Bow-verboard {Funday Monday Link-Up}

Bow-vereboard. Hah. See how I did that? Okay, enough of me. How about my bows? I've gotten a bit obsessed with making them and now, well, I have a stock. I was planning to make them for custom orders, but I got carried away and Holiday (and miscellaneous) Bowstravaganza 2013 has taken over my crafting space (ahem, dining room). I started by making a few for Sadie because the cheapies that I bought were ragged. Then, my MIL asked if I'd send some to a craft show with her. Those were lame ones that didn't sell. Discouraged, I decided to get creative. Here's what's in stock right now. If you have a little girl and are interested in Christmas bows or really anything, please let me know! I will continue working through my blog email and using Paypal for invoicing and mailing. I'd love to be your bow supplier!

Some close-ups:

To order, please email me at alittlebitofthisblog{at}gmail{dot}com. You can place an order from this stock (I can make duplicates) or place custom orders. In your email, please specify:

- Size: 3", 4", 5"

- Center style: Knotted boutique (like light pink in last photo), Simple ribbon (like hot pink polka dots with white center), fancy (like hot pink with green center - specify two ribbon colors), or embellished (specify embellishment)

- Clip: French barrett or alligator clip

Thanks so much! Hope you enjoyed checking my bows out as much as I love making them!

Unconditional Love

I have a favorite tree. I fell in love with it when its leaves started changing in early October. I took a picture of it at its peak of beautiful color (top) and then one after most of the leaves had fallen off. When we round the bend that leads to my tree in the morning, Sadie now says, "Oh no, Mommy! Look at your tree! It's naked. You need a new favorite tree." And I took that as the perfect opportunity to share a little story about unconditional love. I said, "Baby, I will not change my favorite tree just because its leaves fell off. That would be like me changing my favorite family if their hair got grey or they got a bruise on their faces. That is still my favorite tree and I will love it as it changes through the seasons. It's still a beautiful tree. God painted it oranges and yellows for the fall and now he is getting it ready for the cold winter months. In the spring, God will put beautiful, bright green leaves on that same tree and it will stay green and lush through the summer. We don't change what we love because what we love changes." It was so surreal when she replied, "Okay, Mommy. I will always love you, even if you get a hair cut." I mean, it was such a small understanding of such a big thing, but I think she may have gotten my point. All because of my favorite, beautiful tree.

 And then, we have these sweet, sweet munchkins...

I thought I knew what unconditional love was. Then, I had children and I really learned what it means to unconditionally love someone. I will always love my parents, my brother, my husband. I just will. I know that. I will be angry and hurt and sad, but I will always love them. The love for your children is so impenetrable, though. Imagine yourself in your brand new suit, driving your brand new car, and your toddler just has to give you a running leap of a hug to say, "goodbye," for the day. And that gorgeous, loving child is covered in chocolate chip pancakes, butter, and maple syrup, while you're holding an opened travel mug of piping hot coffee, just ready to take a sip. Yes, when you are burned, possibly in the second degree, covered in coffee and pancake mess, your car and suit are stained, and you are absolutely late for work, you love that little one more than your heart can even comprehend. It's just amazing. I'm so blessed to know what it feels like to be unconditionally loved by God and I can only hope that I can teach and show my children that love and how to give it.

All the Things, Lately

Lots of things have happened over the past few weeks. We traveled to Virginia to visit my family and the girls thoroughly enjoyed their time jumping in huge leaf piles. Outfits have been worn and forgotten. Noses have been bitten by bitter chills and beads of sweat have rolled off of our hot, hot foreheads. Fall has brought all sorts of weather, fun, and memories. It also brought pneumonia for me, which I'm finally just starting to get over. So, while I gather my thoughts, photos, and posts for the upcoming week, here are some things I've missed sharing with you.

My brother spent tons of time blowing leaves into a huge pile for the girls to play in. They had such a blast and I was glad to capture some sweet photos. Sadie especially enjoyed taking running leaps into the leaf mound and you can see the sheer joy on her face!

 On the way home from Virginia, the girls got really restless. We stopped at a big gas station/food store that had a few surrounding fields and I let them run some energy off before making the rest of the trip.

 At some point over the last two weeks, I ransacked WalMart's kids' sweats collection and got 3 matching outfits for the girls. I'll continue to do forced matching while they think it's awesome.

I'll spare you photos of myself, but then... the pneumonia came. Soup and tea, soup and tea, soup and tea.

 Movies and popcorn for the kiddos.

 Snuggling up in my bed for Christmas classics. <3

 And when I emerged from the depths of my bed, Sadie decided it was a good time to show Norah our wedding album. I cried. This was absolutely precious.

