Looking Back and Moving Forward

Over the last three years, many changes have come through our family as I left teaching.  I have been so blessed to experience working with great friends within network marketing, an industry I never imagined being a part of, but now am SO grateful that we took that leap of faith.  I learned so much about myself and my strengths through the experiences provided for me by being a part of a fantastic network marketing team.  Working along side Peter in our concrete business has also been, and continues to be, so rewarding personally and professionally.  I've learned that I cherish being able to set my own schedule, that it's okay to put my family first, and that when you work from a place of wanting to bless others, it's amazing what comes your way.  What once was a giant three ring circus of a life that felt out of control with a schedule there's no way we could have managed has been refined and reduced.  Where Peter and I spoke mostly by text message and a brief conversation here and there, has turned into getting to spend time together without feeling guilty I should be doing something else.  We also are better able to set priorities and intentionally parent our girls with me working from home.  (Don't get me wrong - it's still a daily circus around here most of the time!)  As much as I loved being a part of so many other families' lives and teaching their children, I found my own children, my husband, and my health were put last on the list.  Making the shift for me to work from home has been one of the best decisions we made as a family and I will forever be grateful for the opportunities provided because of my time with It Works! and everyone involved in the company with me.

The past year has been a whirlwind.  To think that one year ago we were in a tiny apartment and really all up in each other's personal space.  It's crazy to us how fast the time went, and yet how slow the day to day seemed at the time.  I knew we would get to this point and feel like, hey, we did it with no problem! (Believe me - there were problems - HaHa!)  It has definitely been a fun few months welcoming friends and family into our new home.  After selling the home we lived in for 10 years, and moving to an apartment the week of Sophie's birthday, which was the same week Ella was in the hospital for epilepsy testing in the med center 45 minutes away, and moving to another apartment 6 months later in a completely different town from where we were building and where the girls go to school (Can you say CRAZY TOWN?!  Thank the good Lord for my Mother!), we are finally really feeling settled in our new house.  It brings me so much happiness to have been able to create a space that people love to spend time in.  Peter and I have always wanted a home that could be filled with the people that mean the most to us as often as possible.  After dreaming of this home for almost 15 years, we took two full years to design and think through how to make this house a home that can be enjoyed by more than just our little family of four.  We learned so much through this process and truly found joy in creating this inviting place to spend our time.

The process of designing and decorating this house has made me realize just how much  I have always loved making our home warm and special.  Most of you know I also love a good deal.  As friends and family have started asking for my help to decorate their spaces, and after some time spent in prayer and discussion with Peter, I am excited to launch a new adventure and begin helping other families have a home they love to come back to at the end of the day, while getting a good value for their money and helping them stretch their decorating dollar.  I already have my first three clients lined up and am beginning to plan their spaces.  It's another one of those pinch me moments of do I really get to do this for a living and serve others in this way?!  Looking back, it's been quite a journey.  Looking ahead, I can't wait for the adventure to come. 

I know I've been terrible about posting here on this blog.  I find myself with several ideas of what I want to share and it just doesn't happen.  I tend to want to make everything perfect and happen at once and I am learning to take things one step at a time.  Moving forward, my goal is to move to a new platform and bring you fresh new content once a week.  As I have been reading and studying how other business owners use blogs, some insist on daily posts.  I just simply don't have time for that in the circus of our daily lives and know it just won't happen.  I'm working on content now and I hope you are looking forward to what's ahead!

Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive in the launch of this new endeavor!  We are truly blessed with fantastic friends and the most wonderful family!

