special visitor

we had a special visitor over the weekend...

make that an incredibly hairy special visitor. ;)


(okay, okay, it was rory having too much fun with the after halloween clearance items. i think that is why sook didn't freak out; she actually watched him put the costume on.)


but this exchange that was captured? oh i was giddy with joy.


"hey momma, remember that time i shook hands with the gorilla in the driveway and smiled like he had ice cream for me?"


yeah. THAT.


it is monday dear lovelies and i have been staggering through the day on 3 1/2 hours of sleep. it is quite liberating the clarity that comes from sleep deprivation. 


here's to channelling your inner rockstar this week.
i know we will be doing just that.
xo.

littering positivity (or optimistic garbage)

the sun was sinking in the quiet sky and temperatures were falling softly. it was time to trade slides and grassy adventures for garlic and roasted veggie raviolis, baths, and pink polka dot pajamas. as i was leaving the park last night with my two loves, i told rory "hang on just a second; i need to do something!" he was buckling our precious cargo into her car seat as i took a sharpie and quickly jotted down some bursts of actions to invoke joy. i held my green post it in my hand proudly and dashed to a nearby tree. i pressed previously mentioned happy green post it on the trunk, snapped a photo and skipped back to the car.

his response?

"oh so now you are just littering positivity?"


love this man
he gets me.

this is the optimistic garbage i left on the tree:

nice, eh?

this was a part of The Shine Project's challenge to leave happy sticky notes at random public places. can i tell you how much fun i had and how refreshing it was?

 left this at the post office

 this one at the post office too

this one was at Old Navy in the clearance section ;)

it was funny because at first i felt like i had to be sneaky about it to make sure no one was watching, like i was doing something i shouldn't be doing. at the post office i used the self service kiosk to mail a package, then i stuck my post it on. an older gentleman walked up behind me to use the kiosk and i'm sure he thought i was slightly nuts. oh well. ;)

what did i learn from this challenge? it isn't possible to go into old navy and "just look" like i told myself i was fully capable of doing. oh! leaving happy post its morphs you into feeling like a happy post it.

 Sookie hopes you have some great shades to sport on this lovely friday!

Could you vote for us on topbabyblogs.com?
Thanks so much friends!

our little family hopes you and you have a happy post it kind of weekend! ;)

Headband Challenge!

I was a little too excited when my home girl, Little Miss Momma issued a headband challenge last week. What is a headband challenge you ask? Simply wear a headband every day, for a week. Even if you are hanging out in sweats. I was bouncing off the walls with anticipation of this (I know, I'm silly) and told Rory about it. His response? "That's not a challenge for you; it is like a regular week in your world!"

Well, I had fun. And that was all that matters.


What I learned from the Headband Challenge:

1. Even on the days when you stay home and play momma, maid, nanny, housewife, teacher, a pop of a purple headband reminds you of the massive amount of sass you have, even just in your pinky.

2. Headbands are good to hide baby bangs when placed strategically.
(Yes, my daughter is 18 months and I'm still dealing with the awesome-ness of baby bangs.)
;)

3. The world would be a happier place if everyone wore headbands every single day.

4. I should make more headbands...I'm going with the theory, practice makes perfect.

5. I'm with Ashley, I NEED more headbands.

finally seeing Harry Potter day

 Black Flower - Forever 21

Yellow headband - Sookie's 

(can't remember where I bought it)

 Necklace - Metro Mix

 full time momma, maid, nanny, housewife day

Headband - Forever 21

picnic day with sookie & girls night

Headband - {just.lovely.things}

one of my favorite headbands ever!

 movie Sunday with my momma & Rory

Rosette - Sad attempt by me

Ha! ;)

 lots of writing and laundry day

Headband - Little Miss Momma Shop

 errands & lunch & fun with my momma & sook day

Headband - Cozette Couture

Necklace - The Marchesa

 park with my girl day

Headband - Cozette Couture

Necklace - Panther Pendant

What is your favorite headband?

I'm a busy bee this weekend!

Looking forward to fun, family, friends and yummy food!

How about you?

xo.

Some Days Rock & Some Days Roll

Some days rock
and some days roll
 
Some days everything is cool
but some days I can't get it together

{Dixie Chicks; Thin Line}


Some days I feel seventeen again; I'm listening to the Dixie Chicks, Tori Amos, Ani Difranco and wanting to cut inches and inches of my hair and put pink streaks in it. Maybe I'm going through a much delayed rebellious phase. Maybe Little Miss S inspires me to be silly and live like I don't care what people think.


Lately, I simply cannot get enough of these pig tails.

I know it is extremely goofy, but these pigtails are a symbol of a lot of struggles for me. I look at her sporting them with such merriment and I can't help but feel like they are a badge, a ribbon to showcase the possibility of everything.

(See? Further proof I'm regressing to my teenage years; I'm finding deep meaning and introspection in something as normal as pigtails.)

I love those chubby little hands, that bow, wisps of her hair.

This was literally seconds after she took 5 steps at the park. Her first 5 steps. We were just chilling with our Sonic happy hour real fruit slushes and she was doing her usual slither up the hill. Glamma said, "Why don't you just get up and walk?" And you know what? She did just that. She stood up. She took a step. Then about four more. We laughed, we cried. I know the uphill gravity gave her the missing piece of confidence she was missing. It is pure elation watching a piece of yourself walking on her own back toward you with such exploding euphoria.

We've been doing a lot of impromptu trips to the park lately. I love this. I get giddy just watching her take in the activity and buzz around us. She eyes the older kids with such jealousy and I tell her it will be okay, she will be big soon enough.

R was out of town this weekend and I kicked it with my girl. I confess, the three year old in me wanted to throw a temper tantrum about being miles past exhausted and needing "me" time that allowed the luxury to check back in with those pieces of myself that aren't mommy; but instead I put on my big girl mommy pants and we basked in the beauty of Katie Herzig's Apple Tree album, delectable frozen yogurt from Red Mango, swinging at Glamma and Poppa's, and the ever intoxicatingly simple pleasure that is sidewalk chalk.

I love this. I can see her little thought bubbles in her head saying, "I got this momma, really I do."

We ended our Saturday with Annie's Organic Mac and Cheese and a fabulous big girl bath for her. Because a pink bowl of bunnies swimming in cheese is the perfect way to celebrate a Saturday night. (& yes, that is the adult in me talking.) I was in such a good mood I might or I might not have slipped some to Jack in his dog dish. The pup loves his pasta.

I hope you all had a weekend filled with simple joys.

Pieces Of Our Life Lately

I'm getting used to actually being excited for the weekend again. It is a refreshing change. Ever since R started working in the office (as opposed to at home) it is nice to realize he will be around to help out and spend time with me and the munchkin. Don't get me wrong, I know how lucky I am that I get to stay home with her, but sometimes even I need to be able to go to the bathroom all by myself. ;)



Last weekend we were able to go on a (much needed and rare) day date. Glamma watched Sookie for us. We didn't do anything grand or outrageous, but it was still fun. We grabbed some yummy lunch at Rumbi. I was actually able to eat without having a gallbladder attack. It was just a side salad and some chips and delicious mango salsa, but nonetheless. I was grateful. It is funny how intense pain after eating makes you so thankful for the simple act when it comes without pain.

We went to Babies R Us in search of a high chair, but no luck. I swear when I was pregnant there were a million cute ones to choose from. Now that she actually needs one, I can't find anything! Although I do love this:



We also made the journey to Target. The rest of the day was full of naps, laundry, and lots of college football. We spent Sunday with my parents; had a nice drive up the canyon and dinner. Sookie gave Glamma some kisses at dinner, it was just too precious. We found a poor little bird stuck on the fly paper out on the patio.



My dad and R got the little guy cleaned up and rescued. He did really well for a few days, but then he went to heaven with my parents doberman, Zeppy. It was a sad few days in a row to lose such innocent animals.

R ended up going into the office on Labor Day. I did stuff around the house and hung out with Sookie. My sweet Mama brought me sushi and the weather was so perfect we had a little picnic out on the lawn.



I went and picked up one of Sookie's favorite cousins, Kenley. She is always such a great help to me and Sookie just loves her to pieces and so do I! Sookie was fascinated with her sucker.





We went to visit our wonderful Aunt Doe and Uncle Jack and good family friend Jim. Sookie and Kenley played on the slide and swings while I ate way too much Almond Roca Buttercrunch Toffee and we talked about True Blood and where to find good sushi in Utah. (Answer: Happy Sumo.)

If you know how spoiled Sookie is, you probably won't believe me, but she is lacking in a fall wardrobe that fits! Glamma and I bought her some new fall clothes today at Target. I can't get over how stinking cute!



I can't wait for her to wear them. For awhile there I was nervous about all the fuchsia girl clothes out there, but for a redhead, she pulls it off well! I also picked up some new lotion for me to try; Aveeno's positively nourishing blueberry and goji berry. I'm really picky about my lotion and I'm usually a Johnson and Johnson's lotion girl, but I'm ready to try something new.

This is random, but, that bottled water commercial that starts out, "We don't swim in soda..." always makes me laugh because I would swim in diet coke every single day if it was possible. Well, diet coke or polynesian sauce from Chick-fil-A. ;)