Small Vintage Update

Added to the shop today.

Priorities

I'm not officially going on a blog break, but I will be spending less time around here. My focus right now needs to be on my girls & my spring cleaning. I'll poke back in every now & then to catch you up on all the fun we're having & hopefully accomplishing some work around the house will make me feel revived.




(Sadie painted my toes today. I though it would be fun for us to do together so I told her she could pick out a polish color while we were shopping today. On the way home she said, "I want to go home & paint! I'm an artist!)

Claire's Party

We had a really fun celebration for Claire & Cambria. It was a bit windy, but so much fun. Check out some photos from the day:

In The Paper Today

We were approached Wednesday at the park by a photographer for the Plain Dealer. She asked if she could snap a few photos of us. We weren't sure if anything would end up in the newspaper & then today I got a phone call from my neighbor alerting me that a photo of Claire was in the paper.

Happy Birthday Claire!

What better way to spend the day than at the park filling up an entire memory card with photos of my girlies.

A few things about you right now, Claire:

* you make this stink face where you scrunch up your lips & start breathing really fast through your nose.
* you love babies & stuffed animals & anything with a face. you pick them up & make a happy "awww" sound, then hug & kiss them & put them over your shoulder.
*you have been walking for a little while but you're still a little wobbly yet you insist on carrying things around while you walk. It's usually something big & akward like a chair or a toy bus or the dog's bed. You get mad when you fall down with it & grunt in anger, but you keep on doing it. You are determined & persistent.
* you fold your arms for the dinner prayer & you are so pleased with yourself.
* you love to eat.
* you love to be outside.
* you like to sit on the edge of chairs & kick your legs.
* you are so cute when I ask you if you want something & you nod your head or point to the cereal boxes when you want a snack, or turn your hands up in the air when I ask you where something is.
* you get really excited to see daddy at the end of the day & really excited to see Sadie when you two have been apart.
* you are cuter than cute & we love you.

Party Prep, Pajamas & Happy Earth Day

Claire is turning one year old tomorrow. We're having a party on Saturday & I've been working on these flag banners as part of the decorations.

Sunday I made some more pajama pants for Sadie. These ones are a wide leg capri pant. She wanted a matching shirt so I gathered some of her stained play shirts & decided that I'd put an applique on them. Covers up the stains & gives them a new use. I sure do feel like a thrifty momma.

Happy Earth Day! For over a year I've been planning on sewing up some reusable shopping bags. Never got to it. Lately I've been feeling super guilty for still using the store's plastic bags. Yesterday I finally bought one of their bags. They're only .99 cents. So today when I'm back at the store (because my life is so unorganized right now), I'll grab some more. It feels good. Also, our city curbside recycling would only allow us to recycle bottles that had a neck. Now they've opened it up to all plastic containers! Woohoo! That makes me excited. :)

Spirited

Raising Your Spirited Child came up as a recommendation on our Amazon page. Dylan alerted me to it & after just reading the whole title, a guide for parents whose child is more intense, sensitive, perceptive, persistent and energetic, the book was immediately put on hold at the library. I started reading it this weekend & I'm only a few chapters in, but I can already tell that this book is going to change my life for the better.

I feel that this author actually does understand my child. My Sadie girl that was roaring from those very first days in the hospital. The one that has been labeled "busy" & "active" from early on. The one that takes literally forever to get dressed or get the the car. The one that quit napping early. The one that bounces & sings through her life. The one that is full of energy & creativity & imagination. The one that is so fun to be around, but sometimes just too intense.

From the little that I've read already, I am feeling so much better as a parent. I'm not feeling that my parenting style has failed her. To be honest I've felt quite often that I have created this personality in her. Not so. She was born this way. It's how she's wired. She feels things in a big way. It's not my fault & it's not her fault. And it's not a bad thing. It's just takes more energy & more patience to parent her.

With Sadie the good times are incredible. Just seriously the best. I look at her & think she is the most amazing creation in the world. Then in a split second it can change & I'm wondering how she can set me off & make me feel so crazy.


Claire is already showing signs of being a spirited one as well. Where Sadie seems to be more perceptive, Claire seems to be more persistent & sensitive. And Dylan & I have been feeling that we were little spirited ones for our parents as well. :)

Anyway, there are lots of you out there that I know struggle with the same sort of intensity with your children. I though this book could help you as well.

Updated

I've loaded up the shop with lots of new stuff, so go on over & take a peek. There are pillows, coasters, diaper clutches, crayon rolls, tags & a raindrop tote. Fun stuff!

Busy, Busy, Busy

We have been busy! I'm all prepared for the shop update tomorrow & I am so very excited to finally share all that I've been working on. I think it will be my best update yet! If all goes well with the shop, I'm already thinking of another bigger update with lots of Mother's Day gifts. We'll see. All in all, I'm very pleased with myself & all I've been able to accomplish over the past few weeks. I'm not known for being speedy.

I'm not a decorator. I just don't have the funds to be one at this time. I do plan on having a home with really cool decor sometime in the future. As for now, I focus my efforts elsewhere. But, this yellow pot & plant that I put on our bedroom dresser the other day are really making me happy. Hello spring!


The kids have been playing well together. Sadie was excited about her new bathing suit that day & had to wear it inside.

What wonders a new set of crayons & some glue does for my 3 year old. I just love her artwork.

Heads Up

I'll be updating the shop on Thursday the 17th around noon. Be prepared to see lots of patchwork, linen & polka dots!

I made this diaper clutch as a gift for Dylan's cousin that just had a baby boy. There will be a few of these going in the shop on Thursday. They hold a wipes case & 3 or 4 diapers, plus cream & hand sanitizer. I love the idea of these . Makes it easy to move your baby stuff from one bag to another & keeps everything nice & tidy inside your bag. I must make one of these for myself.

Cute Overload

Seriously adorable stuff here. I'm dying. This package of goodies was sent to me by the super talented Sweet Jessie. She contacted me wanting a raindrop tote bag & I jumped on the opportunity to do a trade with her. I asked for a set of tea towels. My goods arrived yesterday & you better believe I tore right into that box.

Of course she went above & beyond (because that just seems to be her style...she's a giver) by packaging it in this cool little suitcase.


Tea & cookies to accompany the towels.


I knew I was getting a little deer towel. The french knots on the butterfly just kill me. SO cute.


This little buddy was a surprise & I just love him!


Had to display them right away. Happy stove. Happy me!

Thanks so much Jessie! I just knew you'd be quicker than me & getting your package off. I'm using my broken sewing machine needle & no replacements as an excuse. I did acquire more needles though & finished your bag last night, so you should be receiving it soon.

Check out Jessie's shop for more of her wonderful handmades & adorable vintage finds.

Tote Bag Sale

Because I'm having so much fun etsying (yeah, I made up that word) & I'm having so much fun going to the post office 2-3 times a week & I'd like to go there even more often & I'd also like to make a little room for some new stuff in the shop......I'm having a sale on all tote bags. They are all now just $12.00 each. So go jump on that!

Vintage Goodies

tags & pillowcases added to the shop.

That's Better

I'm feeling much better after this weekend. I have so many things to be thankful for & so many things to be happy about. I better start living my life to reflect that.


Right now I'm loving:

* That spring has come!!! Sunshine & warmer days. Wearing capris & flip flops.
* My plants sprouting in the kitchen window.
* My beautiful, clean van. We all got to work on the van this weekend. It's like a new car. Looks much better, smells much better...feels great!
* This talk from conference. I feel like this talk was just for me. I'm sure many others felt the same way.
* The success of my etsy shop. I've been having sales almost daily in the shop. I know that it is a blessing from my Heavenly Father for getting caught up on our tithing. We were behind quite a bit last year. Took quite the chuck out of our tax refund to pay it back, but it feels great & the blessings are obvious!
* A new stack of fabrics from a shopping trip with Andrea. All washed & folded & the ideas are racing through my mind. Hoping for a really great shop update in the near future.
* My new stroller which should arrive any time. Lots of walks around the block & to the library are in store for us.
* Spending time with Dylan this weekend. Even when the kids are around we can take a few minutes to lay on the bed & talk & giggle & that takes me back to the old days when we were just falling in love & all I had to think about was him. I love him.
* My girls. they are so beautiful.

Love From Canada

I went out to get the mail yesterday & saw a package sitting on my doorstep. The box seemed too big to be the fat quarters I just ordered. In fact it wasn't my fabric, but a package full of goodies from my friend Alexandra. Now Alexandra didn't know....or maybe she did...maybe she could sense it...that I've had a really tough winter & the past month or so has been really hard. I thought I was feeling better & then this week I struggled again with feeling isolated and lonely & fighting off feelings of depression. Wednesday was a particularly hard day. Then on Thursday, I find a wonderful surprise on my doorstep from a dear friend that I met through blogging. A woman who I've never met in real life, whose voice I've never heard. I've never even seen a photo of her. What color hair do you have, Alexandra? :) Anyway, that she cared enough to gather together items just for me has made me feel so very special at a time when I really need to feel special. Thank you so very much Alexandra.

It reminds me of a time this winter when I was struggling with my motherhood duties & really having a downright horrible day of screaming my head off & feeling like a lunatic when I found a package on my doorstep from Chanel. It was a lovely book called Mothering With Spiritual Power & it was exactly what I needed.

I find myself most days wishing that I could assemble a neighborhood to live it that would have all my favorite people living there. All my sisters & my good friends that are miles away. All my friends that I'd love to go on walks with or hang out with them on their couch every day. I'll keep dreaming.

I'm so thankful for my internet buddies. I hate to imagine how much more isolated & alone I'd feel without all of you. Thank you so much for being a part of my life.

Trying New Recipes

I love it when I get on a kick to try some new recipes. A new Everyday Food Magazine will do that to me.


Freeze Ahead Lasagna Primavera. I really thought Sadie would turn her nose up to this with all the green in there. She dug right in, though. I think I like vegetable lasagna more than my family does. I'm not sure that I'll be making this too often.

I've got a couple more new recipes to try next week from the Everyday Food Cookbook that my sweet husband got me for Christmas.

***On a side note, Jessica is giving away one of her adorable kids shirts. They are super affordable & would make a great gift. Not sure how long the giveaway lasts so get over there right away.

Also, Ashley just recently opened her etsy shop selling cutie cute kids shirts as well. Both of you girls need to raise your prices!!

Happiness

We drove to Michigan last Saturday to do a little shopping at IKEA. This stack of new dishtowels is making me seriously happy. $.49 dish towels. Simple & soft. I bought 20 of them.


On the drive home. She'd gone with daddy to the comic book store earlier that day.