new york or bust.

summer is here! have you noticed? for many that means the traditional summer vacation.... have you got any exciting plans? we are busy readying ourselves & preparing for a quick trip to the big apple. i've been there before, but never with the little kiddos in tow. any tips/suggestions? how about kid friendly attractions & must dos? of course, serendipity's & a baseball game are at the top of the list... but other than that, we are wide open. i'd love to hear about your favorite hot spots & must sees!

birthday giveaway featuring amy, too faced & me.

maybe you missed the news, but it's my birthday. hip hip hooray! presents, balloons, and 30 candles on the cake... oh my! it's going to be great. but, i've always been taught that it is better to give than to receive. so, with that in mind, i've been throwing a month-long birthday celebration, here on the blog. each week i have hosted a giveaway featuring some of my favorite things, & i have loved every minute of it. this week's giveaway is a collection of some of my daily essentials & must-haves (click on the picture for a more detailed look)... a cute & sassy apron (one of my most requested patterns) in amy butler, of course (if you haven't noticed, i have a slight crush on her). my greatest & latest beauty find... a little something i like to call "lash extensions in a tube", lash injection by too faced cosmetics. a little reminder of my life's motto to "keep calm & carry on". & a bit of encouragement to wear around your neck... follow your dreams. crafted from sterling silver & gold (fill), so it's sure to match everything.

so here are the rules of the game:
* you have until midnight PST on tuesday, july 1st to enter.
* simply make a comment on this post to enter.
* anyone can enter (so tell your friends), although anonymous comments will be ignored unless accompanied by an email address.
* please, just one entry per person.
* the winner will be randomly picked & announced wednesday.

good luck? bad luck?

next time you've had a bad day & life gets you down, remember this story. today's trials, or perhaps your alexander type of day, more often than not, is just a blessing in disguise. our lives are full of blessings, sometimes the trick is simply learning to recognize them...

there is an ancient chinese story of a farmer who owned an old horse that till his fields. one day, the horse escaped into the hills and when the farmer's neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, “bad luck? good luck? who knows?”

a week later, the horse returned with a herd of horses from the hills and this time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. his reply was, “good luck? bad luck? who knows?”

then, when the farmer's son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. everyone thought this very bad luck. not the farmer, whose only reaction was, “bad luck? good luck? who knows?”

some weeks later, the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. when they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg, they let him off. once again, the farmer's only reaction was, “bad luck? good luck? who knows?”

there are no misfortunes in life. there are only missed fortunes… missed only because we fail to recognise and appreciate them for what they truly are: fortunes, experiences, learning opportunities, seeds of wisdom.

- author unknown.

arts & crafts.

i originally bought the oilcloth to make a table covering for kitchen table. i figured it would be perfect of all sorts of arts & crafts projects with the kids, nymcn & just about any other time i might need to protect my table. unfortunately i forgot the one rule i remember from 7th grade home ec: measure twice, cut once. maybe it was because i was cutting at 2 am, maybe it's because am i'm blonde, maybe i actually just measured wrong. whatever the case may be, i ended up cutting my fabric way too short - it would never fit my kitchen table. so i had to figure out something to do with all this oilcloth. and then i spied my patio table, with the boring green chair cushions that we inherited, along with the table & chairs, & inspiration struck. so i whipped up a new tablecloth (& when i say whipped, i mean cut it to size), & then sewed up some matching seat covers. i love the buttons smack dab in the center, which help the pillows gather & poof in all the right places. thanks carrie & chelsey for that brilliant idea. now i just have to host s summer bbq, & show off my newest creations.... look for an invitation coming soon to a mailbox near you..

what would you do?

recently, the boys & i were out and about. we were just about to cross our final "to-do" off the list as we entered joanne fabrics to pick up a few things. about half-way through the shopping adventure gavin proudly announces that he has to go potty (we've been working on this potty-training thing, & i think we finally have it down). usually when he makes a big announcement like this, it means it's coming & it's coming fast. so i quickly scuttled about, trying to find the restroom. unfortunately, i soon learned that the restrooms were out of order. so we packed up & headed to the cashier. as we started walking out to the car, gavin says "mom, i really gotta go, now." i glance around, & realize there's no other options in sight... not even a gas station or fast food restaurant. so what's a mom to do? one newly potty trained child practically about to burst, & no relief in sight! what would you do?

