We’re bringin’ back the ‘ol phone dump to the blog.

Our latest favorite iPhone captures:

We’re also reigniting last year’s routine of sharing some of the favorite small things you’re enjoying.  Hashtag your IG photos with #enjoyingthesmallthings, and I’ll choose some to share on the blog every week. 
This week’s #enjoyingthesmallthings moments captured:

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Two quick matters of “business” (slamming briefcase down on table and putting on my glasses):

*  With paperback release of Bloom, there’s a fun virtual blog tour going on.  You can check it out here.
*  I wrote about our expectations of perfection for our kids on Babble this week.  You can check it out here.

Meeting adjourned.  I’ll type up those minutes later.

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And finally, a fun weekend giveaway, courtesy of Popina.

Popina Swimwear is back as an ETST sponsor just in time for the sunshine.  Anticipating pool parties, planning your summer vacay, dreading the horrors of swimsuit shopping?  Check out Popina.  I’ve been a Popina Swimwear lover for three years now, and their suits are all I wear.  A big fan of retro swimwear, I’ve found so many fun suits off their site that scream vintage travel poster.  I feel all Esther Williams, not to mention they fit like a dream.  Like give-your-butt-a-hug kind of dream.

Left: Jantzen Vamp, Right: The Retro Grace Suit

Popina offers a wide variety of Jantzen Swimwear, their Vamp solid suit (in red and black) a classic choice for the beach.  Add a big floppy hat and some Jackie O sunglasses, and you’re good to go.  These suits fit good and snug with a little bit of ruching to make them ultra flattering.   I order one size up for the perfect fit, as they tend to run a little small.

So, one of ya’ll is going to receive a new Popina swimsuit.  One comment will be randomly selected from this post (generated by random.org) and announced on Monday.  Popina Swimwear will ship winner’s swimsuit of choice from their site to the recipient.

To make it fun, tell me where you dream of wearing this suit–your ideal summer vacation.

Mine?  Hmmm.  I’m going to get crazy and say somewhere in the Greek Islands.  Family, sunshine, turquoise waters, cliffs in the background, plans for souvlaki for lunch.  A big blanket spread out in the sand, a stack of books, my camera, a blank journal and a good pen, a little music…and my Popina suit.  A girl can dream.

Thrilled to share another woman chasing her dreams and transforming her talents and loves into making a living:

Welcome to Bloomies Handmade, ETST new sponsor.  Bloomies Handmade offers an impressive variety of handmade hair accessories–felt bows, flower clips, head bands and more.  Bloomies Handmade offers 6 types of felt flowers, 3 styles of felt bows and over 35 colors to choose from.

Their tiny bows are perfect for newborns, and one tiny drop of their Girlie Glue (100% all natural, made out of agave nectar) will hold a bow in place all day.

You can find Bloomies Handmade on IG at @bloomieshandmade and on Facebook here.

Bloomies Handmade is offering the generous discount of 30% off all shop orders using code SMALLTHINGS for the month of April.

A little more about Jennifer, the talent and motivation behind the Bloomies business:

1. You attribute your creative handmade gene to your mama. Tell me about how she influenced your business and the satisfaction of making a living on handmade goods.

I’m very lucky to have the mother that I do. My mother inspired my career by showing me how important it is to take on passion projects and really run with them if they are a good fit. She always showed passion and drive in any project she took on, big or small. Having a strong, driven, multi-talented woman in my surroundings has shaped me in so many ways, and I am so grateful. Never in my life would I ever have imagined that I would be able to run a successful business from home.  I am so thankful I am able to make handmade accessories from my home. It is such a blessing to do something I truly love and make a living from it.

2. You quit your job last year to run Bloomies full time. How did you decide to take that risk and how has the business grown since then?

When I first started Bloomies I figured it would just be something small I did on the side to make a few extra dollars for my family. My husband and I always talked about how nice it would be for me to quit my job as a full time server and work from home, but we never thought it would actually happen. Almost a year after starting my (small) business I was getting really frustrated with my serving job and talked to my husband about quitting. My husband was a little apprehensive at first, so I decided to wait a few more months before throwing in the towel. Well, I couldn’t wait so a few weeks later I quit my serving job. Although I was making a decent amount of money from my business, I was still really nervous about quitting. I was nervous about failing, I didn’t want to let my husband down. What if it didn’t work out? Well, to my surprise (and my husband’s) my business did better than we ever could have imagined and that year I tripled what I made as a server! Taking this risk was scary but SO worth it.

