Steph's Pick - Free Photo Canvas

There's something about canvas art that I just love. I'm always thinking of new things I can create with canvas. Remember this monogrammed wall art?

Well since receiving Nora's newborn photos from Kimberly Bee I've been searching for a company that prints photos on canvas. The hardest part of this search has been finding affordable printers. I wasn't about to spend hundreds of dollars.

Canvas People is having an AWESOME deal right now. They are offering a FREE 8x10 photo canvas per household. (A $55 savings). All you have to do is pay s&h (app. $15).

Now I waited to post this until receiving my canvas in the mail (just to make sure I was suggesting something worthwhile). It came last week and looks great!!! I'd highly suggest you snag one of these today.

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Gone - Beach style

Yahoo - we're in the Florida Keys this week and LOVING it!! Will post about our trip when we return.
xoxo

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Steph's Pick - Peach Crumb Cake

Alright Kristina - you're dead!!!
Seriously.
Just a couple weeks back my dear friend Kristina introduced me to Bakerella and my life hasn't been the same since. You all don't even want to know all of the things I've made off of this site since we met. One of the things I've had 2x (yes - 2x in 3 weeks) is Bakerella's Peach Crumb Cake. It's probably the easiest thing I've EVER made and for those of you with a serious sweet tooth - I promise you - you will thank me.


Peach Crunch Cake

Ingredients.
24.5 oz jar of sliced peaches in light syrup (yes - you saw that right - CANNED peaches - I still can't believe it)
1 package yellow cake mix
1 stick butter (1/2 cup), cut into 16 pieces
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Layer ingredients in a 13 X 9 dish, in order starting with the peaches.
Bake for about 40 minutes.
Serve warm or cold… with or without ice cream.


See Bakerella for drool-worthy step-by-step instructions.

Photos: Bakerella.com

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Nora Recommends - Mustela Dermo-Cleansing

Like so many things, I heard about Mustela's Dermo-Cleansing from another mommy friend. It came up in conversation as we were talking about Nora's baby acne :) I figured I really had nothing to lose so I ran over to Babies "R" Us and bought a bottle. Now - the price tag is a little shocking (around $16/bottle); however, I assure you, it lasted nearly 6 months for us.
I fell in love with it after the first use. Couple things I love about it - it's neutral pH, hypoallergenic, makes baby's skin so soft and lastly, it smells so good. I really would recommend it above the other baby washes. If you do try it - let me know what you think.

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BrandedPHX - Become a Modern Day Abolotionist

I know, I know - not the kind of posts our blog is known for. However - we should be known for things like this. Because as it says in Hillsong’s song, "Inside Out"

“…Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out...”

jus-tice [juhs-tis]- noun – the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action

This past weekend Alan and I were invited to attend a viewing of a documentary film called Branded. Although we knew a little about this city initiative of Food for the Hungry we were in for a real shock to the intensity of the information presented.

For example – Did you know that the average entry age of a child prostitute in Phoenix is 13 years old? Every day hundreds of children wake up in an enslaving nightmare. And every day they know they will have to complete the most dehumanizing of tasks before they will be allowed to sleep again.

You see there is a subtle myth that slavery was vanquished in the 19th century. In reality it hasn’t been defeated and there are more slaves today than any other time of human history. In fact, everyday, there are thousands of slaves across the United States. Thousands brought in and sold for sex and labor

Here are just 5 Quick Facts taken from the BrandedPHX website.
1. Slavery has been outlawed in every country but still occurs everywhere
2. Child prostitutes serve between 100 to 1500 clients per year, per child.
3. One million children are forced to work in the sex industry every year. Between 100,000 and 300,000 children in America are at risk for sex trafficking each year.
4. Among the millions trafficked each year hundreds of thousands are teenage girls, and others as young as 5, who fall victim to the sex trade.
5. One of the fastest growing markets for child prostitution is in the United States.

So the big question is – what can we do? Our voice can make a difference. From what we can understand, the city is prepared to slash in half the Phoenix VICE Squad due to budget cuts. This will severely handicap the effort to eradicate child sex slavery in Phoenix, and put more of our young girls at risk. Therefore, we have only one option. To raise the voices of concerned Valley citizens in opposition to this cut. Please see the below suggestions for political advocacy.

1. Sign the Petition - http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/375?m=750a8b7e
2. Call the Phoenix City Council 602-262-4800
3. Write the PHOENIX City Council budget.research@phoenix.gov
REMEMBER: Phoenix VICE Officers have jurisdiction beyond the city of Phoenix. Losing the VICE squad in Phoenix means losing the VICE squad that serves YOUR community.
4. Attend a Hearing. There WILL be a hearing in YOUR district. http://phoenix.gov/budget/index.html
5. Educate EVERYONE in your sphere of influence. Each and every one of us can make a difference.

Note: This is not just an isolated Phoenix situation. This problem is everywhere. BrandedPHX is just working to establish a plan for eradicating child sex slavery with hopes that this can become a nationwide campaign.

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Valentine's Day Gift Idea's

Need some fun idea's for Valentine's Day Gifts? Here are just a few fabulous (and fairly easy) ideas.

1. Cupcake Take Along - believe it or not. isn't that the cutest way to package up all one might need to make cupcakes. I'm already dreaming of how I might be able to use this idea soon.
2. A Valentine's Day Gift Box of Cake - yes! really. Bakerella has done it again.
3. Printable Valentine's Day Gift Tags
4. Rock Candy - Sorry Nora - You have no say in your upcoming Valentine's day treats for your fellow classmates - we will be doing Rock Candy ASAP. Even if it's in a few years :)

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

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{♥♥xoxo♥♥}

{xoxoxo}

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wishing away these days

there are days when I just can't get enough of nora at this age.

i just want to eat it all up and pay attention to each and every detail.

i'm constantly reminded that God has so much for me right NOW.

wishing away these days will only mean missing out on what treasures He has in store.

however, i'll be honest... when I find little shoes like these...i can't help but look forward to the day she'll fit in them :)

...oh please come soon cute shoe days...

so here's to TODAY and all of the today's to come

xoxoxo

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Steph's (and Alan's) Pick - 5 Great Websites

Isn't the internet so great?!!! (and so bad at the same time) I can spend countless hours on the internet reading about people's lives, drooling over delicious food, researching child-rearing questions or shopping for Nora's new outfit. I'll be the first to admit - I spend way too much time on the computer. However, it's hard not to when there are so many great sites. Which is exactly what I wanted to post about. Below are four of my favorite websites/blogs and Alan will make it five with one of his favorites.

Our Top 5 Websites.

1. Cool Mom Picks - a great guide for the coolest gifts and gear for parents. Plus they do lots of FREE giveaways! I've found so many great things on this site.

2. Young House Love - the story of two young people falling in love with their first house. Love it! This site makes me want to buy a 50+ year old home and get to work. Plus she's expecting a little girl - so fun.

3. Bakerella - Incredible (and easy) recipes for those of you who love to bake. I was just introduced to this and am in love. Bakerella - where have you been all of my life?!!!

4. Becoming Mom - Another great mommy blog. One of the things I love most about this blog is her photography and photoshop tutorials. Although she has a ton of other great stuff as well.

5. Alan's Pick - BlogMaverick.com - Mark Cuban's (arguably one of America's finest entrepreneur) weblog.


What sites do you love? Comment below...

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happy (belated) 6 months

6 months.

17 lbs 4 oz.

27 inches.

extrovert. (yes. already.)

swaddle-less. finally.

solids.

passionate.

almost crawling.

fearful of hats.

errand lover.

energetic.

we. love. you. nora.

think i'm creative? think again. i'm simply surrounded by very creative people who inspire me.
(above dress made by a dear friend - so cute, huh?)

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