Birthday Sale...

My husband is having a birthday tomorrow so I've put my etsy shop on  25% off until late Sunday night!I don't think we'll be doing anything big,my guy is a bit of a Scrooge about holidays,birthdays,and especially HIS birthday.But I got him a cake and he's going to be tormented through a round of "Happy Birthday" from the kids and myself all the same.I understand his disdain for these things because he feels commercialism has replaced the idea of what holidays and celebrations should really be about,enjoying time with friends and family.Pretty sure though if I could afford to get him a Harley and drum set he'd be to the moon and back happy.What about you guys?Are your birthdays a big to do or is it just another day?

Gifts from the Mint Chocolate Ranch...

Dana over at Mint Chocolate Ranch is a good gift giver!My birthday present from her showed up in the mail this morning and it was just what I needed!You know that depressing feeling when all your bills show up at the same time?Well,its a proven fact that is a present shows up at the same time it voids the "ew,you again?I just paid you LAST month" feeling.

I opened the box to a pretty fluff of red tissue paper and THIS birthday card.Yes,it is a velvet Elvis card.So awesome.Even if you don't like Elvis you can appreciate the kitsch of velvet paintings.Don't like Elvis AND kitschy velvet paintings?I can't help you sorry.


Next was this delicious bar of chocolate from Moonstruck and some Burt's Bees almond milk cream love that stuff it smells so good!



Lastly a TUK shoe box.Hmmmm,was it shoes?Or was it something else in a shoebox?Never assume in such situations.Opened the box to find these 4 inch bad boys!They fit which was such a relief!So when I'm wearing these pretties I am a whopping 5 feet an 4 inches now!


Thanks Dana for the awesome gifts!Another year where you rocked my socks.And unlike me you actually send birthday presents promptly around said birthday date (unlike me who usually will mail a present within 3 months of birthday)

Happy Holidays,Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to Me...

I hope whatever you celebrate your holiday was a happy one.Safe to say December was not a big blogging month for me as I only did one post.That's ok,you were probably all very busy too so you didn't notice,unless you're stalking me.Are you stalking me?Cause that would be super(kidding,don't be creepy)!

New Years came and went quietly in my home and today I celebrate my 30th birthday!I can remember being 15 and thinking 30 was light years away.Now its here.I don't feel old like I thought I would then,just a hell of a lot wiser.30 does make me feel "grown up" though...except I still say "dude" too much.Probably always will.You can take the gal out of SoCal but you can't take the SoCal out of the girl.

30 is the start of a new decade for me.I'm more comfortable in who I am,what I want to be,and what I want to do in my life.Do I have it all figured out?Certainly not,no one does but in comparison to my 20's I'm not sad to leave them behind.Time is short,it sounds cliche but it does go by faster than you think.Moments you waste unhappy are moments you can't have back so don't squander them.

I'm learning to let go of past hurts,to stop trying to figure out "why" all the time and realize somethings just are,learning I need to be happy in the moment instead of stressing about the past or future.Time is NOT on your side.It goes on with or without you so make the best of the time you're allowed.



Like my collection of broken pocket watches?I plan on stringing them up on silk chord,just not sure where I'll be displaying them just yet.As far as thrifting in my new town I haven't done nearly as much as I'd like.I did pick myself up these red pretties about a month ago though.$3.00!My inner nerd...ok my totally out of the closet flaming nerd self LOVES them!I either seem to be drawn to elegant heels,simple classic flats and nerdy shoes of the oxford and bowling variety.Plus red!You can never have enough red shoes!




House wise I'm happy to say since my last post I am now the proud owner of a washer and dryer!It took 3 days to get caught up on all the laundry but good bye laundry mat hello the simple task of going down to the basement!I wish I could share with you another room I've finished but so far Heidi's room remains the only room in the house done 100%.Dining room is 99% down but not ready to show yet.Bathroom is about 90% and everything else oh baby I need to come into some money cause those are some pricey projects!Especially the kitchen!Yikes!But for now I'll share with you some of the vintage light fixtures in the home.



I'm off for now to enjoy these lovely white out conditions that will keep us inside today and hope that hubs gets home safe.Oh and will the winner of my last giveaway please get back to me with an address!If not I'll be doing another drawing soon.Hope all of you are having a fantastic 2012 so far!

Gifts From the Mint Ranch...

I am a horrible procrastinator but thankfully so is Dana!Her birthday was back in December but I didn't her her gift out until early February and mine is in January but didn't come until a few weeks ago.Luckily we both felt each others gifts were well worth the wait.I thought I'd share some of the fab gifts she sent me.

I am in love with bows so anything in bow shape or print chances are I'll be an instant fan of,like this rhinestone brooch!


I know Ouija is taboo with some people.I remember during slumber parties as a child my mother wouldn't allow it in the house and would make my friends and me play outside,far away from the house inside a circle of salt.I'm sure she wouldn't really be fond of this bracelet but I love it!


Every piece I unwrapped made my heart skip.By the time I got to this,which was actually the last thing I opened,my tears of happiness spilled over.Oh my that face!!Too cute!And the all mighty patch I'm not sure if I'm going to put on a purse or jacket yet...probably a purse of some kind.


Last but not least is this table runner.Combining 2 of my favorite things:Hearts and bluebirds!

Off to a Good Start....

Really?A week since my last post?Eh,so much for 3 times a week.Honestly the last week of January really flew by and I found myself this morning going "whoa,its February already?!"We're off to a good start already though as I made the front page of Etsy today!I was really excited about that.It didn't bring any sales but exposure is always good!

Today's outfit consisted of new (but thrifted) clothes and vintage mixed.My mom was nice enough to hem my sailor pants for me so I wore those today paired with a vintage camisole and sheer yellow blouse.It has a nice vintage feel to it but is modern and only $3.00 so I can't complain there.The photos were taking pretty late in the evening so I had to take them inside,quickly and with flash which I am not a fan of but better mediocre photos than none at all,right!?I like to call this look my super fierce super model look,haha!Grrrrr.Don't you just love modern day modeling?Beautiful girls in beautiful looking pissed off at the world.But in all honesty that is just the expression on my face half the time.Photos are always a reminder that I *should* smile more and why people ask if I'm angry (no,my face just looks angry *shrugs*)



Isn't my daughter kitchen set cute?!Anyways..a close up of my shoes!I got these beauties back in August off of Etsy by a seller named wyattedwardvintage I'd say check her out but her shop is empty now.


Let me think...what else was good about today?Oh I FINALLY mailed off my friend Dana's birthday present!I wanted to high five myself for that.You see,Dana's birthday is at the start of December and it is now February so I lagged a little to say the least.At first I couldn't find a box,when I found a box I was out of bubble wrap,when I finally had copious amounts of bubble wrap to insure presents arrived safely I was out of money to ship.Finally got money yesterday with a sale,finally shipped.Done and done.I also made sure to insure it because after all the trouble I had getting it to her it would be my luck that it'd arrive broken and then I'd have to punch a postman and probably go to jail. ;)

I could ramble on some more here but I'll save it for another post,thus I have something to blog about in a few days and not in a week.I will say February,I am a fan of you.Lets keep it up!

Nothing of Significance...

I am going to make an attempt to blog 3 times a week...but that also means I need to have things to blog about.As of right now I am already blowing it as I have nada,hence the title.What do we do then?We ramble.I can do that.2011 has been pretty mellow.

New Year was ho hum and the second was my birthday.It was also uneventful,no cake,no happy birthday song.I am 29 which I am well aware is still young but it was a slightly depressing birthday for me as this isn't where I saw myself at 29...I'm sure a lot of people do that to themselves though.Most goals set in life aren't reached or we fall short but its just a matter of picking yourself up and keep chugging along.I think I do that pretty well.This is my year though that I'm going to make myself be where I want to be come Hell or high water!


Also chugging along are my bangs.I will not cut them,I will not cute them.I will not cut them.


Ollie turned 2 back on the 23rd if December.I told him this is the year I get him neutered,he didn't like that idea.


You'll forgive me for being a tad morbid but despite it being heartbreaking to find a dead humming bird in the drive way today it was also beautiful so I thought I'd share.The fact that it's dead isn't pretty by any means but normally we don't get to see humming birds so close and they move so fast you miss the detail but isn't he/she beautiful!?


As a child I always though they had fairy like wings because they moved so fast.I remember the first time I ever saw one sitting still I was surprised to see they had wings just like any other bird.I found a duck dead in the drive way a few weeks ago.I hope this doesn't become a pattern.Apparently my dads driveway is where feathered creatures come to die.

Pink Flamingos and First Birthdays...

August has been busy,busy,busy so far.I can't believe I haven't blogged since the 4th,really?Yes,apparently.Still working on the giveaway,I want to do things a little differently this time around and am still in search for something cool to give away!

Yesterday my mother in law who had flown down from northern California took the kids,my mom and me to Sea World.I don't know what Wayland really thought of it but Heidi was amazed by everything.It might sound cheesy but I literally did get teary eyed watching her face as she saw killer whales for the first time in person.Plus the pet show they have with all the rescued animals was neat and they had a Boston Terrier in the performance which I wanted to take home oh so badly.

One of the easiest creatures to capture on film yesterday by far was the flamingos!Heidi loves pink so to her these birds had style and she was entertained for a long time by them.




Today was my sons first birthday!I can't believe its been a year already.He had a cheesecake and a small carrot cake and red velvet cake however he didn't get a chance to enjoy any of it.I think we waited too late into the evening to give it to him and at that point all he wanted to do was nurse.But Happy Fist Birthday all the same little man.It was hard on me not to have my husband there and for my husband to not be there for this milestone but happy to report I have enough saved for the airfare part of moving to Alaska,now I just need to come up with the moving our stuff up there part.

One Hot Mess...

Yesterday was my hubby's birthday,I now get to enjoy 6 months of him not telling me I'm "robbing the cradle" until my next birthday when I get to be a different number age than him again...oh the maturity levels of a younger man and go figure the one time I date one I end up marrying him and setting myself up for years of this torment.Gods help me when I turn 30 !Hahaha!

Proof that my darling husband is a bit of a sourpuss he requested lemon cupcakes with lemon frosting which I happily made for him and seriously spent an hour frosting them to perfection,they were glorious.Surely magazine worthy!So you can imagine my utter dismay when I went to go grab one to answer the call of late night snacking and found this!





The sad thing is it was a nice 66 degrees outside today but our darn upstairs apartment was a whopping 90 degrees!Even with the windows all open I couldn't get it to cool down enough in here but couldn't justify turning on the AC when its that cool outside so instead we just enjoyed the effects of hot air rising.Thanks weather for ruining my cupcakes,you've made them ugly muffins.