Friday At Last!

Let's all take naps.

xoxo,
Rachel

p.s. A bucket load of giveaways for your commenting pleasure below.

Giveaway Day #4 - *Shey*[B]

"Spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner. This can only mean one thing; many of us will be enjoying the weather, be it picnics and barbecues with friends, camping with our families or just lounging with our books by the pool.

There's no better way to capture these moments than with photos and why not look fabulous taking those photos? Here at *Shey*[B] we can help you with that. We make camera strap slipcovers that are not only functional but great looking as well. Refresh that camera with a *Shey*[B] Camera Strap Slipcover and it will feel like new again. Checkout our huge collection at http://www.sheyb.com. Inventory changes daily with new designs and styles being added."

-Shey

Shey is offering Smile and Wave readers 10% off your entire purchase by entering SMILEWAVE at checkout. This giveaway is for the camera strap in the top photo, a $28.00 value. Leave your name and your exciting (or not) weekend plans for a chance to win! Winner will be picked Friday and announced on Saturday.

xoxo,
Rachel

Giveaway Day #3 - Mae Flowers

Hi there, Mae Burke from Mae Flowers here! I will be giving away one of my new flower clips from my Spring Collection, Jenny. She is oh so vibrant and very eager to help you transition your wardrobe into Spring :]

-Mae

Leave a comment with your favorite spring flower name for a chance to win! Winner chosen on Friday and announced Saturday.

xoxo,
Rachel

Giveaway Day #2 - Gussy

"Gussy products are for the girl that likes to carry a little sass with her. Each Gussy includes my signature ruffle sewn freestyle, making them unique but beautiful all at once. You find my signature ruffle on a zipped pouch, tote bag, laptop bag -- even note cards!"

-Maggie

Leave your comment here for your own chance to win a $30 gift certificate to Gussy's shop. Let me know your favorite color combo this season. Winner will be chosen on Friday evening and announced on Saturday!

xoxo,
Rachel

Giveaway Day #1 - Gingiber

"Hello. My name is Stacie and I have an etsy shop, "Gingiber" that specializes happy little doodles! Recently, I've been enamored with owls! Perhaps I am like 2 years behind on this trend, but I think owls should never go out of style. I've been sewing little plush owls and doodling enough funny little owls to meet anyone's hoot quota for the month. So today I am offering one of my newest items, an "Owl Alphabet Poster". Each owl is unique and drawn by me!

Oh, and if you would like, drop by my personal blog, "Gingibersnap" and say hello! It would make my day!"

- Stacie
I loved this poster so much I got one for the kids' room! It's currently hanging above the new play kitchen until I can get it framed and it's even better in real life! For your own chance at one enter your name and a way to get in touch in the comments below! Feel free to tweet it for another chance at winning (but be sure to let me know in the comments section as well). I'll pick a winner Friday evening and announce it on Saturday!

xoxo,
Rachel

Thursdays Are For Getting Up Early

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Except when they aren't.

I, however, will be rising at an hour I haven't seen in awhile to drive to a nearby town to visit a highly recommended chiropractor about this back of mine. He's kindly fitting me in since I can't swallow, cough, sneeze, or laugh too hard without feeling sharp pain between my shoulders. Really I think if I just sat in this chair with this pretty pillow it would all just go away. Maybe if I also had a coffee in my hand. And a good book.

Speaking of books, I've just finished listening to the audio book of Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy and loved the message of 'raising safe, self-reliant children without going nuts'. I recommend it for those who find themselves wishing they weren't so worried about every single thing that could possibly happen if they let their almost four year old play out in the unfenced backyard by himself for awhile. I DID keep the windows open so I could hear if things got quiet (read: where did he wander off to?) or if he started destroying his red wagon with his miniature shovel, etc. It's helped me put things into perspective and give Sebastian a little room to show me he's trustworthy and mature enough not to visit our neighbors' front porch without asking first.

I've just started Simplicity Parenting by Kim Payne in hopes that it'll help me hold onto those things I know are important as more demands are put on our time in the next year and beyond. If you've read either and would like to share your two cents in the comments section below, feel free. If they are relevant to you and you haven't read them you may see if your local library has a copy available.

As always, thanks for stopping by.
xoxo,
Rachel

I Live In A Halfway House

Notice my halfway finished quilt.

Halfway finished cushions (well, I am still deciding on colors
but these are probably my fabric choices).

A halfway finished painting for Ruby's room.

A halfway clean workspace. Okay, so it's not quite halfway clean but it's been worse! I've got important company coming this weekend (hi, Dad!) which always motivates me to get projects finished. We'll see what happens!

Do you live in a halfway house, too?

xoxo,
Rachel

The Vintage Play Kitchen!

We were on our way home from visiting Brett's family when I saw a sign for an antique store in downtown West Plains that I felt the urge to visit. We'd never driven through the square before since it's off the beaten path home but all parties involved were either asleep or willing to take a pit stop so we found it. This is where I need to share with you all how consistently my dear husband says 'sure' when I ask him if we can make a stop. He is such a trooper.

I walked in and instantly knew it was a place full of carefully picked vintage but also pretty great prices and got a little giddy. I was about to go to the front and just ask if they had a wooden play kitchen to save myself some time when I rounded a corner and there it was! The SAME ONE I'd wanted and at an unbeatable price. I almost squealed a little because I really didn't think I was ever going to find one.

