Happy Birthday MTG
Happy Birthday Muffin Tin Girl.
I am so blessed to have you as a daughter.
You are creative and fun.
You are kind and caring.
You are such a good sister.
You are beautiful...
and I love to see you smile.
I love you, Mom
15+ Excellent High Speed Photographs
20 Beautiful Long Exposure Photographs
35 Amazing Logo Designs
Create a Vintage Photograph in Photoshop
15+ Excellent High Speed Photographs
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20 Beautiful Long Exposure Photographs
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35 Amazing Logo Designs
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Create a Vintage Photograph in Photoshop
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Showing posts with label Everyday Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Everyday Life. Show all posts
Happy Birthday Muffin Tin Girl.
I am so blessed to have you as a daughter.
You are creative and fun.
You are kind and caring.
You are such a good sister.
You are beautiful...
and I love to see you smile.
I love you, Mom
Muffin Tin Girl's First Cake
Muffin Tin Girl made received some fun cake decorating supplies for Christmas. She made us a cake today and decorated it herself. I helped her with technique a little, but she did most of it! It turned out great! She loves cake decorating shows and wants to be a baker when she grows up. Only one problem, she wants to bake a cake every day, and there's only so much cake we can eat! And it's not exactly healthy either, but it was a fun treat.
Hope you are enjoying the holidays!
Natalie Jennette Photography (I couldn't wait...)
It's been only a few hours and I already want to share with you the gorgeous photos that Natalie of Natalie Jennette Photography took of the Muffin Tin Kids and me. Promise, you will keep it a secret until Father's Day?
Natalie is my newest sponsor. I couldn't be more happy with her work.
She captured the essence of each of my children so beautifully.
If you live in the Greater Southern California area, I highly recommend Natalie. And if you don't, she travels! Would you like to see more of Natalie's work and book her for a session? Visit her at Natalie Jennette Photography.
A Little Humor
While watching the commercial for "Perfect Abs"
Muffin Tin Boy: Do we need that? Can we get that?
Daddy: No, we don't need that.
Muffin Tin Boy: Why? Is it for fat people?
Daddy: Yeah, I guess it's for fat people.
Muffin Tin Boy: Well...Mommys fat.
Later I asked how he knew I was fat and he pointed to my tummy.
Good times.
Muffin Tin Boy: Do we need that? Can we get that?
Daddy: No, we don't need that.
Muffin Tin Boy: Why? Is it for fat people?
Daddy: Yeah, I guess it's for fat people.
Muffin Tin Boy: Well...Mommys fat.
Later I asked how he knew I was fat and he pointed to my tummy.
Good times.
Panera Bread - Come, Sit, Eat, Stay Awhile
It was the year 1999.
I was saying goodbye to college. Goodbye to my little life as I knew it living in Santa Barbara. Goodbye to friends. Goodbye to the little hole-in-wall coffee place where I studied for final exams. Goodbye to my favorite thinking spot inside the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Goodbye to the best piece of Peanut Butter Pie I have ever tasted. And goodbye to that little known "bread company" where I could get freshly baked bread by the slice or loaf.
For me, Panera Bread reminds me of that little bread company (that incidentally is no longer there in SB). I walk in and it feels inviting to me, almost as if to say: "Come, sit, eat, stay awhile." With their Bakery-Cafes I can have that fresh baked bread I longed for, sliced and wrapped around delicious sandwich eats. I can choose to take home a warm cinnamon raisin loaf with my family or enjoy it over a hot dark roast cup of coffee and free Wi-fi (they were one of the first national eateries to offer it).
I also love that Panera has healthy and yet hearty options for kids. From their Horizon Organic Milk to their new "better for you" menu options like the Strawberry Granola Parfait: wholesome recipe created by Panera's head baker Tom Gumpel for his daughter Olivia with maple pecan granola, organic yogurt, fresh strawberries.
Have you ever been to Panera Bread? What's your favorite thing to get?
I was given a gift card to go and sample items of my choosing off the Panera Bread menu and share with you why I love Panera. I was also compensated for this post, which makes it advertorial content and not a review. Either way, I still think Panera rocks and can't recommend it enough. I am among a group of bloggers who will be taking part in a 3 month promotion for Panera Bread and will be getting to share more delicious goodness with you.
