lil miss frou frou.

ok. so, i'll admit it. i l-o-v-e dressing up my lil sweet pea. i was telling nick the other day that i definitely try not to do it as much as i want to, because i want to start from the beginning in not placing too much of an emphasis on clothes and outer appearance, but it is just oh-so-fun to do it sometimes. especially for special occassions.

i definitely splurged on bella's birthday dress&shoes from baby gap. but i couldn't help myself. oh rather, i didn't really want to help myself. they were just too cute.

aaaaand i had the perfect accessory in mind that i wanted to make for her. i saw this belt online, and i've been waiting to make it for months now.

so, with her first birthday around the corner, the first thing i thought when i woke up this morning (bella had spent the night at her aunt jessica's) was making that dang belt. so, i got up, sleepy-eyed and all, and went to work.

after thread&needles, pearls&beads, fabric&felt and scissors&ribbon being strewn all over our living room floor, here is the finished product:

i am pretty excited. maybe not as pretty as the original, but the satisfaction of making it myself and saving a bunch of $$ (to offset the dress&shoes, of course :)) just made my lil heart so happy.

and bella wearing it?? makes my lil heart even happier. how. stinking. sweet.

this post has been linked to these *lovely* blogs:

http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/

http://morrowsunshine.blogspot.com/

http://www.homemakerinheels.com/

http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/

http://todayscreativeblog.net/

what's for your sweet tooth {tollhouse pie}.

when you have a serving of this pie, it's pretty much a slice of heaven. yes, that's right. heaven. this was my *favorite* dessert my mom made when i was growing up, and now i love to make it for our family and for guests and friends. it's super duper easy and tastes like an ooey, gooey, warm chocolate chip cookie in a pie crust. ummm... yum.

many people serve tollhouse pie with walnuts mixed in, but i'm just not a fan. i feel like it takes away from the ooey-gooeyness. so, no walnuts for me. but if you'd like, feel free to mix them in to your batter!

and here's the recipe.

tollhouse pie

* 2 eggs

* 1/2 c. flour

* 1/2 c. white sugar

* 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed

* 1/2 t. vanilla extract

* 1 c. butter, melted&cooled

* 1 c. chocolate chips

* 1 unbaked pie crust

- preheat oven to 325 degrees.

- melt butter and set aside to cool. once cooled, add all ingredients but chocolate chips and whisk well. stir in chocolate chips.

- pour mixture into unbaked pie crust (find my recipe here). bake at 325 for one hour, or until middle is set.

serve *warm* with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. i told you. heaven.

a mother's love.

i never fully understood a mother's love until may 19th, 2010 when around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, a sweet little babe was placed on my chest. all i could do was cry and say "it's my baby, it's my baby!" instant. love. every time i hear bella say "mama", or see her giggle at me, or lay her head on my shoulder, my heart swells with love for this tiny little person who has turned my world upside down.

a little one to love, care for, play with, teach, cuddle with and help grow her into the beautiful, godly woman that god has created her to be. now that's a job. and i feel beyond blessed to do it.

when we found out we were having a girl, i was overjoyed for so many reasons. but one of the most special was thinking about passing on the things to my daughter that my mother had given me. my mother is amazing. she is strong, faithful, servant hearted and selfless. not to mention beautiful :) she has shown me by example what i want to be as a mother to my children. when i was sick, she was always there to comfort me (i am now a thirty year old woman and when i am sick, i still want my mom!). when i was happy, she was there to listen to me chat away in excitement (and i talked... alot). when i was navigating things like self esteem and body image issues, she was there to talk with me and give me passages of scripture that had spoken to her over the years (psalm 139 was her favorite). when i found the man i was going to marry, she counted him as not her son-in-law, but her son and treated him and loved him as her own. when i became a mom myself, she flew to dallas and woke up with me at night and early in the morning to help with bel. she cooked for us, cleaned for us, did laundry for us--all without asking. that is my mom. always looking to where she can serve, who she can help, what she can do. not to sound all-1950s-housewife, but she taught me how to make a house into a home, how to have a love for cooking good food and making things from scratch (to this day i still can't buy a pie crust from the grocery!) and how to fill holidays and birthdays with special memories.

