Remember!

I'm still blogging guys!  Even more so now, actually.  So, please remember to update your blog readers to my new online home at Tumblr. <3

Goodbye.

You can now find me here at my new home, Tumblr.  

To new beginnings.  <3

http://jaymipop.tumblr.com/

I am going to cry.

ALL of my PHOTOS from this blog are gone.  Gone forever.

Damn you Google Plus!  I inadvertently deleted a folder which had a bunch of photos in it, as I was setting up my profile yesterday NOT KNOWING that that particular folder hosted ALL of my blog photos.

They are gone.

I don't know what to do.  I realize that it's just a blog...but this is my blog, my memories, my life since October 2008.

I.  Am.  So.  Sad.


UPDATE:  Apparently, I am not alone.  And they will NOT recover the photos for us.

What is the point of continuing this blog if I don't have ANY of the photos from the past?  I am completely devastated.  Thinking of permanently switching to Tumblr.

Fuck you Google.

My Daughter, the Plush Designer

So, Audrey is getting to be a good little artist lately.  She draws all the time.  She draws anything.  She draws everything.  She draws pictures for us, writes us sweet notes and randomly tapes them all over the house (we currently have 2 small notes taped to our fireplace mantle).

Tonight, I decided to turn one of drawings into a real life plush.  She chose the materials, colors, and placements.  I did all the leg work.  She was SOOOO excited!  Her very own plush design.

Audrey's drawing that inspired the plushie.

The finished product.  Super cute huh?  Audrey is so proud. <3

Activities with Audrey - Mixing Colors

Hi!  Audrey here.  I'm going to share with you a simple activity my mommy and I did together.  I am such a curious little person and am constantly asking questions about stuff.  So, my mommy decided to make this a new recurring blog post called Activities with Audrey.

This time we are going to tackle colors.  And mixing colors.  So we got out 4 glasses and put in a few (or more!) drops of food coloring into each glass.

Then I mixed in the food coloring using a small spoon.

I liked that part.  The colors were so bright!

Then I put in a few (or more!) drops of a different color into each glass.  And stirred.

Hmmmm.

Adding another color to the yellow glass.

And it's.....green!

I really liked this super simple activity.  How about you?

Renegade SF

Amy and I drove down to San Francisco Saturday to partake in some shopping at Renegade SF.  We met up with Lauren when we got there and had a super fantastic time followed by some JapanTown goodness!  I picked up an adorable pink felt bunny for Audrey from OhMaFelt, an "I'm fat, let's party." onsie for Zoey from SeiBei (I always have to get something from them), and the cutest book ever, All My Friends Are Dead.  I had seen the print in several different places before and have always been a fan so imagine my delight when I found out that there was a book dedicated to my favorite little dinosaur.  I even met the illustrator and writer!  Yay. 

Awesome day with awesome people <3

Outfit Posts (rant)

Okay, so I love outfit posts as much as the next gal.  But when the outfits are entirely made up of c/o (courtesy of) insert Modcloth or Ruche or Blowfish Shoes.  Whatever new company decides to encourage people to buy their clothes based on what the popular bloggers are wearing.  Doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of an outfit post?  I mean, I (regular shopper), would like to see what people are wearing based on their (mine) budgets, style, etc.  NOT what companies are giving them for FREE to wear.

I want to see a girl wearing a pretty dress that she bought from Target and styled in a super cute or different way.  I want to see a girl showing off her latest vintage finds.  I want to see some awesome handmade (or not) accessories and how they are styled with different outfits.  I want to see people's REAL clothes.

That said, I will NEVER own a pair of Blowfish Shoes.  Simply because they are sending free shoes to every fashion blogger or wanna-be fashion blogger out there.  For free!   Why should I spend my money on their shoes just because everyone is being sent shoes to wear?  I'm not going to lie though, I initially thought the Gimmiks were really cute and wanted a pair for myself.  But quickly lost interest when I realized what Blowfish was doing.  I know, I know.  My non-purchase doesn't matter.  Nor does my opinion.  But, I don't want to buy a pair of shoes just because everyone else is.  Remember what your parents taught you as a kid...would you jump off a bridge just because "insert popular blogger's name here"?  No.  But you sure will buy some shoes because they are wearing them.  I feel like we are being brainwashed to like certain clothing, shoes, or accessories just because they are being worn by popular bloggers.

I miss the days of Wardrobe Remix.  Looking through pages and page of pretty Flickr photos just to see what the stylish kids were wearing.

I realize that I'm probably in the minority here with this opinion and I'm okay with that.  Rant over.

PS. To show you that I'm just as shallow as everyone else, I included photos of some of my own outfit posts that I did back in 2009.

It's time...

For me to change my hair again.  What can I say?  I get bored easily.  And I'm getting tired of having such short hair.  I need some length.  I'm thinking this style, way short in back and longer in front...like I had about 2 years ago.  Plus, I am missing my curly hair.  It's such a waste to have pretty curls and not be able to use them.  Sooooooo...

Starting today, commence hair grow-out.  I will not maintain my short style anymore.  I will only trim the back as to keep it looking kept and cute.  I will let it grow grow grow.  

Hooray.

Thrifting is Fun.

