"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart"
~ Winnie The Pooh ~

It is a wonderful day to be able to post my blog with loving "Congratulations" to a beautiful family with a new precious baby!!!

What a fun design for a baby shower with so much inspirational love shared by the guest in waiting the arrival of baby. 

Welcome your guest with a simple to make wreath complete with a cute pennant swag to set the tone for a fun and meaningful shower.

The colors of green and brown with hints of blue are a beautiful backdrop ~ especially for the green candy bar and bottles of milk with cookies and straws. 

Instead of playing games, have a "crafting" area set up for guest to design onesies for the new little bundle and maybe make a few before the shower as a cute wall display.  The artwork is from Kidsline from their Willow Organic collection with many bedding and accessories to chose from.  What a peaceful and beautiful design for the nursery!

For the perfect keepsake, I love the "Wishes For Baby" from lilsugar.  What a precious idea for Mom, Dad and baby to look back upon with wonderful memories of love!!!  Congratulation to all, and lil' one, here are my wishes for you . . . 
 
"Dear Baby,
I hope you learn to  be gentle and kind
I hope your aren't afraid to be honest
I hope you love those less fortunate than you
I hope you get the giggles just because
I hope you laugh until your belly hurts 
I hope you never forget how very much you are loved
I hope you ignore all lifes ignorances
I hope you become exactly what brings you joy 
I hope you respect the world around you 
I hope you grow to be safe and happy 
Love, Amy

"If you have love, you already have all you'll ever really need"

Artwork from Rosy Designs where Rosy is an artist who works in many mediums.  Oil painting, computer illustration, jewelry design and making are ways that Rosy shows her love and creativity in ways that can only make you smile.  To see more of her visit http://rosydesigns.com/

Birthday:  (a) the day of a person's birth (b) a day of origin.

Today is my birthday, a celebration of who I am. It’s odd how the older we get, the more we tend to look back over our life and wonder if this is where we are suppose to be? It’s always a great feeling to say. “Yes, I am exactly where I belong!” and to know that there is so much more to venture onto in life.  I enjoy the simplicities of life and the little things that make me smile are many!  I love to listen to the quietness of the night, the smell of fresh rain, the scent flowers and leather.  I can't pass up a swing without feeling the freedom of such calmness and I have a passion in me that sometimes seem untouchable.

This year has been quite an experience, and I am hopeful that the coming year will continue to bring me such graces. I came across the following quote and fell in love with it:

“All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I’ve been
Now I’m here, blinking in the starlight
Now I’m here, suddenly I see
Standing here, it’s all so clear
I’m where I’m meant to be
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And it’s warm and real and bright.”

I will be the first to tell you . . . I really don’t like my birthday. It‘s not the aging, and I‘m not quite sure what it is, but a good celebration ~ now we’re talking. So, in all fairness, I thought I would share 44 (yes, 44) things about me and I didn‘t include my family in this list because they are without a doubt the loves of my life who without them, I would not be who I am today!

I am my worst critic and always think I can do better.

I really like to watch Disney movies or old cartoons when I am sick ~ they are simple and I don’t have to think.  When I was growing up Charlie Chaplin was my favorite along with The Great Gatsby.

I LOVE owning my own business and being able to use my creativity ~ which on the other hand, I can spend hours and hours “creating” and never tire of it (although my family often wonders when dinner might be ready).

If I could hang my sheets on the clothesline every day of the year I would sleep like a baby every night.

I can work most technology except the seven remotes my husband has to play our TV, DVD, VCR and stereo ~ I get just a little frustrated on that one!

I love to try different food, to cook new things, create new recipes (as long as they aren't spicy) and to read recipe book by the hours. 

I really want a Nook but I love the way a book smells ~ would someone create this scent to go with the e-readers, along with the feeling of sitting in a library or a book store that just can't be touched.

I use to really decorated for the holidays. I did say “use to”. I don’t feel the need to decorate 12 Christmas trees anymore.

I love to sightsee. I love to be a tourist and venture to places I’ve never been. I love to sit at outdoor cafes and people watch. To have an amazing cup of coffee and watch the world around me or a romantic dinner under a starry night is priceless. I love to venture on old cobblestone or brick-lined streets into stores that entice me to enter.

If I could have several houses, they would all be decorated differently.

Summer is my favorite season and my husband tells me I have a very small temperature range of “too cold or too hot” ~ hey, isn’t that kind of like “The Princess and The Pea”? I keep telling him I am a Princess.

Fashion ~ I can never get enough and will find a reason to purchase just because it was meant for me! I can find a reason for a party dress, a beautiful scarf, hats (oh yes please), and a girl just can't have enough purses or jewels!

I adore shoes ~ I will never have enough and would take the closet Bing built Carrie in Sex and the City any day . . . Well, I’d like the apartment too!

I am a girly-girl but have been know to do the unmentionable in the catch and discarding of snakes (not too fond of that one).

I like the outdoors ~ I just don’t like bugs - well, bug bites that is!

If I could be anywhere it would be sitting at the ocean listening to the waves and watching the world quietly pass by ~ and I am not giving up hope that someday I will have my beach house!!!

I love laughter! I love to hear it and I love to laugh until my stomach hurts and tears are rolling down my cheeks!!!

I have been know to dance at any given place and twirl around in the yard just because I can ~ what freedom!

Life is already hard and I don’t think I need a broken down car to prove it!

I love thunderstorms ~ I just want the power to stay on!

I don’t ride roller coasters or other rides but love to listen to the sounds of a fair.

I like to be organized, but in my disarray, I can still tell you that the sticky note you’re looking for is under the fourth envelope stuck to the top of last months magazine.

I love music but can’t play an instrument or sing a note ~ I wish I could!

I wish my name were something more exotic or mysterious.

I love quotes and inspiration words ~ so much that I really want a whole wall filled with them someday . . . My husband is not seeing the vision that I am though.

I am passionate and positive ~ even when life is tough.

I always over pack be it my luggage or food for a weekend away ~ I know I would survive but I really don’t want to be without just in case.

I cry at sad and touching movies. This may be the reason I like to wait and watch the movie in the comfort of my home ~ scary movies - never!

I wish I had a large family with lots of closeness and silliness.

I sometimes wish I could turn my mind off because I am always thinking and creating ~ I believe I do this even in my sleep!

I believe in people and I believe that people should believe in one another.

I do cry at weddings and funerals.

I want to learn or do something new each day.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Golden Retrievers.

I love the rush of city life but the serenity of the country.

Motivation drives me with a sense of perfection, quality and completeness.

I use to love shopping but now I really have to be in the mood for it and I despise grocery shopping ~ not sure if it’s the hurry everyone is in, the repetition or having to put it all away after I carry it in?

I am terrified to drive in the snow ~ needless to say I don’t leave the house much and am a terrible passenger during this time also.

I actually color code how I hang my clothes up ~ but at least my canned food isn’t alphabetized anymore.

I believe in love and romance!

I believe that each day is a gift and without gratitude and thanks we may end up losing what means the most.

I like to watch our gold-fish swim aimlessly in circles and still seem so happy.

I think it’s a wonderful thing to look in the mirror each day and night and really like who you are ~ I think this is important.

I am compassionate, loyal, honest and I try to fill each day doing something that is meaningful, real and simply portrays who I am.


So, with all that being said, I have to say it’s looking like a good day to sit on the swing and watch the beauty of the world around me with a gratefulness that I am part of it.

~ Amy

This just makes me smile :)