Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Patience, Purpose, Poise, and an Affirmation

These are my focus words right now- they are the characteristics that I'm trying to incorporate into my life each day. I decided a few weeks ago that I'd choose three focus words each month. I don't know if each month's words will be such a shining example of alliteration. The fact that June's words all start with a "P" is pure coincidence... sort of.

In June, I want to have more patience with Harper.

In June, I want every day/activity/choice to have purpose.

In June, I want to conduct myself with more poise- to talk less, listen more, stand a little straighter, and go a little slower.

Last night as we were driving home from the concert, I was thinking about the little house I was going home to- and more importantly, I was thinking about the husband, the daughter, and the two fur babies that live in that little house. At that moment, everything about my life right now was reaffirmed to me, and I was overwhelmed with gratitude for Colt, Harper, Hazel, and Tucker. I'm a lucky girl to have these people/pets in my life, even if it means leaving half of my heart at home when I go out for an evening.

Last night I realized that for the first time ever, I feel satisfied with where I am. I no longer have to question myself or my life. I feel like I'm finally in the right place. I'm finally doing what I was meant to do.

This little house and the family that lives here give my life purpose. Colt, Harper, Hazel, and Tucker give me something to come home to- something that is so much more wonderful than any place I go or any concert that I see. Bruno Mars was great for sure, but Colt and Harper are amazing. I feel so blessed to have them. I feel like they fill up the parts of me that were never whole before and now I really understand what it means to say, "My cup runneth over."

Anyway, on to some cute stuff. Remember when I mentioned in my last post that Harper likes to get ready with me? Well, here is what it looks like when she does...

She is oftentimes too busy to look at the camera...




We make KISSY FACES!

Then we kiss.
Harper kisses are my favorite.

My makeup is like a wonderland of fun for her.
She really likes sticking her fingers in expensive lipstick.


I'm pretty sure Harper brought the orange plate in with her. 
I like an ice cold Rockstar Recovery when I'm getting ready.
Harper likes a big plate of Cheetos.

Obviously my cup runneth over with 100% pure cuteness...
(I'm obsessed with Instagram. Obsessed.)

A Weekend in Barrettes

I spent the last three days away from the computer and it was wonderful. Instead of facebook/blog stalking all of you, I read A Tale of Two Cities. It was wonderful and once again, I'm wishing I had just a little bit of Dickens' genius.

I'm starting The Book Thief tonight and I'm really excited. I've lost track of how many people have recommended it to me.

I'm glad to be back, though and I hope that everyone had a lovely weekend. I know that we certainly did.

Potty training didn't really happen, however. We decided to postpone it so that we could be out and about having fun over the holiday. I also feel like Harper isn't quite ready and believe me, she is the kind of girl that won't be pushed into anything. Potty training is going to have to be on her terms, just like losing the bottle was.

My adventure into the art of barrette wearing was successful and really, I'm quite addicted now and have been barrette shopping on etsy all afternoon.

Here are a few of my barrette styles... Please keep in mind that I'm an amateur hair stylist and am really just making these up as I go....

Here I am heading for a long walk in the park with Colt, Harper, and Tucker. I paired this barrette with a super messy bun.

On Sunday evening, Colt and I went to see The Hangover, Part 2. I wore my hair in a perky ponytail with a mermaid braid (which you can't really see... but it's cute, I promise) on the side, and I topped it all off with a barrette. ( Remember when I tried a perky ponytail for the first time in like 20 years?) Anyway, my hair is a little wavy here because I slept in two french braids the night before. 

Harper loves to get ready with me. Basically, she destroys my makeup bins, smashes lipstick, and stares at herself in the mirror. She had a great time at Grandma's house and Colt and I had fun on our little date.  I love when we pick Harper up. She is always so excited to see us and lets me kiss her soft little cheeks as many times as I want.

Last night, I went to see Bruno Mars with some friends and my sisters-in-law. Thanks to Harper and an enormous mess (courtesy of Harper), I had about 5 minutes for my hair. I wound up with a messy blowout/side barrette sort of style. It was okay but I'd really hoped for something more creative. I just didn't have the time. 


Plain jain hair aside, the concert was great. Bruno Mars is a sexy man with a sexy voice, for sure, and it was really fun to see him live.

