Res • cue /'reskyōō/ verb - to find, save, recover; to set free from, deliver, to liberate; 

Well there she is...in all of her glory.
RESCUE... the word (and symbol +) I've chosen for 2019.

Yep.
I plan to rescue ME...
which makes me the rescuer AND the rescuee.

If you remember, last year I chose the word "FREE".
Even a year ago I had this underlying desire to "rediscover, unbury and reconnect
with the girl I once was." The primary emphasis being on my health.

Ironically, I even used the word "rescue" a year ago when I said, "I am running fiercely to meet her; to grab her hand and continue the journey together...I'm sprinting through the wide open prairie to wear she is standing and has been waiting for me to return. And I know when I reach her...I will not have rescued her...she will have rescued me."

With much disappointment in my heart to have to admit this...she's still waiting for me my friends.

So yeah...I started January feeling so much disappointment because although I made some progress in 2018 with regards to my health, it's not even close to what I envisioned "FREE" to look like or better yet...feel like.

But...I can tell you after spending the entire first month of 2019 "planning, dreaming, diving into what really matters to me this year and especially what steps I need to take to make important things happen" I have definitely felt a shift.

Instead of allowing myself to be stuck in disappointment, I've adopted this mindset I recently wrote during some brainstorming/journaling:

"...maybe what I need to do is surrender to the place I am at right now. Perhaps let go of the unmet expectations and the failures related to my health. And just start where I am at. Let go of what worked or what didn't work and just listen to my body. And start exactly where I am...as ugly or as messy as I believe it to be."

Besides, remember the Reflect + Release post when I said, "We feel all the feels, we reflect on the progress or lack thereof and then...we close the chapter with gratitude."

Today I am grateful for...
- the self-care steps I implemented in 2018.
- the things I learned and tried that did not work well for me.
- the hope and expectation I feel for 2019.
- the renewed commitment to becoming a better version of me.

The word "RESCUE" has a sense of urgency associated with it.
And that's exactly how I'm feeling about tackling what's ahead for me.

I'm on a "Rescue Mission" my friends...a "Search + Rescue" specifically.
Aside from writing the rescue symbol (+) on my wrist every morning as a part of my new morning routine, I've been using some other tools to help me carry out my rescue plan this year. I'm excited to be sharing those with you soon.

What's your word for 2019? I'd love to know what's inspiring you and what goals you are looking to reach this year!!

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.
Subscribe here to have new blog posts delivered right to your inbox.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I've got about 50 Hershey products to photograph and style and I'm definitely feeling a tremendous
amount of pressure to meet a January 8th deadline. (it's a working weekend for me my friends).

Good news is...I vowed "no sugar" in January despite the daily temptations of the chocolate I'm surrounded by...and I DID it!! I stuck to my promise.  It's amazing how powerful the "+" symbol I've been writing on my wrist has been. *wink*

LIFE | Do You See What I See

Photo taken by Lisa Davis Fleihman

Man oh man oh man!
Every time I'm all geared up for sharing + blogging these days, I feel like I'm surrounded by crises that cause me to pause and prevent me from posting.

First it was Harvey in Houston.
Then Irma in my home state of Florida.
The earthquake in Mexico - the 2nd one in two weeks!
And Hurricane Maria hitting Puerto Rico right now.
And I intentionally refrained from using adjectives because every single event has been devastating. 
That's not even touching on the fires in the Northwest and so many other natural disasters going on simultaneously.

So....I keep putting blogging off to the side...
feeling awkward and inappropriate.
Guilt stops me from talking about fun things when so much suffering is occurring around me.

I have to shamefully admit I've even found myself on several occasions disappointed in SMF's aka social media friends, who continue their regularly scheduled posting, not even so much as uttering a word of concern for the many lives being changed, wrecked and even taken.

I think it's the similar feelings associated with losing someone. It's almost appalling and heart wrenching to see the world continue on as normal...not even a slight pause...when your world has come to a complete standstill.

BUT...
Here's where the growth and learning come into play.
Once again, I have realized the importance of normalcy and "business as usual" - as heartless as it may seem. 
It's crucial to our survival to not miss a beat.
It's imperative for the ones that are struggling to watch others move forward.
There's a healing that occurs. And though it's painful, I truly believe it to be part of His plan.

So, today I have had a change of heart.
I think I'm realizing, again, there is never going to be a perfect time to share things for there is and always will be something horrific going on in the world.

