whatever

randomness...again.

i have like....a hundred things to say and none of them have to do with each other.

here goes....

i sent this necklace to my mama for mother's day.
i am so in love with it.
i think i will order one for myself because....i tried it on and it looked fabulous.

it's lisa leonard....of course.

there are about 10 other things in her shop that i want also.  
but don't we all?? 

 

this was my favorite RG this week that i saw.

 

i want to make these....

 

i bought this print this week...and a few others.
i think Katie Daisy is THE coolest.
i want to paint like she does....i ADORE her work.

i really want to paint like this.

 

 

31BiTS launched their summer line today.
it is so so so pretty.
all bright lovely colors.
i couldn't even begin to pick a favorite yet.
maybe this.... 

 

seriously!!!

i love 31BiTS.

 

 

my aunt Pam and my cousin Sam came over for dinner this week.
she lives in sydney.
i hadn't seen her since i was 14.
isn't that crazy?
22 years?  it seems completely silly.

it's official....the farm in may is THE perfect place for dinner guests.  
it may be different in the hot summer but this month we have eaten almost every meal outside and it is absolutely perfect out there.
i loved having them here.
maybe next time i see you Pam it will be at YOUR house...in Aussie!

annie BEGGED to take a picture too.

we had CREAM PUFF SQUARES for dessert.
i think it's my family's favorite. 
and i think ALL company likes it.  
true story.

(while you are way back in 2008 archives...don't get sad and start crying that your cute little baby is all grown up....like maybe i did when i was searching for this recipe)

 

here is a rare look inside the farm house.
:) 

because check out my new messenger bag from The Pleated Poppy!!!

 

it is pretty darn cute isn't it?!     it's better than cute.    it is....marvelous?!  yes....marvelous is a good word.

so here's the deal.....she can't keep these bags in stock because they are all so amazingly happy.
but she will keep making them.
be patient and she will restock.
SHE WILL.
you don't need to email her & ask...poor girl doens't need 50 emails asking "when can i get a green chevron bag?"
she will restock.
she knows how fabulous they are.

go over to the pleated poppy....look at ALL her cute stuff....she has free posy pins today! 

and look at her bags and make yourself a note to come back in a couple days to get your own messenger bag.
and if i see that they are restocked i will remind you.

but really....everything in lindsey's shop is rad.  
you can't go wrong.
what about teacher gifts??? pick some up today! 

 

i have been sitting here debating on running all morning.
trying to talk myself out it.
"i have a headache"
"it's too gray"
"it's windy"
"i'm tired"
"i'm sore"
"now it's too sunny"

dang it....i'm going.  
and i am not coming back till my headphones tell me i have been 6.2 miles.
but i am not happy about it.

ha.

i am starting with some color on the painted floors today!!

and waffle is going in for a haircut.
cause wow he needs one!

this run is going to kick my grumpy mood OUT the door.
because i said so.

have a wonderful friday.

 

 

SNAP...a small recap.

i took no photos of people.
it's probably a nervous thing....right?
all the pictures in this post are of things i saw this weekend and have nothing to do with my words because that is the only option here!

well... as almost all nerve wracking, fear of the unknown situations are....everything was fine.
like all of YOU knew it would be.
it was me who was doubting. 

 
i really don't like being the new girl.
the one that no one knows....or in this case the one who knows no one else.
i was walking into a weird and new experience for me.
but it was GREAT!
everyone was SUPER nice and kind and friendly.


 (side note:  dont you think this couch could not be more perfect for the craft house????)


i had FUN roommates.
we laughed the entire time.
it was such wonderful girl time for me.
lindsey, jeannett and maggie were even better than i hoped.  

the entire conference was done so well.
we were entertained....spoiled....and taught.
i was so impressed with all of it.
i looooved the Queen Bee Market! 
it was my first time to get to see so many of these handmade products that i love online....in person!







my session was with jeannett and ethan and moderated by amy.
i felt like it was just right.
i spoke from my heart.  
and as always....i cried.
only in the beginning.
it was a relief to be actually speaking the words i had been going over in my head for weeks...months.
to get them OUT and not have to worry about messing up any more.



speaking them out loud brought my passion alive again.
fanned the flame.
getting to share what is deep in my heart felt awesome...like it was stuck inside and then released!

