Featured Shop :: Busy Babes Printables

     In March, I wrote a post that was dedicated to the importance of creating space in our lives. After years of unnecessary stress and overloaded schedules, years of feeling like we could never just be a family, we decided it was time make some intentional changes. Having room to live, to breathe, to be still in the midst of the chaos is SO vital to our well-being and our homes. You can read about some of those initial changes here, but today I want to talk about the importance of organization. I know most people tend to be one side of the fence or the other of this -- either you love to have everything well planned and laid out {me} or you'd rather not write anything down and just figure it out as you go along {my husband}. He often laughs at me when I tell him we need to write it down or plan it out, but later agrees that it made life so much easier when the time rolled around. 

    I'm a note-taker and list writer. A scheduler and a menu planner. The problem is that I wind up with random notebook pages, post-it notes and grocery lists scattered throughout the house!! So when Laura, from Busy Babes Printables, offered to share her lifesaving Home Management binder with me, I was thrilled!! I finally have a place to keep it all together!!

     Before I share all of the insider details of the binder though, I want you to meet Laura. She is such a sweetheart who's been on a whirlwind of a year and now has an adorable shop to show for it! I'll let her tell you her story!

     I am a pre-med student with a knack for the creative!  After graduating in May of 2012, I decided to postpone returning to school to enjoy some time working as a preschool teacher and pursuing my creative passions.  Although I do not have children of my own yet, I love all of "my" babies and kids from my job, and love to watch them grow and learn.  I have been designing organizing printables for a few years as a way to make my busy life a little easier, and decided to open up an Etsy shop to share my printables with others.  I have very recently started pursuing other design projects, and look forward to expanding my shop in the upcoming year.  

     In January of this year, a fire took my apartment, and instead of buying all new things (most of which I didn't need), I decided to take a break from working, pack up a suitcase, and head over to Europe to travel.  It has been an amazing trip, and it has been awesome to be able to take my shop with me.  Although this year has been a whirlwind, I am looking forward to returning home to settle back in and spend some time focusing on launching my blog and growing my shop.  I am so grateful for all of the help I've had along the way (including the incredible help from Brittany at Display Your He{art}!) and looking forward to what's ahead!


     If anyone knows a thing or two about organization, I'd think it's a pre-med student and a world traveler, right?! I knew I was in good hands when I received the printables. Seriously, this binder has it all. {And even if it's missing something, I'm sure she could create it for you!}I wish I could take a picture of every page and show y'all, but there are so many!! 

     First of all, isn't the personalized cover cute? I love that it has our little family's name on it! After printing all of the pages, I organized my binder with tabs and created sections: Basic Home Info, Menus + Meal Planning, Lists, Cleaning, Finances + Budget, Party Planning, Travel, and I bought an add-on Blog Organization Kit from her as well. No matter how you put yours together or what section you're working in, the hard work is already done for you. 

     Every number you could need is already mapped out, plus she's included a place to leave info for your baby or pet sitter, contact lists, home maintenance logs, even a place to write down all of your appliance serial numbers and warranty info. {I told you she's thought of it all!!}

     A cleaning schedule {she has daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal cleaning schedules included!} already put together for you...

   An entire finance section including budget worksheets, savings trackers, bill pay calendars and more!!

     And that's just a few of the sections!! My favorite section is probably the meal + menu planning section.  It has monthly calendars like this one...

     But also includes weekly meal planning lists {including a place to write out every meal}, grocery shopping lists, and even freezer + pantry inventory lists. It's seriously a meal planner's organizational dream!!

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg, though. There are OVER 50 amazing printables included in this binder, and each one is so valuable to living a life well organized. I'm loving mine. We keep it in the kitchen where we can easily grab it for whatever we need and so it's easily visible to babysitters and such in case of emergency. I'm confident you would love yours too!!

     And just in case you're loving the idea, but thinking you don't need all of those printables...don't worry! She sells them in individual kits too! Her shop is filled with tons of options that you can mix and match to create a system that's exactly what you need! She has personalized planners, pregnancy journals, chore charts, classroom kits, and more! 

    See something you like + know would make your life easier? Laura is offering all DYH readers a 15% discount on anything in her shop when you use the code ORGANIZED at checkout!! My family is determined to get our life organized this year, and this binder is a very tangible way to make that happen. Will you join us in this journey and start here too?

Busy Babes Shop :: Busy Babes Blog :: Busy Babes Facebook

Father's Day Giveaway

    Oh man, am I excited about today! Father's Day is just around the corner and let's be honest, Dads don't get a whole lotta love here on the blogosphere. And it's not because we don't love them, right? It's just that we're so busy doing our girl thing that the guys sometimes get left out! But not this week! This week's giveaway is just for the fellas!

