Isn’t my blog pretty?
If you’re reading in a reader, click through and take a peek and tell me what you think! My friend Nicole over at Pixel Boutique, once again, has amazed me with her skills.
I’m happy, it feels so feminine and soft. It’s a good place to be.
Hi everyone,
I wanted to let you know of an auction that’s been put together by Melissa and Hyacynth for the victims of the Joplin tornado. The proceeds are going to the Salvation Army. The auction has just begun. I’m donating my Love print in an 11×14. It will be available for auction tomorrow at 2 pm.
This beautiful project was inspired by their friend, Sarah, (a fellow blogger) who lives in Joplin. You can read her story here. So much generosity here, let’s keep it going.
Full Auction Line-up
Wednesday May 25
8am Assorted Watercolor Note Cards from Cards Direct ($40 value)
9am Art of Doing Nothing Poster from Tammy Lee Bradley ($28)
10am Gussy Sews Shop Credit ($25)
11am Thai Silk Pillow Covers from Jaime Shaw ($40)
12noon Hand Knit Market Tote from A Soft Landing ($35)
1pm Secret Hope Necklace from Create Beauty Daily ($38)
2pm Busy Body Book Bundle from Busy Body Books ($40)
3pm Handmade Ring Sling from Prairie Mama ($75)
4pm {So} Sack from {So} Sartina ($29)
5pm $100 Sweet Deal Credit from Mamapedia ($100)
6pm Pair of Spring/Summer Shoes from Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes ($100-140)
Thursday May 26
8am Strength and Hope Necklace from Shinning Stones ($20)
9am $25 Stonyfield Organic Product & Cookbook ($43)
10am Fractured Glass Print from Tammy Lee Bradley ($25)
11am DaySpring Collection ($40)
12noon Monster Softie from Samster Mommy ($35)
1pm Vintage Fabric Fat Quarters from Sew Lovely Designs ($20)
2pm 11×14 Love Print from Beth Fletcher Photography and June Afternoons ($38)
3pm Flutter Sleeve Ruffle Peasant Dress from Smashed Peas and Carrots ($36)
4pm Camera Strap Cover from Eclectic Whatnot ($38.50)
5pm $50 Gift Certificate from The Vintage Pearl ($50)
6pm Logo Design from NW Designs ($100)
7pm Ultimate Fan Pack from Discovery Channel ($200)
First. Idol Chat and You Capture will be switching days this week. This is entirely Idol’s fault for randomly switching days for their finale. So, Idol Chat: TONIGHT. You Capture: Thursday morning. Where it belongs and where it will be returning from now on! (now that Idol is over)
This weekend went by so quickly and so beautifully. I want to say that I loved almost every second of it. We went for walks, I had a fun session, we went flower shopping, I began transforming my front porch into a place that I LOVE. (I’ll show pictures, soon!) My sister from Nebraska visited. (isn’t so sad how being able to see someone you love who you haven’t seen in so long is just a reminder of how much you miss that person? We were only able to spend 3 hours together but those three hours were really, really good.)
We went to the park and planted more flowers, we had dinner at home and also ordered pizza.
Poor little Eli stayed sick all weekend. He had a fever we could not bring down from Friday morning through Sunday evening. Which was the reason for so many of the walks. He just loves to be out and about. Then, it broke on Monday morning. He’s still not himself but his fever is gone.
Monday morning, I had an appointment with my OB and heard the baby’s heartbeat.
I am so grateful for this weather we are having. The sun has been so generous and the breeze so soft. Eli has spent hours crawling around on the grass and pushing toys and playing with rocks.
Brian has been my super garden assistant. And home assistant and super Dad and he does all of the laundry. All of the time. I don’t know how he does it. So quick and seemingly effortless.
I swear this weather has been so good for my pregnancy. I’ve had so much energy and I feel great. It’s like the blue skies call me out to go for walks and that walking gives me energy to clean the kitchen or play outside or sit on the floor and play with the kids.
Bedtime rolls around and Anna and Noah are tired and cranky and unbelievably dirty from playing with friends, swinging on swings, going on bike rides and playing with Eli. We wash up and brush our teeth, they read for a few minutes, we turn their lights out and within minutes, they are sleeping.
