Our first FALL day!

So technically, today wasn't the first day of Fall, but it was the first day that felt kind of like it! We had our first "cold" front come through - meaning it wasn't in the 90's for once! Don't think it will last long this time, but we took advantage of the beautiful day nontheless.

First stop was the park!

This was only K's second time at this particular playground, so it was fun exploring all the cool equipment they had. (I think Daddy was having just as much fun...)

Here is K on the... beaver? Squirrel?! Chipmunk??

and a merry-go-round!

I loved it!

This evening, I was wanting to get out of the house again, so we made a last-minute trip down to the beach. K gathered her bucket & shovels & was so excited!

We ran into some of our friends down there who were also out enjoying the gorgeous day. Evening now, I suppose...

The sunset was AMAZING!

I couldn't stop taking pictures because they just didn't do the sky justice.

It was all so big & my camera's eye is so small...

The moon came out to play as well.

We welcome many more beautiful Fall days!

This is brilliant!

I am super-excited about this! I always feel like it's a bit of a "waste of time" when I'm blogging, since I'm assuming it will eventually disappear into cyber-space. But now that I find out I can turn my blog into a book, I'm thrilled! I can now let go of the mommy-guilt I feel when I look at K's mostly-empty "baby book" that I'm sure she'll want to look at when she gets older. It, at least, contains some footprints and height/weight measurements... and the dates of some of her first teeth. I never really got around to the picture printing/pasting part though *sigh*.

So, by turning the blog into a book (I figure I'll do one every year of that year's posts?), I'll have a bit of a journal & some pictures. Yay!

Unfortunately, I only started the blog when she was already a year old... so I do need to get around the printing out some baby pics for her book one of these days... yeah, one of these days.

But, in the meantime, I resolve to post more to this "virtual baby-book/journal-thing"!

(I feel like I've made this resolution before, no?!)

Ok, I think that's enough for one day... I love it when K goes to sleep early!

Henna Henna Everywhere!

Apparently, I'm on a henna-design kick lately. I'm lovin' these cotton bags I just finished - especially the little beaded "bling" tied on to each one that makes a lovely jingle ;)

I dropped these off today at Everything But The Girl downtown (love that place! all local & handmade goodies!) along with some more henna-inspired baby onesies, but I will be making more soon for my Etsy!

So, now I'm wondering what else I can decorate with henna designs... Any suggestions?

The Safe Motherhood Quilt

I've been meaning to get around to mentioning this, but kept putting it off. My friend (who I like to think of as Wonder Woman in disguise) beat me to it.

I was honored to take part in creating a square for Ina May Gaskin's Safe Motherhood Quilt Project. My square was in honor of Rosario Bermeo who died in NYC 6/14/83 at the age of 30.

If you are near Sarasota, you can see the quilt on display in just one month!

We also have the amazing opportunity to hear Ina May speak at the

Maternal Health Care Panel - I can't wait!!

I truly hope it will bring some change to the area!

Check out the event calendar for more Ina May happenings

(like a chance to have dinner with her!) :)

Etsy shop open!

So, I've finally got my Etsy Shop (WilloughbyJade.etsy.com) open!

It's a start... more to come, I'm sure.

Now, I'm just hoping I will sell some things so I can buy more supplies to keep creating ;)

Paint on the Wall

It's been a little while, but I finally got to put my brush to a wall again!

My designer friend was helping her sister decorate her room today in her new apartment - it's got a great Moroccan/Indian vibe going on.

This tone-on-tone henna-inspired piece was a great fit & so much fun to do!

Was hard to photograph with the bright light coming in... but you get the idea ;)

Daddy Goes to School

South Carolina trip

K & I just got back from 5 days visiting friends in SC.

It was nice... weather just starting to change!

My friend we stayed with just had a sweet lil' baby. I also held two other friends' newborns!

Just days before, I thought I still had a *little* baby ;)

Here's one I've got in a wrap. I stole her away from her momma whenever I had the chance! Miss carrying K like that..

I also made it my job to be "baby holder" at the park.

Big Sister also carries her baby

& K too... We stayed busy! We brought our girls everywhere.

And they brought their girls too!

Here we are at the Zoo

And making some music at Library story time

Here they are doing some modeling for me:

And this may have been their favorite - playing in the rain downtown!
A little yoga in the park...

And drinking the water off the rocks?! Ewww..

K also reunited with one of her old boyfriends there...

She was all about giving kisses until I pulled out the camera ;)Oh, and she's modeling one of the tie-dyed shirts we made with our friends.

Not sure what happened to taking pics of our tie-dye fun!?

I also haven't run across pictures of my friend & I highlighting our hair...

but I don't mind if those photos stay missing ;)

And the trip wouldn't be complete without doing a little henna!

Gettin' Crafty

I've been trying to spend more time doing creative things lately, and here are a few of the items I've managed to accomplish...

This hat is a bit small for K, but she looks cute modeling it anyway ;)

And some Mary Jane booties & matching hat for the soon-to-arrive new niece.

I've also started doing some henna-inspired shirts & onesies.

I love how they come out...

I did a onsie for my friend's daughter to match her belly that I decorated while she was pregnant

And one for big sister too!

Etsy shop coming soon!!! :)