Fab Foto Friday: Camptown Ladies

Ahh nature. Sweet-majestic-hot-humid-buggy-dirty-nature.

I'm headed out earrrrrrly this morning to go camping with Sophie's Girl Scout troop. Two days, one night, about an hour away, and I've packed enough for us both to survive in the Swiss Alps for a week. My husband told me all we need to pack is an extra pair of underwear. He's so right.

Now WHAT am I forgetting?

Pinspired: WE ROCK

...And summer has begun! My Little Lady is home for the summer, and I'm presented with the challenge of feeling like a good mum and providing a wee bit of fun every day. I saw this on Pinterest and thought we better give it a go:

  original source: muchas piedras on Flickr                                                                   

Ahhh! So fun, I know! We picked some rocks, we grabbed the paint, we got ourselves situated on the patio, and I realized a few things. One, I was dealing with a six year old. Two, our paint brushes were a much too large to produce such an exquisite level of detail. And three, we were limited to a very small time frame while Mr. Baby Boy took a nap. So we decided we'd just paint designs and free-wheel it. 

                                                                  

Hmmm, not quite the BAM! POW! we were envisioning, but we had a ton of fun. And we were done and cleaned up before Mr. Baby Boy woke up, and just as the sun was starting to pinken (ooh new word!) our cheeks. We know, we ROCK.

Fab Foto Friday: better with age

Happy Birthday to ME!
Oh my dear good heavens, what am I THINKING sharing this picture?

I'm thinking you might get a chuckle out of it. I thinking it's proof that we get better with age.
We all have something we want to go back and tell our young-selves.
What do I want to tell this little girl (what? you thought that was a boy??)?
I want to tell her to kick and scream and throw an absolute tantrum on the day they take her to get her hair cut into that little 80's man mullet. Other than that, she'll be just fine.

Real Country Living

image from oabonny.com                                                  

Just takin' a coffee break, browsing through my Country Living Magazine. It's a total favorite. It's all of my hopes and dreams in the form of a monthly publication.
But I must have missed a couple issues.
I didn't get the issue where they mention that every window of your house will be filled with flies and every corner of every room will contain at least one spider.
I didn't get the issue with the photo shoot of the garden that was ripped to shreds from the 25 mph winds that regularly make their way through those romantic, wide open spaces.
I didn't get the issue with the cover shot of a sweet front porch with that painted wicker furniture and comfy pillows covered in an inch of gravel dust and little tiny gnats floating in the vintage pitcher of lemonade.
I didn't get the issue with the advice column on what to do when crazies stop at your house hoping that you can fill their gas tank, change their tire, or tell them why their car isn't working.
I didn't get the issue with the photo of the blonde farmer whose hair turned orange from the rusty water.
Ah well, I guess that's why they didn't name it Real Country Living.
And what did you say? Real life does not look anything like it does in magazines?
I'll still read it and drool over their gorgeous images of rural perfection.

Big Stack of Thank You

When I started doing this Etsy thing, I had no idea what I was doing. I had no idea how to do it. I had no idea that people would like my work and actually want to purchase it. I had no idea how much positive feedback I would receive, and how gracious my customers would be. Really, I swear I have the best customers. I've received friend requests on Facebook, personal emails, and even a Christmas card! I just want to say THANK YOU, and let you know how much each order means to me.

I spend a ridiculous amount of time on each order making sure it's exactly as it needs to be. When I'm making a hat I'm thinking about the little head that will wear it, and I'm hoping for sweet memories to be made while wearing it. These hats aren't made in a factory. There is no assembly line cranking them out one after another.

They are made by me, specifically for you, one at a time.

So many of you have told me you love what I do, and I just want you to know that I love doing it for you.

Awww, sweet. xoxo

Have you SEEN this show? OMG

I can't even tell you how happy it makes me to see women on TV talkin' some sense for a change. Seriously. Aren't you sick of that Real Housewives business? Kardashian B.S.? And the show where all those women dress up and fight over a man: I can't even bring myself to type the name of it.

I know, it's entertaining, but I think we better think of a better name to call it, because REALITY it is not.

 If you are a female between the ages of 16 and 100, please watch it. It's on tomorrow night.

Our womanhood depends on it.

You know what? If you're a man... you need to watch it too.

Here's the website:

The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet

I hope you love it as much as I do.

xoxo

Fab Foto Friday: 20 questions

What a sweet looking old lady.

It's my Great Grandma.
I have a million questions for her, but here's the first 20:

1. When were you born?

2. Where were you born?

3. What's your earliest memory?
4. What was your childhood like?
5. What makes you laugh?

6. What do you do for fun?

7. When did you get married?
8. Why did you get married?
9. Where did you get married?
10. What did you love about motherhood?
11. What do you do well?
12. What do you find challenging?
13. Where have you traveled?

14. Where are you standing when this photo was taken?
15. Why was this photo taken?
16. Where'd ya get that dress?
17. What's your most prized possession?
18. Do you know how to knit?
19. What's your proudest moment?

20. What do you want me to tell your Great Great Grandchildren?