fresh picked whimsy

the day i joined a bike gang on Martha's Vineyard

We spent one glorious day on Martha's Vineyard.  Or, should i say Mahtha's Vinyahd.  We got up early and took the ferry.

It's a quick 45 minute trip to the island.  When we left the port at Wood's Hole on the Cape, it was raining and we weren't sure what kind of day was in store for us.  But, the skies cleared up soon after we docked and we had a beautiful day!!!  Some people bring their cars on the ferry!  You can see them driving out from the belly of the ferry onto the dock... 

The shopping on the Vineyard is pretty cool.  and pricey.

We all LOVED The Black Dog.  Fun stuff.

and my teens were especially happy to see this place...

the preppy holy land...

i've spared you the sticker shock look on my face. whoa.

Once the streets dried up, it was time to get serious.

ha ha ha!  We're so bad ass.

Seriously...this was one of the most fun adventures we have ever gone on!

Truth be told, it was a little scary at first.  Griff couldn't drive because he doesn't have a license yet, so he rode on the back of Katie's bike.  But we all got the hang of it pretty quickly.  We drove along the coast to Edgartown and tooled all around the little white picket fence lined streets.  The only bummer was that i couldn't take pictures while i was driving!!!  #bloggerprobs

26 years ago, mark and i went to Martha's Vineyard and rented a two seater.  We were 18 (Riley's age!)

My kids have seen this pic of us and when they heard we were going to MV, the first thing they asked was if we could rent mopeds.  I'm so glad we did!

Every where you look on this island, is like a picture postcard...

i want to live here so i can buy my art supplies here...

On the way home and sat outside on the deck of the ferry.

This giant sailboat cruised by flying The Black Dog flag...those people were getting their party on.

what do you think when you see this sea buoy?  I think of the opening scene to Jaws. Cue the music.  Jaws was filmed on Martha's Vineyard.  I don't think the locals love that fact, but the tourists do.  I also kept my eyes peeled for Carly Simon and James Taylor or any other celebs.  No such luck.

One last fun fact, because everyone asks...Martha's Vineyard was named after the daughter of the sea captain who first discovered the island.  And yes, there are vineyards here. 

It's a lovely, lovely place. We were so happy to share it with our kids.

Life on the Cape

This place is so unique in so many ways.  The sea life, the houses, the history.  New England eye candy.  Unlike anywhere i've ever been.   

Let me show you...

they use crushed seashells for mulch.  um...yes, please!

see!

everywhere you will see old buoys tied to trees and mailboxes.  Again...yes, please!

this lobster pot washed up on our beach.  no lobsters inside...just seaweed.

We had an outdoor shower.  The kids loved it!

There is history everywhere here.  After all, this is the land of thy pilgrim's pride.  Oh, and of the Kennedy's.  This museum is in Hyannis...near their famous compound...

There are quaint little bity cottages everywhere! This one backs up to a salt marsh.  The sign on the door says "The Marsh Mellow" 

i mean, c'mon...isn't it darling??????

and quintessential cape cod beach front homes... i die.

The view from our bed.  we weren't mad :)...

 the sun begins to rise over the ocean at 4:30 every morning.  The whole sky glows orange.  Riley and i both decided to get up and take pictures one morning.

Totally

worth

it.

Only thing that competes with that is the sunsets!!!

More of this gorgeous place to come.  Tomorrow, i'll take you to Martha's Vineyard!

 

Back to the Cape

Growing up, i spent every summer vacationing on Cape Cod with my family. 

that's me...and a crab

We lived on the east coast and the trip was easy.  We went for 2 weeks and met the same families up there year after year.  So many amazing memories. 

with my sisters...

my parents...

 

we used to jump off this bridge with all the kids!  Right off the two lane highway!  A bridge!  Wha?

and had beach bonfires with everyone.  That's me with my parents.  I think i look just like Riley when he was younger...

We moved to the midwest eventually and still managed to make the trip for a few more years until everyone started college and jobs and it just got difficult to do.  So, it was so emotional bringing our own families back to the Cape last week with our parents. 

It had been 26 years since we had been back. 

We drove all the way from Indiana...we caravanned!  My sister and her family flew in from GA.

We broke the trip into 2 days, stayed in a hotel overnight and stopped for lunch at a rest stop...

All told it was about 1,000 miles/16+ hours (not counting stops).  It was so worth it to get to this!

that was the view from our backyard.  We rented 2 beach houses in East Sandwich...

The grown ups stayed in the big house...

and the kids stayed in the little house.  They were about 10 feet apart.  It was perfect!

We played hard and packed so much into this one week...

and of course, we feasted on lobstah...

and made awesome new memories together...

There's so much to share, so i will be blogging for a few days about it. 

It was epic! 

If you've ever thought about a vacay to Cape Cod, i hope my posts convince you to do it.  It's such an incredible place!

We ♥ the Cape!

 

cosmic cash

i know, i know...graduation season is just about over.  But, i wanted to share my graduation cash card anyway.  I had to come up with something clever that wasn't too cutesy for all of Riley's close friends.  

The quote on the card is fitting as Riley is going to Purdue.  Neil Armstrong is Purdue's most famous alumni!  I bought pre-made blank brown craft cards and envelopes at Hobby Lobby and a bunch of scrapbook paper.  The only other supplies needed are scissors and a glue stick!  Oh, and cash.  It looks like a lot, but really it's just a $10 and a $20 folded to look like more. 

I've made a free template download that you can find here and always on the sidebar under the "free stuff just for you" button to use if you'd like to make your own.  Cash not included, LOL!

