{in love}

I already have a pretty hard and fast love affair with mason jars. 

Clear glass.

Turquoise.

Screw on lid.

Lids with the wire thingy.

Big. Little. 

It doesn't really matter.

They are all, every single one of them - genius. 

And there are about a million and one ways to use them.

And they are always simple, sweet and effortlessly stylish.

Candle? Why yes.

Vase for flowers? Well, even better.

Jar for cake? Clever!

Caddy to hold anything? Well, of course!

Jam? Certainly, an expected but classic use.

I really didn't think you could improve on this classic.

Until I saw this.

And this.

Yes, please.

mail = happy

I got happy mail today.

And happy news.

But first the mail.

Isn't it just the prettiest package you've ever seen?

Couldn't expect any less than darling from this gal.

I was lucky enough to win her recent giveaway that benefited Japan!

What? I know. Who ever wins blog giveaways?

Aren't these gorgeous? 

I think so. 

Now I need to find the perfect little spot for them.

Thank you Bethany for brightening my day!

And if you have never read Rinse. Repeat...hop on over there. 

You are in for a treat.

Beautiful, creative photography.

And some of the loveliest writing I've ever read. 

All by a darling girl.

Love the photos?

They are from Madeline Bea Photography.

Go check her out....lots to love there.

And the happy news?

Well, let's just say that this worry wart of a girl got some good old fashioned reassurance (and a prescription) from a doctor in a specialized field. All for some scary and annoying pain I've been having for the last five months.

Cryptic? I know, sorry.

But rest assured, all is well.

Happy Friday friends!

{the simple things}

We've had some blissfully sunny days around here lately. 

Days that hint of Spring and Summer just around the corner.

I've taken a few moments here and there to really interact with my kids outside.

Pushing them on the swing.

Chasing them around the yard...being the "mommy monster".

Lounging in the hammock letting the sun warm our faces.

Looking up at the airplanes as they fly over head.

The simple stuff.

Stuff I don't do with them nearly enough.

One of my favorite things in the whole world I think - is watching the absolute joy on my kids faces as I push them on their swings. 

And I don't even think it's just the swinging for them. 

I think it's because I'm with them, looking into their eyes - in the moment with them. 

How come I forget how good that is?

Hope your weekend is full of the simple joys in life!

April is for....

Babies?

Well, in my little world they seem to be. I've known of four babies that have blessed their families in the past two weeks! And a fifth is due to arrive any moment! 

What to do when so many precious bundles are arriving?

Make onesies!

My new favorite go to gift for new Moms and their squishy new additions.

These are entirely addicting to make and oh so easy!

A little embroidery, a little applique perhaps?

Little Jude is Greg's cousin's new little. I know ties are done all over town but this was my first one! I do love it. And I'm currently working on a last minute "Hey Jude" to round out the collection. I mean, how could I not?

And this sweet duo is going to a friend that I seriously played with when I was a baby! Her second girl, Alison just squeezed into the last day of March. I did the turquoise onesie first and was really pleased with the result. My second attempt was a total flop on so many levels. Nothing I could do would fix it. So out came my estate sale mini doilies that I found last week. We did something similar for a friends shower recently and I never would have guessed how lovely doilies would be for baby clothes! And easy too!

What is your favorite gift to make for babes?

{estate sale angst}

Sometimes estate sales just suck.

Usually my blood gets pumping, I get really, really nervous and it's a tortuous/good kind of thing. 

Mostly, I love estate sale days.

Today just wasn't one of them.

I was hoping to get a text telling me my most fave estate sale gal was having one.

But I didn't.

It doesn't help that I totally dropped my phone in my coffee the other day. 

It's pretty fried and a little iffy. 

I tried to take it into the Sprint store yesterday hoping I'd opted for the insurance way back when.

Luckily I did but it will still cost me a $100 deductible to replace it. 

And it isn't instant gratification here folks. No walking out of the store with a new phone. 

No, no, no...they have to send it to you.

Oh, and I need my husband's last four digits of his social.

Do you think my brain retains that kind of information?

So anyway, back to the lamo estate sale morning. 

I did find two to hit. I've often gotten to them early but never minutes before they start. 

There was actually a line outside waiting to go in.

Can you say blood pressure spike?

I've only seen that on Cash and Cari on HGTV.

So I had the two littles with me as well. They youngest immediately decided to foul his diaper.

Fantastic.

And he wouldn't allow me to put him down without whimpering his Mommy mantra for all to hear.

I did find a few fun things. A giant frame with a picture of Jesus. 

I love Jesus but do you think He will mind if I paint over him?

Some fun and funky jewelry, old jars and kitchen linens. 

The other estate sale just made me cranky.

I got there about twenty minutes after it started and there was a line all the way across the living room waiting to pay. So you know those people scored all the great stuff. I left there with a vintage sheet and old metal t.v. tray that will get the paint treatment as well. A whopping two dollars and change was spent there. 

Well, you win some, you lose some.