For the Love...

Our life in photos

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

This little strip of magic is going up on our fridge. I think it pretty much sums up our life right now. The two year old throws a tantrum, we try to laugh it off, and the baby looks at us like we're all crazy.

Turns out, all the crying was over his burning desire to hold the sparkly microphone prop. What's the male world for Diva? As crazy as life gets sometimes with two young babes, we sure can't get enough of them. They're going to grow out of this stage all too fast.

Neon & Glitter

2012-01-31T00:00:00.001-07:00

[image via here ]

I'm loving the combination of bright neon with glittering accents. This is a little package I put together for my niece's birthday.

For those of you in Utah, you can purchase my favorite glitter ribbon in a variety of colors from Paper Creations.

I love you, yes I do.

2012-01-30T00:11:00.001-07:00

[me + dad. shirt I made with the lyrics to a song he sang to me as a kid]

This weekend I helped host a 50th birthday party for my dear old dad. I must say a few words about my dad. He is with out a doubt the strongest human being I know. Not in a my dad can beat up your dad kind of way, but in an endure to the end, give it your all kind of way. We lost my mom when I was just 3 years old, and my brother only 9 months. I have incredible memories of my single dad putting braids in my hair, feeding a jar of baby food to my brother, and the two of us being curled up in his lap on a rocking chair accompanied by lullabies of Simon and Garfunkel. Since that time he has spent every day of his life in effort to fuse together the most seamless new family there has ever been. He's taught me kindness, courage, acceptance and most importantly, love of God. He holds being a father higher than anything else in his life and has always made that evident by his actions. I am truly a better person and a better mother because of his example. We had an amazing time at his celebration with memories we'll never forget!

[E baby getting in on a little karaoke action]

The charming little song my dad used to sing and the inspiration for my t-shirt.

The year of the bun.

2012-01-25T15:33:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at Alt! I was so nervous going into it, and came out feeling inspired and encouraged. I can't wait to share some of the my favorite details, but first, I've seen the picture above floating around the net: here, and here. There were some super fashionable peeps in attendance, and there were more than a few buns to be found. I grabbed these pictures from the Alt Flickr stream entitled "The year of the bun." The funny thing is, I wear my hair like this so often mostly just because it's so fast to do!

Lately

2012-01-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

oh snap, wild boy.

I like blogging. I'd like to post often. I really would. I like my kids, I like my husband, I like my job. It's a matter of finding a place and a time for all the things I like. Between us, the kids are my favorite, and they always get chosen first. I have so many aspirations for my creative side. I'm trying to figure out how to give them room to grow. Do these things ever overwhelm anyone else the way they do me? I always decide that if I'm fulfilling my requirements as a mom, I'll never regret the way my priorities are set. There should be room for other ambitions though right? Most days it feels a bit cramped.

At work I've been given some really great opportunities to learn and grow including the upcoming opportunity to attend Alt. Due to some schedule conflicts with co-workers, I'll probably end up going alone. I don't know why that makes me nervous. I've never enjoyed doing anything alone really. I love the company of others. I love my work at Uppercase Living. I love the people I work for, and I love the people I work with. There's something special about it. I'd really like to make some meaningful connections in relation to the great things my work is doing, and I guess maybe that makes me nervous. Just because I care so much. Regardless of my worries from a professional perspective, it's a huge opportunity, and I hope to learn a lot.

My babies are getting bigger all the time, and they are now sharing a room. I have really fond memories of sharing a room with my little brother growing up, and I hope they'll be able to create some of the same enjoyable times together. Of course I have lots of ideas and plans to create a nice little space for them and despite my anxious tendency to want everything pulled together at once, I'll probably just work at it one piece at a time. Speaking of one piece at a time, I jotted a little list of resolutions down. It's something I do every year. I'm a firm believer that if you don't write goals down, they're that much less likely to be accomplished.

1. I chose my words carefully. No strict diet or exercise rules. Just an honest charge to be kind to the body I have by becoming selective about what I put in, and how I improve it.
2. Being home with the kids are some of the best times of my life. I want to have fun. I want them to have fun.
3. I want to enjoy cooking for my family. I want to think outside the box. I want to cook healthy meals that taste good.
4. I want to be good to the environment. I want to be good to my wallet. I want to enjoy and appreciate my local surroundings.
5. I want our home to reflect our personality. I want it to be inviting. I want it to feel comfortable.
6. I want to take better pictures.
7. I have never appreciated the beauty of obtaining knowledge more than I do now. I want to learn. I want my knowledge to grow.
8. No excuses.
9. I want to trust that the things I say about myself will teach my daughter (and son) to be proud of her body and mind.
10. Stop trying to manage all tasks on my own. He knows best.

stocking loot

2012-01-03T10:12:00.001-07:00

I thought it might be fun to document the little stocking gifts from each year and see how the kids' interests change.

Fringe Garland for the New Year!

2011-12-31T00:00:00.003-07:00

I'm making a small local tv appearance today sharing some New Year's party ideas. I put together this fringe garland in under an hour using tissue paper, glue stick, twine and some alluminum foil. I followed Martha's tutorial for tissue paper decorations and modified it just a bit. I cut my tissue paper to a 5 x 10" size, and added alluminum foil behind the green to add a bit of glitz for the new year! I found the polka dot paper at a local discount party store! Hope you all enjoy your holiday! xo

So this is Christmas

2011-12-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Christmas with a bright eyed two year old is really sort of magical. The childlike wonder and excitement paired with the sweet innocence is a delightful combination. Some of our favorite holiday traditions this year included visiting the lights at Temple Square, the classic advent calendar chocolate, and watching a film about the baby Jesus on our Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

holiday catch up

2011-12-29T13:24:00.003-07:00

Gosh, it's been busy around here. Between work initiatives, holiday parties, shopping, wrapping, and being a mom, there wasn't much time left over. I'm going to try and do some catch up within the next few days. We had a lovely Christmas holiday, and especially enjoyed starting new traditions with our kids. (first year with kid(s) in the plural!) As always, I enjoyed decorating and wrapping, and let E get in and help a little.

This year I used a lot of newspaper for wrapping. I just love that it's easy to come by, and acts as an empty canvas.

to see what was inside, go here.

I love making gift wrap personal. My dad's always been a wayfarer guy, and my mom used to sport sweet little cateyes.

Neighbor gifts.

and this year's Christmas card.

We had so much fun with our trusty tripod and our living room couch. :)

make gifHappy Holidays!

tissue paper giftwrap: guest post by Allison of she blogs sheblogs

2011-12-05T10:06:00.002-07:00

It's no secret that I adore gift wrapping. Last year I did a gift wrap series and invited some of my favorite peeps to show off their gift wrapping skills. I LOVED it! Who doesn't love more gift wrapping ideas? Today I've invited my friend Alison to share some ideas because I think she's pretty hip, and she's creative insanity. Sometimes I just wanna be her best friend and steal all her ideas. I love the stuff she's come up with!! AND..FREE TAGS.

I love wrapping gifts with stuff I already have around my house.

This means I'll grab old grocery sacks, shopping bags, butcher paper and

in this case, sketch-pad paper, and do what I can with it.

Geometric shapes are so hot right now, and I really wanted to use them

in my holiday wrapping...so this is what I came up with!

It's super easy to do and for some reason oddly therapeutic.

To start you'll need something to wrap with, such as newspaper,

sketch paper or old shopping bags. I'll be showing you how to do it

with these gift tags I've created:

You can download the gift tags at Alison's blog!
You'll also need white glue, water, cut up tissue paper, and a sponge brush.
Start by pouring some glue in a cup, and then add an equal amount of water. Stir it up!
Next brush a thin layer of glue where you'd like to place your tissue paper:
Then place your tissue and paint on top of it to smooth it down.
Continue this process, layering colors and shapes. Wait until the paper is dry to touch. Then cut out your tags, or wrap up your gifts!
Do not, I repeat DO NOT be afraid to add large pom poms and small plastic animals that you have painted, glittered, and then drilled holes in (what, like you don't have those laying around too?)
Then boom! I guarantee you'll have the flashiest, most festive wrapping on your block! Unless of course you live on my block...in which case you'll have to glitter into the wee hours of the night to keep up!Hope you enjoy!

Reindeer Games

2011-12-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the beginning of the holiday season!

RFF: what's old is new

2011-11-29T09:22:00.001-07:00

Top: $4 Skirt: $5 Shoes: $20

I went to H&M this weekend. I came out with a sweater and a few things for my kids, but I gotta admit, I love my thrifted clothing. There are just so many unique and charming pieces waiting to be found. I know when I wear something thrifted, chances are, I'm not going to see anything like it anywhere else. Money has been tight for us over the years, so I'm thankful that I wasn't afraid to step into the D.I. (local thrift) and give it a shot. It has become a really fun hobby for me, it's helped me think outside the box, excercise my creativity, and dive further into what my style might be. It's taught me a thing or two about vintage, and it's made me find ways to make something old new. Oh, and the money saved never hurts. :)

I thrifted a few new pairs of vintage earrings to add to my collection. I'm loving the simple round ones.

Did you Bijou?

2011-11-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Salt Lake edition of the Bijou market. I'm not really much into Black Friday shopping. Infact, I'm kind of dissapointed that it has spilled into our Thanksgiving holiday, but I love me a handmade market! This year did not dissapoint, and the playlist was killer too. One of my favorite parts really.

How cute are these glasses?

I love the idea of this rabbit mobile

I definitely have my eye on those arrow sets.

Some hair bow treats I came home with made by my friend Ashley, She's amazing!

With Emily. Cute Nicole and Rashelle in the background. These girls are so inspiring! Read about their story here.

Give Thanks

2011-11-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy of Uppercase Living

This is one of my very first projects I put together for Uppercase Living as a concept artist. It's really exciting to see your own work show up in a real catalog.

I cannot WAIT for the holidays to begin! We'll be spending Thanksgiving at my parent's house, and I hope to do a little shopping too. I think I'll take a little break from blogging for a few day's and come back on Monday. I hope you all enjoy your holiday!

This post is dedicated to the baby

2011-11-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend was rather uneventful for us. We watched a bad movie. (bad as in 90 minutes of my life I'll never get back.) I went grocery shopping. I hate grocery shopping. Loathe it. Not sure why I hate it so much. Watched a few minutes of the AMAs, again, time I won't get back. They were missing Adele. Do you ever have a weekend like that? In other news, my baby girl is now 3 months old.

