Too many women suffer in silence, because this topic is so uncomfortable. Others don't know how to help with the grieving process, so often times the Mother feels alone. I am so glad we have a day like today to bring awareness and support. I would have been lost without the support we received from the Funeral Home, the cemetery, the group SHARE who offered counseling, helped dress Aria and did molds of her hands and feet, and for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep for the beautiful pictures they did of us with her. That is why this day is so important. To get awareness out that there is help, and that women do not have to suffer alone.
Here is Heather's Story:
You know the saying, "Nothing will ever be the same after this." Everyone has a moment that you know changes your life. That day becomes the date that you determine time. Your life before that date, and your life after that date.
My date is May 19th, 2011.
I was in my third trimester of my fourth pregnancy. I went in for a Dr.s appointment and my baby no longer had a heart beat. I was admitted into labor and delivery 3 hours later. After 10 hours of labor I delivered a baby girl. A baby girl I wouldn't get to bring home. To read more about that story, go HERE.
In this post I want to talk more about life after the date. After we said our Hello's and Good-bye's to our baby girl. After we visited the funeral home. Picked out her plot, her casket. After Aria was buried. After healing from giving birth and letting my milk dry up.
After the month of not wanting to leave my house. After quitting my job because I couldn't possibly be a good coach to my girls when my heart wasn't in it. After I stopped going to church for awhile because there are so many babies there. After I cancelled activities with friends because I didn't have the energy to pretend to care about what was going on in their lives, and I didn't want to talk about mine.
After the months of pulling away from my husband. After the months of hiding my tears from my kids. After the repeated attempts to tell everyone, including myself, that I was okay.
It took me about a year from the time I had her to the time when I was authentically happy again. It's been over five years now, and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her. What she would be doing, what she would look like, what kind of little personality she would have. What her laugh would sound like. I always know exactly how old she would be. She would be in Pre-K right now. She would be excited about Halloween. She would probably have 3 different costumes picked out, just like her sister did at that age.
I think about how my 11 year old daughter would have a sister. I think about how cute my teenage boys would be with her. I think about my husband buying her all the shoes she could ever want, because that's what he does for the girls in his life. Oh, she'd probably be a terror! She'd be oh so spoiled by every single one of us. We love her so much.
After turns into a beginning. The beginning of a new normal.
May 19th, 2011 was my date.
My after was hard for a long time. And I still have my days. But mostly my after is beautiful.
My after is better than my before, because I love more now. I celebrate more now. I see more! My after turned in the beginning of me really living and celebrating my life.
The thing about having your heart broken, is it has to grow bigger and stronger to repair itself. My heart is bigger and stronger now. I see people differently. I see life differently. I see myself differently.
We were able to spend a few hours with Aria before the funeral director came to take her, and I promised her that I would live a happy life for her. (More on that here. )
Before May 19th, I was a happy girl. I was content. I was satisfied. My life was good, no real complaints. But I didn't really live FOR anything. I just did my day to day. I never tried anything new. I wasn't adventurous. I was just happy with getting by. I had a life, but I was truly LIVING it.
After May 19th, I try not to take things for granted. I push myself. I try new things. I see that this great big world has things to offer ME. I am worthy of great things. I can do great things. I would have never in a million years had the courage to start this magazine before. I would have never had the desire to try new things, like running in the Dirt in the Skirt a few years ago with my sister. I now know I can do anything. I now realize the importance of showing myself, and my children, that life has so much to offer and to take advantage of every opportunity.
Before, I was happy. After, I know what happiness is.
Everyone has their date. How are you living your after?
You'll never get over the heartache and trials you've had to endure. Your heart will never "recover." But you can rediscover!
Rediscover who you are. Rediscover your dreams. Rediscover life! Bring energy to it. Bring urgency to it. Bring purpose to it. Love bigger. Love stronger.
Bad things happen, but time doesn't stop. So often I wanted a time out. I needed to catch my breath. The rest of the world was going about their days like nothing happened, and I was sitting there thinking, "I just lost my baby!!" I just needed everything to stop!
Haven't we all had that moment? When things seem to be spinning out of control, and nothing is going right? And all you can think is, "I just need it to stop!" But, time is cruel. It doesn't stop or even slow down for anyone or any circumstance.
Time Keeps going, so you have to keep growing.
You have to keep getting up. You have to keep trying. Some days I got up to get my kids off to school just to get back in bed until they got home again. And honestly, that was ALL I could do. But I did it. And after a few weeks, I was able to do a little more. Little by little your happiness will grow. Day by day, step by step, you'll grow more.
Your after can be better than your before. You just have to decide to keep going. Don't give in. Don't give up. Keep growing your happiness.
You might ask yourself, "How can I ever be the same?"
I know I did. I remember thinking that life would be completely different now. How could life be the same after losing a child? How could my heart ever be the same after such a loss? How will I ever be the same person that I was before? How will life go back to the way it was?
I'll tell you, I'm not the same. But, "Nothing will ever be the same" doesn't have to be a bad thing.
My date was May 19th, 2011. And nothing is the same.
Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.
Love,
Heather
Fall has always been my favorite time of year. I love everything about it. The way the sun lights in a soft golden haze. The sound of the leaves while taking a walk. Cuddling in a blanket while watching a spooky movie. The happiness on a child's face with the excitement of all of the season's activities.
Fall is filled with romance. It's a happy, playful time. It's a cozy and warm and beautiful.
We feel it's so important to treat your marriage as the most important thing in your life, because it IS the most important thing in your life. We often take our relationships for granted. This Fall spice up your relationship and bring it energy. We have these 50 great date night ideas to do this Fall.
1. Have a scary movie marathon
2. Schedule a dance lesson
3. Go to a bookstore
4. Grab some hot chocolate at a
5. Go for a scenic bike ride
6. Visit a local farmers market
7. Go to an arcade and play all the two person games
8. Go to a Costume shop and have a fashion show.
9. Bring blankets to a homeless shelter
10. Cuddle by the fire and read old letters from each other
11. Rake some leaves, play in them, and then rake them again
12. Have a bonfire party with some other couples
13. Have a board game night
14. Go to a Haunted House
15. Drink hot cider on the porch
16. Get dressed up and go somewhere fancy
17. Have a Netflix marathon on a rainy day
18. Visit a local restaurant you’ve never been to
19. Bake a pie together
20. Take a walk together and admire the changing leaves
21. Visit a pumpkin patch
22. Go on a picnic out in the country
23. Go horseback riding
24. Carve pumpkins together
25. Plan a morning pick up football game with other couples
26. Go to a local high school football game
27. Host a costume party with friends
28. Go camping
29. Go outside and star gaze
30. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
31. Go on a nature hike
32. Head to the fair
33. Go to a matinee
34. Go to a play
35. Go to a drive-in
36. Make breakfast, then eat it in bed
37. Go bowling
38. Go thrifting together
39. Take a bubble bath together
40. Pack care packages for the troops
41. Shop for canned goods to donate
42. Tackle a fun DIY project together
43. Visit the Zoo
44. Make S’mores
45. Go out for dessert
46. Visit a Corn Maze
47. Visit your local state parks
48. Go apple picking
49. Go on a hayride
50. Take a mini-road trip
For some reason, this time of year brings out my crafty side. I love nothing more than spending an afternoon getting creative and making my home warm and cozy.
We came up with these 3 Easy Fall DIYs that you can easily and happily spend and afternoon doing.
The Pumpkin Platter
Halloween Candle Sticks
Pumpkin Floral Centerpiece
To read all the details and get the instructions, check out the October/November issue of Sparklers Magazine online now.
Today's the last day of the month. I like to reflect on the good changes I made to my life before I set goals for the next month. By consistently trying our best, we will be able to achieve the best. The key is to make deliberate choices every day that move you closer to your goal.
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What were you able to accomplish this month that is moving you towards a September to remember? For me, it's been waking up earlier. It's been a game changer!
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"The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it." - Mother Teresa
A happy Mom means a happy house. Long days and long nights sometimes leaves you with only enough energy to just get through the day. Here are 10 tips to help you be a happier Mom, and to enjoy and celebrate your divine role.
