Lis Dunn Designs

Greater things... Introducing my new ASSISTANT!!

2016-02-09T12:08:00.001-06:00

Some days I have to pinch myself because I am so in awe of the way that God has orchestrated the details of my little business. Not because everything has "just happened" but because I am seeing the fruits of so many years of prayers and perseverance.

One of the most amazing things is, like it says in Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us", We have these ideas of what "good" things are supposed to look like in our lives, and then He says "I hear what you're saying, but MY plans are for something even greater!"

This was the case with someone that He has brought into my life! For the past two years, I have been saying that I really need to hire an assistant, and for the past 2 years, business has continued to grow beyond what I can handle on my own. Now, I have an amazing support staff in my family! They are always there to help when I am overloaded, but most of them also have other jobs and school. So I began to pray that God would bring me the right person to help me, and He delivered in a way that only He could! In the short time that I've know her, this girl has become a dear friend & sister with the most beautiful and bold servants heart. On her first day of training, I explained to her all of the things I may need help with... some fun, some mundane. Her response was something that gave my heart that final sense of peace. She said "I don't care what it is, I am just happy to serve you!"

I am so thankful for this girl and I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to my new assistant,

Julie Scaduto!

LDD: A few of your favorite things…

JS: Life verse: Psalm 139:14(NIV) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Color: Mustard Yellow (I know, weird right??? I blame my grandmother. She had mustard yellow accents in the room I slept in when I went to her house. I guess it just reminds me of her and the beautiful flowers she grew in her flower garden at her house.)

Food & Drinks: Tacos, Tacos, Coffee and did I mention TACOS! Also, my moms creamy chicken and rice casserole.

Music: This is always changing, but right now I am really into Justin Townes Earl, Rend Collective, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and Leon Bridges. Basically anything I can sing and dance to I love!

Hobbies: I absolutely love to sing and worship so that's probably my favorite hobby. I also love to go hiking. I love soaking up the presence of God there, just being surrounded by the magnificent beauty that he created is my favorite place to be. Oh, and cooking!!!! I find it extremely relaxing to prepare a meal for my family and friends.

LDD: What made you want to work for Lis Dunn designs?

JS: I love the heart behind the company. I received my first Lis Dunn Designs piece from my boyfriend Brice almost two years ago and it was stamped with one of my favorite sayings "better things are yet to come". He has been telling me about his student's mom who was donating all of the proceeds of one of her designs to help some of his kids get to summer camp so obviously I checked her out on instagram, pinterest and facebook to see what this lady was all about. I fell in love with Lis's elegant pieces, her passion for helping others and her heart for Jesus. I finally met Lis at the Main Street Market in spring of 2014. After we had chatted for a bit I told her "if she ever needed help with anything to let me know" and she responded with "I actually might take you up on that". I had no idea those words were going to come out of my mouth, but it happened so naturally. I knew at that moment this woman was going to be in my life for a reason. Since then I have had the privilege of getting to know Lis and her becoming a wonderful friend. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful business. Lis truly is the real deal. She loves God not only through her daily life but especially through her business. That is something that I admire and am glad to be a part of.

LDD: How do you feel you can best contribute to this company?

I love accessories, fashion and all things pretty(especially gold glitter) so I know this is a great fit. Haha but honestly, I am so excited to come alongside Lis and help her business grow and flourish the way I know God has plans for it to. My brain is already filling with ideas and inspiration for pieces and photoshoots. I am also a planner and decorator so I cannot wait for our shows! I am most excited to be making pieces that are affecting the lives of those wearing them just like I know her pieces do for me.

Welcome to Lis Dunn Designs, Jules!!

Dear Sweet Teenage Girl

2016-01-05T00:19:00.000-06:00

This is for you, sweet girl

I remember what it was like to be a teenage girl... and oh how I would love to go back and embrace that girl and love her more and tell her how beautiful and loved and treasured she was. That the body she was so ashamed of was actually a beautiful vessel for running races, giving the biggest hugs and carrying the very best gifts that she could ever imagine!

I remember feeling like I wasn't enough.

I remember the pain of my parents divorce and the first time I really felt depressed and wondered if anyone would miss me if I were gone.

I know what it is to feel the loneliness and shame of an eating disorder.

I remember feeling like if I didn't fit a certain mold, I would be an outcast and disliked.

and how alone I felt when all of my friends were headed off to college and I was going to be a teenage momma!

oh, there were so many times that I fell short and disappointed people and compromised on things that I knew I shouldn't.

but you know what...I know this sounds crazy now, but can I tell you how incredibly thankful I am for all of those struggles! I have seen God use every one of them for good!

There are some truths that I have learned through the pain and the celebrations that someone needs to hear right now...

1. You are SO not alone on this journey, even though it feels that way sometimes!

2. Those problems that you are facing right now... I know they seem like the end of the world, but they are not going to destroy you! You have so much more strength within you than you can even imagine!

3. Those bully's {or maybe even "friends"} that tear you down... They're unhappy with themselves and it likely has absolutely nothing to do with you. Do not give them power over your life!

4. YOU be the one to build you up! Don't rely on a man {or anyone else} to do that for you! Write out and repeat words or scripture that inspire you to be your very best!

5. Seek out friends that will call you higher! Surround yourself with people who not only want to listen to your struggles, but will celebrate your successes. And more importantly, YOU be that person to others. It will have an amazing impact on your life!

5. As long as you have breath in your body, there is an amazing purpose for your life. It may not be obvious now, but please trust me on this one!

You are so very loved and treasured!

One Little Word 2016

2015-12-30T00:04:00.000-06:00

Hello lovelies! I hope that you had the most amazing Christmas and that your heart {and body} have found a little peace and rest. I know I am enjoying a little bit of down time with my loved ones!

I so look forward to this time of year! While I love the season and Christmas and family and all of the celebrating, I also love the calm after the storm... reflecting on the blessings and also recognizing what I DON'T want to do the next year. I know this time of year gets hectic for most people. This year seemed extra stressful to me. I hate to even say that out loud because I am just so darn sick of the glorification of BUSY!!

In case you are new to my blog and business {welcome!!}, each year, for the past 7 years, I choose ONE LITTLE WORD to focus on in the year to come. FOCUS is not something that comes naturally to me, so I know that I need to be intentional. My words in the past have seemed very easy to land on and they have been BIG and EXCITING and FULL OF PASSION. Choosing my word for 2016 has NOT been easy. I would land on a word and be convinced that I had found it, then a few days later, feel strongly about another powerful word. Some of these words included... JOY, BOLD and CONFIDENCE. Those are fun, right!? They just weren't meant to be MY word.

