BlogHer 11

I'm home, with mi familia.
Attempting to get off this BlogHer high, I think It will be days (and nights) before I recover.

with Cristina, Dariela and Ana @ the cheeseburgher party

The trip was amazing yet exhausting. Somehow I managed to run a 5K, hug women all weekend long, watch a movie, attend a yoga class, party, dance, eat (like all the time) and fill my bags with way too much "stuff".

with Cristina

The car ride to and from San Diego was definitely one of my highlights...

Dodge was awesome for lending us a car (a Dodge Caravan) for the ride....

Not only did we fill that car up with shoes (why is it that a girl always has to pack so many shoes?), most of the time it was also filled with friends, so many laughs memories and of coarse tweets. ( :

with Eva, Dariela, Rachel, and Catalina @ the ocbloggerbash

I know you hear about how many brands and opportunities are at these sort of things (and I guess they are) but the reality is that the people that read you, and the people you read are there. These are are the true connections that are made. This is why I blog. And when I get to sleep in the same bed, act silly for what seems an eternity trying to get out of the parking lot, walk with them barefoot down the street at night ( ; ... or hear them speak at a session on how passionate they are.... it becomes obvious why exactly I attended

with Liz

and most obvious why I enjoy blogging so much.

Ok, off now to get me some Audrey, Jeremiah and Kip...I missed them...

*Dodge provided a Dodge Caravan for the ride to San Diego including a gift card for gas, parking and  snacks. 

World Breastfeeding Week

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week... 

breastfeeding Art.

Last night (before bed) Audrey asked me for milk in her cup.  When we got in bed we held each other close, she fell asleep never asking to breastfeed. 

This morning I awoke with Audrey asking to breastfeed.  I pulled her in close and closed my eyes, just like she did. 

(sometimes we breastfeed, other days we don't)

We have been breastfeeding for 3 years and one month.

more baby led weaning


*pictures by Katie M. Berggren, you can visit her blog, and buy her art

One Million Story Times

Have you read the story book Corduroy? It's the sweetest book about a teddy bear and a little girl and one of Audrey's favorite at the moment. 

It was passed along and shared with us... and we love that. 

KinderCare launched it's Read. Share. Give. program with a goal of 

"one million story times" this summer. 

I love what it's about...reading, family, friends, sharing and giving. 

How it works: 

Pick a book to read with your family

Visit kindercare.com/read to download and print out a book label, enter the book's code and start following your books journey!

(so cool)

Place the label into the inside front cover of the book and pass it on to family and friends to do the same

The more books that are read and passed along the more KinderCare will donate to early childhood reading programs. 

Audrey wants to share Corduroy with you...

(the giveaway)

It's not new, and has been read by us, but I think having a book passed on by friends makes it even more special....

Don't be shy...leave any topic related comment... like what book you will pick to share and who you will share a book with?

Audrey and I will pick one of you at random on August 15th and put the book in the mail to share with you...

in return we hope after reading you will share with someone too!

Pass the love of books friends!!!

*kindercare shared this book with us, no compensation of any kind was given, we just want to pass the love and share with you

birthday bowl

Last night we bowled.

Audrey in bowling shoes = super cute.
Kip set up a bowling ramp for her and she would jump and throw her hands up in the air after her turn.

Jeremiah would power slide across the floor (slide on his knees while pretending to play the guitar) after his. His friend joined us to celebrate his birthday.

(and mine... Jeremiah and I share the same day)

I had a mojito.

And we all shared a meal of mozzarella sticks, cheese fries and pizza.

When the kids weren't bowling they were dancing.  I think all of us (except Kip) were dancing and singing to Justin Bieber at one point. ( :

There were thoughts of getting cake or ice cream post bowling but after such a huge meal there was just no way we could fit cake in...we were super satisfied and sometimes after having such a great time...
birthday cake is just not needed.

I only got this one picture last night, I totally took my camera with me but just didn't take any, and when I asked myself this morning why I had forgotten to take pictures??

I answered me by saying... we were just having way too much fun. 

eleven

In need of good food, some sun, play and a change of scenery we got out of the house

(the kids had been at each other all morning). 

Moods quickly changed to happy as we ate pizza outside at Plaza Las Fuentes. 

Jeremiah had been craving a slice of pizza after a week of mostly soft foods from getting braces. 

today he turns eleven, and as difficult it is for me to accept that he is growing into himself, I can't complain...

he has so much love and kindness, and funnies inside him

post lunch faces

and carousel rides before heading home 

on she
top/dress: olvera street LA

leggings: childrens place

sandals: saltwater

on him
 darth vader top: Target

 skinny jeans: Levi's

shoes: vans

joining and loving all the cute kids on small style

on my to read list...

Just in love with this right now. She was a big influence on naming Audrey, Audrey.  We have started to work on decorating her room (right now it's kind of a catch all since we co-sleep) and would love to have this in her library.

Aren't the illustrations just adorable?

Photo Books from Shutterfly (a Giveaway)

Iv'e been playing on Shutterfly, creating a photo book... and oh my is it fun! I can't make up my mind on what theme I love the best. I think the recipe photo book has to be one of my favorites...  a photo book gift with family recipes, photos of food/family enjoying them and history behind the yummy dishes.

  A treasure for sure.  

Shutterfly is gifting me with a photo book (yay!), I'm thinking of a summer theme filled with pictures of Jeremiah and Audrey, the beach, outdoor parties, family....

and while Iv'e been playing I thought of how many thank you cards I need to send all my favorite people... how do you manage all the thank you card sending?

Wouldn't these be super fun? 

and since I'm on the topic of how late I am on thank you's maybe I should start my Christmas cards 

now. (:

Have you ever given a photo book as a gift or received one?  

I think they are just the perfect gift!

Win it!

Shutterfly wants you to have a photo book too!

Leave me any topic related comment by 12pm August 4th, I will randomly choose 10 of you to win a free photo book! Leave your email (if it's not in your profile) so I can reach you. 

For extra entries you can follow me via google friend or facebook. Leave one comment for each.

*Have a blog? Get a free photo book from Shutterfly? 

* a photo book was given to me for sharing with you along with an offer to do a giveaway on my blog. I loved, and thought you would love to...

*Giveaway now closed winners: shawnac68, color land, peach prenni, Aurelia, terri 142, Mollly, Rae, Susan, Donna, snow