New Town, New Era

We recently sold our house after it spent almost 2 years on the market. Now granted part of the reason it took so long we believe is that it was priced too high. We switched realtors after a yr and 5 months. We were using a family friend that we thought would sell it fast and it was hard for us to change to a different realtor. Anyhow after about 3 months we sold it! 

Since it took so long it was harder to leave. The longer we stayed in that house the more it became apart of us. It was our first house. The house we brought home our first adopted dog to. The house we had the heartbreak of our first pregnancy loss. The house we brought our dear son home to. We had wonderful neighbors but we knew it wasn't our forever home. 

However, when that day came to say goodbye to our first house it was harder than I thought it was going to be. To see all our possessions leave was hard to take. They belonged in there didn't they? It was hard for me to imagine this as no longer our house. I wanted to get in there and clean it as fast as I can but it was as if it was gripping at me and saying 'Don't go! I promise I will be a better house!' haha crazy! The worst part was when our son walked into 'his room' and saw it empty and he started uncontrollably bawling his eyes out. That was hard. What were we doing to him??? But it had to happen some time. I was driving 2 hours round trip with him ever...single...day. What kind of life is that for a baby, toddler, and now preschooler. He was 3 months when I started my new job and now 2 years old. I know crazy! But that's how long it took. 

The day we said goodbye was one of the hardest days of my life. I couldn't stop crying and wondering. Are we doing the right thing? We should have just bought a house. We are going to go through this again in a year? We will have no room at the townhouse. What if we can't buy our own house in a year and I just feel suffocated, closed in? All these thoughts went through my mind and it was just chaos in my brain! 

Well I'm here to tell you...three months into our new journey...I am so content! Nothing like I thought it would be! I feel like we have more room to spread out. If something goes wrong with something in the townhouse, we call the maintenance guy. I know someday we will own our own home again but until that happens I am content with living here, saving up and paying off debt. That's the plan. 

When we were moving and I was looking for ways to cope with these emotions, looking for blogs that people shared their feelings and maybe offer some hope at the end, I didn't find it. If you are looking for that, I am here to say that no matter what you may be feeling about leaving your first home, you will get through this. It is normal to feel this way. The normal process of continuing on your journey in life. You will look back and think I was worried? Why? That was so silly. Just remember, a house is just a house, it's a material possession. You are a family, and wherever you are is home.

This photo was taken the first few months we lived at the house in 2009.

Melissa and Doug review

Hello all, Happy belated Valentines Day! 

I just wanted to give a quick review on the gift we gave our son for valentines day. We didn't get him candy as he is only two and I feel like that's just asking for trouble! Anyway, I love following vlogs on YouTube and came across the mommy vlog Imamommyof1 and she was doing a review of the Melissa and Doug reusable sticker pad.

She said it is great to keep kids occupied when you are at a restaurant or out waiting somewhere.

It reminds me of the color forms we had (well, I had) as kids. I am pretty sure I had this one,

which was one of many. Ah the memories and the vivid photographic memory! Let me tell you, my son loves his sticker pad! He has been playing with it twice a day the past two days he has had it. I definitely recommend them! There are a couple if options for boys and girls. I have found them on Amazon, Melissa and Doug's website, Michaels (where I bought his), Target and even at Homegoods! They range in price between $4.99-6.99. I have been recommending them constantly since I heard about them! You and your child won't be disappointed! Great gift! I love Melissa and Doug products!

Put a wreath on it....

This past weekend I got a little creative bug and decided to complete one of my pins on pinterest. I made a burlap wreath. I was searching for a Valentines and St Patrick's wreath but none of them I found really were my taste or the price I wanted to pay. So I decided to make a burlap wreath and make bows for the different holidays- late winter through summer. I bought a wire wreath form, a roll of burlap and both heart and plaid wire ribbon to make two bows- one for Valentines Day and one for St Patrick's Day. 

When I got home and got settled I set to work making the wreath and the bow. After looking at several youtube videos I found the tutorials that best suited what I wanted to accomplish and use the materials I had purchased. 

And drum roll please....this is my finished product!

Not too shabby for my first try right?

I do want to add a wooden 'H' to it once I figure out if I want to paint it or wrap it in twine.

So I am set to go for the upcoming holidays just need to add different 'doodads' to it. Haha

New Year, New approach...

Well we are a good two weeks into 2014. So hard to believe! I have really been thinking about this blogging thing and want to get back into it. I love to write and I love to read other mom and wife blogs so I want to revamp mine. 

What I plan to blog about:

- Review/share my favorite or new products - family, mom and kid related.

- my love of organizing and when we move I plan to share how I finally organize the way I want to.

