Back in the saddle?

Sometimes, you just need a break.

A six month break, to be exact.

Since I last posted (back in May!) my life hasn't changed much. Yes, we've made some advancements with the house, Philanthropy opened and is a huge blessing and success in my life, and we've added a new fur baby; but really it's business as usual. Business except blogging.

I love writing, but I don't want to be a slave to it. I want to live freely and write when there's something interesting to say. Whether that be a handy recipe I've tried that I think others might appreciate, an outfit that I think might inspire others, or just plain words that get you (my readers, if you're still out there!) thinking.



This has been our life lately. A frenzy of blue prints and straight edges. Now that we're finally in the actual building stages, these house plans don't really mean much. We change our minds all the time. And that's ok. It's our dream house, so I'd say we're allowed to.




Our 2012 family photo, taken by the amazing Emily Williams. From left (in case you've forgotten) that's Daniel, Zoey our newest fur baby, John who will turn four in a couple months, smiling me and Mia our happy Great Pyrenees. We're all growing up and loving every minute of it.

I can't promise that I'll blog weekly. But what I can say is that if you like reading about dog hair, puke, building houses and following Jesus; then stick around. I might have more to say.


I leave you tonight with a picture of John watching a movie in bed. Because who doesn't love a baby butt?

Until next time, loves.



Day Off DIY: Artwork Display.

Hi friends. Hope you had a great weekend!
When the store opens, my days of rest will be Sunday and Monday. Sunday I won't be posting because I'll be spending time with family, but Monday evenings I'm going to showcase something creative that I do that day. Whether it be planting in the garden, organizing something in my house, or working on a sewing project. This week I decided to put up a nifty little display for my son's artwork.

John comes home from school with tons of beautiful paintings, and we do a lot of artwork at home too. I don't want to throw these pieces of art away, and it seems sad to stuff them in an album and forget about them. I got some inspiration from a blog I follow, The Pretty Bee, and with the help of a friend we set to work. I think the finished product turned out really nice!

I used regular twine and my friend Julie nailed in the ends for me. I bought a box of antique clothes pins from Annie Laurie's Antiques and grabbed this week's artwork. As John draws new artwork I'll put those pieces up, and store his older work in an album.

If you don't want to put something like this in your kitchen, I think this display would look really cute in a bedroom or playroom too!

Happy Monday everyone!

Day to Night.

Happy Friday! John and I are headed to the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri to give some extra love and attention to some sweet babies waiting for a home. We picked up a bag of food to donate and hope that with the donation they will in turn let us walk and cuddle with some furry friends. All John talks about these days is "Meow's" and "Woof Woof's."

This outfit has to take me through the busy, warm day today and into the cool evening for Tunes at Twilight  and dinner later. This tank it cotton and super comfy, and the skinny jeans are soft and easy to wear.

Tunes at Twilight has become our standard Friday evening activity. There's always room on our blanket, and I might even save you a Blue Moon.

John and our good friend, Adam, at Tunes last week.

Tunes at Twilight starts at 7pm, hope to see you there!

Lovely things on a Friday.



Riding on the mower with Dad has become John's favorite afternoon activity.





On Wednesday we went down to the river to throw rocks and watch the barges pass by.





We made homemade Mother's Day cards this year :)





An early Mother's Day gift from John and my Nana. So sweet!





Some of John's homemade cards.





A sneak peak of the dress I'm wearing to an event tomorrow night :)



We've had a great week! I feel like we have accomplished a lot at the store, and I've gotten tons done at home too. John has been doing awesome with his potty training, praise God, and I've been working on his application for PreK 3, which starts in August! My little man will be going to school in just three short months!

We have lots of fun family stuff planned for the weekend, including showing some extra love and attention to our Mom's and Grandma's. Since becoming a Mom, I love any kind of holiday that brings my family together, like Mother's Day. It doesn't really matter what we do, or if I get a gift or card; what matters is that we have an entire day devoted to spending time with each other. I never want to be one of those Mom's that begs for attention on Mother's Day, because as far as I'm concerned, Sunday isn't even about me. I wouldn't be a mom if it weren't for my family anyway!

I hope all of you ladies have a wonderful weekend, and a lovely Sunday! Happy Mother's Day!

Calling all Women: Be You.

I haven't blogged in awhile, so forgive me if I'm a little rusty! The store is coming along fantastically and I truly cannot wait until we are able to open. If you are a local, I'm sure you are aware of the Broadway street renovations going on in the Downtown area. With all the dust from the renovations, we plan to just keep working on making our store perfect before our Grand Opening Celebration. Time goes by quickly, so we will be open before you know it! I'll share more details about my job in the upcoming weeks.

