oh my...

As I entered the living room yesterday I noticed that Rory was holding something in her hand as she scooted around in circles in her walker. As I neared I realized what she had.

Yup, that would be my bra. I don't know how she got it, it was in my bedroom. After the initial shock I found it to be rather funny.

And can you even believe that she turned 8 months old yesterday!?! I can't!!! She is such a big girl now!

My Life In An Instant - Weekly

My Life In An Instant - Weekly

The Best Day

My first Mother's Day! I am so happy to spend it with my sweet little baby. She is the most wonderful thing in my life past, present and future.  I hope that all you mommy's out there have a wonderful day with your sweet babies too!

Rory at 20 weeks

Happy Mother's Day!!!

My Life In An Instant - Weekly

Yes...29.

This past Saturday I celebrated my 29th birthday...yes, I said 29. And what did I do, well...nothing! And that is exactly what I wanted to do. We were going to go to a parade and a fair and shop and do several other things but the night before I decided that all I really wanted to do was relax, sleep in (which I did get to do for the first time in 4 months!) and spend my day with my family. After all, it is my first b-day as a mommy and my first with a family.

TJ got up with Rory, made me breakfast when I got up and gave me a totally cool new hobby as a gift. My new hobby...metal stamping! He got me a kit and all the fixings to create my own metal stamped jewelry. I'm totally hooked! Can't wait to get some things in my shop!

Rory let me sleep in, gave me big smiles and cuddles all day long, was really good about the car ride to get latte's and burritos (yes they do go together!) and the extra 1/2 hour when we got lost trying to take a back road home and she also gave me a card and bouquet of tulips. It was all quite lovely and the best gift of all was having her here to celebrate with me.

I did get a few pics but didn't have time to download them since I spent my weekend relaxing instead of taking care of, well, life. So that is what I've been up to all day cleaning and organizing. If I do get the chance I will post some pics later this week!

Just Odd

Have you ever taken a moment to see all of the very odd things that surround you? This morning I did just that and this is what I found -

• each morning and each night my cat tells me when it's time to feed her fish, that's right, her fish
• my other cat clears every counter, table and surface in the house. she pushes everything right off the edge, many a glass have broken this way
• i have a nudist neighbor that doesn't have any curtains
• i have another neighbor that decorates his roof with giant stuffed animals and furniture (he also feeds raccoons which now congregate in large groups around his house)
• another neighbor of mine admittedly watches everything we do and looks in our windows, she also likes to share stories about how much she loved and was attracted to my grandfather (i'm talking about sexual attraction here....cringe)
• Rory's favorite song is Sweet Disposition by the Temper Trap, whenever she is freaking out we put that song on and she stops immediately (at least she has good taste in music)
• i have a squirrel that climbs up and looks in our windows, it has even knocked at us before
• my oven light turns on and off all by itself all of the time

Okay that's enough weirdness for today!

And now a tribute to Rory

Don't forget to enter the Lovely Little Locket giveaway!!!

Take a moment and look at the oddities that surround you, it'll add a little funny to your day.

Did you know about this?

Cause I didn't! But now that I do I am having a ton of fun playing with it. Oh, you want to know what it is? It's BigHugeLabs, a photo editing and flickr toy site. Check it out!

I made these and got that cute little flickr widget in my right margin from the website for free of course. No, I'm not advertising for them, I just thought it was fun and I had to share with you.

You can do so many neat things with your photos. This is just all I had time for. You should take a peak if you have a moment.

Sorry for the ad-like post!

 

Oh my,

Rory is 4 months old!

Watch her grow here, here and here.

Rory Can Roll...

But she won't let just anyone see her do it and she will not let me get it on camera. She prefers to roll when no one is watching. I've seen her do it several times but she usually doesn't realize I'm paying any attention. She also just refuses to do it if I am recording her. I have even set up the camera in a spot she couldn't see well and I've gone on the other side of her to keep her from looking in the direction of the camera but she still ends up staring at it like a deer in headlights. She has been rolling for almost two weeks now and TJ only saw her do it for the first time yesterday! She'll be a pro before I get her doing it on tape. She'll roll over and then get up and walk away at this rate. What a funny little child I have!

