2011: let the journey begin!

I love New Years and making (and even more so keeping) resolutions. What a great idea to set aside time to think about how to better yourself. I am always up for the challenge!

This year we have some pretty exciting goals. As individuals, as a family, and as business partners (Billy and I).

One resolution we have as a family is being more proactive in our goal towards minimalism. This year, maybe more so than any years past, we have a strong desire to DO more and BUY less. I am not opposed to owning things...I just want to own fewer, better things. We do not want our children to think that one's goal in life is to own anything and everything or that happiness can be bought off a shelf. We don't want them to think that a person's worth is in the car they drive or the house they live in. I am really looking forward to implementing a minimalist approach this year...I think only good things can come from it!

A personal goal I have is to spend more time with my kids. Ha. Sounds silly for a "stay at home" mother, right? But I have found sometimes it is easy to lose your way. You mean well but it doesn't turn out well. This year I refuse to let hobbies (like making hair pretties) become my life. It only stays fun and something I want to do when it it simply something I enjoy doing at night while my husband has some quiet time of his own. When it turns into pulling all nighters to complete orders or looking at my kids as a "bother" when they ask me a question because I am trying to complete orders, well then its time to get my butt in check. Hair pretties aren't going anywhere...but my kids are only little now. My first priority will always be to be a wife and a mother and this year I am cutting back in other areas to make sure that my husband and children know that they are second to none.

A business goal we have this year is opening a design studio. My husband is awesome at what he does. And I'm not just saying that because I married him. Trust me! I am his biggest fan but also his biggest critic...I know how hard he works and how creative he is because I am blessed to get to work right alongside him. There is nowhere in this town that you can go and get the expertise and talent that he has to offer. We think this area deserves that kind of excellence and so we are working to have our studio open this spring...I'm not the kind of girl who likes to say things before they happen so I'm not going to say too much more on this one!

But really, we have SO much to look forward to this year...these are just a few resolutions! We know we can make all the plans we want, but we know that ultimately it is God who has the say....and we are a-ok with that idea!

Happy New Year's everyone!!!! Anyone brave enough to share any of their resolutions? I'd love to hear how you are going to be a better you in 2011!

feels like Christmas...

When I was pregnant with Isaac almost 2 years ago, I was on a google search looking for baby shower inspiration when somehow I came across the breathtaking work of Meg Fish Photography.

Flash forward and now Meg is not only still an amazing photographer but also the mother to an equally beautiful little girl. Today she posted TWO sets of pictures featuring not only a hair pretty I'd sent for her cute baby as a gift, but also a custom piece she commissioned that I am in love with!

Looking at her beautiful photographs really feels just like Christmas. I get SO excited to see all the pretty, dream-like images. Be sure to visit her site for more information on how you can book a session with Meg :)

this little piggy went to roseville.

The other week I bravely bundled up all 3 of my boys. I packed a diaper bag with everything I might possibly need to use in any given emergency situation. I sat in traffic in the rain unaware that Marysville was having a Christmas parade. I drove over an hour to get there and when we made our first stop I went to reach for my checks (I lost my debit card and have yet to replace it) and realized it was gone!

I called Billy who was working and he told me he borrowed it out of my purse when we had picked him up earlier on his lunch break and he forgot to put it back inside when he was done. We had NO way to pay for anything. I was so upset but I took the boys over to the mall anyways, just so they could stretch their legs and be out of the car for a bit before turning around to drive all the way back home.



SO. Flash forward to today, Billy took me down to Roseville with Isaac so I could actually get my errands done. We did some grocery shopping at Whole Foods and Billy took me over to Anthropologie to get a little gift for the family we will (God willingly) be leasing our studio from next year! While we browsed around these little piggy salt and pepper shakers caught my eye and Billy was thoughtful enough to sneak them up to the register where our other items were waiting.

So now they are all mine and they make me smile every time I look at them. Sometimes it really is just the simple things!

We also went over to Galleria but for some reason nothing really caught my eye. Not sure what it is but lately I have not been into "mall" shopping...this year I'm feeling handmade...sustainable..vintage...and purposeful gifts...and well, I just don't find too many of those in the mall!

What are you feeling for Christmas this year?

home love.

When I first saw this home tour I was instantly in love. Specifically with this picture of the rug with the aqua and brown colored dots. I have been wanting it since last year and I am happy to say that Dwell Studio had a fabulous black Friday sale and I am now the proud owner of my dream rug! I bought it in the biggest size possible and I can't wait to use it! I never thought we'd be able to afford it but I guess good things come to those who wait :)

The only problem is I haven't even unrolled the rug yet and it arrived 2 days ago...I love it so much I don't want to use it. Hate when the happens! I'm sure I'll get over it soon enough! :)

Other than admiring my rolled up rug, I think I am just about finished with my Christmas shopping. I can't wait to see my little kiddos' faces on Christmas morning!

