Summer.

{When every moment will be as it will be.}

Last summer our family took a grand adventure. We rented a mini van and left Long Beach to trek out way through little towns, over the mountains, along the rivers to Tennessee. It was perfect. Completely perfect.

This summer our grand adventure is simple togetherness.

I made a little Summer Adventures list for each family member to fill out and post up. My vision is that we will wake up, and decide what list item to conquer.

To download, just right click the image. What's on your list?

Duffy.

{A bunch of thirty-somethings doing donuts in a rented electric boat in the back bays of Long Beach, California.}

To celebrate her birthday, a dear friend invited a fun and gorgeous group of ladies (i fall on the side of fun..) to hop onto a Duffy Electric boat for a sunset cruise.

Hilarity ensued.

Three captains later (the first two couldn't steer us straight and we were getting pretty sea sick!), we were finally on the straight and narrow, getting right in the way of the Crew teams, totally blocking in the sailing classes, and waving at the Blue Coats.

For her birthday, I made her a special two piece cake topper and a set of party picks.

Happy Birthday, Jolie! 

She really is a sexy girl.

"Breakfast At Tiffany's" Cupcake Toppers

What a great way to spend a Wednesday Night!

Teach.

{free downloadable teacher appreciation card}

Love your teachers! Just right click the image, save, and open to print...

The best gift a teacher can get is a direct acknowledgement of all that he or she has given your child during the school year.

I made this for the preschool teachers when Emmett graduated from preschool and it's been in use ever since.

Lego.

{anything I do, has be done in Lego variety} 

Ahh the lego. 

Lego Happy Birthday Banner

I make the banners with original photography & graphics, so they're one of a kind. Not too gooey with kid-themes, no googley eyes or glitter... just a simple, attractive, pretty banner. 

Emmett wanted a banner for his room, too. I made a Rosie for the shop, and a Bluebird for Esme's birthday, so of course... and third was to follow. 

He put it together himself. 

I was really impressed by his ability to roll with mistakes: on the Emmett portion of the banner he accidentally punched holes on the bottom of one of the E flags. So he just punched holes in the bottom of all flags, as a design. Clever boy. 

Banner.

{claim your territory, claim the day}

Now up in the shop is an affordable, original and long-lasting name banner. They match some of the Party Packs, and can be made to say any name, any saying, anything you want!

Pack.

{Pick a Pack to Party}

I wanted to make the Party Packs ready to ship out to people having a party. Cruising through esty there are hundreds (thousands?) of beautiful customizable, download to print options... and sometimes... you just need the stuff delivered in a couple of days. You don't want to use the last of your precious printer ink for some cupcake toppers. 

So I wanted to make a good packaging set up for the Party Packs. 

Party Packs ready to ship!

All packed up and ready to go!

New.

{It doesn't feel like work to play with colors.}
Since deciding to make this Bluebird Party Supply a thing, I've been going through my collection of vintage, dead-stock & various papers, putting together Party Packs for the shop. I lose track of time in the studio, and that's how you know you're doing what you love.

Here are the most recent additions:

doodlebug

sprinkle

rosie

chic graphique

coral sparkle

Thanks, friends, for your initial support on this venture!

Ever.

{Happy 2nd birthday to a very special little man.}

To kick off Bluebird Party Supply and to help celebrate our little buddy's 2nd birthday, I created a Party Pack called Red! Gold! Pow! that will be perfect for his party at the fire station.

Party Pack includes cake topper, party picks, tassel garland, and paper garland.

4' tassel garland

cake topper

party picks

9' paper garland

This cute and bright party pack would work well for other parties, too.. superheros came to mind.

I also added in a name banner with images of fire engines

Happy 2nd Birthday, to our little friend Everton!

Party.

{Figured out the hobby. Now what?}

I realized recently, whilst planning my mom's 60th birthday party and a baby shower, that I LOVE to make party decorations.

