Easter Surprises

Ma sent Eva and Elle a little Easter package and we got it in the mail today. Eva loved opening it and she couldn't wait...which meant that Elle missed out on the package opening excitement this time because she was napping when we got the mail. Each girl got an adorable spring outfit, fun Easter soaps, a piece of candy each (thank you Ma) there were puppets that Eva is already in love with and a very cute homemade Peter Rabbit book, as soon as my battery's are charged I can take a pic of everything! That's why there are no pics with this post!
Thank you Ma, we loooove getting little treats in the mail, Eva loves seeing her name on something from the mail. Plus you always send such cute clothes whether they are homemade or not they are always cute!!
Love, Christa

WE'RE GOING TO FLORIDA!!!!!!

I just bought out tickets...yes at 12:30am!! Something told me to check it out and yesterday it was going to be $387 per person which comes to $1161 for all four of us (luckily Elle will not be two yet when we go, yessss) which is more than what we were hoping but I decided that I would start looking everyday...of course, I forgot to look today but I looked and low and behold $272 per person!! That's only $816!!! We thought we would be paying around $1000 that's $200 of savings, so I called me mom...yes at 12am, I felt semi-bad given that this is their 20th wedding anniversary night but I had to call and tell them. So I got her ok to get them the tickets too (I had her credit card number on hand...it's just something I like to collect from people...for safe keeping, of course) they are going to Florida for $544!!! I am SO giddy!!! WE'RE GOING TO FLORIDA!!! We are going to DISNEYWORLD!! I can't believe our little family is going on this amazing trip. It started out as a 5th birthday for Eva but it's starting to be like a family vacation...well maybe that's because her birthday is so far from now but I just can't believe we're going!! I feel like a kid!
That's it...I was just too excited not to tell someone...I would have called you but you're sleeping.

Fantasy Friday: Easter Dresses Cont'd

...that's right, I am so wonderful and giving and I think of all my friends, wherever you may be and in every situation...prego...totally broke (just like me)...or whatever else, these are for you. (and yes, this is how much time I will have on my hands now that I'm not in school)

First I have some maternity dresses for my pregnant friends, which is actually a lot. Then I will show some cheaper versions and just cheaper dresses all together for my friends that don't have $200 to blow on an Easter dress- what? None of you have that $$ to blow? Oh well...me either.

Onward:

Is this not totally cute? Plus it has the same style that I was showing in the other spring dresses, and at a steal! This is only %29.98 from Motherhood!

This super cute chevron striped dress is from The Gap, and who doesn't love The Gap? Sweet light airy colors and a cardy or cap sleeve under would be cute, $68.

This is on the spendier (yes, I'm aware that's not a word) side of things, but whats fantasy Friday without something that's unobtainable...even for the pregos. This comfy lilac dress is by Due Maternity and is $116.

I really love this next look, it's not really an Easter inspiration but it is on trend, with the "ombre" and tunic look. Pair this with some leggings and ballet flats and you are the cutest prego on the block! This is by Nuka Tori and is $80.

Next up is for our thrifty/deal finder/economically minded girl. All of these dresses are from Target. Go to Target...without kids...absorb it...love it...find yourself in Target. About 98% of the time when I compliment someone on something they are wearing (that I love) IT IS FROM TARGET.

That being said Target also has this line called "Go International" it features actual designers from around the world who do lines of clothes just for Target at a reasonable price...you have to look at it with perspective, most of these designers items for for a few 100 easily, so getting something for $40 or $50 is amazing. That being said, this month Jovovich-Hawk is being featured and this is one of their dresses. The designers are both women so you can pretty much bet they know what looks good on a woman. I love this dress it's so retro cute! I love the lace, love the pattern and love the colors. This dress is $39.99.

Next up is another dress that looks like the $$ ones but for much less, this is an Isaac Mizrahi dress and he has been designing for Target for a while, this dress embodies a great spring dress and it's only $39.99.

This dress is also by Isaac and I loved that it was on trend with the bright neon colors, it comes in a lot of other colors but I thought this green was so fun. This waist cinching sheath is $44.99.Next up is another ode to a great Easter dress, a simple yellow and white pattern from the Merona line, $24.99.

Another Isaac dress, this one also come in many colors, I liked this floral one the best, very warm and inviting. But I would never pair this with flats like she has on, definitely a heeled sandal or espadrilles, $39.99.I chose this one because of the other black and white with a sash from the earlier post, this is a take on that style. Again, paired with a white cardy, very chic. $24.99.

