Teaching.........A Deeper Meaning

So I just got back from being away for nine days teaching at the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion in Huntsville, AL. I had such a wonderful time, but rather than give you a recap of the whole event like I did when I taught in February, I thought I would take this opportunity to talk to you a little bit about what's been on my mind the last few days.

(If you would like to see more pictures from the school, please check out my February post.......since I taught the same curriculum. You can find it HERE).

Being away from my family is an internal struggle for me. My number one priority in life right now is raising my three little ones (5, 4 and almost 2 years old), being a good wife and keeping a nice home. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be where I am right now with writing this blog and having a full-on incorporated business selling sewing patterns, writing books, filming sewing DVD's, being hired to teach sewing around the country. But here I am.

I am constantly plagued with guilt. It's just my nature. I feel guilty if I don't play enough with my kids, I feel guilty if my house is not spic and span when my husband comes home from work, I feel guilty that I don't have enough time to create all the projects that I have in my head and I feel guilty being away from home.....the list goes on. These are all self-imposed expectations that I have put upon myself, but they are there in my head constantly nagging at me. And I continue to hear my mom in the back of my mind saying, 'Just remember........you can't be all things to all people all of the time.' (Whew, thank goodness for Mom, right?). But it's still hard and I struggle.

When I had my children, the plan was for me to stay at home and raise them and for my husband to work outside the home. I am a girl who loves a plan and loves domestic life, so that sounded great to me. So when I discovered this gift of sewing after Savannah Rose was born (and I truly do believe it was a gift from God), I had no idea where it would take me. And sometimes life does not always go according to plan.

I don't believe we should take the gifts we are given lightly. They are given to us from God for a reason. And we have two choices; to embrace them and see where they take us or put them aside. I have chosen to embrace the gift of creativity and have built a business that helps my family in a tremendous way financially, helps my children to see what you can achieve with hard work and has lead me to meet people I would have otherwise never encountered.

Which brings me to the point of why I'm writing today. This week at the Martha Pullen School I taught my regular three pre-day classes and then my four day school. The morning of the four day school an older woman came into my class, very quietly, sat down and said, 'I may be in over my head with all of this, but I'm here'. Her name was Adaire and she seemed like she was going to be a quieter student in class. I had a smaller group of students this time during the four day school and it was the perfect environment to get to know one another. I certainly lucked out with an incredible group of women.

In getting to know Adaire, it turned out that her husband of 52 years had passed away 2-3 months prior to her coming to Martha Pullen. She began to open up to the students in class and her fun-loving, out-going personality began to show and she truly was the joy and light in our classroom. She was sewing beautifully and the darling clothes she was creating for her granddaughter, Grace, were like little works of art. The morning of our last day together, she said to the whole class that 'After this whole experience, I finally feel like I can move on with my life and things are going to be ok, like it is the beginning of new chapter for me.' She said her children had wanted her to go to a grievance retreat and instead she decided to come (by herself) to Martha Pullen. She said, 'It was so nice to be able to walk around here, meet others and not have everyone say........how are you doing? are you ok?'. She said, 'I finally felt normal'. We all shed a few tears because you could truly see that this point in time was her new beginning.

So why am I telling you this story. I am telling you this because I believe Adaire and I were meant to be brought together at Martha Pullen. I have a different, slightly more relaxed teaching style than some of the other instructors (which isn't a better or worse thing) and I think she was meant to take this specific school, with this amazing group of women. It's what she needed. Had she been in another, larger, more strict class, she may not have had the support and love that she found within our group. And seeing as though I was struggling with the guilt of being away from my little ones and needed clarity as to my purpose and path, I needed to meet Adaire as she needed to meet me. It wasn't my plan, it wasn't Adaire's plan, it was God's plan.

It is a great thrill to me to have people see the pieces I create and give compliments, but it is in the connection with other sewists, the connection I have with my students, inspiring others and teaching that gives my gift greater and deeper meaning.

And though I missed my children and husband deeply during the week I spent away, I know in my heart that it was where I needed to be. I know I am on the right path and I will continue to think of a Adaire whenever guilt rears its ugly head.

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Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone ~ Alt

So I just returned from Salt Lake City late Saturday night where I attended Alt Design Summit. I am so happy to be back home with my family, but I cannot stop thinking about what I have just experienced.

You may have never heard of this conference and wonder why did I choose to attend Alt Design Summit? Well, that's a really good question. I read about Alt last year and it sounded like such an amazing gathering of talented, creative people that I really wanted to have that experience myself. To be completely honest, Alt was definitely outside my comfort zone. The majority of attendees are not sewing bloggers, let alone children's sewing bloggers. Yes, there are some DIY / craft bloggers, but I would say the majority are interior design, fashion, wedding planners, photographers, graphic design, ect., but they are all creatives, like me. The attendees are mostly women who are fashionable, hip, beautiful, talented, smart and creative. It is definitely a sight to be seen with all 650 of them in one room.

But here are some of my thoughts on why I would choose a conference that would include a ton of people that I do not have much interaction with in my daily life as a sewing blogger. Yes, I could have (and still want to) attend a sewing blogging conference and would have definitely felt more comfortable and more at home. I could have said my blog's name and people probably would have known who I was and what exactly it was that I do. Instead, for the most part, at Alt I would say that I write the The Cottage Home and my business was The Cottage Mama and I got a lot of blank stares. I had to really explain the theme behind my blog and be a little bit more vocal and precise in explaining about what it is I do. But honestly, that was ok with me. That was one of the reasons why I chose Alt.

