Where's the hair?

I have a bald beauty.
I may be a bit partial,
but she is my gorgeous lil' girl.I look at all of the "purty" boutique hair bows and accessories...
and sigh.

She is three and half and still can't wear hair bows or flowers.
Sigh.
SO,
we buy some crochet hats,
with big beautiful flowers.
They last 10 seconds.
Sigh.
My solution?
With her semi- bald little head,
she is already wearing a fleece hat in the morning.

SOOOOO,
I designed a cozy fleece muffin hat
with a loop for interchangeable flowers,
bows,and beautiful boutique hair accessories!The "Posh Tot " hat includes three different flowers with a gem center.
They have hair clips on the back for wearing in their hair
(or in Mama's hair).You choose your hat and flower colors,
the size,
and then a custom hat is made for your Half-Pint.
Cool huh?

The verdict?She wears it!
Sweet!
Order your Posh Tot hat today to keep your bald beauty
or "long locked" babe
cozy and warm
in the cooler months to come.
Have a cozy warm fleecy goodness day!

Good Ol' Granny Smith

During this season of Autumn fabulousness,

one of the fave flavors in our house is the glorious apple.We eat apples and peanut butter,
apple cobbler,
apple strudel,
apple sauce,
apple butter,
apple muffins,
and apples and cheese.
We eat them red and green,
gold and yellow,
and every shade in between.
Our Sunday dinner needed to be easy and fun,
due to the fact that my girls insisted that
it needed to include the Granny Smiths
that we picked up at the farmer's market a few days ago.
We are also big fans of cheese at our house,
and the apple and cheese flavors mix well.
Throw everything that you know
about grilled cheese
out the window
and embrace the ooey gooey goodness
that IS
"Granny Smith -n- Swiss"!You'll need :
1 gorgeous green tart Granny Smith Apple
(peeled, cored, and sliced thin)
4 slices of whole wheat bread (makes two sandwiches)
Butter or Olive oil
1/2 to 2/3 cup Swiss cheese
(we like ours uber cheesy)

Heat your skillet/pan/griddle to medium heat.
Lightly brush one side of each slice of bread with olive oil.
If you prefer, lightly butter them instead.
Put one slice of bread,
oil side down, on your skillet
and arrange the apples evenly on the top.
Spread half of the cheese on top of the apples
and lay the other slice of bread on top,
oil-side up.
Cook until the bread is golden brown and then flip over.
Cook until the other side is golden brown and the cheese has melted.

I know of one recipe that adds bacon bits.
How about making it as a panini?
Tomorrow's lunch for us?Trying it with cheddar cheese and red delicious apples^_^.
Enjoy!!

My Favorite Things...

I wait....
somewhat patiently...

all Summer long...
for the first day of September...

when big beautiful pumpkins will find their way to my home.You see dear friends,

Fall is my absolute,
hands down,
favorite season of the year.

Living deep in the woods
surrounded by vibrant yellows, oranges, and crimsons,
one can't help but feel full of life.

Thankfulness and peace abound
while stepping out on the front porch and breathing deeply.

Lets not kid ourselves Mamas,
another one of my favorite things to arrive in the fall?
The big yellow school bus!

This year was slightly bittersweet
as my littlest one blew kisses from her new big girl desk in preschool.
"Goodbye Mama!" she shouted with a smile
as I quietly left smiling,
choking back big huge Mama tears.
That lasted just a few minutes when I suddenly realized...
2.5 hours to myself?
Whatever will I do?
It was time to head home,
sip pumpkin coffee,
nibble on pumpkin bread fresh from the Farmer's Market,
and sew some of the new items that I have since added to the shops.
Stop by and check out a few of our fall goodies!

Back for Autumn...
our Half-Pint Pumpkin Muffin hat!
Also Available for purchase is our
Cooked Turkey hat
which was inquired about by the Martha Stewart show.
They are great for photo props
or durable enough for everyday wear.
My little one sports hers through the month of October
and then switches to the Turkey in November.
It is then followed by the Elf in December.

Yes,
she will eventually resent me for this act of child cruelty.
I'll take my chances^_^. For now,
I will cherish her toddler laugh,
tickle her little toddler piggies,
and find warmth in the way she cuddles my heart.Enjoy the stunning hues of Autumn as it dawns upon us.
Eat pumpkin until it is coming out your ears.
Relish the feeling of crackling leaves down your pants
from jumping in piles with your kids.
Go apple picking in your dorkiest overalls.
For these are a few of my favorite things...
minus the overalls.
Happy Harvest!

