A Crazy Idea

I've been working on something big. More details to come very soon!

My kitchen table this weekend

Saturday Snapshots

Snapshots from a great day...

In our bed as we are still grasping on to the last vestiges of Saturday morning sleep.  Sophie is watching Beauty and the Beast on DVD while simultaneously reading Sleeping Beauty.

Waiting for her dad to take her to ballet class.  She's a little Black Swan, a little Flashdance.

Grace napping.

Sophie helping Mama make rice krispy treats.

Elegant Storage

If you have miscellaneous teacups, saucers or small bowls, here's a beautiful way to organize your trinkets. Lining the drawer with felt keeps everything from sliding around.  For those who want to display these out in the open (and not in a drawer): keeping all the cups, plates and bowls corralled with a tray will help it look neat and tidy.

image via Canadian House & Home

Taking it easy

Today was a slow day, as compared to how Fridays usually go.  I didn't have to go grocery shopping or run too many errands.  Grace and I shopped casually for some Hanna Anderson sleepers because she's been busting out of her clothes.  Then we came home and did some house cleaning and a late lunch.  This weekend, we're just going to take it easy...

Among other things...

Five things I'm grateful for at this very moment:

1. Sophie
2. Grace
3. In Bed
4. Asleep
5. It's THURSDAY!! No work tomorrow, Hallelujah!

Sophie and Grace cheering me up tonight

Unwinding after Disney

Not a recent picture, but post-worthy nonetheless...a iPhone snapshot by my sis.

Sophie after Disneyland, January 2011

Waiting...

I waited all morning for good natural light so that I could take some pictures of Grace, but it never came. I did my best with the gloomy weather today.

Rejuvenation Friday

I have to be honest, I've been feeling really run down lately. Like, close-to-nervous-breakdown-with-no-end-in-sight run down. Everyone in our family has had a turn (or two) with being really sick this month and the 10-hour busy, busy days at work and then hectic home life were chipping away at my soul. I was on autopilot and running on fumes. Things were much easier when there was just one daughter. Especially since I was working from home half the time. Now, with two in the mix added to the fact that I actually have to be in the office for four long days straight...it was killing me.

OK, enough with the moping. This weekend I have five glorious, sunshiney days to reboot myself. I feel like myself again. I'm laughing with Darren...I have patience with my girls.  Not to forget...it's also my birthday tomorrow! So, a lot of fun things planned. Here's how I kicked it off:

Woke up to this:

No kidding, she actually smiles this big as soon as she opens her eyes in the morning!

Left Grace at home with Darren, and dropped Sophie off at school.  Then went to grab a quick bite before errands:

Don't even ask me where I get breakfast.  I am not eating healthily, let's put it that way.

After errands, it was such a gorgeous day that we went for a long walk:

After a quick break at home, I'm out to grocery shop at Whole Foods.  I love their Friday-only deals.  Today, it was organic whole chickens for $1.69/lb.  I seriously stocked up.

I probably spend a good quarter of my life in this exact position.

Picked up Sophie from school and caught her in the middle of a performance as a background dancer for Cody & BJ (they're singing in the background with their headsets):

Sophie and I headed out and bonded over pedicures:

And here we are with the finished product!  Matching pedicures:

I'm so glad I have this weekend to spend the time with my family.  I'm starting to realize again...life is pretty darn good.

Pearly Whites

Based on stories I had heard from other parents, I was prepared for bad news this morning when I took Sophie to her dentist appointment.  But she had her x-rays and....

...NO CAVITIES!!!  WOO-HOOOO!  I was so happy I started calling everyone I knew (who wasn't at work).  That is pathetic (I know) but it's the kind of thing that is important to me these days!

Post-note: She was so awesome at the dentist, too.  Can you tell I'm really proud of her?

Seven Months

This is what seven months looks like...

Gracie can stay seated up, pass things from hand to hand, rock herself back and forth on her knees, and has her first tooth!  It's been a rough month with her first ear infection, but she's getting over it now and her smile is returning.

Little Things

It's the little things that I want to remember...

Grace's morning nap, 7 months old

Grace, circa 2011

Sophie, circa 2008

Sunset Pics

These snapshots were taken with a regular old point-and-shoot camera the other day, but the lighting was great.

Valentines for Sophie

Sophie examining her first valentines

Valentines

I find myself caring about Valentine's Day more than ever this year.  Darren and I don't even celebrate it, but for my daughters, I want it to be a nice experience.  So, Sophie and I spent this morning making valentines for her class.  Her friends will get play-doh and her teachers will get cards with Starbucks gift cards.

Do you like the hearts on the cards?  They're thumbprints!

Who doesn't love a Starbucks gift card?  It's my go-to gift.  Plus, they have the cutest designs.

Heart Lollipops

I stumbled on this idea a bit too late, but I'm putting it in my inspiration files for Sophie or Grace's school Valentine's day party next year.  How sweet is this? (literally!)

image and concept from The Decorated Cookie

Zen Bathroom

My favorite aspect of this bathroom is its subtlety. I love that beautiful rug...how's that for a bath mat?

image via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

Sophie loves books

I love that Sophie loves books. She's heard some of her books so many times that she's memorized the story and likes to pretend to "read" them herself. Here she is with her favorite story, Beauty and the Beast.

QT with Grace

OK, I have one hour between errands this morning...just enough time to get some quality rolling-around-in-bed-time with my meatball.

Bedtime

I can't remember the last time Sophie gave us trouble by throwing a tantrum, but our biggest challenge with her remains bedtime. Our routine can drag out for up to two hours, with requests for one more story, more drinks, patting her back until she falls asleep, what-are-you-doing-daddy?, monsters in the closet, and potty needs. It's tiresome, especially on weeknights where I have to wake up at 4:45am the next morning, but I keep reminding myself that she's just acting like the 3 year old that she is!

What Superbowl?

Year of the Cat

Lunar New Year, or Tet, is a big deal in my family.  I love the fact that we maintain the tradition of dressing up in Vietnamese outfits, praying to our ancestors, speeches (my family loves speeches), and wishes of good health and success...not so much because I believe in the supernatural, but because it's a regular reminder of our Vietnamese heritage, even though we are very much a blended family now.

My cousin Aimee and Sophie

Grace, Remy and my dad.  One of these people looks like she doesn't quite belong.

It was so nice that my cousins traveled home from college for this event. Lookin' good girls!

My dad praying to our ancestors with Grace.

My mom and Remy, my niece.

This is our makeshift altar and the offerings of food and drinks for our ancestors.

My grandma and some of her great grandkids.  She's a lucky woman!

Grace doesn't think much of lucky red envelopes.

Sophie and I relaxing in our sweats at the end of the night.