The Essential and Eternal Role of Motherhood ... Mother's Day 2014

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and I can't help but reflect on what that means to me, at this point in my life. 17 months ago, today, my sweet Ava Noelle was born. While looking back now, it was the greatest day of my entire life, but the days leading up to it were full of many emotions and uncertainty. We waited almost 5 years to become parents - and there were reasons for that. We needed time to grow as a married couple and to learn about ourselves. We were never fully prepared for being parents, but is anyone, really?

I was super scared to have a baby. The process of labor, yes, but scared to bring another human into our life. I'd finally felt like we'd figured out  started to maybe get the hang of marriage. And I was scared to change that. I'd seen it happen to other couples over and over. You have a baby and your marriage changes. Your husband is no longer your #1 priority - it's your kids. Your husband no longer gets attention - it's your kids. Your husband no longer feels "close" to you - it's your kids. I was scared of putting a wedge between my husband and me - yep - a baby wedge. I was so happy to become a mom - I've always only ever wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. Even in college and working - it all felt like it was just me getting through the time until I became a mom. But when it was suddenly happening - I was scared about change.

One best friend told me that doesn't have to happen - that your love only grows. It's impossible to understand that idea until you are going through it. I couldn't understand how adding more responsibility, stress and someone else to our life would only bring us closer and make us love each other more. Don't get me wrong - I was super happy to be pregnant - enjoyed every moment of it - had a super easy pregnancy and delivery {think 4 hours from hospital check in and 3 pushes later}. We were super excited and happy - I was just scared about the unknown and didn't want my marriage to change.

I was super right.

Link'n Blogs #24 {welcoming a new co-host!}

Welcome to Link'n Blogs {#24} !

A place to link up your projects and make new friends. We are all about visiting links and following new bloggers here at Link'n Blogs. Remember to leave comments and PIN PIN PIN!

Cause sharing is caring. 

**Your links will show up on ALL blogs hosting the link party!**

Interested in guest hosting Link'n Blogs?!

I've created a spreadsheet where you can sign up to host a link party! It's a great way to get to know other bloggers, share a recent post with other party goers and pick the features. Sign up using the link below!

I WANT TO GUEST HOST A LINK PARTY!

Grab my party button! 

 

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*Feel free to post my party button on your blog and say you linked up here!*

I am sharing 10 gift ideas for Mother's Day using Free Printables. There are ideas for gifts from kids to adults!

10 Mother's Day Free Printables + Gift Ideas

CO-HOST:

Katelyn from Learning, Creating, Living

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Katelyn is sharing another cute DIY planter. She is the queen of making her own planters! I just love these.

DIY Greenery Planters

I am SUPER EXCITED to announce that Sonnet is going to be a permanent co-host here at Link'n Blogs!! I love her blog and amazing projects and just HAD to have keep her here forever. Be sure to stop by her blog and say HI and officially welcome her to the party!

CO-HOST:

Sonnet from Soho Sonnet

FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | PINTEREST | TWITTER

Sonnet is sharing some gorgeous Mother's Day cards she designed. She is super talented. {shhh - don't tell my mom - she might be getting one of these!}

Free Mother's Day Printable Cards

GUEST HOSTS:

Teresa from Crafty Wife

FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

You HAVE TO SEE the "after" of this project from Teresa. She made over these mirrors from Goodwill into cute accent pieces for her bedroom. Check out the DIY!

Weathered Beach Mirrors

Silvie from My Silly Little Gang

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN | PINTEREST | TWITTER

Silvie is sharing a delish recipe that includes no flour! I've already pinned this one to make soon. Plus, anything with toffee is OK in my book!

No Flour Peanut Butter Toffee Cookies

Here are this week's features:

Wednesday Roundup ... 10 Mother's Day Free Printables + Gift Ideas

Today's Wednesday Roundup is just in time for Mother's Day - which is on Sunday - in case you forgot! ;) Shower mom with LOVE this weekend ... or grandma ... or an aunt ... or a bestie ... there are mothers all around us we can uplift and show we care. I have 10 ideas for gifts that include free printables, which makes them simple & easy! You don't need to spend a fortune -- sometimes a simple, hand written note is all it takes to tug on someone's heart strings. I hope these ideas inspire you to share some motherly love this Sunday. Take care!

{be sure to visit the blogs to get all the details on how to complete the gift idea!}

Not-So-Casual Outfit Look ... Guest Post by Kristy of Salty Mess

Morning ladies! My name is Kristy and I am the creator and content writer of the blog Salty Mess. I am very honored to be taking over Daniela's blog for the day to share with you some easy tips on making your casual outfit look not-so-casual! I think everyone can agree that there is a universal feeling to want to look cute and feel comfortable simultaneously. Well, I have found that if you follow a few simple tips, then you can achieve this with any laid back outfit.

1. Make your outfit POP: Try doing this by simply adding a striking color to your outfit or some chunky jewelry. This will make your casual look stand out. Never is a t-shirt and jeans look boring with this technique.

2. Makeup: Your makeup can do wonders with any outfit. Because whatever you do with your face can change the whole look, try to have your make up look a little more clean and chic and this can definitely make it seem like it took you twice as long to get ready. 

3. Layering: This technique is fun! If you have a hard time figuring out what extra things you can add to your outfit and not make it look too messy, just follow your color pattern and chances are you will just do fine! Grab a bag, jacket, beanie, something to tie around your waist, have socks coming out of your shoes, etc. The possibilities are endless.

I hope you have read these techniques and now try something new out! Feel free to follow me and tag me in some of your new attempts. I would love to see :) Thanks for reading!

Follow me here: Instagram // Blog Lovin' // Facebook

Utah Baby Animal Days + Family Pass Giveaway

This post is special for all my Utah peeps! 

Have you heard of Baby Animal Days?! Let me show you a photo that just about sums it up:

I mean - tiny ponies?! Come on. :) Baby Animal Days is a fun event held at the USU Botanical Center in Kaysville, Utah. It's basically a big, outdoor party for families of all ages - and it's all about baby animals! Here are some of the events & features that will be happening:

Baby Reptiles

Meet baby ducklings, chicks, bunnies, goats, kids, lambs, piglets, calves, baby llamas and mini horses

Children's Activities

Horse Rides

Sheep Shearing Demos

Food Vendors

Miniature Train Rides

Climbing Wall

Bouncy Houses

Endlessly Inspired Blogiversary and $550 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Hey y'all! I love meeting friends through blogging. And I LOVE celebrating a blogiversary! Today, I'm helping to celebrate with Jenn from Endlessly Inspired. It's her blogiversary today! I can't wait until August to celebrate mine. :) I love reading people's stories of starting to blog and how amazing it has been in their life. You can read Jenn's story > HERE <

Here are a few of my favorite posts from Endlessly Inspired:

Knock-Off Anthropologie Heart Pillow

Homemade Marshmallows

How to Create the Perfect Mantel

To celebrate this amazing day, Jenn has teamed up with some great bloggers {including me!} to give away a GINORMOUS PRIZE! A $550 Amazon Gift Card!!! Yep. I said it. $550!!!! There are LOTS of ways to enter using Rafflecopter below. It make take a while to do ALL of them, but seriously, if you do, you'll have more chances to win and it would be SO WORTH IT to win that huge Amazon gift card. Blogging is amazing - I love being part of killer giveaways like this one! GOOD LUCK AND DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY JENN'S BLOG TO WISH HER A HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY AND SAY THANKS!

 

From Jenn:  "I want to thank the women from these amazing blogs for co-hosting with me and making this giveaway possible! Be sure to visit them and give them some love! {You can also click on their picture above to be taken directly to their blog!}"

Host Jenn from Endlessly Inspired

Co-Hosts Tiny Sidekick // White Lights on Wednesday // Place of My Taste // Simply Dream & Create // Luxe...With Kids // Food Faith Fitness // This is Happiness // Perspective by CC McAfee // Sew Crafty Angel // Huckleberry Love // Epic Mommy Adventures // My Turn for Us // Love Bakes Good Cakes // Crafts a la Mode // Craft Dictator // I Dig Pinterest // Learning, Creating, Living // The Love Nerds // Fearlessly Creative Mammas // Dizzy Busy & Hungry // I Want Crazy // VMG206 // A Peek Into My Paradise

Blog ends May 15, 2014

All entries will be verified

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xo

Link'n Blogs #23

Welcome to Link'n Blogs {#23} !

A place to link up your projects and make new friends. We are all about visiting links and following new bloggers here at Link'n Blogs. Remember to leave comments and PIN PIN PIN!

Cause sharing is caring. 

**Your links will show up on ALL blogs hosting the link party!**

Interested in guest hosting Link'n Blogs?!

I've created a spreadsheet where you can sign up to host a link party! It's a great way to get to know other bloggers, share a recent post with other party goers and pick the features. Sign up using the link below!

I WANT TO GUEST HOST A LINK PARTY!

Grab my party button! 

 

<div align="center">
<a href="http://iputabirdonit.blogspot.com" title="Put A Bird On It"><img src="http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx5/daniwalsh/linknblogslogo.jpg" alt="Put A Bird On It" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

*Feel free to post my party button on your blog and say you linked up here!*

I am sharing a cute birthday wreath I made for my daughter's pink & gold 1st birthday party last year.

Polka Dot Burlap Birthday Wreath

CO-HOST:

Katelyn from Learning, Creating, Living 

PINTEREST | FACEBOOK | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

Katelyn is sharing her fabulous office makeover, including this DIY desk. Look for the tutorial on her blog!

Rustic Modern Desk

Be sure to give some love to our guest hosts - you will love their creative blogs!

Sonnet from Soho Sonnet

FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | PINTEREST | TWITTER

Sonnet is sharing a really fun way to store craft supplies {or anything, really!}. I love these fun boxes!

Shoe Box Storage

Emily, Meghan and Karli from Something Splendid

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | BLOGLOVIN

These ladies have a fab round up for all your Cinco de Mayo party food needs. It's coming up on Monday, so PIN these asap!

Cinco de Mayo Recipe Round Up

Hanna and Sara from Stripes and Polka Dots

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN | PINTEREST

These girls are sharing a donut party that's almost as cute as they are. I love donuts and want to throw a party like this one! See all the cute details on their blog post.

"Donut" Miss This Party!

Here are this week's features: