hello.

hello Monday >> after being away at SNAP! all weekend, I believe today is going to require at least 2 cups of coffee...

hello home & husband >> SNAP! was amazing & I'm so thankful I got to be there, but my home is always my favorite place to be.

hello laundry >> not my favorite chore, but it needs to be done. first load is in now!

hello inspiration >> as soon as I got on the plane yesterday, I had to pull out my notebook & start scribbling down ideas. feeling refreshed & inspired as far as blogging goes, so keep an eye out for some upcoming posts. ;)

hello priorities // I'm realizing that I struggle with prioritizing & time management... not good. making an effort to put the truly important first & not sweat the small stuff, but also to (hopefully) not waste as much time in the course of a day.

hello Australia >> I haven't forgotten about sharing pictures from our trip! we just took SO many, I have to pare it down to the best ones. (you can see the first part of our travels here)

hello winner >> Katy P won this pretty scarf! congrats!

///////////////////////////////////////////

I'm linking up with Lisa Leonard today.
hope you all had wonderful weekends!

10 things on 10/10

today seemed like an appropriate day to list 10 totally random things...

  >> i am super shy. i've gotten a LOT better at swallowing my fear, putting on a smile, and being nice, but i'm still pretty shy inside.

  >> i took a knitting class, because that's something i've really been wanting to learn. another activity to add to my looong list of hobbies! now i'm on the lookout for super easy beginning knitting projects; my first was a washcloth.

  >> my hubby & i really, really, really want to get a puppy! unfortunately, we can't have one where we live now because we rent, but someday. caroline's adorable little pup only makes it worse. ;)

  >> having a cinnamon broom in your home makes the whole place smell amazingly festive & fall-like. looove!

  >> i'm still pretty addicted to instagram; do you follow me there? i want to get some of postalpix's new 2x2 prints soon. tiny usually equals adorable in my book.

  >> my 22nd birthday is 77 days away, which means christmas is only 77 days away! this year has been going by so, so fast, it's crazy.

  >> i wish that it got cooler sooner in florida; not freezing cold real winter temperatures, but cold enough that i can wear sweaters/scarfs/boots and not suffocate. know what i mean?

  >> this recipe for pumpkin spice muffins w/ cream cheese filling is SO good. you must try it. everyone will love you if you share!

  >> sometimes my hobbies make me feel like a granny. baking, sewing, knitting, etc. but i am totally okay with that. it's fun!

  >> 10 things doesn't seem like that many until you sit down & actually try to think of 10 things. ;)

have a wonderful october 10th!

a blog break, simplifying, and being sick.

source

{aren't these flowers cheerful & gorgeous?}

Not posting anything last week wasn't my plan, but it was a needed break.

Sometimes you have to take a step back to be inspired, you know? 

*****

I've been working on new lovelies for the shop, and I'm excited to share!

I just need to finish up a few things, take some photos, etc.

I'm hoping to get it all done in the next week or so...

*****

My go-to breakfast is coffee & peanut butter toast. Yum!

*****

I've been reading Hayley's The No Brainer Wardrobe,

and I started cleaning out my closet last week.

I have SO many clothes that I never wear,

and I need to simplify my wardrobe.

We'll see how it goes!

*****

I spent most of Saturday with my mom & sisters-in-law,

taking a mini road trip to another sister-in-law's baby shower.

We had a fun time, and I even won one of the shower games...

I get pretty competitive when it comes to games. ;)

I love my husband's family, and I feel very lucky

that they all like me so much, too.

*****

Yesterday I started coming down with some kind of head cold,

and it's making me feel yucky. Hoping it won't last long...being sick is no fun!

I hope your Monday is a great one!

me {A to Z}

I saw this on Casey's blog last week, and I just had to share.

I always love learning random facts about people! :)

{a} age :: 20

{b} bed size :: currently, twin. when we get married, queen.

{c} chore you hate :: scrubbing pots & pans

{d} dogs :: the sweetest black lab ever

{e} essential start to your day :: coffee!

{f} favorite color :: a lot! especially pink, grey, yellow, teal & plum.

{g} gold or silver :: silver

{h} height :: 5'4"

{i} instruments you play :: piano {been playing for 10+ years}, a little guitar

{j} job title :: ummm...handmade shop owner, babysitter, house-cleaner extraordinaire, wife-to-be

{k} kids :: not yet!

{l} live :: the Sunshine State

{m} maiden name :: same as my last name for now. :)

{n} nicknames :: I'm not a fan of nicknames...Jacky if you must have one.

{o} overnight hospital stays :: never. and the prospect scares me!

{p} pet peeve :: unnecessary noise, misspelled words

{q} quote :: "if you want to be happy, BE." {no idea who said it, I heard it from Gussy} &

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." {Jeremiah 29:11}

{r} righty or lefty :: right

{s} siblings :: four younger sisters

{t} time you wake up :: my first alarm goes off at 7:30, and then I get up at 7:50 {I like to push snooze...}

{u} university attended :: none

{v} vegetables you dislike: I'm not the biggest fan of veggies...I especially dislike broccoli.

{w} what makes you run late :: my mom. the fiance'. last minute projects. {but I hate being late...}

{x} x-rays you’ve had :: I've fractured my arm & my leg {at separate times}

{y} yummy food :: fettucine alfredo, chicken & dumplings, almost anything with chicken

{z} zoo animal favorite :: not really any...I like penguins, but I'm not sure if that's a zoo animal.

*****

Hope your Monday is a lovely one!

{currently...}

Just a little list of "currently"...

currently reading this

currently loving her voice

currently watching this

currently excited about this!

currently wishing I had the time to make this

and, of course, currently missing this guy terribly.

What are you up to currently?

a list

found here

  --  I love making lists. I usually don't need a list to help me remember the things I want to get done, but there's something very satisfying about crossing off each task.

  --  I'm finally home after 2 weeks of house/pet-sitting. I enjoyed my time away, but I'm happy to be back to "normal" life. I have lots to do!

  --  I'm making a list of sewing projects, most of them wedding related. Things like skirts & pennant bunting. Having lovely fabric to work with makes it even more exciting. :)

  --  Have you read any good books lately? I just finished The Shell Seekers & really enjoyed it.

  --  My man's birthday is in 28 days...and I have no idea what to get him! I love giving gifts, but he is SO hard to shop for. If you have any gift suggestions for the men in our lives, I'd love to hear them! {I'm thinking about getting him these since we'll be married pretty soon...} 

  --  My little sister {she's 7} had never seen Mary Poppins until a couple of weeks ago when I watched it with her. Now she sings the songs all the time. I love it. :)

  --  My cheerful yellow coffee mug {filled with coffee, of course!} is one of my favorite things about mornings.

  --  The winner of the Seek First giveaway is Amy! Congratulations! {sending you an email now...}

  --  I have a lot to do today, so I'd better get to it. Have an absolutely lovely Tuesday!

...where i've been.

{pinned here}

Hello, lovelies!

You may have noticed that I've been a little absent from the blog in the past week or so...

Well, it wasn't necessarily intentional.

First of all, my sister & I are house/dog-sitting for our pastor's family while they're out of town.

I have access to a computer, but with a different schedule and no camera,

I haven't been feeling terribly inspired to blog.

I've also been very busy, helping a family clean, babysitting some crazy little boys,

teaching kid's classes at church, working on projects for the wedding,

trying to sew for the shop, spending time with my man...etc. :)

In good news, I was able to get our wedding invitations finished

{with some help from the sweetheart & my sisters}, and I just love them.

I'll try to share the details once I'm home, sometime in the next couple of weeks

Also? We're getting married in just 72 days!

So hopefully you'll pardon the blogging lapse - I'm not gone completely, just busy!

I'm hoping to share lots of pretty & inspiring things soon...

{eight things}

{one}

It's a Tuesday morning that feels like a Monday morning. Blah...

{two}

I had a lot of fun over the weekend with some of the people I love the most!

{three}

I live 20 minutes away from the beach, but I almost never actually go to beach.

Sad, isn't it?

{four}

I did go to the beach this weekend!

It was a lot of fun. :)

{five}

It was a great weekend, but not the most productive.

I have a lot to do this week!

{six}

 The fireworks yesterday were so pretty, but so loud!

The Sweetheart said that next year, I'll have to bring some earplugs...

{seven}

I looove kiwis. They are SO yummy.

{eight}

I am an extremely lucky girl.

Look who's going to be mine in 95 days...

