the homemade calling

my favorite accessory

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

This is my favorite accessory. Period.

My fabric knot necklace.

I wear it at least once a week- usually two or three times.

It goes with so many tops and colors.

I always get complimented when I wear it.

It adds a pop of color to any t-shirt, cardigan, tank or sweater I wear it with.

I wear it in all seasons.

It's lightweight.

It's simple, yet makes a statement.

It's a quick and easy accessory choice- when I'm running late and don't have to time to fool with a scarf, I throw an outfit together that goes with this and it wastes no time!

It's the best piece of accessory to have with babies & small children- on days I won't wear a scarf because I know it'll get in the way with the kids crawling all over me, I'll wear this.

It's durable- I wore it to Norah's baby dedication for the specific purpose of keeping her entertained while we stood up front! This necklace has been pulled on, stepped on, chewed on, etc and is as good as new!

Did I mention, I get complimented every time I wear it?

And I want to share it with you!

This fabric knot necklace is made out of a turquoise & floral cotton fabric

It's available in my shop right now!

Purchase for yourself or gift someone else with it!

Use coupon code SPRING10 at checkout for 10% off your entire order!

{50% all sales are donated to Women At Risk International to fight Human Trafficking around the world!}

a mama's easter outfit

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:46:00 +0000

Since I've had kids, I feel like I'm now past the stage where I get a new Easter outfit every year. Maybe that's not the case for you, but I just get so into planning for the kids outfits that I don't even think about mine until the week of. And honestly, there's just not usually a whole lot of extra money for me to spending on a brand new outfit for myself every year. Plus, when would I even have time to shop!?

But I still do want to wear something cute and new, and bright and colorful on a Easter Sunday.
So that moment the week of Easter that it hits me that I need something to wear too, I start racking my brain for ideas of: things I could make + things I already own + things I could buy cheaply.

And when I put all three of those things together, it usually comes out a newly assembled outfit for me that's a mixture of freshly handmade, purchased at the store and scrounged up from my closet!

Easter 2010- I wore the same outfit from the previous Easter (the last Easter outfit I bought brand new and at full price :) )
Nothing homemade that year, because I was just starting to sew.

Easter 2011- Made Titus' outfit (vest, pants & bowtie) and decided at the eleventh hour (literally!) to make myself a skirt.
My outfit- homemade simple skirt, already owned top, and previously handmade pom pom necklace hanging in my closet.

Easter 2012- Made the kids outfits (Again, made Titus a vest, pants & tie). It was my first Easter with a GIRL! So I made Norah a pillowcase dress, diaper cover, headband and booties. Then I decided (early enough!) to make myself an outfit to match the kids!
My outfit- homemade pillowcase top, already owned skirt, and purchased a light sweater

This year I didn't bother so much with us all matching each other, but we coordinated well enough. {Read about the kids' outfits here}
As in usual fashion, I didn't plan anything for myself. I probably would've just pulled some "old thing" from the closet and not felt springy or fresh and new all day :/

So one naptime during the week of, I got an idea in my brain, and spent the next hour putting ideas together in my brain, and running to my craft room then to my closet and back to my craft room. I stared at all my fabric for minutes on end, and waited for a huge inspiration. I put fabrics together and matched them up with clothing, and finally formulated an outfit that I wasn't even brave enough to wear at first. But after trying it on for my husband, having a few days to mull it over in my head, and my husband encouraging me to wear it.... I DID! :)

Here's what I came up with: {sorry its not a full body shot- its the only picture of just me from the day!}

I purchased this Target brand dress a couple weeks ago from a local grocery store that also sells closeout deals. Wanna guess how much I paid for it? ..... $2.99

At the same store, I found some red ballet flats (also Target!) for .... $1.99

I paired the dress with the same cream colored sweater I purchase for my Easter outfit last year

I added a brown belt that I bought last fall.

Added some red dangles made by a friend

And the final accessory I needed to add was a scarf... but I was being pretty particular about the style, color, etc it needed to be... I wanted a lightweight, navy scarf...

I searched my fabrics and mulled over lots of options to make one... I had decided I was probably going to have to go to Joann's to find something...
But before I did, I remembered my Goodwill box that's just been sitting around. I wondered if I had anything in there that I could re-purpose (this thought was kind of separated from my scarf dilemma). I pulled out all kinds of clothes I had thrown out that I now thought I could re-fashion into something for Norah... As I walked away from my new pile of ex-Goodwill clothes, I noticed something Navy-colored sticking out... I pulled out a skirt that I'd bought like 12 years ago. It was a good quality, brand name skirt, but the elastic was all stretched out. It really was a shame to throw this out just because of some worn out elastic. It was still good fabric- light weight with great movement. And it was the perfect color, Navy with tiny red and yellow flowers that went perfectly with the other colors in my outfit...

So I cut the elastic + 4 inches off the skirt.... And came away with an infinity scarf!

Would you ever guess that was once a skirt? :)

I love that I can breathe new life into a n old piece of clothing that I've loved a long time!

So there you have it!
A mama's Easter outfit that cost a total of $4.98 and included a re-purposed skirt-turned-scarf!

had to throw in a pic of the shoes!

easter outfits

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:48:00 +0000

I hope all had an amazing Easter!
So I had to take a break from my blog break to share with you our Easter outfits!

I enjoyed making their outfits, as I usually do! It has just become the one time a year that I make them both an entire nice outfit, so I get really into designing for a month beforehand what I'm going to make, in what fabrics, and what color palette, etc.

I had lot of ideas floating around my head, but I decided this year to use fabric that I already had, since I have so much, to keep me from spending money! I'm happy to say that I didn't spend any money on their outfits, because every part was from fabrics and accessories that we already had! :) This year we didn't all match, but we coordinated quite nicely!

Titus LOVES to wear Ties like Daddy!
He wore an Argyle Tie from Little Londyn Patterns!
I made him two and let him choose which to wear on Easter. :)

Norah wore this beautiful dress from Little Lizard King patterns, with an added waistband and elastic inserted, in Amy Butler Lotus Morning Glory fabrics.

I also made Norah this felt flower headband! It made the outfit look complete!

And we all (except Daddy! hee hee) wore our red shoes! :) So fun!

We took our annual family picture, and I realized how this is the first year we had to do it in a different spot! Here's to new beginnings!

It was fun to look back over the past 4 years of family pictures since we've had kids, and watch our family grow! Here is a collage of our family Easter Pictures:

I hope you all had a Blessed Easter celebrating our Hope and Victory because of Jesus Christ!

Shop and Blog Update

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:16:00 +0000

For those of you who have noticed my blogging absence, I just wanted to explain that I've been taking a break for a little while to refocus myself and my blog. I plan to take another month or so, but I still plan to post from time to time. Believe me, I still have loads of things to share just coming out of my ears! :)

Thanks for understanding, and also for your readership and encouragement to me on here!

In the shop, I've added two Beautiful Ruffled Scarves crocheted by a lady in my church, with 100% of the proceeds going to support Women At Risk, International in their fight against human trafficking and sexual slavery!

I wear two scarves like this, and they are incredibly soft, go with so many outfits, and have a hint of sparkle!

Please support us in this fight to end human trafficking either by purchasing one of these beautiful scarves, or by sharing this with others!
SHOP NOW

“The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” Psalm 103:6

A couple of the scarves have already sold, but my friend Terri who made them, said that she's willing to make more if anyone wants one. Let me know if you're interested in a different color!

Did you know that Oak Street Studio already donates 50% of all sales to Women At Risk, International?

