The many hats of Solomon

By On · 1 Comment · In kids, Uncategorized

My oldest son Solomon, has always been a hat lover and a bit of a ham.  Even as a newborn he never flinched when we put a hat on him.  As he’s grown older, he’s continued with his love of hats much like his Pattycake. He will literally use just about anything as a hat.  As I said, he’s such a ham!

As I was going through the pictures on my Iphone recently, I started noticing a trend among the pictures of Solomon; he likes to pose in a hat! I put together this collage with maybe one-half hat pictures I have of Solomon.  The scary thing is they get goofier.

Solomon's-HatsWhat about you, do you like wearing hats?

Love y’all,

signature

 

Share

pantone color of the year inspiration board

By On · 4 Comments · In color, inspiration board

Pantone, the global authority on color,recently announced emerald as it 2013 color of the year following last year’s choice of tangerine tango (which I loved!).   Here is what Pantone says about the color emerald:

Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. Also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity, no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.

emerald1

emerald3

emerald2

Source

I’m really excited about this choice and have already started to notice it everywhere from design blogs and magazines to Good Morning America.

Today I’d like to share with you an inspiration board I put together using emerald paired with peach, ivory and touches of gold.  I could easily see gold foil invites paired with this sophisticated yet fresh color palette.

Emerald-Green Inspiration BoardSource: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

So what do you think of emerald green? Is it a must have or a miss?

Love y’all,

signature

Share

life lesson- be free

By On · Leave a Comment · In Life lesson

Be-Free

Today I want to start a regular post on the blog called life lessons.  Southerners are known for our sayings even though some of them don’t make sense to others (well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit!). Many of these sayings have a life lesson behind them and can teach us a lot if we pay attention to them.  Over the years, I’ve collected a few sayings of my own from people around me that I’d like to share with y’all. I think they can offer up some pretty good advice, if I must say so myself.

First up on my list is BE FREE.  Be free was created by my very on mother in response to those of us around her who were busy stressing over the things of life that we really should have been letting go (hello! I was first in line)  My mom is a very matter-of-fact type lady.  She’s never been known to mince words so after much pining from me about how this was wrong in my life, and this person thought this about what I was doing, and this person had certain expectations of me, my mom chimed in with “Peaches, Be Free”!  I have to admit that I was taken aback at first but eventually I got it.  She was telling me to let go of unrealistic expectations from others and myself.  Some things are not that big of a deal.  Why stress over something you can’t do anything about?

There are a lot of us who choose to take on things in our life that we should be letting go.  Life really is about choosing to be free of the things that wear you down and make you less than your best.  One of the things I think I love most about this saying is that it’s simple.  My friends and I use it often and have even added our own hand motion to it.  We put both our hands in the air in a hands-off motion.  This further reminds each of us to just let it go. Choose to focus on what matters.  BE FREE of all the other stuff.

What are some of your favorite family sayings?  Anything you need to BE FREE of?

To remind you to BE FREE, I’m including a free download to be used on your computer desktop, iphone or iPad.  Enjoy!

Be-Free-blog

1280 x 1024

1600 x 1200

1680 x 1050

1920 x 1080

1920 x 1200

iPhone

iPad

To download as a desktop background: Choose the link that’s the right size for your computer. Click the link and it will take you directly to the image. Right click your mouse and click “Set as Desktop Background.” or  right click and save the image to your computer. Then, change the background in your computer settings.

To download for iPhone or iPad:   Click the link from your phone and apply as your wallpaper OR save them to your desktop then email them to your iPhone or iPad.

 

Love y’all,

signature

Share

2013 word of the year

By On · 2 Comments · In resolutions

2013-wordoftheyearWhew! That’s me breathing a sigh of relief that 2012 is behind me.  It was a tough year for me.  Sadly, I can’t say that any one big thing happened, it was just a bunch of little things that happened or never happened.

You may remember my post from last year about my word for 2012.  Little did I know when I pledged to be resolute for the year that I would be challenged from every direction.

resolute

 

My goal for 2012 was to be resolute in pursuing my dreams and staying the course.  It was challenging but I’m glad to say I’m as convinced as ever that I’m on the right course. I’m proud to say that despite many personal and professional challenges in 2012, I stay resolved to pursuing the purpose God has for my life.  Ironically, it was the challenges that have helped me see I’m on the right road.  I mean seriously, how many great dreams have you seen that came easy? Most often, great dreams or God dreams, require you to have a great resolve to accomplish them.

Because my word for 2012 seemed to challenge me so much, I was very cautious as I prayed about what my word for 2013 would be. I didn’t take the task lightly.  I soon came to realize that pursue was the perfect word for the new year.  It really does make perfect sense when I think about it.  In order to pursue something, you really should have a resolve that it’s the right thing to go after.

