not exactly fair.

is it fair that my six year old has two new pairs of stuart weitzman sandals? adorable.

spring has sprung.

it's been a long winter. lots of snow and ice and cold. and misery. but. it appears.

that spring has finally poked her head out and decided (i hope) to stick around.

the trees are budding. the flowers are blooming. people are smiling again. and allergies. allergies are miserable.

miserable. but so worth it to see these beauties.

my day.

mom. mom. come quick.

my shoe is stuck in the tree.

interlude.

a little musical interlude today. i love this song. by the way.

Mindy Smith - What If the World Stops Turning
Uploaded by Kronos59. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

animal crackers.

look what someone's getting in her easter basket this year.

a bit strange of a partnership maybe. but darn cute. and who can beat lilly at under a dollar? proceeds benefit the world wildlife fund's tiger conservation efforts. and i found them at target. gotta love target.

a new chapter.

i sold our crib today. i know this might seem like nothing. but to me. it was a big milestone. moving on. new chapter. call it what you might. but it was huge. well. a huge piece of furniture taking up an enormous amount of room in our garage...


but this is it. we are officially past the baby stage. big kid beds. no more cribs, bottles, diapers, wipes, onesies. no more sweet baby smells, and clothes labeled by months, not years, spit up and burb cloths. baby carriers and cooing.


now we are officially into i'm big, i'm the biggest, who can win, who can get their first, who lost a tooth, who is growing taller "just now". we are into scooters (not strollers), race cars (not stuffed ones to chew on) and swings that you use your legs, not a battery to swing. we are all about playing wii, and playing with friends, and reading (!) and deciding who we're going to marry (ugh).


so it's a new chapter. a good one. i think.

within.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

love.

i'm usually into vintage fabric.
but i am loving. loving. this new st. croix line. by jennifer paganelli. available here.



and this. green hydrangea and pink chandelier from the olivia's holiday collection (love the name, too.) . by Tina Givens for Free Spirit. available here.



and well. we know. i have a thing for fruit. well. strawberries.
strawberries summer by metro market and tasty treats (by Caleb Gray) for Robert Kaufman (available here and here.) and so sweet. so sweet. neighborhood (available here.) and tweet tweet birds both by hoffman house. (available here.).

twigs.

oh. my gosh. these tiny twig hair pins from woodland belle. are adorable. adorable!
you can order them. here. and she's even offering a spring special right now. so sweet.

sunshine.

some sunshine. for a busy. busy. week ahead.

we have three doctors appointments.
dance class.
two gymnastic classes.
choir.
loads of work. loads.
loads of laundry. and post-travel cleaning.
appointments to make and appointments to reschedule.
a basketball tournament to watch!
plans to make.
calls. to make.
ideas. lots of ideas. to get to.

just stuff. lots of stuff to fill the week. wish me luck.

someone.

well.

at least. someone. still delights in this stuff.

one.

two.

three.

voila!

it's daddy she yelled!

oh. really.

today's the first day of winter? oh. no. that's supposed to be spring. spring.

remember that season?

• green grass.
• birds chirping.
• flowers blooming.
• flip flops.
• open windows.
• fresh air.
• no coats.

i guess. mother nature. thought it would be funny to play a trick on us this year.


well. guess. what. it's. not. funny. go away old man winter.

two days ago. i was enjoying this.


i'm not. enjoying this.

back.

we're home!

home.ward.bound.

after lots of fun in texas this week. we are headed home today.

we've plotted the route. taking back roads. and byways. planning stops at places that look like they have treasures. the littles are snuggled in with movies and snacks. wish us luck.

ahh.

we're in wonderful austin today.


cool.

funky.


fun.

austin.

some swimming.
some shopping.
some visiting with dear friends.
does it get better?

i could live here. that's for certain.

all american.

since it is spring break. and since we did come here. we decided it would be fun to spend some time at the american girl doll store.


