Currently...{April Edition + Plum Organics GIVEAWAY}

I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but I have writer's block...grr!!  It's almost like my head is so full with my never ending "to-do" list that I can't think of one particular topic to write about.  I had this nagging little voice in the back of mind telling me to just open my laptop and get to typing, but I couldn't figure out where to start.  So, I decided on my trusty "Currently" post that is always a winner in my book.  Enjoy!
LOVING:  All my new merchandise I found at Market and is IN TRANSIT as we speak! When I started Royal Feather Nicholas was only about 8 months old so most of my merchandise was targeted for the newborn age group.  As he grew up, so did my product selection.  I'm happy to announce that I'm going back and expanding my Newborn selection - yahoo!!  To start I am bringing in the wonderful and always awesome brand Puj! When Nick was a baby I used the Puj tub and was completely obsessed.  It was the best infant tub I found and would tell anyone willing to listen all about it.  I'm so happy to be carrying this wonderful product PLUS their new Hug {Hands Free Infant Hooded Bath Towel}.  Some more things to come will more than likely be some unique teethers and always useful Muslin swaddling nap blankets, and sippy cups. 

Lollacup (BPA-free, Phthalate-free, Made in the USA) & Puj tubs & Hug Towels will arrive at our shop this Friday! - April 5)

READING:  I was fortunate to have attended Blissdom, a blogging conference, in Dallas a few weeks ago.  It was my first {of many hopefully} time attending such an event and I really wasn't very sure what I was getting into.  One big relief was that I wasn't attending alone.  I met my friend Bianca from Up Up and Away Children's Events there and thank goodness for that! Being in one huge room with 700+ women attendees can be a little overwhelming and very difficult to not feel as if you don't fit it or aren't "as good" as the rest of the bloggers.  I'm really happy I was able to push past my insecurities and put myself out there and approach complete strangers.  That was a big step for me since I can be a little introverted at times but it was definitely worth it.  I was able to connect with and meet other Moms and real powerful women who share in all the same big dreams as I do.  Surrounded by that kind of inspiration and motivation was a really wonderful experience. With that said, I'm currently reading some great books written by some of the speakers at Blissdom.  They've been great reads & wonderful sources of motivation.  I feel like they're speaking directly to me!  I was bummed that I missed Scott Stratten on Friday but getting to listen to C.C. Chapman AND John Acuff on Saturday definitely made up for it. 

WATCHING:  Not much these days - thank you Mr. Time Change! Am I the only one who is hating the Spring Forward time change?! Our son even protested it for almost 3 weeks! What used to be the easiest bedtime routine EVER turned into a complete nightmare.  I had never heard Nicholas scream and cry so much just to go to bed.  Thank you Jesus that now has passed and my sweet baby boy is back to his old self: bath, allergy medicine, cup of milk, brush teeth, story time, and nighty night.  After that, I used to use that quiet time to catch up on TV but now I'm focusing on getting more rest/sleep myself.  Especially when my husband is working really late and it's just me and Nick.   THINKING ABOUT:  Knowing that I have quite a bit of giveaways coming up for all my lovely customers and fans is pretty exciting.  There is no better way to show my appreciation than to give back :)  More on that later... 
ANTICIPATING:  our family vacation! Later on this Fall, if all goes well, we'll be heading to Washington DC and Virginia.  I'm a little nervous since this will be Nicholas' first plane ride but having the opportunity to get away for a little bit and visit such a historic place will be worth it.  Any traveling tips are greatly appreciated and welcome!  
WISHING:  Of opening my own brick & mortar Royal Feather.  I love going to Market but at the same time I feel like I'm being held back.  There is so much that I find and want to bring in because 1) we don't have it available to us in our area and 2) the manufactures of these products aren't huge companies that simply mass produce everything.  Instead, they really care!  My last trip to Market a few weeks ago was great because my main goal was to attend a new temporary show.  All the vendors I met were so wonderfully sweet and most importantly, they were completely in love with and invested in their product.  And to me, that is what makes a product great - when you have a parent who has created such an item out of necessity and is so passionate about it that they feel the need to make it available to everyone. Little by little I'm working to get my shop to the next level.  Please feel free to share my link and tell all your friends about our awesome little spot on the web to help me get there! I'll be eternally grateful :)
MAKING ME HAPPY:  the time of the year.  I'm so happy that it's April and warmer weather is upon us.  I am a total beach lover and plan on making more of an effort to take Nick out to the beach - we do only live an hour away.  I also need to get him signed up for his swimming lessons and I'm even thinking of highlighting my hair or going ombre.  There's just something about Summertime that always makes me want to lighten my extremely dark hair.  But then I remember how annoying the maintenance can be and I change my mind.  We'll see what I decide.   
And now, what you've all been waiting for...my Plum Organics GIVEAWAY!!  When Nicholas started eating solids, I made him all his first foods myself.  It was easy because I was a stay-at-home-Mom and Nick loved all the fresh fruits and veggies.  But once I needed to start integrating meats into his diet, I turned to the Plum Organics Training Meals because making the meats at home was just gross to me.  I just couldn't handle the smell and the texture was chalky.  There was no way I was going to feed that to my baby.  I felt comfortable feeding this brand of food to Nick because it is made with all natural and organic ingredients and the ingredient list isn't compromised of anything that I couldn't pronounce.  As he got older, we tried all their Tots and Kids snack options and all of them were a hit.  I love this line so much that I decided to share it with all of YOU! 
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently...{February edition}

