Farewell 2014

2014 was a quiet year for Grable Tales.  I could blame it on having a baby, but shouldn't that have given me more content?  I have a feeling that Instagram has something to do with the lack of posts --- honestly, it's a lot easier to post a photo with a small comment then think of an entire post.  Regardless, this year still deserves some recognition:

January - *crickets*

February - my first post of the year was a Stitch Fix review: pregnant edition; I also shared how I was spending my time lately (hint: Sam Grable Photo, The Influence Network, and being pregnant for the second time); I announced my hopes of attending my second Influence Conference; and blogged about my love for 4moms.

March - I started the month off by writing out my monthly goals (and linking up with The Tiny Twig's Goals with Grace); I updated my about me page & began leading an Influence Network community group; and I talked about being a month out from meeting our baby boy (& shared his name)

April - I revisited my March goals + shared my April goals; and blogged about my thoughts of Brené Brown’s book - Daring Greatly

May - I looked back on my April goals + made a few May goals; introduced our baby boy, Calvin!; shared how different Mother's Day felt this year; started writing monthly letters to Calvin; and shared my first postpartum Stitch Fix review.

June - continued with goals for June; after flying across the country with a six week old, I blogged about some of the 'flying with a baby' tips/advice that worked for us; Calvin turned two months old; and Sam & I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary.

July - this month, I really started to give myself grace when it came to my goals for July; parenting definitely isn't easy, but on occasion it does make you feel like you have some super powers; another Stitch Fix review (I love this service!); my baby turned three months old; and I blogged about the community I found online.

August - still going strong + trying to be transparent with my monthly goals; I reviewed my birthday Stitch Fix; and Calvin kept getting bigger (four months old).

September - I finally realized that some goals will be repeats each month and that's ok; I (re)introduced myself in preparation of the Influence Conference; Calvin turned five months old; thanks to credits, I received a Stitch Fix before attending the Influence Conference; and then I recapped the conference for the second year in a row.

October - two posts remain consistent each month: goals + Calvin's letter (six months old this month!)

November - goals, goals, goals (sorry for the repeating); a photo recap of October; I shared my experience with essential oils; I turned to social media for help with this month's Stitch Fix review; Calvin turned seven months old; and I took some time to be thankful.

December - after nine months of goals, I shared my last goals (with grace) for 2014; blogged about Christmas traditions; honored Charlotte's second birthday and shared the way we chose to celebrate her; reflected on our second year without our baby girl; Calvin celebrated his eighth month of being on the outside; I blogged about the significance of a little giraffe; and reviewed my final Stitch Fix for the year.

This year brought a lot of joy + hope, as well as sleepless nights + tears. And while this space has been primarily used to review Stitch Fixes, write out my goals, and share my monthly letter to Calvin, but I appreciate the comments & community I've found through this space + social media outlets.  Maybe next year things will be different...

Until then... Happy New Year!

My Daily Routine with Essential Oils

Essential oils are everywhere these days*.

Before this summer, I didn't know much about them.  I kept seeing them pop up all over social media, but it wasn't until I was struggling with some issues with Calvin that I was introduced to them.  And now? I find myself reaching for them every day.

Lately, if I'm lucky, my day starts with a shower.  And thanks to döTERRA's shampoo & conditioner combo, my post-partum hair hasn't felt better.  They help protect colored hair & smell amazing!  In addition, I'm also using the HD Clear face wash daily.

Throughout the day, I find myself reaching for one of my citrus oils to help aid in my water intake.  Not only do they improve the taste of my water, but they help boost my mood.  I've also found that lemon is also a good one for cleaning!

And at the end of the day, oils are now a staple in Calvin's bedtime routine --- a little lavender/fractionated coconut oil mixture on his feet & sheets + a drop of DigestZen (a döTERRA digestive blend) on his tummy = a happy baby (& mama).  I'm also trying a few oils to help with the his newest stage - teething...

When I realized how easy & naturally oils can replace a lot of the medicines in your home, I took the plunge and became a döTERRA wellness advocate.  In short, that means I can purchase essential oils & products at wholesale prices, but people can also purchase oils through my site. Honestly, I've never been a natural salesman, but I do enjoy sharing a product and/or company that can change someone's life and that's what I believe essential oils are --- life changing.

 

Disclosure: I was not compensated for my thoughts, but I will receive commission for purchases made through the links on this post.

*I understand people have opinions on different essential oil companies, but I'm not writing this to start any debate. We have seen results with döTERRA essential oils, which is why I'm sharing my experience with them.

November Goals

For someone that lives on lists, these posts are some of my favorite to write each month.  But, to be honest, they aren't always the easiest.  While I enjoy setting goals for the month, I find it really humbling when I have to share whether I accomplished them or not.  Anyone else find this to be true?

October Recap:

1. Continuing the spending freeze & sticking to our budget (third month's the charm?). We did much better on this one this month. We did have a couple unexpected expenses, but were able to sell a few things throughout the month to balance out the extra spending.

 

2. Set boundaries for Internet use, specifically when I'm home with Calvin. Still working on this one...

3. Sit down with Sam & set some SMART goals for Sam Grable Photography. FAIL. We talked about doing this, but didn't actually sit down & set any.  This will be on next month's for sure.

4. Go on a date with Sam (without Calvin, if possible). Thanks to some baby-loving grandparents, we achieved this goal.  I'd love to have at least one childless date with Sam each month if we can make that happen...

5. Start working on our house to get it ready to sell/rent. This one is started.  We had a couple appointments with real estate agents & rental companies and are working on getting the house ready.

November Goals:

1. Set SMART goals for Sam Grable Photography with Sam.

2. Continue to work on Internet/phone boundaries.

3. Budget, budget, budget!

4. Get back into blogging (for me).

Linking up with The Tiny Twig // Goals with Grace

October Goals

Over the last few years, I have fallen more in love with the Pacific Northwest's rendition of Fall. And in my opinion, October usually has some of the best weather of the year.

September flew by!  Between sleep training & the Influence Conference, I'm not sure where the month went, which is obvious when we look back at my goals...

September Recap:

1. I'm putting myself on a spending freeze in hopes that this helps with our budget. The only exception is budgeted expenses (bills, food, gas). --- I'd give myself a C on this one, so I'm going to try again.

2. Spending dedicated time with Sam that doesn't revolve our sweet baby boy. --- We may have spent time together after Calvin went to sleep, but it was usually spent in vegging out in front of the TV. I'd like to continue to work on this one too.

3. Get out of the house more! Whether that looks like a walk around the neighborhood or meeting up with a friend, I need to step out of my comfort zone that is my house. --- Done! We walked some, visited friends, & ran errands. And now we are attending a bible study, which I'm really looking forward to!

October Goals:

1. Continuing the spending freeze & sticking to our budget (third month's the charm?).

 

2. Set boundaries for Internet use, specifically when I'm home with Calvin.

3. Sit down with Sam & set some SMART goals for Sam Grable Photography.

4. Go on a date with Sam (without Calvin, if possible).

5. Start working on our house to get it ready to sell/rent.

 

Linking up with The Tiny Twig // Goals with Grace

Influence Conference 2014

Last September, I returned home from the Influence Conference empowered, filled up, and looking forward.  I didn't know where God was going to lead me, but I finally understood that I had influence and was praying for an opportunity to share.

Fast forward to a couple weeks after the conference: I received an email from Jessi asking if I'd be interested in serving the network via their Twitter & Facebook accounts.  I was shocked to even be considered, but completely honored at the same time and continue to be blessed daily by the women I get to meet & interact with via the Influence Network's social media.

Around November, I started thinking about following year's conference and ended up buying my ticket during the Black Friday sale. Honestly, I can't remember if I even did the math on how old my baby would be, but it didn't matter. I just knew the impact the last one had on me and felt like it was important enough to try to attend.

When conference information started rolling out this summer, I began to wonder if I could actually make this trip happen. I was deep in new motherhood and feeling pretty scared of going alone with my baby. As a last hope/joke, I asked my best friend (also a new mom) if she wanted to join me in Indianapolis & help with Calvin and to my surprise, she said yes! And from there I felt like everything just came together...

Now, on the other side of it, I know there was a reason everything came together.  God wanted me at the conference and He made it happen.  Putting words to what I learned & experienced just days after something like this is hard for me to do, but a list of my favorites? I can totally do that!


My #InfluenceConf 2014 Top 5

1. Worship --- For the second year in a row, I was brought to tears during the conference worship time.  There is something about singing in a room full of 300+ God-loving women that just moves you in the best way.

2. The Mom's Suite, hosted by Thrive Moms --- This space was a total blessing!  Even though our room wasn't far, having a place to feed, change, & play with Calvin just a few steps away from the conference was wonderful.  Some of my best conversations of the conference happened in that room with women who are in similar stages of life as I.

3. The Message Revival session on home --- I wasn't sure what to expect with the revival sessions, but ended up walking away a page full of ideas on how to make my home a place that works for my family & I, such as dedicated date nights with my husband (even if they are at home after the kids go to bed) and organizing my home so it functions best for everyone who lives there.

4. Lara Casey's mini-Making Things Happen session --- I didn't know of Lara Casey before last year's conference, but on a whim I attended her session and was blown away by her southern charm & inspiring ideas.  This year, the network hosted a members-only event where Lara gave us a glimpse of her own conference - Making Things Happen, which intends to "fire people up to make bold decisions towards their best lives and empower them to step into their fears instead of away from them".  And that it did!  The feeling in the room was vulnerable, but hopeful, as women admitted their fears and discovered how to overcome them.  Definitely a night I'm still processing through.

5. A (small) glimpse into the behind the scenes --- Last year, I remember thinking to myself a number of times, "how did they put this conference on?"  As a do-er, I love helping to put feet to someone else's ideas.  So this year, being involved on the social media side, I was able to see a tiny part of what the core team goes through to bring a message to 300 women.  And it's inspiring!  Thank you Hayley, Jessi, Ashley, Lindsey, Rachael, & Moriah.

Honorable mention: my best friend, Kelly --- I'm so thankful she said yes to flying across the country with our babies (five & seven months old), hanging out in a hotel room, and watching Calvin anytime I asked.  I already knew she was the best, but now everyone knows.  Kel - are you ready to come back with me next year? ;)



So tell me... If you attended the conference, what was your top moments?  And if you didn't attend, do you have any questions I might be able to answer? Leave a comment or send me an email.

#InfluenceConf 2014 linkup

Last September, I remember how nervous, yet anxious I was about going to the Influence Conference. The fact that I was flying across the country and rooming with two women I'd never met was a pretty big deal, but all my worries vanished the minute I checked in to the conference. Even as a an introvert, I found myself meeting new faces & introducing myself to bloggers I had been following for years because we all had one thing in common - making our online (and offline) life mean something.

This year, my nerves have been replaced with excitement. I can't wait to reunite with women I have gotten to know virtually over the last year and learn more about using my influence right where I'm at.

I hope to meet many of you next week in Indianapolis and while I will probably have my hands full (I'm bringing my five month old), I will be sure to have my blog cards so we can connect after we return home!

May Goals

It's probably no surprise that April felt like a total blur...

Thankfully the goals I set were simple because bringing a baby into this world was a lot of work! And May is already all about surviving, so don't be surprised when you see my goals below.  But first, let's look back on April.

April Recap:

1. Finish "The Meaning of Marriage" by Tim Keller. Check! Our church finished it's series going through this book and I really enjoyed it. This is one I think I'll recommend to friends who are married & single because there is something for everyone!

2. Continue my shopping freeze for Lent. Done. It wasn't easy, but I did it. When I found myself wanting to shop, I tried to turn those thoughts on to something more productive.

3. Spend some quality time with Sam before Calvin arrives... So-so. The two weeks prior to meeting Calvin were filled with preparations and before we knew it, we were meeting our baby boy. I do recall some special times with Sam, dreaming of what life would soon look like, sharing our hopes & dreams with each other, so I'm counting that as quality time.

May Goals:

1. Take a close look at our spending and start looking for ways to cut costs where we can.

2. Speak life into my husband.

3. Continue to learn Calvin's cues AND remember to give myself grace throughout these first few months.

Again, another simple month as far as the number of goals, but they are fairly complex, at least for this new mom.


Linking up with Hayley of The Tiny Twig.

Daring Greatly

As you can imagine, our lives have changed a lot since Charlotte.  Actually, they changed even before we met her.  Occasionally, I find it easier to talk about what happened and share our story, but more times than not, I find myself worrying over what my words will do to others (make them sad, make them regret they ever asked, etc.) and I get scared to be honest.   To open up.  To be vulnerable.

Enter: Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly.
To be honest, I have been in sort of a slump when it comes to reading books for the last year or so.  

