Friday's Letters

Making messes with brother

Dear husband, thank you for bringing me home cold medicine on a daily basis this week. And, I'm sorry about the nasty nose-blowing sagas you had to endure. You're a good man, Ronald Jefferson. Dear furbabies, you two make excellent napping buddies. I know ya'll enjoyed the quality time we spent together on the couch being sickly this week. Dear sickness, I don't whether you are a cold or a round of mysterious daycare-itius. You stole my voice for two days. Being a near-mute is extremely difficult and frustrating. Dear little nephew, you are going to have an awesome baby shower. Even though you'll be there in utero, I almost wish you were here in person to see the awesomeness. We're going to have a banana split bar. How is that not awesome?! Dear blog, can I just say that I'm really impressed with how well I kept up with you this week despite my mystery illness? I'm kinda feeling like a beast now.

See ya later!
Miranda

Friday's Letters

Another favorite from our anniversary pictures!

Dear husband, you finally let me buy two pumpkins now that it is officially October. Aren't you glad that I'm not hard to please? I've never been more excited about a pumpkin since I have my very own porch to put it on this year. Dear Bath and Body Works, I'm in love with your Autumn scent wallflower. Even though, it doesn't feel like fall outside at least my house smells like it. Yummy. Dear nephew, I finished the design of your baby shower invitations this week. Can I just say that they turned out soooooo adorable?! I'm in love with them. Time to print and send them off! Your baby shower will be here before we know it. Dear Charter, I'm about to call and complain. I paid for Internet so why does it keep shutting itself off? It makes working and blogging really difficult. Get it together! Dear Bentley and Bella, Santa Claus needs to bring you two some new toys this year. Between the two of you, almost all of your toys are either destroyed or have holes all in them. At least, you guys don't reek havoc on my shoes. Dear readers, there are only three days left until the Audrey Floyd Photography giveaway is over! If you are in the Newnan/Peachtree City/Fayetteville/LaGrange/Atlanta area, ENTER! It's a free photo shoot! I'm thinking pictures for your holiday greeting cards...hint hint!

Until next week!
Miranda
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The Pinterest Challenge for Bloggers

Anniversary Pictures + Giveaway

Free Fall Project Life Cards

DIY Weekend 10/3

Friday's Letters

Bella after her haircut.

Dear fair, I can't wait to go tonight! It is hard to believe that eight years ago I was going to the fair for my first date with the man I ended up marrying. Woah! Dear blog, we reached a milestone this week. I published my first paid campaign article. (Did you miss it? Check it out here.) Can I just say that it felt really great to get paid to write something again?! Hopefully, this is just the first of bigger and better campaigns to come. Dear Pick Your Plum, I'm looking forward to formally introducing you to my readers next week. You are my newest obsession and I can't wait to get those chevron infinity scarves I ordered - along with the other two orders I've placed. Ha! I need to slow down. Dear Bentley and Bella, I apologize for the horrific haircuts I gave you last weekend. I have never claimed to be a dog groomer and it has been reaffirmed I never will be. At least, it'll grow back, right? Dear sister, I hope you had a wonderful 21st birthday. I enjoyed traveling down to your knick of the woods and eating Mexican. Not to mention, that flaming shot was pretty cool. Dear 10&U Rangers, you are 3-0 now. YES!!!

In the words of my precious twos at work: See ya later all-e-gator! In a while, croc-e-dile!
Miranda 

Friday's Letters

Dear husband, I'm so excited for your first baseball game of the season tomorrow. Too bad they gave you an ugly coaching shirt this year. Oh well! You'll still look cute in it. Dear work/PaperLark/blog, holy moly! You kicked my behind this week. I put in some long hours this week for sure, but I'm certainly not going to complain. Dear Project Life, I have sorely neglected this month and I am sorry. I have been doing so good at keeping up with you all year, but somehow I've fallen behind this month. My goal this weekend is to catch up! Dear Joann's, I am so happy you decided to come to Newnan. I purchased some fabric for some burp clothes this week. Can I just say that I love your 50 percent off coupons? Dear Hobby Lobby, no worries. I still love you the most, but they do have your fabric section beat. Dear sibling, happy 21st birthday! Man, I'm getting old.

Until next week!
Miranda

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DIY Weekend 9/19

The Liebster Award

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Friday's Letters

Margaritaville in Biloxi

Dear husband, we had such a wonderful vacation, didn't we? Even though I picked on you the whole way home about it, I'm glad you won enough money in Biloxi to buy the video game you've been wanting. Happy anniversary! Dear Bentley and Bella, I missed you so much while we were gone! I'm glad I left you in good hands though. Thanks for puppy sitting Hailey! Dear Destin, I think I've got the hubby convinced to buy a condo once we retire. That's only 50 million years from now. Sigh. Dear air conditioning, did you really have to start giving us problems before we left for our trip? Now that we are home, I guess we've got to call someone to come see about you. Dear reality, I'm still trying to lay low so you don't know I'm home yet. Gotta make it last as long as I can right?

See ya next week!
Miranda

Friday's Letters

Sunset. Atlanta. Wednesday night.

Dear husband, our one year anniversary is Sunday. WOAH! Are you as ready for our beach trip as I am? Margaritaville here I come! Dear Bentley and Bella, I'm sorry we had to play beauty shop tonight, but ya'll were getting a little stinky! Bella, I'm sorry you got your last puppy shot today, but at least you are done now. Dear Emory Hospital, your cafeteria is pretty yucky. Maybe that is why it is so cheap! Dear God, thank you for my family and my friend who I consider family. These last few weeks have been very difficult, but I have never felt alone. For that, I am beyond grateful. Dear wedding, I am having event planning withdrawals. Anyone in the market for a wedding planner? Sigh...Dear anniversary photo shoot, I'm really excited for you! I've got some really cute ideas that should make some blog-worthy pictures - not to mention great Christmas gifts for the parents. Dear readers, please keep both RJ and I's families in your thoughts and prayers. Like I said, it has been a rough few weeks for various reasons and any prayers would be greatly appreciated.

See ya later!
Miranda

Friday's Letters

Dear friends, I had a very bad week. It sucked and that's putting it very mildly. Sometimes when things are bad or not going our way, we forget to pause for a moment and reflect on the good. For this reason, I'm going to stop and reflect on the good things that happened this week:

1. My husband started back to college after a two year "sabbatical."

2. I got some awesome hugs and love from my babies at work. Something about a hug from a two-year-old makes things a lot better.

3. I've partnered with BlogHer to be a Social Media Influencer - more on that later.

4. Bella is finally big enough to jump up on the couch by herself. We're still trying to finesse it though (sometimes we misjudge and ricochet off...).

5. I'm alive. My loved ones are around me. God is good.

Here's to a brighter future!

Miranda

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New Business Cards

DIY Weekend 8/29

Friday's Letters

Bella playing peek-a-boo!

Dear husband, our one year anniversary is creeping up so fast! Can you believe we've already been married almost a year?! Woahhh...Dear blog, I still can't get over how popular our "How To Buy a House in Your 20s" series has been. In the month of August so far, we've had more than 110,000+ blog hits from that series alone! How humbling is that? It's opened up some doors that I'm eager to share with our readers once everything comes into fruition. Dear buffalo chicken sliders, I think you really impressed Nana. We just might make it into the next cookbook after all! Mwahaha! Dear PaperLark, once again, you had another great week. Not to mention, I've got new business cards, a t-shirt with the logo and car magnets. That's pretty legit right there ya'll! If you are in the metro Atlanta area, be on the look out for a black Scion covered in my logo. Ha! Dear Bentley and Bella, you two are getting your Christmas early this year! On Sunday, we are going to start building a fence in the backyard! You lucky dogs. 

See later alligator!
Miranda

In case you missed anything this week...

DIY Weekend

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sliders

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Friday's Letters

The artwork we bought from a street artist on Jackson Square in New Orleans!

Dear husband, thank you for veering into Racetrack at the very last second to quench my Coke thirst. Also, it really stinks I had to work a double on your only day off this week. Better luck next week! Dear work, between working doubles and our trip to New Orleans last weekend, my butt is officially kicked. I will be trying my best to recoup this weekend. Dear PaperLark, I cannot wait to launch our new line of typography prints next week! I AM PUMPED! Dear mountain of laundry, I will conquer you...eventually. Dear September, hurry up and come so I can go to the beach!

The end.
Miranda

Friday's Letters

Bella helping mommy vacuum out the Scion!

Dear husband, it's finally here! A three-day weekend with you. I've been waiting all summer for this seeing as you've been missing in action for the majority of it. Time to reap some of the reward for all the hard work you've put in the past couple of months. Dear New Orleans, here come the Winsletts! We can't wait for the father-in-law to show us all the yummy food you have to offer. All diets are off. Dear PaperLark, we officially have our business license. It is either make it or break it now! Please keep my little growing business in your prayers in the next few weeks. It is an exciting, but equally scary venture for me as well as our little family as a whole. Two words - game on! Speaking of, we've got a new line coming out in August that I think will be a big hit with our Greek readers (hint hint). Dear Bentley and Bella, I hope you two have loads of fun at your grand-fur-parents house this weekend. I know you'll come back spoiled rotten and maybe a little fatter than when you arrived. Thanks for watching them! Dear readers, don't forget to enter into my birthday giveaway! It ends July 31st. Hurry and enter! Who doesn't like free stuff?!

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Until next time! Miranda

Friday's Letters

Dear husband, it's the second week in a row I've been missing you. I know this is your busiest time of year at work, but I need some us time! Our anniversary trip cannot get here soon enough. Dear anniversary trip, you are officially booked! Biloxi and Destin here we come. These next nine weeks are going to be torture as I try to wait patiently for you. Along the same accord, anyone interested in puppy sitting my two adorable fur babies? Dear Bella, you have completed your first full week of potty training. You are doing pretty good so far. I'll definitely admit you (so far) have been easier to potty train than Bentley was. Dear Bentley, I'm sorry you had to get your man surgery on Monday. You've been a trooper though! The next day you were back to your normal antics. Dear work, I really enjoyed having this past week off. I had no idea how sleep-deprived I had become. Can't we just have next week off too? Dear PaperLark Studio, I'm one step closer to getting you official. You now have a federal tax ID number. Next step - business license. Dear family and friends, please keep myself and PaperLark Studio in your prayers as I work towards this next goal for my business.

Until next time!
Miranda

Friday's Letters

Bella modeling our new mailbox!

Dear husband, your All Stars baseball team is playing this weekend in the sub-state tournament. Good luck! As much as I love watching you coach, I'm ready for this two month break. You come home from work, eat really fast and then have to leave for practice. I miss you. That said, enjoy your last few games! Dear Bentley, you've decided you are the same size as Bella. Although you only weigh a whopping 10 pounds, it is still kind of hard to breathe when you lay up on my chest (and face) like Bella. Dear Bella, you are teething. This means instead of being an adorable seven week old puppy you have decided you are an alligator. You've also decided that you like to bite noses. No puppy kisses for you until you get those teeth in Jaws! Dear house warming party, your invitations are out and I'm steadily getting RSVPs! Mom and I are have a planning session for you tomorrow and she's already come up some wonderful ideas. I need to step it up! Dear house, R.J. and I are waiting for a day that it isn't scorching outside so we can get your yard work done for the party. Also, to the weeds in my flower beds, would you please die already?

Until next time!
Miranda

Friday's Letters

Dear husband, we get our new furniture tomorrow! YAY! I can't wait to snuggle up with you on our new reclining love seat. Too bad I don't get to sleep in on my Saturday though...who the heck delivers furniture at 6:50 am on a Saturday?! Urgh. Dear housewarming party invitations, I am anxiously awaiting your arrival at my door step. I may be a little bias because I designed them and all, but they are so CUTE! I can't wait to share them with the blogosphere. Dear Bella Louise, it has been such a wonderful week introducing you into our little family. We are slowly learning your little quirks and habits. Right now, you are sound asleep on R.J.'s chest. You are so stinkin' cute! Dear Bentley, you are such a great big brother - for the most part. You let Bella nibble on your legs and pull your ears. God forbid you paw at her though. Whenever you do, she turns into a diva and starts whining and crying. Last night, I suppose you had had enough. When she was at the water bowl, you pawed at her and made her fall into the water bowl. She started crying foul big time and you just ran around the kitchen doing victory laps. You stinker!

Until next time!
Miranda

Bentley letting baby sister play with his Chickfila cow

Friday's Letters

L to R: Sister, Mom and Me in Ellijay!

Dear husband, thank you so much for pressuring washing the house while I was out of town last weekend. It look so much better! We need to sit down and pick a date for the house warming party, huh? Dear Bentley, you love your new house. Instead of tinkling to mark your new territory, you kick your back feet out like a chicken on the carpet. I really do appreciate that. Thank you for keeping your tee-tee to yourself and your backyard. Dear apartment, we turned in your keys today. I think I practically threw them at our landlord and ran out. Frankly, you were a crap hole, but you allowed us to save up enough money to buy my beautiful new home in a short amount of time. For that, I am grateful. Dear Ellijay, you were wonderful last weekend. I've been wishing I was back all week long. It was so great to have a mini-vacation with my family (especially since I missed it last year). I'm so thankful my mother was feeling good enough to go! I love her, my dad and my sister so much. Dear Hailey, I'm so pumped for your graduation this Saturday! R.J. and I are so proud of you. Honestly, I can't believe you are graduating. It only seems like yesterday we were driving to Chick-fil-a in that big red truck to get some lunch at Eluminatus. CONGRATULATIONS! And I can't wait to come to your college graduation. ;)

Until next time!
Miranda

Friday's Letters

My petunias and tomato plants on the front porch!

Dear husband, thank you for the pedicure I got today. I earned it after all those errands you made me run yesterday for your end-of-the-year party for the baseball team. It is becoming more obvious that some of the reason you married me is because I make a great personal secretary for you. Just get me a pedi every now and then and we will call it even. Dear Bentley, we are going to the Georgia mountains in the morning on your first vacation. As I packed our bag, you sat on the bed with those sad don't-leave-me eyes. You'll see that you are going to get to go this time soon enough. I hope you behave yourself. Dear Memorial Day Weekend, I've been looking forward to you since going back to work after Christmas break. The January to May stretch is a killer! Thank the Lord I love my precious two-year-old class and my co-workers. They are what made that stretch manageable. Dear new house, I love you. I knew all along you would be worth it and you have not disappointed. I'm really excited (and ready) for our living room furniture to come! Dear boxes, I still don't like you. When we were in the apartment, I hated you because you took up so much space. I thought once we got in the house, it would turn into a love-hate relationship. However, I still hate you because I've got to unpack you...and there is more than one of you. Let's just say it is going to be a very long time before I move again. Dear mailbox, I just got your custom decal in the mail! I've never been so excited about a mailbox in my life. You know you are a homeowner when...

Until next time!
Miranda

Friday's Letters

Husband eating a kangaroo burger from The Cellar

Dear husband, somebody has a birthday on Thursday...YOU! For a whole two months, we are the same age. Surprise! I bought you a house. If anyone wants to get you a birthday present, here are some ideas: lawn mower, weed eater, ladder and gift cards to Lowe's or Home Depot. Hehe! Dear new house, only 11 more days until our projected closing date. It will be here before we know it. I've already got the electric company and Internet company set to turn on the goods on May 1st! I'm just hoping and praying all goes according to plan now. I'll see you tonight when we measure the kitchen floor. Dear Bentley, what is your new obsession with my earrings? Every time I sit down, you try your hardest to lick them off my ears. I can't wait to show you your new backyard tonight! Dear Taste of Newnan, I ate like a fatty last night. Thank goodness you are only twice a year. I'm STILL full.

Me. Nuff said. ;)

Friday's Letters

Bentley under the computer desk distracting his momma. How can you ignore that face?! 

Dear Husband, I envy your ability to go with the flow. I wish I was more like you and not such a control freak. This appraisal thing is about to drive me nuts. On the bright side, we've got some fun money left over this week. Wanna go on a hot date tonight with me? Dear Bentley, I have come to the conclusion that you do not remember your first spring. You have loved the new weather so much. You are so stinkin' adorable when you are chasing the shadows of the butterflies. However, I don't know why you eat every dandelion in sight. They are fuzzy and I can't imagine they taste very good. Dear boxes both packed and unpacked, you are stressing me out. As a person who likes order, you are completely throwing me off! Not to mention, you take up a lot of space when I don't have that much to begin with. Dear PaperLark Studio, I am SO excited! We've got our first official advertisement up on a blog! Ahhh! Dear Friends, you should all go now and look for our ad on the sidebar (and click it of course!).

Until next time,
Miranda

Friday's Letters

The wreckage

Dear husband, I'm glad you are going to teach me how to make your special spaghetti sauce tonight. You thought my attempt last week was fine, but I was not satisfied. Finally, I will know all the secrets to the best spaghetti sauce ever! Mwahaha! P.S. It really stinks that you have to work all weekend, but thanks for making extra money so we can fill our future home with new furniture. Maybe I'll even let you have a say in what we get...if you are lucky. Just pickin' on ya! Dear Bentley, we are so getting you neutered when we move into the future house. Did you seriously have to pee on my fabric sewing box? Dear Boone Dr. house, we officially made an offer on you this morning! Although we completely expect a counter-offer tomorrow, I really hope we can work something out and get you. I really really really liked you! Dear current craft room/office, I have destroyed you this week. You are no longer my craft room/office. Instead, you have become the "catch-all" room filled with boxes for moving. It doesn't help that I'm slowly sifting through my craft stuff to add to the mess. Guess I'll spend the rest of my Friday trying to tidy you up. Dear weekend, I'm so excited it's going to be in the 70s! Time to get outside and go somewhere. Do I see a pedicure in my near future? Indeed, I do!

Until next time!
Miranda

Friday's Letters

Dear R.J., please quit trying to wear my hoodies. They're too small for you. 

Dear husband, we made our very first offer on a home this week. Woah! Sometimes it is scary to be an adult. BUT, how many 22-year-olds can say they're financially stable enough to buy a house? That's pretty darn cool if you ask me. Dear prospective home, I'm praying we get you. If so, I've already got some plans in my head for you. If we don't, you'll make a great home for someone! Dear Rangers, the pep rall is tonight and your first 10 and under baseball game is tomorrow. GO RANGERS! Dear Bentley, you seem to have learned a new trick. You never cease to amaze us about how smart you are. When you want food in your bowl now, you will walk over to it and flip it over with your paw repeatedly until you demands are met. Let's just hope you don't start doing this to your water bowl when it still has water in it...

Friday's Letters

Dear husband, I haven't really seen you this week because you've been working so many hours. However, I'm super excited to get see that pay check next week! Dear house, I wish I wasn't so impatient. It is one of my many character flaws. I want to be living in you already. Sigh...Dear February budget, we kicked your bottom last month. Woot woot! Yay for having money. Dear Project Life, I finally gave in and ordered the official Project Life kit. I didn't want to give in and pay $30 for pre-cut and coordinated paper. However, I'm already noticing that I don't have the time it takes to devote to doing you the hard way (hunting up and cutting my own papers). Even though I had to pay for it, I'm really excited to get my kit tomorrow. Oh! That reminds me! I have last week's pictures in the mailbox to go and get. Score! Dear Bentley, you torn up the side of the trash bag to try and get to a chicken bone the other day. You really are as messy as my two-year-olds at work. Unlike them, you don't know how to clean up your mess. Dear Friday, it's so good to see you again. Time for a drink with the hubby!

Until next time!
Miranda