I love this. A lot.

Thank you, Em, for sharing!  :)

Hello Monday!

Oh, Friends!  Apparently I've lost a week somewhere (or maybe two)!

I am so grateful to have had this past week off from work!  We had such a great time...

1.  Family night of UNO.
2.  Antique shopping.
3.  Twilight with CB (while Chris took the kids to Chuck E Cheese)
4.  Holiday decorating
5.  THANKSGIVING
6.  Christmas shopping (I love Christmas shopping!)

And speaking of Christmas shopping....

Hello to a HUGE Cyber Monday sale going on in the shop right now!  You should check it out.  Just sayin.

Hello to a busy week of work and dance and trapeze (did you know that Chandler is taking trapeze???)  and getting ready for THIS!  Eeek!

{And I am thinking that I will get back to a regular posting schedule this week...but just don't hold me to it.  Gah!}

Fire Station

Over the weekend Quinn was invited to a birthday party...at the fire station.  Do the fire stations by you do this???  This is the only station that I've ever heard of that does Birthday parties and it apparently is tradition...Chris remembers going to a party there as a child.

Quinn was really excited about it  - the party, his friends AND the fire station.

The party started in the kitchen area of the firehouse and the kids got chief hats and extinguishers to play with.  There were also balloons on the floor and, well, I think we all know how much my boy loves (loves, loves) balloons!

The firemen came back and took everyone on a tour of the station.  At the beginning of the tour, the fireman told the group of children that if the alarm went off they would have to hurry to the wall because the men and the trucks would have to leave right away.  The group of children all stood, staring and silent...except for my son, who replied, "Um, excuse me, if we can't hurry fast enough, we could just go on the trucks with you."

So there's that.

And then they gave the kids a turn inside the truck...

This is where Quinn tried talking them into letting him go up front...

This is when the fireman asked Quinn if he was going to be a fireman when he grew up.  To that he replied, "Oh I am!  I am going to be everyfink when I grow up!"

Following that we walked around the station and checked out the trucks.

There was a little posing for pictures.  Funny how he smiles and looks all cute when other mothers are taking the pictures...

The fireman then put on all of his uniform, including the mask and helmet.  The other children all gathered around him while mine danced on the back of the truck.  You know, all in the name of party time.

We then got to see the rest of the station (the kids were in awe of the sleeping room - so many beds!) and headed back to the kitchen for cake.  Only Quinn decided that he would rather be in the TV room sitting in recliners alongside the firemen watching the football game.  We missed singing to the birthday boy because I was coaxing my 4 year old out of the Lazy Boy.

All in all, though, not a bad way to spend the afternoon.  If you live in the Athens area, we were at Station One on College Ave and the guys were really great - something a little different for a party and the kids definitely enjoyed it.

Hello Monday!

Holy Moly, where did the rest of last week go????  Seriously.  Crazy.  And it's about to get even crazier!

First of all, though, hello to some new All Across the Universe pieces in my shop!  {I always name blue goldstones All Across the Universe...because they remind me of a starry night...the galaxy...which makes me think of the universe...which makes me think of the Beatles...which makes me think of my bridesmaids at my wedding...because they walked in to that song.  Whew!}

Hello to a super busy week!  Tonight is our only night at home all together this week.  :(  I hate weeks like that.

Hello to our last week before a whole entire week off for Thanksgiving!  Hooray!  It's what is keeping me going at this point.

Hello to figuring out some Christmas gifts.  This is the first year {ever} where I haven't even really started on gifts.  I am also thinking that I am not doing any Black Friday shopping {what, what??!!!  I know.}  The kids just seem so hard to buy for this year.

Hello to being accepted at the Indie South Fair Craft Show!!!!  Yep.  You read that right.  I am actually doing a craft show.  Mainly because I get to share a booth with these two fabulous ladies - Lindsay and Alison.  And believe you me, I will have A LOT more to share about this one!!!  Stay tuned!

My Wishlist {part 2}

And the list continues...

I love these bowls and this mug (in particular) from anthro.  I would love fiestaware one day, but would love to mix these pieces in with it.  You know, if my children don't break them while unloading the dishwasher before I get them. 

 bowls // mug // bowls

Now these plates have nothing to do with eating, and they should have been on my wall hanging post the other day, but, such is life...

1.  vintage chicago plate  2.  vintage grand canyon plate

3.  vintage sears tower plate  4.  vintage museum of science and industry plate

And I do happen to have a thing for jewelry.  I especially love post earrings (since I don't seem to make a lot of those, I guess).

 earrings by truche

chevron //chrysanthemums

 fabric button earrings from made by jewels 

come sail away //  mellow arrow // lavender lace

1.  lisa leonard gold from any angle earrings  2.  captured red post earrings

3.  cameo bracelet  4.  infinity knot ring

Just so you know, a part 3 will be appearing soon!  :)

My Night with Ree {and 200 other people}

Monday night was kind of a big thing in my world.  Seriously.