& the winners are...

our randomly chosen winners of the this is me journal are...
tonya , who said:

oh me, me, me. Pick me. I love it, I want it, one of my kids neeeeds it.

natalie jane, who said:

I love your birthday.

& stephanie, who said:

my mabel would LOVE this!

congratulations to all, & be sure to email me at accordingtokelly@gmail.com so we can hook you up!

for those of you who didn't win this time around... never fear, the next birthday giveaway is just around the corner. stay tuned for more details! thanks for playing & helping me celebrate my birthday!

p.s.

don't forget to enter the giveaway... entries close tonight (monday) at midnight! this time around there is going to be 3 lucky winners. good luck!

these are a few of my favorite things.

you may or may not remember that i am a complete purse addict. it's such a quick & easy accessory... my closet is full of them (more so, then i'd like to admit). & harvey's seat belt bags, are definitely some of my favorites. they are made from real seat belts, so you know the purses are going to be sturdy & wear well. THIS treecycle tote is one of personal favorite. it's made from recycled seat belts (which makes me fell good about myself... i'm doing something good for the environment by buying it), it's large enough to hold my big camera, my wallet, a couple of diapers, and all my other "stuff", & because the seat belts are multi-colored, it goes with everything. view the entire harvey's collection HERE. want to save some cash? find out about the "secret" sale HERE.

put your shoulder to the wheel, push along.

well the weatherman certainly didn't disappoint. it was HOT out there this weekend, but we had a great time. granted, i don't think i want to do it again next weekend. but overall, it was a wonderful experience. so much happened, it's hard to describe without recounting every single aspect of our weekend. to give you the big picture, jeffy & i, & a group of kids (ages 14-18) worked together as a family to pull a handcart, loaded with all of our supplies, about 10 miles. we encountered numerous obstacles: hard uphill climbs, lots of dirt, steep downhill slopes (which proved even harder than going up), indians, bugs & heat. at one point we "lost" all of our men & the women were left behind, to fend for ourselves. & we did all this, dressed in traditional pioneer clothes & carrying our baby (a doll with an egg inside).

it was amazing to see a group of people, who hardly knew one another, learn to work together so quickly & efficiently. despite the incredible heat (which was usually about 110 degrees), they were happy... singing songs, chanting cheers, telling stories & jokes. never did i hear a complaint or grumble escape the lips of anyone. at one point, in order to escape the heat, we found ourselves hiking through the night. & even though we could only see for a few feet out in front, which made it impossible to avoid large rocks & ruts, making our journey quite a bit more difficult - still, no one complained. instead, i saw genuine compassion & concern exhibited for each, & by each member of the group. i was amazed at the tenderness with which they treated our "baby" & impressed to the great lengths everyone (including the boys) went to, to keep her safe.

this was truly an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. i have learned things... about me, about my hubby, & about life in general, that i probably would never otherwise learned. and although my experience cannot compare to those experiences of the true pioneers who crossed the plains so long ago, i now have an even greater respect for them, & am truly amazed at their faith, endurance & ability to constantly "press forward" being "steadfast & courageous".

they say it'll be 110 degrees, seriously!

don't get me wrong. it's not that i hate camping, or am totally opposed to it by any stretch of the imagination. in fact, sometimes i actually like it. however, this weekend i'd prefer to be lounging by a pool, instead i will be sleeping on the ground, hiking 10+ miles, eating from a metal pie tin, & mopping the sweat off my brow, all while pulling a handcart, dressed like a pioneer. yep! it'll probably be about 110 degrees, yet i'll be sporting my pantaloons, a long skirt & blouse, apron & bonnet. sounds fun huh? i bet your totally jealous. oh well! wish me luck, i'll be back monday-ish to report. (i might even be willing to post a picture or two, so you check me out in all my "garb".)

