Daring to Dream Because I Don't Have to be Perfect

Dreams and perfectionism. You might think those two would be a good combination. In your dreams everything is perfect, right? Well, in my case dreams and perfectionism don't get along quite so nicely. You see, I get grand dreams of things I would like to try or would like to accomplish and my perfectionist tendencies hold me back. What if if doesn't work? What would others think of me? What if...I FAIL? So often my dreams have been crushed or at least set aside in the name of fear. But what if I could dare to dream and remember that I don't have to be perfect? Well, I may now be in possession of a couple great little reminders.

Remember my post about (in)courage's inRL "un-conference" that's coming up in April? (By the way-there is still time to join me!) Well, co-founder of (in)courage and author, Holley Gerth, and Dayspring (the Christian subsidiary of Hallmark) have teamed up to bring us an amazing new line of products inspired by her most recently released book, You're Already Amazing.

Thanks to Dayspring & (in)courage, I am blessed to be one of the lucky ladies reviewing a couple items as part of the March (in)spired deals.

I recently received the Perfectly Loved Journal and the Dream Canvas Wrapped Block.

The journal is bound in soft fabric in a lovely shade of light blue and the cover verse is a beautiful reminder that we are loved by the One who truly matters and loves us like no other regardless of our imperfections. "She didn't have to be perfect because she was perfectly loved."

I can't wait to start using the journal to leave my insecurities and imperfections behind on the pages as well as to document my blessings and dreams.

Which brings me to the "Dream" block. This beautiful blue canvas wrapped block showcases a bird flying free from its open cage and the words, "Dare to make that difference, take that step, follow that dream" and the scripture verse, "All things are possible with God".

May I remember to keep dreaming and to know that I CAN make a difference, take that first (sometimes difficult) step and follow my dreams. I just need to release myself from the "cage" of fear and fly free.

Be sure to head on over to Dayspring and do a little shopping. I think you will be as blessed by their products as I have been!

Sunshine On a Cloudy Day: Nourishment Coming My Way

I am a faithful follower of some blogs but seldom comment. I guess I never quite no what to say or just feel kind of odd since I don't know the person in real life, etc. For some reason, though, when there's a contest involved I love to chime in for my chance to win. I know it's not right. Call me selfish! I should comment more often when there's nothing in it for me. Anyway, although I have a thing about entering giveaways I hardly ever (more like never) win anything. At times it seems like the random number generator has it in for me. Except of course on the day I was summoned to jury duty a couple years ago and I said, "No sweat...I never win a drawing." Well...guess who's number got picked during the first round of the selection process? You guessed it. Thankfully after HOURS and question after question, I finally made it out without serving on a less than desirable case.

Back to the real point here. A week or so ago, one of my favorite's, Angie Smith wrote a post about her friend's business, Nourish Organics, and asked readers to comment with their favorite body product for a chance to win some "nourishment".

So, I posted my little old comment about my love for Burt's Bees lip products and Crabtree & Evelyn hand lotions and was entered in the contest. For once I was all about proclaiming my love for a couple of my all time favorites rather than really trying to win anything.

Fast forward a few days. I was smack dab in the middle of "one of those weeks". You know what I'm referring to. It was now Tuesday but I was convinced that somehow the calendar had gotten changed, I'd forgotten to turn the page in my planner, technology such as my smartphone and laptop were freaking out and had the wrong day. Surely I was exhausted enough that it had to be close to the weekend. Sorry! Truly it was only Tuesday. So I plugged on.

By Thursday when I woke, I was weary. I was tired out, worn down and perhaps facing my mid-winter slump. It was cold and dreary and mixed precipitation was falling threatening to drown out the last bit of my joy. It just was not a pretty day in any aspect.

I went through the morning routine wishing that I could stay in my fuzzy bathrobe or climb out the other side of the bed and it'd be a sunny spring day or something. Going through the motions, I opened my e-mail inbox expecting the usual "nothingness" that I often encounter. But, there it was! Sunshine on a gloomy day had arrived! Just not exactly in the form I had wished for.

I had received word that I HAD WON THE GIVEAWAY on Angie's blog. I could hardly believe what I was reading. I never win...surely I was seeing things. So I read the e-mail again. Then I went to her blog and there was my name! I could hardly contain my excitement. Sweet Orange products are on their way to my house as I type. So perhaps someone better warn the postal carrier that I will be stalking her in the near future! (In an excited for my package to be delivered way. Not a creepy way!)

I can't wait for the products to arrive and to try them out. I'll definitely let you know my opinion but I'm sure I am going to love them!

I am so thankful for the little ray of sunshine on a cloudy day! I hope you are all well and taking the time to find the little bursts of light in your life!

Get Real with the inRL Conference

I am thrilled that this April I will be hosting the inRL (In Real Life) Conference. What makes it even more exciting is that women all over the world are able to attend this conference with no trouble and no travel.

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to finally have a conference that I can attend. With inRL there is no financial strain (registration is just $10), no packing, no need for gps or an airplane ticket, no need to worry what everyone else will be wearing or the fear of not "fitting in". It's a come as you are party...right where you are! So get real and join me for inRL this spring!

Stop by the inRL site for information, check out the promo video and watch for more details here about how you can join me April 27 and 28 at my host site for some encouragement and fun.

Rocking My World...

As you can imagine my blog hiatus has been brought on by the chaos of life! The holiday season was wonderful as usual. One of the big excuses for my disappearance, I have been sharing some of my days with a sweet little baby girl (babysitting for a relative). She is just a little joy and I love it, but I have to admit it is tiring (especially those days that consist mostly of redirecting her from the dog food bowl and other forbidden spots) and I can't believe how much I had forgotten not having a baby in the house for so long. It's kinda been rocking my world. Which brings me to the real fun and real "rocking time"...

Saturday we hosted Emily's 11th (yes...11th! How did that happen?!?) birthday party here at the house. Backstory: Ben's grandfather owned a soda fountain/sweet shop in town way back when. So for Emily's birthday we recreated a little of it with a 50s theme party/the Erway Sweet Shop complete with penny candy, ice cream & soda floats and a little bit of rocking to the oldies!

Let me just tell you that having 10 5th graders in my living room all at one time...well, it ROCKED my world! It was the perfect blend of FUN and EXHAUSTING!

After a low key day on Sunday, we're back to business today and headed out to dinner tonight with the birthday girl and tomorrow evening (her actual birthday) will be spent at home with snuggles and homemade cake!

Here's a couple quick highlights of Saturday's festivities:

Virtual Coffee

Another fun link up. This time it's Virtual Coffee with Lucky Number 13.

If we were really having coffee together on this autumn morning, I would ask you to meet me at a cute cafe so we could chat over a Pumpkin Spice Latte.  But since there isn't really any great cafes nearby, I didn't get a chance to invite you and I am waiting for the little 6 month old sweetie pie that I am babysitting, I am drinking my Folger's coffee just plain black in a quiet (for the moment) house.

Back to the what if...

We're sitting in comfy chairs at the cafe with the amazing aroma of fall wafting from my cup as I sip my Pumpkin Spice Latte and tell you that:

Emily is doing amazing in the 5th grade. I think the transition to Intermediate School was most likely more difficult for mama than it was her. She's made new friends, is getting good grades and is happy.

That as I type this our furry baby that we adopted this summer is walking on my keyboard purring up a storm. "Daisy" the kitten has brought so much love, laughter (and mischief) into our house over the last couple months.

I'd tell you how today is my 14th Wedding Anniversary and reminisce about the special day that I said "I do" to the love of my life, how bummed I am that hubby has to work both his jobs and is gone from 5:30am-8:30pm, but that i am excited for the date day we have planned for Saturday.

I'd tell you how I'm looking forward to baking a cake with my girl to celebrate Nana's (my mom's) birthday tomorrow.

And hopefully I'd be a great friend and I'd sit and listen to whatever you had to tell me!