Our Life and Times

2011 BOOK LIST

2012-01-28T17:42:00.004-07:00

How's this for being a bit absent from my blog. Back to back posts on what I've read through the year. Here's my 2011 list. Some of the highlights were Gone with the Wind, The Thirteenth Tale, Water for Elephants, Sarah's Key.

The Glass Castle

Alice in Wonderland

The Thirteenth Tale

Freakonomics

The Blood of Flowers

Jane Eyre

The Grapes of Wrath

Gone with the Wind

Memoirs of a Geisha (second time)

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

The Star Garden

Water for Elephants

Sarah's Key

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Little Bee

The 2010 Book List

2011-05-09T13:17:00.001-07:00

2010 Book List

Finally getting around to changing my booklists. Here's the result of the 22 books I read in 2010.

Time of Your Life
A Female Nomad
Chocolat
A Reliable Wife
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Light on Snow
The Jungle
Hyacinth Blue (read for the 2nd time)
The Queen of the South
The Help
Night Train to Lisbon
The Giver
The Persian Pickle Club
Have a Little Faith
Love Walked In
The Art of Racing in the Rain
The Old Buzzard Had It Coming
1776
Prodigal Summer
The Goose Girl
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
My Sister's Keeper
The Shack

Cake Decorating Class

2011-04-03T20:46:00.003-07:00

It was definitely not my choice. It was not my choice to take this cake decorating class, but I'm glad I did. My prior cake decorating technique consisted of no technique, so I've come quite a long way (baby!), after looking at the pictures you'll see that I also still have a long way to go. For just four lessons, it's amazing how much you can learn in this class. I griped and complained the whole time I was in the class simply because I really didn't have the time to squeeze it into my schedule. Now that I'm finished, I'm so glad I did it, especially because Justin and the kids are really impressed :)

So the first cake we decorated was a plain white cake with a cupcake made of frosting on top. Although the cake looks pretty simple, there was a lot of technique involved and I learned so much. The second cake had a flower design, so I have a small bouquet of pink roses in the center of mine. The third cake was supposed to be a character cake, but I since I already had a silicon pan that had an Easter egg design, I decided to make Easter egg cakes in grass. I threw the roses in only because I wanted to use and display all the techniques I learned in this class on the final cake. Unfortunately the Easter cake came out looking a little like a three-ringed circus, it just had too much on it. I'm usually much more restrained and prefer a minimal approach, but I really wanted to practice all the things we learned. Anyway, I'm all cake'd out. Tonight Justin said he was slightly disappointed that I didn't sign up for the next class because he'll miss all the cake.

Eva's First Haircut

2010-12-18T05:05:00.003-07:00

This haircut took place nearly a year ago, in March 2010. Eva had just turned 3 and her hair was getting very difficult to manage. I found out that Dolce gave free haircuts if the hair was designated to be donated to Locks of Love. First I measured the length of Eva's hair and thought that it was probably long enough. So I made the appointment, and went in more nervous than Eva. I wasn't afraid of getting the hair cut, but I was afraid of her response to it. As it turned out, she loved every minute of the experience and immediately afterward, asked when she could do it again. A winner for everyone involved!

Santa Fe 2009

2010-12-13T13:25:00.005-07:00

About this time last year, Justin and I took a trip (sans kids) to Santa Fe, which by the way, is a very romantic city, particularly in the winter. We stayed at La Posada hotel, a historic hotel nestled in side streets just outside of Old Town. We flew into Albuquerque and then took a train to Santa Fe. We rode into town to find all the streets lined with a couple of feet of snow. Apparently we had just missed a heavy snowfall, but had arrived in time to still see and enjoy the remnants of the storm. It snowed lightly only once while we were there, the last night, the evening we walked from our casita to the hotel's restaurant, a 4 star gem with delicious food and great ambiance.

Speaking of food, just about all the food we ate was fantastic! The first location was a restaurant we've eaten at before. The owners changed, the name of the restaurant changed, and the type of food changed (now Spanish flavors), but the experience was great, all the same. On another evening we dined at Pasqual's, which was recommended by several people, and that did not disappoint! Wow!

Overall the trip was fantastic and it's fun to reminisce about it while I write this blog post. One of the things Justin and I came away with was that, as much fun as it was to be on a grown-up vacation without kids, at this point in our lives, we'd much rather spend our time/money on family vacations. Which we've recently done. We were in Disneyland last week. Pictures forthcoming!

Bloom Baby Boutique

2010-10-18T12:36:00.004-07:00

You may or may not know that my friend, Laura, and I have started a children's discount boutique a few months ago. I have to say that it's been much harder and much more work than I expected, however totally worth it. Last week we went to Las Vegas for the ABC Children's Expo, one of the industry's largest trade shows. It was so great in so many ways, but I won't bore you will all the details, but I will say that we picked up some fantastic products and are waiting anxiously for them to arrive. Business on the website is slow, but steady. We have two events coming up, the Dayspring Boutique on November 18-20 and Ahwatukee's Festival of Lights on November 27. We are very busy getting those booths ready.

So, despite the workload, the best part of the job is the shopping we get to do for the business. One example is the company we are featuring this week, Hopscotch Designs. These dresses have the quality and style you would find in a boutique, but we get to offer them at a discount. My favorite is the clementine orange one. If you are interested in purchasing one and are local, let me know so we can arrange for a free local pick up.

Go to Bloombabyboutique.com to check out our awesome discounted merchandise!

Shoes

2010-10-14T13:23:00.002-07:00

I don't know what it is about these shoes, but I do love them. These are definitely not the styles I would typically pick out, and I doubt they would look good on me, but it's fun to window shop.

Solaris Wedge

Sawtooth Myrtle T-Strap

Trying to get into the Fall Spirit

2010-09-28T13:30:00.006-07:00

I can't believe it's already fall, especially since it's still so stinkin' hot! There are several projects that we are holding off until it cools down a bit. At this point, even 90 degrees sounds good-- I'm just ready to get out of this 100 degree weather.

