How to Crush your Content Planning

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

We all know the struggle of planning out content on our IG. It can be stressful, overwhelming, and everyone has an opinion on how you should do it.

Instead of a play by play of what you “should do” I thought I would share what simply has WORKED for me in creating great content without the chaos of times, ideas, and struggling to get pictures.

Let’s dive in.

Using PLANN has been a complete game changer for me. (No I am not sponsored in any way by this company) They just have taken the complication out of content planning for me. Running three IG accounts it can be tricky to stay on top of things. What PLANN does is allow me to view my grid, ensure my colors and brand flow together in an organized way, and set reminders of times to post based on previous success for my IG not a generalized google time. Everyone’s engagement time will be different based on your target audience.
Plan a picture day and make it fun. If you are already an influencer or blogger you know what assignments you need to shoot for. If your just getting started out browse Pinterest and get inspired with your content. Take your seven photos for the week all in one day. If your a mama than make it fun and interactive with your littles. My daughter loves all the outfit changes and silly shots we get along the way. This sounds like a lot, but you can easily conquer seven perfect photos for content in less than an hour. (Thats even with the 80 shots you have to take to get everyone simultaneously looking at the camera.)
Set a day for your week or month in content planning. Sundays are my day of choice and I do a week in advance because a month is just not realistic with everything in my lifestyle. Stick to it and have a plan of action. The first post can be a bit tricky but then you get in a writing groove and everything just flows. Then stick to your times you choose and post. The rest of the week is all handled, you do not even have to be on social media unless responding to emails, but yet you are present and in front of the algorithm.

Now the fun part….FREE PRINTABLES.

It can be so frustrating getting in your groove when you first begin batch scheduling and content planning so here are a few free printables to get the creative juices flowing and you ready to soar.

Happy Planning Friends!

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Finding Your Passion

January 3, 2019by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

It’s 2019

It’s your year.

What are you waiting for?

With the new year upon us I really wanted to provide you all with some amazing content to get this year started right and make it your best yet! I am doing a sneak peek at my book “The Sweetest Little Life” with revealing chapter one in how we break down and set goals for actual success!

Don’t wait any more, get out of the rut and start living your passion today. If you are unhappy only you can change it! START WITH 2019!!!!!!! Start while you are excited, while you are motivated, and most of all while there is TODAY!

Without further a do let’s get to work!

First things first, finding our path and direction.

How do we set goals, take-action, leap into our journey if we don’t even know our destination? This needs to be crystal clear!

We need to know roughly where we are going so we can create the steps to get there.

When starting my makers journey, I knew I wanted to create an income crafting, and that was about all I knew. The goal was to create a job doing something I loved which would help supplement my family and allow me to stay home with my children.

Now let’s review that concept: I knew what I wanted to do, (setting a goal) and why I wanted to do it (motivation). These are the building blocks of your foundation.

If you don’t know exactly what you want to do, that’s okay! We do however need a general direction to get your running shoes on. I said in the beginning this was going to be very direct and to the point as I want you to get the absolute most out of this book.

First, you need to first create a list – I highly encourage a pen to paper. There is just something about connecting and writing it down, like a commitment to yourself. Your subconscious picks up more on hand to paper vs. typing or texting. On your list you are going to write down your passions, your hobbies, what makes you feel like you could go for hours and not be tired?

Fill your paper with every idea that comes to mind.

Is it running, walking your dog, painting, talking to people, helping people, filing documents, creating, inventing, writing, acting, filming? Remember, it can be anything.

Try and write down as many things as you can think of in 20 minutes. – Set your phone timer and do it!

When you’re finished writing your list, close your eyes and imagine what you see yourself doing. What do you think these passions lead to? If you don’t get the answer right away that’s alright. Maybe a light bulb just went off, maybe you already know what your goals are and you’re ready to dive straight in. Whichever category you fall in, writing down hobbies and passions is never a bad thing! It helps to make a promise to yourself, to have it on paper as a reminder that YES YOU CAN DO THIS. It’s time to throw excuses out the window, get clear and concise, and make some commitments.

The following pages are for you to journal and brainstorm about what sets your soul on fire. Be honest with yourself and let no barrier stand in the way.

Goals + Passions + Hobbies

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Way to go goal seeker! Now you have your goal list and a general idea of where your heart is at.

Work time.

If writing is your passion, what speaks to you about taking writing to the next level? Is it a blog or a book you want to write?

If its dog walking, do you want to be a walker, a trainer, own your very own high-end dog hotel?

If it’s running and exercise, do you want to be a professional racer, host a marathon, open your own gym?

If it’s being creative, do you want to open an Etsy shop, launch an online market, host a craft fair, or participate in craft fairs?

If it’s photography, do you want to be behind the camera or in front of it, do you want to motivate, do you want to connect? Whatever your passion or idea, do you want to do it for financial stability, personal fulfillment, or material reasons?

Once you find the general idea of what you want to do we can get specific in creating our goal and ultimate finish line. Once you reach your finish line you will of course have bigger mountains to climb, and more goals to set. Life is this amazingly beautiful, endless climb that is growing and changing right before our very eyes. The wonderful thing about goals is they sometimes evolve into what we need right where we are in our lives. Our personal seasons of life.

It’s going to be hard but hard is not impossible. If your goals are important to you, you will find a way. If not, you will find excuse after excuse of reason not to accomplish it.

Now we’re getting down and dirty! We’re doing the goal list again but with a little twist. These questions should help you to see on paper if you are an owner, merchant, independent worker, or homemaker. I am sure you are catching my drift at this point. This page will help you get an idea of where you should run with your passion.

Do you prefer working alone or in a group? __________________________________________________________________________________________

Would you rather drive to work every day or work from home?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Are you able to stay on task with no one to answer to?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you thrive on team work?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

If you have an assignment, are you more likely to be motivated on your own timeline or do you need direction and deadlines? __________________________________________________________________________________________

What is your work style? Fast Paced? Pressured? Relaxed? What makes you thrive? __________________________________________________________________________________________

Now let’s get real. We all want to start a business, make millions, and live happily ever after! Right? If this was the case everyone on the planet would be making millions and highly driven. However, the reality is that it takes blood, sweat and tears that make a business successful. You will have overhead (in most cases), you will have things you have to budget for, scenarios to plan for, a target market to think of and the list goes on. A good rule of thumb is to expect it to be an expensive hobby for the first year and THEN plan on strategizing for the money to start flowing in. I didn’t promise this would be easy, but I did promise it would be straight forward, honest, and nitty gritty in creating your happy place that is right for just that, YOU!

To check out more of my work book designed in finding your direction and all my tips for being successful in blogging, IG, I phone photography, & Etsy head on over and get yours today for $10.50 – Purchase Yours Here

Happy New Years

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How to find the perfect home online.

November 8, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

Forbes.com reported that the Consumer Real Estate Index showed that potential homebuyers are more inclined now than ever to use technology as part of the overall real estate transaction, with nearly three-quarters stating they would use online sites to search for properties. Many experts say that number is likely even higher.

Odds are, if you’re searching for a home, whether it’s the homes for sale in San Diego, Miami, Boston or somewhere else, you’re looking online. The problem is, with so many property listings, how do you find that perfect home? It’s like the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Search No More Than Two Websites

There are thousands of real estate search websites, and most homes are listed on all of them, which means it makes no sense to try and search through them all. Find one, two at most, that are user-friendly, with good search tools that make it easier to narrow properties down. When you find the site or sites that work for you, sign up for an account so that you can save your searches. By saving search settings for your desired price range, size, location and features, you’ll be able to quickly perform a search next time without having to go through all that again.

Don’t forget to sign up for email notifications. You an get daily or weekly emails when new listings appear that match your criteria.

Stick to Your Price Range

The first thing to do even before searching for that perfect home, is to know what you can afford. It’s a good idea to get mortgage pre-approval to avoid disappointment and wasted hours. Choose a range when entering search criteria that is well-within your budget limits. It’s better to avoid homes that are at the very top end of your budget, that way you’ll have some wiggle room if there are multiple offers, allowing you to submit a higher offer without going over your limit.

The Neighborhood

Even if you already know which city you want to buy a house in, don’t forget about the neighborhood. There can be a significant difference from one to the next, each offering a different feel and catering to various lifestyles. Young homebuyers may want to be near all the action, while families may be searching for a more tranquil community close to schools. You can also use Google Maps to get an idea of how far it is from your workplace and other amenities. By searching specific neighborhoods, it will dramatically filter your property search, making it much more manageable.

Be Aware of the Buzzwords

Any real estate listing is going to frame the home in the best way possible to help detract from flaws and make it stand out from the rest. For example, a description that reads “a lot of potential,” probably means it’s going to take a lot of money to fix it up. “Charming” usually means small, and “cozy” even smaller, while “starter home,” often equals run down.

