I had the pleasure of attending the Thrive Creative Conference in Houston, Texas this past month. It is always an awesome experience to be with like minded creatives for an entire weekend! There is nothing quite like being around the people who get you & what you do! 

There were so many amazing speakers and boss babes dropping so much inspiration and knowledge! It always leaves me so inspired and rejuvenated! 

What's Your Morning Routine? Day 6 with Lara Casey.

Natalie & I put together a fun project for The Influence Conference THIS THURSDAY! We asked 6 bloggers who will be attending the conference to share their morning routines with us. We equipped them with our Latte Mug + Spoon sets to kick start their mornings!

I have shared a blogger a day leading up to the conference and now I am leaving TOMORROW!!  I can't wait to be off to meet new people, get inspired, worship & have a great time in Indiana!

To wrap up the series, we asked Lara of Lara Casey: What's your morning routine?

"The Lord makes all things new each morning. What a gift!  I love how mornings feel like a clean slate.  I love having my oatmeal and singing hymns with Gracie, setting our hearts on what matters most.  Now she asks to eat my oatmeal too : ) "

Be sure to visit Lara and say hello & follow her on Instagram - Inspiring things happening there! 

Be sure to check out each blogger's routine:

Day 1: Erin of The Blue Eyed Bride.

Day 2: Rachel of Kincaid Parade.

Day 3: Natalie of Busy Budgeting Mama.

Day 4: Kim of Oh Sweet Joy.

Day 5: Jessi of Naptime Diaries.

I am SO excited about Influence!! Are you going?

What's Your Morning Routine? Day 5 Jessi of Naptime Diaries.

Natalie & I put together a fun project for The Influence Conference THIS WEEK! We asked 6 bloggers who will be attending the conference to share their morning routines with us. We equipped them with our Latte Mug + Spoon sets to kick start their mornings!

I will share a blogger a day leading up to the conference! Then I will be off to meet new people, get inspired, worship & have a great time in Indiana!

We asked Jessi of Nap Time Diaries: What's your morning routine?

jessi using her Latte Mug + Spoon Set

I'm a hope junkie and for me, mornings are all about hope.
I'll tell you the truth, by the time I fall asleep at night - I'm not in my best shape. I struggle with second guessing all that I did or said that day and I usually feel a little overwhelmed by the next day's task. The Lord is super near to me at nights and meets me in my weakness, and for that I'm grateful. But mornings are sweet with Him in a whole new way.

The grace of the day feels fresh and my optimism is usually restored. If I'm going to have a creative idea, it's most likely in the mornings. If I'm going to exercise, it's most likely in the morning. Any writing, real abiding, or peaceful reading time - morning, morning, morning. Man, I love mornings. Here's what mine are looking like in this new season.

5amish: Cannon wakes up, hopefully for the first time, and I cuddle him and feed him. Truly one of my favorite times of the day UNLESS he's been up at 1am and 3am:)
5:30: head downstairs to fill up my water, take my vitamins, have a cup of coffee or tea and half a Lara Bar. Check email and respond to anything that needs immediate attention.
6am: go for a run with my friend Kayla or work out. Lately, I'm loving the Holy Yoga audio downloads at The LIttle Way shop.
7am: wake kids up (seriously so fun after being woken up for years) and handle breakfast, herd my sweet little cats around the house - prodding them to get dressed, brush teeth, do hair.
7:40: wake up Cannon, change his diaper and take him to the car for Nick to take all kids to school. Walk back in and chuckle at the morning mess.
8-9am: play with Cannon, make to-do list, start laundry, have a quick morning meeting with Hayley, and pray with Nick for our day, our business, etc.
9am: Cannon goes down for morning nap and I finally eat breakfast. Sit at my crazy cluttered desk and soak up the hope.

The more days go by, the more I sense the Lord loving when I hope in Him.
He wants all my desires and prayers and longings heaped on His lap.
And I think He loves the mornings.

Be sure to visit Jessi and say hello & follow her on Instagram - Inspiring things happening there! 

Check out more Blogger's morning routines:

Day 1: Erin of The Blue Eyed Bride.

Day 2: Rachel of Kincaid Parade.

Day 3: Natalie of Busy Budgeting Mama.

Day 4: Kim of Oh Sweet Joy.

What's Your Morning Routine? Day 4 with Kim of Oh Sweet Joy.

Natalie & I put together a fun project for The Influence Conference NEXT WEEK! We asked 6 bloggers who will be attending the conference to share their morning routines with us. We equipped them with our Latte Mug + Spoon sets to kick start their mornings!

I will share a blogger a day leading up to the conference! Then I will be off to meet new people, get inspired, worship & have a great time in Indiana!

We asked Kim of Oh Sweet Joy: What's your morning routine?

Kim using her Latte Mug + Spoon Set.

I've never been a morning person, but motherhood is slowly turning me into one. I still love to sleep in, but the early wake up call from baby Knox has made me crave a morning routine. I secretly love opening the blinds in the morning and looking out on the sunrise. Finding beauty in the new mercies that I'm granted, in the new day that I get to live, in the landscape and sunrise that surrounds me...it's a beautiful thing.

I nurse Knox around 7-8 am, depending on what time he wakes up, while reading my She Reads Truth plan. As much as I'd love to wake up earlier and journal before He wakes up and actually read from the Bible, rather than a Bible app - it's just where I'm at right now and I'll take that daily bread however I can get it.

I love to get dressed right after Knox gets his breakfast, but that rarely happens. When it does, I feel I can accomplish so much more. I put Knox down to play while I make coffee and usually throw some clothes on while it's brewing. I try to do something with my bed-head. 

If Knox eats before 8, he usually is ready to go back down for a morning nap so I can watch Kelly & Michael and sip my coffee. I love that part of my morning..it gets super quiet and still and then I turn on the tv with the volume super low. I answer some emails and do some random blog work during the commercial breaks...also planning my day in to-do list form.

Basically, my mornings are spent trying to figure out how to be a mom, how to be a disciple of Jesus, how to run a business + a household, and how to drink my cup of coffee without having to reheat it three times.

Before I know it, it's 11 am and Knox is ready to eat again and then..bam. It's lunch time and the afternoon is ready to be taken on.

Be sure to visit Kim and say hello & follow her on Instagram - Inspiring things happening there! 

Check out more morning routines:

Day 1: Erin of The Blue Eyed Bride.

Day 2: Rachel of Kincaid Parade.

Day 3: Natalie of Busy Budgeting Mama.

What's Your Morning Routine? Day 3 with Natalie of BBM.

Natalie & I put together a fun project for The Influence Conference NEXT WEEK! We asked 6 bloggers who will be attending the conference to share their morning routines with us. We equipped them with our Latte Mug + Spoon sets to kick start their mornings!

I will share a blogger a day leading up to the conference! Then I will be off to meet new people, get inspired, worship & have a great time in Indiana!

We asked Natalie of the Busy Budgeting Mama: What's your morning routine?

Natalie using her Latte Mug + Spoon Set

I am a night owl.
I get this from my mama.
She is the same way.. we have always been little busy bees at night, working on stuff...
We laugh about how my dad, when we are all together visiting,
STILL goes through the house turning off the lights around us at 9:00pm.
That's like.. hoursss before you really need to go to bed ;) ;)
Since having kids..I found myself NEEDING to stay up at night so I could actually get things done. Some days, that's the only way things happen!


I don't mind waking up and getting rolling in the morning...
If wake up can come after 7 or 8.
But my little wee ones are MORNING PEOPLE...
and as soon as the sun shines they are ready to take on the day.
Even black out shades don't keep these stinkers sleeping.
They have FINALLY been waking up at 7:00/7:30...
instead of the typical 6:00/6:30.

Growing up I was not a coffee drinker.
But since having a third child....I remember telling Nen OK...
I am going to force myself to like it. haha.
Luckily for me...my husband introduced me to the amazing
combo of chocolate and coffee...cafe mocha....I love you.
(the coffee and the husband)

I need a few things to force help me be a morning person.
Jesus.
A Pretty breakfast area.
Cafe Mocha in a pretty mug.
and of course Morning smoochies from the kids.
(preferably ones without food/boogers etc on their face.)

Pancakes make it easier to be a morning person too.
coffee cake.. sausage egg stratta..you get the idea.
Having real food..or a tasty breakfast food makes it easier to do
the whole up at the crack of dawn thing.
I love oatmeal. or Danon Fit & Active Vanilla yogurt with blueberries and granola. yum.

Be sure to visit Natalie and say hello & follow her on Instagram - Inspiring things happening there! 

Day 1: Erin of The Blue Eyed Bride.

Day 2: Rachel of Kincaid Parade.

What's Your Morning Routine? Day 2 with Rachel of Kincaid Parade.

Natalie & I put together a fun project for The Influence Conference NEXT WEEK! We asked 6 bloggers who will be attending the conference to share their morning routines with us. We equipped them with our Latte Mug + Spoon sets to kick start their mornings!

I will share a blogger a day leading up to the conference! Then I will be off to meet new people, get inspired, worship & have a great time in Indiana!

We asked Rachel of Kincaid Parade: What's your morning routine?

We can hear the twins chatting upstairs in their cribs, most likely tossing stuffed animals back and forth. Soon, we'll hear them transition to sing-yelling, the signal they're ready to get dressed. There's no doubt that Ames is awake and staring faithfully at his clock, waiting for it to turn green. Soon, we'll hear his sweet feet pattering down the stairs and into our bedroom.

Until then, though, these fifteen minutes are ours.

Chris prepares my iced coffee and his hot tea. We eat breakfast; sometimes together, sometimes not. He prefers to eat the same thing each morning, but I like to switch things up. My favorite indulgence is a bowl of deliciously unhealthy cereal that I keep hidden from the kids.

It doesn't matter if we're checking emails or reading or talking quietly on the couch or still lying in bed with our treats. Soon, the world will catch up to us. But right now, these fifteen minutes are ours.

Be sure to visit Rachel and say hello & follow her on Instagram - Inspiring things happening there!

If you missed Day 1, be sure to go checkout Erin of The Blue Eyed Bride's Morning Routine! 

What's Your Morning Routine? Day 1 with Erin of Blue Eyed Bride.

Natalie & I put together a fun project for The Influence Conference NEXT WEEK! We asked 6 bloggers who will be attending the conference to share their morning routines with us. We equipped them with our Latte Mug + Spoon sets to kick start their mornings!

I will share a blogger a day leading up to the conference! Then I will be off to meet new people, get inspired, worship & have a great time in Indiana!

We asked Erin of the Blue Eyed Bride: What's your morning routine?

We’re in the phase where a certain four-year-old is knocking on our door every morning at 6:00 a.m. This is the earliest he has ever woken up.

And Todd and I are night owls. I hit my second wind at 10:00 p.m. I blog, I watch TV, I stay up way too late for his 6:00 a.m. wake up call.

So Hudson gets our day going. Todd and I sludge around and doze with Hudson in the bed until about 7:00 a.m. And then we start running and racing.

Dressing kids, getting ourselves dressed. Letting the dogs out and feeding the dogs and getting breakfast for the kids. I may guzzle a cup of coffee and wish I had more time to really enjoy it before we jump in the car and head off to school.

I spend my morning while they’re at school running errands, going to the gym, doing housework. Trying to wake up, basically.

But after school, and after lunch. My “mommy power hour” begins.

I get the boys down for naps, let the dogs out, get dinner prepped, and then it’s my time.

Because our mornings start out with us all running wild, I take time during nap time for coffee and quiet.

