10 things i ((love)) sunday

i heart valentine's day!! not for the jewelry or the candy or the flowers but for all the fun and creative ways to say 'i love you'. and, for all the crafts that involve pink and hearts!!!

1. take this super cool, easy, and educational game with hearts. maggie from smashed peas and carrots posted a great tutorial on Kids Create.

this game has so many options. the obvious matching game where you find pairs but you could also play a game where you mix both sets (numbers and colors) and then find pairs or take it one step farther and have them find 9 pink objects or draw 9 pink things.....

2. from purl bee, i found this tutorial for valentine heart barrettes. all the girls in ava's class are getting one (all 4 of them!)

3. i love these knotty legs baby leg warmers

4. revolutionary souls makes these tiny slippers .

5. strawberry and rosemary scones so very very yummy. i made ours without the glaze and instead sprinkled sugar on them before baking. pic from http://www.myteenytinykitchen.com/2010/02/strawberry-rosemary-scones.html

6. i am so smitten by these s'mittens by tippy toes knits!
 
7. hanging some art on the wall as an everyday reminder to love fully. falcor digital and silhouette blue

8. for hudson, i would love this bowtie from buttered toast.

9. for ava, i created a blooming hearts tee.

10. for my hubby and me, i would love some us time. life is moving too too fast and i am missing just being us.

sending you the sweetest of wishes for a happy valentine's day!

10 things i ((love)) sunday

this post is a little late but....well....a girl needs some beauty sleep once in a while. i definitely feel as if i am lacking in this department.

so here goes....

1. falling asleep with my two littles. sometimes the sweetest and most umprompted moments are just before sleep the "i love you, mommy" and the "we need more you and me". we make lots of plans during this time. of places we want to go, new things to try, classes to take.... parenting is one of the hardest jobs. you just have to trust that you are doing your best and that for every mistake you make, there are a thousand more victories. i want my apples to be good and kind, giving and understanding. i want my apples to be strong and independent and yet sensitive and tender-hearted.


2. also, having to do with sleep. i love those little sleepy, dreamy toots. just once in a great while i will catch my son rolling over when i go to double kiss him good night and he will let out a little toot. why i think that is cute, i have no idea!

3. my 3 year old on the phone. especially when she calls grampa, "jim"! it makes me smile everytime. this is almost always followed by "we are on our way. we will be there in a second minute in a long time. are you ready for us?"

4. a laid back weekend. i catch a few moments here and there of us just being. not constantly rushing or fretting about the time. lots of "one more time" requests are granted. taking just a moment to think back and reflect. smile a little. there is something about the beauty of the past, whether it was yesterday or many yesterdays ago. make note of it...what you love right now...because what you love tomorrow will be even better because of it.

this girl has style. even if it is just to go get the cows.

5. this sweet photo booth engagement photo from angela and ithyle she is so totally unaware and then surprised!

6. sticky kisses.

7. fresh laundry. someday i wish to have a clothesline for the sun and wind to drench my sheets.

8. big words for a little girl. my favorite right now is "i already got occupied"

9. i love love how one little kid can take over a giant size king bed. seriously how do they do that. and how do they twist me into such weird and ackward positions. i am rendered helpless.

10. my favorite people. a and h!

looking forward to a million more right nows.

linking up with tuesdays unwrapped at chattingatthesky.com

10 things i ((love)) sunday

hey everyone, i am trying something new this week and i want to make it a regular feature because this world is full of great finds just waiting to be spotted. i am also having some help this week from catherine of bumpkin bears. she is a wonderful artist and these are a few of the things she ((loves)) this sunday. scroll down to see more about her as well and visit her shop as she is having a christmas in july sale.

also, please don't forget the GIVEAWAY! put your name in the hat!

1. Wool Giraffe from - http://www.etsy.com/shop/violastudio
2. Bluebell Meadows photo - from Ginger Lilly Tea -- http://www.etsy.com/shop/gingerlillytea
3. Baby's Nest - Custom engraved stone - from - http://www.etsy.com/shop/sjengraving

4. Gorgeous Daisy knitted Bunny from YOomi- http://www.etsy.com/shop/y0omii
5.Precious Liberty fabric Sundress from Daisy Fleur - http://www.etsy.com/shop/daisyfleur
6. Bird Mobile - from - http://www.etsy.com/shop/CriswellCreations
7. Bird on a Branch Appliqued onesie - from - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChirpAndBloom
8. Flower hair accessories from Millylillyrose - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Millylillyrose
9. Bubs Bears - Baby Keep sake Patchwork Bears made from your little one's outgrown baby clothes - a perfect way to remember the early days - http://www.bubsbears.com/About.html
10. Gorgeous Baby shoes - from - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Woolmint


I’m Catherine Young, the Artist that brings Bumpkin Bears and Friends alive for you. Growing up amongst the English countryside gave me a life long love of nature and all the animals that are part of it. My storybook imagination never stopped as I grew up, always busy creating hand made gifts and stories based on the animal friends I would meet on my daily adventures, through the apple orchard and out across the fields!

Later on at College and University I studied Art, Textiles, Photography and Communications further heightening my love of design. Moving to Belgium and discovering the world of Artist bears opened a pathway to fulfilling a dream of running my own creative business. Out of the nickname, Country Bumpkin, which my Granny gave me, Bumpkin Bears & Friends was born.

