xoBeau

Help the Flood Victims in Nashville, TN

2010-05-06T12:43:00.000-05:00

Just Dance ~ Update

2009-08-14T07:21:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Justin and his team, Southern Movement, for progressing to the next round! Read more here....

xoBeau

Just Dance

2009-08-08T09:37:00.005-05:00

Justin Jenkins used to babysit my children. He came highly recommended. Justin was killer competition when it came to Playstation and Wii with Captain Awesome (well, there was this little incident with a busted light panel, but its all good). Often, I would come home to find Pippi snuggled up in his arms ~ fast asleep. They had always been well fed, diapers were always changed ~ I knew that they had been in good hands. Before Justin headed out the door, we would chat a little and he would usually tell me about the dance teams that he was working on. There were all night dance sessions and preparations for the local news crew. Justin was dedicated and passionate about his dance dreams. That is paying off, because now he is with the Southern Movement dance team. And they are competing in MTV's America's Best Dance Crew!

Rock the beat, Justin! We will be cheering you on!

xoBeau

Happy Campers

2009-06-18T22:55:00.008-05:00

Captain Awesome and Max wait to hang the hammock ~ which is draped like a towel around his neck. If you are taking a camping trip or just hanging out in the back yard, the Eagle Nest Outfitters' hammock can be extremely entertaining or totally relaxing ~ depending on your preference or perhaps your age. Also, it is very compact and lightweight. The whole hammock stuffs into a bag that is about the size of your hand. This hammock is truly a must-have.

happy campers soon become sleepy campers ~ sweet dreams sleepy heads, so glad I got to see your beautiful smiles

xoBeau

Mother in Nature

2009-06-17T09:58:00.017-05:00

If you step outside of the concrete village and travel high up into the mountains, you may just find:

moss covered rocks and trees soaking up the fresh mountain water

daisies sprouting and lifting their heads towards the sunshine in the heavens

ferns springing forth creating a beautiful display without the influence of landscape designs, green thumbs or Miracle-Gro

black bears in search of grubby worms

baby mallard ducks following their mother's lead

love at first sight between a young doe and a young buck

a sleepy millipede navigating its way across the forest floor

your children snuggling in a hammock by the light of a warm campfire

and yourself ~ in nature.

I hope that you get the chance to find yourself in nature. This is a great place to start.

xoBeau

Willie-Nillie Bloomers

2009-06-06T14:14:00.006-05:00

Picking fresh flowers from the garden is always a sweet practice. However, beautiful blooms also grow willie-nillie by the roadside. Before meeting their devastating fate from the mower, I brought these in and dropped them into a frappuccino jar ~ turned vase, for a little admiration.

xoBeau

Beauty in the eye of the Brother

2009-06-01T23:04:00.006-05:00

Big brothers should be encouraged to spend time with little sisters. It is in those tiny moments that sweet memories are made, which surely must be the basis for eternal bonds. When given enough time, they are required find ways to entertain themselves, thus giving way to creative urges ~ and art is found in their lives ~ allowing them to see the beauty within each other.

Today, Captain Awesome snapped a shot of Pippi hanging from the basketball goal as black clouds rolled in the sky above. This has to be one of his most compelling photographs, yet.

xoBeau

{To Captain Awesome: You did excellent ~ I can't help but smile!

xoMommy}

Southern Beauty for Sale

2009-05-30T11:25:00.006-05:00

Just on the outside of the Murfreesboro city limits stands this Southern Beauty. I have admired her for a long time, but today was my opportunity to take a closer look. Because, today, under the canopies that have spanned for at least a hundred years and on a lawn that has been impressed upon by horse hooves, carriage wheels, laced boots, bare feet, high heels, flip flops and even Nike tennis shoes, was splayed a collection of wares for sale. And while the collection was new and modern, this homestead was rich with history and style that has graced these Southern soils for many a decade.

While I admire the architecture of the home, it is the design of the gardens that I am particularly interested in. You see, I cannot build a house, but I can plant a garden. Boxwoods line the reclaimed brick walk. Ferns grace antique iron urns, complete with pedestal. Impatiens gain footing at the base. By mid-summer, it will be as if the iron pieces are floating on clouds of pink and purple petals. These plantings will take the dog days of summer in stride, thanks to the expansive shade of the prestigious oaks.

While Pippi's treasure was a pristine Barbie doll that was still in the box, the treasure that I found was just in the ability to gaze upon and dream of a world that I had not quite experienced for myself. Really, in some ways, I think that what we found is actually the same thing.

xoBeau

Red, White and Blue Remembrance

2009-05-26T09:19:00.008-05:00

1,500 flags stood in remembrance of America's veterans on the Healing Field, this Memorial weekend.
Visitors were encouraged to sign their name as a testament to their presence at the Healing Field.

Veterans were beautifully decorated in their uniforms and medals from years of dedicated service.

Many of the flags were tagged in memory and in honor of those who have served or are serving still.

Flags were carefully rolled in preparation for their relocation to a new home.

It was touching to see the pride that each individual held as they carried their flag from the field.

And really, the pride was intoxicating, until you couldn't resist the urge to have one of your own. But flags that size and little girls this size just wouldn't be a good combination.

We were able to find the perfect one for Pippi. And, interestingly, the same level of pride still exists, no matter the size of the flag.

'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Many, many thanks to the men and women who have served this great Country, it is because of you that the flag waves so freely!

And special thanks to the Murfreesboro Noon Exchange Club, whose mission is to work together to make communities better places to live through programs of service in Americanism, Community Service, Youth Activities and its National Project, The Prevention of Child Abuse. Job well done!

xoBeau

~ All dogs go to Heaven ~

2009-05-21T22:05:00.006-05:00

Rest in peace, Baby Girl ~ I am sure that your angel wings are exquisite! Much love, xo ~

The vet had called me Monday night to say that the second set of Baby Girl's test results were very discouraging. I cried and cried until about 4:30 in the morning, to the point of making myself sick ~ and wrote this.

On Tuesday, we went to visit with Baby Girl. And just like I had predicted, when I saw her, I could see the smile in her eyes and hear the beat of her tail. I took the large quilt that my grandmother made me and spread it out on the grass under the trees, where we visited with her for several hours. And I saw life in her. Her face glowed and her tail beat at the sight of my children's faces. Her ears perked at the buzzing of bees and beetles. She lifted her nose and sniffed the air as the smell of grilled steak drifted by. She lapped water until her heart was content. If we ceased petting, she rooted her nose under our hands to encourage it. If I moved, she would look me straight in the eye and start heading in my direction. (I will miss that look in her eyes, it is as if she could feel you ~ hear your thoughts ~ read your mind) And when I remembered that how sick she really was, saw her IV or heard her cough, I really just wanted her to be able to go to sleep, to be free from her pain and to free me from the pain of making that wretched decision.

