Hear ye, hear ye: Holiday love shall now be proclaimed from this day forward. Thanksgiving’s only two-plus weeks away, putting Christmas at six–give or take–and by my calculations, that makes today Raise the Freak Flag Day (cue cartwheel, cartwheel, interpretive dance move, cartwheel).

Let there be crafts. And smiling. And high-on-life reflection.

In case you wondered, shadow pictures make me happy and no, I’m not wearing elf boots.

Oh, I had something good to say, but let’s just do this stream-of-consciousness, shall we? Because deciding to do a blog post stream-of-consciousness is like showing up for a job interview in an expensive borrowed blazer with a prepared stage-crap, sell-yourself speech only to find your soon-to-be boss in a kaftan, with his feet on his desk, holding a popsicle with your name on it. “Sit down,” he says. “Let’s talk about our kids and how we’re going to change the world. Over popsicles, of course.” And we sit, laughing, licking Bomb Pop juice off our fingers and tapping our popsicle sticks in a toast to Coldplay or aged cheese or, maybe, to Mary Oliver’s poetry, if I’m lucky. We both cry, trade friendship bracelets, and then he gives me the job.

*****

Weekend Delivered. Or perhaps, weekend delivers every single time it arrives, but it’s our job to accept delivery and sign for the package.

So, Friday night, I signed. In a moment of “I take thee, Life, to be my lawfully wedded whathaveyou,” I called my friend to arrange something grand at the beach. Last minute parties? Oh, they are the best.

Really, truly, I heard word that temperatures were shifting again in our parts, and if you take it to the beach at night in November, there’s a good chance you will encounter a sweet sliver of the north. Cold winds, cool water, the opportunity to bust out some ear-flap hats and sweaters. Hollah.

Top it with a bottle of “kid wine,” some grapes and cheese, and a line-up of jam jars full of candles as the sun is setting? Take me away. A secret place. A freaking pocketful of sunshine, at twilight, on the beach.

My friend, Andrea, actually said once we got to the beach, “I know you. You just did this for the sweaters and hats, right?” This is true. This is true. She knows me well. You can take the girl out of Michigan, but you can’t take Michigan out of the girl. Pink-flecked skies and Mason jar glow was just a bonus.

I interrupt this blog post to gush about what I love right now.

Billie Holliday is breakin’ it down on Pandora, and the great loves of my life have collided…late night writing, candle light glow, and my sweet baby, asleep on couch cushions next to my desk.

This makes me insanely happy.

So, I’ll keep it simple.

My happies, this weekend:

T-Soup with Parm
Tomato soup, doused with parmesan cheese and garnished with easy Jiffy buttermilk biscuits (smeared with butter and honey). Holiday magazine, optional yet imperative.

Twirl-a-whirl
Lainey put on a 12-18 months size dress this weekend and decided to give us a show. Cue Gustav Mahler CD and Nella in a chair watching, entranced.

And I had an “I am blessed to have two beautiful daughters” moment.

Car Wash
Daddy’s car first.

But, most importantly, the kid car. No airbags, but seriously, the workout that Flinstone pedaling gives ya?

Sister Rides
Late afternoon, when our feet hit the driveway pavement and the sun is slowly bowing out, you can hear this staccato giggle from Nella. Most likely, it’s induced from the thrill of Big Sister thrusting the little car forward on a fast ride along the sidewalk. And, in the exhileration of a fast ride, Nella stands in the back of that car and smiles while Brett and I holler “Nella, sit!” from the sidelines.

Sometimes, she listens and sits. Sometimes, she keeps on smiling while she stands and proclaims “I’m doin’ it my way!” And though I appropriately react with attention to safety and obedience, somewhere within, I’m fine with her defiance. I freaking love her spirit.

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And this is the part in that imaginary job interview where my kaftan-wearing soon-to-be-boss finishes his popsicle and says “Break it down, now.” As in, bring it. High on life? Show me. Like holidays? Prove it.

Oh, I’ll prove it. It’s November 7th, Dude. I see your kaftan and I raise you a 20-minute Christmas Craft, okay?

Here’s the deal. The word “Christmas Craft” alone makes me perk up much like a text announcing a new baby.

The first presence of the holidays in our home? A quick, homemade wreath. I wanted to add a bow or buttons or something more, but I loved it for its simplicity. Simplicity is good for me. Sometimes I peter out. And this craft easily welcomed a four-year-old’s assistance.

