First Comes Love

2012 Reflections, Looking Forward to 2013

2013-01-18T09:44:00.002-05:00

Am I the only one who resists jumping on the “New Year, New You” bandwagon simply because it’s a bandwagon?

I kick and scream just for the sake of kicking and screaming, because I don’t waaaaanna do what everybody else is doing.

Plus, it usually takes me a couple (or three) weeks to get into the swing of a whole new year, assess my current state and decide whether I want to make any notable changes in my life. (That's my excuse for this uber late New Year-related post.)

Last year, I made five big promises to myself:

1. Give more.

What I said I would do: Admittedly, I can be a bit selfish. This year, I plan to take less and give more. To people we know. To people we don't. It's so easy to want, want, want. Time to show a little love to someone other than myself.
What I did: Gave more! Granted, I probably didn’t give as much as I intended when I declared the goal, but I gave more nonetheless. Some recipients were people I know. Some were strangers. Good mix of giving, I suppose.

Via

2. Simplify.

What I said I would do: I must de-clutter, purge and simplify my life. For real this time. I'm getting rid of clothes, furniture, household décor. The excess must go. (This goal goes hand in hand with the "give more" goal, huh?)
What I did: I kind of, sort of tackled this goal. If you ask my husband, he’ll tell you “once a hoarder, always a hoarder” (of clothes, photo frames and vases, mostly). Now that we’re moving into a brand new casa, this goal is a big priority for 2013. I’m getting rid of all kinds of stuff, and I LOVE it. Feels good to purge. Problem is: now I want all new stuff to go with the all new house!

Via

3. Find a church we love and GO!

What I said I would do: This needs to be a priority for us. Jonathan and I love to sleep in on Sunday mornings (whatever "sleeping in" means when you have a baby), but we need to get our butts out of bed and introduce Elena to God. Yea, kind of important.
What I did: Nothing (embarrassingly). My daughter knows Santa (who she refers to as “Tanta”), but if you ask her about Jesus, she looks at you like you have three heads. MAJOR fail. I'm working on it. Sort of. Not gonna list my excuses here. That's another post for another day.

Via

4. Get out of debt and SAVE!

What I said I would do: This is probably numero uno for me. We're already so close to accomplishing this goal. I can taste it. By early spring, we'll be debt-free and one step closer to buying a house we love. Ohhh, I cannot wait!
What I did: Mission accomplished! We paid off debt in 2012, and I started a new job in July. We’ve saved money like mad, and now we’re in the process of building a new home. We’ll be moving in a matter of weeks. I couldn’t be happier about it!

The new house (as of January 13). Still lots to do, but move-in day is getting closer and closer!

5. Lose 15 pounds before Elena's first birthday.

What I said I would do: Cliché, I know. But I can't use the "I just had a baby" excuse anymore since the babe is almost eight months old. I'm still trying to figure out an action plan for this goal. Not sure how I'm going to fit exercise into my daily routine since I am tethered to a baby 24/7. (It's a common misconception that stay-at-home moms have plenty of time to work out. If you believe that, then you are so wrong.)
What I did: In the spring of 2012, I started attending Barre3 classes, which I loved. But, the membership fee was quite expensive (especially when I was a stay-at-home mom trying to get out of debt and save money). In May (right before Elena's birthday), I discovered What’s Beautiful: Team Knoxville, which since changed its name to Knoxville Beauty Hunters. I worked out almost every day all summer, and transformed my mind. My body changed, too, by the way. But, honestly, I was (and am) prouder of the fact that I have no idea whether I lost 15 pounds in 2012, because I got rid of my scale. Letting go of the three-digit number that often dictated my self-worth was one of the best decisions I've ever made. All I know now is that I'm mentally stronger than ever before, and I can wear clothes I haven't worn in years. (Proof that sometimes being a clothes hoarder pays off. Hello, jeans from 2005!)

Elena's first beach trip, and the first time in very a long time this momma bear felt comfortable in her own skin.

2012 was an action-packed year for our family. We experienced a lot. Accomplished a lot. It wasn't perfect, but I'm proud of that part, too. Perfect is boring.

As far as 2013 goes, I don't have any big goals to declare. Just gonna keep on living and loving (and blogging when I can find the time!).

And the winner is...

2013-01-07T09:54:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday!

Hope your week is off to a fantastic start.

Many thanks to the lovely ladies who participated in last week's giveaway. It was a lot of fun to read your comments about parenthood or the anticipation of parenthood. Oh, how I remember the anxious days of pregnancy. "Am I cut out for this whole motherhood thing?" The answer: Yes. You'll be fine. Promise.

Now, for those of you who are expecting #2 or already have more than one kiddo: sorry, can't help ya. I'm still figuring out how to keep up with #1.

Anyway... I'm so happy to announce that Mrs. Christie of "The Reynolds" is the winner of a copy of Secrets of the Mommyhood by Heather Alexander. I happen to know that Christie is expecting her first child (a sweet baby girl), so the timing couldn't be better.

Congrats, Christie! (Send me an e-mail with your address, and I'll drop your prize in the mail this week!)

For those of you who didn't win: turn that frown upside down. You can still get a copy of Heather's book. Visit her website for details.

Also, this isn't my last blog post. I'm not ready to give up on my little online outlet. =)

Goodbye (Maybe) and a Giveaway

2013-01-02T12:39:00.002-05:00

Eh.

So. I’ve been—ahem—away for a while.

Let’s be honest, here. I don’t have time to maintain the blog. I’m a full-time momma and a full-time career woman. Plus, we’re in the process of building a house. “Spare” time is practically nonexistent these days. And, frankly, if I do have spare time I like to spend it with the mini me. Or take a shower. Or sleep. Hell, I’m barely on Facebook or Pinterest anymore. My "internet life” is lagging. (That makes me LOL. Internet life?!)

This all makes me quite sad, though, because I particularly love blogging. I love to write, and blogging is a great way to document life. Marriage, pregnancy, motherhood. All of it. I’ve also met some pretty cool people in the blogosphere (yep, you!)

But I haven’t written a legitimate post since September.

(September was a long time ago. Like, last year.)

It’s probably time to tie a pretty little bow around this lil ol’ blog and call it a wrap.

Truth is, I’m not ready to fully “let it go” though. So, I’m going to carefully consider my options before saying goodbye for good.

Much to ponder.

In the meantime, I have a giveaway to tell y’all about. (Random, I know.)

Heather Alexander from The Mommyhood wrote a book. A BOOK! (I happen to think that’s pretty darn cool.) She’s a Knoxville gal who uses her blog to chronicle parenthood adventures and connect with other moms. Her book (appropriately titled Secrets of The Mommyhood) offers information, practical tips and funny stories about pregnancy and becoming a mother. It’s also a great alternative to the more popular expectant mother books. (Does anyone else think “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” is a hot mess?)The Mommyhood is shorter, easier to read and just as informative.

Annnnnd… I’m giving away a free copy of the book! (Get excited, yo.)

Via

To enter leave a comment on this post. If you’re a mother, describe what surprises you most about motherhood. If you’re a mom-to-be or just a gal who might have kiddos someday, describe what makes you most nervous about parenthood. All comments must be submitted by Sunday, January 6 at 11:00 p.m. (EST). I'll adraw a number at random and announce the lucky winner on Monday, January 7.

Happy New Year, blogosphere. Hope 2013 is off to an AMAZING start.

Merry Christmas!

2012-12-24T11:07:00.000-05:00

From our family to yours... Merry Christmas!

Framed In Snowflakes Christmas Card

Send Christmas cards personalized with your favorite photos.

View the entire collection of cards.

Once upon a time... In the fall of 2004...

2012-09-14T10:57:00.000-04:00

In the fall of 2004...

George W. Bush was was about to be reelected.
Livestrong bracelets were cool.
Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook.
"Lean Back" by The Terror Squad was like, the best song ever. (Just ask my friend Brittany.)
Justin Timberlake still made music.
We were all still mourning the loss of Sex and the City.
I didn't own a digital camera.
Or an iPod.
We were all about to die from Bird Flu.
I was a 22-year-old super senior at the University of Tennessee. (Ahhh, the good ol' days.)
The Tennessee Vols beat the Florida Gators.

Big, big, big moment.

I miss the student section! Except now I am waaay too old to stand for four hours straight.

Overall, it was a good year.

Big game this weekend. Big.

Later rather than sooner

2012-09-13T13:05:00.001-04:00

It's been more than a week since I last wrote.

Gah. Promised myself (and you fine people) I'd be back sooner than later. Well, I lied. And I'm beginning to think I suck at life.

Except I don't.

I'm just so.friggin.busy.I.barely.have.time.to.catch.my.breath.

It's a problem.

Between mommy duties and my career duties, I have very little time to do selfish things I love. Like blogging. And exercising. And reading. And shopping. And brushing my teeth.

Just kidding. I still brush my teeth (most of the time). Shaving my armpits? Forget it. Ain't happening.

Seriously though... my life is in overload mode. I want to have it all. Do it all. But, frankly, it isn't possible.

There are so many things I want to write about. Things like:

Our first family vacay with the mini. Y'all must see the pictures of Elena running around on the beach and splashing in th ocean. I'm talking blog-worthy cuteness at its finest.
The Tennessee Vols being ranked (!) and the fact that I'm actively searching for #23 foam fingers. Dead serious.
My exercise routine. I know, I know. I've already told you how amazing/incredible/life-changing What's Beautiful: Team Knoxville has been for me. But I need to tell you again.
Our big plans to build a house. We have dirt, y'all. Soon, there will be a foundation. I need to document this stuff.
Elena's ever-growing vocabulary. The kid can say "sea shell." And "touch down." She's a genius.
My daily routine. Seriously. I need to share the daily logistics of life with you.

"When will you write all these posts, Melinda?

Good question.

Don't know.

Gotta go. Lunch break is over, and there are press releases to write.

Love y'all. Miss y'all.

Oh where, oh where...

2012-09-04T17:46:00.001-04:00

I gave up on blogging, apparently.

Unintentionally, I assure you. (Let’s be honest; you barely noticed my absence, if at all. It’s OK. I know I’m not a very big blog deal.)

A LOT has happened since I last posted. Like, A LOT, A LOT. I’m so “behind” I don’t even know where to begin. So, here’s an abbreviated list of what’s happening…

I started my new job on July 2. (Forgot to tell you I decided to go back to work! Ooops.) After being a stay-at-home momma-bear for a little over a year, I decided (yes, decided) to re-enter the corporate world. I’m working in the corporate communications department of a national healthcare company. So far, so good.

Via

Elena attends preschool, and she loves it. Like, “peace out mom and dad, I have friends now” kind of love.

First day of preschool!

I cried the first time I dropped the babe off at school. I also cried the first time I saw a beautiful finger painting in her backpack. It was perfect, and I didn’t get to help her create it.

This is not the artwork that made me cry.
This is the one that made me realize my daughter is an artistic genius. Clearly.

I still know how to walk in high heels.

Look out corporate America. Mama Collins is back.

Oldies but goodies. Probably the best impulse buy of my life.

I’m still kicking major butt (mostly my own) at “What’s Beautiful:Team Knoxville.” I have a new outlook on life, body image, self-esteem, the whole deal. Not even kidding. What’s beautiful? I’m beautiful! I actually believe it these days. (Not in vain, but in a self-acceptance, Jesus loves me, so I should love myself kind of way.)


Some of the lovely WBTK ladies! (I'm flexing my big gun on the first row, far right.)

In July, I ran in my first EVER 5K. Like, ran. The whole time. No walking. No stopping. It’s kind of a big deal for this self-described non-runner. And I did it in 38 minutes. That’s not super fast, I know. It's actually considered slow, I guess. But for me, it was a huge deal. I'm running in another 5K in October. Super excited.

You know how some people have 13.1 bumper stickers on their cars to show everyone in traffic they're badass runners? Well, I'm getting one. Except mine will say "5K." Gotta start somewhere, right?

I have no idea what I weigh anymore. I gave my scale to my trainer. It was (and is) one of the best decisions of my life. I also made a promise to myself and the WBTK girls not to step on a scale for one year.

The day I gave up the scale for good. I refuse to let a three-digit number dictate my self-worth. ThankYouVeryMuch.

Elena is such a BIG girl these days. Well, not that big. At 15-months-old, she weighs a whopping 16 pounds. That kid is sooo Little People Big World.

Oh yea, we decided to build a house. Like, contract is signed, cash money is deposited. Like, "hey y'all --- we're moving!!!"

Via

Yep. A LOT has happened since I last posted. Hope to be back to the blogging world sooner rather than later.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2012-06-13T08:42:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I've participated in WILW. But I'm baaaack. (For now, anyway.)

I am loving that I spent last weekend with my BFFs. Husband-free, baby-free, Facebook-free weekend on the lake with my favorite people? Yes, please!

Rachel, me, Sheryl, Brittany D. and Brittany C.

I am loving that several close friends are expecting little ones this year... More babies to love!

Via

I am still loving my new workout regimen. It has been years since I've felt this good. (More updates from the front lines of bootcamp coming soon!)

Before a 6:00 a.m. workout!

I am loving that the husband and I are in the midst of planning a family vacation. I haven't been to the beach since our Antigua Babymoon. The sea is calling...

Jon and me at Half Moon Bay in Antigua

And, finally, I am loving my beautiful baby girl.

She is just amazing.

Happy Wednesday, friends! The weekend is near!

Miss Priss Does Dollywood

2012-06-12T08:20:00.001-04:00

Last week, my mom and I took Miss Priss to Dollywood.

If you're not from the south, or you're just unfamiliar... Dollywood is an insanely popular amusement park created by the one and only Dolly Parton. It's where rollercoasters meet bluegrass. And where you can eat a week's worth of calories in funnel cake, corndogs and cotton candy. It's redneck heaven. And oh-so fun.

My girl and me at Dollywood!

Elena riding the carousel for the first time. She didn't hate it!

On the carousel.

MiMi and Miss Priss

On the ducky ride... she LOVED the ducky ride!

Yes, her over-protective momma rode the ducky ride with her.

Playing in the kiddie area.

Self-picture at the end of the day...

And, finally, ya gotta see this cute video of Elena on the Ducky ride. She thought it was so fun!

So cute, right?! We're going back later this week for another Dollywood adventure. Fun times ahead.

Busy (Almost) Summer Days!

2012-06-11T12:31:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends!

It's been a while.

Sorry 'bout that.

I've been quite the busy momma-bear these days. Like, very busy.

Do you ever get so behind on blogging that you don't even know where to begin?

That's where I am these days. There's so much going on, I can't keep up with myself.

I've been having TONS of fun with Little Miss lately...

We traveled to Nashville to celebrate Uncle Tom's and Aunt Martha's 50th wedding anniversary.

The happy couple with Miss Priss.
Elena was the LIFE of the party! She danced the night away with everyone! So fun!

We spent a day at the zoo with Papaw (my dad)...

We've spent many (many) sunny days at the pool!

Our friends, Laura and Baby Victoria with Elena and me (Victoria and Elena were born a couple of weeks apart).

Elena and her older cousin, Seth.

LOVE that cute little floral swimsuit.

I could post a gazillion more photos I've taken over the past couple of weeks, but I won't. (Wouldn't want you to overdose on cuteness!) I'll be back sooner rather than later though with more exciting adventures. (Promise.)

Miss America

2012-05-30T08:40:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends!

Miss me?

I hope you had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend with family and friends. Ours was terrific. Lots and lots of pool time and relaxation... The perfect way to kick off summertime!

Miss Elena is quite the cutie these days. Watching her learn to walk is hilarious. And watching her stumble around in the grass while wearing her adorable stars and stripes swimsuit --- well, that's just cuteness overload!

See for yourself...

Love that little nugget!!!

Promise to be back soon! Happy Wednesday, blog buds!

No More Boom Boom

2012-05-23T10:12:00.000-04:00

Don't worry. The blog is still PG-13.

"Boom boom" is Elena-language for "bottle."

When she wants one, she mutters "boom, boom, boom, boom" in the most pitiful (and slightly annoying) voice.

(And, yea, I said it. Slightly annoying. Kids ain't perfect, y'all. Sometimes they will get on your nerves.)

Anyway, no more "boom boom" for Miss E. That's what the doctor said at her one-year appointment. And, I must admit I'm freaking out a little bit.

No more boom boom means I have to prepare three meals a day plus snacks and ensure I'm providing proper nutrition along the way.

No pressure or anything.

Don't get me wrong; Miss E. has been eating solids for months, but (until Monday) she took 3-4 bottles per day, too. Now that she's on a "no more boom boom" diet, I needed meal options for Little Miss (i.e. finger foods, because she is sooo over being spoon-fed). So, immediately after her Monday morning doctor appointment, E and I ventured to the grocery store to pick up fruit, veggies, bread, mini waffles (don't worry; they're whole wheat), eggs and whole milk.

So far, she's eating "big girl food" quite consistently. BUT she still moans and groans for "boom boom" and I totally cave every time. (Mostly for my own sanity, because I cannot listen to the whining.)

"Really, Mom? You think peas and carrots are gonna make me forget about boom boom???"

"You're hilarious, Mommy. Really. Hilarious."

"OK. OK. I'll ea the peas and carrots. But I'm gonna need a boom boom, too."

Yea, clearly, I need help! Any tips for bottle weaning? Feels a bit overwhelming at the moment. This rookie momma needs advice!

Elena's Rainbow-Inspired First Birthday Party

2012-05-22T12:59:00.001-04:00

Hello friends!

I am one exhausted momma-bear, after a fun, exciting and (yes) bittersweet weekend celebrating my baby girl's first birthday. (I still can't believe my precious angel is ONE already. Can someone please explain how 365 days goes by sooo fast?!)

Elena's rainbow-inspired birthday party turned out just as I planned --- colorful and adorable. With a house full of family and friends, the day was just perfect for Miss E.

And, yes, I realize Elena won't remember her first birthday (or the effort that went into planning it). But someday I'll show her the eleventy-million photos from her party and hope she realizes how much joy she brought me, her daddy and all of her family and friends during her first year of livin'. She is one very loved little girl.

Here are a few of the eleventy-million photos...

Baby Girl wore every color of the rainbow!


Rainbow decorations!

There's the birthday girl helping with party prep!

A closer look at the foyer display

Elena's weekly photo project on display!

A closer look at the photo display...

The outside of the house

Cake time!!!

She was a little overwhelmed by all the icing!

A fantastic day with family and friends!

A few links:

Rainbow party inspiration
DIY invitations
DIY rainbow cake
I created the photo display using photos from Elena's weekly photo project
Balloons from Polka Dot Market
I bought the colorful pinwheels at Hobby Lobby

Happy First Birthday, Elena Grace!

Happy Birthday Elena!

2012-05-19T07:57:00.000-04:00

Dear Elena,

You're changing the world, little one.

I'm convinced.

Your presence ---your life--- makes every single day better.

For me...

For your daddy...

For the many, many people who love you so very much.

You, my girl, are the best...

The sweetest...

The funniest...

The smartest...

And (of course) the cutest baby (of all time!)...

I adore you, Baby Girl. More and more, forever and ever.

Happy first birthday, Elena!

Love,

Mommy

Elena's First Year: Week 52 (!!!)

2012-05-18T07:31:00.000-04:00

My baby turns ONE YEAR OLD tomorrow!

There are no words...

But there are (lots) of photos...

Happy, happy first birthday, Baby Girl!

Elena's First Year: Week 51

2012-05-15T09:28:00.000-04:00

51 Weeks!!!

Mirror, Mirror (Reflections from Week 1 of Bootcamp)

2012-05-12T23:21:00.000-04:00

Every night before her bath, I let Elena stand on the bathroom counter and look in the mirror. Sometimes she wears a diaper. Sometimes she's as naked as a little jay bird. Either way, she loves it.

And it's quite the comedy show.

