things i'm loving right now

If you follow me on instagram, you know we started potty training this week.

Day one was tough. But, day two was better and day 3, I am ecstatic to report that we were accident-free on day 3! That's a major big deal.

With all the staying home and working with the 2.5 year old, things can get a little bleak at times. So, in an effort to look to the bright side, I decided to make note of things around around the house that I'm thankful for. 



1. This necklace.

I had Hannah, do a little custom color combo of her necklace from her shop. I love it for so many reasons and one of those is the fact that it reminds me of my dream! I know, a lot of you are still waiting for me to share to details on that dream and I will. Just not today. Hopefully very soon though.

Anyway, Hannah has tons of other super cute things in her shop. Go now and see for yourself!


2. This album.

Every morning we pump it up after breakfast and fill the house with praise. It's amazing how a little worship music can help a sour mood when an accident happens. It's been vital to my sanity this week and I ended up making a little print with the lyrics from one of my favorite songs.



Also, little bit of history for ya, I met Chris Tomlin back in the day. I was in high school and kind of thought we would get married. I mean look at us, we were even matching.



God had different plans for both of our lives. I'm pretty happy with how mine's turned out so far but I can't speak for Chris :) Ha.



3. The Vitamix.

I got it for Christmas after oooohing and aaahhhing over it for years. I have used it EVERY single day since. No joke. Every day. Sometimes twice a day. Like yesterday, smoothies for breakfast then salsa in the afternoon.

It's the real deal folks. I'll devote a whole post on my love for the Vitamix later, but just know, I love it.



4. This print.

I got it from Heather's shop before Christmas and now it sits proudly on my mantle. It's just perfect for my house. The quote is pure awesomeness and on top of that - the antlers and added touch of girly. Love it. So yeah, go to her shop and bookmark it as a fave. 


And two more.

 

5. This song.

It's really catchy and gets stuck in my head every time I hear it. I can't really understand all the words - and will probably end up googling them after I type this - and I don't completely understand the meaning but goodness, it just makes me happy. If if weren't super cold and there weren't two kiddos in the backseat, I would roll my windows down and crank up the volume every time it came on.

Also, the husband had KC lights on his high school car. So there's that.


6. The mug.

My friend, Katy, shipped it to me. Our Target's were all out and she loves cats so much she just had to pass on that love with me. Kidding. If you know Katy, she doesn't really care much for the feline variety. It probably pained and embarrassed her when she was in the checkout line with it but she's super sweet like that.

Mug-swappers for life.

She also has an awesome shop. Go see for yourself.



Sometimes it's the little things. Sometimes it's the big things. And I'm going to keep this pretty light, as most of my posts are, but really folks, none of those things matter.

Sure. They make me smile. Dance. Sing. Drink. Whatever. But without Jesus in my life, I wouldn't even know happiness and he's been my real strength this week with the potty training. He's teaching me to enjoy life more in him and just be free.

Bam.

Bet you didn't see that coming, especially since one of my loves was a questionable country song!

Ha. Just keepin it real folks.

2 months shy of a year

How in THE world are you already 10 months old little girl?!

I am shocked at how time has just whizzed on by with you. Weren't you born like 2 months ago? No.

Forgive me if I try to impede your progress so you stay my baby forever. Okay, I really won't do that. Or will I?

Well, here you are.



Your new favorite activity is chasing your sister around the house with your little walker toy. She pushes her dolls in a stroller and you follow behind. You both laugh hysterically at each other. It's pretty awesome.



And those teeth. Gracious girl. As soon as one cuts through another starts working its way out. It seems you can't get much relief. I hold you and comfort you as much as you'll let me, then it's back to you moving around and exploring your world.

 

Now let's talk food. You are so picky. I don't know if it's a texture, temperature or just taste thing but goodness, you will not eat it if you don't want to. Some days you'll eat a little turkey, other days you purse your lips tighter than I knew was humanly possible - just at the sight! You are giving me a run for my money on the eating front.

But, what troubles you give me in the food department, you make up for in your sleepiness. You take great naps, like 2 hour naps at a time! And, you sleep 11 hour stretches at night! You are gold. Unless the teething wakes you, then you just need a little pat and rub on the back and you go back to twirling your hair and off to dreamland.



You are a rock star baby. I love you more than I ever dreamed possible and I have loved being your mom every day of your life and I thank God each day for the blessing you are.