Brian and I head back downstairs for downtime. Relaxation and ice cream.
Maybe two bowls. But who’s counting?
The best part? Summer hasn’t even begun.
So if you don’t hear from me so often? I promise. It’s a very good thing.
Updated (GIVEAWAY CLOSED): The winner of the print from June Afternoons is Nikole! Congratulations!
Well, I guess when I say “news” I don’t actually mean CNN, I just mean, “In my head.”
I wanted to come here and talk to you guys about the point of my pregnancy I’m in but time is not allowing me to do that right now. But I did want to stop in and tell you a few other important things.
First:
If you live in Northwest Indiana (or the surrounding area, of course) I am hosting Father’s Day Mini Sessions on June 4th. The idea is that I’m taking Mom (You!) from behind the camera and photographing you with your kids as a special gift to your husband for Father’s Day.
I am only scheduling six 30 minute sessions, only four remain. Also, I updated the design of my BFP blog, so head over and check it out. It looks extra pretty!
Second:
Remember my cute photography project June Afternoons? Well, since we’ve met and exceeded our goal for Team James and Jake, I’ve decided to begin donating to the victims of the floods and tornadoes that have affected so many in the United States this spring. If you head over, you’ll see that all proceeds from the sales from this shop go directly to just that. I believe I have found an organization where I can purchase baby food, diapers, canned goods, etc and ship directly to this organization and they will distribute, as needed. (still investigating) Any remaining funds will be donated to the American Red Cross. Please keep in mind that I do not receive any profit from this project, it’s something I’m doing so I can help. (for the March of Dimes, I was able to donate over $700 from this shop. This after the cost of listing, shipping, supplies and printing.)
Also, I just listed these postcards. I have two sets, in stock, ready to ship. Last time I had a set, I posted them on twitter and they sold in four minutes. So, I’m sharing with all of you first. (because you’re my favorites)
And finally, I’ve decided to give away a print from June Afternoons.
This print is an 8×10, a beautiful photo taken by THE Lisa Leonard. Isn’t it gorgeous?
Just head over to the shop and tell me, in the comments of this post, which print is your favorite. That’s it! I’ll choose the winner, randomly, tomorrow evening. Comments close on Tuesday, May 17th and the print will ship on Wednesday!
Tweeting or Facebooking about this giveway will earn you extra entries! Just leave the link in a separate comment, in order for that entry to count!
Good luck and happy browsing!
(please don’t say “pick me,” saying that will earn you a time out.)
I had a friendly reader request a tutorial on the photo garland I created for Eli’s Birthday.
I especially love this garland because it was purely my idea and not something I saw online. But mostly I love it because it’s so simple to do that it’s nearly embarrassing. But that’s how my crafting rolls. If it ain’t easy? I get it off Etsy. Am I right or am I right?
With all of my babies, during their first year, I took a photo of them on the day of the month they were born through 12 months next to a little stuffed animal. With Eli’s first year photos, I printed them out, at home, about 45 minutes before the party.
I opened up my drawer that contains everything that has no home and pulled out a hole punch, ribbon and well, scotch tape.
I punched a hole on each side of the photo and began weaving the ribbon throughout the holes. I decided to let the ribbon show in the front and have the ribbon in the back for every other one. I began weaving the photos on the left side of the length of the ribbon, so I began with the 12 month photo and pulled it completely over to the right., then 11 months, 10 months, etc. If you’re ribbon isn’t long enough, do not despair, just cut another section of ribbon and staple the ribbon together, hiding the stapled section of the ribbon behind one of the photos. (this happened to me. Of course, it did.)
When all of the photos are attached to the ribbon, you can move them about freely, making sure they are spaced just as you want them.
And, to keep things fancy, I attached the photo garland to my mantle with scotch tape. Probably lots of it to make my eight year old daughter proud.
Had I more time, more photo paper and more ink, I probably would have created another for the kitchen. The guests loved looking over how much this sweet boy had changed throughout the year.
