tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137716304997072962024-03-07T22:33:45.380-08:00CHAIGHAThis blog is my place to discuss food, photography, dreams, love, living & hoping, creating and designing.Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-5915485141549028482019-11-04T06:54:00.001-08:002019-11-04T06:54:47.906-08:004 years later...Good morning my girl,<br />
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The time rolled back an hour yesterday so I find myself up at 6am instead of 7am and you still in bed, this is rare. You sort of have a mom beacon and like to stay within my range. As much as a few moments solo are lovely in the morning for some personal centering, I really do love your presence. Your morning snuggles satisfy my soul deeply. I hope they continue.You will always find my arms open and my nook available.</div>
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There was a time that I was sick being your warm snuggle buddy. Sick of being the only one that could do bedtimes. I nursed you to sleep for over three years every night and didn't earn a moment of solo evening time until I'd completed my stealth mission of sneaking my arm out from under you then silently lifting my body off your bed and across a creaky old floor. If the mission was a failure it was back to bed till I could try it again. I just wanted to sit in my own bed solo, maybe read a book, sip wine, watch a show while holding your dads hand or hangin in his nook to recharge.</div>
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So I was happy once bedtimes became something that any parental warm body could do. Your dad is much more stealth than I am anyways.</div>
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But now you're 7. So big. The days less painfully slow and I find myself without complaint and with you at bedtime almost every night. I don't have to wait to leave til you are off in dreamland now. </div>
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I'm aware my days as your main girl might be numbered and that a 17 year old probably doesn't need a bedtime story so here I stay till you ask me to go away. </div>
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Trying to create something long and strong that will carry us through teenage years. Will you always share you rose, thorn and bud with me?</div>
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I love hearing about your day. The ups and downs. What you look forward to. </div>
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We only have so long with each other. I came across a blog I'd written yesterday that I forgot about. You were always who I imagined reading it. Maybe I'll even put this one on there and take it back up. I hope you don't see the slowed down posts and emails to you as a sign of anything. I use to have so much I wanted to say and you couldn't absorb it but now you can and you are so with it. So bright, So so sharp.</div>
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For sure, you will be a better arguer than me one day and probably sooner than later to be honest. You have that balanced Libra mind. Mine is more emotional. That was goal after all. To give you stability. </div>
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The other night you and a dear friend of yours were having a hard time and I could see her on the brink of tears. Not solely because of you but the situation and a sense of jealousy over something you had. Anyways, I spoke to her privately and tried to help her move through but I offered a solution that left you upset and through your tears you were able to verbalize quite well that you felt I was creating a solution that made your friend happy at the expense of your unhappiness and that was just as unfair. You didn't yell, thrash or whine. You were calm, centered and had your own tears falling down your face. What composure you had. </div>
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Luckily you girls sorted it out but it showed me something I needed to see. </div>
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You are so strong Aurelia without being afraid to be vulnerable. </div>
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I'm proud of you my girl. </div>
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I will sit by this fire and keep the sweetgrass and sage burning till you rise. My arms ready to embrace you for our morning snuggles. </div>
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Love, Mama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-43894955104534790702015-09-15T21:20:00.000-07:002015-09-15T21:20:19.010-07:00flats eyes, FULL HEART.The pure exhaustion. The reluctant acceptance of exhausting.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The hours of rest that you will never get back ever. PERIOD.</span><div>
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I remember growing up and having to get up early for school. What a drag it was but then the weekend came round and it was sleep in city. Lounge around living after Saturday morning chores were done. </div>
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The stakes got higher in college, you'd have to wait a bit longer for good ole R&R but then the semester would end, sickness would overcome your body and you'd enter a bearlike hibernation for a few days then be off running, fun filled days and nights capped by sleeping in as late as humanly possible. </div>
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20's brought work weeks and chill weekends. A lot of downtime, TV time, everything but those 40 hours of work done on your own time. </div>
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I use to come home from work, hop into bed with my cat and a book for a solid 30 minutes to relax then often hit the couch for a few more hours of heavy remote lifting. Maybe hop up to make a salad or just beg my hub to open the wine and order in.</div>
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But clocks tick tock and you find yourself asking the question of well, I guess we might as well try right, just 10 days after closing papers on your first home. </div>
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In our case there was no trying, just succeeding. </div>
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And now as a mother of an almost three year old I am at levels of exhausting that I couldn't ever fathom before. My man and I are zombies. Fully addicted to caffeine. Our morning hello's are grumbles of a version of how our sleep was unsatisfactory in length and shitty in depth. </div>
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There are no weekends off, no sleep ins until the clock reaches double digits. </div>
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I've nursed through food poisoning and roto-virus as well as EVERY NIGHT of her life. </div>
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I'm not even being a Martyr just a mother. Same as millions & billions that have chosen to forever forgo sleep and spawn.</div>
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The new normal is a one with a face that tingles from lack of sleep and breasts full of caffeine scented milk. </div>
