Think Pink!

My beautiful nieces... this shoot inspired a whole new direction for my photography! I am loving sibling shots now!



Tell me a whole collage of these wouldn't be so fun with a bunch of "pink phrases" like...

"Pink of perfection"
"Think Pink"
"Tickle me pink!"
"Make mine pink..."

I'm thinking of ways to decorate individual frames with these phrases too. Maybe stamped onto the frame? Add your phrase ideas in the comment section, if you can think of any!

One little secret wish...

There is a small part of me that's always wanted to open a shop of some sort. I could see myself owning a baby boutique, or pastry shop, or custom painted furniture store. When I was a newlywed I submitted a few pieces of jewelry and art to nearby shops, hoping to make a few sales. My good friend and creative soul sister Zoe and I mused about opening a store. A few times. So when I do happen upon a fun little place, you might find me snapping pictures and oohing and aahing over something simple like the bathroom. Lol.


While I was in Utah a few weeks ago my mother-in-law took me out to eat at this darling little restaurant called Food For Thought. It was so shabby, so simple, so sweet. I loved how quaint it was. I love that someone took the time to make some of the shop's smallest details pretty, like this valance over the soda machine.



And this shelf of punch bowls, which suggests to me that the place could be transformed for more grand, magical occasions than just lunch.



The walls of the restaurant were a soft pink... and looked like damask. The tables were all different... I particularly loved this intimate set-up for a little two-seater beneath a phantom window (with curtains, of course!).



As you walk into the restaurant, there's this cute little old stove propped in the corner. Just because.



And then this darling display of all types of goodies. Like fabric. And treats with descriptions.








The food was as delightful as the shop itself! I had a to-die-for pear salad and delicious mediterranean inspired sandwich. The service was friendly. It was quiet. (And the bathroom, though I am without pictures, was pretty cute too).

tulle and mod podge and buttons, oh my!

Sasha is turning 3! And loves all the typical little girly things - dressing up, dancing, pretending. I made this tutu and jewelry box for her birthday. The tutu was easy - I followed Linsey's tutorial.



And the jewelry box was just my own creation. Gotta love mod podge!



As long as I was in the creative mood, I made a frame I'd been putting off for a while, and dressed up an old, cheap target lamp that's been in the girls' room for years.

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay Race Report

Last year I had some friends run this 188 mile relay race from Logan, UT into Park City, UT. I had just started running myself and found a lot of inspiration in their experience with it. So I signed up to do it with them this year. It was the furthest I've ever run in a day, but it was divided into 3 legs (spread out over about 24 hours), which made it a little easier. Each team of 12 (divided into 2 vans) completes 36 legs of varying degress of difficulty and length totalling 188 miles. My legs alone totalled 18.4 miles.

On Thursday afternoon (June 18) I headed over to Shelah's GORGEOUS new house (right around the corner from my IL's, where I was staying) in Holladay. While waiting for Linsey and Co. to come pick us up we sat and chatted about our expectations for the race, and our poor husbands left home all alone to fend for themselves. When Linsey arrived everyone hugged like pros and briefly acquainted themselves before stuffing her poor Yukon to the brim with all our crap (I had never met a lot of these girls, but we'd been keeping track of our training on a message board for the past few months). I admit I over packed, and yet still managed to have to swing by my ILs to pick something else up – the 2 dozen cookies I'd made for our team.


Soon after we were on our way I began getting really bad stomach cramps. It seemed like it might be nerves or anxiety – not unusual for me - so I just tried to relax and let it pass. But by the time we'd arrived at the Olive Garden for dinner, I was worried. And I felt a little anti-social because of it, so sorry if I was quiet ladies... you didn't bore me or anything, lol! I managed to tackle Emily with a big old hug before racing to the bathroom, because I'd been waiting forever to meet her.


This is Emily. :)


I could only force down about a 1/3 or so of my dinner. It was then that I realized that I'd maybe overdone the carbs (particularly grains) that week. In an effort to load up my energy stores I seemed to have backed up my intestines quite nicely. Lovely, huh. You know how they say to stick with what you know and are used to on race day? Well next time I'll freaking remember that! Ugh.


So we headed to our hotel after dinner... had a meeting/made introductions, took team pictures, and decorated our vans (thanks for letting me doodle all over your cars, ladies!!!) But I was anxious to get to bed. Emily was one of my roomies and showed the concern of a lifelong friend . I used a heating pad until about 2 in the morning when my stomach finally, FINALLY relaxed and I praised Jesus (to whom I had been praying constantly for relief so I could STAND, let alone run the next morning).




The van


We woke up around 5:15 in the morning to get ready to meet our team downstairs for breakfast. But I was afraid to eat anything! It was blasted cold outside. I definitely wasn't feeling 100%, but I was excited to get the show on the road nonetheless (and knew that running would keep my bowels moving ).


My 1st leg was the hardest for me... not because it was long (5.1 mi.) or hilly, but because I obviously didn't have a lot of energy due to poor sleep and food intake (and I'd expected that DURING the race, but not before). And the cold air (plus altitude?) had me huffing a little too soon into my run. So I was disappointed. BUT I felt pretty good when I was done and my van was great with the encouragement.


After my first leg


So let me introduce the other runners in my van here – I passed the bracelet on to runner #2, who was Ashley (furthest on the R in the above picture)... one of the alternates to join our team within the last couple weeks. Ashley was SPEEDY. Speedy with IT band issues. Seriously, she impressed me! And was hilarious. Runner #3 was Shantel (to the L of Ashley). Also very speedy... she held a 7:30-7:45 pace during all 3 of her legs! Regardless of hills, or heat, or a rogue team van (Lol – Shantel was so fast in fact that SHE waited for US at her first exchange... for like 4 min.!). Next runner, #4, was Kimberlee (also from TX) - there to help me anchor a van of Westerners with her Southern sweetness and charm. I loved getting to know her and see her in action. Such a hard worker. Kim passed on to Deanna (#5 - to my R) – who I could literally see eye to eye with (we're both 6 ft. tall). Let me tell you, this doesn't happen often for me! So we had an immediate connection. And that girl is a machine. I was amused by her gentle shoulder pats and words of encouragement as she SMOKED the male runners, left and right. Lol! And Deanna saved Ashley from her knee and her last leg by covering an additional 3 miles. Amazing chick! Last but not least was Sheree, runner #6 (to my L). Let me say this, I adore Sheree. Sweet and real. And an athlete to boot! She was like a little energizer bunny on her late night run! Our van made for an excellent team. We got along FABULOUSLY – never a dull or quiet moment in our van. Everyone was eager to help and encourage. It was awesome. And our DRIVER! EMILY!!! You are the best, girl. THANK YOU for saving me with your perfect running tunes (my stupid shuffle wouldn't work), AND for taking pictures of my butt whilst I was kissing my hubby (which I'd like to preview btw).


Onto my other legs, which got better! My 2nd exchange was my longest and “most difficult”. It was 8.5 mi. long. I was handed off the bracelet by Malinda (runner #12 from our 2nd van) – who, poor thing – was dry heaving at the end of her treacherous hill climb (and you want to do this again? You are my hero girlfriend!) I had only the last mile of her mountain to climb, and then took a 7.5 mi. plunge down, down, down.


Running downhill is not all it's cracked up to be. Sure, you can go faster than usual, and that's fun for about 20 min. But if you ever plan to WALK again, you'd better be careful. I think by mile 3 or so my quads were jellifying. So out of the van pops good old Sheree with some Icy Hot. She lathered me up good, and suprisingly? It helped. (And didn't run down my legs – all I could think about was Ross in that episode of Friends where he's trying new things to spice up his love life, among them leather pants? Lol) I was able to continue on, sucking down Gatorade and water like you wouldn't believe (I had the sun on my back the whole time, with nary a tree for shade, and now - from behind - I look like a Mexican).


