Guest Post: Chrystal Hunter : A Day in the Hunter Circus: A Picture an Hour

Hey friends, I leave you again with the capable hands of a guest blogger, Chrystal.  Today, you get to see the life of a boy mom. She was blessed with two adorable little boys. What is a typical day like for you and your kids? And do any of you run into the same issue of the kids not napping at the same time? Well, enjoy what Chrystal has posted. Until next time friends.

Nicole

Hello, my name is Chrystal. I am the momma of two wild man cubs. I was thrilled to hear that Nicole started writing a blog and jumped at the chance to be a part of it this week.

Because I am constantly chasing after my two year old, swaying a fussy babe, and doing another hundred things a minute with my boys, I decided to embrace that chaos and show you a glimpse into our life. Going out with the boys takes constant vigilance and patience that I don't always have, but we are not the stay-at-home all day sort. We gladly walk into the face of potentially crazy situations in order to maintain our sanity. That being said, I've put together a photo collage that highlights something we did every hour for one day. I hope you enjoy a peek into the crazy circus we call family. Thank you Nicole for giving me the opportunity to share.

A Day in the Hunter Circus: A Picture an Hour

7am

Praying for a good day before breakfast. Lord knows we often need Divine intervention!

8am

 Decorating Jackson's pumpkin for preschool.

9am

Getting ready

 10am

My jogging companions all bundled up.

 11am

Hanging out in Central Park

 12pm

Lunch date at Chipotle with our ring leader

1pm

 This was supposed to be a picture of a peaceful, sleeping baby.

2pm

Quiet time before big brother wakes up.

3pm

The boy loves him some milk.

 4pm

So close to crawling.

5pm

Finishing off the last of his popcorn from the movies with grandma and papa.

 6pm

Getting ready for date night.

7pm

Token picture of fancy coffee from a hipster coffee shop.

 8pm

Bath time

9pm

Ending the day with a good book.

Guest Blogger: Michelle of Sweet, Heart & Soul

Hi All. Well as you know, I am still in the middle of packing up the house so I have scheduled some guest bloggers. Today, I have the pleasure of introducing all of you to Michelle of "Sweet, Heart, & Soul". I have been to two events that she has created for and let me tell you, it is nothing short of spectacular. Just read on to see what she is all about. She is also showcasing her latest event, a vintage tea party. Thank you Michelle for taking time to share your work with us. Until next time friends.
Nicole

To walk into a party and be amazed by all the details is just wonderful.  However, to leave the party at the end of the night feeling absolutely blown away by every single element is…  UTTERLY AMAZING!  That exact feeling is what triggered my desire to start a business that would allow individuals to not only amaze their guests with the presentation of their party décor, but to also experience the same contentment upon seeing what I could offer.  At that moment, “Sweet, Heart & Soul” was born – a company in which I could provide individuals many options to make their social events stand out through beauty & originality.  I have always had a passion for creating everything – art, crafts, and desserts… anything I could get my hands on.  Therefore, it was only fitting to develop a company that would allow me to do what I love doing most.  “Sweet, Heart & Soul” was developed with the intention of putting my heart & soul into making sweet memories for anyone who would allow me to.  With the assistance of my supportive husband, my kids, my family & close friends, I have been able to continuously work a number of great events since March of this year.

Although I offer many various products to provide for an event, I mostly specialize in creating dessert tables, party favors, and décor.  My absolute favorite is being able to create fabulous dessert tables for my wonderful clients!  Upon booking, clients tell me what their theme & color scheme is.  From there, I begin to map out what their dessert table will look like, and start the process of purchasing all the essential supplies needed in order to make the table look stunning.  Words cannot explain how much I LOVE planning out my tables.  Who wouldn’t love being able to purchase beautiful props & décor to help make the table look exquisite? Working on dessert tables is not only fun, but it also allows me to utilize my creativity by showcasing my style, and furthermore create delicious desserts for others to enjoy.  

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity of working on a dessert table for a bridal shower.  The theme was a “Vintage Tea Party” which incorporated the colors White, Yellow, and soft beige tones.  This request brought me so much happiness, as I find it to be so much fun to rummage through items in search for beautiful vintage décor.  They say a picture says a thousand words, so rather than describing what I did… here are the visuals:

 So there you have it – my life in a nutshell.  I’m loving life because I have 2 beautiful kids who motivate me to work hard, a wonderful husband who pushes me to pursue my dreams, a great family & true friends who support everything I do… and a great business that allows me to utilize my creative skills and artistic ability to showcase what I love doing most!  Our official website is still under construction, but to see more of our work, feel free to follow us on Instagram (@sweetheart_and_soul) & “like” our FaceBook Page by searching “Sweet, Heart & Soul”.  For all inquiries, feel free to contact us via email:  sweetheartandsoul@gmail.com – thank you!

