heart knot friendship bracelet valentines

I was feeling very uninspired this year when it came to making any Valentine's. I knew LM really wanted something to give to her cousins and a few friends, so I was just going to have her pick out some Valentine's at the store (which seriously would have been just fine). But, as I was falling asleep late last night all of these individual thoughts that were floating around in my head suddenly collided and I knew what I wanted to do - heart knot bracelets!

So if you need a very extremely last minute Valentine idea, here you go...

I had a bunch of soft suede leather lace I didn't end up using on a project (that I'll share later this week), so I originally thought that I could make adjustable friendship bracelets - you know, like those awesome neon ones we proudly wore back in the day? Then, Melissa fortuitously posted how to tie adjustable knots, and that combined with a picture of a heart knot I remembered seeing on Jen's Pinterest brought this idea all together. And, really, that's all it is - tying knots.

A how-to video for the heart knot can be found here. I had to watch it at least a few times to get the hang of it, but once it clicked the rest went pretty fast. I will say that I think the dark blue heart knot looks the best because it was a little thicker than the other colors so keep that in mind. Also, make sure you give yourself plenty of extra lace on each side for the adjustable knots.

Once you are done you can slide the bracelets over this little printable card I made, and simply pull the adjustable knots tight. Right click on the picture to save and print it (saying inspired by these two friendship bracelet Valentine's). Or you can make your own with Husband's rejected (albeit funny) idea - 'I don't like you. KNOT! Be Mine.' ;)

Happy Valentine's Day friends!!!

a shiny new year

Happy 2012 everyone, hope you had a safe and fun time ringing in the New Year! We had a low-key weekend at home celebrating with some make-shift tinsel crowns, hacked Harry Potter glasses (they say 2012, i swear. try squinting?), a robot dance party, homemade cookies, a show, and ended the festivities with a blanket ride into the New Year.

My in-laws also came over to play board games and I'm sorry to say, we all died. Three times over in fact. But, it was fun so we're going to try and rid the world of disease again real soon.

So, here's to a shiny New Year ahead of us. I don't know what it has in store, but I hope for more love, more laughter, and more friendships. And I wish the same for you.

our christmas...

 

We had such a great Christmas season this year. Since we celebrated early with Husband's family when we traveled for the funeral a couple of weeks ago, this year was the first time we haven't had to pack up and leave after Christmas morning. That meant on Monday the girls got to play with their new toys (okay, let's be real - LM played with them and Lark chewed on them), papa got to play his video games, and mama got to organize all the closets. I am on a purging kick right now - if you haven't been used in the last year you better watch out!

On Christmas Eve we added the star to the top of our jewelry advent calendar, I wrapped up the last of the gifts - including a set of vintage puzzles I thrifted, the girls got new pajamas, and we watched Whinnie the Pooh (or at least some of us did, ahem Husband).

Then it was time for Christmas stories, and lights out so Santa could come!

Santa delivered and on Christmas morning there was a dollhouse waiting by the tree for the girls. LM ran right up to it and immediately started playing with the dolls. It was such a hit that we forgot all about the stockings until after the presents were opened and we were cleaning up wrapping paper bits!

For me, this was a great Christmas for my feet, and Husband got some new kitchen gadgets. We were all spoiled just the right amount - mostly with things we actually needed, but with a few wants thrown in for good measure. Case in point, those tiny pink metallic oxfords? Definitely a want, I couldn't resist. ;)

After presents, we had our traditional breakfast of ebleskievers. Then we gussied up for church where Husband sang in the choir, and we were reminded of the true meaning of Christmas. Later, we had Christmas dinner with my family so it was a full day spent with those we love. We hope you had a wonderful day as well!

On a different note... I've been thinking a lot about the upcoming year, what I need to change, and what goals I want to set that will be best for my family. One thing I know I need to do is make sure this space, which I love and enjoy but can also take up quite a bit of my time, does not interfere with my top priority of raising LM and Lark. So, with that in mind along with other reasons, I've decided that this Wednesday will be the last link up party for Little Vintage Style. I apologize for not hosting it last week when I was sans computer, and also for this abrupt notice of its end.

I still plan on doing Little Vintage Style posts, both with our family and guest posters, but I will no longer hold myself to doing them every week or ask you to link up (although I would be so happy if you left me a link in the comments). Thank you to everyone who has participated this past year, I have loved seeing your kiddos retro style and getting to know you! I hope you'll still do vintage style posts and keep up those ties. We'll see you tomorrow!

merry christmas!

Merry Christmas friends! Hope your day is filled with peace, love, and joy.

Best wishes, the Harts


photos by Bri
card put together by Valerie

black friday

The majority of my Black Friday shopping was spent at a favorite local consignment shop trying on vintage dresses, and throwing open old pretty quilts to gush over all of the amazing prints. I avoided the crowds at major chain stores, but I also didn't make much of a dent in my Christmas shopping list (although I would have if the awesome wooden dollhouse they had didn't need quite so much TLC - the girls would have loved it). I am sure I missed out on some good deals for things we don't really need, but this year I am finding myself not so concerned about buying presents for us or the girls.

Yes, we will unwrap our traditional pajamas and a board game to play on Christmas Eve, but being comfortable and warm and laughing with my family is what I want to focus on. We will still have stockings and open presents on Christmas morning, but sitting down together for a delicious Husband-made breakfast of ebleskievers, and snuggling on the couch for a movie night is what I look forward to more.

I am sure the right, thoughtfully purchased presents for everyone will be found in time, but definitely in smaller amounts this year. In the meantime I did leave the shop that day with this little green velvet number for myself, so it wasn't a total loss... ;) Have you made a dent in your Christmas shopping? Did you brave the crowds last weekend, or hit up local shops and thrifts instead?

thankful

  

i am thankful for...

my family//my sweet girls

accomplishments big - standing!//and small - holding still for a hairdo!

a passion I truly love//pretty vintage frocks

music//dancing

delicious food//the chance to spend time with family this holiday

and many many more things I am blessed with every day.

so thankful.

and also, thank you for your friendship, comments, support, and inspiration. it sure means a lot.

(family picture taken with my iphone of original picture by collected photography)

little vintage style v.29

Welcome to Little Vintage Style, a place to show off your sweet little ones wearing vintage! Link up every Wednesday, and make sure to click around and say 'hello!' to all of the other vintage lovin' mamas like you!

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If you celebrated Halloween, I hope you had a fun one! At our house we had a pretty sparkly butterfly and a cute fuzzy caterpillar...

LM wore a vintage 50's tap dance costume with matching hair piece I bought off ebay a couple of months ago. It is pretty much her uniform of choice these days - if you ever happen to wonder what she is wearing at any given moment (because why wouldn't you?), there is a very good chance it is this with ballet flats.

I found her butterfly wings at the thrift store, recovered them, and added a bunch of sparkle per her request. I know I could have just bought her new ones, but I want to make at least part of her costume every year if I can. It was tedious work sewing on the sequins, but worth it when she gave me a big hug, and said they were 'boo-tiful' (unintentional Halloween joke, that's really how she says it). 

Lark's entire costume was handmade by me last minute that afternoon. Considering my time crunch I am quite proud of how it turned out. If you look closely you can see the little legs down the sides, they kind of got out shown by the fuzzy stripes. I was going to make her a little pink hood, but ran out of time... no procrastinating next year! (not making any promises).

Husband and I didn't end up in costumes and that's okay. Sometimes you just have to not worry about less important things so the more important things, like feeding your family dinner, and trick-or-treating get done. 

LM would only say 'trick or treat!' to the neighbors she recognized, was done after knocking on about 15 doors, and was happy to go to sleep after a candy bedtime snack. Lark chewed on a candy bar (in wrapper). We are calling it a success!

If you'd like, link up below!

happy halloween!

 Happy Halloween!

I've been spending every spare moment I have sewing sequins on LM's costume and as of now I still need to start on Lark's. Husband went out of town this weekend so I could only work on them a little during nap times, plus, our Saturday was spent with my sister-in-law and her little boy at another pumpkin patch. It was our first time taking a hayride out to the patch and picking our pumpkins straight off the vine, totally legit and way more fun!

Since I was towing two kids around by myself I only took pictures with my phone, so if you follow me on instagram (stacyhartsew) you may have already seen most of  these... 

It has been a fun few days, but super busy and I am so glad Husband is back. It's hard not getting a break from the kids, and it makes me really appreciate all he does to help our little family function.

Can't wait to go trick-or-treating as a family tonight! I better get back to costume making, wish me and my sore sequin sewing fingers luck...

And, if you haven't seen yet, my blog has a brand new look thanks to Kelly Ann and Freckled Nest Design. I am so happy with it and couldn't recommend working with them more. If you are in a reader, click through to check it out!

happy fourth of july!

Hope those of you in the states had a fun Fourth of July! Here are the pictures I managed to take before our camera battery died. Suffice it to say our Fourth was full of family, food, trampoline jumping, volleyball tournaments, and lots of pretty fireworks! We had so much fun that LM is sleeping it off this afternoon in the earliest nap she has taken in over a year. Reminds me of the old days when I always had this time to myself!

Tomorrow I'll show you her cute vintage Fourth of July outfit (in non-traditional colors) that she wore to church. I had a feeling that at this party she would be running around like crazy and be covered in watermelon juice from head to foot (and she was), so I didn't have her wear it. 

p.s. See those pretty painted nails? Well, my bedroom carpet got the rest of the bottle... I can't even...

happy mothers day

Early this morning I found myself with two wide awake children and a sleeping husband. As I fed the baby, changed a very poopy diaper, and made breakfast for the toddler I remembered it was Mother’s Day. 

Wait a minute, shouldn’t I be the one still asleep in a warm bed and not wiping a sticky bum?

And at that moment I knew I had a choice.

I could be annoyed and feel sorry for myself, or I could let my equally tired husband sleep and enjoy spending a quiet morning mothering my children.

I refrained from going back upstairs claiming my ‘right’ that we switch places.

Instead, I held my sweet baby girl while she breathed softly on my neck and I realized she is old enough now to hold me back. I counted fingers and toes with my toddler and listened to her sing silly songs as she played with my hair. And I took an inner step back from our daily morning routine to really appreciate my children and marvel that I get to be their mother.

I am so grateful I had that time to be reminded that no matter how exhausting and at times trying it is being a mother, it is undoubtedly worth it.

And when Husband woke up at a decent hour (still early) I got my pampered Mother's Day breakfast and felt loved and honored, and happy I made the right choice to start my day. Because there have been many times when I haven't...

I hope all you mothers had a wonderful day and realize how important and exceptional you are!

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Oh, and remember how I resolved to take more pictures of Husband and I? Well, I forgot until we were in the car... This is typical of him, every time I look he acts normal and every time I'm not he pulls a funny face!

love day

If you want to spread some extra special love today, head over to Merrilee's etsy shop to buy one of her Lovely, Love My Family prints and get any other print free! Make sure to read her post about the sweet little girl and her family you would be helping with your purchase. I'm so excited she made these prints available and can't wait to get mine!

Also, don't forget today is the last day to get 20% off in the shop! 

And finally, the sweet and inspirational duo of Rachel and Rubyellen were nice enough to ask me to be a part of their VHVT Mama series. The post went up today if you want to check it out!

xoxo