Lilly Pie Winner & Other Things

First of all, THANK YOU to all of you that participated in the Lilly Pie give away this past week.  Laura makes some beautiful things, and - whether you win or not - I hope you all treat yourself to a little something that makes you feel beautiful once in a while.

Next, CONGRATULATIONS to Trever at Desperately Seeking Seersucker, the lucky winner of a Lilly Pie Helland Necklace!!!  (I just won a giveaway on her blog not too long ago... Crazy!)

And, now, a few other little things: (in bullet format because I should be cleaning)

- I am 29 weeks pregnant today.  I'll spare you another picture and full update, but I just can't believe how close we are now.  I know the next eleven weeks will go SO fast... I have something to look forward to almost every week.  Can't wait to meet my little man!

- I failed my glucose test on Wednesday morning.  I'm really embarrassed about it and sad, but I keep reminding myself that Kelly failed hers the first time too (a lot of women actually do) and that somehow helps a lot.  I go back next Wednesday for the three hour test... My numbers were very high the first time around, so I'm not very hopeful about passing - BUT, prayers (or advice if you have any) would be much appreciated in the meantime.

- It is always a sad day when you realize your spring break is over and you got about 1/3 of your "to do" list accomplished... I feel like I've been running in circles this week trying to get projects done around the house/ just keep it straight.  Jeff has been working SO hard on refinishing our front porch and deck.  This is going to look awesome when he is all done; but, in the meantime, I have a grill in my kitchen, tools EVERYWHERE, and a constant trail of dirt and dust from the front of the house to the back.  I DID however, get all of Baby C's clothes that we have so far washed and put away (thanks to my mom) and FINALLY got my own closet back to some sort of organization.  I'm trying to dwell in the joy of little things! :)

Ok, that's all.  Have a wonderful spring Saturday!  Can't believe tomorrow is MAY!!!

Royal Wedding Fashion

Well, I watched it.  I felt a little silly waking up before the sun to watch a stranger's wedding on TV; but once I was up, I was SO glad.  (I even drove over to my sister's house to watch with her... Much more fun with her ridiculous commentary.)

I don't really know how to explain it if you didn't see it yourself, but the royal wedding really was spectacular.  I felt like I was witnessing something really big.  There's so much BAD in the world, it was nice to see the world (or at least Britain and all us nosy Americans) coming together to celebrate something happy.  Kate was a BEAUTIFUL bride - loved her dress - and William just looked so sweet and genuinely happy.  Despite all the hubalub, they both seemed totally down to earth and in love.  (The "second kiss" was just adorable.)

   

 Ok, but enough of that... the big question on my mind this morning is: What in the world would you WEAR if you were invited to the wedding of a future KING and QUEEN?

I know everyone has their own opinions, but... clearly the WORST DRESSED at the event:

Princesses Beatrice & Eugenie (from People)

What did you think?

Royal Wedding (of course)

The Royal Wedding is just hours away!!  I honestly haven't cared that much about the whole "countdown;" but now that it is upon us, I'm very excited.  You know that Jeff and I studied abroad in London right outside of Kensington Palace about six years ago... So, I feel a little connection to the royal family.  Haha!  Plus, I've read a good bit about Princess Diana, grew up with a crush on Prince William (although Harry turned out to be the much cuter of the two... He gives me great hope for the odds of us having a red-headed boy), and think Kate Middleton is absolutely stunning in a classic-beauty kind-of way.  I also watched a Lifetime special on them last night, and decided I like them even more because they are so "ordinary." Prince William goes to work every day and they live in a little cottage on a secluded island in England.  

I'm going to be one of the crazy ones and get up at 4AM to watch it/ blog about it.  I'm on spring break, so I figure I can and should... It is a pretty big deal. I can't wait to see all the hats etc. (My mom is in NYC right now with her girlfriends and they all bought head-pieces to wear to Times Square tomorrow morning!)  Will you be watching?!?!

All photos

Thank You Notes

Today, I will mail off the last of the Thank You Notes from my shower a few weekends ago. People were (and continue to be) beyond generous to me & Baby Chapman.  I don't mind writing thank you notes one bit, because I genuinely want to tell everyone how grateful I am for their gift and the role they have played in my life and will play in our baby's life.  So, if you have gotten or will get one from me in the next few days, know that it is heartfelt and an honor to write.