Dad's Special Day

Father's day is obviously a day to celebrate the men in our lives.
Old Dads,
New Dads,
and all of those in between.
Usually my blog is a place of girly goodness;
a place for scrumptious ruffles,
delicate stitchery,
and fabric deliciousness.
Today I ask you to join me
in celebrating the manliness that is DAD.

I was lucky enough to grow up with the most amazing Dad
that a girl could ask for.
He is kind and loving,
and always does his best to do the right thing.
He is a man whom I admire with all that I am,
whole heartedly respect,
and adore more than I can ever express in words.
He has taught me to love God,
love others-
even when it hurts,
and to never compromise my beliefs.
Daddy’s girl?
Yep, I’d say so.

In a couple weeks it will be five years
since my first husband passed away.
He was killed in a truck accident
on his way home from a fire company meeting.
After he passed away,
I wasn’t sure where my life was headed.
It had been a rough marriage
and I was ready for a new start.
I prayed for God to help me find a man like my own father;
a kind and gentle man
that would be good to me
and my five year old daughter.
He answered that prayer pretty quickly when I met Darin.
For the first time in a long time I had some serious fun -
I knew he was “the one”.We married less than a year later and came home from our honeymoon
with baby on board.He has been such a blessing to us as a husband and father.
He works hard.
He drives several hours a day
commuting to a job that he loves.
I am then able to stay home with our daughters and run a small business.I am a lucky woman to have him and his love.
Things aren’t always perfect, but darn close.
Just ask her….

I am also blessed to have four other “Dads” in my circle.
Our band,
THRU ME,
is definitely a family of sorts.
We are complete with family drama
and ups and downs,
but we have a mutual respect for each other
as people, parents, and musicians.
I am deeply thankful
that God has brought us all together
to share our faith and our gifts
that He alone has given us.
I want to wish them all a very Happy Father’s day.

Our talented drummer Brianis celebrating his first Father’s day
with the most gorgeous baby boy... ever!


Our rhythm and lead guitarist, Jim,has a breathtakingly beautiful
18 year old girlie girl who owns his heart.
He has also helped to raise two grown stepsons.
Don’t let the scary pic fool you, he’s a really nice guy.
Shhhh…….

Our lead guitarist,
Brian,has his hands full with two handsome teen and
soon to be teenage sons who are
becoming awesome musicians
with the guidance and direction of their Dad.
It is amazing to watch them grow into men.
They now tower above me.
As do most toddlers at this point.

My co-lead Kevin,my partner on the mic,
is an amazing Dad with two teenagers and a grown daughter.
He is a kind and gentle man
(with a rockin’ fantastic voice)
who works hard to be a Godly man and father.

The bass player is my handsome hubby Darin…
Enjoy your day guys!
Whether you are celebrating your dad with a
phone call,
a card,
a gift,
or treasuring him in pictures and memories,Happy Father’s Day to all of you.
I wish you all peace, love, and less gray hair this year!

Summertime Mamahood

Vacations and camping,

pools and fireworks,
picnics and sweaty kids….
Summer is here!

As Mamas we are ready for summer to begin
and thankful when school starts!
I have been known to dance and sing when the school bus arrives.
Having kids off school for the summer also lets you know what you are made of.
I have an independent toddler and a pre-teen (entering 2nd toddlerhood)
who will be keeping me quite busy this summer.Before I became a Mama,
I got to sit and eat leisurely meals,
sip coffee,
and read a good book for hours if I was so inclined.
Before I became a Mama
my clothing was stain free
and I got to talk on the phone- for more than 5 minutes at time.
Before I became a Mama I got to stay up late and sleep in as late as my heart desired.
Before I became a Mama I got to take long hot showers
and spend hours getting ready to go out.
Now I am lucky enough to wear the Mama ponytail!
Before I became a Mama,
I hadn’t been
peed on,
pooped on,
spit on,
chewed on,
or had the skin under my arms pinched by little fingers.
Before I became a Mama,
I never had to hold down my little ones while the doc gave them shots to keep them well-
and cry right along with them.
I never knew what it felt like to have my heart hurt when I could’nt stop their pain.
I didn’t know what it felt like to look into little crying eyes
and feel the tears streaming down my own face.
I never knew what it felt like to see that first smile,
cheer for that first crawl,
and cry with joy at that first step.
Soon our lives will be filled with more firsts as our oldest starts 5th grade.
Boys, ugh.Before I became a Mama,
I never held a sleeping toddler for two hours
simply because I didn’t want to put her down-
I wanted to cuddle her and smell her hair, knowing she’d be up and running in minutes.
I now know love at first sight.
I now understand how someone so small can change my life in every way.
I now understand how it feels to love someone so much my heart hurts.
Before I became a Mama I didn’t know I was capable of so much
joy,
strength,
and wonderment.
Being a Mama has taught me so much about myself-
a never ending lesson in humility,
selflessness,
and heartache.
We love them with every fiber of our beings
and cry with them as we give them their wings to fly.

I plan on using this summer to help my daughters add feathers to their wings.
I keep reminding myself as stress creeps up,
my nerves fray,
and my body aches
that each day is a gift with my girls and to treat it as such.Have a wonderful summer dear friends,
I hope to have many Half-Pint adventures to share with you!

Mama Break

Life is crazy beautiful,

it really is.
I am blessed with love, family, and happiness.

HOWEVER,
there are times when it feels a bit more crazy than beautiful!

On those days,
I start the coffee IV,take a deep breath,
put in the mommy ponytail
(that's where I keep my superpowers),
and face the day with all the wildness, vigor, and caffeine I can muster.I do my best to be the most amazing juggler....
wife....mama....business woman....singer...
Sometimes one of the balls fall.
I get bonked on the head.
Hard.
I am NOT coordinated.
I have the goose egg to prove it.
I have decided to close the businesses for a month.
Why you may ask?
For a Mama break.
Things on my to-do list?
Make Spring clothes for my girls
Spring cleaning (serious yuck)
Write some music for our band, "Thru Me"
(Shameless promo pic)Read a book -beginning to end-for enjoyment
Laundry, laundry, and more laundry
Enjoy our beautiful woodlands as they bloom with delicious Spring goodness
Drink more gourmet coffee- with gourmet creamerGet rid of the pull-ups- completely
Master the toddler ballerina ballet
(I don't quite have the booty shake down yet)

But most importantly,
to start each day with prayer for direction, patience, and wisdom.

There's no shame in slowing down for a "mama break".
I need time to get back to "crazy beautiful",
instead of just crazy.
If any one should happen to have a problem with me taking that time,
I'll be handing over the juggling balls
or quickly administering the head bonk myself^_^.

Have a crazy beautiful day my friends,
I am off to explore outside with my itty bitty.
We seriously need to find out which
breathtakingly beautiful
vomitrociously stinky
flower is growing over our waterfall!
XOXO,
Amber

Singin' and Sewin'

The fabric overfloweth.

After cleaning out my studio,

PAINFULLY
organizing hundreds of yards of fabric by color,
I came to a conclusion.
Time to destash!
A couple months ago I opened a second shop called
"Do Re Mi Fa SEW".It is full of appliques,
fabric packs, fleece packs,and smaller amounts of beautiful fabrics -
perfect for the DIY seamstress.
I just recently added some of my own original appliques.
You'll find skulls,
cupcakes, and more cupcakes.Of course I HAD to make one for my itty bitty,
my sweet little cupcake,
my little puffalump.
All I needed was my vivacious toddler,
a couple M&M's for bribing purposes,
and my camera.They will soon be available on tees with matching skirts in my clothing shop-
HALF-PINT CREATIONS,
just in time for spring and summer.
Throw on a pair of sandals,
add a boutique hair bow,
and turn your little one loose.
I have added lots of Spring florals to my newly cleaned studio,
so keep an eye out for some yummy new
Averi Swing dresses in bright bold florals. Something NEW FOR SPRING-
matching hair deliciousness!
Happy Creating!

Playing with the Angels

My heart is hurting.

This precious little one has touched so many people in her short little life.
Including myself.
I am sure that she is dancing with Papa Jesus, giggling and laughing, free of pain. Her wonderful Mama and Daddy have treasured every second with their precious baby girl. They have shown us amazing faith, even when they have crumbled.