And for the girl that wants to just wear something new on Sunday, a cute tunic that comes in a lot of the bright colors, I believe it came in pink and purple just to name a few. This may be too short for church depending on how long your legs are, but with a cap sleeve and great tights, this would look so cute, or if you just want a new tunic with your jeans, it's only $17.99!! You can't beat that!

Now I've been going on and on about the cap sleeve but I kept forgetting to show it, so here it is. I also totally endorse Shade Clothing. I love them, I love this cap sleeve, it looks great under your clothes, even if you're wearing a shirt with sleeves, this makes you look sleeker underneath and it gives you the coverage you need when you bend over to pick up your kids, keys whatever. I love it, it's $17.50 or you can buy 3-packs for $48. They also make a bunch of other cute styles and in May they are coming out with some great shirts. Anyway, that's all my endorsements for the day...that I get absolutely nothing for...rude.

Happy bargain shopping!

Fantasy Friday: Easter Dresses

I realize none of us are five years old anymore but I like to uphold the tradition of getting an Easter dress. Does this mean that since I've been married my husband has ever let me get a new Easter dress? No, it does not. And this year I'm having my mom make the girls semi-matching outfits (it's the same fabric but Eva's getting a skirt and Elle's getting a dress). Also this year, we (as in we I mean the fine town of Corvallis) are getting a TJMaxx opening up this coming week and what better place to shop for a new spring/Easter dress.
My real point? I think I have a good chance this year...lets keep out fingers crossed (yes this is what I think about...not politics...not cleaning my house...not wars, I think about clothes).

So a few weeks ago I found this really cool website called myshape.com and you can answer a few Q's about your body type (and they are the good Q's not like measurements so you have to break out the measuring tape and get depressed) and then they show you all these super cute fashion forward clothes that would look good on you, all the different body types spell out "M Y S H A P E" so you're one of those letters, it makes it easy to find something for your body. They also have an "All" category that looks good on every body type, so those are the spring looks I'll be showing today plus a few others that are too cute to pass up....p.s. I never said they were affordable, this is Fantasy Friday ladies.

Onward:

This first dress fits "All" body types and is from Jessica Howard. How cute is it?! So cute! Everything about it screams, Spring, fun, flirty (it's ok to look flirty when your married, it comes across as fun) and a wonderful Easter dress choice. Plus this polka dot pattern is in the hottest color combo (chocolate/pink) and it comes with the cute sweater shrug...let's face it, it's not exactly Spring everywhere in the country right now...and usually you have to but a cardigan or shrug to go over a sleeveless dress. Bonus. This dress is $98.

Next up is a Lily Pulitzer, she's a more modern, free spirit type of designer, I think I love everything she does but not everything she does is for everyone...she has a style that only some are comfortable pulling off. Like this lovely dress, it's very retro feeling but the colors are very spring esque and the shape is flattering for "all." I think the pattern is really fun and the ruffles on the sleeves and neckline give it that little bit of "something." This dress is $258.

Another Lily Pulitzer dress that flatters all body types is this very summer friendly eyelet dress. This dress screams warm weather and classy thongs (ooh, or espadrilles, fierce!) I've debated whether to recommend an undershirt or a cardigan, and I've decided on a 3/4 sleeve cardigan. I think an undershirt would take away...unless it was super snug and had cap sleeves, but even then...you'd have to get another girls advice, that you trusted to tell the truth. Anyway, this baby is $298.

This is a Donna Rico dress and it is super chic! No? Love the black and white, black and white is the new black. And that yellow sash belt is hot! That will get you spring points! To make it more spring I would go with a white 3/4 sleeve cardy as opposed to a black. This would look amazing with some super fierce black peep toes or if you could pull it off, something in yellow! Hot!! $174.

This last one is my least favorite...it's just not screaming spring dress...well a little but I like something with color. It is made out of chiffon, so soft. And it has a same tone slip underneath, which is nice. The best thing about this dress is the waist, it has pin tucking and slits for the sating belt that really cinch the waist. Some fierce accessories could make this dress very spring forward. AGB's $90.

Now here are some on trend dresses. I will put what body type they are and if you love them/can afford them then you can go to the website and see if its your body type.

Huge bold ethnic inspired patters are totally on trend. This dress is great for the trend. It's bright, fun and it's only $42 by Pallion, it's for shapes: M S H.

