Red tag alert.

So, am I the only one that gets excited when I see the little red clearence tags at Target? I often walk the back aisles just to browse the "red tag" sales. I usually am so excited to find a great red tag item that I miss that the sale price of $4.29 is only marked down from the original $4.99. Yes, they have me fooled with the bright glossy teeny tiny red tags! And please don't remind me that I really don't need another package of colorful paper napkins or pink stationary. A girl can never have enough of either of those in my book ... and they were on clearance you know!

So you can imagine my complete euphoria when I discovered a teeny tiny glossy red tag affixed to the corner of the beautiful Britax Marathon's ever-so-popular-Brooke-pattern at my local Target. But after recruiting a salesgirl to help me desperately locate one we discovered that not only did my Target not have one in stock but no Target in the western United States had one. So, alas, I drove home and ordered my Britax Marathon in the ever-so-popular and adorable Brooke pattern on-line for a premium price (because, as I told DH, this pattern isn't available just any where you know & Britax are the safest).

2 lessons learned:

#1. Yes, those glossy red tags are a marketing gimmick to get you to spend more! :)

#2. I want only the best (& cutest) for my DD! :)

**lowers head and walks away in shame**

Happy to be round!

We are currently renting after recently selling our townhome. There are many things I would change about the home we are currently living in but since we are not the home owners we have no option (or reason) to make those changes.


We did, however, get a new kitchen table that fits the space in this home much better (not necessarily the style of the home but at least the space). I have always been a big fan of round tables and I am thrilled with our new one for it's shape and style. In fact I often seek out restraurants that I know have round tables for large parties but not because of King Arthur's legend that there is no priviledged position at the table but because it is easier to see and socialize with everyone at the table rather then only the person to your left or right (& I know we have all been stuck at one time or another next to that one person that you really have nothing to say to ... or is it the person that you always have something to say to but were hoping to chat with someone you ususally don't get to see?! Well, a round table solves either!). Cheers!

T(w)O INDEPENDENCE!

Last year's picture here! Happy 4th of July 2008!!!

HIGH PROFILE

Keeping this fair skinned child protected from the sun is a full time job. We have countless numbers of sunscreen bottles (one upstairs, downstairs, in each stroller, the car and every beach bag I own). We are also trying to teach him to keep a hat on at all times and sunglasses. Neither of which are going well but when he does wear it, it looks quite cute!

I love his stare. He gets it from his Daddy. I love my boys.

There's a beetle crawling up her leg

There's a beetle on the ceiling.
It is crawling.
I am going to get it.
I need a ladder to get it.
A small ladder.
It is crawling.
(Daddy interjects: "what color is the beetle")
It is black and grey.
(He physically shows us by pointing to the ceiling in the kitchen and using his fingers to demostrate crawling & continues all the way over to the couch and up "baby sisters" leg where she "catches it")

I love watching his imagination. I love the make believe play. I had just begun creating our "dress up" bin with hats, costumes, and props - I couldn't have picked better timing.

Feeling the love

1 freshly brewed Coffee Bean Vanilla coffee
1 glass of wine
1 Cafe Frapuccino
1 bouquet of flowers
1 care package on my doorstep
1 large balloon
2 chocolate cakes
4 text messages
5 great friends at a nice lunch
7 facebook messages
7 hours sans kids (thanks for babysitting Mom!)
8 voice messages
8 candles on my cake (not sure why DH chose 8, does it have meaning?!)
11 email messages
Uncountable hugs, kisses, gifts and birthday wishes (I started losing track some where?!)

I am truly blessed to have each and every one of you in my life! Thank you!

Here Comes the Sun...

...and I say it's all right!







Their first summer time swim ...



(and if you are not sure what song I am referring to click here to listen -you have to push play first)

The. Little. Miss.

My cup runneth over.

Happy Father's Day

Happy (belated) Father's Day to the most wonderful husband. The kids are cleaner (thanks for always doing bath time), smarter (thanks for reading daily to them), and loved (thanks for always taking time for us) because of you!!! You are "our" Hero! xxoo

Beauty Secrets? No more!

It is just fascinating to see DS pick up on everything around him. Not only the things I make it a point to explain to him but also the things he picks up just from observation. For example, the other day he was walking around the house with stickers on his nose. He kept saying, "Mommy, look, stickers on my nose.". I thought this was odd but also thought it was just him being silly (he does have quite a fun silly streak in him!). But later that night when I was doing my night time routine I put a Biore strip on my nose (my pores have seemed so clogged lately, even after my wonderful Epicuren facial recently) and he laughed and said, "Mommy has a sticker on her nose too." Yes, he has seen this before and yes, he is right, it does look like I am putting a sticker on my nose. Yikes, I can't believe my hygeine routines are no longer "beauty secrets" to stay in my own bathroom. This kid is either repeating my words or actions constantly. He has become my parrot. LOL!!!

smack smack

DD is already smacking her lips when we eat. She usually joins us for dinner (she sits on the table in her Bumbo) and I can already see her eyeing our food and licking her lips. I am not surprised since DH and I are both "foodies". It will not be long until she is starting solids. I started dusting off my "Super Baby Foods" book and visiting my favorite site http://www.wholesombabyfood.com/ in preperation of making her own baby food like I did with DS. (TIP: Those are the only two references anyone needs to make your own baby food!)

I am a little sad that she is growing up so fast but I also know that starting solids means nursing will become easier (at least it did with DS, fingers crossed!). Did someone say chips and salsa with a margarita please? That would be on the rocks with extra lime please!

Happy Friday!

Spring Fling; Summer Love

Once the weather starts warming up I enjoy lighter wines (& much cooler in temperature). This seems to be a common theme amongst all wine drinkers. The benefit, you can get a great bottle of wine for an inexpensive price!!! A recent find is the Montes Cherub Rose of Syrah. At only $14.99 it is a GREAT deal and the screw top makes it easy to take along to picnics and BBQ's! Even if you are not usually a Rose drinker you will love this 100% Syrah version.

Enjoy! DH found this at Costco and thought the label was fun, glad it also turned out to be delicious!

A lovey day!

DS still loves his lovey. Do you remember? Yes, this one. He needs it when he goes to sleep, when he has a bad fall or just when he needs a good friend (in good times and bad). My sister (who bought DS his "Mr. Brown Bear") also bought DD the pink lamb version. We are hoping she forms the same attachment to her lovey as DS has for his (despite the need to have it, wash it, not lose it, etc. - we still feel the benefits far out weigh the rare annoyances). We have been giving "pink lamb-ie" to her often but she is still too young to really hold it or have an attachment to it. Yesterday at her Dr. visit she was screaming and crying while she was tummy down on the table. DS sat in a near by chair with "Mr. Brown Bear" in his hands staring in discomfort while he watched the Dr. messing with her and making her cry (what that must seem like to a 2 year old watching). He jumped out of the chair where he was watching, grabbed her "pink lamb-ie" from my purse and gave it to her and stood next to her side while the Dr. finished checking her out. Is he the sweetest big brother ever?! It melted my heart. I just hope he always watches out for her like that.

A Grandpa's love

DS is still obsessed with all things with wheels. This includes trains, cars, trucks, tractors, buses, wagons and more! He recently told the sweet ladies at a local gift shop that the key chain with the Mercedes emblem on a display rack was a car (I think they were going to fall over in laughter and their giggles were followed by "only in Orange County would a toddler equate that emblem with a car). Then yesterday he was flipping through DH's New Yorker Magazine (don't ask me why, I think DH gets it just for the witty cartoons) and told me that an advertisement in the magazine was Miss KC's car in black (& he was absolutely correct, same model, same manufacturer, just a different color). I tell you, this kid is obsessed. He is already a "backseat" driver too. He is always telling me to "go faster", "turn around", "pass that car Mommy", and so on.

I think he gets this obsession from his Papa (my Dad). My Dad not only has owned a sports car my entire life, he also collects model cars. I just love that they share this passion. I like to think DS's obsession is inherited from my side of the family but I am not quite sure if a passion like this can actually be inherited or if they just share it, however, if you have ever seen DH's car you would be assured that it certainly didn't come from his side. (LOL!)

Oh, in case you were wondering why he was flipping through the New Yorker Magazine. He likes to "color" the pictures in the magazine. He thinks the black and white cartoons in the magazine are coloring book pages and will color them with his markers. I was thinking to myself, not a bad idea, probably is cheaper then a coloring book. I never understand why coloring books are priced the way they are?!

Ticket to Passing

If you remember this post, you may remember DH is taking the CFA Level III exam this year. It is next week. He is in crunch time and has been spending late evenings and weekends studying. If all goes well, this will be the last one (thank goodness).

Right now it isn't unusual to find these scrap pieces of paper with study notes around the house. This one is on the back of one of his plane tickets.

I love this man. I love how hard he works. I love how smart he is. I love his intensity. I love you sweetheart. Good Luck, we will be cheering for you!

THREE is CHARMING!

DD is no longer a newborn (snif snif). She had her 3rd month birthday last week and is now considered just a baby. I love watching her change daily - she can now roll tummy to back, grasp objects, smile, laugh, and coo.

Best of all - a wonderful relationship is unfolding before my eyes as DD and DS have really noticed each other more lately. She lights up and stares at him when he is in the room and DS has become extremely gentle and nurturing towards her. DS will ask where she is if he does not see her immediately upon entering a room, "where baby sister Mommy?". Once he has located her he goes back to his business (which is usually a truck, car, bulldozer, etc.). I love it - already keeping a protective eye on his little sister!

Now that she is out of the newborn phase, does this mean my babymoon is now over?! Oh, I am still nursing, thank goodness. Speaking of nursing ... my recent bra shopping excursion was quite the event. The bra fitting started before feeding time and actually trying on the bras ended after feeding time ... and just about a cup size smaller. LOL! WOW, how much is this girl eating is all I could say?! I think the salesgirl was more embarrassed then I was. If you agreed with my review on Hanky Panky panties, you will definitely agree that Chantelle makes the best bras ever and worth every penny (& this is coming from a former Wacoal fan!). When the salesgirl at Nordstrom gave me my total I drowned out DH's voice in my head ("you spent how much on bras, are you crazy?) with Stacy and Clinton's voice instead, "a good bra makes all the difference.". That would be the Stacy and Clinton from TLC's What not to Wear. Wouldn't you just love to have those two go through your closet and then hand over a MasterCard for a new wardrobe ...

I want to eat canyon Mommy, please!

DS's age is unbelievable ... everyday he is learning something new. He just amazes me. He already can name correctly every planet in the Solar system, correctly recognizes his uppercase letters 100% accuracy, he is starting to learn his lower case letters and just recently read his first word. (Okay, okay, it was sight recognition only but it still amazes me ... he stated each letter first H-O-M-E and then said "HOME"). The word is in the last page of one of his favorite books. :)

**and yes, I know this is a bit of a brag but just can't help myself, I could also include that DD rolled over for the first time yesterday at 2 months, 3 1/2 weeks old but I will leave that for another post, LOL!!!**

Okay, back on topic ... But then there are plenty of moments that remind me of just how little & young he really is, like yesterday. It was unbelievably hot here but on Monday's I still need my coffee despite the weather. So after getting my coffee I decided to stay in the air conditioned car and drive down Laguna Canyon and give him a narrated tour of our surroundings and make a quick stop at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center to see the elephant seals. As I am drinking my warm coffee in my cool car I tell him we are driving down Laguna Canyon Road. I say, "look to your right there are hills (he looks), look to your left there are hills (he looks) and we are driving in the middle, that is called a canyon.". I see his little mind working and he looks at me in the rear view mirror and says, "I want to eat it Mommy. (& then he continues since there is a long pause by me as I wonder what in the heck he is talking about) I want to eat Canyon Mommy, please.".

After about 2 minutes of trying desperately to relate to toddler talk it comes to me (I think). He must be thinking CANDY not CANYON. So I ask, "Do you mean you want to eat candy?". I continue, "Mommy said canyon not candy. You don't eat canyon.". I think I lost him at that point since he remained silent and my narrated tour down Laguna Canyon Road was useless until our stop at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center where he enjoyed visiting the rescued elephant seals.

A coffee break

I still have a love affair with coffee. You would have thought pregnancy and nursing would be enough to keep me away from my daily cup of java but it doesn't. Coffee house coffee is even better but I don't always like to pay for it (for what ever reason coffee in a cardboard cup with a plastic lid always seems to taste better, why is that?).

Lucky me, I have been able to enjoy my last few trips to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf absolutely FREE. Thanks to the below picture. I won 3rd place in the Irvine World News section of the Orange County Register & they sent me a gift card to my favorite local Coffee shop.

That would be "a Regular flavored coffee, double cup, no sleeve, please!". (a Regular would be a Grande to you Starbucks folks!)

One minute, thirty-eight seconds ...

... is the average time a viewer stays on my blog. I find all these averages quite fascinating but even more interesting are all the viewers that find my Blog through a google search. I always get a good laugh when I click to find out what they actually entered into their google search to come upon my Blog. Are you interested too???

Most common search criteria: "female sous chef"

Man, how they must be disappointed when the click on my blog. LOL!!!

Second most common search criteria: "Jesus loves me lyrics". Remember this post?!

Yes, I am watching, yes, it is fun knowing that you're reading! Please leave a comment. You don't know how nice it is to have something to read when you are breastfeeding a baby at 3:00am!

Thanks in advance! :)

Appreciation Day!

As usual, DH did a fantastic job making my Mother's Day special! I must say my DH is a true renaissance man. He showered me with 2 dozen roses, wine (usually it is champagne but this year two very special meaningful bottles of wine) and chocolates. I love that he works hard and is a manly man but always manages to show his romantic side on special occasions. But really, the best gift of all this year was DH having our 26 month old greet me in the morning with a "Happy Mother's Day Mommy" with a kiss and hug!

I hope you all had a wonderful day too!