This Vintage Chica

curbside shopping

I love Tuesdays...trash day. I love that on Tuesday morning for just a bit all of the trash cans are clean and the garbage is out by the curb. I also like trash day because I get to do a little shopping. Curbside shopping.  Do you remember the table?  I still get an email once in awhile asking to purchase it.

This chair will be going into the sewing room to replace the rocking chair that is currently in front of my sewing table. There was a loveseat that matched this chair, but it didn't fit in my car...the one that got away.

For more curbside shopping inspiration check out Alicia's patio firepit, the slide the Bridgman family scored and her porch is to die for, Meg's dress up corner and  and check out this quilt.  It never ceases to amaze me what get's thrown out. 

 

P.S.  When S walked in the house on Tuesday afternoon and the chair was sitting in the dining room waiting to be moved, his comment was "How did I know this chair would end up at our house?".  He know's me like the back of his hand.

a little vintage, a little chica

As far as my daily "uniform" goes, I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. In the winter, its my jeans paired with boots and a sweater. In the summer, with flip flops and funky beads.

But lately, I've been finding myself a bit stuck and bored in the wardrobe area.

Luckily, inspiration struck just as my favorite black gap t-shirt got a hole in its underarm.

First I saw this photo from girl hula and then I was introduced to Aida Coronado's site.

A little vintage - the belt was my mother's and the vintage leather tooled bag was purchased for $4.99 at a thrift store in Wisconsin a few years ago.

And a little chica - this top used to be a dress, given to me by my mother-in-law. I cut it off and took it in on the sides to make it a blouse.

Its still jeans, but at least its a step up from where I was before.  Yay for Mexican tops and flip flops.

So, what outfit do you "live" in?

fishing lessons

When S is gone, I do my best to stand in for him, trying to be both mother and father.  I taught all three boys to ride their bikes without training wheels.  I taught the older two how to lay a fire in the fireplace this past winter.  It think I do a pretty good job of it most times.

However, this was not the case with fishing.

Each boy got a new rod and reel this Easter next to their Easter bucket.  They were all so excited they wanted to skip church and head for the nearest tank.  (Read that pond, for those of you not from the South.)  I let Ian open his rod first and in less than five minutes we were all a tangled mess and one mama was in tears with the mess.

We put the rods up on top of papas surfboards in the garage and headed to church and I prayed for forgiveness for the ugly thoughts that had been floating around in my head on a less than holy Easter morning.

And then S returned.  The rods were out again.  Lines were untangled...with patience this time.  Bobbers and weights and hooks were attached, with one parent instructing and one playing safety patrol.  Aaahhh...It worked so much better this way.

The lesson of the day for one of my boys was catching his first fish, a little white crappie (that's pronounced cr(o)ppie, not cr(a)ppie).  And this lesson for me had nothing to do with how to hold a rod, or about how fast to reel in a spinner.  It was all about the fact that there will be more and more things that only he can teach them.  And Im supposed to just sit back, let go a little at a time and watch them grow into men.  Hopefully, a lot like their papa.

getting into shape

No.  Not that kind of shape.  No running shoes today.  Im referring to a different kind of "shape", the kind that requires a keen eye, a little bit of cash and a talent for negotiating a good deal.

Its the beginning of yard sale (garage sale, boot sale, estate sale) season!

Yesterday, a friend of mine and I ran over to an estate sale across the street from her house.  There wasn't too much to offer.  It looked like the family had taken most of the :good stuff:.  But I did manage to find a few goodies.

• Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook (.50 cents)
• four pyrex bowls and one square glass baking pan ($3 total)
• one vintage flat sheet in one of my favorite butterfly patterns (free, they were using it as a drop cloth)
• and a little cuckoo clock from Germany  ($3)

Ian woke up this morning singing Old Dan Tucker  down the hall on the way to the bathroom.  He couldn't remember the second verse.  So, we looked it up.  And now I have The Boss's version of Old Dan Tucker playing over and over in my head this morning.  Now you will too.  But its a pretty good way to start the weekend I think.

It should be a good one around here.  We'll be trying out a few cookie recipes from the new (old) cookbook.  We're helping with an event for Stop Hunger Now tomorrow.  And our papa, who's been away for the past 6 weeks is coming in tonight.  We're a little excited to say the least.

