what i wore and dentist woes

To be honest, I'm really glad it's Wednesday. It's been a rough week. I got a piece of popcorn stuck in my gums, it cut open my gums, and then got infected. Please tell me that's not the dumbest story you have ever heard. Yet it's true, and I went to the dentist and he did things we just won't talk about on my happy blog. I'm just glad it's over. ha! So with the week half over I can see the light at the end of the tunnel that is Saturday. When I can hit garage sales and drink a big cup jug of coffee. 

I'm a simple girl.

Shirt: thrifted

Shorts: GAP outlet

Headband: made by me, tutorial here

Necklace: gift from my mom

sandals: walmart

Today I will volunteering today in Dylan's preschool class for the first time this morning. I can't wait to see lots of sweet smiling faces!

april

xoxo

*linking up here and there and here again.

family fall photo inspiration {I need your help}

It's that time again. Summer is coming to an end and I'm already thinking about ideas for our Fall photos. I don't take a lot of organized family pictures, mainly because they are so stinkin hard to do. Besides our wedding we have never really had a professional photo shoot, it just hasn't ever been in our budget, so I generally plan everything out myself and have a somewhat photo savy friend take them for us. I have always loved the photos, we always manage to get sweet pictures of our family without spending money we don't have. So with that being said, I only plan this huge event once a year, mainly for Christmas pictures and presents for our family. 

I have so many ideas this year, and I'm kinda having a hard time making up my mind, so I thought maybe you could help me out!

Here are a few examples of props and settings:

Source: krystamoesphotography.blogspot.com via April on Pinterest

Source: alittlelovelyblog.blogspot.com via April on Pinterest

Source: ruffledblog.com via April on Pinterest

which one do you like? I'm kind of a sucker for props, and chalkboards, pennant banners and big ol' letters are making it impossible for me to decide! ha!

These are outfits {inspiration} I picked out for each of us:

This is for me:

Source: polyvore.com via April on Pinterest

This is for Aaron:

Source: imgspark.com via April on Pinterest

This is for Kaleb:

Source: gap.com via April on Pinterest

And this is for Dylan:

Source: xoelle.com via April on Pinterest

What do you think? All the outfits are really casual, which is {totally} us.

Have you started thinking about your family photos?

It's a lot of work for a momma.

Happy Tuesday friends!

april

xoxo

birthday photobooth = happy

 I have to admit a few things:

1. I'm in love with the quilt in the background {that I bought at a thrift store for 5 bucks}.

2. I love any excuse to force my family into taking as many pictures as possible. This is a perfect example because I set up this photo booth last weekend for Dylan's 4th birthday party and neither of my kids are in any of the pictures...whoops! I don't think it was a birthday photo booth, but April's photo booth.

3. I'm having a hard time adjusting to having two kids in school, they are growing up. I no longer have a first grader and a newborn, I have a 5th grader and a preschooler, and their are a few hours during the day where I am at home, alone. 

I'm not really sure how I feel about that.

Any advice for a momma in transition? I don't really deal well with change, and at this point I'm kinda dragging my heels in the sand. 

Oh ya, and apparently I'm OK with using capital letters on my blog now, because it really bothers me now when I don't, it looks weird. So expect proper grammar and punctuation, I guess it will be evident now that I {am} college educated. ha!

I think this photo booth was a success. Do you see the hugs, kisses and general smiles? Even if I did have to force them.

Linking up here, because Mondays are always lovely.

april

xoxo

sweet saturday V.2

Happy Saturday! I am so glad it is finally here!

I have to start out by saying {thank you} to all of the sweet bloggers who linked up last week! It warmed my heart for sure!
{LOVES}

Here are a few features from last week:

* this map covered typewriter table is absolutely amazing!
By: Lovely ect.

* these cute kids rain boot planters

By: Homespun with love

* I can't wait to make these yummy cupcakes!

By: Polka-dotted Elephants...

If you were featured you can grab this button...congrats!

<br /> <em><a href="http://www.thegingerbreadblog.com/"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m538/gingerbreadgirlblog/featured-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></em><br />

HERE IS THE 411:
*please link up your post, not your blog address
*it would be great if you could include the button below or link back to gingerbread
* comment on other friends' post, comments are sweet!

every week I will highlight a few projects from the previous week, so you can check back next week to see if you were featured!

Ok, let's see what you have to share!

april

xoxo

<br /> <em><a href="http://www.thegingerbreadblog.com/"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m538/gingerbreadgirlblog/IMG_4393-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></em><br />

because V.2

 because strawberry shortcake is perfect on a hot day.

 because he wanted Iron Man.

 because I wanted Pink Panther, that turned my teeth red in this picture.

 because this is where Miranda sleeps every night, if you even try to sit in her spot, she will howl at you until you move. ha!

 because this is ridiculously adorable, and I {had} to take a picture.

 because I believe if it's your birthday, and you are under the age of 5, you should wear that number on your shirt.

 because its almost party time, and my house is full of supplies.

because all dinosaurs want to wear a plant. Right?

Just because.

happy Friday friends!

april

xoxo

yellow inspiration

Today's inspiration over at Gussy sews is the color yellow, well we had to choose our favorite color, and right now mine is yellow..

It took me a while to find my inspiration...but after I typed the word yellow in pinterest-{aka} the best website ever, I found what I was looking for.

Source: flickr.com via April on Pinterest

Source: rootsofshe.com via April on Pinterest

Source: photographyserved.com via April on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via April on Pinterest

Source: pupilpleasures.tumblr.com via April on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via April on Pinterest

Did you know fall starts in one month? A month? I know the weather doesn't really change for much longer after that, especially in southern California, but that crazy bit of information make me wanna enjoy every last ice cream eating beach day I can. I am going to soak in that yellow sunshine like it's nobodys business.

april

xoxo

bento please

I am totally loving bento right now. Have you seen these cute, organized, perfectly creative lunches? If I were still a kid I would totally beg my mom to make them, even though I KNOW she wouldn't. ha!
They are almost too cute to eat! 
I want to make bento for a picnic before the weather changes, wouldn't that be fun? 
I could NEVER do this every day, but as a treat they would ROCK!


Bento (弁当 bentō^?)^[1] is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. 

Source: cuteoverload.com via April on Pinterest

Source: bento-logy.blogspot.com via April on Pinterest

Source: google.com via April on Pinterest

Source: google.com via April on Pinterest

Source: None via April on Pinterest

Source: kookyculinary.com via April on Pinterest

                                                                     Bento Please!

                                                                    april

 xoxo

what i wore {vintage skirt}

Doesn't this picture make me look lovely? ha! Sometimes when Kaleb is taking pictures I tell him "OK that's good" but he keeps taking pictures, just to be funny. This is when I attack him with the crazy mom look, whaddya think? 

Aren't kids great that way?

I'm kind of obsessed with vintage skirts. I bought 4 at the thrift store last week. SWOON!

I should really stay away from that place.

There is something about the patterns and colors that I love.

I am wearing a red and white bow in my hair you can check out here, I have a few in the shop right now.

Happy Wednesday! The week is half over!

skirt: vintage

belt: old navy

shirt: walmart

sandals: walmart

bow: vintage gingerbread

april

xoxo

*linking up here and there.

word.

A mark for every breath you took, every blink, every sleepy yawn. One for every time you sucked your thumb, waved hello, closed your eyes and slept in the most perfect darkness. One for every time you had the hiccups. One for every dream you dreamed within me. It isn't very pretty anymore. Some may even think it ugly. That's OK. It was your home. It's where I first grew to love you, where I lay my hand as I dreamed about who you were and who you would be. It held you until my arms could, and for that, I will always find something beautiful in it."

Source: cafemom.com via Meredith on Pinterest

If this isnt beautiful, I dont know what is.

april

xoxo