It's hard to even consider Halloween, but I'm trying to get in the mood. I'm posting some pictures from the Halloween party we threw last year. It was a blast, but sadly, I have to finally admit that my house is just too small to host these kinds of shin-digs. I am toying with the idea of having another Halloween party this year, but if we do, it'll be at a park.

I'm also posting these photos because Linda contacted me the other day so I could send some Halloween/Fall themed items to her since she is also considering a Halloween party. When we talked on the phone it was really fun to reminisce about the fun party ideas I had, so I wanted to share the photos of them.

The party food was great-- we had eyeballs on sticks, apple fangs, frankenstein jello cups, monster fingers, cupcakes, green goo, and much more. My friend Gloria very generously let me borrow her bounce house, so that was set up in the backyard. We also had several crafts and games for the kids to play. Almost everyone came dressed up. The funniest costume was worn by Justin-- my next door neighbor insisted that he dress up so she loaned him a cow costume. I still have fun teasing him about that.

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2010-08-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Rice Baby $30 Guest Giveaway

2010-04-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

The Rice Baby $30 Guest Giveaway

Romeo and Mae Sewing Patterns GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2010-04-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

Romeo and Mae Sewing Patterns GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009 Book List Recap

2010-03-06T05:14:00.003-07:00

Boy, am I behind in updating my booklists. It has been a banner year for book reading. Here's a list of the books I finished:

The Fencing Master
The Ivy Chronicles
Great Expectations
Bridge to Tarabithia
Girl in Hyacinth Blue
The Age of Innocence
The Time Traveler's Wife
Like Water for Chocolate
The Year of Living Biblically
The Last Battle (C of N #7)
The Silver Chair (C of N #6)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C of N #5)
Prince Caspian (C of N #4)
The Horse and His Boy (C of N #3)
The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia #1)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardorbe (C of N #2)
The Secret Life of Bees
Breaking Dawn (read it twice)
Eclipse (read it twice)
New Moon (read it twice)
Twilight (read it three times)
The Red Tent (read for the second time)
Lily's Crossing
Guns, Germs, and Steel
The Sari Shop
These Is My Words (read it for the second time)
The Color Purple
The Audacity of Hope
Sarah's Quilt
Eat, Pray, Love

Andrew's Birthday Bash

2010-02-11T12:09:00.004-07:00

These days, this five year old is all Star Wars, all the time. So it was the obvious theme for his birthday party this year which was held at Chuck E Cheese. We invited mostly the little boys and friends that really like Star Wars and we were only able to invite 5 friends from school. Although the party was large, we were the first party scheduled at Chuck E Cheese, so it was just us for most of the time we were there. What an awesome turn out, with great friends old and new. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Diana, and the cousins Jacob and Michael were able to attend. Papa was out of town so we celebrated with him the week before.

By the way, the little girl sitting next to Andrew in the horse and carriage is his best friend at school, Kiki, they are so cute together and play constantly.

In case you're not familiar with Star Wars, Andrew is in an Anakin Skywalker costume and Eva has Princess Leia hair.

Pajama Squid THREE Prize GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2010-01-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

Pajama Squid THREE Prize GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Storybook Cape and Muff GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-12-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

Storybook Cape and Muff GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Little Mave Bloomer GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-12-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

Little Mave Bloomer GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Oh my holy cuteness! I want these for Eva :)

My Very Generous MIL

2009-12-03T11:11:00.002-07:00

Yesterday my mother-in-law surprised me with a very generous gift. She called me and asked if I'd be home for the next 30 minutes, when I said yes, she said, " Oh good, cause I'm playing Santa Claus." When she arrived, the kids just snatched the gift bag out of her hand and we had to tell them to slow down, the gift wasn't for them. Polly, my MIL said that the gift was an Advent gift for me. Justin and I are taking a trip to Santa Fe in a couple of weeks, just the two of us for four days, and Polly said she wanted to get me something for the trip.

Inside the package was the most beautiful blouse! It's the kind of shirt I would admire at a store, but would never splurge on for myself. The blouse looks really pretty in the picture, but the picture does not do it justice, it's much prettier in person. In addition, there was also a gift card to Anthropologie. Polly insists that I go shopping before our trip so I can pick up something really special, and she's even offered to babysit the kids while I shop. This woman is so good to me!

Chubby Baby Car Seat Cover GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-12-01T13:06:00.001-07:00

Chubby Baby Car Seat Cover GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

My Little Sister Evelyn Smock GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-12-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

My Little Sister Evelyn Smock GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Charm Design Bags and Totes $50 gift card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-12-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

Charm Design Bags and Totes $50 gift card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Lisa Leonard Designs Jewelry GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-09-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

Lisa Leonard Designs Jewelry GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Indian Summer Shirt and Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-09-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

Indian Summer Shirt and Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

I love, love, love this little outfit!

Sales + Coupons = $5.64

2009-09-15T09:17:00.003-07:00

Good sales at Albertsons. I know there are many, many moms out there that can get way more for under $6, but I'm still pretty pleased with this outcome :)

The kids and I will enjoy the veggies and the yogurt, and Justin will be glad to take the pizza rolls and the desserts for work snacks.

Happy Birthday Mia!

2009-09-05T04:23:00.002-07:00

Happy 3rd Birthday! Hope you have soooo much fun today :)

Blogs of Late

2009-09-03T08:03:00.002-07:00

Sorry it's been (what seems like) forever since my last post. Unfortunately I've had lots of trouble uploading photos from my camera, so I have no new photos, and since I don't like posts without pictures, I've just haven't written anything. Justin's working on the problem, hopefully he'll work it out soon; especially because my father-in-law and mother-in-law (FIL and MIL) bought me an awesome photo printer for my birthday. Yeah, they're great. Yeah, I love 'em. They also completed the gift with extra ink and extra photo paper. I am just itching to print out pictures and especially the ones with all the nieces and nephews that visited this summer.

Anyway, I have found some really fun, clever, beautiful blogs the last several months and I thought I'd share. I think I kind of need to also update the blog list to the left, but I'll save that for another day.

