Family pictures.

Last week I went out and took pictures of my sister and her family, and today, she took pictures of us! She recently got a DSLR camera, so now we can just take pictures of each others family instead of going to a portrait studio. I really think she did a great job. Cameron was quite the wiggle worm, so it was a little tough to get a good shot where he wasn't trying to escape. I also wanted a good picture of just Jon and I, since the last time we had our pictures together was from our wedding (and truth be told, there aren't many I liked of us from that day!). Here are just a few of my faves-what do you think?



Now... Which ones to print and frame?
PS- mpix.com is running a special- 15% off prints through Friday at midnight. Enter 15prints at the checkout!

Snippets: on my plate.

My head is somewhat spinning these days, but in a good way. It seems as the holidays approach, time slips away and before we know it, we're in a brand new year, and things start to turn green again. When I stop and think about what's on my plate for the rest of the year, I feel as if I need to jump into a a machine that will replicate me into 2 or 3 people. One would just be a mom. The type who eats bon-bons and has dinner prepared and on the table by 6 o'clock. The other clone would work, design, run errands and and party plan. Here's what's on my busy plate for the rest of the year and early 2010.

• Finishing invitation design for BFF's wedding, and starting invites for the bridal shower and a Christmas cocktail party my dad is in charge of.
  
• Thanksgiving. I want to have ALL my Christmas shopping done beforehand.
  
• Cameron's 1st birthday. I have a few things left to get for his birthday and still have to design a quick little invite to send out.
  
• Christmas. When I think about the fact that I have 18 nieces and nephews (+ 3 more being born between Christmas and Valentines), and 13 brother and sister-in-law's, it makes me want to escape to an undisclosed (tropical) location for the month of December. I'd send out Christmas cards that said "Wish you we're here!!!!!!" with a picture of me surfing in a swimsuit and a Santa hat.
• My 26th Birthday. Which I just might "forget" this year.
• New Years.
  
• Bridal Shower for my BFF the day after New Years. I'm hosting!!
  
• Bachelorette party. Must build up tolerance.
• BFF's wedding in April!

I think that's all that I can think of! Anyone else feel like this year FLEW by?

Weekend Baby Shower!

This weekend was the baby shower I hosted for my sister-in-law. Everything went really well! Baby Christian (making his arrival around Christmas) will certainly be well dressed for the first 6 months of his little life!





I was really honored to host the shower for my sister-in-law. I've known her for 10 years and she was the one who introduced me to my wonderful husband 6 years ago. I am blessed to know her!

Baby shower prep!

This weekend is my sister-in-law's baby shower- and I'm hosting! And since I'm the only host, I've decided to keep things simple, doing most of the prep in advance so that on Saturday, everything is smooth sailing.
I noticed while shopping for baby shower decor, that most of it is either tacky, overpriced, or both! So I settled on some "It's a boy!" confetti, some tea light candles, and a little banner I made for just 2 dollars. I'll probably set the food table with some fresh flowers too. I wanted to share the banner I made, because it was easy (I got it done during Cameron's nap!), and I only spent 2 dollars on the paper and ribbon.
I started by drawing letters on this awesome glitter paper I spotted at Hobby Lobby.

Cut them out!

I used cups around the house to cut out the circles for the back of the letters.

Hobby Lobby was out of white card stock- so I used the back of leftover wedding invitations I've had sitting around for over 2 years. I couldn't bear to throw them away- I knew I could find another purpose for them!

I stapled the blue circles to the ribbon.

And then glued the letters to the white circles, and then the white circles to the blue ones.

Done- and so easy!
I'll definitely be back to show pictures of the banner hung, and of the shower!

Making my list. (And checking it twice).

Did you know that Christmas is pretty much next week? It is, my friends. I've been seeing these "100 days of cookies" or "100 days of holiday recipes" in magazines and online, and I have to admit, it's freaking me out a bit. Department stores are dusting off Christmas decorations as I write this post. And as soon as you have your last trick-or-treater, you'll see neighbors hanging up their Christmas lights and flanking their yards with inflatable deer and snowmen.

Anywho, if you are like me at all, I never know what to tell my family when they ask what I would like for Christmas. I never have anything in mind, and I always just tell them I'll get back with them and let them know later. Well this year, dearest friends and family, I'm armed with a list. Without further adieu, I present my Christmas list:




I'm happy to report that the #1 item on my list was purchased today by my wonderful husband! I have been telling him that if he waits until after Thanksgiving that there won't be any Uggs at ANY store, in ANY city. He was hesitant, but I softened the blow by telling him that he has his Christmas shopping done now!



I think this pretty, lightweight scarf from Gap would transition nicely into spring!



My next camera lens! A 50mm auto-focus, perfect for portraits.


A non-stick pizza crisper. So we can quit putting pizza directly on the oven rack, causing cheese to fall to the bottom of the oven, burn, and set off the fire alarm.



And lastly, a subscription to BHG. You may or may not remember this subscription was on my list for Mother's Day. I've gone from "casually" dropping hints at the grocery store newsstands, to flat out telling my husband that I'd like a subscription, to actually HANDING him a subscription card that's filled out with my name on it. Y'all, sometimes boys just don't get it. So for that reason, it's still on my list!
Anyone else have their list made? Shopping started?

There's an affair going on at work...

...and it involves me.
I've been putting in some good hours in at work lately, and it's the only thing that gets me through the day. I wake up excited knowing I get to turn it on, spend the day staring at it, caressing and stroking it. My snooze button has become a thing of the past. If my office had a window, it would likely be foggy from heavy breathing (mostly on my part).

Everyone, meet my new office affair, Mac.

Excuse the horrible florescent lighting in my office!

My eyes wander all over the 24 inches of its glorious face. It says so much without ever saying a word. Just LOOK at that keyboard! Now look again. Pretty fierce if I do say so myself. I think the feeling is mutual. ::blush!::
Don't worry; I've already notified my husband of the affair, and insisted we get one just like it to spice things up at home. He hasn't come around to see it my way, but he will. Oh yes, he will.

10 months & weekend fun.

Cameron is 10 months old today! I remember reading blog posts awhile back of moms who would cry when their babies turned one year old- and I thought "why on earth is that sad"? I totally get it now. And I'm pretty dang sure I'll be sobbing in two months when he turns one. I just want him to stay little forever! I love this stage right now- he gives tight hugs and slobbery kisses and it's the best thing in the world.

This weekend (well, just Sunday actually) we decided to go to Kansas City for the Chiefs vs. NY Giants game. I was so excited to take Cameron to his first pro football game! We're not huge Chiefs fans, but we like to support the home team and enjoy watching sporting events of all types.We headed out before the sun came up Sunday morning, and as soon as we got there, I wanted to whip out my camera and photograph some tailgate action. Um, would you believe that I left my camera at home? That's right. I charged my battery the night before. I packed my zoom lens in the diaper bag. I was all ready to take a few action shots and be hired by Sports Illustrated. I kicked myself the entire day for forgetting it- I never forget my camera! I snapped a few pictures from my phone, and thankfully our sweet friends took some pictures on their camera and will send them to me! Still, I feel like Sunday's game didn't even happen because I didn't have my camera. I'll never make that mistake again!

Our friends have several sets of season tickets just behind the end zone. They were great seats!