a little haitus

Oh I do love this little blog... & I really miss coming here, but I'm just a wee bit busy at the moment and will return here when I have more time after April. You are so sweet to keep coming back to visit. I'll miss you!

p.s. I'll leave you with my favorite picture of myself (um.... ever!) from my 4 year old. : )

xo

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.