We have a good friend who is out there floating on the ocean and gets to go to some fabulous places because she is in the navy! One of her recent stops was in Australia. Can you imagine just going continent hopping every few days/weeks? Truly amazing! She sent some fun little gifts for the kiddos and Charis has taken a strong liking to the kangaroo and is highly fascinated by the kangaroo’s joey! She also sent a little onesie that is super cute with some Australian animals on it for Cai. Thanks Ashley for the fun stuff from Australia! It isn’t everyday that you get a package from such an incredible destination!

Lately I have come across some fun ribbon that I had to share. The first set of three ribbons I found at A.C. Moore which kind of surprised me as they usually do not have anything to different. The ribbon has a fun vintage feel to it and is made from cotton with wire in it for folding. I am planing on removing the wire to make some trim for bags and maybe some blanket binding as well we shall see. The ribbon was 50% off when I stumbled upon it so of course I over bought so the sky is the limit for projects with the ribbon! The second picture with two ribbons in it is from Hobby Lobby. It was just to cute to pass up. I am not sure what it will become but I have it just in case I ever need it. I will have to put my thinking cap on for these!

Lady On The Hill: How Biltmore Estate Became An American Icon
By:Howard E. Covington Jr.

First of all let me say that I am most excited for a rainy day as I had these fears that we might never see one again! We have had 30 straight days of temperatures in the 90′s and not to much rain at all. Today though it is gloomy and raining off and on and the temperatures are actually quite nice (high 70′s)! I wanted to spend our rainy day well as it is not often that we have them so I packed up the kiddos and we headed to the used book store. We had some books to trade in and Charis is always up for a new book or two (or 11 plus 1 for mommy). There were some great books out there to be had today! I got Charis several construction books (ya know diggers, dump trucks etc.) which she absolutely loves, a bible story book that is neat-o, a Kermit leans to potty book and a few others as well. I always make a run through the sewing books usually finding nothing but books from the 80′s but today there was a little gem! I came across Crafting Vintage Style Charming Projects for Home and Garden. There are some neat little projects in there that would make great gifts so I was pretty excited about the find. Next Charis wanted to ride the “alligator” (elevator) before we left the store, which was one of the highlights of the trip for her then we journeyed home through the rain. We had a warm lunch to go with the rainy day and now all is hushed in the house as it is nap time…ahhh! Our rainy day is wonderful!

So Thursday I ventured to a local fabric store that I have only allowed myself to go to one time before and that was with the rule that I was not allowed to buy one single thing. Brad sent me Thursday as a treat with a bit of spending money and I was so giddy just like a little kid in a candy store! It was pretty much torture for the kiddos but even though they were having a terrible time I was having enough fun for us all! The store was having a super sale (buy two get one free (yards that is)) plus on top of their sale if you spent $25 you got to fill a bag with their scraps and it was your pick (as many as you could fit in the bag). Oh boy oh boy oh boy! I spent about an hour and a half at the store (the kiddos were dying)! I ended up with some Heather Ross fabric from her Lighting Bugs And Other Mysteries line as well as from her Lightning Bugs line both by Free Spirit. I am planing on making some fall outfits for the kiddos with the fabric. Onto the scrap pile! There were some terrific scraps to go with those that I already received. I was able to get a lot of incredible scraps including some great Amy Butler, vintage reproductions, Joel Dewberry and SO much more! My creative juices are really flowing now! I am excited to start creating!

So I was just answering survey questions on Ariana’s blog and number 22 asked what color of crayon would you be if you could be any color. You know me I had to give a cool answer so I went to check out the colors as I do not remember them from my childhood as I should. Wikipedia has a really cool page on the crayons stating when the colors were added etc. It was pretty interesting. Maybe I was a little bored but I really did find it interesting so I had to share.

I am so excited for several reasons about this little handbag that I just finished by Amy Butler. First of all I just really like the style, second the fabric is really special to me and thirdly I finished a project! I needed a purse for little outings that I take without the kiddos. No need to lug a mommy purse around (code for large to fit all the kiddie necessities) when it is just me going out. This little purse will allow me to just throw in my wallet, phone and keys to head out the door! As I mentioned the fabric is super special to me as it is fabric that my grandmother picked out many years ago to make a skirt for my aunt. We came across the skirt as we were cleaning out my grandmothers house and no one wanted it so I scooped it up. I did not want to loose the skirt so by cutting off the bottom I was able to maintain to skirt but yet have enough fabric for this little purse as well. I hope to hem the skirt up and save it for Charis to wear some day. I love being able to carry a little piece of my Granny around with me. It feels good to accomplish one of my projects. I seem to start a lot and finish not so much so I have new energy knowing that I truly can accomplish something in the pile.

Our grass is so very brown! I miss the thick green grass of summer and it looks as though it will not be returning anytime soon! Come on rain!!!

I have been meaning to post all week but the scraps that I purchased arrived on Monday! I was so excited to receive the little grab bag and to behold all the goodies inside! It was definitely worth it as I was really happy with the little gems! My creative juices are really flowing so I am excited to get to work on a few projects (as if I did not have enough little projects going already)!

Being a Mommy of two little ones makes for some pretty interesting days. There is really never a moment that is to dull as when the dull moments come you are ready for a little dull in the day but I must say that they are pretty rare! I was reflecting on my day so far a little earlier and just loving what I have been given the opportunity to do (now every day I am not sure that I feel this way but it is truly a gift when I sit to reflect). I got us all up a little early this morning and we headed off to the mall for a good morning walk with a wonderful friend and her little kiddo. Since we got up early Charis had the opportunity to see Daddy-o before he headed off to work which just totally made her day…I got to see her complete joy when Daddy popped by her room to surprise her with a “Good Morning”! On the way to and from the mall I got to have great discussions about trains and where they live, helicopters, diggers and many other various things. Oh and at the mall I got to watch Charis as she discovered her echo for the first time (absolutely hilarious). We spent the rest of the morning just being together! I got to read a book about 22 times in a row, I got to be silly and sing silly little diddys, I got to feed my baby and coo and smile with him awhile, I got to watch Bert and Ernie talk on their banana phone and heard the most excited squeals when Elmo appeared on the screen and last but not least I got to have lunch date with Miss Charis where we chatted about food, baby Cai and all things in the life of a two year old. Not many get to do what I do and some days I do miss being in a business setting but look at all that I would miss. It is not glamorous and it is definitely hard, dirty at times and sometimes a few tears (me and the kiddos) but there is nothing that I would rather do than what I am doing! Thanks to my hubby dearest for working so hard so that I can do what I love doing! Next week…the sprinkler park (ya can’t do that at work)!