Greta's Birthday Gift Guide (and stuff you'll probably like too) Part 1: ART

My birthday is this week.

I don't really like my birthday much.

I haven't in a long time.

Not that I care about getting older because, really, I don't. (at least not yet)

I feel young and I know that if this were the Middle Ages, I'd be lucky to have made it this far.

So, even though it is weird to be looking at 35, and it does sound mature, I'm OK with it.

I'll be fine at 35.

What am I talking about?  I'll be awesome at 35!

It's not the number, it's just the birthday.

Every year I think I'll throw a party or do something fun and different for my bday.

But I am often beat (4 out of the last 7 birthdays I have had a newborn) or everyone is sick, or something like that.  

So this year I decided to do something that required minimal effort.

I am sharing a bunch of my favorite things with you--my birthday gift guide.

You'll be sure to find things you like, for yourself or others.

I will share something different each day for the week.

Today's offerings: ART.

Enjoy!

If birthday wishes came true, I'd wish for the ability to paint and draw.

Until then, I'll just admire the work of people who can.

Like this poster.

You can see the poster here.

And the whole collection here.

They have amazing stuff.

Next up, this poster from Land of Nod.

Oh how I love this poster.

I have for ages.

Perfect for a little boy's room.

Or a master bedroom because I think the sentiment is very sweet and romantic.

Don't you?

You can find the poster here and the rest of the collection here.

I would actually like any from this collection because I love this artist's work.

Then there's this map.

I looove maps.

This is one of the best I've seen.

You can find this map here, and the rest of their collection here..

If you can't actually get on a plane and go, you can at least look at the world and dream of going, right?

Last up are these birds.

Aren't they beautiful?

They are made of porcelain and hang right on the wall.

I can picture them flying across a wall in my house.

You can find them here and view the artist's pottery and other work here.

That's all I have for day one.

Come on back tomorrow for another installment of Greta's Birthday Gift Guide.

Love from,

Greta

Wednesday's Happy as a King List: the Sky

The world is full of such a number of things,

I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.

Robert Louis Stevenson

On my list right now: the sky. I have been quite taken with the sky lately. Since I'm up so early, I've been fortunate to see some marvelous sunrises. And there have been fantastic sunsets. too. But even in the middle of the day I like to stop, to look up and to see the clouds. I like to notice the brilliant blue of the sky on a fall day, the way the wind pushes the clouds and how the sky is never the same.

Isn't that amazing?

It changes all day long, every day, forever.

We live in an amazing world.

Sunrise

Noon

Sunset

Stop and take a look up today.

And tell me, what's on your happy list?

Wednesday's Happy as a King List: Autumn

The world is full of such a number of things,

I'm sure we should all be happy as kings.

Robert Louis Stevenson

What is making me happy as a king this week?

Autumn.

Clear blue, fall skies.

Leaves of red, yellow, brown and orange.

Sidewalks that crunch when you walk them.

Stopping to take it all in: looking up, looking down, but looking.

What's on your list this week?

Wednesday's Happy As a King List

The World is so full of a number of things,

I'm sure we should all be happy as kings.

Robert Louis Stevenson

This is one of my favorite poems. It is so short, but really, quite profound. We live in such an amazing place. How often do we let the day go by and we never stopped to notice the many wonderful things, the simple, everyday things that make up our world? I know I take a lot for granted. In the spirit of this poem, here are a few of the things making me, happy as a king.

Acorns

Pumpkins that come in every shape, size and color

and the people who care enough to plant 22 different varieties

Sunflowers

Little hands, holding little pumpkins

Check back here, every Wednesday, for the things that made it to my list for the week. Just stopping to look and marvel, to say thank you, for these little things makes a difference in my day.

Join me, won't you?

What's on your list?

New Furniture, Sweet Ceramics and a Blog Recommendation

We have a large blank wall in our living room. It was crying out to be filled. To be filled with something big. Aaron has had his eye on vintage wall units--they're big, and they fit our aesthetic. So when we heard our favorite furniture shop, Amsterdam Modern, was having a sale, Aaron hightailed it up there and came home with this.

By the way, you should check out Amsterdam Modern's website here. They have amazing furniture. And, the owners are really nice too. We can't say enough good things about them. Please, give them a look.

Any way, the wall unit: it's vintage, it's from Amsterdam, it's big, and I love it! Aaron installed it this weekend.

We still have to put in the glass doors and figure out our shelf arrangement (there are 4 more to put up if we want) but I had to get an idea of how it would look with some of our treasures on it.

None of these work exactly as they are. We will have to pair them with other treasures, like my vintage pottery collection.
Or perhaps some new , but vintage looking, ceramics. Like these:

All three of these pieces are pretty great. The orange owl is my favorite though. You know, in case you want to get me a present or anything. Honey, are you reading this?

These pieces and many more can be found at this shop on Etsy. You really should check them out too. What, you've never been on Etsy? Well, sending you there might be like introducing you to the peanut butter cups from Trader Joe's: it's seriously addicting. If you are willing to take the risk, you'll find lots to love.

And there's one more thing. I've been reading a blog, Mod Podge Rocks, and I wanted to share it with you. I am a huge fan of Mod Podge. In fact, with all the amazing old books I just found, there will be some serious podging going on around here. This sight is giving me lots more ideas. Go check it out and get in on the giveaway too!

Get out some cool paper, vintage illustrations or even one of your kid's drawings and get ready to podge it into something beautiful. You'll get tons of great ideas from Amy.

This post is kind of a hodge podge of things. Hoping you take away something good.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Something New # 4

Another blog goodie to start your week off right. Here it is, #4:

The Crafty Crow

I love, love, love this blog! It is such an amazing resource. Run by a home schooling mother of 3, The Crafty Crow is a collection of crafts found all over the blog world. If you are looking for a craft, here is the place to find it. Take a look at her categories; it is yet another place to get lost for an hour or two.

For example, I love this one using recycled materials. I use my mesh produce bags as scouring pads, but you could also do this. What a great way to teach your youngster beginning stitching.

And don't you just love bean bags? I have been meaning to make some for years. Maybe this will give me the get up and go to get it done! They are even cuter with the letters on them.

Miss Crafty Crow also runs another blog, Bella Dia. It features some of her own crafts, flea market treasures and other simply pretty things. It seems she took a summer hiatus, but promises to be back there more often.

At least go check out these turkeys. Is it too early to think about Thanksgiving crafts? These will definitely be on my list.

So head on over to The Crafty Crow. And then come back here and tell me what inspires you. Happy crafting!

OK, none of my links to this blog are working, and I have tried to fix it until I am tired of trying. Just click on the Crafty Crow button and it will take you to the blog. Sorry for the technical difficulties.

Something New # 3

Here it is, Blog recommendation# 3:

Inchmark Journal

Inchmark Journal is such a beautiful blog. Written by Brooke, it is full of beautiful design, amazing craft projects and wonderful book recommendations. Brooke is a mom of 2, and was an art director for Martha Stewart Kids magazine, (one of my most favorite magazines ever) so there is a lot of kid friendly material on her blog. But even if you don't have kids, you'll find something else to love: sewing projects, color layouts, party design and always, beautiful pictures.

Lilly's 1st birthday party was greatly influenced by this one for Brooke's daughter.

Brooke's craft projects almost make up for the fact that Martha Stewart Kids is no longer. I can't wait to add this one to next year's Valentines Day party.

And, how could I not read her blog when she and I share a love for the fair and for photo booths?

Nuff said. Go and be inspired. It is a fun place.

Something New # 2

Here it is, blog recommendation # 2: design*sponge

If you haven't read design *sponge, you must start now. You must, I tell you. It is so full of fabulous ideas and inspiration.

Like this. Don't you just love all the color in this house? The mix of modern and funky pieces is right up my alley.

This is from their sneak peek category. Whenever I am feeling uninspired to work on my house, this section always makes me energized. In fact, I need to hurry up and finish this blog so I can paint a frame for a picture I am hanging up in the bathroom.

