Our 4-Wheel Drive Through Love, Life, & Marriage
This photo sums up how I feel in a lot of ways, and while at first glance it might seem a tad erm….creepy? A tad creepy, yes, if you look at it with the right mindset you’ll see how happy this image really is.
So without further ado (Thanks Savannah, GA Art students for providing me a wonderful graffiti artwork to photograph)!
I had a lovely weekend plan in that I was able to meet my adorable “niece.” (I’m an honorary Auntie because Shelly is generous and I’d like to think we are sisters of the heart even if not of the blood. All this means I shall spoil her and hug her and love her till I fall over from lovings!) Y’all remember the maternity photos I took last month, you know this cute couple?
Well the little girl has made her appearance and me oh my she is ADORABLE.
Since I was traveling down there on Mother’s Day weekend I felt like bringing a little something special to Shelly to honor her status as a brand new Mommy. So I scoured Pinterest for ideas and diaper cakes were about all I could come up with. That didn’t seem quite right so I polled her for what she would like.
The answer…diapers and wipes! (Shows me how little I know.)
Anyway, so I thought I’d get her the requested items but I would package it in a super fun way. I stopped at the craft store for a bag, some paints, stencils (I have horrid penmanship…its embarrassing) and the most important thing to every gift, some ribbon!
Once I got home I pulled out the Purple paint as a way to honor her and I’s sisterhood (Purple Knights baby!) and got to work. When all was said and done I had an adorable bag that shouted out (I hope) how happy I am for her brand new title.
Secondly I piled wipes and diapers into a neat little pile before wrapping them with the ribbon. I wanted them to look pretty at least for the delivery part!
I had a moment or two where I wondered what I was thinking in getting such a small bag, but luckily it all fit together. So I ended up with a cute tote full of the requested items to both help Shelly out AND say “I’m so happy for your new role of Mom!”
I won’t deny on the way down I shed a few tears and lectured myself. I also prayed. I didn’t pray not to be sad or anything like that, because its ok that I’m sad about my situation. What I prayed for though, was that the joy and love and absolute happiness I have in my heart shine through to Shelly and Michael and their daughter. And you know what…
When I got to hold their daughter it was love at first sight. I don’t think anything but joy could have come out when I was around her! I can’t wait to see her again and I hope she’ll always know how much Aunt Stephanie adores her. Is she seriously not ADORABLLE!?!?
My Church (Ok I feel weird calling it my church especially since I’ve been lame about attending lately. Shame on me), City on a Hill, has a women’s group. In the past I’ve never really involved myself in women’s groups because um, well they were all older ladies and I didn’t exactly fit in.
However, last weekend My Momma said “Come with me please” to an event and well who am I to say no to her? (OK just ask her about my 13-year-old self…I said no. A LOT.)
So my Mother and I gathered with a bunch of ladies from the church in our finery.
We received presents…because we’re special!
A message was shared and the words conveyed that we are all HIS daughters. And since He is a King, we’re all princess’. (See Mom! I always told you I was a princess!)
And then we were all granted jewels so that all who passed by might know we are indeed royalty.
Personally I think I look quite regal as a Princess.
What did you do for Mother’s Day?
If you haven’t already, enter to win 250 custom stickers with up to 4 colors on them. If you’re a follower on Twitter, Facebook, and RSS you’ve got a total of 10 entries already. So what are you waiting for?
Congratulations to the UPrinting Business Card Winner!
Entry #34 Michelle Howard Smith - Subscribe to RSS
Results powered by Random.org
This post is part of the PYHO link up. In other words, I’m about to pour it out and feel really self-conscious so be nice. Also, if you haven’t already check out the TWO Giveaways I’m hosting. One for business cards and one for stickers.
“Standing with the wallflowers
Wishing you would’ve stayed at home
You kick yourself for coming
When you’re standing there all alone
The centers of attention are busy making all their moves “
I’m so horribly incredibly shy. Many people don’t believe me when I say this about myself…in fact I’ve been accused (even in the last month) of being a Bis-natch because in social situations I freeze up. I don’t talk. I don’t go introduce myself to new people. So because I simply am not talking people think I’m being rude and stand-offish. Because I’d rather sit and read or stare at my phone than engage makes me a bad person. At least this is the perception that many give back to me.
