Oooh, boy. This is a tough blog post to write. And that coming from one who blogs minimally, at best!
But it's not the time required to write this that's difficult. It's the content.
How to communicate it well, how to convey how the emotion and thought that went into this decision, how to finish it well. That's what's stinkin' hard to do right now. And why I've put it off for so long. But, with the upcoming release of my Spring Canopy collection this week, I knew it was the perfect time to announce that I'm wrapping things up. Making and sending off one final set of canopies (which happens to also be my favorite of all time!) will leave Hemmed In just where I want it: in the everyday lives of hard working, multi-tasking, love-pouring Mamas who could use a little help "simplifying life with baby" wherever they can find it!

The opening quote is the key point: You can do anything; but not everything simultaneously.
While the world around us screams by at lightening pace, and it seems everyone is handling more than ever with picture-perfect ease, the truth is: You can't do everything; despite what your social media feed may have you believe!

As our family and business have grown alongside each other, I've struggled under the weight of knowing that both require all of me, all the time. They're both full-time+ jobs, and cannot both be done well by one lone mama! Even moreso, our family is soon entering the world of Foster Care, and possibly another adoption therein, and our desire is for myself, in particular, to be freed up completely to welcome and care for the children God brings us, along with our own 2 young ones. The balancing act of tending to the daily demands of growing a business solo, while caring for children in need, is a feat that would require more than I'm willing to sacrifice...

...For now. Like my friend and fellow business-owning mentor says, "You can have it all; but not at the same time." The past 4 years has given the time to grow & build Hemmed In. Now, the time is to build into the lives of our children, and any other children who come to call our family 'home.' They deserve my everything, and it's time I "Simplify (my own) life with Baby!"

I'm not sure for how long, or what it would look like to pick up the reins again in the future. I don't know if we'll have many foster children or few; or if we'll adopt one or a few of the children we foster.

I hope that Hemmed In has served you fellow Moms well, and I hope that in some way, my stepping back also serves you. Maybe as a reminder that You're a Good Mom, no matter what daily motherhood looks like for you. Maybe just as an example that it's OK to say no to good things, and stand in the cross current of the cultural norm of constant busyness. I so appreciate you being with me on this journey through small business, adoption and now foster care. Like I've always said, we moms NEED each other! I'm very grateful I've had you all to share this with.

HOWEVER: all that to say, this is not happening today. In a few short months, yes, Hemmed In will shutter its windows. But there's still time for one more round of life-simplifying canopies to get into the hands of Mamas delivering a new batch of babies this spring!
And, I must say, I've saved the best for last:

These 4 canopies are made from the softest, 100% ORGANIC Cotton and are to.die.for!!

They're each just right for an everyday baby accessory that's really for mom: colors that are understated and modern, with trendy patterns that don't topple over into the cheesy baby realm.

This is an extremely Limited Release, with less than 10 canopies available in each style. They'll be available for purchase, and ready to ship, this Saturday, March 18th. If you're not already a Hemmed In VIP, make sure to sign up today to get in on Exclusive Offers on these and the last few Mini Dot or Solid canopies about to be clearanced!

Thank you so much for reading this, and thank you for your purchases in support of Hemmed In! I couldn't do this without you.

Another week, another quick & easy meal coming to you, from my tried & true kitchen testers (aka my family, friends and guests who've all agreed: this one's a keeper)

It's got a slight Greek flair to it, so I usually pair it with a quick salad and Sweet Potatoes, easily made while the burgers sit on the (Foreman) grill. 

This is another great one to freeze too, so I always make a double or triple batch to keep a few servings on hand in the freezer for a really quick dinner.

1. In a medium bowl, combine oil, garlic, oregano, dill weed and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in stuffing mix to coat thoroughly. Stir in eggs, spinach and 1/2 cup Feta cheese; Mix well. Shape mixture into 4 half-inch thick patties.
2. Heat griddle or large skillet over medium heat (we use a George Foreman grill). Add patties as they fit. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until browned and heated through. Serve in buns with toppings: feta, plain Greek yogurt, tomatoes, Tatziki Sauce, sliced roasted Red Peppers, Red Onion, etc.

