just the girls: disneyland through a little girl's eyes - my baby turns 3

the day i found out i was pregnant with our baby number 4 was the exact same day that we found out that Mike had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

it is remarkable how the Lord's timing works out

that night after sitting on the sofa as Mike retold the unbelievable news that the doctor had delivered to him

i was overcome with grief and disbelief

one of the boys needed something for their class that required me to go to the store

as i drove the van, the tears came harder than ever before

i had to pull off to the side of the road for my safety

as i sat there shoulders heaving up and down and my body shaking from my sobbing

i recalled the beautiful news i had received earlier that day

we were going to have another baby

i had suffered a miscarriage recently and so the thought of losing another one due to stress that i was perhaps inflicting upon this new spirit from this emotional breakdown caused me to pull myself together

for this little life

living for another's life saved me from collapsing with agony

in the months ahead i continued to believe that i would have another little boy

i love my boys

i adore my boys

but my yearning for a girl began to emerge as i thought about mike's condition and the future that lay ahead

my most intimate thoughts and prayers revealed to my Father in Heaven a desire for a baby girl

not for typical reasons

i wanted a girl so that together we would be able to take care of Mike in the future

its not to say that my boys would not attend to their father whom they love dearly

but there is just something unique about a daughter's love and care for her father

three years ago today my little baby girl arrived into my arms

Felicity

a word meaning happiness and bliss

Felicity Gail

although i had had an ultrasound that revealed that this baby was a girl

i harbored doubts throughout the remainder of my pregnancy

after the delivery my first question was 'is it a girl?'

yes, it was sweet baby girl

i have thoroughly enjoyed having another girl in the house

i tell you after 3 boys it has been a completely different world

one that i have had to allow myself to embrace

i would consider myself girlie but not to the extent of some

in the beginning when her personality began to show through, i had to embrace the fact that felicity loves princesses, tutus, and pink

now i find it endearing

though i still find myself trying to reel some of it into my control

offering red over pink

a red headband over a pink jeweled crown

or a navy and white striped dress over a sequined ball gown 

its growing on me 

and how could it not when its dressing up that little face and self

and when she twirls and sings and dances with delight

Felicity is rather independent and strong willed

which actually describes every one of my children

but she is unique in being the baby and the only girl

Daddy's surely not going to mind

he is wrapped around her little finger

there are many events that occurred last year which due to the difficult events

did not get posted here on my blog

i regret that

but don't see how it could have been prevented

what i do want you to know was that amongst the difficulty we still sought out and found joy

one such event was

felicity and i heading to disneyland just the two of us

it was a completely new experience for me

seeing the park through the eyes of a little girl

we paused at places that we would have normally walked straight by with all of the boys

flowers

the princess castle

the princesses themselves

anything pink

we made our way to Snow White's wishing well

this little visit to hear the sweet song of Snow White sparked one of my most favorite habits of Felicity's 

the singing of the wishing song

a-ha-ha-ha-ha    a-ha-ha-ha-ha

i'm wishing    i'm wishing

for the one i love

it is seriously one of the most adorable things i have ever witnessed

our day was delightful

with the addition of her cousin

we headed out to see the princesses

something she continues to talk about every single day

which makes standing in line for literally two hours worth it

and i have come around to embrace the princess phase

blue sequined ball gown and all

for i know it won't last for long

those little toes will be trying on high heels soon enough

happy birthday baby girl

you've brought fairytale magic into our home

will you join me in making baby blankets: 35 for 35 years

a little bundle

a precious perfect soul wrapped up in a soft sweet blanket

here is my baby girl, Felicity Gail, just days old

tomorrow she turns 3

a little girl she becomes but forever my baby she will be

imagine a newborn babe and most often a receiving blanket is somewhere in the picture

receiving blankets to give them security and comfort in this big, new world 

for our sewing class this month 

i would like to invite you to join me in making receiving blankets for newborns born at our local hospital

the place we would like to imagine as one where only life begins

but we know that that is not the case

for such is the circle of life

this hospital is the one which we frequented so often those many, many months with my Daddy

this hospital is where we said goodbye

i am grateful for so many caring doctors and nurses

and this is an opportunity for me to give back

on the eve of my 35th birthday {yep, you heard that right...yes, i'm feeling it}

i will be hosting our sewing class with a goal of making 35 baby blankets with your help

i will be championing a local Boy Scout, Landon Brewer, who has chosen for his Eagle Scout Project to make and donate 200 blankets to one of our local hospitals by April 1st

here he is delivering the first blankets that he made to these appreciative nurses

he says:

i decided to make receiving blankets for a local hospital because i love babies...i chose to do this because my sisters both had to give the hospital receiving blankets back when they checked out.  one nurse even took it off the baby in the parking lot!...yes, i have made some myself, three so far, my first sewing experience. yes, they are that easy!  if you would like to help me by making one or more please do!

