Arbor's Owl Costume

As I was trying to decide on what Arbor should be for Halloween this year, I knew that I wanted to make it. Last year before she was born I found an owl hat on etsy I knew she had to have!

 I knew I was going to get her another one for this winter and thought it would make a perfect hat for her Halloween Costume. So I decided to just make the rest :) 

Here's what I did.

First Gather scrap fabric pieces.

Then cut out 3 pieces of felt. One big oval for the front and 2 long ovals for the wings.

They don't need to be perfect since you'll be putting the fabric around.

Then cut out small ovals from the scrap fabrics and place on felt.

Continue till the felt is covered. Then do the same for the wings. After all in place, hot glue each oval to felt. I then bought heat bond and ironed the felt pieces onto a longsleeve pink onesie. 

For the tutu, measure a piece of elastic to fit your little one's waist.

Sew the elastic together. Then cut strips of fabric to tie onto the elastic.

I used about 60 strips that were about 1/2 in to 1in. thick and 6 in. long.

Then tie the fabric onto the elastic.

There you have it! Super easy and look how adorable she looks!

Happy Halloween!

Desk redone!

This summer I was on the hunt for a sofa table. I knew little A would be mobile soon and I really was trying to baby proof our living room. We had a black bookshelf in our living room that she would have been able to grab everything off of!

I looked everywhere to find what I had in mind, but was finding nothing. I knew I wanted something that I could repaint myself.

Then I finally found something that had great potential. Dummy me forgot to take a before picture of the desk, but here is a picture of the drawers. The desk was the same orange and black peeled paint and needed a lot of work.

I've redone furniture before but nothing where I had to really scrape a lot of layers of paint. It took awhile to scrape, sand, and prime.

The end project turned out beautiful though! It's one of my favorite things in our living room!

Much Love,  

Holly

The Perfect Day! (And some new stuff in the shop)

These last few weeks have been really trying for me. Going back to work away from the peanut has been hard. I've cried many times and have constantly wondered why I can't be one of the lucky Momma's out there that get to stay home with their littles. Not only was that lying on my shoulders but work itself has been very difficult different this year with a lot to do and starting out with 25 kindergarteners is a challenge in itself.  Then this weekend I was reminded why I am a working mom. God has really been showing me things these last couple of weeks and knowing that I can rely on him is what gets me through. 


Yes, I am a working Mom that is blessed with a job that helps support my family, my little peanut, our lives together. I get many holiday breaks and summer vacations to enjoy with them and for this I am thankful.


Today was one of those blessed days off where all 3 of us got to spend the day together. It was perfect.


(WARNING* You're about to see a lot of pictures, but if you hang out till the end, there will be a special gift :) 

Little A will be 7 months on Friday, but we decided to celebrate today!

The weather was beautiful and Autumn is definitely in the air.

I've been working very hard this past couple of weeks to add new things to the shop. And because I love you guys so much enter the word "Autumn" in the coupon code  for 10% off!

Much Love, Holly

What if.....

This past week I've really been thinking a lot about how blessed I am. I have an amazing husband and a little girl who has completed me in a way I never knew was possible. I've thought about how I never want to take one moment for granted with her.

I began to think about what would happen if something was to happen to me, Shane, or both of us.  Would the person who took care of her know all the little things I feel is so important for her. Would they love her as much as me and give her a million kisses at every opportunity.

Would they know that she loves to read books especially at night right before she goes to bed. Would they know that she loves to take baths and that when she' s upset she loves to snuggle with her cloth.

Would they walk around the house at night sometimes because she just can't seem to fall asleep on her own some nights.

Would they know how important it was to me that she has baby food that I made for her or that she loves when you play with her on the floor.

There are just so many things I want for her in her life and I hope that no matter what, that she has all of those things and more.

Our Story

It was June 2004 and my friends were begging me to go to a local show at the New Earth coffee house. I was a little hesitant for some reason but decided to go. I figured it would be like every other hardcore show, but knew I would have fun hanging out with friends.


