Lunch Notes

Every day this school year, I've put a little note/drawing in my son's lunch box...just to say hi, I♡U or make him laugh - some more elaborate than others. I assumed his affinity for them would fade as the year wore on, but he looks for it every day, and saves every single note - such a sentimental child! What will I do with all of them? I've thought about framing them all side by side in a big grid, but that would take a mighty big frame. Maybe I should scan them in and print out a more manageable sheet to frame? Or just drop them all into a shadow box frame? Well see...
For now, here's a glimpse at the notes for next week:

SUPER Easy Valentines Day Garland DIY

While the boy worked on homemade Valentines for his classmates, I busied myself with this super easy, super cute heart garland. It's really rather simple. All you need...

❤ pink and red paper
❤ scissors
❤ string/thread
❤ pretty washi tape, preferably pink and red

That's it. Cut, tape, and hang anywhere for instant Valentines sweetness. ❤

Hi there

I am not sure if the baby learned that greeting from me or not, but she says it to any and everyone..."hah dere...hah dere!" Such a sweet little lady. :)


















Today is my long awaited work day. Here's the ambitious list I'll be chipping away at:

- pillows (as previously mentioned)
- a fun skirt for the baby (I've been holding on to some cute dinosaur fabric for years)
- a flower crown like this
- working on some shadow box ideas (this one would be perfect for the boy)
- if time allows, new jewelry for the shop (sorry shop, you're last on the list today)

Happy Work Day!

Ru's First Gig

Little Ru-Baby made her Xenotees modeling debut today.
(Y'all remember the deal we have with Noelle?) She's been outfitting our family for a few years now, and Ruthie got to join in on the fun.
Here she is!
(she was being a stubborn little stinker in that second photo and wouldn't turn around for the camera!!!)














































*Technically, it wasn't her first gig...see her here undercover.

Cupid

I borrowed another camera (ours is still broken!) and I've been trying to cram as much work into nap time as I can before returning it. I just got through photographing a few things, including this sweet vintage charm necklace:

Cupid & Heart Necklace
















My borrowed camera is infinitely better than the old one I am used to. It has spoiled me rotten and left me sorting through the penny jar to see how long it would take to save up for one of my own. I'm so grateful to have it for a few days, but going back to my dinosaur camera is going to be tough.

Here are a few I snapped of my own little Cupid during lunch today...

DIYs of the Day

Now that holidays have come and gone, and Christmas has been successfully boxed up and crammed to the back of the garage, I'm itching to do a few DIY projects and spruce the place up. First on my list is new pillows for our couch. We need color around here and we can't paint(!) as renters...so sad. But in my search for quick easy pillow cover tutorials, I stumbled on a few other DIYs and had to share.

No. 1 - Pillow covers. Seems easy enough, right?


















No. 2 - Animal Jars. A cute way to organize the kids craft supplies.























No. 3 - Twig Jewelry Display. I have waaay too much jewelry to put it all on one branch... maybe I just put out my favorites? Or else I'd need to make a forest.























Happy DIY-ing!

Just in time for Christmas

This was one of the first (and last!) "Christmasy" pictures I took before our camera broke. BROKE! Can you believe the timing? I love that all I could muster for the holiday season was a screaming baby and some matching pj's.























While the hubs tries to fix the camera himself with tiny chips and boards and fuses and whatnot, I am trying to figure out creative ways to keep up with out a camera! Well, that's kind of a lie. I am secretly thrilled with the break it gave me from Etsy work, but especially from documenting family life.
We keep a little blog for friends and family of the kiddos - which I love doing - but during a time when events and busyness can overtake a little family, it can be just one more thing to do.
At first I felt odd and unprepared when we headed to two different Christmas sing-a-long/pageants for the four year old with out my camera. Then there's decorating, Christmas crafts and outings, dressing up on Sunday, Christmas parties...etc. I have been forced to enjoy them all first-hand, with my own eyes, relying on my own memory and I am loving it. Not to mention the time I've saved not uploading, editing and blogging every move the kids make.
It won't be forever, but my forced technology fast has been a welcomed change.

















As for The Shop, thankfully I am like a little squirrel stashing acorns away for winter - I already had a slew of new things made, photographed and ready to list...so no long breaks for me there. New goods on the way this week!