2013, Here We Come

2012 has been a year full of blessings and heartache. Pneumonia, having a totally adorable baby girl, my mom moving in with us, threatening suing our landlord/ us winning, moving, computer crashing and losing tons of family pics, youngest boy child entering preschool, returning to work after 6 years to an awesome salon, renewed energy in my jewelry designs, Auroa theater and Sandy Hook shootings, Jesse from My Mod Style giving me an awesome blog makeover, Obama winning again, leaving our lifelong, LDS/Mormon religion over REAL issues that most Mormons know very little or nothing about and seeing support from some family/friends and nasty claws come out from other family/friends over it... which I have to say is interesting that people will so quickly delete you simply because of a difference of faith... Now, we had our first *real* family photo shoot (by erin smith photography), just like I always wanted! 2012, you were a nasty you-know-what, but at least we got some good things out of you. Please be nice to us, 2013 as we continue our journey! But if not, we will roll with your punches and throw 'em back! Much love and peace to my lovely readers this year! And oh, my comp is STILL giving me major problems!  Visit me on pinterest to see what is inspiring me during bloggy dry spells :)

 Isaac, aka "Izzy" and "Future Heartbreaker", almost 7

Elisabeth, aka, "Lil Bit, Bit Bit, Miss Liss, Lissbiss, WizBif, Angel Bit, Fairy Berry", 7 months

Married 9 years, starting to show it!

 Caleb, aka "Cabah", "Chicken" and "Kissy Face" almost 5

 

 

 They love their grandma!

 I redid that chair, tutorial coming soon!

 She loves open mouth kisses, Elisabeth that is, not my mom....

  Year of the skinny pants, I kind of converted.

 

Personal Style: Obligatory Belly Shots

 October-November ish? Just beginning to show. Face still a little slim. Details here.

My personal style posts definitely ended around my pregnancy beginning, since I was a weirdo and didn't mention my 'condition' to anyone until I was about 5 months along! So I will just do a quick rundown here. I've never been a big fan of belly posting, or over sharing of pregnancy related stuff in general... but you know, this is for posterity and all that.

 1st week of March... Baby Shower Day!

 Beginning of April. Walking induced swelling up on the Riverwalk in San Antonio

 End of April. Got all 'inspired' and cut me some bangs, and doing something crazy with my eyeballs. Outfit details here.

May 3rd, outfit details here

 May 5th doing the hospital walk through... due May 7th! 

It will  be interesting to see what happens to ma belly from here, given this is my 3rd and all :)

Personal Style: Modern Modest Pin Up

I love pin up style, so to keep it modern, modest and casual, I did it with boyfriend jeans and a skinny belt. And of course, black liquid liner, red lips and a multi leveled updo.

Vintage beaded collars like this are so glamorous. You can find them easily on etsy, ebay and antique malls for a huge price range. Mine was fairly cheap, like under $10. You can find similar styles in fur as well, they often close with a rhinestone brooch. Love 'em.

For the hair, I just made a fairly lose bun. Then, I pulled the top crown area up and out and used one bobby pin to twist a poof into place.

cardi: Target
beaded collar: vintage etsy
belt: vintage calvin klein thrifted
jeans: gap, thrifted
bracelet: wrapped vintage necklace
lipstick: Rimmel moisture renew in Red Alert 900
shoes: forgot
earrings: handmade by me, Jeweled Ambrosia

*linked to clothed much's rule breaking monday (necklace as a bracelet)
* rate this look on smashion
 

Personal Style: Denim Ballerina

 

  
I have been looking for the perfect denim jacket oh for about, five years now. I finally came across two contenders while thrifting the other day. An adorable Banana Republic one and this. I don't know why, but the lack of lapels really struck me, it seemed more effortless to wear and less 'jackety'. I also really love the faux epaulets look with the shoulder detail and the fact that the sleeves rolled easily had me sold. Once I got it home, I was worried it would be crazy hot, but I got lucky in that we had a cool morning!

You know, I'm going to be 30 in a few weeks. I can honestly say I didn't start to notice those 'fine lines' around my eyes/nose until about 6 months ago. I can tell you though, I honestly love them and am so happy to be aging. That said of course, I'm so glad I've been working out these past few months. I've noticed a spike in my energy level and am starting to lose a bit of the stomach pooch... still got a few inches to go! Hair was inspired by Sydney's Daybook bun tutorial and twisty belt knotting by Elaine of Clothed Much, (I did mine a wee different, but her tutorial is better). Not really digging the boots, can't decide if it's the cut or color... maybe both...

jacket: thrifted/ boots: candies/ cuff: thrifted/ earrings: jeweled ambrosia (handmade by me)

shirt: look for fiddleheads/ belt: calvin klein thrifted/ jeans: vanilla star/ bag: ralph lauren thrifted

 

 one of my little guys

my other little guy

*linked to Mom of Two Boys Fashion Fridays

Family Time: Easter Traditions

Growing up, my favorite Easter tradition, was leaving goodies out for the Easter Bunny at night, and waking up to find milky paw prints and half eaten carrots and cookies. I loved the goodies and egg hunt as well of course, but there was that wonder, was the Easter bunny real, was it a little cute bunny rabbit or a large rabbit like the mascot costumed ones? I imagined it to be somewhere in between. My husband said he imagined the Easter bunny to be similar to the Velveteen Rabbit. I like that.

My boys were just as excited as I remember being as a child, Isaac exclaiming, "The Easter Bunny ate the carrot!" , when he very first saw the table in the morning.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable, relaxing and spiritual Easter Sabbath. I love these words spoken by Jeffrey R. Holland, an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about the true meaning of Easter, the short online video entitled, "None Were With Him".

To see more of our family's shenangians, visit the whole post on my family blog. In the meantime, enjoy some of my favorite childhood Easter photos in the early 80's.

My older sis and me, taken when we lived in Hawaii.

Love/hate relationship with this juliette style bonnet. So pretty, so uncomfortable... like jelly shoes.

Intensely studying a candy or decoration of some kind. Not much has changed! Love those chairs and the Little Orphan Annie table.

This is our dance performance, (talent show maybe?) We danced to Peter Cottontale and it was sung to a recording of a woman singing in a 1940's almost Betty Boop chipmunk style voice. Loved it! I'm the little one (again, as usual) and my big sis is on the right of me with her arms out. The best part of the routine was when we turned around and shook our bunny tails!