All Tangled Up!

After an unseasonably dry & warm start to our year, the rain & wind rolled in to the bay area, just in time for Camden's birthday week. Of course this being the first year we were going to attempt her party outdoors- at the park, original plans for her Tangled-inspired party suddenly moved to Plan B (postponement) then to Plan C (venue change).

I'm not ashamed to admit that I have gradually made it a priority to plan events according to ideal lighting conditions for photography purposes! I think preserving the happy memories and hard work that goes into parties is important! Plus, Camden had this whole plan to transform the park's play structure into Rapunzels's tower. Yes, she's quickly becoming party planning-obsessed, and I have no idea where she gets this horrible curse.

So minus the DIY tower and wonderful outdoor lighting (my house desperately lacks natural light), we were still determined to pull off the BEST DAY EVER... and, WHOO-HOOOOO, we did!

***

Camden's turning five,
so let's get together...
Come let down your hair
for the BEST DAY EVER!

Of course, Pinterest proved to be a great source of inspiration for this party, with lots of ideas I was able to adapt to create my own! I found several versions of ice cream cone cupcake towers, paint favors, Flynn Rider game, skillets as serveware, and I specifically loved the yellow ribboned crowns via Tiny Tutu Boutique and the Tangled up game from The Metzgars blog. Thanks, Pinterest!

YAY for WATER!

Today is World Water Day!

Everyone in the world should have access to clean water! I have become passionate about clean drinking water over the past few years, since the launch of Project 320 in 2009. Just last month the girls and I received word that four P320-funded projects have recently been completed via Charity: Water and thanks to YOUR donations- like this hand dug well in Minchi Village, Ethiopia- serving hundreds of people. Amazing and encouraging!

The Adventure Project is awesome!

Meg Duerksen of Whatever is also passionate about clean water. Today she is joining forces with fellow bloggers to feature The Adventure Project, in an effort to support the well mechanics that are desperately needed to keep those new wells working. And she's got some major incentive for those who have the heart to help raise money by donating today. A box of Craft Weekend swag is up for grabs, including my very own YAY burlap bunting! Meg has all the details here.

YAY for clean water! Go give!

Thank YOU!

OH BABY!

At Tegan's shower in January, we didn't quite know yet that I was the only non-preggo in this photo! Tegan was about 8 months along, Mel about 2 months, and my S-I-L Amanda... well we'd soon realize that she had conceived about a week prior in Jamaica (they were on their belated honeymoon, after all!). YAY for THREE 2012 new additions via three of my favorite girls!

Marlee Kate arrived last month! I can't wait to squeeze her!

Mel finally revealed the new equation this week, now that she's half way done!

And nearly through trimester #1 of pregnancy #1, Amanda & Bobby just announced it to the world, as well. In September I'll be an Auntie again!

It's Spring, the sun is shining, and there is so much to look forward to this year! Including a serious baby fix, minus the morning sickness and sleepless nights. (Oh wait, my nights are still sleepless.)

And what a perfect time to be practice my latest obession- shooting in manual. (Can someone please teach me Photoshop? Thanks.) Here are just a few more I've taken of Amanda over the past weeks... many, many, many more can be expected!

ten on ten: march

ten on ten: Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month.
Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments!

FIVE

We love you SOOOOOOO much, Stinky!

HAPPY saturday!

{My HAPPY burlap bunting is listed here!}

my kitchen floor gets a lot of action.

Monday: My clean-freak husband couldn't accept the fact that we were out of dishwasher detergent, and decided he'd solve the problem with "just a little" ultra-concentrated dish soap. Yeah, Kevin doesn't do anything on a little scale. I'm pretty confident he filled both soap dispensers to the brim. Clean-up was fun!


Thursday: Cole is obsessed with cracking eggs. (And it's not limited to our kitchen floor. Let's just say Cole and egg cartons must never ride in the grocery cart at the same time.) I'm lucky to have caught him after two eggs this time.


There is a very sweet mom from Camden's class who constantly comments that she doesn't get how I "have it so all together." After laughing (and wondering if she can actually see my sweats and half blown dry scraggly hair) I always reassure her that I indeed do not. Like, at all.

{Created by my friend Julie. She's so smart.}

80: Percentage of time I choose sewing over laundry (possibly 90). And my laundry pile is not small. And remember, I have a clean-freak husband.
33: Percentage of the likelihood of an argument occurring somewhere in our house, at any given time.
1: Number of days per week I even open my make-up drawer.
3: Number of days per week I choose comfort over cuteness... in the form of sweats or leggings. Those 'What I Wore Wednesday' people? Hate 'em all I'm sorta jealous.
20: Percentage of bills filling my mailbox that I definitely can't afford to pay.
etc.
etc.
etc.

My kitchen floor gets a lot of action, and many nights I go to bed way too tired to even sweep up the mess. But most nights I go to bed happy! Blogging has a way of making it really easy to compare and envy. But no matter how much
you
think
someone
has
it
all
together,
they
don't.
seriously.

Don't be afraid to be you.
(Just a reminder.)

Happy weekend!