goodbye 2010 & hello 2011!

Another year gone by... why do they seem to go faster & faster? I always look forward to the beginning of the year. It feels so good to think about a fresh start, how you want to do things differently, and how to make this year better than the last. I've been thinking a lot the past few weeks about this and resolutions I'd like to make, and there are so many things I want to do (like usual!).

If I were to make my '2011 list', here are some of the things it would include (some carried over from last year!):

• be mindful, thoughtful & present

• eat less sugar

• learn to crochet

• embrace imperfection

• learn to live with less

• finish a book (I can't remember the last time I have!)

• incorporate a tiny bit of meditation into my day
  

• find a volunteer opportunity for our family

• hike more with the kids

• live in gratitude

• set better limits

• laugh more

• use less packaging/buy more bulk (in reusable bags that I'd love to make myself)
  

• work on not taking things so personally

• finding balance (a constant journey!)
  

• clean out every room in the house (including closets!) to get rid of unnecessary things

• surround myself with positive people & energy

• slow down!

• try not to be overwhelmed by 'to do lists' (like this one!)
  

I think about all of these things on this list... A LOT, especially being overwhelmed. I tend to put way more on my plate than I can do by myself, and so even though I would love to do everything on this list above for 2011 (and will try), what I truly want to do is find ways to simplify my life. I believe more and more that true happiness lies in the simplest of things, and when you can make life simpler all around, it makes time for the more meaningful things, which gives way to more space and freedom. I'm also learning that the more quiet space you have in your life, the easier it is to listen to your heart. If I can find ways to live more simply and follow my heart, I think 2011 will be one heck of a year!

Happiest New Year to all of you!

XO

dear oh dear...

Oh this poor little blog is being neglected... I think I have just adopted a third child that has stolen my heart ~ The Makerie. I still can't quite believe it has become such a reality, a dream come true to get this off the ground, and a huge amount of work to go along with that! So that's where I've been, and I will try to get back here as often as I can, but I'm also trying really hard to simplify where possible and honor my time with my family. It's not always easy to find the right balance with all of this, but I'm trying really hard!

I hope this makes you smile. It certainly does me... every single time! (Sorry about the bad color on the video. Eek!)

LOVE this!

I just discovered this new blog. And I love it. SO MUCH. How happy was I to discover that they translate it into English. YEAH! I am now in search of wool felted balls so I can squeeze this wreath in for one last holiday project. Isn't in darling?!?

photo via pickles

we're back

And this photo makes me smile... a whole lot. We had the most incredible Thanksgiving in the woods of North Carolina ~ full of amazing friends and family, homemade EVERYTHING, walks along the leaf-covered trails, fresh herbs from the garden, chopping wood (I even hacked a few!) and a bonfire with smores. Yes, it was like being back at camp and we loved every single minute of it. One day... just maybe one day our home will be surrounded by trees galore too. Wishes CAN come true!

the big 6!

My little guy turned 6 today, and yes, we survived the fort party with 14 kindergartners!:)

Birthdays are such a wonderful time to reflect on time passing, what was and what is yet to be... When I close my eyes, this is how I picture my Owen right here and now... snuggled up with his animals, climbing all over our house (including scaling the cabinet walls, seriously!), confidently riding his two-wheeler, explaining everything with his hands, drawing elaborate pictures ~ all with such detailed explanations, the sheer pride that lasted a few weeks when he scored his one & only goal in soccer (on a penalty kick), talking about how he wants to be an engineer, making sculptures, loving sushi, feisty, writing lots of stories & telling everyone it was his birthday today.

Happiest 6th Birthday to my sweet, spunky, creative & always keeps me on my toes not-so-little boy. My greatest wish for you on your special day is that you remain simply beautiful, perfect you. I love you more than you will ever know Owen!

almost the big 6

My Owen is turning 6 on Monday, and we're celebrating this weekend with 13 kindergartners at our small house. He wanted to have a 'build-a-fort' party so that's what we're doing ~ gathering boxes, tents, sheets & blankets to make this little boy's fantasy come to life. We are quite used to this activity, as our couch is rarely (okay... almost NEVER) in one piece because making forts out of our cushions is all my kids want to do! Who needs toys? The party is going to be just a wee bit nuts, so keep your fingers crossed we are all in one piece after Saturday! Oh and by the way, this is the birthday invite Owen designed himself. I love it.

