Felt Flower Headbands (a giveaway)

It's no secret that I looooove headbands. I love accessories in general, and I'm sure there are many people at church, including extended family, that have never seen Ivy without some kind of head adornment. I'm addicted and I'm also addicted to etsy, which is where I purchase many delightful treasures for my family. I always get excited about supporting someone's small business and I'm also really into owning unique things, better understood as NOT.FROM.TARGET. Don't get me wrong. I love Target, but how fun is it to buy a shirt and see five other people walking around with the same shirt?

But I digress. HEADBANDS!!! I love them. And just recently I came across an etsy shop called Pink and Pigtails. I was looking for headbands with felt flowers attached and I hit the JACKPOT!!! Chandra, the owner of Pink and Pigtails, is a talented work at home mom who makes delightfully whimsical bands that are soft (can we say no indent in my baby's head?) and beautiful. Everywhere I go, I get compliments on these headbands. They are so lovely.

Do you remember this one? I know you do, because many of you asked about it.

Well, I couldn't stop at just one. This green band is fairly new to Ivy's collection and I love the fall hues mixed with bright colors. Perfection.

This next one is my absolute favorite.

Isn't it gorgeous? I think Ivy looks like a little woodland creature when she wears this band. I almost lost it a couple of weeks ago when we were spending the day with my mom's family on a pontoon boat. I was beside myself, but thankfully the guy running the pontoon rental found it for me. I mean for Ivy. They're not for me, but for her. I keep telling myself that.

This last band was a generous gift from Chandra and it's a custom (I got to choose the colors) creation. All of her felt flower headbands are one of a kind, but this one was made specifically for Ivy to wear to my sister's wedding at the end of October. The colors of the wedding are black, red and ivory.

Don't you think it will be perfect?

Have I sold you yet? Don't you want one? Lucky for you, Chandra is giving a custom headband away!!! I want as many people as possible to check out Chandra's shop, so I'm going to give you up to three chances to win. The more you enter, the better your chances.

1. Go to Pink and Pigtails and browse the shop, then come back here and tell me in the comments what you have to have (there are other hair accessories besides headbands) for yourself, your daughter, your niece, or whoever.

2. Blog about this giveaway (be sure to include a link to this post) and leave another comment with a link to your post.

3. Tweet the giveaway (be sure to include a link to this post and @brimo somewhere in your tweet) and leave another comment telling me you did so.

The contest will be open until sometime Wednesday night at which time, I'll choose a winner from the comments via random.org.

Happy accessorizing!

UPDATE: I should mention that these headbands are not just for babies. If you click on a headband that Chandra has in her shop right now, you'll see a lovely model who is quite a bit older than Ivy wearing one of these darling creations.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Desires

I'm home. It's good to be home, but oh, it was good to be away.

My kids are sleeping all snuggly in their beds. And me? I'm going to process.

The whole of the conference was centered around Psalm 37, and more specifically verse 4, which reads, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

I'll admit that since losing five children, five of my own flesh and blood, I've struggled with that verse.

Beth Moore shared so many good thoughts and I have much to work through. I want to believe this verse. I want to really understand what it means. I'm not there yet, but I'll keep seeking and I'll keep pressing in.

When the Cat's Away...

Hi, this is Ryan.

Brianna and her mom are enjoying a Beth Moore conference this weekend in Green Bay. While Bri is getting refilled and rejuvinated, Sy, Ivy and I are on our own. No...it is NOT easy and YES, I DO have a new appreciation for all that Brianna does (she makes it seem so easy). However, we are having a blast. Check this out.




3:00pm-Ivy wakes up from her nap, and she's ready for fun

3:15pm-Sylas comes out from under the table...with keys to the lockbox(!?)

3:30pm-Ivy discovers a devours the latest issue of "Parenting"

3:35pm-Sylas joins in...he loves Parenting

3:40pm-Together they make quick work of it

4:30pm-Watching uncle D play at the Fondy soccer complex

7:30pm-bathtime...time for a nice bowl of 8

7:40pm-"Well Dad, it's not very cute to me"

7:50pm-"Book please daddy"

7:55pm-"Yight! Yight Yight!" (Light! Light! Light!...referring to the ceiling fan). "Yes buddy...that's a yight, now let me brush your hair."

8:00pm-"I'm ready for my jams, Dad"



8:05pm-The Night the Scary Beasties Popped out of my Head by David and Daniel Kamish

8:10pm-"Nigh nigh"

We miss you Bri. Be refreshed. Come home quickly, but not too quickly...

He's Not a Baby Anymore

I think it happened awhile ago...this coming into toddlerhood.

Mama is just a little late in accepting it.

My baby...

(photo taken one year ago)

...is not a baby anymore.

Wordless Wednesday

...only because these leave me speechless.

Oh, to Fly

The other day, I thought I killed a bird. WHAM! It took a nose dive into the front of my car.