Dear Rory,
Mommy really wants to get some of your first rolls on video to have as a keepsake. Please let mommy record you doing it. I'll get you a toy (not really though, I'm not one of those moms yet).
I love you!
Love,
Mommy

Easter was...

chaotic, but great! As I previously mentioned, my sister and her fiancée came for the holiday. They live in Miami and can only come visit a few times a year. They hadn't seen Rory since she was about three weeks old so we were so excited for them to be able to come up. 


Unfortunately, they could only stay for the weekend so things were a little crazy. We had a lot to do and many people to see so I apologize but with so much going on I didn't get the chance to take many pictures. Bad blogger, I know!


So here are just a few.

 A visit with Auntie Ann on Friday

Pretty Easter dress

Easter brunch with fam - that is my sister who is going to kill me for posting this picture hehe :0)

Rory's brunch - that's right, paid $18 for my brunch and was only able to eat two little waffles.

Who could this Easter basket belong to??? Awesome blocks knitted by auntie Ann

Enjoying our gifts - ignore the insane mess behind me please.

That's all I got but it's okay cause the memories are better than pictures anyway.

Now that I am feeling better I am working hard (during nap times) to fill my new shop. I am hoping to get a good selection in this week so that I can share it with you. Don't forget that I will be doing a special promotion just for you, my very awesome followers!

Happy Wednesday!!! 

The Sweetest Hands

Oh, to think of all of the great things these lovely little hands will do!

They make me smile!


After a long weekend visiting family, TJ having to work and a cranky baby that has needed mommy by her side at all times, TJ and I are finally getting to the Easter project that we thought would be fun to do together. We started last night and will hopefully finish tonight, maybe tomorrow, but as soon as it is done, I promise to share with you all.


Happy Tuesday!

Five Things

5 things you probably didn't know about me:

that's me, taken from a family photo
1. My toe nails are blue,
2. I make sweet potato fries almost everyday (baked so they are still kind of healthy),
3. My daughter usually only has one sock on at a time as there is always one missing,
4. I hate house work,
5. I am addicted to hot chocolate.

My Sunshine

A little bit of sunshine on this gloomy, rainy day!

Rory is 12 weeks old!

I love this retro style dress her daddy bought her!

Keys of the Skeletons...A Little Story

When I was little, my grandparents house was my playground. One thing that stands out in my memory is their collection of skeleton keys that hung on the key hooks near the telephone. They had several keychains all filled with skeleton keys. Some keys were to the old doors around the house, some were to old pieces of furniture that had locks, most didn't belong to anything in that old house at all. I used to take those keys and pretend they would open secret rooms and gardens or help me to find a magical place. I can't tell you how many times I tried to climb through the back of a closet thinking this will be the time that it actually works with my magical keys in hand. I also remember looking for tiny little doors that lead to who knows where but be sure that I had my keys in hand to get through that door whether I was big or small.


Several years ago my grandparents both passed and my husband and I moved into their house. My family spent many days going through their things and cleaning the place up a bit. I don't remember seeing those old keys anywhere. Many of my grandparents belongings have remained in the house, some cleaned out others not touched. About a year ago, I came across two skeleton keys. I was so excited, I created a special little place to keep them in my craft area.

A couple of months ago my husband came across two more keys. Those went to the special place too.

 And just a few days ago, while I was rummaging through my grandmothers old writing desk, I came across a whole bunch of them.

Now, there are still many many more to be found, but I am enjoying the search. These little keys are more magical than ever, secretly hiding out in their magical places just waiting to be found. It's like they have been brought back to life and boy do they have my imagination going full steam. I can't wait to go discover more magical places with Rory. I hope she loves the keys of the skeletons as much as I do! And that's my little story.

