a few other women following their dreams

i often struggle with staying home full time with ava or getting a job and working outside the home. i think no matter what you do...stay home and work or work outside the home there can be a bit of tension. what is best for me? what is best for the kids? i have to work. we need the money. i have skills and passions i want to utilize outside the home. so many things...for now we feel the best fit for us is being home with ava which allows me the flexibility we love. hanging out with young life leaders. visiting family. going on a month long yl assignment in the summer. but i think many of us are so hard on ourselves. i was talking with a friend about blogs and how often times they make her feel bad about who she is as a mother, wife, and friend. why we do we constantly compare? how often do we look at other people and say...i wish i were like them or i could not do that so i wont even try.

what if we all actually followed our dreams? found our passion and ran with it oppose to just standing back and watching other people do it.

justin and i went out for breakfast on saturday.  ava was so loud and crazy. but in between that we talked about this blog. what it means to me. where we think it is going. how we can get it there. it was so helpful for me. i realized where my heart is and what i am passion about it.

my passion people is this...

not wasting any of it. not one second. 

i am normal and therefore fall short all day and i do not have it all together. but i heart. my desire. where i feel led is to share our life. what is hard for me. where i am going and how i am trying not to waste it. taking nothing for granted. we are not guaranteed that the life we imagined for ourselves will look the way we thought it would. not to instill fear in you. but to encourage you and empower you with how you spend your time. how you view life. what you are about and what you want to contribute. we all have something to offer and we are all capable of not wasting the precious life we have been given.

the biggest gift in cancer...i was given a new start. a new lens to which i see life. i do not want to lose that lens. but i want to continue to view my life differently now that i was given a glimpse of how quickly it all can change.

what about you? are you in? let's begin this journey of not wasting it together.

***let me introduce to you a few friends who are not wasting their gifts and talents***

 31 parties. they are everywhere. in a good way.

i am a sucker for anything monogrammed. liz is a blog reader and new friend. check out the incredible products and deals going on with 31.

 Thirty-One Gifts is a company that wishes to celebrate, encourage, & reward women. we offer beautiful totes, purses, thermals, & much more for very affordable prices. We are very pleased at how quickly Thirty-One Gifts has grown and can't wait to see what the future holds. Each month offers different specials, not only for customers but also for those wishing to host a party. Whether it be a home party, catalog party, or online party you are sure to feel celebrated, encouraged, and definitely rewarded. Bridal and baby showers are very popular party ideas as well. For Don't Waste Your Cancer readers only through the end of October, with an order of $31 or more, you will receive a free nail file in the pattern of your choice. Simply visit my website, place an order, email me your nail file selection with "Don't Waste Your Cancer" as the subject line, & I will complete your transaction. check out my site HERE.

Pinwheel Press.
i love the designs. i love the creativity. i love anything personalized & i love chevron.

After working together over five years ago, we realized each others' love for patterns and pretty paper products. Through the years we talked about starting our own little niche. A year ago, Pinwheel Press was born. Pinwheel Press offers an ample variety of products including calling cards, note cards, invitations, holiday cards, labels and party accessories. The designs are unique, cheerful and clever. Visit our shop to set yourself apart from the rest. And don't forget to enter in "LIBBY" to get 10% off of your order during the month of October! check out our site HERE.

Give Jewelry
i love what they are about. i think you will too.

 Give Jewelry is a sustainable movement to provide food for children of The Bali Orphanage. The vision is simple: “1 piece-1 child-1 week of food.” With every piece of jewelry purchased, Give Jewelry provides one week of nutritious food (that's 21 meals!) for a child in need. So whether you choose feather earrings, a necklace, or bracelet you're really choosing to make a difference.

Give Jewelry: The most affordable and effective way to make a difference in the life of a child.

Put “Libby” in the comment box at checkout and receive 5 free leather bracelets!
check out the site HERE.

Shabby Apple.
love love love it all.


 i have seen shabby apple on many other blogs and i love their products and style.
they help dress us all no matter what age or season of life. jewelry. babies, toddlers and maternity. check it out HERE.

be sure to check these ladies out and enjoy the discounts only for DWYC readers.

off we go...new blog design. incredible post by justin on the story of how we met.  

let's do this whole not wasting it together.

lets share...what are your dreams? how would you like to see change in your life? 

what are you passionate about?