Family - One of those posts I started last year and who knows why I didn't post it!

We went to my nieces wedding last year. 

My mom, both sisters, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews all live in a small town in Oregon.  

We only get to see them once or twice a year.

I sure miss these guys and cherish the times when we get to see each other.  

It is always fun.  It is always crazy.  We always leave with great memories.

This is my nephew "Sumo".  He is fun squared.

This is my niece Becka's baby Ellie.  What a doll.

Chloe got to visit her cousins.  

She loves it and acts like she has she has been around them her whole life.

My beautiful niece Miranda.  She is my sister Jami's youngest daughter. 

Courtny getting ready for the wedding.

My sister Holly. She is a blast!  Everyone gathered at her house to get ready for the wedding.

Well...everyone gathers at her house for everything!

My sister Jami made these beautiful flower balls for the bridesmaids to carry down the isle. 

Jami is amazingly creative.

Me and Holly waiting for the wedding to start.  Unfortunately my sister Jami was at home changing.  

She was in the car with a crock pot full of chili on her way to the wedding when her son-in-law turned the corner and the pot of chili poured all over her ivory dress!  Can you imagine?  But within minutes, Jami was changed into a new dress and at the Armory as if nothing ever happened.  This is one of the best stories of the weekend.  Jami,  I hope it's been long enough for this story to be funny.   :)

My nephew Layton and his best girl Gloria.  Their wedding is coming up next year.

Holly and Sumo.

My nephews Landon and Sumo.  Two of the cutest guys I know!

My niece Brianna came with us from California to the wedding.  Bri, Cali and Becka are best friends!

Holly's second oldest son, Logan.  This dude rocks!  He played music for the wedding march.

Courtny was directing traffic.  haha

                                                      

Becka's older sister Jocelynn.  Jocey was married the month before Becka.  

Sadly we were not able to attend her wedding.

Here she is...the woman of the hour.  Our bride to be, Becka.  She was crazy getting everything ready for the wedding and reception...

Ran to change...

And was truly beautiful.  She had a great time at her wedding.  As it should be.

Talk to you soon.

Love,

Carol

(Mom, Auntie, Gamma)

capitola

We spent the weekend in Capitola. Sometimes I like to daydream about the kind of lifestyle I would have if I lived in a beach community. It is so laid back. How could your life not be slower if part of your everyday life is spent in the sand and ocean?

We talked about how fun it would be to have a vacation home on the beach.

Then we talked about a vacation home in the mountains.

It would be hard to choose.

Then Tom said, let's get one of each and get rid of the one in the middle.

Genius!

Hope you have a great week.

xoxo,

Carol

46

Today is my birthday.
I am 46 years old today.
I am incredibly greatful.
I have a great life and I couldn't ask for anything more.

I had a great realization today.  My mom is 20 years older than me.  I have 20 years of life to live before I am my moms age.  To put this in perspective, I thought about my life 20 years ago.  I was a young mom, trying to raise two kids, working, going to college and trying to grow up myself.  I have done a lot of living in the last 20 years.  I am a different person.  I can't imagine what my next 20 years will look like, but I know I will have a lot of life to live.

I can't wait to live it!

xoxo,

Carol

Today I will choose joy

I am the kind of person who always has too much to do, overcommits and wants to spend important time with people I love.  That's what my day looked like today.  My schedule today:

7:00 Wake up

8:00 Breakfast at Sideboards with Tom

9:00 head home

10:00 Get hair colored

12:00 head to Thrift store to see if I can find any last minute linens for Craft Day tomorrow 

1:00 Drop Bailey and her friends to Sideboards for lunch. Go back home to get Cali for lunch. (I had the wrong car today for lots and lots of girls.)

1:45 Stop by Brittny's house to drop off her phone that she left at my house the day before, invite her to lunch with me and Cali

2:00 Lunch with Cali, Brittny and Chloe

3:00 Back home so Cali can get ready for dance

3:40 Take Cali to dance

4:00 Pick up extra sewing machine at Julie's house

4:30 Grab Coffee (I'm gonna need it to get everything ready for tomorrow)

5:00 Pick up Cali from dance head home

In between the above schedule, I squeezed in some work emails and paperwork, started my first stocking sample, took pictures for a future blog and now (7:34 PM - now 9:01 PM because my internet is having issues) writing this post. PHEW!  Almost done.  I just have to take Cali's friend home at 10:00 PM and finish setting out items for tomorrow.  

As I look at this schedule, I think wow, no wonder I am tired.  

But, I must say, today was a great day.  

I feel good in my soul.  

Tom and I snuck out early this morning and had coffee.  We like to do this.  It is our date time.  I am so grateful that I love spending time with my husband.

I know I complain about all the driving I do, but I really love the time I get to spend with my two youngest (plus friends).  Not much longer and they will be driving themselves and this precious alone time will be gone.  I love impromptu lunches and any time I can spend with Brittny and Chloe.

I am preparing, organizing, creating, and planning for tomorrow.  Some wonderful people will gather in my home to spend their time creating for others who are in need.  

I love this.  

I love having people in my home, 

I love creating for others, 

I love doing things that matter.

Today is a good day.

xoxo,

Carol

That's some serious baggage!

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days.  I had a fun filled weekend with my kids and hubby. 

Pretty relaxing actually.  

I did go to the Alameda Antique Faire and got some great stuff for our craft day coming up this Saturday.

How was your weekend?

I went on a road trip for a weekend a while back and this is how many different bags I had.  

This is so ridiculous!

How many bags does a girl need?  Now Really.

Did I say all this was for only a weekend?

I do love bags.  

And each one has it's own purpose.

Suitcase for Clothes. (I need to find a great vintage suitcase.)

Duffle bag for bathroom items. (This is just unacceptable for a bathroom bag.)

Knitting bag.

Insulated lunch bag.

Computer bag.

Camera bag.

Basket for trunk to hold miscellaneous items.

I made myself an Amy Butler bag to hold my knitting things.  

I loved this bag so much...

I had to make some for a few friends. 

I'm starting to get requests for them now.  I wish I had time to make them for everyone.

A girl can never have too many bags. 

xoxo,

Carol

One Cha Cha

My friend Alexis taught me an important life statement.  In fashion and style you should only have "one cha cha".  In other words, let one items stand out, whether it is a piece of jewelry, or shoes or a piece of clothing.  In my case, however, she says Tom is my "one cha cha".  He is my one item that stands out.  He doesn't quite get what she means by this, but it is true.

He is loyal and protective,  funny and outgoing and always says it like it is.  Some of our friends even call his sayings "Tom-isms".  He likes to say things like "you over it?"  or "front butt" or "it is what it is."

We have been married, off and on (that will be a whole other blog post) for 27 years today.   We have had great times and hard times.  We are very passionate. Whether we are getting along or not, it is always passionate.  I feel like this is partly what has kept our marriage lasting so long.   He is truely my soul mate and my best friend.  I can't imagine life without him.

I have no idea where we were here.

Walnut Creek Kaiser after Chloe was born.

Great America. This is one of his favorite pics of us. He knows why.

Being Silly at Hubcaps Diner in Walnut Creek.

Vegas Baby!!

Kona.

Awesome Date Night!  Last Week.

Happy Anniversary Babe!

xoxo,

Carol

Sewing Room Update

I've added a few items to the walls in my sewing room since I last posted about this project.  This is one of my favorite places to be in my house, but I haven't spent a whole lot of time here lately.  With summer here and the beautiful whether we have been having, I just want to be outside. 

I am starting to get antsy for fall, though and with that I always want to get back to sewing and crafting.

I added some embroidery hoops with fabric. This just makes me happy!

I also found this vintage box spring at an antique store on my last trip to my happy place.

I decided to use it for my inpsiration board.

What is your favorite spot in your house?

xoxo,

Carol

My Happy Place

This is my Happy Place.  

This is the place where my best friend lives.  She is wonderful.  Her husband is wonderful (of course, he has the same birthday as me.)  She has two "mini me's"  and they are wonderful (no kidding!)

When I am in this place, I am loved, accepted, happy and relaxed.  

I can channel my inner "hick" when I am here.

I listen to country music all the way to her house.  She lives 3 hours from me which is a sad distance for a best friend to live.

I eat the most amazing food when I am there.

I laugh, read, and talk about important things.

This is my Happy Place.

She was so sick during this trip, poor girl. We layed in bed and watched movies.

They have a guest house called the "Love Shack".  Her AquaMan made sure I had a fire going and candles lit everynight before I went to bed. (Sorry about the picture quality here.)

She took us horseback riding because she knew Cali would LOVE it.  And she did!

Love you!

xoxo

Carol