Thankful

Winter 2013!!

Wow...it has been a year since I posted............where does time go?  Our little family is well and I hope you are yours are too.  We are thankful for all of our blessings.

Happy Birthday MOM!!!

 

I have missed you.......

Man....where do I start?  I have been trying to figure out if I keep this blog going........hmmmmm I think I will.  Moving to a new house, new area, new school for Sarah all put me in a bit of a funk.  I am finally feeling like I am on solid ground again.  I have missed all my blogging friends.  My "little Tutu Monkey" is in 1st grade.  Every day of my life with her is better than the last.  I will be back soon.....

My first love.....

They say a little girls first love is her Dad.   I love to look at this picture (even though really poor quality) because we are sharing such a sweet moment.  I wish I knew what we were talking about. Today is my Dad's birthday.  He left this earth at the age of 54....SO YOUNG.
 I miss you .......my first love.

Bangs

I am trying to figure out why I am growing my bangs out? 

BOO!!!   HaPPY MoNDaY!!

"Busy Fingers"

This is one of my resolutions too!!

garbage monster

where all the garbage monsters live                                                                     

"busy fingers"

While most kids are borrowing i phones to play games....... Sarah has been using her idle time with a round piece of cardboard and 7 strands of yarn.  After an afternoon at the San Diego Children's Museum last week she has been thrilled with her new craft.  An older woman stopped us at the grocery store and said "what is she doing?"....I told her making bracelets......she said it was nice to see "busy fingers" that weren't playing video games.  I have to agree......I am not anti video games but still pretty old school.

"Let's go"

Each morning I start my day with Jenny!

 I visit her blog.....dream about what color I should paint a room in our house, look at how she puts clothes together....try and copy her art projects.  Well, I finally got to meet her in person!!!  What a treat.....she is even more lovely in person!!  I hope to see more of her in 2012....lots of fun classes   to take at her studio.

  

I appreciate my friend Natalie ( and baby Em) saying "sure.....let's go"!!!   Hope to have more creative adventures with you in 2012!!

Pancakes and Whipcream

Starting 2012 with pancakes , whipcream, close friends and the ocean.........nothing better!!

2012 is going to be a great year......I hope for you too!!

It was worth it..........

"really Mom....I sleep in these?""
"are you sure they will work?"

"It was worth it "

On my gosh how fast time is going by these days.........hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is now game on Christmas!!

BlogHer..final day

Stephanie Neilson
Ricki Lake

Hanging with 3000+ women at BlogHer for a weekend was just what I needed. It's reassuring to know I am not the only person that hears that little voice...."what do I want to be when I grow up?" This conference came at a perfect time.....Sarah just started full day Kindergarten and I need a kick in the pants to start this next phase of my life.

People come in our lives for reasons. Stephanie Nielson has influenced my life in such a positive way. I love her style, determination and feel like she is a long time friend . I follow Nie Nie Dialogues and am a much better mom for knowing her story.

Chatting with Ricki Lake about home births was an interesting experience. I really don't have an opinion about home births but I think if you want to do it ...go for it. She is lovely. She will be back on TV in 2012.

BlogHer also allowed me some time with my friend Natalie. Our lives are busy with kids, school, work but she is the type of friend you can pick up like no time has passed. All these women made an impression on me and it came at a time that I really needed the conversations and motivation. When people ask me about blogging I always think "well, I don't really know why I blog".......after this weekend I know why I blog.

Sunshine and Sausage

Ahhhh Mr. Sunshine
one of the exhibit halls

Bravo TV's Top Chef finalist Brian Malarkey co-owner of Stingaree

New friends
Lori Well Connected Mom and yikes I forgot her name..
Longtime friend Tonya Create-Celebrate-Explore

Second day of BlogHer was even better than the first. It is so inspiring to be involved in all the sessions and parties. These 3000 plus women are in all stages of life and I love getting ideas for my future. My little "tutu monkey" started kindergarten last week and I will now have extra time to go forward in a new direction. Just trying (like many women) to figure out what the new direction is.

Also, who doesn't like getting a picture with a BIG sunshine guy selling sausage?

Puppies and men in dresses

Not the best photo of me but look at that little guy.......wanted to put him in my purse. I kind of get Paris Hilton now and her dog purse.New friends

Hot guys selling soup......Sure...it's July I will have some hot soup!

What EVERY cocktail party should have to help with lulls in conversations......PUPPIES and MEN IN DRESSES. First night of Blogher was so fun.....going solo is kind of fun and liberating.

Blogher...looking for my MoJo!!

I am so thrilled to be attending BlogHer this year is the lovely city of SAN DIEGO!! Nice to have it in my backyard. Hoping to get my blogging mojo back. If you see me...please say hi!!

LEAPING in a New Year!

I am LEAPING into a new year! Yup, today is my birthday. I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful family and friends that made it extra special. We had a family weekend in Huntington Beach for my birthday and it was PERFECT!!!!!! I am truly blessed!

The room we stayed in had HUGE bean bag chairs that got us in the jumping spirit. Usually I am am the one saying "no jumping on the beds"........but man I can see why kids do it...it is fun!!

A new year ahead......Sarah starts the BIG K this JULY (yes July). New chapter of life starting.......lots of new "leaps". (Glad I have goods friends and family to jump with me)

Holy Smokes!! Happy Mother's Day!!

I thought I would share with you the sweetest mom that I have run across in a long time. She is very busy, patient, loving, tiny bit cRAzY, and very crafty..............I can't wait to meet her new little babies. She is turning me around........I might just become a bird gal after all.

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful Mom (and my many mom friends and family)

Bootcamp.......Hot Shoes!!

Nat-Something for Sanity Tonya-Create Celebrate Explore

Ashley-Little Miss Momma "Hot....high.... shoes"

Boy, do those SITS gals put on a great day long boot camp....blogging boot camp. I started my blog as a journal for my daughter and a way to show off some of my handmade tutu's. I put the sewing aside when my husband deployed last year .This boot camp really helped get me inspired to tackle the tutu world again. I really recommend going to one of these conferences if you get the chance So many wonderful women with great ideas at all levels of blogging. I was a little intimidated to go.......thinking my blog is not "big" enough , organized enough or really worthy......but you know what I am SO GLAD I WENT. I now have a road map to get organized and some new people to call on if I need a little help.

Butterfly

You know how we all get the pass along emails to special friends that we want to have good luck, prayers answered or special $$ winnings. This was in my email box today from my cousin and if I didn't pass it on to as many people as possible this butterfly would come live at my house (in wings only).

Made me laugh and a little concerned it might be true so I am putting it out there to as many people as possible!!

Hope you had a happy day!

Fat Tuesday!!

Paul had a meeting in New Orleans last week and he came home with the MOTHER LOAD of bling. You can imagine the delight with the Mermaid necklace......

"No you can't wear all of these to school today Sarah...pick one......"

Whew...that month was fast!

This entire month has been CrAZy!

Lots of fun changes on the horizon.......we are moving... got the keys yesterday! A few of these pictures are from our new backyard . The new house is not by the beach (sob!) but it has a lot more room to play and create!! We are only about 12 miles from the beach .......that will work.

Here is another great thing about February,

U2....."It's a beautiful day"

"It's a beautiful day".............................................

Good bye....Adios....See ya later January!!

Good morning sweet February....I have many things to be thankful for!!!