always inspired: Birthday Wishes for my Punkin Wunkin

Birthday wishes for my punkin wunkin

My wish for you, son...


My wishes for you, my dear son, are so grand; I could fill the sea with blown out candles. Candle by candle, wish by wish, I dream of great things for you, as I imagine any mother does. Can I take you to the French country side to live, or a quaint cottage by the sea, filling your life and soul with simplicity? Can I follow you always, ever so closely, throughout your life to guard you from harm? How many pony rides and cotton candies will ever be enough for me to take pleasure in when I see that smile on your dear face? Will you run so freely, often enough, through a childhood filled with green fields and perfect skies? Can I fill each holiday with enough traditions to make you so proud year after year? Can I teach you so much and so often about the love of God‘s grace, right here, right now, all around you? Will you and I make the world around us more delightful, with each passing day? I promise, I will…


Love always and with all my heart,
Mom

A Compton Christmas

Guiltily blogging away today when I should have been straightening my toy cluttered home led to my latest inspiration. I read some amazing blogs today! Belle and Boo...oh I am so jealous! This Etsy shop has captured the glimmer of childhood in every print! I especially loved the Tooth Fairy pillows! Seriously, it was like I was on a rampage. One amazing blog led me to the next and the next after that. I stumbled in a daze upon French boutiques and vintage finds galore. I was hooked!

Further reading and clicking led me to my bff, Marie Antoinette. Here, I found the most amazing Marie Antoinette book made by four ladies across the globe. I'm still anxious to find where this book ended up. Each participated in making four pages. This is a must read blog for only serious M.A. fans. Scroll almost all the way down twinklepink's blog to find the AMAZING Marie Antoinette book.

Here I lead you to my slightly pathetic but adorably glittered red Merry Christmas toille ornament. I'm proud of its imperfections because it is shabby chic. I've definitely got the shabby part down pat. The C is for Compton. Making this little ornament today made me so excited and I felt like such a great mom. Why? I am hoping one day my son admires this little handmade treasure from his mommy, but he won't. Who am I fooling? He is a boy and his wife one day will take a look at my little ornament and she will decide it won't be good or grand enough for her tree. Sorry for the rambling... I love it, and my husband pretends to, and that is all that matters.

It's 5:00 somewhere!

I've heard this saying, "It's 5:00 somewhere," quite often lately. Most recently, I spoke with a woman yesterday that sets her clock 15 minutes before 5:00 to guarantee that it is in fact time, somewhere in the world, for her evening beverage.

Myself, I'm not a big drinker by any means. I think the last time I drank an alcoholic beverage was on my anniversary, October 19th. Carraba's makes the BEST apple martinis! As of late, I only drink them there. With a 19 month old son in tote, you can imagine how seldom I sip a beverage. However, I do have a guilty pleasure, which leads me to wonder if I can substitue icecream as my indulgence. I hardly ever buy icecream because I would wonder at 9:00 a.m...

"Can I actually eat icecream this early and not feel guilty?"
"Sure I can."

There is no better way to start your day than with Eddy's Slowchurned Double Fudge Brownie icecream. Did I mention that it's light? Then, I find myself wondering if exercise will allow me to indulge once again in the gallon of heaven, oh...let's say around 3:00, when my son is napping?

Needless to say, this gallon of icecream has only been in my freezer for LESS than 24 hours. I've found myself going there four times now within this time frame. You cannot watch Emmit and Otter's Jug Band Christmas without icecream. Can you? Well, I can't.

My newest card collection, Marie Antoinette

Recently I became very excited when I found some extraordinary pictures of Marie Antoinette. Immediately I knew what I would do with them...turn them into a card collection for obsessed fans like myself. I say obsessed in a good way. Many misconceptions continue to hang over this Queen like a rain cloud, even some 200 or more years later.

I've taken it upon myself, as did her biographers who actually delved painstakingly into researching years of French history and historical facts surrounding the queeen, to mend her reputation. Now, to my point... I made these note cards with her misconceived reputation in mind. Each card displays the untruth on the cover. Open to the inside to discover the real truth based on historical fact, not fiction. Slowly, on a very small scale and with a hint of glitter, we will begin to shed light on the true woman behind the crown. An extremely devoted mother and wife, willing to sacrifice her own happiness and life, for France.

I am BFF with Marie Antoinette

Yes mademoiselle you read the title correctly. I am best friends with Marie Antoinette's ghost. How is that you ask? Well, I have taken it upon myself to read several books about the last queen of France which I thoroughly enjoyed. Little tidbits of M.A. knowledge fill my head continually popping out of my mouth in conversation with friends. Conversation goes something like this: "Hmmmm... wow orange is such a bright color," says a friend.
"Did you know that Marie Antoinette hated orange?
She refused to allow orange into any decor." I say.

As you can imagine my friends are tired of hearing facts about this misunderstood Queen. Do they think I am crazy, of course they do, but this is something they find unique about me.

M.A. has sent me into a reading frenzy about French History. Napoleon and Josephine became a recent reading subject of mine. I love any connections to M.A. in the past or future. French culture has become an obsession of mine and all things French. Ratatouille is a new favorite movie. The Collection, the story of a young french seamstress working in the world of haute couture fashion for Chanel during World War I is a current read, and yes there are M.A. references throughout this intriguing book. Am I crazy? maybe, but I am certainly crazy in love with all things French.

French Inspiration, American Made

Inspiration can certainly spring up from anywhere. Recently, I found myself planning a party around an invitation. Have you ever done that? I seem to do this often. My son's 1st birthday theme was completely created because of an outfit he received at Christmas. I would stop at nothing to be sure that it was a sailboat party, even if I couldn't find many decorations. I made my own.

I am throwing a surprise birthday bash in honour of a friend's 30th. Pink and black and Parisian...the theme. Searching one of my favorite stationary shops at http://www.etsy.com/ revealed numerous pink and black cards. The owner of http://www.VanessaCavacoDesigns.etsy.com/ was highly accommodating and created a beautiful invitation to suit my theme. Oooh la la note cards adorned with the Eiffel Tower became my custom invitation.
Needless to say, the compliments arrived upon guests receiving their invitations in a tres chic hot pink envelope. I can't wait for my friend to finally see them. In addition, a photographer/friend of mine, with a lot of artistic taste and talent, transformed a picture of her into pink, black, and very nostalgic comic strip like. Wait until she sees it all! I think she will be so pleased with her magnifique party!
Please take a look at my latest onesie for my shop at etsy, http://www.hjcompton270.etsy.com/ I think you will see where the inspiration came from for this onesie.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7580681