Assorted Lovelies

yummy

2012-02-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

While testing out different muffin recipes I am finding that my kids like the simplest ones the best. We really loved these super easy Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins! Recipe here!

valentine's day

2012-02-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

I LOVE Valentine's Day..... made some decorations with things I already had around the house.

perfect

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was gorgeous and we had the park all to ourselves. Doesn't get better than that, which coming from a mom who hates the park, is a big deal! As much as I love winter, yesterday was an undeniably perfect day for January.

pictures

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's imperfect, but I love our picture wall. We mixed black and white, color photos, and drawings to make a special spot in our home. That's a lot of love in a small place.

it's friday

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

And do you know what we do on Fridays? When you are two... you sit on the curb watching the big kids play with your Elmo backpack, hockey stick, and your sister's ball.

are you?

2012-01-26T22:34:00.000-08:00

Are you following me over on Facebook?

I hope so.

If not click here!

love

2012-01-26T00:41:00.001-08:00

found this on Pinterest

tears and love

2012-01-24T00:10:00.001-08:00

Last week, with tears in his eyes, my son told me that he missed me and that he wanted to spend time with me. Long school days, busy schedules, and the immediate needs of his younger siblings were preventing us from quality time together. I cried. But after the tears I remembered that I am a mom, like all other moms, who has hard days and who is learning how to be a mom through their first child. I am so grateful my first child loves me enough to miss me and loves me enough to hold my hand in public when we were finally able to spend one-on-one time together. Trying to raise well-rounded children can be challenging and schedule oriented, but a gentle reminder of how important your affection and undivided attention is in their life can go a long way. It's hard work to be a mom, but it's the most rewarding job in the world (at least I think so).

what we did

2012-01-23T01:08:00.000-08:00

This is what my hubby and I did this weekend

A little time shared together while children slept.
Yummy and so easy.

friday already?

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday!

What is it about my kids and sugary faces that makes me melt?

I saw this pin on Pinterest and loved it:

Sometimes we just need to let it go and make room for much lovelier things.

i made

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

My hubby is on a healthy eating and exercise kick I'm so proud of him and his weight loss. To help him I set up an oatmeal bar on our counter for breakfast. Of course I used mason jars to store everything in. It's easy for him to access all the ingredients quickly in the morning. I have like six jars lined up. Anyhow, today I was dying for a snack. And so I took all of his jars and made myself some homemade trail mix. I used craisins, almonds, and a few chocolate chips. It was so good. But the possibilities are endless. Great snack for the stay-at-home mommy.

snapshots of what I want to wear - from my pinterest

2012-01-17T00:16:00.000-08:00

So many lovely things I want in my closet.

things i am loving today

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Homemade Skinny Chocolate Chip Scones

So delicious and easy!

Having a girl to put on a ruffly skirt and polka dot top.

Wish I had this outfit too.

happy day

2012-01-12T23:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Mom!

my favorite picture of us ever taken

talk about lovely

2012-01-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

I just found this lovely room via Facebook. Torey and Jeff posted pictures of their new nursery designed by Benedict August. Are you serious? I am just in love with every detail in this gorgeous space. You can go to their blog to see more pictures. Inspiration everywhere.

no more blahs

2012-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Right after New Year's Day, Design Mom posted about the January Blues. You know those "blahs" you get after the holidays? I was definitely having them, so her post gave me inspiration to perk things up a bit. I got out a string of party lights and put them up. I love them and the white strings make them feel less like Christmas lights and more like twinkle lights. There is a good chance I will keep them up for months to come. Besides the lights, I already have a few projects in line for sprucing up a piece of furniture and making something new.

fun family game

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

We just started playing the Disney Hedbanz game. So fun! It's supposed to be for ages 7+, but we play with my 3 year old and my 6 year old and just adapt it to our own rules. We don't use the Mickey Chips and once the timer goes out we give hints. Basically we play with no winner, but everyone gets to guess. Your children just need some Disney movie knowledge.

giveaway over on facebook!

2012-01-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

I have a GIVEAWAY over on my Facebook page! Head over and "like" me and then leave a comment on the post that starts with "GIVEAWAY." Enter to win a designed 8x10 song/poem/quote/bible verse (your choice) like the ones that I did above for my children for Christmas. Frame can be black, white, or light wood. Giveaway ends Wednesday the 11th at 11:59pm PST.

what we made

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Do you remember when I made this toddler bed back in 2009 (blog post here)?

Well, we got that bed out of storage today for our big 2 year old boy! Right away I noticed something was missing, we no longer had the guardrail (not pictured) that we used for our other two kids. I'm pretty sure we paid like $30 for it and I was not interested in purchasing a new one to be used for such a short period of time. So right away we started thinking of ideas of how to make our own. I thought about making one of those pillow guardrails that I have seen, but I knew that after buying fabric and stuffing, it wouldn't be very economical. And then I did what one of my favorite things to do is....I decided we would just have to make it out of what we already have.

And so, here is what we did!

I took his crib bumper and cut it. I kept the padding inside and took out some of the seams. Then I sent Mark to Home Depot to buy some wood. He spent $4.71. That is what this whole project cost us.

I slipped the wood into the bumper and then sewed up one side. I also cut off all of the ties.

Then we took some wood and attached the new guardrail to the bed.

And voila, a padded wooden guardrail for $4.71. We really wanted to get the project done so our little guy could sleep in his new big-boy-bed tonight, but if we had more time I might have put padding on both sides of the guardrail (not just the inside where it already was) and I might have stained or painted the wood. But to be honest, I love it just as it is!

I think there are so many times when we go out and buy new things, when we could have either used something we have, or think of a better solution. It was so easy, now here is to hoping that training him to sleep in the bed will be a piece of cake too.

carry me

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

This beauty is my LAMB purse that I have had for a little over two years. I love it but it is

wearing thin and I am pretty sure I have six months or less with it. I know that it's almost

time to find a new purse. I am a one-purse woman. I would rather buy one well-made purse

then have a bunch. So whatever I pick has to last a couple of years.