I've been collecting the vintage kitchen accessories for about a year and have a few more things on my list to pick up next time I see them but we've got enough of a working kitchen for now. In fact, Sebastian made his daddy a birthday cake yesterday.

I told Brett, it just goes to show that good things come to those who wait!

xoxo,
Rachel

The End of April

I love my family.

I managed to fall asleep feeding Ruby before finishing a project last night so I woke up at 4:00 a.m. to the lights on and sat down to finish it when I heard that little whimper signaling she needed to eat again. I fell asleep again until 6:45 when Sebastian woke up thinking it was time to start the day since all of the lights were already on. I sent him back to bed and was finally able to finish my project! Needless to say, three out of four of us are up and starting the day but I'm tempted to get back into bed to snuggle with a warm baby for another hour or two. Tempted...

We've still got a few spots available for May sponsors. Contact Leigh-Ann here( Frecklednest (@) gmail (dot) com) for details and to reserve your spot.

I'll be back later today to share one of my happiest flea market finds! Thank you to everyone who left Brett birthday wishes. He enjoyed that. You're the best readers!

xoxo,
Rachel

Celebrating 29 years...of Brettness

I could tease you about getting older but I'm only four months behind you! It's been a great year together with a few major life changes (note: joining the military, starting grad school, welcoming a baby, finally getting that Vespa) and you've taken it all in stride. You're such a good husband and father and are only getting better looking with each passing year. ( You should see him on previously noted Vespa!)

I love you. Happy Birthday, babe.

xoxo,
Rachel

Feeling Crafty!

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It's always exciting to be starting a new class. It's a creative challenge to put something together that is just a little outside what I'm used to in order to keep growing and experimenting with my style. I've been really inspired by bright colors on white or muted backgrounds lately and I can really see that going back through my Flickr favorites. It's one of my favorite exercises in spotting what I'm into at the moment.

What trends/styles/colors/concepts have been catching your eye lately?

xoxo,
Rachel

Lisa Leonard Giveaway Winner

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And the winner of the $75 Lisa Leonard Designs gift certificate is....


Miss Makes-a-lot

"i tweeted my love for this! so pretty, im adoring stamped silver lately - so chic! thanks for the chance to win :D"

Send me your e-mail and I'll pass your information along to Lisa Leonard. She'll be in touch with details on activating your gift certificate. Thanks to everyone who tweeted and commented sharing this fantastic giveaway!

Happy Sunday!

xoxo,
Rachel

Ruby's Loud Blanket

I made Ruby a loud blanket after seeing this one on OhDeedoh.

I took their suggestion to use the plastic from a package of wipes and added a few tabs to one side for interest. I stitched criss-cross lines to keep it from bunching. She's been gnawing on it for the last two days!

I think those teeth are getting closer!

Happy Weekend,
Rachel

p.s. The Lisa Leonard Giveaway winner will be announced Saturday evening. Thanks for reading!

Class Starts Monday!

Full details here.

xoxo,
Rachel

These Days...

I've noticed our daily rhythm shifting with the change in weather. Less time inside and more time outside.

Less time cleaning or crafting and more time digging, planting, and playing.

More moments of three rather than moments of two with one napping.

More teaching moments, more boundaries expanding, more wills being tested, and more curiosity being formed.

Have you noticed any shifts in your rhythm lately? Do you find yourself spending less time online and more time outside? If not, have you noticed a difference in others?

xoxo,
Rachel

The Part Where I Start Hating Squirrels

After weeks and weeks of thinking, prioritizing, growing anxious, feeling motivated, and finally purchasing all that I needed to do something about my new fixation on gardening, I have red strawberries. Or rather, HAD red strawberries.

I made my box, dug out the topsoil, filled it with purchased soil, transplanted my strawberries, broccoli, onions, raspberry bush, and tomato plant, and watered them well. I also used a vintage fridge drawer that I found under our porch when we moved in as a shallow planter after drilling a few drainage holes. Mostly because I had more onions than I had planter space. I settled on one small 4' x 4' raised bed to scratch the gardening itch instead of two or three 4' x 8' beds since I'm still a gardening novice and because our summer schedule may keep us away long enough for our garden to suffer.

Sebastian helped me water the plants and hammered a stake into the ground like his life depended on it. He also resisted picking the young strawberries even though they were finally turning red. Much to my dismay, I went out the next day to find the red strawberries were gone! Later as I was cleaning off the back porch I saw a robin pecking away at another plant and shooed it off. The day after that I caught a squirrel digging up the strawberry and broccoli plants! I wasn't prepared for such an attack on my little garden.

After doing a little research via Twitter and Google I came across a few deterants. Red pepper flakes in and around the plants to ward off the squirrels, a piece of green rubber tubing cut to resemble a snake to ward off the birds, cds or other shiny objects to catch the suns rays, getting a dog, etc. I've decided to set up Sebastian's teepee frame (minus two legs) over the garden and to drape plastic netting over it to see if it'll keep the critters from getting in. It'll be easy to water and I'll still be able to glean the goods once they are ready. We'll see how it goes.

I could always borrow my brother's old bb gun and have a teaching moment with Sebastian. I tease. DO share your own tricks for keeping wildlife from feasting on your urban garden as I'm sure I'm not the only one with hungry beasts living in my trees.

xoxo,
Rachel