This holiday I knew I needed to make my daughters time extra special. What was I to do?
Our family is south till spring. And since we've been gypsy's, Sophia made it quite clear that she needs a place to call her own.
As a determined single green mommy not only did I want to give her medicine for all of the above but I also needed to get her out of the habit of sleeping in my bed. (Mommy's medicine!)
I asked her what color I could paint her room while showing her some examples of fairy tale bedrooms online. Wanting to get an idea of her creative genius and see what would make her sleep and play in her own part of our "castle" with ease.
Needless to say Sophia didn't want pink walls or polka dots sheets or green (her favorite color) anything.
She did however scream at the sight of this:
For days later she insisted that she wanted a tree house bed with a pretty light.
Wow. Did I have my work cut out for me! Where was I ever to start?
Asking around I got quotes that was way more than I could shell out at this moment in time.
So I put it out to the universe and am excited to report that this fairy tale has a happy ending.
The first grain of holiday luck struck when I scored a bunk bed.
My friends Andrea & Jim were looking to switch out their son's bunk for something a little more age appropriate. They even delivered and assembled it while I was at work.
They knew that I wanted to make this thing a surprise and that I was working on limited time.
In speaking to Aileen & Dave Miller I inherited tree branches to make this thing have a real woods like feel. When Aileen dropped them off (saw included) my partner Selena was putting together the chandelier (which Sophia also insisted on having) that she donated to the cause.
This particular evening was my first experience with power tools. SWOON!
My girls (Selena & Aileen) really knew what they were doing and I was in awe.
We added some loose branches to the foundation of the bed. Things were on the up! But what next?
David Watkins Price threw in bed sheets that were no longer of need to him. Blue and white stripes! Perfect!
Then Tom Storm & I sat down, discussed, drew and contemplated how to go about this project with the materials gathered and budget I was working with.
Mary Huber Harwood picked up a king size sheet and some lace for me while I was putting design together with Tom. I gave us a deadline of Friday the 16th because while I so desperately wanted to suprise Sophia on Christmas my nerves were becoming shot with her sleeping in my bed and her clothes and bed being displaced from her room. You see, when Andrea & Jim put up the bed, I closed off Sophia's room with wrapping paper & a note from Santa
.....she was amazing about not peeking!
So here's a look at what Mommy and the true Spirit of Christmas delivered to our home yesterday.
I couldn't take the suspense of waiting. It was also suggested that Sophia know how much she was loved by all & how hard we worked to make her holiday wishes come true.
Santa is still coming...but until then, we are both sleeping better with visions of ...well....I'm just happy!
The end result :)
So, the moral of this blog to which I'm sharing in this space...
You really don't have to buy something new for Christmas to make the holiday special.
You can make the spirit bright by accepting gifts and time from others and making them into something magical & your own.
With the leftover branches & light fixture Selena bought I started working on my own vision for my home office (which will look something like the Mad Hatters Tea Party and a Gypsy's side show)!
In conclusion, I'd like to take a moment to firmly acknowledge that the spirit of the season & making my daughter's wishes bright was fully supported in time & love by:
Andrea & Jim Bird
Mary Huber Harwood
& finally the artist who took my vision, heard my voice & made it come to life,
Tom Storm.
I am in deep gratitude for all, coming together and making Green Miracle Magic.
You more than helped me create the best gift but you taught me more about what it means to be open to possibility and acceptance. I also got to explore my own creative on the upcycled side of things being a true Green Mom.
Letting go of ego, expectations and really welcoming community, we are blessed not only in these gifts but also in the gift of your friendship and love.
That's the best part of this entire experience and as I type with tears in my eyes - I feel so very lucky.
My wish for you is that you get back what you gave to us in three's.
And....may Santa always keep you on his nice list.
Happy Holidays to all!
XOXO
GMGB
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