Yep.  Ree Drummond.  Pioneer Woman.  This wasn't my first rodeo, remember when Jules and I saw her before?  But anyway, I met up with my friend Sarah and her roommate Cheryl (and I had a lovely time with both of them - definitely a night filled with laughter).  We traveled down to Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, got our book signing tickets and then went to the Starbucks next door for dinner.

I want one of these in my library (just in case you were wondering...)  Pretty stinkin fantastic, if you ask me...

 After dinner, we had a while to wait.  So we read some books.  This one is a new favorite of mine.  Really, you must read it.  I am using it to teach inferencing from now on.  So, so very funny.

And then I got my book signed.  I brought a little gift (because that's just what I do, I'm a gifter.  Just ask our friend Liz.  For a good two years every time we saw her I brought some earrings for her.  But I could never decide on a pair, so I would just give her six pairs.  Surely she would like one out of the six.  But I digress...)  And this is why I love the Pioneer Woman (there are many reasons, this just being one), she is so very kind and gracious.  As I walked up to the table (before she was handed my book) she said, "Oh, you're Angie!  I'm so glad you came!" And then, as you can see in picture 2, she turned to the girl who works at the bookstore and said, "I wear her jewelry on my show all.the.time."  And that moment was pretty fantastic.  Just sayin.

Wondering about my sleeve/sweater?  Yeah, that was a foolish move on my part.  It was supposed to be high 60's, so my shirt was short sleeved, but as I usually do, I grabbed a sweater to carry with me, not really considering it to be part of my outfit, but then wearing it all day anyway.  And the sleeves look ridiculous.  Seriously.  Sheesh.  We can continue with the evening now.  I just thought I would address that...

But anyway, here we are...

And as I was walking away from the table, someone in line (that I didn't know) hollered out..."Hey!  I'm wearing your earrings!"

That was my Rock Star moment.

My Wishlist {part 1}

As part of our marriage contract, I agreed to provide Chris with a wish list for all gift giving occasions.  The one year that I did not do this, he freaked out.  FREAKED.OUT.

So, here's the start of it.  It's kind of long.  I can't help myself.

I clearly need more things to hang on my walls...

Like these maps  {hooray!}...

maps from lovely adelaide 1/2/3

Hoop art?  Yes, please.  And I love you.

1.  mirry mirry /// 2.  knitty bitties /// 3.  love, maude

Or a few of these prints (Good grief!  I must have favorited 800 prints on etsy.  I love them.  Love, love, love them.  Really.)

1.  hairbrained schemes ///  2.  pen and paint  ///  3.  the wheatfield  

4.   lucius art   ///  5.  the paperie  ///  6.  fancy that design house & co

7.  the wheatfield  ///  8.  pen and paint  ///  9.   katy girl designs

Hello Monday!

Hello to a new line in the shop!

The Birthstone Collection

It all started with my Gram.  She is absolutely amazing and like I've said a billion times before, I adore this woman.

Isn't she gorgeous?  She and my Papa got married young - when they were 17 and 18 (she was an older woman!) - and had six children, who then went on to have 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

 

And I bet you could ask anyone of us and we would tell you that we were her favorite.  Because that is how she makes you feel.  Like the favorite.  But she will be the first to tell you that she could never choose a favorite because every one of her children were perfect angels.  As are her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  And just like I said that I adore her, everyone in our family adores her.  She is so very loved.

And so, out of that love, I wanted to make something special for her.  For years I've looked at doing something handstamped (but never enough room for the number of people) or something pendant-y, but I just could never find something that was as perfect as I needed it to be.  

And then this came to me.  A birthstone necklace.  One stone for each of us in her family.  There are 36 of us included on the necklace.  A gemstone for each. 

Here's the funniest part of this story.  Her 82nd birthday was last week, so I sent it to her.  When we spoke on the phone she gushed over it and we talked kids and marriage and work for a little bit.  Towards the end of the conversation she thanked me again and told me that she appreciated all of the time that it took me to make it for her.  And we had this conversation...

Me:  Oh, Gram, it's ok.  It did take a long time, but really, it was a labor of love.

Gram:  That's exactly what I tell people about my potato salad.

Hahahaha!  Love.It.  Seriously.  It has been almost a week since the conversation and it still makes me laugh.  Potato Salad.  Ha!

BUT, because of my love for my Gram, I have a new line in my shop...just in time for the Holidays!

There are two other pieces in the collection...

The Birthstone Bracelet

And the Birthstone Opera Length Necklace 

{be still my beating heart!  oh how I love this one!}

 

I love this one in particular because of the versatility of it.  You can wear it long, you can wear it doubled or you can wear it as a wrap, five strand bracelet.  So, so stunning!  

I love these birthstone necklaces because they are perfect for celebrating larger families.  

(I kept telling my mother that I was going to market them as perfect for Mormons and Catholics.  :)  I kid.  But I can because we're Catholic.  Hello, big family!)

These pieces are something that you are going to want to pass down.  They will become heirloom pieces.  Something to represent your love for family.  Your love for your mother.  Your love for each other.

Some other hello's for the week?

Hello to Election Day!  I am excited to put the election behind us.  AND to have a day off since the schools are used as polling places.  Yay!