3. Describe a short typical day-in-the-life of being a hair accessory business owner. Where do you make your products? Do you have employees who help?

Oh goodness, well, there never is a “short” day, haha . I wake up at 6am every morning and start work at 7am. I have to make a long exhausting commute from my bed to my living room everyday! Haha. I know, you feel bad for me! My commute is horrible! Anyway, I work 7am-10pm Monday thru Friday. Of course I take breaks every now and then but from the minute I wake up to the minute I fall asleep I am usually working. Right now, since my business is still very small I have to be in charge of every little detail. A normal day I would print invoices, respond to e-mails, send out lots of packages, take pictures of my products, buy supplies and find new ways to advertise. I have one full time employee who comes to my home every day and helps me package orders and two part-time employees who make my flowers from their home. I make some of my products but most are made by my two part time employees. Just in case you were wondering we do not have any children yet, hopefully soon.

4. Bloomies is successfully growing (deservedly so!). Why do you think Bloomies has done so well? (and I see it’s your goal to open a Bloomies boutique and expand into retail stores–think it will happen soon? Congrats!)

I believe Bloomies has done so well because our products are unique and very affordable. We truly care about our customers and want to do everything in our power to make them happy. We have had to overcome several obstacles to get to where we are now and our customers have been so supportive and patient with us. We have the best customers and are so thankful for each and every one of them. We would LOVE to open a Bloomies boutique, hopefully within the next few years. We are currently working on getting our products into retail stores.

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I’m excited to share Jennifer’s talents with readers today!  Don’t forget to use code SMALLTHINGS for 30% off your Bloomies order.

It’s April. 

There.  I typed the first sentence. 

Finding time to write has been a little challenging the last few days. I’ve sat down, typed a few sentences and then switched gears to read some e-mails or answer a text or Google “red clogs” ‘cuz Lord knows that’s very important.  I’ve stopped mid-writing to fold two shirts from a full dryer, open one piece of mail from a tall stack or match five puzzle pieces with Lainey before running off to finish another task. 

But here I am–a full hour of uninterrupted writing ahead of me, in my makeshift office–the back booth of Applebee’s.  A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. 

So yes, it’s April–a great “start here.”  I’m far more motivated to tackle resolutions come April than I am in January.  Something about the spring. 

The great thing about being disorganized is the thrill of getting organized.
The great thing about losing something is the hope of finding it.
The great thing about stumbling off the path is the anticipation of relocating the trail.

I don’t mean to be cryptic, it’s just that this spring thing has me excited beyond finding that perfect mint green thing for my closet.  I’m also reorganzing my priorities, straightening my routines and cleaning up my little brain that tends to soak up more than it should sometimes. 

So I start here.  With what I know.

What I know is that my love for my family is the most driving, settling, comforting, inspiring force in the universe.  It is always a great place to start.  When things feel messy, uninspired, overwhelming, I find such clarity in thinking about my family.  My goals for us, my hopes for them–and all the little happy things that fill in the spaces around the big big love I have for us.

. 

Our big big love this weekend included Easter traditions. This year Nella got it–the whole egg-hunting, basket ransacking thing. We stayed in our pajamas until well past noon, drank coffee, showed the girls how to spray silly string and covered each others’ attempts to throw Easter egg candy in the garbage can without Lainey catching us.

Dash pulled a Mr. Rogers with his Easter cardigan.

“I wear your granddad’s clothes…I look incredible.”

And the night ended like this.  My babies falling asleep in a tent, watching Franklin. Translated: Christ is Risen.

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So with spring cleaning and routine jump starts, I get excited. 
I’m ready to clean my closet again.  I’m ready to finish paiting our living room.  I’m ready to be a better listener.  I’m ready to practice my best “GET INTO MY ARMS, I MISSED YOU” hug for Lainey when she walks into the door after school.  I’m ready to move on from picture books to chapter books before bed for the girls.  I’m ready to search vacation rentals for that Tennessee cabin we want to hole up in this summer.  I’m ready for more beach sunsets.  I’m ready to plant flowers and run and make swimming laps a weekly priority.  I’m ready to find those perfect red clogs.

I’m ready to do something that scares me a little. 

I love spring cleaning.  It never stops with my home. 

And writing with a baby means I have to finish this.  Dash has the hiccups.  Which means all hell breaks loose in this house.  He hates the hiccups.

I’m going to pull a Picture-Plop-and-Go.

Happy April.  Happy Spring.  Happy “Start Here.”

Weekend Sunset Date: