halloween hoarder

Yama hama.

That pretty much sums it up.

I've laughed, been horrified, felt sad for many people on that hoarders show but this weekend I felt like one of them.

I've blabbed on and on about my love affair with all things orange, fall, halloweeny, etc for years. I know I've accumulated quite a collection of "fall bins" but this weekend was kind of a sad wake up call. The other day I found some fab treasures at Home Goods (who knew! what off-beat fun halloween things they have) and then picked up a few new must-haves at Taipan. Well on Saturday I thought it would be good to take an inventory of what I have because I don't have 5,000 sq ft to play around with or anything - this decor needs a plan (two months in advance, i know, i know).

Well, one by one Blake brings out bins from the garage. Giant bins. Then I remember some big bags I had stashed away inside. It all came out. And I am certifiably a halloween hoarder.

This might be half of it. It was funny for a minute so I thought I 'd take a picture but then it became a little...awkward.

Blake was mowing the lawn and I felt completely exposed...skulls, black and orange ribbon, pumpkin faces, spider soap dispensers. It had no end.

You know on hoarders when the people start making excuses like "well, what if I ever have a party (said by social misfit) and one of my guests has one arm and...they need this plate that holds a glass" or some bizarro remark that would never happen. Well, in my head I became that hoarder I've laughed at. "Well, I might have a costume ball and these little witch card holders would be great for prize certificates."

Yeah, hoarder.

I managed to unload a few things but really I just rearranged them in my totes because you never know what you'll need.

I'm not going to be too hard on myself though because I probably only have half a tote of Christmas and well, if I run out of room to decorate inside I have a full yard that I can branch out in.

I did however, empty my online shopping cart of pottery barn halloween goodies.

(except some more skull heads)

happy hoarding halloween!

gruesome twosome

After I had a long day at work last week Blake offered to give me some time alone and volunteered to take Lucy golfing (such a sacrifice). I thought it sounded nice to have an hour or so to myself and Lucy couldn't get out of the backyard fast enough - after making a point to put her hand up to me and say "you're staying here mommy." Uh, yeah, I know.

These two headed out on their merry way and I felt a mix of joy and sadness...knowing this is their hobby and their time.

She really enjoys golf and Blake says she has a good swing.

(she dresses herself for golf outings)

Lucy twirling down the driveway...because as she puts it "i'm a dancing golfer."

what a twosome...I always knew Blake would have a golf partner!

Two weeks

Two week catch-up.

Although not a lot has happened the past two weeks we've done a few fun things that have added to a great summer. I don't want snow but I can say that I'm fine with summer winding down. For only having one child we've kept pretty busy running around this summer and I'm personally ready for a cozy, long fall.

One thing that this fall will probably be lacking is preschool. I've felt like a failure of a mom the past week after finding out Lucy likely won't move out of the realm of the preschool wait list. I guess this is one of many of my clueless mom moments that I missed the memo that you have to register for preschool like really far in advance. I thought calling in April might be early enough but I was sorely mistaken. And now I have a three year old begging to go to school and not much to offer her. I'll hold out hope until the end of the month and then I'll just resign myself that it wasn't meant to be (how's that to ease my guilt) and do a make-shift-home-pre-pre-school. I know my daughter is brilliant ( :) ) and doesn't need preschool to get an edge up on her class of 2025 mates but we really wanted preschool for the social aspect. Lucy's no social misfit but she just needs other kids to express her fun personality with. So if anyone is up for a play date this fall - just let me know - I'm compiling a list of activities.

I may not be able to get our girl into preschool but I can get her into a pretty fun concert! We went to the Sandy Amphitheatre to see ARRIVAL (ABBA tribute band). It's been said before, Lucy is obsessed with the movie and music from Mamma Mia! so we knew this was a must. She danced the night AWAY and was asleep fifteen seconds after her car seat was buckled.

dancing queen!

We had our favorite boy Crosby over for a couple of hours of coloring, snacks and sandbox time. We're so excited to meet his little brother coming in a couple of months!

At the end of the month we went to my company's summer party. I'm really lucky to work for such a great law firm and they know how to put on a great party. We had the entire zoo to ourselves in the evening when it was nice and cool and quiet! All of the animals came out after a cool rain and Lucy could run and see everything without creepy, bruiser kids and parents in her way. My sister was one of the party planners and she did amazing! One highlight being a front and center bird show.