the launch

I am quite thrilled (okay... giddy!) that the Makerie web site is launching today! It has been such a fantastic ride so far and I can't wait to share with you what it's all about. The Makerie is evolving all the time and I am incredibly excited to see how it all unfolds. I do promise you this ~ it will be full ~ SO FULL ~ of creative goodness. Please do come take a peek!

my favorite request of the day...

from my 4 year old... "Mom, it's so much fun to laugh. Can you please tickle me more?"

photo by my fabulous mom

compliments

I had to share this sweet story... I was at Whole Foods this evening with my two kiddos in tow. They ate dinner in the grocery cart while I did a bit of grocery shopping, which happens to be one of my favorite events. It really is. They are happy little clams eating and steering the wheels of the 'driving cart' while I get to happily shop for goodies and hang out with them at the same time. It seriously makes grocery shopping FUN, & I get to come to a clean house without having to cook or clean. Gotta love it! And what is it about Whole Foods anyway? I just love being in that grocery store full of yummy, healthy goodness. They are certainly doing something right!

So back to my story... as we were shopping, this woman was wearing a super cute cardigan so I complimented her and told her how much I liked it. Well little Mia must have been listening to me, and proceeded to compliment at least 4 more people during our grocery shopping expedition. 'I like your sparkly headband'... 'I like your necklace'... 'That's a nice shirt' & 'I love your sweatshirt' to a sweet man wearing a simple 'Cape Cod' sweatshirt. Well this man smiled a smile that came right out of his heart & said to me. 'That just made my day.' And it did. The simplest compliment made this man so very happy, and I couldn't tell Mia enough how proud she should be for making someone else feel so good. It made me feel so grateful and honored, once again, to call myself her mom.

the bday cake

We had the best time making Mia's birthday cake this year! I was so inspired by this post that I had to give it a try. I thought it turned out so sweet. I mean, aren't polka dots always happy? So much for sugar-free Friday! :)

kids applique placemats

Well I have a thing for eating on soft placemats. There is just something so comforting about having a cushy place to park your plate. I wanted my kiddos to have this comfort too... so I decided to make them their own. Being a Montessori mom, I love the idea of self-sufficiency and having the kiddos help set the table. I wanted to make it fun and easy for them to do, so I appliqued a spoon, fork, plate and cup onto a soft cotton, used a sweet polka dot fabric on the back so we could use both sides, and sandwiched a super soft, natural cotton batting in between them. Of course I had to make a napkin to match! I like that they are reusable, and it really does look cute to have the table set with the mix and match fabrics. The best part is you can just throw them in the wash, and they get even softer over time. Meals can be such a special sharing time and I love that we have a handmade touch to go with them.

p.s. Thanks so much Ohdeedoh for featuring our placemats on your always-inspiring site!

the sweetest project

I've been working on this little project for quite some time now, mostly in my mind for the past year, until recently, and I can't really explain how, that one thing started to gently lead to another in such a natural way that it is now becoming much more of a reality.

I attended Squam Art Workshops in June 2009 and it seriously was one the best experiences I have ever had. I went by myself ~ didn't know a soul ~ and had the time of my life. Not only did I take the most amazing creative classes designed for anyone, but came home with the most genuine friends, a huge amount of inspiration and a renewed spirit. This was the first thing I had truly done for myself since having my two little ones. At first I felt guilty and selfish for taking a few days out of our busy lives to go, but then I realized how terribly important it was to have a little time and space to just be me again ~ something I had lost along the way with the intensity and beauty of being a full-time mom. I learned so many things that weekend ~ so many things:

* how important it is to honor who you are and what you love to do

* the power of being in a like-minded community

* that you can have your own thing and still be a great mom (in fact, I found I was a better mom because of that!)

* how honoring and exploring your creative side brings out the best in everyone

* to listen to your heart and those little voices that speak to you ever so softly

When I came home from Squam, I shared this magical experience with all my friends and family, and they all wanted to go. So I told them I would find a place in Colorado a little closer to home and we would all go. I searched and searched for something similar and couldn't believe that there was nothing like this in our majestic Rocky Mountains. How could that be? There must be a place like this here! And maybe I should start one? In my heart, I knew that I wanted to create a place to give people the opportunity to experience what I did, but in my own backyard that I love so much. I wanted to provide a place where people could step out of their fast-paced, everyday lives, leave technology behind for a few days and reconnect with themselves ~ a space to simply play and feel like a kid again. It does wonders, let me tell you! I still carry the magic I felt at Squam around with me, and am eternally grateful to Elizabeth and the courage she had to create Squam Art Workshops. It truly changed my life.

As I approach this endeavor, I am doing so with an open mind and heart, and trust that it will evolve as it should. I have cherished the input and support from so many amazing people already and feel the greatest power in creating this is how it already feels like the most warm and wonderful community. My greatest hope for the Makerie is that it provides a beautiful energy to all it touches, and that it might inspire someone to go after their dreams too. Creating the Makerie is most certainly a dream come true for me. So here we go! Hold on... it's going to be one wonderful, wild ride!

meaning

Oh my goodness... I can't wait to take a peak at this book. The title alone describes everything I believe in ~ crafting, meaning and home. These three things, in addition to nurturing food and those that you love who are in it, would create the happiest home on the planet. Such simple, loving things really...

happily ever after...

Well we're back from the most wonderful weekend! My brother is a happily married man and I simply adore my new sister-in-law. What a fabulous few days we all spent together ~ celebrating this beautiful new couple, hanging out at the beach with family and friends, sipping pina coladas, eating fresh salsa and guacamole for lunch every day, sneaking in a massage, sleeping through the night (for four nights in a row!), and yes... my husband and I even got to finish a conversation. A most heartfelt congratulations to my brother and his new wife on the start of their new life together. I can't wait for many more adventures with the two of you and I love you.

kids applique placemats

Well I have a thing for eating on soft placemats. There is just something so comforting about having a cushy place to park your plate. I wanted my kiddos to have this comfort too... so I decided to make them their own. Being a Montessori mom, I love the idea of self-sufficiency and having the kiddos help set the table. I wanted to make it fun and easy for them to do, so I appliqued a spoon, fork, plate and cup onto a soft cotton, used a sweet polka dot fabric on the back so we could use both sides, and sandwiched a super soft, natural cotton batting in between them. Of course I had to make a napkin to match! I like that they are reusable, and it really does look cute to have the table set with the mix and match fabrics. The best part is you can just throw them in the wash, and they get even softer over time. Meals can be such a special sharing time and I love that we have a handmade touch to go with them.

adios!

Off to the beach... My brother is getting married in Mexico this weekend! Weddings are just such happy occasions and it will be a wonderful celebration. My brother is marrying a gem. I have never seen him so happy and content and it makes my heart smile. I'm also very excited to have a little escape with my husband, as the kiddos are going to be home with Nanna and Poppa. I'm looking forward to sleeping through the night (a rarity with my little ones), having lazy mornings and maybe even finishing a conversation. I can't wait! See you next week!

sweet spoonflowering

I'm adoring this project. Is this the cutest ever? I'm always on the lookout for creative gift ideas for teachers. I heart spoonflower.

image credit to freshly pieced

such a treat for sugar-free friday

Have you ever tried 'grilled' zucchini bread? Well let me tell you it's quite a fabulous way to start the morning! I used this recipe (sans refined sugar which I love) and it has become a personal favorite. All you do is put a small pat of your favorite butter in a pan (cast iron gives it a wonderful flavor if you have one) and grill it on both sides. Oh my goodness... it's the best. What is it about any warm bread? I do think it's one of my all time favorite things to eat, anytime, anywhere. This little technique works great with banana bread, muffins, and really any and all breads for that matter. Give it a whirl and let me know how it turns out! I guarantee you'll love it.

photo courtesy of the lemonbasil blog

4 years old

How can it be that my littlest one is 4 years old already? Today was her birthday and we celebrated in just her style. Mac & cheese twice, loving her celebration of life ceremony at school, getting to lead the class in her favorite games, going out to lunch with mom & dad (I was SO excited when she chose my favorite place!), painting, and loading her cupcake with sprinkles. We put the candles in her cupcake, and in her thoughtful, brother-loving way, wanted to make sure Owen had candles in his cupcake too so they could blow them out together. Mia, your huge heart constantly inspires me to be a better person, and your giving spirit shines so brightly. You simply light up this world and you absolutely light up my life. I love you more than you will ever know. Happy Birthday sweetheart.

this quote

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman (1900-1981), Educator, Minister, Civil Rights Activist

I found these amazing words on this blog. They speak to me so loudly. I love Nicola's thoughts on Squam. I was so lucky to attend Squam Art Workshops last summer and truly, it changed my life too. I will forever be grateful to Elizabeth creating such a magical place.

a birthday butterfly

We have a big birthday coming up in our family. The big 4 years old for my little Mia! Oh how I wish I could just stop time with her. Most things that come out of her mouth are quite adorable, she's still so snuggly, and I marvel at her determined spirit. She wakes up every single morning, stands up as tall as she possibly can and says, "Mom, look how big I am!" My petite little girl says this with such gusto that it makes me smile every single time. She has been into trying on my rings, so I decided to make her one of her own for her special day. This knitted butterfly ring pattern is from the super adorable knitting blog spud & chloe. The site is full of wonderful free patterns and the spud & chloe yarn is simply delicious. Happy early birthday to my sweetest girl. I can't wait to celebrate being 4 with you!

i SO wish i could go to this...

I know... I know! Another video but I just couldn't resist. I came across the finale event to one of my all-time favorite things that lives on my lovely little links and I just had to share it. If any of you are in Chicago, I think you should try and go. It would be really incredible to be a small, beautiful part of something so big and just SO LOVELY!!!

my commitment to kindess

sugar free friday ~ mustards last stand

I had a lunch date with my girl today. We ate at the very fancy, schmancy Mustard's Last Stand. This girl of mine loves hot dogs, so much so that occasionally she asks for one for dessert. (Not a joke!) Being the picky eater I am, I somewhat doubted I would find something on the menu I would be excited about but lo and behold, they had a vegetarian section and on it was a tofu ruben. Only in Boulder, right? Tofu at a hot dog joint? And let me tell you, it was totally delicious. I couldn't wait to tell you about it for my sugar-free friday post. And to top off our experience at Mustard's, there was a sign in the restaurant that read, "Do you want to picnic by the river? Just ask us for a blanket." Don't you love that?

time for twine?

It's been on my list! I love twine ~ the way it adds a dainty charm to just about everything. This picture makes me want to place an order right here and now. What color would you choose?

our hometown heroes!

This fire we had a few weeks ago was one of the worst Colorado has seen. As much devastation as it caused and as horrible as it was to witness, it was also a wonderful coming together of our small town and an energizing sense of community. The kiddos were also very aware of what was going on, and wanted to do their part to thank the firefighters too! We baked homemade chocolate chip cookies, made some special pictures for the firemen, and hand delivered the goodies to the fire house. I loved seeing how much this meant to the little ones and how proud they were to help in their own way. Oh I wish I could just bottle up the pure goodness in their hearts! The hometown parade celebrating the firefighters was the sweetest... brought tears to my eyes really ~ watching the firefighters marching and the loud cheers from the crowds, reading all of the 'thank you' signs from the children and the signs that read 'thank you for saving my home.'


Perhaps one of the most touching moments was this rescued puppy marching in the parade. I mean how amazing is that?!?

this quote

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman (1900-1981), Educator, Minister, Civil Rights Activist

I found these amazing words on this blog. They speak to me so loudly. I love Nicola's thoughts on Squam. I was so lucky to attend Squam Art Workshops last summer and truly, it changed my life too. I will forever be grateful to Elizabeth creating such a magical place.

where is creativity going?

Oh this is such a testament to how important creativity is for our children, and all of us really! This Newsweek article talks about how our children in America are just not creative as they used to be, and why, and how we can start to turn this around. Creativity is vital, and our world simply needs creative solutions. Period. It's a fascinating article and makes me want to be even more creative with my kiddos ~ every single day!

sugar free friday ~ fig jam!

Okay! I'm on time this week. :) We made this super yummy jam from you guessed it ~ Super Natural Cooking. I'm working my way through the whole cookbook, and am always so pleased with how the recipes turn out. This one was so incredibly simple, using only five ingredients ~ fresh organic figs, honey, lemon juice, toasted sesame seeds & freshly ground pepper. It seriously took me at the most, 10 minutes of work. I love having this little treat waiting in the fridge, ready to just slap onto a thick piece of yummy toast for breakfast. Mmmmmm good!

I'm dreaming about these decals for my little girl's walls. I think they are absolutely adorable and love that they are made with fabric instead of vinyl. And the most fun part, it's totally reusable so you can redesign your walls (especially good for someone like me who likes to change things up every now & then). Brilliant.

sweet natural stamps

Won't these make the best stamps? Can you guess what they are? I'll give you a hint... they are yummy to eat. Yep, you guessed it. Bok Choy (the stems). Thank you Red Wagon for the delish veggies this week, and for creating these stamping beauties.

please keep...

our beautiful little city of Boulder in your thoughts. This fire in our foothills has been incredibly devastating... over 169 homes have been lost, thousands of people have been evacuated, and word on the street is our neighborhood may be next on the list for evacuations. Please keep everyone effected by this fire close to your heart.

for a sweet new year (& belated sugar-free friday)

I'm a little late with this post, as I had intended on posting it Friday, but with the uncertainty of the fire still looming and hosting a Rosh Hashanah dinner, well here I am a few days later! Our Jewish New Year celebration was terrific. I always love the meaning and feelings around this holiday ~ new beginnings and the promise of a good new year ~ all sentiments wonderfully represented by food! We dip apples in honey to symbolize a sweet new year, which is a favorite treat for all, and one that I also thought would be a perfect sugar-free Friday goodie to share. Our Rosh Hashanah dinner tables were filled with our wonderful friends and family and children. It was such a lovely night and we couldn't have asked for a better way to bring in the new year. As we say on this holiday... Shana Tova (good year)! May this be a beautiful one for everyone!

this photo...

simply makes me smile. Happy Labor Day!

sugar free friday!

I've been on this kick of trying to reduce the amount of refined sugar in our lives. After a pretty rough winter health-wise, I totally lost my sugar craving for the first time ever in my life, and I truly never felt better. I mean, I was the girl who loved an extra vat of frosting to dip my already frosted cinnamon rolls in and always had to have something sweet after dinner. So after that sugar craving disappeared, I've been on a mission to keep it at bay. I have always been a pretty healthy eater (besides my love of all things sweet) and am always interested in exploring and trying new healthy ways to cook and bake. When you start really checking and reading labels on packaged and processed foods, well refined sugar is in everything, and I mean everything, and has hundreds of code names. Now not to say that all sweet things have been removed from our house, but I've been replacing our pantry with natural sweeteners (brown rice syrup, raw honey, agave nectar) and now carefully choose what ends up in our grocery cart. It feels so great to me to be feeding our family the most natural foods I can and finding fun ways to incorporate yummy treats without the added sugar.

So all that being said, I thought I would start a Friday ritual (sugar free friday) featuring recipes I find and love that don't involve refined sugar. So here we go!

Leave it to my favorite go to gal, Heidi Swanson, to come up with a fantastic caramel popcorn recipe using brown rice & maple syrup, along with a lovely smattering of toasted nuts. It's out of Super Natural Cooking (which I've mentioned quite a few times on this blog and I'm on round 6 of checking it out from our library) and it was just too good to be true. It was my first time making caramel popcorn from scratch and boy, I can't wait to do it again! I made it for a fishing picnic dinner we had along side one of our beautiful Colorado rivers and I have to say, it was quite a lovely evening. My husband (a most avid fisherman who would fish everyday of his life if he could) and the kids were busy reeling them in, while I sat in a camping chair, knitting, handing out caramel popcorn to my munchkins, and snacking on the popcorn myself. Oh that was a such a terrific way to end a week!

my flower girl

We just returned from my sister-in-law's wonderful wedding on the east coast, and Mia was the flower girl. Oh a little girl in a white dress... pretty ethereal, oh so sweet, and incredibly easily dirtied! Within 5 minutes of being at the wedding site, Mia tripped and fell into the grass. Well what's a few grass stains, right? About two minutes later someone was holding her and had a leaky blue pen, so not only did her brand new dress have green grass stains on it, but now there were lovely bright blue stains all over the front of it, and all even before she walked down the aisle. At this point all we could do was laugh. What else can you expect from a toddler in all white! It took a little coaxing to get her down the aisle (aka taffy), but she did the sweetest job scattering rose petals. She looked so grown up in her flower girl dress (thanks J. Crew Cuts) and pigtail buns.


And the shoes, the shoes, I mean have you ever seen such totally adorable shoes? They came from the most amazing, unique, most stylish shoe company I've ever seen. Yes, it's my huge new crush. Jessica, the owner of Joyfolie, simply couldn't be more darling herself. You MUST check out everything on her site.

And if you're wondering, we just got Mia's dress back from the dry cleaners and miraculously, everything came out! :)

cricket

This summer we met Cricket, the baby giraffe born at the Denver Zoo. Is she not the sweetest thing ever? Owen just loved her, and decided to draw a picture of her, which I adored so much that I embroidered it onto a new pillowcase for his toddler-sized pillow.

It was a great personalized project and here's a brief description how I did it:

* Using the existing pillowcase as my template, I found a super soft hemp/organic fabric at my favorite local craft boutique

* Cut two pieces for each side of the pillowcase and chose chocolate brown (one of my very favorite colors) embroidery thread

* Drew the artwork onto one of the right sides of the fabric (I first tried to use carbon paper to trace the design onto the fabric but the material was a bit too stretchy and didn't work so well. Instead I free-handed his drawing using a water-soluble pen)

* Placed the drawing in an embroidery hoop and embroidered the design onto one side

* Hemmed the raw edges and sewed the two pieces together (right sides together) around three sides

* Stuffed the pillow form inside and voila!

I was so excited it turned out just the way I envisioned ~ cozy, simple and most of all, something Owen loves. Giraffes have now been declared one of our family's favorite animals!

p.s. Thank you so very much to ohdeedoh (one of my very favorite blogs) for posting this project. I'm truly honored!

the sketchbook project

LOVE this!!!

happy thoughts

I had such a fun meeting last week and wanted to share why. I am inching towards a pretty amazing project, and had a wonderful meeting with the adorable graphic designer I'm working with. Instead of getting down to 'business', I wanted to start out the meeting doing something a little out of the box that I had been thinking about. I began the meeting by asking her to share a happy thought or something that makes her happy and I did the same. I did feel a bit silly at first, but she was so happily taken a back by the request that it made me smile and realize that maybe it wasn't so silly after all. She completely embraced the idea and shared a wonderful story, which set the tone for such a warm, fun, and lovely session. She even asked if she could borrow this idea for her meetings, like a 'pay it forward'. I love the thought of simply spreading happiness. We are not asked enough about what really makes us happy, and it's such a fun thing to think and talk about. What if we could start a 'happy meeting' movement? What if the President did this at his meetings? Hmmmm... could we start to change the world?

kindergarten here we come!

I am the proud mama to a kindergartener now! Today was Owen's first day of school and it was a great one. I loved watching him sprint out of his classroom with a huge smile on his face (which I was so happy we caught on video even though my husband was a bit embarrassed by his paparazzi wife) and that will certainly become such a sweet memory for me of his first day of kindergarten. We are so excited about the kids' new school and I loved celebrating Owen today. I think the highlight of his day was the adorable cookie bouquet from his yaya and baba waiting for him when he got home. He just couldn't believe that a cookie had his name on it. Too too cute!

a collaboration

My mom and I just finished our first project together! I had seen a similar idea somewhere on the web and fell in love with it. And please forgive me... I just can't remember (nor find!) where this inspiration came from. (oh if by a needle in a haystack chance the person who provided this inspiration comes across this post, please do say hello so i can thank you properly and personally! But for now, thank you whoever you are for the wonderful idea!) My mom, our talented resident photographer, took the photos, I came up with the copy and then we worked together in Photoshop to place the words on their shirts. We were both so excited about how they turned out, and I love that fact that we could capture exactly who they are at this very moment not only through their expressions, but through the words too. I cherish everything this project represents, especially creating something together with my mom. I can't wait to have these fun pieces hanging on our walls!

a most peaceful little place

We just returned from several weeks in the mountains and wow, was it rejuvenating! Being surrounded by nature, the fresh mountain air, lots of hikes with the kiddos, making rock nests, using pine cones for tiny wildflower vases (Mia's idea which I thought was so clever and sweet), finding the very best sticks and simply being free. My mom and I even snuck out for a few early morning hikes before everyone was awake! She's such a whipper snapper and so full of energy. I love it and love the wonderful talks we have while on our walks. On our last day in the mountains, the two of us were hiking and just stumbled upon this most peaceful little sitting spot. Don't you just love the flowers peaking through the bench? I wished we had two warm cups of tea to just plop ourselves on that welcoming little spot. Here's to you finding some peaceful little places too!

csa farm tour

We are loving our csa this summer! Such a variety, all the veggies are super clean (gotta love that!), it's run by the sweetest young couple & they even send out a weekly newsletter with great recipes for the produce that week (tried the tangy cauliflower salad & it was delish). Our little family is embracing the idea of eating more seasonally & I love this path we are on. It just makes so much sense to me! Our csa recently had a farm tour, which was so cool & the kids had a ball. Check out the views from the farm! Combine a huge bag of fresh peas with a hay ride & well... this was all we needed to make for a fantastic afternoon. It's so neat to truly see where our food comes from, and such a beautiful lesson for the kids to learn as well. I do have memories of picking strawberries & carrots from my grandparents sweet tiny garden, but was not really something I grew up with. I proudly admit, I'm loving learning about farming too!

p.s. My Owen is SO hard to photograph, as he is constantly on the move & makes lots of funny faces. I was really excited when I finally captured a good one at the farm tour so I wanted to share. It's now one of my very favorites of my little guy.