Bags of Love

No secret - we are completely enamored with this boy!  A Ducks in a Row sponsor provided this gorgeous canvas for our family.  Bags of Love specializes in personalized gifts - bags, books, bedding.  Almost anything can be personalized with a favorite photo!

Does he look like he's our favorite?

I've ordered from Bags of Love before and have been super happy with their quality, the speediness of their delivery, and how friendly they are to work with.

Just so it is said - I was compensated for this post, but not for my opinions or words.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Just like last year, we were able to go to a flower warehouse this year.  Because of our little babe, I talked Tom into going with me.  We ended up with twice the amount of flowers as we had last year!  So, we've been planting planting planting!

We filled in this flower bed with bright annuals.  I love the wave petunias - it is the only type of petunia I buy now.

This is a new flower bed this year.  I'm looking forward to seeing this fill in.

We have four big pots in our backyard to fill.  The bright colors make me very happy.

This is a little flower bed in our front yard.  We've filled it with mostly cosmos and petunias.

Our basket that hangs off the front porch.  Tom was really into yellow this year!

And our vegetable garden is growing.

Besides when we can finally pick the veggies, I think this is my favorite state to see!

We have so many strawberries this year, but we will be lucky if we harvest any.  The bird have a 4 am snack.  We've got to get a net!

Sadly, I didn't plant a single plant this year.  I held the baby and directed while Tom and big kids planted.  I kind of missed it!

How is your garden doing?

Link parties I participate in: 30 Handmade,  A bowl full of lemons, Be Different Act Normal,  Craft-O-Maniac, I Heart Naptime,  Lolly Jane Boutique, Ninth Street Notions,  Oopsey Daisy, Positively Splendid,  Serenity Now, Sew Chatty, Skip to my Lou, Someday Crafts, Tatertots and Jello, Thrifty Decor Chick, Tidy Mom, Today's Creative Blog

Campus Book Rentals

Some of my very favorite people right now just also happen to be graduating high school!  They are off to college and will probably be broke for the next decade!  

I think Campus Book Rentals could help.  I didn't even know that renting textbooks was an option.  Some of the perks of renting include:
-save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
-free shipping both ways
-can highlight in the textbooks
-flexible renting periods
-we donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented

Because I was curious, I checked out one of my favorite parenting books, Parenting with Love and Logic.  You could buy this book off Amazon for around $25, or rent it for the semester for $18.  The more you look around this site, the more you can save!  What a great option!



I was compensated for writing this post, but not for my thoughts or opinion.

Moby Wrap

Have you had a baby that needs to be held all the time?  Baby J. is my fourth!  While they are so little, I love just holding them and having them sleep on my chest.  However, mommy's got to get some stuff done.

I made a moby wrap - for about a fourth of the cost as you can buy them.  This wrap is basically just a long long piece of fabric.  You can go here for tying instructions.  I used a double jersey knit - and because I monogram anything I can get my hands on - I put a "j" right in the middle.

Normally, he snuggles right in - but this is what it looks like when he pops his head out and screams for mommy to be done taking pictures!

There is an excellent tutorial on Elle Apparel.

Link parties I participate in: 30 Handmade,  A bowl full of lemons, Be Different Act Normal,  Craft-O-Maniac, I Heart Naptime,  Lolly Jane Boutique, Ninth Street Notions,  Oopsey Daisy, Positively Splendid,  Serenity Now, Sew Chatty, Skip to my Lou, Someday Crafts, Tatertots and Jello, Thrifty Decor Chick, Tidy Mom, Today's Creative Blog

Grateful Sunday

Source: spirituallythinking.blogspot.com via Laurel on Pinterest

I am grateful for:

• play dates
• brunches
• my gardener - aka Tom.  I haven't planted a thing yet this year, he's done it all!
• 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep
• today is Sunday!

What are you grateful for?

J's Newborn Photos

6 days old

I could stare at all of his little features forever.

I am normally not a fan of naked baby pictures, but when they are my  naked baby my opinion changes.

EVERYONE says these two look like carbon copies - I have to agree and that makes me so happy.  I think G. is a cutie patootie and now I get to have 2!

