:: Giveaway Results - mikarose

And the winner of the Mikarose $50 giveaway is . . . 

Michael Corrigan

Congrats, Michael (and his lucky wife).  

Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway!

:: Father's Day - past projects

Father's Day is quickly approaching.
Trying to decide what to make for the fathers in your life?

Here are some projects that we've done in the past:

Father's Day Mug

{make sure you read the updated instructions}

 Father's Day "Pop"

And check out my Father's Day Board here on Pinterest.

:: Child Activities - marsh-picks

One thing my girls love doing is creating with marshmallows and toothpicks.

I saw a friend do it with her kids on instagram and immediately wanted to try it.

We had toothpicks and marshmallows on hand, 

so I gave them to the girls and let their imaginations run wild.

Well, Reese was just into eating them, but Ava was pretty creative.

Do you see her giraffe below?

We decided that we'd call it marsh-picks.

Don't forget about the Mikarose Dress Giveaway.  Ends Friday!

:: Dress Review and Giveaway - mikarose

About a month ago, it was my first time back to church since having Anson.

  I remember that morning just standing in my closet with all my dresses in front of me. 

I was trying to figure out what I could wear 

that would be comfortable, stylish, and nursing friendly.  

I seriously think I stood there for 10-15 minutes, just thinking.

 I hope I'm not the only one that does this. . . . .

Well, that next week I was excited to learn that I'd be reviewing a dress from Mikarose.

  A dress that would be perfect to wear for those nursing mamas like me.

Mikarose is a company that focuses on creating modest clothing.

Clothing that can be worn while pregnant, nursing, and after.
And these dresses are made for everyone.
They come in size 0 - 2XL.

Below, I'm pictured wearing the Avery dress.

The button down front makes it easy to nurse while you're not in the comfort of your own home.
And this fabric was a little stretchy, which is always nice after you've just had a baby.
Go here to see those dresses that would be perfect during your pregnancy or while nursing.

And if you're not pregnant or nursing, here are some other dresses I love:  Irene, Isabel, and Jackie

And Mikarose is offering one of my readers $50 credit to their shop!  Yay!

Enter below.
{open to US and Canada residents;  giveaway ends on 5/31}

a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway

:: Embrace the Camera - 05.23.13

A few weeks ago, Anson was given a name and a blessing by Tommy.

It was such a beautiful blessing.

 We blessed him in Vegas and were joined by many family and friends

who took part in this special day.

Anson is one special little boy.

:: Food - old fashioned apricot cobbler

This is one dessert that we ate almost every Sunday evening growing up
 or maybe it just seemed like it.
We would pick the apricots, then we'd usually watch my mother bottle them, and I think
almost all seven of us (yep, I'm one of seven!) learned how to make it.
Whenever we go to my parent's home, we try to sneak a few bottled apricots so that we can make this.
Looks like I need to learn how to bottle them myself!

Apricot Cobbler

1/2 c. butter or margarine

1 1/2 c. milk

2 c. flour

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 T. baking powder

1 quart of bottled apricots

1.  Melt butter in 9x13 inch pan.

2.  Add milk to pan.

3.  Stir in with fork or whisk, flour, sugar, and baking powder.

4.  Empty apricots including liquid over top of batter.  Do not stir.  If needed place apricot chunks in places without.

5.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  

This is really tasty with vanilla ice cream.  Yum.

:: 35 before 35 - #26

A few months ago (right before I had the baby), 

I was able to cross another off of my "35 before 35" list.

I completed #26.

To have a girls weekend with my sisters.

We aren't all together very often, so this was special.

We were celebrating my sister's 40th birthday and we surprised her

with a getaway to a beach house at Newport Beach.

We all had so much fun!

And luckily, my mother and sister-in-law, Heather were able to meet up with us.

The weekend was filled with pedicures, temple going, eating out . . . a lot,

a surprise birthday party, and a fun gondola ride.

So grateful for these women in my life and for this time that I was able to spend with them.

AND . . . so grateful I didn't go into labor.

That could've been interesting.

:: Family Happenings - locks of love donation

Last month we decided to cut little miss Ava's hair.
We have NEVER cut it (besides trimming her bangs).
It just grew into natural layers.
She wasn't exactly fond of us brushing her hair . . . and she would make it known.
So this is the reason why.

We had it cut, she loved it, and we loved it.
I decided to document it by making a very CHEESY video of it.
{that you can see below}
She even decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love.

:: Be Crafty Workshop

I'm very excited to be going to this "Be Crafty Workshop" on Saturday!

Care to join me?

If so, go here to sign up!

:: To Every Mother

I hope that all of you mothers, aunts, sisters, grandmothers, etc  have a wonderful Mother's Day!
And that you get breakfast in bed, handmade cards, and kisses from your loved ones.

I have been so blessed to have a wonderful mother, a gracious mother-in-law and amazing grandmothers.
And to be a mother myself.  It truly is a dream come true.
So grateful to be a mother.
Happy Mother's Day!

:: Parties - gender reveal

Last week my sister and her family found out what their third child would be.

And it's a boy!!!

The ultrasound technician had texted me that morning and I started making the "gender reveal" cake.

We live about 45 minutes from each other, so we met in the middle and had dinner at a park.

It was a fun way to involve their children and they were so excited.

And so were the other people at the park!

(which might have to do with us sharing the cake with them)

We'll  definitely have to do this with our next one.

:: Mother's Day

This was given to me by Ava a few years ago for Mother's Day.

And I still have it on our fridge.  Love her tiny hands.

It's been pinned quite a few times on pinterest so I thought I'd post it again,

if you need something to do last minute.

This year we're just giving Shutterfly cards from Anson's newborn sibling photoshoot

and potted flowers to their grandmothers.

What will you be giving to your mother's/grandmothers?

:: Embrace the Camera 05.02.13

We're embracing the camera today on Photo Booth again.

The girls love playing with this camera on the mac.

Anson is now 7 weeks and cracking smiles every once in awhile.

Reese has become my dancing, singing, defiant child.

Ava is my big helper that likes to whine at times.

Loving these children of mine.