Decide to DRIVE: My Distracted Driving Story

Senior Year. Those words kinda come with a certain connotation. Time to be dialed in to what's next, as well as living things up in all the best ways. I was involved in some good endeavors throughout high school. But in my senior yearbook, I'm listed as the class "Crash Test Dummy." My senior year claim to fame.

See, Homecoming Dance of my senior year, my date and I were driving home and didn't exactly make it there. I went to put lotion on my hands as we drove and it kind of exploded out the top when I did. It had gotten onto my dress and my date was trying to help me with the spill. He wasn't watching the road. We hit a canal bank, went airborne and landed on the other side.

It goes without saying that I grew up in a rural area. When I came to just after the impact, I saw a light a ways off and had the thought that it wasn't going to be too fun to walk there in my heels. But I went to get out and stand up anyways. And told my date that I thought something might be wrong with my foot. He looked and I think about passed out. I wasn't going anywhere.

11 Make-You-Smile Lessons in Motherhood from the One and Only... Mrs. Incredible

Source: TIME 

I've been wanting to write this post for a long while now. When Rachel from R&R Workshop asked if I'd be part of her fun series, A Month of Disney, I knew just what I'd be posting...

Fun Lessons in Motherhood and Wifery from the One and Only Helen Parr/ Elastigirl!

You get teared up sometimes during your kids' cartoons, right? I know I'm goofy, but I sure do! And some of them are kinda dumb, which means I simply didn't get enough sleep the night before- ha!

But there are quite a few scenes from my favorite Disney Pixar movie, The Incredibles, that get me choked up or thoughtful for good reason... all of them involving the awesome lady that holds the family together :) We're already super excited for Incredibles 2 next summer!

There could be lots more than I've written here even, but for today I've chosen 11 tips and scenes worth thinking about...

Dressing my Truth with the Inspiring Carol Tuttle

Thanks to Dressing Your Truth™ for sponsoring this post.

Don't get me wrong, I've buzzed in to town in my stretch pants once or twice. ;) And if I'm not going anywhere that day, you'll find me in a ponytail and one of my husband's t-shirts. But, otherwise, I really don't like feeling un-done. I don't put any great length of time into my clothes, make up or hair generally, but I do make sure to put enough that I feel decent about how I look when I leave the house.

The thing of it is, I honestly have never been really taught just what to wear or how to do my makeup. I've just kinda adapted and tried things over the years. When I had the chance to check out an online program called Dressing Your Truth™, I was intrigued and decided that I'd give it a try and hopefully learn something that would be worth sharing.

And then, I got the book in the mail...

.. and, oh my goodness, that's Carol Tuttle. My Mom has talked about her for years and I have her book Remembering Wholeness. I've already really enjoyed and resonated with this awesome lady and her expertise regarding emotional healing and wellness- I knew I was going to love this program! Knowing it was Carol behind all of it, I couldn't wait to dive in.

DIVERGENT Inspired Dauntless Bracelet and More

Remember yesterday I mentioned that there would be more Divergent inspiration around here today?! Two of my blogger friends are also fans of the book and excited for the movie, so we decided to each do a creative project and share them together...

See them all at the bottom of this post! But first...

So, it goes without saying that this boy mama isn't so much a jewelry maker. But I have dabbled in it very little and do actually enjoy it, especially when what I try actually turns out! At the risk of proving that I really am a silly fan girl, I have to share the specific inspiration for this bracelet before we go any further...

Favorite DIVERGENT Quote Printables

For quite awhile now, I've been wanting to read the book Divergent. I knew if I didn't read it before the movie came out, I'd end up starting with the sequels afterwards and didn't want to miss actually reading the first one too! Do you do that at all- once the movie comes out it's hard to get yourself to read the book?!

And do you maybe also get sucked in to a series- can't stop until you just get to the end already? I sure do! Read these three in one week- and that was holding off some. I'm really glad there's only a matter of days before the movie comes out! I've had Divergent on the brain big time... A couple of my blogger friends are fans too and tomorrow they're joining me for even more Divergent inspired creativity!

