Friday, July 30, 2010

One Year Old!!

Wesley Paul,

One year ago today you came into this world.

From the moment your Daddy and I first saw your sweet face
and your little pouty lip
we feel in love.

You bring so much joy to our family.

And no matter what your sister says when she's older
she ADORES you.
She takes her role as your big sissy very seriously.
And you adore her too.

Even though we had a rough first four months
with your colic

I wouldn't trade all those sleepless nights
and h.o.u.r.s. of holding you in my arms
for anything.

I know it's knitted our hearts together in such a special way.

It's been so fun to watch your personality grow over the past year.
You are such a little mamas boy.

But you love your daddy too.

You tend to be serious and shy
but you definitely have a silly side as well.

Oh and your smile.
How I love your precious smile
and those belly laughs.

You are our little koala bear.
You are happiest when you are being held.

Oh and you love your food.
Everyone is amazed how much you can eat.

I can't wait to see you grow into the man God has created you to be.
I am so thankful to be your Mommy.
Wesley Paul I love you so very much.
You will always be my precious baby boy!

Happy Birthday!!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Blanket

My daughter's new favorite blanket is
a changing pad cover.

Not this or this
or one of the other
blankets I made her.
Nope.
A changing pad cover.

I'm trying not to take it personally :)




Monday, July 26, 2010

My new shirt

I can't believe it's taken me this long
to embellish one of my boring tees!

I've seen so many cute versions in stores (J Crew anyone)
and on blogs
and now I've finally got my own.

When I was thinking about what I'd do to spice it up
I started looking for some ideas.
When I came across this shirt Lindsey did
I fell in love.

Normally when I make something someone else has made
I try to put my own spin on it.
Not this time.
I liked Lindsey's version so much
I pretty much copied it as closely as I could
(just keeping it real).

Here's the finished product :)




Sunday, July 25, 2010

New Products!

Remember my vintage lace?
I've decided to share some with you!

I whipped up a couple new items and added them to my shop.
I decided to try out a couple and see how they do
before I make a million of them.
Something I'm not so good at.

I really hope you guys like them
because I'd love to try some different color/fabric combos.
Let me know what you think :)




Check them out in the shop!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Banana Split Social

Bananas. ice cream. homemade sauces and toppings. meeting your neighbors. block party goodness.

Since we moved almost 5 months ago we have been
really intentional about trying to meet and get to know our neighbors.
Something that's definitely not a typical part of the Orange County way of life.

I think I mentioned a while ago that we moved right next door to our good friends.
It has been amazing to truly live in community with them.
We watch each others kids, cook meals together a few times a week, share things, hang out all the time and just
live life together.
It really is so awesome.

Anyways, with the help of our friends/next door neighbors
we have been on a mission to really get to know our neighbors so we can be
salt and light to them.
One way we have been intentional about doing this is by hosting
monthly block parties.
(with the help from our awesome community group from church).
Just going door to door to pass out fliers has been a great way to get to meet our neighbors
and then hanging out at the block parties has let us get to know them a little better.

The block parties have a been a neat way to feel the pulse of our street.
Since we are new to the block we didn't really know anyone.
The funny thing was
no one else knew anyone either.
Most people only knew the people on either side of them
if even that.
No one hangs out together.
No one eats meals together.
No one borrows missing ingredients from each other.
But people want to.
They are hungry for community.
To be known and loved and cared for.

I know meeting your neighbors can be kind of scary
(at least it is for me. I'm a total introvert)
but give it a try.
Maybe your neighbors are like mine
hungry for community
just waiting for someone to bring everyone together.

Last weekend we had our second block party.
A banana split social.

fresh bananas

homemade chocolate, caramel, pineapple and strawberry sauces

and all the traditional sundae fixings

delicious.

Last month we had a pancake breakfast
for our first block party.

We had fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, fruit, maple butter (so yummy) and of course
pancakes!

so much fun!

Do you guys have block parties on your street?
What other creative ways do you use to get to know your neighbors?

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Bake off

On Sunday our church hosted a
bake off
for my good friend Michelle who is
suffering from Lyme's Disease.
The cost of her treatment each month is insane
so a bunch of people from our church put our baking skills to the test
in a cake-off auction
to come around her as the body of Christ and help raise money to cover the cost.

I wish I would have taken some pictures of all the cakes people made.
There were so many a.m.a.z.i.n.g. ones.
(Maybe I'll hunt someone down who took pictures of them to post later. I know you guys would love seeing them!)

Unlike many of the fabulous women (and men) at our church
I have no.baking.skills.whatsoever.
So when I saw this watermelon cake on the cover of Woman's Day magazine
I figured I could probably pull it off.
I loved that it required little baking skills
and minimal cake decorating skills.
You can find the recipe and details for the watermelon cake here :)

Here's how my watermelon cake turned out.


Monday, July 19, 2010

Surfer Invitations

Wesley loves the beach.
loves it.
Actually I'm not sure if he loves the beach
as much as he loves the sand at the beach.
he eats it.
plays in it.
l.o.v.e.s. it.
He pretty much looks like a sand covered corn dog every time we are there.

So when I was brainstorming themes for his first birthday party
I knew there was really only one logical choice.
The boy needed a beach/surfer themed party.

Here are the invitations I came up with.
They are all ended up being a little different.
I couldn't decide which style I liked the best so I made a few of each.

First I printed the party info onto white card stock,
cut surfboards out of scrapbook paper,

and then I added a little sand to the bottom of some,

a little ric rac (to look like water) on some others

and I even left a couple plain and simple.

Stay tuned for more details as they unfold!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Fabric Scrap Dolls

Check out this fun idea!
Use fabric and ribbon scraps to design an outfit for your paper doll.


Get the free printable doll patterns as well as the rest of the directions here.

Monday, July 12, 2010

The perfect match

Remember this antique lace?

I've been trying to come up with just the right project for it.
It had to be something extra special.
You can't just stick 100 year old, handmade lace on anything.

Yesterday the little light bulb in my brain went off
and my special lace got a new special home on my Bible.
The plain black leather cover on my Bible had been begging for a makeover for quite some time.
It needed a little something the perk it up.
I think this added just the right touch.

Lacey. girly. elegant.

I love how the antique white lace shows up so well on the black cover.
It really flaunts all the fabulous details.

I turned out exactly how I had hoped.
I love when that happens :)

Sunday, July 11, 2010

The Bored Board

Beat summer boredom with the
"I'm bored" board.

Pure genius.

Get the details here.

Check out these other fun ideas to keep the kiddos busy during the summer :)

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Balance beam



I'm obsessed with Jesus.
And even though I'm tempted to live the most safe and comfortable life possible
I daily choose to lay it down in exchange for
a crazy, totally abandoned, fully devoted life
that serves and honors our most Holy Lord and Savior.
Because Jesus is worth everything.
e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
It will probably (most definitely) be scary and uncomfortable
but I know it will be so so worth it.

Will you join me?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Just call me Martha

Last weekend I picked and canned apricots.
This week I baked bread
from scratch.
Today I made fresh squeezed lemonade.
and chickens
(lol. just kidding about the chickens).
Watch out Martha
here I come!

Here are some pictures from our canning adventure.









freshly canned apricots.
Yum!!!!

next time we are coming back for these beauties!