introducing...zipper pouches!

I just added these zipper pouches to Lemon Bee!  They are the perfect size for your purse or diaper bag, especially for all of those loose items that usually fall to the bottom.  Make sure to buy yours now while they are on sale--10% off all zipper pouches by entering the coupon code ZIP10.  Sale ends Friday!  Happy Monday, dear reader!

five fact friday



1.  Quinn loves to be outside.  She has been a little fussier than usual this week.  Not sure if it's a tooth coming in or she is just getting more demanding, but sitting outside seems to always chill her out.

2.  Nachos and BBQ.  Need I say more? 

3.  We tried a new position with the Ergo.  Quinn seemed to like it!

4.  Three little pumpkins.  One for each of us!  Makes for the perfect centerpiece!

5.  Posted this verse in our kitchen.  It's our motto lately.

Bonus?! That's right.  I couldn't resist including one more fall décor pic.  Plus, I make the rules on this blog.  ;)  Quick warning...This a very dangerous fall decoration, if you choose to do the same!

Linking up with Lauren from H54F and
5 on Friday with the good life blog

that one time I got lost in a foreign country...

 

I read this psalm for the first time when I was studying abroad in college.  The summer before my junior year, I went to Argentina with a group of college students who were learning Spanish.  I was paired up with an amazing family, and lived with them for almost two months.  We tried to assimilate to the culture as much as possible, but I think my blonde hair and terrible accent made me stick out a little bit.  Anyhow, one night I was returning "home" with a group of students on the bus (main public transportation).  All of my college friends got off along the way to go back to their "family's" homes.  I was the last one, and I was pretty sure I knew which stop to get off at.  But, it was dark.  And, I am terrible at directions.  So, yeah, I basically got off at the wrong stop.  The bus left.  There was no one around on the street.  And, I was totally LOST.  One of the worst feelings ever. 

It felt like I was in a bad dream.  All I remember was my family finding me on the street.  (Turned out, I was only a couple of blocks from their house...haha)  I guess they had gone out looking for me because it was getting late.  I'm still not really sure how they figured out exactly where I was, because I didn't have a cell phone.  When they found me, they were so sweet.  Not annoyed by their clueless exchange student, or making fun of me.  They just embraced me, as tears of relief were rolling down my cheeks.

When I read Psalm 91 again this week, this story instantly came to mind.  And, I had a moment where I really got it.  The way that the Lord watches over us is 1000x greater than the way my familia watched over/embraced me in Argentina.  It just gave me a warm fuzzy/peaceful feeling all over.  The Lord commands his angels concerning ME.  Not because I deserve it, but simply because he loves me!

The next time you feel anxious, alone, or scared...just remember this, and pray it out loud!

eight months

 

It seems like I just wrote Quinn's 7 month post.  Geesh!  Quinn is so close to crawling.  She can get up on all fours and rock back and forth.  Our little photo session was especially challenging this month.  Q is super squirmy.  When we hold her she is always looking side to side, and changing her diaper on the floor is interesting.  She flips over mid-diaper change.  It's cute most of the time.  Quinn is eating cheerios and puffs routinely now.  We are slowly starting to incorporate other finger foods into her meals now too.  She LOVES the puffs though. 

Something I am personally enjoying about this stage is that we have been able to do some routine outings each week.  That sometimes means that Quinn will miss a nap, but so far it hasn't been much of a problem.  We are enjoying BSF each week, story time at the library, playgroup every once in a while, and MOPS for the first time in a few weeks.  I have been really careful to not over do it with activities up to this point, because I was nervous to mess with our usual routine.  But, Quinn seems to really love to being out in the world more with so much to see and discover.

Here are a few things we love about Q.
-She loves to stare at people (this is nothing new haha). 
-Once she warms up to her environment, she gets really chatty (the nursery volunteers at church have mentioned her babbling).
-She loves to get tickled and scream really loudly.
-Grabbing for Beacon's tail is one of her new favorite activities.
-She recognizes when Matt's home and lets out a big scream/gasp when the front door opens!

