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cuteness overload alert!

By on May 4, 2012 in friends, IRLOMashup, Motivational, ★ dreams

I know, I know, this should obviously be a post about our children. maybe I’ll tag a cute video on at the end, how about that? but I’m going to rig it so that it doesn’t work unless you read the rest of the post, ok? oh, you didn’t know I could do that? well then maybe you just don’t understand the extent of my awesomeness! (obviously if I did anything that awesome it would be all Mr. D, and God made him for me, soooo there you go, back to God)

all right, in reality, this post is about the adorable Kelly from Houtz House Party. (did you read that hootz? because I sure did when I first met her, and I have the hardest time getting it into my head that it is howtz – yes, howtz house – tee hee, makes me giggle, too!) Kelly is quite possibly the cutest person I have known to date! and she put the cute into overdrive in her IRLO Mashup picture:

it’s like a Where’s Waldo, Houtz House Party edition! makes me :) , Kelly!

there are plans in the works for us to go visit Kelly and her crazy precious little family this summer and I can’t wait! Kelly is sharing something about a very important component of living a life filled with adventure, which she is embracing, right here:

Recently, I’ve TOTALLY been doing my best to live a life w/out any fear. I’ve been held back by fear in the past and I look back with regret at some of that. NOT COOL PEOPLE!!! Looking back over these past couple months I see now that starting this blog was a way to break down some of that fear and JUST DO WHAT I FEEL PULLED TO DO. I feel FREE to be who I AM in this and FREE to share things with my children to allow them to someday know me NOT JUST AS THEIR MAMA. 2012 is shaping up to be MY YEAR WITHOUT FEAR and so far I’m more FREE than I have EVER been!!! I feel pulled to expose women for who they REALLY are…AMAZING: FANTASTIC: WITTY: SMART: CARING: BEAUTIFUL people. I feel like embracing OTHER PEOPLE is enriching MY LIFE in ways i NEVER IMAGINED. Above all I feel like I am doing WHAT I AM CALLED TO DO!!!! I honestly, am NOT SURE what that totally looks like but all I know is right now I’m feeling my way around on a new adventure and it’s WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING!!!

let’s just say that we can TOTALLY relate! maybe that is part of why we’re friends :)

check out Kelly’s IRLO Mashup profile HERE!

if you’d like to see the awesome creativity that is going into all these pictures as they come in, check out the Pinterest board!

Comments { 2 }

it’s getting all “Psycho” up in here

By on April 30, 2012 in friends, IRLOMashup, Motivational, ★ dreams

I have to say, we’re impressed.

we LOVE to see people get creative! and this one will be hard to beat.

Erin, of Eef Etc. is the founding member of the IRLO Mashup Team Taxi and she reportedly made puddles all over her house to score this shot:

I have personally never watched Psycho, but I knew a tribute when I saw one :)
awesome job, Erin!

the whole concept of the blank canvas photography that we do is a lot deeper than just a fun and unique customizable card. the blank canvas has become to us a symbol, and our tag line “Life is a blank canvas – paint an adventure!” could really be considered our family motto.

in the past year we have started to really embrace that adventure head-on. and somewhere along the way we realized that the journey is just that much more awesome with other like-minded people. we are now on a mission to encourage others to look at their life as an adventure also, and not be afraid to take those risks. like I talked about the other day, all of our journeys are somehow interwoven, why not be more intentional about it?

this IRLO Mashup is really meant to be just the beginning of an “adventure movement” of sorts. we’re very excited to connect with all of your adventures!

in the spirit of encouragement and validation, we gave a bonus question in the IRLO Mashup instructions that team members are receiving in the mail:

a. Tell us about a dream that you have – large or small, that is part of who you are/your purpose. This can be something you are already working toward in some way, or something that you hope to work toward in the future, or maybe even something that you’re not sure if you can ever do, but is in your heart.
OR
b. Tell us what adventure means to you, in your life. Are you living a life of adventure? How or how not? What is holding you back?