birthday giveaway featuring this is me journal.

i'm sure it's old news by now, but just in case your a newbie, here's the situation... it's almost my birthday & you're invited to the party. my mom & dad have always taught me that it is better to give than to receive, so with that in mind, i'm throwing a month-long celebration, here on the blog. each week i will be hosting a giveaway featuring some of my favorite things. over the last two weeks, we've had some incredible giveaways, & i can guarantee this one will be just as fabulous.
if you've read my blog for any time at all, you'll already know how much i love, no adore, this week's giveaway. i've already raved & raved about the this is me journal - a kid's first keepsake journal. but, i'll gladly tell you all about it again! carrie (the visionary, creator, & entrepreneur extraordinaire of the this is me journal) spent forever searching high & low for the perfect "first journal." she really wanted something similar to what she had as a kid... something for her "little ones" to record their thoughts & drawings. having no success in locating said journal, she created one & then decided to self-publish (wow!). resulting in the this is me journal... the perfect combination of "drawing, writing, creativity & simple scrap booking to capture the years memories through your child's eyes". check out her shop HERE, be sure to check out all the wonderful details & features of the journal, read up on carrie's journaling tips & hints, & be sure to check out my favorite... the kids' self-portrait gallery.

so have i piqued your interest? have you realized that you want, no NEED your own copy (either for your own little ones, or for that perfect "where did you get this?" present)? well, this might just be your lucky week. why you ask? because this week, THREE lucky winners will receive their very own copy of the this is me journal & a set of acid-free colored pencils. yep! you read that right... this week you have THREE opportunities to win. good luck!

so here are the rules of the game:
* you have until midnight PST on monday, june 23rd to enter.
* simply make a comment on this post to enter.
* anyone can enter (so tell your friends), although anonymous comments will be ignored unless accompanied by an email address.
* please, just one entry per person.
* the winners will be randomly picked & announced tuesday.

nymcn wrap up.

how did you let me forget to post about not your mama's craft night? we had the best time doing t-shirt transformations. the house was full of gals, sewing machines, good snacks & lots of conversation. using some old t-shirts we made tons of infant gowns (check it out up close & personal-like by clicking on the picture). some of the gals re-fashioned some men's tees into shirts fitted especially for them, t-shirt dresses, bedazzled lounge pants (& yes, i said bedazzled!), & tons of of tee's were transformed into pint-sized clothes for the little kiddos in our lives.... lots of stuff going on. everything was so dang cute. i made my infant gown as a gift, & i'll admit i had a hard time giving it away... it was so soft, & boy how i loved those cowboy boots. i'm too lazy to post any other pictures... so check out what carrie, chelsey & chloe made. want to make your own? check out some of the links HERE.

costco find.

don miguel mini tacos. perfect for lunch, snacks or dinner (when the hubby's working late). found in the open-air refrigerated section at costco. (as opposed to the closed-door refrigerator section where they keep stuff like milk & cheese.)

& the winner is...

our randomly chosen winner of our lost button studio package is... sylvia who said:

very cool, hope i win!

congratulations & be sure to email me at accordingtokelly@gmail.com so we can hook you up!

for those of you who didn't win this time around... never fear, the next birthday giveaway is just around the corner. stay tuned for more details! thanks for playing & helping me celebrate my birthday!

notes to self.

next time you're expecting company, be sure to empty the trash in the guest bathroom, it'll save you some embarrassment later.

next time someone emails, asking you to meet them at the beach, instead of just skimming the email, really take the 2 minutes it will take to actually read the email. hopefully, that will prevent you from spending all your parking money, unloading your beach chair, water cooler, two small children & walking a half mile before you realize that maybe, you're at the wrong beach, and having to pack it up again.

and finally,next time you attempt to apply make-up while in-route (which is not a normal event, it just so happens that i was late to church, where i was supposed to be leading the children in singing our father's day medley for the congregation). anyway, next time this happens, be sure to put mascara on BOTH eyes, & be sure to do a final glance-over, looking for possible mascara smudges (say across the bridge of your nose). at least that way, when everyone is smiling at you as you walk back to your seat, it won't be because they are silently laughing at you.