I am SO excited about this year and all the AMAZING plans I have for Royal Feather {the shop}.  I am very passionate about my store and dream for it to become THE gift and accessories destination that everyone would think of when they need a special gift.  I'm working hard and steadily building my brand and my business to get to that level.  I hope you will stick around and follow me along my journey.  Don't forget to follow the blog {click Join This Site at the bottom of the left column} so you can always stay up-to-date with all that's happening in our little world.  But for now, I'm currently...
LOVING:  that my husband and I were able to take a mini vacation Super Bowl weekend.  We jetted off to Las Vegas and did all the fun stuff - shop, gamble, eat, and enjoy all the craziness Vegas has to offer.  

Quick photo op in front of the Trevi Fountain while shopping at the Forum Shops inside Caesar's Palace

The BEST part of the weekend was the George Strait concert we went to.  I've seen him in concert several times before but this one was special since I was fortunate enough to enjoy it with my husband. Such a great night and loved hearing all of George Strait's classics like Amarillo by Morning, The Chair, hits from Pure Country, and of course The Cowboy Rides Away. 

Martina McBride was phenomenal! Her voice is just amazing and she's so beautiful - great show!

  READING:  Every night before bed, I read Nicholas two-three books as part of his little bedtime routine.  His library is pretty big so I strive to read him something different every night. Although some how his 'Trucks' book manages to slip into rotation very often.  This little boy loves trains, trucks, cars, and Mickey Mouse.  What are your favorite bed time story books?  
WATCHING:  hardly anything these days.  When Nick gets home from school he wants to watch a few episodes of Dora the Explorer, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, or Little Einsteins.  But stocked up on our DVR are the usual juicy dramas for us - Dallas, Suits, Revenge, Nashville and of course our favorite crime dramas too - CSI Las Vegas and Law & Order SVU.  While Nick is catching up on his shows, I'm making dinner and our breakfast and lunches for the following day.  After that, its bath, story time, and then bed for our munchkin.  We've been blessed to have a baby that has always been a great sleeper.  Before I go to bed, I like to sneak in to his room and check on him.  I caught this great snapshot of him the other night.  

Yes, that's a Micky Mouse, a bear, a rabbit, and "Gilbert" his Glow Seahorse all in his crib.  They HAVE to be in there in order for him to be ready for bed.  Kids and their crazy ways :)

