Clothes, Clothes, Clothes!

I've had a few people ask me what online websites I've been finding cute clothes on. So, instead of just writing an email to everyone, I thought I'd just post them on here. So, here's a list of cute, more affordable clothes:
http://www.downeastbasics.com/ My mom actually works in the corporate office. They have tons of cute clothes, and even good sale items. I don't think I've ever seen anything over $35, and that would be for a dress. Super cute stuff!
http://www.charmain.mymodbe.com/web/t/Modbe2/Home.aspx?SiteID=2690&Refresh=true Modbe has some cute clothes, the only problem is you can't really shop on their homepage. So, I came across this link, it's a fashion consultant's webpage, but you can actually look at the clothes on it. I usually buy from my sister-in-law's friend, but don't have her webpage. Oh, and another great thing is that lately they've been having a Modbe Monday sale about every week where they have certain items marked down pretty cheap to clear them out.
http://www.layersclothing.com/ Layers has some good deals going on in their clearance. Last time I was in Utah we stopped at their showroom and got a ton cute shirts for under $10-$15. I haven't noticed any new items on sale lately, so maybe soon. They do still have their older clearance items, and some cute normal priced items as well.
http://www.shadeclothing.com/ Shades has a few cute things that I am waiting to go on sale. They have some really cute dresses I wish would go down in price. But, they do have a few tees/basics for cheaper right now in their clearance section, too.
http://www.jildesigns.com/ Jil Designs has some cute clothes, and everything is under $20. I got the cute Elegance skirt that I put on a previous post, for only $12. I really have liked it so far, but I've only worn it once. Very reasonable prices.
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/cutesyshoes/Store/Search.aspx?&Page=1&Sort=3&sp=0.01&ep=10.00 I came across this website the other day. Cutsey girl has some really cute shoes for under $10. I don't know how comfortable they are, but there are tons of really cute ones! They also sell clothes, but nothing that really jumped out at me and some of them were pretty pricey. But, check out the sale shoes!
http://www.jenmagazine.com/contents.php Jen magazine is an online magazine, but if you go into the fashion section in the shopping directory she has a few websites listed. If you go to the bottom, there is a list where you can select a clothing item (shirts, dresses, etc.), and it will take you onto a list of cute clothes she found on amazon. Some are more expensive, some are cheaper. If you find a good price that you like, you can go in and click on the brand and it will show you other stuff by the same brand. It looks like it might be due for an update, but there are still cute things!
http://www.classiccloseouts.com/ This is the company that sent the shirt and other skirt I got in my previous post. It's kinda a hit or miss. Some stuff is cute, some is kinda junky. But, there are good deals! Check out the Bargain Bin, too.
Well, this is the end of my list for now. I will try to find more, but we will see what happens! Let me know if anyone knows any good websites I missed! Happy shopping, and sorry to those of you I promised an emailed list to a week or two ago!

I Need Your Opinion-Would You Eat This?

So, it turns out we are going out to dinner tonight at Sweet Tomatoes with Ben's family. I guess it's a scout fundraiser thing and Anna's in scouts, so we are going to go support the scouting program. Ben has school, so he won't be coming, but Baylee and I are going. So, since I have to take a family dinner tonight, I'm going for easy. I was thinking a salad, of course, and then I was thinking I'd make a pizza. Ben and I get fresh pizza crust, then get a lettuce wrap mix kit. It has the chicken mixture that you put in the lettuce wraps and some sauce. So, instead of marinara sauce, I use the sauce that comes with it (a seasame ginger sauce) and then put the chicken mixture over top of that, then the silver noodles, and then cover it all with cheese. It's actually pretty good. For dessert, I just made some chocolate turtles, which I've taken over with me before for her birthday (I'm her v.t.). So, if someone took you this for dinner, would you be happy? Does it sound like a good dinner? Ahhhh! I get so stressed and nervous about these kinda of things! So, good idea or bad idea?

Another Reason Why Baylee Doesn't Sleep in a Crib

I'm going to sound like the worst mom ever after this, but I'll tell you all anyway.

Mondays and Wednesdays, Baylee and I go into work in the afternoon. So, today being Wednesday, we are going to work in a little bit. Baylee always takes at least one nap before we go, for about 2 1/2 or 3 hours. If she doesn't get a good nap. she's harder to deal with at work. Today she decided to wake up at 6:30, and then fell asleep for a nap at about 8:45 or 9ish, but only slept until a little after 10. So, we took a shower and got ready and then ate lunch. Then I tried for about 2 hours to get her to take a nap. She was tired, and usually it's not a problem. Today, she just didn't want to fall asleep, even though her eyes were heavy and you could tell she was tired. I tried all my tricks to try to get her to sleep, but she just wouldn't do it. So, as a last resort, I sometimes will stick her in her crib. She hates her crib, and will scream and scream until she's gags if you put her in it, and doesn't ever seem to fall asleep until its been about 2 hours or longer, and then she just sleeps for about 20 min. So, she never sleeps in her crib. She's spoiled. But, if you put her in it for a little bit and let her cry she usually wears herself out enough to fall right to sleep when you take her out. So, that was my plan. I hardly ever do this, only when I get so extremely frustrated that I don't know what else to do with her. So, I put her in her crib, walked out, and shut the door. I went into the bathroom to do my hair, and all the sudden I hear a thud. Not a loud one, but there was a thud. So, I walk into Baylee's room, and there she is lying on the floor, whimpering a little. Luckily she wasn't hurt, she was just a little in shock I think. She settled down pretty fast and she did go right to sleep, but it made me feel so bad. I don't know how she managed that one, her side rails go up to about the top of her shoulders, so it's not like it should have been an easy task for her to climb out of. Poor little Baylee! Well I learned my lesson, no more crib for her anytime soon!

Dinner Ideas, Anyone?

So, I was just emailed and asked to take dinner to someone in our ward who had a baby almost two weeks ago. Seeing how I've never had to take anyone dinner before and nobody brought us dinner when I had Baylee or any other time, I don't really know what to take them. We usually just have a quick reheated frozen type dinner at home since Ben gets home late, but I'm all for cooking them something. I kinda feel like I should cook an actual meal, too, since anyone can throw a frozen meal in a skillet or an oven or microwave, etc. It's just hard to know what to cook, since I don't know what they like and don't like... Also, do I take a dessert, too? Who doesn't like dessert, but if people have been taking them dinner for almost two weeks do they have tons of desserts already or left over Thanksgiving desserts? So, everyone please let me know any suggestions on what to make a family with a new baby, and a 16 month old! I need your help!

15 Adults, 11 Kids, a Dog, and Lots of Pictures

We finally returned home late last night (who knew it could take 10 1/2 hours to drive from Carlsbad-don't you love holiday traffic?) from our Thanksgiving week trip, so here are some highlights and too many pictures from our trip:

Tuesday night:

We drove down to Missy's house in Ladera Ranch after Ben got home from work on Tuesday. We slept over there for the night. Baylee was a little out of it when we got there, but was happy to see a familar face-Grandma Hall was there for the night, too!

Wednesday:Wednesday we hung out at Missy's a little in the morning, and then loaded up the kids and us and went shopping at Irvine Spectrum. It's a cute little shopping center that is complete with a ferris wheel, carousel, and ice rink. It was pretty cute, and we got some last minute gifts we needed for the fam. Afterwards, we waited for Missy's babysitter while she went to work, and then left for Carlsbad. We stopped at Jenny's and hung out and had dinner, then Kathy and I had to go brave the grocery store to get food for Thanksgiving dinner and my desserts. It was a little crazy and took us a little while to find everything, but we survived. After that I made two of my desserts that needed to sit in the fridge overnight, and then we finally made it to the hotel to crash for the night.

Thursday/Turkey Day:
Thursday was a busy day. It started out at the beach for a workout/relay races compliments of Jenny, which I unfortunately don't have pictures of, so I will have to get some from Ben's parents. Even though it was 60-something degrees in the water, Baylee had a blast getting her feet wet in the ocean and playing in the sand. She got sad when we chased the birds and they wouldn't let her get close enough to play with them. It was cute to see her have so much fun at the beach, especially since last time we took her she kinda freaked out about the sand and water.
After the beach we got cleaned up and then headed to Jenny's to make food. I got my other two pies made, and Baylee had a blast with ther cousins while I was busy: Baylee loved playing with Mike. Not her Uncle Mike, the dog Mike. Although she does like her Uncle Mike, too. Her and Mea had a blast chasing Mike (the dog Mike) around.We ate a little later than scheduled, but we were all excited for food. I had to get up a few times to cook my pies, and Baylee thought she'd steal my chair while I was gone. She loves food!Baylee and Mea had a fun time together. We dressed them matching, and I even made them matching hair clips, but they wouldn't cooperate for pictures. Later we were able to get this shot of them.After dinner and dessert, we did a little Christmas party. Since we won't see each other for Christmas, we did our present exchange on Thanksgiving. Baylee sure liked presents! She tried to help open other peoples for them, and was happy when she finally got her own.Mea had Baylee's name, and Baylee loved the cute Puddlejumper shoes she gave her! She immediatly wanted her shoes off and her new green ones on. They didn't match her outfit the best, but that didn't keep her from wearing them on the rest of the night.

Friday:Friday we dodged the shopping crowds and all went to Legoland. This is one of the three rides Baylee was big enough to ride (since there is no height requirement).She eventually left my lap for her daddy's lap.Here's Brant and Simon showing how we felt about Legoland. Ok, it wasn't too bad, just not the best place for littler kids. But, it was still fun...The choo choo train was our last ride for the day. Baylee decided to sleep through the storybook boat ride, but woke up just in time for the train. Missy looks pretty excited there!
After Legoland we did a girls night/boys night thing. Girls went to dinner at Panera and got frozen yogurt, and boys had lobster that Andre had caught the night before. Then the girls hung out and played DDR on the Wii and the boys had bonding time by the fire.

Saturday:
Saturday morning, Anna, Wendy, Laura and I got up for a quick trip to the outlets. After that I dragged Ben to Islands for lunch and then the mall. We had a family dinner at Buca di Beppos at 5, and then Baylee and I went back to the hotel room to crash.Baylee caught a stuffy/runny nose and didn't sleep well during our trip which also meant I didn't sleep well (which isn't a good thing for the people around me), so we had an early bedtime Saturday night.

Sunday:Yesterday we said goodbye and finally left at about 12:30 to come home. It was a long car ride! Baylee was a little out of it when we got home. But she was excited to see her pumpkins were still there and ok.

We had fun seeing everyone and spending time with Ben's family. It was a good break and a good week. We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and we are looking forward to Christmas!

Packed Weekend

We had a busy week, which lead into a busy weekend, and it's just continuing on. So, here's a little of what we did this weekend (besides lots of laundry):

Triple Dipper:
Baylee loves to dip her food. She will sit there and dip whatever she has, suck the dip off, and then redip it over and over until the food item that holds the dip has practically disinegrated. I try to make her eat the actual thing that she's dipping, but sometimes she just won't stop. One dip she loves that surprises me is salsa. She takes after me, definetly not Ben, with a higher tolerance for spicy things. Friday night we went to Chili's and she loved the salsa, as her clothes proved on our way out of the restaurant when we finally finished. It made quite a mess, and she screamed when we made her stop eating it.

Off to work with Daddy:Ben had to go into work on Saturday to turn everything off. So, Baylee and I went with him so he didn't get lonely. We stopped and ate some lunch and then took some yummy cupcakes to his office for dessert. I was hoping Baylee would be distacted by the pumpkin cupcake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting, or the pink velvet cupcake (my favorite), but it didn't work too well. I did get her to draw her daddy a picture, and then she mostly tried to play with everything on his desk, the phone being one of the least messy. (Oh, and notice his Dad frame I got him with a ghetto picture in it? The picture is from last time Baylee and I went with him to work)Baylee and Ben at Ben's desk. Maybe he can replace the drawn picture with this one, or another picture.

Hanging out with the Millars: After we finished at Ben's work, we went over to our friends, the Millar's, house. We went out to eat at a cute diner called Jeffrey's. Afterwards, we went to their house for a little bit. McKenzie got Baylee to play with her in her room. They were playing well, and then we heard a little squeal coming out of Baylee. Baylee and McKenzie walk around the corner and I guess Baylee didn't like that McKenzie had stuck an alien hat on her head. Too cute! McKenzie then found them hats that matched a little better, but Baylee didn't quite want to wear it.We eventually got Baylee to keep it on for a minute and got this cute picture of the two of them on the couch. It was just too funny!

Crazy Hair Sunday:Sunday, Baylee fell asleep after church and woke up with crazy hair. It was almost like a combover/fro thing going on in twenty different directions on the back of her head. We were going to dinner at Ben's parents and then back to Ben's work so he could turn everything back on. So, while Baylee and I were waiting for him to finish working on homework, I did Baylee's hair. It was actually long enough to pull into two whole pigtails (ok, almost long enough-I had to use clips in the very back and front)! I thought it was kinda cute! I did spend the rest of the day redoing them though because they kept getting all messed up and falling out. That's what happens when you have a wild kid that doesn't like to sit still.

What's up for us next? We leave tomorrow for Carlsbad for Thanksgiving Vacation! Yea! We just have a lot to do before we leave..... :(

Online Shopping Addiction

One of my new "hobbies" when I am bored is looking online for cute, affordable, modest clothes. It's kinda become an addiction for me. Usually I just browse, but last week I found some cute clothes for a really good deal, and just couldn't pass them up. The exciting part was getting these in the mail this week:
This cute skirt was only about $12, and it's reversible. The other side is plain white, so I don't know how much I will actually wear that side, but it's still a very cute skirt!
This skirt was a steal for only $7. It wasn't quite what I was expecting when I ordered it, but it's still pretty cute!
This cute shirt was only $10 and also came in burgandy and black. I couldn't decide which color I wanted, but then just went for this blue one. Super cute!

So, this is what I do in my spare time. Not cleaning or laundry or something productive like I should, but shopping for clothes online. I've found some pretty good websites with great clothes! I've been really good, though, and haven't bought everything that I want. Although, there are a lot of cute things my wardrobe could benefit from. :) Has anyone else found some good websites?

The Dessert Queen

I love making desserts. So for Thanksgiving next week, we are going down to Carlsbad with Ben's whole family I volunteered myself to be in charge of dessert for the Thanksgiving meal. Ben's got a pretty big family. There are 14 adults total and eleven kids, although some of them are a little small to pig out on dessert like the rest of us (especially Mike and Laura's baby that will only be about two months old). It's still a lot of people though. So, I was planning on making a few pies. I have a really yummy caramel apple pie that I'm going to make, and I will probably do two of those. It tends to go fast. I also have a really good key lime pie that is one of my family's favorites (my little brother absolutely loves it and tries to get me to make it alot). So, now what else do I make? I was thinking about a gingerbread pumpkin trifle. I think my cousin Heather actually made it last year, and it was really yummy. The thing with that recipe is that it calls for cool whip in it, and I am not a cool whip, whip cream, any of that type of stuff, fan. It is layers of gingerbread and pumpkin and vanilla pudding and cool whip, so what could I use instead of cool whip? Do I just put it on top for those who want it, hut then would it taste kinda weird? If I make all those, they cover apple pie, pumpkin, and a fruit pie, along with one of my holiday favorites-gingerbread. Oh, I was also thinking of getting my mom's recipe for Derby pie. It's one of my favorites and is like a big chocolate chip cookie, but better. So, I guess if I made all of those I would be covered. That should be emough, right? But is there anything else that would be better or yummy? So, I need suggestions everyone! And those of you that are going to be there, are there any requests? I am really excited to make all the pies/desserts, but I just tend to get stressed out, and I need to get the recipes and a list of ingredients before we leave on Tuesday or Wednesday, and it will help me be less stressed to know what I am making. I'm super excited for Thanksgiving though! I can't wait!

Play Us a Song, Piano Baylee!

Last night we were over at Ben's parent's for Sunday dinner with them and Ben's brother and his wife and kids. We even got to see our friends, the Millars (Evan, Brooke, and McKenzie, and even Boz was there). Baylee was being a little shy while everyone was there, but turned back into her normal self, plus a little crankiness (that's what happens when you don't sleep at all the night before, Baylee). Ben was working on homework, so we were waiting on him to go home. Baylee decided to entertain herself. I walked into the living room, and this is what I saw:
Baylee couldn't quite climb up on her own, that's why she's kinda crying. So, I helped her up.
She was very happy and excited to be sitting on the piano bench playing the piano all by herself. I even caught a little on video.

She may not be a master pianist yet, but maybe when she gets a little older and with some practice (and lots of music lessons) she will get better.

Good Deal/Bad Deal

Good Deal:
These chocolate covered bananas we got Friday night at Trader Joe's. They were something like $2 or $3 for four of them. They are pretty tasty! Can you tell Baylee was excited for them? We also got Ratatouille for $16 at Target. It is a very cute movie and was worth it!

Bad Deal: Ben wanting to go for a little sushi "snack" on Saturday. The plan was to only spend about $10. We sat at the bar and they just kept bringing us different food. I was thinking that maybe it was because it was a slower time and they were getting ready for the afternoon break..... Sushi places have given us complimentary food before.... I guess Ben had asked if they had any specials and the guy misunderstood or something and gave us the special. Plus, he made us a special sushi roll, which I didn't really like much. Well, $30+ later we decided to be done. Just remember, if you think you are getting food for free, it might not really be free!

My, What a Cute...Boy You Have?!?!

So, one of my worst pregnancy nightmares is starting to happen! When I was pregnant with Baylee I was so worried that people would think she was a boy. This is one of the main reasons why I have tried to always have a headband or hairclip in her hair since she was born. She's been very cooperative so far, but recently she's started pulling out her hairbows. I try to keep them in as much as I can though. Well, it seems like lately, almost everytime she hasn't had a hairclip in her hair, which isn't often, people have been calling her a boy! I happen to think that even without a hairclip, she still looks pretty girly! Or am I just thinking this because I don't want her to look at all like a boy?
So, for Halloween I didn't let it bother me too much. I understand she was in a costume that some people could consider boyish, and she had a hood on and it was harder to see her because it was dark, etc. So, I can kinda understand with those comments. However, there have been other times when people have called her a boy. A couple nights ago, we went out to eat and there was a table with three people and a girl a little younger than Baylee (who, may I add, Ben and I at first did actually think was a boy until I got a closer look at her clothes and socks). The girl kept turning and watching us and giggling and trying to get out of her highchair. I think she was trying to play with Baylee. The guy with them made a comment about the little girl trying to come play with her boyfriend (referring to Baylee) or making Baylee the girls boyfriend or something like that! Ahhh, she's not a boy! Ben had dressed her, and she even had on jeans with a little pink dress that is too short, so sometimes she wears it as a shirt, and brown maryjane shoes. She did have on a little gray jacket, but you could still see her pink dress. Here is her and Ben after we got home from dinner. If you saw her like this would you call her a boy?:
I try to dress her pretty girly and keep her hair done like a girls, and she certainly acts girly to me! I guess there is one thing that everyone agrees on, whether they think she's a boy or can tell she's a girl, they all think she's so cute!
Maybe there are just a lot of senile people out there.

Quick Trip and Lots of Cousins!

This weekend we took a fast trip down to Southern California. Ben's twin brother, Mike, and his wife, Laura, blessed their baby yesterday, so Ben really wanted to be there for it. It was fun to see Ben's family down in Southern California and we get to make the trip again in two weeks for Thanksgiving with his family. We stayed at Ben's sister Jenny's house in Carlsbad, and got to spend a little bit of time with each family that lives down there.

Saturday we met Jenny and Andre and family and Ben's parents, who also stayed at Jenny and Andre's on Friday night, for breakfast at Panera. Their kids had soccer games all day, but they had just enough of a break in between two of the games for breakfast. Here's Ben and Nathan at breakfast.....
...and Ben and Christian.....
Jessica really liked having Baylee around.

After breakfast on Saturday, we went up to Irvine to visit Mike and Laura and Abigail at their house and then we all went out to sushi for lunch. Baylee was so excited that Mike and Laura let her hold Abigail (with mommy's help, of course)! I don't know if Abigail liked it too much, but she was a trooper and put up with it. Later we headed back to Jenny and Andre's to hang out with them and the kids for the rest of the day.

Sunday was the baby blessing and then a little luncheon at the park. Afterwards we went over and spent time with Missy and Brant and the kids before we left for what seemed like a long ride home (even though it was only 6 hours).

Baylee got to play with her cousins Charlie and Simon. She wasn't in a picture taking mood because she was so tired, so I had to act like an idiot to get her to stop crying. I must have done a good job!

It was a pretty good weekend, just a fast one! Thanksgiving will be fun and we are looking forward to spending time with everyone again, but I can't say that I am too excited to make the drive again so soon. But, it could be worse, right? Baylee did do pretty well in the car, for the most part, and got some good naps. Ben and I just could have used more sleep before we had to drive home....

Also-Happy Birthday to my dad! His birthday was on Saturday!

All Dolled Up!

Friday I was trying to get Baylee to jump in the shower, but she decided she wanted to play dress up. First she handed me her pumpkin socks, so I put them on her. Next was her brown shoes, so I put those on her. Then she decided she wanted her boots on, so we took off her brown shoes and put her boots on. After that she tried to get me to put her Halloween costume on her, but I told her maybe another time because we needed to hurry and get in the shower. She was okay with me not helping her put her penguin costume on, but then handed me a dress that was mine when I was little. So, I gave in and put that on her. She looked kinda goofy with her pjs underneath and her boots and this purple dress. But, she wasn't done yet.....
Next came a "hooter hider" cover that Laura made. So, I stuck it on her head for her. After that she was satisfied and let me put her in the shower. What a goofball!

Good Times at the Office and a Happy Halloween!

Hooray for Halloween! We had a fun day yesterday!
Here's Baylee and her Grandpa Hall at work yesterday. I think she was a little bit of a distraction for everyone yesterday. Dan had fun taking her around in her pumpkin outfit and taking pictures of her with people at the office.
Christine loves Baylee, and Baylee really likes Christine, too. Baylee likes to go in and "visit" Christine, and Christine keeps her pretty entertained. She's always giving her papers to play with and draw on, and Baylee loves it when Christine prints things on the printer. Christine was very excited when I finally put Baylee in her costume before we left work-she had been waiting for it since we showed up at work yesterday.
Baylee also likes to go in and visit Cynthia. Cynthia has a picture of her dog on her computer that Baylee loves to look at. Cynthia also gives her little things to play with and helps Baylee "use" the phone and draws her little pictures.

We went over to Ryan and Anna's last night for yummy dinner and trick-or-treating. Baylee was pretty cute in her costume, but I'm a little biased.

Baylee actually let Uncle Ryan hold her! She wanted to help pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters that came to their door, but maybe she was really trying to get more candy for herself.
I think she was a little bummed when we came back to the house and didn't go out for more trick-or-treating. She really had a lot of fun going to all the doors and getting candy. Now she keeps pointing at it at home and wanting to eat it all.