Beginning

The year is rapidly ending and as it does my mind is filled with dreams of a tasty, beautiful garden, Buttons first birthday (holy cow these is only three months left!), and a nice, clean, put together home. Goals and ambitions want to flood me making me anxious, yet already a bit overwhelmed for this coming year; yet, in a good way. For the first time since I got married, it feels like the beginning. I suppose, in a way, it is. Though having a baby was something I have never done before, I had been a nanny before so I was used to caring for children and such... but as Button gets older it feels different. When he was so little there wasn't much but tedious routine after routine and now, everything is new. He is starting to see the world through his own eyes with his own personality and it is beautiful. Everything he touches I want to touch, to see, to relearn in a way. This New Year brings with it so many firsts for us. I want to relish in it; take it in and become new again like my little son. Lives are crazy sometimes but, take the moments you get slowly, feel, touch, learn again. 

Yes, this year is ending so fast but oh the joys that await us this coming season; which, I hope to share with all of you. Together we can begin this chapter a-new. 

Merry and Bright

 Happy holidays everyone! There is more to come but I finally got some more photos edited and had to share even though there is a bit more to be done. I'm just not sure how much time I'll have before Christmas to finish them all so I wanted to make a post now. 

These two men make my world go round. I love how silly they are together. I have a cheesy grin plastered on my face, an ear to ear when I see this photo. It’s not your regular portrait photo but this is the one I cherish most. This is real life and it is beautiful!

 Of course, I had to get at least one with me in it too though. I don't think I take enough photos with me in them. I guess that's because I'm the one behind the camera most of the time.

I gave Button muffins that I made look like cookies and did a whole session with it but I had to take off his Santa hat because it was way too big and kept falling over his heat. Not eyes, heat! Ha. So yeah, I took it off and did some without. I think I like these better anyway since we don't do Santa in our house. Just a personal choice.

Hope you all liked the little preview. I really want to finish the rest but at the moment have way too much on my plate to handle before Christmas is here. I might make another post pre-Christmas but I'm not setting it in stone so we'll see. Whatever the case, Merry Christmas, and May all your days be full of family, love, and joy.

Growing

Today I am working on something I have been looking forward to for a very long time. My first child's first Christmas photo shoots! I can't wait to share with you all the final results but for now I'll leave you with a little teaser because I still have to do a lot of editing and fixing up the house so I can do some more photos as well and some with Button, Darling and myself later today. I'll post all of the Christmas photos on one post once it is all said and done but for now you'll have to be satisfied with just this one.

Darling and I have been discussing some stuff about my business and are finally ready to do some real investment into my job and passion of photography. It's a little daunting because, in part, it’s just so expensive of an investment (we're looking at around $3,000 and then $100 a month for advertisement). A part of me is so ready to step out and have more jobs, take photos, and bring so much joy to other though my art but another part of me knows that things like daycare and babysitting is inevitable when running a full time business and, for me, that is the biggest sacrifice; even more then the money! Waking up to that little face, chasing Button around the house while he giggles, watching him learn to talk and walk. These are the moments I live for and though I am ready to let go a little and take more time to better my life it’s hard to feel like in a way it’s at the cost of bettering his life. Though, I know this isn't true. 

Darling is right when he said that I need this. I am not my child and my child is not me, I see that more and more as he grows and learns and becomes so much more than just my little baby and I know that just because I had a child doesn't mean my life is that child. I am still me; I have dreams and ambitions also and denying me those things because I feel it would benefit my child is both wrong and silly. So I will take in all the moments we have together, all the times we chase each other around the house, I will continue taking photos and being the best house wife and mommy I can; just, as I strive to be the photographer I know is in me and capture those same moments for others. 

I am so excited about this time in our lives, Button is changing and growing in so many ways, Darling is progressing and prospering in his new job and now, so soon will I. Today I'm am editing family photos and making my house a home, tomorrow I take on the world. 

Button's Eighth Month Photo Shoot

This time around I decided to play with making storylines. We just spent the time playing while I snapped away. It worked out great and I still ended up with a few favorites. I have to admit though, that the lighting was a pain in the but to work with this way. And this is why I will never be a studio photographer. ugg. Totally a natural light kind of girl, all the way!

We first sat together and read stories and I let him turn the pages. This is totally how he is all day. He loves to turn pages.... and eat books. ha.

 Then Button discovered mommies lines cap.

