Sunny San Diego!

The weather has been so beautiful here lately - although I would like the heat to drop a couple of degrees for sure. It was 91 degrees in our neck of the woods today. Ridiculous for it not even being summer yet. Oh but the beautiful blue skies beckoned for us to go outside. We have been going to the park, beach, outdoor shopping malls, walks around the neighborhood, the zoo- anything to be outside in the fresh air. However, I am running out of ideas of places to take her. What do you all do to get outside the house?

I really do love spring. Almost as much as fall. almost.

♥ Michelle

30 day post {Day 22}

Day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
Oh goodness! My list is pretty endless.  I am the one who is always wanting to learn and expand my knowledge of things and how to do things. In fact, I just was saying two days ago I was talking to my friend about some things I have been wanting to take classes on so that I can improve my skills. The top of the list would be Cooking, Photography, Sewing, Drawing, Singing, Playing Piano.

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I guess what I really need to be better at is TIME MANAGEMENT. If I had better time management, I would be able to take the time to practice and go to classes to improve. I dabble in so many things but usually I'm at the basic level in them all because I don't have the time nor the patience to focus on one thing and excel at it.



30 Day Challenge

day 01 - a picture of yourself with ten facts
day 02 - a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day 03 - a picture of the cast from your favorite show
day 04 - a picture of your night
day 05 - a picture of your favorite memory
day 06 - a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
day 07 - a picture of your most treasured item
day 08 - a picture that makes you laugh
day 09 - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day 10 - a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
day 11 - a picture of something you hate
day 12 - a picture of something you love
day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist
day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day 15 - a picture of something you want to do before you die
day 16 - a picture of someone who inspires you
day 17 - a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity
day 19 - a picture and a letter
day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
day 23 - a picture of your favorite book
day 24 - a picture of something you wish you could change
day 25 - a picture of your day
day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you
day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member
day 28 - a picture of something you're afraid of
day 29 - a picture that can always make you smile
day 30 - a picture of someone you miss

♥ Michelle

Chloe's first bite

We finally introduced Chloe to rice cereal. It was interesting to say the least. She had no idea how to eat something not coming from a bottle (duh). She seemed to have fun, sometimes wanting to chew on the spoon rather than actually eat what was on it. She even tried to help hold the spoon to her mouth. The cereal got everywhere and she eventually just ended up sucking the food off her hands. It was a complete mess, but so much fun.

♥ Michelle

30 day post {Day 21}

Day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
I seriously don't own any images of things I wish I could forget. I think part of the process of forgetting is to not hold on to things. So I am sure I threw away or deleted any pictures of things I would not like to remember.

I wish I could forget what it felt like to have our house broken into. My things thrown about my room, my clothes thrashed about. My valuables stolen. I felt violated and instilled with fear. I couldn't sleep by myself for a month. I had nightmares all the time that the perpetrators would come back while I was home.  I couldn't stand to be in the house by myself. Being taken over by fear is a horrible thing. Not to mention this was a time when I didn't know God so I felt totally helpless. Not fun, not fun at all.

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30 Day Challenge

day 01 - a picture of yourself with ten facts
day 02 - a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day 03 - a picture of the cast from your favorite show
day 04 - a picture of your night
day 05 - a picture of your favorite memory
day 06 - a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
day 07 - a picture of your most treasured item
day 08 - a picture that makes you laugh
day 09 - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day 10 - a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
day 11 - a picture of something you hate
day 12 - a picture of something you love
day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist
day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day 15 - a picture of something you want to do before you die
day 16 - a picture of someone who inspires you
day 17 - a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity
day 19 - a picture and a letter
day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
day 23 - a picture of your favorite book
day 24 - a picture of something you wish you could change
day 25 - a picture of your day
day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you
day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member
day 28 - a picture of something you're afraid of
day 29 - a picture that can always make you smile
day 30 - a picture of someone you miss

♥ Michelle

30 day post {Day 20}

Day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
I am pretty sure I talked about where I want to travel in at least 2 previous post. But I do love to travel, so what is one more post about it going to hurt? 

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Since I have already talked about my dream vacation in Europe, the second vacation trip we have planned (and what I mean by planned is i really really really want to go) is to go on a cruise. Anywhere really. Alaska, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera. Where ever the ship may take us.



30 Day Challenge

day 01 - a picture of yourself with ten facts
day 02 - a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day 03 - a picture of the cast from your favorite show
day 04 - a picture of your night
day 05 - a picture of your favorite memory
day 06 - a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
day 07 - a picture of your most treasured item
day 08 - a picture that makes you laugh
day 09 - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day 10 - a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
day 11 - a picture of something you hate
day 12 - a picture of something you love
day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist
day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day 15 - a picture of something you want to do before you die
day 16 - a picture of someone who inspires you
day 17 - a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity
day 19 - a picture and a letter
day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
day 23 - a picture of your favorite book
day 24 - a picture of something you wish you could change
day 25 - a picture of your day
day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you
day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member
day 28 - a picture of something you're afraid of
day 29 - a picture that can always make you smile
day 30 - a picture of someone you miss

♥ Michelle

Beach Weather!

It was so nice this weekend. We ended up taking Chloe to the beach for the first time. She loved it! She particularly liked putting her feet in the sand. We slathered on teh suncreen, yet her cheeks still managed to end up really rosy. I can tell more beach days are to come. I can't wait to take her swimming! (not in the ocean water- ew gross)

♥ Michelle

Homemade Goodness {Vol.2}

My blogger friend Ashley from The Peanut Gallery blog  also has a cute little Etsy shop. Check out her shop and her blog. Both are equally awesome and equally fun. 

 Your shop name/Link: The Peanut Gallery 

Describe what items you sell in your shop: I sell a little bit of this a little bit of that. Custom organic onesies, Onesie dresses, headbands, hair clips, gift boxes. Right now I'm working on making some dresses from scratch. I also just make some hair clips for moms and I have headband supplies on the way! 

Why you started the shop: I'm a fashion design major who dreamed of taking on NYC after graduation and then a little thing called Peyton happened and turned my world upside down. My dreams now had a new focal point and it was babies. Now my goal is to open an organic mom and baby boutique but I feel like this is the first step. 

How old is your shop: It's pretty new to the Etsy world Feb 8, 2011 is when I opened it. It's still such a work in progress and I'm trying to continually add new things. 

Price range of items: Right now the items in my shop range from $6 - $35

What makes your shop so special? I do a lot of custom items because I love the personal touches. I also like working with organic and recycled materials which are both eco friendly and baby friendly. I also try to choose fabrics that don't scream 'baby' but that are still bright and fun. 

A note from The Peanut Gallery shop: Welcome to The Peanut Gallery, my first attempt at taking my passion for fashion and turning it into something more. This store, like my life, is a work in progress so please bare with me as I try to get it into a full functioning shop. My two biggest loves in life, fashion and my daughter, have led me down the road to designing unique childrens clothing. I hope you take the time to browse my shop and come back to visit as I continually add and expand!

I love homemade goodies! And Ashley is one creative Mama! Make sure to go to her shop and check out all the goodies she has to offer. like right now.


♥ Michelle

Baby Wood - Image Heavy

James' sister Rachael is due to have her third child this month. We took maternity photos of Rachael and her cute little family a couple weeks ago.  Rachael is such an adorable prego lady. They already have two little girls, Elisabeth and Natalie and now they are finally getting a boy! They are keeping his name a secret until he arrives, which is sometime this month. I can't wait!

So whatcha think? 

♥ Michelle

30 day post {Day 19}

Day 19 - a picture and a letter
I seriously contemplated putting a up a random picture and writing one single letter of the alphabet below it. I would do it because I have that sarcastic sense of humor. But then I realized that not everyone would know my sense of humor and think I just didn't   "get it ."  Then I got lazy and decided to do it anyway. Better yet, I put a picture up OF a letter. beat that.

30 Day Challenge

day 01 - a picture of yourself with ten facts
day 02 - a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day 03 - a picture of the cast from your favorite show
day 04 - a picture of your night
day 05 - a picture of your favorite memory
day 06 - a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
day 07 - a picture of your most treasured item
day 08 - a picture that makes you laugh
day 09 - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day 10 - a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
day 11 - a picture of something you hate
day 12 - a picture of something you love
day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist
day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day 15 - a picture of something you want to do before you die
day 16 - a picture of someone who inspires you
day 17 - a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity
day 19 - a picture and a letter
day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
day 23 - a picture of your favorite book
day 24 - a picture of something you wish you could change
day 25 - a picture of your day
day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you
day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member
day 28 - a picture of something you're afraid of
day 29 - a picture that can always make you smile
day 30 - a picture of someone you miss

♥ Michelle

30 day post {Day 18}

Day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity.
When I first here the word insecurity, I think of something physical. Like, my legs are so white and usually have bruises on them that I hate showing them. Or how I am insecure that I STILL breakout at the age of 26 and it seems like no matter what I do, make up just won't cover it up. Or how my hair is always so frizzy and I still can't seem to figure out how to get those baby hairs framing my face to keep the hair color in that I dye it. Or how none of my pre pregnancy clothes fit the same on  my now post pregnancy body.

Then I realize that they are just small insecurities that I really don't let get to me for more than 5 minutes. The real insecurity that I have that I deal with the most is being a MOM. I feel there is so much responsibility in raising a little one. Not only the physical aspect of making sure they are clean, fed and watched with a careful eye, but also how to raise them with morals and to love God with all they have. Sometimes I am so nervous that how I am as a parent will directly effect what the future will hold for her and how I will play a part in the person she will become.

What I really need to be doing is trusting that God will give me the tools and confidence that I need to be the parent He needs me to be for her. I need to let the insecurity go and do my best to love and nurture her the best way I know how. Oh ya, and give her tons and tons of kisses and cuddles.

30 Day Challenge

day 01 - a picture of yourself with ten facts
day 02 - a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day 03 - a picture of the cast from your favorite show
day 04 - a picture of your night
day 05 - a picture of your favorite memory
day 06 - a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
day 07 - a picture of your most treasured item
day 08 - a picture that makes you laugh
day 09 - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day 10 - a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
day 11 - a picture of something you hate
day 12 - a picture of something you love
day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist
day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day 15 - a picture of something you want to do before you die
day 16 - a picture of someone who inspires you
day 17 - a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity
day 19 - a picture and a letter
day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
day 23 - a picture of your favorite book
day 24 - a picture of something you wish you could change
day 25 - a picture of your day
day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you
day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member
day 28 - a picture of something you're afraid of
day 29 - a picture that can always make you smile
day 30 - a picture of someone you miss



♥ Michelle