tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70817378946929883372024-03-19T07:36:06.111-05:00the color happyKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719562511332273010noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-67724949308932733962015-03-25T10:20:00.000-05:002015-03-25T10:20:04.584-05:00Currently: vol. I I really want to get into the groove of this blogging business, but I am still struggling. I am struggling to make it all fit in a nice and neat little package along with a sporadic part-time job, freelance design work at home, house cleaning, trips to Arkansas, Etsy sales, being president of the downtown organization, church website updates, and my sanity. So to fill my desire to want to make a blog post, but feeling too overwhelmed and not knowing what to write, here is my Currently, Vol. I post. <br />
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Thinking about: All the things I need to do. Do I try to write up a few
blog posts? Clean my floors? Go buy paint for the new cabinet we bought?
Work on a custom logo design? List new cards? Have a snack? Organize
the files on my computer? <br />
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Watching: Wishing I was watching Designing Women...and eating pizza. </div>
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Planning: Updates to our church's website, logo designs, greeting cards, trips to AR, t-shirt sales, lunch, Organizational meetings, the weekend...to name a few. </div>
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Loving: My husband and the fact that I get to spend all weekend with him celebrating my upcoming birthday. Donuts and the new Cinderella movie? Yes, please. <br />
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Disliking: Being cold. Saturday was such a tease, and I had big plans this week for soaking up some sun while cleaning out my horrendous flowerbeds and my car. Please bring sunshine for my birthday. <br />
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Listening: To the clock in my living room that my brother said sounds like a crazy ceiling fan. Thanks, baby brother, for making me realize how annoying that clock (that I had never even noticed before) really is. <br />
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Feeling: Cold feet. I don't mean the nervous kind, I mean my feet are cold. Always. I just need some sunshine, y'all. <br />
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Craving: Taco Salad. I have been trying to eat a lot more salads (and by a lot more I mean any salads) lately, and clearly any salad is better if it has the word taco before it.<br />
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Making: Greeting card designs and soon...taco salad.<br />
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-89856071251918779422015-03-04T08:05:00.000-06:002015-03-04T08:05:49.322-06:00Dear, self. <div style="text-align: center;">
Dear, self.</div>
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You have what it takes. </div>
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You may not know it yet, but you do. You will see. </div>
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I know you have your doubts, but please look past those feelings and see all of the things you have to offer. Remember all the things you have overcome in the past. Stop second guessing yourself. Stop selling yourself short. Stop looking at other makers/bloggers/wives/women and thinking that they are better than you because maybe they make quilts, sell their organic whatever it is, or cook five course meals for their husbands while simultaneously breastfeeding and doing yoga. </div>
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Wake up. Look at your strengths. Be proud of your accomplishments, and then use them to power you on to the next endeavor. You may fail, but that is okay. "Failure is success in progress." (According to Google, Albert Einstein said that. I am going to go with that.) </div>
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For once try to see yourself as others see you. Stop thinking that all those nice compliments are people "just being nice." Realize your value...your talent...and how freakin' cool you are for just being you. No one else can be you, so just do your thing. Stop worrying about if you look dumb. Someone probably thinks you're dumb, but so what? Sometimes being "dumb" is a lot of fun. It is a lot more fun than worrying about pleasing everyone or fitting in or following a trend, so just do what you want, and do it to the best of your ability. </div>
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You are rockin' this whole "you" thing, so just keep doing what you are doing. Every morning try to take a step back and realize that you are on your way. You may not know where you are going, but be determined to make the trip a fun one. Work your butt off, and even though the results may not be what you imagined...they will be pretty great. </div>
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xoxo, </div>
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Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-43504458126756103092015-03-02T07:53:00.000-06:002015-03-02T07:53:06.255-06:00Monkey Bread Muffins Recipe <div style="text-align: center;">
I feel I should start with a disclaimer that I am not much of a cook. I have a very small rotation of meals that I can make consistently, and they involve a lot of dumping, stirring, and serving. Nothing gets too complicated around here. Many of my seasonings come out of packets, and in this example the biscuits come out of cans. But don't let that deter you because these are the bomb.com. Unless you are a health nut or committed to a diet, because this ain't no weight watchers' recipe, folks. </div>
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This recipe is so insanely easy. The basics came from two different recipes from Pilsbury, but I combined and adjusted them to make a smaller batch using just one can of biscuits. This recipe makes 8 good sized muffins (1 biscuit=1 muffin), and they reheat just fine for a Sunday morning before church. </div>
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Monkey Bread Muffins</h2>
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One 16.3 oz can biscuits (I use honey butter) </div>
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1/4 c. granulated sugar</div>
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1/2 tsp. cinnamon </div>
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1/2 stick butter </div>
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1/4 c. (heaping) brown sugar</div>
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Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 8 cups of a muffin pan with nonstick spray. Cut each biscuit into fourths. </div>
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Mix cinnamon and granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Roll quartered biscuits in the sugar/cinnamon mixture. Place four pieces in each muffin cup.</div>
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Melt the butter and mix with brown sugar. Pour 1 tablespoon over each "muffin". </div>
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Bake for 13-15 minutes. </div>
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Enjoy with a big glass of milk. </div>
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And don't be fooled. I eat two of these babies at a time. </div>
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Tips: </div>
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*The baking time seems to vary each time on these. I set my first timer for 13 minutes, and then I set timers at 2 minute increments after that until the inside is done when I lift up on one of the pieces.</div>
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*Don't leave them to cool in the muffin tin. They get really sticky really fast, and this make them more difficult to get out of the tin.</div>
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*Don't make these for breakfast and then leave the dirty tin sitting in the kitchen all day while you shop at IKEA and have lunch with your guy. This stuff sets up like glue, y'all. You will regret it...especially if you have to hand wash dishes like this girl. </div>
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Now go get the stuff to make these, so you can have them for breakfast tomorrow! </div>
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xoxo, </div>
