Brick Walls.

"Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want something badly enough. They are there to keep out the other people."

~Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

Thinking a lot about this lately. Walls. How hard do I want to climb/push/chisel my way through? Why do they come, and when do they go down? Profound thought from Randy Pausch. Can't say I have read the book, but now I am going to. Found this from my sister-in-law and had to post it. Gives me hope that brick walls only come down to the determined, faithful, persistent and passionate. What is on the other side is worth the waiting.

Happy Site Friday: Livingplaying

Christmas is here, and we all have our wish lists for our kids. Or, our kids have wish lists for us. Either way, here is a fantastic place to find creative play toys all in ONE place.

About them: "LivingPlaying.com is an online store providing high-quality educational and developmental toys, products, and publications that enable parents to teach, guide and inspire their children through creative play."

Wooden kitchens, wooden cars, puppet theaters, unique decor, doll houses, construction toys, even montessori toys. My kind of store!

Holiday Gift Guide

In all the hustle and bustle of cleaning out closets and getting our place ready to sell, I forgot to mention this incredible Handmade Holiday Gift Guide over at Bloesom Kids (my FAVORITE blog by the way). She has included my Calendar...Thank you Irene! But all the other items she has included are so darling! So unique and great for you and the kids. Click here to get connected to list of items and their online locations! Oh, and check out her most recent post today...an OPEN house with the makers of LMNOP magazine. I love peeking into people's homes! So much life and creativity here! But thank you Irene for the mention!

I won!

Holy Cow. I really can't believe it. But I have to tell you.

I actually WON the marie-antoinette inspired dress from Grosgrain. I am still a bit in shock! With 1,003 entries, the odds were as slim as they come! I never win ANYTHING, so actually, about 6 months ago, I just stopped entering my name in giveaways since it just seemed like such a waste of time. Well, this dress obviously caught my attention, and since I have a daughter who literally says things like "Oh mother, you truly look lovely today", would sleep in necklaces and lace if I let her and can be found singing to her "true love" when ever she enters a grove of trees, I had to enter. Oh I am glad I did! I can't wait to show you pictures after it comes in the mail. This woman is AMAZING and I think that she is pretty much a genius when it come to children's design. Check out her other designs here. Oh...and the best part. She is opening a shop in two weeks! Oh the world is a sweet place.

Let them eat cake.

I have been following Grosgrain's blog for a while now. Every week she sews a new dress or outfit, and then gives it away. She is kinda brilliant. And I REALLY wish that I, the 618th comment, would win something like this. But honestly, the sheer creativity of this woman is astonishing! This is by far the most lavish of them all so far, but have a look...she is one talented gal! She is actually inspiring me to sew a lot more than I am right now!

An autumn wedding story.

This weekend was spent with my husband's sister and her charming new husband. I love weddings, especially autumn weddings. The air was cold...but no matter. Our sister bride was beautiful and we just love our new brother in law! Addie was particularly entranced by the lovely dresses, flowers and lights. She pranced around the gardens looking for her "prince" which when she called, Ian soon came to her side. My children are quite the romantics which ensured us all a wonderfully fulfilling weekend!