I turn on my favorite praise music and spread out. The TV is off. The toys are out of sight. I can hear my thoughts.

I sip my coffee slowly out of my gorgeous, enormous latte mug, and I soak up the Word. I work on my daily to-do list, and I have a couple of hours to do it.

It’s my favorite time of day, and if I’m feeling extra productive, I may even go back for a second cup.

I just need a little bit of quiet, a breakfast blend K-Cup, and the Word.

Be sure to visit Erin and say hello & follow her on Instagram - Inspiring things happening there! 

2013 Influence Conference Meet + Greet.

Things have been plain crazy around here this month.  I had my wisdom teeth cut out (still recovering) my husband is taking a short trip this weekend, I had a big wholesale order to fulfill, I am participating in a local handmade show, AND in a little over 2 weeks I will be leaving for the Influence Conference!

I remember being scared to death to attend my first conference, now I think I am kind of addicted to them! Today I'm sharing a few things I am looking forward to & things I will be sure to bring along + linking up with the Influence Conference meet + greet.

2 things I will be sure to pack:

1. My iPad - so I can take lots of pics to share with you on Instagram + stay connected! 

2. Lots of cute outfits - let's face it, everyone is thinking the same thing!! I'm a notorious over packer so I am sure I will have enough if you forget something! ;)

2 things I am most looking forward to:

1.  Meeting my handmade "mastermind" group. I have emailed, texted, video chatted and shared my business & real life with Natalie, Megan, Rebecca & Melody for over a year now & we FINALLY get to meet at Influence! It is going to be an amazing time full of memories! 

2.  Starbucks EVERY.SINGLE.MORNING. Seriously, I'm sure you all know I am a COFFEE ADDICT & the closest Starbucks is about 45 minutes away from where I live! (that should be a crime) I am looking forward to having lots of coffee dates - hopefully lots of relationships will be strengthened and built over coffee in a couple weeks!

Are you going to Influence or any other conferences this year?

2013 Snap Conference Recap

Large Picture: Me with Alex + Courtney, Danielle, Elise, Beth. Highlights: Had awesome next door neighbors, hung out in the Lowes Booth, met Sew Caroline, Brittany & Becki!! 

I just got back from SNAP 2013 & I am not even sure where to begin.  I had such an amazing experience.  This was my first Blog Conference & I am not going to lie, I almost cancelled 999 times.  But OH BOY am I glad I didn't. 

Being a newbie, I was not sure what to expect, I could only go by the information I had read on other blogs. Needless to say I was blown away.  

I got to meet my roommate Beth for the first time in real life.  We have "known" each other through blogging for a few years, but meeting face to face and connecting with her was AWESOME!  She is so sweet, genuine, funny, kind & just a great friend! 

Utah is BEAUTIFUL! I was blown away by the scenery! 

 Fringe necklace c/o Pink Lemonade 

Lots of fun outfit posts were taken...it was nice being around so many other people taking these outfit posts!  I felt like I found my people & didn't have to worry about people starring at me during my "photo-shoots" because everyone around me was doing them too! (more outfit posts to come!)

SO much awesomeness occurred in the Show Barn!! 

Highlight: I got to meet my Virtual Assistant, Skye for the first time in real life! I love her SO much! She is the most amazing person & I could not do it without her! LOVE YOU GIRL! 

Me, Kelsey & Beth

Beth, Caroline, Morgan, Alex & Courtney, Danielle, Elise, Jackie

Making new friends & meeting so many awesome, kind people I admire (Becki of Whippy Cake, Susan of Freshly Picked to name a couple) had to be the best part of the whole conference for me.  

I know these are people I will be friends with for a lifetime! I am so thankful for all the amazing people I met & can't wait to continue to grow our relationships! 

I will be recapping more of the conference, including some great tips and new things I learned in the classes! 

Have you ever been to a Blog Conference? What was your favorite part about it?