loli.

A little over a year ago I found out I have a ‘sewing angel.’

This little angel gifted me with an amazing sewing machine that has truly been the best gift anyone has ever given me.

Sorry, Mom & Pop, that digital watch with the light button you gave me for Christmas in 1980 isn’t at the top of the list anymore.

This machine has helped me create in a whole new way & discover a kind of jump up & down & scream ‘this is so much fun’ love of sewing.

I’m thankful for my sewing angel & I am determined to someday find my own 'wings' & pay it forward in her honor.

Do you ever find it difficult to be on the receiving end of the generosity of others?

Humbling & yet so good.

ps. I named my machine Loli after my totally fun, creative, sassy, LSU Tigers loving sewing angel!

contented exhaustion.

creativity  is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks,

breaking rules, making mistakes & having fun. 

∙ Mary Lou Cook ∙

This is the exact definition of what my weekend has entailed & I am so thankful.

ps. 3 cheers for an extra hour of sleep!

dear winter.

I grew up in Texas where summer came early & stayed late.

I now live where winter comes early & stays late.
For example, last week I called my girlfriend that lives in Palestine, Texas & mentioned to her that it was snowing.
She told me it was 80 degrees there.
Crazy.

So today I’m simply thankful that it’s November 5^th & it’s in the 60s instead of the 40s.

Dear Winter, 

Thanks for letting fall hang around.

See you soon,

Clare

ps. Have a glorious weekend!

a whole lot of inspiration.

inspire.

Today I am thankful that I have people of all ages in my life that inspire me.

This weekend I will be attending a calligraphy workshop with my mother-in-law & a dear friend from my college days at TCU {go Frogs!}.

Two women that inspire me in wonderful ways.

& because I like things that come in 3s, the workshop is being led by yet another woman that has quite the inspiring affect on me & most anyone around her actually.

Such a delightful thing to be inspired.

ps. I hope I’m able to inspire even a fraction of the amount that I am inspired!

meet jamie & a giveaway!

My husband & I work for Trail West {trailwest.younglife.org} which is a Young Life camp for families in Buena Vista, Colorado. 

In the summer we have the privilege of meeting & serving alongside Young Life staff & their families from all over the country & sometimes a few other continents.

This summer I met cute Jamie Underwood.

She’s a wife & a mom like me & she introduced me to the world of ‘review blogs.’

Companies contact her or she contacts them to review their products. 

Talk about fun & she gets lots of freebies!

To learn more about Jamie & read some great product reviews visit her site:

jamiespreciouspeas.com

& you just might see a little sparklestudio goodness on there!

Jamie is reviewing the ‘encouragment totes’ & you could win 2 totes, one for you & one for a special someone.
So go check it all out & enter already! 

ps. This is so much fun! :)

heart at home.

u

      home.

Today I'm thankful for such a warm, comfortable, love filled place to call home.

I think I've always thought the saying ‘home is where the heart is’ was kind of cheesy.

Until now.

I get it.

It’s good to be home.

ps. don’t go too far, sparklestudio news is coming soon!

crazy kind of thankful.

I think I started compiling the list of things to do & make for the holiday season the second the calendar turned to November 1st.

Walking by the already completely displayed Christmas section at Hobby Lobby may have had a little something to do with it.

Are we really in that much of a hurry?

I say we all slow down a little!

While I do hope to get started on ‘the list’ I also hope to do my best to not miss Thanksgiving altogether.

Too much to be thankful for to let that happen.

I’m wondering if I’m crazy to think I could write about something I’m thankful for every day this month.

Maybe I am a little crazy seeing as how I’m already a day behind! ha!

How about I share two things for today & yesterday & we’ll call it good?

Thanks.

I’m thankful for time spent this past weekend in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico with my even more beautiful & dearest friend from college.

We talked, walked, slept, ate, shopped, knitted, laughed, shopped some more & left plenty to do for many trips to come.

My mouth is watering just thinking about our scrumptious eats at ‘The Shed’ & the queso at the ‘Blue Corn Cafe.’

If you are headed that way {lucky you} & need some suggestions let me know.

Or if you’ve been there {lucky you} & have some tips for our next trip, do tell!

& today I’m thankful for the right & privilege I have to vote.

Beyond blessed to live in this country.

Bring on the thankful!

ps. coming really soon: a little sparklestudio goodness with our first ever giveaway!