     Today, you're going to meet FIVE fantastic artists who have partnered to bring you a pretty phenomenal Father's Day Giveaway! And what's even cooler about it is that everything in this week's giveaway is not only made FOR guys, but made BY guys too! {That's right ladies, the men have it in 'em too!}

     Not a dad, but still want to win these amazing {manful} things?? You can enter too! But if you win, you should probably at least invite your dad over for some BBQ? ;-)

The Prizes + the People

Personalized Card Wallet + Money Clip from Blackthorn Leather {$43 value} 
     Meet Andy, of Blackthorn Leather. He's an art director for a large publishing company by day, gifted leather worker by night, and a complete joy to work with all the way around! He has a passion for creating high-quality + beautiful leather work with his hands, infusing his Irish/Celtic heritage throughout. His shop is filled with incredible pieces, ranging from money clips to briefcases, and today he is offering one of his personalized card wallet + money clips that I think any guy would be lucky to carry!

 Etsy Shop :: Website :: Facebook :: Instagram - @blackthornleather

Redwood iPhone 5 Dock + Artisan Leather iPhone Wallet Case from Dock Artisan {$140 value} 
     Joel, of Dock Artisan, is a gifted maker with a passion for turning what was once a fallen, dead limb into something beautiful again. His family team spends their days creating stunning iPhone docks from reclaimed wood and recently added leatherwork to their repertoire as well with their brand new line of iPhone case + wallets. Today, he is graciously offering something from each side of his shop - a stunning Redwood iPhone 5 Dock and a beautiful Leather Wallet and iPhone Case!

Etsy Shop :: Website :: Facebook

Great Scrape Woody Paddle from The Great Scrape {$30 value}
     Nathan and Andy are brothers and innovators that turned a family novelty into a booming business! They have a passion for family, fun, and the great outdoors, and have combined all of those things into a one-of-a-kind piece that everyone seems to love! I have often watched my hubby scrub our grill down with that terrible wire brush after a BBQ, but The Great Scrape has created a much better solution! Their wooden BBQ scraping paddles are 100% oak, coated with an all-natural mineral oil, and made to conform to your specific grill size. I am thrilled that one of you will be lucky enough to try this fancy new scraper out as they are offering one of their Woody Paddles today!

Etsy Shop :: Website :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

Two Bags of Freshly Roasted Coffee from Stringbean Coffee Company {$22 value}
     Pete, of Stringbean Coffee Company, spent 15 years in the banking business before leaving to roast coffee full-time. He has a passion for coffee and conversation and spends every Saturday morning sharing both at a local Farmer's Market. And by local, I mean, he's a fellow St. Louisian! Represent! My dad was gifted a bag of Stringbean's coffee and raved about it, so I knew I had to reach out to Pete, and I'm so glad I did! He has been a pleasure to chat with, and I'm so excited for you to try his coffee too! He is donating two bags of his freshly roasted coffee {in the flavor of your choosing}!

Website :: Facebook :: Twitter

BBQ Sampler Basket from The BBQ Pantry {$39 value}

     Cheyenne, of The BBQ Pantry, is a family man with a love for BBQ! He's a competition BBQ-er who also creates his own BBQ sauces and rubs. His family team, Ledyard BBQ Company, is 12th overall in the state of South Carolina with two 2nd place finishes this season! How lucky are we that Cheyenne's sharing his mouthwatering goodness with us here?! He is offering a full sampler basket, complete with his famous dry rub and BBQ sauce, and coupled with a chili kit, gravy mix, hot sauce, bacon love {yes, it's called bacon love!!}, and more! I mean, c'mon, who's not ready for some BBQ now??

Etsy Shop :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest 

-----------------------------

Feeling in the Father's Day spirit, yet?? I love that each of these things are one-of-a-kind and perfectly tailored to the fine gentlemen in our lives {though us ladies would certainly love some of these things as well}! There are so many {easy} ways to enter this week! And as always, don't be overwhelmed by the long list of entry options. Do as many as you'd like, but you only have to do one to get your name in the mix! The giveaway ends on Father's Day, June 16th, so get to entering y'all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Of Heartbreak and Hope

Miscarriage.

     It's something I've seen others walk through, covering my mouth in sympathy, telling myself and my family behind closed doors, "I can't imagine going through that. I can't imagine ever losing my baby."

And truly, I couldn't.

