Me in Melange

Glamour Rodents

When I tell my friends that I bought the kids two gerbils, the first response I usually get is, "what were you smokin'?"  No one, and I mean no one, has said "hey, that is so cool, I can't wait to meet them!"  Kind of sad for the little critters.

That is right,  gerbils are pretty low on the totem pole of pets.  BUT...they are small, don't smell that bad, and don't bite (unlike their brothers the hamsters).   The girls wanted a puppy, but since that involves considerably more of my energy, gerbils it was. 

The real clincher however, was that when I went to scope them out at the pet store, they had a pretty pink cage.  That is right, a totally pink cage complete with pink paper for their bedding.  Cool right?  I had to get them when I saw that...I mean, they MATCH the playroom, how cute is that?  Signed, {lv}

Meet Rascal and Sneaker....

Biting off more than I could chew...

We are getting ready to change the decor in the store to prepare for the festive holidays ahead.  This year we decided to do something a bit "non-traditional".  We ordered red and white parasols which we are going to hang upside down from the ceiling with lights trailed down the handles.  So we also thought it would be really pretty to hang origami cranes from the ceiling in a "mobile" sort of pattern near each of the parasols.  So, as we are talking this out (Cara & I), I'm thinking to myself...."o.k., got to figure out how to fold a crane, and then I've got to do it quickly because we are going to need a lot of them...." within moments in my brain I had figured out when I could fit it in, and how they were going to look.  Never mind that I have no time, and in my free time the last thing I feel like doing is folding origamil.  So, a couple of days later I decide to "test run" folding an origami crane.  Turns out it isn't that easy (well, that coupled with the fact that I'm a little dim and it was pretty late at night and post-glass of wine).  30 minutes after watching the video on YouTube, I still didn't have the crane completed.

Then I get a wild hair to just check and make sure that I can't somehow buy these little cranes and save myself hours and hours of frustration and paper cuts.  Turns out you CAN buy them, and for $15 I got 100 perfectly folded cranes.  How is that even possible?  And to think, I almost sat up night after night trying to do it all myself.  Moral of the story...SEEK HELP whenever possible! :-)  Don't be a chronic "biter of more than you can chew."

If anyone out there ever needs to buy an abundance of origami cranes I highly recommend this Ebay seller (Avanatgarde789).  Besides being very, VERY affordable, she was the sweetest woman, and even sent a baggy of extra cranes in a variety of beautiful colors (which my girls absolutely LOVE).   I haven't figured out when else I'll need cranes (maybe if someone has a wedding I'll buy 1000 of them for good luck which I think is the tradition right?...at least i won't try to make them)  Signed, ME {lv}

So when am I going to need a winter coat?

I don't know how it has been everywhere else, but fall in the Northwest has been really mild....this past week I haven't need anything more than a cardigan in the morning to keep warm, and most days the sun has peaked out by late afternoon and it is quite lovely.  I've enjoyed getting cozy the few chilly mornings we've had--but I'm sort of wondering what is going to happen...is it actually going to get COLD?  I just selfishly am ready to wear my cozy sweaters and warm jackets. 

So...I was doing a little internet surfing this morning and came across this site, which seemed to have some credible weather predictions. . The upshot is yes, it is going to get cold, especially some places (might be a little milder and dryer here in the Pacific Northwest though).  So I should shut up and enjoy the last few days of mild :-).  GregSimmonsWeatherBlog  Signed, ME {lv} 

Gratitude

Found this link this morning in an email from a store I've purchased invitations from before (Tiny Prints)....thought it was inspiring and wanted to pass it on.  Gratitude Challenge

I decided I am going to pass this link on to a handful of friends, along with the 5 reasons I'm grateful to know them.  Because it is always nice to hear, and it is all too often that we hear only the negative, and not the positive about ourselves!

Have a great Monday everyone!

Signed, LV {lv}

A few things to share....

Since I haven't shared any random personal things lately (o.k., that actually might be a lie, but it FEELS like I haven't so I'm pretending I haven't).....

1.  I have a little melody that I sing to my 20 month old "baby" who has enormous-juicy-jiggly-baby thighs, and it is to the tune of the song, "I like big butts"--I'm sure you all know that dandy diddy from years ago.  So my variation goes, "She has big fat thighs and I can not lie, the other babies can't deny...".  I've been singing it forever to her whenever I get her naked or change her, it kind of cracks me up.  Well, this afternoon while getting ready to go to a dinner, I was changing in my bathroom when my 4 year old came up to me as I stood in my undies doing my makeup.  Next thing I know she is poking and jiggly my thighs and singing that tune.  Let me tell you...NOT NEARLY as cute when you are singing it to a pair of adults thighs :-).

