Click the “share” button, which is located right underneath the photo albums on the Evy’s Tree fan page, and suggest that all your friends join the fan page. Then come back to the page and write on Evy’s Tree wall. Your name will be entered in a drawing for a tee of your choice.
I will pick a winner on Monday evening sometime….so click HERE to access the fanpage and start sharing!
And Lastly, I was very unhappy with my photos for the Lacey Zip Up in chocolate. I just didn’t feel they showed the correct color. So I played with some more and got some I am happy with- that show the closest true color as possible.
Don’t forget to enter to win one by clicking HERE.
I love your store. Since one of your very incredible locations is just down the street from my house, I am there almost every day. I find so much pleasure in strolling your aisles with a latte in hand pushing a cart full of items that I probably don’t need. You see your store is a mommy’s dreamland…a one stop shop. I can buy all the essentials, TP, shampoo, play clothes for the entire family {and some church items too!}, diapers, movies, toys, outdoor items, flowers, plants, etc.
Seriously, for $100 {which is usually how much I spend at your store} I can get so much. I LOVE TARGET.
But I have a favor to ask of you. Please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top…stop introducing to your store new and exciting name brand items made only for Target for a wonderful price. My pocket book just can’t take anymore. You about did me in when you started stocking Rachel Ashwell Simple Shabby Chic, now this:
Giada salad dressings and pasta sauce?!? oh boy!! I just could NOT buy only one. Sure, compared the $12.99 I would have paid at Williams Sonoma, I paid only $2.99…but I bought THREE!! So you still get my $12.99…well ok, not quite that amount, but pretty close.
And Caldera lotion. Well, enough said!
I know I should be greatful, but I only went to your store for a quick trip to get 2 gallons of milk and some thank you cards. And when I left well…
So Target, I beg you please be considerate of us Mom’s who have no self control. Think about us when you debate about whether or not you will introduce Valentino just for Target…
Um wait, if you introduce Valentino just for your store…call me first. I will be your first customer!
Oh boy.
SIDE NOTE:
Yesterday was a packed day for my husband and I. Check out this short video for his blog that Brandon put together chronicling a day in the life of a youth pastor. And check out those hash browns…WOW!! Poor guy…
There is a very good possibilty that I have already used that title. But I am too tired to check, so sorry if so.
Are there any fellow Mommies out there that are as tired as me? Seriously, I can barely keep my eyes open lately.
Between staying up {wayyyy too late} to finish orders, keeping the house {semi} clean, {trying} to keep on top of the laundry {even though I washed the same load three times this weekend!}, {attempting} to conversate with my husband who seems equally busy, {not very successfully} keeping up with my exercise, cooking fresh, wholesome {somewhat, at least} meals….
Well, I guess you can see why I am tired.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE being home with my kids…but its super hard work and I have two words for you people:
ADULT INTERACTION.
Yup, I am learning it’s valuable beacause all I have to say is…I wonder if I even speak adult-ese anymore? It seems like everytime I get away from my kids and I get to spend time with legal voters, I get a glazed over look and start drifting off into lala land.
What in the world is everyone talking about?!?
I’m embarrassed to say that between raising my kids, working with young people and my little hoodie business, I have lost contact with the world outside of those three things. Like apparently there has been a volcano in Iceland that shut down most of Europe’s airways last month? Well, yeah, I looked like an idiot when I cluelessly told my brother {who has no kids, is very involved with current affairs AND lives in Europe} that I had no idea what he was talking about when he said his flight to the States might be canceled because of it.
HMMM…
What I do know is this:
{I’ve been playing with actions…so bear with me!}
I seriously need locks on my cabinet {which Brandon is in process of installing this weekend}. I know, its amazing we made it without them throughout Jake’s first years but believe me when I say HE WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED. Evy, on the other hand, sheesh. She has to be into everything. And yes, when the Dr asked me at every well-baby check up with Jake if we had them on the cabinet doors, I smiled and nodded my head…’cause we did…on the two Jake liked. Shhhh! Sorry Dr. B.
And despite the fact that I don’t really know what’s going on out there {which I am attempting to fix…I have been logging on to msnbc.com again, whew}, I know that apparently I have done something right ’cause Jake can storytell REALLY well!!
Yes, that is a very old Search for Truth Bible study chart that Jake must have found somewhere around the house and yes he is retelling the destruction of Jerusalem, but it sounded like this:
“And then the Knights took the men and said, ‘We are going to defeat you!’
But the men said, ‘No you’re not!’
Bam, bam, pow,pow {Jake’s fighting sound effects}
Whoohoo, we won, we won! We got them!
And this Soilder {pointing to the “knights”}, he’s very brave, Mommy!”
Yeah, I know, not really super spiritual and kinda sad that he drifted to the distruction page instead of the love, joy peace page? Oh boy.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, tired.
I’m tired. Very, very tired. And I have a movie that I rented from Redbox that has been sitting in the DVD player for THREE nights in a row. Brandon gets it cued up and then I crash, or I sew, or I clean. And he goes to bed, sick of waiting for me.
So tonight, my dear friends, I will not sew, I will not clean… I will put the kids down for bed and the REST. Because even God rested…and I’m so glad He did!!
On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work, Genesis 2:2
Well, I have seen a lot of blogs make a post on Dear Lillie’s giveaway…but I thought I would also jump in.
A while back I was sharing with you how I met some great people through blogging and one is Jenni, who runs Dear Lillie. She is such a sweetie and has become a great friend who has been an excellent support in the etsy world. Her mom, Heidi is also wonderful…she made Evy’s tutu for her first birthday party. Isn’t it adorable?!:
Anyway, she is doing another fab giveaway…this time she is giving two items, a beautiful Adeliene dress to the grand prize winner and a screenprinted tee to the runner up.
Pretty cool, huh?!
Hop on over and enter, if you haven’t already…the giveaway ends on Monday! Thanks Jenni for the awesome giveaway, you guys are the best!
Yesterday I talked a little about meeting wonderful ladies in the blogging world and I introduced you to 40 Toes Photography.
Well, today I would like to introduce you to Princy n’ Paris.
I first met Prencie, who runs Princy n’ Paris, while commenting on the Joyfolie blog, which was formerly Mia Joie. Come to find out, I went to Bible College with one of Prencie’s high school friends! How cool is that?!? And what a small world!
Anyway, Prencie is the sweetest person ever and makes the most adorable headband, brooches and hair pieces…
And she is doing a giveaway…$30 credit towards anything in her store. Seriously, I am hoping I win, there are SEVERAL things I am eyeing! Head on over to enter by clicking HERE
And don’t forget the Evy’s Tree giveaway…you can enter every day if you like!! Click HERE to do so.
Remember the teeter totters from your nursery school playground? Do you recall the countless hours you probably spent as a child going up and down, up and down, from one side of the teeter totter to the next.
Well sometimes I feel like life is a teeter totter. Full of a range of emotions. One minute you feel joy and the next moment…the opposite.
{Example: “I LOVE my new camera!” to “For the love of God and all that is good, HOW DO YOU WORK THIS THING?!?”}
AHEM…
Anyway, this past week has been a teeter totter week. Full of such extreme joy with a few interesting, sometimes heartbreaking moments mixed in. I’m going to give you a little picture walkthrough of our week, compliments of our wonderful new camera!
On Tuesday, Brandon’s tooth was hurting so badly we had to rush him to the Dentist. One very LONG drive to Santa Rosa to see my family dentist and A VERY BAD cavity later {actually, a near root canal, and we’re still not out of the woods, still in pain :(}…here is our prize.
Teeter totter low….
Teeter totter swings upon Wednesday night. My two precious babies are ready for church and how can you not resist this munchkin? Wearing your dress, Emily! {pants still too big..bummer }
Or this one, who is in his favorite hiding spot
Thursday the teeter totter swung to a mixed HIGH and LOW…high that we got to have our friends the Younkins over for dinner, low that they will be leaving Stockton in a few short weeks and starting a church plant in Sparks/Reno area. Please pray for them…and for us. We will miss them!
Friday was a BIG teeter totter in the up direction. Brandon was asked to be the keynote speaker at Stockton Christian School’s high school graduation. This was a big honor to Brandon as 11 years ago {should have been 12, if Brandon had did his school work..shh, don’t repeat that} Brandon graduated from SCS. He was so excited to be asked to speak to the students.
Saturday…WOW.
Kris and Kate got married. So beautiful. So special. We loved every minute of it. The teeter totter of life was good that day….even when it came to these two:
This is Jake and Emma Love, Kate’s niece and my dear friend Heidi’s daughter. Jake and Emma love each other and if you were to ask Jake who he is going to marry he will tell you very emphatically, “Emma Love King”.
Well, these little guys are two peas in a pod. Seriously. They are going to either love each other to bits or get on each other’s last nerve, but they are HYSTERICAL together- very, very crazy. They run around like chickens with their heads cut off most of the time.
Well, actually, this picture probably describes them well:
And another good thing that day…my brother Brad, who lives in London, was in town and was able to make it to the wedding. Jake was so excited…although he looks a little mad here, probably because he was being made to sit still while Emma Love ransacked the church all by herself.
On Tuesday the teeter totter was working overtime. We spent lunch at In n Out {seriously the best hamburgers EVER} with Brandon’s sister, Brittony and her boyfriend Shawn…
Our cousin Brooke and her daughter Maddie were also there…
Even though we were at In n Out and all together…we were there for a very sad reason. Brooke, Jon and Maddie are moving to St. Louis and they were leaving that afternoon. Lots of tears were shed {which explains why no pictures of me or Brooke}. We will miss them sooo very much. Maddie is the only cousin Jake’s age {they are 5 months apart} who has lived near us. They love each other.
ACK…must stop talking about it. Big tears again.
Jake gave Maddie a picture of the two of them to remember their crazy times together.
So back to the teeter totters.
Did you ever notice during your school yard tenure that if you positioned yourself JUST SO in the middle of the teeter totter that the board would go perfectly straight?
Balanced…
Sometimes I wish I could find that perfect balanced point and ride life through like that. But that would be impossible, wouldn’t it? Because the ups and downs the back and forth…the teeter totter of life…is what makes the joys so much more rewarding. It makes life worthwhile.
So, Lord, help me to remember that the teeter totter of life is necessary. Help me, in the process, to not miss the “YOU” moments…the moments when I see your hand in every day circumstances. Thank you for keeping our little family wrapped in your arms. Its so good know that despite what we face, we have You on our side.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10
PS…if any of you young people missed A29 youth service tonight…you must ask Pastor Brandon to hear the message. Incredible. Thank you Babe for encouraging us to not give God our “leftovers”. Such a powerful thought.
I have some great friends in this blogging world. I really, really do. I am so thankful for all of them. They have been such a blessing in such a crazy and unsocial moment in my life. Staying at home is A LOT harder than it looks, especially for someone who craves adult interaction. HA.
Anyway, blogging has been such a great way for me to connect with other great moms, stay at home and working alike.
I would like to share a couple of them with you over the next couple of days. They are all doing great giveaways, and I think you should know about it.
40 Toes Photography
I cannot say enough about Jenn. She is a mom to FOUR beautiful children, 3 boys and 1 girl! And they always look amazing…how does she do it?!?
Anyway, Jenn is such a sweetheart. I “met” her through a mutual online friend and she has been not only a wonderful customer but a great photographer to boot. Here are a couple of her shots she took for me and Evy’s Tree.
Here is her precious Stella Marie wearing my Mini Brilla. Still have a couple of these left!
I love this one. Two Evy’s Tree Hoodies on her babies…the Mini Brilla again and The Ronnie.
The Ronnie again. Isn’t her little man just precious?!?
Stella Marie modeling my Mini Hoot…this is an old listing. I have one left in the shop…hurry, its on sale!!
Jenn and her kiddos all dressed in Evy’s Tree. I love it.
this is wonderful Jenn. She is wearing my Plus Size Brilla, XXL. This is an excellent example of well they fit. If you are interested in purchasing a Plus Size hoodie, or true to size XL and XXL, I can make most of my items in the shop for the same price.
Thank you Jenn for modeling for me-you are such a beautiful person, inside and out. And you look so great in Evy’s Tree!!
Jenn is doing a great giveaway on her blog. She has just recently started sewing and is making a custon shirt or dress for your little princess you choose.
And I can’t wait to tell you about the newest giveaway.
You all know that I am addicted to hoodies…yes, sad, but true, so when I did The Lacey Tee a while back, I just knew I had to do a Lacey hoodie. I debated whether or not I wanted the hood – I have been wanting to chop off the hood for a while now, and I felt like this was my chance. So, inspired by the whole “Flashdance” era {actually, I’m not even sure I’ve ever even SEEN that movie, ha!}…I took my scissors and chopped away- creating a deep neck and 3/4 length sleeves. I then took the left over material, left the edges raw and cascaded ruffles and lace down the right shoulder.It’s called The Lacey Zip Up…
The result was darling. So fun for the summer. I can just see it being worn on the pier eating a lovely seafood dinner. In fact, I wore it dressed up with heels to our church ladies tea. Equally as perfect!
I made this one in chocolate brown and black- two colors that are very hard to photograph, but trust them, they look so darling in real life.
And I’m giving one away this week!
But there is a little glitch in this giveaway…
My inventory is getting low. I only have TWO chocolate brown Lacey zip up in stock, size small and large. I have one of each size in the black {S-XL}. I am placing another American Apparel order next week…these items are listed in the shop, so next Wednesday when I pick the winner, if I do not have your size, I will get it for you, but please be patient, there will be a THREE week turnaround. And oh yes, I can do them plus sizes, but those will be a special order!
If you purchase the hoodie in advance, and you win this week’s giveaway, you can use the credit towards anything in the shop. Fair?
So how do you enter?
Leave a comment telling me what color you want- 1 ENTRY
You can come back everyday to enter, if you like. {Thanks Jenni of Dear Lillie for that idea!! :)- who is also doing another great giveaway}
Publicly follow this blog – 2 ENTRIES
Make sure your picture shows up under “Followers”!
Become a fan on Facebook – 1 ENTRY
Click HERE to “like” Evy’s Tree facebook page. If you are already a fan you get the entry, so make sure to mention it! Share this link on facebook- 2 ENTRIES
Copy the link to this blog post into your status update box and share with your friends
Blog about this giveaway- 3 ENTRIES
Please feel free to use any of my photos from my shop!
PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:
Leave one comment PER ENTRY…for example comment ONCE for the first entry. If you become a follower you will have THREE comments. I did some examples for you in the comment section.
I will leave this giveaway open until Midnight on Tuesday, June 1st. I will announce the winner on June 2nd. A new giveaway will start when I open my shop back up on Monday, June 14th.
Thanks everyone and good luck!!
xoxo
PS…If you follow my family blog, you know that my husband Brandon is a youth pastor. Our annual youth camp is coming up on June 8. Yours truly is the daytime speaker, so in preparation for that, I will be closing the shop on June 2 -14. I will not be sewing at all during that time, so if you order anything near that time, please kindly factor that into the time frame. :)
Today has been an interesting day….it started with coffee poured all over me {hear more about it HERE}, and hasn’t really progressed much better to be honest, ha! I chatted with my friend Janelle {for some GREAT laughs, you must visit her blog}, and we came to the conclusion that it REALLY IS ok to not complete everything on your To Do List…even if your list is only 3 or 4 items long.
HAHA….
Sorry, I have no idea why that makes me laugh. But seriously, my oh my, how life has a way of making you change…’cause several years ago if I didn’t complete all 10 of my To Do List items I considered myself a big loser.
Now I just consider myself a mom…a little unorganized, rarely on time and well…HAPPY. Am I the only mom in this boat? I mean, please someone, tell me if you clean the kitchen and then turn around to find it a mess again? Those little kiddos sure do know how to make quite a mess…. but isn’t it worth it?
Like this:
I am making dinner for my Pastor and his family tomorrow and I thought how nice it would be to make a cheesecake since I had all the ingredients. I reached into the cabinet and got down the graham cracker crumbs and sat them on the counter. I quickly stepped out of the room for just a few minutes to tend to something in our bedroom and all of a sudden I hear Brandon yelling:
“Stop, no! No more water! My goodness, what are you doing?”
Jake’s response:
“Making myself some cereal Daddy!”
In the process of making this cereal, he had also gotten a package of croutons from the freezer…pulled my plastic table cloth {yes, I have resort to plastic to save my table finish…ugh} almost completely off and had dumped cheerios all over the floor. I’m telling you sometimes you just wonder WHAT GOES THROUGH THEIR HEAD?!?
And my precious Evy…haha. Just eating quietly away.
So I did not make the cheesecake. Pastor will get cookies instead.
Oh and BIG BIG BIG news…
I GOT MY NEW CAMERA!!
I have been saving up money over the last couple months and some friends also gave me some money for a brithday gift {ahem Alisha}…and on my birthday Brandon asked me if we wanted to blow GOBS of money on a fancy resturaunt or use it to buy the camera.
Well, I’m sure you know what I chose. We went to Cheesecake Factory and split a pasta dish and a piece of cheesecake. Smart, huh?
So I got a Canon Rebel XS. I am still learning how to use it, so bear with me… and we couldn’t afford an extra lens, so we’re using what it came with, but I would LOVE if any of you have any suggestions on a great, must have, everday lens?
So my friends…with that I am signing off. I, of course, am late to youth service, but I have come to conclusions that I would not be Amy if I was on time, so why disappoint everyone now? ha
Do any of you mom’s out there have Leap Frog videos? Particularly the Math Circus one?
Well, if you do, you will recognize this line spoken by the number zero:
“I’m just a big nothing…always late!”
This line has been going through my mind quite a bit lately, probably because Jake has been asking to watch that video quite frequently, but I really started thinking about it this week especially.
This has not been an easy week.
Just a short breakdown:
Wedding out of town last weekend {which was lovely- saw many wonderful friends and laughed A LOT}
Arrive back to town with about 20 orders to be *GULP* sewn
Sewed all Sunday evening, Monday and Tuesday morning
Tuesday was my birthday….cried. A lot.
Tired and frustrated that I haven’t slept
I haven’t been out of the house for 3 days
And I’m very cranky- my kids probably hate me.
Dinner in Walnut Creek for my birhday.
I smiled.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
I finished sewing all my very, very late orders.
I did my best to get them all out on time.
But they didn’t make it.
And I had angry customers.
And I spent Saturday crying over
my angry customers, my husband who was gone for the day, my out of town family problems
and the fact that I rushed to the post office to mail off some items and the post office closed early.
UGH.
The “Zero Complex” {thanks a lot Math Circus} was hitting me hard.
I ran into an elder in the church hallways yesterday {on my way to get my screaming baby from the nursery, mind you} and he aked me how I was. I told him fine. He asked how I really was and I told him how hard staying at home really is. Plus trying to start a business. And trying to maintain my ministry with the young people. And not to mention trying to stay sane between that.
He gave me a big smile, patted my shoulder and said, “Amy, I remember. My wife felt the same way. It’s not easy. But nothing in life is.”
I thanked him. It felt so good to have someone tell me they understood, that this was normal and that I wasn’t crazy for how I felt. I walked away thinking that it’s all about perspective. If I walked around all day burdened down by my “zero complex”, what kind of life do I expect to have? Life is hard period, so maybe I can help it out by have a better persepective on it.
So all day yesterday I rejoiced about my little kiddos and the mess they make. And my hoodie business that God has brought into my life. And my lack of sleep. And you know what? I saw all the good things like this:
Gobs of fresh roses just brought in from my garden
Jake having a “tea party” with my frozen chocolate chip cookie dough balls {how DID he get in the freezer, though?!?}
And potty training. We are hitting it hard core right now so we can put Jake in PreSchool starting in June. As you can tell from the mess and the look on his face, its going so-so.
But really, what I am trying to say through all this is…
Life is hard, frustrating, and sometimes unbearable. But it is also a wonderful and joyful time of living, loving and laughing. If you put God first, your family and THEN your life…you will notice that it’s not as bad you think it is.
Perspective.
I love you my blog friends. I can’t thank you enough for sharing this wonderful and interesting time with me. You all have made me smile, laugh hysterically and sometimes cry. Its a wonderful thing for a mom who doesn’t get out much. And I am praying for you all. I hope God blesses you and family above and beyond what you can possiblly think today.
We are in this together.
xoxo
“…take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16
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