iPhone love

hello again.  life has changed quite a bit.  i somehow finished residency.  i still can't believe it.  and today is day 28 of 35 - the days i have off before i step into an operating room as the real "boss."  words can't express how happy i am to be able to spend quality time with my little gal - it has been absolutely lovely.  here are a few snapshots i posted on instagram of our time together.

1. park giggles with her new "purse." 

2. dress to impress day at school.

3. all about the tutu.

4. dotty day, the day she wouldn't touch the visiting animals at school -  it was not fun watching it. 

5. this is how much she loves froyo.

6. breakfast is served! i could eat breakfast foods all day any day.

7. day 13 i got sick. these are the eyes that healed me.

8. enjoying mommy's first vintage finds from an estate sale.

9. discovering our neighborhood. 

10. princess kaila - off to disneyworld tomorrow!! 

what girls do best - shop

hubby has been busy working.  that means more mommy and kaila time!  i keep saying girls rule to k, but she still thinks daddy is a girl.  oh well.  having a girl leads to lots of shopping for the ridiculously cute clothes.  i made a rule to myself to try to buy things only on sale and NEVER go over $30 on an item.  ...then came DVF for Gap.  i had no idea how expensive the collection would be!  i went to a preview sale today (collection debuts 5/15) and the peer pressure got to me.  all these moms grabbing dresses left and right - i felt like i had to keep up!  even though they kept restocking right behind us. haha.

{iPhone pics}  

on k - navy ruffle dress, lavendar cardigan, navy/silver tights: crewcuts, boots: borrowed (old navy)

this is kaila's "smile" courtesy of hubby's chandler-esque smiles.

proof i turned into a nightmare mommy shopper.

hmph.  too bad most of the gorgeous dresses i got will have to be returned.  still contemplating what to keep and be guilt free...

hb to my hubby.

today is hubby's birthday.  his BIG gift?  he got a home cooked meal.  the thing is, i think i can count on my fingers the times i have used our kitchen in the last year.  maybe add in a few toes.  i think the moment life got hectic, we trusted our box of take-out menus to serve us dinner most nights.  i felt super rusty and out of place, but attempted to make a simple meal of homemade chili and cornbread.  kaila insisted we bake a chocolate brownie as well.  the moment kaila said "thank you mommy for cooking dinner - so yummy", i said to kitchen, "you are going to get sick of seeing me - pinky promise."

{iPhone}

had to show a pic of hubby before marriage and after marriage eating his 3rd bowl.  the things hubby will do to make me happy...   {before pic: Bob & Dawn Davis Photography}

happy birthday.  i love you.

30 for 30

a close friend of mine is turning thirty today - happy birthday grace!  we celebrated her birthday this past weekend and for her big 3-0 i bought 30 gifts with a story behind each one.  i saw this idea on a few blogs in the past and thought it would be perfect for grace.  i have to admit it was challenging, but seeing her reaction made it so worth it!

i started out welcoming her to the thirty club.  {i want the whole kitchen section from anthropologie}

and bought a few items for her worldly travels.  {i absolutely adore the travel journal from anthropologie}

can't go wrong with "cute as a button" nail color, yellow studded ring, and itty bitty shorts & tunes for her love for running - all packaged with twine and numbers.

wrapped a cheetos box in fabric {old korean lady style} and she was happily surprised it wasn't a box full of cheetos.  haha.  then she started reading all the personal notes/stories written on the back of the numbers...

#30 was a strawberry whipped cream cake from lutz {forgot to take a picture} but here she is with most of her gifts - success!  a few of my faves: crumbs cupcake, pepper spray, mighty leaf green tea, & crazy stupid love dvd - how can you not love ryan gosling?! 

love you grace - xoxo.

photo frame love

i hope you don't mind me sharing our christmas card with you in . . . february.  i was so happy to hear wonderful things about our mini fashion shoot with kaila.  who knew a photo frame could make pictures so fun?  i highly recommend it!

k was definitely working it in a crewcuts dress & belt - zoolander pout and all!  [minted card]  

hello valentine.

i created my first DIY valentine's day cards for kaila's new preschool friends.  the inspiration came from SallyJShim.  i added googly eyes, ruby red rhinestone smiles, love extremities, and a name banner to make it extra cheesy.  but how can you not resist extra cheesiness on valentine's day?

four different fabric hearts cut out from k's first birthday party decorations.

teachers got the gigantic googly eyes.

all were packaged with candy.

and i made one for our valentine.

since kaila doesn't know how to write her name yet, her contribution included smearing gluestick everywhere {most eyes ended up being cloudy}, placing heart stickers, and trying to eat everyone's candy, of course.

***
for those who may be wondering why it has been almost a year since i have posted...
four words can almost explain my absence - pregnancy, fetal loss, depression.
the good news is that i found the happy me.
happy blogging.

rediscovering gold.

as i am getting older {yes, 29 can be old to some}, i am starting to appreciate classic jewelry more.  i still love the wild leather/brass bracelets that are in fashion these days... but i am more in love with these.

they were gifts from my mom when she was a jeweler back in the day - precious stones, diamonds, & gold.  i wish i knew the beauty of gold and didn't have eyes only for her silver collections!  these accompanied my outfit for a recent wedding i attended.  since my über talented hubby was hired to be the photographer, i am left with this sad post-4-glasses-of-wine-crazy-hair-no-makeup photo.

congrats nate & grace!

the only problem is that gold is quite pricey these days.  i wonder how i can find unique pieces without breaking my piggy bank...?