There is this verse... it just kept persisting... I wasn't sure why, but it just kept coming back to mind

I was reminded of situations over the past few months that needed attention, situations where there was busy-ness, but no peace. Situations where I allowed negativity to over-take my thoughts. Why is it that we can have an overwhelming amount of support, encouragement and praise from most, but when there is one "not-so-kind" word spoken about us or our work, THAT is what we dwell on. I was not okay that I wasted any amount of time and effort entertaining thoughts that were not life-giving. I knew that if any of my girlfriends expressed these feelings to me, I would immediately remind them how loved and valued they were and that those hurtful words from one person should hold no merit! Why would I not have the same standards for myself. I am the daughter of the most high God and His plans for me are TRUTH! That is when it hit me. I was not hearing His words because there was too much noise! Both literal noise and the noise of busy-ness!

There was a sense of peace as I landed on my one little word for 2016...

While I will also strive to be purposeful and passionate and brave and bold, my primary focus this year will be to just "be" and "have" quiet. That means eliminating the "noise" that keeps my heart from hearing God's voice. That means taking the time to do some yoga and meditation. It will mean turning off the TV and Radio sometimes. It will mean slowing down to really put life in perspective when necessary.

Friend, I pray that this year YOU will be blessed and that new adventures will find you.

I pray that you would be intentional about your life and not take one moment for granted.

You are so loved!

I have created this 14k Gold-filled piece for myself for this years word...

{I will be listing this, along with other new designs throughout the week!}

You Are Loved: A Campaign to Bring Awareness for Suicide and Depression

2015-11-06T17:11:00.002-06:00

Today I attended the funeral of a dear High School friend. A friend whose bright light, smile and positive attitude would encourage and uplift everyone who would ever have the pleasure of knowing her. She was a friend whose love for Jesus was evident in the way that she lived and loved others, even when it wasn't the "popular" thing to do! I so admired her for that! I regret that I never took the time to tell her how much her faith meant to me all those years ago.

Sadly, this wasn't the first funeral that I had been to where Suicide was the cause of death. It isn't the first time that suicide has affected my life and it is definitely not the first time that depression has had a hold on someone that I love. Every time something like this happens, it's heartbreaking. It is so hard to make sense of and there are always so many questions that may never be answered on this side of eternity. What I do know is that God is able to use anything for good. We want to love those close to us a little harder. Hug our babies a little tighter. Pay closer attention to those around us that seem a little "off".

Years ago I read an article, one that I wish I had kept because it has been so impactful on my life. You know, those words that jumped right off of the page as if it were written just for you to read at that very moment. While I don't remember the magazine or all of the details in that article, this is what still resounds with me years later. It was an interview with a woman that lived in a third-world country and she said this {I'm paraphrasing} "In the west {that's us!}, you pray that God would take away your painful situation. Here in the East, we pray that God would give us the strength to deal with the situation. We pray that the pain would not be wasted"

WE PRAY THAT THE PAIN WOULD NOT BE WASTED!!

I can't tell you how much these words have changed my life!

God, please do NOT let this pain be wasted!,

This resonated LOUD when I learned about my dear friend's passing.

I am not going to allow this to be "just another sad story" "just another tragedy"

This is someone's daughter, best friend, mother, wife, teacher, encourager...

This could be anyone's everything.

The world now looks different to those who are grieving. It's no longer whole. Songs no longer have the same meaning. Even the grass and the trees seem different. Just breathing in and out is a task that takes intention.

I want to do something. I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!

When someone is diagnosed with Cancer or MS or any other debilitating disease, the whole community rallies around them to plan fundraisers and bring awareness about that disease.

When someone is diagnosed with depression, they hide it in shame. It's a lonely place.

I know that I alone can't do everything... but I can do something!

How I could use the gifts that I've been given to be a blessing in this situation?

{All items can be purchased HERE}

I had been working on some "you are loved" pieces for my holiday collection and I knew that those words were meant for this cause. These pieces will be released early and 50% of the sales will be donated in this way: 25% of each sale will go to a memorial set up in Larinda's honor and 25% will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This site has amazing resources to educate yourself on depression, warning signs of suicide, risk factors, statistics and help in your area.

If you are struggling, please don't keep it to yourself. Share your feelings with someone! You are so loved and your life matters. If you suspect that someone else may be struggling, don't ignore it. If you're not sure what to do, find someone that can help.

Big Hugs and blessings to you!

You are loved!

Lis

BRAVE

2015-10-23T14:13:00.002-05:00

"She believed she could, so she did!"

Dear beautiful, wonderful girl,

That's right, I mean YOU! Do you have any idea...

How amazing you are?

How smart you are?

How talented you are?

How BRAVE you are?

There are so many things about you that the world needs more of! What are you waiting for!

Steph and I have been working on this idea for a good while now... it's funny how the most beautiful things in life come from some of the most painful things. The concept of "Brave" was born of some really trying circumstances... trials that looked different in each of our lives. Even in the midst of adversity, both of our hearts desired to make beauty from what seemed broken...To rise above our circumstances that seemed hopeless...To trust that His plan was so much better and so much more fulfilling than anything we could hope for in taking the easy route...To move past the fears that kept us from being our very best version. This was going to take bravery.

THAT WAS IT!

There are women everywhere, just like us, with a story to tell. With burdens that seem so big to carry. With dreams that they are too afraid to explore. Is that you? What is it that has you paralyzed? Can we just sit and chat for a minute? Are you ready {go ahead, grab that coffee!} Please hear me out on this...

You are bigger than that job loss. There is something better than you had imagined just waiting for you, but you have to go get it!

That divorce that turned your world upside down and completely stole your confidence does not define you. Your beauty and value are not found in a man. YOU are so very loved and treasured. If it means saying those words in the mirror until you believe it, then do that!

That child that is sick was given to you with very careful and intentional consideration. It's not going to be easy, but every precious moment that you are present and choose to live life to the fullest will be so worth it. You GET to be his/ her mother and your fierce love is an inspiration to all that know you!

That dream you've had since you were little, you know, the one that keeps popping up. The one that brings a sparkle to your eye and passion in your soul every time you think about it! What is holding you back from pursuing that? Your age? Money? People might think you're crazy? They may not like it? Who cares! At the end of the day, you have to be true to YOU! It might take a lot of hard work? Heck yeah it's going to take a lot of hard work! Nothing rewarding ever comes easy!

