she did it like this. she did it like that.

she LOVED the new bam pop.she had a ball seeing friends.
she drooled over the new Hambly on the far right.
She did a few make and takes with J.
She loaded up her car with so much crap on the drive home that no passengers would have fit in with her.
That she would be me.

I had such a great weekend as Michelle, not Mommy.

CHa blew my mind especially because I thought it was suppose to be smaller than the summer one.

Silly me.
Tip #1 for next time...

carry camera on shoulder to get more pictures.

Tip#2.

Start saving money pre CHA for all the cool "need to have" products.

Creative Cafe is gonna be cashing in some of my chips for sure.

Sticker tickets...eeks.

Add a little pep to your step.

For the love of sweets, this video is crazy cool.
thanks Aida for sharing it with me.

Tonight I am off to Anaheim for CHA and a few day sleepover at JKL's.
I am prepared to be overwhelmed with scrappy stuff and of course I will come back with updates.
Can hardly wait to see all the new goodies and chat it up.

Happy weekend.

consumed.

Hollywood Sign
Originally uploaded by Floyd B. Bariscale

We have always been a family that enjoys hiking together.
This shall be our frist LA hike.
Getting up to this landmark will be so sweet.
I have been researching and trying to find ways to hike to the best view spot.
From the front. From the back. all around.
so fun.
I'll be sure to post pictures when we get back.

score.

Michelle's mindset.

Visiting a new city for the weekend.

Check their Craigs list free sections.

Hit up the garage sale scene first thing Saturday morning.

So, in old times fashion, I head out early with coffee in hand and Dad and Denise in tow.

We go to a few sales and find those panoramic size photos for 25 cents and then at another stop find that funky curved back chair for 1 dollar.

good? yes.

But I felt like there was something bigger waiting in the wings for us to discover.

and there was.

We found an antique store going out of business and as I walked in slow and stunned like, I turn to my dad and say "now this is my kinda sale."

jackpot.

Filled up the back of my truck with all this and spent only 20 bucks.

Dad wrestled with the big things for a bit and finally got them all shoved in and turned to me with a rolled eyed look and just laughed.

"You know you miss me when i'm not around Dad."

and we drove home.

Great day!

Birthday partying it up.

family time.

bright colors.

happy faces.

presents.

cake.

kids birthdays are the best.

schtuff.

trains. kiddos. sunshine.Final round of a circle journal.
some daily love.
overlooKed subject 1...complete.

its pays to stay up late.

I feel like a teenager who gets all excited when calling a radio station to request a song for the boyfriend.

sidenote. I have done this once to request a song with Delilah and I got to talk to her.

DeeeeeelIIIIIIIlahhhh.

anyway, so I got this email from a band I really enjoy, Let's go Sailing ,saying they were playing on a local indie station here tonight.

So i listened in. They were awesome.

and I called in and won a handmade tote!

so cool.

so fun.
Its the new way to go to concerts for parents when you can't make it for real huh?

Sales make it all better.

2 heapings of free Craigs list
1 part supersale at Urban
6 cups Anthro
1 cup and 2 tsp of Pottery barn.


Mix together with a couple
dashes of cash, a playarea
and Happy Meals and I have
myself a good ole day.

"mama, can we go swim outside now?"

We left our hearts in Kauai.

Some time has passed.
We have lost our tans.
The heater is on in our house.
The ocean water is freezing.
I have not donned my bathing suit in months.
Traffic is crazy.
and yes I could go on, but I am starting to whine.

Don't get me wrong, it could be way worse living than CA but still.
We were totally spoiled.
There is not a day that goes by that we don't say "when are we going back?"
With each passing day it gets closer and closer.
That's the good thing.

One sure fire way to take us there is to blast Jack.
and so that's what we do.
daily.

i'll be damned.

Today is the first morning since I don't know when that I got up and moving before the kids woke up.
just for the record this is HUGE for the not so morning person in me.
Even tiptoed up the stairs to keep quiet.
Hoping to enjoy some Mommy time early before the day gets off and running.
Took a breath of the first sight of sun rising over the mountains and....
in about 2 minutes and 37 seconds I hear little feet coming up the stairs!

what gives?
I guess that is maybe the motivation I needed to try it again huh?

the recap.

