Cara Box

If you haven't heard of Cara Box you might want to check it out here and maybe participate in the future. Who doesn't love receiving gifts in the mail right? This is the first time I have participated in the Cara Box Swap and I got paired with Lindsey from Follow the Ruels (you can see what I got Lindsey here) and Angela from Adventures to Remember. I'm so happy that I found these 2 new blogs to read through this swap, both girls are great. Lindsey is engaged and Angela just finished Grad school, both are at very exciting milestones in their lives. Check them out when you have a chance.

On with my Cara Box from Angela. The theme was "Go Green". Angela did an amazing job putting my gift together, not only did she do well with the theme but she incorporated some of my favorite things. Seeds to plant my own morning glory's... and a guacamole mix, love!

I can't wait to paint my nails and use my new tumbler. So perfect for my long commute. Thank you so much Angela. And thanks to Kaitlyn from Wifessionals for hosting a fun swap.

Random

1. Goodbye April! I am so over you. I know there is still one full day ahead of me, but I am so ready for May. You know what the first weekend of May is bringing me... absolutely nothing, just a whole weekend to relax.

2. This past weekend went by in the blink of an eye and left me feeling like I was walking at Disneyland for 48 hours (as my cousin described it). We spent most of the day, and night, Saturday preparing for her party on Sunday. And then on Sunday we were just busy busy busy from the second we woke up until the second we went to bed. So busy, as a matter of fact, that not one of us took ANY pictures the whole weekend! How is that possible. Yeah, I'm definitely ready for next weekend.

3. And since May will not be as overwhelming as April I just might take Jenni up  on this challenge to Blog every day in May. She has some pretty good blog topics and I'm looking forward to writing about "some" of them. I'm planning on linking up with her only on days that I normally wouldn't post. Anyone else up for the challenge?


Story of My Life

4. If you follow me on FB you already know that I'm in love with The Neighbourhood right now.  Just thought I'd mention it AGAIN.

 

I hope you all have an amazing May... Yay for May!... I couldn't resist.

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happy b-day hubby

to my husband:

I know you don't like to make a big deal out of your birthday, you go about your day as if it is any other day. And yet every year I still try to get you to buy yourself something or eat something you normally wouldn't or plan something fun to do, even if it means playing a video game. Because everybody deserves one day to be spoiled, no?! I know today is already busy but I hope you find time to do something that makes you happy. Because nobody deserves more than you.

Happy Birthday!

 

 

babe's 4th b-day

I love planning parties! And there is no one in the world I love planning for more than my babe... ok, and myself. But this is about babe. It was decided months ago that we would skip a party this year for so many reasons:
1. we already had every weekend in April planned 2. we would rather spend money on something towards the house  (parties can get pricey and I have been waiting for a full length mirror in my room!) 3. I have already started planning his 5th birthday because 5 is a big deal and I'm gonna make it a big deal.

But then this conversation happened the day after his birthday (on a Monday):
babe: mom, am I 4 now?
me: yes, your birthday was yesterday.
babe: (running to the window) is it here?
me: is what here?
babe: my birthday!
me: what are you expecting to be here for your birthday?
babe: presents and cake
and then I started crying.
(btw, I feel like I read a similar post last month sometime. kids are so similar at certain ages)

And so after I hugged, kissed and told him how much I loved him I got on FB and messaged all my family members to see who could come over for dinner "that" Wednesday. Yup, I planned a party in 48 hours.

I kept things as simple as possible:
I used cups, forks, napkins and some heart plates I already had.
In the goodie bags - fruit snacks, ritz crackers, 3 chocolates and 5 hard candies.
I even had the cupcake mix and frosting.
I bought - bubbles, punching balloons and a few plastic Dino's from the dollar tree as decor.
We ate - chicken, rice beans, chips and salsa.

And even though I was stressed to the max (not because of the party but because of everything else going on this month), it was so worth this one perfect moment...

 

 

love you babe!

vertical color block

I didn't even realize that I would be wearing 2 different color block dresses, 2 weekend's in a row. (you can see my green & blue color block dress here). This past weekend we attended a wedding in Vegas. I actually bought this dress last October for a different wedding (that was also in Vegas) but decided that October was more of a LBD kinda month. I'm glad I saved it for this month because the weather was perfect for this style.

I was super bummed that I wasn't wearing any jewelry. We were actually running late to the wedding and so as we were running out the door I grabbed my jewelry roll (that I thought contained my jewelry) only to find out remember that I had put it in a separate bag so that I wouldn't forget to wear it... as if that makes sense. Of course I would forget I did this.

Earlier that day though I was sporting this beauty...

 

I am so in love with this necklace right now, and of course it helps that I was getting complemented on it left and right. I tried to find it on the forever 21 website to link to it, but couldn't. I did buy it recently though for $6.80. I love forever 21 for their cute, inexpensive selection. I REALLY want this one soon.

linking up with the pleated poppy and style elixir

Random

1. Do you ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? I have, and I can't wait to plan a "real" vacation soon.

2. Hopefully the next place we stay offers free WiFi. I was disconnected from all social media the last 3 days... $13 per day for WiFi, ummm... no thanks. It was kind of weird and kind of nice.

3. This past weekend while in Vegas there was a point that I was sandwiched between my husband and babe at night, and they were both snuggling me like I was a body pillow. I have never felt so smothered and so loved at the same time.

4. Do you live near a Hobby Lobby? I don't. And every time someone mentions a Hobby Lobby I think to myself "I wish there was one near me". On the way to Vegas I just so happen to spot one off the freeway. I told my husband "we HAVE to stop there on the way back home". So yesterday we start our drive home and my husband asks if I still want to stop... I had forgotten about it but immediately got excited again. As we get closer to the exit I can CLEARLY see from the freeway that it's CLOSED!! Yeah, all stores closed "every" Sunday... just my luck!

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green & blue

I don't know why but I always get REALLY nervous about dressing for a wedding. And then I end up wearing black, it's like a no fail color right?! A little black dress, always perfect. But I have at least 6, 7... maybe 8 black dresses, I just don't want to wear black to another wedding anytime soon. Even this past weekend for my MILs wedding, I bought a black dress! But then I saw the cutest green and blue color block dress a few days later, on sale, and crossed my fingers before trying it on that it would look half decent on me.

Needless to say, I was super happy with the fit and the fabric (so soft) and I DID return the black one I had originally bought (although a tiny part of me wishes I had kept it because it was an on-line only dress that was normally $50 and I happen to stumble upon it for $13 on the clearance rack in Target, oh well).
This simple little necklace is at XXI for $4.80, just an FYI.

So, one wedding down, one more to go this weekend. I plan on wearing something I already have, I just hope it doesn't end up being black!

linking up with the pleated poppy and style elixir

northern ca.

As much as I love to say I hate Northern Ca., I actually, secretly, love it. My MIL lives there and some other family members of my husband. We have been together for almost 12 years and I have always dreaded our visits there. It's a 6+ hour long drive, It ALWAYS seems SO cold and there is nothing to do there!

But recently, this past New Years actually, I have had a change of heart. There is so much beauty for acres and acres, I love the wild flowers, the perfect rows of grape vines and all the trees. I get through the cold by bundling up and sitting by a fire (although that was not necessary this trip) and even though it takes actual planning just to run to the nearest Target, there are the cutest little shops and places to eat in the nearby town.

This past trip though we were there for MILs wedding. We spent most of the day Wednesday driving up there. On Thursday my SIL and I did some final wedding tasks while my MIL worked, we also had a failed shopping trip for necklaces. Friday we had a nice little "girls" day shopping, success with necklaces this time, and eating some pretty yummy food. And then of course the wedding on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

Even though this trip went by SO quickly, it made me realize that I really do enjoy visiting the other side of the state I live in and I'm already looking forward to going back.

happy birthday babe

Today my little babe is 4! He grows so much everyday, I seriously can't hold him for more than 5 minutes without feeling like my legs are going to buckle. He says the funniest and most random things that make us laugh so much. He is a pro with technology and can't wait to start pre-k in the Fall. I love him more than all the words in the world, and hope he will stay my little babe forever.