I excused myself and went to speak with the veterinarian. The questions that I had to ask ~ the words that needed to be said could barely come out of my mouth. I admitted to him that I was struggling to cross that bridge ~ from the side of having her, to the other and most dreaded side, of not having her ever again. I asked about taking her home for one last night. That was exceptable to him, but I knew that if I did, I would struggle to bring her back. I also knew that would be the same as me determining her end. And, so we talked about providing her with another day of treatment, which would be more fluids to flush out the kidneys.

"Is there hope that this will actually work", I asked.

And he said, "There is always hope, but she has a long road to recovery."

I went back outside, loved on her some more and decided that I was going to give her that additional 24 hours. And, at the same time, give myself that additional 24 hours. We kissed her goodbye and I carried her back inside for more fluids and another night of hope. I knew that tomorrow, if need be, I would be ready.

On Wednesday, we headed for another visit. On the way there, I laid it out in my mind, so that I knew the possible plans of action. I was not expecting good results. I know it is important to stay positive, but it is also important to be realistic. So the plans of action were: We could visit with Baby Girl for a few minutes inside the hospital before saying our final goodbye. We could bring Baby Girl outside for a while and visit before saying our final goodbye. We could take Baby Girl home until later that night or even perhaps the next day before saying our final goodbye.

When I saw her, I knew that it was time. The smile in her eyes had to be searched for and she tapped her tail twice for me, but only because I encouraged her. I spoke with the vet. The test results were worse, her condition was worse. Yes, it was time. I carried her out to the Jeep and we held her. And we cried. We talked about how all dogs go to heaven, how of all dogs ~ she definitely deserved to go to heaven and how she was going to look beautiful in angel wings. I tried to get Pippi to touch her one last time, but she wouldn't, she just wept. She wept like she knew what death was and that she knew that was Baby Girl's fate. That moment whispered again in my ear, it is time. And so, just one more kiss, one more hug, one more rub under the ears and one more goodbye from some of Baby Girl's biggest fans. I carried her back inside.

To the technician, I said, "We're ready."

The technician asked, "Have you ever done this before?"

I responded, "No."

But, as I promised, I was going to be there as her spirit slipped away. I placed her on the table and she nudged my hand with her nose one last time. I told her that she was beautiful and brave ~ the best ever ~ and that I loved her. And as quickly as she had entered my heart, she was gone from my life.

For the first time, I really saw the mother's perspective in this thing called death. What I have realized is, that as a mother, when a loved one passes away, it hurts 2x ~ 3x ~ 4x as bad. You have your own personal pain that you need to express ~ cope with ~ console. And you can't help but carry the pain that your children are experiencing. Your heart breaks again, for them. To hear their heavy sobs. To look at them and see that quiet loneliness and know what is missing. Its hard. You want to pull out a giant band-aid and wrap it all up. But you can't. As much as you want the unquenchable sadness to pass, you don't want to forget why the it was there in the first place. And so, you try to help them express, cope with and console their pain.

I wondered why puppies don't live forever. Then I remembered that little boys and girls don't either.
I wondered why puppies only live for a part of a child's life. Is it to teach the value of life? So that compassion will be learned? To mold a frivolous heart into one that is tender and caring?
I wondered ~ and I think ~ maybe so.

xoBeau

~ Beloved Baby Girl ~

2009-05-19T00:23:00.018-05:00

Dear Baby Girl,

When Captain Awesome was a little boy, he began wishing for a puppy for his approaching birthday. And so, a quest began for his new companion. The word went out near and far. Family and friends provided suggestions and recommendations. However, it was a mere acquaintance that mentioned their lady dog was expecting a litter of pups and one could be his for the choosing. A few weeks went by with no word of puppies being birthed, and in those same few weeks, a little boy's birthday was drawing nigh. We were pushed to move forward on the mission. Kennels were visited, newspapers were scoured and phone calls were made. A puppy was ready and waiting just a few hours drive north. So, we packed into the Jeep and made the trek upward until we reached a quaint and well manicured home. On the front lawn, we saw a lady trying to corral some black and white fluff, which was hopping over blades of grass like a bunny. His nickname was "Cow" and he was a purebred Shih Tzu. It was love at first sight for sure. He whined all the way home. After a few days deliberation, he was officially named "Maximum Rocket Power".

Captain Awesome's birthday came and went. It was a perfect and wonderful celebration of a little boy and his companion. However, two days later, the phone rang. It was the previously mentioned acquaintance with exciting news. Their litter of puppies had just been welcomed into this world two days earlier. Yes, you were born on Captain Awesome's birthday. And so, we knew it was meant to be. There would be two puppies welcomed into our home that year.

When you were around seven weeks old, we drove a couple hours south, across the river and through the woods to a home of meager existence. We were warmly welcomed inside. Captain Awesome leaned over to take a peek and your mama nearly snapped his nose off. I'm sure she meant nothing against him. She just knew that you were very special and wanted nothing but the best for you. Her master reached in and pulled you out for us to see. There you were, all teeny tiny and in your black and white beauty ~ a Shih Tzu mix. Again, it was love at first sight. We brought you home, stuck you in the sink ~ submerged in water up to your neck, and caught ~ oh, at least 100+ ~ probably more ~ fleas off of the top of your head.

Unlike Max, however, you were not a companion of anyone in particular, but please don't fret because you were most definitely loved by us all. And unlike Max, a name was never officially provided. We simply called you Baby Girl and it just stuck. I was particularly pleased with this, because I had always longed for a baby girl, but never thought that I would actually have one. But there you were ~ a part of the sisterhood ~ helping me balance out the fraternity house.

A couple other puppies came in over the years. Cheetah appeared to be a brindle greyhound, boxer, min-pin mix ~ but who really knows for sure, and that isn't really what matters anyway. She was an amazing soccer player. She also loved cowboy boots ~ not wearing them, but chewing them. Then, of course, came Rocky ~ Scout's beloved birthday puppy ~ a Yorkshire Terrier. He was much more teeny tiny than you. All of you got along fabulously. But it was you and Max who were tight. Whether it was bunking together, chasing each other or challenging the other for a scooby treat, whenever we saw black and white, we were usually seeing double. Remember when he had surgery just two weeks ago? You whined and fussed until he came home. And when he did, you were there, right beside him. Not once did you make fun of him for wearing that ridiculous looking cone around his head. Now, the tables have turned and Max is intensely longing for you.

Just a few years ago, as you know, I did have that baby girl ~ adding to the sisterhood once again. And, to my delight, you two have become precious playmates. I would even say that she has claimed you as her own. A good indicator, is her renaming of you ~ "My Baby Max". Additional indicators: How many walks has she taken you on? Lots. How many times has she climbed into the kennel with you? Numerous. How many times has she squeezed you until you could just pop? A quintillion. And what about those scooby treats, she has always been good at making sure you had plenty of those.

Through these 7 (almost 8) years, Baby Girl, you have loved me unconditionally, that is for certain. And no matter the week, the day or the hour, I could count on your smiling face, the nuzzle of your little nose, the beat of your wagging tail. How absolutely sweet and devoted you have been. Oh, how I will miss you. And I will miss the pieces of my children and of myself that are embodied within you. To never hear their voices say sweetly to you, "Hey, Baby Girl", saddens me greatly.

As I write this and as I prepare for our visit tomorrow, I know that when I walk into the Veterinarian's office, even though you are very sick, you will smile through your eyes at me. And I am certain that your long, white tail will begin its swaying motion. That is just your beautiful spirit. And as your spirit softly escapes into another realm, I promise to be there. It is the very least that I can do for my beautiful Baby Girl.

With much love ~ always & forever,
xoBeau

Earthday Celebration ~ 2009

2009-04-24T09:02:00.029-05:00

In celebration of Earth Day, we went to Centennial Park in Nashville, TN. And as we strolled by the booths of earth friendly patriots, I couldn't help but be inspired at how we ~ the most destructive creatures on this planet ~ are working to change our habits and preserve the environment for all living things.

Green Home Practical Sustainable Design
hellogreenhome.com
Friendly Arctic Printing & Design
FriendlyArctic.com

Friendly Arctic's shirts and prints were very appealing to me and many others.

Volkswagon Jetta TDI Clean Diesel
VW.com

VerdeGoh & VerdeGoh General Store
VerdeGoh.com
VerdeGoh's electric cars offer clean transportation and freedom from the dependency on fossil fuels. The electric cars are considered to be town cars, because they go around 40 mph and their distance is limited because they are battery powered ~ these are huge pros when it comes to considering a car for Captain Awesome.

Kilowatt Ours
KilowattOurs.org

Smile Mommy ~ Nashville's Diaper Service
SmileMommy.com

10 Ways to Save the World
Throughout the park, signs were posted with 1 to 10 ways to save the world. This one, in particular, spoke to me. I have been longing for a rain barrel for many a summer day. Most rains here, are torrential downpours and then nothing but hot, hot sun beating down ~ drying the earth until it cracks open. When the water bill comes, you would think that you are paying for liquid gold. For these reasons, and certainly many others, I long for a rain barrel. It is well overdue!

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
Elephants.com
Outside of Nashville, there is an elephant sanctuary that cares for retired or injured elephants. It is a fascinating place, in fact, you can take a peak for yourself with the Elecam. Pippi is very fond of elephants and wants to show her support, along with her support for the Sierra Club.

Baby Bear Shop ~ Organic
BabyBearShop.com

Creamy, dreamy butters and glosses ~ perfect for my baby's skin and my skin

The Green Wagon
TheGreenWagon.com
A one stop shop for going green ~ the green wagon.

Sparkling Creek Farm
We had a taste of the organic oatmeal raisin cookies ~ yummy!

Extremely Fun and Fresh Exhibit
Pippi is serious about her investigation into the world of fresh water creatures. Magnifying glass and swishing stick in hand.
So being a crawdad automatically makes her a man?! Not so, this crawdaddy is carrying some crawbabies under the trunk. Congratulations crawmommy ~ wishing you and your babies many fresh and clean mud holes to live and grow in!

Gardens of Babylon
GardensofBabylon.com
Organic gardening ~ ahhh, so lovely

Avalon Acres ~ Fresh, All Natural Poultry Products
Avalon-Acres.com

Cool People Care & Cool Moms Care
CoolPeopleCare.org
CoolMomsCare.org

Cool People Care and Cool Moms Care had set up a scavenger hunt, which was very simple and very rewarding. The hunt required that you take one Cool People Care or one Cool Moms Care card and visit 4 non-profit booths. At the booth, request that a star be placed in one of the four corners of your card. Then, return to the Cool Moms Care booth to collect treasures: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb, Bubbles and this colorful and inspiring poster:

Today is a New day! You can wipe the slate clean & begin again. Today you can embrace kindness. Practice compassion. Stand up for justice. Talk to strangers. Ask for help. Offer hope. Listen with your whole heart. Work for the common good. Love well. You can be the change you wish to see in the world.

On our way out, we stopped by the pond in front of the Parthenon to see the geese. Some children saw us coming and quickly embraced kindness by offering Pippi a piece of their bread. Thank you, friends ~ you made our day even sweeter!

xoBeau

baby girl x 2

2009-04-15T09:15:00.001-05:00

Earthday IX

2009-04-06T11:00:00.003-05:00

When I was a child, the New River was my backyard to play in. A swimsuit (boys or girls) and bare feet were my attire. It held many underwater tea parties, mermaid chior practices, and cannonball contests. On it's sandy banks, in the warm sunshine, we built dams, constructed water canals, baked mud pies and mixed moss milkshakes. On its grassy banks, under the glow of the moon and the sparkle of the stars, we would play hide and seek, catch lightning bugs, build campfires, pitch tents, eat smores and play spoons (the game, not the music). It was always there to catch us as we jumped from the wooden docks, swung from the ropes, flipped from the seesaws (inner tube of a car) and wiped-out from skis (skiing behind a fishing boat with a 25 horse power boat motor? yes, it can happen). It introduced us to many of its inhabitants, muskrats, water snakes, turtles, crawdads, Jesus spiders (you know, the kind that walk on water), minnows, muskees, trout, sunfish, catfish, one fish and two fish.

I even received my first ticket on this river. For a month of Sunday's (as my great-grandfather would say), I had begged to put the boat motor on the wooden raft, which was normally motorized by a long pole and my girlie biceps. And one Sunday, it actually happened, the little 10 horse power boat motor was popped onto the back and away my friends and I went ~ two houses down to park alongside the cross-tie reinforced bank. This was certainly within poling distance. Not 15 minutes later, the game warden pulled up. A ticket was issued and needless to say, I never asked to break the rules again.

Fear never entered my heart, in regard to this river. Not when the waves were high, we were far from home, the motor had disassembled and my friends and I dove over and over until the missing propeller and pin were retrieved. Not when torrential rains would force it to break it's banks, raging through the tree limbs that were meant for climbing, growing wider and wider until it seeped through the doors and occupied the basement only able to escape through the side windows.

It calmed my soul, consoled my broken heart and gladly welcomed my tears into it's own body of water. One day, so broken-hearted ~ betrayed ~ angry, I walked straight into this river fully clothed. The river was the only place that I had left to turn. It wrapped its big gentle arms around me and held me like no mother could.