1. Have a schedule. Kids thrive on routine, and your day will go much smoother if you set up a regular schedule and try to stick to it.
2. Get up early. This seems crazy when you are barely getting enough sleep as it is. But, getting up a little earlier to get a head start on your day will make the whole day go a lot easier.
3. Get dressed. Look good. Feel good. Do good. You will feel better about your day and be able to do more good if you feel better about yourself.
4. Make daily “you” time. All Moms need a break, otherwise you will break. Take a little bit of time each day to do something for you. Even 15 minutes will refresh you and keep you going. Read a book, take a bath, write, paint. Do something you enjoy.
5. Excercise. Getting physical helps your mind and your body stay healthy and focused.
6. Keep a gratitude journal and make a list of goals. Taking time to reflect on your blessings will turn those hard Mom days around. So will goals. It’s hard to keep going with the hard days if you don’t have goals and plans to look forward to and work on. Be a good example to your children, and show them that being grateful and working hard will take you far in life.
7. Date your mate. This one is so important. Make sure you take time once a week to go out on a date with your spouse. Life is a lot more fun when you are connected and on the same page as your spouse.
8. Keep up with the housework. It’s easy to feel stressed and out of control when your home is chaotic and unorganized. No one loves to clean, but the reward will bring you peace.
9. Hugs. Take time each day to hug your kids. Give each child one on one time during the day. Build your relationships. That is what makes life worth it.
10. Serve. Get out and get involved. Helping others always brings happiness, and so does getting out of the house. Find something that interests you and find a way to get involved.
Looking for an excuse to Celebrate Life? We've got you covered with this easy Backyard Bonfire.
How often do you take a night out of the week to celebrate friends, family, and life? It doesn’t have to be a big production. It doesn’t even have to be something that takes weeks to plan. It doesn’t need to cost a fortune! Sometimes a celebration can be put together in an hour’s time, and one trip to the grocery store. We want to encourage you to stop making excuses. To stop thinking “one day,” and make that day to enjoy your life today!
Have fun and get creative with your S'mores Bar. We had three different cookies and three different chocolates for our guests to mix up and try new flavor combinations.
We have some very easy tips to help you throw together a backyard bonfire in no time, with really no effort, and little money.
To read all the details on How to Host a Backyard Bonfire from the August/September Issue of
Sparklers Magazine, CLICK HERE
"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity." – Khalil Gibran
For this Month's Celebrate:Friendship, Girls Day Out, we chose a morning hike. It was the perfect way to really re-connect with my girlfriends. We were able to walk and talk, and share goals and give support and encouragement. We also had the opportunity to find peace and beauty out in nature, and go home to our families feeling energized and grateful.
I packed up a morning snack of yogurt and trail mix to bring along, which gave it that special "get together" feeling, even though it wasn't a typical get together.
For this Month's Celebrate:Friendship, Girls Day Out, we chose a morning hike. It was the perfect way to really re-connect with my girlfriends. We were able to walk and talk, and share goals and give support and encouragement. We also had the opportunity to find peace and beauty out in nature, and go home to our families feeling energized and grateful.
I packed up a morning snack of yogurt and trail mix to bring along, which gave it that special "get together" feeling, even though it wasn't a typical get together.
To read all about it, check out theAugust/September Issue of Sparklers Magazine
Celebrate:Friendship Article
What has been one of your favorite Girl's Day Out? Do you have an idea you would like to share?
The August September issue of Sparklers magazine is live. We hope you find some inspiration in it.
"Love is friendship that has caught fire." - Ann Landers
Challenge 5 for the #sweet16sparklerssummer is to have fun with your relationship. Summer love is the best type of love. I remember a few summer flings, growing up, (I happened to marry one of them!) and they were so exciting, innocent and thrilling. Bring that feeling back to your marriage this week by planning something fun and spontaneous.
Go park and make out. Go lay under the stars. Share a shake. Go skinny dipping. Bring back some fun and dare to get a little wild with your date night. Pass up on dinner and a movie, and do something a bit more adventurous. Spark your summer! Spark your relationship!
