Custom Business Cards from Moo

Lately I have really been considering starting my own photography company. I did my first engagement session for a good friend back in February and had so much fun with it. You can view the pictures HERE. I got so many compliments from friends, family and co-workers about how great the pictures looked and a handful of them recommended that I think about starting my own business on the side. Since High School, I have always had a passion for photography. Last year for Christmas, I got a brand new Nikon and now my passion for photography has increased even more. The more that I think about it, the more I want to just take a leap and just do it. One of my friends told me about looking into Moo for business cards. One their website when you search for business card designs, they have different categories off to the left hand side such as Arts & Crafts, Beauty, Health and Spa, Fashion, Photography & Film, etc. My favorites are the Snap Happy Landscape and the Snap Happy Portrait. Another option that I love is their mini cards too! Look how cute these are!! They also have the option if you want to design your own business cards too. Their website is clean, simple and very easy to navigate. If you are looking to get some new business cards, check out Moo!

Smart Reno

Lately, Josh and I have been doing a lot of house projects/renovations (pantry, bedroom, solar panels just to name a few). I really wish we would have know about Smart Reno beforehand. Smart Reno is a great resource to find reputable contractors for any project that you may have and the process is super duper easy. All you have to do is describe your renovation project on their website and then they will find you 3 qualified contractors in just 24 hours!

Here's how it works:

House renovations on your list? Contact Smart Reno!! mis

Decorate Your Home for Thanksgiving: 15 Ways

Decorating for Thanksgiving doesn't need to take a lot of time or cost a lot of money. Since the Thanksgiving season is so short, you’ll want some quick decor ideas that will be easy to put in place and then pack away when the season is done. Maybe these 15 quick decorating ideas will provide some inspiration.

1. Throw Pillows

Harvest and Thanksgiving throw pillows are a given for a quick, adorable way to spice up your living room for the holiday. Look for pillows that come in festive harvest colors or that commemorate the gratitude, pilgrim, or turkey aspects of the season.

2. Use Nature

There’s no need to go overboard on fake decorations when you have the real stuff in your own backyard. Take your family on a nature walk and collect leaves, pine-cones, acorns, etc., and use them to decorate in clever ways. You can do leaf presses with your children and make your own centerpieces.

3. Candles

Scent is an important, and often overlooked, aspect of decorating for any season. It’s a good idea to light candles with pumpkin spice or harvest scents to set the Thanksgiving mood.

You can also use candles as a simple decoration. Candlesticks and plain candles surrounded with leaves and pumpkins are a very attractive sight for the season.

4. Deck Out the Dining Table

Since the table is where Thanksgiving happens, use it as a prime place of decoration. Get a fall-colored table cloth and a table runner, and then make a festive display in the center. You might want a cornucopia spilling out pumpkins, apples, and leaves, or you could do a cute turkey and pilgrim display. Get creative with this one.

5. Layers

A great way to add Thanksgiving color is to simply add layers rather than removing existing decor. Add a colorful sash to your curtains, and toss a small Thanksgiving themed rug over your regular one in your living room. Surround lamps, statues, and photographs with leaf garlands for an easy decoration to both put up and take down.

6. Thanksgiving Mantel

If you have a fireplace mantel, use it to your full advantage. Cover it in leaves, candles, pumpkins, crafts, and whatever else you can think of to give your living space a classy Thanksgiving look. Remember to layer and play up those autumn colors.

7. Front Door Wreath

No house is ready for Thanksgiving without the perfect outdoor wreath. Use nature to make a festive wreath. Pine-cones, leaves, acorns, gourds, and mini pumpkins are all great options for your wreath decor.  Check out these other tips for the perfect fall wreath.

8. Thanksgiving Craft Table

If you have kids or you just love to craft, a table to display those crafts is a must! As you and your kids spend time together making homemade turkeys, cornucopias, leaf presses, and more, don’t let all that talent hide away in a box. Display each item on a designated craft table by the front door or even in the kitchen.

