Misc. Monday: Favorite Things Party

I am in a book club that meets once a month, and I absolutely love it! We eat yummy snacks, talk about our crazy families, drink wine, and even discuss the book we have all read for a little bit! I've always been an avid reader, and having friends who share this passion, are willing to trade books and make recommendations is a real treat. 
Our friendships have grown to be so much more than books, we've gotten together for many play dates, and tonight we are having a "favorite things" party. I've heard about them for awhile, and am so excited to be attending one. The idea is to bring 5 of your favorite things, and go home with 5 different faves. I gave my favorite things a lot of thought. I found a sweet printable on Pinterest (you can find it on my printable board). I filled a box with not one, but a few of my favorite thing, and even tied the box up with string (gotta love the Sound of Music reference). Here is the tag I put inside each box. It was so much fun putting them together. I can't wait for tonight!

          a few of my favorite things:

           1. Bit 1. bit o’ honey = so yummy

           2. Dr. Pepper lip balm, been using since I was 12

           3. Avett Brothers “I and Love and You” = awesome

           4. Book plates from Anthropologie, so pretty

           5. Sprinkles makes everything better

           6. Flower broach makes sweaters sweeter

           7. $1 must be used @ McDonald’s drive thru for 1

            soft serve cone when you’re ALONE! (my fave secret)

           8. La Croix grapefruit = favorite nonalcoholic drink

                    ENJOY!!!! 

Misc. Monday: Mini-Electric Guitar Progress

Dan is building Lilly an electric guitar per her request for her 6th birthday. You can see the schematics she drew in this previous post. The process is simply amazing, and blows my mind! The body and neck have been sprayed and are hanging in the garage to dry. Last night, Dan borrowed my old Singer sewing machine to wind the pick up. He had to explain it to me too. He used the sewing machine to wind hair-thin copper wire around a set of magnets that are mounted to the front of the guitar. This set of magnets "picks up" the vibrations made by the guitar's strings and sends them to the amplifier to make the sound. What is more amazing than me understanding what I just wrote is that Dan has had to fabricate everything for this guitar himself since it is only 3/4 the size of a regular guitar. So not only is he doing all the woodwork, but he is doing all the metal work as well. He even designed and made his own decal for the headstock, spending hours on the computer getting his font to look just like Fender's. I'm tell you, he is amazing!!

Misc, Monday: Feel The LOVE

Sweet surprise!

I love how she signed "Dan" instead of "Dad."

Don't you love my freckles?

I came home from work the other day to these beautiful flowers and this lovely note. Boy, did this girl feel special!

Misc. Monday: My Biggest Fan

Misc. Monday: Another First

Before...

after.

Our little Miss Iris got her first haircut this weekend. It was time. Her hair was really uneven with a sweet duck tail in the back. She got to sit in the "Princess Chair" and have her hair braided and glittered. Wowza! I love how the littlest thing makes them so happy and proud.

Wee-Ones Wednesday: Updated Blog Header for An Updated Family

I'm so excited to show off my new blog header. My good friend, Amy, over at themombot is about to have her second baby any day now, and in her spare time she designed this just for me. I absolutely love it! If you love it too, visit her Etsy shop and see all that she has for sale.
Good-bye garden of girls.
Hello little boy.
Thanks, Amy!

Fab Finds Friday: Bel Bambini

What is Bel Bambini you ask? It is a new, super fun baby store located in Costa Mesa. About a month ago, I was invited to go to an event they held for local bloggers. They had a fashion show with tiny models, yummy snacks, crafts for the kiddos, and awesome giveaways! The store is simply beautiful and quite large. There are many different nurseries set up in the store and the upstairs is filled with the most beautiful children's apparel. They have all the latest gadgets and trends a new mommy might want to try, as well as many tried and true products.

Next weekend, they are hosting what looks like will be an equally amazing open house. There will be story time, giveaways, crafts, a photographer, balloon art, and 10% off your entire purchase. It will be March 24 & 25 from 10am - 7pm. They are located at 1800 Newport Blvd. Let me know if you are interested and maybe we can go together!

Misc. Monday: Happy Day Project Wrap-Up

Sunday was the last day of The Happy Day Project and although we did not participate in all the activities. What we did do, felt great. Thursday was "give a book to a friend" and I know just who is getting what book. Also, The Joyful Life Library Project was shared. Through this charity we were able to sent three books to CHOC hospital. I can not begin the imagine what those kids and their parents are going through. I could barely stand being in the hospital for 6 days with Iris last winter. When we were there, we read a ton of donated books and watched donated VHS tapes. They were such a blessing to us!

All images are from Joy's Hope.
Julie saved me a lot of time taking pics this week.  ;)

We are finishing off with buying gifts of compassion with our life group at our annual after Thanksgiving meal. We just got our catalog in the mail and there are so many wonderful options you can do to help others, starting at only $5! Our family will be putting together blessing bags for the homeless on Thanksgiving day. We feel so blessed to be given the opportunity to give back. There are many links provided here, why don't you check out one or two?

Misc. Monday: Guest Post

I am very honored that my good friend, Amy, asked me to guest post on her fabulous blog The Mombot. I got a chance to share a tutorial about how I created my baby gender reveal. Amy's blog is full of useful money saving tips, yummy recipes, crafts, and fashion ideas. So go on over and tell her I said, "Hello!"

Misc. Monday: A Little Blog Sugar

Blog Sugar was so much fun! It was refreshing to hear women who love Jesus talk candidly about how He has changed their lives, and inspire us to use our words and creativity to glorify Him. The decor was adorable, happy pink & orange. The dinner was yummy and the desserts, oh, the desserts. I really should have taken a picture because I had one of each... amazing!
I was brave enough to introduce myself to Julie whom I adore, and got to ask Jeannette what happened to baby Cliff (a sweet boy with Down's Syndrome who I donated $ to awhile back so he could find adoptive parents). They were both so kind and genuine and didn't make me feel silly at all.
A portion of the proceeds went to LOVE146, a charity that helps prevents child sex trafficking and offers aftercare for young girls. My heart just breaks for the injustices and hurt that takes place in the world. It is really unfathomable. I read through their website today, and felt honored to make a donation and tell you about their mission. Please visit their cause and see the amazing things they are doing.


http://www.love146.org/



Misc. Monday: Ah, Pregnancy

I've traded the occasional glass of wine for chocolate milk. Yummm... It's hard to believe that I'm 4 months pregnant already. It's gone by really fast. I don't have much time to focus on this pregnancy. Ha!
 Last week, I felt the baby move for the first time. I thought it might be too early, but I looked online and the trusty web said it is not uncommon for multiple pregnancies because the woman's uterus is already "stretched out." Hmnn... I'm not sure how to take that, but feeling my babies has always been my favorite part. It's like a little secret you walk around with. I can't help smiling.
I've also been having some disturbing dreams about the baby's health. Maybe I'm too busy to worry when I'm awake, so my subconscious has decided to take over for me. As soon as I wake up, I say a little prayer and let those dreams go. Who needs them anyway?

Misc. Monday: Check Me Out!!

I'm so excited. I just can't hide it. I'm about to... ok, maybe not, but check out my new car! It's so beautiful and fancy. I feel like a princess. It has heated leather seats, a sunroof, and a woman who tells me where to go (in a nice way, of course)! The best part is Dan took care of the whole thing while I stayed home with the girls. Swoon. ;)
I bought my CRV (cute recreational vehicle) before Dan and I got married, and she just could not keep up with our growing family. We were sad to say good bye, but her big sis, the Pilot, is amazing!

Misc. Monday: Date Night

I just realized that my last few posts have been little endorsements. I can't help it; I have to share my favorites with you or else I feel like I'm holding out! Saturday night, I got to take my man and our close friends out to Pechanga to see the Avett Brothers. Do you know them? You should! They are so much fun and they love to sing about love. Lilly and Iris both have sing along favorites, and I'm sure you would too. 

Misc. Monday: Choo Choo Soul

Yesterday, we went to the La Mirada Theater for Performing Arts to see Choo Choo Soul live in concert. If you're not familiar with them, and I don't blame you, they play music videos between shows on Disney Jr. It's pretty fun, upbeat children's music. I particularly like their version of the ABCs. Anyhoo, it was one hour of fun that everyone could enjoy. Let me tell you, my girls have moves!

Misc. Monday: Pirate Love

I mentioned awhile ago that our wonderful friends, Brian and Emy, renewed their wedding vows pirate style. It was beautiful and so much fun. Everyone looked amazing! The creativity of the costumes blew my mind. Dan and I made our outfits with clothes we found at a few local thrift stores.  I love the way my hair clip turned out. I cut up a pirate toy from the Dollar Tree, along with some felt circles, and added some feathers, easy peasy.
I had the honor of making the bride's bouquet & the groom's boutonniere, and I got to walk the bride down the aisle. Dan officiated the ceremony with bits from the Princess Bride and some pirate vocabulary thrown in, and our friend Amy made some adorable photo props. Emy ordered the most delicious cupcakes and thought of every detail. We even played a pirate themed murder mystery game after dinner. I honestly can't remember when I've had more fun! All of the photos were taken by the talentedWill Parris.