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The Power of Taglines

March 26, 2014 by Edie Wadsworth 14 Comments

I’m so happy to have my friend Denise on the blog today! She is the first person who ever introduced me to blogging and the person who first believed that this might be my sweet spot. Six years and so many happy memories (and so much work!) later, I am so indebted to her for opening up this wonderful world to me. She’s been through an incredibly tough two years and I’m so happy to see her writing again. I know you’ll extend her a warm lifeingrace welcome!

When I first started blogging, I did not have a tagline for my blog. Honestly, I did not even know what a tagline was. Maybe you still don’t know what a tagline is.

A tagline is a brief description or recurring theme of a blog, typically found under the title. Taglines have been used in marketing for years because catchy phrases stick with people.
I vaguely remember someone talking about taglines when I attended the first Blissdom way back in 2008. Who knew the importance of such things in the early days of online journaling? Who knew that one day millions of people would be living vicariously through the lives of everyday people and developing friendships with folks that they most likely will never meet IRL (in real life)? I sure didn’t.

When I started blogging in 2006, I thought my title said it all: Living Life Creatively. It would be years before I realized what made my creative different from everybody else’s. And when I did, I added a tagline.In today’s world of social media, where folks flit and fly around looking for a place to land, a tagline may very well be the hook that reels them in. I don’t know about you, but I need to land or be reeled in from time to time.

I am sure that some popular blog writers have chosen their taglines carefully with marketing strategies in mind; but at least one may have picked the first thing that popped in her head. (see below)

I truly am inspired by my fellow bloggers’ taglines; and just to prove it, I have set what I think are some pretty realistic goals based on them.

I plan on saving the world, one room at a time while creating space for my soul to breathe by buying fabulous for less and enjoying the adventure of the good life on a budget all the while remembering thatit does not have to be perfect to be beautiful which sounds like I will be taking a risk, making a memory, living it up, and writing it down as soon as I finish plowing through life in the country . . . one calf nut at a time.

I would really be thrilled if someone could share her talent by setting my goals to music so that I could remember them when life gets crazy. It would also make an awesome YouTube video.
Taglines are a lot like commercial jingles. Some just have the power to haunt. You shouldn’t underestimate their power.

Click here to read about how my family took a risk and bought a cabin to make a memory.

Click here to read about the vintage camper that we found in a field filled with hay. No, no, no. The camper was filled with hay, not the field.

(Edie here. I had to add in this adorable picture of her with her youngest grandchild!)

Okay, your turn. What’s your favorite tagline?

Baby Chicks, Llamas, and One Cool Parrot

March 25, 2014 by Edie Wadsworth 29 Comments

I’m so honored to welcome Marie to the blog! She’s an amazing woman and has been the dearest encouragement to me over the years. I admire her writing and her swoony farm life. I so want to take a trip to Oklahoma to meet her. I know you’ll love her too!

Happy springtime! I am so excited to be saying howdy from Edie’s gorgeous corner of the internet. Like everyone else, I can barely express how much deep and varied inspiration I glean here. Xoxo I hope you like my story!

Well, it’s officially springtime in Oklahoma and we have all kinds of fun stuff happening at the Lazy W. New babies, new gardens, new attitudes, and so many worthwhile projects. We’re just really grateful for the additional hours of daylight and the warmer temperatures right now. Just a month ago I was repeating this mantra to myself, “The almanac says that winter’s almost over. The almanac says that winter’s almost over. The almanac says that winter’s almost over…” And it worked to lift my mood most of the time. But now? Now a fresh ribbon of hope and energy winds effortlessly through everything. We are loving and working a verdant path through every single day, and it feels like paradise.

One of the special things happening here is the arrival of baby chicks. It’s about as constant a feature of springtime as anything, right? Everybody loves baby chicks! People love them. Hens love them. Llamas love them, as this photo shows. But do you know who loves them the most? Our parrot. Bobby Pacino, our eight year old blue and gold macaw, has turned out to be a natural baby chick lover. He is borderline obsessed with the smallest, fluffiest creatures at the farm, and it makes me so happy.

