Oh little advent.

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Finally!  Year after year I have wanted to make an advent calendar and every year I find myself at December 24th without making it happen.

THIS year, I found myself at December 5th and thought, oh well, better a little late than never at all. Besides, The Kidlet was ok with opening up 5 on one day. ;-)

The present are filled with odds and ends...a tiny nativity scene, a spinning top for The Kidlet, pens for The Mr. (one of his favorite things) a yo-yo, pencils, tiny finger flashlights (The Kidlet ADORES flashlights.) and so on Nothing to crazy, lots of things I found in the dollar bin at Michael's Crafts, packs of pocket sized coloring books with erasers and pencils and sharpeners. I was able to divvy them up into little packages so I didn't have to spend $25 on it. I think I spent about $12, all said and done. 

It has turned into quite the learning experience too. We've had to tie in the calendar, learning days of the week and counting. (I've turned into a home school mom!!! Ahahah, my mother turned EVERYTHING into an opportunity to learn, something that was helpful and at times maddening whilst growing up. ;-))

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Other than the advent calendar I've been working like a busy little bee, crafting away to my hearts content with one of the friends I've made since moving here to SLO. We've had loads of fun and have found we actually get a lot more done working together than alone. We've kept each other on task and have started to consider an Etsy Shop together...

I know, I know, this is something I've talked about for YEEEEEEEARS now, but we have actually gone so far as to start writing down our plan for the shop, what 3 products to start with, shop name, prices, supplies to buy, and a work space (she's moving into a new place and is setting up TWO glorious desks in her room so provide sufficient space for us...something I'm sure The Mr. will appreciate as currently our work space has our bedroom floor.)

So we shall see...mid January is the tentative plan for opening so far and we will be sure to have a giveaway!!!! I will let you know when we decide for sure! 

Lovies and loyalty,

-K

A year, come and gone....

So we've lived in this glorious place for a year now, I can't believe it!!! Life hasn't changed much over the last year, as far as routine. Yoga, cooking, biking (well, not much lately as someone stole my glorious darling and The Kidlet has outgrown the bike seat anyway) beaching, farmer's markets, crafts, thrifting, etc.

What has changed.....

The Kidlet is huge, his birthday is in a week and a half. We've made tons of precious and lovely friends, we've found a church we like, and it finally feels like home here. Our old home still feels like home too, but now they are interchangeable. In either place I am comfortable, social, busy as can be, loving the people I am with......and missing the people in the other place. It's saddening but at the same time I guess I should count myself blessed to have so many things in my life that I love.

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Sooooo, the apple season is almost over and I have learned how to can my own apple sauce, make apple chips and a gluten-free, sugar cane-free apple pie. In a last ditch attempt to stock up before the season is over, we scampered out to our favorite "U-pick" orchard and loaded up. If you've never been to Slo Creek Apple Farms and you are in the area, you should head out there immediately. They don't have a lot of varieties left (make a note for next year!!!) but they are the sweetest people and you will have a lovely time. Their fresh pressed apple juice is heavenly!!!

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Hope that you are finding the blessings in your life and overwhelmed with gratitude.

It's a wonderful

Life and lovies,

-K

Family Portraits with Katina Patriquin Part II

So here you have it, the second (and by no means the final) round of pictures taken by the lovely and talented Katina Patriquin! She is stellar beyond words, though words like STELLAR are definitely still applicable!























THANK YOU KATINA!!!

Lovies and Neverland,

-K

Family Portraits with Katina Patriquin!

We recently had the opportunity to meet Ms. Katina Patriquin for a lovely photo session. I literally cried when she sent me to finished photos. I cannot say enough about how talented this woman is and how wonderful she was to work with. She made us feel so comfortable, there was no awkwardness (other than what's just normal for me because I am a huge nerd) with her. We had so much fun and really hope that if there is anyone in the San Luis Obispo area that is looking for a photographer they will get in touch with her! She is from AZ but apparently has the opportunity to come here every couple months so I strongly urge you to check her out here!

Katina, I am forever grateful for what you've done for us. Thank you so very, very much!

There will be more photos coming soon but I've already taken too long to get these up so I figure just put up what I have for now and I'll get more up soon (she sent us 310!!! It's so hard to decide what to put up!!!) just wait till you see the Peter Pan pictures!!!!

Lovies and Lazy Rain Days,

-K

The Kidlet, The Mr., Me and The Lil' Sister

This kid is too funny for words. He's getting to that really really goofy stage and it's cracking me up.

Taking a brief break from the plethora of my mum's b'day trip 2 weekends ago I will tell you about what we did this last weekend.

On a whim we decided to drive up to a lovely place in the mountains known as Dinky Creek (last summer I took some underwater pics there, if you recall.) It was very late in the day and too cold for me to swim though my lil' sis jumped in and froze her patoot off as a result. It was just so nice to get up out of the smog, smell pine trees, watch fish swim, and go rock hopping. We didn't have much time before sundown but it was nice just the same. On the way back home we stopped off and chatted it up with some horses. Nothing too exciting but lovely just the same.

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Tomorrow I have ANOTHER doctor's appt. with my OLD doctor (or rather current...not to be confused with the NEW doctor that thinks I have an infection in my endocrine system) to follow up on the test results we have been waiting on regarding my food allergies.

I am allergic to a bazillion (around 15) things.

Eggs, Wheat, Dairy (though raw dairy doesn't bother my as much) including butter, kidney, navy, black, and pinto beans, blueberries, raspberries, apples, tomatoes (a hard thing for an Italian that also LOVES salsa and ketchup) Tuna, Baker's AND Brewers yeast....and something else I can't remember at the moment.

She said that if I cut them all out for a long time maybe my body would calm down and I'd be able to have them again...someday....she also said it's possible to develop NEW allergies

(Please Lord, please no!)

My insurance doesn't cover this allergy test and it's quite pricey so we waited over a year and saved some money to have the test done again....

Tomorrow we find out either dreaded (nothing's changed OR I have MORE than BEFORE!!!)

or joyous (maybe I can eat some the things I've been missing again!!!) news!!!

Fingers crossed, hands clasped. Whew. We shall see what shall be.

Lovies and Lily pads,

-K

Mum's 60th B'day Part 2

The Mr. and this random guy above were doing handstands.....so of course

The Kidlet had to try it too.

Upon perusing the pics The Mr. took I have found that I make this face a lot when I'm dancing.

:-/ Oops. I had no idea. Now that I know....it probably won't stop.

The day before my Mum arrived at the coast for her surprise b'day weekend we were already there and had the delightful opportunity to experience the San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market.

If you live within driving distance, do yourself a massive favor and get your hiney over there! It's AMAZING! So much good stuff!!! I found Gluten-free, vegan banana nut bread (Why oh why did I buy more than one tiny loaf!?!?!?!) Dairy free caramel walnut clusters, and so many flowers and jams and veggies and delights and music....sigh.

I hope to go back soon!

If only we could live in that lovely town for always. Siiiigh. SLO or Seattle, I would be quite happy in either location.

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Still working on processing the possibility of moving to a new apartment, the new dietary restrictions, etc. None of this is made any easier by us trying to make a decision about whether or not The Mr. should go back to teach....which we need to decide soon since the school year is starting in 2 weeks. Siiiigh, what to do? I'm not sure what to even look for because we don't know what we will be able to afford with all of The Mr.'s work stuff up in the air. How does one budget when one doesn't know what money they will have to budget with?

Hmmmm.

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Lovies and Lethargy,

-K