HADLEY DESIGNS

Gold Foil

2013-05-20T11:46:00.002-05:00

I'm loving gold foil these day, and am having a blast designing with it right now for my client (and good friend) Caroline Reehl.

I've had the pleasure (and true honor) of watching Caroline develop as an artist. When we first met she was 22, fresh out of college, and beginning to follow her dream (and god-given talent) as an artist and ceramicist. In just short three years, Caroline has grown into a successful entrepreneur / business-woman / ceramicist. We just updated her logo and overall color palette (see below). I'm in the process of redesigning her website, blog, and other print material. She's wanting a more professional look, to reflect where her work is now.

Here's a sneak peek of her blog redesign. MUCH more coming soon! For now, you can follow Caroline here.

Caroline is so, so talented and an absolute JOY to work with. We've worked together for 3+ years, and have become such close friends along the way. Stay tuned for many more designs featuring this amazing artist!

Beautiful quotes with gold foil via Emily McCarthy.

How Great Thou Art

2013-05-08T10:58:00.000-05:00

I could watch this video over and over again. Wow. I've seen it so many times, but every time I get goosebumps all over and can't help but tear up. How could you not? God is so good!

And a special tribute to Vince Gill. We actually got to meet him last Thursday evening at the Mobile Rescue Mission event. His voice was AMAZING and he told the best stories. I just love his music, and most importantly, everything he stands for. He's about as solid and Godly as they come. See the powerful performance below at George Jones funeral. Vince, you are THE man, and we were truly honored to be in your presence.

Designer Spotlight: Lara Casey

2013-05-07T13:51:00.000-05:00

One of the best things about social media is that you stumble upon people and businesses you never would have known existed. Well, thanks to Instagram, I found out about this amazing entrepreneur, Lara Casey. Good gosh, whenever I feel like I'm working hard or making some progress, I just need to look at her work and step-up my game.

I don't know how she does all of this (with a toddler!) but she is definitely inspiring. I love following mommy designers. It's so refreshing to see other women creating fabulous designs and pouring themselves into their businesses, yet embracing being a mommy and putting their babies first, at the same time. I won't lie, being a working mom is not easy—to say the least. It's the hardest thing I've ever done, and I'm blessed to work from home. It's a balancing act (I could write a novel on it... to be continued)...BUT, the passion and faith Lara has behind her work is truly rare. I could read her blog and view her website(s) for days—that's how involved she is.

I personally have been very inspired recently and am wanting to take my business (my website/my branding/etc) to the next level. It's just hard to find the time, when I'm so swamped updating other businesses' branding and websites. Believe me, I wouldn't have that any other way (my clients are what matter), but it's people like Lara, who make me want to carve out the time to be the best I can be (as cliche as that may sound)...and most importantly, to do it for a greater cause. Check out her site here and her blog here, to see what I'm talking about.

Whew, she's one talented, BUSY lady, that's for sure. So here's to being inspired and many more "Designer Spotlights" to come...

Roberts Brothers Commercial - A Home...

2013-05-01T12:10:00.002-05:00

Roberts Brothers...A Home from Roberts Brothers on Vimeo.

Our new Roberts Brothers TV commercial hit the airways this week, and I am beyond excited to share this with y'all! There are very few projects that come around like this in your career. This has been without a doubt, my favorite project I have ever been a part of, and has literally been my (2nd) "baby" these past few months. (My #1 baby is the one walking in the first shot!)

A little background on the project...

My client (Roberts Brothers) and I have talked about doing a commercial like this for years, but we just couldn't figure out where to start. We wanted to come up with something that really captured the emotion and the meaning of a home. I had never produced a commercial before, but was willing to dive-in whenever the inspiration hit.

That inspiration came when I was watching the super bowl, and I was so moved by this JEEP commercial, with Oprah as the narrator.

It was an ah-ha moment for us and we thought: That's it! We need a script and a voice (not just any voice, but "the" voice) and powerful shots to back it up. I sat down at my computer, and in about an hour, wrote this script. I then presented it to Daniel Dennis (RBI President) and he loved it, and so our work began.

