duckin' and divin' and still livin'

Well hellllllooooo lil neglected blog o mine!  Oh, how I have missed you!?! 

There have been many happenings going on since I last touched base.  Life continues to throw blows my way, so I just keep duckin' and divin'.....and of course, I keep on jivin'!  hehe.

Sit back, relax and grab a cup o da good stuff.  I am playing catch up on my life via pictures.

Granted.  Lots of stuff happened between each of the next few pictures, but these are the highlights.

{Annual Bluebonnet Picture ~ 2013}

 

{like mentioned above, lots of silly stuff in between!}

 

What stands out the most is how quickly my baby is turning into a little girl.  A very sweet, lovable, and funny little girl.  Life is a continuous beautiful cycle...though not always easy to understand.  She helps me stay focused on the positive, not feed into the negative.

 

Speaking of this continuous beautiful cycle of life...I recently met my most precious nephew, Brylan.

 

{nothing beats a newborn's feet}



 

And my spunky niece is thrilled to be a big sister now.  Something Layla still keeps asking to be...

{silly and smart!! she's got it all.}

 

As most of you know, Texas gets hot quick, we rarely have a "winter."  So we have already found the time to sneak in a beach visit and say a friendly hello to the Galveston Pleasure Pier, which is ahhh-ma-zing!  Love it, ready to go back. 

 

 

 

{Mother's Day 2013 ~ both decked out in Matilda Jane}

 

And if the proof isn't in the pudding, aka my pictures, to prove how fast Layla is growing up....I present to you....

 

 

Layla ~ the Kindergarten Graduate

 

Yeah, crazy!!!!  I have a first grader on my hands. 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful beginning to your summer.  I am planning to be 'round more often.  So, stop on by.

 

A child educated only at school is an uneducated child. 

 

~ George Santayana

Engagement Photo Session - Austin, Texas

I need to play catch up on my neglected blog....I have a slew of going-ons in our life to tell you all about!!! 

But, right now, I want to show off some of the engagement pictures I captured in Austin, Texas at the beginning of March.  This couple is adorable and these pictures came so easy for them....not alot of work on my part.  That spells L.O.V.E. to me!!!! 

Enjoy!!!  And please.....I'd love any and all feedback....the negative and the positive.  I am still learning and I'd love to hear your opinions. 

I'll always remember... I'll never forget, how you took my breath away, the first time we met. No matter what happens... no matter what we do, I'll always remember the first time I saw you.

Manic Monday - 02.18.13

{So this happened this weekend.  Thoughts?}

If they ever do my life story, whoever plays me needs lots of hair color and high heels. 

~ Charlize Theron 

oh hello there, 2013!

Hi!  Remember me?

I am here saying hello and making a promise to myself that I will come back to what I love so much...and neglected last year.  My blog and the blogging community!!!!!

{via}

So, with that said.  I am going to do a small recap {in photos, of course} of the last quarter of 2012.  Beginning right after we said good bye to my sweet grandma in October. 

In November I got to see some wonderful friends for my good friend, Nicole's baby shower.  She welcomed Weston on December 5th.  #sweetbabylove 

Yes.  Your eyes are NOT deceiving you.  I blew up!!!  I'm as big as a damn house.  I am taking care of that this year as well.  Time to jump on that healthy train!!!  Woot woot!!!! 

On November 14th, Layla had her very 1st Field Day at school.  I know it is strange to have it in the fall, but  they did.  I don't get it either, but I loved every second of it.  Those kiddos are so fun.  And funny! 

{her teacher whom she adores} 

 

{major air...I think we got a baller ya'll!!!  She sunk it.} 

Thanksgiving MJC style. 

Stylin' once it finally cooled off a bit in Texas

Fall Texas colors outside my backyard

Gymnastic Skills Competition ~ December 2012

Layla's "I wanna model" pose

Layla and PaPa ~ San Antonio Christmas 

Daddy, Layla and NaNa ~ San Antonio Christmas 

We dined at a yummy restaurant and gorgeous bar.

Sugarplum joined our family...and we love her.  #elfontheshelf

One last Christmas wish before Santa arrives

And boy!!! Did he deliver!?! 

Merry Everything!!!! 

Happy Burfday to meeeeee!!!!! 

And a Happy New Year to all!!!!

Manic Monday - 11.19.12

We should all be thankful for 

{and she does for me}

those people who rekindle the inner spirit. 

~ Albert Schweitzer 

Wishing you and yours a fabulous, beautiful and loving Thanksgiving!  Thank you for sticking by me. Today marks a year of a very trying time for me.  I am thankful for hope.  Thankful for the chance to begin again.  Thankful for a bright new day.  Cheers! 

I ombre'd it!

It was time for a change with my hair.  I cut off about 5 inches about a month ago but something was still so drab about it.

So what's a girl to do?  Go see Caitlin at SoK Salon in Houston.  She gave me an ombre....

So....whatcha think!?!  Other than I am really late on the ombre craze!  Just in time for it to be out of style.  Perfect.

a Sunshine-y Matilda-y post!

Happy one day past Halloween!

So much is going on and I really haven't been blogging as much as I would like to.  But I wanted to pop in here and share somethings that make me really happy and bring sunshine into my world!

So I am gonna link up with my girl Summer and spread some SUNSHINE!  Join in, won't you?

Do you wanna know what brings me sunshine?  {that is the point of this project}

****My Matilda Jane online Trunk Show I am having RIGHT NOW!  {It's not too late to order.}  I ordered this outfit this morning and it makes me giddy.  If you wanna join my Trunk Show, follow these short steps...

...and I promise it will bring you sunshine.  {shameless plug}

1.     Go to http://www.matildajaneclothing.com/

2.     Click on "Shop the Collection." 

3.     To view exactly what is available in your or your child’s size, click on the “Search by size” tab on the left hand side of the page.
4.     Add your favorite pieces into your wishlist (just like adding into your shopping cart) and email my trunk keeper, Stacey at staceyg@matildajaneclothing.com, and also to me, melifaif@yahoo.com

(It is best to send a copy to yourself and then forward to me and Stacey to ensure we receive the wishlist.  Stacey will have an auto-reply set for November 1.) 
5.     Before submitting your wishlist, please add your billing and shipping address and Stacey will call you to get your payment information. Matilda Jane accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. If it's on file already make sure to note the last 4 digits of your card on your wishlist.

6.     Also before submitting your wishlist, make sure to include that you are ordering through Melissa Faifer's Trunk Show.

7.     Stacey will call you if she needs payment information or if you ask her to call you.  Expect a phone call by 10 am est on the 2nd.  If there are no questions or concerns, your order will be placed and you should expect to get an email invoice by the end of day November 2nd.

****This girl brings me sunshine.  She has helped to take my 1st online Trunk Show off to a great start!  Love you lady. 

{That's Summer Sunshine!!!  Read her story...she is amazing.}

****Family Reunions make me happy!  My dad's, Aunt Florine - who helped raise my dad and uncle (left and right) when their parents were both killed by a drunk driver when my dad was a young guy.

{Ripple Family Reunion 2012 - Victoria, Texas}

{We are family!} 

****And you all know this girl brings me sunshine.  All the time.  So let me share a few pics that have helped me over these past few months that have been a tad trying, to say the least. 

{it was a pumpkin massacre!} 

{she's so hard! lol.}

{My spider witch...scary, huh?} 

{and this morning - rockin' the Matilda Jane Clothing!}