princess makeover

On Saturday Lucy's princess dreams came true!

I actually let her out of the house in princess garb (Rapunzel to be exact)

and we met our girls Angie and Dakota for a full princess makeover.

The stylists at the Paul Mitchell school used their brightest blush, pinkest gloss and created a fog of hairspray to please these princesses.

The presentation...

Lucy especially liked the manicure with a lovely deep purple hue that still hasn't come all the way off.

Rapunz & Belle

After princess overload Angie and I were in desperate need of some caffeine and lunch so eventually we found a place that was open but walked in and they sat us in the dark. Well, the whole restaurant was dark - and empty. The staff acted like nothing was wrong and Angie and I both went into mini panic attack mode when we heard there was a major power outage in the area. We're both nervous like that but once the chips and salsa came we enjoyed our afternoon eating in the dark. It was an odd but very, very fun afternoon with two of our favorite friends!

whole foods

Is it odd to sign up for free tickets to 'tour' a new grocery store? Probably. But it might even be more odd to blog about the tour. Oh well. We don't go to Disney on Ice until 7:30 tonight so in the meantime this is about as exciting as it gets around here.

Since the beginning of the year the three of us have really made an effort to eat a bit healthier and move a little more. Blake and I aren't getting any younger and we've both tried to commit to some healthier choices (do you notice how I'm using the words: effort, a bit, little, tried - those words aren't the best choices to use). We've worked HARD, we've moved A LOT more than ever and are not trying but DOING what we've planned.

(there, I'm working on being more positive too!)

So being more mindful of what we're eating prompted my interest to sign up for tickets for a preview tour of the huge new Whole Foods store at Trolley Square. Lucy and I headed down this morning for our 10:30 tour for samples and to view this beautiful new store. I've been in Whole Foods a few times but never really shopped there. What I learned today is that even though it can be pricey I would feel a lot better about our food choices shopping Whole Foods. The store has a great florist shop inside, amazing seafood department, produce that sadly had items I didn't even know existed and a whole side of the store devoted to an in-store pizzeria, sandwich shop, sushi and coffee shop.

The tour guide had a lot of interesting information about the company and the products they use. For one, their florist shop only buys flowers from growers who pay fair wages. That's not something I would normally think about but we were told so many flower wholesalers pay unfair wages and make workers work in unsafe conditions. Although we don't see those workers and don't know the history of the flowers we buy I personally do not want to support or pay into anything like that. So I guess the lesson is to be more aware of what you are buying and where it comes from. I know that's easier said than done but I guess little steps.

So many yummy cheeses...with all of the samples Lucy thought she could grab and start eating everything.

Freshly made subs.

Lucy spit out the salami but devoured the veggie sausages. I think her palate prefers Costco samples but some of these she enjoyed.

Delicious green veggie pizza - I'm learning to like vegetables.

Our sweet swag bag!

So we probably won't do all of our shopping at this store but it is good to know there are many healthy, fresh choices ten minutes away. Since we've been eating healthier it seems all we do is grocery shop. Costco for produce, some meats and dairy and eggs, Harmons for bread and a few other things and Target for all of the aisle items: peanut butter, cereal (movies, Tangled toys, magazines and cute seasonal stuff) :).

Now I must add this disclaimer that being more 'mindful' of our eating doesn't mean we're the epitome of healthy eating - not by a long shot! So don't judge if you see me eating a Dunford chocolate donut. And we're not giving up our Hires burgers anytime soon.

But making a few healthier choices has really improved how I've felt lately - I no longer have a drip of diet coke into my bloodstream but actually am drinking water (with only about one diet coke a day). I wore out a pair of tennis shoes and needed to get new ones. And have tried a few healthy recipes in place of a run through a fast food window. So like I said earlier, little steps!

And nothing is healthier than being out in this beautiful sunny day!

pink retreat

Over Presidents' weekend we did two room makeovers. Blake took an extra day off and we decided to update both Lucy's room and ours. Our room is almost done but I need to do some more accessorizing and find something to put on our super bare walls before I show the finished room. Lucy's room is complete now and I'm in love! The first thing I do when she wakes up is open her blinds (that's the first thing I do in EVERY room - closed blinds in homes is probably my biggest pet peeve), make the bed and check on the mini inside rose bush she and I found at home depot. I'm sure I enjoy it more than she does!

