Armelle sale!

Valentine's day is coming up....and boy, do I dread this holiday.

But this year I have TWO valentines! girls: You know who you are:)

Armelle is having a great sale from now until February 4th. 15% off the entire store! Go HERE for details. and HERE for the store.

So get that lover something that they will adore.

I may just be getting my valentines one of these beautys:

my heart is full

Today has been a spiritual day for me. Also an emotional one. For some reason, a certain someone has not left my heart all weekend. Some people may or may not know who I am talking about. But after typing post after post, then erasing them, then re-writing them, I feel like I should just express my feelings as best as I can.

I touched on how I felt about this subject just a hair in a previous post, but this time it's about something and someone different, and I look up to this certain someone in more ways than she knows.

I don't know her that well, just friends of some friends. But when I heard about her situation, my heart instantly loved her. Since then, she has rarely left my mind. Her decision and actions are selfless and humbling. Her attitude has been unbelievable, and she has shown a great deal of courage, maturity, and strength.

 This person has given a child, a gift, a life.... to someone who has not been able to have one.

The reason for this post is to simply express my feelings to this girl (if she ever reads this) and tell her that I love her. To tell her that I look up to her for her decision, and respect her for such a courageous sacrifice that is so extremely hard to do. I cannot even imagine. But I know without a doubt, that she will be blessed and she will bless the lives of everyone around her, including that precious little boy.

I love you, and I am praying for you! I hope to soon wrap my arms around you, give you a big hug, then tell you how much I look up to you. Thank you for being inspiring and truly a great example to me. Until then, I needed to express my love for you through words. You are an amazing woman. :) 

girlie girl

Pigtails!

              I attempted to put her out-of-control mullet into pony tails. Cute huh! Now if the hair on the top of her head will just grow.....

business in the front, party in the back!

  Ellie's new favorite thing is to carry around her "Purse" (which is just a gift bag) and wave BUH BYE!

I'm in for it.......

Lovely Things

This lovely way to display your perfumes. On a cake plate!

via

Rihanna's hair color! Isn't it fabulous?? via
  So is her new reggae song. I'm in love. Check it out HERE.

this website for cute accessories!



Goorin's new Spring hats. They have Men's too!
via





This headboard
via



mmmm lemon bars
recipe via

JCrew Spring line
via

these lovely kitchen curtains
via

this room. I want it!
via

Cousins!

These two are going to be best of friends! Born exactly 6 months apart.
 I have the cutest nephew in the world, don't you think?!?

Be-Still pillow giveaway!

Be-Still is giving away one of their cute pillows in the pattern of your choice! 

To Enter go HERE. 

a little trip to the doctor's office

My little Ellie is 15 months old!  

She had a check-up and I thought I would document it with my crappy camera phone:)

Ellie is such a hyper girl! She definitely wears me out. She's at a fun age though where she is so interested in everything that she sees.

For some strange reason.....anytime she sees a pig in a book or on tv she blows it a kiss.

uhh RANDOM? She loves them! ha

                                                                        Little rebel ;)

hahahah. She lays her head on EVERYTHING and says, "awww"

(apparently including the doctor's chair)

 

After braving four shots and crying her eyes out, she passed out.

 I seriously think she slept the rest of the day. Poor girl!

cutie.

Lovely Things

Olivia Palermo's style.

I must admit that even though I am not a huge fan of this chick from the show, I will give her some credit.

 The girl sure does know how to dress!

this striped bag 

these cute flats

 Got some good finds from Hip & Humble today.

Cute patterned frame, symbol necklace, and quatrefoil mirror jewelry box.

(the babies in the photos are my sweet momma)

this chic ponytail

this photo

these industrial wire storage bins

this beautiful necklace

                                                                      this dude.

bangs

                                          Oh how I wish I could pull off bangs... sigh...
                          although, i've never tried them....I just know I couldn't pull them off!

Asher's baby blocks

My friends Tim & Taylor are having a baby boy! and I couldn't be happier for them.

Using some inspiration from my NY blocks, I made baby Asher some blocks for his room.

I had alot of fun making these, and they aren't too hard either! Makes for a great personalized baby gift.

                                                                    The backs of them

A good baby shower gift idea (coming from a mother myself) is a mixture of practical things, as well as fun things. For my friend's baby shower, I bought a basket and filled it with some goodies:

-diapers

-binkys

-rattle

-picture book

-A c.d. of lullaby renditions of Bob Marley.

              This website has lots of bands to choose from including U2, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin 

             & Pink Floyd and more! LOVE.

-two onesies

-some baby wash

-a boon spoon

-baby name blocks

I can't wait for little Asher to come!!!

Homemade Taco Salad

I am definitely not a cook, but this recipe is oh-so-fabulous. and EASY!

Enlarged to drool over

Yummy Taco Salad

Brown 1 pound ground beef with 1 medium onion, chopped. Drain.



Add:

1 can tomato sauce

3 cans water

1 small can tomato paste

3 Tbsp. sugar

2 cloves garlic

2 cans pinto beans, drained

1 tsp. Accent seasoning

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cumin

1 Tbsp. taco seasoning

1 cup cooked rice

Simmer 30-40 minutes. Serve over corn chips, doritos, or sun chips. Top with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, grated cheese, sliced olives, salsa, chopped onions, sour cream, etc.

Enjoy!

just lovely

 

Electra has a great selection of city bikes. I really want one for the summer!

I just so happened to spot this lovely "Tree of Life" gem from Electra in the new Free People video!

ahhh it's one of my dream bikes.

 A video filled with flowy floral pieces from Free People, in the French setting, along with my dream bike. ahhhh. Everything is just lovely. 

Check out some behind-the-scenes photos from the video HERE

busy bee

I seem to post a lot of photos on my blog...more than I post words. That's because I don't really consider myself that great of a writer. And also, because pictures are worth 1,000 words right? Who needs to write? jk. I really want to start writing more on my blog.

Lately I have been so busy! The busiest I have ever been in my life. and I LOVE it. At times, I want to pull my hair out and at times I miss being able to sit around and do nothing all day. But then again, when i'm sitting around doing nothing, I aspire to be more productive. I always want what I don't have, so it seems. But I have decided that I like being busy because it doesn't leave too much time to think about all the things that I don't like to think about.

I am still working 25 hours a week and I started going back to school full-time at Utah Valley University. This semester, I am taking English, Math, Business, Personal Finance, and Psychology. I definitely am taking a full load! Add on top of that: Ellie, crafts, Rue d'Olive, blogging, homework, working, cleaning, cooking, reading my many textbooks, training for races, etc.

This year is going to be a good one, I know it! I just need to stay focused and proactive.

With trying to juggle my schedule and work it around Ben's schedule, can be pretty tough. But I have managed it pretty well, except for Wednesday mornings.

 I am looking for someone to watch Ellie from 8:30am-10:30am. So if you or anyone you know is great with kids and has experience, and lives in the Utah County area, let me know! I'm not sure what the pay will be, but we can discuss that personally.

You can email me if you would rather do that. michelleleeann@gmail.com

I hope you all have had a great week!

Thank Goodness It's almost Friday!

Baby banner & crib pillow

My 'second mom' Janet asked me if I would make her soon-to-be grand daughter a banner & pillow for her nursery! She picked out the fabric, and I went to work.

(Keep in mind that I have never made a pillow above the basic foldover type, so this was fun and challenging for me and i'm sure the more I do it, the better I will be!)

                                                              The side of the pillow

                                                                       Cute rose buttons