Today, May 20th, is my *little* brother Michael’s 31st birthday!

Happy Birthday, MY-kayla.

Michael, you were my constant companion, my playmate and my friend; whether it was me dressing you up in Granny’s clothes, painting your nails, flipping you over my head, you chasing me around the yard with a machete or you pulling a rug out from under me (which only took you 20 years to fess up to thankyouverymuch!) and causing me to split my head open.

I wouldn’t trade any of it.

Watching Princess and Monkey reminds me so much of us and yeah.. I probably owe you several hundred apologies, but the past is the past

I love you, Kayla.

I’m so thrilled for the happiness that you’ve found with Melissa.

I pray that this birthday is just the first of many, many more filled with happiness and joy.

Happy Birthday!  I love you, kiddo.

Happy Birthday, to the first man in my life.

Happy Birthday to the one who showed me what to look for in a husband

Happy Birthday, to the best Grandpa any Monkey could have.

We love you.

Thank you for all the lessons:  love, patience, laughter, appreciation, joy and independence.

Thank you for allowing me to fall, and showing me how to get back up again.

I love you, and I hope that you get some German Chocolate Cake today.

Happy Birthday, GOB.

We love you.

“Mom, Can you believe I’m going to be Eight?”

“No, no my darling girl — I can’t”

Wasn’t this just yesterday?

So much has changed, So much still the same.

The moment you saw the ocean,  it was true love. You were a water baby,

and now you’re a Boogie Boardin’ Diva.

 Even from the first, you’ve been much more fashionable than I ever was.

I’m so glad that hasn’t changed, your fashion sense makes me so happy.

I love how you’ve always marched to the beat of your own drum

How from day one you have  been strong and confident in who you are.

You are independent and fearless.

Fun loving and silly, you love life and all that it has to offer.

You are your brother’s favorite person

Your Daddy’s little angel

and my … my favorite playmate, the one who made me a Mama.   You are my heart and soul in a smart, funny, beautiful, wonderful, blue eyed, freckle faced package.

I am so blessed to be your mother.

There will be times that I will yell at you, there will be times when we won’t like each other very much, there will be times we both say things we don’t mean, but there will never be a time that you are not loved, a time you are not cherished, a time where I am anything but thankful for you.

I have always known and understood love. Your Daddy showed me a different kind of love, but you, you my amazing, wonderful daughter, you have taught me a love like no other.
You are borne of my body, my heart, my soul and my mind and you opened up a place in me that I didn’t know even existed.

You are smart, funny, strong, beautiful, compassionate, silly, confident, loving, temperamental, friendly, energetic, inquisitive, vibrant, frustrating, head strong, lively, independent, fearless and amazing.

I pray that at 18, 28, 38, 58, 78, .. you retain all of these qualities.

I will do my best to stand back and allow you to live, fall, experience, fail and triumph. I will try to never stand in your way, to allow you to stumble and fall because the biggest disservice I can do you would be to never let you fail. That being said, I promise that I will always and forever be there to pick you back up, kiss away the tears, whisper I love you and nudge you back towards the right path.

Happy 8th Birthday to the one who changed everything.

I love you.

My mom is an amazing woman. She is strong, beautiful, funny, passionate, loving, smart and the original Southern Belle.

Happy Birthday Momma.

My mom making it to her first birthday was a miracle. This picture, is a miracle.
My mom was born in mumblefiftymumblesomethingmumble. She was born with brain tumors. She survived the surgery. She survived terrible asthma and lived to thrive and take that picture. That picture up there. A powerful tribute and precious memento, a tribute to her strength and a precious memento for her mother, my Granny.

This picture is adorable to me because it reminds me not only of Princess learning to navigate stairs at your house, but because it represents to me the many obstacles you have overcome in your life with a sweet smile, grace and a sense of humor.
I don’t need to list them here.
You are powerful and strong beyond your own understanding.
I am proud of you.

Thank you for helping me to learn how to overcome my own obstacles with grace, strength and compassion. Thank you for dorm rooms, first apartments, margaritas, being there for my ADPi initiation, thank you for late night cries, for caring enough to interrogate Nathan to make sure he was good enough for your little girl. Thank you for the bachelorette party, the orgasm talks, the shopping trips but most of all, thank you for believing in me.

Mom, you are a beautiful, strong, loving, passionate, graceful, funny, smart, loving and wonderful woman.
You have taught me much in life and I am blessed by you.
I wish we could be there with you today but I know that Dad will make this day wonderful for you.

You are Princess’ favorite person and playmate.
You are my first and most special best friend and playmate.
You are more than I have words to describe.

Thank you for helping me to learn Grace, Humility, Love, Compassion, Strength, Independence, Grammar, Power, Respect and so much more.

You are my mother and my friend and I love you beyond measure.

Happy Birthday Momma.

All our love.

Rachel, Nathan, Princess and Monkey

Five years ago – 9:36 PM I sat in a hospital room waiting on your dad to get back with some food.