Centsational Girl
Armelle
Made
Katie Did
Stephmodo

Centsational Girl has great design and DIY projects. She can really inspire you to tackle home projects. Armelle has a beautiful jewelry and just has overall great style. Made boasts of great home-made clothing, especially for kids. Katie Did also has lots of crafts and sewing. Finally, Stephmodo is one of my all-time favorites. The blogger/mom has great style, she's a foodie, and her family just purchased a second home in France and recently her updates have been about the amazing renovation.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Lauren!

2009-09-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Hope you had a terrific birthday!

Coupons

2009-07-07T06:49:00.004-07:00

Although I've used coupons in the past, I didn't use them regularly. I might save $1 or $2 off a grocery bill, but it didn't really make a dent in the overall bill. In the last several months I've tried to become a little more dedicated to saving on our grocery bill, and after finding so many blogs dedicated to saving money and to couponing, it is quite easy.

Recently I stumbled upon the site A Thrify Mom and this mom really is quite thrifty. Her favorite store is Albertsons, which is a store that I've come to appreciate more (I'm a pretty loyal Fry's shopper). Anyway, last week she spent $19.04 for $234.06 worth of groceries.

I have to admit, my savings are not as substantial as some of these moms, but based upon the tips I've learned, I now spend about $75/ week on groceries, diapers, cleaning supplies, and paper products. This is compared to $100 +/ week I used to spend.

A couple of other money saving sites I frequently visit are:

Faithful Frugality
Money Saving Mom
Jane4Girls

There are so many other sites I also check, but if you're interested in learning how to cut your grocery bill, these are pretty good places to start.

Happy, Happy Birthday to YOU!

2009-06-18T21:05:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Kiera!
Hope you had a great day.
We miss you and love you!

Chocolate Cake in a Cup

2009-06-07T09:20:00.002-07:00

Seriously people, if you haven't heard of this recipe, or if you have heard of it and haven't tried it, you must. In need of a quick chocolate fix? This little recipe will solve your problem, in fact it can probably solve lots of problems :)

In 3 minutes, with a few simple ingredients, a microwavable mug, microwave, and measuring spoons, you can make this little chocolate cake.

Chocolate Cake in a Cup:

4 T flour
4 T sugar
2 T cocoa
1 egg
3 T milk
3 T oil
3 T chocolate chips
1 small splash vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
(You can also add other items like marshmallows, nuts, etc.)

Get a microwavable coffee mug.
Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well.
Add egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in milk and oil, mix well.
Add chocolate chips and vanilla (and other add-ins), and mix again.
Microwave for 3 minutes on high.
Allow to cool.

I first heard about this from my next door neighbor and have also read about it in other blogs. Justin and I have tried it several times and it's worked every time. Good stuff.

Sorry, no photos available, since I can't seem to upload them to my computer :(

Gorgeous Vintage

2009-06-04T07:30:00.003-07:00

On the Babyccino blog this morning, one of the contributors wrote about a company that sells beautiful vintage baby clothing. Everything on the site is absolutely gorgeous! I love every single piece for sale, but I don't love the price tag. I do, however, feel inspired to head out to some antique shops on a quest to find some pieces for Eva. The only vintage pieces she has are from her grandmother (Justin's mom)-- two dresses that Polly wore as an infant. These are so beloved to us and we're grateful to have them. But the only times Eva wore them were for a couple of photos because we didn't want to damage them, and now she's outgrown them.

Anyway I'm now on a quest to find some of these vintage beauties. In the meanwhile, check out Belle Heir to look at the beautiful little outfits.

Happy Birthday Aunt Linda!

2009-06-01T17:59:00.002-07:00

You're gettin up there! 33 now almost puts you in your "mid 30s"! But, after 4 kids, you still look great. Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIJAH!!!

2009-05-28T13:19:00.001-07:00

We're wishing you a wonderful 8th Birthday! Wish we could be closer to celebrate with you. We want you to know that you are loved and missed!

Puddle Jumper Shoes

2009-05-18T14:09:00.003-07:00

This is the most darling little shoe company. Eva has owned several pairs of their shoes and she is always complimented on them. They are having an awesome sale right now. In fact, a couple of you may be receiving some of these for your little ones' birthdays!

Happy Mom's Day

2009-05-10T17:27:00.002-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the momma's in my life! A special shout out to my sisters: Linda, Cheryl, and Tricia-- you guys are loved!

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately, but we've all been sick for weeks. As soon as one person gets well, someone else gets sick. I will try to put up a post later this week.

Hugs and Kisses!

The Pioneer Woman Giveaway

2009-04-30T15:03:00.002-07:00

So I just posted a comment on The Pioneer Woman blog for a kitchen tool give-away. Guess what number my comment was???
10,665

Seriously, the woman's blog is amazing! Who gets over 10,000 comments on their blog? I have posted comments for free stuff plenty of times, but never have I come across this kind of madness. Crazy-huh?

Anyway, check it out. She's giving away five of her favorite kitchen tools, and they're good ones!

April 2008

2009-04-27T12:14:00.003-07:00

I was going through some photos on my computer and found these taken almost exactly one year ago. How is it that time seems to move so rapidly when you have kids. How is it that my kids were just 3 years old and 1 year old in these photos? Where did the last year go? Looking at these photos reminds me just how precious our time is, how quickly it slips through our fingers, how much things can change without really seeing them. I am so thankful for being able to spend so much time with my kids while they grow, but I think I need to spend more time watching them too. The many things on the daily to do list maybe distracts me from really seeing my kids sometimes. It's so hard to cut through the busy-ness and to just be present in the moment. Today I am going to try to do that.

Pears and Bears

2009-04-17T08:50:00.002-07:00

There's a terrific sale going on at Pears and Bears with lots of items priced at $10. Lots of classic girl's dresses on sale and women's shirts and dresses.

Easter Photo Shoot

2009-04-14T15:31:00.004-07:00

Of course my kids are so goofy, that it's practically impossible to get a good photo. Andrew never smiles and Eva never sits still. Oh well. This is what I've got.

Loads of Easter Fun

2009-04-14T08:21:00.005-07:00

Unfortunately Andrew and I were sick on Easter, so we had to skip church-- very sad. We figured that it would be so crowded that we wouldn't be able to get a seat away from everyone else, and we didn't want to spread this terrible cold, so we spent the morning at home.

When the kids woke up, they came downstairs to find Easter baskets. One set was filled with goodies and one set of baskets was empty so they could hunt for eggs. It rained, uncharacteristic for AZ (in AZ, you can almost always count on no rain!), on Saturday, so it was pretty wet outside. The Easter bunny cleverly hid most of the eggs inside the house and hid a few in the backyard. Later, the kids entertained themselves by hiding eggs for each other and finding them.

We ate brunch at home. I made a yummy crab and asparagus eggs benedict (my favorite) and then lemon bars for dessert. Then Eva took a little nap.

Off to Gma and Gpa's house in the afternoon to hunt for more eggs! When we arrived, the kids weren't allowed to go out in the backyard yet, but they were spying for eggs through the windows. Their cousins arrived and then the egg hunt began. Eva and Michael, both 2 years old, were on their own for the first minute. After all that practicing throughout the day, Eva was a real pro and found so many eggs. Andrew and Jacob were then let out next. They had a blast.

We had a wonderful dinner prepared by Gma. Spare ribs and homemade mac and cheese. She also made a delicious apple cake.

It was a great day!

Easter Food

2009-04-14T08:13:00.004-07:00

Mmmm, mmmm, yummy. For Easter brunch we made a crab and asparagus eggs benedict with a potoato bake. I also made lemon bars for dessert. It was so good! Lemon bars recipe can be found here (and I used the modifications suggested in the first review).

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T08:03:00.002-07:00

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die". John 11:25

Good Friday Twittering

2009-04-10T14:41:00.001-07:00

Passion Play performed through Twitter by Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church.

Sick at Home

2009-04-09T10:36:00.002-07:00

Andrew stayed home from school today because he has a sore throat and pretty bad cough. We made the most of it by decorating our Easter eggs. My next door neighbor gave us 4 coloring kits, add that to the 2 I already had and it was a decorating extravaganza.

Dreaming About Green

2009-04-07T10:55:00.003-07:00

I love this dress from Shabby Apple, but this fabric would hug me in all the wrong ways. Unfortunately it's a no go for me. Too bad...at $46, it's a steal.

Banana Bliss

2009-04-07T07:36:00.002-07:00

You must, must, must try this recipe.
I made a banana cake a few months ago and couldn't remember where I put the recipe, so I did a simple google search and found this recipe. It's very different from the recipe I had tried, but I had all the ingredients it called for, so I gave it a go.

Oh my.

It's so delicious, moist, smooth, flavorful. It's practically perfect. Trust me, your family will thank you if you make this cake.

Vinegar and Water

2009-04-06T10:12:00.004-07:00

I have been really pleased with the glass cleaner I normally use, Odoban's Glass Control, which I pick up at Home Depot. It's supposed to be more environmentally friendly than other products, and I think it cleans better (ie. less streaks) than other brands. Recently I've been reading about home made cleaners and thought I'd try to make my own glass cleaner since I just ran out. It couldn't be easier to make, and it was certainly easier to whip this together than to haul the kids to HD. All it takes is just one part water, one part white vinegar.

After cleaning the glass furniture downstairs, I'm surprised at how well it cleaned without streaks. The vinegar smell was hard for me to get over at first, but then I figured it was better to have a smell from a natural product rather than a fake smell from a product, because what you're really smelling are chemicals.

I'm sticking with the vinegar and water method, as it's natural, works just as well (if not better), and it's cheaper. Guess I need to put more vinegar on the grocery list!

Wedding Photos

2009-03-29T13:34:00.004-07:00

So, here are some of the wedding photos. They're not very good, because the lighting was difficult and it was crowded! There was lots of competition to get photos, I mean, there were like 5 pro photographers walking around plus everyone else was also trying to get their photos. Anyway, I'm glad I did capture a few precious moments. After Kate walked down the stairs and met with George, her dad, they hugged and had a few beautiful moments. Then, while Tara was walking down the aisle, Ryan just proudly and lovingly stared at his wife. Just after the wedding the wedding party was busy taking pictures, but we got a few cute shots in. During the reception I was able to get a pic of Gloria and her husband Miles dancing across the room from us.

Oh, I just love weddings. Needless to say, my tearducts were gushing before anyone even walked down the aisle. I especially let loose when I saw Ryan getting teary-eyed watching his sister.
There was such much love in the air! Especially from Kate and Brian...they are so in love and it radiated all over their faces.

Kate Weds

2009-03-29T07:13:00.003-07:00

Beautiful Kate wedded handsome Brian last night at Gainey Ranch. The wedding was gorgeous with perfect weather. Oh, I love weddings! This was definitely a family affair. Dan, my father-in-law, retired pastor, officiated the wedding. By he way, my mother-in-law and father-in-law live next door to Kate's parents, so the kids have grown up together. Ryan, Kate's brother, and Tara, Ryan's wife and Kate's sister-in-law, were also in the wedding, with their daughter Riley as the flower girl. I watch their son Ryder on Wednesdays, so we're pretty close to their family. Gloria and Miles were also at the wedding. Miles owns an entertainment company and was the DJ for the night (by the way, he did a great job. If anyone ever needs an entertainment co for a party, definitely go with them). Miles is also Tara's brother. Miles' wife Gloria is a good friend of mine and we do play dates a few times a month. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were also there. Whew. Even though we are not related to Kate, she and her family are definitely extended family. Because of all the relationships between our families, we see each other several times throughout the year at various family functions. Anyway, it was great to have everyone in one place to celebrate the marriage of a really great couple.

Kate and Brian said their own vows, and their words were so touching. They definitely communicated their love. The wedding was also filled with lightness and humor, which reflects the couple's personalities, and their families as well. George, Kate's dad, gave a great 7 page (!) toast, which was a riot of course. He's a retired professor at ASU, so he's comfortable speaking to a crowd.

