Gratitude Sunday

Inspired by:  Wooly Moss Roots -Simply Joys of a Soulful Life Gratitude Sunday

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y 

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.

This week These past few weeks, I am grateful for:

Time to catch up with my blog today.

Hectic crazy days making way for quiet mellow days at home with my kids.

Love and friendship.

Being able to be there for dear friends who are far away. 

Pumpkins.

Harvest-y fall colors.

Walks.

A lovely date night with my hubby. (He is so cute <3)

















Community.

A great harvest festival for the kids.

Being able to talk with my husband, and having a husband who does so much for me and our family.

Homemade Halloween costumes.

Rain.

Sunshine between the storms.

The sock season!  So excited to be bringing out my cozy socks, sweaters and scarves!

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

Socktober is here!

A few years ago my dear friend Sally was working at Pippi's.  
(Sally is wonderful and I hope she will be visiting soon with her lovely new baby...but I am getting distracted...)Sally has a way with words, and puns and we were chating one day and she said something about Socktober and one thing lead to another and Socktoberfest at Pippi's was born. Sally gets all the credit for the creation of Socktober & Socktoberfest at Pippi's and we get to enjoy the fun.

All month long you can enter into our raffle and at the end of each week of the month we will draw one winner.  Pippi's will be giving each winner a  weeks worth of awesome socks!  
To enter the raffle you can come into Pippi's and spend $50, or check into Pippi's on Facebook and post a picture of you and your Pippi Socks!

Check out the event on Facebook for more details:
Socktoberfest



Fine Print:
You must show the Pippster working that you checked in on Facebook to enter the raffle.

Gratitude Sunday

Inspired by:  Wooly Moss Roots -Simply Joys of a Soulful Life Gratitude Sunday

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y

Okay...I love this picture.

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.

This week I am grateful for:

Silly kids (see picture).

Baking with my kids and sharing with them time in the kitchen like my mom did with me, plus licking the bowl is pretty awesome.  

Sunny days in fall.

The huge moon last night, so bright and beautiful.

My parents and their love and encouragement.

Also the value my parents put in the wonder of childhood and the effort the put into creating wonder (for me in the past and for my kids now).

The giant pumpkin that "just appeared" in our yard over night.  Listing to Rowan wonder where it came from... She has decided that our dog grew it.

For carrots from the garden.

For getting creatively inspired.

For good books.  (So sad to finish my Sevenwaters series, but a new one will be out in November!)  And story time with my kids is great too. We are loving Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs and George and Martha lately.

Picnics in the yard, and playdates with lovely people.

Figuring out what was plaguing our apple tree and hopefully finding a solution...we will see next year.

Cozy socks and happy customers.  (I think I say this a lot but really I am so thankful to have customers.)

October! Because pumpkin ice cream will be arriving at Cowlicks (um yay!) and Socktoberfest at Pippi's and Pumpkins and fall colors and baking and cozy stuff, woohoo!

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

It's a Montage!

  What we have been up to lately, a montage:

Lots of drawing and projects!

Lots of work... and more projects at Pippi's.

Working at Pippi's and snacking.

Suprise!

The kids help me unpack new socks.

Zo and their animals...can't leave home without them.

A good day for a treat.

It was a green and yellow kind of day.

Swim lessons!

Don't give a baby a bag of goldfish...

My Morning Mayham

My Morning Mayhem, well that may be a bit extreme but mornings can be crazy.  But I love my little crazy mornings. How could I not love starting my day with these two?

For the past 40 days I have been getting up at 5 am to workout and then enjoy my book and coffee until my dear Rowan joins me at the table (usually around 6:30).  What a way to start the day with quiet time for mom, it makes quite a difference for me.  The only problem is that I get really into my reading and I want to read all day.  But that's me I am quite the bookworm.  Reading aside, after Rowan wakes and eats a little we head upstairs. Zo is usually just waking up in my bed after joining us there around 2am...and Rowan and Zo hop in my bed and read books or play apps on my phone while I shower and get ready for the day.
Just recently Zo has started letting me shower and get ready without sobbing, thank goodness!

At some point a realize I have been dillydallying; stopping to read the kids a story, nurse, trying 5 different outfits etc. and then I start stressing and rushing and our sweet slow morning turns into a mad rush to get out the door.  Why I do this nearly every morning I don't know, and I can't seem to change it.  Getting up at 5, 6 or 7 am doesn't seem to matter I seem to always be rushing out the door trying not to be late in the end.  But either way I like the working out part and the slow start, it feels good.  Eventually maybe I will dillydally less while getting ready and we will not be rushing out the door, we'll see.

