Friday Freebie- Home Sweet Home

I hope you all had a wonderful week! Here is your Friday Freebie courtesy of Bella Parola. All Friday Freebies are Angela Bailey originals. :-) Enjoy!

Home Sweet Home
(Please visit the link below for a quality download.)

Please click here to access the downloadable freebie!

Leave a comment if you download this image, please! Oh and read over the terms of use below, so you don't get in trouble! ;-) Have a great weekend!

Copyright Angela Bailey 2011

TERMS OF USE

You May NOT:
1. Redistribute the digital file for sale.
2. Claim this as your own work.
3. Sell creations made with this work including but not limited to framing this print and reselling, matting this print and reselling, using this print in website layouts, etc.
4. Alter the digital file in any way, including removing my digital signature.

You May:
1. Print for your own personal use in decorating.
2. Print and frame as a gift.

Have a spectacular weekend!

Alexa Blog Hop 7/28-8/3

Favorite Things Deux

It's that time again! Time for another round of Angela's Favorite Things!

1. Butterflies

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    I cannot tell you when it began, exactly, but I know it was from a very young age. My obsession infatuation with butterflies began long before I can even remember. There's something magical about them that just makes my heart smile. Butterflies are often used when representing a new creation, a new life, or the fragility of something. Not only are butterflies somewhat magical, they are absolutely gorgeous! Who would have thought that a creepy crawly little worm/caterpillar could become something so breathtaking! Did anyone else wear those flutterbies in their hair when they were younger? No? Just me? Oh. Well....trust me...they were ALL the rage when I was in 5th-7th grade!

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2. Starburst Mirrors

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    Upon seeing my first starburst mirror, I had to do a double take. It was love at first sight. What isn't to love? It's glitsy, it's glam, it makes a statement, it reflects light, one can admire oneself in it, etc. These little babies are SUPER popular right now. Heck, even Target is carrying them! One of my favorite design bloggers (located in Charlotte, NC!), Emily, just mentioned them in her blog post yesterday. Someone recently asked her if she thought starburst mirrors were out of style. I LOVED her response! "Does it really matter if they are or aren't in style?"I still don't have one in my house, BUT I do plan on making one ASAP using THIS DIY tutorials! I kinda like it even more than the $450 one shown above!

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3. Gray and Yellow

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    I have a love-hate relationship with gray and yellow. For years, I have LOVED this color combination. There's something equally cheery and melancholy about this pair. I LOVE bright colors, but I also value the tranquility of more subdued colors. I don't think I'd go as far as having yellow cabinets in my kitchen as seen in the picture above, but using bright yellow as an accent color in ANY space is wonderful! The hateful part about my relationship with gray and yellow is that it's trendy right now. I am no hipster, so please don't think I'm "so over" gray and yellow, but I also am not of fan of trends and fads just for the sake of being trendy...or fiddle-faddling around with my tastes just to keep up with the Jones'. (I googled what fad is short for. I was told it might possibly be short for fidfad, which is short for fiddle-faddle. Who knew???) Anyway, gray and yellow, don't worry, I haven't forsaken you. You're still high on my list of color combinations somewhere around where navy and pink and purple and yellow meet.

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So what do you think of my favs? Do we share any of the same favorite things? Do you think I'm incredibly juvenile for still loving butterflies? (Psch...am not!) Are you into starburst mirrors or are you more of a traditional mirror sorta gal? Do you fancy yellow and gray together or do you prefer your more traditional or flamboyant color palette?

An Echo of My Heart

"Maybe I’ve become desensitized to the pain and disappointment. Maybe after more than a year of negative home pregnancy tests and blood tests and crying in the doctor’s office, it just doesn’t come as a shock when something doesn’t work out in the baby making department."


Amy, from Dandelion Paperweight posted the above statement on her latest entry over here. Upon reading that paragraph, I literally said, "YES!" It's so nice to be understood. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who feels that way. It's nice to read something and think, "I could have written that!"

Thanks, Amy, for continuing to echo my heart when it comes to conceiving. :-)

Oh and some Petey cuteness needs to be included. I was showing the hubs how Picnik works last night...and I ended up making this. Good thing Petey Pug loves me so much!

Petey Pug says, "Merry Christmas in July!"

Petey Pug

Until I actually conceive a human child (and if he has it his way, even after,) this is my baby. His name is Petey. He is a purebred pug. Petey was an early birthday present from Vance back in 2009. He was adopted through Pug Rescue of NC located in Summerfield, NC, however, Vance first found out about him via petfinder.com.

When Vance told me of my early birthday gift, I was ecstatic! I have ALWAYS wanted a pug of my own. I adopted a dachshund/beagle mix, Cinnamon, a month or so before I met Vance, but I still wanted a pug sometime in my future. Anyway, there were several steps in adopting Petey, just like in adopting a child. I guess the biggest step for us was actually CHOOSING Petey. Vance originally intended to adopt another pug at the same house where Petey was fostered. When we went there, it was like pug heaven. There were at least 10 pugs living in that house! The pug we originally came to visit, Charlie Brown, really didn't give a rat's patootie that we were there. He also was older and his back legs were turning arthritic. We sat on the kitchen floor trying to see if Charlie Brown would engage with us. Well, Petey Pug had other plans. He pounced on us. He jumped directly into Vance's lap, looked him in the eyes, and basically said, "Hello, Dad!" He then shoved his friend Mugsy out of the way and jumped onto my lap, all the while grunting and panting like only a pug does. That's when we learned that Petey was adoptable, too. The decision was a no-brainer for us.

We had to wait a couple of weeks before we could pick him up and bring him home. The moment we arrived to get him, he went CRAZY. He does this funny little whine that sounds almost like an infant crying. His little cinnamon roll tail was going crazy. My heart soared! He remembered us! After signing some paper work, we were on our way. Now, in my dog experience, dogs lay down in the back seat and sleep. Not Petey. Where'd he want to sit? On my lap, and most importantly, under my arm by the window on the armrest. He rode in that spot the entire hour drive home. To this day, that is still his preferred car-riding location.

Petey, the handsome pug.

Now that Petey lives with us, he enjoys lounging on the couch, chewing on his nylabone, chasing his sister, Cinnamon, around the house, "rabbit running" (he tucks his body under and looks just like a rabbit when he runs...he even uncurls his tail!) sniffing ANYTHING that comes into his path (he is unusually sniffy for a pug), curling up against me in the nook of my legs, and of course, every pug's favorite...eating.

And so it begins...again.

This evening my cycle FINALLY ended. Day 52. I literally gasped when I uh...realized it had ended. I was THAT surprised! It's been 52 days since I last got my period, so I had no idea when to expect it. I'm glad that it "fixed" itself. It also further confirms that I'm NOT pregnant. As disappointed as I am that I am not pregnant, it is quite a relief to know that nothing too serious is wrong with my body. So what caused the delay in my period? No clue. These things do happen so I'm told. As my mom said the other day, "Bodies are weird."

So where do we go from here? Well...today is day 1. It marks the beginning of a new cycle, thus a new chance to get pregnant. Upon the end of my period, I will wait a week or so and start with the ovulation prediction kit. When we get the smiley face, we'll start the baby dance again. Then...we wait. Waiting is the most difficult aspect. It seems that I spend the last week or so of my cycle waiting to bleed. That sounds extremely sadistic, but it's true. Bleeding signifies no baby. When I don't bleed, I don't assume I'm pregnant, though. I assume I'm late. Apparently this cycle, I was super late...or early, depending how you look at it I guess. I still plan on calling the doctor and asking about why this all unfolded the way it did, especially when my ovulation prediction kit indicated I was about to ovulate around day 19. Weird.

Anyway...new cycle, new month, new opportunity to conceive. There's something pretty peaceful about the idea of newness. It's almost hopeful. It reminds me of the song I embedded below. It's one of my favorite songs right now. Their voices and harmonies are so peaceful and hopeful. The lyrics also speak sweetly to my heart. Keep praying for us and sending happy thoughts, please. :-)

"Beautiful Things" by Gungor

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

Friday Freebie- Live.Laugh.Love

Today marks the very first ever Bella Parola Friday Freebie! Some Fridays will be made a little brighter with the inclusion of a free Bella Parola freebie! All images included in these freebies are Angela Bailey originals.

Live,Laugh.Love.
(Please visit the link below for a quality download.)

Please click here to access the downloadable freebie!

Leave a comment if you download this image, please! Oh and read over the terms of use below, so you don't get in trouble! ;-) Have a great weekend!

Copyright Angela Bailey 2011

TERMS OF USE

You May NOT:
1. Redistribute the digital file for sale.
2. Claim this as your own work.
3. Sell creations made with this work including but not limited to framing this print and reselling, matting this print and reselling, using this print in website layouts, etc.
4. Alter the digital file in any way, including removing my digital signature.

You May:
1. Print for your own personal use in decorating.
2. Print and frame as a gift.

Please Don't Give Up On Me Yet...

Not many of you out there in Blog Land (or you visitors from Facebook Land...welcome!) understand what it's like to want a baby so bad and keep getting denied month...after month...after month. I know that it doesn't always work on the first time. I know all the circumstances have to be PERFECT for a baby to conceive. I know that even with two people who have no personal infertility issues, it can still take awhile for them to make a baby. I KNOW all of those things, among others. However, when you FEEL the way I do, you don't CARE about the logistics. You don't care that you're doing everything that you can, because dang it, it just doesn't feel like you're doing enough when you aren't getting the results you desire.

I think it's difficult for me because I am a perfectionist. Not only is not being pregnant month after month heart-breaking, but it's also a slam against my pride. I feel kinda dumb for feeling this way, but they're my feelings and I'll feel them if I want to. Nanny-nanny-boo-boo. :-P Ok. All childishness aside, I feel like I should be DOING something else to make it work. I feel like I've done something to somehow make myself fail at this whole baby-making thing. Yes. I know. That's unreasonable. However, if you are a perfectionist, you know that often times, when things don't turn out the way we think they should, we often think of unreasonable/irrational explanations that somehow imply it's our own fault. (No? That's only something I do? Alrighty then.)

Source
If you don't get it, don't worry about it. It's a math joke about irrational numbers.

I guess what I find most frustrating right now is that regardless of that negative (read:stupid) blood-drawn pregnancy test, I still have all of the pregnancy signs that made me (and others) feel like I should get the dumb blood test to begin with! I still have weird spurts of nausea and headaches. I still have metal mouth at times. I still am fatigued. I still have bloatiness throughout my stomach that doesn't feel the same as it does during PMS. I still have crazy tender boobage. Like so sore that I can't sleep on my stomach because it crushes and hurts my nipples. (Sorry if that's TMI, but I'm trying to get my point across.) I still haven't gotten my period. I'm on day 49 of my cycle. (I've had a regular 31-34 day cycle since last September.)My husband even looked at me two nights ago and said, "Have your boobs gotten bigger?" Great. I already have DD's. I don't need them getting bigger for no flipping reason!

So what to conclude?
A) The blood test was wrong.
      Yes, I know it happens. Yes, so-and-so's sister's cousin's second cousin had it happen to her, but that doesn't mean that's the case with me. There's the exception and the rule. The rule is that blood tests are accurate. There is always a small percentage that the blood test is wrong, but those cases are not as common, thus they are the exception. Until further notice, I consider myself the rule, not the exception.
B) I just skipped my period this month and everything will go back to the way it was next month.
     This is my hope anyway...if A doesn't pan out. I just hope that something in my insides didn't go haywire to where it won't fix itself naturally. In the past, I didn't know when my period was coming. I didn't know if I'd get it at all. In college, I was stressed, overworked, and underslept most of the time, so it never surprised me to miss my period. Hopefully, whatever is going on with my body will straighten itself out...if A isn't true.
C) Something is medically wrong.
     I'm not fully ready to grasp this reality, so we shall revisit it another time.

I'm taking it a day at a time...

P.S. Be sure to come back tomorrow for Bella Parola's first ever Friday Freebie!! :-)

Alexa Blog Hop 7/21-7/28

No Dice.

For those who are wondering...the blood drawn pregnancy test was negative. I am not pregnant. Please keep praying for us.

Bella Parola Giveaway!

Hello Blog Land!

