Just me My Soldier and our 4 little chicks

giveaway tuesday- stewart&james

happy tuesday! before i share today's awesome shop, i want to let you guys know last week's elle's studio kit winner!

and also, if you missed out on this kit, keep checking the elle's studio blog, i hear she has some fun things coming up. wink!

338 Sarah Webb said...

Wow! Great giveaway! Thanks so much for the chance. Loved your pic post of your vacay too! TFS!

congrats sarah! contact me at harpersmama8(AT)gmail(DOT)com with your address!

now onto today's goodies!

today's giveaway is courtesy of stewart&james.

i found this awesome small business through my friend mandy. she's good friends with the owners and knew i would just love it.

she was right, swoon! i went to check out their blog and i was quickly in love.

i thought you might love their unique frames, too!

stewart&james was featured recently on the nate berkus show. how cool is that?

here's what arre (one of the owners) has to say about the shop.

stewart & james is the result of our common interest in design and access to reclaimed materials that would otherwise be waste.

This is the collaboration of a couple of kids ;) with what they thought was too much time on their hands.

Though the plates are getting fuller our interest in and dedication to creating unique picture frames has not wavered.

we started stewart & james as an answer to an interest. our creativity and resourcefulness turned into a business when we realized that other people not only wanted the frames we were making for ourselves but that they would pay for them too. thus, stewart & james (our husband's middle names) was born.

Using reclaimed materials we (literally!) scour from the scrap piles littering our husbands' sawmill, we locally produce handcrafted, one of a kind frames.  As always, we are looking for a new designs and resources in the every day to further our reach and enhance the impact the simple pleasure a captured memory can have.

Keep doing, making and being frame-worthy things - and don't forget to photograph along the way.

 

HERE'S WHAT STEWART&JAMES WILL BE GIVING AWAY TODAY!

i want it. i do. but i won't enter b/c that wouldn't be fair. :)

this giveaway is open to US and Canada only.

if you are interested, leave a comment here by saturday and i'll share the winner with next week's giveaway post.

please make sure to leave an email address where i can contact you!

and as always, please go visit this shop!

store

blog

facebook

happy browsing and good luck!!! xoxo

s

remembering.

today hurts my heart. i have a hard time saying "happy" memorial day. because it represents sacrifice, death,and loss to so many families.

i don't think i can ever even come close to putting into words how i feel about today quite like i did in this post from last year.

so for today, i'll just share it again.

forever indebted to those who sacrificed everything they had for us. forever grateful. forever heartbroken for those they left behind.

although it is always nice to hear thank you as a military family, that's not what today is about.

today is about thanking those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

but thank you just doesn't seem like enough, does it?

xo

s

paper moon

june kit- paper moon

addons i purchased-

star dust

countdown

 

for the love of sadie

12x12

 these photos make me LAUGH.i'm not exaggerating here, i laugh out loud when i look at them. especially the one of her in the jumparoo.

these kraft doilies (in star dust add-on) were hands down my favorite thing this month. you may notice, as i used them on all my layouts except for one.

i cropped the photos into circles in PSE. yes, i finally caved and got PSE 9. i love it, i cannot lie!

 

never in a million years

12x12

this is the second time in recent history i've used this sassafras starters paper as the base for a layout. it's not "me" at first glance, but i really truly love it.

super cute tag by amy tan in the main kit this month. i love it, as i'm not a stitcher.

pssst- i'm determined to start hand embroidering. we'll see when i get to it...but it will hopefully find its way onto my pages too!

i think this might be my favorite layout this month. just so 'my life' right now. :)

 

don't you dare call her tiny

12x12

after i turned this one in to SC i added dots to the middle of the "d" and "o". i reaaaallllly don't like alphas w/out holes in them. that's why i used the yellow buttons every other time i used these letters. oh well.

these photos are AWESOME. had to d a playful layout to match them!

 

so fancy

12x12

a layout about our date night! i did the patterned paper/number blocks on the right to mimic the floor in the photo of my "fancy shoes".

this layout is very dark in color choices, but i am really drawn to it.

i cut a bunch of the kraft doilies in half to make a border. told you i loved those doilies! I NEED MOOOOOOORRRRREEE!

sooooo

there you have it, my june SC layouts.

hope you enjoy!

xo

s

week in photos

sitting practice

 

teacher gifts (thanks for the idea lisa!)

school awards (i LOVED this)

and speaking of 'ashion, is it odd that i love the outfit harper chose last night and want to wear it?

 

i'm pretty sure that this was not the reason she won "most fashionable" although you never know with four and five year olds. it's very..um...monochromatic?

letters to daddy (that make mommy cry when she reads them)

homeade bubbles:

and laughing until we cry (really, tears were streaming down my face)at lucy's reaction to pears.

girl's got some meat on her bones, huh?

LOVE. :)

hope your weekend is filled with happiness and laugh until you cry kind of moments.

xxo

s

eta: the cupcake toppers i made for harper's birthday party are on the SC Blog today. Go check it out!

