Friday Favorites

Some time ago Little V, being the girly-girl that she is, wanted to paint her nails.  I did not feel that she was old enough and on that day I arbitrarily picked 5 years old as the age that nails can be painted. (Why 5?  Now that we are here it still seems so young...)  Of course, this is something she never forgot.  As the big 5th birthday approached I searched and searched for a place to find nail polish that doesn't include all of the nasty. (Do you know what is in nail polish?  Maybe you don't really want to!)  I happened upon a very cute website, Piggy Paint (even the name is cute!), that sells nail polish in kid friendly colors with mom approved ingredients.  I ordered all of Little V's favorite colors and some that may be fun for special days (green for St. Patrick's Day!)  I have done more nail painting in the last 5 days than I have in the last 15 years, but we sure are having fun!

The colors are fun and the polish holds up just long enough for a fickle 5 year old.  It is also easy to remove with their non-nasty polish remover.  We are really diggin' Piggy Paint, now we just need them to create a lavender color!

The Power of Imagination

Yes, that's for real!  A group of scientists, engineers, and balloon pilots launched a 16'x16' house with 300 weather balloons.  (Read and see more pictures here.)  I find myself thinking about this picture alot this morning.  I know there is alot of science and careful planning involved here, but to me it represents following your dreams, believing that anything can happen,  and the power of imagination.  The house was in flight for an hour and reached an altitude of 10,000 feet.  It's really pretty amazing isn't it?!? 

What could we accomplish if we let our imagination guide us?

I really feel as though I have been neglecting the blog the last couple weeks, we are in the midst of our own March madness around the L house.  I am hoping spring will decide to visit, and fill me with new ideas!  Happy Friday!



belated Friday Favorites

This past weekend was filled with another very successful dance competition, and once again I am starting my week filled with pride for my wonderful dancers!  In the hustle and bustle of competition preparation I just didn't have time last Friday to post a favorite, so here it is...

Every morning we start our day in the same way.  Little V wakes me up (yes, it is always me she wakes up, we'll talk about that another day!), we head downstairs, and she goes directly for her crayons or colored pencils.    Somedays she simply colors in a favorite coloring book, sometimes it may be a colorful family portrait, and other days it is a colorful picture of what she has dreamed about.  Regardless of the day of the week, every morning the first thing she does is create something.  I love this habit.  For so many reasons, it gives me the quiet time that this "non-morning person" needs to get a cup of coffee and come to life, it provides insight into her little creative mind, and this is a wonderful thing that we share every morning.  My favorite days are when she wakes up and immediately knows exactly what color to go for to get last nights dream onto paper.

So where is the Friday Favorite in this?  A wonderful website called Stubby Pencil Studio is one of my favorite places to load up on art supplies.  It is an online eco-friendly kids art supply store, in other words, Little V's supplier of color and mommy's supplier of morning time magic!  It is a great website to surf through and find great gifts for the little people in your life.  (Just be forewarned friends, you will probably find your childs Christmas and/or Birthday gift that they received from us!)

Some have stories, some are simple, but they are all wonderful in my eyes.

Does anyone have any storage ideas for artwork?  I just can't bear to part with any of them and there is ALOT of artwork around this house!



Friday Favorites

Little V is still sick. It is cold and windy.  It is snowing (again) this morning and there is more snow in the forecast.  There is a general funk hanging over the L house.

Time for music, music that moves your soul, music that makes you want to dance, music that creates its own sunshine.  On repeat in this house on this snowy day is Michael Franti's "Sound of Sunshine."  All of Michael Franti's music makes you feel good, makes you remember how great life is, but this song is just what we need today.  "I wanna go where the summer never ends, with my guitar on the beach there with all my friends, the suns so hot, the waves in motion, and everything smells like suntan lotion."  How can you argue with lyrics like that?  Today, we are making our own sunshine.  Listen to the song, close your eyes, and I swear, it's almost like you can feel the sun on your face.

I have talked about Michael Franti before, I really love his music, and what he's about.  Even got to meet him! (Sorry, about the picture quality, but you know, concert night & camera phones!)

Friday Favorites

This past October, Big V and I spent a wonderful weekend in Northern Michigan on a wine tour weekend.  We had a great time, and found what is now one of our most favorite places and wines.  After a very unpleasant bus tour (which firmly sealed the fact that we will NEVER participate in another bus tour!) we went exploring on our own and happened upon an incredible winery. 

Circa Estate Winery, oh how I love thee!  Set atop a hill surrounded by vineyards, sits a beautiful stone house.  When you enter this seemingly simple house you are transported to an exquisite wine experience.  Soft music, warm fires, beautiful art and dark wood provide an unspoken invitation to sit down, get comfortable, and have a taste.  We spent a lovely evening with David and Margaret Bell, learning about their vineyard and experiencing their passion.  We are hooked, I found my red wine soul mate, Requisite. 

Please, take a moment to check out their website, then pick up a bottle.  It is such a wonderful thing to see and experience people living their passion.  I would love to invite you all over for a glass, but that would require me to share my stash!  For my local friends, you can find Circa Requisite, as well as their other wonderful wines, at Sylvan Lake Wines, Meadows Fine Wine & Liquor in Farmington Hills, Cloverleaf Wines in Roayl Oak, Simple Wine in Northville, Merchant's Fine Wine in Dearborn, Champagnes Wine Cellar in Warren, Red Wagon Wine Shoppe in Troy, and Colasanti's in Highland.  All of their wines are really wonderful, but you see there is a love story here...
 

Me & Requisite...true love forever.

Friday Favorites

I have been contemplating doing a weekly post that highlights whatever I am especially excited about each week.  (Yes, I do seem to have a weekly obsession, maybe it's my ADD, OCD??)  I have been going around and around... What do I include as favorites? How do I best highlight the things I love ?  How do I pick each week?  But then it just fell into my lap...

I got home late from work the other night and Big V was all jazzed up, "I bought you presents," he says.  Well, that has got to be my favorite phrase of all time! (No... that's not the Friday Favorite.)  Then he decided to give me my Valentine's gift early,YAY!  (I need to mention, Big V's inability to wait for anything makes any gift giving holiday extra exciting!)  It was a beautiful pair of earrings, love, love, love.  Then he goes on to tell me about the great store he purchased them at.  And when I say goes on, he went on for about 30 minutes.  The next morning, the gift extravaganza continued with Little V getting gifts, and then a matching gift for both of us.  (Have I mentioned how much I love presents?!?  More love...)  After all of this madness, I just had to see this new store for myself...

Little V and I ventured out, off ot Berkley we went...  (Yes, it was a venture, when it is this cold out, any time you get up the courage to leave the house, it should be considered an "venture!")  So now, drumroll please, I introduce the first official "Friday Favorite," an amazing store called the Yellow Door Art Market.  WOW!!!!!  It is a fantastic place that features local artists and their wares.  Let me just say, any gift that isn't homemade will from this point forward be purchased at the Yellow Door Art Market.  Please, oh please, check them out.  They truly have something for everyone! 

I am inspired, I am excited, I am in love with way too may things at this fantastic place, and my debit card is tired...