My Spring Wardrobe

What is it about spring that makes me want to wear all new clothes?  While it's not practical to get a whole new wardrobe every season, a few new pieces can enliven what you already have.  Here are some of my picks for this spring...

I love fun shorts, and who doesn't love gingham?!  These will go so well with a bright blue shirt, or a sunny yellow tank.

                                         


I'm a sucker for stripes and this season is not exception.  This dress will be great for a date night, or just running errands.


                                          

I'm really into bright blue right now, so I scooped up this dress as well.  It's so comfy and looks great with wedges or flats.  I may or may not have gotten it in black as well...


                                         

This shirt is so me.  Stripes, neutrals, relaxed. Love.


                                           

I just ordered these and I can't wait for them to get here!  Perfect to throw on with a cute tee this summer.


                                          

To say that I love this dress is an understatement.  It is so comfortable, but so versatile.  I've worn it to church, to preschool, to the grocery.  Must have.

                               

This shirt is very versatile as well.  It looks so much better on than in the picture.  Wear it with white skinny jeans and coral sandals.  Or yellow shorts.  Or a mint green pencil skirt.  Possibilities!

                                

That's just a quick little peek into some of the things I'll be wearing this spring.  What about you?  Any new finds?  Are you embracing the navy, coral, bright blue, yellow, and mint?

Tomorrow I'll show you how my feet will be dressed... :)

XO,
  Sara

DIY Piggy Bank

A certain little man of mine is completely fascinated by all things money.  This is probably helped by the fact that he finds a coin everywhere we go.  Everywhere.  If I found money the way this boy does I'd have a lot more projects to show you!

When Little Man was born, he was gifted a beautiful ceramic piggy bank with the words "count your blessings".  I loved this bank.  It was so sweet.  Little loved it as well.  Loved shaking it to get the coins to fall out of the top.

As you can imagine, this method promptly led to a broken pig.

Rather than replace the glass pig with another glass pig, I opted to use what I had to give the wee one a place to store his coins.  Here was my criteria: shatterproof, easy to get into

Enter the leftover jar from my "Handful of Everything" trail mix (sidenote: that stuff is delicious! Target if you want some!).  

I peeled off the label from the jar (definitely the hardest part) and Little helped me pick out a piece of scrapbook paper he liked.  I cut it to size and wrapped it around the jar.  The adhesive leftover from the label held it on perfectly.

Next, I created a quick label on an Avery template and popped them on the jar.

Little added his coins, and our homemade piggy bank was ready!

Now he can screw and unscrew the top as much as his little heart desires.

I do realize that this is not a long term solution.  The paper will start to curl up and may suffer some wear, but for a free option for a 4 year old, I'm happy.  Maybe when he's 5 he can be trusted with the glass dinosaur piggy bank he's fallen in love with...

XO,
  Sara

I'm Back, but it's a Sad Day

Hello my friends.  I've taken an extended hiatus from Nest and am so glad to be back.  Between vacations, birthday parties, house guests, and a stomach bug there hasn't been a single moment to blog.  I'm finally feeling some what caught up.  The bathrooms have been detoxed, laundry done, bills paid.  There's food in the refrigerator.  All is well.

Except, all doesn't feel well to some of our brothers and sisters in Boston.  Although I was not there, I have a sister-in-law who is a marathon runner and a few friends who were running this year.  Gratefully, they are all well.



At times like this, it is easy to feel like there is no good in the world.  How could there be when such violence occurs?  Looking at the news reports, it was amazing to see the good that was expressed in those moments following the blasts.  People running toward the explosion to help.

On days like yesterday, and today, and forever more, we need to recognize that the good far outnumbers the bad.  And it always will.

Keep the good alive.  Tell someone you love them today.

As you may have picked up from my first paragraph, I've been feeling a wee bit overwhelmed the past month.  In some calm moments of prayer, it has come to me to work on expressing 4 things everyday.  That may seem like a lot, but they really dovetail with each other.

Patience, meekness, love, and good deeds.

If you look up these words, you see that meekness is a form of patience.  Love requires meekness.  And you can't do good deeds without love.

                               

Be the good you want to see.

XO,
  Sara

Easter Table 2013

If you popped in to check out my Easter mantle from yesterday, you know the name of the game this year is 'simple'.  After a big birthday party and a trip to Disney, I kept the table as low-key as possible.

I pulled out my swag of burlap again to be the runner.  I wonder if I'll ever tire of this thing?!

Then, I added a white pitcher from my collection, popped in some botanicals from Target, plunked my cute Target bunnies down and scattered my Kroger eggs about.

Hopefully it looks a lot better than it sounds!

What have you been putting up for Easter?  Has it warmed up where you are?

I just love this time of year.  Get your white shorts and sandals ready girls!

XO,
  Sara

Easter Mantle 2013

We're back from a fantastic visit with the Mouse.  There is nothing like Disney World with a 4 year-old.  He loved it, we loved it.  We all need a vacation to recover.

While I let the laundry sit and the grocery shopping go undone, I'll share with you the Easter mantle I put together, because folks, it's this weekend.  Say what?!  So. Not. Ready.

I kept it very simple this year by using things I already had, along with a wreath and eggs I stumbled upon at Kroger.

The wooden bunny is from Marshalls and the wire basket is from the Target $1 spot.  I think it was $3 though...

The mercury glass candlesticks from Pottery Barn are still going strong.  I love a purchase that keeps on giving!

I've had the wicker vase forever.  I think I found it at Big Lots.  The botanicals are from Pottery Barn.

And there you have it.  A fresh, clean, approach to Easter.  It makes me feel so calm.

Now, to get that Easter bunny cracking on the basket!

XO,

  Sara

Change of Plans...

Well, I did say I would be showing you my Easter mantle and tablescape this week...however...



                       

          ...we're at the most magical place on earth!

                         

See ya real soon!

                                       

XO,
  Sara                        

Happy Birthday Little!

Happy Birthday Little Man!  

I cannot believe you are 4.  It seems like only yesterday you were crawling around and learning how to feed yourself puffs.  Now, you eat 3 full meals a day and about 3 more full size snacks!  You are growing like a weed and making it hard for momma to keep you in shoes and pants!

Daddy and I could not be prouder of you.  You live life to the fullest and do everything with joy.  You love everyone you meet and never hesitate to show us how much you love us with special drawings, cards, and rocks  you've collected.

You are smart as can be.  You amaze me everyday with what you know about meteors and power lines, and sea creatures.  When you are fascinated about something, you want to know "everything about it".  I love that about you.  You stump me with your questions, but I love your curiosity.  You and George would be the best of pals. ;)

You're an amazing artist.  You love to cut and glue and use markers till your hands are multi-colored.  I wonder where that comes from?  I can't wait to see what you do with all of your talents.

We really thought you'd have a sibling by now, but you know what?  God's given us a little extra time with just you, and how special this time has been.  We've been to movies together.  Sampled cake pops, walked on the beach, flown in an airplane, gone to the zoo, picked apples, and pumpkins, and flowers. Watched you experience your first day of school and hit your first baseball, and eat a lemon all the way to the peel. Yuck!  We wouldn't trade this time for anything.

And if our little family stays only three, you, my love, are enough.  More than enough.  Just right.

Little, we love you so much!  Although I end every day exhausted, I also end every day happy God gave me the opportunity to be your mom.  Keep asking questions, keep growing, keep exploring, keep drawing, and never let anyone or anything hide your light.

Love,
  Mommy and Daddy