Ten Things That Make Me Happy This Tuesday

Ever have a really bad day but then a really great evening? Today I did. I woke up groggy and depressed, or maybe not really depressed but "blah". I went to work and did fine, but then was hit with a crazy wave of stomach pain and stomach issues (story of my life) and have I to leave early. From there I spent three hours at my mom's wondering why life is so terrible and what I ever did to deserve such misery.  But, then I came home and was smacked over the head by how lucky I am, and how wonderful and happy my life really is. 

# 1. I got this cute little card and cheerful note in the mail from my best friend! Who doesn't love mail? Real mail- the kind of mail that makes you want to bounce around and sing that silly song from Blues Clues? She sent me this letter just to make me smile! And it worked- in fact it inspired the blog post. How cool is it to have a friend that thinks about you- not just when you are together, but thinks about ways to make you smile and cheer you up when you are apart! 

# 2. I'm spoiled today in the mail department because look at this super cool surprise bundle of fabric that my Mother in Law bought and sent to me! All for little Miss C. Clothes. I can't wait to get some things sewn up and share them with you! I especially love the Abby print, and the Richard Scary print! 

# 3. Knowing that I wasn't feeling well my hubby cooked me an awesome dinner- which in fact stayed in my stomach! I never thought I would be able to eat dinner after feeling so rotten. He could have cooked anything and I would have been happy, but he cooked my all time favorite veggie- brussel sprouts! I know, you know think I am a freak, but I you can convert anyone to loving brussel sprouts when you roast them in the oven with bacon. (My sister who is a vegetarian does not count, in fact I can hear her gagging as she reads this)

# 4. Today when Cordelia woke up from her nap she was freaked out, and overheated and she called for me and wanted me to sit and hold her. So we sat, cuddled together, talking and reading books for almost an hour. I cherish the moments we snuggle because, I miss the days when I rocked her to sleep, the days when I held her all day long. I know that as she gets older the cuddling will get less and less until it disappears. I think it's more than just the cuddling too, right now Cordelia believes that I have the power to make everything better. I can make the bad dreams go away, I can make the boo boos stop hurting, and for the most part, I can make everything better for her right now. That makes me happy. 

#5. I kill plants. I don't mean too, but I kill plants like it's my job. This plant is still alive and that fills me with joy. 

#6. While I was dying from stomach pain, my Dad completed the painful process of getting Cordelia to sleep- something he does at least four times a week. Four times a week he drops everything to get her to take a nap. That's love, and devotion. 

#7. I have decided that I loved newborn, infant, and toddler stages- I never thought I would enjoy kids, but this has been soo much fun! However, I am not a big fan of the terrible twos. Cordelia is demanding, defiant and difficult right now. She pushes my buttons and makes me crazy, and almost every day she does that to my sister. Shauna watches Miss C while I work. They learn about colors, animals, numbers, words, crafting- they do everything! I am soo grateful and soo happy that I have such a great person to look after, and to teach my child while I work. I am equally grateful that Shauna watches Miss C every time we ask her too, she never hesitates and she never says no, even tho Miss C is a challenge right now. 

#8. This is silly, but mason jars make me happy. Nothing is better than ice water out of a mason jar when you are overheated and feel rotten. Nothing stays cold like a mason jar, it's perfection. 

#9. My job makes me happy. I know it's not a career, but I am so happy that I work at a job where I can call out if Cordelia is sick, or leave early when I am without having my boss guilt me- I feel guilty enough thank you. I work someplace where I don't have to justify how I spent my time that day. I have free agency at work! This job is like home, and I am happier and less stressed for it. 

#10. I'm feeling very spoiled and lucky today. Look at the beautiful box and necklace Gram brought me back from her trip to Chicago. I didn't even know that she knew I liked peacocks. I'm thrilled to wear this tomorrow!

What makes you happy? What filled your Tuesday with sunshine?

Rock Hall

Last Monday Miss C and I took a trip out to Rock Hall Maryland to visit my Grandfather. Miss C really is a lucky little girl  because she has three living great grandparents- I never knew what it was like to have great grandparents because they passed away years before I was born. My grandparents have always been an important part of my life and I really enjoy being able to share that with my daughter. 

It was a pretty cloudy, rainy, rotten day for the beach but I always insist on sticking my feet in the sand while there. 

It took Cordelia a little bit to warm up to the beach- I think the sound of the bay freaked her out a little bit. 

In the end we had to drag her kicking and screaming back to the car when it started pouring rain. 

Miss C's Pink and Navy Sundress

This is the first dress I made for Cordelia. I made it for her when I was pregnant and had no idea how small babies really are. I used a simplicty pattern- number 268, and while I love the dress it was much larger than I expected. I made the small, and I added a couple of inches to the bottom thinking that it looked a little short. I'm glad I added the length because it's taken two years for it to fit well and I think at the original length it would be too short now! The pattern was just too wide and the arm holes too long for my daughter, but it was an easy sew and the nice thing about kids is they always get bigger. 

Really Cordelia has been wearing the dress her whole life. We stuck her in it for a wedding when she was only about four months old (it didn't matter that it was too long because she wasn't walking), and then from time to time I would bring it out and she would wear it as a maxi dress, but I would always look at it on her and mope because it was soo big. 

It's nice to finally have it fit well. The dress is made out of a calico cotton I picked up at Joann Fabrics. It has a zipper in the back and a coordinating grosgrain ribbon trim. The flower by the neck was the first ribbon flower I had ever made and I was so proud of it! 

Strawberry Fields Forever

I know, cheesy title and actually I wouldn't like to stay in a strawberry field forever because it's hot and there are bugs but it was a very fun outing nonetheless. Last year we went and picked blueberries with my sister and so picking fruit (and veggies) is shaping up to be a fun tradition. I can't wait to go back for blueberries- and later this year apples. If you live in the area, we go to Butler's Orchard, the prices are great, the fruit is yummy and the people are nice- which all adds up to a fun day. 

I jokingly said before we went, that we were going to the orchard and Na-Na was going to pick strawberries, Cordelia was going to eat strawberries and I was going to take pictures of strawberries. Which is pretty much how it worked out- although I did manage to help in the picking. 

We didn't just do strawberries, this time we hit up the sugar snap peas. Cordelia didn't find them as thrilling, but she was fascinated by the ladybugs that like to hide under the plants. 

Searching for more lady bugs. 

Our Father's Day Weekend

This weekend was wonderful. I came home on Friday to a beautiful piece of art my husband commissioned for me. Saturday Cordelia spent the day adventuring with her godparents- I love when she gets to spend time with them, she always has soo much fun. Sunday we spent the day restfully, with a picnic, some park time and lots of naps! It was a full weekend, but a relaxing one too. 

My beautiful art, check out the artist at:  http://instagram.com/finnigenrynehart 

The fun ties Cordelia painted for Brendon. We got the idea from Melissa at Dear Baby. We mostly followed her instructions, but I couldn't find my fabric marker so I did the black outline with a fine point paintbrush and  fabric paint. 

I can't share all of our Father's day crafts because we have a couple more to give out, but we made this simple jar with regular and peanut M&M's for my dad. 

My sister beats me, this is the cake she made him. It was so rich I thought I might die but I was sure going to die happy. It was a rich chocolate brownie cake, with a peanut butter filling, chocolate ganache and topped with dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Yep, I know you are craving some now too. 

Our paleo picnic lunch consisted of bacon deviled eggs, watermelon, Sweet potato chocolate chip cookies, and lettuce wraps (filled with roast beef, bacon, avocado, tomato and horseradish sauce). 

Lunch was a big hit with Brendon but I'm pretty sure Miss C only ate cookies and watermelon

Dress: Thrifted

Necklace: Madewell

Crinoline: Petticoat Junction

Shoes: Kohls 

I even dressed up for our picnic, which felt great. How did you spend your Father's Day weekend?

Sweet and Tiny

I'm not sure which is more difficult to photograph- toddlers, or kittens! However, both are cute so I keep trying to get photos that really show their cuteness. 

My sister feed some of the stray cats that live in her neighborhood. She tries to find them homes, and when she gets a chance to grab one, she gets it spayed or neutered. The group keeps growing, and one of the cats (That has obviously not been caught and spayed yet) just had kittens. I love kittens, and these are the nicest, most friendly kittens. 

I totally get my daily dose of cute from looking at these photos. Hope you all have a great weekend!