With Mother's day just a few days away, I've been thinking a lot about my role in family and in life. (I know, heavy stuff!) My new job and the amazing ladies I have met through this process have reminded me just how precious and powerful my contribution to this world actually is. I used to think that little o' me couldn't really do much to make this big world a better place. Then I met some smiling ladies who are literally bursting to share the love of our Savior with others---and I was reminded that seeds are planted every day through my actions and kind gestures to those around me.

This life is not about how many church functions you attend, how many small groups you're involved in or even how many Sunday mornings you choose to go to (or, to skip!). It's about being Genuine. Being you.

Get into the Word, fill your mouth and heart with love for every. single. person. you encounter and stop focusing on being this person you think people want you to be. We are never going to live up to the expectations of those around us. What we can do is strive daily to be the woman God has planned for us to be---that loving, supportive, woman washing the feet of a stranger.

In the midst of me writing this, John literally threw up the snack he was eating all over the dining room table and himself. I immediately stopped typing and rushed to his side to make sure he was alright. The kid was laughing. He pointed to his juice and said "oops." Toddler Translation: juice went down the wrong pipe. He was ok.

Isn't that how life should be? Full of puke and laughter?

Be yourself, ladies. It's ok to laugh and puke. No one will ever be perfect nor should we try to be. We just need to keep loving Christ and loving others.

This outfit is all me. Messy braid and hat, flowing tee, black skinny jeans and sandals = Leslie Carol Hazelwood.

When the store does open, I want you all to know that when you come in to get styled by either myself or one of the other talented ladies, we will style you in something that you feel confident, beautiful, and 100% yourself in. That's what getting dressed is all about. That's what living is all about. Being you.

Chinese Food.

This week I've actually used my brain to decide what I'm going to wear, instead of just reaching for whatever is warm/has drawstrings/clean. When the weather is beautiful and I'm going to eat Chinese food with my grandmother, I think that deserves a little bit of mind power....don't you? My Nana loves to dress up so naturally I like to get a bit fancy when we are together.

Nana said I looked like Jackie O in this outfit. That's a good day right there, folks.



Button Down: Old Navy. Smurf Jeans: DKNY via TJMaxx. Basketweave Flats: Kohls.





To the farm.

In case no one has ever filled you in on this incredible piece of information, allow me to enlighten you:

Farm fresh milk from a glass bottle is the coldest, most satisfying milk you will ever drink in your life.

There is seriously something magical about pouring farm fresh, ice cold milk over a bowl of cinnamon Life cereal. If you've never had farm fresh milk before, come on over to my house either first thing in the morning or about 10:30 at night when Letterman's on. I'll pour you a bowl of cereal and you can see for yourself how amazing it is.

Just another great reason to wake up in the morning.

I buy my farm fresh milk from Jones Heritage Farm and Market. My weekly trips to pick up milk and eggs are one of my favorite parts of the week. John and I like to stroll around the farm and pet doggies, chase a few chickens and "Baaa" right back at the little lambs. Eventually we'll venture into the store and check out their weekly specials, then load up our basket with two gallons of milk (that's four glass bottles) and a couple dozen eggs. I plan to continue this tradition with John for as long as I can. It's just a special activity that I love sharing with him.




Love the gentle giants, Great Pyrenees.


For a trip to the farm, I always go with extra comfy. And throw on a hat, of course.

Learning how to wear a maxi dress is one of my summer goals. It seems like it would be easy, but I think this one-piece ensemble could use a little something to spice it up. Be it jewelry, a scarf, or a jean jacket.

Hat: Target. Jean Jacket: Old Navy. Maxi Dress: JCPenney

Next time I wear it I plan to try tying a button down shirt in front.

Hope your day is lovely, xoxo

Growing.

Since I'm working from home most days until the store opens, I have found a bit more time in the day to take care of my "pets" aka plants. They've been getting plenty of water and little pellets of food and judging by the early blooms they are liking all the extra attention.



Good morning, baby strawberries.



Nice to see you, green tomatoes.

I'm getting a little protective of my pets too. Our neighbor's hound dog knocked over one of my pots and you would've thought my house was on fire the way I screamed. I might need to relax just a bit, and, shall we say, let nature take it's course? These baby fruits will be just fine with a little water and some love.

Contrary to the lack of outfit posts, I have been wearing clothes while I work from home. This is my typical "errand running, merchandise inspecting, lazy lunch with the husband" outfit that makes it onto my weekly rotation.



Chambray Shirt: Old Navy. Khaki's: Kohls. Flats: TJMaxx.

 My hair is braided because it's the easiest thing to do, right behind wearing a hat which is something you can almost always find me in if I'm outside.

I can't forget to show you these flats---they're to die for. Very comfortable, and add a pop of interest to an otherwise "normal" outfit.



 Happy Tuesday, friends!

Sunday Lovelies: Whirlwind

Hello all! To say that the past two weeks have been a whirlwind is an understatement. I traveled to Tennessee, we had a visit from my mother in law, I've been working some for the store and also spending lots of quality family time. I missed blogging for sure, but some things have to come first, so no regrets here. I hope you have all been healthy and happy!

To recap the FABULOUS weekend I had working at the Philanthropy store, let me just say it was life changing. I cannot begin to describe the way I felt when I walked in that door on Main Street in historic downtown Franklin, TN. Not only is Philanthropy more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, the women who work there are the most amazing and Christ-like ladies I have been around in a long time. The love of our Savior beams through their smiles and words. When I got home I felt refreshed and ready to be in a Philanthropy store of my own!

This week I'll be working from home some and getting ready to head to Franklin again! Here are a few "happenings" from the past couple of weeks. I'll try to do a couple of outfit posts this week so you can see some of my new Philanthropy goodies :)

A handsome John on Easter Sunday.



Flying kites with Dad.



Grandma and her beautiful Paula Deen inspired Orange Buttercream cake :)



John's Easter present from Grandma and Grandpa Hazelwood: A helmet so he can now safely ride four wheelers with Grandpa :)





John having a blast at the circus last week.



Our storefront on the corner of Broadway and Fountain. I can't wait for the new awnings to arrive!

DIY: Forever Easter Eggs.

My favorite holiday is coming up in just a few days---Easter! I love decorating in pastels, dying eggs, and most importantly; celebrating the Resurrection of Christ.

John and I dyed our eggs last night, and they turned out adorable! This was my first time making "hand blown" eggs. Here's how I did it!

I found some brown eggs that we have had in the fridge for a couple of weeks and have been meaning to throw out anyway. If the thought of wasting all those good egg yolks drives you bonkers, grab a bowl to hold under your egg to catch the yolk once you start blowing. Better make some scrambled eggs for dinner!

My eggs. See the tiny little holes on the end?

Using a pin, poke tiny holes in each end of the egg. Take your pin and kind of swirl it around inside the egg to break up the yolk. Put your lips over one end of the egg and blow! All that yolk should squirt out the other end of the egg. It might be hard to get it all out at once, so you might want to use the pin a couple more times to break up the yolk inside.

That's it! Rinse your eggs and you're done! These eggs are fragile, but will last forever if handled with care. We decided to dye our eggs, although I think they look pretty in their natural state too!

This was the first year that John was really interested in dying the eggs. He was so proud of how they turned out!

Happy Easter everyone! I'm leaving for Franklin, TN tomorrow so I'm sure you won't hear from me until Monday. Have a blessed Easter weekend with family!

One Easy, Breezy Piece.

Can you believe this weather?? It's way too hot for the first week of April. Thankfully today it's supposed to be a bit cooler than 80 degrees! I wore this outfit yesterday for running errands with my family. It was cool and unfussy--just the way I like it.




Necklace: Self Made. Bangles: Kohls. Dress: Target circa 2009!! Basketweave Flats: Kohls.

When it's too hot to function but you just gotta get out there, I always throw on a dress. One easy piece that looks pulled together with some jewelry and cute shoes. 

This dress is one that I feel will never go out of style. The top is a thick cotton and the bottom is breezy linen. There's a reason I love natural fabrics!

Also P.S......I haven't worn makeup in a week and a half and it feels GOOD!

I'm off to wash my car and do some last minute errands before I leave town Thursday. After my errands I'll be in the kitchen most of the afternoon making ready-made meals for the boys to eat while I'm gone. I'm thinking a lasagna and possibly a chicken pot pie, yum! They'll be fed while I'm gone, that's for sure! Happy Tuesday, friends!

"We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure." 1 Corinthians 4:11-13

Monday Lovelies: The Week Ahead.

Thinking about the week ahead, I'm both excited and nervous. I'll be leaving on Thursday to go to Franklin, TN and train for my new job. I'm thinking about not only all the knowledge that I'm going to gain while being there, but also about my little family who will be without me for two nights. I don't mean to worry, but Daniel has never been with John for that long by himself. I know they'll be fine, but for the next couple of days before I leave I'm making sure that life will be easy for them while I'm away. The fridge will be stocked, laundry sorted and the day to day stuff will all be taken care of so Daniel and John can just focus on being together. I hope they have a great weekend!

Here are some lovely things that I'm thinking about and that make me happy----I hope you enjoy them too! I'll try to post a few pictures on my Facebook Page of what I'll be packing for the trip :) I'm kind of a geek in that I love packing!