Some of my favorite childhood memories involve the drive in. My family would usually go with a few other families, and we would all pack up some blankets, food and games and head to the drive in. There is something magical going to the movies and watching from the car makes it just that much better.
Here are our Top 10 reasons you should hit up the Drive-In this summer.
1. It's cheaper. The price to get in is usually a few bucks cheaper than going to the movie theater.
2. You get TWO movies for the price of one!
3. The snack stand food is less expensive than at the movie theater. (I always spend more on food than the actual price of my ticket at the theater.)
4. At the Drive-In you can bring in your own food. YUM!
5. You can sit under the stars.
6. It's romantic. If you are without the kids!
7. It's kid friendly. You don't have to worry about a screaming baby, or a child who has the wiggles.
8. You can stay out extra late. Something about being out later than usual is exciting!
9. It's an event. It's something out of the norm and a memory maker.
10. You can talk. I know some of you are talkers, and you won't get shhhhh'd at the Drive-In.
Have you been to the drive in lately? What is your favorite thing about going?
Headed to a 4th of July Parade this weekend? Keep the kids cool and happy with this fun and easy pail of goodies. We got everything from the Dollar store, making this a one stop shop project.
We just filled the pail with bubbles, sunglasses, flags and streamers to wave, a water bottle, a squirt bottle, some licorice and Cracker Jacks, a pinwheel and some fresh wipes. This pail was a life saver last year. No asking when the parade was going to start, no complaining about needing a snack, and it kept them cool which meant less cranky!
Do you go to the parades?
"Because the greatest part of a road trip isn't arriving at your destination. It's all the wild stuff that happens along the way."
Can you really describe summer without at least one road trip? This summer make a plan, pack your bags and hit the road. Or not! Last summer I woke up one Thursday morning, planning on cleaning the house and then taking the kids to the pool. But after a phone call from my hubby (who was working up in Oregon at the time) I yelled to my kids, "Grab whatever clean clothes you have, feed the cat and meet me in the car in a half hour!"
We took a very spontaneous road trip from Utah to Oregon, just me and my three kids, and it is one of my favorite memories. My kids loved seeing that Mom can get wild, and I loved spending 2 days in the car with them. We played games, we talked, we sang and danced to rap music. We rolled down the windows and surfed the wind with our hands. We stopped at lots of gas stations and ate way too much crap food. But it was an adventure.
This week plan a road trip. Take one as a family, grab your love and head out for the weekend, or grab your girlfriends and getaway. Don't worry about making good time. Just focus on the time you have together. Get adventurous and go somewhere you've never been.
Don't have a lot of time off? Take a day trip. Explore somewhere that is 2-3 hours away from you. Stop and eat at local Ma & Pa shops. Stop and take pictures. Just stop and enjoy being free. Stop the busy. Stop the to-do list. Take a road trip, and explore life!
Check out the latest issue of Sparklers Magazine for Tips on Road Trips with kids.
Plus, check the blog this whole week for ideas to make your road trip the one to remember. Make 2016 the sweetest ever with us, and #sweet16summer.
Check out the latest issue of Sparklers Magazine for Tips on Road Trips with kids.
Plus, check the blog this whole week for ideas to make your road trip the one to remember. Make 2016 the sweetest ever with us, and #sweet16summer.
This is the easiest wreath to make. Seriously! I made it one rainy afternoon with my 9 year old daughter and we had a blast.
Plus, it cost less than $5 dollars to make!!!! YES!
First I purchased a foam noodle from the dollar store and made it into a wreath form.
I bought some fun summer 12x12 scrapbook papers and a package of colorful brads from the craft store, and that's al you need. We cut each scrapbook paper into 4th's, so then we had 6x6 paper to work with.
I found this pattern from http://www.auntannie.com/FridayFun/Pinwheel/ to make the pinwheels.
And we ended up with about 25 of these cute little pinwheels!
Then we just hot glued them to the foam form and VOILLA!!! You have an adorable summer wreath.
Have you tried making pinwheels yet? What wreath do you like to use for the month of June?
Do you Love to Read
Something about Summer brings thoughts of a more laid-back life style. Of warmth and relaxation with more time to do the things we love. For us reading is one of those things.
