here comes the bride(smaid)...

So my brother is getting married is less than a month-- who hoo!! The engagement will be quick--they don't want to concentrate to much on the hullabaloo surrounding a wedding. I'm very excited! Sadie, along with 3 other nieces will be flower girls. So in addition to finding Sadie a cute dress to match with her cousins, I'll need to find a dress. I'm going to be a bridesmaid-- so fun! Mark's going to be a groomsman too-- so it will be fun to have the whole family stand up in support my bro and his lovely bride-to-be. The wedding is at a park, and casual. The couple envisioned the wedding party wearing bright colors, preferably green and blue hues. What do you think? Which dress is best for me? There are 8 options here. By the way, in this process I found some awesome sites- Mod Cloth and Shop Style. If you like dresses, check em out.

Green Urban Outfitters Dress

Target Sleeveless Plum

Target Chambray Yum Plum

Mod Front of the Mezzanine Dress:

Mod Cloth Good to GO Dress:

Juliet J Crew Dress

J crew Taryn Dress

p.s.

i think it's a little funny that aaron also mentioned that this new blog format looks like my house decor. yeah, it does. lots of warm colors and lots of books. i have such a perceptive (and almost married!) brother. happy thursday!

 pps. Remember this little one? She's looking a little crazy-eyed here :)

rule breaker

Admittedly, this isn't a super entertaining video...but, it's such a milestone for Sadie-- her first swim in Chicago! We loved that Sadie was more intrigued by the lap swimmer in the pool than her first swimming experience. Our little one loves people!

A few days after, mark's parent's condo association made an announcement, "No diapers in the pool!" They're special swimmer diapers, I swear!!

happy tuesday

okay. my brother didn't like my blog design...so i'm trying a new one. thx for the feedback aaron. i like books, so I thought this would work. Here's a video of Sadie cracking up mid-July. Such a silly baby! She turns 9 months this week. :)

More Windy City

In late July, we were in the Midwest for 9 days visiting the Anderson's. Part of that time we spent with Mark's extended family at the Dells in Wisconsin. It was great fun to see Sadie interact with all of her cousins. 2009 was a boon year for Anderson babies.

Cousins Lars and Sadie-hanging with grandma and grandpa.

Anderson cousin fest in the Dells.

Lars- so cool

Contenta con cousin Jules (visiting from NZ)

Love from the big cousins...they were very nurturing with Sadie

Nice Sunset in the Dells

Group Photo (one of many!). Sadie was distracted by the ducks and was reluctant to look towards the camera. I like that she was so into the ducks.

Uncle Owen with Lars, Dad with Sadie, Uncle Scott and Jules--

2009 Anderson babies, all a few months apart. Hmmm, there's a slight resemblance with the grown-ups here, eh?

Aunt Lida and Lars, Dad and Sadie-- not a couple with twins.

Sadie ready in her party dress for Aunt Claire's 30th bday!! Who-hoo Claire!!!

Gotta Say, it's nice to be back to work...I have a lot more me time, which I'm realizing I need more than ever before. I love love love vacation, and I especially love that my hubby and I are both teachers that share holidays. It's such a gift!! But, I also like having down time...and with my new schedule I am with Sadie at home for a large chunk of time daily, so that's nice.

Happy day to you!!

you spin me right round baby, right round...

Little Sadie ladie has gotten the hang of rolling over and is lovin' it! This is a clip of her rolling around in Chicago at her grandparent's:


Happy Tuesday! Hope Sadie's joy brings of spot of warmth to your day!

Sweet Sunday

Just made these...so easy and so good! I had 3+ boxes of semi-sweet chocolate in the cupboard and a visitor to host...so these cookies hit the spot, delightfully! Try 'em!

I only put in about 1 1/2 cups of walnuts


Chocolate Bliss Cookies

2 pkg. (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided 1/4 cup Butter, softened 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 Eggs 1 tsp. Vanilla 1/2 cup Flour 1/4 tsp.  Baking Powder 2 cups chopped PLANTERS Walnuts Make ItHEAT oven to 350°F.


CHOP 8 chocolate squares; set aside. Microwave remaining 8 chocolate squares in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min., stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add butter; stir until melted. Stir in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add flour and baking powder; mix well. Stir in chopped chocolate and nuts. (Note: If omitting nuts, increase flour to 3/4 cup to prevent excessive spreading of cookies as they bake.)


DROP rounded tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.


BAKE 12 to 13 min. or until cookies are puffed and shiny. Cool 1 min.; remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely