Friday, December 30, 2011

1. i need a case 2. it has to be cute

In the past week my phone has found itself in some interesting places. I have a daughter who
1. loves my phone and
2. loves to put things "awayya" for me.

While finding my phone in a doll house, under bitty baby blankets, in a Fischer price car, under the Christmas tree, and in a high chair is semi-adorable it also got me thinking....
1. I should really keep my phone out of her reach..duh and
2. I should REALLY get a protective case for it.

So I began browsing pinterest and etsy to find a cute case that would
 1. protect my phone and
 2. satisfy my need for everything to be "adorable".

An otter box just won't do. My creative taste simply says ABSOLUTELY NOT. I ordered one this afternoon. I'll show you some of my faves and see if you can guess my choice!


All  cases via Society6
Ladies, seriously 1,546 pages of artistic cases and covers. SWOON.




uncommon cases featuring Katie Daisy

Completely customizable too! Score!


I know, I want to buy more than one too. I could definitely justify  purchasing a  daily case, evening case , or an i'm feeling funky case.

Can you guess which one I bought?! 
<----------------->
To make this fun--the first correct answer will get a 50% coupon code to use in my shop.
Answer will be announced on my Facebook page ---so be sure to check!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

two year old thoughts on Christmas



What a wonderful holiday. I hope you had a relaxing and joy-filled one as well. It's funny that I posted last week about joy because my little love filled me with it this week. It was on Christmas Eve with tears in my eyes that I decided to start making notes of the  "Two year old Christmas*isms of Lilly". I'll surely want to remember them and hopefully they will make you chuckle as well.

"ah mommay?  i eat cheese on Chri chis!"

"ah santa brind illy suckerzz! I yike dat! I yike HIM!"

" eye wanda sang jindal balls!!!!!!" -very loudly during our christmas eve service

" Oh no! Comed Back, Santas! Cookies all gone!!" "yes, santa ate them lilly" " Ind santas bootdie?"

"Hapty Cake for Jesssusss birdday? I lovd Jejessss. I help blowed the cantles fer him."

Lilly did you have a good Christmas? "Ah yesss I havt SUCKERRRRSS!!! and ponies"

I love you lilly. " I go poopy potty now."

"mommy daddy illy go swleeep, watch mickey, play toys, eat cookies morrow too?

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Finding My Joy

 When Scott and I were first dating he told me that one of the qualities that attracted him to me was my joy. He told me that I made everything joyful.   I remember being a young college kid thinking "awwwwww he's cuuuute and thinks  I'm joyful, that's like the sweetttessstttt thing everrrr!"  Yes, at 19 I spoke just like Taylor Swift.

At 28? Does he still think I'm a joyful person?  I'm scared to ask.

You see, growing older and becoming a mother has brought out this really crazy quality in me called WORRY. Oh I worry. I disguise the worry in conversations by sprinkling in words like concerned, thinking about, what if, i just don't understand, and scared. 

If I'm being honest with you, I flat out hide my joy because I'm WORRIED that the bottom is about to fall out. I'm worried that when I celebrate my joy the rug will be pulled out from under me and I'll be lying flat on my face, facing my worries.

I HAVE TO STOP THAT. 

Pain is everywhere and I'm struggling with the fact that it's okay to be happy and joyful despite pain and suffering in the world.  It just feels wrong.


I'm revealing this part of my heart with you because I want to be joyful.  Celebrating the birth of my savior this week is a JOYFUL event. Sharing the story of Jesus' birth with my two year old and listening to her say "I like jeejee!" is amazing.  My family is blessed. My heart is FULL with excitement for our next adventure. I am full of JOY today--and it is the WORRY that it will all be taken from me that prevents me from sharing my joy.

On the back of our Christmas card this year I wrote a verse from Romans that really inspired me this season. Each year I choose a life verse. I choose a verse that will be a verse that I memorize and strive to live by.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

 
I want to be different. I want to give my worry away. I want to be joyful.



Riding on a carousel with my mommy kind of joy.


How do you share your joy? Do you have similar struggles?






Sunday, December 18, 2011

family pictures

Wanted to share with you some of our family pictures that we had taken back in mid November.  Sarah-Beth Photography took them and I adore them all. I love the way that she captures the family essence in her shots. I also love how she makes you feel like a super model for a hot second. Enjoy!







Here are my thoughts on family portraits...

Yes, they are expensive. However, if you find a photographer that you love and admire then the investment is totally worth it.  I personally would rather give my money to a woman pursuing her passion than the disgruntled JCPenny teenager who does not care about me or my family. I know your rebuttal--Yes, a professional photographers cost is still quite a bit more than the click and shoot studios.  Think of it this way---

You buy a shirt-on clearance-you  don't love it,but it's ONLY $5!!! I can totally find a way to rock this shirt that is basically free. You try it on--ehh...fit is OKAY. BUT IT IS ONLY FIVE DOLLARS! You buy it--PROUD of the massive deal you got. It hangs in your closet in all it's  IWASDIRTCHEAP glory. You wear it once---and after that day there it hangs. for all eternity-- or until you toss it in a goodwill pile. It wasn't you. It was cheap. It was "good enough" for right now.

Or...you spend your hard earned dollars on a researched piece. You saw the boots online.  You went to the store. You tried them on.  You love them.  You leave the store because No.....I CAN"T SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY on BOOOOTTTSSS!!  The next day you think about those boots.  The following week you're carving out ways to pay for those boots. That next weekend you BUY the boots. You practically wear them to bed you love them so much. You get compliments on your killer boots. YOu feel great.Yea, they were more expensive--but they are a statement piece--something that oozes your personality and style.

Family portraits done by a professional are my fabulous boots. They encompass my family, personality, and style. Yes, they are quite a bit more expensive--but these pictures will not be hanging in my closet.


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Cold Hands Warm Hearts Swap

A while back before my life twisted upside down ( more on that at a later date) I signed up for Sandy and Illene's Cold Hands Warm Hearts fun swap.  I was partnered up with Somer .Somer has a cute blog here and an a realllllly cute shop.  I would love to know how to knit and admire anyone that can!

Anyway---fast forward a month and a pretty little package showed up on my doorstep from Miss Somer.
What's better than getting a package of handmade goodies just for you before Christmas? I know, nothing!
The first package I opened happened to be a gorgeous pair of mustard fingerless gloves knit by Somer.  I've worn them every day since the package arrived. They are darling!

Then I got to open other fun gifts. Lots of practical and fun items handpicked by a total stranger. Yet the gifts were totally me from start to finish. How fun  and  exciting this little community of handmade women  is!
She wrapped up some pajamas, cranberry lip gloss, cotton gloves, homemade laundry detergent that smells like CHRISTMAS, bath salts, loaf pan, lantern, magnet from HOLLYROCKS,  a journal, and some handmade dryer balls ( which I didn't snap a picture of because they are currently removing static from miss lily's clothes!)



I already started filling up the journal with lillypie notes about my adorable winter program. The first batch of goodies will be sent out this week!

It was wonderful meeting Somer and I look forward to getting to know her more over the next few months. She's an expecting mommy and I can just tell my reading her posts that she will be a compassionate and loving mother. The way she talks about her baby just oozes sweetness and new mommy bliss. I'm sure she'll blog about it and I look forward to following her journey!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Good Bye Patty

 The pacifier--some mothers love them and to other's they are an equivalent to a dirty word. To me,  I didn't have a problem with it. and by golly it worked. Thinking back on the haze of the first few weeks of new baby bliss hell, the pacifier saved us. She was soothed, we gained sanity and by week four the fog began to lift and we all got into our groove.

Lilly loved her pacifier. She lovingly named it Patty.  After she turned one Patty became a nighttime treat. After she turned two....well I started to feel like maybe it was time for Patty to leave. I didn't want her to, but when Lilly asked for her pacifier using a complete. sentence.--I knew she was getting too old for it.

I really had NO plan on how to break Lilly of her friend, Patty.  I was scared.  I value sleep and knew what kind of nights were ahead without our dear friend, Patty. It's safe to say I broke out into a cold sweat at the thought of a night without Patty. My one memory of a night without Patty was  a year ago and I'll just say there were GNASHING OF TEETH that night.

Then baby Milo was born.


Milo is the newest addition to by best friend's family. My womb is craaavving another one of these squishy miracles!

Lilly loves babies--they can be plastic, they can be cloth, they can be human.  She has the mommy thing going right now. When we went to meet baby Milo she noticed his pacifier in the bassinet. 

"Ahhh....Mi-yo's patty?" 
"Yes, babies need patties, you're not a baby are you?"
"Ahhh no mommy, Imma beeeg gurl."
"Yes, Lilly you are." !!!!LIGHT BULB MOMENT!!!!!! "Do you want to give Milo your Patty?"
"Eye do dat"

and she gave up her pacifier. Just like that.

