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Staying Home Sawyer

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DIY, Lifestyle

Pay it Forward

1.26.2015

Words of Encouragement StonesI don’t know about you, but some days are just better than others. And those days are hardly ever Mondays. Little things can go a long way towards turning your day around: someone smiling at  you in public, someone holding a door open for you, finding a lucky penny (or a lucky twenty) on the ground. As nice as it is to receive these acts of kindness, it’s also nice to give them too. I try to do nice things for others, but if I’m being honest, I don’t do it as often as I wish I did. Add that to the list of things I need to improve on.

I’ve seen many people paint stones before, many talented people. I might be able to make a project out of popsicle sticks and glue, but I CANNOT paint. Or draw. At least in any artistic manner. Think 1st grader (and that’s giving me a lot of credit). So instead of decorative stones, I thought little words of encouragements might make someone’s day.

I picked up these stones last weekend at the beach, painted them all different colors (the paint is less than $1 at Michael’s), and used a gold pen and Sharpie to write words of encouragement on each one. I left a few of them in places where I hope people will notice them. Hopefully they’ll put a smile on at least one face. Pay it Forward Stones of EncouragementBecause I wanted people to be able to track the stones, I included a hashtag on each stone: #pif. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone was motivated by them!

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Comments

  1. weight2lose2013 says

    1.26.2015 at 12:23 pm

    That’s an awesome idea! Sort of a message in a bottle. You may have started a trend!

    • Shauna841505 says

      1.26.2015 at 12:28 pm

      Hopefully! That would be so cool. I just hope people do anything they can to be kind to others. 🙂

  2. krishugs23 says

    1.26.2015 at 1:04 pm

    What a thoughtful idea!

  3. hugsxheart says

    1.26.2015 at 4:05 pm

    Oh my goodness, that’s so clever. I agree with Rob that this will be the new thing 😀 Let’s spread the love! You’re amazing <3

    • Shauna841505 says

      1.26.2015 at 4:30 pm

      Yeah!!! If you do it too we’ll get more than one continent! 🙂

      • hugsxheart says

        1.26.2015 at 4:43 pm

        I’m totally doing it! I’m representing Europe and Sweden ^^

  4. mgrace58 says

    1.27.2015 at 1:52 pm

    You always have great ideas. Love this! I’m on the beach all the time. Time to go rock hunting! 😉

    • Shauna841505 says

      1.29.2015 at 10:23 am

      Thank you!! I’d love to see your painted rocks! 🙂

      • mgrace58 says

        1.29.2015 at 1:06 pm

        You betcha! 🙂

  5. shortstopdesigns says

    1.28.2015 at 9:06 pm

    These are so cute! Love this idea!

    • Shauna841505 says

      1.29.2015 at 10:24 am

      Thanks!! Maybe you’ll find a few in your neighborhood! 🙂

  6. Sara says

    3.23.2015 at 2:46 pm

    I absolutely love this idea! I think I’ll join in the fun too!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      3.23.2015 at 2:50 pm

      Thanks!! I hope you have as much fun as I did! I’m still leaving the rocks around. Did you see the St. Patrick Day Luck rocks?! Those were even cooler!

  7. Annemarie Day says

    12.29.2016 at 7:05 am

    I enjoy painting rocks as a hobby. I have just a few smaller ones that I didn’t know what to do with. I work in an inner city elementary school where it is much work in spreading positivity and happiness. So, for 2017, I am going to paint a few with positive inspiration and pass them to adults and students when I see them struggling. I will ask them to pay it forward throughout the school. Hope it helps.

Trackbacks

  1. Leave a Little Luck | Rae of Sparkles says:
    3.02.2015 at 11:14 am

    […] put together my whole project based on my Pay It Forward post. St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and I wanted to spread the “luck” of the […]

About Me

About Me

Hi Mamas! My name is Shauna, a 30-something (big emphasis on the 'something') new mama and wife living in Southern California. I've become a Stay At Home Mom to Sawyer, and I would do it forever if I could! I'm originally from Wisconsin and am a total Cheesehead! I'm here to share DIY's, travel tips, and baby stuff I'm sure!

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stayinghomesawyer

There’s just something about that second child. Th There’s just something about that second child. They pick up everything so quickly. They’re unstoppable. They want to do everything and they want to do it now. 

Second child life.
The day my husband looked at me and said, “I’m so The day my husband looked at me and said, “I’m so glad we have daughters,” I just about melted. Because like most men, he always envisioned a son. Someone he could pass his useless sports knowledge to, someone he could play mediocre golf with. Maybe someone to watch the hockey playoffs with (that doesn’t complain like I do). 

When we found out our second girl was coming, he famously said he watched the pink smoke hoping it would turn to purple and then blue. The first thing out of his mouth after he really digested it was, “now I have to pay for two weddings.”

And then one day, not long after the second came along, he realized why he’s a a girl dad. Because he couldn’t be more perfect for them. And they are exactly what he needed.
After seeing the beauty of this world, I just don’ After seeing the beauty of this world, I just don’t see how there’s any other option. God’s beauty is in everything, and sometimes I feel sad that I’ll never be able to see it all.
My husband and I never thought we’d be the homesch My husband and I never thought we’d be the homeschooling family, but here we are. What started as a few things here and there that we didn’t like, exploded into not liking much of anything in a traditional school, and liking just about everything about homeschooling. 

So now, here we are, on a random weekday, exploring our city. Picking up shells and learning about science. Meeting new people and gaining new friends. There’s so much more than doing lessons at home (although those happen too, don’t worry). There’s a whole big word out there to explore.
I have this theory. I think that as women, even wh I have this theory. I think that as women, even when we are done, we never really feel “done.” I think it’s innate. It’s biological. We were designed to procreate. We were designed to mother. When all of that is over, REALLY OVER, it’s a sad moment. It’s hard to accept. It’s hard to move on.

If you had asked me years ago if I would feel like this, I would have told you, “absolutely not. I’m done.” But when a woman gets to a “certain age,” it feels hard to accept. 

How do you feel?
The secret is out… I don’t spend more money than The secret is out…

I don’t spend more money than most. A party at a trampoline park is about double (if not more) expensive than this. A party at a park with a jumper? More expensive. It’s not about the money, it’s about the prep.

I spend months in advance planning for my parties. As soon as my girls decide on a theme, I take off (and we don’t do theme switches once anything has been purchased). My biggest money saving tip is to try to get the theme MONTHS in advance. I’m literally planning my daughter’s October birthday party already! 

So for those of you wondering, you absolutely CAN do fun parties on a budget. You just need a little more effort, and a little more time. 💕
There’s something about watching your child experi There’s something about watching your child experience the world for the first time that changes you.

The way they slow down, the way they notice everything…it makes you realize how much you’ve been rushing past.

I’m trying to remember that these aren’t just her firsts, they’re mine too, in a completely different way.
Growing up in the Midwest made seashells such a sp Growing up in the Midwest made seashells such a special thing. It meant vacations at the beach, time with family, hot summer days. 

Now, watching my babies collect their own seashells, holding tight to the “BEST” ones, makes my heart happier than I ever could have thought. It’s the little joys.
It’s par for the course, I know. Everyone will hav It’s par for the course, I know. Everyone will have something to say about literally everything. Hosting an Easter egg hunt? Too excessive. Throwing a kids birthday party on a budget? Consumerism. Happy with my husband? He must be miserable.

So I’ll just be over here decorating my house for The Masters this weekend, because #consumerism. And also because I spent $2 and it makes my husband happy.
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