Pictured above...
*Anthony ironing while enjoying a view of the Vegas strip. mommy and daddy got a weekend away!!!
* the kids loving having Lito and Lita wrapped around their fingers for a week.
* Olivia and Kyan loved putting together our Valentines Day tree thanks to project 52
* finally finishing up on some projects that I got in way over my head on.
* the Long Beach Swap Meet is as cool as rumored.




Pictures were not taken when I...
*met up with this girl who is super cool!
*got rear ended.
*attended a Pre deployment meeting.
*saw the Bee Movie with the kids.


A week in the life of us i suppose.

our go to dinner.

so easy.

so delish.

The lime with cilantro and soy=perfection in my book.

and the fact that it cooks in like 3 minutes...no joke.

just like pre-kid times.

This shot was taken:

*at our first Social D concert.

*after i caught a rose from the lead singer who by the way is old, yet can jump kick with guitar in hand like no one's business.

*by our camera that was snuck in (in our pants)

*down low.

*with drink and Starburst candies in hand.

*before we were escorted out by two huge dudes.

While exiting the venue, Anthony gave it one last shot and pleads...

"We have a 2 and 3 year old at home and all I wanted to do was take a picture Social D singing Ring Of Fire for them. It's their favorite song. Please."

I stood there thinking "oh no he di'int bring the kids into this." nice.

No sympathy was given and out to the car he went.

Great night though.

Great!

sidenote.

For my Social D loving friend Sara.

You know tucking a damn rose in my shirt for 3 hours while being pushed against sweaty strangers is a pain right?

Well i saved it for you.

Be on the lookout for it.

Compliments at a thirft store.

Say hello to my little friends.

My favorite earrings at the moment.

They jingle and jangle in my ear and normally that would annoy me, but it adds to their charm.

So i wore them out today with a tank, zip up sweatshirt and jeans.

A sure fire way to spruce up any outfit.

And while shopping through the thrift store, this male worker looks and me and says,

"Girl, you are rockin' those earrings. Are they gold?"

me. "pssh please. They were $3.80 from Forever 21. Thanks. You made me day."

and he did.

out of nowhere.

i love compliments like that.

Weird being the one getting them not giving them, but nice in any event.

Go.

Genuinely compliment some random person today.

and on a totally unrelated note.

see the photo above?

That's me attempting to take catchy shots.

So glad I'm doing Adrienne's Artistic Edge photo class because I need some assistance.

Fun camera. check.

skills to go with the camera. Coming soon.

set me free.

A Fine Frenzy.

One cell in the sea is without a doubt my favorite cd today.

and this song.
These lyrics.

"like a shell upon the beach.
just another pretty piece.
i was difficult to see.
but you picked me."

This will read on my valentine to Anthony for sure.

The guilty mom in me thanks you SB!

yes.
I adore Sarah Bowen and her The Best me prompts.
4 of the 5 are complete.
My last one shall be completed today at 3:50.

PS I Love you....here i come.
Pockets are filled with tissue. (thanks Stacey)

Layout to follow.

adventure to the cold.

The beach in us took a backseat today.

Because a new year always brings new adventures for us.
Conquering a trip to the snow was our first.
And to even call it snow feels a little silly, being that we do live here in California now and it's all man-made "snow"
The kids enjoyed it nonetheless.

And can just say what amateurs were are for a trip like this?
Fleece gloves.
genius.
tennis shoes.
saturated.

a day to remember.
you bet!

lesson one of 2008

Read the directions all the way through.
It pays off. I really love the crackle look that Vee has been working over and thought i would give it a whirl.
With crackle in hand, i make my first attempt.
no luck.
a few more times...no luck.

Then I placed a call to my trusty friend Sara and she told me how it worked.
If i ever have a question, this girl without fail has the answer.
With her on the phone I read the directions and just started laughing at myself.
I got excited and started painting without reading all the way through and missed the final step.

One note to self taken.

dance party time.

getting crafty with the kids.

super simple.

free downloads.

popsicle sticks.

glue.

pipe cleaners.

and dancing.

yo gabba gabba style.

1-1-08

and as the sun set on the first day of this new year, she said to herself...

"This year is gonna be good!"

cheers!

Dear Dom,
What a treat it was to have you join us in our home.
We promise to keep you nice, cool and comfortable in your cozy box.
We contemplated long and hard about popping you open tonight.
After all it is New Year's eve.
BUT
We have 2 little ones that have no sympathy for Champagne headaches and sleeping in dreams.

Cheers to celebrating together soon.

love,
Anthony and Michelle

Happy 2008!

just putting it out there.

For years or really since forever, i have hated running.
I would and still do, make up any excuse to not do it.
Every Monday ,in 9th grade gym class, we were made to run the "fun run"
It was probably not even 2 miles, but I worked over every excuse in the book to get out of it.
Most oftenly used was my monthly visit from Mother Nature. It worked like a charm at least once a month.

But now, i want to change.
I enjoy working out and this is the one thing i can not do.
Embarassing admittance...i can barely run one single mile.
so i made this.
A little reminder for me and I am putting it out there that I in fact can do this.
It sounds crazy hearing this come out of my mouth and it even makes me cringe a bit, but i will do a Triathlon.
oh yes.
I am a strong believer that thoughts you put out there materialize.

cheers to running.

My little slice of an alpha wall all of my own.

Tonight i took the time.

Were there many other things I should have been doing?
yes.
Have I wanted to hang these for a few months now?
yes.

and so I did just that.
I even purchased a few more for the collection while I was at it too.
It needs a little spunk of color.

Today.
Take a little bit and do something you have been itching to do.
The water is warm and it feels great!

through Olivia's viewfinder

Merry Christmas.

everyday

mine. his.
ours.
and yes those faces are due to poor parenting.
can't you tell they are mistreated?
on the Polar express train and all.
nice.

keeping busy.

goal:
to tackle and organize this space.

seeing this man all over town.
and eating these.
i can not stop.
enjoy.

This is what it's all about.

lights.
trains. and a sweet smile like this at Christmas time.
It makes everything shine.

Be the best me.

for me.

not for anyone else but me.

At such a young age I have been fortunate and really done alot.

Been alot of places around the world.

Explored.

Got married.

Had kids.

Because of these things, i strive to do more.

See more.

Live more.

Love more.

I am not much of a reader, partially because its hard for me to sit still for long periods of time.

I go go go.

I enjoy that.

but for many different reasons I must read this book.

Friends have told me its a must read.

and then the other day i saw the author on Oprah.

and wah la....there it was on the Costco shelf too.

sold.

I believe in things happening for a reason.

I am so anxious to start this journey of

eat, Pray, love.

wednesday report

So my every Wednesday thing of thrifting is still going strong.
It's very OCD of me.
Alternating between the Ventura ones and the Oxnard ones.
Entering and perusing the aisles the same exact way each visit.
I ♥ it.
and the kids think its pretty cool too.
Start em young i say.

So, on to the goods....



Bags of Christmas pieces for 90 cents.
mostly not my style, but a few gems were found too.
Yea, for Christmas time!

my little art projects...

Made a fun little layout using some of the random packed goodies from my Etsy store.
The goodies were not really meant to match, but just to share tastes of some of my latest finds.
I'd love to see what you could make up with it too.

Also used one of the Purple Onion stamps i bought during their Holiday sale.
Run over because i think its still going on for a few days.
Does 25% off everything sound good to you?

welcome project number 2...

This is my second attempt at a mohawk for little man.
Using a 1 guard because of the broken number 2 guard, will help you achieve this way to short look.
yikes.
He loves it though.
Its super soft.
and it gave Daddy a big ole laugh when he got home from work.

Happy first December weekend.

WE....
dressed up in all Navy gear and watched Navy stomp all over Army in the big rivalry game.
ate too many breakfast sweets which = kids bouncing off the walls. we all took naps.
found a new delish pizza at Costco and made it for dinner.

Sun..
took daddy to the Santa Barbara zoo for the first time.
paid way to much for a 5 minute train ride, but Kyan loved it.
Fed a giraffe....very cool by the way.

enjoyed the sunshine, especially for it being December.
sang Christmas songs with the kids on the drive home.
that stuff does my heart good.

Hosted a little party and came to realize that i am much fonder of being the party goer vs. the hostess.

Monday...

Anthony had the day off...3 day weekends are a favorite of mine.

flu shots were given.

Mommy got some mommy time and finished up the Christmas shopping...whew.

and my pink and teal loving friend celebrated a birthday!

love busy,yet festive December days.

Happy Holidays!

cheers to 2008

just a fun little Hambly, wish, clippings filled mini.
Full of wants for this Chirstmas season and into the new year too.
love simple yet meaningful projects.