Wordless.

Guess what's coming up?

Speaking of birthdays....

Oliver's is coming up!

& although he has no idea what that means, he is loving all the party goods that have flooded our home the past few weeks, especially the balloons. I inflated one today and he went crazy for it.

Stay tuned for party details some time next week. :)

-Bethany

P.S. Oliver's cousin Miles is in the hospital and needs lots of prayers sent his way. If you have a minute during your day, please say a prayer for him. Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated. 

Thrifty Thursdays

I love wearing fun dresses.

Oracle Summer Tunic $79AUD

This little number from esther, an Australian based online boutique, recently caught my eye. The colors, bold pattern, silhouette exude fun, flirty femininity.

But, I am always looking for a bargain so I waited hoping that one of two things would happen:

a.) It would go on sale. Like a really big sale.
b.) I would find a similar dress that looked just as amazing for a fraction of the price.

Well, it did not go on sale. But, I found an alternative. Yay! & it is pretty amazing! See for yourself...

A super cute picture thanks to Instagram

Close up of the pattern.

Oliver made sure he got in at least one photo

This dress is the essence of me. 

It is the perfect balance of whimsy, exotic & effortlessly stylish. Just add a messy braid, my oversized rose gold wristwatch and a pair of leather sandals and I am ready to take on the world. :)

This dress is from Forever21. Dresses like this typically range from $10 to $25. I found mine brand new at my local Flea Market for just $4! 

The moral of this story?

If something is out of your price range, there are affordable alternatives as long as you are willing to explore a little. 

Also, you never know what affordable treasures lurk in local thrift stores, vintage shops & flea markets.  

Happy Hunting!

♥Beth

p.s. If any of you have found any awesome bargains lately, send me an email. I would love to hear about them!

Mommyhood..

Oliver enjoyed his first Easter this weekend & also turned 11 months old.

Oliver watched Nicholas & I color eggs with his cousin Hailey. He also got to hunt for brightly colored eggs filled with teddy grahams & cheese-its at Nana and Grandpa's house. 

These days, Oliver spends his time playing with his stuffed animals Rufus & Steggie. He loves watching his dog from the dining room windows. He points at everything and loves electronics. He allows loves books. I think he likes how they taste just as much as he likes to show me the pictures inside their pages. Oliver got new shoes with velcro straps this month. These shoes actually stay on his feet and he does not mind them too much. Mostly because when he wears his shoes, he is allowed to play outside. The other day, he actually carried his shoes to me and patiently waited for me to put them on his feet. He is such a good little boy when he chooses to be. But whether he is driving me crazy or being sweet & lovable matters not because I am his mommy and he is my baby and we our completely obsessed with each other. :)

There is a single month remaining until my little Munchkin turns 1 year old. 

I can hardly believe it. 

♥ Bethany

♥

today i am thankful for 

my wonderful husband.

We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary this week.

Life is fuller, richer & more beautiful because I am loved by him.

.

"..today i love you more than i loved you yesterday,

but tomorrow i will love you even more than i do today..."

~Bethany

Celebration

Last week my mother, Melba, gave thanks for her 50th year of life.

Saturday evening, Nicholas & I hosted our first dinner party in honor of her. 

We were joined by a few very dear friends and family.

But rewind a bit. . .

I spent the whole month planning because I 

L-O-V-E 

LOVE 

l o v e 

birthdays! 

Any and all birthdays. I decided there was no reason this couldn't be my mom's best birthday yet. So I took a little of this and a little of that, borrowed dishes and tables and chairs and mason jars and buttons...

I printed up my mom's favorite poems and quotes from her favorite books and authors. I sneaked old photos from my parent's house, and even found my mom's old yearbook from her senior year at bible college from w a y back in the day. :)

Then I sewed, ironed, glued, snipped, folded, tied, pinned, spray-painted, decoupaged, hung, strung, arranged, cooked, cleaned, baked, frosted, brewed, chopped, mixed, etc. . .

And in the end, it was a perfect (if I do say so, myself).

See for yourself.

.

.

.

Parents

Yearbook.

I used this, along with other photos, in a special slideshow. Gold star to anyone who can tell me which small child is my momma :)

Our family (minus Nessa & Lucas)

Here's to the next 50, Momma :)

May they be even fuller and richer than the first.

♥ Bethany

Oliver is 10.

Look out, world

I am 10 months old.

& I strongly dislike to wear shoes.

 My little shadow, full of wonder,

toddling unsteadily behind me, the mother.

One chubby hand clings to my stable knee

The other outstretched toward danger, joy, 

unknown objects waiting to be discovered.

He gazes up at my faces, little back arched and head tilted back

to look upon my towering frame.

He cries, "ba-ba, da-da, ma-ma-ma!"

Loudly he shouts these sounds, simple linguistics

True language he has not yet learned

But he understands when we say, "No."

His little personality bursts from behind 

his laugh, his copper curls, 

his twinkling eyes the color of the seas.

He wreaks havoc, yet longs for attention, affection, approval,

a simple smile from "ma-ma" and "da-da"

And his tears, laughter and curiosity

his gleeful squeals as he kicks his little legs

his frustrated tears and exhausted wails

All these emotions and characteristics

 are wrapped in a tiny little individual

wobbling on two chubby legs,

arms reaching for my love.

He is my sun.

I am simple a moon in his orbit

reflecting his joy.

~Bethany