Thankful

This Thanksgiving I was most thankful for my two frenemies. Both my best friends. Both my enemies when they combine forces against me. Which is most of the time.

See how they enjoy their Thanksgiving dessert.

Backyard Before and After

When we were house hunting back in May and we saw this house, I completely fell in love with it. And like most brand new loves I looked past its flaws. It's main flaw being the backyard which was just small and ugly. "This yard is the perfect size for a two-year-old and we can just take out those bushes, take out all the rock, plant a garden here, plant grass, plant citrus trees here, add a swing here.... It won't be that hard to make it look good." This was coming from a rookie who had never done yard work in her life.

Six months later and we're basically done. All of the work on our house has been on our front and back yard. We've planted so many trees, shrubs, vines that I've lost count. And for each one we had to dig deep holes in our cement dirt with a pick axe and shovel. By "we" I mean "mainly Jason". We love our backyard now though and it is the perfect weather to be outside playing.


So the past couple of weeks almost killed me. I was sewing so much I barely slept, hardly sat at the computer, almost forgot my husband, child, and home, and developed a horrible twitch in my right eye. I hope to never do that to myself again. Or my family. Or to my eye that is still twitching. Seriously, Jason will hardly look at me anymore because it freaks him out.

People of the Valley

I am really really excited for this boutique! It will be so much fun. And me and my dresses will be there. Don't miss it!

Holiday Dresses

Christmas Plaid Tie Dress:











Holiday Tuxedo Dress:









This Tuxedo Dress is one that I have been dreaming up for a while now.

When I first sketched it, 1) I didn't know how I was going to create the pattern for it, and 2) it kept me awake at night I was so excited about it. It took a good time to figure out how I was going to make it. And then when I figured that out, there were so many pieces and so much construction that it took me a good time to actually make it. But the finished dress makes every ounce of energy worth it. I love it.

I love the tuxedo ruffles, the length of the sleeves, the sleeve cuffs, the pretty collar, and the poofiness and flow of the skirt pieces (poofiness is a great word). It is made out of a poplin fabric that gives it just the right weight and feel. For me, it is perfection.

And Drew has the sweetest lips in that last picture. I will look back at that picture ten years from now and remember what her sweet little two-year-old kisses were like.

Minnie's Halloween

Though she had been milking sickness for every ounce it was worth for the days and hours preceding Halloween (crying all day and all night), trick-or-treating may have been the happiest we have seen her ever. I love Halloween in the Valley where the weather is perfect and no bundling up over the costume is required. I have the best childhood Halloween memories (what up Hawli!) and I can tell Drew will too. She was born for trick-or-treating.