chloe colette

tight!!!

2012-02-27T13:54:00.000-08:00

more info here

belly is getting bigger and bigger and breathing is getting more difficult

what's going on:

- using the body shop's cocoa butter on ze belly (smells so good)

- writing up a to-do list (even when it doesn't all get done)

- pre-natal classes Z

- visiting with ry's dad past weekend (fun!)

- a surprise visit from my sister (also fun!)

- going to the bathroom all the time

- cleaning the house at a slow pace

- eating olive garden (oh yum)

- excited for my baby shower (yippee!)

- hoping to prune the front yard trees before baby

- looking for a shelf to put in baby's room

- figure out how to properly chop down our aspen tree (sad day)

cravings: justins peanut butter cups with milk chocolate

2012-02-20T16:51:00.000-08:00

via google images

i have been craving these organic milk chocolate cups for the past month. YUM. so good. wish i wasn't craving them but for the most part they are the only "sweet" thing im craving... well i take that back...

baskin robbins jamoca almond fudge tastes great but ive had it only once during the pregnancy and it gave me a wicked headache fifteen short minutes after eating. guess baby girl doesn't like sugar? also been craving simply lemonades raspberry lemonade- i water it down quite a bit but something about it tastes so good.

as for the savory cravings i love:

- olive garden breadsticks and salad

- spaghetti and meatballs

- pizza

- annie's cheddar and pretzel snack mix

today ry and i are headed to our first set of prenatal classes. at first i didn't want to go at all- ignorance is bliss? perhaps... i really don't want to see the needle they use for epidurals haha.

32 weeks and the window nook

2012-02-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

belly and baby's first photo

i love this photo!

like the curtains? i love em- casual but chic

baby is the size of a jicama- big!

all photos by M of lemonpeel studios

there is a little nook on the top floor of our house that i really adore- its not really useful but it really is cute. im trying to think of ways to use the space more effectively, but i really love the clean lines and simplicity as just a quaint sitting area. i can imagine little miss sitting there reading one day.

belly is getting bigger as you can see. not so scared about baby coming- just scared about when!

fact

2012-02-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

via pinterest

i don't have any plans to read twilight...ever. but i do enjoy watching the movies simply because i find them hilarious. hilariously cheesy.

ry and i went to the dollar theater when Up had already been out for awhile. i think i cried almost the entire first half of the movie. SO adorable and touching.

today we went to the doctors to check up on baby girl and how she is doing. hearing her heartbeat is my favorite thing. getting weighed? my least favorite thing- ha!

happy valentines day

2012-02-14T11:52:00.000-08:00

have fifty pink roses sent to you

sounds good to me!

ry and i celebrated valentines day this past weekend at olive garden. such a funny craving of mine recently- the salad and breadsticks taste so good for some reason! alongside raspberry lemonade i am a content pregnant lady in love.

tonight i will be cooking a simple dinner that ry happens to love. nothing fancy-schmancy!

hope you have a fun day filled with pink, red and lots of love.

mean grandma

2012-02-11T12:36:00.000-08:00

via

*Had to blog about this today- just funny*

Attended a good friend's baby shower this morning:

I spent a lot of effort wrapping her gift the night before only to have a grandma point at my tummy and say:

G: "Is this your first baby?"
Me: "Yes I'm so excited!"
G: "Well once it comes you won't have time to do any of that anymore..." (points to my nicely wrapped gift)
Me: "Good thing I'm enjoying my time now huh?"

*All this happening as my friend is unwrapping her gift in front of everyone- good timing grandma!

I just want to know- what gives!? Maybe granny you are just jealous and wish you knew how to wrap a gift cute like that. Almost wanted to say- "Granny you must still have kids at home because your gift looks like it took 2 seconds to wrap."

ooooh.

Sorry I'm having a negative pregnant lady moment- I'm sure you (or maybe later) can relate. But I do think its funny- I love it when other people tell me how my life will be after baby.

Only God knows people! I have no idea and neither does anyone else. The only thing I do know is that it will be different, but I believe that to be a good thing.

Hope you have a great weekend- we are putting up the curtains in baby's room and I pray they will look nice...

preparing for baby & 29 weeks

2012-02-01T16:26:00.000-08:00

29 weeks and baby is the size of a butternut squash

via lemonpeel studios

i love these pictures that M of lemonpeel studios recently snapped of me

what do you think?

seriously so cute

via

for the next couple of weeks i will be easing away from ze the blog to prepare for little miss (if you haven't already noticed). once the third trimester started it became much more difficult to sleep/breathe/do much haha. so my list of things to do keeps getting longer, but i realized that i cant get absolutely everything i want done before she comes so ive decided to pare down on a few things.

but even with that paring down there are still a lot of necessary things to do (and im not even decorating the nursery that much! ).

ill talk to you later :)

shabby chic roses in my mom's garden

2012-01-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

aren't roses beautiful?

i especially love them when they are a blush pink or white

they make me think of weddings and the needed improvement(s) to my garden

too bad rose bushes take a long time to become super full

not sure if i will end up planting them....

mom told me a few weeks ago that the gardeners will be coming soon to prune them back

always makes me sad since they are still quite beautiful during the winter

a california winter that is

hope you enjoy these photos from my mom's garden

wishing i could be spending the Chinese New Year with them

lots of good food, red clothes and a party!

what's not to love?

peanut butter hot chocolate

2012-01-20T10:58:00.000-08:00

image and recipe from Dolcetto Confections

Tried this recipe out the other day. A perfect cure to gloomy day blues. Seriously so good. I substituted the milk chocolate for a teaspoon of instant chocolate powder and it still turned out yum. Left out the whipped cream because I was feeling lazy but I'm sure it would have been positively dreamy.

happy weekending to you! AND happy Chinese new year early!

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

adapted from Martha Stewart Living, February 2011

active time 5 minutes

total time 10 minutes

makes 4 servings

This recipe is the perfect cure for the winter blues - not only a vessel of warm, thick liquid, but also boasting the irresistible combination of chocolate and peanut butter. I replace the whole milk and cream with skim milk, allowing the richness of the chocolate and the peanut butter to ring through. This substitution also provides the perfect recovery drink for runners returning from a long, cold winter run.

Ingredients

2 cups skim milk

1½ ounces bittersweet chocolate

1½ ounces milk chocolate

3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

Heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks, for serving

Preparation Instructions

In a medium saucepan over low heat, warm milk until it just begins to simmer and bubbles form around the edge of the pan. Whisk in chocolates and peanut butter until melted and smooth. Cover and continue warming over low heat until warm. For a thicker cup of cocoa, simmer hot chocolate uncovered until desired thickness is achieved. Ladle hot chocolate into individual mugs and top a dollop of whipped cream.

want some tea with that sugar?

2012-01-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

grapefruit sugar bowl via

whew! this morning i drank a lot of sugar water for the gestational diabetes test for preggie women. so. much. sugar. im still dizzy from it. hopefully in a few more hours i will be back to normal.

looking forward to this weekend. {Chinese New Year} Yippee! wishing I could be with my family so we can all chow down on Chinese food and make some resolutions, or reevaluate the ones we made January 1st. My resolutions?

01. drink more water
02. do things that my future self will thank me for (get those chores done!)
03. finish one big sewing project for the year

what about you?
im off to eat some protein- have a happy thursday!

red lips and a beauty blog

2012-01-19T08:59:00.000-08:00

through pinterest i stumbled upon a fun new beauty blog perfectly named into the gloss

they just featured this red lipped look above and i am looking forward to trying it out.

here is the breakdown from into the gloss:

Porcelain smooth complexion, courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Creamy Foundation (and Mother Nature).

Bobbi Brown Nude Pink blush.

Muted taupe eye shadow (Malt by MAC).

BROWN mascara, two coats, top and bottom (CoverGirl LashPerfection). Skip the liner.

Candy apple red, ultra-moist lipstick—straight from the tube, two coats, one blot in between. Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge in L’Absolu Rouge.

*dying to try that lipstick, but i think i better go and recount the number of red lipsticks i have...

sinus cones review

2012-01-18T10:31:00.000-08:00

it's amazing how desperate you can get when you are running on only a few hours of sleep. luckily i didn't buy more things when i was in the roughest part of my cold/cough of two weeks ago. i kept googling "relief for dry throat" because my throat was pretty much dry as a desert because i could not breathe through my extremely stuffy nose; i came across these sinus cones and decided to give them a try.

what appealed to me was that they are completely drug-free and supposedly worked right away- good for a pregnant lady. it took about 2 days to get to me (not bad) with regular shipping. by the time they reached me however, my cold was still uncomfortable, but not as bad as in the beginning. so i can't tell you how well these could have worked if your nose was completely stuffy- as in no air coming through your nasal passages at all.

when these did arrive i was able to have a little bit of air come through one nostril- still not comfy but better than a complete blockage.

so the question is- did these work? answer- kinda.

the sinus cones helped open up my nasal passageways but since my nose was still stuffy it still didn't really make a huge difference. after about 2 more days when my stuffy nose started clearing up more the sinus cones started to make a bigger difference.

bottom line:

sinus cones worked but for me they were not "magical."

it is nice to have these when your congestion is already easing up- they will help to allow more air so you can breathe easier through your nose. im happy i purchased them, after reading about pregnant ladies getting stuffier noses as the pregnancy progresses i bet they will be used again soon.

you can find more info here
*by the way one set of nasal cones will last for 3 months if worn 24/7

strawberry muffins forever

2012-01-17T09:43:00.000-08:00

i have been craving strawberry muffins for the past few days and finally got round to baking up a batch sunday evening. they were so yum! i substituted all purpose flour for whole wheat and used brown sugar instead of white. these muffins are a great way to use up the not so pretty looking strawberries in the fridge. i topped them off with a cinnamon sugar mix to add some extra sweet without adding it throughout the entire muffin.

hope you get to give them a try!

*i am feeling much better by the way- still tired but i have a feeling that won't go away until little miss arrives :)

Strawberry Muffins from Taste of Home

12 ServingsPrep/Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups coarsely chopped fresh or frozen unsweetened strawberries

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the first four ingredients. In another bowl,
whisk the eggs, yogurt, butter and vanilla. Stir into the dry
ingredients just until moistened. Fold in strawberries.
Fill muffin cups coated with cooking spray or lined with paper liners
two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until a
toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5
minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.
Yield:
1 dozen.

Nutrition Facts: One muffin equals 173 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 46 mg cholesterol, 163 mg sodium, 29 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber,

happy weekending!

2012-01-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

via pinterest

i love this quote- comforting and reassuring

hope you have a bright and happy weekend

im loving the weather where i am- its absolutely lovely

hopefully, i can slowly clean up the house- amazing how fast a house can slowly fall apart when you are sick

the nursery of little miss is still quite a mess

ive definitely toned down my original vision of the room

thank goodness little miss doesn't really care- just me :)

im craving cupcakes like you wouldn't believe

so far ive been able to avoid buying or baking anything

but i don't know how much longer i can postpone that

strawberry muffins or cupcakes sound amazing!

whew okay enough dreaming

have a good weekend!

mean girls

2012-01-12T10:56:00.000-08:00

via google images

let me tell you a story from middle school. already interested eh? middle school stories usually end up so humorous- sadly this one is not.

in middle school i met a girl named, let's call her wisty. i befriended wisty from a class we shared. wisty was funny, sarcastic and loved to laugh loud. for a while i felt so happy to be friends with her. there was something that i didn't really like about our relationship though... she was kind of mean. not the kind of mean where she would yell at me or something like that, but the subtle mean. you know what im talking about- the small, sly comments that she would sneak into conversations. nope. not good.

wondering about the cute rainbow striped sweater above? my mom and i went to target for fall school shopping before seventh grade started. joy! there was a cute pastel rainbow striped sweater. mom and i agreed- it was adorable. so we bought it and i wore it that week.

wisty had to comment. my memory is not perfect but im pretty sure it went something like this:

"you know that rainbow means gay? that sweater makes others think you are gay."

i rushed to the bathroom and tried not to cry. quickly i took off my, what i thought was beautiful, sweater and stuffed it in my backpack.

i told my mom about the incident and she said not to listen to what wisty said. still, the pretty sweater stayed hanging in my closet the rest of the school year never worn again.

she wouldn't be mean to just me but to others too- frequently behind their backs. the worst part? i started to become like wisty. i started to gossip, be secretive and mean behind others backs. seriously, not pretty. i even became mean to her- even more blunt and rude.

looking back i am not happy with the way i acted and wish i could go back and tell myself to not be that way. luckily, in high school i made the choice to change. not perfect, but i definitely improved.

wisty had lots of struggles. struggles that had more things that i didn't fully understand. wisty dealt with body image issues, divorced parents and other things that i just don't know about.

i should have been a better example to her. had i acted instead of being acted upon, maybe our friendship would have been better. instead of letting all the negativeness engulf our group- i could have let positiveness

be stronger.

lesson to be learned? don't be a mean girl. it's not the right thing to do and it's just not nice.

hope you have a thoughtful thursday.

still sick! my cold has become less intense (yea!) but now a strong cough has come :( ...but i think i am healing slowly but surely.

things im looking forward to

2012-01-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

via etsy

mark your calendars for January 23

it's the year of the dragon!

little miss is going to be a dragon baby (just like mommy)

i wonder what the Chinese zodiac has to say about 2 dragons living in one household...hmmm

via pinterest

valentines day

pink and red everywhere!

need to get working on some cards...

via

the arrival of little miss!

still so much to do after the holidays and being sick with a cold

her nursery is still a mess and the crib is only partially put up

if there is anything i've learned its that you can only do so much when your body says:

"seriously im tired. please stop!"

waiting for the nesting stage to start happening, but im pretty sure its not happening anytime soon with this cold/cough/crazy thing going on.

hope you have a happy tuesday!

stuffiest nose ever award

2012-01-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

pretty garden via google images

im already anticipating spring- can't wait to plant a new garden!

hello there. i promise i have not been ignoring ze blog but i have been so sick recently! i think i deserve the stuffiest nose award- literally cannot breathe through my nose. sleeping has been so difficult.

turns out that little cold from a few days days ago has morphed into scary monster cold- my nurse doesn't think its a sinus infection as of now so i got to try some new medicine that will hopefully give me relief and get me on track to recovery. but its terrible. seriously not fun. i have never been super sick before, so this is quite a change.

thank you to friends who have come to the rescue with advice and things to help me out.

can't wait to feel normal again! well at least as normal as i can while pregnant haha.

radiant

2012-01-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

via baby center

not feeling radiant today, under the weather- not from morning sickness though (yea!)- trying to take it easy. so excited for the nursery of little miss. nothing fancy but im just excited to get everything in order.

first resolution of this year?

tackle all my "stuff"- organize it, give it away, whatever- as long as everything has a place. any organizing tips? i always love learning about that kind of thing. never gets old.

happy new year

2011-12-30T23:26:00.000-08:00

via

happy new year friends. funny how things tend to go opposite of what you plan- this has been one busy holiday season! did not get around to a Christmas card this year- ill put more effort for Valentines Day :)

in the midst of all the busy-ness ry and i feel especially blessed for all the happenings of this year.

here are a few fun events of 2011 (in no particular order):

01. our first house

02. our first serious garden

03. baby! we are already falling in love with little miss

04. our first "pretty" couches- (white ikea ektorps! haha)

05. my brother left for his mission (awesome!)

wishing you a happy, healthy and creative new year!

Christmas lately

2011-12-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

via

mini gingerbread houses are the cutest

01. so many house projects- ry has been so great
02. so many house projects- i am pregnant and move at the pace of frozen molasses with everything
03. kitchen is messy messy
04. listening to as much Christmas music as i can
05. skipping out on Christmas cards- maybe Happy New Year cards or Valentines Day cards instead?
06. preparing the nursery for Little Miss (my friend L called her that and I love the title)
07. in love with MAC blush in Fleur Power- a bright pink coral
08. planning on organizing all of ry's mission photos sometime this month
09. love this video
10. sleep is getting more difficult
11. craving chocolate chip cookies, green apples and peanut butter
12. loving no snow yet
13. an early Christmas gift from my Aunt; pretty awesome
14. our family gift to each other? a sonicare toothbrush! we are nerds- we know
15. need to reorganize my craft space- its a mess!

december faves

2011-12-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

creative handmade Christmas cards from our nieces

everyday food december issue and pink ruffled napkins

homemade holiday treats from my friend R

cute Japanese candy boxes

yummy strawberry chocolate candy

perfect pregnancy shoes from my mom

purple is not my favorite color but these are SO comfy and i love the shine

a thank you card addressing baby as the "fetus"

made me chuckle

25 days of Christmas

2011-12-16T14:50:00.000-08:00

via

i know its already 2 weeks into the month but its never too late to find more ways to celebrate Christmas. maybe these will give you some ideas for the few days till Christmas!

01. play Christmas music as much as possible
02. tell the Christmas story from the scriptures
03. talk about family Christmas traditions
04. make gingerbread
05. make and send off Christmas greetings
06. make homemade chocolate fudge
07. Christmas tree picnic dinner
08. pick out Christmas gifts for each other
09. wrap the gifts
10. make a paper chain garland
11. make pumpkin puree
12. bake a pumpkin chocolate pie
13. learn about Hanukkah
14. prepare festive Christmas dinner
15. make tree skirt
16. hang up front door holiday wreath
17. celebrate Nochebuena with friends
18. go to the movies
19. hot chocolate and tim tam night
20. tour holiday lights
21. watch a Christmas movie
22. do acts of service
23. take photos of our first Christmas
24. decorate the house
25. make cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning

travels to denver

2011-12-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

here are some pics from our thanksgiving visit to denver

sweetie pie nieces and auntie neala

dad matt making sure the girls don't fall off the climbing tree

the uncles

churros from sams club at 10 am

cutie nephew

it was so cold!

check out our rental car- lime green fiesta!

auntie neala's flat tire :(

isn't he adorable?!

uncle ry and cutie

his and hers subway sandwiches at 10pm

hello again

2011-12-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

via

where have i been? dealing with a lot of family things/house things/ preggy things- blogging was definitely put on the back burner. thanks for being patient with me.

the good news? my house is all done with Christmas decor (for this year at least) and my morning sickness has improved dramatically. still tired and thirsty but its much better than feeling nauseous 24/7.

lately, ive been eyeing all the amazing Christmas projects and crafts but i haven't found time/budget to do them!

here some things i am currently working on:
01. growing a baby inside me
02. shopping for a comfy and cute couch for our den
03. also shopping for a entertainment center for the den
04. laundry- lots of it
05. cleaning out my recipe book
06. painting a light fixture (tough when the weather outside is frightful)
07. trying to acquire a music box that plays Christmas music for under the tree
08. trying to get the Christmas gifts made (mini pumpkin loafs wrapped up in cello and twine)
09. baby room decor- im thinking all shades of pastels...
10. giving up on sending out Christmas cards- next year!
11. picking out bathroom tile
12. searching for a thin computer desk for ry- no luck so far
13. eating chocolate covered popcorn- YUM (sweet tooth is back!)
15. burning candles- tis the season

bit of a blue Christmas

2011-12-07T22:12:00.000-08:00

via

hi friends,

i have been away from the blog for awhile now and im still not "back" but i thought i would write a quick post to let you know that im still here!

merry Christmas- so much to be grateful for.

i love my family.

it's a girl!

2011-12-02T10:20:00.000-08:00

surprise!

it's a girl!

by lemonpeel studios

shabby chic table & thoughts

2011-11-30T22:17:00.000-08:00

via simply me

hello there! i will be away for a spell (if you already haven't noticed) . hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend. hope to be back soon.

happy thanksgiving

2011-11-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

via martha stewart

today is thanksgiving for us which equals a busy day of cooking!

here is the menu:

brown sugar, mustard-glazed ham

green beans with hollandaise sauce

creamy garlic mashed potatoes with gravy

stuffing with celery and onions

cranberry sauce (maybe if i have time...)

apple cider

no dessert this year! ill be whipping up pumpkin chocolate pie after our visit to ry's family for a non-traditional thanksgiving (indian food). im bummed that there will be no turkey to eat this year (turkeys are way to big for two people) so we decided to cook a ham instead with the traditional sides. ill be missing my mom's paella, turkey and cranberry salad. YUM. maybe she will freeze some leftovers for me :) a pregnant woman hopes.

hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving weekend. enjoy your black friday too. will you be participating in some sales? i love cyber monday so much more than black friday- no crowds!

happy thanksgiving friends! hope you enjoy time with your loved ones.

*and im sure most of you already know the gender of baby but im waiting to post pictures to "officially" reveal it here on ze blog ;)

**check out martha stewart thanksgiving menus here (super helpful when planning!)

simple Christmas decor

2011-11-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

here are lots of photos of my living room decked out in holiday fun

kept it pretty simple but i love it

enjoying a "fragile" Christmas

not worrying about little hands or feet tipping things over haha

today feels like Christmas for me and ry

we get to find out the gender of our little dumpling!

super super excited

according to the votes on the poll

majority says "boy!"

ill let you know sometime this week :)

please excuse the dark/blurryish pictures

i didn't want to take pictures in full light because the tree looks so pretty when the main light stays off

my camera does not do this room justice!

tree!

still need to make a skirt for it...

a sweet nativity set

a gift from my friend R for our wedding

smells sooooo good

marshmallow fireside

highly recommend

stockings handmade by my mother-in-law

super pretty

look at the intricate beading!

ry has had this same stocking ever since he was a baby!

i love that tradition

fun glass ornaments in an apothecary jar

all mini ornaments decked out the small greenery

pinecones in nooks

im still working on my Christmas bow making

still need A LOT of practice

but i am happy with the one topping the tree

have a happy monday!

baby bump photos

2011-11-17T19:58:00.000-08:00

when we first found out we were pregnant i immediately called my mom and then promptly the next morning phoned up my super talented friend melese of lemonpeel studios

time for baby bump photos

the photos have been absolutely gorgeous and of course working with melese is so much fun

she makes you pretty- no seriously!

don't believe me?

take a look at these photos- enjoy!

at 7 weeks

baby is the size of a blueberry

at 8 weeks

baby is the size of an acorn

at 9 weeks

baby is the size of a grape tomato

gorgeous sunflower field

at 10 weeks

baby is the size of a brussel sprout

at 12 weeks

baby is the size of a lime

at 14 weeks

baby is the size of a lemon

at 16 weeks

baby is the size of a mini pumpkin

festive for autumn

aren't they so cute?

didn't she make me look good?

see i told ya so :)

you can go here to see more refreshingly cute work by lemonpeel studios

craving: nutella

2011-11-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

ooh boy have things changed with what ive been wanting to eat lately. in-n-out cheeseburgers remain a constant favorite, but now i want nutella. and lots of it.

via

promise, i am trying my best to be healthy but i never knew the power of these cravings. menchies frozen yogurt has been a huge craving, but it has been easily (and more healthfully) satisfied with orange juice. weird right?

but how do you healthfully satisfy a nutella craving? question of the month my friends. maybe even question of the year.

first recipe i would love to try:

nutella brownies from Mother Thyme

Mother Thyme takes such pretty pictures!

second recipe:

nutella banana smoothie also from Mother Thyme

another awesome photo

third recipe:

nutella crepes from The Yellow Table

oh wowie- doesn't that look so yum?

oh dear what is a pregnant lady to do? maybe ill just pick 2 out of 3 to make myself feel better! ry does not like sweets so these desserts will be all for me. dangerous.

nail polish of the month: china glaze free love

2011-11-16T10:43:00.000-08:00

i know!

another nail polish post. well i got some serious catching up to do since i haven't been able to tend to my nails with the pregnancy sickness. my nails were the last thing on my mind haha. but no worries, i am slowly working it back into my routine until baby comes.

his shade is really fun for fall. it is a metallic burnt orange and the formula is great. the polish was purchased over a year ago so im not sure if they still carry it but if you can find it i definitely recommend it. two coats was all it took and the metallic sheen is pretty sweet- these photos don't do it justice.

hello kitty says hello!

girly ornament wreath

2011-11-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

a fun idea first spotted on better homes and gardens website as seen here on an older post

so glad i was able to make and finish it without getting sleepy or gagging

okay- i did have to take a few breaks to drink water and breathe but the point is- it got finished!

fun girly colors

i am not doing a "themed" Christmas this year so my decor is more mismatched right now

this year is an experimental year- trying to figure out what decor i love best and what works for the house

and im enjoying every fragile piece of decor i have- before kiddos :)

( a quick thank you and shout out to my friend S who gave me a wire hanger!)

please excuse my imperfect wreath bow

who knew velveteen ribbon was so hard to work with!?

wire ribbon is your friend

just so pretty

pictures of the living room and tree to come!

here is a tutorial by domestic fashionista on how to make these wreaths

simple, affordable and chic

supplies needed:

- pliers

- a wire hanger

- lots of ornaments (im guessing around 50)

- bow (optional)

- hot glue gun (if you want to secure the top of the ornament to the ornament- i broke an ornament because it popped off accidentally when i tried rearranging it)

random tips:

- once the wreath is arranged, quit playing with it! (less prone to breaking)

- make your bow before stringing your ornaments

- use inexpensive ornaments (dollar store anyone?)

- have a plan before making the wreath of where you plan on hanging it; set it up before making

- be careful!

hunger games beauty photo & trailer!

2011-11-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

via vanity fair

doesn't this photo of the hunger games cast make you want to jump with glee?

i seriously can't wait for the movie. thrilled that it comes out in march and im due in april (i know that sounds so silly but after talking to new moms they say you will never go to the movies again- yikes) so im going to as many movies as i want till it just gets too uncomfortable. check out Jennifer Lawrences' interview with vanity fair here.

people are comparing hunger games to twilight. puh-leese. they are totally different! but maybe it will become as popular/crazy as twilight. i must say i do enjoy seeing the twilight movies (so funny to watch) but i have never read the books and i am not planning on it.

are you guys just as excited for the hunger games movie?

the trailer is awesome.

nail polish of the month: Sally Hansen Without A Stitch

2011-11-14T09:23:00.000-08:00

i have been on the hunt for the perfect opaque nude nail color for quite some time now and eureka! i found it. with all the baby stuff going on, i have not been able to post it for a few months now

hopefully this color is still available at drugstores

it is on the pricier side ($6) but i really love the formula. i even skipped the top coat and still looked nice!

to add more color i added some hot pink stripes and gold dot sparkles- my left hand is prettier than my right hand haha- happens every manicure

can't wait to paint my nails red, green and sparkly for the upcoming holidays!

baby stuff: what's your guess?

eleven-eleven-eleven

2011-11-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

first off, happy veteran's day. i loved singing the song "tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree" when i was a little girl. yup karaoke was a pastime of mine since the age of 5.

so grateful for all the men and women who have served/are currently serving our nation.

since today is eleven-eleven-eleven i decided to make a list of eleven things i am grateful for in no particular order:

01. God & my testimony
02. ryan
03. babykins
04. family & friends
05. good health
06. our home
07. the miracle of forgiveness
08. people who are happy
09. the holiday season
10. trying/learning new things (an old dog can learn new tricks)
11. the opportunity to improve everyday

have a great weekend. one more week till we find out if baby is a boy or a girl! what is your guess?

What are we expecting?

pyramid of greatness: word of wisdom

2011-11-11T10:30:00.000-08:00

i had the opportunity to teach a lesson on the word of wisdom at achievement days this past week

the word of wisdom was not a topic i wanted to take lightly but at the same time i didn't want to make it super serious for girls the ages of 8-11- hopefully this lesson turned out well.

- each of the bullet points were passed out among the girls

- i asked which bullet points belong under which head topics (ex: avoid sugar goes under Eating Right)

- then the girls would come up to the board and tape the bullets under the topic i called out (helped to make it more interactive)

- after each section had all the bullet points taped under we talked about each bullet (it was great hearing the girls opinions)

- added some personal stories and my testimony

- done!

here is the printout i used that the girls were able to take home:

Pyramid of Greatness

Word of Wisdom: D&C Section 80: 18-21

18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, ^ashall receive^bhealth in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19 And shall ^afind ^bwisdom and great ^ctreasures of ^dknowledge, even hidden treasures;

20 And shall ^arun and not be ^bweary, and shall walk and not faint.

21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the^adestroying angel shall ^bpass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

God

~ Obedience

~ Live to have the Holy Ghost with you

~ Love one another

~ Have a spirit of Thanksgiving

~ Listen & follow the Prophet

~ Ask yourself- how does the Lord want you to treat your body?

Living Right

~ Exercise: 30 minutes activity a day

~ Sleep: early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise

~ Cease to be idle (see skills)

~ Learn! (see skills)

Know What's Real

~ Do not participate in fad diets

~ Choose not to be anorexic or bulimic

~ Don't overexercise

~ Don't obsess over yourself

Eating Right

~ Whole grain

~ Fruits & veggies

~ Limit meat

~ Avoid sugar

Avoiding the Bad

~ Alcohol

~ Smoking

~ Drugs

~ Tea & Coffee

~ Tobacco

~ Anything habit forming

Skills

~ Learn to cook

~ Learn to love learning

~ Develop a rewarding hobby

~ Learn to read nutritional facts

and for those of you who picked up the parks and recreation reference here you go :) :

baby kicks

2011-11-10T19:01:00.000-08:00

via

my dear baby,

i felt you kick a couple of times today. it was wonderful :)

love,

mommy

make it a magical martha holiday

2011-11-10T09:33:00.000-08:00

a few months ago luckily stumbled upon a free year subscription of martha stewart living magazine

yippeee!!!

magazines are not a need but a want so normally i have zero subscriptions

(it helps keep the paper monster away from my house too)

i always look forward to the december issue

seriously the best

provides great inspiration for the holidays

a pretty cover page

let's glitter everything!

the glittered deer idea has been around forever but i never tire of it!

pretty silver

a star themed Christmas cookie party

ooh fabulous!

have you received/picked up the December Living issue yet? do you have any other magazines that have amazing Christmas issues too? id love to know about them

here is martha interviewing at google

presenting her new entertaining book

watch out- she cursed!

applesauce cinnamon ornaments

2011-11-09T08:04:00.000-08:00

made some delicious smelling ornaments for my achievement day girls

i hope they love them

so easy and thrifty!

maybe ill whip up a batch for my Christmas tree too

Applesauce Christmas Ornaments

3/4 cup applesauce
1 cup cinnamon
2 Tablespoon school glue (optional)
1 Tablespoon allspice (optional)

