Give them a place to stand...

I've been trying to get back my "photo mojo" after being without a camera for a while and was back one of my favorite blogs for inspiration shutter sisters. I loved the quote above and used it for my own take on it. I will admit that for this one they went kicking and screaming the whole way. Eye rolling, what IS she doing now??? Our mom is CRAZY!

BUT I hope I am giving my three a sturdy place to stand so that they can move

mountains if they choose to.

ROCK on Shutter Sisters for the inspiration!!

Maybe this weekend I'll be able to use the timer for that Christmas photo???

Wish me luck.

Happy Friday! Don't forget to play!

Love Thursday: its yarn again...

I love this gorgeous girl.
Can you believe that in less than a month she will be NINE?
So if you can't tell I've been on a bit of a yarn kick.

Decided to try to make a headband/ear warmer and think it turned out super cute.
A fun way to use up those left over bits of yarn balls.
I plan on having fun with the embellishments.
Thought Chloe could handle the big flower on hers with her BIG personality.
If you are on my Christmas list I'll take color requests.....

Have a great day. Love the little things.

happy accidents

ac⋅ci⋅dent

  [ak-si-duhnt]

–noun

1.	an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap: automobile accidents.

2.	Law. such a happening resulting in injury that is in no way the fault of the injured person for which compensation or indemnity is legally sought.

3.	any event that happens unexpectedly, without a deliberate plan or cause.

4.	chance; fortune; luck: I was there by accident.

So it seems the general consent here is that an accident is no good. BUT the kind of accidents I am referring to are the happy ones. (see definition 4)

Lately it seems that these little accidents are happening more and more. I can not even begin to count them. I'm not sure why. Is it because I embrace them whole heartedly? Or follow my heart instead of my head more than I used to?, and that is what leads me to them? Is it because I appreciate them oh so much? I am not sure why they happen, but I am going to continue to smile from the inside out when they do. {Does it date me that I feel oh so "Carrie Bradshaw" with all these ??? marks? LOL.}

Speaking of happy accidents. I came across a blog recently called SCRAP THAT POETRY. Such a cool concept. This really appeals to my inner english dork. I bet you didn't know I was a MAJOR poet at one point in my life. Constantly writing. Then illustrating them sometimes. Well, I decided to play along and Oh happy day! I won! FUN accident don't you think? They even asked me to be a guest designer this month so you'll have to check that out mid-month.

While I was working on the Layout for this guest spot I needed to get a picture of a mouse. (AND that is the only hint you will get :-)) I had another happy accident. It was way cooler to have my new kitten in the background too. Silly I know. But hey take what you can get. If an accident that simple makes me happy, then life is good people!

When was your last happy accident?

It is Beginning to look a lot like....

Ok. No I have not dragged out the box of holiday decorations just yet. I will not keep up with the Jones's who were all decorated even before Thanksgiving. I won't be pushed by those retailers that set up those displays right at midnight Halloween. (RIDICULOUS!) I will wait until the weekend after Thanksgiving weekend to pull out those decorations. That is when I do it cause that is what works for us.

BUT. I will have the advent calendar hanging up and ready to go on the first eve of December. It is when the magic sprinkles start to come out. Bit by bit. I made this one last year that I was so so happy to see again. And I am not quite sure who was more excited for it, the kids or me. It was not up yesterday morning when they left for school and I could tell they were a bit concerned, so you can imagine the happy faces I saw when they realized it was hanging up on the wall last night. Lily was just told all about it before I snapped these pictures. And I think that the photos say it all!

Happy December!!!!

Now...what to do for my Cards this year.....

Happy Birthday Mom.

PLAY.

I think my mom probably taught me how to play. And I think she encourages me to play even more now that I am a momma too.

She knows it is needed. And will never make you feel guilty for it.

Thanks for that Mom.

When I snapped this picture of her and Lily I was so, so happy.

1. because mom doesn't usually willingly let you take her picture.

AND

2. Lily was a gift to me that I didn't expect. With her I have more focus on things I missed out on with my first two babies.

I am not waiting to get that photo later. Later may not have ever come.

{When I snapped a photo of my mom holding Lily that weekend. I realized I never got one like that before.}

Happy Birthday Mom. Thanks for all the things you did when I wasn't looking.

And look how gorgeous you look!

Ari What?

Arigurumi.
Let's start this post by saying I AM NOT A CUTSIE person.
The bow is the first to go on just about anything that has one.
I do however like quirky things.
I will always root for the underdog.
I will usually pick the unexpected over the cookie cutter cute.
I suppose this is why I have recently been crafting these little guys.
I just sort of love them.  They are quirkycute.
I am not really sure how you pronounce it even, but that is what my basket of colors has inspired and It is oh so fun.  Here is my first one, a pirate,which I plan to send to my 3 year old nephew for Christmas.
And my 10 year old is even requesting one, so it must not be too cute right?
SO here is my quirky thing that I love today.  I heard My little bean whisper to the "monster" that she loved it.  So cute.
Happy  LOVE Thursday.  I have fallen off the band wagon once again.  Oh well.

quick grab your camera...

I don't care if you think this sounds cheesy. Truth is, I am finding more and more, when left to my own thoughts, without the bickering of my kids or needs of the day, inside the quietness of my own head, it is the littlest of things that make me feel happy. Things that most the time we are well, too busy to notice. I drove over the mountain a few days ago and was completely awestruck by the fog that surrounded its peak. It was breathtaking. It was mysterious. It was beautiful. It was something that made me feel happy to be alive. At that moment I believed if given the time, I could sit down and write an entire novel based on that fog. In those quiet moments the grass looks greener. The world seems better.
So lets play a game. Take a quiet moment (I know gals- it will really will only be a moment) Quick grab your camera and pick the first thing that inspires you. Throw it out on the grass and take a picture. Will it inspire you to create something extraordinary? Will it change your outlook for the day? Maybe it will just make you feel happy inside. Either way, don't you feel better?

Oh the wonderful things I am going to make with this basket of inspiration!