Fairly New Mompreneur

The Stats

* Isn’t She Lovely ~ Mrs. Ashley Edmonds

* Mom ~ four month old Emily

* Entrepreneur ~ Lilywrap 

* Blogger ~ Inviting Abode 

* Super Power ~ Would choose the ability to be in more than one place at one time!

* Favorite song of the moment ~  “If You’re Happy and You Know It” (you know, because she’s a new mom and all)

* Top 3 baby items right now ~  The New First Three Years Of Life  by Burton L. White, the Winkel toy by Manhattan Toys, and a sound machine!

I am beyond thrilled to introduce my first lovely spotlighted lady! Ashley Edmonds is a new mom AND a new business owner. In fact, Ashley and her husband created beautiful, reusable gift wrap called Lilywrap. I often feel so far removed from the early days of being a new mom. Ashley’s innovative product and new start in parenting made her the first person to pop into my head for this portion of Isn’t She Lovely. 

Ashley is someone I have known for a long time, but also someone I hardly know! I am friends with her brother and his wife. Ashley and I run into each other at random events, and she is always so easy to talk to. On the day that I went to have a chat with her at her home it was like we had just hung out the day before. Her personable demeanor has always made her stand out as a lovely person to me.

Before writing this post I wasn’t really sure how this was going to go down. Would I interview her and just lay it out there for you? Or would I tell it in my own words so that you could really get a personal feel for how lovely she is? I decided anyone can interview someone and type it up. It takes quite a lot more effort to really paint a picture of someone in words. Here goes nothing!

My first goal in getting to know Ashley was to find out what inspires her, what being lovely means to her, and who in her life has encouraged her to be lovely. She is heavily inspired by those who exhibit a certain level of grace. What a great word right? GRACE. Specifically, she really appreciates those who seem to have the right response in tough situations while also being able to say no gracefully. I don’t know many people who don’t struggle with that. I loved her explanation of grace in the sense that a person can do all of this and be honest at the same time when they don’t feel as under control and graceful as they would like. Ashley is inspired and encouraged to be lovely by her mom. She stated that her mom has always had that “do the right thing and be nice to people” mentality. She never had to say it, but her kids still knew it to be the truth. Ashley’s mom stayed home when they were little, and this really stuck with Ashley when her own decision to stay home came into play. She truly feels that her mom had such an important and beneficial influence on who she is today that she wants the same for her daughter. She wants the chance to show Emily through her own daily actions the kind of grace and loveliness that her mother impressed upon her. Therefore, being lovely for Ashley means being nice to everyone you meet and loving them for who they are. 

My second goal here was to find out a few things about Ashley as a mom and as an entrepreneur. These two “jobs” aren’t as different as they might sound. Ashley’s all time favorite aspect of being a new mom is hearing Emily laugh and seeing her smile now on a daily basis. As babies do, Emily was on a spurt of waking up very early after a while of having normal nights of sleep. Ashley said that walking into Emily’s room at 5 am became a joy the minute she would see Emily kicking and smiling away! 

There is one question I asked Ashley that requires her answer to be directly quoted. I simply asked her what advice she would give to other new moms. I have often found it hard to articulate this sentiment, and she did it so well:

“Don’t compare yourself to any sort of standard. Recognize that a lot of what you read and see on Facebook is the highlight reel of someone’s life. Of course, you will have those moments too. However, just because your life isn’t like that all the time does not mean that your child or your life is not normal. I think that women compare themselves to other women so much. Let’s say the topic is breastfeeding or whatever you have struggled with. If it doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t work for you. It’s not the end of the world. Look past those things and trust that you are doing the right thing for you and your baby.” 

I wish in my earliest mommy days someone had used the phrase “highlight reel”. All aspects of life have become that way due to social media, and it can be quite an overwhelming thing. It makes me scared for those very young moms or the moms who find themselves becoming a mom without necessarily being ready. Don’t compare yourselves ladies. The highlight reel is never anywhere close to the real thing! 

