Bluebirdbaby

Favorites

Favorite moment :: the little one coloring while waiting for friends.

Favorite guy :: Sasa :)

Favorite activity :: gardening

Favorite picture :: See Belina? The one in the middle with her head turned? She's saying "cheeeeese!"

Favorite part of the day :: dinner at the kitchen table.

Other favorites ::

Favorite surprise :: a postcard in the mail from Sasa and the little one asking me out on a date tomorrow. So sweet!

Favorite phrase :: "Mama, I'm gonna play polka-dot on your freckles. Okay?!"

Favorite food :: cucumbers with hummus...mmmm!

Favorite song :: A Well Respected Man

What are your favorites today?? Happy Weekend!

This and That

Oh, spring weather in Maine. Seriously....a day predicted at nearly 70 degrees turned out to include warm sun, rain, hail, snow, super strong wind, and everything else you could possibly imagine. We took walks whenever the sun came out, but the rest of the day was spent relaxing inside. At one point I got into a dusting frenzy, trying to clean off the dust from the construction that I swore I wouldn't touch until the project was finally completed. But I couldn't stand it any longer. I dusted while the little one played with her beeswax collection. I turned around to find this peaceful scene :: the little one building chairs for her beeswax bunny, cat, and bear. So cute.

The kitchen had a little setback. I was so hoping to reveal it to you next week, but the floor guy seems to be on an island at the moment and will be there for another 10 days. Oy. So I'll have to leave you all on the edge of your seats. Sorry! I did move our table and chairs in today, but everything else will have to wait until the end. I couldn't resist snapping the above photos though. The light is just so super gorgeous in there...

What did you do today? What spring activities are you enjoying with your little ones?

Things

Phew. The weeks go by too quickly. The days end with things left undone. I sit here, going through oodles of photos I've been meaning to blog about and am thinking, "When will I ever have the time to catch up?" Ah, let it go. I will never catch up and that's okay. It's exciting to have things to share and say, then you realize you don't have the time to share or say it. But when it's time, it's time.

The above photo is from last week. We had a painting party with friends. It was a beautiful afternoon, the little one and I drove out to my friend's home and along the way opened all the windows, turned up the tunes, and sang and sang. We chatted while the little ones painted, and after a couple of hours we were ready to head home. The drive home was mellow :: the little one almost asleep in the back (which rarely happens these days) and I was looking forward to some quiet gardening once we got home. It was a great day.

That's what I love about this space...the chance to look back and remember all those days and moments that filled me with such joy. It's a gift, this blogging thing. A visual reminder of the ordinary, everyday things that in the end seem to be all that really matter. The little one and I love to look through my old childhood albums. There are many pictures of special outings, family gatherings, holidays, etc. but it's the few photos of the ordinary moments (cooking with my mother, getting ready for bed, and gardening) that I find the most beautiful. Those memories of just the simpleness of everyday life and the joy it brings are all I need. I'm so happy that the little one will have so many of those moments to look back on.

Thanks for being here; for joining me in this journey of the everyday. It's so special to have you all along for the ride.

And I was interviewed on kreative eltern...go check it out here!

Dog Love Monday

Fly insisted on being in this picture. He's got to be the sweetest and smartest dog ever. I just adore him. So I was super honored that he decided to be a part of this Monday's picture. And me? I struggle with warmer weather fashion. Can anyone give me some inspiration? I actually had Sasa dress me this morning. He did a pretty darn good job. I added the braids and obviously haven't patched those jeans I mentioned last week. Oops. Our kitchen should be done in two weeks and then we can reveal the new look! Yay! And a kitchen party will be sure to follow...

Sorry I have been a bit absent in this space. Warmer weather means we are out soaking up all the sun we can. And wedding season is picking up. So I'll be around, but maybe a little more sporadically.

Links!

• so many good prints here. love her and her new book out for little ones. this one reminds me of Sasa and all his fermenting kitchen activities...
• the little one, Sasa, and I all danced for a good hour after dinner Saturday night. Oh my...how fun! This one had us really grooving.
• I want to make the little one a sundress out of this book. Oh, and plenty of summer skirts now that she is finally a skirt wearin' kinda gal.
• loving this print
• and this dress
• and this cool thing (toasted marshmallows anyone?!)
• he is so handsome :)
• this little one is the cutest
• love this kitchen light
• can't wait to do plenty of this these summer months

Okay, that's all for now! We're off on a date tonight. Yay for date nights!! Happy Monday y'alls.

