“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”
— Coco Chanel
— Coco Chanel
Beatrice and Whitaker pose after his birthday party at preschool.
Handy Dandy Easter Egg Candy!
Thanks for sharing this, Aunt Peg. All research is good research. It did briefly mention early-onset Alzheimers. Oh, and thank you, too, Science Friday!
Monday FUNday. Hooray for spring break.
 meFancy up me hearties. Yo ho! This pair of glow-in-the-dark silly band skull earrings are sure to be the life of ye party and the highlight of me mates day. These jewels would have been the perfect treasure to shiver me timbers at Beatrice’s Pirate party!
These pirate earrings from Black Feather Studios are as one-of-a-kind as the artist, who just launched the etsy store. I am be a huge fan of this young girl. My love goes waaaayyyy back to when she was a baby girl — and, used to come play with my sister, my dog and I at the beach. I am so impressed with her work. I can’t believe she can do this…the mediums she uses (like snake vertebrae) are naturally, ecclectically cool while the jewelry is feminine and pretty.
Congratulations, Black Feather Studio. Your shop is unique and beautiful…just like you and your sweet mama. Kudos!
there is popular and there is good. i think, this song is good.
Love. Never. Fails.
When in doubt and blue, I have to remind myself. What a pretty reminder.
photo from here
i love a good, simple collection. brian does not. something about this collection remind me of my mom. she collects old bottles and old glass. such a pretty thing to collect.
i’m going NO where this weekend. staying put, hanging out in the yard and going to birthday parties (adult and kid ones).
spring is here.
have a fabulous, peaceful weekend.
christy
feel good letterpress card found here
Brian was informed that he was selected to be in the Statesboro Herald’s 2011 20 Under 40 group of young leaders.
Congrats, babe.
You deserve all the honors, accolades, awards, and enough applause to bring down the house for all of those things you do.
Beatrice, that bowling ball is as big as you! We had a great time playing at The Clubhouse at Gracie’s 7th birthday. Our toddler fashionista dressed herself and swore off the provided shoes at the center. “Mama, I am NOT wearing those,” she informed us. As you can see, she changed her mind upon realizing that it is a requirement to bowl. The little bowling shoes were so tiny and cute.
Whitaker had a great time, too. Depite my best attempt, the delay on my camera phone prevented any shots of speedy Whitaker.
Beatrice used her tickets to buy Whitaker a one inch bouncy ball, a ring that we lost at The Clubhouse, and a plastic bracelet that broke. It must be fun to shop because we spent the longest time deciding exactly what to purchase.
All in all it was a great party and a great birthday celebration for sweet Gracie at The Clubhouse!
Dear Walt Disney World:
I really relished the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend. In fact, I thought it was an incredible opportunity to live it up! However, I had no idea you would embarresingly post pictures and videos and create a vision for the world of just how horrific I look in workout attire, how awkward I run, and how ridiculous I am after running 13.1 miles.
I spent way too much on this event. Mickey, you can be confident I will not exceed my budget when it comes to purchasing this memorabilia. I guess, your social media accomplished one thing: proof to the world that fat women CAN run. Yee haw. Girls, I did it!
If only I had known, I would have spruced up before the 4a bus ride, put on some make up, worn something more flattering and less frumpish.
All in all, your disregard for my race-privacy-wish does not inhibit my fancy for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. It was an unbelievably, marvelous time. Thanks for a show stopping princess-of-an-event that helped me reach my goals and gave me an opportunity to revel in girl time.
Yours most truely embarressed,
Christy
Julie from Sprinkles Bath & Body made these cute products. Remember those straws I got from fort & field for the melting Witch Punch? Well, these are the same straws. I think this is very creative!
Lip lollies are all natural lip balm made to look like a real lollipop by using a striped paper straw for the stick…
Many prayers.
Love this. Happy Tuesday. Happy YOUesday!
I admit my heart is still breaking over Japan. The Tsunami. The Earthquake. The Nuclear Explosions. The Deaths. And, it is frigid winter over there. I’m sure it is for many of you have aching hearts, too.
thanks for the photo, leslie
I hope you had a beautiful weekend. With my grandmother, cousin, sweet sister and beautiful neice were in town – plus and lots of family and friends in our back yard to celebrate Beatrice’s 4th Birthday Pirate style — WE DID!!!
Here is a band that I am enjoying thanks to Black Eiffel. The name of the band is: Little Joy. Have you heard of them? They are happy, chirpy, cheerful and FANTASTIC! Amazing voice: this clip is amazing, too.
photo from Chronicle Books
Download the album on or amazon.*
Can you believe it’s March already? Not only is it March…it is the MIDDLE OF MARCH.
March heralds the start of Spring. Hallelujah! Spring is my favorite season. This Month redbpower is preparing to head into the busy season, we are celebrating Beatrice’s Birthday and my birthday here at home, digging around a little in the backyard, opening back up the windows and doors and hoping to get to the beach a few times.
Happy March Everyone!
Sorry I am a little late.
Look at these beautifully designed and handcrafted note cards and prints from everythinglittlemiss – so cute!
this bicycle wedding is just as cute as these cards…even though the two are completely unrelated.
The picture clarity is horrific, yet I must share the pictures because Beatrice had the BEST time helping stuff the Treasure Chest Pinata made by our DEAREST FRIEND Jane! Oh, how I heart a great artist. And, I am so fortunate that she shares her amazing talent with my little family.
Upon meeting Jane at her “home studio” early Sunday morning she let Pirate Beatrice help hook the loot in the treasure and cover the final work. Argghh.
Oh, and I can’t resist sharing the picture of sweet little Marie. What a princess this little dog is!
Thank you, Jane, for making our birthday parties so special. We love you along with your extra special artistic touches. Did I mention she hand crafted a wood sword to break the pinata?!?!?
And, thanks for your help Marie. You are a special gal, too.
See Jane’s ceramics and sculptures, here.
The great thing about being married to a handyman: when you mention that you are stumped by “where in the world” to seat children at a party he returns three hours later with four perfectly sized picnic tables. Amazing.
Posted on Wednesday, now has 10.7 million views – if you haven’t seen this, it’s worth a peek:
A while back, I saw this well-done video clip with it’s enchantingly beautiful message by Jean-Sébastien Monzani over at Black Eiffel. I refer to it – from time to time - because it really brightenes my day with inspiration. I think it is an excellent thing to offer you to start the week. I hope that we can all do a little of this each day.
Do you have any photos, blogs, sites or video’s that you use for inspiration – ones that make you feel lighter, more creative or peaceful? I would love to know.
Have a beautiful week…
via annechovie
wishing all my friends, family, and readers an amazing day!
remember to tell all of the special people in your life that you love them.
i leave you with this beautiful design featuring one of my very favorite quotes from mother teresa on the subject.
happy valentines week!
…these monograms made out of sailing flags. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a different flag in this shared room.
Isn’t that cool? I love it!
I love these monograms, the artist that made them, and the mama who put them in her babies room.
All around lots of love, nautical love, LOVE. Sailing away with lots of kudos. :)
Happy Valentines Day. Brian proposed on Valentines Day. Dad was crazy about Valentines day. He always gave Mom tulips and gave us cards and presents. I must admit, Valentines Day is one of my favorite holidays.
I HEART it.
I sent my little (and big one) Valentines something from the Worlds Smallest Post Office. It should arrive in the mail today. I can’t wait to see what Brian, Beatrice and Whitaker think of the teeny tiny packages.
Oh, the pictures! They are of Beatrice’s handy work – true love from her garden. Due to technical difficulty we couldn’t complete the original Valentine we planned that included a real banana and a funny sticker. Our next favorite was a bird seed cookie but I didn’t have the supplies for that. More, Kmart nor The Hen House had a single pack of children’s valentines cards. We were in an unbelievably tight pinch. Luckily, I remembered a tutorial for a Lollipop Lilly Valentine. Viola!
Here are few other Valentine ideas we liked: Buckets of Love, Shaving Cream Valentines, Pillowbox Alligator, Very clever Valentine card idea , Sweet little heart beads
Without anymore talk about Valentines, I will sign out with a this cushion from Rockett St. George spotted on A Room Somewhere.
Happy Valentine’s Day. I hope you get a smootch!
i enjoy the seasons. i enjoy intentional living in the moment. i like the leaves falling, bare trees, chilly air, shorter days, and rainy weather. but, i am ready for spring this year. i can hear it whispering in the distance. i am ready for the brown to turn to green, for the bulbs to force through the dirt, for things to grow, to shine, and to be longer, brighter and more colorful.
i love this photo from the viva terra catalog. they have the right idea! i post it in effort to tell the season gods that i am very ready very ready for spring!
photo via flickr
I think this is a wonderful idea.
I am sooo over the rain. And, ever grateful for the sunshine of yesterday and today!
If you know me, you know that I am a minamalist. I don’t have a lot of things. But, the things I do have, I really, really love and adore. If you know me then you probably know that I used to pine for a good stroller…and, that Brian super surprised me with an unusally fantastic present one time that is high on the adoration list: a BOB Strollers!
My sentiments considered, I can not resist sharing these fantastic giveaways.
The first one is on the Design Mom Facebook page. You could win a world-famous BOB Stroller Stride in bright valentine red. Time to get my red ON!
Are you a BOB fanatic? I sooo am – with a double that I swear by for pretty much any outside activity — from all-terrain walks/runs to tackling in-town curbs. Admittedly, it is extra-wide-bulky-large-kind-of-cumbersome-so big that it is slightly embarressing, which is why the single must. be. perfect. OoOOooo…Ahhhh. HOLY STROLLER.
The Stroller Strides version is made especially with fitness in mind. Hello?? Need I say more. This must be one great stroller. It even has a BOB Fitness Kit that includes a Handlebar Console, exercise manual and exercise tubing. The company actually launched this new line on February 1 with new features and colors.
To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on Design Mom Facebook post between now and February 15. That is easy. For another chance, you can check out the BOB Stroller Facebook fan page.
Pushing products and brands seems pretentious and phony; but, the BOB is an exception.
We enjoy ours so much. It would make my day if you won the BOBby Giveway! :)
Finally.
YES!!!
Thanks for visiting my blog. I love it when you stop by.
This cute card says it best!
cutest card (I say this all the time to people!)
via Steel Petal Press & aroomsomewhere
|
|
photo: beachbungalow8 |
Ah, YES! It’s this kind of day. Cold. Mitten-y.
No snow here despite the powdery downfall throughout the United States; yet, chill-ful, rainy and gray.
Snow. Ohh, snow can be so beautiful.
Some days, I wish I lived in a place that got more white, fluffy, powdery, icy snow.
I know heavy snow is really not that romantic. But, I’ll take it if I can be the dude behind the hand-held zamboni (at 1:07).
i regret these aren’t the best focused pictures. i quickly took them with my phone. last week beatrice’s dance school performed a charity recital, Faith in Motion. this is her second year going to class, but the first performance i have seen because i have always been back stage. it was breathtaking. i, very honestly, was amazed at how good the girls were, especially the older ones. and, b’s class was absolutely adorable. they were soooo cute. brian and i were so proud of our little dancer!
we usually take beatrice somewhere to celebrate post performance, like Chops or Christopher’s for desert. but, tonight we had sweet Whitaker. so, El Som for dinner it was! Tana and Whitaker snuggled on one side of the booth, while Papa, Beatrice and I sat on the other side. it was a great night. :)
Hello February. For me, February is about getting back into the swing of things. It’s red. It’s pink. It’s almost green and this year, it is almost spring! It’s also the month we celebrate love. It’s about building and getting ready. It is putting it in gear. Happy F.E.B.
The month is off to a great start: I did play hooky yesterday. I left the office and went to the gym. Does that count?
Oh, and I should let you know that Brian did like his red velvet cake.
Here’s to a wonderful and productive February full of love, and a fun run.
photo via absolutelybeautifulthings
“We’ve spent a generation trying to reorganize schools to make them better, but the truth is that people learn from the people they love.”
- David Brooks “Social Animal: How the New Sciences of Human Nature Can Help Make Sense of a Life”, The New Yorker, January 17, 2011
mixed up a bunch of ingredients like this
Beatrice could hardly contain her excitement. “Mama, what kind of party do you think Papa is going to have? Are all his Fah-Wends coming,” she curiously asked. She suspects he is having a “spider man” or a “prinnn cesss” one.
She loved every minute. Including recipe hunting, grocery shopping, , baking, cooling, icing it took all day. It was GREAT …even when the red food dye spilled on my shorts and all over the counter *sigh* *smile*.
Whitaker was not interested in baking. He was, however, very interested in entertaining us with the sounds and races of his trucks, motocycles and cars.
Nothing glamorous. Made with a whole lot of time and love, though.
I hope Brian isn’t offended that we made him a red velvet cake for his birthday.
Happy birthday, Red. We love you to the MOON!
design mom is moving to france for a year. A YEAR. she is leaving in a week. the countdown is on. i am amazed and in love with this decision her family of eight is making. in fact, i must admit i am following gabrielle’s blog like a hungry poodle at chow time. i savor each morsel of a post that she drops. i salivate with wonder and expectation, while feeling full upon each munch. design mom and her husband are making an international move with their six children. i admire the freedom, the shear size, and the adventure of this family.
so, here’s to you, design mom. from my little blog to your big one. and my little family to your large one. you are absolutely amazing! thanks for the blog brunch. it is a special treat. thanks for sharing your bold feast with us. for the record – from here on out, i will be having champagne, cheese, and foie gras chips with each blue plate of a post (or at least, considering it).
bon voyage!
P.S. — I am in love with these map pillows she posted on her blog by My Bearded Pigeon. They scan in actual maps and then have them printed as textiles.
Chalkboard Globes are so interesting.
This one seen on, here, is from Viva Terra.
I found this one from Blue Bell Bazaar on Leslie’s blog.
And, here is another blackboard world globe. The outlines of continents are painted as the national boundaries and country names can be added with chalk on this one from Link -via Nag on the Lake & Neatorama
Finally, here is a home made one from black fern. She has directions if you like.
Have a great week. Stay warm. And, stay dry!
I remember how this feels.
cute
via seasaw
A little letterpress love for this fine Tuesday morning.
You know it smells like dirt right when it begins to rain {oh, my. how cool.}
Since I started working for my husband’s electrical office, I have become more educated and interested in green living practices. Every industry magazine, newsletter, meeting seems to pulse with sustainability as the suggested life line. More, as my friend Katie can attest I enjoy gardening as a hobby. I like living things.
I stumbled upon the work of Patrick Blanc, is the creator of the Vertical Garden . I really like it.
It takes my breathe away.
He has been creating these forest floors, turned sideways all over Paris among other international locales.
via beachbungalow8 & redbpower
Beatrice has started a new collection: acorns.
New Year. New Hue!!
Still have to tweak the color as the last batch of paint is the wrong color. But, this is an idea of what it looks like. I am excited because I love the new room, yet nervous that it is going to blend with the rest of the house. You won’t believe how cheerful this room is…I love the color and the room even if it doesn’t look good!
Family paint day.
This beautifully filmed, Redwood forest video by Jesse Rosten is about growth, nature, roots, groves…definitely worth a look-see. There is a reverence, serenity, and peacefulness about it.
(via Black Eiffel)
amateur astronomer takes stunning photos. nice work by Alan Friedman. there may be nothing new under the sun, but all that there is under, over, around and near remains inspiring, breath taking, interesting, and mystifying.
via d.sharp journal
this amazing starlette crown reminds me of sweet, spickle-sparkle (as she calls the shiney things she loves) beatrice
and a and so does this very cute vintage owl. she loves barn owls, i suppose from all of the visits to the raptor center and she loves blue birds (from her wizard of oz fascination). this looks just like her, to me.both found via here on the etsy favorite list
Happy Happy New Year!!
And, yes. I do know that it is a little late. Punctuality hasn’t been my strong suit in years.
recent books i’ve read
Saw this fabulous pillow on Etsy. Love it!
I don’t know what you have been reading lately. What have you been reading? I just finished this book, below. I loved it. I typically sell my books on Amazon upon completion; however, this book I am keeping for my personal library as a reference. With a message that speaks to my fast paced lifestyle and my constant attempt to slow things down I think it is an excellent reference book. I hope it is a collection of essays that I return to for insight and inspiration when things get to be too much, too fast, and too unmeaningful.
I just wish I had more time to read. Between working in Brian’s office in the mornings, taking care of Beatrice and Whitaker in the afternoons and evenings, keeping pets for friends when they go out of town, and training for a half marathon race, I find it difficult to etch out reading time. Do you? When do people find the time to read books?
I must say that I enjoyed it more than any book I have read in a long time. It comes with my recommendation!
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
Crunchy numbers
A helper monkey made this abstract painting, inspired by your stats.
About 3 million people visit the Taj Mahal every year. This blog was viewed about 50,000 times in 2010. If it were the Taj Mahal, it would take about 6 days for that many people to see it.
In 2010, there were 71 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 897 posts. There were 28 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 8mb. That’s about 2 pictures per month.
The busiest day of the year was October 25th with 332 views. The most popular post that day was Cute Felt Shoes for Girls.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were answers.yahoo.com, en.wordpress.com, southernmamas.com, apps.facebook.com, and facebook.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for felt, clothespin dolls, window treatments, christy hulsey, and i love you in sign language.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
1
Cute Felt Shoes for Girls June 2008
5 comments
2
French Lullaby – “La petite poule grise” June 2008
9 comments
3
Free Credit Report Dot Com Pirate Commercial January 2008
118 comments
4
FREE Reusable Shopping Bag June 2008
144 comments
5
Chris McCandless Photos May 2008
24 comments
I think this is great inspiration any time, but especially for the first day of the first week of the new year. Happy New Year!
I haven’t made my annual resolutions, though I have thought about them. I have always made a list. Is that weird? Oh, who cares. I look forward to it every year. I am TOTALLY JEALOUS of Jordan’s resolution. I only wish mine were so ambitious as I admit my list is bound to be more humble.
I don’t know what you have in store for the new year. Whatever it is, I hope it is great!
May I always strive to be grateful – all of this is a gift. all of it. every eensy ounce of this wonderful life.
Thanks for all of the kind peeps who visit this little corner of mine, my little blog space – and, thanks for the facebook love, the sweet emails, the texts, the phone calls, the christmas cards, well, thanks for everything. You make my life brighter.
i love maps…
and look at all the amazing things made with them…
i love, love, love all kinds map goodness
i like to read them, navigate by them. i always have. just ask brian. he even calls me, megellan.
i have always dreamt of a giant map in our house. although, i admit we don’t have one. i don’t keep many things but i have a stash of maps from national parks, denver, the atlanta olympics, st. simons, disney world, france, paris…just a big stash of maps. all that i have displayed, though, is a globe that we gave brian for father’s day one year and that is it. i hope to have a map put up by the end of the year. i love maps.
What are your thoughts on maps? Do you use them in your decorating? Do like more up-to-date, practical maps, or more decorative maps?
Here is one last picture of a map:
