My official photography blog!

I officially opened up for business!  I will no longer be blogging here, as I have a new photography blog over here.  I hope to see you over there some time.  Comments pretty much make me smile for a week, so if you do visit let me know.  :)

Retiring

I'm retiring this blog because I started a new one! I'll be posting much more frequently and mostly about home stuff and tutorials: www.asimplenest/typepad.com Please add me on my google friend connect button! I have no friends yet, sad. See around. Leave a comment on my new blog so I can follow your blog too!

Patchwork

Since I got a sewing machine, I've been planning to learn some quilting, so my radar has been on for awesome projects related to patchwork. I am loving the simplicity of this quilt made by Joelle Hoverson.
What a clever idea for old sweaters at Ready Made. I wish I could get back the last few boxes I just donated. I had some GREAT sweaters that would have worked well. I'll have to buy them back from the thrifts store now. haha.
This is a rug! I so want to make a patchwork rug now. I'm not sure if these are felted materials or what. Found here.
Another sweater felted blanket. Also found here.

Resolutions

New Year!
This year my main resolution is to make small sized goals weekly, and medium sized goals monthly. To follow a routine, and make daily to-do lists. In essence I'm resolving to resolve more often.

JANUARY

Financial goal: Make $100 through crafts (starting the year out modestly)
Home: Organize my kitchen cupboards and find a way to make it all fit
Spiritual: Keeping Sabbath day more holy
Physical: Loose 5 lbs (overall goal, to decrease body fat from 26% to 17% or 15 lbs)

Bedroom Makeover

Well, I cleaned my bedroom. Yup, I finally did it. And I'm not talkin about threw my junk into a box and stuffed it into the overflowing closet, no.... I organized the closet, the crafts, the desks, the everything! Now our walls feel so white its blinding. I need to put up som pictures. I also got a super special Christmas presant. A SEWING MACHINE! Clean room + new sewing machine + new headboard = me making new bedding. I love the cottage + neutrals look. I think I"ll make a duvet cover that's whitish, and then a more colorful quilt to layer on top, + we desperately need a bedskirt.....I'm seeing ruffels in the future.... *big guilty pleasure smile* Here's some inspiration:

first 2 via country living

via Brooke Giannettii blog

via design wonderland

Vanity

I am planning to rip the hanging rod/shelves in my closet and convert it into a vanity. What to put my perfumes and makeup in though? Here's some of my inspiration from online:
via apartment therapy

use vinigar bottles and labels, via country living

found via
alkemie.blogspot.com

back cupboards with steel and use magnets, from martha

antique treasures from Vintage Pleasures,

vanity with tea cup holders from a friend to knit with,

Birth of Zoe Sophia Haws

Wow! I have a baby! I can hardly believe it still. It's weird not being pregnant.... Absolutely nothing went as I originally planned it would, but I don't feel bad about a thing. It was a wonderful birth!


On August 18th we went to the hospital to be induced. I planned on having a natural labor. Took the Lamaze classes and everything. We watched "9 months" until the pain was so bad it drove me nuts, so I listened to soft music on Pandora to calm me down while meditating and breathing slowly. Moving around after getting my water broken was absolutely the most disgusting thing ever. But I could not find a good position, and the monitors were always loosing the heart beat/contractions.

Around 2 pm the Dr. checked me and I found out I was only 4cm (I came in at almost a 3) and got so discouraged. By now I was breathing so hard I felt like I was running for my life or something. Couldn't handle the pain anymore, so I got an epidural. It only worked on half my body at first, and still, I was in heaven! My parents showed up not too long after. Good timing! Any earlier and I would not have wanted to see anyone. Now I could chat, sleep, whatever! Labor went from the most intense pain ever to feeling like it tickled, hahaha.

Unfortunately it didn't feel like that through the pushing. I felt like there was pain relief at all for that. But then again, I have not pushed naturally to compare it, but if it hurt that bad on the epidural, I never want to. I so scared, they said "puuuush," and I said....."I don't want to do it anymore.... " It was so wonderful to have my mother and Jake there to help me. Jake was an amazing coach.

When the baby started showing up Jake was actually off getting dinner. Well, apparently it takes a long time to have a baby, so it didn't matter. The nurse said she didn't think the baby would be over 7 lbs. after seeing the top of the head. She also pulled on the hair and said it was "so much hair...strawberry blond."



Well, she arrived in this world at 9:42 pm. She was over 7 lbs, at 9 lbs 2 oz. And she did not have a ton of hair, but it is strawberry blond! I had never felt more tired in my life. But I just wanted to hold my baby. She opened her little goop covered eyes and looked at me and my heart melted.


Welcome to the world Baby Zoe. We love you so much.