Makes (9) 3 inch ornaments

Combine all ingredients and knead until smooth dough forms. If dough is too sticky add more cinnamon. Roll dough on a cinnamon dusted surface to 1/4- inch thickness. Cut dough with cookie cutters and make a hole with a straw for hanging with ribbon. Transfer to a sheet pan to dry for three to four days, turning once every day. For faster drying bake on a lined cookie sheet at 170 degrees for three to four hours. When dry, decorate with fabric or craft paint if desired and hang with ribbon. Store in airtight container for use year after year.

recipe from savvy shopper deals

a simple gift to a friend (and leftovers for me)

2011-11-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

glossy strawberries all lined up in a row

i used mainly dark chocolate but added some semi-sweet morsels to take the bitter edge off

and some butter to keep it shiny and smooth

im not very good at making the strawberries look "perfect"

but hey- its still yummy

tucked away neatly in a bakery box with some parchment paper

a gift tied up and ready for a friend

chocolate dipped strawberries are one of my most favorite gifts to receive and give

late fall photos

2011-11-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

really pretty pumpkins

the stems are so fun!

messy front yard

littered with perfect fall leaves

early Christmas gift

2011-11-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

my mom bought us an early Christmas gift

our first Christmas tree!

so special

last saturday ry ~~and i~~ put up the tree

early i know, but no kiddos yet so i feel like we don't have any set traditions

isn't it lovely?

the size definitely surprised us

we knew our ceilings are 8 feet tall so a 7.5 foot tree would fit just fine

but we forgot about the width! haha- its on the fatter side

but we still love it

now i am a fan of pre-lit

no tangles- win!

updates

2011-11-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

strawberry santas via pinterest

aren't these strawberries adorable?

probably healthier than typical holiday fare- i hope to make them

- doctors appointment today! hope everything is going well with baby

- still quite sick. boo. its definitely better than 1st trimester but i am still sluggish and nauseous

- cravings have become "stronger"; in-n- out cheeseburgers anyone?

- our Christmas tree is up early for decoration planning

- want to make a list of budget friendly meals that are still nourishing and yummy

- doing research on house projects. whew! daunting.

- making applesauce & cinnamon ornaments for my achievement day girls

- hoping to cheaply recover a lampshade...any tips/thoughts on this?

- can't wait to dive into all the sewing projects that need to get done before baby comes

- organizing your closet(s) can be so rewarding!

- are black-out shades necessary for a baby's room? thoughts?

- also craving menchies tart fro-yo flavor with strawberry crunchies on top. yum.

Christmas trees on the brain

2011-11-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

cotton candy pink Christmas tree

PERFECT.

me want.

would ry be okay with it? im sure he wouldn't mind

more info here

tinkerbell silver Christmas tree

lovely and more versatile

info

winter white Christmas tree

another perfect tree

sigh

info

are you more traditional or funky when it comes to Christmas trees?

i used to think i was super traditional (not with the real trees but the dark evergreen trees)

but these trees have got me rethinking everything!

have a great weekend!

ry and i are looking forward to donating our couch that is too long for our house to charity and moving my craft room downstairs to make room for baby! i seriously cant wait to show you the nursery plans :) but a lot of that depends on the gender of baby so we will wait and see.

shabby chic christmas

2011-11-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

so girly

so very me

ry wouldn't be able to stand the clutter, but seriously look how amazing it all looks

very practical and pretty

i love the ornaments hanging off the chandelier

we hope to be putting up our chandelier soon

love the shots of hot pink throughout

wakes up the pastels a bit more

this year is completely a toss-up with my Chirstmas decor

i have lots of different colors of ornaments slowly collected

but still not sure what direction i want to take

maybe ill just pile everything all on and see what looks good together

but a pastel Christmas would be just lovely don't you think?

aren't these photos just dreamy?

they are from the lovely blog alkemie

my new favorite blog read

what are your Christmas decor plans?

pumpkin spice hot chocolate

2011-10-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

via cookies and cups

i have had a very strong craving for pumpkin chocolate cookies, then i thought to myself what about pumpkin hot chocolate? ooooh. when i googled pumpkin hot chocolate i came across this recipe and a fun blog called cookies and cups. super cute name. can't wait to try this out! maybe i will make it as i wait for trick or treaters tonight.

a pet peeve i wanted to discuss: teenagers trick or treating without a costume. WHY?! if you are going to go trick or treating you should wear a good costume! thoughts on this? i wanted to hand out apples to those teens who failed to dress appropriately, but ry said we better not or else we might get egged or TPeed. fabulous.

update on morning sickness: it is getting better, but sometimes i still get quite sick with nausea. funny how the only thing that will make you feel better is food when food is what you want to run away from. i crave menchies frozen yogurt with strawberry crunches. wowie. ry and i went to menchies for the first time friday night and im in love. its just super cute. my favorite flavor? peanut butter and the tart original. not that great together, but so good by themselves. ry and i don't eat a lot of sugar (besides with this pregnancy lol) so when we go out to frozen yogurt we share a cup and only put a bit of each flavor that appeals to us. maybe people think we are weird but i suppose its better for us and less expensive. win-win.

hope you try out this hot chocolate! im planning on it :)

2 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup hot cocoa mix (no marshmallows)
1/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
whipped cream or marshmallows optional

In a medium sauce pan over medium low heat whisk together your milk and hot cocoa mix.
Add your canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.
Heat until desired temperature is reached.
Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and/or marshmallows and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Number of servings (yield): 3

wishing you happy halloween and sweet dreams

2011-10-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

via pinterest

have a happy weekend and a happy halloween too

don't forget your teddy bear before drifting off to sleep :)

things i have learned: gardening

2011-10-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

via google images
this post is for my friend D

ry and i were blessed to have moved into our house right before spring; a great time to start our first garden. i think we went a little crazy. at one point i think we had 18 tomato plants growing. yikes. here is what i learned this year...

tomatoes:

so we started with 18 but only 10 made it because they either:

a. died

b. we did not transplant them from their little container to the ground fast enough

c. not enough water

d. we let some die because it is a bit crazy to have 18 tomato plants

we had a couple of varieties. here are some that i can remember off the top of my head:

~ sweet 100: this variety gets huge. i wish i didn't have just one cage but two or three. SO MANY cherry tomatoes. it was so awesome. give this one plenty of room.

~ mr. stripey: heirloom tomato. took a long time to grow! but once they did they are so gorgeous and delicious.

~ cherokee purple: a fun different tomato. also heirloom. wanted to try this one out for variety. ill grow it again.

~ yellow pear: the only one that survived from seed. my golden plant. so beautiful and strong. i highly recommend growing this. its great for salads.

~ celebrity: so red and beautiful. when they ripen they are just amazing! the classic tomato in my opinion.

~ early girl: a fast growing tomato and it gets pretty big. give this one some space.

tomatoes overall:

- please buy cages. i think they are a necessity for tomatoes.

- for the first couple of months i used pesticide (i know i know- shame on you chloe for not going organic) but seriously people. i hate bugs. especially when they eat my precious tomato plants. after the first few months i stopped and found that they grew into beautiful, yummy and bug-free tomatoes.

- be adventurous in your choices. pick a variety that might sound a little weird to you; you never know, it might become your new favorite.

