Something Blue...A Treasury

I created my first treasury on etsy and had a blast doing it! I called it Something Blue, in honor of my sister who is getting married this summer.

Here's a preview of the blueness.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Still shopping for Mother's Day? I've put together a handy gift guide that just might lead you to the perfect thing.

Does your mom cook? Give her an apron.
Does your mom glam? Give her some jewels and a place to store them.
Does your mom sew? Give her a tufted pin cushion.
Does your mom write? Give her some floral notecards.
Does your mom style? Give her a clutch.
Does your mom funk? Give her a fluted record bowl.
Does your mom attract? Give her some bottlecap magnets.
Does your mom shop? Give her some {k}bucks (aka gift certificate) to {k}studio124.

Mother's Day Countdown Finale: Everyone's a Winner!

Winner!
Congratulations to Heather, the lucky winner of the Mother's Day Giveaway necklace!

Hey, but what did I win?
Oh, you entered the contest, but you're not Heather? Well lucky for you, too! You won a 24% off one item coupon from {k}studio124! All you have to do is shop and convo me what you want. I'll post a reserved listing just for you that reflects your discounted price!

Offer good through May 31. Happy shopping!

Mother's Day Countdown Day 5: Advice and Prayers

(Don't forget to comment on the giveaway post to win a beautiful necklace. Only 3 days left to enter!)

Years ago before I had my first baby, a group of my friends hosted a baby shower for me...pretty much all of which already had children.

I got some great advice from those gals.

Angie said: Trust your intuition. Some of the parents that do the best are the ones who don't read everything but listen to their hearts. You'll do great.

Jennifer said: Be flexible and maintain your sense of humor...whatever happens. All that artistic background, and she's bound to paint the walls with vaseline or something! Love her always!

Merritt said: Don't take it so seriously. Live every moment. Don't worry about spoiling your baby with too much love! Enjoy it!

Jenny said: As a new mom you may be unsure from time to time but trust your instincts and don't ever be hesitant to ask questions of any other mom. Also, know that a crying baby doesn't bother other moms! You will be wonderful! Please feel free to call me any time day or night!

Lisa said: Be sure to catch special moments with your camcorder. They grow up so fast, so you have to catch special milestones on tape like rolling over, smiling, crawling, walking, etc.

Melissa said: From time to time write down what they are doing, what they like/don't like, are saying--it's fun to look back on, and if you don't write it down, you might forget all the cute things they do!

These ladies are all great mothers in their own special way, and I've learned a tremendous amount from them (about mothering and lots more!) As I've watched them raise their children through the years, I must say, they have taken their own advice (and so have I)!

With my second baby came a different kind of shower. Not one where I was showered with gifts...but one where I was showered with prayers. A group of ladies I grew close to in a Bible study group hosted a prayer shower for me.

Most of these ladies are seasoned moms, and have more wisdom than I know what to do with! More than anything else, they know the importance of praying for your children, even before they are born. What a blessing that time was. Many prayers were said, many verses were shared, and much love was given to me and my unborn son. Here are a few excerpts from the prayers and verses shared at that shower.

"Our prayer is that your son will come to faith in Christ at an early age and that throughout his life he will 'grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.' "

"Thank you, Father that you love children. Thank you for the ways you train us through children. Thank you that we learn more of who you are through children." (based on Mark 10:13-16)

"I pray out of your glorious riches you may strengthen this child with power through your Spirit in his inner being, so that Christ may dwell in this child's heart through faith. And I pray that he, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with his family and all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." (based on Ephesians 3:16-18)

"What a privilege to pray for your family and especially for your new baby. The greatest blessings God has given us have been our wonderful children--each one unique and special. I am so excited for this blessing in your lives. Trust in the Lord and wait expectantly for He loves to bless you. The enclosed verses are what I pray for our grandchildren and you may enjoy using them too."

WOW! I feel blessed all over again just remembering it. It feels so safe to be covered in prayer...Amen!

Mother's Day Countdown Day 4: Name That Mom

C'mon. You know you want to play. (answers below pic)

So--how'd you do? Wasn't that fun?

Know what's even funner? Winning something! Don't forget to leave a comment on the giveaway post to win a beautiful necklace. Only 4 days left to enter!


a. Carol Brady of The Brady Bunch
b. June Cleaver of Leave It To Beaver
c. Kate Gosselin of Jon & Kate + 8
d. Michelle Duggar of TLC's 19 Kids & Counting
e. Nadya Suleman "octomom"
f. Clair Huxtable of The Cosby Show
g. Florida Evans of Good Times
h. "Ma" of Little House on the Prairie

Mother's Day Countdown Day 3: Firstborn Feelings

(Don't forget to leave a comment on the giveaway post to win a beautiful necklace. Only 5 days left to enter!)

today i thought i'd share a couple of poems i wrote shortly after i had my firstborn. simple, raw emotion straight from the heart of a new mom.

birthday joy
---------------
inexpressible, indescribable
birthday joy

instant mother
instant father

two people;
behold, a third

tiny baby
BIG love

inexpressible, indescribable
birthday joy

~o0o~

sensing you
---------------
from thoughts of your face
to the first look in your eyes

from thoughts of your voice
to the first sound of your cry

from thoughts of your touch
to the first sense of your warmth

from thoughts of your life
to the first day of your birth

i sensed you loving me

when finally, my thoughts
became firsts.

~o0o~

Mother's Day Countdown Day 2: Minivans

(Don't forget to leave a comment on the giveaway post to win a beautiful necklace. Only 6 days left to enter!)

Before I had children, I did not understand the minivan phenomena that was taking over U.S. roads. All I knew is that I wanted to steer clear of minivans. I was one of those people that thought minivan drivers drove too fast and swerved too much. Whatever was going on inside of there scared me.

When I first had a baby, I realized right away that these little people take up a lot of space. Between the carseat, the stroller, the pack-n-play, diapers, bottles, bags, toys, snacks...my little Toyota Corolla just wasn't cutting it.

But I was still too cool for a minivan. I could mother just fine in a Toyota 4Runner. Which did well for me until baby #2.

More little people, more stuff.

So I finally took the plunge. I am now a minivan mom and proud of it. The conveniences minivans offer far outweigh the sacrifice of the cool factor. About this same time is when I realized what was really going on inside of a minivan. Moms are generally in a hurry (which is why they are driving too fast) and they are incredibly distracted by all the goings on of her little people (which is why they swerve too much.)

A couple of years ago I saw this video and laughed until I cried. If babies and minivans (or "vinivans" as my kids first called it) are in your future, beware. There is more truth to this video than most moms care to admit.