We love you Quinny girl!

five fact friday

1.  I went to the beach with my friend, Amy.  I hadn't been to the beach (in FL) since before Quinn was born!  We both were a little excited about the whole event, and got VERY sunburned.  Oopsies.

2.  Matt and I went on a fun date night to Capital Grill.  This is NOT the norm, but they are partnering with some other restaurants this month to get a special deal.  Everything tasted wonderful.

3.  Q had her first hair cut.  It was long over do, but I was nervous to cut her hair.  I literally made about two snips, because she really just needed the hair in front out of her eyes.  Matt kept gasping every time I went in to make a snip and I couldn't stop laughing...not cool when you are trying to cut your baby's hair!!

4.  My big girl is holding her bottle on her own! 

5.  And, my big girl turned 8 months this week!  I can't believe it's already time for a milestone post again!

 

Linking up with Lauren from H54F and
5 on Friday with the good life blog

proverbs 31: who is this woman?

I never really paid much attention to Proverbs 31 until I became a mother.  I didn't bother actually reading the passage because I already had my mind made up about who this woman was.  I envisioned her to be a woman with an old dress and apron on.  She was always sweeping the floor and serving everyone around her, and did nothing for herself.  Maybe that is why I never read the passage.  Like I could ever be that woman!  Hah.  Sorry, but I like to shop, get my hair done, and go out with my girlfriends every once in a while, and the Proverbs 31 woman was probably way to selfless to ever do any of those things.  These were my honest thoughts.

One day, I asked my sister what all of the fuss was about the Proverbs 31 woman.  I told her I could never be her.  It would never work.   Therefore, I decided that I would never meet up to the biblical example of what a wife/mother should be like.  She read the message version to me on the phone to help me see a more realistic picture of Proverbs 31.  (Here is the NIV version too.  It's always helpful to read bible passages in more than one version.)

The thing that stood out most to me about this woman was that she added value to her home.  She was a muli-tasker, organized, hard working, confident, positive, careful with her words, savvy, did her own thing too-but seemed to always make sure the family was taken care of first...Bottom line--She added value to her home.  This woman actually sounded pretty stylish and she even had her own little side biz that added value to her family!  This woman was not stuck inside her house all day mopping floors.  She was dynamic and interesting.  

I have been learning that the details of what a mother/wife looks like is different for everyone.  I put the kibosh on trying on everyone else's role.  I am making it my own now.  I am being observant.  Taking note of the little things that I admire about the women around me.  I am getting back into the word, and dwelling on that first before other people's opinions/advice that I value.  I am working on my heart so I can add value to my family in whatever capacity it may be.

I am accepting my limitations.  I want to be so many things, but my sinful nature gets in the way, and it's so discouraging.  I am sinful, and so is everyone around me.  We all need a Savior.  The only way I can be the woman I long to be is by relying on God's grace and strength.  My child will need to see that.  She doesn't need to see a perfect mom.  She needs to see an example of grace and love.

What stands out to you in Proverbs 31?  Please share!

**I am no bible scholar.  I just simply wanted to share some things that I am learning.  I certainly do not have it all figured out.  Please consider this in your comments!  Thank you :)

burlap wreath tutorial

 

I was getting tired of the wreath on our door and had been brainstorming some ideas of what to replace it with.  I have seen burlap wreaths everywhere lately, and when I found this burlap ribbon at Joann's I knew it would be perfect for a wreath on our front door.  I love the contrast of black and white.  Too bad our front door is brown.  But, I was in love with the ribbon so I went ahead with the project anyway!

I used a Styrofoam wreath, LOTS of ribbon (I had to go back to buy more...4 spools in all, and I still could have used more!), and small pins (you want them to blend in with the wreath).  If I were to do this project again, I might try a wire wreath instead.  The white foam is really difficult to completely cover with burlap ruffles.

I simply made loops with the ribbon all over the wreath and secured them with pins.  The nice thing about this project is that it's easy to re-do if you don't like it since you are using pins, not glue.

 

I cut smaller pieces of ribbon and made loops with them to cover up some "bald spots."