2.  I was at the park today with the kids.  Took them there alone, no plans to meet anyone.  So they are running around, and I'm bored, so I'm texting someone on the Blackberry (this is how I stay in touch without committing the time to an entire phone conversation), and I look up from texting, and notice at least FOUR other moms in the park doing exactly the same thing!  So we were all ignoring our children, and texting on that annoying little crackberry.  My question is, what did mothers do at the park 50 years ago...before cell phones?  Did they actually play with their kids, or just sit and stare lovingly at them?  I vowed to to limit my cell  phone texting activities after that.

3.  I bought the Velvet Clarette one shoulder top today for one of my dearest friends (along with the studded crystal Flynt Seven jeans) and let me tell you, it looks amazing on (she wore it tonight in fact).  It is the perfect going out top...shows a little skin, super flattering, and forward.  My friend likes a fair amount of bling, and I tease her without merci about her "bedazzling days" (which is why I bought her studded jeans, in the hopes she wouldn't try to bedazzle her own).  Her adorable-Justin Timberlake-looking friend (who also happens to be gay) explained his master plan to bedazzle a "w" on a pair of Wranglers.  I think that is a pretty fantastic idea, and he could probably get away with it, in the way that only a great looking, hip, gay man could.  I think most of us have to stick to the studded Seven jeans though, and put the bedazzler away.

 

Signed, ME {lv}

through the looking glass...

just a few blogs back I mentioned 'the september issue'...  well now I cannot wait for this....  Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland!  The official trailer was just released and it looks like a feast for the eyes, and I'm not just talking about Mr. Depp. The big question is whether or not I could get my Lila to nap through a movie, maybe by next spring I'll be comfortable enough to have her stay with a sitter. ;) signed, me {CA}

I'm whose mother?

A traumatic, TRAUMATIC event happened to me today.  I can barely talk about it without feeling a little sick to my stomach.  I accompanied my sister today to the doctor's office.  While we were waiting, a woman (who sat there waiting too) asked if I was there with my DAUGHTER.  Am I  who, huh, what?  That is right, someone mistook ME, at 38, as the MOTHER of my 30 year old sister.  I'm forever traumatized.  The only thing that made me feel slightly better was the woman appeared to be a couple screws loose in general, but who am I kidding...her eyesight might have been just fine.  I also take a little solace in the face that my sister looks freakishly young.  But again, who am I kidding, I should just take it like a woman and stop making excuses.  I might need therapy over this one people.  No joke.  What?  Did someone just say "botox"??  Sign me up for whatever "spring chicken" procedures you have on tap please!  Signed, ME {lv} 

ps.  Clearly I'm going to need to buy myself something new...maybe a pair of those new Seven straight legs and a Stewart + Brown top from tomorrow's shipment.  Let's face it, all I have apparently is the hope of a potentially cute outfit because obviously I don't have raging youth on my side :-).

little stitches...

My mom and I accomplished some craftiness while she was here for her visit, and one of my favorite projects came from this book by Amy Butler...

available here. It's a snuggle blanket... but it's the perfect size for tummy-time on the floor.  (i'll post pics later today of my finished product later today, forgot my digital camera cord at home :( ) The book is full of gorgeous pictures and wonderful projects that range from easy to difficult.  I'm looking forward to practicing my sewing skills and making more keepsakes for Lila... in my 'free time' ;)  signed, me {CA}

lila mckenzie...

I'd like to introduce you guys to my little Lila! :)  She was born on June 21st (daddy's day!!) and weighed in at 8 lbs. 7.5 oz.  She's an absolute doll and of course I'm totally infatuated with her. Today was her first day at work with mommy... she did really well, even got her to model. ;) 

 

I was lucky to have MY mom visit me for the past 2 weeks... she was awesome, totally got me organized, we introduced Lila to one of our favorite pastimes... shopping!  and we even had some fun sewing some things for baby girl.  A true summer staycation, thanks Mom!!  I'll post more pics soon... right now Lila and I are going to go enjoy some sunshine. signed, me {CA}

05.22.09

Last Friday I turned the big 3-0, and I have to say it was one of the best birthdays I've ever had.  My husband got me an amazing new digital camera (right in time, since I'll have a new lil' subject to photograph soon!) and took me out to an orchid farm in Eugene... Briggs Hill Orchids... wall to wall orchids in their greenhouse, it was like heaven for the 2 of us.  Thought I'd share some of my favorites, can you guess which one of these beauties came home with us?

   

Simply gorgeous!  Wish I could have brought them all home.  If you ever find yourself in Eugene, a trip to Briggs is definitely worth the drive (it's a scenic one out bailey hill road).  signed, me {CA}