Thursday, April 28, 2011

"...they rock and rock and rock to sleep..."

My under eye concealer's working overtime this week as I'm feeling a bit exhausted keeping up with work, a non-napping toddler, my growing body and (why do I always seem to have!?) mountains of laundry cluttering my bedroom.

I feel like the most productive thing I did today was to cut up an orange and to dream about napping in this bed we saw last summer in Cabo.

I am so grateful that our life allows me to stay home during the day and to be held accountable only to a 30 pound (highly energetic) little dude.  Thankfully, as long as there's juice, a working dvd player and a spot on the couch for him to cuddle with me, he's content with my "exhausted" days. 

Besides napping with a soft sea breeze, what are you daydreaming about today?

Monday, April 25, 2011

Monday Motivators

I'm swimming in deeper waters again this week to appreciate another close to my heart motivator...  I promise, shallow, cute, mundane bits will be appreciated in the future too.  :)

I've shared many times before how grateful, blessed and proud I am to be friends with and even related to (by blood and marriage) so many awesome quality people.  What I'm even more grateful, blessed and proud of is that throughout the years of friendship I've had with so many of these awesome ladies and gents, we've been able to watch each other "grow up".

Careers.
Relationships.
Families.
We are all changing.  Shifting.  Moving forward on different paths.

And although we are each living lives so separate from the other, I trust our friendship,
whether its one of many years or of many months
or whether its one that spends time together many times a week or meets after many months apart,
keeps us bond,
grounded,
committed,
appreciated,
validated
and sincerely loved.

Evan has a weak spot when it comes to watching movies or television.  Never fail, whenever a character enters a room filled with people and there's a great sense of pride and excitement and love to see that character, Evan's eyes tear up and he's lost in that moment.  My eyes tear up and I'm lost in that moment.  (Finale of "Lost", end of RUDY, etc)

"We are all really glad you are here."

I am really glad you are all here.   
Thanks for being my friend.


*P.S.  Here's the banana split I attempted to finish to motivate you this week too
{Dewar's}

Easter Treating

{Well, good morning, Easter basket goodies!}
{Enjoying morning Easter basket goodies}
{A morning rain made an indoor (super obviously hidden) egg hunt a less muddy option.}
{Eggs filled with lego pieces, blowing bubbles and ladybug watching.}
{Making time to play with "choo-choos"}
{Coming down off of Easter candy sugar highs.}

Friday, April 22, 2011

Fun with Applique (A.K.A. don't read if you're our nieces we're having dinner with tonight or you are having a baby shower tomorrow)

I've been busy catching up on a few projects this week.  A couple of them being to finish some applique and iron on presents. 

Thanks to Evan's help (he made sure to watch UFC fights while he stitched to off set the pink and purple sewing awesomeness), we finally finished the personalized blankets we gave promised our nieces we'd finish Christmas of 2009.  Better late than never.

I bought cozy, soft and super cheap bright colored throw blankets from TJ Maxx, cut out some fabric letters and stitched away.  They are a little more "rustic" looking than I would have liked, but hopefully that adds to their specialness.
{Anythings always cuter with your own name on it.}
Guess what else is super cute?
{Iron on tie onesies for a friend's soon to be born little boy}
With some iron on transfer paper, a little cardstock template and some boyish fabric, I was able to add a little something extra to that (always much needed!) target giftcard I'm giving the Mom (of 2) to be. 

And the thought of a little chubby baby rocking a necktie always puts a smile on my face.

I hope you have a great weekend celebrating easter, passover, chocolate peanut butter eggs and whatever else!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Monday Motivators (on a Tuesday)

I'm steering away from my simple list today to dive a bit deeper into what's motivating me this week.

Earlier this week I was caught up in another late night at work.  My little tired brain and my little (but getting bigger) tired body numbly went about finishing the minute detailed tasks to get ready for the next day... 

When a truth hit me, like it so often does when I'm numbly going about the minute detailed tasks- "This is my life!"

It may seem like a simple statement.  A simple known truth.  But to me, someone who often fantasizes about all the different lives I could be leading- horsebackriding in Texas, kneading bread in Tuscany, rocking a sweet peacoat in San Francisco- it's a truth my heart periodically reminds me to appreciate.

I've had moments in my life when this truth is something I'm rather terrified of.  Something I naively thought I could run away from.  Something I felt I had settled for.

Here I stand, light years away from that shaky, terrified girl.  Here I stand with achy feet, Miller taking an hour to wrangle into a fresh diaper, my laundry mountaining up on the bedroom floor, a new life about to "tornado" our settled routines. 

Here I stand.  A wife.  A mother.  A friend.  A woman.

This is my life!