Happy Yard Sale Season and Happy Friday!!!

the first harvest

We made our first harvest from our backyard garden yesterday evening.  Red leaf lettuce, butter cruch lettuce, romain, spinach, parsley and chives with a little apple and balsamic vinegar...mmm.    It feels good to eat something that we have grown with our own hands.

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And thank you for the outpouring of love over at Craft Hope.  This community continues to amaze me at how wonderful you are.  Thank you.

going back, i love my husband and craft hope

5 weeks ago S got on a C-130 headed west for a work trip.  While in flight, I guess he had some time to think, because about 4 hours later he sent me a text message saying "We are ALL 5 going to Nicaragua this summer."

Since then, we have decided that we will all NOT be going to Nicaragua.  We will take the boys with us at some point, but this is not the year.  I think the altitude might have been affecting his brain momentarily.  Our youngest is still pretty young.  And not that you can't travel with little ones, but a trip to La Chureca isn't exactly the water park, you know?

Ever since I was a kid I have wanted to do something big.  I read Madelyn Allbright's biography in college and thought I surely would be headed to the State Department and by 30 would be an ambassador.  Funny, huh?  A bit different than an ambassadorship to Malawi, but Nicaragua and the kids at Casa Bernabe are my " something BIG".

Everyday, we are all given opportunities to help someone put in our path by the divine.  And stepping into that we get to witness something bigger than ourselves, as wide and as deep as the universe.  Kids in Malawi need help too, as those in inner city New York do.  But the children at this orphanage in Nicaragua have have been put in my path, and they are mine. 

I am coming to learn that everyone's greatest desire is to be known.  Known by our fellow man and known by the God who made us.  We all yearn for someone to know us that intimately...truly known for who you are, what fires you up, what saddens you deeply, our good parts and our bad...and loves us anyway.  And knowing that I have a partner in all of this who understands that I need to do this...well, hes a good guy and I'm grateful everyday that I married him.  He pushes me and asks em to do things that I would never do in a million years, like write and snowboard and go to crazy out of the way places like Nicaragua.  So, that was that. 

I will be headed back to Managua with ORPHANetwork on July 2.

This time, there has been a request for handmade dolls for the younger children.  You can read more about how they will be used and how to contribute over at Craft Hope.  I want to send a huge thank you to Jade for helping get the word out.  You are wonderful for putting this together.

Can you just imagine it...some of the poorest children in the world, running around with one of the cutest dolls in the world?

So cool, eh?

This was a tough post to wrap up into a nice neat package, but I think that first photo taken at La Chureca pretty much sums it up perfectly.  Its all rooted in love, my friends.

The Magnifying Glass

I know...this is two posts in one day.  But Im just so excited about sharing this bit of news with all of you finally, I decided it warranted two posts.

I'm not sure if you all remember a little project called Six One Way.   Sometimes it seems like those photos were taken forever ago.  However, there is just something so timeless about so many of the images she and I captured last year.  Little boys playing in the mud, exploring the natural world, mamas following behind learning when to step in and when to leave well enough alone.  Trying to freeze precious little moments and discovering they are all so fleeting.

It was an amazing year long journey and I learned more than I had ever anticipated.  I really wanted to learn to take better photos.  And I did learn about depth of focus, bokeh and intentional blur.  But what I hadn't anticipated was making such a wonderful friend in Stefani.

She and I often joke that it is a good thing we don't live next door to each other or we'd be in a lot of trouble.  And quite possibly our husband's might divorce us.  Just kidding.  Maybe.

"Six" as we came to call it was a very special time and we just couldn't close the door behind us - hence the absence of closing week 52 photos.  We both knew there would be something more, but waited until "it" showed up. 

The Magnifying Glass has been in the works for months now.  Each of us working on it a bit when we had a minute between tying shoes and catching bugs.  So, check it out.  We hope you like it.

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Oh, and there is a new interview up over at Summer Unschooling if you are following along over there.  Jean (beetgreen) graciously shares a bit of what life looks like around their home.

Whew!  That's enough for today. I'm going to go make some baked grits and sweet tea.  Adios amigas!

spring break was...

: a little brother's birthday party : piles of dirt : their first 3D IMAX movie with the cool glasses : The Marine Science Museum where we got to meet Brady Barr from National Geogrphic : a nature walk : a visit to the zoo : a skype conversation with the orphanage kids from Nicaragua : a day at the beach with friends :

I think the older two boys will have plenty to write about today at school when their teachers ask them what they did on their spring break.  Don't you?

It was a really fun week, but this mama is really excited to get back to the regular routine.  Yeah for one on one time with my little buddy.  Yeah for time to work in the garden.  And yeah for some needing time in the sewing room.

Happy Monday!

I'm OK with Oklahoma

We live on the East Coast.  But when people ask, as they always do in a military town, "Where ya' from?" I say proudly I'm from Texas...and yes Texas is home to me and always will be.  My parents live there, my grandparents, all of my aunts and uncles and cousins. 

Sometimes I don't like to admit it, but a good part of my soul lives in Oklahoma too. 

We moved from Texas to Oklahoma when I was 7.  When we were kids we used to make fun of the state because the Oklahoma license plate bragged that "Oklahoma is OK".  Who wants to belong to a state that celebrates mediocrity?  I don't know for sure if the license plates still say Oklahoma is OK or not.

But truth is truth.    I graduated high school from there and even went to college in Stillwater.  Yep, I'm an Aggie!  My first little rent house and my first real job after college were both in the Sooner State.  I lived there until I moved to Virginia and got married...that's 19 years I was a Sooner.

Did you know the red bud tree is the Oklahoma state tree?  And mistletoe is the state flower?  That's what two semesters of Oklahoma History in 9th grade will teach you.  I guess some of what I learned stuck.  Today on our nature walk, the boys spotted a red bud tree far ahead of us and asked what it was.  They aren't hard to spot.  Their bright fuscia blossoms pop right out at you against the other browns and greens of the other trees.

But today, after the many years since living in Oklahoma, I didn't think about mediocrity when I saw the red bud.  I thought about Oklahoma and the red buds with fond memories of growing up in communities that were safe.  And of people who help each other when they are down.  You know, salt of the earth types who work hard and go to church on Sunday.  I thought about my brother and his kiddos...another one on the way.  S's sister and her kids.  My good friends from college.

Maybe this is a sign that Im growing up a bit.  Or is it that its been so long now that I am forgetting all of the red dirt and tornadoes that go with it.  Either way, I smiled today when I saw the red buds in bloom.

dirt - the best birthday present ever

I would like to say that Wyatt's favorite birthday was the silly string he received from his brother, or the print I got him from Sarah Jane Studios.  It wasn't even the police helicopter lego set his friend Joey got him.  Nope.

It was the pile of fill dirt delivered right in front of our house...and then the rain that followed.  Oh, and you see that interesting (and kind of pretty) swirling pattern we've got going on in our man made lake there?  Yes, that would be pollen.  Which explains why we're all feeling stuffed up and yucky right now.

All three boys have been playing in this pile for the past week.  They have spent many hours making bike ramps down the pile as their mama turns her head, sifting through the earth to find pieces of brick and rock...treasure to these three.

So, you know how a toddler opens the present, but plays with the box or the ribbon instead? 

Yes.  The same works with a huge dirt pile.  And my little guy thinks it was delivered just for his special day.

So, I offer my apologies right now If you try to email or call and we don't answer.  We're busy.  But don't worry, you know where we'll be.

P.S.  If you are in the midst of trying to play a little boy's birthday.  Stop planning immediately!  Simply order a large pile of dirt to be delivered in your driveway.  You'll be a hit with all of the neighborhood kids.  Promise!

the robot, rocket, alien birthday - he's 4 now

Wyatt is officially 4 now.  The robot, rocket, space party was planned (mostly) by his adoring big brothers.  And see that little green guy on the cake?  Yes, somehow "aliens" were also included in the theme.

We played "make your buddy a robot" with aluminum foil and duct tape...if you've ever played the silly wedding shower game where you deisgn a wedding dress with toilet paper, you get the concept of "make your buddy a robot".

There was silly string, given to him as a present from his brothers, who else?  Luckily Uncle Joe seemed to enjoy it.  Other attendees...not so much.

There was Omah's semi-homemade Oreo icecream to go with the brother made cake from this easy recipe.

The hit of the party was the tin can robot making table.  I had seen the idea in Family Fun Magazine and so had my friend Kari and it could not have been more perfect.  You can find the details here.  But I have to add, the hot glue did not work.  For most of the nuts and bolts parts, we didnt need glue at all, but for the plastic pieces and the pipe cleaner we used E-6000 craft glue.  It worked well for all other bits and pieces that didn't become "magnetized".  I can't say enough good things about this craft.  Really, you should make these!  Soon!

Happy birthday Wyatt!  "Wy-guy" to his brothers, "schmooga booga" to his mama, "mucha lucha" to his papa, and "chippermonk" to his Omah and "el vikingo" to his abuelita.  But ask him if he is any of those things and he'll tell you emphatically.  "NO, I'm Wyatt!"  

My sweet boy, I hope you always have that sense of self that you have naturally posessed since you arrived into our lives 4 years ago.  I love you, Mom.

reflections on Easter weekend

 

Late last night I went through the many, many pictures I had taken over the Easter weekend.  Saturday night we attended a Christian seder hosted by our good friends Joe and Maggie.  It was not the traditional Jewish seder (I have never been to a Jewish seder), but a Christian seder with emphasis on what Jesus said to "do in rememberence of me".  It was such a warm and wonderful evening, full of symbolism and rememberence.  It wa such a perfect way to begin a holiday that is increasingly feeling more and more commercial to me. 

Our seder included:

a candle lighting to make the day special

a scavenger hunt for the kids where they heard a retelling of the Exodus story

family groups washed each other's feet as Jesus did the deciples before he died

my favorite 15 year old leading communion for all of the grown ups

prayers for those still in bondage all over the world

paper lantern crafts for the little people

prayers of praise

music, lots of music

and of course, lots of food too.

Thank you friends for being our family when our families are geographically is so far away.

 

P.S.  Of course there were Easter buckets on Sunday morning holding crayon rocks, coloring books, new fishing rods, disposable cameras and a little chocolate.  And dyed eggs along with a dyed table and dyed fingers.

We are on Spring break from school this week and a certain little one is turning 4 tomorrow.  He has asked for a robots and rockets birthday.  So I am not sure how often I will be able to check in this next week.  I may post just a few photos from time to time.  And work on a few behind the scenes projects.

Hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend friends!

upcycle a painter's drop cloth: tree house pillows

I once read a quote that said "A sure way to avoid housework, Live Outside!"

And that is pretty much my mantra in the summer.  We live outside.  We eat outside, we cook outside and its not unusual for us to sleep outside.

In all the Spring magazines right now you see beautiful porches with pillows in the all of the chairs.  And I can't help but think of how impractical that is.  I mean, it might be nice for a party or having friends over.  But do you really want to be running out as soon as it starts to rain everytime to bring in your pillows before they get soaked?  The alternative is to have pillows that are stinky and sopping for days as the stuffing dries out.  I know this from experience.

But I have been wanting some pillows in the boys' tree house since last year.  And after making the tablecloth, my mind has been focused on other ways to use this plastic backed fabric.

So, here you go...another upcycle of a painter's drop cloth. 

Tree house pillows, under a tree pillows, yard cushions, porch pillows...whatever you choose to call them.  But the gist of it is pillows that can be left outside.  The plastic backing keeps the pillow stuffing from getting wet and the outside fabric dries in the warm sun in about 5-8 minutes...we timed it.

The original idea was to have the boys draw a picture of themselves on the swings, climbing the rope swing, etc.  But they weren't into it at the time.  So, I added their initials in the corner and called it a day.  They'll probably get colored, or painted, paperclipped or duck taped in some fashion anyway - as is the fate of most things around here it seems.

The boys think their new pillows are pretty cool.  They told me yesterday that now all they need is a light source and they'll be all set for the summer.  We did some internet research last night and found Not Martha's sun jars.  I have a sneaky suspicion :elecricity: will play a big role in this summer's fun.

Now remember that glider?  Im thinking it needs come comfy pillows to go with that cushion.

