Jace

Jace’s first hair cut

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It was finally time for a little hair cut for Jace face. His little curly cues were getting a little too long, tickling his ears and neck. Somehow his hair hasn’t all come in yet, but where it has has grown out a lot. So, Grandma Joy trimmed him up, I put all his curly blonde hairs in a bag for his baby book, and he officially looks like a toddler now. No more baby mullet and curls. It was so fun to watch (of course); glad my family got to partake in the first hair cut!

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IMG_5389 IMG_5394Jace and his tongue cracks me up. It’s always out. No matter what he’s doing. I think the little molars he’s getting in the back of his mouth don’t feel all that good:((

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Phoenix, Projects

A night of water coloring with Modern Moni

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Last week I was desperate to do something creative. Something where I didn’t have to use my brain. When you work all week, and are required to be “on” for 8 hours a day, you start craving some down time to let your mind relax.  To just decompress. For me, it involves doing something creative. Like block-printing, making a pineapple pinata or planting a succulent frame .. just to name a few. It’s so wonderful to try something new and get artsy. And water coloring with Modern Moni at the Bloguettes studio in Phoenix sounded like the most perfect night. I didn’t even go with anyone; I just went right after work and turned my brain off for a couple hours. I barely even talked to anyone, ha. I poured myself some iced tea that the miss Teaspressa served and water colored away. I must admit, one of the bigger reasons I booked this class was the possibility of water painting a pineapple. And, we did!! Ha. My creative night was complete.

IMG_5321 IMG_5322 IMG_5324 IMG_5325 IMG_5327 That’s Modern Moni herself (Monica) there at the front of the class in the blue. She is the sweetest little thing in the world. And so incredibly talented. If you haven’t seen her work you need to.  She does custom prints, portraits and all kinds of fabulous prints you can buy for kids or for your home office. Everything she does will inspire you. Her water coloring skills are amazing .. from donuts to giraffes to flamingos … so modern and so perfectly blended.

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IMG_5331 IMG_5338Also, all of the beautiful flowers scattered throughout the studio were donated by The Florette. The only mobile floral boutique in Phoenix. Such lovely flowers to look at all night (and paint!).

IMG_5336I sat next to these girls and was so happy to take a picture with them at the end of the night:)) My popsicles were not as beautiful as theirs so I held up my pineapple .. ! Such a fun night. A great thing for a girls or momma’s night out. So relaxing and freeing. I am REALLY digging the water coloring thing and really would love to practice at home. But yet again, I’m still waiting to find time to try my hand at calligraphy and that has yet to happen, a year later. I still have all my nibs, in their original packaging. Ha. Should tell me something. Thank you, Blogquettes, Teaspressa, The Florette and MODERN MONI for such a colorful and creative night.

 

 

Family, Las Vegas

Vegasssssss

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I just got home from a little weekend getaway to Vegas with my sister. And boy was it a doozy. I feel like I’m still recovering, ha. Mainly from all the dancing we did. I’m actually sore from dancing, in all kinds of random areas of my body. We literally danced the night away every night. It was exactly what I wanted to do in Vegas. Dance! (and eat of course). The picture above is the entrance as you first walk into the Wynn – by far my most favorite hotel on the strip. It’s so magical. It’s one of those hotels you want to dress up for, wear high heels in, fancy up your lips, and mingle with the high-rollers and shop ’til you drop, and wander around, looking for love. It’s lovely. It’s so pretty you don’t want to walk bare foot through it, even at 4am. Except. we did.

The first night we had tickets to see Kascade at XS at the Wynn/Encore. All week leading up to the show I was listening to his tracks from Coachella. He is seriously AAAAAAmazing. I of course Googled him and found out he was 42, living in San Francisco, with a wife and 4 daughters. Big shot producer and electronic music maker. Good thing we got there 2 1/2 hrs early to get a good spot on the floor, because as soon as he came out it got crazy. Couldn’t really dance at that point because it was so packed, so it was a lot of arm pumping and stomping, haha.  And what is up with guys and checkered shirts?! It was like a J Crew advertisement up in that place. See below for example. And while we’re at it. How in the world does Vegas get away with charging $34 for 2 drinks? Really?!!?

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Saturday we slept until 3pm, seeing how it was rainy and windy and cold. Never experienced that kind of weather in Vegas, so we were a little bummed. I would have rather fell asleep in a lounge chair by the waterfall pool than in our suite, but nonetheless, I got a lot of good quality sleep. Until we stayed out until 4am again, hahaha.  Saturday was the biggest night of the weekend because we had tickets to Britney (my xmas gift to my sister). But first, dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab & Steakhouse at Ceasar’s .. with a coffee after to get us ready for Brit.

IMG_5268 IMG_5269And then it was time. For BRITNEY!!!!!!!

IMG_5272 IMG_5276 IMG_5278 IMG_5280 IMG_5282 IMG_5283 IMG_5284Totally worth the cost of the tickets.  And the $20 glass of champagne. And $45 T-Shirt. lol … She was a doll. I’m pretty sure she lip-synced the whole time, but she danced her little tush off. It was a great Vegas show, with lots of color and muscled dancers and confetti and dancing! More dancing (right up my alley!). She played every song I loved .. we didn’t want it to end. I can pretty much say that I’m a fan for life.

After we went to the Cosmopolitan for the Chandelier bar and then Marquis (for more dancing). It was a LONG, night. Look at me and my blazer in Vegas. Possibly a little too momish … hahahaha.

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Sunday we woke up and hit up New York New York for some sunshine at Tom’s Urban, and then lunch at the Shake Shack. When in New York, right?! It was just what we needed, including the chocolate shake. Yummmm.. This sister of mine is pretty crazy. But I guess that’s what makes her so dang special. She’s so full of life and letting go. It was nice to get away this weekend and feel girly. I actually spent an hr getting ready each night, curling my hair and putting on my sister’s make-up. We listened to music getting ready and tried on different outfits. Felt like I was in college again with my girls. Thanks for a fun weekend, sister! Truly one of the best Vegas trips ever. Oh, and funny side note (maybe it’s funny, maybe it’s not) I woke up and realized I had confetti stuck to me from the dance club. Ha. Is that what it’s called, confetti? Who knows.

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Phoenix, weekend

Breakfast at the Farm

IMG_5195This past weekend we set out for a morning at the Farm at South Mountain. It was a fairly cool morning so we we were eager to get outside. Since I’ve been back I’ve been trying hard to find us new places to go to on the weekends where we can enjoy each other and play with Jace. The Farm has some of the most beautiful grounds found in Arizona. Soft grass, big trees and picnic tables. A fabulous setting for a wedding, or dinner or in our case, breakfast! The gardens were in full bloom, too. I didn’t realize that they also have a farmer’s market on the weekends (Maya’s Farm). Fresh greens and herbs, flowers and locally-made products. For breakfast we ate at the Morning Glory Cafe, with its nicely shaded patio with a great menu including smoked trout scramble, Brioche french toast and Huevos Rancheros. We definitely indulged and gave Jace bites of everything. Pretty sure he’s as obsessed with food as we are ;) It was a lovely morning. In Arizona. There, I said it. ha.

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Not sure you can see, but little boy has squirrels on his polo. So dang cute.

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 jeez I love these guys. xoxoxo

Cher Joy

Cher Joy

Happy Sunday friends. We’re still getting up around here. Coffees are in hand and we’re mapping out our Sunday. The sun is blaring (when is it not in Arizona?!) and little boy is running around, from toy to toy. He is such a sweetheart. I thought it about time I bring back my ‘Cher Joy’ posts, because it’s so important to reflect on all the good life brings. These last few weeks I’ve found the most joy in hanging out with my boys (of course). Breakfasts  and splash time downtown, playing around the house, an outing to The Perch in Chandler, Jace’s new lawn mower (I’m also on the hunt for a mini vacuum, hahaha. He likes to do busy things around the house) and grocery shopping trips as a family. Oh, the little things are so wonderful and so needed when the week gets taken over by work and traffic and day care and routine. I hope you all have a lovely week.

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