Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

a little bit of our 4th of July

at the beach with daddy

sand baby!

whoa...the ocean



red, white and blue

hey! we're getting ready to host a 4th of July 'faux-bbq'*


i think I'll just get myself a snack...

this bottle of wine will do.


*A 'faux-bbq' is when you have the vibe of a BBQ but you don't have a grill and you serve veggie burgers. Haha! Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Our trip to Yosemite

So we had a great time on our trip to Oakhurst/Yosemite. Yosemite is absolutely beautiful, wow! That was my first time there and Scott and I both agreed that we need to go back and spend a few days just in the park to really explore and see it all, trying to see it with a baby is a little tough. ;) So when Eli is older a family camping trip will definitely be happening. We went there for a wedding and of course I took no pictures of that because we were too busy distracting Eli from a meltdown during the ceremony and then Scott and Eli went back to the hotel and I stayed and danced to the awesome band 'FeatherWitch.' But, here are a few fun pictures of our shenanigans....

Oh, just taking a break from the road...crawling around this grass here.

say what? we're going swimming?



this is how i take my breakfast, hotel style.

hold on...i need to make a call.

one of the magnificent water-falls in yosemite



Sunday, June 19, 2011

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Hello from Santa Cruz!



Hello friends. It's been awhile, a month exactly from my last post and that's because we moved! Scott my husband got a job with the city of Santa Cruz in the city managers office. For those of you who don't know, we both went to college here (which is nice that things are familiar) and Scott had been wanting to get back to the coast for awhile and the timing seemed just right! Over the years I had been reluctant to leave Denver. My family is there, we have so many wonderful friends there, and my job at the time was going well, I was dancing consistently and had opportunities to grow in the interior design field... It was alot for me to give up, pre-baby! But after having a little one your priorities shift, all that really matters is the happiness of your home and home truly is where your heart is, not your zip-code. Oddly enough, I had a psychic tell me that once years ago and I rolled my eyes at her and thought to myself  'girlfriend, you don't me.' Hahaha!

So here we are back in California, and let me tell you it's not the worst place to be. ;) It is absolutely beautiful here in Santa Cruz and our outdoor life will greatly expand throughout the year since we won't be having harsh winters! We also have wonderful friends here still, which has made this move SO MUCH EASIER for me. Without my friends here I think I would be having a much harder time, as leaving my family was really, really tough!! So thank you Santa Cruz/Bay Area/So Cal peeps, you're the best!

Moving with a baby is really tough and if you ever need advice, I'm your gal. Eli and I had our first flight together just the two of us on our way here (Scott and his dad drove a moving truck and pulled the Subaru, and spared Eli and I 28hrs. of driving, thank you!!!) And then two weeks later Eli and I flew again just the two of us to LA there and back for a family wedding. Let me tell you, traveling solo with a baby is really tough!! If you need advice there, I'm your gal again. ;) Eli did really well though on all flights and for the most part travels well. He doesn't like to be in the car for too long which is tough, and I'm hoping will improve when we get a front facing car-seat (this new 2 years old 'rear car-seat rule' won't work for us!) He also doesn't sleep that great in hotels, oh well, who does right?

So the family is adjusting. Eli is doing great despite some sleep troubles and tummy troubles in the beginning, things are more consistent now. The cats have adjusted, although the first week Olive had a herpes outbreak (she has feline herpes from her feral mama, slutty cat, haha) and had to have eye-drops and anti-viral meds for a week, but she is fine now. A little needy but in a cute way, she follows me everywhere and sleeps with me more now, sometimes face to face. :) Our house is coming together, I had a hard time adjusting to the newness of it all since it is only 2 years old, it had burned down before that I guess... But I am now starting to see a vision of sorts for it. We ordered a new couch and that should be here mid-June, so we're hoping to paint a little before then and work on the front yard and making it more 'homey.' I have the bedrooms 'done' (although my thinking is a home is never 'done') and the kitchen and bathroom too, but I am struggling with the kitchen. I don't like the wood color of the cabinets and since it's a rental there is not much I can do there...we'll see? I'll post pictures when I'm ready, perhaps room by room.

So I'm back and hope to continue blogging about our new beach life, and share pictures/stories of our itsy bitsy beach bum who is about to turn one! Oh my! I'll blog about the planning of his party too, as I am starting that process... Hopefully I'll get more vegetarian recipes up here as well, as another friend asked about those. Just bare with me as I continue to get settled, but it feels good just writing this! Thanks for listening, till next time. xoxo

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

dancers among us

I came across the photographer Jordan Matter(s) portfolio 'dancers among us' and think it is wonderful! Here are some of my favorites, but you can see the full gallery here.








Tuesday, February 8, 2011

a belated birthday post to my sister...

So my sister celebrated her birthday on January 31st and I never got around to publishing this post, (sorry sister!) So here it is...


That's me and my sister Kelly when we lived in Van Nuys, CA. It clearly looks like we just rolled out of bed and headed to the backyard to play. I'm the one in pink with the cool half-shirt (notice how I'm posing.)

Even though Kelly and I are inherently different, we are also best friends. We can always make each other laugh and truly value our friendship. But of course growing up we fought over the usual girl stuff; CLOTHES, the phone, the bathroom etc... My sister has always been there for me, including one of the most (recent) important moments in my life. When I went into labor I was already in the hospital on bed-rest and was alone in my room at the time (Scott was at work) and I was starting to feel so sick, and miraculously my sister walked in just at the moment things were about to get ugly (literally!) And she stayed through it all, holding my hair while I puked and rubbing my arm telling me it was going to be alright when I was scared to death! I will never forget that and I'm not sure if I ever properly thanked her... So her it is, THANK YOU SISTER, you are the best, and Happy Birthday yet again... I still have your gift sitting here. ;) xoxo

p.s. Just for the record, Scott arrived an hour or two later and Eli was born the next day (with dad there!)

Friday, January 21, 2011

i hate goodbyes

So today I'm a little sad as one of my best friends here in Denver is moving; Kerrin. Kerrin and Dave (her husband) and their two cute, spunky dogs Maya and Tito are on the road to the lone-star state to start a new chapter in Austin, TX.

Kerrin and I first met in the gallery. She came to work for us in Oct of 2007 and since that first day we have made each other laugh. I have so many great memories of us in true hysterics, from all of our silly 'what if' games to our crazy dance moves and fun (and also stressful) work travel adventures. But on top of all that silliness, Kerrin has a huge heart and I can go to her with anything. She is the type of friend you can tell anything to and there is no judgment. She is also the kind of friend who would drop anything to help you, like take your dog to work with her while you're in the hospital or just on vacation. So even though I am going to greatly miss having her down the street for our impromptu walks, cupcake sharing and movie going, I know that she and I will always be friends and continue building more memories.

Here is to Kerrin and her family, we wish them safe travels and all the best in Austin! Love you Kerrin! xoxo

Friday, January 14, 2011

morning rituals

Good morning! Hope everyone had a restful sleep. Sometimes we do here at the Collins home and sometimes we don't. :) But that's OK because each day is a new day and I like to wake up and start my morning off with cuddling with Eli. He loves to wake up and stretch and talk and snuggle, it is definitely one of our favorite times of the day. Then we move on to feeding and for me a hot cup of tea (black with honey, local honey of course.) On extra sleepy days I prefer coffee. And...I often like something sweet with my tea or coffee too, if I have it. Today I was craving caramel sea-salt brownies.

                                                             Image from Martha Stewart


                                                                      Source unknown

What are your morning rituals? Have you ever had sea-salt brownies?

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Hello again and a belated Happy New Year!

Hi lovely readers and happy new year! I apologize for being away so long, it was hectic around here over the Holidays and then I just took a few days to relax and get organized and prepare for a new project (more on that later...)

Well 2010 was sure exciting! We welcomed Eli our son into the world and spent great times with friends, traveled alot (for work and play) and of course experienced lifes challenges as well.

I personally am looking forward to leaving behind 2010 and heading into 2011. I can't wait to see what the year will bring for little Eli...maybe some teeth? :) Some of the things that I would like to incorporate into my life this year are: to truly eat an apple every day, get my home office organized, edit down my wardrobe, learn some new recipes (vegetarian of course,) be very active about my blog to further pursue my decorating business, and continue to be the best mom I can be to mister Eli!!!

Scott and I both feel encouraged by the opportunities that lie ahead in our future and we are open and welcome to change this year, let's see what the year will bring....