find joy in the journey

and the birthday giveaway goes to . . . .

with the help of random.org

the winner is

Congrats, Alyssa!  Send me your address and I'll pop this in the mail.

And can I just say, wow!  There were so many awesome birthday gift ideas left in the comments.  You are a creative and thoughtful bunch!  Here are just some of the ideas you shared:

• flowers
• fancy chocolate - the kind that you wouldn't normally splurge on for yourself
• something handmade
• a group of friends celebrating 40 gave each other charms for a charm bracelet - what a treasure!
• give service!  A meal, cleaning, or kid care.
• gift cards - maybe for a local boutique/shop
• jewelry
• favorite candy + a magazine
• cookbooks
• vintage brooches and bow ties!  Use them to adorn a package - I would just die!
• coupon for a day or night out with you
• Cozy Night Kit - hot cocoa, popcorn, and a good book
• mason jar filled with a theme - manicure jar, etc.

This week I received a wonderful birthday gift in the mail from one of my friends.  A jar of homemade raspberry jam . . . . AND the raspberries were picked from my favorite berry farm in Oregon!  She knew that I was missing our Oregon raspberry jam.

I literally gasped when I popped off the lid.  When I dipped my knife into the jam I got shivers.  And then I immediately made a PB&J sandwich for lunch.  Ohhh, it felt like home.  So very thoughtful.

And the kids know that they are not allowed to touch my jam.

let's go on a date: september link-up

This month's date consisted of three completely un-related, yet equally satisfying and entertaining parts.  Let's call it the Mash-up Date.

Part 1:  Furniture hunting

Now that we have a reason to buy some new furniture I thought it would be fun to go browse the furniture store.  Also, sofa shopping provides plenty of opportunities to cozy up next to your honey.  Gotta test them all out!

We came across this mammoth of a couch - 

This couch is high on my list for the living room -

Then it was onto the appliances.  This Whirlpool 29cu.ft. stainless french door beauty is in my future.  (I had watched The Price is Right earlier in the day so I could not resist the urge to model the refrigerator's shelving features.)

Part 2: Gourmet Popcorn

Yes, it's a thing. We sampled several flavors and eventually went with Caramel popcorn, White Cheddar, and Marilyn Monroe (white chocolate & coconut with sparkles).  We walked out of there with a 2.5 gallon tin that we have been snacking on every evening for the past week.

Dirty Vegas - it's a combination of all 17 flavors.  Everything from S'mores to Nacho to Cookies & Cream and Salt & Vinegar.  Definitely an adventure.

Part 3:  (This is the part where Scott humors me).  We went to a park across the street from our new home, sat on a bench, and snacked on popcorn while imagining our new life in this new home.  Pretty tasty.

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Okay now it's your turn!

Here's how it goes:

1.  Go on a date with your husband.  Easy, right?  And post a wrap-up on your blog.  This is for anyone . . . whether you put together a Year of Dates gift or not.

2.  On the last day of the month, come here and submit a link to your blog post.  Not your blog

3.  In your blog post include a text link back to me.  You're also welcome to use the image below.

4.  Lastly, have fun and visit each other!

 

Anna is 7

Happy Birthday to my Sweetie Pie!

Seven random things about Anna:

1.  Each morning when she jumps out of the van she says something to me like:  "Good-bye Sweetie Pie!" or "You look cute!"  or "Have a fabulous day, I love you!"  She's stealing my lines before I get a chance to say them!

2.  She has insisted on making her own lunch for school since day one.  And she does a great job at it.  By the time I make it out to the kitchen in the morning there is no trace of her lunch-making (but it's done).

3.  She wants to be a rockstar when she grows up.  She loves to sing and listen to her mp3 player.  We signed her up for a singing class called "Glee Kids" and she is loving every single minute of it.

4.  She is so giggly, so silly, so happy, and almost every statement, sentence, or question she utters ends with her signature chuckle.

5.  She brushes her hair about 150 times a day.  That girl, she's terrified of tangles.  She carries the brush around with her everywhere.  Even to bed!  If it goes missing she has a little panic attack.  And don't try to tuck her hair behind her ears, either.  It drives her nuts.