We teamed up with Cari Searcy (owner of All Good Creatives) for the video production. She is amazing and so talented, and we worked tirelessly together to make our vision come true. And also, a huge thank you to Cari's assistant for the day, the talented Devon Ford. We love working with Devon, and she helped Cari capture these shots. The commercial took an entire Saturday to film. We filmed it at my house, my neighbor's house and a RBI agent's house. We were so thankful for all of the people that showed up and acted out the parts. We couldn't have done it without their help!

The next task was to find "the voice". We knew this would make or break the commercial, and we spent months searching for the perfect voice. We looked all the way from Hollywood to Fred Thompson to Condoleezza Rice, and nothing was working out. They were either too expensive or just weren't the perfect fit. On our way home from the video shoot, I told Daniel my father-in-law's voice might be worth listening to. When we pulled up at my house, he just so happened to be there with my husband and daughter. We asked him to read the script, and immediately, we knew he was the one. After all this searching, the voice was right around the corner! Within a week, we met him at the recording studio. To say he was awesome is an understatement. Mack took our direction and nailed it! The fact that his voice is "the voice", makes this project that much more special.

The music is by the talented Sanders Bohlke. I went to Ole Miss with Sanders and have always loved this song, Lovesick Misery. I kept envisioning it as the instrumental. He was nice enough to take time out of his busy touring schedule, and rerecord this 60-second spot just for our commercial.

Whew...sorry for the long recap, and if you can't tell, this project was very close to my heart :)

Happy hump day everyone! May you always live and celebrate life in the home of your dreams...

spring fever

2013-04-29T12:10:00.001-05:00

Spring has sprung, and after years of dealing with the azalea bushes we inherited (which were literally drowning the front of the house), we decided to re-landscape our front yard. Right now, our front yard is bare...nothing but dirt! But everything should be complete this week and I can't wait to see the end result.

Since our front yard is off-limits, we spent some time working in the backyard this weekend. After about a year or so of neglect, it was time to finish raking, plant some flowers, and lay down new mulch.

We tackled this little area below, which is outside of our screen porch and a small walkway to the deck. It desperately needed some love and was looking mighty sad! We dug up the existing sod/dirt, planted simple plants, and put down new mulch. We used red mulch (~~because that's what the hubs came home with~~) because that's the color of the leaves that fall there, so it won't be as much upkeep.

We also tried to improve this little eyesore too. What a difference that made!

And every year we plant our herb garden. This year, I planted basil, oregano, parsley and mint. Our rosemary is the same plant from last year...you can't kill this stuff...which I love! See my previous herb garden posts here and here. I can't believe this is my 3rd year to blog about this. Time continues to fly by!

And for some reason, our mint does so much better in a pot by itself. I guess you live and learn, and I've learned mostly by trial and error.

So with just one Saturday of work, Calder has a much friendlier backyard to play in :)

And I can't get enough of those little thighs and pig tails! I.could.eat.her.UP!

The art of cross stitching

2013-04-26T14:07:00.002-05:00

Cross stitch is a true art form. It takes so much patience and creativity, not to mention time! My mom is so very talented, and for as long as I can remember, she has loved cross stitching. I think it's therapeutic for her—she loves to cuddle up with her colorful threads and stitch away. But what makes her designs so special is that it is all freehand, and not done with a pattern. If you've ever tried cross stitch or needlepoint, you know how hard that is!

I guess it runs in the family, because her mother did some beautiful cross stitch and needlepoint work. See the wedding sampler/birth announcement my grandmother did below. I don't think I've inherited this gene. I'm not patient enough for this, nor do I have the time, but I hope later in life I can at least try :)

And here's the amazing wedding sampler my mom did for us. I adore this so, so much, and it will always hang in our living room, and remind us of that special day. Every little detail reflects our wedding...down to the flowers, the church and the exact bench where Bruner proposed to me.

Mom recently designed this beautiful sample for Calder. I can't even describe how much I love this. It is absolutely beautiful, and something Calder will cherish forever, as well as her parents.

I could stare at it forever.

Mom, you are so talented and I can't thank you enough for these treasures. You inspire me everyday, and I hope I am half the artist and mother you are!

Going home

2013-04-22T14:28:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know now that I have a family of my own and am almost 30 (sigh), my "home" is in Mobile, but Chattanooga will always be my real "home." Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Mobile and have some of the best friends here I could have ever dreamed of, BUT, there's something about going home that makes you miss where you came from. It's where your roots are, where everyone knows you and who your folks are. It's like going back in time — to where all your childhood memories were made. And let's be honest, I may be near the beach in Mobile, but I miss the mountains! I guess you always love what you're use to :)

Bottom line is — I don't go home often enough.

