Happy 1st Birthday Harper Girl!

Our little Happy turned 1 on the 14th & we had an absolutely wonderful day.  

Harper girl showing she's one, sitting in the rocking chair I had as a child, & wearing a beautiful Baby Gap dress I got at a garage sale for $1-- my idea of a perfect trifecta.

We woke up, went to church, Harper screamed her head off in the nursery (that part was not wonderful), came home & had a lovely party with good friends, my gram, & Aunt Sandra. 

The only problem with having the party immediately after church was Harper was completely exhausted, so while we had pizza, Harper girl snoozed away.   

Eventually she woke up & really enjoyed herself.  She LOVED her cake & played with all of her presents just as soon as Emerson opened them.  

 I made Harper's cake & bear print cupcakes, & was pretty pleased with how they turned out.  Aside from our usual, homemade decorations, I decorated our mantle & china cabinet in the dining room with bears, bear books, & the boxed set of Winnie The Pooh books we gave Harper. 

We gave Harper a "Harper sized" doll &  I knitted it an accompanying doll blanket that matches the blanket I knitted her before she was born (pictured above).

It was a beautiful day to celebrate our happy Harper girl & we are certainly blessed to call her ours!

Free Valentines Decorations

I'm not a huge saver, but as I gradually collect things from my parent's house, I am shocked at how many things from my childhood I saved.  One of those things is valentines.  I think I may have saved every one I ever received.  Seriously.  I have a valentine from my first grade teacher.  It's totally bizarre. 

Having just made birthday banners with my saved birthday cards, I figured why not do the same with my plethora of valentines?  Here are the final, totally free products: 

These were made with the leftovers of the trimmed cards.

These I didn't tie, I just used some tiny little clothespins I had leftover from my college days.  Lisa Frank Valentine anyone?

This is my husband's mirror in the bathroom that I lovingly decorated with Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neil valentines.  He loved it. 

I think that is nine banners in all that I made. Thank goodness I had enough red raffia for all of it!

Happy Valentines Day to you and your lovies!