Celebrate!

Sloane turned 1 year old on 11/29.  We had a birthday party for her over Thanksgiving weekend.  I went with an owl theme...they are so cute!

Invites

My sister made owl cupcakes and a cake

I had a mask and tiara decorating area

 Davis and Sloane

 I purchased little felt owl ornaments from Etsy for each guest to take home and put on their Christmas tree

Sloane with her Great Grammy

 sloane enjoying her cupcake

Still here?

** I started this post on 12/12...where has the time gone?**

I've had some people tell me I need to update my blog...and I agree!  I used to love blogging and would see so many opportunities to blog about...then we had another kid and we moved and my poor, poor sewing machine has remained in its box.  You see...I would blog a whole lot more if I felt like I had some beautiful things (besides my kids of course) to show you and right now I don't. 

Maybe I need to make some room for my sewing machine and get back in the game!  Until then, I need to update you on Sloane's 11 month picture.

This was taken in October!  Since then B and I went away to San Fran to watch the Ducks play Stanford.  We stayed in the City and enjoyed some great downtime, great food, and some fun in Napa!  It was our first time to Napa and we loved it.  We even joined the Chandon wine club.  Our first shipment arrived last week:

 

Sloane is now 1 year old!  I will update soon with her birthday pics.  We recently got a Mac and I have my pics split between this computer and the mac....basically I'm unoranized with my pictures and desperately needing to get it together.  I'm on Sabattical the end of January so that seems like a perfect time to me.

2 more months & CL goodness

2 more months of washing bottles!  Sloane just turned 10 months.  I realize she will still have a bottle before bed for awhile, but I'm really hoping she will be done with bottles throughout the day shortly after she turns 1. 

She is cruising!  Pulling herself up on everything and wishing she could walk around like the rest of us.  She'll be there before she knows it.  Yes, we keep asking ourselves if we should have another...whats this crazy talk you ask me?!  And from ME?! I know....we most likely won't, but we do play the 'what if/should we' game quite often. 

And here is another Before/After from my Craigslist purchases.  I wish I had thought to take a better before picture...but you get the gist.  We bought these Bella Casa chairs from an adorable couple in LO.  160 for all 4 chairs...with a little bit of lovin' these suckers came out HOT!  I love them.

Another!

One of my BF's turned me on to a great new cookbook, Peas and Thank You.

When I got it, I dogeared alot of pages.  I have been wanting some meatless meal ideas to mix in so I figured I'd try one while B was out of town..just in case.

First up...Spanish Quinoa.  Not only was it easy, but it was delicious.  Not sure I'll cook Spanish Rice again.  Instead of making something to go with it, I added cheese, black beans, tomatoes, olives, avacado and a little sour cream.  Kind of reminded me of a spanish Yum bowl.  It was sooo tasty and easy.  Just my style.

Spanish Quinoa

[Peas and Thank You]

I don't love the picture on her website, but check out the book.  You'll love it.

Serious Goodness!

My girlfriend turned me onto a new food blog...Food 52.  I tried a recipe tonight after the kids went to bed and I just had to share it with you all.  Its delicious.

One Pot Kale and Quinoa Pilaf

[Food 52]

I didn't have walnut oil and I only had a regular lemon.  Didn't matter one bit.  Still delicous and healthy.  B is in China..again, so I ate it as my dinner.  I guess if he had been in town I might have added a little bit of meat to it. 

Go on, don't let the greens scare you ;) 

Before & After

I have alot of "Before & Afters" with this new house.  I'll start working on them.  First up, is a chair that I found on Craigslist.  Ok, lets be honest for a minute...I hadn't thought to look on Craigslist. Shame on me.  But I have someone helping me with the house on a few things because I'm a bit short on time these days.  I fell in love with this style of chair at Mitchell Gold and a few other fine establishments.  Little did I know I could find it on CL for 75.00!!! 

We had a campout last month...in the backyard! Tent and all.  It was so much fun, and Davis did great.  Can't wait for the real thing someday.

And of course, Baloney turned 9 months!

Life is good :)

I was told..

that I needed a blog intervention.  Its not that I haven't thought about all the things I could blog about:

• the "before" and "after" of my craigslist purchase
• the "before" and "after" of the house rehab
• Sloane 7 month picture (which I didn't even take but thought about it the days around her 7month)
• A few fun excursions
• Girls weekend in CDA

I mentioned I forgot to take Sloane's 7 month picture, but I did happen to snap her looking so stylish in her bathing suit 4th of July weekend!  Ummm yes, that is a one shoulder swim suit with a polka-dot flower...gosh I love having a girl!

And here is Lil' Miss right after she woke up.  She is happy most of the time and she has got a set of lungs on her.  I found myself wondering if I yelled alot while she was in the womb...I figured I must have done something for her to think it is ok to be this loud.

Whats that you say?  You want to see my cute craigslist chair transformation and hear about my girls weekend triathlon?  I'll be back to share...after another intervention :)