Potty Training & An Apology

Hey y'all!

Things have been pretty busy around here and I haven't been able to update y'all.  The reason I've been so busy is because we are on our 3rd round of potty training!  We have tried a couple times in the past, and little man was just not into it.  At all!  But I guess the 3rd time really is the charm!  He's still having a few accidents here and there, but for the most part I think he's really gotten the hang of it.  He doesn't even want to wear a diaper any more.  Mom win!!

And now for the aplolgy... I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I won't be able to finish the Christmas in July series.  I messaged the owners of each shop I wanted to feature and asked them a few questions so that I could relay the most up-to-date information for y'all.  Apparently, one or more shop owners marked my messages as spam and Etsy will not allow me to send any more similar messages.  I know I could still post information just based off of what is listed under each item and/or the shop information, but I really wanted to have detailed descriptions for each item/shop.  So, I'm going to end the series as it is, and maybe next month I'll simply post on my favorite items without any detailed information.

I did, however, hear back from one more shop owner, and I'll end the series with this last post.

Photo from LuluDesignsTX

This beautiful ornament comes from LuluDesignsTX.  This is a great way to represent someone you've lost on your Christmas tree.  You can customize your order by selecting the ribbon color.  The average wait time is about a week, and the best time to place your order is before November.  They will also be introducing new designs beginning October 1st, so be sure to check out their shop!

Christmas in July: Part 1

Good afternoon!  Is everyone ready for my first Christmas in July post?  I hope so!  This week I'll be showing you some of my favorite ornaments I found from various Etsy shops from Texas.  So, let's get started!

Rustic Texas Mesquite Wood Christmas Ornament

Photo from BcCreativeDesigns

This mesquite wood ornament comes from BcCreativeDesigns.  If you have a rustic theme for your Christmas tree, this little ornament is perfect for you!  They also take custom orders!  The average wait time from the time you place your order, to the time you receive it is about 7-10 days.  To beat the holiday rush, its best to place your orders in September and October.  Check out their Etsy shop to see their other listings.

Joy White & Gold Christmas Tree Ornament

Photo from CherryRedToppers

This JOY ornament comes from CherryRedToppers.  They also have adorable cat and dog ornaments, for all you animal lovers!  They take custom orders (send them a picture of you or your pet and they'll try to match it as best as possible!)  The average wait time can be any where from a few days (for the disk ornaments) to 4 weeks (for the custom pet ornaments.)  To avoid the holiday rush, its best to place your order before the end of November.  However, they do keep some of their best sellers in stock.  They also make custom cake toppers, so be sure to check out their Etsy shop!

Felt Plush Ornaments (Santa Claus, Snowman & Gingerbread Man)

Photo from dropsofcolorshop

This set of 3 plush ornaments comes from dropsofcolorshop.  These are great if you have small children who love to grab things off the tree!  They do take custom orders and all of their products are handmade.  The average wait time is 8-10 weeks and the best time to place your holiday order is from now until the end of September.  Check out their Etsy shop for their ornaments and crib mobiles!

Twelve Days of Christmas Ornaments

Photo from PuddleofPaint

These twelve days of Christmas ornaments come from PuddleofPaint.  These cute ornaments remind me of the Christmas shows we used to put on in elementary!  All of their items can be customized and they can even create an ornament from a picture, if you send them one.  (Message PuddleofPaint if you would like an ornament made from a picture.  They will let you know if it can be done and the cost.)   The average wait time is 1-4 days, depending on the amount of customization that needs to be made.  Place your order by November 10th to beat the holiday rush.  Be sure to check out their Etsy shop for new items added weekly!

Recycled Lone Star Beer Can Christmas Ornaments

Photo from TexasTieDyeGuy

These recycled beer can ornaments come from TexasTieDyeGuy.  The beer lover in your life would appreciate these!  They do make custom orders and all of their items are made by hand.  The average wait time is 3-5 business days, and orders should be placed by the end of November to avoid the holiday rush.  They also have reclaimed wood flags and coasters, so go and check out their Etsy shop!

Baby's 1st Christmas Sequined Ornament

Photo from thejollyfatelf

This beautiful sequined ornament comes from thejollyfatelf.  This is the perfect ornament for the newest addition to your family.  They do make custom orders.  The average wait time is 2-3 weeks, and the best time to place your order is by the end of September.  Every ornament is beaded by hand and some designs can be very detailed!  Please keep that in mind when placing your order.  Each ornament is about the size of a softball and comes with an image on one side and name/year/etc on the other side.  Misty has be kind enough to offer my readers a custom coupon code on orders placed before August 1st!  Enter code Livelovetexas for 15% off your order.  

Our First Christmas Ornament

Photo from TheSouthernTurtle

These hand painted ornaments come from TheSouthernTurtle.  This ornament would be perfect for newlyweds!  They do make custom orders and all of their stock items can be personalized.  The average wait time is about 1 week for items in stock and about 2 weeks for custom items.  The best time to place an order is by the end of October to beat the holiday rush.  They stop taking orders for custom ornaments (you choose paint colors) the first week of December to avoid time constraints.  However, you can message them to see if they still have any stock ornaments that can be personalized.  Be sure to visit their Etsy shop for new items being added!  They'll also be at the Frisco Farmer's Market in Frisco, TX every Saturday in July and October!  

I hope you enjoyed today's post!  Next week I'll be showing you my favorite wreaths, stockings and more!  

*Disclaimer:  As I mentioned in my previous post, I am not being compensated in any way for these postings.  I am simply sharing some of my favorite Etsy finds.  The featured pictures are not my own.  They belong to each respective Etsy shop owner.*

New Blog Series!

Hey y'all!

Earlier this week I was browsing through Etsy looking for some cute Christmas items to buy for this year.  I know, I know, its barely June!  But being as how these items are handmade, I figured I should look early (and order early) so that I can avoid any kind of holiday rush.  Now, I don't know about you, but when I'm looking for something on Etsy, I like to sort by shops located in Texas.  I'm a Texas girl, born and raised, and I just want to help out my fellow Texans whenever possible.

So, I've decided to create a new blog series called Christmas in July, in which I will feature Etsy shops from Texas who offer Christmas products.  I love Christmas and I believe in helping local businesses;  I think this would be a great way to do that.

I will do one post every Wednesday in July.  Every week will be a different category.  This is the way I will break it down...
July 2 - Ornaments
July 9 - Decor
July 16 - Gift Ideas
July 23 - Cards/Invites/Announcements
July 30 - Other holiday fun

Be sure to tune in each week as I list my favorite finds in each category!

*Disclaimer:  I am not being compensated in any way for these blog posts.  I am simply sharing the products I find with the world*

Still working on the blog

Hi y'all!  I'm still working on fixing up my blog.  I've been on the hunt for some great blogs to follow, and I think I may have found a few that I'm really going to like.  I've also been looking for some odds and ends to make this blog feel more like "home."  So, I apologize for not keeping it with it lately.  I promise, I will try to update at least once a week.

Got a recommendation for a fun blog?  Leave me the link in a comment!  I like blogs about food, photography, crafts and diy, and healthy living.

Hello, and welcome!

 
I'm Marissa, a thirtysomething mama and wife.  The Husband and I have been married for 5 years and we have a 2 year old son we nicknamed Monkeybutt.  We call Texas home, but we did spend 4 years in California while The Husband was in the Marine Corps.  I love chocolate, flip flops, naps, thunderstorms and ice cream (not in that order.) 

I've created this blog to document my journey back to health and fitness.  I became very lazy while living in California and gained more weight than I'd care to admit.  I also got pregnant and had my son while there.  Now we're back in Texas and I'm really wanting to get back to healthy lifestyle.  I'm hoping that this blog will help me be accountable for my actions.  I'll also be posting about my adventures in motherhood, marriage, and (hopefully) teaching. 

I am in no way an expert in fitness and nutrition, parenting, marriage or teaching.  I will simply be sharing my experiences and any advice I've picked up along the way.  Please bear with me as I get started on this blog and learn the ins and outs on here.  If you have any suggestions or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at live.love.texas01@gmail.com (but please don't send me a bunch of spam)  The only thing I ask is that we keep things respectful.

Thanks for joining me on my journey!