i can't even begin to write all that i want to say when it comes to my mom and what she has taught me so much over the years. she has supported me through everything, comforted me, prayed for and with me, helped and served me and no matter what, i've always known she would love me. always.

i love you, mom. thanks for being for me the mom i want to be.

this mother's day was my first; and it was so so special. it started saturday night with pink gerbera daisies from nick--my favorite. aaaand a note (which is the way to my heart!) saying a bunch of sweet things and then a schedule of what mother's day would hold (again... another way to my heart; nick knows i'm a planner!) :) on the agenda? mother's day brunch at daddy jacks... one of our most *favorite* restaurants, a picnic lunch with nick's family on lake grapevine, watching the mavs beat up on the lakers, and wine together after bella went to bed. ummm... perfect.

and, look at this sweet face!

i am beyond blessed to not only be a mama to such a sweet baby girl, but to be a mother with nick by my side. i can't imagine not having his partnership, his support&encouragement and his leadership in our family. he blesses me every single day by the husband he is to me, and the father he is to our daughter.

bella, being your mama has been one of the greatest joys (and most humbling responsibility) of my life. i am beyond thankful that god has chosen me to be your mom... i love you, sweet girl!!

multitude monday.

161. nick&bella. can't say enough how *thankful* i am for them, and how they bless me daily.

162. pink gerbera daisies from my handsome man.

163. hummus&warm pita bread. yum.

164. drinking wine and talking with nick.

165. mother's day brunch at daddy jacks. oh my. delish.

166. bella's snuggles when she first wakes up in the morning. how she wraps her arms around my neck when i first get her out of her crib and lays her head on my shoulder.

167. sundresses. love.

168. my mom and all she has taught me. i want to be the mom she is, the hostess she is, the homemaker and cook she is, the unselfish, beautiful, strong and faithful woman she is. mom, i love you.

ten things {restaurants in dallas}.

i think a side job i would like to have is to be a food critic. i mean, i love food so then i would love working! so... what's not to love? as we are getting prepared to leave dallas in a mere three weeks (ahhhhh!!) i've been thinking about all the things i will miss. besides people (obviously) and our church, i think the restaurants will come in near the top. if you live here--or plan on visiting any time soon--check out this list. seriously some of our *favorite* places to fill our bellies. YUM. along with some great memories. as julia child would say...bon appetit!

1. eno's pizza (bishop arts district, oak cliff).

nick&i were first introduced to eno's at a first baptist academy staff christmas party two years ago. i was then with child, so the experience of having unlimited mouth-watering salad, pizza and pasta was especially fantastic. what we love so much about this place is not only their oh-so-delish thin crust pizza, effort to use locally grown, fresh ingredients and yummy root beer floats, is the rustic, laid back vibe. not to mention it's location in the cutest area of dallas which really feels like you're walking around in a normal rockwell painting in the 1950s. i am seriously in love with this place. be sure to try: central pie, harvest pear salad, gotham kitchen and homegrown sandwiches. also have a great beer selection and, as previously mentioned, outstanding root beer floats!

2. chuy's (knox/henderson, dallas).

ahhhhhhh chuy's. just that word brings to my mind brightly colored, festive decor that just puts you in a good mood, 50s diner-style seats, queso and fixins served out of the back of a plastic cadillac and really, really good margaritas (especially at happy hour when they are like three bucks). i. love. this. place. in my single days, i came here allllll the time. i have fond memories of summer days spent laying by the pool, deciding on a whim we felt like chips and jalepeno ranch, throwing on shorts and tshirts and heading straight there, sunburned skin, wet hair and all. be sure to try: tortilla soup, mexi-cobb salad, fajitas, baja tacos, big as yo face burritos aaaaand you *must* request a side of jalepeno ranch dressing with your chips for dipping. i want this in a permanent iv running through my veins at all times.