My mommy tears welled up in my eyes at the thought of her giving a new baby her most prized possession. He needed it.  She gave it.

Gosh, can't we ALL learn from that?

As we left the hospital that evening, my best tossed me the pacifier just in case....
Lilly and I both cried that night....but three days later  the tears are dry and Patty has a new happy  home.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

custom, custom

Have I ever shared how much I love doing custom orders? Well, I do! I especially love the orders where I'm given a color scheme and purpose for the accessories and basically given free reign with the designs.  I LOVE IT. I love the challenge of creating something cohesive and pretty. I love the excitement in the customers response! I also love the trust that people have in me as a designer (albeit an accessories one--but still).



My most recent custom order was for a group of three accessories for some family pictures. The mother emailed me a color scheme and a vision of intricate, big, bold, beautiful, statement and then let me go crazy. The color scheme was very pretty and outside of what I normally do. I usually steer clear of blues, I don't know why? and after working with these materials I think I'll add more into future collections!


Here is what I came up with!



 necklace for the momma, headband for the little, clip (combo brooch) for the little gal

all can be shared and i'm banking they will!

Thanks Kayla for letting me make these for you. I had so much fun!


Thursday, November 17, 2011

little things {my thursday night}

 The weeks are FLYING by, aren't they?  My days are full of teaching and my evenings are jammed pack with lillypie, grading, cleaning, and small group.  Thursdays---they are  the do NOTHING nights.  They are family nights and I love them.  Thursday night is one of my favorite nights because TOMORROW is Friday--the last work day. Whoooeeeeee!!! I snapped some pictures with my phone this evening to document the little things that I love soooo much about my Thursday evenings with my family.

we play ponies.....a lot.

 
Baked some yummy pumpkin spice muffins for tomorrow morning.  My house smells delish.
 I had the most adorable little helper, too.
A little dose of Disney always makes for a good evening.



Relaxing and enjoying  my backed up DVR tonight.
Excited to find out what happened  with Chuck and Blair this week. ;)


Linking up with Lindsay!


Aisle to Aloha

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

new logo {reveal}

I'm committed to my husband.
I'm devoted to my daughter.
I'm trustworthy to my friends
I'm reliable to my family.

But I struggle with fidelity when it comes to my blog design. (sowrry.)

So I have this friend, Leonora, who happens to design amazing graphic prints--

Her shop, Yellow Heart Art is one of my favorites. I think I've hearted most of her designs. She prooobbably gets tired of seeing my face pop up in her etsy feed (sowwrrry).

I called upon Leonora to help me finally get a logo for lillypie. I sent her my sketch.

She sent me her design.

and voila! 

I hope you feel comfortable here and cozy up for a bit! There are lots of exciting things happening here.

Monday, November 14, 2011

High, Low,Woah {V.3}

Good Morning!  I'm starting this week off on a positive note. On my way in to work, I'm grabbing a gingerbread chai latte--so this monday HAS to be good! I hope that you have a great morning as well! I thought I'd share my high, low, woah from this weekend with you all in hopes that you'll share yours with me! I'm also sprinkling in some prints from a few  of a favorite shops.


HIGH
This weekend was a GREAT lillypie weekend. It was a weekend where the thoughts of "Mayyyybbeee full time???" started swimming in my head again. Last week I launched Adorable Winter and I'm so happy that it is doing well.  I love getting the notes attached to the orders telling me that they are  "sooo excited to be getting a creation from me all winter long." It makes me feel good, and Imma BLOW their socks off with the adorables headed their way come December. If you'd like to learn more, check this post out!

Also, I'm participating in a few gift guides and one of them launches today! I think gift guides are such a fun and easy way to learn about handmade shops. I am really looking forward to finding some new shops and picking up items for loved ones on my Christmas list. Oh--and the discount codes are awesome too. I love a deal. Kim, from Oh, Sweet Joy! is such a doll and I'm excited to work with her! Her HANDMADE HOLIDAYS is up now! :)

aaannnndd Leonora from Yellow Heart Art designed an AMAZING lillypie logo for me and we finalized it on Friday. I've been playing and tweaking all things lillypie and am looking forward to rolling out a brand new look SOON!



