Again, I *FALL* in love with Etsy.

Here are some of my favorite ETSY finds that made my fall heart go pitter-patter.

Saffron dress by pamelatang

Mocha flower by JuJuBeesAndCo 

Knitted Cream Bag by NzLbags

Paper Chain by PaperAddict

Acorn Print by LaneyButler

Stewart, the plaid owl by Gingiber

Vintage Picnic Blanket by SewnNatural

  Wool Owl [love how both those words share the same letters...]

by SewnNatural

Wool Acorns by SewnNatural

Birch Baby Blanket by SewnNatural

 Door Sweaters by the lovely [and my talented blogger friend] Cranny

Autumn dish towels [also] by Cranny 

Caramel Wool Scarf by KnitFrekkies 

Yellow Sparrow Necklace by [a personal friend and local artisan] LePetitPretty

[note: doing this post was like organizing my bedroom closet when company is coming over. company that will not see my closet. but somehow, it felt good to do. catching up, lots of catching up, coming soon.] 

coming up for air...

I am still here.

I promise.

I have so many bubble thoughts following me around they are bumping into the ceiling.

I have so many posts wishing to be written and photos waiting for their debut that are losing patience.

We are still here.

We are still doing school.

We are still finishing a few lingering summer projects.

We are celebrating birthday after birthday.

We are drinking up fall.

We are sometimes sprinting and sometimes dog-paddling. 

It's just that, well, life happens. And unfortunately, when life happens, I sometimes let go. In a good way, but in a way I wish I could overcome and still-be-able-to-hold-all-the-strings-together kind of way. 

However, I just wanted to let you know. 

We're still here. 

GO PINK!

It's breast cancer awareness month. There is something we can all do: write a letter to a survivor, pray for and send a card to someone you know going through chemo, drop a line to your friend who lost their mother or grandmother to this cancer, join one of the many races or walks, buy that $1 donation at the grocery store, you can even buy pink grapefruit tic tacs to help bring awareness to the cause! 


Here is a video of my awesome friend, Stephanie, doing a HUGE part as she is one of the directors of the Susan G. Komen branch in middle Georgia. See her interview below (she's the blonde one):


Go Pink! 

Cannot wait...

Guess what I am getting for my [belated] birthday present?

Here's what they have to say about it:


Holiday with Matthew Mead is a "book-azine" celebrating and offering inspiration for the Christmas holiday season. To be delivered in late October 2010, we are offering Holiday via online orders only - in limited quantities - and by simply following the BUY HOLIDAY MAGAZINE link below our banner, you will be directed to a secure shopping cart and checkout... with a guaranteed delivery of HOLIDAY straight to your mailbox! Be sure to stick around and read more about what you will find in the pages of Holiday, discover who ourfamous features are andwatch our video sneak peek here! 

Who is Matthew Mead, you might ask? Well, I am not 100% sure, to be honest. But he was called a Creative Machine and this was written of him:   "...the majority of best-selling covers for Country Home magazine were produced by Matthew. And of course, he created the cover for Flea Market Style 2010, and we all know how well that sold. :-) " 


Some SNEAK PEAKS/ COVER MOCK-UPS:

 

  

This wonderful holiday book/magazine has caught my eye from the beginning and when my sister-in-law asked for birthday ideas, this popped into my head. HURRY---it's going to be printing soon and being shipped out at the end of this month! This would be an INCREDIBLE gift to a friend, sister, blogger, photographer, lover of the Christmas season, creative, decorator enthusiast, etc. AND, you have a gift done early! YAY! 


You can go here (or send your awesome sister-in-law there like I did) if you want to order one. Or you can just check out their blog for great ideas, creative guest bloggers, giveaways or when you need to get in the Christmas spirit. 


(already? I know... I pull out my Christmas music right at Thanksgiving. It's coming, folks!) 

Irish Hospitality

I love shopping second hand. I don't know what it is: the musty smell, the stained clothes, the 80's style that brings me back. Well, ok. It is certainly not any of THOSE things!!!! But what I DO love about second hand stores, even the less than stylish ones, is this thrill that overcomes me that a treasure is awaiting to be unburied. I cannot ever get over the excitement of finding something that I would never, ever be able to find in a chain store. And the price is never to be beat. 


So, once in awhile, usually on Wednesday's when I have the goggle of goslings out and about doing errands with me, we end up in our local Salvation Army because that is Family Day. Which means every ticket (except one chosen color) is half off. I can always find something. I am quite afraid I have turned the boys into treasure hunters as well. I realized this when when we were talking about favorite things to do in the summer and Drew chimed in with "TAG SALES!!!!"  


Well, our last S.A. trip I spotted this very unique embroidery piece. Thankfully, I had just seen something similar on etsy that really caught my eye. It was in a foreign language, but it was just beautiful. So, taking my chances, I snatched this piece and figured it couldn't be that bad for 75 cents. I'd look it up when we got home. 


Well, the week went by and quite frankly, I forgot. So tonight as I walked by the framed handiwork, it kind of glanced at me funny, reminding me to look it up already. So thank you Mr. Google, again. And to my sweet, sweet surprise, I have definitely found a beautiful treasure. 


You see, the translation of this Cead Mile Failte (pronunciation: kade meela fall-cheh) is "ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND WELCOMES." How beautiful is that? And to strike my fancy even deeper, the language is Gaelic. (John guessed Spanish. My friend Leah almost got an email for translation). Which just ties everything together so perfectly: my Irish roots, a vintage handmade item (maybe it came all the way from Ireland on the boat?), and a perfectly warm greeting to remind me to open our doors and hearts wide to those who enter here. 


This is one of my new favorites!