The Ruby Heart

I am so excited about today's post!

Today I have Margaret talking about her etsy shop, The Ruby Heart.

Why did you start your etsy shop?

"I started my etsy shop because of my love for design. I knew I wanted to mix that love with my desire to create something purposeful. All of my prints focus on inspirational messages or scripture, so it's the perfect way to combine my purpose and passion. Plus, they're an easy way to add some affordable art to any home! As a brand new homeowner, I know how that is.

What goals do you have for your shop?

"I have a lot of goals for my little shop. Of course, I hope that my shop helps to spread the gospel and allow all homes to have a piece of uplifting art. At some point I would like to add some very pretty home management printables. These printables could be used in a binder to manage home maintenance, bills, wish lists, etc! Most of all, though, I started this shop in hopes of one day being able to be a stay at home mom while still contributing to the household. I am not a mom yet - I'm just a planner-aheader. ;)"

What types of items do you sell?

At this time I sell modern art prints that can be instantly downloaded (many more items coming soon!). Most of my prints have the option to choose custom colors to ensure they fit your home perfectly.

Not only is Margaret giving away two free printables from her shop, but she is also giving out a 20% off coupon for the next two weeks.  If you use the code "GIRLWHOLOVEDTOWRITE" with your purchase, you can snag one of these beauties for less than five dollars.  

{via}

How beautiful are these?  I know I'm personally going to be grabbing that coffee one for my kitchen.  

Have a wonderful Monday, friends!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Check out this month's featured sponsor:

My friend Sue and her incredible shop.

Happiest of Fridays to you!

Today I have my sweet friend Sue on the blog talking about her lovely etsy shop.

Chevron and Lace is an adorable etsy shop where Sue sells handmade things for both moms and babies.  Her maxi skirts are incredible--they're made with a yoga pants band.  {Yes, she did just combine the two most comfortable clothing items ever} And she manages to make changing a diaper fashionable:

Amazing, yes?  Hello, perfect baby-shower gift.  If you have a baby, or know someone that has a baby, or have ever seen someone that you think might have a baby, you need to go buy one of these, pronto.  And lucky for you, there's a discount code at the bottom of this post!

Here's a little bit more about the shop from the creator herself: 

After my husband and I graduated from college together, I was pregnant and we were playing the worst kind of waiting game. Not only were we anxiously awaiting the arrival of our little girl, but we were waiting for the job offers that we knew were just going to come flooding to us, eventually (ha ha). I started to go crazy with boredom, and that's when I busted out the sewing machine.

I started out sewing some things that I saw on Pinterest that I thought would be useful for baby and me. Almost a year after our baby was born, I decided that maybe some of the things I made would be useful to other moms out there, too!

Since then, I've experimented with different listings and found three items that really work. Now, I'm a fully-fledged shop owner with some great mommy, baby, and clothing items to offer, with more ideas in the works. I love to sew and nothing makes me happier than creating a cute, functional item for women and babies alike! I hope you take time to stop by and see what I have to offer. Thanks to Chelsea for having me on her blog today and I hope to see you soon!

Sue//Chevron and Lace

susanstange.com

www.etsy.com/shop/ChevronandLace

P.S. Be sure to stop by my blog and follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to be the first to know about any deals, sales, and promotions, like the one going on right now for all of you, Chelsea's readers! For two weeks only, enter CHELSEAWRITES at checkout and you will receive 20% off any purchase! This promotion will expire on September 21st. See you there!

Sue is an absolutely amazing person who creates amazing things.  Do yourself a favor and check out her shop this weekend! 

Today I believe.

{Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway!  The winner has been notified.  If you would like to participate in the next giveaway, click here}

Today I believe in being thankful.

It is truly amazing how much your perspective (and sometimes even life) can change with just a tiny bit of effort to start being thankful.

I made a reverse bucket list this week, and it was incredible how much my attitude changed just from looking at pictures and trying to remember all the exciting things I've done in my life.  I wasn't having a bad attitude about life before, but as I looked at those pictures and sifted through my memories, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed at just how full my life really was--and is.

I had such a good day after doing that, I decided from now on, I am going to make a real effort to be thankful.  Overly, annoyingly, utterly thankful about everything.

Fall is here.  {I know that most of you think that fall doesn't actually start until October.  I'm sorry.  You are wrong.}  For me, fall always brings about a feeling of thankfulness.  It starts my favorite time of  the year--September 3rd-January 1st.  It means pumpkin spiced everything, baking, decorating, turkey, Christmas music, and feeling incredibly grateful for my life.

This year, I'm going to be crazy thankful everyday.  I am thankful for my pumpkin spice lattes, obviously.  But I'm also going to be thankful for the small things.  For the moments in the morning where I can sit with my coffee and it's just me and Jesus.  For the books I read.  For the fact that I live in a state where I can drink a pumpkin spice coffee in the morning and lay out in the afternoon.  For good movies.  For sweet texts.  I'm going to be thankful for all of it.  And if writing that reverse bucket list was any indication, my days are about to get a whole lot happier.

Care to join me?

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Monday, friends! 

I hope you're all relaxing and doing something that involves family, friends, and sunshine. 

If you happen to be stuck inside, here's a little coupon to brighten your day! 

Use code "LABORDAY" to take 25% off your entire purchase in my etsy shop for the next 24 hours. 

Here's to only having a four day week! 

Reverse Bucket List

When I saw The Lady Okie's post about this, I immediately thought it was genius.  I love the idea of bucket lists, but so often don't put something on there because it just seems sad to put something there that you're pretty sure will never happen.  Also, it's easy to look at other people's lives and feel jealous, but most of the time that's because we've forgotten all the good stuff we've already done.
So here are 47 things that if I would have made a bucket list 10 years ago, I probably should have put them on it.

The Reverse Bucket List: 

1. Graduated from high school with my A.A.

2. Flew in a plan that I was almost as tall as. 

 

3.  Seen the oldest church in the Bahamas. 

4.  Climbed a lighthouse in the bahamas.

5.  Stood in a window at the top of said lighthouse.

6. Gone treasure hunting in the Bahamas.

7.  Had bonfires on the beach. 

8.  Received many Christmas gifts like this from my mom. 

9.  Decorated cakes for Santa on Christmas Eve.  

10.  Seen the Universal Macy's Day Parade. 

11. Celebrated my birthday at Emeril's restaurant.

12.  Played cards with my pups. 

13.  Taken family photos in other countries. 

Seen this sign and still...

14. Went snorkeling in Ocala.

15.  Graduated College. 

16. Celebrated a year with Chris by climbing a lighthouse in St. Augustine, which happened to be infested with wasps when you got to the top. 

17.  Been on countless boating excursions with my family. 

 

18.  Saw One Republic at Universal with my brother. 

19. Saw One Republic, round two. 

20.  Went on a cruise.

21. Baked tons of mini pies for the best fall-themed wedding shower ever. 

22. Went to NYC and saw The Lion King on Broadway.

23. Rode with my little brother to my rehearsal dinner..where he stopped on the way to get sweet tea, even though we were late..and then turned around and went back when he discovered the sweet tea was rotten.  We listen to Grillz on repeat the entire time, and it was just what I needed to lighten up about the weekend. 

24. Went to Mood, Project Runway heaven.

25. Went to a silent headphone party in the middle of the street in New York. 

26. Eaten at In-N-Out burger with Meg.

27. Gotten fake tattoos in LA, also with Megan. 

28. Celebrated getting married with my best friends from all over. 

29. Gone to a Dodgers game. 

30. Jumped off cliffs in the great state of Arkansas. 

31. Seen Phillip Phillips with my mom. 

32. Introduced Christopher to his first funnel cake ever. 

33. Painted pretty things for local strippers to remind them that they have value. 

34. Dyed my hair like a rainbow. 

35. Celebrated turning 21 with my best friends. 

36. Played alien mini golf. 

37.Had a Christmas date that started with an owl on my head and ended with a ring on my finger. 

38. Gone wedding dress shopping with my mom, where I got to try on a million pretty dresses.

39.  Taken medicine to orphans in Haiti. 

40. Written letters to a girl in Africa, who wrote me back via picture the next morning. 

42. Celebrated Chris' birthday in Orlando's version of Italy

43.  Did a combination of the dougie/thriller/soulja boy/the twist for my father-daughter dance. 

44. Married my best friend.

{No pictures on my computer, but}

45.  Been to NYC with my mom and eaten at Bobby Flay's Restaurant

46. Had a first grade teaching internship

47. Taught an adult Com I class. 

Remembering all of these things has really reminded me of how full my life truly is.  I highly recommend it. 

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