inevitable

When I was growing up, I have fond memories of picking out lockets with my mom. She bought herself lockets constantly (and we would buy some for her too). My favorite one of hers was one she bought at the I Love Lucy store at Universal Studios. It was a pretty silver octagonal one that would unfold, thus roomy enough for lots of pictures. Now that I am thinking of it, I had (have) a special locket my parents gave me when I started kindergarten. It was a teensy little gold heart and it had a picture of my mom on one side and my dad on the other and I loved it so much, now if I can only find it!

Well, it was inevitable that once I became a mom, I would want my own locket to collect my own set of pictures for my darlings. Ever since I had True I have been on a search for a vintage locket. Actually, Ben found one once that he really wanted to get me, but um... it cost as much as a new computer and as pretty as it was, I am glad he didn't. Therefore, every now and then I keep my out for one that speaks to me. So when I saw this one, from this lovely shop, I was instantly smitten. I put it in my cart straightaway and pressed check out. Now, it is here with me and prettily hiding my own loves inside.

Isn't it darling? I like opening it up and looking at the pictures. It makes me smile! And like my mom, I probably won't just stop at one locket. Vintage locket obsession... here I come!

Do you have anything special you collect now that your mom collected?

p.s. like the top of my dress (i probably should take a whole outfit picture)? it is a vintage dress from this fantabulous shop that happens to also be one of my sponsors. if soul weren't so big, i would get her this! thanks ms. tips!

greencraft magazine

GreenCraft Magazine's latest issue is out and I am so honored to have been asked to be a contributor for their magazine. This resourceful magazine has many different projects which will help you repurpose something to give it new life. My contribution was none other than my tutorial on using fabric scraps to make a lovely fabric necklace.

It is always surreal and so exciting to see something I made photographed and actually in print. I feel so blessed and it is only God who opens the doors. Thank you God!

I highly recommend picking up a copy somewhere and a list of retailers can be found here. There are so many other wonderful ideas done by much more talented artists in this magazine that I am sure you will be making a new to-do list of fun projects!

my side

This is where I spent most of my weekend... on my side of the bed. I woke up Friday morning feeling sick and yucky, so I rested for two days. Friday morning the girls and I just laid in bed watching Michael Jackson videos. It was real sweet and fun, even though I wasn't feeling well. Thankfully, Ben was home Saturday, so I was able to get another rest day in. Ben and the girls were sick earlier in the week and seemed to just have a cold that lasted 2 days, so I knew that mine shouldn't linger long and praise God because it didn't. I feel much better now.

Thursday morning was spent re-arranging our room a bit to make room for the bassinet, that will soon be right next to me and making some room for "Boogie." I very much intend to "ride the boogie" a lot with the new baby, but Brave and True are already having fun riding "Boogie" too. 

I also love that I now have plants in the room as I think they make such a difference. I think it is sorta refreshing. I really ought to get more to put around the house. 

I am so glad you got such a kick out of my "Rockin' Mommy Day" as it was seriously hilarious and creative to see the show that my three clever ones put on for me. I am pretty spoiled by them!

Today, I am off to check on baby. I really feel her getting lower and I keep hoping that I go into labor. I say, "Let's get this pain over with!" But I must admit, I am kinda a wuss and am not adverse to drugs, that labor pain is just insane. Anyways, I am trying to enjoy my last few days (or weeks) with my two girls, but I know it will be another joy to have three. Oh how my life will find a new normal again very soon...

a storybook baby shower

Sunday afternoon seemed normal. I mean, we went to worship with our church family in the morning, grabbed some yummy lunch with friends, and then headed over to my parents to pick up True's dance recital video (or so I thought). Once we got to my parents' house, Ben asked, "Do you want to go in or should I?" I said, "I'll just go." I planned on being quick, so then we could head home. I tried to open the door, but it was locked, so I rang the doorbell.

