Crafty Saturday: Baby's First Shoe Shadow Boxes

One of my favorite baby gifts to give to someone is a shadow box to eventually display baby's first shoes. It's something I came up with when Olivia and Jackson were little because I wanted to keep their shoes, but didn't know how to necessarily do that.

I have them hanging on the wall by their room next to my 4x10 collage photo of them at 9 months.

So when I had Penelope I knew that I would do the same thing so I'm consistent with every kid. Plus I always think maybe in 40 years or something, these shoes will look super old fashioned or something, and would be a cute thing to have in their homes to show their kids or grandkids, who knows?

I just finished her box and have a box ready to go for Fetus Four. No shoes yet, but who knows. And I always use my favorite pair of their shoes that I would always put on their feet, not necessarily their first walking shoes.

But I've made them for gifts, as well. I tried finding more photos of other boxes I've done but this was the first (and most recent) so we'll go with these. I sent t his as a gift to a blogger friend because I had noticed her daughter always wore a pair of green shoes similar to the red ones Olivia had above, but without a bow. So in my head, I thought those would go in this box really well. That and their daughter isn't girly girl so much so I thought the orange/green combo is girly but not overtly so and would look nice together.

I have gotten lots of requests about making these as custom orders and YES. I would happily do that for anyone! I'd need a general idea of what the shoe looks like so I can match colors, so I always suggest that if you are giving this as a gift, maybe buy a super cute pair of shoes to go with it so it's like a gift set. People often email me a picture of what the shoes look like and I go from there. So if this is something you are interested in, let me know and I'm happy to work with you!

The Practical Navigator (and giveaway!!)

YOU GUYS. It's not often that I pick up a book like this and I am so glad I did this time. Seriously. It's really in a league of its own, I can't think of another book like it.

The Practical Navigator - Stephen Metcalfe

Michael Hodge is a struggling contractor living in Southern California raising his autistic son, Jamie, on his own. When his long-absent wife Anita returns unannounced wanting--Michael isn't sure what--a reconciliation? A new relationship? Her role as their son's mother back? Michael must decide whether to give her a second chance or protect his son from more hurt. Meanwhile, a burgeoning relationship that could be heading towards love is put on hold while Michael reexamines his feelings for this woman who abandoned them years earlier.

With pitch perfect emotion and a beautiful portrayal of the relationship between a father and son, Stephen Metcalfe's The Practical Navigator has drawn a rich and layered portrait of a what it means to be a family and what it means to be truly loved.

So first and foremost, I hate to be that totally sexist person who assumes a guy can't write a story like this but I am 100% guilty of that. I am, and I am a jerk. I am a jerk who was 100% dead wrong. Here's a story about a guy who just treads water no matter what is thrown his way. He has a son with Asperger's, and he isn't sure what to really do with that, what would be best for his son long term. He has a wife who he never divorced from, but who has been gone since their son was young, who randomly shows up and wants to be a mom. The problem is that she doesn't know how to be a mom, let alone to her son with Asperger's, and she then looks at that as another reason why she's such a failure. Michael also runs a contractor business, with employees dependent on him to keep finding jobs for them, and he doesn't know how to make that business grow in the current economy. Add to this and Michael's mother, Penelope, may or may not have the beginnings of Alzheimer's so he's struggling at keeping her independent but always keeping an eye on her. He depends on her to help with Jamie's care so the fact she might not be able to much longer adds more stress. The greatest thing about this book is that no matter how many things are seemingly out of control in his life, Michael navigates it calmly and perfectly. He does his absolute best for everyone around him, even when it means more on his plate.

In between all of this, we have glimpses of Anita (the ex-wife) to give insight as to why she's such a mess. Her family, which are HUGE messes and the highlight of dysfunction. We have Michael's relationship with Fari, who struggles with intimacy and really likes Michael but doesn't know what really to do about it. But heartbreakingly, we also have small glimpses from Jamie, Michael's autistic son, and what things are like for him. And there is a scene where Jamie is at school and there is a bathroom incident and while everyone else is panicking, my heart just goes out to Jamie and I think- what must life be like for him? As a mom I can't help but want to hug him and tell him things are OK.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I said above I wasn't sure how much I would get into it, but I finished it in a day because I couldn't put it down. I just wanted things to be OK for Jamie, and I wanted him to know even though his mom is a mess that she loved him. I wanted her to pull her crap together. I wanted Michael to tell her to beat it and keep his relationship with Fari. And man alive, I really wanted Anita's mom to tell her dad where the hell to go and how exactly he could get there. The author does such a great job at telling this story, from all points of view, and nailing each one. I absolutely have to give this book 5 stars, and you know I don't throw those out often. But this book just grabbed me from the first page and didn't let me go until the end.

You can purchase your own copy of The Practical Navigator on Amazon now, it become available on August 9. In the meantime, be sure to enter the giveaway below, I have one copy up for grabs (US only). In the meantime, you can visit Stephen at his website. Good luck and happy reading, lambs!

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*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Owlcrate: Good vs Evil

I got my Owlcrate this weekend and are you amazed I'm getting this post out so soon? Usually I'm weeks late but here I am, Little Miss Efficient!

The theme this month was Good vs. Evil and you had no idea what box you were going to get and you didn't get to pick, basically. I have to think pretty much everyone wanted an Evil box but wouldn't you know it, I got a Good.

LAME.

Ugh.

So here is the box contents this month. The big tease this month was that we would be getting a POP Figure, which is becoming increasingly popular in book boxes and I'm not not against that at all- these look adorable on my book shelf.

The good boxes got Luna Lovegood and the evil boxes got Dobby. So there's Luna. She's chillin' next to Dumbledore on my shelf. The sticker was hand designed by OwlCrate and made by Drop And Give Me Nerdy, and it's a nod to Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. The sticker is beautiful but I have to ask myself, WHY?? Why send stickers? What are people doing with these? I'm not 12, I'm 34 and I'm too damn old to be sticking stickers on my laptop or on my walls. so it just sits. I'm sure I have a bunch of stickers just hanging out in a drawer somewhere waiting to eventually be tossed. 

We also got a Millennium Falcon necklace from Vector Engraving. Actually, I wasn't sure what it was, I had to confirm with my husband that it was a Star Wars things and he looked kind of ashamed that I didn't know. He tried to get me to watch Star Wars on a first date and no. I'm not lame. So this is going to go to my sister in law because she likes this kind of thing. We also got an Alice in Wonderland magnetic bookmark created by Jane's Tiny Things. Which, you know I love me some Alice in Wonderland but I'm kind of over the bookmarks. I literally have hundreds and these do not hold up well at all and this one has already torn the top of the page in my new book. I am not pleased about this.

Another thing we got was some weird adult coloring book (which, not really a book, more like a booklet) of YA covers that we can color. Which.. *sigh*. I'm so sick of getting stupid shit in these boxes, let's be honest.

The book this month looks SO GOOD, though. It's This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab and it sounds so much like something I'd read from Becca Fitzpatrick, and you know I love her, so I'm excited. We also got a signed bookplate and a letter, both of which I always store in my book.

This box is always so 50/50 on the swag. It's cool stuff, but a lot of it seems pointless to have (like the stickers, crap bookmarks, coloring book, etc). When there is the POP figure and/or jewelry, it's fun. The books ARE always newer releases and interesting, so I don't know. I'm torn on whether I'll keep subscribing.

The theme for next month is...

The teaser for this is that we will receive an exclusively designed piece of jewelry inspired by Eleanor & Park.. so we'll see. This could be a really amazing box or more crap. I'm on the fence.

Now, Please

I've been whipping through books during my insomnia at night, which is good for you, right? Of course it is.

Now, Please - Willow Summers

His secrets could tear us apart.

I've done what no other woman has: I've made the legendary Hunter Carlisle make a compromise. I have a toehold into his solitary life.

Unfortunately, the pain of his past still lingers.

When we're forced to go to a work conference out of state, secrets emerge. Damaging secrets that shut him down and make him push me away.

Somehow I have to make him confront the past or I'll lose him forever. 

Full disclaimer, this is book two in the Please series, and it is NOT a stand alone. You really need to read the first book, but it's OK because these are relatively short books (for me) coming in at just under 200 pages. You can easily get through one in a weekend, even if you aren't a fast reader. Second disclosure, the writing style is NOT the greatest. It just isn't. I don't know if it's just the edition I have or what, but I have found quite a few grammatical errors and things that were missed in the editing process. I'm OK with that because I'm used to reading advanced copies of books so I've learned to read beyond those, but in this case, this isn't a requested review- this is my fun book off my shelf, reviewing it just because I can kind of review.

But let's talk about the meat of the book, because that's what matters here.

We come back to Hunter and Olivia, and the complicated relationship they've worked themselves into. In this book Olivia is still working for Hunter, she's officially accepted her role as his admin which means she's working for him but she's also having sex on demand. He warns her repeatedly that he isn't the guy that can give her forever after and she tells him she knows that but let's be honest- we know that's going to be an issue later in the book because that's the blueprint of these types of books. The nice part of this book is that we start to get to know Hunter, his past, and the strained relationship with his father. We also get to see Olivia step up and not be a push over like SO MANY female leads in romance novels. Hunter wants her to use her charm to find out how he can come ahead his father in the buy out of another company, which she can easily do.

It all comes to a head when Hunter shows his jealousy, Olivia does her best to keep it together but despite it all, they struggle to maintain what they have. They have a falling out, everyone is sad, but one of them comes back and it's like a fresh start. It's an absolutely perfect ending for the book and a great set up for the third book... which you know I'm going to start right away. Overall I'd give this book 4/5 stars. The sexy scenes are great, the complicated nature of their relationship is great, and I actually really like the characters despite others not liking them so much. I feel like they are more likable than characters in similar books so there's that.

See for yourself how good these books are and order Now, Please on Amazon. If you're really smart, you'll just order the four book series HERE and save yourself some money, plus you'll have them all on hand to read one after the other.

38 weeks... are we there yet?

Admittedly, I'm typing this post out in advance so by the time you read it I may have given birth. We just don't know, so let's pretend that I'm still pregnant and know that as soon as I can, I will update you when the baby is born.

I would never leave you hanging, lambs!

37.5 weeks

Well let's see. Last week I talked about being 100% done with pregnancy. I think Matt is done with me being pregnant as well though admittedly, I haven't made him run out to get me pizza, nachos, and/or ice cream in a few days so he should stop whining. I had my weekly appointment on Thursday and I went from 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated to 50% effaced and 2.5 cm dilated. She looked back in my file and historically, I do most of my effacing when I'm in active labor so she thinks based on my last three pregnancies, I'm doing well. Especially considering I'm this much dilated already. Again, I usually don't do much of that until around week 38 to 39. The really nice thing about me and pregnancy is that I am pretty textbook and pretty consistent. She did my exam and all of a sudden, if felt like she was ripping something out of my, like you would when you take the guts out of a pumpkin. 

It didn't occur to me at all while this was happening but in the parking lot I wondered if I just had my membranes stripped? I hadn't ever had that done so I wasn't sure, and a few of my friends confirmed via text that it sure sounds like that. 

So clearly, I went home super excited that this was IT! I was going to totally go into labor! 

Except that I didn't. 

We went out to eat because it's been hotter than the gates of Hell and I'm not trying to cook in this kind of heat, and we wanted to be in the AC somewhere. Which ended up being comical because every table was full so we were given a booth, which I barely squeezed into. Matt had to help me get out while everyone was staring. Nothing humbles you more than being stuck in a restaurant booth, folks. 

Then on Friday I felt kind of blah. I wasn't sure if it was just the heat making me tired and crappy feeling (totally possible since Penelope wasn't having it either), or what. But I ended up taking a one hour nap because I just could not handle staying awake any longer, but that didn't even help. About two hours after I woke up though, I noticed I was starting to lose parts of my mucus plug, which with Olivia and Penelope were my cues that labor was coming. It was just clear, it wasn't as much as I know can and will come out, and it usually five or six hours before my contractions start I have brown/reddish goo so I knew I had some time.

This weekend I felt pretty horrible in general. I'm so run down to the point where it's become a joke. I can't walk the 20 steps from my living room to kitchen without feeling like I have run a marathon. Naps don't help. The baby, which has been pretty lazy this entire pregnancy, decides it's going to do be an American Ninja Warrior this weekend and is violently moving to the point of it being painful. Add to that and the super fun sensation of feeling like I'm being stabbed in my belly button and my butthole (sometimes at the SAME TIME) and I'm so ready. I need to be done. It's also worth noting that I'm an emotional mess. I'm crying at the drop of a dime. I don't know if it's hormones, the heat, feeling fed up, or frustrated at the lack of progress.... I'm not sure. I really don't know and it's awful. 

But overall? I'm totally ready. Assuming I'm not already in labor, my next appointment is on the 29th. My brother is rooting for me to have the baby on his birthday, the 28th, so we'll see. Cross your fingers. 

Just Kiss Me and giveaway!

It's kind of nice to start the week with a book review, isn't it? I always feel like I've done something when I finish a book over a weekend and can pick up (or order) a new one.

Just Kiss Me - Rachel Gibson

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gibson returns with this dazzling love story filled with sizzle, sass, and just a bit of southern charm...

"Hello, Ms. Vivian . . . it's been a long time."

And with those words, Vivian Leigh Rochet nearly melted. It's been years since she last saw Harrison Whitley-Shuler. She was a teenager scrubbing houses for a living. He was the gorgeous son of rich parents, not fit for the likes of her.

