Warm Fall Welcome

Those of you who know my mom, know she's FAB at making floral arrangments and especially wreaths.

Well, I wanted to share the fall welcome my guests arrive to when the come to my front door. Okay, well IF I was ever home, and IF I ever had guests they would be welcomed by this!!

Isn't it devine???? I LOVE it and I am torn with Thanksgiving arriving.

I'm eager to embrace December, consistently cooler weather and Christmas music, lights, and the celebration of the birth of Christ!! But, I will be saddened to take this down.

And judging by the the neighbors who slow to check it out when turning in front of our house...I think they will too!

Off to Neverland.....a little late.

3 1/2 years old and 3 feet tall...but 'he can fly'!!!

With the help of a 'little bit of pixie dust'...Landon turned himself into Peter Pan for Halloween. We bought the movie for him (the re-release version) in late September and every day until Halloween he has watched it. Literally, every day... Pirates and not so politically correct commentary and all! (Did you know there's a song about the 'red man' in it??)

The Peter Pan hat was a HUGE gift from my Producer Denise, who was ALSO Peter Pan this year. However, when she pulled this old hat out of the closet...well, it was a kids size. So, Landon inherited it, just in the nick of time!

But, before we could go to our annual Trick-or-Treat adventure with his best friend Wade...we had to do the honors.
I couldn't help but post this picture of the cheesy little smile! Can you say Daddy said, "say cheese,Landon!!"

Landon and I drew the "eyebrows" on this year's pumpkin, which by the way...was the first pumpkin we've ever carved. It has always seemed like so much work. But, back to the face, I wanted eyebrows...Landon choose the shape of the nose and Carlos opted for some weird eyeballs that make him look cross-eyed.

So, I'm not going to lie. It's pretty sad looking. But, as it's said...'he's ours'. :) Ears and all!!

Now, back to the candy fest!!



In all for the night, we had a few little "near misses" with therapy, when a guy in a nasty looking mask jumped out of a truck bed.

And then, there was the moment when the kids walked up and saw this head on a platter. But, we're all good. Therapy will come from some other parenting mishap I'm sure...but, at least not Halloween 2008.

Determined to Catch Up!

I have so many fun pictures to show of mom's last trip to visit the week of Halloween! I know, I know...we're a week away from Thanksgiving...but hey! I'm 'thankful' for my Halloween pictures!!

After the Park Party on October 30th, we went to the pumpkin patch to pick out "the great one". Landon's method of selecting one almost cost us every pumpkin out there...because he would pick them up and drop them on the ground!

I'm sure it was more of a testing his strength thing. Ultimately, his selection required the combined efforts of both him and Grammy

The "pumpa-munkin" ...as he still calls them, was taken home for Daddy to help carve on Halloween!!

New Projects, New Ventures

I know I've been slow updating my blog, and you can blame it on "the birds". I mentioned a while back that I was starting a little business with a friend, called Birds of a Feather.

Our first in-home boutique was November 8th and we had a wonderful response. We took samples of the products we sold which were left over from that event to a local boutique in town called Enchantments Home and Baby and the owner loved all of it and decided to sell everything!

Obviously this came as a BIG and pleasant surprise to Heather and I, but it also meant scurrying to get a lot of things done...namely our business blog. It's on its way to being done and it has taken up the time otherwise occupied with my personal blog. Click here to be redirected to the Birds blog!

Please feel free to browse and share with others and look for an email entitled Birds Friends and Family. It will have much lower pricing for you. The prices you see on the site are those set by the boutique and we've been asked to maintain the same pricing on our blog, so as not to make the boutique seem more expensive.

Finally, we have more products which are being sold at Enchantments, which need to be posted on the blog, which include custom ornaments which you can put your own picture and photo albums made with fabric that has your picture on it. I hope to post those in the next few days!

Boo at the Zoo

We are getting ready for Halloween this week, Landon made an 11th hour change at the Disney store last week. For nearly a month he had been saying he was going to be Captain Hook. But, when he walked up to the costumes...he chose Peter Pan.


He's been watching Peter Pan nearly every day for the last month. In fact, last week he informed me I was no longer his mother. He said, "you're not mama, you're Wendy"! And all night he called me Wendy!

These pictures were taken last Friday at the Phoenix Zoo. We took my show "on the road" and were broadcasting out there to promote the annual 'Boo at the Zoo' festivities. Landon came with me and Carlos met us out there. The producers had plans for him to be part of the demonstrations on camera of the kids events, but my little wallflower wanted nothing to do with the cameras.

My friend Heather was also on the show teaching our viewers how to create some fab home decor ideas for the fall.

We are waiting until Grammy comes tomorrow to go pick our pumpkin and will be carving it Wednesday night when Carlos is off work. It will be his first time making a jack-o-lantern and he is beyond excited!

All of this these Fall festivities are taking place in the midst of 90 degree weather!?! Remember, Arizona is 8 months of blow torch and 4 months of amnesia. We're patiently waiting for our bit of amnesia!

Hello to a Harris Hawk

I had a rare opportunity to interact with a Harris Hawk at a shoot for work at the Phoenix Zoo on Wednesday.

I was handed a glove and then the zoo worker who I was interviewing slipped chopped up mouse. yum. I believe I had a head and the middle portion of the mouse, with the fur still on, of course. :) I was more squeamish about this than the bird flying right toward my arm.