Immediately, the door opened and to my happy surprise, despite the look on my face, a lot of my friends were standing there and yelled, "Surprise!" At least I think that is what they said, but I was so shocked that I can't remember. The first thing that went through my head was "huh?!!" as I saw Danni, who was supposed to be in Seattle, then Cheryl, who was visiting her parents in San Bernardino and Frances, who has a sick little baby at home. I was utterly confused! Not to mention, I had already pinned my hair out of my face, barefoot at the door, and was stinky cause we just ate food with a whole bunch of garlic! I was not party ready, but party ready I had to be! I was not cute!!! Had I known I was going to a party, my newest baby's party, I would have sewn myself a new dress! But then I guess it was a surprise after all and definitely surprised I was.

(I looked so horrible, but I was so confused!!!)

Here is Danni's video of this hilarious moment, but really my face makes me feel so embarrassed. After my shock and retrieval of my shoes (cause swollen feet are not cute), I continued on to the backyard where I was greeted by such a wonderful display of goodies! The baby shower theme was all about books. It was perfect for the crafter and teacher in me! Each yummilicious dish was accompanied with a poladroid picture (cause everyone knows I love polaroids) of its corresponding book. Everything was absolutely delightful and a crafter's heaven. I mean seriously, it was just all to darling and creative!!!

I was in awe of everything and ate everything, even though I just come from eating a ginormous lunch. I had so many questions as to how they pulled this off. I had no idea and I just kept telling anyone who asked about a baby shower not to worry about it as this was my third and another girl, so this was very unexpected.

The four of us, soon to be five, were so, so grateful and thankful to God for such good friends who love to support us and shower us with love. God is really so good!

The brains and the invite behind the dreamy storybook surprise... Danni, Linda, and Helen, but missing is Ellen who was moving that day.

This is the outcome when you have craft/design bloggers, a teacher, a super organized person and good friends all rolled into one... they throw one heck of a cute party!!! Thanks guys! You are the absolute best!!! I loved it all!!!

And thank you so much to everyone else who came and showered us with love... we are blessed by all of you!!!

*photos taken by my baby sister and Helen and can read more about it on Helen's blog.

update: here is the video.

some introductions

This first week of November was definitely a fun one and November can only get better, especially since Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I love me some turkey and some pumpkin pie, well, I love pumpkin anything. Uh-oh! I feel a new craving coming on...

Also, I get to start off this month with my three new toys. I think one you already met, which is my Blackbird Fly (thanks to my Benny), and now meet Holga (thanks to my parents and baby sister) and mini Diana (thanks to my other sister). I can hardly wait to get to know them better.

This plastic toy camera business can get pretty addicting. I love it!

And the winner of the happy unbirthday to you giveaway is...

Congratulations Lina!!! I hope you enjoy the camera! Polaroids are just the best! Thank you to everyone who entered and for all your lovely suggestions! I am still going through them to help me figure out what to eat. You all eat such gourmet food and I am happy to hear everyone is contently indulging in this season's fruits and vegetables! Yum! Yum!

Be sure to come back tomorrow as I have a new sponsor to introduce, other than that, have a loveliest of weekends!!!

p.s. If you have entered in one of the previous sponsor giveaways, please check that post to see if you have won. Then, send me an email with your address. I still have prizes that have not been claimed! Oh and this coming week is my last week for the shop, but I will put up some new things next week. Though, after next Friday the only things that will remain the shop will be ready made items.

happy news

Funny thing happened at breakfast with Danni a few weeks ago...

Danni said, "I got this magazine in the mail and your name is on the cover." 

I was a little perplexed and I said, "Really?!!" 

She said, "Yeah. It is called Artful Blogging, did you know? Have you seen it?"

I knew about that magazine as I was asked by the editor a few months back to submit some stuff, but I had yet to know the release and if/when I would receive my copy. Danni immediately retrieved her copy in the car and let me see it. I must say, I was pretty excited and now I am officially sharing it. I finally did receive my copy and we (Ben and I, even the girls) were just absolutely delighted at the whole thing. 

If you want to see our little spread and read my article, as well as learn about other wonderful bloggers, you can pick up your copy at a local Borders or Barnes & Noble. I am so nerdy that I went to Borders to see if it had officially come out. When I finally saw it in the craft magazine section, and the little nerd blogger that I am, I had to lift the magazine twice from the shelf to make sure it was real. Yeah. I know. Like I said, I am kinda nerdy that way, but just absolutely elated. Wouldn't you be?

It is such a blessing and all thanks be to God for providing such a wonderful opportunity. It isn't me at all, but all God's doing for real. I am just honored to be asked and in the company of such amazing artist. Amanda of Soulemama was once featured in their magazine and the fact that I get to be in a magazine that featured her, one of my favorite bloggers, well, I am just in awe. Can't say it enough, thank you Lord!

I hope my energy is back today as I didn't get crackin' at anything until 9 o'clock last night when I finally started cleaning the dishes, then mopping kitchen, then organizing the family room, then watering the plants, etc. It was filthy and messy from the day and True kept telling me to clean (the dishes), but that didn't happen until way after her bedtime. I seriously didn't do very much yesterday, so good thing Ben was working from home. It was just one of those days, but I hope today isn't.

Here's to hoping for a more productive Friday...

attempt one and attempt two

Scrappin' wedding wednesday stuff until one of my bestest friend gets engaged and we all go into full fledge wedding planning. Then, we will be talking wedding stuff a lot. I must say I am so excited. I know (and she knows) its coming. She isn't suppose to know, but she does, cause her boyfriend is really excited and loves her so much that he can't contain a secret (I hope John isn't reading this). If he is... John hurry up and propose already!

Anyways, so I did get to do some sewing before we left for vacation. I needed a dress cause I am running out of clothes with the burgeoning bump. I know this will sound crazy, but wearing skirts or pants make me nauseous. Super queasy. I will put one on the for the day thinking I won't feel it, then I do, and I end up changing. Thus, I needed to make a dress. Now, I have loved the mociun tie front dress for a long time, but my pocket book doesnt (neither would Ben's pocketbook), so I decided to try and make it. It can't be that hard, right? So I sketched out my plan. Mind you, I am not a pro seamstress. I just learn from trial and error and make things to only fit my body. I finally worked on it and let's just say that my first attempt was big bust.

The dress was way too ginormous for me, even with a big bump, and the pattern was too much, the cotton too heavy. It was just all wrong. It made me look like I was wearing Joseph's technicolor coat! Maybe, one day I will figure a way to make it workable. I am thinking if I get a coordinating solid fabric to make the skirt, it might work. I don't know. When I get the courage to attack this piece again, I will. 

Thus, quite unhappy with my first attempt. I attempted to do another. I was very determined. This time I used a much lighter weight cotton, a bit more tamed pattern, and actually created my own pattern first before just cutting on the fabric. This time it turned out much better.

Ben loved the dress as it hugged the right places for him and it was loose in the right places for me. He was happy and so was I, and that is always a good thing. The dress was worn to galavant all over New Orleans (and the day we found out we were having another girl). I never took a picture straight on, but this will do and another picture here (maybe, you could see more in our four-niversary set). 

I really love the cut of the dress and not only it is good for pregos like me (Rachel, you have got to try it!), but it will work perfectly for after when breast feeding. You just untie the top and "voila!" baby is happy. I asked Ben how many dresses in this style would be too many to make, he said just make two. So I will set out to make another, cause really this dress is too grand. I would love the real mociun, but I can't afford it and this suits perfectly.

Of course it would happen that after my first badly messed up try and this second one, I found a graceful lady who also adores the mociun tie front dress and made her own pattern of it and shared it on her blog (only if I found this first). This time around, I will attempt to follow her instructions and see if makes it a little easier, but having already made one will also make the process a bit more cinchy (I hope). 

Now, to find the time to make another... 

sweet sweet day

I am quite spoiled by my Ultra-appreciatives. Mama's day was full of love and whatever I wanted. It started Saturday night (after a full day of spoiling from my parents), when I came home with my little ones bringing me a surprise from my favorite store. Followed by my Sunday morning breakfast in bed, in which I requested coco pebbles. Then throughout the day, the granting of my every whim. Thus, a stop for shaved ice at Guppy House. I must say I feel loved, such a good feeling. Being a mama is good. 

Then, in case you didn't get the memo, Mama's Day will continue on Friday (at least for me anyways). I wonder what my Benny and the girls have up their sleeves. Hmm... I am excited!

i am a mother

I know one day my children will leave me and grow up and make nests of their own, but I am hoping that one day comes very slowly. Though, word on the street is that day comes in a blink of an eye. I don't think I will ever be ready. Is anyone ever ready for that "one day"? It is coming slowly, but surely for my parents and Ben, well, he flew far, far away years ago. I have a rule: my kids have to live in the same state as me. Can I make that rule? I don't know, but I am making it. Oh no! As I type this, I see the kind of parent I will become... I will try to rule my children's lives forever. Okay, maybe I take back the rule. They can live wherever God calls them to. May God get my heart ready for that one day... yikes, I dread that day. 

All this empty nest talk and thoughts is due to the fact that we really do have an empty nest... 

I never even got one last picture of the fast growing baby huneybirds (I am kicking myself in the butt now). It was Tuesday afternoon, I watched them fidget in their nest and saw Mrs. Huneybird perched nearby, then I went upstairs to shower (yes, I got a late start that day). An hour or so later, we were all headed to the park when I went to take a little peek and there were gone.   G-O-N-E. Gone. Nowhere to be found. My heart sank. It is still a bit low, darn, this empty nest thing ain't gonna be easy. Thus, Sun and Moon were now off on their own somewhere. They have yet to return and visit us. We put a feeder there hoping to entice them. Still haven't seen them. 

We miss you Sun & Moon! You provided us countless moments of entertainment. Brave and True (Ben and me too!) want you to come back. 

Onto mother-ness. I like being a mother, scratch that, I love being a mother. Some days I don't feel like a very good one, when my patience grows thin and yes, I do have those bad days. I am not perfect. Thank God for the cross! I really need to constantly remind myself to find the joy in serving my family, it is easy to forget when hormones are raging. See everyone, I am normal. Despite my shortcomings, my girls still love me even when I'm cranky. I am so thankful. I love them so much and highly recommend motherhood. It definitely changes you. You get an extra dose of understanding and compassion as a mother. It really is amazing. 

Plus, I get another day for me, since I am a mother. Another day to get spoiled by Ben (no pressure Benny!) and my girls. I like being spoiled by my husband. He's just so darn good and it's fun. So in honor on mother's day, I didn't buy myself a new dress, rather just made one out of some very nice linen. I love linen...

I bunched flower-ish things on the side. I am thinking of undoing it and switching it to the other side, something just doesn't feel right. I don't know. Maybe, I am just too picky. Nevertheless, I will be wearing this to celebrate my day (and all the mother's everywhere) with my little family, whom I love very much. 

I still have some sewing to do as I need to make my mother her present (and finish shop orders), so I will be bidding you farewell early. Have a good Thursday, Friday, and tell your mama you love her this weekend! 

Happy Mother's Day everyone (well, to the mamas)!

p.s. I am re-thinking my rule.

spring dreaming

I day dream about spring shoes, or maybe, I just daydream about shoes in general. Spring is finally here, though not sure if that says very much seeing that I live in southern California and the differentiation between seasons are not that great, but nevertheless color (or is it shoes?) is on my mind. I seriously want these...

from dear golden vintage

from marais usa

from indigo by clarks

I should have a sign that says, "Will work for shoes!" Now, if only those retailers would do a little trading, etsy-style... that would be a dream! Surely, some of them would want some clips or crowns.

To any secret admirers out there (okay, Ben), I love these things. Don't forget I am a size 6, though I think the yellow shoes would fit me. I know, I know (Ben is rolling his eyes as he reads this), you have been more than generous lately. Just thought I would share... you never know.

Happy Monday everyone! 

p.s. care to trade anyone?!!

photo fun party

My seester's "special" friend's party was a blast. He is a photographer, so it was appropriate that he was thrown a "photo fun" party. We made cool banners of magazines pictures, strung some pictures he and my seester took together, along with some funny pictures of him growing up. The best part was the little "photo booth" area we made. We hung a couple sheets, had a basket full of funny props and one of his best friends is a photographer too, so he was cool and kind enough to take everyone's pictures. It was fun! I can't wait to see the turn out of our silly pictures. We had lots of fun with that photo booth...

Did I mention that I made another dress?!! Not necessarily for the party, but just for fun and to add to my "sewing for me" addiction. Plus, I have tons of fabric sitting in my stash and they need to get used. Really, they must.

You should throw your own "photo fun" party..

p.s. I think my husband's bow legged-ness is sexy.