may.may not.certainly.

i may or may not have forced garrett to read a christmas book today.

i may or may not have christmas music playing in the background.

i may or may not have a huge crush on vintage books.

i am without question in love with this boy, this book and this season.

item of the week::hazel jayne updates

this week only you can purchase these beautiful autumn blossom bobbies for $2.50 each with free shipping! it's a great deal and if you order quickly i can have them to you in time for Thanksgiving! they're perfect for little girls and women alike.

visit Hazel Jayne and don't forget to check out my other items. i shipped off my last boy quilt today and have two girlie ones left. i'd love to ship them off to happy homes by Christmas. what a wonderful gift! and just a thought, my earrings make great stocking stuffers!

also, in an effort to spread holiday cheer, the next six orders will include a beautiful vintage tree ornament for FREE!

check in later this week. i'm getting ready for a BIG update!

cheers!!
ash

real

we have been dealing a lot with life around here.
it's been hard and frustrating at times. and then there are good days and even better days.
i have kept away from blogging for fear that i might spew emotions and wish i hadn't.
but this is real life.

i'm all about real.

life is challenging. it is so easy to feel defeated.
you just have to remind yourself constantly of the things that matter.
the things that are worth fighting for.
and most importantly remember you are never alone.
this scripture makes my heart pound. it rejuvenates me thoroughly.

oh how i love my Savior.
i am grateful for His love and comfort and watchful eye.
i am overwhelmed with gratitude for His sacrifice.
for His endless grace and mercy on my behalf.
i am nothing without Him.
i could not in my lifetime say or do enough to express my love and gratitude to Him.
not in the eternities.
truly He lives.
and without the faintest breath of doubt, i know He loves me.
i know He loves my family.
what peace that brings to my soul.

in the end, the hard times will be so momentary.
simply stepping stones to the beginning.
though they can engulf and consume at times, the eternal perspective is filled with such bright, bright hope.

i am forever thankful for that.

image from hereford & worcester

stir.crazy.

today is windy and cold. there will be no energy burning outside for sure. we've only just begun to dip our toes in the cold that winter brings and my boys are already stir crazy. and that means completely wild.

my camera has captured nothing but boyish blurs all morning long. couch pillows are strategically strewn across the room to provide leap pads for tireless little legs. colored pencils and giant pieces of poster board are this morning's old news which are yet to be put away. puzzle pieces cover the hallway that connects their bedrooms. a booby trap for mom i think. if i step on one more of the knobby ones i think i might cry. three times i have had to re-pants boys. oh and did i mention the basket of laundry waiting to be folded?

it's all a little crazy over here. and a lot messy. but double the crazy and triple the mess and that's how wonderful i would say it is. when my home is empty (and clean) i think i'll be hurting for messy, wild days just like these.

fish and dragon. dragon and fish.

sitting in the doorway

gage was taking one of his lengthy naps yesterday afternoon so garrett and i decided to pass our quiet time sitting in our front doorway. we listened to, and felt the wind. and believe me you, the wind was blowing. we watched as tumbleweeds of all sizes traveled through our yard. and we felt the cold chill in the wind. proof that the forecast would be right after all. snow indeed.

i watched the little curls by his ears wisp around in the breeze. it confirmed my resolution not to under any circumstances, remind matt of his orders to have our boy's hair cut next week. it curls at the nape of his neck and flips up around his garrett-esque ears. it even settles itself into a perfect part halfway down his forehead. i love it. maybe that's just me, forcing him to have some remnant of his baby days. for my own soothing.

and while i'm swooning over my tiniest of men i should add that i wish every home in the world could have one day filled with his laughter. i am convinced that it is the most pleasant sound i will hear in this lifetime. perfectly delightful and ticklish. give me a football field full of laughing children and i will tell you where my boy is playing. it's so distinct. i love that too.

i could go on for days and days and perhaps even years telling you all the things i love about this beautiful boy and his beautiful brother. mostly i love that they are mine. for now anyways. mine to play with and laugh with and sit in the doorway with. mine to watch and enjoy. is there a sweeter calling in life than to be a mother?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

want to join me in my latest guilty pleasure? watch glee tonight. this clip has had the honor of holding me over since last week's episode. enjoy!

a little fishy

i procrastinated on gage's halloween costume this year. three weeks ago he wanted to be a dragon, then a dinosaur, then a scarecrow. but last friday he had an epiphany and it was an orange fish or bust. the boy locked in to his new dream and held tight. he reminded me about ten times a day. yesterday we finally made a trip to show low to gather the necessities. i had looked around online but found nothing that was cute enough to get me to produce my wallet. really people? really? halloween is turning into full on highway robbery. so without a pattern, or much of a clue on how a fish was to be assembled, we set off to walmart. yes, walmart. you work with what you've got.


we found some soft orange fleece and big round black buttons. then we shuffled ourselves over to the fish tanks. gage pressed himself up to the glass, pointing to a million different fish and telling me that he wanted to be that fish. finally i felt enough inspiration to take our goods home and get to work.


i wasted no time pulling out my muslin and creating a pattern of sorts. when inspiration comes, you must act on it impulsively. at least i must. it seems to be a fleeting thing for me. with our muslin creation complete, and just the right fit i began the grand finale of cutting up our new orange fleece. gage wanted desperately to stay awake for that part, but crashed out on the couch almost as soon as i began.


when he woke up, this is what he saw....

i'm hoping to finish today. my little three year old fishy lover is hoping i finish it right this very second.


he will be the cutest little fish in the sea, that boy.

did you see our giveaway winner??? go here.

winner!

sorry this is so late everyone. the three year old and i were out late gathering trimmings for his fancy fish costume! wish me luck on that one. cringe.


thanks for all those who participated in the giveaway. i wish i could give you all something. sincerely, i mean that.


but without further interruption, the winner (by way of random.org)is......

Number 12:: Spencer and Chelsea Coon

just email me at ashley.broomall{at}yahoo.com with your shipping address and it will be sent your way.

thanks again everyone! now i'm off to dream of sweet orange fish costumes. goodnight.

xoxo.ash

hello hazel::and a giveaway

hazel jayne is back in business. so please stop by and take a gander.

i'd also love to start doing more custom orders so if you have something in mind email me at ashley.broomall{at}yahoo.com. the holidays are a great time to get creative!

why not go handmade this year? handmade gifts are unique and special. it's a great tradition to start.

and here's a giveaway just for you. because that's the way we do at our nest.

a sweet vintage inspired lap quilt. it's perfect for babies and dollies alike and the fabrics are so soft and lovely.

just leave a comment telling about the best homemade gift you've ever received. (i need ideas!)

i will be drawing a winner on monday evening so stay tuned.

xoxo. ash

it

i don't have it all together.

i'm not actually entirely clear on what "it" is.

but today we covered ourselves in pizza sauce, destroyed the kitchen while baking cookies and ignored all of our messes just so we could make silly faces together.

maybe that's what "it" is all about.

i sure hope so.