summer list.

summer in maine is the best. i mean, truly THE best. hot days topped off with cool evenings and breeze billowing through open windows. trips to the coast. ice cream trucks and take out windows. sailboats and seafood. open air markets. days spent on the lake with friends and family.

like i said: awesome.

we have some fun things planned this summer, and other things i'd like to fit in. so i decided to make a summer list--little things, big things, trips to take or memories to make. so. here goes.

1. travel to dallas!
2. introduce bella to fireflies. and try to catch some.
3. walk to jimmie's for ice cream (again).
4. have a big backyard barbeque.
5. make a tent in the living room for family movie night.
6. day trip to camden.
7. sparklers.
8. build our firepit in the backyard.
9. (along with #8) make smores.
10. picnic at cascade park.
11. sit on the hill at bar harbor and watch the boats.
12. make homemade popsicles.
13. family vacation to new hampshire--take bella to storyland and santa's village.
14. plant an "herb garden".
15. picnic at the marina.
16. pick blueberries/strawberries.
17. make freezer jam.
18. finish bella's room.
19. make pizza on the grill.
20. go antiquing (virtually impossible with children) at least once.
21. see fireworks.
22. make a fruit cobbler or pie.
23. go on a date with nick somewhere on the water.
24. buy some fresh seafood.
25. go to an outdoor market or festival. a few times.
26. make a whole meal from things bought at a roadside stand or farmer's market.
27. decorate the empty wall in my kitchen.
28. build a sandcastle.
29.  family trip to the bagel shop.
30.  make frozen banana pops.

let's see how much we can get done :)  what's on your summer list?

photo source

{this print is from my new fav etsy shop... saving up $$ to buy some prints and trying to decide which ones to buy... this one will definitely be my first purchase}

multitude monday.

395. going to the lake with friends. watching bella laugh, splash and try to keep up with the "big kids".
396. in house date nights with the mr.
397. garlic herb pizza crust from trader joe's.
398. emmy's noises.
399. nyc nail polish in "times square". and the fact that it's one ninety nine at target.
400. open windows in the evenings. cool breeze billowing through my lace curtains.
401. my time. and creating pretty things with my hands.
402. girlfriends.
403. tucking bella into bed at night. she always looks so cozy.
404. emmy in her swaddle.
405. nick's servant heart.
406. iced coffee on hot summer days.

playing dress up.

me & dresses go waaaay back. i have always loved them.  as a little girl, i was usually wearing some type of dress.  and now that i'm all grown up?  things haven't changed.  and now my little girls are usually wearing them too, especially in these hot summer-y days.  what better time to be wearing a lovely little dress than summertime?! that's what i say.  a cute sundress + a pair of flip flops is truly one of my favorite combos. ever.

since i'm not wearing my usual size in most stuff right now at 2 months post partum, i did some virtual shopping the other night and lived vicariously via my computer screen. here are a few picks of mine for some super cute summer dresses.

shabby apple

anthropologie

banana republic

modcloth

gap

jcrew

old navy

modcloth

shabby apple

anthropologie

jcrew

friday four.

ahhhh friday, how i love thee.  this week has possibly been one of the longest, most challenging weeks in my life as a mom.  bella has been not sleeping during her naptime, thrown some pretty heavy duty tantrums and has all around just been an absolute pill.  last night, nick was mowing our lawn after work.  before he was even done i stopped him.  i threw up my surrender flag: "i'm done.  i need HELP!"  we've had some lovely moments this week and some not so lovely ones.  let's see what i can document for you in this week's friday four.

nick
i would say the highlight of his week would have been swimming on wednesday, after working long hours in the hot sun. our themometer above our sink read 100 degrees. while i'm not sure it was exactly that hot, it was still pretty warm. he had texted me earlier that day asking me if i wanted to take the girls and go swimming at my aunt's house when he got home. so, we packed up the girls and all of our pool-gear and it probably lasted a total of five minutes. nick had all but dove in the pool when emmy started screaming and bella kept yelling "i don't wike it, don't wike it!!!!!" and refused to go near the water. ahhhh, so much for that plan. nick dried off, we packed up and headed back home. like i said, this would've been his highlight. the best part? the whole drive home bella kept asking him "you have fun swimming, daddy? you have fun?" hmmm. since he's not here for me to ask, i'd have to say the high of his week was hanging out with lots of family and friends. nick is such a social guy... he gets his energy off of hanging out with people and just values relationships like crazy, which i totally love. friday and saturday night we spent having dinner with friends. sunday he got to play golf, we ate lunch at the marina with my brother-in-law's family and that night our entire extended family came to our house for a cookout. it was a great day for my baby daddy. and does he deserve it or what?(the answer is YES).