He wasn't that heavy. I'm told he only weighed around 1.5 pounds. He made a few passes between my arm and some pedistals a short way away. Of course, each time I had to put new mice bits in my hand to get him to come back. (like chopped off heads and such!?!)

Another Sticky Situation!

I just wanted to share the latest addition to my home with Uppercase Living adhesive vinyls. This is a column in our kitchen, right above our coffee station.

I, so, love them and everything you can do to personalize your home and space! These you see below are not from my house but they're the same product used in other homes. I can't wait to decorate for the holidays!! And when my mom comes to town I'm going to put her fab floral skills to work for a door wreath similar to this one below...but I think I'll put our name on it! (actually I have one just like this tile below.)

I plan to make a shadow box like this with Landon's coming home from the hospital outfit and his birth announcment! I'll post when I get it done so you can see how it looks.

A New Venture!

I am working on a new venture with my Paper Princess...turned Birdy friend, Heather. I can't tell you a lot now, because it hasn't taken flight. But, I'll be counting on all of you to help me spread the word once we leave the nest. This logo is at the heart of it all! Isn't it beautiful? We hired a guy I work with to create it for us. A perfect vintage-like reflection of what we'll be 'about'!

I'm excited to share more details with you! :)

Lots of Baby Love!

Meet Brody Michael, Natalee's latest and last addition to her family! ...and this baby makes FIVE! Brody was born on Thursday October 9th at 7:57am. He "tips" the scales at 7lbs 3oz and 20 inches long, which is nice and healthy considering he was two weeks early...thanks to a scheduled c-section.


For those of you who don't know...Natalee and I have been friends since 9th grade, we met at Bethany Community Church and have been running around together ever since! Landon has not met his new cousin-ette, but we hope to make the introductions soon.

As if this wasn't enough baby love-ness, when I visited Brody, 4 doors down at the same hospital was this little man! Meet Gavin Anthony! He's the first, for my friend Dana (who would not let me take her picture :) ). I met Dana through work. He was born on Tuesday, two days before Brody after 26 hours of labor and then finally an emergency c-section. (cue the collective 'oh my goodness')


Beautiful, beautiful baby boys!

A Little Letter

So, apparently I've officially "arrived" as a host of Sonoran Living Live. :) Let me explain.

Today, I received my first Prisoner letter since moving to the show. A little background here. Prisoner letters are not so uncommon, as an anchor. Usually, they want to tell you how how innocent they are...they were framed....it's all a misunderstanding and they are generally next in line to being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

But, this...my friends...was ooooh, so different! ...or "Clumsy" as he says he's "called in the East Valley" is in jail for possession and distribution of dangerous drugs and is otherwise engaged for the next 8 1/2 years. And his letter to me was not to proclaim his innocence ...but rather to say how much he enjoys Sonoran Living! ha!

Here are a few quotes...which I'm sure you too, will find amusing:

"I sit in my prison bunk at 9:00 everyday watching you....I originally started watching the show because of your personality and now I am hooked on the variety of topics discussed. I do notice when you have bad hair days but that is only because in prison we learn to study people and notice the small things."

He goes on to say he likes my clothes and makeup and wants his fiancee' to dress similarly and he has plans to send a letter to our Sonoran Living Glam Squad for consideration of a make-over for his fiancee'...of course, AFTER they get married. He is awaiting approval for his December nuptials from the prison.

...Mr. Clumsy #1918/> writes...

"Back to you and your beauty. From what I can see on my black and white tv your new hair highlights look really good. The lipstick looks nice and glossy and those clothes I've seen you in are looking hot! I just wanted you to know that your look is perfect and looks nice. Hopefully your husband let you know how beautiful you look but if not then I'm sure he will."

Sigh. I think I'll be wearing a sweatshirt, sweatpants, ponytail, no make-up and glasses next week for the show. Please be advised, it will not be pretty.

By the way, if you think I'm exaggerating I checked out his MySpace page, which he provided for me and found that he updates it from prison. I took note of the following:

1. The lovely picture of him holding his AK-47.

2. The picture of him in his "dope house" on his birthday.

3. The link to Sonoran Living Live on his list of favorite shows.

I guess you really never know who your loyal viewers are, now do you? :)

Where The Wild Things Are

Our Sunday trip to the Phoenix Zoo was relaxing and just good 'ol family fun! We walked a different path than we ordinarily take and felt like it was new all over again.

Check out the mama-jamma sized turtles!!


We happened to be there at lunch feeding time, which was fun to watch and learn.

With the weather cooling off soon, we hope to use our Zoo membership much more often!

Going For The Gold!!

"To Infinity and Beyooooond"!! ~Buzz Lightyear, & Landon Monge

We went to Natalee's daughter Laynee's 6th birthday party on Saturday evening and I'm not exactly sure who had more fun...Landon or Carlos. It was a at a gymnastic place and Landon was running and jumping into these foam squares while Carlos watched from upside down. I'm rather impressed by the pointed toes!! ha!!


When we walked out this is the sunset we saw!! It was sooo beautiful...almost looked like a fire, but actually the darker part in the middle was rain. Gotta love those Arizona sunsets!