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Katie </div>
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-69091655125744736522015-02-26T15:56:00.000-06:002015-02-27T06:49:24.648-06:00February Funk<div>
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February Funk <span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">n. </span></span></div>
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<span class="lr_dct_lbl_blk lr_dct_lbl_box" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #777777; display: inline-block; font-size: xx-small; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: -1px; padding: 4px 6px; text-transform: uppercase;">NORTH AMERICAN</span></div>
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a state of blah; lack of motivation that occurs in the second month of the year, resulting from cold weather, lack of sunlight, and longing for fresh flowers. </div>
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"I have accomplished very little this month because I have been caught up in the February Funk." </div>
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<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">synonyms:</td><td style="padding: 0px;">a (state of) depression, a bad mood, a low, the dumps.</td></tr>
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I know I am not the only one feeling this. Right? Tell me it isn't just me. </div>
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I am sure I must feel it every year, but good grief, folks. This is getting ridiculous. It is that feeling where I want to do and make and change and fix and grow...but I just can't seem to find the motivation. I have all of these inspiring ideas, but all I want to do is lay on the couch wrapped in blankets with food and a Diet Dr. Pepper. </div>
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I have dreams of garden planning, business happenings, rearranging furniture, switching wall decor, deep cleaning, getting back to jogging...but I think all of that will just have to be on hold until at least mid-March. </div>
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I just don't have it in me right now. </div>
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So I made cookies. </div>
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Here's to the weekend and hoping Monday brings some new motivations!<br />
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Do you experience anything like this? What do you do to get over that hump? </div>
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xoxo, </div>
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Katie </div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-24858263422347422392014-03-02T14:55:00.000-06:002014-03-02T14:55:52.958-06:00Be an Encourager<div style="text-align: center;">
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Encouragement. </div>
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I never truly realized the value of this one word until I became an adult. As kids we get green ribbons just for participating in the science fair, trophies just for playing t-ball, and a t-shirt just for entering the tournament. We get accustomed to praise and encouragement. <br />
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It seems that now, as adults, we need that encouragement more than ever. We don't get awards just for showing up to work, and sometimes, even when we work our very hardest, we feel like no one even notices. After 20 years full of green ribbons and cheerleaders, life happens, and this all sort of stops. Because of this many adults struggle just to keep on keepin' on. </div>
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When I started this post, I came really close to talking specifically about creative adults. And while I do believe it is totally applicable to them, I realized that (duh) it doesn't matter what a person is doing, we all want to know we are doing it well. So why is it so hard to tell someone they are doing a good job? </div>
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I, for one, have been so guilty in the past of just assuming that if someone was doing something I thought was great, someone else probably thought it was great too and was most likely telling them. So, I figured they didn't need to hear my compliments because they had them pouring in daily. </div>
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The truth is, it doesn't matter if you get 2 or 200 encouraging words.<br />
EVERY KIND WORD COUNTS.<br />
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So today if you see someone doing something great, don't hesitate to tell them just how great it is. If you know someone who is just great all around, go ahead and let them know how super you think they are. We don't always think of the effect that a bit of encouragement can have on a person, but think about how it makes you feel? I know without the help and encouragement of some particular girlfriends, I would not have had the confidence to open my Etsy <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecolorhappyprints" target="_blank">shop</a>. I would not even have had the confidence to keep creating and doing what I love to do if not for their support. It was more valuable than they probably realize, and I am so thankful to have them around.<br />
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We all need a little pat on the back every now and then, so next time you see someone deserving of one...don't be stingy. Whether it be a note, a hug, an email or comment, don't hold back. It might just be a time of day when they need it most. You never know.<br />
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My new goal? Be an encourager. I don't mean to go tossing around crazy half-hearted compliments to anyone and everyone for every little thing, but a bit of genuine encouragement goes a long way. So if you know someone who is working extra hard, is in slump, or doing something super amazing, pick up your pom poms and make them feel good about themselves. It might just make you feel good too.<br />
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xoxo, <br />Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-51105427869401956042014-02-23T22:07:00.002-06:002015-02-25T09:09:23.289-06:00Go ahead and own it<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes I hate the internet. </div>
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Okay, so maybe I don’t because I would need to look
something up in the first 1.5 seconds I was without it, but sometimes it
becomes overwhelming. I don’t mean to be a Debbie downer, but sometimes I feel
like it puts so much pressure on people. There are so many beautiful
websites, photos, and creative people out there that it is easy to feel like
your clothes/house/hair/artwork/job [or anything else imaginable] is inadequate. </div>
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I am here to tell you to stop. </div>
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Even if you aren’t a master do-it-yourselfer, marathon
running, vegan chef, gluten free baker with an online craft business who
homeschools her kids between her mission trips to Africa…</div>
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Stop feeling inadequate. </div>
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Am I the only one that feels like this is what I am looking
at sometimes?<br />
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Can I get an Amen?</div>
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I don’t mean to diminish those successful women who seem to have
it all together. More power to them! We [I say "we" because I feel confident in saying that I am not totally alone on this one] just have to get it together and
realize that someone else is not the standard for our success. Clearly I deal with this pretty frequently since I have touched on a similar subject before.<br />
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I will go ahead and tell myself to stop now too.<br />
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But seriously. Whatever you are doing, go ahead and own it. I have made the decision to work my butt off and make things happen instead of just waiting for them to happen. Go ahead. You can do it too. I've got your back.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/180462711/black-and-white-art-print-85x11-awesome?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/180462711/black-and-white-art-print-85x11-awesome?ref=shop_home_active_1" border="0" src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx38/ktbeth_22/dontforgettobeawesomephoto_zpseb5b7aa8.jpg" height="229" width="320" /><span id="goog_838009650"></span></a><span id="goog_838009651"></span></div>
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xoxo,<br />
Katie</div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-52196794982096590552014-02-22T11:55:00.000-06:002014-02-22T11:56:36.729-06:00Three adorable, easy ways to display your prints!<div style="text-align: center;">
I have had several positive comments on the staging of my pieces for my shop, and I am so flattered! Today I thought it would be nice to share a few of the ways that I display my prints around my home. The great thing is that each display is so super easy, inexpensive, and there is no major commitment involved (my favorite part)! You see, one of my favorite things about prints is their versatility. They are an inexpensive way to switch art around for seasons, holidays, or just changing moods. </div>
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The three different displays I often use are frames, clip boards, and washi tape. Easy as that! Each of these displays today will be using the newest print in my shop, and I am very excited about it! The artwork from this piece comes from a custom piece I did for sweet baby Harper. I just knew I had to use the artwork on a piece in my shop. The antlers and peonies were inspired by my bedroom antler project, and the artwork is some of my favorite to date! </div>
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1. Framing</div>
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Framing sounds so plain and boring, but it doesn't have to be. While I love the clean, non-distracting lines of a plain white (and don't forget inexpensive!) frame, you can add some cheap washi tape to spruce it up and surround it with your favorite nick-knacks! The tape I used here is actually a masking tape I got from WalMart. It is so versatile, and the color is perfect. I love it using it on the corners of frames, as seen in some of the images in my shop. </div>
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Another tip for any vignette: Remember variety. Color variety is up to you and your taste, but try to mix it up with different heights, widths, and depths of objects. That variance keeps it interesting and keeps your eyes moving. </div>
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2. Clipboard display </div>
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Clipboards are also a super cheap way to display any piece. I have several of these laying around, and they are great way to display prints when you want to switch them out. You can even stack them up so all you have to do is rotate the prints to your current fave! </div>
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3. Washi tape</div>
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Another super easy and cheap way is to just stick them the print directly to the wall using washi tape! Since washi tape is usually just sticky enough, you can stick it directly onto the wall with no harm done to your paint job. A couple of times I have had the washi tape to actually come unstuck. A solution to that is rolling masking tape (that is also safe for your walls) and attaching it on the back of the print. Then you can use the washi tape for the cute factor. In this case I used the washi tape to make a small collage of some of my favorite paper items. </div>
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Another way I used the washi tape is to attach my current favorite print to this wooden "canvas" my daddy made me. While everyone may not have a piece like this it could be a chalkboard, old window pane, or even a piece of foam core! The possibilities really are endless. </div>
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I hope this might help get your creative juices flowing. I know I am getting in the mood for Spring, and that means I will be doing lots rearranging and switching things up. I would love see some of you displays and vignettes! </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie</div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-83182239518496824962014-02-21T20:30:00.002-06:002015-02-25T09:09:10.227-06:00In Full Swing<div style="text-align: center;">
So the shop is up and running...and then I abandon the blog for almost two weeks! I promise I did not mean to! It is just that last week was Valentine's Day stuff, and I work in a bakery. Enough said I think. If not enough, I will tell you that I made over 100 dozen hand-rolled, hand-cut, and iced sugar cookies, mmmkay? Then over the weekend I made a super fast trip to AR for my mom's birthday, and then it was back to work as soon as I got back. I feel like the week just started, and it is the weekend already! </div>
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Any second that I have had at home I have been busy working on prints, trying to improve listings in the shop, and just doing tons of brainstorming. The first day I opened, it all just happened really quickly. I had been doing tons of debating and procrastinating about making the shop live, but since I had sold several of my "melon" prints via Facebook, I figured it would be much easier to keep track of things if I could just direct people to my Etsy shop. So I just posted that one print as a "just in case" sort of thing. I really didn't even think anyone would see the listing, much less order it. And on top of that I hadn't received my packing and shipping supplies yet! Well, low-and-behold I was eating lunch, and I had a "Congratulations" email from Etsy. I had already made a sale within a couple of hours of listing my only item! I was so surprised and excited. I might have done a crazy-jumping-fist-pump-thing in my dining room. Maybe. </div>
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As soon as I made the sale, I jumped right into printing, photographing, and listing more items, and made a sale on the second day as well! On the third day, I got an email on my phone while we were in the movie theater. I was trying to not get too excited thinking it was a sale, but sure enough...it was! This was great for morale at the beginning, but then I had pretty much listed everything I had ready at the time, views started dropping, and the sales stopped. I got a bit bummed, but instead of getting frustrated and giving up, I got with it. </div>
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I am still in the process of trying to promote my site, and if you know me you know that is really difficult for me. I am working on it though. I am trying to engage viewers/readers. I want to hear what you all are thinking! I want comments to know what I am doing right and what I am doing wrong. I started a Facebook page to try to help with this, and I had over 100 likes in the first 24 hours. That was pretty exciting, but now I have to translate those "likes" into sales! </div>
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I will admit that I have waves of frustration, followed by excitement, followed again by frustration, but I am still hopeful. I am just going to keep on keepin' on. Wish me luck! </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-15903070320636231202014-02-09T20:29:00.003-06:002014-02-09T20:33:08.173-06:00The Color Happy is open for business!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
After a whole lot of dragging my feet and the much appreciated encouragement from some great gals, my Etsy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thecolorhappyprints?ref=search_shop_redirect" target="_blank">shop</a> is finally up and running! </div>
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I don't have a ton of items available since I am still working on getting photos taken when I have time and daylight. I also need to get some shots together for my "About" page, but I didn't want to put it off any longer. I had the packaging and shipping supplies on their way, and I had already sold several of the "ain't no melon like a Cave City melon" print. That gave me just the shove I needed to get going!<br />
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I am so thankful for sweet friends who have been listening to me debate about doing this, viewed many different versions of many different prints, and have encouraged me the entire way. Thank you, girls.<br />