Webster’s dictionary defines purse as:

1.to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill, or defeat

2.to find or employ measures to obtain or accomplish

3. to proceed along.

4. a. to engage in

 b : to follow up or proceed with
There it is.  My goal for 2013 is to pursue all those things I’ve resolved in my heart are for me; joy, success, peace, and most of all love in every area of my life.
Stay tuned because you’ll see big things happen with me and Madelyn Ridgeway Events this year; I know it.  You’ll see things materialize that have been in my heart for a long time.  Things I have to share with the world and make it a better place.
Love y’all,
signature
Share

Hats for Pattycake

By On · 4 Comments · In gratitude, Southern woman


Thanksgiving this year was a bittersweet holiday for me.  My family celebrated the life of my maternal grandmother, Mrs Ada Dunning Moore. My grandmother and I were the best of friends and shared an extra special relationship that I will forever cherish.  Although I knew her as Grandma, she was always known as Pattycake to Solomon.  Whenever we would visit her in Alabama she would sing her own version of the song patty cake to Solomon which didn’t always consist of the right words!  Because of that, he’s always called her Pattycake.

Like many southern, African-American women, my Grandma was especially fond of and well-known for her hats.  The more extravagant, the better.  Not only was she buried in a beautiful butter, yellow hat but to honor her memory, most of the women in my family wore one of my grandmother’s hat to her funeral.  The variety and colors that day bought tears to my eyes.  Pattycake loved to put her hats on display for all to see and it was only fitting that this day was no different.

 My aunts and cousin deciding which hat they would wear.  The hat shows before the funeral were quite funny!

My Aunt Loretta

A family friend, Aunt Mary

My Aunt Mattie. (It was a miracle to get a picture of her and one in a hat especially)

My Aunt Sherriel (left), Uncle Howard, and my Mom, Ella (right)

 My Aunt Vanessa

We’re all gathering to take a family picture before the funeral

Me in one of Grandma’s most infamous hats

My grandma was 87 years old and lived a lovely life.  I can’t put into words how much I miss talking and laughing with her but I rest knowing that she’s at peace and resting in heaven with Jesus and all of her loved ones who’d passed on before her.  She was the last of her generation left so I can only imagine the loneliness she experienced as she saw all of her siblings and friends leave earth one by one.  She left a legacy of love, wisdom and sassiness that will live on forever in the hearts of those of us who loved her.

I love you Pattycake,

Share

showering karis with love

By On · 1 Comment · In bridal


This summer I had the pleasure of helping my client Leslie plan a bridal shower for her younger sister Karis.

You may remember the inspiration board I posted which was inspired by a piece of beautiful pink and gold lame fabric I found at Wal-Mart of all places and some gold containers I found for a steal while out shopping.

 1.  www.marthastewartweddings.com
 2.  Jennifer Bergman Weddings via Cynthia Martyn Events
3.  www.jihancerda.com via www.hwtm.com
4.  www.orangebeautiful.com
 5.  www.coutureeventsbylottie.com
 6.  Lovely Little Parties via www.silverboxcreative.com
 7.  www.bridalbar.com
The shower was held in The Cellar located in the basement of the restaurant CU in Waterloo.  Joe and his staff were extremely helpful and accommodating to work with. Guests were treated to an array of delicious appetizers and Scratch cupcakes for dessert.  They could also scroll over and enjoy massages as the shower progressed.  As you can see from the picture below, a fun time was had by all.  The love everyone felt for Karis was evident.
 The main table
 Guests were treated to spa favors in adorable kraft bags
A special note about the cupcake tower; it’s an antique piecrust table I found while thrifting one day in my local Salvation Army retail store.  It needed some love and thanks to my husband, it got it.  When I saw it sitting all by its lonesome, I knew it needed me and I needed it; it was meant to be.  I’m thrilled with the way it turned out! Here’s a quick before picture:
Now back to the shower pictures…..
 The bride, Karis (center), Leslie (left) and their sister Chantelle (right)
 Karis, with her mother and niece
 Who knows Karis shower game
This is a picture of one of the guest tables.  It gives you a closer look at the beautiful pink and gold, table runner fabric.
Guest were treated to 10 minute massages throughout the shower.
There were tears…..
…..and lots of smiles!
Thank-you Leslie for entrusting me with such a special day!
Love ya’ll,
Share

embracing your place

By On · Leave a Comment · In Uncategorized

 

Today is my sitter’s birthday  (Happy birthday, Mrs. Patterson!) so I’m home on vacation leave with the boys.  Earlier this week I was so excited about the day and how I had it all planned out.  We would start the day with some morning snuggles in bed followed by pancakes, reading, a little Toy Story then lunch and so on…  Let’s just say it hasn’t worked out like that.  Instead of being the happy stay-at-home for a day Mom,  I’ve been the feel like a rodeo cowboy, kid wrangling, Mom.  I was quickly becoming frustrated because my boys weren’t fitting into my idea of our perfect day together; how dare they act like such children and mess up my plans!  Then it hit me that I should take some time and be silly with them.  Let go of my expectations and control issues and just enjoy this time with my boys.  Laugh, crawl and wrestle instead of always needing to be on a schedule and the one telling them that something is not nice.  Why shouldn’t I embrace the place where I am?

