Christmas Gift Idea… And a Giveaway!

How cute is this hat? I am convinced that crocheted beanies are taking over the world! I love the curly ostrich feathers! It’s so girlie and fun.

I was on the quest for the perfect hat for Beach Bunny to wear for Christmas pictures. I fell in love with this one. She doesn’t keep hats on for very long, but this hat stayed on her head for over an hour. We played with bubbles, swung on the swings, and took pictures… and she was happy as a clam with her hat on. That’s a first!

This adorable little crochet beanie is from...

Clickety HERE to read more and enter!!!

I just love this time of year!

Le Creuset Winner

We just walked in the door from a four hour road trip visiting with Kahuna’s side of the family. It was so nice to get out of town, but we could certainly do away with holiday traffic! Can I get an amen up in here?!

Before I unpack and start a mountain of laundry, I wanted to announce the CSN Store’s Le Creuset winner.

Clickety HERE to read more!

I’ll be back tomorrow with another holiday giveaway for the littlest lady in your life.

With love,

I’m Thankful For…

My dad (and my mom) who somehow make everything better and always send me home with food…

 

My little brother (my only sibling) who, in just a few weeks, will be a dad for the very first time…

My daughter who is my sunshine…

 

Sons who always forgive and forget…

 

My sweet Grami who came home from the hospital just in time for Thanksgiving dinner…

 

The fact that I did not panic (okay, just twice) while making my first Thanksgiving dinner…

My husband who went to the grocery store for me again…

 

My family who has outgrown just one Thanksgiving table…

And I am so very thankful for you.

I just found this verse today and loved it…

“Thanksgiving will pour out of the windows; laughter will spill through the doors.” - Jeremiah, chapter 30

That is definitely one mess that won’t get cleaned up!

Happy (day after) Thanksgiving!

With love,

P-Dub in Da House!!!

I can’t believe it!  I got to meet my all-time hero, Ree Drummond… A.K.A. The Pioneer Woman, on Sunday night.  It was off the hook!

She started the night out with about 20 minutes of Q and A.  Someone asked her to sing, so Ethel Merman made her appearance.  Hilarious!  What a voice!

 

I got to ask the first question- my big moment (which I had practiced in the bathroom mirror thankyouverymuch)…

Q: “Ree, how did your blog change from a hobby to a career?”

She started to answer me, but you know what happened?  I kept thinking, Pioneer Woman is talking to me.  Pioneer Woman is looking at me.  And then all I could hear was the sound of my heart pounding in my chest.  Darn it all!  I can’t remember everything she said to me, but the gist was that she loves blogging and that she would be doing it no matter what.

 

She was just as I had hoped… kind brown eyes, a quick wit, encouraging, self-deprecating, and just as genuine as can be.

 

A PW book signing must have at least one tiny baby in the audience.  It’s the rules.

 

Here’s a shout out to my new BFF’s, Rachel and Davese.  We spent two hours together in line.  I know their deepest darkest secrets.  Thanks for the picture, Rachel!

 

Ree was so sweet to sit and talk with each one of us. 

 

Scads of people delighted to hear P-Dub’s off the cuff humor…

 

Finally it was my turn.  I was so excited but so hot that I’m sure I used up all of my deodorant.  Oh, well.  Good thing she lives on a ranch!

She recognized my edited picture from here and here.  I was blown away!  She was so encouraging of my photography and editing.  I’m sure she’s like that with everyone- but it was so nice to hear her say that… you know, from someone other than my mother.  As she was signing my book she said, “I’ll write about that (photography) in your book.  Is that ok?”

 

And then my husband and three kids came in and plopped down in the front row.  ‘Nuf said!

 

And my prize…

Someone pinch me.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering…

She smells like cinnamon rolls : )

Pinch Me.

I must be dreaming!

My Torrid Love Affair… and a Giveaway!

In my post, My Dirty Little Secret, I reluctantly confessed something, and I revealed my torrid love affair with Le Creuset… the bad boy of stoneware and cast iron cookware. Every time I go to the outlet malls in our town I stop by the Le Creuset shop and fondle all of their cookware. It is hands down the best out there- but, sadly, way above my budget.

But it doesn’t have to be way above your budget. Would you like the chance to win a few pieces?

Just clickety HERE to read more and enter!

Happy baking,

Oh, Happy Day!

The long awaited day had arrived…

Beach Bunny asked us where we were going. 

“Family Day,”  I said on the fly.

“Oh, gweat (great)!” she said from her car seat, not having a clue that Family Day meant that we were about to finalize her adoption- an important day in her life and ours.

Our extended family was so great to come out and celebrate with us even though it was smack dab in the middle of a work day.  They are cool like that.

Before I show you the official pics, I of course have to show you the behind-the-scenes shots.  We’re a unique bunch.  Trust me.

Mother-in-law and sister-in-law (annoyed at me for taking their picture but gave me a courtesy smile anyway… awe, thanks!) quickly feeding the babies their lunch before they call us all into the courtroom.

 

Oh, no you di-in’t.  Don’t you laugh.  I WILL seek revenge, sista’.

 

Rolling on the floor across the court’s atrium most definitely helped us pass the time. 

 

Nothing says “photo op” like a candid family picture with a metal detector in the background.

 

Ok, onto the big event-

Dad’s John Hancock…

 

Then mine…

 

Then the judge said something about someday dividing our estate into thirds, and I remember my whole family chuckling in the background.  I think I got nervous and allegedly started picking my nose.

 

And then the judge stamped and sealed our documents and told us congratulations.  We were complete.  She was gracious enough to let us take a few pictures even though there were other families awaiting their turn.

 

And then the group shot taken by the cute security guard-

 

And more photos ‘cause, strangely, there never seem to be quite enough.

Oh, happy day! 

And That’s a Wrap!

We were so excited and relieved to finally wrap up the final step in Beach Bunny’s adoption.  From what I understand, each state has its own laws on how to finalize an adoption, and our state required that we submit more paperwork and go before a judge.  It was easy peasy… the only simple step in the whole process for us. The entire day I had a song playing over and over in my head… “He is Mighty to Save” by Hillsong.  The lyrics that repeated time after time in my mind go like this: 

My Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus.

_________________

If you want to hear the melody, watch 30 seconds of this YouTube video.  I love the chorus at 2:31.  The lyrics just jump in and squeeze my heart!  I love to turn the volume waaay up on this song and have a dance party in the family room with my kids.  I love when Beach Bunny requests this song.  She calls it “Meaty to Seeve”.  The Lord, indeed, saved our daughter’s precious life and brought her home to us. We are forever thankful. 

He is mighty to save!

Tonight or tomorrow I will post pictures from our final adoption day (Family Day, as we call it), but I have to go back to work, so for now…

… that’s a wrap!

Love,

Wordless Wednesday

EcoStore Winner!!

Drum roll….

Clickety HERE to see the winner!

I hate that there is just one prize. I will make it up to you with a few more giveaways coming to a computer screen near you.

With love,

It Was The Perfect Date

It’s a very rare and special thing these days for my husband and I to get to go out on an old fashioned date- just the two of us.  I texted some friends Don’t bug.  I’m on a date with my man. 

We were so happy to be alone it was ridiculous.

He drove, and I stretched out my legs and put my bare feet on the dashboard.  We drove Pacific Coast Highway with the windows down while eating take-out fish and chips from our favorite beach shack restaurant.

We’re casual people.

Someone gave us tickets to Cirque du Soleil- Kooza.  It was right on the beach and next to the pier.  The show and its location were spectacular!

 

After the show, we strolled the pier and held hands… just like the good ol’ days.  The pier was eclectic fun.

For $1.00 The Great Zoltar will predict your future in English- or Spanish.  It was pretty eerie. He kept saying I know you're there. I can tell your future. Come closer.

No thanks.  You are in my nightmares.

 

People, do you see what I have to deal with here? My husband is showing me that he has found his long lost twin.

More nightmares.

 

Some of our stops…

We made some new friends…

 

Enjoyed the Ferris wheel…

 

And hoped that the guy who took our picture with my camera didn’t run away with it while we had our backs turned.

 

 

It was the perfect date.