Now Presenting...

The new and improved Etsy shop!
It was one year ago today that I opened my shop, so I thought it was fitting that I should introduce the somewhat improved edition today.
(Well as much as you can improve an Etsy shop... I have a new banner and profile picture at least!)

I'm going to start offering a more consistent number of specific designs with the options of different colors for each piece, as well as a more cohesive look for all of the things I make.
Overall, I just want to start being more consistent.
So hopefully this is the start of that! 

I definitely couldn't be doing any of this without all the friends and family (and even a few strangers) who have helped me over this past year. From buying things themselves and promoting the shop, to taking photos for me or just giving words of support and encouragement. 
Thanks to all of you who helped make this a possibility.

I will be adding new things as the week goes on, but go ahead and check out a few of the new items and maybe get a head start on your Christmas shopping!

P.s. Happy October :)

Life According To Instagram

This week...

-I made a new cover photo for the Facebook page
-I tried to wear scarves even though it was too hot
-I ate a lot of eggs
-Lewis discovered he liked blankets
-I had the first cup of hot chocolate (and apple cider) of the season
-I asked for some advice on work routines
-I spent some time with some good friends
-I had a pumpkin milkshake (so glad they're back!)
-I went on a picnic
-I bought the biggest crochet hook you ever saw
-I received some roses from a nice guy
-I worked and worked on the soon to be new and improved Etsy shop! So so excited about it :)


A Little Note


Dear You,

Thanks for buying me flowers.
Thanks for writing me notes on paper towels.
Thanks for carrying things for me all the time. You know I have little baby arms...
Thanks for letting me eat your cereal (especially when they're golden grahams).
Thanks for helping me edit papers at midnight.
Thanks for taking me on picnics.
Thanks for forehead kisses.

Love, Me


A Picnic

Sometimes you just need to drop everything and do something fun.
Like have a picnic with one of your favorite people.
Especially if you pack mac n cheese.
And then record it all via Instagram.

.....................

Hope you're having a happy Wednesday!

Work Routine


Having your own business is definitely a challenge.

I'm not going to lie, being my own boss is awesome.
I make my own rules and don't have to ask for vacation time for starters.
Not to mention I get to do something I love!
However, it's definitely a challenge as well.
I've mentioned before that I'm a procrastinator, and when it comes to work related stuff I am no different. Especially because what I do is fun (most of the time), I can so easily not take it seriously at times. However, I've learned that when I do that I'm at risk of not having others take me seriously either. 
So it's something that I'm working on.

I'm also still working on a good work routine. 
Today was one of those days where I sat in front of the computer all day because I let some things build up. 
Editing photos, answering emails, posting on Facebook, answering inboxes, texting, blogging, listing things on Etsy, watching tv shows while working on custom orders, writing, instagraming etc. etc.
My eyes are kind of hating me right now.

So my question to all of you is...
How do you do it?
For those of you who have your own business and work from home, what is your routine?
What are your tips?
How do you balance out work life and everything else?
And in the midst of it all find time to relax and do something for yourself?
Please enlighten me! 
I'd love to hear your answers.
Because it's something I'm still working on.
And always will be honestly.
Because you can always learn something new:)


Hello Fall

(Since it doesn't quite look like Fall yet, here's a photo from last year!)

Fall is officially here!
I can hardly believe it.
After wishing and waiting it has finally arrived.
I cannot wait to...

1. Go to a pumpkin patch
2. Go star gazing
3. Take a trip to New York City 
4. Introduce some new designs and ideas in my Etsy shop
5. KNIT
6. Go apple picking
7. See some movies at the drive in
8. Wear Fall clothing
9. Sit by fires (indoors and outdoors)
10. Have hot drinks like apple cider and tea and hot chocolate
11. Take walks in crisp evening air
12. Wear Snuggie's and footy pajamas
13. See new colors in the trees
14. Have a Birthday!
15. Eat my Mom's sweet potatoes
16. Celebrate Thanksgiving
17. Have a different scenery for photoshoots
18. Eat a funnel cake at the state fair

This list is pretty much the same as my one from last year...
But hey, there are some things you only get to do during a certain time of year, you know?

What are you looking forward to this Fall?


My Satisfaction


I was debating whether or not to share this with everyone. 
I don't always like going into too many personal things of this nature on here.
Simply because, well, it's personal.
However, I felt prompted to in hopes that it might encourage someone and be something that someone maybe needed to read or get a little something out of.
Not to say that I have any magnificent all knowing advice that's extremely life changing. But you know, sometimes we can learn from others mistakes.

Honestly, I've had a rough few weeks. 
I've taken on a lot of new projects, new changes, and new adjustments.
Life's just been a little bit crazy lately.
But it's really not even that. A lot of it, most of it, is good stuff and I love keeping busy.
Truthfully, if I'm not doing something I feel is productive, I have a hard time functioning (this is one of the biggest reasons I knit during movies...)
However, I slowly got myself into this rut. I lost a lot of passion and motivation for the things I was doing. Even the things I loved doing. And I knew something was off.
One of my best qualities, I believe, is being able to find happiness in little things. Anything can make my day really. A new book, a cupcake, new yarn, a sweet voicemail from a friend, anything silly and little that I love. I'm always able to find something good in a situation.
But I'd lost even that ability.

I eventually realized I was trying to find happiness and overall satisfaction in things of this world. Which is something I know I need to guard against and think about regularly, because I'm definitely more susceptible to it than others I feel like. At least at times.
But it's so easy to get caught up in what the world says will make you happy.
Achieving this, doing that, going here, being there, it's an endless cycle that we can get so easily sucked into.
I realized that I was trying to accomplish all of my things I needed to do, all of my check lists and reminders and notes, my appointments, etc. to achieve a satisfaction that I wasn't going to find.
I'm never ever going to accomplish all that I think I need to do and accomplish.
There will always be something else to do, something else to finish and get done. And basing my happiness on the accomplishment of these things is just stupid.
It's a race I'm never going to win.
Even if I manage to accomplish a fair amount of things, the temporary satisfaction it brings is so fleeting.
It's nothing compared to what God can give me.

So, in short, I learned that I need to start my day with Him.
I know it is such a cliche Christian thing to say, that you should start your day with a devotion and reading the bible, but it is so so true. I've been reading a devotion called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and it is literally something I look forward to every morning. It starts off my day right, in the right mindset, and my day always, always goes better because of it.
Not to say that I don't still have struggles and downfalls, but I'm so much more prepared to fight them now.

Also, I need to continually trust God. Not just every day, but every moment. And to give God my moments. Because He is the keeper of time and if there is something I need to get done or accomplish, it will get done and be accomplished.
I need to trust Him in that.
I am so tempted every morning to skip my devotions when I'm running late in getting out the door. But I find that every time I do take a few minutes to just sit, breathe, and spend some time with God, it's like time stops for a little bit and I never end up being late or running out of time. Because I trusted God in knowing that if I spent time with Him, everything would turn out alright.

And finally that I need to look to Him for satisfaction and peace. In the activity addiction of this age it's not an easy thing, because we are constantly told that we need to do this, this, this, this and this to achieve peace and happiness. But that's not true. We simply have to rest in God and know that He is the only thing that can really give that to us. We can't find that anywhere else. Or in anyone else. Or in anything else. He is the only true source of peace and satisfaction and happiness.


“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." -John 14:27