Pages

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Valentines Day inspiration

We're not big on Valentines Day in this house-I'll pass on the huge teddy bear, red roses and box of chocolates, thank you very much (but I still expect a card!). However, I am a sucker for heart shaped things, cupcakes and anything pink.

I found some cute little ideas for Valentine's day inspiration on Pinterest that seem easy to recreate and make for a simple celebration.

I made these Valentines Day felt fortune cookies last year for some friends. It was fun to handwrite little notes inside each one and I made them just big enough to put a few pieces of chocolate inside too!
Pinned from: http://dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/creative-valentines-day-ideas.html

I'm obsessed with garland and this simple string of hearts is a fun way to decorate your house without going overboard.
Pinned from: http://dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/creative-valentines-day-ideas.html

I'm going to try and do this with Decker's little hands and have him give it to his Daddy for his Valentine's Day card.
Pinned from: http://whetzelfamily3.blogspot.com.au
YUM! Can't wait to make these Brownie Cookies with Salted Caramel Creme Filling. Found these on my friend Emily's blog- Thanks for the idea for a yummy dessert.
Pinned from: http://beautiesandthefeast.blogspot.com.au

I love the heart shape of the strawberries and of course-cupcakes are always a good idea.
Pinned from: http://thecupcakedailyblog.com/strawberry-shortcake-cupcakes/


Simple and sweet cards that are easy to make and fun to receive. 


  Pinned from: http://www.realsimple.com


Happy Valentine's Day!



Thursday, February 6, 2014

Reflections

I am a horrible blogger. There I said it. Apparently I don't know what consistency means. But it's my blog and I can write when I want? OK moving on...

Decker at 11-months

After putting little Decker to bed tonight I jumped onto Facebook and Twitter (yeah, so that happened today. I am now on Twitter! Can someone please tell me what this nonsense is all about? I think I need to watch a YouTube tutorial on how to operate this site and why.), to catch up on all the important news from around the world. While on FB, I saw a post from one of our old neighbors come up on my newsfeed; I clicked on her profile and just scrolled through some of her pictures and thought about how I met her when she was just a newborn and now she is a stunning, young lady. My sister and I used to babysit for this tiny baby and her older sister; both girls are now in college. It just got me thinking about how time really does fly!

Decker will be turning ONE (*tear*) at the end of this month and I know all mothers probably say this, but- I can't believe how quickly a year went! Most likely it was because I was in a tired haze from the lack of sleep I got in the first 5-months due to being a new parent with a baby that didn't sleep through the night right away. But I got to thinking about how our lives have changed and how Decker has taught me so much about myself and I guess, about life.

Looking back at how I was as a person before Decker, I sort of feel like I was this selfish, impatient person rushing around speeding through events to make life "happen". This little boy is a complete blessing (I think this word is so annoying thanks to everyones overuse of #blessed hashtags on Facebook and Instagram... isn't there another word we can use? For this posts purpose, no). But seriously, Decker has made me slow down, enjoy the simple things about growing, love and life. He's taught me to be SO patient and to let him be "little". It has been so amazing watching this tiny, helpless baby grow from a dependant little peanut to a very busy toddler.


He's also allowed us to understand what's it's like to run off of little sleep.

But going back to my old neighbor, when I was thinking back to when her mom brought her home from the hospital as a newborn, to me-I can remember it clearly and it seems like it wasn't that long ago. I mean, I was in Junior High School so it was a long time ago but you know what I mean.  Then I thought about how Decker's 1st year flew by. And it got me thinking how I only have 18 more times to celebrate another year with him under my roof. That is assuming he goes away to college after high school and that he doesn't hate his parents and want to get emancipated at 15.

Eighteen! That's not a lot of time. Life is crazy. And by crazy, I mean it goes by too fast.

Kevin's Grandpa Frank turns 99 years old this year. I bet if you asked him about his life he would tell you it went by so fast.

In closing, I feel so lucky to be a stay at home mom to this little boy. The time I get with him is irreplaceable. Don't get me wrong, there are days where I want to run away buuuutttt... I'm so grateful for what I have and the opportunities I've had thus far with my life and my family.

Cronulla Beach, NSW, Australia
Don't forget to slow down once in a while, look around you and find the simple beauty in the things right in front of your face. You don't have to be living on the beach or in a high-rise apartment with an amazing view, even though that does help a little. :) Enjoy the little things because before we know it, we will be 99 looking back saying, "my life went by way too quick."

Kisses!

Cheeky little monkey