spring at the fetters

been trying to figure out a few things on my camera, and am loving the signs of spring all around.

the rocks are from the north shore of lake superior and are the smoothest rocks i've held.  they sit on a little table outside our front door where the ladies can arrange them how they please, or in zoe's case throw them into the shrubs.

i love this time of year, the change of season, the new growth and the color.

pepto bismol pink and a walk in the rain

 following big sis

 zoe 19 months

 brynn at 3 1/2  and one of my most favorite pics of her ever

 

contemplating what to do next

zoe sits by the front door every day and says "IDE, IDE, IDE!" meaning she wants to go outside.  usually this happens within thirty minutes of waking up.  and i thought maya loved being outside, but this lady has her beat.  she wants to be out no matter what the weather is doing outside.  and one day it just happened to be raining, so we put rain boots over pajamas (in zoe's case) and wandered out.  only after we were all outside did i see ALL THE PINK.  oh my.  but we had a good time, splashing in puddles, wandering on the grass, looking for worms, and touching the water.  kids have really taught me to take advantage of each day, and explore it, not just see it through a window.  to get out, and live in it.  and i'm pretty thankful for that.

30 weeks

me + baby bump at 30 weeks.
in favorite dress found in a thrift store in north carolina.
am obsessed with belts as of late.
and loving my new do, thanks to my ladies my hair is a bit curlier and i love it.
am feeling 'large and in charge' and sometimes like a walrus.
can't wait to meet this little lady.

little readers

went to the library and no one wanted to get out of the car.  made me happy.

for lunch

tried israeli cous cous from trader joes this week.

OH. MAH. GOODNESS.
loved it.
much more fun texture than rice, it's more like quinoa.  
cooked it with broth then added feta cheese + tomatoes + green onions + avocados.
amazing.
go try it.

Alabama Shakes

check out this band. 

evan found this cool band and they've got soul. 

the lead singer reminds me a bit of janis joplin.  

and they've got funk. 

i like funk.

HAPPY SPRING + giveaway winners

image

happy spring everyone!

we had a killer rainstorm last night, and it perked up our grass in our yard, and it just feels like spring! i'm excited for my first garden, raspberries, digging in the dirt, hanging laundry outside and the beautiful feeling of sunshine on my face. 

and can you imagine seeing this pic in real life?  someday i'd love to visit holland just for this view.

 AND....since there were only 4 peeps that entered the giveaway....

you each get to pick one thing from my shop-and i'll send it your way. 

please contact me at thesunnydaystudio@gmail.com and tell me your picks!  

thanks!

haute night

it has been unusually warm here in minne, as in this is the second WARMEST winter on record, and last year was the snowiest winter on record.  it was about 80 degrees yesterday, which is unheard of in march in minnesota. we originally thought that it would be so choice to make it the first camp out of the year, but we found that there weren't any camp sites open in march.  what?!!? (they usually don't open up til memorial day).  so our next best option was to have a little cookout.  we rounded up some amigos, and had ourselves a little cookout on the deck. it was a great night minus that our house was filled with smoke for a while, and it was insanely hot when we went to bed.  and for the record for dinner zoe had: 16 doritos, 1/2 small can of rootbeer, 13 chocolate chips, 1 marshmallow, and 1 bean. 

*and evan's toenails are painted courtesy of maya + brynn one night while i was gone.

sunshine

image

thursday of last week was kind of a miracle day.  nothing momentous happened to me, but i just felt so happy to be in my place.  i felt grateful to be home with my girls, to have a home, cars that work, that evan has work, that we have faith, that we know that God is good.  i spent quality time with each of my girls, which seems to rarely happen.  my list of things miraculously was done, i had time to make dinner for some neighbors, and my house was clean.  it was really just a great day. 

and in honor of a really great day:

LET'S HAVE A GIVEAWAY!  

i've posted some new things in my shop and you need to check them out!  and then i want you to tell me your most favorite day-whatever it was, and what made it your 'most favorite day'.  i'll choose a random winner by end of day Friday, March 16th, and you can pick something from my shop that you would like, for free, from me. 

NUEVE AÑOS!

nine years peeps!
that seems so long and yet not long at all.
this print my cool sister in law amanda showed me.
and it's pretty much how i feel about evan.
i could go on and on, but this sums it up.
i am a lucky gal.

kabluey

while at target last week brynn (3 years) found this color of nail polish.   we decided to paint our nails after lunch today and she was stoked to use her "BRIGHT BLUE NAIL POLISH!!!" (you should hear her say this), and after a minute i thought to meself "hmmmm, i think i'll try it to."  And so here you go.  

i like to call it kabluey.

it sure brightens up a wintery minnesota day.

go make this dinner tonight

this is one of my most favorite dinners and here's why: simple ingredients, fast prep time, and it's healthy!  this comes from my good friend katie and is a south beach diet recipe. and i think you should all make this sometime this weekend, and you will be happy. 

chicken pistachio salad:

Salad

• ½ cup pistachio nut , shelled and finely ground
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper , freshly ground (plus a pinch)
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ½ cup sweet white onion , diced
• 1 head romaine lettuce

Dressing

• 1 teaspoon sweet white onion , grated
• 1 large avocado , pitted and peeled
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon water

Directions:

1. To make the salad:
2. Preheat the oven to 375. Mix the nuts in a pie plate with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Press the chicken into the nuts. Heat 1 Tbs of the oil in a skillet and cook the breasts, 2 min per side. Place the breasts in a baking dish and bake for 15 min or til thermometer registers 160 and juices run clear.
3. Heat the remaining Tbs of oil in a nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the diced onion, 1/4 tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper. Cook til the onion is browned.
4. Line 4 serving plates with lettuce. Slice the chicken breasts and arrange 1 breast on top of the lettuce on each place. Serve with the dressing.
5. To make the dressing:.
6. Puree the onion, avocado, oil, lime juice, and water in a blender.
   
   
   last saturday, the girls and i headed to our favorite donut shop here in minne, and it was heaven, but after a weekend of basically gorging on sugar, i opted to go off sugar this week.  and i'm not lying-it has been great, and hard.  i have really felt that i need to cut back, and for me that's not eating it at all!  because let's face it, if sugar is in my house, i'll eat it.  and the worst part is i'll tell my ladies that they can have treats sparingly, and yet eat half of what the treat is over the course of a day!  so....my new plan is to cut out sugar during the week (i actually did this when pregnant with maya) and have some on the weekends if i want some.
   anywho....because this is more fun with people, if you want to join me, drop me a comment and we'll think of something cool to work towards. and i like knowing that other people are suffering like i am. :)  
   
   
   stay tuned next week, i have some new jewelry to add to my shop, some good food to try, and a little giveaway!  
   
   
   have a fabulous weekend!