The last few months in pictures.....

Birth story to follow...... :)

h o p e

Thought I'd pop out a post quick to let everyone know I haven't fallen off the face of the planet. I cannot really say I have been busy, but maybe just unmotivated? The past couple weeks have been consumed by my never ending cycle of disappointments. Craft fairs yielding zero sales, interviews yielding zero jobs, serious financial hardships, stresses in the marriage, etc, etc, etc...

Life is just tough right now. I know with every down there is an up and life will turn around (especially with our baby comes in 5 weeks). I seriously hate to complain about my hardships with all that I am blessed with compared to many. I just cannot help but fear the worst at times and worry for the future. I want to bring baby into a happy and financially stable home, but right now it is beyond stressful and not so happy. God is my source of hope right now and that is all I can do. In THIS, I HOPE there is an end coming soon.

Perhaps you are the praying type and would like to throw up a quick one for my little fam? I would be much delighted by it! Here are some requests:

1. God would provide $$$ for us to pay our heaps of overdue bills.

2. God would provide me with a school counseling job (interviews needed in the next few weeks)

3. God would help to restore my marriage and what the stresses of life have done to it and that my husband would view me in a more loving way.

4. Baby Larson will come out healthy and naturally (fingers crossed) and there will be no complications during labor or birth.

5. That my happiness and joy in life would be restored.


I fully believe in the power of prayer and that God listens. I appreciate anyone who reads this and blesses my life with their prayers.

I promise my next post won't be so doom and gloom! :)

The sweat shop.

Yes folks, this is where it all happens....some say magic...my husband says forced labor. Deep in the depths of my very own basement is my craft area (where 'it' happens!) Glamorous? maybe not, but considering the circumstances I am kinda proud of my little sweat shop. I can only move up from here...right? :)

(an old dvd rack we weren't using--heck, why not make it a fabric rack!)

There it is my friends....now, don't be jealous if you can help yourself :P

A couple newbies...

I have been MIA a little bit this week and SO much has happened. I think pictures speak louder than words so here are a few memories of a wonderful week/weekend!

(A much needed girls slumber party weekend -- beach, haircuts, ice cream, fire works, baby shower, food, fun!)

(They had a sweet baby shower for me and we all made onsies for my little guy!)


(While at the lake, I snapped a quick pic of these sweet little ducks)

(Check out this amazing rainbow! We witnessed this while paddle boating on Lake Harriet!)

(Paddle boat ride on Lake Harriet with the hubs!)

I know that was just a few, but I tell you, it was a GREAT weekend!

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Just a quick glimpse at my newest creations! It just dawned on me that I get a ton of compliments of how I display my jewelry, and so I thought I'd try my hand at selling them. Let me know what you think! There are plenty more to come :)



Check them out in my shop :)

Bruised but not broken

Well, my first 'craft show' has come and gone and well.....I may have left a little bit of my pride and dignity there, but I am feeling a bit better now. It was in a sweet little town not to far from the cities and was run by the cutest little boutique! The owner wanted to build sense of community in the "bedroom" town (I just learned what that means.) and so she has thrown together this little market every weekend to help the process. It sounds like it has been a slow process, but her intentions are so admirable! On Saturday it was myself (and my mom!) along with 4 other vendors....so not a lot to draw a crowd in. Actually, I think about 5 people crossed my table. The day was not a total loss though, one of the other vendors bought a pocket mirror AND the boutique took a ton of my stuff to put on consignment! So, now it is 'out there' and maybe I'll have some luck with the locals :) Plus it was a nice sunny day and not too bad in the shade. Here is a peak and my set up. I know it is not the most professional looking, but hey...I'm a newbie :) I'll take any tips that come my way though!

(My mom..a.k.a. my biggest supporter)

(It was a great location...cute little gazebo in the background! Sunny skies...till the Tornado later that night!)

(Ok, I just had to throw this in...isn't this just pitiful?! This is what I have to face every time I leave him. It is just sick the turmoil I am left with!)

And so, nothing to brag about here. I will still create until it kills me and someday.....I'll find just that right creation that people HAVE to have--or maybe one that pays the bills :) So, off to the drawing board!

Goodnight friends!

Jumping in the pool!

So, I know no one is nearly as excited about this as I am.....but if you remember a few posts back I had an interview with the Minneapolis school district to be added to the pool of school counselors (to later pick from for specific jobs)..WELL.....I just got the call and out of 25 people interviewed, I am one of the ten that have been chosen for the pool! :) yay!!!!! Now, there are 5 positions to fill, so all I need to worry about is making them see past my baby bump (my due date is really poor planning for school!--September!) and really leaving a lasting impression. Hopefully I will be called for interviews soon!

:) This made my day!!!

What I've been up to

So, in excitement over both the nursery prep and my upcoming craft show (first ever!) -- I have been pretty busy. Here are the latest pictures of the nursery. Now, it is not nearly as decorated as it could be yet, but that is what baby showers are for right? :) So here it is with all the 'essentials' and a few cute things.

(The four small pics above the changing table are really special to me because thanks to my grandpa--they are prints from the ACTUAL negatives from NASA and the moon landing. They are the real deal and I hope my son appreciates them as much as I do!--Also, it is not in the room yet, but thanks to my other grandfather our little guy's room will also have an authentic autograph and photograph of THE Babe Ruth!)

Now what else have I been up to? Oh yes! Crafting! My bff's mom gave me a little gift the other day because she thought I could teach myself how to make them and sell them in my upcoming craft show. (plus I am a self proclaimed kleenex addict). Here are some pics of my newest creations: Kleenex pouches! (I discovered they can also be used for sanitary napkins, travel wipes, ipods, etc.) I made them out of vintage and non vintage fabric. They are super easy to make and look at how cute they are. Just toss one in your purse and no one has to know that you are a kleenex whore like me :P

(These are some of my person faves!)

Just showing how they are 'two-toned' I love the combo of the yellow and green! They are either backed with this great yellow or else a pea soup kinda green--sounds kind of ugly I know, but I promise their cute:)

Here I am just showing a glimpse of the inside and how they "work"

So, what do you think? I am not sure I'm gonna put them up on Etsy--we'll see how they do at the craft show this Saturday. But hey, if YOU see one you like let me know! They are quite cute and only $3.00 and I'll send them free of any shipping charges just because I like you :)

So with that, any advice for Saturday? I am pretty excited for the craft show, but also a bit nervous, I have no idea what to expect! Any advice is appreciated!

Ok, I think this has gone on long enough and now my stomach is growling, so time to settle down to some comfort food and relax the night away after a couple of hard working days!

P.S. Check out my shop and the 'Christmas in July' sale I am having--it's worth it I promise :)

www.etsy.com/shop/lauralilarson

Nesting....

So, as promised--I am posting some pictures of my soon to be nursery for my little man! Her are some before shots (sadly I forgot to snap a few when it was the office, but oh well).







Now, it is not finished yet...but I managed to get the worst part done with so tomorrow when the hubster can help me we can just do the rolling and then the fun part--decorating! :) Here are a few pics of where it is at now, If you can't tell the paint is a light blue color. (I wore a mask so I didn't inhale any 'toxic' fumes for baby)




I am so ecstatic to have this process started! I can't wait to see it all finished and ready for baby--crazy! Well, this little mama has been hard at work so I'm gonna take a little cat nap and then a birthday celebration for my bro-in-law!

Home Sweet Home

Its just a lazy Sunday afternoon here in the city, so I just thought I would blog about and post some more personal pictures of my "treasures" :) In this case I am talking about the treasures and spaces around my home that I just love. You know-- those things and spaces in your home that just make you smile? Well, here are some of mine!

First off is my special re-purposed chair. I got the chair off craigslist and foot stool at the antique store. I painted the footstool to match the chair and the recovered both cushions with a great yellow paisley (umm, yes, by now you should know I like paisley) fabric. To top it off is a sweet pillow I got on sale :)
Next, is a great architectural touch to my home. These great little nooks house my collection of milky white vases found at a thrift store. I love them!

Next is a great bench my sister wasn't using, so I snatched it up and made it a quaint little window seat :)



One of my BFF's inspired me to do this. she has something similar in her home!




I found this chair on craigslist for $5! What a steal, I thought it was perfect the way it was so I didn't even do anything to it. On it is my new (old) handmade blanket I got at the thrift store for $3! Great finds make me happy! (and yes, those are my ratty old slippers--I may be the only person who wears slippers during the summer).



Here is a view of my dresser with some of my faves like well, the dresser itself! It was actually my moms and she passed it down to me. I like how rustic and detailed it is. Then there is a cool little ring/trinket holder that was my grandmas, some pictures and a great Owl bank (another thing I love--owls!).


Here is another treasure I found on craigslist that I cleaned up a bit and painted yellow to put over our bed as a kind of bringing the outdoors in type of feel :) Also note the great duvet cover I got from Urban Outfitters! love that store!

Cutest dog ever!....no? I think he is pretty handsome if I do say so myself!



Let's see, last but not least is my desk! I sit at this desk about 0-2% of the day, but hey, it looks good. It was a pale natural wood that I painted red and added some fun knobs and decals on. One very special thing sitting on it is my grandpa's old radio. He is now passed, but I still have it on the station that he used to sit and listen to the Twins on. If you look really closely you can see a picture of my husband and I the day we got engaged--yes those are homemade engagement photos! Maybe I'll share that story another day!

So--there you have it folks! A little glimpse into my home and the things about it that make me happy and enjoy just chillaxin at home!

What things about your home make you happy?