Now, that I am older, I know that I owe this river for the confidence, peace and strength that it has given me. For this reason, I will work towards changing my harmful habits, raising awareness about its needs and supporting organizations like www.internationalrivers.org. And since, the river always flows into the ocean ~ www.savethewaves.org

Thank you ~ my beloved river

xoBeau

Zoo Bamboo

2009-04-01T09:17:00.005-05:00

xoBeau

Earth Hour

2009-03-28T17:10:00.003-05:00

Don't forget, lights out from 8:30 - 9:30 tonight! This is in celebration of Earth Hour, which the WWF began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, as a way to raise awareness of climate change. Just imagine all the fun that you can have in the dark for one hour!

1. light candles and eat dinner, enjoying the flavor and the company, because your senses aren't overwhelmed with all of the usual distractions
2. light candles and tell family or scary stories in the sweet quiet of the night (I know, sometimes family and scary are synonyms, so in that case, perhaps read one from a book)
3. light candles and sing "We are the World"(my 5th grade graduation song), "Down to Earth" (by Peter Gabriel from Wall-E) or your favorite earth song
4. play hide and seek with your kids
5. play hide and seek with your partner ;)

These are just a few suggestions, but I know that if you use your imagination, you can come up with the perfect one for you ~ remember, it is for a very good cause!

xoBeau

the new p.b. ~ courtesy of j

2009-03-25T17:26:00.011-05:00

Who knew that plastic bottles could be both stylish and comfortable?! Well, they can when they are recycled into ecofiber, stuffed into a hypoallergenic pillow insert and zipped up inside of a square piece of organic cotton that has been handprinted with nature-inspired artwork. Jolee Pink, of Wabisabi Green, is credited with orchestrating this fantastic feat. I think you will have to agree that her EcoArt pillows are nothing short of a masterpiece.

xoBeau

I chose love and I am here

2009-02-23T14:09:00.004-06:00

Watching the Academy Awards last night, I couldn't help but feel inspired and touched by the energy of the moment and the artists as they walked the red carpet, presented awards, accepted awards or looked on with smiling faces, teary eyes and an appreciation for their peers.

Special moments included:
Heath Ledger's family's acceptance of his well deserved Oscar for his role in the Dark Knight as the Joker ~ all on the behalf of his precious daughter Matilda

Kate Winslet's acceptance of her Oscar for her role in The Reader as she referred to the other leading ladies as goddesses

and the most touching for me, was the acceptance speech of A.R. Rahman, the composer from Slumdog Millionaire, where he said, "The essence of the film is about optimism and the power of hope in our lives and all my life I've had a choice of hate and love. I chose love and I'm here."

Such a powerful statement and one that can be used for every aspect of our lives, no matter your circumstances, no matter your occupation, no matter your religion, and no matter your life's goal. All of these require a path, and we all choose our paths. It is imminent when you say no to one path, that you say yes to another.

It is my goal to remember to select the path that allows me to choose love. I am not sure where it will take me, but I cannot wait to see.

xoBeau

P.S. more Oscars here

Busy Bees

2008-10-24T15:48:00.003-05:00

Limelight hydrangeas went into the garden this week

Captain Awesome is... well... awesome at digging the holes

Pippi is fabulous at getting her hands dirty and discovering the little things

Like this little thing ~ bzzzz

xoBeau

So Blue!

2008-10-21T12:53:00.013-05:00

IGetBlues.com, a project that we and some large blues supporters have been working on, has gone LIVE! This is a mini site built to introduce the blues, intrigue your listening ears and entertain in a bluesy kind of way. Visit these pages to get the biggest bang out of the blues!

Blues piano plays the Shades of the Blues

See legendary performers Without the Blues

And you can even share the blues with your friends, if you like!

xoBeau

Halloween Spirit

2008-10-14T07:28:00.006-05:00

This weekend, in between some intense badminton games, the guys got creative and conjured up some spooky orange decor for the front of the house. They did a fabulous job, didn't they?!

Very soon, little ghosts and goblins will be singing their praises with the famous phrase, "TRICK OR TREAT".

Spa Treatment

2008-10-08T08:55:00.002-05:00

xoBeau

Gifts from the Garden

2008-10-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

A little garden clean-up was on the list this past weekend:

Planting a few plants for fall
Weeding
Removing spent blooms

And look at the gifts that the garden provided in exchange:

hydrangea blooms tied gently with a satin ribbon set on the shelf to dry

hydrangea blooms with stems freshly cut at an angle and placed in a vase of fresh water
~ I've heard that you can get hydrangeas to produce roots this way ~

xoBeau

Earthday VIII

2008-10-06T15:38:00.007-05:00

How I miss the days of composting! The satisfaction of not wasting good rich nutrients. The delight of harvesting rich black gold. The joy of watching the earth's bounty flourish from such a healthy diet. But now that we live in a more structured neighborhood, erecting a compost barn out of 4 reclaimed pallets would definitely land a cheerful little note from the homeowner's association in our mailbox! So, what is an earth-friendly gardener to do?

These products from Green Culture might be good solutions:
I like the idea of this Stainless Steel Compost Scrap Keeper. A stylish container for keeping eggshells, coffee grinds, and veggie scraps from smelling up the kitchen.
Also, at 40" high and 23" square, this compost bin is small enough to hide in between the house and the bushes. It is called the Outside Gourmet. Perhaps because it is preparing a fine meal for the garden!

Do you practice composting? What do you recommend?

xoBeau

Brothers teach ~

2008-10-01T14:04:00.006-05:00

xoBeau

Mini Media at Play

2008-09-30T13:44:00.006-05:00

I know of some boys that would just get a big kick (or maybe a lego-sized kick) out of these Boom Block speakers from Land of Nod! Just plug the ipod into the block speaker and the whole Lego town can listen to melodious tunes. They would probably try to incorporate them into their architectural designs ~ setting up a big screen tv for the Lego home or maybe a drive-in theater for Legoians' entertainment. This might be on the Christmas list.
xoBeau

Earthday VII

2008-09-29T08:41:00.012-05:00

I drink a lot of bottled water. Why, you ask? Why, when bottled water has been scientifically studied and the results show it has an almost identical makeup to tap water? Why, when teams of people have conducted taste tests, scoring various types of bottled waters and tap waters, cleansing their palette with wine in between each taste, only to come to the conclusion that just one person could identify the tap water and that, overall, the bottled waters tasted the same?

