Just taking a break ...

Hello, yes, I am still here! Sorry for the lack of posts lately.

My DH has been studying like crazy for the level 2 CFA exam coming up on Saturday so that means I have been pulling over-time on the home front. I will be back in a few shorts days ...

Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend!

Good luck to my sweet, handsome, hard-working and brilliant husband. Please keep him in your prayers. He has worked so hard for this one!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Shout out to my wonderful Dad ... HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Too late but worth the wait

I recently took DS to the beautiful Flower Fields in Carlsbad, CA. It is a 50 acre display of brightly colored Ranunculus. I enjoyed the view from the top of the hill the best. From the top, you can see the hillside of Ranunculus, the rose garden below and the Pacific Ocean. It was a gorgeous day. I think DS mostly enjoyed playing in the water (mining for gems), the tractor ride and running around with the adorable R twins at the playground. A Mommy friend took her slightly older kiddos and said they loved the "Stamp card"/scavenger hunt the best.

The Flower Fields are only open 6 weeks each year. Unfortunately, I posted too late for you to take advantage of it this year but you definitely need to mark your calendar for this time next year.

Since our kiddos are only 15 months and still napping twice a day we weren't able to take advantage of the wonderful Carlsbad Outlet Mall that is right next door. (But we were able to have a quick lunch there with the kiddos and there are many quick serve places to choose from). Next time, I would like to make an entire day of it and after visiting The Flower Fields browse the wonderful outlet stores they have, such as, Coach, Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren, Barney's and more!!! (Yes, I know, many of you are in shock that I didn't go shopping?!)

This is something I am putting on the calendar for an Annual event. The flowers are spectacular and the view is exactly what you think Southern California should look like.

Why so many flowers? Their goal is to harvest over 6 million bulbs. You will find their bulbs for sale in most flower and gardening stores all across the country. While in bloom (Springtime) they open it up to public.

***Blogger has not been letting me upload pictures this morning, I will try adding again tonight.

Have a fabulous Mother's Day!

Well, since I am way behind on Shout Outs (sorry) I thought I would take the time today to not only say HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the Mothers but to also give some birthday shout outs that are long over-due!!

March 23rd - Happy Birthday to DM!
April 2nd - Happy Birthday to my niece MC!
April 7th - Happy Birthday to KC!
April 15th - Happy Birthday to SB and KR!
May 11th - Happy Birthday to my sister TC!
May 12th - Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mommy PM!

and ... May 13th ... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the Mothers out there. Have a fabulous day!!!

By the way, the picture is my Mother's Day gift from my wonderful DH and fantastic DS!!! I LOVE it!!! But the best gift of all was the sweet cards and now spending the rest of the day with them.

The next best thing to making it yourself ...

I think I need more kiddos just to give me an excuse to put them in matching outfits like my Mom did. (I know, I know, not the most hip style but I can't always be "hip"). I have never seen anything more adorable then my Mom's hand-made matching dresses for us 3 girls on every special occasion. Now that I am a mom to one toddler (yes, only one) I can't imagine how she found the time to make all these adorable hand-made clothes for 3 ... but she did. Maybe that is where I get my love for all things hand-made. When I was nesting during my pregnancy I had this wonderful idea that I would hand sew cute baby items (please tell me I am not the only one in their 3rd Trimester who had visions of being the perfect home-maker and baking breads, sewing clothes and making my own jam ... not sure who that person was?!). I spent hours looking at fun new fabrics, choosing special ribbons and buying a new designer pin cushion. I had DH bring up my sewing machine from the garage, I dusted it off, and completed about 10 hand-made burp cloths before the nesting phase ended. They are adorable but I haven't made anything since. In fact, the sewing maching is now back in the garage collecting dust and I am spending unnecessary money on hemming my DH's new pants.

I still absolutely adore hand-made items. They are my most treasured gifts. Since I haven't been able to find the time to hand sew my own items (really mom, how did you do it?) I was really excited to stumble upon this site that sells only hand-made items. I haven't had the time to browse all the categories yet but I did browse the "children" category immediately. There are so many cute items I can't even begin to tell you about all of them, you must check them out yourself.

I think I can now manage to find the time to give home-made items to my girlfriends, thanks to www.etsy.com. For all you Ebay lovers, you must check it out, it is just like Ebay but home-made items only. (I also think it also gave me inspiration to once again dust of that ol' sewing machine of mine!).

PS I couldn't resist adding the picture of the sock monkey bib and burp cloth set (picture above) from The Rocking Pony's site on Etsy. I am not sure what it is about the sock monkey that I adore so much but he always seems to make me smile.

www.eight3one.com

My dearest friend of over 20 years AS has always been extremely talented. She was the gal I recruited to help me put together my Senior Year photo album/scrap book. It is just darling with fun sayings, colorful writing with "paint pens" and photos that are arranged artistically (obviously with an 80's style from our era). None of this would have been done with out her guidance. I have always admired her creativity.

So I am not the least bit surprised that her Children's clothing line is doing so well. It is fresh, hip, cool and stylish. It is SO boy yet sweet enough for those girly girls too! Her inspiration came after getting pregnant with her first son, Max. Talented AS and her hubby S (her best friend for years before realizing their romantic love for each other too) both have a great sense of style and deep knowledge on design.

Check out all her cool t-shirts. I have a new favorite every time I look at their site. I think my current favorite is the Elephant Ride organic onesie. (but I do adore the bug shirt DS is wearing in the picture above and I think my next purchase has to be the Helicopter t-shirt and Ant t-shirt not just because those are his two new favorite words but because they are so dang CUTE!!!). Their items are in many boutiques through out the U.S., as well as, an International location in Sweden. They are also available through several on-line boutiques and you can now order direct too. WOO HOO!!!

And if you were wondering where she got the name www.eight3one.com ...

8 letters
3 words
1 meaning

I LOVE YOU

She has been writing those 3 numbers on letters and cards to me for over 20 years. It has been her "branding" well before her clothing line came out.

I love you too AS and I am so proud of your wonderful children's clothing line.

Mommy's fave picture from April!

As you all know, I am constantly taking pictures of DS. Here is my favorite from April 2007. I thought it was the perfect picture to post in May in honor of Mother's Day. His dear Auntie DM got this shirt for him. I don't think the saying could be any better, do you?!

Are you still trying to decide what to do on YOUR day?!

I found this list of suggestions for Mother's Day activities on Mom Agenda's website. I wanted to share:

Breakfast in Bed
Light a Candle
Take a Bath
Go for a Walk
Meditate
Sleep Late
Read a Good Book
Sit in the Sun
Forget the Housework
Go to the Beach
Plant Flowers
Play with Your Kids