la fabric district

I've been dying to head down to LA's fabric district to find some new fabrics and new wholesalers! I found this great blog which talks about some of the fabric shops. Note to self in 2011... must plan trip with BFF soon! She also has has some great patterns on her blog for you creative ones! Yea for creative people sharing!

http://www.dana-made-it.com/2010/03/fabric-shopping-downtown-la-fabric.html

canon 50mm 1.8

I have yet to take the leap and buy a new camera after all this hoopla with selling things around the house to save up. I can't decide for the life of me which one to get...but will decide soon! This week my train of thought is a middle of the road camera with a good lens where as two weeks ago I was ready to buy the 7d with the good lens(seriously breaking the bank). In the meantime my mom bought me this lens which I have read nothing but good things about...baby steps! I think I will try to improve my photography skills first by taking photo's of my new blankets later this week with my new lens, yea! :).

mint

I've been trying to figure out the best way to start the new year off right tracking all our expenses/income for my husbands business, the two businesses I run and also our personal expenses. I think I just found my match. You can track all your expenses and create budgets..it's really cool and you only have one log in! Hallelujah!

Check it out. www.mint.com

boots

last night I went to downtown santa cruz to christmas shop for some last minute gifts.

I found the cutest boots and they are so comfortable.

Merry Christmas to me :)

photography skills need help

I am so close to launching my new site however I have been mulling over how to take the shots of each blanket for my gallery and it's not easy making a blanket look cute with out some adorable baby in the pic! Needless to say I think I found my answer. I managed to take photo's of all my blankets today with my "prop" BUT my lighting was all over the place :( and I'm trying to look professional here so it's going to take me a bit longer than expected. Here's a peak of my "prop" with my retro dot blanket.

wish list

Did I ever tell you I love Amazon. I just figured out their "wish list" option and now I can update my "honey I would like this" list on an ongoing basis. Muhahaaa (devil horns)

Check it out it's pretty cool.

new fabrics

Just got a delivery at my doorstep today!

New fabrics!

Can't wait to get them made and up on the site!

I love the little owls!

LOVE THE OWLS and the LADY BUGS!

new site

So excited!

I've been working on my new site for the last week or so since I bought a new template. I've gotten most of the content written and just need to take some new pictures. I should be able to get things up and running soon and launch it! .

Here's a sneak peek of the Home page. My laptop cut if off a bit but you get the point.

PS Elements

Just purchased Adobe's PS Elements...can't wait to start playing with my photo's and make them look pretty!

7d

Dear Santa,

Can you please place this under the tree for me?

holiday cards

It's getting close to holiday card season and I was searching for ideas to hang all my cards like I did last year.

Here is last years(ribbon ended up being to small by the end of the month, cards were overlapping and now if I did it the baby could rip them all down).

Ideas for this year!

Not bad, kind of too structured for me

I like the circle and how simple is this!

P.S we took our holiday photo's this last weekend...wetting my pants with excitement to see them.

camera fund

Okay..so I'm almost up to 1,000 dollars on my camera/cleaning out the closet fund. The great thing about saving up for something is you take you sweet time in trying to decide what to actually buy. I decided that I want to go past the Canon rebel SLR and venture into the 50d or 60d...now just need to research some more. I am open to suggestions if anyone wants to offer any. :)

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"!