- not a canner? never fear, your freezer is here (so cheesy i know)

- share. you will get plenty of tomatoes. don't have them go to waste!

bell peppers:

tragic story here folks. we got lots of gorgeous bell peppers in hues of orange, yellow, green and red, but the problem? they rotted. why? no cages!!! be sure to get your bell peppers cages so that they can grow properly.

the only ones that we got to savor was a few green bell peppers and mini red bell peppers. the mini red bell peppers are lighter than their normal sized counterparts and only needed a stake to hold them upright.

there is a beautiful yellow bell pepper staring at me from the garden, unfortunately its rotten on one side but its absolutely beautiful yellow otherwise.

totally trying again next year. the mini red bell peppers were a joy. so cute you don't want to eat them, but you get over that and eat them anyways.

hot peppers:

we grew the super chili variety. super spicy! it was fantastic. this plant stayed pretty small but still had quite a high yield. so worth it. ry harvested the last batch and im looking forward to making a mini wreath of them to hang in my kitchen. festive.

herbs:

~ chocolate mint: see mint post

~ regular mint: see mint post

~ rosemary: took a little while to establish its roots. i wish i had planted this one in the ground, but planted it in a pot because i wanted to bring it inside for the winter- it makes the house smell pretty lovely. maybe ill plant two next year- one in a pot and another in the ground. glad i just bought the plant and didn't try to start from seed. i have heard that can be quite difficult to sprout.

~ pineapple sage: smells divine. a perennial and when it gets larger it produces red flowers that attract hummingbirds and honey bees to your garden. win-win. i have it along my back fence- i hope it gets huge in the coming years.

~ flat leaf parsely: another perennial. grew this one in the ground and it did very well in a partial shade environment.

~basil: should have planted this one in the ground. it is not a perennial, but i have heard it does a good job of spreading seeds around so that you don't have to re-plant. next year i hope to plant large quantities. pesto anyone? one plant was not enough for me.

tomatillos:

great for salsas and enchiladas. so yummy.

~ regular tomatillo: a larger variety. do not plant in a pot- if you do make sure it is a very big pot. i started it in a gallon sized pot and it was not doing too well. once it was transferred into the ground it did great!

~ mini yellow tomatillos: very cute plant. like mini paper lanterns. this will yield A LOT of mini tomatillos. it does not grow up but sideways. try to give it more horizontal space.

onions:

~ walla walla: fun to say and so much fun to grow. see some pictures here. we shared lots with friends and neighbors and i have a few to store- they store great when kept out of sunlight. they are really flavorful and juicy.

~ green onions: took a long time to grow. i got a little annoyed at one point because i kept waiting for them to jump out of the dirt. nope, it takes awhile. next year i will start planting these even with a little snow on the ground.

root veggies:

~ beets: embrace your inner dwight schrute. bears, beets, battlestar galactica. if you don't like eating beets then of course don't grow them, but i enjoy them roasted alongside butternut squash. yum.

~ white icicle radish: so pretty. the only bummer? i don't know how to cook these specific turnips. we ate it raw with salad dressing. quite zesty and spicy. if you want a less spicy radish be sure to water it plenty. just found out it is similar to a daikon radish- next year i will attempt to make Chinese turnip cake (a childhood fave).

~ english radish: great roasted and in salads. and the red is a nice pop of color in the garden dirt.

~ globe purple turnip: eye-catching purple tops. these were good in salads. would love more turnip cooking ideas!

winter squash:

water them A LOT (don't get too crazy of course). during the heat of the summer, we wished that in addition to being watered by the sprinklers twice a day we should have also done a leaker hose in the morning for a water boost before midday sun.

~ french pumpkins (aka fairytale pumpkins): so romantic looking. no wonder they are called fairytale pumpkins! we got two. funny story though. we had a few days where we were bombarded by lots and lots of rain. guess what happened? we counted 7 baby pumpkins starting to grow. more water hint hint!

~ butternut squash: received 4 from 2 plants. they just needed more water! a shame since these are my favorite squash and they store well for the winter. we already enjoyed them to welcome the season of fall. next year i hope to have different results!

~ giant pumpkin: NO YIELD! sad i know. i think it was a combination of not enough water and not planting early enough. next year we shall try again!

to wrap it up:

this year was great and i hope to improve on lots of things next year. my first trimester happened at the peak of harvest- i wish i craved veggies! sadly, i didn't. i know the garden would have been even more of a success had my morning sickness been less, but we didn't care. baby is worth it :)

hope this has been helpful for you! let me know in the comments below if you have any questions. i hope i can be helpful!

to end here are some tidbits from the hubs...

ry's comments:

- figure out how to get rid of the pests asap

- don't be afraid to start early

- pumpkins & winter squashes need A LOT of water

- try to grow plants that are more difficult to find in grocery markets (more fun and variety)

- don't be afraid to just dive in a try to grow something new

- a single tomato plant produces a lot of tomatoes

- fertilizer does wonders for grass; be sure to water it a lot after fertilizing

- careful with those cherries your neighbor lets you pick; there might be bugs galore inside

- gardening is good for the soul

pastel party favors

2011-10-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

via such pretty things

with halloween coming around the corner ive started thinking about candy

this is our first year we might actually get trick or treaters

need to prepare!

ive never loved the super bright and garish candy packaging colors out there but seeing these pretty pastel candies gave me some ideas. probably not for halloween but for a party or bridal shower in the future.

more info on the clear boxes here

a craving for pumpkin

2011-10-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

via a cozy kitchen

spotted these pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes on a cozy kitchen and now im really really hungry.

sunday ry made some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and they were wonderful. im wondering if

there is a pumpkin spice hot chocolate that could be made...ill google it!

inspiring stuff

2011-10-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

via the beautiful blog simply me

one day i would love to live as tausha does (simply me blogger). her house is so dreamy!

she is a very talented home decorator and stylist.

the morning sickness is still hanging around but luckily it is not nearly as bad as in the first trimester- waiting for the energy boost to kick in sometime soon! the nursery is slowly getting cleared out. after catching a few minutes of the a&e show hoarders, my inner pack-rat freaked out and i am looking forward to tossing out more stuff- difficult but seriously not cool when you are trying to make a peaceful home.

we are hoping to find out the gender of baby next week sometime! so exciting. it will make it easier for me to pick and choose from my existing decor how to style the nursery. i feel like the nursery will not really be "decorated" for awhile but i think i know what direction i want to go.

im excited to start reading the maze runner

a recommendation from my friend K

isn't this a dreamy bed?

happy tuesday friends!

october faves

2011-10-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

via

01. white pumpkin table settings

02. giada's chicken carbonara- creamy, yummy and easy to make!

03. marta's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies- easy and perfect for the season

04. rediscovering the slow cooker- hallelujahs all around!

05. painting my nails mindnight in nyc by sally hansen- black with subtle sparkle

06. some house renovation during Thanksgiving week- excited

07. a great talk about choices

08. planing out our family den and guest room

09. silk nog

10. looking forward to finding out baby's gender

shabby chic dining

2011-10-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

sharon osbourne's dining room via shabby chic

a great blend of shabby and chic

love the tiffany blue peaking in the back with the drapes

lisa vanderpump's dining room from a touch of luxe

can you imagine it overflowing with light pink roses everywhere?

so pretty!

ruffled tablecloth via shabby chic couture

ruffles are my favorite

so girly and so over-the-top

looking forward to buying vintage china and using it daily

maybe i should wait till the kiddos get older?

ill think about it :)

modern storybook posters

2011-10-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

i am definitely not a minimalist but after seeing these posters on a cup of jo yesterday i wanted to decorate minimalist in my nursery (most likely will not happen- i like frilly things way too much)

aren't they adorable?

i would still like to incorporate one into my decor somehow

more here

which story for a boy and which for a girl?

maybe the three little pigs for a boy

and the princess and the pea for a girl?

oh too much fun!

treat yo self

2011-10-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

giant paper roses from rachel ashwell shabby chic shop

dreamy aren't they?

if we have a girl i would love to make a few and hang them in a corner of her room

even if she ends up hating pink, hello kitty and ruffles- she has no choice in her early years ;)

via google images

did you watch the most recent parks and recreation episode?

perhaps my favorite one

"treat yo self" made me laugh so much

a great moment in the midst of morning sickness

how did i treat myself?