Vivian had vowed to get out of Charleston, become a big Hollywood star, and stick it to the snooty girls who made her cry.

She got what she wanted—and more—but why does her glamorous life seem so trivial?

Harrison got out too . . . making it all the way to Wall Street, until a heart attack forced him to trade in his cufflinks for a good set of hand tools.

Making furniture soothes his soul, but escaping the Whitley-Shuler heritage is nearly impossible. And now he's come face-to-face with the one who got away. He's not looking for love. He's not even looking for sex . . . so why is resisting her the hardest thing he's ever done? 

I haven't read anything by Rachel Gibson before but this certainly won't be my last! If you are a fan of a solid romance novel that's sweet, a little bit funny, and a little sentimental, this is definitely going to be your next read.

We have Vivian, who throughout the books gives us flashbacks to her diary entries as a child, who couldn't get away from Charleston fast enough. Her mama and her earned a living by cleaning the home of the Whitley-Shuler family, much to Vivian's disgust. She was destined for bigger and better things and she vowed to do better for her mother one day. Eventually Vivian became a popular actress and bought her mother a home on the street of her dreams and thought that she had done everything right. Her mother passes suddenly and Vivian finds herself back in Charleston, not only to find out she really never knew her mother but she's also back among the Whitley-Shuler's who seemingly were closer to her mother than she was. Her mother abandoned the house, had gone back to living on the Whitley-Shuler compound and was seemingly friends with the Whitley-Shular matriarch.

But being back in Charleston also means that she is now in the presence of Harrison, who goes by Harry. Despite what her diary says, it's clear that Vivian had a little crush on Harry, and he was so annoyed with her as a child that he assumes she hasn't changed a bit. But Harry is back in Charleston after issues of his own and we wonder- are they both in Charleston to stay? Will they come together and be the adorable couple we all know they could (and should) be? I loved them as a potential couple, their chemistry and banter (and past history) is so adorable, it's like every great couple that you know that seemingly make it for the long haul. And while the story is fun and cute, it has it's tough spots as Vivian tries to sort out the end of her mother's life and not just her funeral arrangements. It's a reminder for us all to really step back and not assume we know what's best for our family and what we wouldn't want for ourselves is perfect for them. I'm such a fan of stories like that because it's really a hard thing for us as we become adults and have children of our own, to remember that WE are still our parent's children no matter our age.

Overall? I'll give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's everything I want out of a romance novel, the only complaint I had was the ending felt a little abrupt for me, but it wasn't unsatisfying. Everything gets tied up nicely so maybe it's me just being a little selfish wanting more time with our characters. But definitely a book I would recommend if you are looking for a fun romance!

You can purchase your own copy of Just Kiss Me on Amazon! In the meantime, Avon Books is giving away three print copies of Just Kiss Me, and I highly suggest you enter to win!

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*I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own.*

Crafty Saturday: Baby Announcement edition

If you know me at all, you know I am ridiculously prepared for most everything. I am currently planning out our family Christmas card because it always takes me awhile to cut and assemble things and I want to get a head start on them while I can. But I also have my baby announcements done, which I have always filled out before I leave the hospital.

Don't laugh, I can't help myself.

People always laugh and wonder what is wrong with me, but I know if I don't do it right away it will never happen. Plus, it gives me something to do since I'm not a big TV watcher and newborns sleep... a LOT. So I always pull the bassinet up to me and fill the cards out with TV as background noise and take my time.

 My options for paper choices at Michaels was kind of limited, but I found a few pattern papers that looked pretty and were all in the same purple and teal color family. I bought myself a new stamp set and my first little die cut set to go with the stamps so I can use my Sizzix machine Matt got me for Christmas, and Michaels had some purple flowers in their dollar spot.

I had a general idea of what I wanted to do so one evening I spent cutting all of the pieces out.

And over the next few days I assembled. Penelope is at a very need/whiny/be-with-me-all-of-the-time stage so I can only get a few done at a time. Which was OK, I clearly had plenty of time to finish these.

And finish I did! Aren't they cute? My only regret is that the piece directly under the circle? I wish I had matted it in white or something so that it stood out from the background paper. But by the time I noticed it I was already committed so I said this will be good enough.

I found my little foot print stamp and a generic birth info stamp for the inside. I've got my envelopes all labeled and stamped, my little invites for our Meet the Baby/End of Summer BBQ party ready, and everything in my hospital bag. The only thing I'll need to do is print a baby photo and insert it, but I can do that when I get home and do the one hour photo thing and voila- baby announcements are done!

It felt SO GOOD to get that project off of my desk, that's for sure. Not that I don't have a ton more lined up but still. One down..