goodbye. hello!

it's done! come visit me over at my new blog.

new blog

hi friends! i am moving to a new blog, my home address is staying the same LOL! it's taking a bit longer than i expected so hang in there.

I'm moving...

to another address. more details soon!

weekend

this weekend amid pizza with friends, pancakes and errands we grabbed a quick lunch in Cayucos and took a few pics.





often fall is more beautiful than summer on the central coast and saturday was gorgeous!
have a happy monday!!

david

i snapped this picture when david was about 3 months old. i thought it would be so cute to have him in the bucket, but as soon as i put him inside, he fell right to sleep. guess it was a cozy bucket!!

we've started to get in a groove with his classroom. his teacher is great. he has a 1:1 aide with him all the time now and she is getting to know his ins and outs. i am trying to be a patient, rational mommy to keep from falling to pieces. he is just so dang small, i worry about him. i should definitely say that david is loving school and is always happy to be there.

i'll be doing some work on my blog in the next couple days, stayed tuned for some fun changes!

victoria magazine

victoria magazine invited me to create some necklaces for their readers. this magazine is such a beautiful publication. from the photos, to the snippets of poetry to the thick glossy pages, its an inspiration and i am so honored to be a part of it. grab a copy while you're out, i promise you will love it!!

dreaming.

live a simple life, slow days, homemade dinners with homemade desserts, sunlight filtering in the windows, kids running and playing outside. oh maybe i should mention, in this fantasy, i wouldn't be the one working on the farm, more like a farm bed and breakfast. hmmm, maybe just for a week?

inspired.

if you haven't seen flip flops and applesauce (my twin sister's blog) lately
then head on over and check it out.

so, so creative and fun.

two boys and one busy weekend.

david played the piano all weekend at nana & papa's house.
he taps out the sweetest little melodies one note at a time.
matty got some new rainboots (perfect for the 90 degree weather in fresno this weekend!),
add a cape and you're all set!

david wanted to sit on the tractor and he did not want to get off.
places to go, fields to plow.

off to save the world at lightening speed. have a great monday!

easy gift tags.

for gift wrap i consistently use kraft paper boxes or craft bags.
i love the simplicity and the vintage look.

i picked up an old children's book at an antique store for about $10. it was full of the sweetest drawings. i just ripped out some cute pics (i know, all the librarians are shuddering right now) and used double-sided tape to attach them to the manilla tags (available at staples, about $5 for 50). then i used my alphabet stamps and brown ink to add a word.

it took me all of about 5 minutes, but aren't they cute?!

what's your favorite way to wrap a gift?

friday, funday.

hurray for friday! it feels like a good excuse to celebrate...*today only*
every order is eligible a free pair of earrings.
i love these earrings! they are so classic and simple.
two cream, freshwater pearls are strung on sterling earwires.
($16 value)

in the notes section enter
free earring friday.

now let's get shopping!!

my nerds.

yesterday matty told me i was 'getting on his nerds'. um, yeah, i know the feeling.

plain or peanut?

I bought m&m's at the grocery store earlier this week. 90 calories in the fun size (personally i think the bigger packages are more fun). the perfect solution to my sweet tooth...a small snack just to satisfy me. nope, i ate five packages and proceeded to lose all self-respect. and i still can't decide if i like plain or peanut better. how about you??

winner, winner, chicken dinner.

we used to say that. not sure why. anyway, we have some winners!!

i used random integers (a great, easy website) to keep it fair. and they chose...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

31
270
271

Timestamp: 2008-09-08 23:29:06 UTC

which translates to

#31 Momo3

we moved from san diego to boise, idaho 3 years ago and fall in idaho just takes my breath away! the colors of the turning leaves are so beautiful! love it! thanks, kristen

#270 Jess

I love everything about fall...apple picking,leaves changing, mums, back to school, cool nights and sunny days. thanks for the great giveaway! -jess

#271 Elizabeth

easy....
1. my son playing in crunchy leaves (I live in New England)
2. Weekend after weekend of country fairs
3. smell of hot apple cider
It awakes all the senses!

I am seriously blown away by the number of comments. You guys rock and I am all inspired for fall, now! Email me your addresses, ladies and we'll get your necklaces out.

photos for a monday

here's a few photos from the last week...

watching the rows of vineyards fly by.
our kitchen counter. i won't show you the dirty dishes.

matty and max flying a plane in the backyard.


i've been inspired by bluebirdbaby and her self-portraits. this is one of my first attempts and its nothing compared to hers. the outtakes were pretty funny. i don't plan on posting those!!

happy monday!!

celebrating a life well lived...

we had a great weekend being with family and celebrating my grandma's life. i loved hearing how other people remember her, the impact she had on their lives, and celebrating her life. A simple life, but one lived by consistently loving others well. I want to be like that.

One great thing about memorials, is they bring families together. The cousins had a ball, as usual.We got to help my sisters (aka aunties) move into their new (darling) house.
David was showered with lots of love and attention.
We had dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory in Fullerton, which is located in the old train station. The new train station was built right next door, so we went out to watch the sun set and the trains come in. The kids loved it!
It was also so wonderful to see my cousins, aunts and uncles and extended family we don't see nearly enough. And their kids *gasp are so big!!

Thanks for all your comments on fall. I feel the urge to go buy pumpkins and cider! I'll plan to choose a winner (through a randomly generated number) in the next couple days.

hi september...

where'd you come from?
so, it's september 4th. it's been a little crazy.

the featured design for september is
the sweet & simple bird necklace.

and i am giving three away! yippee!!

leave a comment and tell us your most favorite thing about fall.

end of summer

labor day was a great, relaxing day.
we went over to morro bay for pancakes
and a walk along the embarcadero.


the boys drooling in the toy shop.
thankfully it was closed.
tuesday matty started school and loved it.
david's got a cold and so he's been home with me all week.
tomorrow we have the team meeting to discuss his placement--
i'll keep you updated.
then we head to orange county for my grandma's memorial.

it will be so good to be with family.

letting go *just a bit

steve told me i have been holding david's hand too tightly. i need to hold onto him more loosely and give him less support. he is walking great and really just needs a hand to guide him and maybe catch him if he starts to stumble. i am so used to holding his wrist tightly to make sure he stays balanced and to help him along.
isn't this the hardest thing...knowing when to let go just a little?

inspiration for a monday.

trying to look at the details and the simple things.
this little flower seemed so sweet and content...

summer is ending and i feel a little sad.
but i know pumpkins and sunflowers are coming which, sounds wonderful!

a row of colorful pitchers, some new, some old
lined up on our kitchen window sill...

i gave some our lamps a boost by putting them on top of
old, painted wooden boxes.
i'm trying to see our home in a new,
fresh way and make little changes to keep it fresh and fun.

so, what's inspiring you today?