We got the Christmas decorations out and put the tree up yesterday. 

Today I promised to help S decorate her winter forest.

Sunny's Smile Handmade

It's finally here, small business Saturday is today! Please keep Sunny's Smile Handmade in mind for your holiday shopping needs. I will be accepting custom orders for a short time only, so if you have a special quote or idea for a necklace, please let me know! Your business is much appreciated! 

 Thank you!!

*Please take a moment to visit my page, Sunny's Smile Handmade on fb, it means a lot to me!! Also, you will find that it is only a fb page, meaning that at this time, I do not have an Etsy shop open. You might say, I'm testing the waters with my designs to see how well they are received. I would appreciate as many "likes" as I can get! 

Again, thanks so much!! 

xo

Sloane

S had her Thanksgiving feast at school today. I was lucky enough to join in on the fun.

 Later in evening she told me that she thinks that I'm "the most awesomest mom ever."

 That my friends is most definitely something that I can be thankful for. 

I can count my many blessings, and often do, but she will always be at the top of my list. 

So, here is a Sunny story to make you Smile...

Just the other day, S told me that all the girls in her class were saying what their favorite color was and all of them said pink. When it was her turn she said that her favorite color is orange. One of her little friends looked at her and said, "ew, orange?" To that Sunny replied, "well yeah, I don't want to be just like everyone else you know.

Now tonight she tells me, "I just don't understand why everyone thinks pink is a girl color. I mean orange is the color of the place where the bees pollinate the flower. And even the bees are sometimes kind of orange. Orange is the color of the sun! So why does everyone like pink so much?"

Yes, I am very thankful for my girl and how she makes me smile!

Just one more thing before you go...

A school friend of mine started something pretty amazing 16 years ago and in the last two years, thanks to fb, it has really taken off with wings of it's own. If you would like to take part in (International!) Random Acts of Kindness Day on December 1st, check out the link to her open event. Really, just be kind every day and the universe will thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/events/493956460627503/

Earlier in the week S told me that she wishes that she could be a shopkeeper (I love that she used that term) when she gets older. I told her that was a great idea and I asked her what kind of shop she would have. She said, "ooh I would fill it with things that I make! Better yet, I would have a bookstore. I would put all the books that I'm going to write in it!" Ever since she told me that she has been planning the grand opening of her "bookstore." It was never really a question (in her mind) if this would actually happen or not, she has just been counting the days until it did. So, with a little imagination, a $5 can of bubble gum pink (I kid you not) reject paint from Walmart and a really nice employee at Sears who was so graciously willing to hop into the dumpster to retrieve two of the largest boxes that he could find, I will now present to you the newly opened, and much anticipated, Sunny's Books! I did most of the decorating after she went to bed (all the other supplies I had on hand), but left a lot of it undone so that she will be able to add as much of her own creativity to it that she would like. She wants to haul it out to the front yard and SELL her books! lol She does inspire me!! I think she will be surprised and delighted in the morning. What do you think?

I'm still dealing with a horribly slow computer and unfortunately that means my blogging time has been cut down drastically. I miss it and I miss you. I'm trying to get back on track... I hope to be back full time soon.

Until then, here is S modeling the cozy wrap that I finally finished knitting (just in time for the chilly temps to hit!) The pattern is by Veera Välimäki and is called the Striped Study Shawl. You can find it on Ravelry. The grey yarn that I used is Sublime Organic Merino Wool. I haven't the information for the red yarn any longer, my apologies. 

We have been keeping busy with S in school (she is star of the week next week and is super excited!) and trying to cram in as many fun fall adventures, also as much exploring in the fall foliage as possible, before the snow starts falling. I have a feeling it will hit fast and hard this year. I kind of hope I'm wrong, although I have decided I really don't mind hibernating all winter either. ;)

Enjoy the beauty of today...in whatever small ways you choose to open your eyes and hearts to.

xo

Sunny's Smile

Look at what we found in the woods! So fun, smiles on trees and logs all along the path. 