 The final touch was this burlap rosette.  It was made from some wide burlap ribbon. 

To make the rosette I folded the ribbon in half, and twist/turned it loosely around the center.  I then pinned it to the wreath to make it secure.  That's it!

I'm happy with the final product.  As with most DIY projects, you learn as you go.  It's not perfect, and I kind of wish our door was black or white....but, it will do for now!

five fact friday

 

1.  I got a little excited about the Pumpkin Spice Lattes returning to Starbucks.  I will refrain from documenting how many lattes I actually had this week...too many, probably.  Any suggestions for a cheaper option?
2.  I have been babysitting on Mondays.  I am helping out a friend and taking her little guy this fall.  He is a very sweet and low key baby.  Only problem is that both babies are just starting to move around/almost crawl.  Should get pretty interesting in the next month.
3.  I had to snap this pic of Quinn one morning.  There is nothing like a new pair of PJ's on a cute baby.
4.  Crafting is so therapeutic.  I was having a "moment" this week, and so I made these clips for Quinny.  Seriously, find something healthy that is therapeutic for you and don't waste any time mulling around when you have a "moment."  Get up and do something that is good for you!  Maybe it's going for a run, baking, or sewing...just find a "go-to."   {End Tangent} ;)
5.  I tried BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) for the first time.  I have really enjoyed the daily lessons (homework) so far, and have already learned so much.  I was excited to find out later this week that they have room for Q in the infant room, so now we can definitely attend each week!

Matt is giving me a little "mommy break" tomorrow and we are going on a date night.  This makes me a happy, happy wife.
Happy Weekend, friends!

Linking up with Lauren from H54F and
5 on Friday with the good life blog

new products!

Woosh!  That's how I feel right now.  Starting up my own shop has been fun, rewarding, and therapeutic.  Did I mention how it's really hard to find the time to work on it with a 7 month old?  Yes, all of these fun creations were made with love during nap times and small breaks that my husband gives me on the weekends :)  I should change the name from Lemon Bee Studio to "Nap Time Creations."  Anyhow, here is a glimpse of the latest items available in the shop.  You can also link to Lemon Bee anytime you want by clicking on the link above, "ETSY SHOP," or on the shopping cart underneath our family picture.

The fabric flowers have definitely been a favorite so far.  You can choose if you want the fabric flower to be a pin or hair clip.  Some of the hair clip options include snap style clips, alligator clips, or barrettes. 

 

The fabric bunting makes for a cute and unique accent for your home décor.  I love this bunting because it compliments fall decorations well without being too loud.

 

These digital prints are easy to download.  Once you purchase the file, you receive it in both .pdf and .jpg formats.  Print them on your own and place them in your favorite frame, so you can be inspired throughout the day!

 

Each card comes with one envelope.  I'm not sure what inspired me to make these designs, but I am really into silhouettes right now!

Happy Shopping, friends!

five fact friday

1. I found this cute and random picture on my camera.  This girl is NOT camera shy :)
2.  Beacon likes to perch himself on top of the refrigerator while I feed Quinn in the kitchen.  We have also been listening to some tunes on my ipod--Michael Jackson's greatest hits never gets old!
3.  I told everyone I got bangs last week, so here is a descent picture to show them off.  My hair looks black in this picture, but it's actually just a dark brown.  I am starting to get used to having bangs.  They drove me crazy for the first couple of days, but now I like them.
4.  Target had some awesome clearance last week.  They were getting rid of all of their summer clothes, but it's still 90 degrees here.  That being said, I didn't feel too bad about getting some clothes for me and Q.  Our outfits cost a total of $7 :)
5.  Quinn is eating cheerios now too.  She is growing so fast.  Way past the newborn days, and moving on towards the toddler stage...crazy!!

Linking up with Lauren from H54F and
5 on Friday with the good life blog

adjusting

I think it's safe to say that I have made it through the first 7 months of motherhood without getting too crazy (I did cry a lot and dye my hair dark brown...but that just makes me a woman).  Thus far, my biggest life adjustments have been first year of college, graduating from college, first year of marriage, moving to FL (surprisingly wasn't as hard as I thought it would be), and becoming a mother.

 my first classroom

honeymoon in Costa Rica 

Every season of adjustment has been difficult, but challenged me to grow as person in significant ways.  I knew becoming a mother would be a BIG adjustment.  Since I had been through some life adjustments already I knew I needed to mentally prepare myself with realistic expectations and pray A LOT.  Did that remove the difficulty?  NO.  But, it did help me to stay calm and give myself grace in the midst of all the change.  You see, the actual taking care of the baby part of being a mother hasn't been the most challenging part for me.  The challenge has been in my own mind.  "Who am I in all of this?!"

 

Women are pulled in so many directions.  I knew that being a good mother and wife were at the top of my priority list, but I still felt like there was a part of me that was a little lost.  I wanted to organize, create, and have goals. 

I have learned from some mistakes in the past, and realized that I needed to surrender everything to the Lord first, and let him put the pieces together for me.  The definition of surrender is to "yield to the power, control, or possession of another."  I was hesitant to pray the prayer, and say to the Lord that I wanted to surrender everything to Him.  I didn't want to act out of pride or fear.  I wanted to follow the Lord completely.  I was scared that I wouldn't like what I ended up with.  But, I was reminded of the verse, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)  I do believe that my desires and gifts are from the Lord.  And, He loves me.  Therefore, I can trust Him and give Him all of my hobbies/desires/dreams/gifts.  He often has a vision for us that is way better than we could ever imagine for ourselves.  And/or, sometimes he does want us to ditch some of those things, but we can trust that He will give us peace in our hearts if that is the case. 

 

After some prayer and searching, I have found that my etsy shop has brought a lot of balance to my life right now, as well as some new fall activities to put on the schedule.  I would not say that any of that fulfills me...nothing really does, unless it's Christ.  Motherhood doesn't even fulfill me!  It's a gift and keeps me busy, but doesn't necessarily fulfill my deepest needs, like Christ can.

 

Every season of life brings it's joys and trials.  I can finally say that I am beginning to feel a little more at ease with this season of life.  I am beginning to appreciate the opportunity to stay at home with the baby, remembering that this season is so short.  God will have plenty of other things in store for me when this season is over.  I am reminded to EMBRACE this time.  Most of our lives are spent outside of the nest.  So, I am going to soak this up as much as possible.

labor day weekend

Normally we are with my family at the lake this weekend.  Labor Day weekend up north always means one last hurrah before the cool, fall air begins to sneak in, and school starts.  Some years the fall air sneaks in a little sooner than we would like.  We usually try to pack in as much beach time as we can.  On Labor Day, my mom would be busy cleaning up the cottage and getting things packed up to head home and start another school year.  It was always sooo sad to leave the lake for the summer, and say goodbye to family and friends.  It gives me a pit in my stomach just thinking about it! 

It felt strange not being up north this weekend, but we tried our best to make it fun (even in this heat!).  Matt and I were very thankful to find a sitter and go out on a date.  We went to dinner and then played put put :)  We did our usual church routine on Sunday.  I had to take a picture because I am in love with this outfit from Target that Grandma P bought Quinn.

We even got our act together enough to go to the pool.  It's literally a two minute walk to our neighborhood pool but we haven't really gone much this year.  We made our picnic lunch, put sunscreen on Quinn (and Matt....I prefer to get a little crispy and skip this part...shame on me), and went straight for the shady part of the pool-haha.  It was actually really fun because it was only about 82 degrees, instead of 91 :)

 Quinny loves the pool!

Of course, we went to Target.  As you can see, my little ragamuffin needs a haircut but I am too scared to cut it!  We also gave Quinn her first puffs and blueberries.  It was so cute to watch her grab the pieces of food with her pudgy little fingers, and try to put them in her mouth.

We have learned that sometimes you just have to make your fun, especially on holidays away from your family.  Dinners out, put put golf, swimming, Target, family time....I would say we managed to make it one lovely weekend at home!