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

 

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!!)

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

Family Photos : Dec. 2012

Over the winter holiday , we had a little photo session done with Blake, Annie, and I - our first since she was only a newborn!

We had the privilege of working with an immensely talented photographer , Jessica Schaak of RAE Portraits  !

It was so very important to me that we have these images to document this time in our lives while it is still the three of us . We could not have been more thrilled with the outcome of our little family photo shoot. Seriously y'all - if you live in the Dallas area ( or she sometimes comes to Utah ! ) you MUST check her out !

We will be clients of hers for life !

This is only a portion of the photos from that day - I'll be adding all of them to Facebook soon !



 - e

Just FYI:



My first outfit
Lace Top : Anthropologie
Jeans : H&M
Cowboy Boots : Gypsy Wagon (old)
Watch : Michael Kors
Diamond by the Yard Necklace : The Impeccable Pig

Annie's Yellow Dress : Boutique buy in San Fransisco
Solid Tights: H&M
Shoes : Zara

My second outfit
Dress & Sweater : The Impeccable Pig
Belt : Forever 21 (old)
Boots : Steve Madden

Annie's Dress w/ Lace Trim: Zara
Striped Tights : H&M
Shoes : Zara

Blake's Shirt & Sweater: Old Navy
Jeans & Khakis : The Gap

Catching Up

sorry - I know B's head is cut off , but it was the best one we got : )

Our Thanksgiving was lovely - plenty of delicious food and catching up with family that we don't get to see nearly enough . Meeting new additions and reminiscing about old times .

A long overdue brother/sister evening out at a favorite restaurant .

Blake was able to come in town , but unfortunately it was one of those trips where we left one another feeling like we spent very little quality time together .

So grateful he will be back again next week .

Although I feel like I've somewhat caught up between life and work , I can still feel the stress stirring inside of me . There are times I feel I can't catch my breath - I internalize so much of it .

And I feel like it is months from fully going away .

I have never looked forward so much to spending a long stretch of time at home - no trips , no vacations , no big plans - just being .

On Thanksgiving , the three of us - Blake, Annie, and I - were able to steal a moment as the day was coming to an end .We took Annie outside to play in the leaves , her new found love .

Looking at these pictures gives me a sense of calm .

I absolutely love our little family .

I adore my sweet little Annie .

She is my little miracle that I get to experience every single day .

There is so much about myself that I have yet to figure out , so much to learn about who I am being prepared to become . But I know without a shadow of a doubt that in spite of all of my short comings and what little knowledge I have at this point in my life , that I am being prepared to be the best mother that I can be for her .

It is my prayer that I continue to listen to the still small voice that guides me as I continue on that journey .

Sorry they are so dark - it was getting late and I am not a master photographer or photo editor .

And yes, I am aware that I just posted over 10 pictures of my kid playing the leaves .

Deal with it .

On an unrelated note - I completely forgot to mention that my awesome parents got me a sweet new camera for my birthday !

Hurrah !

- e