Independence Rocks

how beautiful is this flag?

And the rock stars on wheels?

Here we have our local 4th of July Parade

where the entire town marches & rolls down Main Street.

Such a fun tradition

And lastly I must share the most
bomb-diggity party on the west coast.
Hosted by the crazy talented Dellars.
Yep, we were there.
And it was fantastic.

What a blessing it is to celebrate and enjoy
the freedoms we have in this country.
Yaaaahoooo. 
I love America.

Spoiled

Welcoming my 35th year with a smile...

Yesterday was my birthday ~ something that I always look forward to, but this year the day was especially magical.  It started off with bacon & eggs scrambled by my biggest girl.  She made me the sweetest card and gifted me with a delicious bottle of lavender honey perfume.  The little miss wrote me a little birthday greeting before heading off to school while protesting that she shouldn't have to go because my birthday was "more important than school".  Mr. man came home with red roses and a new lens for my other new baby (more on that later).  He and I then headed up north for a gorgeous, butt-kicking hike with our dear friends J&D. It was Miss Love's first hike and she was asleep for 97.5% of it...perfect.  Went for a quick lunch at the Garden Market (sweet lunch spot) where the D's gave me the most beautiful earrings.  Next stop...home ~ where a yummy little cupcake morsel was waiting on my doorstep (left by Lady Wicky).  We picked up the kids, some beach gear and headed for the big blue where our friends and their families joined us for dinner and a bonfire as we watched the sun set.  The kiddies stripped down to their chonis while playing in and getting pumelled by the waves, dancing on the beach and having a blast.  Guess maybe I should mention that the weather was... well... PERFECT.  As we soaked in the sound of joy from the kids, Miyo spotted some dolphins surfing the waves swirling toward us.  It was breathtaking...

 

 

I ended the evening with a bonfire under the stars, listening to waves, making smores and enjoying the company of my friends and family. 
the. day. could. not. have. been. better.

I'm so thankful to God for my beautiful life. 

Don't know how I deserve any of this but truly I am blessed.

Showered & Blessed

This past weekend my sweet cousin through me a party
for the new life growing inside. 
Regardless of the gloomy weather,
some of my favorite mothers joined me in a sweet celebration. 
We dined on a freshly catered french meal
set before us on a table dressed for royalty. 
I felt utterly spoiled and loved.

After our amazing lunch~friends and family
blessed me with words of love, support and kindness
while I just sat and savored the treasure of their friendships. 
It was truly a beautiful experience that I will always remember. 

"Labor" day is fast approaching (a month away)
and I am getting prepared for our new little life outside the womb. 
We've decided to wait on finding out the sex
of our sweet new journey, but will know soon enough. 

Hoping to start posting a bit more before that day comes.

wonder.full.friends...

 play dress up nanny with your four year old with gusto.  This is no amateur we're talking about, this woman's got professional drama skills when it comes to getting down an dirty with the baby dolls.  Honestly.  She could teach a class on tapping into the imagination of children of all ages.  The best part is, she lets the little miss know that she takes this playtime seriously while she sports that pink boa! It makes little M feel oh so special. 

Not only is she a great playmate to my little one, she is my partner in crime when it comes to thrifting.  Nothing is better than finding your frugal shopping soul mate!

Thanks Julia for being such a wonderful friend to me and my girls.  We love playtime with you!

Sweet blues

A day filled with delicious blueberries for the pickin and watching the chickens dance is not one short on smiles.
There really is so much to love about summer.

xoxo

play day

Yesterday the little miss & I went for a visit to see our dear friend J and check out the amazing artwork at I MADONNARI.  I couldn't help but stand in admiration of the talent and commitment it took to finish these beautiful  pastel paintings in a matter of three days knowing all the while they will be washed away within weeks by weather and footsteps.  There was so much life in these pieces and each seemed to tell it's own story.

Just gorgeous.

There was a section of concrete dedicated just to children and I loved the vivid colors that blanketed the blacktop.

This one in particular fit me perfectly right now.

After a day spent taking in the sights in SB we had our friends over for a little playtime.  The girls played "family" and watched a movie while the mamas worked on sewing projects (well one of us did).  Miyo made this sweet little dress for her daughter while my project was much less involved.  Since mine is a gift I'll just give a little glimpse of what my hands were making:

I definitely like the little sew-op we had and am hoping there's many more to come.

Fun to be one

Last weekend we celebrated one year of life with little Caitlin Rae and her parents.  The little miss was in paradise with baby farm animals to pet and cuddle, cupcakes with ice cream and the honor of helping unwrap all of the baby's new toys/clothes.  What a score.  I think she was so happy with the whole thing, it may as well have been her big day.  Bri loved the animals too and got a little snuggling in with them herself.  They were so sweet we I was tempted to bring some home with us.  Mr man...not so much. 

It's always fun to catch up with old friends and gather in appreciation of their growing family.
Truly a blessing in life.

love notes

I recently ordered these little note cards from my friend Jenn over at Ambrosia Girl.  I just love the lace borders and vibrant colors.  She has some great stationery and fun prints in her etsy shop.  If we were ever graced with a little boy, I am certain the car print below would look awesome in his room. 

