Last minute works very well for me. I leave tomorrow for Dallas, and I have a hundred things to do still. Including pack. And before that, wash the clothes that I’m going to pack. So, it’s just a few pictures tonight. Thank you so much for all of the kind comments and insightful questions you left on the last post. I will answer several of the questions soon. For now, enjoying a few things. Like anything that resembles fall in Florida.

Finding “the cat” on our walks.

After school dates with the girls.

Love Nella’s little plum fall clippie from sponsor, Coco Penny.

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Last week’s Friday Photo Dump (I know, I’m behind):

Friday Phone Dump photos are taken on the Instagram iPhone app (free) and dropped into a 12×12 collage using a photo editing software (Photoshop Elements works). I am @etst (enjoying the small things) on Instagram if you care to follow the feed.

And your #enjoyingthesmallthings photos (If you use Instagram and have a photo that makes you happy, share it by using the hashtag #enjoyingthesmallthings. Yours may be chosen to be shared in a Friday post.):

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Congratulations to the Deb Oliver Custom Created Locket Giveaway winner,

Comment #230, Mrs. Katie Rose Jensen:
I am a teacher of students with cognitive impairments in MI. Your blog allows me to envision the everyday life of many of my students’ families…the way that life doesn’t revolve around the disability but on the journey of life. Thank you for creating this insight for me!

Katie Rose, please send your contact information with the subject line “Deb Oliver Giveaway” to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net so we can get your locket on the way!

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Welcome back to previous sponsor Linkel Designs.  Linkel Designs Etsy shop is full of numerous pages of gorgeous handmade jewelry from delicate simple pieces to bold statements with flare. Offering rings, necklaces, earrings and hairpins in a range of styles from vintage to modern, Linkel Designs is sure to have something fun not only for yourself but gifts for friends and family.  Jewelry is fairly priced, and Linkel Designs is currently featuring some gorgeous fall-inspired pieces.  How fun are those owl and acorn earrings or that silver spectacles necklace?

Top row: Silver Willow Tree Necklace, Silver Indigo Earrings, Silver Spectacles Necklace
Middle row: Petal Pink Byzantine Earrings, Golden Fall Owl Earrings, Copper and Agate Acorn Earrings
Bottom Row: Orange Pumpkin & Leaf Earrings, Silver Cameo Ring, Brass Bird Necklace

Use code KELLE10OFF for 10% off your order.  And TWO comments on this post will be randomly chosen to win a $50 gift certificate to Linkel Designs.

Check them out!

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And my tips for capturing great Halloween moments of your kids are up on Babyzone today.

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Have a great evening!

This time every year, I slump a bit.  I’m bracing myself for October, my busiest month; I’m missing family and fall; and things feel slightly overwhelming–big projects, big schedules, big things on my mind.  Without fail, the antidote for this feeling is to go small.  Focus on the good little things that are continually present in my life.

All or nothing never works for me.  I love the simplistic trend that is seeping back into our generation, but it sometimes overwhelms me too.  I can easily feel guilty for not being “simple enough.”  The fact is, I thrive on both simplicity and complexity.  In a perfect world, we’d split our time between a quiet cottage where I watch my girls chase goats and play with homemade toys all day and a New York City apartment where we go and do and see and crash late at night, our brains rich with culture and stories; our bodies tired from good stimulation.  And you know what?  When October and all its craziness and travel and work and e-mail and writing is over, I’m going to look back and think “I loved it.  I freaking loved that high.”  And it will come just as we slowly dip our toes into a delicious November, drenched with slow family simple moments that will seem all the sweeter, contrasted against the craziness.  Maybe that’s why I love these last three months so much–for the dichotomy present which brings to light both the fulfilling frenzy and quiet calm that we love.

One of the greatest benefits of blogging for me is being able to look back at our own story.  I spend at least one Saturday morning a month sipping my coffee and clicking back at old, old posts.  Reliving exciting trips, remembering quiet family gatherings, feeling really happy that our life is made up both big and small, simple and crazy.  Woven together, it’s ours. 

I have a lot of work to finish this week.  But we are still enjoying small things.

Enjoying:

Mumford and Sons New Album.  Every freaking song.  But seriously, “I Will Wait” and “Lover’s Eyes“–specifically 1:28 into Lover’s Eyes. I want to get a lighter and light the freaking world on fire.  I want to pick up my babies and dance in a field of daisies.  I want to be a unicorn.

Sleepin’ Dirty Feet through the Crib

White Pumpkins in the Window Sill

Afternoons Alone with Little Sister

Black and White

Blanket Throwing. She throws every blanket out of her crib. With force.

Several readers asked about her owl hanging in the last post.  It’s from our sponsor, Darlybird.  It’s very well made and fairly priced.

Baby Boy’s Growing Stash. I pull it out at least once a week and refold everything, marvel at how tiny it all is, make Brett sit and watch me hold up each outfit while I gush.

Heidi surprised me with this Moses basket last week.

Lucky Charms. Harvested from our own wheat crop with marshmallows processed from the sugarcane growing in our backyard and dyed with fruit juice.  Not.

Walkin’ with Hands Behind her Back

Baby Techy. She can slide the unlock button, swipe through screens to find her icons, open and close them out, take pictures with the camera. Steve Jobs lives on.

Sunflowers and Gnomes.

That is all. Happy Thursday.

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I’m happy to welcome The Paperhouse in sponsorship this month.  The Paperhouse represents both a family and a business–otherwise referred to as a family business, but The Paperhouse is more than than.  As Devon (the mama behind the business) describes, “(We’re) a true mom and pop store trying to keep up in a world of one-click Internet shopping and Kindles. (We offer) our face-to-face service and – in an effort to extend ourselves outside of our small dot on the map – our web site, Reading with Joey.” 

How much do I love Devon’s boys about to go fistacuff on this cart?  Um, a lot.

The Paperhouse is an office supply/bookstore but also offers book reviews, mini reviews, recommendations and great educational resources for moms and kids.

I’ve gotten to personally know Devon a bit through her insightful writing, and I’m thrilled to have her and her family business a part of Enjoying the Small Things sponsors.

Check out The Paperhouse, click around and feel at home.

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Have a great day!

We chose home this weekend.  Out of all the balls that begged to be juggled, we made the unanimous decision to make home our priority.  Together we folded laundry, put away clutter, washed windows and mopped floors, leading up to this wonderful crescendo of entertaining friends Saturday evening. 

That whole home environment mind/reality connection is astonishing. I wasn’t overwhelmed in the least bit with busy schedules or never ending to-do lists because things felt so much more balanced, simply with the presence of clean carpets, toys in their places, polished counters, linen closets stocked with fresh folded towels, and candles and music that whispered All is Well.

We have exclaimed every variation of “Holy Crap, our house is so clean!” numerous times because it’s been a while since every room has been spotless at the same time. This weekend we sat and waited, willing neighbors to come knock on our door, requesting an egg or a ladder or a can of chicken broth because we so wanted to invite them in while we fetched what they lacked. We needed to make up for all those times they showed up while we embarrassingly shoved toys aside and watched them stand next to our laundry-covered couch while we simultaneously searched for a can of chicken broth (which we didn’t have) and prayed they didn’t notice the wrinkled granny panties on top of Laundry’s peak.

Neighbors, neighbors. We have chicken broth. Come by and grab a can. Marvel at our clean house.

This weekend…enjoying:

Sophie Love. She is a lovely dog. Calm and loyal and as low-maintenance as a dog can be. The older she gets, the more I cherish these pictures.

Curly. She sits in the sink while I curl her hair. She is still and patient.

She looks at herself in the mirror afterwards and says “Pretty.”

Beach Sunset. Being pregnant, I’ve been especially unappreciative of Florida’s weather lately. I miss a true fall. I want to slap my dad when he calls and tells me about fires at night and stocking up the wood pile for the next few months. Some years I’m really good at making the best of what I miss most about the Midwest, but this year it’s been tough.

Last night, Florida bitch-slapped me…hard.

I’m going to both enjoy what we have and create what we don’t have. It’s my specialty. How silly of me to have forgotten.

The picture on the right slays me.  It’s my kid being a little bit weird.  I freaking love a little bit weird. 

Walking the sand balance beam. We had to announce them as Gabby Douglas and Jordan Wieber.  They had some serious routines, and Lainey’s little friend Aleena?  Dude, Sister doesn’t mess around on the sand balance beam.  Holy focus. Sand balance beams are not pretend.

This weekend, we officially welcomed fall. At home with our clean floors and candles and at the beach with our golden sunset and foamy shore line.

Lainey was so proud of this bun.  She did it all by herself.

It was a top night.

If it looks appealing, you can always come on over to our beaches. Several readers have stayed in one of Poppa & Gary’s rental houses (with your own pool and hot tub), and they’re offering 20% off any rentals before December 15th.

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Friday Photo Dump:

Friday Phone Dump photos are taken on the Instagram iPhone app (free) and dropped into a 12×12 collage using a photo editing software (Photoshop Elements works). I am @etst (enjoying the small things) on Instagram if you care to follow the feed.

And your #enjoyingthesmallthings photos. (If you use Instagram and have a photo that makes you happy, share it by using the hashtag #enjoyingthesmallthings. Yours may be chosen to be shared in a Friday post.)

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Pip and Bean is back in sponsorship this month, just in time for Halloween.
Pip and Bean hand makes beautiful reversible superhero capes for kids. They can be personalized and customized, and they also offer a range of custumes, from sharks and angler fish to pirates and, get this…unicorns. You heard me. Unicorns.

Our Pip and Bean capes are the first things visiting friends grab from the dress up trunk, and it is not uncommon to see a caped Lainey at the dinner table, riding bikes in the driveway or heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth at night.
I love these capes because they’re versatile. When Halloween’s over, the capes surely are not. We love us some Pip and Bean.

Order now to receive before Halloween!
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It’s officially fall, folks. Good things happen in the fall.