Happy Mother's Day!

Per my request, my husband took me plant shopping for Mother's Day. I wanted to go early and get them planted before the big day, so I could relax on the deck and admire the plants on Sunday afternoon. Here are some of the new arrivals, as well as some oldies that are in bloom. The hosta and fern garden is really filling out. The perennial bed on the terrace is looking really wild, just as I like it! Also, I couldn't resist putting in a pic or two of my baby girl's first trip to the dentist. Happy Mother's Day all!

hostas:






low-growing yarrow:


stevia:


lemon thyme:


I can't remember the name of this one:


perennial geranium:


iris:


My baby's first dental appointment:




Brennan was such a big girl! She was calm the entire time. The dentist said she did better than many grownups. I'm a proud mama.

Mother's Day Gift Guide 2010

While I just curated a treasury of gift ideas for moms, I couldn't resist putting together an additional gift guide for the blog. There are so many amazing things available on etsy! I know, I sound like a commercial. I need help! Here are some cool gift ideas. I'd love to give or receive any of them!

Mom's Handwritten Recipe on a Platter by Custom Sepia on etsy

$45.00


Mom's Are Geeks Too Card by Gibberish on etsy

$4.00


Flowers in Spring by Luiza Vizoli on etsy

$125.00


The Four Seasons Appetizer Plates by Mary Wibis on etsy

$38.00


Two 6-Piece Vegan Macaroons by The Greenwood Kitchen and Bake Shop on etsy

$6.75


Little Bird Necklace in Silver by Lulu Bug Jewelry on etsy

$34.00

Where in the World is Little b Bunny???

Ack! I fell off the blog wagon again! It's been a crazy couple of weeks, but that's really no excuse. I know. That's just the way life is and I need to adjust!I think I mentioned that LB and I would be going on my nephew's school trip with him on the first of May. We went to the Columbus Zoo, mine and LB's old stomping ground. I love that zoo, but the trip was a bit disorganized, to say the least. Right as we were leaving we got drenched and then went to dinner and found a hair in my food. Ugh! I was so ready for that day to be over. LB and I were at my mom's all weekend because one of her docs ordered an MRI on my knee. It turns out I have some degenerative cartilage (my husband had an old lady's gall bladder and I have an old lady's cartilage), which was causing a lot of swelling (it looked like I had a golf ball sticking out the back of my knee). The doctor drained it Monday, which was NOT fun and we're waiting to see what happens. LB and I came back to Louisville on Tuesday to a daddy who was quite lonely.

We planned to go camping this weekend, but canceled the trip because it was supposed to storm all weekend. I think we could've handled it. It didn't rain much after all. However, we did get involved in a home improvement whirlwind. We decided to rip up the carpeting on the stairs because our puppy used the landing as a potty and we couldn't get the smell out. The stairs underneath are in really bad condition, so they're going to have to be sanded down and restained. We had planned to do the woodwork at some point anyway, so this just moved that project up a bit. Unfortunately, there was roughly 50 year old linoleum on the landing, with a sort of tar paper and nasty adhesive underneath. We still don't have all of that up. Then came the good part - the garden and yard. It is really looking awesome! I'm going to have pics up soon.

Today is Mother's Day...Happy Mother's Day everyone! Tim has been spoiling me all day. He brought be juice and coffee this morning. Then he made Smart Bacon and waffles for breakfast with a newspaper to read on the porch. Mmmm. He's been hard at work all day, mowing and trimming the yard, putting in a stone path from the driveway to the patio and now he's sanding the stairs. Wow! I got to spend the day being waited on and sewing on the porch. Lovely.

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part Four (Finale)

Well, this is it. This is the final installment of my mother's day gift guide. I learned a lot about how I use etsy from this experience. I realized that I typically browse the front page and treasuries, but don't just do a lot of random searching. For the guide I wanted to be sure to have a wide variety of sellers, not just those that have been featured. I spent a lot of time using Time Machine and doing a lot of keyword searches. I've seen a ton of great handmade stuff that I wouldn't see otherwise. Now I'm even more impressed with the quality and variety on etsy. Wow!

I've gotten a lot of positive feedback as a result of the gift guide, so I'm going to be sure to feature others in the future. If you have any suggestions for themes or handmade sellers, please let me know! If you're just joining us now, please check out the three previous installments of the gift guide.

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part Four



The perfect gift for the mom who loves vintage AND books! This bookmark from Gemma Beads is created from antique typewriter keys set in lace edged settings. Tuck this into a classic novel and you'll be giving a gift I would love to get!



I love vintage inspired aprons. This one from Bambino Amore has the charm of June Cleaver with the edginess of the modern mother. This apron is 100% handmade (she didn't even use a pattern). There are other patterns available in this shop, as well as some super-cute half aprons.



This necklace is a bit pricier than the other items I've selected for the guide. However, it is so beautiful that I felt it worth it for a special treat for mom. It is handcrafted by Natasha Grasso from fine silver rather than sterling. It doesn't tarnish as sterling does and is much brighter.



I have a thing for felt...and for gray...and for notebooks or journals, so of course I would love this handmade notepad from concepcioun. It measures 3.5"x5" and is fade and wear resistant.



How cool is this? This wall pocket from Manta Wave is on sale! The pocket is waterproof, making it a perfect vase for all of the fresh flowers you're going to give your mother for her special day.

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part Three (We're almost there.)

We're over the halfway mark now. One more installment to go and this Mother's Day Gift Guide will be finished. Check out these sellers if you are looking for some great gift ideas. Handmade is the way to go! Also, make sure you check out the shameless self-promotion I indulged in at the bottom of the post!

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part Three



I know, I know. I'm evil. You're all drooling, I'm sure. This "Triple Chocolate Heaven" cupcake is VEGAN. That's right! VEGAN. And it and many other vegan delights are available at the cupcake mint. I have a feeling that they might remove any skepticism you might have about veganism.



There is tons of fun stuff in the Sweet Rice vintage shop, but this "Orange Ceramic Planter" really pops! It's clearly from the 1970s (you can help mom take a walk down memory lane) and has a cool splatter glaze. Just think, you can support etsy and recycle!



Mmmm...This guide is beginning to make me hungry. Clearly this can't be eaten, but it reminds me of fresh blueberries on top of a delicious pancake with maple syrup.... Anyway, this is actually a body scrub, but the folks (yes, I said "folks") over at Madeline Bea Soap Co. say it smells just like fresh blueberries and provides many of the same benefits. Besides that, the labels look all country store and vintagey, which is always fun.



My sister-in-law Michelle has a thing for large bags. I think it's one part aesthetics and another part necessity. I mean the girl carries apples around with her. Anyway, if she were a mother (and she will be someday soon), this would be the perfect Mother's Day gift for her. This XL Hobo Bag from retrofied is made from a neato Amy Butler pattern and is lined with corduroy. Now that I think about it, perhaps Ben should buy this for Michelle in anticipation of her becoming a mother some day!



Here we go with the trees again. I can't help myself. I'm a tree person. This is an original pen and ink drawing, but is an affordable gift because it is an ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) and is about the size of a trading card. I think this is an awesome way to collect a variety of limited edition or original artwork without breaking the bank. Besides, you get to support the art community, in this case tamara garvey illustration.

Shameless Self-Promotion:

Don't say I didn't warn you. Here are some recently listed items in the shop, one of which has already sold. Yay!

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part Two (I'm baaack.)

