Each Day

So, I have this philosophy. It's not one that I heard from a spiritual guru or self help book. I didn't get my palm read or climbed a mountain top to get the inspiration. It's simply a little something I do each day. My philosophy is that each day, something of significance should happen in my life. It doesn't have to be big or elaborate, it just has to set that day apart from all the rest. And, since I have become really bad at this whole blogging thing lately, I thought I would play a little catch up on the significant days of May!

May 3rd: Dinner with the family at Mimi's Cafe. My cousin Ron (on the left in stripes) was in town from Germany! So great to see and meet everyone and visit! 

May 4th: My big-getting-little sister had a B-Day! She is my "bestie" and we talked on the phone for over an hour. Horray for Birthdays! This was also the night of my book club! I heart all the women I get to meet with once a month for this! 

May 5th: The VIP Party and opening night of the Beehive Bazaar. Hanging with fellow crafters and DIY club members. I spent my whole paycheck that night!

May 6th: Attended the open house for the amazing and talented Katherine Wallin. She also presented me with the custom made cuff that I had requested. Isn't it beautiful? 

May 7th: I was a guest blogger on U Create and it caused me to have insomnia for 3 days straight. THOUSANDS of people looking at something I made? You have got to be kidding? Talk about a nervous stomach!

May 8th: Wes and I left E. with the parentals and hit the links. It was a pre-celebration of my birthday. 9 holes of golf and a little retail therapy makes a good day! P.S. My husband is amazing!

May 9th: It is my birthday! It is also Mother's day. It is also 5 days after Colett's B Day. (now do you see why we celebrated a day early?) The family just celebrated it all together and ate a great deal of tasty food and exchanged gifts. My mom made me molten lava cakes! Yuuuummmm! It was fun to not only be with my mom and sis on my special day, but to be with my whole fam and celebrate motherhood!

May 10th: I took the very last bite of the GIANT Reese's Peanut Butter Cup my sister in law had made for me! It was delicious and sent from heaven! If you are my Facebook friend, you may just remember a status update from me saying that I wish I had one the size of my face! My wish was granted! Thanks a million Haley! It really did taste just like a Reese's!

May 11th: Our new driveway is getting underway! How nice it will be to have the extra parking space! The weather is not cooperating, however! Why is it so cold and rainy in May? Boo.

May 12th: Worked in the yard for the first time this year. I love dirt under my nails and the smell of fresh cut grass! Man, there is still so much to do!

May 13th: I may have made an appearance on the worst TV show ever. The store I work for was featured on the style segment of the show and I wore an outfit from there to help advertise. I think I was the only one with real boobies on the whole set that day! 

May 14th: BBQ at our friend Merilee's house. It was suppose to be outside, but again with the rain. Ugh!

May 15th: The driveway is complete! I was lame and forgot to carve our names in it! Mr. Little Jeans now has a new place to ride his trike!

May 16th: Went to my parents house for dinner. The rhubarb is finally ready to eat! I planted it in their yard years ago hoping that one day I would be able to transplant it into a garden of my own. I think this may just be the year!

May 17th: Made some nifty biking bloomers that I have yet to take off my body. They make perfect PJ's and I can now wear shorter skirts and still be covered up!

May 18th: Just had a detective come to the door, flash me his badge and hand me his card. He is looking for the guys who did our driveway! Oh crap.

Giveaway!

Do you want your comfort zone to be put to the test? Do you want to feel daring and original? Today I posted a giveaway on H is for Handmade for a "non-book" that will open the doors to your creative side and will prompt you to think (and do) outside of the box! It's full of hilarious and challenging social/moral exercises and assignments. Enter the drawing and I will put forth all my wishes and desires that you will win! 

(there are rules at the bottom of the page of the giveaway. I know some of you who read this don't have an active blog so please ignore that rule and just enter anyway, because I think you're cool!)

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For a peek into the mind of the author, Keri Smith, here is a post she did on her blog. I think it's refreshing! Also, I apologize for the swear word in #8!

Surprise!

This morning Wes went to run a few errands to get the yard going. When he returned, he came into the house and said, "I got you a present!" I immediately thought to myself, "he must have gotten me some flowers or plants for the yard!" I was wrong. He got me the bike I have been dreaming of and asking for, for the past 4 years! Needless to say, I was quite excited!!

O-OH-H Wes!...It's a Schwinn! A Super Sport to be exact!

Bright red and looking fabulous in her 1970's glory! 

She needs a little TLC. Yes, it is a she. 

Schwinn approved, Amy approved!

I can't wait to get this baby fixed up and ride it around town on our dates! Attention Farmer's Market, Gallivan Center concerts, Lamb's Grill: Here I come! 

Thank you Wes! This is quite possibly the best gift you have ever bought me and it was so sweet of you to get it for me! And, it's not even my birthday....yet! What a good man I have!

If you want to check out a really funny and cool site for Schwinn bikes, go here!

My Date With E.

On Monday I decided to take my little guy out on a date! It's been awhile since I just put all my needs, chores and schedules aside and just took a day and dedicated it to my little guy! I don't know about the other mother's out there, but to me, parenting a 2 yr. old is A LOT of work and there have been days when I have really wondered when the "rewarding" part of parenthood was going to kick in. Tears were more frequent than smiles (for the both of us!), time out's and tantrums prevailed and I thought the sound of him saying "no" to me one more time may just be the death of me. I read on someone's blog awhile back that, "To a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E". I figured that was just the medicine he needed - a whole day of my undivided attention! Time with E was actually just what I needed, too! We had a jam packed Emerson-Day and a lot of pictures to prove it!

Our first stop: The Aqaurium

Charting our adventure! 

Penguins were amazing, but not the highlight!

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These were!!

And these, too! I could have stayed in that room for hours!

He found Nemo!

So many amazing things to see...and touch! 

Our next stop: The public library for story time

Picking out just the right one. A book about bulldozer's, of course!

Third stop: The park

We live just a few blocks from the Jordan Valley School (school for special needs children) so we like to use their playground! It's incredibly clean, uncrowded and has amazing equipment!

Including these swings, which is basically a Lay Z Boy on chains! It is his favorite!

Fourth stop: Baskin Robbins

He gets a head freeze really easily so we have to take small bites and eat the ice cream very slowly!

And lastly: Curling up together and watching Little Einstein's before going to bed!

I love you little guy and I am so glad that we got to spend the day together. You are my little hero, my hope for tomorrow and my strength for today! Thank you for coming into my life!

Never and Always

My sister did a fun blog post and of course tagged all who read it. I'm usually not a big fan of the tagging posts but I though this one was cool. You can check out my sister's answers here and read below for mine!

I will never and I will always....

1. I will never...stop complimenting strangers

2. I will never...have a desire for a big home or fancy car or covet those who do

3. I will never...be satisfied with my wardrobe

4. I will never...be able to travel back in time and correct my mistakes

5. I will never...forget the butterflies I felt when I first met Wes

1. I will always...have a great desire for learning and trying new things

2. I will always...be nostalgic

3. I will always...encourage confidence in my children so they can stand up and stand out

4. I will always...believe that mean or rude people shouldn't get away with being that way

5. I will always...love daydreaming


P.S. You are only tagged if you want to be!

Meaning Of The Name

I know I have stated it before but because I still have people ask, "What does the name Poppies and Paper Cuts mean?", here is a post to describe it in more detail and help you "get the picture". 

Paper Cut moment in life: Whenever I have to beg, plead and bargain with my son to sit on the toilet, this is what I have to deal with. Every time.

A Poppy moment in life: Strolling the isles at Target and not only finding the amazing Liberty of London dress I wanted, but these Oreo cookies to go with it. When I saw yellow puffy stuff all over my kitchen floor, I worried that it was play dough. When I discovered it was the icing, I ate it!

Paper Cut moment in life: A full 15 ounces of baby powder dumped on every square inch of Emerson's bedroom. Just take a minute to think about how much 15 ounces is.

A Poppy moment in life: Finally getting an area rug for the living room and LOVING it! Stripes - be still my beating heart!

A Paper Cut moment in life: That we are averaging a bitter snowfall every 4 days. Dining al fresco on the ol' deck seems to be a pipe dream at this point. I have no idea how to even dress myself this time of year.

A Poppy moment in life: March is almost out of here! Yippee! I have a really hard time with this month. I just can't wait for it to be over and for Spring to get here. Bring on the flowers, long walks in the neighborhood and sun kissed cheeks! 

A Paper Cut moment in life: Wes eating ALL the Girl Scout cookies but closing the boxes back up and leaving them on the counter. I went to open them up to get a tasty snack only to discover a tray of crumbs. And I was P.M.S.ing so I may have even cried about it.

A Poppy moment in life: Finally remembering to get the yarrow I collected from my parents yard last year and left hanging in their garage to dry. The color is gorgeous and it brings so much happiness to our living room! 

Last but not least, here is a Poppy and Paper Cut moment all in one: R.I.P. to the high chair. Little E loved it so much but he looked so silly in it with his legs hanging half way to the floor! I am glad that we get to sit with him at the dinner table now and I get another corner of the house to decorate, but I am sad that my little baby is growing up way too fast and is wanting to do big boy stuff now....except for using the toilet!

So there you have it. Life undoubtedly hands us fields of beautiful poppies and the pains of paper cuts. What matters most is how we deal, appreciate and learn from them in the end - thus the story of my life and purpose of this blog!

Art, Food, Fun. What more could I ask for?

Art. Oh, how I love it and want my house filled with it! On Tuesday night I had the opportunity to attend an art showing and appearance by one of my very favorite artists, Brian Kershisnik with my friends Natalie, Sandi and my sister Colett. The event was held at Communal down in Provo, so along with being surrounded by amazing artwork, we were also served a 4 course meal! My taste buds were in a bit of a shock from eating delicious and fresh foods and not jarred pasta sauce and chicken strips. It was such a fun evening and I am so glad I got the chance to get a little "cultured up" and spend an evening with some amazing women while basking in the glory of some creative souls!

   

         

Communal 

100 N. University Ave.

Provo, UT

Some of Brian Kershisnik's smaller pieces

Tehehe! Colett trying to portray the lady in the painting!

Hahaha! Sandi trying to do her part by portraying this painting!

(I promise we tried to keep it serious and maintain a level of decency!)

One of my faves! 

Me just taking in the overall splendor of the evening!

The menu. I am so glad that nothing was too crazy. I actually loved everything I put into my mouth last night even though I had no idea what it was!

All the courses. So fancy and so pretty!

The lovely ladies who accompanied me

Natalie, Me, Colett and Sandi.

(Sandi doesn't have a blog but we're working on it!)

Thanks ladies for a great night out! I can't wait to do it again! Anyone want to come with us next time?
P.S. My sister's art also hangs on the walls of this great restaurant. Isn't she so cool?