Howdy from the City by the Bay

Howdy from the West Coast! Honestly, too tired to type. So visuals only from an afternoon hike and mini photo safari. Enjoy.

The Lodge at Cavallo Point at Historic Fort Baker

Two more days until...this!!

(photo via Me Ra Koh)

My head is totally swimming. There is sooo much to be done before I venture west to San Francisco in a couple of days, but I can't help but look forward to everything I'm going to see, do and learn among the best photographers in the business this weekend. And I think it's coming at a good time in so many ways. It's hard to pick up and leave for a few days, but know that it is good for me, my businesses, and our family. (Although I am a little sad to leave daddy and P!)

I plan to blog while I'm there--probably the most activity you've seen out of Moresville in quite a few days--and share a small piece of what I hope will be a life-altering experience.

Still Here

I suck at blogging lately. Sorry. I have no excuse. And I don't like excuses much anyway.

Spent the weekend at the family bunker with everyone except daddy who was celebrating a friend's upcoming nuptials (as only men can do...ahem). P and I made the trek by ourselves...I have to admit a great deal of nervousness at making a seven hour trek with an impatient nearly three-year-old, but he did awesome and was perfectly content aside from a couple of random whinings.

Got to see the lovely baby J...who is growing leaps and bounds. She's definitely a happy baby!



Although Parker was none too interested, she thought he was pretty interesting.



Fun to see everyone!

Spring, you indecisive season...

Seems Momma Nature has been playing tricks on us this spring. Hot. Cold. Snow. Hot. Rain. Wind. Cold. Sun. Hot. Seriously...just PICK one. (just a nice, warm, sunny, pleasant one?) Pleeease?

Lick My Stamp, Man

OMG, my brother's birthday is coming up...I am going to buy him a whole sheet of these and frame them. Except now he'll see this and know. Whoops.

Out of the nearly 50,000 suggestions the U.S. Postal Service receives each year, the faces of The Simpsons will soon be lining envelopes across the country. I dunno, maybe this says something about the public's need for escapism in the current economic climate, or the changing face (literally) of what Americans deem stamp-worthy: in the past, the USPS has leaned toward honoring cultural icons on stamps...and I suppose for a good argument you could include said family as a mark of our generation. Sad, but true.

The faces of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are set to go on sale May 7. "This is the biggest and most adhesive honor The Simpsons has ever received," says Matt Groening, creator and executive producer of The Simpsons.

Hop Hoppin Easter

A nice but drippy Easter here. Just after we had breakfast and Sunday morning activities the rain set in, and doesn't look to let up until after tomorrow.

Parker was excited with his Easter basket. And he thought it was pretty cool that the Easter Bunny knows Ho-Ho (Santa).



And we managed to get a couple photos in his super-cute Easter outfit.

Why can't losing weight be this easy?

We are cleaning. And purging. And de-cluttering. And shedding the excess stuff we've come to accumulate for a while. I swear if losing weight was half as easy as it is to clean out closets...then I'd be a damn millionaire by now. But instead I just have clean closets.

I can be a packrat. I'll be the first to admit it. And we know that unless there is an unexplainable miracle that only God has planned for us, then Parker will be the only child to grace Moresville with his presence. And for some reason I've kept way too much of his baby stuff. Sentimentality, I guess--it's hard to give up and face facts that he won't fit into any of this stuff--ever again. Part of him in my mind will always be a baby. Seeing his adoring face, smelling his sweet skin. Tell me it's part of being a mom....please?

But knowing that he's growing up, faster than I can even begin to explain, it's time to shed the things that would be useful to someone else. And, as luck would have it, a bi-annual consignment sale is coming up next weekend--so I've been busy organizing, tagging, sorting, washing out old formula stains (ewww!) and prepping lots of clothes and gear that we don't need anymore.

But I have to admit it feels good. And opens up all kinds of space in our closets and lives for new adventures and memories to fill them with.

Parker's Potty Chart

Every Sunday after reading the morning papers, I pour myself what's left of the morning coffee and arm myself at the kitchen table with scissors in hand to find the week's "treasures". I have memories of my mom doing the same thing--cutting coupons and making the week's shopping lists at the kitchen table while talking on the phone to one of her friends and drinking Tab...I forgive her, it was the 80's. :) (At least there isn't a photo!!)

This last weekend Parker took great interest in the ritual and begged to look through the Target ad with me, especially after being enticed by Easter toys on the front of the flier. He quickly spotted two toys he HAD TO HAVE...so, being the expert negotiator I'm learning to be, we struck a deal. We cut out the photos of the toys he wanted, and put them up by the potty.

For every trip to the toilet that Parker makes, he usually gets a sticker. And we started a sheet just for them so that once he acquires lots of stickers...LOTS of stickers, which means LOTS of potty-ing, he would earn said toys that he's sure he can't live without. In truth, we both win: I get a near three year old out of diapers, and he gets the satisfaction of having earned something he's worked for.

There's been a little action since we posted the photos of the toys. Mostly a lot of chatter and several questions about if it's time to go to the store yet. We are both learning patience.

Blog Crush

Aaahhh...another blog to add to the reader. One look and I'm in loooove.

This comes thanks to the mighty Raya over at paperpony and is an awesome find. Affordable outfits, cute home decor, great ideas for making life beautiful.

That said, I bring you my new blog crush: Creature Comforts

Evil Red Dye #5

Our relationship as of late with Parker's school has been like-dislike...more leaning on the dislike. (Which we've already remedied for the fall--but that doesn't solve our issues now!) For reasons like today.

Today, he comes home with this---bright.freaking.red.hands.


It was another classmate's birthday and they celebrated with red cupcakes. What kind of red, I'm not sure--but in addition to Parker's red hands and face, his favorite hat was a victim of the evil red dye too.

Anyone know how to get this out?

Note to self: vanilla cupcakes with white frosting for Parker's birthday this summer.

**Update**: A looooong soak in the tub did the trick. His nails are still pink...but we'll call that a "fashion statement".

DIY Day

Been working on several DIY projects around here this week. Among them, do it yourself cooking and DIY laundry. As in...do it yourself, because I'm not going to.

No, really, it's been a busy week. One of those that when I've had time to pause and reflect, I can't believe my eyes at the good fortune of incredible work from my awesome clients. So, for that, I'm so grateful and happy.

But I'm glad to have time to breathe today and am thinking about starting a new project. Saw this super cute skirt online and was appalled at the price--for a simple drop waist skirt with an elastic waist and some crappy lining on the inside. Pish. And in orange...a color I like, just not on me. Although this photo looks more pink. Don't be fooled, I saw it in the store with my own two eyes. Like mandarin orange.
























So I've been trolling the fabric stores online for something cute to make it out of, and I keep coming back to these lovely Amy Butler fabrics. So adorable--but too cutesy?
There were some others that I loved too, but meant more for home decor and I fear might be too heavy for such a kicky little skirt. These are from AB's Midwest Modern line.