Since we keep the chicks indoors with a heat lamp for the first several weeks of life, Pacino often shares a room with them. He sits on his perch or in his cage and just sort of… presides. Lovingly. With the chicks twittering and peeping quietly nearby, he now rarely issues those ear-drum-busting Amazonian screams. Instead, Pacino just coos and whispers to his babies all day. He asks delicately, “Are you ok?” And he says, “Hi baby” in this sweet little maternal voice, always uncannily human sounding. All it took was the gentlest leading that first day to show him how to treat the fragile creatures, and a South American chicken mama was born. I kissed the babies, so he licked their seed-sized eye balls. I stroked their downy bodies against my cheek, so he raked his enormous curved beak against their short fringed wings. I tickled their diminutive drumstick feet, so he… Well, this is where it got dicey. Pacino has crazy strong talons of his own, so even with an effort to be soft and easy, he poked and scratched the babies a bit too much with his “toes.” I had to play buffer here.

Every day that the chicks have stayed with Pacino, he has grown noticeably fonder of them. They have grown pretty fond of him, too. I pick them up, peeping loudly and objecting to being grabbed out of thin air by my human hands, but when I bring them close to his black and white striped face they grow suddenly quiet. Every single time they are face to face with him, they just stop peeping and stare, allowing him to investigate their tiny faces and lick their speck eyeballs or stroke them with his beak. I am pretty sure the chicks think this parrot is their mama. And he agrees.

Well, as you may know, chicks don’t take long to grow up. In a matter of a few weeks they go from small enough to fit inside a quarter cup measuring dish to as tall as a bottle of creamer and quite strong in their skinny little legs. And so bouncy! It turns out that this growth spurt is as heart breaking to Pacino as it has been for me to see my own (human) chickens grow up. The other day I offered a tall, bouncy teenager chick to him for his early morning cuddles, and that baby pecked him right in the face. It scared him but, good chicken mama that he is, he withstood the unprecedented attack (which might have been a kiss) and silently raised one enormous talon as a peace offering. He was promptly rewarded with another sharp, swift peck, so he retreated and hung his blue head. Broke my heart.

After a few more tenuous close encounters like that, I decided it was time for the chicks to meet a real chicken. The afternoon of their relocation from heat-lamp nursery to outdoor nesting box was emotional for Pacino and me. I let him say goodbye to each of the now leggy, hyperactive teenagers, and he dutifully licked all seven of them once more. He was pecked seven more times, then he actually said, “Bye bye.” I am not even kidding you. Pacino knew exactly what was happening, or understood my words or a combination of the two, and he said his goodbyes.

I wish I had a good photo to share with you of our parrot who became surrogate mama to our chicks, but the llama photo will have to do. And don’t be too sad for his empty nest. The first seven may be grown up and gone now, but he has another shipment due any minute now. Seven more quarter-cup size chicks with speck eyeballs that need a good licking. He will be in paradise for about three weeks.

The moral of the story? Get some baby chicks! They are sweet and adorable and add so much gentleness to your home. More importantly, I think everyone needs someone to love, someone to care for. Every creature has a deep well of love to offer and needs the chance to see it well received. Help that happen.
Happy springtime! May all your kisses be returned and may all your eggs be fresh.

Much love from the Lazy W!

XOXOXOXO

DIY Arrow Jewelry Holder

March 24, 2014 by Edie Wadsworth 11 Comments

Welcome Sasha from Lemonade Makin’ Mama to the blog today! She has a great blog, full of beautiful words and eye candy galore and a shop that will quickly become one of your favorites. I’m so excited about the project she’s sharing today and I can’t wait to make one for myself! I know you’re gonna love and welcome her!

I’m Sasha and I blog over at lemoandemakinmama.com. I was so thrilled when Edie asked me to come hang out over here today, as she’s been a long time inspiration for me in so many aspects of being a wife, mother, friend and godly woman! (Always awesome when you can partner up with your blog crushes.) Edie asked me tell you just a bit about myself before I share a great DIY craft with you. I’m a mom of two kids- a son Joe, who is becoming a teenager next week. (I’m seriously dying on the inside) and a daughter, Ava who will be eleven next month. My son has Asperger’s and I keep that mostly private on my blog for his sake, but it’s a big piece of my heart as a mom, as we navigate tricky waters. I blog once a week, with a group of other moms for a Seattle radio station, here, and love the collective wisdom I get to glean from all these other mamas doing life. I sell my artwork and a few other random items at my etsy shop here, and I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for going on nineteen years! I love painting things white, but I also love color. I love hosting overnight guests, campfire time in the backyard, and deep talks. Life is too short for small talk. (I’d love to get to know you better so stop on by my blog sometime and say hello!)

As moms, it’s often easy to lose ourselves in the very daily (and often mundane) tasks of life isn’t it? This year I’ve taken a good look at areas I want to improve in my own self, some deep inside my heart, others a bit more surface level. The goal is to be a balanced wife, mother and woman so they all have their place. One of the surface areas I’m trying to make more of an effort in, is my outward appearance. Just the basics of putting together an outfit that looks intentional (and clean) with a few accessories- because, raise you hand if you’ve ever been a member of the “I wore yoga pants all day because they were easy, but never actually worked out in them,” club. (Um. Guilty.)

As a mostly stay at home mom, I find comfort often wins out for me, and besides, who is going to see me?

Well. The people I love most in the world, is who. Of course, they don’t love me for how I look, (thank goodness!) but I sure feel a bit more presentable when I’ve put some effort into a more polished look an I can’t help but think that reflects in how I feel about myself and even outwardly act on some level. As a mom, do you ever find that it’s the small things that tend to slip at first, and then they become piece of our identity? Beauty comes from the inside, but you’ve probably heard it said, that a little mascara also doesn’t hurt? (grin) Anyway, my personal goal this year has been to put on at least one piece of jewelry every day, let myself feel feminine, and know that as I age and change, I can still put my best foot forward. You get this, I know you do. Which brings me to simple jewelry organization. My shoestring budget and I went shopping, and we decided to bust something out together so I could put my jewelry items out where I’d see and then eventually remember to actually wear them and I would love to share this fairly simple DIY idea with you today!

Instructions for this DIY:

I found a balsa wood craft dowel (7/8″) at JoAnns for $2.49. Then I grabbed a thin strip of wood (sized 1/32 x 3 x24″) for $2.99 but I used a 40% off coupon. This was so thin I could cut it with a pair of scissors. I went to Lowes next and bought a pack of gold assorted screw hooks for $3.97. I had self leveling hangers at home, along with some antique gold paint that I planned to use but neither of those items would break the bank if you needed to purchase them. I drew a simple triangle for one end of my arrow hanger and then just did an end piece that wasn’t too complicated. That’s the best way that I can really describe it for you. The first time, the wood split when I cut it but I had plenty of extra wood and finally got both a front and end piece for my arrow. I borrowed my man’s hack saw and cut grooves into the ends of the dowel. The grooves don’t need to be very deep and the thin wood I used for the arrow ends fit perfectly into the grooves, with no glue needed. (Make sure the grooves both go the same direction.) I choose the smallest screw hooks for this and decided to place them 3″ apart. It turned out that the dowel wood was so soft I could press it into the marks I’d drawn, then screw them in all the way with my fingers.

Then I added some self leveling hangers to the backside. (That will be the toughest part of this project and if I’d been smarter, I might have thought to add those before putting in the screw hooks on the reverse sides. It all worked out however) soft antique gold finish, so I used this metallic rub all over it. (I didn’t buff it. I painted it on with a brush and let that be that. I even painted over the shiny gold hooks so everything looked even.)

I used some picture hooks that I already had to hang this and it only took about an hour from start to finish!

I can’t begin to tell you how much more I am grabbing a little sparkle for my wrist or around my neck, now that I have everything within reach. I love being able to see these items and it’s helping me take just a bit better care of myself on the outside, anyway and I hope this inspires YOU!

And thank you so much sweet Edie, for letting me hang out with your readers today! I just adore you and all you do. Thank you for being such a great source of inspiration for myself and others in this blog-world!