She's learning to focus and reach out for things.

I've been having some fun making pom-pom hair accessories.

Her wardrobe and accessories continue to expand.

My new friend Roxy gave me this darling bonnet. The girl is insanely talented. We love our new little hat!

Speaking of baby hats, have I mentioned I'm learning to knit? We had a learn to knit lunch at work last Thursday! I think this little pixie hat will be my motivation.

There's a free pixie hat pattern if you already knit like a pro!

image from here

Happy Weekend!

2011-11-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

I sure wish we could just stay in bed all weekend! I know we can't, but boy do I hang on to those moments in bed with my babes. Every morning E comes into our bedroom and requests a glass of milk. Baby is already in bed with me due to the early morning feeding, so on the days I'm not going to work, we cuddle up together and take advantage of the time. Sometimes I'm SO tired, and taking care of baby during the night catches up with me, so I'm reminding myself that these are and will be some of the best moments of my entire life. They only stay little for so long.

Wanna know why he's smiling so big? He just pinched her.

Most of the time he's a really great big brother, and nothing makes me happier.

Today..

2011-11-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

Today, I have the immense privilege of reliving my favorite minutes as a first time mom. Have you been reading the series on Syd's blog? If you haven't you definitely need to. There are some incredible moms sharing some incredible moments. I am beyond flattered to have been included!!

DIY fringed baby boots

2011-11-15T22:41:00.000-07:00

I found these little boots at the thrift store for $1. I decided they needed a little something more. Something like, fringe. So I grabbed a bottle of fabric glue, some inexpensive fringe trim, and experimented.

I think she likes them.

RFF: new lace ups

2011-11-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

Kind of in love with my new lace ups. $5.

weekend love: baby love, sister love, and glitzy toes

2011-11-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a busy one. It started out with a long over due date with my love. The rule of the night was not to talk about work or the many piling responsibilities at home. It was our challenge to see if there was anything left to talk about. Kudos to us, there was. Then I helped host a baby shower for my cousin who is due late December.

I made really simple pumpkin cupcakes. I finally purchased a mini cupcake pan. Don't know if I'll ever go back to making them normal sized. Everything's cuter in mini size.

We had a little hot chocolate bar for which I made these white chocolate stirring spoons.

tweeted by @livingproperly

A garland made of sweet little bows

The hosting duo. Me and my talented and gorgeous friend Jess.

I must wear that necklace at least once a week. A pair of darling twin girls that I went to high school with started a hair accessory company called True Birds. So inspiring! They recently launched a very charming jewelry line. My dad plays Harmonica, so this little charm has rich meaning for me. I can't wait until he starts playing the Christmas hymns. Some of my favorite holiday memories include the Harmonica accompaniment.

The weekend is closing out with a great ending, as my sister is visiting! She's currently attending Dixie College in St. George. We LOVE it when she visits.

We spent some time glitzing toes.

halloween costumes (belated)

2011-11-02T00:07:00.001-06:00

I constructedE's beard with some fringy trim I found at the fabric store, shortened a pair of thrifted adult suspenders, and added a dollar store ax. After a little trick or treat melt down, my dad helped him coin the phrase "lumberjack's don't cry."

I ordered little H's mermaid tail from an Etsy shop, dyed a long sleeve onesie, and constructed the hairpiece and shells with felt and embroidery floss.

We had so much fun this Halloween. E is at a great age for trick or treating festivities. We spent Halloween night at the neighborhood trunk or treat, and E was even willing to keep his beard on for a full round.

The woodsman and red riding hood

Our friend Pinocchio

Lucy loves her lumberjack

and her blond Ricky.

Lumberjack print found here.

weekend love: pumpkins and what we wore

2011-10-31T09:45:00.000-06:00

Trav spent some time with the kids and sent me this sweet sweet picture.

E and I painted pumpkins.

What we wore to church.

Can't wait to share the kids' costumes with you! Happy Halloween!

a birthday breakfast

2011-10-26T23:25:00.000-06:00

Have I mentioned I love birthdays? I think they should always be celebrated in a special way. It doesn't take much. In our little neighborhood, we try to take care of eachother when it comes to birthdays. This week we gathered the kids and had a little birthday breakfast for my extraordinary friend Stacie. Stacie and I are really in sync when it comes to having babies. Our first babes are a month a part, and our second babes, 4 days. When we were pregnant with our first babies, Stacie was called as the Relief Society president in our church ward. It still baffles me to know that we're the same age with kids the same age, yet she takes on a huge work load taking care of the people in our ward and neighborhood.

Breakfast calls for jammies of course.

Cereal necklaces are a good fit too.

Some chose eating over stringing.

weekend love: colorful fall

2011-10-24T23:25:00.000-06:00

Here are a few highlights from our weekend.

We spent the day at Gardner Village spotting witches and enjoying the fall air.

E showing off his Jagger moves.

Packing my little dumplin.

Little dumplin all squished cozy. (she has a little case of the spits) cute hairbow c/o spotted owl shop

Then I did something crazy. Something I've wanted to do for a long time.

a handmade card

2011-10-19T21:33:00.000-06:00

My husband is quite the artist. This little piece of art work brought me more cheer than any high quality design. It came from the heart, and the words meant even more. It was also accompanied by a new laptop. We've needed one for quite some time now. Here's to a pen drawn happy face, and my happy face when my computer takes under 15 minutes to boot up.

happy 6 years my love.

the time we ate on the porch

2011-10-17T22:53:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it's fun to have a picnic on the porch.

Almost all of the time it's fun to be two.

weekend love: a special day

2011-10-17T00:07:00.000-06:00

This weekend included a special day for our little H. She received a priesthood blessing. We were lucky to have our family there to join us. I documented a few highlights from the day.

Loving: simple jewelry

2011-10-12T11:05:00.000-06:00

I'm loving these simple, innovative pieces from confetti system.They'll probably never be within my budget, but they sure are gorgeous to look at. While you're over there, check out their fantastic displays. I've been really inspired by them.

weekend love: It's Fall

2011-10-10T11:34:00.000-06:00

I don't know what the weather is like where you're at, but here it's rapidly become undeniably fall. Sweatshirts and jackets are required, and it looks like the coats might be making their appearances very soon. After a smoldering pregnant summer, I'm perfectly happy with the weather switch. Here are a few highlights from our weekend. (Our camera's back!)

On E, chambray top: consignment $3, tie: vintage. belonged to dad, shoes: thrifted, $3

On me, chambray top: thrifted $4 , skirt: thrifted $5, belt: thrifted $2, shoes: thrifted, $21 flower: tj maxx

E and I donned matching chambray.

I ate a grip of this stuff. So good. So fall.

Miss H turned 2 months. She can smile now.

Happy fall!

RFF: Stripes and Flowers

2011-09-30T09:48:00.000-06:00

Top, F21 Dress, DI @ Tooele, Boots, DI @ Tooele

My camera is in the shop. I don't like it too much. My baby girl is growing like a weed, and my other baby is getting more hilarious every day. A camera is very much needed in our house. Thanks to my sister for snapping a pic for me. Once I get my camera back, I'll have lots to share! This weekend we'll be taking it easy and watching General Conference, and we might consider a fall bonfire. Any fun plans?

Blume Jewelry Trunk Show

2011-09-26T10:25:00.000-06:00

I believe I've mentioned before that I work for a company called Uppercase Living. It's a gem I tell ya. I work with some incredibly talented people including my boss in the Creative Department Allison Dayton. We now offer some super classy jewelry created by her. I'm rather excited! We recently held a gorgeous trunk show in Salt Lake City. It was sort of like one of my first big outings since having the babe. Despite having to nurse in the car while parked behind Starbucks near the dumpster...it went really well.

I had the chance to meet and mingle with a few local bloggers like Jessica who is expecting her second little one! Doesn't H look so cozy?? She was sort of popular that night.

and Mandi!

and the food!! (we had the best caterer)

It was great company, great food, and killer jewelry. Can't beat that right? If by chance you live out of state near one of our traveling locations, you should TOTALLY attend! They're giving away free jewelry to everyone that comes! To keep up on the trunk show locations check the Uppercase Living Facebook page.

RFF: got 5 minutes?

2011-09-21T07:00:00.008-06:00

This Sunday we slept in. It was obviously unintentional, and due to the fact that we had been up all night with a certain newborn baby girl. I'm not lying when I say 5 minutes. Second day hair, my go to maxi dress, and the always classic Levi jacket. Oh, and don't forget the trying to hide my puffy eyes glasses. A little lip stain goes a long way too.

Jacket: Gap, thrifted. $6

Dress: F21 $12.50

Shoes: thrifted. gift from Melissa

Glasses: UO

Quick update and an offer. (Winner)

2011-09-19T15:02:00.001-06:00

I'm going back to work tomorrow. I'm spending the day with my kids. I'm also preparing my sale items for the Hilltop United Methodist Children's and Maternity Consignment sale. I've mentioned before on this blog that every year I attend. It's a great place to get gently used clothing for babies and kids. They're really particular about the items they will accept, so it's always a good selection. Every year I walk away with good stuff. The fall sale is my personal favorite because there are always great deals on really cute coats and winter wear. Not to mention $5 Halloween costumes! Last year some of you emailed me about the pre-sale. I wanted to mention that this year, I have an available pre-sale ticket. This is the part I always go to, and probably the reason I get to walk away with such great stuff. Generally they ask that you volunteer in exchange for a coveted pre-sale ticket, but I do have one up for grabs! The pre-sale will be held this Thursday September 22nd in Sandy Utah. It begins at 7, but we will all be waiting in line to get in anytime after 6. (One of the few things I'll wait in line for.) If you are interested in coming to the pre-sale, leave me a comment, and I will pick one person at random at the end of the day tomorrow (Tuesday September 20th). Please leave your email address so I can contact you and give you details about the sale. I'll teach you the ropes!

The regular sale will start Friday September 23 and end on Saturday September 24th.

*The winner of the pre-sale ticket goes to Karlee*
I will be in touch with you tomorrow with details!

1 month.

2011-09-13T10:36:00.000-06:00

Oh how fast the time goes. H is growing everyday. She's a very alert and sensitive baby. She wakes at a pin drop. She's been fairly uncomfortable during the night resulting in a whole lot of grunting. I'm working dairy out of my diet to see if it will help. She has the loveliest eyes. The kind you can get lost in, and my favorite red hair. We are all loving her sweet presence. Even E.

