{shanks household} happy anniversary

 We have been through a lot together these past four years.  We've been through eight moves (two states, one international), We purchased one new car, new winter tires for both cars, and practically new everything for the other car. We welcomed a puppy into our lives as well as a beautiful little girl.  We've survived ample amounts of paperwork for all the moves, a car loan, a birth abroad, Canadian healthcare, new jobs, and closing on a house.  We've vacationed in 3 different countries in four years (12 if you count all the little countries on our caribbean cruise). We made it through one big job changes, countless small job changes (on my end), and crazy work schedules and long hours on the job. We paid off all our financial debt! We made it through the destruction of Maximus Orelius and his puppy years.  We made it through colic, acid reflux, and postpartum anxiety.We have survived hours on end of long distance relationships and phone calls.  You've eaten through my "one new recipe a week in a year" and even ate the bad ones. We've learned a lot about each other.  We've learned to really rely on each other. We've made it through a lot and as I look back on it all I see is the happiness, laughter, and wonderful memories. I have them all stored up and treasured in my heart.  Today we celebrate year number four.  We celebrate all three years behind us and the two and a half years before.  I love you Brandon Michael and am looking forward to the next 50+ years ahead of us together.

Thank you for the best anniversary present ever.  I love our new house and can't wait to move in to it with you this weekend.

{giveaway} A Girl and Her Bowtique // and the winner is...

CONGRATULATIONS to ....

Kristen Montague
Sarah Gerardo
Kathy LePenske

We had so many great entries.  Thank you to everyone that participated.  Feel free to keep checking out Jen's Etsy store, A Girl and Her Bowtique as she fills it with more wonderful accessories.

Winners, Jen will be in contact via email to set up the details.  Congratulations again.

{mommy mondays} & rockstar mom of the month // A Girl and Her Bowtique // GIVEAWAY

A big thank you to all of my faithful readers.  I have not forgotten you as I've gotten settled in to a new time zone and house.  Currently living with the inlaws while we close on our house and I could not be any happier.

I'd love for you all to be as excited as I am so I've partnered with A Girl and Her Bowtique for a GIVEAWAY.  Jen just launched her beautiful little shop on Etsy and I couldn't be more thrilled for her.  Little girl whimsical for fashionable playdates or just pretend around the house.  Jen carries a full line of hair accessories, tutus and has even started home decor.

A note from Jen.

Everything made at A Girl and Her Bowtique are inspirations from everyday life with our 13 month old daughter.  We are currently selling a variety of handmade headbands, tutus, and personalized wooden baby and wedding blocks.  

I am very fortunate to be a stay at home mom and wife to our amazing daughter and my loving husband.  I have always loved dabbling in little arts and crafts here and there.  When our daughter was first born, I made a few headbands for her, and had instant positive feedback.  I thought about it for a while, and tried to figure out how I was going to balance raising our daughter, house cleaning, errands, make time for my husband, having some mommy me time, AND after all that start a small business Etsy shop.  Everyone tells you that being a stay at home mom is a real job; I’m living it and yes it is.  How do I do it all?  Time management and lots of calendar alerts in my iPhone to say the least!

I have made a promise to myself that A Girl and Her Bowtique will be fun!  It will be a “job”, a hobby, something I enjoy, and something that I should never feel overwhelmed or annoyed to own and operate.  I also promised myself that this shop will never take me away from time I spend with my daughter.  If that means, staying up late to fulfill an order or making a tutu for a client during my daughter’s naptime, I will do it.  So far my balancing act is working out great!

I would love to take all the credit for A Girl and Her Bowtique, but it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t recognize that my husband is the muscle behind the personalized wooden blocks.    

The most fun and exciting thing about A Girl and Her Bowtique is that it will evolve just as our daughter grows.  I hope you love our little Etsy shop as much as I do!  And if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about our merchandise, please ask!

--------- GIVEAWAY includes 3 Winners.  1 Winner will win a headband, 1 will win a set of blocks and 1 will win a tutu.  All orders will be customizable.  Please enter below.  Winners will be drawn at the end of the week.   Enter and Share! 



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