Apr
28
2014
So Aeralind caught a lizard: a baby 5 lined skink to be precise. This is the process of two science nerds raising 3 new science nerds. Capturing animals, growing a garden, answering endless questions, and letting them get dirty. Education at it’s finest, eh?
Apr
23
2014Need some great gift ideas for Mother’s Day??
Or need something to share with your husband to steer him in the right direction as Mother’s Day approaches?
You’re in the right place. Today I’m going to share some sweet gift ideas for all the women in your life.
Does mom like encouraging friends?
Whether she’s constantly writing notes or just dropping by meals for new moms with a note this whimsical stationary from The White Invite could be the perfect way for her to exercise her gift.
Does mom need a good pampering session?
How about this luxury bath set from local artisan Keats Krafts? Couple this with a gift card to Greenville Massage and you can’t go wrong.
Is Mom known for her Sweet Tooth?
Grab her a gift card to The Chocolate Moose in downtown Greenville. You could go with her. Or if you’re the husband reading this post, make sure there’s enough on her gift card to take a few friends. She can enjoy a special Mom’s night out on you 🙂
Does Mom love to Entertain?
I really love the sweet colors of these beautiful lotus shaped nesting bowls from Simply Country Home. Couple the bowls with a gift certificate to Carolina Olive Oil for some unique vinegar and oil to spruce up her salads with.
Does Mom Love to Decorate her Home?
How about picking up a sweet wreath from Branches and Burlap on Haywood Road? I love this springy wreath, but there’s so much more in her shop?
Or you can have a set of these sweet silhouettes of her children’s faces made for the mantle or wall?
Do Accessories Make Mom’s Heart Sing?
If you’ve been around here long enough you’ll know that I love Noonday Collection Jewelry. Here are two pieces made by the artisans that Noonday empowers all over the world. One for a more modern trendy statement and another timeless diamond necklace.
Do You have a Mom (or wife) impossible to find a gift for?
You’re in luck 😉 I’m doing Mother’s Day Mini Sessions on May 17. What mom doesn’t want images showcasing the love they feel for their children?
You can read more information about what a mini session includes here (hint: both files and prints are included with these session fees!).
There’s only 10 Mini Session Slots, so contact me today before they’re all gone!
Apr
21
2014
See that proud little guy in the upper right hand corner? See the top of that bucket in the bottom left? That 5 gallon bucket…. that was once full of bird seed.
That proud little guy met the bucket… and his sisters “helped” clean up the mess. You can see how helpful they were by the little girl swimming in the stuff gleefully, right?
So I had bird seed spread over all 200 square feet of my carpeted living room. And we were expecting guests… who walked in while I was taking this self portrait.
Please tell me other ladies have this sort of morning? At least every once in awhile…. right?
Apr
16
2014As my tired foot caught the rock and I realized I was going to fall, I thought I was having the hardest day of my life.
My 60+ pound pack slammed into my back as I hit the ground. It was day 3 of a two week backpacking trip. As I rolled out from under the pack like a strangely de-shelled turtle, my classmates lifted me up and put my pack back on. I was not the first to fall that day.
For those first 3 days we’d walked silently with a few conversations breaking our labored breathing. But as we started to trek on, the spunky girl in pink belted out:
“We’re leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when we’ll be back again.” From that moment on we sang all the time. Country, Hymns, Pop, Folk, and even our own homespun Rap.
The constant refrain was our way of encouraging one another, but it made a difference for everyone we encountered. Other hikers heard us before they saw us, they’d come around the corner smiling and some even sang along.
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What should Be our Mom Refrain?
How can we speak words that encourage? What would they sound like?
That third day of the backpacking trip, it wasn’t my hardest day. The backpacking trip was not the hardest two weeks of my life. Motherhood so far has been that hard season and had the hardest days.
What if you and I rallied around each other to help us each finish this motherhood journey?
What if we said things like:
“I’ve been there?”
“Can I help you?”
“It’s worth it, keep at it.”
“My kids did that too.”
“You’re a great mom.”
“If you’re wondering if you’re a bad mom, then you’re probably a great mom.”
“It’s okay that your house is messy, so is mine.”
“Don’t compare your worst day to someone else’s highlight reel.”
“It’s going to be okay.”
“Parenting is hard work.”
A little challenge for you: Try to randomly encourage one mom each day.
Say to the lady in the grocery store: “My kid used to throw fits in the store too. It’s okay.”
Call your own mom and say “Thank you.”
Text your friend a picture of something that’s not on your highlight reel. Better yet, put it on Facebook to encourage a whole pile of moms.
Invite a friend who is having a rough day over for dinner spontaneously and don’t clean up the house beforehand. In fact, serve grilled cheese for dinner.
Together we can create a culture of encouragement rather than comparison. We can build one another up with just a few words.
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Apr
14
2014This is my personal self portrait project to be in the picture for my kiddos.
I stole the tripod back 😉 One of our goals for this year is hospitality and most of that centers around this giant hole in the back yard. With a bag of marshmallows, we invite whoever likes to roast to join us on most Friday evenings. Like roasted marshmallows? Invite yourself over 🙂
