WOTY

Peace

That's the one.  That's my word of the year for 2016.

The past year has been wrought with anxiety and stress, (but more so, blessings and wisdom) and I need to focus on the Peace that God gives. 

I also have a new project for January:  #DailyProverbs. 

I recently took part in a daily devotional, No More Unglued Momma Mornings.  In the devotional, Lysa TerKeurst suggested reading a chapter in Proverbs each day, focusing on one verse that sticks out, to be the theme for the day.  The verse to meditate on and come closer to God.

Every day during the monthof January, I am going to post my verse, the one that sticks out the most.  (If you'd like to follow along, I'm @littlebeachbird)

If you'd like to participate, I'll also be using #DailyProverbs.  I would love to see which verse you pick to meditate on throughout the day!  Tag me or the hastag so I can see!

Teacher Gifts

Another post that's too little, too late.  I told ya I'm not organized this month!

Ok, enough beating myself up over my scheduling.  Here's this years' teacher gift.

This year has been quite a challenge.  Being in a new school (a school that has a lot of activities for a room mom to handle) and setting up house and just plain being a human has been very time consuming.

I didn't have time to make gifts, but that doesn't mean I didn't put a ton of love into them.  I bought a pack of nifty pens (and I got to keep the left overs, so yay), a couple packs of owl and hedgehog sticky notes (I didn't have enough for me, boo), some chocolates  (another yay), and a notebook (double yay because I got them in the dollar isle at Target, and I got one for myself).

That's about it this year.  I wish I had been more purposeful and deliberate in my teacher gift giving, but stuff happens.  I think I did well with them.

Do you have any teacher gift ideas that you like?  I may need some for teacher appreciation week ;)

Merry Christmas To All!!!

Festive Fridays

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!  Admit it, you sang that in your head. 

Hubby, the boys, and I were talking one day, and came up with a fun idea to fit in Christmas-y type activities:  Festive Fridays!

Each Friday, beginning the day after Thanksgiving, and running til Christmas, do something extra festive.

Here are some ideas we came up with:
☆Check out Christmas lights
☆Watch Christmas movies
☆Make Christmas tree ornaments
☆Make Christmas cards
☆Make cookies

Do you have any other Festive Friday ideas?

Note:  I apologize for this post coming so late in December!  I've had so many ideas, and I want very organized about them!! 

Starting Today

Man, do I feel great!  I took some time this morning to read the Lord's word and to do some yoga, and now I feel incredible!  No boasting, just good old fashioned "Hallelujah"  (I also want a nap, so I may have to treat myself to one this afternoon).

You see,I have been slacking off on taking care of myself, both physically and spiritually.  We've been going to church, and on the Sundays when we don't go, I tune in for the sermon broadcast on the radio, but during the week I've been feeling kind of run down.  Very tired.

So, here's the plan.  I have to wake up at 5:30 every morning, anyway, so why don't I use the half hour in have to myself to focus on my spiritual health?  I always feel more at peace when I read my devotional, so why not start every morning with some peace?

Then, I'll devote half an hour to yoga to work on my physical health.  I've found that when I work out, I tend to focus more on the food I consume, I drink more water, I don't want to eat the greasy, gross food as often if I'm active in the morning.

That's it.  That's what I'm going to do.  Starting today. 

Do you have a daily routine that you follow that generates peace?  Share it in the comments, I'd love to hear!

Oh, Christmas Tree

Why, hello! 

I want to share the little Christmas trees I decorated for the school raffle.  I had such a great time getting these pretties decorated!

A huge "Thank You!!!" to all the parent donors, as well as to our corporate donors, The Surf Station and Sunshine Shop!!  You guys rock!

Have an awesome week!

Diy Christmas Ornaments

Hi, again!  

This year we had to improvise on Christmas ornaments.  That happens when you move, and store all of your Christmas stuff, and don't bring it with you to the new house.  

Well, since we will have the old ones next year, we decided not to spend a tremendous amount on new ornaments.  We would just make our own!

My morning walks on the beach have yielded many shells complete with holes for hanging!  I put some of them to use in my new jewelry line, but we also sprayed some with some glitter spray paint and hung them on the tree!

I love the little beachy touch!  What do you think?

Christmas-Time!!

We made it through Thanksgiving!  It was our very first Thanksgiving away from family, and that meant testing out my horrible cooking skills.  Turns out, Hubby and I can seriously cook a turkey!  We are still talking about how good it was.

Now that the turkey has been consumed, it's time to start the Christmas season!  The tree is up and decorated, and the stockings are hung, but the thing that has gotten me most excited has been the advent calendars the children do.

Last year I put together a diy advent calendar with brown bags and candy, activities, and small toys, but this year we opted for the ones that have chocolate in them.  Man, I should have bought one for myself!  Those always get me feeling festive!

What puts you in the festive mood?  Do you decorate early,or do you wait til closer to Christmas?

