JULY IN A FLASH

Summer hits and suddenly there are no blog posts!  So sorry I'm totally an outside summer person, and it's so hard to sit still in this weather!

We just got back from an EPIC trip to Colorado to visit my daughter Rose and son-in-law Drew.  So beautiful and packed with fun. Here's a little recap of some of our adventures.

We started the trip with a Rockies game

Then a Red Rocks concert-The Avett Brothers

Rose and I did some shopping for new dining room chairs.

Went to Boulder for some great food and adult beverages-
land of great beer ;)

Ed and I drove to Estes Park & Rocky Mountain National Park
and did some little hikes.  This one is of Bear lake

Saw lots of Elk!

Visited the famous Stanley Hotel where "The Shinning" was made.

We met Rose in Empire and drove up to Summit County (my old stomping grounds)
for a hike on Lake Dillon

 We also did this awesome hike in Morrison, CO.  This wealthy business man built a beautiful mansion on a cliff (that was quite a hike to get to) and a few years later it burned to the ground.  He had planned to build a home for the presidents of the United States as a summer home but it never happened after the fire.

Also I will be the guest artist at junk Evolution for Arts Alive month in South Bend.  Starting August 7th for First Friday until September 3rd.  Stop in and visit me on First Friday.  I purchased lots of new stone/natural beads while in CO.  They have awesome bead shops, so I hope to have lots of new items for you to choose from!

Wear Your Heart on a Tee

I'm designing a line of fun t'shirts with quotes and sayings that I love.  I sent the first one to Rosemary so she could model it where it would look the best...the Colorado mountains!  Rose and her husband, Drew went on a drive yesterday to one of my favorite little mountain towns (Salida) to explore new trails, restaurants and shops!  

I will be adding these to my easy shop soon, but I'm giving you (my loyal followers) first dibs!  The shirts are a try-blend, and are a fitted ladies style.  Rose usually wears a small and she's wearing a Medium (the smallest size I ordered).  The last picture is the truest match for the color, more of a muted try-color blend of blues.  Very soft and comfortable fabric that holds it's shape nicely.  $25.00 each.   Leave a comment here or on Facebook if interested.

URBAN COWGIRL STYLE

 My mom made us the cutest little cowgirl outfits for our 2nd birthday and I don't think I ever outgrew the style!  Living in the west turned me into a cowboy junkie.  I loved seeing the long horns and the buffalo ranches while driving through little mountain towns.  Believe it or not the first place I actually ever saw a real cowboy was in my front yard in Hawaii.  We lived on the edge of the largest singly owned ranch in the USA,  Parker Ranch. In Hawaii a cowboy is a  Paniolo.   I could watch them all day as they would round up the cattle in their wrangler jeans, chaps and long sleeve snap shirts with their ruggedly handsome dark skin.  Whats not to like?   

I'll be featuring a certain "look or style" every few weeks and will give my readers a preview of what I will be adding to my Etsy shop.  Feel free to message me if you have any questions.   I'll add at least two items each day until they are all up, then I'll start a new collection.

Call it what you will cowgirl or boho, it's a mix that I love.

 A shirt dress is the perfect in-between season dress.  It can be worn as a dress paired with a jacket, or paired with leggings and worn open as a jacket.  The sleeves can be rolled up or worn down.  Depending what you add this one is perfect for spring and fall. It's a size 6 and has been adorned on the back with some cowboy barkcloth fabric.

Also one of my favorite things...TOOLED LEATHER.

A velvet mens hat adds a touch of boho, you don't want to overdue the cowgirl look.

I love to layer on the neck-gear.

A collection of small accessories

Handmade bracelets

1950's souvenir  bandanas

handmade burlap wedding bouquet

Add caption

Suede shirt jacket

Snow Love

Love has a way of making places sacred and moments meaningful.     Janet Hobson

We gave these two gift cards to ski at Arapaho Basin two years ago and they finally made it up last weekend (now they're hooked).  It's a place that I spent lots of hours at, the highest ski resort in the U.S.A.  and so incredibly beautiful.  So glad to be able to hand down the love to the next generation to to people that I love so much.

Mama C

IN A NUTSHELL

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

     -Confucius

I've lived in some incredible places, but as the ole saying goes, "You can always go home again" and I did.  Now my oldest (Jeramiah) lives where he was born.  The Big Island of Hawaii, and my middle child Rosemary and her husband Drew, live where I first moved, ( Colorado).  Weston youngest lives in Muncie, IN  approximately 2 hours from Middlebury, where I live.  Do I dare say "He's just getting started?"

I love the fact that they are experiencing life and finding their own way, and frankly that we kind of paved the way for that life.   We all live such different lives with similar meaning,  following our hearts and living a simple life.  We strive to be sustainable, adventurous , organic and healthy and creative.

As a mom I wanted to start this business with my family to keep us more connected, and to bring out the best of us and share it with others who enjoy the same kind of lifestyles.   We are still in the planning stages but it won't be long until our business is all set up!   So here it goes.  This is us!

Me and my kids
Drew, Rose, Jeramiah, me and Weston

Today I'd like to introduce you to Jeramiah (J.D.)  He went to school in Colorado for Outdoor Adventure and has worked at zip lines in Colorado, Hawaii and this summer in Ohio.  He is on a 7 month adventure on the mainland with his dog Makai (another Hawaiian) that started in Indiana in June.  He traveled by a really fat tire surly bike and baby bee carrier (for Makai and his supplies) to Tree Frog Canopy Tours outside of Mansfield, Oh then to Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Colorado, Utah and just ended up in California to visit his dad and Aunt.  You can read more about JD on his blog http://dajungleblog.blogspot.com/.

At a music fest in Austrailia

Tree Frog Canopy tours-thats JD with the big snake :(

JD and his travel companion Makai

Working at Tree Frog Canopy Tours- Ohio

At home in Hawaii

If you look at the top left corner-you'll see Jeramiah high lining in Aspen, CO

Moab, Utah