flipflops and applesauce

New York City Sister Trip

2012-03-06T17:57:00.003-08:00

Just got back from a trip to New York City with two of my favorite people. It was my first visit to the city and I loved it-so much to see, so much good food, lots of walking in the crisp air, and best of all, the best company.

Polar Bear and Penguin Party

2012-02-26T09:07:00.004-08:00

Polar bears & penguins may live on separate poles, but they came together to celebrate the girls' 8th brrrthday. Such fun!

Lovely & Windy Beach Day

2012-02-11T22:13:00.001-08:00

It was cold

Pictures from My Porch

2012-01-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

on this rainy Monday morning.

Pink Magnolia

2012-01-14T21:52:00.000-08:00

These pink magnolia trees are blooming in a couple of our neighbors' yards. They're gorgeous & I want to plant them in the front and back yards.

Prince & The Pea

2011-10-10T07:44:00.001-07:00

Do you know the fairy tale of The Princess and The Pea? It came to mind as I was taking these pics of our little Prince Gilbert.

Anniversary Party

2011-09-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

In honor of the one year anniversary of our girls' adoption, we invited family over to wrap up in warm blankets, eat too much junk food, and be subjected to an outdoor showing of Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
We are so very grateful to know these two girls and to be called a family. We praise God for them!

Vintage Thermos Vases

2011-09-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

I'm loving these beautifully worn thermoses with sunflowers sitting on my kitchen window sill.

Vintage Camera Display

2011-08-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

It's not uncommon to find funky old cameras in second-hand stores. I love all the boxy shapes and varied designs. Each one is a little sculpture. I've received some of these as gifts and others I've picked up for around $1-$6.
I was so inspired by Tim Melideo's vintage camera display, that I did my own version.

A Very Cooperative Little Hummingbird

2011-08-19T07:49:00.001-07:00

Thanks for holding still and letting me take your picture, lil feller!

Oh yes, we did!

2011-08-15T22:35:00.001-07:00

Visiting Olvera Street

2011-08-15T22:26:00.001-07:00

. la cucaracha serenade . vibrant colors . fresh guacamole . hot sun . snow cones .
. chihuahua sombrero . silly souvenirs . great memories . all four of us .

Getting to Oregon

2011-08-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

What should have been a three hour flight turned into a two-day ordeal. After two cancelled flights, no luggage, and a lost laptop, I did finally arrive in Oregon. Fighting frustration and fatigue, I had to be deliberate to find the beauty in my circumstances. But it was there. It always is.

Gathering Outdoors

2011-07-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

Thrifted quilts and a thrifted wagon made our front yard picnic so sweet.

Old Tools as Art

2011-07-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I am drawn to old levels. Maybe because they help make crooked things straight. And it's such a simple design, just a little bubble in a tube!
Whatever the reason, I've been accumulating them. One was in our garage, one belonged to my mom and dad, and others I picked up at thrift stores. I love the texture, the geometric shapes, the wear, the unknown story.
I had them displayed on a shelf, but as I continued to gather them, the shelf became too full. I love the way they look side-by-side on the wall.

Before & After: Coffee Table

2011-04-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

We have a lot of dark brown in our living room-a dark brown sectional, dark brown entertainment center, dark brown floors. So I knew I wanted a light-colored coffee table. I also wanted the table to be round.
I searched high and low for the right table. I couldn't picture exactly what I wanted & I couldn't find anything that was quite right. Glass didn't seem durable enough. Metal felt too modern. And then...there was this little gem...$39 at a local thrift store, cute lines, but not light enough. 2 cans of warm yellow spray paint later, and the table is perfect. It lightens up the room and it's sturdy enough to kick your feet up on. After all isn't that what a coffee table is for?

Love it!

Spring Sunburns

2011-04-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

We drove down to Corona del Mar today to explore the tide pools and relax. Lots of playing in the sand and waves, spotting crabs and other sea life, and eating peanut butter and honey sandwiches. And we each took home our own sunburn to remember our day.

First Attempt at Ice Skating

2011-01-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

These girls are always game to try something new.

And they have been wanting to go ice skating for quite some time. So, when I discovered this $5 ice skating special, we jumped on it.

They took a little class, but were too anxious to really listen. They wanted to get out there on their own. They both fell multiple times and complained that their toes were frozen and squished. They'd take a break, come visit me at a table, drink some hot cocoa, and then venture back out onto the rink.

They cried when it was time to leave. "Just one more time around, Mom?"

And now they can't wait to go back.

Organization: Before and After

2011-01-07T08:26:00.001-08:00

There's this little corner counter space right inside our kitchen. And it's one of the messiest spots in the house. It houses mail, bills, kids' art projects, items that need new batteries, toys that need to be fixed, office supplies like paper, pens, and scissors, and any other item we don't feel like putting away.
It quickly becomes a mass of chaos, as you can see in the pictures below.

Last night, it was time to tackle the mountain of who-knows-what.
Here's how I did it:

I moved everything out of the space onto a big table in the living room.
I made a pile of bills/mail, a pile of trash, and a pile to "deal with."
The trash pile was large. I threw away old pencils and pens, old magazine clippings, old receipts, etc.
I went through the mail, sorting bills from credit card offers to be shredded. I found a baby shower invitation that I would have completely missed. I paid the bills, rsvped {late} for the shower, and shredded the junk.
Finally, I sorted through the last pile of "what-do-I-do-with-this-stuff?" You know that pile? I despise that pile. I put new batteries in the camera, put the hammer in the utility drawer, put the cookbook on the bookshelf, stuck the warning sticker on the water heater, etc.

The whole project took about an hour. I love the re-organization. But I fear it will get messy again too quickly. It would be so much easier if I just spent 5 minutes a day sprucing up this little area. We'll see!

2011-01-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I'm excited to discover all that God has in store for this year.
Especially:

time with family and friends
good books and hot coffee
unrushed and unscheduled days with afternoon naps
working, thinking, learning, and list-making

What are you looking forward to in 2011?

Newport Back Bay

2010-11-01T19:36:00.000-07:00

We had such a great time exploring the Back Bay with some friends this morning. Lots of shore birds, brightly-colored bugs, sunshine, and dirt.

Costume Cuties

2010-10-31T22:20:00.000-07:00

We had a Yellow Flower Fairy and a Snow Princess Fairy. Does it get any cuter than this?

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven

2010-10-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Simply Lovely

2010-10-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

Wow. I can't believe I've lived in Southern California my entire life and never about this oasis gem. We can't wait to go back.

Pumpkin Patch {another one}

2010-10-08T20:14:00.001-07:00

Today we hit the pumpkin patch with a bunch of our homeschooling friends in the area. What a sunny autumn day filled with blue-eyed baby goats, rows of pumpkins, freshly-picked vegetables. Lots of happy memories made today.