Summer is Here.

Memorial Day Weekend.
The official start-of-summer holiday.

My grandmother thinks it's the day we can start wearing white again.
My kids have no idea it's a holiday.

We stick close to home on summer holiday weekends.
It seems the entire tri-state area comes to Delaware.
Most people who live here just hide.
We are afraid of traffic.

We kicked off our holiday weekend with ice cream at Dolce.

Sweet little outdoor tables.
Coffee for me.
Ice cream for them.

Doesn't it look perfect?

I couldn't bring myself to post the later pictures.
Pretty sure he ate a little chocolate soaked napkin.

The smart one.


On Monday, Dad invited us over for a pool party.

He said we misunderstood the invitation.
He invited us over for the "pool opening".
I love my family.

Plan B made up for the green pool.
Dear adults: You will not be able to move in the morning should you attempt to Slip-N-Slide.

I don't think I heard from the kids for hours.
Which was good, since Dad didn't cook anything for the party.
Best Pool Party Ever.

I don't think you can celebrate a summer holiday without some sort of strawberry dish.
And since I had to make it, I decided on strawberry shortcake.
Mostly because it requires virtually no effort.

All in all it turned out pretty well.
We made fun of Dad all afternoon for inviting us to a party that didn't exist.
He said he couldn't wait for the next one.

Happy Summer everyone!!

Corn turned out to be Cute

Taking a trip is always an opportunity to find new things to bring back to the store. 

For some reason, I think I thought Iowa only had corn and houses.

I wasn't expecting good shopping, that's for sure. 

I found this GREAT store, Eden, in downtown Des Moines. 

Soaps, lotions, perfumes galore! 

Good stuff. 

Lots of it. 

Jen, the owner, was super nice.  

Shop there. It's awesome. 

Next up, Seed, also in Historic East Village in downtown Des Moines. 

Organic. Flowers. Gifts. 

Adorable!

Everything is sort of tucked in old stoves and propped up on found objects. 

Love it!

Then I walk into Found Things.  

I just discovered heaven. 

This store made me want to fill a car and drive it home. 

Wish I had. 

Mapquest confirmed I could have driven back faster than it took to fly. 

I love to fill my house with interesting, old, unique stuff. 

Not necessarily old boots, but you get the idea.  

After all my East Village adventures, we headed to Historic Valley Junction for the Big Bash. 

Mainstreet Iowa decided to do a street fair instead of the traditional food, music, fancy place version. 

Can anyone say perfect??

It is exactly what Main Street is all about. 

Thumbs Up Iowa. 

At the Bash, I met the cutest couple ever - Michael and Courtney Wagler. 

Michael is a design consultant for Main Street Iowa.

Courtney is a jewelry designer and small business owner. 

Courtney had a white tent set up with some of the fabulous jewelry.

Earthy, modern, classic. 

The place was mobbed!

We are SO excited to announce that a little bit of Iowa is headed to the East Coast!

Courtney's company Bare Root Designs has agreed to be a part of Minorbird.

I was WAY wrong about Iowa. 

I guess I hope that's what people say when they come to Delaware. 

I strongly encourage you to get involved in your community's Main Street program. 

You really can change your world.  

Check out Downtown Milford, Inc. if you're local and interested!

Golf Carts, Crickets and Airplanes. Oh my.

Downtown Milford is part of the National Main Street Program sponsored by the National Historic Trust for Preservation. 
What does that mean?

It means we work our butts off to revitalize our historic downtown, stimulate economic development and growth, support small business, and create a place where people love to gather and enjoy their community.

So, once a year, we all get together in a different city to share and learn (and maybe complain just a little) and ultimately be reminded of why we do what we do the rest of the year.

On Sunday, I left to represent our small town in Des Moines, Iowa.

I can't tell you how much fun it was to miss my connection in Memphis due to a delay.
Then sit around.

There was at least some entertainment in Memphis. 

I have never been, nor will I ever be, as skinny as this guy. 

And when you're that skinny, you deserve to be able to wear star patches on the backs of your knees. 

Then I fly to Minneapolis/St. Paul on a winged golf cart.
I don't like smallish planes.

You really begin to appreciate the small things.

Like not having to do an acrobatic move to use a paper towel to grab the door handle, hold the door open with your foot, attempt to quickly throw the paper towel behind you into the trash can, and make it out without nipping your heel in the door and having your bag smashed.
Thank you Step-N-Pull.

Then I get to run. Fast.
Barely make it to get on the LAST flight to Des Moines.
On a cricket.

I realize that there were actually about 50 seats on the plane, but it felt like five. Maybe ten.
The only thing that made it okay was that I was too exhausted to care very much.

For a place with so many cornfields, they could stand to add a few runways.
Then maybe my suitcase could have arrived sometime before 11:30 the next morning.

Plus I missed all the meat on a stick at the opening ceremony Sunday afternoon.
Jan Miller said it was great.
And I believe Jan Miller.

Finally in Iowa.
No shower.
Same clothes as yesterday.
(at least my dress was cute)







All the people you meet with and talk to and do projects with all in one place.
Hugs and handshakes everywhere.
And I do not even have a toothbrush.

I make the best of it.
No one seemed to notice and I'm pretty sure I didn't smell. Yet.

The conference turned out to be great!

Des Moines was WAY better than I expected. 

I learned a lot. 

Talked even more. 

And I really believe I am bringing home some new ideas to make our hometown a better place. 

p.s. Stay tuned for the all the juicy details of the "after hours" events. 

By the way, I am writing this blog from Detroit.
Where I am stuck because I missed my connection.
Again.

Roots. The Hair not The Movie.

It is my should-be-monthly but push-it-as-close-to bi-monthly-as-I-can hair camouflage appointment.

Sadly, you don't have to squint to see it.
Or use a zoom lens.

Off I go to Bad Hair Day to see Arlene.
She'll fix it.

But you see, this salon is really not normal.
Which is why I kinda like it.

Meet Drexel.
He owns the joint.

He is also President of the Board of Directors for Rehoboth's Main Street Program.
I like that.

Especially since I am on the Board of Directors for Milford's Main Street Program.
It must mean we like the same things.

Just a point of reference for those of you wondering what on earth he had strapped to his head.

Princess Beatrice.
"Best" hat award from the Royal Wedding.

We'll use the word "best" loosely.
That sucker is going up for sale on Ebay.

I'm always game for a photo op with royalty.
I told you Drexel and I had a lot in common.

Back to my bad hair genetics.

My hair used to fall out really bad.
And it is prematurely grey.
Joy.

Arlene convinced me to try Aveda hair color.
My hair doesn't fall out anymore.
But, interestingly, Arlene also convinced me to thin out my hair at every other trim.

Holy Moly!!
What a difference.
No more mushroom cap hair!

30 minutes and a little O Magazine for iPad later...

My hair is brown again.
For the next 30 days or so that is...

Disclaimer: There would have been a better hair photo if not for buckets of pouring rain today.

Have a great weekend!!

Beautiful Life

Some days it is easier than others. 

But there is beauty in each day.

It is easy to see when something magical comes your way, like giving your sister a life.

Other days, life delivers a gift in a package that no one wants to receive.

Don't be afraid to untie the ribbon and look inside. 

Yes, I'm talking to myself these days. 

Let's just say it has been a long week, and will be an even longer journey. 

Time to get started. 

Just Saying

After yesterday's post, which apparently had a few of us in tears,
I thought I should snap back to reality today.

Laundry.
Not a fan.

I wait as long as possible to do it.
And then when it's all clean, it takes me forever and a day to fold it all.

It seems I am far more willing to carry a baby.

Seriously.

Easy Bake Oven

We sell baby stuff. 

Furniture, bedding, gifts, towels, bath soap, you name it.

People always ask me "doesn't it make you want to have another baby?"

Umm, no? Not exactly.

Sure, the THOUGHT of being pregnant again makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

But the THOUGHT of being responsible for raising another child does not.

I did decide to have another baby - a business. 

It has taken all the sleepless nights, exhaustion, commitment and love that a baby does.

I'm good with that.

All that being said, a life changing event has occurred in my family. 

This is a picture of my little sister, 24 years ago, in the NICU. 

She was born with an intestinal disease for which there was no cure and all babies born before her died. 

The surgeons decided to take a chance. 

She had extensive surgery, all exploratory and experimental, as a newborn baby.

They saved her life. 

She has worn deep abdominal scars her entire life. 

But they saved her life. 

Recently, she went in for a routine ovarian cyst removal that seemed to be preventing pregnancy. 

The surgery did not go routinely.

When she woke up the news was grim. 

Due to the extensive adhesions, her abdomen is a twisted, nearly solid, wall of intestine and other organs. 

Carrying a full term pregnancy is out of the question. 

She will risk her own life and certainly the baby's life. 

Sobbing was the only appropriate response.

Can you imagine? 

Newly married, full of anticipation of becoming a mother and building a family. 

Shattered in an instant.

Anger welling over the cards life has dealt.

But without the cards she would have no life. 

In my heart and in my mind, there was no question how this would turn out. 

So, very, very soon, the genetic child of my sister and her husband will begin it's life inside my body.

I will never forget what it felt like to become a mother for the first time.

I am unbelievably honored and humbled to have the opportunity to help my only sister to have a child of her own. 

This will be a crazy journey for us both - full of laughter and tears and anxiety and hope. 

And life.

She didn't have any say in the way her surgeries went as a baby. 

And she doesn't have any say in whether or not it is safe to have a baby now.

I think she deserves the opportunity to have something go right. Just this once.

Deep breath. 

Take another. 

Holy Moly. 

Just call me Easy Bake.

I'm not the mother.

Just the oven.

Mother's Day Giveaway!

Okay, here's the deal. 

It's a giveaway! 

A real, bonafide, giveaway.

We would love to hear about your mom, your aunt, your sister, your best friend who you think is the best mom you know and why! It can be an actual mom, or someone who has been mom-like in your life. 

To Win:

1. Like Minorbird's Facebook page.

2. Leave us your comment/description of the woman you think is fantastic. 

3. Ask your friends to "like" your comment. 

Number of "likes" on your comment AND the sweetness factor of your story both matter! 

We will announce the winner at noon on Saturday!!

The Goods:

A set of earrings and matching necklace from La Vie Parisienne. 

I wear this set almost every day.

It is casual.
It is dressy.
I get a TON of compliments.

The sterling silver stud earrings are made with champagne colored Swarovski crystals.
Big enough to get noticed.
But not so big that your ear lobes droop. 

The necklace is also a large champagne colored Swarovski crystal.
Sterling silver 16" chain with a 2" adjustable section.

We can't wait to hear all the stories of the amazing women in your life!

Good luck ladies!! (and gentlemen)