Wish{full} thinking.

I feel so spoiled lately! But hey, every girl needs to be spoiled now and then, right?!

For Christmas hubby got me a new camera. It's all big and fancy and I don't know what half the buttons do....but I love it. The only thing is that I need a case for it. Right now it bobbles around in my purse, which doesn't make me happy. But rather than get a blah, boring, black case I'm coveting one of these beautiful gals:

Jototes.com



Jototes.com

 There are other colors and styles, but this is just dreamy to me. Yellow {now shares the "favorite color" spot with green} - check. Rosette - check. Black and white houndstooth storage compartments inside - I just piddled my pants. Doesn't this just scream springtime and loveliness?! However the $89 price tag aint so purdy......

Then there is this little do-dad that is just fun:

MelVDesigns on Etsy

It's a cover for the camera strap.  Wouldn't you love to have that around your neck while behind a lens? It's like photog jewelry. But again the pricetag {$32} is too steep for me.

So, I'd like to make them! Well, attempt to make them. Just one more thing on my long list of craft to-dos, which I should really start working on.

The strap cover seems pretty straight forward. I've never attempted the ruffle thing, but I've seen a lot of tutorials and I think with a little practice I'll be good to go.

I plan on taking a different approach for the bag. I'm thinking a thrift shop find with a little embellishing and some homemade compartments will do the trick. Now just to scour thrift shops for something that inspires me......anyone want to come along?

I plan on blogging again soon about something else I'm very excited about {and actually have the financial means to indulge myself!}. For now here is some eye candy. I know at least one of you will know what I'm talking about ;)

Until Next Time,
Barbie

I'm climbing a mountain.

It's a journey I know well, I've embarked on it in the past, but it never gets easier.

The wind stings. The cold bites.

I have an idea of what is waiting for me at the peak of the mountain. If I complete the climb I know the wind will die and the cold will cease. The air is pure and fresh at the top, my lungs will feel like they are breathing for the first time. And the view, while I can't remember it clearly at the moment, is breathtaking. ....At least I think it is, I thought I remembered it that way. It is hard to think clearly in the harsh elements of the mountain.

Sometimes the journey is less periless, sometimes I can see the peak as I climb and it gives me hope.

Other times it seems impossible. The path is full of jagged rocks, of crevices much too wide to cross. I don't think I'll ever scale the mountain when it is like this. The harder I try and the quicker I run, the harder I fall when I hit a patch of ice. And there is always ice on the mountain. Occasionaly the wind roars so loudly and snow falls so fiercely that I can't see or hear anything. I'm blind and deaf, and no matter how loud I scream no one can locate me.

Along my endeavor I always come across a cave. It's location varies, but I always spot it. I know that if I go inside I will be sheltered from the wind and cold. There won't be any ice inside the cave. It will be mild, damp, and dark. Pitch black, in fact. It will be quiet and almost peaceful.

I'm tempted to seek shelter, and the cave is promising. I just want to be out of the cold, even if just for a short time. But I know that no one can find me inside the cave, and if I enter I may not have the courage to come out. I've spent some time inside before, and it was very difficult to leave, even when the sun was shining outside.

I keep up with the battle. Even if I move slow, I will eventually make it to the top.

Sometimes I lose my footing and I slip back to where I was previously. Those are some of the toughest times, when it all seems pointless. That's where I am now, I've slipped without truly realizing it until now. I just have to remember that I've been to the peak before, and I can make it again.

I hope I can make it again. After taking this journey several times I'm fatigued, and my resolve is starting to wary.

Just keep breathing. Keep moving.

Don't ever stop.

Interview with a 4 year old.

Today is my daughter's birthday! Four years ago today she joined the world, and it's been magical ever since. Perhaps someday soon I'll post my birth story (for those of you who enjoy reading about them haha).

So I thought I'd give my Sweetpea an interview today, so later in life we can look back and giggle :)

Q: What is your name?
A: Aliyah

Q: How old are you?
A: Hmmm, four.

Q: What is today?
A: My birthday!

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Um, pink and black and purple. And my new favorite color is orange.

Q: What is your favorite animal?
A: A cat and a dog.

Q: Not an octopus anymore? (For a long time she would say that an octopus is her favorite animal, which we thought was so original and adorable)
A: No, because I like cats and dogs now because I have a dog, but I don't have a cat, but I really like cats and dogs!

Q: What is your favorite thing to do?
A: Um, play.

Q: What is your favorite toy to play with?
A. The "Pony Car"

Q: Do you have any friends? Who?
A: Yes, um Sadie and Sophia and Kari.

Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Um, it is Fancy Nancy.

Q: Do you have a favorite TV show?
A: Bubble Guppies, but it's not on yet. (She is referring to a show on Nick Jr that hasn't even started yet, she's just seen previews haha)

Q: Do you have any other favorite things?
A: Mmm Hmm, like dancing at dance class. (She then sang a little song about dance class)

Q: Anything else?
A: Um, yes.

Q: What?
A: Mmm I don't know.

Q: So you don't have any other favorite things?
A: Hmm, I just don't know.....like playing with my Pony House.

Q: So you like My Little Ponies?
A: Yeah.

Q: Which is you favorite pony?
A: Uhhh, the baby ponies. The baby My Little Ponies that are all babies.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: Uh, a ballerina teacher. (Smile and giggle)....because I'm a girl!

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Maccaroni and Cheese.

Q: What is your favorite thing to drink?
A: Um, cranberry juice.

Q: Really? Since when?
A: When I want to drink cranberry juice.

Q: What is your favorite song?
A: Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Q: Any thing else you want to say so you can remember what it was like to be four?
A. Um yeah.

Q: Like what?
A: Uh, like playing with my farm.

Q: Anything else?
A: That's all the stuff that I like.
Q: So are we done with our interview?
A. Mmm Hmm.

Me: I love you Aliyah.
Aliyah: (smile) I love you.