To learn more about human trafficking and sexual slavery around the world, watch this eye-opening video:

hidden back-tab curtains

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:07:00 +0000

Remember all that fabric I bought a few weeks ago? Well other than my table runner, I have finally sewed the rest of it all up into curtains for each of our bedrooms. The style I settled on was panels with a hidden back-tab and did that for all of them. It was pretty easy design but also would give a more professional/finished look at the end. I LOVE these fabrics! The modern designs and bright colors are just perfect for our family and how we're decorating our new home.

Here are pics of all of them!

Master Bedroom: I am in love with this fabric- it was exactly what I was looking for to finish off our room! Now all that needs to done in the room is some stuff on the walls and an accent chair by the windows! :) Loving the way this room has come together and the curtains just add SO much!

Kids room: Believe it or not, this is the same room! The kids are sharing and room that has a half wall in between, so they each have their own space and can't see each other when sleeping. We plan to paint their room soon, probably a light gray, but I love that these fabrics give them each a unique take to the room. Because of the layout of the room, we can decorate each side specifically for each child with the paint color to unify.

Now I just need to hem up all these panels! :) (that's after we paint and reposition all the rods though!)

Here's a little peek at how the hidden back tabs look from the back (this is one in process)
Maybe I'll do a tutorial sometime...

Love that half the curtains in our house so far are handmade... if I have another $500 or so, I'd do the rest of the house! :) Maybe another time!

Are any curtains in your home handmade? What style do you make?

little joys

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:12:00 +0000

staring at little feet and chunky thighs quickly turning from baby to little girl...

holding on to morning and evening bottle feedings simply so I can enjoy the cuddles and stare into those blue eyes a few days longer...

sharing a sweet look between my son... that boy melts my heart like no other person!

hearing sweet voices play, and sing, and talk, and laugh, and say "mommy"...

waiting in anticipation and then catching the next funny or interesting thing that boy will come up with...

making the decision to apply a bandaid for the 4th time in the same spot

pushing fine baby hair out of eyes...

stroking the softest baby skin that will too soon not be

being constantly surprised by the next new thing learned

snuggling while reading

holding that long boy close and knowing the days are growing short where he'll still fit on my lap

the boy's hugs and kisses and i love yous are cherished, each one. For one day he won't be so free with them.

not feeling guilty about procrastinating on dishes and laundry, because playing on the floor is always more important

choosing to find them adorable and the moment precious during an early morning wakeup call

watching them sleep- still, soft and warm

crazy dance moves those two can break out with

heart swelling at their good behavior in public

little prayers

precious voice reciting Scripture

the love between them growing

two pairs of big blue eyes, both the most perfect shades

squeals of delight, times two

wiping tears, and comforting hearts

confidence in knowing my job is the best in the world

snuggle day & seeking first

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:30:00 +0000

It's a sad day when I have to miss our local mops group to stay home with a child who's not feeling well! Its a difficult decision to have a snuggle day when he seems fine, but at this age you kindof have to take him seriously, especially since he's been up on and off since 4:30am!

So we're snuggled on the couch watching episodes of Curious George on netflix and I'm reflecting on life as mom.

It's hard for my heart to be "into" a snuggle day when I have to say no to something that I've been looking forward to, and something that would be good for me as a mom. I would get a break, have an encouraging time, and meet other moms. (And when you're new and the moms only meet twice a month, that's really not alot of chances to make friends.)

So I want to sit on the couch and feel bad for myself. At the inconvenience of it, at how once again for the sake of motherhood I'm asked to give yet something else up.

But if there's something I've learned since we've begun this new adventure and new life, is that I can trust God to meet my needs.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. -Matthew 6:33

This verse seems to be the theme verse for our year so far! It's a constant reminder to simply do what I know God wants me to do for today and leave the rest up to Him! Although some days I may wonder, there's nothing better that I can do with my life, with my time, than take care of these two precious children, no matter what I may miss out on. And God will bless me for being faithful to what he's called me do to right now if I seek him first!

Inspired You

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

A few days before my birthday this month, I received a package with my first birthday present- a book, called Inspired You. I was getting dinner together, but I flipped through a few pages and checked out the table of contents. I was immediately excited to sit down and read through the entire book. So as soon as the kids went to bed, I sat down on the couch and spent the rest of my Friday night reading this book!

Inspired You is written by Marian Parsons from Miss Mustard Seed, and is a book about finding your God-given creativity to create a beautiful home! The book is full of gorgeous photography, decorating inspiration and spiritual encouragement. I particularly love the subtitle: Letting God Breathe New Life into Your Heart and Home.

She shares tutorials, like how to make pleated curtains, build an ottoman and paint furniture. She gives lots of ideas and tips on shopping for decorations (think thrift stores and auctions), and helps you evaluate your perspective and attitude towards your home! It not only inspires you to create a more beautiful home, but gives lots of encouragement and confidence boosting along the way! You'll walk away from this book viewing your home in a different way, and you'll feel more motivated and capable to make some changes! As I read, I felt like I was flipping through a magazine because of all the beautiful pictures, yet it was easy reading like a blog. (You definitely can’t get the full experience of this book through the Kindle version!)

Since we've made our big move and have started to decorate our big house, it was encouraging to hear her articulate things I've already been thinking and feeling. I decided that when we moved, I wanted to take a different route with setting up and decorating our house. I wanted to be as frugal and homemade as possible- not just to save money, but mainly to create a home that reflects more of who we are as a family. We wanted a house with character and creativity. And if we put a little extra effort into everything that we add to our house, we will find more satisfaction with it and enjoy our home more! When I got this book, I was at a pretty discouraging point with decorating our house, but as soon as I was done with it, I was really inspired and had a lot of ideas, some of which I could do pretty inexpensively and quickly. (Did you read about my newly painted gray kitchen? yeah, that happened the next day!)

She debunks the idea of creating a perfect, impressive, or magazine-worthy home! That’s not the goal! She says the goal is:

Home.

Not a perfect home. Not a impress the neighbors home.

Just home. A home that was made, not bought.

A home whose walls and rooms tell the story of the family who lives there.

Create a home for your family's needs and decorate it to reflect who you are, and it will be the perfect home for you!

What I appreciated most was her emphasis in the end of the book on being content with the home God has placed you in!
If we find ourselves constantly wishing for and wanting more, perhaps we need to close the catalog and focus on all the things we have to be thankful for...
When our focus is on being thankful, earthly treasures start to lose their importance.

I love that she shares some spiritual aspects of decorating, like recognizing our urge to decorate and create a beautiful home is because of our God-given creativity and characteristics of being a woman. Also, developing the skill of seeing potential in something old and worn out that we could give a second life to, and carrying that skill over to "hopeless" people in our lives, to see the potential that may still be there! And then to learn to be content and thankful in the midst of our journey toward a more beautiful home!

Inspired You has really helped push me along to the next step in making a beautiful home for our family, and came at a good time to motivate and inspire me, while speaking some truth to my heart as well!

Beautiful homes start with inspiration and a willingness to try.

diy $5 table runner

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Today I'm sharing a simple tutorial on The Copper Coconut for a table runner that you can make for about $5! I'm so excited about the opportunity to guest post on Katie's blog! She is a very talented, creative lady who is a young mom and interior designer, and blogs about lots of great tutorials and has an Etsy shop offering custom graphic design and stained glass!