 

when they say

(photo has nothing to do with the post, but these peonies are making me smile today and i can't have a post without a photo, now can i? :)

 

when they say: "do you run a daycare or something?"

i say: "and this is only HALF of them!"

 

when they say: "do they all have the same daddy?"

i say: "all except that one!" and point at one of the twins.snicker. this is very funny to me, since they look identical. also, it doesn't take much to entertain me right now.

 

when they say:"your hands are FULL!"

i say: "yes, they are.literally.would you mind opening the door?"

 

when they say: "i feel sorry for you!"

i say: "oh, please don't!"

 

when they say: "are you #&*$ing crazy?"- my personal favorite response i've gotten thus far!

i say: "yes i am. a little bit." and then i make crazy eyes. and cate, well she's always making crazy eyes. and then i laugh.

 

when they say: "how do you do it?"

i say: "prayer. constant prayer. oh, and wine doesn't hurt!"

 

when they hold the door open for me or say "can i help you?" or tell me they are beautiful, or that i am lucky, or that they couldn't do it, but that they wish they could

i say: simply..."thank you". and sometimes i have to restrain myself from hugging them. especially these days when i have one foot in the loony bin. a little kindness goes a really really long way.

 

i used to not really think about what i said to people. i talk to EVERYONE. that's just my personality. i can talk to a wall. i have on several occasions!

i think people want to try to connect, to start a conversation, but sometimes don't know what to say. one thing having four children under 5.5 has taught me, is think before you speak.

when you see a mom with two baby carriers, hair in her face, sunglasses falling to the concrete, one foot stuck in the *&#* stroller while she tries to collapse it, groceries spilling out of the van, tears in her eyes (not that this has ever happened to me yeah right)...

it's much kinder to simply smile, lend a hand, put a grocery bag in the trunk,

than it is to say "i'd kill myself if i was you".

true story. that's been said to me several times.

trial and error have taught me that the best response is a smile. and something like "i am one lucky girl".

usually that works. in the case of the people that have said they'd kill themselves, i'm usually so taken aback i stop and say "why?".

and they say something like "four girls? and twins? and a husband that is always gone? i'd die". and i get they are trying to connect. but that ain't the way to do it.

i truly feel that i am married to my hero. and i have four HEALTHY children. it's a gift.

i know it's not for everyone. it's certainly not a path i thought i'd ever be on! but i'm on it, baby! and determined to take this path with a smile.

and some day tears. true story. but mostly smiles.

also, another thing that works is sadie saying something totally inappropriate at these times. last time she randomly said something about poop. which i would normally frown upon...but it just worked at that moment.

HA!

hope your day is gorgeous!

xo

s

 

 

6 months

**make sure you don't miss out on the fantastic elle's studio giveaway in the post below!**

 

 

 

lucy on left, cate on right.

LOOK AT THEM! six months old? SIX? HALF A YEAR?
no, that can't be right...i'm sorry. i'm still in shock from the news that i was having twins. STILL! i still get surprised when i realize i have two babies! how can they be SIX MONTHS OLD?

i love this age. love love love. i really think it's my favorite age with babies. there is a reason i get baby fever every time my children are around this age. don't worry, it usually goes away once they start getting into everything. HA!

but oh, i love this time with them. they are so HAPPY. and interactive, and snuggly...well, they are just precious.

miss cate:

around 16 lbs (i think- this is from me holding them on the scale :) we'll know for sure at their 6 month checkup).

loves oatmeal

super squirmy and mobile. rolls front to back, back to front and scoots across the floor all day long. she SO would crawl if she could!

she has this impish quality about her that i LOVE. always a light in her eyes, squeal on her lips, legs always pumping.

sleeps on her tummy now

pitches a fit right before she falls asleep

despises the binkie except when she's reeealllly tired and then she wants it.

likes to poke and prod her sister

loves the jumparoo

figuring out how to blow raspberries

loves to be talked to by her sisters

 

miss lucy:

18 lbs- super chunky. i love this.

snuggler (i LOVE the left picture above).

super laid-back and good natured. she is the happiest baby i've ever had.

she just smiles and coos all day.

can fall asleep anywhere.

loves peas (what??? i know)

is starting to push herself around the floor

still sleeps on her back and still prefers to be swaddled (look, i know she's six months old, but it makes her happy and i've yet to see a kindergartener sent to school swaddled in a comforter. HA!).

shoots me the stink eye BIG time whenever i hold her sister

loves her binkie

always tries to hold cate's hand

loves the exercauser

loves the car

lets her sister beat her up

it is SO fun to watch them starting to really interact. they look at eachother, suck one another's hands, and smile at eachother.

it's so cool to witness.

i know i wasn't sure how i was going to do this,or IF i was going to be able to. but oh, what did i do before i had these babies? they have added so much love and happiness to our lives.

 

happy wednesday sweet friends!

xxo

giveaway tuesday- elle's studio

Today's giveaway comes from one of my most favorite companies, Elle's Studio. Elle never ceases to come up with the most happy, fun, innovative products. And I never tire of using them. :)

Here's what Elle wants to share today...hint: it's BIG!