Shop Til You Drop

Hi!!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Mine was spectacular, but that's a story for another post.

I just wanted to remind you of Beach Bird Eclectics' 20% off sale!  Head over to the shop to save at checkout!

Don't forget to use code SHOPSMALL2015 for 20% off Friday, November 27-Monday, November 30, 2015!

Have a great weekend!!

Thanksgiving Tidings

Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Beach Bird Eclectics: Now Open

Ok, I know I said that I didn't have any posts for this week, but guys, I'm super excited about my new shop.  I've struggled with my role in the handmade community, and I feel that my new shop hits the nail right on the head!

I collect shells, lots and lots of shells, and I have wondered how to incorporate the abundance of shells into life, and not just keep them stuck in the giant cheese ball bucket. 

Here's the answer!  I am taking the pieces that most people overlook and turning them into very loved pieces! 

God has led my family to such a beautiful place, and provided such beautiful shells, that I feel like I need to share them! 

At the time that this post goes live, I may not have had a chance to change all the blog info regarding the shop, so here's a link to my new page:  Beach Bird Eclectics.

There will still be some crochet and hand-sewn items listed, but I am focusing a great deal on the shells!

There will also be a sale running for the weekend after Thanksgiving!  Starting on Friday, November 27, use code SHOPSMALL2015 for 20% off of your entire order!

I hope you enjoy my creations, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Prep

I have been focusing so much of my energy on prepping for Thanksgiving, and getting the house ready for Christmas decorating!  I'm ready for a vacation!

So much has to be done just so we can put up the tree, not to mention the Thanksgiving grocery shopping, and the normal every day stuff, that I don't have really anything to post this week.  I will see you next week, though, with a couple of new posts!

Until then, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

New Traditions

Thanksgiving is coming!  Thanksgiving is coming! 

How exciting is that?!  And after that is Christmas!!  I'm getting ahead of myself, though.  First things first. 

In all our years together, Hubby and I have never hosted Thanksgiving dinner, until now!

We're so excited about buying our first turkey and planning how we're going to spend the day.  While the kitchen is emitting delicious aromas (Hopefully.  I am not known for my culinary skills), we will be watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and decorating the tree.

This year's ornaments are going to be home made, or at least most of them.  I have been collecting shells in jars and buckets since we moved, and now I have found the perfect use! 

Some will have glitter, others paint, and still others will stay the way God created them.  I'm going to spend the next week or so washing the shells and amassing the needed recipes and ingredients!

What about you?

What kind of traditions do you have for Thanksgiving?  Do you visit family, or host at home?  Do you decorate for the upcoming holiday season, or do you wait? 

I am so stoked to get our first holiday season in Florida underway!  This is going to be exciting!

It's a Tough One

Thank you, Target, for
the awesome dollar
aisle finds!

Do you guys have people on your Holiday shopping lists that are super hard to buy for?  I do.  I stress and stress about what to get them, or what to make (since I really love giving handmade gifts).

I have a simple idea that I'm going to try out this year.  I'm going to make a list, and for each person that is difficult to buy for, I'm going to list their likes and hobbies.  I'm going to creep Pinterest for ideas from their boards, and hopefully score "best gift giver" this year (yeah, I know it isn't about being the best at it, but it feels pretty great to know you hit a home run with the gift, right?)

What about yourself?  Are you difficult to shop for?  Who said that wish lists are reserved for only the children?  I see no harm in writing out a wish list, so when asked, you can go to that list.  Or you can use it as a way to drop hints.  Just hang it on the fridge ;)

Let's give it a try!  Happy shopping!!

Little One's Hand Wreath

I want to make one to
match my decor
year-round

You know, sometimes I have a hard time putting the stuffs into words.  I am oh so eloquent in my head, but then I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), and I write and rewrite until I finally give up.

So, here's real me trying to set up a blog post about November being the month of Thanksgiving, a time when one will look around at all they have been blessed with (an awesome family, a home, or even just breath in their lungs), and give thanks.  This isn't going to be a sappy thanks post.  I don't do sappy.  I do more speaking of my mind (which isn't a very sappy mind).

What I wanted to put together, though, is a cute little DIY child's hand wreath.  I am most thankful for my husband and my children, and I want to celebrate them, so here's a little something to do just that.

This DIY takes no time, at all!  

Here's what you need:

Scissors
Construction paper
Pen/pencil
Glue
Round piece of cardboard
Ribbon or burlap

Directions:

♡  Have your sweet cutie trace his/her hand multiple times (enough to make a wreath)
♡  Cut out sweet little traced hands
♡  Glue in a circle around the piece of cardboard.  They can touch in the center, or leave some cardboard showing, it's up to you.
♡  Make a bow out of your desired ribbon.  I found a quick, easy bow tutorial on Pinterest.
♡  Glue blow to cardboard
♡  Attach hanger of some kind
♡  Enjoy your Little's hand wreath!

