What are you greatful for?

Although we are technically still a little ways from summer, we have been enjoying the early days of it here. Sunshine, breezes, windows open, entire afternoons spent in the pool, and fruit. Lots and lots of fresh fruit.






10 Things I'm greatful for today:
1. fresh cherries
2. thrifted pyrex
3. $2 vintage child's chair garage sale find
4. the kissable face of a 2 year old
5. gentle rain
6. plans for a date celebration on Saturday
7. a stack of freshly laundered vintage sheets
8. prayer in the morning with Mike
9. the hugs of Olivia
10. playing hide and seek with my girls


Good List Daily

Vintage Sheet Swap

I love vintage sheets! The first thing I do in thrift shops and good will is search the bedding racks for sheets, pillowcases, and towels. Some days it's hit or miss, but other days I hit a good vein. (I'm still waiting to hit a mother-load.) So many of us have the thrifting bug and how many of us have a few vintage sheets laying around? I know I do! And that can be a lot of fabric! Sometimes we don't know what to do with it all and sometimes we just want more variety. Using vintage sheets is a great way to recycle, re-purpose, and add some vintage flare to our sewing projects. I use mine for dresses, skirts, aprons, pillows, fabric balls, and more! The possibilities are endless and so much fun to contemplate. So, why don't we have a Vintage Sheet Swap!

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Here's your to-do list:

1. Leave a comment on this page by Friday, May 21st, letting me know you want to join in.
   
2. Pick out a lovely twin (66x96) sheet (or larger if you want!), making sure there is no excessive fading or other blemishes that would make it undesirable to use.
3. Cut the sheet into thirds (3 pieces 66"x 26" or there abouts and you may have a little left over)
4. By June 1st, put as many sheet pieces as you want to trade in the mail to me, along with $$ to cover the cost of return postage. If you are International, please put your sheets in the mail as soon as possible so that they will be in the mix with all the other sheets and I can return them to you in a timely manner. I would appreciate it greatly if everyone would use the flat rate postal boxes. These boxes are free for the taking at the PO and that way you would know exactly how much postage to send for return postage. Here is a breakdown of the two sizes and prices with my estimate of how many sheet pieces you can fit in them that would be most convenient for our situation.

Size: sheet estimate: shipping price:

Priority Flat rate small box (8.75"x5.5"x1.75") 1-3 sheet piece $4.95
Priority Flat rate med. box (11"x8.5"x5.5") 4-8 sheet pieces $10.70

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Here’s my to-do list:

1. I will jump up and down with glee every time a new package comes in the mail and then I’ll add them to the pile and once all have been received (or most of all of them) I will redistribute them.
2. I will mail back to you the same number of sheet pieces you sent me, but in different patterns and colors.

And then your to-do list again:

1. Wait daily for the mail to come
   
2. Jump up and down in delight when your new sheet pieces arrive in your mailbox
   
3. Make yourself a whole bevy of new things with your new {vintage} fabrics!

I will send everyone that signs up an email on the 21st (or 22nd) with a few more details, like where to send the box and what to include in your box, etc, etc.
Sounds like fun! So sign up and then start thrifting!

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a little wish list

Mother's Day is just around the corner and we are involved in all of our card writing and sending today. So much love being sent out to mother's and grandmother's and great-grandmother's.
My sweet husband never really know quite what to do on Mother's Day so I thought I would make him a little list of ideas to possibly help ease to stress of what "to do."

1. I think this sweet mug is all too cute.













2. Love love love the Matrushka measuring cups














3. I think these Babushkups Cups are darling.














4. You know how I love to make lists, this would be prefect.














5. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned "porch swing" a few times lately. :)














6. And some outdoor pillows to go on said swing would be lovely as well.














7. I think I've also mention that I need a few special things, just between you and me sweetheart.

8. dinner on the grill, (steak or shrimp perhaps) salad, and sweet potatoes. Friends over maybe?

9. a trip to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream or the fixings at home for sundaes, yummy!

10. I'm in great need of a new set of measuring cups, pastry cutter, a silicone spatula or two, and pretty dish towels.

11. Anthropology Latte bowls always hold a soft spot in my heart.













12. and don't for get the pretty pyrex bowls I'm always pointing out!










13. an afternoon at the park downtown. Just our sweet family, playing in the sprinklers, and enjoying the sunshine.


All just ideas darling, sweet thoughts to make a day special. Because being a mommy is hard work, thought I wouldn't trade my job for any other (most days) and I'm so happy that I'm the mommy to your babies. <3

a new member

A few weeks ago (3 to be exact) we invited a little girl to come and be a part of our family.
Her name is Lilly, and she's six years old.
She's got big brown eyes and 4 legs. :)

Isn't she cute?

Sorry for the blur, but it's too cute.

Miss Lilly is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
I've been smitten with corgi's ever since my
momma read me this book at the tender age of 5;
Little Dog Lost by Rene Guillot and illustrated by Wallace Tripp
I fell for them even more after I started reading
Alicia Paulson's blog and her chronicles of the life of Audrey
and then their new puppy, Clover Meadow.
I remember thinking, "Jesus, I really want one of those."
But after researching breeders I knew that it would
never happen.
But the urge for a doggy friend was still pretty strong
and we've been fighting it for about a year now,
seriously, it's very much like baby fever.
(try having baby fever and puppy fever at the same time!
Not pretty my friends, not pretty at all.)
I've been keeping an eye on Craigslist
for a few weeks and talked to quite a few people
but the only free dogs that were older than
2years old were labs or pit bulls.
We definitely weren't interested in pit bulls
and we've done the lab thing before
and we didn't think we wanted to do that again.
And then one day, out of the blue
there was an ad for a 6 year old female corgi.
With a sweet disposition, free to a good home,
and 6 hours of free training to boot if you wanted it.
I emailed right away and called the next morning.

3 weeks later, after several meetings
and lots of "talking it over"
Lilly came to stay permanently.
And our family is so happily in-love
with her foxy little face, bat radar ears and sweet smile.
I won't tell you all the nicknames she has
(Mike has some not so sweet ones for her)
but the most common is "Lilly girl"
Both of the girls call her that always.
And Olivia is her human
without a doubt
head over heels
make no mistake about it.
It was fast,
almost instantaneous.
It was beautiful to see.
And we are so happy to have a new member of our family.



Now we just need to work on the baby fever part. ;)

Little corners

Several weeks ago our realtor suggested that we repaint our cozy colorful home in a neutral shade. Talk about a hard decision to make! I'm definitely a fan of color and I have enjoyed my Tiffany blue living room (and bedroom) and my lavender kitchen. But, after multiple comments from other realtors about our {my} paint choices, we decided to make a change and pray that it gets us out the door and further towards our dreams. My sweet parents decided to come and visit us for a few days and help us get the house repainted. The day before they came, I wandered around the downstairs and took pictures of the favorite spots where my eyes would land throughout my day, spots of color and life. I wanted a reminder, however small, of my home the way it was. I thought I would share with you as well.

hand-painted jade egg from my grandmother's
mission trip to China
and a vintage plate

birdie statues and a {very} small stack
of favorite children's books

an old vintage lawn chair and
pink painted sap bucket

an birthday gift from sweet friend,
filled with the dried birthday bouquet
from my sweet husband

the "welcome" sign on our guest powder room

thrifting treasures hung on the wall

I love the yellow and green against the blue

my grandmother's sugar bowl
and a vintage plate
and part of a vintage crystal creamer and sugar set
all set on a shelf in my dining area

more plates on the same shelf

a hand made glass friendship ball that hung from the shelf

~~~~~

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not sitting around feeling sorry for myself in my big old neutral-colored cream painted house (well, maybe a smidgen, but that's all! I promise.) I'm having a little fun with it, trying some new patterns and mixing things up a bit (did you just hear my husband groan from the other room??) because I don't have to worry about something not working with the wall color, etc, etc. It's new and interesting and it presents a challenge to me, which I like.
Though I still miss those Tiffany blue walls...
Praying it's temporary and being positive and creative, that's my goal!