Climb Up In My Lap...

We like tractors in our family. Notice my header? We really do. Even my brother and sister-in-law were married in a field on my grandparent's land next to one of his Farmall tractors.

Pretty cute ring bearers, huh?
Sweet Mollye Bear just had to have Aunt Meghan make her a dress with matching bloomers so she could wear it on tractor rides!
And here it is. Mollye's "B" Aunt Meg made to match her dress. Let's just say, Mollye doesn't leave home without her tractors, okay?!
So when I was asked to do a tractor bag for a little girl, well, the only thing I had to readjust was the colors.

This client contacted me ecstatic over the upcoming arrival of her new niece. She, in fact, was given a k.Mac diaper bag for a gift just 3 months prior.
She loved her gift so much, she decided that niece of hers needed one too!

Chocolate and pink polka dots...sToP iT! The name "Claire". Oooh, it was just too much for a mama of boys to handle!

I was thrilled to design a diaper bag completely girly and COMPLETELY tractor for this special new life! I even loved putting the hand sewn bow on the front! EEEK!
Cause who says boys get to have all the tractor fun?
Not me!

However, last night it was boys that DID have all the tractor fun at our house.

I give you Eli and Casey Cobble:

Yes, those are mama's boots. One must be in the appropriate thematic attire at all times.

You like how Eli is clearly the lead singer while Casey provides total back up and pOwEr gusto wails at just the right moments in the song?

That's affirmative. Eli IS playing the guitar. Weirdly enough, we'll count that as the guitar.

And you are correct. Casey has the drums on lock.

Eli is in FULL of checkmeout mode. He is all enamored with his reflection in the french door glass. Serious about it too.

For those of you reading this blog for the 1st time and have not checked my regional origin in the United States, I am pretty certain you have ruled out the northeastern part of our country after viewing this.

Climb up in my lap, and drive if you want to...

.mac :)

p.s. Don't forget about the handbag giveaway if you haven't entered already!
Winner will be announced Monday, 10/19.

Spotlight

I started this business of designing handbags based on the joys of expressing who you are and on the beauty that comes with being the unique individual that God made you to be.
I wanted this business to be an outfit where fun, creativity, and personalization could be experienced by each and every client as well as myself in the designing process.

And the best part of it all to me would be the relationship I built with each and every individual I invested my time and craft with along the way.

And so far, I have done just that.

Meet April from Straight From The Heart. She was one of two lucky winners who won a 50% off design session on any size k.Mac "Sling Fling" from this giveaway. I cannot say enough sweet, wonderful things about this amazing mama and blog friend. She is kind, fiery, determined, a visionary, consistent, a perfectionist, and so upbeat.

And the crazy part about all of this is, I have NEVER even met her!

That's my impression of April from reading her blog daily as well as working with her in designing her custom handbag.

I truly enjoyed sending her fabric collections until she found just the right one. It was my pleasure to talk with her regarding the choices she was making with her purchase. The details are everything to me as I want them to be just right for my customers.

She was back and forth on whether to do a monogram or just a "W" for her last name. I love the bold and classy look the cranberry "W" provides.

After receiving her custom design, she had this to say about her purchase:

Oh, my goodness, Meghan...do I ever LOVE it!!! You did such a fabulous job and it's a million times better than I envisioned...which was pretty darn good! :) Thank you from the very bottom of my heart...

Love,
April

And that's exactly what k.Mac is about.

Giving people the opportunity to express exactly who they are in the handbag they carry.

Upon each and every bag design giveaway, I wanted to be intentional about celebrating the uniqueness of each winner in true k.Mac fashion.

So, I devised 21 questions. #21 being my lucky number.

21 questions for each winner to answer. These questions are based upon the every days of my life in a sorta silly way.

So, without further adieu, let's enjoy April, shall we?

What is one thing you do everyday and never miss?
I pray...and I eat a big bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast! What better way to start my day off right!

Approximately, how many pairs of shoes do you own?
Around 40...some of them I REALLY need to donate!

What is your signature color?
Now, that's a tough question! I like so many different colors, it's hard to say! I'm a huge fan of red, but I don't really like it on me. I love burgundy A LOT, but I'd probably have to say black because it's such a versatile color...goes with just about anything.

If you were stranded on an island and could only take one make-up item, what would it be?
Well, if I were stranded on an island, I don't think I'd care too much about how I looked, so I'd have to say that it would be my Eurcerin Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30. I've got to protect my skin, you know! I wear it every day under my makeup.

Have you ever played in the rain?
Yes, on several occasions. However, I don't particularly care for how it feels when your clothes are soaking wet and they stick to your skin. Ugh!

What do you love most about your husband?
Simply put, I love that he loves me...and he's short, too! It's not easy, at times, when I'm suffering from PMS and pre-menopausal issues, but he understands and accepts me just as I am. He even tells me that I'm beautiful when I roll out of bed in the morning with no makeup on and my hair going every which way! I think he's way past due for an eye examination! :)

What are your children’s biggest strengths?
Abby, my 13 year old, has the sweetest, most sentimental heart. She never fails to say or do just the right thing whenever I need it most. Brittany, my 17 year old, is a talented athlete and has an amazing sense of humor. She makes me laugh about something every single day!

What is your favorite season?
I love Fall! That's when my hubby and I got married almost 20 years ago (our anniversary is next week!). I love all the changing colors on the trees and how the air is so crisp.

Best vacation you ever took was:
Sedona, Arizona. It was so relaxing and laid back. We spent our days exploring and hiking. We made some of the best memories as a family! I would definitely have to say that it's one of the prettiest places I've ever been in the US.

Peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese sandwich? Which do you pick?
I'm a huge fan of good ol' PB &J.

What are you passionate about?
LIFE! I lost my mom, brother, and dad in a period of 6 short years beginning in 2000. It taught me to never take a single breath or day for granted...and to cherish those I love with all my heart and soul. You just never know what tomorrow might bring.

What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring. It's a constant reminder and symbol of the vow I took nearly 20 years ago before God, and family and friends to love, honor, and cherish my hubby forever and always...and I DO!

Name one dream that has come true for you.
To be a stay-at-home mom. I have a Master's degree in speech-language pathology, but I gave up my career 17 1/2 years ago to raise my girls. It's a decision that I can honestly say I've never once regretted. HOME is where I want and need to be.

You can only pick one: watch TV, read a book, take a nap, or go for a walk. Which would you pick?
Well, normally, I'd choose to go for a walk. I'm a huge nature lover and I enjoy being outdoors, especially this time of year. However, being that I get up every morning at 5:15 AM to see Brittany off to school, I think I'll go with a nap. I'm so sleep-deprived, it's not even funny!
In my spare time, I : exercise, organize, or blog!

What’s the best advice you have ever given?
Well, Abby went through a period when some boys on the bus were picking on her. She tried to handle it on her own for awhile, but I ended up having to get the vice principal involved and the issue was resolved in a timely manner. However, I sat Abby down and had a long talk with her. I told her to "never allow anyone to make you feel less than what you are." I explained that she had to believe in herself and to always remember that God was watching over her.

What makes you unique?
I might be short, little, petite...whatever you want to call it. However, if someone hurts my family or anyone I love dearly, I'm a spitfire, as my dad would say!

One thing people would probably NEVER guess about me is…
I'm a Broadway musical fanatic! Ever since I saw "Cats" with my mom years ago, I've been hooked! In fact, I know just about every song from "Cats" by heart! It's my ongoing lifelong dream to sing on Broadway one day. It isn't that I have the set of pipes to, actually, pull it off, but I'd love to stand up on that stage and be in the spotlight. Oh, what I'd give!

Favorite room in your house is? Why?
I'd have to say our basement because it's the place where we have "Family Movie Night" and play the Wii together. We're a very competitive family!

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right-handed.

What do you love about your k.Mac design?
It's so ME! I love the pretty Fall colors and the mixture of polka dots and stripes. It's so roomy inside, too!

I told you she was just THE best!!!

You want a stab at these 21?

Okay!
What's up for grabs?

Well, in honor of April...how about we say....April's bag!

No, we aren't taking April's bag from her and no, you don't need to be bummed if your last name doesn't start with a "W"!

The winner of this giveaway will receive 1 medium k.Mac "Sling Fling" in our "Freshly Fallen" fabric collection WITH your monogram.

To enter: Leave me a comment answering one of the following:
{cause I like it when I have choices}
1. I like your handbags because ___________________.
2. My favorite Halloween candy is ____________.
3. My favorite toenail polish color is __________________.
4. A good book I just finished reading was ________________.

To be entered 3 times in addition to your 1st entry, you could mention this giveaway with a link to this post. You could. Just me me know if you do!

The winner of a replica of April's "Sling Fling" will be announced, Monday, October 19th!

It feels good to be in the spotlight every now and again.

Good Luck!

.mac :)

{S P L A T T ER}

In focus.
Clear.

A single rain droplet.
Waiting.

Patiently.
Serene.
Driven to wait for its time to drop.
Purposefully.


I am compelled to be just that single drop.

A visionary.
Tenaciously seeking His will for me.
Ready to aim, remain steady, and then finally...

D R O P.


Plip Plop, I fall into His glory.
I splatter His joy all around me.

I will.
I do.

I will correct the times that I don't.

Amazing it is to find your cadence completely in tune with His.
I want to do it all.
I want to teach.
My boys and others.
I want to share.
I want spread it all.
His to give.

But a visionary, I will be.
Serene and steady.
Like the raindrop.

Plip-plop.
S P L A T.

I get giddy just thinking about it.

"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."

Dolly Parton

.mac :)

2 Choices

You have 2 choices at weddings.
You do.
2 people ask you to be a part of THEIR day.
The drop $$ for your spot at the table.
Consider calligraphy or a nice font for your name plate.
Even double check to be sure that your name is spelled correctly.
You were chosen.

Chosen to celebrate WITH them.
AND WE WERE.
Our trip to Ellicottsville, New York was full of family, fun finds and discovery {Yes wedding was the correct guess from this post}, and ROY AND SARA!!
Roy is Kenny's 1st cousin. There is only about 3 months difference in their age. These boys share many memories of playing Matchbox cars at Papaw and Mamaw Cobble's house during the summers. Countless episodes of HeeHaw have been watched together I can only imagine.

While distance is a barrier in Kenny and Roy's relationship, Roy never made us feel that way. Before Sara and then with Sara too, Roy has readily made his trips down to visit, calls to talk, and he sends the coolest Christmas cards every year...we always look forward to his selections! {the greatest mix of humor with holiday if you ask me.} Their dads are who you see above. Kenny's dad being Kenneth in the blue, the eldest of 3 brothers. And Roy's dad being Eddie in the yellow, the youngest of the 3 brothers. {By the way, Happy Birthday, Uncle Eddie! Today is his special day!} These two are 2 peas in a pod, I tell you. Get these guys together and well, you'll understand the concept behind Velcro. So, gladly we were honored to be a part of Roy and Sara's BIG day!Notice the cuff links on Roy's younger brother, Jason. Delaware may be their state of residence, but we all know where their heart lays down its welcome mat.

Roy and Sara's wedding was spectacular. An intimate ceremony with an elaborate ceremony afterwards. They had the best gifts for their guests. They rented a photo booth. You were given a frame for your table setting. You then were asked to go and have your pictures taken in the photo booth. Below are the pictures Kenny and I took together.


Then the TN crew decided to give it a whirl and pile in together for some fun. {Kristi and Tony are technically possessions of South Carolina I must interject. I just felt compelled to bring Kristi back to her native homeland in the previous sentence...I opted to lump Tony in as well. I stand myself corrected as technical guilt got the best of me. I feel better now.}


Our TN crew: Kenny, Kristi, Me, Tony, Kevin, and Ole Dad, Kenneth.

Top left's theme: "We are one big happy family!"
Top right's theme: "You better check yourself, busta."
Bottom left's theme: "We're FREE! Free! Escaping from the funny farm never felt so good!"
Bottom right's theme: "Peace, homey."


Now onto topics of my heart. Ahem. The aBoVe! My honey bug, Kenny. Is he not the cutest? And lookie at his OLDEST sister, Kristi. She's darn tootin' too, don't you think?

MANY OF YOU HAVE CONTACTED ME REGARDING THE NAME OF MY BUSINESS. Kristi is the k. in k.Mac! She does all the web designing and updating. She is and has been in deep renovating of our new cyberspace. With minor hiccups, we are on our way with progress. I cannot wait for you to see the new us. It will be longer still until the final product is complete, but there will be a new face lift SOON. I promise to direct you to our new look just as soon as it is ready.

I can't help but say Kenny has a small part of the k. too. He does all of my paper work with regards to taxes and organizational data entry. He is golden in this area.

These 2 allow me to be my most creative and for that, I am grateful. Thanks guys!

{Small tangent there, but I am back if you are still doing the left-to-right scanning of the eyes in conjunction with the brain!}


My heart...

longs to dance.

I will do it anywhere with anyone and at anytime.
I'm not kidding.
An empty dance floor?
No floor at all?
A dance floor full of just children?
I'm there.
In the car.
In my kitchen.
In my classroom. {when I was a teacher}


I dance.


I love all kinds of music.
Corny, classic, country, rap, big band, easy, rock...just put the needle on the record, DJ.


Check out me with Eddie's wife, Claudia {in the chocolate shift dress} and Kristi. I thinks k.'s caught in the act of shaking here groove thing, don't you!?

What do you think we got going on here? There truly ain't no telling. Claudia with the quick shuffle-ball-change sway-side-to-side, Kristi with the get-down-on-it groove, and then there's me doing a little laid-back-with-my-mind-on-my-money-and-my-money-on-my-mind.

This picture pretty much sums up my love for dance.

I had just finished my fancy spin in my accordion pleated dress. oh.sweet.goodness. {I can imagine Kenny looking on only hoping my underwear didn't show. I hoped that too, honey. That was never my intention, sweetheart. But they were a nice pair and clean if someone did get a tiny peek just so you know. Have I told you how much I love being your wife lately?}

So weddings are worth it. Worth making the choice to go all out for the happy couple. Pray for their lifelong commitment to one another and then show them just how happy you are for their future.

Speaking of future, I'm kinda happy about the future with this girl.
Happy to see our new look...
I can promise you we have A LOT of funky fun up our sleeve!

k.Mac dancing never felt so good!

Congratulations, Roy and Sara Cobble!
.mac :)

I sat.

On a cold concrete floor speckled and square tiled.

I sat.

Huddled with my legs kaddy cornered so others could maneuver their ways around us.

To my left a little fox. Bigger than he thinks. New haircut. Toenails that need to be cut. He fit perfectly in the crook of my folded legs. And I felt him. I felt him nestle his 2 fingers around my belt loop to hold on.

To my right a long tall lad. Pressed in against my side, he insisted we do this. Where I can't decide if he has grown more in height or depth of knowledge; it's tough to say. Intuitive. He is. Beyond his years, I know him more and more each day.

On the floor.

In an aisle way.

With a buggy full. Overflowing with groceries strict in temperature specifications and with a list only half checked in completion.

And I read.

I read to them. My boys.

They asked and I obliged. Books not bought only borrowed from a shelf.

2 to be exact. A book that each boy had selected.

In a sea of toys and gizzmos and gadgets, my boys picked books.

And they wanted their mama to read to them.

And at 12:56 PM on Wednesday, October 7th, I couldn't think of a better thing to do than this.

So, I sat.

I read with gusto and animation from deep within. Savoring each tug of my belt loop and each nestle into my side.

I read knowing that now was my time.

My time to give. My time to be exactly what they wanted me to be.

Their mama.

And so groceries thaw.
And checklists wait.

Because at 12:56 this afternoon, I was mama.
And I loved every single second of it.

On the floor.
In the sideways of an aisle.

Kaddy cornered and filled.

.mac :)

A Backwards Puzzle

Genes.
I love finding the tidbits and telltale signs of a family from one generation to another. I have always enjoyed noticing who has whose hands, feet, demeanor, eyes, bone structure, or personality. It's like working a puzzle only backwards to me. Meet Carl Van Hook. [Kenny's maternal grandfather]


Now meet his great grandson, Casey McGill Cobble.


You see any similiarities?

Genes.

Cool, I know.

.mac :)

Tag. You're it.

You didn't even know we were playing, did you?

The game of freeze tag is often a parallel for me with regards to life's mojo and inspiration.
{Did she just use the word mojo in a post? Um, yes. I did.}

Think about it.

I mean, we've all played freeze tag on the playground in our day.

The concept is simple really. You run. Run like crazyfire is comin' out your backside in order to keep away from the one who's "it". Lunging, ducking, darting, and zigzagging just to avoid the mere touch of their hands on your person.

Cause if touch happens, well, you're frozen. Finito. Still.

That is, until another person not yet "frozen" comes to your confined rescue with just a simple touch once more.

Then you are free. Able. Back in action.

And I don't know about you, but that pretty much sums up my day-to-day being. I am a person who thrives on inspiration, people, connections, creating, and learning.

My highs are extreme and divine. I love without inhibition. I say what my heart feels. I dance, do, create, and connect with tenacity as if crazyfire IS coming out my backside for lack of a better choice of words.

Then I'm frozen. With just the simple stroke of negative words, complacent and pessimistic rubbings off from another person over time, I am zapped.

And I just stand idle. In complete shock and awe.

I wait. I watch. I am in CONSTANT WONDER. Contemplating God's purpose for my complacent stillness. Better yet for my next turn at being free.

This has been my method of operation all my life.

I tease with my best friend while in the idled stillness or the just being freed like a bird stage that I wish my life didn't work that way. I wish that I had more of a smoothness and regularity to life.

She listens and then always says, "You wish you didn't feel as much as you do."
And I completely reply with a whole heartedness, "Yes, yes."

But then she in typical best friend form says:

"There are people like this. But you're not made that way. Neither am I. You and I are blessed. Blessed because we are able to extremely feel. Feel it all and be moved. By the good and the bad. The sadness and the joy. Those people who do not feel as much as you and I do are equally as blessed to be made just their way."

And she's right. She and I are blessed. I've learned to find strength in my times of crazyfired backsides as well as my frozen wonderment. Hoping to gain a betterness from each.

Because God is the ultimate "it".
His will is always for the most perfect of reasons.

So it is my privilege to dart, duck, zigzag, and dip as fast as I can just as much as it is my privilege to stand calmly and seek out His will for my idleness each time that He freezes me.

So, tag. You're it. And I'll gladly play, Big Guy. Gladly.

{A special thank you to k.Mac's taggie blankie and Tic Tac Tote diaper bag for visual post enhancement)


.mac :)