What is it in YOUR life that is going to take some Bravery to move forward?

You have what it takes inside of you to be BRAVE, you just have to choose to access it!

We are so very excited to announce our 3rd and newest candle in our collaboration series.

BRAVE was created with a beautiful blend of fresh scents chosen to inspire and uplift.

{including top notes: white grapefruit, petitgrain, tangerine and clementine. Mid notes: mandarin, mimosa petals, geranium, lemon and basil. Base notes: Bamboo, juniper berries and musk}

The candle comes with a removable, hand-stamped, stainless steel charm that says "she believed she could so she did" along with an arrow charm that can be worn on a necklace or attached to a keychain once the candle has burnt out!

Each candle is 9oz with a 70+ burn time

$20.00

If you are interested in purchasing one of our candles, please visit

One Love Candle and Bath {online}

In Store at:

530 Windsor Road

Loves Park, Il

SO IN LOVE

2015-01-24T21:51:00.001-06:00

I have found the one whom my soul loves
Song of Solomon 3:4

Doesn't the sound of that just make your heart smile!

I have always loved this verse and as I've gotten older, have been more and more intentional about trying to live in it's truth.

I think we sometimes see the big screen and assume that if our relationship doesn't model that type of connection, we must either be with the wrong person or we're not worthy of love.

I assure you, God has other plans.

I think of the person that I was when Dennis and I were first married 16 years ago. Thank you Lord that he stuck around!! I have always been in love with this man, but I was selfish, independent and more often asked "what can you do for me?" rather than "what can I do for you?"

I love the way that it's said in the NLT of Genesis 2:18 "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him."

I GET to be that helper to my husband!

THAT IS A HUGE HONOR!

I didn't always see it as such. I've {slowly} discovered that it's not about getting what you want in that relationship, but about growing together, encouraging each other and loving one another, even when the road is bumpy. and if you have been with someone for any amount of time, there WILL be bumps in the road, but the way you handle those bumps together will only build strength in that relationship.

I understand that some of you may not be in that relationship yet, but please take heart... God has it under control. Don't rush to get there, trust that in His time, YOU will certainly find that ONE that your soul loves!

As many of you know, I have had the AMAZING pleasure of collaborating with Steph of One Love Candle and Bath on our now second candle together.

We wanted to create something that focuses on this kind of LOVE and encourages nurturing and embracing that love.

SO IN LOVE was born!

It features a complex blend infused with six essential oils featuring a rich base of amber, vanilla, musk and sandalwood with lively top notes of jasmine, lavender and orange. The beautiful glass jar is adorned with a hand-stamped, keepsake tag that says "I have found the one whom my soul loves." that can be removed and worn on a necklace or added to a keychain.

We are so proud of and excited about this collaboration!

Steph is absolutely amazing at what she does and I am so in love with this scent! It appeals to both men and women and is just the perfect, romantic blend.

Once again, we had the pleasure of working with the amazing Kelly Hubert on photography. I am so very thankful for this trio of ours! Kel just gets it! We tell her our vision and she runs full speed ahead to make it even more amazing than we even had planned. She has the most beautiful heart and is so dedicated! YOU are such a blessing, my friend!

In addition, a HUGE shout out to DC Estate Winery in South Beloit for allowing us to do our photo shoot there!! This place is GORGEOUS!!! If you are in need of a beautiful wedding location, or you just want to get away and do some wine tasting... {they even have art and wine classes} Please check them out!!

Steph and I pray that you will love and embrace our latest project!! That you will spend time nurturing the love that is right in front of you and remember what a treasure that is!
You are so very loved!

You can find SO IN LOVE for sale at these locations...

Infinitely Sweet in Rockford, Illinois
Milkman's Wife in Rockton, Illinois
The White Trunk in Rockford, Illinois
The Mission Shop at Rockford First

Online at...

www.shoponelove.net

www.lisdunndesigns.etsy.com

One Little Word 2015: PURPOSE

2014-12-27T20:59:00.000-06:00

pur·pose

noun

1. the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

verb

1. have as one's intention or objective

This will be my 6th year choosing a "word of the year"... my "one little word", if you will!

I have loved the process of deciding on the most poignant word to sum up my focus and objective for the year to come.

2014 was an eye-opening year. In a good way! My word for 2014 was "confidence" and the year before it was "choose" I really tried to be intentional about my choices.

Primarily, the choice to allow God to direct my path.

This was a BIG one!

Giving up control is not in my nature. Does that come easy to anyone?

Because of that one choice; my family was strengthened; my business was blessed & new, beautiful & encouraging friends came into my life.

I don't know if it is the fact that I'm getting older or wiser {or a combo of both} but I have grown to value and embrace the fact that I was created for a purpose.

Life is so much sweeter when your accept that!

God does not make mistakes and I have learned that His plans are ALWAYS better than my own!

My word for this year... PURPOSE... came to me a little over a month ago. I waivered back and forth between a few other strong contenders, even landing on the word "Imua" which is Hawaiian for "move forward". I even shared this one with a few family members, but with every other word that I chose, I kept coming back to "purpose". It just embodied all that I wanted to focus on moving in to the New Year.

Last night I came across this as I was going through my Pins on Pinterest and it was the confirmation that I needed!!

This is it!

I want to use what I have and what I can do to help others!

I want to be purposeful in my relationships.

I want to live each day knowing there is a purpose for it.

I want to encourage others to embrace their purpose.

Have you given thought to the idea of "one little word"

If you haven't yet decided on a word and need a little push, here are a few words to inspire you...

Simplify

Intentional

Love

Embrace

Change

Move

Grace

Confidence

Focus

Trust

Courage

Breathe

Gratitude

Dream

Inspire

Whatever you decide, go in to 2015 with great anticipation that big things are about to happen.

You are so loved and so valued and were created with a purpose!

*If you have chosen your word for 2015, I would so love to hear what it is and why you chose it!

In It For Good!

2014-12-10T16:40:00.000-06:00

"The king will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me'"

Matthew 25:40

I love this!

If you have been a follower of my blog or my Instagram feed, you know...

I LOVE MY CHURCH!!

I love that they breathe life into their members.

I love that they are always on a mission to help in any way possible.

I love that if they are called to move, they do it BIG!!!

The Original Conference is all of this encompassed, but focused primarily on strengthening women and their heart for God.

and THERE IS ALWAYS A MISSION

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the big conference this year, but was able to get to an Original Night recently. So for me, it was really the first I heard about the initiative IN IT FOR GOOD!