Soon my toes began going numb, and then cramping. That felt good. Lol. So I had to stop a few times. I was super annoyed. I mean, of all the things to give me trouble! Even my knees were cooperating (and THEY were the thing I was worried about). But I dug in and kept going. My 8.5 was finally over and I passed the bracelet on to Ashley again. I was fairly exhausted so I took some time to cool down and walk it off. And stretch. I so knew I was gonna be hurtin' later (in fact the soreness in my legs did not go away until Tues., and I was very afraid of stairs until then!). To my relief there were sports chiros offering free adjustments at 2 of the exchanges! Without that I am not sure how I'd have made it to my 3rd leg.


taking a walking break for the damn toe ;) smile and fake it lei!!! LOL


My 3rd leg (4.8 mi.), ironically, was my best. We got a few hrs. to sleep and shower, which did wonders for me. We headed out again around 4:15 a.m. (I think? It's all foggy now!) and again it was going to be freezing for my run. But I won't dwell on that too much since I didn't also have rain and hail beating me down (poor van 2). On this fine morning I got to sport not only a fashionable reflector vest, but a head lamp and butt lamp as well. I looked stunning, I must say. The best thing about this last leg was that I didn't have to walk (I only stopped briefly for a shot blok halfway through) AND my sweet hubby was waiting for me at the end of it. I was anxious to collapse in his arms! I rounded the final corner and saw him standing there, video camera in hand. Some chick thought this an opportune moment to pass me by and I said to myself “hells no!” and picked up my pace. In my mind I was really hoofing it, but when I watched the tape later, it was not nearly as impressive as I'd imagined it. I guess I was pretty beat at that point. Lol. And for whatever (smelly) reason Andrew didn't want to carry me off and make out with me, so I reluctantly hopped into the van with my team and headed out for the others' FINAL LEGS! Which they rocked!


me in my fancy get-up

I LOVED running this race. My favorite so far. And I am excited to do it again! I enjoyed working as a team - fetching water for each other, taking unflattering pictures of each other (lol), and squirting each other with spray bottles! We ran in some beautiful areas. There were kids out on their lawns with hoses and popsicles. It was awesome. I even enjoyed some outlet shopping afterwards with my teammates... only I lasted about 15 min. before I was done and ready for a big old dinner and more sleep.


check out the scenery!


the whole team!


Now we are home in Texas, back at sea level, and I am between races once again. I've come full circle! In a couple months it will be time to train for the San Antonio Rock n' Roll Half Marathon!

Father's Day Ideas

I snatched these up via Tip Junkie, one of my favorite new blogs. She featured a couple of my birthday party ideas last week and now her blog is my blog's bff. ;) Anyway this is my take on some of her tips.

The jury is still out on this first project. It may get another makeover. I poised each of the kids with a letter in the word Dad and took their picture. Mod podged the pictures onto a wooden board with some designs cut from scrapbook paper and a few embellishments.

This cute little jar is filled with ideas of things to do with Grandpop while we are visiting him over the next couple weeks. Each handwritten note has suggestions like "read a book" and "teach me tai chi" on it... 2 things Grandpop loves best and will enjoying doing even more with his doting grandchildren.

Another really fun idea that my friend itybty frog shared with me is to shine Daddy's Sunday shoes and fill them up with treats for Sunday morning. Love it!

And now, if you'll excuse me for a few weeks, I am headed out to UT to run a relay race in the mountains with 28 other crazy women. :)

See you soon!

Robot birthday party

This was fun. Way fun. Way too much fun. Okay, on with the pictures already!

I was going to buy some generic Wall-E invitations but couldn't find them in any B&M stores. These invites were a free download online. Much cuter, and since the party wasn't strictly a Wall-E party, they were perfect.


The front door. Made using a vinyl tablecloth base. I wrapped posterboard in tin foil for the head and body. Used plates for the eyes. Forks for the hair/antennae. A cup for the nose. Straws for the mouth. The rest of the details were made from craft foam and stickers.


The idea behind the balloons was that they'd fill the ceiling and create a nighttime/space-like effect. I hung stars from 8 of them (one for each guest to take home). And after I took the picture I cut the rest of the strings off. This disuaded the kids from jumping for them all night long. Lol. Next time I will need to order more balloons so they stay huddled together better.


The invitations said for everyone to bring their pillow. We laid out several blankets on the floor and the kids laids on it during the movie.


I had a blast creating robot-themed snacks:










The cupcakes sorta look like robots, don't they? Lol.


The birthday boy (7!) blowing out his candles:


The party favor idea came from none other than Family Fun. I saved and washed several soup cans. Taped the rims with electrical tape for safety. Spray painted some washers and bolts and screws and attached them to magnets to creat a robot verion of Mr. Potato Head. Inside were Wall-E coloring pages and a small box of crayons, Pop Rocks and Pixie Sticks.


Can't wait to do this one again for Drew!

I'm a cheater

I've been engaged in a relationship with another site. My new photography site. Please check it out!

http://photosbylei.com/

And - sorry for my absence! I will return soon!

Chronciles of Potty Training

When my children hit the age of 2, I recoil from potty training for as long as possible. It's like Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, I have a knee jerk reaction due to my horrible past experiences with it.

My first child potty trained at the age of 3.4. I felt like I certainly must have been the worst mother in the world to have a child p.t. so late in life. All her little friends were having potty success by the age of 2.5, with few exceptions. There was nobody there to tell me that each child has their own unique time frame and temperament, and that all of these must align in order for p.t.'ing to lift off without a hitch. Nobody was there to tell me that whether or not my child potty trained before the age of 3 was in no way a reflection on my parenting skills. Of course, I kept company with other first time moms, so that explains it right there. But I pretty much hid under a rock whenever the topic came up. And when she was finally p.t.'ed, I joined the other living, breathing, bragging moms and basked in the glory of having completed my task.

Jonah potty trained at age 3.975. Unlike Adriana, he refused to even SIT on the dang thing. He'd go stiff as a board every time I carried him into the bathroom, singing dumb little ditties about how fun using the potty is through my gritted teeth. I was a sweaty, bitter mess by the end of the day (actually for MANY days, on end), and had only a pile of wet undies to show for it. I threw in the towel quickly, and asked periodically, over the course of probably a year (yes, you heard that right), if he'd like to try and go potty. His teachers at preschool were vigilant as well. But to no avail. Alas, one Saturday afternoon, my husband decided to take Jonah in the bathroom, shut the door, and insist firmly that he pee. Just a drop would do. And there'd be a party in his honor, with a present, and plenty of praise. And it worked. And he had not a single accident from that day forward. It was like a switch went off and he just decided to do it. FINALLY. Here I thought maybe there was soemthing wrong with him, that he indeed might be the first Kindergartner to wear a Pull-Up to school, and he'd just not yet decided that he wanted to do it! Stinker!

Drew comes along. He hits 2.5. And I have a 5 month old baby. A very easy 5 month old baby, I might add. But nobody else needed to know that. ;) It can wait, I thought. He asked a few times, to which I retorted "I know what you've got up your little sleeve! What do you think I am, stupid?" He'd look up at me confusingly and go back to playing with his trains. Poor kid. Had no idea how much therapy his mother needed. But I knew that boys trained later than girls - Jonah had certainly proven that theory. And I wasn't ashamed of my laziness any more than I was reluctant to face the hardships that lie ahead for us both. Then around his 3rd birthday, I suggested he use the potty. I knew it was time and I wanted to get it over with quickly. Like ripping off a band-aid. By now I had heard and tried all the theories - let him go naked, buy him a doll, give him potty treats, make him a potty chart, blah, blah, blah. I just didn't really care for any of the hooplah anymore. I only wanted to stop hoisting my 35 lb. preschooler's legs over his head to wipe his bum. And so every 15 min., for 3 or 4 days in a row, we marched into the bathroom and sat on the porcelain throne. 3.975 came and went. I was shocked. Drew DID want to use the potty. He went whenever I asked him to. But he never went on his own. Was he not sensing the urge, I wondered? Because he was willing and able to do it. And I found myself hiding under that dang rock of shame again. It didn't help that he is big for his age... as tall or taller than many kindergartners. So I felt much scrutiny whenever he declared loudly in public that he'd peed his pants again. The road to success continued to meander for a few months. But around 4.4 he was finally trained.

So by now I am really beginning to feel like this is my lot in life, right? This and laundry. I couldn't seem to get a handle on either one.

Well, Sasha is currently 2.8. She has hit every milestone much sooner than her older siblings. So, 2 months ago I decided to buy her a pretty pink Baby Bjorn potty (the old one surely had a bad omen placed on it). Last week I decided we'd begin the process. Yesterday was when I actually started. ;) Baby steps, ya know? You don't go jumping head first into a landmine.

I am proud to announce that she was succeessful. On her very first day. She knew when she had to go. She simply told me, we walked into the bathroom together, she sat down and listened to a few songs, and voila. Peed. I almost didn't believe it. Had all those moms been telling the truth? Was this actually possible? I had to peer into the potty to be sure. And pinch myself a few times. She's broken the mold in so many ways (rarely has temper tantrums for one thing), and I hope this continues to be one of them!

Ironically, I am hearing from other moms this time around how hard this potty training gig is. And I shake my head emphatically along with them that yes, potty training deserves some kind of great reward. Move over Oscars. I just may be done with diapers, and my biggest parenting challenge to date, FOREVER. Where, oh where, is my gold trophy?

Mother's Day

"All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

--Abraham Lincoln

My mother is not here for me to say "Happy Mother's Day" to. While I had a difficult childhood and rocky relationship with her, I can honestly say that I owe who I am to her. Completely. And I do wish she was here so that I could thank her. There are some things that you just don't "get" until you are a mother yourself. Your eyes are opened in so many ways. And I am grateful for the sacrifices she made for me, and the ways in which she encouraged me to grow and reach for higher things.

I also wanted to repost my sentiments to all you mothers from a post dated back a couple years:

If I had to describe motherhood in one word, it would be humbling. Lying naked on a table and pushing a baby out in front of complete strangers. Missing your shower or rushing around without noticing you have peanut butter on your face. Having your child repeat something embarassing you said when you were certain they were out of earshot. Having to ask for help or admit that you are overwhelmed while everyone else seems to be handling it just fine. Forgetting something important. Realizing it's not about you. Giving something up. Learning from your children. Having their best interest at heart. Fighting for them. Accepting the bitter and less frequently sweet days.

So, here's to mothers... humble, modest, selfless, real, virtuous, forbearing, patient mothers that sacrifice a bit of themselves every day.

Happy Mother's Day.

It's premiere night!!!

This is one of the easiest and cheapest birthday parties I have ever done. Adriana's 10th birthday fell right around the time of Miley Cyrus's new Hannah Montana movie release, so we had a movie-themed party. How I saved money (and sanity): I limited the number of invites, we saw an early showing, and the only part of the party held at my house was the drop off and pick up. So there was very little "entertaining" involved.

The girls each took a goody bag to the movie so that I didn't spend an arm and a leg at the theater.


The after party was contained to our dining room, where brownies (Adriana doesn't like cake), ice cream and soda pop were served. The decorations consisted of "hollywood" colors like black, silver and gold. There were balloons on the floors, movie reels on the table cloth and banner, and a director's cut board as a center piece:


The party favors were boxes of pink kettle corn (that I made using a Whirly-pop) with a rubber Hannah M. bracelet attached:


And here's my birthday girl, all growed up and never again to see a single-digit age! :)