i ate a slice of caramel apple dipped in walnuts and toffee

YUM

menu for the week

2011-10-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

the pioneer woman's chicken tortilla soup

pretty huh?

monday: chicken tortilla soup- its soup season!
tuesday: spaghetti aglio olio and roasted veggies- you must like anchovies for this one, so yum
wednesday: baked rigatoni with bechamel sauce- luscious and indulgent pasta bake
thursday: black beans and rice- first time trying this one out, ill let you know how it goes
friday: chicken carbonara- another recipe im trying out for the first time, looks super good
saturday: meatloaf, peas and rice- not sure if i should try this one or this one
sunday: white chicken chili from our best bites

wish i could tell you one of those days is a "leftover" day but i have had quite the appetite and eating more than i thought i would! yikes! im so grateful that the morning sickness has been slowly ebbing away. its either im sick in the morning or sick in the afternoon/evening, but thankfully not the all day sickness that i have been experiencing for the past couple months. looking forward to rekindling a relationship with food!

dream house decor

2011-10-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite blogs to get design inspiration is 6th Street Design School

last week kirsten featured pictures from the blog dear lillie

this is pretty much my dream decor

love it!!!

since i like so many different colors i get a little "stuck" when it comes to picking and sticking to a palette

then i end up choosing more neutral tones where i can add or subtract color whenever i want

what do you think?

all from the beautiful blog dear lillie

candle issues solved

2011-10-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

ever have this problem?

where your candle "tunnels" and doesn't burn evenly?

it bugs me like crazy

via

if burned properly a candle should look like the above photo

evenly burned all the way down

no tunneling= no wasted wax

the candle right before i threw it away

it could not be lit anymore

the label says it gives about 40-65 hours

and im pretty sure i got about 60ish hours out of this candle

(awesome!)

recently

i opened up a new candle and started the "initial burn"

the initial burn means that you need to burn the candle 1 hour for every inch of diameter the candle is

example: if your candle measures 5 inches (across the top) then the initial burn should be 5 hours

after that initial burn you can burn the candle for smaller amounts of time and it should burn evenly from there

so back to my story,

i opened up acorn and fig and started to burn it in the living room (away from drafts and flammable stuff)

unfortunately with my morning sickness i had to retreat for a nap upstairs

ry (not knowing about this initial burn) blew out the candle and made it "uneven" since it didn't burn all the way to the edge!

i was upset haha (blame the pregnancy hormones)

but luckily we found a solution to get the candle back on track

we had to waste a little wax upfront but its still a lot less wax than if i kept burning it and let the tunnel keep growing

do you see the uneven edging? the beginning of the tunnel?

1. get out a small knife. (i used a lemon zester) carve away the higher edges

2. continue to carve away until it is all even

3. ta-da! when this is done, burn the candle again as if this was the initial burn all over again

4. you might see some edges that do not melt and are higher

5. when the candle is done with the time of the initial burn let it cool

6. carve the higher areas away with knife or zester

7. burn again and it should be even!

hope this helps!

fall is here

2011-10-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

butternut squash harvested from the garden

made a fantastic soup!

the cutest goodie bag from craft night at my friend K's house

candy corn!

i dont want to open it because the shape of the purse is so cute

mini pumpkins with long stems

pumpkin sign is up

sweet cinnamon pumpkin handwash and lotion

i love it when the lotion matches

acorn centerpiece for living room

so petite and fun

i was tempted to go harvest some acorns in the woods but the morning sickness got the better of me and i decided fake was a great way to go for now

the glitter on the top of the acorns makes me happy too :)

happy autumn!

have a great weekend

vintage beaded earrings

2011-10-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

via

long beaded teardrop earrings

so pretty!

i love how vintage they look

and the blue and silver-black is a nice departure from the typical gold i love

best part?

the price

$5.80

check out your local forever 21 to see if they got em!

happiness all around

2011-10-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

via

a very faint pink line

tested on the night of our 3 year anniversary

ry and i are so happy to announce that we are expecting!

due date is the beginning of April according to the Doctor

the year of the dragon!

just like mommy :)

having two dragons in the house a good or bad thing?

haha time will tell

we are thrilled/excited/scared

girl or boy?

i have been craving meat all the time

so my guess is a boy

which would be wonderful since there are no boys to prolong the family name yet

and there is a lot of female energy in my family (more men in ry's family)

it would be a good balance

again, we are thrilled and can't wait to meet baby ball

looking forward to finding out the gender

year round wreath

2011-10-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

happy friday to you!

im thinking about a year round wreath for after Christmas

on my most recent trip to taipan trading i snapped some photos of a wreath that could be cute for year round

the back of the wreath

do you think it could be easy to re-create?

front of wreath

cute and simple

i didn't want to spend $75+ for a wreath from taipan

even though they are really pretty

wonder how much it would be for me to make it myself?

or maybe ill beg for it on my Christmas list ;)

save me the trouble haha

autumn mantle decor

2011-10-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

new decor for fall

yippee!

i added some decorative fall berries to the greenery

covered up the vase with autumn themed paper

and added a silk orange bow

in the clear apothecary jars

i switched it up with pine cones and some mini pumpkins

when thanksgiving is over ill just remove the pumpkins to make it more winter-y

last garden harvest

2011-10-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

french pumpkins!!!

we were blessed with 3

the third one is still growing

this one weighs about 20 pounds!

this one is about 15 pounds!

really small butternut squashes!

cute

strange twisted turnips!

thank you steve

2011-10-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

steve jobs

1955 - 2011

the golden snitch ornament

2011-10-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

source pinterest

isn't this golden snitch ornament genius?

i am looking forward to making this for our tree!

how to here

my chicken salad

2011-10-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

one of my favorites

ingredients:

roasted chicken

real mayo (or veganaise)

mustard

salt and pepper

lemon juice

grapes (optional)

celery

dill (one of those herbs you either love or hate- i LOVE)

so good! roasted chicken is key- the flavors seemed more developed versus boiling chicken. however, last week my friend S made me some chicken salad with chicken boiled and it was very good too. whatever works for you! i love making this as a leftover to roasted chicken.

watch this video by barefoot contessa- her chicken salad looks so tasty!

happy monday!

2011-10-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

its october! oh my goodness i can hardly wait for halloween. what candy should i get for the neighborhood kids? i was joking with ry that i would buy apples for the teenagers who did not dress up but still trick or treat- if you are going to trick or treat at least show up in costumes!

i don't think we are dressing up this year even though it would be fun. ry is not into dressing up until little ones come along- then i will probably gently force him :)

costume details here

we watched labyrinth saturday night

its a favorite fall/halloweenish movie

how cute is that costume? pretty spot on too!

conference weekend!

2011-09-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

blue hydrangeas from early summer

a late blog post

happy friday to you!

have a great weekend- im looking forward to General Conference

to me General Conference seems to mark the start of fall

the weather gets cooler, i start baking again and the holiday decor comes out

its simply my fave

good reads: home economics vintage advice and practical science for the 21st century household

2011-09-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

such a cute book

some might argue a little too old-fashioned

but cute nonetheless

a fun housewarming gift

i love the vintage illustrations

the advice is good but nothing was extremely stand-outish

still a fun read to brush up on the oldie but goodie ways of running a household

great reminders for ways of cleaning and home-hunting

a few reminders are nice every once in a while

festive necklace

2011-09-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

more info here

bamboleo necklace

isn't it pretty? im drooling

its a lot

but i like it :)

bath and body works candles for fall and winter

2011-09-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

in my opinon, Slatkin & CO. candles sold at bath and body works are the best! the 3-wick ones especially- they are so strong and the scents they come out with are fantastic.

leaves

perhaps my most favorite candle of them all!

it just smells of fall and if it was seasonally appropriate i would burn this all year round. in fact, maybe i will!