I sat in a hospital bed with my fingers tracing lazy circles over my stomach, over you.  I tickled and pushed and watched you push back.  I talked to you and dreamed of you. I shared dreams and hopes and wishes with you, whispering and imagining.

12:26 PM on September 20th, 2006 – our family became complete.

 Sept 20th, 2006 at about 3:26 PM

The moment you were in my arms, I knew - you were what we’d been waiting for.  Our family was complete, my heart full, every piece in place.

September 30th, 2006 – 10 Days Old. Our Family

You bring such joy to our lives

(age 3)

you make us laugh

You take my breath away

You scare the hell out of us

You are fearless

You are loving

You are a gift.

You’re a devilishly brilliant perfect combination of your Daddy and Me and you’re designed to enchant us and drive us bananas.

You’re sweet and cuddly and snarly and prickly.

You have the biggest heart and the attitude to match it.

You give hugs and kisses as freely as you climb the walls of our house and send my heart racing.

Every. single. one of your joys, I feel in my soul.

Every. single. pain, bump, bruise, scar, knock and heartache (Of which you are the king of all) I feel times 1,000.

I love you so very much.

We. Love you So Very Much

Happy 5th Birthday, Monkey.  I can’t wait to see what this year brings.

Happy Birthday, to me! Happy Birthday, to Me! Happy 33rd birthday to MEEEEEEEEEEEE!

How could I?  I mean look how gorgeous her Design Chicky talents  makes my blog look!
And just look what at the gorgeous custom Subway art that she made for Nathan and me (ignore the grey parts -those were my kids’ real names)

That piece of awesome up there: $25.  That’s right. CUSTOM Subway art made expressly for you – ONLY $25.  You get the custom subway art delivered to you in a digital file.

I love and adore Chicky, she was one of my roomies at my very first BlissDom in 2009 and she’s got one of the biggest hearts and most creative minds of anyone that I know.

She is SOOO generous, that even though this Birthday Give Back is in celebration of HER birthday, TOO!  She’s offering one of y’all a $100 credit to her site – which can be applied towards Blog Design, subway art, button creation and more!

Told y’all, she’s full of awesome

HOW To Enter to Win the $100 Design Chicky Credit:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

• Visit Design Chicky and tell me what you’d use the $100 credit on

BONUS ENTRIES:

• Tweet this giveaway and leave the Tweet URL in a SEPARATE comment
• Facebook this giveaway and leave the FB URL in a SEPARATE comment

This giveaway & ALL of the birthday Give Back Giveaways end tonight at 11:59 PM CST)

• Day 1: Epiphanie Bag
• Day 2: Allora Handmade Shop Credit
• Day 3: Mabel’s Labels Ultimate Back To School Pack
• Day 4: Canvas Press Gallery Wrap Print
• Day 5: Storkie Express $50 Gift Certificate

Are you jumping up and down screaming — ME ME ME!!!!!  I DO!! I DO!! I DO!!!

If you were, then today’s giveaway is for you.  The wonderful people at Storkie Express are giving one of y’all a $50 Gift Certificate to their site!!

About Storkie

Storkie Express was started in 1990 by a WAHM with a vision for a new type of stationery experience. For over 20 years that vision and our founding mission have remained at the core of what we do: providing high quality, affordable custom printed invitations, announcements and cards, along with an unparalleled customer experience.

At Storkie Express we are committed to innovation, and continue to lead the industry in customization capabilities. From the first Storkie website in 1999 to the Storkie of today, we are dedicated to providing a unique technology platform, enabling robust and easy personalization! Our exclusive iDesign tool allows full control over wording, fonts, colors, layout and more. Our “Dynamic Designs” allow for unprecedented design creation for real-time customization of color combinations and graphics. The result is unique stationery to match your special style!

Whether you want unique custom Wedding Invitations, adorable Birthday invitations or even Custom Postage Stamps Storkie Express has something for virtually everyone.

Want to win this fabulous $50 Credit to Storkie Express?

Remember EVERY entry must be left in a separate comment:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

• Go visit Storkie Express and tell me your favorite design

BONUS ENTRIES:

• Tweet this and leave the Tweet URL in a separate comment
• Facebook this and leave the FB URL in a separate comment

Don’t forget to go visit Chicky to see what she’s giving away!

• Day 1: Epiphanie Bag
• Day 2: Allora Handmade Shop Credit
• Day 3: Mabel’s Labels Ultimate Back To School Pack
• Day 4: Canvas Press Gallery Wrap Print

These are a few of my favorite things…..

Y’all are all aware that I’m a bit photography obsessed, I adore taking pictures and sharing them.

I have admitted, though, that I’m rather lax in printing those pictures to put around my house

I fully believe that there’s no better decoration for a home than the faces of the loved ones who live there and in our hearts.

A few months ago, the wonderful people at Canvas Press gave me the opportunity to review their canvas prints and offer a giveaway.

When my Canvas arrived, I fell head over heels in love

I could not have been happier with it!  I currently have several photos sitting in a shopping cart waiting to be ordered, I want one in every room of the house.

Jenn, who won the Canvas Press giveaway fell head over heels in love with her Canvas and the people at Canvas Press, just as I did. (you should go see hers, it’s stunning)

Here’s a little about them:

Canvas Press is a company with a small, family-feel. Yet, we have a reach and customer-following that extends around the globe. We are built on a passion for fine art and an exceptional product that exceeds all expectations. The treasure that arrives to your door is an investment that will amaze you and possibly re-inspire your entire décor. That is the powerful effect of art, especially art that you helped to create.

I am SO SO SO giddily-happily-ecstatic to announce that the fabulously generous people at Canvas Press in honoring of Rachel and Chicky’s Birthday Give Back Party, are giving one of y’all

*****drumroll****

A 16X20 Gallery Wrap Canvas of your VERY OWN!!!!

That’s right, your favorite photograph will be turned into a gorgeous-amazing-eye catching-conversation starting Gallery Wrap Canvas of your very own!!

::insert swoon here::

How To Enter:  Remember!  EACH entry must be left in its OWN separate comment to be a valid and eligible entry!

MANDATORY ENTRY:

• in a comment tell me what picture you would turn into a gallery wrap canvas and why

 BONUS ENTRIES:

• Tweet this giveaway and leave the Tweet URL in a separate comment
• Facebook this giveaway and leave the FB URL in a separate comment

This giveaway open from August 5, 2011 to 11:59 PM CST August 7, 2011

Don’t forget to go visit Chicky, she’s hosting a Red Letter Words Giveaway today!

• Day 1: Epiphanie Bag
• Day 2: Allora Handmade Shop Credit
• Day 3: Mabel’s Labels Ultimate Back To School Pack

These are a few of my favorite things

I am having so much fun with this Birthday Give Back Party.
Chicky and I giggle over our blessings and the joy we get with the surprises that each new day brings y’all! We truly have the most wonderful sponsors – please go say Hi and give them some love! That’s them over in the sidebar.

My kids have a fascination with stickers. They want to stick them everywhere! Even places I’d rather them not go; you know — car windows, leather couches, wood bunk beds and more.

A few years ago, I gave them one of the greatest gifts a mom can give a sticker lovin’ kiddo

At BlogHer 2009, I got to meet Caitlin, one of the amazing women who works for Mabel’s Labels and she solidified my love for them.
side note, Caitlin, after 2 1/2 years — how do we NOT have a picture together?

Oh — right, back to y’all

The wonderfully generous and lovely people at Mabel’s Labels are offering one of y’all a fabulous Ultimate Back To School Combo Pack {I want}

Monkey wants these for his FIRST year of full time school {swoon}

Princess thinks these are precious

That’s right – one of y’all is going to win the Ultimate Back-To-School Combo Pack:

The Ultimate Back-to-School Combo™ includes all the durable, waterproof labels needed to keep your kids’ stuff out of the lost and found. Available only until September 30th, get this bestselling Combo before it’s gone.

All you have to do to win this:

Remember: EACH entry must be left in its own separate comment!

MANDATORY: visit Mabel’s Labels and tell me your favorite product

BONUS ENTRIES:

• Tweet the giveaway and leave the Tweet URL in a separate comment.
• Facebook the giveaway and leave the FB URL in a separate comment.

This giveaway is open from August 4th, 2011 to 11:59 PM CST August 7th, 2011

Don’t forget to visit Chicky for her giveaway and double your chances of winning!

• Day 1: Epiphanie Bag
• Day 2: Allora Handmade Shop Credit

It’s Day TWO!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to introduce you to the amazing creator behind Allora Handmade, the sponsor of today’s Give Back.

Meet Jessica.

I believe that creativity is good for the soul. I love my family with all that I am. I have 2 boys (Owen -3 and Henry-1 1/2) who keep me on my toes and make me smile (when they aren’t making me crazy.) I have moved 23 times in the last 10 years. Our latest move was to help my husband finish school. I crave mexican food daily. The beach makes me giddy. (Must be the San Diego girl in me). I have learned more about myself in the last 2 years than in the 29 before them. I wish I was a dancer. I cherish real friendships. I consider motherhood an honor. I love my business and what it’s become, but my real job as a wife and mother challenges me more than anything else I’ve ever done.

Jessica is the brilliant mind behind the beautiful website and shop Allora Handmade

The lovely and generous Jessica has gifted one of our readers a $25 credit to her shop.  {swoon}

I must admit, even though this is all about giving back to y’all – - I’m kind of envious.  Jessica’s handmade items are so beautiful.

Here’s how you can enter to win this amazing Shop Credit:

Each Entry must be left in a separate comment to be valid for eligible entry.

MANDATORY:  Visit Allora Handmade and tell me your favorite item

BONUS ENTRIES:

• Tweet this giveaway and leave the tweet URL in a separate comment
• Share this on your facebook page and leave the URL in a separate comment

This giveaway is open from August 3, 2011 to 11:59 PM CST August 7, 2011.  The winner has 24 hours to respond to notification before another winner is chosen

Chicky is giving away a $50 gift card to Lisa Leonard Online, go visit her today to double your chances of winning something amazing!