Wouldn't you agree? ;)

{happenings}

{from here}

I won't lie and say that my life is always perfect,

but I am so blessed. 

Life has been kind of crazy lately, though...

We're getting married in less than 3 1/2 months.

I am absolutely excited and I can't wait,

but I also have a LOT to get done before then.

I started making lists this week, and it's a tad overwhelming...

Fortunately, I have a lot of help if I need it!

Also, the Sweetheart got a new job!

I am beyond proud of him...I may be biased,

but he is awesome at what he does. :)

We were not expecting this at all, and he wasn't looking for a job.

But, he'll be getting a great paycheck, good benefits, etc. 

which is definitely a blessing.

But, along with this new job comes more new changes.

New schedules, figuring out where we'll live, and so on.

It will all work out...I'm just not entirely sure how.

I've also posted about that craft fair that's

happening two weeks after we get married...

I'm so excited for the opportunity, but I am SO overwhelmed

with all that I need to get done!

My goal is to have everything for the craft fair done

by September 1st. That will take a lot of work.

We shall see...

So, that's a bit of what's going on in my life.

But most of all, I want to live everyday to the fullest,

no matter what that day holds. 

*****

Have a lovely Wednesday!

words

{source}

"For I know the plans I have for you," 

declares the Lord, 

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future."  

- Jeremiah 29:11

{emphasis my own}

{before & after}

If you follow me here, I mentioned that I was getting my curls cut the other day...

I only get my hair cut twice a year, so I was really excited. :)

I like my hair long, but it can be challenging.

It takes forever to dry, and I can't tell you how much

mousse it takes to keep those curls pretty {yikes!}.

So, I ended up getting a good amount chopped off.

I love it! So much easier & cooler!

Just thought I'd share with you...

 {before & after, to show you the difference in length}

{what it looks like completely dry}

What do you think?!

And do tell...do you prefer your hair long, short or in between?

*****

There's still time to enter to win your choice of

covered button earrings or cute bobby pins!

Be sure to help spread the word for extra entries. :)

this.

found here

The time to read,

to smell the flowers,

to paint your dreams,

to have coffee with a friend,

to learn a new craft,

to write a letter,

to bake a surprise cake,

to go somewhere special,

to REALLY be with the person you love,

or even to do nothing for awhile...

What will you find the time for today?

{nine things}

morning print - so pretty!

{1} I'm thankful to be back in my own home. I don't mind being other places for a time, but home is special. I like to sleep in my own bed, have my sewing machine close by, and a speedy computer doesn't hurt. ;)

{2} I'm excited to package up an order and head out to the post office! {thanks, Mandie!}

{3} I have a headache. Probably because I need some caffeine. Fortunately, I have a cup of coffee beside me, just waiting to be sipped from.

{4} If I could afford it, I would spend SO MUCH money on Etsy. The Sweetheart commented on just how many items are in my favorites...but I can't help it. It's all so lovely. :)

{5} Pinterest is a beautifully dangerous place. Gorgeous and inspiring, but SO time-consuming! I still like it.

{6} I love this pretty photo.

{7} My list of books to read has over 120 titles on it. Yes, I love to read. Yes, I've finished 4 books in the last week. Yes, I have too much time on my hands.

{8} "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." {Jeremiah 29:11}

{9} I'm marrying the love of my life in 124 days!!

*****

I hope you all have a lovely Monday!

xoxo

{some stuff}

It's Tuesday, late afternoon, and my mind goes all over the place.

Here's some stuff I've been thinking about...

...an unofficial blog break {the reason for no post yesterday}.

Our pastor's family had to go out of town, so my sister and I are

house-sitting/dog-watching for them.

It's kind of like a mini vacation for us. :)

...how cute these hair pins are!

{P.S. I've extended the shop discount until Friday:

FAVORITE15 for 15% off your order!}

...that I smell very strongly of Bath & Body Works.

I needed some new body spray, and I ended up trying just about every one in the store...

I ended up getting Twilight Woods & Sensual Amber. :)

...that I really want to put together a thank you notes book. Such a good idea!

...that playing Just Dance is a workout!



source

...that I'm excited about going out to dinner with a dear friend tonight. :)

source

What are you thinking about today?

Hope you have a lovely evening!

today...

print

...I'm sipping coffee from my cheerful yellow mug.

...I'm happy & feeling inspired because I cleaned my workspace.

It's amazing how a clean workspace makes me want to work more!

...I'm excited to go out to lunch with a friend to celebrate our birthdays!

Hers was last week, mine was in December - we like to spread out the celebrations. :)

...I'm thinking about what I want our {future} home to be like.

You can get a taste of what I'm thinking right here.

...I'm so thrilled that I got to mail out 2 custom orders yesterday!

{not the best picture, but you get the idea...}

...I'm getting married in less than 19 weeks!

...I'm content. Life is good, and I'm happy & thankful.

How are you doing today?
Hope your Tuesday is a lovely one. :)

*****

Don't forget, you can save 15% at burlap + blue
by using the discount code sweetestpetunia.

swirling in my head today...

inspiring me today...

.....My brain is always going. Thoughts, rabbit trails, ideas, projects to try...so sometimes you get posts like these. Random things swirling around in my head.

.....I'm getting discouraged about my little shop. I'd love to make some sales, do some more custom orders, feel like having the shop is actually worth my time spent. But, I totally understand that budgets are tight, and sometimes fun extras just aren't possible. Any suggestions for growing my shop?

.....It's my little sister's birthday today. Which means that we're celebrating. Good food, cupcakes...and then I'll have to not eat for the next 3 days. ;)

.....I'm so thankful that planning for our wedding has been {mostly} drama-free so far. Hearing about other couple's issues is pretty crazy. Feeling especially thankful for our very supportive families!

.....I might be a little addicted to pinning.

.....and coffee. But you already knew that. ;)

.....I have lots to do today, so I should stop the randomness here.

.....Oh, remember, you can use the code HEADBAND1 for 10% off in my shop!

.....Thanks for reading. I appreciate you all more than you'll ever know. {{hugs!}}

{weekend thoughts}

pretty print

Hello, and happy Saturday to you!

Since Blogger decided to have problems yesterday, no {color love}...
which is sad because I had some really pretty finds to share!
But, they will just have to be posted next week instead.

What are your plans for the weekend?
I'll be doing some fabric shopping {fun, fun, fun!},
sewing another one of these cute skirts,
working on some new blooms for the shop,
spending time with the Sweetheart
{we're getting married in 20 weeks, babe!},
reading, piano... lots of fun stuff. :)

Hope your weekend is a lovely one!

what's making me happy...

...seeing his ring on my finger each & every day makes my heart happy.

We've been engaged for 4 months - only 5 months to go!

....an iced Caramel Macchiatto. Obviously.

And I always check to see how they spell my name & giggle at it.

"Jacklynn" isn't quite right. ;)

...all that pretty nail polish!

$0.99 at Walgreens!

...my new fabric tags for the shop!

Many, many thanks to Whitney for her diy instructions. I love them!

...all these lovelies just waiting to be sewn.

They'll be even prettier when they're finished!

{by the way, it takes a TON of prep work to get all these ready...}

...my sewing companions.

For some reason, the "classical crossover" type music is amazing to me.

So I listen to it while I sew. :)

{Palladio is quite possible my favorite right now.}

What's making you happy today?

*****

The randomly chosen winner of the Scentsy giveaway is

#15 - Staci!

{I've emailed the winner}

Thanks to all of you for entering!

oops...

I had grand plans for a {color love} post this morning...and then I overslept. Oops!

Oh, and we're out of creamer, so I didn't even have coffee. Double oops!

party time print - so cute!

This weekend promises to be pretty busy for me.

My new sisters are throwing me a shower tonight, which I'm super excited about. :)

My younger sister's graduation party is tomorrow.

Should be a fun time!

So, I will be back on Monday.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Be sure to stop by & enter the Scentsy giveaway!

{a new week}

print from IScreenYouScreen

I'm so glad that a new week is beginning.

Lots to do, to finish, to start...

I'm planning on updating the shop this week,

once I take some nice product photos.

I've got some adorable ruffled pouches

that would love a new home. :)

***

Last night we went to see Soul Surfer,

and I thought it was really good.

{Even though I generally hate movies that make me cry...}

Bethany Hamilton is quite the inspiration.

Although I don't think I'd be any good at surfing. ;)

***

I love this guy a lot.

We're getting married in 23 weeks,

and I can't wait.

***

Hope your Monday

{and the rest of your week}

is a wonderful one!