Alrighty-O. Yes, I really said that. You aren't imagining it. I'm in a goofy mood. I'm back and I've got more suggestions for Mother's Day gifts. I've decided to do four installments of five items. This is in part because, as I discovered yesterday, these are difficult decisions and it takes time. I was also thinking that large gift guides can be overwhelming. This way you can slowly absorb the ideas and perhaps one will stand out to you. Before I get started with the guide, I have to slip in a "Brennan of the Day." Yesterday she was playing with the grass from her Easter basket. She grabbed a handful of it, held it up to me and said, "This is God's hair." I have no idea where that came from.

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part Two



"Green Teapot II" is from a new etsy seller (joined this month) who also happens to be from my old stomping ground of Pensacola, FL. Back to Earth is full of absolutely beautiful work. And wouldn't it just thrill you to be his first buyer?

Don't you just love, love, love this clutch from Fiaz Co? It looks almost like it has been hand painted. The inside is lined in a robin's egg blue silk. Handmade. Need I say more?

For the mother who sews..."Alexander Henry Camden Fair Red, Yard Set." Fabric Worm is full of gorgeous, colorful and sometimes quirky fabrics that I would love to get my grimey little hands on. If you aren't crazy about this set, there are tons and tons to choose from.

This is quickly becoming a gift guide for me. I can't help it. A girl loves what she loves, and I totally love this needlefelt art. Deebs Fiber Art shop offers the "No.379 Lone Tree Too" both with and without a mat. Add a frame and you've got a truly unique gift.

The "Twisted and Textured Silver Dangle Earrings" are handmade from 99.9% pure silver by Beadz N 'Thingz. I think they look light and springy, but would work just as well with a sweater this fall. And just think, you can impress your mother with your knowledge of handcrafted fine silver.

Be sure to check out the comments for yesterday's post. "Meltem" is offering a freebie with a $50.00 purchase in her shop this weekend.

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part One

I know that I haven't posted in a little while and I need to play catch up. I have some Easter pics to share, a recipe and some potty training success stories. However, today I foud myself in the mood to browse around etsy. Since I couldn't justify just doing it for the fun of it, I decided to make an etsy gift guide for Mother's Day. It's just around the corner and, if you plan to order from etsy, you'll need to factor in time for shipping (international orders may take up to two weeks to arrive). While I will be posting some Mother's Day cards, as well as blank ones that would be appropriate, I'm not going to be lame and include my own stuff in the gift guide. I think I will leave the shameless self-promotion off of the blog today. I guess I'm just feeling generous...or am such a good person...or just think that if I am promoting etsy I am promoting myself anyway.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

This "Geranium Sage Vegan Cold Process Soap" looks good enough to eat. It comes from Long Winter Farm's etsy shop, which also features soaps with awesome names like "Bloody Lumberjack" and "Hippie Stink." I started to feature one of these, but could just see the look on the face of some mother when gifted with something called "Hippie Stink" on Mother's Day. I haven't smelled or used these soaps, but they look delicious. They're also cruelty-free, and you can't beat that with a stick.


The "Become Rose Garden Shawl Brooch" is from the etsy shop Melt'm Design Studio and is handcrafted from sterling silver. It's a beautiful piece and this seller is offering free shipping worldwide through the end of April.


I'd love to have the "Bee Bee Beautiful Bee Brilliant Green Trinket Dish" for my very own (you know how I love those little Bs). They come from My Mother's Garden, which features many treats for gifting. A percentage of the sales in the shop will be donated to kiva.org.


Stick this ACEO from Snap Dragon Studios in a nice frame and you've got a lovely gift for one of the mothers in your life. I admit to having a tree obsession, but who wouldn't love this? Your mother gets a piece of original art and you get to visit it every now and then.


This "butter cream birdhouse" from greenware design is actually a hanging planter for an air plant. It comes with the plant and some moss (mmm...did somebody say moss?). This reminds me of trips to Florida as a kid. My brothers brought some air plants home. We couldn't believe they didn't need the dirt!

Okay, I just renamed this post "Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part One." This is taking waaay longer than I anticipated. There's just so much to choose from on etsy. So, I guess I'll complete the guide in installments. This is part one with more to follow.