diy mama

lifestyle blog sharing diy, family, travel, organization & disney tips

Sophie

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Floral Letter Sign

Hello friends and happy Monday! I hope you had a lovely weekend and are ready to conquer the week ahead. I’ve been wanting to make something sweet for Sophie’s door for a while and saw this beautiful floral letter from Hello Charlotte James Etsy store on Pinterest that I knew I had to make!

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Since spring is on it’s way, this floral craft really brightened my day. While Jeffrey took Soph to the grocery I put this simple craft together so it would be up on her door when she got home. She got a huge smile on her face and loved touching all the flowers. I made sure they were super secure so she could touch them as much as she wanted. Continue Reading about Floral Letter Sign →

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They Say It’s Your Birthday!

Hello loves! This week you will have to follow me via my social medias because we’re on vacation in celebration of our little bean! It was her first Birthday yesterday and we celebrated with pumpkin pancakes, a trip to the park and lots outrageous amounts of kisses!
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IMG_6511IMG_6555IMG_6572If you’re here from the Pinning Party or a link-up I was featured on, thanks for stopping by and I’m sorry I won’t be here to entertain you this week. There’s plenty in the archives though so by the time you get through them, I’ll be back from vacation. 😉

I hope you all have the best week ever with lots of fun and awesomeness! Hug your little ones and tell them how much you love them! Celebrate them everyday.

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10 Things I’m Thankful For

Hello lovelies! I’ve been feeling very thankful lately. Sometimes I get wrapped up in ‘not having enough_____ (time, money, friends, space, clothes, chocolate etc.)’ and have to catch myself by thinking about all the awesomeness that I do have. I’m reading Daring Greatly right now which is helping me learn to ’embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly, and to courageously engage in our lives.’ All of these things sound so simple, yet are tough for us to live in our every day lives. To start daring greatly, I’m going to notice the things that I’m thankful for every day. flowers

1. My pup who sits here as I write with her head on my lap. Tomorrow she is having surgery to remove a tooth and I’m worried for her to have anesthetics. I’m thankful that we didn’t have to face the hard choice on if we should go through with the $700 surgery because of money. A lot of people do not have the option to give medical care to their pets and I’m so thankful we do.

2. Sophie’s amazing grandparents. We are so lucky to have both of our parents in her life. They both care for her unconditionally and I can really see the love that they have for her.  I was fortunate enough to have grandparents who loved me so much and I am so happy that Sophie can experience that type of love.

3. Music. I love that intense orchestral music can make me scared during a movie. I’m glad that listening to pop music can keep me motivated to clean. I’m thankful that you can feel a special bond with someone who shares the same love for a band that I do.

4. Pumpkin flavored everything. When I was pregnant with Sophie, I craved pumpkin more than anything. It’s closing in on fall meaning pumpkin goodness is in my future again.

5. Awesome neighbors. Our neighbors are always there to let us borrow a cup of milk, watch Sophie for a few minutes, give us recipes, share books, teach us a new craft, be a workout buddy and hang out with us on the sidewalks while we wait for our families to come home.

6. All four seasons. In Illinois, we can get all four seasons in a matter of two weeks. I’m not a huge fan when that happens but I am thankful that we get to see the grass and flowers grow from the rain in the spring, sunny warm nights in the summer, beautiful colors on the trees in the fall and snow to play in during the winter. I used to love all four seasons when I was young and I know, now that we have Sophie, that I’ll love them again just as much.

7. An easy going partner. I can change moods in one second flat and am so thankful that Jeffrey is extremely level headed to balance me out. He is happy to go along with my ‘fun adventures’ and just stay home to be with our family.

8. All the luck that I’ve stumbled into and opportunities that I’ve been a part of. If I talk about all the fun things that I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of, I’d just sound like I was bragging. A few of my favorite lucky things are my wonderful childhood, meeting my love, going to Purdue, being a Disney cast member and having a successful pregnancy.

9. Glitter, jewels and gems. I love sparkly shiny things. I’m thankful to have seen several exhibits on gems and start a collection of them. I think everything and everyone should be accessorized with glitter, jewels and gems!

10. The feeling of safety. Today, 9/11 is a reminder that terrible things can happen at any moment to change our lives. I’m thankful that I do not have daily fear of something terrible happening like so many people have around the world. I’m thankful to be raised where I was and to have the opportunity to live where I do today.

What are you thankful for? How are you living a wholehearted life? It’s hard, but like everything else, one step at a time.

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A Trip to the Orchard

Hi guys! I’ve decided, I don’t care what people say about it still being summer, I’m breaking out the fall decor! This time of year is so confusing for me because it’s still really hot out but I’m seeing sweaters and pumpkin lattes. Since October is when I put up Halloween decorations, I think it’s ok to put up fall decorations the second week of September. Just letting you all know what I’m thinking on the whole decorating issue. Back to the fun we had at the orchard this past weekend! It’s too early for pumpkin picking but it’s the perfect time for apple picking!

pregnant-pumpkinHere’s the last time we were at the orchard (six days before lil Soph was born)! We usually go to Curtis Orchard a couple times during the fall season. I was really excited to be able to take Sophie this year, even though she wasn’t a huge fan of the animals.

cornThis is our view on the way to the orchard. This is not a strange view to see where I live. A lot of people who live near corn say they get tired of seeing it but I love living by corn because it reminds me of being back home in Indiana.

ozOur orchard is themed as The Wizard of Oz and this is one of the awesome murals that meets you as you walk down the yellow brick road into the orchard. Warning: do not be alarmed that Soph is not grinning from ear to ear in these photos. She was having a bad teeth day. I think being at the orchard and watching everyone helped keep her mind off it though.

chair1We love the giant rocking chair! I’m excited to look back on photos as our family grows on this rocker!

waveSophie recently learned how to wave and loves waving to every person she sees.I made Jeffrey take a few photos of me since I’m rarely in our photos. Moms, get out from behind the camera! Someday you’ll be glad you did.

blue-eyesCan you guess where she gets her eyes? Sophie loved spinning the wheel of this old tractor.

apple-picking

Don’t let her fool you, she was way more interested in pulling the leaves off the trees than the apples. A lot of the trees were picked over. Thankfully Daddy’s tall enough to reach her to the good apples.

familyUnfortunately, this was the best shot we got as a family selfie. Hopefully when we go back to pick pumpkins the little bean will be feeling better and have more fun (although, she’s still stinking cute with a frown.)

pumpkins

eatSometimes Daddy likes to see if she’ll really take a bite of something. Thankfully, he didn’t let her this time.

pumpkinTo end: my pumpkin with her pumpkin. I’m ready for pumpkin flavored everything. Who’s with me? Have you guys made a trip to your local apple orchard or pumpkin patch yet?

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I’m Yours

i'm-yoursToday, Sophie danced to a song for the first time! She’s gotten excited when music plays before but today she bounced throughout I’m Yours by Jason Mraz and, obviously, I thought it was the cutest thing in the universe. It was kind of a funny song for her to like but now I guess I’ll have to listen to more JM! Although the lyrics are between lovers, I thought the sentiment ‘I’m Yours’ was sweet between Mommy and Daughter. I will ALWAYS be there for her and I’m proud to be hers. I kind of want to go wake her up from her nap so I can go snuggle her but I’ll be patient and play with her when she wakes.

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