An Afternoon With The Nester {5 Things I Learned}

March 23, 2014 by Edie Wadsworth 38 Comments

You can go ahead and call me Ellie May Clampett, what with me hauling couches down the interstate and trying to keep from being impaled by a chair sitting very precariously in the passenger seat, all the while holding 3 chickens. Okay, it was one sofa and I wasn’t holding chickens, but it wouldn’t made the trip anymore stressful. I loaded up the truck and ~~moved to Bever-lee~~ headed to Charlotte to IKEA so we’d have a little furniture at the cottage while we work and paint this week. And maybe so we’d have cute pillows and throws too, but whatever. Necessities are necessities. Going to IKEA is like having a baby. Without a trained professional. Or an epidural. You forget the pain and suffering because the fruit of your labor is so wonderful. But for now, IKEA and I are still not on speaking terms. They may have mastered the market on spartan Scandinavian decor on a dime but they need a lot of work in the How about you load 2 rooms of furniture into your car and then ratchet strap the sofa to the top yourself department.

Also? I may have wrenched my back and pulled my groin and in general lost ten years from my life. It’ll all be worth it this week when I start on phase 1 of this little project.

But the next 3 or 4 hours made up for it all because I made a date with my friend Myquillin.

Y’all.

I cannot even tell you the emotions that welled up in me when I walked into this kitchen. There’s is something so special about the incarnation of things. When things we love become real in the flesh—whether it be friendship or quartz countertops or strawberries and pound cake. The afternoon that I spent with Myquillin was the highest gift a friend can give another—time, connection, love, and iced coffee. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. She was my first love in blogging. The first blog I found. The first time I stayed up until 3 am reading every last post. The first time I found the most kindred of spirits through my internet screen. She is so dear to me and has inspired me in every possible way. I am so blessed and thankful for how she shares her creativity and passion.

Here are a few things I learned in my afternoon at the nest.

1. Making time for friends is always worth the effort.

When I knew I was heading to the Charlotte IKEA, I immediately thought of her. I so wanted to find a way to meet up but I was on a time crunch and I knew that things would NOT go smooth at IKEA. (This ain’t my first Scandinavian rodeo.) I knew I was trying to do too much in too little time. That’s WHAT I DO. That’s WHO I AM. And when I was standing at my car with the daunting prospect of loading a sofa onto the top by myself using ratchet straps, I almost called her and told her I couldn’t make it. I was exasperated.

But, I took some deep breaths (remember this is like labor) walked back into IKEA and bought a bottle of water and regained my composure. I texted her and told her that as soon as I could get out of the 12th circle of hell, I’d be right there. Or maybe I told her to give my best to my children and my blog readers in case I never made it out. I finally made it!

2. Focus on the people

This was hard for me because I wanted to stare at and touch everything in site. Her place is such a feast for the eyes. But as much as I love her gifts, I love her even more and so we quickly settled in to easy conversation and lots of laughs. I want to get better at making people feel special in my presence. She made me feel like an honored guest and I wish you could have been a fly on the wall because you’d love her even more than you already do.

3. Go Big or Go Home

There is plenty of TODIEFOR style everywhere you turn, but I noticed that many of her chotch-keys (my spelling) are large.

And y’all. Her office?! Heavens TO betsy. I could live in there.

And there’s a bed, so maybe I shall!

4. Leave room in your life for the best things.

One thing I noticed right away is that she has a lot of cleared spaces. As in, she has plenty of surfaces with NOTHING on them. Why is this so hard for me? I do not know but I can tell you that anywhere we wanted to sit down and have a chat, we could do it without rearranging anything. It’s as if her space was ready to take us in. Welcoming us by having room for us to just be. And you know what else? She does the same thing with her life. She leaves margin. For friends to stop by, for 4 wheeler rides, for afternoon chat with her boys, for cooking. She makes room in her life for the things she loves.

5. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

You probably already know that his is her motto for life and the tagline for her blog. Did you know she really believes that? She’s made that phrase famous and has been saying it for as long as I can remember. And to see her fully embrace it and live it out? Pretty priceless. She and Chad bought this farm knowing that it would take years to make it their own. But she chooses to focus on the pretty parts and enjoy it WHILE improving it, not waiting until it’s done to see the beauty.

