Saturday, July 11, 2009

BABY on the BRAIN

2 babies born this week!!!
CONGRATS to:


1. My friend, Steph and her sweet baby boy who was born on monday: CAEDMON OLIVER
***also, check out her GREAT post on baby products!





2. And a new cousin for me (that's right...my AUNT just had a baby!) My forever young aunt Becky with her precious new one just one day old: ISABELLA ROSE

I have been prompted to be thinking more & more about our OWN baby coming!!! He will be here somewhere in the timeframe of 2 and a half months! That is NOT very far away! So as we are still pondering and hashing out boys names I am considering THE NURSERY. In no way do I desire to redo the nursery, since it's in baby boy fashion. However, there is something I like about it being unique for each baby. We were able to completely start fresh with Jack since he started in a new room. But this *baby* will be taking over Jack's room and Jack makes the move in with Drew (interesting times ahead, no doubt). SO, I am contemplating adding some new splashes of color. But while I am pondering, planning and consulting my husband, I thought I'd share this great idea I may just steal!


You can check out JennSki's fun & funky art at her etsy shop and her scrapbooking line can now be found at Michaels! That's where you can find these great alphabet cards to make the canvas art in the photo above! Click here for a full tutorial by tiny Decor.

Friday, July 03, 2009

Sum-Sum-Summertime

So, today, my feet are completely spoiled. 

I am not sure what I have done, but all they want is to be soaked, and scrubbed, and pampered. Can you blame them? 

I love a good pedicure. And it dawned on me that I haven't had one since preparation for our wedding. That is almost 8 years ago! Sheesh! You'd never know my sister is a cosmotologist! I have never been good about the girly painting fingers & toes...but last night after I got home from my 1 hour luxury treatment, I went to work on my fingernails. I need to keep the feminine touch alive around here with all these boys in tow!! 

SO, yes, #1 won. It really wasn't a hard decision (though, Leah, I will definitely keep your option open for next time). And I had a great afternoon to myself. My in-laws took the boys to the museum for a special frog exhibit, I did a quick shopping stop, had a savory lunch of spring shrimp rolls and organic salad here (logo & menus designed by pixel) before I headed over to elle. So the boys looked at frogs from around the world while I sat and soaked my feet and had them rubbed with all sorts of smelly salts and oil rubs by a beautiful Italian girl with a heavy accent. We talked about the streets of Italy where she grew up, gelato and her love for nutella (something we share). Do you know they make Nutella gelato? She has it every time she goes home to Italy and she says it's the best. I am sure I would completely agree. She was great. And my feet thank her. 

Today, is a beautiful day. We have had SO much rain this past month. I heard in the whole month of June, there were only 4 days without rain fall. So today was a billowy-cloud-sunshiny-but-cool-breeze kind of day. We took the boys to Whitney's farm where they have huge wooden play structures, including a new pirate ship. And farm animals you can feed (including a peacock!), and we packed a picnic lunch. After that we drove by the strawberry field to see if they were picking today. Picking is quite late this season due to the rain, but the fields were plush and ready. So we randomly stopped by Mountain View Orchards (and the name speaks for itself) and picked 6lbs. in just a little bit of time. Jack ate them almost the whole time, Drew played with the boy in the next row, and John & I feverishly picked away. They are the best fresh off the vine. Warm, sunshiny, fresh, fragrant...yum. So now I need to make some shortcake, and get some cream, and we'll be all set. Maybe that's what we'll have for supper tonight. Who says you can't have Strawberry-shortcake for dinner??? After all, it's SUMMER!

Here are some fabulous looking FOOD blogs I stumbled upon trying to find a recipe for easy and delicious shortcake:

~if your mouth isn't already watering, go here! What a fabulous "tried & true" food blog. Looks like she tries just about everything. She gives 4 varieties to the traditional Strawberry shortcake.
 
~this blog doesn't give an actual shortcake recipe, but she tried pink stripes' recipe and gave rave reviews about it. Upon scrolling through this blog, I was quite impressed at the variety of things she has tried plus taking great pictures helps. Food is not always very photogenic. 

~for a nice little shortcut, this blog baker uses a yellow cake mix for the base. Not quite as "home-made" but I bet it's super good!

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

SPLURGE

SO, I've been given an unexpected gift of time (alone) and some extra special *splurge on yourself* money for tomorrow. 

NOW, to decide what to do???


SHOULD I:


1. Get a SPA Pedicure and give my tired feet the luxury treatment?



2. Go fill my inspiration tank?

3. Go SHOPPING?

4. Go sip on something delicious from starbucks and indulge in a magazine (and pocket the rest of the money for a rainy day)?



5. Go for an expensive pot of tea and some of the world's best chocolate?


6. Go buy something fancy & pretty?

7. Go do something creative?

8. Do some shopping for the boys?

9. Get my hands dirty and do something totally new?


10. Go enjoy nature. (although I think it's suppose to rain!)
 


DECISIONS. DECISIONS. DECISIONS.
WHAT, I say, is a GIRL SUPPOSE TO DO???

(I'll tell you that my feet are crying at me to do #1!)

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?