But I had these simple quote printables ready to go too, so I'm sharing them tonight! These quotes and phrases from the book are some of my favorites. The faction symbols are the ones that will be seen in the movie and were released HERE.

Word of the Year 2014

Truth: I'm really just kinda kidding myself every January when I make any sort of resolutions.

I know full well I'm not great at even setting, let alone achieving, goals.

I just kinda put effort into what seems right, try to get inspiration in a decisive degree,

and then just... go with it. I think I try not to sabotage myself. I really hope. ;)

So I won't bore anyone, least of all my own self,

with any list of goals that I'm just pretending at anyway.

But, I do really like coming up with a word for the year.

Seems more solid to me or something.

Last year: control. Hmm... ya, let's just not really even go there...

This year...

My husband works a full time job and owns/ manages a full time business. He's away from home a lot. Maybe not on some business trip across the country or anything, but just gone from home, working right here in town at the retail shop, or answering pages to the hospital (he's a medical equipment technician). After he got a page on New Years Eve, I had the silly thought run through my head, "I'm just gonna pretend he's a doctor." Ha! No, it didn't solve anything, just needed something random to think of in that moment I guess.

The reason I mention it at all is because, as a result of his "spread-thin-edness," I found this year to be one of plenty of disappointments. Lots and lots of goodness and joy and success too, for sure. Just also a lot of defeated expectations mixed in. We can't plan on going to a movie, or having a a family game night. As sure as we do, Stephen gets called back in to the hospital or the shop has to be open late. I've cancelled enough babysitters and consoled bummed little boys enough this last year to know...

Of course, we still have date night and family play time... we just do it more on the fly, more impromptu. In this way and others, I've learned in the last year that I need to be more flexible during this next one. I don't want to feel upset, or at least not fan the flames of my upset, as a result of things that we can't change. The last thing I want is for Stephen to quit one of his jobs. Our business certainly can't go and the full-time job can't either... So I can't be getting down on him when I have to tell the boys they won't get to see their Dad until the morning again. Or when an activity has to be be cut short so we can turn around for him to go to the hospital that's a half an hour in the opposite direction. Or when he needs me to pick up an order at the airport because he simply can't be there himself after all.

I just need to be more flexible. We live in an area that several trips in and out of town really is no big deal. It's not like it's any massive drive really. And my boys truly seem no worse for the wear either- they still think their Dad hangs the moon somehow. These examples and lots more are the reason I chose this word for 2014- Flexible.

I've always been someone who just needs to 'lighten up.' Flexibility doesn't necessarily come easy to me, I wish it did. But I am capable of acknowledging when I need to be being flexible, even if I have to work myself down out of a tither to do it after the thought. I truly am grateful that our life, my husband's specifically, is so full, that as a result we are blessed more than ever before with the security I crave. With that gratitude needs to come more flexibility. And I know if I can be better at being flexible, I'll feel the measure of our blessings, and be able to play a part in increasing them even. Time to start stretching already...

If you have a word for this year too, I'd LOVE to hear it! 

Top Posts of 2013!

Just for the fun of it, I thought I'd share the most popular posts from this past year here in one quick spot on this last day of 2013! It's actually been really interesting to figure out just what brings people here the most... and realize that, indeed, the things we put the most effort into give us the most return, seemingly regardless of what they are specifically. This year I've been able to focus more on this blog than ever before, and it shows. Some ways good and surely some ways bad-ha! No matter what, thank you for being here and making this little space something that still brings me happiness, and especially allows me to share it :)

My Own 'Christmas Shoes' Story

Oh, my, it is seriously past time for a family update around here! This little blog is keeping me busy lately and I LOVE it, but it also means that otherwise I just want spend time with my little band of men, instead of get behind the laptop again to blog about them, shaknow? :) I do have the most heart warming little Christmas story to share with you- I've been frothing at the bit to get this posted...

So Cooper has been really concerned with what he's giving to everyone this year- he loves giving gifts! Comes by it rightly ;) He's slowly been checking off family members, earning a dollar here and there, and wanting to spend his own money on the gifts he's giving.

He recently set up a little "Chrismis Popkorne" sale at our aquarium shop on Saturday afternoon while Stephen was open and busy. He loves stuff like this! (Ry's face in this pic makes me so sad! He was obviously tired. I sure love my trooper baby- he endures a lot in the name of everyone else.) Anyhow, at the end of the day Cooper just begged me to go to Michaels because he had earned $3 selling popcorn (surely from his Dad and older brothers) :) I knew we had time, so I did agree to swing to Michaels before home. He was over the moon!

Christmas Wish List Giveaway!

I've been so excited for today to get here, for this giveaway blog hop!

I've been having far too much fun getting ready for it!

You already know I LOVE gifting, so being able to give one of YOU some of my  favorite  things is like a little bit of bliss :) It's possible I went a titch overboard... nah, of  course not ;) For this giveaway, I'm joining a great new group of bloggers and each of them did the same thing too- gathered items from their own Christmas wish list to send to one lucky winner, hopefully making their holiday a little happier! Every blogger is hosting a giveaway on their site, for their basket. :)

The Big Blue Test and the Month of November

Any chance you remember this post, where I talked a bit about being diagnosed with Type One Diabetes when I was just six years old? I know, I know- this has nothing to do with crafts or being a boy Mom or the normal things I post about, but I really wanted to share a little somethin' about November being Diabetes Awareness Month and even what anyone can do to make a difference in the next week :)

Ya know what question I get asked more than any other whenever being diabetic gets brought up with anyone besides family? "What do mean 'Type One'?" I'll never just say, "I have diabetes," because thats just too vague anymore. Did you know there is more than one kind of diabetes? And that they are different in some really big ways?

I'm not diabetic because I sat on the couch all day long or ate too much sugar.

I don't get to just take a pill and be done for the day.

It was out of my control to prevent.

Type One diabetes means my pancreas-

the organ inside us that deals with turning food into energy correctly-

just stopped working. It wasn't overworked.

I had chicken pox and not too long later, I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes.

Pumpkins, Wallpaper and Things Boy Moms Say

I've missed writing posts about our family- I try to make sure at least one in five posts

are actually documenting our life, but I'm thinkin' I haven't done too well at that lately.

I've also missed just writing at random. I use to occasionally just sit down in edit mode

and spill my thoughts out into a blog post and that was it. Been too long :)

We went to this coolest pumpkin patch ever recently. The boys very favorite part was probably this straw pumpkin pyramid. The actual pumpkin choosing? Ya, they really couldn't have cared less- lets just grab some and get to the train already, Mom :)

Gotta laugh at this picture....

You know you're a boy mom if the phrase

"Don't touch your wee wee!"

has ever come out of your mouth...

Shabby Flower Headband and Giveaway

Recently, I was sent a fat quarter of fabric and a few segments of ribbon as part of a new monthly Fat Quarter Challenge. Jesse's site is brand new and I wanted to be part of helping spread the word. I always really enjoy exchanges and swaps and such, so I thought this would be fun too.

With my pieces, I decided to make a shabby flower headband. I'd recently seen a flower that I really liked and wanted to try and replicate. I love that this is flat- for some reason I just feel kinda weird when my hair stuff sticks off my head too far. I know, I'm goofy. :)

Seriously Amateur Photographer. Yep, That's Me

Is this not the cutest little family ever?!

I kinda think they are pretty wonderful... maybe because that handsome Dad is

my one and only little brother with his cute wife and my little nephew,

who might just be the cutest baby ever :)

I recently took some new family photos for them and it was so FUN! Even Conner (my brother) said that he thought it was fun- I took that as a compliment! Guys are always less than thrilled about getting pictures taken, right? :) Anyhow, just thought I'd share a few here with some of my thoughts on the experience of being a seriously amateur family photographer, as well as links to some great photography tutorials I looked through beforehand...

Easy Braided Chevron Friendship Bracelet

I've been really excited to share this project with you! I recently snagged a Ziploc sandwich bag stuffed full of embroidery thread at a yard sale and was thrilled! I've been wanting to try tying some bracelets so I had something to do as we were driving (we do tend to keep the road pretty hot!) or just something that I could do without it being too involved. I really oughta just take up crochet or something :)

Anyhow, so I looked up friendship bracelet tutorials on Pinterest and there are some great ones. Most of them are tied- where you actually loop and pull tight the thread around each strand over and over. I started that way and realized immediately that it was going to be far too time consuming for my taste! So, I came across a few that were braided instead. I specifically liked the thought of trying a fishtail braid to get a chevron, or arrow, type look. I love how these turned out! And they are seriously easy!

Nine Years: Marriage is Bliss

Nine years ago today, Stephen and I each married someone we couldn't live without :)

I'm so blessed to be able to be married to my best friend, to truly have good, solid communication with my husband, to have him be the person I am most comfortable around. Nine years- wow!

Being married to Stephen has made life what it is and through it all, I'm so happy and grateful for what we have, for the goodness of our life! It's not posh or pretty or perfect, but it is blessed and bright. I love you, babe! Thanks for loving me :)

It's true, we're pretty darn cute together ;)

Happy Independence Day!

Wishing everyone in the United States a Happy Independence Day today!

Hopefully you're watching parades, enjoying a BBQ and lighting fireworks :)

Came Across this quote and thought it was worth sharing today:

God Bless America!

May we be instruments in His hands to protect her and the freedoms we enjoy!

For a good read (one of my favorite posts ever from Independence Day a couple years ago),

click HERE :)

And for that feel good, tingly feeling that this day is all about, watch this: 

Diabetes, Disease, and Genetics

Can you believe that was me!

I was six years old- Cooper's age! Amazing how blond my hair was!

Now we know where Ryder's blond comes from, eh? :)

This picture would've been taken right about the time I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes.

(That's the kind that has nothing to do with what you eat or if you exercise.

It's the kind where your pancreas just stops working, rather than gets over-worked.)

And when mine stopped, I was this tiny little blondie... and I was pretty. darn. sick.

Cooper Conner Is SIX!

Cooper is turning SIX years old today!

Amidst hanging streamers and balloons and all the prep to make it a fun day for him,

I of course can't help but me a bit sentimental in thinking back.

My SNAP! Conference Experience

I remember reading Ashley from Lil Blue Boo's post about SNAP! creative bloggers conference last year. Actually, reading several blogger's posts about it. Last year at this time, I had been thinking it sounded so inspiring!

Earlier this year, I had the chance to snag a ticket to SNAP! I thought about it a lot, talked with Stephen and he really wanted me to go. He really just supports me in pretty well anything- he is amazing! He particularly liked the idea of us making a trip together out of it also. (Course he did, he didn't want to have to be alone with the boys for three whole days!) ;) 

But, here's the thing... I really haven't been a serious blogger.

This blog has been about showing you how fun my boys are, the bits of creativity I seem to pull off on occasion, preserving our life for later, giving me a reason to play around in Photoshop Elements a bit. If I was going to go to something like SNAP, I needed to be serious about this, right?

Bobby Pin Bling

So "bling" is really not my thing... less is more for me for sure!

If I'm wearing both a necklace and earrings, I usually worry I'm over-doing it with the accessories! But I do like looking like I actually tried, too, ya know? Almost any time I wear my hair down, I pin a strand back with a bobby pin so I can still function without my hair taking over! I wanted to be able to add a little somethin' to a few bobby pins so I could feel like they weren't quite so boring...