Ralph Lauren 2012 Commercial

Not sure if you've seen this yet, 

but I am ABSOLUTELY SMITTEN 

by the new Ralph Lauren Fall Collection 

and their fabulous commercials.  
This is my favorite, 
but I like this one too:

I think this collection is very "doable". 

Meaning, it won't break your bank to try to copy this look, 

(unless of course you want to drop $2,000 on ONE SWEATER as sold on their website)!!!  

The "older" and more "vintage" looking, 

the better. 

The equestrian look is beautiful and timeless. 

Ralph Lauren says it best himself, 

“Fashion is not necessarily about labels. 

It’s not about brands. 

It’s about something else that comes from within you”

Color Changes Everything!

Lovin' the new Target commercials about color! 

Speaking of color. Oh, oh, I'm getting so excited about redecorating Paisley's nursery in preparation for Lovie's arrival.  It's kinda bittersweet because I've loved her darling room for these past 2 1/2 years.  Some of "her" things will move with her into the boys room, to her new little corner of the earth.  Man, this nursery has had so many precious memories, (this link is what it looked like before Paisley was born....we didn't know if she was going to be a boy or girl).    

Last month we moved the boys from their twin beds into a queen bed.  Their room has had many transformations over the years to fit their needs.  They were so excited about getting a "huge" bed.  And for the most part it's going well.  They giggle some nights and keep each other awake, but other then that it's working.  We will move Paisley's toddler bed into the one corner and make it cozy just for her.  I love to improvise with what we've got, so these next few months will give me all the improvising I can handle!  

Here are some of the pictures and the website that started my inspiration for Lovie's new space:  

on the short list:

*paint the walls robin's egg blue, only below the chair rail.

*paint the crib yellow. 

*make cross stitch fabric thingys.

*organize Paisley's clothing to make enough room for Lovie's clothing! 

Lovie is moving and kicking so much lately and we're so in love. 

I say "we" but I know it's a different connection for Jake then it is for me.  From what I've heard and experienced, that's normally the case for most men, their "bonding" reaches new levels when they see and hold their babies.  My Mother's heart is smitten deeply already.  Came upon this picture and it fills me up.....

I expectantly wait to be able to do this with Lovie. xoxo

This pregnancy has inspired me and changed me unlike my other sweet babies.  Out of our loss has come a deeper appreciation for the beauty and sacredness of new life.  I still think about our babies that we'll never know.  They never got to cross the threshold of life on earth outside my womb.  And yet, if they had lived, Lovie would not be growing inside me right now!  I will never understand the complexities of life and death, can any of us?

Gratitude floods my mind and seeps down into my heart and soul.  We have many around us, close friends, that long to have babies and for whatever reason, they are left to wonder, question and grieve month after month after month.  It's so painful to watch them experience this and I often don't know how to handle it.  And my thoughts toward them and intercession for them is mixed with guilt and salty tears because of our Lovie.  This new life that has been given, the life we trust will continue to be given.  Yet, their journey is not ours.  Their valley of death looks differently then ours does. 

They will be comforted.

Isaiah 54:10

I wanna be like Ralph Lauren

 Yesterday Oprah got to interview Ralph Lauren because shes Oprah.
I'm kinda dorky about these kind of "exclusive" interviews with people that don't give many appearances.  I had my notebook and my ball point pen ready, (please refer to the first part of the previous sentence, "kinda dorky").  Being an older, successful gentlemen that made a business out of nothing, with no proper "design education" I knew this interview would be good and would have some "gold nuggets" so to speak.  Needless to say I wasn't disappointed. The interview took place at their 17,000 acre ranch/family compound!!  Wowzer!  And his lovely Jeep the color of a robins egg!!  OH, be still my vintage lovin' heart!!
 

I was struck by so much of what took place over the next hour.  I liked the way he spoke about the "hope and excitement of a child" when looking at the details of design.  Living life through the eyes of a child where all is fresh, new and alive!  "I'm not about fashion, I'm about living."  When asked what he was most proud of, he said his wife and children and "that I've done it honorably and with integrity" (speaking of his business).  And isn't that the basic desire of so many humans, rich or poor?  To say our children have "turned out" and that we've lived life with integrity, (to the best of our ability). No easy task to say the least. 

