to sis...

Happy birthday sis! I waited 15 years to finally get my sister amongst all those brothers.
And boy were you worth the wait!
Love you Courtney.

celebrating 4 years of marriage!

For our four-year anniversary, we spent the day mostly as a family. Why not?! Our wedding day is the day our little family began. Cameron went surfing in the early morning and was taking extra long to return home... and surprised me!

It doesn't get better than Cam's homemade card, sushi & green machine for a picnic, and roses. We needed to get our run finished for the day so we did our 6 mile around Torrey Pines (holy hills!!!). Remember? This half marathon is our anniversary presents to each other. We set out our picnic near Seal Beach /La jolla cove where we feasted in the sun as Krew chased seagulls. We ended our day with a temple date and dinner for two at Rubio's. :) The day was perfect.

Four wonderful years ago I married my best friend. Words can't explain how much I love him.

photo credit Nathan Petty

p.s. And I'm blogging over here with my ideal New Years bash!

christmas morning 2011

Christmas morning was everything we anticipated and more. Krew quickly learned that ripping all that paper meant there were exciting things inside! I would have been satisfied with just watching him all morning opening gifts. I felt so loved with all the wonderful presents from family and friends, Cameron and of course Santa. We loved being surrounded by our families and as always, the Cinnabon from uncle Steve. :)

long story short: my day went like this

1. too many sugar cookies, bark, buckeyes and yummy christmas treats. My diet right now is solely sugar. "Is there sugar in syrup... Then yes!"
2. getting a little carried away with the homemade wrapping. carved potatoes = stamps. awesome.
3. "where's Krew?!"
4. "hi Krew!" Repeat 20 times and every time it is surprisingly adorable.
5. my husband sent this to me telling me his group at work won the best looking gingerbread award. And doesn't it deserve it. :)
6. Christmas card madness. Late but worth the wait?...or... Better late than never (better never late!)
7. Cameron surprised me with an early christmas gift! He wanted to give me these running shorts so I could wear them on my 11 mile run on Saturday. I love the shorts and I loved that he thought of me.
8. Christmas wrapping almost done... ignoring the fact that this will be torn up in a matter of seconds- just how it's supposed to be.

christmas is coming...

we love eggnog.

Christmas is almost here and somehow I have managed to save almost everything I need to do for this week! Christmas cards and Christmas shopping. It's not like the malls or post office is slightly busy a few days before Christmas, right? ;)
I did get an excellent discount for ordering my Christmas cards so last minute and I don't have to ask for addresses from loved ones because everyone else's have arrived here first. Lindsay=1 and Procrastination=0. We'll see if the shopping mall gives procrastination the upper hand.
And thank heaven this week is an intense training week for our half (this week is 24 miles total, an 11 mile on Christmas Eve!) because these Christmas treats are so delicious! As you can assume I have given in...
Off to the mall we go!

Krew visits Santa

Priceless.

making wrapping

the simple dot and the perfectly imperfect chevron + yarn pom poms

This year I have seen a lot of folks around the internet making the homemade wrapping paper. I am not one to take pride in my wrapping, I'm usually more of a gift bag type-- no tape involved. But I decided to change it up a little bit and make some wrapping paper and toppers myself. If you try it, get ready to oooooh and ahhh over your homemade perfection. :) I love the touch of homemade wrapping paper. It's one more way to make a gift a little more personal. And Krew helped me make some for his gifts for his grandparents!

And the pom poms are super easy. I originally planned to make these for my tree but now they are going on presents too. More pom poms please!

Here's how to make them. Watch a holiday flick and pom away, my friends. And today I'm guest blogging over here! (And on Saturday I guest blogged here!)

1) cut out two "c" like shapes that are identical. They can vary in size depending how big you want your pom pom to be.
2) stack your two "c"'s on top of each other so they line up perfectly. Then wrap the yarn around. Doing more will make a fully pom pom. This does not have to be perfect.
3) Once you've wrapped, put your "c" down on the table (usually have to hold it down with one hand) and with scissors, cut in between the two "c"'s of card board. Be carefully that your yarn doesn't move too much.
4) hold down the entire time like this as you cut. Cut all the way around.
5) Being careful, have a loose string (that you should have ready before you start) and tie it in between the two cardboard "c"'s
6) tie it real tight again creating a knot around all the pieces of yarn. Pull off cardboard c's and fluff and trim your pom pom. easy cheese.

cute boy.

All Krew really wants for Christmas is to be a part of the Old Navy mannequin family.

no business, all party

Last night we had Cameron's work party, which was held at Poseidon in Del Mar. Everyone that I got around to talk to was just a delight! It was a lively bunch. And not to mention, I enjoyed the food! (Imagine that!) The seared ahi was my favorite appetizer and I ordered a delicious sea bass for dinner. And Cameron was nominated for the "Most likely to go to the office kitchen for food" award. That's my hub! :) He didn't win but I'm sure he was pretty close. At least he wasn't nominated for the "Worst dressed in the office" award and yes they had that! Like I said, it was really fun and I was thoroughly entertained. Cameron is lucky to have a job with such fun people.

And this is the dress! It's a little different than online (I had to take a few inches off the bottom because the length was odd so I made it right at the knee) but other than that, it was just right. Excuse my crummy post-party picture. The dress is from asos.

our christmas tree

This is our very first year getting a real tree together! Can you believe it? In years past, we had a little silly plastic one since we were always busy with finals and traveling.


We found mr. noble fur through a dense pile of trees. Cameron didn't want to just pick the easy ones in front. No! The good ones are deep in the back! So he dove into the pile searching away!

Cameron picked a winner and Krew and I approved. I expressed to Cameron how I had to have these certain lights I saw and we must buy them that night! After a long shopping trip and a tired baby, we placed them perfectly on our tree. And... I hated them. Sorry hun. I returned the lights I had to have and resorted with the good ol' traditional. Krew helped me pick out some ornaments (hence why our tree is covered in woodland creatures) but we think it looks great! And smells good too!

off with its head!

I could feel little Krew's desire to say words was increasing and I felt like the time was right. And so snip I went and I called it "broken". Never did I ever expect the heartbreak I saw in his little eyes over the loss of his binky, his comfort from birth. It was so sad it caused me to consider,"Well so what if he's 18 with a pacifier..." and then I realized what I was thinking and it had to happen. Now that a few rough sleeping days have passed, the sorrow has worn off and thankfully he's almost forgotten about it.
goodbye binky.

I'm an intern!

random florals i love via pinterest

I have always loved planning events. Loved it. When I was little, I planned every birthday party for every Beanie Babies' birthday. I went on to plan junior high dances. I continued in high school with planning fundraisers, events, and prom. I have always loved planning something with every bit of creativity and watching it come to life. It's truly a thrill for me.

So... I started an internship! I have the pleasure of doing an internship with Amorology Weddings doing wedding planning! I have been working there for almost a month and enjoying every bit of it. I love the team, the fun colors they use, and the wonderful atmosphere they provide in the workplace and in their weddings. And I'm actually going to work and ENJOYING it.
This is what I love to do.

To take a look, go ahead and check out Amorology Weddings at their website or blog.

the little man likes eggnog.

And that is why we only buy the gallons of eggnog in this household. None of this quart or pint silliness.

We did make it over to Christmas on the Prado. We managed to battle the crowds, score an awesome parking spot, and enjoy the Christmas spirit! (Krew doesn't like the flash) It was freezing there and Krew turned into a cold and tired little ice cube towards the end so we headed home. I'm glad we finally got to go!

my holiday dress (+ giveaway winner)

my pinterest board

On Saturday while my baby weirdly slept in until eleven in the morning, I browsed around and pinned for a holiday dress! And today I made my choice:

ta-dah!

Plain but I feel it's conservative yet sassy. A blank slate to accessorize with and I hope to use it a few times this holiday season. I know for sure I'll be wearing it to Cameron's work party next week. Hopefully it looks as good in person as it does in picture.

And as for the winner for the Frolic Apparel Giveaway:
Congrats Chelsey! Please shoot me an email so we can get that cute turban to you.

Christmassy

wearing the crush velvet turban in black. click here to enter the giveaway

Let the Christmas activities begin! This weekend we plan to go to the Christmas on the Prado to enjoy the lights, music, and festivities. I have missed this for too long since being in Hawaii! And there better be some hot chocolate involved.

Are YOU doing anything christmassy this weekend?

time to buck up

goodbye ol' runners

It was last Sunday night after a long Sunday day of traveling, unpacking and mothering that I sat in my bedroom talking to Cameron about nonsense and things. Cameron brought up the idea of running a half marathon (see! nonsense!), an idea that was brought up a few days ago as I was consuming a deliciously good in-n-out burger with my mind far from anything to do with health or fitness. Sunday night I was tired, possibly weak, and my mind clearly does not function right without sleep and so I answered back, "Ya, I'll do it."
Monday morning I awoke to the smack of reality realizing I had a 3-mile run that day. And then I remembered what I agreed to... a half marathon! Could it be a bad dream? Not only a half marathon but a half marathon in mid January. That is a month and a half away folks. I thought about how I don't think my body is physically capable of running that distance. I felt a little nervous and sick but also of how happy Cameron was that I was doing it. And I wanted to do it for myself in a strange way, even though I think the idea of paying someone to go run for miles is absolutely silly. I'm not a runner so I don't see the joy in it. I'm not a runner at all. I actually despise running and I'll remind you of that the entire time I run. And as you may know, I take pictures while I run, I'm a photog jogger. Do I really seem like a serious runner here? no. But now it's time to buck up and do it.
In result, we decided a month early anniversary present to us: half marathon entry fee for two and some desperately needed new running shoes for two. Can this get anymore romantic? I think not.
So here I am running. I will be doing 4 training days per week (we are cramming them in since we are a little late). I have run 7 miles this week so far and I'm off to do another 3 today.
It's beyond doubt I have lost my mind.