Until next week....
XOXO
Laura

What to Pick up This Weekend - Back to School Edition

It’s August and that means back to school sales are in your face and on your mind!  I love the start of a new school year.  When I was a teacher, the thought of a fresh start and a new group of kids was so exciting.  It was the possibilities of what we could accomplish together and the opportunity we were being given to impact young lives that got me ready to start the new year.  As a mom, it’s the same reason.  I’m excited to see what unfolds for my kids this year.  When they were little, I had this feeling of not wanting them to grow up and stay small and cute and precious.  But what I’ve found out is that cute and precious can come in a bigger package.  Big kids are just as fun and adorable to watch grow and make new discoveries as little kids are.  So when it’s time for back to school, I don’t get too emotional over their new grade or their new teachers.  I get excited to watch their possibilities unfold.  And, if I’m being honest, I’ve had enough refereeing the arguing and providing non-stop snacks and entertainment and the answering of, “But there’s nothing to do!!!”  I mean, really, you just had a snack 10 minutes ago.  You are not hungry! You just need to go back to school!

I love back to school shopping for these three reasons:

One, I love to shop.  It doesn’t really matter what it’s for, but give me an excuse that I MUST shop for something, and I’m there, especially if bargain hunting is involved. 

Two, who doesn’t love buying new crayons and pencils and markers and rulers and notebooks?!  Give me a fresh new notebook and a brand new box of crayons and I’m a happy girl.  Oh wait, I mean my kids are happy.  Haha!

And the third reason is that I know how incredibly fortunate we are that our kids even need back to school supplies and that we are able to provide them.  All over this world, there are kids (girls especially) begging for an education.  We live in a place that school is the expectation.  It’s not that way for so many children all over the world.  So, I count my lucky stars that my kids need those markers and that I can buy them, when so many others are struggling to gather the necessary supplies and still others aren’t going to school at all.  (Oh and don’t comment that the supply lists are too long – I was a teacher, remember.  They’re not too long.  Teachers only ask for what's necessary to provide your child with a well-rounded education.  If you think they are, go spend a year as a teacher and watch how much of your salary is spent on your classroom and not your own family.  That's my two cents anyway.)

Here’s some of the fun things we’ve picked up for back to school 2015!

 

I love Vera Bradley backpacks, lunch kits, and totes.  They’re durable, well made, and can be tossed in the washing machine.  If you’re not too picky about the pattern, check for an outlet store near you.  The one near us had backpacks this week for $39.  Unfortunately, 7^th grade calls for pickiness over patterns and the backpack being just right.  Sophie opted for this new pattern and the matching planner.

This planner is perfect for a jr. high or high school student.  It’s laid out in a school year format and has both month pages and day pages to keep track of all of her commitments and

homework in one notebook.

Both available at verabradley.com and at many local retailers

The new Toms lace-ups are super-duper comfortable.  They’re more padded in the sole than previous Toms we’ve bought and will keep feet comfy all day.  We opted for this chambray polka-dot pattern that will go with literally everything!

Available at Toms.com from $36 and up

Neff Daily sunglasses are uber cool for back to school.  We picked up this pair in Colorado, but they’re available at neffheadwear.com.  UVA and UVB protection with style. From $20

I’ve talked about May Books in the past.  There’s so many ways to customize and personalize these little notebooks with sewn bindings.  I keep several of them going at once with notes, to do lists, and more.  Order at maydesigns.com, around $20

What have you picked up that will make for a cool back to school?

Vintage Style Organization

I heart organization.  An organized room is my happy place and the people at The Container Store speak my love language.  I also am completely into containers that have a vintage appeal.  Organization doesn't always have to mean plastic bins and baskets.  And, let's face it, if I make organization complicated or expect these people in my house to put things back in a cabinet all the time - it will NEVER happen.  Here's some ways I've used containers that are functional and have that vintage vibe:

 This tray from Home Goods is a perfect place to toss the 40,000 remote controls that seem to be needed in the living room.  It's wooden with a enamel like interior. (I took 39,999 of the remotes out so you could see the tray.)

For the two years leading up to building our new house, I collected all kinds of vintage-y plates, serving dishes, salt cellars, compote dishes, and on and on, with the plan of putting my jewelry in them.  I now have them sitting in my closet!  It makes finding everything easy because it's right in front of me!  I especially LOVE this Fostoria Milk Glass three section dish I found!  My MiMi collected Fostoria glassware so it reminds me of her every time I set something in it.

