Forget Me Nots {A Recently, Not-So-Recently Post}

I try to post regular "Recently Posts" to remind myself of all of the shenanigans that has happened lately. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to document these memories as well as I should have. So, this is a "Forget Me Not Post"-a compilation of several blessings, events and moments from the past month or so.

The husband and I had a date night, in. My father in law watched our son for us as we whipped up another recipe from our cook book we bought recently (remember the first recipe?). We listened to some Frank Sinatra and put our own spin on the ingredients since we didn't have "ziti" pasta, enough arugula and apparently the wrong ricotta cheese was purchased for this dish. As much fun as we had cooking this dinner, I'd love to say that this recipe turned out super delicious but because of our inaccuracy of ingredients, it definitely could have been better (we know for next time).

Nothing beats the time we spent together that night and I'd do it all over again...ingredient mishaps and all.

Mornings in the sunshine with my love bug have been a part of my favorite moments.

I have had the opportunity to have my work featured in my first print magazine. Per request, I shipped a whimsical floral crown from my shop to Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine. "The #1 monthly mag for chic moms-to-be and hot new mamas." I can't wait to see the April issue! Floral crowns are PERFECT for maternity shoots!

I have also had the absolutely amazing opportunity to work with Casey Wiegand. I have been following her blog for quite some time now. She has been such a great inspiration and beautiful role model as a mother and Godly woman. She is just beautiful inside and out!

I sent out a few floral crowns from the new line to her and her precious daughters and she blew me away with her kind words when she first opened her package, "I just had to say THANK YOU!!!!! Oh my heavens, I literally GASPED when I opened your gorgeous box today- AHH! WOW! Seriously WOW! We will get pics asap!...THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!! **squeals**"

See more of this post here. Casey's crown-Leigh. Apple's crown-Apple.

Such sweet moments of motherhood!

See more of this post here. Ainsleigh's crown-Ainsleigh. Apple's crown- Apple.

After my friend Tara and I attended Creative Tea Time a few weeks ago, we did something spontaneous on our way home. As we drove on the freeway, we looked to our left and saw a beautifully lit Ferris Wheel and without much hesitation, we got off the next exit (totally unaware of our location) and drove until we saw our destination. We got to see the city lights that night at the top of a giant wheel and it is a memory that will not soon be forgotten.

I was sent a couple handmade bow ties from As Darling Does and I fell in LOVE!! I am so excited to finally have some little boy accessories because they seem hard to come across. Our little man looks so handsome in his spiffy new pieces! I will be featuring this adorable shop with a giveaway so check back VERY soon.

I received some photos from another amazing and happy customer. I love seeing photos of special moments captured with handmade pieces from my craft studio. Thank you so much Hoi! I wish you the very best and a lifetime of happiness in your marriage. <3

Get the lace blusher veil in the shop here.

Joseph Lin Photography

We went on a late night family trip to one of my favorite burger places-Tommy's! The nearest drive thru is now about 20 minutes away and with a sudden urge for a chili slathered cheeseburger, the husband didn't mind driving. It was a craving worth giving into and on the way back, we belched some good tunes as love bug danced his little heart out in the back seat.

The husband and I snuck out for a little double date night to go bowling with the in laws. I won half of a game and I will take that! ;)

A couple nights ago, I hosted a Valentine-themed girl's night with yummy food, singing in the kitchen (a game of love songs), mimosas, intimate topics and lots of chuckles. 

Thank you Dee Dee Motique for the darling wooden topper!!

The other morning, we woke up as a family and headed to the park for some fresh air. I didn't take any photos because I had put my phone away in attempt to be more "present." I feel like social media and the phone in general can be such a huge distraction throughout your day in this beautiful life given to us. I find myself turning off my phone ringer a lot more now and actually hiding it at times to diminish those unwanted disturbances. I want to make this more of a habit. It can be really hard for me because this is a huge part of work-responding to emails, updating and renewing sold listings, keeping up on social media, etc. but I want to enjoy even the smallest of moments throughout my day. I am making a conscious effort and that's where it starts. 

What do you think about the craze of social media and keeping up on notifications and emails? 

What have you been doing recently my friends?

I want to remember this morning.

Last night after our dinner date at P.F. Changs, my husband and I grabbed some warm coffee at Corner Bakery Cafe and decided to stroll the outside shopping mall. As we walked toward Willams-Sonoma, I had an idea to look at cookbooks (this is the only thing that inspires me to cook-if they have pretty pictures). I then realized that Brandin has never been in this store and was surprised that a knife set could cost $1,500+ & $45 stirring spoons do exist...can you tell I buy our cookware at Target? lol I am IN LOVE with this store though! It makes we want to throw a dinner party every time I walk through those doors.

We headed over to the shelves where all of the desired cookbooks were on display. As we glanced through a few, I stumbled upon Two in the Kitchen-a cookbook for newlyweds. Although we aren't necessarily newlyweds anymore, it looked appealing. Brandin must have thought so too since he stood there reading (what seemed like every page) as I marveled within other book covers.

As I migrated to the cherry tomatoes, I noticed my husband walk to the counter with the book in hand. A huge smile danced on my lips. "So, we are going to cook together?" I asked. "Yes." He said. "Promise?" "Promise." And we walked out.

On our way home, he had me pick out a breakfast recipe as our first from the book. We both decided on Eggs Benedict and stopped by the store to pick up the ingredients for the next morning. 

It was 6am when Brandin got up and 6:30 when I finally put my feet on the floor. We were both awake before our little one and that was the plan.

We started with playing some Ray LaMontagne ('Let it be Me' was first to come out of the speakers) and lit a yummy smelling candle. Brandin wiped down the counter tops as I flipped the book open to Eggs Benedict and got the utensils ready. Ingredients were then put together in measuring cups and the team work began.

I started on the hollandaise sauce with cracking eggs and melting butter. Brandin started with cooking the fresh baby spinach, boiling water for the poached eggs and reading through the directions.

Brandin: "How do you spell ramekin?" (As he starts googling this item to find out what it is)

Me: (communicated the spelling) "Is that like a knife or something?"

Brandin: "I don't know but it looks like they're sold at Walmart....Oh wait, it looks like it's that small bowl our whisk is sitting on."

Me: "I think we should take some cooking classes..."

We had some good laughs.

As everything was just about done and Brandin poached his first eggs-ever, our little one awoke to a yummy smelling kitchen-bed head and all.

We set the table, prayed together and admired our work before delving in. "Mmmmmm" was all I could manage to say. Not only was this my first taste of an Eggs Benedict but it tasted SO DELICIOUS-a nice surprise to what I was anxious about.

We decided to make this a daily tradition. One meal a day-together.

The time that we were able to spend together (which doesn't come very often) was priceless. When you're married for a little while (3 1/2 years for us) there may be moments were you find yourselves wondering "what can we do together that we both will enjoy?" Finding time together that was meaningful didn't come as easily as it once seemed it was so we found ourselves asking that very question.

Although Brandin loves to cook a lot more than I do, it can seem like a chore to anyone at times and so uninviting. Doing this together though, makes it a lot more fun and even with a toddler in the kitchen, we can teach him what different utensils are (we may have to google some-ha!), the types of ingredients and tastes that trigger certain palettes.

His favorite part, eating the yummy goodness!

I will hold onto this beautiful morning and I look forward to many more of these sweet moments...

What do you and your husband/significant other do for fun to spend meaningful time together?