Life Lately: Dropping Like Flies

That pretty much sums up my kids this week. I have been to urgent care twice and to our primary's' once. Later today, we're off to the specialist. I guess when it rains it pours. Last Friday my son mentioned he wasn't feeling too hot. By Sunday I was exhausted from sleepless nights and constant crying. Off to urgent care we went. Turns out he had dime size ulcers in his mouth that had become infected. That infection spread into his ears, causing quite a bit of pain in my little guy. Thank goodness for drug stores that are open on Sunday's, because illnesses operate 7 days a week, you know.
Fast forward to Wednesday: Liam finally made it back to school. Here I thought to myself, Great, I get things done and get possibly get to the mechanic. Ho, ho, ho! This is when someone noticed my daughter grabbing herself. After a brief conversation with her, I was on the phone with my primary doctor. (We'll keep that visit private.) Off to the drug store!
On to Thursday: I noticed my oldest daughter's ear was yucky and full of gunk. Oh dear! It was obvious she had an allergic reaction to the earrings she was wearing and there was an infection. I took them out, soaked her ear lobe in peroxide (mostly to loosen the gunk so I could remove the stud), and wiped it down with a dab of antibiotic ointment. Huh, I thought, that's strange. Where is the earring back? I looked, pondered, then realized one small piece of information. When I put her earrings in, I specifically put the metal backing on, then put on a plastic back so the earring wouldn't dig into the back of her ear at bedtime. I looked. Here's the plastic backing, but where is the metal back? Eyes wide, I touched her lobe, noticing how swollen it was. I could certainly feel a knot in it, but was it just infection? Off to urgent care we went! Sure enough, the doc took an xray and came back, saying, "It's in there." That earrings' back lodged itself into her ear lobe! Oh my word! 
So today we're off to the specialist to see about getting that earring back cut out of there. I have yet to see the mechanic. Thanks for indulging in my week with me. Tomorrow I will finally get a day off. So stay tuned as I prepare to share the awesomeness that will be tomorrow with you. For now, have a great Friday and safe weekend.
Toodles! Steph

2013 In Review

I sort of vanished for the latter part of 2013. My last post was on November 16, when I shared the Gatsby printable I created. I'm glad for those of you who enjoyed and for all the shares it has received on Pinterest. 

The year 2013 was a hard year. It began with me abandoning all control, putting all of my faith in God, and moving to Boone. I had never set foot on Boone soil. I hadn't been to NC since I last lived here when I was six years old. But God brought me here, and boy do I love it! God is great that way. The day I left I cried on my mothers shoulder, terrified to leave. Who would of thought I would find such an amazing, gracious and loving home here.

But that was hardly difficult. Between October and November I lost three members of my family. Two were somewhat expected, so while disheartening, easy to cope with. It was the last one, my Aunt Shari. She died Thanksgiving morning. She died in her sleep. She was but 50 years old.

I was walking out the door the morning of Thanksgiving. My purse was in hand, the kids were headed downstairs to the car, when my phone rang. I realized it was coming from my bedroom and that I did not have it on hand. I went to get it real fast, saw that it was my dad calling. For a fraction of a second I thought, Oh, I'll call him back later. We were just walking out, headed to spend the holiday with family and friends. We had hours of driving to do. But then I decided to answer since it was Thanksgiving. My parents had relocated back to Phoenix, so the least I could was wish my family a Happy Thanksgiving.

In that same moment it occurred to me that it was 9 AM my time, 6 AM theirs. How odd they would be calling me so early.

"Hello," I answered.
"Hey, Sis," came my dad's voice. "I've got bad news."
"What? Is everything okay?"

"Shari died."

My reply was bleak. I plopped down onto my bed and stuttered over my words. What words I could get out, that is. I hung up the phone and wept. I wept all the way to Morganton, then on the drive to Rockingham, then while I was there at my best friends house. 

I haven't quite gotten passed it yet. Each time I think of it, my mind doesn't seem to want to comprehend it. She was only fifty! Far too young to die! But just like that, my mothers baby sister was gone. 

My aunt didn't have children of her own, but spoiled us tremendously. I always had a very close relationship to her. She bought me my first pair of dangly earrings and took me to my first R-rated movie. She once took me to see the Beauty and the Beast ballet at the theater, and even brought a pair of theater binoculars. Between that and the dress my mother bought me, I remember feeling so fancy that day.

Each time I think of these things, I just feel ... sad. Is there another word for it? Something not quite so morose, but equal in feeling? 

That is why I have not been around much. I haven't quite gotten over the sadness. And beginning a new year doesn't make it easier to do so. I feel this need to begin a new year, leave the old in the past, and embrace the present. There's a whole future in front of me. But how do you just let someone go so cavalier-like? I don't think you do. 

So, no, I don't believe I will be embracing 2014, but rather plugging on through another day. I know that time heals and just because it is a new year, that doesn't mean it's time yet.

On a more delightful note: I did get to spend a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with my best friend of nearly 20 years. We had a marvelous time together! We even stole a moment to take some family portraits. So enjoy these final mementos for this post. Till next time ...

Hinson Lake, Rockingham, NC

If you're interested in how I edited any of these, please let me know in the comments. All the actions I used are freebies, and I would love to share the techniques I'm learning in Photoshop.

Happy New Year to all,

Steph

Life lately [in photos]

Most days life is so busy I look back and wonder how on earth I get through it. Many days blur together, one right into the next. With children back in school, germs are in full force, wreaking even more havoc. With strep throat, upper respiratory and ear infection terrorizing my home, last week I only had time for one blog post. Just one! That made me a little sad, although I was glad I got to sneak in a little Photoshop time. I really enjoy learning it.

Friday was my day off, however. I took a girls day and went thrifting with Logan's mother and one of our neighbors. I picked up this darling little picture frame. It came with that photo inside. I liked it so much, I decided to leave it.

I also did some rearranging around the house this weekend. I brought my dresser full of fabric out of my room, into the living room. I had purchased a wooden toddler bed for my youngest daughter not too long ago, and in no time my children destroyed it. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM. THEY ARE CHEAP. While I was thrifting I found a metal toddler bed (much better) and snagged it. I took that cheap wood sleigh one, disassembled it, and used the headboard as a scarf rack. I'm considering using the foot board in my studio space.

And exciting, exciting, I got a new/used vehicle! This was an honest blessing. I have not had a car since mine broke down last December. It has not bothered me much living here. Bus service is free, paid for by the college. It's wonderful. But the buses don't leave the town of Boone. Anything outside of town has been off limits to me and all my children. And there's the snow. While there is bus service, I walk to most places, such as the bus stop, grocery store, bank, etc. I have been praying, leaving it to the Lord, knowing when a vehicle was right for me, I would know it. Logan came to me and said, Go test drive this car for sale, I'll watch the kids. I was a little dumbfounded. The whole thing was just that abrupt. But I did when Logan told me it was a mutual friend selling it who honestly needed it sold. She is a single momma of four and needed it gone. I had my mechanic look it over it, he gave it a thumbs up, and when I told him how much I was paying his jaw dropped and he said, "Take it!" So thank you, Lord, for a cheap, sound vehicle that will keep me from walking in the freezing snow this winter.

And how about this view of an Appalachian Mountain sunset? Yeah, I thought so. Things like this make me happy I live here. What a blessing God has been to me and my children.

How have your lives been lately? 

XO,

Steph

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Overcoming Divorce

How do you get over divorce?

I don't believe you really "get over" divorce. Like everything in life, time heals and you begin to move on. You learn how to build yourself anew. That has been the past year of my life: building it new -- but only with God's love and grace.

It was one year ago when I saw my father for the first time in a good number of years. Life had been unkind and taken its toll on my body. I was newly separated, depressed, and severely underweight. I couldn't stop getting sick, and I was growing weary of it, physically, mentally and emotionally. I was caring for three children on my own, all who didn't understand. They acted out, I banished myself to another room to release tears that were impossible to hold back. I smoked a pack a day to check out, kill time. Self-destruction held no regard. I later learned that after my brief visit with my dad, he called my mother and wept on the phone to her. The sight of how frail and sunken I was broke his heart.

People often made remarks about a what a strong person I was, saying I was a better woman than they, and so forth, although I didn't feel it most times. People asked how I did it, and always my answer was the same: 

By the grace of God. 

The fact was, I could not do it on my own. On my own, I crumbled. I grew bitter. Resentful. Hateful and angry. My sole desire was to curl into a ball and pray life would stop existing. But God was so kind to me. He took pity on me. He allowed my world to crumble beneath my feet so that I may be brought to my knees and be humbled.

It has been a heart-wrenching year. It has been a happy year. It has been a year full of trials and tribulations. It has been a year in which I learned how wicked and deceitful my own heart could be. It has been a year in which I realized how meek and humble it ought to be. 

I have learned to love and forgive. I have learned to stand on my own two feet. I have learned to praise God for all that I hold dear. For His grace is sufficient!

One year ago August 29, I loaded what I could of my belongings into a 5x8 trailer, hitched to the back of my SUV, and departed Colorado. In the pitch black of early morning, I watched my home vanish from sight through the rear view mirror. Let me tell you, this is why I say you never really "get over" divorce. I had a month to pack and cope and come to terms with everything. But with each passing mile, I got angrier and angrier. I grew more terrified. How was I going to make it on my own? How was I going to provide for three children by myself? Could I survive? I doubted whether or not God's grace was sufficient. I held onto this doubt for many months, and, once again, in December of last year, God let it all blow up in my face, brought me to my knees, yet again, and showed me, Yes, His Grace is Sufficient!

I cannot say exactly what brought me to North Carolina, other than faith. Faith that I was not strong enough to do everything on my own. Faith that God would carry the burden for me. Faith that I was hearing God right when He told me to pack up my children (a second time in so many months) and move them somewhere we've never been. But here we are, nestled deep in the mountains, and we're loving it! God knew this was where we needed to be. He knew this place would bring us peace and joy. He knew I would be able to provide for my kids. And He knew the people who already lived here, whose lives I would come to affect. It's amazing how God knows all our lives, all our circumstances, and can bring us together to change each others lives for the good.

It is with a tearful smile I can say I've gained over 15 pounds back, I rarely get sick, I stopped smoking, for their is no need for me to check out anymore, and I am happy. I can also proudly say that recently I updated my Facebook profile photo and received a delighted call from my dad how good I was looking these days.

So for those who may wonder "How Do You Get Over Divorce?" My answer is, you don't. You get through it. One day at a time, with each breath, clinging to the grace of God for dear life.

All my love today!

Steph

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Turning 30

Dress: Envie Boutique // Jacket: Ross // Headband: Vera Bradley // Sunnies: Fashion Bug (going out of business sale) // Earrings: unknown

Would you believe I turn 30 years old today? No, I don't feel old. I have not yet experienced that, although I can see and feel the changes in my aging body. I have smile lines around my mouth and crows feet forming around my eyes.

No. Today I sort of feel ... unaccomplished. It's hard to express this without pouring myself out to you. I keep thinking, I'm 30 and where am I? I have a failed a marriage, trying to raise three kids on my own; I am uneducated and possess no skills. Although Logan would tell you otherwise. He says if I can do it, I will. He calls me a self-made woman. I suppose in a way I am. I don't like depending on others to do things I'm capable of. I own a sewing machine to make myself and my children clothes. I loaded the moving truck on my own when I moved here. I do a lot. I suppose this is me being silly. We all have doubts and wonders on occasion, don't we?

Well, instead of me rambling on with my silliness, how about 30 things about me:

1. This is the longest my hair has been since I was seventeen.

2. Logan is six years younger than me. *gulp*

3. Despite three pregnancies, I have been the same size since I was 14 years old. No, it is not glorious. I'm 30 and have to buy clothes where fourteen-year-old's shop. *grimace*

4. Nothing "brought" me to NC, other than an apartment for me and my children. I moved solely on faith. God has been so good to me.

5. Right now I am eating egg and bacon sandwiches Logan is making me for a birthday breakfast. Cracker Barrel white cheddar cheese is amazing!

6. I'm 5'4".

7. My hair has grown back to its natural color.

8. I have had the same BFF since I was twelve. I love you, Candace!

9. I used to be a cheerleader. That's how I met Candace.

10. I had a dream the other night Logan was a scientist from the past and came to the future (our present) via my microwave. Three days later I am still laughing as my memory recalls watching him climb out, twisted up like a contortionist.

