Beauty in the Chaos

Well, Mylo Xyloto came out this week, and you knew I was going to HAVE to write a blog about it. Well, I'll skip the musical termonology and go straight into the application. So, as you guys know so well now, Coldplay is connected to the Warkentin family by so many threads. With each album, it tells a story about what we're going through, or what we're feeling. I have no idea how they do it. This album was no exception. It's obvious that things haven't been easy for this young family this year. There have been a lot of struggles, a lot of tears, a lot of growing (babies and otherwise). When I listened to the track "Us Against The World", I almost cried.

"And sing slow it down .Through chaos as it swirls, it’s just us against the world."

There's something so beautiful about the chaos that is my life. I forget to take the time sometimes amidst all the crying, the dirty diapers and the dishes to hear all the giggles, the cuddles and the wonder that is my life. Though I've tried to just get through this year, the one thing this song reminded me was that I am truly living in the middle of the best time of my life. We may be broke, and loud, and even a little crazy, but we've got each other and that is the greatest blessing we could ask for. And all I can do is just hope that these moments just slow down, so that I can keep them in my heart forever.

Thank you Coldplay for reminding me.

The things no one tells you: Oh the loneliness

I took a vacation for two weeks and left my husband in charge. When I came back, I asked him how things went. He told me he could handle the laundry, the dishes, the endless whining. He could handle all the dirty diapers and the time outs. He then said, "But I still could never do your job." I asked him why, and he said, "The solitude is unbearable."This was an interesting statement. Out of all the housework, it was the loneliness that made my job so undesireable.

Recently Tim got a promotion; something he's been working towards for several years now. I have been conflicted about my happiness for this promotion. Because, while it's been something he's been working so hard towards, it also means longer hours and less time I can randomly just talk to him during the day if I get lonely.

This is when that dark cloud creeps in. When I'm about 3/4's of the way through my day and everybody's whining, or worse when they're all asleep and I have nothing to do and no one to talk to. Some days, I would give my right ARM to know that my mom lived down the street from me. Not so that I could utilize her babysitting skills (though that would be nice too) but mostly so I could walk down the street and chat with her; ask her how her day is, hear about her job. SOMETHING, anything really to take my mind off of the fact that I have to work a 12 hour day without any adult interaction.

I really do absolutely love my job. I really really do. It's just when you spend the majority of your day refereeing arguments, cleaning rooms you could swear you just cleaned 20 minutes ago and answering endless preschool questions over and over again you tend to long for adult interaction. This is the part I wish someone would have told me about.

How to make a chandelier out of dollar store beads

So I saw this amazing picture on Pinterest months and months ago. I pinned it, I "ooohed and aaaahed" and then I moved forward. It wasn't until I got ready to do Liv's first birthday party that I revisited it.
This picture originally came from this blog all about making craft genius out of dollar store finds. She made this beautiful chandelier out of a dollar store hanging planter and mardis gras beads. Using only hot glue, wire, spray paint and creativity. When I read it, it looked like a fairly simple project. So I began collecting the materials which, by the way, in September is not easy.

I followed the directions to the letter, but I had some difficulty. First off, she suggests spray painting the planter and the beads first. I did that, but it's actually a lot harder to keep them dry when they're not hanging, and to put them through all the holes and wires without the paint rubbing off. If I had to do it over, I would wait until it was completely constructed before I whipped out my spray paint. Secondly, I would not have hot glued the necklaces all at once, this proved to be a total nightmare weaving them through, up and over.

I did find that her suggestion of hanging the basket throughout the process was a valid one. It really helped me put it all together. Here are the stats:

1 wire planter- $1
6 packages of beads- $6
spray paint- $9 (totally could have used cheaper kind, and less cans, but I didn't)
wire-on hand
hot glue- on hand

Total hours, messing up, painting, re-painting and getting the project done: 5 hours

So 5 hours and $16, not too bad. I think the next time I do it (and yes, there will TOTALLY be a next time, because it turned out amazing) it will take way less time now that I know what I'm doing. Without further adieu, here it is!
Phase one of Liv's party decore complete! Now, what was YOUR Pinterest Challenge this month?

A downhome kind of blog

I'm not sure there is anything greater in this world than watching your parents love on your children. It is a fantastic and wonderful gift that I cherish.

The last few weeks I've been MIA in the blog world because I've been visiting my parents down south. As you can imagine, I don't get to see them much, so I treasure the time I do. This time, I took Liv along with me. She got to eat southern barbeque, and drink her fair share of sweet tea. But it's the hours and hours spent cuddling, kissing and playing with her Guy and Nana that I believe she will take with her.

I got to watch my friend Bethany get married as well, and I was so excited, and honored, to be a part of her special day. I also spent the time visiting friends around Georgia. It's so funny to say that now. When I lived in Georgia, I really felt like I had no friends. Now that I'm here, it's strange to say it, but I actually have quite a few. Who knew?

I really am a California girl, I swear. But buried deep underneath the surface is a little southern belle who only shows her true colors when she's nestled in the North Georgia mountains. I feel safe here to let my hair down, and my accent creep back into everyday conversation. I try so very hard to keep it from coming out in California. Ofcourse sometimes I slip. Anyways, I digress. It's been such a fun thing to be able to show my daughter the south, and I'm not gonna lie, 2 weeks off of dishes and laundry duty has been nice as well. Oh Georgia, it's strange to say how much I've missed you.