...

hi blog.
i have been a bit scattered this week.
my house is falling apart.
my pearl is sick for the 300th time this year.
our car is b.u.s.t.e.d.
i dropped my brand new cell phone - IN THE BATH TUB.
i drank a gallon of iced coffee.
its thursday and i have not showered yet this week.
1 peter is kicking my butt - in a really good way.
spring cleaning has started and i want to have a garage sale.
but i live in an apartment, so thats not happening.
had a sweet time with one of my bff's - staying at her house till
2am, talking, laughing and watching greys anatomy.best.idea.ever.
tried the 'sock bun' and loved it.


made stuffed peppers for dinner last night & maggie was in LOVE.
it snowed. 
and then it was sunny.
in the same day.


got the chance to hang out with both my parents. 
laughed at and with my dad. {he is hilarious.}
watched 'the hurt locker' & decided that since my brother has joined the army, i can never ever watch a movie like that again. ever.


working on memorizing phil 4:8
watched our pastor and his lovely wife on the view.
went out to lunch to celebrate a bff's birthday.
my heart has been full of grace, and patience and love for others.


made a huge mess in our bedroom to set up our new {to us} pack n play. 
dreading cleaning up that huge mess.
loaded and unloaded the dishwasher at least 100 times. 
looking forward to dinner with friends tonight.
had a coffee date with a lovely bride to be.
actually made it to community group for the first time in a month.

and last but not least:
broke my own rule by staying in sweatpants just about everyday this week.

happy thursday, friends. 
i am looking forward to the weekend. 

playing catch up.

hello friends! 

today is an extra day - and i have been so busy that i neglected to realize that today was leap day, let alone that this year is leap year. which makes me kind of sad, because i would have taken full advantage of having 'extra time'. 


i am trying to play catch up here on this blog. & i probably never will catch up - and i am becoming okay with that. 


lately we have been making maggie pearl smoothies every single morning. she loves them. so far her favorite is avocado, kiwi, blueberries, banana, almond milk and spinach. oh, and she also really likes to munch on red bell peppers. 

i took the pearl girl to the library 2 weeks ago. she threw a giant fit, wanted to play on the computers, and screamed while we were there. {which was awesome.} but, we checked out this book, ten little ladybugs - and she is obsessed. like annoyingly obsessed. i read the book over and over and over again. daily, hourly - over and over. i love that she loves to read, but i just wish that she would pick another book - and not brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? {because thats the other book we read over and over} oh, and she is pretty much a doll, even though she looks like a preschooler in this photo. {who let my baby grow up so quickly???}

i made these really cute washi tape strip magnets during naptime last week. they were really, really super easy. and cost about $1 to make. plus they look really cute on our fridge. 

i also found my tiny, 2 cup french press while cleaning out my kitchen. i adore it, and it reminded me of all those fun afternoons i spent being a barista and working on my coffee knowledge. so, i have been enjoying some delicious french press coffee nearly every afternoon.


i have some wonderful things coming up on this little blog. march is looking like a good month. we will be celebrating our 3 year wedding anniversary, i have some fun giveaways planned, and i am going to try to get back on this blogging horse and write as much {or not as much} as my little heart desires. 

365 photo // january

unlike most of you fancy bloggers, i do not have an iphone.
which is ok most of the time. 
except when i want to participate in fun things like the "photo of the day" craze on instagram. 

so, one day while i was pouting about my android, i came across a really helpful app called, 365 photos. and then all was well in my android world. it has been so helpful to take a photo each day and have it organized on my phone. this month i am using this as my guide and faking my way through #febphotoaday. 

// my sick, but still smiling girl on new years day// double ear infection// real marriage launch day//

//my very sick little lady// afternoon tea// 2 lattes to get me through the 6th sick day//

//feeling better// fun before sleeping// breakfast for dinner.

// trader joes stuffed chicken breasts// breakfast face// a cute hoodie from a clothing swap//

//sunset on a fri night// cookies for an afternoon treat// maggies first snowman//

//straight up chillin// good words// snow that wouldnt stop falling.//

//living room chalkboard// putting on makeup// first pigtails//

//after bath curls// a thrifted 'farmer gramps'// bath time//

// migrane// a walk at the park// DATE NIGHT// 

// baby evelyn// a fortune thats 'my dream'// 

// nutella, and coffee// reading the Bible//

i love doing this and i am excited to make a photo book with all my photos at the end of this year! 

also, i am so thankful for the response i have received regarding my last post. i love that i am not alone in this and i am praying that the Lord works in all of our hearts!

snow in seattle

 

it finally decided to snow in seattle this weekend. 

this was maggie's first snowfall. 

well, thats not true. 

it was the first one that she could participate in.

it started snowing at church and then we went out to lunch with some friends, as we ate the snow decided to stick and come down more and more. it was so fun. 

my sweet friend heidi snapped this sweet photo of us. its pretty much my favorite. 

  honestly, i dont really love the snow. 

unless it is sticking like crazy and piles up.

otherwise i find it annoying. 

mags loved it. 

she kept signing 'more' over and over. 

i love that little bug.

she had some fun sticking her tounge out to 'eat the snow'

daddy helped her make a little snowman & we tossed some snowballs at her. she was full of giggles and wonder. 

although, as you can see in the bottom left photo, she did not want to walk very much in the strange fluffy white stuff on the ground. when we finally did get her to walk in it she didnt want to stop and cried when we had to take her inside. 

after our snow adventure, we came inside and snuggled on the couch, ate chocolate chip cookies and built a blanket fort. 

i would say it was a pretty great first snow day for this little family. 

glitter

i have too many things to be doing to blog right now. but i cant stop thinking about how i want a pair of glittery shoes to wear this holiday season. you know, for all the dressing up i do. { currently in yoga pants and a sweatshirt with wet hair in a nest on top of my head...} but i am dreaming of something like this:

Source: alittleglassbox.com via Leslianne on Pinterest

Source: flykell.wordpress.com via Allison on Pinterest

Source: zara.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: shopbop.com via Kate on Pinterest

am i the only one? or do you like this trend too? 

sick day {again.}

Source: etsy.com via Catherine on Pinterest

we are having another sick day over here. 
i am not sure what the deal is with us getting sick so often.

we had to run to target to get some cold meds for me and some stuff to make dinner for community group {i am making this soup} 
i got maggie out of the car and put her in the cart. 
she sat down and snuggled herself into the seat like this:

 

i felt like the worlds worst mama taking this girl to the store, but we had to go. i made a quick run through the little lady clothes and almost peed my pants with excitement. all the new clothes they have are so adorable. like i wanted to put a thousand things in my cart. {dont fret sweet husband, i didnt.well i did, but i put it all back.}

i am hoping that she gets some of those sweet clothes for her birthday. 

so since we are having a sick day, i thought i would share with you a few of my favorite 'pins' as of late. 

are you ready?

Source: homeshoppingspy.wordpress.com via Ally on Pinterest

wouldnt this be the sweetest gift?

Source: etsy.com via Ally on Pinterest

maggie is going to be an owl for halloween & i cant wait to make this for her. 

Source: withtwocats.com via Ally on Pinterest

we are planning on getting some family photos soon... and i want this pose! 

Source: skinnytaste.com via Ally on Pinterest

i am planning on making this for dinner this week. trying to get creative with our veggies. 

Source: cravingchronicles.com via Ally on Pinterest

and i think that this would be a perfect saturday morning treat. 

 

Source: etsy.com via Ally on Pinterest

totally need this for maggie pearls room. 

 

Source: cakeeventsblog.com via Ally on Pinterest

also interested in this pose for family photos. 

Source: rocknrollbride.com via Ally on Pinterest

and this one tooo.

i am off to get some things done before my sick lady baby wakes up. 

{if you were sitting on my couch, this is what i would say...}

hello!

just popping by to say a quick hello before heading out to community group. i am really excited because i didnt go last week due to my migraines & so it will be great to see all the ladies again!  i'm just praying my little lady will be just as happy to be there as i am. 


speaking of my little lady, last week at the doctor he told us to start giving her basically the same foods that we are eating. so far she loves everything! maggie pearl has yet to meet a food that she doesnt like. right now, she is loving cheese {feta is her favorite} and mangos and the glorious cheerio. its fun to watch her try different things and watch her eat them with satisfaction. 

 

we are still waiting for our sweet friend to have her little lady... i am anticipating the arrival of another bff for miss maggie. 

i finally settled on a name for my etsy shop. now i am just trying to get brave enough to actually do it. wanna pray for me about that? 

annnnd last but not least, today i had my first encounter with pumpkin spice at starbucks. it was heavenly. i am sad to say this, but i am really looking forward to fall.  

breaking the silence.

i realize i have been silent on this little blog, for almost a week. 
wanna know why?


migranes. 
i hate those stupid things. i had 3 this week plus dental work. 
soo, sorry for being quiet over here, but blogging has been impossible. most things this week have been impossible. thankfully we have been blessed by a baby who know knows how to entertain herself & i was able to get TONS of rest. i love that sweet little girl.

 i think she kind of looks like E.T. 

in this picture. i love it.  

