High Five for August!

August has had it's ups and downs, but overall it was a great end to a busy, fun, hot summer!

Here are some of my favorite things from this month...

1. Our annual family beach trip. I loved watching Ande discover all the cool boats and anchors, while Owen explored the sunny, sandy beaches.

2. Owen turned 1! It's crazy how grown up he is acting lately. He even clasped his hands together for prayers last night and we just want to eat him up. 

3. I love catching Ande in the act...of reading that is! Whenever he is off in another room being unusually quiet, I know he's not up to no good. It usually means he's reading. He's just getting himself ready to start preschool next week (eek!).

4. Family pictures! We had our good friend Leah Watkins take some snapshots of our family this month.

She always does an amazing job. I love her! I love having pictures taken at each stage of our family. I love the way Leah always captures everyone's personalities so well, and I am especially excited to finally have some new pictures of Curtis and I!

5. I am having so much fun learning and working on this new skill I've acquired. I am officially an old lady now, since I spend my time crocheting and embroidering, but I love it. I have already posted a few fun embroidered bags in my shop, but there are more to come...and one that I'm especially excited about! 

It's always a little sad to see summer end, but I'm pumped for Fall! Bring on the cool weather and the colorful leaves!

Linking up with...

Fun Find { Katie Daisy }

I don't remember where or when, but recently I happened upon this cute little shop,

The Wheatfield by Katie Daisy

She creates these really cute water color prints.

I love every.single.thing in her shop.

I knew I needed a fun print to put in the fabric covered picture frame that I made for our bedroom years ago, and I knew that I wanted to use one of Katie's prints.

It took me forever to decide which one to use, 

but I finally went with the "You Are So Loved" print.

I got the perfect mat for my frame, and with the help of the handy husband,

the picture is finally up!

I love it, and now I just need to find some more cute pictures/prints to add to the wall!

Curtsay Designs Shop Update!

I've been busy working on something new...

Embroidered Canvas Totes!

This little project started out as something completely different.

It's funny how ideas can change over time.

I first had the idea for some designs, which I enlisted a good friend, Jessica, to help me with.

She's an amazing artist, and she did such a great job of visualizing my ideas and putting them to paper.

{You can contact her at someday876 [at] gmail . com for any artistic needs you may have!}

For the longest time, these wonderful drawings were all I had.

I mentioned the other day my lack of creative inspiration lately...

that was until another one of my great friends suggested I learn a new skill.

I took up embroidery and I absolutely love it.

I love the way the colorful threads look against the canvas fabric. 

I love the texture of the designs.

I love these bags and hope you do too!

There are more designs to come, and I will post them as I make them.

(I even have some kid-friendly designs that would make the perfect library tote. I can't wait to show you!)

These canvas totes are perfect for the eco-friendly grocery buyer, the avid reader/library go-er, or even the fashionable shopper.

There are so many things you can do, and places to see with a new bag on your shoulder!

"Je t'aime" Embroidered Canvas Tote

"Bonjour" Vintage Typewriter Embroidered Canvas Tote

*Find all new hand embroidered canvas totes, HERE, in the Curtsay Designs shop!*

doubled up

I love Goody brand fabric headbands.

They have a variety of colors to choose from, and they never hurt my head.

I recently discovered how fun it is to double them up in my hair.

It adds a little extra flavor and color to my outfits.

You should try it!

Ande did....

January 18th, 2013

I'm kind of a control freak.

I like to make plans.
I like my plans to work out the way I planned them
But, I don't always know what's best.
Luckily, my Father in Heaven does.
I think he likes to have a good chuckle up there when I'm busy making plans.
Early this summer, we received a huge, wonderful, unexpected surprise.
A surprise that didn't really go along with my plans,
but I love a good surprise, especially one like this.

We can't wait to meet our little winter baby.
I'm halfway there!

any time underwear

Ande has this thing where he calls his boxer brief's his "any time underwear."

I don't really know why, but I'm guessing it's because he thinks he can wear them as regular shorts,

 as well as wearing them as underwear.

I have a good chuckle every time he says it.

Maybe I'm weird, but then I started wondering what else could fall into the "any time" category?

Here's what I came up with...

{Red}

Obviously a Christmas color, but it also pops up in spring with all the berries, in summer with the 4th of July, and Fall with the leaves and apples. I used to hate the color red, but recently I can't get enough of the red/blue color combination. I'm slowly (very slowly) adding in touches of red to my kitchen.

(image)

{Scarves}

Knit in the fall, wool in the winter, silk in the spring and summer.

Scarves are pretty much the perfect accessory,

and there is no limit to how you can wear them.

I personally love the hair wrapped look, but only on other people.

I can't help but feel like Aunt Jamima every time I try it.

(image)

{Ice Cream}

Well...maybe this one is just me.

I can't get enough of the stuff.

A blog I love, Oh Sweet Joy!, has been posting fun ice cream recipes.

And although I am more of a "quick fix" kind of girl,

I've been drooling over these posts all summer!

Can you think of anything else that falls into Ande's "any time" category?

Balls, Dogs, and Blueberries

*Pictures courtesy of our latest photo op with Leah Watkins Photography. Thanks Leah!

This is just a teaser of all the amazing pictures we got from her! More on that later.*

Owen had his first birthday on August 11th.

We are all just a little baffled at how fast the past year went by.

He has changed so much.

I hadn't looked back at his baby pictures much until putting this post together.

His baby-hood is such a blur in my mind because of all the adjustments that came our way when he was born.

We adjusted to another little body in our home, 

having to bottle feed instead of nurse,

Ande learning to sleep in a big boy bed, 

and how to get by with a lot less sleep again.

We got through all that and are now having so much fun enjoying the funny, chubby, and all around happy guy that Owen has become.

He loves balls, dogs, and blueberries best of all.

Owen does everything at his own pace, and has slowly dipped his toe into the world of walking.

He can take several steps on his own, but only when he decides he wants to.

We all can't get enough kisses and snuggles from him and feel blessed by him as a part of our family every day!

Happy Birthday Obo!

Beach Week '12 Part 3 { Sand Obsession }

Owen became a little obsessed with sand on our beach trip.

Somehow he managed to get sand in every crevice of his chubby, rolly, little body.

It's possible that he still has sand in his hair, a week later.

He also gained an obsession with chasing after seagulls and any dogs walking past.

We ate a lot of seafood, 

walked on docks,

talked non-stop about boats and anchors,

were entertained with an ice cream cone parade by Ande,

boogie boarded,

ran in the rain,

and soaked up the sun.

A beach trip is my favorite way to end a summer.