She grins, giggles and squeals with delight. She snorts her nose, stomps her feet and smacks her tiny hands on her pop-belly like it's a drum. Then, she presses her palms against the glass, and moves in closer until she's nose-to-nose with herself. She simply can't get enough. She loves what she sees; her very own reflection.

Miss Elena giggling at herself in the mirror.

Can you imagine looking in the mirror and seeing yourself that way?

Practically giddy over your own reflection?

As a woman, I can't help but wonder when my daughter will look in the mirror and see herself differently. Right now, she is happy with herself. Right now, she loves herself.

As her mom, I hope she'll always see her own beauty.

Is that realistic?

As her mom, I really, really hope so.

But, as a woman, I know my daughter will eventually learn poisonous words, like fat and ugly.

Will she ever use those words to describe herself?

As her mom, I pray she doesn't.

As a woman, I know she might.

I want my little girl to feel comfortable in her own skin. I want her to be confident. Assured. Motivated. Determined. I want her to look in the mirror and like her reflection. I want her to see herself the way I see her: beautiful and perfect just as she is.

Lord knows I struggle with insecurities. I have plenty of hang-ups about my looks. My body. (Don't we all?) But I'm working on it.

I'm one week into my seven-week bootcamp adventure (four workouts so far!), and I already feel different. I already feel better.

Do I want to lose weight? Absolutely.

(Thank you, Captain Obvious.)

But it's really about much more than losing weight.

It's about creating change.

Physical? Yes.

Mental? Most definitely.

And as much as I am doing it for myself (my own self-esteem, my own health), I'm really doing it for my daughter.

As her female parent, I'm her greatest influence. She will mimic my behavior, my attitude, my opinions. She'll pick up my mannerisms. She'll copy my language. She doesn't realize it yet, but little girls often become their mothers. And since that's the case, I owe it to my daughter to be the best version of ME.

One of the greatest gifts I can give my daughter is a confident mother.

(Annnd, that's what I learned during week one of bootcamp. Intense? Very.)

If you live in Knoxville, and want to join the bootcamp fun, it's not too late! Here's Sarah V.'s Under Armour page. You can read her blog, here. And, finally, you can join the group on Facebook, here.

Celebrating Mom

2012-05-11T08:17:00.000-04:00

There are (at least) a hundred-million-gazillion wonderful things I could say about my mom.

One of my favorite Curly Girl cards. I framed this one and gave it to my mom for Mother's Day a coupe of years ago.
Via

She's my best friend. My most trusted confidant. My loudest cheerleader.

She's my biggest supporter as I raise my own daughter. And the very best MiMi to my Baby Girl.

This Mother's Day (and everyday), I am so incredibly grateful for my mother.

I am also so incredibly grateful for the blessing of experiencing motherhood firsthand. It's one of God's greatest gifts.

Happy Mother's Day!

Bootcamp: Workout #1 (sans hoodie)

2012-05-09T07:53:00.000-04:00

No, that title is not a typo.

I joined a fun little bootcamp this week. (And by "fun" I really mean butt-kicking, blood-pumping, hard as heck, in the "I might have a heart attack" sort of way.)

Via

An awesome female athlete/personal trainer based in Knoxville is offering a free, seven-week bootcamp for women (of all ages, sizes, fitness levels) as part of Under Armour's "What's Beautiful" campaign. She also happens to be a Christian woman who feels called to help other women achieve their fitness aspirations. Amazing, right? And the timing is perfect, because I need to get my butt back into gear if I want to achieve the goals I set for 2012. (Yea, clearly, I'm nowhere near losing the 15 pounds I wanted to lose before E's first birthday. But I'm down 5 with 10 to go, so that's a pretty decent start.)

I attended my first bootcamp workout Monday, and it was intense. It was also awesome. I was so hot and sweaty, I had to take my hoodie off. That's something I never (ever, ever, ever) do. I always wear a hoodie when I workout, because, honestly, I am extremely self-conscious. I like to keep all my bits and pieces fully covered. (And, yes, I realize I am my own worst critic. Aren't we all?)

