Post Valentine blues XO

Growing up I was never a huge fan of Valentine's day. Now as a mama I'm tickled blue. :)

I recently started making sugar cookies using this awesome cookie recipe for "Perfect cut out cookies". Except I don't cover them with royal icing, I use fondant. I know. My mind has changed about fondant. I won't order a cake in it unless I make it or know who is making it lol! Oh but these are SO good! 

Owning a packaging shop really has its advantages :) I went a little overboard with the packaging but that's to be expected. I used Mason jar tags + Valentine Tags + Red heart stickers + red twine + Red heart doilies XOXO

I even decorated a cheesy Valentine Chocolate box with these cuties. I Loved adding photos of Rafael as tags. Sometimes I misprint photos and I don't want to just toss them so this was the perfect way to use them up! And I love that glittery pink against the red heart sticker = perfect!

I rolled out white fondant and cut out hearts using the same cookie cutter. I asked rafael what color he wanted and he only wanted to use BLUE, I was thinking.... umm that's not the color scheme! But i just went with it because Blue makes him happy :) I mixed some edible blue ink color with clear vanilla and he painted the color on each white fondant heart. So cool. And now looking at all of the pictures that BLUE makes the rest of the colors pop right? (Stamp from the shop) A little bit of Rafael and a little bit of mama XOXO 

 My fav photo of him  XO So adorable. I even taught him to ask "Will you be my Valentine?" To his grandma + aunts = super charming. I keep forgetting to record him and his little sweet voice asking - mental note! lol! Oh this year Valentines Day was pretty sweet & awesome. I can't wait for him to start school and we can make these for his little class mates. :)

I hope you're having a beautiful month of love. How crazy that it's almost over though. I'm planning my next craft party and hope to share some easter & mothers day love soon.


happy friday!
-d

ps: What kind of crafty things are you making?

Inspire Lovely Valentine Pop Up Shop at West Elm San Diego

{ Gold foil prints }

 {New 4x6 Prints}

 { Pink Foil Print XOXO }

 Pretty Art perfect for Valentine gifting will be available at the Pop Up shop tomorrow. I'll be giving away free prints + sticker sheets and tags with every purchase! This is going to be fun! I can't wait :)

West Elm Directions & Info

 Happy almost Valentine's Day!

XOXO
- d

One very blessed girl

When I was thinking about how to tell you my good news I really could only think about exclamations and CAPS and every happy dance insert I could image. September 4 was my surgery date and I was told that same month that I was in remission!

 YOU GUYS I'M 5 MONTHS INTO REMISSION!!!!!! (happy dance :) 

Thank you thank you for your positive thoughts, prayers, messages lovelies!

I remember when we were told I would need another surgery, it was overwhelming. And the thought that it would be major surgery was even worse, especially since it was scheduled so close to my first surgery that I was still recovering from.  To top it all off it was going to take place my birthday month. And i don't know about you but I LOVE birthday months. I literally celebrate all month. Just little ways and doing little things but I LOVE birthdays no matter how old ;) And this time I wasn't so excited, just tired. My surgery took place the 4th of September and my birthday was the 15th. Well it turned out to be quite a birthday healing from 32 staples ( yuck!) but that still didn't stop us from celebrating :) It was rainy and cold I remember but it didn't bother me one bit. I forced myself into one of my favorite dresses and we went out to celebrate.  I've a new appreciation for life and I'm very happy that my family celebrated with me. I know we don't live forever but I'm certain that we leave our mark on those around us. It's truly given me a new perspective and I'm humbled and blessed to live everyday with this miracle.

Even before my stage 1 ovarian cancer diagnosis I made a promise to myself that I would donate my hair for cancer patients. I kept my promise! Even though there was no need for chemo since the cancer was stage 1 and had not spread. I donated my hair for the second time in my life. I hope to continue to do so for as long as I live :)

Also, there was no need for hormone replacement since the hot flashes are manageable ( knock on wood! lol!).

What a crazy testimony. This health journey has changed me in ways I hope are only for good. It's sad that it takes something like this to wake me up to all the amazing blessings everyday. Simple small blessings are where it's at. I appreciate the mom struggle more and I hug and kiss my little R & Mr. Handsome more.  I appreciate my worn out body and am doing my best to take better care of it. I am grateful that despite this hardship my Mr has proven time and time again he loves me and has taken such good care of me and little R during this long healing process. Thank God our world didn't fall apart because of cancer. I'm thankful my family and friends helped in ways I would've never been able to ask for. That's love

My goals this year are
- to be more present.
- open our home
- show more love ( i'm shy! lol!)
- be positive
- work outside comfort zone, volunteer
- celebrate the little things
- Pray in praise. Not just during the tough times.
- de-clutter mentally, physically (our home) spiritually

So this year has been off to a good start. I'll catch you up on life around here with some post christmas stuff + baby shower fun + valentine pretties and gardening love :)

thanks for letting me share this with you. I hope to stay healthy this year as much as possible and I wish the same for you. Hopefully 2016 is off to an amazing start for you too, even in february ;)

love
-d