I heart...

I heart...

hosting a give-a-way

from a lovely shoppe

Simply Worn

please visit this post as there is only two more days to enter

see give-a-way details and enter before midnight January 20th

winner will be announced January 21st to 22nd when I get back from my conference

xo

simply worn

well hello everyone

I have such a special post today

I am so excited to share with you a favorite business of mine
Simply Worn

I met Katie last fall {September} at my home town's fall festival in Liberty, MO

 I knew the moment I walked by her booth

I was in *love* with all she had displayed

I actually stopped in my tracks

and did a happy dance
when I saw her items

I had so much fun picking out flower pins, a necklace, and clips for the girls and I

Madison and Hayley loooove to wear her pretty clips and pins as much as I do
seen here in this post

I started talking with Katie about her business and how she got started

she told me she would hopefully have her online shoppe up and running very soon

*yay*

 because she lives 3 1/2 hours away

I left her my contact info so she could e-mail me when her online shoppe opened
but she said I could e-mail her anytime in between for orders

so without further ado

I'd like you to meet Katie

she's such a sweetheart to meet as well as do business with

and she's sponsoring a give-a-way this week...

I know you will enjoy getting to know her

so I had her write a guest post today
so you could see how wonderful her and her shoppe are
{details of the give-a-way at the end}

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Hello all!

My name is Katie 

My mom and I created SIMPLY WORN as a way to give new life to old clothing, textiles and vintage fabrics. We find vintage clothing (floral blouses, hot pink polyester pants, men’s dress shirts…that kind of thing) and turn them into one-of-a-kind flower pins and hair accessories.

We started SIMPLY WORN last August and quickly realized how popular our fabric flowers were to friends and coworkers.

We signed up for our first craft show in September {this is where Martha found us :) } and it was a complete success.

Since then SIMPLY WORN has become a part-time job for the both us - we have an online shop and sell our accessories at two stores in Kansas City.

{shop here}

I am a senior at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, majoring in Business & Entrepreneurship, and when I’m not studying or working, my mom and I love going to antique stores, thrift stores, estate sales, or wherever we can find unique and appealing fabrics and give them new life.

---------

today's give-a-way
is a wonderful set of white muslin hair clips

{found here}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katie ~ thank you so much for so graciously sponsoring
a give-a-way!


I couldn't be more thrilled to share you and your mom's business, Simply Worn
I've linked Katie's blog under her name throughout the post if you'd like to follow her blog
or learn more


To enter the give-a-way
and in light of Valentine's Day
{possibly one of my favorite holidays}
okay it probably is...


1.     please leave a comment to enter
and tell me what "you heart"
{in life, about people, or anything you love}

2.     visit her etsy shoppe
and tell me in the same comment
what your favorite item is in her shoppe
Simply Worn or Simply Worn here
{she has two online shoppes}

3. if you are a follower you can leave a second comment as an extra entry
{if you aren't a follower yet...and you would like to be
leave a second comment if you become one


4.   if you share this give-a-way on fb, your blog post, or tweet it please let me know of that as well
in another comment
{but remember to link this post when doing so}

give-a-way ends Thursday, January 20th at midnight
winner will be announced sometime Friday or early Saturday
when I get back from a conference

Happy week everyone
xo

speaking of baby boys...

well here you have it...

I decided to throw another shower for a friend expecting a baby boy

{her second child}

I come from a family that is known to have a party when a child uses the restroom which was literally once said....but not literally true...

my mom used to host several get togethers growing up

so I was used to having celebrations at our house growing up

I loved it and I am guessing that is where I get it from

so...I know many people don't believe in showers for the second child

but....oh....I do
absolutely and no doubt about it

a celebration for every new arrival

I've thrown a couple showers before...

 

so I offered again because I love that...

because I love to do this sort of thing

even though I stress myself out over the littliest details

but that's okay...it's good for me

I had a different idea for this one

I didn't want to just make it a typical cake and appetizer deal with shower games, etc.

