i coloring

"I coloring, Mommy", she says as she shows me her hands, feet, face, and the floor. All just minutes after giving her a bath. It's apparent to me that this little one is quickly approaching two, hence the many posts in a row of just her.

32 years young

Today, is National Drink Wine Day...did you know that? I didn't. What I do know, is that today, is my birthday. Today, my son put sprinkles all over my birthday cake. Today, my daughter sang me happy birthday (very special from someone who is not even 2). Today, I received phone calls from my family and well wishes from friends on facebook. Today, I used my new 10-22mm lens from my sweet husband.

Today, I ate entirely too much birthday cake. Today, I am thankful to my parents and to God, for the gift of life.

Today, I am 32 years young.

ten on tuesday

1. Made Valentine's Day pancakes for the kids-a change of pace than our normal every day pancakes, it was pancake love!

2. Enjoyed the private dinner with my in-law's wine group in the gift shop @ Bottega, briefly saw Michael Chiarello who was cooking that night-the food was fantastic!

3. Loved the 1978 Caymus, gotta love the birth year wine!

4. Fantastic private tasting @

5. Followed by an even more fantastic private dinner @

6. Enjoyed the barrel tasting

7. I can see clearly now the rain is gone...70 degree weather in February, now that, I love!

8. Had my fair share of

9.  And was pleasantly surprised with beautiful roses and this which arrives tomorrow:

{google images, Kelly Moore camera bag}

I love, Love, LOVE this bag, isn't it great?

{not paid in any way, just your every day girl, loving this beauty}

10. Loved the food, loved the wine, loved the surprises, but what I loved and love more than anything in the world, was the quality time that I got to spend with my Valentine, who said yes to me, yes to our marriage, and yes to our beautiful children. Love, at its best.

happy heart day!

We're so happy it's a 3-day weekend, and we're finally on the mend! Off to enjoy some time with the grandparents, and a fabulous wine tasting weekend. 

Have a happy heart day!

lucky streak?

I covet a new camera bag. My camera backpack is great and all, and definitely serves a purpose, but it doesn't scream style. I took my DLSR with me on my girlfriends weekend and I wasn't about to carry in my big camera backpack to a nice restaurant, nor am I taking it wine tasting with me this weekend. 

Oh, I so wish I had this:

It's one beautiful camera bag, by Kelly Moore

She's having a camera bag giveaway and in line with my current lucky streak, I thought I'd better enter :)

If by chance I don't win amongst the 1,000 people who have already entered, I've put in my order with my better half for my birthday next week.

{photo: google images; I was not paid in any way to mention this item, I really do want to win this giveaway!}

i never "win" anything!

I can honestly say that I never "win" anything. I'm never one to enter into any big sweepstakes, givewaways, maybe. I think I've participated in the lottery maybe 2 or 3 times in my life at best, and the last contest I really entered was probably the coloring contest from our local pizza shack (oh, wait a minute, I think I won the Hello Kitty toothbrush holder...when I was 5). No, I'm not like my sister who has entered Publisher's Clearinghouse for the family every year since she was about 12. I did, however, enter a recent photo in the iheartfaces girlfriends challenge and much to my surprise, I won! Then today, Lolli, from Better in Bulk, announced that she had picked my photo for last week's Bloggography Challenge!

Really, me? I'm wondering if this is a sign...

:)

mom, mom, mom!

I'm a woman of few words right now and so is Anna. We're both still sick. I didn't take Kieran to school today because he's still somewhat under the weather and he's like a caged lion. I keep hearing, "mom, Mom, MOM!" I really hope I'm better tomorrow. I love my kids, but when you're sick and trying to relax and you just can't...ugh...my nerves are wearing thin.

i heart faces-girlfriends

So my weekend, (though Anna has bronchitis and I now have a 100+ degree fever), just got infinitely better! I won the girlfriends challenge and I am ecstatic...beyond words!WOW!

get well soon

Our bags were packed and we were out the door, on our way to a superbowl wedding reception over the weekend. Good food, good friends, good fun! I thought I'd better take the kids to the doctor, just in case, since neither one of them have been quite themselves this past week. Kieran ended up being okay, but Anna...

ended up having bronchitis...poor thing! 
I hate seeing my baby sick, but we made the decision that Kieran and Daddy would make the trip, and I would stay home with sweet Anna. Looking on the bright side (or lack of a bright side because the sun still refuses to shine), at least it's rainy weather and we're not stuck inside on a beautiful day! Hoping my sweet girl gets well soon!

ten on tuesday

Ten things, on Tuesday, that I love about my husband:

1. He goes grocery shopping, I don't.

2. He will even by tampons for me if I run out (but only on trips to the store where that is not the only item). 

3. He cooks (and is a wonderful cook at that), I don't. Before you judge, I do the cleaning :)

4. He works incredibly hard at his job to provide for our family and live in our wonderful little town.

5. He is a kid at heart...loves gadgets, toys, video games, and loves playing with Kieran & Anna. 

6. He comes home with little surprises for me from the store like my mom used to do when I was little.

7. He is super cute. 

8. He always kisses me goodnite, even if we've gotten in an argument.

9. He asked me when I was going to plan my next girls' weekend-brownie points!

10. He is not perfect, and neither am I, which makes us two imperfect people who love each other...what could be more perfect? :)

{Met Erik and the kids at the park on my way home from my girls weekend...what a great Dad!}

girlfriends

There is something to be said about girlfriends who...

get together for lunch and chat about anything and everything.
There is something to be said about girlfriends...

who know just what to say to give you the laugh that you've been needing.
There's something to be said about girlfriends who...

still listen to what you have to say even when the situation that they are in is far more complicated than you could ever imagine.
There is something to be said about girlfriends...

who can stay together while shopping.
There is something to be said about girlfriends who...

also happen to be your sister, your very best friend, and so beautiful while pregnant.
There is something to be said for girlfriends who...

enjoy a fabulous dinner together and head upstairs to the night club upon hearing Lady Gaga.
There is something to be said for girlfriends who...

even in their 30s, still know how to slumber with the best of them.
There is something to be said for girlfriends who...

gift each other matching water bottles and cozy socks to commemorate our first girls weekend!
There is something to be said for girlfriends who have been friends since college, are now all mommies, and attempt to get together on a monthly basis or plan weekend getaways. These women are so special to me, and I'm glad I had the chance to get away, take time for myself, and enjoy the company that only girlfriends will do.