Breaking the Blog-strike.....

.......for a link to a great Giveaway!


I was planning  (or not planning) to blog-strike for the month of November. Not as a boycott to NaBloPoMo, not as a reflection of my attitude towards my few readers, but just because I'm in a bit of a funk and don't feel up to creative (or not so creative) writing. 


But I'm here with a quick post about a great giveaway! I'm reluctant to share because really, I want to win, but posting this gets me another entry (wahoooo), So....
The Busy Budgeting Mama CSN $65 Gift Voucher Giveaway


Go check it out, or don't so I can win, Later!

My Little Girl is 2!!!

Two years ago today this is how I looked when my day began.......

 And this is how my day ended.....at 11:38pm, Kinsey Sarai Herrera was welcomed into our world!

 Daddy was instantly smitten.

 She weighed 6lbs 14oz, 20.5 inches long

 2 weeks old

 One month old

 2 months old

 4 months old

6 months Old

11 months old

 One Year Old

 Wearing Daddy's Boots

 13 months old

Silly little cheese ball!

 Pretty PonyTail, 15 months

 Little Driver 17 months

Playing at the Park 17 months 

The Birthday Girl at her 2nd Birthday Party!

Happy Birthday to my sweet, silly, super cute girl! It still amazes me that I could create such a beautiful human being and that you call me Mommy! I'm looking forward to the future because of you, not only to watch you grow and learn and become a wonderful person, but because you make my life richer everyday and make me want to be a better person for you! Your daddy and I love you very much!

XOXO Mommy

Kinsey's Second Birthday Party

 This Saturday we invited family and friends to a local park to help us celebrate our daughter Kinsey's second birthday! Her actual birthday is October 5th, so we will get the chance to celebrate again Tuesday with just our little 3 member family.

The weather was great, the food was yummy, and the kids and adults all had a great time! I made just about everything you see, from the food and desserts, the cake, Kinsey's outfit and all the decorations, including the cutouts of Buzz & Woody! My little girlie just loves Toy Story, so we had to have that as the theme! Instead of posting a million pictures I decided to cosolidate them for easier viewing....so enjoy!

Playing Catch-Up

It's been a month since I've posted much of anything on my blog, and aside from the day to day stuff that keeps even the most faithful bloggers away from a routine posting schedule, I've had a whole lot of life going on.

Next weekend is Kinsey's big 2nd birthday bash! There will be more to follow about that after the big event. I can't believe my baby girl is going to be 2 in a few weeks! Time really does move too fast.

Just this weekend we returned from a week long trip to the Seattle area, a place by the name of Poulsbo where my husband and I lived for almost 2 years right after we got married. I haven't been there in over 4 years, and it was like a blast of memories I had forgotten all came back to me like I was there yesterday. Isn't it amazing how memories can be lost and then found again so easily? I really miss the area, water around every turn it seems, how the fog settles deep into the tall trees in the morning, the moss that grows on everything, it's just a beautiful place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime!

Before that trip I had been hustling to get some new jewelry pieces up in my Etsy store and together for a jewelry show in Washington. Check them out here.

I've also been getting a website up and running for my photography. I was able to get a few more shots of family for my portfolio, but I'm looking forward to working with some real clients soon.

I also had some great news to share at the beginning of August, but held of due to my intuition and it proved, sadly, to be right. Our family was really excited to add a new bundle of joy next spring, but I suffered a miscarriage at 9 weeks. I recently found this poem and it really summed up all the feelings I have had in the past 3 weeks, so I'll share it here, too.

Just Those Few Weeks

For just those few weeks

I had you to myself.

And that seems too short a time

to be changed so profoundly.

In those few weeks,

I came to know you...

and to love you.

You came to trust me with your life.

Oh what a life I had planned for you!

Just those few weeks...

when I lost you,

i lost a lifetime of hopes,

plans, dreams and aspirations.

A slice of my future simply vanished overnight.

Just those few weeks...

It wasn't enough time to convince others

how special and important you were.

How odd, a truly unique person has recently died

and no one is mourning the passing.

Just a mere few weeks..

And no "normal" person would cry all night

Over a tiny unfinished baby,

or get depressed and withdraw day after endless day.

No one would, so why am I??

You were just those few weeks, my little one.

You darted in and out of my life too quickly.

But it seems that's all the time you needed

to make my life richer

and to give me a small glimpse of eternity.

~S. Erling

I'm a list maker

Do you write lists? Not just simple grocery lists and to-do lists, but every detail of life lists and future goals lists?

I do.

I can write the same list over and over so it is just right. I think it may be a little OCD? Maybe it's just a quirk?

Either was it's a type of release for me.

Sometimes (more often than not) my thoughts, goals, plans, and ideas tend to accumulate inside my head right as I lay my head on the pillow hoping to drift off to dream land. I just can't sleep until these precious thoughts are safely written down on paper, so as not to be forgotten by morning.  During the course of the day so many thoughts build up inside my head and writing lists helps me empty my head...if only for a few minutes.

You'd think I would wise up and put a pen and paper on my nightstand.

Instead I often find myself wandering down to the dining room table, a place that is the closest thing to an office desk for me. Sitting there in the soft light with a still and quiet house I can think, write, and clear my head. I can picture very clearly the "desktop planner" that sits inside my brain.....it's too small for my ideas, and far too messy to be trusted to hold the important stuff and keep track of everything. Sticky notes, highlighted areas, smudged ink fingerprints, meaningless junk, important dates and all the creative hullabaloo that is constantly running loose in my brain.

I think I need a school room sized dry erase board in there instead.

So last night as I laid in bed with a restless mind full of clutter I tossed and turned until I realized it was a writing things down kind of night. So I climbed quietly out of bed and crept downstairs to my peaceful "office", sat with pen in hand and wrote a few lists.

Photography page up and running!

I am so very pleased to announce that something I have been wanting to do for well, just about FOREVER, is finally up and running! My photography can now be seen at this website http://brieherreraphotography.shutterfly.com/ and I am accepting bookings for custom portrait sessions. I am also planning to get some of my prints matted and listed for sale either on etsy or in a local gallery soon, but all prints seen are available for purchase now, just contact me for more info!

Please send this info in the direction of anyone who might be interested and I'll keep you posted on the progression of this dream becoming reality!

DIY- Cake Stands

For a while now I've been searching for a cake stand that is simple, sleek and crisp.....and doesn't break the bank. I mean, how often do you actually use a cake stand? Unless you are Martha Stewart it probably comes out of hiding 3-4 times a year (and no one really cares but you what it looks like but you).

So in my quest to do things the penny pinching, way I came up with a very simple concept for cake stands on a budget!

This entire project cost around $9, but I made 3 cake stands and have a whole tube of glue left over for more projects.

Supplies Needed:

Ceramic Plates- any shape, size or color will do....(I went with white because that was the simple look I wanted, but you could do a cake stand to match any occasion or cake. My plates were all purchased at the dollar store, but goodwill is a great place to find them too!)

Glass Candlesticks- again dollar store, cheap! (The small one shown was in a two pack for $1. I got the large one shown with the muffins for 99 cents at goodwill.)

E6000 Glue- $1.99(can be purchased at any craft store or superstore)

Spray Paint- $1 -White (or whatever matches your plate)

The first step is to measure out the middle of the plate and mark it with a pencil. My plates were easy and all had either a raised ring or a stamp marking dead center.

Next (and do this step outside...PLEASE!) put E6000 glue on both the candlestick and the plate where they will touch. Follow the directions on the glue and wait 2-5 minutes before sticking them together.

Then you can break out the spray paint and blend the 2 pieces together. (note: I do not recommend painting the top portion of the plate since most spray paints are not food safe...if you have to paint it to achieve a unified look please use parchment when serving on the stand)

 Reapply and let the glue set-up for 24-72 hours before washing and using.

Ta- Da! Super cute (and super cheap) cake stands!

DIY-Poster Board Wall Art

So today I am sharing a DIY/tutorial (my first so bare with me) that I recently came up with after seeing the high price of -oh so simple- wall art.

 Besides the price tag shock, I was also never really able to find the exact color palette I was looking for.....thus I created my own art!

 Don't be scared, this project requires NO art skills!!!

All you need is an eye for color/pattern and the ability to use an exacto knife and a glue gun...easy peasy!

Let's get started....first here is the supplies you will need: (some items not shown)

2 sheets of poster board ( I got mine for $1 each at the dollar store)

8-10 sheets of scrapbook paper in coordinating colors/patterns-(I find it's best to go with similar colors but fun patterns- mix it up- don't be scared and make sure you add at least one contrasting color or pattern!)

spray glue (or rubber cement, or mod podge, or a glue stick...whatever you have that glues!)

an exacto knife (for exacto cutting..hehe....make sure you also have cardboard or a cutting board to cut on)

a hot glue gun (and glue sticks...duh)

a ruler and pencil

3mm brand sticky strips for putting your finished product on the wall (I used a  small 4 pack)

Total cost for materials- approximately $10

First you will need to cut your poster board into squares, I chose to cut three in the full size of a scrapbook paper sheet (12" x 12"), Three in a rectangle (12" x 6"), Three in an 8" square, and ended up with Seven in a 6" square. I find it's best to cut odd numbers of squares to balance out the piece without looking too symmetrical.

Next layout the pieces on a large surface...just take your time and layer, nothing is final at this point so mix it up a bit!

Once you have a plan start spraying your poster board with the glue and pressing and smoothing your scrapbook paper on. For the smaller pieces, I glued the full sheet on and then cut the excess with the exacto knife. If you don't like the color spacing you can ix your pieces up again at this point.

Lastly grab that trusty glue gun and start sticking it all together.

If you have OCD you can use a level or straight edge, but if you are lazy like me you can eyeball it.

Use the directions on your 3mm sticky strips to mount onto the wall and voila! You have a super chic, totally original piece of artwork for $10 or less!

New Jewelry Line!!!

I'm so excited to announce that my new jewelry line is finally coming together and I just listed a few pieces on Etsy at my shop Serenity Designs. My store has been negelected for well over 6 months while other things...i.e. being a mother, consumed most of my time. Here are a few shots of the new stuff.

So please .....hop on over and give my shop some love...start thinking about Christmas gifts and send a link to your friends!

Nature Shots