happy birthday ginger!

Today my little puppy baby turns 2! I can't believe how much she's grown in the past couple years-she went from 6 pounds to 22! Ginger has become an integral part of our family and she's made our lives so much better! 

Here are some cute photos of the birthday girl:

Some of my favorite posts: Ginger's first bath, Ginger playing rough with Snoop and Dre, a cute video of Ginger with a chicken toy. To see any post with Ginger feel free to click here!

Have a great weekend everyone!

xox

Birthday Weekend

Well, the past few days have been a complete success. I really had a wonderful birthday. Really really. It started off thursday night with a lady date. Dinner, then drinks, then dancing. Lots and lots of dancing. Without a babysitter, I was unable to work Friday. I had mixed emotions about this. One: I was pissed. Two: I was happy to be able to relax in the morning, after going out the previous night. Friday was a planned zoo day... but didn't really work out. Both of the other mamas bailed for different reasons, a proclaimed: "hangover day". I woke up with a sore throat and stuffed nostrils from the bar.... oh how my body hates the smoke (please change your laws, florida), but other than that I felt pretty good and very happy :) Marlowe and I made up for the postponed zoo day by taking a long, long walk around town. Instead of the stroller, we held hands and took the long way around the neighborhood. Afterwards, we came back and had lunch... and after that? Marlowe's gift to me: a three and a half hour nap! Glorious! Friday evening I made pizza dough for the first time ever. I was very impressed by how well it turned out. I was expected a big red fail mark on the pizza, but no, it was mighty delicious. Saturday became the new zoo day with one of our bailing mama friends :) It was Marlowe's third time... and favorite time. Jaw dropped and pointing every step of the way. Woofed at the deer and chased the birds. Afterwards: nap for the kiddos and relax time for mama. Perfect weather, lots of sunshine, iced coffee, and lunch, all while the babies napped. What else could two mamas want? Saturday night I had a planned babysitter with the grandparents. Exhausted beyond belief, I debated on staying home... I thought, at the very most, I wouldn't make it past ten. Instead? Sushi, followed by band watching, then heading downtown to one of my favorite spots, then dancing, lots and lots of dancing.. dancing until the lights slowly brightened and the music softened. Then? A 5 am diner meal. Wow, what a good way to into a new year! Sunday was my actual birthday. I spent the day organizing the house, cleaning the porch, eating biscuits and gravy, laying on the couch, and ended the evening coloring with Marlowe. The best birthday (week) I've ever had. Usually (almost always) hating my birthday, I would have been content sitting at home, forgetting this day of the year even exists, but no, everything seemed to easily fall into place, just as it should have. It was perfect and more than I ever expected.... the first birthday (week) I've ever really loved and enjoyed.

>> THURSDAY <<

a concerned look while three way chatting, during nap time, in order to figure out fancy, but rain and wind friendly outfits // a pained food face // mezze platter // secret spot with four beautiful ladies. //  a blurry cheezin' too hard // dancing dancing.

>> FRIDAY <<

mom life // the most beautiful baby in her most glorious nap // p-i-z-z-a. gimmie pizza.

>> SATURDAY<<

emily and lily // coordinating is for the birds... or is it? // deer/woof-woof watching // she didn't want to be a bird // but couldn't stop looking for birds

pointing // pointing // pointing // pointing

The face, it never stopped // &another gift from Marlowe: learning how to climb into her seat. Makes two-door car life with a toddler much easier.

*knowing* I'll be home at 1030... refusing to get dressed, but putting on red lipstick to make my un-washed bun in hair and canadian tuxedo look a tad bit nicer.  Oops // Sushi dinner // Empty 5 am diner life.  

>>SUNDAY<<

messiest and milkiest biscuits and gravy // the end to a good week.  

Thank you so so so so much for all your birthday wishes! Between here, twitter, and instagam, (and non internet life too of course), my day was FILLED with so much birthday love. Thank you guys for making my day even more special :)

I'm 27 Today.

(the midnight hour that became my birthday)

In the past 27 years, I've learned a lot. I've battled many of my own demons. I overcame hard times. I've achieved many things. I've lived and experienced. I've had some losses, but I've gained so much more. I've made friends. And I've lost friends. I've reconnected. And I've grown closer. I've made enemies, and have been lucky enough to gather many more people, who I not only love, but love me in return. I gave to many, and have been given so much more. I'm not perfect and I never will be, but I love myself for who I am, the woman I've grown to be, and the woman I'm becoming with each passing day. Not everyone loves me, and thats okay, not everyone has to. Some will judge, assume, and disdain, without ever really knowing me for who am. And maybe, some will know me not only on the surface, but inside-out, and still never like me, but that will have to be okay. I am living for myself, my daughter, my friends, my family, my loved ones, for everyone I've ever cared about. I am happy, really, truly happy. The negatives around me are minimal, petty, and easily combed over and picked through. Whats leftover is something to smile about. I'm 27 today and I can say, for the first time ever: I am the happiest I have ever been. I'm looking forward to this year, and every year after that.

Today someone searched: "make the most out of life" and found me. This puts a smile on my face and and brings me joy. 

Inside Bee's Sketchbook #2

Hello readers, people were quite interested in seeing more sketchbook posts after I posted my first few pages HERE so I thought I'd update you on my progress. As you can see, I've got a few pages that are yet to be completed, thanks to my ever demanding course! However, I like being able to use my sketchbook at my own leisure so I'm not too bothered that I've just done bits and bobs here and there. Since the last post, I've added my favourite Sylvia Plath quote, some crazy unfinished background that so far houses nothing and another unfinished page of the things that I love. I'm thinking about making it a bit more structured soon by creating a list of pages that I want to create then maybe challenging willing others to create their own and I'll document them all here...If this sounds like something you're interested in, let me know in the comments! I've recently bought yet another journal to house my lists/blog ideas in so I may let you delve into the pages of that one too! 


Today has been a bit of a hectic one; I've been having a bit of a spring clean of the flat and all that remains to be cleared is Luke's massive pile of work but I'm sure he'll 'tidy it tomorrow'. As he has been saying for the past month! After all that tidying chaos, I'm now sat here with a mug of tea anticipating my king prawn stir fry that I'm cooking for dinner. Oooh, yes! I've got a few different posts lined up this week from a Burts Bees review to a haul to some photos of what I've been getting up to so keep your eyes peeled! I'm off to spend the evening eating said stir fry before attempting to finish reading Pamela. Wish me luck! Enjoy the rest of your Monday ♥


P.S You can now follow me on Hello Cotton and you can also find my giveaway HERE. 

Marlowe's Pancake Breakfast! {A First Birthday Party!}

As mentioned yesterday, we were rained out on Sunday for Marlowe's party. This would have been not so bad, if we hadn't already hung all the decorations and set 90% of the table!

This was the only picture I took before the rain.... on my phone. No real pictures. No details. Just one photo. There were hanging decorations everywhere and paper chains spanning the length of the deck. There was a a canvas tarp hung to diffuse the sun. The tricycle was decked out with gifts and balloons. It was beautiful. My mom kept saying: "What a good team the two of you make! You're such a good team!" and it's true. While Michelle and my mom worked incredibly hard inside, taking turns to entertain a baby while setting up, Alex and I manned the deck. Even in the simple details of table setting, he trusts me, and I trust him to make something look beautiful. Really, the four of us made a great team. Our similar, but different styles (and quick thinking), were able to bring together something that ran smoothly and looked like a dream party. 

Then the rain suddenly came. Not at full force, and so we decided we would cover the table with some fabric and just wait. We planned to dry things off, and have everything be okay in twenty minutes. Then the rain really came. POURING. The chain links began to break, the banner letters tore, the balloons began to sink and the cups and plates overfilled with water. There were puddles throughout the already set table. 

My brother being as amazing as he is, &knowing how upset I was, offered to sit outside in the pouring rain and "enjoy the party" so I could snap a photo. He was then given beer as a "thank you". 

All the guests had arrived at this point. Marlowe was inside being passed around and played with. Alex and Michelle were being super chefs in the kitchen. And I was running around like a crazy person trying to take care of all the loose ends. Once the rain slowed, we started ringing out the cloths and dumping water out of the dishes. We moved the coffee table and tent into the bedroom, blocked the front door with the couch and re-set the table inside.

In a matter of moments everything was ready to go again. The decorations were left outside.  The linens were all soaked and we used panels of fabric to cover the table. We dried Marlowe's crown and sat her at the head of table with a birthday muffin in hand.

We began serving food. Everything vegan, minus an egg dish. 

(my plate)

wonder woman, Michelle. 

After our pancake breakfast we sat around together. Marlowe slowly ripped open her gifts and ran around. 

An adorable shoeless mess. Soaking wet crown. Curly cue hair. And a strawberry stained dress.

Jerry hugs.

After we said goodbye to all our guests....

Marlowe was tired (very tired) and attempted (but did not succeed) to steal my coffee.

She ended her party in the best of ways... outside on the messy, soaking wet, un-used party deck. Being rocked under the clear sky by her grandmother. She then napped for about two and half hours straight, passed out naked on mama's bed.

The day was wonderful. I had a back-up plan for the rain--- unfortunately my back up plan did not include "what to do if it begins to rain AFTER everything is set up". But regardless, everything worked out. With a few close friends and family, Marlowe had a great day filled with a lot of fun and a lot of delicious food. So many decorations made by Michelle and myself. And so many other details purchased by my mother (who flew down from Massachusetts!) for the event. While my mom and I prepped much of the food the night and morning before, Michelle and Alex really did most of the grunt work in the very hot kitchen the hour prior to serving. The party really wouldn't have been what it was without the three of them. Marlowe is so lucky to have people that love and care so much for her, in her life. It's never about any of the material things or the gifts that are given to her... she has everything she needs right here--- everything that is truly important in raising a happy and healthy centered person. It really is just so incredible how much unconditional love, support, and time this little girl has from her (and my) family and friends. She is so lucky. I can't wait for her to grow up, and look back on all these important moments of her childhood and see the love that has always been here for her.

(In case you didn't get enough, see more photos: HERE... &I keep adding more photos... oh dear)

♥♥♥