9. Give Thanks Jar

Tis the season to be thankful, and what better way to remind your family to do so than by having them put gratitude notes in a decorative jar on display? It will remind not only your family of how much they have to be grateful for, but also your guests.

10. Harvest Candy Bowl

Candy corn and candy pumpkins don’t expire after Halloween, and putting those leftover candies in a bowl in your entryway for guests is a simple way to decorate and re-purpose Halloween leftovers.

11. Gourds and Pumpkins

If you could only do one thing to decorate for Thanksgiving, gourds and pumpkins would do the trick. Strewn tactfully around the house, these little fall beauties are the perfect way to fill your house with Thanksgiving cheer.

12. Accessorize with Throws

A very simple way to spice up any living space is a good, fall-colored throw blanket. Put these over the backs of dining room chairs, sofas, and at the ends of beds, and you have added instant fall color to your home.

13. Gratitude Reminders

Set up gratitude reminders around your house. This could be as simple as a wall decal saying “Give Thanks,” or as extravagant as a wall in your kitchen painted with chalkboard paint with reasons to be thankful written in colorful chalk. Continue to update the list as the season goes on.

14. Front Porch Decor

As you decorate your house, don’t forget about your front porch, especially since more people will see the outside of your house than they will the inside. This is a great place to put your giant pumpkins, cornucopias, colorful wreaths, and dried, yellow and orange plants.

15. Use the Fireplace

To make your home inviting for Thanksgiving, don’t forget to use the fireplace. Have the fire going every now and then. If you don’t have an electric fireplace and you don’t want to light a fire, light plain candles and bunch them together in your fireplace.

Pretty soon, your house will look just like Thanksgiving, reminding you, your family, and your guests of everything they have to be thankful for.

7 Ways to Spend Less and Enjoy Life More

We've all been told that saving money versus spending is much better in the long run. But of course spending money is much easier than saving it. Well, maybe that doesn't always have to be the case. Here are seven tips that can help you make saving money easier.  

1. Make a Budget

Ok, so budgeting is nobody’s favorite thing to do. But it can be much less painful if you use the right tools. There are hundreds of ways to budget, and you can try as many as you want until you find the one that fits your family perfectly.

If you can’t stand the thought of working on a boring Excel spreadsheet, look for other programs and apps that you can handle and enjoy. There are hundreds on the market, both free and subscription based. There are some fabulous, easy-to-use interactive programs that require a one-time fee, which may seem high in the beginning. However, if you try the free trial and the program works for you, the fee will be nothing at all compared to the amount of money you’ll save using it.

2. Shop Smart to Save Money

How can shopping save you money? It’s actually very simple: Take advantage of sales. You can get almost everything on sale if you wait for the right time. For example, around labor day and early fall, you can stock up on summer clothing and supplies for the next year at up to 75 percent off.

Likewise, wait to buy Christmas decor until the week after Christmas. Prices are slashed to the bone as stores rush to clear the Christmas merchandise to make space for new items. It might mean sacrificing a little this Christmas, but your budget will certainly thank you for it, and next year’s Christmas decor will be stunning. So, don’t feel guilty about going on a shopping spree if you buy only things you know you will need during end-of-season sales.

3. Get Started with Couponing

If you’re willing to put some work into couponing, you can cut your grocery budget up to 50 percent. (Some have reported savings up to 90 percent!) You've probably heard all about couponing and how great it is, but it can still seem daunting. Here are a few easy tips to get you started:

• Plan your weekly menu based on what’s on sale.
• Browse Coupons.com, Facebook, Pinterest, and other online sources for coupons.
• Buy only items you use and buy them in bulk if it’s a great deal.
• If possible, cash in coupons when the item goes on sale in stores.
• Subscribe to your local newspaper to get the coupon inserts.
• Organize your coupons so that you can check out hassle-free at the checkout stand.

You’ll be surprised how exciting couponing can be, especially when you watch the savings roll in.