I think we must step outside our comfort zone and do things that make us a little uncomfortable to truly grow as artists, creatives and as people. If we constantly stick to what is comfortable and the same, it is where our ideas will become stagnant. Therefore we will not gain new ideas and fresh perspectives which is so important to grow in life. Personally, I don't want to live in the 'comfortable', I want change and I want to evolve and learn. I want to push myself outside of the box and do things that help me grow. And Alt help me do that. I gathered new ideas, thoughts and inspiration from people completely outside of what it is that I do. It was exciting and it was scary and a bit uncomfortable, but I have not been able to get some things out of my head since I returned home.

You may completely disagree with me on this idea and that's ok. But I encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone every so often and see what kind of new experiences and ideas await you. I still have a lot to process and take in from everything I gained from Alt. But I am so, SO glad I went.

PS: Once I've gathered my thoughts, I'll be sharing more specific details and pictures from Alt Design Summit later this week. But until then, have a great start to your week! Pin It

The Delicate Art of Balance

The Wilkes Family - Apple Picking

September 22, 2012

The art of balance in ones life is something that I think we all struggle with on a daily basis. I am a firm believer that we cannot be all things to all people at all times. I cannot tell you how many times, I am hit with the phrase "how do you do it all?", whether it's via email, on The Cottage Mama Facebook page, or in real life with my friends and family.

I am always a taken back by this question, because the true answer is simple, "I don't." I wish I knew how to get it all done. But for that to happen, I would need two of me and a lot more hours in the day. I think you make time in your life for the things that are important to you. And somedays certain things are more important than others.

When I think of balance my husband comes to mind. As I have mentioned here before, he is an avid home-brewer and makes award winning beers. Brewing is something he is truly passionate about and he makes time for it in his life. He leaves for work at 7:30 AM and is not home before 7:30 PM every single day. That makes for some longs days. So he does not get a whole lot of time to spend with the kids during the week. But on the weekends he is 100% devoted to having 'Daddy Fun Days' with them. If he wants to brew beer, he does it after they have gone to bed. He gives up sleep in order to achieve the balance in his life. I'm not advocating not sleeping to achieve balance, but it's what works for him. He wants to make room for brewing in his life and that's how he makes it work. My point being, is that you figure out a way to make time for the things in life that are important to you and sometimes you have to give up one thing for another.

But the truth is that balance is achieved through an ebb and flow in life. You cannot neglect one aspect of life completely and expect there not to be a negative reaction. Balance is a struggle. I don't know if it is for you, but it is something I am constantly thinking about and trying to keep myself in check. I have a true sense of guilt when I am not doing what I feel I should be doing in certain aspects of my life. But sometimes it is important to release yourself from that feeling of guilt in order to maintain balance in ones life. If one of my kids is having a hard day, then maybe I don't get to the dishes. If I'm trying to finish a project, then maybe we have frozen pizza for dinner. But you know what? That's ok.

For instance, right now I wish I was posting tons of different projects and tutorials for you all. I have all these great seasonal ideas in my head that I don't have time to share. Do I feel a little sense of guilt that I'm not making that happen? Well.......yes. But the reality is that I am working on my book and cannot share many of my projects right now. While I try to balance writing with paying attention to my family and my home life, it's what has to give during this time in my life. And I know you understand that and I am now officially releasing myself from that guilt. Ahhh, I feel much better!

I read Sarah Jane's post today and it just got me thinking, so I guess that's why I'm writing this post today. To be totally honest, I think I do a pretty good job balancing all the different things going on in our life right now and it is constantly a work in progress. But there is one thing I would like you to know about me.........I do not do it all. And that's fine by me.



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On my mind.....Life, Love and Joy

For some reason I feel compelled to write today.  As I sit here in my bed trying to recover from a bad sinus infection and a double ear infection, I cannot feel sorry for myself.  I cannot feel sorry for myself because I am blessed beyond words.  I am blessed with overall good health, my family, the roof over my head, food on my table, my beautiful babies, my incredible husband, my friends and just life in general.

Ever since Ashley of Lil Blue Boo posted her 'Right of Passage' video on her blog, I can't seem to get her, her family or the video out of my head.  Have you been following her 'Cancer Chronicles'?  If not, I encourage you to visit her blog and start from the beginning of her journey.  I will let you read her entire journey for yourself, but whether or not you have been through anything like this, her attitude is awe inspiring.

I think her story speaks to me because that person going through cancer could very well be me.  We are of similar age, both with young children, both in the prime of our lives and the idea of what she is experiencing is unimaginable.  My heart aches for her.  I want so badly to jump through my computer screen and hug her.  The fact that Ashley manages to 'choose joy' during this difficult time is just amazing.  I can only hope that if I was dealt the same hand of cards, that I would 'choose joy' as well.  I love her positive outlook and her 'can do' sort of attitude.  With every challenge she faces, she continues to go through life looking at the glass as half full.

Ashley has received emails questioning her truthfulness about her experience because she is so positive.  Is she keeping it real?  They are wondering about her fear and her pain.  Maybe that is in the back of her mind, but she is choosing to live life and choosing to focus on joy in her current situation.  And I just love it!  I think we need more people in the world that focus on the joy in life.  What good does it do anyone to live in the negative?

I have often been criticized for living life in such a positive manner.  For not 'keeping it real'.  I know that seems kind of weird (and it actually feels weird to write it), but it's true.  People wonder......can she really be that happy?  Sometimes I think misery loves company.  Personally I choose to focus on the joy that I have in my life.  Yes, being a wife and mother and juggling a small business can be difficult and trying at times, but I do the best I can and I try to focus on the good rather than the bad.  Is that keeping it real?  For me, it is.

Have I been through tough times?  Yes, but I choose not to dwell on them and I do not let them control my life.  I have experienced a miscarriage and I have suffered through postpartum depression after the birth of my first child.  But rather than dwelling on the negative in both those situations, I choose to share my story in hopes that others can gain positive support and information through my difficult times.  I am in no way suggesting that if you are going through a tough time that you shouldn't talk about it and share it with others.  We cannot control the cards we are dealt, but we can control the way in which we deal with them.

I do not know what the future holds for Ashley, I can only hope and pray that everything turns out for the best.  But I do know that God has chosen her for this path and journey for a reason.  I'm quite certain He has chosen her to inspire others, to help people not sweat the small stuff and to make us all focus and be thankful for the joy and blessings that we have in our lives.  I don't know about you, but I know that she has caused me to hug my babies a little tighter, kiss my husband a little more and be thankful for the joy that is in my life.

I hope that the next time you are dealt with a difficult situation that you will think of Ashley and will rise up and find the joy that is in this wonderful life that we live.  We all have SO much to be thankful for.  If you know anyone going through a difficult time, share Ashley's story with them........she is such a true inspiration!

And if you are the praying type, I ask you to pray for Ashley.........pray as hard as you possibly can.  I know, I am.

I know I don't come on the blog writing about my personal thoughts and feelings too much, but this year is a little different.  I hope to be able to share some more personal things with you ~ I hope you don't mind the change. 

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The Joy of Blogging

The following post was a guest post I did recently over at Lil Blue Boo.  Ashley has had some different guest bloggers over talking about how they find the joy in blogging. Ashley is undergoing cancer treatment.  If you don't know her story, I would encourage you to visit her blog.  She is a true inspiration. 

I seem to have Ashley on my mind daily with all that she is going through during her cancer treatment.  I pray for her and her family quite often and I hope things move in a positive direction.  Ashley is such an incredible example of what it means to "Choose Joy" in ones life.  I could only hope that if I was dealt the same set of cards, that I could carry on and be a positive inspiration like Ashley.  But I honestly don't know ~ she is pretty darn amazing.

So, the question is "How do you find joy in blogging?"

I started my blog, The Cottage Home, almost exactly two years ago.  It originally started as a way to share my projects, recipes and ideas with my family and friends.  I began blogging through the encouragement of one of my friends.  She was really into reading blogs and knew that I was into, what I like to call, the domestic life.  When she told me that she would read my blog if I wrote one, I couldn't believe it.  Really?  Someone would actually be interested in my life?  I figured if even one person would read what I had to say, maybe others would too.

I find blogging to give me an identity outside of being a mother.  Yes, mother and wife are my two central roles, but I think it is so important for us to continue to pursue our passions outside of those primary roles.  I also want my children (two girls and a boy) to see me as something outside of their mother. I hope that when they look back at the blog I have created they will not only see their mother, but they will see creativity, passion, drive, a business woman and more.

Being a stay-at-home mom is wonderful, but sometimes it is hard to find other women that have the same passions and interests as myself locally.  Through blogging I have connected with more women who share my love of sewing, cooking, crafting and all things domestic than I could have ever imagined.  I love knowing that there are other women out there that share my same desire to create, my same addiction to fabric, and my same focus on family and the domestic life.

There is an innate desire within me to create.  Whether that may be creating a project for my children, creating a gift for a friend, or creating a comforting meal that I can share with my family.  Through creating I show those around me how I love and care about them.  The true joy comes when I can inspire others through my way of life to create things in their own lives.

My blog is pretty sewing focused and it is trilling to receive an email from a reader where I have inspired them to get back into sewing.  Perhaps they used to sew, but got bored with it and now I have created a project that they are excited about trying.  Or maybe it's someone whose mother sewed while they were growing up and now they want to sew for their own children.  Or maybe a grandmother has seen the girls clothing I create and is inspired to create something for their grandchildren.  Whatever the reason may be, if I can inspire someone to return to their sewing machine, then in that, I find true joy.

Not only do I hope to inspire others through blogging, I am forever inspired by my fellow bloggers as well.  I thought I would share some of the dresses Ashley's sewing patterns have inspired me to create. 

Thank you so much for inspiring us all through your blog, Ashley! Keep staying positive ~ we are rooting for you!

So, if you blog, how do you find the joy in blogging?

I'd love to hear from you! 

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The Joy In Blogging at Lil Blue Boo

Today I am guest blogging over at Ashley's blog, Lil Blue Boo, and I'm sharing a little bit about how I find joy in blogging.  Ashley has gone through a lot this past year and is currently undergoing cancer treatment.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  Ashley is an inspiration through her creativity, positive attitude, honesty and outlook on life.  She somehow manages to always view the glass as half full. 

As Ashley would say, "Choose Joy".

Dresses created by The Cottage Mama

Pattern ~ Sienna Dress by Lil Blue Boo

Click HERE to head over to Lil Blue Boo.

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She Believed She Could.........

