We thought we would kick off this Monday
with a motivational guest post from our friend
Angela Kraber.
That’s a Wrap!
T H A T ‘ S a W R A P !
>> February, 2013 <<
:: nicole ::
:: sara ::
Some February posts you may have missed…
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A Book Review {Guest Post}
Thriving in Motherhood >> Baby/Mommy Classes {Guest Post}
Birchbox Review
Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies Recipe
Current Fashion Trends we LOVE
Homemade Marshmallow Recipe Featured on Mamawolfe Blog
Baked French Toast Recipe {adapted from the Pioneer Woman}
Happy Valentine’s Day Wishes!
Our Very First Magazine Feature!
Favorite Top Ten Baby Essentials
From Bellies to Babies – Maternity Photos
Some Nursery Design Inspiration
Yummy Cheese & Vegetable Quiche Recipe
A Quest for a Simple Life >> Family Plans for the Future
Upcoming events in the Dana Point Harbor!
&
Our favorite picks of the web >> {weekend} lovelies 1, 2, 3 & 4
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“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep
because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
:: Dr. Seuss ::
I Heart Dana Point
I may be biased as I heart Dana Point
BIG TIME….
The City is full of history,
from the days of its discovery by Richard Henry Dana Jr.
to the “Killer Dana” surf break,The Beach Boys and Doheny…….
It is a beautiful harbor with wonderful hiking trails and
beaches as I noted in my 5 favorite walking trails post.
I have been lucky enough to have worked
along side with clients and the City on various
community events in the past.
Shane grew up going to the Ocean Institute as a kid.
As a family we have enjoyed playing in the
tide pools and various children’s programs at the
Ocean Institute, splashing in the water
at baby beach and Strands, as well as
Camping in the summer at Doheny State Beach.
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This weekend is the kick off to numerous family fun
events that take place in Dana Point Harbor.
March 2 and 3rd will be the first weekend
of the Festival of Whales.
Dana Point serves as a landmark for Whales
migrating from Mexico to Alaska during
peak season December to April.
The Harbor’s design and open parking allows for
easy access for visitors to view the open ocean views
as well as hiking to the top of the Headland’s to
see the whales migration in the distance.
This year’s events include:
Movie in the Park, Magical Migration Parade,
Ocean Awareness Day, Rubber Ducky Race and lots more!!
These community events make this town a great place
to vacation with family.
The Festival of Whales continues March 9-10.
If you can’t make it to this event with your family,
I do highly recommend making and researching a trip
to Dana Point, California.
With reasonable rates and a beautiful location
as “the only hotel in the harbor”
Dana Point Marina Inn is steps away from
various restaurants and shops in the harbor.
The city is drivable to San Diego, Los Angeles,
and of course Disneyland.
Future upcoming events are:
Doheny Blues Festival, Concerts in the Park,
Toshiba Tallships Festival, Doheny Days, and
Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade.
Come down and make a few family memories
of your own……..
The Quest for a Simple Life
>>>THE QUEST FOR A SIMPLE LIFE<<<
You know when something is on your mind
or heavy on your heart and you start noticing signs of it all around you,
{honestly}…
everywhere you look?
That’s what has been happening to Husby and I lately.
I know I have mentioned throughout various posts my desire for a simpler life…
but recently, it’s really been beckoning.
We are fortunate to live in a beautiful area
and are surrounded by cherished friends and family…
but we know that God is leading us somewhere else.
It’s a feeling we both have had laid on our hearts for some time now…
and it just isn’t going away…
if anything, it’s only getting stronger.
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I guess I should give you some insight as to why I constantly crave this
“simple life.”
{At some point I will write a more thorough post on this…
(and in time, I dream of writing a book, or two)…
but for now I will give you a glimpse into a few years of my childhood}…
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When I was eleven years old,
and my younger brother was four,
our parents sold most of what we owned,
quit their demanding careers,
bought a sailboat…
and we traveled for two years
with the intentions of circumnavigating the world.
During these two years,
we sailed over 14,000 miles.
I was homeschooled during this time,
but the most valuable learning
didn’t come from the books we brought with us…
but rather the life experiences
of traveling to other countries and remote islands,
interacting with the locals,
attempting to speak their languages,
and surrounding ourselves with their beautiful cultures.
My happiest childhood memories are all of this time.
I cherish the experiences,
but also the together time we spent as a family.
This two-year snippet had the most profound impact on my life,
shaping my interests…
values…
and desires as an adult.
We left most material items behind,
{the luxuries of living on land}…
and just sailed.
We were together 24 hours a day.
Life was simple…
fishing for our dinner,
stargazing,
listening to Jimmy Buffet,
reading endless amounts of novels,
swimming and bathing in the ocean,
exploring cities and quaint little villages,
chatting with the locals and other cruisers {as we were called}….
It was a beautiful life…
My courageous parents took an incredible risk…
I can’t imagine the person I would be today, had they not…
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Having had that sort of childhood…
I have always known that I wanted to give our four children a feel of that “simple life”…
hopefully carrying on my parents’ adventurous spirits and instilling it in our kids.
Husby and I both feel strongly that the time is quickly approaching to make a big change.
The kids are growing up so fast,
and we only have one shot at raising them up right…
the way we’ve envisioned in our dreams.
{Image Via: Fancy Hands, Tumblr}
Although I would love to sell everything
{and literally},
set sail to far off places…
it isn’t realistic for us.
My parents were avid sailors,
and my brother and I were raised sailing from a very young age,
{not to mention},
Husby has a secure job as a firefighter working for a department that he loves.
I often joke that we just need to move to Costa Rica and live in a little beach bungalow,
but in all seriousness…
Husby and I know that we need to take a risk, and leave our area of comfort…
s e t t i n g s a i l i n o u r o w n w a y.
We aren’t one-hundred percent certain of the details
{like the when, where, and how — perhaps important!},
but we do feel like our family needs more open air…
more room to breathe,
more space to play and explore the outdoors.
A life that is closer to nature and more in tune with God…
where we have more time to focus on our family.
A life that is less demanding,
…less empty…
and less pressured to just “keep up.”
We are praying for God’s guidance,
and His will to be done.
So…
in the meantime,
I will keep you updated with our plans…
as we hopefully carryout some much needed changes in our family…
in the quest for a simple life.
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P.S. Remember how I told you I am seeing signs everywhere?
This was one of them…
a beautiful post
{that I know you’ll enjoy},
eloquently written by fellow blogger & friend,
Jennifer Wolfe {mamawolfe}….
{On the Corner of Dream Ave. and Believe St.: Stepping Out Of Our Comfort Zone}
{Image Via: Designspiration}
Click here for an update on this post!
Thriving in Motherhood {Guest Post}
We thought we would wrap-up our Baby Week with a special treat!
A guest post from our friend,
Britton Lunde!
She is a proud mom of three beautiful daughters
who can relate to all the challenges that motherhood brings!
Her passion is to reach out to all new mothers
and empower them to be the mommies that they are made to be!
She continues to support expectant mothers
with her mother/baby support program throughout
Orange County, California.
Here is what Britton shared with us about her lovely business…
“Thriving in Motherhood, LLC
is about 10 years in the making and was officially born in 2009.
I first started the class at Irvine Regional Hospital in 2001
when my second daughter was just 3 months old.
I saw a real need for a new moms support group
and found that need not being met in Orange County.
With my teaching background, I developed the curriculum
and started the program in the Spring of 2001.
I wasn’t sure how the program would do,
but I obviously met a need for new mothers,
because it grew very quickly.
My passion has always been teaching,
but now I found exactly where I was supposed to put that passion…
into new moms and their babies!
I taught at Irvine Regional Hospital for 7 years until it closed its doors in 2008.
I then was asked to bring my program to Kaiser Irvine
and started in 2009 where I have been for 3 years.
My class has grown to be very successful and I am finally expanding!
I am excited to now offer my classes in multiple locations.
My goal is to reach as many new moms as I can,
and help them adjust to their crazy new journey…
motherhood!
My desire is to have no mother feel like they are just surviving motherhood.
I want them to thrive in it!
So…
if you are looking for a comfortable and nurturing place
to get out of the house and bring your baby,
then come and share some special time
by meeting other moms going through the same phase of life!
Learn relevant, useful information to help you transition
into your new role as a mom.
I offer a unique mother baby support class
with informative topics each week, such as
Infant Sign Language…
Infant Massage…
Feeding…
Sleeping and Routines…
Soothing Your Fussy Baby, and more!
The class is designed to empower moms and expectant mothers,
while providing a stimulating and engaging environment for infants
{newborn to 9 months}.
All new mothers have mixed feelings of joy and fear,
love and doubt,
empowerment and also feelings of inadequacy.
My goal is to help you find new and supportive friendships
with other moms and receive the support that you need to be successful!
My passion is to help mommies and babies thrive!”
{Britton earned her Bachelors Degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Child Development from UC Irvine. She received her Childbirth Educator Certification and Postnatal Educator Certification through the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and is a certified Kindersign Instructor. She has 12 years experience teaching Early Childhood, Kindergarten, Childbirth, Parenting and Postnatal classes.}
Visit Britton’s informative website…
{Thriving in Motherhood}
to view her blog, gather resources & register for local classes!
You can also email Britton at
{thrive2motherhood@gmail.com}
for information about private consultations & classes.
{Click HERE}
to “like” her Facebook page for updates!
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Britton is a wealth of knowledge in the field and a fabulous resource,
so take advantage of her classes and pass on the information to other mommies you know!
It is so great to support other local moms
that are reaching out to help empower women!!!
A Dose of Nursery Inspiration
Here is a dose of nursery inspiration
from one of the most lovely sites
for ideas & dream boards…
{lay baby lay}
Perhaps you fancy a
serene & gender neutral space?
Here is one of my favorites!
{Very Rosenberry}
A nursery any princess would swoon over….
{Grey Likes Baby}
Shared spaces…
these can be tough rooms to design!
I personally have had to do this
with my 4 kids in 2 rooms!
{Chic & Cheap Nursery}
Here’s one last fabulous site,
filled with an abundance of
decorating tips & ideas!
Check out these fun vision boards…
{Project Nursery}
