5 Jan
a wee bit giddy!
You might remember Piper’s Willy Wonka themed birthday party last March? I may, or may not have submitted it and when I got no response, resubmitted it to Hostess with the Mostess {the best party blog ever!}. I’d finally shrugged it off when lookie!! It was featured yesterday!!
And this feature just may have put a little spark in my heart to get Hunter’s party {yes, from last April!} up on the blog!
Posted in birthday, party, piper
30 Nov
one thousand posts!
This post marks my one thousandth blog post. I’ve written 1,000 posts! Is that crazy?
1,000 posts.
5,563 comments.
4,000+ visitors a day {yesterday hit 5,000! thank you pinterest}.
3 URL’s.
6 blog makeovers.
4 different blog titles.
8.20.07 … my first post titled australia {on my iweb blog!} and here I am today … over four years later … writing my one thousandth post!
I’d also like to take a minute to give a shout out to the 246 posts {yeah, I counted them} I wrote while owner of Broadway Paper. And I may have had to wipe away a few tears after reading this post. And this one. It literally seems like an eternity ago.
Anyway. Back to the present post. Have you heard? It’s number one thousand!!
In other related {celebratory} news … today’s my birthday!!!
I knew this {1,000th} post would coincide with my birthday and I’ve thought long and hard about what I could do to celebrate here with you. I think what I’ve decided on will bless big! At least that’s my prayer!
The girls and I won’t be doing our RACK’ed activity this year … pretty much cuz we won’t be here through Christmas, but also because I’m trying hard to focus my {physical and emotional} energy on the girls and our family.
What we’re doing instead are small blessings throughout the season. We’ve rung Salvation Army bells {people can never resist the kids!}; Operation Christmas Child; we’ll be donating many of the girls toys; the girls are each sponsoring a new Compassion child; I’m doing some anonymous giving; and we’ll be packing and donating lunches to an organization our church is involved in. Basically just keeping an eye open for where we can help out.
There’s one other thing I wanted to do this year to bless others, but I just couldn’t get it together … mostly, I wasn’t sure how to get it together. Someone emailed us at MODsquad last year, sharing how they put an ad on Craigslist. The ad was something to the effect of asking for someone’s need and then filling it. I couldn’t find the email anywhere and my obsessive mind got all caught up in the specifics/logistics and well … I just haven’t put it out there.
But! What I did decide for this grand celebration of mine? I’d like to bless three people this Christmas season. It could be you or someone you know. Someone that is really in need. That can’t afford to buy their children gifts, food, electricity bills. A real need.
Do you know someone? Is it you? Please leave a comment, or if it’s too personal, contact me through an email or the contact link at the top of the page.
The girls and I will go through all the requests {names will remain anonymous to them} and we’ll pick three needs that we’d like to help fill. One thousand is the lucky number, because that’s how much we’ll be spending per need! I won’t be sending cash/check … so please make it something tangible … I can call the electric company, or I can send gift cards, etc.
Make sure to have your requests to me by next week Wednesday, December 7th. I won’t be announcing any “winners,” but I’ll contact you via email {please be sure to leave a working email address}. If I email you and don’t hear back by Friday, December 9, we’ll choose another recipient.
I love blessing others and I’m looking forward to this giving project!
Thank you dear readers … I love connecting with you … I’m encouraged by your kind words, your support and your open hearts. You’ve blessed me here in more ways than you know!
Posted in birthday, broadway paper, family thoughts, giveaway
4 Nov
a birthday + a treat
My Wynter turned 8 yesterday. Eight.
Compared to last year’s party … this year was WAY low-key! And perfect. Just a couple of girls … a movie and dinner at a hibachi place where they know us by name we love. Perfect.
Anyway. I wanted to share the bday treat we brought into school yesterday. I found it on Pinterest {of course!} … super cute, super easy and the birthday girl was on board {which is a bonus btw}.
So … here’s the before {drum roll please} …
And here’s the after! Despicable Me minions! Cute, no? Seriously super easy … the original source is found here, but I’ve created a PDF of just the directions for the cupcakes and you can download it here.
I made it a little easier on myself than what the directions call for. First, I pre-ordered the frosted cupcakes. Second, I used frosting from a tube {black gel}, and because I ran into a little frosting fiasco {don’t ask!}, I didn’t frost the rest of the goggles in. But hey, they’re 8 year olds … who’s gonna notice right?
Taylor and I had lunch with Wynt and Piper and I’m happy to report, the cupcakes were a hit with everyone!
After lunch, I had the seriously incredible privilege of listening to Wynter’s classmates list one adjective that describes her. Can I just say … what an incredible thing to do! The teacher wrote each word down on the board and created this bubble around Wynter with beautiful words that not only describe her, but also build her up. I’m going to print out a copy of the photo and put it somewhere she can see it regularly and let it’s words soak into her heart.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up …
1 Thessalonians 5:11 {ESV}
And, um … it was two boys who gave the words “cute” and “adorable.” And while, yes … I agree with those sentiments whole-heartedly … it freaked me out a teeny bit. :)
Happy birthday my precious, vibrant and full-of-life eight year old. You care for everyone, you want to see everyone happy, you sacrifice, you do, you love. I am blessed beyond belief to be your mama!
Posted in birthday, craft, recipe, wynter
30 Jun
birthday gift
Remember this calendar? Today I thought I’d share a fun way to use it!
If you’re ever stuck with a gift idea and are looking for something fun {and not too serious}, take a look at what “day” it is and gift away!
I have a friend whose birthday is June 10 and I wanted to send her a little something. June 10th is iced tea and ball point pen day … wa-la! instant gift idea! :)
22 Apr
sweet sixteen
My sweet girl turned sixteen yesterday …
So many emotions and feelings I have. Like how did I wake up one day to find a sixteen year old in front of me? In my mind, she’s still this little girl. And oh how I wish I could go back to those days of the “collapsible pout” and noodles every night for dinner.
My precious, precious Tay. So many words I want to share … yet, somehow they’re alluding me. I can’t seem to wrap my mind around many things these days {evident in my lack of posts}. And now I sit stumped thinking of a way to express the deep and tender love I feel for this child.
You know the saying that goes something like “they’re watching when you don’t know they’re looking?” I think that’s been the case with this one. So many values and beliefs I’ve tried to instill in her … things I would beat myself up wondering if she was “getting it.” Only to wake up one day to realize she had in fact been listening and watching. And man … has she gotten it!
I am so proud of this girl. So proud. I think back to some of my favorite posts of her … like this one … and this one {from her birthday last year} … and realize there isn’t too much more I can add.
Taylor you are growing into a beautiful, beautiful young woman. And I don’t mean your outward appearance … I’m talking about the beauty that lies within you. Beauty you’re revealing amongst the most difficult of situations. Others may not understand the grace, forgiveness, and beauty that lives within you … but your Savior does, and truly He’s the only one that matters.
I love you precious girl …
And now for the gifts!! During some recent reading for the MODsquad, I came across an idea that I’ve decided to do with all my girls. Taylor made a commitment to stay pure until marriage, and to honor that I decided to give her special gifts that not only speak to her commitment, but also lead to the importance of the commitment and her wedding day.
Think “something old; something new; something borrowed; something blue.” First up and just in time to mark her sweet sixteen … something old.
I haven’t seen my real dad since I was nine years old, but I had an old worn cameo necklace from him that I’d saved. I didn’t have the chain anymore … just a decrepit looking cameo. But! the jewelry store was able to spruce it up and put it in a beautiful ring setting and I gave it to Taylor explaining it’s purpose … and she’s treasuring it!
Another idea I got from Stacey at the MODsquad, was to put together a book of affirmations for Taylor. Stacey did it for one of her daughters and I thought it would be a perfect way to mark Taylor’s sixteenth! I enlisted the help of family and friends to send any memories, encouragement or scripture that they wanted to share with Taylor.
Taylor loved it! She poured over every word and read memories she had forgotten about.
And last but not least … Taylor got a new best friend!! And dare I say … she’s in love!?
Happy sweet sixteen my beautiful love …
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Posted in birthday, gift idea, taylor