To say the least, I was REALLY MOVED!

Moved to do something!

It was a really emotional night and I couldn't get it out of my mind. I remember the first time I ever heard of Human Trafficking, I was so sick! It was probably six years ago and my daughter was just beginning her teenage years at the time. I think if you're a human being, this travesty breaks your heart, but if you have girls... it is magnified. That could be my daughter.

The initiative IN IT FOR GOOD will benefit Zoe International, Mercy Ministries and SHE Rescue Home. Each women taking on the challenge is asked to raise $200 for these organizations.

I WANT TO BLOW THAT NUMBER OUT OF THE WATER!!!

I have created 2 pieces of jewelry solely for this initiative. 50% of the proceeds from these items will go directly to the IN IT FOR GOOD initiative.

The Necklace is an antiqued brass that measures 30" long and is embellished with 6 handmade tassels {inspired by the Original Conference decor!} and a hand-stamped charm that reads "IN IT FOR GOOD"

$22.00 ea.

The cuff is approximately 7" and is made of burlap and lace sewn to aqua leather and feautures hand-stamped and hammered metal with the words "IN IT FOR GOOD" and is finished off with a beautiful toggle clasp!

$16.00 ea.

If you would like one {or more} of these items, please leave a comment below or you can email me at lisdunn@frontier.com

Another huge THANK YOU to my beautiful friend, Kelly for modeling for this project and always being one of my biggest fans!!

Please feel free to spread the word!! Share this on FB, Instagram, Twitter, email, whatever you can think of!

JUST BREATHE

2014-12-06T10:19:00.001-06:00

What if the world were full of women who were intentional about their gifts?

What if we exercised compassion, instead of comparison? Encouragement, instead of envy. Gratitude instead of grumbling. What if we made an effort each day to build each other up rather than tearing each other down.

As women, the struggle is real. We wonder if we are doing enough, if we have enough, if we ARE enough?

Please hear me when I say this...

YOU ARE ENOUGH

Where you are right now is EXACTLY where you are supposed to be. This is a necessary stop on the path to God's best for you! You don't have to try to DO or BE anything different than exactly who you are!

These past few weeks have been something that I'll never quite be able to put into words. I will try, but all I can say is that GOD was at the center of this beautiful project.

About a month ago, I had a sense that wouldn't go away, to reach out to Steph of One Love Candle and Bath. I really didn't know why, we knew OF each other, had some of each others products, but didn't know each other well. So, I just went for it! I said "Steph, this is what I'm thinking, what do you think?" She could have said "what are you even talking about, this is so LAME!" {I love her, because we would both totally use that word, hee hee!} But instead, what transpired was almost a whimsical beauty that neither of us even felt in control of! She said "Oh my goodness, YOU have been on my mind so much, too and I had no idea why! and that verse is one of my favorite verses and songs!!! YES! YES! YES!"

So we got to work.

We realized that our hearts desire was the same. We so wanted other women to see their worth and value. We wanted our collaboration to not just be a candle with something pretty on it, but a start of a movement. An invitation for women to love themselves right where they are. To stop comparing their everyday to someone else's highlights. To feel like just being present was enough.

Through this collaboration, the JUST BREATHE candle was born.

We wanted each detail to have a very natural and organic feel.

It features a rich blend of amber, sandalwood and musk with brisk ginger and citrus top notes, all intentionally chosen aromas to soothe your soul, in an 8 oz. Mason Jar. It also features a detachable, vintage inspired, hand-stamped charm that reads "It is well with my soul" along with a simple Swarovski crystal {because every girl needs a little sparkle!} tied with natural Jute twine. When the candle is gone, the charm can be placed on a necklace or key chain as a keepsake.

The project would not have been complete without my beautiful friend, Kelly!

She and I had planned to meet up for a photo shoot for another project. She was just going to be my model for the day. Very last minute, I asked her if Steph could meet up with us so that she {Kel} could just get a quick picture of the two of us to attach to our collaboration. What ensued was one of the most blessed days, I think for all of us. It turned in to a full blown photo shoot!

Kel's photography is stunning!!

I LOVE YOU, my friend. I am SO thankful for you and can't imagine this story turning out any better if you weren't a part of it!

Steph and I pray that you will be blessed by our little project! That you will slow down and remember all of the things that are a blessing in your life. That you will finally give yourself permission to love yourself just the way you are.
You are so loved and so valued!

The candles can be purchased here and here.

If you are local to the Rockford area, you can also find the candles at:

Infinitely Sweet in Rockford, IL

Front Porch Mercantile in Rockton, IL

Urban Farmgirl's Main Street Market

2014-05-09T08:39:00.000-05:00

"Today I'm excited about everything!"

{I always see this little quote on pinterest and could't wait for the perfect day to use it!}

As I am fully immersed in painting, sewing, curating and pretty-little-thing-making, I felt like now was a great time to take a break, breathe and share a few words and pics of what I've been up to!

I have been waiting in anxious anticipation for Urban Farmgirl's Main Street Market! I have never been more excited, worked harder or been more at peace {ironically} for any show!!

If you know Mary {aka, Urban Farmgirl} you know this event will be nothing less than amazing! She is one of the kindest and most humble creatives that I know with an impeccable eye for styling pretty things!

So here are the details...

Urban Farmgirl's Main Street Market

Saturday, May 10 2014

10:00am-5:00pm

Midway Village

Rockford, Il

Here is a small sampling of the pretty little things you will see from Lis Dunn designs...

{among so many other gorgeous items from over 60 vendors!!}

Have a beautiful day and I will see you at the Market!!

Here comes the Sun! {and what I did to combat depression}

2014-04-08T13:28:00.000-05:00

So thankful for that!!!

First of all, I know. it's been 2 months since my last post so I wanted to give you a little update on my blog happenings. While I will continue to do fun and {hopefully} inspirational tutorials and keep you posted on Lis Dunn designs, I will not be following the Something New for 52 as planned;{ We have had both computer and internet issues over the past 2 months and I got to the point of such frustration that I just took a little hiatus. Sometimes that is a really good thing! All is well now and the blessing is that I was able to focus on custom orders and new design ideas!

With that being said, I wanted to share something that has been on my heart.

It has been a rough winter for most of the country!

Not only weather wise, but especially tough for those of us that experience little {or big} bouts of SAD.

This year was a struggle for me.

I don't want to sound all "gloom and doom" because there were some very big blessings happening in this same time period, but I think depression is one of those things that people just don't want to admit or talk about.

