And the winner is....

Kirra L. Congratulations on winning the $50 gift card!

Did you miss me?

Sorry I disappeared without saying goodbye. The last few weeks have just been pretty hard for me to handle. My faith has been strained. My resolve to keep going has certainly been tested. I'm not out of the clearing yet so I'm not really up to talking about it--which makes me a horrible blogger I know.

I have been reading an amazing book lately though. I'm only halfway through and I wholeheartedly recommend it. It is:

Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma

which has nothing to do with my issues right now but I have been implementing some of her ideas with my 5, 3, and 1 year old and it is kind of changing our life for the better.

I think anyone who has kids of any age in the home can benefit from reading this. 

New Boutique

I am now designing/selling at Aimee Asher Boutique. Woohoo. Just added these there today:

Soon I hope to be selling at a few more places. :)
Hope your week is going good.
xo,
Dedra

New Giveaway AND...

New $50 gift code giveaway on the right side of my blog.

AND...

NEW Super cool buying options in my etsy shop

Buy 3 Get 1 additional item FREE
Buy 4 Get 2 additional items FREE
Buy 5 Get 3 additional items FREE
Buy 10 Get 10 additional items FREE
Buy 20 Get 21 additional items FREE
FREE items must be of equal or lesser value. To get your free items, Copy and Paste ENTIRE TITLE of free product(s) (not link) in notes to seller to get your free item(s). Do NOT put free items in cart. 

AND

Paper Packs are on sale right now for 50% off!!!! 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettifulDesigns

xo,
Dedra

Joy Moments

As part of my Happiness Project goal for February to "Be Positive" I'm going to start writing down a JOY moment each day. Every day I'm going to write down something that brought me joy during the day. Some days it may be something huge but for the most part it will be things like: giggles from the girls, eating something I really like for dinner, not having to wait in line, or the repair costing $30 not $130!

I think I will find more things during the day that bring me joy as I will have to find something to write down. Join me in recording your own Joy Moments and focusing on the positive.

xo,
Dedra

Prime Real Estate

Prime Real Estate Available...on my blog that is. Have you noticed how many followers I have and how many page hits I've gotten since July? It's pretty crazy how fast this blog has grown. I do have some pretty sweet ads available. Check out the info at the advertising tab at the top or click here: http://prettifuldesigns.blogspot.com/p/advertising.html

Be Positive February

My happiness goal for February is to be positive--to think positive, to act positive, and to always speak positive. To kick off the month I made a list of 28 things that make me happy and I'm going to try and do one every day. These won't MAKE me positive but I think spending a little time each day doing something for me will make me feel happier and when Momma is happy, everyone else will be too and it will be easier to think positively.

It took me a really long time to come up with my list. I'm great at coming up with lists for Christmas and birthday presents, preschool ideas, date ideas, holiday activities, menus, and endless other lists. Making one for things I like to do was so different. How often as a mom do I think about myself? Sometimes the best thing you can do for your children is learning to take care of yourself and showing them by example how to be happy.

Here's mine. Laugh all you want at what makes me happy. :)

1. Take a bath
2. Read for at least 15 minutes
3. Check out pinterest (I hardly ever get on anymore.)
4. Post pictures of the kids for Grandmas to see.
5. Make a holiday craft.
6. Go swimming or play basketball
7. Play the ukulele and sing
8. Sit and watch the birds
9. Play Rome Total War
10. Do a REAL yoga workout i.e. without children crawling under my downward dog
11. Declutter something
12. Scrapbook some pictures
13. Play golf (the card game)
14. Read lots of stories to the girls
15. Do a crossword puzzle
16. Watch HGTV
17. Design a room remodel
18. Draw/paint a picture
19. Bake something
20. Go to the library
21. Surprise the kids with something
22. Eat out
23. Text something nice to all my friends
24. Plan something super "romantical" for the hubby
25. Doodle
26. Shop or at least browse online
27. Take a nap
28. Go for a walk

Think of your own list and put it into action today. It is a great way to break up the winter boredom too. :)

Happy February!
xo,
Dedra

New Valentine Banners

This week I have been working on banners. I can't figure out which is my favorite though to hang up. I might just have to print them all. They are now in my Printables shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/pdprintables

Speechless

Today was a big day. We did something we've been waiting over a year and a half to do...but yet, I'm speechless. I'm still processing it all in my head so I will just have to let you know all about it later...hopefully soon. :)

In other news....CONGRATS to Manuela Kasch for winning this months giveaway!!! Check your email for your $50 gift code to my shop. 

Happy Monday--Literally

I went on a 3 hour date with the hubby on Saturday. It was soooo nice. We have never left all 3 kids that long...and maybe not the others that long before either. We actually went to an arcade. It was a blast. (I totally whooped him! hehe). Then we drove by the house we are trying to buy and went out to a restaurant we fell in love with! It was sooo needed.

