happy summer solstice!

Here's to a summer of splashing, soaking up the sun, adventures, spontaneity, playing, dreaming, creating, eating abundant local fresh produce, farmers markets and celebrating being exactly who you are!

little dancer

This has to be one of the cutest scenes ever ~ a bunch of precious little girls dancing and twirling in their tiny tutu's and itsy bitsy ballet shoes. Mia just started her first ballet class and I seriously don't think I've seen anything this adorable. But equally as sweet has been Owen so proudly walking Mia into her class and being just as excited for her as she is. Too too cute.

sweet wreath

Just loving this wreath... wouldn't this make the happiest door? I'm just saying.

our summer list

Sunny days, pj days, creative days, swim days and free days. This is how our summer is shaping up and I love it. The other night we made our 'summer list', a family project we did last year and loved so much, we did it again this year. We each add things we want to do this summer and in no time at all, we have days of activities and thoughtful excursions to choose from. Balance that with days of planning nothing at all and we have one super summer ahead of us! The chalkboard looks so cheery and bright, especially with the little kiddo art accents. I highly recommend trying this for your family!

p.s. This chalkboard was handmade from an old window frame (literally $3 at our local recycled resource shop), simply painted cream with wood chalkboard painted panel added to it. Thanks to my hubby for making it1

school is out!

Ahhh summer! It's here... and the kids had their very last day at their Montessori school. They are heading to a new school next year (which we are very excited about) but when I walked in to pick them up and say our goodbyes, I felt really sad. Tears welled up in my eyes and I felt on the verge of sobbing. Both kids have had the most wonderful, loving, gentle teachers with a gift for the most magnificent way and words with the children. Mia had her very first pre-school experience here... and Owen was completely embraced for being just who he was. Both kids ran into school everyday. What more could a mom ask for? I am certainly going to miss this sweet little school. My O is now a kindergartener. And AHEM... how did that happen?!?

P.S. Here are our kiddos with the amazing Chad ~ who taught their 'movement' class. Don't you just love the name of that class? And how adorable is he?!? :) When we said goodbye, I will not soon forget how he bent down to Owen's level, looked him right in the eyes and said in the most meaningful way, 'YOU are a very cool kid.' It seems like such a small thing really, but I am certain Owen will remember those words coming from the coolest guy at school for quite awhile, if not his whole life. Oh words can be so powerful and don't we all need a dose of someone very cool thinking we are pretty cool too?

doily garland: a tutorial

Garland is such a happy decoration. I love all kinds and the way they dress up a room in the sweetest, cheery way. I created this vintage, delicate, lacy bunting for a bridal shower we held in a barn, but I see many more uses for it in the future (i.e. holiday snowflake decorations). The soft colors of the doilies combined with a taupe linen bias tape provided a wonderful, warm accent against the wooded walls and ceiling. Here is the tutorial I promised. Do give it a whirl!

Materials:

* crochet doilies
* bias tape ~ 1/2" extra wide double fold (or create your own)
* rotary cutter or scissors
* sewing machine

How to:

1. Collect doilies and cut in half. Grandparents hand-me-downs, local antique shops or even ebay are great resources. For the quantities, it depends on how long your garland will be and how close together you like the doilies.





2. Make your bias tape if you want to choose your own fabric, which makes for a really fun way to create your own look. Otherwise the ready made versions work great too!

3. Pin the cut doilies to your bias tape. I spaced mine out 4" from end-to-end.



4. Sew along the bottom part of the bias tape edge.

5. That's it! Easy peasy. Hang 'em up!

container gardening

Summer is seriously here and I'm seriously smitten with Terrain, the new shop by Anthropologie owners. Oh how would I ever choose which garden container to plant some herbs in?