BUT, I will take a section from Ashley’s reel because that’s what we’re doing here in the most positive way. We are lifting her up and inspiring everyone else with her loveliness all at the same time. 

In regards to being an entrepreneur, the story of Lilywrap is pretty fascinating. Ashley’s husband Ryan is the type of guy who keeps a list of big ideas in his phone at all times. While Ashley was getting her MBA at the University of Georgia she was tasked with the job of pitching a business idea for a competition in one of her classes. She immediately went to Ryan asking for input and decided on reusable gift wrap as the idea to pitch. Using her sewing skills Ashley created a prototype, and when it was all said and done Ashley’s team ended up winning the competition in July of 2011. Ashley and Ryan moved forward with Lilywrap and launched it at market in July of 2012. Since then they have been working hard to grow the business and build the product name. Ashley’s biggest advice to anyone interested in doing something similar is to make use of your resources. If you don’t know how to get started or what to do at a certain point in the process, seek out people who do. Ask a lot of questions and always understand that whoever you are asking had to have some help at some point too! You will only be better for it when you seek out information from those who have been there. Again, not so different from parenting right?

In honor of our first Isn’t She Lovely feature there is a Lilywrap giveaway! I have always been hesitant to jump on the giveaway bandwagon. However, in the spirit of celebrating the lovely people out there and the amazing things they create and sell, a giveaway is a must! 

If you would like to win Lilywrap gift wrap simply leave a comment letting us know which Lilywrap pattern you would pick. If you are lucky enough to be the randomly chosen winner it will be shipped straight to you! I do ask that you comment by midnight Monday night. I will post the winner on Tuesday.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Ashley. If nothing else, I hope these features get you thinking more and more about the lovely people in your life that you would like to recognize in some small (or big!) way. Learn from them. Appreciate them. Lift each other up!

Holla Hump Day

This week's shout outs go to...

...everyone involved in tonight's ballet recital. The teacher of Lila's ballet class needs a really big day at the spa in my opinion. I've sat in the class. Teaching is hard, but teaching 3-6 year olds ballet is HARD. The director of the company has been so amazing as well. I emailed her a few weeks back about my concerns with Lila not doing the recital, and she said everything in just the perfect way. Sometimes you need a stranger to bring you back to the land where your child is three and maybe just doesn't want to do it anymore. There doesn't have to be a reason or some underlying meaning. AND, a big thank you to those who came tonight to cheer her on knowing full well she may not do it. More on tonight in another post!

...those who value this community my little family lives in and want it to stay intact. There's an uphill battle on it's way. Quite a big one actually. I hope for the sake of our home value and this neighborhood that it all works out.

...my girlfriends. I spend a lot of time with my little chickies, and I wouldn't have it any other way. However, there's a lack of adult conversation in my life at times. Then, when I am around a group of adults I feel sort of like I have to reacclimate myself to being an adult. It can be awkward and completely embarrassing. Most of my friends would probably say they don't know what I'm talking about. They would say that because they are really sweet. I go to the monthly girls dinner and it takes me almost the first thirty minutes to feel like I am a part of the conversation. Once things get going though I feel nothing but grateful. I am so lucky to have these ladies in my life.

It's a short one this week because I waited too late and now I need to go to sleep! Ballet recitals are exhausting ;-) Happy Holla Hump Day!

Oh Evie

Today I am making cupcakes for Lila's Easter party at school tomorrow. One child has an egg allergy so I'm using this recipe to make a single serving cupcake for him. While I do things like this the girls usually play really well together. Suddenly I hear what sounds like the tub of tiny Legos being dumped onto Lila's bedroom floor. I go in her room and sure enough both girls are huddled over said Legos telling me to go away. Lila knows Evie can't play with them. Evie knows Evie can't play with them. Evie has a bit of an obsession with eating things she shouldn't eat and has for a while. Just when I think we are moving past that she chews on some chalk and I know we have a ways to go. This is fine and totally normal. But, it's tough when you have a Lego loving big sister that you want to be like at every given moment. REALLY tough.

I sit down and try to explain to them both that I have to finish the cupcakes, and I think we should put the Legos away for now until I can monitor the situation completely. They both get this very quiet yet sad look. Evie looks up at me with those gigantic blue eyes that will stop hearts on contact someday and sweetly says, "I a big girl. I don't eat it mommy."

No you are not a big girl. You are my BABY. But, yes. Yes I understand how badly you want to be even though I need really badly for you to stop. right. now.

I left the room and almost burst into tears. The big, fat, hormonal (not pregnant) kind of tears that make me want to hug my children until they get really irritated with me.

And then they started fighting over the toy dog that talks to you but isn't talking because it needs new batteries like everything else in our house. Tears got sucked back in rather quickly.

Seriously though. That face and those words are forever etched in this brain of mine.

I leave you with these quotes because they just fit so perfectly. I am totally ripping them off of the Momastery Facebook page. Something tells me Glennon won't mind. In my head we are BFF's anyway.

"The words you speak become the house you live in." ~ Hafiz

"Be kind to yourself and others. Live in a lovely house." ~ Glennon Melton

Chutes and Ladders

This is what it's like to play a board game with an almost four year old and an almost two year old...you know, in case you were wondering. It's a long one, but I think it's informative in case you ever try this out for yourself.

Here is what I love in no particular order:

* When Evie spins both of her hands make the spinning movement.
* Lila is beyond patient with the whole situation on so many levels.
* The number of times Evies asks if it's her turn.
* The number of times Evie removes Seth's game piece from the board entirely.
* Seth's insane ability to manage this entire game without missing a beat.
* Lila's focus and certainty that she will win.
* Evie's slow decline into distraction and eventually boredom.
* How Lila tries to sneak in climbing up a few rows...on a slide no less.

Happy Monday!

This is what I'm talking about

I don't usually do posts on the weekends. But, I woke up this morning, checked Facebook, and discovered something lovely. I have strong feelings and expectations about music. These days it's so chock full of talentless garbage that when I find a gem I get so excited! These lovely ladies are a You Tube sensation like so many other goodies of late. Maybe you've seen them and I am super behind on the viral video scene. It doesn't really matter. I seriously just bought this song on Itunes. You should too. The young ones with all the talent need the most support!

I found myself in a second hand guitar...

When the blog remake got going some of the big fat post that contained music of the week (or moment really) got lost in the shuffle. Therefore, there's a good chance I've already posted this lovely lady. Either way, she's worth a second listen. Have a great weekend.

Evie update

Evie...

...is aunt Sara remade. I am almost six years older than my sister. My first memories in my own life are all of Sara. She was headstrong and hysterical. She always had that unconcerned sort of take me or leave me vibe going on. That is Evie in a nutshell. She's in the stage where taking her picture is a bother. Hence, the awkward pic above! The one I took before that actually had her hand covering her face. I was lucky to get this one. Anyway, It's hard to really explain all of the similarities I see in Evie and Sara. There's a look she gives that I've spent my whole life seeing. There's a sense of adventure and sneakiness that I simply adore. She holds her own like her aunt so bravely it's intense sometimes...and I can't get enough of it.

...the conversationalist. I know she's my child and that every parent thinks their kid is brilliant. I am coming from a place of pure astonishment here, not so much bragging. In fact, if Evie is around other kids her age I get nervous. I'm afraid the other moms might start to question their child's abilities. The truth of the matter is kids are so all over the map and completely different that everything you see as a parent must be taken with a grain of salt. For instance, the little girl down the street who is a month younger than Evie is potty trained. Evie peed on the floor ten times last week and we aren't even potty training. Everyone has their strengths. Evie just happens to talk like a five year old. Sure, she says "polatoes" and random other mispronunciations. I am not really speaking of her vast vocabulary as much as actual conversation skills. Unfortunately, she doesn't show off these skills. She takes a while to warm up, and even then she doesn't run her mouth when there are a lot of people around. Because, you know, she knows how to reel people in. She plays hard to get. Fingers crossed she stays that way.

...the student. Evie goes to a mother's morning out class two days a week. She is 100% attached to the teachers and going to "school". I feel really fortunate that both of my girls can't get enough of going. Evie actually loses her mind most mornings when I tell her that only Lila is getting out at school. I can't tell how much of this is her desire to be just like Lila at every moment, or if she really loves school that much. I'm assuming it's a little of both.

...the big girl. From the minute Evie could walk she has had to do everything herself. For me, this is a big struggle in parenting. Letting your very small child do every last thing on their own takes quite a lot of time and patience. When you are in a hurry you have no time and your patience is wavering. Usually I can get her to compromise with me in situations like that. While she always wants to be the big girl, she is really great at accepting alternate ways of doing things. This requires some creativity, but is almost 100% full proof.

...the eater. It's pretty refreshing to have a less picky eater on my hands this time. Lila has gotten a million times easier to feed, but she's still very particular about what she likes. Evie just likes to eat. She tries new things and usually likes them. The only thing I have found that she consistently turns her nose up at is meat.  I have been trying new things myself, and she always wants what I have!

That's it for now. Stay tuned for the first "Isn't She Lovely" person I am featuring next week!

Holla Hump Day!

It feels so good to have Holla Hump Day back!  Some of this is very now, and some of it has been a long time coming.

This week's (or past few months) shout outs go to...

...trainer Rahman "Ray" Grayson. Interestingly, I have never actually met this person. He is my friend Kim's trainer, and every so often he will do free thirty day challenges online.

Let's back up. So, a few months ago I decided to try out therapy. Honestly, it was sort of a last resort. I went twice. I can't explain why, but it just wasn't working out. BUT, the therapist did ask a few very important questions. Are you taking care of yourself? Are you exercising and eating right and getting enough sleep? It took all I had not to laugh out loud and state the obvious. I have a three year old and a one year old. So no. No, I am not doing those things. She went on to tell me that studies are showing that exercising thirty minutes or more a day is the equivalent to taking half of an antidepressant. That stuck with me.

Right about that time Kim invited me to do the challenge that Ray was offering through Facebook. He sent out daily emails with the challenge of the day, and the support in the Facebook group was amazing. For the first time I was exercising more to feel better instead of to look better. I didn't lose a pound, but I'm pretty sure I gained some serious muscle. None of that matters though. I gained some of myself back. My girls gained a mom with purpose instead of sadness all the time. Now, when Lila goes to school and Evie doesn't, Evie automatically asks if we are going to the gym. She's my very own accountability partner, and she doesn't even know it. Thank you Ray for offering something for free that fit the bill for what I needed. And, kudos to you for trying to get tons of people off the couch.

...the Zumba instructors at the YMCA I go to for simultaneously making me feel like a total hottie and a beached whale. It's the weirdest relationship ever. And again, they don't know me. They know my face, but that's about it. Well, and they know that my footwork leaves a lot to be desired. Zumba is sort of hysterical. You dance around provocatively with women of all ages which opens up a certain level of vulnerability. That is where these teachers are amazing. They make you feel like you can do that and do it well. They also look like they teach Zumba all day every day. That's where the beached whale feeling comes into play. I mean that in the best possible way. It's motivating and impressive on so many levels. I'm all about being proud of your body no matter what stage you're at. But, I can also recognize how much hard work someone puts into being healthy and in shape.

...my kid's teachers. Evie decided a few months ago to wake up insanely early every day. Our house being the size that it is means that everyone is up when Evie is up. It's fine for her because she takes a nap. The rest of us just cope for now. Lila could nap but then wouldn't go to bed until some crazy time like midnight. Therefore, those teachers are often getting the tired and cranky version of my kids. They do it with a smile and such love that I appreciate more than they could ever know.

