Merry Christmas!

This year's Christmas card was 100% inspired by things I'd seen on the web. After sampling various versions of a similar idea, here is our 2011 holiday card. Wishing you joy and love in the coming year!

DSLR love

I kind of fell out of touch with my DSLR. I hadn't used it in a while until today and I'm happily in love again and brushing up on my manual mode skills.

Crapper

We are having so much fun with this guy. Yesterday, he asked me for a crapper (cracker) and I nearly died laughing. There's nothing we would rather do than hang out at home and play with our little buddy.

Toddler Conversations

Ash: "tin-gug!" 

Me "You wanna watch Tangled?"

Ash: "tin-gug."

[So I start turning on Netflix to watch Tangled]

Ash: "tah-miss!"

Me: "Do you want to watch Thomas or Tangled?"

Ash: "no"

Me: "What?"

Ash: "what."

[So I start Tangled]

Ash: "tin-gug!!!"

Gobble

I'm too busy to blog. It's the truth. But, I noticed I've been going great at one post a month. So to keep with that pattern, here I am.

Today, I'm making a trial batch of rolls in preparation for Thanksgiving. I recently perfected pancakes from scratch. If you want my recipe you'll have to ask for it. If rolls are anything like pancakes (I doubt it), I'll have to make them twice a week until Thanksgiving in order to get it right.

Gobble gobble!!

Funnel Cake

Today, we had the most delicious funnel cake at the State Fair. We passed up the deep fried Oreos and cheesecake this year. Oh, and the bacon wrapped Twinkies? 

Asher climbed on a tractor.

And planted some veggies.

And rode on the merry-go-round.

kid clothes

It's obvious that I'm smaller than the average 30 year-old woman. In fact, during our vacation this summer, a movie ticket sales guy mistook me for a 12 year-old. I don't quite take that as a compliment though it could save me a few dollars on a ridiculously priced movie.

People often ask if I shop in the kids' department. I'll just set the record straight for all you other folks who are wondering and not asking. I do not shop in the kids' department. 

Here's why:

• Kids are square. Even though I am petite, I have woman curves.
• I don't buy cartoon character clothes for my toddler. Why would I buy them for myself?
• I prefer not to wear rhinestone-studded or blinky shoes.

Speaking of shoes. I wear a size 4 in womens. You didn't even know size 4 existed, did you? Well it does. And check out these beauties I found at Nordstrom Rack today. Think they sell these in the kids department? I think not. 

Oh, and P.S., If you've ever asked me before if I wear kids' clothes or shop in the kids' department—I'm not mad at you. :)

Sprinkler!

After his 3.5 hour nap (woohoo!), Ash and I spent the afternoon in the back yard playing with the sprinkler. He didn't like the sprinkler at the beginning of summer but he sure does now. Zibby joined in for a bit of fun too!

Yes, he wanted his hat on backwards today. What a cool dude.









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Glasses

He has been wearing Mr. Potato Head's glasses lately. See a Harry Potter resemblance?

Corn

Been a while since I blogged. I've been crazy-busy lately, so I don't feel bad. 

New life

I turned 30 yesterday and I blog from here, now.

Grown up

 He's pretty much grown up. I mean, he can get himself on to a chair now. And he'd be content climbing on and off of a chair all day if I'd let him. Keeping him from injuring himself is exhausting.

It's all about food

We had a big family party to celebrate Mother's Day and my dad's birthday. To be honest, the entire day revolved around food. We had dutch oven french fries, won-tons, trifle,  turkey burgers, Oreo balls, broccoli-bacon salad, fruit, and a Brazilian thing of which I can't remember the name (sorry Rob).

Everything tasted awesomesauce!!!

spring fever

We had a nice Easter. Did you?

I'm dying to know when winter is going to be over. 

Utah weather is sometimes the worst. 

I'm craving fresh garden tomatoes and zucchini. Also, a cheeseburger.

Inspiration

This quote (can something this long be a referred to as a quote?) is the reason I survived grad school. I had it pinned to my cubicle wall and read it every day I felt like quitting. I whipped up this design today so I could stick it to my fridge (or bathroom mirror, etc.).

People say he looks like the Gerber baby

He's gorgeous, isn't he? We met up with some friends at a ski resort just outside of Grand Junction (I know, we should stay in Utah to ski) and Cocheiska (cool name, eh?) did a fab job snapping pics of Ash around the condo. Like I said, he's gorgeous. I kinda wish I could freeze his age. We're having a blast.

Evicted

Baxter moved out. He wasn't paying his share of the rent and he kept pooping in the yard. That behavior is just unacceptable. Here's a picture of him with his new roommate Boomer. They're apparently getting along just fine. Baxter is the one on the bottom. :)

Yellow Stripes

I have this lamp. The stand is tall and black and the shade is cream-colored and plain... probably the same color as my walls. I was itching to be creative this morning so I painted stripes on my lamp shade. I don't love it. I'm worried the yellow is too bright. I'll probably keep it, though. What do you think?

my hexes

I'm following futuregirl's hex tote crochet-along. Here are my first three circles (they'll be hexes as soon as I learn the next step). I love how they're turning out. I'm so excited! I just had to show you!

A First

Ash had his first haircut. It was bitter-sweet. If you hadn't noticed, he was sporting wings over his ears and had a ridiculous mullet. Thanks Aunt Jenny for the best cut ever!

before:

 during:

 during:

 after:

Yes, he's wearing a Beatles t-shirt. And looking daaaannnng cute too!

12 Months and Counting

Ash turned 1 back in December. I bet you thought I gave up on the month-by-month photo series. Well, if you did, you're WRONG!!! Just try to ignore my inconsistent and amateur photog skills. I'm not even going to attempt picking a favorite photo.

Repeat Offender

I recently bought this sweater on super clearance with free shipping from ae.com. It's one of the benefits of being ridiculously small, you see. Clearance sales are often full of the xs and xxs sizes. So, here's the major confession. I've worn the sweater more than three times since it arrived on my porch a week ago. Maybe you saw me wear it multiple times. Maybe you didn't. But I've got to get some good use out of it before winter is over! All I'm saying is, don't judge me. 

nap time

Ash woke up quite happy from his nap today. Also, the lighting in his room was just right. 

He's not much of a baby anymore. He loves his tongue. Jumping and yelling are now at the top of his list of favorite things to do. He's also a master at fish lips!

February. Love. Giving.

Super duper giveaway going on right now!! 

Leave a comment on my ritamade Facebook wall and you could win a 50% off coupon code to my shop!!!
Holy low prices!!!

Share this post on your own wall for an additional entry!

You have until Sunday (Feb. 13) at midnight to enter.
Winner will be selected at random on Valentines Day!

Don't have a Facebook account? Send and email to bonstance@gmail.com.

I've been

Unintentional blog hiatuses are the best. I might have been dreaming about this craft studio furniture for the past month. I might have been learning how to knit. I might have been trying to cope with the fact that A. turned one. I might have also been busy working. I might have been playing Dance Central on the xbox. Regardless, I had a blast.