He and Ricky have been married for 46 years, (CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND AGAIN)!!  Oprah asked them what it takes to keep something like this?  "Be a good friend" said Ricky.  We are each others best friend and  "we see the world as a team."  "We had nothing when we started and we worked hard and we had values."   By the way, he hardly has any clothes!  So he says.  He likes to keep the same thing and wear it again and again, making it truly vintage and truly worn, truly "his own."  I don't have much closet space because my wife has it all!!  This sounds like most marriages I know!

 Their kids were at the ranch too and joined their parents at the end of the show. The bond they had AS A FAMILY was so obvious you could just about feel it.  The closeness, ease and comfort they had together.  Yes, we only watched for 30 minutes, but you can't fake that kind of thing, that kind of love.  "My parents were always home" their one child said in response to the question about their family ties.  "We shared a room until college" said the one son.  "WE SHARED LIFE AND LIVED CLOSE!" Can you imagine the mansion they lived in?  And they shared a room?  I LOVE that!!  And they don't get their clothing for free either!! "It's a public company, they get a discount, but not for free" Ralph said. I LOVE that too.  Let us remember that this is a picture of them all dolled up, (although very good looking people), they don't look like this everyday and they are MORE then what you're seeing.  We all are.

When asked about some memories they have of their parents, we watched them "just loving life".  "It's never one memory, it's the life we live together. Mom chronicled our life in pictures, notes and words so we know her perspective of us."   They started speaking of Dylan's soon approaching wedding day and the dress that, of course, her Dad will be making.  With tears in his eyes and a quiver in his chin, "this is the most important dress I'll ever make." "I'm not giving her away, we're taking him!" said her Mother. 

And so the interview ended, the camera panning away from an old window pane through which we watched them eating their dinner together, around an old barn board table.  Together.  It doesn't much matter if you have what Americans perceive as the "perfect" family.  It matters that you CARE, truly care about those that are placed in your family.  Those sitting in the chairs around YOUR kitchen table.  And for all of us, all around this world, that looks differently, comes in different shapes and sizes and colors.

 For some, it's just you and your husband, newlyweds living in a second story apartment, with barely enough cabinet space for all your wedding presents!  For others it's just you and the children around the table, no Daddy in the picture.  Or, like ours, it's a table full of "sit down", "eat right", "what was your favorite thing of today?".  Or it may be all quiet, hearing only the tick-tick-ticking of your fifty-two year old clock. Whatever it looks like, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU, it's the life you create for yourself, the attitude you have toward "your place in this world", (a shout-out to my favorite song from 8th grade and my first ever cassette tape, Mr. Michael W. Smith)....that's what I learned on my rainy afternoon with Mr. Ralph Lauren. You can't take it with you, so you better love it while you have it.

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!"
~Albert Einstein~

Anthropologie Eye Candy

On a random Monday in February I had the most extraordinary day.
My sister invited me, along with two of her friends, to a shopping trip near Philadelphia. It's probably thirty minutes from Philly, but that's the closest big city.

Our first stop was to a store called Antropologie. It was out.of.this.world. I've heard of this store from many of my friends, but had never been there myself. THIS is what greeted us as we walked in the massive 15 foot doors.

made of zippers and some sort of heavy paper! CrEaTiViTy AbOuNdS in this place and I was totally in my element taking it all in! A wonderful mix of vintage, eclectic, ruffles, steel and beauty!

the jewelry display was inspiring.
I'd like to somehow create this for my own beads & baubles.

The kitchen displays

They write your name on the dressing room door when you try things on.
loves it.

the details on this apron were GREAT.
I'd like to reproduce it, (but alas I do not sew).

and this one too.
My purchase of the day~~a flower rimmed hat with a darling bow in the back. I don't have a close-up picture of it yet, but it will probably make many appearance for the next several years in various pictures. It's versatile, (my favorite type of investments). Beach~Garden~Date night~Bad hair day~Easter~Weddings~just because.