So many of you know how we recently made a big move from MI to OH!
We now live in a big farm house turned church parsonage circa. 1873 on 5 acres of land.
We’re excited for a big garden this summer and being outdoors letting the kids run free.
But inside, there’s lot of stuff we need to do. Large rooms and large windows and high ceilings mean any change costs a little more. And we are usually pretty limited with funds, so we do little things here and there as we can. You know how it goes! We slowly keep moving down our list of home projects, although we are still near the top- a couple rooms have been painted, some curtains have been sewn up and hung, and decorating is beginning to happen.

I decided that when we moved, I wanted to take a different route with setting up and decorating our house. I wanted to be as frugal and homemade as possible- not just to save money, but mainly to create a home that reflects more of who we are as a family. We wanted a house with character and creativity. And if we put a little extra effort into everything that we add to our house, we will find more satisfaction with it and enjoy our home more!

Now head over to The Copper Coconut to learn how you can make this table runner for about $5!

these kids are killing me!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:24:00 +0000

One year ago, my husband was on a missions trip to Togo, leaving me with a 2 year old and a newborn! Shortly after he arrived home I wrote the following on something the Lord taught me while Tim was gone. The Lord has used this to challenge and encourage me many times in the past year. I wanted to share it with you today and I hope it will encourage you as well:

Six weeks after I gave birth to Norah, Tim led a mission trip to Africa for 17 days!

As the days and weeks crept closer for him to leave, my panic grew at being left with the two kids (including a newborn) all by myself. The day he left, I drove the three of us to my in laws house for a few days. On the way, the kids fell asleep, and I was able to have some time alone with the Lord! I told the Lord,

It’s just you and me, God! I don’t know what the next 17 days hold, but you do. And I am placing my rest in you!

And in that quiet moment, I chose to rest in him and place my trust in his watch care and sovereignty and protection over us! I knew it would be a time of growth for me as I handled life alone and knew that my dependence on the Lord would grow, in areas that I would normally depend on Tim first.

There were many chances for me to exercise that trust in his absence:

I had to take Titus to the ER the first day because of a bad case of hives.

I had some confusion with our finances, which caused me some stress since I usually don’t handle them.

And I potty trained my 2 year old while nursing a 6 week old (thanks mom for the help!)

But the Lord sustained me (and I’m so grateful for our parents who stepped up to help me out during that time).

But there’s still no one that can replace your spouse and your kids’ dad.

While Tim was gone, life seemed to be tilted on its side, nothing seemed quite right with our family separated. I would get up every morning, go through the motions of taking care of the kids through the day, and go to bed at night completely exhausted, only to get up multiple times with the baby.

Then in the morning I would get up and do it all over again. I fell into a survival mode. Life had become about getting us all through the 2 ½ weeks until Daddy was home and all would be right again.

But God had lessons for me to learn, and this time away from Tim proved to the place He wanted me to learn them.

One particular day, I was struggling and wondering if I was ever going to survive, specifically that time apart, but also motherhood in general. I remember feeling incredibly panicked in that moment and thinking,

This is going to kill me! I think I’m going to die! I feel my life being sucked out of me! Will I ever make it through this?

That night, Tim sent me an email and encouraged me to read 2 Corinthians 4, the passage of Scripture he would be preaching in Africa, and one that had been some good food for his soul. Little did I know how perfectly it would answer my melodramatic questions!

I grabbed my Kindle, settled down under the covers and read the words my heart needed to hear that were felt down into my soul.

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. ⁸We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; ⁹we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. ¹²So death works in us, but life in you. ¹³And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak. ¹⁴We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you. ¹⁵Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to increase to God’s glory.
¹⁶Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. ¹⁸So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (HCSB)

What I came to understand was that I was dying. My life was being sucked out of me and my body was slowly being destroyed daily.

But what I was encouraged by as I read verse by verse and let the power of the Word wash over me, was that although my physical body is being destroyed, my inner self is being renewed! We know that because of the curse, our bodies physically are dying. They are wearing out! As we watch our physical bodies decay and feel the curse at work, we have the hope that no matter how difficult life is, our inner person (the part of us that really matters and lasts forever) is being renewed day by day!

What a hope to have that this life is not all there is! The struggled of this life is just for a moment! What’s done in this life does matter, but it’s for such a short time that we’re called to be faithful. And it is such a reminder to evaluate what around me has eternal value, because those are the things I should be focusing my energies on! All the stuff that I can get sucked into or desire isn’t worth my energy in the end.

What matters most is the investment I’m making into my kids’ lives.
It matters eternally how I live my life before the Lord.
It matters how I serve and love my husband.
And my attitude toward the role that the Lord has given me as a full time mom, wife and home manager matters eternally.

Immediate gratification of time to do as I please, getting more sleep, having nicer things or living in more comfort are the things that are “seen”, not having eternal significance… If I’m blessed with those, great! I’m thankful for God’s graciousness. That doesn’t mean I don’t pray for them according to God’s will. But they don’t consume my energies and thoughts.

What is unseen is developing my relationship with the Lord, raising my children to godliness, serving my family selflessly, growing in my character, loving those around me, and taking care of my responsibilities.

What is unseen may be the future salvation of my children when I make praying and spiritual conversations a priority above keeping them "busy" so I can have a moment of quiet.

It might mean falling deeper in love with Tim because I spent time with him sacrificially, rather than using my evening time spending it for myself.

It may also mean that I spend my few short moments in the afternoons with the Lord rather than choosing to spend them doing less important things.

I must keep my focus on the things that have eternal value, rather than letting myself get bogged down in the day to day momentary struggles that are temporary and not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. It’s also an encouragement to know that all these struggles I endure in this life as I trust and follow the Lord will be worth it in the end, when I finally see that “absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory” (vs 17)- say that out loud, I love how it sounds rolling off my tongue!

Trust God with your life! Focus on the eternal, on the bigger picture and be faithful to what He’s called you to right now! It’s just temporary! As you die daily, be encouraged that the inner, immaterial, eternal part of you is becoming more and more alive all the time!

I still have days that I think “These kids are killing me!” and I feel the life draining out of me as I pour my energies out. But this is the hope and encouragement that I daily hold on to. And I hope you do too as you follow the Lord wherever He’s placed you!

i am not creative

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

photo credit

I was with a group of ladies this past week, and like most times when we're together, we have a craft! The organizer planned a fun, easy craft which involved turning paint swatches into Valentine's themed bookmarks! As we were leisurely standing around tables cutting the swatches, hole-punching hearts and tying ribbons, I overheard this phrase a few different times: "I am not creative!"

It bothered me. And I had so many thoughts flood my mind as I tried to figure out why.

I hear this phrase a lot among women and I'm sure if you and I were talking about this face-to-face, you'd be nodding your head in agreement!

I know that many of you will be surprised at this next confession:
I used to say this phrase ALL the time about myself!

I know, I know! You're shocked,
Me- who sews and crafts, has a handmade shop, who is always trying new things in my home, and blogs DIY posts...
I used to say this phrase! And I believed it too! For a long time...

Here's are 3 reasons why I believe that statement is untrue for me, and for you to think:

1. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy! Sometimes just believing something about yourself, makes it become true. Then you stop trying to do new things, or exercise creativity! You also stop believing in yourself and rather than having confidence when an opportunity to be creative comes along, you become uncomfortable or unwilling because of what you believe about yourself.
And that leads to my second point...

2. It's based on fear! We become unwilling to try something new, or we try it with very little effort because we have such low expectations of ourselves! And of course all this is rooted in our fear of failure! But what most creative people know, is that there is no such thing as failure when it comes to the creative process. We may not always get the desired outcome, but we try again and do it a little differently! And if it doesn't turn out at all, we ask for help, appreciate the "art" that we produced as it is, or we move on to something else! But the biggest trap that we can get ourselves into is to compare our creativity to someone else's. Which leads to my final point...

3. We are created in God's image! Look around this world- it's an awesomely created world! God is so creative- I mean, c'mon! He's the Creator. And by that I mean, He's THE Creator! He is the most creative Being in the universe and because we are all made in His image, He's given us a part of his creativity! We're all creative! When we say we aren't creative, we are refusing to acknowledge a part of God in us, a gift he's given to us. It also shows how ungrateful we are to Him and even how disappointed we are with how God has made us! You see, God has also given us all special talents and abilities, along with a capacity to LEARN! We need to foster a desire to learn by trying new things, and deepening our knowledge of previously learned things! Skills have to sharpened and we can only grow in knowledge and creativity if we exercise our brains by learning! When we meet a really talented lady, we don't often think about the fact that it took her a lot of time and practice and trial & error for her to reach this level of skill, confidence and creativity!

When we say we aren't creative, we usually do it as a response to someone else who seems more creative than us! I find there is a difference in saying, "I can't do this" and "I won't do this."
Usually we say the first out loud but the latter is what we really mean. We think to ourselves, (probably not consciously), "I don't know if I can do this, so I'm not going to try, or at least put much effort into this."

You see, we aren't all gifted in the same ways, and that's okay! We aren't all creative in the same ways and we all have different interests. I know there are some people who simply are more creative than others! But that doesn't mean you aren't, just because it may not be at the same level or in the same way. I believe they have worked on and developed their creativity. They've embraced it and exercised it and grown in it!

And at times you or I simply won't enjoy doing certain creative things we women associate the word "creativity" with, and that's okay!
Each of us is creative, but in different ways! And we all need to find the ways that we are creative in!

I finally overcame this false belief about myself because I decided to try something new and pursue a hobby that seemed totally foreign to me. I was all thumbs at first, my brain felt muddled, and I felt silly and stupid. But with time and practice, I got better and my confidence grew! Then I realized I enjoyed it, and it was no longer practice, it was the real thing! I decided to push the limits of who I was, or thought I was! And though this creativity discovery, I've also discovered a lot about myself along the way!

Which side of the "I'm not creative" phrase are you on?

Have you been here before? Are you there now?

Valentine's Roundup!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:01:00 +0000

Happy Valentines Day! I hope that today you are celebrating the special people in your life and are thankful for the privilege it is to love them!

For today I wanted to do a round up of sorts of some Valentine inspired fun around our house!

Top Row- Heart Shaped Peanut Butter Sandwich, Red and Purple Goldfish Crackers, Heart Shaped Apple pieces,
Bottom Row- Heart Shaped Pretzels :), Salsa for dipping, and heart shaped string cheese pieces

This is a throwback to when I used to do these muffin tin lunches all the time with Titus!
We still do this occasionally, and this week I couldn't resist throwing together a Valentine-themed muffin tin lunch (however NOT on Monday haha). These are really fun to get creative with, and kids love them!

Norah has just started wearing hair clippies! I finally needed something more than the hairbands she always wears to keep her long bangs out of her face, so I went to my dear friend (and former business partner) Laura, from The Blue Ladybug! She made me a lovely set of Valentine's clippies, a Tiny Pink Boutique Bow (Seriously adorable!) and another set of pastel clippies. I'm thrilled that Norah is keeping them in (for the most part!) and I love having another option for her hair now that she has more of it! And I love all her new hair clippies- they are all sooo cute! So head over to Laura's newly re-opened shop The Blue Ladybug and check out some of her craftiness! She's super talented and is my go-to person for all things crafty. I don't think she has any hair things listed in her shop right now, but she's been making quality hair bows, headbands, clips, etc for years and loves to do it! She might create you a custom order if you asked her nicely :)

Fabric Heart Cards Tutorial
We had fun mailing these to some very missed friends and cousins, and handing them to some new friends we've made! God is good! :)

Valentine's Garland Tutorial
I decided I needed to make several more of these to hang around my new gray kitchen! Of course I never got around to it, so maybe next year! I do love the one I have though! Did you make one?

Here are some pictures of the kids I took last Valentines Day when Norah was only about 6 weeks old! I have the most precious pictures of them from this time! Of course I couldn't resist getting a new one this year, although it was a little more difficult! Maybe I'll make it a tradition, although they'll probably get tired (or grossed out) of the ones where they're staring into each other's eyes! :)

I love having two kids! Yes, it is a ton of exhausting work! But there are those moments when I look over, and they're playing so nicely together, or they're loving each other, or Titus is so tenderly talking to Norah. And I know it's totally worth it! These are the greatest kids ever! I'm so blessed! And this Valentines day I'm enjoying focusing on how blessed I am to have these two (and their amazing daddy) in my life to love and take care of!

What love are you celebrating today?

homemade citrus cleaner

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

As promised here is a homemade citrus cleaner similar to the all-purpose vinegar cleaner that I shared yesterday. The only thing is that this one requires your family to eat citrus fruits and a little patience! :)

But first I want to offer a quick disclaimer/encouragement...
In case anyone is feeling the urge to start making all their own toiletries, cleaning products, etc, and might be feeling overwhelmed, let me encourage you to take your time! I may be posting all these quickly, but remember that this change for me has taken months! As I ran across new ideas, I incorporated them into our lives. So go slow with transitioning to homemade stuff- don't over whelm yourself by making too many changes too quickly!

Okay on to the Citrus Cleaner...

I love Citrus! It's one of my favorite smells. So when I saw how easy this was, I just had to try it!
This may not be new to some of you since I did see it floating around the Internet recently.

What you'll need:

~ A quart size Mason jar (or two!)
~ Citrus Peels
~Distilled White Vinegar
~A spray bottle
~Water

1. Eat Oranges :) (or any other citrus fruits- mine consists of Oranges and Clementines)

2. Save the left over peels in a Mason jar

3. When the jar is filled with peels, pour in the vinegar to fill up the rest of the jar.

4. Now set it on the counter for about 2 weeks (It really makes a lovely temporary decoration). The longer it sets the more potent it will be. Also it might be a good idea to label your jars so you know when they're ready!

5. At the ending of the 2 or so weeks, use a fine mesh strainer to separate the orange peels from the liquid.

6. Pour the liquid into the Spray bottle and add the same amount of water
(Ex: my first batch yielded 10 oz of liquid, so I added 10 oz of water.)

7. Give it a shake and you have a Citrus cleaner that you can use on anything- counters, floor, tubs, sinks, etc!

This process of saving something that I used to throw away has made me rethink what we throw out, and wonder what other ways I can recycle our "food waste." I'm learning there are still ways we can benefit from foods we throw away and I'm looking forward to learning more about how.

Finally I want to comment on how satisfying it is to make something from scratch that is very useful to your family! Once you start, it's an addicting feeling! Just make one thing on the list from yesterday and see how it feels! :) But really, we all know the satisfaction of creating something from our own two hands with success, so I know this isn't a shock to you! There's nothing like looking in your cabinets, on your shelves, in your freezer and seeing products made by your own hands, with your own effort! If anything make me feel like super mom (on those rare days), it's doing this! I feel like I'm truly providing my family a simpler life and a safer home! You aren't creating something for just the sake of it, but you're creating a product that will save you money, that will be more natural and safe for your home, and that you'll actually use!!! I also love that I've freed up a chunk of our grocery budget by freeing myself from having to buy cleaning products at the store! When something runs out, I go to my pantry and whip up another batch!

Okay, how have you discovered the satisfaction of made-from-scratch living?
Have you tried something new recently?

make cleaning products for pennies

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:59:00 +0000

There is something about homemade living that I think everyone should know:

You can make your own cleaning products (and toiletries) for just pennies, and actually enjoy them!

AND you don't have to live with and use the chemicals from the store that make you want to wear a gas mask every time you use them!

When I first pregnant, I became more and more aware of the chemicals in my house- they were everywhere, in my kitchen, in my bathroom, in my laundry room, and behind most cabinet doors close to the floor! It was alarming to realize this and the huge responsibility it would be to baby-proof a house and spend years keeping all kinds of harmful things around our house out of little hands.

I knew it would be impossible to say goodbye to the little years without some incident involving my child eating something he shouldn't, no matter how careful I was. So what could I do?

I could remove it all from my home. But how? I still needed to clean my house?

Then I began a mission of finding a natural cleaning product. Then I discovered Norwex and have been happily using their reusable antibacterial microfiber cloths for about 2 years now, along with many other products! I love the products and although I don't sell them myself, I've sold many friends and family on them and now have a couple consultants in the family :) If you have any questions about it, let me know, as I won't take the time and space in this post.

After slowly removing chemicals from my home and using a few simple Norwex products that are truly multi-purpose, I started learning that I could easily and cheaply make my own cleaning products with only a few ingredients that I already have around the house.

Here is a basic list of staple ingredients needed to make homemade cleaning producs:

Borax
Baking Soda
Super Washing Soda
White Vinegar
Castile Soap
Essential oils are not necessary but they can be fun to experiment with

The basics are vinegar and baking soda- we probably all have that in our pantry right now! So you can start there! The rest of these items are fairly inexpensive and can be found pretty easily in the laundry aisle of your local grocery store, a well appointed health food store, or online through Mountain Rose Herbs.

Here are a few recipes for cleaning products you can make with a few simple ingredients:

Abrasive Scrub
(Uses: Toilet bowl scrub, mattress freshener, carpet freshener,

~Fill an empty plastic container (like a parmesan container) halfway with baking soda.
~Add 15-20 drops of tea tree oil (anti-bacterial)
(Also add any other essential oil you like for scent- I love Peppermint or Orange)
~Shake until mixed totally

For toilet bowls, use like Comet- sprinkle in toilet bowl, and use toilet brush to scrub
For mattresses and carpets, sprinkle around, let set, then vacuum up!

All Purpose Cleaner
(Uses: counters, floors, sinks, tubs, etc!)

~Fill a spray bottle 1:1 with water and white distilled vinegar.
~Use as is or add some essential oils

Dish Soap- I plan to make this recipe soon!

Laundry Soap- uses Castile bar soap. I plan to use this recipe as soon as I go through the last batch I recently made. I don't care for the strong smell of the Fels Naphtha.

Foaming Anti Bacterial Hand Soap

So here are a few recipes that can get you started, and pretty much do most of your cleaning for you.
I've found that if there's still something in my house I want to replace, I just google a homemade natural version and there are usually lots of versions out there, so take advantage of the internet! There are lots of other women on blogs who have a wealth of information and experience and they are just like us, wanting to make their homes safer and cleaner!

I now exclusively use Norwex or homemade cleaners, and chemical cleaners are almost non-existent in our house! It feels good to have one less thing to worry about in a house of toddlers! We have enough trouble to keep them out of!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing another DIY Cleaning Recipe with you!:)

Share or Link any other cleaning recipes you have in the comments below so that we can all

Fabric Heart Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Before kids, my hobby was card-making.
Since having kids, I've fallen in love with sewing and fabric!
For this project, I dug through all my card-making supplies and my scrap fabric, and merged the two together!

Here are the Valentines that we made for all Titus and Norah's little friends, both near and far!

Fabric Heart Valentine's Cards

What you'll need:
Paper cutter
scissors
scrap fabric
card stock paper
sewing machine
glue stick
extra paper for a note
stamps/ink (any card making supplies)

First, find some scrap paper in pinks, reds, purples, etc. and cut them to the size you'd like.
Mine are various sizes because we just cut wherever we felt like it!
Titus enjoyed using my paper cutter, although he did manage to come away from it with a battle wound from it! :(

Then using scrap fabric in various patterns and Valentines colors, cut out hearts!
Polka dots are fun- which you can see I have a lot of! :)
I find the quickest way to do this is to start with a small square of fabric, fold it in half, and cut a half heart starting at the fold.
Or if you want to be precise or aren't confident in your cutting skills, you could draw a template. Just lay the template on the fabric, trace it and cut it out that way. But that will take a lot longer. I don't think an imperfect heart is that big of a deal, anyways. It just adds to the charm of this handmade card!

Now it's time to sew!
Place a heart on one of the pieces of paper anyway you like, and place the machine needle in the bottom tip of the heart. This is your starting point.
I just used white thread for my cards to keep it simple. In some of fabric it matched nicely and wasn't that noticeable. And in others it stood out more. Feel free to be bold in your thread color!
You also might need to adjust the tension/settings on your machine since you're sewing through paper. I loosened the tension slightly and increased my stitch length because I noticed some of my stitching with looking tight. It would be a good idea to play around with the settings on a practice card.
Start at the bottom tip of the heart and work your way up the first side and around the first hump. When you reach the middle point, keep your needle in the fabric/paper, lift the presser foot, and swivel the whole thing so you can do the next side.
Be careful when stitching around the curves, but also keep it moving! And be sure to keep a good hold on the heart since it's not pinned! Don't worry if it's not perfect- mine certainly aren't!
Be sure to back stitch at the beginning and end, and clip the threads close the fabric.
Now repeat with how ever many cards you plan to make!

Here's what they'll look like when they're finished!
Beautiful! Just a few more steps to go!

Now when you're done sewing, the back will look like this. You'll see the stitching.
To cover it, we glued a Valentine's poem to the back.

Then Titus signed the cards, and we stamped some hearts.

For the front, we stamped each of the their friends' names, or stamped the word "Love."
You can decorate your cards any way you'd like by rounding the corners, using decorative scissors, stickers, rub-ons, etc.

Now they're done and we have a stack of envelopes ready to mail to lots of loved very-missed friends and cousins in MI!

For another Valentine's craft idea, click over to make a Valentines Garland!

chalkboard kitchen wall

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:19:00 +0000

Thanks for all the birthday wishes this week! I had a wonderful birthday, made special by my amazingly sweet husband and my two precious children! I really am so blessed! God is good!

Over the weekend, we painted our kitchen! :) I'm so in love with the new colors! I feel such a freshness when I walk in the kitchen and was such a pick-me-up on my birthday! It feels like me- like US- and I'm excited about this blank canvas of neutral gray walls to bring lots of color to!
Here's the before and after.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I also wanted a very dark gray for the back splash behind the stove and sink. Instead of spending more money on paint that I only needed very little of, I decided to use what I had on hand- chalkboard paint!

I was finally able to cure it today and was very pleased with how it turned out and looks with the rest of the kitchen! We'll be tackling the cabinets next!

Here some highlights from my little birthday party, that show off the kitchen color too!

Crazy kids, yummy goodies!


It's not a birthday party without hats, according to Titus! Love my kids!!!

Enjoying my new birthday present... especially since I currently have dishes to do and floors to sweep! :P

Today I'm linking up with the following:
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Somewhat Simple

a mama's birthday...

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:47:00 +0000

Here I am, sitting on my couch, in my pjs still at 10:30am and I haven't had a shower yet...
Today is my 27th birthday...

(Last year, I shared on my old blog about having birthday blues as a mom, when our birthdays become overshadowed by everything else in life)

I think the birthday blues are ever-present as a mom of young kids!

This is my first birthday after our big move, and it's brought on homesickness for all the friends and family we left it MI! It's easy to have a little pity party thinking about the fact that I'll be home most of the day alone with my two little kids, as if it's any other day...

Cleaning up messes, breaking up fights, disciplining misbehavior, wiping dirty bottoms, lots of noise, making peanut butter sandwiches... this is what my birthday has consisted of so far!

As I look around at my life today and realize the blessings that my 27 years of life have brought me, my birthday has become a day to celebrate the good things in my life and be thankful, and not to do whatever I want (like sleep in hehe) and be selfish on my day! :)

I have two sweet kids, who are a lot of work right now, but a few birthdays spent serving them, is nothing compared to the blessing that they are and the importance they are eternally!

My husband is such an example of selfless, Christ-like love and humbles me with his constant service and others-centeredness attitude! He knows my birthday means alot to me and does what he can to make it special. It may not be like how my mom would do it, but I've learned to change my expectations and appreciate all the good things that do happen!

As a mom, it's the little things that I've come to appreciate....
Last night, it was sitting in the corner of a dimly-lit restaurant with my husband alone, enjoying a quiet dinner without having to inhale my food or stop to feed kids or cut up food! It was NICE!
On Saturday, my husband lined up babysitting in the morning so we could sit at Starbucks and drink some coffee together!

This birthday, more than any other, I've realized I want different things than ever before.
Time alone with my hubby!
Eat at a restaurant we would never take our kids to...
Get to actually eat my meal uninterrupted...
Enjoy some peace and quiet...
Walk around a store alone or with just my husband...

It's the little things now that matter most!

Here are a few other birthday blessings-

I got this book for my birthday and have already finished reading it! Inspired You has truly inspired me and because of it, I completely repainted my kitchen (with more to come!) :) I'll have to do an official review soon, because think most if not all of you would LOVE this book!

I love the new colors in my kitchen and the fact that some fresh paint in the house, truly makes the space to start to feel like my own! I love that the neutral colors will make brighter colors I'll decorate with just pop.

I can't wait to eat this yummy cake that my hubby made for me! It's a dark chocolate cake with a hint of coffee flavor!! Mmmmm

And although I'm a little more homesick this birthday, and am really longing for a girl's night with two very special friends, I'm thankful for this day to reflect on God's blessings in my life, and to enjoy all the good things that God sends to bless me this day! God reminded me this morning that this isn't my day, it's His day that he's given me to live for him, not myself!

I'm also thankful for so many birthday greetings, texts, calls, cards, etc!
It's a huge reminder of all of the people in my life Ive been blessed to know and many who are praying for me today! Thanks for the encouragement that so many of you have been to me today!

tutorial : valentine's day garland

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Happy February!!!

February is my birthday month!
And many other wonderful things happen this month, including lots of other family birthdays and Valentines day!

Here is a fun Valentines decoration I made last year that I posted on my old blog.
I pulled this baby out of a box while I was unpacking my craft room a couple weeks, and knew that I had to share it again!

This Valentine's Felt Garland would be really fun to make with your kids (that is, if your kids are old enough to use scissors!) with many ways to decorate!

Here are some decor ideas that I wish I could do with my garland:

~ drape it on a mantle

~ wrap it around a small Christmas tree to make a "valentines tree"

Ultra Easy Instructions:

*Cut hearts and other various shapes out of red,pink,white, etc Felt

you can have your kids help with this.

(this is what takes the most time)

*Sew all your shapes together by feeding them one by one, back to back under the presser foot of your machine.

Voila!

Now you have a fun, easy Valentine's Decoration that is so versatile, you can use it every year in a different way!

Let me know you decorate with yours!!!

naptime confessions

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:20:00 +0000

Here are few moments, confessions, funny/touching/cute happenings and things I've learned lately...

.... Titus naps a lot better when I wear him out beforehand! These past few warmer days, we've been running around our big yard, and out to the woods and back. It only takes 5 mins, and then he's out like a light! Today is frigid- so we did jumping jacks before bed! :) I'm learning it's a boy thing! Need.to.burn.energy!

... I heard Titus coming, so I stuffed the fruit snacks wrapper I'd been munching from in between the couch cushions. hee hee! bad mommy! :)

...Having TWO toddlers, I now have hit the "letting myself go" phase of life! UGH! I hate that fact, but it's just impossible to pry them from my body in order to have even 5 mins in the bathroom! They have so many demands in the morning, that there's just no time to think about myself! I'm truly at the stage where I'm lucky to get to use the bathroom at all! Please tell me I'm not alone here! It's depressing, but I know it won't be for forever... at least I hope!

...both of my toddlers will sit at the picnic table together and play with playdoh independently for a half hour! I now see myself being able to steal those few moments for some productivity... or maybe just to get ready for the day! (see above) ;)

...Titus said today, "Norah my best sister! She's my friend!" This is what I've been waiting for! Their friendship is growing all the time, and I love that I can truly see it happening!

...Norah is starting to show love! She's finally playing with dolls and is starting to initiate hugs with her dolls and her brother! This is so encouraging to see!

...My 3 year old can memorize Scripture amazingly! I realized last week "Why am I not having Titus memorize Bible verses?" I immediately taught him John 3:16, and the next day he was saying it like a pro! A week later, he walks around the house saying it, and tells it to everyone he sees! Why did I not do this sooner!? Never underestimate a toddler's ability to learn! Take advantage of it asap!

...I've been purposely making myself stop & watch the kids - soaking in every detail of the moment! Whether it's playing, or cuddling, or sitting still, I want to pause time and really see them in the moment- memorize their facial features and expressions, their smooth skin and sweet voices. To close my eyes, and breath in their smell! These are the things about this phase of life that I will one day miss! Trying not to miss the joys of this age, because of the stress and exhaustion that it is as well!

Homemade Foaming Antibacterial Handsoap

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I've been wanting to make my own handsoap for some months now, but have yet to get around to it!
This past weekend, a friend sent this recipe my way, so it gave me a reason to finally try it! ;)

It was MUCH easier than other recipes I'd seen and had a mere three ingredients!
(I've decided my favorite homemade products have minimal ingredients because then there's more of a chance that I have everything needed!) :)

Remember when I shared all the things I loved about Castile Soap when I talked about going Shampoo free? Well, here's a recap!
--I use Castile Soap on the kids exclusively now. The hubby and I also use this as a body wash, and can be used as a shampoo (especially on guys, since they have shorter hair!) And you only need to use a tiny amount!

--I love that it doesn't leave behind a residue or build-up on our skin (this has always bothered me about soap!) Castile Soap is made with pure and simple ingredients- castile soap and organic oils and essential oils!

--I also love that it's a Fair Trade Product, meaning that it wasn't made through the use of slave labor!

--And I love that it lasts a LONG time and is more cost-effective than other soaps. (we've been using our 32oz bottle for over a month and I've made two bottles of hand soap, and only 1/4 of the bottle has been used up.)

-- It can also be used in household cleaners, dish soap, laundry soap, and more!