Another favorite category is made with love. I have been wanting to make terrariums with the boys and this tutorial just made it easier. Peruse this section anytime you are looking for a great do it yourself craft project.

Oh, and there are recipes. (this red velvet cupcake looks divine)

And before and after projects.

It is great.

Just great!

One of the best things about design*sponge is there is always new content. There are lots of contributing editors (LOTS) so, there is always something new to see. Be forewarned. You can get lost there. Take it slow.

Hope you stop by design*sponge and get inspired to try a new recipe, paint a shelf, or make a terrarium. I'd love to hear about your favorite things over there.

Something New

So, I've decided to add something new to my blog here. I am going to share some other blogs with you. These are the ones I read often, the ones that inspire me and excite me and make me so happy that I discovered this place called blogland. It's a bit of a departure from my photos and writing, but there are people out there with photos and writing that far surpasses mine, so you should know about them.

Hope you like them as much as I do.

Blog # 1:

Nie Nie Dialogues

I was sick this week. I had the flu. I've been sicker, but for 3 days, I was feeling pretty poorly. Wednesday was the hardest day. I ached. I was cold, even though it was blazing outside. My head hurt so much that even my hair hurt. It was the pits.

The worst thing about being sick though is that life sort of stops. When I hobbled into the kitchen to get a drink, I noticed the floor was covered in crumbs. And walking on them made me crazy, but I just couldn't get the broom and sweep them up. The kids needed tending too, but they just watched movies while I laid on the couch and tried to sleep. Even 1 day of this leaves me feeling frustrated and irritable. My house feels like it is in shambles, and much worse, I feel like a terrible mother.

All this made me think about Stephanie Nielson, author of the Nie Nie Dialogues. Stephanie is a mother of 4 kids and wife to Mr. Nielson. It is obvious that she loves being a wife and mother. Her children are adorable and you can't help feeling like Stephanie and her clan would be wonderful friends to have.

But the thing that makes this blog stand out is Stephanie's amazing story. Just a year ago, Stephanie and her husband were in a plane crash. The other man on the plane with them, a friend, did not survive. Stephanie's husband pulled her from the burning plane. Both of them sustained severe burns and were in a coma. Mr. Nielson was out of the hospital long before Stephanie. It was 4 months before she even saw her children.

When I first began to read her blog, she often wrote of her struggle to walk, move without pain, of eating cupcakes to put on weight and the tears that she might have shed that day. You could tell that she was struggling. But I had no idea how much of a struggle she was dealing with. I had no idea how much of a fighter she is.

Then I saw this.

On the one year anniversary of her accident, she posted a picture of herself on her blog. The first one since the accident. I cried. I don't know if I would have the courage to fight that hard. To come back from that. To push through the pain of those injuries.

All I can say is that Stephanie is truly an inspiring woman. She is a fighter. She is an encouragement to me; a real reminder of living for what matters, and focusing on those things, instead of crumbs on the floor.

So, check out her blog. The most amazing thing about it? It is not a tale of woe, or sorrow. It is a tale of joy and laughter and loving life. I know you'll like it.

Birthday Cupcakes

Yep, it's my birthday today.

I would have made myself a cake, but it was 94 degrees this afternoon and all 3 kids were decidedly cantankerous. So I bought some cupcakes instead.

My, they were yummy.

James and William picked out chocolate and vanilla. I chose lemon. It was very hard to make them wait until Daddy came home to eat them with us. But we did. We were out of candles, so we used a match and they sang Happy Birthday. It was nice.

I'm 33 today.

As an homage to one of my favorite bloggers, Girl Hula, I will make a birthday list. That is, 33 things to do before I turn 34.

But I am awfully tired right now, (I am getting older) so I'll just start with 3.

Here goes.

1. Paint my front door orange

2. Make a really good pie

3. Hike to a waterfall

The list will grow......

Enjoy the cupcakes. Happy Birthday to me!