16 things.

Hi Friends!

Sorry for the hiatus, just busy with the kiddo and EXHAUSTED by the end of the day. ug! By 7:15pm I'm usually reclined on the couch with a blanket and reruns of something I've seen 100 times. I like to think of it as my 'sanity time.' :)

We're so thrilled that the holidays are quickly approaching and decorating for Halloween will happen this week. Isla has already informed me that she's scared of her bat Halloween PJ's so we'll see how that ends up. Hmmmm. Regardless- I am so thrilled for this holiday season and how fun it will be with Isla at this age this year. Bring on Fall! YAY!

I'll leave you with just a quick post outlining the random absurdness in my brain. Enjoy.

1. This Halloween costume. Sushi. Hysterical.

2. I love how they make products for crazy cat people and those people just wear it loud and proud- I sent this to my Sis and recommended she get it for her Fiance for Xmas. HA! 

3. All day. Every day. I should wear this on a sandwich board. 

4. The time (this Saturday) when we accidentally hired a drug addict (meth maybe?) from Craigslist to help us move a bed. #sh*t

5. Just lounging with Isla&the TUTU. It's EVERYWHERE. 

6. This kid and her love of brie. We like to think that she's getting in touch with her French roots. 

7. Fall pullovers and cardis---my favorite time of year!

8. Isla learning to use chopsticks on Sunday with her buddy, Kyo (who's already a pro!)

9. Construction Truck PJ's & a Tutu= best of both worlds!

10. The kid requested a playdoh Ballerina-- I must say, I was pretty proud of my skills.

11. Typical Facetime 'talks' with Daddy = 10 minutes of making faces at each other.

12. These jerks at my Husband's work-- obviously if you drive a truck you should double park. Total douche move!

13. The kiddo sharing her Eiffel Tower toy with her class for show&tell. Big girl stuff!

14. Making this---hopefully it doesn't scare Isla.

15. This 5:45 "nap" today--are you kidding me kid?! Just no-- you're going to bed in a hour. (She hasn't taken a real afternoon nap in almost a month).

16. Screenshots of this showing up in our shared pics--anyone else's Hubby addicted? I wouldn't be sad if this game went up in a ball of flames. Just saying.

xoxo. 

S

Christmas Shopping Early?

Hi Friends!

Just a quick note that Isla and I found all kinds of early Christmas shopping goodies at Costco today. I know every Costco's different but if you're a member and these aren't in-store you can still find them online. A couple of things for girls that are on our radar!

Disney Princess 8-piece Princess Gift Set

Isla is newly fascinated with magic clip dolls. She saw them at a friend's house and she now loves them. She spends a good piece of time messing around with them and they're good for fine motor skills- Mom win! They can be kind of pricey (as with any Disney item) but this set is going for $19.99 at Costco right now and retails for $34.99 at Amazon! Grab them quick!!! (If you're traveling for the holidays try these out- they're great for packing and keep littles busy)

Disney Princess Baby 

They had a TON of Disney Princess Toddler Dolls for $19.99 (I think, I forgot to snap a pic so they may be $15) Isla has 'Baby Elsa' and loves her- this is a great, durable doll. They had Anna, Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel and Elsa. The doll is similar to the one below and cuter than most of the Toddler versions on Amazon!

Hauck Classic Julia Doll Stroller

This stroller is so cute and doubles as a baby carrying cot that can be removed. It retails for $47.00 on Amazon and is going for $27.99 at Costco. Snatch it up! 

Disney Short Film Collection 

If you have a Disney lover on your hands and you're trying to move away from long movies during the day this may be the answer- this DVD is all shorts with popular characters. My good Mama Friend, L brought this to my attention and I'm so glad she did. It's a great compromise to a full length movie. The price is matched on Amazon too.  (They had the live action Cinderella too- on DVD and Blu-Ray!)

Happy early shopping! 

S

School!

Hi Friends!

Big things happening over here today--Miss Isla started her Preschool Co-op.

She LOVED her first day and was so thrilled to go to school! Besides the first part when she didn't want to wash her hands before playing and she got taken outside and threatened with going home (gotta love the Twos) she did awesome! Unfortunately all of her school exertions didn't equal napping today (which means we're going on 2 weeks without an afternoon nap *SOB*!!!) Here's to a wonderful school year and the possibility of mid-year preschool (she's definitely ready!)

She loved swinging by Daddy's office and telling him about her day! :) 

xoxo. 

S

Sanity Saver

Hi Friends! 

If you don't own kinetic sand go buy some. I finally picked some up after hearing rave reviews from friends. It's a little bit pricey but SO WORTH IT! 

I grabbed our set for $15 at Target (it's a little more online- see link here)- it came with the tray to put it in (not pictured below because Isla needs more space- so a baking pan worked better), a couple little molds with handles to pull up and a fairly big bag of 'sand.' Isla plays with it every day for 45-hour. It's literally amazing. Perfect for rainy days and time stuck indoors! 

*Also--those little flamingos are cocktail pics- they stick in the sand great!*

Update: 10 Things

Hi Friends!

Sorry for the hiatus- I just haven't had much to blog about except for my crazy kid. Decided it was time for an update in the form of one (or two) liners - enjoy.

1. Isla is very much IN the terrible 2's (and 3's I hear) and on a side note she hasn't napped in a week solid so I have a very real fear that her napping career is over (and was too short lived)- *SOB!*

2. Isla now refers to Bert and Ernie (from Sesame Street) as "Bernie" when you ask her who either of them is even though she knows they each have a different name. She is all about 'ease of use' :)

3. Our Nephew, Jaxon was born on Tuesday- 5 weeks early and 5lbs 2oz. A healthy baby! (and a 1hr 40min delivery- all Mamas are jealous on that delivery time (I know!)-- AMAZING!)

4. Isla and I are in negotiations over her Halloween costume. I will probably give in but I still have a chance of getting my way ;)

5. I started Christmas shopping and it's going great! I am torturing myself with a couple craft projects and am patting myself on the back for finding a pattern online from something my Grandma made us at least 25 years ago. Thank you internet!

6. Isla made her school placemat today and it turned out pretty darn cute. (She designed it herself :)

7. Labor Day weekend included 'chopsticks' lessons by my Husband- time to practice (This is SO overdue! #bucketlist)

8. If B doesn't make it home for bedtime (she's been going down at 7 with no nap) we FaceTime so he can say good night. Lately Isla has to tell him good-night and then make him walk to one of Tech's desk so she can say goodnight to the guy's Spiderman bobblehead. 'See piderman Daddee?'

9. Isla keeps telling us everyone she's going to see in Disneyland (note: we don't have a trip on the calendar). Her list includes Captain Pete, 'bad guys', the witch (just pick one I'm guessing), The 'big lion head' (i.e.: the cave of wonders from Aladdin) and many more obscure characters- something tells me she may be disappointed.

10. Doing this 1 year old session for a family I get to photograph every year made me extra excited for my an upcoming cake smash and HOLIDAY MINIS! I already have Isla's pics and our family session planned out. YAHOO!

xo. 

S