by way of ney: 11/01/2011

Yesterday midday I took a break to eat my lunch and I went by my grandma's house where my mom and uncle were caring for her. As each day had passed we'd known that the end was drawing closer. Within fifteen minutes of my being there she took her final breath. There was no pain, no struggle, no discomfort. It was just as we had prayed it would be. At 91 years old my sweet sweet Marjorie Jean passed away in the presence of two generations of children she had raised and raised well.

Although we will miss her more than words can even begin to portray, the greatest gift that anyone could have allowed anyone was the life that we were able to share with her.

She was the ultimate in a nurturer and caregiver that any one could ever have or be. It never mattered who you were, if you were in her house, in her presence, she was going to take care of you. She cooked dinner for her family nearly every night, burning it often because she was distracted by helping someone with something else at the same time. Once dinner was served, she was the last one to sit down every time. Always running about the kitchen getting someone a drink, a napkin, another helping.

She was the ultimate in showing what unconditional love meant. There was not one person that she met that she didn't love and welcome without judgment. Even when she was wronged, she never held hard feelings towards that person (which sometimes made the rest of us upset that she wouldn't even defend herself). There was not one moment in my whole life that I questioned whether or not she loved me, whether or not she cared for me, not even whether or not she was upset with me. With her, you were always given a blank slate, always given a chance to start again, to try again.

Her life was focused on others. She graduated college in Michigan at a time when most woman weren't going to school. She served her country, as did my grandfather, but ranked higher than him in her service to the Navy. After being a stewardess (they were still called that), she became a nurse, naturally, and I am sure that every hand she touched knew that they were never going to be overlooked in her care. She had four children and raised my grandfather's son as her own. She had eleven grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and a lot of pseudo grandchildren in our friends and neighbors. Her daily life was planned around what we were doing and where we were going. Together with my grandpa, she would pick us up from school if needed, take us to art lessons, dance classes, soccer practice. Whatever we did, they were a part of. Weekends were filled with work around the house and in the yard and on the sidelines of our soccer games, eating her gram crackers and drinking cranberry juice.

Because of her I know what love is. Real love. I watched her as she showed it to her husband, her children, her grandchildren, any friend we ever brought into her house or introduced her to at one of our soccer games as much as one human has the capacity to. Because of the legacy that she started, my uncles and my mom were able to have the lives they have, find the loves of their life, build a family that they could love, raise, teach and continue the selflessness that she bestowed on them.

She will be forever missed and I will forever long to be with her again. However, as she said every time we left her house, this is only "bye for now." There will be another time, in a better place, that we are together again.

She left this earth one day late for her 62nd wedding anniversary date and I know William was waiting for her to arrive. I am sure that they are celebrating like mad the amazing, long, blessed life that they both had, Cat Stevens playing in the background, ice cream bowls in hand.

thanksgiving [2011]

I have abounding gratitude for:

1] my husband and his endless support, generosity and encouragement

2] my ever-affirming family

3] my distant but never-ending friendships

4] my close and consistent friends (some new, some from as far back as preschool)

5] new ventures & the new adventures that they bring

6] beautiful lifelong memories & the opportunity to create those for others

7] a house that feels like a home and a safe harbor

8] a body that allows me the lifestyle that I want

9] an new online community that I didn't know existed until a few months ago

10] not least; the GOD-GIVEN PERSPECTIVE TO SEE THE BLESSED LIFE I'VE BEEN GIVEN

gift guide: hostess

Is it really already that time you ask. Yes, it is! Because tomorrow, in America, is the day we give thanks, stuff our faces with food and our hearts with family. That means that Christmas, crazy enough, will be here before we know it. That also means that there will be lots of holiday fun going on. Company parties, family parties, cocktail parties...and the list goes on. This is only the first of many gift guides coming to you "BY WAY of NEY" but I figured it should be the first and that it should be today. (Just in case you needed an idea of something to take with you to the home of your hostess tomorrow.)

Clockwise from top left:

1] gorgeous emerald colander from Fishs Eddy

2] hemp and organic cotton bird seed tea towel from bookhou

3] custom knife with initials from Williams Sonoma

4] amazing jadeite cake stand from Fishs Eddy

(this one was actually discounted to $65 in the last couple of days! woohoo)

5] white flake sea salt (a favorite of mine) from Williams Sonoma

6] custom artisanal cheese gift box from Artisanal Premium Cheese

7] beautiful gold touched porcelain plate from Bailey Doesn't Bark

8] (in the middle) eco slate memo board from Bottle Green Homes

Be inspired to take something beautiful to someone who is hosting you!

fall foodies: banana pumpkin muffins

Since this past Sunday was rain filled and dark, I figured that we needed something to cozy us up. I'm all about making things that are good for you but I also think that things you eat should be plain old good too. A morning muffin is hardly something you'd eat if you were trying to watch your caloric intake but we weren't. We were simply trying to warm ourselves up, from the inside out, and these Banana Pumpkin muffins were the perfect treat. You might remember this post, about what to do when you find that you've left your bananas in the fruit bowl too long. Well, here is another delicious way to turn your overly ripe bananas deliciously edible: BANANA PUMPKIN MUFFINS. If ever there was a time of year to delight in these fluffy morning treats...this is it! Especially this week, when we are fast making holiday plans, these are ideal to have on hand to grab and add to your morning routine.

The recipe is pretty similar to my banana bread recipe but with organic pumpkin pie mix added. Here is what you need:

an electric mixer

measuring cups

a muffin tin

muffin tin liners

a spatula

1 1/2 cups of flour

1 cup of sugar

2 large eggs

one stick of butter at room temperature

1 cup of mashed very ripe banana

3/4 a can of Organic Pumpking Pie Mix

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Get ready...

[my Kitchen Aid ARCHITECT mixer... I LOVE it!]

1] preheat your oven to 350 degrees

2] place 1 cup of sugar and 1 stick of room temperature butter in mixer

3] slowly turn on the mixer and cream together

4] add the 2 eggs and whip together

5] in a medium bowl whisk together 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt

6] add it to your wet mix (already in the mixer) and mix together

7] add 1 teaspoon of vanilla

8] add your mushed bananas

9] add 3/4 of the can of organic pumpkin pie mix

10] line your muffin tin...

11] fill your muffin cups evenly

12] Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees (test with a wooden cake pick)

and...

VOILA!

I served them HOT with apple butter which took me right back to the days when my grandparents used to bring it home from Apple Country. These were seriously delicious and warm and fluffy and moist. They were perfect!

Hopefully this inspires you to whip these up for your family this Thanksgiving week! I promise, they will thank you for it!

fall favorites

[layout for by way of ney]

So there was this post about everything that I was looking forward to for fall. Here are those things in action. I really am loving the adjust of this season as well as this season in my life. A new home, a new journey, a new me.

[boots with high socks]

[early morning view off my porch]

[fallen leaves]

[hot midday treat(ment)s]

[cuddling up with my favorite throws]

[painted fall vine]

gift giving: sea salt

I LOVE sea salt...love it! If there is something with sea salt listed on a menu it is pretty much guaranteed I'm ordering it. As I think about the holidays and the gifts that I can make, I'm brainstorming about the yummy treats I can make easily, at home, that are delicious! It's no secret that I find joy in making things, if I can, as opposed to buying them. Here are some sea salt treats that look both yummy and beautiful. These three are topping my treat list for possible holiday gifts.

[chocolate sea salt lollipops]

[homemade sea salt caramels]

[chocolate chip cookie topped in sea salt]

All photos are from my pinterest.

5 things: hair

I've had a few people ask me lately what I use in my hair. That is probably only because my hair is the longest it's ever been right now (and needs a haircut). So, since you've asked...here is a 5 things about my favorite hair goodies.

