by Bethe

Put a bow on it

I always wanted to dress my baby girl in big, obnoxious hair bows. I mean, I’m from Texas, so the bigger the bow, the closer to God, right? Or something like that. Anyway, now that Wrenn’s actually here, I’ve found it hard to find bows that I really love. All of them look the same, and it’s really important to me to only dress her in things that are comfortable for her.

So I decided to make my own.

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I love the little ruffle, and considering the size of my fabric stash, there are limitless possibilities. And, since we tend to dress her in basic mix and match pieces, those bows add just the pop of color to finish off her look. It’s never too early to raise a baby fashionista.

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I’ve added some bows to my shop so that others can enjoy beautiful, affordable hair accessories. They’re made of the highest quality fabrics, and the headbands themselves are either stretchy lace or half-inch elastic, both of which are more comfortable for little heads than that tiny elastic, which tends to leave dents on foreheads. No need to teach them the price of beauty until they’re old enough to wear heels and spanx, am I right?

All bows are sized to order, and I can make them fit anyone from a newborn to an adult. Shipping is free, and if you want to order four or more, contact me through my shop and I’ll be happy to provide a price break.

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I’ve already given them to several baby girls in my life as gifts. And, of course, Miss Wrenn has one of everything, because I would never sell something that I didn’t love enough to use myself. This leopard print bow is one of my absolute favorites – and let’s be honest, it matches some of my favorite shoes.

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Go visit my shop and stock up on baby shower gifts! I can’t wait to see pictures of adorable baby models enjoying their lovelies.

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Prov 31Looking for beautiful scripture prints to inspire you? Visit Texas Lovely on Etsy.

Other places you can find Texas Lovely:

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/texaslovelyshop
On Instagram: texas_lovely

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by Bethe

Don’t waste your pretty: A Valentine’s Pep Talk

***This blog post has become a bit of a Texas Lovely Valentine’s tradition. It was originally given as a Sunday School lesson/pep talk in 2010 to a group of single women in their 20s-30s back before I ever dated Mr. Right. I hope you enjoy!

I was single for 30 years, and I will admit that I used to hate Valentine’s Day, because it was just highlighting the fact that I was still single. Probably the only one – or so it seemed. So a few years ago I gave this pep talk to my Sunday School class to encourage my fellow single friends that we could survive our single years, and not only survive… but do it fabulously. Here’s what I told them:

How to survive your single years:

1. Your fabulousness isn’t determined by your relationship status.
Sometimes that’s hard to remember when you see all your friends post pics of their beautiful husbands/boyfriends/babies, and you’re home hanging out with your Schnoodle. But whether or not you have a Valentine does not determine your value.

2. No pity dates.
It seems like yesterday. I was 24. I had a boyfriend. And yet some sweet clueless boy in my singles group at church cornered me and asked me on a date. To a Joel Olsteen rally. (Bless him.) I was so caught off-guard, and so worried about hurting this poor boy’s feelings that I panicked and blurted out “I’ll email you.” My boyfriend was obviously mad when I told him, and it just delayed the inevitable rejection. From that point on I decided that I would learn to be good at saying no. And I did. It’s a great life skill to have. I found that guys really do want a direct answer – and for you, it’s like ripping off a band-aid… you can just get it over with.

No pity dates girls. Even if he tells you that God told him you’re the Ruth to his Boaz. If God didn’t tell you, it’s okay to say NO.

3. Don’t waste your pretty.
We all know that the bible says not to be unequally yoked. Meaning, if you’re a believer, then you need to only date believers. No missionary “I can change him!” dating. Don’t even dip your toe in the water, or you may fall in.

But it’s not just because God wants to take away your fun and eliminate what seems like 95% of the hot guy dating pool. God has a better plan for you – check out Ephesians 5:25-33 and know that having a husband who “washes you with the Word” is such a total treat. Wait for a man who will pray for you. Who will lead you and your children well. Who will love you in the same sacrificial, intentional way that Christ loves his church. It’s worth the wait, even if it seems like you have to wait forever. I promise.

4. Being single doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. 
Well-meaning people used to infer that people were single because God had some work he needed to do in their hearts. Like somehow the entire singles department was made up of weirdos, and the entire young marrieds department had everything together.

Ummm… have you seen some of the crazy people who are married out there?  God’s still going to refine you after marriage. Probably more. But there may be other reasons why you’re still single.

You may be single because God wants to use you to encourage another single girl. I think God kept me single for what seemed like FOREVER because he wanted some older girls to encourage those sweet 22-year-old girls who thought life would end if they weren’t engaged when they got that college degree. My 29-year-old self showed them that life isn’t over if you aren’t living the white picket fence American dream. God is a whole lot more creative than the American dream.

Or, your Mr. Right may not be ready for you yet. God did a major work in my Mr. Right’s life, and we just wouldn’t have been a good fit a few years ago. Plus he lived in Colorado, and I would have hated long-distance dating. But when the time was right… he practically dropped in my lap. He moved suddenly from Oklahoma to Fort Worth and then drove FORTY-FIVE MINUTES to my church – I have assured him that I prayed him all the way here. So keep praying for your future man… he may have a long commute to get here.

5. Find an adventure.
I decided I would use my time to travel. And I did – three trips to Europe, plus I traveled all over the US and to Mexico… basically anytime a friend or family member was up for a trip, I was the first to volunteer. And because of that, I watched sunsets on the beach in Greece and saw my Rangers beat the Yankees in New York. I ran a half marathon, learned to quilt, got a master’s degree, took salsa lessons… no need to sit at home on Friday nights wondering where your man is. Go find an adventure.

6. Serve. Serve. Serve.
“Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

While you’re waiting for Mr. Right, keep yourself busy by serving others. You’ll end up having a blast, and when you’re focusing on others you have less time to sit and worry about when your prince charming will make his grand entrance.

7. Don’t make all guys pay for the sins (or extreme stupidity) of just one.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” (Eph. 4:31-32)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

There’s nothing uglier than bitterness. The cutest girls are the ones with sweet spirits.

8. When you DO date… don’t peace out on your church and your ministry.
We’ve all seen someone do the break-up walk of shame back to church… they fell in love and disappeared from the face of the planet. And then somebody changed their mind, and whoops, she’s back. Don’t be that girl. But if you see that girl… go love on her, because she probably could use a friend.

9. NEVER compromise your morals. Remember your lines and don’t cross them.
Know your limits in advance… because in the heat of the moment, when that cute guy looks at you with those big brown eyes… you’re probably not going to make good decisions. So already have your mind made up – it’s worth it.

10. Remember that God’s timing is PERFECT. He has a plan for you. He keeps his promises, and he has not forgotten about you.
“The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him.” (Isaiah 30:18)

“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust you.” Isaiah 26:3

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In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m offering $5 off of everything in my shop! Go ahead, treat yourself to a little something special. Use the code VALENTINE14, coupon is valid February 14-15 only.

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il_570xN.553634680_5tueHave you seen my newest print in the shop?

Other places you can find Texas Lovely:

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/texaslovelyshop
On Instagram: texas_lovely
On Etsy

by Bethe

Proverbs 31 Woman

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Who doesn’t want to be a Proverbs 31 woman? Hard working. Strong. Well dressed. A business woman. Wise, kind. Loved by her children and treasured by her husband.

I added a Proverbs 31 print to my shop so that I can be reminded on a daily basis that I, too, can be a Proverbs 31 woman, by the grace of God.

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Other places you can find Texas Lovely:

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/texaslovelyshop
On Instagram: texas_lovely
On Etsy

by Bethe

No Fear & a Free Printable

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Free Download

In 2014 I am praying God’s promises over my life. Won’t you join me?

I am a pro at worrying. And you know what? It robs me of my joy. I remember doing a Beth Moore Bible study on Esther many years back, and one of the things she talked about was the great risk that Esther took to visit the King, uninvited. She was scared, but she told her uncle Mordecai, “If I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16)

Beth Moore led us in an exercise where we talked about our fears. What was one thing we were afraid of? If that happened, what were the implications? What’s the worst-case scenario? And if that worst-case scenario happened… would God be enough to get me through that situation?

The simple answer is yes. The hard part is living as if that were true. But oh what a life we would all lead if that were indeed the way we felt, deep in our gut. That God would be enough to see us through our darkest days, our biggest fears, our worst crises.

What if, instead of letting fear consume me, I remembered the promise that God has given me the ability to be POWERFUL, LOVING, and SELF-CONTROLLED. I want nothing more than for my baby girl to grow up being strong… may she see a strong, loving, self-controlled mama living as an example to her.

Join me in praying this promise over our lives. Because God keeps his promises.

“Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” Joshua 21:45

As a gift to you, my dear friends, I’m offering this as a free download. I’d love it if you would share it with your friends on Pinterest, Facebook, etc. Print as many copies as you’d like, but please do not email or sell.

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il_570xN.553634680_5tueHave you seen my newest print in the shop?

Other places you can find Texas Lovely:
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/texaslovelyshop
On Instagram: texas_lovely
On Etsy

by Bethe

Countdown to Cali

Friends, I’m hopping on a plane and headed to sunny California this week! Well, actually it’s northern California, home to gray overcast skies, but it’s California nonetheless.

I’m headed to a social media conference at a winery in Sonoma for a few days. I know, rough life. I’ll be staying in a big empty hotel room, all by myself, with no baby monitor, no barking dog, no chores to do. I plan on doing some deep sleeping while I’m there. I’m going to eat all of my meals with both hands, no juggling a baby and praying she stays happy while we inhale our food.

I won’t have to make a single bottle (although I’ll have all the joys of pumping on the road) or change a single diaper for three whole days.

And oh my gosh, I’m going to be in a hotel room, 1,000 miles from my baby girl. And Mr. Right. And my baby girl. For the first time. And I won’t get to snuggle with her, smell her sweet baby smell, be on the receiving end of her big, open-mouthed wet kisses, or hold her as she falls asleep.

Please pray for me.

We practiced Face Timing over the weekend. First we called Wrenn’s grandparents – she looked confused, as if to say, “How did grandma and grandpa get inside your phone?” She was serious and curious, but not unhappy.

So being the first-time parents that we are, we decided to practice Face Timing with me to see what Wrenn would do.

She had a total meltdown. She did NOT like seeing her mama on the phone without being able to touch her. It was awful. She cried. I cried. And y’all… I was just one room away. I still cried, because the thought of her melting down like that while I’m in California… well, that would break my heart.

Did I mention during all this crying, Mr. Right just laughed? Thanks a lot, honey.

Deep breaths. I can do this. She’s six months old. She has no concept of time. She’s in good hands with her daddy while I’m gone. It’s only for three days. She probably won’t even notice that I’m gone.

Oh my gosh, what if she starts crawling and I miss it? Baby girl, don’t you dare do anything new or cute while I’m gone. And Mr. Right, if she does, don’t you dare tell me.

Really, I’m so excited about my trip that I could spit. I couldn’t travel while I was pregnant because I was too sick to function most of the time (ahh, memories), so it has been almost two years since I’ve hopped on a plane. That’s two years too long for this girl who has traveling in her DNA.

Any advice on how to survive my first trip away? And, any advice for pumping on the road? I’ve got a battery pack for my pump, steam bags for the hotel, a dozen storage bottles and pump parts, and an ice chest for the travel home (Suitcase weight limit? Whatever dude.). I think I know what I’m doing, but if you’ve been there and have some good tips, I’d love to hear them!

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il_570xN.553634680_5tueHave you seen my newest print in the shop?

Other places you can find Texas Lovely:

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/texaslovelyshop
On Instagram: texas_lovely
On Etsy

by Bethe

Because Thursday

photo (18)Day 23 of my #mileaday challenge was the first day I didn’t get my mile in. Because sometimes a girl just wants to come home from work and spontaneously go on a date night for velvet tacos with her man and baby (who gets cuter by the day, I swear). And then come home and make a pallet on the floor in front of the fire and snuggle through a chick flick. And have a good ugly cry when the chick flick talks about babies and dying and great love.

