rainbow sprinkles

 

June is always a busy month at our house. From the end of the school year festivities, to dance recitals, to awards banquets, to the kick-ff of summer, to birthdays, it’s a hectic (albeit fun) time of year. Although I have often wished that my youngest daughter didn’t have to vie for celebratory space by having a birthday in June, I realized this year that her June birthday, if seen in a new light, is actually a gift.

I’m always mindful—as  most parents are—to be sure my kids gets rightly celebrated. That we thoughtfully choose the proper way to celebrate; serving the favorite meal, making the favorite cake, using the favorite plate, and hosting a party that fits the age and the era. Although this can be overwhelming sometimes amidst all the other activities that are jammed into June, this year, I felt like my daughter’s June birthday gave us a chance to actually slow down and focus on what matters most. Instead of feeling like it was just another thing on the calendar, it felt like the perfect respite from the chaos.

This year we eagerly and deliberately planned ahead,  setting time aside for a lovely lunch with close friends, a dinner out with the immediate family unit, and made the decision to buck our annual cake-baking tradition for a more unique birthday treat; a do-it-yourself sundae bar. I will admit, I lingered for a bit on that one. How could I possibly be OK with changing up a family tradition that hadn’t been modified since my oldest daughter was born 14 years ago? I’m not sure how. But I was OK with it. We all were. And it created just as much of a special celebration as would have come from baking a cake. By letting myself off the hook on that one (sundaes are soooo easy) I gave myself and my daughter the opportunity to add rainbow sprinkles—quite literally—to a celebration fit for a very special nine-year-old.

I’ve been wishing for ways to create a new energy around this time of year and the rest of the summer for that matter (less anxiety, more ease) and what I’ve learned is that wishes like those can come true.  All it takes is a little foresight and allowing yourself the chance savor the moment.

As we begin to wind down our vibrant month of color here at Shutter Sisters (#sscolormonth), today we have chosen to celebrate them ALL. It’s rainbow day! Rest assured, July will be bringing all kinds of opportunities to shoot and share your summer moments with us (yes, that’s a hint to our next OWP theme that will be announced on Tuesday, July 3rd) but it’s still June so let’s celebrate all the colors of the rainbow right now. Share with us every shade today!

Comments

[Marcie]

All the colors of a rainbow - yes:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/6/6/abstraction.html
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/6/24/magical-hues.html

[melissa]

I loved the encouragement to slow down and celebrate what matters.

Sprinkles here, too ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissatalbert/7458723468/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissatalbert/7458722702/in/photostream

And my girl, who brings so much color into my world ..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissatalbert/7458734496/in/photostream

[rakusribut]

my contemplative rainbow contribution

[rakusribut]

http://momentsofperception.blogspot.com

[Becs]

Have loved this happy colourful month! Happy birthday to your daughter and a lovely reminder to savour the moment.

Here are my rainbow colours:

http://www.catchingsundust.com/2012/06/rainbow-colours.html

[rakusribut]

and my rainbow collage for the flickr pool
also dedicated to you, tracey... xoxoxo

[rakusribut]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rakusribut/7459959534/in/photostream

[Karen Marie]

Tracey your post brought tears to my eyes! These pictures are from my daughter's 16th birthday, she's now 19. My boys are 22 and 23. The birthday parties and celebratoins of the years gone by came flooding to my brain after reading your post. I MISS those days....!!! What precious, happy times!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80357694@N06/7460006424/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80357694@N06/7460007504/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80357694@N06/7460010834/in/photostream/

[xanthe]

I love rainbow! http://www.xantheberkeley.com/rainbow-2/
x.

[Gabriele]

This color month has been very creative for me. Thank-you for making me see more.http://backontheflooragain.blogspot.com/2012/06/colors-of-yoga.html

[DebC]

Celebrations and traditions change over the decades.
The new ones are just as precious as the time-tested ones.
A sundae bar is a great addition to your daughter's birthday.
Or, anyone's.
Mine?

http://www.deborahcrecelius.com/2012/06/20120624-what-it-feels-like.html

[Micki]

Such a sweet and thoughtful post, you've stirred ideas that I'll be simmering on for days.
Meanwhile, here is a rainbow from a recent hike:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmvogt/7265966228/

[Carol Hart]

A rainbow of children's chair at the fair http://www.flickr.com/photos/briancarolhart/7461416946/

[dee]

a rainbow of colors can't help but be mood-lifting
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20537472@N06/7461596956/in/photostream

[Jeanne]

I captured a double rainbow from the window of my office building last year. It was so bright and made a complete arc over the city. The lens of my little phone camera couldn't capture the entire rainbow! http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeamac/7461717636/

[spread your wings]

this piece was called "restless rainbow"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5926918493/

[Edith]

Here is a rainbow of art pastels. The box did not stay so neat and tidy for long!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22616983@N05/7462511838/in/photostream

[colleen]

Yay, I made the last day. I love my hot water bottle and knitted this cover to cheer up on those cold nights!

http://colleenmcmenamin.blogspot.com.au/

[linda]

definitely less anxious and more at ease
after a few of these . . .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55092224@N08/7464410536/in/photostream

Mmmmmmmmm - YummY

[Kathleen O.]

Not the most beautiful portrait, but it represents pure glee...clowning on stage at the culmination of music camp:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/7420545414/in/photostream

[Valerie]

Kool-Aid and Playsilks
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2012/02/kool-aid-dyed-playsilks.html

[linda]

i could not decide on a single "favorite color" :)
so this brown phototo is dedicated to thehiddendoor(s)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55092224@N08/7468872420/in/photostream

may you all find Your hiddendoor, have strength and courage and be filled with wonder
enough to open it.

[Dori]

all iPhone all the way! subtle rainbow color added with Toaster app. Also rounded out the rainbow palette with the teal type added in Phonto app.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mzdori/7443392030/

[Valerie]

Swirling projections from a colored oil lamp:
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2012/06/silent-saturday-june-30-2012.html