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Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-83804453050527752222014-03-26T20:15:00.000-07:002014-03-26T20:15:09.645-07:00A letter to Aurelia<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
You have been on this earth for a year and a half, for exactly 548 days. Sometimes it feels like how has it really been that long and other times I can't remember life without you. Before you it was just your Dad and I for about 7 years and before that there was me, alone, for 26. All three "eras" have been well lived and enjoyed but this last year and a half have been extraordinary. I am so deeply in love with your little spirit, with your soul, with how you enjoy life and how you relate to me and your Dada. Don't ever feel pressure or overwhelmed by my love though little one for I am a lover, it is my path in life to love you so immensely but it is not yours to ever feel like you have to hold yourself up to my love in ways that you don't want to. I will always love you for who YOU are not who you think I want you to be. That is the gift of motherhood and you were the one who taught it to me, I thank you for that. </div>
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I've been a better wife because of what I've learned while being your mom and I've been even kinder to myself, family and friends. I'm learning more about myself and what feeds my soul just as you too are learning who you are in this world. </div>
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You love to be chased and we love chasing you whenever you say Chase! You know when you are scared though you call it sayca when helicopters fly overhead. Luckily, on our flight to my dads and back this past week you didn't get sayca. You just hung out on the plane, sometimes in your own seat (we flew first class and had most of it too ourselves) eating snacks, walking around and on the way home you slept in my arms. </div>
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I think you had a blast at my dads riding on the tractor with him, chasing the alpacas, finding all the Buddhas outside and then trying to sit in their laps, climbing in the big tee pee and playing with the baby chicks. We met cousin Kai for the first time, you liked saying baby but most certainly did not like when I held him. Not to mention you are cutting some serious teeth and that always puts you in mama mode. It was very warming to see your reaction to me holding another baby and also reconfirms the decision that we are most likely not having any other kids. We feel like with you our family is complete. I sincerely hope that this is a decision you will be OK with throughout your life and know we made the decision out of love for you and for ourselves. </div>
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Tonight you feel asleep on me an hour before your bedtime and as I carried you into your room I felt the weight of your growing body on my heart. How big you are, how quick you are growing. No longer a baby but you will always ALWAYS be my baby and I will always love you as such.</div>
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Love, Mama</div>
Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-90565673418678905662013-08-04T23:03:00.002-07:002013-08-04T23:19:27.659-07:00Quickest year of my lifeWell that wasn't too snappy. Said I'd be right and look what happened...it took me a year to get back here. Guess I was busy birthing then raising that baby but the good news is we did it! We kept her alive! She's even thriving and happy. Drug free birthed and formula free fed so I guess it's no wonder it took me so long. I mean who really gives a shit though. I just write this for me, as a journal that I can visit and for you my darling daughter, Aurelia. When I write, it's always you I picture as my reader.<br />
A year ago, I was huge...house huge. The stretch marks that I currently sport where forming on my underbelly unbeknownst to me. My feet were my worst enemy and I was starting to dream about giving birth and getting the baby out! That is the blessing of getting huge, for the first time you aren't afraid of birth, you welcome it. The bullet you need in your gun to put you out of that misery. I went 10 super long days overdue but I had her at home as intended. Drug free, excruciating pain but drug free and I was instantly in love when she emerged. My hub was so amazing and likes to say the home birth was really a gift for him because he was able to be involved and bond with her immediately. TMI alert: there was a moment when they locked eyes while she was venturing out. I think in that moment he became a dad. Super intense magical stuff right there. Don't get me started, I could write for days about those two...together they are what my dreams are exactly made of and they bring me to tears and are the cliche to my heart but let's not have a collective puke/cryfest. Lets keep this in recap zone.<br />
Best part hands down of the whole birthing experience besides getting that baby on my chest and just holding, seeing, feeling, sniffing, kissing, witnessing her existence was an hour later after I had rinsed, dressed and gotten into bed. Holding my baby, next to my wonderful man, we laid in bed as a family with our now extended family around us and had a sip of champagne. At that moment, yes I was sore, but that's it. I was alert and engaged. I was a mom and I felt like I could run around the world if my daughter needed me too. It was the highlight of my life.<br />
Since then, the magic has continued to unfold on the daily in small and mountainous ways. With first laughs, blue eyes, teeth emerging, hands clapping, full diapers, fingers wrapped around my neck, in nursing and latching, midnight snuggles and countless other ways.<br />
My husband has become so much more. He's a father, a provider, a genuine adult and more than I could ever have hoped for. He fixes things. Like orders parts off the internet and fixes our ice maker for instance. That is more than I ever hoped for and he does it. He also loves our nugget to bits and has coined some awesome nicknames for her. Rookie Roo, Papa Yugi, Nuggie ( I know everyone has this one but..) Some real winners.<br />
And me, I've had such a huge year! I've been with our babe everyday. Such a blessing. I've met some amazing other moms and their awesome babes. We've decorated our home, finally can say that every interior wall has been created purposefully and painted. I'm back to my old body for the most part. Nursing is officially my favorite work out of all time. Burns the calories, if only it toned. Our pace of life is much slower but damn if I don't stay so busy all day. This housewife shit is no joke. Laundry, groceries, watering plants, a little paperwork and my day is done. I have spent a fair amount of time writing just not online. I've got a gratitude journal going, a baby book of her monthly changes and I write Aurelia emails. I can't talk with her and I so badly want to communicate so this is our compromise and time capsule for her to read one day.<br />
Well bedtime I realize is upon my sleepy eyes so with this I will leave to wonder when I will next post...a week, a year...hmmm<br />
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Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-53087349744699363752012-06-05T13:56:00.002-07:002012-06-05T13:56:50.975-07:00The joys of pregnancyWell, I've gone public on facebook that I'm pregnant so here is the blog about it! I'm in my 6th month and have to say, I'm loving it. The whole experience has been 98% amazing. The 2% of ick comes from fears/financial stress (maybe it should be a few more percents in truth but I HATE to lead with fear, instead I trust trust TRUST in the universe to provide) and the other 1% is from the 2 times I've wanted to take pain relief SO BAD but didn't. Like today, I'm dealing with a whiplash like neck pain and have no idea where it stems from but my neck is on fire and the pain is so intense. I've put Arnica gel on it and felt minor relief for a few minutes but nothing long term or seriously pain relieving. <br />Sidenote, I listen to KPFK every morning on the way to work and they are in the middle of the longest fund-drive but one of the gifts they are hoping to tempt peoples donation with are Dr. Mario Martinez, The Mind Body Code DVD's. They play his clips and it's very interesting and inspiring to lead with your thoughts. So I'm trying to convince myself that this feeling of pain isn't real, that I feel great. Not super successful but I'll keep it going because there's not much else that can be done.<br />Back to the lovely 98% though, that's the good stuff. I have so much love and good energy flowing through me and around me. It's so important to me to keep the yuck out of my life and body. I don't need it and neither does my baby. I believe the ride she's having in me right now is doing a lot to inform her of the world she's about to come into. A world I hope she feels stress free in, loved...oh so loved, open to explore who she is and follow her passions. <br />
It has been amazing to watch my body grow and change. Even better is to be sharing it with my partner who is giving me so much love, compassion and support. And a lot of food squeezes and help up when it's just too hard to get off the ground by myself. Seriously carrying around an extra 20 pounds ONLY in the front of my body is intense on my balance and comfortability. I'm so thankful for the Snoogle pillow. A must buy for any preggo's you know. It is my saviour at night. <br />
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I'll post soon about the books, classes and ways I'm preparing for my home birth as that is in my mind super share worthy information and I would love to hear back from mommas and mommas to be, especially any who've gone the home birth/midwife route as well. xox<br />Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-71888656354278571362012-04-23T14:52:00.000-07:002012-04-23T14:52:53.596-07:00adding feathers to our nest...<div style="text-align: center;">
So we bought the house, now we are having a baby and have finally dug into some actual house projects. Feels like we are living some sort of American suburban dream or something. Nothing has really changed but our address and the size of my belly but it does feel like we are right where we were always meant to be. Happy together and growing our life. It doesn't feel too radical (as in extreme, it does feel cool/rad) being pregnant. The biggest trip these days is just watching my body grow and to see a different profile when I look in the mirror than I've ever had before. I know this feeling is minimal to the way my life will grow and change with the arrival of our munchkin but beyond day dreaming and imagining I have no actual factual idea of how my days will be come this fall. I know without a doubt that my heart is growing even more than my big ole belly. I feel so full of love and happiness. I know I'm so lucky to have a supportive husband and family. I also know, that the love I feel today is probably tiny when compared to how much I'll love our child. And with that love comes paradoxical fear, how fun! Fears of parental failures, fears of losing myself, financial fears and the fear of having it all and then losing it but I'm guessing this is normal and fortunately I'm keeping those thoughts at bay because honestly, there is just no room left in this body for fears. Especially now that my creative mind is kicking in and demanding A LOT of attention. </div>
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I usually blog way more about home projects because I love decorating & design so much however the last 4 months have been pretty full and overwhelming just with moving into our home (our forth move of the year). And it's definitely taken some time to discover what our flow here would be. As it is our first home and we can literally do ANYTHING to it, we've had to decide what anything would look like. The house we bought was a flip so basically it's brand new inside but not necessary all our style and we can't afford to redo everything we don't love but we've finally started picking away at the smaller projects. </div>
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Here's what we've done so far.</div>
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~~Repainted the front door & shutters in the front a deep blueish grey. They were an orange brown before, it was awful. Our home & style is much more in the range of cool tones than warm. I wish we had darker wood floors but we are just lucky to have wood at all so absolutely no complaints.</div>
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~~We put in some fruit trees and 2 raised garden beds for veggies in the backyard. </div>
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Still need to stain the wood.</div>
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~~Fireplace in the living room was very blah before (upper left pic) so it's been painted and refinished to be more of a rustic and darker aged brick. Soon the walls in this room will be a very dark matte grey. </div>
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~~Next up, changing out the ugly green granite counter tops in the bathrooms to a delicious crema marfil that my mother in law gifted us with. We went fancy on it and purchased top of the counter sinks that happily didn't break the bank. The added counter space in the master (top pic) was much needed and I love the squared off edging. It completely changed the whole space. The bathroom walls in the master are now a light grey to play off the grey walls of the bedroom. Feels VERY grown up and chic. We still need to pick out a color for the guest (bottom pic) bathroom and it seems like we are leaning towards a light green/blue with more of a grey (theme of our house!) tone to it.</div>
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Then this weekend we put up these new side wall lamps that give us so much more side table space and look really nice in our room (on sale at o.co). I'm so happy with the look. I still haven't figured</div>
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My nesting instinct has been centered around us and getting our creature comforts addressed so that we can comfortably start our life as parents but soon we will start getting the nursery ready! We have a few ideas but we don't know yet which ones will stick. Oh and the dreaded garage lays ahead, ugh. More to come.....</div>