The more I thought about my day with the boys and my new revelation, the more I realized I should apply this to my entire life.  Lately I’ve felt like I’m constantly fighting to be happy and get things done.  I’m increasingly frustrated that things are not working out the way I would like them to.  I realized that God may be trying to tell me to relax and enjoy the journey more.

I’m a planner by nature so I like to have an idea of what I’ll be doing pretty much all the time.  I like things to go in a certain order and we all know that doesn’t always happen with kids.  A part of me is still fighting letting go of the need to plan and control things which is probably where my frustration was coming from today.

I’m slowly but surely learning to embrace the moment more.  Not only the moments of each day but the moments in my life when I want to be further along than I am or things are not going exactly as I’d like them to.  I now realize the frustration I’m feeling is my heart telling me to see the beauty in the moment; embrace where I am.  There’s always something to be learned .  Sometimes we have to look for it and sometimes it’s right in front of us. I find that not finding the beauty and lessons in those frustrating places of life often lead  me back to that same place which leads me to believe there’s a lesson I need to learn before I can move on in my life.  Embracing the place I am helps me learn those lessons so I can make progress towards greater things.

Today I realized that my boys won’t be toddlers always, that I’ll find time to put another load of laundry in the washer and that sometimes my plans aren’t the ones we need to follow. It’s a lesson I want to keep tucked in my heart forever.

What about you, are you embracing your place in life?  Tell me about it.

Love y’all,

Share

favorite things 3rd birthday party

By On · 1 Comment · In birthday, kids, Solomon

We recently celebrated my oldest son Solomon’s third birthday and to say I was excited would be an understatement!  This was the first birthday that he was really aware of the concept of a birthday and that fact that it entails gifts, cake and other fun stuff.  Leading up to the party I asked him what type of party he wanted and his answers were all over the place. I want Buzz Likeyear (Lightyear) “birdday” (birthday) party”,  ”I want superhero party”, “No, I want balloons!” could all be heard in the span of a few minutes from Solomon.  I gotta love him, he didn’t want to choose just one kind of party so I decided he shouldn’t have to.  The theme for the party was a Soli’s favorite things party!

Let’s start with the invitation: For the front,  I used one of my most favorite pictures of all time taken by Darcy from At Play Photo in an in-home session just before we left our old house.  She captured Solomon in his environment with his cape running from room to room screaming “super Soli!” as he saved Teddy from the bad guys.

For the inside of the invite, I created a rhyme to engage the kids before the party and ramp up anticipation. It was such fun for me to have parents coming up to me before the party saying they were stumped on what the favorite things were!  Can you figure out Solomon’s four favorite things from the rhyme?


 

Here are a few pictures from the day including one of the blue mouthed birthday boy!

 The party colors were adapted from the Buzz Lightyear character.  Buzz colors are typically purple,apple green and orange but since I really wanted to use the blue jean tablecloths I had on hand, we went with navy blue instead of purple.  Such a fun color scheme for a little boy’s party!

 Each child received a gift bag with one each of Solomon’s favorite things in it.

One big lesson for me from this party- you cannot host a toddler birthday party and play photographer!  There were many details I missed out on because I was chasing my 18-month old.  Next time I’ll hand the photographer duties over to a professional.

Did you guess the four favorite things correctly?

Love y’all,

Share

We’ve got your back Robin

By On · Leave a Comment · In faith, prayers, Southern woman



Not only is Robin Roberts a southern girl (Pass Christian, Mississippi) she’s also a big hearted, warm, beautiful individual who always carries herself with great grace.  I’ve stuck with Good Morning America instead of switching to The Today Show because of her and the reporting that she does. 
This morning Robin announced she is facing a new health fight.  This time with MDS, a rare blood disorder that can be caused by chemotherapy which was used to help her beat a breast cancer diagnosis five-years ago.  

Robin, me and so many others, I’m sure, are praying for you.  We’ll continue to believe God for you complete restoration to health.  Your faith and your grace shine through each day on the broadcast and you make me proud to call myself a southern woman.  I feel like I know you, like you’re somebody I would sit on the front porch with underneath some big ole ferns looking at the crepe myrtles and laughing while we drink some tea and wave to the cars passing by. 

You’ll be in my prayers.  Not only for a speedy recovery but also for peace, strength and rest as you walk this journey.

Share
← Previous Entries