camera fund/purging the house update

Update to my camera fund/home selling on ebay and craigs list...feels so good to get rid of stuff almost better than buying it :)

car seat (used maybe 5 times in hubby's car) = $20
Spider Halloween outfit (worn for maybe 20 minutes)=$15
Pottery barn diaper bag (never used and stored for 3 years) = $20
Birthday present from mom and dad $200
small hand bag(had it for at least 8 years) $50.00

bottega Venetta handbag-never used $150.00

Stroller/infant seat $135.00

new unopened game $20.00

Gap Halloween outfit #2 worn for 30 minutes $10.00

gift from friend that I never used(shhh) $100.00

Tod's agenda $30.00

Black wallet never used: $10.00

train table: 50.00

Ex boyfriends camera from 10 years ago: 25.00

Total: $835.00
(this will get me a rebel but I'm trying to kick it up to the next bar in terms of quality for camera's)

Office update!

I haven't posted pictures of the office since I moved in all the furniture..still a work in progress but here's an update!

moms in business

For all you business minded women out there check out 2010's start up nation mom's in business winners!

Lots of cool ideas, talented & multitasking women out there!

Elle Brush'in 9 months

Here is Beans (Elle) brush'in...I know it's a little excessive to have this many pictures of her with a toothbrush. Let's just say I'm capturing the moment because soon she will be talking back to me like her 3 year old brother!

CAMERA

I've been drooling over a new camera for months now...rather than throwing the purchase on the credit card (which by the way is paid off) or taking money out of savings I am taking a new approach! I have so much crap around the house that I don't use and stuff that has been stored for ages. I'm on a mission to see how much I can sell on Craig's list and EBay and that will determine my camera choice...good idea eh!

Get rid of lots of crap = fabulous new camera! Plus the added bonus knowing I will not be appearing on the next episode of A&E's Hoarders!

Here's where I'm at currently:

car seat (used maybe 5 times in hubby's car) = $20

Halloween outfit (worn for maybe 20 minutes)=$15

Pottery barn diaper bag (never used and stored for 3 years) = $20

Birthday present from mom and dad $200

small hand bag(had it for at least 8 years) $50.00

Total so far= $305.00

(not bad eh..so okay my mom and dad's gift helped me a lot so I need to get busy with more big ticket items!)

Wish me luck will I get a canon rebel or maybe a canon 7d?

Just exactly how much crap can I get rid of AND how long will it take me?

the pioneerwoman

A friend of a friend, recently recommended this site because it has great photography info (and I'm trying to learn how to use the darn camera) lessons on gear, photoshop/elements and so much more! It's turned out to be such an amazing site I had to share it! The last few nights I've sat in bed reading until my lids are heavy. Her posts and her ability to explain things in really simple terms -- I love! She even has recipes that look like they are to die for and also information about her remodel...love her already! Check it out! The Pioneer Woman.

Best 15 minutes of the day!

Everyday I get up between 6am and 7am (unfortunately it's not by the alarm) it's usually being startled awake by the 3 year old or the 8 month old. From the get go we hit the ground running (getting everyone fed, dressed, and ready to get out the door). I wake up looking like one of those troll dolls that you used to spin in between your hands and the hair gets all crazy, so I must fit in a shower and put on my face.

Once everyone is where they are supposed to be, or the nanny has checked in for the day I get to work and the day flies by. Soon... dinner and the same drill, feed, bath, read and get the kids into bed between 7pm and 8pm. Geez.......will I get to the point already. So what I'm trying to say is tonight I took 15 minutes to go in and rock Elle (8 month old) to sleep (she's sick, so she can't suck her thumb and breathe at the same time since her nose is stuffed up so she requires more to get to bed the last few days) and it was really the best 15 minutes of the day..why don't I do that more? The sweet little bugger was actually still for 15 minutes with her eye lids getting heavier and heavier until finally she was out...so damn cute. I gave her about 5 kisses and she was just so yummy and so peacefully sleeping!

Moral of the story...spend more time with the kids and less time on bullshit daily crap :). Laundry, dishes dirty floors are your unconditional friends they will always be there!

Blue

Anyone who knows me knows I'm addicted to blue...love this picture of all these fun things at the American Sewing Expo! As Rachel Zoe says "I die"!

Bob

If I invest in this stroller will it motivate me to run everyday or at least

commit to going on a walk?

retail therpy

Does anyone shop retail anymore?

Pre-kids I had a serious shopping addiction for handbags, clothes, shoes, sunglasses, home goods...okay well anything that had to do with shopping (First step to recovery is admitting the problem). Everyday I receive emails from the below websites which are typically at least 50% off everything they sell. I recovered from my retail addiction now on to the next one, sale sites:).

ideeli

gilt groupe

billion dollar babes

totsy

mini social

haute look

editors closet

Pics!

I'm obsessed with trying to figure out how to take amazing pictures with my 6 year old canon rebel before I take the plunge and buy the canon rebel TI (see prior post)...I'm still a work in progress as it seems to be taking me longer than expected. The fact that my subject keeps on drooling on everything isn't helping me ;)

Practice...

camera

Want this!

marinating

Marinating

Making Our Best Decisions
When making a decision, gather your information then sit with it and marinate

as long as it takes to become clear.

Sometimes when we need to make a decision, we can become overwhelmed or feel pressured into coming to a conclusion immediately. Often, a decision isn’t required right away, and the sense of urgency we feel is merely a limitation that we’ve placed upon ourselves. Once we’ve determined that we do have the time to make a wise choice for ourselves, we can release the pressure with a deep breath, like steam from a pressure cooker, and proceed to make the best use of our time. The best first step may be to gather all the facts we can find. Once we have all the logical information we need, we can allow ourselves to sit with it and soak it up. Like a good recipe, we can allow ourselves to marinate in the juices of intellectual understanding while also adding our own spices made up of our feelings, our intuition, and any other considerations. We can taste the recipe for readiness as we go in order to decide if more time or ingredients are needed.

We might want to take time to visualize ourselves playing out the various scenarios to see which feels the best, remind ourselves of our goals, or merely sit silently in meditation, listening for guidance. Any of these techniques can add depth and flavor to the recipe of our decisions. We can allow ourselves to sit with our choices for whatever length of time is needed, whether it is a day, a week, a month or longer. Doing so gives our hearts, minds and spirits the chance to align, allowing us to make a decision that is right for us. Other times, we may need to let the wisdom of the universe unfold for us at its own rate, allowing our growth and realizations to sync up with the universe’s secret and essential ingredients so that all of the flavors are ready at the same time. When we allow ourselves the time to sit and allow understanding to sink in, we can cocreate the best decision possible for ourselves and for everyone involved.

Vacation

We went on vacation and took some pictures of Elle on one of the paisley medallion blankets I brought, couldn't quite get a smile out of her.

photography

I've had my digital EOS rebel for about 5-6 years now. As of late I'm attempting to actually use it on the Manual settting again. This guys video's on youtube has been helping me. He even has video's on photo shop...love youtube!

giltgroup

I love this website Gilt Group it was such a great business idea and I love reading/watching how things like this get started.

Check out the clip below of the founder!
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4283131/gilt-group-chairman-on-business-of-discounts

garden

Just a few more days and I will be able to look at the garden from the new office! The garden is doing well thanks to my husbands green thumb (he plants, I pick)! Can't wait for the tomatoes and the corn to be ready. Here are some before an after pictures..about 2 1/2 months of sun and h20!

Tomatoes (before)

Corn (before)

Tomatoes (now)

Corn (now)

labels

My little man is going to be going to pre-school soon and what a great excuse to order clothing labels for him! I've been dying for a good excuse to order Mabel's Labels! I first saw her at a baby show I did in Marin and then later saw her stuff again featured in Jewels & Pinstripes Celebrity Gift Baskets that I also participated in...yeah! So excited to get them and I love supporting other mom businesses!

outsourcing my sewing

Well, I've finally taken the plunge and decided to outsource the sewing of my blankets. Long gone are the days of my mom and I sewing at night and on the weekends! There is just not enough time in the day with two kids, job, husband, house, personal time etc....

This weekend I'm going to meet with a local seemstress (no, not flying to China to hire a 5 year old) and see if she can take on the task of sewing my blankets. I have about 50 blankets for her to sew right now...so let's hope we can work something out! It's bitter sweet because my mom and I won't be personally sewing all the blankets but it will allow the company to grow and for me to focus on new designs and fabrics which is really my favorite part! Next chapter...check!

Our little fireman!

Cole's 3rd Birthday Present! His official fireman outfit...the pickaxe is plastic don't worry!