Giveaway Monday

How about a giveaway every monday? I like gifts. Giving them. Getting them. Hearing about other people getting them. I think you get the idea. 

Here we go. Kicking this gift-giving party off with your favorite and mine, a Starbucks package of goodies. Includes...

1 lb of my favorite coffee, Verona. 

2 white logo mugs, just the right size. 

1 wooden coffee measuring spoon. 

Package of tasty shortbread cookies, perfect for dipping

Box of espresso roast pods for Barista Espresso Machine

Leave a comment. Any comment. And you can enter twice if you share this giveaway with a friend. Just have them mention your name, and then comment again.

Hope you win. I hope you'll have me over to share your Starbucks loot. 

Giveaway closes on wednesday night. 

Odds and Ends

Image via Cafe Mom 

Love this idea for fathers' day. I'm thinking gift cards, pictures and golf trinkets. 


As I attempt to feed my kids a better breakfast, this scrambled egg tutorial gets me excited to leave cereal behind. 


I've fallen for Clinique's super-balanced powder make-up. It's been keeping my skin clear and oil-free. Plus it has a grinder, which means more make-up on my face and less all over the sink. 


Check out this fun idea to make a room fun. Budget-friendly too. 


I'm inspired by Stephanie's home. De-cluttered and special details. 


It's time to take dinner outside. 21 great ideas for an outdoor dining room. 


Thinking about replacing our truck with a used Highlander. Opinions? 


Have a wonderful holiday weekend! We're hitting the beach...what are your plans?

Discover San Diego

While San Diego is definitely a vacation mecca, I've really fallen in love with the things I've seen off the beaten path. Hence, discover San Diego. 


I'll post pics and comments weekly about something special I've found. Hope this feature will help you picture what we're up to, and give you some ideas for your next trip to town. 


Starting out with my own neighborhood, Golden Hill. This pic is the view from my Bear & Ben's bedroom window. The jacarandas line our street and are in full bloom. The park at the end of the street has one of the best views of downtown I've seen, huge climbing trees, and canyon hiking trails surrounding it. 


Golden Hill, our hidden gem. 
(Next week we'll venture a little further from home)

Martha Paint

You know me and my paint obsession. Pretty excited about these new Martha Stewart paint line at Home Depot. 280 awesome colors. Good quality paint and a good price.

I'm creating a guest "suite" in our house and am using her colors to do it. Since I can't paint the walls, I'll be painting furniture and accessories in the room to bring it together.

I like the use of different shades of the same color in this office.
Rather than sticking to two or three colors, it's fun to choose 5-7 colors in coordinating shades.

$3 paint samples are a good investment before buying a gallon and they also have enough paint for small projects

Simple, Perfect Enchiladas

I tend to be a bit on the lazy side when it comes to cooking during the week. As long as I can do all of the prep in under half an hour, I'm in. So enchiladas don't usually make the cut.

But I decided to try these Simple, Perfect Enchiladas (nice title, call it like it is) Pioneer Woman Cookbook enchiladas last night and my normally "can't make them all happy at dinner" family had rave reviews. In fact, I made a few without the hamburger for myself, and had to agree.

Try them! Add some homemade spanish rice and a margarita and it's a party.

Bedtime

We did it. Sold the crib and moved over to the big boy bed. It's been somewhat anti-climactic. Nap times have sometimes turned into "i can reach my toys now, so why would I stay in bed" times. Two falls out of bed around midnight. And the "bedtime guy" selection has become a bit longer. (see below)

All in all, pretty smooth transition. Except all this growing up makes my heart hurt a bit.

"Is this all you have to offer? I'm not feeling it."
Thumb and Blankie, a man's best friends.

Retro Cowboy Rocker

Anyone out there with a cowboy themed kids room?

I'm parting ways with this adorable child sized rocker, barely rocked in.

$40 to the right home. If you don't live in San Diego, we could probably ship.

Flowers for Amateurs

I'm one of those women who doesn't wait for my husband to bring flowers home. I buy them for myself. And who can pass up pink gerbers?

Picked these up on sale at the grocery store this weekend. Had found this retro vase last weekend at a yard sale, and had left-over rocks from the big party we had a few weeks ago.

Here are my tips on arranging beautiful flowers in your home on a budget...

1. Skip the big "mixed flower" bouquets. Choose a bouquet with one or two types of flowers with greenery that you love. My favorites right now are sunflowers, gerbers and lilacs. Dahlias are on my summer list.
2. Whenever you see unique containers on the cheap, pick them up. My favorite things to arrange flowers in weren't intended for flowers at all. Unique vintage vases are another good choice. Line the vase with rocks or other items to hold your stems. Fill with water to within a few inches of the top.
3. Measure your stems to the height you'd like for your vase, cut at an angle and immediately submerge in water. I like to do the flowers first, greenery after.
4. Secure your stems in the rocks or other stabilizer. I like to have a few in the center that are slightly taller than the perimeter stems. Fill in with greenery between the stems, but not in front. They should make the arrangement look more full, but not draw attention.
Just like you picked it up at the flower shop, but at a price you could spend every week.

Harrison's Preschool

Harrison's preschool fundraiser this weekend included a 30 minute medley of tunes, sung by 50 under 5-year-olds. Awesome

But the best part for me was how into the songs Harrison was and how he knew parts of all, but not one in full.

Who still knows the words to this Barney favorite?

Rental Decor

There are lots of things I love about the Giant Peach's kitchen...the island, view and cabinets...but it's just plain white. And that's just not me. So keeping in mind that this is a rental, vinyl decals are the perfect way to add some design, with a budget in mind.

I've had this decal from Tasty Suite for awhile, but just decided to apply it today.

Here's the details in case you want to try one of your own.

Step 1: Tape decal (with paper backing still intact) onto wall and mark top with pencil.
Step 2: Lay decal on flat surface, paper backing up, and use credit card to rub along decal lines to be sure it's stuck to the adhesive side.

Step 3: Pick one corner and very slowly peel paper backing off of decal. If any part of the decal starts to come up with the backing, lay it back down and rub with credit card until it sticks to the adhesive side.
Step 4: Once the paper backing is completely removed, place the decal and adhesive on the wall and smooth completely from one side to the other using your hand and credit card. Rub the decal lines with a credit card to ensure it's attached to the wall. Slowly peel back the adhesive. If any part of the decal comes up as you are doing this step, replace the adhesive, rub with credit card, and try again.

Much better view for making coffee and scrambling eggs.

Play Date

Yes, watching the garbage truck is really that fascinating

Harrison & Porter (two years olds with last names for first names are cool).

First play date included some learning how to share, a few almost time-outs, and dirt throwing. But they were male bonding and laughing over eating cat food together by the end.

Porter's mom, Jessica, and I didn't have to throw dirt before getting along. Besides being a Starbucks manager (which is an automatic "in" to the cool mom club) she is a great mom. Hoping for another invite to play, and drink coffee, of course.

Urban Home

While on a trip to LA last night I stumbled across this store in Sherman Oaks. Huge selection, good quality (one step below Pottery Barn, two steps above IKEA), great prices and some really fun items. Urban Home. Check them out.

A Black Pepper - Adelaide Coat.

I love this gorgeous sweater I saw on A Black Pepper. It's called the Adelaide Coat and she sells the pattern in her shop. I'm on the hunt for someone who can make this for me. Grey? Black? Brown?

Lovely blog.

Found.

Have you been to FOUND. yet? Kristin & Dan's newest venture in downtown Mesa. (Located in their previous Domestic Bliss location) Check out these great pics of their shop.

Phoenix Finale

Lincoln & Robson St. buddy, Alton

Day 4 did not disappoint.

Got to hold one-week-old William Reid. Almost made me want to give birth again, but then I remembered the next 17.5 years. (nice job Gelbrichs)

Spent the afternoon with friends in our old neighborhood (Robson St.)

Arrived back at the Morrison's to enjoy a wine and cheese party with friends who have know us since we were single. (now that's a long time)

Wonderful hospitality, conversation and laughter. Perfect ending.