...the fine people over at a little company called The Dinner A'fare. It's the best kind of magic known to women who loathe making dinner. I have said this before. I EAT ANYTHING. Everyone else in this house, not so much. I was making dinner after dinner that I thought was decent while everyone else turned up their nose or suffered through it. Well, now they do that (except for Seth), but it only took me ten to fifteen minutes to "make" instead of half the day. It's not the cheapest situation. I have also said before that sometimes in the world of simply needing things to be easier, if you pay a little extra it's always worth it.  Some people have a cleaning lady. I have dinner delivered to my door, stuck in my freezer, and ready 12 nights a month for me to pretend to cook.

Happy Hump Day ya'll!

Lila update

Aside from the random tidbit here and there I haven't done an update on the girls in what feels like forever. So much has changed that this post feels massive. Their little hearts exude loveliness all over me every single day, and I feel the need to show that off a little.

Lila...

...the fashionista. After the consignment sale I had her try on everything I bought while Evie was napping. She (we) had so much fun that I just wanted to take her shopping immediately and have her try stuff on. I would actually do that if she wouldn't be heartbroken that we didn't buy it all.

...the student. Lila officially goes to school five days a week now and truly loves it. That only just started two weeks ago and it honestly doesn't feel that different from three days. We made that choice in preparation for next school year where she will either do five half days at the church preschool or five full school days at the public school in pre-K. Yep. This is happening people. I AM NOT READY.

...the dancer. Lila spent the entire first two months of the school year telling us she needed to be in the after school ballet class. We were hesitant for various reasons, but finally we caved and signed her up. Wouldn't you know she thought it was the greatest thing that ever happened to her. That is until about two weeks ago. Suddenly she was much less interested and just wanted to watch instead of participate. The recital is next week! She tells me all day long that she does really want to do the recital. This is the world of a fickle three year old. We will see what happens.

...the almost four year old. She says the phrase "on my four years old birthday" at least five times a day. This is either in reference to something she thinks she will magically be capable of doing come the ripe old age of four, or something she wants for her birthday. I lost track of what she wants weeks ago. At this age she is well beyond the difficult times of tantrums, trying time out, and potty training. That span of 18 months (ish) to about three and a half for us was tough. I read in Parents magazine this month that when you feel like you have a "difficult" child you are actually feeling the beginnings of amazing and beneficial qualities down the line. I wouldn't call Lila a difficult child. Every kid has their strengths and weaknesses. Lila just knew really well how to push the limits sometimes. But, every time she did in the back of my mind I was saying a prayer that she never loses that determination and fire.  She still has those things, but she is more aware of her actions and reactions. Long ago we put into place ways to help her calm down or figure out a situation that is tough. It's taken a while, but she uses those ideas all the time now. Sometimes she tells me she's doing it and sometimes I just know. It's very refreshing when the way you parent really feels like it's working!

...the big sister. I get choked up on this one. Lila is a lover, not a fighter. But, she needs control and wants things to go her way. When Evie doesn't follow the path Lila so carefully lays out for her Lila becomes a massive puddle on the floor. She's heartbroken on the very rare occasions that Evie doesn't want to emulate her every move. I find this to be so endearing I can't even stand it. At the same time, she tries so hard to let it be Evie's choice. She will take Evie's hand and say, "Evie do you want to do my hair?" and Evie jumps at the chance. I spy on them all the time and Lila never ceases to amaze me with her kindness.

...the out of the blue jokester. Recently she will say or do things that crack both of us up unexpectedly. She is laughing because she now knows how funny she can be. I am laughing because she seems genuinely proud and shocked when it happens (and because it was funny)! The other day she actually tried to blame a toot on me. She was so tickled with herself that I couldn't object because I was laughing so hard. Wonder who taught her that?

Sorry for the lengthy post! Thanks for letting me indulge in my big girl for a bit.

This guy

Do you see this guy? Look really closely. His girls are on the front and back, and the kids in his lap are the neighbor's kids. AND, he's sitting on a pink teeter totter. Do you see him? Maybe you know him already. Maybe he's your friend, co-worker, or family member. Or maybe he's a stranger to you. If that's the case I suggest you try to meet him someday. He's amazing.

