hello to those who read…
precious friends here….first things first….i am sorry you will probably feel as though you have been fed by a shovel when you are finished here….

but…..anyway….
i have so enjoyed meeting those who were willing to “delurk” in PERSON…at the store…yay…what a treat to get to talk but i must admit conversations are funny aren’t they- exchanges are different when the conversation might have really already taken place through a post….how funny…kindof…but i told them and i will tell you here…i choose what i want to share and that is just fine with me….ha….

maybe that is why i like comments so much….it is nice to know who is reading…so if i run into them at the grocery it isn’t so strange….welp…if you make it to the end of this post you will have another opportunity to make yourself known here….another giveaway in store…(no pun intended)

but first things first…

THE WINNER:

Lindsay (the only Lindsay that commented)….send me a note (ashley@blessednames.com) and i will get your info….

so….have you noticed that with football this week came cooler weather?  Paige K messaged about 59 degrees in atlanta and it was much the same here…beautiful…

so these are the last of the lake pictures for the summer…i think….

logan is very hard to get in front of my “bazooka” lens….if you are wondering why i shoot more of mia…it’s because she wants to be photographed…unlike sir logan…but he popped up from hiding for air and didn’t have a choice….ha!! there was actually several of these pictures and because he was hiding….one was just as funny as the next…

we “laked” with dear friends….

and enjoyed the view…most definately….from their pier for a little change…

and then of course back to birmingham for a view of this….

which is autumn clematis and definately says summer is over…but what a treat to come home to….

and these….

which consequently are leaving in our new toy….our new way (for this week) to get the orders that are shipping to the curb….

or at least until i get it painted for a display in the store…the USPS man sure does love it but our UPS lady sure does not….i don’t know if i will ever hear the end of that…(she gets heavy boxes with no help, and he gets light ones with help)….

in other news…our first “strike- offs” kindof …are here….this is it….our very first exclusive fabric in conjunction with Julie W. of 9 stork…brilliant girl she is and total wiz at illustrator i mentioned (a little jealous, can you tell? i sure would have been nice to know that i would have REALLY benefitted today if i had been in graphic design NOT nutrition, hindsight right?) 

we are majorly in love with these two fabrics and cannot wait to show you what a beach photoshoot in rosemary next month will bring….precious friends from two of my favorite blogs just might make an appearance….we’ll see if all things work together…hmmmm

so summer is over and hide & seek will be a little less often….(a little bit) but not scarce considering mia’s favorite time to play is pre-whole-cup-of-coffee and approximately 7:20 AM (people..seriously)….

but seriously school starts THURSDAY for my little buddy… and she is thrilled….but i am grateful for all of the extra time because that was the longest summer she will have until well 20 years probably….(would someone puleez tell mother’s day out that school started almost a month ago and my sitter went back to college then too?)

so on one of our long summer days…..today….which i would not have missed for the world….

an afternoon looks like this…..

and because you made it through this post….

giveaway #2…. Favorite Laundry’s hot pink cord (bright pink but not neon) Original Pattern…Bethany Dress….whatever size….all you have to do is comment and say hi this time….it would be great if you would join us on facebook…but i am making it easy this time….i promise i will do something for a boy coming up….

OH….
please hop on over and visit us at blue-eyed bride (our little blue button is at home there now in her sidebar and if you haven’t read there…do) … she has a precious blog, family, and i am thrilled there will also be a giveaway coming up soon there too!!

enjoy….

deadline for this giveaway is the next time i post….so who knows…see you in a few days!!
all of my love to my people…

hello to those who read…

i think it would be fun to give some things away….i love hearing from you and what better way to get a rise out of lurkers than to give things away right?  i say “lurkers” in a super-loving, super-nice affectionate kindof way!! i have some pretty fun things in store for all of you (maybe some things from the store, sugarboo?, babylegs? we”ll see!!….participation required though…

here goes!! 

my precious friend Kristi – owner and designer of Carys Rose Designs….has done a few projects for me lately and i asked her to make you all a set as well!! i just love what she picks….

to get the set….rules!! 

1. you have to leave a comment here-  tell me your favorite thing on her website!! **it is worth it girls…we may do another giveaway!!!  Mia will choose a name out of a bowl!!!

2.  sign in on her website just leaving your email signing up for her email newsletters…takes 2 seconds..seriously!

3. take a look while you are there and picture your little sweetie’s name on a precious bag tag for school or notecards for teacher gifts & CHRISTMAS!!…she will customize anything and she is incredibly creative!!  If you need something custom just ask…she will communicate wonderfully with you!

precious notecards with 4 different color envelopes and purse colors…awesome to have on hand for a friend note or just because….i will ship the set to the winner for free!! 

speaking of notes….look what i got in my mailbox from paige k!! (lots of love these days for my friend)…

there is so much to be said for a note in the mail- the snail mail way…what a treat right?  when is the last time you sent a card with handwriting instead of a text or an email…a lost act it seems but it sometimes means more than anything.  just to say hi…. i feel most loved at the mailbox sometimes…

what’s more….sometimes the Holy Spirit has laid a person on my heart for any reason and it is so incredible to feel blessed by loving on another…. how often to we stop what we are doing to pray for way to  and intend on blessing someone…?  so i hold that it is more important than my “list” of things to do…my inbox, my blog posts….or anything i have to “do”… i dare say if we look at the forest NOT the trees we will see lots of wonderful opportunities to love on those around us….

“take a moment”….

lots of love to you and my people….

be back soon…

hello to those who read….

i had offered myself a ton of accountability here to finish COMPLETELY mia’s room…..and thanks to those asking – i have finished it!! yay!!

it is somewhat hard around here to complete tasks that require a long time & have no reprocussions other than in my own mind… i.e. if you don’t go to work – things do not go well….if you don’t go to the gym- you have to wear bigger jeans….if you don’t go to the grocery- um…well….that’s not good for anybody.  however, mia’s room was kinda cute before….but without a great deal of money we are excited about her new space….and i am sharing here to celebrate our finished task….

the shadowbox was a precious present from Paige K… take a visit to her blog…simple thoughts is a favorite coffee break treat for me…. mia’s first bows, booties that i HAD to have and she HAD to wear….and a little spot for something else- i haven’t decided what….hmmm….

be back soon….

all of my love to my people…

hello to those who read…

i have shared pictures from lake weekends in posts past… they are all wonderful!! It has been a great investment in our family to be isolated from laundry, chores, work, conventional meals…just a little different from the rest of the year…we are sure not to miss the magic of nature and the refreshment that it brings….

precious time with our kids, watching them tube, swim and enjoy their friends…. and ours…

this time we had a dear couple with us and their two boys…..brenda from Brown Eyed Boys Photography brought her camera to remember their time and included these images that i would not have otherwise…

typically i am picky about who drags my DH going 20MPH behind a boat…..and i am guessing it has been a wise choice for me to not try and take pictures while trying to avoid other boats, keeping all kids sitting on their little hinies…typically with a fairly limited line of sight considering the tubes are in the boat if the kids are….not to mention making sure that i don’t drop chad into someone’s family picnic on their dock…

wakeboarding is a favorite activity for Chad and i both – he just happens to be very good at it…fun images!! Serious looks though from Chad…the water was rough and one little miss and you have earned a face full of lake and a headache to boot……

i choose smooth water…the kind that look like glass….smooth!

fun times right?

nevertheless….a great time and thank you to brenda for the wonderful images…..

until next time….

hopefully more family pictures coming soon….i am so excited about what susanne king has in store for our walls!!

all of my love to my people….

hello to those who read….

this pictures needs zero explanation…or maybe it does …ha! more to come………..

be back soon…

all of my love….