months i like to burn it: september, october, november, early december

bbw description: Autumnal notes of golden nectar, juicy mandarin and red delicious apple are paired with toasted cinnamon stick, mulled cider spices and freshly harvested red berries.

acorn and fig

the salesman recommended it to me. he loved it because it is unique, more on the masculine side and just smells like going on a hike. i agree! it is a great fall fragrance that is a nice departure from the more generic (but still lovely) pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla and apple-style mixes.

months i am planning on burning it: october, november, early december

bbw description: A medley of fresh apricot, juicy pear and fig blended with fresh cut Birchwood and creamy sandalwood.

marshmallow fireside

okay- doesn't it just sound wonderful? marshmallow fireside. yum. it smells pretty divine and now im wishing that i stocked up with more. typically i am not a fan of sweet fragrances, but this scent is not too sweet. the fireside part counters the sweetness just right.

months im planning on burning it: october, november, december

bbw description: Toasted marshmallows and sweet vanilla cream wrapped in the aroma of rich smoldering woods.

fresh balsam

this is our first Christmas in a house! which means our first Christmas tree! we have a fake one that we are super excited to put up but nothing beats the smell of a real Christmas tree. so as a pretty great substitute this fresh balsam candle will be burned throughout the holiday season. it smells fantastic! so-piney!

months im planning on burning it: december

bbw description: Crisp, clean balsam fir blends delightfully with fresh eucalyptus and sweet pine and layered with notes of bright apple, cedarwood and musk.

the winter candle selections have not come yet, but i can't wait! like i mentioned earlier, i typically don't like sweet sweet scents, but the mint chocolate and hot chocolate candles were tempting me greatly. ry was proud i did not give in- he is not a fan of sugar!

shopping tip: wait for the 2 for $20 candle sale. they happen every so often- sign up for their emails so you get the notification in your inbox!

taking a nap

2011-09-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

hey everyone,

i have been feeling under the weather (unfortunately that collided with my birthday) and hope to be resting for the end of this week and this weekend. birthday postponed!

any fun plans? i hope you do! im living vicariously through you. be brave and do something different. i will be drinking herbal tea and vitamin c supplements while watching some tv shows and movies. ooh! i stumbled upon this list of family halloween movies; can't wait to watch em! i've never been a fan of really scary movies- just never a good thing in my opinion. the family options are what my siblings and i grew up with and loved.

im looking forward to apple cider, pumpkin cinnamon pancakes, wrapping Christmas presents (never too early), holiday baking, halloween, pumpkins everywhere (in my garden too), the fall air and heartier meals (mmmm so yummy).

fall is simply the best!

love,

chloe

23

2011-09-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

via pinterest

can't believe a year has gone by already

it has been such an eventful one!

i feel so blessed and happy with everyting

no way to really express it in words

its a happy happy birthday!

reminiscing on past birthdays

i remember the movie Pocahontas coming out just as summer was starting

my dad took me and my brother and sister to go see it at night

a non-matinee showing- we felt so grown-up

i remember one of the birthday cakes my mom had made for me

it was my 7th birthday

it was a pretty simple cake but it had a screen print of Pocahontas on it

she is my favorite Disney princess

mom also bought some plastic feathers with ribbons that clipped into my hair

for the full effect :)

my favorite song from the movie is Just Around the River Bend

just hearing it again makes me want to find those plastic feathers with ribbons

and sing once more to celebrate my birthday

its my party and ill cry if i want to

2011-09-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

via pinterest

my birthday is tomorrow

wondering what the plans are?

i have no idea!!!

but i do hope it involves:

01. fizzy drinks

02. yum food- homemade peach jam from my sweet neighbor

03. a present? we shall see

04. reading Japanese fashion magazines from my friend L

05. organizing spare room(s)

however, today im going to be cleaning! whew- hope i can get as much done as i can.

french toast & pancakes together

2011-09-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

recipe here

over on tasty kitchen, this recipe caught my eye.

isn't it lovely?

happy monday to you!

23rd birthday wishlist

2011-09-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

dreamland:

pretty tassel garland

with this its my birthday everyday :)

$130

oh yummy pasta goodness

kitchenaid pasta press attachment $180

Coach Poppy Pushlock tote

pink and practical!

$398 (yea- ouch)

jessica simpson frenchi shoes

not practical i understand but quite cute

$110

reality:

the pioneer woman cooks

$18

our best bites

$16

maybe something from tai pan?

$??

i would love to go to menchies! never been! it looks so cute!

in-n-out gift certificates

so so good!

$??

i could seriously use one of these. drinking water is more of a chore for me- not good for the complexion!

but i heard nice waterbottles help

$??

this year i feel like my wishlist is relatively simple no?

hope you have a happy weekend filled with walking about in the fall air and prepping for the busy season to come.

freezable make-ahead recipes

2011-09-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

pot sticker dumplings and soy-vinegar sauce

one of my favorite snack/side dish foods

not to say this can't be the star in a meal

ry loves em

i make mine with pork, but this turkey variation looks good too!

recipe here

savory chicken pocket pies

a great "to-go" food

have not tried it yet

but im looking forward to it!

recipe here

profiteroles

do i need to explain these?

recipe here

all three are from lucinda scala quinn (mad hungry)

i adore her!

need to get her cookbook...birthday gift?

how-to video for all three here

gardening

2011-09-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

our first walla walla onion!

our first red carrot

turnip that looks like a butt!

twin tomato!

so much fruit it is falling over

pretty

sunflower

super tall!

missoni for target haul

2011-09-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

so it was crazier than i expected

there were women with carts not just full but overflowing

not exaggerating here

overflowing with missoni for target

i was bummed that i didnt get to see any of the home decor, hosiery and the complete hair clip collection

but snooze you loose i guess

30 minutes late is late!

but luckily i was able to snag a few fun hair accessories

bobby pins & barrettes

fun for my new short hair

happy early birthday to me!

did you snag any items? were you one of those "overflowing cart" ladies? if so i would love to come over and see what you got since i have no idea what anything looked like!

tangled mess

2011-09-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

this song has been stuck in my head since i first saw this movie

i love it

when i think of tangles i think of the mess in my house, spaghetti, play dough and hair

today is a busy day filled with more attempts at arranging the casual living room

vacuuming (my least favorite chore)

and doing piles and piles of laundry

hope you have a happy busy tuesday!

*went to target this morning for the Missoni collection- i saw 3 ladies with their carts not just full but exploding with Missoni goodness- guess i should have woken up earlier!

halloween mantle decor

2011-09-12T07:08:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite things about our house is the fireplace

a wood-burning fireplace

(good and bad thing)

but for decorating its so much fun!

i know i know

i have not revealed the living room to you yet

no worries its comin'

for now

here are some fireplace halloween decorations that caught my eye

i cant wait to try some out for fall!

via

special fall days

2011-09-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

via

even though its sad to see summer fly away so soon

fall is so exciting!

i subscribed to Martha about a month ago

still waiting for my first issue in the mail...

i can't wait for halloween, thanksgiving and Christmas

im getting goosebumps just thinking about it

Christmas tends to be the one holiday that soaks up my time and squeezes my wallet

but it really ends up being worth it :)

another exciting thing is that its my birthday this month

for the first time ever

i am not too excited about celebrating it

maybe with all the house changes going on

im too distracted?

nah! it can't be

next week i hope to post my fun wish list

full of impractical things that i would hope to receive

if money was no object

those are the best lists in my opinion

hope you have a happy and fulfilling weekend!

enjoy the sunshine and your garden bounty if you planted this year!

mid-august family visit

2011-09-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

nana picking tomatoes

the sweet 100 plant has been giving lots of tomatoes!

my mom's old chandelier

she painted it for me

and dad decided to take a nap

an aqua blue color

super pretty

can't wait to hang it in the dining room

pizzas from the salt lake city farmers market