Happy Halloween - DIY little Engineer and his Train Costume

Since little man is obsessed with trains and really does engineer everything in our lives, we figured this costume was perfect for this year.  We even went to a Halloween parade last night and got our picture taken by a local newspaper - I guess DIY does stand out even with all the fancy costumes sold at Target nowadays.

It was a ridiculously easy DIY - all I had to make was a little red bandana (you could even buy one) and then we had the overalls, train hat and blue thermal. Then I drew out the engine and caboose onto a sheet of cardboard for Daddy to cut out and paint (since I was too busy with lots of orders this week), we punched some holes and strung it around our necks.  And voila - the train is ready to hit the tracks for collecting treats tonight.  Little man got an early start with a lollipop this morning.

And as an added bonus little man was already "driving" his trains around the house today, he got the engine and put it around his neck and then choo-chooed through our downstairs.  So he even has a new toy.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Giving Thanks

Sorry I've been a little out of touch lately - between running the business which is really starting to take off and running after the munchkin I am finding my days FULL!!!!  It is full of wonderful stuff and I feel blessed to be doing both, but it is full nonetheless.

It's also had me thinking a lot about how often we give thanks.  In my daily life I find I am often too busy worrying about the little details to stop and focus on what is truly important - being thankful for all those little details.  So today I am giving thanks.

I am thankful for the people in my life who support me: my husband who wakes up 1/2 hour before me to get my son so I can sleep a little longer in the morning and who does so much to make my life happier, my parents who taught me that I need to make my own decisions and have supported me in every choice I've ever made - good and bad,  my sister who always tell me the truth and makes me laugh with hilarious pictures of her dog dressed up as santa claus or a police officer (his halloween costume last year).  I am thankful for all the other families in our lives who have become a second family to ours.  I am thankful for the wonderful neighbors in my life who we stop and talk with on a daily basis and who make living in our home a genuine pleasure.  I am thankful for the people who have chosen to buy my artwork and mobiles thereby allowing me the freedom and time to stay home with my son full-time.  I am thankful for the blessings in my life and for the opportunities that are given to me.  I am also thankful for all the hardships in my life that allow me to understand that life is not always easy and which have helped me to develop empathy and understanding.  

"More than Enough" by Jahjehan Bath Ives (aka me)

This just a little bit of what I am thankful for today in my life.

What are you thankful for in your life?

Just Breathe

So I am resting up a bit after my first craft show this weekend at the Highlands Mansion in Fort Washington, PA.  I am working on a bunch of custom orders and so this week I will simply post a link to the lovely treasury I created called Just Breathe...take a look and enjoy.