rosettes & cupcakes

Tony was sick all week. While he was passed out on the couch I whipped up this little necklace. My camera was getting "detailed" (let's say) so I didn't take step by step pictures for my own tutorial (I did make mine slightly different) but I found the tutorial here. So check it out.  I like.


It was my first go at making fabric flowers- I was suprised at how easy it was!  Good to know.

Getting sick of my cupcake talk?  yeah me too.  But I thought this was funny and it would be weird to bring up way down the road so.  (Out with it Connie.)  Um.  Is it weird I don't really care for cake but I love cupcakes? Anyway when I waited for Tony to get home from work in the summer I stumbled across the show Cupcake Wars. I love it. I even dvr it. haha! So... there have been lots of Arizona contestants on the show, right? One happened to have their shop ten minutes from us! (She even WON!) This HAD to be good.  So we checked it out...








Haha!  (Turns out I've had a ba-gillion photo shoots RIGHT where it was but never noticed the joint...not observant, maybe?)  Anyway we'll stick with what we know and love.  I was pretty disappointed I didn't love them!  We all thought the vanilla was lemon and the "cookie dough" tasted like cherry extract.  Sad.
When we drove home I asked Brody, "which cupcake did you like the best?"  He said, "I don't know... it was a yucky one."

Swing and a miss.


Speaking of food, I made my recipes a little easier to navigate.   I know, you're welcome.

just had to say

Being a mother is the best thing that ever happened to me!  I know my last post was all about a crazy outing that wasn't so easy/fun at times but that's part of what I love about motherhood.  It pushes you to be a better person- it changes the way you see people- it humbles you.  More than that you learn to laugh at spilt milk (you really learn to laugh at a lot of things!), or to not freak when you get pooped on at church.  When each of my boys were born ALL I thought was how perfect they were (and are).  Being a mom has taught me how beautiful life is- how beautiful everyone is!  I can get nit-picky at myself but since I've become a mom, little things that used to bug me don't matter anymore.  Being a mom has helped me grow up.  It has taught me what really matters in life.  I'm so grateful for my kids- they bring me more happiness than I ever dreamed.  Sure parenting can be tiring and difficult at times but really, when you add it all up it is oh so rewarding and beautiful.

Hi I'm Connie and i have two kids

Yesterday was one of the first times I took both boys out. (I really can't recall another one right now, ya know?) Anyway, it was pretty disasterous but fun at the same time. Like most days (; We went to get cupcakes at sprinkles since we had to get some "yummy ones".. earlier this week we tried out a new place that supposedly had great cupcakes but they were "yucky".. and that was coming from Brody! First thing that happens Brody takes off to chase birds when I told him to WAIT on the sidewalk. I should've known. Then after we ordered he takes off out the front door, rounds the corner, and heads who knows where within 2 seconds. *sigh. Yeeeah I pretty much felt like people were judging me for that one.  Lesson learned (thank goodness nothing bad happened!)

We enjoyed our delicious cupcakes and fed a little to the birds. Brody really loves birds. As we go to leave, and after I got Hyrum in the car, some dude decides to pull in next to me while I'm trying to get Brody in the car. He was half way in and then stops to wait for me.  Brody of course took off in the split second I took my eyes off him to notice this dude.  I finally get him back to the car (all the while this guy is halfway in his spot.. awkward) and Brody freaks out because "he wanted to do it" (get in by himself).  I was trying to hurry things up and put him in since the guy was waiting. I felt the dudes eyes burning a hole in the back of my head and I know he was thinking "come ON!" After an embarrasing (and loud) charade Brody was finally buckled. I figured my best bet would be to let the guy finish pulling in while Brody cooled off in the car (B didn't of course). He pulls in, gets out, and asks if he left me enough room to get in my car (as he's walking away, mind you...I have a funny feeling he wasn't planning on moving it either way haha).  Yes those two inches will suffice, thanks ever so much.  Anyway I attempted to weasel my way in the car (cupcakes sloshing around in the box which was stuffed in my purse)- cup of delicious milk in hand- and so basically the natural thing happened at this moment- I spilled the cup of milk on the seat of my car and everything around it, crushed the cupcakes, and rode home- in the milky mess and all. Then we hit rush hour and Brody was chanting (loudly) from the backseat "can we go FASTER?!". It was good times. I guess since we're all alive I can say I handled that well (my first test as a mom of two).  It was probably pretty funny for everyone who saw all that go down... I think it is (now;)  

Anyway.

Welp,  since my parents are freezing in D.C. I thought I'd send some 75 degree Arizona vibes...

But I have to add, although Brody freaks out "occasionally" He is still my sweetheart- often tells me "OOo that's a PRETTY shirt mommy!"  or "you look booteefool mommy!"  He gets a little carried away and also says "that's PERFECT mommy!" (when I'm making or working on something) Or "you're perfect mommy!"  Yeah, I could argue but I'll let someone think so (;

More of Tony's birthday & {rainbow cake recipe}

So I just realized this month has been my biggest blogging month ever - as in the most posts in a month.. um...lucky you?  haha.  Yeeeeah.  Guess I've been catching up since the holidays got us so busy.
Here's some more of Tony's bday... my mom decorated for us just like this every birthday so obviously it doesn't feel like a birthday unless I do too. (;  Tony had a spoiled birthday (I have the job of making it seem extra special and not like he's getting some leftover Christmas presents I left in the closet).  His favorite gift from me was probably an HD DVR receiver for our directv.  Am I making all 3 guys that read this jealous?  (hi dad)
Tony requested "rainbow cake" this year- it's easy peasy to make plus- it's yummy and looks pretty so I thought I'd share the recipe!
While I decorated and baked the cake Brody watched the first season of the smurfs and Hyrum got some tummy time in.













Rainbow Cake Recipe:
(recipe from my mother-in-law)
Ingredients:
2 baked 8 or 9 inch white cake layers cooled
2 pkg. 3oz. each- jello, any two flavors (I like orange and cherry)
2 cups boiling water
1 8oz. container cool-whip thawed

Instructions:
Place cake layers, top sides up in 2 clean layer pans, poke each cake with fork all over.  Dissolve each flavor gelatin separately in 1 cup of the boiling water and carefully spoon each over one of the cake layers.

Chill 3-4 hours.  Dip cake pan in warm water for 10 seconds and turn out onto serving plate.  Top with 1 cup of the whipped topping.  Unmold the second cake layer and place carefully on first layer.  Frost top and sides with remaining topping.  Chill.


And enjoy!

He has a Ph.D. in bein' swell

We have this awesome tradition of on our actual birthday going out and getting every possible free thing people give out on birthdays.  We're not as gung-ho about it as we used to be now that we have kids (or this year our printer was out of ink).... so we didn't go to some places we usually do (red robin, coldstone, to name two).  Sure, you can sometimes go on another day other than your birthday but we think its fun to just make a day of it!  Well, as much free junk food as we can stand anyway.  Tony celebrated his birthday this month and this year we got his free bday meal at Joes, Firehouse, and Golden Spoon frozen yogurt (he didn't want his free dessert at Tia Rosa's... can't imagine why he didn't want complete strangers singing "we wish it were our birthday so we could party too" to him.  You don't like the whole restaurant straining their necks to look at you all red-faced in your booth, eh Tony?  I think it's worth it! ...even if it is just a tablespoon of freezer burned vanilla bean ice cream and squirt of redi-whip.  It's my birthday, I deserve it!  (well, I guess it's.. Tony's birthday..we're.talkingabout..)

{diana/cell phone photos of us getting free bday crap.  Outside of Joes and Golden Spoon.}

My husband is hands down THE most perfect guy for me.  I have loads of reasons why I love him- more than I could possibly list but I'll list {some} here today seeing is, we just celebrated his birthday (1-11-11...whoa nelly check out that date).

things i ♥ about him:

-he rocks.  Like, literally.  He plays the guitar (plus sings beautifully) and used to be in a band (ok.um.HOT) that alone won me over.  Okay not really that alone- but it didn't hurt (;

-speaking of music, he wrote me my very own song that I will always cherish.  In fact, whenever we "quarrel" I think of it and it makes me all giddy like a school boy.  Or newlywed.

-He changes ALL of Brody's diapers, wakes up when Brody does so I can sleep more (if I'm still in bed), and makes Brody breakfast and lunch (when he's home) just to help me out.

-randomly does the dishes and is so good at asking if certain things can be put in the dryer (he knows I follow the directions on the tag like it's my 2nd religion).

-gives back massages spontaneously

-CRACKS me up.  Seriously Tony is the funniest person I know (besides me, obvi.)

-super hardworking

-spiritual- reminds me to read our scriptures every day

-gives me great advice and perspective on things
-reads my blog.  As in... every single post.  I asked him once why and he said "i like your blog!" (Aw)

and one of my favorites...

-always happy.

He really is always happy!  I love you TONY!

giveaway winner!

I'm glad I did this giveaway- and I appreciated everyone who entered!  Now if you didn't win (but ENTERED) you can have 20% off a photo session with me!  ...As I mention in the video.  Just wanted to say it again in case you were confused. (;  Hope you like my "sweet" video.

last call

In case you haven't heard, I'm doing a photo shoot giveaway right now for anyone in the Mesa area (or anyone willing to travel here)- just for fun before I move away FOREVER (give or take).  I'll be randomly selecting a winner tomorrow after noon.  Go there and enter... if you want!

random information:  I turned this in as part of my final project at school last semester.  We had to pick two out of four things to turn in.. either a panorama, triptych, composite, or collage.  Suprisingly he liked this (triptych... "trip-tick") more than my composite.  And this one took like 95% less time to do.  Funny.

welcome to the family diana

So my first two rolls of film didn't go quite as swimmingly as I'd hoped but I still think my diana is the bees knees.  Here's what I mean by didn't go "swimmingly":

So we had some outtakes, it happens.  We got some good ones too.  Those later.

Hyrum, 2 months old

(really two months and 5 days but who's counting.  2 months as of the 17th.  There.)

I decided I had to make these crazy pictures his "monthly birthday" tradition.  Why would I not??  It's too fun.  Remember his one month picture?  

These aren't the best quality because my "nice camera" isn't with me at the moment.  Soon.

Anyway my baby is not a newborn anymore!  It's happy/sad.  I love each stage babies go through the first year.  He's already added so much joy into our home, I just love this little guy.

His 2 month stats:

12 lbs 3 oz- 70th percentile.  (he's getting chubby!  just how i like them)

23 inches long- 50th percentile.

 Things he does:

pull my hair (lots and lots). He even managed to pull it with his toes a time or two.
sucks on his fingers- I caught him with his entire hand (minus his thumb) in his mouth, sucking away -so cute.  Still not interested in a binky (and I'm surprisingly okay with it)

LOVES baths.. still hasn't cried in one ever.

Has been sleeping a lot more!  I only wake up once or twice in the night now.  He does go to bed late though anywhere from 11pm to 1am.

SMILES and giggles- everyday!  I love it!  He has the most adorable grin
I can't STOP kissing his cute chubby cheeks... I'm obsessed with kissing them!

He makes us so happy.

Don't mind me, I just forget everything.

And by everything I mean E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!  I used to be "all there", I was sharp as a tack.

However just in the last month alone I forgot:
-an acquaintance's name from church (i felt really bad when she knew mine)
-a good friends baby shower
-a FAMILY members baby shower
-the same family members baby blessing (feel free to hate me now, family member)
-pretty much everything Tony tells me, two minutes after he just told me,
-and
-a final. (nice way to kick off the end of the semester, right?  At least I still aced the class.)

At any rate.  The point of me writing this is to make you feel better if, at any point in time, I happened to forget a birthday, girls night, or other such social gathering you've invited me to.  Just thought I'd get it out there if you happen to be a victim of my shriveled, good-for-nothing memory (sorry to you) and there's advance notice to my next victims (be warned).  Not that I even remember these so-called invites in the first place- let alone the fact I may have forgotten about it.  Right?  Eh?

I'm not always that way, I think.  I don't know, I can't remember.
Anyway, seems like I need a better scheduling system.  I-phone perhaps?  Tony?


ps.... we got a house in Kentucky lined up!  All finalized and junk ta-day.  I'm so excited for all the new stuff heading our way.  Should be good(;

will blog for snow

You know.. like, "will work for food".  Yeah.  I LOVE snow.  Even though it almost killed me in  January 2006 when my car skidded into the middle of an intersection on a red, I love it's gloriousness.  We decided to find some a couple fridays ago, the 7th.  We ended up in Strawberry, Arizona few hours north of us...and had so much fun on that little day trip.  An old memory I have of snow was walking to a college class in Idaho- a fresh batch of snow on the ground.  The wind would kick up the lightest flakes that rested ever so slightly on the top of the new fallen snow.  It's almost magical seeing those glistening flakes dancing in the sun light.  I miss that.  P.S. I have lots of commenting to catch up on- sorry I've been lousy at that (forgive me?:)