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I am thankful for a sweet, supportive husband who doesn't question me what I get a crazy idea like this and listens to me ramble on about which mailers to order when I know he really doesn't care. Thank you, mister.<br />
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I am thankful to the person who purchased a print just a few hours after I posted my first listing. I was totally unprepared, but that just made it even more exciting. Thank you.<br />
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I am very nervous, and to be honest, I am so afraid of this failing. I am hopeful, anxious, scared, and excited. I am not expecting to make a million or even $1000 dollars, but it is quite a rush to know that someone wants to purchase something that you have created from start to finish to display in their home. I hope I at least get to experience that rush every now and then.<br />
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xoxo,<br />
Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-66610079865198211292014-02-06T18:47:00.000-06:002014-02-06T18:48:26.728-06:00Etsy, here I come...again. <div style="text-align: center;">
Enough making excuses. Enough being a chicken.</div>
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Being snowed in this week has been the perfect opportunity for me to get some things done that I had been putting off for whatever reason. I have created 6 more prints, eliminated a few that I thought I liked, and I am brainstorming about the look of my banner, images, and "about" page. </div>
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I wanted to get my banner completed, and of course I have to have a hand lettered heading since that is the basis of the entire shop! </div>
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One thing I need to figure out is a tagline of sorts to go beneath "the color happy" on my banner since the title alone doesn't exactly explain what I am selling. I want something brief, fun, and clever, but I think I may be thinking about it too hard. Any thoughts or suggestions?</div>
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I don't have an opening date since there is still lots to do. Other than the banner and "about" information, there is a lot of photographing to do for the finished products. I plan to display a watermarked digital image, a framed example, perhaps a packaged example, and a close up of each print. In the meantime, here is a sneak peak of one of the prints I created today! [Don't spill the beans about the rest, Brittney and Jessica!]</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-55681694465987999232014-02-03T20:20:00.001-06:002015-02-25T09:10:02.478-06:00#MCM<div style="text-align: center;">
My man crush Monday cannot be summed up in one simple photograph. This great guy deserves some words, y'all. </div>
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As I sit here on my cozy couch, he is at work. While I ate a hot dinner, he ate a cold sandwich on the way from school to work. While I was able to stay inside and warm all day, he was out the door early this morning, scraping ice off his car, and on his way to school. Oh yeah, and while he is out on his busy day...he texts me to ask how house cleaning is going and an "I love you" just when I need it. </div>
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He is one hardworking guy, and I am so thankful for that. I am also super proud of him. While we haven't made a big production of it, we learned last week that his hard work was totally worth it when he got a job offer from a fantastic company in KC. He will start in May after graduation, and we are super excited. He will have a more regular schedule and be home with me in the evenings and weekends. I am pretty pumped about that part! </div>
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I will not go on and on because I could never say enough about how proud I am him. I am amazed at his diligence, focus and dedication to school [full-time] and working full-time. I am so excited to celebrate his graduation this Spring! The party planning has already begun...</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-6111745267547533862014-02-01T15:09:00.000-06:002014-02-01T15:09:51.024-06:00To Etsy or not to Etsy? <div style="text-align: center;">
That is the question. That is the question I have been struggling with for some time. I tried it once, but it was on a whim with products that I look back at and...let's just say I am now not so surprised they didn't sell. I just got too excited and didn't put enough thought and time into perfecting each piece. I was whipping them out really quickly and posting to sell. Then, I was too embarrassed to actually try promoting myself, and I got super disappointed when people weren't flocking to buy them. Totally nonsensical, I know...</div>
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But since this past Fall I have been thinking of trying it again since I have really come to enjoy making prints for my home, as well as for friends and family. I really got the itch when I created this piece for my elementary school buddy, Lindsey and her soon-to-be-here baby girl. </div>
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I taught myself some new techniques to make clearer digital images from my hand drawings, and I was hooked. I started created a handful of images and sharing with some of my closest friends. I didn't want to just jump into it again, so I have been getting feedback, making adjustments, and really putting thought into each image before it is complete. Now I just have to work up the courage and start putting myself out there. </div>
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If you know me well, you know that I am super bad at that. I am horrible at promoting anything that I do. Sure I will share images and posts about the things I am working on for myself, but when it comes to promoting anything for sales...I stink. I am a horrible salesperson when it comes to my own products. </div>
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I am trying to overcome that. I am trying to be rational and realize that I must overcome that because people are not going to flock to a brand new shop and buy prints by the hundreds when they don't know they exist. I have to be realistic...and maybe a little less sensitive. </div>
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I would love to hear any feedback. I usually don't get a lot of comments here, but I am actually asking for them this time. Let me know what you think of the idea. I will be sharing a few more designs here to try to get over my crazy fear of self promotion, and I would be so grateful for some honest feedback. Thanks, friends! </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-71491185694222023132014-01-31T07:00:00.000-06:002014-01-31T11:25:04.740-06:00We are over<div style="text-align: center;">
Winter, I am so over you. </div>
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Just plain cold? I can handle that. </div>
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This snow, then sleet, then below zero temperatures followed by window-rattling gusts for what feels like a month straight?0 I am just plain over it. </div>
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I am over freezing in the shower. And chill bumps...oh, the chill bumps. I just want to shave my legs, y'all. </div>
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I am over this dry skin situation. So. Over. It. </div>
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So, Winter...we are over. I am done with you. If you need me I will be under my heated blanket dreaming of green grass, the smell of dirt, and times like these:<br />
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Katie <br />
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-62573746895767737422014-01-30T18:49:00.001-06:002015-02-25T09:11:30.350-06:00Home love: A new series<div style="text-align: center;">
So I posted last week about some special things around my house, and I have shared a few things on Instagram since then. I decided it was a worthy enough cause to start my first ever blog series. I make no commitment to how often I will post, but I do want to continue to document the things I love about my home. These things may not always be cute and tidy. Some days they will be a mess like the pillows and blankets on my couch that are pretty much never neatly arranged [gasp!] like one would believe from my Instagram shots. I love this because this means our couch is being used to snuggle and watch movies and [more often than not] eat dinner. It is where we live, and I want to remember the memories made here. </div>