well landon, we would like to help you collect 35 more blankets for your project

this is the perfect beginner's project if you are just starting out

or if you are a veteran come help me whip some of these up

join heather and i

at my home

my 35th birthday eve

to make 35 baby blankets

March 19th

6:30 - 9:30 pm open house style

leave a comment below with your email address and i will contact you with my address and directions

bring 

your machine

two yards of baby flannel - washed and dried - can be two coordinating prints or the same on both sides

thread - matching or contrasting

beginner's don't be afraid

i will help you out step by step

be apart of something that will warm your heart and the body of a sweet newborn

there are so many of us who are blessed and showered with gifts as we welcome our own into this world

but others may not be so fortunate

and being able to leave the hospital with a soft blanket of their new child's very own will show them that the world is a good place

full of lots of people who give and love

won't you join me

the liebster award and divulging 11 random things about me

the liebster award
liebster, (liebste) meaning kindest, dearest, beloved, cute, endearing in German.

an award given to you by a fellow blogger
i feel honored to have been bestowed this award by my outrageously talented friend Amy from Commona-My House
you remember her
my dear friend whom i was invited as a guest blogger for my Holiday Family Feud Game
someone who has continually given me inspiration and encouragement as i seek out my lofty goals with my blog and as a mother
she has been my champion

the liebster award is a blogger to blogger, peer award, used to highlight up and coming, smaller, lesser known blogs that are less than 6 months old and have less than 200 followers. liebster is an award that you accept with an intention of paying it forward. 
Amy passed on this award to me because although I have been blogging since 2006, she knows i am in the process of re-birthing my blog so to speak, giving it a new life.

When you accept your Leibster, you must pay it forward and nominate other bloggers that you would like to award. 

So, here are the guidelines for the award:

1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.

3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.

4. Choose 11 new blogs you love and link them in your post.

5. Please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you!

{i wonder if 11 is a lucky number in Germany}

this is how i will follow this award since that is how it was explained to me, 

but for those nominated by me, 

see my grace-given adjusted guidelines at the bottom of the post

i will now proceed with the divulging of some random facts that you may or may not know about me 
Briana Johnson
blogger here at Sweet Dreams are Made of These

the random that is my life:

1. In high school I drove a sweet stickshift maroon Honda Civic Hatchback bought in Compton with serious ground effects-we're talking pavement scrapers-, a fixed muffler - you could hear me coming from a mile away, boy did i love to hear the gears shift-, heavily tinted windows, and a removable steering wheel. Yes the steering wheel came off as a security measure.  
turn a knob, twist the wheel and pop, off it came.  Oh how I loved that car til my brother drove it into a fence. 

2. I am California royalty.  I am ninth generation Californian with my great, great...grandfather being Jose Dario Arguello, founder of Los Angeles and governor of Alta and Baja California.  Our family used to own much of California. If only they would have had the foresight to hold on to it, I could have oceanfront property in La Jolla.

3. Mike and I met in August, were engaged in October, and married in January!  What??!!
Yes, it happened.  I was swept up I tell you.  He laid on the charm thick and I bought all of it.  It was all true.

day 1 of our marriage:  La Jolla, CA

we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary this past January.  click here for photos of us throughout the years.  and with 14 moves in 15 years, we're intense

4. I was robbed by some gypsies in Spain.  I was ambushed to buy a flower for una peseta, una peseta.
Before I knew it they were gone and so was my money.  I cried at a nearby cafe and our sweet waiter who didn't want their thievery to be my impression of Spaniards, bought me a beautiful embossed ring from a neighboring shop... yes, I was crying there for a long time.  Well, that experience did not deter me from traveling.  I have a constant yearning to travel.  
my travel log has included: Paris, the French Riviera, London, Oxford, Barcelona, Italy and Mexico City

5. I am extremely accident prone...oh the stories I could tell or my family for that matter.  I knocked out and swallowed my front teeth when i was 8 by tripping over a step at 7-11. i got my shoe stuck under the door while saying goodnight to my date.  i cut through my arm to the tissue while trying to trim a thread from my sleeve, the list goes on...
people often say, 'it could only happen to you' or 'don't hurt yourself'
i have been affectionately named 'Amazing Grace' and during the Kevin Costner 'Dances with Wolves' era I was dubbed 'Runs into Walls'

holy cow this is long....

6. While speaking in front of my church congregation and sharing a message about our Lord and Savior, a haggard looking man who had walked in from off the street stood up and began approaching me, loudly proclaiming to be Jesus.  I'm pretty sure it wasn't him.

7. I love teaching others! I love seeing that light in their eyes when they are grasping onto something new, when they begin to think, Yes!, I can do this!!  I have taught many different subjects in my life including yoga, crafting, sewing, Spanish, film, floral design, and currently have the best teaching job around, Sunday School teacher to 16, 17, and 18 year olds!

8. Being surrounded by bold color makes me happy, whether its in my wardrobe or in my house.  Color is king.  I love one and all.  I'm not afraid of it.  My response to the 'oh i could never wear that' :  If you're confident to walk out the door with it, you can make it work.

9. Family room dance parties are an everyday occurrence.  We are music junkies over here {and Spotify addicts}   Music in the kitchen, music in the car, music upstairs.  My kids have some serious moves.  It makes me light up to see my children love to dance and listen to music.  Something that has been passed down from my family growing up.  We still love to get together and dance.  Hiring DJs for our family gatherings is extremely common.

10.  I love moments when I can escape and be a kid: slip and slide escapades, ultimate frisbee, Mother May I, relay games, cannonballs in the pool, water balloon fights, Disneyland, pogo sticks, Chinese firedrills

***

11. A mix-tape of my life, Side A:
September- Earth Wind & Fire
Grace - David Tolk
Together Forever- Rick Astley
Dreams-Cranberries
To Be With You – Mr. Big
Estoy Aqui - Shakira
Groove Is In the Heart – Dee-lite
Canon in D – Pachelbel
Come What May – Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor
When You Say Nothing at All- Ronan Keating
Sweetest Thing – U2
Only You –Yaz
Come Back Down - Lifehouse
Stolen – Dashboard Confessional
You Are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne
Remind Me Who I Am- Jason Gray

{read more random facts about me here or a brief biography here}

are you still here...
serious props to you if you are still reading this.

Intermission
'Stronger' by Kelly Clarkson playing in background
toast some pop tarts or grab some junior mints
and let's hit it

if you haven't gotten enough of me yet,
here are the 11 questions Amy has asked me to answer:

1. What is your dream home?
oh that's a toss-up:
either an oceanfront home in La Jolla or a flat in Paris
both would need a deck to be able to take in the sights and sounds of the view
but really if it was up to Mike and I we would have a modest home here in the States and then travel abroad giving our children an international education

2. What is your favorite song and why?
this is forever changing as one of my favorite hobbies is to discover new music
right now the song that transports me to another time is
'grace' by david tolk
this beautiful piano piece immediately brings me back to being a little girl holding hands with my daddy
when i hear this song, i somehow imagine my life as a child being played back as if on a reel of projector film with those lines streaming down it, no sound, just a little girl running and playing with her father
i can not refrain from crying each time i listen to it
oh how i miss holding his hand

3. Who is your celebrity designer alter ego?
i'm not sure if Elsie Larson of a Beautiful Mess has reached 'celebrity status' quite yet, but i choose her
everything she does is beautiful
the first night in Minnesota I was with Jessica from Jeff Loves Jessica Photography and she told me that she and her friends had termed the word 'elsish' to represent anything fabulous.  love it!!

4. What is your favorite blog post you have ever done and why?
my blog is such an eclectic collection of topics, mimicking real life i guess you could say so it is difficult to chose just one
on the personal side, i guess mine would be 'in pieces',
i am such a visual person and in writing this analogy, it helped me to work through some of my life's difficulties and see how things could fit back together
on a lighter note, i would say 'back to school photoshoot', these photos capture this time in our life and i want to hold tight to it

5. What are 3 of your favorite blogs and why do you love them?
a beautiful mess - the creativity that comes from these gorgeous sisters is inspirational
pugly pixel - my dream of being a graphic designer is lived out through her amazing tutorials for photoshop
a subtle revelry - the art of merrymaking, isn't that such a delightful tagline

6. How long have you been blogging and why did you start?
i started Sweet Dreams are Made of These way back in 2006 when blogger was just a baby.  having moved away from my family, i wanted them to have an opportunity to stay up to date on what was going on in my little family's life.  since then my blog has greatly evolved, with more changes coming soon.  i'm hanging on tight for the launch.