 And lastly, he decided exploring was way more fun than sitting around reading and getting his photo taken.

And when all was said and done.... we were both ready for a nice afternoon nap.

Getting In the Mood

 Getting into the holiday mood, I'm finding, is increasingly difficult these days. Not because I am unhappy or unmotivated, it just seems like it is. The snow falls in a big ball of puff out my window, blanketing the cars, yards, and houses in a sheet of fluffy white and a part of me urns to feel... something. I play Christmas music while cleaning the halfway unpacked house the umpteenth time; knowing in the back of my head that that massive pile of folded clothes will very soon be a pile of none folded clothes come tomorrow until the dresser (which is too heavy for me to carry) somehow magically appears in the bedroom. Craft supplies peak out of a box in the dining room begging to be used for tree dressings and card making. I sigh. It's not going to happen. Then a Christmas song I love plays. A smile crosses my face and I dream, briefly, of a decorated house, Buttons first snow day (which is quickly passing), his first family Christmas photo, so on and so on. Then it hits, the overwhelmed feeling of having to do all of those things. The song goes off, I continue picking up toys and loose papers and cut out recipes (another project I'm working on, slowly, and that has been put on hold). I try to shake it "it's December Bethany! Get in the mood!" I tell myself out loud. Nothing. So I stop working, go on Pinterest, look at Christmas ideas. Nothing. Back to work. And so the days go. It's a snow day. Darling is home and I am determined to get in the mood. ‘You are not defeated’ I think to myself. Why is this oh so important moment in my life feeling like just another day. The celebration of our Lord?! I want so bad to make it something wonderful for my son. I know he won’t remember it but that doesn't mean it’s not something for us both to cherish. So why does it feel like I’m just living from day to day. Lights gleam all around, on almost every house, Christmas trees are lit but not our home, not in our house. It’s just another day. But I want more than that. So why can’t I feel “the magic” this time around? This year of all years. My son first.

The snow falls; I pick up the pile of clothes and decide to take them up to our room… maybe they will last longer there. 

All Dressed Up

As promised, here is the photo dump I just HAD to post on my amazingly adorable Button.

For Halloween, he "painted" a pumpkin with dyed yogurt. The photos aren't too great but I'm a sucker for sharing so hope you all enjoy them anyways. It's hard to get a good photo of a squirmy, excited little boy with yogurt, you know.

He really loved playing and painting. I did my best to encourage him to paint the pumpkin which actually helped a lot. Can't say it was easy letting him get so messy but I think it was good for both of us to just jump in and enjoy the moment.

Once Button was done painting he decided it was much more entertaining to try and eat a yogurt covered pumpkin than just the yogurt itself. That's when mommy decided we were done. Ha.

The "paint" didn't dry well on the pumpkin, to be honest. It ended up being all sticky, clear and started to mold rather fast so it got tossed the next day. I'm just glad we had a good time together playing and making a mess and at least it got to sit on the porch for Halloween night. 

After playing in the bath and getting nice and clean again, I got him all dressed up and ready to help mommy hand out candy.

Button actually only stayed up until seven so he only got to hand candy out to two little kids but at least we had a fun time playing with the mirror all dressed up and I made sure to sneak Darling in to Button's room when he got home from work so he could see his foxy little boy.

I can't wait until next year when Button is a little older and we can take him trick or treating. I look at these photos and think ' oh my goodness how times fly'. He's already nine months old! He's been outside the womb for as long as he has been inside it! I can't believe how fast he has grown and changed over these last months. You can rest assured many more little Button photos to come as we take on the world together one adventure after another! Hope you all enjoyed the little treat of adorable babyness to start off your week. 

Too Long Too Short

Holy cow it’s so nice to have internet back. I have missed writing so much. You are too good to me to keep reading this... if you have all this time. What a mess life is right now; in a totally good, scary, crazy, fun, daunting way. Button had his first Halloween and Thanksgiving and I am just itching to photo dump the hecks out of this hear blog. Oh yes, it is super ridiculously late but whatever, it's my blog and I'm one of "those" moms so you can bet your bottom dollar I’m ‘a share them anyways... maybe just a little less to ease the burn. Ha. Anyways, we're in DC now. For the first time in my life, I don't live in Virginia! How did that happen?!

I can't stop thinking how blessed we are to have seen so many diverse places and people and how amazing our lives have been but a part of me urns, no BURNS for a simple life. An old county home with a wraparound porch; children (many children) playing in the yard and garden, chickens chatting away at one another, long days and longer country nights, a fireplace, a house I can truly make my own, a place we can settle in, make memories, and forget about crazy, adventitious days gone by. I burn for a place to create memories from years to years with my baby (and all the babies to come to God willing).

I am not ungrateful for these blessing we have been given. I will take them in; cherish them for some time from now I know it will not be the same. I may never have the opportunity to spend hours at the botanical garden just walking from flower to flower letting Button touch, smell, and learn from each unique plant. I may never be able to again sit on the steps of the reflection pool, staring at our great capital while having lunch with my Darling. Time is fleeting. I know that now more than ever as I watch Button change and grow into his own little person. So recent was it that he was barely the size of my arm; weak, dependent. Now I look at him and see him not my little baby but who he is on his own and the realization that soon, too soon, he will be even more so. I am happy for this in a way yet know that this is it. This is all the time I get. I want to catch these moments like little fireflies and keep then, glowing, in a jar forever. My little pets.  I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings; while I dream of our future and cling to the present. I will share more of our holidays soon my friends. It has been too long and I miss you.

Checking In

Just stopping by to say hey. Things are starting to fall into place and get back on track around these parts. I can't post photos because my computer isn't up yet (we're staying with family while looking for a place) but I can't wait to share so much with you all! First off, Hubby got a job! We are moving to DC! We are so blessed in so many ways. I look back on all we have been though and think how amazing God has been to us. How we have had the opportunity to see so many different places and kinds of people though each move we have. I'm looking forward to this new, exciting way of life. To be able to take Button up and down the national mall and teach him all about our great country. To learn what it’s like to live in such a high energy, fast-paced area will be quite a change from the slow, laid-back pace we are used to, for sure! As soon as we find a place I will totally have to share with you all photos. I can't wait to have a new space to work with and design. Its bitter sweet moving from the first place Button has ever known and lives in as well as leaving his gorgeous nursery but I know we will make our new place just as nice and remember-able. 

Changing for the Better

I know this blog is going through a dry spell so I figured it was about time to fill you all in. here's the load down, Hubby is having to look for a new job, the car broke down, our lease is up and our apartment wants to raise our rent to something we can't afford. So, we have eight days to find Hubby a job, move, fix our car, and still keep our heads on straight. Yeah, it’s a little stressful and a lot of hectic going on around these parts. I'm not looking for a pity party, just wanted to be real with you all and to document this part of my life. Sometimes things get tough, it rains, we fight, my house is often a mess, this is really freaking life. Yeah, it's kind of a downer and I'm sorry about that but this blog is for me too. It's to document all our life moments, crafts, inspiration, and adventures and honestly, it wouldn't be honest or the same if it was all rainbows and sunshine. We are getting through it. I know what the Lord does is for a reason and to grow us in some way and because of that, I am trying to think positively about this whole situation; its rough, and hard, but I'm trying. Hopefully, I can get a post up about packing/ moving as it happens and share with you all the new place (whatever/ where ever that might be). I'm sad to leave this place; we have friends here, a good church, a garden, so much love put into this apartment, it is bitter thinking of leaving. For now, I just dream of blessings to come (a pay raise, a house maybe, a fixed car) and pray God hears them and continues to bless this amazing family I have. Yeah, I know this blog is going through a dry spell and things are rough right now but if I don't share the time that feels like a raging storm, it’s hard to see the blessings when the clouds clear. If you made it, though this bleak post, thank you. I know it's not an easy read and kind of sad but it gets better and together we can watch the sun come out and the days become brighter as we change for the better.

Buttons Six Month Photo Session

Here is Buttons six month photos... I didn't get much because he is really starting to move which equals a LOT of blurry photos. *sigh*

His eyes are so beautiful! I actually didn't edit any of his eye color on any of these photos. I just love how they look almost purple in the right lighting. Even when he's covered in droop, he's still my little stud. <3
it’s hard to believe Buttons already half a year old! Where did the time go!? Where did my baby go?! He really is turning into a little toddler right before my eyes;')

Taking a Beating

I know this is super late and... Well... lacking and I apologize for that. To be honest, I have been so depressed. Not because of anything in particular or because anyone specifically did anything. Just, you now, down in the dumps. While there are a lot of small contributors I think, for the most part, I'm just a little overwhelmed  with juggling being a mommy, wiffy, and still giving you guys, myself, and my man the time we all need. I am so sorry for the neglect this blog has received; I really want to get it back on track and stat posting more often. I have always put forth my most effort into this blog and I'm just feeling like it’s not good enough. Not good enough for you guys, my reader and for me, it’s a struggle to please voiceless faces. I wish more people who read this would please respond in some way, any way! But that's simply not how it works. Apart from that, I find myself working more and more on my photography business and while I'd love to share those moment with you all, I'm struggling with self-doubts and insecurities (to be frank) in most areas as of late. My one strong hold is my parenting and because of that, I seem to be fleeing to that aspect of my life a lot now. It is the one confident part of my recently crazy life right now. Being vocal about this is hard but, in a way, relieving. I suppose it’s sort of like having to go on a stage naked to see the beauty of oneself... though, for me, a much smaller advance consider I'm not even sure if this poo blog of mine gets reader. *sigh* Hopefully opening up like this will give me the push I need to focus more on the little things, to stop using my adorably distracting son and feeling like a failure as an excuse and to focus more on the little things; like this blog. After all, how else am I going to document all these moments (good AND bad) if I don't take the time to write them down. I can't (and won't) promise anything about how often or how much I will blog or even if I will ever start adding photos again to each post (>.< sorry) but I can promise that, for the meantime, this blogs not going anywhere. I'm sticking it out even if it means one post a month or even every other month. I want to remember these moments, to share with others, to have passion in writing again and to forget about the naysayers... because, after all, that is the simplicity of why I began a blog in the first place.

I know this is super late and well, this blog is lacking but I will. Not. Quite.

This is real freaking life! Welcome to the party because it only gets better from here. :)

So, if you are willing to put up with my poor grammar, sometimes bad spelling, sappy, sad, possible long breaks, and crazy moments in order to share with me this beautifully blessed, amazing adventure of life with me I would love that more than anything. If not, I understand and thank you for at least even reading this far. I am an acquired taste, I get that. So where ever you stand, here's where I'm at right now, yeah, this is real stink'n life, sometimes it sucks. It’s not all peaches and cream, people are mean, things get hard, feelings get hurt, babies cry, and things die but the band marches on. We grow, learn, and become stronger and better. I need this. I don't feel that way now (right now I want to give up and lie on my hubby’s chest and watch sad movies all night) but I've gott'a push through this. I am not a quitter and I refuse to give in to the negativity that surrounds me and the sinful fear that holds me back. I am better than this and I want to do better for myself, for my child, for my husband... and, for you. All of you... whoever you are. 

Woot!

Things are looking up Y'all! The garden is in full swing, Button did #2 for the first time on his toilet, the family is coming to visit this weekend, a road trip is in the makes, and I finally check a major project off the list. I can't wait to share it all with you guys this coming week but right now my plate if full on overflowing with a little baby with a cold and guest abounding.

Lots of fun stuff, projects, recipes, updates, and tidbits to come ;) Happy Friday.. now go out and do something fun and awesome for yourself! <3

Bathroom Talk

We are starting a new journey in our house. Things are getting a little crazy and a lot of interesting around here! We are taking the big leap of faith toward a diaper free home as this adventure called elimination communication unfolds.

So what is elimination communication you ask? Oh, you didn't? Well, I'm going to tell you anyways; elimination communication is the process of associating the toilet with going to the bathroom. Sounds simple enough right? The idea is to communicate in ways that your little one can understand whenever they have a bowel movement and to make that relatable to sitting on the toilet and going. It is NOT potty training. It is a sort of precursor to that. So if it’s not potty training, why do it right? well, in part, it’s cheaper, less water use on our cloth diapers and less detergent use also but for the most part, families that successful use elimination communication are able to actually potty train their buttons by 6 months to a year old! Basically, the age a child can get him or herself to the potty (depending on when they start to craw and walk). Button is five month now so obviously, we are not expecting him to start actual potty training for some time. So why do it at all? because we want to instill a concept that seems to have been lost to the western hemisphere, that children don't like, nor want to crap themselves or have urine sitting on their butts for, well, at all. The whole idea of diapering is really flawed to me. 50% of the world does not even use any form of diapers at all; and while it would be near impossible for two working parents to really do this, I am blessed enough to be a stay at home mom. Therefore, I feel there is really no reason Button should have to sit in his own stool or urine at all. Though I understand it is a truly controversial idea.

The gist of this all is, we are starting to teach Button the phases "go pee" and "go poop" whenever he starts making the movements and sounds of having to go and doing our best to provide the means to go somewhere sanitary (i.e. his little toilet) so that he does not lose his natural instinct to not want fecal matter on his poor little bottom and so that he will learn to associate the toilet with going to the bathroom. We do NOT expect him to hold himself  (because children this age simply do not have that kind of control over there bowels yet) but we do expect him to start learning that the phrase "go pee" and "go poop" are related to actually doing those things and that the toilet is associated with going to the bathroom.

I know many of you already think I'm crazy, that's why you keep reading right? I am also aware that this is a very touchy and debatable way of nurturing but it is my hope that you all will read this with an open mind and caring heart ( I won’t judge you if you don't judge me). That it might spark something in someone and if nothing else, teach you something new about the world. So, here we are, lots of days spent sitting on the baby toilet, listening for little grunts, saying pee a thousand times, and trying not to fall off toilets. Oh, the life of being a mom!

Growing

Things are moving a little slower around here these days. Most of my time is taken up playing with Button, cleaning the house, and making dinner before starting it all over again the next day. It’s nice to have a routine all worked out but in a way, I miss having adventures, exploring our area, crafting, and working on my garden. Button is teething now and that is a whole different kind of adventure all on its own I guess. It’s such a blessing to see his little budding personality coming out more and more each day. He is almost five months now and I can't wait to share with you all his five-month photo session!  The garden is growing good now and I even have about nine little tomato growing on my three tomato plants. My lettuce is flourishing immensely; to the point that Hubby and I have already harvested three salads worth from it. Because we are 'pruning' it instead of cutting off the whole stock from each plant we are able to re-harvest them about every week or so. Isn't that awesome! I love having homegrown salads. I have been working on some products to add to my Etsy shop, and hopefully bring it back to life, there is a lot that is going into that and I think most of these things deserve their own posts. I will have to get some photos together and share with you all, in depth, what is going on with each thing. Being a mother is so rewarding and it is becoming harder and hard to step away from my darling boy and get a little time to myself. Time to pull my thoughts together. Time to share with you all. I need to prioritize my life. I'm not saying that this is the end of our relationship... not even near it my friend. Just, in a way, different. I pray that it will be beneficial to us all and that I will find a balance to this new and exciting phase of my life. I pray that you all will continue to be able to and long to share it with me. After all, this is what Growing the Home is all about. If I do not learn to adjust to my new life as a mother, a housewife, a blogger, and a friend, I will become stagnant. A stagnant person is not one that is changing and without changer there is not growth or bettering one’s self. So, it is my most sincere wish that you all with bare with me as I go through these changes and growth. It might be a bumpy, not very pretty road ahead of us but it will be ours. Then again, aren't the best views down the less traveled, more adventurous paths? Let’s go on an adventure together, and adventure to find beauty in every day, to change, to share, and to grow the home that grows us.

A Boy and His Dog

Just had to share this with you all. I can see many fun days to come with these two and their love for each other grows strong each moment they are together. <3

Button's Four Month Photo Shoot

Happy four months old my Little Darling!

He is growing just way to fast but I love watching him learn and change each and every day. I can't wait to see what he does with this great big world and the planes God has for him. 

Dwindling

So, my poor vegetable garden is becoming smaller and smaller as summer goes on. I sadly didn't get any photos of my poor squash to show how bad it got before Hubby throw it out but, in a way, I guess that's not such a bad thing.

You see, my sweet, beautiful squash got infested with stink bugs. It turns out that most organic pesticides don't work on the nasty buggers and to make things worse, they have few natural predators. We tried for a good month at controlling the spread of eggs and baby stink bugs but in the end, there was just no hope for the sad plant. We tried spraying the eggs with organic pesticide every day, scrapping the ones we saw off and putting them in soapy water along with any adults and baby stink bugs but in the end, more just kept coming and eventually got down to the root of my squash where they began to kill it from the base. The plant itself seemed healthy for the most part but by the root, it was black and decaying. It was only a matter of time for the rest to start showing the effects, so we cut off the vines from the trellis, and tossed the whole plant. So, I'm thinking about planting another squash vine in hopes that it blooms before fall so that we get at least a small crop of them this fall.

Now we are being extra diligent at checking the cucumber and tomato plants for eggs and such. They seem to have decided that because the squash was gone, the next best thing was the cucumber. *sigh* I'm not giving up though and neither is Hubby. He is really starting to have quite a green thumb these days and even invested in some gardening gloves to remove the gross colonization (mostly because I can't stand the idea of touching a stink bug... even with gardening gloves on).

Over the past two days, Hubby has already removed close to 60 stink bugs (not including the eggs) from the cucumbers and tomatoes. I just pray this time around that we can keep up with it and that no more of my crops get hindered. We are also looking into getting marigolds to plant all around my produce. I was told that they don't like those and it would help limit the amount of pests that come in.

If there is an upside to all of this it’s that I have grown a little as an organic gardener and learned something new and how to care for my plants better. In a way, it has brought me and my husband closer and has given us something to do together and that is, I suppose, more valuable than a few dead plants. And though my garden may be dwindling my relationship and knowledge grows.

A Cooler Box

Yep... I know... a bad pun >.< forgive me? I couldn't help myself. Ha. aaaaaany ways....

A couple of weeks ago Hubby and I were invited to stay at my parents’ house for a visit and before our trip to the amusement park.

While we were there my mother mentioned to me about my fridge organization post and how she had wanted to do something about her own refrigerator.

So, looked at what she had around the house to use, cleaned out old food and expired jars, and made a list of what we needed to go out and buy.

She is not a fan of chalk labels like I am so be snagged some draw erase labels for $5 each (we used two packs of 10) to make things more cohesive.

Once all the old stuff was gone we had plenty of room for all the jars and such to fit in the door like she wanted.

My parents tend to always have left overs in the fridge. I guess it’s from years of feeding a family of five and now only having three mouths to feed but whatever it is, there was a general lack of organization when it came to what was in what container and how old things were so for quick fix we used the same labels on a large set of matching plastic wear (that she already had on hand), to create "left over containers". That way, all the left overs are easily stack-able, movable, and easy to know what’s in it and how old it is.

While we were out picking up the labels we also snagged the bread box, meat container, and cheese and egg baskets all for around $8! the egg and cheese baskets help make things more visible then when they are in a carton or drawer so that they don't end up buying something they already have enough of (because I hate when I used to buy eggs just to find out I still had half a carton left).

My parents like to keep their bread in the refrigerator so she got the box to put them in so it’s easy to just toss the bagels, bread and such in the bin after making a sandwich or what not instead of having it in a heap in the fridge or having to make them look pretty. After all, like I always say, organizing should make life easier and clean not harder and clean. The meat container we grabbed because she didn't have one and like me, likes to thaw out her meat the day before; and no one like meat dripping on things and contaminating it!

So there you have it. Another fridge organization post, but a little different.

It just goes to show that you take a good idea and always makes it your own and find out what works for you with the same basic principles.

So happy organizing! :D

Family Changes

Last week was such a world win of fun! A group of "extended family" came to visit and we all decided to meet up at a local amusement park (the same one we went to for my siblings birthday's).

How nice it was to see old friends again and to catch up on life. It's crazy how old one feels when you remember playing babies and in tree houses one second and the next you’re talking about boyfriends and cuddling babies. 

It really puts things in perspective for you, you know. Button had so much love'n's from everyone.

Even Hubby enjoyed soaking up the sun and enjoy the relaxing time.

We even ended the night with a fireworks show.

I can't wait until we can all visit again and see how much we have grown and changed through the years. 

Family Visits

Over the long weekend, Hubby and I were blessed to have his sister come stay with us. While she was here I offered to do a photo session for her and she actually said yes! :D

We had so much fun together exploring downtown, window shopping, and just chill'n with  this Little Man.

Nothing beats spending time with the ones you love and making memories together.

Thank you sis for sharing your time with us and for being such a blessing fun person to be around. We love you much!

Home Made Barbecue Sauce

Summer is here! Bring on the grill, the pool, long days at the park and longer nights under firefly skies!

To ring in the sunny season I'm sharing with you all my own homemade sweet and spicy barbecue recipe. :D

 You will need: a medium-sized bowl (yep... that's it!)

