Epitome Co. has opened!

My newest endeavor is off the ground!  I have been busy as a bee, trying to get this new shop organized and open.  That day has finally come!  Epitome Co. has been a work in progress and I am so happy to finally unveil it.

 Declan is my model for the FIRST shirt to be in the shop, the "Good To Go" Tee is a must have for all babies and tots!!!  There will be more to come, but I was just TOO excited to keep this  secret any longer! Right now, sizes are in stock and available to ship- we are offering six months to 24 months at this time, but please let me know if you are interested in purchasing a larger size.  I will be taking orders soon.

Do you follow me on Instagram?  That is the bet place to hear news FIRST! :)  There is a link at the top left of the blog- find me there!

 These tees are so soft, qith quality printing and design, and I can't wait to see it on other babies! :)

 Declan says that Epitome Co. is good to go!

Shop here.

Please stop by, follow the shop, and let me know if you have any questions, comments, or just want to say HELLO! :) 

xo!

Thankful: 1.

I am thankful for this adorable, wild and crazy, loving, and wonderful family of mine. Each one if these boys holds a special place in my heart, but together they are my world.

Happy November and here's to a month of being thankful! :)

And P.S. I'm also thankful that there is no school today. Here's to sleeping in on the day after Halloween! (Or letting Andrew asleep in while I deal with a cranky pants baby who didn't get enough sleep last night!)

Xo! :)

Eight months.

Happy eight months to Declan!

{It is shocking that I got even one semi-clear photo of this child.  He refuses to sit still for even a moment.  That's why the toy is present in this one- I had to resort to bribing him a little!}

Seriously though, this child is just non stop lately.  At eight months, he is now officially a crawler!!! He gets up on those hands and knees and he is on the move!  We can't leave him alone for a second unless he is restrained somehow in a crib, jumper or swing.  The child will.not.sit.still.EVER. :)  He is into everything, especially things that he shouldn't be into.  He has a strong willed mind of his own already, and he knows what he wants. :)

Declan is eating great, still trying a variety of different foods made by Gerber. :)  He loves to drink water out of his straw cup- no sippy cups for this kid, he prefers a straw just like us older family members!  He loves to try to snag Dad's huge Starbucks cup and take swig of water out of that when he can.  

Declan continues to adore his big brother, always lighting up when Andrew walks into a room.  They are the sweetest brothers together already. :)  He is enjoying going to the park with his big brother as well, and LOVES the swings.  He just laughs and laughs when we push him.  He loves to watch the other kids at the park as well.

He can utter lots of different words, from mama, to dada, to baba... although none of them seem to be meaning anything particular to him yet.  He yells MAMA when he wants just about anything ;)  He has the most hilarious laugh and is smiling all the time.  

He is sleeping so much better, and now likes to fall asleep to the sound of a soothing little blue seahorse.  {Or more like fuss himself to sleep- we still haven't mastered the falling asleep on his own trick.}  His naps are becoming more regular, and he goes to sleep around 6pm each night.  Whew, it is nice to have an evening after he heads to sleep! :)  He loves to snuggle with a cozy blanket, and still does not what to do with a pacifier.  {Total opposite of his pacifier-obsessed brother!}

Declan now has his two bottom teeth and the top two are just barely popping through as well!  He is around 20 pounds and is getting so big.  He had his first bout with sickness this past month, and had a yucky flu and fever.  Poor guy was feeling pretty awful, but made it through just fine. :)  

He likes to throw anything we give him as far and as hard as he can.  Why not? :)  He is a little stinker sometimes, but we sure do love this little boy.  He continues to bring so much light into all of our lives.  

Happy eight months, my littlest boy!

We love you!

xo!

Happy Sunday.

Happy Sunday!
No matter what stage of life you are in at the moment, enjoy it. Live it. Experience it. Because one day you will look back and cherish these moments. With a small baby to take care of and a growing nine year old to raise, sometimes I forget to live each moment. Tomorrow, my boys will be one day older. They will be small for only so long. So even through sleepless nights, sick babies and kids, rough days... I'm going to remember to embrace life. :)

Seven months.

Happy seven months, little Declan!

You sure are giving us a run for our money this month, little man.  Declan has decided he doesn't like to sleep anymore.  His schedule is a mess and he doesn't like to fall asleep on his own.  He prefers the cozy shoulder of mommy. :)  {Which I have to say is lovely, but also frustrating sometimes in the wee hours of the morning!!}

He is around 18 pounds now, and growing like crazy.  He has two little teeth on the bottom and eats so well.  He hates the homemade baby food I made for though, and starts gagging it up as soon as I feed it to him.  AH!  Little stinker.  He loves Gerber though, so store bought it is. :)

Dad and big brother Andrew make this baby laugh so much.  He loves them dearly and is always so happy when he can play with either one of them. :)  I am the one who is the comforter, the putter to bed, the shoulder to snooze on, the one who can calm him down no matter what.  That makes me feel so loved, and I adore his little head on my shoulder. I just need to be strong and make him put himself to sleep!  

Declan has started to love when I read him books, certain ones getting more laughs than others.  Like his brother, he is a big fan of the cute books by Sandra Boynton.  We have been to the beach quite a bit this past month and he loves it.  Anytime we are outside, this baby is quite happy!!! :)  He loves walks and is trying to determine how he likes the pool.  We are working on it! 

We also took Declan to his first zoo this month!  The Orange County Zoo is tiny and adorable, so we ventured out there one cool afternoon and he loved seeing some of the animals.  Of course, he loved hanging out with his big brother there as well.  Not sure which was the bigger draw?! :)

We love you, little boy!  Can't believe seven months has already flown by!

xo!

Homemade Baby Food

 

I made my first attempt at baby food making a couple days ago, and am thrilled with the results!  So far, I have only made carrots since it is what I had on hand.  Plus, it's a food that Declan likes and reacts well to.  Next on my list is peas, another favorite of his.

 

My questions to you all...

Have you made homemade baby food?  What are some easy foods to try to puree?  Any books you have liked on the topic?  I am wanting to expand my horizons here, so any tips would be so helpful.

 

Also, do you freeze the baby food?  What containers do you freeze in?  I read about freezing baby food in ice cube trays, but am hesitant to try something without a lid.  Suggestions, please! :)

 

Off to make some cookies now for the other boys in my household!! :)

xo! 

Meal Plan Monday: no. 1

amazing meal planning calendars found here!

 

Here at my house, we are so disorganized when it comes to planning our dinners.  Both my husband and I will run to the store for a few things in an effort to get dinner made, and we rarely go big-time grocery shopping.  That gets hard with two kids and a house to run.  Yikes!  SO, I decided to get organized and start meal planning.  Last week, I took both boys with me grocery shopping.  Two and a half hours, one bottle, one diaper change, a few freebies at Costco, and four stores later, we had everything we needed for more than a week at least.  So I wanted to start sharing my meal plans each week with you all.  Maybe we can start getting dinner ideas from each other?!  You never know!  I can always use some fresh ideas when it comes to cooking. :)  Here's what our week looks like:

 

Sunday

French Dip, Potatoes & Salad

Monday

Hot Dogs & Macaroni and Cheese

Tuesday

Spaghetti & Meatballs, Rolls, Salad

Wednesday

Black Bean Quesadillas & Corn Casserole

Thursday

Breakfast for dinner! Pancakes, Bacon & Eggs

Friday

Salsa Chicken & Refried Beans

Saturday 

Buffet Night AKA Leftovers :)

 

I do want to share my recipes for Salsa Chicken and the Black Bean Quesadillas- both of which are frequent dinners at our house.  So easy, too! :) 

 

What will you be eating this week?  What recipes would you like to share?  Quick kitchen tips to keep your family organized?! :)  I'd love to hear from you!

xo!

 

Blog Lovin! :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

 

With Google Reader closing, I have transferred over to BlogLovin' at the suggestion of a new friend, fellow blogger Sarah! :)  Hop on over there and follow me.  Plus, there is an awesome app to go with it for my phone.  Yay for reading blogs while I am lounging by the pool! :) xo!

six months old!

    Declan, you are half a year old!!!  Six months already?!  Time has seriously flown by.  It makes me teary eyed just to think of how fast you are growing and how quickly time really passes when you are little.  You have grown so much since you were born, changed in so many ways, and developed into a little person with his own hilarious personality.  That smile of yours {just like your momma with your mouth wide open with happiness!} is amazingly adorable.  You laugh wholeheartedly at so many things.  You love to be tickled, you love your jumper, and you are starting to love to splash around in the bathtub as well.  {Finally!} You can be completely distracted with your toys, or my cell phone covered in rhinestones- whichever is closer. :)  You babble and talk all day, repeatedly saying "ma-ma-ma" whenever you need something- a bottle, food, or someone to snuggle.  Not sure if you know what it means yet, but it sure makes my heart melt!  You think Dad is so wonderful, and when he walks in after work, you can't take your eyes off him.  Sometimes you need a break from me, and Dad is always there to swoop in and play. :)  Your brother is so in love with you, helping out wherever he can.  You laugh at him all the time, even when he isn't doing anything at all. :)   You love to eat, gobbling down oatmeal, applesauce, bananas, sweet potatoes, peas, peaches, prunes, and the favorite of all, green beans! :)  You are getting so much chubbier, and I can't wait to see how much you have grown these past two months at your next doctor's visit. {Monday!}  You sleep through the night soundly, but we do need to get you in your crib, once and for all.  You like to nap there occasionally, but still love sleeping in our room at night.  That's our next big hurdle, my dear boy.  I hate that you won't be at arm's length anymore, but it is time for you to love that cozy crib of yours as well. We also are working on you and the swimming pool.  So far, you think it is mildly  interesting, but haven't fully given in to the fun of the pool just yet.    These past six months have changed our lives in ways we couldn't imagine.  We are a happy family and we feel so complete knowing that you are part of our puzzle.  You might be small, but you have made a very large impact on all our lives and we couldn't imagine a single moment without you. I love you, Declan Eugene! :) Happy half birthday!
 Love, Mom

What I Wore Wednesday

It's been a while since I've been on my blog. Oops! With a baby around, sometimes things get crazy and my blog is the furthest thing from my mind! That being said, I'm back and I am even participating in The Pleated Poppy's link up today. :)

 

Sweater: Target (I love oversized comfy sweaters, so I found this extra-large on clearance in the plus sized area. Obviously too big, but I love cozy and this is totally it!)
Leggings: Lauren Conrad brand from Kohl's (love her line there!!!)

 

Dress: Target (for like $7 on clearance. Love!)
Shoes: Aerosoles and so amazing. :)

 

Sweater: Old Navy
Tank: Target
Jeans: Jolt skinnies from Nordstrom Rack

 

Sweater: Hollister
Tank: brand new from Gap clearance the other day...love!
Jeans: LEI skinnies from Wal-Mart

 

Again, I love to shop in a budget and love finding things in sale. I adore putting together simple outfits and am a bargain super all the way. Keep following my blog for more! :)

Xo!

insta-friday.

 This is the first time I am linking up to the InstaFriday party over at Life Rearranged!  So, so excited!  Hello to any new faces that I haven't met in blog-land quit yet.  I am happy to have you here!  Here's a sneak peek at my week... {and don't forget to oogle the cute photo of my four month old.  He is such a cutie in his monthly photo!}

 

 My oldest son got a great hit in his last basebll game- so proud of him and his team!!! They are in the playoffs and  not out of it yet!  He plays again tomorrow, so think good thoughts for the Angels. :)

 

 My littlest son had his four month check-up this week.  He is doing amazing and the doctor witnessed him laughing and smiling and talking.  Declan was is such a great mood... that is, until his shots.  Bummer.  It took a good two days to get him back to his happy, normal self.  But all is well now! :)  How cute is that face, right?!

 

 Southern California got rain this week!  It was so, so cozy.  I am such a sucker for wet, chilly weather, and it so rarely hits us here in Orange County.  But I fully enjoyed it, and even took Declan out to the front porch to listen to the raindrops coming down.  He was totally impressed.  Totally. :)

 

And one more photo of this happy face.  I mean, seriously... who wouldn't want to spend their day chatting with this little bug? :)

 

Happy Friday, xo! 

Four months.

Declan is already four months old. Four months!!!!? I am willing him to stay little for as long as possible. :)

 

Happy four months, my sweet baby!

This month, you weigh 14 pounds, 11 ounces. Your height and weight are still in the 25th percentile, so you are a tiny guy. :) But of course, your head is still very big!!! (75th percentile there!) It must mean you are just so super smart. ;) You smile, you laugh, you talk all day long. You are still the most easy going baby, always happy and calm. You sleep all through the night, from around 8pm all the way until around 6am. This makes your mommy extremely happy! ;)

 

You think your brother is hilarious, you absolutely love to have Dad "fly" you through the air, and every time I change your clothes, you crack up laughing. :) You have brought such a light into all of our lives and we can't imagine life without your darling little face. :)

 

Next up, Declan? We got the green light to eat some oatmeal! What fun this next month will bring as well:)

Happy four months, baby boy!!!
Love, Mom

 

Free Easter printables! :)

I am putting up all of my Easter decorations today!

{Better late than never, right???}

I thought I would add in some cute decorations that I found online, free to download and print.  I do this for every holiday lately and it is so much fun to do.  It adds a little whimsy to my decorations, and it is FREE.  Here are my Easter favorites today....

 

Adorable printable tags over here today! :)

Can these cupcake toppers BE any cuter???

Loving this burlap inspired print!  Find it here.

And of course, I need a banner.  Loving this one! :)

 

What are you doing for Easter decorations?? 

xo!

 

What I Wore Wednesday

Another week and another few outfits to note! :)

 

Aqua Tee:  Kohl's

Skinny Jeans:  Jolt from Nordstrom Rack

Boots:  Minntonka Boots

 

 

Closeup of my comfy boots.  Seriously, these are like three or four years old and still amazing. :)  Minnetonka for the win! 

Top: From my sister!  I think she got it at Forever 21

Jeans:  Jolt from Nordstrom Rack

Flip Flops: Old Navy 

Sweater:  Old Navy

Top: Walmart

Jeans: Skinnies from Forever21

 

Linking up to What I Wore Wednesday!

xo!

 

  

Blessed.

St. Patrick's Day.
Wearing green.
A few fun decorations.
A beach date with little boys.
Toes in the sand.
Chatting about leprechauns.
I feel blessed. :)

Words of Inspiration: no. 2

This weekend, my husband is away in Arizona with two of his brothers and his uncle. They are out there for the Angels spring training and are having a ball so far watching baseball until they come home on Monday.

 

Since we got married last year, this is the longest I am going without my hubby here with me. The nights alone in my bed??? Hmmmph. I am already missing him. At least I am spending some quality time with my two darling sons. ;)

 

BUT, like these wise words state, sometimes being alone is healthy. Sometimes we need that to recharge, to watch what we want to watch, to eat what we want to eat, to spend the evenings with your self. It's healthy. And it's making me realize just how much I appreciate my husband being home with me. That man is getting a big fat smooch when he gets back, believe me. :)

 

Now I am off to watch an early Angels baseball game of my own... only my son is on this team. Go little league Angels! Hopefully Andrew's team will remain undefeated today!!! :)

Happy Saturday, xo!

The BEST French Dip Ever! (& some shop updates!)

 

I love my crock pot.  Especially since giving birth to Declan, I have found myself short on kitchen time and the crock pot allows me to make a delicious dinner without a ton of effort.  And I have stumbled on the BEST recipe ever.  Seriously, my husband requests this as often as he can :)

 

Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches

{recipe found here}

 

Ingredients:
3-4 lb. Beef Round Steak (or any type of beef roast- I use a London Broil and it works PERFECT)
1 packet Onion Soup Mix
1 packet Au Jus Seasoning
1 (15 oz) can of Beef Broth or Stock
½ cup water
4 slices mozzarella cheese
Sub rolls

 

Directions:

Put beef roast in slow cooker. In a medium bowl, combine Beef broth, Onion soup mix, Au Jus seasoning and water and stir until combined. Pour mixture over beef, put cover on slow cooker and cook on low for about 8 hours. An hour before serving, shred meat with two forks or take it out and you can slice thinly. Place meat back in the slow cooker for another hour. {I like to shred it!}

When ready to serve, place several slices of beef on roll, add sliced mozzarella cheese and place under the broiler of your oven for a few minutes. Watch carefully, broil for just a couple of minutes until cheese is melted and roll is just slightly toasted.

Serve sandwich with a bit of Au Jus from the slow cooker, which is all ready made for you! :)

 SO DELISH!!!! :)

 

And on to some shop news...

this past week, I added a couple of fab new items to my shop that I am so excited about!

You are My Sunshine tags :)

Convo me if you need a custom listing for these!

 

Ombre Pink Gift Tags!

So darling!  Need them in another color?  Convo me through Etsy and I'd be happy to make them in a different shade!

 

Whew!  I think that's it for my week.  My hubby is out of town for the weekend, so it's just me and the boys.  We are going to plan a fun mommy-kiddo weekend! {And I'll try to forget I am missing my husband so much already!}

 

Happy Friday!

today I am linking up with High Five For Friday- love it!  Go pop over and check it out.

xo!

American Idol Recap - Top 10

Seriously, Candice and Amber owned everyone else in the competition last night. Need I say more??? They both looked and sounded amazing. Way, way, way above the rest.

That being said, I still like Kree a whole lot. She is beautiful and has a lovely voice. Also, I have a weird love for Paul Jolley. I love his theatrics...is it just me? Maybe because I love musicals, but I think he is cool. :) And another favorite is Angie. She had an amazing voice and looked gorgeous last night. But get back on the piano, girl.

Who are you loving so far? Who did you like last night?? Xo!

What I Wore Wednesday

Another week, and another couple of note-worthy outfits have been documented! :)  Hopefully this is getting me out of my i'm-a-new-mom-wearing-pajamas rut!

 

 

Seriously, I'm keeping it real with my hair looking like it does in this photo.  Wow, roots.

 

Leopard Print Sweater:  Forever 21

Sleeveless Top:  Walmart

Jeans:  Jolt skinnies from Nordstrom Rack

Shoes: Velvert Bow Flats from Charlotte Russe

 

 Hair got a pretty makeover!  I am debuting my darker hair with highlights, yay!  Kind of a welcome change from the platinum I'm usually sporting. ;)

 

Top: Old Navy

Jeans: Forever 21 skinnies {$10.80!}

Sandals: Marshalls

 

Date night with my fabulous sister was a success!  It was fun to get fancied up a tad. :)

{Thank you to my photo-bombing sister, as well! haha!}

 

 Blazer: Forever 21

Tank: Target

Jeans: Forever 21

Heels: Aerosoles from Burlington Coat Factory

Necklace: Forever 21

 

So much fun to link up to What I Wore Wednesday!  Enjoy your day, xo!