God sent so many women to give me words of encouragement all weekend.
they were all so kind and gushingly sweet.
it was humbling.
they made me feel so good all day long.

i got to meet blogger friends in real life...
mique, kami,  tauwni, jess, andrea, heather, alissa, patty and kim to name a few.

the sponsors were generous!
our swag bags were extreme.
this was about a quarter of the loot...seriously...they rocked it.



so....my thoughts on what i got out of the conference.

1. it was a wonderful break from the everyday of mommyhood.

2. meeting bloggers is awesome.

3. speaking makes me nervous and yet i really LOVE doing it.

4. girlfriends are such good medicine.

5. i was reminded again of what i am in this corner of the internet....and i like it.
    i first realized it first when i was in Atlanta for the coca-cola social media conference surrounded by big
    bloggers filled with business mindsets and big goals and plans for their blogs.
    at the end of the day....i just want to glorify God.
    in my words, in my photos, in my home, in my relationships and definitely on my blog....every day.
    and that is a work in progress.
    it's a journey.
    i still mess up a lot.  
    i still react poorly sometimes often....i am normal.
    but i am here in to serve God with JOY and do my best every day to let His Light shine through me.

i loved SNAP.
it was awesome to be asked to be a part of it!
they know how to throw a party!

hey....how about if YOU were at SNAP and you took your picture with me....send it to me!
i have no photos of you or me.
it will make a great post.  :)
pleeeease.

thanks!

 

it's going to be a busy week....

several of you asked for the names of the paint i used on the chairs.
it's Color Place paint...walmarts cheapest.
Vintage Scotch Yellow, Fresh Raspberry Splash, Shimmering Summer Pool and Luminous Valentine Rose.

i am glad those chairs are done.

the giant rusty table is a challenge....but i like challenges. :)
it truly is GIANT.


more swag is coming in from craft weekend sponsors....

 
                                                                                                               i love everything from Piggy & Dirt.
  

                                        
                                                                                                                  hello loveliness from knitty bitties.

more fabric arrived and is waiting to be loved on.


this pile is from Charolette's (my local shop)                                          this pile is from HawthorneThreads.com


i especially loooove this pattern. 

 
i found some more goodies to spray paint and fix up at the Etc. Shop today.
isn't this cute....in a granny chic kind of way.

i think it needs a bright yellow frame....


have you heard of elissa hudson?


 
she has an amazing etsy shop with PAGES of really sweet illustrated prints.

you can get some of her prints personalized too!


 
i love the black background on this!
be brilliant.
YES!!!

 
this one is my favorite.
just the right amount of swirliness....and beautiful colors.

elissa is giving away TWO prints to one reader.
because she is awesome.

go to her shop and tell me which is YOUR favorite in the comments section.

AND if you LIKE her facebook page you can have a second entry.

so...let's hear it.
which one is your favorite? 

 

it's good. all good.

these are my 50 mile marker reward.

:)

they are super bright and happy.
Nike Free Run +2
they are so comfy.  
today we did another 6 but only ran a little over half...but 6 miles is 6 miles.  
period.


 
kimberlee and i went to the world's best barn for some craft weekend neccessities.
since i have moved out of the my house in town i had to replace a few of the things we took with us.
and add some more really fun things!

i almost got this.



check out this table kimberlee is sunning herself near.
it's giant.
it's covered in the perfect amount of rust...from sitting outside somewhere forever.
it weighs a ton.
it's the perfect height. 

it came home with me....delivered on a trailer.

it had to....if i didn't get it i knew Anthro would have come by and snatched it away.
i had NO choice.
ha ha ha

craft weekend SWAG is pouring in my mail box everyday.                                                        sunshine by sara
there is another one coming up in just two weeks!
it's such fun to prepare for!



                                                                house 8810                                                my paper doll designs



                                                    hawthorne threads                                                                          31Bits


                                                                                                                                                   Lucius Art



so now these are all in my kitchen at the old house.
how fun is this?
and messy i know.
i had the tables built for this room by the guys at the Barn from old barn wood & old porch posts (turquoise!!!)
i am IN love with these huge tables.

:)


rust AND bright yellow?  
yes please.


oh Ree.
you are super woman.
this cookbook is so beautiful.
i hope to make every recipe.
you make it look so easy. 

check out this happy table!

this is not where things go....it's things that are stacked waiting for places to land.
but it is one happy corner for sure!
do you see my awesome canvas from MPIX.com?  
i absolutely adore it.
crystal clear....BRIGHT perfect colors....amazing quality....i could not love it any more than i already do!


and lastly....do you know what this means?

my etsy shop is making it's way to a comeback.
slowly but surely.
:)

ok...gotta get dinner made.
and i think tonight deserves a dessert.
something super yummy.
hmm....maybe from Ree's cookbook?!  
yes.

happy weekend to you.