So, the question plaguing my mind, I feel has been answered, at least partially. I love to make stuff. Any stuff. Fabric stuff, paper stuff, cleaning stuff, household stuff. All stuff. I especially love to make stuff out of other stuff.

I had a few people suggest selling these things. So, I am going to try. I'm not a great business woman. I have a lot to learn about business, but I'm keeping it a hobby now.

Yesterday I had a baby shower and had so much fun decorating - some of these things I will feature in my etsy shop, Bluebird Supply, and some was just for fun.

Some gifts & hand-me-downs for Baby on hand-lettered hangers.

Sweet Potato Tarts

Strawberry Shortcakes

I made so many party banners I had to move some outside!

"Wishes For Baby" writing station.

Baby Shower

Shimmer Fringe & Sparkle "Baby" Banner

I made A LOT of decorating supplies! 

The Shower was a great success, with a very happy Mama!

I will post more about the shop here - I had so much fun and hope to add fun to parties for family, friends & beyond.

Anew.

{A fresh breath has blown in. So let's clean it out!}

I take the new school year as an opportunity to re-tune. We took a long vacation over the summer, driving from California to Tennessee. Traveling slowly, experiencing people and places, gave me time to really pay attention to life.

I was able to see the beauty in what is sometimes mundane. To me, anyway. I love to eat, and don't mind cooking but the chore of figuring it all out every day, every week... going to the grocery store... it wears me down.

But, you see these people, these towns. And you know ~ we're all in it. We're all doing it. Wide expanses of land, tended to, worked, cared for, played on. I realized the blessing of our home and the small little piece of our own land, and was inspired to care for it in the same way.

So the decision was made: Enjoy Everyday. Even the chores, even the errands. And to do that, I concluded, I had to create a really good schedule for myself. Because that's how I work. I like to have little projects, to accomplish stuff. (On a side note, I'm going to try and start to document all of this accomplishing more. Sometimes it's pretty good!)

So I broke up the day into a schedule for myself, including time for walking, yoga, meal planning, chores, and even relaxing. (It's called Free Time so it's no obvious that many days I nap on the couch while the kids play all around me.)

I want to make my life a little easier, so I have the kids helping a lot. It is a bit of time to get going, because I have to actually show them how I want them to wipe down the cabinets! They didn't just know. We are two weeks into the new chore situation, and so far, they're doing great. I made magnets with the chores, and each kid has 1 chore per day.

Once they get the chore done they get a House Point. (Inspired by Harry Potter.) They get to spend points as they wish.

I broke up my own daily chores into manageable tid bits, so it really only takes 15-30 minutes a day, therefore, I feel very accomplished while also keeping my wits about me.

This feels good. I'm happy, I'm relaxed, the house in clean, dinners are not the horrible chore they were. One day I even got BORED. Luckily, I just renewed my subscription to Bazaar, because I'm actually getting interested in Fashion again.

Place.

{I'm in my 30's and wondering where the hell I belong.}

I suppose we all go through moments of uncerainty about some things. Maybe this haircut was a bad idea. And even more serious things. Am I really having a baby? Really?

I look back on my life, well, the past 15 years or so, and I see so many changes. I know it's not that long. But just remembering some of the outfits I left the house in leads me to shudder. The recent past has seen so many changes it's kind of bewildering. It is a familiar path, for most women, I am sure. Graduate college...get a job...get married...have a baby...


And all along the way there are things to do, hobbies, fun things. I used to go see music and art a lot. (not anymore.. too late.) I used to make clothes (don't want to start and stop every 10 minutes.) I used to like to cruise through a city's worth of thrift stores to find that one thing that made it worth it (I've totally lost the ability to keep my attention on one thing for more than 2 1/2 minutes)

And friendships. Friendships are different. I used to lounge around all day, maybe see a movie, maybe go shopping, with my best friend. Now we all have kids. Our kids are our individual universes, as it should be. But here I am... wondering why my friends aren't wanting to spend every moment with me anymore. Umm. Maybe because they're busy doing laundry and reading Cat In The Hat, also?!

