As much as I would like to believe I have an eye for things, I can assure you, I do not. Our home is sorta decorated with some unique interior design ideas. I sorta have some thoughts on how to best display Henry's keepsakes. And while I try to take sweet, artsy pictures of our little man, they often lack the depth and character I hope they would have. 

And that's one of the many, many reasons I'm glad we have the incredible Kaity Fuja of OMG Photography as our family photographer. Because let me tell you - she has an eye! 

For Henry's 9 month photos, we decided to double up and use them as our Christmas card photos too! Kaity suggested we meet at Butler's Tree Farm, and as long time members of the artificial Christmas tree club, we happily followed her suggestion. The farm itself was cute, and PACKED, as it was the first Saturday of the season. Our unseasonably warm fa-winter had given way to a cool and breezy day, but wanting to capture the right look, we'd left our coats in the car (much to the anger of our cold, little hands). 

When we got to the farm, Kaity told us she had a few spots in mind off the beaten path, so we set off for our photos. When we got to a shed that housed logs, Kaity announced that we would be stopping here first. 

Now, I would never doubt Kaity's professional opinion, but my first thought upon stopping there was, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaat? This is going to be the perfect backdrop?!" But, never one to doubt Kaity's talent and ideas, we went with it. 

And naturally, Henry's pictures turned out like this. 

And this.

And this too.

Because Kaity has an eye that I just never will. She can see a background that looks ordinary, or even drab, and she knows that it's the perfect spot to capture all those expressions and little moments that we'll want to hold on to forever. 

The moral of Henry's 9 month photos is that I'll never doubt Kaity again when she says, "Hey, stand in front of that pile of logs." Because those yucky logs are going to be the most amazing place to show our sweet little man's personality off. And that's exactly what we'd hoped for! 

A Serendipity Story (aka How I never thought I'd be in Direct Sales and how KEEP Collective changed my whole life)

When I decided to be stay home with our son, I wondered if I would miss work. My husband has long referred to me as a to-doer... I always have to be to-doing something to stay busy. 

And after the newborn glow wore off, I realized I really did miss working. I missed the interaction I got with people. I missed setting goals and achieving them. I missed feeling like I had a purpose outside of our home. I missed feeling productive. 

I knew, though, that I wasn't ready to go back to teaching. I LOVE teaching. It's my passion and my heart. But it's a lot of grading and a lot of outside hours and a lot of time away from Henry that I wasn't ready to do yet. So I started looking for other options. And that's when I jumped in to KEEP Collective, my favorite direct sales company of all time. 

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be doing direct sales, I probably would have thought you were nuts. I've never sold a thing in my life. I was an English major with an education minor! I never took a business class. The closest I'd come to being a businesswoman was working at our local grocery store as a cashier when I was in high school. So to say I wasn't a natural saleswoman is the understatement of the year. But I wanted something flexible that I could do from home, and direct sales seemed like a natural fit. 

And so direct sales it was. Generally speaking, I feel like DS companies get a bad reputation. And arguably, there ARE some bad DS companies out there (just as there are bad... everythings... out there). I knew I wanted one with an excellent reputation, excellent customer service, and a great entry level starting point (because I truly thought I would never build a team to work with me and I wanted to make sure I could still make money without others involved). I also didn't want to have a lot of inventory. Our house is already overrun by baby. I didn't want to add a lot more clutter to our home. 

So why KEEP? So, so many reasons. First, I fell in love with the company the first time I laid eyes on it. A company that focuses on telling stories through beautiful jewelry is right up my alley! I LOVE the story telling aspect of KEEP. Not only do I get to show (and wear!) gorgeous jewelry, but it's special and unique and it represents what we hold closest to our hearts. That's a company I can get behind. 

As a company, our mission is clear and purposeful. KEEP wants to help women live their happiest and best lives. And they give their designers the tools to do that. The training materials, resources, and human support they offer sold me immediately because I clearly didn't know a lot about direct sales or how to get started. But KEEP made sure I got off on the right foot and hit the ground running. 

