Homemade Play Dough

I was feeling extra adventurous today and decided to make homemade play dough (using this recipe). It took all of 5 minutes and when I gave it to Holden he could not stop playing with it for the next 5 hours!! Or at least that's how I dreamed it would be. The reality is that it did only take 5 minutes but bug won't touch the stuff. Well, he touched it and promptly dropped it and runs away any time I try to entice him to play with it. So now mama has a new toy :)

Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

Aaannnd I'm back! Hopefully for good. Have you ever seen the movie Planes, Trains & Automobiles? I watched it for the very first time this past holiday season and it was like I was watching my life in 2013. It was almost comical how many things went awfully wrong last year. Almost. To date, it has been the hardest year of my life. But 2014 is here! And 14 is my 2nd luckiest number....so that MUST be a good sign. And so far, 2014 has been vastly better than 2013. I'm still in the process of figuring some things out (like how to juggle being a full time Mom, full time wife, part time employee, part time volunteer for ASH, and still not giving up on the goals and dreams I want need to work on to feel fulfilled). But I'm getting there. Lucky for me I have the MOST AMAZING husband who has never stopped helping me try to work things out. I would be a big ol' mess it wasn't for him. And I'm sure I'm not the only one trying to sort through these types of things. Which is why I want to start blogging again! To have that sense of community - that I'm not alone in these things. And to celebrate the little things in life that otherwise are forgotten. Like how Holden tries to get what he wants by buttering you up with a hug and kiss first. It's the cutest thing and if I don't blog it, I'm sure I'll forget it in 20 years. So here's to you, 2014. And here's to blogging again! This year is gonna be awesome. I can feel it.

Weekly Pinterest Picks

How did two weeks go by?! I mean.......really. Everyday I thought, "Oh, I should blog today...but I'm super busy and it's okay I just blogged a day or so ago." Wrong. Guesstimation was never my strong suit. Neither was anything related to geometry. And don't even get me started on fractions. They're pure evil. But guesstimation always bugged me because I like things to be exact. Why would you estimate and guess when you can know for sure? Stupid. Especially in a subject like math....that I'm pretty sure prides itself on being a exact. Black and white. Zero and.....not....zero.

Anyhoo - I've come across some pretty awesome Pinterest-ness lately and decided to share. Not so much for you, but for me to be able to re-live finding these gems all over again :)

{DIY Gold-Dipped Barstools}

Just another example of why I'm hiring myself a DIYer. Because there are just too many awesome projects out there that I would surely botch and cry about and then remind myself that I'm never doing a DIY project again. Are there any takers? I'll pay you in cookies and cake. And rants about the ridiculousness of math. Sounds like a pretty stellar deal to me.

{Peach Caramels}

I would never think to put these flavors together! But holy smokes, my mouth is watering just looking at those suckers!

{Kangaroos = T-Rex/Deer}

Totally.

{Raspberry Honey Butter}

I had this at a wedding dinner last year and was this close to licking the bowl clean.

{Illustrated Movie Posters}

How cool are these?! 

When the hubs and I build our dream house we're totally putting these in the theatre room.

{Kate & William}

If this doesn't bring a teeny little smile to your face, I don't know what will.

{The Oxford Comma}

My mind is officially blown. And also - my High School English teacher totally lied to me.

Each comment just gets better and better. But I still think Leo's a sweetheart for standing in the rain...especially with how dangerous it is for him, of all people. Bahahahahaha.

I pinned this from via my exceptionally fashionable niece. And if I were going to and awards show anytime soon - this would definitely be my dress. Holy Moly.

{Framed Family Tree}

LOVE this idea!! I'm not sure if I'll do it in a baby room,or just somewhere in the house. Probably the latter, now that I'm thinking about it.

{Superhero Baby Room}

Speaking of baby rooms....if Holden has a brother next (in like a million years) this is definitely going to be their room. I can't get enough of the undersaturated tones and vintage feel to the posters. Plus the little lockers are just about the cutest things ever.

The {Real} Beauty Project

For some time now the topic of beauty has been on my mind. More accurately, REAL beauty. The kind that the world many times calls ugly. The world would have you believe that you can only be beautiful with plastic surgery, size 00 jeans and flawless skin. But this obsession with perfection is the real ugliness. And it scares me. It scares me for all the women out there who feel that they can't have a baby without practically killing themselves to get back down to their pre-baby weight within a month. It scares me for the little girls who look at magazines and think, "that's what I'm supposed to look like if I'm ever going to be happy or find love." It scares me for myself. Because I have thought those things. I have counted calories - allowing myself only 1000 a day - while taking hydroxycut and working out and still thinking when I was a size zero that I wasn't small enough. That unless I looked like the air-brushed model on the magazine, I wasn't beautiful enough. But one thing I know for sure - those are the worst kind of lies. Those are the kind of lies that Satan wants us to believe. So we will give up on ourselves. So we will give up on being happy because we'll never amount to that kind of perfection. And honestly, I know that the world won't stop trying to cram these ideals down each and every woman's throat. So, I've decided to start The {Real} Beauty Project. I don't even know what that entails right now. It could someday be a foundation much like the Dove Beauty Campaign that strives to show girls and women around the world what beauty really is. Or it could just be something here for me. To show my future daughters. To remind myself what beauty is on those days I'm feeling inadequate. Either way, it's something I've got to do. Because women - we are freaking beautiful in ALL our shapes and sizes. We are beautiful for e v e r y t h i n g we do. So plan on seeing real beautifulness exploding out of this blog from time to time. And in the meantime, remember:

OOGA CHAKKA

Dear Blog,

[Ahem.]

Oh, how I've missed you.

These past 4 months (and really this entire year) shall henceforth and forever be known as "the black hole of 2013". A time where I didn't record the important things in life like, what I ate that day, how Holden tormented Cooper & London, what I wore and MOST importantly my thoughts on the adorable new royal baby. (Loved Kate even more when she came out of the hospital proudly showing her postpartum baby bump, BTW).

But I solemnly swear that these crucial details will no longer be left in the dust!!! I call for a new order of blogifying. One where I shall enlighten the masses few faithfully following with all sorts of probably-only-interesting-to-my-mom details. Hurrah!

And in honor of this proclamation I give you. . . . . .

THE HOFF

You're Welcome.

Sincerely,

Me.

Mustaches for Babies

Okay, so this is for reals. I got my first order last week and shipped it off in brown paper package tied up with string. You already know this mustache binky is one of my favorite things. But now it comes with three interchangeable styles. And a cute baby.

Okay, not really the baby.

Check it out at my Etsy shop here!

Little Fist Bumps

Well, that four month break was unexpected. Things are still pretty rough around here but I have GOT to get back to this. Working a full time job at home while being a full time mom plus a calling at church PLUS all that was stressing me out before that is sticking around means that time is less than scarce and I am more than overwhelmed. I'm sure you understand being busy too. But I want to blog at LEAST once a week again. So. There's that.

And I firmly believe that when things are down that's when God can show you little miracles, or little fist bumps. For us this has been evident. Little fist bumps that come in all shapes and forms. 

A gift card//

Much needed advice from a newly found friend
//Another gift card

//A phone call//An unexpected package//

A Girls Night Out//Carrot Cake

//Charity at it's finest//A General Conference talk

//Et Cetera

And just like that I know it's going to be alright. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not next week. But soon. Soon enough.

To: Grandpa H2os

Grandpa, this is the most perfect picture of you. Ever. It explains more than words who you were and how you lived your life. I couldn't find the picture of me and you that I also love. It must be on Mom's computer and she's down with everyone in Oregon. But the image is forever in my heart. You have the biggest smile and just the hint of a twinkle in your eye. That twinkle is what I'll remember about you the most. In the last few years it's grown just a bit dimmer - you must have just been missing Grandma more and more. I find comfort in knowing that you're reunited with her again. You two made quite the dashing pair.

But that twinkle was ALWAYS there. Just a hint of mischievousness that we all must get from you. And its what everyone loved most about you. Out of the many great memories I have of you, here are a few of my favorite:

- Your garden. Oh that garden could make even a pioneer proud. I still only like eating green beans fresh off the vine because of it. 

- Making homemade - fresh raspberries from the garden - ice cream with the ice cream maker  you actually had to keep turning the handle on to make.

- Your stories about being in the war. You truly are a veteran hero. 

- The way you treated Grandma. It was a great reminder of the kind of respect a woman deserves.

- Your jokes. They still give Kenny a run for his money.

- That one time I went camping with you and Grandma to Mt. Rainier and on the road trip there you asked me to guess how long a mile was. I must have guessed 10 times wrong and thought you were magic when you knew EXACTLY when a mile was over. I vowed to be that cool one day. And when I play that game with my kids, I'll make sure to look at the odometer too so they think I'm magic as well. At least, I think that's how you did it. Maybe you really were magic. It wouldn't surprise me.

- How you could ALWAYS find a quarter in my ear. 

- Your love of playing horseshoes. I'm sure you could still give someone a run for their money up in heaven.

- The smell of your wood shop. I remember how I loved to go in there and just watch you work. And how you would selflessly make anyone anything that they wanted. Thanks again for my desk. And guinea pig cage. And piano bench. And...well everything.

- Your old motorcycle and rides to the lake to practice skipping rocks.

- The headphones you would always use to watch TV. It always felt like a privilege to sit in your chair and watch classic, old TV shows.

- The time after Grandma passed when Mom called you to ask what you did that day and you replied, "Oh I just puttered around. I installed a door in the side of the garage." Only you could think "puttering around" was completing a huge project.

- Mom finding half a box of yellow cake and listening to you explain that you just wanted a little bit of cake, so you only made half of it. I think I'll make some yellow cake and chocolate frosting in memory of you tonight.

Grandpa, until we meet again just know that we all love you and will miss you terribly. Say hi to Grandma for us.You two really are the best.

A Little Boost

Since I wrote about things being a bit rough around here, it's gotten both better and worse. And I haven't felt like blogging a bunch of pity party posts, nor have I felt creatively stimulated to post some awesomeness around here. But I promise to start posting soon, I mean things have GOT to start looking up! But for today here is something the hubs and I watched it this Monday and when it ended we were both in tears. It was exactly what we needed to hear and it is amazing. If you need a little boost, or even if you don't, you won't regret watching it.

Aaaanndd thus ended me going to hair schools.

 

It's orange people. Orange. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating but it looks way worse/drastic/totally not me in real life and don't even get me started on what it looks like straight. And let me just show you the two pics that I gave them to help explain what I was looking for. I also said "ombre highlights".

 

I wanted the placement of the 1st and the color of the 2nd. Bless her little heart though....the chick was pretty much brand new and I'm sure tried her darndest. And really - if I was more the rocker type chick this would be cool. But I'm not, so it's not. Totally going back next week to have them tone it down. I'll keep you posted because I know you're dying to know.

The No Cow Zone

Let's just talk about all the future animals I want, mmkay? The hubs tells me I can't ship over elephants here to rescue them (something about taking them out of their natural habitat...blah blah blah), so I'm settling on having an elephant refuge in Africa that I'll visit on a yearly basis. But I'm still pretty set on owning a zoo and zoos have elephants so I'm pretty good to go on that front. It all started with seeing "Water for Elephants" and then seeing the movie "We Bought a Zoo" plus this documentary last year pretty much sealed the deal.

So, WHEN we own our dream house, it'll be on about 50 acres of land (which we've already found and were this close to buying....if we had a cool mil laying around that is), thus making it more of a ranch. I....I mean WE plan on having:

2 goats:

And a tree for them to do this:

5 dogs:

{A Golden Retriever-Beagle Mix}

 

 {Harlequin Great Dane}

{A Doberman Guard Dog.....we're talking the legit trained by police kind}

{Pomeranian-Husky Mix.....OMG}

{Not sure of mix, but I want need it!}

 A handful of chickens:

 2 horses:

 A cat or two:

 2 peacocks:

And a little pygmy pig:

 

But under no circumstances, cows:

Those things are wayy too scary to have loitering anywhere nearby. And, I'm totally not kidding. I have this weird phobia of cows. I mean they are BIG and dumb. It would NOT take much for them to trample you, kill you and not even realize it. Plus we've got the Great Dane that looks like a cow, so we're pretty much set.

Hot Cocoa Cookies

Not too shabby, Pip & Ebby. I just added some hot cocoa powder to give it that extra cocoa-y  boost and nixed the chocolate shavings on top because I'm lazy like that. 

Tie a knot.

I love this quote. Mostly because its exactly what I needed to hear. To say things have been rough lately would be an understatement. I am sure when compared to others, my troubles would seem like cake. But for me, in this moment, I must say that this past month has been one of the hardest I've ever endured. It seems as though I am in no shortage of bad luck and both big and little disasters seem to be intent on having a party in my life. I write this, not to have pity or negative attention, but because I want to always be honest in this little bloggy journal of mine. And although I try to keep it upbeat and positive most days, today that would seem untrue. However, I don't ever want to end on a downer. I am SO grateful for the many, many wonderful things in my life and I strive everyday (even the bad ones) to count my blessings. Today I may be tying that knot and desperately hanging on, but I have faith and hope that things will get better soon.

Good Southern Food

I'm trying to convince the hubby to settle in Nashville (there's a long explanation that will make me sound crazy, so I'll just leave it at that). It actually hasn't taken that much convincing and we're pretty much sold on the idea of raising our family in either Nashville or San Diego. This is still five or so years away, but it doesn't hurt for me to show him how awesome it could will be. So last night I whipped up a quick meal and with the help of my step mom-in-law it was a feast that would have made Paula Deen proud (I even used one of her recipes!)

The spread: Homemade Root Beer, BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Baked Beans, Homemade Honey Butter, Mac & Cheese (my recipe) and a good ol' homestyle salad.

Opposite Day

My new super practical Mom shoes. 

Why, thank you Nordstrom Rack. You know exactly what this girl can't resist.

A Dress for Utah's Red Carpet

So the hubs got his film nominated in a bunch of categories at the Filmed in Utah Awards (woot!!) that take place in February which means this girl has got to find a red carpet-esque dress stat. This would be simple if I didn't need to find a super modest but also super fashionable dress that can cover up my post-baby belly & had lots of cash-o-la to drop. But I am determined to step up to the challenge and even maybe design and make the dress myself. Any attempt at sewing usually results in tears and an unfinished project I ship home to my crazy talented mother to finish. Here are dresses that are currently inspiring me for the task at hand:

{All images from my "Fashion {Couture/Evening}" Pinterest board}

01: Using a blazer as a cover up.

02: Gathered at waist and lots of flowy fabric

03: Embellished Shoulders

04: Tulle

05: Emerald color & 3/4 sleeves

06: Silhouette

07: High Waisted Skirt

08: Feathers

09: Graduated Hemline

10: Peter Pan Collar

11: Sleeves & Silhouette

12: Green Sequins

13: Wrap Dress

14: Lots of Embellishment

15: Cropped Top Over Dress