It's real

It's painful

There doesn't have to be a reason

You really can't explain it

While it doesn't seem like it in the moment, these times can have a really positive impact, my friends.

{Photo Credit: Pinterest}

I got to a point about a month ago where I really heard myself for the first time and it made me sad. I was not myself. While I didn't feel hopeless, I really didn't feel hopeful either {does that make sense?}

In that moment, I made a choice. This wasn't going to get the best of me!

I AM A DAUGHTER OF THE KING!!!

I am not going to go on and on with what these few months looked like. If you're still reading this, you probably have some idea of what depression looks and feels like.

What I DO want to share are some of the things I did to be better.

Light Therapy

For years, I sneered at the idea that a light bulb would have an impact on your well being. While shopping on black Friday 2012, I jokingly said that I wanted a Happy Light. Mom remembered that and last Christmas bought me one. I used it faithfully. Last winter was probably the most positive winter {mood wise} that I had had in all of my adult life. So in that moment this winter when I knew something had to be done, I went back to my 20 minutes a day. You're not looking into the light. It just needs to be on near you. I have it on for 20 min while I'm at the computer.

Yoga

This was another one of those things that I just didn't see myself doing or benefiting from. My personality is a bit high-strung. I don't do "still" very well. I am a runner!! but as I said, I was desperate and would try anything positive to get back to being myself. I am HOOKED! It's actually a fabulous work out. I absolutely love it and feel amazing. I look forward to the mornings and getting my day started with yoga!

Here is a link to some of the workouts that I have been doing.

Diet

Over the past 3 or 4 years I have really been more in tune with how foods affect me. Ugh, it really stinks because when we were young, we could eat it all with no repercussions. My body has been much more sensitive to certain things as I have gotten older {this would probably be a lengthy blog post in itself!} Here are a few of the things that I have changed/ added that have contributed to feeling better over-all.

*limit {not eliminate} caffeine and sugar

{this is the absolute hardest thing for me, but the reward is so worth it}

*Focus on foods that are beneficial for your well-being

*Start the day with Coconut water and ACV

{these aren't great tasting on their own, but I have listed below the smoothie that I make every morning}

Super Boost Morning Smoothie

3 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Cup Coconut Water

1/2 Cup Almond Milk

1 Tbsp Flax Seed

1/2 Cup Pineapple

1/2 Banana

I hope that if you are going through a struggle now, there is something in here that helps you.

Big giant hugs and blessings to you!

{Photo Credit: Pinterest}

Elmo 1st Birthday Party Decor SNW4

2014-02-04T11:40:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it is good to step out of your comfort zone and challenge what you are capable of.

As a creative, you get to know what your style is and things can start to look very much the same:}

Before I share this project, I want to say that my heart is full of gratitude!

Thank you to all of my family, friends and customers that have had an idea and have entrusted ME to execute that vision. It truly is an honor to be able to create for a living, but especially when it is something that is created for someone specific.

OK, with that said, this particular request was from my niece for her daughters 1st birthday

{That would make me a great-aunt!! Yikes!!}

She gave me a color palette and a few photos for inspiration.

If you have followed me for a while, you know that Elmo is not my normal style and was out of my comfort zone!

Challenge accepted

I honestly had a lot of fun creating these items!

I remembered what it was like when my babies were that age.

Life was really so much simpler then. More innocent.

Here are a few photos of what I put together...

{I didn't want to do a tutorial for everything, but if you have questions about a certain project, please feel free to ask. I'd be happy to walk you through it!}

Thanks so much for taking the time to check out my blog!
ENJOY!

DIY Ruffled "love" banner SNW3

2014-01-26T21:06:00.001-06:00

I know not everyone is crazy about Valentine's Day.

I, on the other hand happen to LOVE it!

I love hearts. I love LOVE! I love a special day to celebrate LOVE!

So when Valentine's Day rolls around, I like to do it up a bit and fill my home with beautiful decorations that exude that lovin feelin;}

For this 3rd week of something new
{and yes, those of you keeping track, I am a few days late getting this post up;/}
I wanted to make something quick, easy and be able to use the things that I had on hand
{isn't that the best feeling!}

Supplies Needed:
12" x 12" Fabric Paper
Ruffled Ribbon
Red Felt
Black Sta-Zon Ink
Foam Stamps
{rubber or acrylic is fine too}
White string
White Eyelets
Eyelet setting tools
Hot glue gun

Directions:
Begin by cutting 4 1/2" x 6" rectangles and 3" x 6" rectangles from the fabric paper.
Using your Sta-zon ink and foam stamps, stamp the letters l o v e onto the 4 larger rectangles.

From the red felt, cut 2 matching hearts and glue them onto the smaller rectangles with hot glue.

Then measure and cut the strips of ruffled ribbon and glue them along the tops of the rectangles. When that is dry, using your eyelet setting tools, punch 1 hole in each of the top corners of each rectangle and set the eyelets in each hole. Finally, string the white string through the holes and hang!

I would love to see your projects for the week!
Please feel free to link up below and share your masterpiece!

DIY Hand-Stamped Metal and Leather Cuff SNW2

2014-01-16T09:42:00.002-06:00

I LOVE words!

{You've probably heard me say this a millions times;}

They have amazing power!
I'm choosing to focus on the ones that build up and not tear down!

So it only made sense for week 2 to put together a piece of jewelry with beautiful words that inspire!

This is one of those projects that is pretty inexpensive and simple if you have or can borrow the tools needed!

This is what you'll need:

SUPPLIES

Leather Cuff

Metal Stamping Blanks

Metal Stamps

Stamping Block

Hammer

Eyelets

Eyelet Setter

Crop-a-dile big bite{or other heavy duty hole punch}

Permanent Marker {optional}

Distress Ink {optional}

Instructions

I wasn't crazy about the lighter cuff, so I began with distressing the front and sides using Tim Holtz Tea Dye {Note: I did try tea staining first and did not get the results that I wanted} I allowed that to dry overnight. I chose the stamping blank that was the best fit for this size cuff and using my crop-a-dile big bite, punched holes in the 2 sides then set it on top of the cuff, marked the holes and punched coordinating holes in the cuff. I then began in the middle of the stamping blank and began stamping {once you figure out your wording, find the center word and begin there} This next step is optional. If you like the raw stamped look, leave it as is. If you like a little more pop, color in the letters with a permanent marker then rub over the blank with a magic eraser. It will remove any extra ink left on the blank but the ink in the letters will remain. Finally, place coordinating eyelets in the holes of the lined up metal and cuff, flip over and using your eyelet setter, hit 3 times to set! voila! You have a fabulous new, conversation-starter piece of Jewelry!!

Thanks so much for joining me for this tutorial!

Happy Creating!

Something New WeEk OnE: Linky Party Hostess

2014-01-10T19:10:00.001-06:00

Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.

Louis E. Boone

It has been 4 years now that I last did this.

It was one of THE MOST productive years of my life!

At that time the idea didn't come to me until several week into the new year... so I called it

"Something New for 42" at that time;} but the premise was the same... Do at least 1 new thing every week!

There were new recipes, new holiday décor, new restaurants with hubby and that was the year that I ran the Chicago Marathon for the first time!

Make it your goal. Challenge yourself. It doesn't have to be super time-consuming or costly. Just commit to doing at least one new thing in your life every week in 2014. It could be as simple as reading a new book to your baby or as big as going on your first family vacation. As long as it is new to you, it qualifies;}

Each week we will have a linky party here for you to share your newest undertakings, be inspired by others and encourage one another in this journey.

Soooooo, my something new for the first week is just that...

I learned how to host a linky party!!

Well, sort of... I'm sure I'll be working out kinks for a while, but it's something I've wanted to do for a while here on my blog and I took that first step;}

If you're not sure what a linky party is, Bargain Hoot does a great job of describing it here

I found a great tutorial from My so called Chaos that helped me set up my account with Inlinkz

Isn't the blogospere fantastic!!! I love {and am SO thankful} when other creatives share their knowledge!

I have started 2 new boards on Pinterest... Achieve 2014 so you can see a sampling of the things that I just might attempt this year;} and Something New for 52 {2014} for the things that I do!

{You can also follow ALL of my boards here}

Here are a just a couple pieces of eye candy to get your inspired!

{Button button}

{iheartstitching on youtube}

Come back each week not only to see what I've been up to, but what others are doing as well!

Ready. Set. GO!

{and be sure to let me know if you're up for the challenge!}

Something New for 52! Link up

2014-01-10T17:22:00.001-06:00

One Little Word 2014

2014-01-07T17:44:00.000-06:00

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”
― Edith Lovejoy Pierce

I love a new year!

I am an optimist that genuinely believes it's the perfect time to do things better!

I know, I know, it's something we can strive for all year long, but there is something splendid about a completely fresh and different year.

For the past 4 years I have chosen a word for the year. The idea was sparked by a story I heard on K love and it really struck a chord with me. You can see my 2013 word and the story behind it here. Other years have included the words "Intentional" and "Simplify" The idea is to choose a word that sums up your focus for the new year! That's not too hard, right??!!

This year I knew early on what it would be... probably some time in late November. My sister was the only one that I shared this with.

2013 had been a challenge {and to be honest, I did not do well honoring my one word, "choose"}.

We all have different challenges of different sorts at different times and this past years challenges for me were more internal.

I found myself second guessing all of my choices... silly and simple choices. I was doubting everything... my path, my purpose, my parenting, my relationships. I felt hurt and disappointed by people that I love. Maybe it was something as simple as an unanswered text, a broken date or not being included. Do you ever find yourself just shutting down because you don't want to confront that hurt?? I need work in that area!

There is something that I say ALL THE TIME to my kids!!! Then I heard that gentle whisper "practice what you preach"? It was: "you can't control what others do, you can only control how you respond" That led me to my word for this year:

CONFIDENCE

con·fi·dence:

: a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something
: a feeling or belief that someone or something is good or has the ability to succeed at something

: the feeling of being certain that something will happen or that something is true

But even way above these dictionary definitions, I want to have confidence in God's will for my life.

I want to trust that when he lays a passion or decision on my heart, there is a good reason even when I don't immediately understand it. And finally, I want to trust that every person and relationship that is a part of my life has a purpose.

I want to challenge you friend, if you haven't done so already, to choose YOUR word for 2014!

Each year I make a piece of jewelry with my word on it as a constant reminder. You can find this years Necklace in my Etsy shop.

Be sure to share in the comments what your word is!!

Blessings to you all for a fabulous 2014!

Bruised but not Broken

2013-11-14T16:15:00.001-06:00

Oh, how I have missed this place!!

I haven't taken the time to be still long enough to verbalize thoughts and happenings for quite some time. I apologize to the 3 of you who actually read my blog;}

Something happened a few days ago that really made me pause... like literally... the wind was knocked out of me for a brief moment and I didn't move.

I rushed down my front steps, as I do most days, to get the mail. Only on this day I hadn't taken into consideration that it had snowed...then melted... then froze. Oh, I'm sure you can imagine what happened next.

I bit it! I mean... REALLY BIT IT!

As in, if someone had seen it, had a camera and posted it to youtube, it would have millions of hits because folks would be laughing hysterically at my misfortune {once they realized I wasn't really hurt, of course;}

You know when people say "it happened so quick!", well this happened so quick! Thanking God now that it wasn't worse and I can laugh at it, but I actually hit my head on the stair and didn't move for a moment. There was no one around to see me if I had been really hurt {unless they were peeking out their window laughing hysterically!}

After a moment, I got up, dusted myself off and rushed back inside. Didn't bother with the mail... that would have required walking further and in the event that someone did see, I wanted to save myself the embarrassment:/

So, now I have a bruise on my right elbow, my left forearm, my thigh, my back and my pinky {which I swore was broken because I couldn't move it for about an hour and then it swelled up to double the size!} but I am just fine!!! Thank you Lord!!!

{Random fact: I love battle wounds! I was thrilled when I lost 5 toenails while training for my first half marathon...disgusting, right!}

Funny how random scenarios lead to profound insights.

Hence the title of this post... one of my fave Joss Stone songs, "Bruised but not broken"

So many thoughts of this past year in particular, came to mind.

Things not happening the way I had hoped

Being hurt and disappointed by others

You know, just life sometimes!

But it reminded me too, as in this particular situation, I may be bruised but certainly not broken!

I am still very much alive and as long as I am, there are SO many things to be thankful for!

So I wanted to take a minute to show you a few things that I am thankful for right now...

Fall

{pinterest}

Encouraging Words

{all quotes from my my pinterest board WORDS}

God's work in the lives of my children!! and the amazing youth leaders at Rockford First who put so much time and energy into these young lives!! {That's my Mikah in the yellow shirt;}

There are so many more things to be thankful for... I'll add more later;}

Blessings to you all!

and the winner IS...

2013-05-09T23:11:00.000-05:00

Thank you so so much for all of the love and encouragement in this giveaway! The sweet emails and comments mean so much to me!

I am a lover of words AND pretty little things so you can expect to see more of these necklaces {with different wording and shapes} at the Na-Da Farm sale.

I had a few of you say that you weren't able to comment on my blog but did pin or share on FB {thank you, thank you!!}, so please know that you were ALL added to the drawing. I used the online tool RANDOM.ORG to choose for me and the winner is...

MARIA GRACIA!!!!!

Congratulations, Maria!! Please send me your address so that I can pass it along to Anne Marie!

See you all at Na-Da Farm!!

Lis Dunn Designs and Nada Farm Giveaway!!!!

2013-05-08T14:59:00.000-05:00

As I was working away on some projects today for the Nada Farm Sale, I remembered...I WANTED TO DO A GIVEAWAY!!

Let me just segue for a moment. If you have not been to the Nada Farm Sale in Esmond, you will not want to miss out for another moment! I am so excited!!! It really is the most beautiful, inspiring and welcoming show you will probably ever attend. It all begins with Jason and Anne Marie, 2 incredibly beautiful, giving and godly people who have so graciously opened their property for others to enjoy the view, to shop and to eat some fabulous baked goods!

{look at how adorable Anne Marie and her little bakery are!}

Ok, are you sold yet? I'll see you there??

So, back to the giveaway... I am partnering with Nada Farm for this so you will get double the goodies on this one!!

The winner will receive:

*A necklace from Lis Dunn Designs {See photo below}

*2 Free passes to the Sale {$10 value}

*2 Chocolate Cupcakes from the Bakery!

Here is what YOU need to do...
{each item will get you a separate entry!}

1. Leave a comment in the "comments box" below
2. Share this blog post on Facebook
3. "Like" Lis Dunn Designs on Facebook
4. Pin the LDD Necklace on Pinterest

{be sure to leave a comment with each entry letting me know what you did}

To honor our mommas, this is what I will be giving away...

I will choose a winner tomorrow {May 9th} at 10 pm CT!!!

Ready... Set... GO!!!

Rockford Etsy Team Show Recap

2013-05-03T01:25:00.000-05:00

Hello sweet friends!

Yes, I know it has been FOREVER since I have posted on my poor little blog. To be fair, my computer has NOT been cooperative {and I may have been focused on some other things!}

I did not want to forget to post about the Rockford Etsy Team Show on April 5th and 6th as a part of ArtScene this year!

Oh, there is such a camaraderie among these artists who genuinely want the best for each other! I was able to reconnect with old friends and make some new, precious friends.

Here are a few highlights from the weekend:

{My sweet friend Rose, who is ALWAYS so supportive, sporting her new LDD earrings!!}

{oh, and look! It's Mary, aka UrbanFarmgirl, who stopped by to pick up a pretty little necklace for her neice!}

{I brought my 11 yr old with me on day 2 for help!!}

*Photo by Heather Stringham

{He will an amazing entrepreneur one day;}

*Photo by Heather Stringham

And a shout out to a few of the beautiful ladies that were also a part of the show:

1. Lois of Glissknits

2. Karmen of Lillyanlou

3. Deanna of Iheartsigns

4. Amy of Seams2u

5. Theresa of Zolli Clothing

I WILL get back on track with my blog, including some more designs, tutorials, FRUGAL FASHIONS, etc, but for now I am busy at work planning a very important Graduation party {and I am an emotional mess in the process}and working on some creative, beautiful details for my little brothers wedding.

Blessings to you all!!

Frugal and Fabulous Friday

2013-03-08T15:04:00.000-06:00

One of the things that I am most often complemented on is my style!

I LOVE fashion, but what I love more... A BARGAIN ON FASHION!!

I'm not talking about Splurge {$978} vs. Steal {$79}, I'm talking about fashions that you find for next to nothing!

A few years back I came across a "thrifty fashion" blog {I have scoured to find the original inspiration blog}, much like this one... of course my first thought was... "WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT!"

It's what I do!

It's who I am!!

I could literally right a book on this!!!

There are few things that I would say I'm GREAT at, but I WILL say that I am GREAT at finding the very best deals!

Since I came across that blog, my intentions have been to share with you all of these frugal and fabulous finds, but hey, better late than never, right!!

So, today I will start!!

I think, for some reason, people do not give thrift stores a chance.

They are TREASURE TROVES, people! If you haven't been lately... RUN, don't walk to your nearest thrift store! Often times you will find items with tags still attached but even something that has been worn once or twice has amazing life still left in it!

And Clearance racks at your favorite store... I have gotten to the point where I won't shop a rack unless it is at least 70% off! {thrift snob!}

So, here is my first of what I hope will be many examples...

Jeans: SO {Kohl's} $6.30

Shirt: Apt. 9 {Kohl's} $3.57

{notice the adorable sequin detail around the collar and cuffs!}

Necklace: ? {Kohl's} $1.87

Belt: ? {Kohls}4.08

Shoes: Anne Klein {Goodwill}$3.75

Total: $19.57

{and entire outfit complete with accessories for under $20!}

*My secret at Kohls... don't look at any racks accept the 80% off or more and I make sure I have a coupon for 15%-30% off on top of that!

I can't wait to show you the thrifty dress and shoes I am altering!!!

You can do Hard Things

2013-03-06T13:49:00.000-06:00

Hi, My name is Lis and I'm an addict. It has been 21 days since my last fix.

For the past 4 years I have looked forward to Lent... I am not Catholic but I love the Lord with all my heart, and while I may not be able to do hard things simply for myself, I have been very successful when I focus on doing them for Him!

In the past I have given up things such as M&M's and Starbucks... things that I have VERY regularly and almost feel that I need for survival!

This year I was inspired to go BIG... Like, REALLY BIG...

NO REFINED SUGAR!!!

Wait, before you say anything, this is the feedback I have heard the most...

"I could NEVER give up sugar"

Oh honey, YES YOU CAN!

Let me just tell you a little about me... I may not be addicted to drugs or alcohol, but sugar has been an addiction for me!

Definition of ADDICT

1: to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively <addicted to gambling>

2: to cause addiction to a substance in (a person or animal)

I am a baker, so that poses an extra layer of challenges... heaven forbid you would just mix and bake... OH NO, you have to "sample" a good portion of the dough, right!!

Just so you can get a frame of reference about my "addiction", this is a small sampling of the "sugar laden" foods that I would eat in one day...

2-3 granola bars, about 1/2 cup of M&M's, maybe some sugary cereal, a Venti Cafe Mocha {although I would request 2 pumps of the mocha vs. 5} some variety of baked goods {cookies, puppy chow, etc} and when I say cookies, we're not talking one... we're talking about 5 cookies worth in dough and then another 3-4... Just to be sure they are ok to serve to others!

Long story short, If I can do it, you can do it if that were your desire!

How did I decide to give up something so radical for 40+ days, you ask... oh you didn't ask, well i'll share anyway.

SUGAR MAKES ME REALLY CRABBY!!!!!
{the fact that I have lost 6 pounds so far is a great bonus!}

I really NEEDED to make the change... for myself...but especially for my loved ones.

I will not lie, this has been a challenge! But I have not faltered! Each day has gotten a little easier. I have been creative with new ideas to satisfy that sweet tooth {see recipe below}. The greatest feeling is knowing that I can do something that originally seemed almost impossible.
I wanted to encourage you today, if you are struggling with something that maybe seems impossible to overcome, or that has an unhealthy hold on you...
YOU TOO, CAN DO HARD THINGS!

{I have created the 2 signs that you are welcome to print off for yourself!}

Here is my fave "sugar-free" recipe thus far...
{from Preventionrd}

Bottom Layer:
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 packets stevia

Top Layer:
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup natural smooth peanut butter
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 packet stevia

Directions:

Line a mini muffin tray with 11 paper liners.

Stir all ingredients for the bottom layer together until smooth and divide between the wells (each should be about half full). Put the tray in the freezer on a flat surface and freeze until solid (about 15 minutes).

Meanwhile, stir all ingredients together for the top layer until smooth and divide on top of the set chocolate mixture. Return to the freezer and freeze until solid. Store the treats in the freezer.

Yield: 11 peanut butter cups.

Nutrition Information (per cup): 116 calories; 11.1 g. fat; 0 mg. cholesterol; 55 mg. sodium; 3.6 g. carbohydrate; 1.5 g. fiber; 3.2 g. protein

{These are AMAZING!!!!!}

Linking up at:
Southern Lovely
Someday Crafts
Reasons to skip the housework

Need a Boost? Juice!

2013-01-30T12:48:00.001-06:00

The New Year always inspires good intentions... plans to eat better... do better... be better!

Juicing is something that I love doing all year long, but am especially inspired to do at full throttle in the New Year!

{This is a repost from my old blog, Papermellie}

I would say it was about 9 years ago that I invested in my Jack Lalanne Juicer.

At this time, juicing was not as popular as it is now, and this juicer was only available via infomercial.

I remember this was my very first informercial purchase and I was so excited about it. I was a young mother of 3 with little energy (I believe the middle boys were 1 and 2 at the time and Mel was maybe 7) It was one of those late nights and I was entranced by what this juicer had to offer! It was LIFE CHANGING, it claimed!

So I made the call and waited for that delivery!

Remember how I told you about myCricut and what a great investment that was...

THIS JUICER WAY SURPASSES MY CRICUT LOVE!

I will admitt, sometimes I'll go through phases, but for the most part I use my juicer on a weekly basis.

At first I was just juicing fruits. Let's be honest, it just sounds SO much more inviting.

Then I started researching all of the different vegetable juices and their incredible benefits and I was sold on those too!

I want to tell you about the #1 benefit of this juicer for us.

POPSICLES!!

My 10 year old will only eat raw apples and carrots and not even very often, so very early on, I would juice an array of yummy fruits and sneak in a little carrot and spinach and freeze them in the popsicle molds (yes, these molds generally come with their own holders... they have since been lost and simply replaced with popsicle sticks). The kiddos go crazy on them! (nowadays I even add a little ground flaxseed and chia seeds;))

They can enjoy a cool treat and I can feel good about what they are putting into their bodies! That in itself has paid for the juicer a hundred times over!

Often, I will juice a large batch of fruits and vegetables...

and then freeze them in these ball freezer jars... perfect for a single serving that I can thaw overnight.

Obviously, fresh juice is your most beneficial option, but I love the convenience of freezing them because it's hard to keep a large supply of fresh fruits and vegetables "fresh" for too long AND cleaning the machine takes a little time, so it is nice to do it once a week rather than every day!

There is a certain vegetable that I have avoided fro a while... I don't know why I was so timid to try these!

Beets seem to be all the rage right now, so I found a recipe and decided to give it a try.

I won't say it is my favorite thing on earth, but I actually quite enjoyed it. The color is gorgeous and I think the fact that there is ginger in it made a difference. I do love me some ginger!

Here is the recipe I tried (from this pin):

Energizing Beet Juice

(recipe is for 2 people)

1 large beet with its greens

2 Red Delicious Apples

1 Large Red Bell Pepper

1 Large English Cucumber

1 small slice of fresh ginger root

Juice and Enjoy!

Read about the benefits of Beets here and here

and the tremendous benefits of juicing here

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Linking up at:
Someday Crafts

Facebook Free February {and other random goals}

2013-01-28T15:29:00.000-06:00

I have been pondering this idea since the new year began... I want to simplify!

Maybe some women find it easy, but it has been a challenge for me to work from home!

Let me explain, because I absolutely LOVE that I am able to be here, create AND make money doing what I love!

However, as a mother of 4, wife and woman in general, I have found it hard to focus on MY WORK, when there are dishes to be done, loads of laundry piling up and countless home projects surrounding me... Add to that, I am an adult living with ADD, it takes some serious discipline to make this work...

BUT IT'S WORTH IT!!!

Last week, my sweet {and able-to-stay-on-task} hubby and I sat down for a heart to heart. I poured out my struggles and together we came up with some solutions.

He's such an encouragement to me!

Maybe it was the talk or the new year or just simply that I really want to see my business succeed, but I have a new found sense of direction, discipline and determination... one that has been lacking after a very challenging fall.

I am excited about 2013!

There are some exciting things on the horizon...

Planning our family road trip over spring break

GRADUATION {sniff sniff}

College for said graduate

A brand new collection

{think clothing and wedding goodies!}

Maybe some marathon training!

{Haven't decided which one yet!}

Soooooo... I need to cut some things out to make these plans a priority.

They deserve my attention.

I CHOOSE to be intentional!

The first small step will be to avoid Facebook!

Don't worry, I won't be completely off the radar... I will continue to update my blog, so be sure to subscribe to my feed. You can also keep up with me here:

Instagram

{will still feed to FB}

Etsy

I can't wait to share with you all of the fun things that unfold over the next month!