A Slice of...Gold Coast, Australia!

Hi, I’m Kat and I live on the Gold Coast, Australia with my fiancé Corey.  I have recently graduated and am adjusting to working full-time while also giving myself time to be creative.  I blog about everything that I knit, sew, crochet or bake at my blog Kat’s Creations.  I love the Gold Coast because yes it has the sun, sand and surf but it also has a whole other side that not a lot of people get to see.  The Gold Coast Hinterland is an amazing place so instead of showing you the beaches and theme parks which I am sure you have all seen a million times I want to show you the other side of the Gold Coast.  Some great things to do while in the Gold Coast Hinterland are:

1 – Cedar Creek Falls 

Cedar Creek Falls are located in the Tamborine National Park and are absolutely stunning.  There are three main falls that you can get to by following the nature walk through the park.  It is a pretty steep walk with a lot of stairs but totally worth it to see the falls.

2 – Albert River Wines 

Albert River Wines is located in Canungra and is a gorgeous vineyard set on a historical farmstead.  The original Tamborine House which Mount Tamborine was named after still stands today is the venue of many weddings.  The vineyard is stunning from the gorgeous jacaranda tree lined driveway through to the historical farmsteads.  You can have lunch in their restaurant and sample the local wine before visiting their petting zoo to meet the local wildlife.

3 – See the Animals

Which brings me to the next thing you must do while visiting the Gold Coast Hinterland which is see the animals.  There are so many rainforest walks around Mount Tamborine which are home to some stunning bird life and lizards and if your lucky you might even see a kangaroo or koala.

4 – Go Camping 

Thunderbird Park has a great campsite where you can stay for quite cheap.  Each site is set up with its own fire pit so you can roast marshmallows all night long.  Camping with a group of friends is a great relaxing way to spend the weekend and truly appreciate the beauty of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

5 – Watch the Sunset 

There are many lookouts along Mount Tamborine which can give you great views of the Gold Coast but the best lookout is the one that points west because this is where you will get to see the stunning sunsets.  And if you get there at the right time of the day you might also get to see some hangliders taking a ride.

Henry: 4 months

This post is a bit belated, as Henry turned 4 months old last week, on the 22nd! He didn't have his checkup until yesterday though, so I wanted to wait to publish this post until then. He is doing very well and his appointment was wonderful...our tough guy didn't even cry during his shot. ;) Henry currently weighs 14 pounds, 14 oz. (50th percentile) and is 26 inches long (70th percentile).  This month it seems like H. is really coming into his own- his personality shines through a little more everyday, and it's so amazing to watch him figure things out on his own. He's been love love loving his Sophie the Giraffe and is happiest when she's in his hands...or his mouth! He also has been liking his Glowworm at nap time.

This month Henry:

rolls over, from back to front, and front to back
has taken to screaming and squealing
started teething
can fully move his head and hold it up
is starting to reach for things
can recognize people
knows his name (at least I think so)
smiles all the time
laughs a lot more often
drools constantly
loves putting his feet and hands into his mouth

Breastfeeding is going well as usual, and he is still sleeping with us in the cosleeper in our bed, but napping in his crib (or on me) during the day. He was sleeping through the night, 12 hours, but now he goes to sleep at 7pm and wakes up around 4 to eat, then sleeps a little more until 8 or so. Some nights recently have been more difficult, with him waking up every few hours, but the past couple of days have evened out and he's doing much better now that we are home and won't be traveling for some time.  We're probably going to move him fully into his crib at 6 months, and I think that transition is going to be a lot harder on me than him! We'll see.

So, yay for Henry and yay for 4 months! I am just starting to plan his first birthday party (crazy, I know) and I am REALLY excited about this little idea I've concocted. I think it's going to be amazing. And even more amazing? He's 1/3 of the way there. Bittersweet.

Here's to another wonderful month full of wet baby kisses and belly laughs. We love you so much Henry!

a spring afternoon

Today was a lovely, lovely day spent with one of my dearest gal pals, Adie. I've known Adie for about seven years now- she grew up with Hank, and her boyfriend (of almost 10 years!) is one of Hank's best friends. Adie and I have in a way, watched each other grow up and into our now-woman selves...and that's pretty awesome. I adore her; she has the most infectious spirit and zest for life, and she's one of those people that is a ray of sunshine no matter what the weather. I am so grateful for our friendship, and the longs walks and talks that have been a part of my life for so many years. Today was no different, and we spent a few hours meandering around town, walking around the square, eating treats and sipping on our favorite coconut tea. Today though was warm, so of course the occasion called for it to be iced. I enjoyed a delicious fruit bar made from applesauce and juicy berries, Henry basked in the sun infused shade, and my legs were treated to a walk about our small and beautiful town. The weather was beyond pleasant, and it was one of those days where the sky seemed a little bluer, the emerging spring buds on the trees a little fresher, and even familiar blocks appeared new. We walked, we talked, I fell in a little more love with this place I call home. Hello, spring!

{please forgive the instagram photos again, my d-slr was too cumbersome for our walk!}

p.s. Here are the answers to the questions from my "Around our home" post from earlier today: the plates are from Anthro, my bird jewelry tray is from World Market (it was supposed to be some sort of bathroom tray), the drawing on our kitchen shelf is by tattooer Cory Lenherr- it's actually the piece on my left side ribs, and our duvet is from IKEA. Thank you all so much for all the kind words! I'm excited to eventually do a whole house tour; quite daunting to imagine, but one day it will happen! Have a beautiful day.

Mama Said, V.9

This week I am featuring two fabulous ladies, my real-life pal Anita, and an blogging gal pal, Rachael. Both of these ladies are mamas who I admire, and they are here offering up AMAZING advice. Like really awesome. In fact, I think this may be one of my favorite Mama Saids yet (don't I say that every week?).  I know you will all love this great read, so sit back and enjoy! And thanks again ladies, for participating.

Hello, my name is Anita and my family of 3 (plus 2 doggies) live in historic Downtown Phoenix, AZ. We are a pretty boring, low-key bunch who love music and hanging out with family and we also have a photoblog for our daughter, Lola Birdie (www.lolabirdie.com) who was born on October 27, 2009 weighing almost 10 pounds! Lola Birdie is our first (and probably last) kid and honestly, I never thought I would have kids, but along came LB. My husband was in a touring band (www.theformat.com) for half of our relationship, and it wasn't until he quit and started a band merch/graphic design/music licensing company (www.hellomerch.com) here in Phoenix, that we even thought about starting a family.

Being a mother was totally new to me! Lola Birdie was the third or fourth baby that I have ever held in my whole life. Her diaper was the first diaper I ever changed, other than my cabbage patch kids. Being around a newborn was ALL foreign to me. I knew NOTHING about kids. When I found out I was pregnant, I immediately started researching pregnancy and babies online. I joined a fun online community (www.thebump.com) and watched WAY too many baby shows on TLC. 

Luckily, I got through my pregnancy with flying colors and Lola's birth was a super quick, natural labor. I am also proud to say I am still a breastfeeding mother, 16 months later, and I have become quite an advocate for it! 

That being said, here is a few things I have learned in my 16 months of being a mother:

1 - Breastfeeding is awesome, even if your mother thinks its super weird..... - I remember growing up, my mother, who is now one of my best friends too, always said how gross and weird she thought breastfeeding was. I was a formula fed baby. I remember thinking how I would NEVER ever do that. It's super weird...until, years and years later, my sister-in-law, Katie, was studying to be an RN at ASU College of Nursing and she would always come to me with bits of information like "Anita, if you ever plan on getting pregnant, you should start taking Folic Acid" and then she told me how important breastfeeding is and then she told me, " Anita, there are only 2 ways to lose fat cells from your body.....liposuction and breastfeeding". Wow, you mean, if I gain 100 pounds having a baby, it could all go away with breastfeeding??? After that, I started researching breastfeeding and found so so many good things about it. So I made my mind up, "I will just breastfeed for 6 months, that's what they say is the minimum a Mother should breastfeed." I remember doing it for the first time in front of my mother and her saying, "It isn't weird when it's your daughter and granddaughter doing it." What a relief!! I was so worried my mom would be weird about it. But her and my father were very supportive of it. Six months came along and I thought, "This is going so well, I can just do this for 6 more months...". On Lola's 1st birthday, I remember thinking, "Flu season is coming, I'll just keep breastfeeding until March." So, that being said, I guess we will just keep going until we think its time to stop!

2 - All kids are different, and they hit milestones at their OWN pace - I have a few friends with kids that I see on a weekly basis. One of the friends has a baby that is about 2 weeks younger than Lola. Since birth, I have been comparing her and Lola. I remember when my friends daughter rolled over before Lola and I thought, what is wrong with Lola? Why hasn't she rolled over yet? I remember when Lola started teething at 3 months old and my friends daughter wasn't, I thought that Lola was a freak and something was wrong with her. Then when it came time to crawl, my friends daughter started crawling literally a month before Lola. After months and months of comparing, I realized that all babies are different and when some are walking, others are talking and when some are sleeping through the night, others are waking up 2-3 times. I quickly learned to never compare children, they will do everything at their own pace.

3 - Take lots of pictures, and videos...I mean LOTS, even start a website or blog for friends and family to see - My husband and I try to take at least one picture of Lola everyday. I love to remember what she wore that day or what she did that day, or the new word she said or the new puzzle she learned how to put together that day. It is so great to know that I can go back to a picture we posted and remember that exact point in our lives. Plus, at least once a month I go to www.lolabirdie.com and look through them from start to present day. I watch videos I have saved on my computer of her first few minutes on earth. I can't get enough of it. I still can't believe that this person I have today was that person just a year ago. Kids change literally EVERY day. I love that I can go back to a video and hear Lola laugh for the first time, or stand up for the first time, or eat her first bite of food. I am so happy that we live in a time where a camera or video camera is so easily accessible. I also love that we have a website that we can post pictures of Lola on it daily that all of our friends and family can see. I hope that everyone enjoys her website as much as we do and I hope that one day Lola will appreciate it too. I know I wish that I had daily pictures of my life growing up.

-----

I'm Rachael! Registered nurse & wife to a handsome musician.
Stepmonster to two beautiful boys, ages 10 & 8. Momma to a lil' blue-eyed boyfriend, age 1.
And the newest development...Knocked up with a set of twin girls, due in April!
Follow along at www.letterstoames.com!

THREE TIDBITS OF WISDOM I'VE PICKED UP ALONG THE WAY:

They'll still be crying when you get there. I wasn't sure how I felt about my friend's words when I was pregnant. I'm pretty supportive of attachment parenting, and this felt like letting my tiny new baby cry it out! Now I totally get it. Whether he's in a crib or someone else's arms, newborn or toddler, sometimes my baby just needs mama or daddy. It's one of the special perks of being a parent - being able to comfort our offspring. It's an honor & a responsibility to tend to those cries (or screams), but it is possible to sacrifice one's own sanity in the process. In the fifteen months following my son's birth, I've learned to pause. Sometimes, I take deep breaths before picking him up off the floor when the fussing starts. Sometimes, I finish my conversation with my husband before getting the boy up from his nap. Sometimes, I let him bang on the table with his food-covered hands and enjoy a few bites of my own before getting him what he wants. This is coming from the mama who almost went into premature labor the other night, hauling my butt up the stairs after hearing the toddler fussing in the bathtub. Turns out, his big brother was pulling him out to dry him off. It's all about baby steps! But I'm learning to stay laid-back and not sweat the small stuff. It makes me appreciate my son (and my role as a mother) so much more!

