I've moved!!

A new website has been on my list for ages. I love being able to share my thoughts and ideas on a blog, but I really wanted additional space and pages to be able to share my photos, works and more.  It was a labor of love, but I am so excited to share my new site: www.stephaniemakes.com. Go check it out and let me know what you think! I'll be sharing my blog posts and photos there from now on!

Seattle

I spent the weekend in Seattle at the Click Away conference, and like I say every time I visit the west coast - if it wasn't for my kiddos, I'm pretty sure I would have just stayed.  The weather wasn't the best in Seattle (which I hear is pretty typical), but the conference was phenomenal and the people I met were amazing!

Scenes from the backyard

The feel of fall is finally making it's way to North Carolina and we couldn't be happier.  The grass in our backyard is finally starting to green up again and our plants are slowing blooming. We're hopeful these cooler temps decide to stick around for a while because we're ready for boots, sweaters and everything pumpkin!

These days

These are the days I want to remember.  The slow and steady. The crazy and wild. The in-between.

Having these two home with me over the past few weeks has been what my mama heart needed. I miss them both tremendously while they are at school each day and I still struggle with where I should spend my time or how to fill my days. Being a stay at home mom isn't easy and can often be very lonely, but I love being able to say "yes" to just about any and everything in their lives. So here's to the little, quiet (and not-so-quiet) moments I love to capture.

A Magical Evening at Lux Salon

The Ordinary

"Joy comes to us in ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary." -Brene Brown

I'm taking a photography class with one of my favorite photographers, Ginger Unzueta over at Bloom, and one of the assignments for this week is to capture 10 photos of our day.  It has been a while since I purposefully documented the "ordinary" of our day, so I didn't hesitate to pick up my camera and start snapping away.

You, Me & the Sea

Seven

Awesome glasses from Jonas Paul Eyewear

She is seven going on seventeen. And she cried the other day when I tried to check her out of school early to hang out together. So it begins, folks.  And because they grow up too fast, here are some fun facts about my sweet girl.

For the love of reading

8 days people. 8 days until we track out of school for THREE WEEKS. I'm a tad bit excited if you can't tell. My kids go to year-round school, so basically every nine weeks, they get three weeks off. It's the best. Ever.

During dinner the other night, we talked about all of the things we wanted to do over our track out. I try to get my kiddos to think of things they want to do as a family, as well as try to set individual goals for themselves. It's always so funny to hear what they come up with. Here's what we've got:

Anna - weekend vacation (family); read 100 books (her personal goal - she likes to set the bar high, my friends. That's basically 33 books a week....hmmmm.).  

Drew: go to Disney World with our family (probably not happenin'); build legos (daily goal already, I think).

Weekending

The Perfect Match

Gimme all the hugs, bracelets and watches. Anna tries to steal my jewelry every time I turn around and I'm pretty sure half of what I do have is hiding somewhere in her room. Right now, her go-to accessory is hair ties - the more the merrier... And if she can create an entire rainbow on her arm, then that's even better. Apparently, it's how second graders accessorize these days. Me, I prefer pretty bracelets and watches! You guys know I'm on this watch kick, right??  

A September Project

There's something about September that seems to spark a new project for me. Last year, I did a photo-a-day challenge throughout the month of September, which was super fun. This September, I'm going to mix things up a little and attempt to do a video challenge. I think I tend to get into a little bit of a creative rut when my kids go back to school and I have a little more "free" time on my hands. It's amazing to me how much my kids inspire me and help to spark my creativity.

A few of my favorite things

Let's start this hump day with a few of my favorite things!

First up is my awesome wood watch from JORD. I can't even begin to tell you how nice it is to have a REAL watch again (and not having to use my phone for the time). Today is the last day to enter to win one for yourself! JORD is offering up a $75 gift certificate to their entire shop + everyone who enters to win receives a $20 e-voucher that can be applied to any JORD watch! Click the link below to enter or check out my previous post to see more pretty photos!!

How to create a photo slider for your blog

If you've been around here for a little while, you've probably seen my blog change time and time again. I use a Blogger blog format, which is FREE!, and I've been really happy with all the available customizations and options on this free format! My sweet friend, Magda, initially helped me fancy up my blog and over the years, I've researched and read and learned just a weeee bit of code to help make my blog the way I want it!

Scout + Isla

Twins! We have twins. No, not real twins (although I pray to the baby gods every night we would "accidentally" end up with twins...ooooohh...or maybe triplets! Could you imagine??). But in the meantime, our twins are coming in a stuffed fashion. Their names are Scout + Isla and they are precious. 

Project 52: Week 33 & 34

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Week 33

Anna: flying high

Drew: giggles + spit

If you give a mom a cookie...

So I have to admit that I'm a closet sweet-a-holic. By closet, I mean, I tend to sneak into the closet (or pantry) and gobble up all of the sweets. Because, you know, "KIDS, sweets aren't good for you....". Come on. Who else is with me? I know I'm not the only one "looking" for something in the pantry (while you're really just trying to chew and swallow as fast as you can without getting caught!).

Makin' Time + A Giveaway

What time is it? It's time for lunch... What time is it? It's time for lunch... 

Anyone else sing the Bubble Guppies song in their head any time someone asks what time it is??  I do...every.single.time. Except I usually sing it as loud as I can and annoy my kids to no end. I love being a mom.

Around Here

Afternoon Delight

You know you've had one too many picnics when your kids request them on the way home from school. With all of these crazy hot days and the feeling that we actually LIVE on the sun, we've been scrounging for things to do inside in the afternoon! Anyone else ready for fall?  

Floor picnics are our favorite. I know what you're thinking! The FLOOR?? That's why we use a blanket, silly. To cover up all that dirt and dog hair and gross stuff I try to clean up every.single.day. Have I ever mentioned I feel like I clean A LOT? And I bet you couldn't guess that while I'm OCD an love to be organized, I actually really abhor cleaning.  Sorry...my emotions got away with me there...

Anyhow...My two love to spread out a blanket, grab a few books or pick out a game to play while I fix them a little snack. I mean, we all eat snacks after school, so it might as well be on a blanket with fun games, right? And don't forget the fun socks!! Happy socks are our go-to for after school picnics (and handstand competitions, floor races/running, finger puppets and more!).