Looking Back

China 2009

Our first full day with Maggie and not many smiles.

Maggie's first big smile. 

 Chuck was tickling her and she started laughing.

 My funny husband.

Maggie needed a couple of shoes.

I love this picture ! 

Three babies adopted from China and three different ways to cope. 

Favorites Friday.

Origins Vita Zing Moisturizer

Lord have mercy, I love this moisturizer. It has a tiny bit of tint to it.  So, it looks kind of like you have been in the sun and gives you a glow.  Plus, it has a sunscreen ( SPF 15) and Mangsteen - whatever that is.  You only use a tiny bit and it goes a long way.  

** I order mine from Origins online.

Seche Vite  Dry Fast Top Coat

This is advertised as the  "World's Strongest Nail Top Coat".  I am not sure about that, but I will say it does two amazing things to my nails that I love ! (You can but it at Ulta)

1. It makes your nails very shiny like acrylic nails.

2. My fingernail polish stays on about a week when I use it as a top coat.

QTICA 

Qtica Intense repair treatment for cuticles.  This is a seriously intensive moisturizing treatment I put on my cuticles before I go to bed.  I love how it makes my hands/nails look !

That's it for today.  Have a great weekend ! 

Who Needs Toys R Us ?

Potty Training Day 1.

My goal this summer is to potty train Maggie.  She has been waking up with dry diapers,she can sign potty and understands that is where you go.  She's been casually sitting on the potty every night before bath to get used to it.  How hard can this be ? Apparently,  this may be difficult because Maggie prefers to do the Chinese squat when she goes to the bathroom. Insert picture of Chinese bathroom below.  This is how it is done in China.  I took this picture at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

So far Maggie is floor trained ! She goes right when I take her off the potty all over the floor.  Ugh !!!

Favorites Friday.

I enjoy reading about other peoples favorites, so I thought I would start a Friday Favorites Post. Today's Favorites have nothing to do with children, toys, sewing or school.  They are things that help you look your best. I am not only a mother to three wonderful children, but I am a wife too and I think it is important to put a little effort in my skin and what I wear.  Not in a vain, think about it all the time way.  But, in a way that honors your husband. You know, like making a statement that says " I've not given up on myself". 
 Got me ?

 So, here it goes:

1.Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

I am much, much closer to being forty than thirty and my face was really starting to show it. I did a lot of research on the Olay Regenerist products and just dove in and tried them. 

Without sounding like a commercial - They are wonderful and I saw results in a day.  Even my hubby asked if I had done something different to my skin. While they are pricey, they are very worth it and my cream has lasted a long time. You don't need much and I just use this cream at night. 

2.Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion and Peel

I love, love this kit ! It really smooths my skin out and helps with all that terrible sun damage I have.

Microdermabrasion, you are my BFF. LYLAS.

( In case you did not grow up in the eighties - that's Best Friend Forever, Love you like a sister)

3.Ulta - Pink-A BOO Nail Polish

I could not find a picture for this one, but trust me it is the perfect natural shade. Very flattering.  It's not very pink at all, but very natural without being white.  I don't know how to describe it, but it is very flattering. 

Love it !

4.Toms Kenya Stripe Wedges

These are the most comfortable shoes and so cute ! I got them for Mother's Day. I love Toms One for One program.  For every Toms you purchase they give a new pair of shoes to a child in need.  Plus, wedges really make your legs look good, don't they ?

Lived In Chic.

Last year, our family was invited over to eat dinner with a family that we adore and look up to.  They are a wonderful Christian family that has home schooled and is rearing five beautiful and Godly children.  They are an amazing family ! Their house is also beautiful and I couldn't wait to see what it looked like inside.  The dinner was perfect - fresh vegetables from their garden and a fresh peach cobbler with ice cream. It just doesn't get any better.  They asked if we wanted to tour the house and of course I said yes ! They had done many renovations on it and I loved how it was decorated.  But, the thing I loved more than anything was that there was laundry piled on the guest bed, the kids beds upstairs were still unmade, the master bath had towels hanging everywhere.  It was therapeutic to know that this family was a real, messy, family.  Their house was not dirty ( that's different), but it was beautifully lived in. And the best thing was that they never said " excuse the mess".  I loved that ! They were confident in the fact that they have kids and this is what it looks like most of the time. They were real.

Recently, The Nester posted about Lived In Chic and it was brilliant and wonderful.  Take a peek at the photos and watch the video at the end.  You'll love it. They are a reminder to me to stop worrying about everything not being in it's place, container, shelf or drawer and to enjoy the moments I have with my children regardless of the mess.  These are special times and one day the kids will be grown and gone and my house will be perfectly clean and quiet.  Then I'll be wishing there were Legos and jewelry all over the floor, dirty hand prints on the wall and sticky pop sickle wrappers on the kitchen table.   Oh the beauty that can be seen in the mess.

.

Back Seat Fun.

Long car trips with a two year old does not always equal to fun.

Except when you have two amazing brothers !

They love Maggie so much !!

Ella Knot Pattern Review.

This is the Ella Knot Pattern by Carrie at Sew Happy and I am so happy that I found her blog and Etsy shop.  This knot pattern is very popular right now and you can find many different versions of this pattern ( I have three).  But, I have to say that I love Carrie's pattern the best.  It is a PDF downloadable pattern that is very easy and straight forward.  I made the top while Maggie napped one afternoon.  The shorts/capri pattern is from youcanmakethis.com and it is the easy fit pants pattern that I just shortened.

The Ella Knot pattern can be lengthened to make a dress or you can just leave it a lone as a shirt.  Also, if you go to Carrie's blog you can see all the beautiful outfits she has made.  I love to look at what fabric/color combinations she is using.  It is very inspiring and makes me want to sew all day.

Happy Sewing !

Back to Grayton Beach.

We went camping again at Grayton Beach.  

The weather turned out to be really good with no rain.

To me a perfect trip has biking and the beach.  

And that's just what we did every day.

That's not a pool, that's the Gulf of Mexico.  Isn't it beautiful ? I don't think I have seen it that clear in a long time. 

 No sign of oil either.

This was Maggie's third time to go the beach, but her first time to go in warm weather.  She did not like to walk in the sand, but she loved to play in it.  She also loved to be in the water all day !!

I bought these cleap, pink flip-flops at Target before we left and Maggie LOVED them !

We biked to Watercolor, SeaSide and Grayton beach. 

 It must be noted here that Walker and Will have new bikes because their old bikes fell off the camper bike rack in Elba, Alabama.  Rest in peace old bikes, we will miss you.

We spent several days hanging out in Sea Side at the ArtsQuest Art Festival.  Really cool art and bands !!

I made Maggie's outfit ( seersucker) and will be doing some sewing posts soon to review patterns like this one that I love.

Chuck's dad was one of the artists at ArtsQuest this week. 

 He does beautiful wood turning and has won many awards for his work.

Maggie's naps were always on the go poor thing. 

Short post today. Maggie is starting to really pitch some good fits and we have had to start dealing with them. Not fun.  At All.

Dancing.

You have turned my wailing into dancing:

You removed my sackcloth,

And clothed me with JOY.

Psalm 30:11

Royal Wedding Fashion review by Maggie.

Maggie was inspired by some interesting hat choices from the Royal Wedding.  Hats are so fun aren't they ?

 I've never seen such creative and fun hats in all my life.

Here is her rendition of the blue hat worn by...well, I have no idea who this lady is. 

While I think blue is a beautiful color, I think this hat lacks a certain feminineness, don't you think ?

Oh! Much better. 

A wide brimmed hat is so beautiful and regal.

  Understated and simple.

I think Maggie agrees.  

You can't go wrong with a simple, wide hat 

( and four random necklaces). 

Thankfully, it's ok for a two year old to over accessorize !.