Why order just one...

I finally ordered Gavin's birth announcements from the wonderful shutterfly. I love this website! Not only is it really easy to use the site I love creating really cute photo books and cards. You can also download your pictures and order photos online. Sometimes packing up two kids and heading to walmart to print off pictures can be a bit of pain.... Plus if you look online you can get discount codes for almost everything. Don't you just love online shopping? I sure do! Here are the two I couldn't choose just one...

The "big gift"

One month til Christmas!! I'm so excited and I can't wait to see Olivia's face Christmas morning. SO I am looking for the perfect "big gift". Kris doesn't really get this but it is my childhood tradition that I will now do with my kids. Every Christmas when I was growing up we always got one big gift usually it was from Santa...a 4 wheeler (which I crashed on boxing day), a computer (yes windows 95) and a trip to Disneyland. As we got older we then started doing that for our parents giving them one big gift from all of us and my Dad always gave my Mom one very expensive gift...mini van (back in the day), lots of diamonds, and her new SUV. Spoiled...yes I know...


Which one to buy for my little girl. Kitchen set or Piano?? Maybe both...

Downstairs Design

My next big project I want to complete is to re-do the downstairs. Lately we have been spending tons of time there and I can't stand looking at these burnt orange walls any longer! Seriously what was the previous owner thinking?? Right now we have the large room split into two areas...kids playroom and "man cave" I know my hubby isn't a fan of this but it is the only area I have to put the kids toys. I want to make the walls lighter and add color to the kids area in the accents and toys. So right I am only going to focus on the kids area. Here are a few ideas I found online at Pottery Barn Kids...they are so fun and cheerful! Any kid would love to play in these rooms and moms love them for being so organized!!

Here are a few "must" haves that I am loving right now for the playroom!

The Virre Indoor slide from ikea. My daughter is slide crazy and I mean crazy! We live across the street from a park and trying to get her to leave the slide very difficult. So this is perfect... especially on a rainy cold day.

Since my daughter loves books and we have a ton...I thought some cute book ends were needed! Don't you just love the color....these owls from skip hop are just the sweetest things. I will be placing my order!

I found this amazing website that sells beautiful baby/kid products www.ellaandelliot.com  So fun, modern and unique. I am in love with these tree stumps! I want one in every color for every room in my house...well maybe not the bathroom...but seriously so great for a kids bedroom or playroom. 

I am loving all the cute lamps out there right now for kids rooms. This is my dream lamp...a girl can dream right?? Only $440 the adler giraffe lamp by Jonathan Adler is my dream piece in the playroom..

Also found at ellaandelliot

But this lamp fits my budget and style plus it is also super adorable...found here at anthropologie.

Time to pick out the paint color and start all this shopping. Since the weather outside is getting cold my hubby will have time to start the building and painting process. I will be taking photos during the process and I will share them with you! Happy monday everyone...

Christmas baking...yum

Since it has been very cold and rainy outside I have decided to start my christmas baking. I love baking and sharing the goods with family and friends. So I thought I would share some of my favorite recipes...most of them are Martha Stewart..I just love her! Most of her cookies are easy to make and they store and freeze great...which is perfect for early birds like me. The best thing about baking is being creative and adding your own personal touch. Try out a recipe or share one with me. Happy baking and of course enjoy with friends and family.

xo Cindy

Love these cookies...Snickerdoodles. Perfect with a cup of Joy tea..and perfect for the holidays!

After rolling the balls of dough in cinnamon sugar, give them ample room on cookie sheets; they spread a lot as they bake.

Makes 4 dozen

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup pure vegetable shortening
• 1 3/4 cups sugar, plus more if needed
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, plus more if needed
• 2 large eggs

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, with one rack in top third and one rack in bottom third of oven. Line baking sheets with Silpat baking mats or parchment paper; set aside.
2. Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine butter, shortening, and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add eggs, and beat to combine. Add dry ingredients, and beat to combine.
3. In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the ground cinnamon. Use a small (1 1/4-ounce) ice-cream scoop to form balls of the dough, and roll in cinnamon sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies are set in center and begin to crack (they will not brown), about 10 minutes, rotating the baking sheets after 5 minutes. Transfer the sheets to a wire rack to cool about 5 minutes before transferring the cookies to the rack. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Snickerdoodles - Martha Stewart Recipes 

The classic cookie but soooo much better! Cakey Chocolate Chip Cookies. I have fun with these ones...add walnuts or for the holidays I like to add red and green M&M! Olivia will have fun helping me bake these cookies this year. 

Ingredients

Makes about 3 dozen

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (about 12 ounces) semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
2. Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges and set in the center, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Cakey Chocolate Chip Cookies - Martha Stewart Recipes 

Attention all chocolate lovers! Double Chocolate Chip Cookies are AMAZING!! I love these cookies with a huge glass of milk :) I'm such a farm girl. These cookies are also great with some espresso powder added to it or peppermint extract instead of vanilla. It takes like a extra good peppermint patty...yum

Oversize and ever-so-slightly underbaked, these cookies include big chunks of milk chocolate.

Ingredients

Makes about 3 dozen

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/2 pound good-quality milk chocolate, 4 ounces coarsely chopped and 4 ounces cut into 1/4-inch chunks
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Melt 4 ounces coarsely chopped chocolate with the butter in a small heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; let cool slightly.
2. Put chocolate mixture, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture. Fold in chocolate chunks.
3. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies are flat and surfaces crack, about 15 minutes (cookies should be soft). Let cool on parchment on wire racks. Cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Double Chocolate Cookies - Martha Stewart Recipes 

Growing up so fast....

Gavin had his baby photos done last week by the very talented Sharalee. She also did Olivia's baby photos 2 years ago so I was very excited for Sharalee to come and do Gavin's...I just love her work. Don't you? My little boy is growing up so fast and I need to remember to slow down and treasure everyday.

40 days....

Wow I can't believe my little boy is 40 days old already! Gavin is growing up so fast...he is over 10 pounds and gives me the sweetest smile already. It just melts my heart when he looks me in the eyes and grins...
I remember starting my blog with a baby bump and now I am writing with my beautiful son in my arms. I have his newborn photos today and I am so excited to share them with everyone. So in the meantime here are some pictures that I have taken in the past 40 days..I just love this little guy. xoxo

Newbie

3 days old at home

What a sweet boy!

Happy Halloween little bear

Oh just beautiful....

So it's been a little hectic around here..sorry this post is so late. My beautiful handmade bedding has come and I am so excited to share it with you! My very talented friend Kim of LouLa Boutique made it for Gavin's nursery and for his baby shower gift she gave him an amazing quilt. The crib is from Ikea along with the dresser. I just did a simple white sheet and no skirt on the crib. I also got the area rug from Ikea..now I need to go back and find some curtains!

My glider is AMAZING! I was determined to find one on craigslist as I knew I couldn't spend that kind of money on a new one. So for months I checked..everyday..until the most beautiful one came up in the perfect color for a steal!!  All the late nights and early mornings breast feeding and sleeping in it..so worth every dollar.  Later on it will look great in the family room.

Monte Luca Glider! Brand new find on craigslist for half the price!

Blabla bear and custom pillows

Olivia on the "pouf"..love it 

Just adding things...need to redo when I have everything.

A few more details need to be added and then the room will be complete! Next project the kids play room :) xo Cindy