My blog is my safe place - and hopefully a safe place for you as well.
It's the place I come to when I want to tune out the world.
It's a place for me to laugh...and cry... and frankly everything in between.
My blog is a part of me; therefore it's a part of the world.
Today, because I am able, I choose to be the place of normalcy, the "business as usual".
I choose to be the escape.
However, I will also choose to pray.

Having said that, turn your eyes back to the photo at the beginning of the post - a photo taken just this morning by a sweet Florida friend on Facebook. In her own words, "Do you see what I see in the bright sunlight coming through the trees?"

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Hurricane Irma punched our state right in the face. We were without power for 5 days here in Florida but our area faired considerably well compared to areas within minutes of us. The Jacksonville and St. Augustine areas, the communities we now call home, endured considerable flooding, power outages and property damage.

The silver lining? Ella, Hamilton and I disappeared for a few days while power was being restored and headed back home to Central Florida to stay with my mom (and Ella stayed with her best friend). I got to surprise my two older girls by showing up at their places of employment and also share dinner and breakfast with them.

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 8 :: Party Inspiration + Ideas

Very excited to be meeting up with a friend today for lunch...
but equally excited to be spending a few minutes this morning with YOU for our weekly "Let's Talk Tuesday".

By the way - you all are blowing me away with your fun questions! I hope you are getting as much out of our "LTT" meet-ups as I am!!

Q: I've been following your blog for what seems like forever and your party ideas are always so clever. They always seem to be "on trend" while always being a little different from the masses. I'm curious about your process for coming up with ideas. I like to plan parties for my kids and I will help on occasion with a baby shower when family or friends ask. It's coming up with the party theme that always has me a little stumped in the beginning. Of course Pinterest is always a great source of inspiration. Is that the same for you? Or do you have a specific approach for figuring it all out? Thanks Jessica. Loving your LTT posts and thankful to have you take time to answer my question. Nancy B.

A: This question really made me think. First of all, this may or may not work for some of you, but I stay away from Pinterest when I'm formulating my ideas for a party because I don't want to be influenced by what's already out there. I really try to create unique party ideas and if the concept isn't new, I at least try to make it my own. That being said, once my theme has been picked and I've got a basic concept and direction, THEN I'll head on over to Pinterest for inspiration.

Funny piece of trivia:  Pinterest didn't even exist when I first started party planning for my kiddos and it wasn't around when I started my blog seven years ago either. *laughing*

Anyway, I'd first have to say that my brain operates from a "theme" perspective - if that even makes sense. I have always felt the most "creative" when I first have a firm foundation or theme to jumpstart from. This applies to organizing a women's luncheon or dinner, decorating my children's rooms, designing a church cookbook, creating a Valentine's Day classroom exchange idea, and of course...hosting and styling a party. Give me a solid theme and that's when my creative ideas kick into high gear! 

Arriving at said theme can come from a number of things:
1. favorite things of the person being celebrated.
2. Pantone's color of the year and seasonal palettes.
3. Cute new party accessories I'd like to use/try.
4. the season in which the party is being held.
5. specific requests from the person being honored.

Let me give you a few specific examples of how the process unfolded for a few of the parties I've hosted over the years...I think this will be the most helpful way to explain my process.

LEMONADE AND SUNSHINE  PARTY

When I hosted the "Lemonade and Sunshine" themed double birthday for Clara and Emalyn SIX YEARS AGO, they were both celebrating milestone birthdays. Clara was crossing over into "teen hood" as she was turning thirteen and Ema was turning double digits for the first time with her tenth birthday.

Clara was smack dab in the middle of adolescence and she was getting really good at giving me attitude about anything and everything and she did NOT want a party. On the other hand, Emalyn was kind of caught in the middle.  She was being heavily influenced listening to her older sister gripe about a birthday party and yet I know she was quietly excited at the thought of getting to celebrate with her older sister...whom she idolized.  (and still does to this day, by the way). *wink*

So, needless to say, I had a little bit of "sweet and sour" going on in our house at the time.  The "Lemonade" portion of the party theme was born out of wanting to represent Clara and her mix of emotions as a brand new teenager, and "Sunshine" was the epitome of everything Ema was as she approached her tenth birthday...a girl with a sweet spirit, big heart and wonderful sense of humor. *grin* Combine the two and you've got a great mix and a darling party theme. Besides that, the theme also allowed me to create something that felt a little more "fancy and grown up" for Clara while still having a whimsical feel for Ema.

CLASSIC RED BALL BIRTHDAY

When I started planning Ella's 2nd birthday, I just went down the list of the things she was excited about at the time. At the top of that list was her infatuation with inflatable balls. Each time we'd be at a store, she immediately gravitated towards those big ball cages that held all of the play balls. She absolutely LOVED them. 

