Inspiration Sunday - Springtime

It seems like we've had months of cool and rainy weather. This winter has seemed so long. I am ready for the warmer weather and sunshine. Spring is just around the corner, in what? One week today. Yeah!

I love Spring when the flowers start blooming and the trees sprout their leaves. I love the mornings when the air feels nice and crisp. I love the longer days of sunshine when it doesn't get dark at 5 o'clock.

Here is a bit of Springtime inspiration in preparation of the new season just up ahead.

Spring bulb planting is a sure sign of Spring. Daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths just to name a few. Planting Spring Bulbs -
http://www.bulbsonline.org/ibc/en/publiek/inspiration.jsf/Inspiration/gardening-tips/Planting-spring-bulbs.html




Butterflies and insects. These images by aziouezmazouz - http://www.flickr.com/photos/aziouez/ are absolutely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, gorgeous. The clarity, color, detail, and not to mention the bokeh are a.m.a.z.i.n.g!












The following is some Springtime Etsy inspiration from some talented Etsy artists!

Springtime by Rachelle Anne Miller - http://www.etsy.com/listing/61408798/springtime




Springtime - 3 Piece Tissue Pom Kit by Pomtastic - http://www.etsy.com/listing/67565143/springtime-3-piece-tissue-pom-kit




Float Like a Butterfly Necklace by SHAbang Designs - http://www.etsy.com/listing/65264547/float-like-a-butterfly-necklace-sky-blue




Spring Tulips by Two Inspire You - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69838048/spring-tulips




Easter Egg Jumbo Sidewalk Chalk by Sunshine and Sidewalks - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69090348/easter-egg-jumbo-sidewalk-chalk-set-of-5




Springtime Critters by Little Gray Fox - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69806340/springtime-critters-pastel-embroidery




And of course with Spring comes "spring cleaning"! :)

Here is a wonderful checklist and cleaning tips that you can download from Martha Stewart - http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2007Q2/la_0407_spring_cleaning.pdf




But who wants to end an Inspiration Sunday post with tips about cleaning? :)
This is the sweetest duckling image from ldeiter78. Aren't they the cutest?



Have a great week everyone! ♥
See you next Sunday on the first day of Spring! :)

Friday Etsy Favorites

1. Megan Auman ► Reusable Cup Sleeve and Bracelet
Such a beautiful cozy for my hot cup of coffee. Love the color and design.

2. Cozy Season ► Wool Alpaca Lilac Neckwarmer
Beautiful lilac color and wonderful design of this neckwarmer. Just lovely!

3. JuJu Baju ► Cosmetic Makeup Bag
Really loving the vibrant colors of this cosmetic bag. Gorgeous!

4. Mary Kate McDevitt ► Mini Goals Chalkboard
This chalkboard is sweet. So whimsical and fun!

5. Bed Buggs ► Mellow Yellow Rose on White Pillow
I am in love with this rose pillow. So beautiful. It would look so lovely on my couch.

6. Mama Tita ► Easter Greeting Card Insert with Wishes
The intricacy of this card is gorgeous. Such lovely detail.

My Latest Wall Prints

Here are my most recent Etsy Wall Print listings -

Owl Always Love You -
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69734690/owl-always-love-you-wall-art-8x10-baby




She Believed She Could So She Did -
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69097558/she-believed-she-could-so-she-did-wall




Hippo Initial With Personalized Name -
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69803803/hippo-initial-with-personalized-name




Lowercase Alphabet (matching numbers print below) -
http://www.etsy.com/listing/68824417/lowercase-alphabet-abc-wall-art-8x10




Numbers 1 to 10 (matching alphabet print above) -
http://www.etsy.com/listing/68824929/numbers-123-1-to-10-wall-art-8x10




The Best Is Yet To Be -
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69027787/the-best-is-yet-to-be-wall-art-8x10




Be Yourself -
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69733795/be-yourself-wall-art-8x10-custom-wall




Modern Birth Announcement -
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69662062/modern-birth-announcement-wall-art-8x10

Happy Birthday!

This week we celebrated Mateo's birthday. These years have gone by so quickly! It's so sad for me to watch my first born growing up. Way.too.fast.

Here is a picture of my sweet birthday boy.



I asked Mateo how he felt that it was his birthday. Here's his reaction. :)



For his classmates I made some cupcakes complete with hand cut cupcake wrappers, handmade happy birthday signs and a little jungle animal for each child. I think that they turned out so cute!



I used Photoshop to get all the 'Happy Birthday Mateo' signs on one sheet, printed them out and then cut them using my handy exacto knife, quilting ruler and quilting mat. I then cut out the navy blue backgrounds, adhered the 'Happy Birthday Mateo' signs onto them and then adhered the whole thing on small bamboo forks. Love the bamboo forks! Perfect for the project and no pointy ends for the kids! Yeah!



Here is the resulting signs, ready to be put on each cupcake.

Simply Love Homemade Corn Tortillas

I absolutely love Mexican food. Homemade corn tortillas are no exception! I decided to make some corn tortillas for dinner tonight and top them with ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and salsa.

Homemade corn tortillas taste so much better than the store bought ones. The only ingredient in the Maseca Instant Corn Masa Mix that I use is "selected corn treated with lime" and the only thing you add to the mix to make the dough is salt and water. No artificial ingredients or additives.

Here is a picture of the Maseca mix that I use to make the corn tortillas with Tobias helping me mix. :)



These homemade corn tortillas are not yellow like the store bought ones. Hmmm...I wonder what makes the store bought ones yellow?

Here is an ingredient list for Old El Paso Corn Tortillas: Corn Flour (29%) , Wheat Flour, Water, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Stabiliser: Glycerol, Wheat Gluten, Salt, Dextrose, Raising Agents: 450a, E500, Emulsifiers: E471, E466 , Preservative: E202, Acidulant: Citric Acid, Flour Treatment Agent: E920.

In one word: Yuck!

What are all those 450a, E500, E471...?

In another word: Scary!

Homemade corn tortillas are really not that hard to make. The only part that may be slightly time consuming is standing by the stove with the pan to fry them. I`m going to experiment with baking them in the oven next time. They. are. so. good.

We topped the corn tortillas with ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and salsa. Yum!

Inspiration Sunday - Owl Love ♥

My son, Tobias, LOVES his owl. I had bought him from Gymboree a few years ago for Mateo, but Mateo never really played with him. Of course, now that Tobias has a great attachment to him, Mateo goes, "Wasn't he my owl?" :) And I say, "Well, honey, you never really played with him, but Tobias really loves him, so is it ok that he belongs to Tobias now?" Hesitation. "Well, ok."

Tobias sleeps with his owl during naptime and bedtime. One day a few months ago, it was time for Tobias' nap, but his owl was no where to be found. Although I put Tobias in his crib, he did not want to go to sleep without his owl. After almost two hours of searching, I finally found his owl under our leather storage bench. When Mateo came home from school I asked him about it. Mateo goes, "Oops, I hid him under there." Ahhh...kids! :)

Needless to say, Owl does not venture outside the house in fear of him getting lost! But I still think I need to get some sort of homing device for him! :)

Here is Tobias' well-loved Owl...yes, well-loved indeed!



So, I thought for this week's Inspiration Sunday, it would be all about owls! I have to admit, I really love owls too. There's just something about them that makes my heart sing.


I love these little wool owls. So, so cute.

Moonstitches - http://moonstitches.typepad.com/moonstitches/2007/02/what_are_they_f.html


This owl clutch is so sweet.

Little Odd Forest - Hoot The Owl Wrist-Clutch - http://www.forestprints.com/itemprofile.aspx?itemcode=B2097


This is such a beautiful black and white illustration. So simple, yet so beautiful.

Red Cap - Owl Card - http://www.stylehive.com/bookmark/two-owls-card-by-red-cap-603120


I am in love with these Pottery Barn bookends. So cute! I think I'm going to attempt to make my own.

Pottery Barn - Owl Bookends - http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/owl-bookends/?pkey=gthmfrsacc


This owl sweater is too cool. I'm loving the row of owls with buttons for eyes.

Owl Sweater - http://needled.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/owls/


A different owl illustration for each month. Super!

Oh My So Cute - Owl Calendar - http://www.ohmysocute.com/cute-little-owls-2011-printable-digital-calendar/


I adore this owl clock. Just beautiful!

Decoy Lab - Modern Baby Owl Clock - http://www.etsy.com/listing/63908078/modern-baby-owl-clock-maple-veneer-dark


This is such a cute card. The recipient is so lucky to be getting it!

Rosie's World - Happy Owls Card - http://rosemariediehl.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-owls.html


Who knew that Kate Spade designed an owl bag? Love! ♥

Kate Spade Maximillian Maxwell Owl Purse Bag - http://www.katespade.com/home/index.jsp


This granite owl family is so sweet.

Viva Terra Owl Family - http://www.vivaterra.com/owl-family.html


I love this illustrated print. So beautiful!

Owl Snuggles by Carmen Keys Medlin - http://www.ebsqart.com/Artist/Carmen-Keys-Medlin/5894/Art-Portfolio/Owl-Snuggles-ACEO/643142/

Friday Etsy Favorites

A shout out to this week's Friday Etsy finds. Love! ♥

1. Woodzies ► Lil' Birdy Boo
This little birdy is too sweet. I just want to cuddle him!

2. Retrospettive ► Vespa Scooter Coin Purse
What a fun coin purse. Loving the hot pink and scooter...so cute!

3. Erin La Rue Photography ► Sakura- 8x12 Fine Art Print
Wow, the lighting and bokeh in this photo. Gorgeous!

4. Robbie Moto ► Cherry Red Leather iPhone Sleeve
An absolutely beautiful and practical case for your iPhone. Love!

5. Abundant Life Designs ► Set of Rust Colored a z Bookends
I adore everything to do with letters and these bookends are no exception. Lovely!

6. Waterwaif ► Aqua Quartz Necklace
I would absolutely love this necklace. Just beyond gorgeous! Ahhh...I can see myself wearing it right now. My birthday isn't until the end of the year though...