I wanted it to be a celebration, luncheon...
a true {girls only} celebration

that was until I jokingly volunteered my husband to serve all us women drinks and food

I said I would call him "our waiter"
 in which I said I would tip him later...

but he didn't go for it

I tell you

he missed out on a good tip ...

he very quickly declined that offer even with me bribing because he knew I was deep down joking

if you know me...it is hard to pull a joke off

smiling while you are trying to act serious doesn't work I've learned

bribing usually works for him

because then later he forgets I actually bribed him so it is win-win for me

but this time was a no-go

oops...I really said that...

now he knows my ways

between us...he probably already caught on

now I'm off track here...

okay now

so even though she was having a baby boy this time...

{she has an adorable little girl already}

I wanted to have lunch served and make it extra pampering experience with no focus on games but just celebration and socializing...

what we women do best right?...

I had a couple of obstacles though...budget and time

first...I wanted to use white plates...check...had found some for $1.75 a piece

second....I needed around 12 placemats because you know how everyone doesn't rsvp these days anymore

so I wanted to be prepared

my yellow ones weren't working because they don't even go with my decor anymore

I've had them for 8 years now

just not somthing I've not changed yet
I didn't have enough linen napkins so I decided to dress up some nice paper ones

but what I did have was yards and yards of burlap that I had a vision of asking my mom to make some pillows for me...but I hadn't asked yet...

so I had plenty of burlap to make some placemats

and I even had some scrap clearance white linen on hand that I was bound and determined to make rosettes with

yes...me the girl who is unable to even sew a button wanted to make rosettes...

but I did it...

I'm not quite sure how technically correct they are...

but I figured it out and pretty impressed with myself

my mom had the most difficult part with the placemats...

I asked her to sew them for me
she had a great time doing it {wink, wink}

I also requested my mom's help with some recipes...
and plating the food the morning of...

so here we go...

of course I had to start with flowers
to me the most essential part
but that's just me

I had plenty of hydrangeas and daisies in my yard
it is soooo exciting to be able to walk outside and cut your own flowers
not to mention these fuchsia beauties I forgot the name of
{I'll have to ask my mom again since she gave me them}
and my honeymoon wine bottles that I've been saving came in handy:)

{Hayley's cross she painted at VBS made it into the picture somehow too:)}

I had a flower bouquet picked up from Trader Joe's that had an assortment to use as fillers in with the other flowers since i didn't have quite enough of my own

I had the flowers as centerpieces on the larger table of 8
with a few bird and butterfly cut outs...
birds because cardinals reflect the baby's room decor
butterflies because well you know my blog title and they so happen to signify new life

{my cute little {empty} measuring bowls that did have lemon wedges in them
but realized I took the picture before I put them in there}

I used this bouquet below as the centerpiece for the smaller table of 4 

Since I didn't have enough white plates I used 4 plates of our "normal" dinnerware

I think it turned out great and having the tables different was fun

hope you all are hanging in there...I know this is a long post...
but my very favorite thing was the placemats my mom sewed for me
and I figured out how to do the rosettes...
loved them!

I didn't have linen napkins...well at least enough so I did use paper napkins but rolled them with twine and cut out mini tags with a world map pattern

for the favors I found a candle vendor on etsy...
and she is newer with her shoppe...but I loved the look of her candles...
I purchased the white tea scent because I wanted them to be as close to white as possible

 I found wooden engine pieces at Michael's
{one of the only boy themed wood pieces they had}
and my love {Bobby} spray-painted them for me with chalkboard paint and
voila...
easy peasy favors and they were within my budget!
{not to mention the candles were on special too}

for the chairs...I already had some tulle I use in my business so I tied bows around the back of the chairs to make them more inviting...

I wanted to have a little memory keeper for the mommy-to-be so I ordered a mini scrapbook in which she uses all kinds of different papers with different textures, pictures, words, etc.

