cinco

Taking walks down by the beach 

I decided to post five things you may not know about me. I saw this on Natalie's blog and it made me miss those days of livejournal and xanga blog days with lengthy awkward posts that only Taylor Swift could later write a song about. Now if only we can bring back surveys! haha

1 - When I was around Charlie's age my mom would dress me and when she turned around to do something I would go into my room and change my outfit. The funny thing was my outfits were always better than what I was originally wearing.

2 - I don't like getting my finger nails painted and wearing heels.

3 - I didn't grow up with a tape or CD player. I grew up with a record player and everyone thought it was "weird". So happy to see records have made their comeback!

4 - I can do a back bend and walk backwards or forwards while in that position. I normally do it when I'm home to freak my mom out. It reminds her of Regan in the exorcist.

5 - I make up dance routines while singing along. Charlie usually joins in. If my son is 15 and singing along to Phantogram while making up a dance routine you know why.

Your turn :)

a weekend in pictures

Call me cheap but I like buying calendars a month or two after the year started
so I can get them for cheap. This is how I scored this guy. Now I really won't
be getting a frenchie anytime soon so this will do. Each month is a different
frenchie and I will come up with a different name for each of them. So.stinkin.excited.

Where has the weekend gone? These days are flying by a bit too quick if you ask me. I have been buried in wedding plans, reworking invites, and a whole lot of other crafty paper and wedding schtuff. I did manage to break away for a minute to attend my bff's Oscar Party. We all had to fill out Oscar ballots and there were prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place. She of course won 1st place. I never make the right choices. The only nominated movie I saw this year was Argo. If you haven't seen this movie I suggest you do. 

I'm a baby when it comes to gore, scary, romantic comedies, etc. I'm a big fan of family movies (big ole dork), comedies and action related flicks (anything with Liam). Oh, happy endings are a plus. Argo had me hooked since the beginning and not only that but it was based on a true story (total history nerd right here). I mean, seeing a very scruffy Affleck was also a big plus :) If you haven't seen it - see it. You won't be disappointed. 

ps: Did anyone see Jennifer Lawrence on the red carpet when she was talking about not eating before the ceremony and being hungry? Then the poor girl tripped and managed to make light of the situation. I'm pretty sure she's my long lost bff :)   

my hands hurt from all the embossing I've been doing this weekend

little balloons for another crafty project 

keeping up my tradition of doing other people's hair for the Oscars 

I opted for sweeping my hair back and pinning it aka I kept it simple. 

some paper related items I've been working on 

kids grow up fast

Charlie and I hit up a park almost every day and if it's not a park it's a walk and if we aren't doing either one, there's something wrong. These photos made me really realize that Charlie is growing at a rapid pace (literally - this kid will be 6 feet tall by the time he's 5. not really but almost). Having a baby (especially if it's your first) is hard. You have this new baby. It changes every relationship in your life. You're sleep deprived. You have bouts with some nasty post-partum crud. Well, I'm here to say that having a toddler is just as hard and it's more work. You know have this little creature who still can't communicate very well. Mothers out there don't get upset if their first word is "dada" and that's they babble ALL stinkin day long. They suffer from severe separation anxiety the moment you leave the room. They get into EVERYTHING. Don't put it past them to realize they can start putting things in the toliet. Have a man in your life who keeps the toliet seat up? This will teach them real fast to put it down or they'll take the lazy route and just shut the bathroom door. 

Charlie is literally attached to me. Most of the time he wants to be held or in my lap and if I'm in the kitchen he's attached to my leg. Too bad he can't hang on tight because I'd carry him on my back (koala bear style). He mimics EVERYTHING. When this start happens you really have to clean up your act. While not working right now has it's downfalls (money is super tight and sometimes you feel uninteresting and like poop cause you aren't working) I'm happy to be the one home with Charlie. My little brother for instance picked up some gnarly habits when he was little because my mom was always working and our Uncle had no idea that his nephew would picks up almost all of his bad habits. While I'm not the perfect human being, I try REALLY hard. We clean up toys together. I try to keep up the TV off because I don't want to get into the habit of TV. We read lots of books, we sing lots of songs, we have dance parties, etc.

It's hard this day in age not to be on your phone, ipad, computer, etc. I mentioned in my previous post that I have an etsy shop and I have things I still haven't been able to upload because finding a free moment is hard. This is also why I sometimes I'm unable to blog as much as I'd like. Whenever family is around I realize we hear a lot of "you're always on your phone or taking photos on your phone". It's hard not to be attached to your phone especially if you're checking work e-mails, silly things like twitter or instagram, etc. I had to make minor adjustments to invites I've been working on and that was a struggle. Yes, I could stay up later but if I'm exhausted the next day it's not fun for anyone. 

While I notice how fast Charlie is growing, it was these photos (taken with a real camera) that made me really realize how fast he's growing. He will never be this young again. Right now, he's my "job". You make sacrifices for the people you love (moving, changing habits, etc.) and I have to spend less time focusing on these things. I read somewhere that when you're on your phone and you're around someone it's basically telling them that whatever you're doing is more important than them. I don't want him thinking that and while my needs are important, he's more important. Who knows how long I'll get to be home with him so I better suck every moment while I can. Don't worry, I'll keep blogging. It may just be a little "dead" at times. 

I thought these photos were too cute not to share :)  

new additions on etsy!

Sorry I've been a little MIA. We've had doctor appointments, family visiting, researching car seats (someone is graduating out of his infant car seat - hooray!), finding dresses for weddings (thank god that's over with) and other random things that seem to take up more time than originally planned. I think I'll feel a little less sick and be able to sleep a bit better when the move actually happens. I'm a stress ball right now and it's not fun. But now for a little shameless self promotion...

I've been a busy little mama bee working hard on creating some decorative party items. I recently updated my etsy shop with these gems above. I also have some other items that I'm  currently working on and another little adventure that I will discuss a little bit later :) But for the time being please check out my etsy shop.

you're the apple of my eye

(image)

I found this on the internet and I loved it. Mostly because it's the lyrics to a song that lives strongly in my heart (even if the radio kinda killed it). I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with the people you love most (i know i will) xoxo  

7/52

Charlie was introduced to the slide at the park this week. He's sold.

He took a spill after and scratched his little schnoz. 

*a picture of Charlie a week for 2013 

She's Crafty: a thankful project for February

Last month I got into the habit of making mental notes of what we're thankful for. We get so busy with day to day activities that I think it's important to take a moment out of our day everyday to reflect on who we love and what we're thankful for. So why not make it into a monthly/daily craft? I bought these larger heart doilies at the .99 store. Yes, some people fear the .99 store but don't. Yes, it smells funny but they are the ones selling the og candy sweeethearts right now. It's a great place to people watch AND it's a great place to get some basic craft stuff AND every once in a while you come across something amazing (like a bump it). I decided to use the giant heart doily because it's February and who doesn't associate February with love (and black history month). I mean February is even "American Heart Month" (blame this knowledge on my mom who is a pre/post open heart nurse). While I'm trying to work on my lettering ability, this was as good as it was going to get considering my favorite 15 month old was crying at my feet begging for attention (or a snack probably a snack). I decided to cut out 28 mini hearts and we would write everyday who we love/we're thankful for. I thought of taping them to the wall but I nixed the idea and decided to hang a red string up and put those mini clothespins to work! While I'm not completely satisfied with how this project turned out (perfectionist issues), I realize that it will make due because free time no longer exists in this place (his nap time turned into mommy and Charlie nap time. toddlers require so much more work than a newborn) and it's not going to be perfect when you're working with young kiddos who want to "help". Even if their version of helping is putting whatever they can in their mouths.

a birthday weekend

This past weekend was filled with a lot of birthday love. My friends put together a sweet little surprise party. I was floored! Charlie of course was the life of the party! On Saturday my girlfriends drug me out of my comfort zone (painted finger nails, hair sprayed hair, heels & a trendy hot spot) for a tiny outing. No joke we stayed out maybe an hour. I was really tired and the bathroom lines were redic. It was just nice getting some "girl time" in. This weekend was filled with so much love. I'm very blessed!   

The plates and cups were left over from my baby shower that my best friend (and Charlie's god-mom) threw for me!! 

Charlie and Ringo are best friends 

One of my greatest buds (Tina) is finishing her art degree and she painted me these for my
birthday! I love these kind of presents. I'm so proud of her and all she's accomplished! 

"let's act like something is really funny"

Sunday Night Supper: spaghetti and meatballs

Tonight's supper was planned out last minute. I would've preferred to make a chicken dish but we had some beef in the fridge and I was lazy (more like exhausted). I decided to make spaghetti and meatballs. I was able to make meatballs and meat sauce with a pound of beef. 

Above are the ingredients I needed for my meatballs. An egg, Italian seasoning, parm cheese, red chili flakes and black pepper. 

Preheat oven to 400. 

Crack egg into medium mixing bowl. I eyeball all the ingredigents. Add italian seasoning, red chili flakes (since I have a toddler I can't make it super spicy so I only did a few), black pepper and parm cheese. Once all the ingredients have been added use a spoon to mix it together. 

Once the ingredients are mixed together add half of the meat of your choice. I suggest using no less than half of the meat to make the meatballs. Using your hands combine the meat with the egg mixture. 

Once your done combing the egg mixture with the meat. Roll the meat into little balls using your hands. 

Get a cookie tray (or whatever you prefer to bake the meatballs). I like covering a cookie tray with aluminum foil so there's less mess and an easier clean up. 

Place meatballs onto tray and put tray in oven. 

Cook for 20-25 minutes or until there's no pink. I suggest keeping an eye on it while you're making the sauce. My oven is ancient and sometimes things cook faster than said time and sometimes it cooks slower. 

It was really hard taking picture of raw meat. Raw meat tends to gross me out hardcore. 

To make the meat sauce I first like coating the bottom of the pot with olive oil, a few red chili flakes, Italian seasoning, black pepper and lots of garlic. Then I add the meat.

While the meat starts cooking. I like to start cutting up my veggies. We only had mushrooms and green pepper so I used those. I prefer using an onion but for some reason we didn't have one (ugh!). I'll start cutting up the tomatoes once the mushrooms and green peppers have been added. 

Once the meat is done cooking add the veggies. I also like adding more spices at this point. Especially garlic. 

 

While those veggies are cooking is when I'll start cutting up the tomatoes. I like having chunks of tomatos in my sauce. I could buy the canned kind but fresh is healthier and less sodium. 

Once you're done slicing up the tomatoes add them into the mix 

Once the tomatoes have been added. Pour in the pasta sauce.  

Fill up pot with water and add in whatever pasta you prefer. 

Check on meatballs and once they're done cooking add them into your pasta sauce mix and let them simmer in there. 

Sometimes depending on how the sauce is tasting I'll add a few more spices. Tonight's case I needed to do just that.

When pasta is done cooking. Strain.

`Add sauce onto pasta with a meatball and voila! Easy!

Above is a Charlie's sized dinner portion. He normally will eat half of a meatball. Tonight's case he ate more than the adults!

She's Crafty: Last Minute Easy DIY Valentine's decoration

Did you decide last minute that you might want to want to decorate for Valentine's Day or you're like some of us that totally forgot it was Valentine's day in less than a week? Here's a super easy but cute DIY Valentine's decoration. 

I found this heart at party city for maybe 20 cents? You can make your own giant out of construction paper. They have simple heart templates on the Internet if you're like some of us who are straight lined challenged. 

I bought a pack of heart doilies a few weeks ago. I thought it would look cute in the middle of the heart. You could also cut out a smaller heart in a different colored paper if you don't like want/have doilies.  

Paste doily where you think it looks best and voila! Easiest Valentine's decoration ever! 

If you don't want to tape it to the wall/have a place you'd like to hang it, I suggest turning the heart over and taping string so you can do so (as seen above).