Thermal Tote Sale + $1.50 Embroidery

January Customer Special

No minimium purchase

All

Thermal Totes on Sale :)

Check out some of the new spring colors...

PJ Suprise!

We started a new tradition this year. 

Christmas PJ's the first night in December!

I was reading in a Christian parenting magazine about some ways to teach kids to be more thankful and appreciative of their presents at Christmas; one other idea included starting a couple of days before Christmas and opening presents gradually.

It got me thinking so...

instead of opeing Christmas PJ's the night before Christmas, we decided to surprise them and let them wear their Christmas pj's all month long.

So they took a usual bath and then we sat them on the couch.

It was a perfect day to do this because they really had been especially great.

They were so surprised and SO Thankful.

I heard "thank you mommy and daddy" over and over.

(i bought these PJ's last year at the potterybarnkids end of the year sale for real inexpensive)...

too cute.

Wreath and ten foot tree for nine foot ceilings....

This last Saturday Jason and Dylan made a trip up to the Santa Cruz mountains to find a Christmas tree (we didn't go the twins were over tired and not feeling good).

He brought home a 10 and a half foot tree for our nine foot ceilings. 

HILARIOUS.

So he had to chop a bit off, pictures below...

This year Jason brought home a special surprise a beautiful wreath from the Christmas tree farm.

It's so large and SO beautiful and fresh.

I hung it as it was, but I'm wondering if i should put some beads on it?

So sweet of my husband.

 Finished.  Not sure how to fit the star?

Just smells so yummy in the house. 

I love fresh trees, do you?

It's a fun tradition.

Boys and Tanks...

There is a private collection (the worlds largest and most extensive apparently)

of Tanks in Los Altos.

So.

Of course Jason had to take Dylan and his buddy.

Check out this collection :)

Family pictures are not easy...

We are trying to get a family picture for our fireplace.

A friend took these...

Cute huh.

Funny.

What do I do with my hair?

Do you ever wish you could just have someone tell you?

or

Do you ever wish you could just have someone else's hair?

I have totally neglected my hair the past two years.

I didn't have time, nor the help to continue getting highlights,

which I had gotten since HS to make up for the lack of chlorine in my hair,

which made it lighter.

So,

I stopped getting them and let my highlights grow and grow out of pure neglect

If I am honest.

So.

Now what?

I would love to find a hair style that actually makes me feel attractive and compliments my hair.

So.

What do I do?

I have no idea.

All the great hair stylist are in Bakersfield,

which I have found a "fact".

Sorry bay area, but you are lagging way behind in my book.

I mean my first haircut up here after we moved back the

beautician used "dull" scissors, so I got my money back (literally).

But,

let's talk hair for a minute.

I have this problem.

Not only do I have "new growth" from having twins,

but I have hair that is somewhere in between curly and straight.

I've been cursed you see...with indecisive hair?

Now what?

Do I grow it long just to give it away, I'm almost there anyway

Or

Do I just search for a new hairstyle?

HELP.
At this point I just feel a little insecure going drastic...
You know.

Fall

Some Fall photos

Same spot as last year, different age...o'my...can you believe that tongue we had to nip that one in the bud...and Dylan was hanging with his buddy...

Yes i'm a dork i let Taryn and Nolan wear the same costume as last year and Dylan wanted to be the Karate kid so he borrowed his best friends costume.  It was a pretty low maintenance Halloween, but I have a great plan for next year. 

Cute though. 

All and all the kids really love each other, too cute.  

Extra MONEY in your pocket

Okay if you haven't heard about ebates yet here you go...

Ebates.com is a great way to get back some

extra

MONEY.

Just register and no gimmicks or catches you just save

MONEY

when you log on and order something from your favorite website

Gap, Oldnavy...whatever...

You get a percentage back in your pocket.

FOR REAL.

No Kidding.

Do you use ebates?

btw: for those family and close friends reading i've been behind on my blogging due to Nolan getting six stitches last week and a huge thirty-one party.  Whew what a week it was. I have some great pictures coming up from Halloween, a amazing tank (real tanks) collection the most amazing in the world, snuggle pictures and pumpkins...bear with me...

Carmel Apple Trail Mix

Have you tried the "Carmel Apple Trail Mix" from Costco.

YUMMY.

You have to like Carmel, Peanuts, Apples ect...

It's so delicious i don't think it would be wise for me to purchase again.

Anyone?

Yummy!

A little Taryn & Nolan Update

It's been awhile since I did a Taryn and Nolan post.

So here goes a quick one.

This last month we had a ton of activities and visitors.

So Taryn and Nolan got moved down by the fireplace in the kitchen to have space at the big table.  Here they are ready to pray...too cute...red shirts and plates...funny...

 We went through a super hero stage (and are still going through it).  Where every waking hour they wanted their blankets made into capes. FUNNY! 

The twins with my parents.

 Does it get cuter than this?  Nolan with his cape and CUTE blue undies.  Come on I know he's not your child and i'm biased, but isn't he adorable with those blue undies he looks like he is ready to fly.

 Okay and we are working on their room.  They have been officially moved to beds, but are both sleeping on the bottom bunk (they are actually asleep here).

I know i know the dark wood is dark, but we had to think long term...I wanted white anyway a lot of factors involved here than just their room.  Long story.  Now i wish i would of waited to buy the bedding until after the bed was purchased, o'well.  I'm thankful for the bed and the coverings. 
Still working on their room.

Too cute!

Adorable 2010 Gift Guide

Christmas orders need to be in by December 1st
Have fun shopping!

Thirty-One Gifts 2010 Winter Catalog is now available
(Fall Catalog is still also available).

Great gift ideas.

Check out the video below and if your interested in ordering anything feel free to do so online. 

Thirty-One Gifts.

If you would like to book a home or online party let me know; just started booking Christmas parties for November.

Mad Lab Birthday Party

This was probably one of my favorite parties for Dylan.
Dylan was super excited about it.
Dylan and i did some research online and came up with some fun ideas.
THEN.
I discovered
Steve Spangler Science
When planning a science party there is hardly anything out there for the "science" theme in party stuff.
However, when you get a little creative and go to Steve's Website you can get all sorts of ideas.  I also got tons of ideas online.
The caution stickers have a pdf file

Inside the test tubes are gobstoppers from the $1 store.
We made snow, slime, magic sand, made tornado's and set off coke bottles with mentos.

Kids came and went all afternoon.  Here's a shot of some of them.

This is Dylan "best buddy" a fifth grader named Eric.  He's our neighbor as well.

He is teaching and helping Dylan in so many neat ways,

great kid such a blessing to Dylan. 

 Mentos let off in a bottle.
 The front door. I just can not seem to throw a party without balloons. I know i don't need them, but it just doesn't seem like a party if we don't have balloons.

Some party decor, our science table before it got all messy.

 My attempt at some science cupcakes with a mad scientist. 
Got the idea online.

No laughing please!  J/k the kids loved them.
Dylan we love you and are just so thankful for you.
Happy Birthday!

Saturday Night Live - Don't Buy Stuff - Video - NBC.com

Great Video!

Saturday Night Live - Don't Buy Stuff - Video - NBC.com

Organizing Shoulder Bag

Check out this Organizing Shoulder Bag.

So first I have to admit before i became a consultant for "Thirty-One" i was a one purse gal. 

Until. 

We had a daughter who just adores purses. 

I started checking out purses more and more.

And then.

I discovered "thirty-one".

So recently i hosted a thirty-one party.

I was able to benefit from the hostess perks.

I was able to earn the below "hard case wallet" for FREE and the purse for half off (very easily i might add).

Hostess's are rewarded big time with thirty-one.

If your out of my area and would like to host a party you can do a online party as well, just email me (they are pretty successful as well). 

Anyway, onto this terrific little purse.

I just ADORE it.

The straps are angled just so on the back so they contour to your body. 

It's great for a mom on the go.

Inside the purse it has a zip pocket and a pocket for a cell phone or iphone.

The back also has a pocket.

Here's a picture of the purse and hard case wallet.

The wallet is large and has plenty of room for everything. In addition it's kept very neat by a snap type closure on the front.

The fabric is so soft and kinda puffy and the inside is so cute with the black/white pin stripes.

I feel so pampered.

Really enjoying it.

How's your purse?

What a difference a purse can make throughout the day!

Alcatraz

Alcatraz

The week before Labor day weekend Jason decided he wanted to get tickets for Alcatraz in SF.  Since i have never gone i was really excited about it.

I definitely recommend purchasing them ahead of time;  they get booked up most of the time (btw: two and under are free).

So we headed out and it was just beautiful weather, mid 70's and just gorgeous.

There is so much to learn about Alcatraz so we did the audio tour and Dylan our oldest just loved it.  Perfect age; definitely recommend it.

They still have the original "warning" signs up along the outside. 

Did i mention how beautiful it was?

They had red fire hydrants all over the island and i just thought they were so cool.

This is the warden's house.  Pretty large and interesting the staff that lived on the island "rarely locked their doors", isn't that crazy.

Cool washer outside the warden's home.  What a gorgeous view he had out the windows of his home, can you imagine?

Great place to visit.  September is a great month to go.