Housekeeping & Some Shop Updates

In an effort to simplify, streamline and reach some goals that I have for this lil' blog I've decided to make some necessary changes. You may or may not have noticed them already but here's a little explanation and some updates.

When I started Ava's Closet back in 2009 I wanted a place to showcase the over abundance of goodies that I was making for children due to being inspired by my own pregnancy and desire to make beautiful things for Ava. It gave me a place to feed my creative side and make some pretties for family and friends.

Over the last two years my creativity and desires have expanded and grown. This year I really felt like I needed to stream line those things and find a way to encompass my passion for all things creative. I've decided to change the name of my shop from Ava's Closet to Worley House Designs to accomplish this goal.

For me it just makes sense to have everything under the 'Worley House' umbrella. It will also allow me the freedom to start creating some the home/everyday items I've been dreaming about. Now when you visit the shop you'll see an all new look, but much of the same items including things for babies, ladies and children. The new look will be a lot like what the blog looks like now with a new header and button, see here:



To visit the shop, click here.

Please "like" our facebook page, as the Ava's Closet page will be removed in a week. On the new page you'll find shop updates & discounts as well.

I'm also delighted to say that our Blogs&Coffee print was featured today in treasury list, click here to see it. Would you please visit the new shop and let me know your thoughts? I'd appreciate it and love to hear your feed back.

The other small change is that I've added a 'Shop Our Home' link to the navigation bar at the top of the blog. Since I'm so indecisive about a lot of things I have for sale some gently used items from our home and closets. All items are priced to ship anywhere in the United States. Go here to visit the page, or click the link above.

Thanks for going on this journey and changes with me. I appreciate YOU my readers and I'm excited for 2012 holds! Here's to goals and getting there!

Blog Roll Monday: Just A Girl



Blog Roll Monday is a weekly feature where I share a blog that I'm loving on my reading list and share why you should be reading them too!

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I've been reading Chris' blog for quite some time now, it's one of my favorites for decor and crafty things. One of the things that I love about her is that she's a working Mom of 2, and still finds the time to craft, create, decorate and do what inspires her and what she loves.

It inspires me so much being a working Mom myself. She inspires me and let's me know there's room for it all when your family is your priority.

She's also part of the brain behind the new Haven conference coming to Atlanta in June, I so wish I could go but it conflicts with another event I'll be attending during the same time. If you're looking for a home decor/DIY conference check it out!



 
She has some great great projects and ideas, one of my faves was her dining room makeover. You can see the full list of projects she's worked on for her home here.
 
I even found my friend Destiny's blog when Just A Girl featured her, and now she one of my good friends! Love this blog land!
 
If you're looking for a fresh new decor/craft blog she's your girl! Check out her blog and more here.
 
Happy Monday Friends!

{Traditions} Christmas Cards

I send out a Christmas card every year, it's something I've done and look forward to for the last 4 years we've been married. I appreciate getting them as much as I love giving them to our family and friends. So when Christmas is over and we start taking down the decorations I can't bear to part with them.

I mean, people spend a lot of time and money on them and I think that's valuable. We started this tradition last year, and continued it again this year. I take off my Christmas cards people have sent off the wall and put them all on a serving platter and place them on our kitchen table.

Each night of January at dinner we pick a card up from one of the families that sent us a card, and we pray for that family. We know them all personally so we have some direction to pray, but mostly we pray God's blessing and favor over them for the year. 

I love doing this, I feel like if someone took the time to send us a card the least we can do is pray God's blessing over them. Let them know in some small way we're thinking of them.

Afterwards I usually put them in a photo album and save them, but this year I did something a little different. Come back in a few days and see what I did with the Christmas cards this year. 

Did you start any new traditions this year? I'd love to hear about them, tell me in the comments below!

Happy Saturday! 

Hello, I love you: Kitchens

Today, I'm linking up with Heather at Angel Face Designs! I met Heather at Creative Estates last year and fell in love with her adorable blog and cute little shop! She does this feature on her blog called; Hello, I Love you! Sharing what cute things she's loving!

She's decided to open it up to a Saturday link up party for everyone to share things they are loving to! Sounds fun right?!

This week's theme: Kitchens

I love a good kitchen! One day I dream of a white kitchen with lots and lots of storage and a dreamy pantry. Here's a few I've been finding inspiration from via my pin boards on Pinterest. 

Source: houzz.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Andrea on Pinterest

I have a thing for white cabinets with dark flooring. That's my dream kitchen. One day I would love to buy a home and redo the kitchen ourselves.

I also love the idea of some open shelving. Maybe not all the cabinets but some really light my fire. I think it's a great way to display some of your "prettier" pieces of dish ware too.

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Andrea on Pinterest

And remember when I mentioned about a dreamy pantry? Well, here's a few of them that I've been finding inspiration from.

Source: houzz.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: housetweaking.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: houseofsmiths.blogspot.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Wanna join in on the fun? Join Heather and visit her blog and read all about it today, and then link up your own kitchen loves too! Linking up here.

Watch Me Grow: 21 Months

Ava turned 21 months old on Christmas Eve. Each month is always a little bittersweet for this Mama, but this one is probably extra bittersweet because that means she'll be 2 in just three months. Where has the time gone, seriously?!


I love seeing how she's growing and changing. Right now she's in a phase of repeating everything we say. It's so cute, and sometimes we just throw out words just to see if she'll repeat them back to us. 


Hello, Homogenize. 

She still loves Yo- Gabba Gabba, coloring, music and dancing. Singing songs with us and Elmo. 

Lately we've been having lots of issues with sleeping through the night. We've never had an issue with her sleeping through the night, but ever since we took away the binki she's been sleeping and then 
waking up in the middle of the night screaming from her crib. 


We've tried a lot of different things during this time. Right now rocking her completely to sleep at night is the only thing that's helping her sleep, but she's still waking up in the middle of the night and crying. 


If you have any tips for this tired Mama, I'd love to hear them. 

She loved being at home this Christmas. It was so fun to see her interact with family, play with her cousins and laugh with them. She loves them, and it's so sweet to see. 

Here's some stats about Miss Ava;

She's wearing a size 5/6 shoe. Size 5 diapers. Size 24 month- 2T clothing. 

She weighs about 25 pounds. 

Some of her favorite foods include: milk, apples, oranges, bananas and gold fish. 

We recently turned her car seat forward facing. 

Her New Year's resolutions this year are:

- sleep in my own bed through the night again!

- transition to a toddler bed.

- start potty training.

We're so in love with this little girl! We feel truly blessed to call her ours. I'm deep in the planning process of a magical and fun second birthday party for her. I hate to see her get bigger, but I love watching her grow, change and learn new things. 

Love you baby girl! 

{JOY}

Last year I challenged myself to simplify. I wanted to focus on one word for the year and live that out in the everyday. Last year I worked hard to accomplish the goals I set out to focus on for the year, and I know I'm better for it. Our family is better for it as well.

In thinking and praying about my word for 2012 I really felt a stirring in my heart about the word JOY!

At the start of last year our church closed down without notice, it was a sudden change to our lives and in our ministry. There was a lot of confusion that surround this decision we had no control over. When the church closed, Orion and I knew that we'd be OK regardless of what had happened or the emotions surrounding this decision.

That event led us on a journey of trying to figure out what was next for us? We moved to Arizona two years ago to take a job at that church, and now that it was closed it left us answering the question of what's next?

I'll be honest and say that the last year was very hard for me in the regard of not feeling "settled." There was an un easy feeling in me most of the time feeling like I couldn't really unpack our bags here so to speak because I was unsure of whether or not this would be our forever home.

I know that it might sound weird to some, but for me we've experienced so much transition in our lives since 2008 that I am just ready to be in a place long term.

No more moving. I want to create a home somewhere for my family and enjoy this life.

In the last six months I've really been evaluating myself, my heart and my emotions. I realized that I was trying to find my happiness in the circumstances instead of finding JOY in where ever the Lord has us at the time.

Happiness is based on good things happening to us.

JOY is eternal! Knowing that no matter what happens or doesn't happen;

The Joy of the Lord is our strength. Neh. 8:10 (NIV)



Source: moneysavingmom.com via Andrea on Pinterest

This year the word I want to focus my heart and life on is JOY!

Choosing JOY in every circumstance. Choosing to find the JOY in everyday things and not be so caught up in what does or doesn't happen.

Find JOY in my relationship with the Lord knowing it is and always has been enough.

I know that when I am focused on eternal things, and joyful towards others they catch it too. It makes a difference in me, in my home, and in others.

I wanted to choose a Bible verse for the year to go along with my word for 2012, I choose this verse:

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

It really sums up in every single way how I am feeling, and how I want to live this out. No matter what this year I want to choose JOY.

Be filled with JOY.

Take it with me.

Enjoy this life and the journey that God has us on.

Today I want to challenge you to take a look and see how you could be more joyful in your own life.

Maybe it's towards others.

Maybe your children or spouse.

Maybe you're going through a hard time and you need to choose to be JOYFUL in your circumstances. Change your attitude and choose JOY today. 

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30B430: Learn to Sew, again.



#12: Learn to Sew

I say again because I used to sew all the time in college but haven't since. This year I really wanted to learn again, start doing, and start creating projects. I started doing this back in September of last year {wow, that's weird to say} but I did.

A bunch of my friends were having babies so I wanted to make them some special gifts to give them for their little ones.



I made these little shirts for my nieces, nephew and Ava for Christmas. They turned out so cute, and I was really pleased with them.



I sewed myself a little grey hound sooth table runner you can see it in the table above, and more here in this photo below.



You can see some of the baby onesies I've worked on here in my Etsy shop.  The point is, I've been sewing and I'm really enjoying all the things I've been creating!

Goal, checked off the list!

What goals have you been working on? Tell me in the comments below, I'd love to hear some of your goals for the year!