Adventure Is Out There

This is my favorite moment in UP.  I love that second where Ellie's hair blows in the wind.  If ever I have known exactly how a cartoon character feels it is that very moment. That touch of peace before you decide what you must do next. 

We made the decision to move forward in growing our family through adoption oh a year and a half ago.  But I keep stalling, taking baby steps.  Mostly because my heart just wasn't ready or in the right place.  But with God touching my heart everywhere I turn these days I know its time to race on ahead.  We've met with our counselor, we've started on our paperwork, we pray hard every day for things to work out for our little family.  And we work hard to make sure things work out for our family and our new adventure that is out there waiting for us.

The hard part about working towards your own goals is that it makes it difficult to help others with their adventures.

 My friend Heather has a huge heart and has her own fabulous adventure that she is on.  After her son Samuel passed away she started the Joyful Life Library, gathering up books to donate to local Children's Hospitals.  I puffy heart love the Joyful Life Library.  I'm a mom of a reader and know that more than anything books would be the biggest comfort to my child heaven forbid we were in the hospital.   

I've struggled the past couple months with wanting to help, but not knowing how with us trying to save up for adoption expenses.  Finally I went to Heather and we came up with... 

Bags for Books and Babies! {I love a good alliteration}

If you haven't seen I've added a few items to my shop.  My shop has become my way to contribute to raising money for our adoption expenses.  Its one of the best ways for me to be a stay at home Mama to Ivy and feel like I'm helping out.  I've listed several styles of shopping bags along with a few other things.  The best part about these bags is that with each one sold, I'll be donating a book to the Joyful Life Library.  Its a triple win.  Babies get books, I get a baby, you get a bag.  :) {thats worth a happy face isn't it?!

Valentines {monthly plug edition}

Umm did anyone NOT get the flu thats going around?!  I am so glad to be feeling better, I was even able to go to Pilates this morning, which after a week off was wonderful. 

But now I'm scrambling trying to get caught up on a few days worth of things like laundry and cleaning, and a couple of things I've been meaning to tell you about {with a Valentines twist}...

Have you made it to a Passionista Presents show yet?  I have thoroughly enjoyed each one and I know I'm going to like this one too.  The Lower Lights will be here on March 5th.  You can learn more about them HERE, and I highly recommend you get your tickets soon.  Wouldn't this be a great Valentines gift?  I can picture it now...babysitter, dinner, amazing music.  Sigh.

Get your tickets HERE

Darin is having his last Intro to Lighting class for the season on February 19th.  He'll start back up in the fall, but that is a long time to wait. So check it out.  I think you'll love it.  {You don't even need to have a fancy flash to take the class, so there's nothing holding you back!}  What does this have to do with Valentines?  Not much really unless you are treating yourself, or someone you know.  You can convince your husband it is an investment!

And lastly if you have a teenager in your house, then they would probably love this print in their room! 

Remember, its teen tested! ;)   I've got the digital file in my shop over there.  For only $2!  Just let me know the size when you check out and I'll send you the file.    Its available in 8x10, 11x14 and 20x30.  

So eh, don't you think those would be good Valentines gifts?  I'm just saying.  

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Weekend Notes

THANK YOU!  I've been busy all weekend filling orders!  I'm excited that you guys are excited!  And just to get shop business out of the way first...

Ruffled Burlap Wreaths are ready to rock!  I can't even tell you how much I love them.  Each one is a little bit different, and can be customized to match your holiday decor.  Too cute. 

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  I had a kind of sad day yesterday.  My Grandma passed away early Sunday morning.  She has had alzheimer's for 10 years, so it was expected, but I still got a little teary.  I'm just so extremely grateful for the knowledge that I will see her again someday, and she is finally at peace, restored to her perfect state in Heaven.  I think the best word to describe my Grandma is Elect. She was a very classy lady, serving for many years in the Wyoming House of Representatives, and at the Casper Chamber of Commerce.  

Isn't she a sweet gal? She loved color, baking pie, sewing and had a cute sarcastic sense of humor.  {Hmmmm.  Sound like anyone else I know?!}  Dorothy was blessed with fabulous hair that as far as I know never went gray.  Lucky girl.  So I'll be heading to Boise at the end of the week to attend her Memorial Service. I'm excited to see family that I don't get to see very often, not so exited for the crying I'm bound to do.  

One thing my Grandma and Grandpa are well known for is their applesauce.  Seriously the best ever.  No matter how hard I try mine isn't quite the same, but it always reminds me of spending the summer in Wyoming, and more recently visiting with my awesome Grandpa in Boise.  We swap canning stories and I love his laugh.  So in honor of Ty and Dorothy here is their applesauce recipe.  Its seriously worth going out and getting apples today. 

 

And just so you know, its good on just about anything!  

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Thanks Grandma for being such a fine lady.  I Love you.

Open For Business {pretty much}

I don't know if you  have noticed the banner that I have been hanging up in my little space at things like the farmer's market, or that craft fair I just did.  Yep, the one that says Ruffled Sunshine.  Ta Da!  I have a name for my little business!  Back in the summer when I did the She Market, my friend Karen {who you met a couple of weeks ago during I'm Thankful Week}  decided I needed a business name.  Not just, you know that one girl that makes cute stuff and sells it sometimes.  I so wanted to use Ivy's name, but every one I came up was already being used.  So I picked two of my other favorite things and viola!  My amazing friend Celia came up with a perfect logo {she also did the Family Proclamation} and has been a huge help with everything design minded. 

{Hows that for stuffing as many links in to one paragraph as I can!  Did you catch them all?} 

 I had such a great time at My Favorite Things, it gave me the last push I needed to finally get things up and running online.  And so, here it is folks, just in time for the holidays...

www.ruffledsunshine.bigcartel.com

Kind of fun right?  I'm starting out small, and it doesn't have a lot hence the pretty much, but it should get a little bit fuller over the weekend as I get more pictures taken.  I just wanted to get it up quickly for all of you who were looking for Winter Blooms, {which you can also now find at Greenies in Richland. Thanks for your interest by the way!  It totally makes me happy :) }

Opening up shop is something I've been wanting to do for a while, I would just get so nervous even thinking about it that I pushed it back to the back burner.  Umm, I think I do that a lot.  Maybe I should work on that?  Anyways...  Come on by and check it out!  Let me know what you would like to see in Ruffled Sunshine!  

Have a festive and fabulous Weekend!