Lessons of the Week

A list of lessons I have learned this week:

1) My most pressing and urgent need may be money, or healing, or guidance but what I need most is forgiveness

2) Call the manufacturer before a repairman. It may result in learning of a warranty you didnt know you had or a free part because they know it was defective. Thanks dad for the advice!

3) No need for Handy Manny around here, my Mr is handy if there are directions.

4) Two and a half year olds think they can drive when they turn two and a half. Me: "Corbyn, you are two and a half today!" Corbyn: "Oh cool Mom, I can drive now!"

5) Cold showers are not worth taking a shower. I recommend a washcloth for the armpits and baby powder for the hair.

6) Running into a tree can result in 8,000 dollars worth of damage. (our) tree just fine, (neighbors) car not so much.

7) Water parks = lots of skin, not enough sunscreen, and some pretty awesome tattoos.

8) Don't get behind the coupon lady at the grocery store. Reason number one: it takes forever. Reason number 2: you feel bad about your own shopping

9) Though I am an avid Southwest Airlines fan sometimes its cheaper to fly with them one way and another airline back.

10) Being struck by lightning is not uncommon during monsoon season in Arizona (chalk up another thing to be fearful about)...five people YESTERDAY just at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Craziness.

Did you learn anything this week? Do tell!

Have a Fan-tastic Weekend!

We drove downtown tonight with no plans other than to go downtown. We walked around our courthouse square looking at the people and the fountains, went into a little treat place and let Corbyn pick out a special something, picked up some deliciousness at an amazing pizza place in Prescott (Mama Edda's) and then noticed there was a softball game. We decided to stop and watch for a little while when we ate our dinner. I forgot how much I love the game. Within just a couple minutes I had keyed into what both pitchers were throwing, how I would go about hitting against them, and picked the players I would like to make a team out of. I did resist the urge to run home and grab my bat and my probably too tight white softball pants but I definitely didn't resist the urge to tell the mom next to me what to tell her daughter the next time she got up to bat. I couldn't help it. I'm a fan.

I challenge you this weekend to be a fan! To do something, watch something, or cheer for something you are a fan of.

Happy Friday!

Happy Birthday Martha

In honor of Martha Stewart's 70th Birthday (she looks fantastic!) 7 fabulous ideas from her website!

Beach Towel Tote Bag

Textured handmade bracelets

Cute invitations! (a lot of which you can just print out)

Beach Board Game

Handmade Brooch Ribbon Necklace

Yummy recipes like this Red white and blueberry layer cake.

Checklists! My heart smiles when I can check off little boxes.

Happy Birthday Martha! Thanks for your creativity!

All photos and ideas from marthastewart.com

The Great Debate: Short or Long

Short?

Or long?

Here are some hairstyles I am liking...

Short?

Or long?

Help me =) I don't know what to do.

Amy Ryland Photography: Clouds

These are me looking up turning in a circle taking pictures of the sky from our backyard. I wanted something to remember the magic as I sat with my boy cuddled on my lap, pointing, searching for animals and objects in the clouds. His 2 year old imagination makes my heart swell.

Back to School- Preschool

Sitting up, check. Crawling, check. Sleeping through the night, check. Off the boob and bottle, check. Walking, check. Talking, check. Saying please, thank you, and excuse me without being prompted, check. It seriously amazes me that 2.5 short years ago I was holding a 6 pound baby who cried and cooed and now he is telling me full on imaginative stories and correcting me, "no mom, that's not a skid steer thats a front loader". My baby is turning into a little boy. And though we're not quite ready for preschool with school starting this week it made me think of what is on my to buy list for preschool.

One of these cute backpacks from pb kids. I love the simple design with their name embroidered.

This awesome lunch pail. No baggies needed plus, cute little compartments.

These personalized labels for his sippy cup/water bottle.

These cute tennis shoes. According to the preschools around here they have to wear tennis shoes and I think the velcro is good so he can do them himself.

And of course, new clothes! My favorite places to shop for Corbyn on a budget are The Childrens Place and Old Navy, both have cute boy clothes and awesome sales.

Happy Back to School Shopping!

Back to School- College Edition

I was a ball of excitement and nerves. Every year that I drove onto 2900 Lomaland Dr I was ecstatic thinking about what that year would hold and the memories that would be made but I was also nervous, would my classes be too hard? would I perform as well on the softball field this year as well as I did the year before? would we have an ocean view? will there be a snake hiding under one of our suitcases (it happened)? what surprises would this school year hold? (what can I say I'm a worry wort). But I absolutely loved the energy at the beginning of the year and starting school again. The new notebooks, the organized binders, the smell of new books, and the fact my mom made sure to take me back to school shopping for the essentials even in college. She wouldn't leave my dorm till my bed was made, closet organized, desk set up, food in the fridge, and a few new outfits in the smallest closets ever. If I was going back to school this year, these are some things that would make my list of must haves.

The ipad 2, my husband is using his as his main computer now and I think I would love to take notes and write papers on one of these (and of course, play words with friends).

I hate waking up and waking to that horrid beep, beep, beep is the absolute worst way to start a day, Dave Matthews is far better to wake up to. Plus this one is little and cute and white!

Everyone needs a backpack. Especially this one.

Or a cute tote
A few casual, easy to wear dresses because jeans get a little boring. ps. I knew a girl in college who would only wear dresses and high heels (everyday! for 4 years!) I am not extreme like that but I definitely like me some effortless dresses like this one.

And this one.
And this one.

Along with new clothes you definitely need some new shoes. Point Loma is hilly, most of the time your breathing hard by the time you make it up from the dorms so high heels to me were out of the picture. But these are some adorable shoes that I think would look cute with jeans or casual dresses, score.

And you can't forget the classic flip flop, rainbows are where its at in San Diego.

Happy Back to School shopping!