DIY Magnolia Leaf Wreath

I love Chip & Joanna just as much as anyone. I adore ship-lap, even if they say it's "on it's way out". I binge watch the show and cannot wait for the next season. But one thing I can't get behind, is the price tags.


I've been planning my road trip to the silos in my head, and couldn't wait to get my hands on one of the magnolia leaf wreaths. But when I saw online that they were $95, the proverbial record screeched to a halt. The real nail in the coffin was when I read all the reviews online. Poor quality. On almost every review. So, with the help of Hobby Lobby - $12 and an hour later - I made my own.

All you need is:

• Magnolia leaf bunches (I bought 4, only needed 3) $4.99 each but they were 50% when I got them
• Wreath form (I used a vine wreath, because I like the rustic look of it, but you can use foam too) $4.99 and then I had a 40% off coupon
• Hot glue gun (Already had at home, but they're super cheap if you need to buy one)

Grand Total: $12 and some change (not including the extra leaf bunch)

3 easy steps:

1. Remove all the leaves 
2. Place them sporadically around the wreath 
3. Hot glue them in place as you go

And the finished product:

Sweet Summertime

As we find ourselves in September, and are full-steam ahead into school, fall sports and activities, we took a brief pause to soak up the last bits of summer and kick off our holiday weekend. We've had a blur of a summer, and every season I find myself struggling to catch up. Between tutors, swim team, tennis, softball, and a few mini weekend getaways, September crept up on us.

The transitions of seasons can be difficult for me, because I grasp so tightly to the familiar. The routines we establish. The feeling of comfort. Those sunshiney faces are just so beautiful in the carefree light of summer.

So while I do love fall - and boots and sweaters, and crunchy leaves, and pumpkin everything - I want to fully appreciate the summer for what it was to us, simply amazing.

The First Day of School

The first day of school is always a mix of emotions. Isn't that par for the course in parenthood? It's like feeling all the emotions at once - anxiety, fear, joy, excitement - all rolled into one and just putting hope in your kids that you've prepared them well for the new adventures that await them in first and third grade. Having faith in the teachers that you so trustingly hand over your kids to for 7 hours a day.

 

I want to rewind the clock, freeze time, and skip ahead to the future all at the same time. The past 8 and half years feel more like months, while the anticipation of all the exciting things to come seem ages away.

 

So all I can do is freeze these precious moments in photographs, to remember all the emotions. Because every single one of them counts. Because I want them to know I was there. To share in that joy, and excitement of the new school year. But also to help alleviate the anxiety and the fear even though I was feeling it too. That even though I'm not physically there during the day. I am always there. With them, for them, cheering them on. 

 

PS: We finally did get a new doormat :) And Gracen took her bow out as soon as she got to her desk, and Hadley said she'd wear hers all day if I gave her a quarter. I happily obliged.

 First day of school 2015, Gracen 2014, Hadley 2014, Gracen 2012 (#fail, I didn't post Gracen's first day of kindergarten, or either of their first days of 3 yo pre-school)