How many times have we talked and dreamed about doing something, only to find ourselves doing a whole lot of talking and very little doing?  It's fun to imagine something that "might be" or "could be", but without action, it will just never be.

This last week my mom, Grandma Jane, was selected as one of the 100 finalists (out of 10,000 entries) for the 45th Pillsbury Bake Off Contest with her recipe for "Biscuit Corn Cakes with Goat Cheese and Blackberry-Thyme Sauce". The grand prize is $1 million dollars, yes, you read that correctly, $1 million dollars.  In late March 2012 she will be flown to Orlando, FL to compete with the other 99 finalists where the contest will be televised on Food Network.

See.......there she is on the finalist list.......Jane Michel from Houston, TX.  I am so proud of my mom for achieving this great honor.  Not only am I proud that she is such a fabulous, creative cook, but I'm proud of her for entering the contest and going for it!  

She and I had talked about entering the bake-off contest for many years.  We've dreamed of what we would do with the $1 million dollars and how neat it would be to end up on television.  The difference is that, while mom and I did a lot of talking about this, she actually up and DID something to make it happen.

The odds of someone being selected in the top 100 are very slim.  Almost so slim that one would think, why even bother entering?  But in order to make your dream a reality, you must believe and put your dream into action.  Besides, 100 people had to be selected and who's to say that it couldn't be you?   

So I guess the point of this blog post is to say that if there is something you have been dreaming about, what are you going to do?  Keep dreaming about it or do something about it?  Even if the odds are not in your favor, I would suggest the latter.

Congratulations, Mom!

We are so excited for you!! 

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This just spoke to me........

Yesterday I was over at my mother-in-laws felting a ton of wool (tutorial on that soon) and she gave me the "Where Women Create" magazine featuring Amy Butler, Nancy Soriano, and Jo Packham (just to name a few). 

I am so inspired by this magazine - reading all of these incredible stories of creative women entrepreneurs and the spaces where they turn their dreams into reality. I've read many issues of this magazine before, but for some reason this issue, in particular, spoke to me.  There were several quotes that I just cannot seem to get out of my head, so here I am blogging about it because I have to get these thoughts out in writing and maybe some of you all can relate.

So I'll start with sharing my favorite quote from the issue and it comes from "Little Women" via the artist Debbie Dusenberry......

"You have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life?"

I struggle daily with whether or not I should be doing what I'm doing in regards to my children's clothing business, blogging, creating, ect.  I really do.  I think it's what they call "mother's guilt".   At this point, my life does not fit the same mold of most other mothers.  I struggle with what I feel my life should be verse what I want it to be.  I see a lot of other mother's around me completely devoted to their children, really taking no time out for themselves and their passions in life because it's what they are supposed to do.  And I respect that, really I do.  But I want more from life for myself and my family.  

I've always wanted to be a stay-at-home Mom (honestly, I have) and I am lucky to have the opportunity to do so.  And I love everything that has to do with the domestic life, but even in the early months staying home with my daughter, Savannah Rose, there was something burning inside of me.....a creativity that just needed to be released.  And thus, I created the blog "The Cottage Home" and the children's clothing business "The Cottage Mama".  Do I need to work? No.  Do I want to work on "The Cottage Mama"?  Absolutely!  It is my passion.

 

Which leads me into another quote..........that comes from Julia Cameron via the artist Amy Barickman........

"Creativity is an act of faith and we must be faithful to that faith, willing to share it to help others, and to be helped in return."

I never thought of creativity from this perspective, but it truly is a gift from God.  And for those of us that cannot control our need for creativity, we must follow in the faith.  That is why I love writing this blog, I love helping others learn and awaken their creative spirit and I love learning from all of you as well.  Why should we suppress a truly amazing gift from above just to fit the mold of an ordinary life?  We should feel lucky and blessed to have had that gift bestowed on us.

And finally a quote from Rober Schuller via Nancy Soriano.........

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"

How many times have you thought about doing something, but then never acted on it because you just knew it would never happen?  We all act on our fears and insecurities and it is what inhibits us from following our dreams in this world.  So I ask you to take a minute and think about the quote above, what would you do?  I know what I would do. Push all your worries and fears aside and speak to your inner voice.  I cannot even imagine what our world would be like if we could all just push fear aside and go for it!

In closing, these are my final feelings.........

I want my girls to be proud of their mother and know that what I do for myself, I also do for them.  I want them to know that I did not conform to the majority and took a different path.  I want to not feel guilty about embracing the gift of creativity.  I want my girls to take the gifts God has bestowed upon them and actually do something with them, not suppress them to conform to the molds of what women and mother's should be in our society.  I want them to take on their dreams and goals head on without the idea of failure.  I want them to listen to their creative spirits.  I want them to walk to the beat of their own drummer.  I want them to be happy.

Thank you for reading.

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Get Rid of the Funk and Recharge Your Day!

Do you ever have those days where you are just feeling in a funk?  It's like from the minute you get up, you just kind of feel blah?  I think we all have those days for sure!  The question is, do you let yourself get caught up in the blah or do you take charge and do something about it?  I say - do something about it!!

9 Ways to Recharge Your Day

1. Have a dance party.  Yes, this may sound silly, but turn on your favorite tunes and "shake your tail-feather".  After about 2-3 songs, you will be feeling good, energized and ready to tackle the day.

2.  Smile.  I know, this is super-cheesy, but it really works.

3.  Look at pictures of your loved ones.  

4.  Either pick up a copy of "The Book of Awesome" or go to 1000awesomethings.com.  My Mom just sent me this book and it is a great reminder of the little things that happen in our day to day lives that bring us happiness.  Read a few of these reminders each day and it will start to put a smile on your face.

5. Laugh out loud.

6.  Go outside.  Sometimes just breathing in some fresh air and taking in a little nature can turn a day around.

7.  Make a cup of tea.  There's something so soothing and calming to me about sipping a hot cup of tea.  It causes the world to slow down for a little while and gives you a warm, cozy feeling inside.

8.  Count your blessings.  Take a minute to think of all of the things you have to be thankful for - my guess is, there's probably A LOT.

9.  Make a list.  There's something so satisfying about crossing "to do" items off of a list.

So let's take the "blah" out of our day and make it a great one!  Happy Tuesday!

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The Power of Touch

 Me and My Girls

I don't know if you have ever noticed the tag-line for my blog here, "Cooking. Sewing. Crafting. And All Things Domestic."  Well, I've been noticing lately that I have done A LOT of cooking, sewing, and crafting, but the "domestic" part of this blog has gone to the way-side.

So in thinking about the focus of The Cottage Home, I have decided to incorporate some more posts addressing family, home and relationships, since that is the core of my life.  I hope you don't mind.  This blog is an ever evolving creative outlet for me and I'm so happy that you have decided to join me for the ride!

 My in-laws (Gigi and Grumpy) with Savannah Rose and Matilda Jane

The Power of Touch

Integrating Touch Into Our Every Day Lives

I recently attended a new playgroup with my girls.  A good friend invited me to join her group that has been together for 3+ years.  I met a lovely group of women who all have two children and are going through the same ups and downs of life as I am with two little ones.  It was so refreshing talking to these women - they were laid back, warm and very inviting.

As we were getting ready to go and saying our goodbyes, every single one of these women (some of which, I'd only just met) gave me a big hug.  And not just a little, "one-arm, I'm hugging you because I feel like I should" hug.  A hug that felt like family.

I left this group with an amazing feeling, almost a high of sorts.  I mean I've been to other groups with my girls before, but never have I had this same feeling and it got me thinking about the power of touch in our every day lives and it's ability to nourish our souls.

 Sister in-law, Abby and her boyfriend Bryan

Nine ways to integrate touch into our every day lives:

1.  A high-five.  Whether it's with your children because they did a great job. Or with your spouse because you accomplished something together.  Or even with a co-worker for a job well-done.  If you feel like giving a high-five - go for it!

2.  A handshake.

3.  A big hug.  Whether it's with your family or friends.......a hug always feels good.  Make every hug matter!

5.  An arm around the shoulder.  Placing your arm around someones shoulder can say so much without using words.  It can show support, a bond, compassion and friendship.

6.  Tickles.  Little ones loved to be tickled.  Our little Savannah will say "again" over and over until we tickle her some more.  It's a great way to connect in a light-hearted, fun way.

7.  Kisses. 

8.  Snuggles.  I don't think there is anything that feels better than snuggling up with the ones you love.

9.  Holding Hands.  Holding hands shows a commitment, whether it is a commitment to a spouse, child, family member or friend.  Hand holding has the power to give both people involved a strong sense of love and security in their relationship.

I encourage you to try to incorporate more touch into your every day lives.  Try it for a week and let me know how you feel.  I can almost guarantee you will have a warmer feeling inside your soul.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Challenge Dress #6 - "Hope, Dream, Believe"

I love these three words - hope, dream, believe.  I feel like these words were such a large part of my life growing up.  My parents did a wonderful job encouraging me throughout my childhood to follow my dreams.  They never ever told me something wasn't possible or it wasn't practical (which I heard many of my friends parents say quite often).  They were constantly supporting me and believing in me in everything I did. 

I grew up singing, dancing and acting and it was always my dream to be on Broadway.  Never once was I told that it was not a possibility.   I was accepted to Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM) my Senior year of high school as a musical theatre major.  I attended college in Cincinnati for 3/4 of my Freshman year.  In the middle of my Freshman year, I personally came to the realization that musical theatre was not what I wanted from life.  I realized that I thrived on stability and needed to focus on a career that would bring me that in the future.

But it was not my parents that brought me to this realization, it was my only personal journey that had lead me to this decision.  My parents asked me repeatedly if I was sure of my decision to quit musical theatre.  They knew I had the passion and drive to succeed and just wanted to make sure that I always new I had their support.

I want my two girls to have passion and dreams in life and I want them to know that they can achieve those dreams.  I want them to feel like their potential in life is limitless.  If they really want something, they can go for it and their father and I will be behind them 100%.

So that is why I decided to freezer paper stencil those three words on challenge dress #6 - Hope, Dream, Believe - I want those three words to be in the forefront of my girls minds throughout their entire lives.

Challenge Dress #6 - "Hope, Dream, Believe" 

For this dress I used the Sienna Dress Pattern & used 2 recycled t-shirts & some additional knit yardage.  

I did a freezer paper stencil on the gray fabric with the words "hope, dream, believe" in a bright pink fabric paint.  Click here to see more about freezer paper stenciling.

I did a reverse serged edge on this dress with black thread.

I wanted to do kind of a layered look so I did a long-sleeve black knit, underneath the teal green short sleeves.

The look is completed with a pair of tight black leggings.  Rock on Savannah!!

Cottage Mama's Note:

• All pictures of the challenge dresses were taken by Megan Abelard Photography.  More of her work can be seen on her website:  http://www.meganabelard.com
• The Sienna Dress Pattern is an incredibly well-written and easy to follow sewing pattern.  I highly recommend it for even the most beginner sewer or anyone who is interested in starting to sew with knits.  Click here to find out more information. 

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Time to get Motivated!!

With every new year, brings new motivation for me to get things accomplished!  So, we have just finished the first month of the new year - how have you done with your new year's goals or resolutions so far?  Well, I have been doing pretty good, but not excellent.

I have been putting a lot of my focus into getting "The Cottage Mama", my etsy shop, up and running.  And yes folks, it is coming soon - I promise!  With so much of my time dedicated to sewing and designing, I have put some of my household responsibilities on the back-burner.  Well, no more!

I FINALLY printed out my Motivated Moms planner for 2010 (a month late, yes, I know).  I posted about "Motivated Moms" back when I began blogging in October 2009, but I thought I would share it with you again (seeing as though I have quite a few new readers).

Motivated Moms is a wonderful planner that you can purchase and download it straight to your computer.  You can print the whole calendar off for the year or just print it week by week.  The calendar has daily tasks for you to complete so that you can stay organized and on top of your housework and still find time for the other joys in your life.

There are different formats of the planner so you can pick one that suits your lifestyle.  There are also several versions that include daily bible readings if that is something you and your family strive to keep up with daily.  They offer a free two-week menu planning download on their website as well.

If you have found that 2010 has not taken off as smoothly as you had hoped, don't worry because we are only a month into the new year - there is still time!!  I used Motivated Moms in 2009 and highly recommend it for 2010!  Come on Moms - let's get motivated together!!

Click here to check out the different Motivated Moms planners. Pin It

New Year's Resolutions

It's resolution time again and this year (in no particular order) I will.........

1.  Be more present in the moment instead of always looking to the future (I guess that's the planner in me).

2.  Sew most of my children's clothing (aside from some of the basics like socks and onesies, ect) and try to stay away from Gymboree as much as possible.

3.  Attempt to buy more organic/locally grown produce.

4.  Open my etsy shop (The Cottage Mama) to sell my handmade girls clothing.

5.  Organize my office and turn it into my crafting room - might need the hubby's help for this one (wink, wink, if you are reading this, dear husband of mine).

6.  Follow through and finish all the projects I start.

7.  Continue to only give handmade gifts whether I make them or support others who craft handmade goods.

8.  Go outside more and enjoy nature with my family.

9.  Continue to blog.

10.  Learn to live on less.

11.  Remain focused and centered on my number one job;  being a truly good wife and mother.

Cottage Mama's Note:  Ok, so now I've put all of my resolutions out there for the world to see.  Hopefully this will help me to hold myself more accountable and really stay focused this next year.

What are some of your New Year's resolutions?

I wish all of you a very happy and healthy 2010!!

Happy New Year!

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He Makes Me........

.............want to be a better person.

Now that I am a mother, it is so important for myself and my husband to set a good example for our two little girls.  They may be small, but our oldest picks up on EVERYTHING.  She does the things I do, she says the things I say, she dances the way I dance........so I mean everything.

As I go about my day to day life I quite often end up in certain situations where there ends up being two paths: the high-road or the low-road.  It would be so easy to take the low road sometimes, but I find myself saying......."What would my husband (Brett) think?" or "What would Brett do" or "Brett wouldn't approve if I did (blank)".  And these thoughts have made me realize that my husband makes me want to be a better person.  He holds me to a higher standard than sometimes I even think I hold myself, but yet I am continually rising to meet his expectations.  If he weren't in my life, would I be the person I am today?  I would hope so, but I don't know, because like I said, he challenges me to be the best person I can be; thus bringing out the best in me.

My wish is that everyone has a person like Brett in their life.  Someone that brings out the best in you, someone that challenges you to be the best you, you can be, and someone who you love and respect so much that you constantly are wanting to make them proud.  We should all be so lucky to find someone like that in our lifetime.

So thank you my dear, sweet husband for bringing out the best in me and helping me to be the best for our girls.  You are my "it" and I am so thankful to have you in my life! Pin It

Three Things

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights." 
-Maya Angelou


This is one of my favorite quotes.  So simple, yet so true.  There are so many people in this world that get upset over such little things in life.  And I often wonder, are those that sweat the small stuff truly happy?  If one is able to let themselves get so frustrated, angry and upset over little things, perhaps there are bigger issues at hand that are manifesting themselves in small day to day activities.  


I've lost my bag (and our carseat) several times while traveling and yes, it is frustrating, but I know that no one intentionally tried to have me lose my bag.......sometimes things happen.  Is it really worth ruining someone's day over something so small and trivial as lost luggage?  I mean really the person at the baggage claim wasn't the one that actually lost the bag.  They are just there trying to help remedy a situation where someone else made a mistake.


So this holiday season, I ask you this.......before you sweat the small stuff in life, ask yourself, is it really worth it? Pin It

Life Lessons

My favorite magazine subscription that I receive is "Real Simple" magazine.  I love this magazine for many reasons; it has beautiful pictures, the page layouts are really user friendly, I am generally interested in about 90% of the topics they cover, and I even love the paper they use.