I also LOVE that I keep no inventory on hand. Everything is ordered by the customer directly through the company, so I never have to worry about a surplus of items sitting around. And when a hostess throws a Social, she never has to worry about distributing the orders. Everything ships directly to each customer, which means no one is waiting on a busy hostess to sort and deliver. 

But let's talk about serendipity. I absolutely believe life leads us exactly where we're supposed to go. And everything fell in to place when I joined KEEP. The company had just announced an incentive to trip to go to Cancun for free. It was just a few months before the holidays, and the holiday season was projected to be a big one for us. 

So I jumped. And I've never looked back. 

Besides having a thriving business, I've met some of the most amazing women in the world. They're both my teammates and my customers, and I wouldn't trade my interactions with them for anything in the world. I literally talk to my mentor and my pacing partner daily, and when I miss a day talking to them, things feel, icky. I've met women who have taken the leap with me, and they've joined my team. These women are smart and funny and motivated and tenacious, and working with them daily is so enlightening. 

I've earned that trip to Cancun. And I've promoted high enough that I get to attend our Director's Retreat in Napa. To say direct sales has changed my life is the biggest understatement of understatements. 

The moral of the story is, sometimes serendipity intervenes and leads you right where you're supposed to be. It absolutely did for me. Direct sales has changed my life, and I know many other women (and men!) who can agree. This holiday season, remember the Direct Salespeople in your life (I know KEEP's Black Friday sales are amazing, and I bet other company's can say the same!). Chances are the customer service they offer will be second to none!

Stitch Fix #15: AKA the time I contemplated spending $38 on leggings

Time is absolutely FLYING in our world! Our son turned 8-months-old, I've been running being a crazy KEEP Collective lady, and we've been planning all sorts of fun activities with our family and friends! I almost forgot that I had another Fix coming... ALMOST.

If you don't know about Stitch Fix (<--Referral link!), let me give you a little rundown. Stitch Fix is a clothing subscription service, and you decide how frequently, or infrequently, you'd like a shipment. You'll fill out a detailed style profile about your sizes, style preferences, and budget (and it's super fun to fill out the profile to see what your style preferences are!). 

Then, you decide when you'd like to receive a shipment! Stitch Fix will send you five clothing items or accessories to try on in your own home! This is perfect for seeing if the pieces you receive will work with the pieces you already have. Your Fix also arrives with detailed styling cards to give you ideas of how to wear each item. Each Fix costs $20, but the fee is credited toward anything you decide to keep. When you've decided what you don't want, you simply check out online and mail the items back in the prepaid mailing envelope. If you keep everything, you score a 25% discount! I love that I can work with my current wardrobe to see what will work best with what I already have. 

And, if someone signs up through your referral link, you get a $25 credit to use toward your next purchase! 

You can see my previous Fixes here:

Stitch Fix #1

Stitch Fix #2

Stitch Fix #3

Stitch Fix #4

Stitch Fix #5

Stitch Fix #6

Stitch Fix #7

Stitch Fix #8

Stitch Fix #9

Stitch Fix #10

Stitch Fix #11

Stitch Fix #12

Stitch Fix #13

Stitch Fix #14

This time around, Tan chose a few swings and a few misses for me, but I would really love some outside opinions. What would you keep? And what would you ditch immediately? :) 

1. Mystree Jalila Mixed Material Knit Top, $58

Normally Tan hits it out of the park, but this top is just, no. I don't love the mixed material. I don't love the flouncy hem. I just. Don't. Love. It. 

2. MTLA Kristin Fleece Legging, $38 

3. Crescent Tinsley Lace Detail Blouse, $58

I think three years ago, I would have LOVED this top! But my first thought now is, I can't wear a real bra with this, and that's annoying. Super cute, but not necessarily something I need in my closet at this top. But these leggings. Oh. My. Gosh. They feel like what I would imagine wearing a fluffy cloud feels like. So, so soft. And they're $38, but they're a perfect shade of burgundy and did I mention that they feel like wearing a cloud.