This has caused some issues for Alex and me. The reality is I married the life of the party (no I’m serious y’all. Man is like PARTY central.) He wishes I’d just TRY to talk to someone then I’d have fun. Which I’m fairly certain translates into something more like “please stop clinging!” The thing is I really do admire this trait of his, the ability to walk into a room full of strangers and chat someone up. To find a connection IMMEDIATELY. It is because of that ability he gets frustrated that we go out to parties and I don’t have a great time. He is and does, whereas I’m literally counting the minutes until I get to go home.
Classic example, we went to one of his friends’ house for dinner. Alex, me, our H.G. and Alex’s two friends. Everyone else was in the kitchen just chatting and I slowly backed out. I worked my way to the back deck and just sat.
“Finally!” I thought to myself. “I can breathe.”
Source: dailymail.co.uk via Stephanie on Pinterest
And that was true. I couldn’t breathe in that house and kitchen. It was just 5 people and I was so damn uncomfortable. Everybody else was laughing and smiling and FINE. I….was better off hiding outside by myself.
No one in that house made me feel uncomfortable by an action they did – but, they don’t know me. I feel that I have no filter and thus when I do talk I will go on and on about a subject that you are secretly thinking I really should never have brought up.
An example of that are Band camp stories.
While hilarious, they give off the wrong perception about me and not only that but no one really cares about those “one time at band camp” stories. So then after the polite laughter when the conversation turns to a totally new subject, I retreat mentally to re-evaluate what I’ve said. There in my mind I realize that I should have shut up long before I did. Not only that, but now I’ve made someone uncomfortable. Oh gosh and to top it all off now they think I’m an idiot. In fact now they avoid having to talk to me alone for fear that oh jeez oh pete what will she say next.
Source: zazzle.com via Stephanie on Pinterest
This lack of filter has, in my opinion, caused such issues in friendships that people have stopped being my friend. Why? For no other reason than I don’t seem to know when a story needs to STAY buried. It also spills over at work – I don’t want to be the annoying co-worker that shares way too much. But yet, I talk. It’s like my mouth has a spam setting because it won’t shut up.
Then on the opposite side of the spectrum I clam up. So damn scared I’ll offend someone or that I’ll over-share I don’t talk at all. Which is flat-out silly because y’all, I have a degree in interpersonal communication. A DEGREE IN TALKING!!
That isn’t to say I can’t open up. It just takes A LOT. I can name on one hand the people who (outside of family) know the REAL me. The me who laughs and earned the nickname sparkles. The me who was confident in who she was and what she was. Lately all that confidence has melted away and I’m floundering even more than normal. I’m still trying to figure out precisely who I am.
I hate that I even have to say this, but, whether you are participating or just reading, please keep in mind that the people linking really are sharing something from the heart. So, please, BE RESPECTFUL. We might not agree with each other, but we can all accept someone’s right to have a different opinion than we do and NOT attack someone because of this. Play nice. 
My Mom is one crafty individual. I think she attempted to pass this gene on to me, but I only got about 20% of what she has. So it’s no surprise that no matter the occasion, no matter the time limit, and no matter the intended recipient my Mom had access to a gift AND card within moments of the request.
Me? Um , well Monday was my husband’s birthday and I kissed that night at dinner before apologizing for the total lack of card. That is how prepared I am.
The thing is I know my hubby was quite happy with the gift I did give him even though it wasn’t wrapped and it certainly wasn’t tagged with a cute little note. How awesome would it be to have a quick “peel and stick” sticker that said all that I was trying to convey? Something like this…
Click for source
Well luckily for you, you never have to run into the situation I did this Monday. Why you might ask, well that is because PrintRunner offers the ability to print online. They offer a wide variety of products including the one thing I could have used this week, custom sticker printing.
