Coffee Date Vlog: Me & My Girls

 

Hi Everyone. Doing my little happy Friday dance over here. I'm so glad you stopped by for our weekly Coffee Date. These link ups make me crave Starbucks since I've been without for the past few weeks with my calorie counting. Random Fact: Did you know a Tall Skinny Peppermint Mocha has only 110 calories! My weakness. My third week in a row linking up with a vlog and I seriously need to lean how to do all those fancy smancy editing tricks some of you do. With the scrolling words, music... Maybe next week. 

This week I'm excited to have two guests, my girls. Now let me warn you going into this, they had no idea what I was doing. Creating a vlog, yes. They are used to me locking myself in my room every Thursday evening and talking with myself for a bit. LOL But this week I asked them to pull up a sofa cushion and get comfy. I reassured them they didn't have to talk, just listen. I had something I wanted to tell them. I apologize in advance for this turning into an all out cry fest on my part. 

When praying about what I should share with you today, I ran across this:

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Made you think hua? If not, stop and read it again.Your children WILL become who YOU are; so be who YOU want THEM to be. It stopped me in my tracks. It got me thinking... Am I the type of mom I want my kids to be? Yes and no. I talk a lithe more about my weakness in the vlog. 

One thing we do a lot of in our house is praise. Our kids know we are very proud of them, of what they do and who they've become, but sometimes they need a little more. Especially if you have more than one. My head tells me that my kids know how I feel about them, and they probably do, but it sure does feel good to hear it every once in awhile right? I encourage you to take a few minutes and talk to your kids on a deeper level. Life is too short, we never know what could happen tomorrow. Make sure you kids know exactly how you feel. Don't assume.

Next week our family will be on a much needed vacation so I'll miss having coffee with you. The good news is while we're on-location, my hubby and I will be recording our first vlog together. We're traveling back to where we honeymooned 11 short years ago, and he thought what better of a place to do our vlog from. 

So until next week, be blessed.

Linking up today for Coffee here.

Linking up here today for what's on my heart.

Spur of the Moment

I'm very much a planner person. We have our vacations scheduled at least a year in advance. Seriously. 

Many of you might not know, my husband and I work together. Not only for the same company, not only in the same building, but in the very same office. I turn my chair around, and there he is. When people here this for the first time we always get asked, "How on earth do you live and work together all day long, everyday?" Our response, how could we not. We have God in the center of our marriage. We're inseparable.

I found the one my heart loves.

Songs of Solomon 3:4

 My husband and I have lunch together everyday, but lately it has become a routine where we spend a a little while eating together and its back to work. Earlier in the day he had told me what a gorgeous, warm day it was outside. When he brought lunch in, something in my mind clicked. A memory of what we used to do earlier in our marriage. We were heading to the beach for a picnic. 

Remember to treasure the little moments in life. 
Some of the best ones will be spur of the moment. 

Casey Wiegand's

For the Love of Bikes

If anyone knows our family, they know us with our mountain bikes. Where we go, our bikes go. Period. After our "I do's", we actually rode back down the isle on a tandem! {No we didn't fall and make it safely to the limo.} We honeymooned on Mackinac Island, MI since there are no cars allowed, only bikes and horses. That's bike love.

In the winter, even though we live in California, its colder and rainier and I just don't seem to get out there as much as I should. I come up with the excuse I'm to tired. I work 40 hours a week, I'm a photographer on the weekends, and I'm a mom. That's not an excuse. I need to put exercise back into my daily routine. Somehow its slipped away but these pesky winter pounds are sure holding on strong.

We had a family portrait session taken earlier this year with the fabulous photographer Jessica Velarde. During this session she did an amazing job of capturing the "real" us. 

Thank you Jess for these amazing photos that will be treasured for a lifetime, just like you.

 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in ALL circumstances 1 Thess. 5:17-18 ♥

Blessings,

 

Guest Post: Cassie from Live.Laugh.L0ve.

Everyday, a new blessing. I'm a newbie to the blogging world {today is actually day 25} and I'm so overjoyed today to have my very first guest Cassie from Live.Laugh.L0ve. The reason this it was so important for me to have Cassie as my first guest is because she was one who reached out to me first. To help, support, and answer silly questions. She offered to do a button swap with a girl that didn't know what a button was! Thank you Cassie for caring. For taking the time to make others feel special. 

I blog over at Live.Laugh.L0ve. I LOVE God first and foremost, you can read about my faith here. I am a wife to my high school crush! :)

I am also a momma to two of the most adorable boys 
in the world if I do say so myself. :)

Today I'm going to try & tell you a little bit about myself. Something I'm horrible at doing & I have no idea why, because well, I know me so it should be easy right? :) Here it goes.

I am a free spirited person. I live life one minute at a time, savoring every moment I can. Even little things like drinking hot chocolate with my little one's! These tiny moments are as precious to me as the big moments.

I believe in Living life, Laughing as much as possible & Loving with my whole heart. I try to Embrace life. Something I think people don't do often enough. I want to encourage/inspire people to embrace this crazy beautiful thing called life and loving every minute of it. Even the bad stuff. This life is so short, why waste it?

I have learned that I am beautifully different & it has taken me awhile to accept that. I take a too many pictures & believe it's okay to cry. I am a very sensitive person and a very passionate person. I am also utterly compassionate. I want to reach out and help those who are hurting, who are unhappy and show them the light in a dark place. 

I am spontaneous & I believe in living my dreams! I blog about anything and everything! I also have a shop called ccy designs where you will find inspirational hand stamped jewelry! Today I would like to offer Laura's readers a 15% percent discount on everything in the shop. The code will be good through the 28th! Use Code Laura at checkout!

Hope you will stop by and say hello! 
Thanks so much Laura for having me here today!

Framed Button Heart {Getting Crafty}

This week we got a little crafty {totally out of the "norm" for us}. We do a lot of baking in our house but when it comes to arts and crafts, sewing, putting things together with our own hands, it just doesn't happen. Who would have thought this simple craft project would totally changed my way of thinking. I don't have to be an artist or seamstress to do these things with my kids. We'll learn together {and probably laugh A LOT along the way}! I treasure those moments I can spend one-on-one time with my daughters. Sometimes I need to remind myself, everything else can wait, family comes first. My kids are growing fast and if you don't take the time now, I might not get that chance again. Gosh, I never intended this post to turn into a cry-fest {as tears run down my face}.
Framed Button Heart {Under $5.00}

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Don't get overwhelmed by all the photos. I'm a photographer so sometimes it gets the best of me. {I seem do better visually that verbally.}

Here is what you need:

• Frame {you can get from the dollar store}
• Buttons {we purchased from an antique store for $2.00}
• Fabric {we used an old scarf from the antique store for $1.00 or burlab fabric would work}
• Cardboard {we cut an manila folder in half}
• Hot Glue Gun {any super glue would work}

First we spread everything out and warmed up the glue gun.

 Opened up our piece of material, put the piece of cardboard in the center and

cut around the cardboard, leaving 2" of extra fabric around each side.

We then used the hot glue gun and glued the fabric around all the edges. 

{Yes I burnt my finger!} Our first laugh of the project. 

 We then opened the frame, removed the glass, inserted the fabric covered

piece of cardboard, and put the frame backing back on.

 Then the fun crafting started. I had my daughter Charlie (age 6), choose any

buttons she wanted to use and make an outline of a heart in the center of the frames opening.

We chose pink since this was a Valentine's project.

Once the heart outlined was created, I had her start filling in the middle.

 She was so engrossed this project. I loved her attention to detail.

 After a little rearranging, the heart was complete.

 Then I stepped in with the hot glue gun and began gluing the

buttons down exactly where she had placed them.

 Charlie is just as particular as me, she corrected every millimeter I was off. Again we

were laughing hysterically until we both couldn't talk and tears we running down our faces.

 And voila, our master piece was complete.  Miss Charlie was so proud of her work

{as she should be, it turned out beautiful}.

It now has a permanent spot in our living. The heart is a constant reminder of the love of our family and for me personally, to take more time for the little moments.

And for all your not-so-crafty moms like myself, I hope this was found helpful.

Now let's go get our crafty on!
Join in our DIY Valentine's Craft Link Up Party!

Don't forget to follow up on Facebook & Twitter!

Blessings,

 

7 Pretty Things Sunday

If you were asked to come up with 7 pretty things, what comes right to mind? That's what I was asked. My mind just started spinning with all the ideas. My list may seem simple, maybe even plain, but they're... me.


Today I'm linking up with Gussy Sews, Matchstick Molly, Much Love, Illy & The Letter 4 for 7 Pretty Things on Sunday.

Piano. My love for music. I do hope to learn how 

to play someday.You're never to old, right?

Tattoo. I have two of my own but this one reaches deep in my heart.   love never fails 1st Corinthians 13

Everything about this. I have a passion for chandeliers but this overall bathroom looks like a mommy's safe haven. 

Bike. If you know us, you know our passion for bikes. This photo is us. Bikes, love.... Our Reflection.

Hair. Oh how I wish I had long beautiful wavy hair like this. It seems so effortless. Where's my magic wand?  

Scarf. Especially infinity scarves. I could wear one everyday. They seem to complete any outfit.

Vows. Having your wedding vows on canvas in front of your wedding photo. I adore this.

All the photos I posted today were found from my Pinterest stream in case you want to check them out here. I'd love to hear where you found your inspiration. 


Blessings.

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