Inspiration

When life gets me down, I just remember this day - having a baby can teach you so much about life. The best things in life hurt like hell but are worth it when its all said and done!



It goes by fast so take in each moment and let the to do list go from time to time, its gonna end up in the trash when the list is done anyway and a good memory lasts a lifetime.




Today is my lil guy's 8 month birthday...only 4 more months til he's a year. It feels like yesterday that I brought him home. Life is precious!

Remake Inspired by Dresscue Me

This past year I discovered the show, "Dresscue Me" on Green Planet. The show follows Shareen Mitchell as she reworks Vintage dresses for her clients both famous and every day folk from her LA and NY store. A few birthdays ago I got a sewing machine that never got used as I got pregnant soon after and was busy with my new life role.

Fast forward to this past spring. I was looking into the future at my cousin's summer wedding. I wanted a new dress, but didn't have the funds. I went down to Rescued Treasures, a local thrift store, and started looking for some real finds. I brought home several things to include a dress that cost me $5. It was a long sleeve, high neck dress with three flapper inspired, pleated skirts. I made a mistake and forgot to take a before picture. But I worked with my friend, Sabrina, and when we were done, I had spent $3 more to a total of $8 for a new dress. We took off the top and made it a strapless dress, then cut off the last skirt so we were left with 2 skirts. See the result in the pictures below. Not only had I saved money, but I felt proud of my accomplishment. I have a few other dresses that I have plans for, so keep an eye out for those in the future. From now on I will take some before pictures.

Note: I am the one on the left in both pictures.

Adventures in Mothering - Dropping the Ball, or in my Case, the Baby

I had a heart wrenching moment just a week ago. Its taken me this long to write it down because I've been in shock. A week ago I was walking in the house with baby in car seat. I had undone the belt and was walking across the kitchen, when a little rock happened with the car seat just as Caleb jerked, and you guessed it, Caleb came tumbling out - Ahhh!!! My heart fell out of my chest and grabbed for my now crying child. I pulled him to me and ran to the chair to nurse him and hopefully bring comfort. I called the doctor to be sure he was okay, and of course he was. He did have a mark on his cheek for a few days, but the mark in my heart was much worse. I know with kids, especially boys, wounds will be inevitable, but the first time for me was traumatic. A song comes to mind - "The first cut is the deepest, baby I know..." - Cat Stevens and Sheryl Crow would be so proud.

We will be okay and hopefully it will be a long time before he incurs any other injuries, like 18 years, and hopefully it won't be because of me. A mom can dream!

Get Over It

Have you ever noticed how we tend to focus on the negative? I was once told when we fall down on walking down the sidewalk we don't lay there and cry that we were so stupid to fall, but we get up and keep walking, yet in life too many times we find ourselves stopped crying over a fall. I too am guilty of this, but I see too many people focused on the fall instead of the road ahead.

People make mistakes and as I look at the lessons I want to teach my son, this is an important one. If I spend time hiding mistakes or focusing on my failures I am teaching him that there is fault in falling, but really the fault is in not picking yourself and continuing on. We need to take responsibility for our wrong actions, when applicable, but we need to learn from it and move on. Dwelling does no one any good. I want Caleb to know that mistakes and failures are just a part of life. Finishing something means something when you've learned from mistakes along the way.

Encouragement for the Journey

It can be hard to see straight sometimes when we look directly into our lives. The wreckage to our dreams that comes with the territory of being a human being on planet earth can many times be too much.

Lately, I have seen friends stand amongst the ruins of their lives in bewilderment and as I too face challenges, I think we all need a little encouragement. Take it from me, you are amazing. Don't let the stuff around you tell you any differently.

Look around you and see the faces that come and go past you on a Sunday through Saturday. Let them know they are special. Give out hugs (guess what they are free). The thing is you may need some encouragement but most likely someone else needs it too and the great thing about smiling and hugging is that two people can benefit. :)

Don't give up! I'm here with you in the thick of it myself and while I can't see down the road too far in the distance, I can tell you we will make it! This dream may have crashed and burned but there is another one down the pike. We can do this! Find your wings and fly from the mess you stand in, into the light. Circumstances don't always change, but I am tired of being a victim of all thats around me. So I'm ready to walk out with my joy and spirit still intact. Anyone want to join me?

Let's Go!!!

Mountains in the Road

Its no secret life is hard, and if you don't know that you are either delusional or incredibly lucky. The thing is no matter what each day brings, and how hard it can get, I see how God has a plan. He shows me that he hears me and takes care of the things that are really important to me.

As a girl, I dreamed of growing up and having an easy life. I dreamed of everything going exactly perfectly with few hiccups, if any at all. Unfortunately, that just isn't reality. Just as I get past one mountain, I only walk a short way before I come up to another seemingly insurmountable hurtle in the road. The truth is they will keep coming on this side of heaven. Its not trusting God to keep them from coming, but trusting him to take care of me in the midst of them. I can rest in him to carry me through. I don't know what tomorrow brings, but God does and he will direct my path.

The fact is, he already has. As I approach another difficulty, I see God's hand. I see situations in my recent past that let me know he was preparing me and giving me his best at just the right time. That gives me hope and encourages me through the journey. God cares about my deepest desires and he is at work in each part of my life. That's pretty cool if you ask me.

Falling in Love

Nothing monumental happened today, and yet it happened. I fell even more in love with my little boy. I am just mesmerized by his actual being. It's official he has me wrapped around his little finger (and usually shoving it in his mouth).