Are you like me and could use some handy dandy stickers? Perhaps you want to use them to make up Thank You notes? Or custom mailing labels for packages you ship out? I’ve even considered using them to design love notes that I can slap on a brown lunch bag for my hubby during the week.
All it needs is a little "Because You Make Me Smile"
Well PrintRunner is helping me give YOU a 250 ct standard sticker order. Y’all that’s a $50 value when you figure in shipping! And, they’ll have them shipped to you within 3 days of you designing YOUR sicker. How cool is that?
So how do you get a chance at this awesome prize? Well just click on the RaffleCopter links below.
Legal stuff: Contest runs from now until May 25th and winners can only be notified if they leave a comment that links to their email address. Email addresses will not be displayed this is purely so I can contact you!
Details of the giveaway prize: Stickers Sticker Shape : Standard Stickers Flat Width : 2″ Flat Height : 3.5″ Quantity : 250 Paper : Premium Sticker Stock Colors : Full Color ( 4 Color Process), Black and White Proof : NONE Ready to Ship In : 3 Business Days *Giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above.So what would you do with stickers like this?
Disclaimer – I must disclose that I will be receiving an identical prize using my design as reward for hosting this giveaway.
You have the site. If you are like me, you’ve defined a custom URL and site title. You even have a tag line to help narrow what your blog about is all about for the person who takes a quick glance. As a step further, you’ve even taken the time to make it reflect YOU, from the header to the sidebars, font and colors everything about your blog conveys exactly what you’ve been trying to say. You also have Twitter and Facebook which helps you spread the word. But what about the people around you? How to spread the word when you meet someone and they ask you about your blog? How do you keep your blog in their mind?
A business card! Other business’ do it, why on earth shouldn’t you?
Its been making the rounds, the idea of a blog business card. A business card can be amazing for your blog! I mean, how many times have thought to yourself “I’d love to get the word out about my blog, but I just don’t know how!” Well a business card could be the perfect solution. From handing it out when you meet someone, to dropping it off in the little bowls or pinning it up at stores where people might be interested this might be the perfect solution for you. One of the places you can get a business card online is through uPrinting. In fact they are helping me host this giveaway.
I checked out a lot of the trends and UPrinting is really hooking y’all up! They are offering you a chance to win 250 Die-Cut cards. In fact I’ve designed one for myself.
Now you have to picture the top right corner cut, like you can see samples of on the uPrinting site. So get on this train and enter below.
Winners will be notified on the blog AND via email using the email provided when they comment below on Saturday May 12, 2012.
“You should assume that I will receive free print products in exchange for the post. Any and all reviews posted are based solely on my own experience and may be atypical. Please practice due diligence in making any related purchase decisions. Interested to hold a giveaway like this? Please sign up here.”
It’s no secret that Alex and I are struggling. We’re fighting our way out of a deep dark hole and some days one or the other of us wants to throw in the towel.
However, it’s also no secret that we still love one another. Alex is so often very giving to me that the other night, after he went to bed and I was restless I decided I really ought to give him a little surprise.
We’re kind of broke (I am SO GLAD I asked him to handle money) so I got creative.
“Hmmm, what do we have in this house I could use?” I thought to myself.
PEARS! We have pears. And cardstock. And I can design a card.
“Self, what should it say?” I thought. And so I scrambled on the internet for a funny quote, but nothing was quite right. Until, I realized – HA! I know what I can use. (It’s not my best work, but it is the thought that counts…I hope!)
{Click the photo to download a copy for yourself!}
So I pulled out a pear, wrapped it in my little note, tied it with some leftover raffia, and tucked it away in his lunch box.
Do you ever think to surprise your spouse this way? What could you use that is on hand and what would you say?
The past few weeks we've kind of been lackadaisical in our Love Dare. In fact, we've considered quitting. It's just been really hard to share the … [Read More...]
This blog is our story about the everyday magic that follows the magic of our wedding day. Our lives aren't perfect, but we’re learning and as we
