Mama's craft corner 101

       The girls and I always look forward to making a thankful tree every year in the fall. Last October, we used construction paper and cut out colorful leaves as they took turns telling me what they were thankful for. We glued them on our hand drawn tree and boom, done.  

      This year we wanted to try something a little different.  I saw these nifty chalkboard tags on Easy and I had to have them! Sophie, my oldest and I gathered sticks at the park up the road.  I dug to the back of one of my cabinets and found this old vase that I had to wipe about an inch of dust off of and I had my youngest, Gia paint with glass chalk paint to give it a fall look and voila, we have the birth of a new tradition right here.

      Those of you that know our family well, will undoubtedly be able to pin point which one of us is thankful for what.  May the best of friends win!:)
    
You can get these adorable tags here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/115008202/chalkboard-tags?ref=shop_home_feat_1

“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” ~ Guillaume Apollinaire

Blessings,

Tiffany

As long as I'm living my baby you'll be...

     I have been a Mom for seven years now.  SEVEN!  I think in these seven wonderful years, I have been told these lovely words of wisdom many times over, "Enjoy every moment, because time flies and before you know it they will be heading off to college."

    Honestly, I have always acknowledged this statement, smiled and a head nod saying, "Thank you, that's what I hear."

    But this year, more than ever before those words are coming to life for me... 

    Sophie recently turned seven in August.  She began first grade this year and for the first time since she started preschool years ago, I had more tears than she did. And by more, I should be more clear she had 0, I however looked like I just stepped inside after a torrential downpour.

    Time is flying just like they always said it would, which brings me sitting here with my morning coffee at the computer early this morning, anxiously waiting for our youngest daughter Gia to wake up so we can began to celebrate her fourth Birthday. 

 

    In honor of Gia, I thought I would write a tribute to this one of a kind little girl I'm so proud to call my baby. 

    Gianna, since the day you arrived in my arms at 6:36pm on 9/10/11, at Trinity Hospital in Minot, ND my life forever changed.  Although you are our second child, your birth was original and brand new and I looked at you memorizing the curves of your soft, chubby cheeks, your beautiful long dark eye lashes and the adorable dimple on the center of your chin. I had never met anyone just like you before and I know I never will.

    Gia you bring such joy to our family with your quick wit, sweet snuggles and boisterous laugh that everyone who knows you, can't help but find contagious.  

    There are so many characteristics that make you unique. God made your soul a perfect combination of so many wonderful attributes and below are just a few that come to mind.

You are:

Funny and feisty

Ballet shoes and rain boots in muddy puddles

Hair bows and ball caps

Tutu's and dragon costumes

Dainty and fierce

Imaginative and logical

Forgiving and temperamental

Inquisitive and irresistible

Morning cuddles and independent

Sweet and sassy

    You are all of these things and so much more, but most of all, no matter how fast time flies and has you all grown up one day, you are and always will be my baby.  I have already learned so much from you and I aspire to see life through your bright eyes, with more excitement, curiosity, laughter and love.

Gia, you are the apple of my eye.

I love you,

Mama

Stamp Haven is available on Etsy!!

This has been a long time coming, but I am happy to announce Stamp Haven is open for business on Etsy!  I am looking forward to growing this hobby turned small business and I am so excited to create pieces that matter for friends, family and new acquaintances.

Please stop by my shop and let me know what you think!

xoxo,

Tiffany

https://www.etsy.com/shop/StampHaven1

A quote from my memoir Gift Of Grace...

Maybe it's not about making the perfect decisions for your life, maybe it's more about living the journey of the unknown with a bit of grace and faith in your heart.

Home alone...

         I am in my house for the first time all alone for 24 hours!  So many ideas ran through my mind when I first found out that my parents were picking up the kids and taking them to the lake and coincidentally my husband would be flying a 24 hour sim.  A few immediate ideas were taking care of Dr. appointments, getting a facial, going shopping, etc.  This question of what to do with the plethora of free time was to blame for one very sleepless night, on the eve all of them shuffling out the door.

        Now don't get me wrong Mom's need free time, I know this.  I definitely enjoy have a little time to get things done on my own, but did you catch that?  I said a LITTLE time.  I have never, I repeat Never had this much time alone since before I had Sophie.  To add to this, I have actually never been in my house without any of them for more that an hour tops!

        So when the morning came and went and our breakfast dishes lay messy in the sink, coffee cups on the counter and I stood there in silence for a moment, I knew it was time for me to decide, what on earth am I going to do for the next 24 hours???

This is what I came up with...

        I have been putting off touching up the scuff marks and finger prints all over our walls. No more procrastinating, it had to be done. (I want to warn you, never paint your walls in matte finish...I'm going to get all Taylor Swift on you, like ever)!
                                               

 The garden has been looking a bit unruly, time to get that under wraps with steel wire cages.

         Next task...hard water marks are never ending on the glass shower doors. Time to squash the residue with my magic erase sponge! Boom!

               Dinner time solo. Caprese salad for one please? I mean that fancy paper plate really adds a touch doesn't it? Sorry, I am not doing dishes tonight! Not going to do it!

               Later over wine and the movie Step Up, I went through the girls clothes and gathered some items to donate and in the morning ventured out to Show-Me Christian Youth Home for a tour and to drop off the items.  This place is inspiring and I am hoping to get our family involved asap.

            When I made it home, it was time to hit the hammer to the metal and work on orders for Stamp Haven.

            I followed this up with a leisurely jog, shower and I am expecting the hubby home any minute.

            Whoa! So there you have it. My time alone for 24 hours. It wasn't glamorous, but it was productive and I am more ready than ever to see my babies.  I miss the noise, the voices calling 'Mama' and fixing meals for them.

          What I learned most about this time alone is that one day I will have a quiet, tidy house because my littles will be all grown up, so for now bring on the pitter patter of those sweet little feet and the best hugs around my legs while I'm at the stove cooking!

        My babies I've missed you, it's time to come home.

Tiny Dancer

This weekend was an exciting one with Sophie's recital on the agenda.  Her Ballet 1 class danced to Rodeo.  Despite her shy nature, it's amazing how it melts away when her little feet hit the stage.

The icing on the cake was the Daddy and Me performance that she and Jake performed together to, Twistin USA.

I mean come on, how sweet are they??

Destin for Destin...

It's amazing how a little quality family time recharges the batteries.  Seeing these two cuties brave the waves of the Gulf of Mexico, as they ran back to us squealing with delight, was an unforgettable memory.

A few highlights...