My friend, Stacie, from Girl in Gear Studio just purchased this flower and needs a little help identifying it. Visit her blog and comment and you will be entered in her $30 gift certificate giveaway from her lovely Etsy shop. She makes lovely paper products and her halloween invites are now available. Make sure you check them out! Stacie’s company is also available if you need help with logo, identity, or web design.
We had an absolutely beautiful weekend. Hope your side of the world was lovely too. The weather was grand so the Small Burst family went for a gorgeous bike ride along the Potomac river on Saturday. When we got home a package was waiting for me at the door. Jenie, my truly amazing and beautiful friend since high school, sent me a sweet bag she sewed. I just adore this bag because of the colors, the print, the size, because it’s reversible, but most of all, because I think of my friend every time I see it. I remember when we were 17 years old, Jenie and I spent a whole afternoon at my kitchen table sewing shorts. We must have sewed 3 or 4, maybe more. We actually wore them to school. Makes me chuckle thinking about how hard we worked on them and how imperfect yet perfect those shorts were. She sews like a pro now. Way to go, Jenie!! If you get a chance, say hello to Jenie on her blog. Oh, man. You have got to check out her wedding day slide show. Gorgeous, gorgeous wedding and the photography is impeccable. It captured emmotions and love between her friends, her family and her beloved Aric. If I was a photographer, this is exactly the type of images I would capture-real moments, real emmotions, real people. I need a kleenex everytime I watch. By the way, her honeymoon adventures are documented in her blog too. Just as amazing!!
I actually found some time to start a few home projects this weekend. Although I didn’t quite finish them, I take this as a good sign that creative juices are once again flowing. I also hit up a yard sale and found these 2 beauties. $10 for both of them. I’m no collector and don’t really know if they’re worth what I paid but they look fabulous and they symbolize my red rubber ball. It’s like the red rubber ball paused for a moment so I can get a glimpse. I think I need one more so I can group them together and use them as decorative elements in my living room.
Brownie Hawkeye - Produced 1950-61 (1955) Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY USA
Ansco Shur-Shot Jr.- Produced in 1948.
I don’t usually post book reviews but I can’t help myself. I’m in the process of sorting out my current career versus employment bliss. So my sister suggests I read Rules of the Red Rubber Ball by Kevin Carroll. This book is an inspirational guide to seeking and sustaining your life’s passion or as Kevin calls it, your red rubber ball). If you already know what your red rubber ball is and just need a little push, this book is a great source of encouragement and will definitely light the fire under your pants. Have you read this book? Even if you haven’t, what’s your red rubber ball? I guess mine would be doing something creative everyday. I’d love to have enough skills to someday be a photographer or own a shop. Meanwhile I’m sticking with blogging because it’s my vessel for creativity. Happy weekend everyone. Here’s to finding your passion and getting to immerse your life in it!
I have a section in my kitchen where I’d like to put open shelving. DH thinks it will make the kitchen look cluttered, I think it will make it look charming. What do you think?
Over the weekend my Lovies and I decided to go through their toy box. At the very bottom we found broken toys, missing pieces to Legos, train tracks, doll parts and tons of broken crayons. Don’t ask me how crayons make it in the toy box but they always seem to be in there. Instead of throwing them away this time around, we collected them all recycled them. Really easy to do.
remove wrapping from crayon then break them further if necessary to fit in mini cupcake cups
place in 200 degrees preheated oven and bake for approx 15 minutes or until melted. Let cool and peel the paper off. My kids wanted to mix the colors together but you don’t have to.
Oh, and I must thank one my best bloggy friends for a lovely package I received in the mail over the weekend. Thanks Sandy! They’re beautiful!! Pay her blog, Sandy A La Mode, a visit. A truly lovely blog by a lovely girl.
While in California I was totally inspired by my sister’s gorgeous farmhouse. One of my favorite rooms was my 4 year old niece’s bedroom. It just looked so dreamy with a canopy above the bed and the chandelier. The ‘ooh’ factor for me were all of my niece’s ballet outfits hanging on the walls. They didn’t stay there for long since my daughter and nieces decided to do a little fashion show. I am really bummed because I thought I took pictures of the room but it seems I may have deleted them from my camera. UGH! Meanwhile, here are some lovely little girl bedrooms I came across. These should tide me over until I can get my sister to e-mail me some pictures.
Decor Pad
Country Living
You ever had an experience where you felt so much joy and peace and love in your heart that you wish you could suspend time at that moment? This was me on so many occasions during my visit to California. I have a big, close-knit family in California so when we’re there it’s a big party everyday. Our visits are always jam-packed with togetherness, home cooked meals, stories of yesteryear, jokes, late night talks, and yes, even karaoke. My kids get to run around with their cousins (lost of them!) like a pack of wolves. No video games, no fighting, just some good old fashioned outdoor playtime. Remember when kids did that? The absolute worst thing about going to California is having to leave. It’s almost unbearable to say goodbye to loved ones but once we make it back to the east coast it’s as if everything is where it should be. For now anyways….
California Love
Eons ago I would wake up really early on Saturdays to hit garage sales in search of old, tattered furniture in need of TLC. I’d then bring them back to life by making minor repairs, refinishing or painting them. I don’t do this as often now but still find the time to dabble in projects when time permits. It’s so satisfying to see the transformation of something old to something spectacular. Sometimes a coat of paint and a little elbow grease is all it takes. If you haven’t seen my cane chair makeover check it out here.
Here’s the latest project. This little server needed a little oomph after the kitchen redo.
DH suggested I paint the body and leave the wood exposed on top. It turned out better than I expected. For painting over wood furniture, sand lightly with fine grit paper. Wipe dust off then paint. I used Behr Premium Plus Ultra Paint and Primer In One. It worked beautifully and I highly recommend this product. I’ve used this paint on my interior walls too and it sure does save you time!
By the way, I will be heading off to California tomorrow for a little R and R with family and friends. I’ll make sure to share my travels with you.
Welcome Alphabet Walk Blog Hoppers! If you haven’t heard of the Alphabet Walk Blog Hop, visit Piper’s blog, One Sydney Road, for all the details. Pretty easy concept-get your camera out and take photos of what represents the letter you chose. My letter is R and I had so much fun hunting for this letter in everyday objects. It was a bit challenging at first but I made a game out of it with my family visiting from out of town. So as they were sightseeing around town, they had to find the letter R. My 12 year old niece actually took a few of these.
Bench near the White House
Supports at the National Air and Space Museum, Udvar Hazy Center
Light Post near the swimming pool
Bench at the National Harbor
The back of bleachers at the US Army Twilight Tattoo Concert
Udvar Hazy Center beams
