life lately, according to my iphone...

Little n is starting to play with his toys on his own a lot more now. He pretty much entertains himself most of the time. We had his 9 month appointment last week and the pediatrician gave the all clear to feed him from our plates.

It feels like I have been shopping every day this week. I got a head start on Noah's first birthday party and picked up some things for myself like the blue whale mug from the curiosity shoppe at target and those dollar bins you just can't stay away from.

Paul and I have been counting our calories and dieting. I have lost 10 lbs so far and it feels great! We are using an app called my fitness pal. It is really working for us...I love that we can have whatever we want, it is just a matter of portions. I still have post pregnancy weight to loose so I set my goal to loosing 30 lbs total. I would like to join a gym sometime soon also. Maybe...

scottish festival

On Saturday we went with my in-laws to the Scottish Festival. My father in-law is from England so he enjoys things like this. As a matter of fact, there is a Turley family crest that is English and Irish. I was kind of intrigued by this so I looked it up online and came across the history and such. Its kind of fun to find out new things about family history, even if it is my husbands heritage and not my actual heritage. By the way, a cottage pie is amazing! If you ever get a chance to try one, you will like it!

bits + pieces

flea market scores from last Saturday with my mom. stocking up on party supplies for a first birthday coming up in december. a plant that is growing, growing, and growing.

noah- 9 months old

likes:
-yogurt bites

-mild cheddar crunchies

-books

-pulling up

dislikes:
-sitting still

milestones:

-6 teeth

-drinking water from a sippy cup
-standing up and starting to let go

marking the locals off our list

We are still working on our goal to eat at more local places. We tried another hamburger spot last week that I haven't been to in quite a few years. Paul has never been there since he is not originally from here. It was better than I remembered, of course! I am enjoying these little places that are often not thought about until driven past. Now we can mark this place off our list and try the next one!

cha cha cha changes...

Do you ever feel un-inspired, un-creative, and un-motivated all at the same time? This is a bad combination folks! What's even worse is I've had it for a few months now. Being really involved in our church, running a part time photography business, having a blog, cleaning house, taking care of a baby, and trying to have time for family just isn't cutting it anymore! I have really been thinking a lot about my life lately and what I am doing with it. I've heard a few sermons as of late that have really dealt with my heart. Sometimes I feel so tied down to blogging and social media that I don't even know if I'm spending enough time with God and my family every day.

When I started blogging back in 2009 I did it because it was a fun way to share my craft projects. After I had been blogging for a couple of years I started getting really caught up into trying to be like other bloggers so I could gain readership. I was posting more than just my crafts so my blog really started to evolve and I was happy about it. But, I realized that I wasn't opening up personally.

After blogging like that for a while it starts to feel like a chore. Every day I am spending time blogging and social networking. I've been completely stressing myself out trying to decide if I should stop blogging, close my facebook account, stop spending so much time on pinterest, or just slow down on it all. After considering all my options, I've decided to slow down on everything. I really love blogging and it has been a great way for me to connect with people that I don't know in real life. I enjoy sharing my life with you all.

So instead of beating myself up trying to consistently post 5-7 times a week, I will be posting approx. 3-4 times a week. Sometimes 5 if I have the extra time and content. I really want my blog to be more personal and real, but I also need to spend more time with God and my family.

I am sure you have seen the changes on my blog already and wondered what in the world was going on last week, well...I have decided to re-name my blog for several reasons. One being that I felt like I needed something more personal and fitting to this time in my life right now. It's bittersweet to say goodbye to Oh So Lovely, but it was fun while it lasted as they say! I also re-designed my whole blog, and bought a domain. So you can now visit www.joyineverylittlething.com and it will bring you straight here, no having to follow a new blog :) Just remember to update your subscriptions and feeds to the new URL! 

a trip to the park

Last week we took Noah to the park so he could swing for the first time. He absolutely loved it! He just kept starring up at the sky and looking around. Right after we got there another couple joined us with their little one and he just kept starring at her. Now he had a friend to swing with! The swinging lasted maybe 10 minutes and he was finished.

Are we done yet?

lovin' our chaos // featured sponsor

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Hi friends, followers and readers of Oh So Lovely! I am Abbie from Lovin' Our Chaos, my blog where I share the passions of my life. I am mom to my three kids, girlfriend to my darling husband and 1/2 time Kindergarten teacher. I am a lover of God, life, big bows, feathers and all things sparkly. I’m a little compulsive, a lotta crafty and always on the go and busy! My life is filled with faith, family, friends and is quite often chaotic, but I love it! I love to inspire others to create beautifully and cook simply, all while finding bargains and sharing the everyday of our household, plus my thoughts on life and loss. Come and hang out, I promise you will enjoy and love our chaos!

1. Tell us about your blog and how it came to be.
I started blogging in 2007, shortly after my daughter was born. I call that blog my 'first' blog. I didn't blog on a regular basis and was on a blog platform that required people to register in order to read. Not fun for family and friends. I ended up moving my blog to blogger and it was titled The C and M Press, after my two kids. Then, I had baby number three and the rest is history...Lovin' Our Chaos was born!

2. Where do you get inspiration?
I love being creative and I have an infatuation with Pinterest, but then again, who doesn't?! I love reading blogs about families, crafts and fashion.

3. Any advice for those who are just starting a blog?
My advice for those who are wanting to start a blog? Write about what you love and let your passion come through. Be consistent and find someone more experienced in blogging and ask tons of questions!

Be sure to check out Abbie's most popular posts...

DIY painted furniture // corn & potato chowder // repunzel braid hair clip

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