     THINKING ABOUT:  all the things on my always growing "to do" list.  I'm planning out what merchandise to bring into the shop next {it's going to be super cute accessories for boys AND girls}, printing flyers, reprinting more business cards, our current CUTEST BABY PHOTO CONTEST which is going to followed by a few more AMAZING giveaways, scheduling my Pilates regimen around Jacob's Crossfit schedule, building Nick's outfit for his Easter pictures, and getting ready to participate in a few local marketplace events.  Plus throw in the usual grocery shopping, breakfast/lunch/dinner making, and laundry.  I'm exhausted just typing all that!   
ANTICIPATING:  heading to Dallas next month to attend the blogging conference BlissDom! I'm so excited to be attending and to learn how to be a better blogger.  When I first started this blog, I wanted to have a creative outlet while I was staying home with Nicholas.  I wanted people to see that there was a real Mom behind Royal Feather in order for them to feel confident about their purchases - to know that what we have to offer are tried and true products that are meant to be useful and fun.  I wanted to be able to interact with parents all over the world because I feel that's how we learn and grow as parents - when we talk to one another and exchange ideas and advice.      WISHING:  for a baby girl :) We'd love to give Nicholas a sibling soon but with so much we have going on I begin to wonder how we would manage one more child.  Of course I know it can be done and it will happen when it should.  But I can't help but look for inspiration for a baby girl's nursery on Pinterest and even toss around names for this future baby.  Jacob and I had even thought about both of us going back to school to get our Master's degrees but then we'd REALLY not have any spare time.  I guess we'll just wait and see what God has in store for us.  I know he will never bring us to something we wouldn't be able to handle :)       MAKING ME HAPPY:  Is it cheesy if I say my LIFE?! My life and who I spend it with truely does make me happy every day.  I created my store from scratch and continue to mold it and shape it into what I feel it needs to be.  I'm constantly growing more passionate about it and I just KNOW that it will become the store front I've always dreamed of.  We have this beautiful little boy that constantly amazes us and makes us smile and laugh without even trying.  He has such a sweet soul and is quite the little charmer; he'll have you wrapped around his little finger in no time!  He attends a preschool that he loves going to every day - that alone makes me happy! To watch his little face light up when he sees his teacher and his friends is just awesome.  I can go about my day knowing that he's learning and having fun in a safe and comfortable environment.  He's constantly learning something new {ie. days of the week, alphabet - and yes, he sings it, numbers 1-12, colors, shapes, math, and he planted seeds this week!}  My husband has been my #1 fan since the day we met and was so supportive when I came to him with my idea to start Royal Feather.  He patiently listens to me as I constantly brainstorm ideas with him, shlepped the the NEVER ENDING halls of the Dallas Market Center last Summer while I was on the hunt for the perfect new merchandise for the shop, builds my booth displays, sets up and breaks down most of my displays at events, and most importantly, is the most hard-working and devoted man I know.  And he {mostly ;) } does it all with zero complaints.  He's an amazing husband, father, and supporter AND I simply couldn't ask for more.  I'm blessed to have a cousin who is my best friend.  She'll help me out in a pinch, always makes me laugh but lets me be serious with her too, is an awesome nanny to Nicholas, and is so much like me it's almost scary.  And lastly, I'm fortunate to have an amazing Mom.  She'll do anything for her children and grandchildren, drop whatever she's doing at a moment's notice just to lend a helping hand, be our biggest supporter, love unconditionally, and most importantly, she's always there for us.  God has blessed our little family with so many beautiful things that there is no way I couldn't be happy.  

***CONTEST TIME***  For all my lovely locals {anyone who lives in the Rio Grande Valley}, don't forget to submit your photos for our CUTEST BABY PHOTO CONTEST.  The submission deadline has been extended until this Sunday, February 24th at 9:00pm CST.  Voting will begin Monday morning at 6:00am and continue through Friday, March 1 at 9:00pm.  The photo with the most LIKES will be announced as the winner shortly after voting has ended.  The lucky winner will win a free 1-hour on location photo session {could be just your child or entire family, you pick}, artistic editing, 20 digital images, virtual gallery, AND (10) 4x6 prints.  This fabulous prize is being sponsored by the talented Esmeralda of Luz Natural Fotografia.     

Thank you everyone for stopping by!

Currently...

Oh my goodness!!  We are halfway through September...where have the days gone?!  Nicholas started Preschool two weeks ago and I somehow have less time to get work done than when he was at home.  I miss my late nights where I could blog and stay connected.  Oh well, Nick is doing wonderfully at school so if going to bed early is what it takes to get him there on time, so be it.  Our little boy comes first and I'll continue to try and squeeze in time when I can to get all my thoughts/projects/recipes out to all of you :)  But for now, I'm currently...
Loving:  although it's still pretty hot outside I have been excited to see all the signs of Fall in stores and was anxious to do some decorating at home.  We don't have a mantel that I can decorate seasonally so my entryway is my next-best-thing.  I'm absolutely loving my Pottery Barn-inspired decor!   

Reading:  I used to have this obsession with all things fashion.  I easily knew what new trend could be paired with something classic and what trends needed to be avoided all together.  Putting an outfit together from head to toe was once so effortless.  But then came baby and life as a stay-at-home mom and all my fashion sense went right out the window!  With some new and exciting changes coming my way {you'll read more about them in a bit}, I'm struggling to find solutions in a sea of clothing racks; it's a world that seems so foreign to me now.  In order to find my way back to my old self, I recently picked up practically every fashion mag on newstands right now promising me "easy Fall hair & makeup", "your most stylish Fall ever", and "125 cute outfit ideas & easy styling tricks."  Let's hope I find what I'm looking for!     
Watching:  Glee is back and that's a sign that Fall TV is just around the corner!!  Shows I'm anticipating the most are Revenge, CSI Las Vegas, Modern Family, and Law & Order SVU.  Grey's Anatomy was always a big show for me as well but I'm really disappointed that so many of the main characters have left the show.  I'm not sure how much I'll watch this season.         
Thinking about:  my 10 year high school reunion.  Yup, TEN YEARS!  Talk about feeling old.  As a former class officer I've been helping with some of the planning and with only two weeks until the Homecoming football game, it's all coming up fast.  The funny thing about reunions {for me at least and this is all just my personal opinion} is that I really don't see the point of them since the inception of Facebook.  Facebook is my high school and college reunion.  Everything and everyone you've ever met and known is on there.  You can read and see all about what former classmates have done since you've last seen them and what they're up to today.  But for the sake of tradition, I'll be there cheering on my Alma Matter.    
Anticipating:  a new chapter in our lives.  It's funny how once you go through change it is then when you realize how quickly time goes by.  After Nicholas was born it was so difficult for me to imagine him any bigger than the little baby that fit so snuggly in my arms.  Now as he's approaching 2 years old I can't believe how impossibly quick these past 20 months have flown by.   
Wishing:  for a day to sleep in again.  Sleeping in was such a beautiful thing when Nicholas stayed home. We didn't worry about bedtimes or nap times because we just hung out and ran errands together throughout the week.  We were really laid back and didn't have a strict schedule.  But now, all that has changed.  But it's a good change and I'm completely grateful.  Nicholas has adapted quickly to school and the positive feedback we get on his daily report cards reassure us that we made the right decision.  He's learning so much and getting to play and socialize with other children his age.  It's a beautiful thing to see our baby grow.  We wish for a wonderful life for him and will give him all the nurturing, love, and guidance we can to ensure that.   

  
Making me happy:  life.  I have so many things to be grateful for and particularly right now because we've had such great opportunities present themselves.  After talking it over with Jacob for quite some time, I made the decision to go back to work full-time and not only was I offered a job, - I was offered TWO jobs.  I don't have an official start date so until then I'll continue to get my house as organized as possible...since I'm pretty sure that's how we'll all be able to stay on track.  I'm excited and anxious for my new opportunity and look forward to new challenges.  Don't get me wrong, Royal Feather will continue to be my passion professionally so please continue to shop and visit the website, but it might become part-time for now - until we decide for baby #2 :)   
Thank you all for stopping by!   

