Galentine's Day 2017

It's here! Galentine's Day!

I hosted a momma version of my annual Galentine's gathering this year.  This is my 6th year celebrating this made up holiday.   Every year that passes, Galentine's Day is *more and more* popular and I LOVE IT.  A bunch of San Diego vendors (Layered Vintage, Pow Wow Design)  I follow threw a Galentine's night and I just had to be there.

Continue for more photos!

My Maternity Photos At Home

I have in my mind all of these things I want to share on here.   Oh & Happy NEW YEAR!  I'm almost 4 months postpartum and quickly figuring out how to maneuver life with a baby.   I wanted to share my maternity photos taken by Cynthia Warden of Anchored Rose.   I wanted to do them at home because that's where it felt most natural to me.  It was where Olive would be coming home and the place we'd be spending most of our time in the early months.  

Continue to see the rest of my favorite shots!

Star Wars Fiesta

A year ago my husband turned 30.  To commemorate this milestone birthday I wanted to surprise him.  Knowing him he would just want to have burgers and watch a movie, simple guy.  But I wanted to celebrate bigger, I have only known him since he was 19.   I thought, what does John love... menudo and Star Wars............. So a surprise brunch was born!  I made pozole for the first time and my sister-in-law brought the menudo.  

As you can see we munched on fruit salad with Tajín and lime and micheladas.  His cake was from Nothing Bundt Cakes (kept it easy).  

Click through to see the rest of the photos, especially the piñata!

One Year Wedding Anniversary Piñata

Wedding photos by Ashley Lynn Richards 

For our 2014 día de los muertos wedding I chose to use a piñata for our one year anniversary advice notes.  So on our 1 year anniversary, November 1, 2015, John and I laid in bed and read the messages.   For the piñata my friends helped with the diy portion and spray painted a store bought donkey gold.  I simply printed out cards on cardstock for our wedding guests to write their message and place in the donkey.   The notes were endearing, comical and full of love. 

The notes will someday make it in a scrapbook and cherished forever.  

(Continue reading to see photos of the opening of the piñata.)

DIY Lemonade Cap

I don't live with any regrets, except for one... not wearing my fur coat to the Formation concert.  So instead I wore it to take the photos for this easy DIY.   Beyoncé (and team) continue to woo and  awe us with all that they do.  Though personally I wasn't that impressed by Ivy Park.   Her Boycott Beyoncé tees, Beyhive Boys tees among the slew of slay worthy items in her merch booth at concerts and some available online on her website.  

The Formation World Tour

When Beyoncé announced her tour via a commercial after her Superbowl performance I got the chills.   She dominated the half-time stage and the world knew an album was imminent.   My niece's birthday was also approaching soon after tickets went on sale so I jumped at the idea of gifting her a ticket to see the Queen B with me.  Genna turned 14 and loves to dance, Beyoncé would be her first concert.   

Seeing Yoncé was a spectacle.   The visuals of the transitions and of each song were amazing.  At one point Blue Ivy came on the huge screen in a transition and the entire crowd screamed.  Prior to the show I had checked her set list and I made a Spotify playlist with all of the songs to listen to leading up to the big day so I had an idea of what songs to expect.   What I loved most is she didn't do the album versions of the songs.  Kitty Kat for example she only sang a portion of in a sultry voice while patting her kitty kat.   Most songs had samples of other songs (like The Doors 5 to 1 sample in Ring the Alarm).  The wall at the rear of the stage was made completely of speakers and the rectangular prism of a screen opened and rotated throughout her set.  This was all part of the THX experience, much like at the beginning of a movie it you hear the sound effect we heard it just before she opened with Formation.  

I captured all photos with my Olympus OM-D EM10 (zoom lens, though yes, the Rose Bowl only allows lenses that are no bigger than 3.5").   I also captured a few dozen videos but editing them together will take a bit longer.  

 

Spring Cleaning & a Hanging Bedside Table

If you're anything like me, when you need to get down to work (think homework or blog work or work-work) you need to have a clean workspace or environment around you.   This past week that is exactly what I've been attempting to focus on- cleaning.   I'll pick a room and deep clean as much as possible (while taking small breaks of course).   Yesterday I focused on our bedroom.  Busted out the carpet cleaner and cleaned our rug! Gasp! 

How to quit your day job: Thanks to Craftcation

Earlier this month, I FINALLY attended Craftcation.  If you love crafting or are interested in learning more about starting/maintaining/improving a craft business, this four day conference is for you.   You can read more about it on their official about page and read an incredibly thoughtful note about this years Craftcation and photos of the entire conference on their page by co-founder Nicole S.

One of the lectures was "How to quit your day job".   And it was one of my *for sure* lectures, though I had already a few days prior... quit my day job.  Funny enough, Rosalie of Ugly Baby and Unanimous Craft started the lecture by saying, "this is actually really easy, bring out your phone... call your boss or send a quick email, you quit, you're done", or something to that extent.   I took notes and left feeling like "yea, I did the right thing for me".

Anything for Selenas

I still remember watching the news with my mom when news broke this day 21 years ago.  I still remember listening to Dreaming of You while starring out my window singing about the love I didn't yet have.   Selena will never be forgotten because we can never forget her.  Her adoring fans proved to MAC how dearly we want to see Selena products.  A change.org petition for a makeup line  is the reason the beauty company began talks with the Quintanilla family.

WE WANT MORE SELENA!
(Not sure how I feel about the digital reincarnation of her performing live though...)

Watch this tear-jerking video montage to Dreaming of You, but be warned, you'll need tissues.  

Visit: Palm Springs Moorten Botanical Garden

Having my birthday land while in my first trimester or pregnancy isn't that exciting.  I am very glad that so far I've had little to no morning sickness.  I will say that my worst and most extreme symptom has been f a t i g u e.  Come March I'm usually totally underway with planning a birthday celebration... but not this year.  I just don't have the energy.   So instead we opted for a weekend in the desert.  We started in Indio where my godmother has retired and my parents joined us there.  Spending time with her and my parents was so nice.  My godmother lives in a newly built community living the sweet, sweet retired life. 

Sssssurprise Eggs

I made something!   The last few weeks have been unproductive on the craft front.  That is about to change in the coming 2 weeks (CRAFTCATION!).   But Sunday is Easter and I wanted to make some cute eggs- and that I did.  I had never hollowed eggs, but it proved pretty easy.   I was torn... I was going to make a set of confetti eggs... but  I had some small succulents from my recent trip to DTLA and I just had to use them for the eggs.   

DIT&O Weekend 11

Where my mom creates her art. 

Where Ziggy thinks about life while my mom is busy in her studio. 

One of the best nooks with a canopy of bougainvillea for shade.  

My dad has had this monstera delicosa since I was born.  

I painted that parrot in Cabo San Lucas as a kid. 

This past Sunday I spent a lovely day at my parents.  I had no objective other than to lounge and spend time with my parents.   Can you tell why I (and all of my friends) love their yard?  Its lush, green, has nooks to lay around in and there are cats (and two dogs) everywhere (my heaven).  This last cat pictured is Beastman- when I moved to LA I tried to move him with me, but he was having none of it.  The kitten in the greenery is a stray and probably feral.   Also every time I'm there, my mom catches me up on the developments in her art studio.  Previously my bedroom and then the home office, in my mom's early retirement she discovered her inner artist.  She surprises me with her paintings, collages and creativity.

Now it only took me an entire week to post this.... I'm off to celebrate my life annual in Palm Springs.

xx,

Galentine's Day 2

Galentine's Day is one of my new-favorite-fake-holiday.  Ever since that Parks and Recreation episode, I was fully on board with fictional character Leslie Knope's invention.   This year I hosted ladies for crafting and snacking.  I set up stamps, washi tape, markers and stationary galore for everyone to write letters, one of my favorite past times.  My dear friend and crafty mother-f***er brought materials for himmeli geometric shapes.   We munched on delicious snacks, chitchatted and crafted away to our hearts desire.  I also brought out my Loopdedoo and made friendship bracelets.  

I kept it simple but it was a lovely evening.  Check out the Galentine's post from two years ago.  

What are you doing together and often lately?