Hello to a fun girl night on Monday!  {Tell you all about it soon!}

Hello to November, I am so glad that you're here!

Hello to getting to have dinner with my mom on Friday!  How I miss that lady!

Hello to the hermit crabs still living (not to worry, we moved them into a bigger aquarium) and we added one for Chan.  She named her Flora Jane.

Hello to a new craft!  {pics coming soon!}

Hello to making such fun instagram friends!  Can I just tell you that I was so doubtful about instagram and after my Blue Ridge Craft Weekend and all the girls were on instagram...and I just wanted to see them more...and I do.  I feel like they are part of my everyday.  And I love that.  Because I love them.  {do you want to follow me...@ang4332}

Hello to getting back on the healthy/exercise train.  It has to happen.  The jeans are starting to strangle my thighs again.  No good.  No good.

 

Project Complete

I promise you, this is the last time that I am going to post these pictures.  Really.  

So this was written in a church bulletin in January of 2011.  I loved it so much that I posted it on my blog that day.  And on New Year's Eve when I was writing my recap of the year, I stumbled upon it and fell in love all over again.  So I started a project...writing the words on the strips to glue to the printed paper.  {crate paper if you were wondering}  I wrote that night until my hand was about to fall off and then put it on my craft table and have stared at it ever since.

I decided to finish it last weekend.

God gives us one day at a time.

Long enough for laughter to follow any tears.

Deep enough for prayer and silence to dance together.

Time enough to help someone in need.

Plenty of time to notice beauty and glorify the maker.

Sufficient time to build a bridge of forgiveness, or tear down a wall of resentment.

The right time to embrace friends, smile at strangers, play with children, give thanks to God.

Praise God for the abundance of this day we have been given.

Inspiration

I stopped by my Molly's after the bead show last weekend, and let me just tell you...every time I go there I am completely inspired by her her house.  {and Molly too, of course!}  She has the best collections ever....  like around her fireplace...

And then there is this wall in her guest room.  It's pretty great...

But here's the thing (and Molly and I have talked about this).  I'm not sure I would like just one of those pieces alone.  But collectively?  OMG, to see this wall in person???  Absolutely delightful.  Such a mix of sketches, and paintings and vintage photographs and an eclectic mix of frames.  Pretty awesome.

I always leave Molly's house feeling inspired.  And happy.
{except for that time I had a migraine, but that had nothing to do with Molly or her house}

InstaFriday {3 weeks rolled into one}

My sweet husband wrote a guest post for me...

Quinn...getting ready to go to the air show with Meme and Pops... {he's such a hipster, that guy}

A Saturday morning spent working.. 

The wedding of a former student {and current friend}.  We had so much fun!  I love weddings.  And I love weddings when I get to see so many people that I knew during their middle school years that have grown into fabulous adults.  Seriously.  Love that.

And then the dishwasher broke.  Yikes!  So I deemed the following week to be the week of eating out.  No kidding.  I was just looking for an excuse to have a week out.

New shop listings...

A favorite pair of shoes...  From Loft.  I love their ballet flats.  I wait for a 50% off sale and then snatch up a few pairs.

I made a new pair earrings for myself...orange carnelian ombre hoops.  I felt fancy.

Oh, look!  See?  Dinner out!  And everyone is happy!  Not sure how you couldn't be happy at the Waffle House...  {I love these crazy kids of mine}

Perfect for the Hunger Games fan on your list!  A gift set including the mocking jay brooch and arrow necklace.  

I took Casey to dance during the week of eating out.  So the two of us decided on take out hibachi.  :)

Quinn is pretty disgusted with the amount of picture taking in this house...so this is what I am getting a lot of any more...

Working on a late birthday/early Christmas present for my Gram!  I can't wait for her to get this beauty in the mail!

Cleaned up the bookshelves.  Hip, hip, hooray!

Poor Quinn.  He hasn't been feeling well.  On Sunday he randomly fell asleep on the couch while talking to me.  I don't love sickness.  Ugh.

I started this project on New Year's Eve.  No joke.  And it has been sitting on my crafting table half finished since New Year's Day.  Time to finish it up.  Time to finish it up.

Done!  Almost...I still had to glue after I finished it, but it is glued now and I can check it off the list!

A sick day with Quinn.  We were snuggled watching Dora.  We both love slippers.

After cartoons, he thought he should play Hungry Hippos.  He set the Angry Bird up to be the yellow hippo.  Because that makes sense, right?  I mean, we needed a few extra players.

 Working on something new and fabulous!

I completely lucked out on Wednesday.  I had a late morning doctor's appointment.  Came home.  Chris and I ate lunch and then we went to some of our little antique stores.   Just the two of us.  Just to wander and see what we could see.  And then we came home and I made coffee with whipped cream (just because) and caught up on some blog reading.

And then the craziness that is Halloween began.  CB, Drew, Jack and Loralai came down for our annual pre-Halloween feast (that would be pizza this year) and then we hit the neighborhood.  There two kept us highly entertained!

Follow me on instagram @ang4332