While rummaging through that old desk, I found these cool vintage items as well!

Sick Baby

I woke up to a sick baby today :( She went to bed with a little congestion and woke up with a cough and pink eye in both her eyes. I have no idea where she could have gotten it from but here it is.

Needless to say, I may not post for a day or two. It all depends on how she feels.

I'm so sad for my sick little baby! :(

What to do on a cold, wintery day

If you are snowed in like most of us in the northeast, this is what to do...

watch giant snow flakes fall from the sky,

(Rory is 10 weeks old today!)

wrap up in some warm, cozy blankets and snuggle up close with a loved one,

make a cup of hot cocoa,

and do some crafting!

That is what to do on a cold, wintery day!

Two Months

I just can't believe that my little girl turned two months old yesterday! She is growing so so fast! That is why I cherish every moment with her (even the less than ideal ones...up all night screaming). So here is her two month picture! I think it's super cute!

Yet Another Handmade Holiday

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

I just love this holiday because it is all about love and showing our loved ones how much we really care about them. And this was a particularly special vday since it was my daughters first and the first we celebrated together as a family.

I decided to give a handmade holiday another try. Though my handmade Christmas was a bit of a wash due to the early birth of my daughter, I actually managed to complete almost all of the gifts I wanted to make for my lovies for Valentine's Day. I do have to admit most of my ideas are not original to me. My creative instinct has been temporarily lost due to lack of sleep and time. So I must give credit where credit is due.

For Rory I made a love owl. She has several stuffed owls already but I just love owls so I hope she does too, since I can't seem to stop making them.

Rory's owl

I didn't mean to give it evil looking horns!

The inspiration behind Rory's owl.

I found this adorable little creature while looking around on etsy. Made by Buttercupbloom, Violetta is just one among many other tiny wee hoot owls and some other fun animal friends. Now I totally would have ordered this owl cause I love it but the sewer, crafter, creator inside of me just couldn't do it. I often find things like this that I really want but I find myself unable to purchase items that I may be able to make myself. However, I usually don't get around to making half the items I say I am going to. I've decided that I am still going to have to adopt Violetta, I just love that owl. She is so much cuter and sweeter than the one I made. Plus, as I learned from my grandmother who collected owls, you can never have enough of those smart little things around.

A little love fortune for TJ (darling husband)from me and Rory. I did get this idea from another blog but I cannot for the life of me remember which one it was. So if I copied you and you are reading this please don't be mad, email me and I will certainly give you the credit you deserve. I paired that little fortune with a yummy dark chocolate bar from Chocolate Springs (I hope he shares!).

The tree of love for TJ

The inspiration behind the tree of love.

Again, another etsy find. You should definately check out Jellybeans shop. I absolutely love every single print she makes. I plan on getting a few in the next couple of months, maybe I could get one for an easter present, but I'm not sure I can wait that long. I really want her Poppies Print. Anyway, I saw this and really wanted to get it for darling husband but knew I could manage to make something sort of like it. I am not a painter and certainly don't claim to be but I thought I'd give it a whirl and I have to say I am quite proud of how it came out. I think it's cute! I just hope that TJ doesn't think it is to girly a gift to give a manly man.

I made this felt card for Rory so that she would have it forever. This I came up with myself. I think it came out kind of cute...she couldn't have been less interested.

So I got this idea from Rubyellen's blog Cakies, where I get so much of my inspirations from. I'm not only inspired by her crafty ideas but also her family life and relationships. She is an awesome blogger, crafter and mommy! She made this for her husbands birthday, I had every intention of making one for my husbands love day but I didn't get the chance to. I just thought the idea was so cute that I wanted to share it anyway.

So it is now clear to you that I really wasn't kidding about the lack of creative ability right now. Yes, I copied most every thing that I made for Valentine's Day. But I am not ashamed because I copied some very amazing crafters that make things that I just wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

I hope you had a great Valentine's Day!!!

What gifts did you give and recieve for Valentine's Day?