Staying on the Farm in Los Angeles

Over the weekend Jeff and I celebrated a belated wedding anniversary.  It was 7 years in July, boy how time flies.  We got away for one night without the baby, which was such a treat.  Thanks Mom!  We stayed at a boutique hotel in West Hollywood called Farmer's Daughter.  It was a old motel that was renovated in a kitschy vintage farmhouse style.  They have an adjoining restaurant, Tart, which has delicious breakfast foods and uses only grass fed meats and local produce.   We also ate and window shopped at the permanent Farmer's Market across the street and at The Grove.  A stop at Anthropologie was a must, even though I can't buy anything.  It's amazing how just a one day getaway can make you feel so refreshed.  We need to do this more often!

Hospital Recovery SALE

So, I took last week off to go on a couple of short trips with my family and I ended up in the hospital with an appendicitis.  We had a nice stay in the mountains at a friend's cabin and on the day we were planning to come home, I woke up at 3am in terrible pain.  After getting home, I spent some time at Urgent Care and the ER before being admitted to the hospital and having surgery.  The worst part is that a good friend of mine from high school got married on Saturday with a beautiful vintage style wedding and I wasn't there. :(  I had helped her find coordinating vintage ties for her nine groomsmen and was anxious to see it all come together as well as celebrate with her and many other friends I haven't seen in a long time. Thanks for all the well wishes for those who read my tweets from the hospital!

I got home yesterday and am feeling ok, but I don't expect much to happen around here for a bit.  I am hosting a bridal shower this coming Saturday for my dear cousin, so I will be putting what little energy I have towards that.  In the meantime, I have significantly marked down summer items in my shop to make room for fall, (is it really that time already?) so that should keep you busy.  There are 40+ sale items and they are up to 75% off!  I am also hoping to get another giveaway going this week, we'll see how it goes.

a breath of NEW air

Why is always so hard for me to blog? I have been thinking about this post for at least 14 days now and have still yet to write it. It's not even that exciting. I'm one of those people who have so many unachieved (why is spell check underlining this?!) ideas in my head, there just isn't enough time for all that my mind thinks up. So here goes...

I'm excited about 2010, you wanna know why? Because this is the start of my 2nd year of motherhood and my 4th year as a business owner. Sometimes I think (actually, often) why am I doing this? Because I LOVE IT!!!! I love being a mom and I love my business. So this is the year of making it happen, really moving forward with Salvage Life and being a great mom at the same time.

I am now selling in two stores and it's going really well. Online sales have been steady and I have some ideas for increasing those also. I have built some great vendor relationships and am in the process of finishing the website and working on more branding materials.

Other reasons to be excited:
.Styling the Harvey's shoot at the end of the month
.Handmade Brigade Show on March 7th
.my daughter's first birthday is almost here
.teaching a class on starting your own Etsy shop

And now for the last reason why 2010 is going to be a great year....

this will have to be continued at a later time, I have to go to a meeting, this post is getting pretty long anyways.

My little lady bug...

The Giles family had a wonderful Halloween. I spent much of the day preparing for the Handmade Brigade Show on Sunday, but I managed to squeeze in pumpkin carving and a short visit to a carnival with the baby. Jeff and I didn't dress up this year, since we figured everyone would just be looking at the baby anyway. She was a lady bug, not super original but I think she was super cute! We even dressed up her little animals.

There's always next week

Well, I was hoping to get more items listed in the shop this week, but I spent many of my precious hours making baby food, playing with my daughter and cleaning house. The last one is really funning because my house doesn't look clean at all, there is merchandise and baby paraphernalia everywhere, but the tub and floors are clean! I would be frustrated except this is the life I chose. I don't have to be a stay at home mom and run my own business, but I choose to and with that choice I purpose to always put my family first. That requires cleverness and sacrifice and I am sure I will never find a balance in all of it, but I love my daughter and I really enjoy running Salvage Life. I try to include her in things by telling her about the clothes "we" sell and how the business works. I think she likes it even though she probably doesn't have a clue what I am saying. She gets excited and waves her arms when I hold up a pretty dress. Yesterday, I was trying to take pictures and she was whining so gave her this old camera and she thought she was working too. I love what I do!

Another must have item for my baby's room is an owl shaped pillow! Here are a few that I am considering after an extensive Etsy search. Maybe I'll even make my own in my spare time. :)

From Pretty Lil Things

From Joo Sweetie


From Pinch Face



From The Small Woods



From Manic Muffin Totes


From Cuore



From Zemphira

So, I have about a month until my due date and the insomnia has really set in. Luckily, I have Etsy searches to keep me busy. I have been looking for something to hang on the baby's wall and I just came across this shop, Icing On The Cupcake. Here are some of the adorable prints they have!

Wondering what I have been up to lately? I have been busy preparing for the baby's arrival! I had my final baby shower on Saturday and on Sunday I had a big Salvage Life Sale at my house. This will probably be the last sale for awhile. Let's see...what else?...setting up the baby's room, selling furniture we no longer need on Craig's List, clearing some of my clothes out of the closet in the baby's room, getting massages and Chiropractic adjustments for my increasingly painful back, going through baby hand-me-downs from family and friends, doing extra photo shoots and stocking up on merchandise so my business can make it through the newborn stage, and waddling my way through the mall to find Christmas presents.


My favorite three-layer dip from Trader Joe's. Sun-tomato, Pesto and Cream Cheese. How cute are those star crackers?


Pinwheels! Cream cheese, ham and green onions wrapped in a flour tortilla and sliced up. The other version has olives and bell peppers, Delicious!


Pretty centerpieces!


The cake was made of cupcakes and had the cutest little baby made of fondant on top.


My mom gave me a box of my baby things and I absolutely love this sailor dress! i can't wait for her to wear it!


My Grandma got me the travel system (stroller and car seat) that I registered for.


My sister Amy got me the most adorable white faux fur coat for her to wear next winter.


Me and my dear cousin Joan!

Baby Shower #2

So, I have been a little slow at posting lately and actually, at everything for that matter. I am not the most timely person as it is, but this pregnancy is really starting to get the best of me. I am feeling a little overwhelmed to say the least. Everyone keeps telling me it's good practice for motherhood, but I don't want to practice! I just want to enjoy the last bit of sanity and independence I have until the baby comes. Anyways, baby showers are one of those things that remind you how fun pregnancy can be. These pictures are from a few weeks ago when my extremely generous friend Laura opened her home to 20-something of my friends! My best friend Lara from San Luis Obispo even came down for the weekend with her son Grant! Thank you to everyone who made that day so special!





What a beautiful dress! I wish it were my size!


Mini Minnetonkas! Need I say more?


Onesie with a hippie screen print of an owl sitting on a tree branch. Love it!


I found this NON-MATERNITY dress at Forever 21 for just $32, red strappy flats - thrifted for $3.95!

My First Baby Shower!

On Saturday, my good friend Ruth Sebabi threw me a baby shower. We had a lovely time eating, playing games and opening gifts. Everyone was so generous! Jeff and I are so thankful for our friends.


My adorable niece Soriya!



My Sister-in-law Jenny thought I was much bigger around than I am...just give it a couple more months.


Baby girl clothes are so cute and soft!


My dear friend Camille.


My mom and I. Do we look alike or what? We were cracking up because we have almost the identical haircut!


My Mother-in-law, me, niece and Sister-in-law.