My husband and I have been following her
and reading up on the condition that took her life early this morning, neuroblastoma.
We have been reading the family blog,
and checking in with twitter several times a day to see changes in her condition.
We rejoiced at her triumphs and cried with her setbacks.We have felt as though her Mommy and Daddy
have allowed their precious baby girl to teach us,
to remind us of what is important in this life.
She has reminded us how important it is to draw strength and love from our Father God-
even when we are angry and don't understand.
Even when it just is'nt fair.

We want to thank you, Marsh family, for sharing your lives with us.
Dear family, we are praying for your strength, for your peace, and for your beautiful daughters.
May God give you peace and rest in knowing that your baby girl changed our lives, changed hearts, and changed souls forever.

Enjoy playing with the Angels sweet Layla Grace.
11/26/2007 - 3/9/2010

Comfort Food -Potatoes and cheese style

I have always been one of those people that seek comfort and warmth in food.

Good food reminds me of family-
the warmth of being with my family as a little girl and smelling the wonderful scents coming from my grandmother's kitchen.
I am currently fighting with a bout of laryngitis-
sore throat, coughing, runny nose, and all the extras.
The thought of a warm creamy bowl of Loaded Baked Potato soup
is just what the doc ordered.I wish I could say that this soup is low calorie,
it's not.
It's not low fat, low cholesterol, or low carb.
It is rich and yummy and meant to be enjoyed-
savored under a blankie with a good book.
You'll need: 2 small cans of Chicken broth
(I use low sodium)
1 small can of cheddar cheese soup
4 cups water
2 cups milk
1 LARGE can of sliced potatoes
1 pouch of REAL bacon bits-
bacos just aren't the same (I use low-fat)
1 box instant mashed potatoes
(2 packets- experiment with different flavors-
sour cream and chives rock!)
fresh chives (optional)
1/2 bag of frozen chopped broccoli
(fresh if you are so inclined)
sour cream and cheddar cheese to top it offThis makes A LOT of soup, so start with your biggest stew pot.
Combine your chicken broth, cheddar cheese soup,
4 cups of water, and 2 cups of milk.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer and slowly add your potato flakes.
It will act as a thickener.
Mix them in a little at a time until dissolved.
If it becomes too thick for your taste, simply add milk until you get the consistency you want.
Mix in the chopped broccoli, sliced potatoes, bacon, and chives.
Let it simmer until the smell fills up the whole house and has you slobbering in anticipation.
The longer it sits, the yummier it tastes.
Top with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and bacon bits.
Enjoy!
Let me know what you think,
because I am heading to the kitchen for a great big bowl right now!

An Imperfect Heart for my Funny Valentine

The snow abounds.
There is more coming, or so the weather man says.
The light of a new day is beginning to shine through the icicles hanging from our front porch.
The fire is crackling in the fire place, and my mug is full of warm coffee.
I can hear little feet rustling around and the squeak of the bedroom door. My Funny Valentine slowly makes her way down the stairs, puppy in hand, crawls up into my lap, and lays her head on my shoulder.
I kiss her head and breathe her in.
It's times like these that make me love her so much I can barely breathe.
She turns, looks into my eyes, holds my face in her pudgy little toddler hands and says, "Mommy, can I have pancakes?".
Pancakes? Little girl I would give you the world.
Pancakes are definitely something I can handle.

We venture into the kitchen and mix up a batch of the prettiest pancakes you have ever seen.

I use Bisquick- I am NOT Betty Crocker. We add a little red food coloring to make things extra magical, because only princesses can eat pink pancakes. I tell her they are her Valentine pancakes, and proceed to make them heart shaped.
Yeah, ok, more blob shaped.
The look on her face was one of awe.
They were pink.
They were semi-heart shaped.
They were made for her- with all the love I could muster.
She looks up at me with her big hazel eyes and says,
"Thanks Mama! They are the best pancakes in the world!"
First of all, she called me Mama- melts me every time.
Secondly, it made me take a step back and think for a moment.
They were the most imperfect heart pancakes ever made. Yet my baby girl knew she was loved, and that I loved making them for her.
Sometimes as parents we think that things have to be perfect. We try so hard to give them what we did'nt have, or work so many hours in a day that they don't get the best of us, they get what is left of us.

As simple as this pink breakfast seemed,
I was reminded of the importance of life's simple things.
Simple joys.
Simple Pleasures.
The importance of my time and a little effort. They are little for such a short time.
Happy Valentine's Day, my Funny Valentine!
Love,
Mama