Mini Chalkboard Trays!
Lovely Wire Coil Bracelet
Lots of earrings!
Be sure to head on over to the Heart Felt Esty site to check everything out! More items will be added hopefully daily this week. It's nice to be back!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Back in Business!
Finally! I found some inspiration as well as time to act it out! Made some cool things recently and actually put them in my Etsy shop! Much more is to come, but here is a sneaky peeky...
Mini Chalkboard Trays!
Lovely Wire Coil Bracelet
Lots of earrings!
Be sure to head on over to the Heart Felt Esty site to check everything out! More items will be added hopefully daily this week. It's nice to be back!
Mini Chalkboard Trays!
Lovely Wire Coil Bracelet
Lots of earrings!
Be sure to head on over to the Heart Felt Esty site to check everything out! More items will be added hopefully daily this week. It's nice to be back!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Bye Bye Dreadlocks
Some of you may be wondering why I decided to cut off my dreadlocks. Not that I want to make a big deal about my hair... because that's just the thing I'm trying to embrace, the fact that it is just hair :-)
I went from loving dreadlocks, and the fact that I felt beautiful with them even though many people thought dreadlocks as not very attractive... to not feeling very beautiful anymore, but feeling like I HAD to keep them because other people thought they were cool. I don't know if that really makes sense to you... but it totally did for me. Therefore... time to cut.
Anyway, I'm embracing the fact that it's just hair. It will grow back and I definitely do plan on getting dreads again in the future! Me deciding to cut them off had nothing at all to do with the fact that we're having a baby soon. I'm not trying to seem more adult/motherly/grown up by getting rid of the dreadlocks... I don't buy into that crap, quite honestly. I'm just trying to focus on my needs and what makes me feel most beautiful, free and confident.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Falling into place
I was telling Ryan the other day about how I have been feeling so much more confident in my ability to deliver this baby. Seeing how this baby inside of me is growing and developing perfectly and totally naturally has given me this new found confidence in my body and it's crazy cool abilities!
We had my 20 week ultrasound a couple weeks ago and were so thrilled to see that our baby BOY (yyyaaaayyyy wooohoooo!!!!!) is totally healthy and developing wonderfully and on track! I'm very low risk and am doing great as far as health wise, so Ryan and I have seriously been weighing our delivery options (and thankfully we now live in a place that has MANY amazing options!). I went from check ups at a normal OB office in Illinois where everything exciting turned into clinical routine, to a great midwife office here in Napa (who works through the local hospital) where check ups were exciting and I felt warm and welcomed.
Ryan and I feel comfortable there with the midwife office, but were still holding out for one other option. In Santa Rosa (about an hour away from us) there is a free standing birth center that I have been looking into for a few months. When my midwife here in Napa asked me last week if I had decided where we want to deliver the baby, I told her that we were still waiting to see the birthing center. She was so encouraging and even excited about me possibly delivering the baby there! She said she is very familiar with the center, knows and respects the owner/ head midwife, and thought that would be a great place for me! Ryan and I were almost surprised with with her lack of concern- but also thrilled and even more excited to go check out the place! Last Monday I went with my aunt (She delivered one of her children at the same center) to go on a tour of the center. Unfortunately Ryan had to stay behind to work, but I promised we would talk everything out once I got home before any decisions were made. And thankfully I have a a crazy amazing and supportive husband who value the same things in birth that I do and totally trusts my instincts and judgment. Love him. Anyway... thankfully the owner/ head midwife was free so she took us on the tour and I got to speak with her about many different things. Long story short, it was amazing and everything I had hoped it would be! We have yet to officially make the switch, but Ryan and I both feel like this would be a great place for us to deliver our son! Ah, it's so exciting!
We are so blessed to live in a state that allows birth centers to exist and operate, and even more blessed to be so close to one (yes, an hour away is super close, especially considering how far some mamas are willing to drive to be able to go to a birthing center!). Thank you God!
And now for the fun little pregnancy update questionnaire thing :-)
Overall Emotion last month? Peace with where we are, stress over starting a new job, and most of all...thankful for a healthy BOY!!!
Maternity clothes? Sometimes, but not usually. Still wearing my normal jeans with the rubber band trick to keep them comfortable!
Sleep: Terrible. I'm SO restless and always uncomfortable. Midwife OK'd melatonin to help with falling asleep- and that aspect has been better.... but I feel like I spend more of my time changing positions and rolling around at night than sleeping. Sucks.
Best moment this month: Finding out were are having a SON! (He was very proud of his boy parts and the technician was 100% sure it's a boy haha!)
Movement: oooohhhhhhh man YES! He is so active! I can feel him all the time and I can even feel him from the outside with my hand when he's moving around! Ryan has felt him many times too! And just this evening we could SEE the movement. His little knees and elbows poking up- so amazing!
Food cravings: Pizza and fresh tomatoes. ooooo and those tacos from the taco truck that comes to Yountville from time to time!
Have you started to show yet: Yep! Still not a whole lot though.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Looking forward to: Starting to see my midwife at the birthing center! Taking control of my weight gain.
One thing I did well this month? I walk all the time now that we live in the most beautiful location in the world :-) And our pup doesnt have a yard to be loose in, so we're always talking him out on walks. I've been great at taking all my daily vitamins (prenatal, calcium+vitamin D, fish oil, sometimes B12 and melatonin at night). I have been drinking at least one cup a day of my pregnancy tea, and I have been trying to go to bed early so I can get as much sleep as I can.
Protein intake this month: Good
Book Currently reading: The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Sheila Kitzinger (one of the books I borrowed from the birthing center on Monday- I'm excited to read more from their library!).
We had my 20 week ultrasound a couple weeks ago and were so thrilled to see that our baby BOY (yyyaaaayyyy wooohoooo!!!!!) is totally healthy and developing wonderfully and on track! I'm very low risk and am doing great as far as health wise, so Ryan and I have seriously been weighing our delivery options (and thankfully we now live in a place that has MANY amazing options!). I went from check ups at a normal OB office in Illinois where everything exciting turned into clinical routine, to a great midwife office here in Napa (who works through the local hospital) where check ups were exciting and I felt warm and welcomed.
Ryan and I feel comfortable there with the midwife office, but were still holding out for one other option. In Santa Rosa (about an hour away from us) there is a free standing birth center that I have been looking into for a few months. When my midwife here in Napa asked me last week if I had decided where we want to deliver the baby, I told her that we were still waiting to see the birthing center. She was so encouraging and even excited about me possibly delivering the baby there! She said she is very familiar with the center, knows and respects the owner/ head midwife, and thought that would be a great place for me! Ryan and I were almost surprised with with her lack of concern- but also thrilled and even more excited to go check out the place! Last Monday I went with my aunt (She delivered one of her children at the same center) to go on a tour of the center. Unfortunately Ryan had to stay behind to work, but I promised we would talk everything out once I got home before any decisions were made. And thankfully I have a a crazy amazing and supportive husband who value the same things in birth that I do and totally trusts my instincts and judgment. Love him. Anyway... thankfully the owner/ head midwife was free so she took us on the tour and I got to speak with her about many different things. Long story short, it was amazing and everything I had hoped it would be! We have yet to officially make the switch, but Ryan and I both feel like this would be a great place for us to deliver our son! Ah, it's so exciting!
We are so blessed to live in a state that allows birth centers to exist and operate, and even more blessed to be so close to one (yes, an hour away is super close, especially considering how far some mamas are willing to drive to be able to go to a birthing center!). Thank you God!
And now for the fun little pregnancy update questionnaire thing :-)
How
far along? 22 weeks, 2 days
Overall Emotion last month? Peace with where we are, stress over starting a new job, and most of all...thankful for a healthy BOY!!!
Maternity clothes? Sometimes, but not usually. Still wearing my normal jeans with the rubber band trick to keep them comfortable!
Sleep: Terrible. I'm SO restless and always uncomfortable. Midwife OK'd melatonin to help with falling asleep- and that aspect has been better.... but I feel like I spend more of my time changing positions and rolling around at night than sleeping. Sucks.
Best moment this month: Finding out were are having a SON! (He was very proud of his boy parts and the technician was 100% sure it's a boy haha!)
Weight
Gain: Yikes. ehhhhh like +16 pounds. Hoping to slow down on the gaining!
Movement: oooohhhhhhh man YES! He is so active! I can feel him all the time and I can even feel him from the outside with my hand when he's moving around! Ryan has felt him many times too! And just this evening we could SEE the movement. His little knees and elbows poking up- so amazing!
Food cravings: Pizza and fresh tomatoes. ooooo and those tacos from the taco truck that comes to Yountville from time to time!
Anything
making you queasy or sick: Nope! I'm feeling great!
Have you started to show yet: Yep! Still not a whole lot though.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Looking forward to: Starting to see my midwife at the birthing center! Taking control of my weight gain.
One thing I did well this month? I walk all the time now that we live in the most beautiful location in the world :-) And our pup doesnt have a yard to be loose in, so we're always talking him out on walks. I've been great at taking all my daily vitamins (prenatal, calcium+vitamin D, fish oil, sometimes B12 and melatonin at night). I have been drinking at least one cup a day of my pregnancy tea, and I have been trying to go to bed early so I can get as much sleep as I can.
Protein intake this month: Good
Book Currently reading: The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Sheila Kitzinger (one of the books I borrowed from the birthing center on Monday- I'm excited to read more from their library!).
