The Little Things {Sister Version}

Telling stories together.  Our versions are always the best--whether they actually happened that way or not...
Treating each other to head and foot massages.
Buying matching nail polish.
Honesty from one sister to another.  You want to know my honest opinion?  That nail polish makes me want to throw up.  Shock first, laughter second, then the follow-up question--are you still going to get it?  Yeah, probably not.
Receiving a back rub while eating ice cream.  Could there be a better combination?
Relating through husband-talk.
My kiddos loving their aunts.
My sisters pulling through the bazaar madness with me and coming home when it was all finished and insisting on helping me clean my disaster of a house.
Gleaming home decorating inspiration from two great decorators.
Making up scenarios that quite possibly only we find humorous--like imagining breaking out in Adam Lambert's song "Whatta You Want From Me?" when a foreigner walks into your house uninvited.  The walk-in happened to my alarmed sister, while the song was a retrospective insert.
My sister doing Flight of the Conchords imitations outside my booth...?
My booth neighbors loving my sisters, knowing us all by name and saying, "I hope you are my neighbors again next year!"  I hope so, too, Jean!
Flowering our talk with words such as whilst, wake, heed, shenanigans etc.
The help given when choosing the perfect pair of feather earrings.
Sharing sweet treats galore--only okay during sister escapades.
Thinking, I want to get knocked up so my girl can have a sister, too!

Seriously, what is better than sisters?

xx

Sister Love.

Tomorrow my two sisters are flying into
the Great Northwest from Montana and Utah...

to join me!

Did I mention kid-free?

Now, they can help me with mine!

Actually, they came to help me at the second weekend of the Christmas Bazaar,  craft

and partake in some serious sister-bonding-time.

YAY!

We need it.

We live too far apart, and it's not right.

Not right at all.

Four days together should hold us over for at least a little while...

and I can guarantee that four days will lend blog-worthy material!

Keep ya posted

-C

The Little Things

Watching close friends live their dream--in photography, music, family.

Five days spent with my sister,
and knowing that she is one of few who know me the way she does.

Tammy & I
Celebrating Husband's 30th birthday and surprising him to the fullest! 

Details to come tomorrow!

Remnants from the birthday--the hydrangeas, a new burlap table runner, a pennant banner hanging from the porch, leftover cupcakes...

five hanging baskets still alive.

Rainy days reminding me to breathe.

The surprise lemon curd, candle and hand soap from my sis. 

A successful shopping trip with the girls, the keep it simple sign hanging above the back door and how cute Jet looks in his motorcycle bandanna.

It's the random Mom! I love yous from Asher in the other room and the dance parties with my girl--they remind me of how desperate I am for my friends to teach my daughter how to dance, because I absolutely cannot. 

Journaling--my haven and my lifeline when there is confusion, questions, yearnings.

Would you like to join The Little Things series?

I host every Thursday and would love to have you join!
You can link up on my right sidebar, and please do visit the others who share their joy!

Reader Love/Giveaway 3!

Welcome back!

I've finally finished round one of my

Fall line
of book marks.

This series of book marks has been the most fun for me. 

It's most likely because I am fall.

I was born in the fall--September

Started my blog in the fall-October

Married in the fall-November

I love sweaters in the fall,

scarves, boots, hot drinks, pumpkin spice treats,

and walks on cool, crisp, fall days.

I heart the fall.  Big time.

 It is the best time of year, wouldn't you agree?

While visiting my sis in Montana last month, we went bead hunting.  After coaxing my sister's husband into watching six children (including my two) we made our way into the city to explore the bead shop of downtown Missoula.  My sis, Tammy is quite the shopper, and she has one keen eye.  She helped me swoop up some lovely pieces.  Let's just say I spent a nice chunk of change on some fall-esque beads and charms, and didn't regret a penny spent.  How could I?  During our shopping hunt and upon return home, we got quite the kick out of talking about my "Fall line."  Either this is quite funny to you, too, or it's a Davis thing.  Must be a Davis thing. 

I can't believe I'm writing about this.

We also laughed quite a bit that day when my brother-in-law called my two-year-old a "human recking ball." 

I, obviously, received this statement in the form of a compliment. 

He ain't easy.

Go here for more evidence.

I felt understood!

Someone felt my pain!

(Husband does too, but he's Husband, and his type doesn't always realize the reality.)

I'll tell you more about yesterday morning when I woke up to the fumes of hot pink nail polish on my bedsheets and slathered all over Asher's toes, which somehow managed up his neck and in his hair--another time. 

I'm still working through that one.

Now for the GIVEAWAY!!

But first, I'd like to say thank you!

I love exchanging with my readers and getting to know you better.

Thanks for helping me celebrate three years of blogging!

You truly make my blogging experience worth while.

I love this book mark.

I love the filigree, the crushed chocolate ribbon, the unique antiqued copper clamps,

and the gold brushed teal leaf.

 It will make you sigh each time you close your book.

There are three ways to enter this giveaway*:

1) You MUST be a follower. (Stickler, I know.  Reader-Love.)

2) Leave me a comment telling me your favorite things about fall.

3) Re-blog this giveaway and let me know you've done so.

*Remember--each entry must have its own comment.

Giveaway closes Monday, October 11th at 11:59pm

{This giveaway has closed. Thanks!}

The "Fall Line" will be in the shop Monday!

p.s. My check out my Sis's giveaway.  I want it!

A few more great finds

Last night, while browsing my blogroll, I came across Notes From a Cottage Industry's post on last weekend's Camas Vintage Street Faire.  I was ecstatic to see all of her lovely photos of the occasion, and especially thrilled when I happened upon a picture of the very table that I was telling you about with the very benches that I purchased. 

Credit

Here was the set-up that I fell in love with.  Minus the overly large centerpiece.  That wouldn't work if you're into talking to those you're sharing dinner with. 
Of course all of the pictures are worth checking out, so hop on over to the above link.

Speaking of good finds, my sis, Amber, did an awesome rehab project on an item she purchased from Goodwill, while visiting.  She also writes wonderful fairy tales with a twist,

so you should check out her post.

Here is the beautiful AFTER:

While Amber was here, we also made a visit to Home Goods, where I picked up this life-appropriate piece:

Amen. 

This needs to be in a place where it gets read EVERY day.  I've been married now going on five years and already I find myself wishing things were simpler--like they used to be.  Although times have changed now that we are parenting two young children and we're running a large operating business, there is no reason we can't aspire to making our life a bit more simple.  But how do we? 

I sense a post on this subject coming very soon.

Finally, is this lovely wall hanging from Burlap Luxe.

When I laid eyes on it, I had to have it.

photo courtesy of Burlap Luxe

Dore, the artist, shares the beautiful story on her blog that inspired this piece.  When I read it, it reminded me so much of my Brooklynn and her tender, sweet soul.  She is the same sort of spirit who would tell another, "sing and fly."  And it is the same message that I want for her.

Thank you Dore for sharing your talents with strangers!  I am still very touched by this piece!

It's final resting place is still unknown, however, I plan to keep it in Brooklynn's room.

You can find more of Dore's pieces in her Etsy shop.  They are beautiful!

Scraps, Chickens, Cherries and Checks

Plenty of you know that my sis, Amber,
has some serious quilting skills,

and whips quilts out like nobody's business. 

 So you might imagine how I felt when she came in town for six days

and told me to get ready to quilt! 

I was ecstatic!

I had an in-home tutor for the better part of the week,

and it was just what a newbie-quilter like me needed. 

I was able to finish my Americana Quilt topper less the final border, (pics later)

 like I had planned, and then suddenly,

 I was hit with this:

Amber found my baby bib scraps.

And what's a serious quilter do with scraps?

Make blocks!

She cut the largest sized blocks she could from all these different fabrics.

I believe they are 3 1/2 in. blocks, and she was able to cut

a significant amount, like 150! 

Then she talked me into spacing them with white blocks to give the quilt

a modern feel.  I like that it gives all the

funky patterns and colors room to breathe.

As you can see, this is something to be very proud of!

Using up scraps empowers a woman. 

I chose this fabric to use as the binding,

and I plan to use Amber's sweet little

binding tutorial on her blog. 

She was going to help me prepare the binding...

but we ran out of time.  I feel a fiasco coming on...

but I'm going to pray for good results.

I tend to get a wee bit frazzled when it comes to cutting fabric. 

So who knew that when you're a visitor

you must come bearing beautiful gifts?

Apparently Amber does!

I had a feeling about these cute roosters

when I spotted them on her blog a couple days before her visit,

and even told Husband that I may be in for a surprise...

but then I felt so rude to feel entitled, because she does have a lot of friends...