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</div>Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-16316175448630593192012-03-30T15:26:00.000-07:002012-03-30T15:26:10.816-07:00Adventures with Coconut Flour....PIZZA!!!We've been dipping our toe in the recipe pool of gluten free -- Specifically using coconut flour. <br />
My guy is eating a full on ketogenic diet these days so in order for him to have anything resembling a carb we've been cooking with coconut flour. So far he's perfected coconut pancakes and we've made coconut flour cupcakes with a delicious cream cheese frosting but he's been craving the savory taste of bread with cheesy goodness in the form of PIZZA! So I found what looked like a simple enough recipe online and luckily we had all of the ingredients <a href="http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com/index.cfm/2010/1/15/herbed-gluten-free-coconut-flour-pizza-crust">http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com/index.cfm/2010/1/15/herbed-gluten-free-coconut-flour-pizza-crust</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HYsRiIRUpO4/T3Yx8iLz6BI/AAAAAAAAAcw/_PYk0FxM70w/s1600/pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HYsRiIRUpO4/T3Yx8iLz6BI/AAAAAAAAAcw/_PYk0FxM70w/s1600/pizza.jpg" /></a></div>I liked that the use of herbs in the dough overpowers any sweetness from the coconut flour so you can really embrace the savory tastes of the dish. The only issue was flipping the dough at 10 minutes in as it sticks to the parchment paper, but he figured out that by icing the opposite side of the paper for a moment it helped to release the dough on the other side. <br />
We topped ours with a mix of alfredo and tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and our favorite Salami from whole foods (wine & garlic, non-nitrate). I may have thrown some marinated artichoke hearts on mine because I'm an addict but that's another post. They were super delicious and satisfying as was having company in the kitchen for me. Cooking & shopping together for new ingredients has been so rewarding for me. I love anything that we can do together!!Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-59150810818930427132012-03-26T10:44:00.000-07:002012-03-26T10:44:13.928-07:00Rainy day perfectionI love a rainy weekend, especially a rainy Sunday like yesterday. When I wake up to the sound of rain a romance washes over me that fills me with sepia toned ideas for snuggling away the day. First a delicious breakfast made together, sipping teas while watching TV all snugged up on the couch with blankets & cats. Then I skipped off to do a little rainy day shopping with my mom, found a cute new lunch spot then back home to my babe. Grocery shopping together, which for us is fun. We like to pick out healthy tasty treats for the week including a yummy new unsweetened cocoa powder that we warmed up with coconut milk, stevia, vanilla, cinnamon and topped with homemade whipped cream. Such a Delicious rainy weekend treat. <br />
I painted the bedroom a gorgeous shade of grey while he hung with some friends and shot some rainy & random YouTube vids. <br />
Then back on the couch for Mad Men and homemade chicken veggie soup. It's been 17 months since the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce graced us with their presence and it was good to have them back. <br />
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The only thing better than Sunday was our Saturday night but some days and dates are meant to be private;)Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-67030893484108993652012-03-14T15:00:00.000-07:002012-03-14T15:00:22.459-07:00Don't take a cheat!I was reminded the other night while watching Smash just how much people cheating makes me uncomfortable. I always skip to the end of the scene when its on.<br />
I wasn't always like this, I could watch it and shit I could even do it but once I learned my lesson you could say that lesson was my new moral code.<br />
My husband is the same way and I love that about us. We don't like movies centered around cheating -- Unfaithful, no thanks. It makes us both squirmy and sick. We are not puritanical people by any means, not religious at all really but we both hold a strong belief that it is not how we are going out. <br />
Seriously, been there -- yuck that, so not for me.Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-28024099984131683922012-01-12T12:22:00.000-08:002012-01-12T12:22:42.847-08:00Can't get no....storage satisfactionWe've lived in 4 places in the last year but now finally we are settling into our home and trying to solve the problem that is lack of storage. Specifically our bedroom closet is not big enough for both of our stuff so it's time to buy an armoire. These seem magical as a kid, a standing wardrobe big enough to hide in but I'm just finding that it's challenging to find one that isn't too big as it'll be taking up precious floor space and that looks good. Oh yeah, and at a deal as we are house rich, cash poor these days. <br />
The PAX wardrobe system from Ikea seemed like an option but man is it BIG. Too big for us. <br />
Scouring craigslist is a part time job these days.<br />
We are also looking for storage shelves for our garage. We found some good ones at Ikea but they were and are still out of stock. We clearly aren't getting much satisfaction on the storage front. Crossing my fings that the perfect items are just around the corner.<br />
Any ideas are welcome...<br />
smile, leighaLeighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-67465289043278946772011-12-19T13:14:00.000-08:002011-12-19T13:14:59.930-08:00It was good knowin ya...I was driving to work this morning from my new home in the valley. My office is located in West Hollywood, my old hood. It got me thinking about the relationship I've had with the city of WeHo these last...hold on I'm counting...6 plus years. That's a really long time, almost the whole time I've lived in Southern California except that first year we lived across the street from the beach. <br />
It feels like a meaningful relationship in my life has ended. One that needed to end but still, it's worth mourning over a little. I guess it would be harder if I didn't have to come back to work here. I can still have lunch at my usual Jaunts and stop by my old go-to stores on my way home from work. Driving down the streets near my old apartment feels extremely comfortable yet entirely changed. These aren't the streets I walk up and down on a lazy Sunday to the farmers or flea market anymore. I don't circle looking for parking on them and I will never serenade the neighborhood drunkenly with my sister again. <br />
We've been so busy setting up our new home that I've barely thought of our old neighborhood, but like the other significant places of my past, I can always picture them in my minds eye. I loved you old neighbs. Thanks for being so good to us, for having nice restaurants, colorful & festival parades, good shops and lots of clubs. <br />