Have a lovely day!

more rain = more hearts

I've found a new joy in hand sewing and

embroidery as the rainy day washes through town.

These mini heart pillows are so fun and easy to make

although I haven't really figured out how I want to use them yet.

Any ideas???

I leave you with the polka dot trio
who jumped, slid, air hockeyed and bickered
to their hearts content this morning
before getting their spotted slickers on for the ride home.

Princess D

Last weekend we spent some time celebrating little misses sweet friend...princess D. 
I have never seen a child who loves playing dress-up and princess more than she.
So for her fifth birthday we thought we'd present her highness with a crown.
Is she worthy?  Most definitely, she is.

Happy birthday precious D!

A little R&R

Last weekend our friends Kim & Ben invited us to a big sleepover at their house along with another couple that always keeps us in stitches. Their house is around a hundred years old and has a third story room that would satisfy any teenage girl's slumber party dreams as it is equipped with three built in full size beds, has vaulted ceilings and a window with a view.

We had such a great time eating apple pancakes, going to the farmer's market, the park, hiking, playing bad mitten, eating homemade pizza, staying up late discussing our incredibly important opinions on life, parenting and religion, celebrating a birthday child and soaking up the Santa Barbara sights, oh and eating some more. It was such a fun and relaxing time.

Thanks guys for sharing your new home with us! Looking forward to our gathering.

xoxo

What friends are for...

someone to wash your hair~

to have pajama parties with~

enjoy a good flick together~

to hold each other when things get scary~

Good buddies make life so much sweeter.

Thanks for hanging with us K/D/L

French finale

There's really nothing I didn't love about France on our trip. Granted, we only visited a very small part of the country...but it was the perfect place to be introduced and get a taste of french living. I gained a new perspective on so many things while we were there bringing me back home refreshed, relaxed and ready for another adventure back to this beautiful country.

When we left for France I had been experiencing back pain for over a year. It was pretty miserable and I had tried every possible avenue to figure out what was going on. Between the doctor visits, the physical therapy and the acupuncture nothing was really solving my problem. Nothing that is, until I arrived in France. Call me crazy ~ but France was my therapy, and not only because I was on holiday....but because of where I was on holiday.

Our french adventures really made a huge impact on me and taught me some lessons that are leading my life in a new direction.

French Lesson #1:

Food. It should be local. It should be fresh. It should be savored and eaten slowly with wine and good company...always.

French Lesson #2:

Slowwwww down. The energy and pace of life in So. France is comfortably slower. People aren't rushing here and there to fit 100 errands into their days. The farming tractors are rolling through town, people are tending to their work and chores but not it a hurried manner. It is something I am constantly reminding myself as even when I put my mind in a more relaxed state, just outside my door the energy & busy-ness of life is zooming by.

French Lesson #3:

Rest is good. Not just the evening snooze, but a break in the midafternoon gives a chance to (again) slow down, regroup, connect with yourself. I loved that the shops & restaurants would shut down for a couple hours after lunch. So different from my experiences in the states, where the drive of life is purely business~profits~sales.

French Lesson #4:

Laughter for hours on end makes my face hurt...and I like it. This lesson really has very little to do with France itself, but was such a good reminder while I was there. Being in a foreign country with 5 other women was the best! We laughed for days (mostly at ourselves) and formed bonds that will always be remembered & cherished.

Life changing, it was.

Seriously?

I turned my back for a small window of time yesterday to two sick teenagers lying on the couch groaning in misery. Yet this morning when I plugged my camera into the computer.....here is what they left me. Whodu thunk fresh produce could be so much fun! Oh how they love to surprise me!

D + M = La, La, La Love

Last weekend we had the opportunity to witness the most beauty~full wedding of all time. My dear friends Julia & Dale graciously hosted an amazing party for their beloved daughter. Every detail was lovingly prepared by the newlyweds, their family and friends. From the sweetest of handwritten vows, to the handmade napkins, beautifully printed programs, flower arrangements, desserts and so much more ~ the love that is felt for these two was visibly present.


Just to warn you - this post contains more photos than any one post can handle, but I'm finding it impossible to weed out any more. It was that amazing! So enjoy the eye candy that tells the story of Meehan & Daniel's new beginning...

The gorgeous bride and groom

The Loving Family and Friends

The Simply Beautiful Reception

The Fantastic Food

The Flower Maidens

The Sparkly Sendoff (so much fun)

D & M

We love you and were so blessed to be included in your wedding festivities. We wish you a lifetime of love for each other and all of those around you, continued compassion for those in your journey, strength to overcome the hurdles that await you, and faith for a God that is bigger than all of us. Have a wonderful adventure!

Birthday Buckaroo

Little man L had his 2nd birthday at the ranch on Saturday. The band played while the kids danced, swung from the tall oaks and fed the miniature donkeys. After the music and food ran out...some of the gang even took a dip in the pool. Ahhh....this is the life. The little man was exhausted by the day's end, but what better way to celebrate being two.

Amazing place. Wonderful family. Great friends.

Happy Birthday little man. We love you.

xoxo