p.s.

don't forget to enter the giveaway... entries close monday! the winner is definitely going to receive a pair of these, & probably these too. as well as some other little beauties that i haven't decided on yet. good luck!

celebrating dad.

in honor of jeffy, i'm making one of his favorite breakfasts on sunday. just thinking about it is making me hungry!

baked french toast

ingredients:
1 french baguette, cut into 1 inch thick slices
6 large eggs
1 & 1/2 cups milk
1 cup half & half
1 tsp. vanilla extra
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

topping ingredients:
1/4 cup butter (or margarine) softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon light corn syrup

directions:

the night before you plan on serving, butter a 9 inch square baking pan. arrange bread slices, overlapping to fill the pan completely. combine eggs, milk, half & half, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. mix well, then pour over bread slices & refrigerate overnight.

day of: preheat oven to 350 degrees. combine butter, brown sugar, walnuts & corn syrup. mix well, then spread evenly over soaked bread in pan. bake for 40 minutes or until puffed & golden. serve with syrup.

yum!

drum roll please...

for the last couple of months a friend & i have been working on a little side project... a website geared specifically for moms living in & around the oc (orange county). but to be honest, there's lots of great information, tips & ideas for just about everybody & anybody, (oc residents or not). so without further ado, i'm pleased to announce that just spotted is up & running. wahoo! feel free to pop on by for a visit. & you like, we'd love it if you help spread the love by letting your friends, family know about just spotted. looking forward to your visit... just click HERE, & don't forget to say hi, we love meeting new friends!

don't believe everything you read.

the package clearly states, at least three different times:

seriously, three times. on the front of the package, the back of the package & then, on the coloring book itself. that should have been a sign. really, i should have listened to my inner shakespeare who was whispering "the lady doth protest too much". maybe if i had, this wouldn't have happened:

thanks heavens, it was yellow (which although hard to see in the picture, is that bright highlighter yellow color, on my off-white side table), & not the red, blue or green paint. & luckily, mr. clean, his pal bar keepers friend, & i are on a first name basis... they definitely came to the rescue. thanks guys! i owe you one.

birthday giveaway featuring lost button studio.

so have you heard the news? it's almost my birthday & you're invited to the party. my mom & dad have always taught me that it is better to give than to receive, so with that in mind, i'm throwing a month-long celebration, here on the blog. each week i will be hosting a giveaway featuring some of my favorite things. last week we started things off with a bang... but, i know you are going to love what i have to offer this week, because i love it - after all, it is one of my favorite things.

as you may or may not know, when it comes to shiny, pretty baubles, i pretty much go weak in the knees. it's my opinion that accessories can add the extra little umph! that any & every ensemble needs. so you can only imagine how excited i am that this week's giveaway is featuring a package filled with some of my (& more than likely your) favorite pieces from lost button studio. i can't believe i'm giving this away, i really should be keeping it for myself, because i am in LOVE with everything in jessica's shop. each & every piece of jewelry is unique & handmade... you gotta love that! my personal favorite? her simple hoops, i pretty much wear them every single day. but, i also have my eye on these, these, these & this. (perfect gifts for a birthday, don't you think?) so, jump on over to jessica's shop, & check out all her beauties, you'll be glad you did, everything is so lovely, you'll definitely be thanking me for making the introductions. oh! & i almost forgot!  be sure to check out her blog... it's full of crafts, recipes & tons of brilliant ideas.

so here are the rules of the game:
* you have until midnight PST on monday, june 16th to enter.
* simply make a comment on this post to enter.
* anyone can enter (so tell your friends), although anonymous comments will be ignored unless accompanied by an email address.
* please, just one entry per person.
* the winner will be randomly picked & announced tuesday.

my work here is done.

be on the lookout! as of 2:30 am this morning, all 300 some odd swap partners had been matched up & emails have been sent out. thank heavens that is finally done! i'm hoping i didn't make too many mistakes, but with a group this big, i'm bound to make one or two, so just bear with me. if you didn't get an email, comment on this post or email me at accordingtokelly@gmail.com & we'll get everything worked out. otherwise, i think it's time to get swapping! thanks everyone for playing along with me. hope you meet a new friend (or two), & have lots & lots of fun! please, please, please have your packages postmarked by monday, june 30th & remember... it's best to send a package that you, yourself, would be excited to receive. happy swapping!

explore. dream. discover.

twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. so throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. explore. dream. discover. 
-Unknown

image via flickr.

his grandpa would be proud.

i know there's a few grandpa's & great-grandpa's that are smiling.

& the winner is...

our randomly chosen winner of our swanky paper grab bag is lucky number 35... jen who said:

happy birthday! what a fun "goody bag" way to share your grand day! i hope your candle wished come true. cheers!

congratulations & be sure to email me at accordingtokelly@gmail.com so we can hook you up!

for those of you who didn't win this time around... never fear, the next birthday giveaway is just around the corner. stay tuned for more details! thanks for playing & helping me celebrate my birthday!

i'm still getting over the drama.

i finally got around to uploading all of our pictures from last years summer vacation. although very long over due, it was a fun excuse to look through them again (all 3,132 of them). anyway, these pictures of gavin & his long(er) hair, made me a bit sad (& i'll admit, misty eyed) that he recently has decided to take matters concerning his hair, into his own hands. luckily, he's a boy & it's almost grown out. pretty soon, he'll once again be able to create his beloved "triangle hair", otherwise known as a mohawk.

let's get this party started!

it's official, swap sign ups are now closed. thanks for the huge & amazing response. when i sent out the invite, i never imagined i would have so many people "rsvp"! i still can't believe we have over 300 participants! holy cow! i definitely didn't expect this kind of response... i'm so grateful for everyone posting about it & telling their friends. by now, if you've signed up, you should have received a response to your RSVP. if you haven't yet, leave a comment on this post & we'll get something worked out. (technology, such as email, doesn't always work as perfect as we would like.) now, i have to do the hard part, and match everyone up with partners. actually, it really shouldn't be that hard, except that personally, I want to swap with EVERYONE! anyway, i'll probably do something fair, like draw names out of a hat , throw darts, or something. just be looking for an email from me with your partners info. in the mean time, start thinking about what you want to send. if you're looking for a little inspiration, check out these links from flickr of past swaps...

last year's favorite things swap
general swap packages
free people travel swap
mellow + yellow swap
swap central

i'm looking forward to getting my swap on. what about you?

image via flickr.

birthday giveaway featuring swanky paper.

maybe you missed the news, but it's almost my birthday. hip hip hooray! presents, balloons, another candle on the cake... it's going to be great. but, i've always been taught that it is better to give than to receive. so, with that in mind, i'm throwing a month-long birthday celebration, here on the blog. each week i will be hosting a giveaway featuring some of my favorite things. & at the very tip top of that list is personalized stationary. let's face it... in this day & age, the art of a handwritten note is quickly fading away - it's so much easier to send an email or text message. but nothing gives me a bigger thrill than spying an envelope in the pile of mail, with my name addressed on the front, in an actual, real, live person's handwriting, instead the usual computer generated bills i get. that being said, this week's giveaway is featuring a grab bag chock full of some of my favorite designs from swanky paper, personalized just for you! i'll be the first to admit that i'm a bit biased, because the designer, heather, is a good friend of mine. but seriously, i LOVE all of her designs. they are fun, vibrant & actually make me want to sit down & write someone a card. but, i guess i better pick out a couple of favorites, otherwise, i may be shipping one lucky winner a truckload of personalized stationary... so take a gander at heather's cute shop & check out all of her designs. seriously, you'll be ready to order cards for yourself, your mom, your neighbor & even your aunt mabel - they are that cute!

so here are the rules of the game:
* you have until midnight PST on monday, june 9th to enter.
* simply make a comment on this post to enter.
* anyone can enter (so tell your friends), although anonymous comments will be ignored unless accompanied by an email address.
* please, just one entry per person.
* the winner will be randomly picked & announced tuesday.

who doesn't have an old t-shirt?

it's the first thursday of the month. do you know what that means? not your mama's craft night (nymcn) will be in full force tonight. interested in crafting along from the comfort of your own home? then grab an old t-shirt, or two or three & get ready to transform them into anything & everything... make a cuter, more fitted shirt, or pants, a bag, or children's clothes. seriously, the possibilities are endless! check out the following links, & get ready to get your craft on.

• the incredible shrinking T (take a large T & make it into a fabulous fitted T, instructions available HERE.)
  
• t-shirt lounge pants (make a large T into comfy crop pants). instructions available HERE.
• transforming adult T's into clothes for kiddos. (toddler pants or infant gowns)
• or, check out here if you are ready to take your t-shirt refashioning to the next level.

image via flickr.

maybe i should keep it a secret.

i recently came across a recipe for a corn & black bean salsa here. i've probably made it at least once a week for the last month or so.... we love it, & so do our friends & family. it's been devoured at all of our latest get-to-togethers. the best part? the left-overs (if there are any) last for days in the fridge.

corn & black bean salsa

1 can of black beans drained

16 oz. of corn (canned, frozen, even fresh)

1 green pepper, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 cucumber (as much as you want, i used the whole thing), peeled & chopped

fresh cilantro (as much as you want), chopped

1 small bottle of kraft zesty! italian dressing

mix it all together, cover & let it chill in the fridge for about a 1/2 hour or so.

serve with chips or all by itself!

do what gives you joy.

we should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry. -e.b. white

image via flickr.

break out the balloons & birthday candles.

happy happy birthday!
it's my special day.
happy happy birthday,
that's all i have to say.

except, it's not actually my birthday. not for a couple weeks at least. but this year's a big one. i'm turning the big 3-Oh! it's amazing. as a kid, 30 seemed soooo old. i thought for sure, i'd have a pack of kids, live in the house i would retire in, & pretty much have it "all together". but life is sure different than i ever imagined it would be, but i love it. although, turning 30 means i'm looking forward to gray hairs, mid-life crisis', & the terrifying thought that i am no longer in my twenties. yikes! anyway... my parents always taught me that it was better to give than receive. with that in mind, i'm throwing a month-long birthday celebration, here on the blog. each week i will be hosting a giveaway featuring some of my favorite things. so stay tuned... details coming soon. i can't wait to get this party started!

image via flickr.

quickly becoming a daily ritual.

for the past few weeks, everyday, without fail, little o pulls out a chair from around our kitchen table & pushes it all the way to the refrigerator. he then climbs up & begins to dispense ice all over the floor. next, he climbs back down, to chomp on a piece or two. it looks like someone has inherited my ice fetish. do you think it has anything to do with the fact that ice was my only pregnancy craving i had when i was prego with owen? just about everyday i'd go to our local corner drive through & order a large dr. pepper with LOTS of crushed ice, & then i'd ask for an additional 2-3 cups of ice... i seriously lived on the stuff. it looks like my love has rubbed off on o.

making popeye proud.

layered spinach tortellini salad

1 (9 ounce) package uncooked cheese tortellini
2 cups shredded red cabbage
6 cups torn spinach leaves
1 (8 ounce) bottle ranch dressing
8 slices cooked, crumbled bacom
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup sliced green onion

cook tortellini per package directions. drain & rinse in cold water. in a large bowl (a clear bowl makes a pretty sight), layer cabbage, spinach, tortellinit, tomatoes, green onions & bacon. pour dressing evenly over top. refrigerate until serving time & toss immediately before.

a little bit of sass & a whole lot of fun.

here's what kept me up until 3 in the morning (seriously, will i never learn?). my latest apron creation. crafted specifically for the havana nights tie one on apron project. i don't even really know what a havana night emcopasses, but as soon as i heard the theme, immediately i had a vision... something a little sassy, maybe even sexy, but definitely flirty & fun. you know, an apron you could almost wear dancing. so what do you think? does it scream havana nights?