Lately, I have been relating to their "Life Lessons" section in the magazine and this month in particular, I thought they had some really great advice.  I would like to quote a few sections from the "10 Truths I Wish I'd Known Sooner" article by Amy Bloom.

1.  Events reveal people's characters, they don't determine them.  Not everyone with divorced parents has terrible relationships.  If two people are hit by a bus and crippled for life, one will become a bitter shut-in; the other, the kind of warm, outgoing person (cheerful despite everything) whom everyone loves to be with.  It's not about the bus, and a dreadful childhood is not excuse.  You have the chance to be the person you wish to be, until you die.
Cottage Mama:  There are so many people in this world that use their past as an excuse for their behavior.  They had a terrible childhood; therefore, that is why they have dysfunctional relationships as an adult.  They didn't receive enough attention growing up; therefore, that is why they crave attention and seek it in negative ways (such as cheating on their spouse).  At some point you have to step up and take full responsibility for your actions, not blame it on the past, and realize "you have the change to be the person you wish to be, until you die."

2.  Fashion fades; style is eternal.  Not only do you not have to wear torn jeans, a barely-there tank top, and a fedora, but you probably shouldn't.  The point of fashion is to indulge briefly in something fun.  The point of style is to have one - whether that's a sheath and spike heals or slouchy jeans and your husbands t-shirt - and it should last you a lifetime.  All you have to do is think you deserve to look and feel your best and spend some time figuring out how to do it.  Don't know?  Find a woman whose style you admire and ask for a little advice.
Cottage Mama: I LOVE this quote.  I feel like I am still defining my own personal style, but as the years pass, I am finding that it is defining itself more and more.  I really do admire women that seem to have their personal style mapped out!

3.  Mean doesn't go away.  Some people get better looking with age; some don't.  Some people soften; some toughen up.  Mean streaks tend not to disappear.  A person who demeans and belittles you and speaks of you with contempt to others is probably going to be that way for years.  The first time it happens, take note.  The second time, take your coat and go.
Cottage Mama: This quote speaks to me.  So often have I had friendships where I have forgiven the person time and time again.  But as I have gotten older, I have realized that someone who is mean, no matter how much you hope and pray they will change or mature, is just that........mean.  And the best advice is to take your coat and go because you do not need that type of negative energy in your life.

4.  Ask for help.  It's possible you'll get turned down.  It's even more likely that you'll feel vulnerable and exposed.  Do it anyway, especially if you are the helpful sort yourself.  Those of us who like to offer assistance and hate to take any are depriving other people of the opportunity to be generous and kind; we are also blinding ourselves to the reality of mutual dependence.  You wouldn't wear pink hot pants and pretend they were flattering.  Don't pretend you don't need help.
Cottage Mama:  Since I have had children, I have gotten better about asking for help, though this is an area I am constantly working on.  Asking for help and being turned down is a terrible feeling.  I am trying to learn not to take it personally, but it is very hard when we get up enough courage to ask, we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, just to have someone say no.........but that is life, we are not going to have someone say "yes" to everything we ask for.  But by not asking for help, we are lying to ourselves and "blinding ourselves to the reality of mutual dependence."

Cottage Mama's Note:  If you are not familiar with "Real Simple" magazine, I highly suggest you check it out - click here to check it out online.  The magazine has a little bit of everything; decorating, organizing, cooking, inspiration, beauty, ect.  It is a pretty pricey magazine on new-stands, but you can get a subscription for quite a reasonable price.  This would also make a REALLY great Christmas gift for any woman in your life!! Pin It

Thankful

I love Thanksgiving.  It is the holiday that gives me the most reflection over the past year.  You would think New Year's might be that day for me, but really I use New Year's to look at the year ahead.  So, thinking towards tomorrow (Thanksgiving), my heart just wants to explode for all the things I am thankful for - I have been truly blessed.  I know I cannot list them all, but here are just a handful:

I am thankful for........

1)  The birth of my daughter Matilda Jane.  She is a true blessing from God.  She lights up my life and is such a sweet, happy baby.  I can't help but feel that my Grandma Marge lives on through our little Matilda.  She was conceived near the time of my Grandmother's passing and when I look into my sweet Matilda's eyes, I often see my Grandma Marge's grace and beauty staring back at me.

2)  For my daughter Savannah Rose.  She brings joy to me everyday and helps me not take life so seriously.  She has taught me to dance, laugh, read, sing and twirl everyday!  God bless you, Savannah Rose!!

3) For my husband Brett.  The most patient, kind, understanding, hardworking, creative, fun, talented, helpful husband and father any girls could ever ask for!

4) For my mother, my best girlfriend of all.  Though we may live far apart, our hearts are always near.  She knows exactly what to say (or what I need to hear) in any situation.

5) For my father, who we will spend Christmas Eve with this year.  It's been 5 years since we've been together at Christmas (too long!) - can't wait to bring back some of our holiday traditions.

6) For my in-laws, who are the best in-laws a daughter-in-law could ever ask for.  They are kind and generous, never asking for anything in return.  And they have the kind of marriage I can only hope Brett and I will have when we have been married 30 years from now.

7) For my "Mommy" friends.  For whom make being a Mommy that much more fun!  I don't know how I would have made it through Savannah's first year without the support of these amazing ladies.

8) And for God.  Who has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.......I am eternally grateful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Superhero Powers

So today my family and I attend my friend Marlene's son, Ben's 2nd birthday party.  Wow, I can't believe he is 2 already!  Lately Ben is all Savannah can talk about - I think she might have a little crush on him, which is understandable because he is insanely cute!

When I was thinking about what we were going to give Ben for his birthday, I knew it had to be something special.  Marlene is one of my closest friends and I have a soft spot in my heart for her little guy.

So in thinking about his gift, I remembered back to this conversation my Mom and I had a few weeks ago when she was in town for Matilda's baptism - she had mentioned how she saw a little boy in the airport with a cute cape that his Mom had made for him and how proud he was of his cape.  And I thought, "ah ha" - that's what I'll make Ben for his birthday - a super-hero cape, or better yet, a super Ben cape!!

Every toddler needs a super-hero cape, right?  A cape that makes them feel that they can conquer the world, that they have the power to make all of their dreams come true, and that no matter what direction life takes, they can face it head on.

Sometimes I feel like we as adults need super-hero capes too.  I bet I'd look pretty silly running around town in my "Super Lindsay" cape, but I know it would make me feel invincible.   So the next time you are going through a difficult time or feel like you just can't face the world, picture yourself with your own super-hero cape on, think like a toddler and know that you have the super-powers to make it through anything life might throw your way!! Pin It

The Five Love Languages

The Five Love Languages

How to Express Heartfeld Commitment to Your Mate

by Gary Chapman

"At the heart of mankind's existence is the desire to be intimate and to be loved by another.  Marriage is designed to meet that need for intimacy and love."

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman is a book I think everyone should read - whether you are currently in a relationship or not.  People express and receive love in different ways.  The emotional love language that you speak might be entirely different from the one your spouse speaks.  If you cannot learn to speak each others language then you cannot communicate your love for one another effectively.  By speaking the wrong language to your spouse, your spouse will not realized that you have expressed love at all.

The way people like to express and/or receive love can be broken down into five love languages:

1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

Perhaps your husband needs to hear encouraging words, but you feel cooking a nice dinner will cheer him up.  When he still feels down, you're puzzled.  Or, maybe your wife craves time with you - time away from the children and television.  The flowers you gave her just don't communicate that you care.

Now speaking your partners language may not be entirely comfortable for you; however, if it is what makes your partner feel he/or she is loved and cared for, then it is important for us to make the effort to speak their language as much as possible.  When an action doesn't come naturally to you, it is a greater expression of love.

Not only can the love languages be specific to showing love to our significant other or spouse, but it can also be very effective in showing our children that they are loved.  Observe your children, do they thrive on words of affirmation?  Or do you see them sparkle when they get to spend quality one-on-one time with you?  Perhaps they are a child that craves physical touch - such as lots of cuddles, hugs and kisses.  Whatever their language may be, it is our job as parents to learn their language and shout it from the roof top!!  Wouldn't you hate to find out that your child grew up, not feeling that love and adoration simply because you did not take the time to learn he/or she's language?  I know I would, I am a committed to making sure that doesn't happen.

I found this book to be incredibly insightful into how we send and receive love to and from our partner.  And as I pulled this book out to refresh my memory about the five languages, I too have realize that I need to make a continuous, conscious effort to speak my husbands love language and fill up his "love tank" as much as possible.  When you read the book, The Five Love Languages, you'll learn to speak and understand the unique languages of love and effectively express your love as well as feel truly loved in return.

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The Creative Family

"In dwelling, live close to the ground.  In thinking, keep it to the simple.  In conflict, be fair and generous.  In governing, don't try to control.  In work, do what you enjoy.  In family life, be completely present." Tao Te Ching

This is a quote from the book The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule.  This is a wonderful book for families in regards to how to encourage imagination and nurture family connections with in our home life.

It is so important for us to be truly present in our family life.  So often we think of the list of things we need to get done - chores around the house, bills that need to be paid, meals that need to be cooked and we are so focused on the future that we forget about the present.  But do we take enough time each day to savor the precious, fleeting moments we have with our family?  Personally, I need to be better about this, but I do try to make a concious effort several times a day to check myself to see if I am truly present with my girls and my husband.

One of the ways I find helps me to connect to my daughter is through our bedtime ritual.  We do not have a drawn out bedtime routine like some families do, we simply can't at this time with having a newborn as well.  But we do try to make our short ritual a meaningful one.

My daughter gets her PJ's on.  I pick her up and give her a big hug and put her in her crib.  Then I lay three blankets on her as she counts each one....."1, 2, 3" she says.  Then I kneel down by her head, look in her eyes and say our prayers......"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Angels guide me through the night, wake me with the morning light - God bless Mommy, Daddy, Savannah, baby Matilda and all the rest of our family and friends".  Then I tell her all the wonderful things that she did that day.  Even if it's been one of those crazy filled days full of tears and tantrums, I always try to end the day on a positive note full of love.  I want her to drift off into dreamland feeling loved and adored (as she truly is).  After we finish, I tell her I love her, give her a kiss and leave the room - I look back before I close the door and she always pops her head up, looks at me and flashes a smile that has love written all over it.

It is in these rituals we create within our families that are the memories our children will take with them into adulthood.  So I ask you, what rituals have you started that bring you better connected with your family members?  And if you can't think of any, then perhaps it is time to start developing those rituals, living in the moment, and connecting with the most important people in your life; your family.

Click here to find out more information on the book, The Creative Family Pin It