fun with Macdonald’s Playland {+ a giveaway}

i LOVE this week’s guest poster.
Pamela is sweet, funny, kind, gorgeous, talented, and much more!
she has also become a great friend of mine and i really appreciate her in so many ways.
i know you will all love her too, especially after this interview.
{and be sure to check out the interview too! :)}

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. How would your friends describe you?
I've heard these in the past: organized, caring, bubbly, funny, personable, a family girl, Disney freak (true. I was engaged there, and that's also where I told my husband I was pregnant), a true Libra, a hopeless romantic, emotional, sensitive, a crier (yes, it's true, I cry at weddings and sappy commercials), an old lady with all those love songs she plays on her radio (what's wrong with that?!), weird, and "she can't make up her freakin mind!"(yeah..I can be pretty indecisive and like to weigh out all options multiple times before making a decision).

2. What is the biggest lesson you've learned about living a happy life?

That family is everything and I'm happier when I realize there is someone greater here who created me, loves me, and knows my every need. Prayer to my Heavenly Father & faith in my Savior is everything to me...and when I found that, my life changed. I find I am also happier when I try to make the right choices and do what's right.

3. How did you start your blog & shop and why?
Blogging is cheap therapy! It keeps me from pullin my hair out or poppin a cap in someone's....ahem...Sorry. Basically, I started my blog  to start documenting our family memories and adventures. I wanted a way to preserve them, and I plan to print the blog into books one day so that we and our children can read back on them and say, "Remember that? Yes, we did that, and we got through it together."

 

As for my shop, after my daughter was born, I had an obsession with creating cute headbands for her. When friends & family started finding out I was the one who had made her bows and headbands, they encouraged me and pushed me to open a shop. I've always loved (trying) to be creative and crafts, and so I knew I had a lot of ideas I could offer to other little peanuts out there. After a lot of encouragement and support from my husband, Peanut Lilly Creations was born. My daughter, Lilly, is obviously the inspiration to my shop...even all the way down to the name of the business! :)

4. What inspires you?
My husband and my daughter. Really, they push me and drive me and encourage me.
They help me believe that I can do anything, even during the times I feel like I can't.
Other things that inspire me: when someone shows brave integrity, a person who uses their amazing talent or craft for good, and Fall weather.

 

5. What would your totem-pole animal spirit be? 

Maybe a butterfly. Because I want to be known as someone who's gentle, kind, graceful, brave, and always striving to change to reach my full potential.

Also...let's be honest: they can fly. And that'd be freakin sweet.

6. What are some of your favorite items in your shop or blog posts [with links] and why? 

• My Gullible Husband (& How I Told Him I'm Pregnant): I told my husband I was pregnant at Disneyland (we are big Disney nuts) through a Disneyland caricature! I even got it on video! :)
• Lilly's Birth Story : The post I wrote after my daughter was born.
• The Man I Married: A few facts about my mister.
• 21 Confessions From A New Mama and 12 More Confessions From A New Mama

Our blog ranges from being humorous to our serious feelings to documenting our big moments. I love those specific posts because I think they sum up what I'm all about, how I think, the way I write, and basically what my blog is all about.

As for my shop, I don't put anything in my shop that I don't love or wouldn't buy for myself or a friend. The following items are currently my favorites simply because I like the way they look, and I worked hard to come up with my own crochet patterns or designs for them. I had so much fun making them, and love seeing them on my daughter or her friends. I also sell them at reasonable prices (again, prices which I would pay if I were the one shopping):

Crochet Wrap Boots

 Lace Butterfly Bow Headband

The cupcake beanie

Mickey & Minnie sets

My Halloween creations (my favorite holiday other than Christmas!)

My Puff Flower Headbands (purple and red)

7. How do you define success?

I define success by what goes on in my home. One of my favorite quotes is by David O. McKay who said, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home."

That's not to mean that we have to be the perfect family, live the perfect family life, have the perfect looking house, have the best behaved children, or the perfect marriage. But success to me is when we strive our best to keep our home as a place of love, nurturing, support, and a home with the proper spirit. If I can help make a happy home for my family, and my husband and children know they are loved and appreciated, even when things aren't always perfect, then I consider that a great success.

8. What advice would you give to new shop owners/bloggers? What did you wish you knew when you first started?
Be true to yourself in all aspects of blogging and shop owning, and be genuine to others. It can become very clear when you are not a phony-bologna and are having fun, or when you are out there just to make a profit, gain a new follower, or just spam commenting everyone and not caring about who you meet or even what you do.
There are so many great people and other great shops you can find when you don't just only care about yourself! The genuine connections, networking, & friendships you'll make (along with your blog & shop) will grow tenfold!

What I wish I knew was how much time it actually takes to keep up with your shop or blog. I always knew it'd take up my time, but I didn't realize it'd be as much time as it has been! When things get busy or crazy or demanding, take it all one step at a time, and keep it interesting for yourself. You don't have to stick to all the rules you made for yourself. It's your blog or your shop! Run it the way you want to & have fun!

9. What is a talent you have that you wish you used more?
Dancing. I love to dance, but stopped taking lessons when I was little.
Now I watch shows like So You Think You Can Dance and just sit there saying to myself,
"Why?! WHY!" Then I try to pretend I can do a pirouette in the living room.
Unsuccessful.

10. What are your goals for the future {long and short}? Do you have anything you want to change?

Short term is to plan my daughter's 1st birthday party in November! It is going to be Teddy Bear Picnic themed, and I seriously need to get crackin! Long term is to save up for a house & save up for a new car (as much as I love my Lola the Corolla, [she's been quite the loyal car and I'm totally fine having her] she's a 1998 and is getting close to her end here).
Also...my husband and I really want to go together on a mission for senior couples one day for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is a big long-term goal of ours :)

Oh...and have some more little Macdonalds in there. That's definitely a huge, top goal!

And my ultimate goal is simply to grow old with my amazing husband and to watch my children grow up and hopefully see them happy. That would truly bring me the most joy, and if that were the only goal I could accomplish, I'd be completely content with that and wouldn't want to change a thing! :)

blog / shop / facebook / twitter

-------------------------------------------------------------

and a giveaway!

Pam is giving away an item of winner’s choice from her shop Peanut Lilly!
*excluding sets*

-enter below-
GOOD LUCK!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

::: and i have winners to announce!!
-WhitSpeaks giveaway winner is…. Ashleigh W!
-My Freshwater Pearls giveaway winner is… Whitney V.!
-Shaping Up to be a Mom giveaway winner is… Amanda R.!