11. A year ago I was so unhealthy, underweight, and depressed my father cried at the sight of me. I feel so good today! My dad called last week and told me how good I looked in my latest FB photo. It delighted me to hear my efforts working on myself are paying off.

12. Logan says I can cook. Apparently I deceived him into thinking I couldn't.

13. I can thrift with the best of them.

14. Cheesecake!!!

15. Logan says I have to put that I have a great smile. We shall agree to disagree.

16. I have three awesome kids.

17. I named one of my kids awesome. I made Olivia's initials OSM so that when read allowed it would read as Awesome.

18. Nothing screams sold like a good coupon. I'm a coupon clipper!

19. I adore Audrey Hepburn. I watch "Breakfast at Tiffany's" on my sad days, can't sleep days, and days when I just feel like it.

20. I have three tattoos, one a large peacock down my back. It hurt.

21. Bacon!!!

22. I am still in search of the perfect red lipstick. Suggestions?

23. I happily drive Logan bananas!

24. I lose my temper with my middle child on a daily basis. 

25. Every time someone asks, "Where do you get all these creative ideas?" I respond, "Pinterest."

26. I love Downton Abbey.

27. I have a strong dislike for vanilla ice cream. 

28. I refuse to use the southern expression "we might could." It annoys me when Logan does.

29. I smack Logan a lot. He's a smart ass.

30. I love him!

XO,

Steph

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The Pleated Poppy

New Blog Design

Notice anything? The blog here got a little update. I am quite delighted with it. Of course I kept my signature MYNT design with a minimalist layout, my favorite!

I happened upon a new graphic designer on Etsy, PixelHaze Designs, and fell in love. I continuously looked at the Emily Theme, swooning over it upon each glance. Andreea creates beautiful designs! I contacted her immediately about her services, and she was just the sweetest thing! She was in constant contact with me, which sort of gave her that cherry on top, in my book. I could tell right away I wasn't just another inquirer, but a customer she desired to have.

Thank you, Andreea. I love my little sprucing up!

And a big thanks goes to my honey for helping me update my profile image. My old photo was nearly a year old, and in case you couldn't tell, my hair is much longer now. He's not too bad of a photographer. Logan was adamant I needed to use a picture of me smiling. What do you think of the one he chose?

Stay tuned. I'll share the blooper reel of my photo shoot with Logan with you tomorrow. 

Ta-ta for now, lovelies!

Steph

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Snookums

First, allow me to apologize for my lack of posts this past week. Life has been busy busy here. Every so often the management at our apartments does inspections, to ensure the residents are keeping the units livable. There are many elderly and disabled people who live here, so I have been helping my neighbors clean and ready their homes. I'm fortunate I got this apartment, given my circumstances, and if helping those around me with little everyday things is how I can show my gratitude, I'm happy to do it.

With that said, inspection is tomorrow and I finally get to do my home today! Yay!!! Or not. Cleaning is not fun for me. I take back my "yay" and offer you an "eh" with a shrug. Much more suitable!

Something I have been wanting to do for a while, introduce you all to my honey. Meet Logan, or as I like to call him, Snookums.

Logan at Boone Gardens

This man is one of the sweetest, kindest, most patient people I've ever known. I met him during the darkest time of my life. I was not a kind person then and he picked up on that. But for whatever reason, he was fascinated by me anyway.

He was patient, waiting for me to come around and be whatever it was he saw. In the meantime, he was a friend when I needed one. This man let me cry on his shoulder, vent when I needed to air my thoughts, and scream if I needed to. He would sit there and let me scream at the top of my lungs.

He was so kind to me, even when I didn't deserve it.

On the days I didn't feel the need to weep or scream because of the circumstances life dealt me, him and I would laugh. I'm talking belly aching laughs, usually at the others expense! It amazed me how easy it was to be around him, how well we got along. It required little to no effort. Even from the beginning, there were no moments of awkward silence, wondering if I should ask something about him or tell some random story to fill the air. It was nice to be quie. And when the moment struck, it was nice to learn something new about him. But I didn't need to know everything within the first week, you know what I mean?