meg
sunday was a day i had dreaded for months and months since my dad had passed.  but it ended up actually being a really special day.  so incredibly thankful for all of the texts and messages that friends and family sent me telling me they were praying for me and my family.  such a blessing; i certainly felt those prayers!  the highlight of my week was definitely having a girls night with some of my closest (and oldest) girlfriends wednesday evening.  i am so blessed that a few of my best friends from high school are in the area and we typically get together at least once a week for a playdate with our kiddos, and once a month for a girls night (mamas only!).  i can't even begin to say how much i love having friends who have been in my life for so long, who know me so well, and who have little ones the same ages as mine!  it refreshes my soul.  we met at a restaurant on the river, ate on the patio and chatted the night away.  i'm pretty sure we closed the place down.  love these girls so much!

bella
even though it's been a super tough week with my little miss sassafras, a really really great thing happened.  bella has had exzema ever since she was tiny.  we've always tried to control it with different lotions and creams, but this past weekend it was the worst it's ever been.  her poor little arms were so red that her skin had broken and she was bleeding.  i just couldn't take it any longer.  we made an appointment with her doctor, and after looking at my poor pumpkin's skin, she prescribed a medicine and gave us a new regiment to try.  we've been giving her baths twice a day with oil, then putting a topical steroid on all her "trouble spots" and lathering her skin with eucerin.  i noticed a huge difference just after the first day... and now, after three days of this new routine, her skin is *completely* clear.  it's seriously like a miracle!  i just kept telling her how happy i was that she was better and the other night when i was putting on her cream she said "it's so much better, mama, so much better!" like music to my ears.

emmy
my little emmy ems is just the happiest thing.  i can't get enough of her.  she is just super smiley and loves to be held and talked to.  i just want to squeeze and squeeze her.  probably the high of her week was getting wear her oh-so-stylish bathing suit for the swimming (or non swimming) debacle on wednesday.  she may have been fussy, but boy did she look cute.

add several tantrums and battling for control with our too-big-for-her-own-britches too year old and that pretty much sums up our week.  there you have it--the lovely, and the not so lovely.  but the kisses, the smiles, the coos, the snuggles and the "i love you, mama"s make it a little better :)

until next week...

a day in pictures.

 morning sweetness

bella's random collections

making masterpieces

bathtime

towel wrapped

mama squeezes

blueberry bagels & princess plates

flowers from my love

naptime swaddle

hot summer days

open windows

pretty baby

stylin shades

bathing beauties

longtime friends


creating memories.  savoring moments.  making each day count.

what's for dinner tonight {baked chicken taquitos with cilantro lime rice}.

this combo has become a new family fav. another pinterest find.

so, so good.

we are constantly missing mexican food from when we lived in texas. sure, new england thrives on all things lobster, but food south of the border? not so much. after all, we are closer to canada than we are mexico.

i saw one of my college bff's had made this meal and posted it on her facebook page. it looked super delish, and she said it was easy, so off i went to pin it for myself. wow, am i glad i did. thank you, leah.

the chicken taquitos are creamy and full of flavor, and the rice is a copycat recipe of chipotle (which we don't have here, either. i know. feel sorry for us). aaaand it's from skinnytaste.com which is pretty much one of my fav sites now when searching for recipes in light of my quest to shed some post-baby-poundage. i also made some swaps in the taquitos to make them lower in fat and calories.

and now, for the good stuff. here are the recipes:

baked chicken taquitos

* 12 corn tortillas (i've used flour too... corn have less calories; both are good)
* 1 chicken breast, cooked and chopped/shredded
* 4 oz. fat free or light cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese
* 1/4 c. fat free or light sour cream
* juice from 1/2 a lime
* 1/4 t. garlic powder, salt, cumin
* 1/8 t. chili powder, pepper