She’s coming out with a book this April and I couldn’t be more excited. You’re gonna LOVE IT. It’s a book all about home and how we can learn to love it with all its imperfections.

You can preorder it here. Not only did she write the book but she also did all of her own photography. It’s simply amazing!

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And let me just give a HUGE shout out to Chad, who was so dear to undo the mess I had made of the ratchet straps and fix it for me so I could make it home without a hitch. My husband was VERY grateful. Thanks so much, Chad!

(I met her adorable boys too and let me just say that I can see why people like the arranged marriage thing.)

p.s. While I’m away at the farm this week turning our cabin into a modern, rustic country retreat, I have some of my besties lined up to guest post!!

I’m so excited to have them here and I know you’ll enjoy them. Show them lots of love because guest posting can be a little nerve wracking.

I’ll have very sparse internet, so I’ll see a little here and there, but mostly next week!

Sending all our love from the mountains,

xoxo,

edie

Weekend Grace

March 22, 2014 by Edie Wadsworth 6 Comments

My friend Jan amazes me. She has six of her own kids, WHICH she homeschools and now they have foster kids. Her husband is a Lutheran pastor, which if you don’t know how cool they are as a collective bunch, you should watch Raising Helen. Jan is a great cook, an awesome photographer, a beautiful loving momma, and FUNNY! (Don’t you love people who make you laugh?) She’s one of THE most fun people I’ve ever had the pleasure to spend the weekend with. (that’s her taunting me in the photo above!) I hope you’ll go get acquainted with her and encourage her in the sacred work she’s doing everyday in the lives of so many precious littles.

Paige has the coolest stuff in her canvas shop! AND? She’s coming to my house in just a few weeks!! I’m so excited and will tell you all about it very soon.

Y’all. Maggie is adorable. Maggie’s baby is adorable. Everything in Maggie’s shop is adorable. Go spy on the adorableness of it all!

If you feel the need to shop for me at Maggie’s shop, this is the item I would like!

Listen. Shannan knows salsa. Trust me on this!

I think there will be some of these in my future!

Can’t wait to try Adriane’s Beef and Broccoli Wellington casserole. And this story is awesome, too!

Okay, now your turn.

What did you love on the internets this week?

Happy Spring and Happy Birthday to the Baby!

March 21, 2014 by Edie Wadsworth 13 Comments

I finally made it home safe last night and I’m gonna tell you all about my trip to Charlotte very soon, but today is a very special day.

My baby turns 12!

TWELVE. THE BABY.

Oh, I get all teary eyed just thinking about the way she has changed me and made me a better person and momma.

She’s kind and funny and reads literary fiction. She’s so smart but also works incredibly hard at her studies.

(Perhaps slightly nerdy like her momma!)

She’s an amazing dancer and a darling little sister.

She LOVES church so much. She misses taking Latin and she’s so darn organized.

I look at her and marvel at what a beautiful young lady she’s becoming, in every way.

I’m so lucky to joined to her at the heart and I pray she knows how very much she is loved.

Happy Birthday, baby girl. You have my heart and all my love.

xoxo

“I have been homesick for you since we met. I have been homesick for you.”

Sweetest surrender of winter
She put up a flag, it is waving
The thunder of summer is rumbling in
And I haven’t seen you in days
And, my, how that feeling has changed
Oh, I have been homesick for you since we met
I have been homesick for you
I’ve got to take to the sky
And I’ll tell you what that means for you and I
If I die it’s for you
If I die it’s for you
I never lived ’til I lived in your light
My heart never beat like it does at the sight
Of you baby blue, God blessed your life
I do not live ‘less I live in your light
I do not live ‘less I live in your light
The realest thing I ever felt

Was the blood on the floor and the love in your yell
I was a child before
The day that I met Eleanor
The kiss of the wind in the hills
The clearness of morning, the late evening thrill
Blurry and grey like the roar
The wheels of the highway, above them I soar
When I’m in the sweet daughter’s eye
My heart is now ruined for the rest of all time
There’s no part of it left to give
There’s no part of it left to give
I never lived ’til I lived in your light
My heart never beat like it does at the sight
Of you baby blue, God blessed your life
I do not live ‘less I live in your light
I do not live ‘less I live in your light