This was just a last minute, run and grab my vintage camera to hide my no-makeup and undone hair, but catch the gorgeous sunlight before the sun goes down in my own backyard kind of shoot. I tried several of my vintage cameras in the shot, but this one hid the most, so it was my favorite. Man, nothing like a few unflattering images of yourself to make you want to go on a diet, and get your hair done! Uh oh… if I write it on the blog, does that mean I’ve committed to doing it? (Backpedaling already… how typical of me).

I have absolutely no discipline when it comes to food or exercise. I’m hoping lifting a baby up and down will get me back in to shape. (Or at least, I’m dreaming it will!) I’ve decided I’m not allowed to buy anymore expensive outfits from Anthro until I’ve lost a few pounds. Getting old is so not fun.

Photo credits: *Left Image: Kimberly Taylor Images *Right Image: Kasey Buick

I really am happy for them. I am. And if you haven’t seen the amazing documentary of images on both Kim and Kasey’s blogs, you should head over there and take a peek. Maybe if you are jealous too, I won’t feel so bad. :o)

Speaking of amazing images, have you taken a peak at my friend Jeanne’s photo blog? These two images are so crazy inspiring to me. They make me want to up and move to Colorado! Both so I can hang with Jeanne, and so I can have amazing scenery like this to inspire me!

Photo Credit: * Jeanne Oliver

Photo credit: *Jeanne Oliver

I am missing my girls. Big time. I think it’s time for another girls weekend away. Pick the place, plan the date, and you have my word, I will even FLY there. But I prefer to travel this way:

Photo Credit: *Kasey Buick

Can you tell what’s on my mind….  I got my crib this week, and I am constantly peeking in the nursery just to sigh and smile…  I am so excited!!! I was able to purchase some vintage fabrics, and my in-laws are sewing me up my own custom crib bedding, so my excitement level is a bit over the top at the moment. I can’t wait to share pictures!

Thank you so much for all the suggestions on my last post. It’s funny how close some of you came to my own actual “vision”. Things are rolling right along. Josh and I got our application turned in, and we are working on the next steps in the coming weeks. (Physicals, Interviews, Home Study, CPR Classes, TB tests, and more)…

I am off to add my finds for the week to the Etsy shop, so I’ll pop back in next time I have an update! Enjoy the weekend!

So here’s what I’ve been up to….

Designing! First and foremost, website and blog design takes up most of my time. It seems like the new year always gets every one in the mood to start fresh, or redesign a site. I am booked all the way through May right now, it’s crazy! But in a good way of course…

Second on the time consumption list has been shopping. (I know poor me, huh!) I try to get out twice a week for vintage finds for the Etsy shop. Then once I finish the shopping it’s all about photographing, measuring, and listing each find. The shopping is the fun part, trust me!

Then comes the shipping…. shipping orders is hectic around here to say the least. I usually feel overwhelmed and wait until Josh can make time to help me, and then ship a bunch of stuff at once rather than ones and twos here and there. But of course that makes for a mess of an office space in the off time. I’m amazed I haven’t had any major blunders as of yet. Knock on wood….

And then there’s what’s going on behind the scenes… Josh and I have been finishing up our paperwork to start our home study and adoption application. Just a few finishing touches and we can start the interview process! It’s amazing the stuff you have to do for this, including writing our own “life story” for the social worker.  Josh and I both are finished and now we just have to refine them and make sure we answered all of the questions they wanted addressed.

I have also started getting ready for a nursery! Something I have been dying to do for years!! I found an amazing old dresser that was just perfect for a gender neutral room, and now it’s on to finding a crib, bedding, and some “fluff” for the room. Does anyone have any great resources for me? We don’t have a ton to spend, but I would love to get some soft neutral linens with grain sack inspired motifs…. I can’t find that style anywhere?!!? Does it not exist for crib bedding? All you sewers get to work for me will ya? ;o)

The nursery is next to my office and has been a “catch all” for products and unused decor in our house. So it’s been a challenge to empty the room for a baby. I am having to get creative with my storage solutions and part with a few finds that I really wanted to keep! We had a big sale last week trying to move some products and down size what we keep on hand, and it helped a ton!

One of the things I noticed while trying to downsize is how many books I have! I seem to use vintage books in my decor quite a bit. I might have done ok if I stopped buying them, but somehow I can’t stop! My eye is just drawn to the worn edges and browned pages…  they just don’t make books as pretty as they used to.

Aren’t they lovely? Now head on over to my shop so you can take some home, and use them in your decor! Just think, you’ll be helping me make room for a baby. Now how’s that for a guilt trip! :o)

And I’m not kidding about the nursery decor tips! If you have any secret spots you think I might like, please let me know! I promise to share photos as it gets closer to being a “nursery”! Yay!!!

Luckily, I managed to get a few good ones, and even had Josh snap a picture of me for sharing. (Keep in mind, that I had to setup the shot, stand where I wanted him to stand and give very specific instructions before I could get him to cooperate. Can you tell he is a little sick of my camera?).

It was gorgeous outside, and the perfect time of day for that soft light I adore in my photography. (Quite a stark contrast from the wet, cold rainy mess it is this weekend). At least I have these images to make me feel all warm and sun drenched.

I’m always a sucker for black birds against a blue sky. (Even if they are mean old crows). Besides, Hannah barked at these two and told them who was boss. (She loves to bark at the birds in our yard, who always seem to take up residence there. Somehow she thinks they are intruding on her space, even tough her space is actually inside on the sofa. I swear our dog wouldn’t step foot in the yard if she didn’t have to tinkle every now and then. Such a princess!)

Here’s to blue skies, and sunny day hikes in your weekend forecast!

The rain has passed for the day, but they say tomorrow’s storm is going to be worse, so hopefully my luck won’t change. Hannah, the kitties and I are prepared to run for the tub if we need to! :o)

In baby news; I want to thank all of you for your support, encouragement, and kind words both on my blog, and in the emails I received. I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love you all showed us.

Josh and I took our first foster parent class last week, and learned a bit more about the process. It was a little intimidating since they really like to lower your expectations and give you some worse case scenario type stories. I know they do that so you don’t go into it with false expectations, but it is tough to listen to. Both Josh and I left with some second thoughts about choosing the path we are on, but we intend to stick with it, and see where it takes us. Unfortunately we have to miss a class this week, so we won’t learn any more until next Wednesday.

We have looked into adoption quite a bit, and it is still high on our wish list, but the financial part is our biggest hurdle. I have been working for over a year now to get some debt paid off and stay away from credit cards, but I have a few more years to go before I see any major improvements there.

I do have a few more last ditch efforts I am working on, to get pregnant on my own as well, so maybe that will pay off… you never know. A friend of mine was told by her doctor to cut out preservatives in her diet and eat all natural foods… meats, fruits, and veggies. Supposedly it gets your body working the way it should (like a machine) and increases your chances of pregnancy. I’ve been struggling with the diet for a little over a week now, and I think it’s getting easier. (I have no will power when it comes to food, and I live for Dr. Pepper, so it’s been a challenge to say the least!)

Josh’s birthday was last week, and he is now 38. We celebrated with family on both Saturday and Sunday, so it made for a fun weekend. (No the donkey wasn’t part of it, although my husband would have LOVED that!).

Now that the holidays are over, estate sales are back in full swing, so I have been adding to the shop as often as I can. This last week, I sold almost everything I listed on the same day it was listed, so that was exciting!

This week (and next) I am focused on getting my books in order, and filling my taxes. This is the most I have ever procrastinated on that, so I am a bit stressed about making my January 31st deadline. And I have to deal with Jury duty next week, so that is never any fun!

Wish me luck!

2009 was great for me. I am thankful I was able to continue to work from home, grew closer to my husbands side of the family, welcomed a new nephew, and honed some of my photography skills. I love my family, my sisters are still my best friends, and I continue to love what I am doing.

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This brings me to my “excuse” for being absent lately. My mind is elsewhere… I don’t feel like my whole heart has been into any of the normally fulfilling hobbies I have of late. I feel distant. I feel distracted. I feel sad.

The holidays always get me a little down when it comes to the family I hope to someday have. It seems like everyone is announcing a new arrival, celebrating a pregnancy, or planning a family of their own. Of course it never helps that every television show has a new pregnancy to dangle at us before the season break. Babies are every where this time of year! Of course I love being around them, but it is a painful reminder of what I still haven’t been able to achieve this year.

I’m now 33 and that feels very old. (Even though logically, I know it doesn’t sound old). Clocks are a ticking and time is flying by… Josh is going to be 38 in January and I can’t help but think about that “40″ year milestone that is rapidly approaching for the both of us. It feels like a deadline. (I know, I know… Charlie Chaplin had a baby in his seventies… but am I selfish if I don’t want to think about birthing a baby from my wrinkly old husband at that point? Besides I’ll be 65 when Josh is 70 and I’m pretty sure I’ll have even less of a chance conceiving then…lol.)

I hesitate to post this. To put my heart out on my sleeve and admit my vulnerabilities. I don’t want a pity party, or a pep talk, but I need to get this out. My heart is hurting.

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So, I am trying to be proactive about this. I’m tired of feeling sorry for myself, tired of having a mini funeral each month when my hopes are dashed by that monthly visitor that brings it’s bad news… I’m taking a new route, and clearing a new path.

Staring in January, Josh and I will be attending class to become foster parents. It isn’t a decision we came to lightly, and it’s not one I ever want to consider a “settled on” plan when telling my future son or daughter about how he or she came to live with us. It feels good. It feels right. At least for now it does.

I’m a bit scared about how challenging it may be, and I certainly don’t know how quickly any of this will happen for us, but I have to pray that it’s “the plan” God has for us.

I will be making it my goal in 2010 to let this plan unfold as it may. Whether that means a temporary child, a permanent one, a challenging one, or none at all.

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I promise to keep you all posted, when I can, about the process, and how it’s going. I’m sure it will be both wonderful and scary all at the same time. I’m counting on it. And so I leave you with a “hope-filled” collage of all the babies I was lucky enough to photograph this year!

My buying trips for the shop have also started to reflect this new mood…

In case you’ve been wondering where I’ve been these last few weeks… it’s been on etsy! :o) It’s taking up a lot more of my time than I had anticipated, but I am loving this new creative outlet. I go on buying trips at least twice a week, and snap photos of my finds for the etsy shop a few times a week. It’s been getting most of my attention, and I have really been pleased with the outcome. But sadly, I have been neglecting to update this blog. I will have to share some new photos soon, but for now, I leave you with a collage of my etsy items, frilly and soft and wonderfully girly.

I know I promised to take pictures, but I have to admit I didn’t get any worth sharing. I snapped a few at one point, but the bright sun was out and our booth was full of shoppers, and the pictures didn’t really even come out. It’s silly, but I don’t think I can bring myself to share bad photos on my blog after calling myself a photographer… :o) So you will just have to settle for pictures of my own junk collection.

I have been buying, buying and more buying all things silver lately. I can’t get enough of the pretty, delicate, and tarnished silver ware. I think there is something so beautiful about it. I actually decided I had too much of it, and listed a few of my pieces on etsy. Visit the shop by clicking here.

I have many new treasures I need to photograph and share on the blog with all of you. But if you could see the sad state my house is in right now… it’s certainly not pretty. Once I clean up and get organized I promise to share more.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

The party was sort of strange (at least for me) since I didn’t know anyone, and most of the people there I introduced myself to had never heard of my blog or shop. I kept being asked “Sadie What?” all night… I felt a little intimidated and out of place. Most of the blogs there seemed to be family oriented or “mommy” focused. And since Josh and I don’t have kids (sore subject) I didn’t know many of their blogs either…

It was sort of set up so that you were left to “mingle” on your own and meet other bloggers… something that I thought was very hard to do, since I am basically pretty shy and introverted. But we did have a nice time, and I did manage to meet a few very nice people. Coleen and Kelly the hosts were adorable. Coleen had on a super cute dress that I totally forgot to compliment her on, and Kelly had her adorable little girl there. I also found a new blog that if I DID have kids, I would have to stalk, because her ideas are amazingly creative and so cute… Dana Made It

They announced the winners via twitter, and although I have a blackberry, I was just not coordinated enough to figure out how to get the results on my phone. (I guess I was only following Kelly’s twitter profile, and not the Just Spotted main profile, so I didn’t even know I won until AFTER I got home!) But I did win (thanks to all of you who voted for me!). I won “Readers Choice for the Best Lifestyle and Design Blog”. It’s such a fun honor for me, and I am super excited. Check out the other great winners here:   Just Spotted Winners

I have to give a special thank you to Tara, who told me about the contest and turned me onto their blog in the first place. So, thank you Miss Tara! Love you girly!  And also to Melaine and Kasey who spread the word and got people to vote! Thanks ladies, you rock!

And now onto other news…

You may have noticed that my Brocante site has slowed somewhat in weekly new additions…. well, there is a reason… I am saving up my finds for my first ever sale at IVC (Irvine Valley College). My Aunt and I are getting a booth and sharing all of our treasures with all of the Orange County locals that can make it to Irvine for the monthly flea market.  It’s actually called “The Groves Antique Market” and it’s held at Irvine Valley College, off Interstate 5 or the 405 at Jeffrey Road. 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. (949) 786-5277. (We aren’t committing to doing this more than this one weekend, but if all goes well, who knows! It could become a regular event!) September 6th, 2009 is the big day.

My house is a total disaster as I have treasures all over while I try to tag and price each item. (I am gussying up a few in the meantime). My Aunt Lynn has an etsy shop you can check out called ZigZag Way. She is a treasure hunter as is her daughter Danielle who also has an etsy shop, Second Wind Vintage, the two of them are my partners in crime each week at the local estate sales. (My Mother-in-law is also a member of our clan, but she doesn’t have a shop, as of yet!)

I’m hoping our first sale will be a lot of fun and well worth all of the time and work we are putting into making it pretty. If you are able, please come by and pay us a visit. (We are hoping to have our booth number in advance, so I’ll update this post once I find out!). And for those of you who can’t be there, I’ll be sure to take pictures for you!