- combine all ingredients (minus the tortillas) in a medium bowl. if you're using corn tortillas, heat three tortillas at a time for about twenty seconds; this will keep your tortillas pliable and less likely to tear.
- spoon approximately 2 T. of chicken filling into each tortilla and roll tightly. secure with a toothpick.
- place taquitos on a greased cookie sheet. spray tops lightly with cooking spray.
- bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes. watch them closely; these babies crisp up fast!
{weight watchers plus points= 6 pts for 3 taquitos}

cilantro lime rice

* 1 c. long grain or basmati rice
* 2 c. water
* 1 t. salt
* 3 t. canola oil
* juice of 1/2 a lime
* 3 T. fresh cilantro, chopped

- combine rice, water, salt and 1 t. of canola oil in a medium saucepan. boil on high until water skims the top of the rice.
- reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- take rice off heat and allow it to sit for an additional 5 minutes.
- combine rice, 2 remaining t. of oil, lime juice and cilantro.
{weight watchers plus points= 5 pts for 3/4 c. rice}

you will love this combo. seriously. so good. nick said he wants this meal once a week. and look at bella:

a meal she loves just as much as us? awesome.

"safe in the arms of jesus"

i just stepped out onto my porch to fetch my mail. it's been a long day. a long few days actually. father's day is never helpful when grieving the still recent loss of your father. it's been a day i've dreaded for the past seven months. while it ended up being a good day with family and friends, the ache of missing my father has been soul-crushing. yesterday my daughter threw several fits all day... the biggest tantrum she's ever had was at her doctor's office...infront of her pediatrician. the girls have been not napping so well these days--bella, not sleeping at all and emmy, choosing to nap at all times other than bella's "naptime". today, i'm still in my pajamas. no make up on, hair still damp from when i showered last night. i've been drowning in a sea of endless laundry, phone calls and trying to keep my house from being constantly strewn with toys.

and just when i need a reminder, it came.

a reminder that these days are precious. that the pajamas, the makeup-lessness, the weary housework, endless correction of a spirited toddler and caring for a newborn are priceless gifts. blessings that will soon be distant memories.

a former high school classmate was nudged by god to think of me, and she listened. not only did she listen, but she acted. she saw that i, like her, am a fan of ann voskamp and her book "one thousand gifts". a few years back, she had begun making birds nest necklaces for those whom the holy spirit would bring to her heart. when she felt prompted, she would mail them a necklace.

as i opened the envelope, i saw my necklace wrapped up in this page from an old hymnal, "safe in the arms of jesus". in a card, she writes:

"this nest is for you, with four eggs for your new family of four. it's just a little reminder to count our blessings, to remember what's truly important, to give purpose to our lives--to protect and nurture these families of ours! it's wrapped in a page from an old hymnal, chosen specifically for you...for your dad, who is safe in the arms of jesus. i have been incredibly touched by your pure honesty since your dad's passing... i didn't know him, but i am blessed by his life through all you've shared about him."

tears, tears and more tears.

what a perfect reminder that touches my heart in all the ways it needed to be touched today. missing my dad terribly. feeling insignifant as i change diapers, fold laundry and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. striving to be patient and gracious with my daughters. fear of losing other ones i love. wanting so much to savor this precious time... knowing that it is passing all too quickly.

what an inspiring reminder to think of others. to reach out to those around me when god puts them on my heart. to yield to the holy spirit's prompting. because somewhere, out there, there is another tired mama like me... just waiting to be reminded. needing to be encouraged.

she enclosed this quote from ann voskamp:

"i watch the hands move grace on the clock face. i'm growing older. these children growing up. but time is not running out. this day is not a sieve, losing time. with each passing minute, each passing year, there's this deepening awareness that i am filling, gaining time. we stand on the brink of eternity. count blessings and discover who can be counted on. can god be counted on? count your blessings and find out how many of his bridges have already held."

is there someone god has put on your heart today? don't wait. encourage them. because you can be assured they need it. and what a blessing you could be to someone else's heart.

friday four.

remember, like, a year ago when i did the "thursday three" on my blog? it was a weekly update of the highlights of our week...

well, i'm resurrecting it from the blogland graveyard. one of my goals for this little ole blog of mine is to record sweet memories in the life of my family. and this is the perfect way to do just that.

so... without further ado, welcome (thanks to emmy) to "friday four". i'll be sharing all of our fav moments of the week.

with nick's last day of his school year, this week officially marks the beginning of our summer! and it has been a great one, i must say. looking forward to many more weeks this summer just like this.

nick
nick's highlight of the week is an obvious one: he is done with school for the summer. yaaaaayyyyyy! no more grading, lesson planning or stressing over high school students. until the fall, anyway. while he loves his job (and is amazing at it... i'm SO proud of him) he's glad for a break. he worked for a landscaping company last summer and really enjoyed it, so he's back at it again this summer. school ended on wednesday and guess when nick began his landscaping gig? yep, you guessed it. thursday. he loves the physical labor, the guys he works with and it doesn't hurt that it gives us some extra cash. and, it doesn't include any physics equations, overhead projectors or chemistry labs. bonus.

meg
my girls have an almost-third-grandmother in their life, my mom's sister, or "aunt holly". bella is obsessed with her, and i'm sure emmy will be one day as well! she loves our girls and my neice and nephew like they are her own grandchildren. she takes them on special outings, plays with them and always has a special treat to share. they are so blessed! she offered to watch jude and bella for my sister and i on friday so that we could spend the day together with our littlest ones. so, we decided to pack up lucy and emmy and head on a road trip to the big city of portland :) it was really the perfect day. the girls were great. we had lunch at panera (one of my favs). got a few groceries at trader joes--love that place! aaaaaand we got to shop at forever 21 and h&m (where i bought two coral colored dresses... i'm obsessed). yeah, like i said. pretty much the perfect day.

bella
as i mentioned in my highlight, bella got to spend the day with her cousin jude, and her aunt holly. two of her most *favorite* people. they spent the day playing with sidewalk chalk, special toys and the hose! here are some pictures of their day:

emmy
it's a little tricky to pick a highlight from the week of a not-even-two-month-old, but if emmy could pick one, i'm sure it would be our family walk to go get ice cream after dinner sunday evening. there's a little takeout restaurant up the street... if you know maine at all, you know these things are a dime a dozen. you know, the hole-in-the-wall places that sell ice cream cones, lobster rolls and fried shrimp? i love that this one is not far from our house because we can walk to get the girls ice cream... and that's just what we did the other night. although em obviously can't have ice cream yet, she loved the walk in the double stroller with her big sis... on the way there at least. the way home was a little rough... both girls were screaming almost the entire way (about a 20 minute walk!) clearly, it was past their bedtime. still, a really fun family outing!

there you have it... this week's "friday four". tune in next week for more of our weekly highlights and favs.

body wars.

my family went on a few trips to disney world when i was growing up. i was the only one that really wanted to go on any rides, with the exception of my grampy. yep, you read that right. my now ninety-year-old grandfather would be my partner on the rides i wanted to go on because everyone else in my family were a bunch of sissies.

seriously.

and the scared-est of them all? you guessed it. my dad. he had the biggest fear of rides. i guess stemming from a bad experience when he was a kid. can't say that i blame him. but still, it was fun to give him a hard time. here was my six foot four father who was the rock of our family afraid to go on a ride named "the polar coaster" that four year olds rode on. he even stood up once, about to escape from a monorail-type ride called "the people mover" just because it took us through "space mountain" to observe the roller coaster. not even kidding.

one ride he did brave at disney world was at epcot, named "body wars". i'm not even sure they still have that one, but it used to be this motion ride that made you feel as though you were riding through a human body, complete with twists and turns and lots of jolts and drops. my sister and i were young, and as we were all strapping ourselves in before the ride, dad leaned over and whispered "girls remember... if you get scared, just close your eyes. it's not real; you're not really moving like it seems." the ride began, and i remember laughing as my seat shook and jerked. and then, i looked over at my father. he was not sharing in my laughter. instead, i found him clutching on to his seat, knuckles white, eyes squeezed shut--and the best part--lips moving as he sat there, praying for him to be rescued from this terrifying ride, i'm sure.

one of my favorite stories about my dad.

the name of that epcot ride is not far from the truth when referring to the struggle that plagues approximately half of america's population. it seems as though our society is constantly wanting to wage war on women's bodies. proof is everywhere. magazine covers. billboards. television. it's complete overkill in one of the most dangerous ways.

lucky us.