What are your mornings like? Mellow or mad rush?

Gratitude Sunday

Inspired by:  Wooly Moss Roots -Simply Joys of a Soulful Life Gratitude Sunday

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y

 

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.

This week I am grateful for:

My sweet kids, even on our hard days I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Sunshine and fun days in our yard.

Daddy mowing the lawn!

Knowing that on days when I am having a hard time being calm and helping Rowan through big feelings, that I can turn on the music or take us all outside and we usually all feel better.

Having love, trust and friendship in my marriage.

Swim Lessons!  Rowan is in her first swim class that is not mom & tot, and Zo and I are doing the mom and tot class.  I love watching the kids enjoy the water.  I also just found out that we have an adult swim team, I am hopeful that I will be able to make time to join.

To be a listing ear for friends in need.  I am glad my loved ones let me be there for them.

Business at Pippi's, we had a great Side walk sale last week and foot traffic has been good. Thank you customers!

Fall, my favorite season.

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

Art & Stories

So as some of you may or may not know before I opened Pippi's Longstockings and became Pippi/the sock lady and had babies and then became mommy as well; I was an artist ( sure I still am but I don't do as much of my work as I used to.)  Any way Rowan has gotten really into art and drawing and telling stories about her drawings.  And I of course am ecstatic! I love watching her draw and paint and become engrossed in it.

As a kid (heck as an adult too) I would go through phases where I would draw different versions of the same image over and over.  Currently Rowan is into drawing people and dragons with a baby in their belly.

This is what she said: "This is a dragon. She has a baby in her tummy. She can spit fire so nothing can scare her baby when it pops out of her tummy. The mommy dragon is a mean one, but she's not mean to her baby."

Zo has started to enjoy coloring and is figuring out markers and taking the lids on and off, they color on paper and unlike Rowan at that age, she also will color on the floor, toys, their body and  mouth...I gotta keep an eye on this one!

She loves taking the crayons in and out of the box.

With Rowan in pre-school I am noticing some changes in her art.  She tries to stay in the lines.  She also works hard at letters and writing, that's kinda cool!  She asks how to make specific letters or how to spell something, and she likes to trace her hand.
Now here I'm totally gonna brag:
She made this for her friend Toby, (a name she apparently knew how to spell!)  The letters weren't in order or perfect but I mean, come on, wow! (Just a proud mom here but that looks great to me;) she didn't ask for any help and then she showed me and said, "Mom I made this hand for Toby and he is gonna love it. Does the mail come today?"  I did convince her to give it to him at school but, wow! Color me impressed. 

This is Rowan's hand, and her name on top and Toby's on the bottom.

I am very glad to have two kids who are showing lots of interest in art and projects.  We are getting creative each day and I love it.

Cuteness.

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (on Monday because I forgot). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

Gratitude Sunday

Inspired by:  Wooly Moss Roots -Simply Joys of a Soulful Life Gratitude Sunday

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.

This week I am grateful for:

A lovely day spent with my parents, that included and wagon ride, blackberry picking, the Labor day parade, and lunch.

My lovely Pippster who covered my shift so I could stay home with my feverish baby, instead of having to work with my sick little one.

A great Skype date with my sister, I love her.

Some beautiful days to be outside, yummy food from our garden.  I love that the kids can just go pick strawberries, apples or carrots (tiny yummy carrots, Ro can't seem to wait till they get bigger!) as they please, and they love it too.

Getting over a bout of mastitis quickly, and Zo finally cutting that molar!

Daddy giving me alone time again on Saturday, it is such a great way for me to re-charge, to be alone with myself, what a luxury!

For starting to notice when I am getting tense or frustrated and taking a moment to breath and try to remedy what ever it is with out loosing "it".  What I have found that seems to work for both the kids and I is pumping up the music. I have my iPod in the kitchen and when I am feeling a moment coming on I just turn it on and let my mood switch with the music.

A fun yard sale adventure, which lead to us getting a wooden rocking horse and two little rocking chairs, which then lead to a nice outing picking out paint and painting those chairs.  We went with a happy yellow, Rowan helped pick the pain and paint.

My little helper.   Rowan is always asking to help and I love having a little helper, even when sometimes it would be easier to do something myself, it is usually a lot more fun with Rowan.

A nice visit with an old friend and a little walk down memory lane, so fun.

Some sweet mellow days at home.

Baby hugs, just might be the best thing in the world. When Zo hugs me, wraps her tiny arms around my neck and squeezes and I just melt.

What are you thankful for?

This week at Pippi's

This week at Pippi's...

New Texture Knit mitts.

In my opinion these are the perfect arm warmer.  They are a hemp cotton blend with beautiful colors and a nice snug fit so they don't move around during the day.  I love them and have them in multiple colors, I am sure you will see me wearing them often this fall and winter.


Here is a photo of some of the Hue leggings that were in boxes last week:

I want the yellow!


Sock it to Me New Styles are here as well.

These are just a few of my favorites: the new Veggie crew, and the Squid crew love those.  Argyle & mustache knee high, grey stripes.
Project Runway fans the black and white stripe & houndstooth was designed Mondo Guerra!!! 
And of course I gotta love the Sloth knee high, so cute!

In Bungalow 360we have some super cute new prints and a great bag that is a perfect size for an Ipad or E-reader.

I <3 the hedgehog.



We also are re-stocked on our fab knit headbands.

Sox Trot printed nylon knee highs.

Also coming soon more new Hot Sox, Foot Traffic, Smartwool and so much more!  See you at Pippi's!

Gratitude Sunday

Inspired by:  Wooly Moss Roots -Simply Joys of a Soulful Life Gratitude Sunday

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.

This week I am grateful for:

Quiet mornings to myself.

A great book and having a little time to read it.  (if you are looking for a great fantasy book I am on book 2 of the Sevenwaters trilogy and so far I love them!)

Rowan's interest and focus on her art.

Sunny days & strawberries.

Joyful babies.

Time with Marshall.

A beautiful harvest moon.

A busy weekend at Pippi's and the Pippsters rocking it out.

Daddy getting a paycheck after a summer off!

Fort Bragg's Labor Day festivities.  I loved the craft fair yesterday.

and

For having a day this week for just me and my kids, no to do list, no work, just being able to enjoy each others company.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

Cousins

When I was a kid I remember family gatherings as one of the most wonderful occasions. I know that sometimes there was tension and drama that I for the most part didn't pick up on, but I loved being surrounded by my big family. Cousins were by far the best part of these gatherings.

I always felt (and still feel) a special bond with my cousins, (and my cousin Brian in particular, we were very close in age and I think temperament which for the most part was great, and sometimes towards the end of a visit was not so great...) Even my best friends who I love dearly don't quite pull at my heart strings the way my cousins do. I don't know if it is just because we are from the same blood, or can bond over our crazy family, or because we have known eachother before, (if you believe or think about that sort of thing) maybe we were tied together in lives before this one.

Whatever it is cousins are special.

 I am thinking about this because my in-laws just visited.   Rowan and Zo's cousin Sean was at our house for two days. The joy these cousins have to be with each other is so awesome.  Even Zo wants to be with big cousin.  Watching them play really brought me back. As they played "family" I remembered the games of make-believe that Brian and I used to orchestrate and our younger siblings would play along, like Zo, just happy to be there.

The kids playing family, a.k.a. house.

As we have all grown we see each other less and less, but when we do see one another it is always special and reminds me how important family is.  I am so glad to see my kids with their cousin and be witness to another generation of cousins that will grow up together and hopefully feel as strong of a bond with each other as I do with my cousins.

Do any of you feel similarly about cousins?   Do you feel that your connection with your cousins is different than what you have with your friends?

What's New at Pippi's Now?!

More new Socks!
What?!
I know!
Yes it's true more socks at Pippi's.
Well any how:

More Socks Smith.
If you missed them, because we sold out in a week or something...

New Foot Traffic, new colors in toe socks, and novelty crews.

More Cape socks.

New Biella. The first of the cashmere and light weight wool for fall, love it!

New animal hats, these are super cute and going fast!  (Yes they are in grown up sizes.)

In these boxes...more K-Bell basics and novelties, Ozone socks and Hue leggings! Lost of great colors and styles (yes ladies more corduroy leggings are here!)

And on the way:
New Sock it to Me (the Sock it to me order arrived before I left the shop this afternoon but it will probably not get on the wall till Tuesday or Wednesday!  Great new styles in that order, Also Bungalow 360 bags and wallets should arrive later this week.
So Hopefully we will see you at Pippi's soon.  Get some sweet new socks for yourself or get ahead on your holiday shopping before it gets crazy in here!