let the wild rumpus start!

max (probably up to no good, as usual)

flapper girls (birthday girl on the left)

coraline! (complete with alternate reality doll)

max and me!

photos from last night's halloween/birthday party
dinner at chili's followed by many rousing rounds of mafia! at said birthday girl's house
fun was had by all! (and my makeup held up pretty well, all things considered)

oh, and also josh let me tell his hair cut story. which is hilarious.
"i made a mistake didn't I?!?"
love it :)

i can't wait to see everyone else's costumes 

happy halloween!

halloween sisters:

vampire hubby!

friday sky watch

only in kansas is it sprinkling while the sun is still shining :)

go see other skies from around the world

coffee mug

i'm working like crazy right now to get make stuff for my shop (thanks for all the encouraging words)
. but for now i'd like to introduce you to my new best friend and constant companion:
my coffee mug!


i love it. it's huge, it's from my sister-in-law's trip to london and it is constantly filled with tea.
to be specific, either herbal peppermint, honey vanilla white tea chai, or sleepytime (chamomile, spearmint, lemongrass) (all by celestial seasonings, all with a touch of honey.)

my asthma has been horrible since we moved and tea makes it all better :)
(not really, but it helps)

good news!

today i started setting up my very own etsy shop. (about time, right?)
i'm very excited!
(and even more nervous)

i'm telling you so i won't chicken out

(wish me luck!)

a purse for sarah

an old friend from high school (who i saw recently) sent me some material in the mail to make her a purse and this is what i came up with:

detail shot:
(can you see the little studs at the bottom of each pleat?)

i really hope she likes it!

ps- brad, this is an open invitation to send material anytime for me to make a purse for "caitlin"

i almost forgot to show you!

my finished hat

simple pleasures

after a wonderful weekend with the perfect balance of friends, crafting and quality time with my hubby (at last!) i'm happy to say that today has not brought me off my "happy high".
i often make mental lists of life's simple pleasures to keep me going (and to look back on when i'm having a not-so-great day) so i though i'd share a few (of my many) simple pleasures today:


~ purring kitties


~ perfect fall days (sunny, crisp and colorful)


~ public libraries (and book stores)


(i did not realize until just now that they all start with p)

care to share some of yours too?

envelope full of love!

,i checked my mail last night and look what was waiting for me:

a package from my bestie sarah!
contents= new noah and the whale album.
homemade card just for me.
homemade banner just for me.

(sister banner to the blue one she made for herself)

it already has a home!

i really miss her (and her hubby too!)

and i'm getting a package ready to send right back.

kitten naps are the best

... especially when you're not feeling well.

knitting season

let me show you what i've been up to:
hand warmers!
(josh says they're impractical, but i think they'll be perfect for kansas winters)

daisy stitch hand warmers from the purl bee
(i'm really loving the fall colors right now)

my second pattern:
heavily inspired by a pair i saw at target.
(i couldn't find a picture online so i had to go by memory)

and last, but not least, a hat to match them all!
(well, it's not done yet)
the clam shell hat from fiberwild.
we'll see how it turns out :)

ps- does anyone want the black.white.red pair? i'm not going to keep them
(i originally made them just for a trial run)

i'd be happy to send them to you!

the perfect(ish) day

after running errands, taking cache to the vet and other blah blah boring every-day-things, i spent the perfect afternoon outside basking in the beautiful weather! (mid-70's, cloudless sunshine with a slight breeze)

i had the perfect set up.
kittens, favorite (torn up) hoodie, knitting supplies close at hand, and a good book
(this photo was taken before i brought out snacks too)

arie loves hanging out on the deck with us

my guys also spent some time together :)

favorite things

i'm spending an evening at home, doing a few of my favorite things:
~ reading a good book (with my purring kittens)
~ hanging out with my hubby!
~ nice long, hot bubble bath (with a glass of wine)

this will be followed by a sunday doing a few more favorite things:
~ pancakes! (finishing the pumpkin butter from last weekend)
~ church
~ an afternoon at the library

the rest of my day is pretty much up for grabs

ps- thanks, friends, for all the encouraging messages and thoughts this week.
life is good <3

pps- saw where the wild things are this weekend and was sadly dissappointed.
(key word being SADly)
(josh loved it)