Becoming

Today started a new chapter for us. We said goodbye to Summer and hello to first grade. Thanks to my sister, I was completely renewed and prepared for today and this new season in our life.

We went away for the weekend to Asheville, NC which is so beautiful and attended the Becoming Conference. "What kind of conference are you going to?" is what I kept hearing and I wasn't really sure how to explain it. My neice kept calling it the couponing conference.

But couponing was such a small piece of the puzzle - it was all about Becoming Creative. Purposeful. Frugal. And it was UNBELIEVABLE! I was definitely a little star struck by the bloggers who spoke and wanted to share the recap.

The first session I went to was with Jenny from Southern Savers. If you don't know about her site, you are completely missing out (especially if you are in the South). She is not a crazy extreme couponer and will tell you that if coupons are too hard, then don't use them! But she does give you the best prices each week for whichever grocery store you shop at and if you only participate in buying just those items, you will cut your grocery bill by 50%. She is a wife, mom and such an inspiration to me. Today, she posted some freebies on CVS....I went and got a full size body wash for me (such a fun treat!), 30 bandaids (we always need those) and a hershey's caramel bar (yes, another treat for mommy) for $.06. Yes, you read that right - six CENTS! Just had to pay the tax. So definitely check her site out - she's always putting great deals up.

The next person I saw was Rachel Van Eerden and sadly, she is the only one that doesn't have a blog. I could have sat for HOURS with her...she was so amazing. She is a mother of 11 children and she knows what it means to be intentional about living life to its fullest. She spoke about Casting a Long Term Vision for Mothering which I so needed . I couldn't take notes fast enough!

Then I got to see The Nester! I first saw her walking through the cafeteria Friday night and was like "oh my gosh" and my sister said "Do you know her?" Are you kidding me? "YES! That's THE NESTER!" I had to stop and say hello...what a star struck nerd I am. So I was thrilled to sit on the front row and hear her talk about real women decorating with real budgets. If you have never checked out her blog - go right now! You won't regret it!

The last person I heard speak was Jen Schmidt whose blog is Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. She is a mother of five kids and is so cute and hilarious! Her practical, yet tangible frugal lifestyle ideas encourage others to save money where they can, so they can spend, share and give, on what's important.

Last but definitely not least was Angela Statzer who runs the blog Button Bird Designs. Her passion is finding the thrift store cast off, adding some paint, and making it into something beautiful and useable. I love all of this stuff and just wish I had more time to redo these fun finds! She is super precious and so is her blog!

So I came back completely renewed and refreshed. I learned I don't have to strive for perfection, just faithfulness. I need to be intentional in my mothering, intentional about blessing my children and make sure they know they are my earthly treasures - a true blessing to me!

I started my morning today by putting this precious thing on the bus. I told him last night that I wanted him to be comfortable on his first day and feel good about himself so he could pick out whatever he wanted to wear. I didn't think he'd pick out the Batman shirt but we went with it!

He also wanted a messenger bag this year instead of a backpack....how cute is that when they get their own personal style?

And did I mention he turns 7 in a WEEK? Wow! These days seem long but the years are definitely short!

Summer....

HAPPY SUMMER!!!!!

Where have we been?

BUSY! BUSY! BUSY!

We endured the huge snow storm and were stuck for a week.

The boys decided they wanted to share a room!

So we moved them together and decorated their new room-

Streamlining the decor while keeping their personalities and styles separate.

Little man was born on the 4th of July so I had already done his room in the stars.

Since we already had that, it seemed the easiest route to go!

I was so thrilled that they wanted to share a room.

I had wanted them to share a room ever since we had two boys.

I think it's good for them - to be a good roommate

to learn to share and respect other people's space

This was no easy task considering they are so different!

I hung Numero Uno's Star Wars picture over his bed

And little man's Peachtree Road Race shirt/picture over his bed.

Their Uncle Scott gave them both of these!

The shirt signified the day he was born but

also the first P'tree Road Race daddy missed in 17 years!

We did see it from our hospital room at Piedmont though!

Campbells Soup pictures came from Grandmother Pinson who retired from there.

They match the red, white and blue theme and are special because of her.

I love using family heirlooms whenever possible.


We also celebrated Easter and held our Annual Easter Egg Hunt.

This is always so fun to see my first cousins and their children.

I've also been super busy making personalized gifts -

many for teachers gifts, party favors, charity auctions, etc.

It's so fun to see how differently each of them come out

and to hear what a huge hit they are!

Now these two are out of school....

And I officially have a first grader -

Next project? Baby girl's big girl room! More of that to come!

Here's to Summer!

A Fun Craft

My husband and I have always had very distinct sides of the bed.

We aren't the kind of couple to switch it up every other year.

I'm always by the door for when the kids get up

He's always by the alarm.

I have a mold of my body on my side -

I like to sleep alot!

He is hardly in the bed

sleeping about 5 hours a night (if that!)

So when I found these awesome pillows in the Ballard Catalog -

I knew we had to have them!

I'm a huge fan of Ballards and it doesn't help that I live

just miles from the outlet store!

But these weren't in the outlet store and

I already had square khaki pillows on my bed....

Even though I like the burlap better, they were $60 to purchase

...so I attempted to make my own!

They definitely are not perfect so don't look too closely!

But I did them and they are mine.....

Check out the finished product!!!!

Happy New Year!

I'm not a huge New Years Eve person....

I don't care to get dressed up and

I really don't care to be out on the roads.

I'm good at home under covers ringing it in with Dick Clark.(or Ryan)

But I do always feel a sense to re-evaluate

Not so much make new resolutions

but just re-evaluate where I'm at in life.

Am I organized? Am I doing what I need to be doing?

This year brings with it a new endeavor

that I would love to share with you -

Some of you have seen my personalized buckets

but I wanted you to see this precious baby gift!

First of all, baby bedding has come a long way!
I have always been drawn to fabrics that don't look

like they are for a baby. So when my friend came to me

and asked if I could do a bucket for this baby's room

I was so excited!

How fun is this baby bedding?


Here is the info on it:

Manufacturer: Westminster / Free Spirit (VAH12Blush)
Designer: Anna Maria Horner
Collection: Innocent Crush Voile
Print Name: First Impression in Blush

I just feel so honored to make this gift.

This bucket - which may seem small to some -

will be received by a soon-to-be "new" mom

who lost her mother "Melanie" way too early.

I personally know how special that is after having

named my daughter after my grandmother.

Seeing her name is a constant reminder of her...

And I hope that's what it does for this new mom as well.

There is just something so special about family names......

Christmas cards

I'm really big on Christmas cards -

I like to send unique ones with the whole family

yes...mom and dad too!

but this year - I was feeling a little bah humbug...

I didn't want the expense that came with sending Christmas cards

and it just seemed so fakey fakey to me (is that a word?)

to all stand there all smiley when we have three kids at HARD ages.

We decided to still do a card but drastically cut our list.

We have a LARGE list but with trying to cut costs this year, that made the most sense.

I thought let's at least get the picture first and we'll go from there.

Who even knew if we'd get a good picture?

Well I'm sad that we cut the list because I think it turned out being our best card yet!

Not only did we get a good picture...we got the PERFECT picture!

(Thanks Uncle Scott!)

And I think we perfectly depicted what life is like at the Stargels!

And for those who aren't okay with the non traditional picture- There is the back side!

Which my 6 yr. old was very concerned people wouldn't see....

So like the card says:

May all your wishes....cooperate!

We hope you all have a Merry Merry Christmas!!!!

Happy Birthday baby girl!

"Happy Birthday to you!

You were born at 4:02

Happy Birthday Annie Lou Who

Happy Birthday to you!"

Have you missed me?

Let's get caught up!

Let me first apologize for being MIA!

I can't believe I haven't posted since September 5th!

Time is flying by and life is CRAZY!

Numero Uno turned Six!

And I got my first "mom you are so uncool" look when

I decided to get in the spirit and dress up like Princess Lea!

That girl had some LONG hair to pull those buns off!

I turned 35! and tried to dismiss the day as quickly as it arrived.....hence the no pictures!

We've been playing alot of Flag Football

Our first year!!!! AND first organized sport....

I can only imagine how busy it will be

when all three are in sports.

We are the Sugar Bowl champs!!!

(and can you tell we like Star Wars?)

We definitely had the best coach in the league! Daddy!

Who was COMPLETELY in his element as a coach

so patient and encouraging with the kids...

He did AWESOME!

I went to McBeach with my girls

And I was definitely on Cloud Nine



The Sunsets were UNBELIEVABLE

and we toasted them each night with a glass of wine.

Then I decided I didn't want to come home!

So I didn't!!! The girls left me on Sunday.....

And these cuties arrived Sunday afternoon!!!!

Ever since then, I swear I've had the hardest time getting back in the swing of things!

But.....I think I'm finally back!

I've been making some fun buckets!

I added a new tab on the blog!

Check them out and let me know what you think!

Oh and it's good to be back!