Here are the reasons that I drink bottled water:
1. I must be that one person who can tell the difference between tap water and bottled water. Tap water actually makes my stomach ache!
2. Our tap water does contain lime. It collects at the base of the faucets and on the shower heads. It can only be removed with lime-away. Our realtor stated that his doctor gave tap water as the reason for his kidney stone. Yikes! Kidney stone?
3. It is convenient. I always grap a few as I am heading out the door. We keep a large supply in the garage in our pantry area.
4. Bottled water always tastes good at room temperature, unlike soda pop, etc.
5. Bottled water certainly is healthier than soda pop, etc.

This is my concern:
Bottled water leaves behind a plastic shell. We have been improving our recycling habits, but isn't there a better way?Would it be better if I purchased water bottles ~ one for each family member? Then, to fill the water bottles, if I purchased filtered water from the local grocer. You know, one of those large 5 gallon bottles with the tap for easy dispensing?

What is your source for drinking water? Do you have any recommendations?

xoBeau

NieNie Benefit Sale

2008-09-24T08:21:00.005-05:00

Do check out the NieNie Benefit Sale at Etsy!

All proceeds of the sale will go directly to the care and benefit of Stephanie & Christian Nielson.

xoBeau

Body Art by Pippi

2008-09-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

1 Permanent Marker
plus
A Pinch of Inspiration from the Jungle Book
(pretty sure she was going for tiger stripes)

xoBeau

Busy

2008-09-23T08:35:00.009-05:00

Recently, I have been busy with:
Cornerstone Outdoors - managing new online products, getting the local store newsletter set up and maintaining the Facebook presence

Cornerstone Cheesecakes & Gifts - preparing the new local store newsletter and playing in the kitchen ~ if only I had a sweet vintage apron to wear!

mmmmm ~ yummy cheesecakes

bandVillage - packing a few thousand blues cds to be considered for nominations for the Blues Music Awards

a few of the artists looking for a blues nomination

boxes packed and ready for postage

Lets see what else I can get into this week!

xoBeau

Earthday VI

2008-09-22T08:50:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was Sunday, so lets make today Earthday!

When paying bills ~ Go Green:
cancel paper statements | sign up for recurring payments | pay bills online
I have already canceled paper statements on many of my credit cards and pay many bills online. However, when I logged in to pay my Comcast bill for cable and Internet, I saw this ad for Ecobill. One less piece of mail to shred and one less bill to worry about ~ works for me. Sign me up!

xoBeau

Sesame Street Playground from Putumayo

2008-09-19T16:34:00.010-05:00

Take a listen to Putumayo's newest release Sesame Street Playground! It is a collection of Sesame Street songs from all over the world. Oh, and videos.... This is a 2-disc set: 1 cd with songs and 1 dvd with music videos. They just came in, so Pippi has not seen or heard them yet ~ I can't wait to see her reaction. She LOVES Elmo!

Elmo on the Bonnie Hunt show plugging his new release

You can purchase from bandVillage.

TIP: Don't forget to sign up for the bandVillage newsletter. If you sign up, a gift certificate will be sent to your email address. Use it when you purchase ~ it is like a coupon for the Sesame Street Playground cd by Putumayo!

~ Goodbye Sweet Friends ~

2008-09-18T10:41:00.002-05:00

Pippi's little friend ~ our neighbors ~ have moved away. Whenever Pippi ran outside, little W was always waiting by the fence to greet her. Pippi and W would share sand toys across the fence. Little W would find the tallest pieces of grass (flowers) that he could find and deliver them safely into my hand ~ this was his gift to me. If Pippi cried, little W would become upset and with a concerned voice say, 'My friend, what's wrong with my friend.' Little W and his mommy would bake cupcakes and bring some over to share ~ Pippi's favorite! Because of Pippi's young age, this was the first summer that she has really been able to make friends. I wanted to make sure that little W had something to remember his friend by. But what kind of gift would be the best token of remembrance?

This is what we came up with:

a sweet picture of the friends from a recent play date

cropped and placed inside a self adhesive laminating pouch,
punched with a hole and strung with some twine

tied around a the neck of a new friend who is soft, cuddly, and ready for adventure!

It was sad to say goodbye, but we wish them a beautiful future and thank them for the sweet memories!

xoBeau

~ My Best Boys~

2008-09-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

xoBeau

Organized Recycling

2008-09-16T08:38:00.002-05:00

Let's just get real about this ~ recycling has been driving me insane! Why? Because all of the crushed 2 litter bottles, broken-down cardboard boxes, glass wine bottles, and so on were going into the floor in the garage. Making the garage total chaos and, essentially, turning it into a dump. Grrr! I really just wanted to pick up every piece and throw it away! In fact, I did a couple of times. I would feel relieved that the stuff was out of my house, but guilty that I had just taken the easy way out and increased my footprint on the earth. It also made me realize just how much trash we generate and that we really should be more responsible about it. More than ever, it was time to get the recycling organized so that it could be processed efficiently.

This is our solution:

labeled totes on the bottom shelves
5 totes in all, one each for Newspaper, Plastic, Glass, Cardboard, and Soda Cans

glass bottles neatly placed inside

Now, when a tote is full, we just grab the tote and run to our nearest recycling center!

xoBeau

Earthday V

2008-09-15T08:25:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was Sunday, so lets make today Earthday!

Going green can mean buying Ornj. Ornj Bags is a stylish line of totes designed by David Shock. The totes are made from ~ well, can you guess? It is something that you have seen before. Think on it and I will tell you in a minute.
Ornj Bags are great for the market, beach, or anywhere a durable tote is needed. They come in many styles and sizes.
If you're worried about your lip gloss slipping through, Ornj also sells liners to slide inside your tote that are made from 100% recycled fabric.

Did you figure out what they are constructed from? (hint hint)
Ornj Bags are made out of recycled construction fencing, pulled out of abandoned fields and construction sites. Clever, huh? And that is what I love in a piece like this. It sends an earth-friendly message, strikes up a climate changing conversation, and makes going green stylish!

"The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them." Albert Einstein

xoBeau

J.C. Andersen - the Next Country Star

2008-09-15T08:22:00.005-05:00

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who voted for J.C. Andersen as the Next GAC Star! Your votes moved him into 3rd place. He was a favorite of all the judges. Their comments included, 'You are a country star' and 'You've got this competition in your pocket'. So, of course, it was a little shocking when One Night Rodeo won. But, you know what, One Night Rodeo is a great group of guys that have been on the road for 15 years, performing their music at night and working for a living during the day. That's dedication!

