so cool

For anyone who doesn't know it, I am a total typography nerd. I looooove type like nobody's business. So when I stumbled upon this, I had to share.



Conclusions?
A: this guy is way smart
B: this guy has WAY too much time on his hands

She's crafty...

Um, so yeah. I've been a teeny bit obsessively crafting lately. I can't stop. Part of it is probably because I finally got this book I've been wanting for like a month. Weekend Sewing is the perfect book for a busy mama sewer - filled with beautiful projects that can pretty much be completed in no more than a weekend (or two if you have a particularly fussy, teething baby. Grrr.)

I have a few projects earmarked.


Like 14. or so.

The first project I'm working on is this one:



In these yummy fabrics.
And yes, those are toadstools. The fabric is called...appropriately, Toadstools. I think they're super cute, and will make the table I'm hosting at an upcoming Mama's Tea quite lovely. Tomorrow, I'll be garage sale-ing for teacups. We shall see.....

Last night's project was a pincushion - because when you're crafting, it's also about how frickin' cute your crafty station is. And this is a CUTE pincushion. I was getting by with one of those dumb tomato things, and just decided I was over it. This project is from a great book by one of the crafty girls over at Purl Soho. (see crafty, sew-y goodness at left!)

Now, these photos are strategically taken, I will say. This was a simple project that got real ugly, real fast. I have never sewn a BALL before. Apparently, precision is key with those points at the top and bottom. Meh. It turned out okay. Don't look too close. :)


And because I'm feeling SUPER ambitious (it was sunny this week, okay? that makes me ambitious) I took on two OTHER projects. One for the mama:

amy butler barcelona skirt pattern

In this AWESOME fabric from this yummy designer

And then, finally, one more for the baby girl.

Speaking of. We're big on first birthdays around here. I love to pick the perfect theme for a first birthday, and so far I've hit the first two right on the head. Jackson's was Curious George (way before the new movie came out!) and he is SUCH the curious little man. Aidan's was a circus party, and well, you can draw your own conclusions. He is quite the class clown. So, I've settled on what I think will be a fab-o party theme for Chloe. See if you can guess.

I'm making her this dress:


In this fabric (which, by the way, is called "storybook.") Consider that hint #2.


Here are a few more hints...




Can you guess? :) More to come.....

If you tolerated all this sewing geekiness, you're either a relative, a good friend, or a serious sewing-nerd like me. Either way, thanks.

happy birthday, blue eyed boy!

We celebrated 4 years on Saturday. My littlest boy is almost 4. Seriously. Time just keeps flying by. Cliche, but so true. I've been in a CRAZY crafting/sewing/birthday party frenzy for the last week or so, which explains the lack of blogging. We wanted to give lil' Aidan the BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY EVER since he's had fairly simple parties the last few years - and THIS was Jackson's fourth birthday:


When Aidan chose Star Wars (of course!) we knew we had to do something great. Soooo....here was the invite:




We decided to do a Jedi Training workshop with the kids, and all in all it was...well, pretty darn GREAT! Aidan was so happy, and once I finished sewing 10 Jedi capes, so was I. The best trick of the day, however, came when it was time for them to put their "training" to use - lifting a bucket with the "force." Little James (age 2.5) was pretty sure he was truly channeling the force to lift a bucket. It was great.

I can't believe we've had Aidan for four years. He continues to be an amazing, complicated, high energy, hilarious, laugh-out-loud funny kid. We are so blessed to have him!

Catch up

I'm catching up, a bit. I know I took a teeny hiatus after the California/Disneyland madness, but hello. Here I am, back and ready to rock. Oh, and ready to completely avoid the gigantic pile of clean laundry threatening to overtake my bedroom. And my bed. And my sofa.

Anyhoo.

Is there really anything better than sitting in a swing, feeling the breeze on your toes, watching your big brother and your daddy play catch? I don't think so....




Is there anything better than watching your biggest boy with a smile the size of Texas plastered across his face when he realizes he's the student of the month?


Is there anything better than those lashes? They get me every time...


I love this time of year. Easter reminds me of everything I have to be thankful for - new life, continued growth, a family that is whole and healthy, the sunshine, the daffodils....it is a time of year to rejoice.

Winter hits us hard around here, and there is a lightening of the spirit that comes with spring...

I will rejoice, and be glad.

Chloe vs. the avocado...

I'm pretty sure the avocado won.

This is her new favorite food. She bounces in her seat when she sees me coming. Yesterday, she ate 3/4 of a whole avocado. In about 4.2 seconds. Good thing it's a super food!

In my lifetime...

Hello, blog. Yes, it's me. Where've I been? Well, you know. Around. What's that? You missed me? Well, darling, I missed you too. It's just that I've been, you know, quite busy. Yes, yes, I know you're important. I know you have feelings too. I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry.

Here's a list to make you feel better. I stole it from someone else's blog. No, that is NOT regifting, dear. Everything I've done is in bold. Copy +Paste and I'll check out yours!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (never -- this will never get crossed off the list.)
12. Visited Paris (JUNE!!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (sewing!)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (does 4 yrs of high school french count?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (thanks dad!)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (again - JUNE!)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (times 3!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Cave Tubing in Belize