Here is what I have fell in love with (so far):

RED Valentino Full Grain Calfskin Satchel

Vince Camuto Satchel

Kate Spade New York Dama Tote

Rebecca Minkoff Striped Diamond Canvas

Tory Burch Plaid Rain Tote

Tory Burch Ally- Large Satchel

What do you think?

delicious

2012-01-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

For years this has been our favorite recipe to make at home for a special occasion. It's beyond delicious!

Chicken Tequila Fettucine- from California Pizza Kitchen

Ingredients:
1 pound dry spinach fettuccine (or 2 pounds fresh)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (2 tablespoons reserved for garnish)
2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons minced jalapeno pepper (seeds and veins may be removed for milder flavor)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (reserve 1 tablespoon per saute )
1/2 cup chicken stock (preferably homemade)
2 tablespoons gold tequila
2 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lime juice
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/4 pound chicken breast, diced 3/4 inch
1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 medium yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
1/2 medium green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cup heavy cream

Preparation:
Prepare rapidly boiling, salted water to cook pasta; cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes for dry pasta, approximately 3 minutes for fresh. Pasta may be cooked slightly ahead of time, rinsed and oiled and then "flashed" (reheated) in boiling water or cooked to coincide with the finishing of the sauce/topping.

Cook 1/3 cup cilantro, garlic and jalapeno in 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add stock, tequila and lime juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until reduced to a paste like consistency; set aside.

Pour soy sauce over diced chicken; set aside for 5 minutes. Meanwhile cook onion and peppers, stirring occasionally, with remaining butter over medium heat. When the vegetables have wilted (become limp), add chicken and soy sauce; toss and add reserved tequila/lime paste and cream.

Bring the sauce to a boil; boil gently until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thick (about 3 minutes). When sauce is done, toss with well-drained spinach fettuccine and reserved cilantro.

Serve family style or transfer to serving dishes, evenly distributing chicken and vegetables.

can you believe it

2012-01-02T16:10:00.001-08:00

My last post was my 1000th post! Can you believe it?

I am so excited.

XOXO

it's fun to have a girl - birthday party

2012-01-02T00:20:00.000-08:00

Last Friday we went to a girls-only birthday party at Disney Studio 365 in Downtown Disney. Let's just say that the four little girls who went were in heaven! They got their hair done, with a touch of makeup, and a great goody bag to take home. I'm not sure I have seen anything so cute. Afterwards we went across the way to Naples for pizza. It was the perfect party for four sweet little girls!

The girls in their chairs

My girl getting fairy dust sprinkled on her hair

Eating pizza at Naples

Piper and the birthday girl.

Happy Birthday Taelor!

new blog

2012-01-02T00:00:00.001-08:00

My new blog for the new year. Join me at A Year Full of Hope!

christmas pictures

2012-01-01T21:51:00.000-08:00

This tradition was passed down from my mom. Each child has their

own wrapping paper. There are no tags on any presents under the tree

and they don't know their paper until Christmas morning.

Each child has a box from Santa (that we keep from year-to-year) and on

Christmas morning Santa leaves an extra little gift in their box.

You can barely see them here, but we always leave a white rug right

under the fireplace so we can catch Santa's boot tracks.

Brody's favorite gift this year was the VTech InnoTab. It's kind of like

a learning iPad for kids. It got mixed reviews but we are loving it so far!

Look what my hubby made me for Christmas. Faith.

My hubby and I don't do gifts, we just fill up each other's stocking with a small

budget. I don't know how, but he fit some new TOMS in mine. Thank goodness,

my old ones had two holes where my pinky toes were :)

Spoiled by my hubby and mom at Anthropologie. Measuring cups

and the perfect teacup.

Santa left this for us under the tree. A photo book for our family. We think

that Alabaster Snowball (our elf) must have hacked our computer!

My homemade gifts to the kids. They each have a song that

I sing to them, so I designed and framed their songs. Little reminders

of how much I love them.

We were so blessed to have an amazing holiday season!

new year

2012-01-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed taking a week off from blogging, but I missed it too! I feel like I have so many things to blog about.

Let's start with New Year's Eve. This year we decided to celebrate by ourselves instead of making big plans with other people. We took the kids to Sea World for the day, made it home in time for my hubby to make Chicken Tequila Fettucini (recipe from California Pizza Kitchen), play Yahtzee Junior, and celebrate New Year's with the kids on East Coast time. Once the kids were in bed hubby and I made Bananas Flambé, watched Midnight in Paris, and capped the night off with mimosas at midnight. It was the perfect evening.

Fun in the snow at Sea World

Chicken Tequila Fettucini
(recipe to come in future post)

Easy game for the whole family

Our 3 and 6 year-olds both had fun

East Coast New Year's celebration

Bananas Flambé

Sick at home on New Year's Day

Tired from all of the holiday fun

little things

2011-12-24T00:12:00.000-08:00

These were the kids gifts to their family this year. Snow globes filled with glitter, a hand cut tree, and a snowman. I got the idea here and just used small mason jars and added a snowman. So easy to do and they were fun to make together.

My wrapping this year. Apparently everyone bought all of the Kraft paper rolls, so I used old white paper I had. I did the names with stamps, and finished with gold and silver yarn. So simple.

We had so much fun decorating ginger bread houses this year (thanks to our Christmas Angels). Everyone got involved and it was messy but so fun!

best

2011-12-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

Not only was this cake delicious (can you say Gingerbread Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting, yummm) but it was given to me on this beautiful cake stand that I got as a present. Hello! Best present ever. What a beautiful and personal gift to take over to someone's home. I wish I would have thought of it. I am definitely going to give gifts like this in the future. Thanks L!

enjoying the holidays

2011-12-19T00:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday!

This weekend the kids and I did a little crafting for gifts. They always make something for their grandparents and their aunts/uncles.

I will show you the finished product later this week. We had fun doing it!

We have a busy week ahead of us full of holiday celebrations. We even have a babysitter one night this week for the first time ever! Our family has always babysat for us, but we knew it was time to find someone outside of our family so that the kids could have the whole babysitter experience. I am really excited. Maybe this means more date nights in the future?