body image is something i've struggled with for many years. it waxes and wanes with each season of life, but it's something i constantly have to keep in check. and after having two babies? i feel the battle raging these days. i know that in time, just as i experienced after i had bella, i will lose the weight and my clothes will fit again. but it takes time. and that's what i'm not good with. i want to complain, i want to be impatient, i want to feel crappy about myself. and just like my dad told me with the epcot ride, i wish i could just close my eyes and make it all go away. but i can't. i need to face this battle head on. not only for me, but for my daughters as well.

being a mom to two precious girls has made me think a whole lot about the issue of body image. i oftentimes pray for their self confidence... for them to be protected from the lies, the pressure, the attacks of our society on their bodies and their perception of who they are as women. i pray that i can raise confident women who find pride in how they take care of themselves, and are content with who they are... on the outside, but *far* more importantly; who they are on the inside. where it matters most.

i pray that as their mother, i can instill in their hearts a greater sense of beauty that far exceeds the messages of this messed up world.

and i know in order to do that, i need to be sending out that message in our home. everyday. about them. but more importantly, about myself. i don't want to complain, to pick out all of the things i don't like about my appearance. but instead, to have an air of quiet contentment and confidence... most importantly about the woman i am; my heart, my spirit, my character which are far more valuable than my looks.

so as i embark on trying to get healthy again, getting my body back in shape, and shedding some poundage, these are the things i want to focus on. and may i remember that little eyes will be watching. little eyes that will look to me to see what being a woman looks like. little eyes that will learn from me what beauty is. little eyes and ears that will soak in my words, behaviors and actions and use them as the foundation upon which they will build their concept of self image and value.

that is a huge responsibility. and perhaps one of the greatest gifts i can give my daughters.

i pray that god gives me the grace to keep my mind stayed on his truths. do i want to lose the weight that i gained while carrying emmy? yes. do i want to feel good about how i look? absolutely. and i don't think there's anything wrong with that as long as i keep it in perspective. so while i'm exercising and scheduling time to work out, what am i doing to cultivate my inner attractiveness? while i'm counting points and planning out my fruit and vegetable intake for the day, what kind of effort am i putting forth in becoming the woman that jesus wants me to be? because that is far more important than what is seen in this body of mine--this shell--that is oh-so-temporary.

so long, extra weight... i will be saying goodbye to you over the coming months. i will not miss you, but i'm thankful for what caused you to come. i'm looking at her right now and i can't think of a better reason to gain a few (okay, fifty) pounds. and until you are gone, i pray to be patient, content and to enjoy the journey.

"charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the lord is to be praised." (psalm 31:30)

what's for dinner tonight {baked sweet&sour chicken}.

i {heart} pinterest for many reasons. but one of them is the oh-so-delish recipes i come across on there. really. some of my new favs i have found on pinterest. and i always enjoy trying out new dinners for my family... especially when they are a hit!

and this one was.

if you're on pinterest, i'm sure you have seen this recipe making it's rounds. as a self-admitted chinese food lover, it definitely caught my eye. and i already had all the ingredients in my pantry to make it. even better. so it was quickly placed on my menu to make last week.

let's just say it was absolutely scrumptious. like... really, really good.

nick doesn't really get over-the-top excited about what i prepare for dinner because he always says he likes everything i make. which honestly is true. if you know my husband you know that getting over-the-top excited about anything a) isn't his personality and b) he really does love pretty much everything i cook and tells me that all the time(with the exception of these peanut noodles i liked to make that he put the kibosh to).

anyway, let's just say this meal roused raving reviews from my laid-back husband. he said it was better than any chinese takeout. aaaaand i even got a text message from him the next day when he took the leftovers with him to work, thanking me for what a great cook i am.

awwww.

so, here's the recipe. go make it! your tastebuds (and if you're married, your husband) will thank you.

baked sweet&sour chicken

* 3-4 chicken breasts
* 1 c. cornstarch
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 1/4 c. canola oil
* salt&pepper

* 3/4 c. sugar
* 4 T. ketchup
* 1/2 c. vinegar
* 1 T. soy sauce
* 1 t. garlic salt

- cut chicken into bite sized chunks and season with salt&pepper.
- coat chicken in cornstarch and then dip into beaten eggs. (tip: to minimize messiness, try designating one hand to only be in the cornstarch, and one to only be in the eggs... otherwise it can become one, big goopy mess!)
- heat oil in a large skillet and cook chicken until browned, but not cooked the whole way through.
- place chicken in a greased 9x13 baking dish. whisk together sweet&sour sauce and pour over chicken.
- bake at 325 degrees for one hour, turning the chicken every fifteen minutes.

we ate ours with some rice, asian vegetables and these lowfat veggie egg rolls we buy and cook in our toaster oven. deeeeelish.

seriously, go make it.

(and... i calculated points for this recipe on the weight watchers points plus plan; it has approximately 10 points per 1 cup. pair with some veggies and you've got a fantastic dinner!)

a paris party.

we had a sweet little party for my two year old bella a few weeks ago. just a little shindig with family and a few close friends to celebrate my little pumpkin who exudes sweetness and all things girly.

it was so fun.

around christmastime, i was browsing through babygap when i stumbled upon this dress:

i know, riiiiight? adorable. my mom, sister and my sister's mother-in-law were with me and we all ooohed and ahhhed over how precious this dress was when i had the thought: how cute would it be for bella to wear this dress for her birthday and throw a paris-themed party to match? and there, a party theme was born.

i was super crunched for both time and energy this year planning her party with caring for a month old emmy and very little sleep. but i still wanted to make it special. the backdrop to the food table was the hugest time consumer. holy cow. for the main focal point of the party, i used decorative scrapbook paper to make several paper medallions (i used this tutorial to make these suckers). using scotch tape and yarn, i created this garland on our dining room hutch with the "ooh la la" swag to make it super paris-y. i love how it turned out!

i love displaying pictures at bella's birthday parties (and in about eleven months, emmy's!). i just love photographs, period, but also showing them throughout a year's span is so special to see just how much she's grown... and displaying special memories from the past twelve months. i printed several of my favorites and used them to create these garlands that i hung over each doorway into our dining room and living room. paired with eiffel tower playing cards and paper doilies, i loved this paris-y photo bunting!

i also found this paris plate at tj maxx for around five bucks. it used it to add to the decor on our dining room hutch since it served as the backdrop to the food table. i loved the simple black&white design.

my sister's mother-in-law (i really need a shorter name for her as she is like family to us!) lent me her cricut complete with a paris-themed cartridge, which was a huge lifesaver. i used it to create tiny paris-themed icons such as eiffel towers, poodles, high heeled shoes, purfume bottles, to make toppers for bella's chocolate cupcakes.

food for our guests included fruit trays, crackers and cheese and chocolate cupcakes. i also loaded up a pink basket with croissants and made a homemade honey butter that i served alongside strawberry jam.

one of bella's fav treats are chocolate donut holes from tim hortons. to make them look a bit more elegant, i stuck lollipop sticks in each one, and tied a knot from white ribbon on the end of each stick. the kids loved these; donuts as lollipops? what's not to love? i think bella and jude had about seven each before the party even started.

to label each of the foods, i created these food cards out of the scrapbook paper. using the cricut, i cut luggage tag shapes out of white cardstock and then glued a ribbon on the end of each (after all, paris requires traveling!)

nick's parents were in town which made bella's party *extra* special. i was so thankful for my sweet mother-in-law who helped me all morning pull things together. she helped glue cupcake toppers, tied lots of ribbon-knots and even made and frosted the cake for me! the cake mix was store bought chocolate, but i found this recipe which made the most scrumptious buttercream frosting! it was the talk of the party. i topped the cake with a doily, paper medallion and eiffel tower card that i glued to lollipop sticks. my cousin rachel (who photographed the party for me!) also lent me a gold eiffel tower figurine that i used as well.

bella had a great time at her party. the minute we put her dress on, she kept twirling and saying "look at my princess dress!" told you. such a girl. she got some great gifts; pajamas, cute dresses and skirts, books, a cash register toy, play pots, pans and dishes...

nick&i bought her this sweet vintage kitchen set that i'd been eyeing for almost a year! it's been a huge hit.

and meme got her this awesome playhouse that is perfect on our back deck. bella loves it! so do her friends...

it was such a special day for our little girl. i was exhausted when it was over, but my heart felt so *full*. bella is already blessed with so many people that love her and will forever be a part of her life.

happy birthday, bella grace! we love you so, so much.

(check out bella's vintage garden party from last year here)

this post was linked to these *lovely* blogs:

dyi by design

southern lovely

my girlish whims

shabby nest

love notes by lauryn

tatertots&jello

homemaker in heels

at the picket fence

shaken together
liz marie