Happy Weekend! ((free shipping code))

Just a quick pop in to tell you that if you're wanting to purchase something pretty for you our your little one I'd be okay with that. I've even decided that I'll pay to send it to you. :)

I'm working on a fall collection called Latte Da.  It's rad--and that's all I can say. It's suuupppper top secret right now. Only me and this little guy know about it. :)

Use free shipping code LABORDAY all weekend.  Code expires Tuesday at Midnight.

Iced Coffee Recipe ((for the frugal momma))

I'm afraid I'm in the no-sleeping-ever season of life.  I'm hopeful that sleep will return sometime before 35, time will tell. Like my mother and many mothers before me I believe firmly in caffiene. I'll need LOTS of coffee to help aid my survival of the next few years.  I enjoy a good cup of joe but reallllllly swoon over a large iced coffee.  However, I  cannot afford the $4-6 price tag of a daily iced latte and frankly I would rather stab my eyes out with a  barbie shoe than embark on the CIRCUS that is loading up two children into the car each day.

My friend Holly shared an iced coffee recipe with me a week into motheroftwodom and it is too money not to share. I believe it's wayyyy better than McDonald's and Dunkin's and ranks a smidgen below Starbucks. It's  approximately $8 for an ENTIRE pitcher ( about 8 large iced heavens) and totally customizable to fit your taste. I should also add that after  purchasing the initial ingredients the only item I have to buy new with each pitcher is a half gallon of milk. Hear that?? It's the sound of money RE-ENTERING your wallet.  :)

I've been guzzling pitchers of this for 5 weeks now and I just felt the need to share this recipe with you.  It's  liquid joy.

1. Gather ingredients: milk, instant coffee, sugar, hot water, ice, and your favorite creamer. I always stick with carmel--but I've had friends try hazelnut, vanilla, and creme brulee and love it.

2. Combine ingredients in 2 quart container. I use the shaker kind made by Rubbermaid. I got it at Target for a few bucks.

//this is a HALF BATCH. the recipe will fill 1/2 of this container////

3. Shake until frothy

4. Pour over ice

5. Down the hatch! :)

Seriously so simple and delicious. I enjoy always having it on hand.

 A few sips amidst chaos does wonders for my soul....and sanity.

weekly lillypie shop update ((share them!!!!!!))

several new accessories in the shop today! you'll of course have to pippity pop over to the SHOP to purchase annnnnnddddd in case ya didn't know --all items are READY TO SHIP.  So you'll get them  in your hands and in your pretty hair quickety quick.



annie whimsical headband--NEW color combo of magenta, violet, and turquoise!!

Have you ever worn a lillypie? My thin stretchy headbands are spectacular and comfortable.  Obviously they'd be adorable on your  little gal but they are also fun for you!  They are the right amount of fun and sophistication.

turquoise clip--so many fun uses!

NEW design!! pinched flower clippies!
shown in violet, berry blue, and turquoise

transitions ((celebrating and struggling))

 I should be in a classroom right now. I should be surrounded by 20 students asking me where to put their dry erase markers, if they can get a drink a water, and when lunch and recess starts. I should be really excited and really stressed starting a new school year. I should be teary eyed  leaving my children with a caregiver.  I should be teaching----but I'm not.

Our family decided that I should take a year maternity leave. Many sacrifices were made and a big lesson on faith is being learned. Last spring when the decision was finalized and papers were signed I was ecstatic. A whole year home with my babies. A whole year not plagued with stress of a demanding job. A whole year of relying on the Lord and learning about myself. I was doing the happy happy joy dance all day every day.

And now......here I am. HOME.  :)

and it's scary.


and fun.

 I feel like this is exactly where I should be.  I love this time at home with my children.  The Lord is teaching me so much about faith and love and forgiveness already and it's only week three.

He's taught me how to rely on Him with I feel lonely.

He's taught me that it's okay not to be perfect.

He's taught me that I can't do it all.

and that a dr. pepper and 10 minutes of overlapping naps is glorious.

I'm melancholy thinking about the excitement, promise, and hope of a new school year. I'm thinking about my dear friend s and co-workers a lot.  I'm wondering how much my students remember from last year.  Did I make an impact?  While I'm full of hope about my  new normal---it's bittersweet walking away from my life of the past 7 years.

Transitions are always exciting.  This year I'm moving  forward with a newborn in my arms, a toddler clinging to my leg, a husband holding my hand, and a savior guiding my heart.  I don't know where this year will take my life as a mom/homemaker, my career as a teacher, or passion for  my handmade business----but I'm taking a deep breath and going.

What transitions are you going through?

weekly lillypie shop update ((gorgeous beaded necklaces))

Helloooooo dear friends!! I sat down this weekend and made some RAD new beaded necklaces.  I know what you might be thinking, and yes I DID say I was going to wait to reopen the shop.  Then----the planets aligned and the children napped SIMULTANEOUSLY for two hours on Saturday and I decided to try out an idea I had--and then I couldn't stop!!  I just enjoy creating pretty jewelry.  Lillypie is still going to be ONLY ready to ship now---so if you fancy one of these designs please don't wait. I don't know when/if I'll be making more--unless you want to volunteer to babysit. hehe.

the rebecca. 

the abby.

the jane.

the gabrielle.

purchase all of them by scooting on over to my shop!! :)

www.lillypieaccessories.etsy.com

and if you wanted to pin them to your favorite board on pinterest that'd be awesome too. :)

annnnnd if you're an educator you're going to really wanna BOUNCE over to the lillypie FB page. There is a super special giveaway going on just for you and it ends MONDAY NIGHT after Bachelor Pad. Seriously----it goes with  ALL YOUR TEACHER CARDIGANS. You know you have a ton! (wink!)

daily snaps v. 3

 Is July really over? What the h?! Maybe it went super fast because I don't feel like I slept a wink in the month of july. It's basically been one really loonnngggggg day. and then I went to bed and baby was here. in my lap. wanting to eat. all the time.

In all seriousness, July was fabulous. It's not every month that you add a member to your family. A really cute chubby member. ;) This whole mom of two thing....is really hard.  Some days I go to bed thinking "well that was a big fat FAIL" and other days I think "rock on, laura, rock on." Lucky for me the SUCK days seem to alternate with the WIN days so it keeps me pretty even keeled---for me.

I'm learning to balance life with two children and Lilly is learning to balance the notion hat she is not in fact the center of everyone's universe. It's been a slow lesson for miss lilly bu I think we are turning corners. She adores her baby brother and in between  the tantrums and bossy pants attitude she throws my way she truly melts my heart.


Noah beside being adorable and squisy is.....GASSY. He's currently sitting in his swing letting me know he is all man by grunting, farting, and I'm pretty sure sharting. ;) I can't get enough of this kid. 


Lillypie---ohhhh lillypie. I'm torn at this moment. I really really am itching to start making things again. I've sketched out some ideas for fall---but that's as far as I can get.  Soon things will settle down and I'll act on my creating itch--but for right now I need to put the money making ideas aside and focus on my family and myself. My goal is to open up shop again late August with a new mini collection for fall. I'll probbbabbbllly wanna do a giveaway OR TWO....and I'll probbbbbbbabbblllly do a sale as well. Cause I prroobbbabbbbblllly love my customers/friends/family/sweet internet frands. ;)



Photos are from my instagram feed. I'm LauraLillypie if you wanna hang. andddd......I just recently started stalking Jef....the JEF on IG. zomg.