Friday flowers {getting ready for May Gray}

Friday Flowers {getting ready for May Gray}

backyard roses from my BB STILL Grrr!!!

will have to show off the $1 estate sale jar later i guess :)

eventhough we live inland we're only 7 miles from the beach. which means among other things we get to enjoy coastal weather influences. for example: cool breezy mornings & evenings, clean clear air, fab temps.

eventhough it's usually beautifully sunny & clear most days, during May & June when the temps rise we have May Gray & June Gloom.

im so affected by these hazy-most-of-the-day--only-afternoon-sunshine days, so im bring in cheery flowers to get me thru it.

10 of my fave things

i started putting this fun post together when i started simplifying my STUFF. making my life simpler by keeping only my fave-true-to-me possesions esp in my closet.  since i dont have my camera back yet, im sharing.

 {a few of my faves}

i know it's a little shallow & materialistic. i really am not a STUFF person but these are of few things that make this mama happy so indulge me a little. you may have fun & even get to know me a little better.

1. i heart the sun but my face is allergic to alot of it & the combo of sun & sunscreen...go figure. so aside from just being super cute...i heart big sunglasses & big sunhats...together they are the sunscreen. thoroughly apply lipgloss (see #3) & your done!

 

2. i heart black leggings. easy, stylish, classic & comfie anytime anyplace.

 3. i heart Carmex & Bare Escentuals mineral lipgloss (only kind i can wear). i dont leave my house, go anywhere someone might see me or drive my car without either. allday everyday (addicted).

 4. i still heart Domino mag. i almost died when it was discontinued. i still have all my old copies (one of my only collections). being the nerd that i am i actually re-read old issues for every corresponding current month. (still good stuff)

 5. i heart my (many) yellow Livestrong wristbands, Lance Armstrong, the whole thing. even wore one around my ankle during labor.

 6. i heart my LV Petit Noa. im not into switching my bags & haven't carried another bag since sweet hubby bought it for my anniversary almost 3 years ago. perfect patina, classic style, size, everything... everyday.

 7. i heart princess cut diamonds. my wedding ring, earrings & necklace (used to be my engagement ring) all solitaires. my wedding ring is identical to the pic, simple, clean, classic lines, not too fancy, but VERY pretty. i wear them almost all day everyday.

 8. i heart hibiscus of any kind, color etc. yaaay that they grow easily in this climate. & roses, esp David Austin white cabbage roses in big bunches(classic!) if i could recieve one type of flower for the rest of my life this is it!

9. i heart rice kripy treats & cupcakes with a eat-a-whole-batch kinda passion. (so i rarely make them) 

10. i heart my Uggs. beach must. anytime must. (in fact i have them on while i type)i have a few a pair in different colors (Uggs & Ugg-like), esp with BEANIES!!! all kinds...i heart them. all day everyday!

 

so what do you think? kinda fun? there's more, but that's it for now. a little bit of me at a time :)

here we go again...snake #1 (&i forgot my camera!)

(pic from my Blackberry)

here we go again!

this weekend snake #1 of the season was on my front porch.

i had to rescue the poor baby gophersnake & my cat from each other. they were going back & forth striking at each other forever with no chance of a winner. the little guy was relocated...prob not the last we'll see of him.

*WHEW! i volunteered in the kinder workshop class today (all day...OMG!!!).

3 was sooo happy to have Mama in class. BUMMED i left my camera in there & i cant share what we've been eating these last few super hot days.

soon!

whats been up? the short list.

this image is called Black-Woman-Relaxing .

i really NEED to be A-Black-Woman-Relaxing right now!

this has been one of those insane never ending MONTHS.
you know what i mean right?

last week started out mellow, but spiraled out of control into one of the longest & busiest weeks ever towards the end.
our life isn't usually like this. 

i wanted to stay home & sit down for more than a few minutes the entire week. NO DEAL!

what's been up?

the short list.

• soccer practice started for 1. back to back nights (only 1 hour for preseason, not too bad. i've been trying to workout on the field those 2 nights.
• spring break is over so we got most of our classroom repacked & semi organized again. we're back with our charter & trying to get in the swing of things.
• trying to get our Bible study & our spiritual life back in balance. we've had such a wacky year all over the place year.
• couple of big fam camping trips in the works.(& that will be IT for big trips this summer)
• over the weekend we did a few fun outdoor volunteer projects. (more later)
• we dug up plants from our neighbor's (local native plant swap) & planted them. huge project. lots of work & time left, but we as well as our neighbors will be sooo happy with the outcome :)
• the girls & i shot a video for a private project. it was fun, but took about 1 hour longer than supposed. i had to go to a job site & STILL run errands.(w/ phone calls on the way for another project BTW). such a loooong day that didn't end until the night!
• i have been helping out my hubby w/our fam engineering company. we got a few new projects & im the "GREEN design consultant & assistant". i'm sooo excited this is right up my alley!
• i FINALLY got pix uploaded & getting my thoughts together for new blog post to share with you guys. i know it's about time!
• BUT were seriously trying to take it easy this week!
• i even shut down my Facebook page for a much needed brain break. i'll miss keeping up with the fam & good friends, but my entire brain is TIRED!!!