1] square silk scarves: Holds it all back when you need it to. So many ways to wear it! (Watch the video how-to here.) This one is Juicy Couture and I love this ban.do one and you can also find them at your local swap meets and vintage stores. My favorite one is a vintage Chanel scarf (seen here).

2] elegant antistatic paddle brush: Good for straight and/or static prone hair.

3] goody spin pins: Makes putting hair up in buns amazingly fast and easy and holds all my hair up really well. I also love that they come in blonde or brunette. Seriously, these things are awesome!

4] shisedo tsubaki line: Changed my life forever! Smells amazing and feels even better. This mask is a life saver.

5] l'oreal elnett hairspray: Great hold with a little shine.

baby brunch

I promised today's post would be about the baby brunch we hosted for Dana, so here you have it. Yesterday seemed to come to fast...how was is Monday already. It was one of those days. Hard to get up, hard to get through. Looking back at these photos makes smile so it's a perfect day to share them.

It was the perfect mini get together. We drank mimosas with fresh squeezed oj, coffee and lemon water. We ate yogurt with berries & granola, muffins, bagels & cream cheese and fruit bowls. We smothered the mama in cute little girly things. (Dana said she didn't want presents but how can you resist the teeny tiny things for a baby girl...you can't!) Most importantly of all we got to spend the morning together.

[Tawni, Mama Dana, Me]

I knew as soon as we decided to host this little get together that I wanted to keep the table setting simple and colorful. The table covering is simple kraft paper, the place holders are paper doilies, the vases are plain clear cylinders with zig zag cut fabric tied around them and filled with all types of mums.

[the table setting]
[Emily, Amanda, Ivy]

[a variety of mums, a clear cylinder vase, fabric tie to adorn, a paper doily]

I have wanted to use the gorgeous goodies from Shop Sweet Lulu for quite some time and this was the perfect time to do it. Their product is adorable, they are affordable and they shipped SO fast!

[striped straws from Shop Sweet Lulu and hand stamped place holder doilies]

[favors; cookies in yellow chevron bags and glassine bags (from Shop Sweet Lulu), fabric strap ties, dried mums and millinery leaves]
[striped pink paper straws also from Shop Sweet Lulu]

[Meagan, Me, Mama Dana]

[Vanessa of a fashion gal & a fireman, Ivy, Meagan]

[Mama Dana with the cutest baby girl outfit ever (vest embellished by Vanessa) & Jess]

[my bucket o' goodies for the baby girl]
[cutest trapper hat ever, cutest book ever, striped hoodie towel & more]

[Vanessa, Meagan, Me, Tawni, Jess, Dana, Emily, Amanda, & Ivy]

life simplified

Life this week has been challenging at best. As you know from this post, I just lost my grandfather (my dad's dad), and as you know from this post, we went to his funeral last Saturday (on my birthday). I truthfully didn't mind at all that it happened to be on the same day. The way that I feel about it, life is bigger than birthdays. Birthdays are great reasons to celebrate, don't get me wrong, but I'm not someone who feels that the day of my birthday should be all about me. So that was last weekend...

Then came this Monday, my grandma (mom's mom) who is ninety-one years old, and who's goal was to live to the year 2000 (we're almost 12 years past that people!), had to go to the hospital with some seriously ailments. By Monday night she was fully sedated and on a ventilator. A great friend of our family who has been a nurse for a long time, calls my grandma her mentor, and helped us through the trial that was my mom's dad's death, thought for sure my sweet Marjorie wasn't going to make it. We were at peace with that knowing that she lived an amazing and long life. Now, tonight, she is doing much better. Breathing on her own, no longer sedated, talking again. We don't know how, we just know that she is. Miracles people...seriously.

All of that on top of all the rest of life that must go on. All I could keep thinking was that I needed to work as much as I could and log as many hours as possible at the Pilates studio so that if, or when, she passed I could be there.

The real story here though is about all the things we typically surround ourselves with and all the things that we typically spend our time doing. We do so much, thinking, hoping, and even praying that it will some day make us happy. I realized in these crazy days when all you can do is take care of your basic needs and be there for the people in your life, that those things we've been given are the only "things" that can make us truly happy. I hope that the quote above gives you some perspective, as it has for me, that we really do already have everything we really need. Our families, our friends, the people we choose to have in our lives are priceless. The time we have is not guaranteed but that love and happiness that we can share with each other is. Go love on someone who loves you and needs you.

Don't forget that today is the last day to enter the GIVEAWAY!

Maybe you can send a real "snail mail" card to your grandma.

xoxo

it's a wrap!

I know it's still November but since the holidays are around the corner, and there will be lots of wrapping to do, I thought I would share a gift wrapping idea with you. I did this for one of my girlfriends birthdays a few months back and it would be great for the holidays too. It is cheap, colorful, easy and festive. You can choose any color yarn you want and for the holidays you could even incorporate doilies with it, jingle bells, or a small ornament. A photo ornament as the gift tag would be great tie in.

what I used:

kraft paper

three different colors of yarn

a pom maker

manila tags

what I did:

wrapped the present as per usual

started with the first type of yarn (grey flecked) and wrapped it around the gift in a wide and open pattern

then wrapped the second yarn (bright multicolored) more densely and narrowly towards the middle

tied on the pom I made from the third yarn (bright solid pink)

then I wrote a note one manila tag and slid it into the area created between the yarn and the box

for the smaller box I cut the top off another manila tag and wrote a short personal note

[kraft paper and yarn]

[the yarn will create a perfect pocket to slip a card or note in]

[make it personal]

How fun, right?!?! If you have any questions about what I used or how, let me know! Any other touches that you can think to add are always good. Just make it simple and personal.

Also, don't forget about the GIVEAWAY...not much time left!

a girl can dream: [golden lining]

[layout for by way of ney]

When it comes to stuff for my home, I usually love things to be part of a whole (ex: all white or all grey) and then to have pieces that add a bit of color or a bit of flare to the whole. In my kitchen most of the plates, bowls, and mugs are plain white. It makes for gorgeous and organized cupboards. However, after a while it can be a tad bit boring. The perfect solution is to have one set of mugs, or one set of plates, with a color or pattern to add to the mix. The other thing that I love to incorporate is textured kitchen tools, like a canister of wooden spoons or enameled kitchenware.

These two pieces are the perfect solution to a kitchen that needs a tad bit of spicing up. This fox inkblot mug is from CultureLabel. I love it for the graphic image in black and white and especially for the gold rim. The reason I was first drawn to this set of mugs (fox, rabbit, butterfly and horse) is because they were designed after the classic Psychology Rorschach inkblot tests, and I was a psych major. Then there is this hex opener for bottles from Iacoli & McAllister. I love the solid brass matte finish of it and the genius design. My husband also loves this opener so maybe I need it so when it gets left on the counter I won't mind. Ha ha.

Also, don't forget that you have until Friday to enter the GIVEAWAY!

paper

"Only on paper has humanity yet achieved glory, beauty, truth, knowledge, virtue and abiding love."

-George Bernard Shaw

Lovelies, this should have been one hint that I love making cards from scrap paper and little tidbits that I find. If there is something special that gives me a chance to make a homemade card, I'll take it. There are reasons that would be obvious to make something special for someone, but an any day "I love you," "I'm thinking about you," "I appreciate you," goes a far way to give someone something to smile about. Below are two cards that I made for birthdays. Be inspired to make something pretty for someone you love.

Follow these steps...

[start with the basic papers]

[add some great flare]

[make it personal with your message]

[tie the theme together on the envelope]

Repeat as necessary...

[a happy working space is always a good thing.]

[the best part should always be your authentic and sincere message to the recipient]