Beautifully crafted items from a sewing machine

{above photos from ES+ ES but found via The Neo-Traditionalist}

I was seriously dying over these children clothes found from ES + ES on Etsy. I am still saving my pennies for a beautiful piece from their shop. Speaking of beautiful, did you happen to notice that the word beautiful was stenciled in gold onto the above pictured skirt..brilliant.

And also speaking of beautifully handcrafted items...Have you seen all of the sewing Liz does over on Say Yes To Hoboken? I love it when she posts about her adventures in sewing or crafting. Lets observe some of the most recent...(click on the picture to take you directly to the post for instructions).

Oh and there are many other projects like ruffle shirts that Liz has done so you probably need a bit to pursue her blog over here.

weekend scene

Wow what a weekend. What is it about a white flag? Doesn't that mean when you wave one that you are surrendering? If that is the case then there are days I feel like waving a white flag. Usually it's not over something big but a bunch of little things that have piled up.

A few things:

*The Olympics were inspiring.

*It's time to take a moment to post on the family blog. I feel like I have so much to say about this Motherhood thing.

*There's a new gourmet pie place that just opened up, down the road. It is operated by 2 local women who clearly have a passion for making pies. I hope it is good because I love finding a new small business to support.

*Needed to use up my sour cream so I made the above pancakes. Didn't know I needed honey butter with cinnamon and toasted pecans as a topping until I came across this recipe.

*Sometimes I fly by the seat of my pants.

*I'm good @ finding distractions & project (refer below @ the latest vintage faux bamboo tables that I bought this weekend)

*I also am really good @ starting projects but not finishing them.(Blame it on the part ADD in me)

Speaking of projects...

This weekend, I just purchased the exact same vintage faux bamboo tables as pictured above. Husband said I needed more faux bamboo tables like a hole in the head. I say a few holes in the head never hurt..especially if I could re-create them to look like the below side tables from 1stDibs.

{boots, quatrefoil & a plunger}

I wonder if this little chunk-a-bunk realizes that I obsess over him more than he obsesses over all boots...

He is a very patient little dude..almost as patient as my very outdated bathroom...except different because he doesn't totally get neglected.

Speaking of bathrooms, when husband was gone the toilet clogged. Not my favorite, especially because we officially sound like a broken record as we coach the girls to not put too much toilet paper in the throne...aren't you glad I just shared that tid bit? Anyway, how about I make it up to you by sharing a beautiful bathroom?

Something about quatrefoil and beautiful legs (now that I am looking @ the legs, they kind of look like the plunger that I couldn't find..hmmm...anyway.

{found via Desire to Inspire}

Fridays are still my favorite.

Ye-ay it is Friday & swim lessons are over. What a feat to get through 8 weeks total between all of the kids. I am feeling so good today. What a fun memory to have of all five starting out in the very same class...make that all six of us after I was recruited to help & get in after the first class when the teachers could clearly see they were not equipped for 4.5 screamimg kids that didn't really know how to swim. I warned her but in the end I had fun being able to get in with all my little love muffins.

Sometimes when it is Friday I think about my days working @ Sundance because we the employees waited anxiously for the Friday special to be emailed out.  It was always an item that was deeply discounted as a benefit to working @ that establishment. Did you know that the big boss of that company (aka Bob or Robert Redford) got married?  I was very excited to see he married his long time girlfriend..I liked her. Anyway if I worked there today I would be pulling for the below swimsuit to be the Friday special. For now I will just dream. Although it is already 50% off on clearance.

{here}

or maybe these should all be on the the Friday special for $1.00 a piece...see still dreamimg.

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Sometimes momma needs a time out...

"If I wanted to be rich then I would start a mess making company", I said after I found the 1000th mess of the day.  I wonder what my kids thought after they heard me say those words.  You see, I wasn't trying to make light of a situation because I was serious and I 'd had it for the day.  Earlier that day I'd already settled on a theory that one of my kids must have been reincarnated from being a tornado in her previous life & was clearly having flashbacks.  This little girl is quick in every sense of the word.  Not only is she quick to make messes, she is smart and if any one of my kids is going to call me out it's going to be her.  I mean what little girl @ 22 months could point to my sweatshirt & tell me what the corresponding letters were .  I know for sure she knew E, A & U.  On the flip side I have to always remember how @ this age my little ones are so innocent and really lack street smarts.  It's awfully difficult @ times to remember that 2 & 4 year old brains do not even work the same way as my own.  Case in point as we walked back to our car from the store we could see glass all over the ground where a car had been broken into to.  My husband turned and said, "That is why you never leave anything out to even make a thief want to get into your car."  My girls didn't understand why somebody would do that so they continued to quiz their parents with questions like, "Are thieves bad strangers", or "What were they trying to take?"  In which we responded wallets, purses or shopping bags.  After a bit of silence, little "M" then said I bet the thieves would want to break into a car to steal toothpicks & water bottles.  We didn't even try to dispute a thing she said & just responded with a "Yes, they probably would".  My mind didn't stop there as again it was reconfirmed to me that little children are so innocent & special.  Sometimes I wonder why I would even be allowed to be a mother.  I am not even close to being perfect but my kids are giving me every opportunity to become closer to that goal but the thing is I have SO far to go.  So far in fact that it can be discouraging @ times as I am frequently reminded.  At least I take comfort in the fact that I am not the first one trying to conquer this motherhood thing nor the last.  Motherhood I've found can sometimes drive you to the brink of doing and saying things that you only hear of other mothers doing (or at least I thought when I wasn't a mother).  Today I will try to keep perspective while having stamina & patience.  I will resist the urge to want to turn and imitate my children when they throw a tantrum.  Good thing there is not a camera in my home or I may really embarrass myself.  Come to think it it maybe that's not such a bad idea.....but only for my own personal use.  

When we were driving home husband made a great point about how it was interesting that we are trying so hard to teach our kids to be more grown up but when they do grow up we wish they were like little kids again.  True, true....that is why when we were @ the store & the kids wanted all of these crazy hats I originally said no but then thought about the above and changed my mind.  What did we do with all of these hats....well had a hat party with cupcakes of course.  WE ARE COUPED UP!

Oh & I guess I am rich because I do have a mess making company!  

I'll be back with the cupcake recipe because it is a good & healthy one (as far as cupcakes go).