sky after storm

Even the Costco parking lot looks good under that amazing sky.

enjoying fall

Tilda loves outside. She cries at the door, wanting to go out and roll around on the pavement, and eat grass.

Feeding her treats. I tried to get the cute side of her, not the creepy.

A little lens flare.

Ready to go in, mom!

The next day it snowed. Not much, just a few inches. But Matilda was mad. She'd look out the window, then gallop from front door to side door, meowing and crying. Yeah- I don't like it either, kitten.

super secret project- done!

The pressure* of hosting a party at my home, sending out over 20 invitations, made me finally finish the anniversary present for my husband.

So, here you go. I love it all over again!

*self induced pressure

van's baby shower

Remember how I had to put Nan's shower on hold because she had baby Van early?

Well. I have had ample time- 16 weeks to be exact, to plan and plot the most fabulous Pirate Paaarty ever.

I found Cottage Industrialist's free Pirate Party printables- and used the invitations as well as the cupcake sails and flags.

I found a plain wooden treasure chest that I painted and put handles on. I also found a small plain wooden Pirate ship birdhouse that I painted. I got a pile of chocolate gold coins, as well as some pretty plastic diamonds.

I got some "Hello my name is" tags that I filled out with pirate-ish names for people to wear.

I'm not much of a game person, and since this was my first attempt at hosting a baby shower (which by the way, my house has never been cleaner) I found BeanBoozled Jelly Beans as a dare game, and I set up a primitive photo booth- complete with props. Both were highly entertaining.

I made a bunting out of red and black striped fabric from Ikea decorated with felt skulls, anchors and ship wheels.

The day was chilly, but no snow- and the sun made an appearance as well. It was a perfect November Saturday.

This is a totally crappy photo- but the only one I have of the set up before it was eaten!

Loo-loo enjoying some lunch.

Kristy, Tyra and Van.

Oh wait, I meant Gunpowder Gertie, Ma Fratelli and the Dread Pirate Robins.

Vanilla Bean Pirate Ship Cupcakes

Bubbles.

Brownie Swirl Cheesecake. Mmmmmm.

Van is now the perfect size and age for Loo-loo to hold him- and she couldn't be more happy!

Almost every week since he's been born, she asks "We go hold baby?" And I have to say "Nope, he's not big enough."

Kristy and Nan were total sports about daring each other to eat those nasty flavored beans! Kristy got Baby Wipes & Moldy Cheese- Nan got Toothpaste, Juicy Pear, Canned Dog Food & Barf! So sick! Kristy almost barfed after the Moldy Cheese one, and Nan almost hurled after the Canned Dog Food- I could even smell it after she bit into it! Yuck!

Tiff and Van- sporting one of the ties she gave him!

We desperately tried to dress him up- it was mere seconds before he tried to wiggle out of that eye patch.

And now for the photo booth shots...

Cap'n Loo-loo.

My mom and Van- her first time holding him!

Tyra and Kristy- real pirates?

I think Nan is trying to karate chop me...

Aaarrrrgggghhhh.

Pirate Kim, with pirate baby.

Is this thing loaded?

We had soooo much fun!

The night before the party was like Christmas Eve for me-I was so excited for the party the next day that I couldn't sleep, or wait to get up!

The decorations are all packed up and ready for the next adventure...

van the skeleton baby

Just so you know- I am obsessed with this baby. So you will just have to deal with the mass amount of photos I will be posting of him for the rest of his life. You have been warned.

When I found out that Nan was due in August- which meant that baby Van would fit perfectly into the skeleton costume for I made for Halloween (last year) I was thrilled to finally have a model.

A little smile... he liked the crunchy leaves as he kicked and kicked.

I love the way he looks at his mama.

Pretty good sport about the hat and all those crunchy leaves!

Are those sharks with laser beams attached to their heads?

Then he started flailing his arms around- and consequently covering his face in leaves. Still happy...

Melt.

Checking out the new digs.

The eyebrow thing? Yeah, I got it from my dad.

Then he noticed all the leaves overhead...

There's that eyebrow again.

Oh my goodness. I could stare at him all day!

buddhist temple holiday boutique

I am very excited to tell you all that I will have a booth at this years Buddhist Temple Holiday Boutique!

It's this weekend...

Saturday November 20 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday November 21 11 a.m - 3 p.m.

211 w. 100 s.

Salt Lake City, UT

I have tons of stuff- including some new holiday items!

There will be others like me- it's a great opportunity to get some holiday shopping done while supporting local artists! (in a very non-mall environment!)

halloween

After the adventure at Disneyland, we decided to make Halloween low key this year. Just our family, a little soup and some pumpkin carving.

We "talked" my dad into carving one this year- yea for proof!

My mom.

Zombie Hello Kitty. I carved this one for Loo-loo. As I was rinsing it out after I was through carving, I accidentally dropped it into the sink. It split almost completely in half. My mom whooshed in and helped me put it back together with pins before Loo-loo saw it- she would have been devastated! I can't believe we fixed it!

Danny's

My owl.

My dad's.

My mom's Eeyore.

reception for b

My friend Beth asked me to make dessert for her wedding reception here at home (remember the Oregon Beach Wedding?) here are the results!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Filling

Pumpkin Cheesecake

was by far the most popular!

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

A happy Danny.

I love the mirror cupcake stand that she made- it's so pretty!