cara box reveal!

You may remember that I posted about Cara Box Exchange a little while ago. Well today is the big reveal! {For more info about the Cara Box - visit Kaitlyn over at Wifessionals}

I was partnered with Jen of That's What She Read. I didn't know Jen (or her blog) prior to our pairing but it has been so much fun getting to know her and reading her blog! I love her "It's OK Thursday" posts and now I also know where to turn if I ever need a good book recommendation :)

Jen sent me the sweetest box:

first look!

very sweet handmade card :)

pretty pumpkin!

pink goodies. october = breast cancer awareness month!

yummmm!!

a few goodies for norah! 

plus a pretty headband

All her gifts were so thoughtful and I'm so happy we were paired up! Thanks again Kaitlyn for organizing the exchange! I look forward to participating again :)

Norah saw the cat costume and immediately wanted to wear it, then immediately threw a fit when I tried to take her picture. I did the best I could.

I actually chased her into her room saying PLEASE just smile one time for me and this is what she did.

Future beauty queen / model / professional smiler right there.

taking a break

i've been thinking a lot about this blog and where i'd like to see it go. in the same sense, i'm battling myself because for so long i would tease my husband about spending too much time online and now here i am, doing the exact same thing. i may justify my time spent by saying it's work, and it is...a lot of work...but if i'm not making any money off of it or if it's not benefiting my family in some way than it's not work, it's play.

this blog is a sort of creative outlet for me where i can post about things going on in our lives, fun projects we're doing, and talk about kiddo things. it's important for me that i have that because where we're living now, i have no friends. i NEED someone to talk to! so by starting this blog, i have been able to make some more like-minded friends.

however...

i'm craving more in-person contact. to have more in-person contact, i need to have less online-time. i've been thinking a lot and i think that taking a break (not necessarily a permanent one) from the internet in general (this includes facebook, pinterest, twitter, etc.) for awhile would do me and my family a lot of good. i'd like to see myself spending more time doing hands-on crafts and projects around the house, more time playing, more time spent with my husband, more time DOING instead of sitting and typing, eyes glued to a screen.

i don't think this blog is done forever. honestly, it's really fun but maybe for me it will always just be a fun thing to do instead of being my "job." maybe that means taking away my weekly features. maybe i will just post sporadically, instead of feeling like i have to have a "makin' it" post done every monday, or a wordless, picture-filled post on wednesdays. i'll just post as i please. if that means i lose readers? then that's ok with  me. because i will be looking for fulfillment in other areas of my life, not on whether or not my blog is growing and gaining readers.

i'm not knocking on other bloggers at all. ones who do this for a living i mean. it's a lot of work and i give them tons of credit! i think that for me personally, it's just become a little overwhelming. there is also a lot going on in my real-life right now and i feel that blogging just needs to take a backseat to it all.

this post is pretty rambly and i apologize. i just have a lot running through my head about where i see myself now and down the road and right now i'm just not sure that this is it.

i will be back tomorrow with a wordless wednesday post but after that, who knows. as i said, i likely won't be gone for good. we'll just have to wait and see where it goes from here.

thank you for understanding. i sincerely hope i didn't offend those who work extremely hard on their blogs and it IS their job. please understand that i'm only speaking of my personal opinion. what works for you might not work for me and vice versa. everyone is different - it's what makes this world interesting.

xo allie

the totally awesome blog hop

i found this blog-hop over at lazy explorers (thanks chloe!) and i immediately linked up. blog-hops are a great way to find new and awesome blogs to follow and hopefully get some new followers for yourself! i have been spending a little time each day on all the blogs linked over here and i am pretty excited for all my new reads. thanks again, ladies!

want to participate? here's the link-up info:

Hello, and welcome to the Totally Awesome Blog Hop. This will be an ongoing effort brought to you by four really cool ladies, hopefully resulting in the biggest community link-love fest evar! 

The hop will be linked between four sites, ensuring everyone's links get seen and clicked. We want our audiences to get to know each other! Our goal is community building between like-minded folks, and this is a place for of people to meet, make friends, and expand their following!

Participation is super simple-

#1 Follow your four hostesses- they are the first four links.

Chantilly of ChantillySongs

Marisa of The Shades of Monet Chronicles

Roxy of Grrfeisty

Chloe of The Lazy Explorers

(We promise you will love these blogs, and they are all totally worth getting to know!!)

#2 Link your blog/ website

#3 Visit other sites, follow, and comment

#4 Grab a button & post it on your blog

#5 Post about it on twitter, facebook, and all your social media sites

We love you, and thank you!

cara box - box swap

kaitlyn over at wifessionals had a great idea for a monthly box swap between bloggers. i'll let her explain:

You will get paired up with another blogger, email back and forth to get to know each other, and will crazily stalk their blog...in the most non-creepy way. Towards the middle of the month you will create a box or package, specifically for the woman you were paired with, and ship it off to her & she will do the same for you.

It's like having a birthday 12 months of the year!

You can participate as much or as little as you choose. Need a pick me up this month? Come and join in! Don't have an extra dollar to spare right now? Come back whenever you want!

Since you are re-paired each month, you can come and go as you please (:

WHY YOU SHOULD PARTICIPATE:

Who doesn't like getting surprises in the mail?

You can meet other great women

You can get encouragement (see below)

Get some blog exposure (see below)

RULES

1// Packages have a $15 limit

2// Make sure your box goes along with the theme. Get creative! Not everything has to be purchased. Get on Pinterest...find something awesome to make!!

3// Include 5+ items per box. Who wants to open a box with one item? Again, creativity!

4// Include a letter of encouragement. After getting to know the woman you are paired with and finding out about her life through her blog, make the effort to include a note of encouragement. This is not optional. It's great to get items that put a smile on your face, but kind words will last in your heart forever.

5// The last day of the month, create a blog post revealing your box and giving a shout out/link up to your match's blog. It's always nice to meet even more friends through the blogosphere.

This sounds like such a fun idea! Especially since this month's theme is "The Best of Fall." Obviously I cannot wait. I feel like she came up with this idea just for me ;) I already signed up, you should too! CLICK HERE and do it!

Thanks Kaitlyn!

watermark watermark watermark!

i've seen several posts on other blogs this past week talking about the importance of watermarking your photos. Jess first brought the issue to my attention and then Chelsey put up a picture on instagram yesterday that broke my heart.

apparently the "chalk crown boy"'s picture from Jess's link (this is the source of the 'real' boy. imposter chalk crown boys are all over pinterest) is being printed on t-shirts without the mother's credit or even consent. that is really scary! i post TONS of pictures of norah all over the place, facebook, instagram, twitter, and now this blog. my personal facebook page is private but everything else is very much public. i never thought to watermark before. i mean who would steal my pictures, right? but now it's a totally different story. photo theft can happen to anyone! it makes my stomach hurt just to think about someone stealing norah's pictures and claiming them (and HER) as their own.

from now on, this blog will only post watermarked pictures (same goes for instagram and twitter. i'm not concerned about fb just because it's so private and i'm only 'friends' with family and real-life friends on there. i doubt any of those people would steal norah's pictures but who knows, i might make that next step too). i hope, if you aren't doing so already, you will start watermarking too! the internet can be a crazy scary place.

here's a great how-to from mandy on watermarking. and here's her reaction to finding out her son's picture was stolen and being passed off as another woman's OWN CHILD. so very sad.