7. "I'll ________ if it's the last thing I do"
that would have to be a toss up between 'learn how to sail' or 'ride in a hot air balloon'
both have been dreams of mine for years.
both so dreamy
both involve feeling the wind in my face and breathing in the beauty around me
i'm there in my mind already
you're welcome to join me

8. 'Best vintage or decor find of all time'
'of all time' sounds so final, so instead my current favorite would have to be my vintage 1950s Son Chief toaster my mother-in-law bought for me after i was drooling over it at a consignment shop.
it is a similar style to Mrs. Hughes' toaster on Downton Abbey {to which an entire blog is dedicated}
smoking included

9. What is a home trend that you have tried/followed that you've regretted?
man i can't think of one
i've made some good mistakes
i can think of a fashion trend though
rolling my socks
awe. some.

10. Who is your favorite author?
being a Humanities major, i read literature from cultures all around the world
i am fascinated to see the world through such contrasting eyes
such an amazing part of my life
today's reading varies slightly to looking at the world through the eyes of my children
we are surrounded by books, books in every nook and cranny
so today i would say my favorite author would be Laurie Keller
you can not help but laugh when reading her zany tales

11. Favorite pattern?
i have been a houndstooth gal for years
the fondness of it originating from the subtle patterned suits my graceful mother used to wear.
it is a familiar pattern and one i have incorporated into my own wardrobe and home decor

well there you have it
if you read through this entire thing, i owe you lunch or perhaps a frozen yogurt topped with butterscotch chips for your time spent

now on to the part where i pass this award onto the next group of bloggers

i am also choosing to feature many blogs whom have been around longer than 6 months,
bloggers who have made an impact on my life


and the nominees are......
My new friends:
1. The woman behind the curtain at Minette and Milo
2. Brianna from Mine Style
3. Jessica from Mine Style
4. Janel from Mine Style
5. Katherine from Katherine Marie
6. April from The Power of a Family

Who I've run to for advice:
7. Leslie from My Happily Ever After
8. Cathi from Simple Sojourns
9. Amy from Our Daily Obsessions
10. Amanda from Oh My Little Dears
11. Jessica from Living the Swell Life

{Amy my nominator, from Commona-My House falls into this category}

So ladies, I'm not sure who the Liebster Award Monitor is but I'm going to be granting you some serious grace on cutting this down.
Not that I don't want to hear all the ins and outs of your life, but lets keep it a little shorter.

so here are my adjusted guidelines, 
feel free to do the whole version if you'd like

1. You must post 8 random things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
3. Create 8 questions for the people you nominate.
4. Choose 8 new blogs you love and link them in your post.
5. Please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you!

{8 is my lucky number}

My questions for you to answer are:
1. Head to toe, what is your favorite outfit you own?
2. What is your favorite song and why?
3. What is your favorite blog post you have ever done and why?
4. What are 3 of your favorite blogs and why do you love them?
5. How long have you been blogging and why did you start?
6. "I'll _________ if it's the last thing I do".
7. What current trend are you loving the most?
8. What is on your mantel?

alright ladies,
congratulations on your liebster nomination
now spill it
and make sure to comment below so we can check back on your post

come join us under the State Farm umbrella

since leaving Apple there have been a few more bumps in the road career-wise for Mike than we had anticipated

but my words back then still ring true today

the bitter + sweet ending of jobs past has brought us that much closer to our hopes for Mike

that he would find a new job that would allow him to not be completely knocked out from exhaustion and pain each and everyday, a job that would allow his skills and abilities to be unrestrained in their reach-yes, he's got skills!, a job that would be more conducive to the schedule of a growing, young family

and as his Multiple Sclerosis progresses, this job description continues to be increasingly essential to our family's ability to function and succeed 

we are beyond thrilled that stars have aligned and heaven's blessings poured down, and that this seemingly illusive job has become a reality for our family

a job with a future for us even if health wise the MS does the unthinkable

i invite you now to come join with us in this new career

for you have a large part in our success as well

a symbiotic relationship at its best

come join us under the State Farm umbrella

MS has led to some eye-opening perspective changes for both of us, i finally coming closer to acceptance.

this new reality that progressively comes with new physical limitations

+

Mike's lifelong passion for life and financial planning...not to mention his tendency towards going against the grain and challenging conventional wisdom

=

new career with State Farm Insurance

although life and financial planning has been a lifelong hobby of learning for him, he has spent the last 8 months training and learning on the fast track 

in large part due to my incredible brother, Luke, whose agency Mike is managing

Mike wants your business

he's someone you can trust

someone who will be there

i give my full-hearted ringing endorsement

its more than just insurance.  

auto & fire = yes!  -- but also Life Insurance, Financial Planning, 401K Rollovers, Health/Disability options, Long Term Care insurance, and banking options!