It'll be awhile till I forget how hard city living can be - not to mention expensive. You are always on your toes and never have enough space to spread out. Outdoor living is limited and traffic is a constant. I'll wear my time here like a badge of honor, made of rainbow thread and glitter!Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-77727896646294441632011-12-12T12:33:00.000-08:002011-12-12T12:33:33.512-08:00Super people!!This weekend was an extremely high functioning weekend. All the months of not being able to project or improve our environment were made up for this weekend! Friday night we moved all of our things from my mom's where we've been staying for the last 4 months while looking for a house to buy. So basically with the help of a Uhaul truck and our good friend we moved in our bed and needed belongings. We actually SLEPT in our new house. It was magical I tell you!<br />
Saturday we got some breakie and headed to Lowe's for appliances. We ended up with a fridge and washer/dryer from another store and it's going to be delivered tomorrow. Our first NEW appliances! So excited and slightly holding my breath in anticipation that they actually fit. <br />
Yesterday the movers showed up with all of our stuff that had been stored and wow, do we have a lot of shit. It all seems so unneeded now.. Goodwill is going to be loving us soon!<br />
Thanks to our awesome family we got sooo much done. Most of our things are in place ~ the tree is up (fake) next year the real thing.<br />
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I can't wait to share pics but now, I gotta make that money so we can pay our mortgage!<br />
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more to come....Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-7844570701645010062011-12-02T11:15:00.000-08:002011-12-02T11:18:30.261-08:00Zephyr's Bench<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous in LA. A little windy but that just added to that wonderful feeling of being alive. Feeling nature gust around you, it really shows you just how precious life is and that we are really not the ones in control. Nature in my mind is without a doubt in charge, best to acknowledge it and try to live in communion with it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was off work a little earlier than usual yesterday so we went on a hiking exploration. C’s been wanting to find a way into the Beverly Glen Canyon reservoir for a while and yesterday we found our way. We parked in a cul de sac and made our way up a steep, grassy hill. At the top was a trail and spectacular views for 360 degrees. You could see the city, the valleys between canyons and the huge reservoir. It was breathtaking. We hiked around and came upon a bench overlooking the whole reservoir. On the bench, we found a pouch with a journal and pens. The book and bench were placed there by a guy named David who use to come to this spot with his dog Zephyr. In 1996 he buried Zephyrs ashes under the bench he brought there in his memory. He’s on his 12<sup>th</sup> journal now that people who’ve been lucky enough to come across this spot have written in. I live to find magical places and experiences like this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the hike down I collected more pine cones and spray painted them gold at home to finish my Christmas wreath. Almost done with it! I really like how it turned out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have a great day and I hope you are feel the wind, snow, rain or sun shine down on you!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PIGhmRmtjtI/TtkjPUBu-MI/AAAAAAAAAcE/EmCotZXpeZ8/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PIGhmRmtjtI/TtkjPUBu-MI/AAAAAAAAAcE/EmCotZXpeZ8/s320/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rnnHuRQVXXk/TtkjSVkLIDI/AAAAAAAAAcM/GuBBZg5Qi_o/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rnnHuRQVXXk/TtkjSVkLIDI/AAAAAAAAAcM/GuBBZg5Qi_o/s320/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVFP2rvAnZw/TtkjUy6tZxI/AAAAAAAAAcc/AgwwcL9Yg5Q/s1600/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVFP2rvAnZw/TtkjUy6tZxI/AAAAAAAAAcc/AgwwcL9Yg5Q/s320/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C3cJhFOLG0c/TtkjXcbo4KI/AAAAAAAAAck/8H4MjKlELhI/s1600/blogggg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C3cJhFOLG0c/TtkjXcbo4KI/AAAAAAAAAck/8H4MjKlELhI/s320/blogggg.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><span id="goog_952328151"></span><span id="goog_952328152"></span>Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-24951815082215799452011-11-21T10:58:00.000-08:002011-11-21T10:58:18.074-08:005 loves.~ the thoughts, smile and sound of Maya Angelou<br />
~ this season -- the food, sounds of holidays songs, family gatherings, thoughfulness we show eachother, cold evenings cuddled up close. <br />
~ my husband. his touch, sound, smell, laugh and spirit.<br />
~ voices of florence & the machine, mumford & sons, and adele who all play my heartstrings<br />
~ the human spirit. our ability to rise & fall and rise again. to create, love, forgive, see beyond the bleakness and soar with hope and conviction.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SkOxy06e8IE/Tsqe5Gnr6sI/AAAAAAAAAa0/cGfIzwMDxhY/s1600/baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SkOxy06e8IE/Tsqe5Gnr6sI/AAAAAAAAAa0/cGfIzwMDxhY/s1600/baby.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gyISIu_shI/Tsqe-nnSsyI/AAAAAAAAAbE/83P4oNMCh8g/s1600/china.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gyISIu_shI/Tsqe-nnSsyI/AAAAAAAAAbE/83P4oNMCh8g/s320/china.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJOBineT2aI/TsqfAIwOU5I/AAAAAAAAAbM/MemWhQRqOKU/s1600/bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJOBineT2aI/TsqfAIwOU5I/AAAAAAAAAbM/MemWhQRqOKU/s1600/bridge.jpg" /></a></div>Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-45864049303190768742011-11-15T12:25:00.000-08:002011-11-15T12:25:33.038-08:00The short story of finding our home and all the 3's that came with it!3 months ago when I got the call from my landlord that they needed to move back into the home we had just finished moving into life sorta fell apart for me. I knew that I was lucky that it was just a move that was pulling the rug out from under me and not something tragic like cancer or divorce, it was after all just a relocation of us and our stuff but it was heavy. I was lost inside myself while I tried to find my grasp on how to make the most of it and turn it into an opportunity. Ya know, manufacture happiness. In the meantime, my body was in physical pain, I was ill. I couldn't believe it but I should have known it would happen. When there is a 'clause' in your lease that says they can, expect that they will. First lesson learned. <br />
Luckily my husband was less fazed than myself and helped me see that this was the push we needed to start our house hunt.<br />
It's been three months and 3 weeks since we received that call. 3 of those months spent living with my mom while we hunted and hunted. At times it felt hopeless, where was our house?!? Other times, moments of elation only to find out there was another offer on house after condo. 3 weeks ago we had 3 back offers on places that were just good enough but still not our 'dream'. We were in a state of settling. Manufacturing to much happiness but it wasn't natural, they weren't the ones. Then a chance spotting of a house that I'd been seeing on my web searches but hadn't made the push to see in person until we ended up on the same street looking at a different house. Out of the corner of our eye we recognized it and walked over with our agent who had her supra with her. Luckily the house was empty and she got us in then and there. Walking through the house we just knew. This was THE ONE. In our price range, totally redone, had the features the were at the top of our list...attached garage, en suite bath, washer dryer and backyard. WE'LL TAKE IT! Actually, we wouldn't. It already had another offer, a cash offer and they were moving quick. FUCK! Now what. That WAS the house. Like, the one. <br />
