primo photoshoot.

primo = most excellent.

yes, we had a most excellent photoshoot this past weekend.  the best part?  it was all free fun.  thanks to our fantastic photographer friends.  okay, so get this... they rented out a restaurant, fed us all food, gave us spiffy tshirts and took our pictures.  can it get any better than that?  nope.  they are superb.  primo.  take a peek...

graham fam under a window.

my boys.

up close and personal.  when i compare hunter's size to mine i'm reminded of how big he is.  he is only 13 months people... but 27 lbs.  no need for me to lift weights.

they are betrothed.  vivian and hunter.  hunter and vivian.  just 10 days apart in age.  it's a match made in heaven.  vivian already knows it's destiny.  hunter doesn't know it yet... typical male. 

me and my future in-law momma...

hey gals, can this count as my belly pic? : )

our besties.

oh no he didn't!

introducing the bbm.

are you busy?

do you live on a budget?  (if not, you probably should.  especially in this economy.  just saying.)

are you a mama?

if your answer was yes to any of these q's, then you must meet natalie....  
the busy budgeting mama.

her blog offers a wealth of wonderfulness on everything.  and i got the privilege of interviewing her.  we did a blog swap for the day.  so fun.  to read my interview, click here.  natalie is my "we'd so be friend's in real life" friend.  she rocks.  you must visit.

enjoy the interview!  i know i did.

1. how do you organize/plan your meals for the week?My goal is to pick out recipes that catch my eye so that I buy ingredients that I will actually use and not let go to waste. being pregnant I have to see something before I want to make it..so all these wonderful food blogs help me out so much! I scavenge them for great recipes. I go to the grocery stores twice a month to get the supplies for the recipes that I don’t already have on hand. I am soo wanting to tackle the whole coupon world…my friends have pink coupon binders that are so cute haha. That’s on my to-do-list.

2. when it comes to design - i.e. web/blog design, what are some do's and don'ts?  Hmm I don’t know if I’m pro enough to give any do’s or don’ts! I think the main ‘do’ that I can think of is jump on in and you’ll be surprised how much you can learn from just looking up tutorials online! That’s what I did for a lot of my post production work. I learned more Photoshop tips on you tube than from my graphic design class in college! I’ll be posting soon the sites I go to on a regular basis to learn more about blog tricks/photo-editing/web design.

3. why do you blog? When I first got married and then had my daughter, Sophia, I found myself nursing with one hand and reading blogs with the other trying to find ideas to make my house a home, cook something yummy for dinner..and look good while doing it..all on a budget. I found myself wanting to share all the great stuff I had come across and I just fell into blogging from there! The community part is also really fun and I enjoy interacting and learning from my fellow bloggers! I have met so many amazing women through blogging!

4.  do you have a money saving tip when it comes to decorating your home? My husband and I both do ministry…hence we are on a budget. So I’m all about the look for less.  So my strategy is..1.) know or have an idea of what you are wanting..and go on the hunt for it! Marshall’s..target..ikea..garage sales.. 2.) DIY ideas…there are so many fun ideas out there, I try and showcase as many as possible on my blog 3.) Paint. That is the best bang for your buck when it comes to decorating a space.

5.  what is your favorite dessert recipe? oooo…how can I choose!! carissa you know me too well..i have a sweet tooth. My all time favorite dessert (as of now..because I’m finicky like that. hehe.) is my mom’s Apple Crisp recipe from her betty crocker cookbook that I grew up eating. I suppose the fact that there is fruit in it makes me feel like it’s healthier than it really is. And I’m all about tricking myself like that. Haha. If you want to try it out.. go for it.

thanks natalie!  you are super.  

if you have fancy ideas to help us busy budgeting mama's, do tell!

miscellany monday.

1.  during the weekend i let my pumas come out and play. which means i put up the danskos.  guess what happened then?  i immediately became 10 degrees cooler - just getting prepared for my new mod and trendy blog design -which, by the way, is taking forever. 

2.  favorite response when telling someone about our $6,000 health insurance deductible:  "that's not a deductible, that's a crime.  we'd deliver that baby at home with soap and warm water." 

3.  this is a conversation i had a while back with a complete stranger:

complete stranger: "how old is he?" (referring to my hunter boy)

carissa: "he just turned one."

complete stranger: "oh, so are you potty training him now?"

carissa: "umm, he can't even walk yet." 

complete stranger: "that doesn't matter.  that's what he has you for."

carissa:  "are you insane?  i think so."

okay, i didn't really say the last line.  but boy did i want to.

4. so not only are my thighs showing, but now my butt is too.  i'd like to tell my uterus to keep its hands to itself.

5. if you want to win some mod and trendy baby stuff from dwell studio, you better go check out my "we'd so be friend's in real life," friend's blog.  hurry.  the goodness only lasts so long.  the giveaway will close tonight at midnight. 

6.  thank goodness men aren't really allowed to be lactation consultants.  if you watched the office last week you know why.

cute, cheap & crafty.

i would love to be crafty every. single. day.  but let's face it, michael's doesn't take monopoly money.  maybe by the time i'm 70 i'll have a plethora of craft items to choose from in my (nonexistant, only in my dreams) craft room.  until then, i will settle for making crafts when i actually need them and have the excuse of a nursery to decorate.

i'm preparing to make the cutest thing ever for sage's nursery.  a mobile like thing... like this:  

(picture from jagged ideal)

only mine will (hopefully) be much much cuter.  i'll keep you posted... literally... and post a sort a, kind a type of tutorial.

in the meantime, i wanted to let you in on a cute and cheap craft that i made for hunter's nursery.  it literally cost me $8.  here's what you need:

1.

(image from design*sponge)

alphabet flash cards.  i bought the martha stewart kind.

2.

(image from a stranded yarn)

twine.  it's cheap.  you probably have some lying around.

3.

also needed:

scissors

hole punch

a few nails and hammer

here's what you do:

-hole punch each alphabet flash card in the center on top.  

-thread the twine through the holes.

-cut the extra twine off the ends (be sure to leave enough to hang it with).

-hang it on the wall with a nails and a hammer (obviously).

so cheap and it's easy peasy.

here's what it will look like:

yes, that is a rhino head on the wall.  it's fake.  hunter adores it.  yes, he has a safari room and his name is hunter. this was not planned purposefully.

happy cute and cheap crafting to you!  

if you have an absolutely amazing cheap craft that's easy, tell us about it!  if you wrote a post on it... post your posts address.  thanks much.  i want to hear about your craftiness. 

typical.

first... gina is the winner of yesterday's quackiest quirk.  there's no prize.  just the satisfaction of knowing you're completely quacky.  i say all that in love.  she is seriously so funny.  go visit her blog.  this is her winning quirk: "I will not touch the outside of milk containers. If I'm the only one at the store (meaning I can't make the girls or john grab it) i will use a wipe, tissue, a coupon, anything to grap the handle of the gallon with. THAT smell makes me vomit."

anyways, on to my days...

in retrospect, i feel like i squander my days.  i have an abundance of things to accomplish but they just don't seem to be getting done.   does this happen to you???  please say yes so i don't feel like a failure.  why is it that in the middle of the day i feel exhausted and completely out of anything remotely resembling energy?  i don't get it.  or maybe i do... i've been sick {for like 3 weeks}, my one year old has had an endless double ear infection with fever {he is on the mend, thank goodness} and i'm 7 mos pregnant.  maybe these things are good excuses?  i hope so.

so here goes my typical day.

-wake up when hunter wakes up.  usually between 7:30 and 8.  i would love to be one of those "professional" moms and wake up before the babe does.  i can't seem to do it.

-8 am: breakfast time.

-playtime until 10 am.  if i decide i'm really going to rock at momhood and wifehood i prepare a crockpot meal at this time.

-10 till noon: sheer bliss.  nap time for hunter.  i study the Bible, workout, and take a shower.  yes, this means i'm not ready until noon.  see what i mean about squandering?

-noon: lunch time.

-after lunch it's play time and/or errand time.  yesterday during errand time, i looked down, past the baby bulge, at my thighs while driving...  i realized that my thighs are showing.  what in the world do your thighs have to do with your uterus?!!!  apparently if one gets bigger the other one does too.  

-2pm-3:30 or 4: more bliss.  nap time take deux for hunter.  this is when i try to get things done.  like cleaning, writing my grocery list, computer work {i.e. - blogging... can that count as work?  please!}

-after nap, it's more playtime until dinner at 5pm.  this is when i wished i would've done the crockpot thing.

-7pm - hunter goes to beddy-bie.  kelly and i relax together and hang out.  it's always a sweet time.  we go to bed way too late.
-goodnight.

i read this verse {a sweet blogger posted it and it served as a huge reminder to me!} and want to make sure i'm making the most of my days...

"serve the Lord with all your heart; and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save." — 1 samuel 12: 20-2

quacky quirks.

we all have them.  some of us {me} are worse than others.  i'm pretty quacky about my quirks.

first, there is a difference between the trash cans in our house.  some are called clean and some are called dirty.  no, they don't wear name tags.  it's just a given {oh, and don't worry, when my hubby doesn't remember which is which, i'm quick to remind him... just as quickly as conan left the tonight show.  sorry conan.}  basically, the only trash cans that are actually to be used are the one in the kitchen and the one in our bathroom.  all others {there are six of them} are off limits.  yes, that means they are just for looks.  because apparently a trash can is essential to the decor of a room.  if we have guests over i have to prepare myself.  and after they leave i go visit our clean trash cans and make sure they remained that way.  if not, i have to make them clean asap.  i mean asap.  i also empty our two dirty trashes at the end of every single day.  i like to be trash free.

i can't stand metal hands.  whenever you touch anything metal {i.e. - car keys, door handles,  clothes hangers in stores, etc} the metal makes your hands smell... like metal.  it is beyond gross to me.   that smell makes me sick and feel a great distance more than dirty.  i immediately have to use my b and b works hand sanitizer and wash my hands as soon as a sink comes in sight.

what's your biggest quirk?  i'm on a quest... i want to find the quackiest quirk.  you might be the winner.  we'll just have to find out.

baby got bak.

camelbak that is.

he used to drink out of my pinkalicious camelbak.  wait a minute... is it possible for me to be girly girl and drink out of a camelbak at the same time?  i think so.

anywho, since one of the two of us is always sick with something, i figured we better quit sharing.  

so he got his own.  he loves it like a preggers loves cake.  believe me, i know.

palatable pairings.

yesterday i experienced some divine duos.  some champion combos.  

some perfect pairings.

 pair one:

avocados.

plus

chicken salad.

equals

the loveliest lunch ever.

(note:  pair one and deuz are not to be enjoyed collectively.  because it wouldn't be very enjoyable.)

 pair deux:

whipped frosting.

plus

peanut butter.

equals

the best brownie frosting you'll ever taste.

do you have a favorite pair that is full of fab?

miscellany monday.

1. i used to think i was destined to be mrs. justin timberlake.  i really liked was obsessed with 'nsync.  for my 13th birthday i got tickets to their concert... it was there that i figured justin would lay eyes on me and know, without any doubts, that i was supposed to be his wife (even though i was only 13).  when i realized our seats were in the nose bleed section, my heart began to bleed.  i knew justin would never get to see me.  and then i'd never become his wife.  i cried over it for an entire week. 

2. speaking of boys that sing, when i started dating my hubs (who is a really talented singer, by the way) i hoped believed that once we kissed, his dna would be imparted to my vocal chords and i'd become a better singer.  didn't happen.  although, i did get flown to italy to sing in someone's wedding.  just saying.  maybe it worked a little.

3. can it be crystal clear that, although we don't bring home a paycheck, although we don't get vacation time, bonuses, sick time, and insurance, being a stay at home mom is work?!.  thank you.  it's no piece of cake.  admitting, it is nice to sneak in the kitchen during nap time to take some several bites of cake.

4.  yes, i just upgraded my publishing forum so i now have the strikethough fabulousness.  i like it.  i love it.  use much?  i can't help myself.  and i thought it would be fun to celebrate it with this post.

5.  let me tell you this: i am redesigning my blog a bit whole lot. lowercase letters is going mod and trendy.  now i need to wear pumas, get a mac, and drink starbucks every. single. day.  oh, wait, i don't really like coffee.  you'll meet the new stupendous design soon.  can't wait.

6. where did february go?  happy first day of march.

7. my super sweet new blog friend, stephanie gave me the "beautiful blog" award.  it was so nice of her!  thanks a bunch!  maybe i shouldn't redesgin my blog now?!  speaking of stephanie, go check our her beautiful blog.  there's a great cookie recipe today.  you will want to make some and eat the entire batch.  she also makes fantastic jewelry.  if you need some haute jewels, like i do, go visit her etsy shop!  you will thank me for it.

things i've learned as of late.

1. since hunter has had a double ear infection, i've learned that double ear infection poop is the smelliest kind. i'm guessing we can thank the antibiotic for that.

2. i thought fevers went away quickly once you got on meds. evidently fevers don't go away quickly. yesterday was day five with a fever. good news, though... it has gone down drastically.

3. once your child turns one, they most likely will not suffocate if you let them sleep with a blanket. i caved last night and let hunter be covered by his favorite blankie. so yeah, my baby slept with a blanket and survived.

4. on a windy day, don't ever set your purse down in the car. the wind will blow your car door shut. you will be stranded in a parking lot. without your keys. without your phone. but hey, at least your kid wasn't in the car.

so many learnings in just seven days. what have you learned as of late? teach me something.

on collections.

i collect a lot of things these days... like loads upon loads of laundry, bills that need my attention, dishes that need to be undirtied, etc. my house collects dust. my son collects colds and germs. my dog collects dirt and grass.

as far as collecting something that i would actually enjoy... hmmm.

when i was in the 4th grade i collected ty beanie babies because my grandma believed they would make us wealthy one day. you know, whenever they retired a certain bear, in twenty years some crazy person would pay $1,000 for it, meaning that we'd make an eventual profit of $990. and then, if you consider that we had like a hundred of the darn things... heck, i thought i'd be a millionaire by now. by the time i hit middle school i finally realized that my grandma was silly; i gave her all my beanie babies, and where are they now? sitting in her garage {collecting dust, i might add} waiting on that highest bidder. nope, didn't enjoy this collection. at all. i don't heart ty.

and to be honest, i prefer as little clutter as possible. but, alas, there is one collection that i enjoy. it's pretty much clutter free because it stays put on my fridge. meet my magnet amassment:

we have bought a magnet from every place we've visited. some of them are from my beloved home state of cali. they are my faves. it's a cheap way to get a souvenier from every trip you take.

what do you collect?

grace.

go back twenty years. meet grace. a newly single mom of a five and two year old. her husband neglected his vows and had an affair. instead of becoming bitter, discontent, and hateful, she was compelled by the grace of Christ to share His love to her greatest enemy...

one morning while on the way to work, before dropping her kids off to school and daycare, grace made a slight detour. she dropped off a Bible on someone's doorstep. she knocked on the door but no one answered, so she left the Bible and went on her way... dropped the kids off, went to work, and continued her day, just trying to survive as a single mom.

that doorstep belonged to the woman that her husband ran off with. grace showed the woman that helped crush her marriage complete grace. if it was me, that would be the last thing i would/could ever possibly want to do.

grace was compelled by her faith to choose love over anger, peace over distress, mercy over vengeance.

that grace was really my mom. those kids were my brother and i. this act of love displayed by my mom is forever ingrained in my mind and continues to be such a great example of the beautiful grace of Christ.

i love you mom... you are gorgeous and look entirely too young to be a grandma and completely too tan. i'm jealous.