A few entries ago, I wrote about my new business, Bella Parola. Well, as luck would have it, Krista and Jamie from The Playdate Crashers, stumbled upon my Etsy page and liked what they saw! Krista contacted me about doing a giveaway on their blog...and I agreed :-)

If you'd like to enter, please head on over to the Bella Parola Giveaway and fill out the entry form! Contest ends Monday, July 25th at 11:59pm. If you win, you'll either receive a digital copy of the print you choose or design to be printed wherever you so choose OR a hard copy of the print that is already professionally printed for you.

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to the giveaway and enter! :-)

Awareness and Loved Ones

This post is NOT about my favorite things. It is not about happy things. It is not about pretty things. It's about disease awareness. Don't get me wrong, the two children I mention in this post are pretty...heck...they're beautiful, however the diseases they have are not pretty. They're challenging. They're heartbreaking. They're brutal. The best part though? These kids not only grin and bear it, but they live life to the fullest. Their little hearts burst with love and their lives are filled with happiness due to their lovely support systems and families. The two diseases that reach close to home and to my heart are OI and EB. 

Source

"Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI and sometimes known as brittle bone disease, or "Lobstein syndrome"[1]) is a genetic bone disorder. People with OI are born with defective connective tissue, or without the ability to make it, usually because of a deficiency of Type-I collagen." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteogenesis_imperfecta) 
Children who have OI are often referred to as snowflake children or snowflakes. People with OI have very sensitive bones that can break or even shatter in some cases, thus they are delicate like snowflakes. There is currently no cure for OI.

Source: Caroline Bailey's FB

Maggie Bailey, my 1 year old 2nd cousin-in-law, was born with OI. Mags does not let OI stand in her way. She is a very active, intelligent little girl who has a heart of gold. Her older brother, Cooper, was not born with OI. You can read more about their family at http://www.coopandmags.blogspot.com/.

Source

"Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is an inherited connective tissue disease causing blisters in the skin and mucosal membranes, with an incidence of 1/50,000. Its severity ranges from mild to lethal. It is caused by a mutation in the keratin or collagen gene." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidermolysis_bullosa) 
Children who have EB are often referred to as butterfly children or butterflies. People with EB have very sensitive skin than can come off with even the simplest of touches in some cases, thus they are delicate like butterflies. There is currently no cure for EB.

Source

Jonah Williams, a 2 year old little boy who attends my church, was born with EB. His mom, Patrice has a blog located at http://patriceandmattwilliams.blogspot.com/. If you'd like to learn more about Jonah, their day to day life and about EB in general, please visit her site.


So why did I feel the need to make a post about two different diseases? Because, I'd like to do my part in raising awareness. The more people that know, the more people that can help raise money to find a cure.

Why did I feel the need to tell you about two kids that each have one of the diseases? Because, when a face is attached to a name, even the name of a disease, it makes it more personal. You may not remember what OI or EB stands for, but you'll remember Mags and Jonah. You may not understand everything there is to know about OI or EB, but you'll remember how absolutely adorable Maggie and Jonut are.

What can you do for these children and others like them?
1. Pray
2. Let their moms know you're praying for them.
3. Donate. OI or EB
4. Pass on the info. you learn about OI and EB.

Knowledge is power!

Newish Design...Sorta

I've been fumbling around with the way I want my blog to look for a while now. I changed a few things about the way my blog functions and what I wanted to use it, so some of the previous links, images, etc. that I had on here before no longer apply. I also wanted to incorporate more images into my layout, instead of it being predominately text.

Things I Removed:

- Pages

- Be A Dear Blinkie

- Two Column Layout

- Old Header

Things I Changed:

- Header

- Layout

- Sidebar Tag Graphics

- Location of Gadgets
- List of Favorites

Things I Added:
- Contact Section (Facebook and Email)
- Button Grab
- Etsy Shop
- Three Column Layout
- New Header

I'm pretty happy with the changes I made. :-) I made the header, sidebar tag graphics, my button, and the facebook and email buttons. Please do not use those graphics without my permission. :-) The background is from shabbyblogs.com. I enjoy their backgrounds/graphics a lot! Their background is what inspired this entire blog design. :-)

So...what do you think? I am going for a whimsy, fairy tale, vintage feel. Do you think I accomplished it?

Alexa Blog Hop! 7/14-7/21

This is about my favorite things right?

I was thinking today while rocking Max (the little boy I nanny for) to sleep. I thought to myself, "Self, you haven't made a post on your blog about your favorite things lately." So...I decided to. Here it is...