I coffee-dyed notecards for the guests to write a special message
I glued the notecards in the book and on the opposite side of the page from the message they wrote I glued a picture of each guest with her

I inserted some tags I had from Angela Harris' shoppe Your Angil
that said...baby, family, cherish, etc.
and I had a few baby scrapbook stamps I stamped some baby things in there like hands, feet, etc.
I also used some vocabulary cards {such as friends} in there too

I was so thankful for Sarah with the scrapbook...I had ordered from her before and was really impressed and asked her that I was doing this for a boy if she would have any ideas She came up with the bird on the front since the baby's room will be in the cardinal mascot...
she was fantastic and had super fast shipping to me to have it just in time!

silverware went into these glass ball jars I got for 50 cents at the flea market the Sunday before

since I was on a budget...
most of the decor i already had...I just reinvented the use
and for the surprise gifts for people
I put two tags under the placemats for the winners...

one of the gifts was a flower pot
I already had the pot and flowers {flowers left over from a gift for
my mother-in-law's b-day}
and I had the burlap and tag to decorate it

second gift...
a galvanized bucket...check had that too
and a left over sparkling lemonade and extra votive candle because they smelled so good

for beverages I offered lemonade
my intention was to make fresh but I ran out of time so I used all natural lemonade
added about 3-4 lemons and sliced strawberries to make strawberry lemonade
peach tea, and water with lemon

{icky wall plate in the background...sorry}

for food...I wanted it light, fun, healthy, and fresh...

my favorite apricot cheese from Trader Joe's

{that is also fantastic grated up on salads too:)}

but I had Trader Joe's pita crackers because they are soooooo good with the cheese

Spinach salad with mandarin oranges, avocados, blueberries, strawberries,
dried cranberries with lemon pepper salad dressing

Chicken salad croissants...my mom so lovingly made the chicken salad because she has a great recipe

the morning of...I whipped up the cucumber sandwiches on whole wheat bread because they are my favorite and so thankful that are quick and easy to make...

and finished with some fun fruit kabobs...

of course we had some dessert...I used my burlap table runner I already had
from Tara's Vintage Kitchen
and picked three desserts...

I made my Grandmother's lemon cookie recipe

vanilla bean cupcakes with vanilla bean icing

my favorite part about the cupcakes was the ruffle paper cup holders

My mom found a recipe for 3-layer chocolate cake

however, I decided to borrow her bunt cake pan for it instead of doing 3 layers

I used a chocolate glaze recipe from a completely different recipe for the "icing" for this

it turned out great and quite good and that's coming from someone who prefers vanilla cake anyday over chocolate! {I still do even after this cake}

and that was the shower...along with gift opening
a special day to celebrate a new life arriving...

in his words...

I had gotten this book for Bobby from one of my very favorite people Tara at Blondie 'N' SC {at one of her  shops here.}  The book initially blew me away to say the least...

I am not just talking about the beautiful cover or the weight of this precious book ~

but precisely the foreword to the book...the inside goods...

The book,  Around the World with Eyes Wide Open

I cannot help but share this little treasure with everyone and hopefully it will bring you joy just as it did to me...this may be my "boring" side you know...but I love travel...I love reading about places...I love dreaming...someday I will and I cannot wait to do some mission trips somewhere...

...and of course these beautiful pictures are taken by Tara {with permission} because hers are far better than ever mine could be of the book...

Here we go

in his foreword entitled "How it Happened..."
{text provided is exact text in book but paraphrased a little by me too~ 1898}

"It happened in this way. In the Spring of 1895, a handsome map of the world was presented me by a friend at Baltimore; and while glancing at it, hanging on my study wall, I arose from my desk-chair, one quiet mid-night hour, and traced with my pencil a route from Baltimore, over the American continent, to San Francisco, thence to the Hawaiian Islands, Japan, China, Malay Archipelago, Ceylon, India, Assam, Arabia, Africa, Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, Europe, and back again to the Monumental City. This was only on paper!

But, day by day, as my eyes turned wistfully toward the map, which now became increasingly fascinating, the desire of my life to visit the countries of the world, and study the peoples of earth, grew into a determination to start upon this circuit of the globe at the earliest practicable moment. Difficulties which seem insurmountable, frequently fade away as you approach them.

Distance not only lends enchantment to the view, but oftentimes it disenchants, by seemingly magnifying the obstacles that lie in the pathway of our goal.

The only way to do a thing is to do it.

... A few months after the pencil-tracing on the map was made, I waved farewell to my loved ones at the Union Station, Baltimore, and was off - moving toward the setting sun. ...I decided, in my journeyings, frequently to turn aside from the usual route pursued by the globe-trotter: to rough it while studying the customs and characteristics of natives far from the treaty ports; systematically to record my impressions and the results of my study, on the ground, day by day, while they were fresh in my mind: to illustrate these strange scenes and interesting studies both by the pen and photographic art; and to present to the public a book on travel that would be somewhat unique in its character. If I have enabled others to share with me the pleasures and profits of my visits to many lands and among many peoples....my pen has not written in vain."

H. Allen Tupper, Jr.

Published by the Christain Herald
Louis Klopsch

1898

The book was supposed to be for Bobby...hmm....he may not get his hands on it quite yet...at least not until I am done...{chuckle}

simply what spoke to me was his interest in humanity, travel, and study

...and also this amazing but simple quote...

"the only way to do a thing is to do it"

I love this quote because all of my favorite things in my life so far...are those things I decided to just do.

I'm not quite sure how the book will end up as far as the text or what his opinions and thoughts entail...but from the outside it sure is eye candy not to mention the pictures are amazing...

I cannot wait to see his view from 1898 {perhaps earlier since that is the published date}...

this book was sweetly dedicated to his wife and children...

Now all I need is a chair on the beach, umbrella, mai tai, and the sun to dive into this...

{sigh}

someday, right?

now to sweeten your day hop on over to Tracey's blog for her amazing give-a-way...if you haven't already!

Bliss...

Oh how excited I am right now...I have so many ideas going through my head for our bedroom...I almost want to scream in excitement...ever get that feeling?...although I should be finishing up other rooms in our home first since I have started those, and I'm not typically one to leave projects unfinished before starting a new one...but for some reason I cannot get our bedroom out of my mind...the only ideas coming to me are for our room...

And to top it off...we have had our bed on Craig's List because it just isn't our style...and we had someone come look at it yesterday...so keep your fingers crossed we sell it because that means the bedroom can be attacked full fledge because I made a deal with hubby that I would wait to do anything until that was sold...

Even if this couple doesn't purchase it for their bed and breakfast...I know it will sell...so I feel bliss right now...we have always left our bedroom last and when you think about it we should put it first...I am going to make it a get-a-way place...so that is what I want to create...I even found the perfect light for our bedroom...just to give it the perfect romantic feel...a jump for joy I am doing...

On another note....the other day I received a wonderful e-mail from Mary at Vintage Home and Garden that she was passing on the Kreativ Blogger Award to me...ME? "Oh WOW" I thought... my little old blog was thought of!!!

And then this morning...I received a wonderful comment from Darlene from Music to My Ears...a newer follower of my blog nominated for the Beautiful Blogger award too...

Luckily both of them require me to share 7 random things about me and then pass to seven people...although I have to admit coming up with seven things was quite a difficult task for me...but I gave it a shot...so here you go....

The rules for both...

Thank the person who nominated you....why thank you Mary and Darlene! I appreciate you both thinking of me...and my little ole' blog!!!

Link to the person who nominated me...well I've done that :)...

And for the hardest part...share 7 things people may not know about me.

So here we go...

Are you ready? Are you sitting at the edge of your seat yet?

I know I'm such a mystery aren't I? {wink, laugh}

one. I get asked for some reason about my heritage a lot by people...I find that rather strange...but okay...NOPE...I'm not Italian....and I'm not Indian either {hubby is though}...I'm not Spanish...not Mexican...or Hispanic {and by the way nothing wrong with any heritage...I just get a kick out of why people want to guess or ask specifically} but I am English, Swiss, Scotch, Irish, and German...so if any of you all were wondering for some reason {your wonder is now answered}...

two. I know you all love me to pieces {you can laugh now}...and I know most know I am quiet....but I do come from a long line of tempers on both sides of my family and we are all blessed with them....I do say blessed...but hubby doesn't agree since he has one as well...it actually is funny between us though:) Anyhoo...{I do apologize I get sidetracked so easily} we were in Subway two weeks ago...ordering...and the guy making our sandwiches just looked at us and laughed and told us we couldn't be anymore different from how we ordered our sandwiches...which is true...I do eat meat...but not much beef, not pork, not a fan of bacon, or steak and never have been...I am not a vegetarian by any means...just more of a veggie and cheese lover which is what I ordered...a veggie...and hubby a steak philly...

three. I can point my foot and make it completely flat like dancers do {just imagine a ballerina on her toes...my foot extends even a bit further}...I honestly do not think it is "weird" like Bobby says it is because I am sure dancers can do it no problemo...but he gets freaked out since my ankles are so flexible...so if he is irritating...I just have him look over at my hyperextended foot....

four. I hum quite a bit when I am doing things...I get that from my Grandpa...and sometimes I catch Madison chiming in with me when I do...and when I am tired I will start singing the Spanish alphabet...

five. when I run...typically one hand is clenched and tight like a fist...and my other is open and fingers spread ...When I see something I love or get really excited both of my hands will straighten, stiffen, and open fingers...

six. my favorite all-time movie is The Notebook...and always will be {told you I'm a romantic sap}...BUT ever since I was little and even pre-teen I L.O.V.E. action movies...there are not many I don't like...call me crazy but my sister and I would watch over and over Van Damme movies growing up...our two favorites were Bloodsport and Kickboxer...Diehard movies too...

seven. when I go to the doctor for anything and they see my medical history...they make me show them my scars because they don't believe I had complete ACL reconstructions of both knees since I was released from rehab so early compared to others with the same surgeries...for some reason they are amazed and I just shake my head because I don't understand the big deal and why that is so hard to believe...I always think they must have had really boring days to get caught up in icky knee scars:)

{And here are my seven I send these awards too...I randomly picked 7 different people...if I didn't mention you then I faintly remember you have been passed this before...and so I also tried to pick those that I didn't send 10 Happy things to as well...}

beautiful and sweet Paige at Simple Thoughts

wonderfully talented and beautiful Tracey at French Larkspur

a beautiful old soul Angela at Your Angil

soooo funny and beautiful Sasha at Lemonade Makin' Mama

refreshing and beautiful Koralee at Bluebird Notes

beautiful shopowner Kristin at Faded Prairie

beautiful Brave Girl Becky at Farmgirl Pants

you may be slightly annoyed I said beautiful in front of everyone of these sweet ladies but I think they all deserved to be reminded of that...

Just a note...I have not read any blogs in the past 3-4 days and plan on doing some catch up tonight...so I'm sorry I haven't commented yet everyone...I'll get there, but I just wanted to respond to these two awards...I'm so thankful!
Blessings...

My babies are HERE!!!

Did I ever mention to you...

I dream of 4 more babies arriving?

Pretty crazy, huh?

But YES...4 more babies in my home...that is just what I have said...seriously!

So...

I know you are thinking I am crazy right about now, RIGHT?

Or maybe just a bit nutso because 4 more babies would mean twice as many as I have right now...

yes...TWICE as many as now...

but to be honest...

I think I can handle it...

because you know why? They are small little babies I JUST adore...

small little babies I prayed for...I loved before I even had them...I dreamed about them...and wondered if I would ever really see them in person!