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11 Delicious Cocktails and Mocktails To Celebrate The Fall Season

September 22, 2018September 22, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

It’s fall, y’all! Now, let’s talk about kicking back on a crisp fall evening with a few friends and a cocktail or mocktail. Here are a few yummy concoctions that are on my list. Let’s start with the cocktails…

Fall Cocktails

Pumpkin Pie Martini Cocktail from Wicked Good Kitchen

Apple Pie Sangria from Sugar and Charm

Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mules from Freutcake

Amaretto Apple Cider Cocktail from Who Needs A Cape

Salted Caramel White Russians from Inspired By Charm

Plum and Thyme Prosecco Smash from My Diary of US

Now let’s talk mocktails, ’cause sometimes you want or need to go alcohol free. Maybe you’re expecting, the designated driver, or just want to be fresh for the next days’ festivities. So for those times, here are a few yummy mocktails…

Fall Mocktails

Caramel Apple Pie Mocktail from Merry About Town

Non-alcoholic Sparkling Cranberry Pomegranate Drink from Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Apple Pie Moscow Mule- Mocktail Version from The Cookie Rookie

Non-Alcoholic Apple Pie Punch from Frugal Mom Eh

Sparkling Berry Apple Mocktail from The Epicurean

And there you have it, 11 fabulous fall drinks. Which fall cocktail are you most looking forward to?

-Kristen M. Rodgers

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Boys Bedroom Makeover – Transformation Reveal

September 16, 2018by Weddingsbycourtney1 Comment

It’s time for our Big Reveal…EEEEEEK! I am so excited to spill the beans on this transformation ladies! Here is the Before and After.

Before

After

Our family has had so many changes over the past year, the biggest one being expecting baby number three. I was determined to give my eight year old a space to retreat to, a space to do homework, a space to just have “big boy” time.

Mama’s this was difficult for me. His room was all things batman – we went through an extremely lengthy batman obsession for the past 4 years. I even tried to convince him to let me keep the Urban Wall decals of batman heads. He told me “I’m so over super heroes mom.” So whats a decorator to do? Well give him a big boy room make over of course!

Now you see, I absolutely hate to just throw things out that are still perfectly good. Instead I love to up cycle and make over old items and make them shiny and new again! With out further a due I’m spilling how we transformed his Tot room to Big Boy Status. Let’s do this.

First things first….Who else believes in making your bed every morning?

It’s so important to wake up and right away just feel like you’re crushing it. The past 9 months I have been really working on independence with my littles so that they are prepared for my c section come October. I then found the magic secret sauce bedding….

Beddy’s Beds is a company which has created the most genius invention to date! A bed that is stylish and all it takes to make the bed picture perfect is a zip. MY KIDS CAN ZIP. There for they can MAKE. Every single morning. This helps them to have a chore, feel like they are really making a difference, and the best part I never get complaints because it takes two minutes! The material is so soft and my son is actually excited to get snuggled into bed instead of fighting tooth and nail to do a bedtime routine. Moms this a win for all!

Ready for the even better part? Today is National Working Parents Day and the company is having a sale for 15% off all bedding with the code RELAX. – Get Yours Here

Now let’s talk about turning old to new. Parents hear the word “room makeover” and think dolla dolla bills ya all! It doesn’t have to be this way!!!! The biggest fail I see in bedroom transformations is going out and buying all new. You pick one or two items which need to be new. For my family it was about creating independence and making life simpler. We went with new bedding and a desk. This is the first year my little guy has a ton of homework so I wanted him to have a space all of his own to focus, connect, and retreat if need be.

The dresser we re painted – I used ultra bright white and then spray painted the knobs with a silver high gloss. Voila new dresser for under $10.

The walls we painted a grey and navy to add some accent pops of color but also remain in a room tone that he could grow into and I wouldn’t have to re paint ten times in the next 2 years. (Grey is the Taupe.)

His bunk bed we added little fun accents like LED lights on the bottom bunk for a “fort camping feel” and a basket ball clip on hoop for the top bunk.

Our home has these amazing reading nooks in every room and bathroom (one of the reasons I absolutely fell in love with the house.) I really wanted to add to this element of the room so we picked some canvas style black out curtains in grey and a shine triangle pattern to add some more fun spots to squirrel away and cozy up to a good book. (My son is all about creating forts if you couldn’t already tell.)

Last but certainly not least, a pretty place to shove all the toys. Did someone say Nerf guns?! Whewwwww every where! The curtains and toy box we got at Home Goods for under $50! I love the velvet fabric of the bench/toy box as my cats do not destroy this as they would any other fabric material. (If you have pets mixed in with animals you know that industrial strength means everythanggggg.)

Now my son has a room that fits his style but also he can grow into and add little pieces here and there as his hobbies and style changes. Remember the biggest thing in transforming to a “big boy room” is keeping in mind the room for change, making it fit their personality, and picking tones that are not going to stick out like a sore thumb!

Have a room your making over? Share your Beddy’s and Room Makeovers with us on Pinterest or Instagram @thesweetestlittlelife & @beddysbeds

We love to watch your transformations and follow the journey!

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33 Etsy Picks for a Hauntingly Handmade Halloween

September 14, 2018September 15, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

Ladies, I love almost all things Halloween. Creaky doors, fake spiders, cute ghosts, creepy crawlies, fake vampire teeth, and yes, candy corn. I love that it’s the one time of the year when you can dress up like anything or anyone you choose. The only thing containing you is your imagination. The laughter, the goosebumps, the nervous excitement…the world just seems extra alive (or dead, bwahahaha). 😉 As a child, after I decided I was too old to trick-or-treat, I started working in Haunted Houses and Barns. I’ve scared and been scared so many times and I love it. Except for one thing. Did you notice earlier I said I love ALMOST all things Halloween? Confession time. I want nothing, and I mean nothing, to do with clowns. Never have, never will. Not scary clowns, creepy clowns, happy clowns, or laughing clowns. Nope. Not even Ronald McDonald. ‘Cause that’s one scary as hell clown. So, I have composed a hauntingly good list of 33 Handmade Halloween Etsy items, but not one contains a clown.

It all starts at the door, right? Check out these delightfully spooky door decorations to up your Halloween game.

Witch Hat Wreath

Personalized Halloween truck and ghost door hanger

Spooky raven wreath

Friendly ghost door hanger

Little monsters live here Halloween wreath

While we’re talking about door decor, let’s look at a few amazingly wicked doormats.

Hocus Pocus doormat

Friendly Halloween doormat

Boo Y’all doormat

Another fun way to bring Halloween into your home is with seasonal throw pillows. Check out these to up your creepy factor:

Farmhouse-style Halloween pillow

A witch lives here throw pillow

Personalized skeleton family Halloween pillow

Burlap Hocus Pocus throw pillow

More frighteningly fantastic handmade halloween decor:

Handmade ceramic ghosts

Circling crows wall decal

Ombre candy corn wine bottle

Rustic, distressed witch hat

Standing Halloween bowl

Witch and her little monsters Halloween canvas

Bring Halloween to your kitchen and get-togethers:

Halloween Rolling Pin

Witch cup with legs

Beware of mom mug

Witch way to the wine

Hocus Pocus wine tumbler

Jack Skellington wine glass

Halloween wine labels

Okay, so I had trouble stopping at home decor and kitchen items. I have to add in a few shirts for moms too. Because, did I mention I really love Halloween?

Momster mom shirt

Squad/Hocus Pocus shirt

For the expecting ladies:

For expecting mommas of baby girl, Halloween shirt

Pregnancy Halloween shirt

Mummy-to-be shirt

And last, but not least, a few goodies just for the kiddos:

Personalized Halloween pillow case, kids

Frankenstein plushie, kids

Halloween cups for kids

Happy Halloween! What are some of your favorite Etsy Halloween items?

-Kristen M. Rodgers

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Five Tips to a Productive Week

September 9, 2018September 6, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

We all love Sundays right? It has to be my favorite day of the week by far.

For my family it’s a day to spend together baking, adventuring, exploring, or finishing projects. The freedom of this day leads to endless possibilities. Sometimes we cuddle up watching movies and some days we re arrange the entire house, either way, we are doing it as a family.

The most common question I get asked is “how do you do it all?” (Which is funny because as entrepreneurs we are so hard on ourselves.) I often think goodness I am so behind, I should have done this, I need to do that. Some times you just need a little grace and peace. This is where proper planning for your business is so crucial.

Boss babes need days off too!! Don’t get me wrong, rest is so important!

For me personally, I use Sunday evenings to plan my week ahead and I’m sharing all the secret tricks I use to navigate through and tackle it all with very little stress.