Be sure that this is not the end for J.C., but only the beginning. And if you have the chance, go see him live ~ you won't be disappointed! Check here for tour dates.
This was my experience at this live tv event:
It was held at City Hall in downtown Nashville. All friends received a blue stamp on their arm and were escorted to their contestant's area, so all the J.C. family and friends were together, all the One Night Rodeo family & friends were together, and so on. Others received red stamps on their arms and were escorted to the back of the room. (That just sounds mean, doesn't it) The crowd had a little cheer rehearsal before going live, because the production crew needed to know how loud we could get. And throughout the show, during commercial breaks, we would be cheered on, 'good energy', 'you're doing great guys'. You know how it seems like there are tons of commercials when you are watching tv at home, well, it doesn't seem that way when you are on live tv. When at commercial, we would hear, 'ok, 2 minutes', 'ok, 14 seconds'. Nothing like trying to text a message during a crunch!

There is no air conditioning in City Hall because it is a historical building. The judges (Desmond Child, Victoria Shaw, and Jack Ingram) were seated high above the crowd ~ and you know heat rises, so they were fanning and blotting during the break. A girl fainted right in front of us during the announcement of the winner. Luckily, her friends caught her and were able to gently lay her down on the floor. We all backed away to give her room, which left a huge hole in the crowd front center stage. That created a little chaos. Thankfully, after a few minutes, she came to and was able to walk out of the crowd to get some fresh air. Then, confetti shot everywhere and it was a wrap!
Overall, the performances were heart-felt and powerful! Robin Meade and Mike Siegel were fabulous hosts! Robin was looking very pretty with her sparkly eyelashes and shimmery dress. Desmond, Victoria, and Jack were all looking very stylish and gave comments that seemed to be genuinely honest and provided great guidance to the performers. We had a wonderful time, cheered our little hearts out and were in need of some refreshment afterward! So, we hit the Flying Saucer for a seat, some drinks, chicken pesto pizza, and great conversation.

Watch the live finale here.

xoBeau

Winner of the J.C. Andersen Autographed CD

2008-09-15T08:20:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Merri! She was randomly selected to win the autographed cd from J.C. Andersen.

If you would like to have one of J.C.'s cds, check here at bandVillage.com.

xoBeau

Last days of summer ~

2008-09-10T08:42:00.004-05:00

See you next year ~ little summer feet ~ I am sure you will be much bigger then!

Bid Green!

2008-09-09T14:58:00.007-05:00

Just in from Earth Day Network:

Two Holly Branch Hand Crafted Belt Buckles

'Now there's a stroke of green-ness: actor and environmental advocate Chevy Chase and his wife Jayni are hosting the 5th annual Chevy Chase Green auction to benefit - you guessed it - Earth Day Network's GREEN Schools campaign. Starting right now click here and bid on exciting celebrity auction items.'

Attend the 2009 Inauguration Ceremony and Meet the New President-Package for Two (2) People

4 VIP Tickets to The Martha Stewart Show PLUS Lunch in the Green Room After the Show
and Meet Martha!

These are just a few of the items up for bid! It's a great auction. You might want to check it out.

xoBeau

Get your Daily Candy

2008-09-09T10:51:00.005-05:00

Daily Candy is one of my favorite online magazines. From Boston ~ to San Francisco ~ to London, they've got you covered! Savy tips, twisted advice, and hot deals are all embellished with fresh artwork from Sujean. In addition to metropolitan city editions, they also have travel, deals, and kids editions. I love getting their newsletter, it always makes me giggle inside!

xoBeau

Earthday IV

2008-09-08T00:01:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was Sunday, so lets make today Earthday!

Consider buying from vendors who support fair trade.

Fair Trade means an equitable and fair partnership between marketers in North America and producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other parts of the world. A fair trade partnership works to provide low-income artisans and farmers with a living wage for their work.

These are some of the things that caught my eye at the Global Exchange Fair Trade Store.

100% organic chocolate
inside each art bar is a collectible art card by an contemporary adult or international child artist

chess set made in Peru
pieces are handmade out of a combination of clay and volcanic ash

silver flower bud pendant handcrafted in Thailand
inspired by the garden

reusable bamboo straws made in Laos
in Laos, longer versions of these are used during festivals and for special occasions

brazil nut candle handmade from the pods of Brazil Nut trees in the Amazon Rain Forest of Peru
purchase of this candle helps protect the rain forest for future generations

"I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something." Helen Keller

xoBeau

VOTE & WIN - J.C. Andersen the Next GAC Star

2008-09-07T15:50:00.001-05:00

My friend, J.C. Andersen, is one of the top 6 contenders for the Next GAC Star ~ Very Exciting News! More Exciting News?! J.C. has provided me with 1 autographed copy of his amazing cd 'When the Tide Rolls In' to be given away to someone super lucky! It could be you! This is how you can win...1. Click here and vote for J.C. Andersen
2. Post a comment stating that you have voted for J.C Andersen as the Next GAC Star
(You can enter to win everyday!)

*Extra Credit Vote everyday
*Extra Credit Subscribe to xoBeau via RSS Feed
*Extra Credit Sign up for the xoBeau newsletter
*Extra Credit Post this giveaway on your blog
(Post a comment with details about your extra credit)
A winner will be randomly selected. Good luck everyone! And, of course, best of luck to J.C.!

xoBeau

Country Estate II

2008-09-05T08:56:00.000-05:00

Remember a couple of weeks ago, when I posted about the country estate? Well, while we were there, the very sweet lady running the estate sale encouraged us to go take a peek up in the barn and look at the furniture and rugs in there. We were intrigued by the barn's construction and enjoyed dissecting it visually. Notice how all of the upright posts are actually hewn logs. And of course all good barns are adorned with lots of old signs.

xoBeau

Pippi Translated

2008-09-04T07:28:00.001-05:00

If you hang around Pippi for a little while, you will see that she jabbers a lot in a language that sounds extremely foreign. If you listen carefully, however, you will hear bits of English coming through. But even those words require translation.

Boogie - any kind of bug; she does an excellent job of pointing them out!
But - belly button; she likes to show you hers
Flower - all green growing things, even trees
Hair Bow - anything that goes on the head, this includes helmets and giraffe horns
Hop Hop - bunnies and hamsters; the bunnies frequent the spot under the bird feeder and were named first, the hamsters were later given to the boys as a gift; they both look very soft ~ she just wants to squeeze 'em
Max - all dogs; one of our dogs is named Max ~ poor Max, he does get squeezed
Mommy - all adults
Mommy KaMommy - a special mommy name reserved just for me, thank you Pippi
Moan - cellphone; she likes electronics
Milk - all beverages, such as, milk, juice, pop, even mixed drinks; if we are out at dinner and I have a strawberry margarita, she just will not be content until the waiter brings her a virgin one ~ diva!
Nipe Nipe - Goodnight or going to sleep
Poo Poo Diaper, Oooo, Nasty - anything that is gross; this is apparently what she thinks when she looks at butterscotch delight
Up and Down - balloons, going upstairs, the trampoline
Watch - movie time

I don't know about you, but I can see the relation. Of course, all of these terms come with genuine tones and priceless expressions. Our exchange of important information is evolving ~ wonder what we will be talking about 10 years from now. Ummm, scratch that thought.