I am almost finished with "The Happiness Project" book by Gretchen Rubin last. Her project and mine are very different but I feel so motivated, uplifted, and empowered. I am so excited to share the plans for February's goal of "Be Positive." I might have to post early so you can do it with me if you like. :)

The hubby and I also read the Christmas Box last night. We've had several miscarriages and it took several years before we were able to have kids so it was a very tender read.

I read Gretchen's resolution to laugh more last night and I decided to do it! A few minutes later I was put to the test. My husband walked in while I was getting ready for bed and rattled off a bunch of stuff in Chinese. He then asked, "Who do I sound like?" I replied with "A Mandarin speaking Sean Connery." It was pretty funny and I would have decided to just chuckle a little and be done but I decided to enjoy it. I laughed a little harder and told him to do some more. He did and I laughed even more. It was great. Laughing really does help to boost happiness! 

Let yourself laugh a little more today and every day. You have to make a conscious effort but it is so worth it. Here's to more laughter!

xo,
Dedra

Live Craft Eat Giveaway

Today is the last day to enter a giveaway for a  $35 gift code to my shop over at Live Craft Eat.
Go check them out. http://www.livecrafteat.com/giveaway/prettiful-designs-giftcard-giveaway/ 

Today we are running errands, playing with the girls, had some alone time and we are waiting patiently for news about the house....

I hope you all have a great weekend.

I'll be back Monday. 

xo,

Dedra

Dressing Up

So this may seem like a weird way to feel rejuvenated but just trust me. It helps.

Yesterday I did my hair the way I do for Sundays only--putting in some leave in conditioner, extra mousse, and drying it longer. 

I miraculously got earrings in. I never wear them because I can hardly ever get them in. My husband told me a little while ago to put some Vaseline on the ends and the earrings would go right through (strange coming from him). It works but I always FORGET.

I put on some perfume.

I wore one of my favorite cardigans--the kind I usually only wear when I go out (I LOVE cardigans).

And....I stayed home. There was nothing special about yesterday but I felt special because I was all dolled up. 

I had more energy because I felt great about how I felt.

Try it and you'll like it.

xo,
Dedra

Taking the plunge

So we finally "took the plunge" quite literally yesterday and bought a monthly pass to the local rec center. I figured we can spend time there as a family and the hubby and I can go there for dates. If it improves our happiness than it is a price definitely worth paying.

We took the kids swimming and it was a blast--other than the whole changing out of wet clothes part. We tried the big girls and I getting dressed first and then going back for the baby (who was with Daddy of course) and getting her dressed. However there is nowhere to lay her down except my lap. I realized after she was dressed that my whole lap was drenched. Luckily it was drenched so much that it looked pretty unrealistic that I could have wet myself that much. :) Ha ha. Good times. Good times.

I felt exhilarated from our hour in the pool. I love being in the water. My legs are a little sore from jumping up and down with 2 girls in my arms who were giggling with glee. So worth it!  And best yet, I slept much better!

Hilarious

Last night my 3 year old was changing into her pajamas when I noticed her armpit on one arm was brown--really brown (we are super light peachy colored). I was alarmed. Mommy panic button hit and sirens blaring. Are her clothes on too tight--wouldn't that make her skin purple or blue or something? Well, I decided to smell it. It was chocolate. How on earth did she get chocolate in her armpit!?!?!?  I asked her how it got there and she said "I don't know," with that sly little smile of hers. This kid is hilarious. She always does silly stuff.My guess is she stored a chocolate chip in there for later. I wish I could have seen her try and lick it off! I was a mean mommy and made her wash it with a washcloth.

What things have your kids done that have made you wonder--"what on earth!?!?!?"

Happy Wednesday. January is almost gone...

xo,
Dedra

Isn't sleep required to rejuvenate?

I'm still trying to work on my January goal to Rejuvenate. Problem is that I just can't fall asleep fast. I've done all sorts of things to help it and nothing consistently works. I usually lay in bed for 30 minutes to 2 hours every night before falling asleep. Anything you've found that helps???

Woke up to find the clothes I dried last night had a naughty magenta crayon for a companion. Pinkish splotches all over everything. Ugh. I'm doing a hot water/vinegar trick someone suggested. It's getting better. I've got it in for the 2nd attempt. I handled it really well this morning when I discovered the problem. I'm not sure why it was so easy. I wish I could react so calmly whenever everything else bad happens. Maybe all of my efforts are paying off??? I hope so but there's bound to be relapse. I'm human but here's hoping for change.

My baby had pigtails today in her hair and is therefore no longer a baby. :( She's a cutie petutie but good thing she is #3 and not the first or else she would never have any siblings! I should cut her some slack though--she is teething like crazy. That's my Tuesday. I hope yours is filled with energy and creativity!
xo,
Dedra