{Life Made Lovely}

I spend most of my days at home...homeschooling, homemaking, because I tend to be a bit of a home body.  I love my life, I love that my husband's hard work and God's blessing allows me to work in the home.

But...ya'll i can get a tad stir crazy.  As such, I may or may not stalk my mailbox until the mailmen delivers.  Our mailman must be on vacation because all last week homeboy dropped the mail off around dinner time and we usually get it at lunch.  Normally {yeah right} I wouldn't mind, but I was expecting some goodies instead of the boring bill and junk promo promising me a million smackers in exchange for buying Cat magazines. {I kid, I kid. Cats are cool.  For you.}

When my pal, Jess raved about Mat Kearney and getting to meet him {yo!} I started listening to his music and homeboy is kinda amazing!  I however, rarely buy a CD, so when One2One Network offered his CD, Young Love to review I was all over that like white on rice {be jealous of my wittiness}!

I love his rustic, soulful voice paired with catchy melodies. One of my favorite things about this album is he leaves you wanting more, you can't help but love every song because it is lyrically and musically married perfectly.  I pretty much keep it my purse to transfer in and out of the car so the hubs doesn't take off with it to work.  Sad, but seriously that good. Here's my favorite track:

One of the things I love about blogging is the community to support handmade business'.  I love finding a new treasure I've been searching for or a shop I have never heard of.  Both are true of Life At The Table.  Kris Hansen has a really adorable blog where she shares her heart and life.  She is truly talented and has some amazing pieces {and prices} in her shop.  I was so excited to stumble across her shop because I have been pinning away trying to find a quality reusable set of sandwich bags in cute fabrics.  Life At The Table, definitely fit the bill.  I was SO happy when her handmade happiness made it's way to Texas by way of Oregon!  I can't recommend her enough...and her reusable lunch totes and bags are ADORABLE!

Along with that fun mail, came some other fun!

Awesome straws and packaging from Urban Scarlet.

Lots of twine goodness from Pick Your Plum.

All of my new marketing materials printed up from Vistaprint with my AWESOME new logo created by the lovely Heather of Life Made Lovely Designs.  She is a rockstar!

Pretty, pretty lace from Cottage Green...can't wait to get crafting with it!

I also participated in the Handmade Gift Exchange with Craftaholic's Anonymous...oh a few months ago.  Just now getting the photos uploaded to share.

This is what I sent to my partner, Emily.  Mostly goodies from my shop and some earrings I made especially for her.

And she made me the most perfect pillow!  I love it!

I really encourage you to participate in Linda's exchange...it's always a ton of fun!

Linking Up with:

{InstaFriday: Bloom & Bee Swanky Edition}

Sorry for the hiatus.  I unplugged a bit.  No new news around these parts.  My absence consisted of carving out some intentional time with some lovelies in my life to equal parts hiding.  I'll update on the latter, until then, I thought I'd make a bloggy return a la Insta-Friday style...what what!?!?

I did not prepare by snapping pics during the week, ya know due to the fact that I decided on a whim to make it all about my shopping trip to Bloom and Bee Swanky this afternoon.  First, BBS is local and I'm sorry for you if you aren't and can't participate in it's amazingness because after these pics you will be too.  So anywho, I won a giveaway on their blog and no longer than 3 hours after the mailman dropped it off I jumped on my trusty steed and we were off. { Not really...obvs, but I had to get that in for you non Texans who think we still have a general store. Just saying.}

Doesn't that entrance say, "Come on in and have some ice tea?"  Unfortunately it did not....ya'll it's hot in the South!

I almost bought this dress, 'cept it would look like a backless tube top and it was paper.  PAPER, ya'll...amazingness.

And there was this number  that was equally gorgeous...the pic does not do justice to the mad talent behind these beauties.

I fell head over heels in love with this bed!  White linens are on my bucket list to some day own.  This requires my kidlets to be all grown up and my hubs to embrace white...in due time.

I would pair it with this awesome side table!  How creative is that!?!?

How about this bad boy for a corner display?  Weathered door + rustic iron + feathered wings = Amazingness...I warned you.

I would LOVE...NEED this beauty for my sewing room.  One day I will collect all my treasures and have my own room for creating.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

I thought these would be awesome for  a media/game room...so cool!

Moving on to my kitchen...hee, hee.  I love this hammered table top!

Paired of course with this SUPER cool light fixture made from used wine bottles.