THAT SAID, I've been thinking about the actual concept of thank you notes recently...

I come from a thank you note family.  I've been writing them since I was old enough to hold a pencil for every gift I've ever received.  To this day, I will get an individual note from my mom, my dad, and my sister after Christmas, birthdays, etc.  I can count on it.  (We even have a few more distant relatives who have been known to get legitimately angry and "withhold gifts" if a thank you note is not received in a timely manner.) For the most part, I'm very thankful that my parents instilled this virtue in me early on in life.  I think it is kind-of a dying art, and the Mulvaney clan is doing its part to keep it alive.  I don't really know what this will look like in our little boy's life (it seems different with boys), but it is something I plan to keep up.

However, sometimes I question the concept in general.  Usually, people give gifts because they genuinely want to and they certainly don't expect or demand a formal thank you.  Seeing your reaction at the shower or party or gift exchange and a verbal "thanks" is usually enough. (Am I wrong?)  Furthermore, most of the key "thank you note events" in life correspond with the busiest seasons of life too - like weddings and babies.  I'm not being ungrateful, but do we really need another thing added to our "to do" list?

My sister even begged me NOT to send her a thank you note recently because she has a thing about not throwing away handwritten notes, and she was beginning to run out of storage space.  Ridiculous? Yes.  But, kind-of true.  (Don't you feel bad when someone spends all that time writing you a note and then you open it, read it, and throw it away?  Am I the only one that does that?)

Plus, the cycle can be a little crazy if you aren't careful too.  For example, do I send a thank you note to the couple who came to dinner and brought a hostess gift even though the gift itself was, in essence, a "thank you"?  I know I certainly wouldn't expect someone to send me one if I was the guest with the gift.  But, yet I find myself feeling obligated to do so sometimes... So many things to think about.

Don't get me wrong.  I value a thank you note.  I always appreciate it when I receive one; and, I think there are very valid times to send them -- Like if the gift was sent through the mail and the giver would honestly have no other way of knowing whether or not it was received OR when someone really goes out of their way unexpectedly with a physical gift or just their time and energy.  BUT, I don't expect or demand thank you notes from the people in my life. 

I'm curious what the etiquette is these days...

Do you send them?  Do you expect them?  What occasions warrant a note and for which ones will a simple phone call or in-person hug suffice?

*All images are from Tiny Prints.  (And, no, they didn't pay me for this post!)

P.S. Don't forget to enter my Lilly Pie giveaway here... And, if you win, you do NOT have to send me a thank you note! ;)

Accessories Make an Outfit (Even at Nine Months) *Giveaway*

I realize this is kind-of sacreligious for a girl, but I've never really been that into accessories.  I wear my classic pearl studs and simple flip flops just about every day and would much rather invest in designer jeans or a JCrew sweater than expensive shoes and jewelry.  That is, however, UNTIL I became pregnant! 

Now, as you know, nothing fits me right and I feel frumpy and beast-like just about every day.  (Um, literally as I type this I am wearing an old plaid PJ top with only the top three buttons done and my belly  peeking out at the bottom - very cute.) The right accessory is just about the ONLY thing that can make me feel cute these days.

Enter Laura...

A few weeks ago (after this post in which I complained about the hideousness of this pregnancy), Laura emailed me about her Etsy shop Lilly Pie Accessories.  The motto? "Accessories Make an Outfit (Even at Nine Months)."  And boy is she right!

Here's a little of her Lilly Pie vision: 

I believe that everyone: woman, girl, and toddlerette is FABULOUS.  We are strong, beautiful, lovely, energetic, playful, soft, and fun. I believe that we love to feel put together. We like to create and add finishing touches to our work. We add garnish to a dish,  icing to a cupcake, hearts to our i's,  and shimmer to our eyes because we LOVE the end result. We enjoy taking a deep breath, soaking in the moment and saying "there".  Lillypie is the icing. 

I want to share, encourage, uplift, and make you laugh. I want you to feel beautiful.  I want  you to to cover yourself in Lillypie ruffles and flowers--because WHO doesn't feel pretty wearing them?  A girl always deserves to feel pretty--no matter the age or season of life.

(You can read more about her life and her business at Laura's blog too!)

Laura immediately sent me an adorable handmade necklace and broach - you might recognize them...

