Nov
6
2011

Things That Make Me Smile

Filed under: Links, Unschooling

Happy Sunday everyone! We are finally coming out from the cloud of flu that has been hanging over our house since last Tuesday. I haven’t left the house since then…so I think we may go out to a little cafe for lunch and I am oh so excited! Fresh air, someone else cooking for me, mountain views…sounds good to me.

Here are a few of the things that made me smile this week around the web:

I’m always looking for playtime ideas for the cold winter months. I recently filled a large, flat tupperware with about 10 lbs of popcorn seeds and the girls have been going crazy with it. Yes, it can be messy…but fun is sometimes messy! We call it the “seed box”. You could also use beans, wheat, or real sand if you’re out of your mind Here is another idea with oatmeal.

This week I want to make homemade playdough.

I know I have seen Kat’s incredible sweaters on Etsy before…but had never seen her website until today. Kind of obsessed. And I want her house. Oh, and her busses. As I type this, I’m listening to this podcast interview with her. Love. It’s a beautiful conversation about making art, how “stuff” can take over, traveling light, and more!

I adore this idea. I have many cards and letters from dear friends, but they are all just in a box. Punching holes in them and putting them in a pretty binder sounds like way more fun.

I like to buy sweaters at the thrift store & cut off their arms for leg warmers…but I’ve always wanted to do something with the part that is left. I think I will try this next time! Circle scarf = happy.

Bella has been obsessed with snow globes for as long as I can remember. Can’t wait to make these with her!

Have you seen my “Lovely Spaces” board on Pinterest? I go there when I want to smile.

I like to make stuff and feel crafty…although it seems to happen less and less these days. These bracelets look pretty simple and I’m excited to go thrift store!

We have oodles of gaffers tape laying around from all of our hoopmaking…so I was excited to see this idea. Bella has loved making duct tape wallets, so I know she’ll love this.

Thank you to everyone who posted recipes and links for bread and muffins! So excited to try them out over the winter. After posting that, I found this great page with tons of bread recipes.

Hope everyone is healthy and enjoying a restful Sunday! xxoo

Posted by Sara @ 9:18 am | Leave a Comment

http://esmerlda27.blogspot.com Heather

Thanks for sharing your wonderful. I really like the bracelet idea. My kiddos have always loved their bean bin as well as the snowglobes we made a few years ago. I think I may need to revisit them.
http://heartshapedleaves.blogspot.com/ Samantha

I think my son would have a blast making snow globes, thanks for sharing!

oh and sensory bins are a huuuge hit at our house too.
beverly

think you might enjoy reading raisingmiro.com if you havent already checked it out. congrats on the new baby.
bev
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  Oooooh Beverly! Such a great blog! Thanks for sharing. I feel like maybe I came across it once, but I didn’t subscribe. Definitely adding it to my reader right now. xxoo
http://www.theramirezfam.blogspot.com Amanda

Sarah,
You might consider making skirts out of the leftover sweater parts. I made one for my daughter last week. I am a learn as I go type of gal, so I have seen what to do better the next time. I think I might applique some cute stuff on them too:) I love following your blog! I really wish we would have made it out to CA for the conference, but the timing didn’t work out for my family.
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  Hi Amanda…you know, I actually saved a bunch of them to do that, but problem is I NEVER do it. I would really love a serger so I could do the cute inside out seams, but I’m better when I stick to projects I can do on the spot If I set up an area where the supplies could always be out…it would be much easier.
  
  Maybe we’ll see you in Cali next year! xxoo
http://authenticexperience.org nikkiana

Oh wow! Katwise’s sweaters are absolutely gorgeous! I may have to buy the tutorial and figure out how to make one…
Rika

I saw the hoop in the corner of your photo, and it got me curious. I’ve looked into hooping a few times, but it’s always been something of an afterthought. Today I went to the Hoopcamp Retreat website and after watching a few videos, I fell in love! I would love to learn how to hoop, but I have no idea where to start. Any tips/information/guidance that you can offer me?
- http://www.happyjanssens.com Sara
  
  Yes! Check out my hooping blog, http://www.thehappyhoop.com and also http://www.hooping.org. Lots of info for beginners. Have fun!
Jamie

Lovely! You find the most interesting places.
I love those sweaters, and one day, when my kids leave enough time to myself, that tutorial might be nice to have around
Snowglobes! Love! And they seem so easy too.
Your places were nice. The blue lights in the loft, I need that. The little sheet tents – I want that. The white bathroom with the color shots had a bag for, I assume, cloth wipes, which leads me to my next bit.
You were the first person I ever heard of using cloth wipes. The idea was ground breaking for me – I mean, why the heck not, using paper is a complete waste in so many ways and its sorta yucky to boot. Finally, Im in a place where I can make the transition. I dont have a satisfactory place to put them, so I dont have them yet, but I do have single use, personal tissues for nose blowing. I love it!
Thank you for passing on your inspirations! Congrats on your 3rd human blessing
melissa

So…I promised I would never look at Pinterest because I KNEW I would quickly get obsessed but…of COURSE I had to check yours out…and now I am in LOVE I would put your Blog and Flickr under things that make me smile! I’ve got lots of decorating ideas over the years!!!
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  It can definitely be addicting! But fortunately I’ve found it the uplifting factor to be more than the time suck factor
Jenni

Those circle scarves are totally easy to knit. I bet Bella would love to learn and be very good at it! There are lots of easy “Learn to Knit” kits…that’s how I learned Lovely thing to keep you busy during the snowy months.
http://marybethrew.earthhuggy.com mb

beautiful list! our favorite bin filler is bird seed, that way when it gets old or gets out on the floor, we just toss it outside and there is no waste! such a fun sensory stimulus… oops i think i just delurked!
http://dreammore.com Christine

Thanks ! I just pinned about 55 new things in 5 minutes
Jenna

I’ve been drooling over Kat’s sweaters for a while now! Someday I’ll have enough saved up to get one
http://myownversion.com Mariza

Popcorn seeds! so much better than sand!
http://www.pocoleon.com/ mountain girl

Woo-hoo! Looks like some great ideas!
http://www.theactorswife.blogspot.com Angie (TheActorsWife)

So I really dig the “sweater arms for legwarmers idea.” Brilliant!
http://www.messycanvas.com Mandy

“fun is sometimes messy!” TRUTH.
so many fun ideas in this post. I bookmarked quite a few. Thank you.
Also, I think Kat Wise should be a costume director for the next Tim Burton film.
http://jennunbound.blogspot.com Jenn

Such a cute photo! We always used rice and it was much messier but easier to vacuum up.
http://lovingsimpleliving.com/ Lorilee @ Loving Simple Living.com

wow, fun list. I am going to have to try the seed box. I have tones of wheat that I bought to make flour with but am going through really slowly. Thanks!
mary

I’ve made these snow globes! I look for little figurines at the thrift stores and have such a fun time coming up with various scenes. Fish, dinos, pumpkins, winter scenes. My advice would be not sand the inside and glue them shut! The tops rust and the wonderful scene turns a bit nasty I like the idea of changing up the glitter and not making it shut “forever”. Martha’s tinsel glitter makes it extra sparkly. So fun!!!
Irish

I have to say I LOVE all your blogs! Such a happy and cheerful place to come and hang out! I love your style and inspiration! Thanks for all you do!