Life With Little Ones

hello and g o o d b y e

2012-01-18T11:15:00.000-08:00

I've decided that the time has come where I'm going to bid farewell to this little ole blog and my own little corner of the sky. You see, with the new year came a recommitment to myself to simplify my life, and to eliminate anything and everything that serves as an added stress or deviation from authenticity.

When I started writing this blog four years ago, I was in a much different place in my life then I am now. I felt as if I was on top of the world; thriving as a young mother of two little boys. I was a full time stay at home momma with enough crafts and projects up her sleeve to fill a lifetime. I thought I had all of the answers, and often times with wee little ones underfoot, I did. Babies are babies, it's quite simple. Love them, feed and nurture them and watch them grow.

Throughout the past few years, change has been consistent. More than the packing, moving and consistent undertone of unknown, has been the great change in my children, and in turn within me. I'll be honest, most days I find myself humbled and near confusion as to how to deal with life with not so little ones. My role as these boys mother has changed significantly, and where I once felt quite confident in having all of the answers I needed to raise them, I now don't.

I struggle with the ebb and flow of simplicity. Too much verses not enough. Overexposure versus underexposure, tough love versus not so tough love. I don't have the answers. I wish I could snap my fingers and ensure that these little boys would become strong, intelligent, God loving men. Although,without that capability;I've resorted to doing everything within me to make sure that that's exactly what they will grow to be. Everything.

I was talking with my best friend a few weeks ago about the interesting balance in a mothers life, especially as her children begin to grow. Time is a bit different now, because where we were needed and expected for every detail of their lives, we aren't anymore. Don't get me wrong, the large majority of my life still revolves around my sons, although there are pockets of time, where I'm able to be myself; not someones mother, wife etc... This time is sacred and beautiful and in it, I've been reintroduced to myself; the young woman I was before I was my sons mother. I want to nourish that young woman, and celebrate her. I will always cherish and regard my role as a mother as the single most important role God could possibly give. Although I feel like it's time to step out of the beautiful shadow of being my boys mother, and step into the light, as my own self.

This year, Im going to stop typing and start writing.

This year, I'm going to make a list of things I have done, as opposed to a list of things I've yet to do.

This year, I'm going to find my voice in silence.

So this is goodbye my friends. Maybe not forever, but for now.

And with that, I wish for you the same things I wish for myslef.

Clarity, simplicity, creativity and a true, passionate love above all else.

You're beautiful.

I can't thank you enough for all that you have

given me throughout the years.

x o x o C

indoors and outdoors t o d a y

2011-12-12T18:02:00.000-08:00

happy w e e k e n d

2011-12-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

theses snapshots of my feet represent a weeks worth of holiday sessions.

needless to say, i've been quite busy.more needless to say, i'm so incredibly blessed.

i'm off to both the grocery and the framers market with the boys this morning.

baking cookies and puppy treats is high on the list of important tasks to accomplish today.

i think i can deal with that

have a beautiful day

(happy w e e k e n d )

p.s. brooklyn took the training wheels off of his big boy bike early this week...

so proud of our little cookie.

hodge p o d g e

2011-12-06T16:46:00.000-08:00

I really still cannot believe that we are well into the holiday season

and as a woman at the post office this afternoon sweetly reminded me,

"Christmas is just over two weeks away."

I've decided that this year will not be the year that all gifts are handmade and lovely.

not the year for a plethora of homemade cookies and candies,

perhaps not even the year for strung popcorn.

I just don't have it in me this year.

Although, I did have it in me last year,

and if you're looking to make some beautiful gifts for the ones you love,

you might consider one of the following ideas.

layered floral notecards

chalk clipboards

christmas music

orange slice ornaments

applique throw

tin can planters

fabric covered notebooks

covered coat hangers

appliqu'ed table linen

china transfers

sewing bag with fabric corsage

lavender bags

wired button decorations

teacup plants

storage jar labels

So, I was at Michael's craft store last week, running in to grab a package of candle wicks, and knowing that I only had 15 minutes at a maximum until I had to be back in my car and headed towards Brooklyn's speech therapist. So, I'm in the store and the Christmas mayhem is on a heightened level. There's people swarming the isles, digging feverishly through overfilled bins, bumping into one another without reaction or any sense of common courtesy. I hear babies crying and children being reprimanded, and while standing in the check out line; next to an end cap piled high with every kind of artificial pine product you could imagine, I was reminded of what Christmas is not supposed to be.

am I right?

what in the world people?

So back in the comfort and security of my car,

I vowed to ensure this be a simple, and lovely Christmas for my family and I.

One thing I did decide to do, and the reason I was at the store that day to begin with, is to make more of these vintage tin candles. I made them as gifts last year, and they turned out beautifully. I think they are even better this year, seeing as throughout the year I was able to save enough odd, half burned candles to melt down and refill all of my tins and then some!

repurposing candle wax...

reminds me of this movie.

have you seen it?

if not you should.

so here are a few pictures that I managed to take while pouring candles the other morning.

please know I had both Brooklyn and Bella helping me in the kitchen that morning.

old odd candles, ready for a new life!

Now onto the next topic of discussion... I'm so lucky to receive the sweetest and most thoughtful comments from my dear readers of this little blog. Honestly, you all couldn't be nicer. Thank you for that. Last week, I received a comment asking whether I would be willing to share a "home tour" with my readers... My initial thought when reading this request was, "No way!", followed by lots of nervous laughter. But then the more the thought resonated with me, the more open I became to the idea. You see, I'm very much that creative artistic person that is never really done with anything. My home might be decorated, but to me, it's never quite right, a bit unfinished. Does that make sense? So, in the past, when the thought of sharing images of the interior of our home, I've decided against it, because I wanted everything to be just right prior to doing so. Here's the thing... Its never going to be exactly the way I want it. I realize that. And even though it isn't perfect, it's home.
Another bit of information that I now realize I might never have shared with you, is that we moved into a larger house about six months ago. So as a precursor, a sort of safety net for my own piece of mind, things are still coming together, a work in progress so to speak.

Another side note, the images that you see and my style of home decor might not suit you.

I understand that.

Although, it does suit us.

We love our home.

We love being home.

We wouldn't want it any other way.

So without further ado, here are a few room of our home I've not shared before.
A peek so to speak, the full blown tour will just have to wait.

living room

entryway

winter wreath

hallway

office

little boys bathroom

hall closet, untouched for authenticity.

and just for kicks, a few pictures of my darling boy to make your day.

xoxo c

my sixty mile journey

2011-11-22T20:26:00.000-08:00

I'm still a few hundred dollars away from the amount I was asked to fundraiser to participate in the amazing adventure. If you have it in your heart to donate to this amazing cause please click HERE and donate today! Thank you! xoxo C

birthday b o y

2011-10-30T23:26:00.000-07:00

my sweet boy turned four years old last week.

we celebrated with our family and friends.

we had a blast.

happy birthday to you

happy birthday dear brooklyn

happy birthday to you.

(momma loves you more than you will probably ever know.)

w i n n e r

2011-10-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

the winner of the adorable shabby apple giveaway is...

don't you just love that little heart shaped leaf? i do.

the Arizona Russums, who said:

"that was the most darling birthday party ever. i wish i had been invited! :) your niece is beautiful!"

{please email me your shipping address and the size of the little dress that you need.}

thank you for all of the sweet comments about little miss. francesca and her birthday party.

she's an absolute joy.

x o x o

francesca turns one!

2011-10-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

my beautiful niece Francesca recently turned one year old,

and we were thrilled to celebrate alongside her

at an absolutely darling puppy-kitty themed birthday party!

(please be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post

for a special birthday party favor just for you! )

and to see more pictures from our Santa Barbara weekend, please click here.

in celebration of sweet baby Francesca turning one year old,

y o u have an opportunity to win an

amazing little girls dress from Shabby Apple!

s h a b b y a p p l e .com

In order to qualify, please"like" the Shabby Apple on

f a c e b o o k

and add yourself as a follower of this here b l o g...

(over there in the righthand sidebar.)

then leave me a comment saying you did so.

winner will be chosen randomly Monday evening,

from comments attached to this post!

In addition, a little party favor for you is this 10% discount code,

offered to Life With Little Ones readers,

valid for the next thirty days.

littleones10off

The dress being offered for the contest, pictured below),

is called the Queen of Hearts,

and I think it's one of the sweetest dresses I've ever seen!

Shabby Apple also offers a wide variety of lovely women's dresses...

you really should treat yourself to a peek!

best of luck to you a l l !

offer applies only to readers living in the United States,
and the dress featured above, was hand picked for this give away.
there will be allowance for an exchange.
thank y o u.

life's b o u n t y

2011-10-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

party p e o p l e

2011-09-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

we had a wonderful time celebrating one of our dearest friends eighth birthday's last weekend...

and this weekend, we'll be making our way up the coast to

wish my beautiful niece Francesca a very happy first birthday!

wishing you and yours a lovely weekend.

g r o w i n g - up

2011-09-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

sometimes it takes a still image to remind me of just how quickly my babies are growing u p.

sometimes it takes a cloudy afternoon to remind me how much fun it is to play in the r a i n.

sometimes it takes a silly face to remind me that childhood is f l e e t i n g.

brooklyn has every intention of turning four years old next month,

i guess it's got me t h i n k i n g .

life has been busy, but not too busy to stop in and say a quick hello.

hello

goodbye (for now)

school d a y s

2011-08-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

it's official. summer vacation is over, the new school year has begun.

the snoopy waffle maker has been cleaned and tucked away, the multigrain eggo's are b a c k.

looking forward to the year in front of us, hoping the same for you. x o x o

bella b l u e

2011-08-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

wishing you a relaxing last week of summer vacation. x o x o

up d a t e

2011-08-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

the end of our summer vacation seems to be creeping in slowly like a think fog,

less than two weeks left with my little ones at home everyday...

with the impending start of another school year among us,

I can't help but think of the fall,

and all of the amazingness that the new season will bring with it this year.

in particular, my participation in the

Susan G. Komen 3-Day Race For The Cure

lives in the forefront of my mind each and every day!

if you haven't had a chance to, please consider doing any or all of the following.

Please take a look at the facebook page that I created in order to document
my process throughout the training and fundraising,
leading up to and throughout the completion of the 3-Day race in November.

You can find the page here,

My Sixty Mile Journey.

while you're there, please feel free to leave a message on my wall,

"like" my page and forward the page to those you think would appreciate it.

( i appreciate you!)

also, please be reminded that donations can easily be

made directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation

by clicking on the word "donations" below.

D O N A T I O N S

Also.

Last month

I announced the opening

of my etsy store,

life; this & that

for the remainder of this month, all proceeds from sales of my photo prints
will be donated towards my 3-Day fundraising goal!
So, please take a peek and see if there is a print, (or two)
that you might love to have for yourself,
or perhaps something for a friend (or two!)

every little bit counts at this point!

thank you again and again for your involvement in my life.

for taking interest in what interests me,

and for allowing me to live

passionately and openly.

have a wonderful day!

x o x o C

the great o u t d o o r s

2011-08-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

this week we went camping
the boys were so excited when we finally hit the road.
four and a half hours up the coast to our final destination.
lake cachuma, santa barbara c a l i f or n i a.

while the adults set up camp, the boys played,

and played

and played.

the trees at the campsite were huge oaks with branches yearning to be climbed.

just south of our campsite was a steep path to the waters edge where you could sit in silence,

skipping rocks and thanking the universe for little pockets in life such as this.

the sound of the water lapping against the shore was the perfect allowance for an hour

of uninterrupted conversation with my big sister,

a time to reconnect and express love and appreciation for one another.

(i love you K e l l y.)

the view from our tent was beautiful and serene.

the sound and motion of the water in combination with the cool breeze

was enough to calm even the busiest of minds.

my beautiful niece francesca was a joy to watch.

hard to believe that she is ten months old already.

the love that brooklyn has for baby fran is hard to describe.

it's inspiring to say the least.

a dear friend of my sisters brought her beautiful family to the campsite as well.

this is their doggie.

and their daughter noella.

b e a u t i f u l.

sunset on the lake was the most anticipated part of my days.

the brilliance of the suns light hitting the glassy water, produced a lake filled with glitter,

which sparkled and glinted until the sun slipped away into the earths edge and the nights darkness

enveloped us, our campsite and our cozy little tent.

mornings came quick.

emergence from the warmth and security of our sleepy little haven was quickly greeted by my mom,

stoking the mornings fire and assuring the readiness of hot coffee.

twenty to thirty minutes of quiet time with my m o t h e r

before little bodies started to stir and be drawn to the warmth of the fire's edge.

morning s n u g g l e s.

hot c h o c o l a t e.

warm b r e a k f a s t .

afternoons were the perfect time for swimming and sun bathing.

a day of fishing and boating on the lake will most likely play the largest

of importance in the boys memories associated with this camping trip.

nana patiently baiting the hook and instructing on how best to position the fishing pole and line.

watching the faces of the children as our motor boat cut through the lake,

was realization that in that very moment,

i was witnessing the freedom and spender of summer vacation

washing over them; saturating their hearts and souls with

enough happiness and ease to face the impending year ahead.

this day on the lake would be the daydream in their heads.

a short hike revealed a beautiful cove,

which shaded from the direct sunlight above us,

became the perfect place to stop and rest.

and allow brothers to share in a conversation ,

and an impromptu rock throwing contest with my nephew...

the great slow down that occurs in this environment is something

you wish would seep into your everyday life.

the ease of living without an agenda or schedule.

the ability to spend your days doing everything or nothing.

and the acceptance to be completely fine with that decision.

more time for self reflection.

less time for outer and inner chaos.

less time for bickering and arguing.

more time for expressions of love and g r a t i t u d e.

i think that for each individual,

the path to understand the ebb and flow of daily life is different.

i find myself in a dead run though my life.

a sprint to the end of each day.

in the pace of life that i lead; this sprint to the finish line, leaves much to be desired.

for in the speed and exhilaration of the s p r i n t

the scenery that surrounds me becomes blurred, sounds muffled-

and the moments that combine themselves to make a beautiful and full day become entangled.

here the moments are just that.

m o m e n t .

singular. slow. drawn out.

the sprint becomes a leisurely walk.

senses are alert.

eyes are wide open.

skin is alive.

heart is full.

mind is t h a n k f u l.

and the pace of my life is reset to

s l o w

moving forward.