Christmas Shopping

These Bowties are my absolute
FAVORITE!!

Now that Halloween is over, is it too early to talk about Christmas shopping? 

This is totally a shameless plug for my Etsy shop!  Beach Bird Yarnworks has some awesome Christmas gift ideas!

We have ear warmer/headbands that are super soft and come in any color you can imagine!

Our beanies are awesome for keeping warm on those cold winter days!  They also come in any color, and can be made for guys or girls, with or without a bow or flower!

Have a friend or family member that loves a relaxing bath?  We have just the thing!  Our bath bags come with two cotton wash cloths, two cotton face scrubbies, a headband to keep flyaway hair from getting wet, and a matching drawstring bag to hold all of their bath goodies!

Stop by and check us out!  If we don't have something you want, just ask, chances are it can be done!

Bean Bag Tutorial

If you remember, I made bean bags for the Fall Festival at the boys' school.  Any chance I have to craft something up, I'm going to take it!

Here's the little tutorial on how to make these bean bags, and find a use for those old, worn out jeans in the process!

What You'll Need

■  Old Jeans
■  Scissors
■  Thread
■  Ruler
■  Beans (I used black eyed peas, I'm not sure if there's a better kind, I actually didn't Pinterest this at all!)

How To

■  Lay out Jeans, measure the desired dimensions. (Mine were 3"x3")
■  Cut out
■  Sew together on three sides
■  Add beans.  I actually weighed each of mine to make sure they were identical (I told you in the Fall Festival post that I put way too much thought into it!).
■  Sew closed on 4th side
■  Throw!  I mean, that's the fun part of bean bags, right?

I've seen some with X's and O's embroidered or painted on them for Tic-Tac-Toe.  That looks like a cute idea, but make sure you do that before sewing the beans inside. 

Enjoy!!

Thank Goodness It's Over

Happy Halloween!  Ok, so it was Halloween while I was writing this piece, It's not Halloween any more. 

Everyone knows how I L♡VE me some instagram, but I've been quiet lately.  Mostly because of the ginormous amount of stuffs that had to be done in October. 

Now that the busy month is over, I will share my latest DIY, and start on new November traditions.

First the DIY.  It took far too much planning and thought and stress!

The boys' new school hosts a Fall Festival every year, and man is it a big deal!  As room mom for both rooms, I hosted two booths. 

Tin Can Knockdown 

The booth for Oldest's class was Tin Can Knockdown.  It is very self explanatory.  It was also loud when the cans hit the ground!  The kids seemed to have fun with it, though.  All I had to do was spray paint a bunch of cans (18 in total) to be knocked down with a bean bag I whipped up. 

*the bean bags will be a separate super simple diy later*

The kids traced and cut out their hands, so I turned them into garland to hang on the front of the table.  They were supposed to be fall leaves on a tree, ut I opted not to do the tree once I saw where my booth would be.

My biggest worry with this booth was whether to paint pumpkin faces on the cans.  I opted not to, since this booth was geared more toward Autumn.

Feed The Monster Ping Pong

Littlest's booth was Feed The Monster Ping Pong.  All the kids had to do was bounce or throw the ping pong ball into the "monster's" mouth.  I found some monster ideas on Pinterest, and ran with it.  This one was a little more stressful, as Littlest didn't think I would finish them in time.

One of the monsters.  

The Monster garland on the front of the table were little monsters I drew and the kids colored.  I wanted them to have a hand in decorating, and thought they would like that idea!  They turned out to be quite cute!

Now that crazy October is over, I have a deadline to finish a blanket that I've worked on for almost 2 years!  I want to give it to my brother before the official 2 year mark, so I am going to spend November finishing it!  That will definitely be a post, and my most proud crafty accomplishment.  I am so excited to see it done!

I also have to figure out how to make Thanksgiving dinner.  It's our first Thanksgiving living in Florida, so it's time for new traditions!

Bring on November!!

P.S.  please excuse the candid appearance of the photos, I was so preoccupied getting everything put together that I didn't have time to take proper photos!

Introducing Beach Bird Photos

As you may have already figured out, I love photography.  I also love having my fingers in a lot of pies (I really don't like that expression.  Sounds...I don't know, yucky).

I decided to start up a Gallery Blog (I don't know if that's a real term, but I'm going with it).  If you would like to visit Beach Bird Photos, I'll be posting my photography work there.

"Little Beach Bird" is still devoted to my life and hobbies.  I just thought it was time I had a place just for photos.

I want to expand my photography passion, so I am going to start accepting commissioned photograpby jobs, as well as joining Snapwire, where I am building a portfolio to sell my work.  

In the past year, my family has seen some pretty major dreams come true.  This is one of my own, personal dreams, that I just couldn't set aside any longer.

Wish me luck!

Fall/Halloween activities

What are your favorite type of fall Halloween traditions and activities?  We're thinking of going to a corn maze, and we were told that the Alligator Farm has a big Halloween thing that goes on this year so we're going to try that out.

Maybe we can start some new traditions this year.

Let me know in the comments what you guys do, give a girl some ideas!

A List For October

Oh my gosh!  October is upon us already!  While I don't usually get excited about Halloween, the boys' school is having a fall festival (previous post), and it's keeping me very busy.  It's also keeping me eating my veggies and I have a ton of tissues (for the two booths that I am setting up).

If you know me you know I like to add more on than I can possibly accomplish.  I like to have a list of things a mile long.  That way I can keep busy and I'm never really looking for something to do.

So, in keeping with that tradition, I've made a list of things I would like to accomplish this month.  I'm about a week behind, since we're already on the 7th day, but here goes:

♤ Learn to spin yarn.

♤  Read Isaiah.  My life verse is Isaiah 40:30-31, and I've noticed a few verses in that same book of the Bible that are very encouraging to me, so I figured I'd start there. 

♤  Stop drinking Pepsi.  I really want to be healthier.  I've started walking (not sure when I'll get back to running), I'm watching portions, for the most part I try not to eat after 7:00, and I'm drinking more unsweetened green tea.  Now to cut out the Pepsi.  Wish me luck on that one!

♤  Finish at least one WIP.  I have too many things on my hook!

♤  Take the family to a corn maze.  We've never been, and it seems fun!

That's all on my list for October.

Do you have an October list?  Share some more ideas with me!

Summer Bucket List

Well, Summer is officially over.  You can't tell where I live, though.  It's still averaging in the mid 80's, and sometimes into the 90's, but I'm not complaining.  Hot weather is my jam!

This year I made a summer bucket list.  It was just a couple of things that I thought would be fun and take my mind off of the crazy of the past few months.  Some I accomplished, some I didn't...

Here's a quick breakdown:

♡ Learn Hand Lettering.  This one is still in process, but I'll count it.  I've always envied those that could do this, so I figured, why not try it?  I don't have the right kind of pens, and I don't always have the time, but I enjoy when I do get to practice.

♡ Plan 2016 Garden.  Yep.  I got it all planned out in my head where it's going to go, what I'm going to plant, all that.  I'm super excited to get started on it.

♡ Make Homemade Icecream.  Nope.  Didn't happen.  I would tell myself that I wanted to do it next weekend, then the next, then the next.  Never got around to it.

♡ Plan Trip To Disney.  That one was scratched off.  We decided against it.

♡ Dye Yarn.  Again, a no-go.  I was just going to use the egg dying kit that I bought at Easter, but I still haven't found the time!  It may make it onto my next list, along with some other types of dying methods.

♡ Make Paper Airplanes And Kites.  That one barely happened.  One of the boys got a paper airplane book for birthday or Christmas or something, and Youngest brought it in and we made one each.  Still counts!

♡ Plan Vacation.  That went along with the Disney trip that never happened.  I got to thinking, we live in the exact place where we vacationed every year for almost ten years!  Why would we want to go anywhere else?

So that's all that was on my list.  Time to get started on an Autumn list!

Precious

I am a lover of photography.  Nature, mostly.  I have been since I was a wee girl.

I had cameras and film and books and all that good jazz.  I even learned how to roll my own film for an antique Brownie.  That was amazing, sitting in the floor of my closet with a towel under the door so no light could come through, rolling the film from one canister onto the appropriate spool, by touch alone.  I may still be able to do it.  Amazing stuff!

I have hundreds of photos that I've taken, maybe thousand(s).  I've always been protective of my photos.  I've sold a few, but I have a very strong attachment to them that makes it almost painful to share them.

I'm not afraid of someone not liking them, I'm more afraid that someone will use them.  It seems to be an odd fixation, but I think I'm a photo hoarder. 

I'm here to start my photo hoarders anonymous.  I would like to share a new photo every week.  I want people to see what I see.  I want to share the beautiful place where God has planted my family or a nifty something that caught my eye during the week. 

I use Instagram often, but there's so much more!!

I'm taking a big step in sharing them like this, so please be kind and don't use my photos.

Thank you!!

Crafty Pattern Storage

I like crafty stuff {who'd have ever guessed}, and sometimes I can go overboard, so I kind of require a lot of space for my crafty hoard.

Problem I'm facing now is that my little family has downsized!  We went from living in almost 3000 square feet to 1000.  It's been a fun process (there has been extensive renovation, so one day there will be a big reveal - one day).

Now I'm trying to figure out how to keep all the craft mess in the house, and not at a storage unit, while also keeping it hidden or a functional piece.

First I'll start with my patterns.  I have a books that houses most of my patterns, some are in my phone, others on Pinterest.  I even have a satchel full of patterns, but I think it's in storage. 

