Bluebirdbaby

30 Days of Happiness :: Bench Monday Sewing Edition

Things that are making me happy today ::

• sewing for my birthday girl
• a latte delivered by my sweetie while I was working
• good tunes that make me want to dance and smile
• a beautiful sunset
• cool weather that's just right for snuggling under the covers
• visits from friends
• finding a crazy amount of perfectly perfect vintage wallpaper
• motivation to get the kitchen done to use that perfectly perfect vintage wallpaper
• cute things on Etsy
• a super duper cute phone conversation with the little one
• finding pictures of mice all around the house (the little one is into drawing mice these days...)
• finding an actual real mouse in the house (I fed it some bread and named him Henry. At least, I think it was a "he".)
• seeing Sasa smile while I fed the mouse and named him Henry
• a yummy salad and rice for dinner
• followed by a movie and some snuggling on the couch
• then it's early to bed and work again in the morning

30 Days of Happiness :: Dream Kitchen

While I spent the day at work, Sasa worked diligently on getting our kitchen finally primed. I came home to a little less mustard yellow, a white-speckled handsome guy working away, and a black dog who just happened to be laying against the wet white trim. "Silly doggy Fly!" (as the little one would say...)

The kitchen already looks better. The cupboards are next, along with about 4 more coats of whatever color we choose. I'm still in search of a great vintage inspired wallpaper for one poorly intact plaster wall. I'm confident I'll find just what I had in mind, along with a repro counter top. Oh, the possibilities!

I'd like to leave you with some pictures of my dream kitchen. These are pretty close to the colors I have in mind for ours. I happened to stumble upon this kitchen a couple of weekends ago while swimming at my sister-in-law's family lake house. "Oh my" (and drool) is pretty much all I can say.

So yay for painting! Yay for hard working men willing to paint! Yay for funky colors and vintage finds! And yay for weekends (even if I have to work!).

30 Days of Happiness :: Sewing With My Girl

It was a rainy day today. I guess we're getting the tail end of a hurricane. It's been dark, gloomy, and wet all day long. But after a birthday party, some errands, and a yummy lunch, the little one and I headed to my sewing room for a bit of quiet time while Sasa baked in the kitchen.

I had made two floor pillows for the birthday boy and girl. The little one was completely involved in the process, from picking the fabrics to filling the pillows with buckwheat hulls and lavender flowers, to wrapping them up with pretty ribbon. She's becoming quite the little crafty gal herself! So we set up her little "quiet, cozy corner" that we started doing after lunch everyday and set to work.

She likes to take the fabric scraps and make something out of them. Yesterday it was bows for my chair, today it was a little scene taped to a piece of wool felt. (Scotch-tape and scissors are huge hits over here!)

She chose her fabrics well and in less than 45 minutes, she had her own little play pillow. She even chose a ribbon to use as a handle for carrying the pillow around. Clever girl! The buckwheat hulls give it a lot of height, so it also doubles as a "booster" for our kitchen chairs.

I'm so happy to have memories like these of our time spent together. It fills me with such warmth and joy!

And I'm really enjoying all of your happiness posts too! Keep them coming! I fixed the list on the sidebar, so everyone who e-mailed me should see their blog added now. Thanks so much for joining me in this journey!

30 Days of Happiness :: Friends

This morning the little one and I headed to a dear friend's house. She lives on a beautiful property with amazing gardens and even a goldfish pond!

This friend also happens to be a co-worker. She's an amazing woman and I find such joy being around her. She has a beautiful way of living life and is always inspiring me to be gentler, slower, more mindful, and more present.

We played with toys, ate yummy snacks, found strawberries in the garden, fed the fish, and took a walk through their beautiful woods.

The little ones were good sports with all the walking, but by the end it was time for a rest and another snack. Then we said our goodbyes, gave lots of hugs, and promised to to it all again soon.

I am so thankful for the friends I have. I am so thankful for beautiful, cool days like today. I am so thankful for the little one and all her joy. And I am so very, very thankful for life...whatever it may hold at any given moment because there is so much to be joyful about!

I've added a list of blogs to the left of those who decided to join my 30 Days of Happiness journey themselves. If I've missed you, please let me know! *Update* :: There is a problem on Typepad's end with my list. I've added 20+ blogs, but only 10 are showing. I'm resolving this with Typepad soon, and hopefully once it's fixed, I will have everyone up there!

30 Days of Happiness :: Make A Face

The little one is becoming quite the actress. We had a little fun today with the camera. She wanted to show you all her funny faces...

"Make a face like Kiwi (our cat)."

"Make a face like Doggy Fly."

"Make a face like a chicken!" (??)

"Make a face like Sasa." (Hehee!)

"Make a face like Baba (my mama)."

"Make a face like Mama."

"Make a face like Elisabeth."

Yea, I think that last one is definitely an Elisabeth face. She rocks. And her triple layered stripey goodness? That rocks too!

Happy Thursday!

30 Days of Happiness :: Togetherness

One of the things I adore about our life is the fact that we share three meals together. The simple act of sitting down three times a day to check in with each other, share a blessing and a home cooked meal, and just being together makes the day connect in a way I've never known.

And there's something about it that seems so "old-fashioned" to me. It's like going back to our roots, back in time...to a time that was slower, more meaningful, and just closer to the things that matter.

We ended the day with dinner on the porch while watching the sunset. Then it was a final push on the swing, followed by getting cozy in bed with some good books until her eyes finally closed, and now here I am reliving it all over again. Just thinking about it makes me smile. Oh yes, this 30 Days of Happiness is already doing me good!

30 Days of Happiness :: Local Yumminess

Last week we headed back to my dear friend's farm for some more yumminess. We picked oodles of basil to make my annual batch of pesto. Because of all the rain and our rather swampy backyard, our basil crop did not do well. So I was extra thankful for some of Kat's. And boy, did we make a lot of pesto. Twenty-four jars to be exact!

And my favorite part about it? The three of us, sitting on the back porch watching a thunderstorm move in, picking basil leaves off the stems. Oh yes, that is what I call a perfect afternoon!

And I'm so very thrilled that many of you have decided to join me in my 30 Days of Happiness journey! I want to get a list up of all the blogs participating, so if you haven't left a comment letting me know you've joined, please do so!

30 Days of Happiness :: Us

It's that time again...
That time where I want to relish the simple, little things that make our days so very enjoyable. Those little things that make life worth living, that make all the harder things seem not that hard anymore. In a time in my life where there can be challenges, hardships, things that are disappointing and frustrating, there is something that just seems to keep all of those in the background. There is something special that puts it all into perspective and something that keeps me smiling despite the tears that could be there instead.

And that something is who we are. Who the three of us are. We are three people who can not get enough of each other. We are three people who's perfect day is sitting on the porch in the sun, drawing pictures with "googly eyes", making "hand people", or spending hours in the lake. We are three people who thrive on hugs and kisses, smiles and giggles, and little acts of thoughtfulness. We are three people who find joy in lawnmower races, banana bread warm from the oven, and fresh eggs from our chickens.

Our life together is what makes everything so amazing and wonderful. There are so many little bits and pieces of it that I want to share. I have tried to live a life where these little bits and pieces are actually what life is about. They are what I choose to focus on. The simplicity of life, the joy in the little things, the fulfillment of being with two amazing people that make my heart smile every time I look at them...that's what defines my life. That's what I choose to focus on.

So with the beginning of another round of "30 Days of Happiness" I am giddy with excitement. I don't know where these 30 days will take me, but I do know where the last 30 days did. They brought me to an amazing place. A place of joy, peace, happiness, and a deep appreciation for everything in life.

And I'd like to ask for you to join me. Will you? I promise it will change your life. It did mine. Do it passionately and authentically with an open heart and mind, and I promise you won't be disappointed.

So begins my journey of another 30 Days of Happiness. Enjoy!

Fresh Squeezed

With the weather being in the 90's, we've been spending the majority of our days in the water. But today there is a slight breeze and the shade is rather lovely. We've been doing lots of crafts on the back porch in the bit of shade the trees provide. We wanted to surprise Sasa (who's no longer on the cleanse...thank goodness!) with some fresh squeezed lemonade.

The little one and I gathered all the lemons from the fridge, some ice cold water, and maple syrup. We sat on the back porch for a while, squeezing lemons and taking a taste now and then. Apparently the little one is quite the fan of sour things!

When the squeezing was done, it was time to stir. The little one is a master stirrer. She actually tells me how to stir now. So she stirred as I poured in the maple syrup.

Next we added some ice and waited for Sasa. He was pleasantly surprised to find some fresh squeezed lemonade to go with lunch. And looks like we have at least two days supply in the fridge. Yummy!

A Little Bit More...

I just wanted to share some more photos from the wedding I shot last week. Laura and Mike were good sports...great sports actually! It was like they were made for the camera. These two could pose and smile for a good two hours and look completely natural doing it the entire time. I mean really...I never thought that was possible!

But here they are in all their glory. And just in case you were wondering, this won't turn into a photography blog. Promise. But...photography is what I'm spending most of my time doing, so be prepared for more weddings and photo shoot glimpses in the future!

Oh, and for anyone getting married soon, I would highly recommend doing what Laura and Mike did. After the ceremony, just the two of them headed to a bunch of their favorite locations and we spent a couple of hours shooting. Such wonderful photos to have and what a fun memory!

Bench Monday :: Lemon Edition

Sasa is on the Master Cleanse.
So I have to eat my amazingly enormous amounts of food in front of a starving guy.
But he was inspired to do this, so now our refridgerator is filled with lemons, maple syrup, and cold water. Not to mention the cayenne pepper on the counters...
For now, I'll continue to eat massive amounts of chocolate coconut ice cream in the extreme heat we've been experiencing while he downs cayenne pepper.
Working on editing more wedding photos from last Friday.
Loving this song.
Got these red chairs and matching table for the little one and her growing desire in crafty things and art. She helped me pick it out at a second hand store.
I think I really love this Bench Monday. Lemons make everything better.

A Perfect Day

Been busy with weddings (and a fantabulous time shooting with this lovely mama), trips to the big city, swimming (four times in two days?!), editing photos, catching up on life and all its "to-dos", working at the co-op, and trying so desperately to find time to relax.
 And, of course, there's always catching up in this space here. Tyepad has been acting up with comments lately and I haven't been receiving them in my inbox for a few days. I'll have to reply directly in the comments themselves until it's fixed.

I hope you all enjoyed the weekend! Sasa and I are looking forward to another Bench Monday tomorrow. See you then...

Beach Days

We've been enjoying lots of beach days lately. This was a fun day last week that was spent with friends, good food, lots of laughs, cold Maine ocean water (which didn't keep any of us from swimming!), sand castles, and beach mermaids. Follow that with the yummiest ice cream you could imagine and, well...that's one good day.

We're off to the big city for a wedding, dinner with one super cool chic (more on that later), and a sleepover at Baba's! Yay for weekends!

We hope you enjoy yours as well!

A Tea Party in a Flowery Yard

It's been a summer of very wet, very rainy, and at times, very cold weather. So when the sun comes out we make the best of it, whether it's swimming at the lake, jumping waves at the beach, or simply staying home and having a tea party on the back porch.

This seems to be the little one's favorite activity as of late. I bought her this sweet little tea set a week ago and she loves it. Sasa and I have had so many cups of delicious tea. It's served morning, noon, and night.

Sometimes there are popsicles, cookies, grapes, apples, cheese and crackers, or a pretend cake to go along with the tea. It's always served with a smile, and usually we can't leave the table without having numerous cups. It's just that good!

There's always a vase of fresh flowers from our ever-flowering yard. Sasa, the little one, and I spend a lot of time out there picking flowers for the house. These yellow flowers are my new favorite. It's like having a little bit of sunshine in every room of the house.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

For Us :: A Little Bit of Sunshine

Our room was in desperate need of a little pick-me-up. We've been lacking pillowcases, and after flipping through Weekend Sewing, I knew the pillowcases would be on the top of my list.

I chose some of the very breathable and soft flour sack material for the bulk of the pillowcases. Matched with a sunny yellow strip and some leftover material from an old sheet, I had two very cheerful pillowcases in less than an hour. Gotta love instant gratification!

I'm sure the little one will be wanting her own, so I think that's next on my list. And after that? A skirt, shirt, dress, birthday presents for the little one, party favors for her friends, and a new tablecloth for our outside table. Oh my! I may be reaching for the stars here, but it's nice to have goals, isn't it?

What have you all been making lately?! I'd love to hear!

A Lazy, Lovely Bench Monday :: Who We Are

We are two people who thrive on imagination.
We are two people who live for love.
We are two people who find joy in the little things.
We are two people who believe that everyday should end with a kiss.
We are two people who wake up feeling luckier than the morning before.
We are two people who still believe in fairies.
We are two people who enjoy just being. Nothing special. Just us, just being.

We are two people who can't wait for Bench Mondays!

Fairy Houses and Flowers

Fairies love to hang out where lots of beautiful flowers grow. In fact, they use flowers for all sorts of things: hats, cushions, soups, tea, and tutus. So where there are lots of flowers, you can be sure that they are close by. Fairies also let honeybees know where all the beautiful flowers are. That way, more flowers can grow and fairies get yummy honey in return.

Sometimes, when big people realize that fairies are so important to beautiful flower gardens, they put on big festivals for them. At these festivals, there are many ways to honor the fairies. Such as dancing, painting, fairy costumes, and building houses for them.

The fairies love when the children build them houses. They usually have such a hard time lugging all the branches, bark, and pine cones from the deep forests to where they want to build their village. So when the children help out, the fairies reward them with wonderful berries and beautiful flowers.

Sometimes, a child will get a fairy house just right. With such a perfect house, a fairy will move right in before the child is finished building it! Sometimes the child just knows what a fairy loves. A swing makes them so excited that they start to clap from behind the trees as they watch the swing being built. And when the child adds a walkway and yard complete with table and chairs, they all start cheering from under their toadstools and flower hats.  When the house is finally finished, and the child leaves it behind for the fairies, sometimes you can see the fairies, with their luggage made from maple leaves and birch bark, walking through the ferns on their way to the new house. In return, they reward the child with patch full of yummy blueberries.

And the child will be so pleased that they built a house a fairy family will live in, that they will smile and giggle as blueberry juice drips down their chin. The child will run to their family and excitedly tell the story of how wonderful it is to be amongst the fairies for a day.

And the family will feel exactly the same way.

I Love You

"Hey Mama? When I get to be a big, big girl, I'm gonna be a mama just like you!"

I can't tell you how many times she makes my heart melt.
Or how many times I hear "I love you, mama" whispered into my ear.
Or how many times she looks into my eyes and sees my soul.
Or how many times I thank the universe for sending her my way.

She is an amazing little being. She makes me want to be a better person. She is a constant reminder of how lucky I am; how lucky we all are.

Thanks, little one. Your life brings sweet sunshine to each of my days.

Scenes From Home

:: Flowers from our ever-flowering yard. They are everywhere in our house. Everywhere you turn you see them, and you just have to smile. Sasa is the greatest flower picker and arranger of all time. Elisabeth is quickly following suit. ::



:: Work, work, work. Starting a business takes so much time and effort and the one thing I don't have : money. But I'm getting there, slowly. I'm so inspired and excited and on the right path. This is what I've wanted to do for so, so long. It's what my dream was, and now I'm here. I'm here with so much support, so much positive energy, and so much love. It's an amazing feeling and I am so very lucky. I will never take a moment for granted. ::



:: Stripes for my girl. One of the only things she will wear (other than polka-dots). I scored these at an amazing price and I so hope she will be happy to find them upon her return. ::

I hope your week is going well!

A Blue Bench Monday Full of Looooove

Long day at work.
Another one tomorrow.
Lots of photo stuff happenin'
I'm super duper tired. Like can't function kind of tired.
I think it's early to bed for me tonight.
Looking forward to getting some sewing in on Wednesday.
Maybe a new skirt?!
I love how I can list random bits with these photos.
And I love, love, love this song. Thanks Mandi for the good tunes :)

Happy Monday y'all. Till next time...

Did you know?

Did you know that fairies live in the woods? Did you know they love the tops of mountains where they can see for miles? You can try to find them, but usually they hide because they are afraid of people. But small people, well...small people they really love.

Did you know that fairies leave blue marks on trees to guide your way? They make the paint from stomping on blueberries in a big bucket, mixing it with a little sap and rain water, then they mark the trees using the blueberry paint and pine needle brushes. That way all the little people can find their way through the woods.

Did you know that if you listen really closely, you can hear them whispering your name? They say, "You're on the right path. Keep going!" But to us adults, it only sounds like the wind. But the little ones know what the fairies are saying.

Did you know they hide behind trees, ride on dragonflies, eat mushrooms for breakfast, take naps on moss, and send butterflies to follow the little ones to keep them safe on their journey?

Did you know that if you build them a house on the top of the mountain, they will reward you with bushes and bushes of wild blueberries? And if you leave them a little leaf full of berries, they will make your trip back down the mountain extra fun.

Did you know that they really, really love birch bark boats? They wait and watch until you've tested the boat. Then once you leave, they climb right in and paddle away.

They hardly ever show themselves, but if...just if the big people are far enough away, they will come out of their hiding places and kiss a little one's face. They will say thank you and hand them an extra sweet blueberry and say, "Come again soon!" And the little one will never, ever forget how special the fairies made the hike.

So, thank you, kind fairies. You made our day extra special!