Spring break begins officially for us at 2:40 p.m.  10 days of uninterrupted little boy fun is on its way!  Wish me luck.  I'll post here if I need reinforcements or a rescue party.

vintage books: Calico the Wonder Horse or The Legend of Stewy Stinker

I have a huge weekness for vintage kid's books, as you have come to know by now, and could probably fill an entire book case with our collection.  And when you can pick them up for almost nothing sometimes, really.  I just can't resist sometimes.  So, I thought it might be fun to share a few of our favorites here once in awhile. 

Up first is one that is on high rotation around here these days.  This 1941 copy of Virginia Lee Burton's Calico the Wonder Horse or The Saga of Stewy Stinker was found (rescued) in Texas a few summer's ago for a grand total of 50 cents.  You'd a been straining to get to your pocket book too!

Most everyone knows of and loves Virginia Lee Burton books:  Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Choo-Choo and The Little House are just a few.  But if you have little boys who live in cowboy boots and bandanas like mine, you need to check out this lesser known Burton book.

I have had our copy put up on Wyatt's shelf for quite awhile, but he asked to read it again a few nights ago and it has become part of our nightly bedtime routine for over a week now.  Even thought we know what's going to happen, he laughs out loud everytime Stewy lands in the cactus patch.

The illustrations in this book are very different than the other books we are familiar with.  In doing a little research, I found this quote:

Burton involved her sons and their friends in her story writing, changing the plots in tandem with the level of their interest, then altering the illustrations to harmonize and balance the story. She contended that this constant interaction with children was responsible for the success of her books. This proved especially true in her preparation of Calico the Wonder Horse; or, the Saga of Stewy Slinker (Houghton, 1941). Her children's growing fascination with comic books convinced her that a compelling story and an interest-claiming format could captivate them, and she decided to create a story in cartoon format. Burton and her sons dreamed up many disastrous situations, pitting cowboy Hank and his horse, Calico, against the bad guy, Stewy Slinker. When the book was revised in 1950, Burton also changed the villain's name—Stewy Slinker became Stewy Stinker as she had originally intended.

Knowing that Burton involved her children in the writing of her books so much I can just imagine that one boy wanted to name the book Calico the Wonder Horse and the other wanted to title it The Saga of Stewy Stinker.  What's a good mama to do, but use both titles of course!

This book has everything a good western needs...cattle rustlers with names like Little Skunk Skeeter and Buzzard Bates, a stagecoach hold up, a stampede and a hero horse (who happens to be a quick thinking female horse) named Calico.

Even if you are from the East Coast, like Burton was, you won't be able to help but read this book with a Texas draw.

We love Calico the Wonder Horse by Virginia Lee Burton.  You will too!

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I am excited to hear about a documentary of Burton's life released in 2008 called A Sense of Place.  I've added it to the top of the ever growing Netflix que and hope to have some time next week to view it .  Has anyone seen it already? 

unlikely colors in the garden and a winner

Sorry this post wasn't up sooner, but we've been a bunch of slackers here the past several days.

Over the weekend the four of us partied until 9 p.m. on Friday with friends (way past our bedtimes).  I had a beer with a Mexican food lunch on Saturday with two of my best girl friends talking about big life changing events while the boys and Uncle Joe did boy stuff at turtle park.  And then we all skipped church on Sunday to play and plant in the garden all day.

The lettuce is coming along nicely.  As are the onions.  And I was able to have the first salad of the season last night with swiss chard and a little olive oil and balsamic.  Soon, we'll have spinach, broccoli, cucumbers to add.

And the mint is emerging from its winter sleep.

Pease are quickly becomming my most favorite Spring garden veggie.  They seem to grow right before our eyes, their little arms reaching out for the trellis and each other.  Wyat thinks the peas must be friends with each other because they wrap their little "feelers" out toward their neighbor.

Zane spied the first blooms on the strawberry plants.  This year we have plans for some nets to keep the birds away from the berries before we can get to them.

I remember a girl I knew in elementary school named Heather and all she used to wear was purple (once in awhile she'd throw some pink in to mix it up).  Her lunch box was purple, her clothes were purple, her room was purple.  She was the girly-est girl I knew.  She was my friend.  But, I was quite the opposite...a tom boy so to speak.  I wore jeans and t-shirts and my favorite color was yellow.  I wasn't big on the colors pink and purple anyway, but if meant being a girly girl to like purple...no thank you ma'am.  

