More than just landscape

As most of you know, I recently planted some flowers and herbs in my front yard with my mom. It was some of the most fun I have ever had with my mom. Just the two of us in old T-shirts, hair up in messy ponytails. It was so relaxing and enjoyable... and on top of that- NONE of our plants have died! I am so proud of us!!! We are actually planning on tackling the backyard. But for now, we are just trying to maintain the front (we can hardly keep the little lucky bamboo you just keep in water, alive.)
I have made a routine out of it: I eat my breakfast, and then I go and water all of the plants... so far so good.
Well, one morning, a week after all of our yard work, I took the fern hanging on our porch down to water it. I found a small, and amazingly perfect nest with 4 tiny blue eggs in it. It was so perfect, I actually thought it was fake for a moment... but then I remembered saying to my mom a few days before, "Look how funny that bird is, it just loves our fern!"
The bird had been making a nest, and now had layed her eggs in it.
I realized I was going to be an auntie!
I quickly ran into our house and told my mom the exciting news. I waited until she finished her cup of coffee (of course) and then we went outside to take a few pictures... from a safe distance, so we wouldn't bother out sweet Mamma Bird.



We looked up what type of bird had chosen our fern to be her nest. We found a few birds that she could possibly be, but by the way she looks, acts and the area we live in, we think she is a house finch.
My mom and I waited another week or two for the little babies to hatch.
I found them when I was on the step stool, carefully watering the fern. I saw the grey little fuzzballs, and (again) ran in the house to tell my mom.
We are so excited that they finally hatched. But we are keeping a very safe distance... even though Mamma Bird doesn't really mind us anymore!
I am so happy that the little birds have a safe, and shady place to live!
I never would have guessed that our garden would be much more than just some landscape.

Mother and Daughter, Landscaping Duo!

I've never gardened in my life... but I guess when you're only 13 years old, that isn't saying much. My mom and I took a little trip to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens during the week one day... just to get out of the house. My mom was telling me all of her great memories as a child, gardening with her grandmother and all of the big, beautiful hydrangea bushes that she had in her yard. It made me really want to have those sort of memories, too. "Well, how hard could it be, Mom?"


So, after a few hours at Lowe's... frustrated because we know absolutely nothing about what type of flowers we should plant (Perennial means it comes back year after year, Annual means you have to plant again and again... just an FYI, but you probably already knew that stuff!) We found some beautiful flowers, but we made sure that they were REALLY hardy first! I planted some cute, little Impatients by our walkway.




Ahhh, the finished product! Some Impatients by the walkway, a couple of tiny Hibiscus trees by the front door, Ferns hanging on the porch... and we are finished! For now...
Let me tell you, I have never hated the North Carolina red clay more, but I had so much fun. My mom and I are already planning more... so I guess you'll just have to stay tuned!!!

My room, redesigned

First, it all started when I wanted a new bedspread from Anthropologie... but didn't have over $200 to get it. My mom and I decided to look for ideas for a bedspread so we could make one. I fell in love with the Belle by Amy Butler collection, so we decided to make a quilt. This is what it looks like as we were laying it out. It took a few tries to get it JUST right (both my mom and I are perfectionists when it comes to making things by hand.)
You'd actually be surprised... but laying it out was the hardest part!





The finished product! It came out better than I hoped it would, and MUCH easier to make than I thought it would be! My mom sews, and is excellent at it, and even though she taught me how to sew when I was young... the thought of making a quilt was a little overwhelming. It is so relaxing, and I am thankful that I have this beautiful quilt that my mom and I made when I was 13 years old!


This is the door to my room, and despite what my mom might say about what the tape does to the paint... I love it! Just a collage of ads from magazines, old cards, drawings and stickers. So easy, yet so cute!


Here is my armoire, and hanging from the ceiling are some huge tissue paper flowers... thank you, Martha Stewart!



Thank you, Mom for everything you do- you are my best friend!

Etsy

Hi everyone! I recently started posting things on Etsy to sell, and I wanted to let you know about them!
I have been making handmade tassels out of ribbon, decorative trim, beads, etc. for a little while now. It has taken me some time to perfect and get the hang of it, but I have so much fun doing it! Check out the ones that I have for sale on my Etsy shop, but if you don't see one that has the colors you want, feel free to ask me about custom orders!
Thank you so much!!!