(Do you suppose that this means nature is smiling back at us? ;) 

It has been way too long my friends! I have never been away from this space for such a long period of time. To be honest I'm feeling nervous, or perhaps hesitant, coming back. Or, maybe I am just feeling so far behind in my posts that I wonder if I will ever catch up and be able to share all that I want to share. There is also a small part of me that wonders if there is anybody even checking in here anymore. I chuckle as I write that, but it's a nervous chuckle. I feel a bit like I am writing to myself...but that's not it of course, I'm writing to S. What I write and what I post is always for S. So I am here now and I will catch up slowly I suppose. I hope no one minds hearing about our summer gone by, as now it is autumn and things are slowing down more. My hope is to find myself cozied up in front of the computer with coffee, tea or hot apple cider in the next weeks to come, pounding away on my keyboard. I will leave it at that for now I guess. I have been busy. I of course missed posting about S starting kindergarten and how much she is loving school, her friends, and her new found freedom away from her mama for a few hours a week (gulp.) I have some cute pictures of her first day of school...plus her school photo just came back! So many firsts for her, and for me! I now get mama time 2 to 3 days a week for the first time in 5 years and I can't even begin to tell you how good that feels. I have been going for long walks as soon as I drop her off at school and they have been wonderful!! Truth is, the only reason I have not been posting is because my computer has been running painfully slow for months and I dread even trying to get on in fear of it locking up and I loose every I have been working on. Posting pictures I have found is almost next to impossible. One (or two) at time for now I'm afraid. The hubby worked on fixing it up while I was out the other day (what a pleasant surprise!) but I have noticed that it is already locking up again. I know that it is either a virus or the fact that it needs updating, but unfortunately, we haven't had the extra money for such luxuries as fixing my computer. That's another story though, I guess. I hope that this post finds all of you well and enjoying life! I never really thought that I had a favorite season, but oh how I have come to realize how very much I love autumn and all that it has to offer!! Enjoy my friends....I hope the warm sun is shininng on your face (and hearts) today. :)

Yours truly! Enjoying the last little bits of summer...will be back soon with lots to share!

xo

Sunny the Super Sleuth!

 

 

 

We read a chapter book about a little girl super sleuth and afterwards Sunny dressed like this for days! Even when we ran to the store! She put a smile on a lot of peoples faces that day. Lucky for me, she doesn't always mind me snapping her picture. One of my favorite times to take photos of S is when she is in the middle of talking to me about something. She has a habit of walking around a bit when she talks, and at this age she also tends to ramble on a bit. Perfect for picture taking! These photos are near and dear to my heart. I think I would even have trouble picking a favorite out of the bunch. Also, those cowboy boots were a must for the outfit, she insisted! 

She's my little super sleuth all right!

xo

 

Summer is flying by so fast that I have to make myself pause and catch my breath. I am so far behind in my blog posts that more than once I have considered walking away from it entirely. It's in those moments that I have to stop and remind myself why I started a blog in the first place...and why it is what is, Sunny's Smile. I will always find myself back here because this is my escape, my place to record the simple moments (and sometimes those not so simple moments) spent with Sunny. I do this so that one day she can look back and see what a curious, creative, happy and kindhearted child her daddy and I have been blessed with. As she grows into a young adult, I want her to be able to be reminded of the beauty of the world and all of the places to seek and find simple pleasures. If ever she should loose her way or forget who she is, (and really, those four little words above don't even begin to sum up the amazing little person that she is) I want this to be a reminder to her of all the love that surrounds her, and how very much joy she brings to our days. I believe that it is the small moments, events, and milestones that should be shared and treasured for years to come. Even with all this, no matter how hard I try, each and every  post can only briefly touch on the love, as a whole, that a mother feels for her child. It's a bit like grabbing a butterfly in your fist and then letting it go instantly or like closing your eyes and inhaling deeply a breath of crisp fresh air, only to have to let it out again a moment later. It's exhilarating and fleeting all at the same time. I want to savor it and collect it in small doses all while passing out tokens of my love for her. It's such a cliche but much like summer, childhood flies by too fast. Here is the only place I know, where even just briefly, I can make time stand still.