Well if you know me, you know I don't take No easily. Our poor Realtor was doing her best to distract us. Took us out to see 20 (TWENTY!) houses a few days later and they were all No's and if anything just made it harder to forget about the house. The one that had YES written all over it. That was the one!.<br />
We kept sneaking that house into conversations and subtly reminding her to follow up and call, just in case. <br />
Well the next day I got a call from her at 8am. She'd never called us that early and I knew or maybe just hoped. Either way, I was too scared to answer. When I called her back it was true, the buyer had changed his mind last minute and we were in the front spot to make an offer. Moving with lightning speed we submitted our offer and it was accepted that day. <br />
Today is 3 weeks later. We've had inspections, requested a few repairs, contingency's have been removed and tomorrow is our final walk through. <br />
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The house is ours!! The one that makes the last months all OK and worth it!!! I am more than thrilled that we get to live in the house that we wanted and that I have such a wonderful person to share it with. <br />
We are so thankful of the family members that helped us out in our time of need. Especially my mom who opened up her home to us while we searched.<br />
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I look forward to blogging about out the process of owning a home and doing projects around it.Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-75665370304685582212011-11-10T12:20:00.000-08:002011-11-10T12:20:57.857-08:00dreaming in kitchen...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and these are only a few of the kitchens i'm loving...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">our new house is amazing and i can't wait to get in there </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">but until then it's impossible to stop thinking about decorating and the kitchen</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">especially keeps begging for new direction (pic below)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">right now it looks a bit like a lawyers executive offer.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">dark, wood cabinets and a very run of the mill granite.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9xGWhvpStbg/Trr_s1n20pI/AAAAAAAAAak/DvGeEJnRP6M/s1600/kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>i'm dreaming of an over hall which neither my budget or hubby will allow so until then</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">dreaming, dreaming....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">i would love a farm sink, maybe white counters, open shelving among other things</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">but at first i'll have to settle for new hardware and some paint treatment on the cabinets</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtKgI-fNl-w/Trr7CvQzL6I/AAAAAAAAAac/m0wZqPX8rps/s1600/chalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtKgI-fNl-w/Trr7CvQzL6I/AAAAAAAAAac/m0wZqPX8rps/s320/chalk.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i love the idea of chalkboard paint somewhere in the house, maybe the dining area </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cg_TuldwWMo/Trr6Di4YMqI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Y8w9qcc9Y2k/s1600/blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cg_TuldwWMo/Trr6Di4YMqI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Y8w9qcc9Y2k/s320/blog+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipHLzHfcHBg/Trr6GE7QehI/AAAAAAAAAaU/AICzqSzrGq4/s1600/blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipHLzHfcHBg/Trr6GE7QehI/AAAAAAAAAaU/AICzqSzrGq4/s320/blog+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">THIS IS OUR KITCHEN: nice but fussy and too dark -- what would you do to it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and i do realize that this is an amazing kitchen to even have but this blog is for dreaming and decor wishing...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">not judging.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9xGWhvpStbg/Trr_s1n20pI/AAAAAAAAAak/DvGeEJnRP6M/s320/kitchen.jpg" width="320" /></div>Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-22492119071078196092011-11-09T13:58:00.000-08:002011-11-09T13:58:45.971-08:00decor crush...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CMPzXcwDaNU/Trr0-8FShpI/AAAAAAAAAZU/cpA8kRpFECM/s1600/antler+table.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CMPzXcwDaNU/Trr0-8FShpI/AAAAAAAAAZU/cpA8kRpFECM/s320/antler+table.png" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">love this antler table, it's beyond unique and I love the mixture of nature with an industrial city look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">makes me want to scour flea market after flea market to find something an phenom as this!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWIOy5ERIi4/Trr1ECLHHbI/AAAAAAAAAZc/CO8Zt9IEcpw/s1600/curtain+lace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWIOy5ERIi4/Trr1ECLHHbI/AAAAAAAAAZc/CO8Zt9IEcpw/s320/curtain+lace.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the romance and promise of this lace curtain is quite breath taking to me. <br />
maybe it's a piece of lace that you inherited from your grandmothers lovingly handmade hands. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i especially love the ease with which it hangs, not too fussy or worried about the perfect length etc</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Cm5r_dK1vs/Trr1HDqp_PI/AAAAAAAAAZk/OOg9tdTv8Aw/s1600/silk+wall+color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Cm5r_dK1vs/Trr1HDqp_PI/AAAAAAAAAZk/OOg9tdTv8Aw/s320/silk+wall+color.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i saw this last night when i was in bed with my iPad doing my nightly blog check </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and it caught my eye</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it reminds me of a silk tie dyed scarf and i just know my mother-in-law could recreate this look </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">if the hubs gave me approval. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it's a little too rusty burn out for me though, i'd tone it down a little and make it less colorful but keep the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">romance of it. lots of candles in this room would be necessary.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9t26g24Vxc/Trr1H9ge5nI/AAAAAAAAAZs/aQu6TDEk3Uc/s1600/wood+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9t26g24Vxc/Trr1H9ge5nI/AAAAAAAAAZs/aQu6TDEk3Uc/s320/wood+light.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">maybe i'm just being cocky here but i really think i could make this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tree branch lamp better than this picture shows. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i this the cord looks sloppy in this picture, i would wrap it better</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but the rustic handmade yet functional look is attractive to me</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IY7zEsDG2ao/Trr1L370dYI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/PJ_EiYRGfBY/s1600/soap+disp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IY7zEsDG2ao/Trr1L370dYI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/PJ_EiYRGfBY/s320/soap+disp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">definitely gonna get this soap dispenser from good ole target!</div>Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-20888099764018356422011-11-08T11:07:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:08:35.658-08:00Smart Gifting!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>There is a frosty nip in LA today and it's just another reminder that it's time to get your list into Santa because Christmas is JUST around the corner.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>If you're like me and find yourself in front of a computer for many hours a day then you too have probably started shopping more and more online.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>I wanted to share some of the helpful hints I've learned over the past few online lovin' years.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>First, get yo' self an amazon account. When you do a search in Amazon, sort your results by free SUPER saver shipping. Basically what this means is anything you buy that offers this will ship for free as long as the total is over $25. Because Amazon remembers what you've added into your basket as long as you're logged in, I just keep adding until I reach $25 and then place my order. Sometimes it takes me a few months but it's always worth the free shipping and most items I order aren't time sensitive. Another reason to start shopping early. Also, on the front page of Amazon is the daily deal. Check it out daily to see if it's something you can check off your list!</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>I usually do a big Macy's online order every year. They have really great sales online and you can usually qualify for free shipping as well. For me, Macy's in store shopping is about shoes and purses but if I go online it's so much easier to browse all the departments.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>If you shop at Sephora for the makeup lovers in your life MAKE SURE you sign up/into your account when you log out because once you earn 500 points you get a free gift and sometimes it's a really great one. It's always nice to get a goodie for yourself when you're being Santa for everyone else.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>If you haven't heard of </strong></span><a href="http://www.slickdeals.net/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>www.slickdeals.net</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> check it out. It's updated daily by people that have come across a great deal out there and feel the need to share. This is a good place to look for the men in your life. Tools, techi's etc are frequently featured. </strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>My last helpful hint is to trade in mileage points that you aren't using for magazine subscriptions for loved ones. </strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>When all else fails Cash is king, Gas cards are always needed and a few scratch it tickets can round out a light gift.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Happy Shopping and please share your own helpful hints!!!</strong></span>Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-26975966645957276912011-11-07T14:19:00.000-08:002011-11-07T14:19:53.352-08:00Taking in back to the old blog / blog ADD<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been in the unofficially bloggin biz for awhile. This is my original blog but I then started with a blog called <a href="http://www.cracknsmack.blogspot.com/">www.cracknsmack.blogspot.com</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and if you guessed that it was a blog about butt cracks, well you should buy yourself a soda for being so smart. It was a random blog that inspired friends and family to snap pics of cracks and send them my way. I didn't mind so much being the person people thought of when they saw a nice crack (and by nice I mean the hairier the better!) but </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when Lady Gaga started going to the mall in her underwear all of a sudden a blog about crack didn't seem so edgy and fresh. Thus ending my time as the crack queen which was fine with me because my domestic roots where wanting to hit the ground so I start a blog called <a href="http://www.lamialista.blogspot.com/">http://www.lamialista.blogspot.com/</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, which if you don't speak Italian but know how to google translate like I do means quite literally MY LIST. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time it seemed like I was finding such great information all over the interwebs that I wanting to compile them into one master list but I keep veering off the listed path onto telling stories and sharing my thoughts and dreams. Didn't really fit into all the La Mia Lista promised (that and the iPhone supports screen shots of pages you want to turn into pictures and never forget). Scrapped La Mia and started www.beachwoodliving.blogspot.com which was about the very short *read 3 months* that we lived in Beachwood canyon and the projects and fun we had there. Now that that phase of life has ended this girl still wants to blog and through it all I've just wanted a place to share the stories of my life. Where I've gone, what I tasted, the feeling felt and dreams dreamt. If you care to follow the stories of my life you will find them here on my original blog <a href="http://www.chaigha.blogspot.com/">http://www.chaigha.blogspot.com/</a>. You will still find stories of decorating as we've just bought our first home and move in less than 3 weeks!! You may find a blog containing my life lists and if you are patient probably even a crack or two. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for witnessing my life. Feel free to interact through comments, suggestions and follows. I'd love to make a new best friend through my</span> site! </span>Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-46604658614085620072008-11-08T21:15:00.000-08:002008-11-08T21:16:41.336-08:00vegASSSo as my friend SK likes to say, I'm in vegASS. Working on the opening act for Ellens upcoming even bigger show in which Chadd and the LXD are doing the opening number. Tonight a party and then tomorrow choreography. pictures to come and money to lose, good times!Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-12583356809428862842008-10-22T17:35:00.000-07:002008-10-26T09:19:06.476-07:00Maui babe'in itI think it's a great sign that after only a week of vacation I was happy to come back to my life. Maui was amazing, beautiful and a much needed slow paced change from LA. It was an in-law family vacation and was mostly harmonious and full of laughter and jokes. We played, zip lined, snorkeled, boogie boarded, waterfalls and ate ate ate our way through Maui (in a non fatty way) but at the end of the week I was missing my bed, kitties and life. I think that's the first time I've been somewhere amazing and wasn't counting down the days in a sad way. It made me realize just how great my life is here and that all the decisions we've made are ones we've wanted. Call it the law of attraction, the secret or stream just as long as it keeps calling me a follower. Chadd went straight to shooting a myspace halloween miley cyrus thing and we've been lining up some exciting shows with the ole' ACDC crew for later next month that I'm happy to be involved in the production of. <br />Not to mention that its still 90 degrees here in LA. If sun = fun, then I'm sure to have plenty of it regardless of what package it comes in:)Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-12530640633734714532008-10-05T00:26:00.000-07:002008-10-05T13:03:47.008-07:00too furry to vote but cute enough to run!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bDA31a0WeLQ/SOhvEzlztDI/AAAAAAAAAKM/utVvARWviqY/s1600-h/DSC00505.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bDA31a0WeLQ/SOhvEzlztDI/AAAAAAAAAKM/utVvARWviqY/s320/DSC00505.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253571093686629426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bDA31a0WeLQ/SOhu0zKAWoI/AAAAAAAAAKE/M1x-ifgbBL4/s1600-h/IMG_0047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bDA31a0WeLQ/SOhu0zKAWoI/AAAAAAAAAKE/M1x-ifgbBL4/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253570818692110978" /></a><br />Coco is not so much a cat but a screamer. All day, starting an hour before my alarm yells at me she starts. it would be so much better if her meow was sweet and cute but its crotchety and grumpy. If I could upload audio I would god damnit! OK, so, I figured it out today who she is and what she is all about. She's a fucking lobbyist. Starting first thing in the morning she lobbies for a fresh top off on her food, she lobbies for pets, for attention, for looking, loving, for fresh water, for our water, to be let into the bathroom and then immediately to be let out. She must be the older sister of the two and every time Charli complains about something I can picture Coco meowing to her "don't worry lil sis, I got this one". I hate to say it but wouldn't you know she's probably even a republican or should I say, republican't do nothin right!Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-18801690349696476322008-08-26T16:05:00.000-07:002008-08-26T16:11:19.264-07:003 days in a row obsessedIt's called Oburger and my husband can no longer live without it now that he knows it exists. It's in boystown and he's still willing to go because they are organic burgers, like legit organic and tasty to boot! So in the last 3 days, we've been 4 times. He's there right now and is allegedly bringing me a shake (with kefir live cultures and dates) but I'm starting to feel like he may never arrive and instead say some crazed healthy-homo man stole my shake and made him play naughty boomboom games (don't ask me what that entails). Check it out though, the burgers not the gays, at oburger.net<br />MMMMMMMM-TASTY! Again the burger not the boys.Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-52277213672627543932008-08-24T19:14:00.000-07:002008-08-24T19:22:37.342-07:00what's in a name.....If I ever want new music on my iPhone all i have to do is go through the collection of music my hubby has on our computer because we have soooo much. He's a bit of a music junkie which I love and features mostly old school electronic mixed in with a nice bit of staples anyone should have. Sting, coldplay, zapp and rogers, Whitney Houston etc.. This has me thinking about all the band names out there because there are soooo many! I seriously want to know the story behind all these names and how they were imagine. Some like Dave Mathews band are quite obvi but The White Stripes took some creativity, Sting is part of the Police and why are the Beatles called that? Stars as Eyes and Square pusher must have been drinking or drug induced but then again artists are wickedly creative people unlike myself who would probably name my band Chaigha or Princess Rocks or better yet Sexy Hot Shoes. That last ones actually not that bad, perhaps theres less mystery to this equation than I thought. Right now I'm going to listen to a mixture of Chromeo and Sparklehorse. What would your band be called?Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513771630499707296.post-41132480633997070402008-08-20T10:24:00.000-07:002008-08-20T10:42:44.539-07:00The summer round-upTime doesn't fly or catch up to you. It plays itself out everyday on the same frame. 24 hours a day, tick tock. Time is the steady, life's constant yet we are the ones surprised by it. Like it played a trick on us and snuck up. I've been conscious but not receptive I guess to the idea that the summer is coming to a close. Intermission really is over although here in SoCal we get a little extension by way of September but still, it's ending. My sister living with us this summer took over many portions of my life that truthfully I was happy to give up for her. My vitamin taking, reading and blogging suffered but on the other hand SO much flourished: Yoga, so much laughter, a lot of great food and dinners, always having my own buddy when we went out, my closet grew under her tutelage and outfit suggestions, my power as a 'girl' increased and some fundamental life stuff was discussed. Naturally, Chadd and I had to incorporate someone else into our every moment and so a bit of independence and intimacy occurred but with our whole life together ahead of us we didn't mind so much. <br />I truly feel like there's been personal growth this summer and not just because of Elyse. Maybe this is what 30 is, the feeling isn't coming from the outside in but from my insides deciding more and more who I am. The me/I/mine that's kept me feeling like a character description who has to stay as described otherwise she'll become unrecognizable is melting as I embrace that I am an evolving human. allowed to change and grow. To shed layers and opinions. To "let my inner light shine" and direct me to places I've never been within. The yoga I've been taking has helped me connect with this physical form of mine and to respect it but to know that I too am just made up of energy and protein. My spiritual outlook has always known about the connection between all things but it's seeing that more clearly now. The energy my mind and body feels when I'm happy or hurt is something I'm contributing to this world. It's my responsibility to make it positive. <br />I know my goals can be achieved and my life will go according to my plan as long as I have a plan that I believe in. For now, I am dreaming it up so that I can begin creating it and turn my thoughts into things.Leighahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732446573092248630noreply@blogger.com0