Guess who's having baby # 2 ?

Yes, its true. I am officially 3 months pregers and feeling absolutely amazing! I am not gonna lie, the first trimester was not easy mainly because I was sooooo tired and having to keep up with an almost 2 year old. I was so scared that I would not get my energy back, but right around 3 months I felt a cloud lift and my old energy slowly return. To be honest for the most part I do not feel pregnant, just a little chubby. I am glad I can finally tell people that its not a  beer gut.
  Ben and I are so excited to do this again. I am already in nesting mode trying to figure out bedroom configurations and such. However, with this baby I do not feel the urge to decorate or even hurry to pick out a name. I figure once we know the gender it will make the decision 50% easier.
  So bring on the heartburn, leg cramps, tired feet and  sleepless nights, I am ready!

This was at about 5 weeks

Cold weather indoor toddler activity

Ben and I have been trying to be creative with activities for D, when its just too darn cold to go outside. I find myself lately having to keep the curtains to the backyard drawn or else if she were to catch sight of her slide and other play things she will start yelling, " outside, outside!" and that would be all bad for me. We even have to avoid driving a certain route to downtown  because it goes right past one of her favorite parks.
 So over the weekend we picked up some WASHABLE paints and decided to have a little art project in the garage.

As you can tell this pic was early in the morning and my coffee made the shot

I, of course got messy too!

My latest Obsessions

Ceramic Owls as Decor

This cute vintage owl is for sale at fruitflypie on etsy. Owls are gaining popularity pretty quicky in the etsy and blog world. I want this SOOOO bad. He would look perfect on my bookcase at home. These owls have sparked some inspiration for a few new upcoming designs for our shop. Stay tuned!!!

Chevron patterns

This cute wall came from the blog: http://www.thetallchickblog.com/

I totally want to make D's room look like this

blanket from  Apartment Therapy

   Lace

This dress is gorgeous

One of my favorite sites to look for lacey things is:

http://www.laceaffair.com/

Horizontal striped curtains

Aren't those to die for. 

Find these at: http://hannahandbryan.blogspot.com/

Typography as ART

                                          from the blog: http://www.theyellowcapecod.com/

Raising a Toddler

Wow, what a ride ( to say the least). You never really know the enormous amount of love and sacrifice that you can have toward someone else until you experience it first hand. Having my little girl has taught me and CONTINUES to teach me A LOT about myself. Although we constantly hear what a good baby we have I must admit it is still difficult. The  lack of sleep, extra expenses on top of a demanding, all consuming, helpless baby are just a few of the things that contribute to it. EVERYTHING we do at this point of our lives revolves around her: what we eat for dinner, where we go, what we watch on the television, how late we stay out, when we wake up, what we wear ( easier to wear sneakers than the cute shoes) and  how we spend our free time in general. My parents were right when they said a baby takes all of you. I have had to learn to lean on my husband even more now than before. I admit to taking frustrations out on him at times not because of anything he has done but more because he is a safe person for me to express myself with. I even got my first wrinkles the first  year of her life. That was quite an experience.
Sometimes I beat myself up for waiting till I was 32 to get pregnant.  I think upon Delaney someday being 18 and myself 50 ( eek). However, God had a plan in allowing it to happen that way. Also, it seems a common trend these days for people to start having kids in their 30's. Much different from the days of my parents. I try to take all advice and words of wisdom I can from others because I only get one shot with her and I want to be the best mom I can. My goal each day is to stay positive, provide learning and teaching moments as well as a physical outlet. I want her to be exposed to all sorts of different people and have compassion for others. I want her to love and value family and God over everything else.

  All the challenges aside I would not trade this experience for anything. Ben and I are now talking about child TWO and what that will do to our little family. I am excited to do this adventure again and a teeny bit nervous. However I feel way more experienced this time around. We have even been looking at baby names. I figure its never too early to look. It seems like with each child it is appropriate for me to plan some sort of house projects. I am focused right now on converting the garage into a giant playroom. The garage was sealed off when we first moved in so it was partially converted. It is also painted in horizontal stripes in blue, chocolate and a cream color. Next step build a dividing wall to separate the laundry room and the play room and then add linoleum and carpet. Stay tuned for pics

Thanks for following along!!!!  

D looking cute sporting her diaper and cowgirl boots

 For ever cute pic the other 90%  of them look ( Awkward) Looks like I am blowing on her head?

Chilling in our makeshift tent in our living room

Trip to Tahoe!!!!!!!

Ben and I hadn't been anywhere by ourselves, especially overnight FOREVER! We had been planning this getaway to Lake Tahoe for over a month and my mom graciously offered to come to Chico and spend some quality time with her granddaughter. It was a beautiful, relaxing trip, but I missed her every minute. Since I am notoriously bad at packing I overpacked this time taking at least 3 coats, 2 pairs of boots and 6 shirts and 4 sweatshirts, 2 dresses and 3 pairs of pants. I think I am just used to traveling with a lot of stuff with the baby and all. Our drive was beautiful and full of uninterrupted talk. We were able to brainstorm some new designs for our business which we are eager to get started on. We stopped in the quaint town of Truckee for lunch and went to this rinky dink diner called the squeeze where Bobby Falay visited for one of his cooking shows. It was very very narrow, hence the name and the walls were  filled with graffiti which was a little overstimulating, but it was an interesting experience.

Note to self: Do not watch a movie that revolves around a plane crash in the winter and  people being hunted and attacked by wolves while you are on vacation in a snowy mountainous region. Not good for the dreams and wandering imagination. I am still recovering from seeing, The Grey.

My boots sunk in the snow

Our room was so cute it looked like a little cabin

It was so beautiful we decided to walk from our room to the Lake

Mango margaritas at La Hacienda

Ben took relaxing to the next level and sported slippers whenever we went to dinner

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!!!

Dad,

 You have no idea how you have AND continue to impact my life in so many positive ways. Thank you for always being there to encourage and support me through everything!  Your generosity and kindness to people you have met over the years has helped inspire me to want to help others too! I love you so much! Wish I was there to celebrate with you!


Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XOXOXOXOXOX, your daughter,

Tiffany : )

Me and my dad ( he made that couch we are on, LOL)

Dad at the beach in sweatpants

Delaney and her papa

Biggest Loser inspired Tortilla Pizza

I have been wanting to make this since watching the Biggest Loser and discovering that you can actually make a pizza crust with flour tortillas and save a ton on caloric intake. This is way easy and way more affordable! Just make sure that you don't defeat the purpose of being health conscious by loading up on extra cheese and sauce.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Spray cookie sheet with non stick cooking spray.
Cook a few tortillas on the sheet for three minutes. Take out from oven and add light marinara cheese. I use mozzarella because it is the healthiest.  Load it up with lots of vegies.
Then cook an additional 10 minutes

Chalkboard inspired birthday wrap

This project is so easy. I have seen chalkboard paint used on other gifts before, but I wanted to take that idea and create a  mini chalkboard with a border around it to make it look like a perfect frame and a gift in itself. This was used for my mom's birthday gift to wrap a canvas print I had made of Doodlebug for her. I was very proud of the creation I came up with, as many times I never know what you will concoct when I come up with these crazy ideas.


Materials


Brown wrapping paper
chalkboard paint ( you can buy small cans at Lowes)
decorative/fun wrapping paper for border
heavy duty tape ( it seems like regular scotch tape doesn't hold the brown paper together well)
chalk
  


First I wrapped the gift
Then,I drew a rectangle shape out as an outline
Next, I filled it in with paint and let dry overnight.
In the morning I added the border and wrote on the chalk

Here is my mom with D being presented her gift

I also decorated my nephew Boston's christmas bag with a  Large and small type B ( because I adore typography) with old wrapping paper. I hope this inspires you!!!!

      That's a Wrap!!!!!!!!!

Pear Pizza Deliciousness

January 13th 2012

Pear Pizza

This pizza is a new spin on  the classic pie. It's light, fresh and best of all easy to make!

Ingredients: 

For pears

• non stick cooking spray
• 1  medium pear
• fresh ground black pepper

Spray the cookie sheet evenly with nonstick cooking spray

slice pears to make rounds and remove any seeds or tough spots from the middle

Grind pepper on top of each slice and then lightly spray the pears

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Cook the pears for 10 min until the edges are crispy

for the pizza

I used a Boboli pre-made pizza crust.

1 tbsp EVOO

1/2 c monterey jack cheese

2 tbsp goat cheese

1/2 c chopped hazelnuts

Spread olive oil evenly in center of dough going outward and leave a 1" border on the outside.

Spread monterey jack cheese evenly over the crust

Then place the pears on the pizza making sure to cover the pizza. 

Next place chunks of goat cheese on the pizza. I used a little extra because it is yummy. Then cover the pizza with chopped hazelnuts.

cook on pizza tray at 425 degrees for 15 min.

If you would like to make the pizza crust on your own then here is a site where you can do that:

http://milkeggschocolate.blogspot.com/2008/05/better-than-deschutes.html

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my wonderful mom's birthday! There is truly no right words to capture what she has meant to me growing up and still does. A lot of people always say, " I hope I don't end up like my mom when I am older." Well I feel the opposite and I have strived to be more passionate, patient and have a servants heart as she does. She has ALWAYS been there for me through thick and thin and knows me better than anyone (besides my hubby). 

Mom I want you to know that you are AMAZING and that I miss you everyday and wish that we were closer in proximity so I can see you whenever I want. You are an amazing mom AND as I knew you would be an AMAZING grandma to my precious Delaney. 

Pics below are in random order

Mom and dad at my wedding ' 06

                                                 

                                                        Mom with her first grandchild Delaney ( Hollister)

Chico, CA

Dec 2012

San Juan 2006

Mom wine tasting with me for my bachelorette

Mom standing on "the surfboard" at the top of Half Dome ( daredevil)

 Moss Landing with Penney

Mom with grandchild #2 Boston 

San Juan

Love you!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!!