This is the view from our back porch. I love that all the trees are filling in :)



My little pot of Lantana's and Marigolds. Lantana's have been my favorite flower for awhile now, and I learned that Marigolds deter mosquito's so I planted them both in a pot next to our front door.



Two amazing things in one picture! Farm fresh milk from Jones Heritage Farm and Market, and a John F. Kennedy collectible plate, which was a gift from a new friend.



I think I have created a monster. This new cupcake recipe is called "Dreamsicle." Oh. My. Goodness. It's delicious! This orange/vanilla cupcake is topped with decadent butter cream icing. Is your mouth watering yet?



This tank from Philanthropy is coming home with me this weekend. Hopefully they still have my size in stock :)

 And here are more links to more lovely things :)

Here is what we are buying my Nana for her birthday this year! I saw her eyeing this patio set in Target the other day--and now it's on sale!

I'm always on the hunt for the perfect tee--and this one from Gap comes pretty close to being my favorite ever. TIP: Size up if you have a long torso, it fits a bit short. Also, P.S.....this one might be my next favorite.

Every Spring I go on the hunt for the perfect new pair of white jeans--this pair from JCP is affordable and fits well.

Happy Monday everyone!

Freshly Cut Grass.

This skirt is seriously the most perfect shade of grass green. When I first put it on, I thought of John and this new "thing" he has with smells. He thinks everything is stinky. Freshly cut grass, flowers, puppies; any smell makes his little nose wrinkle up and he'll retort "Yuck, Mom."

T-Shirt: Old Navy. Green Pleated Skirt: Kohls. Sandals: Target.

This week I've spent some precious one on one time with John. We've been to the park, napped on the back porch, planted a garden and baked yummy treats together. It was seriously a perfect week.

Now, onto a perfect weekend!

Monday Lovelies: Breaktime.

Happy Monday! This post is brought to you by my personal laptop, in the middle of the day, while my son is napping in his own bed. I'm officially finished working at Major Brands and I'm at home right this very second! I will begin my new adventure in April, so right now I'm just enjoying extra time with John and working on some projects at home. Here are some fun things that we've been up to :)



We spend a lot of time outside in front of the house. We like to sit in these comfy adirondack chairs and have our afternoon snack.



I am in love with this new candle from Bath and Body Works, "Spring." I like to light it in the morning when I'm having my coffee. It makes the entire house smell like a flower shop! I'm also ready for the Easter Bunny with my glass egg candy dish filled with my favorite treat, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Eggs :)



One of the perks of having a little time off means I can keep my home perfectly clean (well, for a little while anyway!). In case you didn't know, our family of 3 currently resides inside a 3 car garage/house that we built on four acres in Cape Girardeau County. So we're all basically in one room, together all the time! We have a small bathroom and bedroom in the back there (middle of photo) where John sleeps, but as you can see our bed, couch, kitchen and dining room are all in one big space! We are in the process of building our dream house right next to this garage that we currently live in. We hope to be in our new house by Christmas!



Speaking of our dream house, here's what we have built so far--the basement! This big slab of concrete sits to the left of our garage-house. It's nice to live right on the construction site so we can monitor the progress! 

 

We spent a lot of time at the park over the weekend--and these are my "shoe of choice" for chasing around little man.



I think someone might be waking up---talk to you all later!!



Painting Party!

Last night some sweet ladies and I participated in a Painting Party at Bloom Studio and Gifts. We had a great time drinking wine and eating yummy snacks---oh and learning to paint of course ;)

Some of the ladies hard at work painting!



I'm cheesing so big. Just excited to be with these awesome ladies!



Robyn was ever so patient and gentle with her painting. It turned out perfect!




Brooke and Amy are almost done!




Me and my finished product. While Robin took her time to make her painting beautiful, I probably rushed through mine a little too much. I think I would have been happier with it if I had slowed down a bit.

Final review: A super fun experience! The painting instructor was so sweet and her voice was very soothing. She walked us through every step of the painting, but encouraged us to create our own unique piece. For $25, I think two hours of fellowship with awesome ladies was well worth it--and getting to bring home a fun painting that you created was a bonus! Thank you Bloom Studio and Gifts for hosting such a fun event!

My hubby is out of town fishing so getting out for an evening with the girls was a nice little treat for me. As for the rest of the weekend, John and I plan to do lots of cuddling, baking yummy cupcakes and playing outdoors, weather permitting.

I miss Daniel when he is away, but sometimes it is nice to spend time alone with little man. John woke up with a smile this morning and is ready to take on the day!

Have a great weekend everyone!