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Today as I was folding laundry and making the bed, I was thinking about all the memories and <span id="goog_1334400168"></span><span id="goog_1334400169"></span>meaning in this one little corner of our bedroom. </div>
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The biggest piece, the dresser, is both sentimental and a labor of love. This is not only the dresser that my sister and I used in our shared bedroom as long as I was at home, but it is from my father's childhood as well. When I was a kid it [and the matching chest of drawers] was a light green until we made the mistake of doing a horrible creamy white paint job. When I got married, Daddy and I spent hours in his shop sanding, scraping, and cleaning these two pieces so they could be stained. I am still thrilled with how they turned out. </div>
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On top of the dresser sits the larger owl that my sis got me for my birthday a few years ago, and the small owl is from my mister on our first Christmas after we were married. </div>
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This gold, floral tin belonged to my great-grandmother, and it is one of my favorites pieces that belong to her. </div>
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This oh-so-practical-not-so-fancy shelf is another thing I made with Daddy years ago [if by "made" you count watching, holding things, and rubbing on some stain]. I have used this more than I ever imagined I would, and I will always cherish it because of the memory behind making it. It holds <strike>all</strike> some of my hair goodies, necklaces, sunglasses, watches, PLUS the beaded doll that was my great Grandma Pearl's, the little blue bird she gave me when I was a little girl, and the airplane pin from my mister when we were just dating [and he was still flying!].</div>
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It is sometimes easy to overlook these things that surround me day-in-day-out, but I have so enjoyed bringing these things to the forefront for a bit.</div>
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Do you have any treasured, sentimental items or areas of your home? I would love to see them!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-28478132395919252642014-01-20T15:21:00.000-06:002015-02-25T09:13:05.291-06:00Home Sweet Home<div style="text-align: center;">
Disclaimer: this is going to sound totally cliche, but I mean it 100% totally and completely. </div>
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I have really been doing a lot of thinking lately about how very blessed I am. Like, seriously. I mean, I have my days just like everyone does where it is so incredibly easy to compare myself to others instead of realizing the great qualities I possess or the things that I have in my life. It is so easy with all of the gorgeous images online, the creative blogs, and the fabulous products to feel like you can never keep up or even get caught up with how beautiful and amazing the people and their spaces are. The clothes just seem to be getting cuter and the houses more incredible and creative. Those days of comparison actually happen a lot more often than I would like to admit. I actually hate that I have these feelings, but oftentimes they consume me. I think maybe that is why it makes me that much more grateful when I think about the wonderful things in my life. </div>
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A couple of weeks ago I posted this photo on Instagram when this idea was starting to formulate. </div>
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You see, I was cleaning house and dusting off my treasures when I realized how much I love all the pieces of my home. My house is not fancy...far from it in fact! It is definitely not perfectly clean, there are scuffs on the wall and dings in 100 year old hardwood floors. Most of the things I use for decor are either homemade or were someone else's before they were mine, but these are actually the things that make me love my home so much. No one came in and did a clean sweep with all new pillows and linens and matching table lamps. My home has been a labor of love [literally from the bare bones, but that is old news] made up of my collections of meaningful gifts and sentimental treasures. For example, in the image above, the hankies are from various antique excursions with my mister, and I treasure those times we get to spend together doing something we both enjoy. The accordion wheels are some that I created for my precious niece's first birthday party, and the chalkboard is an old baby bed that the mister helped me drag home from the side of the road. The worn and crooked chair belonged to my mother's grandfather, and the frame attached holds a photo of him. It sat on my parents' front porch for as long as I can remember until my mom gave it to me, and my daddy and brother took turns helping me weave the seat of the chair. The gallery wall is made up of images and mementos that are special to me such as wedding photos, a wedding shadow box from my sis, photos from my trip to Italy, and a print from the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum where my husband took me for my birthday a couple of years ago. </div>
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Almost everything in my home has a story, and it seldom starts with, "Well, I was at Target and...". Don't get me wrong. I love Target as much as the next guy, but I wouldn't trade all the sentimental goodness of my home for all the gorgeous, trendy pillows in the world. I love that as I look around at the items in my home I could write page after page of stories from all the lovingly chosen gifts, childhood memories, or hours spent sanding in the driveway. I know that these things are just that: things. I don't mean to idolize them, but I am so thankful to be surrounded by things that I think are beautiful and hold so many beautiful memories and feelings. </div>
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I think I will start taking more care to document these things and record their special meaning. Some days it may be on Instagram. Other days it may be a lengthy post such as this, but I only get happy feelings when I reminiscence about these things, so why not? Maybe I will try to come up with a clever name and make it an "official" blog series. Who knows? I just know I am ever so thankful for this warm and loving space that I am blessed to call my home. </div>
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xoxo, </div>
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Katie </div>
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-14520908470391411922014-01-19T12:47:00.001-06:002014-01-19T12:47:39.112-06:00What a week...<div style="text-align: center;">
This week has been somewhat trying. I have been blessed to get to stay home most of this week and get some things done. Nothing major has been accomplished, but it has been a nice change of pace. The mister, on the other hand has not been so lucky. He started back to school on Monday, spent the biggest part of the day on Wednesday at a job interview [then drove back to school for a later class], and worked the majority of the week. Earlier in the week we discovered that our digital outdoor thermometer that we use ALL THE TIME without even thinking is apparently broken. Keep in mind that this is our second one in the whopping 3.5 years we have been married. I am not sure why we cannot keep one of these things. Wednesday afternoon I was on the treadmill and tried to adjust the incline when all of a sudden the control panel wouldn't work AT ALL. I had to pull the emergency cord thing to get it to stop! So big bummer there because it is only a couple of years old, and I was finally getting into the groove of things and feeling good about my accomplishments in that department. I am hoping that we can get it fixed soon without having to buy a part that costs almost as much as a new treadmill [like crossing fingers big time]. This is also the day that the mister discovered that the temperature gauge on my car [after $218 in repairs] was still not working. Another bummer. THEN on Thursday I was in the living room when I heard a strange noise that I thought was the wind that has been blowing like crazy. When I got up to investigate I opened my basement door to discover water shooting out of a pipe across the stairs and soaking the basement. Luckily, my heroic father-in-law was in town and came to the rescue, but I still had to go down there and dry a bunch of stuff that was dripping wet. This was one time that I was actually glad we do not have a nice finished basement so that the water could just go down the drain and drip off the cinder block walls without us having to repair a bunch of water damage. So, like I said...it was an interesting week. </div>
