Stella & Dot!

I want to introduce you to my friends, Stella and Dot :) I knew of Stella & Dot but until my friend Krissy hosted a show, I'd never browsed their line. Now, I'm hooked. My "wish list" on their site is like 2 pages long. I love their chunky necklaces and fun colorful earrings. One of my absolute favorites, is this engraved necklace that Brian got me for my birthday. I've only taken it off a few times, and it still looks perfect!

I also have these items, which I wear often, and each time I get lots of compliments:

In addition to the super cute jewelry, they have adorable scarves and bags too! I am hosting my first party next week, and I am really looking forward to it. If you want to shop online through my "shop" you can do so with this link - Stella & Dot Trunk Show. As you'll see on the homepage, any of the awesome items that are already on sale, are marked down an additional 25% through Sunday, 11/30. A perfect excuse to do some holiday shopping and get a few things for yourself :) Happy shopping! 

thankful

It is the most wonderful time of year. No matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, it's such a wonderful holiday, and it marks the start of the holiday season. I've been blasting Christmas music in our house and my car, to get Madelyn in the spirit and I can't wait to decorate with lots of green and red. But not yet, first, its Thanksgiving.

As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. In a good way. I am so grateful, so thankful, feeling so blessed, my heart is so full. I am finally feeling like myself again, finally. With issues aside, I can focus on this crazy beautiful life, that I almost feel like I was missing out on for the last 6+ months. I had been so consumed with worry about my health, that I was just out of it. I mean, life is busy and chaotic on its own, so add in worry and stress from health issues and I feel like I was a bit absent. But, just in the last few weeks, aside from hurting my ankle and throwing my back (no joke!), I feel good - I'm back :) 

Back to being present, living in the now and having fun! No better time to be feeling good than now, the best time of the year! 

Lately, I feel like my heart is so full, it might explode. The last few weeks have been sort of quiet in our house, and I have literally been drunk on the special family time we've had. Lazy nights and quiet weekends with lots of laughs, smiles and playing with our girls. What do they say about it not being healthy to be obsessed with your kids? Well, whatever... I am, no shame. Madelyn is at such a fun age. Her imagination is budding and the conversations we have are so awesome. Anna, plain and simple, is a joy. She smiles and giggles all day long, and is so easy-going. Just like that, its like she completed our family and made everything right.

I am thankful that these two sweet girls call me, Mom. I am thankful for my husband, for being the person he is, for how he supported me and our family through the last few months, and for being my best friend. I am thankful for my family, who is such a special part of our lives and such a support. I am thankful for our home, and the memories we're creating here. I am thankful for our friends and family near and far, who are our village and help keep us sane! Lastly, I am thankful that my mom hosts the best Thanksgiving every year, and I can't wait to celebrate with Anna this year :) 

Wishing you all a healthy and happy Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble! 

#grateful #thankful #blessed #gobblegobble

Fall Fun!

WARNING - Picture overload! The last few weeks have been so much fun and I'm glad I have lots of pictures capturing it all. We had a visit from Gramma and Grandpa, went to a new farm with friends to pick pumpkins and go on a hay ride, celebrated Halloween (twice) and then had Madelyn's birthday party. This past weekend we didn't have as much going on, and it was just as much fun, just hanging together and relaxing. Here are some pics of our fall fun! 

Madelyn playing in the leaves as Brian was raking

Madelyn and Addy coincidentally matching at the farm!

love these three!

The girls with Gramma

The cutest Elsas at the Halloween parade in town

trick or treat!

Madelyn's 3rd Birthday Dress Up Party:

Miss M is 3!

I remember Halloween 3 years ago, like it was yesterday. We had to be at the hospital by 6pm. I had a big dinner before we left, knowing it would be a while before I ate again. I was as anxious as could be, nervous, excited, and scared. I cried as I hugged Quigley and said goodbye while he looked at me, like he could feel my nerves. When we saw him next, the baby that he had been constantly kissing and protecting in my belly, would be in our arms.

The next 24 hours were a blur, but almost 24 hours on the dot, Madelyn Jayne was born. At 6:11pm, in room 311, on 11/1/11 - Miss M entered the world. It was a feeling I will never ever forget. The love and joy that I felt, just overtook me. Just like that, we were parents and being a Mom felt so right. We had no clue what we were doing, but I embraced it fully. I don't even think I realize how ready I was. I loved every single solitary moment in those early days. Brian and I made a great team, and settling into life with Madelyn was perfect. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from our early days at home with her.

Forget the fact that I'm biased, Madelyn is the sweetest, and smartest little girl there is. She has a huge heart, just like her Daddy, and cares so much about everyone around her. She is shy, and it takes a little while for her to warm up sometimes, but before long she is laughing, screeching and smiling from ear to ear. From an early age, she surprised us with how quickly she picked up on things. She might have started crawling and walking "late" but she started talking really early, and now, we have full on conversations about everything. I look forward to our chats on the way to school in the morning, and our time when we wind down at night. I love hearing about her day, and cuddling before bed. She is a true joy and an awesome big sister! We love you Madelyn Jayne!

These pictures were taken of the birthday girl last week:

Bella Carta!

I don't know about you, but I kind of stress about sending out holiday cards. Like a lot of things, I usually leave it to the last minute, which is probably why I stress but with so many options out there, I just get overwhelmed. This year though, I have it all planned out and I wanted to share my little secret.

My dear friend Jill, has a love of design and stationary and this year launched the website of her company, Bella Carta Boutique. I don't know how she does it. She's married, works full time, has 3 kids and runs her company on the side, creating incredible unique designs for all of life's big events. She has designed Madelyn's birth announcement, birthday invitations, the girls baptism invitations and our Christmas cards and I am obsessed with all of them! They are unique, simple, and beautiful and I always get so many compliments on them! She also has a line of stationary and awesome custom stamps. Her line of Holiday cards this year is just beautiful and once I saw them, I knew for sure I wanted her to make our card. Now I just have to decide on the pictures ;)

Most recently she designed Madelyn's 3rd Birthday invitation, and I think it might be my favorite yet! Madelyn's birthday is Nov. 1st, and it's important to me to make sure that we keep her birthday separate from Halloween (my least favorite holiday). All I said to Jill was that we were going to have a dress up party, and I didn't have a theme beyond that. This is the birthday invite and I guarantee you, you wont find a cuter invite out there :)

She also designed matching favor tags and a few signs to help me decorate. For any events you have coming up - birthdays, showers, engagement parties, weddings, babies, you name it and she will create something beautiful and special for the day!

This month, she's donating a portion of her sales to St. Jude's Children Hospital. Such a wonderful idea, and I can't wait to place my orders to support her and this amazing cause. Check our her website and get ahead on the holiday planning! You can thank me later ;)

sisters!

I love this quote, and having been blessed with a wonderful sister myself, I believe it fully. Having a sister, is a gift, and having one that you can call a friend, is really special. When we found out that Madelyn was going to have a baby sister, I was so excited. My sister and I have always gotten along well.  She is 7 years younger than I, yet she surprises me with her wisdom and her maturity has helped us become best friends as if we were the same age! I am so thankful for the relationship I have with her and I wish the same for Madelyn and Anna. I am sure they will fight over toys, makeup, and lots of other things in between, but I hope they will always get along and cherish the relationship they have started! 

To say that Madelyn has welcomed the role of big sister is an understatement. From the moment she met her sister she has adored and loved her. Not only does she help me with her, but she always wants to make sure she's OK, and she talks about sharing her toys and the things they'll do together when "Anna gets bigger." Anna thinks her big sister is pretty neat too. She was the first person Anna really laughed for, and no one can make Anna smile as big as she does when she watches M. It's just too cute. Here are some pictures of the girls having fun together!

Last, but not least - the best picture of them yet! Taken by my awesome and talented sister :)  <3