instafriday

Instafriday: "get out of dodge" edition

Last weekend, our crew took a 2 hour road trip above the smog that is Southern California and into the wild frontier.

Surprisingly, this is not smog. but fog. Shocking.

 When we got to our cabin in Lake Arrowhead, my girls were able to experience untouched perfect snow for the first time.
Utter glee.

 Can you tell?

 This cabin has been in my family's possession since 1960.
There are a few amenities but it really is nice to get away from the hustle and bustle.
Hence, my girls played together. a lot.
They argued together a lot too.
Grrrrr.

 We got to try out an "antique".
Ok. I feel old.

 I was bombarded by snowballs.
I got pummelled right after this staged shot.
I should learn my lesson with getting non-staged shots.

We had some quality time with the cabin mascot.
 My girls love the wolf.
They love to get up in his face and see what he is all about.
He has been here forever. Maybe 35+ years. I don't remember him not being here.

 My girls fought and then I caught this shot.
Deep breath.

All is right with the world when you see this.

Happy weekend, friends.
The Mister and the Kid are doing sprint triathalons tomorrow.
Come back to hear all about it.
I can't wait to bust out my 1991 cheerleader moves on the sidelines.
Go.Fight.Win.

beautifully rooted: found

Today I am a contributor on Beautifully Rooted.
I am beyond excited!
Come and read about my confessions as a creature of habit later today.




Did you know that there is a photo link up there today, as well?
A simple concept and the end result is rad.
Slow down. Pause. Capture a moment through your camera/phone/whatever and share.
Then, journey with each other as we savor God's goodness in our everyday.
Here is what I found.

When: Saturday
Where: Lake Arrowhead, CA
Why: a much needed get-a-way from So Cal busyness.
What I found in the moment: Childhood joy and excitement with seeing snow and what adventure lay ahead for the next few days.

When the Kid was able to see, touch and experience pure, white snow (this is her 3rd time ever with snow!), the thrill was contagious. It was like the possibilities were endless. What to create. What to experience. She knew she had time to revel in this environment. All through the simple gift of that pure, white powder.

I want to have this child-like view on my relationship with God.
I want to evoke the same joy and contagious passion for the endless possibilities, what to experience, what I get to see. I just need to jump in and spend time with Him.

What have YOU found this week?

dreaming: yellow

I am a dreamer.

Today I am dreaming of yellow.

Yellow makes me happy. makes me want to do a happy dance.

Are you ready to bust a happy move too?

Ok. Go.



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Are you doing the happy dance now, too?

Yellow will do that to you.





instafriday

Did I tell you the Mister gave me a new phone for Christmas?
Remember the one that fell into the pool this summer? It kept on ticking (barely) for 5 months.
This new addition has been so handy for the photo capablity alone.
Instagram is rad. I am at thegoatandthekid. Let's be buds.


The Nubs
I am in love with this pic of her. It is her. 100%.

 100th Day of School.
The kids had to make tshirts with 100 things on it.
Glue gun and hydrangea flower petals. Easy. Bright. Fluffy.

 Speaking of capturing the Nubs' personality, this is it.
Good golly. I love that toothless look.
Does she have to get her big teeth? I guess being 16 with missing teeth would not be a good look.

I decided to go prepster this week. Busted out an argyle sweater vest. Why not? It reminded me of my Ricky Schroeder Silver Spoons days.

But, it needed a little girliness to it.

I thought pearls. I forgot that I had a pair. My grandma's. That I wore on my wedding day.

Again, why not? What am I waiting for? It was Wednesday. Why not?

It surely brightened my day. I thought of her and her spunkiness all day whenever I made sure they hadn't fallen off.

Her name was Nancy. She was amazing.

 I just got on the Toms Craze Bus.
I am glad I did. Love these.

 Dogs:
The Kid drew this.

 The dogs ate this.
They are so rude.

 Here is one's mug shot.
Thank goodness he is cute.