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Pregnancy Update!
 |
| Old picture, I was 8 weeks along! |
Well, maybe it's a bit of an announcement as well. Most everyone that I know has already heard the news.... but I have yet to do any blogging on the topic! Crazy! Anyway, I'm 4 months along today!!! Time sure does fly when you're.... feeling like crap(?) Anywhooo, I stole this pregnancy update thing from my friend Abby's blog. Thought it was cute, so here we go!
How
far along? 16 weeks!
Overall Emotion last month? Anxious to finally start
showing, excited and happy that people finally know the news!
Maternity
clothes? Not yet! Think I'm getting there though!
Sleep: Meh. Have a bit of a hard
time sleeping at night. I have freaky crazy vivid dreams and I wake up easily.
Luckily, I have had to get up less often in the middle of the night to pee!
Best moment this month: Hearing
the heart beat!
Weight
Gain: Our scale broke a little while ago, but I think about +10 pounds
Movement:
Not that I can feel yet!
Food
cravings: Vinegar!!!! Olives, banana peppers, balsamic vinegar dressing,
pickles, pickle flavored chips, salt and vinegar chips.
Anything
making you queasy or sick: not really. Not at the moment anyway.
Have
you started to show yet: yes, finally! I look more like I have a beer
belly than a baby belly though :-)
Wedding
rings on or off? on
Looking forward to:
My shower on Saturday!!! (Moving to CA in a couple weeks, so my amazing Mother
In Law is throwing me an early baby shower here in IL!)
One thing I did well this month?
Did a good amount of walking, though I really need to do more! One thing I can work on this
month? Get more protein in my diet, eat betting in
general, and making sure I take care of myself during the road trip and move.
Protein
intake this month: I've been doing ok, but I need to do better!
Book Currently reading: Ina
May's Guide to Childbirth. This book is soooooo amazing!!! Thank you So much
Abby for getting it for me!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Yes, it's actually soap...
You cannot believe how many times I have found myself saying that to people looking at my felted soaps. Since there seems to be so much confusion, awe and wonder when it comes to these "handmade felted soaps"... let me fill you in on whats really going on there:
1. I make the soap. I'm too scared to actually work with the lye myself (I have had a couple containers of it for about 3 years now... still too scared). So instead, I go to Hobby Lobby and buy the glycerin soap base. Perfect. Painful Fight Club incident successfully diverted :-)
This is everything that goes into the soap itself-
We have all of the oils that our skin needs and wants so badly!
We also have our fragrances! I use some of these fragrance oils, but sometimes also use essential oils such as tea tree, peppermint, and lavender to scent the soaps.
And here is a picture of the pre-melted glycerin, all chopped up and ready to be melted and mixed with the oils and scents!
I used to melt the glycerin and everything my microwaving, but Now I prefer to do it on the stovetop in an old sauce pan.
After everything is melted together, I let it cool a bit and then pour the soap into the molds....
(also... If I'm making Guinness soap, I add flat Guinness to the soap along with the oils and fragrances) I usually let the soap harden over night in the molds and then pop em out so that I can get felting!
Ok- this is the part that I don't have pictures for unfortunately. :-( Alllthougghhh.... This video shows you pretty much exactly what I do!
And there you have it! Handmade felted soap! I'm totally smitten with them- I love the process and idea of a washcloth and soap in one! So yes, it really is soap! And yes, you really can use it! And yes, it really is that awesome!
1. I make the soap. I'm too scared to actually work with the lye myself (I have had a couple containers of it for about 3 years now... still too scared). So instead, I go to Hobby Lobby and buy the glycerin soap base. Perfect. Painful Fight Club incident successfully diverted :-)
This is everything that goes into the soap itself-
We have all of the oils that our skin needs and wants so badly!
We also have our fragrances! I use some of these fragrance oils, but sometimes also use essential oils such as tea tree, peppermint, and lavender to scent the soaps.
And here is a picture of the pre-melted glycerin, all chopped up and ready to be melted and mixed with the oils and scents!
I used to melt the glycerin and everything my microwaving, but Now I prefer to do it on the stovetop in an old sauce pan.
After everything is melted together, I let it cool a bit and then pour the soap into the molds....
(also... If I'm making Guinness soap, I add flat Guinness to the soap along with the oils and fragrances) I usually let the soap harden over night in the molds and then pop em out so that I can get felting!
Ok- this is the part that I don't have pictures for unfortunately. :-( Alllthougghhh.... This video shows you pretty much exactly what I do!
And there you have it! Handmade felted soap! I'm totally smitten with them- I love the process and idea of a washcloth and soap in one! So yes, it really is soap! And yes, you really can use it! And yes, it really is that awesome!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Re-Purposed Old Metal Trays
I did something new this week :-)
I was at a second hand store the other day and found a ton of old metal trays and decided to go all crafty on them.
I had seen on a blog that I follow as well as on Pinterest some cool uses for re-purposed metal trays, so I decided to try my hand at some of my own interpretations!