These are a few of my favorite things!

1. Dresses
    Don't get me wrong, I don't wear dresses every day, but given a chance between wearing shorts or a dress, I choose a dress. I mostly wear dresses on weekends or days I don't have to work. Being a nanny requires me to get on the floor, crawl around, run freely, etc. Dresses aren't always good at that. Plus, it's more productive to wear my yoga pants and tank tops when I work. If they get dirty or worn out, I don't care as much. :-)

1- H&M- $49.95
2. Old Navy- $36.94
3. Lane Bryant- $44.95
4. Carter's- $29.00

2. Pinterest.com
    I have a new found love. Pinterest is an organized person's DREAM. It's also perfect for those who like to dream big! I have folders for nursery ideas, home decor, recipes, arts and crafts, sewing projects, holiday ideas, etc. The best part about it is that not only does it post a picture of whatever it is you pin, but it also includes a link to where it can be found. I LOVE it. If I see something I love online, I just pin it to a board and I know how to find it again. Yes, I'm addicted. Here are a few of my pins.

1. Outdoor Room
2. Panda Cake
3. Heart Pillow
4. Asian Bedding

3. Picture Frames
    I have this weird obsession with picture frames. I love sharing my memories through photos. I have a bagillion albums on Facebook (not a lot of recent ones since my digital camera disappeared last Nov.) and have always enjoyed making photo books, scrapbooks, etc. HOWEVER, there is nothing like a good ole picture frame photo display, especially when the frames are pretty! :-)

1. Pink Frames
2. Yellow Frames
3. Tree Frames
4. Black Frames

This concludes round 1 of my favorite things. I think I'm going to attempt to post a favorite things post once every two weeks or so. :-)

So how about you? Do you share any of my favorites, or do we have to agree to disagree? Do you have any links that fall under these categories that you think I may enjoy?

Pregnancy, Prints, and Parola, Oh My!

Greetings friends!
I realize I have been absent for quite a bit these past couple of weeks. For that I apologize. I am just working a lot, starting a new business, feeling naused out, etc. So...let's get down to business.

I know my post title mentions pregnancy and for anyone who read my last blog entry, TTC, you know my husband and I have been trying to have a baby for the past year or so. Well...I am not getting my hopes up too high, nor am I jumping to conclusions, but let me lay the facts out for you...
1. I used an ovulation prediction kit this month. I got a smiley face (meaning I was going to ovulate within a couple of days) June 21st, or day 19 of my cycle.
2. My cycle lasts 31-34 days.
3. The hubs and I did the baby dance (Thanks Amy @ Dandelion Paperweight for that term! Love it!)
4. I have been naused out for the last week and a half to two weeks. It only happens every so often. I've only had the urge to vomit 2 or 3 times during that time.
5. I'm on day 39 of my cycle. Still no period or signs that I'm going to get one.
6. I have taken two pregnancy tests that came back negative.
7. My mom's second pregnancy (my sister Kristin) only came back positive with a blood test.
8. My mom only had real "morning" sickness with my sister, Hannah (her third pregnancy.)
Conclusion: I might be pregnant. I might not be pregnant. Still too early to tell, but it's nice to think of the possibility, without allowing my hopes to get up too high. Every time I go to the bathroom, I'm afraid I'm going to see the start of my period. So far...so good. Keep praying for/thinking of me, please! Positive thoughts, people, positive thoughts!!

Which brings me to item number two/three in my title. Prints and Parola. Prints as in the digital kind. Parola as in "word" in Italian. I have now opened an Etsy shop called Bella Parola (meaning Beautiful Word) selling digital prints. Each print can be customized with background color, font type, font color, and optional single or double borders. Each print is 300ppi and is emailed to you as an 8x10 JPEG file. You may then print it at home or have it professionally printed at Wal-Mart, Shutterfly, CVS, etc. You may use the print in your own home decorating in places such as nurseries, bedrooms, living rooms, entry ways, hallways, etc. OR give a framed copy to a friend or family member as a gift. Don't see the quote/song lyric/saying/verse that you'd like? No problem! Just email me with your request and I will make one for you! I also have a Bella Parola Facebook page. If you have FB, please check me out and "like" my page on there, too!

Here are a few "proof" samples: