Well, I Guess This is Goodbye

For a little while anyway.

I am going to take a few weeks off.

Enjoy J and her time with us.

Spend some time with my sister Meg and her adorable kiddos while they are here for 2 weeks.

You know...

Just enjoying a little bit of SUMMER and FAMILY!!

I hope everyone will still wanna play with me when I get back. I am hoping to come back with a new attitude about blogging in general. I seem to reassess things this time of year...all things in general really. It's time for a break.

Happy...She Is HERE!!

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I actually have no words for how HAPPY this weekend was. J is here and we have been playing. A lot. We headed over to the Mushroom Mardi Gras for some good eats and fantastic people watching.

We brought Coco with us and there were lots of other dogs. She wasn't having any of it and she kept her tail tucked tight so that no-doggy could sniff her booty. I really don't think she knows she is a dog, I take full blame for that. She did get a lot of attention and "awwws" from the crowd because it was a little chilly and she wore her pink fur lined coat.

In hindsight I should not have put the smoked turkey leg in the same collage as the other pictures. OH and how funny is the photo bomb aka Big Daddy in that pic? Hilarious.
Coco was EXHAUSTED after walking and being cute for so long and she was HAPPY that grandpa wrapped her up in a blanket and she was able to ride home in his lap instead of in her car seat.

We spent Monday at Gilroy Gardens...HAPPY!!! My folks and my sister Amy and her hubz and 3 boys came with us and we met up with our friends the Sowards. It was crowded but it was a lot of fun and the kids loved every minute of it.


We are beyond HAPPY having J here for the next couple of weeks. I am debating the blog for the time she is here. I just don't see having time for it. I will make a decision on taking time away by end of day tomorrow. Stay tuned...in the meantime...what is making your Happy List this week?

A 'little bit' Of Confessing

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I Confess...

I FINALLY created a page, for all of my crafty goodness, on Facebook. Mostly just hair pretties that my mom and I have made.

My friend Myya lent me her DARLING girls and our friend MiMi took pictures of the little ladies modeling some of my creations. They are adorable...the girls and the hair pretties.


I would LOVE for you to LIKE my FB page little bits boutique. Let me know you like it and you will be entered into a drawing for a headband of your choice :)

I Confess...

I feel the need to take pictures of teens and women wearing some of the headbands too so that people know that they are not just for little girls.

I have no idea when I will find time to do this, but it needs to happen.

I Confess...

I created the Facebook page because I was feeling guilty (and stupid) about not setting up an Etsy shop. I wish I could just get someone to do that for me. It's too confusing.

I Confess...

I am having a girl's day with my mom today. I have really been looking forward to it.

Speaking of my mom...she didn't love when I posted this picture on Facebook Wednesday.


But really, I could not help myself. How awesome is her expression?

I Confess...

I wonder how she will feel now that I shared it on my blog?

What are YOU confessing this week?!

Random Much? WWTK wk58

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A

Hosted by Mamarazzi and Crazymama<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/WWTKbutton-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="null"></a></center>
First of all I am SO sorry about last week. My internet was down for DAYS and I just never made it back to answer questions or visit blogs. I intend to be better this week and visit everyone. I am asking the questions this week and Mama is feeling random...

{1} Tell us about your job/daily routine.
{2} What is your favorite place in your home to relax? (bonus points for a pic)
{3} Summer cool treat...popsicle or icecream?
{4} Be sweet to yourself, list 3 things you LIKE about YOU!
{5} If someone saw my __________ I would likely die of embarrassment!

{1} Tell us about your job/daily routine.
Well I do a few things, but I guess what I do for a living aka my "job": I develop curriculum for preschools, write for a parenting website and I work for Pepperidge Farm and their Goldfish Smiles program. I am also in the process of enrolling my Young Learners Preschool Enrichment Program.

{2} What is your favorite place in your home to relax? (bonus points for a pic)
Most def my back yard. We LOVE anytime we can hang out there. It small and cozy and made for chillax'n. It is 100% set up for entertaining and I love it.



{3} Summer cool treat...popsicle or ice cream?
Popsicle or shaved ice...all the way. Ice cream is good but it is not for cooling off, in my opinion!

{4} Be sweet to yourself, list 3 things you LIKE about YOU!
I am a fantastic mom/wife, an amazing auntie and I am a LOT of fun to hang around.

{5} If someone saw my __________ I would likely die of embarrassment!
Closet...it is a HOT mess right now. OH and maybe my laundry room, it is usually pretty clean since it doubles as a pantry and we have to walk through it a million times a day to get to the garage. But yeah both are pretty embarrassing right now.


All posts for We Want to Know should include:
1. The darling WWTK button
2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi and Crazymama
Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!  

Happy She is Coming Home...for a little bit

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I am so HAPPY that this gorgeous girl will be here for 2 weeks starting on Friday!

AND her sweet boyfriend Isaiah will come for a weekend during her time with us too. HAPPY that he is a nice kid and we are looking forward to getting to know him better and show him Monterey and a few other places around here that he has never been.

I am also VERY HAPPY that the migraine I have had since FRIDAY is finally gone. I swear I don't think I have ever had one that bad. Its a good thing that Big Daddy was working back to back doubles because I was a hot mess y'all.

I am so HAPPY I finally have one of these darling Family Rules subway art for my home. I love it, it makes me smile when I read it and I am already applying the rules to my own life.


So, what is on YOUR Happy list this week?

Whitney Farms

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Whitney Farms for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

OK guys, you know Mama does not have a green thumb. BUT i really love a beautiful garden. Like this one at my in laws B&B

Seriously, so pretty. But I don't have a green thumb.

But I am super excited for ME and people like me.

Introducing Whitney Farms® a full line of 100% natural plant foods and soils with no additives, nothing artificial, just ingredients from the Earth, designed to give you big, beautiful flowers and veggies.

Yep, you can now get the goodness of gardening naturally, with Whitney Farms® plant foods and soils.

Whitney Farms® has 25+ years of leading gardening experience and has improved their products to have: 

-low to no dust 
-no manure odor 
-easy to apply 
-Contains beneficial microbes 
-Specially designed protein-based blends provide your plants with 
both macro and micronutrients they need to grow and thrive

I am not usually an "oooh it's organic, gotta have it" person. BUT this year I really want to grow a garden and since we just moved into this house, I have no idea what the previous residents have done to the soil.

So organic soil for the fruits and veggies I am going to be serving my family is EXACTLY what I need.

And ummm, starting with good soil is the perfect first step, right?

So using Whitney Farms® organic plant food is the next step in the right direction. I almost seems like there is no way to mess it up.

OH and you know I like to save a buck or two so I m super stoked about the $3 coupon. Check it out.

I Confess A Time Machine WOULD Be Nice...

It is 2:45am on Friday. My internet has been down since Wednesday. I think another day without it and my head would have exploded....I am WAY behind on visiting blogs and replying to email. PLEASE just grant me a pass....<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/FridayConfessionalMamarazzi.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>
I Confess...

Reading MiMi's post for today made me wish for the same time machine she is wishing for. I am so ready for Summer.

I am so ready for MiMyMa 2012...a week at a house on the Oregon Coast is EXACTLY what I need right now and it cannot come soon enough.

MiMi linked the VLOG we made last Summer...and I just got done watching it.

I Confess...

It made me all kinds of warm and fuzzy. I am sitting here in my house, alone, laughing my booty off.

Add to this that today Big Daddy and I were at the market today and as we were getting bananas he said, "We need to remember to take some overly freckled bananas with us to MiMyMa, so Myya can make us banana bread"

Yes...she makes amazing banana bread, I do not bake, Big Daddy has not forgotten the day he came home to the fresh baked goodness that Myya whipped up while he was at work.

I Confess....

I REALLY miss these girls!!!

So I went searching my archives for the MiMyMa VLOG and I am posting it for y'all.








And if THAT is not enough I am posting a Friday Confessional from when they were here last Summer too...

I Confess....

It. Cracked. Me. Up.

Enjoy...

I Confess...

I laughed way more than any person should be allowed this last week. Seriously, I actually feel bad for EVERYONE in ALL THE WORLD for not getting in on the hilarity that was MiMyMa.

I Confess...

When we were at Baskin Robbins for dollar scoop night Myya and I looked over and saw that MiMi had some serious butt crack showing. We laughed WAY more than any good friends should. THEN Myya took a picture with her phone and texted it to MiMi.

Myya and I almost peed laughing so hard...and had to wait until we got home for MiMi's reaction because she left her phone at home.

I Confess...

When we got home and MiMi went to her room and then went to bathe her boys...she didn't say anything about the text. So I worried that it hurt her feelings, even though I was still pretty sure she would think it was funny.

Until...

Myya got a text that said, "I felt like it was showing but it is way uglier than I ever imagined"

I Confess...

We laughed even harder. Hilarious. I love these girls.

I Confess...

The first night the girls were here MiMi said the words, "I would shank her ass" but instead of sounding gangsta she sounded like an 80 yr old woman from Minnesota.

Since then every once in a while one of us will just randomly say, "I would shank her ass" in a Minnesota accent...it kills us EVERY time.

I Confess...

Myya cracks me up. She does really random stuff...like dirty dancing all up on people. Well not just any people, mostly just me.

I Confess...

I think she was surprised by my reaction the first time she did it. I laughed. I am not sure what she expected. But I thought it was awesome. What does that say about me?

I Confess...

I might have peed a little when Myya did the Tarzan yell and did this...

She is FUNNY.

I Confess...

I have watched the VLOG MiMi, Myya and I made a few times since they left. I miss them.

I kind of laugh my ass off every time I watch it. At first all I noticed was how super twitchy I am, and how often I scratch my head. I swear I do not have mange.

Then I watch it again and a facial expression MiMi makes has me rolling.

Then I watch it again and something Myya said under her breath has me looooosing it!

I Confess...

I am really glad that we have that VLOG to watch over and over and over again. Have you seen it yet? Did it make you laugh too? Or...was it just me?

Sooooo what are you confessing this week?

Spa Weekend? YES, please!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bloom.com for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

How about a FREE Spa Weekend?

Win a spa vacation for 4 girlfriends!

An all expenses paid at the luxury 5 star Aria hotel.

Yep, a FOUR Girlfriend Luxury Spa Weekend in Vegas.

YES, really!!!

Ummm, I don't know about YOU but I personally could use an all expenses paid luxury spa weekend.

Add 3 of my closest girlfriends and I am triple in.

Add to that how EASY it is to enter and I am WAY in.

So, want to be entered?

All you have to do is join Bloom.com AND it is FREE to enter.

Yep, that's it.

You've heard about Bloom.com haven't you?

Bloom.com is a social beauty network ­that is revolutionizing the way that 
women find and buy the right products.

At Bloom.com you are able to discover the right products for your personalized needs based on the unbiased feedback on your BeautyMatches and what is trending in the social world.

Sharing with your friends is not only awesome for them, it benefits you.

How? You ask...well, for every friend who joins you get an extra spa weekend entry, and for every friend who joins & buys you receive a $25 credit to your account (No Limit!).

And really Bloom.com is awesome because, Bloom has 10,000 items from 150+ top brands.

AND, purchases come with free gifts and 10% back in Bloom Dollars. First time purchasers can get 30% back on their first order.

The thing I love MOST about Bloom.com is that within Bloom.com you can read unbiased feedback on your BeautyMatches and what is trending in the social world.

It's like have a group of friends telling you what they REALLY think about the latest and supposed greatest. I love an honest opinion and real feedback on products.

OH, and get this, Bloom.com is also part of the pepperjam & linkshare affiliate networks paying 8% on all orders for any bloggers who are interested.

Bloggers rock, we deserve perks like this, right?