6.  She is very affectionate with Scott and I.  One day Scott asked her what the difference is between a smooch and a kiss (we noticed that she was using the two terms in different ways).  Her answer:  "A smooch is when you taste the person."

7.  She is very thoughtful and is constantly creating cards for family members, classmates, teachers . . . Pretty much everyone she knows has at one time or another been a recipient of her kindness.  She just loves to share.

We sure do love her!

Birthday pictures from today . . . . coming next week.

a little sneak peek

I promised that I would share a peek into the house once things were official.

And things are official today - funds have been transferred and the house is ours!  But, the sellers will be renting back from us for a few days so we aren't IN the house yet.  Yes, it pains me a little to do this (considering they had 8 months to find a place), but the closing did move relatively suddenly/quickly, and we're trying to be nice.  Maybe they'll clean the pool one last time on their way out.

These photos were taken in April - the last time we saw the house.

White kitchen!  My dream come true!  That wine rack will come in especially handy for our Martinelli's storage.  ;)

Small pool, but it's a pool!  That structure has a ceiling fan tucked into it.  Around the corner, to the right, is a big cement slab for the trampoline. And behind me is a nice covered patio + a cobblestone slab in the middle of the grass for an outdoor dining table.  I'm really looking forward to all the possibilities for outdoor activities this home (and the weather) will give us.

Love that stone.  And the plantation shutters!  You can see that the blonde hardwoods go throughout the entire main floor.  (If I'm honest, that's my least favorite feature of the house -- I would prefer tile. Or dark wood floors.)

Not many people can say that they have a 20ft tall mirrored wall in their house.  Disco ball?  (Please, tell me why in the world you would insert a piece of carpet into the hardwood floors like that?).

Upstairs there are 4 bedrooms and 3 baths.  The boys' bedrooms will be joined by a jack & jill bathroom (or rather, a jack & jack).

For a total of 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths, living, dining, family, kitchen, laundry, 3 car garage, . . . . . 3100 sq. ft.

the house is ours

This morning I put on a dress and curled my hair because it was a very important day . . . . 

At 9 am we had an appointment to sign papers on our house!!  I can hardly believe it, but it is true!

On the drive to the Title company my ipod shuffled through the most perfect selection of songs

Lady Gaga's Edge of Glory

Beautiful Day by U2

and Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

I would have been singing along at the top of my lungs, but my throat is pretty scratchy.

I drove in disbelief.  Is this really happening?  The house is ours?  And I couldn't hold back tears of happiness and relief.

8 months, people.

Doesn't he look so handsome?  I'm glad I'm married to a numbers man.

We've had a few hiccups just in the last 2 weeks, trying to get to this point.  And today was no exception.  (Incorrect forms, missing forms, yada, yada, yada)

But we made it through.  And even discovered one little (big) surprise that worked in our favor.  I told Scott, in his perplexity, that it was a blessing for all of our patience and long-suffering.  :)

By 10:40am the papers were signed.  Funds are being wired.  It will be recorded tomorrow.  And like that . . . . the house is ours.

I drove home and couldn't shake the smile on my face and the prayer of thanks in my heart.

Then my ipod gifted me with Defying Gravity and really, I felt like a weight has been lifted.  We're walking on the clouds around here!

11 things

I was tagged by Katie.  Like . . . . 8 months ago.  Finally getting around to it, thanks!

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11 random things about me

1. I wear a nightguard while I sleep
2. I love coconut M&M's - eating some right now
3. I spend 1 hour and 25 minutes in the car each day doing school drop off and pick-up.  Seriously.  (This should change, though, when we move into our house because we'll be within walking distance of the school.)
4. Sometimes I have dreams about my teeth falling out.  
5. Right now I'm reading Happier at Home and underlining lots of good points with my pencil.
6. I'm also reading Stuart Little with Anna
7. I have 30 cardigans hanging in my closet.  It's a weakness.
8. Once, when I was 6 I vacuumed up one of my brother's toys (because I was annoyed it was in my way and I was too lazy to pick it up) and later when he discovered it missing, I didn't fess up.  
9. There are Star Wars decals on the back of my van.
10. For our new house I'm obsessed with the idea of getting a dining table with a metal top.
11. I had Anna when I was 26, which means I'll be 44 when she graduates from high school and we become empty nesters.  Whoa.

Questions I was asked to answer:

1. What do you wish you knew one year ago?

That moving and buying a new home wasn't going to be a quick 2-3 month process!  Continue to cultivate patience.  Because here we are a year later, still waiting to get settled.

2. What are you looking forward to in the next three months?

I'm looking forward to celebrating Conner's 12th birthday (and priesthood ordination) with family, a girls weekend in Oregon, and most of all . . . . (hopefully) celebrating the holidays in our new home.  Ahhh, that will be such a relief.

3. Who did you last say, “I love you,” to?

Payton & Anna.  They are the last ones to leave me for the day.

4. What was the best book you read in 2011?

Sadly, I didn't read much in 2011.  But I did enjoy reading A Christmas Carol for the first time last Christmas.  I've seen the movie dozens of times.  But it was a different experience to read the book.  I really enjoyed it and it set such a great tone for the Christmas season.

5. What food won’t you eat?

Hmm, . . . . Oh, yes.  That would be Scott's ultra spicy order of Pad Thai.  When the server asks, "How much spice?  1 to 10?"  Scott always says 10.

6. What do you admire most about the opposite sex?

Their ability to make confident decisions on everything big and small.

7. Do you believe in God?

Yes!  I'm a Mormon - a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Heavenly Father, the gospel of Jesus Christ, prayer, scripture study, and church attendance & service are woven deeply into my everyday life.

8. Beach vacation or mountain retreat?

Beach vacation!  In fact, I have one of those coming up in April 2013.

9. Smart phone or regular phone?

Smart phone all the way!  I got an iphone for Christmas and I absolutely love it!  E-mail, FB, instagram, calendars, weather, notes & lists, my alarm, weight/nutrition tracker, address book, maps & directions, restaurant recommendations, internet, . . . . everything I need is on this phone.

10. Do you like tea, coffee or hot coco? Which one is your favorite?

Hot chocolate.  I don't drink coffee or tea.  I'm sooo anxious for the temps to cool down (even to the 70's, please!) so I can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream once again.  

11. If you could pick any neighborhood from a movie to live in which one would it be and why?

Interesting . . . . Ah, yes!  Downton Abbey!  For like a month, and then I'd need to go back to my real life.  Or maybe I'd really like it and stay.  Who knows.

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I'm going to tag 11 people:  Jenn, Sheila, Nicole, Paige, Heidi, Becca, Bree, Lisa, Mom, Kim, Rochelle

Your job is to post 11 random things about yourself

And answer these 11 questions (taken from Q and A a Day: 5-Year Journal )

1. Do you plan, or are you flying by the seat of your pants?
2. Today was amusing because _________
3. How hungry are you right now?
4. Bad news:  sugarcoated or straight-up?
5. How do you get out of a rut?
6. What are you a geek about?
7. What do you crave?
8. What was the last bad movie you watched?
9. Do you have any new friends?
10. You want a new _________
11. What makes you feel wonderful?

10 birthday gift ideas {and a give-away}

It's the last Monday of September and the last of my birthday posts!  Today I wanted to share a few birthday gift ideas.  I know that I'm always looking for new, fresh, delightful things to gift to my friends and family.  Here are a few things that I have either received or given as a gift.

1.  She... by Kobi Yamada - A wonderful book full of inspirational phrases like "she decided to start living the life she imagined" and "she just has this way of brightening the day" and "she listened to her heart above all other voices."  Reading it always reminds me of the wonderful women in my life and inspires me to be the woman I want to be.

2.  Essie - I think everyone loves Essie.  Right?  Good nail polish.  Picking up a new color is like a special treat for me.

3.  Papaya Arts Spiral Journal -- I have decided that writing in a journal is so much more enjoyable when you have pretty pages to write on.  Each of these pages are like a work of art.

4.  Seeing the Everyday magazine - This magazine is my absolute favorite.  Each issue is filled with beautiful photography and stories/narratives of family life, relationships, and work in the home.  They believe in the power of everyday moments and the importance of daily parenting. It is inspiring and calming and motivating -- it encourages and understands what family life is like and what it can be. Each time I read it I want to do better and be better as a parent!  When I receive a new issue in the mail I look for a quiet place to enjoy it so I can savor every word and image.  Absolutely love it!  I have yet to see this in a store so your best bet is to subscribe through their site online.  If I could, I would give a gift subscription to everyone I know.

5.  Blurb photobooks - Blurb is my go-to photobook publisher.  After a family reunion I made a photobook of the event and gave it to my parents for Christmas.  I've also made books for Father's Day and brag books for grandparents.  They take a little work, but they make great, meaningful gifts.  I know this is late, but Blurb is having a flash sale . . . get 30% off books purchased through today.

6.  Anthropologie Latte Bowls - Love these.  Seafoam is my favorite color.  And have you seen the mini latte bowls?  Absolutely adorable.  

7.  Sweet Tooth Fairy Cake Bites - I took my first bite of their delicious coconut cake bites last year and I have been in love ever since.  Seriously, it's a constant craving of mine and the mere thought of driving through Utah makes me salivate.  I discovered that you can purchase their cake bites online!  Once, I sent these to someone as a thank you and I know they were much enjoyed.  Can you even imagine getting a package like that in the mail?

8.  Q and A a Day: 5-Year Journal - I got this little book last year for my birthday and it has been fun to answer the random questions each day.  Things like, "What is your favorite snack food?"  and "when was the last time you cried" and "A decision you made today".  Now, I'm excited to see my answers stack up against last year's entries.

9.  Stained Glass Stars from Piggy & Dirt - I adore these stars.  Of all the things that are packed away in storage, these stars are one of the things I am most excited about unpacking when we get into our house.  There are so many different colors and patterns to choose from.  The store owners are just wonderful to work with.  And when you receive the stars . . . they are carefully wrapped in brown paper, tied off with baker's twine, and adorned with washi tape, stamps, and handwritten messages of thanks.  It makes you feel like you are truly receiving something special.  And it is!

10.  Project Life - You know I love it.  Memory keeping made easy.  If you still don't know what it's all about, learn more here.

There it is . . . . 10 birthday gift ideas for you.  And I'm pretty sure they're all under $25.  Pretty great if you ask me!

Okay, now let's get to that give-away I mentioned . . . . .

I want to share a few birthday gifts with one lucky reader:

• Summer 2012 issue of Seeing the Everyday
• Essie polish in Tour de Finance
• Ruffled streamers

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post.  And I'd also love if you could tell me something that you like to give as a birthday gift.

Sorry, I can only offer this to my U.S. friends.  This giveaway will close on Sunday night, and I'll announce the winner soon after.  Good luck!

semi-blurry photos on a Sunday morning

For the first time in weeks I picked up my camera this morning because Scott and Anna looked so cute together.  I couldn't figure out why my photos were so blurry . . . until this afternoon when I noticed that it had been switched from Auto to Manual focus.  Doh.

Sunday mornings go a little something like this . . . 

Scott wakes up super early and the kids emerge soon after

I get up just regular-early and shower

Scott supervises the kids -- making sure they get through breakfast, take their turns in the shower, and get dressed.  Really, with kids 11, 9, and 6 there's not a whole lot of hands-on work.  Just making sure that everyone stays on task.  Crack that whip.

When the kids are at a good point Scott comes in to shower & get dressed.  Want to know one really cute thing he does every Sunday? . . . . he chooses his tie to match whatever I am wearing.  Aww . . .

Eventually Anna comes to me and I dry her hair.

Then it's time for me to finish my hair, make-up, put on my shoes, gather my Primary supplies and finally meet everyone sitting in the family room as they are dressed and ready to go.

Which brings us to this point, 

Redbox in hand, ready to return on the way to church.

She loves her daddy.  Especially on Sundays.  Lots of down time to cuddle and plant endless kisses on his cheek.

In case you were wondering . . . . I wore a grey & black dress to church.  Hence the grey & black tie.

Payton is in the corner lifting weights.

Conner is at the keyboard practicing a few songs.  He is getting good.  (He got new glasses too.)