Sincerely, fro me to you.

xoBeau

~ Prints ~

2008-09-02T09:42:00.000-05:00

Hot air balloon prints, cake prints, botanical prints, animal prints ~ just prints in general fascinate me. Is it the detail of how the artist reveals their subject? Is it the delicacy of the simple line drawings? Is it the intimacy of the handwritten footnotes? I suppose all of these things come together and cast a spell over me.
FineRarePrints.com has a gorgeous collection of antique prints in all imaginable categories and they add to the collection frequently. They can also educate you on the difference between engraving and photogravure etching.A few years ago, my birth mom gifted me with Botanical Prints from the Hortus Eystettenisis but I have yet to be brave enough to rip the pages from the binding, frame them, and hang them on the wall for display. Occasionally, I open it and flip through. I suppose I should purchase another one. Then, I will have one book for the library and one book that can lend itself to my creative urges.
Captain Awesome, Scout (the boys) and I have read most of the Spiderwick Chronicles. In addition to the books, we also have Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide, which is a beautiful collection of all the mythical creatures (fairies, pixies, mermaids) in the SC. They have been illustrated similarly to that of botanical and animal prints ~ very well done. Since the boys are a little too old for these to be displayed in their room, I plan to select a few to display in Pippi's room. I think it will be a nice reminder when the boys see them ~ of the time that we spent together reading the SC ~ and a good way to introduce Pippi to the charming fantasy that exists in childhood. (Oh, and as far as the dread of ripping this book up, I definitely plan to purchase a 2nd one to keep whole)

xoBeau

Earthday III

2008-09-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Sunday, so lets make today Earthday!

Today, being Labor Day, it is probable that most of us will be throwing some hamburgers on the grill, tossing some pasta with olive oil and veggies, assembling a fruit salad, pouring an ice-cold-drink into a SOLO cup. EEEK! SOLO cup?!

Yes, I have these internal struggles with myself. What do I do if we are having lots of people over and I don't have enough glasses or plates to keep up with the lemonade or the butterscotch delight?! Not too mention the insane amount of dirty dishes that I would be sentenced to! And after lots of cleaning, planning and hosting, trust me, I am ready for something a little stronger than lemonade and a seat in that adirondack chair on the back porch. But SOLO cups and plates are environmentally irresponsible, I know.

But maybe not so irresponsible anymore, SOLO has introduced bare by SOLO. The bare product line consists of bamboo plates (bamboo is an annually renewable resource) and recycled cups (20% post-consumer recycled plastic). And because no artificial colors have been added, they have a neutral color scheme that goes with everything!

I think it's an improvement! What do you think?

Enjoy your Labor Day!

xoBeau

NieNie Auction ~ We have a Winner!

2008-09-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

The NieNie auction is closed and we have a winner! Congratulations Aimee!

Many thanks to those of you who placed a bid at this auction and all the other auctions in support of NieNie!

If you still feel the need to bid, there are LIVE auctions at Design Mom.

xoBeau

Still taking bids!

2008-08-29T16:44:00.000-05:00

This auction for the $35 bandVillage gift certificate is still open for bidding! But it closes on Sunday when the clock strikes midnight. So, get those bids in! Its such a win-win, you know!
Great music + the amazing feeling of helping someone so very special! They will love you for it, I know they will!

xoBeau

Silent Auction & Sweet Wishes for NieNie

2008-08-28T08:33:00.001-05:00

Today, we start a silent auction, which is dedicated to Stephanie & Christian Nielson (pictured above with their children), who were severley burned in a private plane accident. Christian sustained burns to 30% of his body and sweet Stephanie sustained burns to 80% of her body. Both Christian and Stephanie are in stable but critical condition and will require months of care to allow their bodies to heal. While their family cares for their children and watch over their recovery, they sleep in a chemical induced coma and everyone dreams of when they can hug, kiss, laugh, and just be together again.

Item up for Auction:
$35 bandVillage gift certificate

With this gift certificate you can purchase any 2 cds for around $15 and cover shipping charges or purchase any amount of cds for any $ amount and cover $35 of the cost.

CDs that I think you might like:

Dreamland CDs by Putumayo - these are wonderful for lulling your little ones to sleep or for softening the mood during quiet time

Celtic Dreamland

African Dreamland

Playground CDs by Putumayo - playtime should be fun and nothing sets the mood like these playful songs from artists all around the world

Hawaiin Playground

French Playground

Or, search for a cd of your choice!

Payment:
Payment is to be made to Stephanie & Christian's PayPal Account. This information will be provided to the winning bidder.

Receiving the Auction Item:
The winning bidder will receive their $35 bandVillage gift certificate code in their email to be used at any time for a $35 purchase at bandVillage.com

Place your best bid in the comments section ~ it is for such a good cause! Then, go give kisses & hugs to those near and dear to your heart!

If you would like to learn more about Stephanie (NieNie) & Christian and keep posted on their recovery, go here: blog.cjanerun.comor here: nierecovery.com

Much thanks to DesignMom, who organized this most compassionate, lovely, and worthy auction!

xoBeau

Jellyfish

2008-08-27T08:02:00.000-05:00

Fascinating creatures ~ those jellyfish. We saw this one at Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN.

xoBeau

Footprint Calculator

2008-08-26T07:58:00.000-05:00

Measure your carbon footprint with the footprint calculator.

I took the quiz and apparently if everyone lived like me, it would take 3 - 7 planets to sustain life. Yes, I would say, I need to make some changes!

xoBeau

Earthday II

2008-08-25T12:30:00.000-05:00

On this earthday, I vow to look for recycled/refurbished/reclaimed furniture when in the market for a new piece.

The glass-top table and the set of wooden chairs in our dining room were made from reclaimed materials and imported from Malaysia. The materials used have only slightly been modified from their original state.
The wood has a richness that can only be accomplished by time. Despite it's rugged appearance, the wood is smooth and almost creamy. It is as if 1,000 hands have rubbed across the surface.
This is surely a piece that will be passed down to younger generations and so the conversation around the dining room table will carry on.
Find recycled/refurbished/reclaimed furniture here:
Alan Vogel Time Warped Furniture | Whit McLeod| Teak Collection USA| Green Culture Furniture

If you have a vow for this Earthday or just have something to say, please post below!

xoBeau

Country Estate I

2008-08-22T11:03:00.000-05:00

This windy country road led us through a 95 acre farm in Middle Tennessee ~ where we found barns and sheds packed full of treasures that have been collected over many lifetimes...

an antique photo album

filled with photographs of loved ones from long ago

cobalt blue glasses and kitchen canisters

yellow dishes (my grandmother had the set of gold bowls with the yellow flowers)

rolling pins used for making tasty apple pies and fresh buttermilk biscuits

buttons saved in jars

books tagged with ribbons

many, many lanterns; they stopped counting at 300

quilts that have been lovingly worn and now carry a soft patina

a toy horse responsible for many giggles and much laughter

signs that have seen many summer rains

stencils for making signs (I picked these up, what should I do with these? do you think gift tags maybe?)

vintage postcards still bearing the messages that they were sent with so long ago

Scout and Pippi sit down for a little chat

gas cans and large metal tools (I don't know why, but this is one of my favorite pictures)

a trailer great for hayrides, just throw in a quilt and some pillows (we've had a couple of hayrides already)

a great cubbie (a cold glass of sweet ice tea would go great with the chairs)

mmmmm, an ice cream maker (my favorite homemade ice cream is banana, what is your favorite?)
the vast collection of tools makes the guys speechless

a small sample of the many fishing lures

an addresserette for printing addresses on envelopes (never seen one of these before)

an ideal stencil machine (nor had I seen one of these)

old american flags neatly tied and hung

and a brown leather saddle (no country estate would be complete without one)

As we looked, I don't think I had nostalgia, but I did feel a sense of shock, because some of these items had been a part of my life as a child and, at that moment, I realized that they weren't any longer.

But that is ok, we selected some different ones to take with us and be a part of our future ~my best boys are pictured above

xoBeau

Circle of Life

2008-08-21T08:25:00.001-05:00

The blue point juniper topiary that stands guard by the front door is fading. The stress of the summer heat is sure to be the blame. But as it says goodbye, it also says hello and welcome to a new little life, who has entered the world by way of its boughs. Welcome baby bird ~

xoBeau

Waiting & Wishing

2008-08-20T09:59:00.002-05:00

Pippi waiting on her brothers and wishing that she could ride the bumper cars ~

xoBeau

Sweet Find - just $1

2008-08-19T08:03:00.000-05:00

Just the other day, I picked up this sweet painting for only a $1! I know, can you believe it!? No, not at the Dollar Tree, but at the most earth friendly market, a yard sale.

The colors work great! See the drama of the black, the freshness of the white, and the earthy flavor of the greens and browns. A new piece just seems to rejuvenate the whole room.

xoBeau

Travelin' the Dirt Road - bandVillage Giveaway

2008-08-18T22:31:00.001-05:00

Something special today, a cd giveaway, which is sponsored by bandVillage.com

bandVillage.com supports all types of independent musicians and is a major supporter of the blues. bandVillage has been honored with the 'Keeping the Blues Alive' Award and is a Charter Member of The Blues Foundation.

Below is a sampling of the web sites that bandVillage has developed, hosts and/or maintains for musicians or music organizations:
LauraMcGhee.com
RoyBookBinder.com
The Blues Foundation

The cd up for grabs is Travelin' the Dirt Road by Dave Riley and Bob Corritore.

To enter for the giveaway, just check out bandVillage.com and post your comment below. A winner will be announced Monday, August 25th.

Best of Luck!

xoBeau

Earthday I

2008-08-18T09:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Sunday, so let's make today Earthday!

Our old incandescent light bulbs are on display, as a reminder for ourselves and a simple message to others, that we have decided to make a small change that will make a big difference.

We have been making the swap from incandescent to compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) light bulbs.

According to Wikipedia.com, a CFL can save over $30 in electricity costs, produce less heat, thus reducing the load on the cooling system, and last between 8 and 15 times longer than an incandescent light bulb.

Please share what are you doing to lighten your footprint on the earth! It can be super simple. A little change means a lot!

Simply add a comment and/or a link below ~

xoBeau

Giving a Nod

2008-08-15T13:15:00.001-05:00

Just received my Land of Nod catalog.

I love the strappy storage, which is handwoven, comes in fresh colors, and priced just right. Think outside the children's rooms, too.

Then this is the best, the three sizes fit all activity table that can actually grow with your child from toddler to adulthood. You have the option of selecting 15", 23", or 30" legs. It has a paper roller for lots of splendid creations and rolling storage bins for keeping all the must haves. This table facilitates creativity and learning for many sweet years to come!

Publish Post

We love Miss Oklahoma

2008-08-14T07:58:00.000-05:00

Miss Oklahoma (a.k.a. my aunt Iris Ann) is here for a visit and we are savoring every moment! When she is in town, it means eating anything and everything yummy, shopping til you drop, lounging by the pool, staying up til the wee hours of the morning laughing and carrying on. She likes to have fun with you, she loves you and she wants to make sure you know it!

Our favorite tradition, and one apparently caused by my serious need for the perfect pair of cowboy boots, which took us to 3 states and back again, is the foot rub. Every time she comes to visit, we kick off our flip flops, tennis shoes, socks, whatever it is that binds our little piggies, squirt a generous portion of lotion, and just rub those tired dogs down! This time, she brought a sweet lotion set that included everything from the foot soak to the foot spray. Ahhh heaven!

Last night, we inducted the newest member, Pippi.
These were taken with my cell, so not super clear, but still super precious!

Favorite Garden Additions

2008-08-13T09:31:00.000-05:00

This year, we made many additions to the garden, planting some blue point junipers, red sunset maples, crimson king maples, green velvet boxwoods, midnight blue agapanthus, ligustrums, and a bonanza patio peach (for Captain Awesome). They are all growing merrily and I trust that they will grow stronger and more beautiful each year.

However, my favorite additions to the garden are:

Dwarf Katie Ruellia - blooms every morning with fresh purple blooms; wonderful dark green texture; forms nice clump; grown by monrovia

Blue Star Creeper - small groundcover with dark green foliage and teeny tiny blue flowers; spreads gently

Rock path - made from rock that we pulled from our creek bed

The katie ruellia, blue star creeper and rocks work great together!

Summer Photo Contest - Pippi

2008-08-12T14:10:00.001-05:00

Heading out the door to hit the pool on a hot summer day, Pippi grabbed her brother's scuba mask and popped it on her head. I couldn't resist but to pull out my cell phone and grab her picture. She obliged me with a hollywood pose and smile!

Vote for Pippi at http://www.5minutesformom.com

Unidentified Flying Object

2008-08-12T08:36:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my neighbor, Tiffany was outside watering her garden, when she called for us to come take a look in her maple tree. This is what we saw:
This little creature had the most interesting combination of features:
And look at the other wild creature I captured in the picture, Scout peeking through the leaves:
Have you seen an Unidentified Flying Object like this before? If so, let me know. We would like to identify this natural beauty.