By Liv
If you have any last-minute gifts looming in your near-buying future, I highly recommend buying them from Amazon.com. Not just because my husband works there, but also because they have super fast shipping and usually the best prices found online.
And, if you plan on buying through Amazon this holiday season (or any time of year!) please consider navigating to Amazon.com by clicking the banner on the right side of my blog. Why, you ask? Because I recently joined the Amazon Affiliates program, which means that whenever someone navigates to Amazon by clicking on my link on this blog (look to your right), I will make a percentage of commission on their purchase(s). It doesn't cost any extra for the buyer, it just means that Amazon shares a small amount of the purchase price with me!
Don't tell Nick, but this is my long-term plan for Stella's college fund. (He's not-so-secretly depending on a tennis scholarship, but I think I'm much more realistic...).
I hope the giving and buying season is lovely for everyone and I hope you receive everything you asked Santa for this year!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Happy 32nd Birthday to Nick!
By Liv
Young man Tostenrude turned 32 this weekend. Stella had to out-do me by singing him a special birthday song and baking him a delicious wooden birthday cake :)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
My Sister's Wedding: 11-5-11.
By Liv
My Sister had the most lovely wedding I've ever seen. The theme was appropriate for our Mexican heritage and for the time of year: Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. The wedding venue was splashed with vibrant colors of mexican paper flowers and intricately decorated sugar skulls. Jessica's wedding dress was a one-of-a-kind mexican wedding dress with an amazing veil to top it off.
I've never been to a more personalized and intimate event in my life. Everyone was made to feel part of the couple's special day and that day ended with a private rock show at Columbia City Theater - headlining one of Jessica's best friends' bands as well as a special performance by the groom as lead guitarist when Hedwig and the Angry Inch played. Talk about a full day of festivities!
All our love to the newlyweds!
My Sister had the most lovely wedding I've ever seen. The theme was appropriate for our Mexican heritage and for the time of year: Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. The wedding venue was splashed with vibrant colors of mexican paper flowers and intricately decorated sugar skulls. Jessica's wedding dress was a one-of-a-kind mexican wedding dress with an amazing veil to top it off.
I've never been to a more personalized and intimate event in my life. Everyone was made to feel part of the couple's special day and that day ended with a private rock show at Columbia City Theater - headlining one of Jessica's best friends' bands as well as a special performance by the groom as lead guitarist when Hedwig and the Angry Inch played. Talk about a full day of festivities!
All our love to the newlyweds!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Baby Girl Tostenrude - due April 20th, 2012!
Today, we give thanks for many things. First and foremost, we are thankful for the newest addition to our family - a baby girl who is due to join our family mid-April!
I'm so very thankful that we have family and friends to spend this day with. Thanksgiving is a perfect day to spend in stretchy maternity pants – now we are off to feed our bodies with delicious food and our souls with the love of our family. I hope everyone has a lovely day of Thanks!
I'm so very thankful that we have family and friends to spend this day with. Thanksgiving is a perfect day to spend in stretchy maternity pants – now we are off to feed our bodies with delicious food and our souls with the love of our family. I hope everyone has a lovely day of Thanks!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Stella's first hair cut
By Liv
I've been told by numerous people that I should NEVER cut Stella's beautiful locks. But the truth is, it needed it! Luckily, I have a lovely friend (who also happens to cut my hair) and agreed to tame Stella's mane. Ava owns Tigerlilly salon in Ballard and does an amazing job with hair. I'm so very thankful that she went out of her way (and out of her comfort zone) to attempt cutting little bambina's hair.
As I promised, and much to Ava's surprise, Stella was perfect in the salon chair. She sat in silence and simply observed what was happening around her. In the end, we left with no tears shed and not a peep from her little mouth until I asked if she was ready for her lollipop :)
I've been told by numerous people that I should NEVER cut Stella's beautiful locks. But the truth is, it needed it! Luckily, I have a lovely friend (who also happens to cut my hair) and agreed to tame Stella's mane. Ava owns Tigerlilly salon in Ballard and does an amazing job with hair. I'm so very thankful that she went out of her way (and out of her comfort zone) to attempt cutting little bambina's hair.
As I promised, and much to Ava's surprise, Stella was perfect in the salon chair. She sat in silence and simply observed what was happening around her. In the end, we left with no tears shed and not a peep from her little mouth until I asked if she was ready for her lollipop :)
Settling in Seattle
By Liv
We are pretty much settled in. We've found a beautiful new townhouse in Fremont (Seattle) that is filled with natural light, hardwood floors and all the comforts that we've missed over the last two years of traveling and living abroad.
Now that we are settling in to our new home, we have enjoyed getting out and doing some fun things. Here are some of the highlights from our October in Seattle.
Searching for the perfect Halloween pumpkin: All three of us had a lovely time splashing through the mud in search of the perfect pumpkin. We took a tractor ride and attempted the corn maze before heading home and warming up with some hot cocoa. Stella, of course, wanted to pick out the SMALLEST pumpkin she could find...
A breathtaking view of Seattle from the Bainbridge Island ferry: Not that it's possible, but if one ever runs out of fair-weather outings in the Emerald City, I highly recommend a trip to one of the many destinations that the local ferry takes you to. We took the short trip to Bainbridge Island and back. Stella loved being on the ferry and seeing all the sights from a different perspective - and we enjoyed the fresh air and time together as a family :)
We are pretty much settled in. We've found a beautiful new townhouse in Fremont (Seattle) that is filled with natural light, hardwood floors and all the comforts that we've missed over the last two years of traveling and living abroad.
Now that we are settling in to our new home, we have enjoyed getting out and doing some fun things. Here are some of the highlights from our October in Seattle.
Searching for the perfect Halloween pumpkin: All three of us had a lovely time splashing through the mud in search of the perfect pumpkin. We took a tractor ride and attempted the corn maze before heading home and warming up with some hot cocoa. Stella, of course, wanted to pick out the SMALLEST pumpkin she could find...
A breathtaking view of Seattle from the Bainbridge Island ferry: Not that it's possible, but if one ever runs out of fair-weather outings in the Emerald City, I highly recommend a trip to one of the many destinations that the local ferry takes you to. We took the short trip to Bainbridge Island and back. Stella loved being on the ferry and seeing all the sights from a different perspective - and we enjoyed the fresh air and time together as a family :)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
What our 2-year-old is like.
By Liv
Stella is now 2. People often ask me if time has flown by and I can honestly say that it hasn't. We've done so much in the last two years, we've crammed so many travels and adventures in the last 24 months that the time has not flown by. I remember all the places we've been and all the wonderful people we've met and I can't help but think that it feels like Stella should already be 10!
And let's be honest, she jabbers like a ten-year-old. This child can talk until you're sure there's nothing left to say, but still she'll say more! It's quite amazing to listen to. Even when I've had enough and I stop listening, she wanders over to the cat, Lucy, and starts a conversation with her!
Here are some milestones that our bambina has met, and I want to keep track of them so I never forget!
• She speaks in full sentences and says some of the funniest things I've ever heard! Some of my favorites are, "Lucy, don't cry. We'll be right back..." (Speaking to our cat when we are leaving the house.) "Mama, call the doctor!" (After any time she hurts herself.) "Oh hi, Daddy! So happy to see you!"
• She is potty trained! Well, she was trained at 22 months, so technically before she turned two, but who's counting? (I'd like credit for this amazing feat!)
• Stella loves to sing songs and can sing in perfect tune many of her favorites, including "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Ba-ba Black Sheep"
• Still has the tiniest feet in the world. She's still barely a child's size 4, so she looks like a little mini-person!
• Sleeps in her own big-girl bed in her own room.
There's so much more to say about my little love but I figure this is enough for now. We have really enjoyed watching her grow in the last two years and can't wait to share her milestones when she's three!
Stella is now 2. People often ask me if time has flown by and I can honestly say that it hasn't. We've done so much in the last two years, we've crammed so many travels and adventures in the last 24 months that the time has not flown by. I remember all the places we've been and all the wonderful people we've met and I can't help but think that it feels like Stella should already be 10!
And let's be honest, she jabbers like a ten-year-old. This child can talk until you're sure there's nothing left to say, but still she'll say more! It's quite amazing to listen to. Even when I've had enough and I stop listening, she wanders over to the cat, Lucy, and starts a conversation with her!
Here are some milestones that our bambina has met, and I want to keep track of them so I never forget!
• She speaks in full sentences and says some of the funniest things I've ever heard! Some of my favorites are, "Lucy, don't cry. We'll be right back..." (Speaking to our cat when we are leaving the house.) "Mama, call the doctor!" (After any time she hurts herself.) "Oh hi, Daddy! So happy to see you!"
• She is potty trained! Well, she was trained at 22 months, so technically before she turned two, but who's counting? (I'd like credit for this amazing feat!)
• Stella loves to sing songs and can sing in perfect tune many of her favorites, including "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Ba-ba Black Sheep"
• Still has the tiniest feet in the world. She's still barely a child's size 4, so she looks like a little mini-person!
• Sleeps in her own big-girl bed in her own room.
There's so much more to say about my little love but I figure this is enough for now. We have really enjoyed watching her grow in the last two years and can't wait to share her milestones when she's three!
Her new favorite thing is the jewelry her Abuelo gives her. For her second birthday, she got her first pair of fresh-water pearl earrings. She insists on wearing them every single day :)
Stella, Abuelo and Seren.
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