Happy New Year.

{ Via }

Buh-bye 2011... You were a good year!
Especially good, in fact, because you brought us our Gracie Girl!


But we are definitely ready to see what a new year has in store... Bring it on 2012!


Happy New Year, friends!

xoxo

Felted Friends.

Gah! I just spotted the cutest felted friends!

Meet Gunnolf the felted reindeer & Helga the felted white tailed deer...

Aren't they adorable? I must admit if either of these two were hanging at my house I'd probably end up talking to them everyday. (Yep, I admit it, I am weird like that.)

To check out more of their felted friends head on over here to Two Sad Donkeys Etsy shop!

xoxo

Welcome To Today.

Ummm, yup! 

My new mantra, perhaps? Me thinks... yes!

Get it here. Spotted here.

xoxo

Happy Halloween!

 

We hope you enjoy your Halloween as much as Gracie enjoys her pumpkins!

xoxo 

Pumpkin Carving Set.

Pretty much every year I waste $5 on one of those silly orange or green plastic pumpkin carving sets you find next to the candy at the grocery store & then loose it or break it.


This set may be a bit more pricey but I tend to think it will last a lot longer! Plus as described it would be really great for prepping squash & such. 


Get it here.

xoxo

Holding Hands.

I don't even know these people but I must say, I'm thinking I may frame this vintage photograph of them & keep it around as a daily reminder of love, holding hands & doing things together.


In case you missed the story (it was all over the news this morning) The couple, Gordon & Martha Yeager died, holding hands, an hour apart after 72 years of marriage... Wow! 


I don't know about you but that's pretty much the way I'd like to go too - drifting off to sleep, while holding the hand of my beloved. The End. 

xoxo

Seven Months.

E-gads! Can you believe it has been just over seven months since our little Gracie Girl entered our lives? I literally feel like I blinked & BAM - here it is. 

Time definitely moves a bit too fast for my taste these days but I gotta tell ya, it is SO awesome to watch her grow & reach milestones. (Like right now, she is slithering around the house &  just before that she was sitting up & "reading" her books all by herself) Le sigh- I love our baby!

Speaking of our baby... would you want to hear her birth story? Seven months later I am still debating putting it out there for public consumption. To me it doesn't seem all that "outside the box" as far as births go, but according to most women I tell, the common reaction is: "that is CRAZY!"

I tend to think that is just because it was a natural birth (which apparently is a rare thing these days). So maybe that in and of itself is a good reason to tell tell my story? Plus now that I think of it, if telling my story can encourage just one woman to go the au natural route (SO worth it if you can do it!) it is definitely worth telling...

So, don't be shy & please let me know your thoughts. I really value your opinion!

xoxo 

{ Photo taken with my iPhone via the Instagram App }

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies.

Whoopie! 

A Pumpkin Whoopie Pie recipe? ... Sign me up! 

Plus, Ez over on Creature Comforts made super cute printable labels to go right along with the delicious treats. Perfect for a party, or just for the heck of it in my opinion. Head on over here for the full recipe & to print your free printable. Yay!

xoxo

Holton Rower Paint Pour.

Gah! Have you seen this video? I literally can't stop watching it. 

So stunning & beautiful & just plain awesome all at the same time. 

Check it out...

PS- When the paint is given time to dry it looks a lil' something like this...

For more of work by Holton Rower head on over here.

Also, special thanks to my sister-in-law who showed me the video... Love you! 

xoxo

Garbage For Sale.

Yup. That is right. Garbage for sale. Would you buy some?

Artist Justin Gignac is packaging up garbage from NYC & boxing it up in "sealed, smell proof cubes".  

Hmmm. Actually pretty interesting, if I must say. (which I just did)


Want one of your own? Get yours here.

xoxo

A Deer Wearing Gym Socks.

I really like this print by Charmaine Olivia. "A Deer Wearing Gym Socks."

In fact I like it so much, I might just buy it for the gallery wall. 

PS- Free shipping until Sunday here.

xoxo

Sunny Flowers.

I love sunflowers. They are probably my favorite flower. So this year on a whim, I just threw some seeds next to our fence (shown here with our garden) to see if they'd pop up... 


Well pop up they did! It took a while but they finally bloomed too! So, of course I snapped a few photographs because I knew I just had to share their sunny flower purtty-ness with you.

xoxo

Chocolate Cake.

Mmmmm! I don't know about you but the next time I make a chocolate cake (or vanilla for that matter but I'll be honest, I never make vanilla cake!) I am totally decorating it like this. 


Typically I just throw some sprinkles on top or leave it plain. But there is something so sophisticated yet just plain lovely & simple about spelling out the type of cake all over the top that I am just dying to try it. 


How about you? What is your go to cake & decoration for said cake?


* Originally spotted on Creature Comforts.

xoxo

Mummy Pumpkin.

Eeek! I just love this lil' guy! It is crazy to think but Halloween is right around the corner...

Wouldn't a bunch of these guys be super cute all over the house or even left on a door step

 as a fun Halloween ring & run gift for neighbors or friends? I certainly think so! 

Check out the full tutorial here. 

xoxo

Ten Years Later.

Well the sun is surely sinking down. 

But the moon is slowly rising. 

So this old world must still be spinning around.

And I still love you.

So close your eyes. You can close your eyes. It's all right. 

I don't know no love songs. And I can't sing the blues anymore.

But I can sing this song. And you can sing this song when I'm gone. 

It won't be long before it's another day.

We're gonna have a good time. No one's gonna take that time away. 

You can stay as long as you like. 

So close your eyes. You can close your eyes. It's all right.

I don't know no love songs. And I can't sing the blues anymore. 

But I can sing this song. And you can sing this song when I'm gone.

- James Taylor : You Can Close Your Eyes

Never forgotten. Ever.

* Photograph of 9/11 Memorial via GMA's Instagram. Photographs of local 9/11 Remembrance flag installation, by me.

Annnnd We Are Back.

Yep. I'm back. Well I should say WE are back. You know- Me, The Husband, our crazy Piper Dog & of course Baby Gracie. 

Thanks to Instagram here is a little taste of how we spent our summer...

Oh yeah, notice anything different? Yep, that is right you are so smart & observant! A whole new blog design just as promised! I figured it was time for a change so here it is- new, fresh & piping hot. Ok not really piping hot. Kinda sounds like pizza & this certainly isn't pizza. Mmmm. Pizza. 

Anywho, we had a great summer filled with a lot of fun & also a lot of firsts for Baby Gracie. Plus thanks to kinda sorta teaching myself photoshop & free awesomeness from Pugly Pixel we are totally ready to party down with our whole new look... (after the weekend of course). See ya Monday!

xoxo

Lately.

{ Photograph spotted here via flickr }

I've been neglecting you, blog. I know I have. It is just lately, there are things I've been enjoying a little bit more when I actually have the energy to enjoy things & for that I'm sorry. You don't deserve it. I promise to pay more attention to you soon, real soon. Promise. In fact, I feel that the creative slump I've been in for a good while is over. So get ready. We are about to embark on some good times. Maybe I'll even treat you to a fancy new look. I still love you & always will. 

Me + You + Internet = awesomeness.

xoxo

Whole Foods Parking Lot.

Yup. This is totally how it is every time I go! 

Ever since eating organic became "trendy"I totally agree that 
going to Whole Foods has become beyond annoying...

{Spotted here. Created by Fog and Smog Films.}


Man, I miss the days when people didn't go there
just to be cool... It was so much better!

xoxo

Gee, I Wonder.

Why I never get too much blogging done these days...

I mean, look at that face!? It just screams- 

"Pay attention to my cuteness! 

Forget about the internet!"

PS - this photo from the same day has 

quickly become one of my favorites...

I just love her to pieces!

xoxo

Sway.

A rocking chair that changes shape & can even hold two people?! 

Yes, please! Count me in for sure.

Spotted here created by Markus Krauss

xoxo

Welcome To The Garden.

We got it done just in time to plant a few weeks ago 

& I've just been delayed on getting some photographs of it until now.

This year we are hoping to have a pretty bountiful harvest of veggies 

& herbs from our newly erected (thanks to The Husband) 

& newly planted (thanks to yours truly) raised garden boxes...

I must say, it feels very good to see a concept come to life in your very own backyard!

We adapted our raised garden boxes from this DIY 

& had the wood cut at Home Depot, which was oh so helpful.

Now, if we don't get any more damaging hail storms we should be good to go.

 The last one did a number on my poor beans & cucumbers. I had to replant a few.

 I also have a little rabbit that likes to munch on my brussel sprouts- bugger!

 Oh & in case you are wondering here is a 

little diagram of what I chose to plant this year...

How about you...

Have you planted a garden this year?

What are your go to plants?

xoxo

Juice. Water. Wine.

I don't know about you but I love these bottles...

Super cute in a super simple way, no?

Spotted here available for purchase here.

xoxo

Happy Father's Day Weekend.

{ The Husband & Baby Girl relaxing this past week }

Happy Father's Day Weekend! This is The Husband's first Father's Day...

Baby Girl & I have made some handmade cards (ok, mostly me- I had her 

hold a crayon while I pushed the paper against it.) & are planning on treating

 The Husband to a homemade breakfast of his choice to celebrate- We love you, Daddy!

We are also going to two picnics as a family to celebrate our own fathers. 

I'm especially excited since one picnic site has a pool so Baby Girl will get to go swimming 

for the first time in a big pool. Plus it is just awesome to see Baby Girl with her Grandfathers.

How about you? What are you doing to celebrate your father & the father 

figures in your life this weekend? Whatever it is always remember, it is the 

thought that counts & at the end of the day most dads would prefer a hug. 

Dads are cool like that. 

And now for some other Dad related posts & such I've spotted around the web...

Dad's that aren't afraid to wear their babies are the best. 

Free Father's Day Printables... I especially love this one. 

Umm of course- Dad's Are The Original Hipsters!

A great gift guide ... never to late to get a gift even if it is just "ordered" cuz I.O.U's are still rad. 

Me & My Dad, circa the 1980's ... sweet 'stache right?

Not exactly Dad related but this new site is amazing. (& I'm sure you could submit a photo with Dad in it!)

A sweet DIY that would make any Dad smile. 

This photo is makes me smile & think of the future. 

Enjoy your weekend!

xoxo

Jealousy.

I had an iPhone once. When they first came out way back when. I hated it. 

Which was surprising to me at the time, especially because I am totally an Apple girl. 

I think it was the touch screen that freaked me out. 

Anyway, for years now I've wanted nothing to do with an iPhone. 

Until some of my twitter friends & real friends started using 

Instagram & Hipstamatic apps & posting their photos.

To say my jealousy was growing daily would be an understatement 

& then my friend, Isabel snapped a few shots of me & Baby Girl with her iPhone & well... 

Whoa. Now, I definitely want, nay... I NEED an iPhone!

 However, the sad thing is if I did get one, I'd probably only use it for 
photo apps & constantly complain about the touch screen & let's face it, that'd be 
annoying to everyone around me. Plus I'd have to pay an additional monthly fee 
for "data" on our phone plan which would just bug me for so many reasons I won't
 go into right now & I'd probably constantly complain about that as well. LOL.


So long story short, I won't be getting one anytime soon until I can get over that stuff. 
But hey a girl can dream & a girl can be jealous & a girl can also deck our her 
would be iPhone with a cool cover like this one...

Awesome right? Spotted here, for purchase here... it is only $9! 

Do you have an iPhone? Do you have any cool photo apps or

 other apps you are obsessed with? Tell me more, tell me more! 

Maybe your raving about how awesome it is will push 

me over the edge & I'll just have to dive in & get one?

xoxo

Paper Scrap Art.

I've been searching a while for some affordable art for our kitchen 

& have yet to find anything that really makes me say - "yep that is it!" 

However, I must admit that this little grouping made of various frames 

& wooden pieces with paper scraps kinda makes me think twice...

What do you think?

Found here.

xoxo

Happy Monday.

{ Baby Girl  last week on her 3 month & 1 day birthday }

Oh hey, Happy Monday! 

Just wanted to spread some Monday morning cuteness around the web...

I may be very partial but I just can't get enough of this lil cutie of mine!

This weekend was pretty fab. Spent a ton of time with my Baby Girl 
(we are still working on rolling over). Our new appliances were finally delivered 
& I got to spend some quality time with my Mother-in-law & my parents-
we walked to a local restaurant & shared a nice sushi meal.

 The only major negatives of the weekend were the humidity, the thunderstorms 
that kept me awake most of the night Saturday & the fact that The Husband had some military 
obligations that kept him away. Boo. He's back now though & we are all sleeping soundly again. 
Have I mentioned I'm a big wuss when it comes to thunder & lightening? 
Yep. Total wuss. 

So, how was your weekend? 

Did you sleep well?

xoxo