backyard c a m p i n g

2011-08-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

last weekend we went backyard c a m p i n g...

this weekend were really going c a m p i n g!

do you remember when we went last summer?

i sure do!

the fifth week of summer

2011-07-22T23:20:00.000-07:00

please slow down summer, your moving way to f a s t ....

life; this & that

2011-07-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

thanks in large part to the overwhelming amount of encouragement and support

that I receive here from all of you...

i proudly and happily announce the opening of ...

life: this & that

an online shop, filled with images first seen here, at Life With Little Ones.

if you have a moment, or two...

please take a peek and let me know what you think.

thank you again and again.

xoxo C

please check back at

life; this & that often,

as images and offerings will be

continually updated.

thank you.

g r a t i t u d e

2011-07-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

(feeling an immense amount of gratitude today for some of the simper things in life)

friendship, companionship

a free ticket to the county fair

a silly little boy

a monster truck rally

amazement, excitement

the sweetness in my sons eyes,

the silliness in the core of his being.

the fourth of july

brotherhood

understanding

growth

expression

simplicity

togetherness

chocolate milk

rainbow pajama pants

homemade cupcakes

enjoyment

i hope your summer is off to a grand start,

and allowing you to find gratitude in the beauty of everyday.

xoxo C

the first week of s u m m e r

2011-06-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

10 quick tips to creating beautiful photographs

2011-06-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

(this entry was posted earlier this week on San Diego Deals and Steals.

I thought I would share it here too. xoxo)

if there were one question that I am asked more often than any other, it would be,

"how do I take better pictures of my children?"

I understand that each child is different.

some love the camera.

others, not so much.

although, be it that I photograph children every week that I have never met prior to our session,
(Corey Villicana Photography)

I have come up with a good little list of ideas to help you better capture your child in a photograph.

here they are.

1.) Carry your camera with you at all times. There are so many different opportunities throughout a typical day, to capture an amazing image. Children in particular are generally unaware of their actions and their physical mannerisms, so an expression or a gesture that they use once, may never be used exactly the same again. The most authentic images are those that are captured in the moment, not recreated afterwords.

2.) Shoot closer than you might feel necessary. One of my favorite shots, is the close up, super detailed image. For instance, instead of photographing a child's entire body, focus your lense only on what it is that they might be doing, holding etc... and really make a statement with your image.

3.) If given the opportunity photograph against a colored or textured backdrop. My eyes are always scanning for any pop of color that I can use in my photography. The subject of your image will automatically stand out.

4.) Frame your subject in the view finder of your camera, creating a "full frame shot."

Corner to corner image, no wasted space.

5.) Allow your subject feel as comfortable as possible. Take a realized approach to photographing, as opposed to an aggressive approach. The very best images seem to come once the subject is relaxed and enjoying themselves. Almost forgetting about the camera capturing their every move.

6.) Good lighting is essential. Photograph in the early morning or in the evening, just prior to sunset. If photographing mid day when the sun is high in the sky, try to photograph is shaded areas, without direct harsh sunlight.

7.) Experiment. Try photographing the same subject from different view points. I love to get down on a child's eye level to photograph. Seeing the world from a small child's perspective is quite different from the way we adults see the world that surrounds us.

8.) Photograph without a flash. As you become more comfortable with your camera and further your knowledge of photography, you will learn how to almost never have to photograph using a flash. Using the natural light that is provided to you, either that of the sun or surrounding light fixtures should be more than enough light and will add to the authenticity of the photograph.

9.)Take a handfull of photographs of the same image. If I know that I have all of the elements for an incredibly beautiful photograph, I'll take the same photograph a multitude of times, to ensure that I will get one that I really love. Facial expressions change from one second to the next. It's fun to capture more than one, and have options as to which you end up using.

10.) Have fun! The art of photography is one that allows it's artist the ability to create something all their own. Enjoy the process, and you'll be amazed with what you can capture!

xoxo Corey

the start of s u m m e r

2011-06-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

summer has officially shown it's sun kissed face around this house throughout the past week...

beach days, sandy toes

quiet afternoons , sun filled rooms

end of the school year celebrations for fantastic first graders,

final carpool rides for preschool pals

a celebration of song

a well deserved pool party with a couple hundred classmates

an unexpected love letter

recognition of a year of hard work and

this little boys dedication to excellence.

and a night out with wonderful friends to celebrate another year gone by.

(whew, what a week!)

summer, we welcome you with open arms and cannot wait to see

what adventures you will bring our way this year.

xoxo

soldier s t o r i e s- Hunter Curtis Gough

2011-06-12T20:48:00.000-07:00

quoted from their son's eulogy, written by a mother and father,
in loving remembrance of their son, Hunter.

"Hunter Curtis Gough entered this life in the same way he exited this life... in a hurry."

"Hunter's independent, clever spirit was evident early on.

That was our Hunter... always doing things his way, hoping to get away with it,

and often he did because of his charm and wit."

" Hunter's illness came on very suddenly.

He had a few minor low grade fevers, a bit of a cold here and there,

but really nothing until December 2007,

when our family heard the devastating news...

Hunter had leukemia.

It is a treatable disease, however Hunter ended up with complications involving chromosomes,

and a very aggressive, very difficult to treat type of fungal pneumonia.

At every turn, the cards were stacked against him.

We of course held up hope that his body would heal until the final hour,

but it was not in God's plan."

"Hunter was not awake at all the final three weeks of his illness. He felt no pain."

" Our beloved Hunter is now with God. He is an angel watching over all of us. His memory will live on in all of us. He had affected us all in some way, and we believe he had a real purpose here on this earth. Perhaps he was here to show us how to dream, how to challenge the norm, how to live each day to the fullest. We believe he was also here to show us how to love and be loved, unconditionally."

Gough family,

I'm honored to be walking in remembrance of your sweet Hunter

and his courageous fight with cancer.

May he rest in peace.

To donate to my sixty mile journey's

fundraising goal in Hunter's honor,

please click on his name below.

H U N T E R

the f u n k.

2011-06-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

this post has been writing and rewriting itself in my mind for months now.

I don't know exactly when this happened, this bit of a creative funk that I'm in,

but regardless of when it began, it did.

i kept expecting for it to go away, or lessen, but it didn't.

it grew. it multiplied and transfered itself into ever aspect on my life.

funkier and funkier, until it was as if there was no creativity left in this here body of mine.

had there ever been?

I dug deep.

n o t h i n g.

i thought and thought and thought and surrounded myself with all things

beautiful and amazing.

n o t h i n g.

and then one evening while staring into the glowing screen of my trusty computer, it dawned on me.

a revelation.

(please bare with me.)

the vast world of the wide web is so saturated and inundated with beauty and talent.

I being a creative person: an artist by nature, I'm constantly drawn to and inspired by other peoples beauty. Other peoples creativity.

here is what has happened to me, it's as clear as day.

i've experienced an overload of beauty.

my eyes and even my ears have been overexposed to creativity and talent beyond measure.

it's drained me of my own ability to create.

i compare.

i judge and question myself constantly.

i've lost the joy of being creative.

and I'm sorry and regretful for it.

Last week I began a series of detachments from different outlets and websites

that were contributing to my loss.

Places of unbelievable craft, images and beauty.

The images, oh these are what I, (a photographer) will miss most.

I have high hopes of refocusing on myself, and the things that I love to do.

I happened upon this article, where another woman speaks of a similar situation.

I found it both intriguing and consoling that I wasn't alone in this.

here is the article.

The Trouble With Beauty

I've decided not to continue in my quest to recreate Sania Pell's gorgeous book of homemade crafts, instead to focus my energy, creating on my own.

I think that's ok.

I've also decided to try to write more often and more freely.

I love to write.

I love the expression, the opportunity for release.

I started to feel that as my blog and I grew over the years, that my writing ceased after I became increasingly aware of the community that was reading what I wrote. I didn't want to startle anyone, or ruffle any feathers. I didn't want someone to read a heart felt post and judge me for the way that I felt or the way that I was living.

In starting to care so much about others; and other peoples opinions, I lost a huge amount of what made this blog mine.

genuine and real.

Somedays are not good days.

Some lives are not perfect.

I think that's ok.

i'm going back to where I started.

simplicity.

two little boys.

one proud momma.

one life.

one camera.

one platform to voice my opinions, my observations

and my hopes and dreams for both my family and yours.

i love you. if you're reading this, i love you.

no matter what point in the past three years you have come to know this place, thank you for being here.

speaking of three years.

my three year blog anniversary passed me by without my noticing.

in honor of the past and in celebration of the future,

i thought i would leave you with this.

we, are absolutely perfect as we are.

we are more than enough.

we are wonderful.

we are b e a u t i f u l.

a moment to b r e a t h e.

2011-06-01T19:35:00.000-07:00

hello my lovely friends and family.

i'll be taking a bit of a break to refuel my mind and body throughout the next few weeks.

posts will be few and far between.

happiness and time with my loved ones will be plentiful and frequent.

i hope you understand.

(happy beginning of summer to each of you.)

xoxo C

soldier s t o r i e s- Brandon Collins

2011-05-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

written by my dear childhood friend Erin Ferrell and her mother,
in remembrance of a little brother and only son, Brandon.

"Okay....you were right....tears after 24 years.......the pain never goes away....

I hope this is enough to start.....xoxoxo"

"Brandon was 3 1/2 years old when one side of his face suddenly became temporarily paralyzed. One of his legs had been bothering him for a few months, but rubbing it for him seemed to help. He was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer which in 1982 had 0% survival rate for children diagnosed when they were over 1 1/2 years old. He endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy and went into remission for a very short time. When he turned 4, he had lots of energy and his hair was growing back. Just 4 months later, a huge bump appeared on his thigh. The cancer was back and very aggressive.

Brandon endured more chemo, radiation and a spinal tap in an effort to prepare him for a bone marrow transplant. The cancer had spread to his bones and he never got strong enough to undergo the procedure.

Throughout his ordeal, he remained sweet and loving. He especially enjoyed our weekend visits with his cousins, who pampered him and helped him retain his sense of humor. He adored his sister and couldn't wait to go to kindergarten at her school. She had been his 'teacher' during so much of their playtime.

Unfortunately his dream didn't materialize as he passed away 2 1/2 months before the school year was to begin. He was 5 years old."

Collins- Ferrell family,

I'm honored to be walking in remembrance of your sweet Brandon

and his courageous fight with cancer.

May he rest in peace.

To donate to my sixty mile journey's

fundraising goal in Brandon's honor,

please click on his name below.

B R A N D O N

thank you.

soldier s t o r i e s

2011-05-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

When I decided to sign up for the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, I knew that I would be walking

those sixty miles for my paternal grandmother that had breast cancer, and suffered a double mastectomy;

although I knew that I too would be walking for the many other cancer soldiers that I have been

surrounded by throughout my life. I have deemed My 60 Mile Journey, a tribute walk. Those three

consecutive days in November will be dedicated to a vast and widely varied group of people. Varied by

age, race and type of cancer. Some mothers, some fathers. Some sisters, some brothers.

Some grandmothers and grandfathers.

All human, all beautiful living creatures, all suffering the same disease.

All warriors; soldiers in the flight of their lives.

I'm honored to be able to share with you, each of the honorees that I will be walking for.

Throughout the months leading up to the three day walk in November, I will be highlighting each of these

cancer soldiers and trying to bring awareness to their name and their life, as well as their struggle.

Please join me is celebrating the courage and the beauty of each of these amazing souls.

To donate to my fundraising effort in one of these or any other cancer soldiers name,

please follow the attached link below.

thank you.

S O L D I E R S T O R I E S

w o n d e r f u l weekend

2011-05-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

may you have a w o n d e r f u l weekend.

xoxo C

Inspirational Interview, Beth Quinn

2011-05-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

hello Beth Quinn

hello, beautiful handcrafted jewelry.

I fell in love with Beth Quinn Designs just before Easter when I ordered my darling niece Francesca her

personalized baby bracelet....

Just about the sweetest thing i'd ever seen.

(I felt it was my obligation to let the rest of the world in on my little secret.)

Please enjoy.

1.How did you choose the name of your business and or blog? What significance does the name hold? I use my name for my business.. I had no idea what to call my business when I started so I just chose to use my name.

2. How do you take your coffee? Black , but I always love an occasional caramel macchiato from starbucks !

3. What inspires you? So many things inspire me , I love reading blogs, home décor magazines, photos , going to my favorite stores like anthropologie... inspiration really can strike at any time .

4. Earliest childhood memory? My earliest childhood memories are of those spent with my grandmother ... she was a great inspiration to me and very creative ...

5. Favorite movie of all time? My fav movie would have to be under the tuscan sun.. I love the idea of owning a villa in Tuscany ... a girl can dream..

6. How old were you when you gave birth to your first child? (If applicable.) I gave birth to my first child at the age of 27.... 10 years ago this September ... wow hardly can believe its been 10 years.. time goes so fast !

7. Sun rising or sun setting? Really I would take either ... but the sunsets in Arizona are by far some of the greatest I have ever seen ..

8. Greatest influence? I would have to say my father ... he was self employed and worked with metals. He taught me so much on how to run a business and had me working with metals at a young age. He was such a hard worker and I learned so much from him. He passed away unexpectedly when I was pregnant with the first grandchild .. and not a day goes by that I don’t think of him and miss him.

9. When did you know that you were ready to embark on creating your own business/blog? About 4 years ago I discovered the world of mixed media and blogging.. at that point I knew I couldn’t wait to get into it ... I started making jewelry at that point and found that people loved what I made ... so it just kinda sparked from there and I have never looked back..

10. Most treasured item? Anything vintage.... I love vintage lace and have quite the stash ... but I love vintage rhinestones and anything with a little bling too ... I am always on the hunt for those one of a kind unique items !

11. If there was a soundtrack of your life, what songs would be included? Hmm that is a good question... definitely anything by John Mayer, regina spektor, jack johnson, Jason mraz, I like lots of indie artists and alternative music..

12. Hopes for your future in both your business and your personal life? To keep growing successfully .. and to continue to be a good mother and wife and just enjoy time with my family ... Life is about the moments shared .

13. What is a little known fact about yourself? I love sour patch kids .. yep love candy !

14. By which is your favorite means of travel... Automobile, boat, airplane or hot air balloon? my favorite means of travel would be motorcycle (if I could go by anything) .. my dad always took for me rides on the back of his bike when I was young... and I loved that !

15. What would be your everyday must have item? My sketch pad.. I am constantly writing words and jotting new ideas down or sketching..

h e l l o again.

2011-05-10T10:36:00.000-07:00

h e l l o.

hello, long warm afternoons in the backyard teaching your brother how to fly...

hello puppy.

hello handsome little man.

hello little face that I love so much.

hello to the two greatest mother's day gift's a girl could ask for.

hello t r u e love.

hello, las vegas lights from the highway.

hello girls weekend.

oh and hello John.

hello snow globe. hello memories.

hello computer. hello back to reality.

hello l i f e, i love you so.

hello Florida, (tomorrow.)

Please have a

w o n d e r f u l

week.

embrace the camera

2011-05-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

me and the boys.

the boys and I.

go here to join in the fun.

out.of.o f f i c e.

2011-04-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

my friends, i'll be taking a bit of a break as there are a million a

one different things to be done around here.

a road trip

an Easter celebration

an out of town guest

a bunch of photography

and a fundraising event for My Sixty Mile Journey.

xoxo

s w i n g i n g

2011-04-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

s o m e o n e

has a new

favorite

s o m e t h i n g

to do.

q and a

2011-04-19T19:19:00.000-07:00

(answers to some of your more recently asked questions...)

Where do you shop for your home decor?

this is a hard question to answer, seeing as I shop for our home every single place that I go.

My eyes are always scanning, searching for another little treasure for our tiny little house.

Seeing that the barn is so small, I have to be extremely selective

and conscious of the space that I'm working with.

thrift stores, antique malls, garage and estate sales are amongst my

most favorite places to shop for interiors,

as well as Anthropologie, Marshalls and HomeGoods.

Another great place to find unique and original pieces for you home is online.

Etsy is a treasure trove of amazingness.

Some of my very favorite home decor

pieces were bought online.

Do you decorate the barn seasonally or by holiday?

i suppose the answer to this question would be, both.

one of my most fond childhood memories, growing up in my mothers house,

was her bringing out the

holiday boxes and Kelly and I helping her to decorate the house.

I do the same thing with my kids, they love it.

Have Buddy and Bella met?

yes, Buddy and Bella met within days of Buddy becoming a part of our family.

We brought Bella into our home when she was a tiny little thing, four years ago this month.

When we added Buddy into the mix at the end of last summer,

my hopes were high that they would love one another.

They don't seem to bother each other in the slightest,

although you can tell that Miss. Bella Blue defiantly has the upper hand in their relationship.

(Too funny)

What is your three year old currently interested in? Any suggestions for great toys etc...

I have to preface this by saying that at age three Brooklyn would play a game of baseball with a stick

and an acorn if that was what he was given.

He has a G R E A T imagination.

Although, some of his current favorites are

the Toy Story series, he often pretends that he is Buzz Lightyear...

any type of monkey toy, stuffed animal etc...

My Neighbor Totoro, (which is an absolute MUST see film.)

and the touch and feel book series, Pat The Cat in particular, although he LOVES them all.

What is the age difference between your sister Kelly and yourself?

Kelly was born in July of 1978.

and I was born on the last day of December of 1979.

We were born seventeen months apart.

Why aren't you ever in any of the photographs on your blog?

The easy and obvious answer to this question would be that I'm not in many of the photographs, because

I am the one always behind the camera.

The sillier more complicated answer would be that at this point in my life, I am much more comfortable

behind the camera than in front of it.

(Kelly snapped these pictures of me while she was here visiting a few weeks ago.)

If there is something else that you just must know about me or my little life, please don't hesitate to ask.

(I 'll do my best to answer sooner than later from now on.)

xoxo C

spring break

2011-04-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

last week was spring break here is southern California.
the weather was less than kind.
rainy and bitterly cold throughout our seven days of freedom.

the highlight of our time away from school was my sister and her kiddos coming to visit.
the lowlight of our time away from school was watching them drive down our street,
on their way back home early Saturday morning.

(I'll never get used to the fact that I cant see her and those little loves whenever I might like.)
One day, Kelly and I will be neighbors, stopping by each others homes for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

Raising our children together.

Growing old(er) together.

I can't wait for that day.

Kelly is the most amazing person that I know.

Truly, amazing.

If you know her too, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

If you don't know her, I wish that you did, your life would be better for it.

That being said, we got our little ones out in that rainy, freezing weather

and somehow I managed to snap a few pictures off...

Here are some snippets of our spring break together.

leo carillo ranch, Carlsbad California

the San Diego Children's Museum

sweet potato

some really wonderful things that we did but that were not photographed....

ice skating

basketball hoop(ing)

long, lazy mornings

wine bar(ing)

book reading

petting zoo(ing)

baby shower(ing)

early morning awakenings to Francesca's smiling face

laying in the hammock

lots of coffee with Toffee Nut coffee creamer

decorating the barn for Easter

car singing

milk shake drinking

all girls shopping trips... Kelly, Fran and I.

self serve frozen yogurt

movie watching

snuggling

joke telling

cookie baking

i hope that you enjoyed your spring break as much as we enjoyed ours. xoxo C

vintage photo booth

2011-04-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

(well, I did it.)

I proudly announce the completion of the vintage photo booth!

brought to you by Corey Villicana Photography.

absolutely perfect for baby showers and bridal showers...

as well as birthday parties and special occasions...

and a lovely addition to any wedding reception or cocktail hour.

This was an absolute labor of love.

I handmade every single prop and piece of loveliness for this project.

(I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.)

applique' throw

2011-04-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

project number thirteen from the homemade home...

this project was a challenge for me from beginning to end.

Although, with some help from friends and

family, the throw is complete and I just love the way it turned out.

materials and equipment

tailor's chalk, tape measurer and long ruler

solid color fabric, preferably with a good drape so that it hangs well.

scissors

iron

fusible web

floral fabric with motifs that can be cut out

pins, needle, and sewing thread

embroidery needle and floss

sequins

i decided to make the throw into a larger more functional sized blanket,

that my boys and I could snuggle

up with whether on the couch, or in a park...

or that the sweetest little girl in the entire world

could have her six month old photographs taken atop.

i added a quilters batting and backed the throw with a lovely Amy Butler fabric.

enjoy!

spinning

2011-03-28T22:46:00.000-07:00

it's quiet.

i think I've found a way to take silence for granted.

q u i e t.

i'm alone and it's quiet.

a perfect opportunity for us to catch up.

m a r v e l o u s.

have you ever felt like you are continually spinning?

like a toy top?

this is how I've felt lately.

this spinning, continual, perpetual, dizzying movement.

(wondrous, creative, excitement.)

is it possible that I'm somehow making up for the lost time strewn throughout

the past thirty one years of my life,

t h i s

year?

my mind is on overdrive.

I don't know how else to even begin to explain it to you.

even when I close my eyes, and the world is still around me;

my most vivid dreams are revealed.

somedays the most simple of beauties are all too much and I wish that I could flip a little switch,

and put

my mind to

r e s t.

(but my dreams are becoming a reality... look, I'll show you some of them now.)

dream #1

it all started with this bed sheet...

months ago, i had an idea to create a vintage photo booth to offer to my clients,

their closest friends and family;

for the most important of celebrations.

a chance to capture a fleeting moment in their lives,

carefree and beautiful.

i've poured every ounce of myself into this project.

i've literally built it,

(with my loving husband)

from the

ground up.

bits, and pieces.

vintage fabric.

mustaches,

and so much more.

All of our hard work is being funneled into a photo shoot that will span the course of the next three evenings and will capture three different celebrations within our vintage photo booth.

(finished photographs to follow.)

dream # 2

i photographed newborn twins last week.

i've dreamt of this session for years.

now it's done.

the images are real.

the images are mine.

(on a side note...

i think that it must be true that every artist; no matter what their medium, is their own worst critic.

That we (artists) lead ourselves to think that it's somehow better too be overly critical of ourselves and our work, in order to prepare ourselves for the day when someone comes along with a harsh judgement. Then that harsh judgement will be easily brushed aside and we'll remind ourselves,

"No big deal, I thought the same thing.")

i do judge myself.

constantly.

my best will never be my best.

but I must say,

these images of these little girls,

oh,my.

dream #3

my little boys are growing up at a rapid rate.

i'm constantly trying to keep up with them.

what's new?

what's cool?

what did you do at school today?

what makes you happiest?

if I think about it all too much, I can really upset myself.

infant hood.

(evaporated.)

toddler hood.

(a foggy memory.)

and as ironic as it sounds,

especially being that I'm a photographer

and have close to twenty thousand photographs of my sons,

i really can't recall

h a l f

of the last seven years.

(oh, and I want to so badly.)

sometimes in the rush and panic of daily life,

when I'm feeling like no single project or person has my complete attention,

that no work that I've done is perfect or complete...

i look to my children, and remind myself that the greatest work that can be done, already has been.

I've already done it.

i'm a mother.

I'm

l i v i n g the dream.

i'm

l i v i n g

the

dream.

brooklyn's self portrait at age three.

(he has stars in his eyes.)

dream #4

my boys are becoming friends.

when brought into this world, neither of them had a say as to whether or not they would be brothers,

but to watch them

c h o o s e

to become friends,

d r e a m y.

dream #5

c o n t e n t m e n t.

to be ok with the woman that I was today.

that my best was

e n o u g h.

(i'm getting there, slowly but surely.)

still dreaming of that day.

and last but certainly not least

dream #6

(and how I wish that this could be)

that

p u p p i e s

would remain

p u p p i e s.

but no,

dogs grow up too.

take buddy for example.

he's

h u g e

(but so is his heart)

so, do tell me my friends

what has you spinning and dreamy these days?