All in all, a great wedding. I even got Justin on the dance floor a few times! But 2 glasses of wine and I am nursing a headache today!

Twilight Tide Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-03-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

Twilight Tide Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Happy Birthday Eliana!

2009-03-27T21:38:00.002-07:00

It is sweet little Eliana's first birthday! A whole year has gone and we have yet to meet this little cutie pie, but we are looking forward to meeting her in June!
Happy Birthday!

Arizona Science Center

2009-03-26T08:23:00.004-07:00

We went to the AZ Science Center last month and here are some pics I'm finally posting. It was great because it is free to Bank of America card holders on the first of the month. The kids thoroughly enjoyed it and the bonus was we rode the light rail into downtown. These pics were taken before and after we went into the science center. Outside the science center there is a large almost pyramid-like structure with steps going up and then a flat roof with a garden. This was the structure that the kids were climbing in some of the photos.

Old Photo Machine

2009-03-17T04:42:00.002-07:00

Found this really cool url that makes your photos look old. The site is written in Japanese, but it's simple to just upload your photos and then just press the button. Voila, the photos comes out aged. Read about it from Sweet Fine Day.

Sweet Little Ryder Turns One

2009-03-16T12:28:00.005-07:00

I love watching Ryder on Wednesdays, and I can't believe this little baby turns one already. His party was lots of fun with many members of his large loving family. The party was at a nearby park and the weather was gorgeous. The highlight was the gift from George, Ryder's grandfather and my in-laws' next door neighbor. George is wonderfully talented in woodworking and made the most amazing rocking horse for Ryder. Eva couldn't wait to get a turn on it too!

Lemony Goodness

2009-03-14T19:52:00.003-07:00

Sadly I don't own a citrus tree, though I'd really like to. Fortunately we have a neighbor that has a tree with heavy limbs full of ripe lemons. I received a large bag full the other day and knew exactly what I wanted to make. This lemon yogurt cake from the Barefoot Contessa at Home book is so moist and tangy and sweet. Dang. It's good.

Audrey Dress

2009-03-11T15:52:00.003-07:00

I'm just lovin' this dress from Rockerbaby. The price is reasonable, but on the other hand, it seems easy to make. The fabric is by Alexander Henry, but I'd just have to hunt it down online. Eva would look so cute in it!

The Kids in B/W

2009-03-08T14:30:00.004-07:00

Just practicing with black and white photos.

Kate's Bridal Shower

2009-03-08T12:31:00.004-07:00

Kate is getting married at the end of the month. Tara threw a lovely shower for her at the House of Tricks. The food was delicious and the company was great-- what more could you ask for?
Kate will be such a beautiful bride and we are looking forward to the wedding!

Some homemade goodies in Eva's Room

2009-03-08T12:10:00.005-07:00

I recently made this little pillow for Eva using some scraps I had. I also made the little frame in the first picture as well as the little clothesline with dresses.

Secret Republican Apology Machine

2009-03-04T19:47:00.003-07:00

Just in case you need to apologize to the leader of the Republican party, the DCCC has uncovered the Secret Republican Apology Machine.

Walnut Blondie with Maple Butter Sauce

2009-03-02T07:19:00.003-07:00

Oh my. That's all I can say. Cannot wait to make this yummy dessert (recipe linked on Bakerella)

Valentine's Day

2009-03-01T12:08:00.002-07:00

Justin and I spent a romantic weekend in Tucson over Valentine's weekend. We drove in on Saturday, did a little shopping in the afternoon, and then had an early dinner at North. The restaurant is absolutely fabulous-- the best meal I've had in a long time. I started with a mozzarella, basil, tomato salad-- now I've had this Caprice salad many times, but North's version is easily the best one I've ever tasted. The balsamic vinegar they use is awesome...I need to find a bottle of it! The main entree was very good- a crab and shrimp fettuccine. But the dessert course was so delicious! It was a vanilla bean panna cota that was so very smooth and decadent-- perfection! Justin's food was also delicious, but I think mine was better :) Seriously, when we go back to Tucson again, we're going to this restaurant. It's self described at modern northern italian food. The decor was very trendy-- reminded me of Miami.

After dinner, we headed to our hotel. We stayed at Ventana Canyon, which is the same hotel we stayed on our wedding night. Justin's parents treated us (as a fifth wedding anniversary gift) to the celebration package, which included a fabulous room with gorgeous view, champagne, and chocolate covered strawberries!

The best part was sleeping in without any interruptions from the little people, also known as Andrew and Eva, since they stayed with Grandma and Grandpa.

Worms

2009-03-01T11:02:00.005-07:00

I was digging a spot for some flowers a couple of days ago and happened upon some earthworms. Andrew had fun playing with them for a while before putting them back in the dirt. He has shed almost every bit of baby about him and has fully embarked on becoming a little boy-- gross worms and all!

Stinkin' Cute Kitties

2009-02-27T14:10:00.003-07:00

These Hello Kitty pops are too stinkin' cute! Wish I knew how to make these for Eva's Hello Kitty bday party back in December. I love Bakerella, she is so creative!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-02-24T07:57:00.001-07:00

I want this skirt for Eva! I've been eyeing these beautiful skirts for a long time and if we don't win one, I'll probably just have to break down and sew one.

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Gearin' Up

2009-02-18T14:34:00.003-07:00

The kiddos were getting dressed to fight dragons. As Eva says, "Fight them, eat them!"

Inauguration Party

2009-02-18T14:27:00.002-07:00

Although we didn't have the pleasure of going to Washington DC to watch in the inauguration in person, we did catch coverage of it all day. That evening, Dan and Polly had an inauguration party. Polly's menu included all things American, like apple pie, hamburgers, and potato salad!

Simple Pleasures

2009-02-18T14:23:00.003-07:00

These little beauties came off of my rose bush. That in itself is a miracle, since I don't have a green thumb!