The old familiar term of "Summer Reads" as eye candy or throw-away reads certainly doesn't fit into everyone's definition. Whatever you're reading this summer is your "Summer Read". So whatever your preferred form of entertainment is, you're sure to find your summer read from the list we have compiled below.
Some of our Picks by Category:Heart-Touching / Soul-Stirring Memoirs
When Breath
Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
The Art of Waiting by Belle Boggs
Unforgettable:
A Son, a Mother, and the Lessons of a LifetimeGratitude by Oliver Sacks
If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers by Hannah Brencher
Beach Reads If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers by Hannah Brencher
What I Remember Most by Cathy Lamb
Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
French Coast by Anita Hughes
Fugitive Colors by Lisa Barr
Imaginary Things by Andrea Lochen
The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff
Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
French Coast by Anita Hughes
Fugitive Colors by Lisa Barr
Imaginary Things by Andrea Lochen
The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff
Business, Leadership & Success
The Art of Social Media: Power tips for power users by Guy
Kawasaki
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
Presence: Bringing your boldest self to your biggest challenges by Amy Cuddy
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
Presence: Bringing your boldest self to your biggest challenges by Amy Cuddy
Self-Help and Motivational
The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? by Seth GodinRising Strong by Brene Brown
Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative
Mind by Scott Barry Kaufman & Carolyn Gregoire
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
How to Have a Good Day by Caroline Webb
The Happiness Track by Emma Seppala
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of I Am by Joel Osteen
Trust by Iyanla Vanzant
How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly's Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life, by Heather Havrilesky
Flawd: How to Stop Hating on Yourself, Others, and the Things That Make You Who You Are by Emily-Anne Rigal
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
How to Have a Good Day by Caroline Webb
The Happiness Track by Emma Seppala
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of I Am by Joel Osteen
Trust by Iyanla Vanzant
How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly's Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life, by Heather Havrilesky
Flawd: How to Stop Hating on Yourself, Others, and the Things That Make You Who You Are by Emily-Anne Rigal
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
Salt to the Sea (novel) by Ruta Sepetys
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
Map of Fates by Maggie Hall (novel)
Lady Midnight (book one – Novel) by Cassandra Clare
Wink Poppy Midnight by April Tucholke
The Raven King (book 4 of the raven cycle) by Maggie Stiefvater
The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Hapgood
Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (book 8)
The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
Salt to the Sea (novel) by Ruta Sepetys
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
Map of Fates by Maggie Hall (novel)
Lady Midnight (book one – Novel) by Cassandra Clare
Wink Poppy Midnight by April Tucholke
The Raven King (book 4 of the raven cycle) by Maggie Stiefvater
The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Hapgood
Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (book 8)
We've searched the internet (so you won't have to), to find what the top book recommendations are. We asked friends and family for their recommendations too. Below we have compiled a random list of (65) recommended books. So no matter what your reading pleasure is, you should be able to find a book from our list that sets your soul on fire.
So let's get started on our "Summer Reading".
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green
The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Light Between Oceans
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
How to be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life by Heather Havrilesky
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
A Wife of Noble Character by Yvonne Georgina Puig
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Break In Case of Emergency by Jessica Winter
Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman
Behind Every Good Man by John Bytheway
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
Neon Green by Margaret Wappler
Here comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
You will Know Me by Megan Abbott
Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Deerskin by Robin McKinley
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
The Cuckoo’s Calling, by Robert Galbraith
Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
The Engagements, by J. Courtney Sullivan
The Girls of Atomic City, by Denise Kiernan
Longbourn, by Jo Baker
The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout
And the Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A thousand Splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
Love Is a Choice: Making Your Marriage and Family Stronger by Lynn G. Robbins
The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close
Multiple Choice by Alejandro Zambra
The Muse by Jessie Burton
You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews
The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer
Some Possible Solutions by Helen Phillips
Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam
Marrow Island by Alexis Smith
The Girls by Emma Cline
Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty by Ramona Ausubel
Invincible Summer by Alice Adams
We Could Be Beautiful by Swan Huntley
You Are Having a Good Time by Amie Barrodale
The Interestings, by Meg Wolitzer
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
The Fault in our Stars by John Green
The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Anne Fowler
One Summer: America, 1927, by Bill Bryson
And Sons, by David Gilbert
Visitation Street, by Ivy Pochoda
The Lowland, by Jhumpa Lahiri
An Innocent Fashion by R.J. Hernández
Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Caroline Leaf
So let's get started on our "Summer Reading".
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green
The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Light Between Oceans
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
How to be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life by Heather Havrilesky
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
A Wife of Noble Character by Yvonne Georgina Puig
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Break In Case of Emergency by Jessica Winter
Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman
Behind Every Good Man by John Bytheway
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
Neon Green by Margaret Wappler
Here comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
You will Know Me by Megan Abbott
Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Deerskin by Robin McKinley
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
The Cuckoo’s Calling, by Robert Galbraith
Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
The Engagements, by J. Courtney Sullivan
The Girls of Atomic City, by Denise Kiernan
Longbourn, by Jo Baker
The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout
And the Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A thousand Splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
Love Is a Choice: Making Your Marriage and Family Stronger by Lynn G. Robbins
The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close
Multiple Choice by Alejandro Zambra
The Muse by Jessie Burton
You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews
The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer
Some Possible Solutions by Helen Phillips
Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam
Marrow Island by Alexis Smith
The Girls by Emma Cline
Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty by Ramona Ausubel
Invincible Summer by Alice Adams
We Could Be Beautiful by Swan Huntley
You Are Having a Good Time by Amie Barrodale
The Interestings, by Meg Wolitzer
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
The Fault in our Stars by John Green
The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Anne Fowler
One Summer: America, 1927, by Bill Bryson
And Sons, by David Gilbert
Visitation Street, by Ivy Pochoda
The Lowland, by Jhumpa Lahiri
An Innocent Fashion by R.J. Hernández
Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Caroline Leaf
I love Memorial Day Weekend. It's the official kick off to summer fun. But more importantly it's a day to remember what was lost to enjoy our freedom.
We usually start our day at the cemetery, bringing flowers to our daughter, Aria's grave. (Her story here.) I LOVE the cemetery she is buried at. Before her, we would drive by this hilly cemetery and I always commented on how beautiful it was. Now it's even more beautiful to me because a part of my heart is there, between the fourth and fifth tree.
I like to add a little bit of seasonal decor to my home, to help my family feel festive. Sometimes I go all out, like on Halloween and Christmas. But for occasions like Memorial Day, I just like to add subtle touches. I'll get out my red cake stand, I'll display a few flags, I have a few fun patriotic pieces, but nothing too over bearing.
This year, I designed this "Land of the free because of the brave" printable to add to our gallery wall.
Adding something as simple as a printable to your decor can help you embrace the season.
I know you want this framed for your home too, so I created a free 8x10 that you can download for yourself. You're Welcome!
If you use it, let me know how you used it, I would love to see!
Love,
Heather
I went from excited to devastated within just an hours time. I was just starting my third trimester, getting another ultrasound done, and we were told that my baby no longer had a heart beat.
Knowing that I would be delivering my gone baby (I don't like the word dead) I anticipated it to be the worst moment of my life.
But honestly, the actual birth of my daughter was the single most sacred, beautiful experience I have ever had.
May 19th, 2011 Aria Dawson was silently born.
I can still hear the silence. I know that sounds crazy, but silence does have a sound. It's like a fuzzy foggy sound. It sort of rumbles. It kind of rings. And when life is too hard to deal with, you focus on the silence. It gets loud. Really loud. I can still hear it.
I was admitted to the Labor and Delivery ward, and was in labor for 10 hours. My Doctors and Nurses kept checking on me, but we had not idea when I would actually deliver her.I knew it was happening. I woke up my husband and said, "The baby is coming!" He went to page the Doctor, but I didn't want him too.
I delivered Aria with just me and my husband in the room. I just had this feeling that I wanted to do it, ........just us. It was beautiful. At the exact moment my heart broke, I was also filled with so much love. I loved my husband. I loved my daughter. And I knew that my Heavenly Father loved me.
That room was so quiet and reverent at that moment. She was born into peace, love and adoration.
