#fourgenerations #unpolishedpen @altspartan #fourgenerations @altspartan

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#cousins #unpolishedpen @carriekirby @karajanek @skirby888 #cousins @carriekirby @karajanek @skirby888

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I don't pay too much attention to stats in my Etsy shop, but when I got eight orders of this print during one Monopoly game last night, I had to investigate. Turns out it was included in a list of 26 gifts for people "who'd rather live between the pages of a book." Thank you, @buzzfeed! Anybody else want one? $10 for a hard copy, $5 for an instant download, and I'll throw in free domestic shipping for prints claimed on Instagram and Facebook (leave your email address in the comments). #jenniferdaredesigns #unpolishedpen #buzzfeed #reader #reading #books #vintagedictionary #etsyshop #etsyseller I don't pay too much attention to stats in my Etsy shop, but when I got eight orders of this print during one Monopoly game last night, I had to investigate. Turns out it was included in a list of 26 gifts for people "who'd rather live between the pages of a book." Thank you, @buzzfeed! Anybody else want one? $10 for a hard copy, $5 for an instant download, and I'll throw in free domestic shipping for prints claimed on Instagram and Facebook (leave your email address in the comments). #jenniferdaredesigns #buzzfeed #reader #reading #books #vintagedictionary #etsyshop #etsyseller

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Went in search of my children and found them like this. Cannot decide if this represents a major parenting win (#childhoodunplugged!) or failure (#pneumonia!) but the house is so quiet I can't bring myself to break up the mud party. #unpolishedpen #swimsuitsindecember Went in search of my children and found them like this. Cannot decide if this represents a major parenting win (#childhoodunplugged!) or failure (#pneumonia!) but the house is so quiet I can't bring myself to break up the mud party. #swimsuitsindecember

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I still devote two hours once a month to editing. I love that I still get to do (a minuscule amount of) this type of work, but it has an uncanny way of landing on the busiest day every single month. Moving day, marathon day, last full school day before Christmas break ... #whoneedssleep #firstworldproblems #unpolishedpen #jenniferdaredesigns #ilovemyjob #editing #uglyrunnersfeet (Find the mug at my Etsy shop! #shamelessplug) I still devote two hours once a month to editing. I love that I still get to do (a minuscule amount of) this type of work, but it has an uncanny way of landing on the busiest day every single month. Moving day, marathon day, last full school day before Christmas break ... #whoneedssleep #firstworldproblems #jenniferdaredesigns #ilovemyjob #editing #uglyrunnersfeet (Find the mug at my Etsy shop! #shamelessplug)

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I've been overusing my treadmill lately because a) the training plan I'm loosely following for Boston calls for a lot of paced runs and b) the treadmill lets me squeeze in a run even if Matt's gone and the kids are home. But this morning I headed outside because it's a 70-degree December day and you can't blow that off like it's nothing. I wound up in the neighborhood across the street, which was part of my regular route when we'd just moved back to Pinehurst and we lived in the neighborhood that backs up to it. When I rounded this curve, I instantly was brought back to the moment during a run 7ish years ago when I hit on the name "Claire" for the baby in my belly. Do runs along old routes spark memories of specific thoughts or conversations that took place there for anyone else? This happens to me all the time. #mademesmile #nostalgia #run #runner #running #memories #unpolishedpen #timeflies I've been overusing my treadmill lately because a) the training plan I'm loosely following for Boston calls for a lot of paced runs and b) the treadmill lets me squeeze in a run even if Matt's gone and the kids are home. But this morning I headed outside because it's a 70-degree December day and you can't blow that off like it's nothing. I wound up in the neighborhood across the street, which was part of my regular route when we'd just moved back to Pinehurst and we lived in the neighborhood that backs up to it. When I rounded this curve, I instantly was brought back to the moment during a run 7ish years ago when I hit on the name "Claire" for the baby in my belly. Do runs along old routes spark memories of specific thoughts or conversations that took place there for anyone else? This happens to me all the time. #mademesmile #nostalgia #run #runner #running #memories #timeflies

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So much better than a stamp. #jenniferdaredesigns #unpolishedpen #thesweetestelfintheworld #fragile #etsyshop #etsyseller So much better than a stamp. #jenniferdaredesigns #thesweetestelfintheworld #fragile #etsyshop #etsyseller

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Self-employment perk: knocking off work early so you can curl up with your family to watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special while eating popcorn for dinner. #unpolishedpen #jenniferdaredesigns #builderhusband #ilovemyjob #perksofselfemployment Self-employment perk: knocking off work early so you can curl up with your family to watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special while eating popcorn for dinner. #jenniferdaredesigns #builderhusband #ilovemyjob #perksofselfemployment

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More cringe-worthy goodness from the dark recesses of my parents' attic. Apparently Matt and I were one of half a dozen couples featured in this paper's special bridal section the spring we were engaged. "After six years, I know her so well it's ridiculous," Matt said. #wewerebabies #nineteenyearsandcounting #almostvintage #unpolishedpen #atticfinds #loveandmarriage More cringe-worthy goodness from the dark recesses of my parents' attic. Apparently Matt and I were one of half a dozen couples featured in this paper's special bridal section the spring we were engaged. "After six years, I know her so well it's ridiculous," Matt said. #wewerebabies #nineteenyearsandcounting #almostvintage #atticfinds #loveandmarriage

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She's at the golden age of child labor: old enough to be actually helpful, and young enough to think working alongside me is awesome. #jenniferdaredesigns #unpolishedpen #paintedframes #somanylabels #etsyshop #etsyseller #ilovemyjob She's at the golden age of child labor: old enough to be actually helpful, and young enough to think working alongside me is awesome. #jenniferdaredesigns #paintedframes #somanylabels #etsyshop #etsyseller #ilovemyjob

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Today I turn the sunroom into Etsy an workshop filled with painting tables and drop cloths, bubble wrap and boxes, music and wine. Goodbye, serenity. See you after Christmas. #jenniferdaredesigns #unpolishedpen #ilovepaint #ilovedeadlines #ilovemyjob #etsyshop #etsyseller #blackfridayweek Today I turn the sunroom into Etsy an workshop filled with painting tables and drop cloths, bubble wrap and boxes, music and wine. Goodbye, serenity. See you after Christmas. #jenniferdaredesigns #ilovepaint #ilovedeadlines #ilovemyjob #etsyshop #etsyseller #blackfridayweek

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When your parents are going through 40 years' worth of accumulated storage in preparation for their first move in your lifetime, you get one last look at some of your finest elementary school work and the red boots you wore incessantly as a 3-year-old. And occasionally you get to claim a legit vintage jewel for yourself. #unpolishedpen #jenniferdaredesigns #vintagecarnivalglass #atticfinds #vintagepunchbowl #vintage #yesplease When your parents are going through 40 years' worth of accumulated storage in preparation for their first move in your lifetime, you get one last look at some of your finest elementary school work and the red boots you wore incessantly as a 3-year-old. And occasionally you get to claim a legit vintage jewel for yourself. #jenniferdaredesigns #vintagecarnivalglass #atticfinds #vintagepunchbowl #vintage #yesplease

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The Mississippi River, courtesy of my ramblin' man. #unpolishedpen #mississippiriver #nofilter The Mississippi River, courtesy of my ramblin' man. #mississippiriver #nofilter

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Sitting on the screened porch in the middle of a downpour, sipping coffee while Claire reads to Evan ... What a way to start the day. #unpolishedpen #screenedporch #happymama #myhappyplace #goodmorning #coffee #books #reading Sitting on the screened porch in the middle of a downpour, sipping coffee while Claire reads to Evan ... What a way to start the day. #screenedporch #happymama #myhappyplace #goodmorning #coffee #books #reading

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This kid makes me laugh. A lot. #unpolishedpen #happymama This kid makes me laugh. A lot. #happymama

