1.13.2014

the roaring twenties in our thirties

this little lady, helped me with all my outfit selections. so many fabulous rhinestone pieces from the era to chose from. thank you gami! we're doing our best 1920s photo expression.
 diegas' company party as of late has been held in early january. probably saves them a nickel, but keeps the holiday spirit going for all those attending. i look forward to it every year, because they really do celebrate their employees. for this mama that doesn't get out all that much - it's a fun excuse to get dressed up, eat a delicious meal and enjoy an evening sans bebes with the hubby. paaaaar-tay.

well boy did they pull out all the stops for this year's party. i should start by saying that when i learned of the theme, twenties soiree, i was super excited and when i got there, i literally felt like the party was tailored to me. i have this connection to the 1920s...it speaks to me, i belong. maybe it's the flappers - dancing with their glittery, feathery moves, or the riskiness of prohibition, the speakeasies, the simpler time of the era. i'm sure i've romanticized it all in my head, but most of the decade's elements bring me joy. i smiled from ear-to-ear the entire evening and this thirty-something definitely felt like she was twenty something! i left the soiree wondering if i would ever experience another celebration so grand and so delightful. it was absolutely spectacular planners, job well done! boardwalk...eat your heart out:
evia helped me get ready and needed her pretty nails painted too! she clapped with wrist-gloves on for which necklace or hair piece she thought i should wear
she patiently waited and watched as i created finger waves and pin curls. she told me i "was beautiful like cinderella" (didn't know she knew who cinderella was) and that i "looked like [her] now with curly hair." if you ever need help getting ready, she's an honest sounding board.
me and my handsome gent!
cigarette girls handing out money bags (with raffle tickets, gambling bucks, drink tickets)
a number of fabulous actors walking the party "you're the it girl" he said. later he played a police chief dressed in vintage regalia with a thick new york accent.
 

newspaper boy "selling" for a nickel, also later doubled as a police officer
the ballroom was black linens with white feathers as centerpieces. 36" white balloons and crystal chandeliers
 

20 piece live big-band and cigarette girls turned flappers - la based "bling divas" - check out their website!
the lights went out after dinner and the doors were opened by "1920s police officers" busting the GM of the company for bootlegging. 20 minute skit that thoroughly entertained the entire room
officers were bribed to drop all charges with an invitation to "the best party in town," curtains opened to "klub karl" speakeasy
black jack, craps, roulette casino corner of room
with their first number during dinner, i wanted to be up there with them and as they continued to perform throughout the evening i was flapper-enamored



smores station and silent movies
black and white photo strip
my old character shoes, with my great grandmother's rhinestone shoe clips
the girls first sibling sleepover at nana and grandpa's. enjoying things like nana's macaroni and cheese, ice cream and you know laying on the bear skin rug next to the fire!
breakfast for two





1.03.2014

wide eyes + full of wonder

 what i've learned since having children, is that the holidays are more fun then they have been for years. you return to the feelings you had when you were a kid where fantasy and reality are almost blurred. everything has an excitement and the usual routines and guidelines are a little fuzzy. lots of treats, lots of surprises and everyone is full of good cheer. i absolutely love the faces of my baby girls with everything we do in the month of december. picking out a tree, trimming it, making holiday cookies (and licking the beaters!). this year the nutcracker experience was a new day of excitement and of course there are the family gatherings and the present opening. every single thing we did, meant days leading up to it full of anticipation, lots of questions and just all around joy. below are the photos that sum up our holiday fun!

happy new year friends and family. we feel so blessed to be enjoying another year. 
evia and i and two of our favorite buddies went to see the nutcracker for the first time. it was so fun to begin the holiday tradition. we loved every minute of it.
watching evia's sweet face as she watched a live production was my favorite part of the day. it felt very full circle to think of being in the nutcracker way back when (a jazz version! ;) and to be sitting there with my daughter 20+ years later
this year the tree was adorned with vintage glass ornaments inherited from grandma lu and appropriately out of reach from these little monkeys


lots of fun days baking in the kitchen. "take a picture of us mama"
december 20th's catch between gamz and d - 20 snapper
 

persimmon spice cake in honor of gamz's bday - night of fish fry

this little bug looks like this and sings with me when i take her out of the bath, melts me everytime

holiday cookie baking with my cuties, for santa's midnight treat


opening up their jammies on xmas eve at nana and grandpa's
burning the midnight oil, as we finish up the remodeled dollhouse
evia requested 8 carrots for each reindeer

xmas morning, up at the crack
mila's new play tunnel from santa

xmas morning breakfast: homemade cinnamon baked-donuughts and fritatta
modeling her new handmade-robe from mama and loving it (yay!)
santa was good to mama too! new sewing machine!
mila playing with the dollhouse
spur of the moment camping trip
 



up with the sun
 


a fun-filled 24 hours
a special outing with papa - hiking together
love ALL meals around the holiday's including italian sweet bread
evening ocean outing






butterfly preserve (they come to a special spot in santa barbara to rest up during the winter, thousands of monarchs) evia chose her butterfly wings as an appropriate outfit for our walk into the preserve
we took evia on a special date just the three of us. her first movie theater experience. what she looked forward to most, the popcorn - holding it pretty tight! and i think wound up being her favorite part of the date too!
our lunch date at paradise. we asked her what she wanted to eat and she chose a cheeseburger, so a close restaurant to the movie theater that makes a GREAT burger.