Excitement & My First Giveaway

I created a facebook page for my jewelry sales!  It's called Beloved Garden.  Here's a link:



I'm nervous and excited.  I'm wondering if I have enough stock or too much.  It's a wonderful adventure and a way to do something that's my own.  It's also a chance to be able to contribute to my family financially.  In honor of my grand opening I'm doing a giveaway!  I'll be giving away 1 Alice ring on May 17th.

To enter:

• post a comment below (on my blog, not the facebook note that this post generates)  

You can get additional entries by:

• liking Beloved Garden's facebook page (1 entry)
• "sharing" Beloved Garden's facebook page (1 entry)
• posting about this giveaway on your blog, facebook, or twitter with a link (1 entry each)

To collect these entries just post one comment for each.  The winner will be chosen at random next Tuesday evening.  Good luck everyone!

A New Venture

I've decided to start selling the jewelry I've been making.  I should be posting on FB & probably here as well within the next week.  I'm excited, but nervous.  It will be the rings & bobby pins I posted.  I'm also going to be selling some necklaces like this one. 

 

I've decided not to make or sell anything that costs over $10.  I want it to be things I'd be able to afford and would want to wear.  I'm really enjoying making it!  I'm going to give each of the pieces a name that fits it.  Anyone have fun suggestions?  It is all pretty retro so I'm thinking older names.  The ring from the last post is "The Alice" in honor of my friend Theresa whom I made it for.  I name everything so I think this part of it will be fun too.  I might even do a giveaway on my blog so keep an eye out for that!

Easter

It's been a busy few days.  The weekend was packed with wonderful birthday parties for precious little girls.  The week so far has been a beautiful blur of visits from my family.  It's quiet in my house now.  Things are slowing down a bit before the holiday weekend.  It's giving me time to think.  Easter is coming.  It's my favorite holiday.  Everything in my life hinges on this Sunday, on these words,

"He is not here; He has risen, just as He said..."

-Matt 28:6

That changes everything.  All of history, eternity, and I will never be the same.  Breathtaking!  I'm astounded by the miracle and the simplicity of God's unending grace.  I can't forget though that Good Friday is also coming.  I can't forget what had to come first.  The sacrifice that was required so that grace could be extended, so that I could be forgiven.  It's heartbreaking and humbling - the depth of His love for me...and for you.

Happy Easter!

He is Risen!

8 Minute Face

Here is today's make up.  I had a few extra minutes so I was ale to include a touch of eyeliner.  This is just a quick picture taken with my phone so you can't tell too much, but I thought I'd update anyway.

Updates, Creations, & Searches

What am I up to these days?  Lots!  Here's a quick run down.

• I'm nurturing my 6 month & 3 year old daughters, working on being a more loving wife, and seeking God.  I feel like I'm doing better in these areas than I have been in a long time.
• I'm considering working out.  For some of you this may be a no brainer, but for me it's not.  I hate working out.  I've never been a sporty girl.  When I was younger I loved no work out exercise like walking places, skateboarding, etc.  Lately I've been much too inactive and I don't like it.  I don't like the way I feel or the way it looks on me.  I know myself well enough to know I need to find something I'll enjoy or I'll never stick with it.  I enjoy out Wii Fit+, but it's broken right now.  Any suggestions?
  
• I'm crafting for the first time in a while.  I had been knitting a lot, but have put that on hold for now.  I recently began creating jewelry.  I'm loving it!  It's fun, easy, and the pieces make fantastic accessories.  Here's a pic:

• I'm researching tattoo artists in the bay area and planning to get my tattoo for my birthday in August.  If you have a suggestion let me know.  I need someone who is good with lettering and, of course, works in a clean, safe shop. 
• I've been feeling inspired to start sewing again.  I'd like to start making things for my girls.  I'm basically a beginning sewer.  I took sewing in jr. high and made several things.  In high school I made one of my halloween costumes by following a pattern.  I hadn't used a machine in ages until two years ago when Kacey helped me make a quilt for my mom.  Now I want to get a sewing machine.  Anyone have suggestions for a good machine for beginners?  I'm not even sure how to start comparing them or what to look for.  Here's a pic of me holding up the quilt I mentioned:

• I've fallen into the busy day to day and haven't been spending time on myself.  I want to remedy this for myself, but also for my family.  I want to look nice for my husband.  I want to set an example for my girls.  I'm teaching them that inner beauty comes from loving the Lord.  It shines through love and kindness that glorifies God.  It comes from your character and it is the most important kind of beauty.  I'm also teaching them that caring for yourself and your appearance is important too.  The fact that it is less important doesn't mean it is unimportant.  The best way I can teach them these things is by my example.  To do that I need something easy so I'm working on a "five minute face" by trying new make-up tips and products.  I'll let you know what I find.  Please share if you have favorites I should check out.  