Planting

Oh, I've got that spring urge...that urge to plant, and garden, and craft, and sew. I have oodles of sewing projects in my head :: quilts, summer dresses, shirts, headbands for little heads, and skirts. And oh, the garden...raised beds are a dream of mine and until that happens I will settle for container gardening. The little one is a great helper. She loves to plant the tiny seeds, but after a while she loses interest. So what is a mama to do? Why, take out some acrylics and let her decorate the plant pots!

So we did just that. She painted while I planted peas, lettuce, kale, spinach, and sunflowers. By the end of that I had five plant pots completely planted and painted! We also rode our wagon down to the garden center to get some pansies to plant in our window boxes. Our house is looking mighty springy!

And we haven't just been planting outside. Spring is the time to re-pot all our indoor plants. It's so nice to see these plants grow bigger and stronger month after month. And there's nothing like having lots of green in the house.

And just something cute...Sasa likes to send me mail. I particularly liked this clever postcard.

What are you planting lately?! I'd love to see some of your gardens for inspiration. Leave me a link!

Maple Syrup Season

I took these photos early last month, and am just now getting around to posting them! The maple syrup season this year was so short...the sap started and stopped within a week it seemed. We like to go up to our favorite little spot down the street to see the jugs tied to the maple trees. Our friend taps these trees each year and the sap seems to be plentiful in these big old maples.

The little one loves the taste of sap. It's good for making tea, or just drinking straight. It has a slightly sweet taste and is full of minerals.

We took a few tastes of the sap, said thank you to the trees for sharing, then basked in the March sun. It was such a lovely, warm spring day.

When it's time for maple syrup season, we pull out a few of our favorite books about the subject ::

• Sugarbush Spring
• Maple Syrup Season
• Sugar Snow
• At Grandpa's Sugar Bush

Yay for spring and maple syrup!!

One Strong Woman

I'm so pleased to share with you the talents of one special mama. She is so, so strong. We have been through similar hard situations in the past couple of years and she constantly amazes me with her strength and talents. Recently, her camera decided to quit on her. Shutter death...just like mine! Like me, she was lost without her camera and in order to fill her hands with one again, she has put her talents to good use.

She has made an amazing book, full of her wonderful photos and inspiring words. Her photos can also be purchased, and are oh so lovely. So please help Meredith find her way back to the shutter once again! Let's give this mama the support and love she deserves!

Visit her Etsy shop here.

And her blog where you can find more information about her here.

Good luck, Meredith! You'll have your camera before you know it! xoxo

A Very Sleepy Monday

Boy, I'm beat. Why does lack of sleep always catch up to me a couple of days later? I had my first cup of coffee today in three months. I'm not going to make it a habit again though. I got home from work this afternoon and our house was quiet. The little worker bees that are here everyday for hours were actually gone. I was able to take a self-portrait on the back porch (which is crowded with all their equipment!) without four men wondering what the heck I'm doing. Ah, peace. And oh, my poor jeans. They so badly need a patch and I swore I would do that last week, but obviously I didn't follow through.

Thanks for all your sweet compliments on my runway post. Sasa and I both looked at those pictures on my blog and said, "Gosh, that post doesn't look like it belongs on Bluebirdbaby!" But there they are. It was just so much fun, I couldn't not share it with you!

Linky Love ::

• I found this duvet and I'm in love. You remember I have a bird room right? Well, that would just finish it off. Perhaps I can try to make something like it...
• I would love these shoes for the summer months
• And this dress
• My friend and I have made a plan to come up with some super styled, funky photo shoots soon. I can't wait!
• Loving her photos. It's like going back in time 40 years.
• Been listening to Jem. A lot.
• Wish I fit into this skirt.
• Eeks! Just found this...
• Love this print.
• I'd love this for our room. I'm currently using a box!
• These pants are divine.
• Inspiring
• love it
• beauty

So here's a question for you all...I want some bold, funky, modern prints for our kitchen. Can you direct me to any? And what else are you all loving this fabulous Monday?

Sasa and I are off to fix dinner and enjoy some reading on the couch before bed. Gotta love relaxing evenings!

The Runway

Well, I was in my first fashion show in the big city last night. It was amazing, exhilarating, exhausting, and most of all fun! I was modeling Luksin Designs designed and created by an amazing gal named Daria. She designs every single item, hand sews them herself, screen prints awesome designs, and does it all with eco-friendly fabrics of organic cotton and hemp.

Her clothing is edgy, comfortable, fun, and practical. I modeled the sailor pants in hemp, a screen printed key-hole, fish tail shirt, and a coral blazer with a screenprinted designed on the back.

The hardest part was getting the blazer off halfway down the runway without getting caught in it.

A salon was there doing hair, so I ended up with a teased, massively hairsprayed "nest" on the side of my head that took HOURS to get out. (A big kudos to Sasa for combing out my hair for an hour at 2 a.m. this morning!) Daria did the make-up. The crazy nut made both her skirt and her shirt just hours before the show, plus modeled, and walked as the designer. Go Daria!

So my first runway was a success. No falls, I didn't burst into giggles, and I saved all my goofiness for after the show. Teehee! A big thanks to my friend Meghan for snapping these photos. There will be more in next week's Sunday Telegram for all you locals!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Salt Pond

One of the things I love about being a parent is that it forces me outside into nature everyday. I normally would not take a weekday morning to walk around a salt pond hoping to find empty crab shells, purple lobster trap rope, and any sea-beaten piece of wood, but as a mother...this is what I live for.

I love our little outings; whether they be to the cemetery down the street or the salt pond on the peninsula. There's always something that make these outings so much fun. The little one and I really know how to explore. We love finding treasures to bring back home and never leave our house without her collecting basket or a bucket for the beach.

We found a good loot today, including purple lobster trap rope and empty crab shells of all sizes. They always make it home and find their way to the sandbox out back. Our sand box is starting to look like we stole a bit of the beach. But it's nice to feel like we have our own little piece of it in our backyard. Oh, and you should see the chickens trying to figure out what crab shells are. Quite hilarious!

What did you all do today?!

thirty :: 30 days of beauty :: Us

There's no doubt about it, when it comes to beauty and people I think of someone full of life, joy, and love. And I could not pass up this last day of my 30 Days of Beauty without including the three of us together. We certainly are full of life, joy, and love!

I wake up each and every day so very, very thankful for this lovely, supportive family I have around me all the time. Sasa rocks. He's my best friend. He provides me with unwavering support and encouragement. He grounds me when I'm off doing those airy Libra things and is always assuring me that I'm right where I should be. He constantly surprises me with flowers, cards, little notes, and compliments. I have so much to thank him for. He has given me not only these wonderful things, but the courage and strength to be the person I've always wanted to be. He has taught me to love myself and nurture that tiny seed of joy that was inside me until it eventually burst open. I am so happy to have found myself. I am so happy to have my best friend by my side everyday. I love you Sasa!

And the little one...oh, I've said it all before, but I'll say it all again. She rocks too! She is the best little person I've ever known. She is smart, funny, and oh so compassionate. Her beauty is so evident, inside and out. People have always remarked about her energy. As a baby, she did not like being around people in public. But when she hit 10 months, that all changed. I started bringing her out, showing her the world and the wonderful people in it. I encouraged her connect with people, and she hasn't stopped since. I love how she still waves to strangers passing in cars, how she says "hi!" to everyone we walk by, how she has built a wonderful community of people around her, and how she opens her heart to everyone she meets. And the moments we have together are so special and so full of love and her cuteness...I wouldn't trade them for the world.

And the three of us together? We make quite a team. We know how to have fun. We know how to giggle until our bellies hurt. We know how to live a life of creativity, love, and joy. There are so many moments of each day that I want to remember forever. Those moments that instantly fill my heart with joy and I swear that my life is perfect. This is what I want. Three people who enjoy nothing more than just being together.

So I would say that we are filled with beauty...that beauty that's all about life, joy, and love. I couldn't end this 30 Days of Beauty any other way. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Thank you to all who participated! The group will remain open. I encourage any shots of beauty to be added from here on out!

I already can't wait for my next project to start. Hmmm....what will it be?...

A Sweater for My Girl

Typepad is checking into my blog to fix the kinks. So I apologize for the mess until it's sorted out! Also, I am sick (again!) and didn't get to my Monday links yesterday, and I wasn't looking very pretty so I spared you the self-portrait...

There's no denying that my girl loves purple, polka-dots, and stripes. All at the same time, I might add. I'm finishing up her plain purple wool sweater (almost done!), but Sasa's mom has been busy working on this amazing sweater over the winter. Poppy knew about the purple, stripes, and polka-dot thing and decided to try to fit them all into one sweater. And oh my...did she ever succeed!

The little one calls this her "Jelly Bean Sweater." She just adores it, and if I'm correct, I think the whole thing was knitted with alpaca, so it's super soft and cozy. Poppy is such a talented knitter and I know this sweet little sweater will get lots of use!

And, of course, the little one was completely hamming it up for the camera. What a goofball!

Cute Clients and Ch-ch-changes!

I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely couple today. I will join them on their big day in June, but for now we spent the morning getting to know each other, the ceremony site, and had fun with an engagement shoot. It was cold (it actually started snowing!) and my fingers were about to fall off. But they are just so darn cute and so very in love. Awwww! I can't wait for June!

And I took some photos for a gorgeous young lady whom I've known since she was a wee one. She's now going on to Miss Teen Maine. I was lucky enough to photograph her for the headshots they needed. She was a great model. When I asked if she minded being in front of the camera she replied with, "Oh no, not at all! And I love to smile. I'm very good at holding a smile for a long time." Just what a photographer would always love to hear!

And you'll notice some changes here. I've wanted to do some "spring cleaning" ever since I set up Sasa's blog in the winter. But, well...life got busy. Typepad has not cooperated at all today. Not at all. Grrr! So I'm sorry if you had to scroll down for five minutes before you finally got to this post! Hopefully I'll get that sorted out soon. I've added a link to my tutorials in the menu under my banners. And you'll notice my switch to IndieBound. I never felt quite right using Amazon, especially since Sasa is in the independent book business. So you'll see my book list now links to IndieBound where you'll have so much more to see. We have lots of books to share! Go check it out here! We'll be adding more too. IndieBound is a great business to support!

So here's hoping my blog will look a tad more presentable by tomorrow!

Raw Food and Empty Kitchens

Okay, okay...I'll explain this raw kick. Seriously...best thing I've ever done for myself. I posted the requested recipe for the zucchini pasta on Sasa's blog, so go take a look!

Here's a little info about my raw venture that I wrote on Sasa's blog ::

Since having the stomach bug a few weeks ago, all I've been craving is raw food. I've never, ever understood those "raw diets" and thought they were too extreme. But I've been essentially eating 95% raw for the last few weeks. It has dramatically changed my health. My energy level has skyrocketed, I sleep better, feel more awake, my skin is clearer, and I am headache and migraine free. Wow. I'm hooked.

It's seriously amazing. I don't like to push things on people, so please don't think that is the purpose of this post. I'm just singing this raw food thing's praises. I am just feeling so good!

And um, Sasa has been a little lacking in his blog posts because of this ::

Which will be the LAST picture until the kitchen is complete. I want to keep you all in suspense!...

twenty nine :: 30 days of beauty :: help from the root children

The root children were underground bustling about fixing their evening meal of dandelion soup, grass salad, and mushroom cookies. One root child was late and he came running down the tunnel with some exciting news. "Everyone, everyone! Listen to this! The little girl and her mama planted seeds today! Flowers and herbs and peas and lettuce. We must help them grow!"

All the root children clapped and shouted "hooray!" for they loved spring, and they adored helping the seeds grow. They made a plan to water the seeds first thing in the morning. They also give the seeds a hug, which the seeds love so much that it makes them grow faster. And when the seeds start to sprout, the root children dip into their magic seed dust to sprinkle on the seeds. The magic seed dust makes the plants strong and healthy.

So the very next morning they did just that. All the root children went to work watering and hugging the seeds. Some even told the seeds stories about the sun and blue skies, which made the seeds so anxious to sprout that they started growing faster and faster.

When the flowers and vegetables came up extra early, the little girl and her mama were quite surprised! The little girl didn't know how seeds could grow so fast, but her mama knew that the root children had helped. The little girl wanted to thank the root children for all their hard work, so she asked her mama what they could do for them. Her mama told her what the root children love, so they set to work collecting yummy things to leave the root children :: dandelions for dandelion soup, apple tree blossoms for their tea, a lily pad to use for their bath tub, and even a strawberry from the little girl's lunch. They set all these lovely things on a beautiful plate in the flower garden for the root children to find the very next morning.

The root children absolutely loved their surprises! They were so overjoyed that the littlest root child ran back to her bunk to find a special treasure; it was the teeniest, tiniest heart shaped rock that a beetle had given her on her first birthday. She ran back to the garden and placed the tiny rock on the plate. The little girl came out the next morning and found the tiny heart rock. She was so excited she ran inside to show her mama. She knew the root children had left it for her. She placed it on a windowsill by her bed where she keeps all her special treasures. Every night she would go to sleep looking at her heart rock and thinking about all the help the root children had given her. She already couldn't wait for next spring!!

This was a story I made up tonight for the little one before she fell asleep. Her eyes were closed by the very end and she fell alseep with a smile on her face. I'm pretty sure the root children will be helping out tonight after we planted her special garden with lots of yummy flowers. The peas were planted to grow up the chicken coop fence and we started some other seedlings as well. What a day! I love spring!

Just Because...

Just because I wore this fabulous vintage dress today.

Just because I had no idea what the reaction to this fabulous vintage dress would be today. (It's rather funky!)

Just because everyone adored this vintage dress.

Just because I wanted to show you what our kitchen looks like right now.

Just because I'm currently listening to this and dancing around the living room.

Just because I scored some fantabulous vintage plaid cowgirl shirts and a vintage pair of Beans boots (without laces, but with a cute little buckle!) that I can't wait to show you.

I'm posting just because. Why don't you too?! Happy Tuesday everyone!

Lack of Kitchen Monday

So Sasa took my picture today...after work, after a meeting, after I had a splitting headache from not eating or drinking for far too long. I came home to my handsome guy just waiting to feed me. Awesome. He rocks! He told me to "look like there's renovating going on in our kitchen" in this picture. Um, okay. That's what I feel like about not having a kitchen to cook and eat in. Ha! My clothes reflect my lack of sleep and casual feel this morning. The jeans are new and I absolutely adore them. They fit perfectly for once!

Sasa eventually fed me raw zucchini pasta topped with homemade fresh pesto, and avocado on the side. YUM. I am following it up with a fruit salad made super special for him. We just love to feed each other and this raw thing has us totally excited. Oh, and don't be alarmed about his absence from his blog. He has been sick, then busy, then kitchenless. But he does have an awesome granola recipe he plans on sharing soon...

Links!

• I'm so low on links today because I haven't been on the computer to do anything but check e-mail in over a week!
• But these caught my eye. Too bad they sold!
• I'd wear those boots with these pants.
• And those pants with this shirt.
• Topped with this shrug.
• oh yes...that would be quite the spring outfit.
• this little one is the cutest thing ever.
• and this makes me smile. so many times do I "twirl" with the little one.
• her voice is amazing. right from out of the 20's. 
• I'm loving jazz right now (vocal), pineapples, raw donut holes (thanks Lori!), and Sasa :)
• the little one is sick. Poor little thing. She slept with her arm around me all night long. Of course, I didn't sleep a wink. I checked her breathing every five minutes!
• I'm going to be a model in this fashion show. I am super nervous, but super excited. But super nervous. (Like what if I trip and fall? Or giggle when I'm supposed to be all serious? Oh my, oh my.)
• I'm off to make fruit salad and have another raw donut hole, then some cuddles on the couch with my guy and a good movie.

I hope your Monday was fabulous! Enjoy the start to your week!

twenty eight :: 30 days of beauty :: Easter Day

Our Easter day was filled with fun! The Easter bunny was extra good to the little one this year and we're all still recovering from the massive amounts of food we've consumed. Sasa and I are looking forward to laying on the couch tonight and not moving for at least two hours.

I hope you all were blessed with a fabulous Easter too!

Natural Vegetable Dye Playsilk Tutorial

We spent a day with friends dying playsilks for Easter. My friend and I had been wanting to try this with natural vegetable dye for ages and we finally got around to it.

The girls loved stirring all the silks in the colored water.

We used turmeric (yellow), beets (a dusty rose pink), purple cabbage (purple), and coffee (an earthy brown).

My favorite was the turmeric. So sunny and bright!

The little one loved the cabbage. (I wonder why??!)

They look great and I am so much happier with these natural colors than the colors produced by the Kool-Aid method. 

To make your own ::

1. Collect some vegetables and spices of vibrant colors.
2. Soak silks in water and vinegar solution. I get my blank silks from here.
3. Cut up vegetables and boil in water until the water turns a vibrant color.
4. Drain water to remove vegetable bits. If using spices, there is no need to drain.
5. Take silks and put in hot colored water. Turn heat on low and add 2-4 tablespoons of vinegar.
6. Stir the silks occasionally. The longer you leave them in, the darker they will be.
7. When the silks reach your desired color, remove them from the water and run under cold tap water to remove any residue.
8. Hang to dry.

Super easy and super fun. I am so pleased with the results. These will go in the little one's Easter basket. I'm excited about the brown because we often make playscapes with our playsilks and have never had anything to resemble brown earth/dirt. The purple is so very lovely and the yellow is just so cheery. I'm planning on getting bigger sizes and making curtains for her room after dying them with beets. So lovely!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me! I hope I explained it well enough here. Happy Friday everyone!!!