✽✽✽✽✽

Something fun and new is happening at Elle's Studio-special limited edition Project Kits! 

Our first ever Elle's Studio Project Kit is a fabulous summer mini album titled "Savoring Summer".

Get ready to slow down and savor your favorite summer memories! Catching fireflies, running through the sprinkler, sipping lemonade, traveling and more can be savored for years to come in this special kit.
 
With papers, ribbons, tapes and more, from popular manufacturers, along with your limited edition Elle’s Studio tags(made JUST for this kit!!) , you are set with all the supplies you need to put together the perfect little mini album!
 
This mini album measures 5 x 7 inches, which is a great size for your photos.

Use the instructions provided to put together your base album and it’s ready for you to add your photos and journaling all summer long!

There will also be some already completed pages in the instructions to give you some inspiration on how to put the photos and journaling together.
 
And, throughout the summer, feel free to post your mini book’s progress in our Flickr group – made just for this project kit!

Also, make sure you check our blog from time to time. Jenni Hufford (our project coordinator) will be sharing photos of her album as it grows. We just know you will be inspired!
 
The Elle's Studio Savoring Summer kit retails at $27.99 and is extremely limited - once they are sold out, they are gone forever! And, the exclusive Elle's Studio tags that are in the kit will not be sold anywhere else, ever again! You'll only be able to get them in the kit, and once the kit is gone, so are the tags - you won't want to miss out on these!
 
We are thrilled to be giving away a Savoring Summer Project Kit to a "Just Me, My Soldier, and our Four Little Chicks" reader!  (internationals are welcome to enter).  If you are the winner and have previously purchased this kit, Elle's Studio will reimburse the winner.

 

Thanks so much, Elle and Jenni. Your generosity is so appreciated!

If you'd like to win this gorgeous kit, leave a comment here by Saturday. I'll draw a winner then and post it with next week's "Scrappy Sunday" post.

i received one in the mail this weekend and it is GORGEOUS. and the directions are so well-written and thorough, even a clueless mini maker like me is ready to get started!!!

i'll share what i make as i work on it!

hope your tuesday is beautiful+blessed.

xxo,

s

 

the biltmore

i'm in a bit of a slump. i'll admit it. :)
stuck when it comes to what to blog about. it's hard for me to blog when i am feeling "blah".

we are doing just fine over here. staying busy,getting creative with ways to fill the summer days now that school is out, but i've got blogger's block i think. no new content is coming to mind!

i realized i never shared lots of photos from our asheville trip and i thought that was the perfect solution.

we LOVED touring the biltmore estate. it was a lot of walking for the girls, but they loved it.

all i could think of was "can you imagine CLEANING THIS?". ha!

anyway, it was drop dead gorgeous. and we visited during the flower festival, everything was in full bloom and amazingly beautiful.

here's some favorite photos+stories from our trip.

thank GOODNESS we borrowed these backpacks from friends before we left. they were complete lifesavers. not to mention they gave me a major work out. HA! the babies loved them and had no problems napping in them. i told j i wanted him to carry ME around in one of them. hehehehe!

 

first we had a little family picnic on the lawn. i took the opportunity to use the gorgeous grass as a backdrop for some impromptu photos.

j kept saying "the GRASS is even rich!!!!" bwaahahahaha

 

i think KP would be proud of this picture. harper is a mini 'ashionista KP anyway.

 

next were the gardens.i just couldn't get over how stunning they were.

apparently, neither could sadie.

she was so overcome with God's beauty, that she made this face:

hmm.thanks,sadie bug!

 

 

 

FLOWERS IN VINTAGE SUITCASES? SERIOUSLY? SWOON.

heaven.

 

then we toured the house (no photos allowed, BOO!)

and then we visited the winery. by we, i mean me. i had a blissful 20 minutes alone in the gift shop while J circled in the minivan with the girls. what a man. :)

that's it for today...i'll see you tomorrow with an awesome giveaway.

happy monday!

xxo

 

 

scrappy sunday- 5/22

elise joy winner:

201 Maria said...

I would so love to win this Summer book, it would be so perfect for our summer trip to California this year!!!
Thanks so much for the chance to win.

Maria- you didn't leave any contact info, so I sure hope you see this! If i don't hear with you in a couple of days, I will draw another winner. You guys try to remember to leave me an email with your comment or i can't get a hold of you!

 

 

super simple, no explanation needed.

just a zillion pics (all iPhone) and a smidge of Studio Calico.

hope your sunday is beautiful! xoxo

 

the essentials

layout size- 8 1/2x 11

photo taken using instagram app on my iphone

cardstock- bazzill

patterned paper- crate paper

labels- elle's studio

ribbon- my mind's eye

flower brad- girls paperie

alphabets- american crafts thickers

arrow- cosmo cricket

doilies- martha stewart

punch- ek success

it sure was good for the soul to scrap just for the heck of it today. no due dates, the choice to use and put together whatever products i want...it feels nice.

and it helps with the blahs.

so there you have it. :)

happy wednesday.

xxo