A Handwritten Note

Our piano teacher has taken it back to the basics I'm talking about.

We had our first  piano recital to celebrate our first year of lessons. Our teacher only had three students so she had it at her house. Each child played their songs, they received a little Bach trophy (totally cute), and then had light refreshments.

This week we started lessons back up and she handed me a card. I opened it at home and it was the sweetest thank you card for our whole family just for coming to participate in the recital.

It made me wonder when I last took the time to write a note to someone to say thank you instead of just saying it. For birthdays and other events sure. But for an everyday thing like watching my kids or meeting someone new? Not in a long time.

That is exactly the kind of thing I want to do more of. I want people to know how much I appreciate the things they do for me.

I already have a list of people in mind who should be receiving a handwritten note from me.  How about you?

InstaFriday

This is my first week participating in InstaFriday.  What a fun idea, it really got me taking more photos and that is a great thing since I have been slacking in that department.  Here's our week!

Tissue paper flowers for a baby shower Saturday, this tutorial!

Having fun at Ikea!

Do it yourself rocket-building!

Here is the finished product added to our solar system!

Hulking it up!

Feeding ducks at the park!

And a hike through the woods!

I hope you had a fun-filled week too!

Bench Cushion 101

I bought the Ikea Expedit shelving unit with 5 cubbies to use as a bench after I saw my friend do the very same thing in her home.  We were in the market for more seating anyway and this was the perfect size to go under our kitchen window.  So, the hubby and I went on a date night to Ikea (when you have kids anywhere is considered a date when they aren't with you!), and we bought the shelf and some awesome fabric to make a cushion out of.  

Fast forward 5 months and the cushion is finally finished!!  It's amazing how quickly projects are finished when there's a baby on the way.

Here is the amazing tutorial I found at thecsiproject.com, plus an extra tutorial on how to make the piping!  I ended up doing piping on the top only.  That's because my local craft store only had enough rope for the top and I'm impatient.  I think it looks super cute anyway and it is as easy to make as she says!

Why did I pick mostly white when our kids are the ones who will be sitting here the most?  I loved the fabric the best and since I can Scotchgard it I'm hoping it will be just fine.  

Here's a better look at the fabric.  I just love the funky feel of the outlined images!

And the final product.  I'm so happy with it!

Have you tried a new tutorial lately?  With good results?

Classics Book Club

Reading is one of my all time favorite things to do.  However, I have recently realized that I don't engage with a book like I used to.  My mind is always distracted with to-do lists, email, kids, etc.  Even so I have found myself drawn to the classics lately.  I have read Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice which were both excellent.  Definitely more difficult to read and required more concentration, but I loved it!  

So, when Edie decided to do an online classics book club I was all for it.  She even made a cute button for our blogs!

Our first book for September is The Odyssey by Homer.  I am using the translation she suggested by Robert Fagles. Don't be intimidated or scared.  I'll admit I was at first, but once I started reading it I realized it isn't so bad.  It's actually very good!  I may have even interested my husband in it!

Starting From Scratch

For some reason I am being called to start a blog.  I can't totally explain it at the moment, but I am excited about it!   

I don't exactly know what I even want this blog to be about or what direction it will take.  What I do know is that since I returned from my trip to Kenya I have felt an overwhelming need to reconnect with people.  Along with that is a strong conviction to encourage others, especially women, to do the same.  We are so caught up in our technologically advanced culture that we have forgotten what real relationships are.

Hopefully this will turn into a journey of sorts, a journey back to the porch swing. That fantastic image of women connecting over cups of coffee or tea enjoying the time spent together.  No matter where that spot may be or who you may be with, let's start building some real relationships together.