Bluebirdbaby

Some Killer Links

We had the sweetest little photo session with Maria this past weekend. This image she captured was my favorite, but there were so many good ones.

We have been having such a fun time lately. It's hard juggling school, work, afterschool activities, an amazingly social wee one who is always out running around the neighborhood with friends from early morning to sunset, a busy social weekend life, and then we do it all again. Our time to slow down, breathe, and just be together seems to be few and far between, but we do manage to make the best of every moment we have together; no matter how short.

Today marks the third anniversary of living in this house. It's a special day for Sasa and I. I, of course, completely forgot about it because I am still not convinced it's remotely possible for it to be December. And Sasa, being the sweet guy he is, reminded me at dinner. Oops. So what did I do? I turned our kitchen into an after dinner dance party! We put it on a favorite dancing Pandora station and proceeded to boogie and do the twist and slow dance for the next two hours.

Then the little one put the wicker laundry basket on her back and pretended to be a turtle, which Mama and Sasa bear had to try to eat. But she was a good turtle and curled right up into her shell where she was safe. We ended the night with some drawing before bed. That girl...I swear...she is never NOT drawing. It's insane. I buy her art journals every other day, and they are full before I can get back to the art store. And pens. And pencils. And anything she can draw with. They all get so much use. Her drawings are amazing too. Unbelievable, actually. She's on a horse kick, but she has just started drawing mama with her camera. Cool stuff. She's goooood.

And that's my update. We're all in a silly mood tonight. Dancing does that to us. So here's some pretty sweet links:

• i wanna be your man (how freakin' cool is that dude?!)
• absolutely A-mazing 
• i got inspired and painted my nails this color today
• made this into a necklace. i love it.
• love these tumblers
• enjoying her blog
• this series is gorgeous. she makes everyday beautiful.
• mmmm....for brunch with friends
• i have a horrible addiction to mugs (and tea)
• have you seen melissa's new book?! she was also on the macy's day parade AND martha stewart!! woohoo! go melissa!
• loving his artwork
• one more video. i'm going to style a shoot inspired by it.
• looking forward to this tomorrow night

Happy December! What are you loving right now?!

fairy woods

It's been a funny weekend. Probably others would call it a weekend full of unfortunate events. I've been meaning to post about "a year of choice" for a while now...letting you know more about how this affects my days and what it looks like. And I can honestly say that this space is all about choice. What you read here are snippets of our days. The things I love, the things that make life go round, the things that make us smile, the things that fill our hearts with love. It doesn't mean that there isn't a whole lot of struggle and, ahem, bad luck too. (Sometimes I think I'm jinxed!) But it's easy to get through it with this fabulous guy and amazing little girl by my side.

This past weekend was indeed a series of unfortunate events. It got to the comical level after two days, and when we finally sat down on the couch late last night to breathe, we looked at each other and giggled, joking that maybe the roof would fall through on our heads. But in the end, we caught something just in the knick of time and our cat will live, we still have another way to get around and we did get home finally, there are friends and family always willing to help, after hours of research I finally fixed my camera, and we are safe and happy and together. Which really...is all that matters.

So what does all this have to do with fairy woods?! Well, in the midst of all the unfortunate events, we all took a beautiful walk on an island with my mama and the two dogs. We flew kites, we walked through the forest, waded in the water, and came to the spot where there are hundreds and hundreds of fairy houses. We built a fabulous one. And I remember in that moment, looking at the absolute certainty on the little one's face that fairies would be moving in to our little fairy house that very night, I knew that this was the only moment that really mattered. And, to be honest, I'm not sure if it's from the sheer exhaustion or the hilariously poor memory I have, but really...it's all that I really remember. That one moment was so full of joy and love that it's going to be completely and totally stuck in my heart forever. Love that.

And yes, the little one got her first haircut. She loves it. We do too.

xoxo.

happy weekend!

It's Sunday night, we just got back from a date on the town (food and wine on the patio at a local restraurant, then the new Woody Allen film at the local theater which was fantastic!). We rode on our vintage bikes, me with my new chiffon dress and Sasa as his handsome self. It was kind of a magical evening, complete with snagging the movie poster and taping it on a friend's door, who loved the movie so much it was her second time seeing it!

But this picture of the little one this morning is my favorite thing about this weekend. We are out there drawing on the sidewalks every day that is sunny. This early morning it was already sweltering...the heat has been incredible here. This morning as we were drawing hearts side by side, I looked at her and just completely marveled at how much she's grown. Such a big difference between the 3's and 4's. She's growing up and it's funny that I'll never see anything but my little baby. She always jokes and says, "Mama...even when I'm a big grown up, you will still want to hold me, won't you?" And I answer with, "Of course! I will always try." And to that, she gives me a big hug and a kiss, snuggles in my arms for a minute, then runs off to play. What sweet thing this parenting journey is.

What was your favorite part of the weekend?!

 

an evening walk

We often go out walking in the evenings.

With the warmer weather it has been even more lovely. We've been fighting off a thunderstorm all day. The winds were whipping through the trees and tall grasses, so much so that the bugs were not out.

The little one has been riding her bike everywhere these days. Such a big, independent girl she is.

 

These are my favorite moments. The ones where we are all together, all laughing and giggling, racing down the fields and breathing the fresh air. There is just so much love here. So much gratitude, respect, kindness, and peace. It's lucky if you find that in your life, and to be surrounded by it day after day with the ones you love is so very special.

After It All

I woke up with a pinched nerve.

I can't turn my head in either direction.

I can't really use my right arm.

And the pain is excrutiating.

BUT...it's pizza night. And it was so, so good. (Next time I'll add rosemary and olives.)

And the rain keeps coming, which is good for the garden and gives me an excuse to "take it easy" as the doctor says.

We're gearing up for bedtime here...the little one just went on one last walk with Sasa and the dogs. Then it's stories and a long night of rest.

Tomorrow is a new day. A brand new day. So much is possible.

And I know that despite the pain, the challenges, and the things that seem impossible, I thank my lucky stars for these two amazing beings I get to spend my life with.

.cleanse.

I sat on the backporch this afternoon writing letters.

Sometimes giving yourself permission to slow down is a lovely thing.

I sat for hours, writing.

I allowed myself some extra rest this morning and then followed it with a 6 mile run.

First 6 miler since early last winter.

The roads are clearing, the snow is melting, the moon's craziness is slowly waning, and I'm feeling a need for some cleansing, just as Mother Earth is cleansing all around us.

The greens are on the stove, the rice is almost finished, and we are moments away from sitting down to reflect upon our day and enjoy a simple feast.

Happy Weekend to you! And Happy Spring too!

Happy Love Day!

Happy Love Day! It's so fun to have a day full of love...for yourself, others, your sweetheart, or your wee ones. The little one and I spent the morning making potato stamps to stamp our Valentine's Day cards. After they were all done and dry, we delivered them all over town. She was the cutest with her little basket full of love skipping merrily up and down the streets.

And Sasa took me out to an awesome Japanese restaurant tonight. We had a blast. He's seriously the sweetest guy ever. I wore a crazy 1980's pink silk dress that looks so totally JEM. I had to have my friend come over for a fashion check before I left. I mean...it was THAT crazy for me. (See here.) But it was awesome. And the sushi was delish. And the sake was mmm mmm good.

So here are my greatest love links ever ::

• the greatest love songs in my opinion and sasa's
• most romantic movies like ever
• blog o' love
• a whole lot of kissing
• hugs
• love for my tummy
• feel good love
• lots of love
• this one's for Sasa

No we're going to watch this feel-good movie and eat chocolate cheesecake. Happy Valentine's Day!!

Friday Fun

Well, someones birthday was pretty awesome. I cooked a super yummy breakfast, we enjoyed a day at the beach, and topped it off with a macrobiotic potluck that night. (Sasa has a great recipe coming soon!) Happy Birthday Sasa!! We love you!!

The little one and I are big fans of elderberry syrup during the cold winter months. Our budget is really tight right now and elderberry syrup is expensive. I stumbled across this video on youtube and decided to make our own. So one afternoon we got all the ingredients and made our own little batch. I have to say, next time I will just use ginger. The cloves and cinnamon give it a "potpourri" kind of taste. But it was very easy to make and I have almost a pound of elderberries left, so there will be many more batches!

I try not to take many pictures of the rug that covers two-thirds of our first floor. It was here when we bought the house and scared to find out what was underneath it, we just left it. There were other pressing things needing to be done (like, um, a shower...). So the rug, now covered with stains, making it look sort of polka-dotted, got pushed back on our list for over two years now.

Sasa can tell you it's been a constant source of agony for me. The stains staring at me in the face everyday, the constant vacuuming, the dog and cat hair woven into it...but in the last couple of months I've made peace. Then yesterday, Sasa announced he was going to rip it up. Well, okay then. No rug is better than a rug I have to make peace with.

So he ripped and ripped some more. We found the usual crazy linoleum underneath (yes there were masks involved and plastic on the doorways), and then under that there was wood. Wood in good shape. Hooray! So the wood is staying, and after we save up to refinish it (likely in the summer) it will sit as is, with some area rugs on top.

The little one had the best time mopping. Actually, she's mopped the kitchen, the bathroom, her bedroom, and the playroom in the last two days. She's a cleaning machine I tell you!

And now, the living room is next. Enjoy your weekend everyone! I'll be back next week with some super exciting news! (No, I'm not pregnant...)

Monday Links!

Yay! I'm here and it's Monday and I have LINKS. I know it's been forever. I feel like it's been months. But I've been busy, which is awesome, but tiring nonetheless. And I have bacon waiting for me at the moment, so I need to make this short...

I have been so psyched since I went to NYC. SO complete psyched. I have so many creative ideas brewing in my head. It's awesome. I was in a bit of a rut, just dealing with life in midcoast Maine (which is great, but my creative, or fashion inspiration gets dry sometimes) but I am back in action. I am loving fashion, design, and all that goes with it. NYC was just what I needed.

This is a pic that my second shooter took at the wedding on Saturday (thanks Maria!). Sasa and the little one joined me and we had so much fun. When the dancing started, we headed up to a little balcony that was totally empty and Sasa and I busted a groove. I love this guy so much. I'm starting to think we look alike. Is that crazy?

Onto the links...!

• so, the sun set around 6:30 tonight. I think that's crazy and shouldn't be allowed. it's way too dark in here.
• Sasa is due for a haircut and wants something funky, so we searched google images for ideas. the only thing we could come up with is "hairstyles for Asian men" (because everyone thinks he's half Korean) and came up with this styled do...what do you think? i think he could totally rock it.
• i've been loving yellows like crazy. mustard yellows, vintage yellows, fall yellows...they all make me so happy!
• in the past 2 days, i've done 16 hours of editing. oh my lord.
• i'm absolutely OBSESSED with vintage woven purses. like this and this.
• Kung-Fu squirrels! I love it!
• um. awesome.
• I don't know what it is about this, but I dig it.
• this is our music pick for the week (mostly the video...I mean, really...take like 260,000. genius.)
• love this capture of us at the Common Ground Fair. (thanks maria!)
• this photo is so great
• have you seen anthropologie's new fall line? i dig it. i also dig this dress.
• i also would do anything for this dress.

okie dokie. bacon is calling. must go eat.

Happy Monday everyone!! xoxo.

 

A Rainy Day

Sometimes I love rainy days. Especially when they are following a hot and sunny summer. Today was chilly, so I bundled up in some corduroys and sweaters. The little one still insisted on shorts and short sleeves. We baked some "surprise muffins" this morning and followed it with lots of creative play.

Then there was reading to Kiwi. (A Curious George book opened to her favorite page...the one that shows how to make a paper boat!)

Then we headed out to have an afternoon of tea and knitting at a friend's house. So fun. On our way home we stopped at a great store to get some nail polish that didn't have acetone and formaldehyde in it. (Why must they put that in it anyway??!) The little one kept asking this morning if I could paint her nails. I have no idea where that idea came from, but it was the perfect rainy afternoon activity and she was so proud. And purple, of course.

After our manicure session, we made some kale and white bean soup and biscuits. Biscuits are my new favorite thing to make, and the little one's new favorite thing to eat! What a yummy dinner.

We ended the day with a late night trip to the store to get Sasa a surprise card. We found the perfect card (with a Border Collie on it) and drew pictures on the inside and hid it upstairs. The little one kept saying, "Sasa, don't peek! Sasa, don't look! Sasa...your surprise rhymes with mard. Sasa...it also rhymes with pard. Okay Sasa...you're getting closer. Don't look under the covers in your bed, because that's where you'll find the surprise that rhymes with mard." She had us in tears we were laughing so hard! He did eventually find his surprise "card" and he said it was the best card ever.

He then told the little one that there would be a yummy surprise for her when she woke up in the morning. He said it would rhyme with "negg"...can you guess what it is?!

Happy rainy day!!

Twirly Tuesday

Oh man. What a morning! Complete with hula hooping (I learned a new trick!), twirling around in our dresses, and eating our yummy happy eggs from our happy chickens. That's how to start a day, if I do say so myself! I scored this dress yesterday at a thrift shop. Yes, it's a tad large, especially in the upper front region (ahem...) but hey...it TWIRLS! And who doesn't love a twirly dress, even if you don't quite fill all of it in?! So I twirled and twirled in front of our massive sunflowers that make me so very happy.

Then the little one had to get in on the action too. So she twirled and giggled and laughed, and then we all twirled together with Sasa giggling and snapping away. It was marvelous!

And links! Here they are...

• had an awesome family shoot tonight. can't wait to get the preview up!
• Sasa's music pick for the week is Gorillaz! Love this tune. (Definitely not for kids! Scary cartoons...) But the tune is catchy and has a good beat!
• love this moment
• this is awesome
• happy happy house!
• this is what i'm learning on the hoop! (by the way, my abs have never been flatter after this hooping stuff, which is a nice perk when all i'm interested in is the fun!)
• this is pretty clever
• this is amazingly cute (and would look ridiculous on me!)
• Sasa just took me out to a delicious dinner where I chowed down on French fries and beer. Doesn't get any better than that! Thanks Sasa. You know how to make a woman happy! Smooch.
• i want this so badly. if it wasn't dinged up and so expensive (I would take the dings with a smaller price tag!)
• Sasa and I thought this was the most awesome movie we've seen in a long, long time.
• I'm absolutely in love with her designs, clothing, and well...everything. Amazing. Seriously. This dress? Eeeks!

Okay, I must sign off and get to work! Loads of photos to edit tonight. I'll have two separate previews on my photo blog soon! What are you loving this week? Hit me with some links!!

Doing Nothing

Sasa and I have been talking a lot lately about doing nothing. Not just sitting around and doing nothing, but being able to enjoy something so very simple and yet have so much fun. Whether going for a walk, watching a meteor shower (Friday night...it was awesome!) in a field, picking wildflowers, dipping our toes in the pond, putting on music and dancing for hours. All of these are pretty simple things that don't involve planning, car rides, and lots of effort. And they are so much fun.

So we did just that over the weekend. Lots of nothing. Our favorite nothing activity was going for a walk in the woods, finding stick people and building them a house and beds. We must have played for two hours in this little spot. We laughed and giggled, dressed up the stick people in acorn hats and leaf dresses, played fetch with Doggy Fly, had a major tickle game (the little one totally won!), and just enjoyed the simplicity of being together with no agenda, in the middle of a beautiful spot.

(taken by the little one! she's so good!)

We definitely plan on doing nothing as much as we can. There's something about these simple moments that stick with me forever; they are the memories that tend to never leave my mind. I guess these are the moments that mean the most to me. They certainly are filled with lots of love.

When is the last time you did nothing? What was it? I'd love to hear!

Happy Monday everyone! I'll hopefully be back with a link list tomorrow...

Blueberry Hill

Our favorite little spot. It's magical. With fields and fields of blueberries, a path up the hill surrounded by clover and blackberries, and the top of the hill covered in chamomile complete with a stone house topped with a sod roof, and you have perfection.

We love this little spot. We picked some berries, some chamomile (it took one smell from the little one for her to identify that this was in her bedtime tea!), some clovers, and had a picnic atop the hill. As we were walking back, the rain started. We climbed into the car and it started to pour. So we nixed the swimming and playground and headed to another special spot for some free sorbet and a little indoor playtime.

We drove home in the pouring rain. By the time we got home, things were dry and the sun was out. We planted some of our chamomile in our herb garden, talking about how some day we would pick it and dry it for our bedtime tea. 

And the afternoon's fun with last in our memories forever. I love this little spot. I love these two beautiful people in my life. We are so very, very lucky!

Happy weekend everyone!

Hula Hoop Party

Well, some friends and I have been wanting to make hula hoops forever. We finally got the chance when two of our fabulous friends hosted a hoop making party at a lakeside cottage they had access to. It was so much fun!!! The little one swam for over two hours, went on three kayaking rides with Sasa, used a "baby hula hoop" and found out she is amazing at it, and stayed up a wee bit too late playing with all her friends. But oh, the memories. Such sweet summer kid memories. I love it!

I made my own hoop, mastered some new tricks, and can't wait for the beach class! My friends are such talented hoopers. This night was just full of magic! I wish every night could be so amazing and full of love.

Here are some glimpses of the night. The light was seriously amazing. These images are barely touched!

a day

We started the morning with prepping for tomorrow's raw hummus. Sasa and I love this part about eating raw. The prep, actual making, and eating usually span over the time of two days. We become really connected and invested in the food we are eating. Read Sasa's latest raw recipe here.

"Old broom sweep the floor, old broom sweep some more..." That was the song the little one and I sang lots today. She not only swept the kitchen four times today, but helped vacuum, pick herbs for our dinner, and cleaned the dishes. She rocks! My little helper...

We made Purple Violet a new wrap skirt, based on one the little one got in a package from Bella, and one that I was inspired to make myself. So the leftover scraps were used to make Purple Violet a matching one too! I'm certain Purple Violet really likes it.

Dinner time was sweet. A cozy table, newly found vintage linen that was hiding in my fabric pile, and fresh flowers made it all so special. We cooked "mushy brown rice" for the little one, fresh Ocean Perch from the local fish market (decorated with chive blossoms picked by the little one), and a local salad. Yum!

After dinner, we put on the iPod and danced and danced. The little one and I modeled for Sasa who is getting quite handy at the camera. I have about 50 pictures from tonight of us dancing. Oh my...we had FUN! The little one's favorite song? This! I started singing it after I told her today that we can't always get what we want, and she asked why. Great song to get that point across! My favorite? This! She's amazing. Sasa's? This! Love them...

And it is so very lovely to have a picture of the little one and I! Sasa does a good job, doesn't he?!

Hope your day was full of fun too! And yes, I am still taking a break from this space when my work load gets to be too much...

gardens and things that make my heart smile

I love to garden. I'm pretty sure that "must-be-in-the-garden-as-soon-as-spring-approaches" urge just keeps getting worse as I get older. I would be content with weeding, mowing the lawn, and planting veggies all day long. Our backyard is incredibly swampy, filled with clay soil, and chickens. You put those three things together and you have a disaster. If you are actually able to grow anything in swampy, clay-like soil, the chickens will surely dig it up during one of their dirt baths or eat it.

So enter some raised beds. Our friend was so kind to give these to us and we immediately put them to good use. They sit in the front yard, where the chickens won't find them and it's dry enough that they won't actually sink anytime soon! We filled them with organic loam, peat moss, and (the little one's favorite thing) alpaca poo. We spent all day yesterday planting, shoveling, and taking breaks for popsicles. We planted rainbow chard, kale, spinach, lettuce, basil, tomatoes, summer squash, zucchini, delicata, cucumbers, blueberries, elderberry, alpine strawberries, and snap peas. We also made some signs for all the seeds we planted (the little one had a lot of fun with this!). We all fell asleep talking about being able to get dinner from our very own yard soon. It doesn't get any better than that!

And, oh...how talented the little one is. She came running in while Sasa and I were making lunch yesterday to show us these pictures. The one on the left is "Mama as a bird wearing fairy wings." The two people on the right are "Sasa, who is my little brother in this picture (because I really want a little brother) and I am on the right. I am bigger than Sasa because he is my little brother. We both have very styled hair." Sasa got a kick out of that! Oh, and they are wearing fairy wings too. I love the little toes on each of us and the faces are so amazing!

And lastly, I love BBQs. Sasa grilled these marinated shish kabobs and they were delicious! We're settling in for a relaxing evening after some more gardening work.

I had an engagement shoot today at a super fun location! I will have previews up on my photo blog soon, so stay tuned! Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

My mans got some Vans

Oh that Sasa. He rocks my world. Always giving me support, encouragement, and sweet compliments when I need it. So now it's my turn. He and his surfing buddy are going to start skateboarding and possibly start a skate park in the town. Sasa is getting his new wheels soon, but I decided a little surprise was in order. So I got him his first Vans (full body safety pads to follow...) and he was just completely giddy over them. I think they look pretty swell and I can't wait to get some action shots!

So Sasa...I am so excited about your little boarding adventure, as long as you don't build one of these in our backyard! But really dude, I know you're going to be swell! The little one and I will be on the sidelines cheering you on. xoxo

Winner and Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway! Sasa (my random number generator) picked number 72 ::

Heidi in Maine said...

I am a huge fan of Sara's photography and a follower of her blog. I heart the laundry hanging photo!

My husband always makes breakfast on Mother's Day which is always a treat. My children usually shower me with homemade goodies and we usually spend the day together doing something Mom likes to do. Like walking the beach, visiting the Good life Center, hanging in a bookstore, driving up the coast to explore, etc. We also visit/ call important other "Moms" in our life to wish them a great day. Thanks for the giveaway Erin. Happy Mother's Day to you, you rockin mama. : )

So Heidi...please e-mail me and we will get that print out to you soon!

Well, I had an amazing Mother's Day. I woke up extra early for a great morning run before the festivities began. Then I came home to a treasure hunt, complete with four poems written by Sasa (oh my...he is so good) and ended with a huge bunch of purple and pink flowers. Sasa and the little one ROCK! It was such a lovely morning. And guess what? The best part of all was the fact that we had breakfast in our kitchen!! It isn't done enough to show you the full pictures, but I thought I'd surprise you with a sneak peak! How do you like it so far??

And the little one obliged her mama with some pretty braids. She wore them for almost the whole day, even though she thought the bobby pins were "nails" in her hair. She is so beautiful!

The rest of the day was spent with family, at two separate "parties" (as the little one likes to call them). Oh my...what a fun day. It was a fabulous Mama's day and I am so happy to spend it with my daughter who makes my life so alive, and my mother who I have so much to be thankful for.

I hope you all had a fantastic Mother's Day too!! I'll be back tomorrow with some awesome links!

Happy May Day!!

My parents had this sweet little tradition with me on May Day when I was little. My dad would ring the doorbell during breakfast and my mother and I would rush to the door to find two little baskets filled with goodies. We'd have to go find him and give him a kiss and say, "Happy May Day!" I told this story to the little one and she was so excited for May Day. So this morning I snuck out the back door while the little one and Sasa were playing and left my goodies for them on the front steps. I rang the bell and quickly hid in our rhododendron bush. They eventually found me, but it did take a couple of fake sneezes!

We followed the surprise with a special breakfast. I've been off eggs since this raw diet thing, but enjoyed an omelet made with fresh chives and basil, tomatoes, and ricotta salata. Oh my. The little one enjoyed the fruit salad made by Sasa. We just love eating in our new kitchen!!

The rest of the day was spent at home gardening, running inside to read and get out of the hot sun, and plenty of walks. My legs are going to enjoy a good rest on the couch tonight.

And the day ended with a surprise picnic from Sasa at our favorite little spot. The sushi was amazing...even Doggie Fly enjoyed some. And to top it all off, Sasa had a raw chocolate cake hiding behind a tree for me. Aw, he just rocks!! The little one was in on it too! They are something special.

What did you do for May Day? I think May Day has to be one of my new favorite celebrations ever!

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?...

twenty four :: 30 days of beauty :: flowers and friends

At the dinner table each night we all say what our "most favoritist part of the day" was. Tonight the answers were, "I liked playing with my friends!" And, "Sasa coming home with flowers for us." And, "this moment right now!" It's a wonderful way to begin our meal and is a tradition I look forward to each night. My favorite part involved the above flowers. Sasa went out on his walk and returned with flowers for both me and the little one. Hers were naturally purple, and mine were happy colors. So sweet of him! He rocks!

The little one chose her visit with our friends as her favorite part. My mama friend is the most grounding and centering girlfriend anyone could ask for. I immediately feel more connected with myself and the world around me after spending time with her. The little one and her sweet girl spent the afternoon playing games, feeding goldfish, and having yummy snacks. It was a wonderful afternoon...one that I hope will repeat again and again over the summer. We are very lucky to have such amazing friends.

And Sasa chose dinner as his favorite part of the day. He loves when we are all together connecting. And we all connect so very well over delicious meals!

So now it's your turn! What was your favorite part of the day??

twenty three :: 30 days of beauty :: food

Oh, food...how I love you. I love your bright colors, the way you smell and taste, and the way you make my tummy happy. I think you are beautiful. And the people who make it? They are beautiful too. And the people who eat it? Definitely on my beauty list! Thank you for being so beautiful. And thank you for being so good!

Above are just some of the things we've been eating lately. I eat about three mangoes a day (the little one is right up there too!), Sasa is on a seaweed/medicinal mushroom kick, and the little one is loving smoked salmon. There's lots of potlucks, dinner parties, and picnics going on which results in a lot of extra yummy food. My tummy is happy. Really happy.

What is on your plate lately?!

thirty :: 30 day of beauty

Finding beauty at the beach is easy. There is just so much of it. We headed out tonight for a picnic at the beach because it was just so very lovely. The sun, the sand, the crashing waves, the food (yay! I'm eating again!), the company. We found two heart rocks and walked the beach hand in hand.

A lovely night full of beauty!

Thanks for all your well wishes. Tomorrow I hope to reveal my new photography site! I've been working on it for about 20 hours (straight, it seems) and I can't wait to show you all. Stay tuned!

seventeen :: 30 Days of Beauty

Sun on our faces. Wind through our hair. Little peeks of greening grass underfoot. The sound of life outside. Birds chirping, chickens clucking, bees (yes bees!) buzzing, a little voice sending shouts of laughter and squeals of delight through the spring-like air.

The changing of the seasons always inspires me. It gives me hope, sets us free of the now monotonous winter rhythm of staying inside, and opens up a whole new world for us to play in. We are spending every minute outside. Lunch, dinner, and snacks are eaten in the sun. Books are read under trees. Laundry is hung on the line. Friends are out and about.

We race down the sidewalk, running from mailbox to mailbox seeing who can be faster. We speed down the street on tricycles and balance bikes, trying to beat cars that pass by. We watch as maple trees are tapped, as dry leaves and brush are cleared from front yards revealing bulbs poking out from the brown earth. Our house is coming alive with visitor after visitor. Friends stop in to say hello and bring flowers. (Thanks A!) Everything feels alive again.

Life is grand, isn't it? There are so many things that surround us on any given day that are enough to fill our hearts with love and joy. And to get to share it all with the two I love most? Nothing beats it. Especially because the three of us know how to appreciate it all so very well.

What does spring mean to you?

The Big Night

We attended a very sweet little event in our town this weekend. I was the photographer for the event and set up a "prom picture" type venue to take couples' pictures. It was so much fun. Another photographer stepped in to take a picture of Sasa and me. So here we are, saying "Happy Valentine's Day!!"

And the dress I ended up getting? Well, it's really one of the first pieces of clothing I've purchased at a really big box store (Target) when I was frantically searching for a back drop for this event. I ended up walking right past this little number and was hooked. It came home with me and I adore it. The shoes and jewelry followed shortly thereafter.

My mother curled my hair for the event. That was the best part! It came out really well. Thanks Meghan for your curlers!! They were super easy and I think it may be a bit addicting. There's nothing like having curly hair in a matter of minutes.

And the price of buying a dress accessible to millions of other people? Well, you're just bound to run into someone wearing the same exact thing. Such happened last night. Luckily, it was a good crafty friend of mine and we joked about it the rest of the night. We couldn't resist taking our picture together. So there's a big smooch from me and Liza just for YOU!

Happy Valentine's Day!!! I'll be back tomorrow for my weekly list of randomness.

A Birthday Gift for My Love

Sasa (the king of the kitchen) is celebrating a birthday tomorrow. Instead of bestowing him with more clothes, kitchen gadgets, and books right after Christmas, I decided it was high time he had a blog of his own. We've been talking about it for quite some time...especially after so many of you kept asking for his delicious (and all gluten-free!) recipes. So I spent the last few nights designing a simple little blog for him to share all of his culinary creations.

He truly is amazing and everything he makes is too good to be true! So please welcome Sasa into the blogging world and go say hello! You can find him at :: too good to be true

I've introduced him and got him started with his first posted recipe. So enjoy!

And happy birthday Sasa! I love you (and your food)!

Advent Week Four

The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind.

The light of love, the light of thought, to give and to understand.

The little one was super excited about lighting the fourth candle this week. She could barely contain her excitement when I announced it was time to light our wreath. We added people to our Advent table to celebrate humankind. It was a wonderful night full of celebration and gratitude.

Sasa had to set up an event at work yesterday, so the little one and I spent some time setting up a little Winter Wonderland on top of the piano. We moved our Advent wreath to the center of the scene, and I think the result is quite magical. She was very thrilled about it. I spent some nights making fabric trees via this tutorial I've been eying for far too many holiday seasons. I'm so glad I finally got around to it!

When Sasa returned, it was time for some baking and holiday reading. The little one loves reading about Father Christmas. It was such a sweet scene to see them curled up together on the floor reading book after book on a cold, wintry afternoon while the smell of soup on the stove filled the room.

And after a long day at work, Sasa and I hit the kitchen for some holiday baking. Nothing beats melted dark chocolate. Especially when mint is added. Oh yea, and a glass of Malbec doesn't hurt either. Gosh, I love this season. I love food. And boy, oh boy, do I love this man.

And thank you all so very, very much for all your thoughtful, amazing, and touching comments. You seriously make my day. You have no idea how special your words are to me. I wish I had time to respond to everyone, but my computer time is so limited these days. I do read every one. So here's a collective thank you!!

I didn't get around to posting our Solstice celebration yesterday, so I'll save it for tomorrow (on the actual Solstice). For those of you who asked, the Winter Solstice celebrates the return of light. On December 21st, the sun will rise later and set earlier than any other day this year. It marks the shortest day of the year, yet the slow return of light and eventually the return of spring. So yay for Solstice! We give thanks to the Earth, the Sun, and all the wild animals out there surviving through a long, cold, dark season. More tomorrow!

Insert Big Sigh of Relief Here

Holiday shopping done (thank you, thank you, thank you Etsy). Photography work done. One sewing project out of five done. House cleaning done. Paperwork, flyers, and printed photographs for Saturday's show done. Packages to be mailed done. It was a good, productive, snow stormy day.

I worked a bit on the little one's Christmas present. Above is a sneak peak. I can't wait to show you more! It's been so much fun.

Sasa rocks. He got home from work early because of the storm and cleaned the entire refrigerator, shoveled, made soup, popped popcorn, and brought me wine while I was working away in my sewing room. Have I mentioned lately just how much I love this man? He constantly amazes me. He is the sweetest person I've ever met. I am so grateful that he is in my life. Now we're settling in, listening to Christmas music via Pandora (I admit, I love Christmas music...especially Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suites), eating soup, and doing holiday crafts.

I hope you had a day just as productive and cozy. Stay warm!!