It’s as simple as a styrofoam wreath form from a craft store, some fabric scraps and a bottle of Tacky glue.

Voila. It’s a little grandma-ish and, being that I’m thirty-two and now appreciate the beauty, wisdom and experience of that generation, I dig grandma-ish.

Of course, Wreath is begging for some friends, and he will soon be joined by some other freak-flag-waving decor cousins.

*****

Meanwhile, we are brainstorming special gift ideas for friends and family. And I am loving watching my girl beam from the satisfaction of creating things to give away.

An easy, inexpensive gift for friends?
Embellished chalkboard.

Seriously, it’s a five dollar gift, and it took maybe fifteen minutes to create.
Materials: Wood frame, assorted felt, embroidery floss, embroidery needle, Tacky glue, primer, chalkboard paint.

Prime frame, paint with chalkboard paint, adorn with felt bunting.

Keep for yourself or decorate with twine and chalk to give away for a holiday gift.

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Remember cool artist chick, Casey Leigh?
Well, congratulations to Comment #202, Talia: Love the photo of the girls sharing. Just lovely. Like you, we are practical and when the opportunity presents itself for me to take my girls to dinner – we go and cherish each moment!

Talia, your home is about to be graced by Casey’s love of art. Please e-mail your contact info to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net, and your wall will be soon be happy!

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I’ve gone through far more pony tail holders and barrettes for my girls than I’d like to admit. I’ve proclaimed new methods for organzing trinkets many times, but I’ve never found the right fit for us. So, naturally, I’m excited to lauch our our new sponsor, The Adorned Abode, which provided the perfect fix for our hair accessory storing problem.

Kelly, of The Adorned Abode, does custom decoupage work to all her trinket and jewelry boxes, and her husband custom creates all the wood recipe boxes.

We love our new accessory box. And Lainey likes the whole idea of opening drawers and choosing accesories from a tiny dresser, just her size.

You can enjoy a 10% discount from The Adorned Abode, using code ENJOYING10, and two commenters will be randomly chosen from this post to receive a $25 gift certificate, courtesy of The Adorned Abode shop.

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And tomorrow is a special day. Gary turns 50. Happy Birthday to a very special part of our family…thank you, Gary, for everything you do. We love you. 50–that’s a big year, Dude. Celebrate that life.

(and sleep it off later)

*****

Have a great week.

Brett has proclaimed his holiday love by promising only to use the snowman mug for his coffee from now until the New Year. If only I could think of such a badass way to declare my holiday love.

I’ve intended to write something good and serious for the last couple of posts but then an hour before I write, I walk out a nice four-block stride to Pumped Up Kicks and when I come home, all I want to write about is happy little things. Like Nella kissing her glass reflection.

Or puppet shows.

Because that is the heart of life, you know?

It is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we have a Buddy Walk in less than two weeks, and an almost-two year old who is continuing to stretch our perspectives but more so, broaden the joy in our home. I have things to say about this, but my thoughts? I like to sift through them–separate the wheat from the chaff–before I write. So, I’m working on it. In the meantime, we’re still making efforts to raise the roof on our Buddy Walk fund…if you’d like to help, every little dollar counts.

And to be honest, I could write and write about things I want the world to know. But I think I’m saying it with every post.

Read between the lines.

I trust you do that already.

*****

So, where were we?

Happy little things.

*****

She Walks in Beauty

On my nightstand right now. It’s been a little while since I’ve read for pleasure, and this book caught my eye the other day. I’ll admit it was the turquoise cover. And the soft pages with deckle edges. But then I bought it and started reading it and realized, I really like it.

I read a ton of poems in college (English major–alright, alright…English minor), but I was in a completely different place in life and missed the point on most of them. This book calls for a highlighter.

Don’t Scare Me
There is one rule in our marriage: don’t you freaking scare me. Brett knows that I will legitimately knock his teeth out if he scares me, and we have some unspoken vows that I am allowed to throw punches if he sneaks up on me/jumps out from behind couches/greets me wearing any kind of mask. I’m not kidding, I can’t even help it. You scare me, and I will instinctively crouch into aggravated assault mode. And he thinks this is funny. More reason to scare. And when my arms fly out all Dukes of Hazzard and swing, he laughs hard.

So I’m writing in the dark the other night, and he comes up behind me like this.

He is lucky he has all his teeth.

Overhead Lizards
Random but true: I love it when lizards walk the lanai screen over our heads. I think they know I love it because they try and get my attention whenever I’m underneath them.

Nella likes art.
She holds a crayon like nobody’s business. She’s got a nice death grip on a piece of sidewalk chalk. And, God forbid you start a craft project with Lainey without inviting her because Sister will come let you know that’s so not cool.

Speaking of craft…
Fall continues to unravel its magic and, in searching for an autumn centerpiece for our table, I employed Lainey’s help and looked to the woods for the only genuine remnants of seasonal shift we have.

Seek and ye shall find.

Why hello, bark. Hello, woodsy flowers. Hello you pinecone-producing evergreen!

Girlfriend will find Fall when she wants to.

Hence, my infatuation with these wheat-looking weedy things. I’d Google it for you and give you a proper title or call Gary the horticulturist and ask him, but I’m feeling lazy tonight and Gary is sleeping, so wheat-looking Florida weedy things will have to suffice. Regardless…it looks like Fall.

We still have pinecones.

So, Lainey and I went out and gathered a bunch from the woods, and Big Sister painted them all with metallic fall colored paints.

We sculpted some acorns out of clay (bear with me–at least we bought the clay and didn’t blend it ourselves from organic mud), baked them, and Lainey painted them with gold and copper paints (store-bought…ha ha)

Painting acorns was her favorite part. She took to that job with a serious face and a steady hand and was very careful to make sure the gold didn’t overlap the copper. Sister was a rockstar with that paintjob.

Pile hodge podge mess of painted pinecones, acorns, hollowed baby pumpkins and candles onto cake platter…and, Voila. Centerpiece. Lainey’s pride for the finished product was worth it…minus the pumpkin cutting, she did everything all by herself.

Nail polish.
Last gushing on fall and, I swear, I’ll zip it. I don’t usually have time to paint my fingernails. Unless I am overcome by seasons. I don’t see little bottles of nail polish…I see apple cider. Pumpkin pie. Scarlet maple. My nails beg to represent.

Nella’s face is all, “Seriously? You are ridiculous.”

Crisis.
I know it wasn’t long ago I was all “I’m barley chicory root girl” but I’m over it, and I like my coffee again.

Which is why it is not cool our coffee pot broke yesterday. It brews a nice pot of hot brown water. The flip side? I’ve rediscovered my love for the simple french press.

Plants–you like? I am seeing if my green thumb has nine lives. We’re on, like, seven. But our bay window begs for oxygen.

It has its own charming ceremony, and I’m loving how tres chic I feel when I’m tapping the glass of my french press against my mug to pour a steamy cup of just right. A new pot can wait (but if you have a coffee pot you love, do tell).

Computer Swiper.
When Lainey has computer time, Sister doesn’t want to be left out. Her tippy toe stance to check it out just kills me.

So does the crap under my desk.

Tonight’s Festivities
A trip to those majestic mountains.

Nella climbed the hill all by herself in the time it took for Lainey to run up and roll down about fifteen times.

We passed a neighbor friend on the way there and I said, “We’re headed to the mountains.” And he was all WTH?

Stubby hills, mountains. Tomato, tomahto.

Boo
And my favorite part tonight: We booed. Many of you, I’m sure, are familiar with it, but if not…become acquainted. I had never heard of it until I married Brett and realized it was something he had been doing with his boys every year in our neighborhood. You start mid-October and hope it trickles until Halloween.

We started by printing off three copies of this. We included these copies in three bags of treats we arranged to deliver to neighbors. And then you sneak out in the dark, pick a few houses, ring the doorbell, leave the treats…and run before the neighbors see you. They find the treats, mark their door with the ghost as having been “booed,” and they continue the fun in nights to come until as many houses as possible have been booed before Halloween.

Lainey was beside herself. And every time I watch her get so excited that her eyes are wide and her speech is breathless, I am that much more motivated to do these things.

As we tiptoed past street lights and into the driveway of friends, whispering and hiding behind bushes, I watched my girl smile and beam and thank us with her eyes for making memories. I said to Brett after our first ding-dong-ditch, “Babe, she’s going to talk about this when she’s twenty, you know,” and he smiled and said, “oh, I know. Why do you think I do this?”

I love traditions.

And that is it. The end of a Wednesday post.

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And now it is late, far past my bedtime.
I’m off to bed before Brett jumps out as a werewolf and loses an eye.

Happy, happy little things to you and you and you.