Y3W: M+O+S

Playdate!!!

I was fortunate enough to meet these two ladies while we were all pregnant on a pregnancy forum...and now...I consider them to be really awesome friends of mine.

On Wednesday, we met 1/2 way in Windsor and played at Monkeyton (highly recommend for indoor playdates for kiddos 7years and younger!)











It was GREAT, but was too short of a playdate...we're thinking a weekend getaway next time!

Sweet Stella's: Emmy Given Wednesday: The Artisan Group

I have a HUGE announcement to make!!

Hope on over to Sweet Stella's to see! Seriously!

HUGE!

Sweet Stella's: Emmy Given Wednesday: The Artisan Group: "I said on Monday that there were some great big changes coming up at Sweet Stella's, and that Wednesday was going to change to be allllll a..."

Owen's 1st Birthday...Photoshoot Ideas

Hey everyone!

So sorry that I've been completely MIA lately. I have a great excuse, and have been stupid busy with Sweet Stella's. More on that in another post.

Today...I need some help deciding on props and ideas for our photoshoot with the glorious Rosina from Free Spirit Photography, for Owen's 1st Birthday!

The plan is to go on a picnic in the park...which park, I don't know which one. There is a little playground that is newly built around the corner from our house, right near the woods where we had our maternity pictures done. So my heart strings tug there.

Then there's Storybook Gardens...and they have a carousel...and a train! How fun would that be!!?? It's also along the river, so we could get some fun shots of feeding the ducks and stuff like that.

Now...onto the important things. Props and clothing.

For clothing, I took some super cute inspiration from Mrs.Jenni's recent shoot with Carter and Brynn.

This is what Owen will be wearing, with some distressed jeans and probably his navy deck shoes. SUPER cute! LOVE it!! It's from Bella Crawlers, of course...on Etsy!

And because he's my Monster...his curly-q's will be hanging out the bottom of this...

C has requested a tie to match Mr. O, and likely Dad and kiddo will both be dressed in white shirts and jeans.

Me...I have no flipping clue what to wear! I'm leaning toward a flowy skirt (I have a lovely yellow linen one that I think I likely will wear) and fitted white top to match the boys...but suggestions are welcome!

I'm really digging this top though...so maybe this with skinny jeans and some cute ballet flats?

Ooooh...maybe with a super cute blue rosette headband from my pal over at Nikki, In Stitches!

In terms of props...this is where I need some serious help from you Mamas and photographers. My initial thought was a kite, and of course the picnic set up, quilt, etc. Well...C's ixnayed the kite idea, so I need some suggestions!!

Leave me some love in the comments!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

C was lucky enough to get two birthday celebrations...one with Mommy in Kitchener at my Delta Gamma formal, and a special one with the Monster!

All dressed up for the Gala

Daddy's lucky charm...with Youppi!

Helping Dadddy with his presents

Oooohh...candles!

My boys :)

Y3W: I Have Decided

You know those winnings I was contemplating my options over? Well...I Have Decided! 1) $100 to C...ya ya ya...I probably shouldn't, but whatever. Then, I know it's going to bills and something responsible. 2) $50 to an amazing mobile from Jenna Bee's Paper Creations for my studio (I am SO excited about getting this!! Check the sold items...Fade to Black...coming to moi!) 3) $__ to a baby shower coming up this weekend 4) $150 to new clothes for myself (and perhaps a couple of things for Owen...let's be serious) 5) $125 to either a change table (which will then go in my studio to be used for paper storage once Owen doesn't need it anymore) or $125 to my hair salon...sort of TBD right now I'm really happy with my decisions! I think it's going to be a splendid Spring in the Szem household!

I can crawl!!

Decisions, Decisions

As most of you know, C is a bit (aka: huge) sports fan. For certain teams (Canadiens, Duke, Cowboys) he is borderline obsessed. Once a year, I actually get involved in the sports madness. It's called March Madness. I enter in the bracket with alllll of C's sports buddies, some that he knows, and others that he doesn't, and pick teams based on the follow criteria: - how excited the team is with their draft position - team colours - mascot - if the cheerleaders are .... uhm ... dressed appropriately or inappropriately (edit: I don't choose teams with skanky cheerleaders!) Well! I had UConn going to the finals and winning. Totally a random pick, and because they have a strong women's team...so naturally, I figured that the men's program would be strong as well. For anyone who missed last night's game...UConn won, and is in the Finals which will be played on Monday. I am the ONLY one who had UConn going to the finals, much less winning the entire thing. Therefore... I WIN!! $500 baby! Now...I have some serious decisions to make! Do I....be practical and put it into Owen's RESP or a boat load of diapers and formula? Do I....put myself first for a change and get a new wardrobe, shoes, bathing suit etc? Do I....put it into my family and pay the bills? Here are the top 10 options that I'm entertaining 1) Owen's RESP 2) New jeans/dress pants/dresses/skirts/shoes/shirts/purses 3) Cricut cartridges and supplies for Sweet Stella's 4) Put toward a family vacation for this summer 5) Purchase gift cards to my hair salon to have my hair paid for for the next year+ 6) Bills 7) New tattoo(s) 8) Tree for the front yard, veggie garden in the backyard and a swing set for Owen 9) Use for the 5 weddings that we have to go to this year 10) Spa day(s) HELP! Help me decide! C is encouraging me to be selfish and use it to put myself first...get jeans that fit, new undergarments that fit my changing body, shoes...even a Petunia Pickle Bottom bag if I wanted. (which I don't anymore...I found up a super cute way to dress up my basic black Skip Hop!) A certain part of me is saying "Don't be silly...$500 goes a LONG way for diapers, formula, ingredients for solids, shoes, clothes...Owen" and another part is saying "Uhm...I can be selfish for once!" What would you do? One of the above? Something totally different? A combination of options?