These boys think that you should click on the the "About" button to the right. ----->
I've been writing that page for a few weeks (and in my head for a very long time) and I know that it's almost a novel. In fact, half way through I thought it might be easier to just WRITE a novel. If you have a few minutes, take a peek!
Hope your weekend was as great as ours! We had a tiny little party with the five of us for Mr. Matt's birthday.
Life is amazing!
xo, Violet
(If you don't go to my "about" page, I might find out where you live and look at you like this all day. Also, I'll bring Squid and he can drool on your pants like he did on his. Fun stuff!)
There was a discussion on a board that Kristen of Project:BABY posted about the other day. Have you guys seen her blog before? She's adorable and kind, and her Miss Tinsley has the fluffiest Big Bird hair ever. I see a lot of similarities between the two of us (mostly in the love/family/marriage department) so it's fun to see what I think my life would be like if I were a Southern (south-eastern?) Belle with hair of fire.
Anyway, the post. It was about people blaming their PostPardum Depression (among other things) on bloggers who chose to blog mostly the positive in their lives. I get the rift that the people were saying that bloggers who chooses to only show the good make them feel bad about their lives because they feel that they can never measure up to the "extravagant, perfect life" that a blogger puts on display.
While I see how bloggers might want to stay away from the un-pretty in life and keep the boring, more personal details off of their space, I am all about that. In my experience, exposure = tolerance, even if you're the one learning to tolerate yourself. I personally love blogging about feeling like crap, having sad days, being scared, fighting with my spouse and how hard and trying it is to be a mother. Now, I don't love feeling all of those negative things, but I know and hope that in sharing and normalizing my "dirty laundry", it might help others with similar problems (... everyone?) feel that it's okay to not have to be "on" all the time. That counters are messy and dishes are dirty in most homes. How many time have I cropped my disgusting burners out of a food post? A LOT. The only time those puppies are cleaned is when my Mother-In-Law comes over and silently cleans them (and the microwave, too.. don't think I don't notice! I love you!). It's an ugly part of my life, but it's a NORMAL part of my life. It isn't vintage or crafty or perfectly matched to my purse... it's burnt, gross food bits that I loathe cleaning up. EVERY single one of us, Kristen, Elsie, Leigh-Ann, James, you, me, she and he, nig and small bloggers, famous actresses and chefs and hobos with houses, we ALL have a "blog life" that we display and a real life that we see everyday. Happy faces that we plaster on on days that shake our foundations. Tears that we wipe right before we take a picture. All of us. Please don't let pretty, happy blogs get you down, friends! Don't feel like less of a Mother/Wife/Girlfriend/Daughter/Friend because your life isn't always sunshine and vintage - no ones life is - I guarantee it. Behind every pretty blog is a toilet that is screaming to be scrubbed or burners that look like mine.
Learning to not judge myself based on other bloggers and the life that I assume a blogger has, well, that was a lesson that I very recently learned myself. It was hard trying to re-wire my jealous heart, but let me tell you, with Dustin by my side and God holding my heart, the pressure that's been lifted off of my shoulders is immense! Everyone is real. Everyone poops (gross, sorry... true, though!). Everyone is just trying to get through each day with a smile on their face and a dream in their heart. Please, please don't let anyone's optimism let you feel like you're lacking. You're amazing, friend. :)
And because I didn't want to leave you without a fresh picture of the little boy who is my world...
We had a delightful weekend (which included shooting a new banner.. you like?) that was topped off by Dustin's decision to stay home from work today! The joys of spontaneous vacation days and having the "hours" in the vacation bank to make them happen! So much joy!
(Uncle Beef and Great Grandpa Gene visit with little Squid)
A few posts back, I shared my resolutions for 2012, and with January in full swing, I've been trying to keep up! My resolution for this month was/is to catch up on all of my blog "to-dos", so I'm taking today to post the picture that I said I would for Lacy's Campaign for Confidence! LEt me be honest with you, folks... I postponed taking and posting the picture because I knew (opps!) that I was getting a nice camera for Christmas and I figured that if I were going to only vegetation, I'd wait to have it captured by a nice camera. Keepin' it real.
With that said, last week, after the baby went down for his big nap of the day, I set out to make good on my word. I closed my blinds, took off my shirt and let my jumblies hang out all for the sake of Confidence. It was fun! My camera got to show off it's 10-second timer skills and got friendly with some kale! I actually took pictures with oranges and pears, too, but the kale pictures were the best.