Bold colors are in this season, and not just any color, in your face brights, like this hot pink/fuchsia other colors include, cobalt, kelly green, yellow (get it?). I love the cut of this dress, especially if you don't love your upper arms, it's hides them and is still ready for warm weather. $55 by LA Made as is for shapes: M S H A E

The other hot trend is called "ombre" it's french for shaded. It's a dip-dyed effect, similar to tie-dyed but more chic. This dress gives the dip-dyed effect without going overboard, totally on trend this dress is so adorable and is ready for spring AND summer. $370 by Cynthia Steffe ans is for shapes: M S H P.

Next up is another bold print but is a cross between two trends, the bold sort of ethnic print but also the look of being painted. Brush strokes and the look of a painted canvas is very hot right now. This was kind of the best of both worlds plus I just loved the colors, when you wear something this "loud" everything else needs to be low key, easy hair, natural make-up, stud earrings, once bracelet and simple monotone shoes. This dress is by Komarov and is $225 and fits shapes, M S H E.

I just love this next dress(by Lily Pulitzer...again), it's bright and fun and is just so, so, so cute!!! I decided to bring it in because a lot of the time us modest girls don't think we can get strapless dresses and it's just not true, you can make a strapless dress work and be totally modest. All you need under this is a white cap sleeve and it will still look totally adorable...maybe even a jean jacket on top. Super cute. I have to admit my friend wore a strapless dress on Sunday and she totally rocked it out, it was very cute and it worked, I suggest a Shade cap sleeve. You will look so great in this if you have $298 and are body type M Y S H P.

I hope you enjoyed this weeks Fantasy Friday. If I had more time I would put shoes with all of these...maybe next week. Yesterday was my last class and test for the term and I wont be going back till the fall SO I have all week to work on an awesome posting for Friday's!! Yay! Happy shopping.

SHE DID IT!!!!!

Eva passed Level 1 today!! She is now officially in Level 2!!! She worked really hard and practiced for the past three days in the tub. She got a certificate with an official sticker and a coupon for a free mini pizza at Papa's Pizza. She was very proud of herself, I was SO proud of her and she knew she could do it, she was so excited to go to class today because she knew today was the day to pass. I think this weekend we'll go out to Papa's Pizza so she can get her special pizza. Plus she needs a new big wheel (her current one has a giant hole worn in the plastic tire and she bobs to a rhythm when she rides it...it's hilarious, totally white trash) so I think I'll get her one for a special treat. Can you tell we only have two kids? I think I will always have to spoil my children...it's an addiction, even when I complain about them being spoiled I still have to do it.

Anyway, here are some pics from her class today and some of her "testing" for level 2!

You can kind of see the Gong in the background, if they passed a level they got to hit it!

This is Eva testing for level 2, there's the "official" lesson supervisor on the side there, watching her and making sure she does everything she needs to.

YAY EVA!!! Awesome job, my smile was SO huge, I was such a proud gloating mom!!

The next level is floating and gliding. I think she'll do just as well, I'm so proud of my big girl!(can you tell?)

They keep growing and growing...

Elle is now 9 months old and is:

clapping

snapping her tongue

giving kisses

knows how to "be gentle"

says: buh-buh(for bye-bye), mama, dada, duh(for ta-duh)

standing on her own

Elle loves:

baths

anything even slightly edible

her sister

being tickled under her chin down her neck

Bonnie Bear(a weird show on the baby channel)

My little baby is becoming a toddler, I'm sad but at the same time I can not wait for her to tell me what she wants! Elle has been hard on me...Eva was a walk in the park compared. It's been interesting having a needy baby, and I use that term lightly because I know I still have it easy.

I asked Eva today is she thought we should have any more babies, she said, "No I think it should just be us two, we have enough babies in this house." I was actually really surprised because she always asks me for a brother...maybe she finally realized that a baby is a baby no matter if it's a boy or a girl. I have learned a lot about being a mom in the last 9 months, I can only imagine what my life holds...two girls in middle school...I think I just threw up a little.

For my old roomate Melanie...

...Happy birthday! How about a couture diaper bag, a new spring outfit (shoes included) and these earrings that totally reminded me of you!

(white shirt included with cute dark denim ruffle jacket)

I can soooo see you wearing these, they totally reminded me of you.

Happy Birthday, I know it's not much being so last minute and all but I hope you can enjoy it all the same.

Love, Christa