Bloggers with very large or unique followings can also apply to be a Bloom Ambassador for additional benefits

Friends WWTK wk57

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A

Hosted by Mamarazzi and Crazymama<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/WWTKbutton-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="null"></a></center>
This week, the questions are brought to you by Crazymama, and this is what she sent me: "I realized last week i have amazing friends so i'm wondering about yours. we want to know about your friends. tell us about them, name names or don't,  link up if they have a blog. "

{1}I have found myself jealous/envious of this friend because...
{2}I admire this one for her _________ (insert admirable quality) and tell us about them.
{3}I really love this blog friend because...
{4}I was stuck on a desert island I would want to be with this friend...
{5}I think the best qualities in a friend are...

All posts for We Want to Know should include:
1. The darling WWTK button
2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi and Crazymama
Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!  

Happy to Mother

<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/MyHappyList-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>
I am soooo HAPPY that I had the most incredible Mother's Day.
Big Daddy, Coco and I went to the North Bay to spend Sunday with my wonderful Mother in law. We had an amazing time.
We jumped in the car at 3am to hit the road and be there by 6am. Watching the sunrise as we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge.
I was a foggy cold morning but it was BEAUTIFUL just the same.



Living so close to San Francisco makes me really HAPPY.

Spending time at my in laws B&B was so nice. It ended up being a gorgeous sunny day, perfect weather to spend the day in the garden with family.

Coco was soooo HAPPY to play ball with Big Daddy's cousin Christine's little boy Tyler.

It was so cute watching them play together. I cannot wait to give Coco some little "siblings" she loved having the undivided attention of this 4 yr old darling boy.


Watching Big Daddy with Tyler was another reminder to me that I want to have a million babies with this man just so they can have him for a daddy.






Jordan called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day, that was a special and unexpected treat. I expect that she spend this day focused on her bio-mom, makes perfect sense. So a call from her made me feel loved and appreciated...and of course HAPPY!

I am HAPPY that I am able to mother, Jordan and even my little Coco, who loves her mama.

I am HAPPY that we are adding to our family and that maybe next year at this time Mother's Day will have an even MORE personal feeling to it for me.

I LOVE being an Auntie, being an Auntie makes me REALLY HAPPY!!! My sister Amy and my sister in law Melinda left me lovely messages on my Facebook Wall:

Amy said: "Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for all you do for me and my boys! It takes a village and I am really lucky you are part of my village! I love you!"

Melinda said: "Thank you HolleeAnn for being an awesome mom to Jordan and Aunt to all your nieces and nephews. I know my kids are very lucky and blessed to have you in their life. They absolutely love coming to your house and playing with you and Uncle Paul. Camp Vasquez is their favorite and will be something they can talk about the rest of their lives.
I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!!! We love you tons!!! Thank you for being you!!"


When each of my sisters and sisters in law celebrated their FIRST Mother's Day I gave them all a special gift just to express how excited I am for them. Celebrating ALL mothers who are actually mothering their children  is a beautiful thing.

My sister in law Kristie just had her baby and this is her first Mother's Day...my daddy sent me this email after her special gift arrived in Colorado:

"HolleeAnn, we were here when your mothers day package arrived for Kristie.  HolleeAnn you continue to amaze me. What a wonderful thing to do just when it was most needed.  Benjamin is so cute and is loved, but he is making  a major change to this little family.  
Thank you for your thoughtfulness!  You have a great ability to choose things and your timing is amazing.  It was very appreciated here.
Love you.
Dad"

Sweet right? Having people in my life who KNOW my heart and my intentions and allow me to love their children makes me really HAPPY!!

On the same note, knowing MYSELF and the pure intentions of my heart I am HAPPY to tell people who say ugly things to and about me when I only have the best of intentions to SUCK IT (how is that for so called passive aggressive?)

And finally but most importantly...

I was HAPPY to talk to MY Mom on the phone yesterday and I am HAPPY that they are on their way home after almost 2 months away from home. I have really missed her but I am glad that she and my dad got a chance to go and see my sister Meg for 4 weeks and my brother Scotty and his wife and new baby for a few weeks.

I am HAPPY my mom will be home tomorrow so I can show her she is appreciated and loved by ME!