4. Fun2Fun Danika Split Neck Beaded Blouse, $54

This top was the surprise of the box! I really didn't expect to like this off the bat. It looked a little boxy, but once I put it on, I kind of loved it! I could dress it up, dress it down, wear it with the cloud-like leggings... 

5. Everly Sherm Dress, $58

This dress is so gorgeous, and I already have another gorgeous dress by Everly, but the top is just too darn big. Like, gaping because it's so darn big. Maybe a size smaller, and it would be perfection, but this one just doesn't work. 

So, what do keep? Return? Help! 

On what makes you thrive

This Fall, I joined MOPS, which technically stands for Mothers Of Preschoolers. I clearly don't have a preschooler, but what I do have is the desire to connect with other moms in my area who are raising their kiddos too. Although we've only had a few meetings so far, I really love the conversations we have. I also really love that we essentially get to eat dessert and drink tons of coffee and call it breakfast, but that's another blog entirely. 

A few meetings ago, we had a discussion about thriving. What makes you thrive? Not just simply survive, but what really makes you thrive in your own life? Even now, I think I'm still pondering my answer because it's such a hard question. 

Where lies your passion? What makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning? What's the first thing you want to talk about when you see people? Where is your happy place? What helps you to flourish?

My definition has changed so much in the past year. I used to say teaching, because I gathered so much energy from being in the classroom and working with my students. And before teaching, I would have said taking classes. I have always loved being a student and learning new things regardless of my age. 

Today, if I had to answer that question, there would be so many answers. Family. Motherhood. Friends. KEEP Collective. Faith. Exercising. Food. Coffee. Perfect days. Rest-filled nights. I feel like I could use more of all of these things in my life. 

I'm challenging myself to really answer this question because I want to continue focusing on the good in life - the things that make me thrive - the things that put me in my happy place. 

I'd love to hear what makes you thrive! 

An accidental blog-cation

A month?! Has it seriously been one month since I last wrote a blog?! Shameful. And completely on accident. And yet, it's true... the entire month of September slipped away, and here it is October, and I have nothing to say except I'm sorry for not blogging for so long! 

What have I been up to? 

Well, being a mom to our almost 8-month-old (who is hardcore teething, by the way). We got him baptized in September. And he's literally learning and growing every day. I love seeing his personality developing! 

And I've been building my business. KEEP Collective  is literally opening so many doors for our family! I LOVE working with people to tell their stories! I love the extra income! And I LOVE that I'll be headed to Cancun on KEEP in April for working hard and earning my incentive trip! 

I've also been trying to be a good wife. I cooked dinner tonight for the first time in... a long time. Like, a real dinner with a meat (oven roasted pork chops!) and a starch (brown rice!) and a vegetable (asparagus!)! That hasn't happened in sooooo long! Our home is inundated with baby stuff, which we love, but it makes it so hard to work around! 

And I definitely have NOT been running. Oiy. There goes my pipe dream of running another half marathon this year! It's just not in the cards. Suffice it to say, I don't love it like I used to. Maybe it's just because I'm worn out. Maybe it's because pushing 50 pounds while doing it slows me down an incredible amount. Maybe I just need a little break. 

And so that's the story! No good reason. But I promise to be better about it! I've missed you all! 

Henry turns six-months-old!

We took Henry's six-month-old photos a few weeks ago. Our baby is six-months-old. How is this happening? Some days, I just want it all to slow down so I can savor his sweet, toothless smile and his chubby, rubber-band wrists just a little bit longer. I know both of those things will soon be captured in just our memories and our photos. 

We set out to Notre Dame for our six month shoot with OMG Photography. Henry was just getting over his first virus, and, yet again, he became incredibly shy for the cameras. He must know the pressure is on during picture days! I was nervous that we hadn't captured any smiles, and that yet again we would be smile-less at this shoot. 

But Kaity did. She captured the mother of all moments. My husband, bent over, tickling Henry's tummy. Henry, purely happy and smiling his trademark smile. And me, watching the two boys I love most in this world sharing an incredible moment together. 