I tried to be all "Anthro" looking when I dressed that day:
purple dress*tall boots*yellow bag*dangly bracelet.

THE creative, unique, lovely displays~~eye candy!

If there weren't people around I would have totally played "pretend house" here.

I really wanted to.

SERIOUSLY? Doily headboard? LOVE!

This next picture is from Pottery Barn~I liked everything about this shot.
Summer entertaining at it's best.

Of all the things you wear,
your expression
is the most important.
~Janet Lane~

Mother's Day Morning

What a beautiful Mother's Day I had. Thanks to the long-standing tradition of having breakfast in bed! Jake started that when I was pregnant with Tyler, (my first Mother's Day of sorts). It's been a special time each year and now as the children get older they too can join in the fun! They were so excited to open the door and bring me my tray of food and their little hand-made cards.
My heart was full.

After breakfast we went to church and then home for naps. For dinner we went to Ruby Tuesdays and then did some shopping. Jake bought me a lovely purple dress and the blingingest pink *diamond* watch, it's huge and gaudy and just perfect!! *We'll just all pretend they're real okay?? Pretend with me, won't you?* It has my initials on it!!!

Okay, okay, it's actually the name of the designer, Jaclyn Smith, but one again, we're pretending here.....it's actually made JUST for me!!!

As I went to bed on Sunday night I realized I hadn't opened the refrigerator door ONCE that day.....I can't remember the last time that happened, or if it EVER happened before!! I was served all day long! Thank you Baby for my AWESOME DAY!! I love you to the moon and back.

Speaking of loving to the moon and back....I haven't even begun to talk about MY MOM and how wonderful she is. Only now, as I get older and have more children do I realize HOW AMAZING MY MOTHER IS. For Mother's Day I told her that I'd like to host a "high tea" for her and 3 of her friends. It will be an HONOR to SERVE her for once!! Even just last week she came by with jars full of homemade strawberry jelly. Ever faithful in her kindness toward all 8 of her children. WE RISE UP AND PRAISE HER!!!! I love you Mom and nothing I could ever do could "repay" you for all you've done for me, for our family and for all of those that have the joy of knowing you!!!!

Well, it's 2:30 on Thursday and I better be on my way. I'm going to the beach this weekend with 9 of my girl-friends and I don't have a thing packed. Oh well, if all I have is my new purple dress and my blinging watch, I'll be just fine!!!

Happy Weekend to you each!!
C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E
L-I-F-E!!!

"No painter's brush, nor poet's pen
In justice to her fame
Has ever reached half high enough
To write a mother's name."
~Author Unknown

The Holler

Came upon this website and I am TOTALLY inspired. As with most flecks of inspiration that fall my way....it may or may not stick!! The name of this ministry is called "Holler Ministries" which in itself is quite possibly one of the coolest ministry names I've ever heard of. "Holler" as in "down in the holler", (definition: a small valley between mountains). There is a part of me that would not mind calling the "holler" my home. You know, a sweet little shack of a home that's paid off, (with running water and indoor plumbing please) , with a clothes line and a trickling creek, everyone is barefoot, you drink water from the spring house and you eat veggies, (from your garden of course) and squirrel for lunch. Okay, maybe not the squirrel part, but the rest of it suits me just fine. Now, I DID say just a PART of me would like this, and may I remind you that I am composed of many, many parts!!

So, back to my great inspirational moment. Their garden. Their "Hollerganic Garden"!! Don't you LOVE that!! I love it! Holler-ganic....genius play on words I tell you! You can read all about their "garden shares" at their website. I really like their concept. If you know us, you know where we live and you know that we have a ginormous backyard that is crying out for it's soil to be tilled. Also the hammock between the walnut trees is crying out for a lounge....so perhaps our garden shouldn't be located too closely to that area, I must take note of this. Here our my memories/experiences pertaining to gardening thus far on planet earth, in no particular order:

1. Picking weeds for hours at a time in our humongo garden on Zook Road. It was BIG in my child's eye and I had no concept of time.
   
2. Trying to impress the Mother-in-law, (and my husband) by planting a 4x6 garden in our backyard when we were first married. The rabbits destroyed it and it yielded enough spinach for, count it, ONE salad. It was pathetic.
   
3. Experiencing garden-envy last Summer when visiting our dear friends Wendell & MaryJ0. Sweet little cedar fence surrounding it, watching her little girls by her side as she picked the harvest and then being sent home with arm fulls of produce.

So, it's March of 2010 and I am about to embark on our first ever "real" garden. My hubby is very, very excited about this, as is his Mother, (who will be helping to get it started & keep up with the work....she will eventually be living with us on this property so it's as much hers as it is ours). I am moving toward excitement....slowly. He said to me the other week, "as long as you have something cute to wear and friends there with you, you'll like it!" OH MY HUSBAND KNOWS ME SO WELL!!! My neighbor Jess may be working it with me too....so, now I have to find "something cute" to wear!

How about this on the top:

and then this darling from Old Navy in the middle:
and finish it with these cutie pies....

Okay, I'm all set:

So, If you drop by and I'm not in house,
I'm probably out in the garden....

or lying suspended between two walnut trees.

One or the other.

"What a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back,
with a hinge in it."
~Charles Dudley Warner, My Summer in a Garden, 1871~

"Weather means more when you have a garden.
There's nothing like listening to a shower
and thinking how it is soaking in around your green beans."
~Marcelene Cox~

So you want to be cute.....

...AND modest? IS that possible??

I dare say YES, it sure is!! My friend Jena has this fabulcious , (fabulous + delcious) blog where her motto goes something like this;

"so you want to be cute, and you want to be modest....I can help."

If this is something that is important to you please give her blog a visit.

She has a great array of practical, insightful advice with links for places to shop!!

Here's a little number that I ordered off her site last year,
isn't it the sweetest swimsuit ever?? (I had to send it back though because
it didn't fit my milk filled self~~sad, sad day).

And the name of her blog is so stinkin' cute too:
Cute Covered. Don't you just love that!!??

Paisley~ 8 months old

My Baby is 8 months old today.
And yes, I will shamelessly talk about her again, hey, it's my blog, I can do what I want!!!!

Here she is all dolled up for her first Christmas Eve service. We were literally about to leave, (the boys were loaded in the car) when, GASP, I realized, I don't have a hair band for her!! I grabbed the nearest wreath bow, (fuchsia of course) and wrapped it around one of my headbands! Voila! Darling! Oh, she was so.much.fun to dress. Lace tights, mini uggs, fuchsia tulle skirt, polka dot shirt, velvet jacket w/ a flower broach and her one-of-a-kind headband!

She continues to stay true to her name meaning: beautiful and pleasant. She smiles continually! She is taking three solid naps a day. One in the early morning, (10 am) one in the afternoon (1 pm) and a shorter one in the evening, (5ish). She L-O-V-E-S her crib. I snuggle her in with her nuk, her cozy blanket and her new puppy, (which is practically the size of her). Nuks are only for naps so I think it's something she enjoys having. I'm teaching her now to take it out of her mouth after naps and throw it into the crib. My sister suggested that and it's worked well w/ both of the boys. They had their nuks until they were 2, but only for bedtime.

She is starting to "talk" a lot. It is precious. She says "Da, da, da, da" which is of course her first word according to her Daddy!! smile.

She loves people, however she is starting to prefer me over others, I'm fine with that! She smiles immediately when someone points a camera at her!!

Her brothers continue to love her and hug her and give her toys and occasionally wrestle with her too. When the boys are snuggy in bed I place her on top of them to give goodnight hugs, she usually gets their noses with her mouth and the boys think that's hilarious.

She eats well.....and often. Still mostly nursing, but in the morning she'll have a big serving of oatmeal and some fruit. For lunch some other kind of baby food and then a bottle in the evening before bed. Like I mentioned previously, this is the favorite time of day for Daddy and his little girl.

In a mere 4 months she'll be a YEAR old!
Is it just me or is time going faster then ever??

Oh my, how do we slow it down,

keep it still for a bit,

savor it?
Practical suggestions accepted via comments!

seriously.

"Do your part to make this world a cuter place to live in."
~Susan Branch~