LOW
While talking this weekend, Scott and I realized that we haven't been on a date in a month. Life is so busy and our obligation list gets longer and longer with each passing moment. I can tell when we haven't connected emotionally and this weekend it was felt.  I was snippy. He was standoffish. We both decided some time alone is needed--it's penciled in for next weekend. Hopefully a high for next week will be some much needed QT with my man! :)

WOAH
On Saturday Lilly and I made our routine trip to craft stores, barnes and noble and Target. Target is our last stop and  ONLY. THE . ESSENTIALS. are bought.  SOMEHOW  on this trip we ended up in the shoe department trying on boots. ?!?! Does this happen to you? I was embarrassingly struggling to get the *perfect* taupe boots zipped when a woman passed by.  Then she passed by again. and on her third go around past she stopped and said:
"oh dear, as one mother to another I must tell you this. You have a sucker stick stuck to your back"
......................................................

I gave lilly a sucker at 10:00. It was now pushing 1:00.

WOAH.


What's your high, low, and woah for this weekend? Please share, you'll make my Monday even happier.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Adorable Winter {a pretty package program}

Raise your hand if you have ever felt the winter blahs.Ummm..yeah. I know. Midwest winters can really dragggg onnnnnnnn and I just find myself longing for COLOR! and WARM Weather! and anything that will boost my post holiday bummers that begin oozing out of me come February. Well, if your hand is still raised--put it down and read on. Because I think I have something that will help banish those blahs this winter. eeee!! right!?

This winter I'm rolling out a little club so-to-speak. A beat-winter-get-pretty-packages-with-fun-accessories club that I'm callling Adorable Winter for short!





Who doesn't love receiving pretty packages in the mail? How fun would it be to look forward to an adorable surprise FOR YOU each month of the long winter ?


Adorable Winter is for you (however you know me and everything  is meant to be shared with your little one).  You deserve a treat. You work hard and are busy buying for others. Adorable Winter is for you. Around the 15th of each month (December through March) a pretty little accessory from Lillypie Accessories will be handmade, packaged and sent to you. It will be something different each month. An adorable surprise!



My inspiration journal is packed full of sketches of fun winter inspired accessories. The items in the Adorable Winter collection are NEW designs with NEW fabrics.  They are inspired by winter neutral colors as to match your existing wardrobe.  Think cream, ivory, mocha, champagne sparkle, mint, mustard, deep teal.  I know, I'm excited too. :)  The items will be different each month.  A SURPRISE--it's what makes it fun! You can expect all my specialties-- necklaces, brooches, and headbands.The items in the adorable winter collection will be available to YOU first. They will not be listed in my shop until YOU have received yours. You're lillypie VIP in my eyes.
Yes! Now is a great time to buy for someone else. Purchase an Adorable Winter package for the lovely friend of yours who enjoys wearing stylish and pretty accessories. She will LOVE the surprise she receives every month. Purchase an Adorable Winter for you and a friend and receive a discount reimbursed to you after checkout! Or you could do what I do with my friends on occasion--okay this is kinda embarrassing to admit. You buy your friend one, she buys yours---gift to each other. MERRY CHRISTMAS! :)


Visit my shop and click the Adorable Winter section on the left sidebar. Purchase any of the available Adorable.Winter packages. In the notes to seller please verify the name and address for the person receiving the packages.  This will be the address I send the pretty things to--not the address on paypal. I want to make sure it's going the RIGHT place. Verify and pay and you're all set! I'll contact you after payment and tell you how excited and happy I am for you! I can only imagine how fun it will be to get something pretty in the mail each month!

Winter Blahs?? See ya later!!! :)



Buying the accessories individually from my shop would cost you $85 with shipping each time. The Adorable Winter package is priced at $49.99 with a ONE TIME shipping fee of $10 with your subscription for US orders. International orders, please contact me first before shipping so I can calculate your shipping rate.

If you are money savvy or have an accountant as a husband like me,  being a part of  Adorable Winter is $15 a month. You deserve it! What are you waiting for?



The first 5 that purchase, will receive FREE SHIPPING! {to be refunded via paypal after purchase}

Purchase 2 { remember, one for you--one for friend}  and you'll receive FREE SHIPPING on one of your subscriptions.

Purchase 3 {one for you, one for friend, one for another friend} and you'll recieve an *extra* surprise each month for a total of  eight adorable creations instead of four!!

Purchase 4 {You're now upgraded to a best friend of mine whom I will cherish forever and send brithday and christmas gifts each year!!!} No, kidding aside.... Purchase four subscriptions and you'll get extra surprises, and free shipping for ALL FOUR memberships.

Purchase 5 {and I faint.............}


{no coupon codes or discounts valid on this program}


Deadline to sign up is Wednesday November 30th!


I'm just so excited. excited. excited!