Sahin Designs Creative Team

Hi friends!

Since I last checked in a lot has changed! Notably, I've joined the Sahin Designs Creative Team! I've admired Elif's designs for years and I was ready to hop back on the creative team wagon when her team call came! I want to share with you some recent layouts I've done with her products! Let me know if you have any questions!

LIMITED EDITION KIT

ALL DRESSED UP KIT

FALL IS FOR KIT

GENERATIONS KIT

TRADITIONS KIT

UPS AND DOWNS KIT

when you run out of creativity and motivation...

Well, if you follow me on Instagram, the cat is out of the bag. I'm pregnant. I try to muster up enthusiasm when I say that, but the truth is, I've been feeling unlike myself for much of my pregnancy. I feel unmotivated, un-creative, uninterested in things I usually love (reading, scrapbooking, picture taking, Diet Dr. Pepper, etc.) and if you don't love the things you normally love and don't do the things you normally do, you can have an identity crisis. Too dramatic? Maybe. But the truth is, the fetus has sucked the life out of me physically and mentally and it came as a surprise. I don't believe this happened with my other pregnancies, though it's possible I just can't remember (it's been a while- my girls are 6.5 and 4!).

But the moral of the story is, it's ok to take breaks from things and just hold on to the hope that things will get better and things will change and you will feel like yourself again. If motherhood has taught me anything, it's the mantra that "THIS IS JUST A PHASE." It's true with kids, it's true with your postpartum hormones and extra jiggle. This is just a phase and it'll pass. And soon enough (May) they'll be a little baby in our house and I'll wonder what I was ever complaining about.

blog-tember day 4, 5, 6

Day 4 - CURRENTLY

Reading The Secrets of Happy Families. Bought it on a kindle deal- I get kindle deals sent to my email daily! My favorite blogger compiles these deals - CHECK IT OUT.
Watching Bachelor in Paradise, My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Mr. Robot
Playing Words with Friends - I know, what is this, 2012!?
Drinking Crystal light in every form and flavor. I know the artificial sugars are killing me.
Loving the 10 hours a week both kids are in school and I can do WHATEVER I want. I've had my first facial, vacuumed the couch and spent time in Target. DUH.
Going to start on some graphic design online courses I bought MONTHS (maybe a year?) ago.

Day 5 - Most Memorable Birthday

The details are a bit fuzzy, but I remember it was my 16th birthday and I was in the high school musical which was either Oklahoma! or Once Upon a Mattress. After we performed our show, my girlfriends from the show brought me to my house to pick up my wallet or something so we could go out and there was a ton of people at my house! I remember thinking it was weird how my worlds were colliding- my theater friends, my church friends, my school friends all in the same room. And I had my scary stage makeup on with my red lipstick and too much eyeliner. But I was so surprised! It was a fun night. Definitely memorable. I think that was my one and only surprise party! Though I do turn thirty in March, so another one may be in the works. Ha!

Day 6 - Create a Playlist

Tell me you guys know about Spotify? If you love music, you need Spotify. It's like Pandora but way better because you can listen to any album of any artist ever without waiting for a song you like to pop up. If you use it for free, there are ads, but I got a 3 month for $10 deal for premium and for me, it's worth it. So I have over 50 playlists I've compiled over the last 3 years. These are songs I'm digging now:

You Matter to Me - Sara Bareilles, Jason Mraz
Everyone's Waiting - Missy Higgins
3 Things - Jason Mraz
Evangeline - Tyson Motsenbocker
Jacked Up - Weezer (the whole White album is great)
Heartbeat - Mat Kearney
Wait for It - Hamilton Soundtrack
I'm A Mess - Ed Sheeran