Lauren

Dec

07

InstaFriday: Dec 7th

Photography  Posted by / 2 comments

instafriday

1. A is for Anna.
2. If only all grocery stores gave out free sugar cookies…
3. Smiles for Auntie LaLa!
4. Cousin picnic in December.
5. Best buddies or future love triangle?
6. 4 toddlers standing still. Yes there were cookie bribes involved…
7. No vampires in our house. Only 8 cloves used in last night’s dinner.
8. Reason for the Season. I love live nativities!
9. Not too sure about Santa…
10. So this is what a tantrum looks like. On the naughty list that day.

Dec

05

A Handmade Christmas: A Gift For The Newlyweds

Crafts  Posted by / 0 comments

handmade christmas

Don’t you just love receiving handmade gifts? Ok, so maybe that knitted fringe shawl from Aunt Sue was the exception, but for the most part, nothing says “from the heart” more than a handmade gift. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to give a memorable present to a loved one.

Today I would like to share with you an easy and fun DIY Christmas ornament you can make for your newlywed friends.

wedding invitation ornament

I will preface this in saying that this gift is not my original idea. Of course I got the idea from pinterest, but I gave it my own spin. You can see other examples here and here.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • a clear glass ornament
  • wedding invitation
  • coordinating fabric ribbon
  • exacto knife and ruler (or paper cutter to cut straight lines)
  • pen or pencil

Here are the simple steps:

1. Cut the invitation into long thin strips. I would recommend making the strips about 1/2″ wide, but use the script on the invitation as your guide. You will want to be strategic in cutting the strips so that you capture key details, including the wedding date and the bride and groom’s names. I also cut strips from the envelope.

2. Carefully curl the strips around a pencil or pen (as if you were curling your hair with a curling iron). As you unwind, the paper should stay curled.

3. Insert the paper strips into the glass ornament and fasten. If needed, you may use a pair of tweezers to gently manipulate the strips in the glass to make a name or date more visible.

4. Add ribbon, a charm or any other embellishment to finish your ornament.

5. Ta-dah! The newlyweds will be thrilled with their personalized ornament commemorating their wedding day.

wedding invitation ornament

I made this ornament for my friend Traci. I love the way her ornament turned out, and I believe it started with her gorgeous  invitation:

wedding invitation ornament

The colors and texture really added to the visual interest. If you are working with a more standard invitation, you may consider incorporating other details from the wedding like a menu card or even some ribbon from the wedding program.

This idea could also be used to commemorate other special events like a family vacation or even a sporting event. For example, you could include strips from tickets stubs, sand from the beach, anything really. Be creative with it!

Are you giving any handmade gifts this Christmas?

Dec

04

Baby Bumps and Candycanes

Personal / Pregnancy  Posted by / 4 comments

This past weekend we headed up with some friends to celebrate Christmas in Davidson. Davidson sure does Christmas right – complete with lights, trees, carolers, horse drawn carriages, hot mulled cider and even a live nativity scene. The kids had a blast, staying up WAY past their bed time.

My dear friend Cheyenne is expecting a little girl in February. She is just 6 weeks ahead of me. We had to get a picture of our bumps together. I am just shy of 24 weeks.

baby bump 24 weeks

Here’s Cheyenne’s sweet family:

Did I mention that they are the best wedding photographers on the planet and that they totally inspire me?

Thanks Cheyenne for taking a few family pictures for us. It feels like it has been months since we last got a photo of the three of us.

Anna enjoyed her first ever candy cane. Isn’t she appropriately dressed?

What Christmas festivities is your family participating in this year?

Nov

30

InstaFriday: November 30

Photography  Posted by / 0 comments

instafriday

1. My little mail (and pie) carrier.
2. Rainy day.
3. Jon bribes me with this so that I help put  the lights up each year.
4. We bribe Lola with this so that she doesn’t destroy the tree.
5. Duck watching at the park.
6. Anna finished up her first gymnastics class this week. I think she conquered the beam!
7. I could use a mamatini after this week of deadlines and 5am wake up calls.
8. Would the paparazzi leave my child alone already? (Jon’s photo)
9. The house is officially trimmed and bedazzled for Christmas (thanks to Jon, the outside looks like Christmas Town).
10. What a difference a year makes…can’t believe how little Anna was last year.

 

Nov

28

Holiday Ornament Swap

Miscellaneous  Posted by / 14 comments

I was eager to join in on the fun of the this year’s blogger ornament swap hosted by Living In Yellow and Dreaming of Dimples. What a fun idea! Did you know that there are almost 200 bloggers participating this year?

I loved opening my mailbox to find this little beauty from Lauren Croswell:

ornament swap

Santa is hand-painted in the shape of the District of Columbia. Love it. Lauren, I’m assuming you are from the DC area? For those of you that are wondering, the ornament is from Designs by Angie – go check out her shop to find your state. Thank you Lauren! It’s so great to meet you and now I will have a reminder of you every year on our tree! By the way, you have a great name…just sayin’.

I also had fun selecting my ornament for Leanne over at Simply Beautiful. After reading through her blog, I learned that she and her husband purchased their first home this year. I thought an ornament commemorating this special milestone would be perfect. If I was really on my game, I would have handmade it. But that would require learning to crochet or knit…or whatever special skill was needed to make this cute little house:

ornament exchange

I hope you enjoy your first Christmas in your new home Leanne! May God bless your family this season!

Are you participating in an ornament exchange this season?

 

Nov

26

Gobble Gobble

Personal / Photography  Posted by / 3 comments

Thought I would share some highlights from our Thanksgiving. We actually went over to Jon’s parents’ house for appetizers early in the day and then headed over to visit my family for the main meal closer to dinner time. To say we ended the day with full tummies is an understatement.

Anna toiled in the kitchen all day long…

Anna LOVES to play in cousin Kaylee’s kitchen. It makes me super excited about her Christmas present….

It’s crazy to think about how much Anna has grown. Last Thanksgiving, she crawled for the first time. This Thanksgiving, she was running and dancing around the living room with her Daddy watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Now – for what Thanksgiving is all about: THE FOOD! (other than being grateful of course…) The highlights of the day are always stuffed mushrooms

stuffed mushrooms

and stuffed artichokes. Jon’s mom is an EXCELLENT cook – I dream about these artichokes, which mark the season each year.

stuffed artichokesstuffed artichokesthanksgiving tableturkey legs

We may have snagged a few of Nicole’s Nutella Cupcakes for the road…

nutella cupcakes

Anna held her own playing ball with the boys after dinner.

Hope you and your family had a blessed Thanksgiving!

Nov

21

Grateful

Personal  Posted by / 1 comments

grateful

This Thanksgiving, I am reminded of what I am grateful for.

I am grateful that I married my best friend. That he still knows how to make me laugh at myself. That he has my back. That he’s the best daddy in the whole world.

I am grateful to be Anna’s mommy. Her smile and sweet kisses light up my days.

I am grateful to feel our son’s precious kicks in my belly.

I am grateful for Zofran, Prevacid and Tums.

I am grateful to live in a safe, warm home that we can afford.

I am grateful that amidst this country’s great economic turmoil, Jon has kept his job.

I am grateful that Jon has a boss that cares personally for our family.

I am grateful that we have always been able to feed and clothe our child.

I am grateful that Jon and I both come from families with strong marriages. Jon’s parents have been married for 32 years. My parents have been married for 43 years.

I am grateful to have had a mom and dad who always made me feel loved, supported and secure.

I am grateful for my 3 crazy sisters – my best friends. Life wouldn’t be nearly as fun without them. And I would have made a lot more mistakes in life without having the opportunity to learn from them : P

I am grateful for my God. I am grateful that my identity is found in Him and not in this crazy broken world. I pray that everyone would personally experience the peace and fulfillment in their lives that only He can bring.

I am grateful that I live in a country in which I can worship freely, without fear of persecution.

I am grateful to have a wonderful church home.

I am grateful for our life group – for the men and women who challenge me and hold me accountable on a daily basis.

I am grateful for dear friends. Far and near.

I am grateful for the show Parenthood – my Wednesday morning DVR guilty pleasure.

I am grateful that in 4 days I will be the proud owner of an iphone. Yes this sounds like a shallow thing to be grateful for, but I’m about to throw my old phone against the wall for dropping calls and randomly turning off when I am mid-sentence. While I know I need to step away from screens more often, I am grateful for phones and even social media which allow us to to keep in touch with loved ones far away.

I am grateful for a great local library that provides FREE access to books and story time for Anna. And that the sweet librarians know me by name : )

I am grateful for Aldi. It sounds silly, but Aldi seems like the only place these days to affordably shop for groceries. Thank you Kristan for pushing me to GO. And no, Aldi is not sponsoring this post. But if someone from your company wants to donate some gift cards, I wouldn’t refuse…

I am grateful to live near MOST of my family. Can’t have it any better than to hop in the car for ten minutes and be at my parents’ or in-laws’ house.

I am grateful for laughter – the kind that makes you snort and ugly cry.

I am grateful for the warm cup of coffee Jon brings to me every morning, fixed just the way I like it.

I am grateful for my family’s health. It’s been a cancer-free year for my extended family!

I am grateful for our camera, and everything God is teaching me through photography.