I went with the classic red ball instead of a beach ball theme because Ella has a Fall birthday. Inflatable balls...let alone beach balls...were not easy to come by. Besides that, I liked the simplicity of the color scheme and it made for an adorable invitation and even more adorable dessert table selections! *wink*

BUBBLES BABY SHOWER :: SHE'S ABOUT TO POP

SIX YEARS AGO,  (man time flies), I was approached by a friend who was hosting a baby shower for one of her best friends. She'd already decided she wanted to do a "She's About to Pop" theme and although it was a new-to-me theme at the time, I quickly realized as I began researching, the concept wasn't really all that new. I really like to try to make my party themes original. So, my challenge became to find a way to make this party stand out and be something that hadn't been done before. 

That's when I came up with the idea of making "bubbles" the focus instead of the popular balloons, popcorn and bubble gum concepts I kept seeing everywhere. On top of that, the mom-to-be was very modern and on-trend so I immediately referenced the hot Pantone colors of the season at the time and built the party elements and details around those.

So there you go...just a few examples of the method to my madness with regards to party planning.

I hope you've been inspired and PLEASE...keep sending in your questions!! I love answering them.

By the way...you can find more details about each party mentioned today under the "My Work" tab at the top of the blog. (along with other party ideas and themes). 

RANDOM GIRL TALK

1. Super excited about this new book arriving tomorrow!

2. Newest song added to my playlist - and what Ella is considering using for her talent show music. 

3. Latest crushes on Instagram: Jessica Wasserman and Brittany York

4. My doctor recommended I look into a neti pot after my third visit to her last week. So, while looking at them at my local Health Basket, I left with THIS instead, on the recommendation of one of the employees there. I've been using it on myself as well as Ella since she caught a cold last week too. Anyone else use either? 

5. A friend of mine was telling me about how her sister has tried StitchFix and loves it! Anyone else use an online personal stylist? I'm seriously considering joining. There are a couple of other similar services: Keaton Row, Tog + Porter, Stylit, The Refinery and I'm certain there are more out there.  Here's a helpful article comparing StitchFix, Keaton Row and Tog + Porter - just in case you are interested. 

And if you've tried ANY of them - I'd love to know what you think.

xoxo my friends!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

To this day, the Lemonade and Sunshine party that Clara absolutely wanted nothing to do with ended up being one of my most popular parties - and was even featured in a magazine publication all the way in Italy. 

FREE | Curiosity Crumbs Art Print

As we head into the weekend I wanted to share something with you for those of you who didn't see this on my Instagram feed. (by the way...would love to have you follow me since I post pretty regularly over there).

This art print was inspired by a podcast I listened to on the Jess C. Lively Show with writer, Elizabeth Gilbert. One of the very last things Elizabeth Gilbert said in the podcast was this:

"The curiosity channel is where God sprinkles the breadcrumbs on the great trail to find ourselves."

I loved it so much I decided to create a hand-lettered reminder.
And now I'm sharing it with all of you!!
You can download it for FREE right here!!

I hope you love it!!
Stay curious, friends...and enjoy your weekend!!

xoxo

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Don't laugh...but when I originally posted this on Instagram I spelled curiosity wrong!
I fixed it for you but honestly would have never realized it if a follower had not requested this as an art print!! Which is how it ended up here on the blog! Oops!! *blushing*

SHARE | Believe And It Will Be

I shared this on my Instagram feed last week and had someone ask where she could purchase the art so she could print it out and maybe even use the Heidi Swapp Minc machine to turn it into a gold foil art print. (If you don't have one - let me just say it's pretty amazing)!! There's a mini Minc too!!

Anyway - I thought I'd post it here on the blog as a free printable for anyone else who would love to print it out, frame it, color it, etc.

Download the 6x6 file HERE.

Here's the thought inspiration behind this artwork and what I shared on Instagram:

"I think when it comes to ideas + dreams, your relationship with "belief" is all that may be standing in the way. If you BELIEVE then it will be. (Belief fuels passion, hard work, determination + dedication). On the other hand, if you DOUBT...then "it"...(your idea, your dream) will disappear."

xoxo

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I'm thinking I should start posting a free black and white printable like this on a regular basis. I may include it as a freebie for newsletter subscribers...so if you aren't subscribed yet SIGN UP HERE!
If you love the idea, let me know by leaving a comment that says "Yes, do it!" *wink*

Last Monday before the new school year starts.
Last week before Summer ends. *insert tears*

iNSPiRE | Just Do Your Thing

I am so guilty of over-thinking things.
Maybe you suffer from the same thing?

Well here's my word of advice to myself AND to you...."Just do your thing!"
Or if you prefer a little more sass..."Just do your thang!"

If this message resonates with you...

then print out the free art print I've created and post it somewhere as a reminder!!

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE ART PRINTS NOW

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Right now I'm completely over-thinking the exterior paint choice for our house.
Like seriously obsessing over it.
I'm just going to do my "thang" (or "thing) if you prefer...and make a choice.
Working on the post of house pictures to share with you all!! Promise!!

GIVEAWAY | Keep It Simple Book by Atlanta Bartlett

A photo posted by Jessica Kirkland (@pnpflowers) on Mar 20, 2015 at 6:23am PDT

After posting my April book selection for the PNPF Book Club earlier this week, the publishing company, Ryland, Peters + Small reached out to me yesterday to offer up THREE FREE copies of Keep It Simple to my readers and fans. Yay!!!

With that, although I had intended on NOT opening the book until April 1st - the official "start-reading-the-book-date"- I just HAD to with three free copies up for grabs! The quick lookie was so I could take a few photos of the images from inside the pages. (and yes, I love having that as an excuse for a preview). *wink*

I promise I didn't look TOO closely at the pages although I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of captions that caught my eye as I was flipping through. I have to say with conviction this book is going to provide much more inspiration than I had originally anticipated.

If you are looking for ways to simplify your life and your home decor...you're really going to want this!

Since the giveaway was a last minute idea, I'm hosting the actual giveaway on Instagram to make it quick and simple. I'll be picking a winner at some point this weekend and making the announcement on Monday. That means if you don't have an IG account, you have time to create one...if you want. Here are quick and easy instructions for creating an Instagram account.

If you are wary of Instagram, I have to tell you it's my very favorite social media site.
I've never been a big fan of Facebook and honestly, Twitter,  for me is "okay" but my experience with Instagram has been really positive. I've found it to be a community of very supportive and positive people and I've discovered some incredibly talented people over there that I'm continually inspired by from simply searching different hashtags. (there really is a rhyme and a reason for those things). *wink*

So...if you want to enter the giveaway, head over to my Instagram account and follow the instructions. 

Oh! And Hey!! 
While you are over there you may as well enter to win the 
$500 GIFT CARD to West Elm. Yep! That's right.
I've teamed up with 6 other Instagram friends to make someone's day!!
The giveaway was announced a few days ago and will end on Tuesday, March 24th!
Just one more reason to create an Instagram account!!

Enjoy your weekend friends!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I could really use that West Elm gift card myself... *wink*

For those of you wondering...the new shingles are officially on the roof! (and I love them).
Still trying to decide on paint color and I REALLY need to do a blog post about this whole process so I can keep you guys in the loop. Seriously!!

BOOK CLUB | April's Selection :: Keep It Simple by Atlanta Bartlett

In my search for simplicity not only in my day-to-day life but in my home decor as well, I decided to pick something for the PNPF Book Club for the month of April that ties all of that together in a nice NEW book by Atlanta Bartlett called "Keep It Simple."

The book is SO brand-new /"hot-off-the-presses" that I thought I would have to skip it for April's selection and choose it for May instead because pre-orders on Amazon said the book would be ready on April 5th. BUT...I received notification my book will arrive TOMORROW!!  

That means this is OUR official book for April, friends and I'm excited!!

A brief overview of the book mentions, "Keep It Simple" reveals how to create a happy and relaxed home that looks fabulous and works brilliantly for everyone who lives in it."

I encourage you to flip through the pages of the book before purchasing and make sure this is a selection you feel you'll be inspired by. If you decide it looks like your cup of tea...join me in reading it in April.

I took the liberty of trying to find a couple of images to share with you about the design style of Atlanta Bartlett, the interior stylist and author of this book. I found these pictures on Pinterest since the Atlanta Bartlett website didn't seem to be working very well with regards to images. I made the most of the what seem to be really low-quality images being shared around the world-wide web. But you'll get the idea, I'm sure, as to what her decorating style is. Take a peek...

And here's a little bit of information about the interior stylist herself, as mentioned on her website:

Atlanta Bartlett is an interiors stylist well known for her relaxed, accessible style. Having started her career at Homes & Gardens, she became a successful freelance stylist and has worked for magazines including Elle Decoration, Living etc, House & Garden, Harpers & Queen and Marie Claire, as well as contributing to the launch of Red magazine as the Interiors Editor. Her client list includes high profile names such as Habitat, Laura Ashley, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer and she is the author of the internationally best-selling books The Relaxed Home and At Home with White, Easy Elegance and Pale and Interesting.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I'm looking forward to the inspiration that awaits!
Speaking of which...how are you doing with the PNPF Book Selection for MARCH?
I've tried a couple of recipes out already with great results.
I'll share pictures in the book review and discussion coming up at the end of March.
I hope you are being inspired as well.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
My middle daughter turns 16 on March 16th!! (her golden birthday)
We celebrated with family on Saturday.
I'll be sharing her birthday dessert soon!