 Favorite sight and sound:
playing, imagining, dreaming from the back room.
Especially this 10 year old. Still playing Barbies.
I had to get a shot of this. Not many times like this left. I am sure.

 I did a little crafting this week.

 I found a pic of me and my dad.
I love my dad's rad glasses and my expression.
I  think the glasses have made a come-back.
This is a treasure.

 Finally.. another treasure.
Pink and white animal cookies.
Best ever.Someone ate the whole bag.
It "might" have been me.

a glimpse in my mom taxi

Here's life in my mom-taxi.

When: Friday: 3:37pm

Where: my very dirty Ford Flex

Why:  Just bought new swim goggles. 

This "photo shoot" just captured the moment and the tone and silliness of the afternoon.

Go flex your muscles, giggle because it is Wednesday and have a joy-filled day.
Peace out.

loving

Love is in the air today.

Not just red hearts, sweet treats, Hallmark cards, flower bouquets and busy restaurants are on my mind today.

Today, I am....

 loving these girls.

I am blessed by the privelege of being their mom.

I am loving this guy.
Like a lot.
Fifteen years.... and here's what I really love... I like him more today than on our 1997 wedding day!
Why? God is good. End of story.
"We love because He first loved us." ~ 1 John 4:19

I am loving my new header and blog look.

It is going to be tying into another venture that I have in the works. More to come soon....

If you grab that little ol' button, that would be super swell.

Thank you Heather.

4. Loving the launch of this new site today that will bless your socks off.

Beautifully Rooted.

Please pause, grab a fresh cup of coffee (mine is Peets.. which I love, by the way!), and check it out.

Since today is all about amour, you will L.O.V.E. reading the pieces on creativity, faith, nurturing and home/food. All focused around Christ who was the epitome of love. What is not to love about that?

After you grab your second cup of coffee, go click on the contributors. You may see a chick who has short brown hair there and she loves the word "rad". Maybe. So excited to witness God at work through this.

5. Final random love:

My two favorite Instagram shots from this past week.

I am loving the ability to capture the moments that make me smile and warm my heart and make me pause and give glory to God for all of His gifts. These are all about the gift of time. quality time.

Wishing you a day filled with God's love. today and always.
xoxo

simple valentine packaging

I have a new gift-giving philosophy:I can take something simple and make it rad, just by presenting it with cute and simple packaging.
(Deep and earth-shattering.... I know.)

Hence, my example...
I had grand intentions of making something delicious from my pinterest files for my girls' teachers and coaches for Valentines' Day.
But, I lagged and procrastinated and ended up picking out something chocolate-y from the Target Valentine Candy aisle. But, I really wanted to take my store-bought candy and make it cute somehow.
So, I decided to see what I could use in my disorganized cabinets.
After scrounging around, I found exactly 6 Chinese food boxes in my possession.

 I then moved on to the next foraging location known at the mayhem filled craft closet and found some pink ribbon and a few leftover doilies from my Christmas candles.

 It was very complex and tricky to assemble.
Doilie. Ribbon. Finished.

 But, they are simple and sweet. I could probably add something else to it to jazz it up; but I liked the simplicity of it.
And the sweets on the inside. Caramel filled Hershey kisses. Oh.my. Let's just say, I had to sample them.

 Speaking of mayhem...
This has been my dining room table all weekend.
Valentines for the girls to exchange, sewing machine from my curtains and pillows for Nubs' room and for a kitchen valance with that yummy yellow fabric. I was a busy little bee.

 Since I am riding the "keep it simple" train, I kept it going for the kids' valentines for their exchange party on Tuesday.
Scrap book paper squares layered, stapled over cellphane bags with York Peppermint Patties.
The Kid is in the process of gluing on white tags that say:
"I 'mint' to tell you... Happy Valentines' Day!"

Simple.
Use what I had.
Package it up. Make it rad.
Bonus: I even kept my sanity.