"Swap Followings" Link Party

I am very excited about this linky party! It is a way to gain new followers, but to also find new blogs to follow. I like that the hope is to gain lasting friendships with fellow bloggers!

If you are new to my blog, welcome! My name is Jenn and I love to craft, sew and play with my daughter. I am married to a wonderful man named Steve. We have a beautiful one year old daughter Olivia. We live in the Central Valley of California. It tends to be sunny and warm so we spend a lot of our time outside. My blog has so far been just a mismatch of random ramblings. My hope is for it to show more of my crafting and quilting along with ramblings from my daily life. My goal is to open an etsy shop in the next month or so. There are so many feelings and fears that go along with it, but that is a post in and of itself :) I hope you look around and become a follower. Please let me know in a comment that you are following. I would love to head over to your blog and follow as well.

Head over to Homemaker on a Dime and join the Link Party!

I will be doing a post on some of the blogs I find with a little feature about them. Hopefully you will also take a look at their page and find some new friends along the way.

Happy blog hunting :)

Finding My Happiness

I crave happiness. I search for that warm and fuzzy feeling. Sometimes I spend so much effort searching that I don't realize joy is staring me in the face! I shop and eat to feel content instead of looking around and being grateful for what I have. I have to constantly remind myself that I don't need a thing. Everything I need I already have is within my arms reach. This is my happiness!

I don't know what I would do without my husband. Steve has been such a support for me and I can always count on him being my rock. He has been with me through so many trials. He stays strong through the good and the bad. This isn't to say that we have our moments or that he doesn't drive me crazy! Let me tell you, he drives me crazy!!! I have grown so much in the last 7 years with him and I look forward to many more years of raising our family and growing together. There is no one I would rather be with!

This is the man I get to go to bed with every night and wake up next to every morning! I'm a lucky girl!!!

This picture melts my heart. He is so in love with our little girl. He is the father I always dreamt about. I am so glad Olivia will have such a strong dad to always count on. My step dad is amazing so I don't want to take any due credit away from him! But there is nothing like the bond between a daughter and her father!

How can I not smile when I see this picture?!? I can hear her laughter and shrieks! She makes everything right with the world!

I received this picture from Katey this morning. She started watching Olivia today!!! She was ready and available. What perfect timing!!! I am not going to worry about her going to school and leaving me with a day without daycare. I will take care of it when it gets closer and trust that God will provide all that we need. Even when I doubt He continues to provide! Olivia is very happy to reunited with her good friend Parker Dog!

My last post was about finding daycare and I was so frustrated. Katey came over on Thursday and we had a wonderful visit. It was so nice to catch up with her.

So here is to continued prayer and much happiness! Thank you for all your thoughts and well wishes!!! They mean so much to me!

Oh how I HATE finding daycare

I am on the hunt to find daycare for Olivia.

This sentence makes me cringe. It makes me want to cry. It makes me want to quit my job.

I know that I have very little to complain about. I was able to stay home full time with Olivia for almost her entire first year. She then went to a close friend who only had one other little boy about the same age. Due to pregnancy complications and a new baby we had to find someone else to watch Olivia. Steven's aunt stepped up and offered to keep Olivia, which turned into his cousin coming to our house and watching her. Mind you this has always been 3 days a week because I am fortunate enough to only work part time.

Now that Steven's cousin is close to having her baby she will no longer be able to watch Olivia and his aunt will be helping her so she doesn't feel comfortable keeping Olivia for the three days a week. Are you still with me? It's been a little crazy and confusing... I know!

So I'm in the situation I dread. Finding someone who will love my baby. Finding someone who will give her the attention and the structure she needs. I know daycare isn't a bad thing. But it's finding a daycare that I trust.

I wish with all my penny's, on all the stars that I could stay home full time. There is just no way. It just isn't feasible right now.

I talked to my friend who originally watched Olivia and she is going to start school but will try to rearrange her schedule to be able to keep her on Mondays and Tuesdays! SCORE!!! When she texted me that she could possibly work it out I had tears run down my face. Yes I was at work! I couldn't stop them. Just the thought of having my little girl be with someone that I COMPLETELY 100% trust is beyond words. There is no price I wouldn't pay! (OK hopefully she doesn't read this... just kidding! I would be forever indebted to you!)

Please pray that we find what is right for us and what is best for Olivia. Until then I will be an utter mess!

I needed a smile and this picture always makes me smile!

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009
Originally uploaded by BlueBirdQuilts

So much has changed in the last year. I can't believe how big Olivia has gotten and how much she has changed! I will have Christmas 2010 pictures up soon.

Please hang in there with me. I'm playing around with sending flickr pictures to blogger.... sorry if you get 100+ posts in your reader. Ok, hopefully it won't take me 100 trys!

Am I becoming a 'real' blogger?!?!

***Warning: This post is a lot of rambling!



Last night I laid in bed thinking about whether or not I should continue to try to blog. As my mind was wondering aimlessly I kept going to back to how lucky I was. I was lying in my warm bed, under a handmade quilt with the dog curled at my feet and I was safely tucked into the arm of my best friend. I named my blog ‘Our Blessed Life’ because that’s what I have, a very blessed life. These are moments I want to remember. These are the moments I want to share. This is an outlet for me. My blog is ultimately for me! There was my answer. Staring me in the face. YES I should continue to blog. Because I enjoy it. Because it’s not about how many followers I have or how many times my site is viewed. knowing that people read what I say and leave comments does make my day! What can I say I'm not perfect :) It’s about my ups and downs and being able to look back and see where I’ve come from and a glimpse of where I’m going.


My postings so far have been pretty random and sporadic. Words have never ‘flowed’ easily for me. I tend to have a hard time finding the right words. I have been blog stalking following for a while now. This has been both good and bad for me. I find a ton of inspiration for crafting, organizing, decorating, parenting and life in general but at the same time I have the little voice in my head telling me that I will never be as crafty, organized or interesting as the woman I’m reading about. I am going to stop listening to that voice and let my true self show through my blog. I didn’t start this blog to impress or even inspire for that matter. So here it goes, one of my resolutions is to stop being blog envious and intimidated. I may never be as ‘good’ as other bloggers, but I want to be the true me.


I recently read in a post that her life isn’t perfect. Her house is messy, her kids are wild and she isn’t always the best mom, but her blog is a place where she can be clean, organized and pretty. Her blog is her sanctuary. I wish I would have saved the post but I didn’t so of course I am paraphrasing and this is just what I took from what she said. So if you are the one who wrote this blog post, I would love to quote you correctly so leave a comment! I think these are words to live blog by!



So for now I’m here to stay. I will blog what I want, when want. I won’t not blog because I feel it won’t be as inspiring or interesting as another blog. If you finished this long drawn out blog, I thank you for sticking in there with me. If you didn’t and skipped to the end I don’t blame you, I probably would have done the same thing! :)

Things you should know if we are going to be BFF's

So I feel like I have to post this because I've been a total blog stalker and feel ridiculous if I have spent hours too much time reading and commenting on other people's blogs but not doing my own. Talk about peer pressure!

Little Miss Momma is having a link party. So many fun bloggers have linked up and shared fun little details about themselves.

So lets just jump in and get this over with... if you pass on reading I completely understand. I don't find myself very interesting either!


I love reading about other people, how they parent, and craft. I often become blog envious and don't blog as much as I would like. I have to keep reminding myself I didn't start this to impress!

I hate doing laundry. It drives my husband crazy!



I am a hoarder collector. It comes from being a very unorganized person. What can I say, I didn't inherit organization skills.

I only iron when I sew.

Maybe I need an ironing board that looks like this...

I love taking hot showers. I know it was hot enough when I come out looking like a lobster.

I tend to share way too much information. Once I get on a roll I just can't stop... (you have been warned!)

I try to keep my life as drama-free as possible. Part of me being non-confrontational.



I tend to run late and often am dishevelled. I am definitely not someone who has it all together or at least appears to.

I can go weeks without shaving my legs. I know gross right! Thank goodness hubby doesn't seem to mind it most of the time.

I never shave the top half of my legs because my skin is very sensitive and gets crazy bad razor burn. Even if I shave down. If I'm wearing shorts I will trim it with an electric razor. If not, I don't worry about it. (See I told you I would share way too much information!)

I love Mandarin oranges. I think I've eaten at least 5 every day this week.



I am a procrastinator! Major procrastinator.

I can't watch scary movies. I can't even watch really suspenseful TV shows. I have really bad dreams.

Dave Matthews Band is by far my favorite!



I could nap and sleep in everyday.

Does this not look absolutly divine?!?!

I love when O stays at grandmas. I know she is well taken care of and loved and I love being able to sleep in and not feel guilty about not being there first thing in the morning to get her.

I have the best mother-in-law. I haven't always felt this way, but she has been a so good to me this last year. I don't think I would have survived without her! I don't think I thank her enough.

So there you have it... a few little tid bits about me. Head on over to the link party and join in. It's addicting!

Joy over sadness

I hate the moments when I feel like I am spiraling out. When I can seem to grab focus. I am overwhelmed with emotion and need. Need for control, need to feel loved, need to feel wanted. I simply need. I want to shop and I want to eat. Mostly I want to curl up in bed and cry. Cry it all out. Cry until I have no more energy and every fiber of my being exhausted.

Today is one of those days. It is gloomy and cold outside. I don't feel ready for Christmas. I feel guilty for not being home with Olivia to take care of her while she is sick.

One of those days when I need to pull myself up from my bootstraps. Count my blessing instead of my dwelling on the negative. Be joyful in this Christmas season instead of being overwhelmed.

So, I am going to smile and push back the tears. I choose to be joyful. I choose to be inspired. I choose to see the good. I choose to be forgiving. I choose to be appreciative.

I thank God for today. For I am truly blessed!

Day 7, 8, 9 & 10 ~ 30 Days of Me

Day 7 ~ A picture of someone that has the biggest impact on you

This one is not hard at all. Olivia has become my end all ~ be all. Becoming a mother is nothing like I expected it to be. It is hard, exhausting, messy and down-right frustrating. But there is also joy, pride, adventures, creativity and love. Love beyond words, joy beyond words. When she smiles or laughs it makes all the mess and all the craziness melt away. Nothing matters in the world except her.

Olivia makes me want to be a better person. For her sake and for mine. I want her to have every advantage possible. I want her to be confident and strong, yet compassionate and gentle. I hope she can learn those things from me. I hope I can show her how to be a good friend, mother and wife.


Day 8 ~ Short term goals for this month

My goals this month are to finish some projects. I can't believe November is finished! Where in the world has time gone?!? I am behind on my bee and my swap. I feel so lame!!! I want to finish up some quilting projects that have been put on the back burner way too long! I want to work on fun ideas that are floating in my head.

Day 9 ~ Something you are proud of in the past few days

I started an Etsy store. There isn't anything for sale... but the store has been set up. I made my own banner (very proud of that!) and avatar thingy. I have spent a lot of time thinking about a opening a store, a lot of encouragement from friends, but I never had the faith in myself. I am stepping out onto that ledge and putting myself and my work out there. Worst thing that could happen... no one would buy anything. It really isn't that bad. Maybe a little burst in my already fragile crafting ego, but hey, that just means I will give it all to family who will say they love it even if they don't :) Now to finish the projects and get them in the store!

Day 10 ~ Songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad

I have to say that I love music, but have never been good with artist names or song titles. I like a wide variety of music all the time. I like listening to songs that I know the words to. I love to sing out loud... very loud!

So I've caught up on a few days... with Thanksgiving and being sick I have not had the time or energy to even think about blogging. We have Christmas decorations up and getting back into our routine!

Day 6 ~ 30 Days of Me

Day 06- Favorite super hero and why  Memorable Childhood Memory

I was never much of a super hero fan. So I'm going to digress a little. One of my favorite childhood memories was ridding in the car and singing to Raffi. I think that is where my love for singing out loud started! My mom had an old blue Buick that always seemed to have the Raffi tape in. I can remember very vividly the day the tape jammed in the player and my mom pronounced that our tape couldn't be played anymore. I don't think I've ever worn out a tape like that. I must have only been 5 or 6. I've often mentioned it to Steve while we are in the car and I sing to Olivia. I bought her a kids CD and Steve thinks it is so annoying. It's little kids singing and talking and for some reason he just can't stand it.

Today I was reading Marta Writes (if you don't follow her blog you need to! She is a fabulous lady!) and she mentioned that they are listening to Raffi's Christmas CD. Of course I immediately jump on google to see if I can find what tape my mom had. (Why did I not do this sooner?!?!) I find his website and start looking through his CD list to find 'the one'. I start with the the 1989 album. I was born in '85 so I figured it would be a good place to start. As I go down the list looking through them all I'm starting to get discouraged... none of them are the one from my childhood! I get to the very last album 'Singable Songs For The Very Young - 1976' As soon as the list came up I'm looking at it remembering songs I forgot I even knew!

1.The More We Get Together

2.Down By The Bay

3.Brush Your Teeth

4.Robin In The Rain

5.Five Little Frogs

6.I Wonder If I’m Growing

7.Aikendrum

8.Bumping Up And Down

9.Must Be Santa Listen

10.Wiloughby Wallaby Woo

11.Spider On The Floor

12.Baa Baa Black Sheep

13.Going To The Zoo

14.My Dreydel

15.Peanut Butter Sandwich

16.Five Little Pumpkins

17.The Sharing Song

18.Mr. Sun
19.Old MacDonald Had A Band

I can not wait to get this CD in and start singing with Olivia! I'm sure we will create very happy memories!!!

HELP!!!

I need help finding this fabric! Does anyone know who makes it? Where I can get it? Do you have any to spare?!?

I have searched high and low with no success!!!

Sherbet Blossom Giveaway ~ WOW

This is an awesome giveaway! Sherbet Blossom is celebrating her birthday all week with giveaways. What a great way to start!



Sigma is generously giving away one Complete Kit with Brush Roll in Black to a lucky Sherbet Blossom reader.


Head over to her blog to not only enter the giveaway, but check out her blog! She has a ton of great inspiration on food and crafting.

Day 5 ~ 30 Days of Me

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to recently
We haven't done much traveling since having Olivia.
 
 

 

We've made a few trips to the beach. Since it's only about 2 1/2 hours away we try to go a few times a year. She does better each time we go with the long drive. The last time we switched her seat to forward facing and I think it made a big difference. She was much happier being able to see where we were going.

 

 

My favorite part is letting her play in the sand! It is much better now that she can walk. Crawling in the sand wasn't very much fun for anyone!

 

We will soon venture down to LA to visit Auntie. Maybe it will be our first road trip of 2011...

Day 4 ~ 30 Days of Me

So I obviously took the last few days off of the 30 day challenge. I gave you fair warning there would be some days missed ;)

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

There are quite a few habits I wish I didn't have... I could probably have a post like day 1 with a list of 15, but for times sake and saving myself from lots of embarrassment I will choose the habit that I worked on the most this weekend, which is part of the reason for my absence from blog land. (Holy crap that is a long run on sentence!)

The habit I wish I didn't have is my lack of organization/borderline hoarding. For example, I have a habit of just shoving papers in the 3rd drawer in the kitchen with the intent to one day filing them, but the drawer is now busting at the seams. I also spent about 6 hours, with the help of Victoria, cleaning out and organizing my closet. It was quite embarrassing to say the least! After 7 bags to Goodwill and 2/3 of the outside trashcan full I now have a very clean, very organized closet. We also put out some of my wedding pictures that have been framed for years and have never been displayed. Our bedroom now looks somewhat lived in, instead of just a room with a bed and some dirty clothes on the floor.

I have made a commitment to myself to try to continue to de-clutter and simplify.

Simplicity goes a long way!

Day 3 ~ 30 Days of Me

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends


Oh this one is hard... Isn't it crazy that I don't have any recent picture of my friends?!?
 

Steve is not only my husband, but he is my best friend and my rock! 

These are all the girls in my wedding, so it's a few years old. Since then I have added 2 of my closest friends who I treasure and love. I am very lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful, supportive women!

This post made me realize I need more pictures of me with the ones I love. Instead of being the one behind the camera I want to make an effort of being a part of the lasting memory.

Enjoy today and don't take for granted the people in your life who are your supporters, cheerleaders and inspirations!