A Flower Fairy Party




We finally had Rachel's friend party this past weekend! The theme was Flower Fairies and everyone had so much fun.

 


  The beautiful flower fairy that Rachel is holding was hand-created by my friend, Pat.



 






James is really good at face-painting.

  



Some of his handiwork!





The cake was handmade by our friend, Sarah Waters

 


Rachel and Daddy







First step in the Fairy Garden project was for each child to pick a bowl (James had cut a hole in the bottom of each one) and to fill it with potting soil. Then each child got to pick from several different types of flowers and place them wherever they wanted to. Then they added things like moss, glass half-marbles, seashells, coral, spools, sticks, small circular mirrors to look like little "pools," and even cut fairy clothes out of fabric in case the fairies might need new dresses.

   


Rachel's grandma helping her tie string to some stick to make a fairy clothesline!





One of the finished fairy gardens!

 


Another one!

 



And another...

 

tiny little details!




Even Andrew got into it. He is sure the boy fairies will prefer his garden.

 



Another beautiful fairy garden by one of the girls...

 

We had such a great time. If you would like to create fairy garden like the ones we made, all you need are the following materials:

-Large plastic bowls or pots. Be sure that there is a hole/slit in the bottom for water to drain out.

-A pan or dish for the bowl to sit in. I bought these bowls and matching dishes for $1 each at WalMart.

-Potting soil

-Several diferent types of flowers or other plants. Even cactus would be fun.

-Moss (fake or real), pebbles, sticks, half-marbles, shells and other fun additions can be purchased at the craft store or even found in your yard or park.

Have fun! :)

Sadness and Silliness

What a strange season this is.

There are hard things happening. My precious grandfather's health is declining and it is such a heart-rending thing to watch. Some days I feel strong and then other days the tears sneak up on me when I least expect them. Today it was while I was on the treadmill. I ran while I sobbed.

But at the same time there are beautiful things happening. My nephew, Jack, will be born in just over a month, and we are all so excited to meet him. Three of my four sisters and I spent a sisters weekend in Napa this last weekend and had a good time.

In the middle of my sadness this morning about my grandfather, my sister, Whitney, sent me some wonderful photos from this last weekend in Napa that made me giggle out loud. I don't have any doubt that my grandfather would have had a huge smile on his face if he could have watched and listened to our sister silliness.

This evening I am struck by the fact that what is good, happy and fun weighs just as much as grief, pain and sadness. That I can feel "both/and," and that what really matters is the heart-to-heart connection with those I am sharing this life with that exists in, around and through both the sadness and the silliness.

Today

Feeling a lot of love for my sweet friends, several of whom are hurting today. Wish we could all just put our burdens, responsibilities and jobs aside for a day and hang out together somewhere peaceful, quiet and just-warm-enough. We'd eat pinic lunches, pick wildflowers, laugh our heads off, cry if we needed to and hug one another. We would lay on a blanket, watch the clouds and listen to the sounds around us. We'd find a little creek, take our shoes off and wade in. And then when the day faded and the stars came out, we'd have a delicious alfresco dinner under the stars with good wine and plenty of cheese and chocolate. And though we can't actually pull that off in real life, maybe we can feel some of the sweetness of that kind of day as we move through "real life." I hope you can imagine my hug, friends, know you are loved and breathe that love into your heart.

Find this pic here.

"...And I Know That My Heart Is My Home..."

My new favorite song. I really like the music video, too, but there's some scantily-clad-ed-ness in it, just to warn you. :)

Here's the beautiful but not modest version:



And a version without all the skin, if you prefer!

Getaway

My husband and I went away for the weekend...one last getaway before the schoolyear begins. It was so fun. We stayed in San Luis Obispo, slept in, ate some delicious food, did a little shopping, went running one morning at Avila Beach, walked on Pismo Beach and in general, had a really wonderful time. I grew up going to the coast here in California with my family, and though I do love the mountains, for me there is something uniquely beautiful and peaceful about the coast.
We were so busy having fun we didn't take tons of photos but the ones above were from our last day, most of which we spent in charming little Cambria. We ate in a tiny sandwich shop and then spent HOURS in the most amazing antique store I have ever seen in my life. It was three stories and absolutely FULL of jaw-dropping pieces. I could have spent a lot of money but somehow walked away only $23 poorer! I got a couple things for the fabric book I'm making for a customer and a couple things for myself.

The trip was refreshing but also invigorating. There's something about getting out of the normal routine (and heat of the valley!) that fuels my creativity and fills my brain with new ideas. I came back with several blank pages full of sketches and notes for new products for my store, new clothing designs, as well as home (and garden!) decor. I'll share a few in another post.

Started reading this book...loving it.

I discovered a new favorite clothing boutique in San Luis Obispo, and oh how I wish they would open a store here in the valley!

It's called The French Quarter and is full of the most beautiful clothing, handbags, hats and even shoes. Here's what it looks like on the outside...

I wish I had taken photos of the inside! But I was so busy oohing and aahing over everything I didn't even think of it! James and I both kept pulling things off the rack to show one another that were "so Cheryl" and I just walked around groaning and saying, "Oh my god....oh...my....god..." the whole time!

But there was ONE THING that caught my eye especially. I pulled it off the rack and showed James and we both agreed it was incredible. I took it off the hanger and tried it on and...oh my. I looked at the price tag and gulped. Of course I couldn't get it! It was just a sweater. But oh my...what a sweater! Finally, I sadly put it back, telling myself that someday I would find another like it....

I went to the back to try on the most darling sunhat and ogle over the handbags and when I came back to the front of the store, James was standing there with the sweater in my size and told me that he wanted to get it for me. I argued just a TINY bit, but quickly gave in.

I have NEVER owned a piece of clothing I love more. I wore it that night to dinner over a tshirt with jeans and heels. I wore it the next evening to the beach. I wore it antique shopping today. I LOVE IT.

Are you ready? Here it is...not close up...but isn't it just scrumptious????

Here it is on the website in black. But the taupe I bought it in is so much prettier. This photo of the black one doesn't do it justice....

Here are some other pretty pieces from the website. There were so many more things in the store. The website is pretty limited. If you are anywhere near San Luis Obispo, definitely make a little side-trip and take a look for yourself!

Great pants...

Gorgeous shoes....

A coat I would wear all winter....

Sweet, feminine t-shirt....

So if you're in the area, make sure and take a peek for yourself.

Back home and beginning the first week of the school year with a full to-do list. Emily's birthday is a week from today, James started back to work Monday and the girls go back to school tomorrow, so there's tons to do every day this week. And even though the alarm clock went off waaaaaay too early, the laundry is going, my goals for today are looking pretty steep, I'm filled with an optimism and even excitement about this year.

It's going to be a good one, I can tell already!

Love this:

"If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking." - Buddhist Proverb