Time Flies

I needed to post this a few weeks ago - time flies when you're trying to start up a new business! Have y'all checked out the new Unexpected Daisies online store??

Time flies when you're raising kids too. Can I get an amen?

This one...my baby...my little Emma Bean...turned 14!!! 

Last month. 

Eh hem. 

Like I said I needed to post this a few weeks ago. 

My bad.

Anyway...

My babies are getting all grown up! Where is that darn pause button??

Since my baby turned 14 years old - and therefore says she is too old for me to call her Emma Bean anymore -sniff sniff- it was time to hold up our end of the bargain. 

We, the Husband and I, told our girls that if they would wait until the age of 14 to wear makeup, we would take them for a makeup application lesson. Well, it was time, and my girl was chomping at the bit to have her makeup done!

Early one Saturday morning, she, Miss Emma Bean, and I grabbed some coffee - my girls have decided they like some coffee shop...which I shall not name...more than Starbucks my friends! I just cannot believe it. I love them both dearly, but this, this just leaves me wondering where I went wrong. 
-sigh I'm trying to not be bitter about it.

Anyway...

We grabbed our coffees, from different coffee shops (snort), and headed for a makeup lesson.

Taking our girls for these makeup lessons has been so much fun. They were both so excited. It felt like a passage into womanhood for each of them. I'm so glad the Husband and I chose to encourage them to hold off on the make up so we could make this a special day.

This is my lovely girl without makeup.

A little concealer to start because my girl thought she had dark circles under her eyes. WHAT??

 I suggested an earlier bedtime. She prefers concealer. Go figure. 

A little mineral powder foundation. I just need to say that I love that she still has all of those baby hairs at her hairline. So cute!

A little blush on those cheekbones.

Now for the eyes. 

This girl has got some of the most beautiful baby browns!

And to complete the look...sparkly lipgloss!

This is when I said, "You're gorgeous! Now look at me and smile."

"Okay, not a selfie, fierce pose. Just a nice smile."

"Stop it! Just smile nice!"

"No more selfies for a week if you don't just smile nice!"

"And whoop! There it is!" Bout time! 

Oh how I love this precious girl!!

My baby is getting all grown up!!

Time flies indeed.

I'd still like to find that pause button!!

Christine

Winner

Here it is! The winner of our 100 followers giveaway...

Pam Helfrich 

Congratulations Pam!! We're so excited to send you our "Seize the Daisy" mug!

Thank you to everyone for following Unexpected Daisies on Facebook and sharing our giveaway post! We look forward to the next giveaway. 

Continue to keep an eye on the shop. We'll be adding new items often. 

Christine

We're Open

That's right! Unexpected Daisies online shop is O.P.E.N!! WOOHOO!!!

I cannot believe it!

It's been a lot of hard work. Which I could not have done alone. The Husband has been awesome! He's done all of the heavy lifting - by heavy lifting I mean computery things that I don't know how to do. The crafty thing I've got down. The computery thing...eh not so much. 

So have I lost you yet? 

Have you run to look at the online shop??

I hope you come back because I still have that give away to announce! 

But first I just want to share that I feel like God has truly blessed me with this opportunity. He has gone before me and made a way. I am very humbled and grateful! I pray He will be glorified in all I do, through this blog and through this new business venture! Soli Deo Gloria!! 

As an expression of my gratitude, 10% of all of June's earnings will be donated to The American Cancer Society in honor of my dear friend Amy who passed away two years ago today after her own year long battle with cancer.

While I am full of joy because of this new and exciting adventure, I keenly feel the loss of my friend today. I am ever amazed at how joy and sorrow live side by side. I love the thought that she would be cheering me on today in this venture as have so many other friends. 

Are you chomping at the bit yet?

Have you already gone to look??

Well, without much further ado...

I am giving away this super cute, Unexpected Daisies, "Seize The Daisy" mug. I love it!

All you have to do to enter is...

1) Follow Unexpected Daisies on Facebook.

2) Visit the new Unexpected Daisies online shop. 

3) Leave a comment on this blog post telling me which section in the online store is your favorite.

Then, as soon as we reach 100 followers on Facebook, a lucky person will be selected to win this sweet Unexpected Daisies mug! Whoop Whoop!!

I'm so excited!

Now, what are you waiting for?? Go check out the shop!!

Good luck and I can't wait to read your comments.

Christine

The Countdown Begins

So, I've been intending to make this announcement all week.

But I've been crazy busy so it hasn't happened. -bah

And now I'm crazy tired. Thank goodness there's Starbucks! I love Starbucks!!

I'm also crazy excited!!

So here it is...

The Unexpected Daisies online store will be open for business Monday, June 1st! SQUEAL!!!!!

I absolutely can not believe it!

But it's true! 

How crazy is that?? Totally crazy!!

The online store will carry a delightful combination of one of a kind finds, small quantity batches, or made-at-time-of-order handcrafted, repurposed, and vintage goods. Whoop!

Here's a tiny peek at what you'll find.

Hello pretty little hand painted bowl

Who doesn't love a pile of comfy pillows made from vintage camp blankets??

Bead bracelet anyone? Men's and women's. That's right!

Embellished barn wood picture frame adds the perfect touch to any rustic decor!

Lovely little handmade flowers makes a very pretty embellishment on a variety of things!

From handmade to vintage, home decor to jewelry, if you like unique, one of a kind, chippy, rusty, not so new or perfect, Unexpected Daisies online store will carry a wide variety of interesting and unique goods, with "new"-but not "new-new" (if you know what I mean) inventory added often.

I can't wait for Monday! I hope you will love my new online store as much as I do. 

The Husband has put his foot down and told me I'm not allowed to keep all the items I've oohed and ahhed over though. -sigh

So, please stop in Monday to check out the new Unexpected Daisies online store. -Double squeal!! 

There will even be a fun giveaway! Whoop Whoop!!

And I shall try to contain my excitement through the weekend.

Christine

Exciting News

I am a crafter. A crafter who likes to try variety of projects. Mostly I enjoy projects that repurpose, or reuse something.

Mittens made from old wool sweaters?

Oh yeah! I'll give that a try!

Mod Podge transfer onto an old crock?

Let me at it!

Reclaimed barn wood headboard?

Yes please!!

Okay, so the husband helped me with that project. He's the best!!

A pillow made from old t-shirts?

Right up my ally!

Yep, I'm a crafter. 

So what's the point you may be asking. Well, the point is that for years I have talked about the possibility of selling some of the items I craft. I may have even mentioned it here on the blog before. I've talked to the husband about it quite a bit, and for quite awhile. But I have done nothing to pursue this idea.

Until now that is.

With a great deal of encouragement from the husband -which I needed, because, frankly, selling what I've made makes me nervous, which is why I've talked about it for so long but haven't done anything about it - I recently began to sell some of the items I craft in a really great little shop called Eye Candy REfind. -SQUEAL

Here's what I've been working on for Eye Candy.

Barn wood picture frames. How cute are these?? I'm sorry! Is it okay to say that I think what I've made is so cute??

I've also done some that will be fun for Father's Day.

I've been busy turning old feed sacks into comfy pillows.

They didn't all make it to the store though. I may have kept one for myself!

I've been working on these cute little driftwood boats and wire baskets.

And one of my favorite projects has been making fabric flowers. I love these!

I've just been crafting like crazy to add things to the store.

I'm having such a good time. But I want to go bigger!

I told you in a previous blog post that I was working on something exciting, well here it is...

I'm going to be opening my own online store! -DOUBLE SQUEAL!!!

I'm working fast and furious to get the online store open.

I've installed a "SHOP" button in the navigation bar so the store can easily be accessed from the blog.

I will be selling handcrafted, repurposed items, and maybe even some unique things I've found while on the hunt for reusable goods. -WHOOP WHOOP!!

I really hope you will like what you find in the store!

So, hang in there! It won't be long until I announce the date of the grand opening!

This just has me giddy!!!

Christine

Relay For Life

Last Friday, at a Relay for Life event, hundreds of teenagers raised over 130,000 dollars to support the American Cancer Society. WHOOP WHOOP!!!

Miss Sofia and friends

It was hard to see all of the luminaria for those whose lives have been impacted by cancer.

This one, in memory of my very dear friend, was especially tough for me.

Two years ago my very dear friend Amy attended the Relay for Life event. Shortly thereafter cancer took her life. I miss her terribly!

At this year's Relay event, Amy's sweet daughter Emily, alongside her dad, bravely shared, with all in attendance, what it was like to witness Amy's courage as she dealt with cancer, her hope of eternity, and the legacy Amy left behind.

 Miss Emily and Amy

She did her Mom proud! It was a beautiful tribute! That girl left me in tears! 

And though it's tough to see all of those lights, shining for those affected by cancer, it is inspiring to see so many young people fighting for a cure!

Well done!!

Christine

Turning Lemons into Lemonade

When life hands you lemons, make some lemonade!

Or better yet, make lemon bars! It's totally okay if you just licked the screen. I understand.

Or even better...make limoncello!!

Definitely go with the limoncello! Limoncello is so good. 

The husband hasn't made limoncello in such a long time. He needs to get on that! Oh yeah! 

You can look back at the limoncello post if you're interested in the process.

Anyway...I'm getting off point a little.

The point is, sometimes life is tough. We go through rough patches. The question is, what are we going to do with the rough patches?

As the husband and I go through our rough patch, his job loss, we are working to turn our lemons into...limoncello!

It has me very excited!

It's still in the works, but I hope to share it with you soon. So hang on! Keep checking in! I'm looking forward to telling you about it!

For now it starts with a new look for Unexpected Daisies!! It's been a few years so it was about time. Hope you like it! 

-SQUEAL! Can't wait to tell you more!

Christine