So, the LORD has been teaching me some really cool things, & i am starting to feel this HUGE sense of freedom from the heavy burden i have carried around for the past 10 months. its so awesome to see & feel his love. to watch how if i just let him do his thing, he transforms my relationship with my husband, with my daughter & with my friends.  its been huge for us. we both can feel cool air & the sense that things are changing & that we may actually be walking out of a really stormy season. finally. 

{i apologize in advance for being all over the board today. but this is what it would be like if we were having a real life conversation.}

summer has finally decided to show up in Seattle. 

the air is hot and sticky almost every single day.

i love it, but at the same time, i am ready for fall.

and a sweater, with a pumpkin spice latte, & a cute baby in leggings & jackets. & shoes. what kind of shoes do you put on a baby who cant walk, but spends most of the day trying?

  we watched some really sweet kids last night & took them to the park. maggie loves the swing. like L.O.V.E.S. it, the girl likes to go high. she is brave {unlike her mama.}

she also thinks that she is ready to walk. i spend most of my day chasing her around our apartment, grabbing things out of her cute chubby little hands. we really need to baby proof this weekend. i found her trying to grab some candles from the shelf on the bottom of the coffee table - i didnt know we even had candles under there. last week she successfully dumped out an entire container of paperclips. which was awesome, because i also couldnt find where we last put them. now i know. but, back to what i was saying about walking. i caught her letting go of the couch and standing on her own 3 times yesterday. plus she walks really well when we hold her hands. & giggles like its the best day of her life when i try to get her to balance. 

we hit the jackpot with this lady. she is a doll. & i think that 9 months has been my favorite this far. Jesus has been SO good to us. 

anywho, thats the low down on what has been going on with us. 

our life is full.

and so are our hearts.

a list

i have been so blessed by you all regarding my last post. i have had emails and messages full of encouragement and i am so thankful that the LORD is using this trial for his glory. it honestly makes it all worth it.  100% worth it. so, thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

i thought that i would post something fun, since there are some new readers {hello! so glad to have you!} & this blog has been a little on the serious side lately.  
once upon a time {when i was single} i had a little blog. it was inspired by my sweet friend em's mama. i started it in the spring of 2008 and her mama was my only reader. when her mama went to be with Jesus that summer, i pretty much stopped writing there. one of the things that she inspired me to write was 20 things that people might not know about me. { if you wanna read that list, you can check it out here.} 
so, today i am going to make a new list { & some from the old list will probably still be there.}


1. i get really nervous when i drive other people places. i feel like people are nervous to be with me, which causes me to be nervous.


2. i used to only like root beer if it had ice cream in it. then i got pregnant & found a true love for that soda. {thanks to my sweet friend kara, who always had a root beer at her house for me.} 


3. my least favorite sound in the entire world is the overtired whine of my 9 month old. it causes me to feel so anxious.


4.i really love having painted fingernails. 


5. i dream about being from the south. you could ask anyone who knows me in real life & i bring it up at least once a week. 

6. i do not eat seafood. unless its clam chowder. 

7. i am not a very good cook. 


8. i do not read as much as i should, but my 3 favorite books {not including the bible) are {in this order} 

* to kill a mockingbird 

{i try to read it once a year. my daughter already has her own copy.}

* the help 

{read it in 3 days.}

*the atonement child

9. i dont really like other peoples dogs that much. they mostly scare me. until i get used to them.

10. i dream about being a photographer. i really have NO skills. 

11. i think that i can sew better than i really can.

12. i love sweets. i could eat a baked good every single night.

13. i have a fear of change & the great unknown

14. one year on valentines day, i slipped and fell at costco. want to know what i slipped on? a banana peel. true story. the employee at costco didnt believe me either. 

15. i have a sweet spot for anything aqua blue. i dont know what it is about that color, but it makes me go weak in the knees.

16. i dont have time {or money} to do half of the DIY's that i want to do. 

17. i wear big pearl earrings almost everyday. they make yoga pants & leggings feel fancy. 

18. i have really small feet. which is helpful, because i can buy shoes in the kids section & save money!

19. even though i am terrible at it, i love dancing. 

20. my husband and i play boggle at least 2 a week & it is my lifetime goal to actually beat him more than once a year. 

oh and just because it is way to cute, here is a little photo of my pearl girl swimming for the very first time.

hello!

oh hello!

just wanted to let you know i am still alive.

its been a busy week. 

i promise to be back next week, with photos, updates & other fun things! 

but, just because, here are somethings that i have loved this week. 

Source: cheekykitchen.com via Ally on Pinterest

Source: moredesignplease.com via Ally on Pinterest

Source: nicholask.com via Ally on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Ally on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Ally on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Ally on Pinterest

Source: aresohappy.tumblr.com via Ally on Pinterest

Source: designspiration.net via Ally on Pinterest