alright, i'm listening!

as tony and i were leaving the bookstore empty handed on mother's day monday i spied a book on one of the shelves and made a smart aleck-y comment about how i should probably buy it. then this afternoon while i was filling my shopping cart with fabric and books at the thrift store (see my tweet over there in the column on the left) what should i come across? that's right, the very same book! (see photo above) secrets of simplicity~ learn to live better with less. it seems the universe is speaking to me and i intend to listen. starting right now i am going to make a serious effort to clear the clutter from my life and live simply and deliberately. it all feels a little de ja vu-ish, as i have had this thrift store book = life lesson experience before.

unfortunately i did not find this life changing book before my cart was full. here are the other books i picked up today. some for me, a couple for harper and esme' (lilly's purple plastic purse in hardback! hoo-rah!), and a few teen novels for niko. and the fabric- that red and white print will be curtains. then there is a green striped wool sweater that will be felted and re purposed. and pretty linen napkins that are destined to become patchwork eye pillows for gifts. that little mouse print knit was just too cute too pass up. i have no idea what i will sew with it. maybe jammies, or undies, or diapers for my expecting girl friends. whatever i make, no doubt it will be shared right here with all of you!

simply yours,

erika

i blinked...

... and my baby boy grew up. today we celebrated harper's 2nd birthday! two years old, he is more boy than baby, for sure. he throws rocks and digs dirt.

he loves bugs and worms and he climbs gates! all boy!

we took him to build a bear today and he made a puppy. we named him dewey.

this evening we ate dinner at mongolian bbq because it is harper's favorite place to eat. rice and tiny tea cups are a big hit with the two year old crowd! at the end of the meal harper's fortune cookie predicted that he "will be surrounded by things of luxury." then we came home and enjoyed carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

happy, happy birthday sweet boy! we are so very lucky to have you in our lives~ bugs, dirt, rocks and all!

read harper's birth story here.

and his first birthday is here.

still celebrating!

my husband, being a restaurant manager, was gone all day long yesterday~ mother's day. i received a few sweet texts from him during the day telling me that he loves me, misses me, wished he were home with us. when he did get home after a l-o-n-g and busy day he was exhausted, so we let him rest. the kids and i, however, had a really nice day. we rode bikes, played in the yard, walked to the store, made italian cream sodas, and watched a movie. there were handmade cards and gifts too. a wonderful day indeed!

today happens to be tony's day off so he informed me that we would celebrate mother's day today! yay! we got coffee, browsed the bookstore, and right this very second he is out buying stuff to make dinner for us! i also have a really cool gift on the way that should be here in 4 or 5 days and i can hardley wait!! be sure watch for my best mail day ever post...

i feel special, deeply loved, appreciated and lucky, lucky, LUCKY for everything i have! the road to get here has been bumpy and unpredictable, but the journey has been worth every single second.

the celebration will continue in our house as we have a very special birthday tomorrow! bring on the cake...

blog hopping, sewing, and sweet lemonade

lately i have been slacking big time when it comes to reading my favorite blogs. there is just not enough time in a day to do everything i'd like, and well, some things are certainly priority (kids, hubby, home, self) over other things (blogs, knitting needles, sewing machines) . i did try to pop in on everyone and get myself all caught up on the goings on in the blog world this afternoon. i saw photos of adorable kids and amazing crafty creations. i learned that one friend has big, exciting news while another is going through something unimaginably difficult. i was inspired by quilts, gardens, muffins, summer clothes, and uncluttered closets. i was reminded how wonderful each of these blogging friends are!

i also sewed a new tote bag for myself. these are very bad photos of a very cute bag! to be perfectly honest i am waaayyy to lazy this evening to take new, proper pictures, so you are stuck with these! perhaps tomorrow in the daylight cute bag and camera will make a connection... so, back to the bag, it is a large tote with a handy little pocket inside and an elastic loop and fabric button closure. it will hold everything i need for a summer day outing- wallet, sunscreen, water bottle, shades, knitting... i am set!

and, my blogging friend val from collecting the moments... one at a time gave me this super sweet lemonade stand award! i *met* val on a parenting forum and was continually inspired by her creativity. we were pregnant with our (not so) baby boys around the same time and shared the excitement and joy of growing bellies, homebirth and life with a new wee one in the house. my own little garden has been heavily influenced by the gorgeous backyard oasis val posted photos of and described in her blog posts. THANK YOU for everything, val!

The Lemonade Stand Award is for being a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude.

To pick up the Lemonade Stand Award:

• Comment on this blog.
• Cut and paste the award logo and use it in your own blog.
• Nominate 5 to 10 blogs you feel show great attitude and gratitude.
• Link to your nominees within your blog post.
• Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award.
• Link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation.

i am nominating the following blogs that inspire me to sew, knit, cook, laugh and enjoy life!

liz from lovely little lovelies
heather from living senses
holli at feeding the big guy
kelli at gohn crazy
and leslie and michelle at three birdies

oh, and val? can i re-nominate val? because she would totally be on my list had she not nominated me first!

vintage

i found this sweet little sewing book while thrifting a few weeks ago. LOVE! it is full of wonderful illustrations and more vintage-y inspiration than one could ever ask for.

traveling light, anyone? oh, those outfits... fun!

i am currently working on a trade with a friend~ i am knitting little woolies for her new baby boy and in turn she shared some of her grandmother's vintage fabric with me. some denim, striped ticking, paisley, a lovely geometric print...