She was beautiful. She looked just like my other daughter. Long legs, bald head, long eyelashes.
She was perfect.
We got to spend a few hours with her. Dress her. We had pictures taken with her. My husband gave her a name and a blessing. I sang to her. "You are my sunshine."
I promised her that I would be a good Mom to her brothers and sister. I promised her I would never forget her, and I promised her that I would LIVE my life. I would choose joy. I would be happy, for her.
It took me a LONG time to get here. I was lost for so long.
But I kept trying. I knew I needed to do something with my life to honor her. I've changed since becoming her mother. How could this experience not change a person? I wanted it to be for good. I needed her existence to have importance and beauty to it.
All she EVER knew of this life was the love she felt inside the womb. All she knew was that I loved her. All she knew was that her brothers liked to talk to her, and her sister liked to sing to her. All she knew was her Daddy's voice telling her how in love he was. All she knew was good.
They say "Time heals all wounds." It doesn't. My heart is still broken.
It took time for me to figure out how to be happy again. I needed time to figure out how to live joyfully and what I wanted out of this experience. I needed time to figure out how to live my authentic life and to live a life of love and celebration, for Aria.
I decided I wanted to help other women find joy in their lives too. It's easy to lose that spark. Life is hard, and we all have our own unique trials to face that take our breath away. Heartbreaking, painful almost impossible trials to overcome. But I want others to know, that you can live a life of joy again.
You can find blessings from any trial. You can find a new purpose in life after things have fallen apart.
Trials can become blessings, if we look for the beauty in them.
So today is her birthday! She would be five! In honor of Aria, I want to celebrate life! I want to go for a walk and notice nature! I want to give hugs to my friends and tell them how special they are to me. I want to hold my kids and tell them I love them. I want to kiss my hubby. I want dance in my kitchen and sing into the vacuum. I want to smile and help out a stranger. I want to be the good in this world that Aria knew.
She knew good. She knew love. I want to be that good and love for others too.
Summer Time = Sunglasses
It's almost time to Grab your Sunglasses and Sunscreen and head for the Beach, or whatever body of water is your choice for cooling off and enjoying the Summer Sun.
It's important to protect our eyes just as much as our skin from the burning rays of the Sun.
So make sure you have your sunglasses with you.
Now if you're like us, sunglasses are just as much a fashion statement as they are a necessity. We love them in all different styles, colors and shapes.
If you are wondering what shape sunglasses will work best with your shape face, well, Elle Magazine has a great article showing us. Leave it to Elle to make sure we always look and feel great.
Click on the link above to take you to the article in Elle and find out which sunglasses are best for you.
Now pick up a few different pairs, because just one pair of sunnies will never do! Pack your bag with a good read, grab your sunscreen, throw on those shades and let's hit the water.
This Mother’s Day, spoil the women in your life
by throwing this afternoon Boho themed picnic.
We loved the idea of gathering our mothers, our daughters and our friends to celebrate the special role of motherhood. We wanted to celebrate all of the motivational women who have shaped our lives.
Food is always the most important part of and event for us. We love food. We wanted to keep the food light and easy to eat. Picnics are easy and laid back, so the food needs to be as well.
When planning your menu keep in mind the theme of your gathering, the setting and your guests. A Boho Picnic is ideal for finger foods and fresh appetizers.
Take home gifts:
We wanted to have a little gift for our guests to take home. We purchased mason jars and covered them with burlap and tied it off with a lace ribbon. We planted succulents in each jar. We added these burlap flags and wrote “when women support each other, incredible things happen.”
Arts & Crafts:
We set up a table with a variety of washi tapes and scrapbook paper to decorate some journals. We had this quote printed off to use as the cover - “I’ll always rememeber the things you have taught me and how much you love me.” We wanted to create a mother/daughter journal. My daughter use these to ask each other random questions and to connect on a fun and creative way.
Make & Takes:
We had some headbands and silk florals laid out to create these lovely floral crowns. The younger girls had so much fun creating theirs and didn’t want to take them off.
For more details on our Mother's Day Boho Picnic, check out the Spring edition of Sparklers Magazine.