Currently...{new regular entry}

Loving:  how much I actually enjoy blogging.  I started this blog because it was important for me that my customers and/or anyone who visited Royal Feather knew that a real Mom was behind the whole thing.  I wanted people to feel that someone genuinely cared about what they were buying.  And I really do!  I love being able to help out anyone with any kind of baby/toddler questions they might have.  But now my blog has allowed me to get my "voice" back.  Any stay-at-home Moms reading this right now probably know what I'm talking about.  Once you're home all day with your children, especially children who are still too young to have an actual conversation with, you feel like you've lost contact with the real world.  No one is around for you to talk about current events with or something you saw on TV or something you read online.  Your new world consists of Disney Junior, flashcards, Play-doh, and sidewalk chalk.  Which don't get me wrong, I don't ever want to give any of that up, but sometimes, you want to be able to connect with other adults.  And for me, this blog has been able to do just that.  So to all my readers out there, THANK YOU!!       Reading:  Does Goodnight Moon count?? Unfortunately, I haven't been able to read any age appropriate books {my age that is, not Nick's}.  I just don't have the time right now.  Any down time I am blessed with, I usually use it to write up my next blog, scour Pinterest for new recipes, or hang out with Jacob if he's home.  He works so much that there are days where we only see him for maybe about 4 hours.  Retail hours suck, real bad.  Fortunately for us, he's the Operations Manager at one of our local Big-Orange-Box-Home-Improvement stores but being a manager means he's a salaried employee....that means saying goodbye to regular 40 hour work weeks.  Work weeks for him are more like 50-60 hours.  But, he loves his job so that's all that counts. 
Watching:  I LOVE almost all the shows USA has been coming out with lately.  For the Summer, I'm hooked on Necessary Roughness, Royal Pains, Suits, and Burn Notice.  And ok, RHONJ and Teen Mom....I won't lie, I cannot miss an episode.  I've been watching those reality shows since they started so I feel like I can't just quit now!  I have to watch it all play out and see what happens to everyone.  Yes, I'm 27 years old and I watch Teen Mom.  
Thinking about:  Nicholas.  Last night was Nicholas' first night without a pacifier.  He's 19 months old and only uses a pacifier to sleep.  He's never really needed it, it was more like his security...something he was used to as being his companion since birth.  And I never tried taking it away sooner because I felt it wasn't hindering him in any way since he wouldn't use it during the day and I simply did not want to hear him crying at night.  It is very difficult for me to walk away from him when he's crying - with real tears streaming down his face.  But as I was washing dishes at the end of the night, the thought crossed my mind to try and get Nicholas to give up the pacifier.  While he was playing in the living room, I got out a pacifier and cut off the end.  When he came shuffling into the kitchen I asked if he was ready for bed.  As he got closer to me I knew he was going to want to grab for a pacifier {he knows where the clean ones are stored so that's where he was inching towards}.  When I gave him the newly snipped pacifier, he didn't even look at it and it went straight into his mouth.  Instantly, he started laughing! He took it out and inspected it and turned it around and would poke his little finger through the hole I cut.  He kept putting the pacifier back into this mouth and laugh.  As he continued this little game, I was telling him that the "mamo" {that's what we call it} was broken, that it just didn't work anymore.  I said that we were going to have to throw it away since it couldn't do it's job anymore.  Lastly I said, "Nicholas, we're going to have to say bye-bye to mamo and throw it away because it's broken, ok?"  He looked at me with his big beautiful eyes and simply took the pacifier out with one hand and said "bye-bye" while waving at it with the other.  He walked up to the trash can and tossed it in.  I literally had to fight back my tears...I'm even tearing up as I'm typing this!! I was so fascinated with how "grown-up" he was about it, he was so confident and independent.  He didn't cry all night and I simply cannot believe that getting rid of the pacifier was just that easy.  Lets see how the rest of the week goes!!     
Anticipating:  the next few months.  September is almost here and with it brings the beginning of Fall and the Holiday season.  Although living in South Texas doesn't allow us the privilege of chilly nights or changing leaf colors, simply being in those months makes me feel great!  It's not as hot during those months and all the holidays kind of snowball into one.  This year Nicholas will be old enough to go Trick-or-Treating {and I probably need to start looking for a costume but I have to deal with the heat issue so it's a bit challenging}, and then it's Thanksgiving, then Nick's 2nd birthday!, then Christmas, then New Years, and then a whole new year begins.  Jacob and I have even been toying with the idea of taking a delayed anniversary cruise at the end of December so that's pretty exciting to think about as well.  He has Inventory at his store at the beginning of December and I have my biggest selling weekend right after that - our Junior League hosts their annual Christmas shopping extravaganza {Dias Festivos} during the first weekend of December and I {Royal Feather} participate in the 4-day event with a 10x10 booth.  I really enjoy this event because it gives me an opportunity to actually talk to and catch up with all my customers in person.  So after all our hard work, going on a little vacation afterwards would be perfect!  
Wishing:  for courage.  For enough courage to face my fears and go and get a CT scan.  My migraines seem to be getting worse sometimes and there are moments where I swear I'm going to die at any minute.  I have prescription migraine medication, but at $120.00 {$500.00 without insurance - outrageous, yes I know} for only 12 pills, there are times when I say to myself "Its not that bad, don't take anything and just save them until it gets really bad."  Of course I decided to read up on migraines and aneurysms the other day and I'm convinced I have the latter.  I had a CT scan done a few years ago and it came out normal but I really do think I should do it again.  But I'm terrified of the results!!  I know, I just need to bite the bullet and do it.      
Making me happy:  our pergola is almost finished!!  If you follow my blog you know it's been a long time coming, LOL!!  Jacob has been working on this huge project all on his own for a couple of months.  When we talk about our plans for the backyard all his feelings of accomplishment wash over his face and he gets this huge grin, it really is cute.  He squeezes in time to work on it when he has a day off or gets out of work early.  He's painted and cut and nailed practically every board on that pergola all on his own.  Sometimes I think he's crazy for not asking for help but when I see that look on his face when he talks about how much he enjoys doing the work and feels like it's "therapeutic", I'm just happy knowing he is.  
So now, what about you?  What are you up to?  Feel free to try your own "Currently" post on your blog and link it up in my Comments for everyone to check out.  I must give credit where credit is due - thank you Danielle for inspiring me to start these regular posts.
Thanks for stopping by!