When Calder's with her Grandaddy, she forgets about everyone else. I was a huge daddy's girl, so it warms my heart to see this. Of course, she loves SuSu too, but right now Grandaddy is "it"!

Calder with her Godfather, Uncle Jake.

The weather was perfect for a downtown river walk.

I love this place. I use to sprint up this zig-zag trail all the time, whew...those were the days:)

Mom will probably kill me for posting this photo, but I thought it was so sweet. I think they were very concerned about the wind in her face. Gosh, I love my parents. Calder-bear is so very blessed to have them.

The girl loves to wave ... to EVERYONE.

It really was the perfect weekend. We cooked out both nights, had several dance parties (Calder's dance moves are hilarious!), slept in past 7 am (which is a BIG deal), and laughed a lot!

Such a sweet, sweet time. Too short of course, but couldn't have been better medicine for the soul.

New Branding: Liz Legg Designs

2013-04-17T11:33:00.000-05:00

Liz Legg recently contacted me to develop a new logo design for her business. Liz designs the most fabulous jewelry and ceramics (mostly decorative bowls and platters). Her work is organic and edgy (not to mention good-looking!), and we wanted her branding to reflect that.

I recreated her personal signature, and we decided to use the top logo (in the image above) as her primary logo, and the bottom design as a possible icon in the future.

Here are some images of Liz's work. For now, you can view more of her work on her facebook pages (here and here), but her new website is coming soon!

Liz is based in Birmingham, but she recently had a trunk show at Debra's Boutique in Mobile.

I can't wait to see what's ahead for this talented, young designer!

Wise Words by Peter Marshall

2013-04-08T14:30:00.000-05:00

This may not be a "pinterest" design, but it is a quote by own kin, which makes me extremely proud :)

Every day I recieve a devotional from sweet Miss Janey, my college pledge sister's mother. She writes about whatever is on her mind, and many times I feel like she's speaking directly to me (or the Lord is speaking through her), and it's just what I need to hear. Well, today, her devotional consisted of this prayer by Peter Marshall.

I rarely mention this, but our family (The LeSourd's) and the Marshall's have been joined together through marriage (is that even how you descibe that??) by my grandfather (Leonard LeSourd, Author and Guidepost's editor for 25 years) and the New York Times Best-selling author, Catherine Marshall. I often forget that we are not related by blood since we've always been so, so close. To me, they have always my "grandmother" and "aunt and uncle" and "cousins". I NEVER put the word "step" in there. See this post for more background...but every time I read Peter Marshall or Catherine Marshall's words, I feel a HUGE sense of honor to be part of the family.

And a needed sidenote: My grandfather was so, SO special. Kind of like "my dad kind-of-special." You know exactly what I mean if you know my Dad. But my Grandfather had a heart of gold, and most importantly, a heart for the Lord.

Click here to read my step-grandmother's amazing story, and how she married my precious grandfather, Leonard LeSourd.

And while researching this online, so I could share some relevant, interesting links with y'all, I came accross this gem. Click here to read this article. That's my grandfather to the very left. And that's my dad to the left in the picture to the right. I think I look so much like him here!

It's so fun to see and read things about your family, that you never knew...

Adventures = sanity

2013-04-04T18:55:00.002-05:00

I love everything about this design by the talented Erin Haines of Be True Designs.

Easter Bunny Love

2013-04-03T22:17:00.001-05:00

I couldn't help but post these precious pics from Calder's first Easter egg hunt. I can't believe we didn't take any pictures on actual Easter day...but by the time we got to the grandparent's for lunch after Sunday School and Church, Calder was exhausted and ready for a nap!

Here's Calder with her BFF, Lelia Otts. Surprisingly, these little girls LOVED the Easter Bunny!

My mom ended up getting the flu during Easter, so we had to cancel our weekend trip to Chattanooga. (Please say a prayer for her, she is still feeling crummy!) BUT, we ended up making the best of our weekend in Mobile, and had so much fun at the club on Saturday for the Easter egg hunt. The weather really was beautiful!

Sad, but this is probably our best family picture from that day. We call Calder little "Miss Independent" these days...she likes to be off running on her own!

This beautiful dress was my sister-in-law, Anna's dress when she was little. So sweet that she got to wear her Godmother's dress.

She would spot the Easter Bunny from far away and run to him!

She kept calling him "BEA", which is our dogs name. Must have been the fur :)

Mack-Daddy loved walking Calder around!

When "the hunt" started, she forgot the Easter bunny for a second and searched for some egs...

But then, we searched for the bunny!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... 1 Peter 1:3

He has RISEN!

2013-03-28T13:15:00.001-05:00

A reminder of the true meaning of Easter. Yes, the easter egg hunts, candy-filled baskets, pretty dresses and pictures with the easter bunny are fun—but nothing compares to this. HE HAS RISEN!! Happy Easter everyone!

Throw Back Thursday

2013-03-21T15:34:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about having a blog is being able to go back in time and read my old posts. I love seeing how Calder has changed month to month, and I love going back over the years and reading what was on my mind then. It's weird how time goes by so fast as we get older.

All of my life, I've kept a very detailed diary/journal. But, since we got married and of course, had a child, that has changed, and this blog has become my diary. It's kinda scary when I stop and think about it...that my "diary" is public and anyone can read my thoughts (that usually don't make sense), but I try not to think about that too much. And I remind myself, only my momma really reads this :) I do want to get back to journaling though (actual pen and paper style), because it is so therapeutic, it helps me pray because I always write to God, and it's such a good thing to do for more reasons to list here...

That being said, I was going through my old posts the other day and stumbled upon this one. I wanted to re-share because it's "throw back Thursday" (first time I've ever participated in "TBT" on any social media platform), but also, just because I LOVE my daddy.

We CANNOT wait to go home on Thursday for Easter. They are dying to see Calder and we're dying to see them!

But, for everything my sweet daddy's done for me, I should blog about him every day.

Click here to read my Throw Back Thursday POST.

Kitchen with Sarah Otts Painting!

2013-03-19T14:00:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking that our kitchen needed a little punch of COLOR for a while. Don't get me wrong, an all-white kitchen was what I wanted and what I love, but it just needed some colorful artwork to tie it all together. I wasn't sure what to do with the wall space above the island extension, so I put a mirror there for the time being, and was reliant on flowers or bowl of fruit to add the "punch of color."

So, Sarah Otts to the rescue! Sarah custom designed this painting for this space, and it's just the amount of color I wanted. It's also the perfect use of color — these colors flow throughout our entire house and this painting could work well in any room in the house. She's one of my clients so we trade often. I do her website and blog design and she does some paintings for me. It's a wonderful business / best friendship / relationship we have going on. Love you Sarah!

She nailed it on this one, and every other painting she's done for me! Check out her amazing work on her website and on her blog.

And since my designer eye can't ever rest, now on to the window treatment. I'm still marinating on this one and have been since we designed the kitchen in August 2012. My husband loves to say "Rome wasn't built in one day" (he heard my mom say that and can't stop reminding me. Thanks Mom!)...but, I have taken that to heart. Sometimes you do have to live in a space for a while, to decide what it is that you want.

I'll blog about this soon and show you what I'm thinking for the window treatment. It always helps me to think out loud. And Calder loves to think out loud too, especially when she walks around the kitchen. Like Mother, Like daughter!

Lap's Grocery & Grill

2013-03-15T06:21:00.001-05:00

You've probably seen it, growing like a weed on the banks of the Causeway, right next to the state boat ramp. It's called Lap's and it will soon join the ranks of top notch restaurants on the growing seafood strip. (read entire news article here)

I always try to be a big supporter of new restaurants (Mobile could use dozens more). I hate to say it, but after living in Birmingham for a few years before moving to Mobile, I was spoiled with all of the great restaurants and shops. So believe me, every time a new place opens in Mobile, we try our best to support it.

Needless to say, everyone around here is getting excited about Lap's Grocery & Grill, opening Fall 2013. This four-in-one venue on the causeway will have a fresh seafood market, grocery & meat market, bar & grill and bait shop. And as you can imagine, they have a great need for design and creative work. Check out these amazing drawings by architect, Kim Kearley.

These images were from August 2012. So it has been a long time in the making!

I've been working with Bessie Lapeyrouse (Lap's Marketing Director) for a few months now and we've come up with several of these designs. We're in the process of working on new creatives, but I wanted to share these with you and help get the word out about Lap's.

