Wednesday Words of Wisdom

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So much truth in one simple statement.

Food is very important to me.

And I don't know about you, but when I don't have it I tend to get a little "hangry".

So, if you happened to have an encounter with me on Monday morning anytime before 12:30 PM - let me just apologize now.

I had my glucose test that morning and was therefore not allowed to eat.

Cruel & unusual punishment could be another name for it.

Ah, the joys of pregnancy.

11 weeks until we meet our guy :)

- e

Just FYI :

My top is from Anthropologie! You can find it, here. They have so many amazing flowy tops that can totally work as maternity shirts and will be awesome post-pregnancy as well  - hallelujah! 

Entry Gallery Wall

Here are some epically horrible photos of the gallery wall we recently finished in our entry hall.

There's nothing like an event where people will be coming into your home to light a fire under your butt & get you to finish a project you've been putting off for months!

We wanted to spend very little, if any money, on this wall & tried to make use of frames that we already had. We also found a few frames for just a couple of dollars at a second hand store & painted them, helping to cut down on the cost as well. Throw in a frame or two from Ikea & Hobby Lobby, plus a few coupons & you have a pretty economical little project.

Now if I could just figure out how to take decent pictures of my house & we can all be happy campers!

- e 

Dare to Dream

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I grew up in a traveling family.

I have been lucky enough to visit many incredible places & see some amazing things starting at a very young age.

Until I met my husband, I was also part of a family that pretty much strictly traveled by airplane. We took maybe two driving vacations total. And yet, I remember always wishing we could just rent a big RV & hit the road - it seemed like the ultimate adventure to me.

Now as an adult that dream has gone to a whole new level.

Lately all I can think about is renovating and traveling in an airstream or very cool old school trailer.

I mean seriously, how cool would it be to have before & after photos that looked like this :

Of course I'm certain I am enjoying the romanticized version of this in my head much more than I would reality. I have this idea that when you enter this trailer it's as though you are entering another world that is full of simplicity, coziness, & complete togetherness.

Never mind that Blake & I can barely hang pictures on a wall without starting a marital war.

Let's not talk of lack of space, electronic devices, running water, or the fact that after a few hours my children would likely be screaming and I would be pulling my hair out.

No I prefer the dream, thank you.

Oh.

And did I mention that I've also never been camping?

Like...ever.

But I think if I did it, this would certainly be my preferred method.

We all have "pipe dreams" - what are yours?

- e

 

Here's to a Happy Weekend

  

Now that's the good stuff.

Spending the weekend in Park City with my parents.

Annie is completely in heaven.

Daily visits to the park, swimming (in "1...2...3 pools!" as she refers to the big pool, the hot tub, and the baby pool), lots & lots of yummy eats, walks up & down Main Street, shopping, treats at Java Cow, time outside, a visit to the Alpine Slide, carousel rides, golf for Blake, the Sunday street fair, and some much needed downtime for all .

On the downside - we forgot our camera .

Stink .

On the upside - 3 posts in a row!

When the grandparents leave you can probably expect this to cease completely.

I think I've almost killed my computer - it seems to be in overload.

Hope your weekend was incredible as well!

- e

Annie's Second Birthday Party

Last weekend we celebrated Annie's second birthday with a little Saturday morning brunch .

It was such a fun day & was made so special by the family & friends who were able to be there , though there were definitely many who were missed !

This party was basically one giant DIY project & I had such fun putting it together !

Check it out !

*sources & other info at the bottom of the page 

I made this wreath out of coffee filters! I followed this tutorial from the blog Lolly Jane.

The burlap and doily bunting was another DIY courtesy of Lolly Jane, here.

These flowers were also made from coffee filters. I sort of modified this tutorial, here . Obviously I did not dye mine - I used regular coffee filters for the white & organic coffee filters for the brown.

As favors, we gave out these recipe cards that I designed with an attached cookie cutter so you can cut your French toast into fun shapes!

And here are some pics of the B-Day Girl!

Here are some fun facts from Miss Annie now that she's TWO :

My nicknames are : Annie-Bananie, Annie B, & Ann-Bannan .

 My favorite foods are : turkey, pickles, cheese, tomatoes, berries, grapes, juice, yogurt, "mac-y" & "chicken nugs". I also like fruit snacks, chocolate chip Fiber One Bars,

M&Ms, & suckers as special treats .

My favorite shows are : Barney, Little Einsteins, Calliou, Super Why, Doodlebops, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Scout & Friends, & The "Neigh Neigh" Videos .

My favorite songs to sing & dance to are : Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,  If You're Happy & You Know It, Hokey Pokey, Wheels on the Bus, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Popcorn Popping , Do As I'm Doing, Teddy Bear Teddy Bear, You Are My Sunshine, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, ABCs, Raindrops, & Five Little Monkeys .

My favorite books are : Twinkle Twinkle Little Star & Other Nursery Rhymes , Clifford Books, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Goodnight Moon, Bunny's Noisy Book, The Potty Book, Petunia, & The Annie Book . 

I've learned so much : I know all the letters of the alphabet & some of their sounds , I can count to 15, I know my colors, animals & their sounds , & I love to read books to myself . I can also put on my own shoes & buckle my car seat .

I can spell my first name & I know that my full name is

Annie Lynn Romney.

I love : trains, driving, painting, coloring, reading, chalk, cooking in my kitchen, swimming, dollies & babies,  animals - especially bunnies & doggies, bath time, dancing, holding hands, my grandparents & aunts & uncles & cousins - immediate & beyond , going to the park - the slides & swings are my favorite, kissing owies, playing on the dinosaurs with "KK", pillows & blankies, & bubbles . 

I am a little addicted to the iPad.

I call it the "IP".

I still suck my thumb .

Everyone says I look just like my daddy, but I look just like my mommy's baby pictures too .

I am an observer, memorizer, thinker, & solver.

I am very sensitive & tentative.

I love to tell stories & I think I'm very silly .

That all seems like so much and yet I know there is more!

We love you our little Annie Lynn - everything that you are

and everything that you will be .

- e  

Some other sources & FIYs :

- The "A" & "2" are both from Hobby Lobby .

- All burlap (I just purchased a yard or two) & twine used for bunting, wrapping the cupcake stand, wrapping the silverware, & for topping the mason jars were also from Hobby Lobby .

- The hearts used on the cake topper & cinnamon buns were created with glitter scrapbook paper, mini wood skewers, & hot glue - all from Hobby Lobby . I created a heart template to make hearts.

- The flags used on the quiche were made from a strip of glitter washi tape from Hobby Lobby and were wrapped around mini wood skewers, then cut on the ends .

- Organic coffee filters were purchased from Target (I had a hard time finding these!).

- Regular coffee filters were purchased from Walmart, although they also have them at the dollar store.

- The cupcake (or in this case quiche) stand, mason jars, & all doilies were purchased at Walmart .

- Straws were purchased from Pioneer Party in Lehi .

- The crate was leftover from another project & was bought at Michaels . I painted it white .

- The invitations (adding that picture soon!), labels, & recipe cards were created by me .

- Annie's dress is from Carter's (a gift from her Aunt Brittani!!)

Our Two Year Old Gal

My baby girl is two .

TWO!

This is by far my favorite age yet with my Annie girl, from about 18 months to 2 years .

She is so interactive, so curious, so silly, and so incredibly sweet . She has truly become my little buddy, and even a few hours away from her makes my heart ache .

She has also become quite opinionated and independent - there are plenty of trying moments with opportunity to learn patience .
 

Am I doing well at that ?

I hope so .

Here are some shots of Annie that we took on the fourth of July :)

 

Being a mother has been far more rewarding than I could ever have imagined .

Each day is truly such a gift .

I wish that I could record every movement, remember to write down the funny little things that she says or does, or be more mindful of slowing down and really taking the little moments in .

I can feel myself growing and changing so much lately.

This is literally happening with my ever expanding belly, but I can feel myself becoming more & more the person that I truly want to be, and I owe so much of that to Blake & Annie.

I cannot imagine where I would be in life without them, and can't wait to meet our newest addition in just a few months!

What exciting things the future has in store for us! 

Stay tuned for photos from Annie's birthday and some fun facts about our sweetest girl .

- e

Just FYI:

Annie's Dress is from Old Navy & her Jellies are from The Gap!





Catch Up According to Instagram

Wowzers y'all. 

This whole blogging thing has reached a new level of pathetic, considering it's been a whopping five months since I've typed a single word on here! I got a little tired of Blake incessantly asking me if I was ever going to update it - but guess what BW?

It worked.  

  

Here is an incredibly quick and not nearly well enough explained catch up of the last several month via my Instagram photos:

There are about a million things that I didn't cover in this epically horrible catch up, due mostly to the fact that I am the world's worst at remembering to take pictures: 

our efforts to survive the unbelievably long winter, swim lessons, weddings, weekend getaways, an incredible visit from Annie's Uncle Brandon & Aunt Brittani & their kiddos, or some of our regular summertime activities (bubbles, sidewalk chalk, trips to City Creek, playtime with Annie's bestie KK, daily visits to the park, etc.). 

I know I say this all the time, but I am reeeeaaalllly going to try and be better about blogging on here consistently. I just went through all of my old posts and absolutely loved reading everything. However few and far between the posts might have been, they brought back so many memories! 

Will it happen?

We shall see ... but truly, I'm optimistic :) 

Coming up : a recap of a little photoshoot that we did on the Fourth of July of Annie, as well as photos from her 2nd birthday party!

I'm sorry what?

I have a two year old?

You better believe it.

- e