Ashton's Birthday Party

2009-02-18T14:18:00.002-07:00

We celebrated Ashton's birthday party at Pump It Up in January. Ashton and his sister Brooke are good friends of Andrew and Eva. Their mom Gloria is a good friend of mine, so we always have a good time together.

Cabin in Payson

2009-02-18T14:14:00.002-07:00

We have only been to the cabin a few times over the past year. Unfortunately we only went once while there was snow over New Year's. While there, we only remembered to take the camera out one time-- the night we arrived, so here are our only few pictures of the kids playing in the snow on the back deck.

Puppet Theater

2009-02-18T14:10:00.002-07:00

Phoenix has a really fantastic puppet company and they put on awesome performances. We attended the Cinderella show in late December with Ashton, Brooke, and Maddy. The kids dressed up like Cinderella and Prince Charming.

Fifth Anniversary

2009-02-18T14:06:00.003-07:00

Justin and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary in December (we've been together for over 8 years). We went out for sushi and a movie-- two things we NEVER do anymore, so it was a real treat. Grandma and Grandpa watched the kids, and apparently they all had a blast too! Here's a picture of Justin and I that night before leaving. We have practically no pictures of the two of us anymore, mostly because we delete the ones we do have because they don't turn out very well. This picture isn't great, but at least we're both smiling and looking at the camera!

Andrew is 4 Today!

2009-02-08T04:48:00.004-07:00

My dear, sweet little Andrew turns four today. He's so big, and yet still so little. It feels like he's been in my life forever, but these four years have also moved very fast.

Here are just four things I love about Andrew:

I love Andrew's gentle ways. He shows so much kindness for others around him, especially to his sister. He has been a wonderful role model to Eva, showing her how to share, take turns, and be sympathetic to others.

I love Andrew's fierce determination. He can be so persistent in seeking what he wants. I hope we can nurture and also harness this trait so that he can use it in productive ways and to his advantage as he gets older.

I love Andrew's love of learning. This boy loves books, computers, and science. I am so thankful that Andrew has taken of love of reading (from me), and he enjoys practically every book we own (probably over 300 children's books). He always looks forward to books during his quiet time and before bed. He also really enjoys computers and learning about them. We recently enrolled him in a computer class, and he is just thrilled with it. But, even better is Andrew's sense of curiosity. He wants to learn how things work and wants to understand the mechanics of things like his watch, the computer, his Spiderman birthday card that talks (thanks Kiera and Mia for that!).

I love Andrew's love for mommy. He still loves to cuddle and sits on my lap anytime I ask him. He still makes beautiful cooing sounds when I snuggle with him and tell him I love him. I also love that he's starting to become more independent, thanks to his time at preschool (and the great teachers there). It's so fun to watch him learn to make friends and to play so well with the other children at school.

Happy Birthday Sofia!

2009-01-26T08:53:00.001-07:00

Happy 6th Birthday, sweet Sofia!

Doll Bed

2009-01-21T11:45:00.002-07:00

This has been a very long-term project for no other reason, than that I was just lazy about finishing it. I found the wood doll bed at a tag sale and then painted it. This past week I started working on the bedding, which only took about 2 1/2 hours to finish. I may add more bedding pieces in the future, but this is it for now. The Heather Bailey fabric is one of my favorites, so I was glad to be able to use it for the bed.

The Day of Eva's Birthday

2009-01-12T15:11:00.002-07:00

We did not do very much on the day of Eva's birthday, as I think we were all still exhausted from her party! When the kids woke up in the morning, we let Eva open her presents first thing. Then I made mickey mouse pancakes for the kids and put a candle on Eva's. Later that day, after Justin got home, we decided to take Eva and Andrew to Rainforest Cafe to celebrate. Unfortunately Eva was so scared of all the robotic animals, that Justin had to take her out of the restaurant and she didn't even get to eat her food. Andrew and I stayed for the meal while Justin and Eva walked around the mall. We had ordered delicious food that we had to get boxed up. Meanwhile, she ate a pretzel.

Eva's Birthday Party

2009-01-12T14:47:00.005-07:00

I'm sooo late on this, but here are some photos from Eva's birthday party. We hosted it several days before her actual birthday at Gma and Gpa's house. It was so very cold out, but we were mighty thankful that it didn't rain during the party, as predicted. The party was a success and it seemed like everyone had a good time. We had lots of fun, especially Eva. She just beamed when the birthday song was sung to her.
Although we tried to keep the party very small, we still ended up having over 30 people there. We are blessed to have so many wonderful family and friends nearby.
I still can't believe little Eva is 2! This is such a wonderful age and I'm looking forward to seeing this little toddler blossom into a little girl!

2008 Book List

2009-01-07T12:43:00.003-07:00

Wow! I got a lot of reading done in 2008-- 19 books. So I decided to write a little about the books that really stood out. I'm disappointed that I didn't get to finish every book on the list, but I'll add those on to the 2009 list. First, here's a list of books I did finish. (To Kill A Mockingbird and all the Jane Austen books were selections from my book club).

These is my Words
I Capture the Castle
To Kill a Mockingbird
Pride, Prejudice, and Jasmin Field
Night
Eat Cake
Mansfield Park
Pride and Prejudice
Sense and Sensibility
Emma
Persuasion
Northanger Abbey
The Secret Garden
The House on Mango Street
Fall on your Knees
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
The Case for Christ
Atonement
Love in the Time of Cholera

The most memorable books were all six of the Jane Austen novels-- each one delicious for its own reasons. My favorite two are Persuasion for the wonderful character development and the exquisite way that Austen is able to write about the conversations in people's heads. I also love Pride and Prejudice for the love story that leaves you yearning for lots of romance! Who doesn't need a Mr. Darcy in her life?

Night is a book that every person should read at some point in their life. It's an incredibly fast read, at about only 100 pages, of a person's memory of the Holocaust. It is heart wrenching and scary to read about a person who lives on the brink of death and struggles to survive at practically any cost. It is an absolutely stark look at many of the evils inflicted on innocent people during the Holocaust.

