Yep, I'm still here.

Still getting into a rhythm with our new little one. Still waiting on sleep ;) Love our little (big?!) family of five. So, as I am holding my little one (while she sleeps :)) each evening when the house is calm and quiet, I've been pinning and favorite-ing these links. Enjoy!

+ Now that Fall is here, be sure to check out this checklist for photo prompts and ideas.

+ Loving this super cute vintage button necklace.

+ And these vintage style labels.

+ Love the simple reminder in this print.

+ Oh my goodness, are these little coin purses not absolutely adorable? Christmas presents, anyone?!

+ This yummy-looking bread is on the menu this weekend.

+ And so is this butternut squash tart.

+ Am thinking I will add this amazing tomato soup to the menu for next week (I don't normally like tomato soup. But this recipe is absolutely fabulous.)

+ Love this free download of a super cool vintage camera. DIY wall art!

+ Love this DIY Woodburning post. We used to create all sorts of fun things using the woodburner in my dad's shop growing up. SO much fun.

+ Really want to try this with my hair.
+ Love this branding - her business cards are sewn onto prints of her photography - brilliant!
+ If you're in to typography, this hilarious game is so much fun. And a great way to waste pass some time ;) (This game is fun, too!)
+ Am thinking I might have to make one of these in the future with my instagram pictures.
+ Might have to order one of these gorgeous scarves before it gets really cold.

P.S. I will hopefully be listing the new Everyday journals in my shop sometime next week. So excited about these :) And don't forget to grab an Autumn Journal if you've been thinking about purchasing one. I have several left and will ship them promptly so you can begin documenting the season :)

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welcome, autumn (tomorrow!)

So, so excited for the change of the seasons this weekend. Fall is one of my fave-est seasons.

I cannot wait to:
+ experience this season together as a family of 5.

+ feel the crispness of the air as the temperatures begin dipping.

+ pull out my comfy warm clothes and slippers.

+ fix hot cocoa and hot apple cider.

+ see pumpkins, gourds, mums and apples (which we've already seen out and about in town! :)).

+ visit the pumpkin patch.

+ make chili, soup and "warm-your-bones" food.

+ bake. bake. and bake some more.

+ help my babies make up halloween costumes and go trick-or-treating with them :)

+ watch football games on sunday afternoons as a family.

+ capture the season like I did last year.

+ get ready for the holiday season.

+ celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends.

What about you? Do you like the autumn season? What's your fave part about this new season?
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I still have autumn journal kits available in my shop - grab one and capture the season :) I will be updating mine over the coming weeks and months and sharing it here - I can't wait! :)

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a quick and fun crafty round-up

I love collecting ideas of (fairly) quick craft and DIY ideas. I found a lot of these through blogs I read and of course, Pinterest. Enjoy! :) 

Vinyl Zip Pouch by Wild Olive - No sewing machine required!

Paper and Straw Flower by Just Love.ly via Gussy Sews - These are so adorable. What a fun way to dress up an entry way table, your dinner table or a guest room!

Paperclip Fabric Bookmark by Life Through the Lens - Delightful little bookmarks - a great way to use up those small fabric scraps.

Fabric Origami Business Card Holder by How About Orange

(and check out the paper version here) - Brilliant. Could probably also adjust the size of the paper and folds to make it fit a gift card - would be a fun and unique gift card holder.

Yarn Block Printing via WhipUp - A great and inexpensive way to make modern-looking wall art. Also would be a great activity to do with kids!

Reverse Canvas Wall Pockets by Just Something I Made - These are so fun. A great way to display momentos and bits and pieces.

Pleated Pouch by Skip to My Lou - I love any sort of 

cute little zipper pouch.

Brenna's Book Page Fabric by Paper and Ink via Design*Sponge - This tutorial shows how to make paper into oil cloth-like "fabric" using household silicone sealer. Fabulous!

10 Minute Pillowcase Apron by Betz White - This would be fun to make using pillowcases from a thrift store. Easy and inexpensive.

*All images from respective sites.

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DIY: Stenciled Creative Bits Jar

I've had this super fun glass canister for quite some time and it's sat all empty above my kitchen cabinets - mainly because I had no idea how I wanted to use it. 

Well, I recently had the opportunity to try out a bunch of wonderful goodies from the new and fabulous line of Martha Stewart glass painting products from Plaid. So excited that these are now available at Michael's craft store.

I decided to spruce up my plain old glass canister with some of these fun glass paints and stencils. Quick and fairly easy, this was a fun nap-time project to complete. All you need is:

+ an old (or new!) glass canister

+ Martha Stewart Crafts glass paints - I used transparent and opaque paints

+ Martha Stewart Crafts Bold Sans Letter Adhesive Stencils

+ Martha Stewart Crafts Paint Dauber

I started out by simply placing the adhesive stencils on one side of the canister (I used a larger size on two sides, and a smaller size on one of the other sides). These peel off of the sheet and stick right onto the glass surface. And they are easily re-positionable if you make a mistake ;)

Squeeze a little bit of desired paint onto each stencil, taking care not to get it on the glass (if you do, it's ok, it cleans off fairly easily). Using the paint dauber, gently dabble the paint to fully cover the stencil area.

Before the paint dries, gently peel off the stencils. I repositioned the "e" to finish off the word "create".

I also used smaller stencils and white opaque paint to put "create" vertically on one side. I then cleaned all of the stencils - super easy, just run them under warm water and clean off the paint. Let dry. Then reapply them to the plastic sheet and store until next time :)

I love how the jar turned out. I especially liked the white opaque paint and think I might add the larger stencils in white on the remaining side.

I had a bunch of bits and pieces that didn't really have a home, so I put them in the jar :)  It's fun to see them displayed all together in the jar - colorful and fun.

Interested in learning more about Plaid and all of their great products? Find them here:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/InspiredByPlaid

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PlaidCrafts

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/PlaidCrafts

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*Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Martha Stewart Glass Paints and Blueprint Social. The opinions in this post are my own.

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where I've been... take 2.

Seriously. I was suddenly very sick and admitted to the hospital late last week and on into the weekend with some incredibly crazy health issues. Including a "fever of unknown origin" that spiked and stayed at 103 degrees F for over three days. After running a gamut of tests, it was determined I had pneumonia (!??!!). 

I rarely get sick. Seriously. Like maybe once or twice a year. Maybe.

A doctor from my practice (who just delivered my sweet baby 4 weeks ago) came each day to check in, and with the way the practice works, I pretty much got to see each doctor during the duration of my stay. Each were like "Weren't you just here?"... "Yes, I like to hang out at the hospital" I would tell them ;) 

So after a ton of incredibly high-powered antibiotics, pain killers, lots of motrin and tylenol, I was doing a lot better. I don't like to take medicine unless absolutely necessary. I don't know why, I just don't. I kept telling my hubby "My poor body is so full of 'stuff' right now!" But it all helped. Praise the Lord!

We were blessed that both sets of our parents were able to take turns and take care of all three of our babies while we were gone. And (once again) we were thankful for a fabulous team of nurses who made the whole thing a lot easier. Like when I was crying (for the 5,367th time) about missing being at home with my babies - It was my hubby's 30th birthday Sunday and my sweet 5 year old made him a card. And, well, I just wanted to be at home celebrating. My sweet nurse Becky pulled up a chair by my bedside and we talked, she made me laugh, and we looked at pictures of our babies on our phones :) (my hubby had run home for a bit - he'd go home each day to be with our babies for awhile).

So yes. It was a rough (and scary) several days. I am thankfully home and doing very well and am resting, but am able to be in public (and not be a health hazard ;)), and am able to fully interact with our children. I was once again reminded that God is in control. And that I have a lot to be thankful for. Like my three sweet children who are healthy and thriving. And my amazing husband who is always there with and for me. And my wonderful parents and in-laws. And our wonderful community of friends. Grateful for how God teaches and grows me, even through difficult times.

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new in shop: autumn journal kits

Autumn Journal Kits are now in the shop :) Grab one and document the approaching season :)

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hello, september.

Happy September! And Happy Labor Day to those in the U.S. :) Autumn is almost here. And so are Autumn journals :) So excited about these - lots of different pages, including October Afternoon, Bazzill cardstock, a Hambly transparency, vellum, envelopes (including a cute little translucent glassine envelope), a swatch of twill, and two autumn-ey fabric swatches sewn together, and many more :)

Have you ever kept a journal for a season? I love keeping journals for different parts of the year - am planning to keep one for this Autumn season again. For last year's, I would take a little bit of time on the weekends to update the journal and add different events - print pictures and then put them in with journaling. Doing a little bit at a time kept it low-maintenance and stress free :) Go here to see last year's Autumn journal.

I'm finishing them up and will be listing them in my shop in the next day or two (I will post an update on my facebook page).

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