My good friend Lacey and her darling daughter Kylee. Unlimited carousel and train rides!

Last week Lucy and I had a mommy/daughter date and saw Ramona and Beezus. It's a super cute movie and Lucy sat through the whole thing. We had a minor argument before the movie because I made her wear...pants! But as long as I let her take this unicorn purse and let her apply her own lipgloss she agreed to go to the movie with me.

The next day was a different story.

I didn't think this would happen so soon - I was hoping I'd have a few more years but on Saturday I was given the title

"the worst mommy EVER!"

I'll admit my transgressions:

shorts (not a beautiful, magical dress like she requested)

denim shorts (even worse)

t-shirt (a boy t-shirt according to Lucy although it was purchased in the toddler Gap girl category)

ponytail (I thought this would be a cute new look. Lucy said it made her hair look short like a boy. I guess she couldn't see the cute curly pony in back).

(that is her pouting at her bed after she gave me my title)

Whatever.

Moving on. I started a chore chart for Lucy a couple of weeks ago. I thought it would a be a great way for her to start to help out and keep control of her crazy messy room. I explained if she did all of her chores we could pick out a princess prize. So far she's only committed to brushing her teeth.

But when Blake comes home she's more than willing to help out.

In the end Lucy knows I'm the queen of the pushover moms (which I'm working on) and if I somehow stand my ground there's always Gammy (who we met at Toys R Us today because we just had to check out the Princess buy one get one 1/2 off sale!)

Lucy really is such a good girl. If our biggest issue is that she wants to dress like a girly princess we're not doing too bad. She's done so well with her potty-training this summer. She's 100% underwear except for night in pull-ups. She's such a giggler lately and is following my footsteps of an exaggerator and story teller. Her vocabulary and conversations are so funny. Today she said "gosh, just use your imagination mommy" uhh, well I'm driving...

She's our favorite thing in the world. And even though we might not be in school this year - lucky (for both of us!) dance starts in a month!

roughing it

Blake and I are awesome parents. On Saturday (Pioneer Day) we slept in and sent Lucy on her merry way with my parents to watch the parade. Then the two of us had a long, leisurely breakfast at Blue Plate while reading the paper. We considered a matinee of Inception but then remembered we have a little responsibility (named Lucy).

No, we really missed her and didn't want to miss out on her at the parade so we made our way downtown, met up with family and caught the last three minutes of the parade (yay us.)

But let it be known that Lucy was less than thrilled to see us - so any guilt we had should wash easily away when we see how much she loves her gammy and poppa time (yay us, again.)

That evening was all about us though. We're not campers or really wilderness people but it's fun to "play camping" when your husband does all the work and the tv, bathroom and internet is all within a few steps. Blake and Lucy had planned their camp out all week and really, after this setup who in their right mind would trek up into the hills for the same gig.

Hobo dinners, fire pit, roasted marshmallows, star gazing, flashlights, snuggly sleeping bags and a Parent Trap showing in the tent...our kind of camping.

I made it out there until eleven or so but decided to leave the real roughing it for daddy/daughter. They surprised me and lasted all night!

the essentials

Lucy asked to wear a "camping dress" but I don't have any pioneer garb lying around so I told her campers wear lounge clothes

See, even I participated in pioneer day with a pioneer look of headband and no makeup - yama

For being all about nice restaurants and valet parking Blake can sure play the part of camper - his hobo dinners were yum. He said the last time he had one was when he made one for himself when he was 12...sad, and odd.

These jokers showed up.

On Sunday we were invited to Little Dell with my family. Let's just say we probably won't be invited again. Or maybe I won't be invited. Blake kayaked with everyone and Lucy spent time in the Fish Hunter and the kayak and I pretty much complained.

But it was family time and that's all that matters...right?!

Annoyed with me.

Annoyed with me from afar.

spray paint

This beauty was hanging out in my grandma's back yard and when she offered it to me I didn't think much of it. But after a scrub down, primer and HOT pink it's a fun addition to our outdoor play area.

Lucy painted the little birdhouse hanging from the planter. There are so many cute crafts in the dollar section at Michael's. They've saved us on some of these long summer days.

My mom and I stopped at a yard sale near my grandma's one morning and debated about this planter. We knew it had possibilities but we were a bit bugged the seller turned down our $3 offer for the $5 planter. I knew I'd regret it later and so we picked it up.

Amazing what a punch of color can do. This whole thing ended up costing about $8. after paint.

So, lessons learned:

Rose Park has a lot of cool metal planters lurking in backyards

If you see something cool don't walk away on a couple bucks difference - I would've been kicking myself if I walked away over $2

Don't wear shoes you care about when spray painting - mine now have a pink & green airbrush look

easy laugh

Blake claims that I laugh at anything and everything. Whenever I'm having a bad day or feeling blah I go to someecards and usually laugh until I cry. Blake doesn't think any of the cards are funny - he doesn't even read the ones I email him. Maybe he's just jealous because Blake's really funny too and he can say the dumbest thing and I can't breathe from hyena-laughter.

I've come across something that I'm sure no one else will think is nearly as funny but again for me - tears! Maybe it's because we're somewhat Pottery Barn obsessed. I gaze through the catalogs and want to recreate all their little vignettes. But after this mockery some of those dinner setting are a bit ridiculous. http://catalogliving.tumblr.com

I'm an easy laugh but there could be worse things.

p.s. it's been really hard for me to not laugh at Lucy's new phrase of the week. She's been amused with the words "bum" and "butt" lately but the other day when she was jumping on my bed and said "butt face" it took all I had to not get hysterical. I did let out small laugh and that was just enough to have her say it...a lot.

summer so far

The long 4th of July weekend has come and gone and

it was such a fun one.

Perfect weather!

On Friday night Caitlin & Brinton took Lucy to a carnival

while Blake and I enjoyed a dinner up Emigration canyon at Ruth's.

Lucy had a blast (as always) and it was a great way to kick of the weekend.

On Saturday we prepped for a little bbq in our backyard. I put up a

bunch of cute decorations and we had lots of laughs -

as for pictures these two were all that happened.

Looks like a real happening party, huh?

I promise people came and I promise there was more decor than

the same exact fans in the front and back (lame).

There are no pictures but believe you me -

Blake was truly master of ceremonies of this event. He worked non stop

all day Friday (he had off) and Saturday. Blake wanted a new menu

so all on his own he researched recipes, made an extensive shopping list,

did all of the shopping, unloaded and spread a huge delivery of topsoil,

planted new perennials in the front yard, mowed, trimmed, did ALL the yard work,

helped me decorate, prepped and cooked the ENTIRE meal, cleaned-up and put on

a great firework show while we all lounged on the lawn and ate treats.

He was AMAZING!!!! Everything was perfect and delicious and I really

should be embarrassed that he did all of that and I watched.

I love him for hundreds of reasons but also for making our holidays memorable.

The rest of the weekend was spent going for a drive, working on a few more

yard projects and Monday we had a bbq at my aunt Beth's house (again no pictures).

If someone flew overhead and looked down in her backyard they would have

seen quite the scene of 20+ people playing tug of war...

yes tug of war. This tradition is hysterically fun and this year was no different.

We tried as many varieties (girls vs boys, over 40 vs under, etc.) as we could

think of and the neck ache I woke up with proves that we gave it all our all...

in tug of war.

Since I just have a handful of pictures of this weekend I'll add a few more

of what else we've been up to. We saw Toy Story 3 - Lucy's second movie in the theater.

She was great and can polish off a lot of buttered popcorn.

The movie was very cute and I cried a bit.

Lucy has allowed some room for the Toy Story characters but

no one can touch the princesses.

We went to the Salt Lake Arts festival. It was super crowded

but still a fun evening. Caitlin & Brinton volunteered so Lucy

got her face painted by Brinton. We ate, looked at booths and then watched

Lucy entertain many people by dancing to a jazz band.

If we were smart we'd put out a bucket for tips.

Other than that we've done swim lessons, picnics, saw Eclipse, backyard

baby pool and plenty of snow cones.

And once Lucy's tucked in this is our latest obsession!

Mad Men

This series had been recommended so we finally netflixed all

three seasons and I can't stop thinking about it.

The new season (4th) starts the end of this month and we're all caught

up and counting down.

Don Draper - why must you be so complicated?

Summer tv leaves a lot to be desired so do yourself a favor and

get this in your queue - NOW!!

happy summer!