I'm pretty sure it was my 8th birthday (the year before my sister was born) that I had a full room makeover. The colors were peach and cream. I had the most beautiful wooden cream-colored canopy bed, matching dresser, desk and hutch. My bedding was peach and I had a peach-colored bedside lamp. It was my most memorable birthday. I remember just sitting on my bed admiring all the special little touches, artwork from Appleyard Art, peach silky ribbons hanging from the canopy posts - ahh I can see it all now! I remember I got a journal that year also and instead of writing some scandalous 8 year old secrets I made a list (my all time favorite past time) of my favorite items in my room. How weird-o is that?!

Anyway...bedrooms, special places to retreat are really important to me and so I wanted Lucy's room to create that same feel. At almost four years old I think she'd rather sleep in our bed with us and the dogs but I'm sure she'll appreciate it soon. She sure does love to show it off and give a detailed tour so I'll share it on the blog...

(oh and I don't have an amazing camera like everyone else does nor do I have any interest in getting one - that being said these pictures REALLY don't do the room justice!)

Blah - this is the before. This picture does show Lucy's new bed. Once we moved out the toddler bed and cancelled the RCWilley order for a really boring wooden slat headboard - this arrived. It's no carriage bed - but Lucy approves. So notice all the dark wood furniture? When I was pregnant Blake and I found a perfect nursery set at Babinskis and I justified the cost by saying Lucy would use the furniture for at least 8 or 9 years. Well, now all of that pretty dark wood furniture is stored in a spare room downstairs. Pink and cream (much like peach and cream) is kind of a necessity for a four year old princess.

This pink on the walls is a super cozy pink - I'm still in search for the right bedskirt.

The mirror on the wall used to hang on my wall in high school but was a really stark white so I spray painted it cream to add to the soft look of the room. This dresser was a great find from KSL. I went from a dresser and changing table to this one large dresser and finally packing away two drawers of baby blankets. I changed the top knobs out on the dresser. Originally I thought I'd paint it but the gold goes perfect in her room.

Did you know you can paint wood laminate? I was looking all over for the perfect sized book case and everything was too pricey or too tall. Then I realized this piece in Blake's office was the size I wanted. I was leery about painting on something fake - I though it would just wipe off. But spending some time online there's plenty of tips on how to paint cheapo wood laminate. So for the price of a couple cans of spray paint I created the perfect piece!

Like me, Lucy loves accessorizing and finding cute little decorative pieces. We've spent many mornings hunting for goodies.

Most of Lucy's toys are in her playroom but she keeps some of her treasures in the drawers of her vanity. I love to see how similar the two of us are. The way she arranges and organizes all of her stuff. It's been so fun to shop and decorate her room when she's so into it.

So that's her cozy little retreat! I've had so much fun working on it but I couldn't do any of it if it wasn't for Blake. He spent his whole weekend painting while I wandered the house and pretended to help. I'm great to come up with an idea, gather supplies, envision results and shop for the "fun" stuff. But when it comes to work, eh, I seem to disappear. Blake would be painting a full room by himself then walk down the hall to find me flipping through decorating magazines under a blanket on the couch.

I think he prefers to work alone though - he's kind of a perfectionist when it comes to painting. I tend to rush through things because I'm too impatient. That's why the book case I painted had a few too many drips - I was painting in 30 degree weather. But what better way to get through the dreary months that a room makeover...ours will be up next!

front page news

We've had some really fun experiences so far being the March for Babies Ambassador Family. Last Friday we received our local 'Sugarhouse Journal' and look who made the front page! The article is HERE - so fun to see and the paper version had an extra picture on the inside.

This is from our very first Roller Derby we attended a few weeks ago. Wasatch Roller Derby is a great organization that donates most of its proceeds to charitable organizations. The derby team contacted the March of Dimes and wanted us to speak and attend their event. I had no idea what a huge following roller derby has. I asked Blake if he would do the speaking and figured it would be the team and 20 or so other people but there were easily a couple hundred people at their event at the Salt Palace. Blake and Lucy did great and 40% of the night's proceeds went to the March of Dimes!

A week after the derby we were invited as guests to the March for Babies Corporate kick off breakfast event at the Sheraton downtown. I collected a bunch of photos of us in the NICU, at past walks and plenty of her 'superstar' pictures over the past (almost) four years which was presented in a slide show. I spoke to the audience of corporate teams and sponsors and held it together pretty well. I kind of thought Blake would take a picture during my big stage debut but...no. We met a lot of great people who do so much to help the March of Dimes - it was a great event to get us pumped up for May!

Lucy helped the MOD staff with the raffle.

Superstar!

