Baby Surprise Cake!

Earlier this summer I went to a family event up in New England and my husband and I were surprised with a wonderful family get-together in celebration of our future new addition to our family. I wanted to share a few photos of the amazing cake that was made for us by the wonderfully talented Shaunna. It not only looked awesome, but it tasted delicious too!

It's a baby in a crib cake! The details were so cute. I'm a big nerd and I really enjoyed the addition of the parrot on the crib railing, painted to look just like my Twitch!

There's also a teddy bear for my husband. We still have his Snuggles, who will go on a shelf in our wee one's room since he's gotten much use over the years.

Ah! Then they made me cut it! Luckily once all the rice krispie treat details were removed, it looked like a regular cake. Otherwise, I'm not sure I could have done it!

Just a nice picture of us that was taken that day!

It's a Girl!

Pleased Customers!

Since I've started my Etsy shop, Today is a Sunny Day, I've had the opportunity to work on some very creative custom orders. Here are some of my favorite customer photos!

Custom Thank You Flags for a bridal shower.

Custom Wedding Sparkler Tags. "Watch the Sparks Fly"

Custom Favor Tags for a bridal shower. The bags have shower products in them.

Another adorable shot of the Custom Thank You Favor Tags.

We Are Pregnant!

First things first:

• We are pregnant.
• We are due Dec. 3, 2012. (Before 2013! Woot!)

Now that’s out-of-the-way, I can share a little bit about our story. We have been trying to conceive since December of 2010. That’s 16 months. Almost 500 days.  

While that might not seem long ago, a lot has happened to Corey and I over those 16 months. Looking back on that year and a half, we had a lot going on with our families, jobs, our household, and finances. 

Also, it seemed like it was the season for my Facebook friends to have babies. And lots of them! My newsfeed filled with stories of new parenthood and quotes of how precious life is. And while that is exactly what social media is for, ashamedly, those updates stung. When you are TTC (what I quickly learned was Internet lingo for “trying to conceive”), every encounter with something about pregnancy or babies were reminders of something I desperately wanted, but somehow couldn’t have. 

Seeing people around me having, as far as I could tell, no trouble conceiving made me feel quite alone. Why was this my “story”? There’s something human in us that is embarrassed, ashamed, and insecure about sharing struggles and hardships with others. 

There are 2.1 million married women in the United States who have not been able to conceive in 12 consecutive months. That’s 7.4% of married women; that’s not even everyone! In the U.S., 7.3 million women have used infertility services.  I’m sure there are similar statistics for pregnancy loss and post-partum depression. 

Similar to the unrealistic expectations that advertisements subliminally pass along to women about body image, I believe the same happens with pregnancy. And we aren’t talking about it. Even in the church. I believe we are ashamed, embarrassed, and insecure when nature doesn’t go as “planned.”

Case at hand: a married couple decides they are ready to be parents.  The first time they have unprotected sex, they eagerly anticipate seeing a positive sign on the pregnancy test.

While that seems absurd, it’s what’s in the back of many women’s minds. That’s usually the story that everyone hears. Chances are, your story is going to be different. 

And there’s nothing to be ashamed.

Embarrassed.

Or insecure about. 

I believe that instead of sharing our stories, we hold them, and forget about them once the adversity has passed. Once Corey and I have a dribbly baby boy or girl, we won’t need to remember how we felt from December 2010-March 2012, right?

This is the reason I wanted to share my story. I believe we have gotten pregnant in God’s perfect timing. And that our son or daughter is purposed for something wonderful. I can’t say why it took 16 months when it takes most couples well under a year. I do know a few things: (1) it’s not up for me to decide, (2) God’s purpose wasn’t to test me or make me stronger, and (3) I can’t wait to meet this new member of our family. 

Here are some things I’ve learned and concluded over the past 16 months:

• Married and trying to conceive? Start charting now! Learn about your body temperature and how it can detect the time of your ovulation. 
• Know that your friends and family who ask when you are planning to start a family or tell you “it’s your turn,” mean well. They care about you. They want to see what cute concoction God will create from the two of you! While you are living it, it’s difficult, but they really do mean well.
• The world has always had babies and will continue to have babies. There were always babies in commercials. It’s likely that you will see a pregnant woman or new mom today. Friends and family members are having babies every year. Don’t take it as a sign that the universe is against you and rubbing it in your face.
• Live for today, not for tomorrow. Bible author James writes, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.”  While it’s great to desire exciting things of the future, we need to remember to live for today. One of my biggest struggles was desiring my future purpose of being a mom and seeing little value to what was currently around me. Instead of making me excited, this “future purpose” saddened and frustrated me because it was nowhere in sight and I desperately wanted to fast-forward my life, which is definitely NOT what God had planned.
• Once you start trying, you’ll become an expert at pregnancy symptoms. The trick is, everything is a pregnancy symptom and they can often contradict themselves. Extremely hungry? Pregnancy symptom. Nauseous and turned off by food? Pregnancy symptom. Tired or active, constipated or got the runs, have the chills or the sweats? You got it, pregnancy symptoms. I know it’s easier said than done, but really try not to focus on every little thing. The only real pregnancy symptoms you should be worried about when trying is a missed period and a positive pregnancy test. Otherwise, it’s pretty easy to talk ourselves into the possibility of pregnancy. 

My hope is that you will be inspired to share your story. In whatever way that may be and whatever story is uniquely yours. 

Etsy Shop Feedback

As the first quarter of the month comes to a close this month, I’m looking for a bit of feedback on my Etsy shop so I can assess goals for next quarter. 

So, I’ve put together this brief survey. I’m looking for different perspectives about my shop, your opinions and what your eyes notice. 

If you will, please copy and paste this survey and send it to andrea.wolloff@gmail.com. It’s only six questions (and three of them are multiple choice!). I would appreciate it ever so much!

If you are a friend, family member, or neighbor and you are reading this, thanks already for how you helped and supported me. 

(Pssst… There’s even a give-away involved. See below the survey.)

P.S. Even if you are not interested in the freebies ( i.e. you are a boy) I would still really like hearing the feedback. 

P.S.S. The feedback will allow me to shape my goals for the next quarter and I would really appreciate it.

COPY AND PASTE BELOW INTO AN EMAIL (SEND TO andrea.wolloff@gmail.com).

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

o   Go to this link www.todayisasunnyday.etsy.com and click on the first thing that caught your eye. Paste the link below.

o  The first thing I noticed about Today is a Sunny Day was:

// The shop banner

// The favorites section

// The images

// The prices

// The personal photo

o   My favorite image from the shop was: (Paste the link below.)

o   I found this background more appealing and eye-catching:

// White background

// Wood grain

o   If I were given anything from Today is a Sunny Day as a gift, I would want:

// Gift tags

// I love you because dry erase board

// Page corner bookmarks

// Paper cutouts

// I’m too manly for this, sorry (Totally an appropriate option! I understand.)

  

 o   True or False, I think people will find it weird that there are bird feathers for sale.

o   Quick! Off the top of your head! – The first word that comes to mind to describe the products is: ___________.

The first 20 replies will get their choice of the following: 

o   2-pack of gift tags, choose from the photo below. 
o   2-packs of recycled, choose from anchors, bows, or bird cutouts. 
o   25% Off any “Because I Love You…” dry erase board 
o   20% Off any custom order of favor tags or sparkler tags

Best of all, everyone wins!

Every participant will get a 10% off Etsy coupon code.

Family Profile - Twitch

Since my parrot, Twitch, has been racking up the sales in my Etsy shop, Today is a Sunny Day, I thought it would be fun to highlight him on my blog.

Parrots molt every six months, resulting in his beautifully colored tail and wing feathers falling out. I have a variety of feathers up for sale in my shop. They are perfect for jewelry, hair extensions, and other crafts. I even had a co-worker design me some earrings with my favorite petite wing feathers.

So, here’s Twitch!

Name: Twitch

Nickname: Twitcher, Squeaker, Wittle Bird

Age: Almost 4 (hatched May 2008)

Height: 5 inches

Favorite food: Cheese, pasta, apples, yogurt bird treats, and seeds

Favorite movie: Rio

Close friends: Blackie, Maryanna and Andy (bird grandparents!), Trish, Dan, Bridget, Pat, Joe, and Jessica

Favorite activities: Cuddling with his piñata toy, taking baths, dancing, attacking feet

Scary things: Paper, large birds, things that are higher than him

Favorite words:  “Squeaker,” “Do poop,” and “Gimme kiss”

Vacation Inspiration

As summer approaches, I find myself looking back on a vacation my husband and I took last year for inspiration for new items for Today is a Sunny Day. Below are some my favorite images of the bright Caribbean, along with some sneak peeks of bright and nautical new items for my Etsy shop. PS - I did not eat the turtle soup!

 

Bow cutouts, in neon blue and kraft brown

Bow cutouts in bright yellow, purple, and kraft brown

Nautical inspired cupcake toppers

Custom nautical page corner bookmarks

Anchor cutouts!