3. eatzi's (oak lawn/lemmon, uptown dallas).

feel like going to europe but can't afford a plane ticket? a trip to eatzi's just might hold you over until you can. with it's wine, bread and cheese selections, fresh flowers, bakery, specialty foods and classical music billowing in the background, eatzi's instantly transports you to a world beyond dallas. located near dallas seminary, i may have skipped a few classes on a nice afternoon to go grab lunch with a friend. don't judge. you would have too :) a stop at this italian market is a must for a picnic date, lunch with a friend or just a change from the ordinary. be sure to try: a made-to-order sandwich on the signature bonebread... soooo yum, basil cream spread, southwest chicken salad, hummus or a made-to-order salad with anything you can imagine.

4. daddy jacks (denton tap rd, coppell).

we are *huge*--huuuuuuge--daddy jacks fans. nick worked there all through our first year of marriage as he finished up his undergrad, and occassionally still will pick up a shift here and there. this is one of the best date places to go because it's so small, candlelit and intimate and of course because they have a-mazing food. aaaand we happen to think the owners are pretty great :) i have tried a lot on their menu, so bear with me as i rattle off a list of must-tries: goat cheese bruchetta, ahi tuna, shrimp and grits, hummus, lobster bisque&tomato soup, bistro salad, blue cheese hashbrowns, baked stuffed shrimp, beef tenderloin tips, and they also have a menu with your choice of meat, just brushed with olive oil, sea salt and lemon and grilled for your health-conscious decisions (because you will definitely want dessert). for your sweet tooth: their creme brulee is oh-so-scrumptious, but our favorite is the chocolate bag; a "bag" made out of hardened chocolate and filled with cubed poundcake, berries and chocolate. ummmm... yes please.

5. seven salsas (macarthur blvd, valley ranch).

this place is not only great because of their fantastic-mexican-fare-that-doesn't-break-your-wallet, but it is also special to nick&i because it is where we had our first date (everyone say it with me now "awwwwww"). yes, that's right. this is where we first spent time together, where we first knew we liked each other and where i first ate off his plate. yes, yes i did (to my mother's dismay). oh well. guess it didn't scare him off, did it?! needless to say, we love it here. their salsa (no big surprise if you note the name) is amazing; and sometimes they will bring out a platter of--you guessed it--seven different salsas to sample. delicious. laid back, authentic and just good, good food. be sure to try: cadillac fajitas, chicken soft tacos, ground beef nachos, sangria swirl margaritas.

6. breadwinners (mckinney ave, uptown dallas).

one of my all-time favorite places to eat in dallas... especially for brunch. when i was training for a half-marathon with a couple of my friends, we would do our long runs on saturday mornings... a couple times with the motivation that it would be immediately followed by a brunch at breadwinners. this place not only has amazing food, but a unique, artsy, fun vibe and is perfect for everyone... but especially perfect for girl time, i must say :) be sure to try: homemade granola, nature pancakes, san fransisco cobb salad, waldorf chicken melt or california turkey club sandwich. their flavored iced tea is amazing and so are their homemade potato chips. yum.

7. cafe brazil (many locations in the metroplex).

i was lucky enough to live close to a cafe brazil when i first moved to dallas and was a seminary student. it was open 24 hrs, so when my roommate and i would get hungry we would sometimes make a trip to cafe brazil. it's eclectic, unique style is not only evident in their decor but also their food. aaaaand they have a bottomless coffee bar with flavors like "vanilla colada" and "butter pecan". yesss. be sure to try: veggie deluxe sandwich, their version of a grilled cheese which is complete with every cheese under the sun, make-your-own crepes, not just another egg sandwich, breakfast migas, and pancrepes. you'll never go to another place like it.

8. trinity hall (mockingbird station, dallas).

a couple of summers ago, this became a favorite hang-out-spot for our group of friends. the perfect place to go sit for a few hours, have a drink or two, people-watch, chat and maybe get some food. an old-world-ish irish pub set in trendy mockingbird station, trinity hall is always a-buzz with live bands, sporting events and trivia nights. a really, really fun place to go with friends. voted "best beer selection in dallas" in 2010, it also has great irish fare. be sure to try: fish&chips, irish soda bread, shepherd's pie, irish chicken enchiladas, and for dessert? steamed bread pudding. super scrumpsh (i just made up that word).

9. johnny b's (southlake blvd, southlake).

this family owned burger joint is one of our *favs*. my father l-o-v-e-s this place and would seriously consider flying to dallas just to grab a hamburger (and see his granddaughter) and fly back. just kidding, but maybe. this in-and-out-burger-inspired-hole-in-the-wall establishment is just so cute... and you just feel good knowing you're supporting a family by bringing your business here. right? yes. their signature sauce (like i said, similar to in-and-out) and their fresh baked, slightly sweet, buttery hamburger buns are hard to beat. be sure to try: their BURGERS! (duh) and fries. and the shakes are out-of-this-world, too.

10. fireside pies (knox/henderson, dallas).

love. this. place. they not only have mouthwatering pizzas, but just-as-delish salads, appetizers and really, really yummy drinks. aaaand you can eat outside on a patio when the weather's nice and it just makes you love this place more. perfect for a girls night out, a romantic date for two, or a dinner with lots of friends. i mean, who doesn't love a good pizza? yeah. everyone. be sure to try: fireside fondue, fireside cheese salad with chicken (one of the best salads that has ever blessed my tastebuds), peta pie and any cocktail i've had there has been really, really tasty. yum. now i'm hungry.

farewell big, empty wall.

so we have had this big, empty wall for almost two years. it's above our recliner, almost in the corner of our living room.

it's been bugging me for nearly two years.

in an effort to decorate but not spend a lot of cash, here's what i came up with. i handmade a frame using one of my favorite prints from our wedding. and... it was really inexpensive! i ordered a poster print from walgreens photo online, using a coupon (they always have some coupon codes to use, don't fret) and i think the total cost for this 16x20 print was around thirteen buck-a-roos. yessss. i then went to home depot and bought a piece of plywood-type-material. sorry for the vague description! it was thin and only around $5-6. i had them cut it for me there (so i have another piece to play with too! *bonus*) and took it home and sanded it. i first spray painted it brown and modpodged photo to it. but when nick&i (or mostly nick) hung it on the wall, there was too much brown. soooo... i used the tin-foiling technique i used here on my tin-foil tables to create an antique-y silver-y frame. i will still probably add some faux glaze to the top to finish this look, but i haven't gotten to that just yet.

sepia tone poster print: walgreens ($13 with coupon code)

plywood: home depot (around $6)

tin foil, mod podge, pewter finish for frame: already on hand

foam board&scrapbook paper for "c": already on hand

bottle: goodwill (0.50)

button flowers: walmart ($5 for a bunch... i dried them out)

frame: already on hand

ceramic bird: pier one ($4 for a pair)

antique wall sconces: ebay ($6.99 + shipping)

i also purchased these antique bronze wall sconces from ebay... just a quick coat of white spraypaint and i'm in love (and how much do i love krylon spray paint? a.whole.lot).

i repurposed this old shelf i had found a while ago on clearance at target and put a few accessories on it... my friend hannah had these super cute bird salt&pepper shakers on a shelf at her house that she told me she got at pier one for 4 bucks. yes please! i made this "c" by using an x-acto knife to cut a c out of foam board i had on hand and covering it with scrapbook paper.

this is my favorite picture of bella taken by my super-duper talented friend, amanda, of {aka}photography (she also did all the family portraits on the right side of my blog!) yeah... amazing, right??! i put it in a vintage-y distressed frame i had bought years ago and i *love* it. anyone that knows me and my decor-loves, knows i'm obsessed with bottles (remember my other shelf??) i think i found this one at goodwill, and i loooove these yellow button flowers dried out... i have them all over our house!

so long, big empty wall. with a little thrifty-ness, creativity and repurposing, you have been conquered :)

this post was linked to this *lovely* blog:

http://www.homemakerinheels.com

multitude monday.

154. a rainy day.

155. bella's sweet giggles.

156. time with family.

157. being out in the country for a while... the peacefulness, simplicity, beauty in nature.

158. watching nick be a dad. how loving he is, how he works so hard for our family, how he prays over our baby girl, how he cares for bella&me. love, love, love him.

161. our american troops and their families who sacrifice *so* much every single day. yall are my heroes!!! thank you.

160. my verse for this year: "the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; but i have come so that you may have LIFE, and have it to the full." (john 10:10)