Our pantry was mostly planned around the coffee pot.  (I know that's ridiculous and I'm okay with that.)  Coffee is serious business to me in the mornings.  I am not a morning person and I don't really like to be spoken to prior to having coffee. Since that happens, well never, I want everything in arm's reach when I finally get in there to have a cup.  We put a small fridge in our pantry where the creamer is held (among the juice boxes and the fruit cups) and I like to be able to see the pods for my Keurig without having to dig them out of the cabinet.  This numbered & sectioned wooden shelf from World Market is the perfect spot to house my little beauties. 

 (Oh and how much do you love that brick backsplash my lovely hubby did for me?!)

This little metal tray is also from World Market.  By adding in two working glasses from Target (about $1 each and one of my favorite organization tips), I ended up with a caddy perfect for pencils, my favorite felt tip pens, and my May Books from maydesigns.com!

The laundry room is one place where things can end up all over the place if not contained.  I use wooden soda boxes often and this one is fantastic because it's divided into four sections.  It holds everything I need to grab when doing laundry!  I found it while shopping trade days in Round Top last spring.  It was full of evidence of mice nests and I almost passed it up so I wouldn't have to clean it!  Then I remembered I have a husband who can deal with such grossness.  So I got it and I'm glad I did!

I truly do love to organize.  Do you have something that needs containment and you aren't sure what to do?  Hit me up on email and let's see if we can figure it out! 

What to Pick-Up this Weekend

The Fab Five List for a Stylish Summer

(1) Dress up your weekend brunch table with these completely adorable paper table runners.  Just roll it out, cut to length, and toss it when everyone has had enough of those mimosas you're famous for.  In a variety of colors and patterns, there's sure to be one to make your table pop!

{Scroll down to see my table with this fun cutlery pattern.}

Available at kitchenpapers.com From $22

(2)Summer makeup has to be light and easy.  I've mixed and matched this palette all summer and there's no wrong combo!  I'm not a makeup artist AT ALL, so if I can use it and pull it off, you can too.

 Easy and soft summer eyes - yes, please!

Available at Sephora.com $36

(3) If you've spent any time outside lately, you know humidity and your hair are mortal enemies sworn to never reconcile.  Two or three small drops of this serum run through your hair after styling and say goodbye to the dreaded summer frizz.

Available at Target $4.99

(4)Take this liner to the pool, the lake, or the beach for some waterproof drama that comes off easily later with your makeup remover.  I love the Metallic Umber for a quieter line that gives definition without the deep, darkness of a black liner.  Plus, with a little added sparkle, it goes from daytime errands and chasing kids to date night in a flash!

Available at Sephora.com $22

(5)Mix up some Texas cool with Deep Eddy's Vodka.  Combine their tart Lemon or Cranberry flavors with some iced, sweet tea for a fun party cocktail.  Even better, pick up their Sweet Tea flavor and add some lemonade, some ice, and a cute paper straw.  Grab your bag and head to the pool with that one!

Available at Spec's $16.99

{The colors of Summer}

<Seriously, nobody paid me to make this list.  I really do like this stuff y'all! Happy Summer!>

Malaysian Pizza

I love this time of night in our house.  Any other mommas out there love it too?  It's about 11:30.  It's quiet. HGTV is on and chamomile tea is in my cup.  I am thinking back about our birthday week last week and how much fantastic time we got to spend with family and friends in the days surrounding our birthdays.  It's always fun with my birthday and Peter's birthday one day apart.  We honestly love that we get to celebrate together!  On my birthday, Peter grilled steaks and shrimp - my birthday meal request just about every year. I'm definitely a meat eater and definitely predictable.  Peter changes his request up each year.  This year, he asked for this pizza.  I found this recipe probably 10 years ago in a magazine.  (I think it was Cooking Light.) We've cooked it no less than 30 times - enough times that the pages of my cooking notebook where this recipe is kept, stick together from the peanuty, sticky, syrupy sauce splashing out of the pot.  It's not complicated and it's really delicious!

Malaysian Chicken Pizza

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

3 tbsp. water

1 tbsp. fresh minced & peeled ginger

2 tbsp. chunky peanut butter (or I usually only have smooth, so I add some chopped peanuts to it)

4 garlic cloves, minced

Cooking Spray

1 lg. can chunk chicken breast packed in water 

(You can use 1/2 lb. fresh chicken breast baked and then chopped, but I love how the canned chicken shreds in the sauce and makes this SO easy.)

1 cup mozzarella cheese

5-6 chopped green onions

1/2 bunch chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 cup chopped peanuts

1 can thin crust Pillsbury pizza dough or your favorite pizza dough

Preheat the oven according to the dough instructions.  I prebake the crust for 3-5 minutes, until it just starts to bake.  

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a sauce pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.  As the liquid starts to boil, add in the drained, canned chicken and whisk consistently.  Be patient as the mixture gently boils and continue whisking as it thickens.  It will take several minutes for it to thicken.  You want to look for it to boil down to the consistency of a thick syrup.  

Like this:

Take the mixture off the heat and spoon over the crust.  Top with cheese and bake according to your crust instructions.

After baking, top the pizza with the chopped green onion, cilantro, and peanuts to your liking - we like a lot!  Slice it up and eat it up!

Malaysian Pizza - One Big Circus 

Outdated Lamp Transformed to Shabby and Adorable!

Lamps come with sticker shock these days.  Are lamps considered luxury items now and I missed the memo?  Maybe that...or maybe the fact that I haven't actually bought a decent lamp in over 10 years.  When you're saving for your dream home, some things just aren't necessary.  But now I am decorating and styling said dream home, and dropping $100 on just a lamp doesn't sound appealing at all.

I love a good bargain, and I also love a good one hour project.  As a busy WFHM, I don't have time for an all-day crafting project.  Let's face it, I barely get to go to the bathroom on my own, let alone craft some amazingly detailed piece.  My kids are big enough now I can usually squeeze in a quick project here and there while they play on some electronic device - don't judge.  Yesterday it was this lamp makeover.  It went from outdated and boring to shabby and fabulous in just under an hour!

Boring and Out-dated

Supplies: paper to cover your work surface, paint, glaze,
sandpaper, sponge brush or paint brush
Mix equal parts paint and glaze on a plate.

I was saying a prayer as this first coat went on!

Completely cover in two coats, and then use the edge of sandpaper to scrape 

away some of the paint to get the shabby, worn, old, well-loved look

Continue sanding lightly.  I use my finger dipped in a bit of paint/glaze mixture to 

smooth over areas I may have over sanded a bit.

And now, with a new $12 shade from At Home,

 I have an illuminated beauty in the guest room! 

Simple, quick, and easy!

For more one hour projects to love, subscribe to One Big Circus!

12 Year Old Birthday Luau

I know all parents say it - I can't believe it's her first...third...twelfth birthday.  Time flies and I swear girl #1 wakes up taller every morning.  Seriously.  We've gone through FIVE shoe sizes over the past year and I don't think she's finished!  The good news is that little sister Ella is going to have some Fantastic hand-me-downs and some awesome pairs of shoes that were worn, oh let's say maybe twice.  Before we know it, we will be taking big sister Sophie to register for high school, to get her driving permit, buying a dress for her first prom, and (I can't even handle thinking about it...) taking her to college.  But until those firsts, we were happy to have this first - our first birthday party in our new house!  We had lots of fun planning and decorating and she enjoyed shopping every. single. aisle. of the party store.  Take a peek at the fun she and I put together!

Fun Umbrella Wreath Made by Sophie

The Party Table

Party Favors - A Beach Towel, Flip Flops, and CANDY!

Ice Cream Sundae Bar

The Party Girl's Requests! Hawaiian Sandwiches and Pulled Pork Wonton Tacos

 It was indeed a Happy Birthday for Sophie!