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All that to say that it had a pretty good ending. It was also nothing major, but the mister was off on Saturday. That is almost unheard of these days, and I have been itching for a day when the two of us could stay home together. We did go for a walk [which turned out to be a less than great idea when we got out and realized it was not quite as warm as we thought], and he had to do quite a bit of homework. But at the end of the day we had our "date night" which, for us, consists of snuggling on the couch in our pajamas, eating pizza, and watching movies. These times are few and far between, so we cherish any opportunity for uninterrupted time together. Also, the thermometer is not something we cannot live without, the treadmill is not a true necessity, the car still works and it could have been much worse, and the water situation caused no real damage. </div>
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I know I have talked about it many times here before, but I am so thankful for my guy. He is so good to me and works hard so that we can work towards furthering our dreams together as a couple. I feel like I could never do enough to make up for all the long hours and late nights he works with homework in between. And then he sits on the couch with me and balls all my skeins of yarn. What a guy! </div>
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Sometimes circumstances can make it a little difficult to see the blessings in life. Other times they just help to point them out. I have much to be thankful for.</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-70898088935598164232014-01-12T23:16:00.000-06:002014-01-12T23:17:16.557-06:00January what? <div style="text-align: center;">
Holy smokes, where did the last [almost] two months go? I would love to say that I have accomplished great things and met goals and feel refreshed and renewed, but instead I worked my butt off, let my house get to an embarrassing state of dirty, and gained 5 pounds. With that said, I have made some positive changes since the new year to my eating habits and exercising...in that I am actually exercising again! Heading back to work came way to quickly for me, so I did not get a lot of things on my list completed. I did, however, manage to do a lot of celebrating with family, spent much needed time with my fabulous mister, and got mentally geared up for the new year. I am not much of a resolution gal, but I do like a fresh start so I am still working on cleaning out closets and purging of unnecessary junk. The problem is I keep getting distracted with yarn and my granny square project. It is an addiction with me. I cannot <i>occasionally</i> crochet. It is all or nothing, baby. But as a result I have nine squares already completed since last Wednesday! That may be nothing to brag about, but I am pumped since I had never even made a granny square until last week. Plus the progress is SO pretty! I think I would almost be satisfied if I just kept a bag of granny squares laying around. I love them! </div>
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I do have several things that I want to work on around here. I have had so little time for personal projects, that I can hardly wait to get started. But at the same time I cannot happily work in a messy space, and...well, let's just say I have some organizing to do. When I do get to that point I want to: </div>
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<li>finish up my granny square blanket/throw project [not really sure exactly where it is going]</li>
<li>make Georgie a table cloth for her little table [complete with crocheted edge]</li>
<li>add some glitter or sequins to my bargain wooden hangers</li>
<li>work on more prints and send out some samples </li>
<li>make some springy garland</li>
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I am sure there a ton of other projects that I will think of before I even get started with these, but right now I am working like mad on my 2013 photo book because I have a $20 off coupon! Only a handful of pages to go! </div>
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xoxo, </div>
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Katie </div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-45076129263745277152013-11-18T23:31:00.001-06:002013-11-18T23:31:26.750-06:00What does your real beauty look like? <div style="text-align: center;">
*Disclaimer this might be the most political I have ever gotten on a subject here in my happy place. </div>
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I struggle with confidence on a daily basis. It is either my hair getting flatter, my pants getting tighter, my cheeks getting fuller, my artistic work just being lost in the masses and not special enough to stand out....blah, blah, blah. Seriously. </div>
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Every. Single. Day. </div>
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I am not saying this as a pity party or an invitation for compliments. It isn't about that. It isn't that I don't get complimented. I don't think that is the issue for most of us. It isn't that my husband doesn't tell me I'm beautiful, because he does probably every day. It is just some warped thing in my head that is probably in your head at least part of the time too. </div>
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Am I right? </div>
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That is why this video struck such a chord with me when a friend shared it on Facebook. I am not usually one to share things like this, but it is something I feel everyone, especially women, can relate to in some way. </div>
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Just like everything out there, there are critics [<a href="http://bigfatfeminist.com/post/48169692578/on-self-esteem-and-the-struggle-or-why-im-not-into" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://jazzylittledrops.tumblr.com/post/48118645174/why-doves-real-beauty-sketches-video-makes-me" target="_blank">here</a> for example] and those that mock this idea or say it was the fault of the "useless" sketch artist. Okay, so maybe most of the women were Caucasian. Honestly I didn't notice because race is not the first thing I notice about a person. Maybe because it doesn't matter? And okay, so maybe most of the things they didn't like about themselves involved weight, and maybe they emphasized "thin as beauty" encouraging the same ideas as our current culture...more blah, blah. So maybe that is true, but isn't that the real issues that real women struggle with? I know I am not an obese cow, but I do feel fat most days [just ask the mister]. I am not saying whose fault it is or that anyone should tell me I'm not, but I do feel like it is silly to criticize this ad for focusing on weight because you have struggled with your own body image. That is the whole point! Everyone does! But I digress...</div>
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It isn't the final drawings that impacted me the most in this video. It was the words the ladies used to describe themselves and mostly the way those words obviously made them feel. I know the words that I would have used to describe myself would not have resulted in anything I would want to see. </div>
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What would your words be? </div>
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Yeah, sure Dove is a company, and yeah this is just a marketing tool. But for me this didn't make me want to go out and buy Dove soap. It just made me realize a few truths about myself. A few truths that needed recognizing. I am actually going to try to take this one with me and remember these things when I am criticizing myself. I am going to try a little harder to look at myself as others see me. And maybe, just maybe, the next time my husband tells me I am beautiful...I just might believe him. </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-33399103742684786332013-11-17T14:30:00.004-06:002013-11-17T15:12:17.055-06:00Dreaming big<div style="text-align: center;">
