Erin Akin Carroll

Five on Friday… on Saturday!

Sep142013

I totally meant to write this post on Thursday night, but I’m out of town right now and that just didn’t end up happening. But because Five on Friday is one of my favorite things all week, I still wanted to go ahead and link up with Darci for Five on Friday… on Saturday.

-ONE-

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I have been in Chicago since Thursday. Molly, Nina and I are here on behalf of Dr. Smith’s diaper rash ointment. I will blog all about this trip later, but it was really such a fun weekend! With beautiful Chicago temperatures! And the most amazing rigatoni at the sweetest little Italian restaurant in Roscoe Village, thanks to Nina’s awesome tour guide skills!

-TWO-

While the couple of days away were super fun, and I am so thankful to Dr. Smith’s for being able to go… I really miss my family. I can’t wait to get home today and hug my boys. Todd and I are also taking Hudson to the game tonight against Vanderbilt. Whoa, boy! I’m so excited!

-THREE-

The house progress is really moving! Almost all of our built-ins are finished, almost all of the trim is finished, and we should be seeing paint and our hardy plank soon. We’re getting close! The mantle on our outdoor fireplace was complete (except for paint) the other day when we went by. This fireplace is on our screened-in porch, and just about every morning Todd and I talk about how excited we are to sit on this porch and have coffee. If we were sitting out there today, we’d be watching College Game Day and sipping coffee!

-FOUR-

I am a regular contributor for Courtney DeFeo’s blog. Yesterday, I wrote about raising boys to have a healthy and normal standard of beauty. I’d love for all of you to go read it, especially if you have boys.

-FIVE-

My two new favorite pieces for fall are these two from J.Crew. I love the Merino leather-pocket sweater. It’s heavy, but so pretty! And I love this stripe necklace tee! It is simple, but has a little bit of sparkle, and looks pretty cute with an excursion vest!

**Don’t forget that you can enter to win a MacBook Air!!!

super huge MacBook Air giveaway!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Sep122013

I have such a fun treat for everyone today!

One of my favorite fellow story-telling bloggers, AP from I Love You More Than Carrots, is turning 30 this week!

In honor of AP’s 30th birthday on Saturday, Becky, Mandy, AP, Darci, Tonya, Mandy, Neely, Jen, Molly, Meg and I are giving away a MacBook Air. To one lucky reader, we’re giving away an 11″, 4GB memory MacBook Air laptop.

This perfect little laptop is lightweight, compact, and super fast! I would love to have one! But one of you will win one!

Here’s a little bit about the other ladies participating in the giveaway, and a description of all the ways you can enter!

Happy Birthday, AP!

From top to bottom, the lovely ladies that made this happen

Becky @ From Mrs to Mama | AP @ I Love You More Than Carrots | Molly @ Stilettos & Diapers |

Tonya @ Love of Family & Home | Mandy @ A Sorta Fairytale | Jen @ Life in the Green House |

Meg @ Meg O. on the Go | Darci @ The Good Life Blog | Erin @ Blue Eyed Bride |

Neely @ A Complete Waste of Makeup | Mandy @ House of Rose Blog

Some Giveaway Details to Remember:

1} The first 11 entries are mandatory to enter this giveaway.

2} Anything else is an “extra” for you and will provide additional entries per rafflecopter.

3} Remember to share via pinterest and twitter. You can tweet daily for extra entries!

4} Giveaway will run for 2 weeks, September 12,2013- September 24,2013. However, winner will not be announced until all mandatory entries are confirmed to have been completed. Winner will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

5} The Macbook Air 11inch will then be purchased and shipped out to winner with a tracking number included for confirmation.

6} Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, WordPress, Instagram, Bloglovin’ or Blogger. No purchase necessary to enter. Must be 18 years or older to enter and giveaway is open to US residents only. Winner must provide verification of all entries and respond within 48 hours of being contacted. If winner does not respond within that time, a second winner will be chosen in their place. The bloggers involved in this giveaway did not receive financial compensation for this giveaway and it is in no way associated with Apple industries.

preparing for the Influence Conference… join me there?

Filed Under: Influence, influence conference

Sep112013

So here’s the thing. I love Jesus. Have you picked up on that? I do!

And about two years ago, I began reading two blogs. One called Naptime Diaries and one called The Tiny Twig. And then all of a sudden, the two of them announced that they were going to be hosting a conference together. A conference called Influence. And it was for people who felt called to make much of Jesus through their online life.

And I thought, “Hey! That’s me!”

And maybe that’s you. Or maybe you think it might be you, but you want to learn more because you’re just not there yet.

When I saw the announcement for the first Influence Conference, I knew I had to be there. And it did not disappoint. It was the most encouraging, life-giving, uplifting blogging environment I’ve seen.

Everyone was there for the same purpose. To learn how to share her own story for His glory. And to learn how to leverage the internet to make much of Jesus while supporting your family a little along the way.

At the end of last year’s conference, the Influence Network was created. Oh boy. The women who are a part of this network have encouraged me, inspired me, and challenged me in the past year. You probably already read a lot of their blogs.

And guess what! The Influence conference is happening again in just 16 days! The speaker list this year just blows me away. There are a few that will leave me completely star struck. I’m so excited!

I will be speaking with three other inspiring ladies, Natalie- The Busy Budgeting Mama, Lindsay- Hello Hue, and Nicole- The Style Hatch, on the Accessible Experts Panel. We will be answering all your questions about how we make real and consistent money, but are still all about sharing the Gospel on our blogs.

There is still time for you to come to the conference! And I will love for you to come! And then come say hello. Give me a hug. Let’s have some coffee and talk. It’s people like you and people like me. And this beautiful mix of people who are just ready to support and encourage!

So what am I bringing to the conference?

Aside from the obvious, I’m bringing…

1. Hair products. Well, not so much the products as the tools. I’m a hair tool junkie. Round brushes, paddle brushes, blow dryer, curling irons. I could pack a separate back just for the hair tools, but I plan to carry on, so I’m going to try not to do that.

2. Comfortable shoes. Blisters and blog conferences do not complement each other. So I vow to avoid the aching feet and to make wise foot-wear decisions!

What am I most looking forward to about the conference?

1. The community. Hands down. Hugs. Laughter. Maybe some squealing? I’m an introvert, but if I can see my people, I am set and oh-so-happy! Watch me come out of my shell!

2. A weekend away to worship and grow. I know I will learn so much from these wise women. I’m just so excited!

Okay… so here’s what we need from you. What kinds of questions would you like to have answered on the Accessible Experts panel? You can still join us at the conference September 26-28!

mommy's power hour

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Sep102013

We’re in the phase where a certain four-year-old is knocking on our door every morning at 6:00 a.m. This is the earliest he has ever woken up.

And Todd and I are night owls. I hit my second wind at 10:00 p.m. I blog, I watch TV. I stay up way too late for his 6:00 a.m. wake up call.

So Hudson gets our day going. Todd and I sludge around and doze with Hudson in the bed until about 7:00 a.m. And then we start running and racing.

Dressing kids, getting ourselves dressed. Letting the dogs out and feeding the dogs and getting breakfast for the kids. I may guzzle a cup of coffee and wish I had more time to really enjoy it before we jump in the car and head off to school.

I spend my morning while they’re at school running errands, going to the gym, doing housework. Trying to wake up, basically.

But after school, and after lunch. My “mommy power hour” begins.

I get the boys down for naps, let the dogs out, get dinner prepped, and then it’s my time.

Because our mornings start out with us all running wild, I take time during nap time for coffee and quiet.

I turn on my favorite praise music and spread out. The TV is off. The toys are out of sight. I can hear my thoughts.

I sip my coffee slowly out of my gorgeous, enormous latte mug, and I soak up the Word. I work on my daily to-do list, and I have a couple of hours to do it.

It’s my favorite time of day, and if I’m feeling extra productive, I may even go back for a second cup.

I just need a little bit of quiet, a breakfast blend K-Cup, and the Word.

And I need my new latte mug and spoon combo from Jessica N Designs and NS Pottery. I chose the Cup of Love Latte Mug. This gorgeous mug is huge and feels so good in my hand.

And I chose the “Little Bit of Coffee & A Whole Lotta Jesus” spoon. This sweet little spoon and its happy message just cheers me right up!

These two fabulous ladies will be at the Influence Conference at the Sashes Market later this month, and I cannot wait to meet them! And hug them!

I’ll be at the Influence Conference speaking on the Accessible Experts Panel…. hello, nerves!

Seriously… these mugs and spoons will be given to everyone I know for Christmas this year. These girls are geniuses!

Okay, so are you like me, and get your routine going in the middle of the day because you’re a night owl like me? Or are you a morning person? What’s your routine like?

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