Photo Shoot

I'm assisting my brother-in-law (also a photographer) with a wedding in a few weeks, so we went out "shooting" together for a bit of practice. My daughter and sister-in-law were our subjects. We spent a 70-degree-California-December day at a beautiful park in Brea. Here are just a few of our pics. Sorry, MY pics (Ryan's are much better! 

This is Meg inside of a picture frame. We were trying for a something completely different than this. . . but she's five. 

My gorgeous sister-in-law, Rebekah. I love these shots with the chair:

 Here is Ryan shooting Meg. (these were great shots, btw): 

Look at the freckles!! I guess she is mine after all. 

Home-made Christmas

I thought making presents for everyone would be nice this year. I mean--I can sew, paint, crochet, frame pictures that I've taken, combine talents with friends. . . So why not? 

It's December 11th and I'm exhausted! I'm actually pleased. . . and exhausted. It feels amazing to make something--spend the time and and energy, iron each seam, choose each fabric and trim. . . all the while thinking about the recipient. In this case, mostly children will receive my handiwork, perhaps because I'm sure they won't notice the mistakes. The time and energy has been fulfilling--I feel so full when I make a gift as opposed to buying another Littlest Pet Shop toy at Target. 

Mind, I have purchased several Littlest Pet Shops. In fact, I think I am done with my crafting--I made 14 home-crafted gifts this season and while I am satisfied. . . I am done. 

It's December 11th . . . and I am ready to stop sewing and go shopping. 

Time to think about my hair.

Twice a year I have to think of what to do about my hair. My hair is long, and the advantage on long hair is not cutting it so very often as some of my fellow females. It has come around to "hair time" though, and I have started the bi-yearly search for a suitable photo to bring along to the salon. 

The salon. Sigh. There are three ladies and one gentleman on this planet with whom I will trust to cut my hair. The closest of these lives two hours from my home, in Palm Springs. After that they live in San Francisco, New york and somewhere in Paris, I think, but I lost track of him years ago so really I'm down to three. I've learned my lesson about straying from these four individual's talent, so I remain faithful and I do my homework. 

I'm considering a cut somewhat shorter than what it is now, maybe six inches shorter. This lovely, fresh faced, youthful woman is sporting the length I am thinking about. And now, I am considering that cute gray hat as well, thank you very much.

And this one below, and she has some tendrils cut about her face which usually looks best on me. 

Hair color is also a small issue of thought. I have (embarrassed throat -clearing) grays. Far more than I'd like to admit and enough to not be masked by a few highlight anymore as we've done in the past. So the question is. . . blonde or brunette? I'll take this up with Stevie (my Palm Springs hair goddess).

Mine is this long now, but when I wear it pulled back like that I look like a Quaker. Or something.

This is more like what mine looks like most of the time these days, but I think I need to chop a bit off to allow it become healthy again. It has become heavy and flattens itself to my head. 

Thanks for joining me on my hair musings. Completely self-centered and superficial, right? O well, it happens twice a year and requires a pilgrimage to one of the remote locations mentioned above. So, you see, I need to travel prepared--preparation and a fabulous stylist are my key to six months of no haircuts! 

(These photos are all from the Luckymag.com website)

A Rainbow Birthday

As you know, my Meg turned 5 last week and we celebrated on Saturday with a girlie "Rainbow Party!" The best irony was that it rained in torrents all day long so everything that I planned had to be moved indoors (and tweaked slightly), but it was still so cute and really fun for the children! I shamelessly copied rainbow ideas from multiple blogs, websites and good friends, so while not completely original,  I did create the details myself and put the ideas together into a party that was our very own. Here are some pictures:

We loved the Meg Whitman campaign signs, so we used one to identify the "party house." Of course, it required an umbrella for protection!

I bought these plastic "car lot" flags ages ago and had planned to adorn our backyard with them. Since the party moved indoors, the flags came right along, quite nicely I think!

The star of the show--my sister made this six layer rainbow cake (did you see the layers in the first picture?). AMAZING!! And it was tasty, too!

I have to confess that I was going to order pizza. But when asked Meg if she wanted pizza for her birthday dinner, she said (and I  quote--and I swear it came out in one long sentence): "No mommy, I want my favorite.  Spaghetti and meatballs, tomato soup, mac-n-cheese, steak, watermelon, peas and that yummy bread that is crunchy. You can have salad, mommy." So that's what we had for dinner. 

Here are photos of just a few of our activities:

The girls all declared the best activity to be the Rainbow Colors Treasure Hunt. I may post the entire activity by itself, in a day or two. I wrote little rhymes and the girls had to figure out the location and color until they found all the colors of the rainbow, at the end of which they discovered a treasure box filled with goodies. It was super fun, but lasted all of six minutes!

These "to-go" boxes left over from our last party came in very handy. I packed up lots of leftover treats and sent them to our neighbors after the party. Meg thoroughly enjoyed the visits to each house, sharing her birthday treats and announcing her new age five status. 

Happy Rainbows! And my sweet Meg: Happy Fifth Birthday, baby.

Birthday Week

This week, my baby will turn five.

FIVE?

That is half of a decade.

A five year old is a child, not a baby.

I have tried to make her promise to stop growing, to stay four forever, but the lure of birthday presents is too strong to resist. Alas, she must grow.

But she assures me that she will live with me forever. Even when she is a "big and has lots of children."

Meanwhile, I am planning her birthday party, which will occur next weekend. She has chosen a rainbow theme, which makes it easy on ole' mom. We are going to keep the birthday party fairly low key this year, but it still is fun to dream up ways to make the day magical for her.

I'm most excited about the six layer rainbow cake my sister will be making for her!

Birthday week is always busy, but exciting. And bittersweet. . . how time flies. 

Pretty Pumpkins

I so wanted to post this a week--no two weeks ago! It's been waiting on my Blackberry for the moment, and now that Halloween is over, it's kind of pointless except to those of you who (like me) will remember this sweet pumpkin decorated with black rhinestones and try it yourself next year! 

And now. . . bring on the Holidays. (I'm tired already)

Item #468 on my "I Want It" List.

This chair is adorable. From the Re-Trouv辿 Collection designed by Patricia Urquiola (yes, that last sentence was copy/pasted, there's no way I could have figured out that symbol!). I would like to have it. Do I need to say more? It's on Gilt.com right now marked down from $1,084 to $465. Still too steep for me but that's why I have the "I Want It" list.