Erin rose to the challenge and had this to say:

It’s been my dream for a long time to own my own business, but I never knew for sure what kind of business I wanted to own until last year when I stumbled into doing webdesign full-time. I can honestly say that despite the struggles and the fact I still have a lot of kinks to work out, owning my own business has been both a dream come true, and quite an adventure along the way! I’m not where I want to be with my business yet, but every day I’m learning, making new connections, and branching out in ways I never thought I would! I’m so excited to see where this adventure takes me and every day I get closer to living my dream!

isn’t that cool?!

check out Erin’s IRLO Mashup Profile here!

the 2nd member of Team Taxi is going to be Alyx of Everyday is a New Adventure, all the way from Germany!

want to be a part of all this fun? check out the IRLO Mashup page for some ways to get involved!

Comments { 3 }

Dear Fat Lard:

By on March 24, 2012 in Confessions, Costa Rica, Dear _____, help!, Motivational, Transitions

today when I put on my pants I was like what. the. crap.

I seem to hang onto a good 10 from my babies while I am nursing them and when I stop it doesn’t just fall off, unfortunately. and then somehow I had gained even more – I kinda blame Kalona Coffee House, though it’s not like they held a gun to my head… so the day I stepped on the scale and saw that it was just getting that much worse, I said ENOUGH! and I promised myself I would get back down to my wedding weight before I turned 30 in October. I worked hard last summer and I met my goal – all 17 pounds of it!

now I am very, very nervous to go home and see what horrible damage all the loads of white flour and white rice I’ve been consuming here in Costa Rica have done to me. if putting on my pants today was any indication I am screwed.

what made me particularly ticked off was the fact that I’ve been torturing myself through the warmup and stretching portions of Mr. D’s insanity workouts for the past week or so.

but honestly, the fact that Mr. D is working out is motivating me and I know will help me when we get back to the States, too.

so note to fat lard self: even though your stupid mouth got you in this position, I know you can work your butt off again this summer (though literally, I’d prefer you worked off your stomach and love handles) and get back to where you feel your best. you can go ahead and leave the pregnant look to your very cute and actually pregnant friends…

I think I’ll need to lose at least 10 of these… =(

Source: fitmamato3.com via Jenna on Pinterest

good luck, chubs.

Comments { 6 }

101 in 1001 – an update

By on February 21, 2012 in Motivational, stuff we do, us

I was very happy to start our 101 in 1001 on my 30th birthday last year (background here), but I never actually posted anything about it. now we’re almost a quarter of a year in and I realized it was time to revisit it and see what kind of progress we are making…

Inspirational

  • 1. memorize 11 scripture passages (one for every quarter) {behind}
  • 2. finish Dave Ramsey’s recommended reading list
  • 3. make another list to start after this one
  • 4. put quote collection online and add to it. {in progress}

Health/Fitness/Beauty

  • 5. get David’s teeth fixed {need to schedule while we are here in Costa Rica}
  • 6. maintain marriage weight {in progress}

Travel

  • 7. go back to Costa Rica at least once for a good 3 months again {yay! we’re here!}
  • 8. make 8 road trips

Crafty

  • 9. modpodge end tables
  • 10. modpodge lamp shade
  • 11. make a prayer board
  • 12. make container magnets
  • 13. make a button curtain
  • 14. make pattern/magnet clothespins
  • 15. make picture frame tray or vanity tray

Food

  • 16. set up rotating menu system {started – utilizing one here in Costa Rica}
  • 17. make raised bed gardens
  • 18. try a new recipe every month {I think we’re sticking with this – I need to check exactly}

Business

  • 19. read and report on 8 business books
  • 20. develop color art line {in progress}
  • 21. develop blank canvas card line {definitely in progress :) over here}
  • 22. get backup service going
  • 23. get self-service sites set up {in progress}
  • 24. develop WIWHTY {in progress}
  • 25. enter 2 design competitions
  • 26. do 1 blog giveaway/month {working on it, we’ll catch up later – 2 down}
  • 27. start developing apps {in progress}
  • 28. start developing plugins
  • 29. start developing themes
  • 30. sell stock photography {in progress}
  • 31. practice photography every week {in progress}