     How can one ever fathom the heartbreak that accompanies losing that precious little life within? How can one ever fully understand the weight of that pain? While I have often been burdened for those I know who have endured such loss, I could have never grasped the gut-wrenching sadness that accompanies it.

Until this past Friday.

     When my doctor confirmed what the bleeding foreshadowed, I wept. I wept and I wept. Though we had only known I was pregnant for a short while, our attachment to that tiny baby was never wavering. Our joy and excitement, our plans for the future, our love for our little one was constantly swelling within us. Every moment another celebration of the amazing miracle growing in me. The moment I saw those double pink lines on that white plastic stick, the moment my husband's look of surprise turned into awe and excitement, the moment we showed up at my parent's house with Addy proudly wearing her new "Big Sister" shirt announcing the news, the moment my nine {yes, 9!} pregnant friends and I laughed and rejoiced at our upcoming pregnant adventures together...

And then came that terrible moment. The halting phone call that put it all into perspective.

"Brittany, it looks like we are, in fact, dealing with a miscarriage."

     Every dream we had with this baby now stilled, every hope quieted. There would be no rearranging for a new nursery, no shopping for teeny clothes again, no late nights whispering to a oversized belly, no labor, no delivery, no baby to hold in my arms at the end of it all.

     In a society where pregnancies are often kept hush-hush early on for this very reason, it's too easy to sweep this loss under the rug and chalk it up to bad luck this time around. In fact, I've actually been told that a few times already.

"It just wasn't meant to be this time."

"The timing just wasn't right for you guys right now."

"You'll have more babies. You just weren't supposed to have this one."

    How far from the truth I know that is now. It seems simpler to assume that you can't get attached to a life you've never met, a life you've never even seen, a life who may not even have a name. It seems simpler to slip into the statistics, simpler to just move on and hope for the best the next time. But friends, this was more than just a bunch of cells or an unnamed fetus or a failed attempt at getting {or staying} pregnant. This was a baby. Our baby. A life with a heartbeat and a soul. A life that we already loved wholeheartedly.

     Of all the many heartbreaking things I have endured here on Earth, this may forever be one I do not understand. But even in my confusion, in my grief, in my devastation, I rejoice. I rejoice not for myself, but for my precious child who opened their eyes for the first time in the presence of Jesus. What an incredible moment that must've been! I rejoice because I know that we will one day get to meet this sweet baby and perhaps better understand why we had to walk through such loss here. And I rejoice because the same God who knit that life together in my womb is the same God who is mending my broken heart today. 

     Oh, sweet baby, you were so deeply wanted and so dearly missed. We ache for the day we get to meet you. Until then, rest safely in the arms of our Heavenly Father who is a far better parent than we could ever be! 

     And friends, if you think of it, we'd definitely appreciate your prayers. Each day is easier, but the pain is always present. I'm learning and trusting, ever believing in the sovereignty of a faithful God, knowing His plans are always better. We have seen His goodness and mercy firsthand and we anxiously wait in HOPE for wait lies ahead. 

Enough

So...I actually wrote this post several days ago, but we've been dealing with some pretty tough stuff here, and I'm just now getting to around to posting it. I'm not quite ready to share what's been going on yet, but I will...in time. Until then, here's my post about Real Life Mommy Fails!

     Hey, friends! Sorry it's been quiet around here! We were out of town for the first part of this week and I'm just now getting back into the swing of things! I know I also missed Real Life Wednesday yesterday, but I'll definitely share my behind the scenes happening and my week of mommy fails.

     Yep. No way around it. This mama made some major mistakes this week. Like sending my kid to daycare without a single diaper. And then forgetting her lovies the next day. Whoops!!

     Or when she tripped over my hot hair straightener and burned the top of her foot...pretty badly. Oh, I felt terrible!! It broke my heart to see her tiny little foot burned like that, and to know that she will probably always have a scar from that one time that mommy wasn't there quick enough.

     As a mom {or a woman...or a human being..}, there are countless opportunities to compare ourselves to one another. To tell ourselves that no one else is making the same parenting or life mistakes that we are.  To say we're not good enough. We'll never be enough.

     Dear friends, know that this is such a lie! Will I ever be perfect? Absolutely not. Will I ever be the ideal image of a mother {whatever that is!}? Unlikely. I make mistakes every day. In my personal life, in my marriage, in my parenting. But the role that has been given to me as a woman, a wife, and a mother is never a mistake.