xo

Fairy Tea Time

S was lucky enough to be invited to a fairy themed birthday party this weekend, which left her wanting her own fairy garden tea party! We had beautiful weather today so we brought out the table and chairs hung up a few simple decorations and had ourselves a lovely time. She is such a fun and imaginative girl. I will be so sad when the day comes that she no longer believes in fairies and Neverland. I do hope she will always carry a little of the magic with her though, no matter how big she gets. Something tells me...I think she just might :)

xo

In the mornings we lay in the grass in our jammies and watch the tree tops and blues skies. 

S said, "come lay next to me and hold my hand!"

 

I've been talking about setting up an Etsy shop for a while now, and I can almost feel it in my bones that the time has finally come. I'm hoping to have enough hand painted jewelry ready to go in a few weeks time. Here is a sample of what I might be offering: Hand painted & sealed lavender on wood bead necklace with chain. Other items could include earrings and brooches. I hope you will stick around and check things out should I set up shop!

xo

Pow Wow

 

A Fairy Garden

Her fairy garden looks different every day it seems. Today when we checked on it though, it appeared to have bloomed over night into something really magical and special.

I should add that in no way do I consider myself a gardener! I had no idea how far apart to space the flowers when I planted them and clearly they were planted way too close together...for what I had intended it to look like anyways. No matter though, who can resist those lush flowers and all their beauty! Just think of how much the fairies must be loving the countless places to hide (there are houses hidden amongst the flowers :)

S is clearly smitten, and so am I.

xo

Sunny's Video Stories

(Audio only) S telling me a story at bedtime. This is part 1, 2  & 4 (part 3 needs a little tweaking ;) that she told me tonight. She says she is going to write 21 stories and put them in one big (chapter) book called
The Children of the Forest. She says she will draw the pictures too :) 

Story 1: In Search of the Lushrooms (not mushrooms.)
Story 2: Seeing All the Animals
Story 4: Back into the Woods

 

 These are a hoot, enjoy!

xo

Happy 4th of July!

 My night wasn't complete until I had a swim after dark and I got to do sparklers!

 So my husband was giving Sunny a short history lesson on The Declaration of Independence and the 4th of July. She listened politely and a few times looked at him and said "hmm...okay." I'm sure he felt pretty good as he walked out of the room thinking that he just taught his little girl something important. As soon as he got out of earshot she looked at me and said, "yeah, I didn't get any of that." Lol

   Happy 4th of July!

xo

Pixie Dust Bubbles

S keeps mentioning that tomorrow (when A & L are here) that they are going to write to the fairies again because last time the fairies promised a surprise if they wrote them more letters (I was taken off guard and ill prepared the first time, oops.) So I stayed up way too late trying to whip something up for the girls tomorrow *should they* write to the fairies. I could have bought them treats and they probably would have been happy. Instead I wanted to surprise them with something that they might believe the fairies would actually make...something glittery and fun. So I beaded some wire and made bubble wands and sprinkled glitter, or "pixie dust", in with the bubbles and tied fancy string around them. And there you have it, pixie dust bubbles! I hope they like them :)

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home." 

-Twyla Tharp 

   Finally, something fun to show you!  I started these flowers last week. I ended up having to set it aside for a few days and when I came back to it, I was completely bored with it (those leaves!) My computer crashed twice while I was working on it and now my program is frozen. All that aside, I realized that I could possibly turn it into a b-day card for my mom, which makes it most excellent! Ha :)

 a few instagram photos from our week.

 

Happy weekending!

xo

We spent a good chunk of our day at the beach today and S couldn't have been more pleased. 

Who wouldn't be excited to wake up and have someone whisper in their ear, "how would you like to go to the beach today?" Smiles all morning I tell ya! She was a happy girl to finally get to make her sandcastle and to spend a few hours swimming in the river. As we were leaving the beach she was trailing behind me and I hear her say, "there's nothing like a day at the beach!" I think she might be right about that one!

xo