Happy New Year!

Before I ramble on, I just wanted to say "hi" to anyone coming here from Desire to Inspire! I check my blog stats every once in a while if I notice new people stopping by via the comments sections (thank you!), just to see where people are coming from, and my hits skyrocketed on one particular day and that is where I saw that I was featured on one of her Holiday Reading lists... just WHOA. How *cool* is that?! I feel very unworthy, but very grateful. So thank you for stopping by. I've been a fan of Desire to Inspire for so long.

And my blog banner was listed right beside one of my favorite people and blogs, Zee at Pixie Blossoms, so that made it even sweeter! :-) And this made me realize that I really need to start updating my blog header. Lol. I hadn't updated it since May of last year b/c I figure most people read blogs through their blog Readers like I do (and therefore don't see blog banners). Maybe I need to update it. ;-)

I am bad about not giving credit to those that link to my blog, just in the busyness of life. But know that I *know* who you are, and I thank all of those that link to my blog and/or say something nice about it. It means the world to me. Truly. There *are* two more people I wanted to thank, since I have you on my mind!, Rachel Denbow of Bling on my Sewing Machine and Sarah Jane at Sarah Jane Studios.

Rachel was so kind to link to me in her *awesome* interview at Cafe Mom... they did a tour of her home, and both Rachel's home, and talent in general, inspire me so much. And she is such a cool person, inside and out. I love her honesty and integrity most of all. I've enjoyed getting to know her a little this past year! Check out her RedVelvet Art shop and Pony Party shop filled with lots of yummy vintage goods. :-)

And Sarah Jane was so incredibly sweet to post about me on her blog.. it was such a kind post and I felt all unworthy again, but ever so grateful. She is such an amazing illustrator! You HAVE to check out her shop. Her illustrations are so charming and sweet and simple and magical. I think my fav thing in her shop are these invites. They come in the sweetest packaging and i love the little stickers that come with them.

 

 

I also wanted to say thank-you to those that have left me the *sweetest* comments on my last few posts. You are all too kind and I appreciate it more than you know!!!

Ok, i know I'm a day late..... Happy New Year! :-) Hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve. We actually went out which I don't think has happened since Cooper was born. lol. Nothing glamorous at all, but glamorous *for us*. Glamorous because we were kid-free and able to be just Ethan and Danielle, which is so rare. Have I ever mentioned that since the day Cooper was born, we've never used a babysitter other than Ethan's parents? Yup.

So we don't get to go out much. Lol. Because we don't like being a burden on them. They do take the boys alot, but now that Campbell is finally getting to that non-fragile stage, I think they'll be keeping them more.. at least so we can go out for dinner and a movie every once in a while.

Finding a good babysitter is definitely on my goal list for 2009. Paying someone sort of takes the guilt out of being a "burden" and for staying out too late. :-) But we've found it incredibly hard to put our trust into a stranger. I guess we just aren't social enough. Our options are very limited. Lol. And the usual suspects for babysitters are of the teen sort, and I just don't trust them! ::::sigh:::: One day. I need a college kid. I think Campbell being so young really made us nervous, but he's getting to a good age... so maybe it's time.

So anyway! We went to a Malaysian restaurant and the food was DIVINE! And then we went to the Hot Pot restaurant across the street for some Bubble Tea! I hadn't had one in so so so long. The first one I had was in Chinatown in NYC years ago. Ethan gets it pretty often because one of this good friends at work is Taiwanese, so they go to the very Asian influenced part of Atlanta (insert jealous frown here... I want to go to fun places like THAT on my lunch break!) They're always going to amazing restaurants and eating incredible food. So I got to do that on New Year's Eve. ::::Sigh::::: It was so great. (Can you tell I don't get out much? ;-) The life of a mom to a 5 and 1.5 year old. :-)

Then we went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and my expectations were fairly high... and it totally exceeded them. I knew that story on the big screen could have the possibility of being way too cheesy and too Hollywood and too sentimentalized, but it wasn't. It was totally perfect. And heart-wrenching. It was the sweetest and saddest story I've seen in a long, long time. I boo-hoo-ed. ALOT. But I love David Fincher, the director. He did the story well. Hard to believe someone that directed Fight Club could do a love-story so well. :-)

I feel like I have so much to say, and to write about, and so many images to post. But I'll try and split them up into several posts. Just a few images from our holiday. It was one of the best, most relaxing holidays we've had in a long, long time. Stress free (even after our horrible bout of BAD LUCK.) Some pics of Coop and Cam with their cousins. Some of these are so funny and just so perfect.

 

When i see these pics, I realize just how DIFFERENT my boys look!

 

Campbell and his hat that is 2 sizes too small for him.... (sigh) My big-headed children. I tell myself it's because they have big brains. ;-) I think it was a size 2-3... and the boy is 1 and a half years old. Lol! 

 

And here I was playing around with colors and Photoshop actions...

 

I used my digital feather accents on this image... I liked the rainbow gradiant in the action I used on this photo below, so I played that up in the right sidebar image. The actions I used on these are by Detra, her most recent retro set.

 

And I thought I'd post my favorite photos from each month of 2008 of mine... if anything, I really enjoy going back over the year to see what we did, what I was into, what I was working on during each month. If you've been reading my blog for a while (thank you!!!) hopefully you won't be bored with these images since you've already seen them.

I've enjoyed seeing other bloggers and flickr's post their favs from 2008, so I thought I would too. I've also enjoyed seeing people write about what they've learned over the past year and what their goals are for 2009. You can't help but feel reflective, but also looking to the future to think about things you want to change or goals you want to achieve. It's cliche, but it always feels RIGHT this time of year to think about these things. Ethan and I already have lists started of things we want to accomplish. Yeh, some of them are the same things we see on our list every year, and most of the time they aren't achieved, but it's always good to still feel hopeful that THIS will be the year. :-)

Here are my fav images from January 2008:

We redecorated Cooper's room...

 

 

 

 

... celebrated and prepared for Valentine's day early, at home and everywhere else!....

 

ya think that diaper-cover was 2 sizes too small as well?

 

 

I turned 32 (and yes, that means I turn 33 very soon...)

 

 

My very very happy-go-lucky baby (it's funny to look back on these because he has since become not-so-happy-go-lucky anymore, but rather very independent and down right DIFFICULT! where, oh where, did my easy baby go? sniff.)

 

 

 

I became obsessed with these little guys...

 

 

...and anything wooden and miniature...

 

i made this...

 

...and Ethan to this day says it's the one thing that he just really dislikes that i've made... :-)

 

... but that's ok, because he puts up with ALOT living with me, so i'll give him a pass. ;-) And he usually likes most of what I do... and doesn't object to my crazy decorating ways.

I attempted the 365 challenge at Flickr (a photo a day for a whole year)... it lasted a few months. *THAT* is one hard challenge to keep up with! But i got this one out of it.. i love it. My view from my shower alot in those days... ;-)

 

I tried "green" cleaning for the first time and I'm happy to say I'm still doing it. It's nice to be chemical-free!

 

... i ate alot of cupcakes...

 

.. it snowed!.. in ATLANTA, Georgia! :-)...

 

Swimming lessons didn't go so well.. he still can't swim, but isn't as terrified of the water as he was in this photo. We're looking into private lessons for this winter. :-)

 

I fell in love with this boy over and over again... my first...

 

I get sentimental looking at this photo because he's holding a Thomas Train. Thomas was the center of this boy's life for literally MOST of his little life. Always had a train in his hands at all times. He grew out of his train phase later this year... but his "train phase" was so much more than a phase. This boy had only one interest, and that was for these trains. So it's sad for sure! :-) But I will admit it's fun to see him interested in other things (and those Thomas trains take a hit to the bank account for sure, no? ;-)

more images to come...

Comments

[Sarah]

What a lovely year in review (she says as she listens to the Thomas movie her own little is currently watching, but knowing that over here that phase is starting to end also).

[Belinda]

I love the picture of your baby in bed with the hearts and the lipstick kiss on his cheek. My great-nephew turns one today, and we're headed to his party with 20 other relatives. I'm going to get my niece to the side (if possible) and show her this picture so she can try it with Matthew in a few weeks. Beautiful pictures!

[nic]

wow... what a colorful and vibrant review... thanks for making me smile! :o)

happy new year!!!
nic

[Annie Brazeal]

Hi Danielle,

I am a huge fan of your style....your decor, the way you write and your beautiful photography. Thank you for being such an inspiration. But the thing that really caught my eye is your little boy holding his Thomas the train. My son is named Thomas. He sparked an interest when he was 18 months and has been hooked ever since. He has 6 or 7 different types of train sets....Geo Trax, Thomas wooden, die-cast, plastic and legos and others. It's so interesting to see that it's not just my little guy who will be 5 on Monday that has had such a huge fascination for so long. Very precious! Love your blog, and I visit often. xoxo, Annie

[Annie Brazeal]

P.S.--you're right about those trains taking a toll on our bank account...I cringe at the thought of calculating how much we have invested in those little trains. At least it keeps them busy.

[Talia]

AMAZING photographs and I loooooove that chandelier!

[Susie Q]

Wow I just found your blog, what a beautiful family and I must say your photography skills are awesome!- thank you for inspiring me

[Bianca]

So, I had *no* idea you lived only a state away from me (and only a few hours too!) You have got to tell me where all the good places near you to buy fabric and go thrifting are!!

[megan duerksen]

hi.
i know i have been here before but can't tell for sure.
your pictures are so fun and colorful! what a fun site this is!
i will be back for sure.
:)

[Zee]

Dear Danielle, I must let you know how happy I am to be in your blogroll, because I do also love your blog very much! It was a surprise to be on Desire to Inspire and I also loved to be by your side!!! Your photos are truly amazing and I always visit you...
Hugs, hugs and more hugs!!!