that I sometimes brew coffee and bake desserts just to make my house smell good.

You'd know that making my bed every morning makes me feel ready for the day.

You'd know that I adore my husband and I miss him even when he is working. 

You'd know that I never watch movies and if you quote movie lines to me, I will just smile and laugh like I know what you are talking about.

You'd know that I am a home body, and I prefer to be snuggled up at night with my husband instead of going out.

If you really knew me...

You'd know that my sons are my world, and a dream come true.

You'd know that I LOVE to buy/wear new clothes...and that I never pay full price.

You'd know that I am really bad at calling back, emailing back, or texting back. 

You'd know that I love worship at church, and I love hearing my husband worshiping next to me.

You'd know that I have serious guilt anytime I leave my kids with a babysitter to spend time doing something for myself.

If you really knew me, you would also know that...

I'm emotional and I cry a lot...happy or sad.

I have blonde eyelashes...

and you probably know that you have never seen me without mascara on.

If you really knew me...

You'd know that I totally think of my self as "not cool" and sometimes wish I was more current.

You'd know that my Mom is my best friend.

You'd know that I am obsessed with water and I stress if I don't have any with me.

You'd know that I love to anonymously give gifts.

{shhhh don't tell}

If you really knew me...

You'd know how much I need words of affirmation.

You'd know that I love Jesus and I need to be better at spending quality time with Him.

And, if you really knew me, you would know that being a Mom has changed me, made me a better wife, and given me new meaning. 

I would love to get to know you better. Comment with a link to your blog if you do a post like this one!

{idea from running on happiness}

Favorite Things Party 2012

Favorite Things!

If you know me, you know I love to host parties, and I try to find any excuse to plan one. Ever since I was pregnant with Grayson, I sort of lost my motivation to be a hostess. I was so uncomfortable while I was pregnant that the last thing I wanted to do was throw a party. Well now that I am not pregnant, I am back to my old self and have been itching to plan a party, I just needed a reason to have one. I started googling ideas for a party to throw for a bunch of women. I stumbled upon a blog that wrote about a Favorite Things party. I had never heard about a party like this, but I was excited. So the planning began! 

These are the invites I created using Picnik.

{which now is closed down, and I am so bummed because I had just figured out how to use it}

I wrapped the invites in kraft cards and tied them in twine before I mailed them out.

"Brown paper packages tied up with string..."

The basics of a Favorite Things party are this: 

Each guest comes to the party with 5 of their favorite thing. 

{You choose one thing you love, buy 5 of that thing and bring it to share. We had a spending limit that the item you brought had to cost $6 or less} 

When everyone arrived I had each guest write their name down on 5 different pieces of paper.

We threw all of those names in a jar to use later in the evening when we all discussed our favorite things.

For the food I decided to do a bruschetta bar. I had a basket full of toasted french bread and 4 different types of bruschetta that you could assemble yourself. I put little cards next to each type and listed the ingredients in order so everyone would know how to make it.

The bruschetta bar was a big hit! I think everyone had a great time making their own bruschetta and I saw many of the women go back a few times to make more of their favorites. Such a fun idea for a large group of people.

Since we had beautiful weather that day we set up desserts outside on our patio. We had 3 desserts to choose from. Salted caramel cookies, homemade Earl Grey Macarons from my cousin Capri, and fresh raspberries stuffed with a chocolate chip. Just a few little bite size sweet treats are perfect for any girl party.

The party would not have been complete without some girly drinks. We had 2 wines to choose from, frozen strawberry lemonade, or water. The wine definitely went fast ;)

Since I wanted to use my cute glasses I knew I needed a creative way to label each glass so we didn't get them mixed up. I had recently found chalk board contact paper. It has a sticky back, you can cut it to any size, and it is removable. I used my circle punch and made name labels using a chalk pen. It was so much fun to see everyones reaction when I told them it was chalk board. I will definitely use this idea again.

After everyone arrived and filled up on food and wine, we started the Favorite Things part of our night.  All of the goodies we set up on one table. I loved how it looked like a cute little store full of all the great stuff. I started off and introduced what I brought. After explaining my favorite thing, I drew 5 names out of the jar and those 5 people all received my favorite thing. We continued through all of the things on the table and each person explained what they brought, then I would draw out 5 names and those 5 people would receive something new. In the end everyone left with 5 new favorite things.

We had such a fun night with all the girls. We all agreed this type of party should be done every 6 months or so. Everyone enjoyed getting new favorite things to try we can't wait to have this kind of party again.

Oh yes, the night ended with some nail polish fun!

A special thanks to all my friends for such a fun evening. 

Can't wait for the next Favorite Things party!!

Mama's Favorites: Senior 2012

My Mom called me the other day and asked if I wanted to take a few senior pictures of my baby sister. I was really excited for a chance to use my camera and practice more with the manual setting. I have had this camera for years and I am just now learning more about how it works. Practicing with my sister was the perfect opportunity to use it. 

So yesterday my sister came over and I styled her from head to toe. I have always loved doing this with all of my sisters. I did her hair, makeup, and let her play dress up with all my clothes and jewelry. And since I am the nail polish queen I also did her nails! 

We headed out to a shopping center with some pretty neat back drops. While I started on her pictures, my other younger sister painted the #1 and #2 that we brought to use for props. Every senior needs their graduation year in a few pictures. I am so glad I thought to bring those, I think they made some pretty adorable pictures!!

Here are some of my favorites from yesterday. Let me know what you think!!!!

How adorable is she?!!!

Congrats Alicia on graduating from high school!! I can not believe my baby sister is all grown up!