I had to take my photo in to Photoshop and fix the lighting a bit, cropped it to size and patched up a little bit of a nip-slip, but other than that, it was pretty easy. Plus, it's nice to trollop around topless once in a while! I'm more of an "open-front-window" type of gal though, so the girls usually stay in. And no, "open-front-window" isn't code name for anything naughty... I really like to open the blinds and front door and let the sun light in. ;)
My final picture. What do you think?
Q: What do you love about your body or want to love about your body?
A: I love how resilient my body has always been. It's bounced back time and time again from the harshest of treatments and surgeries. I've re-grown hair and have earned the blush on my cheeks. The single most wonderful, amazing thing about my body, though, is my son, Roman. After everything that my body had been through, I was able to create something so perfect and whole. I might not have both of my legs and lungs, but I was able to create another person who does. It's pure magic.
Have you taken a picture for the Campaign for Confidence? Share! Share!
Also, will Rebecca M., Lauren S. and miss Diane (who all commented on my first Campaign for Confidence post) please email me at thequietlifeofviolet [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com -- you're all getting a copy of Lacy's 12 Tip & 12 Recipes to Thrive Through the Holidays... and since the Holidays have already passed, let's hope it'll help you through Valentine's Day (candy! cake! cookies!), St. Patrick's Day (corned beef!) and Easter (ham, ham ham!). Forgive me for slacking, but hey, better late than never, right?
And, what kind of Mother would I be if I didn't share an amazingly cute picture of my son? Does this boy talk with his eyebrows or WHAT? Someone wasn't happy that he couldn't have his own burger at Fuddruckers. We did let him suck on a pickle slice though, much to my Husband's disgust. Pickle lovers UNITE!
Hi, I’m Crystal. I’m married to Mr. Crafty Ave and proud mom to 2 year old Loo and 1 year old Beri. I am trying to sew all my kids clothes, feed us healthy unprocessed food, convince my family to cancel cable TV, make my own deodorant and laundry detergent and enjoy my little ones growing up before my eyes. Basically I wanna be a hippie! I also have a student loan and psychology degree and work full time at a not for profit organization. In my spare time I blog about my adventures on Crafty Ave.
726. Hearing my two year old say “thank-you” to someone without me prompting him.
727. Sewing a really straight line.
728. Eight consecutive hours of sleep.
729. How baby hair curls into ringlets on warm humid days.
730. Having play dates with people who know exactly how and when to help with your kids and do.
731. Clean sheets night.
732. Party in the USA interpreted into American Sign Language.
733. Seeing how Beri already looks up to her big brother Loo and he already takes care of her.
734. My brother and future sister-in-law living on the same Ave. Especially when Loo and I run out of eggs on our baking adventures.
735. Spending time alone with either one of my children.
736. Toe nail painting weather.
737. An (almost) empty email inbox.
738. Seeing my kids wear clothes I make for them.
739. The sound of a can of Coca Cola opening.
740. Listening through the baby monitor to my kids playing and chattering when they really should be napping.
741. All Bran with chocolate chips and vanilla yogurt.
742. The smell of freshly picked lilacs.
743. Lime Perrier.
744. When I am trying really hard to discipline Loo and I can’t help but smile and laugh at what he’s doing. (Like yelling “I had a good nap” repeatedly at the end of a no-nap afternoon, so I’ll come rescue him from his crib.)
745. Remembering to preheat the oven before I start mixing up all my baking ingredients.
747. Checking things I had to do but really didn’t want to off of my to-do list.
748. Spending an entire weekend offline.
749. Chia tea and catching up on blog reading.
750. Being inspired by another blogger to keep track of the things I’m thankful for. Thanks Violet!
Thanks for writing, Crystal!
I love, love, love all of the clothes that Crystal has been making for her kiddos. So amazing! It actually gave me a twinge of an urge to break out my machine and make Roman something. Maybe? My good ol' machine needs a good tune up, so I might have to break out the owl and canned air first! Then, I REALLY checked her blog out (all of 2011, anyone?) and saw ALL of the amazing, simple, lovely clothes that she's made and now I'm super pumped. I can't stand cartoon-y kid's clothes, and buying stuff new (say, $30 for a baby sweater) just bothers me so entirely. I loathe people who spend hoards of money on superfluous items that a kid will outgrow in three months. It's so wasteful, and if that's you, forgive me if I've offended! I guess it's the thrifty side of me pouncing out and going all "your Momma". *snaps fingers*
Number 729, curly baby hair, makes me giddy with anticipation! I hope so badly that little Ro will have sweet baby curls. Dustin and I both have curly-ish hair, although, before I had chemo for the first time as a child, I had thin, straight hair. How crazy is that, by the way?
(Top: I'm in the middle, Sis on the right and bro on the left. Bottom: I had CURLY, thick hair, as seen from the back. Ha! Kendal ((front and center)), you're no longer a blog virgin.)
I hope you all have a great Friday and thanks again to Crystal for her post!
(edit: I had to go back this morning and fix my miss-spelling of "Lilac" and the "find me here" links because I'm ridiculous and last night when I was putting this together I was nodding off the whole time. Tired by 10pm.. WHO AM I?!)
Hello there! My name is Megan and I am a designer, photographer and blogger for almost all the hours of the day. After studying fashion design and then working in the industry for a few years, I have taken the leap into entrepreneurship and I am loving it so much! It has been so amazing to have a dream and actually turn it into reality. That is one of THE #1 things I am thankful for (aside from my supercute husband and my superfat cat)! My little shop is Lilac Saloon, a curation of pretty handmade things to wear, hang on your walls, or beautify your wedding! I also blog about my life in a small town, happenings in my little business, things that inspire me, fashion, photography and living a handmade life. I love meeting new people in blogland, soo please, let’s be friends! :)
#701: That one pair of jeans that fits better than all the rest.
#702: Learning how to make all natural homemade granola and realizing that it’s the best thing everrrrr.
#703: Still having all my old journals from High School, reading them, and laughing at myself.
#704: Bright yellow nail polish that seems like it wouldn’t go with any outfit but ends up going with every outfit.
#705: Meeting new friends that are so great that you can’t believe you lived so long without them.
#706: Really old quilts that were sewn by hand out of countless different fabrics. Don’t you just adore the love that was put into them?!
#707: As a child, playing all day in the snow to come inside and find out that Mom has just made fresh hot cocoa.
#708: Opening the windows for the first time of Spring - after a long and cold Iowa Winter.
#709: Getting really inspired while listening to Royksopp.
#710: Using a French Press to make our coffee every morning - it is so yummy and has become a comforting little tradition.
#711: Realizing that you can still live really well on a whole lot less. Minimal Girl is the new Material Girl.
#712: Getting the chills (in a good way) when someone sings.
#713: My Dad reading my blog (maybe for the first time ever?) since I started my business, and calling me up to tell me how proud he is.
#714: Smelling that amazing, nostalgic scent of freshly cut grass.
#715: Skype. Without it, I would rarely see humans! I live in the middle of nowhere!
#716: Discovering a really cool book from childhood that I totally forgot about until I saw it and it brought back all sorts of memories. Now I want to buy it! Does anyone remember the “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” books?!
#717: Candles that smell like Apples & Cinnamon - they are so warm and homey!
#718: Being able to walk three blocks and be at the Library... I have a feeling I’ll be walking there a lot this summer!
#719: That urgent feeling that happens when you instantly have a good idea. It’s magical.
#720: Passing old and creepy abandoned trains, houses and buildings on road trips because it always gives me all sorts of ideas and stories about the history of those things.
#721: Waking up to the smell of coffee already being made and toast popping out of the toaster.
#722: The amazing snugly feeling of holding a sweet little baby until they fall asleep.
#723: Those “I haven’t seen you in sooo long” “reunited and it feels so good” hugs.
#724: Walking the streets of another country and feeling firsthand how big and how small the world is all at once.
#725: Laying on a quilted blanket in the grass in the spring sunshine and just enjoying the absolutely perfect moment.
Megan... That train is CREEPY!! I just clicked on the link that took me to the abandoned train post and I could totally feel my belly jumping into my butt with heebie-jeebies! Do you guys ever feel that? I think Rachel Denbow posted about an abandon farm once and the pictures of the woman's dresses hanging in the attic seriously frightened me. TOTALLY creeped me out! Abandon hospitals are THE WORST. Ahhhhhh!! Someone grab me a teddy bear and my Husband!
Oh, and when Megan wrote this post for me last year, she had no idea that when it went up she'd be sharing this photo:
(Congrats, sweet Megan!)
Today was odd feeling and great all at the same time. It's so... defeating when you try hard to get something done all day and it just doesn't happen. Not being able to accomplish even simple goals because taking care of the babe and the house and myself is all-consuming. It's such a different life, being a Mother. Not bad, but different from the past 26 years, for sure. You never realize how selfish of a person you've always been until you have a child. I want to give him everything, be there when he calls and that means giving less to myself to me and more to him. It's an adjustment and I'm getting there! I appreciate it, though and I'm so in love with my little man.
(This is my "I love you, please stop yanking my hair" face! Little menace.)