So while Titus was taking a bath, I whipped up a couple bottles of this handsoap! Seriously one of the quickest, easiest mixes! Both of my bathrooms had foaming soap dispensers that were almost empty! (Yay!!) Apparently you can find empty ones online if you don't have any laying around. I just emptied and washed mine out, mixed the ingredients together, and gave it a quick shake! Simple as that!

Now I want to find a similar recipe for liquid dish soap because I know that Castile Soap can be used for dish soap (I think I could probably just use this recipe though!)

This recipe and photo was found from The Simple Moms
(They give some more info and tips on this post if you're interested.)

With a 3 year old and a 1 year old during cold/flu season, we are constantly washing our hands around here! In doing some reading I've learned that 60% of what we put on our skin gets absorbed and I want to make sure that only healthy products are going on our skin! Soap is probably what we use most on our skin on a daily basis! I love that I now know exactly what our skin is absorbing with this homemade hand soap. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean and smelling great! I also notice that my hands don't feel quite as dry as they do when I'm using commercial soaps all day, and I think these bottles will last a loooong time (don't foaming soaps seem to last longer?) making this soap even more cost-effective than it already is!

There are many new people to DIY toiletries who've been asking about where to get all these ingredients/supplies from. If you already make these kinds of products, would you share below where you get your supplies/ingredients from so that we all can benefit? Thanks!

just leave me alone vs laying down my life

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:40:00 +0000

I get up in the morning and I'm tired (what else is new?) and just not in a very talkative mood. I'm feeling blah!
My husband asks "what's wrong?" and I reply "nothing." to which he gives a skeptical look.

Really, nothing is wrong.
But I could say, "Well, what's wrong is that I'm selfish."
I have a list of things I NEED to do (housework and such), I have a list I WANT to do (hobbies, relaxing, etc) and I basically want to just be left alone!

What do you do as a mom when you find yourself telling everyone (only in your mind, of course),
"I just want everyone to leave me alone!"?

Basically, in a heart that is to prone to sinfulness because of my flesh, I want to live for myself!

I'm thankful for reality checks that God brings into my life to to refocus my perspective on what's the most important and to reveal how my heart needs to change.

This past Saturday morning, I went to a Ladies Morning Out with a few of our sweet church ladies. We took a little drive together to another church about 40 mins away, and spent the morning learning some fun domestic skills and hearing a devotional. (I learned some easy soap making, and picked up some great tips from cake decorating and bread making!)

Over lunch, we talked about being mothers.
Three of them are grandmothers now and one has teenagers.
I was the only one there who had used this morning as a break from the demands of my kids, and I was loving every minute of it. It had been a rough week, and I was not proud of the attitude I'd had all week! But the ladies sat there talking about how enjoyable their families became as their kids got older, but how you really struggle to find the time to spend together when they get in the busy teenage years.
And one dear lady said the familiar phrase all of us young moms know: "And before you know it they're gone!" and in that moment I became so sad (instead of smiling politely and wanting to roll my eyes) thinking about that moment in my life that will one day come.
But she added, "But as sad as that is, what is sadder is having regrets..." And that hit my heart!
The other ladies chimed in in agreement, and they encouraged me to not let all the frustrations of the kids get me bent out of shape because they don't really matter and one day I won't even remember them!

I thought of all the times the past week I'd frantically reacted to every little thing and had shown myself to be a great model of impatience. I always have lots of things in mind that I want to spend my time on, and have been viewing my kids as obstacles to getting done what I need/want to.
I was ashamed! And I've realized how selfish I've been living lately!

Pretty soon they will be gone! And what's going to matter then isn't that I got to drink my coffee uninterrupted, it won't be the full hour of sewing I got to do, or the nap I got to take...

I won't have regrets if I'm confident that I served those kids to the best of my ability, engrossed myself in play whenever I got the chance, and took every snuggle I could! I won't even remember the bad stuff, and I'll be ashamed of my self-service.

So although life is really hard and exhausting, and requires me to pour all of myself on my family (with hardly left for much else), I realize that on the day Norah gets walked down the aisle, or Titus gets dropped off at college, these are the things that will make me feel satisfied with how I mothered them.
And all the days that I spent living selfishly, whether in action or just in my heart, I will regret!

So here's to a fresh week, living in the Lord's new mercies... (Tuesday is like a Monday for me)
And I'm keeping "the last day" in mind to help maintain my focus so I don't get bogged down in life's many frustrations. I'm trying to make the most of every moment with my kiddos, and instead of frantically reacting to every little mess, naughtiness or frustration, I'm instead trying to show grace and love! After all, that's how God loves me, and I need to model that to my kids!

And God reminds me of this verse often when it comes to parenting:

And as a mom, that's what we've been called to do: lay down our lives for another!

Today I'm choosing to lay down my life and put aside my agenda, so that I can serve my kids without regrets, showing the grace and love to them that God shows to me!

the battle of trying new things!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:46:00 +0000

There is just something overwhelming or scary about trying new things.

I was just thinking about this this morning as I made some pizza dough for lunch.

I was thinking about how my pizza dough isn't whole wheat dough, and some would possibly judge for that, or how other moms cook more healthy than me. But I thought about how making homemade white pizza dough was my goal because I wanted to stop buying refrigerated doughs. In that moment, I allowed myself to feel some victory for the progress I've made!

And I thought about how whipping up some pizza dough, or bread dough or yogurt, used to be a totally overwhelming thought, even scary. I sincerely wanted to add these homemade staples into our diets, but they seemed to be too time-consuming, or tricky, or difficult. So I kept myself from pushing through and trying something new, and then doing it again and again.
But when I finally overcame this, I found it wasn't as difficult or time-consuming as I thought...

So this morning, as I'm stirring together my pizza dough, like it's old-hat, hardly looking at the recipe, I realized my triumph, and I started to consider a few things about trying new things.

Sometimes we give up on something too soon, even if we've tried it once! Of course something takes longer the first time we try it! And maybe even the 2nd or 3rd time. But the more we do something, the faster we get at it and the less intimidating it seems!
And if we keep at it, it's easy to plan it into our busy schedules and assign it a realistic amount of time!
And before you know it, it becomes a habit and is a part of your life, and you've conquered the fear of trying that new thing!

So now that I have this realization, I'm going to rejoice in the no-longer-new things I've tried and made apart of our lives!
But there are still a list of things I want to try, and I know I'm avoiding because I'm intimidated. So I want to evaluate what those things are and push aside my excuses or fears, and conquer another goal!

What are some things you've been too intimidated to try (both past and present)?

a word about baby shampoo

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I just had a comment from a reader who read about how our family is going shampoo-free and was wondering if Johnson's Baby Shampoo was safe?

I had recently heard some things against the company, but I couldn't remember specifics so I just did some quick research and here's what I've found!

We've probably all used Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo at some point or another on our kids! I've used lots of it, and have always viewed it as a safe shampoo- I mean, they used it in the hospital to clean up my babies right after birth! Well, no longer! I'll be throwing my bottle away after I get done writing this post!

I just read several articles that Johnson and Johnson Baby shampoo was found to have used two cancer-causing agents (1, 4-dioxane) and formaldehyde in their baby shampoos and other shampoos.

They pledged in August of 2012 to remove trace amounts of carcinogens and other potentially toxic chemicals from its toiletries and cosmetics by the year 2015. The company had previously pledged to remove such ingredients in baby products by the end of 2012.

What?! They won't have even removed them until 2015??
Well, I believe that I will be extremely careful in the future about purchasing anymore Johnson & Johnson products!

