Happy Face!

I didn't get a chance to post this last week with all that was going on. Mainly with me and illness...UGH!

However, before I got food poisoning and migraines from a bad, bad place....I baked cupcakes!

Yes, it was Songbird's birthday. She turned 3. While my boy was at school, I baked the yummy vanilla cupcakes and then we decorated them when he got home from school. The theme he chose for his little sister? Happy Faces! We decided on pink and yellow frosting, with white eyes and mouths.

And here they are!

I wish I could tell you more about our Songbird and show you a picture or two, but I cannot. Not until we are official and given the go ahead to post her name/pics etc. However, I will tell you this....her smile lights up her face. Which in turn lights up ours. It took her a little bit to smile at us when we first met her, but once she warmed up to us that little smile kept popping about.

Oh how I wish I could have been able to give her one of these. I know she does not understand what a birthday is yet. And I know that in the future birthdays can/will bring up emotions and feelings in her of sadness and questions. It will break my heart to see her hurting, but I also understand it is something that she needs to process. I too would wonder about the person that gave birth to me if I were to never have known them. I think it only natural. And? We will be there for her, loving her through it all...no matter what.

So, have a cupcake will you?! I made plenty to share...so here you are! A virtual cupcake all for you. :)

Did Ya Know?!

Did ya know it's National Sewing Month?! Well, it is!



Be sure to go check out the Official Home of National Sewing Month for some fun projects, contests and giveaways!

Do you have a sewing project you are working on, wanting to start or wishing you could complete?! Have you been wanting to learn to sew, but haven't begun the process of learning?! Well, take the time this month to try something new! Start small, dream big and see what happens...

OH! And please share any fun things you are working on or have plans to work on! Feel free to share a link to it as well.

Happy Sewing to you!!!

Lovin' It

What I am loving today? This jelly roll fabric I picked up. It's Hunky Dory by Chez Moi for Moda Fabrics.

Love it. Love, love, LOVE it!

I plan to use it to make THIS quilt. I plan to make this quilt for Songbird.

I should probably get started on it too. But first, one more week of Summer and snuggling my boy before he heads back to school!


Do you have a sewing or quilt project you are working on?! Feel free to show&tell!

Sometimes Ya Gotta Just Let Go...

We went to the beach this past weekend for a little family getaway and to celebrate my son's birthday. He wanted more than anything (anything!) to go to the beach for his birthday. So, we did!

We found a place right on the beach that fit our adoption budget. No frills or fancy, but we just wanted to hang on the beach, so we took the no frills.

It was kinda nice not having to plan, send invites and all that jazz this year. Not that I mind doing that, but having a low-key, stress free planning of a simple birthday party just can't be beat. At least this year for our family....we've had enough stress and crazy to last a while!

So, we headed to the beach. I do not have many pictures of our beach vacation. One, our goal was to spend time together and just chill.

We did.

Another goal? To boogie board with my son and build a sand castle.

We did.

These things take time and as much as I wanted to just grab the camera at so many different moments, I didn't. It was hard, but I knew that in all the running and grabbing the camera and snapping would mean losing out on the memories being made in those precious moments.
(this pic taken by my boy)

Maybe I don't have a gazillion photos to show for it, but the snapsots in my memory.....in my son's memory, are priceless.

I want him to remember this beach vacation/birthday celebration, not with his mama constantly with a camera stuck on her face attempting to capture the moments, but actually making memories by being together.....and boogie boarding.

Oh, and also? My camera battery died and we forgot more batteries to switch out with. We got some more the next day, but ya know what?! It forced me to put the camera down, relax and just let go....

It was fabulous.

Lemonade Success!

It's hot outside. HOT I tell ya! So, I made a refreshing batch of lemonade!

I couldn't find the few recipes I had stashed (apparently in a location where things vanish...), so I did a random google search for a lemonade recipe...And THIS is what I found.

Naturally, Paula Deen certainly could not disappoint! And she didn't.

I will admit I can be kinda picky about my lemonade. I do not like it too sweet. I actually prefer it more tart. However, this recipe?! This one HERE....fabulous! Delish! LOVE it!

And yes, I am on my third glass...

A Gift With Some Sticky!

Did I ever show you what I decided to make and give to my nephew for his 11th B-day?!

No? Well, I shall share then!

Took some of this:


Used THIS tutorial


And VOILA! A handmade gift!


The report from my sis was that he loved it. Actually, his words were" mom, did you see this?! It's so cool!".

Whew! Mission accomplished. The older he gets, the harder gift-giving can be. Good thing I have a super cool son that helped me out a TON with this. He even picked the colors of the tape. :)

Have you ever made one of these?! It's pretty fun!

Strawberries!!!

We have strawberries!!!


Ok, correction. We had strawberries. I took these before we left for Russia.

Apparently, when one leaves the country and then returns and kinda forgets to water the plants like they are supposed to be, they shrivel up and go away.

Sadness.

I blame the jet lag...

Anyone got some tips on keeping strawberries going and growing?!