Checking out dad's iPad games before we head out the door

And I should note that we go out that door 30 minutes before church begins.  It takes us 5 minutes to get to the chapel.  The Browns -- perpetually early since 2000

That's the way we do it on Sunday mornings.

33 RAKs for 33 Years // report

After a weekend of pampering I decided to switch gears and spend my actual birthday not so focused on me. See blog post - 33 RAKs for 33 Years. This was a pretty great experience.  I highly recommend it.

My goal was to complete 10 (item #82 on my 101 in 1001 list) . . . but I was on a roll and made it to 21.

Here's the rundown, with a few notes & observations at the end.

1.  Volunteer your time -- First thing in the morning I spent 2 hours volunteering in Anna's classroom.  Loved it.  Can't wait to go back.

(Yes, she easily knows the number 7.  I had a stack of numbers 1-100 in my hand -- I randomly placed a few down and they had to identify the number, as well as the number that comes before and the number that comes after.)

2.  Give someone a compliment -- One of the girls in my Primary class is also in Anna's 1st grade class.  Her hair was especially cute that day and I complimented her on it.  As well as lots of "great job!", "you're so smart!", etc. type comments as I drilled the kids one-by-one on their numbers.

3.  Tuck happy notes in car doors wishing people a good day.  I prepared a few notecards with inspirational quotes I had found on Pinterest, and planted these in car doors on my way into Target.  I'm sure no one was watching, but I felt so conspicuous!  Probably because it was my first out-in-public RAK of the day.

4. Leave happy sticky notes on a public bathroom mirror.  I was in a hurry to get out of there, hence the blurry photo.

5.  Mail a box of candy to someone.  As a note, it took way more stamps than I expected it would.  But that's okay . . . how fun would it be to receive this in the mail!

6. Donate clothing to Goodwill

7.  Buy a giftcard for groceries and hand it to the person behind you in line.  I stopped into Albertsons for a few items and picked up a $10 giftcard.  But there wasn't anybody behind me in line.  So I decided I would give it to the first person I saw on my way out of the store.  I ran into a lady who was getting her cart and checking the grocery ads.  I asked her if she was on her way into the store.  And then I said that I would like to share this gift card with her -- it is my birthday and I'm celebrating by sharing with others.  The look of surprise on her face was priceless.  And it was all I could do to keep from tearing up as those words came out of my mouth.  She gave me a hug and I hurried on with a "have a great day!".  Best moment of the day.

8. Drop off a new stuffed animal to the fire department.  Well the front door was locked, so I had to just leave this guy with a note.

9.  Smile at everyone you see.  This exercise made me realize just how much I don't do this on a daily basis.  Bad Shannon.  A good reminder to fix that, because it feels good.

10. Drop coins on the playground for children to find while they play.  Can I just say that this was the funnest thing ever?  Just imagine how excited some kid is going to be when he finds all this loose change.

11. Pick up trash.  After leaving the kids school that morning, I noticed a trash can that was spilled over and instantly I thought "I'm going to clean up that garbage!"  This was my crazy moment of the day.  So I went to Target and bought some plastic gloves.  From a distance I thought that I could easily return the can to it's spot and clean up the mess.  But it wasn't going anywhere -- too heavy.  So, instead I gathered trash into plastic grocery sacks, tidying up the area so it wasn't as unsightly and preventing trash from blowing around until the professionals could get there.

12.  Leave diapers & wipes on a changing table in a public bathroom.  No photo here, I was in a hurry because I thought I could hear a kid outside the door saying, "Mom, I need to go!"

13.  Leave a small treat with a note of thanks for the mailman.  The next day we got a note from him that said, "Wow, thanks!"

14. Write a letter to a friend or family member and mail it (the old-fashioned way)

15. Hand out balloons to children shopping with their parents.  Anna was my helper and she loved it.  One man with kids said, "Is there a catch?"  No, we just want to share balloons with friends.

16. Hide a dollar in the kids' toy section at Dollar Tree

17. Tape change to vending machines.

18. Call or check in on someone you know is alone.  Got to talk to my Grandpa Blain.

19.  Be a friendly driver

20.  Look your children in the eyes when they talk to you.  Tried to be more engaged and present when the kids were home from school.

21.  Leave a note and/or treat in your husband's car/wallet/briefcase/office so he finds it during his work day.  I tucked a card into his bag at the end of the day so he could find it the next day at work.

NOTES / OBSERVATIONS

• To actually complete 33 in one day . . . holy moly, that would take a lot of planning and advance preparation.  I was happy with what I accomplished, seeing as I had just returned from California the day before and was doing this on the fly.
• Sometimes I felt like a stalker -- like that one time I had to hang out in the bathroom stall until the other woman left so I could place my post-its on the mirror.  Or when I had to sit at a picnic table and "check my email" until the woman with her 2 girls left the playground so I could scatter loose change.  Yep, stalker-ish.
• I found that throughout the day my mind was constantly thinking of more and different ways I could perform RAKs.
• And anytime that I wasn't actively involved in a RAK I was antsy, feeling unproductive, and had this desire to get to the next thing.

I think this experience taught me that when you start the day with the goal to help & brighten the day of others, you will find opportunities to make it happen.  Pretty cool.

See the original list of of 33 RAKs for 33 Years (as well as a printable PDF) HERE.

 

my fancy birthday weekend

Here is my mom and I, checking into the St. Regis Monarch Beach last Friday, and trying to play it cool around the fancy people while inside I'm squealing like a little school girl.

We have this mother/daughter tradition-thing and this year we decided to go all out and spoil ourselves with an ultimate spa weekend.  (Thanks to dad's 100,000's Starwood vacation points.)

It was truly wonderful.

When you stay at a fancy hotel you have to do fancy things like . . . sit on the veranda and enjoy an assortment of cheese with honey made from desert wildflowers.

Then you oogle over your hotel room . . . admire the robes, the spacious bathroom, and take happy pictures in the mirror.

Next it's necessary to get out of the room and explore the beautiful grounds and ocean views.

There are times you might have to stop and ask yourself . . . . am I in SoCal or Italy?  Because you might get confused.

And of course, continue to take your photo in every mirror available.

And stalk the hotel staff . . . . because they just look so fancy in their white coats.

While staying at a fancy hotel it's perfectly normal for the staff to drop off an unexpected "Happy Birthday" dessert to your room.  "The hotel wants to offer you an amenity."  Why, thank you!

And it's perfectly normal for that dessert to be topped with edible gold. 

When the evening arrives it's time to dress up and join the fancy people at a fancy dinner.

And plan on having a most amazing meal where the staff showers you with compliments, a birthday card, a special birthday dessert, the tiniest grilled cheese sandwich & cup of celery soup you've ever seen, and miniature ice cream cones at parting.

After two hours of dining and successfully stuffing yourself (ahi tuna tartare, potato gnocchi with coconut infused froth, a duck entree, and carmelia truffle with pistachio sponge cake, blackberries, and marscapone ice cream), it's time to come back to the hotel room and cozy up in matching pajamas.  (Courtesy of mom.)

Before bedtime, be sure to make your selections for breakfast and hang the in-room dining menu on the outside of your door.  That way, in the morning you can wake up to this . . . .

If you have the opportunity to indulge in spa treatments I highly recommend it.  When you make your reservation be prepared to answer questions like, "For your massage would you prefer a handsome man or a young lady?"

An aromatherapy massage plus a facial with micro-dermabrasion is my recommendation.  And prepare to be pampered -- white robes & slippers, a plate of grapes placed near the fireplace in the massage room, as well as water, dried apricots, and almonds for nibbling in the Tranquility Room.  They will also offer you a complimentary glass of white or red wine after each service, but the staff shows no offense when you thankfully decline.

After a day at the spa the appropriate thing to do is lounge at the pool with a pina colada . . . enjoying your relaxed state of mind and marvelling at your silky smooth skin.

Eventually it is time to shower and prepare for dinner again.  The hotel robes and slippers are comfort defined.

Again, one cannot have too many mirror photos.  And a dinner by the beach affords itself to slightly more casual dress.

 But don't be in too much of a hurry that you can't stop to admire the fancy weddings on the hotel grounds, sometimes twice daily.

As most will agree, there is nothing quite like a sunset dinner.  Made all that much better by wonderful food and wonderful company.

When you stay in a fancy hotel it can be somewhat difficult to re-enter the real world.  

But when that time comes you simply look back, sigh, and feel happy that you can take some of the fancy with you in your memories and heart . . . . 

and it doesn't hurt to bring back some fancy in your suitcase . . . . hotel slippers, drink coasters, bathroom toiletries, hotel stationary, and individually packaged q-tips & cotton rounds with the St. Regis seal.

Thanks mom (and dad) for a wonderful trip!

33 RAKs for 33 years

It's another birthday-themed Monday!  And today is my real birthday!

Sometime earlier this year I came across this great idea on Pinterest -- a blogger had given herself a challenge to complete 38 RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) on her 38th birthday.  See the post HERE.

I thought it was such a cool, fulfilling, uplifting idea.

So for my 33rd birthday I decided to come up with a similar list (gleaning some ideas from here and here).  Now, I'm not ambitious enough to complete 33 in one day.  I applaud those women who did accomplish such a feat, and greater.  My plan is to go for at least 10 RAKs in a day -- see #82 on this list.

If you want to join in with me today, or sometime this week, or whenever . . . . you can download the PDF to carry around with you:   Download 33 RAKs for 33 Years

Or use it to inspire your own birthday RAK celebration.

Just think about how warm and squishy we'll all feel at the end of the day.  :)

first grade journals are my favorite

Love the emotion in her illustrations.

Aw, we miss our Oregon friends.

I love it when our weekends are not busy.  And when they are Osum (awesome).

True, true.  Anna, I worry about the same thing.

Seriously, first grade journals are my favorite.  I got a little peak at her journal this week during the school's Open House.  I wish I could steal that little journal from her desk every week!

shannon & sheila's awesome adventure

Remember when I said that this was going to be a good month?  Well, this is one of the reasons why . . . . 

My friend and birthday twin came to visit me!

We have a birthday pedicure tradition and Sheila was not going to let it slip away.  And the crazy girl decided to fly in and out on the same day!  So what do you do when you only have 5 hours together?

First, run to the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign for a photo op

(We did not coordinate on the stripes -- I can't tell you how many times we have shown up to places and matched in some way.)

Enjoy some yummy cupcakes

Then pedicures at a super plush & girly nail salon

(Isn't this place adorable?  Those purple velvet chairs + the hot stone foot massage + the 2 adorable japanese girls who run the place = awesome.)

Grab some lunch -- salad & sandwiches at Panera Bread

Dessert at Purple Penguin Snow Cones.  Where else??  

(Sheila ordered coconut + banana + ice cream and I ordered coconut + vanilla + ice cream.  I love my Tiger's blood, but I was wearing white pants so I wanted to play it safe.)

And before we knew it it was time to pick up the kids from school and take her back to the airport.  :(

It was a wonderful, happy, foot pampering, snow cone eating, much too short day!  It was so fun to show someone where I live.  And so fun to celebrate an early-birthday with my favorite birthday twin.  Thanks Sheila for coming!

and the blurb giveaway goes to . . . .

With the help of Random.org the winner of the $25 Blurb giveaway is . . . 

Comment number 3 . . . . 

Congratulations!!! . . . Mom!  :)  I'm laughing at how this one turned out.  I'll e-mail you the details.

Thanks everyone for commenting and participating.  And just a reminder, through the rest of the September you can use the code CREATEABOOK to get 15% off at Blurb.

birthday celebration kit

Earlier this summer, one of the ladies that I am assigned to visit at church had a birthday.  I wanted to put together a little something cute for her but I had only met & talked to her once, so I didn't really know her that well.  

Hmmm

So, while brainstorming I came up with the idea to give her a birthday celebration kit.  It's pretty basic, but cute, so it can work for just about anyone.  I just hope she liked the color yellow!

These are the contents:

• yellow sanding sugar
• yellow chevron cookie bags
• mini cupcake liners
• toothpick flags
• ruffled streamers

To cute-ify your toothpicks, simply wrap the top with washi tape and snip with scissors

I found a tutorial for ruffled streamers HERE.  They were so easy to make.  And so incredibly cute!!!

I put it all together in a kraft box, added a cute pinwheel, and delivered it on her birthday.  I hope she liked it.