It wasn’t that I wasn't read anything, but lately I was finding myself drawn to shorter stories from real life people (i.e. blogs), instead of long novels or self-help books.  But after receiving strong encouragement to read this book before Calvin arrived, I finally made it a goal & dove in.  And I'm so thankful I did!

I wasn’t expecting this book to speak to me the way it did by any means, but while reading through each chapter, I constantly found myself saying, “me too!” or "oh, that's why that happens", especially when it came to relating to our loss of Charlotte.

Pretty early on in the book, as Brené is introducing her topic and explaining her story, all the doubts on whether this book would be applicable to me were washed away:
 

"Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness." (37)

And that's what hooked me.  After saying goodbye to Charlotte, I found myself wanting to talk about her all the time, but the fears of hurting someone or them not understanding seemed to outweigh all desire.  But what I have come to realize is that my story is just that – my story – and sharing it doesn’t make me weak.  It still isn't easy to answer the question, "do you have any kids?" or "is this your first?", but my answer is no longer overshadowed completely by fear.

Whether you're an extrovert or introvert, male or female, I really believe everyone can find something to relate to within this book.  From understanding the opposite sex to raising your children to giving grace to friends & strangers alike, Brené Brown does a great job explaining the importance of vulnerability and how we can use that to our benefit in everyday life.


If you've had a chance to read Daring Greatly, I'd love to hear what you thought and how the book spoke to you.  And to those who haven't read it yet, I'd strongly recommend adding this one to your reading list as soon as possible.


I was not compensated in any way for this review, but just felt called to share my thoughts.

April Goals

Where did March go?

Between finishing some bigger projects at work, preparing our home for Calvin, and the cold that lasted too long (a couple weeks), I'm not too surprised we're already in April.  However, I was able to accomplish most of the goals I had set for the month, so I'm calling the month a win.

March Recap:

1. Read two books this month: Tim Keller's "The Meaning of Marriage" and "Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown. Semi-complete.  When I made this goal, I was worried it'd be hard to read two books at the same time, yet these two ended up really complimenting each other, in my opinion. I hope to share my thoughts on "Daring Greatly" soon, as it was really eye-opening for me, but my thoughts on "The Meaning of Marriage" will have to wait a little longer (we're going through this one with our church, so I decided to hold off on finishing so we could continue with our church).
2. Go through & clean/organize/purge from every room in our house. Check!  This was one goal I was thankful to have made because it forced me to not just talk about cleaning & organizing, but actually do it.  We managed to go through every room and closet and took at least three trips to Goodwill & listed a couple things on Craigslist.
3. And for Lent - I am putting myself on a shopping freeze. So far, so good.  This is probably been the most difficult goal since I'm a fan of shopping & finding good deals, but this has already taught me a lot about the way I shop --- I tend to buy because I find a good deal, not because I necessarily need it.  And that just leaves me with a lot of "stuff" that I end up having to purge later on (see #2).  I have purchased a few things, but they have either been things we need (for the house) or birthday gifts for other people.

April Goals*:

1. Finish "The Meaning of Marriage" by Tim Keller.
2. Continue my shopping freeze for Lent.
3. Spend some quality time with Sam before Calvin arrives --- I'm not sure how this will look, but I'm thinking no phones, no TV, just him & I enjoying each other.

*Keeping it simple this month as we welcome Calvin & adjust to our new life :)

Linking up with Hayley of The Tiny Twig.

#InfluenceNet Community Groups & About Me

When I joined the Influence Network almost a year ago, I was searching for a community that not only understood the online side of my life (this blog, social media, etc.), but could also relate to some of the "real-life" experiences that were going on, like losing our daughter.  I wasn't looking for someone to fix my problems, but rather walk along side me through the good times & the bad.  And the network was just that for me.

Fast forward to now.  Besides helping with some of the network's social media accounts, I have been asked to help facilitate one of the Influence Network's Community Groups that are about to begin - a group on infant & pregnancy loss.  When I received the initial email, my heart started to beat pretty fast and I turned to God asking, "Why me?  Aren't there other, more capable, women to lead this group?"  But I kept hearing "You can do this!"  So with shaky hands, I replied back saying if they felt I would be a good fit, then I would be honored to navigate through an experience none of us every thought we’d be in.

So because the groups & leaders were officially announced this morning on the Influence Network blog, I thought it would be good to introduce myself to those stopping by for the first time (and re-introduce myself to the "loyals") by directing them to my about me page* and share an insight into what makes me, me.

If you're new, please say hello.  I'd love to hop over to your space & get to know you too.

And if you're not new, please still say hello!  I'm so thankful for those who are walking through this life with me, whether online or off.

*My "about me" page can also be accessed by clicking on my picture on the right.

March Goals

Every month, around this time (or earlier), several posts pop up in my feed about the goals that have been set for the month ahead.  I believe the idea surfaced around the New Year and people came to terms that it's easy to make a resolution/goal at the beginning of the year, but they generally fall off our radars by mid-year.  The alternative?  Monthly goals.

To be honest, while I loved the concept, I just couldn't convince myself to try it out. (Can I blame it on the lack of energy I have due to pregnancy?)  But this month, something changed.  With Lent beginning on Wednesday, I quickly did the math & realized that we'll be meeting our baby boy in about 40 days or less (Lent ends 4/17, baby boy is due 4/18 & we'll be scheduling a c-section sometime before his due date) and I realized there were a few things I'd like to get in order before he arrives.


Goals for March/Lent:

1. Read two books this month: Tim Keller's "The Meaning of Marriage" and "Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown.
2. Go through & clean/organize/purge from every room in our house.
3. And for Lent - I am putting myself on a shopping freeze. (Big thanks to my friend Lindsey for offering to be my accountability partner through this, because I already know I'll need it!)

Are you setting monthly goals or you still following your resolutions?

Linking up with Hayley of The Tiny Twig.

Hello Blog --- Anyone Still Here?

Tap, tap tap... Is this thing on?

Who would have thought when I came back from a "blogging" conference last September that I would feel a loss to write in this space.  But here I am, almost the middle of February, writing my second post of the year.  How does that happen? 

If I had to take a gander, I would put my money on three things that have pushed this blog into radio silence: my current pregnancy, The Influence Network, and Sam Grable Photo.

First, Sam Grable Photo. When my husband came to me early last year and told me how much he wanted to take his photography a step further, I was both excited & scared.  Excited because I love when I get to witness him doing something he loves, like taking pictures.  But I was also scared because I didn't know what that meant exactly.  Now with a little over a year behind us, we're still learning, but loving the direction Sam Grable Photo is going in.  Because I don't have the talent he does behind the camera, I have vowed to help him any other way I can --- organizing shoots, holding equipment, and corresponding with clients --- which has taken more time than I thought it would, but like I said, we're happy with where it's going for now.

Secondly, The Influence Network.  This network of women have touched my online (and offline) life in a way I didn't expect, but am so thankful for!  When I got home from the conference, my mind was spinning with inspiration, my heart blessed by those who I had a chance to meet in person, and my heart unsure where to go with it all.  So when I got an email from one of the co-founders asking if I'd like to help out the network, I was a little stunned, yet grateful.  A way to be involved and inspired?  Yes, please!  Fast forward to today and I have spent the last four months handling the Influence Network's Twitter & Facebook page, which I've really, really grown to love.

And last, but not least, our current pregnancy.  From being scared every day for the first 20 weeks to counting his kicks as I fall asleep at night, my mind has thought of every possible outcome for this little boy I'm carrying.  I've been scared to put my feelings into words because I worry the next minute things will change and I don't feel strong enough to handle it all.  However, at the end of the day, this baby boy is loved just as much as his sister and whatever happens, happens for a reason.


My wish is that I will continue to find my voice on this blog and keep writing.  When I look back over the years, this blog has played a big role in my life and I don't think I'm ready for that to go away yet.  So no promises, but I think I'll just leave it at "we'll see what happens" and hope for the best.

To those still reading: THANK YOU for sticking around, regardless of my silence.

Farewell 2013

When 2013 began, I wasn't sure what the year would hold. We had just suffered a major loss and living day to day (sometimes hour to hour) was all I could handle. And my blogging certainly reflected what I was feeling and how little words I had to share:

January - I started the year writing down a few of my 2013 goals {that I actually accomplished}; I shared the gift we were given through Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep; began posting Friday bullets; and talked about Charlotte - one month after meeting her, never forgetting her, and the reminders of her all around me.

February - I continued posting Friday bullets {an easy way to get my thoughts out}; I shared a story my husband posted on Facebook about Charlotte & having hope; on what would have been C's two month birthday, I talked about anniversaries have helped me heel & meeting with the genetic counselor; and posted the video we shared at Charlotte's memorial.

March - I received {& blogged about} my first Stitch Fix and fell in love the company's concept; the month was filled Friday bullets/thoughts; I joined the Influence Network & attended my first classes; and I shared about a series about life after Charlotte.

April - after sharing about the desire to talk about life after Charlotte in March, I posted about the holidays, being a mother without a child, and questions I've received; I updated my blog with a new design & address; and I ran walked a 5k with my sister-in-law.

May - 2012 was the year of the photo-a-day and in May I shared the book that I made to compile all of my photos in one place; I saw Sara Bareillis again, up close & personal; I celebrated my first Mother's Day without Charlotte, which was bittersweet; and I ended the month visiting Austin & the Heater family.

June - another Stitch Fix box arrived and yet again I was exctied to see what my stylist picked out for me; due to an Influence Network prompt, I shared what home means to me; I couldn't believe six months had already passed since meeting & saying goodbye to Charlotte; and we celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary.

July - my Friday bullets transformed into '5 on Friday', where I shared five of my favorites from the week; I was offered a chance to review a Float Wrap from Printography; I featured five blogs that have helped me through the grieving process; and Sam & I got away for a peaceful weekend.

August - more & more 5 on Fridays {apparently that's the way I got myself to post throughout most of the year}; and Sam built me a headboard.

September - this is the month where my posting drastically slowed down... but not before I posted about my excitement about the Influence Conference & my 2013 scarfs swap.

October - I could barely find the words to describe my time at the Influence Conference {because it was amazing!}; and we finally announced our new addition coming in April.

November - after announcing my pregnancy, I reflected on how different this one feels in comparison to the one with Charlotte; and we found out we would be welcoming a baby boy {and announced it on Instagram}!

December - we honored Charlotte's first birthday; I reviewed Stitch Fix while being pregnant; and rounded out the year reflecting on one year after Charlotte.


As I reflect on the year behind us, I'm grateful God gave me hope, especially in the darker times.  And next year already holds a lot of hope, which I'm also thankful for, but what I am really hoping for in 2014 is that I find my online voice again. Between remembering our baby girl, preparing for our new little guy and continuing to be involved with the Influence Network, my mind is swirling with inspiration & posts; I just need to to take the time to write about it all, for you, my readers, and myself.

So until then... Happy New Year!

The Influence Conference 2013

Because I'm still processing through everything #influenceconf related, I thought a little top 5 list of things from The Influcence Conference would suffice for now:

1. My awesome roommates!
• I couldn't have asked for two better women {Ashton & Tanya} to room with and sincerely hope this isn't the last time we all stay up until after midnight laughing & crying together.
2. Meeting bloggers whom I have followed for years.
• One of the crazy things about blogging is feeling like you already know someone without ever meeting face-to-face.  And yet, the friendships that can come through emailing and social media still amazes me every day.  As my twitter began to fill up with talk of the conference, I was both excited & nervous to meet some of the bloggers I had been following for years and I am so thankful I actually tabled my nerves & actually said hello some of them {Lindsey of The Kubly Girl, Erin of Blue Eyed Bride, and Lindsay of Hello Hue to name a few}. 
3. Listening & learning from such passionate speakers.
• Due to time, I only got to hear from some of the speakers who presented at the conference, but what I did hear is still making me think and blessing me where I least expect it.
• Lara Casey
• Annie Downs
• Jenna Beaugh
• Shawna Niequist
•  Diana Stone
• and the co-founders of The Influence Network, Hayley & Jessi.
4. A beautiful night of worship.
• On the last night of the conference, we all gathered together to worship and sing together.  To be honest, this was probably my favorite part of the whole conference because I could feel the Holy Spirit in the room and I knew there was a reason I had attended this conference.  And not to mention, the sound from that room was just breathtaking!
5. Watching The Influence Network core team love on, pray for, and engage with all the attendees.
• I honestly believe these six women could be called "the dream team". J Not only did their gifts & resources come together to bring us an amazing conference, but they also support a beautiful network of like-minded women all year long.  I've been a fan of each of their work with the network and individual blogs for at least the last six months and I can tell you that each of them writes just as they would speak to you in person, which I admire greatly.

Many times throughout the weekend, I found myself wondering about how this whole network & conference specfically came together and if I ever get a chance to be apart of the behind the scenes, I will consider myself lucky to be among such doers & dreamers! 

As I returned home on Sunday, my mind was swirling {and still is!} with thoughts & plans and my heart both blessed & wrecked in the best possible way.  I'm sure it will take some time to fully see the effects the conference had on me, but for now I am just grateful for the opportunity to attend.

2013 Scarf Swap

I've participated in a few swaps over the years, but Meredith's annual scarf swap is one I've looked forward to the last couple years.

Sure, I probably don't need another scarf in my closet, but I love the idea of picking out a scarf for someone else and then seeing what they will pick out for me!

So when Meredith posted about this year's swap, I think I might have signed up on the first day :) 

I was assigned to shop for Jenny from Hoesli House and after a few emails back & forth, I felt like we both had a good idea of the style of scarf we generally liked.

I can't wait to see what Jenny thought of her scarf, but I have to say, I was not disappointed when I received mine last week!  Not only had Jenny shopped at one of my favorite stores (Gap), but she picked out a scarf that was different than anything I already owned, yet went with a lot of things in my closet. (I've already worn it once and can't wait to wear it again!)

Thank you for my scarf, Jenny!  And thank you Meredith for hosting the swap for another year!

#InfluenceConf 2013 linkup

When I bought my ticket for the Influence Conference back in April, it felt like it was SO far away.  But here we are, two & half weeks away from and I can hardly believe it's (almost) here!

So to pump myself up a bit, I'm linking up with the Influence Network blog to answer a couple short per-conference questions...

First, the two things I will FOR SURE have packed in my bag are as follows:

[one] my iPhone

(because lets be honest, not only is it my phone, but it's my calendar, my camera, my lifeline!)

and

[two] my new blog cards 

(which is a little weird to me, but apparently the thing you do :))



And since this is my first blogging conference, the two things I'm most looking forward to about the Influence Conference are:

[one] meeting some of the women I have come to know & admire via the Internet

(and I really hope I don't freeze when I meet some of my favorite bloggers in person)

and

[two] to take it all in!

I don't feel like I have a lot of expectations going into the conference, but I just pray that I can take away everything God intends me to.


So, will I get to meet you in a couple weeks?  If so, please leave a comment.

Five on Friday

It's Friday again so you know what that means...  I'm linking up with Darci + friends for five on Friday!

[one]
Eat, Live, Run's blueberry almond sugar cookies had me at blueberry.  They've been a pretty consistent staple in our fridge this summer, so finding new ways to incorporate this seasonal fruit has been pretty fun. And deep down, I wish I could be Jenna's personal recipe taste-tester...

[two]
After a particularly heavy week, Ashton's post on letting it go really encouraged me.  She reminded me (through scripture & her beautiful words) that we are not alone, but that God is here to carry our burdens and lift us up when we can no longer do so.  Not an easy thing to accept, yet incredibly comforting at the same time.

[three]
So remember that network of amazing women I can't stop talking about? Well their annual conference is just a couple weeks away and while I am looking forward to this experience, I am still pretty nervous.  But seeing the posts pop up in my feed from other bloggers saying they'll be there too has actually put my nerves at ease a bit. Plus, I had a chance to chat with my roommates (Ashton & Tanya) last week and now I really can't wait to meet them in person next month!

[four]
I may be a little biased, but I am really happy with how my husband's latest photo shoot turned out! I was able to tag along & be his "photo assistant" for the day, which is not as easy as I thought it might be.  But thankfully we had good weather, a fun & unique location (McMenamin's Edgefield Hotel) and a very cooperative subject, which was the perfect combination!

 
[five]
Speaking of Edgefield, we're actually on our way back up there this weekend to see Death Cab for Cutie! It's my first time seeing the band & attending a concert at this venue, but as long as there is nice weather (fingers crossed) and good music, I think it will be a fun night!

Any fun weekend plans?

Five on Friday

Happy Friday!

I'm a little late in posting my five on Friday, but better late than never, right?  I'm linking up again with Darci & friends again this week.

[one]
With summer wrapping up, I'm loving all the vacation recaps that are popping up on my feed!  While we didn't have any big getaways this summer, I've been enjoying reading about other people's.  Two recaps that stood out this week were Bower Power and Blue Eyed Bride.  Both went to the beach with their families, but what I loved most was they both went with their best friends + families as well, which is such a fun concept I hadn't thought of!

[two]
I'm not sure if it's the longer days or the nice weather, but summer just feels like the perfect time to get things done around the house!  One of the items on our to-do list this summer was to re-stain our deck, which has definitely seen better days, but it hasn't happened yet.  But just as I was thinking this task might have to wait until next summer, Young House Love came to the rescue and shared step-by-step instructions on how they stripped, cleaned, and re-stained their deck in just a couple days.  I'm definitely motivated, so we'll see if I can motivate Sam...

[three]
One of my Influence Conference roomies celebrated seven years of marriage this week and she wrote a post on seven things she's learned since getting married and I sat their reading her post and agreeing with every suggestion she shared (even if Sam & I have only been married for five years).  Sure, marriage isn't easy, but when you invest the time & energy into your spouse and relationship, it is so worth it!

[four]
I consider myself an avid reader of blogs.  (I love posts like this where other bloggers share their favorite blogs to read because it usually directs me to a blog I add to my feed.)  One blog that I have enjoyed over the last year or so has been Emphasis Added, which is written by Emily who lives in Chicago with her husband and two beautiful little girls.  Her posts aren't usually long or in depth, but it's her descriptions and stories that capture my attention and keep me coming back to find out what new adventure they've had.  If you're looking for a blog with great stories and fun pictures, check out Emphasis Added!

[five]
This last link is just one that I found funny when it popped up on my Twitter feed.  If you know me, I am a fan of Instagram.  It's a fun way to share your life with your online friends through a picture & short caption.  Well, this week, I found a post titled "If Disney Princesses had Instagram, the World would be a Better Place" and I couldn't stop laughing at the pictures & captions that fit perfectly with some of my favorite childhood memories.  Too funny!

Hope you have a good weekend!

Five on Friday

Tap, tap, tap... Is this thing on?

I apologize for the radio silence and really hope the desire to write more returns soon.  But until then... I'm linking up again with Darcie's five on Friday.

[one]
On Monday, I took a class presented by Kate of The Small Things blog on her top five blogging mistakes and, like the other Influence Network classes, it was great! As I listened to her share what has and hasn't worked for her, I thought about how even though I'm not a big, consistent blogger, I can still learn from all of her mistakes and better my blog even a little.  (If you stick around, maybe I'll put some of her tips to use...)

[two]
A couple of weeks ago, Sam introduced me to a show called Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and now I'm seeing it pop up all over the Internet. So when I came across The Big Mama's thoughts on the show, I knew it was worth sharing in the case you hadn't heard of this show yet.  Seriously, if you like to laugh, check it out!

[three]
Are you a fan of scarfs? If you're anything like me, you love scarfs, but feel bad buying them because you already own quite a few. Well I think I've found a way where it doesn't feel so bad - Meredith's annual scarf swap!  You can read about my past swaps here and here.

[four]
Lately, I've been hearing a lot about the topic of living simply.  Whether that's downsizing or just living off the land, it's definitely a topic I'm hearing a lot.  And just this week, while scrolling through my social media, I came across a video that a news outlet produced about the Prouty family and I couldn't help but share with others.  I can't say I could do what they have done, but their story is very inspiring and something I definitely admire.

[five]
You can probably tell by the way I talk about them weekly, but boy do I love the community I've found in the Influence Network!  They lift me up without knowing it!  Just this week, Hayley from The Tiny Twig shared her experience with bringing her first two sons into the world and what kind of feelings came along with them.  It's not perfect, but it's honest and that's what I appreciate most when it comes to interacting with her and the other women I've met through the network.  I feel like a little bit of a crazy fan, but Hayley is definitely one I can't wait to see next month(!) at the Influence Conference!  Maybe I'll even get up the courage to say hi :)

Happy weekend everyone!

Peace

Last weekend, Sam & I got away.

We didn't go far (just an hour west of us), but we went with one thing in mind: we just wanted to get away, to take a break from our normal routine, even if only for a couple of days.

With no agenda, the whole weekend felt pretty low key.  We ate at some of favorite places and spent a little time talking about our goals & dreams, but ultimately we were just quiet with our thoughts as we walked along the beautiful coastline.

As much as I didn't want to return to reality, I knew we had no choice.  Thankfully, I not only came home feeling refreshed and relaxed, but I also returned with a sense of peace that I haven't felt in almost a year now.

And that makes the whole trip worth it in my opinion!



"Please I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."  John 14:27