Kaity captures so much more than just our photos. She captures the admiration I have for my husband now that I get to see him as a father. She captures the pure joy Henry has as he and his daddy have a special moment together. She captures my husband's beautiful connection with our son (no one can make him laugh like daddy can!). She captures our family in its most perfect state: happy and loved and so, so blessed. 

When Kaity sent me this photo, I couldn't help but cry. In my car. In the Michaels parking lot. Because this photo is exactly how I see our family. I just never knew what it looked like with all three of us in it. 

As Henry grows, everything is changing. He's more curious. He's more active. And I know it won't be long before it will be torture for him to sit still and cuddle with his parents. But for this moment, he did, and I am grateful that he gets to be our little baby just a little while longer.

Why my love affair with the news is slowly dying

As a journalism and newspaper teacher, I adored the news. I read it, watched it, scrolled through it, studied it, analyzed, shared it, even obsessed over it. I relayed news trends to my students. We talked about news determinants and why certain stories were chosen over others. We looked at the motivations, angles, scopes, and impacts. We talked news daily. And I loved it. 

But since becoming a mom, my love affair with the news is slowly dying. Stories that used to intrigue and horrify me are now just utterly horrifying and way less intriguing. I feel like lately when I catch the news, it's just tragic. Major fast food chain spokesman pleads guilty to child pornography and sex with children. Christian vlogger who just days ago announced a pregnancy and miscarriage with his wife found to have Ashley Madison account. Reporter and her cameraman shot to death during a live feed. Trending locally today, an elderly man who was knocked to the ground when some a-holes in a park demanded money of him. (That last one wasn't the headline - I added my own opinion, which makes me a bad journalist.) 

It's all just different now. Hits a little closer to home. Sadder, somehow. 

I want to raise my child in a world free of all this yuck. I want so much to put him a bubble and never let him know that these atrocities exist. I pray, daily, and worry, nightly, that none of these awful, awful things ever happen to him. And as tempting as that bubble is, it's not reality, and putting him in one will only make it harder later down the line, and that's not fair to him either.  

So instead of just complaining about it or wishing for a better world, I'm going to be kinder. I'm going to say nice things. I'm going to spread positive vibes as far and as wide as I can. Because I can't take away the bad, but I can definitely make it better. 

Stitch Fix #14: Transition to Autumn

We have so many fun things going on right now, and today was an awesome day for our family and my new business. But time is going so fast! I can't believe it's almost Labor Day weekend! And I really can't believe it's time for my next Stitch Fix! 

If you don't know about Stitch Fix (<--Referral link!), let me give you a little rundown. Stitch Fix is a clothing subscription service, and you decide how frequently, or infrequently, you'd like a shipment. You'll fill out a detailed style profile about your sizes, style preferences, and budget (and it's super fun to fill out the profile to see what your style preferences are!). 

Then, you decide when you'd like to receive a shipment! Stitch Fix will send you five clothing items or accessories to try on in your own home! This is perfect for seeing if the pieces you receive will work with the pieces you already have. Your Fix also arrives with detailed styling cards to give you ideas of how to wear each item. Each Fix costs $20, but the fee is credited toward anything you decide to keep. When you've decided what you don't want, you simply check out online and mail the items back in the prepaid mailing envelope. If you keep everything, you score a 25% discount! I love that I can work with my current wardrobe to see what will work best with what I already have. 

And, if someone signs up through your referral link, you get a $25 credit to use toward your next purchase! 

You can see my previous Fixes here:

Stitch Fix #1

Stitch Fix #2

Stitch Fix #3

Stitch Fix #4

Stitch Fix #5

Stitch Fix #6

Stitch Fix #7

Stitch Fix #8

Stitch Fix #9

Stitch Fix #10

Stitch Fix #11

Stitch Fix #12

Stitch Fix #13

This time around, Tan styled me with some gorgeous pieces that I could mix and match for the upcoming transition to cooler temperatures. But, I could really use your help deciding what to keep! What do you think is best?

1. Daniel Rainn Pam Lattice Detail Blouse, $68

2. Street Level Nile Wallet Clutch, $38

This top is really fun, and a pretty burgundy color. I like the detailing at the shoulders, but the sleeves are a little short for my monkey arms. The clutch is a gorgeous metallic gold, but I just got an amazing monogrammed clutch recently from my Bock Box, and that's been my go to lately! I think I can count these two out. 

3. Skies are Blue Zayda Mixed Material Sweater, $58

4. Liverpool Collen Straight Leg Jean, $78

I love the mixed material of this cream sweater! The underlay is a light tan, and there's a high-low look to it. It's got subtle embroidery and is lightweight enough to wear now but will look perfect with jeans and boots in the fall! I also really like the jeans (funny story... I thought I had put on the jeans Stitch Fix sent me in the previous picture... and then I realized those are jeans I already own!). The straight leg is cute, and they fit PERFECTLY in the waist, hip, and thighs. But $78? I just don't know! What do you think?

5. Collective Concepts Reanne Cap Sleeve Polka Dot Dress, $78

I do love a good polka dot pattern. And this dress is SO cute! I love the little cap sleeves, and the zipper on the back is a gorgeous gold! We do have a few weddings this fall and winter, but I kept a gorgeous scalloped neck dress from my last Fix... so do I really need another one? 

Alright, hellllllp me! What do I keep? Send back? Leave a comment, and let me know! 

On how timing is everything

This week would have marked the start of my 11th year of teaching. Only, I didn't walk in to the classroom this week. I didn't print an endless amount of first day materials. I didn't come up with fun getting to know you activities. I didn't even put on business casual clothing this week. 

Because this week marks the start of my first school year as a Stay-at-home-mom. I knew it would be hard this week to think about all of my sweet students from last year and how I wouldn't be seeing them pass by my classroom. I felt serious sadness when a few of them tweeted me on the first day of school to say how they'd miss our interactions. And I'm sad that I'm missing those conversations and moments with all the amazing LPHS family. 

But on the first teacher work day this week, my son spiked his first fever. And on the second teacher work day, we were at the doctor. And on the first student day, I held my sweet, sick baby the entire day. 

Signs seem to be everywhere lately for me, and this was just another one. I am absolutely in the right place this year, spending time and getting to know and teach my little boy. It would have been incredibly difficult to be away from him this week, and now I don't have to be. Signs, friends. 

Timing is a funny thing. When it's wrong, it is OH-SO-WRONG, but when it is right, and everything falls in to place, life gets really, really good. 

I've taken on an incredible new venture in to direct sales. I was so nervous when I started, and I worried that perhaps I'd seen the signs wrong. Maybe I'd made a mistake. But two weeks in, business is going so well, I'm making new connections every day, I am blissfully happy, and I get to do it all from home with my son and husband. Does life get any sweeter than that? 

Timing truly is everything. And right now, right now the time is right. 

What I've learned from my parents 40 year marriage

Ignore my reflection. Focus on the cuteness that hangs on my grandpa's wall.

On Saturday, my parents celebrated 40 years of marriage. FORTY. YEARS. That's a lotta years! And naturally, I'm biased, by my parents are truly the definition of true love. They are supportive, loving, and kind to one another at all times. And in the 32 years I've been alive, I've learned so much from them. I thought their 40th anniversary would be an excellent time to reflect and share some of my favorite lessons from them. Oh, and bust out their beautiful bridesmaid dresses. 

Do things together
Is it a Sunday? I can pretty much guarantee that my parents will be at their favorite store together. It might be a running joke in our family, but I think it's adorable. This is their time together! And it's something they both love to do. And they do it together! Find what it is you like to do, and do it together. If that's a hobby, exercise, or something else entirely, that's great, as long as you do it together. (Hint: Their favorite store rhymes with Nenards). 

Let the little things go
My dad is a defensive driver. My mom is a backseat driver. And yet, they RARELY say anything to one another about this. Because really, does it matter? No. In the words of Elsa, "Let it go." My parents have mastered the art of not nagging one another. This is an art form I need to be attempt more often. 