I was saying goodbye to college. Goodbye to my little life as I knew it living in Santa Barbara. Goodbye to friends. Goodbye to the little hole-in-wall coffee place where I studied for final exams. Goodbye to my favorite thinking spot inside the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Goodbye to the best piece of Peanut Butter Pie I have ever tasted. And goodbye to that little known "bread company" where I could get freshly baked bread by the slice or loaf.
For me, Panera Bread reminds me of that little bread company (that incidentally is no longer there in SB). I walk in and it feels inviting to me, almost as if to say: "Come, sit, eat, stay awhile." With their Bakery-Cafes I can have that fresh baked bread I longed for, sliced and wrapped around delicious sandwich eats. I can choose to take home a warm cinnamon raisin loaf with my family or enjoy it over a hot dark roast cup of coffee and free Wi-fi (they were one of the first national eateries to offer it).
This is the display that greets you when you first walk in. Fresh baked bread and pastries. Yes, please!
If you are familiar with Panera Bread, (there are locations all over the United States) then you know the delicious taste and exceptional value of the "you pick two". It's my "go-to" menu item.
French Onion and the Smoked Ham and Swiss....Um, hello comfort food goodness!
I also love that Panera has healthy and yet hearty options for kids. From their Horizon Organic Milk to their new "better for you" menu options like the Strawberry Granola Parfait: wholesome recipe created by Panera's head baker Tom Gumpel for his daughter Olivia with maple pecan granola, organic yogurt, fresh strawberries.
Have you ever been to Panera Bread? What's your favorite thing to get?
Good Stuff
"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
Little Cakes and Big Friendships in San Diego
I invited my my "in real life" and blog friend Stephanie of A Pocket Full Of Buttons to visit one of my new favorite local places in North San Diego: Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen in Vista.
It's not often that I get to spend a morning chatting with a friend and even more rare is the chance to spend it with this particular friend sharing in such a delightful space: a cupcake shop! I am breaking my own blog rules here by sharing a local spot with some of my national and international readers. But I hope you enjoy. I hope it inspires you to connect with friend over such a delicious experience and if you live in the San Diego area, I hope you stop in at Little Cakes. You won't be disappointed.
Boston cream...have to say this was divine. I mean, cream filled cupcake...hello! I'm in love!
M and I sharing a moment. I'm showing her the awesomeness that is Disney princesses on YouTube mobile.
The triple chocolate dark and the Boston cream....both had a layer of chocolate ganache that was...in a word...to die for.
It's not often that I get to spend a morning chatting with a friend and even more rare is the chance to spend it with this particular friend sharing in such a delightful space: a cupcake shop! I am breaking my own blog rules here by sharing a local spot with some of my national and international readers. But I hope you enjoy. I hope it inspires you to connect with friend over such a delicious experience and if you live in the San Diego area, I hope you stop in at Little Cakes. You won't be disappointed.
Cupcake offerings today included: Bostom Cream, Pina Colada, Pancakes and Bacon, Vanilla, Triple Choclate Dark
Pancakes and Bacon....oh my stars....it tasted amazing. the perfect mid morning treat and exactly like pancakes and bacon
Steph's sweet daughter enjoying the triple chocolate
Boston cream...have to say this was divine. I mean, cream filled cupcake...hello! I'm in love!
M and I sharing a moment. I'm showing her the awesomeness that is Disney princesses on YouTube mobile.
The triple chocolate dark and the Boston cream....both had a layer of chocolate ganache that was...in a word...to die for.
Stephanie posted more about our day on her blog A Pocket Full Of Buttons, I hope you check it out. All of the photos in this post are hers, used with permission. Please don't steal them. I would be very sad.
Saturday Snapshot
The family reunion ended today. It was a long, fun filled week!But, this mama is so tired. Here's a shot from one of the days at the beach. Even their backs are cute to me.
Saturday Snapshot
We found a bird's nest today as my Father-in-law was trimming the palm tree back. The feather was found separately. So neat!A message from Michelle...
UPDATE:
Muffin Tin Boy is out of surgery and doing well! He will be really sore. I'll do a post sometime tomorrow about our "adventure". Pray for us, he won't be able to play outside for 6 whole weeks. I have no idea how how that will go down!
MTM will be a separate post, coming shortly.
A HUGE thank you to Kayce of On A Whim who posted the original message for me. She just happened to be on twitter last night after midnight when I was tweeting in the darkness of the hospital room. Check out her blog too, she is an talented crafter and one of the original moms that did muffin tin mondays with me from the very beginning.
Original Message:
Well wishes to her son!
Kayce
On A Whimm
Birthday Day O' Fun
Present #1: Donuts For Breakfast. A super fun and totally unhealthy tradition in our family.
Present #2: Something to open. Legos. The super itty-bitty teensy weensy kind,
of which we have already lost 2 pieces.
Present #3: Go to the Movies. We saw "How to Train Your Dragon". It rocked.
Present #4: Lunch at Mc Donald's...More unhealthiness...
Present #5: A trip to the store to pick out a toy: Muffin TIn Boy loves Bakugan, has no idea how to play, just loves that the balls open with the magnetic cards. (thanks grammy and gramps!)
Happy Birthday Muffin Tin Boy, I can't believe you are 5!
Are You A Morning Person Or A Night Owl?
I have never been a morning person. Ask my husband. He will tell you that Grumpy McGrumperson lives at our house before I have had my morning coffee. I have been that way almost my entire life.
However, for every minute it takes me to wake up in the morning, I gain it in the evening. I am a thriving ball of accomplishment from 10pm to Midnight. I don't know if my brain has spent all day working out a plan and chooses that moment to kick in, but it happens most nights.
My mother, on the other hand is a morning person. Growing up, I have a clear memory of walking down the hall in the morning and seeing the light on in the kitchen and knowing she had been up for a few hours already. She always greeted me with a smile as she was preparing for her day.
I have often thought about those mornings since having children and wondered just how did she do it? I am not sure I will ever get to that point. I would have to trade in my late nights. And I like them.
So, I have been thinking...
Just like my mother's early mornings, my late nights can serve to prepare me for the day. It will just be the next day. I can prep and clean, and launder (and pre-preprogram that coffe maker) so that when the alarm goes off the next morning, maybe my grumpiness wont be so noticable.
photo credit: kevindooley
So, are you a morning person or a late night owl? Any tips and tricks for me?
Scooby Doo Birthday Party For A Girl
The birthday party for Muffin Tin Girl was a success! Thank you for all of your well wishes. I read here each comment. I am still amazed that 22 children and 15 adults fit into the house! The Scooby Doo theme for a girl actually went over well. I didn't go all out this year. No handmade invites or goodie bags. Just simple fun. Party City helped reign in the theme with a great selection of Scooby-Doo themed cups, plates and other birthday ware (No, they aren't a sponsor.)
My Sister-in-law helped me frost the cake and hand drew that awesome Scooby. To "girl it up" a bit, I hung paper flowers and had them laying on tables. Each child got to take home their own container of "Scooby Snacks" - a.k.a. Chex "Muddy Buddies".
We played a game of hide and seek through out the house - finding hidden dog bones.) There were an insane amount of presents - something I was not prepared for. I guess that's what happens when the entire kindergarten class comes! And I owe a huge thank you to my mom, brother, and husband who helped behind the scenes. I could not have done it without their help.
We played a game of hide and seek through out the house - finding hidden dog bones.) There were an insane amount of presents - something I was not prepared for. I guess that's what happens when the entire kindergarten class comes! And I owe a huge thank you to my mom, brother, and husband who helped behind the scenes. I could not have done it without their help.Muffin Tin Girl was skipping around, as is her normal fashion when she is excited, and said "Mommy, this is the best day of my life!".
Unfortunately about 2 hours after everyone left, Kya promptly threw up and I spent the rest of the night by her side. I think she caught the stomach flu. It's been going around. Poor girl hasn't been up and about yet. I snapped a photo from my phone. Happy Birthday Muffin Tin Girl!
6 years old today... wow. I can hardly believe you are so big! I am so very proud of you.Happy Birthday, Sunshine.
