Good bones

Picked up this rocker/glider and ottoman @ an Estate sale on Friday. I thought it had "good bones". It isn't a matching set, but after I got my hands on it you wouldn't know it.

 I sanded, painted, sewed and tufted and now I love it! :)

I'm thinking of making a throw pillow to go with it.

I should have snapped down the tabs on the back pillow oh well you get the idea.

My helper

Chloë loves to climb on things, especially when she knows she's not supposed to. I am unloading the dish washer when I hear a knock at my door. I go to open it and come back to find this...

Rodeo beach and the kid with horns

Last week my sister and step mom came into town for a visit. We took them to a 24th of July BBQ and to Rodeo Beach (in Marin).

This kid won't touch grass so I thought she would freak in the sand, but she LOVED it!

Jasmine in the potato sack race

Chloe loved her Aunt Jasmine

we didn't do so well :(

Chloë and nana chillin in the shade.

Chloë and I took a quick trip to Walmart, and as we were standing in line a lady behind us says "When I first looked at your daughter I thought she had horns. Then I realized you had her in pigtails. She really doesn't have enough hair for that"  :(   I didn't like her 2 cents. This was the first day I had ever done her hair like that. I thought she looked cute, but I guess she looked like she had horns..

Homemade Cinnabon Recipe

You know that mouth watering cinnamon Cinnabon smell that fills the air of the mall? Anytime I walk by the Cinnabon store I want to get one! I am happy to say that my house has that smell.This is my version of "Cinnabon" cinnamon rolls. So good! They really do turn out like the "real" ones! Here it is!

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 4 1/2 cups bread flour ( I've used all purpose too and it come out great)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter, mostly melted but not too warm (add all together to create filling)
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened ( I like more like 4-5 oz so it's not too sweet)
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
2. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with the 1/3-1/2 cup butter and sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls with floss. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375-400 degrees. Depending on how hot your oven gets.
4. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.
5. Always eat them warm!!

Design advice?

I need some ideas/help on this project please!
I was so excited about this beautiful desk, dresser, chair, mirror combo I picked up off Craigs List for 50 $ a few months back. I got to work on it with a vision of doing it white, with dark glaze to accentuate the wave in the wood.


Photos of the before

In the painting process...

                                                               
                                                                              Finished Photos..

The photos don't show well that there is a very slight yellow tint due to the Polyurethane I put over the paint. I think that is what I am really hating more than anyhing. I don't know what to change it to. I was thinking of stripping it back down to bare wood and then staining it a dark cherry wood? That is a TON of work though I don't know.. HELP!

Summer fun

Friday evening our little family packed up the Rav and headed out to Idaho. We drove all night so that Chloë could just sleep.. but sleep she didn't.. and Ginger panted, and whined most of the way.. 15 hours later we arrived.

 It was a great trip visiting the Baird's side. Lots of food, gatherings, games, fireworks, and LOTS of babies. Two of my sisters in law had twins and Chloë and her cousin James are both 1 so six little babes.

Miss Chloë played on the trampoline with the sprinklers on.. She didn't care much for the cold water :(

Daddy to the rescue!!

It's so cold Daddy I need to get off of this trampoline!

The fireworks on the river were great as usual. Ginger was the highlight of the night wth her glowstick collar.

Fireworks on the river with the fam

Both sets of twin cousins

Two of a kind..

 Chloë giggled the whole time she rode on the horse with daddy :)

I killed a can!

We went to visit Adam's best friend Andrew ,and his cute family. They took us to the "splash Park".

Mommy and Chloë on the carousel

Chloë wasn't a fan of the cold water so we took her back to our blanket and fed her popsicles.. now THAT she loves

Check out those legs! I l-uuu-ve those legs!

 Happy SUMMER!!

ONE

My sweet little One year old..

You are the sweetest thing I know. I couldn't have picked a better spirit to come into our home. Your "Dada" and I adore you. You've brought more joy into our lives than we had imagined. I know you won't remember this day, but I always will. Here are a few pictures from your special day..

 It was my first time frosting cupcakes with decorating bags and tips. I don't know why I didn't do this before! I used to just slap on the frosting with a butter knife.. Never again! I had so much fun with them! Girls are the best!

You looked so pretty in your party dress I could have eaten you alive!

Gotta love those rolls!

Inspiration for this cake: Pink Peach Cakes.. So adorable.

You have become so playful these days. You love to be tickled, tossed up in the air, kissed (oh wait that's what mommy likes) You love the pool, reading books, clapping, waving bye-bye, your food.. seriously.. this kid LOVES to eat. Even dog food, which you get into more than I want to admit. but most of all you LOVE your "Dada". You have been talking now for about six months. You can say the following:

• Dada
• Dog-dog
• Bye bye
• duck
• Ca ca (mommy doesn't like that one, but it's my fault)

 You sleep in "childs pose" and Daddy and I love to come in your room while you are asleep and take pictures and laugh. You amuse us.



I got this rose cake idea off of Pioneerwoman.blogspot.com LOVE her! (thanks Jess for the link!)

You had a very sad break down moment when the party guests arrived. It's a new thing you being scared of strangers. Hope it passes soon!

 You were still a little under the weather on your birthday so you probably didn't enjoy the sugar like you normally would have. Your dad and I enjoyed it for you!

I had no idea you could color powdered sugar until now, but you can! White chocolate dipped caksters yumm..

You have grown so much since you were born. One year is Huge in baby world. We can't wait to see who you have become this time next year!

  

You still only have two bottom teeth. I love your big gummy smile I don't want those others to start coming in!

Your tiny newborn ballet shoes you used to wear



Chloë's party dress



I had so much fun baking, dipping, and frosting. I'm sure I gained 5 lbs just making your party treats.. Oh well worth it!

                                                   What happened to my teeny tiny newborn?
                               Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter. We love you more than you know.