Happy Birthday BFF!!

Okay....this party was on Dec. 16th and I am just NOW blogging about it. I am running behind as always people....


So, it was my BFF, Lori's, 30th birthday party disguised as a "holiday party". She and her hubby Heath kindly opened their home to all of her sweet friends! Everyone brought Lori a gift because we knew what was up!! ha! Lori just didn't want to celebrate the big 3 - 0. It was so fun to get together and celebrate her! The party was so adorable! I contributed some props for us to take some pics.

The birthday girl!

Friendship Tea.....delish!

This girl is seriously one of the most selfless, giving, joyful and GENUINE people I know. I have never been greeted by her with anything less than a hug and a smile. I appreciate everything about her spirit. Our husbands both travel a LOT, so we completely connect on that level. She has spent many nights with me and has become like a sister to me. She absolutely deserves all good things that come her way!!! The best part is that is LOVES my little Amara probably just as much as I do. She has more pic of her on her phone than me ;)

Stupidity at its best!

Holiday Card Garland

This week we have Amara's great grandparents coming from San Francisco to visit her for the first time as well as visiting our home for the first time .......Needless to say, things need to be in tip top shape for the holidays. I have a lot on my plate this week, but need to find time to CLEAN. hahahahahahaha......but seriously!

Anyway, out of slight boredom ( my husband was out at a party....no girls allowed) I decided to make a garland to display my Christmas cards. I usually toss them in a bowl of some sort and place them on a table, but this year, I wanted to display them a little bit better.

Using yarn, ribbon, and double stick tape......whalaa!!

I just tied ribbon onto the yarn with scrap pieces of yarn!

Yes, I even put our holiday card up.....Gotta show off baby girl! :)

Oh December.....

This month is just flying by for us....I was itching to have some girls from my neighborhood over and do something festive. I decided we should all do a craft of some sort and eat some yummy food. I found printable labels,tags,menus that were FREE. This whole gathering cost me about 30 dollars :) Most everyone came to just hang out with no craft, which was fine. I took it upon myself to create some Martha Stewart trees made out of card stock, which I actually didn't finish until a day later. I got a little frustrated and needed a break.

I honestly didn't take many pics because I got so overwhelmed with cooking my food that I didn't get to the picture taking until everything I had set up had been tampered with. For some reason, I haven't mastered the art of timing when it comes to my little shindigs. A work in progress .........

Anyway....just some pics for fun!

Martha Stewart cupcake decor

To go bags for leftover cookies and cupcakes :)

I filled my paci jar with some Keurig cups ( coffee, cider, hot chocolate)

ALSO......

  So I have been following this new blog  called Brooklyn Limestone. I LOVE it!!! She is so creative and it is fun to watch their renovation process. Anyway....found these adorable tags you can download. They go perfect with my kraft paper wrapping and my $1.97 roll of yarn :)

My Christmas trees....YES, they are crooked, and I am totally okay with that :)

All I want for Christmas......

What is it about the holidays that make me want want want?!?! I actually just want for other people! I love to buy gifts, I just don't have loads of cash ;)

After browsing the internets this am, I am finding lots of things I would like under my tree as well.

Cutest desk calendar EVER! I saw these at my friend,Lauren's
paper boutique! They are her very own designs. Plus, there
is no need to wrap it. :)

This Tory Burch case makes me want to have an Ipad....even though I have no use for one. I
wonder if Gabe would put it on his ;)

On Amara's wish list.....or mine for her!  This gets me super excited
for our first summer together ( with her out of my belly)
gap.com

If you love your pup, AND love a good price....11.99 Houndstooth dog collar from Martha Martha Martha!
Sadie deserves a good Christmas! She has been quite the trooper during our baby phase.

LOVE these! My favs are the ollie with hot pink lettering or the hole punch with turquoise ( pictured above). Every girl needs a stylish Iphone Case. Dabney Lee's patterns are so amazing!!

Target ( my second home) has some AMAZING boots this season! The quality is much better than usual also! 

I fell in love with these and NEED them.....yes, NEED!

Ok, I could seriously go on and on and on, but truth be told....I already have the best gift of all....Jesus and an AMAZING family. May sound cheesy, but that is whats up people! 

Buttermilk Banana Bread

  I am not the best baker in the world.....there are a few people who would agree :) However, with the right recipe and idiot instructions....sometimes I can surprise myself. I found this recipe on one of my favorite blogs, thehouseofsmiths.com

  I am always willing to try a good banana bread recipe. It is my fav!! Thought I would share....

My favorite things......

Every woman/mom has her "things" that she can't live without, that make life easier or that she just loves for her own reasons. Here are a few of the things that I am loving, and that are helping make my life a little easier as a new mom.

Oil is way more easily absorbed into your skin, and it also isn't FREEZING when you
put it on your baby. Amara hates all of the post bathing rituals, especially lotion, so I tried this and it works
like a charm. I actually LOVE the smell that I use it as well :) $7 for 4 oz, but it goes far, and it is totally worth it.

Jar o' pacis ( that sits on my kitchen counter) and Dwell paper doll blanket! The blanket was a gift, and it is seriously my FAVORITE blanket
for this winter wind with the fleece material on the inside :)

Ok.....this stuff is AMAZING! I am very particular about my nails drying to perfection, but that use to mean
that I had to sit in seclusion for a good 30 minutes. With a baby, I don't have that kind of time. I can do two coats, top coat, then drop this stuff on and my nails are dry to touch in 30 seconds. They are completely dry in 5 minutes tops. The best part is that the oil moisturizes your cuticles!

Hands free pumping bra.....need I say more? How do you think I am able to blog right now? hmmmm
Every nursing mom needs this!!

I lived with a crappy Iphone for about 7 months, and finally was able to get the new Iphone 4S. I don't know how I ever went without being able to do video on my phone or voice texting. It is the best way for me to capture all the little moments on the go with Amara, and send it to daddy!

Gingerbread latte. I am the girl that pulls up to the drive-thru and asks if they have the gingerbread latte yet
everyday for the month of November....as if it will be different from one year to the next. I at least make a point to go to a different Starbucks each time so I don't annoy the workers and completely embarrass myself.

  

I got this exact Hobo wallet ( on sale) for my birthday present. I no longer carry apurse because I can fit all of my necessities ( money/cards/coupons,chapstick,phone) in it.

Jo-Ann's Fabric App

I go to Jo-Ann's at least once a week. I am always working on a project, and they always have coupons, and this makes it super easy to carry the coupons and keep track. You just click "add to my wallet" and it helps you keep up with expiration dates and all that good stuff. The cashier told me about it, so I added it while I was checking out and saved 25% off my entire purchase just for getting the app!!

I am thankful for......

     EVERYTHING!!!! This year has been better than ever, and God has just "blessed our socks off" as my dad said in his dinner prayer. It couldn't be farther from the truth though. So, we cooked it all up and just enjoyed a beautiful, sunny day at home.


     Amara spent most of the day in her swing. I don't want to wish her life away, but I couldn't help but daydream about the first time that I can teach her something in the kitchen! Jackie ( Gabe's mom) came over to watch the parade with us and eat a little breakfast, then it was off to prep the turkey and start cooking! My mom joined later and helped us finish up! We were all missing my sis, Jess, as she was in Austin, TX working, so we skyped! My younger sister, Jordan, was with her dad so the weight of my family was a lot lighter this year, and I felt it. Gabe's younger bro, Marcel, joined us and the 5 of us had a nice dinner. I couldn't get out the words to tell what I was thankful for without bursting into tears, but hey.....I am an emotional one.




  Gabe surprised me with my dream kitchen gadget........ a turquoise KitchenAid Mixer. I walked into the kitchen in the am and literally walked past it several times before my we ( the mixer and I) caught eyes, and fell in LOVE!!! I really wasn't expecting it at all just because it is a lot of money to spend for us Patillos, but man I was soooooo grateful!!!!


Hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving! There is so much to be thankful for no matter who you are or what you have been through this year! Blessings!

Skyping with Jess

New favorite contraption for both baby AND mommy! She didn't like the swing at first, but now she loves it!

One of our attempts at a family picture for Jackie's Christmas card :)

Amara spit her paci out onto her growing belly and passed out/ the way I felt by 9 pm on Thanksgiving night!