Planning your next move

So, when I used to work, I was an Auditor. As an auditor, one of the first steps you take before you even audit is planning the engagement. The better you planned the engagement, the smoother it went. Moving can be looked at as a project. Since I am the house wife, I am the "Moving Manager". In sticking to my core competencies, I decided to "plan" my move.

The first thing I did was purge, purge, purge, and purge some more. It took me about 2 weeks to really do a good one.

Then I created a master box spread sheet. I thought of the areas of my home and identified 9 areas. I assigned each area a color and a reference number. I used a three digit reference series in case certain areas reached more than ten boxes. In this example, my kitchen is assigned the orange color and the 200 series. Then, the first box is box 201. My spreadsheet also has the contents of the box. This will make finding my junk  belongings easier. The last time we moved, it took forever to find things, this time around I want to be able to find what I need.

It took me a bit of playing around but pure genius struck me one day. I was deciding how to make labels for my moving boxes and at first I was printing full page sheets with the name of the area and box number. Then I remember that I am a fan of free printables.

I remember using http://www.ontobaby.com/free-printables/chevron-zig-zag-stripe-baby-shower-free-printable/ several times for, get this, CHEVRON print labels. You can customize colors and once printed it has room to write box numbers. Below is an example of the Office labels I created:

How perfect is that? And it goes with my whole notion of not reinventing the wheel. Once you cut these out, there is room on the label to write a box reference number. Now you will have cute moving labels that are color coordinated for a super organized move.

Until next time friends,

Nicole

The Doc is in

The Doc is in and she'll fix you up... all you Moms who watch Disney Junior know how much the kids love Doc Mc Stuffins.

As you know by now, I am totally against reinventing the wheel. So, I just put some store bought clothes to come up with her Doc Mc Stuffins outfit. I bought the doctor kit and the lab coat is actually boys button down oxford shirt (2 sizes too big). There you have it, a Doc McStuffins costume for about the same price you can get those itchy polyester ones from and no sewing.

For those of you not cool like us preschool moms, here is a picture of the "Doc".

Until next time my friends,

Nicole

The Man's Birthday

For those of you who are keeping up, I am trying to blog twice a week. So, watch out for posts on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

Today, I am show casing the dessert table I did for hubby's birthday. The party was a surprise party so I was able to get my decorating on way before the party by choosing fall colors. I hit up the 99 cent store for the ceramic owl (piggy bank) and the vase fillers. I also found some awesome orange and gray chevron fabric to use for my backdrop and serve as my color palette for the party.

I don't believe in reinventing the wheel so, I usually search for free printable to meet my needs. I found the gray happy birthday pennant banner here: http://hellobrielle.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/happy-birthday-banner/. I printed it and attached it to twine with some small clothes pins that I found at Daiso. I usually just pin my banners because I am too lazy to punch holes, it is faster, and looks good.

I envisioned cover my backdrop with several paper rosettes. But the truth is, I did not have the time. I needed to cook for the party. I used this tutorial: http://www.howdoesshe.com/chic-paper-rosette-backdrop-tutorial/ After making the first three, I decided I needed to allocate my time better.

The birthday cake was decorated with another free printable:
http://www.karaspartyideas.com/2011/11/free-mini-cake-pennant-bunting-for.html


That's it folks. This one is a quickie because I need to pack my house and go. Until next time my friends.

Nicole

A not so 31 Wife Confession

Hi friends

So today, I am being called to confess my sin; first, to humble myself and second to send a message so you learn from my mistakes. I know this is early in the blog to be this real but what did you expect from a blog that has a biblical reference in it's name?

James 5:16
New International Version (NIV)
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Friends, I have a covetousness problem. You can see it in the introduction part of my blog where I say "Obsessed with milk glass, succulents and cool things vintage."

Luke 12:15

New King James Version (NKJV)And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness,for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

And living in that kind of sin is not glorifying God or being a good 31 wife. It has caused turmoil in my marriage. I turned to material things and hoarding, shopping, thrifting, to try and escape the pain I feel inside. And the sad part is, I did not even realize how out of control it all was. Until now.  

There is a parable in in Matthew 25:14-28 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2025:14-28&version=NIV) about a Master and 3 servants. In the end the 2 servants who were faithful with what the master gave him were rewarded. The servant who was not faithful was not rewarded and what the Master gave him was taken away and given to a faithful servant. 

I have been an unfaithful servant. I was not prudent with our money. I have been blessed with a husband who earns enough money to sustain our family and meet all our needs and then some. I took the money and filled every single nook and cranny of this house as I remained unfulfilled and empty. I was not living beyond our means but I was spending our money on stuff, things I did not need. I was buying things excessively and not even using things. This in turn caused frustration within my husband. The stuff caused clutter and makes my home difficult to keep tidy. After a long day of work my husband was coming home to a cluttered house because the stuff was just laying all around the house.  I blamed the arrival of a second child and inability to get into a new routine. The second child is 8 months and I still could not get my act together. Instead, I just kept getting more stuff.

My sin plus some other things that I am not willing to share in blogland have made our marriage and our family life fall out of control. Although this was not the root of our issues, it is the fruit of much larger issues we are working through. 

But because of GOD's grace and mercy, there is redemption. As you all know we are selling our house. It has sold. We are moving into a 2 bedroom apartment. From my home tour you know that I have a four bedroom (plus a shed and a 2.5 car garage) full of stuff from the floor to the ceiling. To move to our apartment, that means the stuff has to go.

So this past week, I have been purging. I posted my stuff on Instagram and have had friends and family come and buy my stuff. I have seen my stuff that I love go out the door. But God is so good that my heart is rejoicing in it because I get to see my stuff bless people I know. I still have the garage, the shed, and the Christmas stuff, the kids toys, clothing, and much more to purge before we move. 

The 2 bedroom apartment is my chance at redemption. I get to prove that I can be a faithful servant. And I know that when I am a faithful servant, that God will reward me. 

This 2 bedroom apartment although humble will be where my marriage will be restored, renewed and refreshed through the Lord. Because he can breathe life into dry bones. 

Now before you all go out and cry about my two bedroom apartment move, the place is not bad at all. They are luxury apartments (apartment tour post to come). Totally remodeled and complete with stainless steel appliances and washer dryer. But it is a swank place where hubby and I can park our family and get back to basics.

So with that my friends, I leave you this verse:

Matthew 6:19-21
Treasures in Heaven

New International Version (NIV)

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


Nicole

Home Tour

So all these great blogger do home tours. I am actually in the process of moving. Our house sold recently so I am getting the house all packed away. This house was our first home. Before we moved in, we gut the whole place.

 Come on in folks.

Here is my beautiful kitchen (my favorite room in the house).  We had new cabinets put in. There used to be a pass through window but we had it knocked down and extended the counter so week could use it as a an eating area as well. (there is my "enjoy" sign on top of my fridge)

Then there is the dining area. We hung a contemporary brushed chrome light fixture and a big mirror. I staged the dining area with vintage 1940's milk glass plates. My buffet has two Fenton vintage hobnail cake platters and a Mosser glass vintage style cake platter that you can still find today. I found mine on ebay the seller is  Liveforhim2012 (love the Jesus reference). 

Here is my living room. The fire place was brick we had it refaced and put a 6 foot mantle. We also have a built in that I designed. I use plenty of milk glass in my decorating to offset my dark furniture. I love milk glass. 

The first room is our office and craft room. I sew in here. That yellowish piece is a vintage record holder. I use it for storing fabric. 

Here are my kids' rooms. Two tone paint and a chair rail with a chandelier for added fanciness. The nursery I never quite finished. I used to be a guest room. My vision was a vintage style nursery. But I basically rocked what I got.

The Master Bedroom. I never got around to hanging anything on the walls because I was always afraid we would have an earthquake and all the frames would come crashing down on us. 

Here is our master bathroom. See the little bath tubs on the toilet? They all broke. The hooks on top of them fell and all the bath tubs crashed on the tile. I guess my mini bathtub collection is not meant to be.

Now let me get real with all of you reading this. These pictures of my house are from a massive clean up to get it ready for an open house. Before you all ooh and ahh at how this can pass as model home clean, let me give you the honest truth. We took all our clutter and stuffed them in laundry baskets in the garage. Here is what my home looks like on any given day :

Until next time friends.

Nicole