Our next event will be a radio interview this Friday February 25 at 3:30 pm. Blake and I will be interviewed on the Person to Person show on AM 630 K-Talk. This will just be a quick ten minute interview but we're excited for the opportunity to spread the word about the march. If you find yourself randomly tuning the AM dial Friday afternoon - tune in - but just don't make fun of us if we sound like chumps. I'm nervous but Blake lovingly reminded me that probably only like 9 people will be listening.

I am so excited for this year's march and it sounds like we're going to once again have great support from all of our family and friends. Again, if you want to register with our team you can join at www.marchforbabies.org/codi21 and click on 'Walk with Me'. If you'd rather not actually register just send me an email letting me know you are planning on walking so I can include you on Team Lucy Bug! emails. If you would like to donate to our team click the sidebar to the right. We are also planning our 2nd Annual Team Lucy Bug! bake sale and if you are interested in contributing something to the sale let me know. The bake sale is a couple of months away but my aunt Kim and cousin Alisa are already planning and we'd love to know if we'll have any other contributors and what you will plan on making! We really appreciate your support!

sparkle ears

My baby is so growing up. Last Wednesday we were at the mall and she told me it was time. We had talked about piercing her ears a few times but it wasn't the right time. I decided I'd wait until she asked on her own to do it...and she did.

She didn't cry at all or even flinch. I was the one sobbing and asking random strangers if I was making a mistake. Luckily the random strangers were super sweet and (probably awkwardly for them) my support system. It was done and Lucy wiped my eyes and we were on our way. Oh, my baby.

She loves having earrings and I have to admit they look adorable!

happy hearts!

We've had such a fun time celebrating Valentine's this month. I decided to do a '14 days of Valentine's' for Lucy this month and found a perfect little mailbox from PBK to hold her little prizes. Each morning Lucy would find a treat, movie or little toy to celebrate. The first few days she asked who was delivering the surprises and I hadn't really thought that out so I never really answered. Blake then started calling it a 'Valentine fairy' so I guess that works.

I love Valentine's day. Some people don't like it but it's always been one of my favorites. I tend to prefer the "sub" holidays with a ranking of 1) halloween 2) valentine's 3) easter. When we were growing up my mom always made Valentine's so cute and we'd always have fun gifts to open. Lucy has loved it this year too. Her new line is "Isn't this DARling?!" So we've heard that all month!

On Saturday we celebrated our "family" Valentine's. I had signed Lucy up for a Valentine tea party at Pottery Barn Kids. That store can get outrageous on prices but just like Pottery Barn it's worth it (sometimes). They do everything up just right. Cute pink sugar cookies, punch, Fancy Nancy stories. Fun little projects and crafts to take home. I guess that's why I had to register well over a month ago and received a confirmation call the day before.

I've gone to a bunch of the classes offered at Pottery Barn and most of them have been really worth going. They offer decorating, party planning and other classes early Sunday morning. It's clean, quiet and smells wonderful. This activity was a little noisy and got messy with glitter glue but Lucy loved it.

Lucy's choice for dinner and she picked Spaghetti Factory IN the trolley.

On Sunday we made and delivered some cupcakes while Blake golfed for 14 hours. Loved the sunny warmer weather!

My Valentine!

On Valentine's night Blake and I are going to the Sarah McLachlan concert (4th row center!). I'm so excited we actually have a date/plans on Valentine's. I hope you have a SWEET day!

what's up?!

...obviously nothing much that's worth blogging about!

But that's okay...sometimes nothing going on is a good thing and makes for some lazy days...

with crazy hair,

and creative creations (this is her driving a Cinderella coach).

But other than dance class, the premiere of Bubble Guppies and reenacting the Tangled movie 14 times a day someone might be going a little stir crazy.

I'm obviously not the creative one in the house and have decided I need to be planning a trip, booking a trip or ON a trip during January to not want to pull my hair out. That's not in the cards for us anytime soon so instead I decided to do some projects in the house.

January blahs aren't that bad with springy new pillows...

And Valentine's stuff!

Caitlin, my mom and I worked on these banners two seconds after the Christmas trees went down (but then they both got really cute glitter and made new ones on their own making mine look blah)

Lucy's fab creation...

These hazy days make for some fun dance parties so we've had many of those. This week we had a little more excitement visiting and deciding on some preschools for fall. I really have spent more energy on this decision than necessary but if I have to send my girl out on her own I really want to make sure it's at the right place. I know this will be so good for her but I will be lost without my little dance partner, shopping pal, co-decorator and tv snuggler (even if it will only be for less than 10 hours a week).

Up next on our agenda? Some bedroom re-do's!

I just have to convince Blake that painting is one of the best things to do on the weekends!

Hopefully I'll have some amazing room makeover blogs coming soon...