And to catch you up, here are the 12 Days of Christmas from our Christmas Angels that you missed!

Three French Hens

Four Calling Birds

Five Golden Rings

Eventually I will go into more detail with what each day entailed so that you can see how amazing it is (highlight of my day)!

And currently, Alabaster Snowball is waiting for the kids to wake up and discover him. Here is what he is doing:

Yes, we are enjoying the holidays. Every single moment.

xo,

Amanda

snow (hail)

2011-12-16T00:05:00.000-08:00

It snowed (hailed) last night! So exciting. Somehow we got caught in this crazy 30 minutes storm that had lightening, thunder, rain, and hail. We live near the beach in Southern California, we do not get hail often. But this hail, it was like snow. I would call it snow, but people would be mad at me. We were singing carols at a Senior Home and when we looked out the window, it looked like blankets of snow everywhere. In fact, I told the kids I have lived here my whole life and have never experienced anything like it. I think that Senior home was right in the smack dab of the storm because as we drove home, there was no snow (hail). Luckily it stayed in the bed of Daddy's truck and the windshields of mine the whole way home, so we plopped in on our grass and had fun.

Did I mention we also got to see this gorgeous rainbow on Monday? We followed it until the end.

I love life.

things that make me laugh

2011-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

My friends let their daughters pick out their clothes every day. I do not, not because I don't think it's a good idea, but because it just won't work for us. In our home the rule is that when we are home, she can wear whatever she wants. But, when it's time to go, Mommy puts her in something else.

Here is why. My daughter is obsessed with this one pair of jean shorts. She wears them every single day. I will find her (like I did today) digging in the dirty clothes saying, "YES!" when she finds them. It can be raining, freezing, or whatever and the only thing she wants are those shorts. Also, notice the rest of the outfit in this picture. She picked out clear high heels with white socks, her short shorts, a vest, a very bling necklace, a hat to cover her eyes, a purse for all of her junk, and some nappy hair. I'm afraid my daughter is going to dress a little, how do I say this, okay I can't say it, but you know. It looks much cuter in this picture than it did in person, so that helps me with my anxiety of watching her dress herself as a teenager.

I love girls.

day 2 - 2 turtle doves

2011-12-15T23:18:00.000-08:00

My Secret Christmas Angels delivered Day 2! I am LOVING this. Whomever is doing this will have a special place in my heart forever. It's so fun. I feel so lucky.

I wonder who it is......hmmmmmmm. Here is what I am guessing about them so far:

1. They shop at Trader Joe's (everything on Day 1 was from there, even the pears).

2. They are a Christian (all the fun cards explaining that day also have the Christian reference to each day on the back).

3. They like to draw a heart when they sign their name

4. They must have lots of ribbons, bags, and tissue paper at home already.

I can't wait to keep sharing all of the fun surprises with you!

xo,

Amanda

another yum

2011-12-15T00:57:00.000-08:00

I made these S'more Cookie Bars for a cookie exchange and I am in love with them. Beware, they are super sweet and messy (which really is the best part). They were so easy to make, you can get the directions here. Make sure you let them cool COMPLETELY or else you will have a big, extra gooey mess. Addicting and delicious!

how did i get so lucky?

2011-12-14T00:11:00.000-08:00

Apparently last night I got hit by Christmas Angels. There was a beautiful basket outside my door telling me that for the next 12 days angels will drop by holiday cheer. Tonight was A Partridge in a Pear Tree and in it was all kinds of goodies to make a Pear Crisp Crumble. On the back of the cards were facts about the day and how they relate to Christian Faith. Hello I am in heaven, although the suspense is already killing me! Will my angels be revealed? I feel like a small child right now. How did I get so lucky?

turning two

2011-12-13T00:10:00.000-08:00

Do you remember this post? Originally we had planned on having a small party for my two-year old's birthday, but it didn't quite work out. I did however still want to do a little decorating so I found some Sesame Street fabric online and made him some bunting. I draped it in the kitchen for his birthday, and now I think I will hang it in his room! I love reusing things.

I also had seen this tutorial online and knew I wanted to make him a simple blanket. It was pretty easy and turned out well enough.

I bought some simple Sesame Street cupcakes in hopes that he would want to blow out the candle, but no such luck :)

In the end though, he was a very happy boy. Happy Birthday to my big two year old.

peace - joy - love

2011-12-12T01:03:00.001-08:00

Looking down at this tree every night, reminds me what the holidays are all about.

Peace, joy, and love.

It's time for me to start our Christmas cards, wrap presents that are hidden away, and get those

last minute errands done.

Come back tomorrow so I can show you our very sweet and low key birthday for my now two-year-old.

happy friday

2011-12-09T00:49:00.001-08:00

This week has been insane. I am sorry I haven't posted. Enjoy our elf ziplining and I promise to be back next week for lots of good posts!

elf updates

2011-12-04T23:02:00.001-08:00

Here are some more pics of our Elf on the Shelf! Days 2-4. Here is what Day 1 looked like, in case you forgot.

Day 2

Suspended from the ceiling, with crayon in hand. Left a message on the wall

that said, "Merry Christmas, from Alabaster Snowball."

Day 3

Sitting at the top of the Christmas tree with a bowl of popcorn and the remote

control. He surprised the kids with the movie Prep & Landing (our favorite)

and was watching it all night long.

Day 4

Flew in on Brody's toy airplane, with some Hershey Kisses for all.

books from last night

2011-12-01T08:58:00.001-08:00

(note: in attempt to read every book in our beautiful library and to stray away from

reading the same books all of the time, I am posting the books we read every night).

he's here!!!!

2011-12-01T08:43:00.001-08:00

Alabaster Snowball, our Elf came last night! He's riding the reindeer on the mantle and left some dominos behind that say HI. My hubby is in charge of the elf this year. I can't wait to see what he comes up with. There are a lot of ideas here.

esther's favorite things

2011-11-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

I am always excited to have a guest post from someone fabulous! Introducing Esther Kim, owner of Blu Button Boutique in Long Beach, California. Blu Button is a vintage-inspired women's boutique featuring new clothing, shoes and accessories with a retro flair. You should read the Yelp reviews, so many praises.

