Flourish + Fun

Did you know that our friends Melanie & RJ had their little baby boy just hours prior to us, at the same hospital, only a few doors down? Fun isn't it. Well, this weekend we celebrated little Jack's Birthday at his sailor inspired party! Decorated with fabric bunting squares, sail boat photos, and a kiddie pool, everything was totally adorable. They had nautical goodie bags and adult snacks that were baby friendly too! We had a great time! Little Jack and his entourage...  Hey Em, outta the way, this is my party! ;-) Em and Jack, Birthday Buddies! Yeah, everyone is starring at us... we must be cute together!  Happy Parents! Happy Mamas!

We see weird things ALL THE TIME in LA. Here is a sign we saw on our morning walk... strange? Did someone loose Cosmo Kramer ? {Happy Friday!}

call for a dip in the pool! ...and afterwards our water soaked baby was such a little doll in her hand-me-down terry dress and hoodie. Sweetly giggling in the backseat, snuggling her stuffed animal "bear" as we drove home. I love her!

Last week we strapped Em in the stroller, grabbed Jaye and Axel and walked over to Montana Avenue for the 2nd Annual Art Walk . We cruised the street and enjoyed a super moist and absolutely perfect  Bundt cake {cinnamon swirl, yes please,} artwork, musicians, and of course running into a bunch of our Santa Monica friends. Balloons!!! Em can't get enough of balloons these days, she must be prepping for her birthday that's coming up. I kind of fell in love with this wall... And Em fell in love with every single doggie that walked by. Waving and saying hi to them in her high pitch barely even recognizable voice, exclaiming "woof woof," She loves all dogs, but especially the white ones {reminds her of her pal Coco} These guys were awesome, perfect on pitch harmonies.

It's her all time favorite game to play, all day, every day! {Em at M Street Kitchen last week}

We headed out for a night on the town with some of our best friends, the Fendy's. We shared a babysitter that night {genius!} and went to Fraiche for a super yummy dinner. At dinner we were chatting and realized that we had never been out to dinner with just us and the Fendersons. Isn't that wild, in all of our 6 or 7 years as friends we have never done a simple double dinner date? Nuts! Anyways, later that night we went to Wokano for loungy music, drinks and cupcakes to celebrate our friend Mark's birthday. We had the best time. ;-) We LOVE the Fendy's!!! {Sepia toned iPhone photo, Jaye and I}

This past week I was really thankful to have some lunch dates lined up with a few different girlfriends, which I never do. Mainly because I am preoccupied with sticking our schedule: play date's or activities for Em, errands, dishes, groceries, dinners, laundry, etc. But a lunch out of the house is such a nice change of pace to break up the week from my usual grind. ;-) So when a dear friend invited Em and I over, I jumped at the chance to see her. As I had not been to her new home yet, I wanted to get her a little housewarming gift.  Of course being that I have zero time and income, I had to rely solely on my at home crafts, and hope that sweet Em cooperated with her naps. I took a succulent in a tin bucket, wrapped it with orange chevron print paper and straw like twine, and made a quick note that I dug in the soil simple stating, Happy Home. I think about a happy home a lot. I know that I am happiest when I am at home, with the ones I love. And I hope the same for my girlfri...

Someone found mommy's jewelry... Sneaky girl! Just look at that face, I can't wait till she's a teenager, ah!

Em and I take probably 2-4 walks a day, whether we are heading to the park, the promenade, or the bluffs, we are walking and strolling all over this city. When we were on our afternoon walk yesterday I looked up and noticed the gorgeous tree lined streets on 2nd. I love 2nd Street, with it's perfectly manicured looking tree branches and the way the light hits them that time of day. It's something I never even had the time to notice while I was locked away in my office all day, pre Em. Happy Wednesday! {photo taken via Instagram}

This past weekend we attended Mighty Max's 2nd Birthday party at the Santa Monica Airport. It was such a cute idea for a party! Everyone gathered on the viewing deck in the airport bleachers to watch the planes and helicopters land, and take off. We had cupcakes adorned with little airplanes and hot air balloons, and drank from mini waters and mini juice boxes. All the little ones received a pilot pin {sticker} to wear. Em's all ready to take off, with her sassy silver kicks {thanks Meagsie!} We're here!!! Playing doctor at the airport, you think we would have played pilot or flight attendant, but oh well.  Look Em finally has hair, and even enough of it for it to look wind blown! Yahoo! Happy Birthday Magnificent Max!

Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday dear, wonderful, sweet, sassy, smart, beautiful Gran... Happy Birthday to you!!! Wishing you an absolutely beautiful day, just like you! ;-) We love and miss you! Here are a couple photos we thought we'd share of "the Granulator" aka GiGi2 from back in the day… don't you think the resemblance to Emma is striking? It's in the genes! She's even got the hand flap down! Wasn't she a cutie? And speaking of cutie, here she is all grown up with her hula hunk, George Ahlgren, Sr! 

On our walk yesterday morning we found the most amazing succulents. They were pink and purple, and littered in bunches on the small grassy area next to the sidewalk. And best part was that they were exactly the same the color of Emma's pants. HA! Aren't they spectacular? I adore them. I think we'll have to go walk by to see them daily now that I know they exist. 

As mentioned numerous times, there are a few blogs I follow, quite a few! One in particular from The Lil Bee , always has me cracking up, especially yesterday. Typically on Monday's she'll do a post with what's on her mind, kind of a modge podge of ideas floating around her head, carefully put together for one hysterical train of thought. Excerpt from her original post below. Now, I've never gone to therapy but maybe if they did what she suggested with the add-on services, I would! And why do I have a therapist, you ask?  Ha! Like you  really  asked this. I just think it's important to pay someone to listen to you complain, as opposed to endlessly venting to friends. By paying for it, you don't have to feel obligated to say things like, "Oh, look at me blathering on about my hemorrhoids. Tell me about your weekend upstate with the kids!" It's 45 minutes devoted entirely to you. Now, if therapy would allow for add-on services, such as Ther...

This past weekend we headed over to our good friends  the Jed's  place to make brownie sundaes and top off our Sunday night with a bit of Fleur de Sel Caramel Liqueur from our France trip . The Jeds had just returned from a business trip to El Salvador and from visiting family in Omaha, so an update was in order. We normally show up at our friends place, put Em down in the pack-n-play to go nigh-night and commence having a grand ol' adult time while the rugrats sleep. Until last night. Enter Emma {our 11-month-old} and Max {their almost-2-year-old}. These two were on fire, both yelling bloody murder {practically}, screaming for Mama-Mommy, yelling and wailing, not giving up for at least an hour. Em was working herself up so much that she was choking and coughing, a bit dramatic right? The night quickly turned into a disaster {notice the lack of happy smiling photos from this night?}. We crammed dessert down our throats and headed home. Total bummer....

Em had her first pool day this past weekend, and she really enjoyed it. Our friends had graciously invited us over to use their pool to introduce Em to the water. So of course we accepted. Em didn't shriek, freak out, or shed a tear when we dipped her in the water. But she did hold onto daddy, looked concerned {when daddy dunked her}, and pointed after duckie.  Our pool hosts, Julie & Keilah, thanks again ladies! Oh and also thanks for the sporty sun hat for Em's new pool adventures!

It has been a scorcher this week, hope you are cooling off and having a good Friday! Here's to happiness! {via Pinterest }

In honor of Ig + Fauf's anniversary today {happy anniversary you two!} I thought I would save the wedding recap from our friends Brooke and Marcs wedding for today. We headed out to  Castle Green  in Pasadena to help them celebrate. It was a gorgeous venue, the day was hot and sunny, perfect for sipping on a glass of vino and mingling in the cool shade of the venue. The bride was classic and stunning, the groom a handsome gentleman {photo to come}. For the begining of the reception we enjoyed appetizers, drinks and the photo booth. Later, we dined on southern food, such as twice stuffed baked potato, tri-tip, salad, and topped it off with mini truffles. And then the dancing ensued. Prepping for reception photo booth fun! Show time! Hamming it up in the photo booth... Some of the ladies I love that were in attendance... Congratulations Brooke and Marc, we are so happy for you two!

Em LOVES splashing in the tub! A few months ago we bought a baby splash pool for Em to use during the Summer heat. But fast forward to this weekend, we couldn't find it anywhere! We tore the house apart looking for it and finally decided that our party drink tub would be a perfect substitute.

We had a mellow/perfect 4th of July… It was Emma's first, so we wanted to make it special and fun. And, believe it or not, we went sans fireworks {I know, I know, I'm normally obsessed with fireworks}, primarily because we were not on the CC {we missed you family}, but also because they tend to have the opposite effect of sleep on babies ;-) We started the morning down at Main Street for the Santa Monica 4th of July Parade. As the parade was about to begin an elderly women turned onto the blocked off street and almost plowed through an entire group of kids playing. She actually brushed/hit one little girl with her car right as her Dad supermanned her {mostly} out of the way. It happened right across the street from us, so we saw the entire thing… Thank God we didn't choose the other side of the street to watch the parade. It was so scary! Anyways, after that horrible incident, the parade began and all the normal small town fun began. Getting ready for our "small...