Smiles on a Sick Day

My oldest is sick.  She has the cutest little froggie voice right now.  Rainy inside days with a sick toddler and a baby in the midst of a growth spurt are not known to be full of smiles, but today I was thankful for the little things.  That made quite a difference.  The other, even bigger thing was getting some time with God.  Here are some of the things that made me smile today:

Coffee from my sweet husband

A no real reason phone call from my mom

Reading this awesome book to my sickie face

My beautiful girls (matching outfits c/o Nana)

 This super fun dress by Jelly the Pug I ordered for A

Even better?  Getting it from modnique for $13 instead of $36

Can't wait to see her in it!

Texting, FBing, & E-mailing with Janette, 

my best friend since we were 12

Sharing music I love with my littles

This "album cover" photo of Boo

Notice the drum around her neck while playing harmonica 

This post & just how much God loves ME

 

This hat

One of my babies might need one

I wonder if I could make it

and this song...

I hope your day was full of smiles too!

"Ooooh, Corey, Accessories!"

**For those interested the dresses from the last post are from Mod Cloth, Old Navy, Park Place Vintage, Pin Up Girl Clothing, Victoria's Secret, Steady Clothing, & Ruche.

I plan on continuing this style series for a while, but it will be on and off for the most part.  This time, however, I'm doing two in a row.  From now on I'll include links in case anyone likes the items as much as I do.  Now for accessories....

 True Love Cardigan

Cherub Docs

Necklace with my girls' names

Leather Cuff

 

Cascade Earrings

I want to share something else I've discovered.  I celebrated the marriage of two dear friends this weekend.   

Congrats, LB and Bobby!

At their reception I had the most amazing cupcake!  It was a mocha cupcake from Just Baked by Julie.  If you're in the bay area I encourage you to try them!  Amazing!!

Reclaiming My Style

I'm starting on a quest to reclaim my style.  I've been spending far to much time in yoga pants and hoodies or jeans with nursing tops.  I do have a sense of style...somewhere hidden under this old PT sweatshirt Kerr handed down to me.  While my old Walter Payton jersey tee will always be part of my style it needs to be expanded upon.  To do this I'm window shopping.  I've started with dresses because I love them, but rarely wear them. 

 

 

 

 

While Doing Mom Things

Ever the multitasker, I am...

• Listening to:

• Researching Fonts for my Tattoo:

 -Frivolous-

  -Old Script-

 -Platthand-

  -Porcelain-

Thoughts?  Also, if you have fun handwriting feel free to write down "Always Love" and send it to me.  I'm sort of leaning towards one of the lower two.

• Playing to Win

• Searching to Win (and saving up for Starbucks)

True

Weird Fact (for Mousie)

• I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being the first person to dip into a newly opened jar of peanut butter!
  

Listen Here

Anyone who knows me knows that I love music.  I have no talent for it (unless you count often knowing titles & artists).    I would gladly listen to music from the moment I wake.  I can't listen to it until I fall asleep because I have the bad habit of keeping myself awake listening.  I love the power music has to influence your mood or take you back to an entirely different place and time.  I love that the opening notes to "America" by Simon and Garfunkel make me feel I'm being embraced by an old friend.  To share the music I'm discovering and my dearly loved favorites I've added a section at the very bottom right of this blog that lists songs I've bookmarked on my pandora stations.  I hope you'll enjoy it.

I Might Be That Fairy

I'm home from Portland ow.  I'll do an update soon about my great trip and the comedy of errors that was coming home.  For now, enjoy the amazing card my wonderful Theresa sent me:

Smile Inducing Goodness

Thank You!

Thanks for all the feedback on the bomber jacket for A's costume. The authentic style won by a landslide. It was my favorite too. It's been purchased and came today. She was a little unsure why Mommy was putting a huge coat on her in 80 degree weather, but was a good sport and wore it long enough for a quick photo. Here she is:

Me (As Told By Kathy R. Jeffords)

They do, and today is a Mrs. Fields Cookie Cup day.

loryme

Odd Fact About Me:
I absolutely love the confirmation words that pop up when I leave a comment on blogspot blogs. They make me smile. Who comes up with them? That is the job I want. I want to come up with those words/phrases/wonderful blurbs. To the person whose job that is I say, "Kudos! You are doing an amazing job!" They are! Leave a comment (or pretend you are going to) and see. You'll grin. It's hard not to.