dear Fall, i love you

really can't believe it's oct already.

i was driving along this morning and
thought "oh my gosh, it's beautiful out."
the leaves are changing color,
the weather is a little brisk,
the sun is shining.
i love it.
that's the thing about Fall.
it stops you in your tracks and makes
you appreciate your surroundings.

i've always loved Fall.
when i was little, i used to love that
school was starting again.
(this was back when school started
after labor day weekend. remember that?)
i love getting to wear cardigans, scarves and boots.
i love lighting candles.
i love celebrating our anniversaries (american + asian weddings).
i love reminiscing with my sisters when my
grandparent's birthdays come up.
i love the smell of bonfires when i step outside.
i love all of it.
sept / oct / nov >> all my faves.

sure, i love Spring too.
don't get me wrong, Spring is lovely.
but, moreso i love Spring by default.
Spring is like that rebound relationship after
Winter has treated you like absolute shit.

Fall is where my heart belongs.
where i feel completely like myself.
happy and content.
carefree. and usually more productive.
Fall gets me.

how about you? what's your favorite season?

if i had to choose for babygirl,
she'd probably say summer.
she'd live off watermelon, swim everyday,
wear her diva sunglasses and
paint her nails hot pink every darn day.
;)

xo, m

a good list

just a few good things i love...

> a good book
> a good nap
> a good juicy pen
> a good friend
> a good laugh
> a good cup of coffee
> a good clever design
> a good hot bath
> a good cry
> a good stretch
> a good back-scratch
> a good productive monday

muah!
minna

DIY 'i carry your heart' mug

in case you missed it,
i did my very first guest post
at GOMHP last friday
for the lovely brooke's
"friday randomness".
it was fun!
(i'll be guest posting in march too. yay!)

here's the "meat" of last week's post
with instructions for my DIY mug...

.........

1. Porcelaine pen markers can be found at Michael's and Hobby Lobby for $4ish. Make sure to shake it well, then "pump" the ink into the tip by pushing it against a piece of paper. (This mug was from Dollar Tree.)
2. (Keep a wet napkin and wet Q-tip on hand.) Outline the handle of the mug first.
3. Draw the other side of the heart, using the handle-side as a guide for symmetry. If you make a mistake, wipe it off with the wet napkin right away and wipe dry. (The marker comes off easily when wet.) Once you have the outline of the heart, draw the lines in thicker. Let dry...only takes a minute.
4. Write in 'i carry your heart' with a little heart. Use the wet Q-tip if you make a mistake and need to rewrite.

The cup is dishwasher-safe in 72 hours.

The words are from one of my favorites poems my E.E. Cummings - "I carry your heart in my heart." It seemed appropriate for a warm cup of coffee and a Friday to reflect on the week. :)

........

muah, muah.
have a rockin' weekend!

fake carrots are yummy

suri got a little play kitchen for christmas from
her auntie toni and uncle kevin.
she loves the thing and it is the perfect size for her.
she's 17 mos. now and pretend play is her game.

i bought her some plastic cookies and veggies to go
with it and it could not be any more of a hit.
(they were at the dollar section at target.)

see the pic with her eating the plastic carrot?
the funny thing is that she doesn't like carrots in real life.
but, in pretend world, carrots are yummyyyyy. :)

toasting in the new year

on friday, i had had plans for din-din and the
'new year's eve' movie with one of my girlfriends.

now, it's become an official party of five.
i'm quite excited really.
i'm looking at this as kind-of a little,
early new year's celebration minus the chaos.
yay, for that!

so, to add to the festivities, i made this
'toasting in the new year' printable.
p.s. you'll need a bottle of bubbly or wine for this.

instructions:

1. Each person fills out the questions.
2. Go around sharing your answers, amongst some good conversation.
3. Have the toast at the end of each "section". ("Cheers to...")

download the printable here.
happy safe and fun new year, loverlies!!!!!

our little lady in december

suri has been a busy-body this december.
this Christmas seemed extra special
because she was able to know what was going on,
whereas last year, she was just a peanut.

read the previous post to see what a
little lady she has become.
here's some photos of our little bundle of joy:

checking her aunt sky's text messages.

she lets me put pigtails in now! yay!!!

giggly girl

she REALLY did not like the santa hat.

fave place: uncle addi's lap

matching yellow with grandpa

pigtails out and ipod on.

she's very insistent on feeding herself now.

first taste of a candy cane...

i think this girl might have a thousand different
expressions, dontcha think?
lata, loves!

time capsule ornament

hope you had a merry, merry Christmas!
mine was loud, busy and fun.
suri was spoiled like crazy
and is enjoying all of her new toys.

december   f   l    e   w   by for us.
so, to remember this fun and festive time,
i made this time capsule ornament for suri...

i got the glittery tree ornament at target in the dollar bin.

i wrote '2011' on there with a sharpie paint marker.

i  tied up the important suri info. :)

what is she like right now?
here's what i wrote on the suri sheet:

Suri is almost 17 mos old.
She is such a quick learner
and VERY observant.
Recently...

She took her dad’s keys and tried to 
unlock the front door with them.

She took his electric shaver
and pretended to shave her face.

She took my curling iron and pretended 
to curl her own hair.

She helps put on her own lotion after her bath - 
she rubs it all over her tummy.

She learned the word ‘No’and  tells us if 
she doesn’t like a particular food or outfit.
(She already won’t wear something 
she doesn’t like.)

She loves wearing her dress-up shoes 
and is already such a  girlie girl, 
except she hates hair things. 
She now lets  us put pigtails in without
yanking them out.

She gives “running” hugs and sometimes kisses. 
(Now, she doesn’t like to give too many
kisses like before.)

She still loves the book “Where is 
baby’s belly button?” She has it at daycare
too. But, she picks at her belly button afterwards.

She cries to type on my computer 
because she likes the typing sounds.

She currently has 4 top teeth
and 4 bottom teeth and wears
size 4 shoes. (Her feet are little!)

She has a preference towards
anyone that wears glasses.
She especially loves her
uncle Addison, cousins Leighton
and Bryan and Grandpa Boune.

She dances ALL THE TIME.
She loves playing any sort of
pretend game.
She also does a dramatic
fake-laugh.

She says the word “Bath” and extends it out, 
like “baaaaaath” - she wants to take one all the time.

She takes medicine easily, but fights 
you like crazy if you try to clip her nails 
or do the nose suction.

Every time we turn on the Christmas tree and 
lights, she says “Wow”. 
If it’s not on, she points at it to remind us. 
She doesn’t pull the ornaments off or 
mess with it. She’s a good girl.

She likes to throw her diapers
or other garbage away by
herself and afterwards
she waits for you to clap
and say “Good Job.” She claps
along with you.

She’s very smart and picks things up 
without us even teaching them to her. 
She’s our ray of sunshine.

:D
i plan to do one every year, so she can see
how much she grows every year.
p.s. more suri pics to follow.