April Desktop Calendar (2016)

Guess who's behiiiiiind?!?!?
Me.
I am so behind.  On all of the things.

March was a crazy month and even though I feel like I completely missed it, I'm glad to see it go.  Here I am, at 11:20pm on March 31st, typing out my April desktop calendar blog post and newsletter.  Can you say "last possible minute"?  Because it's spelled K-A-T-R-I-N-A.

But we're going to make it!

Part of the reason I've been so crazy over the past month is that I have a lot of new things planned for the business—including the launch of my new website (still in the works, because... last minute).  Also, I've had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful brides this month, and that combined with the move and questionable internet providers has caused me to fall behind on some of my favorite "regulars", such as blog posts and newsletters.

Bandwagon, here I come!
If you're not subscribed to my newsletter yet, what are you waiting for??  (do so here) You get a free desktop calendar each month (and sometimes TWO), along with first dibs on sales, website launching (!!) and freebies.

And let me tell you, the April update is going to be GREAT.
As long as I can catch up this weekend! haha

February Desktop Calendar 2016

February is HERE!
Featuring a design that I originally made for a wedding invitation suite, but it didn't work out... which meeeeans that I get to share it with you all now!

In so many ways, this design describes the forecast for our family's February.
We are so excited to be able to close on our first house this month (!!!), but leaving our first "home" is definitely bitter sweet.  Add to the normal chaos of moving, our house is a foreclosure.  So while we have a game plan, we know there is a lot of work/mess/surprise ahead of us!
So the delicate ink outline paired with the splattered paint is the perfect background for the planning and chaos that is sure to surround my computer this next month, haha!

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January Desktop Calendar (2016)

2016... what a strange feeling!  This lap (2015) of the race is about up, but it feels like the gun just went off.  This past year was full of the usual ups and downs.  While I don't generally think of January as my "new year" (being both a teacher and wife to a teacher/master's student means that August/September is my new year), this season calls for some time of reflection.  So as I share my new designs for desktop calendars—one to fit your glam side (above), and another to match your quiet musings (below)—I will share some of our families highs and lows for the year :)

 

((Calendar designs straight to your Inbox by subscribing HERE))

 

TOP 5 OF 2015

• (Mar) Instead of closing my etsy shop down completely, I decided to renovate the space and "Blushed" was born! I could not be more thrilled with this decision and have fallen in love over and over again with my little business.
• (July-Nov) Our team camp with the cross country team was so much fun!  It really kicked off a strong season for us and I had more fun this year than I have in a long time.
• (Oct) The Hubbard took a day off of work during our busiest time of the year to take me out to the cider mill for the day.  We had been stretched really thin, and it means the world to me that our marriage is important enough to him to make time for.
• My sister in law is preggo with our little niece! I can't wait to be an aunt in May!
• (Dec) The discovery of "Psych", the tv series.  More love than Sherlock? Maybe. Hubbard and I quote the show nonstop.

 

HARDEST(LOWEST?) 5 OF 2015

• Our house hunt seems to never want to end.  But 3rd year's the charm, right?  We're actually sitting on an offer right now, so we'll see what the seller says... 2016 could have a really quick answer to that prayer!
• (Nov) Todd's Grandma was in the ICU for about a week and gave us a real scare, thankfully she made it through and was with us for Christmas
• I've had some health issues and cannot seem to find a balance, hopefully 2016 will have the answers!
• Life is hard.  I have connected with so many friends and family members who are hurting a little more this year.  It has been both a blessing, and a hardship.  My heart has hurt more this year but I have felt God's comfort, and the encouragement of community
• (Dec) We were sick over Christmas! What a bummer, but we spent a lot of time just being quiet and resting after a full year.

This year has been so full of life.  The good, the bad, the sticky ;)  I am anxious to see what 2016 has in store for us—what dreams are born, what goals are fulfilled, and what God teaches us through it all.

December Desktop Calendar (2015)

I can't believe that 2015 is almost over.
Can.Not.Be-lieve.It

But until the new year, let us celebrate the continued holiday season with a festive desktop background!  I have two designs waiting to dance into your inbox tomorrow morning (December 1st, 6:00am EST), all you need to do is make sure that you are subscribed to my newsletter, and the rest will take care of itself!

November Desktop Calendar 2015

November is the month that I always seem to forget about.  As a teacher and wife of a teacher, September and October is "go time"!  Our wheels are spinning and our bodies never seem to stop.  Then, it suddenly starts to get cold and Christmas music is playing everywhere, and I'm working on gifts and cookies.  It's all I can do to just keep my nose to the ground and keep working until Christmas break!

Making the wallpaper was difficult this month.  I don't like to have Holiday themes on my desktops very often, and a giant turkey was just out of the question for me! haha!  But I wanted it to still be warm, comforting and... well... pretty!  Even though the fall feeling is basically over for us in November, it's still nice to have a hint of it on the desktop while we sip some warm cider and cozy up in our sweaters.

Grab the FREE desktop by subscribing to my new newsletter!

I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful November!

Featured on the Chic-Type blog

October Desktop Calendar (2015)

Adios September, helloooo October!

While I am always a little reluctant to welcome the fall (summer = love), I am in full swing now.  Bring on the pumpkins, apple cider, beautiful changing leaves and the scarves (light scarves... let's not go crazy now), I'm ready!

September seemed to be an especially long month, so I am ready to say "good bye" until next year and dance around like the leaves in this desktop calendar.  If YOU would like to receive this beauty in your inbox for f-r-e-e, simply sign up for my newsletter.

It's really that easy.
Newsletter = free stuff.

And free? That's my favorite price.

September Desktop Calendar (2015)

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September.

The "New Year" month of our family (Teachers'R'Us).  Our new school year is already in full swing and I almost feel like we are half way through September instead of embracing the final hours of August (something tells me, this is gonna be a looooong month!)

But August went out with a bang!  One of my dearest friends got married this past Saturday, and we lived it up with a full weekend of decorating and preparing, celebrating and catching up with friends and family.  The wedding was held at the camp where I first met the Bride when we were in high school (and my own dear Hubbard!).  Seeing all of these places and people who we worked with and love so much filled my heart to the brim!

With warm fuzzies still dancing inside of me, I am closing this past month and preparing welcome in a fresh month.  September is sure to be full of hard work, laughter, love from friends and family, new adventures and comforting routines.

What are you looking forward to this month?

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((Straight to your inbox on September 1st!))

August Desktop Calendar (2015)

July was a wonderful month of activity.  There were the usual ups and downs, but the hubbard and I were able to get a bit of rest in there and a few days at home to work on our own projects and tidy up the house a bit after the chaos of June.

This month has been a time of quite reflection.  Even during the hustle of life, the stress of responsibilities, the panic of a flea-scare and the wealth of emotions that come with change, I have been reminded to enjoy the moment.  To ask God for the strength to act in a way outside of myself—to lean on His strength and plan, and to allow His Spirit to work in and through me.  I cannot control what happens in life, or other people do to or around me but, with the help of God, I can respond with Grace and forgiveness.  I can find Him in the quiet, and I can allow Him to love me in the chaos.

Here's to another great month.  A month of birthdays (well, mine anyway!); a month of preparation and new beginnings as we begin the new academic year; a month of mentor-ship and counsel as the new XC season begins; a month of love and friendship as we gather together again.  Welcome August, I am excited to see what you will bring.


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Aaaaand, as a bonus, I designed a second version for all of my light-background-loving-friends::

June Desktop Calendar (2015)

June, June, June.

I am SO GLAD TO SEE YOU!

May was a good month, a crazy busy month, but a good month.
However, the crazy has given me a reason to be thankful for the break that summer brings to our schedule.  But first, we need to work through the last week of school, a week of day camps, a week of bus training / girl's outing and a day or two at family camp.

Ah yes, the wonderful "break" that summer brings! hah

To celebrate this wonderful new month, I have a new design to dress up your tech a bit.
And it's FREE!

All you need to do is subscribe to my new newsletter!

Now, I'm a cleeean inbox freak, so I promise that I won't spam you constantly—probably 2 emails a month!  It's just a way that I can keep you up to date on monthly calendars and coupon codes for my little store, updates to the business and other freebies.


All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

May Desktop Calendar (2015)

Happy May!

The start of another month is upon us, and I can honestly say that I am very excited to welcome May into our life.  April was a bit rough on the latter end for my personal life, and since I spent the former half of April in the sick bed, I'm just ready for a fresh start again!  Thankfully this week has been pretty great so far, and I have a weekend full of friends and family to look forward to.
Also, one of my favorite people is going to be welcoming her first little man into the world this month, so WELCOME MAY! We have been waiting for you :)

Oh, and here's your desktop calendar for the next few weeks of this glorious "Summer-is-so-close-that-I-can-taste-it" month.

  All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

April Desktop Calendar (2015)

Happy (almost) April!
March came in like a lion, showed a few lamb-like characteristics and seems to want to go out just as lion-like as ever! Ah well, the month was filled with the usual highs and lows, and was overall a considerably pleasant month.  I hope you were blessed.

To celebrate leaving the official months of all things cold and windy (you'll notice that I said "official"), I have not one, not two but THREE desktop background designs for you to choose from.

I know, I know, I should get a medal or something!

Or, I could just get over myself and not eat ice cream right before I blog...

But weird moods like to write blog posts, so we're just gonna roll with it.

As always, these designs will be under the "Free Downloads" tab for the duration of the month (and will be posted below for just about the rest of our lives), and I have also included a bonus for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter!  So head on over, pick your favorite and let me know which one you choose!

All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission    

March Desktop Calendar (2015)

Alright, March.  You sure are coming in like a lion, but I expect to see some real lamb-like behavior soon!  (and while you're at it, could you send the "lamb-like" behavior memo to my students too? Thanks)

Desktop calendar (also below) and iPhone wallpaper is available under the "Free Downloads" tab, as always :)

All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

February Desktop Calendar (2015)

Very excited to welcome February back this year!  Mostly because the Hubbard and I will be escaping the cold and ice for a week away in Florida—AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!

While I normally dislike January more than any other month of the year (with March's tease of "look, warm weather—just kidding, it's still freezing" coming in a close second), this year was a little different.  While I didn't make any resolutions, I'm continuing to work on the goals that I set during our family's "new year" in at the start of the school year and I am seeing some really good progress in myself and our life!

And I am overall very excited in the direction that God has been leading our little family:

• We're on the house hunt.
• We've taken a minor leadership position in a ministry that we love
• We've started working with our "team" again as they prepare for the upcoming Track and Field season
• We have been placed in a position where we can bless others and not fear for ourselves
• Friendships are growing.  Inward, outward and upward.

Anyway—I hope you enjoy this month's calendar!  I love the contrast of the messy watercolor and detailed contour and was excited to have a chance to incorporate it this month.  Get a desktop and/or iPhone 6 wallpaper in the "downloads tab" here.

All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission