Thursday, January 30, 2014

randoms...

My hubby and my boys always pick me a flower when we go on a hike. I love them!
I have probably posted a picture of this beauty before, but I just love it. The hubby makes the most amazing and coolest jewelry.
My first attempt with my selfie with my tripod. At least my sweatshirt is clean, right?
Keoni had an off day of picture taking last week, but Noa tried to help anyway!
Hi Noa Bear!
A random drawing I did a while back...Can you tell I love bright colors???
 
 

Sunday, January 26, 2014

music music music

this song has gotten me through a 5 day stretch without the hubby...I love Feist. She creates wonderful and addicting music! This video is great too. so thankful that the hubby will be home in an hour...hope everyone had a fun and relaxing weekend.

Friday, January 24, 2014

friday wear

the hubby has been away, and my dear keoni has been less than enthusiastic about taking my outfit pictures. and when I have finally convinced him to take them his little brother noa screams and rants because he wants to take them...and I bought a tripod, but without the hubby I think I may have broken it in trying to set it up myself...can we say codependent on the hubby?

so, here are a few pics I found from last week that my dear husband did take before we went to see the stepson play soccer. just a casual and comfy look, but taking a few extra minutes to do my face and put a new shirt on felt darn good!

happy Friday to all! oh, and yeah Seahawks...I grew up in Washington so I gotta represent!

pale momma...that is what happens when a family is off and on sick for 6 months...oh well!
had to trim my hair again and rid it of more damaged black locks. a little sad that my growing out progress was halted by my own silliness, but it is just hair right???
I have been doing a lot of at home aerobics and dancing lately while the munchkins sleep, and my hubby playfully jokes about it. He told me to do a dance pose in this shot, funny that I did a ballet one because I don't do ballet!
our typical "walking away" shot...
 
outfit details-t-shirt-Zara sale, shorts-American Eagle, shoes-Zara sale...nothing fancy, but certain days call for simple clothes...easy to move in, and a tad darker to hide the messy paws of toddlers!
 
link up:
 
 
Lena B, Actually

 

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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

picture time...

sunshine and colorful design...the perfect distraction after a rough week...drawing always calms my nerves.
they are the most difficult job I have thus far had, but they are also the best work I have done thus far. so thankful for Keoni and Noa...
look at me mommy!!!
last week art project...and Zara...trying to resist the need to shop but had some Christmas money left over, and Zara's sale was too tempting to pass on...just a few necessities though! 
old vegan simple tennis shoes...I love them when I am chasing the boys at the park!
growing so big everyday!
introducing COCO the beagle.
 
it is ironic that after a stressful week I downloaded a bunch of IPod pictures from this particular week, and in turn couldn't stop smiling. My boys keep me on my toys, and sometimes life takes us for a bumpy ride...Yet still, I wouldn't change it for the world.
 
Happy Day to all!

Monday, January 20, 2014

ice cream and french fries...

My lack of blogging last week...I blame my children. Actually, it isn't really just their fault...life happens, and last week it happened from 4am until late at night with continual interludes of crying from dusk to dawn. I must admit that in many ways I feel like I failed at parenting last week, housekeeping, being a good wife, and so on. do you ever have one of those weeks?

My only solution besides finding quiet, dark corners to cry in periodically was in getting an ice cream cone and some French fries with my boys...I gave up on trying to do what is right, or what I think is right in the eye's of others. I love following all the blogs I do, but sometimes I get so defeated because I feel I can never compare.

My house is almost always dusty and messy. Some days I clean it first thing in the morning, and by lunch a tornado has hit. Sometimes I wait until night, and then awake to messes still? What? The mess monsters even come out at night!!! At least in my house they do.

I am 37. I have horrible acne right now. I have been trying every natural, chemical-free, home treatment there is, and still craters continue to happen on my poor skin.

I make semi-gourmet organic meals for my munchkins, they roll their eyes when I present them with their delicious plates of food...I usually end up feeding it to the dogs.

I set up a budget, but as the bills keep rolling in the mailbox I am amazed that we are way over budget already with a good portion of the month still ahead.

I was growing my hair out, but alas it was so damaged at the bottom that I shortened it again and will try once more for curly, long locks...

The list could go on...but we understand the routine. A less than stellar week, and unbelievable anxiety as we start another week.

Instead, I will continue to snack on fries and ice cream, listen to mellow music, and moreover pray my two-year-old sleeps past 4am tomorrow.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

music...

 
I will spend most of the day today driving my stepson from one spot to another for his soccer games...not my favorite way to spend a sunny Saturday, but we do what we have to do for our kids...at least I can listen to good music while I drive. Ben Gibbard and Jenny Lewis...two beyond talented musicians in a band with one other I can't remember his name...I listened to this album non-stop when it came out, and it continues to be a favorite. It reminds me a bit of my past, and interludes to my present and hopefully future...I think all women have longed for that romantic movie sort of love at one time in their lives...old school Hollywood movie romance where your prince charming jogs along the rainy night time roads of crowded people, or maybe no people at all...to find you standing there in all your beautiful glory...you are his one true love, he has just realized and he kisses you in a way "that Clark Gable would have admired..."
 
Do something fun this weekend...simple fun...take a walk with a loved one, play tag with your kids, color, make some healthy and delicious treats, listen to your favorite album, hug your animal if you have one, watch an old classic Hollywood movie. And smile when you do it because it is always good to take a moment for yourself, friends and family....
 
Happy Saturday!

Friday, January 10, 2014

life lately...

finally uploaded my thanksgiving pics...our dear and gorgeous friend Samantha was visiting from California...and my hubby...he made thanksgiving so delicious...he was the primary chef extraordinaire...lucky to have him! 
our month of December was spent entertaining, sick, and occasionally at our favorite beach...and there is Ari...handsome as ever that stepson of mine!
wild hair day...the process of growing out a pixie cut can be unbearable...luckily I have a husband that still tells me I am beautiful...newer pair of earrings made and ready to be added to my shop...
and another pair with lovely yellow seed beads and teal sea glass...
 
oh how I love my noa bear!!!
and my amazing Keoni was quite crafty this holiday season. he was the most proud of his sticker collage which I think is genius!
love him...usually!
will I ever perfect a selfie???
 
Happy Happy Weekend to all!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

sick but trying...

baby new years 2014 brought us a wonderful surprise...colds to beat the band. ugh is all I can say. we are all a "hot mess"...still, I forced myself out of the house today with the family to make a Costco run...it was chilly this morning even in Hawaii, and so despite the booming sinus headache, earache, and sore throat...I was happy to wear a new vintage piece I got a while back...a warm little sweater dress. I also got to try out a bunch of organic and natural make-up I got for Christmas on Etsy.

 
outfit details-sweater dress-fancy treehouse http://fancytreehouse.bigcartel.com/, jeans-Zara,
shoes-Minnetonka, scarf-thrifted...floral headband-handmade...
 
now back to my jammies...Happy Thursday!
 
linking up w/
 
Lena B, Actually

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Friday, January 3, 2014

casual...

this was a quick look I sported a while back for my stepson's soccer game. comfort is key when chasing after toddlers for 2 hours on never ending soccer fields...

posing by our tree with noa bear...trying to sport an older Gwen Stefani look when she was growing out a short hair cut... 
t-shirt-zara, shorts-H and M, shoes-converse, noa bear-not for sale...
had to add this one...certain pics just melt your heart...this one does that for me!
 
Have a wonderful weekend! I am excited to visit with a former co-worker I haven't seen in years and meet her husband before they head back to Seattle. Hope they can handle the wrath of the two pictured above!
 
back to the linkups...linking up with Casual Friday Linkup @ http://twothirtyfivedesigns.blogspot.com/

Thursday, January 2, 2014

SHOP

I am putting more of my creations in my shop, slow but steady!!! Added a coupon code for 10% for the next few weeks-NEWMERDY...fun costume jewelry...new and unique ideas by Merdy. If you do buy anything in the near future, leave me a message because I want to make sure to give all readers a special gift...FREE things are always fun! I will post more when I get a few more listed, stay tuned...

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

wore 2013

i had a lot of fun getting back into fashion and dressing up a bit for this blog, and in general to assist me in getting out of the pajama all day stay at home momma...oh wait, yoga shorts and plain t-shirt for park and errand adventures rut...i think that whole reminder of my age truly hit me this year, and i wanted to get back into caring about how i look...and i am not talking about anything too special honestly because i live in a tropical climate, in an old country home, with boys and men and animals surrounding me...but still i felt better even spending 5 minutes on my face and hair with a few added minutes on finding a cute dress or short and a tee. i do believe true beauty is from within, but part of that beauty from within also comes from feeling good about appearance sometimes.

so, for WIWW this week i thought i would recap a few of my favorite looks that i created since i started my blog. excited to experiment more this year as i attempt not to spend much money at all on clothes. revamping the clothes i own with the occasional vintage or thrift store find!
favorite t-shirt, levi cutoffs, handmade earrings, rainboots...could wear something like this everyday in Hawaii minus the boots...
levis, t-shirt, pretty scarf, converse...perfection to Merdy
i almost didn't buy this dress at the Goodwill, but so glad i did...2 dolla i think and loving it...and my handmade daisy headband...and that little boy i love so much makes any outfit even better.
peplum t-shirt...enough said. love this trend.
 
Happy New Year's Day! So thankful i started a blog...