Enjoy! Even my littlest one love these, hopefully yours will too.

The dinner time rush. The bewitching hour. The time when Moms around the country are juggling fussy babies, late afternoon grogginess and the inevitable "what's for dinner?" on repeat.

I'm here to help get dinner on the table quickly, healthily and simply with a few of my own tried & true crowd pleasers this month. Up first: filling, flavorful, freezable Enchiladas made with less than 10 ingredients and on the table in 45 minutes.

• 2 Cups Cooked chicken: cubed, strips or shredded

               (I usually slow cook a whole chicken in some broth, then shred it and freeze it for multiple recipes)

• 1 tub Cream Cheese 
• 1 Can diced Green Chiles
• 1 can Black Beans
• 10 oz Bag of frozen corn, or fajita veggies; whatever's on hand :)
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 15 oz Green Chile sauce or Green Enchilada Sauce
• 1 dozen Tortillas

TOPPINGS: shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt as substitute), avocados 

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
2. Place cream cheese, beans, chiles and chicken in skillet, letting the cream cheese melt and mix all together thoroughly. Stir in frozen vegetables.
3. Spread half the can of Enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 13x9" baking pan. Spoon 1/3 cup filling in a tortilla, roll in the enchilada sauce and place seam down. Repeat with all tortillas and filling. Spread remaining Enchilada sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle shredded cheese on top. 
   

​*If preparing this for the freezer:* Cover tightly with aluminum foil at this step and place in freezer for up to one month. To use later, let dish thaw for 2 hours, then place in 350* oven for 30-45 minutes or until the tortillas are golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.

• Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and tortillas are beginning to brown. Enjoy with whatever toppings your family prefers! (Side salad, rice or corn on the cob are all quick & easy dishes to pair with these for a more robust meal)

I can't tell you how excited I am to finally bring this project to life. 

​Feeling the need to get offline and develop relationships right around me last year, I challenged myself to write a note a week. Just a little note to someone that'd been on my mind lately. And I sent 'em the good old snail mail way. That's when it hit me to make a way for you to take the conversation deeper also. With the help of very talented ladies, we brought the vision to life and it's better than I even dreamed it could be! 

A handwritten note means so much. It shows that the writer took a few moments in time to stop the busyness of life, quiet her mind, and think only of the one she's writing to. It's deeply personal, it's intentional, and it's so, so simple! Today, these cards are now available in our shop here; stock up, start writing, and see lives changed.

A friend recently asked me how my "you're a good mom" mission with Hemmed In started. I had to think back to this time last year, when I was redesigning our Canopies with all new fabric, packaging and finishing touches:

I knew I wanted something special on the canopy just for the woman using it. Something small, quiet, something you had to kind of search for. Not obvious or in your face. Like a secret message just between us; from me to her. Around that time, I was noticing a continual conversation happening online between women: bloggers, business owners, SAHM's, each one a Mother, each one voicing a similar cry for affirmation. It went something like this: "I didn't get the laundry done. I ignored my kid while I worked today. I got frustrated with the baby who kept me up all night. I fed by child cereal for dinner.......BUT; I love him more than life itself...She's my world and I want her to always know that....I'm doing the best I can. I hope that's enough...."

Sound familiar??
I kept reading posts like those, from the busiest, most successful "working moms" of one, to the homeschooling moms of a small tribe.
​
It was like every woman was aching to know that she wasn't messing everything up.
Pouring out Mom guilt and then self-soothing it with a thin layer of self-acceptance.

I thought to myself; if all these women are feeling this way, having to convince themselves they're an 'ok' Mom, that must mean that they're not hearing that from anyone else. Our needs have a way of making themselves heard, even unbeknownst to ourselves, and I was beginning to think that our community of Moms are being starved of that life-giving affirmation and encouragement.

I wanted to change that, one Mom at a time. I started telling more moms  in my world that they're a great mom, and why; friends or strangers alike. Just think for a moment; how often do our woman-to-woman conversations hover around the goings-ons of our children, and yet, how often do we affirm the very Mom we're talking to?! 

I have a touch point with a lot of Moms every month; through social media, product shows, and canopies being shipped out to customers. I wanted to let each woman know that she's doing a good job. So my tiny secret message was designed, made into woven tags, and has gone on every single canopy since.

The outcome of it I didn't expect: it's become a way for women to encourage one another, that message is no longer just from me to you! So many of Hemmed In's customers are giving our Canopies to friends, and that little tag on the inside is now a message between them. It's one thing for a stranger to tell you "You're a good Mom," but quite another for a woman in your everyday life to affirm you in that personal way.

​Now she can see that message everyday on her carseat canopy, and know it came from a friend who believes in her. I LOVE THAT!! ​

The hashtag #YoureAGoodMom on Instagram has become a way for women to tag a friend that comes to mind, reminding her that she's great at being Mom. But the online world moves at lightening pace. A quick shout-out, an 'atta-girl shot of encouragement only lasts so long in the heart of a weary woman.

I do believe that coming soon, there's going to be a push-back from all of our online-only relating. I know for certain that relationships cannot thrive through text messages, tags or shout-outs in a busy, crowded place like social media. It's the face-to-face moments or handwritten words that will knit hearts together. So I'm taking the conversation offline, and encouraging you to do so with me. I've got a really exciting new product release coming next week that's been months in the making. I so hope it will be a tool for us all to help developing stronger, deeper relationships with each other through the selfless, easy act of saying to another woman "You're a good Mom." Stay tuned, friends! 2017 is going to be life-changing :) 

Anxiously awaiting a new arrival in 2017?  Hoping to streamline life and its stuff in the New Year? Just love getting that perfect gift for a new mom; especially during a really good sale?!

I'm here to make sure every Mama has a way to simplify all the THINGS that life with baby brings, and our canopies do just that. They're so simple, and yet so useful, it's almost like cheating on all the other one-use baby items that are getting replaced ;)

I'm starting the new year off with great gratitude for all that 2016 was, and it wouldn't have been possible without the support of our customers, friends, family and collaborators. So I want to share my thanks with you with one HUGE sale!

I've never done a sale this big. In fact, I don't even do promos on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, or Small Business Saturday, or any other big sale day! (It's the rebel in me I suppose).

The sale goes live on Monday, January 2nd. But for our VIP's, it starts tomorrow, New Year's Day. And they always get extra savings. So make sure you're on the list to get first dibs! Sign up HERE.

I can't wait to show you all the new things coming for 2017, but first: stock up on the perfect baby shower gift, and help me "Simplify Life With Baby" for more moms than ever this year!!
With great thanks,
~Wendy

It started as a way to let my Little Lady shop for others this Christmas. Just like one of my suggestions in the last blog post on how to get kids involved in giving, I'd given her a small budget, and set her loose in Tuesday Morning to find a little something for those she put on her list.
Then the anxiety started to rise in me. Not becuase I was worried that she'd overspend, or the fact that she was spending more time in the toy section than where any adult gifts could be found. But because I *could not* bring myself to purchase a gift just for the sake of getting a gift under the tree for every person.

I could not get over the fact that I didn't know what they'd each want or need, so I felt completely paralyzed, not wanting to get junk they'd have to figure out what to do with after the fact.

Little Lady did get eventually find some really thoughtful, some hilarious, gifts for her family. I had to remind myself more than once that this was an exercise in training generosity, not in teaching her my minimalistic, clutter-phobic ways.

This year, I hope you're able to sit back and enjoy the memory making, however it comes. Gift giving, mess making, and all! See you in 2017 with more life-with-baby simplifying tips, tricks and products handmade with love.
Merry Christmas, Mamas.
xo,
Wendy

First, a quick disclaimer: There's no one-size fits all solution to this. Each Mama chooses what's best for her family, their finances and what most aligns with the values her family is driven by. So of course, this will look different for every family. I hope in not promoting just one "Giving Rule", this does not induce guilt or self-righteousness or any self-imposed standard that we measure other Mothers by. I hope this simply serves to inspire new ideas, or maybe even new traditions!

Inspired by the gifts brought to the Lord Jesus at His birth, this set of gifts is as simple as it gets:

1. "Frankincense": a gift to inspire Spiritual growth; like a Bible or worship CD, or even a movie for little little ones to be introduced to the Bible's stories. (Frankincense was incense given to Jesus to symbolize a spiritual act of worship)
2. "Myrrh": a gift that stays close to your body; like clothing items, or a sleeping bag, or special blanket. (Myrrh was an embalming oil typically used in burials, was given to Jesus to symbolize His future death)
3. "Gold": a gift the child would see as valuable or desirable; what would top their wish list?! (Gold was a gift of great value, given to Jesus to symbolize His kingship)
   

Keeps things "even" among siblings, and leaves plenty of room for creative interpretation!

1. Something they WANT: a baby just wants the paper everyone else's presents are wrapped in! Or, a simple wooden toy to chew on would do it.
2. Something they NEED: Money in their college fund? Yes! (especially if they're too young to know the point of tangible gifts.) Socks? Pencils for school? A haircut?! Babies would love opening a package of diapers; again, it's the ribbon & paper they're really after ;)
3. Something to WEAR: PJ's, winter boots, a cool hat, dress up costumes, you name it.
4. Something to READ: Magazine subscriptions are gifts that keep on giving, like little monthly gifts in the mailbox! Babies love flap books, toddlers love the books that read to you, older children could get a book series to read over the break.

I found these Biography books at Barnes & Noble, and am going to ask family members to pick one out for our bookworm 2nd Grader, then have them write in the book why they chose that person's biography: Educational for her, and still personal for them to give.

If it's better to give than receive, then we should give our children the opportunity to give! Here's a couple ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

• Shoebox for children in need: this is typically done by the time December hits, but is a wonderful tradition to kick of the Christmas season. Samaritan's Purse is the most notable organization doing this, but there are undoubtedly local charities in your area doing the same thing, possibly even for local kidis in Foster Care. Just takes a Google search to find out!
• Thrift Store Shopping: even 3 year olds can do this successfully! Give your child a small cash budget, and help them prepare a list of people in the family they'd like to give to, along with some helpful ideas of what that person likes. Then go to the Thrift Store and let them do the shopping. You'll find they're quite creative and thoughtful, and oftentimes, chose hilarious gifts!
• Adopt a family program: this is another good search for Google to help you out with, but we've done it for families with an incarcerated parent, or a single-parent household, or a family in need at the school. We let our daughter pick, wrap and deliver the presents for the kids as 'her' gift to them.
• Advent for Orphans: I saved the best for last! Our family LOVES this tradition. Instead of the daily chocolate treat type advent calendars, we have been so blessed by this advent calendar, put out by Lifesong for Orphans. (It's FREE!) Each day, we are given prompts like "Give $1.50 for every room in your home" or "Give $1 for every night you went to bed with a full belly this week" or "Give $5 for every person in your immediate family". These spur on conversations with our children of why these things, that we take for granted, would be significant in the life of an orphan or child in need. Family members who love them and are present everyday of their life. Full bellies from healthy, safe food. A home with more than enough room. We so look forward to these daily dinner conversations. At the end of the Advent, we total it all up and donate that amount to the work of Orphan Care near and far.
  

And just like that, our Adoption of this [insanely precious!] little boy is legally complete.
On National Adoption Day, we stood before a Judge, our family and friends, and took an oath to love, cherish + care for this little boy for a lifetime. We're so incredibly thankful we get to.
The journey's been long, complicated, and costly in more ways than we ever imagined. And while the paperwork and legalities are completed, the journey's really just beginning.

His story is unlike many already, and he's only 7 months old! It's a beautiful story, with many threads of families and lives and paths being woven together. I'm eager to share the beginning of his story with him as he grows; but even moreso, I can't wait to see the story that's yet to be written in his life.
Who he'll grow to be, what he'll grow to love and how he'll choose to live this life.

That's what makes this gift we received (just before our day in court!) even sweeter:

Jayne Swallow, the creator of Promply Journals, just released an Adoption-specific version of her well-loved childhood Journals. From birth to 18 years old, this journal is where all the memories and details of life get stored. And thank goodness, too! My phone notes + random notepads with memorable stories jotted down just aren't cutting it!

It's a gorgeous grey linen, professionally bound hardback journal, subtly embossed with "Promptly Journals" on the front. It's classically stylish and doesn't even *hint* at being another cheesy "baby book."

Best of all, the pages are thoughtfully designed with prompts to inspire your writing with intentional questions that help get your story going.
I wrote about all these things in various places during our whirlwind trip to Georgia to get this little man, and in various journals throughout the adoption process, but this brings all of those papers, and tidbits strewn about, into one cohesive history; in one beautifully designed book.

And those questions!! Gah, I'm tearing up just thinking about what I'll write for each one.

I've already ordered one for a friend who's just beginning the adoption process; because I knew it'd the perfect gift to give as she starts along this road. It's a gift that brought me joy to give, knowing that those pages will be filled with her heartache, her hope and her unwavering love for whatever child(ren) the Lord has planned for her.

I know ours will be! It's already getting filled in with the past year's twists and turns, emotions and prayers. It's a history book waiting to be written that I hope, one day, helps my little man to know how miraculous + beautiful his life story is.

Thank you for reading along with me these past few weeks in honor of Adoption Awareness Month! It's a joy to share it with you, Mamas. No matter how your children got to you, I hope you know that you're the best Mom your children could ever have. You were perfectly planned for one another, and no paperwork is needed to prove that! ;)

National Adoption Awareness Month continues, and so do the Adoption-related posts! if you missed Part I, it's right here.

This week I dive into the biggest question in adoption:
Why? Why adopt? We've fielded that question a lot throughout the process. And still do, now that we have an adopted son.
That question is probably answered as many different times as there are different adoptive families; everyone's journey is unique, and their reasoning, while probably similar, is ultimately unique as well.

To be clear, we'd always talked about it, even before marriage or having our daughter biologically. But it's one thing to talk about it in "someday" conversations, and quite another to feel like your heart is pulled that direction without your prompting. And it's certainly bigger than any one family or organization. Adoption is a gigantic ball of chaos that no one goes into thinking "I got this! It's a good idea, sounds great, I'm in." Call it a passion, a calling, a hardwired desire. It consumed our thoughts and plans for the future. We knew we were being moved by something greater than our little family's dreams. Infertility helped us, in a way. The longer it went without any explanation, the more confirmed we felt in pursuing adoption. Like God was keeping us available for the children He had planned for us along. And yet, we knew very clearly that...

We entered this process not knowing what, or whom, it would lead to. While you're invested heart & soul, there's no guarantees, no promises that it'll end with a slightly larger family in the annual Christmas card photo. God called us to say Yes and join Him in caring for children, and we trusted that He'd use us as He saw fit. We had several placements fall through, and every time were reminded that if nothing else, we had an opportunity, a responsibility, to pray for these families. If our lives only intersected for a fleeting moment in time, what were we going to do in that time? We were there for a reason, and if it was simply to pray for the preservation of + provision for their family, then that's what we would do. But still, as my husband reminded myself and others frequently...

God rescues. We enter in, as He leads, to His work in this. We get a lot of "oh, you're such a good family to do that." or "oh, he (our son) is so lucky." I beg to differ. We're not 'good' because we adopted a child. We're loved by a good God that called us to be a conduit of His goodness in the life of a child. And our son isn't lucky; he's wildly loved by his family and by his Heavenly Father. If luck were ever a part in this, it'd be us that are the lucky ones getting to raise him & enjoy him for a lifetime!

Do you know of an adoptive Mom? Or "expecting" adoptive Mom? Ask her: why adoption? What led you here? Believe me, just talking about her story is so helpful and necessary for her. Enter into it with her, ask questions, start to understand her unique journey.
And make sure she knows she's a good Mom with a card or canopy :)
Part III coming next week; just in time for National Adoption Day. Stay tuned!