I think my favorite projects were these little mini trays that I found in a pack of 6. I have all the other ones pained in different colors, but have yet to take pictures yet due to the fact that I am still in the pimping out process with these little guys.
What do you think? So, basically all I did was this:
- Paint the tray with desired color (I used acrilic pains that I had.... but I would just spray pain in the future)
- Spray a gloss over the painted parts of the tray
- Brush on the chalkboard paint over the desired area of the tray. (After the paint has dried.. do a couple other coats of the chalkboard paint)
And that's it people! As I said, I'm still in the process of pimping all the trays out... so stay tuned to see whats all in store for these little guys!
Much love and Happy St. Patty's Day yall! xoxo elyse
Saturday, March 3, 2012
March
Why I am super excited about this beautiful month of March--
1. Fun spring and St. Patrick's Day crafts for my kiddos at the daycare:
2. We are hoping to be able to see our favorite band Gungor play live this month! We saw then last November while they were here in Springfield, and really enjoyed being able to worship with them and meet they whole band! We even had a few beers with most of the band members after the show :-) One of the best evenings of my life. The main guy of the band, Michael Gungor, has a brother who also has a fantastic band called The Brilliance who is on tour with Gungor right now- hoping to see both bands!!
Please check out Gungor's blog to read some of Micheal's posts and to find a show near you!
Also- follow them on Twitter (@gungormusic) and "like" them on Facebook! They were nominated for TWO Grammy's last month! They're awesome :-)
3. HUNGER GAMES!!!!!! The movie to the first book comes out this month!!! I've been waiting patiently for almost a year!!!! We have tickets to the first midnight showing the Thursday night that it comes out. We cannot wait!!! I may or not be dressed up as a certain "girl on fire" hehehehe. nerd- yes, I know I am :-)
So anyway- Thats about it as far as March goes. I'm so excited to go through this awesome month!!! Do any of you have fun plans for this month!?!
1. Fun spring and St. Patrick's Day crafts for my kiddos at the daycare:
 | |||||
| From Pinterest. http://pinterest.com/pin/279856564314509622/ |
 |
| From Pinterest. http://pinterest.com/pin/279856564314581966/ |
 |
| Ryan and I with Michael and Josh from Gungor |
 | |||
| Me with the ever sweet, talented and lovely Lisa Gungor |
Please check out Gungor's blog to read some of Micheal's posts and to find a show near you!
Also- follow them on Twitter (@gungormusic) and "like" them on Facebook! They were nominated for TWO Grammy's last month! They're awesome :-)
3. HUNGER GAMES!!!!!! The movie to the first book comes out this month!!! I've been waiting patiently for almost a year!!!! We have tickets to the first midnight showing the Thursday night that it comes out. We cannot wait!!! I may or not be dressed up as a certain "girl on fire" hehehehe. nerd- yes, I know I am :-)
4. St. Patrick's Day shenanigans with some of our dearest bestest friends in our little "monthly get together" group that we have with 3 other married couples. Love these people so. much.
 |
We are missing Abby and Tim in this picture :-( Hope you can make it this month!!! |
5. And fiinnalllyyyy..... We leave for GERMANY the last day of March!! We're only going to be there for a very short while (something like a week) for KontaktMission's annual retreat for all of the missionaries and workers within the organization. We had the pleasure of being able to attend last years retreat as well- amazing!! We are sooo excited to be able to go again this year! It's always so refreshing, exciting, encouraging and uplifting to be able to spend almost a whole week with other people who share the same passions, hardships and worldview as you. And there are so many people there with sooooo much experience to learn from! I'm so excited for the conversations yet to be had, tears yet to be shed and the stories to be told at this years retreat! Here are some pictures from last years event-
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Group hike |
 |
Fun times catching up with dear old friends! This is Heather- another American missionary to Germany. We met in 2007 on a KontaktMission short term mission trip! We were roommates! |
The worship band for the retreat! Can you see Ryan back there on the drums?!?! He'll be playing again this year for the band :-) I love singing worship songs in German! Cant wait! |
 |
How we spend a lot of our time during the retreat. It's quite exhausting really :-) All of the headphones that you see are how the people who dont know German are able to understand the speaker :-) Lots of different translations going on! It's crazy!!! |
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Here is a picture of last years speaker :-) He was awesome. |
So anyway- Thats about it as far as March goes. I'm so excited to go through this awesome month!!! Do any of you have fun plans for this month!?!
ps- If you would like more info on our trip to Germany at the end of this month (or any information on our journey toward becoming full-time church planters in Germany in general) please email me at heartfelt.accessories@gmail.com We are currently looking for churches and/or individuals who would be able and willing to partner with us both prayerfully and financially so that we are able to make this trip a reality! Please let me know if you are interested!
Blessings to you all!
xoxo elyse
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