The book I have on hand doubles as my hand lettering practice book, so it's pulling double duty right now.

I am not opposed to complete electronic storage, but then there's always the irrational (to me) fear I have of something happening and the world comes to a screeching halt, and I can't find my patterns online because the Internet doesn't work anymore and there's chaos in the streets...

Then I also think, if that were to happen, would I even be thinking about crafting?  Seriously?

Maybe I got a little out of hand just then.  Back to the real point.

My question for you is this:  How do you store your crafty patterns?  Do you have notebooks, or do you store electronically?

I need some ideas and inspo, so help a girl out! :)

Can't wait to hear your ideas!!

Wicked Weather Preparedness

This is part of my go bag
Honestly, I haven't made a
72 hour kit yet.

How is it that I, the queen of preparedness, could possibly miss that there's a hurricane heading my way?  I guess I should start watching the news more!

Hubby asked me one day if I was keeping an eye on Erica.  I didn't have any idea what he was talking about!  I ended up spending all day the next two days making storm preparedness plans.

Of course Pinterest came into play.  I had already set up a disaster board, (link Here), but nothing on it specifically for hurricanes.  I scoured Pinterest and the Internet and quickly put together a disaster plan!

My advice if you live in an are where natural disasters are forewarned?  Have a checklist.  Keep as much of your go bag packed or together as you possibly can, but for the stuff you will need in between, have a checklist so you don't forget any of it!  I even have the pets food and leashes on the list!  I'm going to print my list and keep it in a plastic sleeve so I can check off the items as I pack, and then erase when I'm done.  

For disasters that aren't necessarily forewarned, make a copy of your pertinent information, ie insurance policies, medical information, special instructions, and keep it in a safe place so you can grab it and go.

In Georgia, where we used to live, we would get tornadoes.  When we would have a tornado watch issued, I would have the boys pack a go bag with some items that they would like to take with them if we had any damage and couldn't go back home.  Mostly it was a boom and some small toys.  My go bag contained all of the other stuff.  A change of clothes for the boys, the imprtant info, etc.  I would have those sitting by the stairs with their bicycle helmets in case we had to seek shelter.

As I'm not an expert, the best advice I can offer is to pay close attention to the experts in your area.  Keep a weather radio that has battery backup (cell phones aren't always going to work right after a disaster), and use common sense!

Do you guys have any preparedness plans?  Share them with me, maybe I can learn something new!

Stay safe, my friends!

How to Train A Cat

Meet Molly Freckles 

I'm not sure that's possible (how to train a cat), but I have to try. 

Molly is the newest addition to our little family.  She looks so tiny and cute and innocent.  Wrong!

We quickly figured out that she's feral.  She has never been socialized.  She's also only 4 or 5 weeks old when we got her, way too young to leave her mother, but we have her anyway, and I have to step up and be a kitty mommy.  It was time to learn how to train a cat.

I did some reading, and a kitten this young isn't difficult to train, it takes patience.  When it comes to animals, I have patience in spades.

First stop, the vet.  She had an upper respiratory infection and worms, so there was a two week period where she was quarantined so as not to infect the dogs.  The people took all the precautions in the world, too.

During those two weeks I sat in the floor and let her play and get used to me.  I bathed her (as she was still too young to really do that on her own).  She doesn't really like getting a bath, but it still happens when she starts to smell like dog slobber (Cali loves to lick on her.  Thank God she's well now).

It's been almost two months since we inherited her, and she has done very well assimilating.  She has caught on very well, and is now allowed to roam the house instead of being locked in the bathroom.  We still have to watch her because there's renovation going on, but she stays out of trouble most of the time.

So, I guess a cat can be trained.  I think this girl is going to do very well in this house!

Fall Festival

Photos from Pinterest

I don't know about you, but I am getting the strong feeling of Autumn creeping in!    It's disconcerting because the little family and I moved to Florida, so while my body is screaming "Wear all the sweatshirts!", the heat index is screaming "Yeah, right, you still have more summer to go!"  I am certainly not going to miss the cold weather, but it's messing with my head.

I am able to celebrate Autumn, though, and I have the perfect excuse to get crafty, too!  The boys' new school puts on a Fall Festival every year, and I hear it's so much fun!

This year I am able to room parent in both of their classes, and I am super stoked to get to work my crafty magic And put Pinterest to good use while I'm at it!  Each class gets to set up a booth with games or food or face painting or whatever. 

I put together a board with some ideas for games (I'll be adding decorating ideas for it shortly).  Find the board here.

I also have a board for general holiday ideas, which may include something useful for the upcoming fall festival.  You can find that link here.

Do you guys get excited about Autumn?  Do you decorate your house, or do something fun like the Fall Festival?  I'd love to hear!

See ya!
Amanda

Hi, There!

Hi, there!

Bet you thought I forgot about you, huh?  Nope.  Just been super duper busy lately.  We moved in July, and my life has been a whirlwind ever since!

We moved, celebrated a birthday, hosted out of town guests two weekends in a row, school started on Monday, and we inherited a kitten.

Isn't she adorable?!

Not to mention my day job, which is to clean up and rent out the other unit if the duplex we bought!

I don't think I even have time to sleep!  I've missed blogging and being creative, but I'm slowly getting back into it. 

Hubby brought my yarn storage shelving out of storage, and I quickly found out that I have more yarn than storage!  I guess I need to get going on some projects!  Maybe I'll have some hats ready for the fall so I can open up the shop again!  Fingers crossed!

Well, it's snack and homework time, so I'm going to get going. 

See ya!

Amanda

Life/Shop Update:

The past year has been all about change for myself and my little family.  I'll keep it short, I won't give all the details yet, but...

We moved!! 

As a result of that and dwindling craft time, I've decided to close both of my Etsy shops (Beach Bird Yarnworks and Beach Bird Weavings) to focus on getting settled.  Don't worry, they'll reopen as soon as I'm settled in the new house and the new job and all. 

If you would like to place an order, or see any of our inventory, feel free to email me or contact me through Instagram (@littlebeachbird or @beachbirdyarnworks).

I'll also set up an inventory tab on the blog so you can check it out.

I'll let you know when I get settled enough to stock the stores and get rolling again! 

I'll also be posting more of our upcoming adventures, so watch this blog for more fun stuff!  It's been kind of a crappy year, so I'm ready for some fun!!

See ya,
Amanda

Summer Fun

We found a beautiful little
waterfall while exploring
a local park

Summer break is finally upon us!  Now the hard part begins.  How to keep the kids from saying the dreaded "B" word - BORED! 

I have spent years wracking my brain to figure out how to keep them entertained and not spend a fortune, so I'd like to share a couple of my ideas.

■  The pool.  A lot of neighborhoods have them, the YMCA is a good place to go, but if you don't have access to either of those, a simple backyard inflatable will do the trick.  (Of course there are safety procedures that should be followed if you get your own, so please be aware!)  This idea does have some cost, but I think it more than pays for itself!

■  Rainy day fort making.  The classic blanket/pillow fort is always a hit with my kids!

■  Geocaching.  This is a relatively new activity for my family, but it's so fun!  It's like a scavenger hunt, and the kids love it.  There are apps that will help you locate the caches, some are free, but all have a "premium" feature that you have to pay for.  We use the free apps, and have a ton of fun with it.  There's a ton of information about it online, if you're interested!

■  Rainy day movies.  My kids and I like to spread a blanket on the floor and watch movies.  We pop some popcorn and make some hot chocolate  (yes, even when it's scorching hot outside we enjoy hot chocolate) and binge watch movies.

■  Make juice or Kool-aid popsicles.  These can be done in a variety of low cost ways.  We have used ice cube trays and toothpicks, small plastic cups and popsicle sticks, and the store bought molds.  The method is up to you. 

■  Free parks.  Of course there's always the free local parks.  There are some in my area that have waterworks for the kids to play.

■  Field trips.  The kids can stay busy and learn about the area in which they live.  There's a field trip app that works off of your GPS location, and will bring up all kinds of facts and places to visit.  It's called 'Field Trip'.

How do you beat back the boredom during the summer? 

V-Stitch Drawstring Bag

Hi!!

A few weeks ago, I promised a couple of patterns for the little gift bags that I made as gifts for the boys' teachers.

Well, here's the first one, it doesn't have a fancy name, I just call it the V-Stitch Drawstring Bag.

V-Stitch Drawstring Bag

It can be made with any yarn, any size hook, and in any size you want.  It works up quickly, so I've even been able to make it in an evening for an event the next day!

I hope you enjoy this little project!  Please let me know what you think!!

♡P.S.  If you would rather order one, please feel free to email me (or through IG @littlebeachbird ).  The price is $13 shipped (for the bag only, contents not included).♡

**Disclaimer:  I'm not a professional pattern-writer-upper (yep, technical term), so it may not be a perfect pattern.  If you find a mistake, or have a question, please let me know in the comments.  I appreciate all feedback!!**

Feelin' Kinda Christmas-y

I know, I know, it's only April, but I am feeling mighty Christmas-y right now. 

You see that little candle in the photo above?  It's one from my mom's collection of all things scented, and it smells exactly like a Christmas tree!

I have had the pleasure of sitting next to it all morning, smelling it's rich fragrance (it's not even lit, and I can smell it!).  It's put me in a kind of Christmas spirit, ready to bake cookies and decorate the tree.

It has given me an idea, though, to get to work on some handmade Christmas gifts.

Up until I got married, I would have Christmas gifts bought way on back in October.  I'm not one who really enjoys the Christmas rush.  I like the idea of going out and shopping for loved ones, surrounded by throngs of others doing the same.  I like the brisk, chilly walk into the stores, hearing Christmas music playing over the speakers, and smelling the scents of the season.  

But that's it.  I like the idea.

What I really want to do is have a completely handmade Christmas (well, for extended family, that is, my kids may not enjoy a pair of handmade mittens or socks).  I always wait until the last minute now, so handmade is often out of the question.

I have the time now, so I think I'll get on it!

Just a Wednesday Update

Random photo of a tree
and the moon

Hi!!!

Don't worry!!  I haven't forgotten about you!

I have to be honest...  I've been trying to figure out how to embed a pdf into a blog post so I can share the patterns for the bags! 

It hasn't gone well.  I need my computer, but it decided it needed to update.  Not only did it update, but the battery died, and then it took all day to update!

I'm going to figure this out (or have another tutorial) by the end of the week, so Sunday you should have something!

Thanks for sticking with me!!  See ya Sunday!

Gardening In My Future

Is this not the cutest little strawberry you've ever seen?

I love gardening!  It's too bad that I'm so terrible at it.  I have the hardest time keeping plants alive and having them produce anything. 

One thing that I've had great luck with is my roses.  They were my pets for so long.  Every March 10, I would go out and cut them down.  When they grew back they looked stunning!  When the blooms died I would cut them off and more would bloom!  Awesome!

I am going to spend 2015 studying container gardening so that I can have a successful gardening haul.  I have a spot in my little yard already picked out.  I can't wait to get started!!

Do you have any recommendations or tips for me?  I welcome any advice you can give!

Lady Grumps-A-Lot

I have days where I feel like I could crawl out of my skin.  I'm antsy, grumpy, easily irritated.  Normally on those types of days, I will eat massive amounts of chocolate or fast food.

Ever have those kinds of days? 

What do you do to get over those days?  I mean, I know they'll go away, eventually, but what kind of stress relievers work for you?

Since I like to make lists, I thought I'd make a small list of the things I do to relieve stress. 

1.  Pray.  I have a devotional that I adore, so I will break out that, my bible, and a couple of devotional apps that I have, to see what God is telling me.

2.  Run.  Yep.  Running does wonders for me.  I can put in my headphones, step away from the problem, and turn off my thoughts.  Awesome!

3.  Yoga.  Another great stress reliever.  I also feel better physically after about 15-30 minutes.  I focus on what my body is doing more than the issue at hand.

4.  Journaling.  This one isn't done as often as the others, but it can work.  It helps to focus my mind on what's bothering me, in order to find a solution.

5.  Nap.  A nap every now and then is so good!  I used to be a serious nap-taker, but I have gotten out of that routine, and now I only take one occasionally.  Most of the time it's on the weekend.

How do you relax?  I'd love to hear your methods!

The Honest Truth

Last year I took up yoga on a challenge from an IG friend.  Aside from running, yoga is the bees knees, man!  I feel so great when I'm on the mat!

In the past six months or so I haven't done much in the way of yoga (or running, for that matter), and I can tell a huge difference in how I felt before and how I feel now.

I also put on a little weight (yes, that is important to me).  I felt great when I had lost some weight last year, and I want to feel that again.

Enter the yoga challenge.  It is what got me started last year, it is what will get me back this year!!

I am going to be quite frank:  I love/hate the picture above. 

I love the picture because it signifies a new beginning in my fitness journey.  In light of recent unexpected events and some expected upcoming events, I am making a personal goal to go healthy!

I hate the photo because I struggle with my self image.  I constantly compare myself to the other yogis on IG, thinking I'm not flexible enough, or that my body doesn't look like that.

Well, I honestly think that's something that I will always struggle with.  It's also something that I want to put behind me.  I am going to pursue being fit, and then maybe, just maybe, I will come to terms with my self esteem.

The point to this post?  I don't think there is one.  I think that I posted a photo of myself on social media that honestly made me uncomfortable, and I wanted to address it in more than a little blurb.

I did keep the photo on IG, though.  I am me.  I can't hide from it, so I'm just gonna be honest about me and embrace me.

Thank You Treat Bags

Let me just say that junk food is my love language.  You want to know the way to my heart?  Gummy bears or ice cream or valentine's candy, or just anything sweet (popcorn is a pretty safe bet, also).

Recently, I put together some thank you goodie bags for a special group of people, and, seeing as I don't bake, I made a little bag of sweets (with a little salty).

I love making goodie bags as thank you gifts, they are so easily customizable!  They are my go-to for teacher gifts, especially, with some of their favorite foods and supplies.

I thought that I had written up a couple of posts about various gift bags that I'd put together, but I guess I haven't! 

In light of the end of the school year, and teacher appreciation week, I'll put together a series of posts with the different bags that I put together in the past, along with a tutorial for a couple of the bags!

What are some things you add to goodie bags, or that you like to see in them?

Happy Easter

HI!!

I just stopped by to say that I hope you and your family have a very Happy Easter!

God bless!!

Shop Name Change

A week or so ago, I confessed that I hit a wall.  I couldn't will my yarn to make pretty things, and the yarn couldn't inspire me to make.

Something happened on the way to pick up the boys.  The little voice in my head said that I needed to re-brand.

Over the past year or so, I have had a couple of different names for my Etsy shop, but none felt right.  Nothing I put in the shop felt right.  I knew that I could crochet hats and blankets, so I whipped up a couple and stuck them in the shop.  I honestly didn't put much thought into what I was doing.

I knew in my heart that I needed to go somewhere else with it.  I wanted a new name, I needed to believe more in my product, maybe to have more products, not just the hats (which I am keeping in the shop, btw, because they are such super little hats).

A couple of things will/have change[d].

The first to change is the name.  The new name is Beach Bird Yarnworks.  I have big ol' heart eyes for the name!  I'm so in love with it! 

Next will be a couple of new items that I've been toying with, as well as weeding out some of the items that I'm just not feeling anymore, or are seasonal.

My slump is over!  I'm just glad this dry spell didn't take too long.  I was feeling very crazy and a little guilty that I couldn't come up with anything!

I'll keep you posted on any more changes!

Can't Live Without: Apps!

With the invention of the smartphone and tablets, apps are an every day occurance.  I use my phone for everything!  There is constantly a beep or a whistle coming from my back pocket (yes, I keep my phone in my pocket.  I have a huge phone, so I don't have a case, or it would look like a telephone book (remember those?  I haven't seen a telephone book in years!).

Just for fun, I figured I would compile a list of my favorite apps, those glorious applications that keep me going and keep my phone blip ping and bleeping at all hours.

1.  Bible

It's one of those apps that stays silent, but it's always there.  I get the verse of the day each morning, and use that in my devotional to contemplate my day and how best to use it to God's glory.

2.  Instagram 

I mean, duh.  You all knew that, right?  No explanation needed.

3.  Weather Radio

I am very weird about weather.  I once wanted to be a storm chaser  (I would still love it), but with the introduction of my children into my life I have become more vigilant in safety.  This app let's out a big buzz if something's going on,so we have plenty of time to take cover or make the necessary arrangements.  

4.  A Beautiful Mess

Honestly, I just love anything from Elsie and Emma.  They are so talented, and their style is just perfect!  This app is my photo editing go-to for my watermark and different layouts.

5.  Duolingo 

This cute little app teaches different languages.  I'm currently trying to learn french.  I can take it anywhere with me and even study in the car waiting for the boys to get out of school!  

What are some of your favorite?  I'm always looking for new apps to try out.

{This is not a paid post.  All of the opinions addressed in this post are mine.  I was not compensated in any way for my opinions.}

Being Creative Can Suck

Just throwing that out there for ya - being creative can suck.  It can really be a drag when I hit a block and can't muster the energy to do anything, or can't come up with any ideas.

On a normal day I have so many creative ideas that I can barely contain them in my head {note:  I will start carrying a notebook just for creative ideas, to jot them down and make room in my brain for more}.

On Thursday of last week I hit a hard patch.  I'm struggling a little bit with a situation; it has sucked all the brain power that is normally used for creating and redirected it to the problem at hand.

Now I have no ideas, and I have no desire to craft. 

They'll come back, the ideas.  I know they will, but I have to give them time.  I think that it may be time for a little "braincation" (my brain's version of a vacation). 

Maybe a little Pinterest and a lot of IG can get the hamsters going again. 

Do you ever have a crafty "dry spell"?  A "crafter's block"?  (I'm really into the quotations today, huh?)

What do you do to overcome your crafter's block?  I need some ideas!!

Propagation Problems

Every now and then I get this wild idea that I need more green in my life.  When this idea strikes I go to the nearest plant-carrying store and buy up as many plants as I possibly can.

Right now, my obsession is succulents.  They are hardy little plants, that stand up through drought (which is a typical plant day in my house). 

Each time I buy one of these cuties, they end up dropping all their leaves and becoming a shriveled stalk (that dies pretty quickly after losing the leaves).

Fed up with buying the plants, just to have them die on me, I have started propogating them (is propogating a word?  Autocorrect didn't like it, but didn't have a better replacement).

Here are some of my "experiments":

This is one that I'm trying to get to root just from a little cutting.  I've heard that it may not be possible, but what will it hurt to try?

These little ones are waiting to sprout roots.  They should have something in the next few weeks.  [Update:  Don't put them in the sun with plastic wrap over them.  They will die.  I tried so they wouldn't blow away outside.]

I have some that have roots, but I forgot to take a picture before I put them in the dirt, so here's a pic of more little leaves.  

I am so excited to see what actually happens with these little guys.

I'll update as I get results! 

Happy propogating!