... and do you see her? over there on the left? be still my heart, it is the cutest holly hobbie print! approximately 2 yards! i don't know yet what i will make with my pretty *new* fabric but for the time being it is sewing mama eye candy! yum!

random reflections :: today, this is me

i liked my hair this morning before i spent 20 minutes outside in the wind
just like this photo, i feel a little fuzzy need coffee!!
i am unorganized esme' was late for school because i could not find my sweater
i am excited mom's night out with all of my girlfriends tonight! yay!!
i am knitting another spring/summer top for esme'
i am happy it is may also known as birthday month around here

wishing you all a happy today!

swapped

below are just a few of the wonderful things that were sent and received in the seasonal celebrations spring swap! come peek at the flickr group to see even more photos. this swap was the pioneer in what i hope to be many seasonally themed swaps! i was amazed and delighted to see the packages everyone put together. bunnies, birds, nests, soaps, cloth napkins, kites, sidewalk chalk, flower seeds, candy, recipes, and many, many more spring inspired goodies were sent.

ThAnK YoU to all who participated! i am planning the summer swap and will post a sign up thread the first week of may! please stop back by and check it out~ you won't want to miss it!




1. swap package!, 2. spring swap bunny, 3. spring swap :: felt birds, 4. felted nests, 5. spring swap :: handmade nest, 6. noname(2), 7. seasonal celebrations SPRING swap, sent, 8. Peek at the spring swap contents, 9. Spring swap card, 10. noname, 11. noname(4), 12. noname(5), 13. Bubbles and chocolates, 14. felted nests, 15. spring swap items, 16. seasonal celebrations SPRING swap, received

mama made

a sweet little skirt for esme'

and a coloring wallet for a friend celebrating her 6th birthday today. we were the only ones who showed up to par-tay with a handmade gift. but handmade gifts are so much cooler than yet another barbie/bratz doll, this mama thinks! and my little gal happens to agree!

stitched and spun

while harper napped...

mama sewed! i made this little patchwork bib for a blessing shower i attended this afternoon. it was my first time playing with free motion quilting. the verdict, i like it quite a lot. the random pattern it creates is right up my alley!

i also plyed that wool that i started spinning on easter sunday. now i am looking for the perfect scarf pattern for it. it is a heavy worsted and i have roughly 200 yards. any suggestions for me?

random reflections :: shades

lions, tigers and kindergarteners... oh my!

yesterday we joined esme's kindergarten class on their first field trip to zoo boise. there is a new african plains exhibit that we were very excited to see. the giraffes were my favorite- they are magnificent! i would have happily spent the whole afternoon with them but when you are with a group of five and six year olds you are only allowed to spend a couple minutes with each animal and then you are on the run (literally) to see what is next.

after the giraffes we saw a big kitty ::


a big nest ::

a big egg ::

a small elephant ::

and a tiny tiger ::

i think the monkeys were harper's favorite. they were very cute and entertaining. they kept coming up to the front of their enclosure to check harper out. it looked like they were inviting him in to play! but no, we decided to pack up our sleepy little monkey and head home for a nice, long nap.

weekend

a back yard egg hunt with all of our friends ::

sunglasses from the easter bunny and esme looking a little hunter s. thompson-ish ::

and a lovely pile of fluff that i started spinning yesterday ::

random reflections :: sweet mess

chocolate cheesecake :: he wears it well, i think.

again with the birds!

i recently whipped up a few more little birds- a couple for our nature table and the rest for a special seasonal celebrations swap package that i put together. i never get tired of them! in fact i have this grand idea to sew up a bunch in different colors so i can change them out for each season. i am also on the hunt for a pretty branch to bring inside for them to perch on.

and check out my adorable little sewing buddy! how could i get anything done right without his company? peek a boo through mama's sewing machine has become a favorite sewing day past time of ours. but sadly sewing days have become very few as we have been busy spring cleaning and playing outside every chance we get. i have plenty of projects planned though. oh, there are always plans....

simple, but so sweet

i was away from my family last night while attending a good friend's birth. it was especially hard on little harper who still co sleeps and nurses during the night. it was hard on mama too. and daddy since he was stuck with a inconsolable 22 month old boy, missing his mama and his milky.

late in the night i got this text message ::

Harper says mama mayayam! Miss u! We are fine :)

that short little message made me smile, and feel lucky to have these incredible boys waiting for me. i came home at 10 o'clock this morning and was met with an enthusiastic hug from harper. and the hugs still haven't stopped- i have also had a good deal of cuddles and eskimo kisses from my little man. and that is simply the sweetest way to spend an afternoon, if you ask me.