They're not going to hurt your child. Chances are, they love your kids more than they love you. A doctor and I discussed the "in-laws phenomenon" the other day at work, after she mentioned how jealous she was that both sets of our parents are nearby. There's something about motherhood that turns us nice girls into defensive psychos. I've never had an altercation with my mother-in-law, as I tend to keep the yucky stuff in my heart (bad idea). But I have held onto things and been sensitive to her comments and opinions. There have been quite a few awkward conversations where I have to explain why I'm not giving my child Tylenol for a temperature of 99.9, or why I'm not supplementing with formula just because he's small for age. But I've learned to pick my battles. A few months back, she gave the boy a bottle of apple juice instead of the breastmilk we'd packed. Apparently, she couldn't find it in the fridge where my husband had left it. I couldn't help but laugh. It was something I'd never do, but it surely wasn't gonna kill him. She wasn't trying to spite me. She was trying to help. And since realizing that and letting go of my control, I've enjoyed my relationship with her on a whole new level.

It's not 50/50. It's 100/100. This piece of advice came weeks after my husband and I married, which turned out to be weeks before we conceived our son. I crashed into a scary, numb phase after the wedding. We looked to a couple at church for guidance, and I will never forget the wisdom they shared. People always talk about the give-and-take of marriage, and how couples have to meet in the middle. But it's not always like that. Sometimes, it's one person giving and the other taking. Sometimes, one has to cross the line and pick the other up, and drag them back. Parenthood only magnifies this concept. There are days when I feel like I can't contribute a lick to the family. I'm worn out and discouraged, and my husband senses it and picks up the slack. Other days, he feels gross and spends most of the day in his pajamas on the couch. Changing one diaper or making the bed might be the extent of his day's efforts. And I carry him along, until the sun goes down. It's what you do when you commit to sharing a life with someone - sharing ALL of it, the good and the bad. It's 100%, both of you, every day. That way, if someone comes up short, the other has plenty to give.

Around our home

We've been in our new home for about six months now, and now that we're more settled into the world of being new parents, I've really been focusing on trying to get out house put together the way we want. It's so fun to have rooms to decorate, and I am taking my time picking out things we really love to fill each space.  We have a long, long way to go, and the "to do" list seems never ending, but I know we will get there one day, and it'll feel great!  I thought it would be fun to give you a little, tiny peek inside our home via instagram. Enjoy!

part of our mantel

a bit of Henry's nursery. 

dinnerware

shelf in our kitchen- family portrait by Jess, chalkboard thought bubble from Red Velvet/Rachel Denbow

half of our wall of bookshelves in the front library room

our (amazingly comfy) bed- best new thing we bought last year!

dresser (that's our wedding invitation framed)

Have a great day! I'll be back in a bit with this week's "Mama Said" and Henry's belated 4-month post tomorrow. xoxo

Tattoo Tuesday V.63

 

Name and blog name: Ayden / The Little Blog Of Horrors (www.mydollface.blogspot.com)

Age: 21

Occupation: Freelance Applied Artist for Film, Television and Theatre

Age of first tattoo: 18

Favorite tattoo: My swallows (chest)

Featured tattoo/location: Pocket watch and tiger lillies (side)

Artist/shop/location of feature tattoo: Stephen Kelly at Irezumi, in Glasgow, Scotland. Stephen also did the swallows on my chest, but I lost track of where he was working after then. So, when I found him a couple of tattoos and years later, I knew he was the perfect person to do this piece for me. I sat in on a session while he tattooed one of my best friends at the end of December just there, and promptly booked myself in for his first slot in January!

1) Tell us about your featured tattoo- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?

I wanted an image designed round the quote 'remember to live'. I gave Stephen this quote, along with some photographs of old, ornate pocket watches and tiger lillies and this is what he came up with. We only have one life, and living it to the fullest is my number one priority. The lilies in full bloom, and open pocket watch displaying the time of my birth is my representation of this. I feel like we sometimes spend too much time waiting for our life to 'begin', constantly making resolutions and plans but never doing anything about them. Time waits for no one, and for me, this tattoo will always remind me that if I want something enough in life then I should always have the motivation to go out and get it.

2) Do you have any other tattoos?  If so, what do you have and where?

My very first tattoo was a heart shaped locket and key on my forearm. I was 18, and although I knew exactly what I wanted and how much it meant to me, I didn't realise different tattoo artists have different strengths, weaknesses and specialities. I now completely understand what people mean when they say 'a good tattoo ain't cheap, and a cheap tattoo ain't good! A girl who I knew from school many years ago was in her apprenticeship tattooing, and I always knew she was a talented artist so jumped at the chance to get tattooed by her. But unfortunately my first one was far from perfect, and a year later I approached another artist to patch it up a bit, and add 'Irie' underneath. I'll never regret my first tattoo, as it reminds me of turning 18 and a time in my life which I always want to remember.  Adding Irie underneath, reminds me to always stay positive. To respect yourself, and be happy with who you are.

On my 19th birthday I got my Swallows. This caused a bit of an uproar amongst my family and mixed opinions from friends. Lets just say in hindsight, I'm glad my 1st and shaky tattoo is on my arm, and not on my chest!

Just before my 21st birthday, I got a little anchor and diamond on the bottom of each leg. 2010 was a big year for me, and amongst graduating from university, registering as self employed and securing my first contract, turning 21, going travelling around europe over the summer, and moving away from home for the first time... it seemed appropriate to get a little memento to remind me to stay strong and always keep my feet on the ground (amongst the madness and a real year of 'growing up')

3) Do you plan on getting more?

I'm not in the sort of industry where I need to wear smart clothes to work every day and keep a formal appearance, so I guess I'm not limited/restricted in that sense! Sometimes I can imagine myself being covered in tattoos, and then other days I think I'm done with them. I got my first piece of 'hate' on my blog last week, and it was over my tattoos. But other peoples opinions do not hinder me in the slightest - getting tattooed is something I do for MYSELF, and no one else. So I think I will only get more if an idea comes to me which I genuinely feel really excited and inspired about. Hells no to a tattoo just for the sake of it. That's dangerous/regretful territory when it comes to my character... I change my mind like the weather! I do have a couple more ideas in the pipeline, so if I still have them in my head in a year or so, we'll see what happens.

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)?  Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them? Do you have a significant other? Does he/she have tattoos? 

I really don't like the fact that people assume you are a certain kind of person because you have tattoos. It sucks to be judged in that way, but I guess that's just our society. The only adversity I have experienced because of them is through my blog, which is absolutely ridiculous, and doesn't offend me because the anon who wrote it clearly doesn't know ME. I don't mind folks having an opinion on them, but I don't think I need to justify my taste or reasoning to anonymous haters on the internet! But luckily the people whose opinion I do really care about, my friends and family, has always been a positive/supportive one. Yeah the initial 'HOLY CRAP!" from my parents - but even my grandparents admitted they like them and couldn't imagine me without them now. My boyfriend doesn't have any tattoos, but he does appreciate a nice tattoo and has always been supportive and honest about mines.

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

Don't rush into anything! I know its so easy to get caught up in the excitement and rush of booking your first (or even fifth or sixth!) tattoo. But you really need to take your time, and don't sign up to such a big commitment until the idea has been in your head for at least 4-5 months (that's just my opinion!) So you know that you are positively sure about it. I figure that even if I regret the overall design or look of my tattoos one day when I'm grey and old, they will still mean something to me because they remind me of a certain time in my life that I want to remember. Different artists have different areas of expertise, so do your research and try to find someone that would be perfect for the piece you're looking to get done.

Dashboard

 

This past Thursday Hank and I went to see an old favorite of ours, Dashboard Confessional.  It was the Swiss Army Romance's 10-year Anniversary tour, and Chris played the entire album from beginning to end, along with other favorites. I saw this same show, ten years prior, upon the original record's release, and it was incredibly moving to think back to that time in my life, and then think of where I am now. I was 18; so wonderfully naive, so young, so unsure of what life had in store for me. I had just graduated high school and was about to embark on my college adventures, moving up to the dorms to start that chapter of my life. Back then I related to those emotional Dashboard songs on so many levels, and hearing them again live brought back so many memories, emotions, and things I had forgotten and tucked away over the years.  I met Hank seven years ago, and because we were in a long distance relationship for that first year, and he was on tour with his band so frequently, so many of DC's songs rang true yet again during that time period. I can still remember driving up to visit Hank for the very first time, getting butterflies in my stomach as Hands Down played on the stereo. Music and emotion are powerful things when combined, and throughout the entire show last week I found myself tearing up a bit.  How was I to know, on that long drive up the mountain, that I was going to visit my future husband? The song then, and the song now. Me then, and me now. Us then, us now. It made me feel so happy, my heart so full, to think about the then and now, and to be able to remember a time before all of this, to remember the very beginning. And as the music drifted across the Marquee Theater, I closed my eyes for just a second, and I was in my car again, driving straight into my future.

Arizona Blogger Meetup Attendee list

 As promised, here is the list of the dinner attendees and their blogs!  I am definitely looking forward to stopping by each one, and I kind of already started doing so this evening. I stumbled upon some wonderful new reads and a few new Twitter friends too. I love it! So, if you have the time, head on down the list and say hello to the ladies you may or may not have had the chance to meet on Saturday. Also, if you attended the daytime events only, be sure to leave your blog in the comments and I will add it to the list! Thanks so much everyone!

Brianna Kim
Katherine Thornhill
Ashlyn Hermes
Lyndsay Rucker
Kara
Rasha Gardner
Jen Coen
Carrie Rosalind
Karie Denny
Bittina Erickson
Cole Franke
Venessa De La Cruz
Courtney McEntire
Alex McEntire
Shannon Dwyer
Sara Chambers
Kristen Fournier
Mandy Nielsen
Megan Allen
Emily Benziger
Reachel Bagley
Kristine Biggs
Lauren Brimley
Angela Hardison
Ashley Nielson
Alisha Hunsaker
Elisa Hayes
Dary Hak
Paige Baker
Danielle Moser
Jess Youngsma
Vanessa Gonzales
Kelsey Strothers
Chelsea Brown
Brittney Reyes

Arizona Blogger Meetup!

Wow, what a night! The day was absolutely wonderful too from what I've heard, and I am anxiously awaiting the photos to I can pretend like I was there too! I was sad to miss the daytime activities but what I experienced at the actual dinner event was amazing. It was absolutely surreal to meet so many people that I already "knew," but didn't quite know. And also to meet so many new friends! One thing I wish though is that we had more time; I would have loved to sit down with every single lovely person there and chit chat for awhile. Next time I am thinking we should organize some sort of "speed chatting" event and get to know everyone a little more. How awesomely awkward would that be? haha!

The whole night went incredibly well, from the outstanding waitstaff at La Bocca, to the delicious food, to the raffle prizes. It seemed like everyone had a lot of fun, and I hope that was the case! I was running around like crazy, so of course I didn't take many photos, and the photos I did take...kind of suck. That's what I get for using a cheapo point and shoot (my nice one broke at my sister's wedding, boo!).  Luckily we had Kaerie there, so the professional photos will be uploaded in the next couple of days and shared on the Flickr group I just created for the event. If you're not familiar with Flickr groups, let me be the first to tell you how amazing they are! Our group will basically be a collection of all the photos from the meetup. Simply join the group, upload your photos, and share them with the group so everyone can check them out! Awesome. I uploaded the few (bad quality) photos I have, and if you took any, please do the same! I'll be uploading the pro photos there, as well as any and all from everyone else. If you don't have Flickr (it's easy to sign up and it's free!), you can always email me the photos and I can upload them for you, giving you credit of course! (sometimessweetblog@gmail.com).

I'm currently writing a "how to" post about creating your own meetup in your town (with the help of Kelsey and Chelsea), so if you're interesting in planning and hosting one where you live we'll provide you with a starting point and some guidance! Also, if you attended I would love some feedback below.  Did you enjoy it? What would you have changed? As for me, I would have loved to encourage more mingling so separate groups could break out a bit more, but I know how hard that is to do. Plus, we all have our groups we are comfortable with, but it would have been neat to mix it up a little more.

I also wanted to extend a HUGE thank you to my partners in crime, Kelsey Strothers and Chelsea Brown. We each worked hard to plan the entire event over the past three months and it was so satisfying to see it come to life last night. I love those girls and I so appreciate their interest when this meetup was just an idea I threw out on Twitter. 

Ladies: I'll have the list of bloggers who attended up tomorrow, and don't forget to visit the AZ Blogger Meetup Flickr group and add your photos or email them my way!  I'll be posting a round up of photos next week. I also look forward to visiting each and every one of your blogs, and getting to know you a bit more. Thank you all so much for coming out- it was truly a fabulous night. Until next time...

Friday links to love!

Hello and happy Friday...or happy end of your Friday! I hope today wraps up the end of a great week, and you have something special planned for this weekend. As for me, the meetup is tomorrow and then we'll be celebrating my Mom's birthday on Sunday. We got her an awesome gift, and I'm excited to give it to her. Birthday really are the best.

Here are some links to get your weekend started:

I really love this birthday video. Like really love it.

This book will definitely find a spot on our bookshelf come October. Wonderful!

Do you follow My Little Artichoke yet? You should!

What a cute way to announce a pregnancy! So simple.

Michelle wrote an extensive post on at-home workouts, definitely worth a read!

Katie and Beatrix's video is the sweetest. Have a look.

This "spot of tea" collection is adorable.

This refreshed outdoor dining set is just lovely. I wish I would have thought about this before we donated our old ones.

Stella McCartney's spring/summer line for kiddos is absolutely killing me. Check it out.

I always love Kaylah's Friday Favorites and this week is no different.

This engagement photo session is adorable.

Sigh, Diana is in Italy, that lucky girl. I adore the little video she made too.

Here's a links post in a links post! I couldn't resist though- Jen picked some amazing things to check out.

The sweet Kaelah is enagaged, and her Wedding Wednesday features have me wanting to do it all over again too! So much prettiness in one place.

And finally, a reader sent me this recipe for roasted kale chips with sea salt. I can't wait to try it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

More info/Arizona Blogger Meetup

For those not attending this event, thanks again for bearing with me through these posts. Saturday is so soon, and then you'll never have to hear "Arizona Blogger Meetup" again! (or at least until next time) haha.

First up, check out write up from the Phoenix New Times write up on the event! Awesome.

We also have quite bit of information for you-

For the daytime crowd:

-Since we're going to be outside and walking, don't forget to wear comfy shoes!

-Be prepared to purchase a light rail ticket (around $3) if the group decides to take it to shops further in downtown and midtown Phoenix.

-Don't forget to carry cash with you (IDs also!) as Aloft is suggesting we pay with cash if we buy drinks from their lounge when we are freshening up before dinner, and also it is easier for small shops in downtown to accept cash over credit/debit

Since the meet-up is happening in both Phoenix and Tempe, deciding where to park can be tricky. If you are comfortable with driving downtown, then we would suggest parking in the dirt lot by the Phoenix Public Market (Pierce and Central). After the meet-up is over we would also suggest driving to Tempe and not leaving your car in Phoenix (as it might not be so fun to ride back the light rail to Phoenix once the dinner is over).

If you feel more comfortable parking in Tempe and taking the light rail into Phoenix, we would suggest parking in the Brickyard, at a meter, or possible in one of the ASU parking lots (check the signs before you park though, as some don't allow free parking on weekends). The light rail will take you between 30 and 40 minutes to get downtown, and you will want to get off at the Van Buren stop. Once you're off, walk toward Filmore Street (you will hit the park on your right before you make it to the street though).

There is a street fair (Festival of the Arts) going on during the day in Tempe until 6pm, but parking will open up towards the evening. You can also visit this link to view all the public parking in the Mill Ave. area as well.

If you are going to be late and want to be sure you'll be able to meet up with the daytime group, or run into any problems, feel free to email Chelsea (Chelsea@Chelsea-Bird.com).

And, here's all of the location info for the day and evening:
1. Civic Space Park - 424 N. Central Street (Phoenix, AZ- all below are also in Phx)
2. Lola Coffee Shop - 1001 N. 3rd Avenue
2. Mercantile - 828 N. Central Avenue
3. Vintage by Misty - 818 N. Central Avenue
4. Cityscape - 1 E. Washington Street
5. Heritage Square - 6th Street and Monroe
6. The Grow-OP 902 N. 6th Street
7. Butter Toast Boutique - 908 N. 6th Street
8. Jobot Coffee - 918 N. 5th Street
9. Frances Vintage - 10 W. Camelback Road (they will be providing us with goodie bags on our stop there! So great.)
10. Aloft Hotel - 951 E. Playa Del Norte Drive (Tempe, AZ)
11. La Bocca Urban Pizzeria + Winer Bar - 699 S. Mill Avenue (Tempe, AZ)

One more thing: I was going to try and compile a list of guests and their blog names, but I didn't have everyone's information there isn't enough time to gather it all. However, we will have name tags for you to fill out at the event! As of last night, we have a total count of 48 guests attending the dinner! Very exciting. Have a great day and SEE YOU TOMORROW! Yay! xo

A Slice of...Aarhus, Denmark!

Hello! My name is Sandra and I’m honored to be writing this post on Danielle’s fabulous blog. I’m a 25 year old student from Denmark, and write about my life, food, pictures and random stuff on my blog Stillestund which means “a quiet time” in Danish.

The city that I’ll show you a slice of, is the second largest city in Denmark and my home for the last 6 years – Aarhus. I live in a small student apartment close to the city center and the university with my love Jakob, who is a musician. Even though Aarhus is the second largest city, it is in fact very small, and with its approximately 300thousand people it is very easy to get a “town-like” feeling, and you often run into people you know in the city center. The city has a long history and goes back to the time of the Vikings. It doesn’t have a lot of big old beautiful buildings, but we do have a lot of small details around the city and an old cathedral and theater that contributes to the historic feel.

I attend the University of Aarhus, and the university in general has a big impact on the city. With nearly 40 thousand young people attending it helps make the city fresh and alive. Almost all of the faculties are centered on one campus, which also include a large park where there are a lot of events during the summer, among other a legendary sailing race where the different faculties compete in homemade boats. The first picture is from the summer, where we celebrated summer solstice. In the summer we have long light nights, and it doesn’t get really dark until maybe ten or eleven.

As any larger city we also have museums, we have a great modern art museum, where the Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson right now is installing an amazing piece of art on top of the building, it is a circle of colored glass, where you can walk around and see the city in a new light, and on top of that it catches the sun and color the city as well, it looked beautiful when the snow covered the streets. I love when art alters the way we see the world! The museum also has a great view over the city and I love the architecture of the building.

Another great museum is the “Old city Museum” which is basically a small town build up, with people acting as shop owners etc. The best thing about this museum is that you can walk around there for free after it “closes” at night. I used to live right across the street from it and often took a walk through the old streets.

One of the things love doing in the city, is walking around with my camera taking pictures of street art, strange stuff or things I just discovered. One Saturday I found a great garage shop stuffed with old furniture and funny things.

And since the city is so small and very bike friendly I usually take my bike everywhere, to university, to my job and to visit friends and just to go around the city. I took this picture so that you can get an idea of how many people that bike around Aarhus, we have a lot of parking space for bikes, and special “cycle lanes” between the pavement and where the cars are, so that it is safer to get around.

I hope this gives you an idea of my city, but there is of course so much more to it than I’ve been able to show you here- thank you for reading!