a bit of brunch. a bit of shopping. a whole lot of excitement.

little one was giddy. just giddy. posing with kit. eating with her. she got her own spot at the table and her own menu.


and then shopping. she just couldn't decide. the decisions. eventually. eventually. with left with kit's friend ruthie and. well. let's just say. numerous accessories and outfits.


little two. was just. a good sport. about the whole doll business...

deep in the heart.

we've headed out of town this week.

and we are deep in the heart of...

i just. am.

going to get some some flowers today. we need some spring around here.

treaures.

oh. how i love a good sale. i'm not talking about the retail variety. the everyday. the ordinary. the mass produced. oh. sure. those are good. it's always good to get stuff on sale. but. let's face it. retailers have mass produced items. they're not unique. and not always of particularly good quality. no matter what the brand. or the retailer.

the sales i love. love. are estate sales. you know the ones. the good ones. the really. really. good. ones. you don't come across them all that often. the ones that are full of great things. boxes to dig through. treasures to uncover. finds to covet.

and this weekend. well. let's just say. it was really. really. really. good.

four generations. never threw anything away. ever.

packed to the rafters. full of stuff. wonderful. old. vintage. unique. stuff.

i was there for hours. hours. and then i went back later with a partner in crime. for more. and the house was still full. full of wonderful things.

treasures. beautiful. unique. delightful treasures. i'll share pictures when i get done sorting through all my finds.

these things only come along in a blue moon. it must have been one. i tell. you.

restless.

little two is getting restless. this after all. the second day of spring break. yes. day two already.

and since we spring break'd two weeks ago. we're home. at least for a few days. until we are up and road tripping it south of here.

but he is restless. he needs to get outside. get some sunshine. burn off some energy. it is grey and dreary. misty and spitting and just plain cold.

it seems. that age three. might be harder than age two. definitely in my mind. more silliness. more trouble. more mischief. more hunger. "mommy i getting so hungry." two minutes after lunch. the second he wakes up. all day. i hear this. "but i getting so hungry"... all day. he "just so hungry." between being hungry. and playing wii. he exhausts me. everyday. did i mention that today is only the second day of spring break?

i got an email from my father-in-law. his quote "three only lasts one year."

oh.

there's a funeral tomorrow. for my dear friend's dad. it just breaks my heart. i feel so sad for her and her mom and sister.

i have such great memories of her dad - crazy dad's weekends at college. her wedding, parties, his great stories. he was a wonderful story teller, you see. the kind that you don't run into these days.

i'll miss his stories and him. but his memory will stay with me. i'm searching for a picture to post with this. and i'll post it as soon as i can find one. digging through all those old memories takes time and reflection. and reflect is what i'm doing. and thinking. and sending prayers and hugs to my friend and her family.

WILD GEESE

Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good,

You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting,

You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile, the world goes on,

Meanwhile, the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes,

Over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers,

Meanwhile, the wild geese, high in the clean blue air are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

The world offers itself to your imagination.

Calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting,

Over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

no more.

after this.

i'm done. done with socks for the winter.

these toes are free. cold. a bit chilly but free.

someday.

Ancient Egyptians believed that upon death they would be asked two questions and their answers would determine whether they could continue their journey in the afterlife. The first question was, 'Did you bring joy?' The second was, 'Did you find joy?
Dr. Leo Buscaglia

my friend, michelle's dad certainly brought joy. much joy and he most certainly found joy. lots and lots of joy with his wife and daughters and grandsons. he was blessed and they were, too.

joy.

hugs.

my dear friend michelle. lost her dad tonight.

words just escape me.

so i am sending hugs. lots of hugs to her this march evening.

why hello. there.

well. well. look who decided to come to the party....

sparkle.

just doing a little virtual window shopping today.

this little dress. would make me very happy right now.


along with these shoes.

leprechauns.

sometimes. i think i live with leprechauns.

green.

thinking green today. it must be march.