Coral Rose Posie Hairpin/Broach to my shower

and

Maxwell - Cream Ruffle Flower Statement Necklace out shopping yesterday

Now, I find myself carefully crafting outfits around these cute and stylish pieces as often as possible.  Every time I wear them, I get TONS of compliments, and I actually feel like someone notices something other than my weight.  Score!

Just look at some of the cute stuff she offers in her shop.  (Don't worry, it isn't just for pregnant women - she has something for everyone... that's the great part about accessories!)

AND... Lucky you!  Laura has decided to give away one of her popular Helland necklaces (which can be worn four different ways) to an E, Myself, and I reader - you choose the colors!

 To enter...

Leave a comment below telling me what makes YOU feel beautiful (one entry). *Don't forget to leave your email address too if it isn't linked to your profile.

Then, for a second entry, visit Laura's shop and leave a second comment telling me your favorite item.

Easy as Lilly PIE!

Contest will be open until Friday 4/29, and I will announce the winner on Saturday.

28 Week Update

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 28 weeks

Goodbye second trimester, hello HOME STRETCH!

Size of Baby: The size of a Chinese cabbage (but of course).

Maternity Clothes: Oh yes.  It is sad how even the loose tops I bought a year ago thinking "these will be perfect when I'm pregnant one day" are way too tight. C'est la vie.

Gender: Still a little man. (We have a name for him now, but I've decided not to share it on my blog until he actually arrives.  I know, I am evil.)

Movement: He is moving SO much now.  And, the best part, Jeff & I can actually see his little kicks and wiggles from the outside when we watch for them.  I absolutely LOVE it.  I could sit and watch my tummy all day long.

Sleep: I get up once or twice to use the bathroom and always find myself tangled up in my pregnancy pillow.  Otherwise, not bad.

What I miss:  Cute clothes - I will never take my spring/summer wardrobe for granted again.  As I organized my closet this weekend, I packed a small box of things I hope to be able to wear in August and kept my closet exceptionally clutter-free with only clothes that will fit me for the next three months.  Leave it to a boy to make my boobs huge and deprive me of my wardrobe! ;)

Cravings: Still Mexican food. Luckily, my friend T turned me on to a little secret in Roanoke known as "Taco Tuesday" at Village Grill.  Tacos are 99 cents.  My belly and I will be there - maybe every Tuesday from now on. I also continue to have a sweet tooth (who doesn't with all the delicious Easter candy around), but I have my glucose test on Wednesday morning, so I'm trying to be good. (Any tips for passing?  I'm nervous!)

Symptoms: My feet have started to swell really badly in the afternoons/evenings.  I'm a little concerned that this is starting so early for me... Also, Jeff says I breathe really loudly.  (Does anyone know if that is normal?)  Otherwise, I'm still feeling good.

Words of Wisdom: My friend Lea (who is 34 weeks pregnant) just wrote a great blog post on motherhood being a continuing process of "letting go."  I'm reflecting on that a little and plan to write about it soon... So, stay tuned.

Best Moment(s) This Week:   I'm just so happy to be on spring break and have several days at home to check some things off of my to-do list.  My mom is washing lots of baby clothes for me, and all of last weekend's shower gifts are organized and put away.  The nursery is looking more and more like the way I envisioned it... So excited!

Also, my friend Jen had her precious baby girl very early Thursday morning.  I got to visit Piper on Friday and was totally smitten.  Apparently, my little guy was too, because he just kicked and kicked at her while I held her and practiced my "soothing techniques."  I can already tell he's going to be a ladies man!

And one more thing... Yesterday, as Jeff and I greeted people at church for Easter, I started feeling sad about not picking out cute Easter dresses and hats for a little girl.  Then, I remembered SEERSUCKER.  Ahh yes!  Next year, our little guy will be nine(ish) months old at Easter (how crazy is that?) and he will definitely be wearing something like this... (Obviously with his own monogram!)

 I can't wait!

Resurrection

I don't think much convincing is needed to make you agree that there is suffering in the world.  Even when the sun is shining and my house is clean and my family is together, like today, you don't have to look far to see all the pain and hurt around us.  Just this morning my sweet friend Niki shared about her mother who is in the midst of a ravenous fight with cancer; and yesterday my friend Libby posted on her blog about a 13 year old girl in Chesapeake who was hit by a car and killed when she went back into the road to get the cell phone she had dropped while crossing.