Lately I have been doing a lot of dreaming. Don't get me wrong! I have so much to be thankful for! We have a cozy home, and I have a husband who lets me do whatever I want to it [Thank you, mister]. I have a fun job that has taught me new skills and brought me friendships that I never could have imagined. I belong to a wonderful church where I leave uplifted every week. I have a fabulously not-so-fabulous life, and this only makes me more excited to dream about all the future may hold for us. Some of the things I see when dreaming of our future together are: </div>
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<li>making a new-to-us home together in the country-I dream of a big garden and hearing nothing but crickets in our back yard</li>
<li>chickens in the yard-I really want chickens and fresh eggs...preferably in an adorable coop. </li>
<li>kiddos running barefoot-though we aren't quite ready for this step I look forward to dirty little feet and giggles running about </li>
<li>fresh wildflowers on the table...picked from our backyard </li>
<li>my guy having a "9-5:00" kind of job so that we can spend every weeknight and every weekend making memories </li>
<li>finding a place with my creative endeavors where I no longer seek the praise of others but am satisfied with myself </li>
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Some people might not consider these "big" dreams, but they are mine. Every now and then I think about how I could have chosen a different major and have a "real" job. But then I snap out of it and realize that I am right where I am supposed to be. I am not a "real" job kind of girl. My dreams have never been to have a demanding corporate job. For some time now I have envisioned me staying home to raise a family, and I am so thankful for a husband who is supportive of that dream. I am also thankful for the skills that I developed in college that continue to fuel my creative drive, and I look forward to finding out where this leads me in the future. </div>
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It is dreaming about the future and reminding ourselves of our currents blessings that helps us through the less than desirable seasons in life. As I struggle to get everything done at home, I am thankful for that home and for a gratifying job with a boss whom I love wholeheartedly. When the mister and I are only able to greet each other in passing [our work schedules are often perfect opposites], I am thankful for a hardworking husband who is willing to sacrifice in order to better provide for our future. When I feel overwhelmed I remind myself that my worries are few. We have so much to look forward to, but we also have much to be thankful for in the present. It is easy to get overwhelmed and feel like it is all a waiting game, but [just like we discussed in Sunday school class today], God is at work even in conflict or difficult times. We just don't always see it until the struggle is over. I know He is preparing us for something great, and I am super pumped for it. </div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3nC-L642ky5VVVRMGpqZF8yYjg/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3nC-L642ky5VVVRMGpqZF8yYjg/edit?usp=sharing" border="0" height="247" src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx38/ktbeth_22/philippians467_zps634070c1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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[I made this free printable to share. Just click the image, download, save, and print!]</div>
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All this dreaming and waiting and hurrying and trying to be thankful are things I have been dealing with all week, and I am celebrating today that I feel more peaceful about it all than I have in some time. My mister is at work, and I miss him. I still have tons of unfinished projects, and there is dirt in every corner of my house right now. But getting down to basics, we are blessed. The rest is just clutter in our lives, and this week I will try to be thankful for it all. </div>
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<a href="http://www.simpleasthatblog.com/2013/11/simple-things-sunday-photo-link-party_17.html" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.simpleasthatblog.com/2013/11/simple-things-sunday-photo-link-party_17.html" border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDptw71cxdebvbsT8bLKYStva0p_OPrO-CvgBeDuhi3LDRoRJ2vQFj7mvTbpgNASvJc0MyTH1g5KeyXZyImpmuIIydo59BMTJt1Ufi2I_zohOXyCPzkUI8QwT760aZkpuTuxyu3c4bro/s320/simplethings+link+photo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Linking up with Rebecca over at <a href="http://www.simpleasthatblog.com/" target="_blank">Simple As That</a> for <a href="http://www.simpleasthatblog.com/2013/11/simple-things-sunday-photo-link-party_17.html" target="_blank">Simple Thing Sunday</a>. </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie</div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-48803517512379935832013-11-13T09:04:00.000-06:002013-11-17T15:13:47.637-06:00Ashley and Allison: Senior Portrait Session<div style="text-align: center;">
Some of you might already know that I have not been scheduling regular sessions this year. I have taken a bit of a break from it, and while I do miss being behind the camera, it has been good for my sanity with everything else going on. I still have lots of projects when I get home from work, and I know that there is just no way that I could juggle it all. However, I could not turn down the chance to do a senior portrait session with these fun twins. I took their brother's senior portraits a few years back. Their dad was one of my principals in high school and is now the superintendent. He is such a great guy with a big heart, and you definitely see that in these girls. They were so fun and so sweet. I am thankful for the opportunity to capture the bond between them at such a special time in their lives. </div>
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We had a crazy hectic afternoon, but they were great. I wish these sweet girls the best of luck! </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-34140182838884084762013-11-11T09:55:00.001-06:002013-11-11T09:55:45.649-06:00to-do, to-do, to-do<div style="text-align: center;">
My to-do list is getting a little out of hand. These are some of the things I <i>need</i> to do [not counting laundry, dishes, etc.]. </div>
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finish Mary's graphite drawing</div>
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charcoal Twiggy drawing for Marina</div>
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Lisa's painting</div>
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finish Cassie's two small paintings</div>
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Rosemary's painting</div>
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prints for Pat</div>
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painting for Pat</div>
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drawing for Grandma</div>
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Emily's photo edits</div>
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Green twins' photo edits</div>
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What do I <i>want</i> to do? Snuggle on the couch with my mister and watch a movie. Maybe go on a leisurely date that doesn't involve stopping for milk...the kind where we just look at things we don't need and hold hands and talk about the things we didn't finish discussing on our way out the door to our busy days...</div>
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We have not done this nearly enough lately, and I am missing my time with him. However, I know all of his hard work will pay off someday. Thankfully that day is getting closer all the time. </div>
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Friday night I started to get overwhelmed with all the things we have had going on this week and the growing list of things I have to do. I was doing laundry and working on my to-do list, all while just wanting to go to bed after an 11 hour day at work. Then I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. My guy drove 3 hours to a job interview Thursday. Friday he worked until 10:30 after a full day of classes, and and went back to work Saturday, after doing homework that morning. Okay so, overwhelmed might have been an understatement.</div>
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Then I looked up above my desk and saw this.<br />