Anyway, I took my hoodie off for two reasons:

There's a pretty good chance I was about to drop dead from some kind of heat-related something or another. Well, not really. But geeeeeze, I felt like my face was about to burn right off my head. (Keep in mind, this "about to die" feeling is apparently a good thing. It's called "working out." Like, for real.)
Exercising with an encouraging, supportive group of women is just awesome. I felt comfortable taking my hoodie off, because I knew my fellow bootcampers weren't judging me or my post-pregnancy "leftovers." These women are the kind of workout buddies I want to be around, thankyouverymuch.

That sums up workout #1.

That, and this awesome post-workout group photo...

A bit blurry, but you get the idea. Awesome ladies!

To say that I am excited about the next seven weeks is a huge understatement. I need the motivation. I need the accountability. I need to finally say "peace out!" to the rest of the lingering pregnancy weight. I can't wait to look in the mirror and feel good about what I see... something I haven't felt in quite a long time!

I'll most definitely post updates on the ol' blog to keep y'all in the loop with my progress.

(Knoxville friends: Here's Sarah V.'s Under Armour page. You can read her blog, here. And, finally, you can join the group on Facebook, here.)

Elena's First Year: Week 50

2012-05-08T08:41:00.001-04:00

Look who's been livin' for 50 whole weeks!

Baby girl took her first steps last week. Two whole steps! Of course, I didn't get the big moment on camera, and she hasn't walked again since. But she's well on her way!

Where did my baby go? Such a big girl now!

Rainbow Inspired DIY Birthday Invitations

2012-05-07T07:57:00.000-04:00

With Elena's first birthday party right around the corner (eek!), I've been quite the busy momma-bear, planning all the fun details. Remember, we're going with a colorful rainbow-inspired theme, and I'm pretty sure it's going to be fabulous!

One of my favorite elements of any party is the invitation. It sets the tone for the event, and lets guests know what to expect. In other words: no generic fill-in-the-blank invites for this momma! No. No. No!

That said - I am a momma on a budget (I refuse to spend a small fortune on a birthday party for a one-year-old). So, I couldn't bring myself to pay big bucks for custom invitations. That's when the bright idea hit me square in the face: "Melinda, you have Photoshop. Make your own custom invites!"

Um. Duh.

So, that's exactly what I did. And, lemme just say, they look fantastic!

See for yourself...

Told ya.

I am quite proud of my little invitation creation. Especially considering I have very limited skills when it comes to graphic design (I just make it up as I go along).

Once I had the Photoshop file looking just right, I saved it to a zip drive, and took it to a local office supply store to have the file printed on cardstock paper. Then, I used a handy, dandy paper cutter to cut the invitations to size. Thennn, I used double-sided mounting tape to adhere the invitations to yellow cardstock. Finally, I used the paper cutter to trim the yellow cardstock to the size I wanted. I purchased a pack of colorful envelopes to pull it all together. Easy. Peasy.

When it was all said and done, the invitations looked like this:

The invites with colorful envelopes to match.

They're a little bit bigger than 5x7

Price breakdown:

Custom invitation created using Photoshop: FREE! (woo!)
Printed on cardstock: .66 per print x 30 invitations = $19.80
Pack of yellow cardstock: $12
Envelopes: $8.50 for a pack of 50
Paper cutter: FREE (I borrowed it from my aunt)

TOTAL COST: $40.30

That comes to about $1.34 per invitation, plus the cost of postage, of course (I already had stamps, so I didn't have to buy any). Not bad, in my opinion. Custom invites would probably cost double, so I'm pretty happy with the overall cost of this fun little project.

Lots left to do before Elena's big birthday! I can't wait to celebrate my sweet girl's first year of livin'!

Pool Time for Baby Girl!

2012-05-03T08:42:00.000-04:00

With unseasonably warm temperatures and an abundance of sunshine these days, it's practically summertime in East Tennessee (woo-hoo!). And, for us, summertime means lots and lots (and lots and lots and lots) of time at the pool.

Yes, Elena took a few dips in the water last year, but this year should be especially fun since she's old enough to really enjoy it. Here are a few photos of Little Miss splashing in her big girl pool at MiMi's and Papa's house last weekend...

She wore her sunglasses for approximately two seconds.

Don't worry: I didn't leave her in the direct sun for very long. Just wanted to snap a few photos in the sun without her hat.

I love this photo. Those tiny little legs... Gosh, they're so cute.

Fun, fun, fun! Happy Thursday, friends. (Can you believe it's Thursday already?)

Hodgepodge of Happy

2012-05-02T08:07:00.000-04:00

A few things:

Why am I just finding out about Joss & Main? Seriously. Y'all gotta tell me 'bout these uber important things, otherwise I'll always be the last to know. (And, yes, online shopping falls under the "uber important" category.)

Who doesn't need a funky orange chair?
Via

I'm also feeling a bit giddy about See Jane Work. I geek out when it comes to office supplies. (Who doesn't?) And, this fun little online storefront offers the prettiest office/organization stuff that will make you want to sit at a desk all day long.

Via

I need to find interesting folks to follow on Twitter. Who composes the most thought-provoking tweets? Who makes you LOL? Who do you love to hate? I need to know!
Sorta related: I need new iPhone apps to keep me entertained. Right now I'm loving Instagram (of course), Red Envelope and Pandora (for the car). What apps are all the cool kids rockin' these days? (For real: y'all gotta keep me in the loop. I'm the latest bloomer of all time when it comes to these things.)
I ordered the cutest balloons for Elena's rainbow-inspired first birthday party. Have y'all heard of Polka Dot Market? Oh-my-gosh. Their stuff is sooo stinkin' cute. (My friend Ashley told me about this fun little party supply store. I am in love.)

Via

Do you ever feel like you're in a blogging funk? I'm in one, I think. When was the last time I contributed anything worthwhile to the blogosphere? For reals. (Excluding all of the adorable photos of baby-bear, of course.)

I take it back. I'm clearly contributing big time cuteness to the blogosphere. BIG time.

Oh yea. I should mention that Joss & Main, See Jane Work and Polka Dot Market did not compensate me to say nice things about their websites/products. Just happened to discover their sites, liked what I saw, decided to share with you folks. That's all.

Elena's First Year: Week 49

2012-05-01T17:43:00.002-04:00

Y'all. E is 49 weeks old. 49. I just can't believe it. (Broken record, I know.)

I'm not dead. Just busy, apparently.

2012-04-30T07:48:00.000-04:00

Hello, Monday! Hello, friends!

It's gonna be a great week. Don't ya think?

Via

I unintentionally took a little blogger break last week. Oops. Life happened. It was a crazy-stupid-BUSY week. (Like, whoa. Somebody pump the brakes, please.)

What keeps a stay-at-home mom busy, you ask?

Lots. Of. Stuff.

Mostly laundry. And cleaning. And bottle-washing. And breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. And vacuuming. And grocery-store-running. And dang-it-we're-almost-outta-diapers-running. And Dora. And playtime. And snuggle time. And snack time. And bath time. And bedtime. (It's clearly a very rough life.)

Last week was super duper busy, since I did all of those things, and much, much more.

I Painted the kitchen and den ceiling at my grandmother's house. Back-breaking? Exhausting? Insane? Um, yes! But I kind of owe her (big time) though. Remember that time we moved to Knoxville when I was eight months pregnant? Well, my sweet mamaw was my most dedicated worker bee. She painted every closet in my house (she painted her fair share of walls and trim, too). Annnd she scrubbed my kitchen and all three bathrooms with a toothbrush. No, I am not kidding. She actually used a toothbrush. She's quite the thorough cleaning lady. Needless to say, when my mamaw calls and asks for help with a project, I am more than willing.
In other home improvement news, I finally finished the gallery wall in Elena's room. (More on that later. Promise.)

{Sneak peek}

Took E-Bear to Market Square for lunch, shopping and ice cream. Oh, she loves ice cream!

Yummm!

This week is already shaping up to be another adventure-filled week for the mini and me. On the to-do list:

Finalize and mail invitations for the BIG first birthday party.
Finalize mamaw's big kitchen/den painting project.
Finish a couple of projects in E's room so I can finally show you how cute it looks these days.

Let the fun begin!