4. Attach Reminders to Credit Cards

It’s always difficult to focus on long-term saving when the chance for instant gratification is at hand. So, remind yourself of your long term goals by attaching a photo or catchy reminder to your charge cards. For example, you could tape a picture of the vacation you are saving for or your dream car to your credit card or stick a slogan that says “A penny a day keeps the debt collectors away” on your debit card. With this help, you’ll be reminded to save rather than spend every time you pull out your charge cards.

5. Recognize Real Sales—Don’t Be Duped

As a marketing tool, restaurants and companies will mark up the price of one item to make another item look more affordable. You might think you are getting a deal at a restaurant because you ordered the $50 wine rather than the $100 one. In department stores, you will often see neon-colored signs that claim the price is reduced by 25%. But if you are a savvy shopper, you’ll obtain a general knowledge of what items generally cost and compare those prices to other stores. You might find that the “sale price” is the same or more than the regular price.

6. Buy a Used Car Over a New One

If you need a new car, don’t sweat it. You can find a like-new, low-mileage, perfectly functioning luxury car without breaking the bank—if you buy it used. So, if you have your eye on a 2015 Acura, why not dial back a little and look into a 2010 model instead. You’ll save thousands of dollars while keeping the quality you want. Some dealers specialize exclusively in used luxury cars and sell them for a fraction of the cost, like this one.

7. Find New Recipes

Cooking rather than eating out is an excellent way to save money. It can be a blast to look for and try tons of new recipes. If you aren't very talented in the kitchen, there are hundreds of blogs and tips and tricks to help you get started. Just spend a few minutes on Pinterest and you’ll get your fill of great recipes and informative articles. With a little time and intuition, you can learn to make gourmet meals in less than an hour. You might even discover that you prefer home cooked meals to eating out.

Stop living your life worrying about how you are going to make ends meet. The secret to enjoying life is spending less. So try these tips and watch your savings grow!  

**Author: Amber Brubaker**

Boats, Bows & Pearls

I was so excited when I saw this post from Emme Mangum modeling my dress from my shop! She looks absolutely amazing in this dress and I just love the heels that she paired with it! Stunning! Thanks again Emme!

To purchase this dress, visit my website HERE

    x  

Flowy Flower Top and Sequin Headband

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend. Mine was good, minus the fact that E got me sick on Saturday with a nasty cold. Sunday was a hang around on the couch kind of day. Today I am feeling just a tad bit better, but not too much. Hoping my work day flies by so I can go home and rest up.
So lets take a minute to talk about this top that I am styling! This probably has to be my new go-to top. I am in love with it and I thank my Husband Josh for picking it out. It comes in two different colors. Dark grey and cream. Josh tried to get me to buy both and I decided to just get the one and another plaid top that I had picked out. I regret that. After wearing it, I think I might just go back and get the cream colored one too now! I love the flower print, and how flowy it is. Its so soft and comfortable. I decided to pair it with black leggings, brown boots and this killer sequin headband which I have worn two days in a row.
How would you style this top?

  Top: Kohls // Leggings: Ross // Liz Claiborne Boots: Thrifted //  Headband: Buckle // Watch: Thrifted // Sunglasses: Ulta

December 9th.

This morning as I covered E back up with her blanket and gave her a kiss on her forehead, emotions of gratitude swept over my entire body. I cannot find the words to express just how much I love being a foster mom. I have loved more passionately, hurt more deeply, grieved more bitterly and have celebrated joyously throughout this entire process of caring for this sweet little girl than I could have ever imagined. I am willing to continue to walk down this path of joy, uncertainty, and heartache for her sake, to give her the wonderful life that she so much deserves. As I continue to embrace her brokenness, it paints such a vivid picture for me of how Jesus embraced ours. Counting down the days until she can possibly be apart of our forever family!! December 9th is the day! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers ♡  

I'm Not Disappointed

December 9th. That is court date that is set for severance of E's Mom's rights. Believe me when I say that am counting down the days until that exact date...because I am. I have been waiting for her to be ours forever. I was ready from the moment that she walked through our door. Yesterday we had an unexpected hearing for E. The hearing was scheduled for her younger sister and brother. Last minute, (late last week) we heard about this hearing and our Case Manager told us that it would be great if we could be there, including E. She was going to attempt to present something called a "drive by severance" to the Judge. This normally happens when there are other siblings involved and each sibling has a different court date for possible severance or reunification with their parents. They present this drive by severance to the Judge in hopes that if they are already going to do severance on the other siblings then why wait for the other child or children. Our Case Manager has warned us that it might happen and it might not so not to get our hopes up.

When we arrived at the court house with E, we walked in praying for God's will and His perfect timing. As we approached the courtroom to wait to enter, there was a man standing walking back and forth staring out the window. First glance I knew he was E's brother's Dad. He glanced over at us, especially E a few times then finally walked over to us.

"Is that E?"

"Yes it is. My Husband and I are her foster parents."

Tears came to his eyes. "Last time I saw her was when she was only 7 or 8 months old and her Mom was trying to give her away to her friend because she didn't want her anymore. I actually have quite a few baby pictures of her if you would like to have them?"

"Of course I would! That would be awesome. Thank you so much. Hey....I wish you the best of luck today and my Husband and I really respect the right decision that you have made to step up to the plate and care for your son. That will mean so much to him and he needs you more than ever right now."

We were finally called into the courtroom. As I sat down in between Josh and E, I really thought about why we were there. We were there to support E, to be a voice for her and to fight for her until the end no matter what the outcome may be. I cannot tell you how good that felt. Even thinking about it now gives me goose bumps all over.

The hearing only lasted about 30 minutes. It was interesting to hear the other cases for E's brother and sister. Towards the end, the Judge asked:

 "Are the foster parents of E in the courtroom right now?"

"Yes your honor" as Josh and I raised our hands.

"I just want to first of all thank you for all that you are doing for this child and want to ask you if there is anything that we can do or if there is any kind of statement that you would like to express here today"

I immediately spoke up "Yes your honor I would like to say a few words. I just want to let you know that E has been in our home since April. She is such a special little girl in so many ways and such a joy to have in our home. She has grown and thrived tremendously and we love her so much"

"Thank you for your statement and thank you so much for taking the time to be here."

I could feel the hearing coming to an end and my gut was telling me that it wasn't going to happen...which it didn't. Instead of feelings of disappointment, I had feelings of peace and hope knowing that this is all in God's hands and in His perfect timing. I think it was a huge blessing and an advantage for us to just be able to be there in the first place. Being able to make a connection with E's brother's Dad, having the Judge see us there and being able to speak on behalf of E.

26 days today until December 9th! We are pushing forward with faith and hope in our God that is WAY bigger than the foster care system! 

Wish us luck!

Master Bedroom: Before and After In Pictures

I forgot to take pictures before we made the changes, but found these off of Zillow. Big difference huh?!?! From dark to bright. The only thing we are waiting for now is our curtains for our new sliding glass door and new window.

 Before

After

and of course...I HAD to have a gallery wall!!!

 

Too Early For Boots?

Today on my way to work, it was the first day I was able to turn the heat on in my car and it felt amazing! AND....I decided to break out my black boots last night to wear to work today. People that live in Arizona.... is it too early for boots? If so...oh well...I am still going to rock them!

Needing these boots, these boots and these boots in my closet asap.

Top: PIF Apparel // Jacket: Thrifted // Skirt: Thrifted // Shoes: Jessica Simpson // Hat: Forever 21

All Aboard!!

Two weeks ago,we had the opportunity to go on a train ride. We got the tickets free through our Foster Care agency. I wanted to make it a surprise for E and all week I was just aching to tell her, but I knew her reaction would make it all worth it, so I kept my mouth shut. As we pulled up to the train station, I told her to close her eyes and wait until I say open. When she opened up her eyes, she looked out the window and yelled "Mama look look a train! Are we going on the train?!?! Chugga Chugga Choo Choo....all aboard!!"

I gotta tell you that this was definetly a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to go on this train ride. There were clowns, dancing, music, food, prizes, face painting, and balloon making! It was so much fun. E, my Mom and I had such a blast.

You can see a few videos that I posted from our train ride trip on my Instagram HERE