Insta Catch Up pt.1

Oh man I am getting so super sad that Summer will be officially over next week.  It has been exactly what  I needed in a summer and in my life.  It always does feel good to have a bit of a change and we are getting back in to the swing of real life in our house.  Here's a bit of catching up in my fave Instagram fashion...

Every year my in laws grow these HUGE sunflowers.  There yard is the best place to be on a great summer evening.  It is the most beautiful light you will ever see.

My dear Lolo came back for a visit and we got pedicures.  My toes were green and sparkly and reminded me of mermaid toes.  

TOMS fall shoes started rolling in in August.  Hmm I wonder who would have ordered those? ;) 

I couldn't decide which pair to get so I didn't get any.  Guess I'll be waiting for those berry cords...

These 3 are so funny together.  Lyttons birthday is just a couple of weeks after Ivy's so we had to celebrate while they were in town.    Favorite part?  Dreaming of how fun these guys are going to be when they are 16.

Trying out the Silhoutte as a tshirt screener. Pretty cute and it works fabulously.

  

Pirate adventure at the mall.  Ivy got to make a hook and everything.  I loved asking her what a pirates favorite letter was.  She answered A?  no.  B?  no.  C?  all the way till we got to the right letter.  

I think this is one our last days at the pool.  She got tossed in probably 30 times.  Every time making a perfect pencil in to the water.  AHhh.  Pool days.  I can't wait to see you again next summer!

We had to cut our pool days short cuz this little lady got ear aches.  She fell asleep in the cart trying to get her medicine.  I don't know if I've ever seen her more miserable.  :(  

Luckily we had a super fun couple of weeks planned for the little lady.  I sent the two campers off for a week with Grandpa at Mt.  Hood.  She ROCKED as a camper.  Ivy caught two fish and didn't want to leave.   

I took advantage of the quiet time and got a few things done.  I was a sponsor of Meg's Craft Weekend so I got that done.  Plus I managed to squeeze in time to see The Help with a few friends after meeting up for  Fro Yo.  Both were super good.

I love that every one of these bags gets a book in the hands of a little kid.  And I love the new updated logo Heather came out with.  

If Darin's gone that means I'm working at Greenies.  Its the perfect excuse to get the very best mac n cheese in the history of the world from our friends at Cheese Louise.  If you are local I suggest you get some.  Today. 

Then Darin and I switched.  He went back to work at Greenies and I headed to Portland to meet up with my fam and head to the Oregon Coast.  Yay for solo road trips and 4 hours to think.  

Of course I had to make a pit stop here.  It was all in the name of avoiding rush hour traffic.  I swear.

We went to Pacific City.  I haven't ever been there in all my life and it is my most favorite evah.  It might have something to do with the fact that it was actually sunny and somewhat warm.  The whole day.  Which is just about as lucky as you can get when you go to the coast.  Ivy and I got up early and took a long walk.  And I found my first whole sand dollar.  I knew it was going to be a fabulous trip.

I loved everything about Pacific City.  The fact that you could drive your car on to the beach.  Watching the dorys driving up on to the beach.  The pizza place.  And oh man the best fish tacos I have ever had.  Ever.  And I couldn't have asked for better company.

We took our bikes and got to ride around on these fun boardwalks.  I had a smile on my face the whole time.

The best one.  Seriously.

You can't go to the beach without going to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  And you can't go there with out getting squeeky cheese.

Or the ice cream.

When we got back it was fair time!  The only ride Darin and I went on was the ferris wheel.

But we got my little dare devil a wrist band.  For the amount of times she went on the slide alone it was worth it.  {think 30 times.  no joke.}  And those grins and the excitement.  priceless.

I'll catch you up on everything else later!  Hope you are all doing awesome!

Happy Sunday

Source: dandee-designs.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

{via Danyelle}  

Insta Friday!

hello insta friday!  I missed you last week so here's a double dose of what's been going on around here...

Jam makin day.  We of course made our fave Blueberry Ginger.  I think last year someone asked me what crystalized ginger looks like.  Well here you go,  crystalized ginger.  Better late than never.  Ivy also requested strawberry.  We ended up with 30 half pint jars of jam.  Hope they last!

I just don't think cousins can be better friends than these two.  Finishing each others sentances, and getting along.  All the time.  Rare for 4 year olds.  That is the very reason we decided it would be best for our family to move here.  

Thanks to Mel I caved and got an old fashioned ice cream maker.  Our favorite so far has been Rocky Road from the Our best Bites cookbook.  Seriously the best cookbook, besides my trusty BHG one.  

I got a new photo app {thanks for the tip, Mom!} called Pocketbooth.  It takes four pictures in a row and spits em out like a photostrip.  My nephew Wyatt has the best cheesy grins.  

My baby girl had her birthday last week.  FOUR years old.  Oh man.  I spent an hour ruffling up some streamers.  I'm not a huge crepe paper crafts fan but these were actually super cute.    The things we do for little girls... 

Baby girl's birthday was fabulous.  Daddy date to the free movie and lunch.   Mommy date to the bookstore which is hours of reading but this time she got to pick a book of her very own. She chose Ladybug girl.  Mama also snuck Blueberries for Sal out the door for her blueberry girl.

The day after your birthday is always a bit of a downer don't you think?  We spent the afternoon glamping in Ivy's tent.  Whipping up batches of pretend cupcakes and cookies.  And of course reading piles of books. Its her favorite past time besides swimming and I'm always happy to indulge her.

I checked this book out from the library.  I have only read the first 5 chapters but it has made a huge difference already.  I highly recommend it.  Even if your child isn't that spirited. Although I can't think of a three or four year old that isn't.

  

I just love this picture.  This is our summer days exactly and we wouldn't have it any other way.  {If you haven't tried the tilt shift in instagram you need to.  its my favorite feature}

Art in the park.  Butterfly wings and a fairy crown compliments of our friend Karly.   Our wings were barely making it so new ones definitely brightened this butterfly girls step.  

My brother and his fiance' rolled in to town this past weekend so we loaded up the bikes and headed to Walla Walla for some cruisin and some ice cream.   This picture is exactly how I feel when I'm riding my bike.  I love it more than anything.  Especially with my family on gorgeous tree lined streets. 

My little brother and Shanari, ahhh.   Darin took their engagement photos while we were in Walla Walla.  I'm thinking they should use these.  I can't tell you how happy I am to see my brother so happy.  And Shanari is a doll.  Yay for new sisters!

I've got my bracelets all wrapped up and ready to go in the mail to my bracelet swap partners.  We had over 100 people sign up, and I can't wait to see what everyone came up with.  

Happy Camper.  

This tells you two things.  She does not like to get her hair done.  As in I have to threaten her with cutting it off every time we comb it.    Braids are optimal for swimming every day by the way.  And two she does not like me to take pictures of her wearing stuff I make for her.  Little stinker.  

Happy Insta Friday!

Hello Friend! {printable}

{in case you missed it at the Modern Marigold...}

 

Somehow our summer seems to be getting busier and busier.  It is our favorite time of year so we try to spend as many hours of the day outside as possible!  So I know when it comes time to mail my bracelets I'll be scrambling to have some cute packaging.  I took a few minutes this weekend to come up with a simple way to package up your friendship bracelets to your new friends.  Then you won't be scrambling if your summer is anything like ours!

{click here to download}

I got to practice my photoshop skills {cuz they definitely need practicing} and used this letterpress tutorial from Pugly Pixel to make a sheet of cards.  

All you have to do is cut them up.  Easy peasy.

This one is for one of my good friends from college.  I wrote a little note too, to let my friend know I've been thinking of her.  

Then I used some of my Modern Marigold fabric tape to stick my bracelet right to the card.  It fit perfectly  in a card envelope so I sealed it up with a little more fabric tape and mailed it right away.  I got a little excited to send it so I forgot to take pictures.  Oh well!  

Sooo...

Don't forget to sign up for the bracelet swap!  And be sure to stop by some time.  I'd love to have you!

{and thanks Amanda for having me! xoxo}

Cupcake Month

Source: unamoscaenlaluna.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

mmmm... cupcakes.   Want to make some of the guilt free kind?  Come visit me at my friend Malory's!  She's having a cupcake month and I'd love it if you stopped by and said hi!