For about 7 years now we have tried to plan a family vacation tradition with our best friends & it has never worked out.  Until this year that is! It was short a short trip, but a sweet one full of memories! Though I love the ocean, we decided to stay closer to home & went to Kelley's Island Ohio. I had not been there since high school.

Kelley's Island is beautiful. You take a ferry to get to the island & it is so peaceful there. We kept asking each other, "why don't we come here more often?"  It's an island in Lake Erie & has a population of approximately 313 on the 4.1 square mile island.  Most people drive golf carts or ride bikes around the island, we did both and it was so much fun! All the kids said the golf cart was there favorite thing!

We spent our time at the pool, eating at the local restaurants, searching the beaches for shells, taking walks, exploring the island, getting ice cream down town & watching sunsets over the water. It was a great vacation!

I found that I couldn't stop snapping pictures of the scenery, especially the water. I have always felt most alive by the water!  I have dreamed of owning a little beach cottage one day. I always pictured it by the ocean, but I am considering changing my dream to owning a lake house!

My best friend of 24 years & our kiddos. 

Did you go on vacation this year? Where are your favorite vacation spots?

This or That.

I thought a little This or That would be fun for a Friday! It's fun to get to know little snippets of people's personalities this way!  

Below are my answers & I would love to know yours! Feel free to link up your own blog post answering these this or that questions or leave your answers in the comments! 

Link up with your own This or That post or leave your answers in the comments! 

InstaFriday - Life lately according to my iPad

Follow me on Instagram: @jessicaNdesigns

♥ I love my afternoon cup of coffee. I look forward to it. I wish I had more time to enjoy it. Anyone have magic dust that will get both my kids down for a nap at the same time? ANYONE?!

♥  Lots of new spoons coming to the shop! Speaking of new spoons, I'm having a Facebook Contest & the winning idea gets a spoon with their saying FREE plus it will be featured in the shop! FUN!

♥ Ever heard of pumpkins on a stick? Me either until my Dad showed me these little guys! CUTE!

♥ There are far to little date nights going on around here. We need to fix that!

♥ My baby is learning to read...crazy!

♥ Speaking of reading, I am currently reading Grow Your Handmade Business & Handmade to Sell! Loving it so far!

♥ I don't know why my pics turn out so fuzzy with the iPad...any tips? You know who has AMAZING pics? @katieisadaisy + @whippycake. You should check them out on instagram!


HAPPY WEEKEND FRIENDS!
Any fun plans??

Mini Home Tour - How to make a House a Home.

Yesterday I shared my DIY Faux Vintage Pull Down Map Tutorial & while I was in the proccess of photographing it, I thought it might be fun to give you a mini-tour of my home.  So sit back while I give you a peek inside my living room where we spend most of our time!

Most of the things I decorate my home with are either thrifted, given to me, picked up a garage sales or found on these awesome facebook groups my Dad's wife Debbie got me hooked on! 

I got my old fireplace mantel (that I am in love with) off one of the facebook groups I belong to.  The lady I purchased it from said she found it in a very old farm house in a nearby town. 

It's a solid wood fireplace mantel and I can not believe the great condition it is in!  The details on the front of the mantel are like nothing made today!  I repainted it in my newest color obsession, mint! It is the focal point of the living room.

I love finding amazing vintage items to decorate my house with, it makes it feel so much more homey! But decorating is not the only thing that makes a house a home. 

I was listening to a country song yesterday ( I can't remember which one) but the artist was singing about how we seem to have forgotten how to make a house a home.  And sadly, I think that is largely true! 

It is very important to me that my children grow up with good morals, values and a sense of responsibility. I do not want them to have a sense of entitlement.

I believe all of that starts at home. It is my & my husbands responsibility to instill these things in our children. It is my prayer that with the Lord's help, we do a good job.

Here are some ways I try to make our house a home:

• I want to eat as a family every night & talk about whatever is on our hearts.  
• I want to make our kids feel secure, safe, able to come to me and their father with anything.  
• I want to teach them to be kind, respectful, hard working, loving, caring, responsible people who shine for the Lord in whatever they do. 
• I want to pray together as a family. I want to teach them to take everything to the Lord.
• I want to have weekly family movie nights where we all snuggle together.
• I want to tuck them in each night with prayers, kisses and hugs.
• I want to show them they are loved, unconditionally.  

Let's Chat!

Leave a comment answering one or both of these  questions:

♥ What's your favorite room in your home & why?
♥ How do you make your house a home?

Happy Birthday To Me!

My Birthday Faces:

Whoop! It's my birthday! / Wait, I'm 30. / OMG I am 30... / Oh well Let's party!

First of all, I can NOT believe I am 30...I am kind of embarrassed to admit it. But what can you do...whine & complain, be depressed for a bit, day dream about the old days, wish you were younger, do something crazy. OR you can appreciate the days you are given, be happy about where you are in life, feel blessed you have reached this milestone, hope & pray for many more amazing years. 

Sure, while I may remain a little dumb founded that I am in fact out of my 20s, I have decided to embrace this milestone age. I have decided to give Thanks to the Lord for even being here, for the life he has blessed me with, for the years he has given me!   My best friend (who also turns 30 next month) texted me a quote yesterday & it really hit home:

"Do not regret growing older.  It is a privilege denied to many."  ~Author Unknown

That is so true! And to be honest, I have all I have ever wanted.  A husband who I love with all my heart, 3 beautiful children, my own successful business, a family that I treasure, amazing friends that I adore & the life I always dreamed of! I would say that is pretty darn good for 30! 

Let's CELEBRATE with a SALE! 

TODAY ONLY get 20% off ANYTHING in the shop with code: ITSMYBDAY

Also, be sure to check back next week for a BIG CELEBRATION GIVEAWAY! I am planning a "My favorite things" giveaway & I can't wait! 

Happy Birthday to me!