• 1/2 Cup ketchup
• 2 Table spoons chili sauce
• 4 Table spoons liquid smoke
• 1/2 T spoon Cinnamon
• 2 Table spoons honey
• 1/2 T spoon Cajun seasoning
• 2 T spoons ancho chili powder

1. In the bowl mix all the liquid ingredients
2. add in the seasonings and mix well
3. roll meat in the the barbecue sauce (or use a basting brush if you choose)
4. cook and enjoy! ( I cooked mine on a cast iron grill but this recipe is also great over a coal or gas grill)

Anticipation

I  am just so excited! The first fruit in the garden has started to grow at last!

Our tomatoes are on their way! The squash is starting to bud beautiful, large, yellow flowers which give me hope for this falls crop.

The anticipation is killing me! I just can't wait to have tasty plump tomatoes on turkey burgers, fried tomatoes, homemade pasta sauce, and BLTs with homemade bread and homegrown tomatoes and lettuce! oh my goodness, I need to go cook something now.... and prune my garden, and I may or may not stair at my itty bitty tomato wishing it was bigger already, while I'm at it. Ha.

Take a Hike

Hubby and I went on a small hike the other day just for fun. I thought we should get out while the summer days are still slightly cool and not too humid. It was so nice to just get out and do something active and different. During the walk, we even found a couple of critter trails and a bunch of mulberry trees. 

They reminded me of my childhood growing up near a marsh where I and my siblings would play and collect mulberries for my mother to make mulberry cobbler or mulberry syrup to put on our pancakes.

Hubby and I didn't have anything to put some in and most of the trees were too high for use to be willing to climb at the time but I can see us going back just to pick some soon! 

It’s a memory I would love to share with Button and all my future children, for sure.

Hopefully, I won’t forget my camera in the car next time so I can share the trails with you all.

Tradition

Life has been going by so fast. Yesterday I had the honor of celebrating my little sister's birthday as well as my older brother's. 

He is such a goober. :P

We all (my parents, sister, and brother and significant others) went to a local amusement park as a last, traditional, family birthday outing. It was just so much fun to spend the entire day hanging out with all of us together again. 

Of course, we got lost a few times,

And eat really unhealthy (abide, tasty) park food,

and ended the night watching brilliant fireworks and carnival lights.

It truly was an amazing way to end a long childhood tradition and one I can't wait to share with my children. 

Product Branding

I have been working on my photography business branding for a while now; from brainstorming, editing, re-editing, creating a design, creating shipping products, etc. and I am so happy to say... I'm DONE!

So here is a sneak peek of my packing branding and what each order will look like when they arrive to the customer.

I love the deer logo. I thought of using a couple of different logos and packaging ideas but in the end, I chose this clean, simple, natural look with the deer.

Why a deer, well for one, they are my favorite animal and second, I wanted to use the slogan "A fleeting moment" which meant the logo had to go with that. Then I just worked around that theme and looked for a natural feel like the wood tag with my photography businesses name on it.

I choose the pink and gray-blue honestly because I liked the way they looked together and with the more neutral colors.

This is what the inside of each box will look like (unless you order a mini session).

The "package" on the left is how the smaller prints will be wrapped to protect them from any scratches during shipping. The wallet prints, usb (if ordered), and a small thank you gift will be in the deer logo bags. Underneath the filling, the larger print/s will be placed and wrapped the same way as the small ones are.

In the above photo you can see the corner of the thank you note I will hand write to each customer.

I am so excited to have this all done and can't wait to send some out!

Blue Breezes

Now that the days are brighter and longer, Hubby has had some spare time to help get some stuff done around the house. It has been so nice to just be able to hang out with my man and make our house a home.

This weekend he finished spray painting the fan that goes in Button's nursery. You can see it here on the changing dresser that I took back when we were still fixing the room up.

Here is another snippet of it from the same post but a little closer.

We got the fan for free from our old landlords when we moved (they told us we could keep anything left in the house when we left... so we did).

Unfortunately, those were the only two I got of it before it got beautified.

Hubby chose a nice, vibrant, blue spray paint to paint it a gloss finish ( topical oasis by Valspar) and then just topped it off with a clear sealant spray for an easy, no sanding, done in a day project that really brought new life to this poor dull fan.

I love how it looks in his room now. It’s also great to have a little flair with function. It’s like have my cake and NOT gaining five pounds! Woot!

The color Hubby picked makes it look retro, which totally goes with some of the other vintage things going on in the room... namely this beauty

So I'm geared up, binged out, and ready for hot summer days with the windows opened, breeze flowing in, and a stun'n fan a’blast'n!