I am still not convinced “balance” of mommyhood and entrepreneurship is a real thing, but I think I have gotten pretty darn close to the secret recipe it takes to make it all go round with very few hiccups. Ready Mama Bears? Lets get to it…

Plan your social media ahead of time. Yes this is totally doable. I use PLANN – an app that allows me to pre post for the week everything I want to talk about and deliver to my audience. The app also allows me to review my color schemes and appearance of all my content before my actual IG and Facebook post go live. Make sure you are delivering quality content that you would be wanting if you were a reader. Nine times out of ten your target audience is someone just like yourself (This means they most likely have the same interests, goals, and want to spend their time reading something valuable.)

Get a planner and write it down. I am all about hand to paper. I just feel connected and it helps me remember vs. typing it in my phone and forgetting about it til an alarm goes off. Call me old school but I am convinced pen to paper is the best way. I write down all of my kids practices, games, and schooling events first. Then I orchestrate around their schedules my work. When will I blog each week? What are my topics for the week? When will I complete my Etsy orders? How much time do I need this week to connect and reach out to companies for work collaborations? Respond to emails? Make appointments? What ever it is that is lingering on your plate – write it down.

Make a weekly goal list. Mine this week went a little something like this –

Finish painting kitchen and updating cabinets to all white.
Create content for IG for the week.
Schedule September’s Home look photo shoot for blog.
Reach out to 10 new people about my book.
Touch base with 5 companies about possible collabs for projects.
Start building nerf obstacles for Liam’s birthday party.
Finish up volunteer project for Liam’s Library.
Learn something new on Pinterest Marketing – ( Okay totally squirreling over here….eeeeek I love learning new things and am totally including all of you as I learn to navigate traffic through pinterest this month!)
Finish all Etsy Orders.

Now that I have my goal sheet I have big things I can cross off and feel super accomplished through out the week as I put a check next to each one of those bad boys. I chizzle out time to multi task the best I can while my husband works. (I have the kids do crafts when I do Etsy, I’ll have them play out side while I do stuff in the garage.) It is SUPER IMPORTANT to have just time with your children and shut it all down, but running a business from home you also need to get creative with how to be present and in the moment while also tackling milestones on your business and not falling behind.

Finish your laundry. There is just something with mammas and laundry. DAMNIT. I am telling you what girlfriend, if you get the laundry done and put away during a great show Sunday night when the kids are in bed, the week goes smoother. You start out fresh and clean with no lingering giant “chores” at home deterring you from your work and mom goals. (I also try to squeeze in a quick clean up of the house to just start Monday off right.) It’s like Monday has a magic new beginning of whats in store for our stories. I love it!

Get some zzzz’s. Nothing has healing powers like water and sleep. For children, for adults, for animals, for any living thing. A good nights rest and h20 can fix pretty much anything. Make sure to get a solid eight hours and wake up feeling refreshed and energized. Grab your favorite book and get those eyes feeling heavy.

Take an hour and just plan, each week it gets easier and you will know how to navigate your time better and better.

Heres to a Productive Second Week of September –

Who has their fall decor out?

Thats on my agenda as well!!!

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Love Letter To My Cleaning Hack

September 7, 2018October 9, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!

I don’t know about you, but I appreciate any cleaning shortcuts that work. Less time cleaning means more time I can spend with my family and working toward my goals. I’m not sure if it is technically a cleaning hack, but my iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner has made cleaning easier. In fact, I wrote a love letter to mine a few months ago (because I’m weird that way, that’s why). Here goes…

Dear robot vacuum cleaner,

Thank you for cleaning my floors while I passively sit and sip coffee. Thank you for letting me feel like I can relax with a book while still “cleaning” the house. I love that you travel through my house like a little pet exploring room to room, humming a sweet pet tune, yet I don’t have to feed you or give you water or remember your name. I am also not allergic to you, don’t have to take you outside for walks, clean your cage, or pick up your poop. You do not eat my shoes, favorite books, or 1 each of several matched pairs of socks.

Dear robot, I want to say thank you for making me feel tech-savvy so that even though I still can’t figure out Facebook (what the heck is messenger & where are these group boards coming from?), I can say that I have a robot in my house.

In summary, thank you for picking up the crushed Cheerios, crayon pieces, pencil shavings and boogers that my child leaves on the floor. Thank you for picking up chocolate crumbs so the evidence is gone before my child and husband get home. Thank you for making my life a tiny bit easier.

Sincerely,
One tired momma

-Kristen M. Rodgers

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How to add texture to your decor

July 28, 2018July 28, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

You have the perfect find. The piece looks beautiful in the store under the perfect lighting, with the perfect placement, and you get home to put it in your “perfect” spot and it looks lonely.