It seems I have always gravitated to primaries, yellows and reds, more than pastels.

However, my front flower beds are starting to look like Heather had a hand in planting them.  I'm still not sure how this happened.  But, I can't seem to get enough of the blues and purples against the lime greens.  So yummy!  Perhaps I should write an apology letter to Heather.

OK, so enough about the garden.  I know what you really want to know...

The winner of the Beebee Mod $25 gift certificate giveaway is #67 Mama Rose of Love's Nest who said this: 

Wow...so much goodness on that site! I like the "Color and Critters" coloring book, the "Leo Fabric", "Nigh' Nigh' Mushroom -oh so adorable, and the wooden train. Thanks for the chance to win (fingers crossed) :D

Rose, so happy that your little one will get those coloring books now.  Please email me your mailing address and I will make sure your gift certificate is on its way. 

Happy Monday All!

back to the beach

Beach season officially began this week.  It was still a bit chilly, but with so much running and jumping and digging, jackets were quickly peeled off and left in the sand.  We are lucky that we get special access to a beach that is quiet and void of people but for a runner here or there.  This particular day we were the only people in sight, from one end to the other. 

When I was a girl, my family used to visit St. George Island if Florida.  My grandfather used to take my mom and her brother and sister there before there were houses and restaurants.  At bedtime my mom told me stories about their time on St. George.  About my uncle being awoken one night by a wild hog scratching its back on his hammock.  About climbing up the big sand dunes on the island and finding a rum bottle originally belonging to a slave ship.  My mother says that one of the best things about their time at St. George was that my grandparents could just let them go.  They were free to follow their imaginations as long as they were back by lunch time.

I have my own beach memories that include my brother and I discovering a sea turtle nest at just the very moment the little ones were hatching.  It was like magic as my mom touched each little nose, barely visible under the sand.  Which sent them in a mad flurry of flippers flailing frantic to get to the water.

All of this makes me grateful that we live so close to the ocean.  To be able to give my boys the very same opportunity to discover and run wherever they are lead without a hovering mama.  Our beach day left me wondering about what of our beach adventures will stick in my boys' memories.  What stories will they tell their own children at bedtime?

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With Easter quickly approaching, I've been thinking a lot about hope.  By the way, have you see this project over at Shutter Sisters?  We are making special plans for Easter - we will be helping organize a Christian sadar with some of our very best friends - and I just can't wait to see it all come together.

Entries for the Beebee Mod giveaway are open until midnight tonight, so there is still time to make yourself eligible.

And I am hoping to get caught up on all of the entries to the summer unschooling project.  Wow, what a response!  I am thrilled over the moon with all of the interest.  We have mamas from all over the world who will be playing along this summer.

I had also hoped to be sharing a project today that I've been working on little by little.  I have been heavily inspired by all of the neutral tans and browns of the sand with that amazing punch of blue, navy blue, cornflower blue...mmmm...but I didn't get any time this week in the sewing room.  Maybe this weekend.

Happy Friday All!

 

milestones and giveaway

Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed.  ~Irene Peter

I've been thinking a lot about milestones these days.  For me, its not big milestones - the first word spoken - that gets me.  Its not the first lost tooth or even the first day of kindergarten that brings on the tears.  Its the quiet milestones, that might get overlooked if I'm not paying attention, that hit me straight in the soft mama heart.  It is watching one of the older boys read for the first time to their little brother.  Its bike ramps and crashes and tears being forced to stay in their eyes now, when before they would have cried like a baby.  Those are the milestones that just move me to pray that time stand still.

Earlier this week the boys and I went to a local JV baseball game.  There is this great kid, named Zach, who volunteers in the older boys' Sunday school class.  And well, my boys think he is the coolest thing since sliced bread!  Zach invited us to watch him play ball sometime.  And it just worked out that on Tuesday, after homework was done, we were able to make it.  After a quick stop for necessities - sunflower seeds, Bubble Yum bubble gum and drinks - we were at the ball park.

And the boys were in heaven.  They couldn't help but wave to Zach each and every time he entered the dugout.  And bless his heart, Zach shyly waved right back each time...trying not to look too glad to see his littlest fans.  Watching them spit sunflower seeds and blow bubbles as they stared at the batter made them age right before my eyes.

They watched intently and asked a gazillion questions.  

"What does a foul mean?"

"But mama, where is fourth base?"

"Why do they call it stealing second?"

"You mean you are really going to let us spit...in front of all these people?"

And then on the way home, it came.

"Mama, can we play baseball too?"

Of course you can.

It is an amazing thing to be truly inspired by someone else, some one older, someone cool as all get out.  Inspired by an experience, a scene played out before you that seems bigger than life. 

I hope you don't mind much Zach ( I know you don't).  But you've got three little people who are making bets as I speak that you will win the World Series next year.

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And not to switch gears on you too quickly.

But, speaking of milestones.

I don't know if you have noticed, but the Vintage Chica blog has hit a few smilestone of her own.  She's growing up too.  There is now a new fancy navigation bar just under the header to help organize some of the information (and most popular) pages, along with a nice easy way to contact me.

Also, I have been asked a few times about what chapter books we read aloud to our boys.  And I get it.  Boys are toughies when it comes to a longer book that will hold their attention.  So, I have added the list of books we have read aloud so far  about half way down on the right sidebar.  I hope you find one that you think your little guy (or gal) will enjoy.

And finally, after much (much, much) thought, I have decided to open the blog up to sponsorships.  This was a hard decision.   So much of what I write about in this space has to do with our family and our little life here.  And making a buck off of that just didn't seem right.   That is until I talked to a small business owner a few months back.  She told me  about how it is becoming increasingly difficult for small cottage industries to make it.  How they are getting overlooked and bypassed by much larger companies with more advertising power.

At that moment, my answer was very clear.  I decided to welcome the opportunity to help out some of my favorite small child friendly, mama friendly, eco friendly, etsy friendly businesses.  And who knows, maybe I'll make a little egg money in the process.

And please know, that you will never see a product or site advertised here that I do not support myself.  So, at the beginning of each month we'll be introducing our new sponsors and having a little giveaway.

Sound fun?  I think so too!

This month's giveaway is sponsored by Beebee Mod, who happens to be owned by one of my favorite photobloggers, Jen.  The Beebee Mod shop has some of the coolest, hippest things for little people you'll find on the web.

You know how much we are loving birds these days, and well...I about flipped when I saw these little birdie doodle notebooks.  And these Colors and Critters coloring books...I've already ordered three of the  of them along with some crayon rocks for the boys Easter baskets.  Ssshhh! 

To be entered in the drawing for a $25 gift certificate to the Beebee Mod shop, just pop on over to Beebee Mod, poke around a bit and then come back here to leave a comment telling me just what you plan to buy with your $25... should you win.

 

Entries will be accepted until Friday evening and I will post the winner on Monday morning.

Good luck everyone.

And here's to milestones!

now that's better

I have to confess.  I changed all of the calendars in the house to April two days ago.  I've been feeling a bit like Toad this past week.  The calendar above, was designed by Renee.  It just looked good to be looking at April, even if it wasn't quite time yet.

March here has been a bit chilly and rainy for my taste.  The whole month, I have been thinking to myself "last year I 'know' we were at the beach by now" and "last year we were doing homework outside on a blanket spread in the back yard". 

One of my favorite things about keeping a blog for so long is the ability to go back and see what we were doing the same time of the year previously.

Upon checking the archives I found out I have been absolutely wrong.  Last year at this time, Spring was the same this year as it was last year.  A warm sunny day followed by a cold damp one.  We were planting our Spring garden and watching the rain.  We were doing our best to keep busy and bring a bit of the outside in.

So, I guess Spring is right on schedule after all.  So, is April.

Some really good mail has been trickling in every few days.  Rachel's photo arrived yesterday and made me smile from ear to ear.  I placed it on the shelf in my kitchen to remind me that even dirty dishes can look beautiful in just the right light.

Happy Wednesday!

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I have been overwhelmed with the response to Summer Unschooling.  I am still updating the participants list, so if you don't see your name yet.  You will.