Party Umbrellas

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Last weekend, we helped the Noodle fête PLuv because he is oh-so-excited about Baby Watson who is due to arrive any day now.


He picked out a lovey and one of his own baby outfits for his gifts, we had pastries and decorations too. He carefully put all the little party umbrellas on each pastry. After the party, he asked me if Jamie had an umbilical cord inside attached to her baby, I said yes. Then he asked, did the food she just ate go through to her baby? I said, yes. Then he squealed, "I got to feed her baby! EEEEE!" Precious. :)

On a side note, I think party umbrellas make everything all better! Do you think if the stack of mail or the pile of laundry came bundled with a little party umbrella,  it would be less of a chore?

Curious New Year

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Good morning my friends! I kept waiting to post until I had a plan, but that might keep this blog stuck in 2010 until June. :)

I'm feeling rather curious about what this new year will bring my way


This is from my favorite series of images that I have taken in quite some time. I actually went out in search of cows with some lenses I borrowed from work, but the cows were not out grazing when I was out shooting. I did find these feisty goats and I have had a soft spot for goats for almost 6 years now. I'll have to share my goat love story sometime here.



I know this is going to be a big year. We have at least one move ahead of us and possibly two. I will update you more on that when it's more official. The first one is in ten short weeks. The enormity of that hit me two days ago, which is a sign of success as far as I am concerned. I've known about it for six months and my goal was to put it out of my mind until after the holidays so I could enjoy them fully.

I made a little list for the year but I want to write it out by hand to share here. I think things stick a little better when I handwrite vs. type. Do you think that's true for you?

It's good to be back in my sweet space. Curious New Year!


Restoration

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Dear Friends, I decided last night to give myself permission to restore myself. Suddenly taking a job two months ago and working 20 hours a week has taken a pretty big toll on my life. It has been hard to notice the magic of the ordinary in my own life when I've been constantly on the run.



I received an unexpected email yesterday from a blogger I admire wishing me a happy holiday and 2011. I cannot tell you the impact that made on my day and perspective. I have barely kept up with reading my emails, much less replying, much less being thoughtful and expressing how I feel in my heart! I am doing my best, but I am spread far too wide and far too thin.

I was driving around last night after work doing those last-minute Christmas shopping trips (two to go!) and I was struck by how profound it is for a child to believe in Santa Claus and the idea that some magical figure comes into everyone's home and leaves presents and eats cookies all over the world all in one night! I do not remember my own belief or how I found out otherwise or how I felt at that moment. I can only view all of this through Jaden's eyes and experience. He has had some questions this year but his belief is still strong and solid. I apologized to him the other day when he wanted to add something to his list and I said it was too late and it could stress Santa out! Oh my goodness, silly adult alert! Luckily my husband was right there to remind us that Santa wouldn't be phased by it. No wonder Jaden has questions!

Anyway this is a bit of rambling for the supposed happy time of year. It is a time of happiness and charm and beauty and anticipation and fun and excitement. But it is also a time of reflection for me, a year coming to an end, expectations for a new year, trying to balance all the competing parts of my life. So, I need to enter a time of restoration. To that end, I am going to take a computer break for the rest of the year.


I wish you all peace and health as we end this year and head into the next. 

papernstitch + a box of mystery

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I woke up this morning to find myself featured as the shop of the day on papernstitch today. That was definitely an early Christmas present for this weary woman!


I am weary because this is one of four boxes of mystery coming out of my little gift factory this season. This is the smallest box of mystery. The others are much heavier and harder to wrap. It is fun though and driving my family a wee bit crazy when every day this week a new mystery appears. Hmm....

Holiday Ice Lanterns

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Good day all! I am working while the Noodle is home but wanted to pop in and share these beautiful winter lanterns I saw on the Crafty Crow today.

holiday ice lanterns from polwig

While I am personally freezing, it is not actually 32 degrees or less outside where I live so this will have to be a freezer project for us. But I love them, don't you? Do you have any energy left for winter/holiday crafting? 

Aqua Holiday

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Yesterday I was inspired to make my second Etsy treasury in honor of aqua, the lovely & serene unsung holiday hero.

I know some people make seemingly endless treasuries but I find the process a bit overwhelming. Yet I enjoyed the time I spent searching for items and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. Here is a peek at some of the enchanting items that I chose for my Aqua Holiday treasury.

 
turquoise wreath by gilding lillies 
wandering soul earrings by these shiney times

pink christmas by bumblejack
pacific blue ring by creativekates

seaglass bottlebrush trees by kates cottage
chula seashell ornament by seashell collection

vintage ornament by emily lynch
bird's nest by one clay bead

I only discovered after I published my treasury that the every item was $20 or less. Bonus! 

Winter White Flowers

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We went ice skating in Union Square in San Francisco on Saturday night. By sheer serendipity, we ran into one of our favorite families from school and spent the evening together in the holiday sparkle.

I truly adore all the color and twinkle and charm of the holidays but sometimes? A little winter white is very soothing for my spirit. What do you do to stay centered during this busy time of year?

A Favor

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i love lots of things, including blogging with you

Sweet Eventide readers, I have a little favor to ask. Over there on the right sidebar at the top is a little blue button that says, "Posting Schedule" which links to a small survey that ends on Friday, Dec. 10th at 5 p.m. Pacific. I really want to find a posting schedule that works for all of us. 

I have almost always blogged organically -- when I have something to say, I write it and post immediately. Occasionally I have scheduled a post (i.e. announcing giveaway winners or vacations). I would really like to have posts here 3-5 times per week because I think it is more engaging, but it will require me to schedule some in advance now that I'm working part-time. 

Scheduling posts is a big shift mentally for me, but I'm wondering how it would affect you?  So please, click on the button and let me know what you prefer. Would you prefer a regular posting schedule, even if it's not as organic as it has always been?

December

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Even though it took me for-ever to get out of bed this morning, once I did, I was filled with awe about December 1st. There is something so special about the start of December, isn't there? Finally I let myself enjoy the holiday buzz that has been brewing since um....in our weird overly-commercial United States, since before September?! Yes, now, today, it is my time to prepare for the holiday season and enjoy it.


And when I finally did get up, this is the scene that greeted me in the Noodle's room! Last night, he cleaned his room massively for me, and this morning he made his bed. Darling! I told him there was no way I was going to decorate the house for Christmas until we as a family tidied up. It sounds mean but I also fully admitted that a lot of the clutter around here is from my creative pursuits, like handmade journals from last month, the Thanksgiving garland that never got finished, the adorable ninja (from this shop that I'm working on as my first handmade gift, etc.

I thought this was the perfect photograph to start me off in Tracey Clark's Picture the Holidays class, which I spontaneously signed up for last night. Listen to some of the class creed.

For the next 30 days I will:

slow down
believe in magic
exercise patience
honor my creative spirit
receive graciously

Isn't that wonderful? It's not too late to join, you can sign up here.

After school, we will be making our second annual advent candle tray to begin the countdown this evening. We are nixing the pretty, but flammable, pine needles this year & I got a pretty new tray to hold the candles. I can't wait to share it with you tomorrow!

Black Friday

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Good morning! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful day with family & friends yesterday. I surely did, and I am still at my mother-in-law's listening to her teach the older cousins how to play double solitaire in the other room. I was so busy packing the family up and making this delicious mushroom gravy that I forgot to put this post up for 12:01 a.m. after all. 

I'm sorry about that but here is the coupon code for my shop today: BLACKFRIDAY2010! The entire shop is 40% off today. :)

Deals abound on Etsy, online and everywhere today but I'd like to give a shout out to all the amazing photographers of the Etsy fPOE team. Here is a long list of all the sales.

Gratitude

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I'm taking a moment to share a few things I am grateful for today.


I am grateful for my husband who massaged my sinus-headachey head this morning and for my sweet little boy, who drew me a fwunt luguord (a French term he made up and it means love maze in English) this morning.

I am grateful for the giant spaghetti squash my mother-in-law brought me yesterday.

I am grateful for the box of wonderful farm fresh fruits and veggies that was just delivered to my house.

I am grateful for my new fleece-lined hoodie in Pacific Blue that is keeping me warm.

I am grateful to Etsy for introducing coupon codes. Please be sure to check my blog anytime Friday morning starting at 12:01 a.m. for my special Black Friday deal. :)

Happy Thanksgiving sweet friends!

xo,
Jess

Giveaway Winner!

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And the winner*....

the balloon bouquet I got for the Green Thunderbolts soccer team party on Saturday

...is commenter No. 10 -- Katie from Art Wall! Congratulations Katie, I'll be in touch by email. :)

Thank you to all of you for the sweet thoughts, words, love and encouragement. I feel lacking in ways to express how my heart races when I get an email notification of a new comment, how I hang on every word of said comments, how I appreciate that you take the time out of your day to visit and write to me, how you all validate my creativity and passion for blogging and photography. In this time of extra gratitude, I am grateful for all of you and what you bring to my life. 

Grazie Mille!

xo,
Jess

P.S. I'm scheduling this post so it will be there bright & early for those of you not on the West Coast.

* The winner was chosen by Random.org

Introducing my 2011 Calendar

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Here it is! I'm proud to debut my 2011 Calendar here on Sweet Eventide! (It made its real-life debut at the craft fair last night).


And the special surprise is that every single image was taken with my iPhone! Neat! I love my iPhone camera because I always have it with me. Here are some images of the pages:





Monday morning I will announce the giveaway winner and next week, I'll tell you all about the craft fair. Have a great weekend -- it's raining here and we have no plans besides celebrating the end of soccer. I plan to rest and recover from a totally insane week!

Sneak Peek: 2011 Calendar

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Hi everyone, I had my table at the craft fair last night and I'm in s-l-o-w motion today. I have a post about halfway done that will debut my 2011 calendar so I hope you'll come back this evening to see it. There is a special surprise about my calendar this year.


And of course on Monday I will reveal the big winner of my One Thousand Posts giveway. You can still enter! I'll see you back here in a couple of hours. :)