I can't believe he is already 6 weeks old and has filled out so much.  I'm so glad I got these done!  Thanks Karen at cmp studios.  We LOVE them.  If you are in the Denver area, I would definitely recommend her!

Here We Go Again

How do I start?  I'm a bit intimidated to be making this so public.  But I love the support here and I think I'm going to need this.
I am 6 weeks post partum - which is when the doctor finally gives the OK to start exercising.  My body is looking . . . . weird.  I don't want to hear that I should love my body for being able to carry and birth babies.  I do love that it is capable of that, but the fact is that I'm not very comfortable in my skin right now.  I have got to get my body back.  This is my fourth time and I am too aware of the road ahead of me, and it ain't pretty! Some women bounce back effortlessly and I envy those.  For me, it takes sweat and tears!   I also am well aware that this takes some time, but to me it is so worth it.
Being healthy is an important aspect of my life and I make it a priority.  I'm not a personal trainer, a dietitian, or anything like that.  I have no expertise in this area.  What I am is a busy mom -seriously busy - trying to live a balanced life!

I am working with moms into fitness to get my body back!  I'm pretty excited to try this out.  Lindsay Brin , the founder of moms into fitness, takes photographs and videos of herself doing the same thing that I am doing.  It is pretty inspiring.  The program is set up for busy moms - a kid friendly diet plan and quick work outs, and nursing tips.  Everything can be  downloaded, which makes it even more convenient.  No DVDs to work with.

Now, you won't see pictures of my stomach or really any pictures showing my body - I'm not that brave!  This was right before I walked the kiddos to school.  It is my "before" shot.  I should have taken a side shot.  I will be sharing this "journey" with you a couple times a month.  I'm going to be very honest, even though I am completely insecure about this!  I have 19 pounds to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight and I'm hoping I'll get there by the time J. is six months old.

Wish me luck!

If you are curious - Lindsay Brin and Moms into Fitness has four workouts that you can download for free Go to www.momsintofitness.com.  On the homepage  just enter your name and email and will be emailed 4 free workouts (1 per week).The workouts are customized to fit them whether they are pregnant, a new mom, want to lose 10+ lbs or want to take it up a notch to super fit.

Big Sibling Kit

Before Baby J. was born, I took a week to assemble these kits for the big siblings.  They received them at the hospital when they first came to look at the baby.

The bags were purchased at Hobby Lobby.  After a little freezer paper stenciling action, they were labeled.  There are so many tutorials on how to do this.  Then I searched my trim bin and added some trim to the top.

Each sibling got a new shirt.  I purchased these iron on decals off of etsy and just ironed on them quick.  These shirts were awesome.  When they were wearing their shirts at the hospital, they got so many comments.  They went into the "snack room" with no questions.  It made them feel very important.

I also added some activities that could keep them busy.

Items included: smelly markers, legos, bead jewelry, paper notebooks, etc.

It was so fun to give them!

I'd love to get to know you better.  Could you please follow me on the left?  On Facebook?  On Pinterest?  Awesome - can't wait!

Link parties I participate in: A bowl full of lemons, Be Different Act Normal,  Blue Cricket Design, Craft-O-Maniac, I Heart Naptime,  Lolly Jane Boutique, Ninth Street Notions, Serenity Now, Sew Chatty, Skip to my Lou, Someday Crafts, Tatertots and Jello, Thrifty Decor Chick, Today's Creative Blog

Interview With Family Circle's Stephen Saint-Onge

the email went somewhat like this:

"We have an opportunity for you to interview Designer Dad Stephen Saint-Onge."  It's in 2 days, are you in?"

My thoughts went somewhat like this:

"Ummmm . . . I have a brand new baby.  I have no idea how to time this just right.  I'm not sure who this is.  Two days - no way.  I guess I could read up a bit during my nursing sessions.  Well, what do I have to lose?  Um, my dignity - I could sound like an idiot!  I'm going to try and do it - I'll just email and say yes."

And that is how I came to interview Stephen Saint-Onge for Whirpool.  His blog is awesome and he was such a good sport.  Remember, I'm still a total zombie thanks to my little J!

Enjoy!