Juggling

Well first I want to apologize for the absence of regular posts...
I think it's been almost two weeks since I've posted...ooops!
This month I've returned to work from my maternity leave...all in all I've gotta say it's been really great. Simon only has to be in child care for two days a week and we've found a really great daycare so that definitely helps. I wonder if it'll ever get easier to leave him there. I really hope so. We'll see I guess. I've slid right back into everything at work though without for
getting too much. It's great to see my old clients...and they seem to be happy that I'm back too, so that's a plus. We have been able to keep pretty busy at the spa. I'm so thankful for this because a lot of spa's in the area have not been so fortunate and have fallen victim to the crummy economy.
So between my work schedule, making sure everyone's got clean clothes to wear and a healthy supply of food on a regular basis, not to mention packing for the big move next week...it pretty much has me running flat out with little time for much else.
Speaking of packing... off I go...

Cool Finds

Today I was perusing the web... hopping from one cool blog to the next looking for inspiration and cool stuff in general. There are A LOT of amazing blogs out there, and they just seem to suck me in like a tornado. Once it finally spits me out I'm hours behind in my daily schedule...oops!
One of the very cool blogs I came across today is called Down and Out Chic. It's general theme is that style can fit into a tight budget, which is definitely something that's rolling around everyone's minds lately. Today she featured an Etsy artist called Bird in Flight Boutique with a very special giveaway. I love stumbling upon giveaways like this because
A. I get to enter them, of course!
AND
B. I discover a new Etsy store I feel like I never would have found on my own...because Etsy is just so HUGE!
Pop on over to check it out!

Mr. & Mrs. Bunny

Well it's about time!!!
I know, I know.
This was my biggest project of the holiday season. I wanted to share it with you all so badly before Christmas...but they were gifts for my sweet little niece and nephew, and I didn't want to ruin the surprise!
As soon as I laid eyes on the pattern I knew it would be the perfect choice for these precious kiddies, and I just had to make them. I got the pattern from Hazelnuts Bunny Tutorial. I was super nervous to make these little critters because I have never done anything like this before but her instructions were very clear and easy to follow. It was the perfect project to start out with...and now I'm hooked! I see many more stuffy projects in my future ;)

Step 1 Cut out tiny little pieces of felt.

Step 2 Try and sew all these itsy bitsy pieces together so that it resemble a rabbit...

Coming together...

Bunny appendages.

Feeling...not so full.

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Bunny!

Profile shots.

Their sweet little tails.

Ta~da! Finished...Sigh :)

The kids just loved their little handmade friends!

Construction Zone

Hello Everyone!
We are just trying to find a new look for the new year...
Thanks for bearing with me while I'm a wee bit new in the art of blog design

Taking Stock

This last week has been a time of deep reflection for me, and I'm sure for many of you too. I did a lot more looking back than I usually do. I'm generally ready to shove the past year out the door and get on with the next one. In my contemplation I realized I have learned a lot about myself this year that I think will really help me with the years to come. I'm anxious to see how these realizations will affect this next lag of the journey.
I am absolutely a lover of black and white. Black in my closet and white on my walls ;) but seriously I really thrive in an environment where there is only right and wrong with nothing in between the two. When there is clear definition like this everything is simplified and there is no room for insecurity, because it's either right or it's wrong! Unfortunately for me there is very little black and white in this world. We live in a compilation of colors that more often result in varying shades of gray than any other crisp definite color. This has been a huge eye opener for me especially on the parenting front. There are no constant variables, black or white. However there are some very opinionated people who feel very strongly about imposing their parenting paradigms. I feel like I have found peace and confidence in my right to raise my children according to my convictions and personal experience during my first year as a mom. I have also come to embrace these strong opinions with objectivity without immediately doubting my own parenting beliefs, because there is sometimes helpful information hidden in them.
It's pretty common knowledge that what you eat and exercise can have an impact on how you feel. This year I learned just how much it really does make a difference. It was probably made so apparent by all the crazy postnatal hormones. But nevertheless when I wasn't working out and eating a balanced diet...I was a lunatic... Apologies to my dear sweet husband.
So this next year I will try to use these lessons to help make life a little easier. As most of you know Wayne was a running machine last year, so this year I plan to run with him a little more. As a matter of fact I will be running the 5k race in the Boogie the Bridge, a local charity run on May 2nd. We'll see how that goes then who knows maybe I'll go for the tri-triathlon. Anyone care to join me?

A sigh of relief

Well today is a very happy day for us... I got a call from our Realtor last night and he said, "Congratulations, we have a sold house!" The subjects officially come off this afternoon, but nonetheless I feel like I a can exhale. Today I will also be touring the home we have our eye on with my father and an inspector to see if there are any red flags that my untrained eye has missed. Unfortunately Wayne must work so he will miss out on the inspection. So the beginning of this year also marks a new beginning for our family in our new home...Hopefully we'll last a little longer in it than we have in previous ones.

The Big Party!

Well last week was such a full week with Simon's birthday right on top of Christmas and all I've done for you is reminisce... So here's what actually happened this year!

Simon's birthday was so special! We were able to rent a room at the local zoo, there were just more guests than our home would hold and it's not exactly a season you can just hang out at the park. It worked out really well because every Christmas the zoo puts on a display with lights strung out into different shapes so it gave us a nice location for his birthday with a place to warm up and do cake and stuff like that too...I was so caught up in "Simon's birthday" that I forgot to take any pictures of the lights, but there was an ark filled with animals and a frog pond, a nativity scene, and countless other illuminated creations...it was actually quite pretty.

We did take a tour around the park on their little train... Simons favorite part was definitely the generaters strategically set up across the park. I thought that was quite hilarious. It was soooo cold we didn't really spend much time outside though. Immediately after the train came to a halt our party of passengers made a mad dash for the indoors. Ok...it wasn't that bad...but close. We warmed up with some yummy hot chocolate and home baked goods. Then we did all the traditional party things like the happy birthday song with cake and gifts. Simon thought all the attention was pretty neat. Close to 8 pm as our party was winding down we turned out the lights in the room and had front row seats to the little fireworks display to finish our night with a bang!

Here are a few captured memories from the evening...

I tried to make little spider cakes...of course they didn't turn out exactly how I pictured them... but they were cute, and kinda fit in the theme

...and the train

Proud Mom & Dad...It was sure cold out!

It was so hilarious to watch him with the cake...He got so excited as soon as he tasted it and it was literally gone in a matter of minutes.

Simon really appreciated all of his gifts. He was so excited about all the attention, and loved the fireworks too!