I am grateful for my freelance design business. My awesome clients help support our family and allow me to stay home with our children. This is a gift I do not take for granted.

I am grateful for blogging. For the creative outlet it brings me and the friends I have made along the way.

What are you most grateful for?

 

Nov

20

Fears of Adopting

Parenting / Tough Stuff / Uncategorized  Posted by / 14 comments

scared to adopt

A few weeks back I shared with you our hearts to adopt. What I didn’t share with you is that the whole idea freaks the heck out of me. Have you ever known that God has called you to something but you are TERRIFIED to take a step forward? Has this kind of fear ever paralyzed you?

Well, I’m about to get painfully honest about some of the stuff that goes through my head when I think about adopting a child into our family.

I fear that we will not have the financial resources to adopt. Did you know that adoption can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $40,000?

I fear that I am not obedient enough to answer the call.

I fear that I am far too selfish.

I’m scared that I am not emotionally strong enough to handle the waiting.

I’m scared that I will not love my adopted child as much as I love Anna or our coming-soon son. There. I said that out loud.

I fear that I will subconsciously treat my “bios” (biological children) differently than my adopted child.

I fear that on a hard day, I will want to “send the kid back” and go back to life as it was before adoption.

I fear that I am not equipped to handle a child with special needs.

I am scared that I am not equipped to navigate the reactive attachment disorder often associated with adopting an older child.

I fear the adoption process wreaking havoc on my marriage.

I am scared of Anna or Baby Boy resenting their adopted sibling.

I am scared that Anna and/or Baby Boy’s emotional or physical needs may be neglected because of our focus on the adopted child.

I fear that Anna and Baby Boy will not feel as special because we didn’t “choose” them.

I am TERRIFIED of fostering a child with the intent of adoption, only for he/she to be ripped from my arms to be reunited with their alcoholic, drug addict mother. Yep, just said that out loud, too.

But then I remember my God and what he says about fear:

I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:9-10

He also tells me that because I am HIS child, I don’t need to live in fear like a slave:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8: 14-17

I know that the adoption process will not be without hardship and heartbreak. It will most likely be a roller coaster. This is part of sharing in Christ’s suffering. But…I will ultimately have the privilege of sharing in God’s glory.

I also realize that I am leaning WAY too much on my own strength and understanding. I’m making it about me. It’s not about me. It’s about God’s heart for the orphan. He will supply EVERYTHING I need in order for his purpose to be fulfilled. I leave you with one last verse, (which I need to memorize and inscribe on my heart):

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:4-7

Do you share a heart for the orphan? Stay tuned. I will be sharing ways that you can get involved. I will also be featuring encouraging adoption stories. Wouldn’t you love to hear from moms and dads who have adopted? If you have a story to share, please email me at lettersfromlala@gmail.com

Nov

16

InstaFriday – November 16th

Photography  Posted by / 2 comments

instafriday

1. & 2.  We put Anna to work last weekend. (Jon’s photos)
3. View from our messy closet. (Jon’s photo)
4. Getting my watercolor on.
5. Getting my craft on. Homemade Christmas card anyone? A lucky blogger just might be scoring this one!
6. Love the way the camera sits on my belly. Baby boy loves photography already.
7. Christmas shopping with Daddy.
8. Completed my first ever newborn photography session! Can’t wait to share photos soon.
9. Anna started gymnastics. Pretty sure she is the next Dominique Moceanu.
10. I repeat. The dog does NOT sleep with us…
11. Found her long-lost twin at the library.
12. Fashion Friday? Anna has been digging the monochromatic look. In gray of course.

For you insta-lovers…did you know that Instagram finally created web profiles? You can access mine here.

Nov

15

Inspiring Creativity – Back to Painting

Crafts / Design  Posted by / 6 comments

painting leavespainting leavespainting leavespainting leaves

Creativity is very unreliable. At times you can literally be bursting with inspiration. Ideas awake you from a deep sleep and easily captivate your daytime thoughts. And other times….well, you just find yourself stuck in a dark, lifeless corner. What do do?

For me, it means getting back to basics. I am learning that If I am struggling with a logo concept or simply lacking in fresh blog content, I need to step away from all my “screens” and get my hands dirty. Preferably in a bit of paint.

Taking a few minutes to paint some freshly fallen autumn leaves can do wonders for my frame of mind. When I am drawing or painting, I become so focused on the task at hand that outside pressures and deadlines seem to melt away. This is not procrastination; rather, it helps my brain relax so that I can actually be more productive. In order to break out of a creative rut, sometimes you just need to pick up a paint brush!

I encourage everyone to try this creative exercise. You don’t have to have to be an art major or consider yourself a designer to enjoy making your own art.

How do you get out of a creative rut?

 

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