I'm loving every second of it.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Spring Breakin'

I hope you didn't miss me too much this week.  :)
We've been busy soaking in some lovely spring sunshine and Evan's lovely daytime company.
{I'm working on this watercolor calendar; Miller working on the masterpiece he titled "Bread"}
{California living at it's finest- In & Out burgers and sunshine miniature golf}
{Finally organizing my jewelry space after living here for over a year.  Hopefully, this organization will get me to start accessorizing more often.}
{Antique frame + scrap of window screen spray painted white = perfect way to proudly display (part) of my earring collection.  And yes, those are a pair of unicorn earrings.}
{"COCO!! COCO!! COCO!!" He's just as tall (and, may I add, rather handsome) in person.}

{Travel Towning with some pals.}
{Loving every second}

P.S. Miller's "engineer" shortalls in the Travel Town pictures are from this great vintage kids clothing shop, Little Reader Vintage. Her stuff is too adorable to resist!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Monday Motivators

making a mess cupcakes with a great friend
(i've said this before and i'll say it again and again) finding women clothes that help them feel great about their bodies
having the day completely off from any other responsibilities when your toddler has a fever and an extremely clingy need for "mama"
netflix (creepiest movie of the year!!)
spring break mini golf monday
did i mention it's evan's SPRING BREAK!!!
"be cool, my babies!"

What's making you smile this week?

Friday, April 8, 2011

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..."

Check it out!
I'm the "Friday Favorites" blogger on A Few of my Favorite Things today.

Molly's blog was one of the first I started following simply because it's so sweet and she always has a great eye for "favorite" treasures, crafts, or moments she shares with her beautiful family. 

I'm so excited to be a piece of that "favorite-ing" today.  :)

Thursday, April 7, 2011

I may have oil splatters on my new shirt, but that soup was delish and a hit with the pickiest of non-veggie eaters

Most nights I make dinner and I think the same three things:

"Miller, you are going to eat the same food we are eating"
"Miller, you are going to love it."
"Miller, you are not giving me any sh#@ about it."

Most nights this positive thinking works.
Especially if I define "most nights" as the "nights we order pizza."

Most other nights we give in, watch a perfectly awesome plate of roasted chicken and potatoes get cold, and heat up a bowl of apple cinnamon oatmeal instead.
Most nights this positive thinking works.

Tonight, a very non-pizza night, I made a creamy asparagus soup.
Tonight, Miller ate all of it.
Tonight, I told him it was dip for his toast.

Whatever works, right?
Saute (on medium heat) 1 chopped white onion and about 2 store bundles of asparagus (cut into half inch pieces) into 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil until the onions and asparagus get soft (about 5-8 mins).
Stir in 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme. Salt and pepper (liberally).
Add 3 cups of whatever broth/water combination you choose.  Let simmer for about 15 mins.  Then turn down heat to low.
If you own an immersion blender, this is the part where you blend away.  If you're like me you scoop out all the solid bits and blend them together (in batches) in your tiny food processor.
Slowly stir in 1 1/2 cups of whatever cream/milk combination you choose.
Simmer for another 5 mins.
Slowly stir in 1 cup of instant mashed potato flakes to thicken soup.
Simmer for another 5 mins (or until your toddler throws himself on the floor and through crocodile tears begs to eat) and then ladle yourself a warm bowl of toast dipping goodness.


P.S. Anybody know any good tricks to get olive oil spots out of shirts???

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Vacay! (Even if it's just for one night. And even if it's just 20 some miles away.)

I consider myself so lucky, blessed and truly honored to be friends with so many amazing, inspiring, caring and honest women in all areas of my life.

I'm even more blessed that a handful of these gals have known me in different stages of "me learning me".  Some of these gals have seen me at my worst.  Some only my better parts.  But they all seem to love me still the same.

I owe them each the universe.  Or at least a few good cups of coffee.

Lucky for me, a few of my closest gals have decided to get together once a year to recharge ourselves a bit.  Last year we lounged poolside near Palm Springs.  This year we craved a subtle beach breeze and hit up Venice Beach. 
{Soaking in the sun and breeze}
{Shutterbugs}
{Games, giggles (check out our sweet hipster hotel digs!) and quality gals. (Thanks Amy T. for these last 2 shots!)}

Baby Sprinkles

Baby showers are always a treat.
Even more of a treat if it's good friend.
Even more and more of a treat if you get to help host. (Along with my other great friends- {also named} Amy and {also named} Summer.)
{Crafting intensity;  book filled with future notes, memories or advice for the baby boy}
{Puffball animal mobile}
{Enjoying delicious food and great company. (Thank you Amy T. and Summer St. P. for these two great pictures!)}
Summer, I hope you enjoyed your day as much as we all enjoyed celebrating the upcoming arrival of your little boy!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Monday Motivators

jazz music lunch dates with miller at his tiny wooden table
spring breezes and a sunny morning walk along the beachside.  or even just to my neighborhood starbucks
giggles until your eyes tear up and your cheeks ache
fresh ranunculas throughout our livingroom
kicking ass at nertz (nerts?) (aka kicking ass at the best group card game ever)
coming home after a refreshing gals weekend to some of the sweetest smiles around

Friday, April 1, 2011

Guess who's having a girl?!


We found out yesterday that the newest addition to our family is a little lady!

While we are most excited that we now can picture this critter as less of an abstract idea, we are super excited that we get to see a whole separate little personality develop itself right alongside her dynamic big brother.

Have a great weekend soaking in some spring weather and soaking in lovable personalities in your life!

P.S. It has been really, really, REALLY hard not to order pink goodies.  REALLY, REALLY hard.  :)

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails