About That Whole Blogging Thing

Well hello there! You might remember me... I'm the author of this blog. Earlier in the year a started a different blog, one that I felt was more me, but that was just silly. This blog is me. It's my home on the web and it was goofy of me to think otherwise.

This summer has flown by! So fast, in fact, that I couldn't tell you when it was the last time I blogged. I mean, I could totally go look but I'm kind of embarrassed about it. So instead, we won't look, and we'll just talk about what's going on now. This instant. Right now the baby is asleep cuddling with his fave blanket and his Burt doll (this is the first time he's done that to my knowledge), Aaron is working away on a birthday present for his nephew, and Welks the Destroyer is trying to figure out why there isn't room on my lap for him. In other words- life is good.

How has your summer been? It seems like most everyone is having an enjoyable summer, which is lovely to hear!

The blogging "bug" has been nibbling at me quite a bit lately and so I'd really like to start blogging again. When I started the other blog, I wanted to do a mommy blog about life with baby, keeping sane, keeping crafty, and keeping pretty-fied. It was fun, but before long I realized I loved just experiencing my life with baby instead of documenting it as it happened. This tripped me up and that's pretty much why I haven't been around. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat, you know Dean keeps me busy and we're constantly on. the. go. This constant motion of life makes it a bit hard for me to blog as regularly as I thought I wanted to.

I hope this doesn't sound dumb, but I'm going to repost entries from the other blog on here in between new content. I am proud of those posts and I don't want them to just disappear.

Dean is teaching me new things every day and I want to share my experiences with the world. This won't turn into just a mommy blog, there will still me makeup posts, vacation posts, as well as fashion posts (I'm tossing around the idea of doing another capsule wardrobe series).

Anywho, I feel like this is a good place to stop before I stress myself out about whether I wrote enough, or too much, or if this content is worth writing.

Hope you have a wonderful hump day! ♥

Don't Just Stand There

photo by Jeff Sheldon
"Don't just stand there" ~ I just love this picture. It made me realize that I am just standing still with my blog. For whatever reason, when I get nervous about something, or am unsure about what to do about something, I end up not doing anything. I think, and over think, the situation so much nothing happens. Has this ever happened to you?

I remember starting my first blog eleven years ago. It was at work actually. I fresh out of high school was working as an administrative assistant for a local sub contracting company that both of my parents had worked at at one point. It was owned by a family and my situation there was just weird~ I answered to three different people all telling me different things, no two people agreeing often on what I should do. It was the worst job I've ever had. Long story short I started a blog as an outlet so Aaron didn't have to hear about it every day. This blog was nothing I cared people read because it was just my sounding board.

Once I quit and got a new job that I was happy at, I got into making pixel art and started a new blog for that. Hours upon hours were spent at my computer dressing little "dolls" in cute little outfits, participating in contests, and being a part of the community. It was a super fun time. Eventually I got distracted with knitting and switched the focus of my blog to that.

I was o b s e s s e d with knitting. Like knitting 20-30 hours a week obsessed. I wanted to become a knitwear designer and started designing my own knitting patterns. Before too long I developed tendinitis in both my wrists which caused me to not knit for close to two years. Despite giving my wrists time enough to heal, knitting is still something I can't do for any length of time (when I do have time for a hobby because of baby, haha). I felt a bit lost.

When Aaron and I opened up our store, I because the face of the company so started really focusing on my hair, makeup and clothes. Blogging about all that was fun. Even when I was pregnant, I really enjoyed it.

Now that I've had Dean, and I'm busy with him and the store, I'm not quite sure what to do with this place. I don't have a lot of time to devote to it, and my mind is so busy being preoccupied with my insecurities, I don't really want to keep blogging about that. I feel like I'm in this transitional stage right now, and I'm trying to figure things out. Over the past week or so I've been reading everything I can get my mouse pointer on in regards to blogging.

- Wonder Forest
- Autumn Leaves
- A Beautiful Mess
- London Beauty Queen

These blogs all have posts that I've read and re-read. These gals have their stuff together and really understand blogging. I really appreciate what they have to say, and I've learned a lot. After doing all the reading, I find myself noticing that my blog is lacking (according to them)- I'm not a good writer and I can't take good pictures (nor do I care to get a pricey camera, tripod, lighting, and props). Not that that's a big deal because I'm not trying to be a crazy super popular blog, just a blog that some people enjoy reading. So what do I do? What do I write about? What am I even passionate enough about to write interesting blog posts about?

There isn't an easy answer to that, so I'm not doing anything. I downloaded this blogging app for my phone called Bloggo to help with "blogging on the go". Maybe that'll help me get the blogging juices flowing.

With all this being said, I'd like to say thank you for stopping by and reading my blabberings. Honestly, I really really appreciate it. I'm just one gal with a tiny spot on the huge internet. Hopefully you'll stick around and see where this transition takes me. <3

Outfits

One of my favorite Christmas gifts is this WWE Fit Series: Stephanie McMahon workout video. I'm a cheesy big wrestling fan so when I heard this was being made I just had to have it. Aaron surprised me with it after going on and on about how he couldn't find it. Great surprise is great! It came with a monthly work out guide which Aaron and I have been sticking to so far. We started on the first and my thigh are still a bit sore from that workout!

Flannel - Target | Black tank - RedBubble | White tank - Target | Pants - Target |
Shoes - Amazon | Necklace - Bead'all Bug Beads
Working out has been making me feel pretty good about myself and thought I'd start taking outfit pictures again. (Gotta love those good endorphins!) I went through my closet and got rid of 75% of my wardrobe and paired down to minimum. Now I only have clothes that fit me right now and clothes that will fit me great when I lose weight. No more putting clothes on and then feeling bad about how I look. Everything I own fits me in a way that I'm completely happy with.

Cardi - Old Navy | Black tank - WWE Shop | Red tank - Target | Pants - Target |
Shoes - Target | Necklace - Bead'all Bug Beads

Typically I use PicFrame for my outfit pictures but I recently started dabbling with Petapic and I like it a lot. It has a ton of cute backgrounds and styles which is really fun to play around with. Since the collages are rectangles it won't work for Instagram but I think it'll work perfect for the blog.

Cardi - Forever 21 | White tank - RedBubble | Black tank - Target | Pants - Target |
Shoes - Toms Shoes | Necklace - Bead'all Bug Beads
Right now I'm really liking black and white tanks layered with colored tanks and cardis or flannels. While I've always loved wearing layers, I think seeing all the cute pics of Kkarmalove on her IG account brought it to a whole new level. Since I started following her account I've purchased five or six black and white tanks. To be honest, I really should buy some of her white and black shirts from her shop!

Cardi - Ebay | White tank - Target | Green tank - Target | Infinity scarf - Target
Pants - Target | Shoes - Target
In addition to Kkarmalove, Kayla from Love.Sparkle.Pretty is easily one of the pretties ladies I've ever seen and her style is so effortless looking and elegant. Even when she's dressed casually, it's stunning.

What styles to you like? Is there one type of style that defines how you dress? Are there bloggers who inspire you? If not bloggers, who else inspires your fashion?

9 Day Fashion Challenge - Days 8 & 9 - What I Learned

This is a challenge I'm giving myself to help me feel confident with my post-baby body. You can catch up on previous days here~ [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

It's done! My 9 Day Fashion Challenge is over and a success. It was a neat experience limiting myself to such a small range of clothes and making so many different outfits with them. It was very creative and inspiring!

As fun as it was, the challenge ended up being a lot harder than I thought it would be. I figured it would be easy to just put on a predetermined outfit and go about my day~ giving me more time in the mornings to do other things, and feel more confident in myself and my body. Turns out it wasn't that simple. Some outfits I felt were too plain and I had to spend time fixing that. Some outfits I felt really out of my comfort zone which made it hard for me to leave the house lol! I learned a lot during this challenge, but before that, let's go over Days 8 and 9.

■ Day 8
Sadly, this outfit didn't make it out of the house. I accidentally stretched out/ruined the shirt out while taking it out of the washing machine making it unwearable. Total bummer! I tried it on two days in a row to see if I could wear it to work, but no.


Image made on Polyvore


Ugh!

Pro tip: do not YANK clothes out of the washing machine. This shirt was thrifted so I'm not too upset, but I did personalize it with the fabric paint. Oh well. I'll just do another one!

■ Day 9
This was probably the second best day of the entire challenge. Partially because this meant the challenge was over, and partially because this is something I would wear on a normal basis so I was very comfortable in it.


Image made on Polyvore


It was card night at the store and we were having so much fun we forgot to take pictures while the sun was out so inside pictures it was. Hehe, oops!

On to the things I learned during this challenge!

1. My body (mostly my tummy and arms) aren't as small as I would like but I'm ok with that. Well, I'm more just accepting the fact that they look how they do, than ok with it. If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen my biking pictures so I have been exercising. In addition to biking I've been doing push ups and other arm workouts intermittently. It took nine months for my body to be what is it now so I shouldn't expect it to go change in any less time. Baby steps. I'm working on it.

2. I really pushed myself out of my comfort zone with the dress. It isn't something I would normally wear, even before my pregnancy, so the days when I wore it were the most challenging. That being said, I now know more of what I feel looks good on my body and what I feel comfortable wearing. Maybe if I found a solid color dress like that I would feel more comfortable wearing it. Having my arms toned up a ton would help too.

