{day in the life} 2016 | march 5th

On March 5th sweet Nely and I decided to play along with Ali Edwards Day In The Life.  She was visiting me from San Diego and together we cooked up a grand scheme of DITL photo taking on Saturday and scrapbooking said photos all day Sunday.  It was AMAZING.  PERFECT.  Everything we wanted it to be and more.  Here are most of the photos we got around to editing that Saturday night.  Of course there are still a few missing that need editing, but for the most part here's a peek at our day.  Thanks for looking, and I'll be back next week with the DITL mini book we completed.  Smiles!

{day in the life} 2015 | round 1

Hello blog world, I've missed you! I've been away enjoying time with our new little girl, and it is wonderful!! Today I have what few photos I took from playing along with Ali Edwards' Day In The Life. It was a slow start with the photo taking, and I didn't take as many as I'd like, but we're learning to go with the flow these days. Hopefully, I'll be doing a day in the life once a month to help document my daughters first year. I'm not sharing too much journaling here for privacy reasons, but did jot down our entire day in notes for when I decide to print these and do something fun with them. Actually, they'll probably just go in my Project Life album. If anyone else decided to play along, please leave a link in the comments....I'd love to see!

• 12:30pm | One last diaper change and her first time wearing her Batman tee before leaving the house
• 1:40pm | Vanilla chai and my favorite gluten free cookie for a snack after my eyelash tint appointment
• 1:50pm | Rainy day errands
• 2:00pm | Grocery store
• 2:30pm | Some footie pajamas and leggings found at the store for my Little

 

• 3:00pm | Arrived back at the car to raindrops 
• 3:30pm | Back home for a quick selfie with my Honey
• 4:30pm | Penguin Snuggles while she watches a few minutes of Rio 2 (the singing is her favorite part)
• 5:00pm | Mama and baby time
• 5:15pm | UPS dropped off the blue trench coat I ordered
• 5:30pm | Bottles and bubbles

5:40pm | Ryan arrived home with one of my favorite carry out dinners 

7:00pm | Papa gets baby and puppy time all at once

9:30pm | A late bedtime from teething

Thanks for taking a peek at our day!  See ya soon!! XO

{december daily} the photos | 9,10,11

I can't believer how time has flown by! Guys, It's only 12 days to Christmas!! Ryan and I have been busy prepping for baby girl to arrive while still enjoying this happy holiday season. I've been taking photos, notes and prepping pretty paper for my December Daily. There is a small stack of freshly printed photos waiting for me to pick them up at Costco, and I'm hoping to get caught up to the 11th by Sunday....finger's crossed ; )  Honestly, I wasn't sure how much holiday "making" I was going to get done because of my due date fast approaching, but surprisingly I'm still checking stuff off my list and it feels great!  Hope you all are finding a bit of that Christmas magic.  XO

Just a couple notes about my pics from the collage above:

1. No Christmas decorations this year.  I didn't want to have to put them away, so instead we purchased a small Christmas tree and had it flocked white with a little glitter.  I added simple white lights and called it done.
2. 36 weeks.
3. Blue sky before the storm.  After dark, it was SO WINDY our trash cans kept blowing around the yard, and the power even went out a couple times.
4. Ponyo in his new holiday sweater.  Perfect for rainy days so it's easier to clean him before coming back inside from the backyard.  Gatsby's didn't fit, so I ended up exchanging it the next day.
5. Finally purchased a wreath from Trader Joe's for our front door and it smells AMAZING.
6. Can't seem to get enough of gluten free french toast these days.  Ryan makes it best.

{week in the life} friday | 2014

I'm falling a little behind on my photo editing but still really enjoying this Week In The Life challenge! I can't believe tomorrow (Sunday) is the last day. Taking photos throughout the days has been mostly awesome, and only a little challenging ; ) 

Since Friday was Halloween, Ryan, the puppies and I made the trip over to the Peninsula to go trick or treating with my family.  It was pretty much the best.  Here's most of the snapshots I ended up loving.  XO

My thoughts on Friday:

1. Still love riding on the ferry (the Walla Walla this time) to get to the Peninsula.
2. Don't know if I'll ever get over how beautiful the drive is over to Sequim.
3. Waiting in line to board the ferry I snapped this pick of my mask.  Ryan and I chatted, listened to music (Little Jackie), and watched a funny YouTube video.
4. Wore my Venetian mask all day.  I keep the tag on and just tuck it into the mask when it's on my head because it's made in Venice and numbered.
5. Ponyo just chillin' on our drive.  He likes to get as close to us in the front seats as possible.
6. Stopped for lunch at the Flying Pickle Cafe so Ryan could get a turkey Reuben and caramel mocha.
7. Had my little sister open her birthday present early so she could wear the leopard onesie we bought her that evening.  I also wore my new twinkle star pajamas and super soft slippers.
8. My little sister dressed up as a hippie for trick or treating.  Downtown Sequim is the quintessential charming small town experience on Halloween.  My family came across probably 20 people they stopped and said "Hi" to while we were out.
9. I had eaten recently so all I ordered was my favorite espresso drink right now.  A decaf amaretto breve.  Yummmm.
10. Large scale map from in the ferry cabin.  I'm a very visual learner so this is rad.
11. My other younger sister dressed up as The Cat In The Hat, looking as cute as ever.
12. My adorable niece dressed up as Carol, and her papa Max from Where The Wild Things Are!  Watching her face light up as we walked around downtown Sequim was the cutest ever!!  She talked a lot as she pointed, jumped, skipped and acted like a 1 1/2 year old in heaven.

{week in the life} thursday | 2014

Thursday was a fairly productive and yummy day.  I mostly finished up my laundry which always feels great, and so I'm ready for a fun Halloween weekend.  Ryan and I have some plans that we are really looking forward to.  Also, I didn't snap a photo of it, but made a delicious grilled cheese sandwich for dinner with fresh sliced avocado and pepper jack cheese sandwiched in the middle of two slices of cheese (and gluten free bread) and it was super tasty.  I'm going to have to remember this one. XO

Some thoughts on my Thursday:

1. This is my favorite candle scent right now.  I'm a big fan of almond scents (and flavors), and this reminds me of almonds, apples and cinnamon!  It makes my house smell amazing!!
2. Ryan surprised me with a coconut bubble tea.  It's our go-to flavor right now.  It was the perfect treat!
3. I put the finishing touches on my layout from Wednesday.  Really loving those die cut leaves from Studio Calico.
4. Ran a few errands, and it was so nice to check things off my list.  There were so many colorful trees in the parking lots of all the shops.  I had to stop and snap a pic of the pink ones ; )
5. Ryan finished his camo project the night before and I woke up to a bunch of parts drying on our kitchen table.
6. The last of my left over German pancake with apples and cinnamon for lunch.  SO good.
7. Rainy day selfie.
8. Raindrops all day today.

{week in the life} wednesday | 2014

Wednesday is easily one of my favorite days of the week....it's date night! I love that there's a block of time during the weekday where Ryan and I get to focus on "us". We have so much fun together it's the best!!! For our date this week we went out to dinner at one of our favorite burger spots. We walked in the door.  Sat at the bar.  Found out it was "ladies night".  Received two tickets for our ice tea and soda.  Started eating our burgers.  Had one of our tickets called.  I spun a wheel.  I won a $25 gift certificate to a local salon! Such a fun surprise. XO

Some thoughts on my Wednesday:

1. Had a wonderful Skype date with a crafty friend, and we challenged ourselves to create a layout using leaves.  I cut mine out of wood and printed my photo onto transparency.  It turned out really great.
2. There are like 5 different types of mushrooms growing in our backyard right now.  Crazy.
3. Date night selfie.
4. My laptop (named Maple) requires a headset for Skypeing.  Side note: my friends layout from our leaf challenge turned out awesome!
5. My Japanese maple in the backyard (a katsura) is turning the prettiest shades of yellow and red.
6. Walking to the car.
7. Tonight's sunset was lovely.
8. 30 weeks.

{week in the life] tuesday | 2014

Welcome to my Tuesday! I had a really laid back day but managed to take a few photos for Week In the Life. What about you? Anyone else enjoying this challenge? XO

Some thoughts on my photos from today:

1. I like to use the mandolin for slicing up the granny smith apples for my German pancakes.
2. Using the kitchen more lately, and really love that my Caphalon dishes can go in the oven.
3. Steam rising from my lunch (German pancake with apples and cinnamon).
4. The puppies wear sweaters outside when it rains so cleaning and drying them off is easier.  Still think this skull sweater is too cute!
5. More from the kitchen.  Putting some of my Pyrex to good use.
6. Watching "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" while sorting my laundry.  Charlie Brown forever!
7. Ryan enjoying taco salad with homemade ranch dressing for dinner again tonight.
8. Some sweet delicate raindrops.  The sun came out in the early afternoon and then it rained a lot.

{week in the life} monday | 2014

I decided to follow along with Ali Edwards in documenting my Week In The Life and took a few photos of my Monday. In general it wasn't my favorite day ever, but I got through it and am hoping for a better tomorrow. I didn't get as many photos as I'd like, so I'll probably tell a couple stories that are only journaling and I'm okay with that too. I do really love the photos I did end up taking though. XO

Some thoughts from my day:

1. Trying something new for breakfast.  Gluten free granola with unsweetened vanilla almond and coconut milk.  It was good.  Right now I like to watch House Hunters International on the DVR while I eat my first meal of the day.
2. My poor attempt at having myself be in a photo.
3. Ponyo standing at his watchdog perch with a piece of grass sticking out of his mouth.
4. Trader Joes (pumpkins) for groceries to make a taco salad for dinner.  Also my first attempt at homemade ranch dressing.  Yum.
5. Baby doctor appointment.  It took longer than normal but went well.
6. There are still a few bright yellow leaves left on the trees outside the doctor's office.  They are still lovely.
7. Another pumpkin photo from Trader Joes.  I didn't put up any fall decorations this year, so seeing this bit of autumn is so cheerful.
8. Gatsby finding the sunshine that still shows up during these bright autumn afternoons.

{autumn recipe} german pancake with apples & cinnamon

APPLE CINNAMON GERMAN PANCAKE

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

• 2 granny smith apples, cut into slices (I left the skin)
• 1/4 cup turbinado raw cane sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (GF: use brown rice flour)
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons salted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Make sure the oven rack is in the middle of your oven.
2. In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon.
3. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, salt, flour, milk, and vanilla extract and beat until batter is smooth.
4. In a 10" ovensafe pan (I used Calphalon) or a cast-iron skillet melt butter over medium heat, tilting pan to cover sides. 
5. Add apples and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture. Stir and then remove from heat (if you let the apples cook too long they will become very soft/mushy in the oven).
6. Pour prepared batter over the apples into the baking pan. 
7. Place pan in preheated oven and bake approximately 20 minutes or until puffed up and lightly browned and knife comes out fairly clean (it may puff irregularly in the center); remove from oven (the pancake will begin to deflate).
8. Serve warm, cut into quarters.

To Make This Gluten Free:  I replaced the all purpose flour with the same amount of Bob's Red Mill Brown Rice Flour.  It didn't puff up quite as much as regular flour, but was still really yummy.  I've made it a few times now and Ryan always comments on how delicious it is!

Notes:  I left the skin on the apples and liked it a lot.  However, traditionally you'd peel the skin off.  I've also tried this recipe with a little more of the cinnamon sugar mixture for when I have a sweet tooth, but another option is just adding powered sugar on top. Most of the time it's plenty sweet without anything extra though.

I also like to add whole milk ricotta cheese (a 1/2 cup or so) and just add a little less milk. It makes this dish a little more rich and filling. 

Hope you enjoy this lovely autumn treat! I'm using apples or pumpkin something in almost all my recipes the last couple weeks and it feels so festive!!  I also have been loving all the colorful leaves and crisp air around here so I snapped a couple pics of my front yard.  Happy autumn days to you!! XO

*The graphics added to my pics (other than the first one) are from Studio Calico's Underground Digital Scrapbook Kit Stamps and Underground Background Cut File by Paige Evans.

{these days} turning 36

The first half of this month has flown by faster than any other this year for me. We celebrated my birthday which I always love. Although, when I was a kid I remember my mom being in her mid-thirties and she seemed so grown up. I had a picture of what it must be like in my head which is totally different than my reality today. Not good or bad, just different. I still feel like such a kid in a lot of ways (which I get from my Grandpa), but in general have really enjoyed most all of what comes with the ageing process. Truly.

Another highlight was when Ryan and I got to see baby girl for her second trimester ultrasound. Every time I get a glimpse of her my heart skips a beat. I'm amazed at how fast she is growing, and those profile pics the stenographer gives me always makes me giddy!

I've also been able to spend lots of quality time with my mom. She visited me two weeks in a row which is quite special in my book. The first week we went to the theater to watch 100 Foot Journey and then ate Indian food after....yummmmmm!!!  There was also candle shopping, which means my house smells like fall. It's wonderful! 

The second week she and my sisters all surprised me with a visit for my birthday! I was in heaven!! We went to the farmer's market for crepes (gluten free for me), and I picked out a huge bouquet of flowers. I now officially think black eyed susans are my favorite fall flower and will be sad when the farmers market ends.  They also spoiled me with a big gluten free cake from my favorite bakery which we ate in no time.  So many wonderful memories already this month.  XO

{these days} august 2014

The past couple month's I've tried out a the idea of taking fewer photos with my DSLR so that I'd actually make the time to edit and print them out without feeling too overwhelmed. It's been working....and so far I love it! Every one of these pictures feels so special. Of course I still have loads of photos from August in my IG feed (and I'm working on a mini album to hold all of those), but I'm excited to print these out larger than my IG pics and add them into my 2014 album.  

Anyone else find a system that works well for consistently being able to document with photos?  You can see my July in this post : )

 

1. Running towards the ocean and of course I DID end up getting my feet wet, shoes and all.
2. Our watchdog.
3. The smallest county fair I've ever enjoyed.
4. 20 weeks.
5. Mom waiting in the livestock area.
6. Moody mist and a teenager at the Dungeness Spit.
7. Breakfast of coffehouse greek yogurt, cinnamon, and miniature chocolate chips.
8. Watching the horse show.
9. Our beaches here are rocky.
10. Mom with her youngest.
11. Wind on a hot day.