 And, though I'm always an early Christmas decorator, I've not completely bounced back. So, at least we have Sadie's bedroom tree up and decorated. Thank Heaven we'll be doing the big tree, tomorrow, as a whole family.

I have more to share! Stay tuned. And as always, thanks for sticking around while I'm so sporadic. :)

Casual Friday

I've said, before, that I love this flannel shirt. I plan on wearing it pretty much once a week. It's gauzy, warm, and has the perfect colors for fall and winter. After a rough week, I wanted to spend Friday in something deliciously comfortable, so this outfit was born. Love the cuffed jeans and the short sleeved sweatshirt layered over the flannel. Everything screams warmth. And, "Don't mess with me." That's how I felt. Warm and like I was gettin' it done!

Your girl wasn't even wasting time with getting hair in her face. Ain't nobody got time fo' dat.

Snakeskin

There's a first time for everything. First hair cut, first loose tooth, first bike ride... I'm 29 years old and this tunic is my first snakeskin print. Want to know another fun fact? I had a mauve one in my hand and Sadie said, "I like that one better," pointing at the snakeskin. Unsure of how I could pull it off and how it'd be work appropriate, I reluctantly threw it in the car (with the mauve one, just in case I lost my guts). I loved styling it up with skinnies, boots, and layering a long sleeved top underneath. You all know I'm big on layering, especially because I teach preschool and need to always be comfortable, appropriate, and set a good example. I'd love some ideas on other ways to style this cute tunic because I love it, but it's still a bit out of my comfort zone!

 tunic: Target, jeans: Charlotte Russe, tee and boots: Old Navy

Do you step out of your comfort zone with clothing prints and styles? And if/when you do, do you have trouble styling those pieces? I'm worried that I'll only be able to wear this tunic one way!

Blue Zebra

Sometimes every single photo I get out of a shoot looks like a still from The Wonder Years. What can ya do? Instead of tossing the whole lot, I decided to embrace the auto 70s vibe. This dress has been in my closet for at least five years. I bought it off the clearance rack in Target and have been wearing it year-round ever since. I love how it lends itself to black sandals in the summer, leggings and a long sleeved tee in the fall, a chunky cardigan with tights and boots in the winter, and a short sleeved tee over or under in the spring. Sure, the fabric is a bit faded and the print is a little confusing (leaves, zebra? I have no idea.), but this dress is definitely here to stay and I look forward to remixing it when the weather is even cooler.

dress/leggings/flats: Target, tee: Old Navy, belt: New York & Company

I've been stomping around in these aged commuter flats from Target for so long! They're the only black flats I have and I grabbed a pair of pointed toe black flats last week, but... they have to be returned. I tried on the left shoe, which was a size 7. When I got home, the right shoe was a size 6! They weren't boxed, but were strung together and tagged together. So frustrating. 

The Littles Have a Paint Party

Rarely will I show you photos of our house before I've cleaned. I mean, c'mon, I clean for guests and technically, I'm inviting you in. However, this little impromptu paint party was just too cute to miss and sometimes, the mess can wait. Sadie was teaching Norah how to use water color paints, and while Norah ate quite a bit of it, some of it ended up on her little paper. I'm so proud of my little artists and how much they love spending time together!

Hubs and I are both artistic. Well, he's artistic. I'm crafty. It warms our hearts, so much, to see our girls embracing art and working with their hands. They sat here for at least 30 minutes, talking about colors and paintbrushes. I wish I'd have caught a photo of Sadie standing over Norah's tray, helping her put the brush from the water, to the paint, to the paper. It was so adorable that my heart just about exploded.

Leaves are Changing

I went through about two weeks of wearing nothing but ill fitting jeans and long sleeved or short sleeved Old Navy t-shirts. After I got really sick of looking like a frump, I decided to punch it up with a ton of bright colors and threw on this new orange printed dress with some maroon layering pieces (tee and tights). It's been a little chilly in the mornings, but the afternoons are still pretty warm, so cardigans and sweaters haven't made their way into my routine quite yet. Layering 3/4 sleeved tees under warmer weather dresses and adding leggings or tights has really allowed me to extend my wardrobe beyond the hot months. This dress is on clearance at Target for $12.68 right now. You're welcome.

 dress: Target, tee: Old Navy, tights: c/o We Love Colors, boots: Soda/Shoe Department

In retrospect, I wish I would have added my yellow bubble necklace to this outfit. The top really leaves something to be desired, but I know for next time. I look forward to adding different colored tights and layering pieces with dresses like this throughout the fall and winter.