But low and behold, there was this with my name on it.

She heard me say last time I saw her that I like roosters.

I especially love these colors!  Light yellow, red, black and white.

I just love the applique.  The detail is amazing,

and it is all so darn cute!

Can you see the intricate quilting?

"Chickens, Cherries and Checks."

I can't wait to hang it in our new home!

I love my sis.  We deserve to live near each other! 

It has been far too long.

Can you imagine what sort of projects we could conquer?

the evolution of fresh blueberry pie.

Really, much needn't be told when there are pictures like these...but I'll give you a few details anyway.

This was my family's first trip berry picking!  Since Amber was in town last week, she came with us to join my sister-in-law and my niece and nephews at Valley View Blueberry Farm.  It was way too much fun, and I think I'd like to try and do again soon.  It was perfect for the kids, and apparently the owners don't mind that little fingers eat at least a handful or two in the meantime. 

Do you find yourself feeling overcome with addiction while you pick berries, too?

There were various types of blueberries. 

Taste-testing was a pleasure while hunting for the perfect picks.

My visiting sis, Amber

My SIL, Jeannie and I

Asher

My niece, Olivia

Brooklynn

Asher and his cousin, Hunter

Now for the assembly of blueberry pie:

The fruits of our labor in golden delicious shape.

Just wish I was feeling this way about my body after all these treats.

Oh, yeah.  I forgot to mention we made homemade vanilla ice cream to go with it.

In my family, it's homemade

or bust.

Doing any berry picking?  If so, how do you plan to use them?

mini crisis, fine dining and goodwill steals

It has been the busiest two weeks of my life. I finally positioned myself mentally to get a grip this morning, so I am back at it. Back to the day-to-day but hopefully without the mini-crisis every couple hours. I think its been a mix of my strained back interfering with my exercise routine, a whirlwind of summertime festivities, while being dragged back into our business scene. I was almost freed from such obligations when we hired outside help, but the help turned out to need my help. I never could get too far from the office, so now I am back in the books. I will deal. I will.

Last week I had the most fun in a long while. My sister, Amber came to visit! Sometimes when I am around my sisters, I see a reflection of myself, and/or my mother. It is quite interesting at times, but isn't it great to be around people who you have so much in common with? In mannerism, interests...and looks? It is always such great bonding time. I just wish we all lived in the same vicinity. As I said on Face Book after I dropped Amber off at the airport, I think it should be against family rule to live in different states. Seriously.

Ambs and I had a delightful time together. Over the next couple posts I'll show you what we were up to. We are happenin' girls, so the week we were together was overflowing with ideas, places, and activities--from blueberry picking, and sewing projects galore, to fine dining and Goodwill steals. Top that off with some homemade vanilla ice cream and blueberry pie and a sweet visit to Saint Cupcake. It's a tradition that I take each visiting family member to Portland's very best cupcake shop.

Hope things are going well in your neck of the woods!

Metropolitan Goodness

Last week, my sis, the kiddos and I drove down into Portland for some metropolitan fun! We took the kids to Powell's, "the largest independent bookstore in the world," and let them search around for a minute in the kiddie section. Afterward, we went across the street and drooled every bit of the store, Anthropologie. I have since signed up for their catalog and am enamored that I can have their eye-candy delivered to my mailbox free of charge! Go here if you are interested, too.

When keeping the our eyes on the kiddos in the "hands in your pocket store" became tiresome, we hopped back in the car to head to my favorite and only cupcake shop that I have ever visited~

Saint Cupcake.

And it only took us thirty minutes to find the place which was a few blocks away! This was mainly because it is tucked in between blocks of homes and offices. We did circle upon circle and back and forth on the one way streets. By the end, my Sis and I couldn't help but laugh. All those streets and gas in the name of cupcakes! It was a tad tricky find, but well worth it.

{A Vanilla with Strawberry Buttercream, mmm}

{My Brooklynn}

{My oldest sis, Tammy}

{My Asher}

{Yours Truly}

{My nephew, Austin}

As you can see the Vanilla cupcake with Strawberry Buttercream was the top pick of the group. I, however, cannot get over the Vanilla cupcake with Toasted Coconut Cream. It is divine, and it is the cupcake that I can count on each time adventure takes me to this sweet little shop.

p.s. Did you know Saint Cupcake does singing telegrams?! How cute!