And you know what? I GOT them you all! Got 4 more babies in my home...and I am in love...all over again!

Details? Well you all know I LOVE details...so here you go~

I had a Vender Blender this evening and went to set up earlier in the day so I could start some dinner for my kiddos before I left for the night...

Anyhoo...mail time... I made it just in time home and mail as usual everyone...I leave again around 4:30 as my mom comes over to take over...Bobby gets home...my parents leave a little after 6:00...

Bobby gave the girls a bath and bedtime from 7:00 to around 8:45...and he goes outside...and you know what resided on my porch he said?

YEP!...my babies...YEP!

not even kidding!...there was NO note...NO explanation...and a stack of magazines with the packages nonetheless!

I walk in the door around 9:30 at night...you can immediately see the counter when I walk in...and I see lots of boxes on my counter...for a minute thinking...hubby did some etsy shopping for me for Christmas...WOO HOO!!!

then thinking...well he wouldn't just leave them there ~ I know him better than that...I'm all excited thinking he really did shopping and wondering what in the heck did he purchase? 4 boxes worth???

He finally told me to LOOK at those boxes...admire them...and GUESS what...

are you sitting down...

are you really sitting down...because I know some of you are not still since there is just so much suspense here, right? ;)

they were the 4 missing packages...my 4 babies~

and as I am typing right now...Bobby is going through one of those catalogues that was sitting on the porch with the packages...one we have never seen before...and I have never seem him so excited over items in there....

you want to know what they are?

duck tape wallet...a hammer that is also a bottle opener...

a nail brush that says "no pun intended"...

a 4 functions pen...PENCIL {no really}...a BALLPOINT PEN {have you ever heard such a thing}....A HIGHLIGHTER {is that a new invention}...and a PDA Stylus...{what's that he says...well he didn't say that but he had a confused look when he said that one}

So anyway...while he is admiring that duck tape wallet in the catalogue...I am admiring my lovelies!

So this picture is a reinactment of where Bobby picked them up off of our porch... I had him show me where they were when he first saw them on the porch...

...And pictures of the dates

Want to know what is weird...today during the day my mom asked me if I found anything else out about them as well as a friend from my mom's group asked me at my vender thing if I have heard anything back...which obviously No was the answer then....but do you know that when she was talking with me about is is probably when they were delivered?

Are you kidding me...want to know how different Bobby and I are? Well here is a picture if this helps...

and the fact that he is telling me about a "super cool" Ninja Umbrealla that turns into a sword says even more, right...and it supposedly comes with a carrying case for a dramatic effect...HUH? I mean seriously...

Back to the topic now...so I opened my beautiful babies...all 4 of them...and my pitchers from here...

please pardon the picture quality...a little too excited to stage any picture!

Bobby's "SAIL" letters that can be found here...

just saying everyone...the iron letters are really pretty awesome...you can spell anything you like too!!!!

and my other order...

all very lovely...so EXCITED...I was jumping up and down...

Although I will admit that I was a bit peeved that they showed up on my doorstep in the evening from about 7:00 to 8:45 without knowing who dropped them off or where they were, etc. I am thankful!!!

I know let it go, right because they are safe and sound after a month for some of them...

BUT...I just still want to know...because remember when the sub mail carrier said she did deliver them on my porch...obvisouly not...you know...

GOD is GREAT...GOD is GOOD...thank you for your support and prayers...because with everyone I know praying about this...you all helped...so thank you!

But one last time...

I'm a proud MaMA of 4 packages today!!!

Confession: on a side note...those sail letters I ordered you need to seal so that they do not rust...and I was actually talking today that if they were in fact taken...that person wouldn't know that...hmmm...and I was beginning to think...serves them right if that rusts their walls...
..
hmmm....remember I said I have flaws...but I just couldn't help but think that you know....

Blessings to you all and Thank you!