Now, I'm off to find a time machine to keep you my baby just a little while longer, although, I know I'm going to love getting to know you even more every day to come. So, maybe I'll skip the time machine and just soak you up as much as I can.

I love you little one.

december photoaday recap

Nearly a month late, but finally getting around to finishing up my photoaday challenge for 2012!

Here's my month of December in photos.



1-too pooped to party 2-volunteering at church alongside my husband 3-looking up 4-diva 5-staredown 6-tough face 7-dumb and dumber had it wrong with the world's most annoying sound 8-sushi from the sandwich shop 9-shopping sans kiddos 10-a little shop sale 11-reading while she naps 12-camel cricket 13-desicions 14-holding them close 15-estate sale shopping with little sister 16-tea party with the littles 17-mug art 18-spring rolls 19-her nap buddies 20-new scarf with new pants 21-christmas train 22-riding in the house 23-i must hae been a very, very good girl 24-reading about the One who came to save the world 25-merry christmas from us 26-green smoothie time 27-picking out her own groceries 28-cinnamon rolls 29-our christmas fun 30-sock, the new teething ring 31-happy new years eve

And now to pat myself on the back for finishing something I started and not missing a single photo a day for an entire year!

For larger images and explanations, check out my flickr 2012 PhotoADay set. You can also click on these links to see January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November collages.

In case you're new around here, I'm @recipeforcrazy on instagram.

Free Valentine's Card

Hey folks, just wanted to drop in and let you know that any order made this week only from my shop will have a free Valentine's card included in your order.



You pick the card and mention this post at checkout, along with your card choice, for your free card.

Happy Tuesday!

9 months

Let's pretend for a second that I didn't forget to take your nine month pictures, okay?

While we're at it, let's pretend that when it snowed, near when you turned nine months, that I planned on taking you pictures outside in the snow and let's pretend this post isn't like, almost an entire month late. Okay?

So sweet girl, here you were at nine months!



You have changed so much! In one month you got 4 teeth! It's been a little rough but we've done a lot of snuggling and cuddling to help ease the pain.

Your once content little personality has blossomed into a something more aggresive after you learned to crawl and pull up on things.



You do not give up and it's earned you a new knickname, Tenacious A. I love seeing your fierceness come out, even if your sister doesn't :)



You love everyone you meet but your family is your favorite, especially your momma, me. You and sister play a lot more now and you both really love each other.

You are a little picky when it comes to food. You don't eat everything I make, stinker. You like most any fruit but spit any vegetable out and then purse your lips if I try to give it to you again. I'll win you over one of these days.



Oh, and I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but you always sleep curled up on your pillow. And what may possibly be the sweetest thing ever, you twirl the back of your hair to fall asleep. It melts me.

Little girl, you are loved so very much!

Okie Pride

You know I'm from Oklahoma right? Born, raised and livin' in this grand, land.

If you've been around this blog long, you know I love pretty much anything local.

Food.

Festivals.

Parks.

Shopping.

Artists.

The list goes on.

So really, it was only a matter of time before I took my Okie love and added a little something to my shop.

If you follow me on instagram (@recipeforcrazy) you've already seen this but for those of you that don't, here's the new Okie pride print available in my shop:



I know, that's four, not one, but those are the different color options available. You know I had to represent good ol' Oklahoma State and I couldn't leave out your Sooner fans!

So, if you have a little pride for the great state of Oklahoma, go get a print from my shop and hang it with pride!

november photoaday recap

Remember that one time I blogged more and stayed up to date on my photoaday challenge? Yah, I almost forgot about it too. Then I realized when I took time off that I never posted the final two months of my challenge.

So, although we're already in 2013, I wanted to finish what I started. Here's my month of November in a collage:



1-coffee at a tea party 2-sweet anthro display 3-i love them 4-thankful for these moments 5-hoping the tea does its magic 6-i voted 7-nap time 8-my sweet new donut mug 9-light at woodward 10-they found their christmas present 11-these two 12-new print in the shop 13-trying to escape wore her out 14-someone is standing 15-my fam on a billboard, nbd 16-einstein bros in t-town 17-she slays me 18-friday donut date 19-happy mail 20-thanksgiving prep 21-the husband's pecan pie 22-leaf fight 23-100th sale in my shop! 24-anthro goodies 25-nutella ritzies 26-standing again 27-naked tea party 28-sending out orders 29-friday donut date 30-my little helper

Whew. It's weird to post those since it's been over a month and a half now but I enjoyed looking back at them.


Maybe I'll post December's photos before my January 2013 recap :)

For larger images and explanations, check out my flickr 2012 PhotoADay set. You can also click on these links to see January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October collages.

In case you're new around here, I'm @recipeforcrazy on instagram.

Giveaway Winners

Thank you to everyone that commented on the "dream" post last week. I loved reading every comment and hearing your dreams or words for the year. Thank you also for all the encouragement!

And, the first winner of the Dream poster giveaway, as picked by random number generator, entry #38, amosclutchpedal! (send me your email to lesleyzellersdesigns(at)gmail.com)

Winner number 2, also picked by random number generator, is entry #2, Katy Jo!

Congrats ladies!



If you didn't win, you can still get your own print from my shop and I'm extending the 20% off coupon code today, use DREAMYLOVE at checkout.

Happy Monday!

dream a little - er - BIG dream

Hello! I'm back. For today anyway :)

I have so many things I'd like to post and hope to get back in the swing of it here soon. But, for today, I'm just going to unload a little.

Do you pick a word for the year? I know a lot of people that do and I love hearing their words and watching them develop over the year. Words like: intentional, secure, trusting, and hope have stood out to me. All good words and all great things to improve in a year.

But I've never done the word thing - maybe it's because I don't stick to too many things I start out on and knowing me, I'd probably lose sight of my word within the first couple of months, if not weeks or maybe it's something else.

But this year I wanted to have a word.

Something to improve on daily. Something that I'm really not very good at. Something that would hopefully change my life.

I thought and thought and prayed about what my word could be. I think I started thinking in December.

But, I never could settle on a word. Maybe because I'm just so great at everything that there's little room for improvement? kidding.

January came and still no word.



I gave up on having a word for the year and quit thinking about it.

And wouldn't you know, when I quit on having a word, one plopped right down in the middle of my life and kind of screamed at me!

Before I tell you me word, I'm going to fess up to something.

I'm a pessimist.



I lack a certain optimism when it comes to my own life. For others though, I'm really optimistic and think the best things will happen for them.

But me, not so much. It's not that I don't think good things will happen in my life because they do. Every single day.



It's more about when I'm faced with change or opportunity that I tend to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. I've always said it's being realistic but you know, that's not really it at all because more often than not, the good happens and the worst never comes close!

I've always looked at my pessimism as a way to protect me from being dissappointed when my dreams don't come true. But you know what I'm realizing? My pessimism has caused me not to dream.

I mean, I have wishes and goals. Small things that I'd like to accomplish. Things that I leave up to myself to make happen. Things that I feel if I work hard enough, I can accomplish all on my own.

How selfish, prideful and sad does that sound?

Instead of dreaming big dreams that I can't do on my own, like I ever did anything on my own anyway, but you know what I mean, I settled with little wishes that don't even really matter.

Instead of opening my heart and mind to a world of possibilities that only God can accomplish, I've been content struggling on my own just to make baby steps.

My pessimism has been a crutch and I want to live a more hopeful, optimistic life. A life full of big dreams.

So that, my folks, is my word for the year: DREAM.

Que, "I had a dream once..." (yet another Tangled reference on the blog.)

Anyway, this year I'm opening myself up to dreaming big dreams. Dreams that I can't do on my own. Dreams that only God can make happen. Dreams that I don't even know I have yet, but dreams that I pray God will place on my heart and then use me to his glory to make happen.



It may not sound like much to a lot of you and that's fine. My word is for me and trust me when I say, this is a major step for me.

As a reward for sticking with me on this mega long post, and to encourage and remind you to dream too, I'm doing a little giveaway!

Two people with win one of my new prints in my shop:





To enter, leave me a comment telling me what your dream is or if you have a "word" for the year. Make sure you include a way to contact you if you win.

**Update - giveaway closed. Last counting comment Sandy W.** I'll accept entries until Friday night and announce the winners on Monday!

Oh, and while I'm talking shop-talk, I have some new cards in ready for Valentine's day.



Here's a code for 20% off your entire purchase from now until Friday night: DREAMYLOVE.

Okay, that's it. Happy Wednesday and good luck!