Nat your average girl...

Memorial Day Style

2013-05-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to everyone's recommendations for Blair's beach bum rash. The rash cleared up, thank goodness, just in time for us to leave for the beach again today...

Also I got quite a few people asking where to purchase B's rad leggings from Cotton On Kids. So I scoured their website and could only find one of the pair's I purchased here. Unfortunately their store has a much better selection. :( I never knew they had a Cotton On for Kids but our mall has a store dedicated just to the little ones. Guess I'm just lucky! (PS if you have a teen daughter check out these leggings!)

I completely flaked on getting this post out sooner but here are some pretty adorable things for your kiddos to wear this weekend! Maybe you have a baby Gap nearby and can pick an outift (or two!) up?!

all items via baby gap

not so sure about the Nordstrom elevator (shirt:gap, pants: cotton on, shoes: freshly picked, clip:katiebugdaisy etsy ) Mama may have had to go back to get that maxi dress... however I did use blog earnings to purchase it!

pretend sleeping

she sleeps with one eye open

Lately B has been playing jokes on us and pretending to lay down with her sleep sack and go "night night." It's pretty cute. :) She also will pretend to offer us one of her toys and then quickly take it back. M calls this game "just kidding." I call it Indian giving. ;)

Cotton On, Nordstrom, and Target Oh My!

2013-05-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

Mags Direct cheap magazine subscriptions on tons of mags.

To sum it up yesterday was pretty great. My brother got a ticket for fishing without a license and while this doesn't seem great one way my parents have decided he can pay them back is through babysitting. Basically my mom and I go shopping ~~distraction~~ baby free and Jake earns cold hard cash towards his ~~little~~ hefty ticket. Win-win! I asked Jake if he was planning on becoming a single dad anytime soon and he said, "no, having a baby is so BORING." All I could do was laugh. Clearly he had had too much Old McDonald for one afternoon.

I however could not get enough of the Nordstrom half yearly sale (Among other goodies at our mall). I reallllllly wanted this dress below but wished it was on sale...

here

I stopped by Cotton On for Kids and got B some seriously rad leggings. They remind me of some of the ones I've seen on Etsy but for a third of the price!

all leggings from Cotton On


feather headband from Cotton On $2!!!

i couldn't pass up this sweater with the gold sparkle trim. way cuter in person!

I also have found some pretty adorable suits at Target (where else?!) this last week. And really you can't go wrong with the price tag!

love the fun geometric print

chevron and lime green hardware

got B's new gold mocs from Freshly Picked! Yay!

um can they make these in my size?

PS Freshly Picked is having a giveaway AND sale this week so follow them on Instagram and get some mocs!

Monthly Updates + Giveaway winner!

2013-05-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

Once Blair turned one I was stoked on the idea that I wouldn't have to do any more weekly updates but my friend over at Strawberry Swing has done a great job at still doing updates for her little girl on a monthly basis. So, I had to follow suit. Check me out playing catch up below...

thanks to the app "a beautiful mess" for making my life way easier...

These monthly updates are a lot easier when I just take a photo off my phone instead of doing full blown photo shoots like before... Plus wouldn't these make a cute little prinstagram book? I'm still dying to order one.

CONGRATULATIONS to the lovely Erinn at Strawberry Swing and Things! You won a pair of leggings from Salt City Emporium! You must have good luck because I'm pretty sure you won the last giveaway too! Yippee! Thanks again to Jen for giving away a pair of her awesome leggings!

Toddler Tuesday

2013-05-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night was one for the books. We got home from the beach at 5:15 and I had to bust a move to get ready for one of my best friend's 30th birthday party. I decided my 19 year old brother was capable of watching B for the evening so off we went. Little did I know that B had a raging beach diaper rash that kept her up (M put her to bed and to top it off her light in her room burned out so we didn't notice the damage). My poor brother had to get up with her at 11pm and 1am. I felt HORRIBLE (especially since he just had surgery a week ago) and will be paying him the big bucks for that one... Surprisingly enough he never called me. I'm just praying he'll do it again... Oh and I have a feeling one of her top teeth is coming in! OY!

enjoying ourselves while Jake was not :/

homemade by her friend

the birthday girl and me gettin' our country on at Toby Keith's Bar

the famous stink bug crawl

eating sand and pooping it into her diaper probably didn't help her situation :/

this probably didn't help either. seriously?!

but she was happy!

not so sure about the baby pool

look at how handsome your dada is! ;)

apparently B is Jewish (darn 95% head)

if this isn't flirting I don't know what is!

i die

checking out Liam's luscious lips ;)

Aside from slathering B's bum with desitin does anyone else have any diaper bum rash remedies?! Suggestions?!

**winner from the leggings giveaway will be announced Wednesday!

Beach Weekend

2013-05-20T03:00:00.000-07:00

We had such an awesome weekend at the beach! It was crazy busy but filled with lots of fun and I can't wait to go back for Memorial Day and do it all over again! We cruised down to my family's beach house with another couple and their kiddos and spent the weekend running on the beach trail, drinking starbucks, hanging out at the beach, paddle boarding, bike riding, and swimming in the pool. The kids were SO good and despite the nasty beach bum rash B brought home she had a blast!

hot tub 'n' bubbly

paddle board champs (they must workout) ;)

good friends

our little fam

mesmerized by the beach

We had a wonderful time with our friends who spoiled us WAY too much! This next weekend we are headed to the beach again with M's family. Looking forward to more sunshine and great friends!
PS Don't forget to enter the giveaway from Salt City Emporium to get a pair of free leggings!

Hipster Baby + Giveaway

2013-05-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

It's true that I am a baby gap fan. But every once in a while I see these little hipster babies. And they get me every time! I see them out there on my insta feed and I think to myself, "Could B be hipster?" And then I realize that B will own anything I put her in. The real question is can I be hipster? It's not in my genes. I gravitate towards girly things with scallops, bows, and sparkle. If I had a boy he would FOR SURE be hipster (insert M's look of disgust here). However the look is harder to master on girls. But get ready because I just added some hipster-wear to my cart...

tops from {MINeShop}

leggings from {Salt City Emporium}

Jen at Salt City Emporium has graciously agreed to a giveaway of some leggings of your choice! Yay, free stuff! Be sure to enter below so you can have a hipster baby. ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

um, mom you weren't supposed to see this...

Have a great weekend! We're beachin' it in San Clemente for the next FOUR weekends! Yip Yip!

A Beautiful Mess

2013-05-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friends on Instagram I have fallen in love with the app, "A Beautiful Mess." Seriously so adorable! It's a photo app that allows you to doodle on your pictures (WHY can't I think of these things?!). See my creations below to get a better idea of what I'm talking about...

add borders

add text

add doodles

and phrases!

The options are endless and when I don't have time to scrapbook (always) this quenches my thirst for a while! At only $1 it is SO worth it!

PS I've decided instagram is a million times better than FB. Do I dare say I'm kinda over FB? (gasp!)

DIY mini tables

2013-05-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

A while ago I picked up some pieces of furniture at a friend's garage sale. I finally got around to re-vamping them so they would work in my space. Here's what I came up with...

before

after ( in our closet)

and reality... laundry usually sits on top of them!

ps how cute is this lil baby? with some pain? i die!

not gonna lie i love this outfit! baby gap outlet last year

Toddler Tuesday

2013-05-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

Like I said, the older she gets the more I love this parenthood thing! But I'm sure there's a bell curve with that (um like when she hits high school). She's been pretty low key lately except for the occasional diaper change outburst.

reading with Dada

rockin' her pony (romper: baby gap)

literally lovin' life (shades: target)

auntie tiff!

Milestons
She's still doing her bum in the air spider man crawl and getting pretty brave with the stairs. She also is standing up on her own more frequently. When will you walk?!

awesome sand/water table from Costco

She is getting better at her animal sounds and is a pro at signing "please." Sometimes she gets both hands going. This makes me think she really wants whatever she's signing for. It's like a double please!

Loves
B has been lovin' lots of things lately. Her sunglasses, books, and tongue are a few. She is the queen of the outdoors, seriously a girl after her daddy's heart! She pounds on our sliding glass door to give me a ~~subtle~~ hint that she wants out. I'm fed up with dressing her because she gets so filthy playing with her sand and water table and kiddie pool. Then there's the fact that since she is crawling she can't really wear dresses because they get stuck under her knees. Sigh. Please walk soon B so I can put you in dresses. Not at all selfish, right? ;)

outfit of the day. er' day.

birthday party baby pool. this suit we borrowed was genius. see why below.

wait, what?! snaps!? what genius thought of this and has not shared their secret with baby gap...

here Dad have a leaf. i've seen you eat them before but you call them "salad"

yup. we got a kiddie pool. yes we already have a real pool. convenience my friends. oh and water is warmer when there is less of it... (suit: target)

Mother's Day Recap

2013-05-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a great Mother's Day. If I'm being completely honest this Mother's Day was a million times better than last year's. On account of B being independent enough to let me enjoy my margarita, some sun, and my burger. M was great and really brought his "A game" to the table. Here is our day in pictures below...

pumpkin oatmeal whole wheat pancakes made by M. blog hints worked!

she reminds me of a 50's pin up girl. those curls!

blessed to have these women in my life!

nothing says Mother's Day like a pool party and i was 100% ok with it!

shades for days (my suit blair's suit baby gap but no longer available)

unkie and auntie

outdoor living

the perfect end to our weekend (minus the mosquitoes)

Can't wait to frame some of these pics. I wanna remember yesterday forever!

From the Miscellaneous Drawer

2013-05-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

Laziness, ironing, and the Walking Dead have taken over my enthusiasm for this post. It happens to the best of us! If you follow me on Instagram these will be old news to you...

buns of steel

weirdest hair ever! straight on top, curly around the sides.

i don't know what this move was but i love it. :)

sweet little flower from Lynnea over at threemrs

at this age you know they're real but man i could use some fake lashes like that! romper: similar

I know this has been by far one of my most thrilling blog posts to date. Enjoy all of its goodness.

DIY pantry boxes

2013-05-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

At our house we love Melissa and Doug toys. I feel like those toys bring kids "back to their roots" if that makes sense? No batteries required, nothing fancy, just some old school fun. Fast forward to me shopping for some fake food for B's kitchen and I stumbled across these...

here

It got me thinking while the set is only $9 I was like wait a minute, $9 for some cardboard boxes that we already own! Skip that I'm making my own...

looks like B is cooking up some fun!

her favorite box is the one with the babies. she loves pointing to them. :)

serious shopping in action. ;)

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2013-05-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

Gasp! Is it Mother's Day already?! Time to get crackin' on getting mom a gift! My mom is not your typical girly girl (hard to believe if you know me) but after shaking her down for some gift ideas this is what we I came up with...

for your mom

1. {Pictures} this may be the biggest cop out ever but when it doubt slap a picture of yourself (and baby if you have one) in a frame and call it done.

2. {movies} les miserables is like the end all be all movie according to my mom

3. {flowers} again...easiest gift ever! especially since roses are in bloom at our house! ;)

4. {workout gear} my mom is tall so she loves the length of this top

5. {pedicure} you don't have to be a rocket scientist to get this one right

6. {jewelry}i know my mom isn't super girly but she does like to wear earrings. these earrings go with everything!

7. {blouse}my tall mama loves her long tunics!

AND FOR YOUNGER MAMA'S

for the younger mom (aka me)

1. {make up} fresh sugar lip balm in honey

2.{flats} Tory Burch flats (size 7)

3.{workout gear} lululemon top (size 6)

4. {make up} fresh sugar lip balm in petal

5. {jewelry} gorjana bracelet

6. {sunglasses} polarized ray bans

7.{sunglasses} trendy O frames

8. {perfume} amazing grace hand lotion

9. {workout gear} lululemon pants (size 6 in case my hubby wants to know)

I hope M appreciates the second birthday list I created here...took a lot of time and effort, honey! I'll act real surprised if one of these winds up next to my breakfast in bed on Sunday morning. Oh and btw I want this for breaky. I already bought all the ingredients. Practically made them for myself. K thanks. :)

Toddler Tuesday

2013-05-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed all the sunshine southern California had to offer last weekend (it was 95!) by getting a lot of yard work done around the house. And by we of course I mean the hubs. B and I enjoyed a play date at the park last week with an old co-worker of mine and her grand-daughter. Then we met Dada up for some lunch.

neighborhood ~~litter~~ sand box. top here

i wonder if they're teething?

pretty sure a balloon solves all of the world's problems.

guess who's home from college! that may or may not be duck dynasty on in the background...

Milestones
Well I'm not pleased to say it but I think B has discovered "hitting." I can't tell if it is on purpose or if she just caught me in the face by accident (is that possible?) but it happened. Last week I was putting her down for a nap and I took a book away and she got mad and was flapping her arms around and whacked me in the face. I was so surprised by it I just plopped her in her bed and said buh-bye.

But it got me thinking...what am I going to do/say when she does it for real? I asked one of my dear friends who has kiddos a bit older than B and she had the sweetest reply. When her boys would hit her she would say "Ouch! That hurts Mama! Let me show you how to be gentle (gently strokes their face). God created our hands to be kind and gentle."

So simple and yet so powerful. So B and I had a little chat when she woke up. Which I am sure she totally remembers... ;) But hey if anything it is good practice for me!

I started reading this book below and I've only read the first chapter but was so encouraged with their Biblical parenting philosophy. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to take a look. I already feel less worried about discipline.

get it here

In other more positive milestones B is really tearing it up on her walker. I mean straight hauling a** around the house. I think she scares Bella when she gets going full speed. It's pretty funny to watch her try to flip a U when she gets stuck in a corner though. Like a robot who just keeps ramming the wall. Sometimes I help her. Sometimes I just watch and laugh. Kidding. Sort of. Pretty sure the parenting book above does not recommend the latter...

she loves putting her groceries (aka red solo cup and plastic spoon) in her cart or similar here. PJs by Old Navy.

walker here. shirt from nordstrom, pants here.

there's a zombie in B's bed!

Um just started watching the Walking Dead. Holy moo that show gives me the heebie jeebies! But I can't stop watching it! It puts me on the edge of my seat but I'm totally addicted. Let's just say I've been snuggling a bit closer to M at night...

The end of an era (nursing)

2013-05-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

** If nursing photos make you uneasy then you have been warned! That's what this post is all about!

I consider myself a nursing champ. I mean the odds were for sure against me...a NICU baby who had to learn how to drink a bottle before they would allow her to go home makes for pretty difficult circumstances. But with the help of a nipple shield, lactation consultants, my hubby, and more we learned how to nurse. And nurse we have! We're going on 14 months here...but all good things must come to an end.

latching for the first time in the NICU

napping after nursing

I remember the nights when I would just cry. Oh, yes. Either she wouldn't latch or I was as raw as an uncooked hamburger. Oh the joys. Did I wish I could quit? For sure! I remember thinking to myself that I couldn't WAIT till she was done nursing. It was SO annoying to be alone for 45 minutes every 2.5-3 hours. Not to mention I couldn't go anywhere farther than the local grocery store without her for fear that hunger would strike again. What was even more debilitating was that the little stinker refused bottles after she figured out the whole boob thing.

zonked after her milk

post nursing bum :)

With that said I have decided it's time to be done. She could probably care less. I mean she literally rolls off of her Boppy to go play during the middle of a feeding. Up until this week she would nurse before bed and in the morning when she woke up. But one night I was going to the gym and had a commitment afterwards and forgot to nurse her before I left. Welp, I guess I'll stop the night feeding is what I hollered to my hubby on my way out the door.

if that isn't a milk coma i don't know what is...

And it's amazing how easily my body has handled each dropped feeding. No pain or discomfort which really tells me it's time. So we're hanging on to that last morning feed now but I don't even see that happening for much longer. I mean, the girl gets distracted by everything in our bedroom...the dog, M, the fan etc. I'm like hello! Boobies are out! What calls more attention than that?! Apparently many things...

dreaming about milk. clearly.

There are lots of mixed emotions going on here. It's not the walking, or 1st birthday that really made me gulp and realize my babe is a toddler. It's the memory of nursing that makes me see how fast she is growing up. At this point nursing is so easy. It's only twice a day and she is good at it and it takes 5 minutes. I could deal with that for the rest of my life (ok maybe when she's 10 that might be weird) but being a nursing mom of a 3 year old really wasn't for me. But I love the snuggling! The way she lays beside me in our bed with her tummy pushed up against me and her little feet wiggling in between my legs is so sweet! I love how she holds my hand or strokes my face (gettin' teary eyed over here!) it makes my heart sing with joy!

trying to stay awake but the milk is taking over :)

Sigh. The time has come to start eating like a regular person again too. I will miss you, extra nursing calories. Not most of all, but you are a close second. I guess one way to fix this would be to get prego again. Ha Ha. Not worth it. Not yet anyway. :)

nursing during xmas card pics. gotta do whatcha gotta do!

I know there will be more babies to nurse in my future (God willing) but I will miss nursing this baby. My first baby. My sweet little girl. Mama loves you Blair and you better give me extra snuggles at nap time and bed time!

stroking mama's face

such a sweet bean

And just for fun here are some of the raddest places i've nursed... Costco's patio furniture section, in many parking lots, laying in the grass at parks, and many more that I can't think of. What's your craziest place you have nursed?

Pretty Pantry

2013-05-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a little spring cleaning around here lately and wanted to show you some items I'm loving. I swear with Pinterest in full swing you could literally organize/prettify anything... laundry detergent, make up, socks, toilet paper etc. Ok, kidding about the tp but I'm sure someone has organized it!

I've been working on my pantry and while it would be cool to have everything removed from its original box and emptied into a sparkly glass jar that is just not feasible. Here is my more wallet friendly alternative...

Oh, and I am the queen of forgetting to take before pictures. It's my one vice. ;)


so yes we keep diapers in the pantry for the "oops i forgot to wash her cloth diapers" moments.

recycle in style! bins from homegoods.

just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down!

tiered spice racks

handled bins for bottled things

i can't wait to get my paws on a labeler so i can label all the bins. hubby cringes at this i'm sure.

or maybe just some more chalk board decals would be cute?

i like how clear the bins are so you can see what you ~~don't~~ have for dinner

the hanging white wire baskets really help maximize space. all of B's annie's pasta stacks quite nicely in there!

a work in progress but we're getting there!

Oh and check out our new pool gate...

before (i remembered!)

after

pretty snazzy, right?

i like how you can see through it and it's not too obtrusive. bring on the outdoor playtime!

Now the only thing I have to worry about in the back yard is B getting into dog poop... Oy.

Oh, and I guess I should actually tell you where I purchased all the organizing accessories (duh). Container Store.com!

Cinco de Mayo Attire

2013-05-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

The sadness of the birthday aftermath has settle in (you know, when no one acknowledges your specialness everywhere you go?) so I had to find the next thing to look forward to...Cinco de Mayo! Ay Ay Ay! This weekend we are going to some friend's house to celebrate this (non) holiday complete with beer, chips, and hopefully some fake 'staches.

Since baby gap had a 35% off sale yesterday (hello! who would ever pay full price? not this girl!) I decided to score some "cinco wear for blair" (cute, how I rhymed that?!) Be sure to stock up on some goodies for your cutie!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

B is expecting 1, 5, 6, and 8 to arrive any day now!

And for all you mamas out there...

lace blouse: nordstrom

basball jacket: nordstrom

leather jacket: nordstrom

tunic: pia puano

maxi dress: lulus.com

my wish was that it wouldn't go to my thighs...

lala, mama, and b

clearly the crayons were a hit!

buh

ME: sweater: cabi pants: cabi tank: jcrew

B: tank: carter's shorts: gap shoes: kmart bow: made by friend

One Small Step For Man...

2013-05-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I had a sweet day yesterday with many well wishes. I had a nice lunch with M and B and then B took a nice long nap while I tanned by the pool. Not to mention she slept in till 8am!!! Happy birthday to this mama! Tonight we are going out to dinner with my family. Let's just say it's been a good birthday week.

banana cream pie

bday lunch!

making her bunny face

And here is the latest video of B learning to walk...

Still in my Twenties and doin' Fine

2013-04-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to me! B and I celebrated a little early by going to my favorite place...the donut shop! Sprinkles for all! Might have to hit that place up again today...

Notice the difference in size of her donut versus mine... At least one of us has portion control. If you're still not sure what to get me go check out my list here. Kidding! Kind of... ;)

Charlotte's First Birthday

2013-04-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh praise the Lord, Daddy is home! M went on a fishing trip to Mammoth this weekend and boy did I miss him! I'm not really cut out for the single mom thing. Oy. The days with B were like any other but attending birthday parties/church/taking care of bedtime routine were not as fun without him! We missed you! Here is what we were up to without you...

Charlotte's First Birthday...

Seriously such a cute party! It was pinwheeled themed and hosted in their barn (yes, Barn!). I loved it!

my headband made by a friend of mine. similar here

happy first Charlotte!

darling pinwheel theme!

she can use this banner every year!

ranunculus and painted vases

baby play tent

the monkey says oo Oo

that carrot is makin her pretty happy!

too tired to flirt with Johnny...

well maybe not... Goin in for the smooch!

sweet little headband made specially by NaeNae :)

Lots of birthday love for sweet little Charlotte! Hopefully some of that birthday love gets extended my way tomorrow when I turn 29! WHAT?! I know...old lady over here! No big birthday plans... M has been handing out birthday gifts since last Tuesday which has been pretty rad. I'm saving the party of the century till next year when the big three O arrives...

B's (updated) nursery

2013-04-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

It seems that I'm constantly tweaking B's nursery but I think I'm finally finished with it! Well, maybe that never truly happens but when I walk in there isn't anything that stares at me in the face begging to be changed. I used my new OlloClip iphone accessory that the hubby got me for my birthday to snap some pictures of her room. I wish he had taught me how to use it beforehand (oops). Better luck next time!

I fell in love with this bumper by serena and lily years before I was even pregnant :) her whole room is based off of this print!

handmade bunting

still love that rug! PB

gallery wall inspired by pinterest

sweet bear she cuddles with from her auntie and uncle (etsy)

next time i will learn not to use fish eye (oy!) clock: PB

blocks: etsy

bank: zulily

anthro knobs

i Love this scent! bird: PB

serena and lily

crown hooks: etsy

nightlight: PB

chandie: PB

M is going on a manly trip to mammoth this weekend to go fishing. Ironically it will be the first time he has ever been away from B (i've been away TWICE!). Praying that he has a safe and fun trip and that I maintain sanity! ;)

Daily Grind

2013-04-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not I often have people ask me what I do all day. (Um, take care of a baby?!) While I find this mildly ~~annoying~~ humorous I decided to document the happenings of my daily life. I could have just written 6:30 am to 6:30 pm : Raise a Child. But I thought it would be a bit more interesting if I added a few more details...

6:30 am wake up, 7 am go for a jog and this happens...

8 am eat breakfast

greek yogurt, whole milk and fruit for B

oatmeal with brown sugar for me every day

8:30 am B plays

while I clean up and do dishes/laundry/feed dog etc.

9 am i read a few books to B then she gets cranky

so i change her diaper and put her down for a nap (clearly she LOVES this!)

we snuggle before nap time ( i LOVE this)

while she naps i enjoy coffee and quiet time

then i quickly get ready for the day

10 am she's up!

10 am i pick out her outfit


11 am we meet friends at the park and run errands. at 12 we eat lunch.

at 1 we have more snuggles before nap time

naptime allows me to continue preparing items for the baby consignment sale at church

naptime also allows me to write thank you's to some friends

4pm she's up and i drop her off at Lala's so I can drop off CAbi clothes

6pm babysitter comes over and we go to sushi for an early bday dinner

Whew! I'm tired just re-reading it all! Her afternoon nap is truly a blessing from God. Lately it's been 3 hours long...hallelujah! Clearly not every day is like this but it's pretty close to it! Nap time is sometimes used to do laundry, pay bills, clean up etc. On a rare occasion I'll use it to do something fun like scrap book, read, or take a nap. Typically I don't blog until she is in bed at 7. Then I shower and it's off to bed I go! I wouldn't trade any part of it for the world (ok, maybe those poopy diapers...).

Boys clothes for Girls

2013-04-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

Why should boys have all the fun with stripes? Lately I've been scoping out the little boys department and finding tons of cute things... for GIRLS!

all items via Gap

Chambray, colored denim, stripes and even fedoras are terribly cute on boys AND girls! Paired with the right pieces B could totally rock any of these items. Bonus: I could use them for our next child (boy OR girl!) that we will not be having anytime soon. ;)

Toddler Tuesday

2013-04-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

B had some pretty awesome "firsts" last week. She ate her first pebble of dog food. Stuck her hand in the toilet and splashed around for the first time. And stood up unassisted from a sitting position! I can say that I'm least proud of my parenting skills regarding the first two, but pretty stoked on the third feat (which I had nothing to do with.) Live and learn, right? Bella now gets fed outside and we're much more proactive in shutting the toilet (um, and flushing it...).

Friday we ventured out with some other mama's and babes to a local lunch spot to celebrate one year of being mamas. It was really fun to see how far we had all come in one year with our kiddos.

Benjamin, Andelyn, and Blair

headband: target, shirt: gap, shorts: gap, sandals: kmart

I hosted a CAbi party on Saturday that was lots of fun. B got to spend a lot of time with family and especially liked reading with her Auntie. We also hung out with some friends from church. We played the game of "things" and jacuzzied and then had a sleep over! It was actually so fun and reminded me of college and having roommates. We stayed up late playing games and completed the weekend with a pancake breakfast. I can't wait to do it again!

me and my monkey

BFF's and their babes. :)

Sunday we recovered from our lack of sleep with a long nap (thanks Blair!) and then followed it up with church in the evening. The service was one of my all times faves on serving others (mostly your spouse) the same way Christ did. Oy, I have lots to work on! The Lord is constantly refining me but I love how it helps me grow in my relationship with Him.

B was pretty pooped from our weekend festivities as well...

blankie made by my bff diana

She has also been crawling with her bum in the air like a stinkbug which I think means she's getting a little closer to walking! She's been LOVING crawling up stairs lately which means baby gate #2 needs to be installed at the bottom of the stairs. Awesome. Can't wait.

PS check us out at the "party" we attended for Ashlynn (B's virtual buddy) here!

Birthday Wish List

2013-04-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

With my birthday officially one week away I decided to whip up some wish list ideas (not that I need anything...I did just get a load of clothes from my CAbi party!). There are a few things NOT clothes related that I have been eying lately.

{Olloclip 3 in 1 lens for iphone 4s}

This thing is SO rad! It is a lens for your iphone that basically makes your photos look legit (aka not taken with your iphone). We have a friend who has one and busts his out all the time. So much easier than getting out our DSLR.

{Zoku Popsicle Maker}

I've been checking this contraption out for years but haven't committed. I've heard great things about them and with summer around the corner I think this would be awesome to have. Popsicle by the pool? Yes, please!

{personalized beach towel}

Gasp! How adorable is this personalized beach towel? The website for these towels has SO many cute ones I'm drooling over.

{personalized iphone case}

Ok so the website with the towels also had these darling iphone cases. Seriously? I want to personalized EVERYTHING!

{Michele Watch}

Just in case anyone really wants to blow their budget on me... ;) A girl can dream, right?

{Mizuno Running Shoes}

I really like this brand of shoes for logging miles in running. Since I run several times a week I need a well made shoe with lots of support. These never let me down!

Oh and if you're looking for a "cheap" gift for me I'm always down for a great head tickle/massage or back tickle (ahem, Matt!). I also love food and free babysitting. You know, just the basics. ;)

This year I am asking Blair for the gift of sleep. Can you please wake up past 7 am? Pretty please?!

my dress: target, b's top: baby gap, shoes: kmart (you woulda never guessed!), headband: target

Sidenote: we had a seriously fun weekend. Can't wait to share all about it tomorrow for TT (toddler Tuesday!) B is learning more tricks!