I hope to adjust to it all soon. I hope to not feel sorry for myself.

Change is good, as long as I can keep up.

View.

{My life to music. Volume something or other.}

This song isn't new.  Listen to it really loud, all alone. It's like a drug.





As life gets longer, awful feels softer. Well if feels pretty soft to me. And if it takes shit to make bliss, well I feel pretty blissfully. 

If life's not beautiful without the pain, well I'd just rather never ever even see beauty again. Well as life gets longer, awful feels softer. And it feels pretty soft to me.

Lack.

{and i don't mean that cost-effective Ikea side table.}

I mean lack-ing.  Lacking... motivation. identity. creativity. wanderlust. These things I once had. Maybe had too much. Kept me moving on and on, moving from this to that, here to there. Now that I'm stopped, it might feel stagnant.

And it shouldn't, because life is moving very fast. These three kids keep me in motion, and they are in constant motion, a persistant state of change that is going at a pace with which I cannot. keep. up.

And somewhere, somewhere behind me along this path, little bits of myself have fallen off, rolled under the rose bush, or been forgotten. If I go back to look, will I get lost? Will I remember where I left off?

When a woman has a child, it is transforming. In a very beautiful, intense and passionate way. and I feel beyond grateful to have experienced this. three glorious times. And to get to know these three people who are a part of me, yet compelelty their own. I take great care in them, and tend to their hearts, pray for them, provide. And it's wonderful.

But not blissful. I'd be lying to pretend its blissful. I am tired. a lot. a lot tired.

I guess it's stupid to miss myself. I mean, do I really think myself is all that great? I guess I think myself used to be great. Because, yes, I do miss her. I miss the creative energy. I miss the willingness to put it all out there and ... make. do. go. see. I don't have that in me anymore.

Lacking. Lacking in much. Perhaps because all i have goes to these three little bunnies. All of my go is invested in making their days the best they can be.

I just hope what is Lacking now will be found later.

Credible.

{To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful.  -Edward R. Murrow}

Part of my problem with the search for a hobby is sticking to it. No, that really is the problem. I'm just realizing this, so pardon me of my ramblings make you feel like my therapist.

It goes back so far! I could list soooo many things I was all "into" and then... Just.... Stopped. It's like I just start to get good at something and quit it all together. we could go all Psych 101 here but I'll spare us both.

This is certainly true in my career-life as well. I guess really the only thing I am completely committed to is my family. And a good thing, too!

No matter what I get bored with, get over, turn away from... There they are. My Mom always rooting me on, my husband always supporting me with a quiet and genuine desire to see me happy and using my creativity. My kids looking up to me.. Watching me and learning. That last bit kinda scares the bit outta me but I think any coherent momma would feel that way.

What I take from this is the desire to encourage the kids to really invest yourself. Give yourself over to a process and allow it into your heart.... That will commit you.

Life.

{Life has gotten the best of me. Life is the best of me.}

Every day something happens, some little snippet of life that is so precious I pray I'll never forget. But I do. The best case scenario is that I'll be reminded at some point, but surely... I'll forget again. {i.e. while watching Project Runway tonight I was reminded that a year ago Emmett's big thing was to yell out "I'm dying! Dying!" in as flamboyant voice possible, as he learned from watching fashionable TV with me. } I want to hold onto these moments, the funny things the kids say, the sweet lunch date with my husband, the warm conversation with my mom. I've decided to just put it all here. So, rather than focusing so much on what I don't do... which comes oh so naturally... I think I'll focus on what I do. Or at least... what happens.

I was so hell bent on documenting the kids lives. When Elliette was born I became borderline obsessive about noting events in her baby book, updating blogs, archiving photo files. Along came Emmett and I tried to do everything I did for Elliette. Along came Esme and I wanted to do the same.

Alas, they are different people. I have hundreds of photographs of four year old Elliette, and probably about a dozen of four year old Emmett. Emmett was moving too fast, I couldn't capture him. At four years old, Elliette was my doe-eyed shadow. Watching, observing, marinating in our daily life. And I hear it come out now. "Children!" She'll call to her brother and sister. "How is your breakfast?"

Emmett age 4

Elliette age 4

We are trying to instill an anti-sassy button on our girls. Esmé needs a bit of a tune up as of late, and we realized.... she has no idea what the hell she's saying. I heard her reciting to herself in the back seat of the car "Me not say Okay! Okay! Okay! That is sassy. Me say Okay Mom."

I want to remember, forever!, the sweet simle on my son's face when he exits his kindergarten classroom and sees me waiting for him. A huge smile, so sincere, so full of joy. He waves and jaunts over to me, with a hug and kiss. I remember last year, Elliette, exiting that same room... every day I'd hear a "Mama!" and she'd hurry to me. Now in first grade she just kind of wanders over to me. Has that magic already expired? Will it really be so soon that I will have no more kisses goodbye? I know it will come soon. I'm just not ready yet.

Literati.

 {Not just to sound smart}


My recent obsession has been books. I have always enjoyed reading from a youngster, and recently my thirst for bound paper has been unquenchable.

You see, I used to use books as another obscure way to define myself. So I kept my reading material on the up & up. It was an attempt at relating a high brow sensibility. People might see my selection of e. e. cummings and think "wow, this girl must be very intelligent and interesting to read this wacky poetry".

the tortured beauty inside....

I do still read this collection yearly.

My short attention span led to me dive into the work of short stories and essay. Again, I felt this made me somehow supreme - my capability as grasping information or a story line in a quarter of the time compared to a novel must keep me wry!
I do still love story fiction and non-fiction both, but I have recently rediscovered my love for the novel. Even novels off the best seller list! Gasp! It required a level of commitment, and to become immersed in a story, in these characters, their pains, joys,  triumphs, is so captivating I cannot seem to stop reading any one book once the front cover cracks open.

I consider it my duty as a lover of writing, reading, and America to read this every year.

I feel it's also a sign of maturity that I am able to say "Yes I actually like The Hunger Games quite a lot!" and not feel I'm somehow above that. I have finally humbled myself and it feels like I have been released from my own leash of intellect - or really to be truthful my fool-hearted cloak of appearing intellectual. I don't think I ever fully got that other stuff.

Last night I finished The Sisters Brothers by Patrick de Witt. It is a western which I would have shied away from had a trusted friend not recommended it. The protagonist is a melancholy type, and I am a sucker.

It's only onward from here, friends. 

Capture.

{weekly check-in}

Well, I went ahead and scrapped one of those daily photo lists. It was all about fitness. You may have noticed that there are no fitness related goings-ons around here. Not by me anyway. But that's for another day.

All of my hobbies are project driven, I've noticed. I like having the idea, making it happen, and seeing completion. Things like throwing a party, making a wreath, baking a pie... They give me that satisfaction of something being finished. Maybe it's my short attention span. So these photo challenges are really right up my alley. It's short-sighted, I can spend a few minutes on it and see a result. I also really enjoy communicating through pictures. More a feeling than a story. I must say, I'm a hard sell on photography. I don't really fall for much. A dear old friend of mine takes pictures I always seem to fall for, however. You should pay him a visit: Chris Bowden

Anyway back to me. Here are some of the Instagram images from the past few days:

They are pretty good, although I have a hard time keeping the images really straight. And if I import an image into Instagram from my photo album it ends up being off center, such as the "Doce." shot. I'll figure it all out. It's a big change holding an iPhone to take a photo, coming from a 35 year old Canon.

Happy Birthday Bluebird.

Goodnight Moon.

Ping Pong.

Doce.