Did You Miss Me?

What a week! Work has been insanely busy this week, but I can't complain because I had the chance to gear up for it at the end of last week.

This time last week was I was packing up to head to Scottsdale, Arizona for an extended spa weekend with 8 very lovely ladies, only 3 of which I had met before the trip. All but two of us were married and four of us had children. All of us were working professionals, so we had a great deal in common and appreciated the opportunity to enjoy some wine and down time.

I wish I could rewind and go back! It was an incredible, much-needed, relaxing girls-only weekend.  We hiked.  We were pampered at the spa. We worked out. We talked. We shopped. We ate. We drank. We even staked out the fire pit for 8 hours!! Here are some pics courtesy of our lead trip organizer, the fabulous KJD.

Ever seen a dead, dying centuries old cactus? I found it interesting.

By the fire..where we enjoyed cocktails, laughs, stories, and great food.

Charm City Daddy stayed behind and watched little Lady Gaga Goo Goo and was VERY happy to see me when I returned home. He got a nice little taste of the midget bully's hazing. Ha! Love my little girl.  We have a nice little arrangement when daddy watches her that always results in him appreciating me more. Love that.

After my scariest, most turbulent airplane landing to date (for which even the flight attendant let out a big sigh on the intercom), I thanked God for bringing us home safely. When I arrived home just in time for Olivia's bedtime, I kissed her a million times over and held her a little longer before putting her into the crib.

I am so thankful that I could take that trip (that my husband even encouraged it), but now I feel rejuvenated and ready to jump back into reality and take care of my family.

Lovely Ladies

Today was just lovely.  To celebrate the 70-degree weather, I wore one of my new Liberty of London dresses from Target.

Yes, I fell for the marketing scheme and now I own two of those floral patterned frocks that also match candles, flower pots, bicycles, pillows throughout the store. And no I had never heard of L.o.L. before the Target campaign. It is quite obnoxious as you walk around the store actually--but at the same time somehow magnetizing and a bit hypnotic.

At any rate, I got lots of compliments on the ensemble (which I paired with a cardigan and pearls) which according to Charm City Daddy made me look like a Stepford Wife (he was joking with love of course--and I had to agree). 

The best part of my day, however was when I arrived home and my little Olivia had on her own cute Target dress (size 18mos!) that I had bought for her before she was born. Here we are in our dresses...

 Of course if I had my way, she would also have a little Liberty of London in her collection but I couldn't find anything in her size! Her dress is bunched up on the bottom in this pic, so you can't see the cute little pockets, but you get the idea. I could just eat her up!

Happy

Happy St. Patrick's Day! and to my little miss piggy...

Happy 7 months!

Boy, do we have a blast on Sunday mornings when daddy is catching his last little bit of Zzz before church! I can make you laugh out loud with pretty much any kind of explosive sound or whistling. One of my favorite things that you do? Sing along with the music in the car. My least favorite thing that you do? Cry everything I put you on your changing table for a diaper change. You are crawling/pushing backwards and it's only a matter of time before you figure out how to get out of reverse and into first gear! I can hardly wait. Let the baby-proofing begin!

Wild Wild Hair!

Olivia's hair lives in little braids all the time now, but I thought I would share a pic of what it looks like before the weekly Friday night wash...

WILD AND CRAZY (and cute)!

Oh No They Didnt!

I was just browsing etsy for a gift for a friend when I came across this creative case for an Apple iPad....

All I could think was...."Oh no they didnt!" Btw, everytime I say that outloud I think of Bethenny from the Real Housewives of NYC. Love me some Real Housewives!

Back to the pad...if you love it, purchase it here. I'll pass on this one.

Perfect Timing!

Last week I told my mom, I wanted to pick up sewing and make a real effort to do more projects around the house on  my own. So on Sunday, she happily delivered her own sewing machine and told me I could have it because there is a sale on them and she wants a fancier one. Fine with me!

I told her I wanted my first project to be throw pillows for the living room and matching lampshades and what do you know Design Sponge posted a blog today about how to sew throw pillows! Yay! I have a new project!

Now all I have to do is find some decent fabric and pillow inserts at the Calico Corners' sale  which started today and go at it! I will let you know how it all pans out. My mom, aunt, grandma are so good at this stuff. I hope it runs in the family.