Simply print it off and cut out the shapes and trace them onto the scrapbook paper of your choice...

i used a fine point sharpie to write the quote on the card and used an exacto knife to cut the slit at the bottom of the rocket to insert the cash. 

 I did have to play with folding the cash to make it look right, but it wasn't difficult.

and that's it! 

Download your free template here and your grad gift will be one that is out of this world!

 Congrats to the Class of 2014!

 

18 years flashes before your eyes

Everything was going just great and then Riley goes and does this...

And then without notice i look over at him at any given time of the day and a movie reel of the most precious moments of his life play in my head with an equally emotional soundtrack and i'm choking back the tears. 

I see him in that cap and gown, but what i'm really seeing is him on his first day of kindergarten...

Of course, there is a kind of spoiler alert as they begin their senior year in August.  You do know how it's going to end.  With that cap and gown, parties, prom, diplomas, and tears {mine, not his}! But in August you think to yourself, oh geez...that's not until NEXT YEAR! And then, BAM!...it's May.  And, so begins the emotional roller coaster of firsts and lasts and letting go.

i snapped this pic of him doing homework at his desk in his room.  one of the little things i will miss about him is seeing him there on a school night.  In the fall, that desk will be empty.

Last day of school...last time i will kiss him on a school day morning, standing at the front door telling him "i love you...drive carefully!" as he says "i will mom, i love you, too!"

ever.

The letting go.  I wrote about this when Katie graduated.  It's palpable.  It needs to happen.  It's the way it's supposed to happen.  But, it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt your heart.  This sweet, funny, snuggly little boy is a man now.  He used to need me to tie his shoes, tuck him in, hold his hand and wipe his nose (ahem, and other things).  And now he's driving, shaving, dating and leaving home in 2.5 short months. 

I'm telling you people, with little people still in the business of growing up.  This will happen to you, too.  And, you will vaguely remember me warning you about this.  Because in the right now, your life is messy and loud and you're breaking up fights over barbies, the xbox controller and who gets to ride shotgun in your mini van and really, you're just trying to use the bathroom without someone yelling your name.  But, i promise that one day, your little people will grow up like mine and you will miss all of that. 

We had a little party for our Riley, which we co-celebrated with our next door neighbors.  When we moved to this house, Riley was 2 and Nick, next door, was also 2.  They have been best friends ever since. 

We have embarassing photographic proof.

We capitalized on this when decorating for the party, which we held between our two yards...

table centerpieces (pics of Nick are on the other side)...

we lucked out with the most perfect weather.  We recycled the picture frame photo booth from Katie's grad party...

 It's been so much fun watching Riley and Nick grow up together.  They have a really wonderful group of friends. We got them all together for pictures the day before graduation. 

What a priviledge it is to be your Mom, Riley.  I am so very proud of you and the young man you have become.  There is so much excitement and wonder ahead for you!  Here we go!

i love you, Ri

"say woo-hoo"

all signs point to...

i see pickets in my sleep. 

seriously, i've painted thousands of them.  Sold hundreds of sets.  Everyone asks similar questions, so i thought i would take a little time to address the most frequently asked questions here.

 

What's the most popular location requested?

I would say definitely, DisneyWorld.  But, NYC, Las Vegas and Key West would come in close behind. 

What's the most unusual location requested?

Oh, there have been many places that are takes on songs such as "St. Somewhere" and "Margaritaville".  Sometimes people request their hometown bar, their backyard, Grandma's house, etc...

We've done a few magical or make-believe location signs...like this one...

All pickets are completely personalized.  You supply the places and mileage. 

What font is that?

That folks, is my own handwriting.  Not a font.  The pickets are not stenciled.  They are 100% hand lettered and hand painted.

Can i request fewer than 10 pickets or more than 10? 

YES!  You simply send me a message telling me how many you'd like and i will create a custom listing just for you.  To find out how much that might cost, just know this:  each individual picket is $7.50.  You do the math. Shipping costs will vary based on your quanitity. 

Can i request colors?

YES!  Some folks want them all one color, or don't like a certain color, or want the picket with their alma mater to be in their school colors... simply send me a message with your order.  It's never a problem. 

Do you sell the post that they hang on?

NO!  It would be super expensive to ship those out and i would need a forklift to carry them into the post office.  We suggest a landscaping timber that you can buy at the hardware store works best.  We even pre-drill the screw holes for you. 

 How long will they last?

Well, that depends on a lot of different factors.  The biggest factor is the climate in which you live.  If you live in a very wet or very sunny climate, your sign may weather faster.  If you live in a climate with harsh winters and you leave your sign outside, your sign will weather faster.  This is why we recommend that you re-apply a clear coat on your pickets once a year.  (you can buy an inexpensive clear coat spray at any hardware store).  We also recommend that you remove your sign from the outdoors in the winter, if you live in a harsh winter climate.   These are actual wood fence pickets; they will weather just as an actual picket fence would. 

My hubby actually planted a wide pvc pipe in the hole where we put our sign.  He put some pea gravel in the bottom of it.  The sign post easily slides in and out of the pvc pipe seasonally and that way we don't have to re-dig the hole each spring before we put the sign up.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

So, there you have it!  If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to message me.  I'm a real friendly girl.  Let's chat.

Katie took that picture of me with the pickets.  On my garage floor.  If you drove by our house and saw what we looked like while she was taking those pics, you would have laughed. 

Or sped away faster. LOL

To order your very own Favorite Places Directional Yard Sign, visit my etsy shop here!