Hold hands
To this day, my parents still hold hands. They do it when they walk. They do it when they sit. It's natural for them, and it's a sweet way to show affection. A simple hand hold can make the world of difference in someone's day. Hold hands!

Enjoy every moment
No, it won't always be kittens and sunshine, but finding joy in every day together makes for a solid marriage. 

Telling YOUR story: Taking a GIANT leap with a new career at KEEP Collective!

I'm literally bursting with excitement writing this blog. And also, I can't believe I'm writing this blog. I never, ever thought I would want to sell anything. But then I was introduced to KEEP Collective, and I've totally fallen in love. 

I've fallen so much in love with KEEP Collective that I've decided to become a designer and sell the product! 

And I think you're going to love it just as much as I do! 

So, a little background here. I love story telling. And I have always loved the idea that everybody has a story. This was one of my staple assignments teaching journalism and newspaper, and my students would find incredible people to write incredible stories about. We all have our own unique stories, and those stories deserve to be celebrated! 

Enter KEEP Collective, the brand new baby of Stella & Dot. KEEP is unique, though, because it focuses on Keepers (bracelets and necklaces) and Keys (TONS of one-of-a-kind charms to place on the Keepers). You choose the Keeper and Keys that speak to you, that you love, and that tell your story. And then you get to show it off! It's a beautiful way to tell your story and display what you love, and I couldn't love that any more if I tried! 

I attended my friend Corrie's Facebook Social this past winter, and I had my own party in February (right as another piece of my story arrived in our world!). And I've literally been thinking about joining this company ever since, but I never took the plunge... until now! 

Besides the gorgeous products, I love this company for so many reasons. Stella & Dot has been around for YEARS and has a super successful history. Keepers and Keys are all ionic plated which makes them super durable and high quality! Additionally, KEEP gives its designers great incentives and will be flexible around my Henry schedule. There's nothing more important to me right now than being a mom, and this will give me the flexibility to be a mom that can be home AND working! The company really focuses on empowering women, and I LOVE that mission! They love giving back, and have partnered with Kind Campaign to promote anti-bullying in schools, which I adore (check out the Kind bar above!). And did I mention the customer service is excellent? It's excellent. The company loves to make its customers happy! 

I'm so excited to share this jewelry because KEEP is so new that not many people have seen it yet! It's too much fun that I get to do this now! 

So, what do you do if you're interested in seeing more? Well, friends, you have options! 

Come to my online Launch Party! 
I'm hosting a bash on Facebook  to introduce you to the line! If you've never been to a Facebook social, you're going to love it! Join the event via Facebook, and then tune in on Wednesday, August 12 at 8 p.m.! I'll show you all the Keepers and Keys and design pieces to fit your story (oh, and, there will be giveaways too, of course!)! Want to know more? Want to see if there's anything you like? Come join me on Facebook and get to know KEEP! 

Come give me your opinion! 
Are you a local? I would LOVE to get your opinion the night before the launch party! Come visit me on Tuesday, August 11 from 6-8 p.m.! I'll have some nibbles and drinks and you can look over the jewelry and tell me what your favorite pieces are! 

Host a social
Let's say you're super interested already and want to score free swag for yourself (oh, hi, the hostess rewards are AWESOME). The best way to do so is to host a social, and this can be done two ways. You can host a traditional social in your home (you provide the place and the nibbles and I'll bring the jewelry so we can design!). OR, you can host a Facebook social, which is SO easy to do! We pick the time together, I set up the event, and you invite your friends and family. From there, we play some games and design your stories together! 

Order off my webpage
Not feeling having a social but still want to order a special piece for you or someone you care about? Check out my brand new website, and place an order there! 

Join me
Do you like what you're hearing? Have you been looking for something just like this to become a part of? If you take the leap, you won't regret it! Join me, and let's go on this amazing adventure together! Feel free to email me at AngelaPuttDesigner@gmail.com if you'd like to chat more about this opportunity!