 

i am a fan.

my husband took me on a hot date last night to hear the Avett Brothers.
to make it more amazing to me....it was at the Orpheum.
it's a 90 year old theater and it's gorgeously shabby inside.


there is all chippy paint and exposed brick, very grand and over done in the details.
it is such a beautiful place to see a show....especially this show.
it is a small theater only holding 1200.
we knew several people once we got there so it really did feel like a party.


 
the Avett Brothers band was very obviously having a BLAST up on stage.
they were going nuts on all their instruments...i had no idea a banjo could rock like that?!!  or a cello?!!
i have never really heard anything like it in person.....i was completely in love.
i really liked their music before but it doesn't even compare to the live show!!
it was SO GOOD!  

you need to listen to them.  you need to go to their show.  you will LOVE it.

i kept thinking about how much my dad and sister would have loved that show.  
:)
i hear a lot of my childhood in their music. 

i found this clip of them from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon....liked it!

 

they sang this at the end during the encore...not rockin' but still beautiful...  :)

then my favorite video i found was the Tiny Desk Concert Series from NPR.
it's 15 minutes long....i don't expect everyone to watch that....but i have watched it twice today already.
:)

and none of those compare to being there.

wow.

thanks for taking me Mr. Duerksen.
you are my favorite.

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i am also a fan of ginormous trees on a sunshiney day.



this five-trees-in-one is in the yard right out the window from the kitchen and front room.
it's perfect to climb. 

 



i was more of a fan of this dog when he played in the sun and looked and smelled a little cleaner.


 
he is now stinky and very muddy.  
blerg.

i ran five miles yesterday on the treadmill at the gym.
i watched part of a basketball game, part of Hoarders and part of Behind the Music about PINK.  
ha!
i am hoping this killer headache i have goes away so i can get back out today and get a run in....  
maybe.....
if the sun comes out again it would sure help my motivation!

 

happy monday to you.

 

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oh and don't forget to enter these giveaways.....

enter to win $100 Visa gift card from Hostess over HERE.

enter to win $100 Walmart gift card from IHOP over HERE

enter to win a $100 gift card to Olive Garden over HERE. 

:)

 

thursday

this is our bus stop now.
the driveway.
:)

i like it.



we've done a little painting.
annie made a landscape and i painted a picture of one of the neighbors chickens.  
 

 

 
we made our yummy pumpkin waffles for dinner....annie's request.


 
she cut some strawberries for me to serve on the side.

i am so glad strawberries are back that the store...and less than $3.99 a box!
finally.

 
i took a day OFF from life yesterday.
i was feeling worn out.
i slept most of the day.
and i put my closet together....it's organized.

but today i woke up feeling good....ready for a fun day.
i met my friend to run and we did FIVE and a HALF miles!!!
for reals.
i am so proud of us.  :)

so on march 8 i am at 25.5 miles.  
74.5 miles to go in march.
auuwww yeah.

i showered at my old house and then kimberlee came over to get crafty!
it's been awhile since i have made something just for fun.
it was time!

 

 
kimberlee made bunting and i decided to make a little quilt for annie's baby dolls.
she's been asking me for fabric and i have been hesitant to share....i mean.....it's the nice fabric!  
so i thought i'd make one from all the little scraps.


 
i announced several times while cutting and sewing "CUTEST QUILT EVER!!!"

ha!


 
it was nice to spend the day with kimberlee.
at craft weekend we barely even get to have a conversation....we are both busy with all the happy crafters.
and she gets up up really early to cook breakfasts and goes to bed before i do.
we are on different schedules at CW.

i like getting to catch up again.
:)

i got the quilt put together and sewed fabric to the back....and thought "ohhh...it looks so cute like a pillow..."
hmmm.
not sure if annie will acutally get a baby blanket out of this deal or not.
i may get a REALLY cute pillow instead

yesterday i worked on the craft weekend SWAG post.
I hope you will come over and read it....there are LOTS of discounts for you!
 

 
come over to the craft weekend blog.... and read about all the super fun sponsors!