2010

I can't believe its already December and 2010 is coming to an end. I secretly like when the New Year comes. I always make resolutions and have been putting a lot of thought into what I want to change for 2011. I once read to learn to be "content with what you have but never with who you are." I thought that was a nice challenge!



We don't do "santa" in our household, but I took the boys over to the studio to get a "santa" picture...minus the santa! :) I recently designed an ad for Moments To Remember Photography that my husband flawlessly executed...God must have known what He was doing when He paired us up! The ad was featured in a local magazine.


In other news I was really happy to see another hair pretty picture over at one of my favorite photographer's sites. The beauty in the simplicity of her work never fails to inspire me!

Birthday Boy.

We were finally able to celebrate Micah's birthday last Sunday. Micah was so happy to see all 3 of his favorite grandmas...Grandma Gloria, Grandma Baby (grandma bebe) and his "mountain" Grandma! Thank you so much Grandmas for your thoughtful gifts and a thanks to Tamiko and Zac too who made a quick Target run before the party to pick up a little gift for Micah so he would feel extra special!



Here's Micah with his birthday invitation...he loves Harley Quinn!

saving up.

I still have a few months till Billy's birthday is here, but I thought I'd do a limited edition hair pretties sale on Black Friday to start saving up...truthfully I really don't care for Black Friday...I'm more of a Cyber Monday kinda girl I guess :) BUT I'll keep my fingers crossed...this will only be the second time I've offered them and last time they completely sold out in 2 days! I don't even think I got to keep one for myself :) But my little sister does have quite the collection...:)

tired.

*photo taken by my good friend Jessica Harker back in the day..we were both maybe 20 years old at the time

Lately I have been crazy tired....dark circles under my eyes and crabiness towards my kiddos. I decided that something would have to change. I haven't gotten it all figured out, but I do know that changes are coming and I've told Billy to be prepared! :) The idea of minimalizing has always intrigued me and I've felt that tug to simplify more strongly since I became pregnant with Isaac.

Before it seemed I wanted to go out and buy buy buy..maybe it was because he was the 3rd boy, I don't know why, but I really just wanted the bare necessities with him :) I think I registered for 15 things at Target and that was it. I didn't want anything more! Well, besides minimalizing with Isaac's belongings, I think its time to cut down in the Wilson family all around. Not just with physical possessions, but with our commitments as well.

I'm slowly mapping out my plan and making little changes now, but I think we will really kick off strong starting the new year. Wish us well!

my micah boy.

Happy 4th Birthday to one of the loves of my life. I love you with all my heart mister Micah "mew" Wilson! At the ending of the age 3, start of your 4th year you:

are still a cuddle bug

are obsessed with Harley Quinn

like to watch Nemo and all 3 of the Toy Stories

still sneak Colby' special stuff off the top of his dresser

are very helpful with Isaac

will only wear the 3 same shirts over and over (they all have spiderman on them)

love to play with Legos

loves "little big planet" on the ps3

can spend a whole night away at Grandma's without crying to come home

LOVE Sunday School and loved being in VBS over the summer

are a picky eater

still love your milk...whole..skim..2 %...soy....vanilla...chocolate..you love it!

You are so smart and observant I love every little thing about you. Happy Birthday baby boy!!!

honored

One day while I was pregnant with sweet Isaac, I google searched something along the lines of 'beachy baby showers' and managed to come across some beautiful images that linked me over to the work of the ever so talented Meg Fish.

While I love and respect the different types of photography, I must say Meg's work is especially inspiring to me because of this key element: simplicity! I love me a good prop, I do, but there is just something so elegant and understated about her photographs and the lack of overpowering colors or extras. You have no choice but to focus on the subject and there is nothing to distract from the natural beauty she captures in the fleeting moments of pregnancy, infancy, and motherhood. I love every picture she takes, they quite literally take my breath away!

So, to say I was honored to see her feature hair pretties on her site does not quite do my feelings justice. I am so in love with these pictures of her beautiful daughter Ella. Thank you for the shout out Meg! I hope you too will become a daily follower of her blog.

Meg requested the *santa baby* with a white band and I created the nude/peach flower on the stormy grey band just for baby Ella. I have been getting lots of requests for it now, so I am so happy everyone has liked it :)

So its past my bedtime..I was actually sleeping but awoke and was unable to get back to sleep..so here I am..catching up on blogs, including updating my own! :)