I was sitting on the edge of the stage in between bands playing with my friend when she told me some guy was totally checking me out. I of course looked over and immediately was completely flattered. There he was, looking at me and I didn't really know what to say.  A few minutes later the next band took the stage and sure enough he was the singer of the band.


The show was over and of course I wanted to say something to him, but couldn't really work up the nerve. I decided to head back to the room where merch was being sold. I walked past his table and suddenly he grabbed my hand. The first thing he said was " I think I'm in love"  Now I know what your thinking,  wow that's quite the pick up line, but for some reason I was just smitten over it.  


This is a picture we took together that night! The first night we met. A 17 year old boy from North Dakota who was dropping every line to get my attention.

7 months later we decided to give it a try. We knew the distance would be hard, but we also knew we wanted to be a part of each other's lives. It was never easy. In fact, it got quite difficult at times. Through it all I never once thought my life would be the same without him and I was willing to do whatever I could. December 2005 I came to visit. It was my birthday that week and Shane decided to take me out. We went to our favorite restaurant and headed back to his house. As we entered the only thing lighting the room was the Christmas tree. He told me he had made me a birthday cake and that he had something for me. It was a book he made. I never quite thought he had it in him to make something like this, but it was perfect. I tried holding in my tears the entire time. At the end of the book was a safety pin. I of course asked him what it was for and he told me to pop the balloons. Inside was the most perfect ring. It wasn't huge or have a ton of diamonds, it was just me. Simple and lovely. He asked me to marry him and never did I think throughout that whole night, that it was THE night.

Five years later, and I can't imagine my life with anyone else. He is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. He has given me the world. He is the most humble, loving man I have ever known. I'm so thankful that God placed him in my life. To think that if I wouldn't have gone to that show that night. And most importantly, he is such an amazing Daddy. Arbor is so lucky to have a Daddy that stays home with her 3 days out of the work week for me. He changes diapers,  plays guitar and sings for her, and loves her unconditionally.  

I love you Shane Ochsner! More and more each day! 

6 months

Before Arbor was born, I came across these adorable onesie stickers on etsy!  I knew right away that I just had to have them for her!  Within a week they arrived in the mail and I was so excited to take a look at them. I immediately started to think about how fun it would be to take pictures of her each month for her birthdays.  The first month came around way too quick, but it was so fun to see her wear that lil sticker.

She just laid there on top of her boppy looking so cute :)  I knew right away that each month would be so fun to have a picture of. Today she is 6 months old and a wild little girl. Within the last 3 weeks, she has learned to sit up by herself and now she is crawling. Crawling EVERYWHERE!  So my attempt to take her cute little picture with her 6 month onesie sticker was not quite what I pictured it would be, but it's her all the way!

               This one looks like she just got done eating a can of spinach!

Finally  I had to hold her by the hands to at least try and see the sticker.

We ended the night by trying to take pictures of her with us! My mom even made her a little cake.

 Happy 6 month birthday little A! Thanks for making my world shine everyday.

Summer's End

For as long as I can remember, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. Of course when I was younger I thought, a job where I get summers off, I think so :)  Funny thing is I have been teaching for 5 years now and this is the first summer I decided to stay home.  Unlike every other summer, this summer was different. This summer wasn't about me, but about my now 6 month old little peanut.

I know it sounds so cliche when you hear parents talking about their little and how much they change your life, especially for those who haven't become parents yet. The truth is, she not only has changed my life for the better, but she has inspired me in ways I never knew was possible.

This summer I have spent everyday with her. We've played, shopped, read books, sing songs,  learned to sit up and now crawl, and explore the world around us. It's amazing how she looks at things. I only wish I could look at things the way she does. Starting next week I will be going back to work. Not quite full time yet, but still not spending the whole day with her everyday.  I'm so grateful for everyday I've had this summer.

To My Arbor (My Inspiration),  Mommy loves you so much! I will never forget our first summer together and although you wont remember it down the road, I know in my heart that because of you, this will be one of the best summers of my life!

My etsy shop is now open. Hope you all love the items as much as I have loved making them! Free Giveaway will be coming soon, so become a follower to see when it happens.

Much Love,

Holly