Rachel McAdams, your movies are always my favorite.

So, you know, it was Thursday. And my #mileaday is not an exercise in perfection, but an exercise in, well, exercise. I’m 22 for 23, and I’m back on the wagon for day 24.

Because, well, Friday.

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il_570xN.553634680_5tueHave you seen my newest print in the shop? I have a poster-sized version being delivered to my house on Monday. Can’t wait.

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Other places you can find Texas Lovely:
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/texaslovelyshop
On Instagram: texas_lovely
On Etsy

by Bethe

My January Challenge: Mile a Day

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I’m happy to report that I’m 19 for 19 on my Mile a Day January Challenge. Here’s an update:

  • Some days I run, but most days I do a brisk walk. It usually takes me 16-18 minutes to walk a mile, or about 12 minutes to run it (I’m a slow runner). I really love walking because (a) it doesn’t mess up my hair so I can go places after I’m done, (b) it doesn’t matter if I’ve nursed recently – nursing mamas know exactly what I’m talking about, and (c) I’m more likely to go longer if I’m walking than if I’m running. Oh, and (d) I like walking more than running anyway.
  • I haven’t lost any weight, but I love that I have built some stamina and I see some new muscles on those white legs of mine. It feels good to be active after a year of hibernation.
  • I usually bring the baby and the dog. We have a jogging stroller as our everyday stroller, so it’s perfect for my mile. Wrenn loves being outside and it’s a fun bonding experience for me.
  • I don’t listen to music – I either listen to NPR podcasts (does that make me a nerd?) or re-runs of the previous day’s Kidd Kraddick in the Morning show.
  • I love that some of my friends have gotten on board! It’s always more fun to have other people to motivate you. Mr. Right has also been a great cheerleader during my challenge and has even convinced me to go on nights when I’m really tired and it’s REALLY cold (one night I went out in 25-degree weather at 9:00 at night).
  • I’m loving this so much I’m thinking about extending my Mile a Day into February as well. It’s the perfect challenge for me during this busy season of life – I don’t have much time to commit to working out, but I always have at least 20 minutes to knock out a mile (and according to my fitness app, I burn around 80 calories each time).
  • I document my #mileaday everyday on Instagram. You can follow me at texas_lovely for the obligatory daily shoe picture.

What about you? How are your New Year’s Resolutions going?

by Bethe

Letter to my 6-month-old

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Dear Baby Girl, You are six months old. It feels like just yesterday you were doing jumping jacks in my belly, and now you’re here and it’s like you’ve always been here my whole life. I feel like I was created to be your mama. You have changed my whole world and I am so grateful. You are a fun little thing. You talk constantly – communicating in squeals and grunts and funny noises, and we carry on long conversations this way. I can already tell you have a sense of humor, and your face shows me that you are full of JOY. And you fill me with joy, too, sweet girl. Like I have never known before. photo (13) One day I could leave you on a quilt on the floor and do chores around the house, and then the next day you were suddenly mobile. Now you can roll across the floor and lie on your back and scoot backwards on your head (it’s hilarious), and I can’t leave you unattended for five seconds because I don’t know where you’ll end up. But it’s wonderful because now your whole world has opened up, you’ve gained a tiny bit of independence and there’s a world of adventures ahead.

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Did I mention you can stand by yourself, leaning on our ottoman? No? Well, you can. You’re a bit wobbly but every day you get stronger, and tonight you stood for 30 seconds on your own before I had to give you a hand to steady you. You looked so proud. You are going to be such an independent little thing, I know that for sure. Strong-willed, which means that when you’re older I bet you’ll do great things that others won’t think you’re capable of. And I will be so proud. We started feeding you baby food and you love it. Except for green beans, which I don’t particularly like either. Wait until I make them for you and I can add bacon and then you’ll at least be able to tolerate them. But until then, I’m fine with you having personal preferences since you’ll eat peas so at least there’s something green on your list. It seems your favorites so far are sweet potatoes and bananas – two of my very favorite foods. You have always been a good sleeper – you sleep 11-12 hours every night, and I am so appreciative. Your napping is a bit less predictable – most days you nap a total of 3-4 hours, but occasionally you go on a nap strike and get a little irritable, just like your mama does when she’s tired. But at night, dear baby girl, I have never seen someone SO HAPPY to go to bed. As I start swaddling you, you get so excited, and you almost never cry when I put you down for the night. I’d keep the swaddle on until you left for college if I could, but seeing as you can now turn over, we’ve been weaning you off, and you’ve been a champ, but I think we’re both a little bit sad to see it go. photo 1 (2) You still look just like your daddy, but I see glimpses of myself in you at times. Like when you laugh – your belly laugh sounds just like me. And you’ve got my chubby cheeks and long fingers and bits and pieces of my personality. Baby girl, I can’t believe it’s already been six months. I’m going to blink and you’re going to be a year old and I really want to freeze time and keep you small for as long as possible. And yet I can’t wait to watch you grow bigger and stronger and to see what type of woman you’ll become. But for now, I’m going to enjoy breathing in your six-month-old scent and kiss that little bald spot on the back of your head and stare into those big eyes that change color almost daily and thank God that you’re mine. Happy six months, Wrenn Olivia. I am so blessed to be your mama.

by Bethe

100 Honeymoons – Our Weekend Getaway

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Mr. Right and I joke about having 100 honeymoons. In reality, for us, that looks like little nights or weekends away – sometimes far, sometimes in town – the place doesn’t matter nearly as much as the part where we escape from our everyday responsibilities and just enjoy each other. It’s a huge priority that we’ve made for our marriage.

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This time we rented an adorable little 100-year-old house in the Fairmount District of Fort Worth, just 20 minutes from our home, to celebrate our third anniversary (read here about last year’s anniversary getaway). Mr. Right found it on AirBnB, which offers rentals all over the world, often at a fraction of the price of a hotel. Ours was a steal and within walking distance of one of the hot restaurants we’ve been wanting to try. (PS – we loved AirBnB so much we’ve already booked another trip with them later this spring – the next one we’re staying at is an old farmhouse on 90 acres – I can’t wait.)

collageMr. Right knows me so well. Like, really knows me. When we got to our place Friday afternoon, the first thing he did was tell me to go take a bubble bath in the big clawfoot tub and then take a LONG nap. Having a 6-month-old makes you REALLY appreciate a long nap in a quiet house – it was glorious.

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The rest of the trip was equally wonderful. We had a wonderful, leisurely dinner at Ellerbe Fine Foods, and the next morning we slept in and had brunch at Del Frisco’s Grille in a booth overlooking the new Sundance Square.

And then we went and picked up Baby Wrenn (who turned 6 months this weekend… bless!) and covered her with kisses and snuggled her the rest of the day. It was so good to have a night away with my love – our first night away from Wrenn – but now that we’re a family of three, it was so good for us to all be together again. That is, until the next honeymoon…

by Bethe

Happy Anniversary to my Beloved

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Three years ago today was one of the best days of my life. After 30 years of praying, I finally got to marry Mr. Right. And thus began the next chapter of our adventure together.

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Marriage is the hardest, most wonderful, most humbling, thing I’ve ever done. To have someone know all those things I spent my whole life trying to keep a secret from the world, and even with a front-row seat to all my flaws… he still chooses me. He tells me repeatedly that his goal is to help me to thrive.

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We have laughed and cried together. We’ve seen each other through lengthy illnesses (me), three broken bones (him), two major job changes, countless house projects, a difficult pregnancy and now the early days of parenthood. We’ve also had some of the most wonderful adventures, had deep discussions during road trips and late night talks under the covers.

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I always knew Mr. Right would make an incredible father, and after getting to watch him in action for the past six months, it makes me realize I am even more blessed than I could have imagined. I knew on that cold January day, three years ago, as I walked down that aisle and saw the man I would marry, that I loved him.

But really, I had no idea just how much.
189511_10150109187471120_6609560_nMr. Right, here’s to three wonderful years, and hopefully 75 more.