A Generous Outpouring

That's what we felt over the last couple of weeks.  It has been amazing to see our friends (we really do consider our customers our friends, and many of our friends are our customers) pour out so generously to a cause we give our whole-hearted support to.  Because of your generosity, we were able to raise $250 for the Hurst family!!!!  Can you believe it??  That money will be matched thanks to a matching grant the family received.  Our $250 will do $500 worth of good for this family!  That's $500 closer to this mama having her sweet baby in her arms and with the rest of the family where she belongs.  It has been an unusually long road for this family and as we have followed along with the progress (or non-progress) our hearts have become more deeply attached to seeing this family have a successful adoption.  Even though this fundraiser is over, we ask that each of you join us in continuing to PRAY for this family as they move closer to bringing Ellie home.

To follow Ellie's journey go here.

Thanks again for partnering with us as we help make a difference one child and one family at a time.

From a Mama...

We would like to share with you something that Katie, the mom of the Hurst Family wrote. Please consider helping them. Just a small contribution of 20$ will you get you something special, BUT will be live changing for a little girl waiting to come home.
You can shop right here or shop right on our Facebook page here.

From Katie, Ellie's Mom~

We first saw Ellie about 3 years ago on Rainbow Kids. For a long time we have advocated for a family for her. Slowly, over time she grew in our hearts until it became unbearable to think of anyone else parenting this girl. We loved her, adored her! So, this winter we began the process of adopting her and making her officially a Hurst! When people hear of our adoption they want to know our heart, they want to know our thoughts. But sometimes that feels harder to put words to than it should. We have always tried to put The Lord first in our lives. We've failed many times, but that is our priority as a family. In living this way God impressed on our hearts to adopt a waiting child. First, we brought home Simon 15 months ago and watched God work miracles in is life. Our kids that came to us from other places do have special needs and I don't mind sharing them, but I always want to be careful in the way that I portray it. They are really beautiful people that God has allowed to live differently than us. But I never want those needs to define them to anyone else, to us or to them. Simon has thalassemia B major and requires a blood transfusion every three weeks. Ellie was born with no eyes. We often hear others saying that we have so much on our plate, and I suppose we do. But our hearts are overflowing with joy and love! We have our trials, we have our moments of wanting to be lazy and not head out to doctor yet again, but not to the extent of ever regretting our choices. When people think of our family I don't care if they remember our names, if they remember our faces, but I hope that later, when talking about us they remember that one family that just loved God, and followed Him into the unknown. I want what we do to be pleasing to God, and part of that is being able to parent these special blessings. Ellie is our beautiful, beautiful daughter who just happens to not have eyes, lives on the other side of the orphanage and requires the marathon of a lifetime to bring her home to us. We feel incredibly blessed that others want to join in on this journey.

Is it a REAL problem?

These are statistics that can be found anywhere, I took these from the UNICEF.

There is an estimated 143 million orphans worldwide. Some go as high as an estimated 210 million.

8 million children live in institutional care.

Everyday 5760 more children become orphans.

250,000 children are adopted each year.
However 14, 505, 000 children grow up as orphans and will age out of the system.

10-15% of orphans commit suicide before age 18.

60% of orphans that are girls will become prostitutes.
70% of male orphans will become hardened criminals.
1.2 million children trafficked every year.

Every 2.2 seconds another orphan ages out of the system, with no family, and no home.


Yes. I think there is a problem.
We spend our money on what we put value on.

There is not a shortage of fast food, designer boutiques or sports arena's.

But there IS a shortage of families.

Yes. There is a problem.
YOU can help. WE can help.
Let's do something BIG!

From the Passenger Seat

This week we're pushing for the support of the Hurst family as they work toward bringing their sweet girl home to her forever family.  We want you to support them.  This is important work.  WE feel it's important.  The Hurst family feels it's important.  Several of our friends feel it's important.  But do YOU feel it's important?  Maybe you don't.  Why should you?  I'd like for you to ride in the passenger seat with me.

You see, I'm a passenger, too.  I don't drive the bus, so to speak.  As my Dad would say, "I don't have a dog is this fight." My husband and I aren't adopting.  Neither of us are adopted.  God blessed us with four beautiful children.  Our cup runs over.  Literally, some days.  No really, I over-filled my coffee cup this morning because I was trying to pour my coffee and direct lunch box construction at the same time.  It was a mess.  We have been blessed, and are content with what God has given us.  We have not been called into adoption.  But that doesn't get us out of taking care of orphans (or widows, for that matter, but we'll save that for another day).
 

We're Christians, so we're driven by a desire to live our lives as laid out for us in scripture.  James 1: 27 (CEB) says this:  "True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties and to keep the world from contaminating us."  It doesn't say HOW we're supposed to care for orphans (or widows, but, again...later).  God's good like that.  He's gives us flexibility in how we carry out His work.  I can help orphans by supporting those who adopt them.  I may not be in a place in my home or family to take on additional children, but that doesn't mean I'm off the hook.  It means just the opposite:  I have to find creative ways to do this work.  One way I can do that is by prayer.  I can pray for this family, this child and many, many others like them.  Even if you can't afford to shop with us and support this family financially, you CAN pray for them.  I can also support this family and many like them financially, by giving a donation directly to their cause.  Did you know you can do that on our shop website??  You can also support them financially and help raise awareness for adoption by purchasing one of our products on the website.  Even if you're not a Christian, you are a citizen of this world and this family is trying to make it a better place.  Won't you join with them?  Partner with us as we partner with them.  None of us can change the world alone, but together we can make a big difference.

While I have not discussed it in this post, adoption is very personal to me in a pretty unique way.  I promise to discuss it more when the time is right.  For now, come back everyday for a new story and a new perspective on what has become our passion.

It's a little funny (in a stalker kind of way) how I've become so involved in the Hurst Family's life.
When my husband came home from his 2nd deployment we were on recruiting orders and just KNEW we were going to be staying in Texas (our home state). However, between God's plan for my life and the reality that this was the Army...it wasn't exactly Texas.
So off to Michigan (?!?!?!) we went. The people we met in those three years have become some of my dearest, loved friends.  Fast forward to 2014 and for eight months my family has been praying over children we read about and see on Reece's Rainbow. An amazing organization that helps with special needs adoptions all over the world. I see that sweet Ellie has a family! Thank you prayers to God immediately! But wait, that family, The Hust Family. I know them, or at least know OF them. We share the sweetest friend in common. I did a little "stalking" and YES they are who I thought they were and there could not be a better match for a family.

The Hurst's have four children at home with them. Their daughter is thrilled to now have a sister on her side with three brothers! I've seen the photo shoot where they tell the children It's a Sister! and the faces, oh my goodness, the love is from ear to ear! Adoption is not new to this family, nor is China. They've done this before, and know how difficult the entire process is, however, they were called for adoption, and they answered YES. They had been praying for Ellie for a long time, thinking she had been adopted. When they found out she actually was still waiting, they knew they had to rescue her.

To see the beautiful Ellie take a look here webearthelight.com They update this blog regularly. You can read all about the adoption, financial needs and see pictures of Ellie herself.
I encourage you to read her posts. I especially was touched by One Small Act. She shared how just a small amount can do GREAT things! I am praying that you will be moved to donate and help us make a small difference in this huge event.  You help put a family together AND you can get awesome Markers & Mud product! Win/Win!

Shop the fundraiser right here on this website or you shop on our facebook page here.

We are offering special tshirts, fine art prints and note cards with our original adoption design but you can also get our home. collection shirts & note cards, color collection note cards or even custom shirts and note cards as part of this fundraiser. There has never been a better time to shop!

Please say a prayer for the Hurst Family and spread this fundraiser to all you know, let's get Ellie home to her family fast as we can!

Today could just be the day you go spend $5 at Starbucks or $60 at Target with no real value in your day, OR today could be the day you give a little to bring.a.child.home. Simple as that.

When we merged our business efforts we promised that giving was going to be a MAJOR part of Markers & Mud. So this new announcement should not be a surprise. We have been able to make donations to several causes that we are proud to support (friends adoption efforts & Red Cross to name a few). However, we've wanted to do more. 

This is our more.

Adoption Fundraisers.

I have been moved by the song from Hillsong United-Oceans (where feet may fail). Listening to it over and over and scrolling through the faces of children who need families. In January of this year my husband and I made an agreement to pray daily for our family, these children and where adoption fits in our lives. More on our story later in this fundraiser. Through this, is where I came up with the Adoption Design. 

{and YES we can customize it for you, names, hearts on locations etc.}

We are praying that we can share the story of a family. The story of a love that some of us run from.

To open eyes, and open hearts for the orphans in this world that we are commanded to take care of.  

My prayer is that you will help us and we can make a difference, one child, one family at a time. 

Our first family is someone I know from our time in Michigan. I will be introducing you to them over the next week, as well as Haley and I sharing personal thoughts on Adoption. We would encourage you to shop our Adoption Fundraiser. This campaign for this family will run for 10 days, ending August 13, 2014. We are trying to raise funds specifically for a grant matching opportunity they have been blessed with.  

The Adoption merchandise includes note cards, t shirts and fine art prints. All includes free shipping to you. All priced at $20 with all the proceeds (minus 5$ to help with the printing/shipping costs) will be given to the family's adoption fund.

ANY additional sales from our shop will also contribute to the donation that will be made by Markers & Mud.

You are also able to "donate" without purchase of product right here on our shop.

Keep up with us this week right here and on FB, it's going to be life changing!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Well, maybe not the chicken dinner, but we have winners!!  We're a little late getting this out, but we recently took part in a contest and blog hop over at The Review Wire.  We provided items for the grand prize as well as running our own contest as part of the blog hop.  Casey and Sarah were our winners, but we truly feel WE were the real winners.  We now have tons of new friends and we're so excited that they've joined us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and here on the blog.  While this contest is over, we hope all our new friends will stick around to see what the future brings for Markers & Mud!

THE BIG TIME!!

WooHoo Friends!  We're growing by leaps and bounds here at Markers & Mud.  We take every opportunity to get new friends when they come along.  Recently we came to know a nice woman over on a neat blog called The Review Wire.  She does awesome reviews and amazing give-aways.  And now we have the opportunity to SPONSOR ONE OF HER GIVE AWAYS!!! Sorry, we just get so excited about stuff sometimes.  Anyway, there are lots of bloggers who will be giving away various goodies from various states, and of course, our products are in the GRAND PRIZE!  So, in honor of our big week in the spot light we're joining in the party and giving away some extra goodies here on our site!  Lots of goodies for all!

Make sure to stop by The Review Wire for The Grand Prize, enter for your chance to win a set of Home State Note Cards and a personalized set of color note cards! A special thanks to Markers & Mud for sponsoring the Grand Prize!

Disclaimer: This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on July 11, 2014. The celebrateYOURstate Event Bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. Companies and bloggers, if you would like to participate in group giveaway events like this one, sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Review Wire Media.

In addition to a chance to win the Grand Prize, you can hop to a few other blogs and have a chance to win some other cool stuff.  Here at Markers & Mud, we're giving away a set of home. notecards in the state of your choice and a home. t-shirt for your favorite small fry.

 Just enter here!

Entry-Form

We have been hard at work on The Shop and it is ready to go! Our hope is to be able to offer more personalized gifts & favors as well as a simplified way to order your old custom favorites.
Take advantage of our Grand Opening Sale! The ENTIRE shop is 20% off ...every package, every new product, t shirts, custom orders EVERYTHING!

We will add in a little something special to those of you with current orders this week :)                                                                        
  Enjoy and thank you for shopping with us!

Everything I needed to know about everything...I learned from Mom.

I have known for a long time that I was at an advantage.  That I had been prepared for life better than some. That I was born with privileges that others will never know.  Not because I have a super talent, or a great magnificent ability.  Not from any lesson I learned in graduate school.  Certainly not because of a  pampered, struggle free, wealthy life.

But because my Mom taught me:

To smile, even if hurts.
That sometimes you have to take a "snow day" even if there is no snow.
That you go to church every time the door is open, because there is an open door.
To be the first to offer help to anyone.
That punch & mints are all you need for a party, and how to make both.
Taught me to pray for, support, honor, and follow my husband ANYWHERE.
That there is no greater cheerleader for me, than her.
To always, always have on good underwear if you leave the house...if you don't, that will be the day you break your ankle and they cut your pants off.
Grow flowers & take care of your yard, and that one day I would find that therapeutic (I'm there now!)
That one day I will get the best sleep out at our Ranch. (Right again, Mom)
Never to yell.
It's OK to cry, but then get it together and go on.
To Always send a Thank You note.
To Give everything you have, and give until it hurts, and never tell anyone.
Always take more than one dish to the potluck.
People are worth the effort. Hands down, People are worth it.
Pray.Pray.Pray. and then listen and follow Him.
No distance will keep a Mama from her baby, no state, no country.
To protect, nurture, adore, shelter and love my children with every part of my being, just as she did for me.
Money means nothing. Don't want for too much, & Don't spend too much. (All children will be OK without Disneyland or a Barbie Car)
If I don't know, "look it up". The dictionary or the Bible, one of them will tell me.

See?
Could not have asked for anything more.
I'm thankful for my education and my experiences in life. I've honestly learned a lot.
But there is nothing that she didn't prepare me for.

Everything I needed to know about everything...I learned from YOU Mom!
I'm so thankful for you.
I love you forever!

A Legacy of Strength

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot. -Eleanor Roosevelt



If there was one line that could sum up what I have been taught my whole life, this might be it.  And I don't mean taught in the sense of a formal lesson, but more in the sense of learning from example. 

I'm a good cook.  A really good cook.  And if you asked me, I would tell you I learned from my mom and my grandmother.  My grandmother was a fantastic cook.  No one turned down a meal prepared by Nettie Moore.  And even though I claimed to "learn" from my mom and my grandmother they never declared a time to "teach me to cook".  Instead, I learned my whole life from them, sitting on the kitchen counter in my grandmother's house, watching what  she was doing, or standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes while mom worked on dinner.  They never woke up one morning with the mission of teaching me to cook.  Many of my strongest childhood memories are associated with time in my grandmother's kitchen.  Even though it's been years since I stepped foot in her kitchen (the house has long since been sold and is no longer in the family) I can distinctly remember each detail about it from the mushroom ceramic canisters (remnents of the 70s) to the formica counter tops and even the view out the kitchen window.  Maybe that's why my own kitchen is so important to me.

Just as my kitchen skills were developed from being immersed in a culture of food and love, my own personal strength has been developed from observation of character in action.  Being an Army wife has its challenges and I often hear the comment "I just don't know how you do it" referencing a deployment or seperation or yet another move.  My typical response is "I just do it.  There's not really another option."  But when I stop to think about it, I know exactly how I do it.  I do it because I was taught to do it.  Not in the sense of a formal lesson, but taught by example from observing my own mother "just do it". 

You see, my mom taught me to follow your husband wherever his job leads because she has followed my dad's many job transfers all over Texas.  Now I follow my husband wherever the Army sends us.  My mom taught me you do whatever you have to when your kids are involved.  Now I spend 6-7 evenings a week at baseball diamonds and soccer fields and in my car running from one practice or class to another.  My mom taught me to put one foot in front of the other when you really don't feel like it as she got up and went to work while taking chemo during her first battle with cancer.  Now, even when I feel like garbage, I get up and go.  My mom taught me that discipline and order still reigns, even when dad is working.  Now I run my house with order and discipline, even when my husband has to be away for long periods of time.  My mom taught me that giving back to your community is important when she spent hours working with the Optimist Club, Band Boosters or the church kitchen.  Now I spend my extra time serving other military families around me.  My mom is teaching me that even when cancer seems to be winning, that you continue to fight.  It might change the speed at which you live, but it doesn't change the what is important to you.  But most importantly, my mom taught me what it means to be strong, and that when you don't feel strong, you draw your strength from the love of your family.  Nothing is impossible with that. 



Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  I love you.

"My mother with my kids during her visit to Germany, where we were stationed."

 

home.

As Army wives, between the two of us we've lived in more zip codes than a traveling circus.  Or maybe it just feels that way.  None the less, we have learned to manage and deal with the fact that our curtains, inevitably, don't fit our new house.  Haley gave Lesli advice when Lesli first got married and started collecting furniture - make sure all your furniture in your WHOLE HOUSE goes together.  You never know when you're going to have to put your kid's dresser in your living room.  (Side note:  the wardrobe from kid #1's nursery furniture now serves as a make-shift office for Lesli in her living room).  We have mastered the art of "making it work".  What neither of us has mastered is being homesick.  As born-and-raised Texans, we just miss home.  Tex-mex, country music, blue bonnets, cowboy boots, dirt roads and friendly strangers.  They all combine to make our home unique.  As we have made friends from all over the world, we have come to notice that being proud of where you come from isn't exclusively Texan.  It was from this realization that our home. collection was born.  While we have both come to realize that truly the old saying is right and "home is where your heart is", we also understand that we leave a piece of our heart at every place we call home (Texas just gets the biggest little piece).  Our home. collection celebrates all those wonderful places we all call home.  Whether you've never left the street you grew up on, or, like us, you've moved all over the world, we encourage you to celebrate home.

We want you to enjoy your experience with Markers & Mud...from start to finish.
Every package sent to you, or from you will arrive, Perfectly Packaged.

*** Bright & Cheery, Personalized & Packaged ***

Get your end of school gift shopping done early and easy!

Choose your color & pattern option!

{click on the picture to make it larger}






Make someone's day!

Tuesday's Tip: Fostering a Sense of Community

Handwriting is a dying art.  The importance of penmanship is being replaced with typing skills in schools.  My son's baseball coach, a grandfather of another boy on the team, said he would be sending out team updates via text.  In the current digital age we have replaced thoughtful, personal contact via letter and even telephone in favor of the instant gratification of technology and its many forms.  I even use a web-based program that has apps on our smart phones for the family calendar.  It allows my husband and I to update our calendar instantly and to check for family availability without checking with each other first.  It has eliminated the need to actually talk to each other.  While my husband and I do make it a point to talk to one another, our world is decidedly turning away from personal means of communication in favor of (although faster) less personal technology. 
The result of this trend is a well-informed but disconnected population.  With that move we often lose the sense of community that comes when we make personal connections with the people around us.  But we have the opportunity to fight this and strive for the sense of community we all felt growing up.  The next time you find yourself in charge of an event or a group, take the time to call each person individually.  Pick up the phone and call your friend instead of sending them an email or a text.  Even better, grab some fabulous stationery, dust off your address book and send a "thinking of you" note.  I promise it will give the recipient (and you, too) a warm and fuzzy feeling, fostering a sense of community. 

Giving It All Away

 Marker & Mud recently made two donations to worthy causes.  One to the American Red Cross chapter in Vicenza, Italy and one to a family seeking to adopt a child from the foster system.  I don't put that on here to receive any kind of pats on the back for either of us, but to let our clients know that profit is not our first priority.  In the early days of a new business there is no such thing as profit.  Every penny that comes in right now goes right back into our business as we get on our feet.  Why, you ask, would we then spend money we aren't making to make donations?  Simple, it's not ours to start with.  As women of faith, we firmly believe that nothing we have is our own.  We can't take it with us.  While we hope to some day help support our families with income from Markers & Mud, that time is still far off in the future.  But Jesus doesn't call us to wait until we are financially profitable to make donations.  Instead he asks us to give generously, to care for widows and orphans and those around us in need.  So that's what we're doing.  The American Red Cross has chapters at military installations across the world.  They offer support services for our men and women in uniform and their families.  This is, of course, close to our hearts.  Adoption is an expensive undertaking, and this family is willing to take in a child who needs a forever family.  This is how we can help to take care of the orphans.  So today's post may not seem like much of a tip, but in all of this I hope you'll walk away with this tip:  Do What You Can, even if it doesn't seem to make sense.  Be a blessing to someone else, through a phone call, a card, a financial donation or your time.  Much like marker scribbles on walls that our kids sometimes leave behind, THIS is how we can leave a mark on the world.

Blessings,

Tuesday Tips: Beating the Birthday Party Blahs

My kids are all late spring and summer babies so it's time for good ol' mom to start thinking about birthday parties again.  Having four kids, I've had parties that included almost every cartoon character imaginable.  After a while cartoon characters, cake, pizza (or hot dogs) and the like start to leave me feeling like this:

I'm so tired of the usual cartoon characters covered in cake and ice cream.  And I talk to other moms like me everyday that suffer from the same cartoon character overload.  So we're going to lose the cartoon characters and explore some party ideas that will thrill your kids and their friends while avoiding the cliche of the cartoon character.

-Pick a theme based on your child's favorite activity or the activity your child has been asking to do.  My oldest son loves to play paintball and has been asking to play paintball with his friends for his birthday for months.  We are using the splattered paint concept for much of the decorations.   If your little guy is into pirates (including the popular pirate character on TV right now) then a perfect theme (with activity) would be a treasure hunt.  Gold coin candy can be purchased online and I even saw plastic treasure box shaped storage boxes at my local discount store recently. 

-If your sweet girl wants to have a sleepover, use a color instead of a theme.  If her favorite color is purple, then make everything purple.  Serve purple food, purple drinks, and let them leave with a purple party favor. 

-Base your child's birthday on what he or she wants to be when they grow up.  Let your sweet baby go to his own party in costume. 

-Is your little person into certain animals?  Use that to create your theme.  Perhaps they love sharks.  A beach themed party is a fabulous way to incorporate that.  Are they into lions?  Then perhaps a safari themed party should be in order. 

-Turn the usual party food into delightful munchies when you rename them.  Having a space-themed party?  Try renaming hotdogs something like "rocket dogs" or calling the kool-aid "jet fuel".

The smallest of details can make the simplest party ideas fabulous.  If you have an upcoming party and need some help, Markers & Mud is at your service!  Contact us and we can help you with theme development or custom items to make your party fantastic.

Graduation

Looking for something that is as unique and special as your Graduate?  We would love to design a custom package just for them.  From invitations to the ceremony complete with pictures and modern style to traditional announcements, thank you notes and total party decoration.
Contact us today to get on our calendar.

When you SHARE Markers & Mud we are offering a Friends & Family Special on Graduation Packages.
*All details on the image below*

From the sweetest Kindergarten Graduate to those of you ready to take on the world after College,
and all the High School Seniors in between...Congratulations on such an accomplishment!

Tuesday Tips: A Family Valentine

 *This is the first of an on-going series entitled Tuesday Tips where we share some kind of party or entertaining tip to help you live life more beautifully*

Valentine's Day always brings thoughts of this:

Or this:

Valentine's Day, in reality for most of us, is more like any other day, covered in red and pink sticky substances on children's clothing and store-bought greeting cards, hastily signed then tossed in the general direction of a passing spouse.  Some years there are flowers, some years there might be a dinner, but rarely both.  So does this mean as adults who have been married for a time or parents of children that we can no longer enjoy a holiday about love?  I think NOT.  
Valentine's Day originally celebrated romantic love, but has evolved over time to include love of any kind and even friendship (my youngest son is having a friendship party where they are celebrating all the friends they have made in Pre-K this year).  
So if Valentine's Day celebrates love and we love our spouses and our children, why shouldn't we celebrate it?  
Here at Markers & Mud we wanted to share some tips to bring all the Valentine love home to your family.  

1.  Keep it simple.  You don't have to go overboard just to make it special.  Cook your family's favorite meal or serve desert if you normally don't.

2.  Make your food red!  Serve spaghetti and meatballs with strawberry shortcake for desert.

3.  Use cookie cutters for everything except cookies.  Cookie cutters make great sandwich cutters.  You can also use them to cut shapes into slices of pound cake as the base to the strawberry shortcake I mentioned.

4.  Dig out some of your Christmas decorations.  What?? Have I lost my mind? No.  Many of your Christmas decorations will be red.  Is there something you can use, like a red table cloth or napkins?  

5.  Use your "good dishes".  Whether its Grandma's china or just your everyday dishes, skip the paper plates.  Nothing makes someone feel more special than a completely set table.

6.  Spend time with your kids doing some kind of craft that doubles as table decorations.  Nothing shows love like spending time and the craft doesn't have to be complicated.  You can buy pretty beads in a red or  pink color scheme and florist or jeweler's wire at your local discount or craft store for less than $10 and make a set of jeweled napkin rings.  Let the kids do the beading and you twist it into rings.  I did this with my kids (ages 4-11) at Thanksgiving and they loved it (and I still have the napkin rings)!

7.  Let your kids drink their punch or milk out of your "good" glasses or stemware if they're big enough to use them.  Making your kids feel "fancy" is worth the risk.  At the end of the day, stuff is just stuff.  

8.  Make time for your spouse.  After the kids are in bed, share a romantic moment without the TV or other electronic distractions.  (And yes, I'm suggesting you skip the Olympics for one night)

9.  Speaking of distractions, turn 'em off.  Before the evening starts pass a basket and collect all electronic distractions from your family.  This is especially important if you have teenagers.  They may pretend they hate you for it, but knowing that you care enough to want their attention and to give them yours will pay off in other ways.

10.  The most important thing to remember is to love your family.  If the tips above cause you anxiety because you want them to be perfect, then skip all of it, order pizza and snuggle on the couch with your kids, spouse and a great family movie.  Time together builds strong families and THAT is love.


 

~FREE VALENTINE CARD DOWNLOAD~

Hey Moms (and Dads too)!

Your kids have their Valentine Party Friday.  You forgot? You didn't make the zillion card ideas that you've been pinning on Pinterest for months?  It's ok. We've got you covered...
Here is a FREE Valentine Card Printable!
Just print (card stock OR paper) add something that *STICKS*, and your child's name.
Valentines are done!

*pack of gum, stickers, glue stick, cheese stick, band-aids, pack of tape (cute tape!)*

{We can add your child's name to the download & do a background color change for you (5.00).
Message us (contact form or markersandmud@gmail.com)  and we will get that to you ASAP!}

Open the link & Print for FREE!
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Happy Valentines Day!
xoxoxox

New Adventures

Welcome back to some of you and welcome for the first time for a few more!
I want to take a moment to introduce myself.  I am Haley and I am the business end of the perfectly decorated stick around here.  Lesli has a gift for design.  My gifts tend to be less beautiful, but just as important.  I am tasked with making sure her beautiful designs get to you!
A little history lesson for you:
This partnership was born over 25 years ago in an elementary school and a girl scout troop in a dusty little town in the middle of nowhere, west Texas.  I was the new girl, she would turn out to be my very best friend for life.  Fast forward some 20 years and we find ourselves married to soldiers who happen to also be best friends (talk about making life easy!).  A few babies, a couple of states and countries, and maybe even a pound or two later, we find ourselves on different continents, still leaning on each other for support and encouragement.  She had owned a design business, but hated the business end of it.  I had a work history in (you guessed it!) retail sales management.   My children were now old enough I was looking at going back to work, but wasn't sure I was ready to give up being home for them.  We both wanted to work toward something that would truly benefit our families long term, not just put extra money in the bank.  And a beautiful partnership was born.
If you've been here before, you'll notice a few changes.  However, one thing won't be changing and that is beautiful custom design created just for you.  If you're a new friend of ours, you can know that you will only receive the highest quality products and a unique design made just for you.  While we may sell pre-packaged (yet still exclusive) items at craft shows and vendor booths from time to time, you'll never receive a cookie cutter product when you order from us.  Many companies claim to sell custom party items and in reality you get the exact same thing as the other customers with merely a personalization.  With Markers and Mud you ALWAYS get a completely custom product.  You can know that no one else will have party decorations, Christmas cards, announcements or stationary like yours.
Lesli and I both believe that beautiful design and high quality doesn't have to be out of reach.  That's where this blog comes in.  Along side the usual business of contests, sales, up coming events, and exciting announcements, we will offer party tips and design ideas geared toward the woman with good taste AND a budget.  Fabulousness doesn't have to be expensive!  And while design and beauty are certainly life-enhancing, they are far from the most important things.  That is why Markers and Mud contributes to charities close to our heart.  Up first:  helping fund families who have chosen the path of adoption.  Lesli and I don't just share childhood memories, we share a faith that calls us to care for orphans.  This is one way we can help.
With so much going on and so much to offer, we encourage you to keep up with us on social media.  You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  We are MarkersandMud at all four places!
We have many exciting days ahead of us.  I, for one, am super pumped to watch this take off!

Blessings,

Haley