our memorial day

We spent all day gardening... readying the soil, laying out the plants, digging holes, watering, laying out more dirt. It feels good to be working side by side with Ben. True and Brave played beside us all day and Soul was outside a little, but mostly spent the day napping away inside the house. Our garden has come a long way from its weed-filled days, but there is still much to be done.

Preparing a garden has most definitely been blood (dumb bougainvillea poked his head), sweat, and tears for us, but it is our definition of fun. We love doing everything together!

How was your Monday?

kid art

It's my favorite type.

I especially think these are really good. Of course, I am a bit biased.

Happy long weekend (to the those in the U.S.) and I will probably be back in this space on Tuesday. Three day weekend with my Benny is bliss, so bliss, here we come...

three

Soul is now able to do more than just sleep and lie there, so the two big sisters have been interacting with her more. It is really cute! True has been trying to read her two little sisters some stories, but with Soul becoming more mobile, it is kind of difficult. Soul is on a mission to attack any book in her way!

I so wish I had Soul's tenacity at attacking, cause if I did, maybe I would have conquered a lot of my unfinished projects in front of me! Shop update is coming, I just have to finish a big order and get ready for Renegade. Yup! So far, I am signed up to do Renegade in L.A. on July 24-25th, but I just need to find the time to craft up a storm! At least I have until July 1st to back out in case being a mama of three never gives me the time to get ready. I hope some of you plan to stop by and say hi (if I am there, but if I don't sell, I will be there looking around)!!!

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winner announced.

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a little garden DIY

We are in the "gardening get the backyard looking pretty mode" so we have been scouring flea markets and antique shops for things to make our outside look nice and cozy. At our most recent jaunt to the flea market, we came across these pretty nice size vintage grape crates. The light bulbs immediately went off in Ben's and my head and we snatched up the crates and took them home.

A couple days later, Ben bought 4 casters (from Lowes) to go underneath each of the crates and we had an instant rolling garden box. We were going to use it to plant some herbs, but since we are overflowing with tomato plants, that is what we planted inside them instead. It was the easiest garden DIY ever. Well, easy for me to say, right? I didn't do a thing and Ben is the one who came away with some blood and a scraped finger from screwing the casters in. Nevertheless, I say it looked pretty easy!

Come on, tomatoes! We are so ready for you...

What are you growing in your garden? Anyone have any tips on some easy to maintain flowers?

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last day for giveaway

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polaroid tuesday: week twenty

After lunch they wanted some carrots, so we went to our garden and pulled one.

What came out was one of the coolest looking carrots ever! Then, we rinsed it off and ate it.

Yum! Ben and I are so glad they enjoy eating their vegetables!

p.s. last week's polaroid. also, someone recently asked me where polaroid film can be bought and it can be bought here.

we stayed home

This weekend was spent all at home. The babe was still sick, then I got sick, Ben was the last to go down. I guess something was bound to go around. Though, all is well and getting better.

And this little one, well she rolls and scoots like crazy. I think she has crawling moves coming soon and the newest trick is that she can roll herself into a burrito. I think she is the yummiest looking burrito ever! Surely, you must agree.

Hello Monday!

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see giveaway and if interested being a sponsor for the month of june, send me an email.

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:: sponsor welcome ::

Please welcome back my sponsor... Much love, Illy.

Much love, Illy is a sweet little shop full of cheery adornments. Full of poppies, you will can find headbands, hair pins, rings, corsages and much more. All items are equally delightful! Wearing something from this shop will definitely add a nice pop of color to your day. All items are made with much love, from Illy.

For one Cakies reader, Much love, Illy is giving away one sample set of items which include: a poppy headband, poppy hair pin, and a vintage ring of your choice! This is a nice little package, don't you think? Once again, you can get a few more chances at winning this lovely prize, so here are some things you can do:

1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite item from Much love, Illy.

2. Visit the Much love, Illy blog and tell me your favorite post here.

3. Blog, tweet, or facebook about this giveaway and leave separate links here.

Easy peasy, right? Those overseas are welcome to join in! If you do all the things mentioned above, you can up your chances 5 times.

The giveaway will end at 8am PST on Thursday, May 27th and will be announced sometime that morning on this post. Good Luck!!! Thank you so much Much love, Illy!!!

much love, illy shop...

much love, illy blog...

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Random robot chose... Gabi!

Congratulations Gabi! Please email me to claim your prize!!! Thank you everyone for the sponsor love...
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at it again

Addicted. That pretty much sums my crafting of necklaces. I had to make two more, but they are both quite similar that one might just end up in the shop. Maybe. If I am not too greedy. I have really been loving all the chunky necklaces Anthropologie has of late and I think my desire for some of them gave me a crafting bug to make my own. It satiates the Anthro necklace desire for me. Um... spend $40 on a necklace or make one?!! Easy answer... make one. Much more within my budget.

I really like this one, I wonder if it can be recreated? I guess this will be my project for next week. We shall see (and doing a wee bit of crafting)...

Happy weekend friends! I will still be taking care of my little babe...

still re-croup-erating

Thanks friends for all your advice! Your tips via comments and emails has soothe my worrisome self a bit. Having never dealt with croup before, I was thinking the worst and just nervous making sure I was paying extra attention before her condition could get any worse. I have been reading and following some of your tips. Cool mist humidifier? Check. Cool night air? Check. Steam from a warm shower? Check. Soul does alright during the day, but nights are the worse. I am not getting very much sleep these past couple nights, but I am cherishing the cuddling. I just feel so bad for my baby because she is so uncomfortable. Hopefully, this croup thing will let up soon.

How are my other girls doing? They have coughs, but seem to be fine otherwise. They are still their sassy selves, fighting, playing, and all that two sisters do together. We did have a bit of time these past few days to fit in some cupcake making, but I did just a use a Cherrybrook Kitchen mix to make things a bit easier, and it is so so good. The best cake mix I have ever tried! Seriously.

I have a few crafted things to share tomorrow that I have made just being in bed with Soul next to me. My bedroom has been the place to hang out this week. We all stay here all day long, but only until Ben comes home and the girls go outside with him to garden. Speaking of garden, I think we have planted up to 20 different varieties of tomatoes! We will have tomatoes coming up the wazoo (well, hoping the bugs don't get to them first)! Can't wait for this Summer's harvest!!!

p.s. I am giving away a flower garland here and the most recent sponsor winner has been announced.

polaroid tuesday: week nineteen

My handsome Ben digging up sand to build sand castles.

My first attempt at the new px100 film. Kinda cool, but still gotta get used to it.

my soulie

This little one is sick today and has croup. Pray it doesn't get worse please.

I am blogging with one hand and probably won't to get to post today's polaroid. Maybe tomorrow. For now we will all be in bed cuddling (maybe watching some hulu) and doing all we can to keep Soul from crying.

are you my mother?

Saturday we made our way to Laguna Beach to have breakfast by the seaside and hang out on the beach. This was my mother's day wish. Little did I know, that they had a little story for me planned on the beach as well. It went something like this...

Ben asked, "Is a cat your mother?"

True and Brave replied, "No!"

Ben asked again, "Is a chicken your mother?"

True and Brave replied, "No!"

Ben asked, "Is a cow your mother?"

True and Brave replied, "No!"

"Is a dog your mother?"

Again, True and Brave said, "No!"

"Is a car your mother?"

In unison they said, "No!"

"Is a plane your mother?"

True and Brave exclaimed, "No!"

"Is a boat your mother?"

"No!"

Ben asked, "Is a snort your mother?"

Together, True and Brave yelled, "No!"

Finally Ben asked, "Is your Mommy your mother?"

True and Brave said, "Yes! We love her very much!!! We love her very much!!! Woot!!! Woot!!!"

The ending was actually a little song and was adorably cute! I wish had this so that I could have gone back and forth filming and taking pictures, but well, it is not in the budget right now. I will wait patiently for when it is, but who knows how long that will be.

After their little story, which was patterned after this book, we spent more time playing on the beach (see pictures here). It was a perfect day! Then, to make it even more perfect we went to Sprinkles and I got 2 yummy cupcakes, and we went on a little field tip to Anthropologie... such bliss! But I didn't find anything... bummer. Breast feeding makes finding easy access clothes a challenge. Oh well! Then, we ended the day eating sushi. I was quite the happy mama as I got all my favorite things will my most favorite people!!!

I ended the night relaxing with a bubble bath and a cupcake. Ain't life grand?

How was your weekend? I hope it was just as magical!

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don't forget the giveaway!

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:: sponsor welcome ::

Please welcome my newest sponsor... Playing Grown Up.

Playing Grown Up is a fantastic little shop by the lovely Brooke. You may remember this adorable shop from before, but now it's back with lots of extra goodies. The sparrow chalkboard clock, the mustache, russian nesting doll chalkboard are among my new favorites. I can think of a million ways to display any of those cute items. I have a feeling you are going to be loving this fun little shop even more!

Playing Grown Up is offering one lucky Cakies reader any single item from the shop! That means pretty much anything except the kits or sets. Once again, you can get a few more chances at winning this lovely prize, so here are some things you can do:

1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite item from Playing Grown Up.

2. Become a follower of the Playing Grown Up blog and tell me so by leaving a comment here.

3. Blog, tweet, or facebook about this giveaway and leave separate links here.

Easy peasy, right? If you do all the things mentioned above, you can up your chances 5 times!

The giveaway will end at 8am PST on Thursday, May 20th and will be announced sometime that morning on this post. Good luck!!! Thank you so much Playing Grown Up!!!

playing grown up shop...

playing grown up blog...

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The random robot chose... Emily C.

Congratulations Emily! Please email me so I can get you in touch with my sponsor. Thank you all for entering and for all the happy love!!!

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real quick

I wanted a quick chunky necklace, so this is what I did. Grabbed some wooden beads, hemp string, needle, knit jersey, and scissors. Then, 30 minutes later I had a necklace. Quick and easy, and the perfect type of project to do while the girls nap and add a bit of jazz to an otherwise boring outfit.

I am in the necklace making mood. I got into it last year too. Maybe it's a spring thing!

Happy weekend friends! Ben works half day today (yippee!), so we will be gardening this afternoon and celebrating my Mommy's Day tomorrow (hooray!), and Lord's day on Sunday (woot woot!). Plus, I have a goody sponsor giveaway tomorrow. I love the weekends! Don't you?

book love

We love Around the World with Mouk by dreamy illustrator Mark Boutavant. The illustrations are so full of whimsy and each page has so much color and detail that we read and look at the pages of Mouk's world traveling adventures over and over again.

I will start sharing more of the lovely books that are getting read in our little home. I love reading and I think my girls are starting to have a love for it too. They look at the pictures and make up their own stories, well, maybe that isn't exactly reading, but that is a start. I always say reading is like watching a movie in your mind. Once I start a good book, everything goes to the wayside as I am not able to stop until it is done. Anyone else the same way? So tell me, what books are you reading right now (for yourself or for the little ones)?

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winner announced

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