It’s all about the textures…

So what is texture and how can you apply it to any decor?

I have the secrets for you ladies and tonight were spilling them! How to have a Pinterest worth home that is completely swoon worthy made easy.

Step 1: Layer your levels of height – If a shelf or mantle is completely symmetrical it tells no story and has no appeal to the eye. You want to have different levels of heights throughout your decor placement – For example put some greenery on a couple of books and then your centerpiece mirror with some taller candle holders on the other side to finish your look.

Step 2 — Play with materials: It’s always okay to mix and match, it builds character to any space and makes it interesting! I love using metals, wood, glass, greenery and fabrics when combining pieces in a small space. Below is an easy play by-play to get the imagination wheels spinning on how to mix and match properly. blesserhouse.com does a fabulous job at visually explaining this breakdown of different materials and how to work it!

Step 3 – Shelving and Throw Pillows are always a yessssssss.

(My husband hates my throw pillows because with children they get thrown everywhere but darn it for those few hours they are in perfect placement it looks like pure bliss and adds the perfect amount of dimension to any furniture piece.)

Step 4 – Do not over clutter

Guilty as charged…I am a picture fanatic… There are just so many special family memories I want blasted all over my home, however too many pictures will kill any room and make it feel overwhelming, pick a few designated spots just for a fun wall gallery or a few cute frames but KEEP IT SIMPLE. Just like when you were learning how to apply makeup and your mama told you less is more, the same goes for putting your entire instagram gallery in your living room.

Step 5 – Lighting is everythanggggggg

Nothing brightens up a space like good lighting and fixtures, you can even diy and spray paint old pieces if you’re a DIY girl on a budget. Light creates space to be bigger, just as dark paint colors make spaces push in and appear smaller, whites and airiness make rooms appear twice their regular size!

Hopefully this gets you inspired to create the perfect shelf or little space that just makes you smile when you walk in the room. Simple & Sweet.

Happy Decorating Mama

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The Power of Visualizing

January 23, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

This story was just too amazing to not share with you! When tiny miracles happen, no matter how silly they seem we have to praise them and appreciate them! In life, I truly am all about the little moments!

About a month ago Liam and I decided to make vision boards. It had been 5 years since I made my last one. At the time I was driving a beat up Honda with no AC and living with my “boyfriend” who I knew I wanted to marry. (He is now my husband.) On my vision board I put a Denali (It happened to be white, but the only picture I could find in the magazine.) I put a picture of a happy family, the one picture I found a mom was lifting up a baby girl with a dad and little boy riding bikes behind them. (One month later I found out I was pregnant with my daughter) Shortly after my daughter was born we purchased a white Yukon Denali. WOAH RIGHT>! Okay fast forward 5 years, I wanted to share with my son the power of visualizing and believing in yourself so we sat down to make boards one afternoon as a mommy son date.

In our old house we had a kitten. For my sons fourth Christmas it was his BIG GIFT and all he wanted! We named her Trouble. We only had Trouble for about 6 months and she had gotten out and ran away. We thought for sure that a coyote, owl, hawk, etc. had gotten her and we were heart-broken. We put missing pictures and videos all over Facebook but nothing turned up.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years. We purchased a home about 5 miles away from our rental a year and half ago and there happens to be a kitty in the coldasac we live in that looks similar to our long-lost Trouble. It made Liam miss Trouble extra! On his vision board he put a picture of a cat and said “the real Trouble is going to come home mom.” I bit my tongue not saying a word of negativity about the situation or what I thought had happened.

READY FOR THIS…….like oh em gee. Im sitting down one night scrolling FB and I see this picture of a Cat that’s been hanging out outside this house for a couple of years but needs a home because of the cold and rain California has had the past week. Our Trouble had a distinct M marking on her for head. This is the picture I see on FB…..Look closely at the forehead.

We went to the house the cat was at that night, the cat who wont let anyone pet her head, hold her, etc. came running up to my son following him around. Lo and Behold….Troubles home.

image1 (6)

What you focus on, you attract.

The key to visualizing is to always visualize that you already have what you desire. This is a mental trick. Rather than hoping you will achieve it, or building confidence that one day it will happen, live and feel it as if it is happening to you now. On one level you know this is just a mental trick, but the subconscious mind cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imagined. Your subconscious will act upon the images you create within, whether they reflect your current reality or not.

Stay focused on Positive things and live a Positive Life.