So this is my jackpot!  Most of it is for projects I plan to attack this weekend, so I'll be back with the outcome next week.  Cross your fingers it pans out like I'm imaging. PS Don't hate on my bright turquoise watch either!

Linking up with the always amazing Jeanett.

{InstaFriday & On My Heart...and a winner}

Okay friends I have to be honest, I kinda forgot about Insta Friday and On My Heart til last night right before we walked out of the house to go out of town.  I quick snapped some photos of things around my house I love to share in some what of a cheater fashion.  Wouldn't you know when I got to the car, in my impatience they never saved....still trying to figure out Instagram. Frustrated, I just figured I'd wait until I scrolled through to the one photo I got last Saturday.

Bella asked to participate in a Model Search at an Outlet Mall about 30 minutes from our house.  As Saturday morning approached I thought she was going to bail on me.  It was quite a big deal for her Daddy to give the okay to such a thing and even more that Bella would even want to...so not my girl's thing.  We got there on time...can I get an amen...and quickly signed in to be told it would be a 4 hour wait for her age group. What?!?! We decided to make the best of it and browse the stores.  Bella is obsessed on trying on heels and had to get a pick in these.

As it inched closer to the time for the youngest group we decided to go watch as we were losing steam in the walking.  Grabbing the only spot to stand and watch we stood patiently waiting for it to start.  We watched as kids walked the cat walk practicing fro their turn and Momma's gave last minute instructions.

My stomach churned and my cheeks got hot.  I scanned the crowd of people catching face after face of little ones from the 4-8 division made up in make-up, heels, and hair teased and hair sprayed to give Dolly a run for her money. And it just went up from there.  My heart for my little girl looking at everyone, I could see in her eyes that she was doing the comparison dance.  The longer we sat, the more I we heard.  We overheard Mom's coaching their daughters on winking at the male judge...teenage daughters.  We overheard the banter of the criticism of the competition. The snide remarks and not so muffled laughter if someone tripped a little or outfit wasn't as polished.  I kept Bella as busy as I could playing on my phone, whispering words of encouragement into her ears.  Sending silent prayers that her heart wouldn't be penetrated by the back biting surrounding us.

I don't know if the make up, the heels, or the hairspray are at all damaging to these little girl (and boys), but we as Mothers and society telling them that beauty is measured in physical characteristics and outward appearance is. As each winner was called in varying divisions of age, kids left the stage crying.  A four year old crying that because in their eyes they weren't good enough is wrong.

In the end my heart is guilty of judging too.  I let the experience serve as motivation to be more intentional with my little ones in setting their eyes on what Christ calls beauty.  On the way home I shared my heart with Bella and she with I.  It was a beautiful time to connect and invest and I was grateful.

Sorry InstaFriday readers if that was a little heavy for your Friday reading.

Thank you for all who commented last week!  The winner is...

 

Yeah Jess!  I will email you, your Shutterfly photo book later this weekend friend!

Linking up with Jeanett and Casey!

XO Jenni

{InstaFriday...and a little giveaway}

Apparently, Jeannett claims to be the rule maker for InstaFriday... I guess since it's her link up {whatevs} ...and told me on Twitter it doesn't count if I create my post in my head.  So here ya go, here's our week in pictures....

We had sweet cousins in town so we decided a picnic and park date was required. 

Sadly I only got pics of my kids...terrible I know.

I love that this guy still loves being a kid...

And how she poses, even when she is adamant that she doesn't want me to take her picture.

My sewing machine actually got some action...mind blowing I tell you!  

I had to invite my favorite companion too...

Isn't my cup and coffee cozy adorable?!?! 

Truth be told typically I would totally have Dr.Pepper in it 

{can I get an amen Mique?}, but I was sipping Peach Tea...yum-o!

Shopping with these:

for this yummy bounty

is much more enjoyable...don't 'cha think?

{Yes, I posed the produce..I would have made them smile if I could.}

And look at this Mommy's muncher...

...I just wanna nibble him!

And because I wouldn't be doing myself justice, here is some random....

  ...wait for it...yes folks salt.  

I lovity, love, love kitchen stuff!  

I found this gem for $2.50 to hold my sea salt and I'm smitten.  

I know, I'm a weirdo...and I'm okay with it.

I'm still working on that Creative Estates post, but in the meantime I still have some Shutterfly Photo Book Codes leftover from our sponsorship...who wants a free book?  Leave a comment and I will pick a winner and announce in next week's InstaFriday post!