There were several books on the list that were just plain fodder and a few that were national best sellers, award winners, but didn't quite live up to my expectations.

One book was by far my favorite for the year and it was an absolute surprise. I attended a fundraising event for some friends and local authors were there to sell their books and donate a portion of the sales to the organization (PEO). Each author had several minutes to introduce him/herself and discuss their books. The last author, Nancy E. Turner, captured the audience as soon as she started talking. She lives in Tucson and consequently writes about the Tucson area through the perspective of a territorialist in the late 1800s, early 1900s. It is in a diary format and is very loosely based on her great-grandmother. The book is almost like a Western for women, and it's filled with romance, action, family relationships, survival, and lots of history. This book doesn't fall under the genre I typically read, but I was so intrigued with the author's presentation that I purchased this book and the sequel to it. It does not disappoint!

On to my 2009 booklist. There are soooo many books on my list and hopefully I will be able to do lots of reading this year!

Here Kitty, Kitty

2008-12-09T16:04:00.003-07:00

Just finished one of Eva's birthday presents- this sock kitty. She's made out of a pair of argyle socks that had just been sitting in my dresser with the tags still attached to them! I think this is a much better use of these cashmere blend socks (got them when living in Cincinnati-- brrrr, cold winters). This is my first sock stuffed animal, hopefully just the beginning of more to come!

Oooey- gooey fun!

2008-12-08T15:27:00.003-07:00

We finally put our gingerbread house together last night. Andrew asked if it was a big one like last year, but when I showed him the kit, he said, "no, that one's small." (psst-- it's the same kind as last year). Oh well, small it is, but it still took us an hour to decorate. This is mostly because at least half of the candy ended up in Andrew's and Eva's mouths...I think they ate more candy last night than they did on Halloween night.

In one photo, you can see Eva holding the frosting bag with one hand and a knife (child's knife-- not sharp) in her mouth. Yes, she was scraping the frosting out of the bag with her knife and then having a frosting feast.

Somehow the gingerbread house got finished and now I'm trying to keep it intact until Christmas. Although, for some reason some of the candy around the edges seems to be disappearing....

Why We're Willing to Endure the Arizona Summers

2008-12-08T15:20:00.003-07:00

It's because the Arizona winters are just so lovely. The kids and I enjoyed our lunch in the backyard today under a warm sun and cool breeze, such a wonderful combination. Isn't lunch more enjoyable on the grass? Praise God for such a beautiful day!

Christmas Card Photo Shoot

2008-12-07T16:46:00.005-07:00

I got the kids up this morning and dressed them. It was Christmas photo time and we had to get on the ball. Although it was quite chilly, we made the kids go in the backyard in their holiday get-up to have their photos taken. There were a few really cute ones. It's very easy to take Eva's picture, but Andrew always gives me silly faces, so there weren't as many keepers for him. Overall we're pleased with these and the cards have been ordered, and I plan to send them out this week.

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-12-06T05:44:00.000-07:00

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-11-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

Eva-isms

2008-11-21T06:48:00.001-07:00

Oh we are quickly approaching Eva's second birthday and I wanted to write some of Eva's notable sayings and doings. Her language skills have leaped over the last 6 weeks and this girl chatters up a storm. Here are some of my faves:

-"My do it"
-"No"....(but if she really means it) ..."No way".....(and if she really, really means it)..."Nobody"
-"Tummy hurts" (when she doesn't want to eat anymore. No, her tummy doesn't hurt but she wants to get down)
-"Bro" (this is what she calls Andrew, but has also recently started saying Andrew)
-"Mommy cute" (self explanatory!)
-she doesn't just say "sorry," she yells it
-"cutie's here" and then she'll say "from Emo" (a quote from the beginning of Nemo, but I also love that Eva includes the reference when she says this)
-"Eva sleep mommy bed"
-"O-ba-ma"

*************
-She loves the songs Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Itsy Bitsy Spider, and loves to hear them sung at bedtime.
-loves for mommy and daddy to read her books :)
-loves baby dolls-- the ones that looks like babies, not girls- and she loves to give them a bottle
-loves to "help" mommy in the kitchen
-she is starting to learn her abc's
-she can count to 8-- but then get stuck and says "7 8 7 8 7 8"-- can't seem to get past that darn 8!
-she loves to draw and do crafts
-she is getting very good at taking turns
-likes Barney, Nemo, Elmo
-she's very strong-willed, determined, confident, persistent-- remind you of anyone you know (wink)?
-she loves to cuddle and snuggle- always wants to be held :)

Happy Belated Birthday Aunt Cheryl and Aunt Tricia

2008-11-21T06:44:00.002-07:00

Wishing you a wonderful thirty something birthday! Hope you had a good year and hope the next one is even better!

Ralph's World Concert in Tucson

2008-11-10T09:43:00.005-07:00

Andrew and Eva l-o-v-e Ralph's World. His music has been played many times on the Disney Channel, although we first heard his music at Border's storytime. We have one of his CD/DVDs and we listen to it often, usually dancing and jumping along. His music is so fun, imaginative, and is enjoyed by both kids and adults. I recently discovered that the tour route included a venue in Tucson (none in Phoenix), so be bought tickets and drove to Tucson this weekend. We stayed with Gma Lisa and Aunt Katy (Gpa is in Seattle) on Friday night and then attended the concert on Saturday morning. The kids were exhausted and unfortunately fell asleep towards the end.

The audience was great and danced around- the employees from a local toy store were there to lead the kids along in dancing. Ralph even let all the kids go on the stage with him at the end of the show. He was even graciously agreed to take a picture with us.

As If There Wasn't Enough Halloween Stuff..

2008-11-10T09:34:00.002-07:00

The morning after Halloween, there was a Halloween party at Pecos Park. We attended this event last year and had a good time with the Gilberts, so we decided to meet them there again. All of the attractions were free, including 3 jumping houses, games, and a costume contest. Andrew and Ashton won prizes in the costume contest. It was a fun day spent with good friends. Thank you Gloria, Ashton, and Brooke!

Halloween Day

2008-11-10T08:22:00.004-07:00

What a fun, but exhausting day! In the morning we met Brooke and Gloria at Borders for a special storytime. Then that evening we trick-or-treated around around neighborhood, and then ended with a block party at our next day neighbors Tara and Gary's house. The children had so much fun playing, the snacks were good, and it was just plain fun to talk to the neighbors. Our neighborhood is so friendly, and we already knew most of the people there, but it was fun to get us all together at the same time. Not to mention that the weather was glorious!

Andrew's School Halloween Party

2008-11-10T08:07:00.002-07:00

Yes, these Halloween pics are late. Just finally got a few minutes to put them up. It's all such a long, slow process with my camera, so bear with me.

The day before Halloween was Andrew's class party to which parents were invited. After their snack, the kids wore their costumes and then had a costume parade with all the other classes in the courtyard. Unfortunately Andrew didn't want to participate in the parade, which is too bad because he was so cute in his spacesuit costume.

Playdate

2008-10-26T18:06:00.002-07:00

We had a playdate with my friend Jill, and two of her four kids about a week ago at the train park. So, here's the cool thing-- Jill and I went to high school together in Tucson, and actually haven't seen each other since high school. Well, about two months ago I ran into Jill at church. The church is huge-- a mega church, and it was our first time visiting. I was by the nursery dropping the kids off when I see Jill walking in my direction. We both recognized each other and said each other's names at the same time. After talking a bit, we decided to have a playdate. Schedules can be hectic, but we finally had our playdate! It's great because Andrew and Conner are a month apart, and Eva and Arran are just a few months apart.

It was so fun to talk and catch up. There are very few friends from high school that I keep up with, so this was a real treat. I'm looking forward to another playdate with Jill and her kids.

October Fun

2008-10-26T17:45:00.005-07:00

Whew! Is it just me, or does it feel like Halloween should already be here? My gosh, the activities are endless, and boy have we had a busy month. Right now the kids and Justin are at Gma and Gpa's house for a Hoot 'n Howl party. Yesterday we went to a church fall festival and Boo at the Zoo (we went to the zoo with friends: Keely and Gracie, and Brian, Michelle, Tyler, and Lizzie). The day before we went to Starbucks for a Halloween party. Oh, and there' s quite a bit more in store this week. I love the fall and love the hustle and bustle of it all. I feel like we've been cooped up all summer, so we want to do every fun thing we can.

Here are a few photos from the last several weeks. Some are from the Museum of Natural History, some from Boo at the Zoo, and some from the Starbucks party. For some reason my camera has been giving me trouble, so I don't have other pics.

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-10-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

This is the most amazing dress! The woman behind these creations is sooooooooooo talented....I envy her skill and ambition.

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-10-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Dinner with the Gilberts

2008-10-07T03:06:00.002-07:00

My very good friend Gloria invited us over for dinner with her husband Miles, and two kids. Ashton and Brooke have had lots of playdates with Andrew and Eva, so they all get along pretty well. Gloria made a fantastic dinner! It was so much fun to have some good adult conversation, and the kids had so much fun. Thank you Gilberts!

Oktoberfest

2008-10-07T02:58:00.003-07:00

We went to Tempe's Oktoberfest this year! The weather was awesome! This was our first outdoor event in a long time. It seems like the temperature went from the low 100s to the mid 80s all of a sudden. Anyway, we had so much fun! There was so much stuff for the kids to do. A kinderfest was set up with lots of games, toys, and arts/crafts. Of course there was lots of live music, good food, plenty of beer, and some rides.

Pump It Up

2008-10-07T02:53:00.003-07:00

The day after Alyssa's birthday party, Andrew went to another birthday party. One of his friends in preschool invited all the kids to his party at another bounce play. He had a blast and it was quite fun getting to know the kids and their parents outside of school.

Alyssa's Birthday Party

2008-10-07T02:44:00.003-07:00

We celebrated our friend Alyssa's third birthday at Bounce U about a week and a half ago. This was the kids first time at a bounce place. Can I just say....fearless! Andrew and Eva were all over the big slides and into every bounce spot. It was a blast to watch them. We had a great time. The cupcakes were delicious- can you tell that Alyssa enjoyed hers? Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Dollhouse Frock GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-09-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

Dollhouse Frock GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Texas Update

2008-09-24T14:49:00.002-07:00

Sorry we haven't posted an update on my sister's situation in Texas, as some serious events occurred that required our attention.

Shortly after I posted the hurricane damage photos, Jim, went into the damaged garage. Details are sketchy, but he ended up getting seriously injured. A metal spring from one of the garage doors hit his face, which crushed his sinuses, gave him a skull fracture, and a brain contusion. He was taken, by ambulance, to the ER and was placed in ICU. He has since received surgery and seemed to do well, although he had fluid on his brain, so he was given a lumbar shunt. The doctors gave some varying information about the length of his hospital stay, but surprisingly he was released today.

My family spent most of the first week after the hurricane talking on the phone trying to extract and piece together whatever information we could. Some cell towers were down, so our calls weren't going through to Houston and we had to wait for my sister to call us. The cell service isn't fully functioning yet. Our calls still aren't going through and service is often dropped mid-conversation.

Apparently the garage is still standing, although leaning precariously toward the house. The power was turned on today and the family is living in the house again (but in an area furthest away from the garage). By the work of some great neighbors, the tree in front of the garage was cut down and removed. Jim's 70 year old mother went into the garage and got both cars out! Kiera is back in kindergarten.

So, despite the injury and damage to the house, they are miraculously putting their lives back together!

Prayers for Texas

2008-09-13T16:22:00.004-07:00

Our thoughts and prayers have been with those in Texas the last 24 hours, especially my sister Tricia and her family, who live in the Houston area. Fortunately they are safe, but their house has some damage, particularly the garage. I'm not sure how they are going to move the large tree that uprooted and fell over, partially hitting their garage and is now blocking it. The garage looks like it's going to collapse. We wish we were closer to help them.
They are regularly updating their blog at: http://www.hellokiera.com/