Happy Birthday Babe!

today...

... I'm enjoying this beautiful Northern CA weather

... I get to help with some crafty wedding stuff

... I'm looking forward to Mary's Pizza for dinner

... I have decided I really want to enjoy the next few days away from work, taking pictures at a wedding, being with family and of course, catch up my blog reading.

So I hope you all finish off the week great and enjoy your weekend! 

mint-tee

Minty... Mint Tee... get it?! Well I laughed. I have to admit, I don't wear bright colors often, but with last weeks coral and this weeks mint, I'm on a roll with the bright spring colors.

Can we talk about the color mint for a minute.

 

A few years ago, before the color was SUPER popular, I spotted the prettiest light-weight, light mint, zippered hoodie. I was so drawn to the color and snatched it up for a trip I was planning to N.C.  And then when I got there and wore it, my best friend's husband said it looked like a grandma color?! Yeah Monica, I'm talking about your husband. Anyway, I laughed, like a "what the heck" "does it really" kind of laugh. I'm happy to say I did not give up on mint and to this day, that sweater is one of my favorites (not pictured).

Isn't that bracelet pretty! My cousin made it for a class and she said it reminded her of me and she knew that I would wear it. She is right, I love it!

linking up with the pleated poppy and style elixir

Random

This past weekend I procrastinated so much in 48 hours than I have in my entire life. My SIL will be moving in with us for a while and I had to clear out the guest room closet. I CAN NOT believe how much stuff fits in a tiny 1.5'x4' closet, seriously! I took everything out of it and just stared at it, and walked back and forth for the next day and a half just wondering where the heck I was going to put everything. Once noon rolled around on Sunday, I divided everything up, clothes (mine of course), craft/sewing items, and odds and ends that can be stored in the garage. I was hoping to end up with a lot of trash or donate but No... I ended up with 2 items to donate and a regular grocery bag of trash. So next week guess what I'll be doing?! Sorting through my clothes, yup, not a fun task but it HAS to be done. I have read some really good tips lately so I'm hoping it will go smoothly.
Um... If you follow me on instagram @ssotelo98... you know I love hat's and I found this one in the closet (haven't seen it since we moved in over a year ago), so that was exciting.

I saw a few bloggers write this "Never have I Ever" post this past weekend and thought it would be fun, even if I did miss the linkup party. It's alright though, I really want to see what other people wrote and so I'll be browsing through all those posts this week. In the meantime, here are just a couple from me.

Never Have I Ever...

...baked anything from scratch. I LOVE to bake cupcakes and pies and just recently (for the first time) cookies. But it usually comes from a box that I just need to add eggs and milk or water to. Having to measure out flour, sugar, baking soda, whatever else... not for me.

...had a professional pedicure. I can't stand the thought of some stranger touching, scrubbing, filing my feet. If you know me, you know that I cringe when I even get a manicure. Yeah, I can do all that myself... thank you.

What is your "Never Have I Ever"? AND... do you have any tips for my clothes situation?

 



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display a peacock feather

Who is ready for the first weekend of April? Me?! Not so much. This month is going to be CRAZY... which means I might be feeling a little CRAZY. As much as I'm dreading all of the things I need to do this month, I'm also looking forward to it... 2 weddings and too many birthdays to think about. But 2 of the birthdays are those of my #1 babe and my husband.

So while I'm busy organizing, cleaning and preparing for too many things to list, I want to leave you this week with a semi-simple project that you should try this weekend. All you need is an empty, pretty shaped wine bottle and a peacock feather.

I think the pictures are pretty self explanatory, but the reason I say "semi" simple is because I didn't realize how hard it would be to put the feather in the bottle without bending it. So I took a piece of paper, cut in half long ways, rolled it very tightly around a pencil to get the initial shape and then wrapped it around the feather. BUT once I slid it in the bottle, it took me like 10 minutes to slide tear the paper apart... little by little, out of the bottle.

It was worth it though! So go drink some yummy wine and display a pretty feather in it.

 

I hope you all have a great weekend!

coral galore

I'm in love with this color right now.

It's so bright and fun and goes with so many other colors.

I can't wait to pair these flats with everything I possibly can.

 

I don't think I previously mentioned how gloomy the weather was on Sunday,

which was a little disappointing because I usually associate official Spring with Easter... just me?!

But at least it was warm enough to officially wear an article of clothing that is above the knee, woo hoo!

 

linking up with the pleated poppy and style elixir

Pinterest Challenge - fail

Ok, so it wasn't a "complete" fail but I didn't follow through with all 6 challenges. So yeah, I failed. BUT I have to say that I'm pretty excited about the 4 that I did complete. I'd like to blame it on the fact that I was sick for a whole week, so that put me behind, and the fact that the last 3 weekends have been super busy... but really, there's just no excuse. I mean especially since one of the pins I picked was just to recreate an outfit....lol... which technically I attempted but ended up not wearing it, I'll get to why at the end here.

First, let's re-cap (with link's to my full post of each):

Challenge #1 - make it: a DIY Doily Dream Catcher
This was definitely my favorite, I couldn't be more happy about how it turned out and I love that the doily I used was something my great grandma made decades ago.

Challenge #2 - make it: bow tie back shirt
This was actually kind of hard (since I'm a beginner sewer), but I'm happy that I was able to refashion a dress into a top.

Challenge #3 - drink it: Strawberry Champagne
Strawberries... and Champagne?! enough said.

Challenge #4 - eat it:  Baked Egg Cups
SUPER easy and SUPER delicious! (even though my edges are a little crispy)

Challenge #5 - wear it: beige and black. Just last week I decided to give this outfit a shot but the weather is a little warmer so I decided to try it with a vest instead of a blazer. But then... I felt that it didn't look "work appropriate", therefore I never actually wore it. But I really do like my version so I told my husband he will have to take me out, otherwise I just might have to wait till Fall and pair it with a blazer.

Challenge #6 - make it: diy heart elbow patch... Fail! I realized 2 things when it came to this project:
1. I didn't have a cardigan I was so over, that I wanted to add elbow patches to.
2. I didn't have fabric that wasn't going to fray. yes... I worry about fraying.

The thing I loved about this challenge is it made me realize how EASY it is to make/ complete a project if you really want to. And so I will continue recreating all the cools things I find on Pinterest, maybe every other week though.  I can't wait to see how others did with this challenge.

shopping & easter weekend

What if someone wanted to take you shopping for your birthday and said pick anything you want? What would you pick? My 13 year old niece?!.... she picks a t-shirt, 1 boring t-shirt. I told her to pick another one and she happily did. At least we are 1 step away from her picking black or grey clothes. She also picked a really cute bracelet. Of course I had to get something for myself too...

I got the shorts and top from JC Penny, I don't shop there often and I am always impressed with what they have when I do. The shorts are so flowy and a nice lightweight material, and were only $5!! awesome right. and the top was $10. I LOVE this necklace I found for $6 at a store called charming charlie, it's like accessory overload in that place.

We didn't have any plans for Easter Sunday so I got Babe's basket ready the night before and hid some eggs in the living/ dinning area. He spent the first 30 minutes in the morning just staring at everything and asking who brought eggs to his house. He was so cute, looking out the window and asking if it was a bunny and where was he.

We decided to go to the park after lunch and "who knew" everyone and their mom... and grandma... and everyone else they know... go to the park on Easter? Instead we drove right passed the park and went to my husband's old university campus and walked around, it was actually pretty fun. They have an orange grove there with a little pond, ducks and turtles.

 

How was your weekend?

 

linking up with lowercase letters and sami's shenanigan's