It's a song we sing with our kids and it goes a little something like this...

"I love you (insert your name here),
Oh yes I do,
I love you (insert your name here),
this much is true,
when you're not with me, I'm blue
Oh, (insert your name here) I love you
Oh, (insert your name here) I love you!

Friday, August 26, 2011

{craft hope: Christmas in dixie}

I've talked about craft hope before.  Craft Hope is a "love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those who need them. It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world. "

Well, they have a new project called Christmas in Dixie .  Christmas in Dixie aims to “provide handmade stockings for the 12,000 families that lost everything to tornadoes this year. Yes, 12,000 families that will not be pulling the Christmas ornaments and decorations out of their attic. 12,000 families that have to build their lives again. We know we cannot do everything, but we can do little things. And these little things make a BIG difference.
In addition to having nothing, these families will face new needs that this season will bring, such as winter clothing, funds for heating, and gifts for their family members or in addition to the everyday needs they now face. There are groups helping supply toys for tots, churches help with clothing and food, even the Government will help somewhat. But no one will be concerned with these items that help form the traditions, and memories that we all remember as we grow up. We can only imagine how worry will begin to creep into the back of many moms’ minds, realizing Christmas is just around the corner and once again they will be reminded of those items that mean so much, like ornaments handmade through the years, pictures with Santa, and their own personal stocking being lost and gone for ever.”  Excerpt from the Craft Hope website

some homemade favorites of mine...

image via marthastewart.com
via hgtv.com
via pinterest (hable construction stockings)

Maybe it's because I just had so much fun sewing pillowcase dresses, or maybe it's because they are forecasting a hurricane here this weekend and my thoughts are going out to those who have experienced devastation this year.  Either way, this sounds like a wonderful way to bless a family this holiday season.

The deadline for this project is Sept 23, 2011.  Check out the website for more details.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

{little dresses for the DR party}

a couple weeks ago i hosted our second annual little dresses for the DR party.  friends came and spent the afternoon transforming pillowcases into dresses for girls living in the dominican republic.  it would have been fun to just hang out with these great ladies having snacks and sangria, but knowing we were sending love across the miles just made it that much more fun. our missions team from REUNION then hand delivered them the following week.


our playroom turned sweatshop! we were working in the attic on one of the hottest days this summer.

(i find it amusing that there is a snowman in the background of a pic taken in august.)



aiden modeling for us






and maybe the sweetest picture of all...a little dominican girl in her new dress.  makes my heart sing!


to read more about making pillowcase dresses for impoverished children, check out little dresses for africa.  you can find the instructions here, or just do a google search for a zillion variations on this dress.

more to come on the trip itself.  stay tuned...

Monday, August 22, 2011

{birthday trip to Maine}

this post is a month tardy.  since it was such an amazing day though, i wanted to share how we spent mike and i's birthdays.

there are not too many places we love to visit more than the beaches in maine.


birthday kisses




nubble lighthouse in york. finally figured out the self-timer!


the BEST ice cream ever! brown's homemade in york. it's tradition.

could eat lobster rolls from here all day long



someone made these amazing rock sculptures all over the beach.  literally dozens.

ocean walk at perkins cove

heart-shaped seaweed
 
rocks in puddles

gorgeousness!

Monday, August 1, 2011

{buddies}


love us some cortazio's.

enough said.