bolsa chica wetlands

celebrate the every day, family, hello monday By December 1, 2014 6 Comments

Hello friends! We are home from a fun, family-filled Thanksgiving and jumping into a new week with both feet! Are you ready? How about some hellos?

***Hello Monday is where I greet the new week with an open heart and a fresh perspective. It’s a new beginning–and there’s so much to be thankful for! Join me by leaving your own hellos in the comments section or linking up a hello monday post there!***

Hello Southern California and Bolsa Chica. Such a pretty day, such a mellow walk.

Hello soaking up family and eating lots of delicious food!

Hello cuddles from Grandma. What could be better?

Hello running and playing with cousins.

Hello no sisters, but lots of girl cousins. Kind of awesome.

Hello sunlight through the brush. Beautiful.

Hello rules. That’s okay, we’re planning to fish or jump.

Hello three year old with a good stick. Happiness!

Hello awesome moves.

Hello pretending and being completely un-self-concious.

Hello holding hands and long shadows. Two things that fill my heart.

Hello talking about important things and figuring life out. {We don’t have it figured out yet–not even close!}

Hello taking pictures and capturing a moment.

Hello twin sister who knows my heart so well.

Hello being big even when you’re the littlest.

Hello coming home to laundry, email, grocery shopping and lots of real life stuff.

Hello new keyboard for David that he is playing non-stop. Love!

Hello school and homework and learning.

Hello CYBER MONDAY! We are having a FABULOUS sale in the shop. Take 30% off shop wide with code ‘cyberlove’. Shop here!

Hello December! It’s here!

Hello Christmas season! Lights are up and Christmas music is playing. So HAPPY!

Hello to YOU! Are you ready for a new week?

Leave some hellos in the comments or link up your own hello monday post there!

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Just love 70 years being {mom’s birthday}

celebrate the every day, family By November 11, 2014 3 Comments

My sisters planned a gathering to celebrate my mom’s 70th birthday. We live four hours north, but we were able to come down and hop in on the fun.

My mom is one of the most generous, creative people I know. Growing up she was always creating–that’s definitely where I get my creativity. And she gives and gives. If you compliment her on a vase she’ll hand it to you and tell you to take it home with you. She has such a generous heart!

It was so fun to see her friends–many who’ve known me since I was born. It was a laid back gathering with delicious mexican food, yummy sodas and a sweet cake. Pretty much perfect!

That’s my mom on the right, in blue and her sister in the black and white checked top.

Happy 70th, mom! You are a blessing to our family and we love you so!

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hello halloween, hello monday

celebrate the every day, hello monday By November 3, 2014 6 Comments

Hello friends! We a great weekend of hanging out with cousins, trick or treating and celebrating my mom’s 70th birthday! It’s a brand new week and a brand new month! How about some hellos?

***Hello Monday is where I greet the new week with an open heart and a fresh perspective. It’s a new beginning–and there’s so much to be thankful for! Join me by leaving your own hellos in the comments section or linking up a hello monday post there!***

Hello Captain America. He’s on the lookout for evil. Thankfully, all was well at ChickFilA.

Hello cuddles from Auntie Chrissie and a heart-melting smile from David.

 Hello to my {three} superheros. Love.

Hello silliness and celebrating.

Hello being out past bedtime and knocking on random doors. Matthias wasn’t sure about interacting with so many strangers. David was ready to go inside each house and get to know everyone.

Hello moonlight, porch lights, twinkling lights and flashlights.

Hello carved pumpkins–so glad we could enjoy our friends because we didn’t carve any ourselves {slacker mom!}

Hello love. People were so incredibly kind as we knocked on their doors. They took extra time with David and filled their bags with candy. I went to bed with my faith in humanity restored. There is so much good in the world!

Hello November! Wow!

Hello kicking this cold to the curb and praying the boys don’t get it.

Hello colder nights and even a little rain. Hooray–Califonia needs it!

Hello fun things to share this week.

Hello brand new beautiful week, just waiting to be lived to the fullest!

What are you saying hello to this week? Leave some hellos in the comments or link your own hello monday post there!

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God made light

blog friends, celebrate the every day By October 24, 2014 2 Comments

Have you heard of God Made Light? It’s been all over the internet lately. It’s a new children’s book, and you guys, it is beautifully written and full of truth.

It talks about how God made light and God made YOU. It’s poetic and moving–I started crying, especially when it talks about how when God made YOU, God made light. This is near to my heart because of David’s special needs. He was made to shine and he does. That’s beautiful. Matthias really liked the part about how His light shines in us, even in the dark, even at bedtime when we might be afraid. Lately he’s been a little scared at bedtime and this was a sweet reminder.

As you can see, David didn’t want to put it down. So sweet!

Matthew Paul Turner and his wife Jessica are friends of mine. I’ve been hearing about this book for a while and I am so thrilled to see it out in the world and to read these precious words to my boys {and myself!}. So meaningful.

God Made Light is available here. And there is an adorable floor puzzle and night light here.

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sister birthday 2014

adventures, celebrate the every day By September 5, 2014 6 Comments

A couple weekends ago I met up with my twin and our two younger sisters {also twins} to stay in an airstream in Buellton, CA. We had so. much. fun. Coming back to real life was painful–that’s how much fun we had. No responsibilities, no stress, no timeline–just talking, laughing, eating, playing cards and being together. Being real. Being loved. It was amazing. Can we go back this weekend??

Lisa, Susan, Ellen, Chrissie {my twin}

We visited the ostrich farm which was hilarious. They are aggressive and funny. And huge!

The airstream was so fun and cozy!

These are the weekends that feed my soul. So good. So very very good.

Have you gotten away lately?

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ice cream! {craving summer}

celebrate the every day By May 23, 2014 3 Comments

Lately I’ve been craving summer–which means I’m longing for slow, lazy mornings, ice cream, the sun on my shoulders and BBQ hamburgers! Summer’s not far off, but why wait? We can still eat ice cream and start the summer celebration, right?! Last week we brought in fixings for ice cream sandwiches and treated the team at LLD to a summer treat.

And it was DELICIOUS and so fun!! Talenti ice cream is perfect and the cookies were soft chocolate chip from Trader Joes. Now I want more ice cream! How about you??

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hello mother’s day 2014

adventures, celebrate the every day, hello monday By May 12, 2014 11 Comments

Wow! What a weekend! It was one of our best in a long time! We were all home, we took it easy and had lots of fun. I felt spoiled by my boys. I’ve got lots of pics to share. It’s Hello Monday! How about some hellos?

***Hello Monday is where I greet the new week with an open heart and a fresh perspective. It’s a new beginning–and there’s so much to be thankful for! Join me by leaving your own hellos in the comments section or linking up a hello monday post there!***

Hello cute boys in jeans and black tees walking down the street.

Hello favorite burger joint in San Luis Obispo. Yum!

Hello new-to-me camera that I’m learning how to use. It’s stretching me and I’m loving it!

Hello warm, windy weekend. Hello crowds coming out to enjoy the weather.

Hello smiles and easy spirits. We were all in good moods this weekend which was nice treat.

Hello pendant lamps. So pretty.

Hello mother in law. She joined us for the weekend and babysat the boys on Saturday night so we could get out for a date.

Hello edison bulbs. I love the way these look!

Hello heart melted. These boys are my everything.

Hello hugs from Nana. You’re never too old to hug you Nana. Or your mom, right?!

Hello bookstore. Hello browsing.

Hello David gazing out the window. I pretty much chased him around the store for half an hour.

Hello finding a quiet spot to read.

Hello busy David. He has had to much to tell us lately by taking our hand and leading us to what he wants and pointing. His communication is growing and we are thrilled.

Hello sweetheart. He took me out for tapas, sangria and to see The Grand Budapest Hotel. We had a blast.

Hello being together. I love him. I need him. So imperfect but so good.

Hello family. These guys made my mother’s day extra sweet.

Hello dinner with friends tonight.

Hello fun, new things to share with YOU this week!