On the long drive back to San Diego, (I'll spare you the pictures of multiple kid melt-downs) John and I talked about how it feels to be gone from Phoenix - our home for so long. We both agreed that we feel like "home" is where we have each other and our boys. But we sure do miss the people we love in the Valley of the Sun.

Thanks for welcoming us back.

Phoenix - Day & Night 3

I have to admit, coming into this little vacation I thought Phoenix in the middle of May might be a bit late, but I was wrong. 95 degrees on day 3, but we barely noticed.

Started out with some early morning yard sales (mostly talking) with my friend Lisa...next up was family patio time, complete with Starbucks and a pool boy...moved on in the afternoon to a very fun swim date with the Eatons...and ended the night with Ryan and Hannah's wedding.

Day 4, can you top that?

John relaxes with his fantasy golf game and couch parenting.
Lincoln giving back to our gracious house hosts. Water feature pool boy. Lincoln and Caroline. I see a future here.
Harrison's "i'm not so sure" reaction to the pool. He just got himself signed up for swim lessons with this attitude.
Couldn't keep Ben out of the pool. Little fish.
Wow, hot Reverend.

Maybe my favorite wedding dress of all time. And I've been to alot of weddings. Beautiful, Hannah.

Phoenix - Day 2

I've forgotten how far you can drive and still be in Phoenix...logged 4 1/2 hours of time in the car around town, but totally worth the drive.

Started out with girls time (plus 4 children...can't ever get away from all of them)

Starbucks, homemade banana bread and catching up on life...way too short of course.

Followed by a lunch visit to the in-laws in Suprise. A little non-heated hot tub swimming and hot dogs.

Finished the evening with wedding rehearsal dinner at Market Bistro in Scottsdale.

Phoenix - Night 1

We pulled into Phoenix at 4:30, just in time to drop our bags, change diapers and head over to meet friends. We still call our group of families the "Young Marrieds" after 13 years of marriage and kids together. (now that I'm plucking out some gray hairs, I'll take whatever I can get)

We started the night with drinks and appetizers, followed by a dance recital at the tennis courts, and finished up with dinner at Joe's Farm Grill. Yum.

I love our life in San Diego, but I sure do miss these peeps.

Check out these adorable pictures by our 10-year-old friend, Caroline. She's for hire, but you might have to pick her up for your photo session.

On the Road

Our first family trip back to Phoenix since we moved to San Diego, 18 months ago.

Big plans ahead, but had to get over the 6 hour car trip there first. Highlights were definitely Ben and Bear's undivided attention for almost two hours as they had their first screening of Toy Story, the awesome play place at the Yuma, AZ Carl's Jr, and time to talk with my husband when everyone was occupied.

He really does think he's reading...

Lincoln finished another Lemony Snicket book. Love them.
John looking like he's so tired of driving, but he really wouldn't let me drive at all.

Phoenix, hope you're ready for the Byard invasion.

Listen Up

Ben's got his gear. Functional, yet fashionable, blue hearing aids with sparkles.

Pretty good first day wearing them. I only had to say "no touch!" about 100 times, and put them back in 50 times. Tomorrow will be better, I'm sure.

He also pulled them off at Ikea and dropped them through the cart. I'm trying to not lose this pair in the first week, but there's about a 28% chance of that actually happening.

I also had one of those awesome IKEA moments standing in line waiting to get Lincoln out of the ball room (dirtiest place on the planet?) Picture this...

The IKEA lady is yelling at Lincoln to stop doing things she told him not to do

Several moms with kids in private school uniforms (nothing against private school, just setting the mood) are standing behind me in line looking clean and perfect.

One of the moms says to me " there's something spilling underneath your cart". I look. I can't figure it out. No sippy cups, no starbucks, etc...

Another mom says "it's coming from his diaper." Yes, my adorable son with Down Syndrome is sitting in the basket throwing things out, with pee running out of his diaper, pooling on the floor.

I stayed calm. Said "well, that's a first". Took him to the bathroom for a diaper change, and finished off the evening giving the kids meatballs and mac and cheese in the IKEA restaurant. Mom of the year, me for sure.

Anyways, back to the point of this post. Ben, I'm so glad you can finally hear to your full potential. You're the man and you look super cool in your aids. Chicks love em.