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This simple reminder calmed my frazzled nerves. I realized that I don't have to compare our burdens. We share the same ones, and we have nothing to worry about. We have so much to be thankful for, and our troubles are few. Sure, we have a lot on our plates right now, but God will reveal his plan for us. I just hope I slow down enough to see it.<br />
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If you need me, I will be in the basement painting.<br />
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xoxo,<br />
Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-46613160347058665022013-11-10T23:10:00.000-06:002013-11-10T23:12:41.193-06:00Successful Sunday<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Tonight there are projects unfinished, shoes in my living
room floor, and mugs with only the remnants of hot chocolate. I did not
complete my to-do list or even a few things on it, but I went to church, picked
what is probably the last of my zinnias, cooked lunch for my husband, and
watched a Christmas movie with him. I think this was a successful Sunday. </div>
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These are the simple things I love. </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
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<![endif]-->Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-9792008111543518762013-11-04T22:37:00.002-06:002013-11-05T07:54:32.010-06:00Busy week, busy life. <div style="text-align: center;">
I am bummed that I have not been able to post in a week, but holy smokes it has been so busy! Halloween was crazy at the bakery. We did a rough count, and I know I cut and iced nearly 800 sugar cookies in 3 days! Not to mention the cakes and other things we did. I also helped this little lady put her costume together, and I could not have been more pleased with the way it turned out. I used the <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2011/10/rag-doll-halloween-costume-diy.html" target="_blank">wig tutorial</a> from the girls over at <a href="http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/" target="_blank">A Beautiful Mess</a>, and it worked great! The dress is one of my shirts with a long sleeved shirt underneath, the tights are from WalMart, she already had the apron, and the shoes are just her every day shoes. I added the ribbon to her shoes, and I used pinking shears to cut a wide strip of gingham for the bow at her neck. So easy, and it <strike>just might be</strike> is definitely my favorite costume ever. I just can't get enough of it. </div>
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Thursday night the mister and I handed out candy at the bakery for the Downtown Trick or Treat event, followed by Chinese for dinner and squeezing in as much time together as possible before I headed to AR Friday morning. I made probably the best time ever on my way down, and had time to have a cookie with my favorite baby [who isn't really a baby anymore] before heading out for a senior portrait session. Phew! It was a jam packed day, and I will be sharing more about the senior session [and the adventure that was] in a later post. Overall it was a fun time with gorgeous twin ladies, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to capture such a fun and special time in their lives. </div>
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Unfortunately, I was so busy that I didn't get to share my post for <a href="http://www.simpleasthatblog.com/2013/11/simple-things-sunday-photo-link-party.html" target="_blank">Simple Things Sunday</a>. I hope I am not breaking a rule by sharing late.<br />
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As for today...after waking early, making the six hour drive back home, doing several loads of laundry and sorting through lots of images for editing...it is time to call it quits. </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-725093460798626212013-10-27T21:48:00.001-05:002013-10-27T21:48:42.698-05:00Happy Birthday, Sandy! <div style="text-align: center;">
Today is the birthday of one of the sweetest women I know, and I am blessed to say that she is my mother-in-law. I am blessed to have such a good relationship with her, and I am so thankful for her. </div>
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I had been thinking for weeks about what we could get her for a gift, and I knew she had mentioned wanting to get some tulip bulbs. I also knew that it would be fun for her to pick out the colors she wanted, so the mister decided to just give her money. I am more of a gift giver, not a money giver, but it is his momma. However, I couldn't stand to just stick money in a card.</div>
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I had this cute little clip board and notepad that I picked up for her from Michael's earlier. I wish I would have gotten one for myself since I realized when I got home that I had only paid $.75 for it! It worked perfectly for what I had in mind. I gathered the clipboard and notepad, twine, natural "branch" pencil from a previous purchase, the most perfect-for-someone birthday card I have ever found, and some ribbon. I also took the cash that he wanted to insist she use for tulips and made a cute little packet using one of my hand drawn floral designs, some ribbon, and a plastic bag. </div>
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Attach the pencil with the twine, stack it all up, tie with a bow...and viola! I thought it turned our pretty darn cute and much more fun than just a card with money in it. </div>
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Last night we celebrated a bit with dinner and, of course, cake. She always makes sure that everyone gets a birthday cake for their birthday, and I wanted hers to be extra special. You see, if anyone ever appreciated pretty things as much as I do, it is Sandy. I knew she would appreciate any cake, but if I could spruce it up a little...even better. </div>
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Good news. She loved it.</div>
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It was a fun time, and I am so glad we had the dinner. While it was nothing special, I could tell it meant a lot to her. It helped to make her birthday weekend special. We had leftover cake today, and she was tickled over her tulip money. She is a special lady, and I am thankful for her. I hope she felt the love behind these simple gestures. I hope she knows how much she means to us all. </div>
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Linking up with with Rebecca at <a href="http://www.simpleasthatblog.com/" target="_blank">Simple as That</a>. </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081737894692988337.post-28070695537556445442013-10-21T21:07:00.000-05:002013-10-22T07:55:22.144-05:00Free Printable: To-do list<div style="text-align: center;">
So today while I was working on about a million things with a million other things on my list and another half a million running around in my mind, I decided I should make a new kind of to-do list. I always have a list a mile long, but I thought I would divide it up into sections. Now I have a list of things I need to get to as soon as possible, things that need to be done but are not urgent, and things I would like to accomplish but only if I have time for it. I am thinking this will come in really handy for me and maybe for you too. That is why I want to share it with you! </div>
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Just click the word below, and the document will open. Select the down arrow on the top left of the screen to download the file and save it for printing. Click and download them all if you like! </div>
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[<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3nC-L642ky5aTdPVXE2SllINVk/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">green</a>] [<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3nC-L642ky5cC1Jd1NxQjZkVDQ/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">orange</a>] [<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3nC-L642ky5cVV6NGZDVnBBSmM/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">purple</a>]</div>
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I hope this is helpful for you all as well. Let me know if you download. I would love to hear how you are using yours! </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01133976631102620684noreply@blogger.com2