These t-shirts come in different colors and will be sold at Lap's.

More designs coming soon. Visit their Facebook page for more updates!

Will Denniston did the original Lap's illustration above. Will is so talented — what an amazing drawing to work with!

Wise Words

2013-03-08T12:09:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday everyone! Here are few "wise words" with some design inspiration included.

And this last one is my very favorite. It's sad but true—this quote describes me all too well:) Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

all images via pinterest

Our New Playroom

2013-03-01T14:01:00.000-06:00

I feel like with children, you are always rearranging things around the house to make their play area better. It has to work on an everyday basis and not drive you crazy at the same time — which sometimes can be hard to accomplish!

In our house, the den is the best place for Calder's toys. It's right next to my office and the kitchen, and it's in the back of the house, so you don't see a big mess of toys right when you walk in the front door. Before, this side of the den had a round table in the center of the room that we used as a breakfast table. BUT, it was in the way of her toys and there wasn't much space for her to move around and play. See before pics below.

I've been wanting to do this for a while, but wasn't sure what kind of rug I wanted. I finally bit the bullet and bought this stripe rug from The Land of Nod. I just love it. I put a thick, comfy rug pad underneath, so it's super soft for knees. And with my mom's help and design expertise, we rearranged the furniture. Mom suggested we put the round table in the corner. At first, I thought this was a crazy idea, but she was right (aren't they always)!

We moved the chest to the corner of the den. You can see it now (to the left) in the picture below.

Calder loves playing with her kitchen and digging through her toy basket(s) here. She loves to take all of the toys out of the basket, and then put them back in. That is our latest fun activity! Believe me, this basket is usually empty and toys take over the room. But, that's what the "PLAY" room is for. The more toys the merrier!

And I love the new view from the kitchen and my desk. Wow, what a difference this made in our playtime with Cader-bear!

first steps!

2013-02-26T22:50:00.000-06:00

Tonight, Calder took her first real steps. She's been taking 2 or 3 steps off and on for the past few weeks, but this time is was the REAL DEAL! So funny because I started walking right before I turned 14 months too.

And this was Calder earlier tonight. She LOVES music and dancing — and head banging. It cracks me up everytime!

Such indescribable JOY to watch this precious child change and grow every day!

Designer Bags

2013-02-25T15:00:00.000-06:00

All three of these quotes seemed to go together for me. Love them and gosh, don't we all hate perfect and boring :)! I can't relate to perfect, but this quote always reminds me to be authentic and MYSELF. Nothing worse than trying too hard!

Wednesday Words

2013-02-20T11:52:00.001-06:00

A M E N ! So easy to forget but so important remember.

the BIG 3-0

2013-02-18T22:45:00.002-06:00

I keep hearing the Tim McGraw song "My Next 30 Years" in my head. Bruner turned the big 3-0 last week, and I think I need to come up with a list.

It's weird how 30 used to sound so old, and then you get there and it's like...so what? I've got a lot to show for these 30 years! 30 starts to sound younger and younger every day!:) I have to remind myself I'm not there yet, but will be soon in September.

I couldn't think of anything special to give Bruner for his big 30th birthday. I wanted to give him something he'd keep forever and then it hit me...a portrait of Calder! It wouldn't be a big or fancy portrait, but instead a simple, sweet watercolor by the amazing Susan Woodard, an artist based in New Orleans. I blogged about her recently (see this post) and just adore her style.

I contacted Susan and after sending her several different picture options, we decided on this one. This sweet photo was taken by Chelsea Francis Photography back in November.

And here's the magic she produced. This pic doesn't do it justice but it'll give you an idea. Calder's watercolor is hanging in the kitchen and even though it's "faceless" — we can still tell it's our boogie from a mile away!

Since our Birthdays, Valentines and Anniversary's always fall together (why is that always the case?) we decided we were due for a much-needed getaway—just us two. We splurged (for us that is) and booked one night away at The Grand Hotel over the bay in Point Clear.

it. was. wonderful.