In the meantime, we've got new shingles on the roof and it's time to pick an exterior paint color!

I'm having SUCH a hard time deciding.

I've posted some pics on my PNPF Facebook Page but I should totally share some here too so you know what's going on, shouldn't I?

BOOK CLUB | February Discussion :: May You Live a Life You Love

TAKE YOUR LIFE AND LIVE IT WELL

Be kind to yourself. Dream great dreams. Listen to your heart. Celebrate your strengths. Appreciate your talents. 

Delight in your own uniqueness. Find time for joy. 

Give of yourself. Lean into the hard work. 

Seize new opportunities. Find wonder.

MAY YOU LIVE A LIFE YOU LOVE

And that was just the first page, my friends.
What a darling book this was to read for the PNPF Book Club during the month of February!
For those of you who read May You Live a Life You Love, I KNOW without a doubt, you were inspired.

This simple read is just filled with thought-provoking and inspiring quotes.
I found the bright colors and lettering to be invigorating and added even more depth to the inspirational words - simply from the energizing colors. Do you agree?

WHAT WERE TWO OF YOUR FAVORITE PAGES OR QUOTES?
I love every one of the quotes and inspirational thoughts in the book. Narrowing it down to just two wasn't easy but here are my picks:

(1) This one actually came from the back flap of the book cover:
"May you find your life filled with every good thing - epic challenges, deep joy, great accomplishments, and plenty of silliness, patience, courage, and adventure. May you find yourself surprised, humbled, and honored at the gifts that come your way. May you find yourself, every moment of every day, living A LIFE YOU LOVE."

(2) A wonderful reminder to stop taking life so seriously:
May You Cultivate Silliness - "I still listen to instinctual urges. I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind. I never water my garden without soaking myself" - Leo F. Buscaglia
What a wonderful reminder to stop taking life so seriously!!

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR BOOK NOW?
Now that you are done reading the book - and I'm sure many of you actually took the time to read it through multiple times - what will you do with it now?

Will you leave it on display somewhere in your home?
Will you pass it along to someone else who may need the inspiration?

For me, it's just too cute to just stick up on a shelf to collect dust.
I'm going to leave mine out to help usher in Spring and to remind me to read one page every day for ongoing inspiration. I'm hoping my girls will see it and be inspired to pick it up to and flip through the pages.

I've also already given a copy as a gift to Ella's teacher, for Valentine's Day.

I really enjoyed this book and hope you did as well.
Leave your feedback in the comments below! I'd love to hear what you thought and get a gauge as to how our first month of the PNPF Book Club and February's selection impacted your life.

Are you starting March's PNPF Book Club selection with me?
xoxo

KEEPiNG iT REAL
There are going to be some happy Instagram friends who will finally receive the copies of the May You Live a Life You Love book and the sets of matching note cards to go along with it that they won when I hosted the giveaway a couple weeks ago! So sorry for the delay. When I finally got to the post office for boxes - they ended up not being big enough and I've had to go back to find something more suitable. Thanks for your patience as you've been waiting!!

Ella was a bit under-the-weather this weekend but we got her out of the house on Sunday afternoon. She's at home with me today...bored...but resting. *wink*

ART PRINT | Write It On Your Heart

I shared this art print on my Instagram feed a couple of weeks ago.

The accompanying verbiage I posted said - 

"Whatever your dreams, hopes, or wishes...write them on your heart. Reference them often and do something everyday to inch your way closer."

I love that and I thought it ended up so cute I decided to

BOOK CLUB | February Pick :: May You Live A Life You Love

I'm really super excited to announce the very first book we'll be exploring together to kickstart the official PNPF Book Club!!

I went back and forth on which book to choose since I have a whole list of fun books I'm looking forward to diving into with you all.

In the end...choosing something from the beautiful line of Compendium books was really my only option since it's my very favorite company...hands-down!

My pick for this month is perfect too...seeing as how goals and dreams are top o' mind for all of us after ringing in the new year AND because the PNPF Book Club officially begins in the month of February - when all things are centered around love! 

Don't you agree this is such a fitting book to get us started and for us to read together during February??