WHEW!!!

i know im not the only busy person in the world, this crazy world is designed to keep us on the go & frazzled.

 i hope you guys are finding time to rest & slow down...im scheduling some on my calendar right now :) 





spring purge & spring break

*spring purge*

this is what's going on in my house right now.

CHAOS!!!

while we were gone the girls have been taking on more chores & so they decided they wanted to do a serious hardcore purge of all their unnecessary belongings so they can clean less, be more organized, play more, pick up & go to the beach whenever we want, cut their chore time down & have more free time in general.

(YAAAAY!!! i hate stuff) 

the above bags are just some of the clothes we took out.

next are the toys & knick knacks.

my dedicated girls worked hard about 8 hours a day a few days in a row last week trying on,purging,cleaning & organizing.

 they needed a break.

these came from my room

this is my e-bay/ craigslist pile.

many brand names (that i paid good money for & never used mind you)...please note the Dooney & Bourke Cabrio leather bag (retail @ $258!!!)that i've only put my stuff in twice....about 10 years ago!!!

im reevaluating my entire handbag collection.

this purge is serious!

stuff i still need to try on from my closet.

but now my room is ready for paint!!!

i already have the paint color, the bedding & decor.

out of all the moving & houses we've lived in, He & i never had a completed bedroom before.

im soooo excited!!!

 it is spring break so we've also been throwing some fun in there.

here's a few:

• we went to our charter's outdoor fam movie night. Toy Story 3 was much better outside w/ friends in sleeping bags :)
• 1's soccer practice started.
• we did the Paws in the Park dog show...more later...one of my girlies came out a big winner!
• then of course to the beach afterwards since it was soooo hot!
• been enjoying good coffee & fantastic wine.
• had new friends over.
• hung out & got caught up with our fab neighbors.
• Mahalo & i have went hiking. too gorgeous NOT to be outside!
• i started landscaping my front yard outside my courtyard.
• i went to the Memorial of Jesus Christ's death.
• & today we are finally headed out to our new state of the art library.

home. beach. happy.

we're finally home!!!

after 3 months of being way...

i don't think i've been any happier to see this gorgeous sunshine-y view of paradise out my driveway.

(pix from my Blackberry)

i told Him no matter how tired i am...

take me to the nearest beach ASAP when i get home! we got home Saturday, Sunday we had to drop my mama off at the train station in Oceanside

(she came along for the ride home)

so Oceanside it was & i couldn't have been any happier!

the day was beautiful & abs PERFECT!

we did a little shopping, met every single cute doggie & owner as we walked around, watched everyone ride their fab beach cruisers, had lunch, tidepooled & rock climbed while watching the junior surf competition, walked barefooted in the sand, smiled, laughed, soaked it all in.

all of it.

all 5 of us together... 

we're definitely back home

& let me tell you

there's

ABSOLUTELY

nothing

like

it.

* ps. back to reality...my dear, dear hubs that i absolutely love with all my heart was a workaholic bachelor while we were gone. meaning mama has a long list of to dos & we've been checking things off. somethings (like my poor garden & bedroom) have to be completely overhauled & started fresh.

be back here as soon as we get settled & going.

LIFE IS GOOD!

some fun things i can share & a few new faves

 ok since my last post wasn't very fair... 

{here are some fun things i can share}

1. Friday i FINALLY learned how to make soap!!! im soooo excited i've been wanting to learn to make soap for years & years! cant wait to get home & get started experimenting. i have 2 soaps in particular that i really want to make. 
(that was the class i was talking about taking) 

2.we are going to be glued to this live eagle cam.  eggs should be hatching anyday. this time we wont let ourselves get addicted like when we watched Molly the Barn Owl live cam. (a new fave!)

3. had to set it aside for a bit, but i finally finished reading The Heart of a Woman- Maya Angelou.

4. im loving my new book Organized Simplicty. cant wait to really let my house have it this summer! (a new fave!)

5. i found another fab fave blog. she loves the beach as much as i do (almost)! i love her jewlery, crafts & design all of it. all the exact things i would love to do if i had the time. (DEF a new fave! i seriously spent hours here one Sunday when my girls were away)

6. He made it safely Thursday night. his mom has had the girlies most of the weekend, so we can get moved out (TONIGHT!).
& of course so we could also go on a date :) Saturday we went to Sequoia Brewing Company, had beer, food, listened the band, i hit the dancefloor & we stayed up waaaay to late. such a fun night, we dont get many living away from the family. 

 IT'S CRUNCH TIME!!!

times a tickin' 

i better get...tootles!