Truthfully, I'm not really a big concert person- I much prefer the symphony or a Broadway show where people sit quietly in their seats and resist the urge to dance and sing along. I've never been a very good concert goer. I'm not a screamer. I don't dance and I certainly don't sing along. Still, I had fun last night and am really glad that we went. 

Also, you could not pay me enough money to be a 13 year old girl again. I've been there and I never want to go back. I owe a big thank you to the overly enthusiastic tween who was making out with a photo of Bruno Mars last night for reminding me of this. Don't get me wrong, I loved N'Sync back in the day and I went to their concert. I'm sure I even did my share of screaming and freaking out, but I never sunk so low as to kiss a computer print-out photo of Justin Timberlake. 

Even at 13, I think I would have preferred a ticket to Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables. That little old lady that lives in my soul- the one who like floral bags and figurines- is probably to blame. 

Friday, May 27, 2011

Wish Us Luck

"Potty training this weekend? Oh boy!!!"
Happy Memorial Day weekend, friends!
I hope that your plans are a little more exciting than ours.
We've got some intense potty training planned for the next three days.
Wish us luck.

Oh and remember how I loved barrettes but didn't have any (well besides a few small clips and such...)? Well, that situation is no longer. I hit the store and stocked up on Goody barrettes today. If, amidst the potty training madness, we leave the house at all this weekend, I'll wear one of them. Then I will be just as fabulous as Kirsten Dunst... well, almost.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Goodness All Around

For a while now, I've been wishing and hoping that barrettes would come back with a bang. Well, obviously Kirsten Dunst and I are equally awesome because she's been thinking about barrettes, too.

Except she took it one step further than me and actually wore one.

I'd wear a barrette, too, but I don't have one... yet.

I love Kirsten. I love barrettes. I love yellow dresses and red lipstick.

Everything about this is a good thing.

























Remember Tucker's new bed?
Well, Hazelnut loves it.

Oh and Harper's feet grew yet again.
I had to clean out her shoes drawer, yet again.
Harper had many adventures in these shoes and clearing them out was a little sad for me.
(I may or may not have cried.)
I'll post my thoughts and feelings about worn-out/out-grown shoes tomorrow. 



I'm Not Crafty but She Is

I'm not a crafty girl. I never will be so don't expect for me to start posting pictures of my amazing creations. I don't have any amazing creations. I don't have the patience for sewing, knitting, or any other form of do-it-yourselfing. I've accepted the fact that I'd rather read a book or go to the gym than make something.

It's a good thing that I'm exceptionally good at buying cute things.

If I WERE a DYI kind of girl, I'd want to be like Sarah (who is cute, crafty, and all around amazing) over at Welcome to the Good Life, I'd probably save a lot of money because I'd be able to make something like this...

Tucker's New Bed

Tucker's new bed is here. We actually wound up getting one from Cabela's after all but no worries, it isn't a camo, duck, or bear print. It's actually a really great navy houndstooth material. I like it because it's cute and the cover is washable (I'm sort of an over-washer). Tucker likes it because it's big and comfy.

Tucker has eaten (or at least chewed into pieces) 2 beds and 5 blankets. I'm hoping that he has matured a little and will leave his new bed alone. I'm also hoping that he will learn to lay on it for more than 7 seconds at a time. Currently, when he is out of his kennel, Tucker never holds still. His constant walking around the house drives me crazy. I love him but I really, really want him to just chill out, lay on his bed, and take a nap so that we can watch a movie in peace. Hopefully his fancy new bed will help.
Oh my, isn't this face adorable? Tucker might be an overly energetic and occasionally naughty puppy and he might step on my toes at least 15 times a day (95 pounds of Tucker on my little feet = ouchy ouch!), but he is a sweetie at heart and I can't imagine our house without him.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Maybe She is Going to Be an Artist?

 Harper has become quite the little colorer lately. She spends hours (literally) coloring everyday. She colors with crayons, pens, twistables, and anything else she can swipe from our kitchen drawer. She is certainly the only girl I know that has to color in two coloring books, a notebook, a stack of post-its, and a journal open all at once. 

     


"Woh!" she said after spilling (aka purposefully dumping) the entire box of crayons. 

So now I'm in search of fun coloring/art activities for Harper. I'm going to try and find a white board easel on KSL and I'd also like to pick up some of those window markers (because it's not like my sliding glass door is ever clean for more than five minutes anyway). 

I'm also going to be really brave and let Harper finger paint- outside and in nothing but a diaper. I know that this is a legitimate toddler activity. The neighborhood boy did it last Saturday. There was a little green two year old running around our lawn in his Huggies. I'm not kidding, and it was adorable. 

 Do you have any suggestions for toddler crafts/art projects? What are your favorite (and preferably washable) kiddie art supplies? 

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

A Happier Happy Birthday

I do believe that Harper enjoyed Colt's birthday more than he did.

She colored a picture for him.
It took her 45 minutes and I had to bust out a Magic Eraser to clean up afterward.

She bit one of his candles in half. 
I had to tape the 6 back together so we could sing to Colt.
It was pretty classy.
Hey, it's not like I keep extra #6 candles on hand.
Do you? Well you are obviously more prepared than I am.

She ate his birthday cake and got quite messy.
She managed to get her chocolate frosting fingers on me before I could get a wipe.
Thank goodness for Shout.

 I cleaned her up and then she snuggled with her dad.
She insisted on NOT putting her clothing back on.


Then she played with Colt's balloons- for over an hour.
She came away from this activity with a nickel-sized bruise on her forehead.





She finished the night off by sharing Colt's cake and ice cream.
I guess that one piece of cake just isn't enough for the daughter of the birthday boy.


Having Harper around makes everything more fun. She is the light of our lives and she makes us laugh every single day.

Harper makes happy birthdays even happier.

Monday, May 23, 2011

I'm Part Old Lady

It is probably the little old lady that lives in my soul talking right now when I say, "I need this big, yellow, flowery bag."
She's a smart one, that little old lady that lives in my soul.

A Big Weekend Post with Lots of Photos

Good morning and happy Monday, everyone! Today is Colty's birthday. I'd wish him a happy birthday but the fact is that he doesn't read my blog. Besides, I've already told him, texted him, and written on his facebook wall. I've also got a card waiting for him. I think I've got the "Happy Birthday" thing covered for this year.

 He is 26. Yes, I'm a cradle robber, or at least that is what his Grandma tells me. Please don't rub it in.

Anyway, Colt is awesome.

Harper and I just finished making his cake. When it comes to cake, Colt is sort of like a kid: "yellow with chocolate frosting" is his favorite. Harper had a great time helping me (aka making a huge mess) and was more than happy to try her first ever taste of cake batter (aka Heavenly Heaven on a spoon).

Colt's birthday party was last Friday. If you came and celebrated with us, thank you. We love our friends (you know who you are) and honestly don't get together with them enough. Let's change that, okay?

I know the night was pretty chill but Colt had fun and really, that's all that matters, right?

We started the night at Porcupine. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know how much we love this place. It's our favorite.

This is why...

The food was delicious. The company wasn't too shabby, either. Really though, the company was actually probably better than the food, and that is saying a lot since the food was amazing.

After dinner, we headed to Canyon Inn for some drinks and fun. Do you watch True Blood? Well, Canyon Inn reminds me a little of Merlotte's with its' wood panelling and interesting variety of patrons. There are no vampires, its true, but the people watching at Canyon Inn is still pretty interesting and they serve drinks in mason jars, which is pretty much the coolest thing ever and certainly the only classy thing about the place.

Colt shares his birthday with his twin, Calli. She's the best and it really is awesome to tell people that I have a twin-sister-in-law.

We did not plan to wear coordinating colors, I promise. It just happened. Great (and obviously fashionable) minds really do think alike, don't they?

That birthday boy- he's so cute!

 This is probably the most interesting Colt/Abby photo yet.


I like anything served in a mason jar.

Harper spent that night at her Grandma Carrie's house and I missed her like crazy. When we woke up on Saturday, our house felt awkwardly empty. I hated it. I looked at Colt and said, "Let's go get our baby." I didn't even bother to get ready beforehand. We spent all of Saturday with Harper and it was wonderful. We took her to all of her favorite places- the library, Chick-fil-A, the park, and the store.

She also got to play outside with the neighbor children and she loved it, especially the part where they shared their cool toys with her.

Hazel has a neighbor friend, too.
Her name is Chloe and she is the 3rd cutest shih tzu I know.
Hazel is first, then Zowie (even though they are pretty much tied in cuteness).
Hazel and Chloe had a fun time playing (aka begging Harper for food) on Saturday.
Sometimes when I'm away from Harper, I sort of (but not really) forget how cute she is. Then when I see her again, I'm totally blown away by her extreme cuteness.