"May You Live the Life You Love" by M. H. Clark

May You Live a Life You Love is a sweet + simple book with an inspiring thought/quote on each page. It's a really quick read (as in 10 minutes or less) so I'm hoping you'll read through it at least several times before we have our Discussion on February 28th.

If you are confused at this point about why I would select a book for a book club that only takes 10 minutes to read than you missed the original post explaining the inspiration behind the PNPF Book Club and how it differs from your typical book clubs. Be sure to read it.

The idea behind my selection this month is to help add fuel to the fire of our "life dreams".
Whatever goals we have set for 2015...I hope this book will serve as a reminder of how important it is for each of us to be engaged in doing what we love so that we are able to embrace and share our gifts and talents in such a way that we really are living a life we love.  I intend to read carefully through this book once or twice a week during the whole month of February...taking time to think about the words on each page so that they really sink in.  I hope you will too.

Now...with that said...I'm sure you noticed the matching set of May You Live the Life You Love Boxed Note Cards in the photos too. I actually shared all of the cards with you when I posted "A Christmas Story"  a couple of weeks ago. Just in case you want to peek at the whole set.

Well...I have a little surprise for you.
I'm going to pick someone to win a sweet little package that will include a copy of the May You Live the Life You Love book along with the matching set of May You Live a Life You Love Note Cards my kind, generous friends at Compendium sent me AND....

I'm also including your own copy of the inspirational book, Shine, which was the inspiration behind my One Little Word for 2015! Are you excited?

To enter to win simply choose one OR choose all of the options listed on the Rafflecopter app below. More entries = more points = more chances to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will pick and announce a winner on Friday, January 16th so the winner will receive their February pick prior to February 1st.

UPDATE: I made an "oops!" - I failed to send out the email to my subscribers notifying them about the giveaway so I've extended the entry date to Sunday, January 18th at midnight to give them a little more time. Winner will be picked and announced on MONDAY morning!!

Good luck everyone!
I hope you are all excited to get this PNPF Book Club started with me come February.

If you decide you just want to go ahead and get the book you can order May You Live A Life You Love Book so you are ready to start reading on February 1st. (if you are able to resist the temptation and hold off diving into the pages before then).

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I've been without internet service for 5 days.
Finally got it up and running today - thank goodness but I was freaking out  REALLY bummed to not be able to post the Book Club pick on Friday last week as I had originally promised. I'm sure you all were waiting on pins and needles for the announcement so I hope you weren't too disappointed to have to wait. *grinning*  I'm convinced you are now thinking it was worth it. *wink*

iNSPiRE | One Little Word 2015 + A Book :: SHINE

A photo posted by Jessica Kirkland (@pnpflowers) on Dec 12, 2014 at 1:30pm PST

That's my One Little Word for 2015…SHINE!
I posted this photo on Instagram a few weeks ago before even realizing this would be my word for 2015.

I'm excited about it and I have to say…it completely found me.
I'm pretty sure I felt that way about my One Little Word for 2014 too.
BUT…"Shine" actually found it's way to me in the form of this book from Compendium…called SHINE! It literally fell into my lap! *wink*

I LOVED it as soon as I saw the cover and fell madly, deeply in love with it once I started reading through all of the inspirational quotes that fill the pages. Not only are the quotes related to "shining" or "light" or being "brilliant"…the pages themselves "sparkle" with gold and metallics.

I've attempted to photograph some of them to convey the gleam on the pages - they aren't wonderful photos but I'm pretty sure you'll get the picture...

 "She just had a presence, an energy, a sort of light coming from within her"

"To be beautiful means to be yourself." 

"It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light."

"It's a far brighter world because you're in it."

I just LOVE inspirational books like this!

They are a quick read, they're pretty enough to leave out on a coffee table to inspire those that come into your home, (and of course those that live there too),  and they make BEAUTIFUL gifts.

Find out how I intend to make 2015 a beautiful year using my One Little Word, "SHINE" as inspiration!!

If you want the book for yourself you can order Shine by M.H. Clark right now.

OR…you can hold tight and wait for me to announce a giveaway I'll be doing that will include your very own copy!! Woot! Woot!

Happy New Year everyone!!

Here's to a great year ahead…with lots of opportunities for us to SHINE!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I had wanted to share all of the information about my One Little Word pick in one post but truth be told, I feel like I've been trying to write this post all day now and the non-stop interruptions from my sweet family just will NOT allow for anything more than this today. 

I've learned to stop fighting against the current…I'm going with the flow. *wink*

LIFE | Brown Sugar Moments

I seriously don't know how I get anything done lately.
Some days I am angry about it...
Other days I accept it…knowing I'm exactly where I should be.

