An EXCITING Announcement!!!!!!

& then there were 4 in our nest...

Another little baby love will be arriving this Spring!

We are so excited to finally announce that our little family is growing and our little man is going to be a big brother! I am now just about 14 weeks along with our due date at the end of March 2015.

We recently took our family photos by the seriously talented photographer, Kayla Von Der Heide of Kayla V Photography. We had quite a bit of fun during this shoot. We only had one melt down and one attempted run away in the desert by little man but that's of the norm. Levi kept playing with the nest and calling the eggs his "babies". He'd walk up and share a "baby" with each of us but then needed all four eggs back in the nest. He was cracking us up!

Here's just a glimpse of the photo shoot with my little family that I love dearly and am so incredibly grateful for.

So excited for this new chapter in our lives! Each time I ask Levi if mommy is having a boy or a girl, he always says, "girl." We will find out next week if he really is having a little sister or if he's having a baby brother. Either way, this little sibling is in for a crazy ride with it's energetic, spunky older brother and mommy and daddy will be preparing for more random gray hairs, yet more love to share unconditionally and another little soul to cherish wholly.

Thank you Jesus.

{Personal} Celebrating our 4 Year Wedding Anniversary

Now that mine and my husband's 4 year wedding anniversary has past about a month ago, why not finally blog about it right? Ay yi yi, I really need to keep up to date on the blog a bit more.

My husband surprised me with plans to the beach while Grandma T watched our little man for the afternoon. We headed to Newport Beach for lunch at Jack Shrimp. They have my FAVORITE plate of food-Jack Rice. It's this yummy, spicy cajon rice in garlic butter sauce with chicken breast meat and jumbo shrimp (I get it on the side for my husband because I don't care for seafood). It comes with french bread too and dipping the bread in the sauce...SO good!! Definitely recommend this place if you are anywhere near Newport.

After lunch, we headed to the pier where we rented a tandem bike for a few hours. SO FUNNY! We've never rode a tandem bike before and I really thought we were going to fall over several times. It took a while to get used to...after a few wobbles and near accidents into brick walls, we got the hang of it and biked down the coast and around the pier.

We then walked the beach, ate some yummy chocolate covered frozen bananas and drank fresh squeezed lemonade in the sunshine. Refreshing.

We headed home later in the afternoon and got ready for dinner at a delicious Italian Restaurant near our home where we shared alfredo sticks (a.k.a. heart attack sticks that taste too delicious not to eat) and a pizza with all the fixin's.

We also shared good conversation where we reflected on this past year of marriage (something we do every year) and what the future may hold. Communication is so important in any relationship and being able to share our thoughts and feelings with each other is something I pray we will always keep between us.

I am so incredibly thankful for this man whom not only I love with my whole heart but who loves me and I know it. God is so good! Here's to another many, many years ahead of us to do life together.

I'll love you forever...

"...The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!"

But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be..."

by Robert Munsch

I love you little bug. I love you more than I could ever articulate into words. Sometimes my heart aches from the unconditional feelings I have for you.

No matter what, I want you to live a life of joy. A life that was given to you not because of mommy and daddy but because of our sweet Lord and his purpose for you.

Hold tight to your courage and remember that you are braver than you know, more compassionate than you may feel and worth more than anyone may say.

I love you. Daddy loves you. Your grandmas love you. Your grandpas love you. Your aunts and uncles love you. Your cousins love you. Your baby friends love you. But most of all, God love you.

I pray you never doubt this or underestimate the power of unconditional love. 

A Birthday Letter to My Dearest

Two years ago today, my husband and I were given the very best blessing we could have ever prayed for. On December 2, 2011 at 11:01 am, we welcomed a little 6lb 11oz baby boy into this world. That sweet bundle of love has changed our lives forever.

Before I became a mother, I thought I knew what love was, I thought I learned to be selfless and I thought I knew what made me happy. 

Dearest Levi, 

When my eyes first met yours, my heart became bigger, my smile wider, my hugs tighter and my tears heavier. You have brought so much joy to my life and I thank Jesus every day for you, including every night as you fall asleep as daddy and I sing "Jesus Loves You".

Although I get tired and worn out much sooner than you do, I am thankful for your endless creativity and bounds of energy. If only I could bottle up just a bit of your endurance and fearlessness, we could soar to the moon and back. 

My hope for you is that you will follow the path that the Lord has set for you, you won't let any fears overcome your purpose, you will love big and you will hold tight to your creative imagination. You are so incredibly smart little one. You will do amazing things!

It has been 2 years of being a mommy to you and I couldn't imagine life without you. You have taught me so much more than I could have ever dreamed and you helped make me a better person. I am eternally grateful.

You will forever be my baby.

I love you so SO much!!

Happy birthday bug!!

Love, 

Mommy

P.S. When you wake up from your nap in a few minutes we will be going to pick out a fish for your birthday gift. You are infatuated with them and today, you will have your very own "fishy". <3

3 Year Wedding Anniversary with My Bestest

Yesterday, was mine and my husband's 3 year wedding anniversary! It has all gone by SO fast but it has been an amazing 3 years. I can honestly say that I married my best friend.
3 years ago yesterday, we shared one of the best days of our lives together. 2 years ago yesterday, we ate at the same restaurant (and sat at the same table) that we went to on our honeymoon during our first stop on our road trip. 1 year ago yesterday, we were enjoying Oregon's coast and wishing we didn't have to come back to California. Yesterday, we ate some YUMMY food, did a little wine tasting, sat under twinkle lights and learned to dance the tango. It was beautiful and perfect!
Thank you grandma Tiffany for watching our little love bug while we went out. :)
Here's a little glimpse of the evening turned night.
(MOST of the photos are taken with a camera phone so the quality isn't the best but hey, they're memories)

I gave him this funny card by Julie Ann Art. Ha! We're married. Whatev.

The olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It looked so strange the way I did it. ;)

Under that layer of cheese is some DELICIOUS spicy penne pasta!

Stuffed and happy.

We ended the night by Tango dancing with Sinatra, Monroe and Presley.

Looking forward to many more anniversaries together. Thank you so much Brandin for loving me more than I deserve and being the BEST husband I could have ever prayed for. I LOVE YOU my wonderful man!

Some {GOOD} finds + more boutonnieres

This morning, I just wanted to share a few things that I stumbled upon the past few days. They are some really good reads and I know you will enjoy them as well! :)
First, I was sent this beautiful...& FUNNY list:
25 things I want my son to know
It is absolutely a must read for mommies! Especially if you have a little boy...or several little boys. lol
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Next, anyone a Starbucks fan??

I found this little ode to a good Starbucks outing from Profiles of a Papergirl.
It's called, none other than:
Starbucks Love.
READ!
& follow this blog! She (Sarah)is an amazing writer!
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& last but certainly not least, there is a fun little giveaway going on over at The Official Blog of Elisha. Be sure to check it out! There's lots of vintage-inspired necklaces to be won! :)

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Now, for the rest of the day...
I am just about done with another boutonniere order (2 pieces are missing from the photo). I will be finishing up and shipping it out to San Diego on Monday :)

{Have a Beautiful Weekend!}

Pumpkin Spice Latte & Freshly Painted Nails

It has been a crazy week & I decided that this afternoon I needed some "me time" so I painted my nails & sipped on a Pumpkin Spice Latte :) Ahhhh....

Being 38 1/2 weeks pregnant is really taking it's toll--not only on my body but also my emotions and stress levels. Like I said, this week has been a crazy one & for some reason I really haven't had any motivation to start any new projects. I have been so tired just waiting for our little man to finally make his appearance! Next week though, I have some orders to send out in the mail & I'm really excited about new projects I will also be starting :)

Now, it's time to get ready to attend a beautiful fall wedding! I also created the bride's fall-inspired hairpiece (complete with ivory flower, fall leaves & a gorgeous crystal brooch for the center) and I'm so excited to see how it will look with her gorgeous dress!

{Have a beautiful night}

For the LOVE of scarves! :D

This morning has been another one of those crafting days! Yesterday, I went to the fabric store {for hours!!} and bought lots of new fabrics to create some scarves! I love love love scarves and I figured, why not make them if I adore them so much?! So, I did just that! Well, I made one so far...but I have sooo many different ideas that I want to create but for now, I need to just take one scarf at a time! :)

Here's my first, and only scarf done so far.

{Enjoy}

I created this infinity scarf using 70.5" of Magenta Wool Blend fabric to keep you extra toasty this chilly season. I also used 2 strips of 9.5" of Crochet Lace & a fabric flower made of muslin with gold shimmer and a vintage-inspired button for the center.





For the flower-- I cut & folded the fabric to create "petals" and then hand-sewn them to the magenta scarf. Then, I took extra magenta fabric and sewn that to the middle followed by a pearl button!

You can wear this scarf in several different ways & here, I have showed a couple ways:


I will be creating many more scarves to come and they will {SOON} be available at the Love Sparkle Pretty Etsy Shop!

Also coming soon...
TOTE BAGS!
:D

{Have a beautiful day!}