It was a beautiful goldfinch. I was very sad.

About five minutes later I came to a stop, dropped off the babysitter and was about to back out of her driveway when something amazing happened.

The goldfinch flew out from under the front of my car!!! He was alive and as lovely as ever.

That little survivor got me thinking. You're going about your business, living the day to day when WHAM! Life takes you completely by surprise. Without warning you find yourself in circumstances you've never imagined. You're zooming down the highway and uncertain if you'll survive.

It's frightening. Nay, terrifying.

But then something beautiful happens. As the shock wears off and you've had a chance to take in your new surroundings, you realize one very important thing. You still remember how to fly.

Oh yes, you most assuredly remember how to fly.

Mr. 20 Pounds - Wordless Wednesday

Coffee Break

Congrats to Kadie! You are the winner of the $10 Starbucks gift card. You were exactly right with your guess of 16 pounds, 8 ounces for little miss Ivy, and not too far away with your guess for Sylas.

I wish you all could've been there when Sy Guy was weighed. We've really been pushing for him to reach the 20 pound mark and when the scale read 20 pounds, 10 ounces, I let out an enthusiastic "YES!" And while lying on the scale, Sylas responded with his own every enthusiastic, "YETS!"

So, Kadie, if you'll get in touch with me, I'll get that Starbucks card right out to you. Thanks to everyone who played. I wish we could all go out for coffee together.

Sigh.

The Starbucks Love (a contest)

I love Starbucks. I love the coffee, the espresso, the people, the atmosphere. I could spend hours and hours there, reading or working on the computer or just staring out the window . If you recall, I almost gave birth to Ivy at Starbucks.

This morning, I just feel so inspired to spread the caffeinated love. How about a giveaway for a $10 Starbucks card? Sound enticing? If so, all you have to do is guess the most current weight of my two little munchkins. Sy had a doctor appointment on Wednesday and as soon as the nurse left the room, I whipped off Ivy's clothes and little "g" and plopped her on the scale as well.

To help you get started, here's what Sy and Ivy weighed back in March:

Sylas - 18 pounds, 4 ounces
Ivy - 11 pounds, 2 ounces

Only one guess per person and your guess can't be the same combination of weights as anyone else's. Whoever is closest to the ounce for both kids will win a $10 Starbucks card which they can use to caffeinate themselves to their hearts content. Well, up to $10 worth at least.

So, get guessing! Contest will be open until sometime Monday night.

And sorry, my dear family. You already know the answer to this little guessing game, so you'll have to sit this one out.

THIS CONTEST IN NOW CLOSED.

Slowly Mother

I've become the ultimate multi-tasker.

Since getting the new Palm Pre, I've been able to get stuff done while I feed Ivy. I can check my email, text, update our budget or even blog.

Not today. Today, I reveled.

In sweet chubby fingers playing with my necklace.

In lashy lids slowly closing in sleep.

In my darling girl, who every day gets a little bit older.

Today, I reveled in motherhood. I reveled in my life.

Groupie

My name is Brianna, and I'm a groupie.

Well, not usually. Ryan and I are both really into music. You should hear Ry play the piano. Oh, and the songs he writes for me...swoon. That being said, we're not really concert-goers. It could be the stage of life we're in, but really, I think it's that we'd much rather spend less money on an album (or all the artist's albums) than concert tickets. They last longer.

There happens to be one exception. Rosie Thomas. I love her. She is an amazing singer/sogwriter. I first heard a couple of her songs while living in Italy (did you know I lived there once?), and pretty much the minute I got home, I bought her album. Since then, I've been hooked. Her music speaks to me. It's beautiful and full of joy, sorrow, love and pain. All things I've experience and would dare to say you've experienced as well.

Last month, we had the opportunity to attend Lifest, a pretty big Christian music festival. And yes, you guessed it, Rosie was there. Her show was great. Real. Unpolished (in a good way). Just like we were in her living room.

And after.

Rosie held Ivy. We chatted. Ryan took a picture. Ivy fussed. It was amazing.

Yes. My name is Brianna, and I'm a groupie.

A Pacifier Please

I slept a total of 4 hours last night. 2 of those were consecutive.

Ivy went to bed at 10:30 p.m., was up at 8:30 a.m., and woke 5 times in between.

Sylas slept for 13 hours. Straight. And still woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

35 minutes ago, I laid both kids down for their morning nap.

Ivy just woke up.

Sylas has yet to fall asleep.

What's wrong with these children? If someone put a pacifier in my mouth, I'd go back to bed.

Seven Months

...and sweeter by the day.

Addicted

Tomorrow, my love is leaving. For five days.

I can't bear to see him go.

He's taking 17 kids to camp.

I thought about going too, but couldn't bear to leave my other loves.

I'm addicted to my family.

And how very right that feels.