The Grass // Our favorite spot {California Moms blog hop}

When Justine first brought up the idea for a California Moms blog hop I instantly fell in love with the idea; I am a born and raised native Californian and even though there are some issues in this beautiful state, I still lovingly call it home. Plus any chance to connect with other bloggers is always a good thing (especially when that already includes some of your favorite blog buddies!) For this blog hop we are each sharing a secret spot in our hometown and mine is The Grass.

A lil Kinsey, be still my heart

Now, that isn't it's official name. Actually, I don't know if it even has an official name. The patch of grass I'm referring to is located in Pacific Grove about a mile or two down the Coast from Lover's Point Beach and overlooks the Recreation Trail right into the Pacific Ocean. It can't be but a 1/4 the size of a football field but the grass is always green and there is a tall, ancient Cypress giving shade on hot days.

That view

Family of 3

I have been going to The Grass since I was a little girl with my mom and extended family. And when Brian and I first started dating we would come here to picnic (with a turkey and salami, pepperjack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and mayo and mustard on a french roll, two bags of chips and two tall cans of Arizona tea from either Troia's or Bi-rite Market in tow.) And now our girls have both played and picnicked here too!

And an even lil'er Brielana! She was less than a month old when we went for a picnic (not that you can see where we are!) And I get giddy just thinking about bringing our third little nugget here!

It is a spot very near and dear to my heart and I'm not the only one who adores it. It has been the site of many local weddings too! I wish I had more recent pictures but the rain has been ridiculous rendering a fun picnic impossible. 

And check out these other California Mom Bloggers to see their favorite CA spot! 

Bethany at House of Mitchells

Elizabeth at Chasin' Mason

Jenny at Princess Turned Mom

Justine at Little Dove

Sarah at Foxy's Domestic Side

Tiffany at  Tiffany Ching Bean

Linking up here.

   

   

The Day it Rained Hearts // Children's Book Club {February}

Thank you for joining Jess and I for another Children's Book Club link up. To celebrate the month of love we read The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond (the artist behind If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series) this is a cute story to read any time of year. I mean, how often as a kid did I wish for it to rain something other than water?

We kept it simple and made my absolute favorite sugar cookies but added red food coloring to make it that much more special. The recipe follows:

Sugar Cookies:

recipe from in Katrina's Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract (this seriously makes the cookies divine!)

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 cups flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F

2. Cream butter and sugar until smooth

3. Beat in extracts and egg

4. In separate bowl mix together flour and baking powder and add a little bit at a time to wet ingredients.

5. Don't chill. Divide into workable batches and roll out onto floured surface and cut (about 1/4 inch thick.)

6. Bake at 350F  for 6-8 minutes (start off at 6 and add as needed. The longer the baking time the crispier the cookie.) Let cool on the cookie sheet fro 5 minutes and then move to baking rack to cool completely. Can top with icing etc or eat as is!

We make this recipe multiple times a year so it never disappoints. I hope you'll try these!

Next month is Dr Seuss's Birthday and Jess and I are so excited to announce that he is our featured author! You can choose your favorite Seuss book (I have several favorites so I'm not sure which one to choose yet!), do an activity with your child(ren) and then link back up with us on Tuesday, March 21st! I look forward to seeing all your wacky posts! Below is some inspiration for you to get started. And link up too!

An InLinkz Link-up

Put Me in the Zoo // The Lorax // Green Eggs and Ham // Cat in the Hat //

One Fish Two Fish // Ten Apples Up on Top // Fox in Socks //

Horton Hears a Who // Oh The Places You'll Go

Name Puzzle // Alphabet Game // Rhyming Egg Match

Goldfish Graph // Ten Apples Counting // One Fish Two Fish Goldfish // Pet: Add It, Build It

Slime Party // Stack the Cat's Hat // Oobleck

Hop on Pop Rhyming // Foot Book Opposites // Hop on Pop Letters

Truffula Trees // Cheese and Crackers // Hat Pizza // Green Eggs and Ham

Linking up here.

   

   

Two girls in a field // Pink {A Year of Color #2}

I'm pretty sure everyone knows my favorite color is pink (right? I've made that clear, yeah?) So to say I was excited about February's color is an understatement. And this may have turned out to be one of my favorite pet projects to date!

This beauty of a reproduction painting {Two girls in a field by Renoir} was one of the very first pieces I curated when I found out we were having another Girl and that said girl would be joining her big sister in the bedroom. Well, I still love it just as much today as I did those three plus years ago and I've had it in my head to do a photo shoot of the girls in this likeness for awhile. Nothing like the present though, right? Not to mention I had the perfect little dresses that we're a gift from Great Grandma Mary. Be prepared to swoon. 

It's not too heavy on the pink but doesn't it totally capture the essence of pink?!

Now it's your turn! Add your link below. Thank you for joining Desiree, Justine, Stefanie and me for A Year of Color! Next month's color is green and the link up will be on Friday, March 17th!

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking up here.

   

   

Tiny Letters // February

Let's just dive right in, shall we?

Dear February,

For being such a short month, you sure are b-u-s-y. I guess you gotta pack it all in, huh?

Dear Brian,

You have been my rock these past few months and I am so lucky you are mine.  

Dear Kinsey,

You are now 6 years old. I'm going cliche but I seriously do not know how it happened so fast? I will forever cherish the moments I held you as a newborn and watched you sleep, just because I could. How painful it was to go back to work after two short months of maternity leave. How you were born practically bald and with huge blue eyes and have always looked only like yourself. We are so much alike and yet you are you. And I love you all the more for that.

Dear Brielana,

You are my wild child and the 'Terrible Twos' have found you. Of course, it's hard staying mad at you because you look like an angel. This parenting gig is full of contradictions and you are full of tenderness and love and a touch of naughtiness. 

Dear Rain,

Don't get me wrong, I love you and California really needs you, but (you knew it was coming) you do funny things to my hair and I just can't take it anymore. The frizz and general disarray of the bangs makes me look rather poodle-y and that's just not the look I'm going for.

Dear Toys,

I understand that toys are a part of childhood and it isn't your fault you get played with maybe you could also learn how to pick yourself up? Because we all know only mom can do it "right" (insert eye roll emoji). A self-cleaning toy really needs to be invented...

Dear Old Navy pajama pants,

You are like my new best friend. Not only were you only $8 but you're so comfy I just can't help but get back into when the moment I step foot in the house I come home from work . 

Dear Shelved Books,

I'm sorry I lost steam. Especially since January was so productive. I guess I'll just blame the short but extremely busy month of February and move on.

Linking up here.