Hello enchiladas and mojitos with our bible study group this week. Yum!

Hello preparing for Elevate Conference this weekend. Yay!

Hello brand new, beautiful week. There is beauty waiting to be found. Will you join me?!

Leave some hellos in the comments section or link up your own hello monday post there!

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I have something SWEET to share! { mini donuts! }

celebrate the every day, hello monday By May 5, 2014 18 Comments

I have something SWEET to share with you today! Our team has been working hard filling Mother’s Day orders–so as a fun, surprise, we had sugar lips donuts park in our parking lot and make mini donuts. They were delicious. And it was the perfect way to break up a day of production.

***Hello Monday is where I greet the new week with an open heart and a fresh perspective. It’s a new beginning–and there’s so much to be thankful for! Join me by leaving your own hellos in the comments section or linking up a hello monday post there!***

 Hello adorable trailer. I love how vintage and charming you are!

Hello warm sunny days. It feels like summer around here–which makes going to school difficult!

Hello toppings! I ordered my donuts with cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, strawberries and whipped cream.

Hello fryer that cooks up the most delicious mini donuts EVER!

Hello hard working team at Lisa Leonard Designs. These are the people that make it happen–and I’m so grateful!

Hello sugar. I have a serious sweet tooth.

Hello iced coffee. Right next to my sweet tooth is a coffee tooth.

Hello turquoise. Is there any color sweeter?

Hello feeling very thankful. This team frees me to be a mama and a working woman.

Hello sunburn. My skin is so fair I actually got a little sunburn this weekend. Crazy!

Hello hairdresser. I’m getting my hair cut tomorrow. And I think I might go a little blonder.

Hello Steve. I have such an insightful, hard-working husband. We are together A LOT–it’s imperfect and awesome.

Hello team! Not everyone is pictured but this gives you an idea of our awesome crew!

Hello friends visiting for a couple days. We are so excited!

Hello watching Hart of Dixie. It’s kind of cheesy and a lot of fun.

Hello Cinco de Mayo! Mexican food for dinner?!

Hello LAST day to order personalized jewelry for Mother’s Day. Shop TODAY!

What are you saying hello to this week? Leave some hellos in the comments section or link up your own hello monday post below!

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Interview with Anna Ingalls

blog friends, celebrate the every day By April 10, 2014 1 Comment

Anna and her adorable boys modeled for our Mother’s Day collection this year. I wanted you to get to know Anna and her sweet heart. Hear are some questions she answered for us.

What surprised you most about being a mom?

I think what really surprised me was me! I had a moment a few weeks back where I thought….if the kidless 25 year old me can see the 33 year old mom of 2 me – she would trip out! I can’t believe how much I can handle, multitask, and ultimately LOVE in my everyday. I’m not going to pretend I’m not a mess most days but that’s just because life is so full and amazing.

What is something special you do for yourself?

I am fortunate to have a husband with flexible hours so at least once a week I get a few hours alone. I try to go to the gym, do a devotional or journal, walk around to stores I don’t love dragging my kids along to, crochet at a coffee shop while listening to a podcast, catch up on some odds and ends errands. I really try not to seek out a friend at those times so I can have quiet headspace and just concentrate on myself in those hours. It’s so refreshing for me!

What do you worry about?

I worry about big and little things! It can be small from not forgetting to give my son a snack for school to a safe drive for my husbands commute to work. Fear and worry go hand in hand and it can be so overwhelming. I try to give those things to The Lord when I get in that funk. He is the only one who can take those burdens from me and give me peace. When you love so deep it’s hard to let go and trust God. He is the only one who calms all my fears.

What advise would you give new moms?

Think of your friends that you love the way they are raising their kids. You love the behaviors of the kids and the way the family interacts. Those are the friends you will want to go to with your questions about your own kids. Ask a lot of questions. We need each other to help raise our families. Seek out like minded sources.

With each kid I have learned how to let go more. Take life less serious, roll with the punches, enjoy more crazy and remember this is such a brief season in our life.

Thank you, Anna! We love you and your sweet family!

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