I have to say, this is one of the best thrift scores ever.  Found this book the other day from Deseret Industries, our favorite local thrift score.  Not only does Deseret have the best stuff, but they color coordinate EVERYTHING.  I loved walking down the isles seeing a rainbow of brightly colored plastic kitchen wear and red, white, and blue t-shirts prominently displayed in preparation of the 4th.

Best part about this book?  Well...EVERYTHING!  

• When I first spied the book, I initialy thought that it was probably for parents livining with adult children.  However, the picture on the cover implies otherwise.
• The book was written in 1976.  Hence the adorable illustration on the cover.
• Some of the chapter titles - 
• The Timid, Shy Child
• Bedwetting
• Your Children's Friends
• The Challenge of Television and Movies
• Runaways
• The TITLE of the book, How to Live with your Children and Like Them.  Seriously?  We need a book on how to LIKE our children?  Aren't we supposed to love them unconditionally?  The challenges of raising a child is just part of the package.  I'm sure I have rough days ahead of me with my girls, but I couldn't even fathom not liking them.  

I do however, get the purpose of the book.  It is for parents to help them through the formative years of their children.  To help them get through the challenges a bit easier.  To help them successfully raise their children into good people.  

But, I still think it's horribly titled. And hilarious! :)

Mother-Daugther

Happy 4th!

From Zoey.

And Audrey <3

We spent the afternoon at a cheezy carnival where Audrey rode some rides, won herself her very own prize, Zoey talked a bunch, and we all sweated our behinds off in the summer heat.  Tonight we'll be heading out to Davis for some more family fun and fireworks!  I love my little family.

(oh, and do you notice that my girls are totally matching today?  I didn't even realize that I had they had matching dresses until I looked in their closet this morning to get them dressed.  Audrey loves that she is wearing the same print as her little sister.  And I can offically call myself one of those moms who dresses their daughters alike.)

My First Ad.

So, I'm officially advertising for Cooo.  I picked Sometimes Sweet because she's super cute, has a huge mommy following, and I feel that my bows fit.

Yay!  We'll see how it works out  :)

Tom's Instagram

It's time for another round of Tom's Instagram.  Here's what has been cute in our lives the past couple of weeks via his iphone.

Zoey's little rattail.  Her formerly dark hair is slowly getting blonder, but that darn rattail is still brown.

We found this amazing Star Wars onsie at Target for just $5!  She's slowly growing out of it though and it makes me sad.

Not sure what was going on when he took this photo, but I do think it's funny that you can spot Tom's head in the mirror behind Zoey.

Watching a movie with a walrus in a fort.

I guess he was playing around with the settings here.  Her eyes look amazing...

Last week, we had a crazy neighbor climb the tree in our front yard all the way to the top to rescue his cockatiel.  It was nuts!  See the ladder?  I wrote about it on my Twitter if you care to know the details.

Tom made this fancy dog house using tables from Ikea.  It's been about a year now and Paco is FINALLY using it!

Audrey's choco-stache.

Doing the robot.

Park family fun.

We sure felt like piggies after eating all those cupcakes.

Tom also uploaded another photo app to his phone and has been making silly cartoons using his photos.

We had a garage sale this past weekend.  This was Audrey's only contribution to it.  Guess she doesn't like Dora anymore.

Okay, so I took this one. I love how cool my eyes look.

Another cartoon.

I love Tom's caption for this photo - "Plush by Lauren Smash: Onsie by Lauren Brandy: Baby by Jaymi Guess"

So, I redid Audrey & Zoey's closet recently.  Now Audrey can reach all her clothes and has been picking out her own daily outfits.  I love seeing the combinations she comes up with!

Zoey blows rasberries now!  It's adorable...and slobbery.

Audrey rode up and down the sidewalk during our garage sale.  Often telling the shoppers to "please" move out of her way.  Yikes!

I love this photo.  Audrey sitting on top of the tulip table base.

Sleeping baby.

Fun at Target!

Eating Spongebob ice cream at Concert in the Park last night.

Zoey - 4 Months

Dear Baby Zoey.

You are 4 months old as of yesterday, June 20th.

I'm watching you grow and learn right before my eyes.

You are so pretty.

You are the sweetest tiny person I've ever met.

You are the most curious tiny person I've ever met.

You are the happiest tiny person I've ever met.

I still love seeing your huge gummy smiles.

I love how you go from smiling to serious once you see the camera in front of you.

The photo above is the closest I can get to a smile.

I love watching you watch your big sister.  You are just crazy about her.

I love how you stop crying sometimes when Audrey comes around.

You are so different from your big sister in your personality so far, and I love it.

I love how similar you are as well.

I love your curiousity.  You are so interested in everything you see, constantly watching what is going on around you, moving your little head around so you can see, your big bluish eyes.

I love that you play now.  Tightly grasping ever toy, shirt, or blanket within your reach.  Bringing whatever it is to your mouth for a brief taste.

I love how vocal you are if we are not paying attention to you, leave you in one place for too long, or are not stimulating you enough.

I love your voice.  You are always talking or singing.  Long, drawn-out sounds.

I love that you are awake more during the day (and sleeping mostly through the night).

I love watching you play.  You get the biggest, proudest smile when you lift your head up from the tummy position.

I love watching you push off my hand with your foot from your back to your tummy.

And how proud you get of all your little accomplishments. 

I love snuggling with you as your wrap your wee arm around mine.

I love that you prefer lately to be held facing outward.  You don't want to miss anything!

I love you to the moon and back.