Here are a couple safe, more natural shampoo options for kids:
~Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (this is what I'm currently using on my kids! Read about the benefits here.)
~Homemade Hair Clarifier and Rinse (what I use on my own hair, but safe for kids!)
~Plus there area plethora of recipes on the Internet to make all kinds of different soaps + lots of homemade soaps, lotions, and shampoos sold online, (do a search on Etsy). Maybe even find a local seller, or a health store!

**NOTE: I'm not one to be vocal against specific products or companies, but in the interest of a reader who asked about a specific product, I'm am using this blog to share what I found in my research, especially since it coincided with this recent post about chemicals in commercial shampoos.

Here are some articles I found on this issue:

The Real Lesson of Formaldehyde In Baby Shampoo- TIME

Johnson & Johnson to Remove Formaldehyde from Products- NY times

Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo Has Cancer-Causing Chemicals- Huffington Post

Consumer Advocated Push for "green" products- CNN

Oak Street Studio Reopened + NEW products!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:21:00 +0000

Big News!!! My shop is back OPEN!!!

I've been working on this reopening for a few weeks now and I'm so excited that it's finally the right time! I have alot of new products with more in the works!

After the New Year, I asked myself what I needed to do to reopen Oak Street Studio. Well, I realized that my craft room was still not even unpacked, even though I'd done gobs of sewing projects in December! And since I didn't stop my creativity to unpack and organize, my new craft room was a MESS! That was the biggest thing standing in the way of reopening!

So before I started any more projects, I buckled down to organize my new craft home! I'm happy to say that it's functional and organized, with lots of room to grow! I just need to pick out some paint colors and get crafty with some fun decor, but that won't stop progress! :)

Here's what new in the shop!

{Everything you see here is in VERY limited quantities,
so if you see something you like, snatch it up quick!}

A Brand New Ruffled Scarf in Lemongrass

(featuring me in my new craft room!) ;)

Say hello to our yummy Vintage Floral Collection of wristlets-
now at a new lower price! And all of these babies are ready to ship!

Did you know...

I first created this little bag for myself as an alternative to carrying around a purse in addition to a diaper bag? This has made nursery/childcare transition so much easier too! I just grab my wristlet from out of the diaper bag when I drop off my kids- no more digging for my wallet, cell phone, keys, sunglasses, etc and no more carrying two bags! I never go anywhere without my wristlet anymore! It holds just about everything I need when I go out! (It currently holds my wallet, cell phone, checkbook, lipgloss, ipod, etc.)

But our wristlets aren't just for mamas...

they are perfect for any on-the-go lady

AND would look adorable on the arm of a little girl, carrying her chapsticks, jewelry and colors pens! :)

Powder Blue Floral/Pink Dot Wristlet

This wristlet clutch is a beautiful powder blue floral fabric with a Pink polka dot ruffle, a wrist strap and a fun bright pink zipper!

Lime Dot/Pink Floral Wristlet Clutch

This wristlet clutch is a beautiful lime dot fabric with a pink floral ruffle, a wrist strap and a crisp white zipper!

Pink Floral/Jade Dot Wristlet Clutch

This wristlet clutch is a beautiful Pink Floral fabric with a Jade Dot Ruffle, a wrist strap and a crisp white zipper!

Jade Dot/Lime Floral Wristlet Clutch

This wristlet clutch is a beautiful Jade Polka dot fabric with a Lime Floral Ruffle, a wrist strap and a fun bright pink zipper!

Pink Dot/Blue Floral Wristlet Clutch

This wristlet clutch is a beautiful pink polka dot fabric with a powder blue floral ruffle, a wrist strap and a crisp white zipper!

{Remember, everything you see here is in VERY limited quantities,
so if you see something you like, snatch it up quick!}

In case you aren't familiar with the purpose of Oak Street Studio, it's a way for me to be make a difference, not just on my family, but also in the world! I have a growing burden for Human Trafficking/sex slavery and for the Worldwide Orphan Crisis. As God has developed this passion in my heart in recent months, I've been praying for ways to be involved. It's difficult as a young, stay-at-home mom to have the time, money and abilities to give and to feel that I'm playing an important part in these horrific needs in the world. But I'm going to do what I can. First and foremost, I will become a more faithful prayer warrior for the suffering in the world. And I'm excited to use this blog and my new shop to raise awareness and funds for these great needs! 50% of all my sales will be contributed to Human Trafficking organizations (like Women At Risk, Int'l) and to my friends' adoptions (like the Phillips family).

I pray the Lord will bless me and give success in these endeavors!
Please follow this blog and visit my shop, and please share with others! And you can follow via Facebook!
I want the word to get out about what I'm doing and why!

made from scratch: discovering the pleasures of a handmade life {book review}

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Beth) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

As many of you know, 2 months ago we moved our family from Michigan to Ohio. It's been an adjustment for all of us and we certainly do miss dear friends and family. But the move has not been without it's positives! Besides loving our new church family, and having some new friends, we are also looking forward to the Spring! You see, we now live in a big farmhouse built around 1873, that sits on about 5 acres of church property. There is lots of room for the kids to run around, we have a little bit of woods, a fire pit, and what we're most excited about- a garden! Read my husband's blog about our past and present garden advetures here.

Anyways, as we sit inside all winter, we've been reading up on gardening and getting excited for all the possibilities! We plan to have a bigger garden, and have been trying to think of more ways to be self-sustaining with the land that's around us! Tim also blogged about some great books on homesteading/gardening too.

One idea that we've been toying with is getting some chickens, for eggs and possibly meat as well. Now we love the idea, but we want to make sure that we know all it entails first so we can be truly committed. I've been pretty excited about the prospect, but also hesitant. You see, I am NOT an animal person. I never really have been. So although the idea of having livestock sounds exciting and practical, I'm having to face this reality about myself.

I told my brother and sister in law about our thoughts because they've raised chickens and built a coop before. They've sent us some great resources. My sweet SIL told me about this book that she read that really inspired her to get the chickens, and she promptly loaned it to me via Kindle.
Made From Scratch: discovering the pleasures of a Handmade Life by Jenna Woginrich.

Made From Scratch is an entertaining, informative and inspiring book about how to live more simply, frugally and self-reliant. Jenna, a web designer at a big company, shares the ups and down in her own personal journey raising chickens, setting up a bee hive, planting a garden, making her own clothes, and learning to play the fiddle all while living in a rental home! She shares her stories in a humorous and witty way, but you come away wanting to order some chicks, a beekeeping kit and a hand-crank radio! She makes the handmade life sound very satisfying and desirably simple!

I already do a lot of what she shared, like sew clothes for our family, grow a garden, make more food from scratch, and I'm developing a love for old things. But it made me want to do those things more, and it opened my eyes to so many new things I'd like to try.

I came away from the book, not only sold on the idea of raising some chicks this spring, but I also want to:
Plant a bigger garden
Make more of our clothes
Bake bread more regularly
Keep Bees
Churn Butter
Decorate my house with old things
Buy a hand crank radio and kitchen appliances
Raise Angora Rabbits to spin their hair into yarn!

Now I just need to find the time to do all that... Whew!

Made from Scratch is certainly not a thorough how-to book when it comes to all these different topics. But it gives you enough information to have a basic understanding of what each will entail, and she also provides lots of resources in the back of the book if you have any more interest in any of the topics. It's the push in the right direction you need to develop an interest in trying something new, and feeling like you can do it!

If you read this book, I guarantee you will laugh out loud (or at least, chuckle under your breath), you will have moments of sadness, you'll open your mouth in shock, and you'll be inspired to try something she talks about!