Written by Candace on July 12, 2016 | 10 Comments

Another Big Announcement!

I looked weathered. I joked that the bags underneath my eyes looked like they were packed for a European adventure.

I knew I was tired. Really tired. I could count on one hand how many times Rose had slept through the night her first year of life. But somewhere around 14/15 months, she finally started sleeping. But I was still tired.

I told Vitaliy, I just can’t seem to get myself together. I thought when she started sleeping through the night I’d finally start to feel like myself again. Albeit, a new version of myself. But I started to wonder if this was simply motherhood, a constant feeling of exhaustion and inadequacy.

It turns out, those are just symptoms of the first trimester in pregnancy.

My exhaustion and weathered appearance led Vitaliy to start predicting I was pregnant. I didn’t believe it until one afternoon while finishing up my Wild & Free book, I was moved to tears. And then I wanted to throw up. And the only other time I wanted to throw up while crying was when I was pregnant with Rose. I texted Vitaliy, go ahead and buy that pregnancy test.

Sure enough, we’re having another baby! Rose is going to be a big sister. And I’m going to stay tired for at least another year.

Baby Prokopets is due to arrive on January 7, which is actually Ukrainian Christmas according to the Orthodox calendar. So we’re hoping to continue with our holiday birthdays around here. We won’t know if we’re having a boy or girl until he or she arrives into this world so we look forward to one day introducing you to our son or daughter.

Thank you for all of your love and support! When we announced our first pregnancy, I wrote, “With this being our first child, there are so many unknowns. But there is one thing we are certain of, that we will be loved and supported by our friends and family every step of the way.” And we continue to be! There have been many days when fear has tried to settle in, but then I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness and the amazing community we have and then joy and excitement replace the fear. So thank YOU!

This birth announcement photo is an homage to the one we took for Rose, before we even knew she was Rose.

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Written by Candace on April 29, 2016 | 3 Comments

The Weekender

I haven’t written a Weekender post since Good Friday. Let’s get to it! And Happy Weekend!

I started these posts as a way to share a recap of my thoughts and findings from the week. It’s really just a way for me to ramble. Here’s a peak at my world lately.

Don’t Choose Easy – This is a family mantra that we have posted up as a constant reminder. This week it currently applies to weaning Rose from night feedings. I’m so happy we chose to do the hard work. It has proven to be a better solution for all of us.

Date Night – Last night was supposed to be date night but the lack of sleep from the week caught up with us and we opted for rest instead. Keeping a weekly date night makes missing one here or there not feel like the end of the world.

Better Boundaries – I received comments, text messages and emails regarding my recent post about my struggle with social media. It feels so good to know I’m not alone. It sparked a conversation during a coffee date with a friend and fellow creative who also shares in my struggle. We decided to take a baby step together! No social media after 4pm. Breaking bad habits is always easier when done in community.

KitchenTown – If you live on the Peninsula, this is my new favorite coffee shop. Finally a cute and creative shop in our area! Normally, I have to drive to San Francisco to get my fix. Along with great coffee and yummy treats, KitchenTown is also a makers’ space for local food entrepreneurs. Yes!! My next goal is to try their weekend brunch.

Our First Wedding – We are driving up to Sacramento tomorrow for our first wedding of 2016. And I’m so excited! Work these days feels like mini-getaways with Vitaliy. But I’m also thrilled because Alex and Tanya are one of the sweetest couples we’ve had the chance to work with. They have been counting down to the big day on social media and I can just feel my own excitement building with theirs.

Wild & Free – I am two chapters away from finishing this book. I have not had something speak so specifically to my heart as a woman in so many years. I had a goal to finish one book a week this month. It turns out I’m only going to get through one. But I am so thankful that it’s this! And I’m happy I took the time to savor each chapter.

What are you up to this weekend? What’s going on in your world?

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Written by Candace on April 25, 2016 | 3 Comments

What To Do When Someone Else Is Living Your Dream

Do you ever take a rabbit trail on Instagram? Yeah, that’s what I figured. I took one the other day and landed on an account and realized that someone else was living my dream. MY DREAM.

It was the exact same idea I shared months, probably years, ago with Vitaliy. And they were doing it! You know how these rabbit trails end.

I’m such a loser. Everyone else is capable of making their dreams happen except for me. I’m such a loser. I’m never going to amount to anything. I’m a loser.

Yes, “I’m a loser” is sandwiched between every other negative self-talk statement. Just me? Somehow I doubt it.

I recently had coffee with a friend who said she couldn’t go on Instagram anymore because she couldn’t handle seeing all the other moms who seem to have it all together. I was so thankful for her honesty because I can relate. I want to boycott Instagram and Facebook on the daily, but I know it’s a lost cause. Those platforms aren’t the problem, my heart is.

“How many times have I bemoaned the lack of excitement in my life, only because I’m choosing not to walk in the joy of the season God has called me to?” – Jess Connolly, Wild and Free

I have been doing a lot of bemoaning in my life lately. Lack of sleep and a teething baby and Instagram rabbit trails can do that to you. I share that in case you can relate, but let’s not stay here. Let’s do less IG rabbit trailing and more being present in the moment with the people we love most. We’re in the season we’re in for a reason. I’m preaching to myself here! I’m called to this season of 5am wake up calls to change poopy diapers. That is the current season I’m in. And as I bemoan, there’s a woman out there who may have rabbit trailed to my IG feed and will close her feed because her inability to conceive keeps her from being able to celebrate another mom’s blessing of a babe.

I get it. And I don’t have the answers to our social media problems. I wrestle with them everyday. But in a creative business like ours, social media is definitely an asset and something I need to figure out how to use for business while not letting it rule my world (heart).

So, what do you do when someone else is living your dream? What if someone else’s season looks so much more exciting than your own?

If you need to quit social media, quit. If you need to unfollow, unfollow. I’ve considered the first and done the second. But right now, I know I need to deal with my heart. The only thing that is going to help me is choosing joy in my current season and celebrating the amazing couple living out my dream. Gratitude and contentment are the issues of my heart that need to be dealt with today.

What about you? What do you do when you’re faced with these issues? Leave me a comment below!

And please, please go check out Creative Marriages! Michelle said it perfectly in their promo video, it doesn’t matter who’s doing it, as long as more and more people are talking about how to have a lasting, healthy marriage. Yes! I couldn’t agree more myself.

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