cotton dress, make it early spring...

i`ve had my eye on this clubhouse since Haley's 2nd birthday. she is a farm girl at heart, so we opted for one of those fancy green john deere ride-on tractors instead... but with Cameron's 2nd birthday quickly approaching, I knew this would be the perfect gift.

we snagged it for less than half of it's original price tag and already assembled (yay for displays!), so i am pretty much the happiest lady on the block... with the exception of haley and cameron, who know the undeniable joys of home-ownership at 1 and 3 and don't even have to worry about mopping or a mortgage.

we have plans to give it a fresh cottage-style paint job (i just can't seem to get into that whole rustic thing as much as i try) that compliments the rest of our set-up and landscape our "yard". i also see curtains, a pretty bunting, artwork on the inside, potted plants, and a snazzy "204" house plate addition in the near future.

a big part of me also wants to add a deck and stick it on stilts like this fancy european edition... but i can already see everyone rolling their eyes at me as if i were planning on adding a small kitchen, plumbing and electrical too.

i`m a bit much sometimes, it's true.
3 different paint jobs for our kitchen within a week's span much.
but atleast i mean well...





countdown to cameron's 2nd birthday: 30 days!
let the fun begin...

============================
p.s-
if i wasn't feeling so budget-conscious and patience permitted (surely i would have nailed my fingers together trying to assemble this bad boy), i would have scooped up the bayberry house from toys 'r us. it is much more aesthetically pleasing (hello sweet window boxes and rooster top!) and the price is the best i've seen on the web as far as small playhouses are concerned.

just thought i'd throw that out there for those of you that are letting spring get the best of you too and are now in the market for a playhouse. but please, keep it to yourself if you do purchase it... my heart might not be able to take it. i`m just kidding, please have us over for tea and cookies.

p.p.s-
the reproduction retro children's table and chairs are from lowe's.
go see nick in the garden center.
bring him sour patch kids and tell him i sent you ;)

week's end

today has all the trappings for a great day under its belt.
clubhouse construction, a visit to see trevor bayne, and a minute to spend with far-away friends over mexican cheese dip and chips.

the fact that it started out with fresh flowers from my nicky bobby and a little bit of lovin' from thurston harris as well just makes it that much better.

have a good weekend, friends!

and happy first day of april, too.

a little funshine...

this saturday brought an afternoon at the park where the universe sent me a hug and a kiss and yet another hug, a tunnel provided a little humor courtesy of static mohawks and the chubbiest peek-a-boo faces, Haley found out that she can jet down the slide on her belly and told me she was a rocketship, and the excitement of it all put Cameron to sleep in a swing...



there's something sweet about the sunshine...
 <3

instant gratification

 

it's been raining like a cow peein' on a flat rock for the past couple of days,
but despite the ugly weather, i've felt my absolute loveliest.

and although the little flower friend tucked behind my ear is only partially responsible for
these good vibrations, i must make a reccomendation for all of you that have been
feelin' a little blue in the midst of all this rain and mud and yuck:
pin a flower in your hair

its some kind of wonderful. an instant source of happiness.
soaring gas price depression repellent.
sunshine on a rainy day... for real.

and this is coming from a girl that doesn't like to draw attention to her elephant ears
so really, just take my word for it... 

dress me up, buttercup

Without the rain, There would be no rainbow....



Happiness.
It's something that's been on my mind a lot lately.
Some days it just seems to find me and other days, I have to reach for it.
I mean really really reach for it.
(i used bold and italics here people, i hope you understand the great lengths of my reaching, haha)
I don't like that happiness has become more of a task than a general state of being as of late,
but I suppose in being mom to a 1 year old and a 3 year old, I am pre-destined to go through little bouts of "this".
This being ::: those frustrating, terrible two, can't find a matching sock, no food in the cupboard, daughter spills a bucket of paint and breaks a hazardous CFL light and shampoos her hair with half a bottle of dish soap on the living room floor all in the same day, kind of days.
(yesterday was exactly that)

Today, though particularly gloomy and wet outside, was one of those unexpectedly wonderful days where happiness just seemed to find me-- in the sound of rain, in a peach tea snapple, in a walk down memory lane by way of our sweet vintage dress collection.

 Nearly all these little dresses of ours come with a story and memory.... or are a starting point for happy days to come (i've already got the girls fourth of July dresses picked out for this year, if that tells you anything... and finding something to wear always seems to be half the battle if you're a girl, right?)



This little dress took me back to Jed and Haley's sweet photo session and made me want to kiss my husband.  Cameron can't fit in it yet, but the idea of Haley wearing something one year and Cameron being able to wear it the next always delights me.



This dress will probably be Cameron's easter dress this year and is also the dress Haley wore to the elementary school when we went to help judge the talent show.  The day Haley tried to get on a school bus with the big kids and finally showed a bit of interest in school (or atleast it's fancy big yellow commute).



This is Haley's most favorite dress of all. Her "Cinderella" dress.  I can't tell you how many hours she has spent in this dress- twirling around, curtseying, marrying princes and tending to other royal businesses.



And these two little numbers... two of my most favorite of all, were worn for Thanksgiving dinner and graced the front of our christmas card.

Yes, today is one of those days where happiness has just shown up on my front door step all on its own.
Wrapped up in flutter sleeves, polka dots, smocking, ruffles, and gingham...
Be still my heart.

<3

a cubed sugar affair

today has been an exciting day.
because what could be more exciting than recieving an instant collection of 42 vintage hankies in the mail?
not too many things... if you're me.
haley expressed her wishes for a "tea party" bedroom, so i am setting out to give her just that.
well... maybe after i untie all 42 of these bad boys.
they have yet to be washed or ironed and that's kinda gross when you think about it.
(...they are hankerchiefs)
but, i tend to get carried away when i`m excited...
and excuse things like vintage snot remains and wrinkles.



the next time you're having a bad day (or week in my case)....
i highly suggest fixing yourself a hanky banner.
the colors, the patterns, and the ease of it all is sure to give your heart the mending it needs

<3

soft and sweet, let me hold it close and keep it here with me...

today gave us the loveliest of weather. it had my heart skipping right to spring and i found myself humming "aeroplane over the sea" on several occassions. that song always brings me a lot of joy-- it surrounds me with thoughts of some of life's best {warm weathered} things: sunkissed cheeks, glass soda pop bottles, tomato sandwiches, laying in the tall grass, whispering secrets to the wind, picking wildflowers and love... in it's sweetest most innocent form.  there aren't many songs out there that bring me such peace and contentment.   it was the perfect prelude to valentine's day and the finest theme song i could pick for a day spent in sweats (please join me for a bonfire this summer where i liberate myself from such atrocious attire!), munching on girl scout cookies, and soaking up my little ones and a weekend full of friends and happy visits!

What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all around the sun
What a beautiful dream
That could flash on the screen
In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
Soft and sweet
Let me hold it close and keep it here with me

And one day we will die
And our ashes will fly
From the aeroplane over the sea
But for now we are young
Let us lay in the sun
And count every beautiful thing we can see
Love to be
In the arms of all I'm keeping here with me

What a curious life
We have found here tonight
There is music that sounds from the street
There are lights in the clouds
Anna's ghost all around
Hear her voice as it's rolling and ringing through me
Soft and sweet
How the notes all bend and reach above the trees

Now, how I remember you
How I would push my fingers through your mouth
To make those muscles move
That made your voice so smooth and sweet
And now we keep where we don't know
All secrets sleep in winter clothes
With one you loved so long ago
Now he don't even know his name

What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all around the sun
And when we meet on a cloud
I'll be laughing out loud
I'll be laughing with everyone I see
Can't believe
How strange it is to be anything at all


 

squeaky clean

One of my favorite times with my girls is our after bath time routine. It is a (mostly) every day ritual... Wrapping my girls up in a fluffy towel. Smothering them with baby lotion that smells of lavender. Spraying their hair down with detangler and working through all the little knots and snags. Throwing on a clean set of clothes and kissing their soft cheeks, only to send them off to get all dirty again.

In this little window of time, I am always reminded of what a special gift my children are and what a treasure motherhood truly is! I already savor the chance at getting a whiff of lavender in my older age and being taken back to these very sweet mother/daughter moments just as the scent of honey suckle always brings me back to my childhood days and exploring my big backyard. Such memories! ♥