We ate amazing meals at Master Joes Sushi and Camilla Cafe, took long walks on the bay, pampered ourselves to a 1-hour massage (Bruner's first massage ever), and just enjoyed being together without a care in the world. It was perfect, and one night was all we needed. I woke up missing my Calder-bear bad! My Dad came in town and kept Calder for the night, and they just loved every minute of their short time together. Granddaddy spoils Calder and gives her pancakes and ice cream for lunch! But, that's what grandparents are for, right? It's so special to see such a tight bond between my parents and sweet Calder. They really do love each other to pieces, and it's surreal when I step back to think about it...

So much has changed in a year and we are so, so grateful. Stay tuned for "My next 30 Years" list...hmmm...where to begin??

Credits: Photo of Bruner & Calder taken by Amanda Roberds Photography

Happy Mardi Gras!

2013-02-12T16:00:00.000-06:00

We've been busy this week with Mardi Gras! We had a blast (and Calder did too!) but we're looking forward to much needed down time.

Dropping off Calder at JoJo and Mack-daddy's before the Dragons ball last Friday...

having fun at her school parade!

Watching the floral parade on Saturday after the IM's barn party. She looks so much like Bruner here! I could kiss those lips right off her face!

And we had a great time at the OOM street party on Sunday. It's always one of my favorite parties and the fried oysters and shrimp are out of this world! My mom came in town all weekend and kept Calder so that was VERY helpful.

Here's a dorky picture of us before.

Throw me some beads ... daddy! Photo courtesy of al.com.

And here we are at the IM's ball Monday night. I love getting dressed up but I'm ready to go sans-makeup for a while too!:) My normal attire is a t-shirt and ball cap...so this is mighty fancy!

That's it for now. It's hard to get back into the swing of things but it sure is fun having Fat Tuesday off down here in Mobile...

all you need is less

2013-02-04T15:30:00.000-06:00

This becomes truer to me everyday.

Calder's procedure went well this morning—she got tubes in her ears and we're praying this makes a big difference for her! We are so thankful we caught this early and she hasn't had ear problems for too long...but you always worry as momma right? Love my little girl more than anything in the world and this quote is so true, especially when you really get down to what matters in life.

love my best girl friend!!

Super Commercials

2013-02-03T21:11:00.000-06:00

My favorite part of the Super Bowl is the commercials. I love football (but not pro-football...just college football) so I entertained myself with the half-time show (Beyonce=amazing) and the commercials. I'm working on several different commercial ads right now, and I can't help but be inspired after I watch these two videos.

Oprah's Jeep commercial and the Dodge Ram "God made a farmer" a d were the clear winners for me. The Dodge Ram "God made a farmer" a d definitely reminded me of my Ole Miss friends and their family farming traditions. Neither of these videos were funny or crude—but instead, they were powerful and struck a personal cord with people. And a result, they were effective and left you wanting to watch more.

I do think Taco Bell takes the award for the funniest. I agree with Bleacher Report. They may be old, but at least they can drive, get into clubs, get tattoos, and enjoy a late night Doritos taco at Taco Bell. And they are so old that the cops can't do a darn thing to stop them without looking like complete jerks. Suddenly senior citizenship doesn't look so bad.

And I have to mention the half-time show again. Seriously, that girl can dance! I just love her and she was so fun to watch!

Ok..so what were your favorites?? Please share!

Quote of the Week

2013-01-28T07:30:00.000-06:00

I love this quote about design by Steve Jobs. Many people miss this and he's right — design isn't just about beauty; it's about functionality. It must work. It must make sense. And most of all, it must make a difference.

I recently watched the 60 Minutes re-run on Steve Jobs (again) and was struck by the complexity of this man. Yes, he was a genious, but he was also very difficult and ruthless — and a true workaholic. His obsession with acheiving perfection (no matter what the cost) led to some of the greatest achievements in the tech world ever. What an interesting man and a true design legend.

Well, I've never been busier in my life, both personally and professionally (which explains my recent blog absence.) I am so blessed because I truly LOVE what I do, but I haven't been able to come up for air lately. I can't wait to show you what I've been working on and haven't had a chance to share much with you...so please stay tuned.

Whenever I'm in the shower or driving or trying to go to sleep...I keep thinking about all of these things I want to blog about and share with you. I'll sit down to write and then the phone rings, I'm distracted by an email or a text, Bea barks, ~~Idol or Parenthood comes on~~ or Calder wakes up from a nap...and it's back to life and the things that matter. A lot of times the day comes and goes and I don't know where it went!

So, thanks faithful readers. I hope to be a "blogger" soon :)