One Million Cards

My sister and I stayed up until the ridiculous hour of 2:30 (it sounded like a good idea at the time) creating pretty much one million cards:

Okay, so it was only 48, but in the wee hours of the morning, it seems like much more. It ended up working well, though, because we were able to slap these suckers together in a matter of a few hours thanks to a card building kit from Imaginisce. Nothing fancy here, just simple and well-coordinated. We wanted to re-stock our mama's card stash because she runs through her cards so quickly, and re-stock we did. Mission accomplished. (I'm pretty sure my sis and I could be the gold-medal Olympic cardmakers.) Hoo-wah!

The Dance of the Dissident Daughter

I've recently enjoyed this gem of a book:

I was afraid to start reading it because I had a feeling in my bones that it would be a life-changer. It sounds kind of silly when I say it now, but I was scared that it might shake my faith in a religion that love but can still observe critically. However, this book only solidified my spirituality, and has been directing me toward more intentional peace and meaningful existence.

The way she spun her tale of journeying toward the Sacred Feminine completely resonated with me, and I identified with every step of her process. I feel like the enlightenment and empowerment that accompanied me throughout the reading have continued to be my companions.

I love this book and will need to make it part of my personal canon. Have you read this book? What did you think? Is there a book that fits effortlessly into your own personal canon?

Bright Places, Sunny Spaces

This year, I'm deliberately extending my bright and happy spaces, which means that I'm finally taking my fearlessness for color outdoors:

I spray painted the chairs and a couple of my older plastic pots to make them coordinate better and filled the pots with a variety of sunshine-loving flowers. I also invested in a couple of plant stands, and I think the varying heights add a lot more substance to this little corner of our patio. To top off the ensemble, P-dub's pinwheel moves around with her whims, which lets her feel like she owns this happy spot too.

What have you done lately to brighten your spaces?

Senior Pictures

My studmuffin of a brother just graduated high school:

He's off to conquer the world as only the young can, and this guy, let me tell you, certainly can!

A Small Token

Our bright and happy Pepsqueak colored a bright and happy thank you card for each person who spoiled her on her birthday:

These tiny 3" x 3" cards were so easy to put together that I didn't even need any glue. I used glitter tape from American Crafts and a gold metallic marker from Close To My Heart. Done and done. As Pepper put her excellent penmanship to work, we talked about each person and the fun presents they gave her. I wish you could all watch her jabber on about the people she knows and loves--too funny!

Someone's Birthday!

A sweet, silly, smart girl just turned two, and here's what we did all week long to celebrate the sunshine she brings to our lives:

Despite our best efforts, she was spoiled rotten, but she was so gracious and excited about each gift that it's kind of hard not to want to give her presents. She got clothes, books, bubbles, a toy kitchen and tea set, a picnic table, water toys, a plush frog, a doll, and money (which goes straight to her college fund--thank you, Scooter!). She loves all of her new presents! Thank you to everyone who called her and sang her birthday songs, too. It made her so happy!

She noticed the pinata Kirk got and developed an immediate attachment to the thing, called it her horsey, and rode it around our house. (Don't worry, she didn't burst into tears when we whacked it to pieces, which we totally thought was going to happen.)

We held a super casual potluck picnic at a local park, which turned out to be the perfect venue to gather our families together and just enjoy one another's company and give some lovin' to those sweet little two-year-old cheeks! It was a bright and happy occasion filled with playground goodness and bubbles. What more could a toddler ask for? It was perfect!

A Garden's Beginnings

Every year I work on perfecting my garden-growing skills, which means I'm constantly trying different methods and approaches, especially in the beginning stages of my vegetable and herb gardens. This year, I tried making larger potting cups to keep my little sprouts happier with more root space. It totally worked:

These little guys are bigger than ever and are happily living in my gardens and patio pots now. This year, I'm trying out brussels sprouts for the first time. Has anyone tried growing those before? If so, have you got any tips for me?