Sunshine Turns 5!

It's happening. She's turning 5. Today. 

This little girl that a year ago I didn't even know about. A little girl more than half a world away. 

I've been trying to find the words to express some of the mixed emotions of this day, but I've had a difficult time formulating them. Almost as though I don't want to think about the loss part, and try to simply focus on the joy part. 

I wish it was that easy. 

She has never really celebrated her very own birthday. She looks at me quizzically when I mention it {and my feeble  attempts to prepare her for it} and then I mention cupcakes and balloons and her face lights up!

And, it's no secret, that when she smiles and flashes those dimples...well...yes, there is much happiness and sunshine! 

I'm pretty much in love with this shot. The bright {and painted the night before by yours truly}5, the fun balloons, her Hello Kitty shirt and the best thrifting find ever...her fluffy turquoise pettyskirt. It just captures her. Right now. And that makes me happy. 

I pretty much adore this one too. The table and chairs {repainted cherry red chairs from my childhood, now hers}, her special dollies {or 'kukla' in Russian}, one mama made and the other from her Nana and her simply playing. Love. 

My dearest little Sunshine I adore you. You are cherished and loved. 

С Днем Рождения!

{Happy Birthday!}

And to many more celebrating together. 

Moments {adoption}

I posted over here today a little of my heart. Hope you'll check it out.

Here To There {an adoption journey}

Next week is Sunshine's birthday. Whew! Such mixed emotions...once I am able to get them organized, I'll post about it all. :)

Guess What?!

I'm featured over on Gussy's Spring Gift Guide!






Check it out! :)

Book Bag Awesomeness! {a tutorial}

Last week was Spring Break here in our part of the world. Which meant lots of bike riding, trampoline jumping and, of course, a trip or two to the library.

I happen to have a big kid who LOVES to read. Devours books. And? He needed a new book bag to transport all the book awesomeness to and from the library.

SO, off we went to the craft store {JoAnns this round} and picked up a messenger style bag in black. I thought about going the Bleachy Tee route, but the boy decided he wanted it in color, so we went more the craft paint route {more on that below}.

Then my boy drew a design he wanted on the bag. A robot. Or monster robot, as he called it.
{I love my 8 year old boy}

Then, we took the bag and I handed him my chalk pencil and let him just go with his design how he wanted it on the bag
{PS this is a GREAT big kid craft project, but for smaller littles, mama could transfer the design to the bag }

Then he chose the paint color(s) he wanted to use. He decided to let me to the painting part of things. I simply took some craft paint and textile medium {both bought at Hobby Lobby a while back} and mixed them together on a paper plate. Much like I do for Freezer Paper Stenciling.

Then, just a small paint brush {had it on hand, but got it at Hobby Lobby in a value pack of craft paint brushes} and painted away, going directly over the chalk. It took a couple coats since it was on black, but after about three it was the color he wanted, so we left it at that and let it dry.

A couple hours later, I went ahead and heat set it with the iron and pressing cloth {or scrap fabric piece is what I usually use } and VOILA!

Rockin' new book bag for my boy. :)

InstaFriday

Yay! Look! I'm actually doing an InstaFriday post! Think it's been too long....

This week was our Spring Break. Fun times full of plenty of activity and just enough down time to recharge for next week....except, I still need to finish laundry. Life. 

Freshening the house up with a fun {found on Pinterest} tutorial. Smelled goood. Will do it again. 

Then spent some time at the in-laws while the hubby's sister and family were in town. Sunshine LOVES her PapaDoc. LOVES him. I think he's pretty fond of her too. ;)

We also got to spend some time with my sister and her kiddos and learned little Miss Sunshine is fearless when it comes to climbing trees! Seriously. Wish this pic showed just how high and FAST this little bit can climb! Gave this mama a heart-attack! But I love that she's is strong and courageous. 

Aaaand. She made up for my heart palpitations by having plenty of "mama, hold me pease!" moments. Love. 

Then we hit the trails bike riding. Her first time riding in the trailer...thankfully she loved it! I however am pretty sure I could count the blades of grass as a ever so slowly creeped up a few hills with the added 45 pounds. Seriously. Ouch. Jelly legs! But totally worth it! 

On the ride we got to see some Bluebonnets! It's our Texas state flower and we hardly saw a single one last year with the drought. This year though, we've gotten enough rain to actually get a few! Yay! 

Ahhh. And Sunshine and I got to stop by our local Russian market on the way home from our weekly Russian lessons this week. She was literally giddy about it! Me too...being of eastern european heritage on my mom's side, I am able to get things there I grew up eating. Yum!

Speaking of the Sunshine. Curls! Love them. And her. 

And then there is my boy. Oh my big kid that hardly ever lets me take pictures of him anymore. But! We got to work on a fun project together, just for him, while the littlest little {aka Sunshine} took a nap. It was fabulous and I will be back Monday with a tutorial on how we did it! Super easy and super fun. 

And that pretty much wraps up our Spring Break week. Happy times. :)

Fun Chalkboard Pendant!

Guess what?! I'm guest posting today over on my friend Aurie's blog Our Good Life!

Go check it out. You'll find a fun little tutorial by yours truly on how to make this:

chalkboard pendant tutorial

XO

Gotta Love It! Gotta Share!

If you follow be on instagram or twitter, you know I've been trying out a new type of felt for my Coffee Cuffs.

You guys....oh.my.goodness! I'm totally smitten with this new felt. If you know anything about me and my Coffee Cuffs, you know that I'm all about attempting to live more "green" and using recycled/upcycled materials for most Little Bird products. So, I was thrilled to learn about a buttery soft, washable and still just as eco friendly felt from sustainable material! Yuppers, it's felt made from bamboo.

Bamboo!

It's scrumptious! And, I cannot help but share it with you!

SO.....the first three people to comment on this post will get a Little Bird Coffee Cuff! Yes, I'm serious. Complimentary, eco friendly, reusable and fabulously soft as butta Coffee Cuff with just a simple comment. It's true.

Just leave a comment telling me if you'd prefer Purple, Yellow, Green or Peacock Blue! Quick...first 3 get one! However, if you happen to see there are already 3 comments, leave a comment anyway! Any comments past three will be entered into a drawing to receive a Little Bird Coffee Cuff.

Yuppers. :)

K, ready....GO! {PS and tell me your favorite color...I'll contact you and get your deets and send a special made coffee cuff your way!}