...sooo tempting

I don't like frosting cakes. I am just too much of a perfectionist and they never look good enough to make me satisfied. This pan would require NO frosting, just filling/ice cream that doesn't need to be perfect. Isn't it cute?

I love Williams Sonoma...

...yoplait get active prize pack WINNERS

The Yoplait giveaway winners are:
Tiffany Rushforth Photography
Beth
and amweeks

Please email me your mailing information! Congrats!

...what? 4 days and no post?

Do you ever go on vacation to rejuvenate your overworked self? Then, when you get back home, you don't want to stop rejuvenating? I have that problem. We spent 2 weeks in Hawaii visiting my parents and arrived home on the April 15th. I have been struggling with the fact that in real life, I can't spend every waking moment with my husband and kids. Don't you wish life could just be a permanent Hawaii vacation?

Anyway...I should get back into the blogging groove this week! Expect some fun features and giveaways soon!

P.S. Check out the pineapple picture I shot while in Hawaii. Even though I have seen how pineapples grow a thousand times, I still get a kick out of it. Isn't it amazing how these huge fruits just seem to float on top of the plant?

...happy earth day!

Happy Earth Day! Today, we are celebrating by spending all our free time outside planting our flower and vegetable gardens!

The USEPA invites us all to their website to "Pick 5 for the Environment." What a great campaign!

We chose these 5:
01. Use less water!
02. Save electricity!
03. Reduce, reuse, recycle!
04. Enjoy the outdoors safely!
05. Spread the word!

Go over and choose 5 yourself!

...the mini diary giveaway winner is...

...Amy who said, "i LOVE Marta and I LOVE her mini diaries! Thanks for the chance- I've been wanting one of these for a long time now!"

Congrats! Email me asap with your mailing information!

...kayce hughes

I am not sure who told me about this sale, but THANK YOU! Kayce Hughes (Pears and Bears) is having a FABULOUS sale! She makes really high quality clothing that fit great.

The Ruffle Shirt Dress above is on sale for $34.50 (normally $138.00.)

The darling Western Shirt below is on sale for $10.00 (normally $64.00.)

There are a lot of other cute items like THIS and THIS and THIS.

Hurry over there! I can't imagine her sale items will last long!

...life isn't perfect

I am a perfectionist. In my failed attempts at perfection, I often feel I am living a life of mediocrity. Even though I have a desire to do things exactly right, rarely do I consider them up to par. It is easy for me to look at myself and nitpick the flaws, but recently I have forced myself to have an attitude adjustment. I have found beauty in mediocrity.

I have found beauty in:
my flowers that don't grow straight.
my crafts that are made askew.
my hair that has a mind of its own.
my handwriting that isn't always legible.
my freckles that I once considered flaws.

I have realized that:
dented pots and pans remind of new years celebrations past.
burnt dinners teach a young wife to be a better cook.
getting lost with a loved one in the car gives time for wonderful conversation.
crooked seams on a blanket show the love of a young mother for her new baby.
misunderstanding provides an opportunity for forgiveness and greater love.

Life isn't perfect. It was never meant to be. I have to remind myself of that everyday.

...yoplait get active prize pack GIVEAWAY

I am a yogurt fan. Huge fan. The average breakfast in my house is one of two things:
1. Vanilla yogurt with fresh blueberries and granola
-or-
2. Plain yogurt, frozen strawberries and blueberries, banana, and orange juice blended into a delicious morning smoothie.

I LOVE yogurt. However...I can't eat the knock off brands. I am a Yoplait girl.

My kids love Yoplait too. We buy "Dora Yogurt" every week. I love it for two reasons: it is lower in sugar and it stays on the spoon. I am not sure how Yoplait did it, but this yogurt does not spill! My 21-month-old son can feed himself without a drop falling from his spoon!

Yoplait wants to give THREE of you a coupon for any of the Yoplait for Kids yogurt products (Go-Gurt, Trix, Yoplait Kids) along with a Yoplait Get Active Prize Pack. Perfect for a fun-filled day your active kids, the Yoplait Get Active Prize Pack includes a travel cooler (to take your yogurt on the road), a jump rope, a water bottle and an outdoor game set that includes a beach ball, paddle ball, Jai-Ali and a Frisbee!! So perfect for spring/summer!!

Want to be one of the 3 people to win this prize pack? SIMPLE! Just leave a comment!

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. To enter the YOPLAIT GET ACTIVE PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY leave a comment on this post.
2. Blog about this for an extra entry.
3. Put the Sherbet Blossom Button on your blog for an additional entry.
4. Twitter about it for an additional entry. That is 3 possible EXTRA entries!!!
5. This contest will close at 11:59pm on Monday, April 27th. The winner will be announced the following day.

***DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE MINI DIARY GIVEAWAY! Only 2 more days!

...marta also gives! a mini diary!

Now that you have met Marta, she wants to give one of you a mini diary! If you don't already know about Marta's mini diaries, you are in for a treat. They are beautiful, saddle stitched diaries that you can tote anywhere! They have gorgeous covers and writing prompts on the inside. A mini diary would make a perfect gift for someone or a wonderful reward for yourself. (I plan on rewarding myself with one of these this week, but I am having a hard time choosing on a cover. They are all so pretty!)

Marta...you are truly a talented woman!

Want to win a mini diary? SIMPLE! Just leave a comment!

Giveaway Guidelines:
1. To enter the MINI DIARY GIVEAWAY leave a comment on this post.
2. Blog about this for an extra entry.
3. Put the Sherbet Blossom Button on your blog for an additional entry.
4. Twitter about it for an additional entry. That is 3 possible EXTRA entries!!!
5. This contest will close at 11:59pm on Monday, April 20th. The winner will be announced the following day.

Good Luck!!

...happy easter

Easter is in the running for my favorite holiday for a few reasons.

First, it is *normally* accompanied by warm weather. I hate being cold, so that gives Easter a definite advantage over the holidays that take place in the cold months of October-February.

Second, when I was growing up, my entire extended family would get together at my house for a delightful dinner prepared by some of the world best cooks. (My mom, her sisters and my grandmother can make a mean Easter dinner!!) We would do a easter egg hunt with the young kids and would talk and laugh all afternoon. I have fond memories of Easter and great expectations for the future Easter holidays.

Third, I love easter clothes. I loved dressing up when I was little, and I LOVE dressing up my kids even more!

Fourth, and most importantly, I love pondering the true meaning of Easter. This holiday touches my heart even more than Christmas. I feel peace and gratitude. Every time I read the Easter story, I am overcome with a feeling of hope. I am so grateful for what this holiday stands for.

I hope your Easter holiday is full of peace and that you are surrounded by the ones you love.

...i read marta writes

Please welcome Marta!
Your name: marta dansie
Your blog: marta writes the dear diary stories

What are 3 of your favorite blog posts?
here are my favorite posts simply because the words tumbled out.. that is when you know whatever it is you wrote should be written.
a brand new feeling
love takes flight
when i'm a mom..

Please introducing yourself.
hello world, i'm marta. a little bit about me: i blog, i design, i am a new mama, i like making crafts with my two hands, i love a good bubble bath, i photograph my food, i enjoy glossy magazines, i pretend to pick out furniture for my future dream house, i like winning at checkers, i collect pretty stationery, i wish i could paint, and i love to travel.

How did you arrive on the blogosphere?
i decided to give it a go because all the cool kids were doing it. i knew i'd like blogging because i love writing and i love designing. working with online design is a new format for me. i would love to learn more computer code and behind the scenes stuff. blogging is the best way to keep in touch with family and friends and just say whatever is on your mind. i think documentation is a very good thing. i was here. i saw this. i heard that. i lived a good life.

As a big fan of your blog, I know that you love to write and are very good at it. You have a writing style that is uniquely your own. Do you have any advice for those of us who want to improve our writing skills and find out unique "voice?"
wow. that's so nice of you. thanks. i have been writing ever since i was little. i would make little stapled diaries when we went on vacation. i remember a page from one that featured a drawing of me on the Matterhorn ride at Disneyland. i am a stick figure, screaming. i love to write and hope to improve my skills. i hope to write a book someday. my advice on finding your own voice is to write like you talk. anything that is 'ingenuine' comes across as fake. be yourself. start writing in a notebook. be loose. let it flow. just let the words spill. read words, passages, novels, and poetry from writers you admire. their words will influence you. aim high and write a lot. allow yourself a lot of mess ups. with practice, you will find your own individual writing voice without even realizing it. because it's an extension of yourself. be original. be natural. (like when we play checkers. i tell dan, don't think too hard. you'll win the game if you just go.) do that. just go. just write.


You are a very sweet mother, I can tell from the way you write about your son. What do you love most about motherhood?
what a truly nice compliment. thank you. i really do love motherhood. more than i could've imagined. it's so fulfilling and wonderful to hold your own sweet babe. i get all cliche when i talk about being a mama. but it really is the greatest achievement of my life. i love everything about that little boy. like his squiggly ears and those tiny edible toes. i just love that he's this whole little person. with a really important purpose. i heard a quote once that says, 'you were cut out to be somebody special.' i like that. i remember this when i'm around him. his soul is just so unique, sweet and perfect. you can feel that, about every baby. the thing that surprised me about motherhood is how much i've learned about who i am and who i want to become just from watching him these seven months. some say it's boring with a newborn. but i find it's not boring at all, it's fascinating. i change as he changes. we are both growing. you don't have to know how to be a mom before you become one. you grow into one.

Do you have a life motto?
u be u. i'll be me.
Thank you so much, Marta, for your beautiful blog and inspiring words! I am going to take your writing advise to heart.

...pretty shoes

I LOVE these shoes. Mother's Day is only a month away, J!

These are way cheap, but oh so pretty! Too bad I am not a size 6...

...kate pugsley

I adore kate pugsley's art. I love the colors and the whimsical simplicity. Trying to decide which to purchase for my home...

...gardening!!!

It is time to think about gardening again! I couldn't be more happy! Last year was my first garden and I had a wonderful mini-harvest. This year, I plan on expanding. My husband built me some short garden boxes. They make the yard and garden look much more tidy than it did last year. (Well...they don't look tidy in the picture below. This was shot while we were in the process of building the boxes.)

My garden plans include:
1. Green Beans
2. Peas
3. Tomatoes (Roma, Cherry and Better Boy...I think)
4. Butternut Squash
5. Jalapeño Peppers
6. Bell Peppers
7. Zucchini
8. Onions
9. Lettuce
10. Carrots (I didn't love my carrots last year. What kind of carrots do you all like?)
11. LOTS of herbs...especially basil. I LOVE fresh basil.
12. Raspberry Bushes. (Thanks to my in-laws who offers to let me transplant some of their bounteous bushed to my house.)
13. Corn

I am a gardening newbie, so please expound your wisdom on me! Any tips for a successful garden? Do you know of good gardening resources? I am ready to learn!

...basil

If I had to choose one spice to use for the rest of my life, it would be basil. I love it! It is one spice that I couldn't bear to degrade by purchasing dried. Can't wait until my basil is ready for harvesting!

A family favorite:

SHRIMP & BASIL PASTA

1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1 (8 ounce) package angel hair pasta
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 pound large shrimp - peeled and deveined
2 (28 ounce) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup chopped parsley
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add 1 tablespoon oil. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Place pasta in a colander, and give it a quick rinse with cold water.
Heat remaining olive oil in a 10 inch skillet over medium heat. Cook garlic, stirring constantly, until the garlic is tender, about 1 minute. Do not let the garlic burn. Add shrimp, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove shrimp from the skillet, and set aside.
Stir tomatoes, wine, parsley, and basil into the skillet. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half, 8 to 12 minutes. Add shrimp, and continue cooking until the shrimp are heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve the shrimp mixture over the pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

...brilliant decor idea

A friend of mine sent me a link to THIS article at Do It Yourself. I LOVE all of the ideas! They are perfect for a home decorator on a budget...like me!

I LOVE this idea!! I will be doing it in my home soon! Some people are so clever... I never would have thought to use ceiling medallions as wall decor.

Love this shutter art holder! That could also come in handy for mail and to do lists. It would look great in my office.

Seriously in love with this idea. I need to find some cute coasters like those...

...favorite foods (part 2)

My husband, J, is your typical male when it comes to eating. His favorite food is steak and potatoes. I am not a huge beef fan, so he does not get it very often. When I do make it, it is often with this marinade recipe which he and I both love: (Enjoy!)

SOUTHERN HONEY STEAK

6 New York strip steaks
MARINADE:
1 c. honey
2 c. molasses
1 c. bourbon
2 tbsp. crushed red pepper
1 tbsp. ground ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced

Blend all marinade ingredients thoroughly. Add the steaks and marinate 2 hours in refrigerator. When ready to cook, remove steaks and pat dry with paper towels. Grill to desired doneness.

...it's time for a new purse

I try not to succumb to my purse addiction, but I also realize that it would be a lost battle to try to not buy purses at all. I decided that the best way to avoid outrageous spending is to allow myself a fun purse/bag purchase 1-2 times a year, and I am on the hunt for a good summer bag.

Here are the qualifications for my perfect bag:
1. I want it to be roomy, but not too big that it looks like a diaper bag.
2. Even though I don't want it to look like a diaper bag, I need it big enough to double as one if needed.
3. I want it to be a fun color. I have owned enough black and brown purses. I am thinking yellow or orange.
4. The price needs to be right. I don't believe in buying cheap shoes, but I'm okay with a mid-range/Target priced bag. I want to pay less than $50.
5. I like pockets. I need to be able to organize it!

I have looked at Target, but didn't see anything appealing. Any other suggestions of good placed to search for a cheap-ish (yet cute) purse?

...guilty pleasures

20 guilty pleasures:

01. samoas ice cream
02. working too much
03. buying new shoes
04. reading to my kids
05. over-planning
06. redesigning my family blog
07. sleeping in the sun
08. road trips
09. tetris
10. electronic gadgets
11. reading cookbooks
12. eating exotic foods
13. blogging
14. j.crew and banana republic sales
15. buying presents for family
16. taking long showers until the hot water is gone. (sorry, j!)
17. expensive makeup
18. homemade rolls
19. action movies...no chick flicks for me!
20. buying in bulk

...my handwriting font

A while ago I made my handwriting into a font and posted about it.
I have received quite a few emails since then people who are contemplating paying money to get their handwriting turned into a font and wanted a review. Here is my two cents:

My handwriting was turned into a font when I won a contest. Allie said that the first two people to get the handwriting paper emailed back to her would have it turned font for free! I was so exciting! I scribbled the alphabet as quickly as I could, took a picture and sent it to her. If you were to get yours done, I would recommend taking a little more time to make sure your handwriting isn't sloppy like mine was. :)

My normal handwriting is semi hard to read because I have my own mesh of cursive/print/laziness. (See image of my handwriting above...) All of my letter connect. It is a fast way to write. A fabulous font designer can make fonts that connect and flow beautifully. You will probably get what you pay for if you have handwriting like mine. (Although...Allie did a marvelous job with the sloppy scribbled on paper I gave her!)

Good luck with all your font ventures! Send me links to your fonts if any of you end up having yours made!