Soak It All In...

Project 366: week 7

2012-02-19T08:52:00.001-06:00

i really must ask...

2012-02-14T10:35:00.000-06:00

i made ava's valentine's day cards on picnik this year. We put treats in little lunch sacks that i cut down to size, and used one of sissy's tory burch shoe boxes for ava's valentine's day card box.

happy happy valentine's day!

11 randoms, 11 questions, and 11 tags...

2012-02-13T12:07:00.005-06:00

My sweet friend Jax tagged me in a recent post, and i thought it would be a perfect Monday post! First up, 11 things you might not know about me!

1. I am an early bird. "sleeping in" for me is 8AM.

2. I am NOT a morning person. I know that kind of contradicts #1. I do wake up early, but I need time to "wake up". I hit snooze at least twice. Then I take a few minutes to check twitter, facebook, and blogs before getting out of bed.

3. I think salads look so pretty, but have never actually had one. I don't eat lettuce. Or hardly any veggie for that matter.

4. When I was little my dream job was being a lawyer. clearly, that worked out.

5. I get nervous really easily. and it shows -- like blotches on my chest and red cheeks shows. fun times.

6. I have 4 older sisters, 1younger sister, and 2 younger brothers. big ol' family.

7. I'm addicted to burt's bees chapstick.

8. I was in band in high school. all the cool kids were. I was also in choir, played volleyball and basketball.

9. I was a nanny for two years before I moved to Texas from Ohio.

10. I'm obsessed with crime shows. Criminal Minds, all the CSI's, Hawaii 5-0, Snapped, The first 48. um, yes please.

11. I'm a huge book worm. I got a nook for Christmas, and read 9 books during the month of January. yikes.

And here are the questions Jax posted:

1. What is your profession?

I work as a corporate events coordinator in the financing industry.

2. How would you describe your style?

Plain. I stick to the basics and tend to stay in the neutral zone. I do like adding pops of colors with scarfs, and usually stick to buying the current trends for Ava. i joke that i live my style vicariously through her. i think everything is cuter on my skinny blue-eyed blond-haired kiddo :)

3. What one make-up product can you not live without?
I can go without a stitch of makeup on without hesitation, but i canNOT live without my burt's bees.

4. If you could be besties with one celebrity, who would it be?

Reese Witherspoon. hands down.

5. What is your dream vacation?

There are so many places I want to see! I'd love to vacation in Bora Bora or Fiji and stay in one of those huts on the ocean. Beautiful.

6. What magazines do you subscribe to?

Sadly, none. I checkout People and Us Magazine everyday online, and when I travel I usually pick up magazines for the plane.

7. If you could have a special talent {that you don't currently have}, what would it be?

I wish I could dance. SYTYCD makes me realize that there are several people who have more dancing ability in one pinky toe than i do in my entire body.

8. What is your favorite breakfast food?

When I'm trying to make good choices, I love English muffins. When I just go with it, koloches are my favorite.

9. If you could do anything, what is your dream job?

If my options were limitless, I think it would be awesome to be a photographer. obviously, with the talent too :)

10. What is your guilty pleasure?

Anything HGTV related -- but my favorites are House Hunters, Dear Genevieve, Property Brothers, Color Splash, and Design Star.

11. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you?

Man, this is a tough one. I've received such good advice from so many people, that I really don't think I can just choose one! Let's be honest, I am a constant work in progress, so I'm always seeking advice and guidance on issues regarding parenting and marriage to what I should wear to a special event. I think I am just lucky to have a few really amazing people in my life to lean on.

Soooo now I get to tag 11 ladies! I'm using the same 11 questions above. No worries if you don't participate! It's all in good fun :)

Sarah at Frogs and Snails and Preston's Tales

Jill at The Young and the Precious

Sarah at Advendtures in Ava-Land

Kristy at The Hall Family

Katie at A Modern Day Family

Meredith at A Work In Progress

Maria at The BMC Report

Mrs. G at Front Porch Looking In

Sarah at Life Sweet Life

Chelsa at The Knepp's

Holli at The Plunketts

Project 366: week 6

2012-02-12T18:14:00.001-06:00

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366 Project: week 5

2012-02-05T14:06:00.001-06:00

let's have a party [the kind you don't have to attend]...

2012-02-02T13:27:00.000-06:00

My sister, Amanda, just because a consultant for Thirty-one and somehow sweet talked me into hosting an online and catalog show. I’m sure you all have heard of Thirty One and their products --- they have stylish, affordable products that are exclusive to Thirty-One. From signature purses and totes to storage solutions that help organize your life, you'll find something to fit every personality and situation. Each season, they develop new products, and we are just in time for the new Spring line up.

To place an order, just follow these simple steps!

• Go to Amanda's sales page

• Select the “Place an order” tab at the top

• Select “Candace Emerson” and & “Shop now”

That’s it! Thirty-one also has great monthly specials. For the month of February, for every $31 you spend, you get 31% off your next item. You can start shopping now until February 26th for my show. If you are not comfortable playing your order online, you can place your order through me via cash or check, and can order it for you. Please let me know if you are interested in a catalog.

Thirty-One also offers cool rewards for hosting a show. If you are interested, please let me know and I can put you in touch with my sister. Email me at cemerson620(a)aol(dot)com if you have any questions!

Project 366: Week 4

2012-01-29T10:58:00.001-06:00

I almost had success. I just missed a picture on Monday!

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what i'm loving....

2012-01-25T16:31:00.000-06:00

if only money really did grow on trees. it seems i have become a bit obsessed with online ~~shopping~~ browsing. there are some many things i ~~want~~ need to make my life, my home & my wardrobe a ~~little~~ lot cooler. lets just get started, shall we?

#1. chevron. ohh mmm geee, i'm obsessed.

via target

these will be purchased on february 1.

[if it wasn't for our ~~stupid~~ practical monthly spending budget ~~that my husband insists on~~, they'd already be mine!]

via target

#2. tortoise

via fossil

the hubs causally mentioned that a friend of his from college works at the fossil headquarters, and we can use his discount! eekk!

via tory burch

#3. stripes

via old navy

via west elm

#4. this super cute measuring cup set [even if i never cook!]

via anthropologie

see? obsessed. so tell me, what are you loving today?

project 366: week 3

2012-01-23T17:00:00.000-06:00

we are only three weeks in, and i'm already falling behind. i totally failed at taking a picture everyday last week, but i came really close. i'm going to blame it on the short week of work thanks to MLK, mmmkay?

Project. 366: Week 2

2012-01-15T17:17:00.000-06:00

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project 366: week 1

2012-01-12T11:29:00.000-06:00

so i'm jumping on board project ~~365~~ 366 [hello leap year!] in an effort to take one picture of something everyday! i think it'll be so fun to look back at the end of the year to see what all we've done! i'm off to a shaky start. even though i've managed to take a picture each day, i'm already late posting. the goal is to post each week on sunday night, but i wouldn't hold your breath! well, without rambling further, here's what we were up to the first week in january!

january 1:

we spent new years eve with our favorite emersons, so sunday we hung out in our pj's and the kids played and played. preston thought wearing a bucket as a hat was a brilliant idea :)

january 2:

i, along with most everyone and their dog, decided it was time for getFIT2012. really, i don't want to be healthy, fit, and blah blah blah. i really just want to be skinny. i've got a date with the beach in august, and want to feel good in the 121321561 pictures that we take! so, new ~~running~~ ~~workout~~ walking shoes and a fancy workout case for my iphone seemed practical. i will say, i've used them almost every day!

january 3:

ah self-photos or OOTD [outfit of the day]. its the trend right now on twitter, and i kind of love to see what everyone is wearing! it makes me really think about what i am putting on my body in the a.m., and makes me feel a little silly taking my own photo. i digress. the scarf was gifted by my sister. i kind of love it.

january 4:

the hubs got me a nook for Christmas. i am obsessed. i read three new books last week. its probably not healthy that i stay up way too late to read, and that i have millions of books at my fingertips. so far, i'm using a gift card to buy the books, but my wallet will not be happy when that runs out!

january 5:

ava had to get in on the OOTD action too :) sadly, i live vicariously thought my child when it comes to her clothing. i may be bias, but i think she looks pretty dang cute.

january 6:

fridays are tough on a kiddo in school. i snapped this photo at just after 7 p.m. she was fast asleep in MY bed with all her stuffed animals. stinker.

january 7:

making good on my vow to be more active this year, i snapped this photo on my run/walk on saturday. we have a great pond with trails around it right by our apartment. it was a perfect way to release the stress from the week!

so what...

2012-01-04T08:38:00.000-06:00

today i'm linking up with Shannon at Life After I "Dew" for so what wednesday!

today i'm saying so what if...

i got up at 6:40 and made it out the door by 7 so i'm rocking a greasy ponytail today.
i'm still in holiday mode, thus staying up too late and not getting up in the morning.
i haven't taken down my Christmas tree or decorations yet.
i don't plan on taking down said decorations until this weekend.
i spend the first hour each day at the office reading/writing blogs.
i consider chips to be breakfast.

what are you saying "so what" to today?

the many faces [wordless wednesday post]...

2011-12-28T12:36:00.002-06:00

Falalala [a recap of Christmas]...

2011-12-27T16:09:00.001-06:00

we spent a majority of last week getting ready for Christmas!! we received lots of goodies from ohio throughout the week from my family back home!!!!

if you couldn't tell --- ava is really into chapter books!!!!

our christmas weekend started on thursday afternoon, when ava and i headed to mansfield to spend the night with preston & sarah. little mister got his second set of tubes and an adenoidectomy on monday, and had a really rough couple of days :( we thought he might like having ava to come and cheer him up ;) we took the kids to kroger and they loved the car underneath the cart!

we had dinner and just hung out! a perfect night ;) on friday we spent time getting sarah's house ready for the first annual emerson cousin Christmas in between episodes of Barney and Elmo [p is obsessed!]

i don't have any pictures from that night, but rest assured we had a blast! We all brought an appetizer, drank wine [or whiskey depending on who you ask:)], played quelf, and had a chinese gift exchange. fun times, people:)

on saturday, we had christmas with my mother-in-law at brad and sarah's. the kiddos had fun opening presents. there was also some good kolaches, donuts, and breakfast casserole!

we headed home on saturday evening and ava got to open her Christmas Eve present --- new pj's ;) i struggled finding her Christmas PJ's, but thought these were super cute!

then we made santa his cookies and set them out on his special plate.

we still use ava's note to santa from two years ago.... pretty precious if you ask me :)

soon after it was time for bed, and time for santa and his elf to come and deliver ava's christmas present :)

santa left her a few goodies under the tree, and a big dresser in her room. it cracks me up that she mentions the wii being new in her room [even though we've had it for a year, its just been in the living room!] if i would have know it was that easy, i would have told santa to not bother with the dresser :)

ava got to open her gifts from nana & papa [my mom & dad] on Christmas Morning too...here she is opening her nerf gun :)

we spent the morning lounging and playing with all of her new stuff before heading down to brad and sarah's for another christmas celebration with her [and my adopted] family :) sadly, i left my phone at home so i don't have any pictures! sarah got a few though --- and i am guessing they will be on her blog sometime soon :)

we had a wonderful christmas with family! here's to a great 2012!!!!

let's have a [winter] party...

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

i was able to surprise ava and join her for her class party at school! all the kids came in and it took her a good five minutes before she even realized we were there! she was so surprised! we had fun decorating penguins, playing pin the nose on the snowman, and eating snacks. she even got to leave with me afterward!

i'm so glad i still get to participate in these fun things with my kiddo! time goes by so fast, and i know we only have a limited amount of time to make these memories!

ava's christmas concert...

2011-12-15T17:29:00.000-06:00

tuesday, december 6th was the annual whistle stop station Christmas concert! ava was a dancer, and had a speaking part! she did a great job :)

"He gave a promise on the night he was born, and He kept that promise at the cross. Jesus is God's word --- He will never leave us, He is always with us, He is our Emanuel."

sissy & greg, gigi, and mom & dad were there to cheer her on :)

Christmas Card Carousel 2011...

2011-12-14T10:34:00.000-06:00

I'm linking up with Faith's Christmas Card Carousel to share our 2011 Christmas Card.

We skipped out on cards last year, so i am SO glad we did one this year! I was also super excited that Sarah was also able to get some cute pictures of all of us this year --- we've never actually had family pictures taken! without dragging this out even further, here is this year's card!

*Card from Snapfish. All pictures by Sarah Emerson*

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-03T07:30:00.000-06:00

on the saturday after thanksgiving, we headed to the ranch with our favorite emersons for a little photo shoot. sarah agreed to snap some pictures of us, and in return, i took some of their trio too. perfect mini-session for christmas cards! i was nervous that we wouldn't get good shots, but i was nervous for nothing. sarah and i decided this might be an every 6 month thing. we are already scheming a photoshoot with ava and preston :)

here are some of my favorites...

i made the chalkboards out of pie tins from the dollar store & martha stewart's chalkboard paint. sarah came up with a fun way to use them for our card this year :)

here are some of brad, sarah and preston!

and one of the only ones we got of the kiddos together [it was freezing and windy and we were able to wrap it up in an hour --- next time, we can just do the kids :) ]

make a hand-made gift [#24]...

2011-12-02T07:30:00.000-06:00

to me, there is nothing better than a hand-made gift. i kind of love them. and even better, i love making them! i started brainstorming ideas for my nephews and niece in ohio for homemade goodness. last year, i made DIY ornaments. this year i was thinking of something made from wood. my fabulous sister-in law, sarah , suggested something with their names on them. brilliant. we headed to hobby lobby for chipboard letters & scrapbook paper. after the kiddos went to bed, we grabbed our wine and modge-podge. it was time to get to work!

Name Plaques

here's what you'll need:

modge-podge
chipboard letters [you could also use stickers or vinyl]
scrapbook paper
2x4 cut to size
sponge brush
hot glue gun [and glue]

luckily, by brother-in-law already had 2&4s on hand, and was willing to cute them to the sizes i needed. we did 12" boards for the plaques with the initials, 15" boards for the "emerson" plaques, and a whopping 32" board for my mom & dad {hello LIVENSPARGER}.

then we got to work.

Step 1: cut scrapbook paper to size of board. {helpful hint: make sure a little bit of wood is showing on all sides so that the modge-podge has something to seal the scrapbook paper to.

Step 2: apply a coat of modge-podge to the wood.

Step 3: apply the scrapbook paper directly on-top of the modge-podge.

Step 4: apply a coat of modge-podge to the paper. {small, firm strokes will help keep away the bubbles in your paper! don't stress too much though. after all, it's hand made!}

Step 5: let dry.

Step 6: apply chipboard letters using a glue gun.

Step 7: stand back and admire your work!

seriously, this is a super easy DIY. I made [with Sarah's help] 10 plaques for under $30!

a few notes: you can choose to paint the wood before hand, or leave it natural. for my plaques, i did a bit of both! if you choose to paint them, that would be step #1[obviously]. you can also have them sit on their own, or add a hook to the back for hanging.

happy crafting!

read elf on the shelf [#1]...

2011-12-01T07:30:00.000-06:00

nana bought ava her very own elf on the shelf two years ago, and we have been loving him ever since! we were excited to get him back out this year! we brought him down to brad and sarah's so preston could meet 'fisbee'. ava and preston sat in front of the christmas tree and read.

so cute!

i think i know a little boy who needs an elf in his life :)

happy holidays!

our holiday to-do list...

2011-11-30T14:44:00.001-06:00

as i mentioned in my previous post, i have been obsessed with pinterest! There are several holiday ideas out there, and several family "bucket list" pins & blogs caught my eye! I thought i would make one for us.

I plan on documenting some of the things we do on the blog! there are a few we have already completed, so that will help me get a head start :)

please feel free to reuse this, just give me a little credit! and of course, let me know if you participate in any of the activities!

happy holidays!

what's got your pinterest...

2011-11-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

i know i am totally late to the party, but i have a new obsession...pinterest! i can't wait to try some of these DIYs :)

painted canvas via pinterest

magnetic frames via pinterest

dollar store cake stands via pinterest

happy pinning!

family time: a day at the pumkin patch...

2011-11-09T15:09:00.001-06:00

there is nothing better than getting together with family on a gorgeous fall day. we had lunch at the foster's and then headed to the pumkin patch! aunt sarah got some great pictures ---so grateful to have her-and her camera- to capture these memories!

we started with the mandatory family photos! i always love sarah's pictures --- seriously! i am hoping she will take some for our christmas card this year[this may or may not have already been mentioned] ;)

the other emerson's :)

the foster's ;)

my girls!

The kiddos -- bella, preston, and ava --- had so much fun!

if you didn't already know, everyone is so in love with this little blonde-haired blue-eyed boy!

we got to feed animals, go on a hay ride, eat hot dogs, and pick out pumpkins :)

joey is such a great kid! ava thinks he is pretty cool too :)

happy fall y'all!!!

monday musings...

2011-11-07T12:03:00.000-06:00

my random musings on this monday...

* i spent a good hour (thank you daylight saving time) laying in bed this morning debating on wither or not to take a vacation day today to play catch up on things around the house. I have a doctor's appt. this afternoon, so i decided a morning at the office wouldn't kill me. (i've been rather productive buying christmas gifts online and blogging :) )

*said dr. appt is a consult about getting on mirena. I was thisclose to doing it last year, but chickened out. fast forward to today, and i am scrambling to get in before the end of the year so that i won't have bc costs for the next FIVE years. I don't know why i chicken out -- we don't plan on having any more children, its more cost effective, there are not monthly anythings. should be a no-brainer, right?

*i have no idea what we santa is getting ava this year. she has no clue what she wants, because the kid seriously has everything. (reference: only child/spoiled). aunt sarah suggested a personalized dillon rogers bracelet---but other than that, i've got nothing.

* work has been all sorts of crazy, but it is quickly slowing down to a complete halt --- at least until mid-january. i love the busy season, but i must confess i'm looking forward to some down time.

* yesterday was a total lazy day. i have laundry, dust, and dirt to prove it.

* i have the hardest time finding jeans for ava. she is tall and thin --- not the easiest combo. yes, i wish i had the same problem, but when it comes to buying jeans for her, i think twice about that statement!

* heading to gap before my appt. so i can hopefully rectify ava's jean situation. (they seem to be the ONLY jeans that fit her right. And she is getting a little desperate--- she only has 3 pair, and she has sucessfully put holes in the knees of two of them. **bonus, gap is offering $40 off of your purchase of $100 or more in store.

* its mugging and overcast here today. perfect monday weather.

that's all i've got today --- happy monday!

friendship 101 [a vlog from ava]...

2011-11-02T10:16:00.002-05:00

oh the joys of 6 year old friendships :)

soccer saturday...

2011-10-08T16:08:00.001-05:00

The girls put up a fight this morning against the panthers! So fun to watch! Ava managed 4 goals, and even ended up in the goal herself :)

jaxson dean...

2011-10-07T11:46:00.003-05:00

my sister had her second son, my 7th nephew, on wednesday! jaxson dean [ or jax for short :) ]was born weighing in at 8 lbs. 6 oz. and looking just like big brother! i cannot wait to meet him in a few weeks! lots of love to my sister! xoxo

game recap!

2011-10-02T19:23:00.000-05:00

ava had her first soccer game this weekend! i was in austin for work and sadly had to miss it, but that didn't stop her from tearing up the field!

they started out with some warm up drills to get the blood pumping ;)

then it was time to hit the field! girlfriend scored 6 or 7 goals (they don't keep track at this age level, but you know i'll be tallying anyway!)! apparently, she is on her way to going pro --- and i am sure the fact that there are no goalies in the age group has nothing to do with her success :)

when she wasn't racking up points, you could find her chasing down the ball and hanging with her teammates!

so proud of our girl! who knew being a soccer mom could be so fun?

**big thanks to Coach Radu's wife for the great shots :)

go tigers...

2011-09-27T11:59:00.000-05:00

this year we decided to sign our sports-loving girl up for soccer! she is playing on an all-girls team (that took a little convincing-girlfriend loves her guy friends!) called the tigers. we had our first practice last thursday, and her first game is this saturday! here a few pictures from her first practice :)

this one is my favorite from the night ;)

A birthday wish....

2011-09-19T06:54:00.001-05:00

a happiest of birthday wishes today to my sister in law, ava's rock star aunt, my dearest friend. We love you SO much, and hope this year is fabulous! xoxo

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guess who's back...back again...

2011-08-22T12:05:00.000-05:00

today was ava's first day of FIRST grade! our sweet little girl was so excited!

we had to take a few mandatory photos before we left this morning!

i even got her to agree to a few poses before we got in the car :)

then it was time to head to school! ava got really quiet when we set foot inside. you could see the nervous excitement written all over her sweet face.

[i love that i was able to get another picture of her and her daddy walking in together :) ]

we walked her to class, put away her things in her locker, and then got her all settled at her new desk!

i have a feeling is going to be a very different year for our little miss! 1st grade is a big transition year, and i can't wait to see what is in store for her!

Here's to a great school year!

gearing up for FIRST grade...

2011-08-19T16:40:00.000-05:00

on monday, this ~~little~~ big girl will start 1st Grade! i will be back on monday with first-day pictures and lots of details!

have a great [last] weekend of summer!

wordless wednesday...

2011-08-10T06:00:00.003-05:00

baby cousin sharing his love for journey with miss ava :)

top ten tuesday...

2011-08-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

1. crystal-light. i was house/dog sitting this weekend for my sister-in-love, and she had a pitcher of this goodness in the fridge. i may or may not have finished the entire thing. soooo good.

2. fish-tail braids. i think they look so cute! i just need to figure out how to do one!

3. chevron. still obsessed with this pattern. wanting a new bedspread or pillows with this print!

4. commander-in-chic. i love painted nails, and this color pretty much goes with everything!

5. the help. i finished this book on my trip to ohio, and i cannot wait to see the movie! i may have to go see it this weekend!

6. erin condren. she is new in my life, and i cannot wait for another plum district special so that i can buy her life planner!

7. retailmenot. i have found some great discount codes recently that have saved me quite a bit!

8. SYTYCD. so sad that it is coming to and end. also sad that every last one of those dancers have more talent in just their pinkie toe than i do in my entire body.

9. j.crew. anyone want to contribute to the "candace needs better clothes" fund?

10. friendship. i have some amazing ladies in my life :)

what are your top-tens this week?

hair today, gone tomorrow...

2011-08-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

little miss was way overdue for a haircut! we kept it long this summer, mainly because we had a wedding she was in in July. but with school just around the corner, we went ahead and made an appointment with the girl who cuts my hair [ava LOVES her] and decided to go quite a bit shorter! no more pony tails for french braids for this girl!

here she is one week ago....

and here she is today!!!

she loves it, and i think it's pretty cute too!

splish, splash, a birthday bash...

2011-08-07T18:27:00.000-05:00

for the big birthday bash, we went low-key this year and hosted a swim party for ava's friends and family at the apartment. it was hot, but so much fun!

as far as decor goes, we kept that pretty low-key too. hot dogs & cupcakes were served, and pool noodles & squirt guns were given as favors :)

a majority of the party-goers spent time in the pool,

while the boys manned the grill [a big thank you to brad, who handled most of the cooking!]

sweet girl got so many wonderful gifts, but she was ECSTATIC about her new DS from nana & papa! the proof is in the pictures...just look at that face!

preston wanted in on the present action too :)

finally, it was time to eat [cup] cake! ava is not a cake eater, but she insisted on one this year!

here she is taking one of two total bites ;)

preston, on the other hand, was in love :)

it was a great party filled with family, friends & fun!

It's sweet to be SIX...

2011-08-01T07:37:00.000-05:00

SIX years ago my world was turned upside down when the sweetest little bundle of pink was placed in my arms! Sweet Ava, I cannot believe you are SIX years old today! Then again, I also cannot remember my life before you were in it!

You are my biggest joy, my greatest accomplishment. Your funny, smart, beautiful & kind. I love you more than I ever knew was possible!!!!

Happy SIXTH birthday sweet girl!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

trash to treasure: the story of my first room makeover.

2011-07-12T16:25:00.000-05:00

so. like most newly married couples, justin & i's first apartment was filled with hand-me-downs. over the years, i have slowly but surely started to replace these items. i thought we could take a little stroll down memory lane at just how far our humble abode has come.

first, there was the horrid hunter green couch from the salvation army. it was gifted to us, and my husband saw nothing wrong with the saggy cushions and outdated fabric. so we kept that ugly thing until the next hand me down came along -- a snazzy black futon. it was great to look at, but extremely painful to sit on. finally this past january we traded in said futon for a black leather couch. both eye catching & comfy. basically a win-win.

when we first started dating, we each had a twin bed. 10 short month later, our family grew, and the twin beds became a full-sized hand-me-down mattress from his brother. the full-sized was not cutting it, and so my very first bonus was spent buying our very first queen-sized mattress.

our first washer and dryer was justin's from college. the washer was a lovely yellow color and shook profusely on it's spin cycle. finally it broke beyond repair and we were able to buy a brand new washer from lowes. i had never been so excited to do laundry!

we've bought new dishes, new towels, bedding, picture frames, and the list goes on and on. but there is, however, one room i haven't touched in the last almost 6 years. enter: the dining room.

hello 80's. i am not sure where to even start with this room! almost everything you see pictured is a hand-me-down. the table and chairs came from a previous boss. its solid oak, and in my opinion, solid ugly. the curio cabinet you see in the corner used to house my collection of porcelain dolls that i outgrew long ago but for some ungodly reason decided to keep the display. the black side tables were gifted, and while i like them, they are a little too dark for my taste. the picture and lamp are hand-me-downs too. i love them, but again, they aren't helping the look of this room.

i have always disliked this space, and the furniture in it. however, the list of wants vs. needs was a constant battle and i just kept putting it off. that all changed a few weeks ago when i received some pretty good birthday money. i debated how to spend it. new camera? clothes? kindle? and then it came to me. why not redo my dining room? we are never in there, and i have been wanting to make a space to do crafts/work/art/ava'shomework/etc. for a while now. so after some consulting, i decided to pull together a little inspiration board and get to work!

i had a little [$200] budget, and so i headed to ikea to get the bulk of the items. i found my table, rug, floating shelves and storage bins all at ikea in under an hour. it definitely helped that i had created the inspiration board, and was sure to write down all the item numbers i was interested in. ikea can be stressful, and i was so glad i went prepared.

i decided to reuse two of the dining room chairs and just paint them. I also wanted to keep the black side tables, but knew they needed to be updated too! last saturday crystal [aka Sissy/aka Sarah's mom] helped me sand, prime and paint. it was hot, sweaty and totally worth it!

ava and i also got creative and made some artwork to hang in the new space!

this past weekend my sweet bother-in-law came and hung the shelves, and then we set it all up. now that i have dragged this out entirely too much, here is our new workspace/dining/room!

i kind of big pink puffy heart this room now! after it was all finished, i kept asking myself why in the world i had waited so long! handsdown, the best way to spend my birthday money! i am already eyeing my next room makeover:)

many more days to come...

2011-06-13T15:01:00.000-05:00

like many summers before us, we will be spending many days enjoying the sun and water at the pool! i have been on a 'remember when' kick as of late, and thought it would be fun to see how ava has changed over the last few summers!

in 2008, girlfriend rocked a bikini and her crazy hair. her hair would turn this way when wet. after nap time, it was especially 'lioness-like' :)

in 2009, her crazy hair had grown a lot, and she rocked a new "swim soup" from aunt sarah!

2010 was all about the accessories. she didn't set foot in a pool without her beloved puddle-jumper. she also donned sunglasses that coordinated with the polka dots on her suit.

in 2011, she's rocking another two-piece and a tan! girlfriend has been spending lots of time in the sun at school. she's practicing swimming without a floating device, and loving the beginning of summer!

it's a celebration [kinder edition]...

2011-06-10T12:19:00.000-05:00

may 27th was a very special day for our little! not only were we headed to school for her kindergarten program, but she had also been selected the previous monday as the citizen of the month in her class. may's character trait was "Loyalty", and ava was chosen because of her ability to be a loyal [or as she told her aunt sarah, a "royal"] friend :)

we started the morning with her citizen of the month breakfast!

there were pancakes and cereal for the kiddos. each child that was selected for their class was called up front so that they could receive their award.

after breakfast, we headed to the gym and waited for the kindergarten program to start. the songs were so sweet, and i have to admit it made me pretty emotional! i was more emotional on this day than i was the day she started kinder! ha!

after the program, we headed back to ava's classroom where her teacher presented them with a keepsake book. It was the perfect time for a few "end of year" photos!

we are so proud of her and the little lady she is becoming!

first and last...

2011-06-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

on your first day of kindergarten,

you were filled with anticipation, not knowing what to expect.

on your last day of kindergarten,

you were so relaxed, the school day just part of your routine.

on your first day of kindergarten,

you wondered who your friends would be.

on your last day of kindergarten,

you were friends with every kid in your class!

on your first day of kindergarten,

your hair was cut in a cute little bob.

on your last day of kindergarten,

your hair came just past your shoulders.

on the first day of kindergarten,

you had me pack your lunch.

on the last day of kindergarten,

you packed your lunch all by yourself.

on the first day of kindergarten,

you had all of your baby teeth.

on the last day of kindergarten,

you had been visited by the tooth fairy five times.

on the first day of kindergarten,

you knew your numbers.

on the last day of kindergarten,

you can add and subtract your numbers.

on the first day of kindergarten,

you could write your name.

on the last day of kindergarten,

you can write short stories.

we have had many firsts by the last day of kindergarten. we are so proud of you! seeing you learn and grow is truly amazing! on the first day, you were my little girl. on the last day, you were my brave, confident kid! before the school year began, i couldn't picture what kind of kid you'd be---but this year has shown me what the next several will be like! and although it is a bit scary, i can't wait to see what else is in store for you!

diving in...

2011-05-25T15:32:00.001-05:00

maybe it is just me, but i absolutely despise bathing suits. i have never been a fan, but add 20 extra pounds, and then swimsuit shopping becomes pure torture. i have spent the last few weeks scouring the enter webs and stores for a new suit. i would just skip a suit all together, but texas weather demands at least some pool time, especially when you have a kiddo. so, in honor of National Swimsuit Confidence Week [thanks, Katie, for posting about this!], i decided to take the plunge and purchase my summer suit.

i headed over to Lands' End to see just what they had. i really did think that lands' end was a little matronly before. but the VS swimsuits and target teen options just don't cut it for me now. i mean, i am in my mid-twenties, a mom, and do not have the same figure i had in high school. i was beyond surprised at what i found - some super cute suits! I loved that they had so many tankini options [this girl will never wear another bikini for as long as i live]. Although i am not brave enough to post me in all my bathing suit glory, i will show you the suit i decided on:

Oahu Cluster Floral Lingerie Strap Tankini Swimsuit Top

Oahu Mini SwimMini

i really like the print on the top! they had matching bottoms, but i prefer a solid fabric over my rear. and the dark color helps too. i went with the skirted bottom in hopes that it will conceal [at least some] of my thighs. me - and my stretchmarks - will be grateful for that extra coverage on the bottom.

so there you have it --- hoping i got the size right and that i like it when it gets here! i was also able to get a coupon for $10 off and free shipping [retailmenot.com].

do you have your swim suit yet? where did you get it? tankini/bikini/one piece? boyshorts/hipsters/swimskirts?

la-la-la lately...

2011-05-17T17:15:00.000-05:00

we have been busy the last few weeks doing everything and nothing at all :)

ava is struggling to keep it together the last few weeks, but summer is in sight! she is tired most days, and super cranky in the mornings! she had field day on friday the thirteenth, and was really excited to wear her field day shirt ;) the She has lost two more teeth --- that has the count up to 5 total --- and looks pretty silly with her big girl grin!

she has sprouted the last few weeks as well. we took a trip to the outlets a few weeks ago for new tennis shoes, and also made a stop at a local children's resale shop for some great finds! i was able to get a pair of crewcuts shorts, gap shorts, a pair of nike athletic shorts, and a pair of danskin shorts all for under $30! the shop hit or miss, but this trip was definitely a success!

she tries my patience most days, and i know i drive her crazy, but i love her more than i ever thought you could love another person!

we spent the past weekend at home [a rarity for us!] and got caught up on house work, laundry, and other odds and ends. we ventured out on Sunday for lunch and a round of putt-putt!

I have a few vacation days planned for the end of this week! I am headed to spend some one-on-one time with Preston! i.cannot.wait! i love that little boy to pieces, and l-o-v-e getting some quality time with him!

My little brother and his fiance are also coming in to town this weekend, so we will be having some family time! hope you guys are having a fabulous week!

wordless wednesday...

2011-05-04T10:39:00.000-05:00

easter 2011...

2011-04-29T12:14:00.000-05:00

we had a wonderful easter with our best friends [aka family]. we woke up early sunday morning to see what EB left for ava and preston!

mr. p l-o-v-e-d the sunglasses he found in big cousin's basket :)

then we headed outside to find goodies! i think preston was just happy to be outside [little man loves it outside!]. ava took the egg hunting seriously! she was sure to tell me that it didn't matter what egg preston picked up, because her aunt sarah told her they were really all for her! ha! and let me just say, EB [aka aunt sarah] knew what she was doing when she left the root beer for the princess!

after too much candy for ava and a little nap for preston, we all got cleaned up so that we could head to lunch at sissy & greg's house!

we had a great lunch, and another egg hunt for ava and uncle brad!

i hope your easter was as hoppy as ours!

take me out to the ball game...

2011-04-27T18:15:00.000-05:00

or over to preston's house for his first birthday bash! i had so much fun helping sarah with the details of this little boy's birthday extravaganza! we made a 'wishes' board for guests to sign, wreath for the front door, and birthday banners!

traditional ballpark food -- hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and baseball cupcakes-- awaited the guests!

sweet little boy just enjoying being one!

miss ava lost her front tooth during the party!

but not before we snapped a cute photo of the kids!

then it was time for the birthday boy to open presents and eat his birthday [cup] cake!

preston and his awesome parents!

of course, i had to have some lovin' too!

--------------------------------------

and just for fun, a little comparison of the kiddos as they celebrated turning 1!

Happy Birthday Preston Robert!!!!! We love you!

easter [sneak peak]...

2011-04-26T11:19:00.000-05:00

a little glimpse of easter....details and photos galore to come :)

It's fun to be ONE....

2011-04-23T07:04:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness! Sweet Preston, how is it already time to celebrate your first birthday? It feels like just yesterday I was at the hospital meeting you for the first time!

This last year has been amazing! Watching you grow & learn is so fun! You have the funniest little personality! You sweet, and sometimes sassy! I love your laugh, that big goofy grin and the way your baby blues shine!

Happy first birthday, little boy! We LOVE you!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

redesign...

2011-04-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

a summer look for the little shoppe :)

making memories...

2011-04-20T09:46:00.000-05:00

ava and emmy met at the peanut gallery when we moved to richardson three years ago. even though the girls don't go to school together anymore, we still make sure to get them together. they have a love/hate relationship---but always manage to work it out.

emily came saturday morning to play for a few hours, and then we took them to see rio before ava headed to her house for a sleepover ;) i love listening to their conversations when they think no one is listening :)

emmy and ava :)

laughter and donuts = perfect breakfast :)

"they didn't realize they were making memories, they just knew they were having fun."

recappin'....

2011-04-11T17:00:00.043-05:00

how is it possible that another week & weekend has already come and gone? it seems as though this year is flying by in a blur! we managed to have a pretty quiet and productive weekend! my recap starts on thursday, because on thursday my sister welcomed the 7th grandchild on my side of the family, the 2nd baby girl. Avery Lynn was born weighing 7 lbs. 10 oz, and was 19 1/2 inches long. she has the chubbiest little cheekers!

on friday, the hubs went to the races, so ava and i were left to our own devices. we settled for dinner at texas roadhouse with sissy. ava met a little boy at the restaurant, and was totally flirting with him! her winking looks a little questionable, and i warned her that i wouldn't be doing that in few years! ha! lord help me when she is a teenager!

saturday morning, ava and i headed to see hop. it was a little slow, but overall, a pretty cute movie :) its fun getting a little one-on-one time with her. the rest of saturday was spent lounging around and working on laundry.

sunday, i was ridiculously productive! ha! i cleaned house, worked on more laundry [never.freaking.ending], and groceried [thanks for this fabulous word Jax !!]. then i headed home to bake cupcakes for the hubs [it was his 29th yesterday!], work on a front door wreath for preston's big bash, and make dinner: pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, & corn per the birthday boy!

i thought preston's wreath turned out so cute!

justin requested no big celebration, so we had a great dinner and then sang happy birthday. ava worked really hard on making him a homemade card. she was so proud to give it to him, and take him his cupcake! ha!

hope y'all had a wonderful weekend too!

reunited and it feels SO good...

2011-03-28T14:18:00.001-05:00

so a few months ago, i did a little recap of how i rang in 2011 by meeting with my favorite blog-turned real life besties Jill, Sarah, and Kristy. It was truly a day of epic proportions. before leaving that day, we had already set the wheels in motion for our next meet up. operation dallas was soon underway! Although we can't wait for all our kiddos to meet up, we decided the dallas reunion needed to be just for the mommas. a two day shopping/eating/bonding extravaganza. and that, my friends, is exactly what we did!

the girls arrived at my house a little after noon and we headed to lunch at my favorite mexican restaurant, Gloria's. y'all. the service was terrible. i think the waiter was just mad that kristy sent back her drink :) it took him 20 minutes to take our order, and then jill's came out wrong. lucky for him, we had so much to catch up on, that it was nice to sit and talk!

after lunch, we headed to the outlets for some serious shopping. we covered every inch of the outdoor space. SO fun. it think we all bought things we just needed :) before we knew it, it was pushing 5 so we decided to head to the hotel for a little r&r before dinner. we got some fabulous presents! jill gifted us with '"grown up" best friend necklaces from Julie the Fish Designs. the plan is that every time we meet up, a new charm will be added. love. sarah gifted us with personalized wine glasses. perfection.

there is a little 'c' in the center :)

after gifts, it was time to primp for dinner! jill busted out the dust it and sprinkled her magic on each of our hair. in jill's words "just enough to make it big and a little trashy". we added eye liner and a little too much mascara [maybe that was just me!] and headed to the melting pot.

the mandatory bathroom photo!

let me just say, i was a little nervous about dinner at the melting pot. due to my aversion to most foods, i tend to stay in my little bubble of restaurants that i deem safe [i.e. restaurants that 5 year olds prefer]. but i figured this was girls weekend, and i needed to take one for the team. ummm, turns out...it was fabulous. seriously. the cheese fondue was perfection, and i even tried apple dipped in cheese and.i.liked.it. [could have been the sangria, but i'll never tell!] we skipped the entree and went straight for dessert. best.decision.ever! jill and i got the "smores" and sarah & kristy had the "big night out'. ohhhmmmmmgeeeee. it was fantastic.

"oh....my....word..."- jill

after a good two hour dinner, we headed to the car and we greeted by a police cruiser who has just pulled over another car, parking us in. we watched as the officer arrested this young girl who i swear didn't even bat an eye. we all confirmed that if it was one of us, we would be hysterically crying! sarah tweeted about the incident, and was asked if the girl who was arrested was one of us! haha! too funny [jill, we would totally post your bail!] good times.

it totally looks like kristy is in t.r.o.u.b.l.e!

saturday morning we were up bright and early for day two! we headed to northpark for a little more shopping and breakfast at chic-fil-a. after the mall, we headed to sprinkles! we all got our cupcakes to go but it was still a 'must' on the trip :)

after sprinkles we headed to a little nail boutique for pedicures before it was time for the crew to head home. it was a wonderful weekend with some of my very best friends. you know these girls are lifers when they see you in ratty pj's and no makeup and still want to be your friend. or when they still love you after giving them the wrong directions on how to get back home.

true friendship.

love you girls so so so much!

here's to mena in june!!!!!

[wednesday] giveaway!...

2011-03-23T12:33:00.001-05:00

so. if y'all have been reading for a little while, you may remember me mentioning that i started a side project where i have been making handmade vintage-rolled rosettes and bloom flowers for the perfect accessory. with spring in the air and summer well on its way, i thought it was time for a little giveaway!

love.Blooms.here

For this giveaway, one lucky reader will get a custom necklace of their choice!

Entering is Easy! Here's how:

visit the website HERE. take a little look around love.blooms.here and then:

1. become a follower of love.Blooms.here, and let me know you are following! [one entry]

2. blog/tweet about this giveaway, and leave me a comment with your blog/tweet! [one entry]

3. leave a comment letting me know your favorite item in the shoppe! [one entry]

Do all three, and you'll get three entries! See, EASY! Contest will end on Sunday, March 27th and the winner will be announced on Monday!

Thanks for entering!!!

Just A Swingin’...

2011-03-21T13:01:00.000-05:00

this weekend, we took full advantage of the gorgeous weather! on saturday we met up with brad, sarah & preston! sarah and i took the kiddos to the neighborhood park for a little fun in the sun!

Preston drove his car and was in love. apparently, the connection between a boy and his toys is pretty strong :)

our first stop at the park was of course the swings! The kids [and sarah] went down the slide a few times too :)

i was busy snapping photos [ i l.o.v.e. sarah's camera]

and posing in a few too :)

we headed back to the house and the kids had some popsicles! preston's first time, and i think he was a fan!

a great afternoon!!

___________________________________________________________________

on sunday, ava and i cleaned house and did laundry before heading out to our little park. Ava has mastered the monkey bars, and couldn't wait to get out there and add a few more blisters to her little hands :)

i hope you guys got some good weather and sunshine this weekend too! happy monday.

a dose of random...

2011-03-11T14:11:00.001-06:00

* its friday. can i get a hallelujah?

*we had a student - led conference last night with ava at her school. she presented her animal research project to us. it was about spiders. on the very first page, in her big kindergarten scrawl she had written: "Spiders ar in SEX" translation: "Spiders are insects". i almost died.

* my babe is going on vacation [ it is her spring break] without us for 6 days. yikes.

*hubs and i have never been with just the two of us for 6 days in a row since ava was born.
double yikes.

*at breakfast this morning, ava declared: "i am so glad it is friday because tomorrow is saturday and on saturday i'm going to daddy steve & sherry's and i don't have to listen to you yell for six.whole.days.

*i wasn't as sad that she would be gone after that comment!

*i have to go to target to get her a swim suit because her suit from last year is too small.

*she leaves tomorrow and i haven't packed one.single.thing.

*i'm planning on making a ton of vintage rolled rosettes this weekend

[ i have a few orders to fill! yay! ] .

*anyone need to place an order? Love.Blooms.Here

*i'm trying to get the hubs on board to buy a new computer for home. and a new camera. both negotiations are not going in my favor.

happy weekend!

born to be a star...

2011-03-08T10:36:00.000-06:00

star student. the most coveted title in kindergarten. on friday, february 18th, miss priss got the shock of her little lifetime when it was announced that she would be the "star student of the week". she was so excited. hearing her recap how she found out was priceless.

mrs. s: "this week's star student had a little bit of trouble at the beginning of the year. she couldn't sit still on the carpet.
ava: i don't think it's me...
mrs. s: "she has been showing so much improvement! She is always helping me in the classroom, and helping other students."
ava: that is definitely not me.
mrs. s: "so this week's star student is ava!"
ava: i can't believe it is me!!!

priceless, i tell you. we had lots of fun projects for the next week in order to make her "star student" week extra special.

monday: make a special poster showcasing your star student and their family.

tuesday: complete the interview paper. the star student will be interviewed by mrs. s in front of the class.

i was surprised that she chose "ABC's" as her favorite song. when i questioned her, she rolled her eyes and said "mom, you have to sing it in front of the whole class, and the ABC's are easy!"

wednesday: bring your favorite toy/game to share with the class.

again, i was surprised that she chose aurora as her favorite toy. she is quite the tom boy, and i was thinking it would be buzz lightyear or her baseball that went to school. again, she rolled her eyes and explained that the movie of sleeping beauty was awesome because the prince kills a dragon to save aurora. duh, mom.

thursday: bring one sample of your hobby/collection/interest to share with the class.

this was NOT a surprise. girlfriend has over 100 sillybandz. that she is not allowed to wear to school [my rule --- i loathe silly bandz, and don't want her getting in trouble for playing with them at school] she was so excited to get to take it to school, even though she was only allowed to take one :)

friday: bring your favorite book to be read to the class.

ava loves this book, mostly because she can read it cover-to-cover all by herself. she was excited that she would read it to the classs instead of mrs. s. :)

--------------------------------------------

on friday, buddy bear got to come home with ava from school [ bb is part of the star student -- we got him a week late because the star student the week before forgot to bring him back to school :) ] honestly, it worked out perfectly because bb comes with a journal and you write about what fun things you did with bb! so we took bb to brad and sarah's house! he got some play time with preston :)

he also got to tag along with aunt sarah, ava and i to see justin bieber's never say never in 3D [ aunt sarah's reward for ava being star student :) ]

she was a little sad when it was all over. it was great to see her so excited about school and learning that if you do you best, you will be rewarded :)

star student or not, we are so proud of our little nugget!

"if i could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the balm of my hand". - author unknown

love.Blooms.here.

2011-03-02T12:48:00.001-06:00

please head over to my new shoppe Love.Blooms.Here and take a look around!

you are my SUNSHINE...

2011-03-02T08:38:00.002-06:00

Dr. Seuss Day...

2011-02-25T12:11:00.001-06:00

Dr. Suess Day 2/25/2011

Our Little Cat in the Hat

Dr. Seuss Day 2/25/2011

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

I meant what I said and I said what I meant.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.

I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am!

You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.

So you see! There's no end to the thing you might know, depending how far beyond Zebra you go.

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you will be the guy who'll decide where you'll go. Oh the places you'll go.

perspective...

2011-02-23T10:34:00.000-06:00

sometimes, life can really get at you. issues arise, and you think to yourself, surely it can't get much worse than this. i was definitely having one of those days yesterday. i allowed for myself to get sucked into it. the 'issue' consumed my every thought. i threw a grand petty party and let anyone who would listen know about this terrible thing i was going through.

then i curled up in my bed and began reading blogs and tweeting. i started thinking of the blogs that i read that really touch my heart. the blogs where the author pours over the keyboard letting us in on the terribles of their lives. a sick loved one. losing a parent. losing a child. hospital stays. divorces. missing children. infertility. sadness. despair. and i realized something --- i am pretty darn lucky. sure, what i am going through is big to me right now, but it is so small compared to the heartache, sadness, and frustration that other people are going through. so i decided something right then and there. first, i would pray. so i prayed for those who were struggling, that they would find strength in the midst of their sadness. i prayed for them to know what an inspiration their story is to me. i prayed for those wonderful ears that listened to me vent my frustrations last night, that they would know what a strength they are to me. second, i would be the bigger person in this situation, hopefully gaining something from all of it.

today isn't really any different than yesterday. the issue is still ever present. the difference, i have realized, is me. how i act and how i respond. how i move forward. its taking baby steps. anytime i start to feel myself struggle, i remember the strength of those who are going through way worse. i can surely get through this.

perspective...its a beautiful thing.

how-to: a fabric flower tutorial...

2011-02-22T15:01:00.051-06:00

so. i am by no means a 'martha stuart'. i can barely thread a needle let alone sew. i have seen these adorable fabric flowers everywhere, and i thought 'i can make that'. On a spontaneous weekend trip to ohio this fall, i decided to give one a shot with the guidance of my mother (who is, by the way, is a total martha.) anywho, mom had some fabric scraps and fabric glue, so i gave it a try. it was a sticky mess, but i managed to bust out three flowers and called it a day. a few months ago, i decided to try them again, only this time i opted for a hot glue gun. after a couple of tries, i mastered a few new headbands for me and ava. i got some great feedback on them, and thought you guys might like a little how-to session. again, i am no martha, and there is most likely a better way to make these. this is just what seems to work for me:)

_________________________________

Step 1. the first, and best, step is choosing your fabric! I get a 1/4 yard of fabric, and cut it into strips. this amount yields about three large flowers.

Step 2. Apply a strip of hot glue to your fabric, and then fold. (this will allow for your print to always show).

Step 3. After folding, cut your strip. The length is entirely up to you. It just depends on how big you want your flower to be :)

Step 4. begin rolling the fabric in a circle. i find it works best to work in small sections, alternating from rolling to gluing. when rolling, i work looking at the 'top' of the flower. when gluing, work from the backside of the flower, applying the hot glue in the 'seams'. when working with the hot glue, the small sections are key so that the fabric remains tight and easy to roll. it is also key that you allow your glue time to dry before rolling more fabric.

once your flower is rolled and the glue has dried, the possibilities are endless. pins, picture frames, necklaces, and hair accessories are just a few ways you can use your flower. my favorite way (so far!) to use the fabric flower is on a head band. all you need is an elastic band and some felt.

Step 5. using the hot glue, attach the elastic band to the flower.

Step 6: Using the felt, cut a circle just a little smaller than the size of your flower. apply hot glue to the felt, and place on the back of your flower, leaving the elastic band in between. the felt helps add additional security to the band for wearing. and your circle doesn't need to be perfect, as no one sees this side anyway!

Step 7. Enjoy your new headband!

If you try out the tutorial, please let me know how it goes! And, if you are interested in having me make a headband for you, you can contact me at cemerson620(at)aol(dot)com. :)

editors note: please do not pay attention to the very grown up toy story art tray i was working on. it kind of works perfectly for flower making in front of the tv. a certain 5 year old is wanting her tray back --- apparently i need to invest in a craft table :)

what i'm loving {loft edition}...

2011-02-18T09:04:00.000-06:00

it's no secret that i have a small obsession with The Loft. i love going there on a Saturday afternoon and just browsing. they always have great sales too! they have their spring line out right now, and i kind of big pink puffy ♥ it. soft pastels, stripes, ruffles. ahh. like i said, i love. some of my favorites are...

even better, The Loft is currently having a President's Day Event where you can save 25% off your full-price purchase. i am for sure making a visit this weekend. and the offer is also available online.

Happy Shopping ;)

the good, the bad & the ugly...

2011-02-17T13:59:00.003-06:00

the good: i have a few vacation days scheduled for the next few months.
the bad: work will be busy after those days are taken.
the ugly: my first vacation day isn't scheduled until the end of march.

the good: i have been making progress on the weight watchers program.
the bad: while my clothes are starting to be baggy, I'm still not ready to go down a size.
the ugly: i still have about 25 more pounds to go.

the good: i get a three day weekend this weekend.
the bad: i have a to do list that is not ridiculously long.
the ugly: a few items on said list? closets & baseboards. yuck.

the good: i got my new glasses in and have been wearing them everyday.
the bad: it has been a big adjustment, especially changing between my computer/reading to my driving glasses.
the ugly: bifocals are so hard to get used to. I've had major headaches at the end of everyday.

the good: the weather here has been so warm.
the bad: it has also been humid. not great for my hair.
the ugly: on top of the humidity, my hair is in need of a cut/color. why did i choose to lighten it again?

what is your good, bad and ugly thoughts today?

wordless wednesday...

2011-02-16T12:13:00.002-06:00

happy ♥ day...

2011-02-14T16:38:00.000-06:00

truths...

2011-02-11T10:11:00.001-06:00

to be quite honest, being a parent is definitely the best, and hardest job there is. it seems as though i have an idea in my head about how our year will go, and then the year gets here and it is nothing like i imagined. its harder, better, and more beautiful than the image i initially get in my head. the fifth year has proven to not be any different that the years before when it comes my precious, vibrant little. at five and a half, little miss ava is...

confident. she stands by her convictions and is not easily persuaded.

fearful. she has come to learn that her mama is a 'i mean business' kind of lady. that i don't like to say things twice, and this causes her to be scared. at least i have THAT going for me.

devious. partly because she like to lie,and partly because she doesn't like to get in trouble. the poor girl has yet to realize that not telling the truth the first time around will actually get you in more trouble.

sweet. she loves to snuggle up and gives the best hugs.

boisterous. her voice (not unlike mine) tends to travel. she talks really fast and uses lots of hand motions.

dramatic. sometimes i look at her and the vision of her at fifteen flashes in front of me. it is truly terrifying.

sassy. girlfriend has the eye-rolling and go to hell look down. makes a mom proud.

independent. she loves her 'me' time, and does really well playing in her room all by herself.

lazy. she would spend the whole day laying in bed watching cartoons if i let her.

happy. she is always singing (look out AI) and dancing around the house.

active. she loves playing baseball in the house with her daddy.

smart. sometimes she asks questions that i don't know how to answer. and she's five. and a half. we are most definitely going to need an intervention.

creative. drawing pictures and writing in her notebook is one of her favorite past times.

compassionate. she cried at the end of Ramona and Beezus. precious.

these things and more make up my beautiful, vibrant little. this age is nothing like i had expected. its harder, better, and more beautiful that i could have ever imagined. being her mom is the best gift i have ever been given.

Superbowl Sunday...

2011-02-06T21:00:00.001-06:00

We have an annual tradition of getting together with our favorite emerson's to watch the superbowl. I don't care too much about the big game, but I love getting together for the good food and conversation;)

Ava helped Aunt Sarah with the cheese dip

And posed for a few photos

She even agreed to pose with boring old mom :)

Preston spent some time with Uncle Justin & playing :)

And I may or may not have consumed too many points to track :)

Happy Sunday!
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the 'martha' hour...

2011-02-05T12:57:00.001-06:00

Even though I needed to spend the morning cleaning and doing laundry, I opted for crafts instead:-)

First up, I made a little valentine's day craft with left over fabric and some chipboard letters!

Then I worked on a headband for me, and a little rosette clip for Ava.

I finished off by dressing up a picture frame...

Now we're off to lunch & the grocery store! Happy Saturday ;)

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Working girls...

2011-02-05T05:46:00.001-06:00

Because of all the ice & snow, Ava was out of school four out of the five days this week! Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but because this storm was so bad, even her daycare closed! ((this is the first time it has EVER closed because of weather!)) That being said, Justin & I had to juggle who stayed home & who worked. Tuesday I stayed home. The first week of every month is crazy busy for me, so Justin took Wednesday & Thursday and the plan was that I would take Friday. Well, some unforseen things came up and I had to go into the office yesterday, so Ava came with me!

We were up and out of the house early (read- 6:15 a.m.) There was a fresh blanket of snow, so I had to be extra careful with my precious cargo :)

Ava was SO excited to be my assistant for the day :) She quickly learned how to work the fax machine and stapler :)

She was so good all day! She even took a 1 1/2 hour nap. We packed up about 4:45 p.m. to make the drive home. The highway was remarkably clear, but the side streets were still a mess. We made it home in time for a few pictures in the snow.

There is nothing better than a great Friday with my girl :)

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Tuesday Tidbits...

2011-02-01T21:16:00.000-06:00

****First and formost, if your reading this in google reader, please come out and look at my fab new design!!! Jessica with Diamond Doll Design gave me a complete blog makeover! And the new name? She helped me there too! I've been wanting something a little more memorable than just " The Emerson's"! I LOVE it, and hope you do too! Jessica is currently running a special so head on over an look at all the wonderfull things she can do! ****

Like so many others, Ava & I had a "snow" or really an "ice" day today! Normally, I would have tried making it to the office, but the rail system was down & Ava's kindergarten and daycare were both closed (the first time in 8 years that her daycare has closed for weather---they are ALWAYS open)) so we stayed in the comfort of our warm home while Justin ventured to work.

We spent the morning in our pj's, robes & blankets just watching tv an cuddling!

After lunch I got motivated and did an overhaul of ava's room! Christmas was a wonderful time, but the aftermath requires the whole out-with-the-old and in-with-the-new cleaning frenzy! I also did some rearranging ;)

I covered her art storage center with some cute fabric. Eventually, she is going to need a "big girl" desk with drawers, but this works for now.

Girlfriend recieved some new "artwork" and insisted on displaying it in her room. I would only agree to use it on the doors! Ha!

Besides, she already has adorable artwork on her wall!

While Ava played dress up...

I was able to remove THIS from her room!

Yikes!! There is still a few things left to do, but it's progress!

Hope you guys had a fantastic Tuesday :)

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a dose of weekend ramblings...

2011-01-31T12:38:00.000-06:00

another january weekend in the books! i for one couldn't be happier to be looking towards february, as january happens to be my least favorite month. if we could have more january weekends like this one though, i think i would change my mind! the weather was gorgeous, i got to make a few great purchases, and spend time with my two loves.

saturday morning started with a trip to the eye doctor. not fun, and totally necessary. it had been 3+ years since my last exam, and i knew i needed an update. turns out, i was right. not only have my eyes gotten bad, but they have gotten really bad. like two pair of glasses bad. why two? well, one is for driving, and the other for computer & reading. even better?!?! they.are.bifocals. WTH?!?! ya'll, i am only 25! and i need bifocals? talk about feeling old! ugh. the guy even asked if i wanted the lenses that don't show the line. ummm, duh!!!!

after that hard news and the bill, i was in need of some therapy. i found it in the form of 'car browsing' with my hubs. if you have been reading for a while, then you might remember my post here about how we decided {albeit reluctantly on my part} to become a one car family. i have been ~~bitching/complaining/throwing tantrums~~ patiently waiting on my husband to realize that it was time to add a new car. we had met our goals that we had set when we sold his truck. while the sacrifice was worth it, i was just over not having my own car {16 months can feel like a lifetime} ha! well, car browsing turned into car buying, and by saturday afternoon, i became the proud owner of an '08 ford escape :)

i didn't picture red or an escape, but i am in love! ava loves it too! she got to pick out a new car seat and was thrilled that she can roll down the windows just by pushing a button :)
{it's an upgrade, trust me!}

on saturday night, i felt the urge to get a little crafty, so i tried making a few more flower headbands. they still aren't great, but it's a start!

on sunday, i gladly went to get groceries {any excuse to drive the new car!} and my favorite little girl went with :)

she may or may not have talked me into this little number --->

seriously? !?! bieber fever at 5 1/2? lord, please help me! ha!

i hope all of you lovelies had a great weekend too!

cousins...

2011-01-25T13:37:00.000-06:00

Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends.

Weekend ramblings...

2011-01-24T20:56:00.001-06:00

I gave myself permission to have a three day weekend, & headed down to spend the day with Preston on Friday. It was great getting some one on one time with him!

We played, napped, and played some more :).

Justin and Ava came down after school & work. We ended up staying both Friday & Saturday night at their house. After lunches, shopping and Aaron Kelly ((Ava's new fish thanks to Aunt Sarah & Uncle Brad)) we headed home :). Sunday consisted of laundry, my weight watchers meeting, and a mani & pedi with Ava.

If only we could put Monday on hold a little longer :)

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to be a kid again...

2011-01-18T07:43:00.003-06:00

when I think of my winter childhood growing up in northern ohio, i definitely think of snow! we'd spend hours outside building forts, snowmen and having snowball fights. living in the south now doesn't offer as many of these experiences for ava, so snow days are extra special!

we ended up with a couple inches of the good white stuff last sunday & hurried outside to play!

ava was so excited to get to play at the park :). she was a little hesitant about the ice & snow on the slide, but quickly decided it made sliding so much better!

girlfriend was OBSESSED with the icicles!

we found a stick and practiced our writing in the snow...

we finished up with the riding toys at the park!

there's nothing better than an afternoon of being a kid again with my girl :)

my sweet little nephew...

2011-01-14T15:02:00.002-06:00

if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you have seen a ton of pictures of my adorable little nephew, preston. he has been having some health issues as of late, and you can catch up with those here on his momma's blog. please say a little prayer that this amazing little boy gets back to himself soon!!!!

a day of EPIC proportions...

2011-01-13T12:50:00.006-06:00

i can't believe it has already been almost two weeks since operation 1/1/2011 took place. can we just pretend that is really only 1/2/2011 so that these amazing girls don't stop being my friend because i haven't taken the time to talk about the best meet up in history? kaythanks.

anywho, 1-1-2011 was an epic day. one for the record books people. after talking for months and months via blogs, facebook, and twitter Jill, Sarah, and Kristy and i finally decided that it was time to meet IRL (that's code for in real life for all you non-tweeters!)

so ~~at the crack of dawn~~ really early on saturday morning, i set out east geared with my pepsi and my tunes for a serious three hour jam session. i was so nervous. what if these girls didn't like me? what if i didn't like them? what if what if what if. in my nervous state, i may or may not have driven a little faster than i should have. and like the ~~dork~~ prepared individual i am, i had left a half hour earlier than i had originally planned for fear that i would be late for this epic meeting. this deadly combo resulted in me getting to T-Town in record time. I nervously text Jill to let her know i'd be ~~super~~ a little early. A second later my phone rang, and the sweetest southern voice was on the other end. I immediately knew i was nervous for nothing! jill is as real and as authentic as she appears to be. i swear, with her family stories and love for dust it, we were cut from the same cloth.

i got to jill's house after her amazing direction-giving skills and was glad to see it was really her! (there may or may not have bee some skepticism on weather or not we were who we said we were. i also may or may not have googled jill just to verify she really was jill! ha! sweet sophie had just woken up (um, it was 9:45 --can we please switch kids? seriously, i'd give my right arm for ava to sleep past 7:30!) and she graciously gave me a tour of her fab new playroom! then jill and i were off to starbucks ---and a pit stop to wash j's fancy wheels --- before meeting up with the rest of the group!

I was so excited to meet sarah and kristy! sarah is a fellow ava-mom and working-mom, and so many times i find myself nodding as i read her blog or tweets thinking girl, i can totally relate! kristy has an older kiddo and a younger one too, so she knows the ropes for raising a girl right! plus, she is ~~martha freakin stuart~~ super crafty, as proof in her amazing hats she makes!

We talked for a few hours at jill's and got some live entertainment from miss sophie before we headed out for lunch. they put us in the very back corner so we could keep on with our conversation. one story would roll right into the next. it was like we had been friends for years. old college chums, right jill? :)

after lunch jill drove us around her stomping grounds and made a special stop at the state line for a photo op. i felt just like mandy moore in a walk to remember :)

jill then forced us to stop at coldstone for some ice cream and more bonding before it was time to head our separate ways. it was a great day. an epic day. you girls are truly such a comfort to me. I am beyond grateful for our friendships, and can't wait for our dallas reunion!!!

the aftermath...

2011-01-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

it seems so crazy that another year has already came and went, and we are well on our way to enjoying 2011. i pray that this new year is as good to us as the last. wishing you and yours a year filled with laughter, love, health & memories! happy twenty eleven!

a time for family...

2011-01-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

sadly, my family lives 1100 miles away, so we don't celebrate the holidays with my side. maybe it was a blessing, as we still managed to have 5 christmas celebrations when it was all said and done ;) on thursday night we headed to are old stompin' grounds {justin's home town} for the {big} emerson family chirstmas. it was great getting to see the hubs' extended family!

on christmas eve, brad and sarah graciously hosted the celebration for chirstmas with Steve & Sherry {dad & step-mom}. It was a great afternoon!

brad and sarah must really enjoy ~~punishment~~ hosting, because we headed to their house again on christmas night for great food & fun for chirstmas with sarah's family. i love love love her mama (she has become my second mom!) and step dad. they are so sweet & treat us like part of the family!

who asked for a Foosball table (a recap of christmas)...

2011-01-05T20:00:00.002-06:00

christmas morning was so much fun this year! santa must have thought our little princess was a very good girl this year! in her sweet little stocking she was left with candy, my girl ((a classic in my opinion)), mittens and a pencil sharpener. girlfriend was gifted with an itouch, foosball table, despicable me, a fancy new itouch case, pencils & a new notebook from the jolly old man. she made out pretty good from mom & dad too :) We got her new boots, a few sweaters, a semi full of match box cars and a few other odds & ends. she was so sweet, and thanked santa and us for each gift. nana & papa's gifts were also under the tree. they got miss priss a messengers bag, a tool set, ornaments for her tree & a gift card to use on itunes :)

her favorite present of the morning was a toss up between the pencil sharpener ((hello kindergartner)) and the itouch!

cookie baking is not for dummies...

2011-01-05T13:40:00.003-06:00

so every year, like most families with little kiddos, we make cookies for santa. the biggest difference from me and most families would be that i have never made them from scratch. i am most definitely the mom at the grocery store on christmas eve scrounging up the last tub of pre-maid sugar cookies and calling it a day.

this year, i thought ava deserved ~~a half way decent mother~~ the fun experience of making the cookies from scratch. i went to the store a {gasp} week before christmas and gathered the ingredients that were listed on the recipe i got online. fast forward to chirstmas eve. it was about 2:30 p.m. and we had our second chirstmas of the week at 4:00 p.m. we had just enough time to whip up these ~~pain in the A~~ precious cookies for santa! we i mixed all the ingredients on the list while the oven was preheating. then i got to the step that said 'chill dough for at least one hour before baking'. momFAIL. there was no way i was going to have enough time before the christmas to get the cookies baked, let alone frosted and ready for the big guy. luckily, aunt sarah came to the rescue with back up cookies for santa, and we made the sugar cookies on chirstmas day.

Santa's spread. i actually remembered carrots for the reindeer!

Christmas cookies on Christmas day.

Santa enjoyed the back up chocolate chip cookies. the sugar cookies from scratch were good, but so not worth the hassle. pretty sure i am going back to the ~~store bought~~ basics next year!

hair changes everything...

2010-12-28T10:49:00.000-06:00

i am a big fan of changing up my hair. last year about this time i did a hair change.

December 2009 {long hair}

January 2010 {short hair}

i felt the urge to change it up yet again to get ready for 2011!

before {dark brown}

after {reddish light brown}

hair changes everything!

and the bad blogger award goes to....

2010-12-27T15:57:00.000-06:00

you know i would win the award hands-down if such an award existed. i had this great plan -- if you can remember way back when i blogged about it -- of posting every day for 30 whole days. obviously, that didn't happen. i also planned --but didn't blog about -- getting all my Christmas shopping done by the first week of december. obviously, that didn't happen. i was going to budget for the holidays and stick with it. obviously, that didn't happen. i was going to do a ton of Christmas activities with miss priss. obviously, that didn't happen. all of this to say it has been a busy whirl wind of a december and i for one can't wait to ring in the new year. i have plans -- and am sticking to them!-- to meet up with three of the sweetest girls from blog land! if you aren't following Jill, Sarah, or Kristy then i can assure you, you are missing out! I will be back with great stories from what i know will be an epic day!

also in the blog line up...

hair changes everything

cookie baking is not for dummies

who asked for a Foosball table?

Christmas with the ~~kranks~~ emersons

the aftermath

i hope you all are enjoying your last week of 2010!

my iPhone lately...

2010-12-19T19:30:00.000-06:00

A little look into my life as I know it :-)

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