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Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Holidays!

4th of July Firecracker Favors

6.27.2016

4th of July Party Favors

I like birthday’s just as much as the next girl, but I think America been a little greedy with the amount of celebration it receives for it’s birthday, no? Is my birthday not equally as important, that the entire population of America should celebrate it as well? It’s only fair, for everything I’ve done for this country. I’ve been gracing America with my presence for a good thirty-two years now. That should be enough, no? (Like I said: Greedy)

4th of July Party Favors - Firecrackers

All jokes aside, I am super excited that we’re off to San Diego to celebrate the 4th of July with our friends. What could be better than spending the country’s birthday with your favorite people, on one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, with a sparkler or two? If you’re thinking “eating a cheeseburger on said beach with said friends,” then we are clearly soulmates. I couldn’t agree more, and thus will be frequenting my favorite San Diego burger locations as many times as possible throughout our weekend visit.

4th of July Party Favors - Firecracker

Before I leave for the weekend, I’d like to share the birthday celebration love with my co-workers. While we all sit patiently at our desks on Friday afternoon, secretly hoping that our supervisors will be struck with a generous spirit and let us take off early to head to our July 4th celebrations, I’ll be handing out these little 4th of July Firecrackers. Except that they’re not really firecrackers. I do live in California after all, fireworks are definitely not allowed here. Not even sparklers! Can you imagine? Maybe if I let The Donald know about this, he’ll Make California Great Again and produce magic sparklers for me? No?

4th of July Party Favors - Firecracker

Download the 4th of July Firecracker Favors printables here. Cut them in 1″ strips, and tape them to your confetti poppers. Cut out the sparks, tie them to the top of your poppers (make sure the poppers string is still free) with string, and you’re good to go!

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Lifestyle

Custom Golf Club Headcover

6.23.2016

Get a custom made headcover of your pet!

I’d like to introduce you all to the Most Wonderful Thing in the Whole World. You may be asking yourself, what could possibly win the title of the Most Wonderful Thing in the Whole World? Well let me start by telling you I also have officially won the title of Best Wife in the Whole World, to go along with the Most Wonderful Thing in the Whole World.

My husband’s birthday recently passed, and as I sat pondering what I could get him (between golf supplies, golf clothes, or father/daughter time with our cat daughter), I suddenly remembered his incessant begging from the previous year. He was convinced that I could make him a Lucy (our cat daughter) golf club cover by hand. He was wrong. There was no way I could ever reproduce a faux LucyBear headcover, especially if he wanted it to look like our cat at all. I know I’m a pretty spectacular crafter, but this was just out of my range.

Custom made golf club cover of your pet

So enter in my recent wonderful wife award. While contemplating what I could get him, and cruising Pinterest again, I found the most amazing gift in the whole world. While I may not be able to make a Lucy headcover, this wonderful lady in London sure could. I found her Etsy site, and immediately knew it would be the Most Wonderful Thing in the Whole World for my husband’s gift. I sent her photos of Lucy, explained she didn’t need to be “to-scale” since Lucy is a trim 24 lbs, and sent the cash! Then I waited…

Lucy Elizabeth Bear

After a few weeks, my Most Wonderful Thing in the Whole World gift showed up at the front door, and I knew I was about to win the Best Wife in the World title. Before I gave him his gift, I told him it was a combination of his two favorite things. He knew immediately it was Lucy and golf. Needless to say, he was ecstatic, and promptly gave me the award for Best Wife. I’d like to thank the little people. And Andreana of course. 😉

Custom made golf club cover

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DIY

Bible Verse Printables for Police Officers

6.21.2016

Police Office Bible Verses - Free Printable Cards

If you had asked me ten years ago where I would be today, I probably would have given you a hundred answers, none of which would be my current situation. That isn’t to say I’m not happy with where I ended up, it just wasn’t expected. I think we can all agree that life is so completely surprising, you cannot predict much. You may want to have a certain career, marry a specific person, or end up with two children, a white picket fence, and a golden retriever. Then life happens. You wake up one day with a job you didn’t expect to have, a marriage you had never thought possible, four kids and a very lazy fat cat. At least I have an unbelievably happy marriage and the fat cat. Two of the five isn’t bad.

Police Office Bible Verses - Free Printable Cards

It was just as unexpected for me, as I’m sure anyone who knew me, to meet and then fall in love with a police officer. Not that I wasn’t a law-abiding citizen by any means (here’s where some of my friends and family may snicker), but it was just unexpected. I would guess that it’s the same feeling many have about marrying someone in the military. While it may not be your ideal, it’s your reality. We fall in love with a person, not their career. And then we learn to deal with everything that comes along with it.

Police Office Bible Verses - Free Printable Cards

My husband is a police officer. It’s not something we talk about to just anyone. In today’s society it seems to be getting such a negative reaction, that it sometimes seems best to just keep that information under wraps. I cannot imagine putting my life on the line every day I go to work. I cannot imagine what that would entail, or what kind of emotional toll it would take on you. I, however, can imagine what it’s like to avoid going out in the city he works, so he doesn’t have to run into someone he’s arrested. I know what it’s like to always give him the chair that is facing the door when we go out for dinner. I know what it’s like to sleep alone most nights of the week. I know what it’s like to be woken up by a very scary phone call. I know what it’s like to appreciate him every second I have him. Except maybe after he plays a bad golf round. Then he’s just a big grump.

Even then, even when he’s being a pain in the ass (who, him?), I like to remind him that I love him. And when I read some Bible verses relating to police work, I thought I could remind him that God loves him too. I designed these little note cards to put in his lunch when he works, to give him a little uplifting reminder that his job is important. Maybe it’s a little cheesy, but we can all use reminders every now and then. Or in his case, every day. Do you think he’s sick of me yet? 😉

Police Office Bible Verses - Free Printable Cards

You can print your set of Police Officer Bible Verse cards here. And if you’d like a little uplifting reminder of the good cops, look back on this post.

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DIY

Strawberry Baskets!

6.14.2016


You are Berry special to me - Strawberry Basket of Appreciation

Now that school is out and summertime has begun, it’s officially strawberry season. Grab your best friend, a few bowls of fresh strawberries (in margarita form maybe?), and enjoy the summertime sunshine. Add to the occasion by telling them how special they are to you with a little strawberry gift basket.

I don’t know about you, but I always have a bunch of these little strawberry baskets hanging around my house. I’ve been collecting them for a while now, telling my husband that I’ll find something to do with them. “Don’t Throw Them Away!” (This is my second life motto). Well, after over a year, I finally found something to do with them. There’s no stopping me now.

Note: In case you’re not a hoarder like I am, just visit the farmer’s market and pick up some fresh berries, you’ll be sure to get your own basket.

Ingredients for a Strawberry Basket of Appreciation

Once you’ve got your strawberry basket, add a little shredded fluff, and fill in with whatever Strawberry items you can find. Print the tag here, the individual strawberry here, and tie onto the basket. You’ll have a fun little summertime gift basket for your friends!

Strawberry Gift Basket - You are Berry Special to Me!

Today marks the start of my husband’s thirty-sixth year on this planet. I thought I’d give him a little birthday shout-out for being such an amazing husband, and an even better best friend. So because he is Berry Special to me (see what I did there?), this post is dedicated to him. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the gift basket, those went to my lady friends. Sorry babe, you’ll get your gift later, I promise.

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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

A core memory I didn’t know I’d be making… This w A core memory I didn’t know I’d be making…

This weekend at church, my daughter got to light the candles for the first time. At the end of the service, when she went up on her own to extinguish them, proud tears dropped from my eyes. And as I looked around at others, I noticed I wasn’t the only one. 

If you had asked me in my early to mid twenties, I wouldn’t have imagined how much this community, this faith, and these little traditions would come to mean to our family. There was a season of my life, long before I became a mom, where I drifted away from actively going to church. Now, getting to watch my girls grow up surrounded by faith, love, and a church family who knows them and celebrates them feels like such a gift.
Hot take: We’ve convinced ourselves kids need bigg Hot take: We’ve convinced ourselves kids need bigger backyards, when what they really need is neighborhood kids.

I used to think about more square footage, more land, more privacy. Now? I’d rather my girls have friends they can run to than an acre they have to play on alone.

A bigger house isn’t always a better childhood. For us, built-in community has been worth more than an extra bedroom ever could be.

I know this won’t be everyone’s opinion, but I think for elementary-aged kids, having friends next door is more valuable than having a huge yard. Anyone else change their mind about what “dream home” actually means?
It’s all fun and games until you marry the comedia It’s all fun and games until you marry the comedian of the family…

#funnyhusband #husbandgoals #shsfloats #poolfloats
I’ll die on this hill: kids birthday parties SHOUL I’ll die on this hill: kids birthday parties SHOULD feel magical.

Before anyone comes at me, I’m not talking about spending thousands of dollars. I’m talking about picking a theme, hanging the decorations, baking the cake (or buying it and decorating at home), planning the games, and making your kid feel like the most important person in the world for one day.

That’s the stuff they’ll remember.

You don’t need a huge budget to make childhood feel special. Agree or disagree?
Even with the bathroom trips. 🤣 Listen. Social me Even with the bathroom trips. 🤣

Listen. Social media tends to make traveling with children look glamorous, and the truth is, it usually isn’t. Are some kids professional travelers? Of course. But reality is that there’s always pitfalls and unexpected turbulence that you just have to mentally prepare for before you travel. And in the end? I promise you, it’s worth all the hassle. 

#summertravel #travellingwithkids
Do you ever just look at your spouse and think, I Do you ever just look at your spouse and think, I really nailed it? 

Why yes, I do. 🤣🤣🤣

#husbandgoals
One of my favorite things we get to give our girls One of my favorite things we get to give our girls is perspective. To see new places. To meet different people. To experience cultures outside of their own.

Not so they grow up thinking one place is “better” than another — but so they grow up curious, grateful, and grounded. And the more of the world we see, the more thankful I become for home, for the freedoms we have, and for the life we get to build together. 

Flag tees from @sweet_peas_and_sweeties - they’re selling fast so grab yours before they’re gone!
I might be the world’s worst “influencer,” because I might be the world’s worst “influencer,” because I’m here to tell you this: you do not need a whole new wardrobe for vacation.

Social media makes it feel like every trip requires new outfits, a new summer closet, a new date-night dress…but honestly? It doesn’t.

I’m willing to bet you already have plenty of great options hanging in your closet. And instead of spending a bunch of money on clothes you’ll probably only wear once, maybe it’s enough to just wear what you already love.
One day, instead of hearing little feet running th One day, instead of hearing little feet running through the house all day, I’ll be leaving voicemails hoping they call me back when they have time.

The sticky fingerprints will wash away, the car seats will come out, bedtime routines will end, and the house that once felt so loud will get quieter little by little.

It’s strange how the things that exhaust you in the moment become the very things you ache for later. 🤍
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