     The life you lead is the life you've been given for a reason. The family you have is the family you've been blessed with for a reason. For a purpose. In this moment. Your presence is valuable, no matter how imperfect that presence may seem. Believe that. Live that. And trust in His grace to cover the rest.

     I am overwhelmed by the love of a God who does not see my failures when He looks at me. His love is unconditional and goes beyond my human imperfections. His grace is sufficient in my failing, my weakness, my shortcomings. And when I believe that, when I truly believe that, it changes the way I see my world.

It's no longer about living up to an impossible standard - it's about living in these incredible moments.

It's no longer about trying to impress - it's about making every effort to be present.

It's no longer about wishing I was enough - it's about knowing that He abides in me and He says I am enough to Him.

Rest in that truth this week, sweet friends. 

Feature Friday :: Soap Revolt Naturals

     Over the past few couple of months, I've noticed a change in my skin. I've never been super sensitive, but for whatever the reason, I seem to be having funny reactions to the products I've used for years! Nothing major, just enough to make me scratch my head and wonder what's been causing it! I have several friends who lead very natural, organic lives and have sort of turned me onto the reality of what's going on behind the scenes in almost everything we consume today. Our food, our bath products, our cleaning supplies are all jam packed with chemicals!

     To be honest, I've never paid much attention to these things until after I had a baby. There's something about that brand new, untouched, sweet little life that changes your perspective. Suddenly, I was acutely aware of all the things she was getting exposed to. That's a huge reason why we made our own baby food for her! And that's why I was so excited when Jean from Soap Revolt Naturals offered to do a product review with me!

    You may remember Jean from our recent Mother's Day Giveaway. She is a fellow midwesterner who's on an incredible journey with a beautiful shop, and I couldn't wait to share both of them with you today!! I'll let you hear her story directly from her:

     I live and work in the northern suburbs of Chicago. My day job is a in IT as a systems engineer/IT Director. How boring is that! My soap business gives me the opportunity to explore my creative side while basking in the perks of trying all my products. I find myself lucky to be married to my very supportive hubby, Mike.

     I started making my all natural products about 2 years ago after a battle with cancer - Stage 4 Lymphoma. After much research, I discovered just how bad commercially produced products were. So many chemicals are packed into these products. I've always been a DIYer, so I thought why not make my own products?

     It took some trial and errors as well as tweaking to get my recipes where I was happy with the end product. I've been so happy with my little business. It's such a good feeling when customers let me know that their skin problems have gone away or are getting much better just from using my products. That is why I do it. If I can get the word out about safe alternative products and help people I feel like I'm doing a small part to make the world a better place.

     Amazing, right? She has truly see the negative effects that harsh chemicals can have on one's body and she stood up to do something about it! I was thrilled to be able to try her lotion and soap up close and personal, and trust me, it did not disappoint!

   Upon receiving the package,  I first fell in love with the packaging. Jean does a great job creating a cohesive brand with hip + trendy packaging. Her products are professional, but still have that unique, handmade touch that I'm always looking for!

      Her items also smell amazing!! I didn't tell Jean what scent I wanted, and looking back, I'm actually really glad I didn't! I tend to be a repeater - always buying the same things over and over. I rarely venture out into new scents, primarily because I'm too nervous of what I'm going to get. That being said, I was blown away by how great these smelled! I never would've chosen Orange Blossom or Bergamot + Grapefruit, but I will now {especially the Bergamot + Grapefuit...so good}!

     The lotion bar was perfect for someone like me who uses lotion occasionally, but doesn't really like the slimy feel of it! {What can I say? I have a thing for textures!} The lotion bar provided the same smooth coverage, but without the fuss of a liquid lotion. And it's bright, citrusy smell made my hands feel fresh too! I let my sister try the lotion and she described it as "chapstick for your hands". That's actually a great description as it covers and heals any cracks or dry parts of your skin, just like a chapstick would! Don't worry, it's not sticky though!!

     The soap was also great. It's a French White Clay combined with essential oils + all natural ingredients, and is the perfect organic solution for sensitive skin. I also appreciate that, unlike other handmade soaps I've tried, it doesn't have a grainy feel and it doesn't leave a funny residue on your hands. It's really is a fantastic soap!!

        Jean makes more than just soaps and lotions, though! Her shop is filled with all sorts of other beautiful pieces - from lip balms to beard oil - and they're all designed with your health in mind!!

       I love that she has taken what could've been a great tragedy in her life and turned it around for tremendous good. Her products speak for themselves and are SO worth a try!! Plus, to get you started, Jean is offering 10% off your entire order when you use the code HEART.

    Go show her some love and grab up some of her goodie, sweet friends! I'm promise you'll love them too!