Most of the time though…I'm in a constant state of juggling.
My juggling act can either be spot on or I'm dropping balls all over the place.

I read something recently about just focusing on one task a time until it is done and then you move on to the next focused task. Sounds easy enough, right?
I mean it even sounds completely logical.
However, I'm seriously doubting that women were wired to perform that way? Or maybe it's just me?

I believe we are either incredibly blessed or incredibly cursed by the fact that we are fantastic multi-taskers. So I guess it just depends on how you look at…

When I'm working...I've got my kids on my brain.
When I'm with my kids...work and deadlines are screaming for my attention.
And in either situation I've got dinner, house work, goals, blogging, deadlines, crafts I want to do, dreams I want to make come true, home decor changes I want to dive into, diy projects I want to tackle and random thoughts about life and people and family and fitness and faith and trials and…and…
all fighting for space in my brain.

Most days, I find myself ready to fight the good fight.
Then there are days like today that I want to kick the boxing gloves under the bed and pull the covers over my head and call "time out" or scream "uncle!"

Some days it feels like I am walking through molasses…
It's exhausting…and sticky…and frustrating…and messy.
Actually, molasses isn't all that appealing to look at either…and it isn't even remotely tasty.

But you know what…
As I was focusing on all of this and how life can feel like we are walking/swimming/sinking/drowning in molasses…
I started thinking about the sweet things that happen through my day too.
And that made me realize the glorious miracle that occurs when we just add a little sugar to all that molasses…
Do you already know?
Molasses + Sugar = Brown Sugar
Miracle!!

This revelation got me thinking a lot about "Brown Sugar Moments".
These would be moments filled with "sweetness" intentionally added or found or appreciated throughout our molasses-filled days/life.
Each of us has "molasses" to walk through…and the molasses is defined differently for each of us.
And guess what? The sugar is different for each of us too.
But regardless…adding the two together will always result in a Brown Sugar Moment.
So…I wanted to share a little bit of MY Brown Sugar Moments with you…

My Brown Sugar comes from the parts of my day when I slow down and put what matters most first and let the rest just fall away.

Like taking time to have picnics with Ella and her favorite stuffed animals…
those are always brown sugar moments for me.

We will carefully prepare for the picnics by selecting her favorite stuffed animals she'd like to have in attendance. We then go through this whole process of dressing each one for the occasion.

Some are adorned with Ear Rings (a ring on each ear)…not earrings. Ella's brilliant idea!

Every single one of them has to have at least one hair accessory…bow, barrette, ribbon, hair tie, headband, etc.

And a beaded necklace…of course.

Some are lucky enough to even get fancy shoes...

Or a cool pair of shades...

And for this particular picnic…Ella surprised me by creating a beautiful centerpiece. 

I just LOVE the presentation and her use of a Kraft Bag as the vase - she's so on trend! *wink*

When I'm fully engaged in these imaginative picnics…
I'm happy.
And Ella is happy.
And therein lies the brown sugar moments!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
This post started off with a full breakdown on my day…in timeline format.
I was so bored and overwhelmed by it, I removed it entirely from the post because I thought for sure you would be bored and overwhelmed too. If you really want to see a timeline of my day…I'll post it. But only if you ask! *wink*

iNSPiRE | She Loves How She Lives

Another "She" quote I shared on Instagram earlier today…

I thought posting it here on the blog would be good too! I hope you enjoy it!

Follow me on Instagram for ongoing inspiration...

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I'm well aware of the serious love affair I have with the Cantoni font…

I seriously can't help myself! I find a way to incorporate into everything I'm designing and creating lately. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to step away from using it.

I hope you all don't mind too much! *wink*

INSPIRE | She Makes What Matters Happen :: FREE Art Print

It's Monday and if you are like me you've got a to-do list staring at you that might seem a mile long…
or maybe you are even smack-dab in the middle of writing one right now.

Before we had down that busy road, consider with me the things that REALLY matter this week and be sure those things are on your list. These particular tasks should include things that will fill your soul, lift your spirits and that invite us to invest our time and attention into the lives of those we love. Our lists will all be different but here are a couple of things I've got on my own list for this week:

Tea Party with Ella.
Quality time with Clara.
Quality time with Ema.
Phone calls to my Mom and brother.
Return phone call to my aunt.
Thank you notes.
Special Gratitude Blog Post for Compendium.
Quiet time for reading/prayer. (everyday if possible)
Crafting time.