3. I need to tease my hair more often. Not to make my hair crazy big, but just enough for a little lift. Even if I don't curl my hair or do my makeup, I always feel like I look good when my hair is teased. I think it would have made a difference in how I felt a few days if I had done that. Getting my baby ready to go in the morning comes first, so I don't always get to my hair. I should make a point to always teasing my hair first thing after blow drying.

4. When the time comes that I do a second Fashion Challenge (because I really want to do another one) I will choose one item that is only slightly out of my comfort zone instead of way out of my comfort zone. The dress was nice, but I underestimated myself in the dress. This way I will love more and feel great in more of the outfits.

So speaking of a second challenge, some of the items I'm thinking of including in it are: flower print shoes, hi-top sneakers, crop top tshirt, and a long maxi(?) skirt. Depending on if I get inspired or not, I might try fabric painting another shirt or two.

What did you think of this challenge? If you have any comments or suggestions on what I could add or do differently let me know. It would be fun to hear what your thoughts are on this challenge thingy. Thanks a lot for reading this long novel of a post! ♥

Lastly, I'm linking up with Ash's Little Friday Link Up. Yay for lots of awesome blogs!!

Fave Blogs of 2013

Hey everyone and happy Friday! Hope everyone is ready for a great first weekend of the year. I am~ wooo!!

Over the last year I found tons projects and people that inspire me so much I just have to share it you all! One of my goals for 2014 is to share with you more often all the things like blogs, music, tutorials, crafty ideas, fashion-y ideas, food stuffs, and everything in between that inspire me.

Today I want to start off with some awesome bloggers that kept me coming back for more over the course of last year. Their hearts, passion, faith, desire, and drive are nothing short of awesome. The way they write their blogs is endearing and inviting~ it's something I strive for and really want to learn how to do with my blog. These gals all have a fun and happy space on the internet and I want you all to see it. :D

Without further adieu, here they are~

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Contemplating Beauty



What I love about this blog is Gina's self-reflection and courage to face every day fighting. Her kind words always seem to speak to me and her wisdom I take right to my heart. She is madly in love with her family and you can just feel it by reading her writing. She gives encouragement and advice, and embodies grace and kindness. Every time I'm on her blog I feel like I just plopped down on her couch with a blanket and a cup of coffee and made myself at home.

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Lovely Little Whimsy



Carina's blog is full of pictures of her family of 7, faith, food, and fun. She just recently welcomed their fifth baby into the world and so she's full of little tidbits, thoughts, and ideas of being a parent. Her grounded look on love, family, and balancing life is something that I look up to and want to emulate when I become a mom.

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Love Sparkle Pretty




Kayla's blog is full of beautiful items she makes for her shop, as well as DIY's, blogging/photography tips, and her thoughts about life. Sometimes I take blogging way too seriously and her blog reminds me to relax, keep my goal in mind, and carry on. I always leave her blog with a smile and determination.

cute 'N' roll



Cute 'N' Roll is an Italian blog full of super cute outfits, adorable little dogs, and make up reviews. Alice's outfits are fun and playful, and so many of them I want to try and replicate once the weather gets warmer. Her hair style is gorgeous, which I just love it and must learn how to do it!

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Even Artichokes Have Hearts



I keep coming back to this blog for the sewing and gluten-free baking DIY's. Her sewing style is fun but simple, creative but not intimidating. And her baking tutorials are delicious! These Easy Peasy Biscuits do me in every time. And I am pining over the stamps for these cookies she made. Who would have thought of stamps on cookies? Gah I love this blog!

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Much Love Illy



This daily fashion blog I found a few years ago while knitting blog hopping. Illy was modeling a cowl she received from a gal and it was then and there I was 100% sold on cowls. Illy's easy style, friendly smile, and overall cuteness made her blog such a fun and inspiring place to return to regularly. The way she shares so much of herself on her blog makes it easy to feel like you're friends ready to go on a coffee date, or go watch movies together in pj's. Her blog encapsulates FUN and that inspires me so much to make my blog a fun place also.

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The Marvelous Flight of Cara



Cara's enthusiasm and gung-ho attitude in her writing is infectious and I love it. I feel like each time she sits down to write a blog she just dives right in with all the of joy and happiness in her body. You can tell there's a fire burning inside her and it's just bursting to get out. I absolutely love it. It's inspiring and just makes me love blogs and blogging that much more.

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Hima Hearts



Hima Hearts is a cute little blog I found through blog hopping before the holidays. Hima is nothing but smiles in every blog post~ whether it's holiday related or school finals. She seems to do everything wholeheartedly and with this beautiful smile on her face. She was inspired to blog after reading The Happiness Project and so she fills with things that make her happy. Hima Heart's is a joy to read and I look forward to reading more throughout 2014!

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Definitely take a second or two to check these gal's blogs out~ you won't be disappointed. What blog(s) were your favorite last year? Are there any that you would recommend I check out? ♥