The Easter story is FULL of suffering.  In fact, for most of my life, I've pictured the pierced and bloody body of Jesus on the cross whenever I think of Easter. (Well, that plus dyed eggs, big hats, & jellybeans - which is a whole other post for another time.)  

 The story of the cross is not a pretty one.  It is scandalous and heart-wrenching. It is about betrayal by the very people who sang His praises and bowed at His feet just a week before.  More than that, it is about MY betrayal. It is about Jesus doing for ME, what I could NEVER do for myself - no matter how many lists or twelve step plans I make. As Niki said today in her testimony, "just the Creator of the Universe sending his son to live among us would have been enough to show his love for us.. But, He went even further..."  Our God KNOWS suffering, and yet he CHOSE to do it to save us.

But...  There is another image that doesn't get nearly enough emphasis in my version of Easter - that of the EMPTY TOMB.  See, God didn't send his only son to simply die on the cross as a "free pass" for us to heaven.   He rose him from the dead three days later --- if it wasn't for that fact, Jesus would have just been any other religious martyr.  

Source

God sent his Son to give us LIFE.  Not just after we die, but RIGHT NOW.  Today.  And, not just on Easter when we wear our Sunday best and remember the Gospel, but the other 364 days a year too.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! - 1 Peter 1:3

Jesus knows our pain intimately.  He knows because He's been here.  The extent of His pain was real.

Shortly before he died, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet, not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 23:42). He knew what was coming, and - because he was fully human - he asked the Lord to stop it.  But, ultimately, he knew that God's plan had to be accomplished; because his ways are better than our ways.

Beth Moore says something like this and it rings SO true in my life: So often, when I talk about trusting God, I mean that I trust him to do what I want, to protect me from my greatest fears and to give me the things I hope for... But, that isn't real trust.  Real trust comes in the suffering.  Real trust comes in knowing that, through Jesus, we can have HOPE for a good and full life... Even when the rain comes.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

Easter isn't just about the suffering... It is a celebration of the fact that even DEATH cannot hold back our God.  He is stronger than any stone or struggle.  His gift to us isn't just salvation (although I'm certainly thankful for that too), but LIFE here and now, even in the midst of suffering.

I hope you will find joy and peace in that hope today.

 

For more about what I believe, check out this post from last Easter.

Classroom Organization Tips

Today at Kelly's Korner, we are showing our organizational tips.  My house is anything but organized right now (Spring Break/Spring Clean 2011 starts TODAY), so I decided to show off some of my organizational tips for the classroom instead.  My first two years of teaching I was on a little portable cart, so I had to learn early on how to keep my junk together.  Today, I can honestly say that my classroom is as relaxing and neat as any other "space" in my life (at least most of the time).  I'm proud of that.

I'm just going to sort this into a couple of categories.  I realize these won't apply to every teacher (I teach high school English); but since it seems like a lot of teachers follow my blog, I'm hoping it will at least be interesting and a little relevant.  If it isn't... Well, I'm sorry in advance!

So...

1. Classroom Supplies

I keep all of my classroom supplies in labeled containers on a large table at the front of my classroom.  I snagged this table a couple of years ago at the beginning of the school year from a teacher who was getting rid of it.  Best.decision.ever.  Students always know where they can find materials, and there is never an excuse for not doing an assignment because you didn't come to class prepared.  Plus, I copy all of my hand-outs etc. a week in advance and use this table to keep everything stapled, hole-punched, and ready to be distributed as needed.  (I do this on Friday so I can walk in Monday ready to go.)

2. Lesson Plans

I use a very basic lesson plan template with the unit title and days of the week across the top.  Then, for each day, I list the state standard and the assignment, activities, and homework.  Although I occasionally have to revise this mid-week, for the most part, I stick to it.  Not only do I post these weekly lesson plans Monday morning on the internet (Blackboard), but I also keep them posted in the front of the room at all times.  This bulletin board is a popular hang-out spot for students as they enter the room.

I also organize binders for each class for each nine weeks.  Inside the binder, I keep my lesson plans as well as all the hand-outs, notes, quizzes, tests, power point slides, etc. that go along with each mini-unit (which is separated by a tab).  At the front of the binder, I keep a checklist with the primary objectives for each nine weeks so that I can be sure to pace myself and stay on track.  (I'm really hoping that this system will come in handy when I am out on maternity leave at the beginning of next school year.)