Hobbies/Skills

  • 32. take dance classes together {should be doing this now…}
  • 33. write a book {in progress}
  • 34. do a 365 day photo challenge – doesn’t have to be successive days :)

Family

  • 35. go to a marriage conference or retreat
  • 36. go over marriage conversation papers every 4 months {we’re due for this}
  • 37. go over relationship papers with kids every 4 months {we’re due for this}
  • 38. make 5 “about me” pages per kid {Maverick’s is due, Maeve’s will be next month}
  • 39. organize and spruce up monthaversary journal {in progress}
  • 40. create a better journal of kid funnies
  • 41. finish our wills (oy)
  • 42. family art project once a month
  • 43. have family dance party at least once a week {we haven’t done too well on this yet}
  • 44. read through 2 classic books together
  • 45. go to a library story hour
  • 46. go to a zoo, amusement park, or kids’ museum
  • 47. have a family water fight
  • 48. all sleep out in the back yard
  • 49. go on another midnight adventure
  • 50. dye easter eggs
  • 51. make soft pretzels
  • 52. try letterboxing
  • 53. make a gingerbread house {check}
  • 54. do a picture story/theme/whatever
  • 55. do a make/give activity (cookies, etc.)
  • 56. all sleep in a blanket fort
  • 57. have a breakfast (sunrise?) picnic
  • 58. film a family story video
  • 59. watch a movie outside
  • 60. go mini-golfing
  • 61. go bowling
  • 62. family fun activity TBD
  • 63. family fun activity TBD
  • 64. family fun activity TBD
  • 65. family fun activity TBD
  • 66. family fun activity TBD
  • 67. family fun activity TBD
  • 68. family fun activity TBD
  • 69. family fun activity TBD
  • 70. family fun activity TBD
  • 71. family fun activity TBD
  • 72. family fun activity TBD
  • 73. family fun activity TBD
  • 74. family fun activity TBD
  • 75. family fun activity TBD
  • 76. family fun activity TBD
  • 77. family fun activity TBD

Music/Art/Education

  • 78. make 10 mixed media collages
  • 79. go to a worship conference
  • 80. go to a maroon 5/adam levine concert
  • 81. write 2 songs
  • 82. get the kids started in music education

Organization

  • 83. go through old pictures and scan
  • 84. get old VHS transferred to digital
  • 85. figure out picture/file organization/archive system
  • 86. add birthdays and such to online contacts
  • 87. sort design resources

Finances

  • 88. settle the madness once and for all!!!
  • 89. buy a {real} house or building with cash or maybe another trailer/land

Lifestyle

  • 90. sort through shed and continue toward minimalism {check! but also a continual thing}
  • 91. finish trailer landscaping

Missional

  • 92. get LTM team set up {in progress}
  • 93. begin LTM development {check!}
  • 94. make “blessings bags”
  • 95. fast/pray 1 day/month {on track}
  • 96. send a message in a bottle
  • 97. leave a note in a library book
  • 98. send off a note on a balloon
  • 99. send 2 care packages

Miscellaneous

  • 100. get matching tattoos
  • 101. complement 1 stranger/month {behind}

as you can see, we definitely still have work to do, but we do have some time left. if you haven’t done something like this, or at least have longer term goals you are working towards, I’d highly recommend it!

——-

hungry? one more day to win a free pizza from Papa John’s :)

Comments { 4 }

the right song gives your heart wings…

By on November 28, 2011 in God and stuff, Motivational, ♬ music & art ✎

that is the way I experience real music, anyway.

do you ever dance inside your head? there have been quite a few situations where I was not able to express myself the way my heart wanted to and so I discovered that I really can dance and soar inside my mind =)
it is only probably half as fulfilling, though.

this first song has been our theme song for a while now.

and this is one of the other worship songs we’ve had on repeat this year (besides these) and are finally doing at our church =)

 

amen and amen and AMEN!!!

we appreciate when we can actually get behind a worship song.
christian radio in general is abhorrent to us…
like trying to take a bite of decadent chocolate torte while dreaming and therefore getting a mouthful of air.
and we connect so much more deeply in general with secular music
because it tends to be much more raw and real.

what songs are you being inspired by these days?

Comments { 0 }