Take the Cannoli: January 2012

New Years Blog Party Gift Swap

I was stoked to be participating in my first Blogging Party!

Hosted by: Casey, Alycia & Danielle

All we had to do was submit our email address and then were randomly paired up with another blogger to swap homemade gifts with. I totally loved this idea and getting to meet someone new out there in the blogosphere. And now I'm happy to say I have a new blog pal. She is super fun and totally sweet. Like I would travel to Louisiana tomorrow and show up at her doorstep unexpected and she'd welcome me kind of sweet. She is my kind of gal and I'm blessed to now know her.

Meet Emily the author of The Dashboard Diaries.

You can visit her blog below. Trust me you'll want to.

I totally did a happy dance upon receiving her package. I opened the manilla package only to be blasted with a Mardi Gras Explosion! Obviously I was too excited to open my gift to even think about taking pictures of it and instead tore through those purple, gold and green necklaces and tissue paper to discover this.

How rad is this?

Love this rustic frame and the French quote she has hanging inside of it. I took pictures against different backdrops to show how it really can go anywhere in the house and it just flows.

I will just type word for word her sweet note to me.

When preparing for this gift exchange, so many ideas went through my mind! I mostly wanted to give you a little taste of Louisiana, but most of those options would involve food.. and crawfish doesn't ship well! Since Mardi Gras season has officially begun. I reaaaalllly wanted to make you a King Cake (terrible idea) so instead, I was left with making you a gift incorporating the greatest quote of the Mardi Gras Season, "Laissez les bon temps rouler" which means "Let the good times roll" in French. I hope this quote encourages you and your family to enjoy the happy times you have together, and to live every day to the fullest! (In case you get bred with it, I included extra letters and rope so that you can change the quote throughout the year)

Ummm, hello how thoughtful is she! Love this gift and the fact that I can change out the letters for a new quote. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

If you have the opportunity for a blog swap party I highly recommend you jumping on it! So much fun!

Thanks Emily for this rad gift! Oh and to see what I gave her hop on over to her blog and check it out. Click Below

Spotlight and a Giveaway

Happy Monday All!

Have you visited Kimmie's blog Sugar and Dots yet?

If not get on over there and check her out because she is pretty amazing. Not only is she beautiful, hilarious and compassionate she is also inspiring. She has encouraged me along on this blogging journey and is actually spotlighting my blog and I today.

She is also hosting a giveaway for one of my fave pieces from my collection!

the Celebration piece!
I wanted to mention that you don't need a blog to be a follower of my blog and to be able to enter the giveaway or any future one.

I received quite a few emails during my last giveaway from people who "read" my blog but aren't actually "following"

If you have blogs you like to read and would like to let the author and other readers know your a fan,

you can do so by "following" their blog. It's a sweet gesture to say we like what you have to say and we support you.

Again you don't need a blog to be a follower. It's not just for bloggers. (mom this means you too) By becoming a follower it helps you keep up with new posts. You can follow publicly or privately. Once decided on how you would like to follow just click "Join this Site" button on the upper right hand side of my blog. see example below.

Hope this helps. And good luck!

Insta-Beach

The best thing about early naps is plenty of time left in the day to go play.

Note to self: Don't talk while pictures are being taken. This was the best of 10

occasionally being spontaneous has its downfalls, like not thinking to have Elsie wear more than just a swimsuit, plus no towel and no change of clothes. Thank goodness her daddy is a gentleman.

If she had her choice, we would've stayed until morning.

Instead of

Instead of sleeping safe and sound Thursday night, I was up until 3:00 am with the Sheriffs deputies investigating suspicious noises. These said noises were amplified with the fear of being alone while Micah was away.

Instead of cozying up for our usual Thursday night routine, Micah was getting this tattoo done while I embroidered these.

Instead of bathing solo, Elsie asked to play with Vernon in the tub.

Instead of the forecasted 80 degrees on Friday we were blasted with the Santa Ana winds

Instead of heading to the beach, we stayed home and built castle after castle

Instead of crying because the beach plans changed, Elsie asked to go shopping where the "Froggie Fountains" are.

Instead of wanting to avoid going out in the winds, I obliged.

Instead of making "some" Kale chips, I baked two trays worth and ate it ALL in one sitting.

Instead of dolls Elsie treats her Minnie Mouse like her baby.

Instead of enforcing a schedule while daddy was gone, we just played everything by ear.

Instead of waking up perky like usual they were both pretty fussy.

Instead of trying to tidy up before Micah's return I just held my sleepy babes all day.

Instead of sleeping in my bed, I slept with Elsie in hers both nights he was away.

Instead of going to sleep at a decent hour like a responsible mama, I stayed up until the wee hours watching a full season of The Wonder years last night.

Instead of a Soy Chai Tea, my brain and body required coffee with TWO shots of espresso this morn.

Instead of laying down Vernon after he fell asleep in my arms I kissed his soft sweet eyelids and held him so tight. The thought of him turning ONE in a few weeks hurts.Too fast. It went too fast.

Instead of cuddling up with Micah on the couch listening to him tell all about his trip I am blogging, because Elsie missed her daddy and

Instead of telling her to just stay in her bedroom he is laying there singing to her. And it blesses my heart.

Rain

I used to hate the rain. Well not my whole life. Of course as a kid I have fond memories of swimming in our pool during it or using the culdesac street that we lived on as a place to set sail with homemade cardboard boats.(ya they never lasted)
Though somewhere along the line, I'd say around junior high 'til just recently, I dreaded rainy days. I never realized I became gloomy gal Nat when the weather turned. I mean grey skies meant Tori Amos or Mazzy Star playing throughout every speaker in the house.
Only since being married to Micah did he point out how blah I became. I didn't think anything of it, I am a melancholy girl at heart. Those of you that know me are thinking, what? you, miss happy go lucky, has a zest for life and is always up for anything girl. True that girl is me, that is because I am with you. When around people, or keeping busy out and about I don't leave room for idle time. Which meant no room to be left alone with my thoughts.
These past few months I have learned to sit. To think. To be with my thoughts. This past year has been a time of reflection and a time of getting to know me better. As a wife, mom, friend. I, for the first time in years can have nothing on the calendar and be ok with that. This coming from a gal who if not every day was filled out with plans or appt(s), would become anxious.
I realized that filling my days with things from work, gym, date nights with Micah, dates with friends, appts, traveling somewhere or another were all ways to me to fill the space. The empty space. I made it a pattern to keep myself preoccupied at all times so I didn't have to focus on past hurts, guilt, regrets, whatever the emotion was I didn't want to feel I filled it with something to do. Even after becoming a momma I made sure to keep a full schedule for myself and the babes.
See why I hated rainy days, having to be stuck inside, not able to get out and escape the world in my mind.
The Lord has worked on my heart and has made me aware of this. I can honestly say that he has healed my brokenness and helped me move forward. I can not only enjoy the rain as it comes but I can dance in it as well.
Listening to my babies giggle under the umbrella as we ran across the parking lot in attempt to stay dry reminded me of how far of a journey I have come. Though my past is still my past I am no longer broken. Now I thank God for the rain. For days like this to be able to slow down. To see the beauty in it. To cuddle up and reflect on all that he has blessed me with instead of things that I can't change.
Today I am thankful for the rain.

Oh Happy Day

and what a happy day it will be for one lucky follower when you win this little piece I embroidered and tons of other goodies from lots of other fab blogs. In celebrating Ashley's 25th birthday she is hosting a MASSIVE GIVEAWAY of thirty-five different prizes. One Winner takes all!

To have a chance at it make sure to go to After Nine to Five's blog for all the rules and entry info.

or just click the pic above to take you right to the Birthday Bash action.

Happy Friday all and good luck!

it's really that simple?

Vernon was the happiest I've ever seen him when I let him roam free without his diaper

of course that was only for about 15 minutes until he peed in Elsie's room while rummaging through her clothes. She was not a happy camper about it.

We received a delivery that came in a big box full of packing popcorn

Elsie insisted it was snow

and played in it all night long

Vernon wasn't too sure of it.

I love to see the simple things that bring them so much joy.

Bow Garland Giveaway

remember this?

well if not you can view the post about how to make it here OR you can head on over to Sugar & Dots to enter the giveaway for it! That's right, one lucky reader gets a chance to WIN this!

Just click on the link below and follow the instructions on entering. GOOD LUCK!