Mike can help you 

manage your risk

recover from the unexpected

and realize your dreams!!

please reach out to him.  he wants to be your advocate and advisor:

• Life Planning
• 401K Rollover
• Retirement
• Banking {Mortgage, Auto Loans, Checking and Savings, Credit Cards}
• Business Insurance
• Auto Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Home & Renters Insurance
• and more

he would love to have a chance for your business
to put the protective umbrella of State Farm over the ones you value the most

you know of his determination in the face of difficulty

you know he will work that hard for you

so for those of you who are a California neighbors please

call or text him at 951-249-4577

email him at mike@dixinsurance.com

tweet @leachwoodmile

visit their website at www.dixinsurance.com

visit their facebook page

those of you in other fine states
we encourage you to contact your local State Farm agent

we have been the recipients of a great many of your prayers and service over the past few years

and we thank you

i know that we can count on you in supporting us in this latest and promising endeavor

this message has been approved by the 'Mike Johnson for your Life Protector' campaign

i'm briana johnson and i approve this message

minnesota be crafty retreat: meeting the girls

well it all started with a dear mutual friend and a birthday blog post from two ladies that i instantly fell for

Jessica from Jeff Loves Jessica Photography and Amanda from Oh My Little Dears

for Amanda's 30th birthday these girls created a road trip of 30 gifts of kindness for 30 strangers

leaving in random places small gifts, including candy bars, popcorn, lottery tickets, and my favorite, a gift card in a baby changing station with a note thanking the mom for being strong and an awesome mom.

tell me you wouldn't want to be friends with these girls!!

{read more about their gifting adventures and see the dreamy cake over here and here}

one thing led to another

pretty sock partners we became

jump ahead 4 months 

and through the generosity and belief of my mother that this could be just what i needed

i was on a plane to Minnesota...smack dab in the middle of winter

for a splurging 5 days of meeting these incredible women and playing at their Be Crafty Retreat

here i am in my California coat, with my world traveling mother's snow boots and winter's coat in my carry-on

exiting the plane onto the jetway i felt a brisk rush of cold reality sting my skin

looking outside i saw the trail of breath being exhaled by anxiously waiting pedestrians

out came all the winter gear

i actually prefer dressing for the cold

more layers and accessories to add

jessica graciously picked my freezing little California self up from the airport

she was just as i had imagined

warm with a soothing voice and a twinkling gaze that lets you know that she's sincerely interested in what you are saying and immediately makes you feel at ease

instant friends

our adventure began in a typical fashion

first stops to the universal go-to shops,Target and Jo-anns

{did you know that Target was started in Minnesota, apparently Corporate Headquarters is pretty sweet}

Jessica had her list which included sewing machine needles

we met the happiest employee of Jo-anns that ever there was

we learned more about sewing machine needles than either of us ever knew was possible

this happened over and over again,

everywhere we went, from the bakery to the party store to the grocer

people were overly helpful and neighborly chatty

i came to learn that what i was experiencing had a name and a reputation

it is called 'the Minnesota Nice'   {its even got is own wikipedia entry}

i wonder what the name for the California experience and reputation is called:)

we later arrived at jessica's charming home in a beautiful neighborhood of steeply pitched roofs, equipped with detached garages

that doesn't sound very fun in the snow

i was privileged to be there for a scrumptious dinner with jessica's jovial, attentive husband jeff and their adorable inquisitive son graham,

his Lego play and series of questions made me feel right at home

jessica gave me a little tour of their dreamy home, where character and warmth lay in every corner

antique trunks, vintage linens & dishes, and pieces which carry unique personality like this framed card that i immediately fell in love with

a 'please no sword fighting' sign definitely belongs in my home

we soon began crafting in preparation for tomorrow's Be Crafty Retreat

chatting about our favorite blogs, our families, and our histories

Jessica taught me how to make these festive tissue paper tassels

oh the possibilities

later we drove through Minneapolis and ended up at their new studio space in heart of the trending artisan area of the city

i loved the character of the worn brick walls, exposed beams & pipes, and peeling paint

a perfect space for just about anything

it will become a space for their workshops, photography sessions, and pop-up shops

at the studio i met amanda

also just how i imagined

a vibrant hugger bursting with creativity, ready to conquer the world

once again instant friends

we had our work cut out for us as evidenced by the packed to the hilt car she was driving

full of crafting supplies galore

she wasn't expecting to have to shove two more suitcases into it but with stuff under my feet and in my lap, we were able to shut the doors

we drove to this town home on the picturesque frozen Lake Minnetonka where the retreat would take place

an absolute winter wonderland

we stayed up laaaaate laughing, chatting, crafting, arranging and rearranging furniture and supplies

it was therapeutic to talk with others who understood my 'world' of blogging and creativity

first thing in the morning i wanted to walk out to the lake, the frozen lake!!!

luckily i remembered not to wash my hair before we left as i am a lazy air dry hair kind of gal

really i'm just not that patient or coordinated to use a blow dryer

can you see that i'm standing on a frozen lake

they got a kick out of my fascination with all these frozen lake related

like just hopping in your car and thinking, 'oh i need to hurry and get to the store, so i'll just drive my CAR across the lake to get there faster'

or hauling a tiny house equipped with satellite dish, generator, and propane tank out onto a frozen lake to stay the night and cut a big hole out of the ice to go fishing

unbelievable

this was all the start of a beautiful friendship

polka dot and heart shaped balloons are always the recipe for something good

Amanda

Jessica

can't wait to share with you the eye candy of my stay

prepare yourself for crafting overload

winner of the minette and milo giveaway: your entries blew me away

i am so happy to have partnered up with Minette and Milo to bring you this gorgeous giveaway

the peacock frock

having 328 entries seriously blew me away

thank you so much for your support 

and a dance of joy going out to all of you who decided you liked what you saw here 

at Sweet Dreams are Made of These and to follow my blog or Instagram 

i hope to hear lots from you

please come back and visit soon and often

without further ado

drumroll please.........

aubrey i have emailed you, so look for the message of congratulations coming your way

your little one will be donning her peacock frock soon

for those of you in second place

you just missed it by *this* much

so close

you have another opportunity to win these darling Minette and Milo JoJo Jammies over on 

Lunchpails and Lipstick

and look what arrived in my mailbox today

my surprises from Minette and Milo's 'gifts of love'

including the darling Coco Cardigan

the ruffles on this flow so delicately

and what about these adorable prints

i hope to see you back soon

let's not part ways too long

i have a few more giveaways in the works that i know you'll love

i would love to hear your favorite online children's clothing shop

you know the modern, indie kind with those pieces you just love and keep your little one dressed in style in a non-cookie cutter kind of way

oh i am so grateful for target

but there's nothing quite like original pieces to liven up a wardrobe

please share your secrets with me

smile and wave: my first ad space

sparks are flying over here

today i impulsively purchased and was approved for my first ad space for my blog

this purchase was driven by several factors

one, i have lofty goals for my blog this year with lots of exciting changes

two, one of my favorite bloggers, rachel from Smile and Wave, posted that she was having a sale on her ad space

and 'c', the ad spoke to me: "a great way to test the waters if you are a small business" or blog

so here i am lighting sparks 

and 

testing waters

and here we are smiling and waving to welcome new readers from Smile and Wave

lots of smiles

a few waves {we need to wave more}

'hi' new readers.... welcome to Sweet Dreams are Made of These

read what i blog about here

and what elements make up my family of 6 here

for my current readers

to whom i say, thank you oh thank you for coming around again and again 

head on over to Smile and Wave and play "I Spy" with me

"I Spy" with my little eye

something that says 'Sweet Dreams' {that's all i could fit on a tiny ad}

and has a blue writing instrument on it

the scene looks a little like this

but don't be satisfied with a screen shot

go see it in its real place in cyberspace

oh my word i am in the same sidebar as some of my favorite blogs:

a beautiful mess 

and cakies

what?! 

sparks i tell you, sparks

its all starting with sparks

would love to hear what your sparks are

what is your inspiration?

what small steps have you taken this year that may lead to change or a goal?

what's lighting a fire under your feet?