I Couldn't live without . . . . blog friends

When I think about some of the friendships I've made the last few years, it's still amazes me that there are a handful of girls that have become truly close friends that I've never met in person.  Alison and Jennifer were two friends who went through fertility treatments the same time I did and we emailed back and forth sometimes many times a day.  Updated each other on our treatments, symptoms, feelings, and then our pregnancies.   I don't know what I would've done without them.  Lindsay and Molly have been great because our girls are the same ages and we can text about motherhood, encourage each other and ask for prayer.  I wish I was Whitney's neighbor so we could have playdates, hang out and could eat all her delicious baked goods.  Liz has become one of my best friends this last year.  I actually got to meet her last year on our family vacation and she is coming to visit us in two weeks! Flying out here just for us and I can't even wait for four days together! Probably the biggest blessing from having this blog has been the friendships that have come out of it. I am so thankful for these girls.  
Sometimes I get sad because blogging is definitely not the same that it was a few years ago.  I felt like there was a bigger, more involved community with more comments, emailing and interaction. That is one of the reasons I was excited to start this link up with Lindsay. I've enjoyed finding a few new blogs and reading some already favorites.  I love when I get a sweet email from a reader or a new comment on my posts.  

So, I was really excited to get to know Kylie, who is pretty new to the blogging world.  Kylie is a middle school counselor, a Midwesterner moved to Florida, and just got married three weeks ago. She blogs over at Counselor with a Cape and writes about life as a school counselor, but also other randoms about her life.  Which is my favorite kind of blog.  Real life, and getting to find ways you relate to each other!  Like treating her dog like her baby.  Check our her blog and follow her on instagram @kylieliddle9.  I know she's excited to make some new blogging friends!
Link up below and grab the button in my sidebar if you'd like.  Can't wait to read your posts!

DIY Wooden Tassel Necklace

sweater & jeans: old navy   sneakers: target

I saw this necklace a few weeks ago and loved it, but couldn't handle paying $37 for it.  I figured it wouldn't be too hard to make my own version.  All together it took me less than two hours and I love it. 

copy: $37   diy version: $12

Supplies: string, wooden beads, thicker string/rope for necklace, spray paint

I spray painted my beads similar to this tutorial and forgot to take a picture.  I only did one coat.

String your wooden bead and then another tassel and keep going until you want your 

colored beads to start.  I made eight tassels. 

I used a wooden bead at the end, tied a knot around it, then made a loop on the other side to 

make a closing.  

And that's it! I now would like to spray paint a ton more beads and make a million more tassels.

He is Risen

While I feel like I generally try to have a thankful attitude for all that God has give me, I fail to think about and appreciate the magnitude of the greatest gift we've been given.  It's so easy for me to let these days leading up holidays pass without much thought about the reason we are celebrating.  
Without a doubt the thing that I am most thankful for, and often take for granted, is that God sent His perfect Son to pay the price for my sins so that I could spend eternity with Him.  
Reminded on this day of the price He paid for my sins and praising God for the greatest gift I could be given.
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. (2 Colossians 2:13-14)
Happy Easter!
He is Risen.  He is Risen indeed.  

Keeping it real

The other day I read a friend's status that said that her 21 month old just counted to ten.  Immediately I kind of panicked and right away asked,  "Addi can you count? One, two, three?" To which she replied "One . . . one . . ONE!!!!"  Which is a step above saying donut, which happens to be her favorite answer to all questions.  
I knew the day would come when I'd replace the struggle of not comparing Addilyn's sleeping habits to everyone else with the struggle of not comparing her other abilities.  It's starting to happen, and I want to be so conscious of it because I know comparison of any form leaves you feeling anxious, unhappy and neglecting to appreciate what you have.  
I worry that she doesn't love reading enough or know how to entertain herself for more than a minute at a time.  I read of other moms walking by their toddler's room to see them reading books in their chairs.  Wait.  What?  The times I walk away from Addilyn in her room she's trying to crawl up the railings of her crib or body surf on the rocking ottoman.  But much more likely she chasing me, whining mama because she can't stand not being right on top of me all the time.  
I imagine this is a battle that every mom feels in one way or another, probably their entire parenthood.  But I know that if I'm not mindful of it, I'll waste far too much time worrying if I'm doing things right, and forget that every kid is so different and that I have a daughter that is happy and loved.  I could practice numbers with Addilyn until she's blue in the face right now and she could respond with donut every single time.  Or answer dog poop, which was her favorite phrase on repeat yesterday.  
And when it comes down to it, I think a majority of those things are not in my control.  Addilyn has amazing balance and is really coordinated.  I didn't do a thing to teach that.  She also does not eat a lot, and I think I've done a decent job offering her different and healthy foods, yet she rarely eats them. Again, not a ton I can do about that, except keep trying.    
Sometimes I wish everyone would stop posting pictures of their healthy food and independent toddlers.  One of the reasons I thoroughly appreciate this thread on instagram because that's real life.  
So here's to keeping it real.  I worry that my toddler isn't independent and eats too many sweets.  That we probably watch more tv than we should, and the idea of doing any activity that involves paint or shaving cream makes me want to cringe.  And that I don't ever, ever miss her when she is sleeping.   

I couldn't live without . . . . Booties

top: c/o sheinside   jeans: target   booties: justfab

I bought these boots from Just Fab last year and I don't think I wore them once last Fall and Winter. They are probably a size too big and I felt like they made my feet look like clown feet.  I've either let that not bother me, or I was wrong because I wear them all the time now.  These are my other favorite pair that I also wear a ton.  I miss dressing up for work and I wear jeans most of the time and wearing booties makes me feel as dressed up as I think possible for me when I'm running errands, going to church or whatever I'm doing. 

one: just fab //  two: just fab // three: target ($9 a few years ago)

So while I could live without ever saying or typing the word booties again, I sure get a lot of wear out of the few that I have.

Excited for another week of link up and can't wait to see your posts! Thanks for linking up below!