Cheryl, Favorites

Push present

The hubby let me pick out my push present {the present us mothers receive after pushing a child out of our V}. Usually the push present is a piece of jewelry, but because I’m not a HUGE diamond kind of girl, I went to Esty looking for something custom and unique that would remind me of our little man. I decided on a custom bangle from Sweet Auburn Studio, with a couple other bangles to pair with it {mint & white}. I could buy one of everything in her shop, love it ALL! Thinking I need to add this pineapple bangle to my combo as well, since he’s our little pineapple ;) So, what I’m really saying is, check out Sweet Auburn Studio on Etsy. I completely vouch for the finished product. And Leigh Ann is so sweet to correspond with, just like her studio name! She just added some new tassel items, too, that are adorable. And while you’re at, you should just go ahead and follow her on Instagram, too.

{Jace Patrick Johannes}
April 16, 2014 by
Davenport

Swanton Berry Farm

This past Sunday, this little family went to Davenport for a jam tasting at Swanton Berry Farm. The weather was perfect, a little windy but sunny! I’d heard about Swanton Berry Farm from some friends at church, and have had it on our to-do list for quite some time now. We’re HUGE fans of jam, and I solely blame Rob’s Grandma Margie for that. She makes a killer raspberry jam. My sister literally eats it out of the jar with her fingers {OK, so do I}. Well, anyway, we love jam so we were excited to get our taste on. To our surprise, there was more than just jam to splendor our taste buds on.

{I immediately grabbed us 4 of these}

{Here’s the inside seating. They have all kinds of board games lying around, just asking for someone to play with them.}

{We didn’t do any picking this trip, but maybe this summer. The olallieberry is calling my name!}

{The tasting counter . . . strawberry, tayberry {a rare blackberry!}, strawberry citrus & strawberry rhubarb. The regular ‘ol strawberry was our favorite.}

{The strawberry apple cider was amazing. We also tried their strawberry lemonade, delicious!}

{We grabbed a tayberry NY cheesecake to take home.}

{Baby pies! Too cute.}

{Here’s the view from the outside patio. That ocean line always gets me. So beautiful.}

{Also outside was the Slow Coast airstream store. ADORABLE flannels and local finds!}

{I wanted to take this couch home.}

{Aaannnddd we couldn’t wait until we got home to eat the tayberry cheesecake. We broke into it on the car ride home, ha}
April 14, 2014 by
Favorites, Jace

Dogeared’s Healing Gem

When I was putting together Jace’s baby book, I got to the naming page and it prompted me to transcribe the meaning behind the name “Jace”. So, of course I Googled it, and it means: a healing. Then I read on to discover this:

People with this name tend to initiate events, to be leaders rather than followers, with powerful personalities. They tend to be focused on specific goals, experience a wealth of creative new ideas, and have the ability to implement these ideas with efficiency and determination. They tend to be courageous and sometimes aggressive. As unique, creative individuals, they tend to resent authority, and are sometimes stubborn, proud, and impatient.
 
People with this name have a deep inner desire for a stable, loving family or community, and a need to work with others and to be appreciated.
 
THEN, while on Instagram {of course}, I saw this necklace from Dogeared, sporting Jace’s birthsone, the amethyst. And the little message behind the necklace was rather fitting for me:
Purple amethyst can help you stay grounded and present in any situation. Wear this Healing Gem necklace for clarity and insight… You’ll feel the positive energy every time you put it on!
 

{Image via Dogeared’s Instagram}

That’s when I clicked, ‘add to cart’. I seriously have a shopping addiction, hahahahhaa. But, COME ON?!! Jace means “a healing”, his birthstone is an amethyst, the necklace is to instill awareness, honesty and inspiration?! I basically HAD to get one. Anything to help keep my mind subconsciously focused when I go back to work, right?! Right. I’ve been totally duped by all this mushy meaning stuff, but I don’t care. Jace is my little healer man as far as I know ;)
April 9, 2014 by
Friends, Santa Cruz

Dogs & babies

This past weekend was packed with lots of time with friends. More Beery Thirty, gifts, lunch, dinner, housewarmings, dancing and then breakfast at Aldos to wrap up the weekend. Aldos is this little restaurant in the Santa Cruz harbor, right off the water. Reminds me of the restaurant Joey worked at in Dawson’s Creek. Maybe you know what I mean, maybe you don’t {hahaha}. I love our little network of friends we have out here. Even with kids and work and side projects and schedules, we all just make time for each other. Not sure if it’s just the air in Santa Cruz or what, but being around this bunch is just easy. They’re some of the most loving and genuine people I know. Couldn’t feel more blessed. I live for their hugs and conversation! Felt like every where we went this weekend there were dogs and babies around! I’ve now joined the baby club, and so far it’s pretty fun {!}. Hope you all had as wonderful a weekend as we did . .

{Loni & Cheryl}
{we played pass the baby around}

{

April 8, 2014 by
Favorites

Insight from GIRLS

 

I’ve been catching up on Season 3 of Girls, and crazy Adam {or the writers behind the show} said something so incredibly spot on it was scary: “I think women get stuck in this vortex of guilt and jealousy with each other that it keeps them from seeing situations clearly.”

Isn’t that so true? As women, what if we didn’t let guilt and jealousy run our lives? Take all of that away and wouldn’t life in general be so much more enjoyable? Wouldn’t our minds feel more free? Wouldn’t we be capable of accomplishing so much more? So, come on girls, let’s give each other a break. Don’t guilt each other, don’t let jealousy of someone else {friend or not} take over your subconscious and how you treat them, or yourself, or the situation. Let’s just be happy for each other, and support each other always, and see each other when we see each other. Who cares if we’re not nearly as fashionable, successful or creative as some of the ladies in the Instagram world {totally my downfall!}. Don’t let guilt and jealousy overrun you. Easier said than done, right? . . .

Anyways, this is what I’ve been thinking about lately. . . Oh, Girls, how real you really are. More insight from GIRLS here. You’re welcome ;)

April 7, 2014 by