AUBREY KINCH

I've grown up with my dad preaching to me to have my thank you cards written the week after whatever event that requires a little snail mail. It used to be something I found a bit obnoxious and never really enjoyed taking the time to show my gratitude but over time, I've learned the meaning behind each handwritten letter and I've come to appreciate and be extremely intentional about sending a thank you for even simply spending the evening with us when it's hard to work in with schedules.

I am one who loves getting a little love in the mail so I find I get the same satisfaction knowing someone else will be also. I feel I've mastered the basic thank you card and have a few tips on places to snag inexpensive cards and a how to make it custom to your receiver. 

First off where to find some great cards. My go to place is Target, go figure. The $1 binds have some awesome and seriously cute cards to sort through. Most of them come in packs of 6-8 and they're simple but to the point. Shown above come with 4 yellow and 4 gray with all teal envelopes. Perfect for spring and summer if you ask me. 

My second favorite place to shop cards is Hallmark. They tend to have a little more pricey cards but the quality is perfection. They are more custom so you can chose a few styles that really speak to you, stock up over the year and keep them in a good place so you always have them to run to. Expect to spend $10-$15 on a pack of 20 here.

Supplies: my favorite thing to write with is my Sharpie Pen. It's fine tip is easy to read and stays bold on all colors when writing a note. Washi tape is also my best friend since it gives more of a custom look when using basic cards. If I'm really in the mood for something fun, after I write out the note, I throw in a pinch of glitter before I seal my envelope. Such a surprise for the one receiving the snail mail!

Finding the right things to say in the content is something that took me a bit to figure out but this is what I like to do:

thank them

mention the item or gesture you're thanking them for

mention something coming up you'll see them at

thank them again (if needed)

sign off

Simple and to the point.

Address the cards as needed and dress up the outside a bit with washi tape if you desire then pop it in the mail. I hope those little ways I've learned for thanking can help you. And again, anyone likes to get a little something in the mail. It's always such a nice surprise so go send some cards, stat!

We're adjusting after a crazy weekend in Calif for our friends wedding, so here are a few snaps from our trip. By the way, I brought the Canon camera fully intending to document each and every moment of the weekend but it felt quite freeing not even opening the case. The iPhone shall do the talking for you this time!

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Right now, we're driving to Calif for our friends wedding. I'll be honest I'm not so excited about this drive because I've been a hot mess of nausea as of lately. We shall see how it goes but I don't have high hopes.

Random, Wednesday night I spent a couple hours figuring out what I wanted to make for a freebie and this week I planned on doing a phone background, an iPad background and a desktop background and right when I went to save it all, my computer froze and I lost it. All of it. Tears. Let me tell you, it wasn't pretty. So I drank some much needed wine and knocked out something completely different that I ended up liking better. So today, snag one, two or three freebies is you'd like and share with all your friends, kay?

N A V I G A T I O N   B A R :

These are the pages you have active that can be clicked to redirect you to a new page with additional content. As shown on Becky's blog, she has four additional pages to her home page so when clicked on, the page shown coordinates with the title. These pages are a bloggers responsibility! When your design is created, those titles are built custom to match the overall design but the content on those pages are to be edited and changed up by you, as the blogger. 

Where can you find those? On your Blogger dashboard, there is a little menu arrow, click on the arrow and a list of categories will show, "Pages" will be one of them. Once clicked on, you're navigated to a new page that gives you the option to create a new page or edit current ones. This is also where you can find the links for each of those pages! NOTE: this is where you need to be when I as your designer am asking for your Navigation bar links.

A B O U T   B L U R B:

A small area with an image as reference and little details of who you are. This is also created as an image and can be changed by your designer at an additional fee in the future, if you choose to. I always link this image to your "About" page so when clicked on it redirects to your page that goes a little more in depth about you. Again, not all bloggers chose to have an "About" page but if so, that's how I link it.

S O C I A L   M E D I A   S E T :

These are small icons for each social media platform you choose to have people connect with you on. When clicked, each one redirects to the site the icons corresponds with.

S I D E B A R   T I T L E S :

Remember we talked about the sidebar and widgets above? As a designer, I can removed the titles that give the option to use in the widget settings and I build a cute, custom title that matches with the blog design. As shown on Becky's, her sidebar has titles for each widget she uses on her sidebar.

F A V I C O N :

Always get questions on this! Your favicon is a little icon that shows in your browser tab. Have gmail? Notice the little red and white envelope on the browser tab? Yep, that's a favicon. In the packages I offer, I create a little favicon to coordinate with your blog design.

S I G N A T U R E :

It's common to have a post signature with a blog design. At the end of your post content, your signature is embedded into your blog coding so it will show on the end of your blog posts. 

A D   B U T T O N :

Also known as a grab button, designs include an ad button for you to use on sponsoring other blogs. You will also have the button with a "grab code" located on your blogs sidebar for readers to "grab" and put on their blog sidebar. This is great way to build more traffic to your blog and gives you a cohesive look for your brand.

Lastly, a big thank you to Becky for letting me feature her blog on this post. Swing by Cella Jane for a dose of fitness,  fashion and some great DIY projects!

top | target

shorts | H&M

shoes | nordstrom

watch | fossil

bracelets | F21

No. 1

remind yourself you're worth it

God created each of us to be beautiful and to be unique. Never did He says let's make these two people completely identical because that's not His intention. I believe He built each of us to be special and to be valuable in our own way. Remind yourself of this and you'll start to believe it.

No. 2

do something that makes you happy

This may sound silly but my whole world is right when I have a little tan. I feel my best when I have a nice glow and that makes me happy. This isn't something to please others but when I get a tan, I'm beaming. You can read my method, here.

No. 3

embrace the trials in life with a deep breath

I can't stress enough how overwhelmed I can get over the littlest things and it's silly! Beyond, silly. I mean, do I really need to have anxiety over my chap stick running out or from not checking the mail daily? Nope, it's obnoxious. I've learned when something gets in my head and makes my heart heavy, it's time to take a deep breath, and let it go. I've even made a freebie for that!

No. 4

take time for yourself

God only knows how I am a workaholic and I'm pretty sure it's driving my husband crazy now too. Andrew has constantly been reminding me to take an hour in the morning to watch a DVR show or to take a little run. Those are the moments that are crucial for your mind and soul. Those are the times you can think to yourself and reflect on everything in life. They're necessary. 

No. 5

surround yourself with uplifting friends

I haven't always had the best friends and it became very apparent to me when I got married. I guess when you start that chapter of your life the old friends think your boring and old now being married but guess what? I'm not. I'm happy I was faced with this reality though because I've made some new friends that are only encouraging me and a constant reminder of how great a relationship can be. When you're surrounded by positive people, you tend be have an uplifting spirit and that's only contagious.

I could focus on the superficial things in life but I think it's time for me to take a step back, redirect my attention and challenge myself to doing the five things above. I'm sure in time I'll find some routine of getting time for myself and let's hope a few deep breaths in, I can even make it to the gym for my "me time". Yes?

click here to download the recipe card to print!

There's nothing better to me than indulging in something sweet and delectable but making it with a kick. I've found my new favorite way to enjoy my nightly alcohol and dessert all at the same time. The root beer float with vanilla vodka. I mean, it's beyond amazing. I have been obsessing about this thing the last few weeks so it's time I shared it with you all to enjoy yourselves. This recipe is plain and simple with three ingredients:

root beer

vanilla ice cream

vanilla vodka

I like to use a three count for pouring my alcohol...sometimes a five just depending on the mood and in my mind, it's absolutely necessary to be served in a mason jar with an adorable paper straw. It just makes it that much more enjoyable. I've had this with whipped cream vodka versus the vanilla and each are scrumptious so go for it friends! Maybe even add some cherry vodka or bailey's if you're feeling crazy. Enjoy this new cocktail, my friends!

Last Monday I had a form of birth control implanted into my arm. I was unaware of this options when I went to my annual check up but was happy I was told and that insurance covered the full procedure. This implant is called Nexplanon; there's also Implanon that's the same form. Nexplanon is a low dosage birth control that is inserted in your left arm in the form of a shot. The dosage lasts three years releases medication throughout your body over that time. The difference between this and the pill is that it doesn't contain additional hormones so this is the most natural way to use contraception without side effects that I've always struggled with. Previously on the pill I suffered from intense UTI's monthly. It's miserable and always forced me to terminate my usage. I chose this method over a shot because it's lower maintenance where I won't have to visit the doctor quarterly for another dosage. All in all, that's my kind of birth control.

The procedure was fairly simple and easy. First, my arm was marked where the implant would start and end. I was then numbed with a shot which normally takes 5-10 minutes to become active but I was lucky and couldn't feel a thing in 1 minute. The implant is also a shot that's inserted in the same spot that's marked from the beginning. The needled for the implant is extremely large because the implant///rod travels through the needle to be inserted. I felt a bit of tugging and pulling as the implant was placed in my arm and there was a lot of bleeding after but all is all, it was simple.

I was wrapped in a bandage I was to keep on for 24 hours. It's packed tight to help the bruising and bleeding to be minimal. Once I removed that the following day, I was still bleeding for the next 2 days and kept a bandaid on it until it stopped. I have a pretty substantial area of bruising but I tend to bruise easily so it was expected. 

If I were to press down on my arm on either end of the rod you can easily see it there. It's still a little tender and I've been catching myself itching at the irritation from bandaids. I write this at 5 days later and my bruising is worse now than it has been all week but it's definitely not as tender! I made it to the gym this morning to lift for the first time since getting it. I will go back to my doctor in two weeks to check up on the implant and to make sure my healing is progressing correctly.

Like I said before, this is a great form of birth control that's low maintenance and closes to an IUD. Why didn't I chose an IUD? You can read about that, here.

I chose to watch a few YouTube videos and googled images of the insertion and recovery because I wanted to make an educated decision on this process. I fully encourage everyone to do the same if they're considering this method of contraception.

N O T E : it takes 2 weeks for the implant to become fully active.

+ the above picture is numbered shown in the order of application

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Happy downloading!

Is there something you do every spring to pull a little outside in?

Eeek! I told you back here all about getting the new iPad and for the reason behind the splurge. I also showed you a little snippet here of my handwriting and told you I did it with a new app on the iPad. Well today, I'm finally going to show you a little font love and how I made the new font downloaded on my computer, Kinch Love.

First off, go download the app. This is where you can read all about it and has a link over to the app store. It's a small fee of $6.99 and I've already made 6 fonts and have been designing a few blogs with custom fonts now so in my opinion, it's worth every penny. 

Next, open the app and get to making your font! It's so simple the way they have it laid out for you. You're walked through upper case and lower case letters, symbols and numbers. You have tools available to use at the bottom of the app that allow you to name your font, change the size of your brush, change the brush tip, clearing mistakes...etc. Play around with those and don't be scared to make couple sets of fonts to find what you like.

After you've gone through all the info needed to build the font, you can click over to compose and type out your font to see it in action on the app before sending it to download. This is where you can play with spacing also. Such a useful tool!

Once you've decided on the font, simply click in the top right corner to save the font and send it to 2FFT.com to make the font for you. I like to do this as an email because they send me a code that gives me access to downloading the font online.

Simple as that! Get it downloaded on your computer, open up your software and get to playing with your new creation. SO easy. I showed my 7 year old this when I was done and he went crazy making his own. Granted, he decided to doodle all over his which is totally fine too. This is his little mess of a font and it's so special to me because I have those memories of his doodles now downloaded. It's priceless people.

Also, a little insight to the freebie last week showing my handwriting, I did what Drake did for each letter, doodling certain sayings and phrases I liked. So again, when I hit A on the "freebie" font I made, a saying pops up and so one for each letter. So good luck; you are all welcomed to download my new font, Kinch Love below. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

kinch love

n o t e : this font was made at a higher point size to use for images on the blog. it's best used 200 point size and higher. if you decide to share, please link back here for some blog love!

I know I say this more often than not but there are moments of marriage love is just blossoming. It's growing deeper and deeper and I never thought my heart would feel like it would burst from so much love.

I like to describe our love as a crazy, stupid love and I wanted to share a little something for all those out there who have it too.

click here to download.

Enjoy the printable and go give your man some lovin'!

click here to download mint, click here to download pink.

I N   C A S E   Y O U   M I S S E D   I T :

Monday // Boobs

Tuesday // Nude Lipstick Guide

Wednesday // A Bump

Thursday // Blazer Crazy

p.s. Brutus was the cutest dang pup this week and I just need to share a few instagrams with you:

Happy weekend!