- what is going on in our world.

- I plan to include guest bloggers

- My pinterest pin completions. I have several that I want to complete or try in 2014 and I have even created a 2014 pinboard! Click here to go to mypinterest !

So with that I am going to sign off for now but here is to more blogging in 2014! Hopefully I can live up to that!

Fascinated By Hats

I have been interested in hats ever since Kate Middleton was photographed with William at a friend's wedding. I have come to the conclusion that we here on this side of the Pond need to adopt this trend of fashion. It would add so much more flair to wedding attire. Fascinators are also such a neat accessory. I googled fascinators and. It said basically it is an alternative to a hat or basically a miniature hat

Now currently the only event that many women in the United States where hats is the Kentucky Derby in early May. This was adopted from the British from the Royal Ascot. My husband and I are invited to a friend's Kentucky Derby party every year. I have wanted to where a sundress and a big hat (which is totally encouraged) but I don't have enough guts to. Why? Because its not natural here in the States. 

This past summer while on family vacation in the Outer Banks my mom and I went shopping a TJ Maxx. I happened to find a great straw colored fedora style hat. I bought it primarily for the beach to shield my fair skinned face from the glaring sun. However, I really want to get the guts up to wear it this summer. I have resorted to Pinterest to find ideas on how to use it to accessorize some outfits. The hat is similar to this one...   

So what do you think? Should hats be brought back into fashion amongst all of us commoners here in the States? My vote is yes!

I am embarking on one of my New Years goals. Not resolution, goal. I actually wanted to start this last year whenever it would come to my mind, I was avoiding it because I just didn't think I was worthy of writing a book. I have always been a journal writer but as I get older it is harder and harder to find time or find myself awake enough at the end of the day to journal. I would really like to keep up with this blog too and make it a bigger and better blog. We'll see. Anyway, I really wanted to write this book not only as a reminder of where I came from and a way to bind all my memories in one place (yes I intend on publishing it if not only for my own possession). I also wanted to write it so my son or future child as well to have a written record of what their momma's life was like. I always wish I had that of my grandparents lives. 

Now as far as New Years Resolutions go, they say that by Valentines' Day you have failed at them. The reason being is that you should never resolve to do something because it will never happen. You should set goals. Not just goals but descriptive ones. Here goes mine...

1. Write and possibly publish my book

2. Have a devotional time by following one of my plans on YouVersion.

3. Be a kinder wife by taking a breath before I start hammering my to do list down my husband's throat.

4. Pray everyday

5. Spend more time teaching my son things at night even if I just want to sit on the couch and veg.

6. Start walking a half hour each day. Trying to at work and when we move at home. Work up to running again so that by August I can enter the Tim Russell Memorial 5K run.

7. Have the armchair that has been sitting down in my parents basement redone by the summer.

8. Meal plan once a week and have rotating meals.

And there you have it...Here's to a great 2013!

New Beginnings

When I last posted in this blog there was alot of uncertainty in our life. We had been in our house for a year and we had just lost a baby early in pregnancy. As I write this post I think about how blessed we are. 

We have a beautiful baby boy

A cute little doggie that that baby boy just adores and goes wild for.

We have had a wonderful starter home that has become apart of us however we are growing out of it.

We have a two wonderful families that care about us.

We have two stable jobs- praise God for his timely providence.

We have our health.

I look back and see how God has guided us through all the rough and smooth times.

If we didn't go through things the way we did exactly we wouldn't have our beautiful baby boy who brings such joy to our lives and those around him. 

I  We are ready to embark on the next chapter. We are putting our first home up for sale.

We plan to move somewhat halfway between our two families. We spend more time in the area we are looking to move anyway. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am nervous, and somewhat hesitant however. I mean I know this is the Lord's will because everything up until now has gone smoothly. I just need to faithfully pray that He calm my heart and lead us to the right home and sell ours accordingly. I am a planner by nature and have trouble giving the lead to others. However, I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants the best for us more than we could ever imagine. 

As I sit and type this, I can even believe how fast the 3 years have flown in this house. They all blend together. But I ask you to pray for the Lord's leading in selling our home and buying a new one. We plan to stay in the next home for awhile so there we have a list of things we know that we want to have in that home. It's just finding the one. I know that we can't have everything on that list but a good majority would be wonderful to find.

This is the way I've always liked to do things everything in one year. 

When we got married I moved away from the town I knew and loved to move to a new one. I changed jobs (well just offices), and got married. 

This time I had a baby, changed jobs, and am moving back to the town I attended private high school in and closer to the one I grew up in. 

New baby, new job, new house, new beginnings.......