The great people at Houzz asked me if I’d be willing to do a little house tour of my home. And although, there are a million things I’d like to change, update or fix in my home before I share it with the world, I said a “why yes, and thank you very much for asking me.” Because, really, there will always be something to change, to fix and to style. I think that is the case with the majority of people. As for me, my house is very lived in . . . my house is a home.
So if you’d like to see a a peek into my home here it is.
I’ll post a few more pictures that didn’t make the cut later this week, so check back.
And speaking of Houzz I write a monthly ideabook for Houzz. This month I shared My picks for A Rainy Day Reading Space.
And don’t forget… today is the last day to enter the Easy Canvas Prints Giveaway . Good Luck!
images | la la Lovely |
Hi lovelies. Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving? Mine was nice. But I have to say, since it was Liam Brave’s birthday it was kinda of extra special. I thought you might like to see the Cookie Monster Cupcakes I made for him? I got the idea from where else, but Pinterest. It was fun doing something a little different from my usual candy cakes [1 / 2 / 3]. Now I have to come up with something pretty special for Elle next [in a couple of months that is]. Have you seen anything fun for girls?
As for the rest of the weekend we unplugged and stayed in. It was pretty great. We did a few crafts, went ice skating, ate out, watched movies and put our tree up. How was your long weekend?
Happy Birthday my sweet Liam Brave. You are pure joy. Light in the darkness. And laughter that never seems to end. You have more personality than 10 grownies combined.
Oh how you love to talk. Sometimes I’m amazed at all of the words [+ sentences] you know how to say. And even more amazed at how you really understand what you are saying.
+You like coffee + help me order DECAF
+You can sing your ABC’s, only leaving out a few
+You watch Caillou in French [because I can only take so much in English]
+Lately your favorite thing to do is the dishes
+You always want to go outside and you’ve managed to figure out the safety locks
+You look up to your El + L and you adore your baby Rocco
+You say I love you without us saying it first
+Your favorite stuffed animal is Giraffe and you can’t sleep without him
+You can put words to the music when I play Coldplay
+You love to give kisses
+Your favorite food is pizza + your pretty serious about your breakfast
+You can name all your stuffed animals + tell me who got them for you
You are all personality wrapped in a hug and sealed with a smile. And . . . you are all mine. I love you, dearly!
The other week I wrote a guest post for my long time friend Christina [see us in all of our high school glory, below]. Its a few thoughts I need to think and on an often kind of basis. I thought maybe you’d want to think on them too
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Do you ever think about NOW?
It’s usually always tomorrow and yesterday that take all of our thinks and thoughts. I wonder about tomorrow and what it will be. And I think about yesterday, what could have been and what was.
What will I do? Who will I be? I used to be her and am I NOW still me?
But today is today and here I am now.
Now can be so boring. Tomorrow is exciting and yesterday is comforting. Now can be hard and today can be tiring. And yet now was at one time a tomorrow and it almost always looked exciting. In days to come, it will be now that will fill your mind with happy thoughts of days gone by.
I’ve always been a believer that what you do today will have a lot to do with your tomorrow. I think today should be lived with intent, purpose, hope and sprinkled with love. I always hope that tomorrow will be better than today. And I even try (on my good days) to do a little more than hope. Make little choice here and another there that will be for the good of tomorrow.
But as for today . . .
I’m a stay at home mom with 4 little la la’s and the days can be long…. sometimes grueling. Most days I’m just trying to make it through the day. Wake up, make it to nap time, snacks, make it to bed time and start it all over again. But days are turning into years. Baby faces are morphing into actual little people and now is full speed ahead into tomorrow.
And so for now, I’m trying to be more here today. To take a good long stare into little ocean blue eyes and see who they are on this day and to love in that moment.
It’s amazing what you will notice if you let yourself be where you are. On a walk you might notice the beautiful flowers you always passed by. Eating your ice cream you might actually taste it. Having a conversation you just might hear what the person is really saying. Their words may be the very thing that will keep you warm tomorrow.
Now here is that picture I was telling you about . . . Christina and I go way back. Like back to the days when we all wore clothes that were like 3 sizes too big and looked like they came from the men’s department.
Trina & Christina circa 1995
Christina writes a really thought provoking and honest blog called Welcome to the Laundromat where she shares her story and journey. She has overcome some pretty big things and in turn has a heart to help others. She is one of those ever giving, genuine kind souls (+ a funny one at that – we have had some really great laughs over the years). I’m beyond lucky to call her my dear friend.
Images 1 / 2 / 3 /
Want to know what I’m wishing for? Visit me over at one of my fave places, Reverie Daydream for my post on Wishful Thinking. What are you wishing for these days?
image | pinterest |
Happy Birthday to my M O M ! I love her so!
image | la la L O V E L Y |
This weekend we celebrated Luke’s 6th birthday. It’s sort of become a tradition that I make him a candy cake every year [here is year 1 + year 2]. I was hoping to make this year’s the best yet but time slipped away from me. Not too bad for starting 1/2 hour before the party, I suppose.
I first learned of this idea from Tracy Porter. Really, all you do is buy the cakes (yes, just buy them) and decorate with all sorts of colorful candy. It’s the candy that takes the cake!
As for the party we had a jumpy and cotton candy machine, which I wanted to keep. Isn’t it cute? It was almost 80 degrees which is unheard of in October and alas our pool was still open [sometimes procrastination isn't such a bad thing] and it worked out perfect for the party!
images | la la Lovely|
I’m not feeling so lovely friends. I need to get a few things in order. I’m thinking maybe if I write them out, and you know like publicly, than maybe I’ll actually do a little something about this. It’s been almost 5 months now since Rocco Royal arrived and after having 2 babies back to back I need to get a little bit of me back. Of course, I still have some weight to loose. And to be perfectly honest, I pretty much want these last 10 pounds off like yesterday. Mainly because, I want to wear my jeans and I want to buy new jeans and new clothes because I’ve been wearing pregnancy and in between clothes for over two years and it is time.
Now the thing about me is I am no dieter. It just doesn’t happen. Tell me I can’t have something and I want it with force. So for me it is a game of cut backs and trade off’s. I’ve just been a little too greedy lately. Tired and greedy. And here is where tired comes in, because it’s not just about weight. It’s a lot about the whole picture. You know, things like washing my face at night and slathering myself with potions and lotions so I don’t look completely haggard by age 35. You with? So here is my small list or maybe not so small list of little things that make me feel a little more sane and maybe I’ll just have to tackle one at a time. Like one whole week of washing my face before bed. Want to join me? We can share routines and favorite products and so on. Yeah let’s start with that.
And here is my main list just for the sake of listing:
\wash my face before bed
\go to bed absolutely no later than 12:30 (iphone off)
\read before bed
\computer, iphone, ipad off 30 minutes before sleep
\walk 6 days a week
\yoga once a week
\weights 1-2x a week
\sit ups before bed \ leg lifts while blow drying my hair [yeah I'm weird like that]
\more salads, greens, veggies
\drink more water
\Stop + take deep breaths throughout the day
\vitamins
\a little dark chocolate a day + save major treats for the weekend
\do more things for others
There is more but I don’t want to overwhelm myself. Anyhow, I’m starting small . . .
My goal this week revolves around bed….. >wash face>computer off> read>bed.
Now you tell me… what is on your list? Are you a bit crazy like me, leg exercises while blow drying your hair kind of stuff?
Speaking of washing your face here and here is a little more on that.
image | pinterest | openthegates |