I'm already preparing to go back to work next week. I have mixed emotions. I'm excited to get my creative juices flowing again, but I'm starting to feel a bit sad. It's only 2 days a week right? How do you cope when it's time to go back?

weekend love: a new initiative

2011-09-12T10:44:00.001-06:00

Here's a little something we did this weekend. I've been working on a new initiative to focus on feeding my family and especially my toddler much healthier. We LOVE treats. Way. too. much. So I've been cataloging some ideas here, and I was inspired by this pin which includes 23 healthy snack ideas. Snacks are the hardest I think, because we always seem to turn to the un-healthy ones. I loved this frozen banana idea, and it was super fun for us to do together!

We pulled out a bunch of ingredients we had in our pantry, and then we got messy. Sometimes you just gotta let a boy make a mess.

We finished up with some pretty boss creations using low fat vanilla yogurt, granola, cocoa puffs and peanut butter cap'n crunch, (for a sweet fix of course) peanut butter, and graham cracker crumbs. Yogurt & graham cracker crumbs was my personal fave.

And we did it all while sweet sister dozed away.

Photo Shoot for Hazel Part 2: my baby girl

2011-09-08T10:08:00.001-06:00

I'm about to get a little cheesy, and maybe even embarrass myself a bit. First, there's something you must know about me. I sing to the radio wherever I drive. I sing loud, and I don't care who sees me. Second, sometimes I listen to the same radio station I complained about my mom listening to for 20 years. Also, I am a huge, huge, bawl baby when it comes to certain matters. Most especially anything pertaining to my family.

The other day, I heard the song "In My Daughter's Eyes" on the radio. I've heard that song a million and one times, and I always sing along. As I was driving down the freeway with both my kids in tote, I started singing as I usually do. No sooner had I sang the word daughter, when a wave of emotion hit me. I now have a daughter. I thought about my darling baby girl all buckled up in the back seat and I began to cry. and cry. and cry. It still makes the tears well just thinking about it. In that moment, something occurred to me. It has become official. I love this baby girl every bit as much as I love my first baby boy. And that, is pretty stiff competition.

Can you believe how well Jen captured the incredible bliss that is the newborn stage? If you're up for more, check out her blog. Now go watch this and cry a little.

RFF: magenta, polka dots, and a top knot

2011-09-06T09:06:00.000-06:00

I've finally built up the courage and energy to get back into RFF (really frugal fashion) posts. I have some insecurity about my unwanted left over pregnancy weight, but I've decided to embrace my current shape and realize that it's going to take some time. I'm choosing dresses, skirts, and flowing tops to camouflage the extra curviness. I am LOVING fall brights. I've always been drawn to bright colors, and love the non-traditional idea of wearing bright colors during the cool down months. I snagged this dress at the D.I. near my home. This dress was a plus because it's particularly convenient for nursing. Also, I have an unhealthy addiction to the top knot. As I've been growing my hair out, it's just the easiest yet still sleek style. I guess being a cosmetologist, I should be a bit more creative...

A Photo Shoot for Hazel Part 1: Siblings

2011-08-30T13:25:00.001-06:00

I really debated whether I should spend the money on a "newborn" shoot. Generally, I feel like investing in good pictures is a completely worth while investment, but I wondered if the pictures we took of our new baby at home would be sufficient. I am SO glad I decided to do it. These are pictures I will cherish forever of my 2 sweet babes, and the darling newborn features of my precious little girl. If you are in Utah, and you favor modern photography, you need to consider Jen Herem. She's a total gem. She's incredibly patient, which I find refreshing and essential for capturing pictures of babies and kids, and she has great style. Her images are like those in catalogs. She brings classy props and she does house calls!! She's just an all around lovely person too.

My husband is a good man. He was sure to entertain E for the near 3 hour shoot.

Thank you all so much for your advice and kindness. I'm happy to report that my E is getting much more used to having a sister, and sharing the attention. It helps a whole heap to involve him in any process that involves his sister (which is actually advice from my mom. My parent's are smart right?) Getting diapers, picking clothes, putting bows on, he helps with it all. He's such a champ. Once in a while he still asks us to "put sister down" but it's usually warranted. We've been out once now, the three of us, and I was only an hour late and forgot wipes. Not bad eh?

Pictures taken in my humble home. More to come...

An update on 2.

2011-08-25T14:49:00.000-06:00

It seems that squirmy newborns are rather difficult to get pictures of.

2 kids. It's a really big change. Prior to having Hazel I heard mixed reviews from friends and acquaintances about adding a second to the family. Some said it was no big deal, some said it was really hard. Were the ones that claimed the first lying? It's not like it's anything terrible. It's so so wonderful to add another member to our family. Especially the sweet sweet thing that she is. I just feel like it's going to take a significant amount of time to settle in, figure out some kind of a routine, and get used to it. I don't think I realized how much time out of the day my E still needs me. He needs my love, he needs my attention. He's just 2. It was most definitely hard for him to scoot over and allow that time and attention to be shared. At one point, he looked around the room, and started grabbing anything that belonged to his sister claiming it was his. "MINE!" "MINE!" Instead of feeling angry with him, I felt the opposite. I felt really, really sad. I began to bawl at the thought of my first baby boy whom I have coddled and swooned over for the past 2 years feeling so threatened. Then my dad helped me realize something. This is part of his growth. A natural path in his life that has to be crossed in order for him to become a better young man. He's learning to be less selfish. He's learning about loving someone younger. He's learning about family. He now has a sibling for the rest of his life, and these are certainly not things to feel bad over.

I'm terrified to go out by myself with the 2 of them. Is grocery shopping even achievable? Do you all take BOTH of your kids out for errands, or do you wait until someone can watch one or both of them? I nearly fall apart when both of them are crying at the same time. How do I pick who to help? I've been choosing to let baby girl cry a little, while I tend to E. I figure he knows better. Am I wrong? I find it hard to keep both bums dry all the time. If I keep up on sister poop machine, I find I've neglected E and his pants are soaked through. It's tough to avoid the guilt. It seems I'm feeling guilty about one or the other no matter what. If I'm taking time to spend with E (which is most of the day) then I feel guilty about H spending the day in her bouncer. If I take time to hold H, then I feel bad about E taking a back seat. I've just had to tell myself "it's ok." It's ok for E to play alone, and it's ok for H to have alone time too. It's just going to be different.

So far, it's been a difficult but enjoyable ride. We've got the rest of our lives to go! E has started to call little H "Hazie." Which melts my heart. He's been nothing but kind to her, and he loves to kiss her but does NOT like to hold her. He's slowly learning to play by himself, and I'm slowly learning to be ok with it. Hazel is such a little angel. Despite the fact that she grunts like a nanny goat 80% of the night, she's incredibly sweet and nurses like a champ which is a huge relief compared to my experience nursing E. I don't think she looks much like E. I'm not really sure who she looks like. She's her own little person with a beautiful set of lips and the most darling hair color that I really hope stays.

As for me? I'm feeling pretty good! Ready to get my hair done, start working out, and stop looking/feeling like I just had a baby. I'm really emotional about my sweet family. I've got a really helpful and loving husband, the funnest, coolest, loving little boy, a lovely little baby girl, and a ton of helpful and thoughtful family and friends. I thought to myself yesterday, that although there's an adjustment period that seems tough, these are some of the best times of my entire life. Family is really just what life is all about.

Meet Mandi

2011-08-22T08:02:00.000-06:00

Meet Mandi. She has great taste and style. (you must follow her on Pinterest) She's also the talent behind my blog design. I went to her specifically, because I knew she'd be able to come up with something simple and modern to match my taste. I cannot rave enough about how helpful, sweet, nice, creative, collaborative, and professional she is. She listened to what I wanted, but also threw in creative suggestions of her own. It was perfect. If you are in the market for a blog re-design and want something less cutesy, and more modern/professional. Mandi's your gal. She helped me figure out how to make my pictures really big, and offered really good suggestions on how to organize my sidebars. Messy sidebars are the worst. Take a look at Mandi's blog too for another lovely yet simple layout. (it's a frequent read for me.)

She also posts fashion! Frugal fashion at that! Her top is from Walmart! Love.

If you're serious about a re-design, contact Mandi and let her know you read about her here. She'll offer you a free consultation including a story board to help get the creative juices flowing and get excited about the potential of your brand spankin new blog!

Thanks Mandi! You're one of a kind!

Meet Melissa

2011-08-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello! Since my current fashion still consists of maternity pants and over sized t-shirts, I thought I'd offer a little inspiration from elsewhere. Meet Melissa of Pink Pistachio. She's a chic family girl with a really fun personality.

Why hello there, For the Love readers! Are you dying to meet Sarah's little Angelnugget as much as I am? HELLO! Like haven't been this excited since the Twilight series. Adding one more darling to their mix is just going to be almost too much to handle! We're all rootin' for ya, sister! At any rate I'm beyond ecstatic that Sarah's asked me to be with you today talking fashion!

How would you describe your style? Everything but the kitchen sink. I have a strong personality with lots of sides to it. That makes me sound like a nut case. And yes, I guess you could say... at times I am. But that's fun, right? So really... my mood determines my particular style for the day. I do follow trends because it's fun and current. However, my down to core fashion roots would shout, girlie-girl.
What is the one thing you can not leave your house with out? My baby boytoy. Definitely my favorite fashion accessory! No lie, he makes every lady's head turn, giggle, and grin. He's totally got it. And he flaunts it. Just so happens he gets to be attached to my hip. He definitely makes us look better. If you're asking more along the lines of fashion necessities, I'd say my bulky "pumped up on roids" Michael Kors watch. Is it a parody that I don't use it to tell time? HA! It's true. Strangers will automatically be drawn to me bc it's ginormo size screams, "Ask me what time it is, already!" And more than half of the time, when they ask, I've got it on upside down! Yep. Awkward. So then I'll say, "Why don't you tell me." Really, I wear it more for curb appeal.
What are your favorite places to shop? Where DON'T I like to shop? There are so many choices. Argh. This is hard. Going to have to say if I narrowed it down to my top 5... 1) Nordstrom 2) H&M 3) F21 4) Outlets 5) Online Boutiques slash Etsy
Where do you find your style inspirations? Anything that I find to be lovely. That may be in the form of a a wildflower I spot in a field or a high fashion editorial ad. Window shopping, people watching, and even web surfing can all inspire style. For me its a matter of transforming things in life I find beautiful into my everyday wardrobe.
What is one piece of style advice you could give? Start small. Pick one article or accessory & build your outfit around it. Sometimes I'll say, "I'm in the mood to wear this scarf..." So then I grab the scarf & start building the rest of my outfit around it. Above all else - having fun EXPERIMENTING, dagnabbit! :) Sometimes we put WAAY too much pressure on ourselves. Don't be scared - you can always change it. Nothing is set in stone. Try your look on & give yourself a good 360. If you're questioning your look, the answer is, "It probably doesn't work." So take a piece off and replace it with something else until you like what you see! After awhile, there will be less exchanging of pieces and more of getting it right the first time.

DIY Doily Dyed Onesie

2011-08-17T23:22:00.000-06:00

Hi! Just popping in to say hello. I can't say thanks enough for all the lovely comments in regards to our new baby girl. We're currently adjusting to change at our house. My E man is most certainly feeling the effects of losing his only child status. We're going to take some down time and spend it together as a family with our sweet new babe. We're going to work on easing tantrums and set a goal for some routines. Any remedies for a little case of sibling envy appreciated. :) In the meantime, I wanted to share a little tutorial I put together for the SEI lifestyle blog. Miss Hazel is modeling the Doily Dyed Onesie. Here's the how to:

I have had a ton of fun with the Tumble Dye products! The dye in spray form makes for endless possibilities, and I love the color selection! Since I have baby girl on the brain, I'm inspired by all things feminine. As mentioned before, I love vintage. What could be more feminine AND vintage than the doily? I decided to create some doily stenciled onsies for my soon to arrive little miss.

I'm a huge fan! Here's how I did it:

I started out with a plain white onesie. (I buy mine thrift for about a buck) I cut to size a piece of cardboard to use as a barrier in between layers.

I used a simple glue stick to adhere a foil doily where I wanted it on the onesie. They sell doilies like this in the cake decorating section of the craft store. I also used some "grease resistant" ones that worked well too. You just have to make sure they're strong enough that the dye won't soak through. Be generous with the glue stick. The more you use, the better it sticks. Pay careful attention to the edges of the doily to make sure they are stuck down real good.

I sprayed a first layer of dye pretty lightly in the direction I wanted. I really like how the edges get lighter creating an ombre sort of effect. I let that dry, and then sprayed a second layer to darken the color just a bit. Throughout the process, I smoothed down the corners of the doily, to make sure they didn't curl up and allow the dye to bleed through.

After it was dry, I removed the doily to see the result!

She's Here.

2011-08-12T16:31:00.000-06:00

Meet Hazel Jane. She arrived on Monday August 8th. After having contractions for an entire sleepless night, we arrived at the hospital around 10:30 am and she made her debut at 12:58 pm. She was definitely ready, and whether we were ready or not, we are so thrilled she's here.

This is probably going to remain one of my favorite pictures that will ever be taken. I still get choked up thinking about the feeling I had when I could see my sweet little E's face waiting outside the door to come in. I felt so much joy knowing that we were now a family of 4, and thinking about what an incredibly sweet brother my little girl has.

So far E has been a total champ about welcoming home his "sissy" (a name by which he came up with all on his own) and she is bringing a tremendous amount of calm and peace to our home. (believe it or not!) She is going to be a very sweet addition to our family. Thank you to our close friends and family for all the help and well wishes. Thank you to all of you for your continued support and sweet comments.

weekend love: not yet

2011-08-08T00:09:00.000-06:00

I've been terrible at posting lately. 1. Because the beginning of August brings 2 weddings, a funeral, and a baby shower, (I have at least 4 friends who have or will give birth this month) and 2. Because I still have a lot to do before this little girl makes her entrance into our home. We only have 2 bedrooms on our main level, and our original plan was to finish a room for E in the basement. It looks as though time and financial constraints aren't going to be as readily available as we had hoped, so we're moving to plan B. Arrange a space for baby girl in our bedroom and work on finishing a room for E one step at a time. I'm confident that it will work out, but in the mean time, I'm working to fill the lone bedroom with the belongings of 2 children instead of one. I'm afraid this little one is catching up to her brother at a rapid speed in the clothing department.

On another note, SEI has asked me to be a guest blogger for their lifestyle blog! I'm really excited about the opportunity, and I've been working on a few little projects to share. Here's a little sneak peak:

So it looks like until this little one decides to make her debut, I'll be working on some projects at home (like this pillow project)

and playing pretend with him. Who needs toys when you have cardboard "boats"?

Cute sunshine tags c/o SEI

Weekend love: getting closer

2011-08-01T10:02:00.000-06:00

Here are some highlights from my weekend that was all about getting ready for little miss to arrive. The doctor says he thinks I'll be pretty close to my due date, which means about 20 days to go. As tired and uncomfortable as I am, I just don't feel quite ready yet. I feel an insatiable need for everything to be in its perfect place, and especially for a spotless home. Regardless of my nesting desires, I'm really excited to welcome this little girl home. I can't wait to see what she looks like. I can't wait to smell her. Rock her. Kiss her.

Baby shower with some good friends

The sweet bassinet that my friend Shay has lent me. (Thrifted pillows)

Oh that Dreft laundry smell.

a few bows I've been crafting. can you ever have enough?

I must say how thankful I am for such good family and friends and for all their help.

Also, if you get the chance, please pray for the Hanson family. My dear cousin who I really love and respect is mourning with her family the loss of their son and brother.

RFF: sunday best

2011-07-26T09:12:00.000-06:00

top: banana republic, thrifted, $4, skirt: thrifted, $6 also seen here , shoes: payless, peony: michaels. inspired by elaine

Paris Party Centerpieces

2011-07-22T10:17:00.000-06:00

I can now reveal the centerpieces I created on for the Uppercase Living convention!

They held a big soiree at the Paris hotel, so a Parisian theme was a must! I started with some inspiration pictured above. Sources can be linked back from Pinterest.

Crafted what felt like a billion and one paper pinwheels.

Scoured the thrift stores for mass milk glass vases

A few hundred wooden skewers, some paper flags, and voilà!

(paper flags detailed with vinyl lettering)

RFF: Comfy with a little jewelry

2011-07-21T11:01:00.000-06:00

May I just wear over sized light weight plaid button ups the rest of my pregnancy? (4 weeks!) Thank you. I'm done with too tight, I'm done with too small, and I'm done with anything that is not extremely breathable and really comfortable.

button up tee: thrifted cut-offs: DIY

The good news is, my friend Anna sent me this darling little love letter post card necklace. For some reason, I don't own a whole lotta jewelry, so It's been great wearing it with most anything. Do you love it? Check out her shop!

Thrifted Baby Girl Shoes

2011-07-20T08:10:00.000-06:00

I've been having a major hard time restraining myself from purchasing shoes for baby girl. I LOVE shopping thrift for them, because I can find really unique stuff for really cheap. I think my favorites have to be those sweet little red button detail shoes.

RFF: fringed necklace, maxi skirt

2011-07-19T07:55:00.000-06:00

top: downeast basics tee skirt: thrifted, $4 DI @Centerville shoes: thrifted, seen here. killer necklace: c/o Alison

I came across Alison's blog via her Tiny "T" tutorial on Pinterest. It was instant love. This girl has major DIY skills, and kills me with her creativity. She has an entire tutorial on how to make your very own chevron fringe necklace, and she also sent me these:

which I'm kind of in love with. Baby girl's gonna be ombre hip.

weekend love: that time of year

2011-07-17T22:37:00.004-06:00

~~Here's a little sneak peak of one of the projects I spent the majority of the week working on~~. (Sorry, no sneak peeks until next week!) Eeeep! I hope it turns out well! It feels strange not to be attending the convention to set everything up. But, seriously, I am way too pregnant for that. In fact, that's my excuse for a lot of things these days.

We had 2 family reunions to attend on the same day at the same time. It's that time of year right? Let's just say we were all pretty spent by the time the weekend was over. I'm a little disappointed because I packed my camera along for the eventful day, and to my surprise (not my husband's because I do things like this all the time even when I'm not pregnant) the camera was sans card. We did take this picture thanks to my cousin Bridget's iphone.

I actually have some fashion pics to share this week, so stay tuned. In the mean time, what did you do this weekend? I'd love to visit some weekend posts of those who actually come prepared with their camera AND card.

Bountiful Farmers Market

2011-07-14T23:50:00.000-06:00

I've had a rough week. I've been working really hard preparing for the annual Uppercase Living convention. So much more work than I could have imagined. I've been working some extra hours, and I really, really, miss this little boy. So, we took the night off and headed to the Farmers Market with my mom and sister.

There was yummy food to be eaten. (Is that not why you go to the Farmer's Market?)

P.S. I heckled the produce girl to share some of her cute wooden produce baskets. No go.

fresh squeezed drinks,

and Eddie.

My mom is such a special lady. She takes care of my E twice a week, and he could not be luckier.

My crafty sister in law in her little booth.

Our matching hipster wannabe wayfarer sunnies. His are Target mine are thrifted.

It was the perfect night out. Also, I may or may not have purchased a few too many hair accessories for little miss.

Two.

2011-07-13T08:12:00.000-06:00

I feel like I've been blabbing a lot lately about my E. It's just that he's the best part about our sometimes hectic lives. We recently had his pictures taken, which was more of an ordeal than I expected. He's not too thrilled about sitting still for even a split second, and especially not for someone he doesn't know. We managed to get some good shots, and I put together this little list to remember what he was all about at 2. It's a good age.

weekend love: a little low key

2011-07-10T23:34:00.001-06:00

This weekend we kept it a little low key. Especially on the picture side of things. As much as I love documenting our experiences, sometimes it's nice to not have to worry about the camera. We did take E to his first movie on the "big, big, movie screen." Trav and I hate going to movies. Is that bad to admit? Every movie theater experience we have ever had together includes witnessing a drunken argument, sitting near the infamous "laugher," (you know, the one that has a really loud, obnoxious, or over dramatic laugh and finds every. single. sentence and scene hilarious?) or my favorite: a suspicious sheep-man who finds the need to showcase his best and most realistic Baaaaa during the most silent or intense points in the movie. I'll take my living room couch. It's just that I have a Disney's Cars obsessed 2 year old, and we had free tickets.

If there was one image I wish I could have captured from this weekend, it was my little boy looking miniature in his own giant movie seat with a napkin full of popcorn, and his nearly ragged blanky he insisted he bring with.We did take these:

denim button down: consignment $2, vest: thrifted $1 DI@ 56th seersuckers: consignment $3 shoes: consignment: $3

Pretty handsome eh? If it's allowed, a week later, here are some of our 4th of July parade highlights.

Picking up candy of course.

Loving on cousins.

Lots of pop-its.

First pixie stick experience.

RFF: Tribal Bag

2011-07-07T23:52:00.001-06:00

I've been really into tribal print bags lately. Or tribal print anything for that matter. Here are some of the ones I've been admiring, and pinning.

source

Here's the one I purchased for a dollar.

A giant hobo bag sure comes in handy for trips to the pool, and unintentionally covering up major pregnantness. Bag via DI @56th

Blanqi Maternity Support Review

2011-07-06T08:53:00.001-06:00

Blanqi Maternity Support Video Review from Sarah Larsen on Vimeo.

This is my first time posting a video of myself ever. A little nervous about it. I do love wearing the Blanqi though. It offers great Maternity Support, which I could really use right about now. Seriously, can you believe how big my tummy is getting?

If you think your product would be a good candidate for me to review, let's chat! sarah.forthelove@gmail.com

For Sale: Vintage Dress

2011-07-01T12:03:00.000-06:00

I came across this dress the other day while thrifting and could not pass it up! From the peter pan collar to the sweet vintage floral pattern, it is such a darling dress! The dress is marked as size 4, so it won't be fitting my little one anytime soon. I think it would make the cutest summer dress, or it could be perfect for a photo op too! For this reason I am selling it for $15. I might also be open to trade :) Leave me a comment or send me an email if you're interested.

Shipping charges may apply to those living out of state.

School Bus Birthday part 2

2011-06-30T09:15:00.000-06:00

(singing happy birthday to himself)

On E's birthday I was talking to a friend, and she asked me if I was "heartsick." She said she always gets heartsick on her kid's birthdays. I wasn't sure that was a good way to describe how I was feeling. I made it through the entire day without a single tear over the fact that my baby had now turned 2, and very soon it wouldn't be just the 2 of us anymore. It was the next morning as I was alone getting ready for work, that I lost my composure and bawled for possibly the extent of 30 minutes. It wasn't really a sad or "mourning" cry. After all, he is the most joyful part of my life. I cried because I just feel so blessed that he belongs to me. I cried over the thought of celebrating this sweet and amazing little boy that somehow came to me. I've now been lucky enough to spend 2 years with him, with the last better than the first. I'm not sure how I ever lived without his little feet pattering around my house. Without him banging on the sliding glass window any second he can find in the day, or without his little voice calling me mommy Sarah, mama, and mommy. I adore being his mom, and there's nothing more I'd rather do than spend the next several years celebrating another year of his life.

more pics from the party:

I found these little school chairs for $2 at the thrift store. I thought it made a perfect little birthday boy present opening spot.

Some presents from mom and dad:

Entertaining the crowd.

He adores his new rug.

He made sure to give everyone a "love" and tell them thanks.

School Bus Birthday Party part 1:

2011-06-29T00:57:00.005-06:00

So my little E baby turned 2, and we had a little party. I'd love to share some of the highlights with you. This little boy loves school buses along with all things transportation. He asks to see the school kids off to school in the big yellow school bus, and consistently points them out during our regular travels. I decided to run with the school bus and school theme while trying to keep it simple.

the dessert table:

For the backdrop I hung our living room rug (it seemed perfect for the theme) from the deck using nylon twine and a real good needle.

For the cookie bunting I used #2 pencils (fitting right?) a little twine, and vinyl strips for the little "flags".

homemade whoopie pies.

Lemon candy sticks.

Thanks to my SIL for the yummy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

the beverages:

the tables:

I wanted something entertaining for the kids (and adults) to do while they were sitting, so I covered the tables with brown craft wrap and had my sister help draw cities with roads to drive cars and buses along.

I left out #2 pencils and colored pencils kept in spray painted mason jars

I wanted to carry over some of the chevron, so I used vinyl strips (tape) to create a chevron pattern on the jars.

the favors:

for each family: Paper "lunch" sacks filled with treats

for the kiddos: lunch trays complete with a wooden bus and fruits and veggies sweet enough to eat.

We had a great time, and I have more to tell. I've reserved tomorrow for more details and all things about the birthday boy.

RFF: rad sandals

2011-06-28T09:42:00.001-06:00

top: old navy maternity, $4, DI@ centerville. skirt: Rue 21 outlet. shoes: thrifted gift from melissa.

I'm currently nursing a major birthday party hangover. One less from any alcohol consumption, and more from the amount of work throwing a party (even of anticipated simplicity) takes. Add in pregnancy and 90 degree heat, and you've got a good solid 2 days of laying in bed to re-coup. Not happening in my wildest dreams. I have a ton to show you, and I can't wait. In the mean time, here's my latest pregnancy ensemble. Please notice my attempt to cover the spill on my belly with an endearing hand on the tummy pose. (A little lower Sar.)

I must admit that I'm getting to a point. The point where I don't want to be photographed anymore, and I only want to wear my husband's clothing. I've also officially lost any motivation to watch my weight gain. Send any encouraging words my way. :)

Speaking of encouraging. If there was ever a testament to the incredible results that thrifting can produce, it would be these shoes. My friend Melissa found them for $5 at the DI. Being a size 8 was has never been luckier. She generously gave them to me. The title of this post is in her rad honor.

Hoping to post birthday party pics tomorrow!

Painted Soup Cans

2011-06-22T09:11:00.000-06:00

Last year I experimented with some of my soup cans. This year I'm inspired by spray painted soup cans. Like these:

Source

This is a project (in the beginning stages) I'm working on for Uppercase Living.

I'm also loving painted mason jars. Currently painting for E's party.

weekend love: father's day

2011-06-21T09:06:00.000-06:00

My internet has been down. I hate it when that happens! So here it is Tuesday, and I'm posting about Father's day weekend. I hope you don't mind. On Saturday morning, Trav treated himself to some golf. So, naturally E and I laid (not sure I'll ever know the right way to say lay, lie lied, layed) in bed all morning. I looked over at him with his sippy cup, his Buzz Lightyear jammies, his bed head hair, and his exposed toddler tummy, and said to myself: remember this.

He and I worked hard this weekend on a special gift for daddy. A couple of weeks ago, I feel I scored big on a lot of vintage ties at the D.I. Trav wears a tie nearly every day, so he can never have enough.

Can you tell I'm drawn to stripes? My favorite tie is the uber skinny on the far left.

Then I wrapped. I wrapped them all up in something that I will call tie cakes.

They look yummy right?

Finished off with wrap hand "colored" with love.

I didn't leave E out either. He got his own special tie.

Boy, did he wear it well.

Party Inspiration

2011-06-15T11:40:00.000-06:00

I'm in the process of putting together E's 2nd birthday party. That along with a few upcoming work events is keeping my very busy. Here are some of the images I'm inspired by for E's party.

source

WEW: nearly all thrifted

2011-06-06T22:43:00.000-06:00

top: children's place, vest: dkny thrifted, $3, shorts: thrifted, $2, shoes: converse, thrifted, $3

I haven't done a post about E's attire for a while. I figured it was about time. I'll be honest, I'd much rather post about him than me. I've started to notice that there aren't many places to buy cool eclectic clothes for boys on a tight budget. I hit the Old Navy now and then, but it seems like when I shop the regular budget friendly places I just don't find the style I'm looking for. Will the H&M coming to Utah have a kids section? I hope. A lot of E's wardrobe ends up being thrift. Where do you shop for your boys?

By the way, when did my baby boy become a big boy? He'll turn 2 this month (currently making party plans), and I can hardly believe the things he says and does. He's so funny and a total joy most of the time. He currently talks about himself in the 3rd person saying things like "he wants a drink." or "he's tired." On Saturday we were eating at a barbecue and he turned to me and said "I'm sitting on a chair eating strawberries." I was rather impressed. I'm doing my best to soak up our last few months of one on one BFF time.

weekend love: commencement activities

2011-06-05T23:53:00.000-06:00

This weekend consisted of a husband out of town and plenty of commencement activities. I learned that these "activities" have now become rather politically correct on the account that they are now called commencement activities as opposed to...graduation? I also caught a Snooki reference and learned that she spoke as a part of Rutger's University's commencement activities. I'm still confused about what her expertise might be under that particular circumstance.

me, with my sisters

All and all it was fun to reminisce about being 18 and having no clue what kind of things were ahead of me. I must say, it was also inspiring when following the ceremony E dropped his pants in front of a large crowd of eager grads and their families.

Seriously, the kid can't keep em up. They literally just fall down. It seems no matter how close I try to size them he just has no bum to keep them from falling down.We've experimented with different sizes, brands, etc. Do they make belts for kids this little?

As I mentioned last week, I made a little something for my girls who graduated. I figured they could use something fancy to keep some of the cash flow they received in.

Possibly one of my favorite parts of this weekend: the peanut butter and banana waffles we had.

I'm glad to have my husband back. I kind of hate it when he's gone. He does all sorts of things for me that I tend to take for granted.

Illustrated Lettering

2011-06-02T23:21:00.000-06:00

I have a goal. I want to illustrate lovely lettering. Don't you think hand illustrated cards are the best kind? Some examples I'm loving:

all image sources can be found here.

So I gave it a try with some materials I already had, on some Thank You cards I'd like to send out. It's still a work in progress. I'm currently working on some graduation gifts too. Maybe I'll be brave enough to show them when I'm done.

RFF: Let's be honest.

2011-06-01T22:20:00.000-06:00

shawl: F21, top: $3, local auction retailer, jeans: hmd from sister, shoes: $14 Ross, belt: thrifted $1 DI @Centerville

Today I had what I'm certain was a foot wedged underneath my ribcage all. day. long. It was rather uncomfortable I must say. I love wearing belts, but this time it just added to the discomfort. Also, my zipper must have been down the entire day as well. I think I must have zipped it up 14 times including once in front of a co-worker. At the end of the day I threw myself down on the couch and looked down at my ankles which now seem to be larger than they used to be. Some days are more challenging than others when it comes to "pregnancy fashion." I put it in quotes because really I claim to know nothing about it. Let's take a second look at the picture:

Pregnancy is such a journey. A truly wonderful and more than worth it experience with an end result comparable to none other. I can honestly say that any of the ailments experienced along the way are a small price to pay for bringing sweet little spirits into the world. Swollen ankles, unwelcome weight gain, itchy, stretchy, sore, tired, breathless, bliss.

Nursery Dreams

2011-05-31T22:15:00.000-06:00

I have nursery on the brain. GIRL nursery. I think I've had ideas for a nursery of all things girl since before E was born. As indicated by the following images, I favor red. Here are some of the inspirational nurseries I've been drooling over which each have elements I'd like to shoot for.

source

Now I've got to work on getting a certain little miss out of my rib cage. Can't. Breathe.

weekend love: rainy with a chance of birthday

2011-05-30T22:53:00.000-06:00

denim dress: handmade by Melissa, raincoat: consignment $12, tights: F21, $4 shoes: kenneth cole, $15 local auction retailer

It was quite rainy here in the state of Utah this weekend. I don't have much of a problem with it, considering I know there are more than plenty hot and sweaty days of third trimester pregnancy to go. Besides, raincoats are fun.

Trav had a birthday. It's a little tradition for me to make a homemade treat in honor of the man who takes such good care of us. Last year I made red velvet cake. This year I made a version of homemade Reeses peanut butter cups via this pin on Pinterest. Gosh, were they yummy.

E baby loved them. Dang. We ate so much food this weekend. How about you?

ISLY pick me up.

2011-05-27T08:16:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I've posted. I have to be honest, I just plain couldn't do it. I mentioned I was working on several projects for a Holiday Catalog photo shoot right? My new job at Uppercase Living is pretty great. I'm loving the opportunity to draft up ideas for new and fresh concepts and then see them come to life. (Too bad I won't be able to share the finished projects until the fall!) Having said that, I'm also learning that preparing for a photo shoot is an insane amount of work! I have a new appreciation for the Martha Stewart staff, that's for sure. When I view pretty images of finished projects from her website, I now think to myself: "how pretty! There were definitely cuss words involved in that process!" Anyway, I had one day left to go on my projects, and I suddenly became really sick. The timing could not have been any worse. It was the most aggressive spell of flu like symptoms I have ever felt. My body was seriously trying to get rid of anything I managed to get in it. I'll spare you too many details, except to say that I had to spend a couple of days just resting. By Thursday I had plans to meet up with Melissa, and it was just what I needed!

You read ISLY right? Me too. It's one of my favorite blogs. Melissa is so insanely talented. When she invited me to come take a look at some of her maternity selections, I did NOT hesitate to take her up on it. We share a serious love for thrifting and finding vintage treasures. She was so kind to hand over a ton of darling pieces! I can't wait to wear them and show you what fab style she has. The truth is, she completely made my day. She's like that. Really, really, sweet. I even like her enough to hand over some of my thrifted treasures. Note the red shoes? I knew she could do them justice.

I had a really good time, and now I'm fashionably inspired once again. Not to mention inspired to be a better friend all around. Check out more of Melissa's thrifty fashion on her fashion blog.

Cardi: Thrifted Anthro, Striped tee: Thrifted $3, Cropped jeans: Old Navy, $8 Shoes: AE, bought consignment $18

Giveaway winner announced

2011-05-20T10:27:00.000-06:00

Gosh, I couldn't believe how many wonderful entries were received! I want to thank all of you for your entries, and for your continued support of my blog. I couldn't possibly bring myself to choose from all the creative and more than deserving entries. I had to do it randomly to be fair. So, here it is!

Congratulations Tommie! Please email me with your contact information!

You'll have to excuse my lack of posts. I am working really hard this week preparing for a holiday photo shoot for Uppercase Living on Monday. Wish my luck finding holiday candy during the month of May! Tips appreciated!

RFF: new shoes, old top

2011-05-17T22:50:00.001-06:00

Tunic style button up: Thrifted, $4 DI@ Centerville. Leggings: T.J Maxx $7. Shoes: Leather Nine West clogs, thrifted, $4 DI@ Tooele Belt: Thrifted, $2

I remembered I wore this thrifted tunic a while back. Almost a year ago today! It's funny to look back on old blog posts. I had crazy long hair. Have I mentioned I'm growing mine out? Not long, long. Just long enough to pull back without a thousand and one bobby pins. I'm not entirely sure what 2 children will bring, so I'm looking to grow a security ponytail.

I'm definitely getting larger. I'm definitely feeling hungry every second of the day. I can hardly believe I still have the ENTIRE summer to go. I can handle it right?

I've been wearing my Blanqi nearly every day. It seems to help quite a bit with that heavy, heavy, tight feeling I tend to get by the end of the day. It also helps contour and shape the undesireable side "overage" I've got goin on. I'm looking forward to the additional support throughout the 3rd trimester.

Shabby Apple Giveaway

2011-05-16T00:01:00.002-06:00

Do you all know Shabby Apple? If you don't, let me tell you a bit about them.

Shabby Apple was founded by two lovely ladies who, after years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable, decided to do something about it. Shabby Apple's mission is to design and provide affordable, fashionable, hip dresses for women, little girls & mothers-to-be...without having to compromise anything else.

The charming Shabby Apple is generously giving an opportunity for you to win the cute and feminine Cider dress! I personally selected a dress that I thought was classic and could be worn for many different occasions. I'd love to hear what you would wear it for, and how you would style it!

TO enter, be a follower of For the Love and leave a comment letting me know where and how you would wear the dress.

On Friday May 20th I will choose my favorite answer as a winner.

Open only to U.S. residents. (sorry!)

Good Luck!

Lately,

2011-05-13T15:46:00.001-06:00

source

Lately, I've been pondering on becoming a mother to a little girl. I'm excited, very excited. But, sometimes I'm scared. As much fun as I look forward to having someone to paint nails with, sing princess songs with, and go shopping with, (oh please let her love shopping) I know how sensitive girls are. I know how sensitive I am. I know that girls can be an inner mystery of deep feelings and worries. My prayer is that I can teach her to be strong. Teach her to be resilient in a tough world, but help her keep the inner sensitivity that will help her to be compassionate and nurturing.

I found Tina Fey's prayer to be pretty freakin hilarious. I hope you enjoy it like I did. Happy weekend.

"First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty. When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half... Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called 'Hell Drop,''Tower of Torture,' or 'The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,' and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age... Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short... O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers... And when she one day turns on me and calls me a B in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Sh%^&t. I will not have it. And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. 'My mother did this for me once,' she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. 'My mother did this for me.' And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes. Amen." - from BossyPants, by Tina Fey

P.S. Blame it on pregnancy, but I bawled during the end. Thank you mom. Thank you dad. I think I'm only beginning to understand.

RFF: Thrifted Mickey

2011-05-09T23:15:00.000-06:00

cardigan: $3 local auction retailer, t-shirt: thrifted, $4 DI @Centerville, wide leg bell bottoms: T.J Maxx like 5 years ago, sunglasses: thrifted .50 DI @Tooele shoes: thrifted $4, DI

I've always had a thing for Mickey. For some reason E favors Donald. He's unconventional like that. The other day I went thrifting for the purpose of purchasing a whole bunch of comfy t-shirts that'll last throughout the pregnancy. I'm almost positive that I already grew out of them this weekend.

Just for fun, here's a pic of E and I from a wedding we attended this past weekend. I dread the day my baby becomes old enough to actually grow a mustache.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T12:50:00.000-06:00

Happy Mother's Day! I jotted a few thoughts about motherhood over at Carrie's blog. Pay her a little visit!

simple and thrifty 1st birthday party decor

2011-05-05T23:35:00.001-06:00

Way back in January I put together a sweet and simple little P themed party for my niece who turned one. The party cost around $50 to create which was super awesome and unexpected, so I thought it might be worth a share! Unfortunately, the set up was in a not so well lit basement, so the pictures aren't as telling as I would have hoped. Any tips on shooting in un-ideal artificial lighting settings are welcomed.

Paper pinwheels.

Pastel pink cake.

Powdered doughnuts.

Little peanut bar.

Pom Pom garland.

Plastic bread-bag clip garland.

Poppy hair clips & pillow boxes.

Paper hat topped with a pom pom and stamped with a P.

Some other resources:
Velvet scalloped ribbon used around the cakes found at the scrapbook store
Used the drawer from the desk used in this family photo shoot as a tray
Used this paper pinwheel tutorial

RFF: pregnant in platforms

2011-05-05T00:06:00.001-06:00

Top: $8 via NPS. I really liked the tribal print and the belly room. Jeans: $12 F21 Belt: Thrifted $1 DI@Centerville it's amazing how a belt helps you keep ~~your shape~~ a shape during pregnancy. Shoes: Vintage. $21 via Decades SLC

Can we talk about these shoes for a minute? They might be my most favorite pair of shoes I have ever owned. Though, I debate every time I wear them whether a pregnant woman should be wearing shoes of this sort. In fact, one of my co-workers politely asked me that very question. I answered no, yet I still wear them every now and again. To my credit, I purchased them several months before a sign of new life was present. It was one of those occasions when I saw them in the store, tried them on and loved them, and walked out without them. Luckily for me, 2 weeks later they were still available. I guess no one else lost sleep over them like I did. Kidding. Kind of. Now that my balance is shifting quite everly away from what it was before, I should probably store them away until a loss of balance would only affect me rather than me and she. It seems that last pregnancy I wore less heeled shoes and more flat shoes. This time I'm feeling a little more gutsy I guess. There's just something about wearing heels that makes you feel a whole lot more fabulous. Do you wear heels while pregnant?

Can we talk about him for a minute? This is my view of the little stink from outside my dirty, hard water stained, sliding door. Sometimes we play games that involve sticking our faces on the window and making "piggy noses" which are curiously the most hilarious thing in the world to a near 2 year old toddler. My favorite thing is when he gives me a kiss from the other side of the glass. I am one lucky mama to have this little boy living under my same roof, sharing my covers, riding along as company in my car, sharing my ice cream, and sharing time in my life. The fact is, he makes me forget about mine and think about yours, his, and ours. He helps me become less about me and more about we, and that is really who I want to be.

cake mix cookies: a funfetti birthday treat

2011-05-02T22:38:00.000-06:00

Am I the only one who still gets excited over funfetti cake mix/frosting? I flipping love that stuff. Mostly the frosting. There's something about the little chippity chips they put in there.It seems that Pillsbury no longer makes the frosting with the chips in it. However, to my delight, Trav found that Betty Crocker makes a rainbow chip frosting that is completely acceptable in comparison.

This weekend, I had the need for a birthday treat, and I was looking for something a little less traditional than the usual cupcakes. I found a recipe for cookies made from a cake mix, and the rest is sandwich history. They were fast easy, and fabulous. Here's the recipe in case you ever find yourself wanting a funfetti treat!

1	box cake mix
1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1	teaspoon vanilla
2	eggs

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat cake mix, butter, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, or mix with spoon.

Onto ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by slightly less than tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart.

Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are set (centers will be soft). Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

RFF: red

2011-04-27T19:22:00.000-06:00

chambray: Thrifted DI@Centerville $6, Sweatshirt:American Apparel via NPS $5, Pants: Found in my basement ha. shoes: thrifted DI@Layton $4

This is not one of my favorite photo shoots in the world, considering I look less pregnant and more chubby, but hey, sometimes it's just awesome to wear a sweatshirt and some other red quirky stuff.

weekend love: easter weekend

2011-04-25T11:19:00.000-06:00

This weekend was busy of course. I feel like I'm still recuperating to be honest. It was so much fun, but really exhausting for a woman in my state.We started out by spending Earth day at the local aquarium. It's so funny for me to see what kind of things interest and stimulate my little almost 2 year old's mind. He usually surprises me and finds interest in the things that are most opposite from the things I would have expected. His favorite aquarium activities including spinning the educational penguin wheel, and climbing through the coral caves. I probably could have taken him to a dirt hill and he would have been just as entertained. That's the funny thing about boys at this age. I'm so interested to see what kind of interests a girl will bring.

Here we are at the sting wray pool seconds before E pulled off his shoe and left it floating with the water creatures. He then proceeded to drench his now sock exposed foot.

Most of our time was spent working on proper behavior such as no climbing, no "hitting" the animals, and avoid squealing at other kids who are sharing the tank space, but there were also some really fun discoveries. I'm finding the only way to learn a lot of important "life lessons" is by braving the sometimes risky public outings and experiencing things first hand. It must be quite difficult for a little boy who has been the center of the universe since his day of birth to find out that he has to share the earth with a whole lot of other people.

We colored a whole lotta eggs. I don't know about you, but we're gonna be eatin egg salad for the entire month of May.

E had his very first official egg hunt, and he was SO ready. Well, actually he wasn't quite sure what to do when the whole thing started. We neglected to do some necessary coaching.

He adores the Easter bunny, which is quite surprising since the genetics from his mother would tell him to be completely terrified of all imaginary holiday characters.

As for Easter Sunday? Boy did this little man look dapper.

denim button down: Consignment $2, white blazer: consignment $3, pants: gift, shoes: thrifted. DI@Sugarhouse $2, bow tie: handmade from thrifted fabric

We had a really great weekend. I just keep hoping that someone will take all this candy off our hands since I recently picked up 7 lbs last month, and also so that my toddler doesn't end up with a mouth full of cavities. I have to say that I feel like one blessed girl. I'm thankful for a loving husband, my sweet baby boy, a growing baby girl, and all of our extended family who do so much for us. Hope the weekend was wonderful for all of you!

RFF: Neutral Stripes

2011-04-20T05:57:00.000-06:00

Top: Salt Lake Market (nps) $6, Jeans: F21 $12, Sandals: Micheal Kors, $6 @Centerville DI, Necklace: Belonged to Gram

So this outfit is exactly a month old today. I'm not sure why I never posted it, but thought it might be worth it even a month later. It gives me a chance to reminisce on a smaller time, when pants actually buttoned, I could walk up the stairs without becoming profusely breathless, and I could sit down and play on the floor with E comfortably. Seriously, it's amazing how much can change in a month in the world of comfort when it comes to pregnancy. Today I saw a woman carrying the tiniest, sweetest, little brand new baby girl with a sweet little bow on her head. My heart fluttered a little bit. I think I can stick it out.

Weekend love: Spring in the air

2011-04-17T23:27:00.000-06:00

This weekend was all about Spring. I did a lot of Spring cleaning in preparation for hosting this month's Bunco.

poppy seed bundt cake and little vintage sugar cookies

Scored myself one of those cute little wooden dessert showcases for $1.50. (I think they were made for cheese?) Aren't they cute though?

Prizes. Cute prints in lacquered thrift store frames.

I found a darling Peeps printable handout but I couldn't get to a color printer, so I hand wrote all of mine which hurt a little. You should use the printable download.

Once it was over, E and I ate Peeps in my bed. Don't tell Trav. He hates it when I eat in the bed, but it's really one of my favorite pastimes. I would eat there every meal if I could.

On Saturday, the weather was so beautifully gorgeous, that we took full advantage.

We learned about "tatoe heads" aka Potato Bugs.
We colored with sidewalk chalk. Notice the concentration in the lower lip..

Have you ever tried strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar? It's one of my favorite treats, so I decided to introduce it to E.

At first he found it to be a bit sour. I was a little surprised he knew the definition of the word sour well enough to express it to me.

Then, I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it.

RFF: Painted Dress

2011-04-13T21:40:00.001-06:00

Dress: Thrifted. DI@Tooele $6. Belt: Target Boots: Thrifted. DI@Tooele $6

Trav sent me an official invite for my calendar nearly 2 weeks ago that simply said DATE. He wouldn't tell me what it was or where we were going until the night of. He ended up taking me to a little fondue spot, which was really sweet. Without knowing the location, this was my best maternity/date/rff.

A pretty present

2011-04-12T23:22:00.001-06:00

I believe I've mentioned that I love gift wrapping. Recently I grabbed some craft feathers, and a spool of suede cord and went to work on my sister in law's birthday gift. Here's the result:

Springy no?

Weekend love: RFF and local event

2011-04-11T11:10:00.001-06:00

I was happy to see the April SNOW melt away this weekend, and decided to go no nylons. Pretty edgy right? My baby bump is becoming a lot less subtle these days, and pants are getting tighter and tighter. I think stretchy skirts will be a staple over the next few months... Chambray: Ralph Lauren. DI @ Centerville $4 (little boy's section) Top: Gap outlet. So old. Necklace: F21 $6 Skirt: Birthday gift.

Shoes: DI@ Tooele $4

I also attended one of my favorite thrifty events. Twice a year, Hilltop United Methodist Church in Sandy puts on a HUGE consignment sale for all things baby, kid, and maternity. You can buy and sell, and it does not disappoint! It's a great place to find used strollers, jogging strollers, highchairs, and swings in great condition, and a great way to get some gently used name brand clothing for really cheap. A percentage of the proceeds goes to benefit the church itself, and they donate most left over items to charity, so it's a great cause. The Hilltop ladies are very particular about the items they accept, so you know you'll always get items in really good condition. Some of them even still have tags on. I never miss the presale because it's the first pick of all the items. It's one of the few sales that I'm willing to wait in line in the snow for. This year I was searching for GIRL and boy. Here are some of my finds:

Gymboree cardigan: $3 Gap pleated khaki skirt with bow detail: $3.50 Baby Keds: (like brand new) $2 Gorgeous crochet blanket in the perfect color: $3

Cherokee boat shoes: $3 New Balance sneakers: $4 Seersucker pants: $3

This sale is my absolute favorite for shoes, because they're usually under $5 and look great. E grows out of shoes so dang fast, so I hate spending a ton of money on them, but of course I want them to be stylish!

Oh and they have TOYS!! We purchased most of E's Christmas at the Fall sale for around $20. They usually have great boutique toys. We picked up mostly wood toys. This year I grabbed a huge bag of alphabet magnents for $1. So worth it.

The next sale is in the Fall on September 23rd and 24th. You can join the Hilltop UMW Children's and Maternity Sale Facebook group and request to be on the mailing list if you're interested.

Giveaway winners announced!

2011-04-08T23:49:00.000-06:00

I promised I would announce the winners today, so here I am at the last minute. The winner of the Twig Creative Alphabet print is AUBURN!

The winner of the ClemmieSue headband and E.Merica clutch is TAYLOR ANN!

Both winners were chosen at random using random.org. Please get me your email information and I will get everything worked out with you!

ClemmieSue and M.Erica, 2 giveaways in one!

2011-04-06T21:41:00.001-06:00

Today I bring you another awesome giveaway courtesy of the Bijou Market going on this Friday and Saturday at Southworth hall in Provo, Utah. If ya'll plan to go, make sure you RSVP via Facebook! This time the winnings are double. One lucky winner will receive a one of a kind ClemmieSue gold chain headband, AND a cute cotton clutch (perfect for a cozy little wallet) from M.Erica design.

To enter, leave a comment. For a 2nd entry follow this blog via google, for a 3rd entry, follow the Bijou Market blog. (You can leave all entries in one comment if you'd like, and I'll be sure to count you for the proper amount of entries.) I will choose one winner to receive both prizes on Friday. Good luck!*This giveaway will close Thursday night at midnight.*

Twig Creative Giveaway!

2011-04-04T21:18:00.001-06:00

So this week I'm all about the Bijou love. What is Bijou? The Bijou Market of course! Twice a year my friend Emily and a few of her lovely and talented friends put on a handmade market full of lovely goodies for those of us here in Utah.

I attended the for the first time back in the fall and scored a killer bag along with some great gifts. If you're in the Provo area, (or even if you're not) you should definitely hit it up! If you don't live in Utah, or can't attend the event, you're in luck!! I will be hosting 3 different giveaways this week featuring some of the most fun items from the event! I'm really excited, can you tell!? Today's giveaway features a darling custom alphabet print from Twig Creative.

I am so into modern prints right now, and this one fits the bill. It would be so sweet in a nursery or kids room. One winner will receive a custom alphabet print with the word or name of choice highlighted. To enter, leave a comment. For an extra entry, become a (google) follower of this blog, for a 3rd entry become a follower of the Bijou Market blog. Leave a separate comment for each entry, and I will choose the winner at random. All Bijou winners will be announced on Friday.*I forgot to mention that the print is an 8 x 10 size. Awesome right? This giveaway will close Thursday night at midnight.*

Happy April!

a day of thrifting means your lucky day!

2011-03-30T09:11:00.002-06:00

This week E and I took a trip out thrifting. On this particular day we were both feeling especially excited about a treasure hunt. We have to get days like this in before little sister gets here. We're currently in search of nursery decor, baby girl clothing, and also things for E's new room. We have a lot of work to do at our house.

Sadly, I decided to pass on this lovely vintage comforter. It just wasn't the right colors for the nursery, and it was a little too large.

Maybe a little cheery plaid?

Mostly we just ended up with a big bag of assorted ribbon to make bows for sister's hair.

Can you tell he's excited? My friend Jen says never to tell your kids to say cheese when you want to take a good picture of them. No truer words.

I usually don't look for clothing when I'm with E, because it takes too long, although I did have to browse the shoe isle. While I didn't find any great shoes in my size, I did find these:

These babies are genuine leather and canvas. They are size 6 1/2. Officially for sale at the price of $20. Oh how I wish they were my size. They're the perfect heeled oxford for every season. Email me if you're interested. SOLD. (Please keep in mind that shipping charges might apply to those living too far for a meet up.)

Also these super cute neutral Sperry boat shoes. Perfect for spring in a creamy taupe color. Since these are size 6 and not 8, they are also for sale with a price tag of $15. Let me know if you're interested! SOLD.

A year older.

2011-03-21T23:33:00.002-06:00

[source]

I turned a year older this weekend. Have I ever mentioned how much I love birthdays? Food, family, friends, fun, the one day during the year to celebrate yourself and to celebrate just being alive.

I spent a lovely dinner with our friends,
did a lot of shopping and sported some frugal fashion,

top: wet seal, skirt: thrifted, DI@Centerville ($6) belt: thrifted, DI@welfare square ($2) shoes: Calvin Klein, Nordstrom Rack ($12.50 w/coupon)

had a home cooked meal with my family, and best of all enjoyed a sweet treat with my favorite little man.

Oh, and one last thing. Received the best news...

Seriously, I can't contain the excitement.

Loving: The Fox.

2011-03-16T00:02:00.000-06:00

1.sweet fox pattern 2. fantastic mr. fox 3.bridalsnob.tumblr.com 4. found via tadashop 5.hillary bird print

RFF: "Dressing" the not quite official bump.

2011-03-15T12:01:00.001-06:00

Something there? Where?

Cardi: F21, Dress: F21 ($5), Tights: DKNY, Ross ($3), Boots D.I. Tooele, ($5)

You know that stage of pregnancy when your tummy starts to bump, but in a rather awkward sort of squishy way? It's the stage where your blossoming bump could easily be mistaken as an overdone lunch. Maybe you don't know. You've seen it though right? During that stage I was all about flowing dresses that left no reason to question whether there was a growing bean, or a bean burrito.

Black is your best friend.

Dress: Ross ($10), Tights: HUE ($8), Socks: Hubbie's, Boots: D.I. Tooele ($5)

Not afraid to wear heels. Yet.

Cardi: F21, Tank: HMD, Belt: D.I., Skirt: D.I. Sugarhouse ($4), Vintage platforms: Decades SLC ($20)

Now I feel like I'm finally to the point where I can embrace the bump and let it show. It's a good feeling.

An update.

2011-03-13T23:07:00.001-06:00

So, I've been gone for a while. I had to take a break for several reasons. Most of which are positive changes in my personal and family life. I really need to thank all of my friends and readers for the love and support that was sent my way through comments, emails, texts, cards, tweets, and facebook messages. It meant so very much to know that even people who have never met me have been concerned about my whereabouts and my well being, and I appreciate so much the encouragement to continue posting. I've missed social media. I'm looking forward to continuing my blogging hobby and reconnecting with so many of you. Going forward I anticipate that I'll need to post as time allows, and post about things I enjoy. I don't want my blog to be about pressure, and I want it to represent me. So, I'd love to share an update!

cardi:F21, tank: HMD, belt: DI, skirt: DI

I'm very excited to announce that I am currently working on growing the next addition to our family. I'm roughly 18 weeks along and starting to feel pretty darn good. In the beginning, I just felt so exhausted, like I could literally crawl into bed and sleep from Monday to Wednesday without a stir. I've had moderate morning sickness, but got hit with a near 2 week hell raising sinus infection that counter productively caused me to lose all appetite and toss anything I tried to keep down. I'm thankful to be through with that, and now focus on much more important things like whether I need to prepare for a brother, or lose sanity and go nuts preparing for a sister. I must say that I've already experienced extremely different emotions with this pregnancy than I did before. I feel guilty, I feel nervous, I feel scared, I feel inadequate, and frankly I'm a little more mean. It's like I instantly realized that the cherished one on one time I have eagerly spent doting over E is now numbered. Our time and relationship are bound to change, and I'll be honest, that scares me. I feel an urgency to spend every day teaching, playing, laughing, and making memories strong enough to last beyond the introduction of a new sibling. It seems like when the day doesn't turn out the way I had hoped I feel disappointed and depressed. I sometimes feel guilty that I don't feel the same way about this pregnancy as I did with the last. There's just no comparison to the way you feel with your first baby, and that makes me feel like this baby is already getting the shaft. I also have terrible fears of never being able to love another human being as much as I love my E. At this point in time, I feel that he has taken up every inch of space I might have to offer in my heart. He's squeezed his way into every single nook and cranny to the point I feel it might burst. He's the face I see and think about the most, the voice I listen to and hear even when he's not around, and the person in this world who makes me happier than any other person place or thing. I believe that love works in its way, sometimes I just feel like I'm gonna need to see it in action. At the same time, I feel a great amount of joy, gratitude, and excitement for this new and upcoming edition. Is that possible?

I'm doing new things with my job. Working 2 part time jobs was really starting to ware me out in all sorts of ways. I've finally consolidated to working one job part-time at Uppercase Living. I'll also continue to do hair from my home salon. I'm ecstatic to announce that I have been given the opportunity to exercise my creative and styling skills for Uppercase Living. I will be coming up with and creating many of the concept design projects. I finally feel like I'm getting paid to do something I'm passionate about which is a huge, huge blessing. If I have to leave my babies, it makes it that much easier knowing I enjoy what I'm doing.

And for my favorite thing to talk about, an update on my E man. It seems he is now officially a "big boy." Although I'm not sure I'll ever come to terms with it. He's moved from his crib to a big boy bed, which he lovingly refers to as "NEW BED!" Any sleep schedules and habits we had worked his entire life to form were completely tossed out the window with the addition of his new bed. He's come to the decision that bed = missing out. I think he believes that Trav and I are putting him to bed just so we can have a carnival in our living room without him. We're starting over by having lots of chats about why we need sleep. They usually go something like this: Me: Mommy sleeps, Daddy sleeps, monkeys sleep, kitties sleep, doggies sleep,... E: Elephants? He is talking more than ever and entertains us on a daily basis. He loves to say "Guess What?" and tries really hard to follow it with something interesting, but usually can't think of anything to say afterward. He's learning his manners which means he doesn't get what he wants until he says "may I please." He loves to say "bless you" after anything that sounds remotely like a sneeze including coughs and throat clearing, and strangers in the grocery store are not exempt. Also, we must be over praising him, because he's resorted to praising himself after doing a good deed. For example, he says "excuse me" after he burps and promptly follows it with "good boy" or builds a tower with blocks and follows it with "good job!" He believes in the power of mommy healing, and insists that I kiss every injury whether small or large better before he can continue playing. I won't ever complain about that. He's my best pal, and so much fun to hang out with despite a wave of temper tantrums that have introduced me to his angry side. I can report that he knows my tummy has something to do with a baby, but is more interested in "ding donging" my belly-button than talking baby. I feel like such a lucky mom, and hope for a 2nd baby as amazing as my first.

As for frugal fashion, I'm ready for a challenge. I'll be the first to admit that my weight gain was pretty steep last pregnancy. This time I'm trying to do better not only for me, but for the health of the baby. (No promises.) I just feel so hungry! All the time. It seems it's the only thing that keeps me from feeling nauseated and carries me through the day. Dressing without a waist is definitely more challenging, but I feel up to it. At least right now. :) After a few emails with my friend Elaine, and a blessed Skype session with Syd, I feel motivated again.

How are ya'll doing?

P.S. Still happily married despite the absence of wedding ring in my pics.

WEW: Casual

2011-01-11T00:01:00.001-07:00

My little man is getting so big so fast. He can now fill in the blanks while I sing Twinkle, Twinkle. My favorite part is when he says "wike a die-mend" He frequently asks me to "kiss it better", and politely asks for a treat by saying "may I?" He's considered our little parrot, so we have to be careful or he repeats things like "fweakin". He's become an expert dancer, whenever he hears "moosic" and melts me into a liquid puddle when he says "I wuv you mommy."

When I posted this outfit, I realized it was scary similar to this WEW ensamble. Just getin good use out of what we've got I guess!

Tee- Baby Gap, $4 (sale)

Plaid Button Up: Children's Place Consignment for $1.75

Olive Jeans: Children's Place Thrifted, $2 D.I. @Tooele

Shoes: C.P. gift from Grammy

Corduroy bomber jacket: $5 D.I. @Layton

For Sale: Vintage Boots

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I must apologize for the lack in posts. I'll explain more later. I think I might be back into the swing of things.

I've decided to sell some of my clothing/shoes that are getting absolutely no use. I'm hoping someone with a dainty pair of feet will want these for their own. I wish I could fit into them. I found both pairs thrifting and couldn't pass them up even in the small sizes they are.

VINTAGE PIMENTO RUST SUEDE type ankle boots w/ darling bow accents $10 size 6 1/2 SOLD

I adore these boots. I bought them thinking I could squeeze into them and make them work, but they're just too tight. Please email me if you might be interested. Similar found here.

VINTAGE NINE WEST BLACK LACE UP HALF BOOT w/ black metal hooks and grommets. $15 size 6 SOLD!

These boots are in gorgeous condition. I would have modeled them for you if I could have even fit them on my feet. Oh how I wish they fit. I can think of so many ways to wear them. Similar found here.

While I was away, my friend Jen featured my nautical baby shower on her darling new blog. Please go check out the Utah Baby Blog and say hello!

-shipping charges may apply.