My nostalgic images capture the simple pleasures of childhood from collecting Spring flowers, tea parties, storytime by a warm fire… As a child I would lose myself gazing into Art, found in books and in frames. It is now my dream that others too can loose themselves into my Art and be taken away into a carefree world.

www.bumpkin.etsy.com
www.bumpkinbears.com
www.bumpkinbears.blogspot.com

july loves

can you hear me?? it's july. seriously! and, i want to go live in this world.

i scoured the internet....way too late into the midnight hour.....and found these enchanting photos and finds. i want it all. the uplifting balloon ride high above the earth, riding carefree on the beach with a colorful entourage. and pink clouds lining the sky. a gorgeous summer wardrobe in all shades pink and berries to top it off. lots and lots of berries at a tea party on our new summer wares.

"The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us."

~ Ashley Montagu

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

~ Guilaume Apollinaire

please let me know what quote you might add!!

1.  look up  orangesparrow

2.  balloons and beach summer dream jo bradford photography---green island studios

3.  cotton candy  sabino

4.  summer wardrobe and flowers honeytree
5.  summer at the market  julie davis photo
6.  jar covers cozymemories on etsy
7.  raspberry cream cone jardino--recipe on her blog
8. my rocking wardrobe sweet little dress from my rocking wardrobe
9.  fifi  fifi by fiona howard stylish contemorary housewares

july calendar

family reunion month

national ice cream month

national hot dog month

 

7/4 fourth of july and beginning of be nice to new jersey Week (hah!)

7/11 e.b. white's Birthday

7/13 embrace your geekness day

7/20 national lollipop day

7/23 gorgeous grandma day

7/25 parents' day

7/28 beatrix potter's birthday

7/30 father-in-law day

linking up with tuesdays unwrapped

the randomness and fullness of june

june is such a random month and there is so much to do. or maybe because it is the first month of summer and summer flies by, you feel as if there is so much to do because you want to fit it all in. these are some of the happenings around here this june and just some happy thoughts to end another great month.

first, i need to start with this photo. in the land of mommydom, our meals almost always arrive in a split second and come piping hot. hudson is now officially ready for his next birthday. he can blow a fierce wind. watch out candles, you do not stand a chance!

check out how sly and smooth this guy is. he ever so charmingly goes in for the kill.

there are lots of festivals and parades to attend. horses to ride. planes to fly. burgers to eat. i absolutely love the ferris wheel. we even rode one after our wedding while still in my dress.

watching the stars come out!

my girl, the racecar driver. she had a blast in last place. she loves to race us at home but, in public she seemed a little shy. still made the frontpage of the paper and won a brand new bike.

strawberries in june. i think i may have had my fill for the moment. hudson still needs his berry fix. everyday we search the bushes for more.  

the lake and good friends. who could ask for anything more. well, let's add suncreen and bug spray.

sand in all places. just a reminder of a day well-spent at the beach.

 june is also all about weddings. happy anniversary, honey. i love you more each day and only wish that we had more moments together.

june really is a happy month. it is full of popsicles, sprinklers, suncreen, boo-boos, kisses, naked bums and toes, and laundry (piles and piles....again evidence of a day well-spent).

it's a cow, it's a farmer, it's super boy!

on the ride home from the dairy breakfast, my daughter turned to me and said 'he's my superboy. he'll hold my hand.'

seriously, mom! how does this work! 

i'll take good care of her. let's take her home.

we had a great time down on the farm. the end.

bloom where you stand

there is just something about these giant blooms that come in every shade of pink and that create a smell that perfumes the whole backyard. i am just crazy in love with them.

ummm...okay...so what was i doing again?

may has started and i am sorry this post is a little late but, there are so many fun sites to read and great activites to plan for my kids on the internet that .sometimes. i. get. lost.

here's to moms everywhere. you have endured sleepless nights, diaper explosions, crayon on the walls, missing paci's, and more. my husband has always worked mother's day...that's just his industry, so we will celebrate later but, i hope you get lots of yummy pastries in bed, the perfect cup of brewed coffee, and lots of love showered on you this Sunday.

this gorgeous pink gerber daisy photo that has been transformed into notecards comes from Amanda Foshag's etsy shoppe. She uses a number of photography techniques to create works that express the essence of natural subjects around us and takes something that is seemly ordinary, transforming it into something that is spiritedly different.

 

this "feeling lovely" skirt by twirlaway will really brighten your day! what sweet little girl wouldn't want to dance the day away wearing this.

12 mocha brownie walnut cookies sent right to my door!!!......need i say anything else.  (KEcookies)

tea a la rose by la marquise des anges is a little vintage and a little modern.

i would love to have any of these newest items but, i would also appreciate some time to relax and enjoy the day...the best gift anyone can give.

got your credit card ready here's this month's any reason to shop - May Calendar
 

Get Caught Reading Month

National Barbecue Month

5/1 May Day (spread some colorful cheer to your neighbors)

5/3 Teacher Appreciation Week

5/3 Work at Home Moms Week (hooray!)

5/5 Cinco de Mayo

5/6 No Diet Day AND No Homework Day

5/9 Mother's Day, aka The Most Important Holiday Of Them All

5/11 Eat What You Want Day

5/15 National Chocolate Chip Day and National Pizza Party Day

5/31 Memorial Day