I plan to make time this week to make sure these simple things…the things that matter most to me…get done. My quality time with Clara could be a 15 minute conversation in her room before bed. A quick run up to the yogurt shop with Ema might give us a small window to connect and for me to just tell her how much I love her. Phone calls to those you love and thank you notes are the simple things that make the world go around. The point is…the things that matter most aren't typically the stressful deadlines or the overdue projects. It's not about "managing" our lives…it's about "living" them. And you aren't really living if you aren't connected and present in the lives of those you love. Right?

So how about something to motivate us all and keep us focused on that truth...


If you follow me on Instagram you are very well aware of the fact that I post an inspirational Art Print at least a few times a week - much like the one I'm sharing today. I call these my "She Said" quotes and they are meant to empower women. I create the quotes as I'm led and inspired and they often represent something I need reminding of in my own life. I started out writing them as daily inspirational lunch notes for my oldest daughter when she was going through some struggles last year. They have now taken on a life of their own. "She" is a combination of the person I am…as well as the person I aspire to be. I write/design/create these "She" quotes to inspire ME…my daughters…and other women. Plain and simple. And I know this whole concept was ultimately born from my love for the "She" book by Kobi Yamada.

I say all of that because I thought it would be fun to share today's "She Said" quote as a FREE download with you today. You can print this puppy out and frame it or hang it somewhere to keep you focused on what matters most. I've got three different versions for you to choose from. The white background shown at the beginning of the post and then two different chalkboard backgrounds shown below. (links for downloading are at the bottom of this post).

Chalkboard Background • Colored

Chalkboard Background • Black and White

Use the links to download your favorite:
She Makes What Matters Happen - White Background
She Makes What Matters Happen - Chalkboard • Color
She Makes What Matters Happen - Chalkboard • B&W

I hope you enjoy the Art Print today and if you happen to print them out, snap a picture, tag me @pnpflowers and use the hashtag #shesaidpnpflowers in social media so I can find see them!

Happy Monday everyone!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I'm behind on EVERYTHiNG…work related as well as stuff I need to do around the house.
But believe it or not I'm okay. I'm doing what I can today with what I have today and life seems so much more manageable without the guilt I'm typically drowning swimming in. Amazing, right? *wink*

EMPOWER | Lara Casey Power Sheets

Here's one of the other tools I'm using to help me "navigate"…Lara Casey Power Sheets.

I discovered them while researching the Emily Ley Simplified Planner I shared the other day - the first tool I started using to Navigate.

The package arrived with these darling Lara Casey postcards! I just LOVE the idea of passing along the inspiration onto someone else by dropping a postcard in the mail to a friend!

And I had to smile when I read this on the very front page of the Power Sheets bundle…really cute detail!

I had the opportunity to attend a 1 hour Lara Casey webinar yesterday and I'm definitely inspired.
I'm realizing more and more that creating to-do lists and using a planner isn't really about how many things you can get done. For me, (and it should be this way for all of us), it's more about using these things as tools to make sure you have time and energy for what matters most.

These power sheets are designed to help you figure out what really matters most to you. It's not about how to make long to-do lists and effectively cross things off. It's really not. I love what I'm learning so far.

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Here are some other things that popped off the pages of the Power Sheets when they arrived as well as some quotes that struck a chord with me during the webinar yesterday:

"Life is too short to play small. I created each PowerSheet to help you strategically plan action steps to make what matters happen."

"Goals can be overwhelming if they aren't connected to what matters. They can make life busier…"

"Step into your dreams - make a mess along the way."

"Just because everyone is going in one direction doesn't mean you should too. Everyone could be wrong."

"Don't wait to do the good things that are on your heart."

"The journey is the good stuff."

"Live on purpose."

"Done is better than perfect."

"Perfect doesn't exist."

"You can't steal 2nd base and keep your foot on 1st."

"Busy is the enemy of peace."

"Don't move so fast you miss your life."

"Do the 'right' hard work."

"Baby steps count."

"Progress…not perfection."

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I'm hoping someone else out there needed to hear something I shared today.
Maybe you'll be inspired to try the PowerSheets too?
In any case, I will absolutely continue to share what I learn along the way!

Let me know if you've tried the Lara Casey PowerSheets and what your feedback is on them.
I'd love to know the things you all are doing to empower your life.

Hugs!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I had to laugh because I hadn't filled out any of my powersheets prior to the webinar yesterday.
I had been waiting to buy a binder to put them in. Wouldn't you know Lara specifically mentioned "Don't wait to buy the perfect binder or find the perfect pen…just start filling them out and make them messy…that's how you get to the good stuff." *wink*