GIVEAWAY {a skirt}.

I can't tell you enough how excited I am about these skirts I've been making. Like I get so giddy just looking at the little labels on them that say "Rosemary's Cuppa." Because, for one, I feel like it gives them that finishing professional touch. But also, more importantly, because it has my mom's name on it. I love that. A lot. If she was still here, she would probably be dancing around the room to Bob Marley and thinking that I was her favorite daughter for naming my store after her. [Okay, maybe not that last part, but I can pretend, right?]

Yesterday I posted ten skirts and I'm hoping this week to keep adding more. To celebrate this big accomplishment I thought I should do my first ever giveaway.

So, here's the deal. I'm going to be giving away one skirt of your choice from my shop. Anyone can enter. You don't have to have a daughter- think niece, birthday gift, baby shower, etc. All you have to do is go browse my shop and come back here telling me which is your favorite skirt in the comment section. Or just leave me any ol' comment. Just make sure you leave your name and email address. You do not have to have a blog to enter. Want an extra entry? Tweet about this giveaway and come back here telling me you did. Another entry you say? Facebook about this giveaway and come back here telling me you did. [Yes, I sure am trying to spread the word about my itty bitty shop.] The giveaway will close on Thursday at midnight. I will randomly choose a commenter and post about it on Friday. And heck I will open up this giveaway to U.S. residents AND anyone around the world. [I think it would be totally cool to have someone in say, Australia, wearing a skirt I made. I will just need to figure out shipping.]

Okay, ready. go. Browse. And thank you, thank you, thank you for your support!!

P.S. You might want to check the shop each day, I am hoping to add more skirts!

colorful love.

Sometimes I drop everything that I'm doing and do an imprompt photo shoot with Naomi. Because, well, she is pretty much the cutest thing eva. [Also because my two-year-old hardly sits still anymore for a picture.]

(Right before she rolled over.)

She is so smiley and happy and oh my, my heart.

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Pssst. Little secret for you--I'm spending today getting my skirts posted on my Etsy shop. And there just may be a giveaway tomorrow for the big opening!

legacy.

I've been some what emotional and out of whack this week (as you can see here and here). So, I'm going to try to spare you another woe is me post. I truly do like trying to look on the positive side of things.

But, in all honesty, life and death thoughts have been consuming me. [I'm not going all morbid on you, don't worry.] I just have been reminded about how short and temporary our lives are here, on Earth. [And wow, how grateful I am for eternal life in the end.]

I've been thinking about my legacy. What do I want my children to remember about me? What do I want others to remember about me?

It's not about a big house. It's about having your door always open for visitors.

It's not about gourmet cooking. It's about the mouths you offer to feed even if is just a bowl of spaghetti.

It's not about the car you drive. It's about using that car to help others.

It's not about the next big promotion. It's about living for now.

It's not about how many vacations you go on. It's about spending time with those you love, in which ever way you can.

It's not about always being happy. Sometimes when we put ourselves in uncomfortable and inconvenient places, we will find Him there.

It's not about looking our best. It's about making sure other needs are met before ourselves, that's when we will feel the most beautiful.

It's not about me, it's about you.
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Also? I wrote this post for me. I don't really expect many to read it. There aren't pictures. But these words are pulling on my heartstrings. And I need to release them.
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One more thing. I am feeling much better today. I have had so many sweet words of encouragement sent my way. So thank you. thank you so much.

crushes.

I've been feeling down this week, so what better way to brighten the mood then to do some window shopping on Etsy.

Check out my latest crushes:

Gus and Lula (I need this reminder daily.)

Kaboogie (Swoon.)

Hey Yo Yo (I'm thinking I have two girly birthdays to plan for this year.)

A Little Sweetness (I  totally want to frame these.)

Hold The Wire (Love, love, love these for organizing!)

What have you been crushing on lately?

P.S. I am really hoping to get some skirts up in my shop this weekend, just waiting on my tags to arrive!

child to mother.

Most days I'm able to get by without her. I don't go a day without thinking about her, but I manage to get by. But today, I wanted her. I wanted to hear her voice, I wanted to ask for advice. I wanted her to make me laugh by mispronouncing something. I wanted her to tell me how cute her grandchildren were. I wanted her to come over and reminiscence about the white hutch we bought together years ago, that now sits with Green Depression inside it. I wanted to see how her beauty has grown with age. (But she will be forever 48 in my head.)

It's been a hard couple of days and I needed my mom.

We don't ever stop needing our moms.

Me and my mama when I was around 18 months

And right when I thought I was going to lose it today because I didn't have my mom right there for me, Audrey came and comforted me with her treasured blankie. A hug. And she told me without me saying anything, you're a good mama.

[Children can just sense emotions, can't they? It's really amazing.]

There are no words when you can find comfort in your children.

From child to mother and mother to child.

here.

I should be cleaning right now. Or starting supper. Or playing with Audrey. [Instead she is watching The Little Mermaid. Sometimes we do really awesome stuff all day long and sometimes I let her watch tv. So there.]

But I'm right here.

These last couple of days have been really strange for me. I haven't felt like writing. But I have so many mixed emotions in my head right now that I feel like a puzzle looking for it's last piece, but never able to find it. I can't seem to put all my thoughts together.

On Monday I read something that blew my mind. I saw pictures that made my heart ache like it hasn't in a long time. I read this. And now everything I look at in my home, I think how can I live like this when children are living without real food. My friend, Lovelyn is getting ready to travel there. She is going to see this stuff first hand. I wish I had a ton of money to send with her. But I don't. But I did manage to make a couple of skirts to send with her. I only got four made and I almost didn't send them. I thought, what is four skirts going to do. Then I realized that those four skirts are going to make four little girls have something of their very own. And I'm going to pray for those four little girls, even though I will never meet them. [If we all did something little it could make a big difference, yes?]

A day after reading Sixty Feet one of my good friend's lost her baby 12 weeks into her pregnancy. I can't stop thinking about it. My heart aches for her too. Life is so unpredictable and fragile.

And right now as I type, another good friend of mine is in labor.

And yesterday I went to the dentist and was told I need $3500 worth of work done. And we don't have dental insurance.

So, this is where I am.

With mixed emotions.

And a headache.

And a really bad tooth.

That's all.

the little things.

It would be totally sweet if we went on a big vacation this year. Or moved to a bigger house. Or went on a shopping spree. [None of these are in the plan. Or even close to it.]

But it's not going to make my year the best year ever. Or be what I want to remember the most.

It's the little moments that I really want to remember.

Like burning a new candle after a clean kitchen. Wearing pink gloves to make scrubbing the toilet a tad bit more doable. Baking rice krispie treats to send to a friend in need. Making a delicious snack with honey and almond butter on a bagel and putting it on my favorite plate.

Or watching with amazement at Audrey's imagination as she plays with her Dora and Diego figures. Or seeing how Naomi gets so tickled when we talk to her that she closes her eyes.

These are the moments that are going down in my forever book.