All mine

What a goon! He claims his stroller as his own--it's mine, allll mine!

Sisters

My sisters are in town--thus the lack of posting over here. If you have sisters you'll understand. Even if you didn't like each other growing up, or haven't been the best at communication, or even live hundreds of miles apart--they're still some of the most important people in your life. And I feel so lucky to share this place I love with these people I love. William is totally soaking up all the attention too. And Andrew is being a saint for holding down the fort with the overload of estrogen--poor thing! I'll hopefully have more photos to share later. But, in the mean time, I hope you like the image of Baby William catching bubbles in the sunshine!

XOXO,
Jewels

The Poconos

We spent Mother's Day weekend up in the Poconos with family! I actually felt my body relax. I left the computer, the book orders, didn't even realize I had cell phone coverage until mid-day on Sunday. It was bliss!

Letterpress Creations

A few months ago Krissy from Paper Schmaper and I decided to combine forces and create a guest book that would showcase her amazing letterpress designs. I received a packet in the mail full of soft, silky paper brilliantly covered in elegant filigree. My job was to take those designs and give them a new format. It was exciting to see these abstract ideas of our take shape.

You can find these Letterpress Creations here and here!

To do today

To do today:
+ pot my lavender, basil and white geraniums
+ bake shortbread
+ fill orders
+ research the Poconos for upcoming visit
+ plan menu for when my sisters arrive next week
+ explore the idea of peaches with William at lunch

Image from Country Living Magazine

William's Walk

These vibrant beauties are all over Chestnut Hill! God bless the azalea!

Birthdays are like personal New Years to me--mine was yesterday. They are a time to reflect on the year gone by and dream about the year ahead. Because I'm feeling less than eloquent this morning, I will rely on my handy lists this morning!

Things I've learned this year:
1. I'm much stronger than I thought!
2. Having a baby has changed the very core of me--I can't describe it nor can I deny it.
3. Love must be cultivated, nurtured and respected.
4. We are fickle beings but there are things that are constant. Family being one of them.
5. I believe. I believe in myself, I believe in unconditional love, I believe in the power of kind words, a soft touch and forgiveness. I believe in a spiritual essence in all that is about me.

Dreams for the coming year:
1. I crave spiritual understanding and will try to cultivate that.
2. I want to make yoga more of daily practice.
3. I want to try and understand my quick temper and figure out a better way to vent.
4. I want to stretch my definition of love and "falling in love" and all that lies between.
5. I want to try and enjoy the moment, those precious moments, with William--for they are so fleeting!

Definitely more abstract in nature--but I'm really looking forward to the coming year and all that it holds. I'm almost positive that my therapist thinks I'm still in recovery from the major life changes I have survived this year--so I'm trying to be kind to myself. It's so hard for me to be present in my daily life as I'm perpetually thinking of what's next--it's that incessant "productive, productive, productive" nature of mine. But, it's good when I am present. It's a very sensual experience--the world interacting with me. And I understand more and more how important being nurtured that way is for me. I'm a sensual being. I mean that more in a "senses" way--not so much the "sexy" way--though I am that too. I never would have though that this past year would have held so much! Thank you for walking through it with me!

XOXO,
Jewels