Do you ever feel like there are moments where maybe time does freeze for a bit? We parents are always wanting that to happen. But on rare occasions I feel like it does happen for me. Maybe time isn't frozen, but it moves super slow. There's this weird halo effect like in the movies when you see just how perfect something is in slow motion. Anyway, I felt that way today. We were all in my next door neighbor's yard and the parents were all talking while the kids played. Seth had originally been in the backyard working on our shed. When he came to the front yard he immediately started kicking the soccer ball with Lila and trying to teach Evie how to hold a baseball bat. There was a three minute span of time with Lila where I felt the moments moving slowly. I couldn't really hear what everyone was saying. It was just white noise. All the kids running around went so slowly and almost seemed hazy. All I saw and heard were Seth and Lila. I felt so lucky and overwhelmed over something so simple.

A little while later they were playing around again and Lila went up to Seth and said, "I love you daddy" with so much emotion it just about broke my heart open. Lila is a mama's girl all day long. She doesn't usually tell ME she loves me unless I say it first. She tends to have a hard time verbalizing her emotions. But, when she does say it due to her own outburst of feelings it's almost tenfold in how it makes you feel. Priceless.

My level of gratitude for the man on the pink teeter totter is beyond measure. Right now he's passed out on the couch with his laptop securely positioned. He turned on the TV tonight and landed on Good Will Hunting. He knows I hate watching movies more than once. Still, we both got sucked in. I started crying because it's Good Will Hunting for God's sake. Mid cry I realize he's asleep and I can't help but laugh. This is our life together, and I adore it.

Here's to all the lovely daddies out there. I hope you can feel me patting you on the back.


PS - Can you also take a moment and look at Evie in this picture? And then look at Seth. And then back at Evie. Even with the passy in her mouth the resemblance is striking. And awesome.

Unexpected events in parenting

Back when I used to daydream about being a mom and everything that life would entail there were so many things that just weren't a part of the picture. Standing shoulder to shoulder crammed in a small space with hoards of women trying to decide which "gently used" items of clothing to grab first would be one of those things. You do what you have to do people.

Seriously though, I love a consignment sale. Not just because that's what needs to be done for our family, but because I really enjoy a good spectacle. And consignment sales are just that. It's like the running of the brides on much less sleep, jacked up hormones, and lots of coffee. I'm honestly shocked no one has done a documentary or reality show on these things.

The girl in line in front of me drove TWO HOURS to get to this sale. Not only that, she drove two hours with her husband and three daughters ages four, two, and 3 months!!! I started to reevaluate my level of commitment to finding the best deals on clothes for my kids. Then I realized this woman simply has a way higher tolerance for crazytown than I do. That would be another part of the picture that was left out of the daydream...level of tolerance for crazytown.

Anyway, in my four years as mommy I have been to sales like this all over Atlanta. Then around year two I found the one for me and started selling at it. That way you get to go on the first day with all the others who have figured out that going the first day is the only time it's really worth it. Don't get me wrong. You still wait in line with all those others. You still have to wrangle awful wire hangers and sort your choices in stair wells and dark corners.

Amidst all of this nonsense is something sort of wonderful. Women walk by as you sort and say things like, "Oh that's cute! What size is it? I'll take it if you don't want it.". Then you know you want it. People become friends over gigantic dinosaur toys and exersaucers. The rare few daddies that get dragged in see a small glimpse of motherhood from the "do what you have to do" perspective. That perspective where you know it would be easier to just go to Target. That perspective where the time it takes to tag what you are selling, wait in line for the sale, possibly pay a sitter, AND actually "shop" in this manner may not actually make this cost less than customary forms of buying clothes. But, you convince yourself that's not true. Who really knows right?

Honestly, I know. I know it's cheaper and worth it. The clothes I bought look GREAT. I have a sense of pride in the fact that I am reusing. However, I also know that my twenty year old self would have been laughing out loud at my thirty three year old self at that sale last night. Not in a judgy way. More in the way of thinking that this is an unexpected side show in parenting and it's funny. Because let's be honest. It's hysterical.

On that note, here's a picture of us in all our morning glory to get you through this lovely Friday. This is my "day after consignment sale" look. Don't judge. Have a great weekend ya'll!

Lovely

Aren't you though? Lovely I mean. Even if you aren't a she. Let's appreciate the sentiment. Let's dig into what it means for me in this pretty new place. I have a dream guys. A little, big dream that makes me want to attempt to go little, big time with this blog. 

I wanted to reinvent. I needed to start over fresh after the insanity of 2012. I needed a push and that push came by the name of Meghan over at Stir and Scribble. 

Let's start from the beginning. 

Everyone's been asking about the blog. I kind of felt like giving up. It's hard to recover from sharing how depressed you are in a blog. You can't just show up one day and be all, "hey guess what Evie did today?" or "OMG, can you believe Sean let go of Des?". It just doesn't work that way. 

You also can't show up with HUGE dreams and ideas and goals in a place that feels worn out and sad. 

Some people asked when I would blog again. Some people checked the blog every. single. day. Others would randomly text or message asking why I hadn't posted anything yet...or if I ever would again. 

And then Meghan just sort of told me she would help me do it. She would help make it what I wanted and needed it to be. She would help me start over because she appreciated what I had to say and wanted me to keep saying it. 

Aren't you thinking, "Isn't she lovely"?

And HERE WE ARE. Meghan did what would have taken me months to do. I know this because it took me months to do it the first time. 

SO, here's the business side of this sweet little space...

I want to continue to document life as I always have. I don't see parenting through rose colored glasses because that kind of expectation benefits no one. Therefore, you can expect more of the same on that front. I want my girls (and maybe a future son???) to know what it was really like. I want them to read the amazing parts and BEAM. I also want them to be capable of handling the tough parts so that when they are up crying with their babies they feel my words hugging them through it. The bonus here is that I will continue to have a running journal of anecdotes, milestones, and beautiful moments for them to enjoy one day.

SIDE NOTE:  No. I'm not pregnant.

The new-ish part of this Isn't She Lovely blog is going to be about lifting up others in a time where tearing them down has become commonplace. If you haven't heard of mommy wars, read an article that filled you with guilt, or questioned something you did because the chick down the street seemed to be doing it better you may not get where I'm going with this. The endless cycle of trash talking is exhausting. I'm ready to learn as much as I can about those who do great things for others. I'm ready to read about things that are invented, created, and sold to support a family. I would love to know more about all types of parenting styles. I AM READY FOR SOME PRAISE THY NEIGHBOR. 

In an effort to do just that I am going to start spotlighting amazing people. I will ask them to educate, inspire, and share here. As this happens I want anyone reading to take a step back and think really hard about how great the spotlighted person is. What do you have in common with them? Do you identify with their struggles? Do they have qualities you would like to aspire to? There should be no feeling guilty here. I only hope that you feel inspired and maybe even a little more educated. 

Another goal I have for this new space is to tie in raising little ones in the fight for less judging. Let's bring them into the praise game. Let's learn together about raising lovely little girls and boys who want to see the best in others because that's the example they've been shown. My frame of reference as of now involves girls. Raising daughters is an overwhelming feat in a world where there is so much out there to shatter their confidence. I know my girls, and all of the children in my life, are lovely in every sense of the word. I want to dig a little deeper and find ways to foster their knowledge of how lovely they are and then share that with you. 

These are just two goals I have. Two ideas that will be slow to start but so refreshing to watch unfold. 

Join me please! And for the handful of people who have been patiently waiting for a post, thank you for the support and love. I'm hoping for big things here. Even if the biggest it gets is one person who feels like a rockstar parent because of something they read here. Baby steps people. 

Home Again

Here's to starting over ;-)