CLOSED GIVEAWAY: Frolic Apparel

I'm a big believer in accessories making an outfit. This season I have been seeing turbans at places like anthro and urban and for some time, I have been dying to get my hands on one.
Good thing Frolic Apparel has every color of turban my heart desires in knit stretch or crushed velvet (my fav). My picks would be the olives (like the dark olive I'm wearing above), the navy blue, and the black or cheetah print on any hair color would be fun to wear with red lipstick. oh hotness.
So as a part of giving one of my Christmas wishes to you, I'm teaming up with Frolic Apparel to give one away! One lucky winner will be chosen and announced on Dec. 6th. Last day to enter is Dec. 5th!

To Enter:
Simply check out Frolic Apparel and tell me what turban you would like for yourself (or maybe as a gift for someone else)!

Or if you want to grab on now, just use the coupon code MERRYCHRISTMAS and it will give you 25% off until the end of December.
You know this would look dang hot for the holidays (and they keep your ears warm too!). Good luck!

thanksgiving 2011

We had our thanksgiving feast at Cameron's aunt & uncle's house. I don't think I could have picked a more perfect setting than a comfy cabin in the country for a big warm thanksgiving feast! Thanksgiving dinner was amazing and complete with not only a good ol' juicy turkey but smoked turkey as well. My tummy was in heaven. And what would thanksgiving be without a thanksgiving day nap? And a game or two of Rook? And watching Home Alone? And another round of the thanksgiving feast later on? Yes, the entire day was just scrumptious.

And Krew has surprised us with how much interest he has for his baby cousin Ella! She is a doll and we can see why he loves her so much. We are just in love with how gentle he is with her.

I am grateful for...

I am grateful for:

A home

Good food

Magic erasers

Chocolate

Colors

Finding beauty, creativity and inspiration through everything around me

Peace of mind

Life near the ocean

Wonderful parents & inlaw parents, I couldn't ask for more

The most supportive extended family

Health

Motivation

My Heavenly Father and the little miracles I see daily

The beautiful gift of being a mother

A dear son who is so cute and sweet, who laughs with me and surprises me daily.

A caring husband who rejoices in being a father, works hard for our family and constantly uplifts me and loves me.

A blessed life.

winner winner turkey dinner

Ahhh the idea of thanksgiving dinner sounds absolutely divine right now. In the three years past I have made the entire thanksgiving dinner by myself which I have absolutely loved. Brining my pampered turkey and making everything from scratch (thanks to pioneer woman). This year we are going to family's house which will be just as delicious and maybe a bit more relaxing.

Here's an idea of last year's thanksgiving feast in our teeny tiny apartment in Hawaii. The Rondos came out to stay with us and I don't think we could squeeze one more person into that little bitty space.

But that's what thanksgiving is all about, right? Being {closely} surrounded by family and being full of good food. Anyone else excited for their feast? Bring on the turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes!

And click here to see who the winner is of the Small Talk Giveaway...

a good day calls for lots of photos

Cameron and I created this little idea that every Saturday we would have a family morning run. I think we decided this about 3 months ago and have actually done it about 2-3 times. We're trying.
Saturday we went on what I call a "family fun run" around seaport village/downtown. And yes, I am still a photog jogger.

After our run in the chilly weather, we headed to the jacuzzi. Of course Krew wanted nothing but to go in the splash area. Poor kid took a few times to realize that you shouldn't look directly into the fountains.

We walked around Seaport Village...

That night Cameron and I decided we wanted to have a date night since the next month and a half will be a little busy. Little did I know, Cameron had a nice date in mind when I made the poor suggestion, "Ya, you want to get some panda express and go see a movie or just hang out?" He agreed but then told me his idea which was waaaay better. We went to the Harbor House for dinner, walked around downtown and enjoyed a Ghiradelli's chocolate shake together (nothing compares!).
The day couldn't have gone better. Exactly what the doctor ordered.