Abs & Legs Challenge Phase One

Who wants to join me?? Come back for weeks three and four. Oh and feel free to replace sit-ups with crunches. I'd recommend doubling the sit-up number if you choose to replace them with crunches.

Happy abs and legs!!

Be Brave.

Bravery is choosing to do the right thing, even when it's not popular. 

Bravery is putting other people's feelings ahead of your own, but also knowing when to stand up for yourself. 

Bravery is choosing your passion as a career, even if it doesn't pay as much. 

These are the lessons I pray I am instilling in my kids by the choices they see me making. 

I am admittedly a work in progress though. 

To Get More, Do More

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Do you ever have grumpy moments because of expectations you put on the people in your life? This is one of my biggest faults. For instance, there are times when I expect my husband to notice something and though I know it's silly to get disappointed, I do. Yet, I've noticed though how much more I get out of our relationship when I give him more. If I want him to compliment me, I find something positive to say to him. If I want to feel taken care of, I do my best to make him feel taken care of. This might be as mind-numbing as making sure the laundry is done over the weekend so he has plenty of clothes for his work week, but I know he appreciates it. This concept is relevant with our kids as well. Now, with kids I'm not referring to doing more of the mundane everyday stuff like laundry (though it's a necessary evil, isn't it?...ha!) but rather having more of a loving and gracious heart toward them. I've noticed the more patient and loving I am toward my children, the more patient and loving they are with me. Kids are like sponges and they seem to absorb whatever energy is swirling around the home. When there's tension and stress, even if they don't understand what it is, they seem to feel it even more than adults do and react to it. It's like a snowball effect and their grumpiness heightens our stress and we pass that back onto them. We so easily feed off of each other's moods. 

As women I believe we have the power to set the tone in our home. Part of setting that tone is understanding what helps us feel more positive. For me,  when I feel like our house is a mess I get grumpy.  I need time in the morning before the kids get up to get a handle on my day. This doesn't  always happen, but I'm aware that I function better when it does. When I carve out 'me' time to exercise and read my devotion, I feel like I'm able to give more to my family because I've had my time.  

It really comes down to priorities. Admittedly, there are relationships in my life that I have not put effort into and because of that, the relationship has suffered.  Not putting effort into relationships often has to do with my fear of rejection or not knowing where to even start. When I feel like I don't measure up to someone, I suppose I move on to someone that I feel values me as a person. This goes back to putting expectations on people though, doesn't it?

You only get out what you put in. This can be considered karma, what goes around comes around, you reap what you sow...and so on.  Isn't it all the same thing though? Next time you're wanting more out of a situation, try giving more and see what happens. Check back with me and let me know your thoughts.  I'd love to hear from you! 

"Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." Luke 6:38 MSG

Let's Celebrate You With a Giveaway!!

Win the AO Stripe-tastic Tea Set along with all this fabulousness!! To celebrate Megan's new baby girl Shiloh, we are having a giveaway to celebrate all moms. 

If you have a mom, know a mom, are a mom this giveaway is for you! Repost this picture with hashtag #welcomehomeshiloh  and follow all of us on Instagram for your chance to win. @shedoesjustice @thetinytwig @carolinegshop @aedriel @thestylehatch

Kitchen Love: Open Shelves

I've got it bad for open shelves in the kitchen these days.  By the time we're able to remodel our kitchen, I'll still be on my open shelves kick while everyone else has moved on to the next big trend. But alas, let's look at pretty pictures, shall we? 

I want to eat a fancy breakfast in this kitchen!! This bright and sunny space reinforces my 'bigger isn't always better' mantra. Smaller spaces can be charming and cozy especially with the right ingredients. 

via

Can I get an amen? I just adore everything about this. I'm super ADD when it comes to what I want in a kitchen so while this is gorgeous, let's move right along...

via

I'm digging this fancy-schmancy coffee bar area on these dove grey cabinets. 

via

I realize the open shelves above the sink is so people of normal height wouldn't bonk their head on the upper cabinets (I'm vertically challenged a tad so I think I'd need a step stool to was dishes here) but I like that this gives someone like me who can't make a decision a little bit of both....cabinets and shelves. 

I REALLY like the concept of having a dining room table also serving as an island. Clever use of space! I'm getting off track. Focus, right? Shelves. We're talking about shelves.

via

Oh lordy! Would you look at that come hither desk area. I would organize the heck out of my family if I had a cute little area to do so. There's my excuse....I don't have a cute area. 

via

This kitchen makes me either want to smile or cry. It's beautiful but so very perfect. I kind of get anxiety thinking about all our kiddos in here. It would not look like this after they got ahold of it. Hmm...maybe I'm onto something...a kitchen just for mom and a kitchen for the kids? Kind of like his and her master bathrooms that's trending currently. 

via

The sink, the floors, the topiary, the shelves, the white goodies on the shelves....YUM!

See the Best In People

Have you ever felt judged? I always stop and think about what someone's experiences have been when they get super fired up over something specific. A sure-fire way to tell if something is deeply personal for someone is to see their reaction to a situation or how they choose to deal with it. People tend to dislike qualities in other people that they detest in themselves. I've been judged by people that have done the same thing I've done, I'm sure you have too. Perhaps it wasn't the same exact sin but I am a believer in 'a sin is a sin' and no one is perfect. My knee jerk reaction is to think "Well who the heck do you think you are? You're no different from me."  Wouldn't it be easier if we lived by the mantra pictured above which is basically the long version of "love God, love your neighbor"? This is the only way to stop the cycle of judgment. We never truly know what someone's story is and whether they've asked God for forgiveness of their sins (the only way to make a wrong right) so what business is it of ours to question other people's hearts? 

Boy oh boy, have I have made mistakes in my life!! I'd follow that with "who hasn't?" but somehow uttering those words when admitting my sins  seems like an excuse for the behavior.  I've also been 'that' person to get fired up over qualities in other people that remind me of myself, even with my kids. I do try to remember that   there's always way more to the story in most situations when people make mistakes.  There's two sides to every story and the truth is somewhere in the middle. If I haven't walked around in your shoes, I certainly don't know your heart. The simple truth is,  we are all just trying to get by and we all want to be accepted and loved. 

"Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn't so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you've done." (Romans 2:1, 2 MSG)

Let Your Light Shine

True happiness dwells in your heart when you're able to be exactly who you were meant to be, don't you think? This print from Sugar Paper is such a fantastic reminder of giving yourself permission to let your light shine! 

It's Okay To Coast In Neutral Sometimes

It really seems to be the 'in' thing to talk about how much we can get done, how productive  we can be including what measures we need to take to be productive. I read about how we need to wake up tomorrow and start all over again checking off our to-do list with a sunny disposition singing cheery songs while we admire our beautifully buffed out houses and our smiling children with clean faces. I'm kidding about that last part..a little.  I  get tired just reading about how I need to get more done and go faster and reach for the stars and dream bigger.  Now, I'm not saying we should just be sloths and not work toward our full potential.  I value hard work. But I also believe that in a genuine effort to motivate people, we can so easily lose the essence of why we're working hard in the first place. I even think (Gasp! Hold your horses because this is probably an unpopular thing to say) that there's a whole industry that preys on the people that somehow think that if they fork over some serious cash, all their dreams will come true.  It's a slippery slope because none of us have a crystal ball that will tell us if we'll get a return on our 'investment'. They only TRUE return on our investment is the relationships we're building both with God and with the people in our lives.  

I do believe you should have something you're passionate about that has nothing to do with your spouse or your kids or your friends. Making your dream (or dreams) a reality takes hard work and planning. Your dreams are important and should be valued. But I also believe it's okay to not be productive all the time. It's all about balance. Coast in neutral and enjoy the ride! You'll never get today back. 

Kindness Is Oh So Classy

I spent the morning with people from all walks of life. As we all looked at each other, likely making assumptions about what our stories were, I realized that kindness knows no color and doesn't care what your story is. A warm smile from a stranger tells me "it doesn't matter what my story is, or yours, we're all in this together", and isn't that what we all want to feel? Don't we all just want love and acceptance no matter what our story is? The lady I got the privilege to stand next to chatted with me and we joked about how when security was digging through our purses, we didn't much appreciate having all our stuff splayed out for all to see. Her eyes sparkled as she gave me a toothless grin when I joked that even my kids aren't allowed in my purse! True kindness doesn't care about your story or whether the purse the security guard rummaged through is a name brand or something else. I'll be the first to admit that in this bunch, I'm the one that felt like I stood out with my outfit meticulously planned. Yet, I want to cry out to them all "you think I'm judging you? I worry you're making judgements about me!".  

I believe God puts people  in our lives, even strangers, at just the right time. Adorn yourself in kindness for you never know what someone else's story is. 

HGTV #LoveHome Featuring My Loves!

I'm so thrilled that HGTV picked one of my photos for their Love Home campaign. The hubs and the little one love playing guitars together (well, the little one pretends on the guitar his daddy used as a little boy) in our living room. In the black and white photo, Matt has his phone balanced on his knee that he was using to reference the chords. Okay...enough chit-chat...here it is! It's so fast, you'll miss it so find it at the 44 second mark.

Easy Peasy Fruit Cobbler Recipe

After making this cobbler from one of my closest friends at Farm Fresh Love, I will never make traditional cobbler again. This version has a cake-like top and only takes minutes to throw together. It's sure to be your new family favorite too.  Serve it hot with vanilla ice cream and prepare to be the newest dessert rockstar. Everyone is going to be oohing and ahhing about how fabulous this cobbler is. Summer is calling....

{Click to print}

What Is Success?

Sometimes the chase is more exciting than the reality, don't you think? Perhaps we're wired to think a certain level of success is key to happiness. Trying to find balance between working toward  success, while finding real meaningful purpose within that success is difficult. What is success? It's different for every person. As I get older, success is spending meaningful time with my family and not feeling guilty about  thinking I should be working instead. Success is a trip out to eat with kids without any meltdowns or bickering. As my kids get older, I realize how quickly this is all flying by. In just six short years, my oldest will be an adult.  Knowing this time is fleeting has made the desire for traditional success less important. Success is supporting my husband with his growing business and creating a cozy retreat for him to come home to at the end of a long day. Success is putting God first and spending time in His word. Our society may not lift these things up as worthy, but it's what is important to me and my family. Of course I'd be lying to say any public recognition my business has received hasn't felt good or felt like success, but I wonder where that will be on my list of high points when I'm taking my last breath.

I posted this gem from Waiting On Martha on Instagram  and I think it's in keeping with this same 'go go go' mentality. Is our to-do list calling the shots? Don't get me wrong. I have a serious love affair with to-do lists. I make lists for my lists. I think it's a control issue. I feel very on top of my life when I have lots of pretty lists to reference. Too often our to-do list becomes a vehicle where we're racing to the finish as fast as we can.   I'm sure you've already figured this one out, but there's no prize when you check everything off. There's no party at the end, and it's the same thing with achieving personal goals and success. If we want a party when we reach our goal, we better add that to our list!

I am so blessed to have my business and I will continue to nurture it and grow it. It's like one of my babies. Well, not quite, but I do have a special relationship with it. We've been through so much together. We've spent countless late nights powering through orders when we started with nothing. I think we were designed to use our God-given gifts to help others. I can't use these gifts if I'm feeling defeated, wiped out and lacking purpose. Having true purpose fires me up!  I sometimes wonder if  hard work and determination causes some sort of euphoria and when we lose that drive, because we're exhausted, is that the reason for feeling "is this it?".

Calvin Klein said "I don't dwell on success. Maybe that's one reason I'm successful." Hmm.... something to think about. How about these words of wisdom by John Lennon. This really puts things in perspective, don't you think? 

So if you too have had this "is this all there is?" feeling, Marie Forleo has some insight for you. And she'll make you laugh.




Using our God-given gifts to help others is so important and feeling validated and empowered by this can be life changing. But in the end, true success is what we make of it.

Instagram and Perfection

Have you read the thought provoking article called "Stop Instagramming Your Perfect Life"? Here's a clip of what Shauna Niequist has to say in Relevant Magazine- 

"My life looks better on the Internet than it does in real life. Everyone’s life looks better on the internet than it does in real life. The Internet is partial truths—we get to decide what people see and what they don’t. That’s why it’s safer short term. And that’s why it’s much, much more dangerous long term.

Because community—the rich kind, the transforming kind, the valuable and difficult kind—doesn’t happen in partial truths and well-edited photo collections on Instagram. Community happens when we hear each other’s actual voices, when we enter one another’s actual homes, with actual messes, around actual tables telling stories that ramble on beyond 140 pithy characters.

But seeing the best possible, often-unrealistic, half-truth version of other peoples’ lives isn’t the only danger of the Internet. Our envy buttons also get pushed because we rarely check Facebook when we’re having our own peak experiences. We check it when we’re bored and when we’re lonely, and it intensifies that boredom and loneliness."

 

I think we all assume we're not seeing the big picture when we look at people's photos. It's not my place to know all your business. I assume as you're taking a picture of your kids, they're bickering. Why? Because that's my life. If we judge someone's photos in any way, good or bad, it's on us, not them. I'm kind of a neat freak, though I do have my scary places (do NOT open our entry closet, for one!), so that's my real life. My real life is I make the bed every day. I could care less if you don't. I think we over share. I'm pretty private about my kids. I don't think everyone needs to know my kids' business or see tons of photos of our home. I have a private account for that. That's the choice I've made. It doesn't mean because I DON'T share it, it's perfect though. It also doesn't mean if YOU share your kids photos, I judge you for that. 

I think social media has turned into a form of idolatry. I suppose I don't put a ton of thought into how I feel when I look at someone's photos. It's exhausting to care so much what other people think or to care so much about other people's lives. It's not that I don't care about your heart, but I don't really care if your kitchen is messy or neat. I know there's so much more to you than sticky fingerprints on your fridge. Why? Because I want you to know there's so much more to me than my sticky fridge. If we're fixated and idolizing other people and in turn feeling less-than about our own lives, it's our problem, not there's.  

 My closet is full skeletons..and a bunch of other crap.  I think we should be lifting each other up, and leave judgement up to the perfect judge.  I don't think we need to change social media, I think we need to change our hearts. 

Plank Wood Art Tutorial

                   

I’ve shared photos of Haddy's home with you before (remember, she's the founder of Creative House of Designs) and I’m super pumped to share her DIY deets on how she created the uber chic pooch silhouette using plank wood for her son's room. I love that it’s rustic, yet the silhouette is super traditional. 

Let’s get to it, shall we?

Plank Wood Art Tutorial

Supplies:

Reclaimed wood, a pallet or any type of wood that can be cut down

1-2 Furring Pine Stripes in a 1”x2” or 1” x 3” size cut into two 2.5’ and two 2’ sections. 

Wood Screws or Fencing Nails

3-4 Large D-Ring Picture Hanger

Outdoor Black Paint

Stencil Paint

Large Foam Brush

Small Detail Brush

Wood Sealer

If creating a 3’ square piece, like Haddy’s, using reclaimed wood (the best option) or even pallet wood lay the pieces across an old blanket. You can even use  large sections of wood from Lowe’s or Home Depot (ask for free scraps!) cutting five pieces 7” wide and 3/4” thick down to 3 feet in length. 

Using the furring strips and wood screws, connect the strips in your desired shape making a frame. Then, nail this to the back of your wood plank pieces you’ve laid out. Be sure not to hammer your nails all the way through to the front as you don’t want the pointy ends showing on the front of your planks. Be sure to use the right size screws and/or nails. You can always hammer nails in the front of your planks if you’re going for a super rustic look. Using the boards vertical instead of horizontal makes the project easier and more secure but doesn’t look quite as awesome as going horizontal. Haddy used a million nails and a few screws. Once you’re done, attach your D-Rings to the top of the furring strips evenly spaced across the top. This badboy is going to be heavy and you don’t want it coming down!

Next, it’s time to go bananas and paint! You can opt to be daring and create your artwork yourself or use a stencil. Be prepared for the stencil to bleed because of the grooves in the wood if you choose to go that route. Use stencil paint to outline your item first even if you don’t use a stencil. The stencil paint is thick and dries really fast. You can alwaso white wash your boards before you paint the silhouette for a softer look. Finally, seal your piece and let it dry. 

Now hang it and be prepared for the oohs and ahhhs! 

And some more lovelies of this little guy's stylish room! Who says boys' rooms have to be blue?!

Caramel Pudding With Salted Caramel Sauce

(Click the recipe to print in a new window)

My bestie and I had a fabulous outing (without children!!!) at California Pizza Kitchen the other day where we joked about leaving the kids with the nanny (I'm kidding when I say "nanny"...it goes with the story) every day this summer so we can relax on various patios having wine and cheese at noon while she flirts with the waiters (she's single) and I take pictures of everything. While we were enjoying our faux-luxurious life we decided the Salted Caramel Pudding was just the ending we needed. It comes in this nifty little jar which was cute, but made it more difficult to get my tongue in the bottom to get every last lick. Not kidding. Feeling fancy is hard to do when you look like you might never get dessert again. This dessert is the perfect marriage of sweet and salty. Really. You must try it. 

I scoured the web until I found what is close to CPK but think making the caramel sauce from scratch is a bit much. Also, I had no idea "Budino" is a fancy word for "Pudding". Impress your friends with that one. 

(Recipe is adapted from Bon Appetit and photo credits from Bon Appetit blog. )

Mixed Bag

I absolutely love this quote as it is a fab reminder that moderation is key to really savor each moment. We had quite a 'discussion' about this the other day after I posted it on Instagram. Check out my feed here to see how some of my awesome Insta-friends weighed in on this topic.  Good stuff, friends!

The little guy had a birthday party (his first official!) and so naturally he brought a plate! I love how the colors turned out. I'm clearly in a melon/strawberry lemonade/lemon kick right now. 

And here's proof of that! I adore these tea cups and saucers. Now why haven't I made one for myself yet? The yellow one says "hello happy day" on it. Start your day with some sunshine, right?

A certain magazine that I will disclose at a later date (fun!) requested photos of me, my studio space and favorite pieces. So naturally I didn't wash my hair the day I had my photographer friend tackle this project with me. What was I thinking? Clearly I was not. 

Free Printable Calendars- The Best of the Best!

I'm in the process of dolling up my workspace for a photo shoot taking place very soon for a magazine (woof-woo!!) and decided it's time to update the 2012 calendar hanging from my clipboard. Yes, I know....it's March of 2013. Better late than never, right? Aren't these cute? And you can't beat free!

Find the links below. 

Originally from Benign Objects

Print on letter size paper); Mibo Animals of the Zodiac 2013 Calendar via Maureen Djello, illustrations by Sean Hennessy;Geometric Calendar by Natasha Mileshina of Bubbo Tubbo via A Merry Mishap ;  Hope and Home 2013 Calendarhttp://seamlessdays.wordpress.com/2012/11/04/hope-and-a-home-calendar/ bySeamless Days; The Ink Nest Whimsical mini Calendar (will cost you a tweet or FB post); Ellinée journal 2013 12-month Calendar; Seasons 2013 All-in-one calendar by Love vs. Design; Customizable Owl Lover 2013  Calendarfeaturing various artists on My Owl Barn; Sweet New Year Calendar by Amy Moss/EatDrinkChic; 2013 Mini Printable Calendarhttp://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/12/13/calendar-free-printable/ from Skip to My Lou ; Make Everyday Special 2013 Calendar by Design Bolts; The Twinery confetti mini Calendar (also comes as a full-size)

Top Skincare Picks

Let's start with your face. I am a firm believer in spending more on skincare and less on makeup. Remember my post here called Flawless Skin and Makeup Tricks? What I didn't share is that I buy drugstore products because I can't justify spending so much on makeup.  The fact is, if your skin is vibrant and even-toned, you don't even need to use as much make-up. We apply makeup to give us the appearance of flawless skin. Why not have nearly flawless skin to start? I was super skeptical about my newest favorite brand, Rodan + Fields BEFORE I started using it. After a few weeks I could totally tell a difference in my skin and found I was using less and less foundation and concealer. Now, after six months using the Anti-Age regime, I am floored at how much better my skin looks. I used to try different products and after using the tub I wasn't "wowed!" by the results so I'd move onto something else. There have been times where I use a new product for a couple weeks and throw it out because I don't notice a change. Yep, I am one of those 'I want to see results and I want to see them NOW' kind of women. That's pretty much what happened with these products. The creators of Proactiv started Rodan + Fields and though it's a fairly new company, they've already received tons of buzz. Now that I've tried it I can totally see why.

Moving onto your body, my hubby bought the Stress Relief Eucalyptus Spearmint Body Wash from Bath and Body at Christmas and it's a new favorite. It says right on the bottle to breathe it in for stress relief and holy smokes, it really does work!

I'll take all the firming I can get and Nivea's lotions help keep everything tight. Babies will do a number on your tummy (yes, three years later) and I really can tell a difference.
My hubby also bought me the True Blue Cracked Heel Treatment from Bath and Body and this stuff is amazing. I even use it on my hands. Because of the nature of my business I have man hands. Not dainty man hands but full-on rough, cracked man hands. I have no explanation to why my feet are in such bad shape (I don't use my feet for ceramics) but I do have super dry skin.

Shoot me an email at hello@aedriel.com if you're interested in learning more about Rodan + Fields  or find more here. The before and after pictures are crazy! You really can turn back the clock.

Beauty Tips Tips Tips

Inspirational Interiors: Featuring House of Creative Designs

I love incorporating trends in the home but I also believe in surrounding yourself in pieces that tell a story.  Keepsakes reflect who you are and what you love. Haddy of House of Creative Designs tells a beautiful story in creating cozy vignettes and heartfelt reminders of her love for her family and memories. Creating a wall with mismatched frames using a cohesive gold finish gives the room instant glamour and personality. I love the mix of black and white family photos and a handful of silhouettes and prints adding a pop of the unexpected in Haddy's living room. 

As Haddy said, "It's important for me to incorporate not just the pretty things and the current obsessions, but also pieces that mean something to me... something that makes my heart smile whether that be something I made, I bought or something given to me."

Find House of Creative Designs here:

Instagram 

                                Facebook

 Pinterest

                                Etsy shop