The October Ocean...

Feminine Friday: Add Classic Style to the Small Wardrobe...

Earlier this week I read an article on Small Notebook entitled Add Classic Style to the Small Wardrobe. As I have written about before, I really like having a small wardrobe. Every few months, I try to inventory what I have and over the course of the season I try to save up for one or two items to add to my wardrobe. I really enjoyed reading about the clothing and accessories that Rachel brought on her trip to Italy (she was there for winter and spring). I thought that it would be fun to list the things that I have in my cold weather wardrobe.

Tops
4-5 Long sleeve Shirts
5 Tank Tops for Layering
3 Sweaters or Cardigans

Bottoms
Leggings
French Walnut Corduroy Trousers
Dark Mahogany Corduroy Trousers
Denim Skirt
Acorn Wool Skirt
Chocolate Wool Skirt

Outerwear
Rain Coat
Wool Car Coat
Wool Scarf, Hat, and Gloves

Footwear
Black Boots
Rain Boots
Stockings, Tights and Warm Socks

Accessories
2 Scarves: Violet and Chocolate
Handbag: Camel Leather handbag
Jewelery: Drop Earrings, Cross, Wedding Band and Engagement Ring

Things to Add:
Fleece Jacket for Chilly Mornings and Cold Evenings
Sheepskin Boots
Kitten-Heeled Mary Janes
Amber Necklace

Here are some blogs that I look to for fashion inspiration:

MaiTai's Picture Book
Cupcake Caramel
The Vivienne Files

Do you have any favorite fashion blogs? What is on your list of Autumn Must Haves?

Bathtime...

One of the best times of our day is bathtime. We light a few candles, turn on the taps, and let the troubles of the day sink away in lovely warm water! The children spend as much time as I will let them soaking. They play with seashells and rocks, pour "tea" for one another, practice dunking their heads under water, and on and on! Once they are good and pruny, I love wrapping my warm sweetly-smelling babies up in their hooded towels.

Our days aren't always predictable, but making time to decompress with this little ritual really makes a difference in our bedtime. I think as the next few months unfold for our family these routines will become even more important to us then they are now. I hope that as we become busier, we can try to make the time to strengthen these moments in our day for our little ones so that they can count on something remaining the same in their life.

Five!

Charming the Birds from the Trees is FIVE years old today! I can't believe it!

It has been wonderful getting to know all of you! Thank you for your friendship!

Lovely Links...

Button now has an amber necklace! It is from Inspired By Finn and we really like the quality!

Check out these red wool mittens! Martinmas, perhaps?

Speaking of Martinmas, aren't these lanterns beautiful? I have a lovely bit of golden wool felt tucked away that would look great as a string of lanterns. I just have to get my iron back from the church (it was used to remove wax) to press the creases.

We're stocking up on these beeswax votive candles again this autumn. They burn well and make the house so cozy in the evenings.

I really enjoyed these two posts: Add Classic Style to the Small Wardrobe and The Style Guide: Comfortably Dressy

I really want to eat a BLT. Right now. :)

Send me to the links you are enjoying right now!

Well, That Was Fast!

We put in our first offer for the property, the owner countered, and we accepted within a few hours! Exciting! Thank you for your prayers!

Unanimous!

Our mission is one step closer to the beautiful fifteen acre property I mentioned a few weeks ago! Today, the parish voted unanimously to put an offer in on the home. The next few days will be busy ones... Father John and the Senior Warden have a meeting with the realtor tomorrow to sign the contact and start the process. Hopefully we will be able to get the property under contract by the 12th so that we can move on to the next step. Please keep us in your prayers!

Fall Festival...

CircleTime...

Inspired by Kyrie's circle time post last week, I've been having fun coming up with a version of circle time for our family. I hope to follow Kyrie's basic outline (Don't you love her "stir, stir, stir our porridge" and how her little ones take turns doing a fingerplay on her lap?) with our little ones a few mornings a week. Since I don't have the resources she mentions in her post, I thought that I would modify ours by using stories, nursery rhymes, songs, and fingerplays that I am familiar with. Please read Kyrie's post to see the lovely way her circle time flows... I know that you will be as motivated to incorporate it into your days as I am.

Happy Namesday, Father John!

Saint Innocent of Alaska

O Holy Father Innocent

In obedience to the will of God

You accepted dangers and tribulations

Bringing many peoples to the knowledge of truth.

You showed us the way,

Now by your prayers help lead us into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Living and Learning: October...

Faith
Protection of the Mother of God
Saint Innocent
Saint Tikhon

Homemaking
Purchase Cold Weather Clothing for Everyone
Wash and/or air out bed linens needed for colder weather
Replace Washcloths in the the Kitchen
Stock up on Beeswax Candles for Winter Evenings
Continue knitting
Make a batch of beeswax polish for wood
Waterproof Children's Boots
Switch from Summery Handbag to Leather One
Thoroughly Clean Car
Put away beach things: umbrella, blanket, towels, toys, etc.
Create autumn menu
Begin planning for December's feastdays and Little Man's birthday

Sugar Plum
Learn how to Finger Knit or Use a Knitting Tower
Work on a Good Attitude

Little Man
Work on Saying Words that Start with the /L/ Sound
Work on Listening Better

Baby Button
Keep this Little Guy Healthy!
Warm Clothes!

Themes
Leaves
Squirrels
Owls
Pumpkins

Daily Rhythms
Add Circle Time to Our Mornings
Encourage Preparation of Meals Together

Special Days
Fr John’s Namesday – 6^th
7^th Anniversary of our Engagement – 9^th
10^th Dating Anniversary -10^th
Full Hunter's Moon - 11th
Grandfather's Namesday – 22nd

Learning
Practice being still and quiet during services and prayers
Practice Venerating Icons Properly
The Sign of the Cross for Button
Nature table scene
Seasonal book basket
Create an Autumn Tree Window Display
Harvest Festival at local farm
Encourage imaginative play by not over-scheduling our days
Take the children to the nearby state park for nature walks
Polish wooden toys together
Create a toy library and donate/toss items no longer needed
Make it a Habit to Tidy the Bedroom Every Morning
Apple Picking
Visit the Beach Frequently Before it Gets too Cold
Weekly Library Trip
Take Morning Walks
Care for Plants and Bird Feeders
Visit the Pumpkin Farm
Pumpkin Day in Lieu of Halloween
Shopping for costumes for our Saint Michael's Day celebration
Consider a Sparkle Stories Subscription

Newly Illumined...

Our future sister-in-law was baptized today! May God Grant You Many Years, Heather Marie!

Happy Namesday, Mama!

I am glad that we could spend a little time with you today!

Vacation: Day Four...

Today was our most low-key day... we were so tired from our escapades on Wednesday! We had breakfast at Sabrina's, one of the restaurants recommended to us by my brother-in-law and his fiancee. Our next stop was the Children's Please Touch Museum. Though this place was pretty cool (there was a child-sized supermarket, mini hospital, and wee construction zone, just to name a few things), but it was utter chaos. Little Man looked up at me at one point and said, "Mama, this place is too crazy!" There were about a million children running rampant everywhere... after about an hour, Father John and I decided that it was just not worth it and gathered up our chicks and hit the road. Once we were back at the apartment , everyone had a little rest and then we spent some time walking around and looking at all of the sites that we saw from the tour bus a little more carefully. Dinner was yummy salad and pizza at a little restaurant on South Street and right before bedtime, we treated the little ones to ice cream! Today was the perfect last day of vacation for us!

Vacation: Day Three...

We were busy today! We started out by going to a little science museum. It was so small that we were able to see everything in an hour! The highlights there were the dinosaur bones (Little Man was thrilled!) and the live butterfly exhibit (perfect for Sugar Plum!). After lunch at Subway, we headed over to the aquarium. While Sugar Plum and Little Man really enjoyed all of the sea creatures we saw, Button was beside himself with happiness! Everything from watching the big animals like the sharks and hippos to gazing at the tiny fish and getting to oh-so-gently touch starfish was exciting to him. I think that he could have stayed there for hours! We finished up the day by taking a tour bus ride around the city and eating yummy takeout Chinese food for dinner!

Vacation: Day Two...

We started the day off by going to Joy of All that Sorrow Orthodox Church to venerate the miraculous icon of Saint Anna. The church was so beautiful and it was really nice to be able to walk only a few blocks from the apartment right to the church door!

Father John suggested that we go to visit the Franklin Institute next and so we hopped in the car and drove over to get there in time to watch an Imax movie about mummies. We toured the museum for the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon. There were many exhibits that we just right for our little ones. They really enjoyed the huge human heart, train room, planetarium, and the kid's science room.

After a little nap, we took a walk to dinner (nachos and burgers!) and then came home to play with some Legos that we bought as a souvenir at the museum today. I have a feeling that I will be asleep before my head hits the pillow tonight!

Vacation: Day One...

We began our vacation with a trip to a large zoo! Though we have a little zoo about 30 minutes from our home, it doesn't have as many exotic animals that this zoo has. Since this was our little one's first visit to a big zoo, it was especially exciting to witness the their faces as they saw animals that they have never seen in person before. Some favorites include: the lions, the cheetahs, and the otters!

Other highlights today were going to see our "hotel" (really a two bedroom apartment in my sister-in-law's apartment building) that exceeded our wildest expectations and going to a Brazilian Steak House for the first time... YUM!

A Wedding...

May God Grant the Servants of God Andrei and Lena Many Blessed Years!

Hyland's Teething Tablets are Back!!

Two things that I really count on with a teething baby are amber teething necklaces and Hyland's Teething Tablets. Unfortunately, the tablets were going through a reformulation for months and I was unable to purchase them for Button. Happily, I noticed that the pharmacy I ran into today is carrying them again! I've already purchased a bottle and I may go back to buy a few more just in case the stores in our area don't have any when we return from our vacation.

Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman...

I was clicking through the channels on the television at our hotel room (we're on our first family vacation!!) and found Dr Quinn! I haven't seen this show in years! Where has programming like this gone? I would love to find a good show to watch... What television programs do you like to see?