3. Make-Up Work

I keep this cute little Target accordion file in the front of the room.  If a student is absent when I hand-out any type of assignment, I simply put his/her name on the top of it and file it behind the correct class period.  I also have a spot on my attendance record where I write in any work that needs to be made-up.  I check both of these places every period of every day to make sure work gets made up.  It works like a charm!

4. Missing Work

Let's be honest.  Kids miss assignments.  Not because they are absent, but because they just don't care.  (Or, perhaps 1% of them actually has a good excuse.)  A colleague showed me this idea during student teaching and it has become one of my "most shared" concepts.  THE YELLOW SHEET.

On a due date, if a student does not have his/her assignment, he/she must fill out one of these yellow sheets and turn it in in place of said assignment.  I call this the "walk of shame" to retrieve the yellow sheet.  It asks for basic information like the assignment title, due date, and student signature.  I keep this in my stack of papers and, as students turn in their late work, use it to record the actual date the assignment is turned in and the number of points deducted.  (Our school policy is 10% per day.)  Then, I detach the bottom portion of the sheet to staple to their assignment and keep the top portion for my records.  If the assignment never comes in, a zero is recorded in the grade book and the yellow sheet gets filed. These work GREAT on parent teacher conference day and help to keep me fair.

The Yellow Sheet concept has become quite popular, so I've posted a JPEG image that can be opened and printed (below) as well as a PDF version here.

A few little details that don't really fit into a category:

- If you can, buy one of these filing totes.  (Mine is from Target a few years ago.)  I keep all of my papers-to-be-graded in here sorted by class.  Haven't lost a paper to date even during the inevitable transport from my couch/bed to my classroom.  (Knock on wood.)

- I keep a to-do pile on my desk and try to clear it by the end of each day (or, at the least, week).  I also keep e-mails marked as "unread" in my inbox until I have responded to them or handled them appropriately.  I usually do this as close to when I receive it as possible so the list doesn't pile up. And, I use my Lily Pulitzer planner like a champ both at work & for my personal life!  Don't know what I'd do without it!

- Finally, I straighten my classroom every.single.day before I leave.  When I come in in the mornings (which, let's be honest, is usually late) the room looks as good as new, and everything is ready to go for the day.  Here are some pictures of my classroom yesterday.  (You can compare them to my beginning of the school year pictures here.  Really, not too much difference.)

Hopefully this was helpful for some of you!  If you have any questions about anything, please feel free to email me!!

I Deserve It

Happy day before spring break to you all!  (What?  Not everyone gets a week off every spring?  How sad!)

I got a little laugh yesterday from this email I received from a good friend of ours (who happens to be a male) after my blog post.  Enjoy.

Hey E!  I know this might be weird for me to point out, but I've noticed how glowing you are lately!  You always look so happy.  Pregnancy must really suit you.  I really wish I would have looked like you when I was pregnant.  Your hair looks absolutely awesome and way better than mine EVER has.  To be honest, you look so much better than I did when I was pregnant.  I gained over 100 pounds when I was with child!  I can't believe you are as far along as you are, you are totally only showing in your belly!  I can only pray to look as good as you do if God ever blesses me with another.  I know with every part of my body that you are going to make a great mother.  My hope is that this brief note encourages you to keep up the good work, he'll be here soon.

Hilarious.  It is good to have friends that keep me humble! :)

Yesterday, it seemed like a lot of people actually said "nice" things to me about my pregnant appearance.  It was a weird feeling because I wasn't sure if they were being sincere or had just read my Top Ten post.  That's a hard thing about writing on a public blog. Oh well... I will embrace it while it lasts.

Have a nice Thursday!

Things You SHOULD Say (Pregnancy Etiquette Part 2)

Did you read my post yesterday about the things people say to pregnant women?

I'm continuing on a higher note today...

In the past few months, I seriously have thought SO much about how I will speak to and love pregnant women in my life when this stage is over for me. I REALLY don't want to become one of those women. Instead, there are a lot of women in my life who really DO know how to care for me and speak truth to the deep parts of my heart that are SO happy about this new little life in my belly, but also insecure about all the ways it is changing me.

So, as a little PSA (for the good of women everwhere), I've put together this list of things TO SAY to a pregnant woman. Enjoy!

And one more thing... Don't forget to check out Stella Jewelry and use coupon code EMYSELFANDI for 15% off.  The jewelry will make awesome Mother's Day gifts etc.

Watch Your Mouth (Pregnancy Etiquette Part 1.5)

I've started to make a habit out of re-reading old blog posts each month from the year before.  It's a neat thing to do - defnitely reminds me how much my life has changed and how much I have to be grateful for. I can't wait until I have TEN years worth of blogs to look back on.

Ironically, almost exactly a year ago I wrote this post on "Pregnancy Etiquette."  I wasn't pregnant at the time. (In truth, I was busy trying to convince Jeff we were ready with little progress.) Instead, my post was about things I thought pregnant women "shouldn't do" to respect the rest of us.  It was kind of tongue-in-cheek, and - for the most part - I still agree with most everything I said.  HOWEVER, at the end of the post, I asked pregnant women to speak up on what un-pregnant women needed to know about them.

Well, I may be a year late; but, I've got some things to say now...

First, I just want to make clear how much I LOVE my baby and the absolute MIRACLE that God is working in my body as we speak.  NONE of the comments I'm about to make make me ungrateful or regretful of this pregnancy for one second.  Just know that.  Ok.

I honestly thought I was prepared for the comments people make when you are pregnant.  I'd been warned.  But, here I am with still three months to go, and I am SO tired of people telling me how big I am.  I consider myself a patient and tolerant person (I teach high school afterall), but I might really blow up at the next person who asks me when I am due and then proceeds to freak out and make a comment about how HUGE I am, and how miserable the summer is going to be when I tell them July.  DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT I DON'T REALIZE MY SIZE WHEN I TRY TO WRAP MY BATH TOWEL AROUND ME, OR SIT IN A DESK, OR SHAVE MY LEGS?

Wikipedia

(FYI: Demi Moore was 7 months pregnant when this photo was taken in 1991 - same as me.  I'm not denying that she is beautiful, ignoring that this photo may have been airbrushed, or saying that I look like that -- But, she obviously has a belly, right?  It's more than just a little mango pushed under her skin.)

Just yesterday, this went down in the check-out line at Staples:

Stranger: When are you due?

Me: July.

Stranger: Wow.  Your belly is soooo big.  My friend had a baby recently and her belly was never that big, even when she was about to give birth.

Me: Well, your friend must be a freak of nature.  I have a HUMAN BEING growing inside of me, and I'm emotional, and I think you are rude and too old to make comments like that.

(Ok... I didn't really say that in response.  But, I wish I had.  That's where I am.)

Source

Men get a bad rep, but really this one falls totally on the women.  Men, honestly, are scared stiff of pregnant women.  They hold doors for me, offer to carry things for me, and move out of the way when I am walking down the hall.  They don't really say anything. But the women... they are the WORST.  It's like they completely forget what it's like to be pregnant and feel a total compulsion to spit out whatever thought pops into their minds when they see my belly.  I think it hurts even more because we expect that we are on the same team.  We expect other women to understand our bodies and the incredible work they doing.  But, they don't.  They say things like: "Are you sure it isn't twins?"  "Wow, you'll never make it to July"  "Whoa, you look big today" or "That's one big baby."  Just to name a few. 

Furthermore, a lot of people talk about women's hormones during pregnancy.  I'm not totally disputing that our emotions are a little out-of-whack because of hormones, but I blame some of it on the ridiculous comments we have to listen to and smile at every.single.day.  Would you be in a good mood if people commented on your weight all day every day?!? 

TOUCH my belly all you want (I don't really mind that a bit), but just tell me I look cute, ok?!?!  Seriously.

P.S. I honestly didn't write this for sympathy or as a cry for "you're beautiful" comments.  Ya'll have been wonderful already!  If you want to comment, tell me about your own experiences in this area and/or just general thoughts. Thanks friends!

A Beautiful Mess

I had to share The Nester's post & video about the beauty of a "lived in" house with you.  It made me smile and relax a little more today. 

(Note to Self: Must buy this book.)

A good reminder to be thankful for the home I have and to show myself grace when it doesn't look perfect.  Heck, maybe even to strive for less than perfect.

And, in the spirit of the game, here's my contribution...the "beautiful mess" in my guest/dressing room right now:

Yes, I just posted this on the internet.  I'm sure my mother is dying right now.

Hope this made at least one of you feel better about your own pile of dirty clothes or unmade bed. :)