Well, hello friend.

When we first began We Chirp (oh so long ago), we really wanted to bring our readers good stuff, coolio content. Great music, great finds, great dialogue and great guest bloggers. And not just any guest bloggers, but ones that we admire and enjoy ourselves. So far, so good - great, in fact. I'm pleased as punch with our content thus far. And to add to our track record, I bring you Danyelle who writes and creates over at Dandee. I've been reading her blog for a while now and what has struck me most is how she doesn't depict anything with a nice, thick dusting of sugar-coating. Just real, down-home lovin'. I love to see that some other mom is having a hard time with their daughters' messy drawers, it makes me feel a little less inadequate and a little more like we are all in this together. What I love more is the cheerful and honest manner in which she approaches life. Wife and mother to 4 with one on the way, she juggles numerous balls in the air - and you can tell loves each one of those balls madly. She lives in the great state of Washington, grew up wanting to be Martha Stewart's right hand gal, is a self-declared water snob (no tap for this lady), would love to have her own brick and mortar store someday. Oh and she loves the color green (you, danyelle, need to come visit - my living room is kelly green, you would love it). Dandee is with us for a series of posts this week and we at We Chirp are grinning from ear to ear. Enjoy. And of course, make her feel welcome.
~ mavis

I'm not very good at this. You know, the guest blogging gig. My mind has been racing since sweet Mavis and Dove asked me to contribute to their darling new blog. What should I say? I'm not a writer! Does anyone really want to hear what goes on in this brain of mine? And then it occurred to me. Maybe this little experience is more for me than any of you. I have to admit that I'm not a deep thinker. I very easily let things roll off my back. I don't over analyze. I don't obsess [unless it's over a project I want to create]. But sometimes, I think it's good to analyze. Even obsess over the things you are passionate about. And trust me. I have plenty of things in my life to be passionate about. So this week friends, expect to hear a bit of the things that make me happy. That give me butterflies. That I simply can't do without. And if you think we have some things in common, please come and visit me on a regular basis over here or here. My door is always open and I would love if you came for a visit.

But first things first. Mavis very kindly introduced us at the beginning of this post. The most important things she mentioned about me is that I am a wife and a mother. These two words make me tick. They keep me sane and grounded and so very happy. Aside from these, the word that best describes me, I hope, is creative. I love to make pretty things. I MUST do it. For my sanity and for all that is right in the world I HAVE to make stuff. I celebrate when something inspires me.

Unfortunately, with this desire, no, need to create I am often asked a question. A question that at times, has made me cringe. "How do you find the time?" "How do you keep up on it all?" I have had a few people make innuendos about how surely something is amiss. I MUST be ignoring something important so that I can do the things I want to do. I'll admit, there are days when the laundry goes unfolded. I get rings around my toilets. The carpet is screaming for a good vacuum as I type this. But I have happy children. And a happy husband. And frankly, I'm happy because I allow myself to do some things that I love.

I have learned when I am asked questions of this nature to simply reply, "People make time to do the things they want to do." And I truly believe that. If someone likes reading, they make time for it. I love to create and nest and browse through magazines looking at inspiring things, so I make the time for it. These activities fill me up. In doing them, I am being true to myself and my interests. Not neglecting my family. There is a balance that we must all find and like everyone else, I struggle with that balance. When I devote everything I have to my family, I day dream about the projects I want to work on. When I'm working on a project, I feel guilty about the things I could be doing for my family. Finding the balance between these two passions is an everyday endeavor. An endeavor I feel I am slowly conquering.

And that my friends, is something worth celebrating.