Tuesday, July 31, 2012

All Creatures Big & Small

I marvel at his language.  With them.  He is keenly aware of their presence, moreover, their needs.  For attention.  To be stroked.  To be coddled and befriended.  

The big.

And the small.

He leaves no one out.  He is cautious and issues grace.  Quick to call out bully behavior all for the coveted carrot.  He reprimands and re-instructs.  And, then loves. 

They are his.  Though not by pocketbook or property, but by heart.  He tends to them everyday.  Checking on their moods and their manes.  He knows their ages and names.  Their tendencies.  Their ailments.  He misses them when he's gone.

Mr. Eli, 
You have found passion my son.

And, Mama is so happy.

.mac :)

{week 30}:  my 2 in 52

Monday, July 30, 2012

{invaluable to all humanity}

{cross bead bracelets given as gifts to us from Kristen}

I love good friends.  I love the way that time & space exists only to quickly transpire into months between seeing each other and yet, when your feet settle in the same zip code, it's like you never left one another's side. 

Age and that timeline thing called life with families & miles does tend to throw a wrench in the immediacy of giggles and yousogetmyheart that is invaluable to all humanity.  

These girls sogetmyheart.

And, you know who sogetsOURhearts?


{love the cross found in the concert stage}

What can I say about the four you see above?  We are keenly adept at having one fanatical time together.  We have tenure in this art form.  This group is the recipe of a whole lotta fun, lots of laughter and being silly, some impromptu spectacles be it sleeping in a car in a condo pool area with pizza rolls or perhaps even running through a city water fountain sculpture with clothes after midnight.

We have been friends collectively for 15 years. 

Kristen is the epitome of precisely planned and spontaneous.  She loves to let loose and get down on some memory making.  Brooke {to her right} is such the caring and sweet soul.  It never fails that she ends up taking care of one or more of us with her big sister mentality.  She's no slacker when it comes to a good time either mind you.  

Me, myself and I...hmmm....well, I am most likely the free spirited "one of these things is doing their own thing" in the bunch.  I have been known to straight-up fashion personalized wife beater tanks with my bare hands and black masking tape for uniforms to outfit this group.  Then there's sweet Nicole.  Ahhh, our heartwarmer.  She's like leg warmers to our souls.  She fills us up, makes us re-think, and loves to get down on it when it comes to happy times. And, she's about 6 weeks from giving birth to her second daughter, Miss Maggie Rae!  Maggie Rae was a wonderful sidekick to this get together too.  So glad she could make it.   

Brooke also tends to be the one most often behind the camera lens.  We gotta work on that.

The heat was sweltering.  I rung out my dress not once but 3 times with sweat from my backside.  The concert was kick tail rockin' awesome to say the least.

I think this gal sang every.single.song.

And, I am certain this gal danced to every.single.song.

Kristen won the prize for taking it to the next level.  She was most definitely in her element.  She and these two boys have a huge history together. Sing it, girl.

Making the time to see these wonderful friends whom I don't see nearly enough was invaluable for me.  For all of us I would imagine.  

I appreciated the sisterhood.  
The laughter.  
The reminder that I am not justamom.  
The talks and the tears.  
The time carved out of our so busy schedules just to be together.

I love good friends.  I love the way that time and space exists then quickly transpires into months between seeing each other and yet, when your feet settle in the same zip code, it's like you never left one another's side. 

{invaluable to all humanity}

Thank you, Tim and Kenny.

.mac :)

Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Rearrangement


I have a job that is so very rewarding.  Yes, it is a small business. It is not Vera Bradley or Thirty One.   It never will be.  Even with the beautiful blessings of my businesses' growth,  I will always want it to be original and one-of-a-kind.  I will never want my products to be made anywhere other than America.  I will never want my products to be made any other way than by hand.

There is reward and beauty in that.  And, hopefully success somewhere too.

Being a designer is what I feel like I was always meant to be. Even as a little girl, I had to make sure that my bedroom could be re-created at least 2 different ways with the existing furniture and decor. I can remember being 7 years old and up at the crack of dawn shifting my dresser and doll house around all by myself only to then proceed in rearranging the pictures on my walls.  Creating and re-thinking is my go-to goodness.

Above is this fabric collection:


I was so excited when a new client of mine chose this collection for her very first k.Mac custom design.  She was actually the winner of this contest I posted on k.Mac's Facebook page.  


She opted for the medium Tenpenny with the coordinating Pretty Ditty tri-fold wallet.


She asked for an add-on full length back panel zippered pocket which was a great idea if you ask me.


And, perhaps my most favorite detail is that she added the tiniest touch of personalization on the sash end of the bow.  I love this subtle and so very southern sweetness.


All of my designs come with a minimum of 4 interior pockets.  The Tenpenny is such a great bag for moms with growing toddlers as it can house so much almost doubling as a handbag and toddler necessity bag too.  Diapers may be out of the way and long since gone the bottles, but Matchbox cars and Polly Pockets with snacks and sippys find their home with ease in this design.  So do journals or coloring books and a nice set of crayons.  No worries!  You're handbag necessities will fit too!

The colors in this collection are so swell.  They make me happy just looking at them.  Wouldn't you agree?
This client chose "party time" for her monogram font.  This is one of k.Mac's most popular selections from clients.


And, well, would you look at that?  It would appear I have successfully re-arranged my bedroom, huh? This is k.Mac's medium Roadster.  You would think that with being the owner and designer of k.Mac that I would always have the trendiest of handbags made in the latest fabric collections.  Um, no.  I rarely have time to make for myself.  Fortunately, I had begun this handbag awhile back and was able to carve out the time needed to complete this new k.Mac bag for myself.  I altered the handbag straps and went with a single adjustable strap for cross body wear.  I also used aqua leather strings in lieu of taffeta bows for a more hippie vibe.


Add a matching Pretty Ditty wallet for me and the words of my client regarding her first k.Mac experience:

Hi Meghan!!

Just wanted to let you know I received my Tenpenny and Pretty Ditty today. What a cheerful collection of fabric! I don't think I'll have any problem handing out your business cards. Thank you again for doing such a great job! I'll be a returning customer for sure.

                                                                                                    Amy
                                                                                                             {Tennessee}

 ...and you have one happy k.Mac designer.  

.mac :)

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

A Designer's Eye


It's safe to say we love pretending at our home.  The boys are masterminds when it comes to this art form.  I love knowing that one day, when they are off on their own grown up adventures,  Kenny and I  will be able to look back on their creative little souls and re-read memories like this one and this one and this one too.  Seven and five years has passed by all too quickly.  Best I collect and preserve what I am quite certain is the best days of my life as mama.


The boys have always been enamored with pirate life.  There is just something so mystical and cool about being a vagabond to the sea. A life filled of mystery and adventure, of strife and stowaways.  Of dirt and swords too.


Kenny and I have caved in the progression of movie militance.  We began as parents devout in the PG theory.  PG and G would be the life for our little men until at least the early 'tween' years.  But, the story lines were so tempting and chock full of plots procured with all things little boy hopeful.  The caving began first with the Avengers on Mother's Day weekend followed by the viewing of each individual superhero movie that proceeded.  (A special thank you to the $1 video rental for each).  We, of course, extensively researched the content of each movie, finding only that violence was the real issue.  Violence being a whole lotta battles.  Language and adult content notsomuch the case.

We have loved watching these as a family.  

Then, Pirates of the Caribbean was naturally next on deck.  Eli and Casey are completely head over heels with Jack Sparrow.  They love his whimsical humor and ad hoc ways of escape.  The gory scenes have not been a problem at all.  I think the "serious mom talk" of fiction and non-fiction along with the fact that these 2 have wonderful imaginations to begin with has been most helpful.

Again, we have so enjoyed these movies together all piled up on the couch.  


And, you know what else I love?  Watching my Eli and Casey scour Goodwill bins,  make tears and tie ties and re-purpose 10 & 20 cent finds to create their very own Jack Sparrow.  On this particular day, Casey was the model and Eli was the designer.  They trade off and take turn about designing for the other.  

The jacket was their Uncle Kevin's {aka Hane Hane} from when he was a little boy.  

I am the proud mama to some really clever designing eyes.  

And, yes.  My heart doth skip a beat.

.mac :)

{week 31}

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

{strength}

 

Fashionably late.

Fashionably.  Thank you, Goodwill.
late.  Thank you to my upbringing.  The Casey family was never anywhere on time.

The month of June has had me hushed and befuddled for all of its thirty days existence.  I have wrestled with and wallered all over my word for the month that is currently TWENTY-FOUR days expired.  The wounds are still bound with band-aids and my July is licking at them with tender care all whilst moving forward with its new rhythmical focus.

For those new to my monthly synopsis, visit here to catch up:


Yes, Eli Garrett, my 7 year old son, is my photographer in this monthly endeavor.  I like his honesty and quickness in completing the photo session.  If an image comes out blurry, he says its art.  The I'mneverwrong and/or alwayslookonthebrightside approach to his life serves us all well so many times.

Shall we begin?

I think so.

       

Ensemble statistics:

Dress:

  • Gap brand
  • $1.00 Goodwill 
  • {NOTE:  All readers who are not familiar with Goodwill, listen up.  All clothing articles housed in Goodwill are color coded with a tag system.  It varies from store to store, but typically there is one color tag that is 1/2 off for that week.  Then there is another colored tag that is $1.00 for that week.  The colors rotate from week to week.  Finally, either the 1st weekend of the month or the last weekend of the month, depending on your Goodwill, the entire store will be 1/2 off.}
  • This information is like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
  • Yes, that's right.  I am your leprechaun.  
  • The fabric this dress is made of is a great grey tweedish kinda vibe.  
  • It's totally machine washable and I dry it in the dryer too.
  • The halter neckline is very nice for those out there needing the "allusion of chest." 
  • Yes, I can be a magician and a leprechaun. I'm cool like that.
  • There is a petite ruffle at the empire waist line too.  This is Gap's secret code for "Hey! This woman doesn't have much up top to offer, so this cute ruffle will be the perfect accessory to help with the "allusion of chest."
  • The length of this dress is awesome.  It is just to the knee which ensures professionalism and the classic conservative look.  
  • I have worn this dress with a black and also white sweater complete with vintage broach pin and the dress still rocks.
  • I have also worn this dress with LOTS of layered chunky necklaces.  Don't judge.  Seriously.  Busy sometimes can be better.  Imagine me saying that.  I bit my tongue the entire time I was getting ready so as NOT to go back to the jewelry box or scarf drawer.
  • The pencil shape of this dress is perfect for those without curves with more of a boy type figure.  I think the halter does a masterful job of creating the shapely look.


Shoes:
  • Merona brand
  • brand new with tags
  • Goodwill $5.99
  • black patent leather
  • peep toe
  • My ALL TIME favorite heels.
  • I could play a full 40 minutes of basketball in these.  I kid you not.
  • I have danced the equivalent of 10 miles if not more in these shoes.
  • And, I have loved every minute of it.
  • I have worn them here and here just to name a couple of documented sightings.  I also have them on here on my website.
  • See, I told you I adore these shoes.
  • I have worn them so much that on my "go foot" {that would be the left one for me} all that is remaining on the heel is a the raw edge of the actual nail head.  
  • Yes, so I click when I wear these in an odd sort of way.
  • Never fear, I am on the hunt for a shoe doctor for a fix.


Bracelets: 

 Wore them last month.
  • $5.00
  • Dillard's Department Store pre-Thanksgiving sale.
  • HUGE rock like rhinestones with a magnetic clasp.
  • Get compliments on these all the time.
  • The rhinestones have a gray vibe to them which promotes an old world vintage look.
Right Hand Ring:

Wore it last month too.
  • The Laura ring by Premier Jewelry.
  • FREE!
  • I had a party and received over $400 in free jewelry.  The Laura ring was first up on my wish list.  It totally looks like an heirloom passed down from my grandmother.  It is my go-to right hand ring.
  • If you are interested in a Premier party to stock up on some great FREE jewelry, contact my friend, Kara Alexander.  She will be more than happy to help!  This ring actually comes in gold now too.  YES!
Earrings:
  • Leslie's, a junk jewelry store now closed down, in my old stomping grounds.
  • $2.00
  • These earrings are the perfect waterfall style.
  • Not too gawdy, but not too plain.
  • The clear stones look like watery rocks up close not diamonds.
  • I don't wear these earring often, but it's like they just have a way of jumping out of my jewelry box and into my hands when I do select them.  Almost like they know when its showtime.  


Hair:
  • Clean.
  • Washed the night before.
  • What the what??
  • That's 2 months in a row for me.  That's like credit for the next 6 months of dirty hair I will no doubt be reporting to you.
  • BLONDE.
  • Yes, real blonde.
  • I am the type that gets bored with my hair easily.  
  • I have had my hair many different lengths and colors.  
  • Kenny finally had a heart to heart with me regarding my hair length after our first 2 years of marriage.  

It went a little something like this: 
"Meg, long hair looks good on you.  It always has.  It always will.  Let that work for you."

  • I think my pixie cut where my hair was about 1.5 inches long all over my head our first year of marriage kinda did him in.  
  • But color?  Nah, I am still all over the map. 
  • Read here  and here about the time I played kitchen beautician.
  • I've had it bold with a fat steak in the back.  Go here to check it out. 
  • And, let's not forget the time I died it MYSELF once again on Christmas Day a dark all over auburn brown.  Go here to check that out.
  • And, Kenny still loves me through it all.
  • My new hair girl is a gem.  We just celebrated our one year anniversary last week.  I am getting a blog post all primed and ready to introduce you to her too.
  • In the shot above I actually had just gotten really short all-the-way-across bangs cut.  I opted for a more dramatic look and took the big curling iron and rolled them back.
  • The rest of my hair is what it looks like after sleeping in a clip.  Yep.  Not kidding.


Make up-
  • Bronzer.  "It can do a lot for you."  I once gave this advice to my best friend.  
  • I decided I should take it too.
  • lipstick:  MAC brand  Ruby Woo.
  • Back before we had children, Kenny would go to the MAC make up counter all by himself and select make up for me for part of my Christmas gifts.  
  • I LOVED that he did this.
  • He chose Ruby Woo.
  • He was spot on too.
  • Eyeliner:  black and heavy on the upper lid


Total outfit investment:  $13.99

June 2012

My word:

My personal word of growth for June was strength.

My mission:

I wanted to really look at this word from all angles.  I wanted to find this word in others and inside of me.  The world we live in now is so very face paced.  Media driven with modified versions of one's life shared through Twitter, Facebook and Texts are so often only part of the person's life picture.  A late night on the couch sifting through posts and tweets can oftentimes leave you second guessing the certainty of your life's course.  

The devil's work is masterminded and disgustingly magnificent when fine tuning your insecurities.  

My status:  

*  *  * 
3 out of 5 stars.


My memories:

strength |stre ng (k)θ; strenθ|
noun

1 the quality or state of being strong, in particular
physical power and energy 
the emotional or mental qualities necessary in dealing with situations or events that are distressing or difficult 

I love the way the word strength comes out of your mouth.  It takes teamwork from the s t & r to create the start up sound.  The eng is but a stepping stone of noise until the word's finality in the th.  

I love in the definition it states that strength is a quality.  I also love that it encompasses all the various forms that strength can be:  physical, energy, emotional, mental.

June was a time for me to stare at my surroundings and see the beauty of strength around me.  

There are people around me who are so very strong for me.  I don't tell them thank you enough.

To Kenny who chose me to love.  For his listening and leaning on.  For his demands to have more time with me.  For his confidence in me as a woman, a mother, a teacher, a homemaker & business owner.

To my boys.  I loved and appreciated being a part of such a powerful conversation with them this month.  We were on the topic of superheros. Eli and Casey were discussing each of Avengers' strengths.  I loved being able to hear them assess each character's strong points and why they possessed them.  From there, the conversation catapulted into a discussion of all the different ways God makes humans strong.  At 5 and 7 years old, they got it.  They got that we all have gifts and each are different and just as good.  I hope they never forget this.

To my friends whose time I share with them is invaluable. Friendship is such a strength.  It is the times when I am able to be close with smiles that make my heart beat more fluidly that I reminded of the blessings that define my strength.

God, thank you for these human examples of your strength in action.  You lessons are not always easy, but your love is always there.  

And, June was a time to for me to look into the mirror and see the little girl that never felt like she was enough.  I stared long and peered deep into myself. Many nights, my runs were spent at a rhythmic pace to the tears dripping onto the track as I pushed through whom I was not.  

Halfway through the month, I realized my heavy laden burdens of self doubt were sabotaging the someone I am.  A cycle all too well on repeat in my life.

How many times must I remind myself to hold my shoulders back and sit up straight?

I cried at more movies this month than I feel like I ever have thanks to this search for strength in and around me.  The transparency of self yielded so much emotion from me.  Lead characters grabbed my heart; convoluted plot lines purged my weakness even more.

And, after much inner debate and struggle to see, I wrote on my heart the value of strength.

Strength is the gifts God has given you.  Those go-to guarantees that a simple 'I can' will merit.  It is trusting in those.  All of them. 

It's trust.  It's leaning when you are weak.  It letting go when you can no longer.  

The trust in that we are each one of God's masterpieces.  We are the contour lines and the shade of grey.  The long stemmed strokes and the short choppy punches of color.  

We are human thus reminded of our weaknesses equally with our strengths. 

And, we are enough only when we work together with Him to sound out the word:   from the s t & r to create the start up sound.  The eng is but a stepping stone of noise until the word's finality in the th.  

And I will get stronger each and every time I remind myself that He expects me to hold my shoulders back and to sit up straight.

.mac :)

Monday, July 16, 2012

{again}

Again.

Beauty is profound even in the end.
Whispers of mistakes settle seamlessly in the sinking.
Gossiping back-n-forth with the sun.

She didn't keep her cool.
Her list of to-dos were barely checked off.
She reached out to no one today.

And the settling stings.
Heat radiates and burns my soul.
I waller in the act of letting go and letting down too.
Exacerbated by the day's finality, I coddle my imperfections.

Again.

The saturated farewell serenades.
Never mind the whispers.
Trust in the beauty of goodbye.

For the end is only the beginning.
A second chance of sorts.

Again.

Tomorrow waits anew.

                                    .mac 

{sunset compliments of my brother and sister-in-law's beautiful South Carolina home}
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