Website :: Etsy Shop :: Facebook

Real Life Wednesday - Broken Freezer Edition

     Oh gracious, friends. This has been a week. New adventures in daycare. Working extra hours. Birthday parties. Sick baby. Husband away at a conference. Massive storm. Power outages. And then there was yesterday.

     I awoke yesterday morning to find my refrigerator + freezer not working. The two brand new, unopened gallons of milk I bought the night before no longer cool. The freezer full of meat from Monday's grocery trip, completely thawed. It was 6:30 in the morning, I'd been up late from the storm the night before, I was home alone with a crabby baby, and I was overwhelmed. I was so frustrated that everything we just bought was going to go to waste, frustrated that I was going to have to do all of the clean-up myself, frustrated that I was going to have to go buy more milk! A day later, I now realize how silly all of that must sound to you, but at the time, 12 thawed out chicken breasts and 2 warm gallons of milk were enough to bring me to tears.

     The truth is that my freezer breaking was never a part of my Tuesday plan. Shoving as much food as I could in our mini-fridge downstairs and spending my entire day cooking the rest only to have to store it in a friend's freezer isn't exactly how I thought my day would go.

I did get a ton of freezer meals made though!

      But that's life. Our plans aren't promised to be fulfilled. Our dreams never guaranteed to come true. Our days never assured to us.

     The reality of this story, however, is that there are hundreds of people who woke up this morning wishing they had a freezer, or food to cook, or a home to cry in today. While I was mourning the loss of my toaster strudels, families were huddling together in Moore, OK., shocked that the life they'd built was now leveled. While I was crying over my spoiled milk, parents were weeping over the children they will never hold again.

Since Sunday, Psalm 34:18 has been playing over and over in my head. I didn't understand why until now.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

      Oh, God, what a beautiful hope you extend to us! That you are ever drawing near in our time of need. That you are mending broken hearts, healing hopeless situations. Teach us to cling to you in every season, in every storm!

     Friends, I don't know what you're walking through today. Whether it be a literal tornado or just another whirlwind of life, know that the Lord is gracious to come close. Know that He is in the business of picking up the pieces and rebuilding, no matter how impossible the situation may seem.

Photo Credit

     We continue to pray for those who were affected by Tuesday's storms. And we remember to offer thanks for all of our many blessings. Be grateful for your home tonight. Your family. Tell your spouse you love them. Hug your babies tighter. Say just one more thank you.

     Real life is living with integrity. With honesty and openness. With passion for the things that matter. With joy and gratitude for what you've been given. There are more important things than broken freezers. I need to believe that...and I need to live that.

What about you? How has your real life played out this week? Link up your real life blog posts below or share your story in the comments!

Feature Friday :: Tiddliwink Tutus

It's my favorite day here at DYH - Feature Friday!! Each week, I have the opportunity to show off some incredible artists and give you the chance to win their amazing goodies! Today, I want to introduce you to my dear friend, Kim, of Tiddliwink Tutus.

Kim {you may recognize her from here!} and I met during my time at West Hills. She is the sweetest soul with the most adorable family, and her tutus are definitely an extension of that {so much cuteness}! Tiddliwink Tutus is a custom tutu and accessories shop, specializing in holiday and event tutus.

Halloween Tutu

4th of July Tutu + Hairbow Set

KU Tutu with Interchangeable Sports Clips

     Kim made Adelyn a Christmas tutu this past year, and I can personally attest to their high quality and fluffiness! {Every time I think of how fluffy they are, my mind automatically goes this this!}

    Plus, each of her tutus are made with an elastic waistband so they stretch and grow with our ever-changing littles because if yours is anything like mine, you wonder if there's even a point in buying new clothes...they'll just need new ones next week! ;-)

     Today, Kim is offering an a.dor.a.ble Red, White, and Blue tutu + Hairbow Set {a $30 value} to one lucky DYH reader!! It was actually originally created as a Cardinal's tutu {for those of us in Cardinal country!}, but it would also be the perfect 4th of July Tutu. Just remove the hair clip! By the way, Kim handcut that cardinal..pretty amazing, huh? This tutu is size 0-3 months and ideal for those brand new baby girls, but like I mentioned before, they do stretch!

    Okay, now that you're totally enamored with the sheer fluffiness of these beauties, it's time to enter to win it! As always, there are several opportunities to enter, but you only have to do one to get your name in the hat! Oh, and as a special treat just for you, Kim is offering 15% off your entire order in her store when you use the code iloveDYHeart at checkout!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway