Positive

This path is laden with past regrets and what ifs, it is a battle; One that I have lost before. This time is different but so much the same. The fear echoes in the deepest parts of me where I push them back, focus on the now, on the here, on my son and this beautiful thing we call family and life. This time I choose to embrace it. Will I feel the same tomorrow, maybe not but for now I am here, taking it in. I am treating each day as my first (and last) and would I want those I love to know of our child, even unborn if I died today. I would. So, today they will know. That is not the path for everyone. It is the path for us. It is being brave. Hoping, praying, and trusting that maybes, the designers we have. it's not letting the woes of tomorrow bring us down today. Foolish? some might say so but we like to think we are strong. Strong for our child and strong for our own sake. Thank you for embracing that strength with us. Does a positive mean positively? I have learned it doesn't always but we are stepping out in faith. I am positive that for today, I have my baby, my family, my love. Thank you for being positive with us. <3

Day Camping

Last week we decided to conquer the cold and take little man on his first camping trip.
You see... living in the city makes it hard to sing 'twinkle little stars' and then not be able to show them to your son. So, we went somewhere we could. Day camping is becoming a big thing in this household. Even if we can't get a week off we always have two days to get out of the city and breath fresh, clean, crisp air. Time to get back to nature and explore. Time to teach our son what a millipede looks like and where it live, to see deer at night by our tent and watch the diamonds in the sky.

It wasn't easy squeezing three people into a one-person tent; its big enough for two but three and a dog?! It was tight, but we made it work.

We will get a bigger tent for next time though. ha.

One of my favorite parts of our day trip was just seeing things through little man's eyes. I thought he would love the colors of fall all around, or the bugs or the stars most but you know what he said he like most of our trip? "all the trees" he said. I never thought of that but he is so right. Living in the city there is just no room for nature, for trees. In the forest, there are trees for miles and in every way you look. Free to grow tall and strong and unrestricted.
One day, we will own land that is not in the city. A place to grow free, tall, and strong too.

Munchkins

We have some amazing news to share with you all!

There is going to be another little munchkin running around our home! 

His Dreams

One of Buttons favorite places is the National Botanical garden.

Some days we spend the entire day just watering plants and watching things change and grow as I watch him change and grow.

Much like the greenhouses and grounds, many things stay the same with my little man. The layouts, the plants themselves, and paths to take stay the same but as the seasons change from winter to spring, spring to summer, summer to fall, and back again there are new things to see. There are new rotating exhibits, new plays outside in the amphitheater, new bands playing in the main hall.

It is so much like his life. he changes every time I look away yet so much stays the same. His love for nature, his type A personality, his strong will and cravings for adrenaline stay the same. I see it more and more every day; I see the person he is, the dreams he may have and personality he holds. These are the things I dreamt of when he was a newborn rocking in my arms to sleep. These are the things I dreamt of when he started to talk and I begged to see more of his dreams and world.

Will he be a botanist one day? I have no idea, these dreams may change, because, so much like other things around us, he is ever changing, yet, staying so much... him. And, to me, that is so exciting.

Moments Between

I am guilty of taking lots of photos everywhere we go. One thing I have found though, is how often I photography the places we go and no so much the people there. I photograph the plants, the animals, the architecture, I photograph the street performers, the information I learn, the items I want to buy or wish I could, I photograph the changes in weather, the food I eat and the details of every day. Along the way, I forget to capture the most impotent parts. I forget to see the dirty hands, the laughter of my son, the impatient look my Darling is giving as I snap away, the moments of us between the "moments" we are making. I am striving to change that. 

Cabinet Craft

Crafting is one pass time I haven't done in quite a while. Oh, we have a craft group we host for our church but it's not the same. It's for small children so you can guess the kind of "crafts" we do. ha. I mean, "real" crafting, you know, useful, fun DIYing. ha.
well, that is just what I did last week. It started with a need to organize combined with an empty container given to me via my mother after she reorganized her craft room. It was just sitting around for two weeks before I decided what to use it for but I knew it would be useful. That is when my seasoning cabinet beckoned for a facelift. Making this spice container was actually really easy.

Using some hot glue I filled in the ridged areas so that my traced cutout of paper would lay flush for writing on.
then I just used regular glue to adhere it to the container.

Next, I just filled the divided containers with dredges of several spice containers and seasonings. It was so nice to get rid of all those jars and containers that were crowding my cabinet and replace it with one!
Lastly, I just wrote on top what each container had in it.

And Boom! free, easy craft plus a better-organized cabinet! If you try this craft just make sure you us a sewing box or tackle box that does not have removable inserts. If it does, the spices will mix through the slats. eeek! This one is a sewing box you could probably find at any craft store.

Slow Down

Who doesn't like going to the zoo in the summer?! Last weekend we did just that and I think this time I came away with more than just some cute frog photos.

One blessing of living so close to the Capital is so much free, educational fun we have here! The second is, we take our time. When you go for one week or one weekend as a vacation who has the time to read all the signs and information about everything? I know I don't with a toddler in hand! But living so close gives us the opportunity to take it slow. We went to the zoo and only went to ONE building and NO outside exhibits. but boy do I know more about the Amazon now.

I want my whole life to live by that. To take advantage of each moment. Not because I can return again, but because it is here. It is an adventure that might not come again. By taking it slow I might not get everything I wanted to be done but the good parts will be that much sweeter, that much.... observed.felt. There is a simple joy in knowing that I don't have to drag a toddler all over a zoo for a whole day while trying to avoid naps and breakdowns. But life it's like that every day. Or, rather, it could be. Many days I feel like I won't get it all done, most days I need to read the details, slow down, take it in and enjoy the person I am creating, and the husband I am still striving to learn and share this joy we call life with. 

Planning Updates

It's here! My planner arrived early! Woot! Y'all, I am in love.

The quote on the front is a phrase from a book we read to Little man which he quotes quite often. It was also fitting with the butterflies and the whole 'change' concept so of course, I had to use it.
I got it in the mail and the first thing I did was check out the adorable freebies it came with. I'm not gonna show you guys since Erin Condren  already provides that information in a video on her page (you can see it if you follow the link). But, they are high class.
I have already started filling things in!

As you can see, I have already started decorating it too! I hope it can be a fun, relaxing project at the start of each week and give me confidence in the week to come. I will have to write it down to make a follow-up post on that in a month or so to see how it looks then.
So there you have it! a creative, fun way to brighten up your week.
Anyone else a fan of planners? I swear I would lose my head if it wasn't attached. Planners definitely help me remember. ha.

Some Days

Some days the best part of the day is the simplest things. Sometimes it's at the end of the day when you feel like you've just lived another yesterday. Like every day is the same. Then something happens and you see the joy and peace of it all. When nothing at all "important" happens and you see how valuable it really is.

Listing to my husband read a pile of books to him before bed. Simple. Beautiful.

Food Journal #1

I have seen a ton of amazing meals online and love trying new things, especially healthy things like vegan meals (minus the soy products)! so, I have decided to start a food journal here on this blog.  I won't always post a recipe but I will try to post a lot more of the meals we eat and whether or not we like it since most of the meals I make we have only had once or twice... ever (just because we like trying new things and eat seasonally).

Everything we eat is organic, including all meat unless it was wild caught so I will not state this again in any other posts or over and over again when stating what the meal is (for example organic blah blah with organic blah blah blah) .. and all beef, the rare time we have it, is grass fed and pasture raised. In our house, we do not eat 100% vegan or vegetarian but strive to minimize our meat in taking as well as soy, sugar, dairy, and yeast (often equaling gluten too). 

I'm gonna get real personal with y'all.... ready? no? okay because its happening anyways... I have major yeast and sugar problems. Like high-school-geek-break-out kind of problems. Like, I eat sugar and the next day my face looks like mars. So I avoid sugars... sugars of all kind. But we are human... and I like pancakes.... and ice-cream. I have yeast problems. Like... well... I'm not gonna go there but I'm sure you get the idea. We, as a family, have decided to cut back on all animal products, as stated before. Why? Honestly, organic animal products cost a lot more then produce... and honestly, its healthier. Also, in our house, we strive to live a more "homestead" type of life. We have aspirations to start one even, one day. So, we try to eat things we would be willing to provide for ourselves if given the opportunity. We think "where did the cow come from?" "was it happy in a field and lived a good life?" "good enough to die happy?" If we can't say yes who heartily, we wont get it. Same with dairy and eggs. Is it cheap? hecks naw! but that is another reason we limit it. So now you know our views with food and dietary preferences. We also don't make other meals for Little one. He eats what we eat. Always has. :D we got blessed with this kid I tell you! Oversharing helps answer questions before they happen. :) 

That said, these posts are not a "heath" or "diet" thing. please do not refer to it as a weight loss or diet page. Just me sharing things we like as always. :)

Here are the three I got photos of already. There was a lot of meat going on this week via hubbies request but I assure you... it's not normal and is a lot for us. Just a heads up.

 The first meal I took photos of was a dinner three nights ago.

Half a beef short rib cooked in chimichurri sauce with oven roasted potato, carrots and chives seasoned with garlic, basil and parsley (herbs from our garden) cooked in olive oil.
It was good but the beef was a little to fatty for me. I also wish I had used more of a Mexican or Spanish seasoning selection on the veggies. Over all, still tasty.

The second day I still only managed to get dinner. :/ I know, I'm a slacker. *sigh*
We had beans, onion, and swiss chard on corn tostadas topped with feta, greek yogurt, and roasted piquillo peppers. This was easy, just cook the first three things together and smash some of the beans, then add some salt, pepper, and paprika, stir, done. top some on a tostada shell and pile on the rest! its one of our favorites.

Yesterday I did better. I got TWO meal, lunch and dinner!
I like to go easy with lunch. A lot of times it will be leftovers. or leftover plus some other stuff, or something simple.
For lunch, I made leftover Italian sausage (half a sausage and Little man had the rest), garlic spinach, some chopped fresh pineapple, a fried egg, and half a serving of cherry greek yogurt (not show because I split it with Little man and he had it at the time).

For dinner, we had salmon burgers with a aioli sauce. topped with tomato and spinach and served with corn on the cob with basil (from the garden) butter (homemade butter).

Holaa! Something different than an above shot! :P hope you all appreciate that as much as I do sometimes. I will try to get better at doing every meal and taking them from a different shot. Though you do have to remember, I have two hungry men in the house at the time I create these... and we really do eat them. No tv cooking here! So snapping a photo before its half gone or before someone snaps at me for not taking forever to serve it is a big deal. At least, in this house.
Hope you all have a happy Tuesday; and for all you guys at the office, hope you can hold out until lunch or dinner now!
Let me know if you all would like a recipe or recipe links or more or fewer details on the food or more photos. This is all new right!? so I would love YOUR views. 

Little Bath Big Color

Project updates were promised and thus, provided.

 Our one room, 633 square foot apartment isn't much but I have been hard at making it as homey as I possibly can.  The most recent update we did was to finally (after six months of living here) paint the bathroom. The color is called.... nope, it has no name. boom! I got it off the "oops" cart at Lowes; half a gallon for $9! Score!

 I wasn't sure if I would use it in our Little man's room or the bathroom (since crazy enough, they are about the same small size). But ended up going with the bath.
I also realized, as I snapped these photos, I have yet to post any photos of our place now. We move so often I guess I just gave up posting ever.single. place. *sigh*.

We do hope to be here a little longer (like another year) now that life is more stable and we want to stop spending on moving and start using our savings (and saving more) for a house.
But, anyway, back to the bath. 

Since moving I've downsized quite a lot so the only storage we have is under the sink and in that little basket for hair stuff and the goose basket (can be seen in the first photo) for towels. I love that goose. I got it from one of our landlords who lived in the middle of the country. Its just country enough in there to stand out but blend in too. You know, without saying "yo, look at me, I'm a big awkward elephant (goose) in the room".... or many that's just me and it does say that and I'm just quirky enough to love it. The fish was from our honeymoon, driftwood from our first apartment and wedding grounds and the vintage ad we found at an antique shop in VA called the 'Fox Den'. We've had it since before Little man was born and still a little thought bubble!
Well... there Y'all have it. Hope some home-related posts is just what you needed to start your week. Now I feel like painting more... anyone with me? ha.

Tomateo Tomaaato

Now that Summer is in full swing, our garden is really picking up. Well... as much as an overly packed balcony garden can "pick up", that is. Anyways, I took the chance to teach the little man his colors (red vs. green tomatoes) and in the process learned that not all tomatoes are grown on a bush like ours always have. ha.

Whoever said you are too old to learn new thing, clearly did not live in our house. Learning is big in our house and now I get to see things completely different through his eyes.

Like how he picks off the little leave at the tip of the tomatoes... just like one of his other favorite fruits (strawberries) before eating them. I never saw the resemblance before. But they are both red, round... ish, and have little leaves around the top. 

It was a veggy, now I can see it as a fruit too. But that is how he has always seen it. Life is new. No one told him it was a fruit or vegetable. No one told him teal is a bluish green or greenish blue (he calls is green by the way). 

Life is new. It is simple and unbiased. It is open-minded and ready to learn. Because no one told him he couldn't or not to. Because no one told him what his views or opinions should be. They are his own and I love it. 

Planning

 I have been a BIG fan of planners for quite some time. I mean, what business owner/ mom isn't, right! ha.

I swear sometimes, if it wasn't written down and in my purse at all times, I would never get anything done! Well, I am a bi-yearly planner type gal. Mostly because that is when I bought my first planner. We are creates of habit are we not? So as the days drew closer to the end of my calendar I started searching for one that would hold up to my increasingly busy life. That is when a friend introduced me to Erin Condren planners. They are stunning. Not just externally but internally too! I have found so many amazing leather front planners but once turning through them, they lacked the function I wanted. Then I found some that seemed like they might work layout wise and such but lacked personalization or good options style-wise. I was even able to include all of the rest of this year AND next... so no more bi-yearly planning! But these are amazing. Already ordered one and can't wait to share it with you all once it arrives. Oh, and since they give you a fancy referral link... I'm passing it on to you guys. You know, because I love you all.
https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/bethanygiven0527

this is the one I am getting (this image was via google)

This post is my own opinions. Erin Condren or anything that has to do with her business is not affiliated with me in any way.... or even know who I am. I just like her stuff.. and like to share neat stuff with like minded people. The goods which my opinions are biased were purchased with my own money and I was not compensated for anything or with anything... at all. of any kind. Just sharing some neat stuff. <3

image via google.

Day to Day

Not much going on lately but I do have a little house project update I want to share with you all but I have to get some good photos of it first. 

in the meantime, this is pretty much how my day looks.

grocery shopping, coffee, chasing a little one around the house, and a little "light" reading. Such is the day to day life of a mom and housewife; and I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

Running the Race

I voluntarily had slim and color threw at me, my child, and husband. 

You see... the shirt says it all; we signed up for our first 5k! 

This was a major goal for me. Over the last two years, we have made great strides to living healthier inside and out. We have cut out a significant amount of our meat and dairy intake started eating about 80% organic, switched to homemade products (like toothpaste, shampoo, and dish soap), started growing a bit of our own food, and started working out. All this, not to brag but to be better, for ourselves and child (and God willing, children) and to live by examples to our Darling son.

Never had I thought I would be signing up for a 5k. That's just not me. I'm not, and never was the "athletic" chick. But when a friend whom I never thought would do a 3.10-mile run told me she was going to do it, it was just the push I needed. an 'aha' moment I guess that pushed me to want to do more, better.
So I signed us up.

Did we run it? no. We mostly walked it and jogged about one mile. I know personally I could have run at least some of it and/or jogged more of it, but I wanted to do it with my family. This was for us, not me.

It was about letting Button run a fourth of a mile (which he totally did) and walk most of it with us. It was about seeing his face light up as we went under "color tunnels". It was about watching my man carry that darling boy on his shoulders across the finish line and showing him through example that healthy doesn't equal stress or sacrifice but joyfulness and blessings.

At the end of the day yes, he was tired and ready for a nap.

But, he talked about it for a week later and asked for "colors" every night.
Often, I have found, that the hardest trials we go through, if we push through them instead of giving in or giving up, become the most rewarding.

Maybe next time we will go even further... or at least faster but for now, I am just so happy to say we have done this; that I had the endurance, not to just do a 5k, but to pace myself for my family... so we could do it together. That is a whole other 5k all of its own!

Country Living fair

What an adventure! Have you ever heard of the magazine called 'Country Living'? It's kind of a big deal for this county-at-heart chick. Anyways, about three years ago I saw an ad in their magazine promoting the 'Country Living fair' I was all like "what?! no way! I.MUST.GO" well... that year I got pregnant. Long story short, three years later and that dream was just no longer financially possible and the idea of a road trip with a baby made me want to pull my hair out.
Well, folks, it happened! This year it happened! I wish I had more dough to burn but all in all, it was everything I wanted it to be and more and next year, God willing, I will save more to spend and bring a trailer :P.  Here's a little snippet of our country living fair road trip!

 of course, my beautiful mother joined us.

and here is what we brought home.

 this is a project. One I hope to put lots of love into. It is a vintage, queen size quilt.... one side. My mother is going to help me stitch it the "proper" way a quilt is stitched. Since it was not a finished product, I got it for $40! Most vintage finished quilts go for $100, on the cheap side and NEVER this large for that cheap! This was a steal for sure and I feel like, in a way, I get to bring back the love that someone once put into them and never had the time to finish. It is not perfect, it has one small ink blot on a corner of it but I love that about it.

The other thing I got was a vintage apron.

Something about putting on an apron each morning gets me motivated. I feel like, in a way, it's my uniform and helps me get going.
So that is a little tidbit from our fun road trip.