So, without further ado, please enjoy these favorites on Esther's Top Ten list!

1. Qtica lip balm

I literally CANNOT live without this...

2. Mac lipstick in Creme d' Nude

The perfect shade to mix with any other hue as well as to quickly add a hint of color to bare lips.

3. Tulle clothing

Vintage inspired women's clothing that doesn't break the bank. Perfect for those who love fun, feminine dresses and coats with whimsical details. Available at Blu Button boutique (I was a fan before I ordered the line for my store but would only find their clothing elsewhere such as New York and Chicago).

4. Seychelles shoes

Shoes for the girl who likes a vintage flair with contemporary elements. They're unique, comfortable and evoke the romantic styles of the past. Available at Blu Button boutique (also, purchased a few pairs in years past for my personal wardrobe before carrying the brand at my store).

5. Vintage jewelry

I prefer old antique jewelry because, first of all, no one will have the same thing, secondly, the craftsmanship back in the day is usually better than it is now, and third, the pieces look as though they have a story to tell. I'm always on the hunt, whether it's at a flea market or vintage store. I've also received family heirlooms as well as costume jewelry from friend's grandmothers that I mean so much to me.

6. Enzo Milano clipless curling iron

It can be slight challenge at first because of the uncertainty on how to manuever it. But once you see the way your hair looks and notice how long the curls hold, you'll surely forget about the minor hassles! This was gifted to me and anytime a friend inquires about it I let them borrow it so they can try it out!

7. Stella Rosa Rosso

This refreshing red wine has the perfect amount of sweetness and bubbles. Served chilled, it is a hit with all the women at any gathering.

8. Number Nine

I constantly crave the fresh food from this restaurant and it doesn't help that I work a few doors down. A hip version of the standard Vietnamese place, Number Nine has many vegetarian options as well as unique bottled beers and mixed beverages. When it's cold I go straight for the vegetarian pho (rice noodle soup) and if it's warm outside I order the bun (cold vermicelli rice noodles) with five spice chicken with eggroll.

9. Shaws Original Apron Front kitchen sink

I'm in love with my sink. Handmade in England, this heavy duty beauty is worth the pretty penny. In a kitchen that's been a pathetic work in progress for two years, my sink makes it all better.

10. This Old House magazine

It never ceases to amaze me how many clever little tips I get from this magazine...not including the endless decor inspiration, DIY ideas and how-to instructions. Lots of tear sheets came out of here.

Enjoy!

Esther Kim

Blu Button

2112 E. 4th St.

Long Beach, CA 90814

(562) 433-8782

* Read about Blu Button on Yelp

* Follow Blu Button on Facebook

beauties

2011-11-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

Look what I got in the mail! Jamie at Sophie Grace Maui sent me this gorgeous necklace. My business logo is a nest with three eggs and so she incorporated that into this design. Jamie makes the most beautiful jewelry. Seriously. You need to follow her on Facebook so you can see all her creations, and sometimes she posts special deals.

last night's books

2011-11-28T22:27:00.001-08:00

weekend craft

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

One of my main goals is to use materials we have lying around the house to decorate for the holidays and birthdays instead of going out to buy new things. We had a tough year financially and I learned that you can make beautiful things out of left over crafts and things you have lying around. For Christmas I found a bag of felt balls and strung them with a needle and thread and made fun garland for the Christmas tree. I absolutely love it and I especially love having different colors on my traditional tree. It feels very Anthropologie to me.

books we have been reading

2011-11-27T15:41:00.001-08:00

(note: in attempt to read every book in our beautiful library and to stray away from reading the same books all of the time, I am posting the books we read every night).

thanksgiving

2011-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

We have been busy making beaded necklaces for everyone to wear at Thanksgiving dinner. I love having my kids contribute to our day in some way. Speaking of thankful, I am so thankful for my beautiful children, amazing husband and for the ability to share my life with others. God is good and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love reflecting on my life and all of the blessings I have.

Happy Thanksgiving to you.

xo,

Amanda

just for kids by netflix

2011-11-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

I am SO happy that Netflix now has Just For Kids (included with your membership). I hate that my little ones had to scroll in between kids shows and adult shows to find what they wanted to watch. Now they have their own separate place on the Wii that only has shows for kids 12 and under. Fantastic! We got rid of cable, except for the very basic channels, and we only use Netflix now. Anything Mark and I want to watch we can watch online. It saves us a bundle of money and the kids have access to so many great programs.

books from tonight

2011-11-22T22:27:00.001-08:00

my favorite letters

2011-11-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Writing letters to Santa is one of my favorite parts of the holidays. This year I wanted to make sure they got done in case we ended up at the mall during Brody's week off of school. We like to put them in the Santa mailbox at Macy's. And yes, I keep the real letters and put blank ones in the sealed envelope. I would never let them go. They are so precious to me.

yum

2011-11-21T23:17:00.001-08:00

I am obsessed.

toys and books

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

This weekend we did our bi-yearly toy dump and extreme clean. We do it every summer and always right before Christmas. We go through every single toy in our home and either put it aside to donate or organize it properly in its place. The kids have gotten used to letting go of the toys that they no longer play with and understand that someone else will love the toys more. We only had one teary-eyed fit this time. It feels so good to clean out the clutter and put things back in their appropriate bins. I have also been working on their clothes, dress up clothes, closets and drawers for about a week now. We are ready for Christmas and someone's second birthday and any new toys that those days may bring.

While organizing I realized how much I love our red Ikea bookshelf. It matches nothing but it is perfect for a child's playroom and it brightens everything up. I think it's my favorite piece of furniture in our home (which makes me laugh since it was so cheap). I love that it holds vintage toys and lots of books. You can't see them in this picture, but the red bookshelf also holds a few of my old Cabbage Patch Kids. So fun.

Speaking of books. While I was cleaning I realized we have so many lovely books that I purposefully built our library on and somehow we manage to only read the same few over and over again. So I am going to post pictures of the books we read every night as reminder of how lovely books really are and to help motivate us to get out the books in the back of the bookshelf and read them to our little ones.

i love books

xo,

Amanda

you must

2011-11-20T21:32:00.001-08:00

You must go over to Cakies ... this blog post made me laugh.

what

2011-11-19T09:45:00.001-08:00

The big question on my mind right now ... what are the kids and I going to do next week with no school? This momma better get creative and think ahead! I do best with our normal routine. Hmmmmmm.

happy thursday

2011-11-17T00:21:00.001-08:00

Found this on my computer last night when I came home. Best find ever.

I love my family so much.

sweetness

2011-11-16T00:06:00.000-08:00

This week started off a little rough for me. Then today, totally out of the blue, a friend whom I rarely get to see dropped by a little bit of sunshine because she was thinking of me. This picture does not do this beautiful bag justice... it is every girls candy dream and in person it is the prettiest pink you can imagine. I feel loved and it was just the pickup I needed to remind myself that I am a strong, beautiful, and worthy woman and if I have sweet friends like that and a beautiful family, I must be doing something right.

I admire people like my friend Jane. She had no idea I was upset and just decided she would bless me with a little gift, just because. She has inspired me for a long time. Let's put some sparkle in our friends' lives! Something so simple can move someone else's heart.

And just remember, do not let other people try to define you or bully you. Ever. If you are living your life trying to better the world and put a lot of love into it, don't let anyone tear you down. Even a little bit.

xo,

amanda

on the kids

2011-11-14T13:05:00.001-08:00

Here are some of the Mini Harajuku items we brought home yesterday. Momma had to guess on sizes so we may not be keeping them all but I love the way they look. The last one was a gift for a sweet baby boy (and his momma) and there is still another dress, pair of pants and a skirt I would love to try on my kids but they were not at our Target.

new new new

2011-11-13T22:27:00.001-08:00

Today was the premiere of the Harajuku Mini for Target collection. And, yes I was up at midnight waiting to see if I could buy it online. Really cute stuff, quality is what you expect for the price. They are only selling it in stores, so I was one of the first ones there today to snag some cute stuff. Not everything online was in the store I went to, but they had a bunch of styles to pick from. If you want some you should go ASAP. I am sure the cutest stuff will go quick! They have baby, toddler and big girl sizes. I will post pictures tomorrow of my little models with their new duds.

thank you mr. clean

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

I bought some Mr. Clean Magic Erasers awhile back to help with some scuffs on our walls. It helped a little but it wasn't very good on the paint. But today one of these sponges saved my day! My little guy used a random non-washable green marker and literally wrote all over one of my white dining chairs. I used cleaners, wipes, water, and a sponge and the marker would not budge. Then I remembered I had one of these and it erased that marker right off. And then I took it over to the crayon marks on the floor that would not come off and it cleared them too. I am one grateful mommy!

on my other blog

2011-11-08T22:32:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen it yet, I did a post last week on my OC Family blog, Family and Frills, that was all about fall inspiration. Enjoy!

i made these

2011-11-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

(picture and recipe found here)

Last night I made two different recipes that I had found on Pinterest. One did not turn out very well and the other was delicious! These bite sized apple pies were teeny, yummy and so easy. Everyone, including my baby gobbled two of them up. They are the perfect little dessert to whip up real quick and share with others. I know they would be even more perfect with vanilla ice cream.

1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 package (14.1 ounces) refrigerated pie pastry
3 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
2 medium tart apples, each cut into 8 wedges (16 total wedges)

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon; set aside 1 tablespoon.

On a lightly floured surface, unroll pastry. Brush with 2 tablespoons butter; sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture.

Cut each sheet into eight 1-in. strips, about 8 inches long. Wrap one strip around each apple wedge, placing sugared side of pastry against the apple.

Place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Brush tops with remaining butter; sprinkle with reserved sugar mixture. Bake at 425° for 13-15 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Serve warm. Yield: 16 servings.

When I made this recipe I used granny smith apples and I chose to cut the skin off, many reviewers kept it on, so up to you. I also noticed that people were not using the whole sugar/cinnamon mixture on the pie pastry. I used all of it (minus the 1 tablespoon they tell you to set aside) and even though it seems like a lot, it tastes so good. My pie pastry was around 15 ounces and came in two circular pieces, I just used both of them and they worked great.

I love how easy this was and I plan on always having two apples and some pie pastry on hand!

we went to the movies

2011-11-06T21:09:00.000-08:00

We went to see Puss in Boots yesterday and got to meet Puss while we were there! Two of those cuties are mine and the other two are the giveaway winners. Adorable right? I have to tell you that I really liked the Anaheim UltraLuxe movie theaters. They were so CLEAN, hip, comfy and were priced the same as other theaters. I wish they were closer to my house. Perfect date night movie venue! We will definitely go there again. If you live near Anaheim I definitely recommend them.

xo,

Amanda

my bag lady

2011-11-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Besides all the toys in the background, this picture makes me laugh. My three year old has turned in to a bag lady. In this picture she is carrying at least 5 bags and a backpack. I caught her playing like this (she wasn't very happy). She stuffs all those bags with tons of little things and plays all day with them. She just started this last week and although it drives me nuts because none of the toys are in their place, I love how grown up she is.

I have a winner for the Puss in Boots Giveaway, I am just waiting to hear back. Don't forget that if you are in the area the Puss in Boots character will be at the Anaheim UltraLuxe Cinemas between 1pm-4pm on Sunday 11/6 and your kiddos can meet him. It's free to the public.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend.

xo,

Amanda

accomplishment

2011-11-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago I was the recipient of a generous gift card and I literally ran out as fast as I could and bought a new pair of jeans. I needed them badly. I have been practicing sewing for a little while now and I have this strong desire to be proficient at it so I practice from time to time. I'm not very good, but I want to be. Last night I hemmed my jeans all by myself. It took more than one try and they are far from perfect or even, but I did it myself! I think sometimes as moms we put our desires on the back burner, but I truly believe that if you do not mind being patient, you can find time to learn and try all of the things your heart desires. It is so worth it.

xo,

Amanda

Don't forget to enter my Puss in Boots GIVEAWAY here!

happy halloween - a little late

2011-11-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

I scheduled this to post on Halloween but it got stuck in my drafts folder.

A little late but here it is anyways!

Lego Man

An original member of the Jabbawockeez

(winning crew of America's Best Dance Crew)

Strawberry Shortcake

Frankenstein

Don't forget to enter my Puss in Boots GIVEAWAY here!

fall fall fall

2011-11-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

[you can find this wreath here]

Even though we love Halloween, and we did have the best time last night, I am ready to take down our Halloween decorations and put up our fall decor. I don't know what it is about the Fall, but I love it. Hopefully I will have some great meals and decorations to share soon.

yum

2011-10-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

I have been busy pinning fall foods in Pinterest. I love this time of year!

Giveaway - Win tickets to see Puss in Boots!

2011-10-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about this giveaway! I am giving away a family-four pack of tickets to see DreamWorks Puss in Boots at the UltraLuxe Cinemas at the Garden Walk in Anaheim for Sunday, November 6th for any showing. This movie is going to be so cute! And talk about seeing the movie with premium amenities, check out what UltraLuxe Anaheim Cinemas includes.

Now besides the giveaway, the official Puss in Boots character is going to appear live at UltraLuxe Cinemas on that day (11/6) from 1pm-4pm and families can meet and take pictures with him. Puss will meet fans in the theater’s LuxeLounge area, and complimentary Puss in Boots items such as movie posters and tattoos will also be available while supplies last. The meet and greet event is free and open to the public. How fun for the kids!

To win the family-four pack of tickets all you have to do is leave a comment and I will pick a winner on Wednesday!

lovelies from anthropologie

2011-10-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

I went into Anthropologie with my mom last weekend and here were some things I fell in love with

(and have put on my I-want list).

Milk Bottle Measuring Cups -$24

Tea And Toast Butter Dish - $12 (comes in a bunch of colors)

Farmer's Market Baskets - $14 small, $20 large

Beautiful bowls - Range from $8 - $38

Dishtowels - Range from $16 - $42

Right now my taste is drawn towards a clean white with lots of patterns and styles. I can imagine my dream kitchen with all of this in it. So fun.

xo,

Amanda

a site

2011-10-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

I came across this site filmratings.com while looking up information on a movie. You can type in any movie and see why that movie has the rating that it does. This is great to have handy, I am constantly wondering why some movies are G versus PG and I think this will help me make a more informed decision when deciding what my children will or will not see. I think it's especially important when your kids are closer to the PG-13 movie age.

a regret

2011-10-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

When we had my firstborn, we bought a glider/rocking chair for his room. I used it all the time and when we moved we tossed it because it wasn't in great condition anymore. When we had my daughter, I tried to be practical and put a chaise in her room so I could fall asleep with her and have more room to nurse. Her room was pretty tiny too. I regretted not having a rocker then and I really regret it with my my third baby now. I have regretted it this entire 22 months, but buying a new chair hasn't deemed very important. I wish I could snuggle him and rock him to sleep in it. So today I decided it's never too late and I want one eventually. I looked online and here are some that I liked.

here

Or maybe I'll refinish my own. Either way, I would say it's probably the only thing I regret not having for my last two. What have you regretted not buying?

party time (almost)

2011-10-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

My baby boy is turning two years old very soon and even though we are doing a very small family party, I want there to be special small touches for him to enjoy. We have had a rough year and a sweet little party would be really fun!

I always wanted one of my kids to love Sesame Street. The first two had no interest, but this one at least loves Elmo and likes Cookie Monster. I really love that, especially since there is a good chance he might be my last one. So I would love to throw him a little Sesame Street party to give him some big smiles!

As an event planner I have a system to planning parties. Do you want to know what it is? I research. I go to Google Images, Etsy, and Pinterest and I find all the pictures of ideas that I love (don't forget to bookmark the sites too). Then I take all of those pictures and make an inspiration board. I really like my parties to express who I am, or if I've been hired to do them, express whom the person of honor is. I also like to put a lot of love in my parties and you simply can't do that by just buying a bunch of stuff that looks fancy from the first person you see on Etsy. Sure it will look great, but you are not in there too. Once I make my inspiration board I then decide exactly what I want to do or if I am hired to do a party, I review it with my client and we make lots of notes. Then shop, shop, shop and create, create, create. I try and make everything myself so I can put my own spin on it and I always try to come up with as many original ideas as I can so it's not copied. Of course there are going to be some things that just need to be done by someone else and for those I go ahead and purchase. For everything else I make a plan and then off I go!

So here is my inspiration board for my little guy's birthday party. I would never show this ahead of time because I like the big reveal, but there will only be family there so no big deal

The touches I really am leaning towards are a special shirt, cute block letters he can keep, character pom poms, a cute fabric banner that we could also use in his room, colorful circle garland, a personalized hand-painted sign, and making him a sweet blanket as his gift from his momma. What do you think?

Where to find the images used:

shirt * block letters * pom poms * banner * garland * sign * blanket

i'm here and i'm there

2011-10-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am now a blogger for OC Family. Woot! My blog is called Family and Frills and my first post was yesterday. They have a bunch of really fun moms and dads blogging over there so definitely check it out and I would love any support you can send my way. I will be posting every Tuesday.

xo,

Amanda

my remodel

2011-10-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends. So Amanda's Favs has evolved into Assorted Lovelies, what do you think? A new name and a new look, but all my old stuff still here. I couldn't be more pleased. I hope that you like it too.For now I will have both website addresses link here, but eventually it will only be www.assortedlovelies.com. If you have time can you bookmark that address now?XO,Amanda

diaper butt and more to come

2011-10-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

First of all, look at what a mess my desk is in this picture. Ahhh! Most importantly, I loved having this little helper Saturday night all to myself. He was in charge of pushing a CD into the drive and he did a darn good job.

Tomorrow is looking to be a big day for this little blog (and blogger). I am hoping to unveil the big changes I made, a new name and new look, but same content and same purpose. I am so excited for you to see it...it's 100% me, but just with a little maturity by my 950th post. I will also be debuting my first post on OCFamily.com as one of their featured bloggers with my own column.

So for today enjoy the cute little diaper butt and my messy desk, but come back tomorrow for my big reveals! And if you have time read my friend Noel's story on my other blog My Year of Faith.

a little dose of celebrity news

2011-10-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

I don't care much for celebrity drama or what they are or are not doing, like Ashton's love life, but I do love celebrity fashion on the streets and basic celebrity news. I love to hear when some actresses have a baby and what they name it (I still love the name Apple). For so long I have fought the battle of gossip sites like TMZ and Perez Hilton. I use to read them daily, then I gave them up, then I would read them once a week and now I am officially done. First, I don't want to know all the private and dirty laundry that is on there. Secondly, I don't want to be influenced by someone else's social and political views that they put in every post and yet totally influence our culture with. I think my last straw was when they posted a picture of a Modern Family star posing eating a sandwich at the new Chick-fil-A in Hollywood and they said that she must be anti-gay because Chick-fil-A contributes to Focus on the Family. I was a little peeved that an actress, who acts on a show where she has two gay uncles, can be anti-gay for eating at a fast food joint. She obviously had no idea of Chick-fil-A's contribution practices. Of course her reps had to be contacted and there even had to be a follow-up update. I just don't want any part of all of the Hollywood nonsense anymore. But I found one site that fills me in on basic celebrity news and has great pictures of celebrity fashion. It totally fills my needs for "just a little bit." It's people.com and it takes me two minutes to read. They have about ten Latest Headlines, cute StarTracks pictures and a StyleWatch.

And this post has nothing to do with my personal social and political views :) Just what I really think about celebrity gossip sites.

gift

2011-10-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

I made this for my hubby for our anniversary. It has a picture from every year we have been married. We couldn't afford to exchange fabulous gifts but I knew I wanted to do something. It didn't cost me a penny! I just designed it, printed it at home and put it in an old frame I found in the garage. I had trouble finding a picture of us from a few years, I guess we usually just take pictures of each other with the kids, but I managed to find some and I am really happy with how it turned out.

what i am doing this week

2011-10-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

The bottom right hand corner of the picture is my video camera. I have never been good at taking videos of my kids, in fact what I do have would be considered embarrassing. My goal this week is to take videos throughout the week so that I can have a marker of what their life was like this year. I think if I can do that once a year, that would be an awesome thing to have when they are older. I just wish I would have started it with my first baby. Oh well, no time like the present.

sweetness

2011-10-10T23:42:00.000-07:00

I want to watch this. I have a certain little guy who loves Elmo the most. But this movie is obviously so much more than about a puppet and his creator. It's on my list.

things to share

2011-10-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

Does your Nordstrom Rack have this beautiful Juicy coat for only $49 and in navy blue too (I loved the blue)? Mine did. I almost gasped out loud because an amazing coat like this lasts for years and years. I was so sad that I couldn't take it home! Boo hoo. But maybe you can! Lots of good stuff for fall at the Rack right now.

On another note, I came home to this big box on my table. It's not Girl Scout Cookie season, yet here they are! Where the heck did they come from (my hubby knows)? More trouble than I ever wanted, but so delicious. Who wants cookies?

pinterest-ing

2011-10-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

The minute the calendar hits October 1st, my hubby and I are in holiday heaven. October, November & December are our favorite months because of all the amazing traditions that they hold. To prove how much I love the holidays, here are some pictures of the pins I have accumulated over the last few weeks. Some are even for Valentine's Day- hey I'm in the holiday mood! Enjoy

coming soon

2011-10-09T15:26:00.001-07:00

Hi Friends! I am close to reaching my 1000th post, amazing right? In honor of my growing blog I am doing a big re-design, new name, new look, new everything! Well except what I blog about, because that is what is special to me. I will still be blogging about my favorite things and a lot about life. Stay tuned!

over the moon

2011-10-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

I wear my TOMS out pretty quickly and my most recent ones have two nice holes. I love them but at the same time I have been ready to move on to a new shoe. Part of me really likes knowing that when I buy a pair, a pair is donated, but the other part of me is ready to update my wardrobe and try something new. Well thanks to my friend Leslie who clued me in, the perfect solution will be here this spring! TOMS will be unveiling their line of ballet flats. I am so excited and I know they will be amazing. I'll be first in line!

shrek the musical

2011-10-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening I was lucky enough to take one of my little ogres (he's six) and see Shrek The Musical. I was so excited to go, especially since my parents use to take me to musicals when I was younger. I kept it a surprise and off we went on a school night. Brody was laughing and smiling the whole time! It was so much fun and such a great performance for kids and adults. In fact, most of the good jokes were for the adult audience. I loved the performers (Fiona's voice and movements reminded me of Amy Poehler), the creativity, the music, and how much the audience was laughing. I had the best time! Brody said that he loved all of the special effects the best (aka. the fart noises).

I would even go on a date night with hubby! But I loved the date that I had and

I loved feeling like I was a kid again getting snacks at intermission!

you have to go

2011-10-04T21:47:00.001-07:00

Kids are free at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park in the month of October! Awesome deal!

pics

2011-10-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

My sweet girl loves building with Lego's, even more

than her brother (who loves Lego's too). I love that she

enjoys activities that are more geared towards boys.

These are the hot shoes I have been dying to wear

and they finally made it out of my closet for

Style Week OC. Did I mention that they are Report

and I won them on Facebook? Rad, right?

I just found this pic on my camera of me and Nick Verreos.

long time fav

2011-10-02T23:51:00.000-07:00

My favorite show is on again! If you missed the first two episodes you can watch them online here. Life is busy right now and I was planning on taking a season off since I barely watch tv anymore, but I couldn't stay away. I have about 7-10 pounds to lose and nothing inspires me more than watching this show and the transformations that occur. It's good tv. What I wouldn't give to live a day in their shoes on the ranch!

style week orange county

2011-10-01T21:25:00.000-07:00

This momma went to the opening night of Style Week Orange County at the Irvine Spectrum with my new friends at Blog Crush and I had to bust out my heels and my fancy jeans. It was so much fun at the Rack Rave party and I am now a fan of Nick Verreos from Project Runway. He was adorable and he came over to give us bloggers some fashion tips for the fall (think bold colors and plaids) and some insider info about Project Runway. I also ate a fabulous dinner from Nordstrom Bistro. They gave us the Roast Sirloin Ciabatta sandwich (seriously SO good) with a delicious salad and then the to-die-for Chocolate Paradise Cake.

Style Week OC runs from September 30th to October 8th and it includes a lot of fun events, including the Restaurant Rave on the 6th hosted by Mario Lopez, and the Runway Glam Slam on the 7th hosted by Nick Verreos. For more info check out www.styleweekoc.com.

reminder

2011-09-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today I was thinking to myself, "I may not be good at cleaning, but I rock at doing laundry!" As mothers and wives we need to be proud of the things we do really well. Give yourself a break!

blazer

2011-09-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

I finally own a black blazer after coveting them last Fall. I wanted a starter blazer, so I got this one from Nordstrom Juniors. My first outfit will be skinny black jeans, sky high heels, a loose shirt and the black blazer. I plan on owning a bunch more, especially after seeing how cute Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids looked wearing them with dresses. But, I think my next one will be purchased for a look like this.

I'm loving the cute tee with the blue blazer. I can't wait to start updating my wardrobe for Fall!

sweetness

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Pictures like this make me so happy!

Pictures like this make me laugh (grumpy girl)!

And, pictures like this remind me

how crazy life is with 3 little ones and

how impossible it is to get a great picture!

I love my little family.

it's time

2011-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

I know it seems early, but it's time to start thinking of Christmas presents! So many of us are experiencing tight financial times and if we start early we can still have a very merry Christmas. Either start buying and budgeting gifts now or purchase gifts cards like I did last year so that you will have the money saved up when it's time to do big shopping. Don't stress yourself out this year, you probably have enough on your plate.

my pins

2011-09-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

Some things I posted on Pinterest today! Using fabric as decorations (I love love love it!), a beautiful shirt and a great teacher's gift!

I still love Pinterest!

for him

2011-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

With three kids I am always saying that we will have special date nights so that they can have alone time with mommy or daddy, but in never happens. Life is just busy and we travel as a family. Tonight however I got to have a date with my oldest son. It was so incredibly nice. In fact, he said it was awesome, which made my heart melt. I really need to implement this, and it doesn't include them running errands doing what I need to do. It was me having all the time in the world for him.

tidy and new

2011-09-21T00:31:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember we have had a basket on the counter in our master bath to throw all of our needs in. It was very convenient with little ones because they could not reach it and it didn't need to be organized all the time. I could just throw things in the basket and then clean it out every few months. But times are changing, my kids are growing, and I needed a little change that wouldn't cost me anything. Luckily I have more mason jars than anyone would imagine and so today I organized my things and threw out the basket. I have to tell you, it made a world of difference and it didn't cost me a thing! Mason jars are the best, I use them for everything, and change is pretty good too.

I'm in love with my little guy's face in the corner of this picture. I could eat him up every day.

new fav

2011-09-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

I won a contest on Design Mom earlier this month and the prize was a $100 online gift card to Tea Collection. The shirt above is one of the items we picked out, along with this cute dress.

Now that we have them in hand, I have to say that I love their clothing! So well made and adorable on. New fav.

yummy

2011-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

These pictures could rival for the worst pics I have ever taken, but I don't have any other ones to show. I made this sandwich for some girlfriends and they loved it! I toasted a piece of wheat bread, added Costco chicken salad on it, then cut some red grapes and layered them on. Lastly I sliced some aged white cheddar cheese from Costco on and voila! Sooooo yummy!

jessie

2011-09-16T08:20:00.001-07:00

I have posted about Jessica Joy Rees before, but today she needs your prayers more than ever. Yesterday at her 6-month MRI they found that her old brain tumor has gotten smaller, but a new tumor has started growing with it. She is hoping everyone will double their prayers and that people will join her Facebook page so she can have more prayers warriors. You can also go to her website here to get her updates. Jessie and her family started the The NEGU Foundation (the term NEGU means Never Ever Give Up) and Joy Jars, which are jars filled with joy given to pediatric cancer patients. Please help her fight. Please pray for her.

more veggie tales

2011-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

We just finished watching the newest Veggie Tales, Princess and the Popstar: A Story of Trading Places. The kids loved it! You already know I am a fan of Veggie Tales and I am finding that my six year old is really understanding the concepts in the movie, more than before, which is so neat to watch. Whereas my three year old just loves the characters! This movie has a particular great theme that it's important to be yourself because God has a unique purpose for each of us. So important and so sweet.

big girl, pink cast

2011-09-14T00:24:00.000-07:00

Three kids and my first major accident is my only girl! My big girl fractured her elbow this weekend and got a big pink cast yesterday. She has been so good. My lesson from this event, even if you think everything is okay, get it checked out just in case! So glad we did.

no excuses now

2011-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Right now weight-loss is a goal and unfortunately I don't have the luxury to be able to go to Pilates or take any kind of fitness class, so I'm on my own. Usually in those circumstances we take to the outdoors, but with three kids at very different stages I can't exercise with them and I can't ever rely on my husband's schedule to go for daily walks. So here's what I found. I already have Netflix Instant Streaming and I added all of their workout videos to my queue. Sure they may be older and not my thing, but I totally mix it up and try new ones every night or mix and match a slower paced workout followed by a 10-minute cardio boot camp. I just go with it and it's totally working and I can do them on my own time, which is often really late at night. I love that I have something constructive to do that can have variety every day.