H. FINN JEWELRY GIVEAWAY

Today I am hosting a giveaway to one of my favorite etsy shops, H. Finn Jewelry.  I own a light blue druzy and gold necklace from this shop and it is one of my favorite go-to pieces to wear!  Seriously, Fabianna's stuff is incredible!  Today she is giving away a $40 shop credit to her store (excluding sale items)!  Follow the instructions for easy entry below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU...

Today I just want to ask for your prayer.  Jonathan and I are in the middle of something we certainly did not expect and just sort of hit us like a train out of the blue.  Despite our bad news, we are grateful we are healthy, baby is healthy and we know the Lord has us taken care of. Reflecting on this verse today:  Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord "plans to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".  Thanks friends, I will share more soon.

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FRIDAY'S LETTERS

Dear Friday,  This week you are here way too soon. I have so much work to catch up on, not to mention the house is a wreck, I have photo shoots ALL weekend and our new furniture is being delivered at some point tomorrow... where to start!? Dear Bella, Last night you flipped my bowl of peanut butter cheerios, proceeded to gobble up as many as you could get to before we stopped you, went outside and ate about a cup of grass and this morning I woke up to a nice grassy, runny poop on the carpet. Awesome. Dear Husband, When I am following you home in my car, if I even get a little close to you, you speed up by at least 30 miles. Do you really think I want to race you? Really?........ RI-DIC-U-LOUS.  Dear Peach Tree, We found you growing in our backyard last week and I am so excited to have fresh peaches at the end of the summer.  I am definitely going to be making this grilled peach recipe that I fell in love with when we were in Colorado! Dear Sunset/River Engagement Session, You may be my favorite to DATE. I can't wait to share more photos here but for  now, check out a few of my favorites my clicking here! Dear DIY Mousepad blog from yesterday, I for sure thought you guys would really like the DIY yesterday, but...no dice. Interweb, you are SO peculiar!  and finally, Dear Husband, Telling me my thighs are meaty and you want to eat them makes me want to take a fork and gauge out your eyes. You are supposed to be saying how TINY and slender I am, wether that is true or not!  You've been warned!

 Now link up your lovely letters!

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DIY GOLD LEAF & SUEDE MOUSEPAD

I have been having a blast putting together my little office space in our new home and this DIY really helped complete the look I was going for on my desk top.  I knew I wanted my office to be bright, girly and clean with pops of gold and blush pink.  My ugly black mousepad was killing the vibe so I scoured pinterest and found some photos some mousepad overhauls.  I decided to use gold leafing to tie in the other pieces of gold in the room and I love, love, love the way it turned out.  Here is what you'll need to make one of these yourself:

Old Mousepad

Suede or Leather fabric 

Modge Podge

Spray Adhesive

Gold Leafing

Two paintbrushes

scissors

pen

hole punch

freezer paper

To get started, trace your mousepad onto the backing of your suede or other material.  But out your circle, but be very careful-- I messed up on the edging and can see some of the black on the sides. It's not a huge deal, but better to take your time and have it perfect!   Next, use a hole punch and punch out your freezer paper. Cut out shapes and lay shiny side down all over the suede.  You can also use a box cutter to create more unique designs like arrows, hearts, etc.  Get creative with this part!

Iron the freezer paper, shiny side down to the suede.  Next grab some modge podge and dab some into the holes.  While its still wet use another paintbrush to cover the holes with gold leafing. Don't use too much, just enough to cover the hole and then press each one with a dry paintbrush.  Note: don't rinse off your paintbrush with the gold leafing in your bathroom sink like I did. It ADHERES to anything it touches--thankfully I had a SOS pad in my kitchen that took it off the sink bowl but if I hadn't I would have been in trouble!  Take your brush outside to your garden hose or use a cheap one and toss it afterward!

Let the modge podge/leafing mixture dry for at least thirty minutes.  Carefully peel off the freezer paper.  Spray your adhesive to the back of the suede and adhere to the old mousepad. Make sure you line up your circle before pressing down or it will be stuck! Your suede might still look "wrinkled" from the packaging like mine did, but after I sprayed it to the black mouse pad and used it for a day it was completely flat! Also, the spots from the iron and freezer paper will disappear with use as well! 

  Enjoy using your new beautiful mouse pad!  

Be sure to pin this project to pinterest for future use! 

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ALLIE & LUCAS | ENGAGED

When I met up with Allie & Lucas it was freezing cold. At first I was a little concerned that it would be too cold and windy for them to get relaxed but they more than proved me wrong and rocked it.  We walked around downtown Holland and they threw off their winter coats to pose and then would hurry and get their jackets back on and warm up--and we repeated that about 15 times. Troopers! Shooting in Michigan is so tricky because you just never know what you are going to get with the weather and things can change at a moment's notice. Thankfully these two were so happy and in love that it was easy to capture them interacting as we walked around the campus where they met and shared their first date.  So romantic.  I can't wait for your wedding in October guys! 

Ashley Slater Photography Website

Ashley Slater Photography Facebook

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SKILLET CHICKEN & RAVIOLI

With home projects in the works its been hard to find time to make new things for dinner.  I finally tried a new recipe though and I really loved it.  This dish is low calorie (no real sauce in it) and my husband added his own sauce but I ate it just like the recipe said to, and loved it!  The best part? It was done in about thirty minutes, which I love. 

Skillet Chicken Ravioli

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken but into bite sized chunks

9 ounces cheese ravioli

8 ounces white mushrooms, halved

1 cup cherry tomatoes halved

1/4 cup parsley chopped

2 garlic cloves finely minced

1/3 cup low sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

salt

pepper

2 tbsp evoo

Heat pot of boiling water and cook ravioli as directed. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium high heat.  Salt and pepper chicken. Toss in chicken and let cook until it starts to brown, about two minutes.  Stir and continue to let it cook about a minute longer. Remove chicken and set aside.  Heat another tablespoon olive oil in skillet.  Toss in mushrooms and let sit undisturbed for two minutes until brown spots appear.  Stir and let continue to cook another minute or two until soft.  Add tomatoes, garlic and red wine vinegar and cook about three to four minutes until everything is softened.  Drain ravioli and add to skillet along with chicken and chicken broth.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Let cook until chicken is done, about 4 or 5 minutes.  Mix in parsley and serve! 

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STYLIN' THE BUMP & POSHLOCKET GIVEAWAY

Outfit Details

Shirt | Anthropologie c/o Michaela's closet; similar here;  Jeans | Gap Maternity Always Skinny; | Shoes: Aldo Evenia Flat; Purse | Target Crossbody Bag; | Bracelets c/o Poshlocket found here and here; Watch | Thrifted; Glasses | Francesca's Boutique Aviators

Styling this growing baby has proven a little more difficult than I imagined.  Originally I thought I could wear all my flowing summer dresses and be so cute, but when I put them on I realize I didn't account for my stomach pulling the fabric so far up in the front. Crotch shot? Not cute.  Thankfully, I am getting there and relying on lots of cute accessories to pull off my repeat outfits during the week (hey, when you find something that works its just easier to put in on again the next morning!)  Poshlocket sent me the most adorable gold arrow and mint bangles and are offering a $50 shop credit for a reader today! Score!  Be sure to check out all their awesome stuff and pick out what you would get if you win! Click here to visit!

Enter to win $50 Poshlocket Giveaway!

Details (must be a follower of The Sweet Season Blog)

1. Follow Poshlocket on Pinterest for one entry.
*Must leave a comment saying you did so!*

2. Pin an item from poshlocket.com onto pinterest.
*Leave the url link in a comment below for a second entry!*

good luck! winner will be announced friday! 

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