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Our sweet hutch was a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law and I've always loved its simple beauty, but lacking fancy china to display, I've never quite known what to do with it. I wanted to do better by it in our new house, especially since it's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. I dug up every white item we own, spray-painted a couple of others, filled in the gaps with pieces from The Dollar Tree and my favorite junk shop, and boom - I'm in love. #unpolishedpen #thriftshopfinds #vintagehutch #vintagemilkglass #thankyoupinterest Our sweet hutch was a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law and I've always loved its simple beauty, but lacking fancy china to display, I've never quite known what to do with it. I wanted to do better by it in our new house, especially since it's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. I dug up every white item we own, spray-painted a couple of others, filled in the gaps with pieces from The Dollar Tree and my favorite junk shop, and boom - I'm in love. #thriftshopfinds #vintagehutch #vintagemilkglass #thankyoupinterest

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My morning was better than your morning. #unpolishedpen #oldfriends #tenkidsandcounting @carriekirby @christyatucker My morning was better than your morning. #oldfriends #tenkidsandcounting @carriekirby @christyatucker

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I have a well-documented affinity for purging that might more honestly be classified as an addiction, but I'll be hanging onto my little cedar box of love letters from Matt circa 1996-2002 (when we finally got to share an address) until the day I die. #unpolishedpen #loveletters #highschoolsweethearts #collegesweethearts #swoon I have a well-documented affinity for purging that might more honestly be classified as an addiction, but I'll be hanging onto my little cedar box of love letters from Matt circa 1996-2002 (when we finally got to share an address) until the day I die. #loveletters #highschoolsweethearts #collegesweethearts #swoon

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Apparently the kids think I've been Dumpster-diving for boxes all week so they can build rocket ships. The big, sturdy, clean ones aren't easy to come by, but if it keeps them entertained while I pack up the house, that's a win. #unpolishedpen #herewegoagain #packing #moving #newhouse #cardboardboxfun #rocketshipbuiltfortwo #childhoodunplugged Apparently the kids think I've been Dumpster-diving for boxes all week so they can build rocket ships. The big, sturdy, clean ones aren't easy to come by, but if it keeps them entertained while I pack up the house, that's a win. #herewegoagain #packing #moving #newhouse #cardboardboxfun #rocketshipbuiltfortwo #childhoodunplugged

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It's a given. #jenniferdaredesigns #unpolishedpen #etsyshop #etsyseller #nerdtruths #literaryquotes #truth #books It's a given. #jenniferdaredesigns #etsyshop #etsyseller #nerdtruths #literaryquotes #truth #books

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My girl and her great-Gran. #unpolishedpen #beauties My girl and her great-Gran. #beauties

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The time has finally come to list our sweet Southern Pines home for rent. $1,850 per month. Available late October. Numerous photos and details at http://ift.tt/1P9eNTk. Spread the word! #unpolishedpen #southernpinesnc #southernpines #pinehurstnc #pinehurst #moorecountync #forrent #herewegoagain The time has finally come to list our sweet Southern Pines home for rent. $1,850 per month. Available late October. Numerous photos and details at http://ift.tt/1P9eNTk. Spread the word! #southernpinesnc #southernpines #pinehurstnc #pinehurst #moorecountync #forrent #herewegoagain

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For most of my adult life I've regretting snubbing (free, in-home) piano lessons (with my dad, an amazing musician) as a child. Today I finally started making up for lost time. #unpolishedpen #piano #pianolessons #bucketlist #lifegoals For most of my adult life I've regretting snubbing (free, in-home) piano lessons (with my dad, an amazing musician) as a child. Today I finally started making up for lost time. #piano #pianolessons #bucketlist #lifegoals

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Matt is just back from his annual guys' "camping trip" (think VRBO w/ hot tub and pool table five minutes from a casino) and the kids begged and pleaded to sleep in a tent tonight. Matt - in a fit of nostalgia for actual camping - was persuaded to set them up in the basement. Pretty sure this won't end well. Probably shouldn't have tried it on a school night. #unpolishedpen #basementcamping #sorryteachers Matt is just back from his annual guys' "camping trip" (think VRBO w/ hot tub and pool table five minutes from a casino) and the kids begged and pleaded to sleep in a tent tonight. Matt - in a fit of nostalgia for actual camping - was persuaded to set them up in the basement. Pretty sure this won't end well. Probably shouldn't have tried it on a school night. #basementcamping #sorryteachers

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Yesterday, my badass sister @altspartan left her kids with me while she ran the Fort Bragg Spartan race. She thought I was doing her a favor, but the opposite was true. While she hammered out 5.5 rugged miles interspersed with two dozen obstacles, her children kept mine so well entertained that I was able to mow the grass, catch up on Etsy orders and knock out this project I've had on my to-do list for a year. This table was a Charlotte eBay find before Craigslist was a thing. It's been with us in six breakfast nooks (soon to be seven) and has survived multiple rounds of DIY painting - first whitewashing, then yellow, light gray and now charcoal - and outlasted two sets of chairs. Thank you, Amanda (I'm so proud of you)! #paintedfurniture #ilovepaint #sisters #newhouse #herewegoagain #kitchentable #unpolishedpen #jenniferdaredesigns Yesterday, my badass sister @altspartan left her kids with me while she ran the Fort Bragg Spartan race. She thought I was doing her a favor, but the opposite was true. While she hammered out 5.5 rugged miles interspersed with two dozen obstacles, her children kept mine so well entertained that I was able to mow the grass, catch up on Etsy orders and knock out this project I've had on my to-do list for a year. This table was a Charlotte eBay find before Craigslist was a thing. It's been with us in six breakfast nooks (soon to be seven) and has survived multiple rounds of DIY painting - first whitewashing, then yellow, light gray and now charcoal - and outlasted two sets of chairs. Thank you, Amanda (I'm so proud of you)! #paintedfurniture #ilovepaint #sisters #newhouse #herewegoagain #kitchentable #jenniferdaredesigns

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Qualified, registered and confirmed! Now to get back in marathon shape. #unpolishedpen #bostonmarathon #bostonmarathon2016 #bucketlist #oneanddone #run #runner #running #bostonbound #marathons Qualified, registered and confirmed! Now to get back in marathon shape. #bostonmarathon #bostonmarathon2016 #bucketlist #oneanddone #run #runner #running #bostonbound #marathons

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Free reign with design, publication and sales of the school yearbook? Some might call it torture but this is my element. That it covers my parent service hours is icing on the cake. Thank you @moorechoicesnc for the hook-up. #jenniferdaredesigns #unpolishedpen #sandhillsclassical #talknerdytome #yearbooks #yearbookclubofone Free reign with design, publication and sales of the school yearbook? Some might call it torture but this is my element. That it covers my parent service hours is icing on the cake. Thank you @moorechoicesnc for the hook-up. #jenniferdaredesigns #sandhillsclassical #talknerdytome #yearbooks #yearbookclubofone

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Happy am I. #unpolishedpen #happylaborday #happyaunt #happybaby #greysontate @karajanek Happy am I. #happylaborday #happyaunt #happybaby #greysontate @karajanek

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I love my new #espwa shirt! Looks great, feels great, and 100% of proceeds benefit orphans in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Get your own at www.ShopEspwa.com. #unpolishedpen #teemhaiti #shopespwa #espwameanshope #pimpinjoy #adopt #adoption I love my new #espwa shirt! Looks great, feels great, and 100% of proceeds benefit orphans in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Get your own at www.ShopEspwa.com. #teemhaiti #shopespwa #espwameanshope #pimpinjoy #adopt #adoption

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Collecting yesterday's signs during today's run. #unpolishedpen #multitasking #run #runner #running #yardsales #happyweekend Collecting yesterday's signs during today's run. #multitasking #run #runner #running #yardsales #happyweekend

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Fantasy football draft night (round one of two). #unpolishedpen #fantasyfootball #ffl Fantasy football draft night (round one of two). #fantasyfootball #ffl

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Party time. #unpolishedpen #cousins #meettherobinsons822 Party time. #cousins #meettherobinsons822

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She glows. #unpolishedpen #meettherobinsons822 #dancefloor #everybodydancenow #wedding #glowsticks She glows. #meettherobinsons822 #dancefloor #everybodydancenow #wedding #glowsticks

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Evan couldn't wait to get to his first day of pre-K with his best buds Evan I. and Brecken. They were inseparable at the MMO where they met as toddlers, but my Evan was in a different preschool from the other two for the past two years. It's a happy day for the three musketeers (best of luck to their teacher)! #unpolishedpen #reunited #firstdayofschool #bestfriends Evan couldn't wait to get to his first day of pre-K with his best buds Evan I. and Brecken. They were inseparable at the MMO where they met as toddlers, but my Evan was in a different preschool from the other two for the past two years. It's a happy day for the three musketeers (best of luck to their teacher)! #reunited #firstdayofschool #bestfriends

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Matt and I weren't the only pair who thought it was a nice night for wine on the porch. #unpolishedpen #gross #fliesinthewine #summernights #firstworldproblems Matt and I weren't the only pair who thought it was a nice night for wine on the porch. #gross #fliesinthewine #summernights #firstworldproblems

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First grade already. What?! #unpolishedpen #firstdayofschool #firstgrade #kneehighsocksloyaltyclub #sandhillsclassical First grade already. What?! #firstdayofschool #firstgrade #kneehighsocksloyaltyclub #sandhillsclassical

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Checking out the view from the new bonus room. #unpolishedpen #newhouse #roomwithaview Checking out the view from the new bonus room. #newhouse #roomwithaview

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My people. #unpolishedpen #vacation #teamkirby My people. #vacation #teamkirby

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#conch #conchshell #beachfind #unpolishedpen #conch #conchshell #beachfind

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Our vacation homework: pick paint colors for the new house. #unpolishedpen #icannotescapepaint #newhouse #floorplans #paintdecks #vacation Our vacation homework: pick paint colors for the new house. #icannotescapepaint #newhouse #floorplans #paintdecks #vacation

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Happening now in the kids' bathroom sink. #boys #sinksnorkeling #unpolishedpen Happening now in the kids' bathroom sink. #boys #sinksnorkeling

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For free junk. How could anyone resist? #unpolishedpen #freeyardsale #wheredoesitallcomefrom #comeandgetit #herewegoagain For free junk. How could anyone resist? #freeyardsale #wheredoesitallcomefrom #comeandgetit #herewegoagain

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Clean children are to dirt piles as moths are to flames. #churchclothes #newhouse #dirtpiles #kneehighsocksloyaltyclub #unpolishedpen Clean children are to dirt piles as moths are to flames. #churchclothes #newhouse #dirtpiles #kneehighsocksloyaltyclub

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I spent many a childhood summer afternoon reading in the highest branches of huge old trees. Today, the kids bet me I couldn't climb higher than they could in this little dogwood in our front yard. They were wrong, but it was a lot harder than I expected or remembered. Not sure if I should blame being barefoot or being old. #outofpractice #climbingtrees #childhoodunplugged #unpolishedpen I spent many a childhood summer afternoon reading in the highest branches of huge old trees. Today, the kids bet me I couldn't climb higher than they could in this little dogwood in our front yard. They were wrong, but it was a lot harder than I expected or remembered. Not sure if I should blame being barefoot or being old. #outofpractice #climbingtrees #childhoodunplugged

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Happy Fourth! #seenonmyrun #fourthofjuly #americanflags #yellowbicycle #usa #unpolishedpen #southernpines #southernpinesnc #moorecountync Happy Fourth! #seenonmyrun #fourthofjuly #americanflags #yellowbicycle #usa #southernpines #southernpinesnc #moorecountync

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Goooal! #goal #usa #womensworldcup #soccer #unpolishedpen Goooal! #goal #usa #womensworldcup #soccer

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Oh, man! As part of Project Prepare to Move I was going through some boxes labeled "attic" this afternoon and I unearthed these time capsules: four dog-eared, marked-up, barely surviving Carolina Week By Week planners that capture so well the story of my college years. Flipping through these made me intensely nostalgic for that time and place. But it also made me so glad that in the years since graduating I've made some progress in prioritizing, saying no, and building margin into my schedule. #unpolishedpen #carolinaweekbyweek #toobusy #unc #tarheels #todolists #dailyplanner #hindsight #nostalgiaoverload #imgettingold #thosewerethedays #thesearethedays

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