He loves that I call him Snookums. Perhaps you're wondering how he wound up with such a silly name. We had this long running joke about pet names, and we would come up with the silliest pet names we could think of. We never said "Hello" or "Hey, Logan/Stephanie" when answering the phone. We had to answer with another name. One day I came up with Snookums and it took the cake!

So now he is my Snookums and I love to squish him!

Snookums and I on Pensacola Beach

Well, I must get on the ball today. I have some business to take care of this morning and cleaning to do. I have flower petals that have been sitting here, meaning to be sewn, so hopefully I will have a burlap tutorial for you soon.

So much love from me to you!
Steph

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Photo diary

Insta-what have I been up to when I'm not here, delighting with you? Let's see ....

 I've been working on getting my studio set up. These fabrics will be put to great use. We're going to have curtains and a re-upholstered chairs soon. By the way, these rolls of home decor fabric are all from Goodwill. In total, they cost $7.

 I was gifted three dozen cupcakes, so I've been eating cupcakes for breakfast. Yum!

 My son, Liam, was not only student of the week, he learned to count money. He's saving to buy a Lego pack he wants. It's true I'm that mom. I make them earn any new toys.

 My honey surprised me with this sparkly necklace. On our first date he gave me a green pendant similar to this and I was floored by the intricate design. Ever since he always surprises me with new murano glass pendants when he finds them.

Yesterday's thrifty finds were spectacular. This mirror was bursting with character. I just need to decide what color to paint it. Any suggestions?

And don't forget to follow me, @newlymynted, on Instagram so you can see all my daily craziness firsthand.

So much love from me to you. Have a blessed day!

Love dearly,

Steph 

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Come into my home

Last week I gave you the behind the blogger look at what you would find if you walked into my home, but there's more than my daily tasks. I'm surrounded by things and people I love. I want you all to delight in these things with me. They are forever growing and I find it so important to document these small moments while I have them. I am so grateful to each and every person who stops by my blog, and I want you to know who you're going to find here.

This particular nook is one of my favorite parts of my home. It's actually the only spot in my home that is actually "styled" as of yet. And even then it's incomplete, not quite perfect. This area is truly me. It reflects the kind of colorful, eclectic person I am. It displays my favorite things, my hopes and dreams, and it is full of sweet memories!

I picked up this typewriter at the Goodwill right after I moved to this little town. $8, can you believe that?! I was floored! It's perfect for me. I love vintage things and I love to write.

I long dream of one day becoming a published author. In fact, the last several days I have been writing again. My manuscript has been sitting here for over a year, more or less collecting dust. But I've begun again, editing with the recommendations previously given to me by an editor. Eight pages in and already I'm reminded how difficult it is, how tedious it can be, how much patience it requires, and most importantly, how much I LOVE those voices that prattle on in my head. Funny thing about writing fiction, those fictional characters are never pretend to you. They are as real as the physical people around you. You learn to love them as much as any other person you meet.

This wine bottle is near and dear to my heart. I needed to keep it, so it got a glitter makeover. This bottle is from a date my honey and I had when we had no babysitter, only each other, this bottle of wine and a platter of cheesecake. If I could find a way to bottle his laugh in there, I would!

Tarnished silver and bright pink flowers become my hearts delight. I smile ear to ear just looking at these precious photos. Where do you go wrong with things that are bright and cheery? I hope you all feel happy and delighted and cheery when you come here. 

Thank you for walking through my home with me. I am always fond of visitors. My desire is that this blog become as much a part of my home as this small nook, and that each of you readers become as dearly loved as the people in it.

Have a blessed day, all!

Camera print: Design Editor // Mom Poster: MoodKids

Love dearly,
Steph

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The Boy and the Burn

The date was Friday, Februrary 13, 1998. It was my dad's birthday. Him and my mother had gone out to a movie together and my oldest brother, Scott, had driven to Ahwatukee (Phoenix) to spend the weekend with his friends. We had recently moved to Glendale the summer before, so this was something he did quite often. 

I was at my friend Nicole's house. Every month her church held a dance for those between the ages of 14-17. We were teenage girls and there were boys, so of course we went. This particular dance was of great interest to me though, as there was one boy in particular that had my attention. For discretion's sake (I am still friends with his twin sister, you know), let's call him "Joe," shall we. 

I went with Nicole to her weekly church youth activities, mainly so I could see Joe. We quickly became quite fond of each other. He had kissed me just that week, so it was of the utmost importance that I attend this dance.

I did my makeup and dawned my burgundy 3/4 sleeve top. It had silver glitter butterflies on it, and Joe had once complimented it, so of course it became one of my favorites.

After I had finished getting ready, I went out to Nicole's kitchen while she finished. Her sister Britni and brother Ryan were going to be home alone that evening. Britni was not yet old enough to go to the church dances, so she got stuck babysitting. She was making a pot of macaroni and cheese for her and her brother, but quickly realized there was too much water in the pot and it was close to boiling over. 

This was where intelligence failed us both. The pot was too heavy and boiling and neither of us were able to safely lift it to the sink to empty the water out, so we carried it ladle by ladle from the stove, across the kitchen to the sink. 

I turned and heard Britni say in a calm voice, "Careful. I don't want to spill this on you." And no sooner than those words escaped her lips, we collided, boiling water splashing all over my arm.

I gripped my arm in agony, wailing, "FUCK!" so loud, I later found out neighbors three doors down heard me. Nicole came running in from her room. She panicked, unsure what to do. All I could think in that moment was that my arm was really hot and I wanted it to stop being so hot.

This is the second time intelligence escaped me. On instinct, I reached for the bucket of ice cubes in the freezer and plunged my elbow into it. Have you ever gone from a cold environment, then submerged yourself into a hot tub? You know that feeling you get when you first enter the warm water where it seems absurdly hot and prickly against your skin? It takes your body a minute to adjust to the temperature change. 

My arm did not adjust to the temperature change. That tingly feeling was more akin to a hell blaze being thrust against my skin. The burning worsened and seemed to be spreading. I jerked my arm out of the bucket of torment and my eyes grew wide when I noticed my skin was still in the bucket. Flesh was now visible on my arm.

"Ew, gross!" Nicole's brother whined. Simultaneously, all three of us girls gave him stern glares.

Unsure what to do, I rushed out of Nicole's house and to my friend Chandra's. They lived on the same street. But much to my dismay, they weren't home. I ran to my house, but no one was home there either. I had no car of my own and these were the days before every household owned cell phones. It was still cool to have a pager then. 

Finally, down the road from my house, my friend Heather and her parents were home. Her mother, God love her, calmed me. I was in hysterics, yelling, crying, panicking. I can't recall too well after all these years, but I remember screaming. I can only imagine how I looked running through the neighborhood, screaming and carrying on as I was. The neighborhood busybodies probably (officially) thought I was a lunatic, a demon child of some kind. This particular family was always concocting silly stories to paint us as horrifying children. I'm willing to bet I had given them the right ammo that day. I'm giggling at that thought right now!

Anyway, back to the story. I couldn't remember which movie theater my parents had gone to, so Heather's mother called the two near us. They were at the second, seeing a chick-flick if I remember correctly. The usher went into the theater before the movie had started and announced that they were looking for Bart and Cathy Urich, that there was an emergency, their daughter had been burned.

Brace yourselves, for this is the one moment in life that my father's heart stopped. 

I later found out my parents were seated at the back of the theater room and my dad heard the usher wrong. He heard, "Your daughter has been murdered." 

My poor dad. He burst into tears right there, fled down the stairs. He was a mess, getting odd stares from people wondering why he seemed to be overreacting the way he was. It took a moment for everyone to understand he had misunderstood. Can you imagine his relief when he learned it was just a burn, not my life?

In the meantime, I had gotten in touch with my brother at his friends house. He was closest and had rushed home to get me, and we were to meet my parents at the hospital. That was the first time in my life I drove 80 MPH through the streets of Phoenix, hoping to get pulled over so I could get to the hospital faster, only to not get pulled over. (If you've ever been to Phoenix, you'd understand this. They crack down HARD on speeders and drunk drivers.)

I suffered severe second degree, minor third degree burns. I was treated with prescription strength Noxema. Yes, the stuff they gave me was just like Noxema. The nurse was a shrew too. She most certainly did not like children and she made that clear to me. She also did not enjoy treating me. She twisted my BURNED arm this way and that, telling me to stop whining every time I cried out in pain. Thankfully my mother was there to tell her to stop. Oooh, the glare that nurse gave my mom ...! He-he!

Today I have no visible scar on my arm, however I burned the nerve endings off and the skin around my elbow is darker. The most painful part of the treatment was having to flex my arm everyday so they skin would grow back loose. Blech and ouch!

As for Joe, I was devastated I did not get to see him that night. I remember thinking to myself all night how disappointed I was. I wondered if he noticed I wasn't there, if he missed me since we had "made plans" to both be there. I wondered if someone else caught his attention in my absence. When you're 15 years old, things of that nature are crucial at the time. Funny how dramatic we can be. No one else caught his attention and our little tryst continued (secretively) for quite some time. 

Funny, though, he wasn't even my happily ever after ....

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Crap I found on a kid free day

What's a kid-free day like for me? Well, my honey recently discovered his hair stylist (yes, he has one!) recently opened up a thrift store, so we headed out of town to Fancy Pants Thrift Store to say hello and see what kind of crap we could find. And awesome crap there was!

Mint designer skinnies $4 // Silk scarf (nwt) $1

That scarf will actually get re-purposed into an Anthropologie inspired necklace. That's what we do with our crap here. So stay tuned!

 Cuisinart mill coffee grinder $5. I think so!

Sure, I could have gone to Sears and bought it brand spankin' new for $77.96 with that new plastic smell, but I just don't think it would have had that IT factor. You know, that zing that comes with knowing I scored it for 94% below retail. It also already has that rich coffee aroma. Mmmmmm, sigh!

Antique silver spoons $2

A nice addition to my collection. Well, if one antique spoon counts as a "collection." I have three now! I kind of want to get a lettering kit and learn to hand stamp. I think these would be pretty cute as "his & her" spoons.

Thanks for taking a look into my kid free day. Follow the blog to stay tuned on my upcoming upcycle projects. I'm off to experiment with some banana bread recipes. If my idea turns out, I'll be sharing the caramelicious recipe with you!

Love dearly,
Steph

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challenge accepted!

Earrings: Whippy Cake // Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad

Some of you may know me from an old blog I ran. If you're following me from there, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your loyal readership. I hope you find a home here.

I've been asked by some why I closed down the other blog. The answer is simple, yet heartbreaking (for me) all at the same time. I closed it over a year ago, when the trials I began to endure hit me. Life took a sledgehammer to my knees, then double-backed where the wind was forever being knocked out of me. Or at least it seemed to go on forever, the hits just kept on coming. For so long I couldn't breathe. (This is all figuratively of course.) Most days I barely had the strength and desire to open my eyes, much less run a blog. Creativity became a thing of the past. Writing was foolhardy.

As time wore on, I softened. Before I knew it, I was being molded into something new. And as I willed my eyes to open, they did so in the most profound way. First I learned to let go of the things I had no control over, then I learned to not be angry because of them. Honestly, I spent a good six months so angry. But God softened my heart little by little, and as these new beautiful things came into view, I realized how much I had grown, and marveled at how happy that growth made me.

Thus the end of the old blog. As I grew and learned to let go, I realized it was time to let go of many other things. That old blog was as dead as many other areas of my life, and I was essentially fighting a losing battle. So it's closing for good.

But why the new blog?

"I have one rule: New is always better."

No, really! (How good is that show, am I right?) Because I love to write and create and share. When I started the other blog I had no real direction for it. I honestly knew nothing about blogging except that they existed and I was fascinated by them. I've had a strong hearts desire to get back to blogging for many months now, though I have taken my time and thought diligently about this new space in the blogosphere. Six months of thought and planning, and here we are. NewlyMynted is a place for women to gather, where we can stand together and grow to be amazing beings. Where we can find confidence in our inner beauty, unleash our creativity like wildfire, live life practically; and love and grow and hope.

I hope this explains to those of you who have asked. And thanks for taking the time to get to know this softened side of me. This gal I am today, I think she's awesome! She's tons of fun and loves to laugh. Next week I plan to share with you all a couple of tutorials, one I worked on with my girls. I even hope to get to share my darling kiddos with you.

Oh, and please link up your blogs, Facebook pages, Etsy shops ... whatever you've got. I would love the chance to get to know so many of you.

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