wordless wednesday, happy birth/independence day

 if that photo doesn't scream "summer" "fourth of July" and "bbq heaven" then call me a non-American. Happy 4th of July, folks.

Also, Happy Happy Birthday to my mama! Hope your getting lots and lots done at the Petro Palace in GP. Love you Mama!

twenty four and a new design

Well, here I am. Twenty-four. My grandfather treated me to a target gift card, so I treated myself to a new dress, sandals, and matching bracelet. I "saved" them (am I the only one that does this?) for my birthday dinner at 5th Street Steakhouse (read: best restaurant in Chico). I had Kev take some pictures of me, but lets just say he is still getting used to the new camera. 

Anyways, back to me. Friday, the ladies at work so graciously took me out to a wonderful lunch at Grana, a new Italian eatery here in town. I, of course, ordered the chicken salad sandwich. mmmm.

After work, a Mary Kay consultant named Cynthia came over to do a facial and make-up for my birthday. I won a free make-over thing from a drawing I entered at the Chico Outdoorsman Expo about a month ago. It was so much fun! I have been in kind of a make-up rut lately, so it gave me the kick I needed to play around a bit more and get dolled up. Kev even trimmed the beard!

Margaret asked me to take a picture of the makeover, so here ya go Madgie!

p.s. I am not going to pretend that I didn't edit those photos just a weeeee bit.

Anyways, the birthday was great. In other news, things look a little different around here lately.
I completely redesigned the blog last week. The entire color scheme was based on this pin

and I used a few of these keys, with some slight alterations
(I cannot for the life of me remember where this was pinned from-oops)

the new font is Traveling Typewriter font 

I created the beige&white stripes using paint.net which is a free, photoshop-like program


oh, and the leaf up top is "u" in MTF Flower Doodles font

Hope you like it!

happy birthday gabriella!

My beautiful niece is 6 years old today. How does this happen? How?!

This seems like only yesterday.

Gaby was born 5.13.2006, the day of my senior ball. This photo was taken the next day, a Sunday, at the hospital. There was really no feeling like it, being an auntie for the first time.

Gaby, you are so very bright, not to mention gorgeous. You go with the flow, you never complain, you help your little brother learn new things, you look up to your older brother who is such a great example to you, you are everything a niece should be. I am so proud to be your auntie.

Happy Birthday D!

Happy 4th Birthday to the cutest little guy and nephew in the world! 

Feeling blessed to have a happy, healthy, and of course ADORABLE nephew (and niece) to love!