In the Garden is Where You will Find Me

So I spent a little time in my brosif's garden. He knows so much about when to plant, when they are ready, and how to get it all prepped. I don't really have a great spot in our backyard for a garden, because it lacks sun and I wouldn't prefer a front yard garden, so I think we will start small and plant some tomatoes and garlic in some pretty pots. I would like some fruit trees too besides the lemon tree we already have. Here are some of Matt's tips for planting a garden in your yard:

1) first think of what you want to plant and why are you planting. Are you looking for an edible food source or looking to attract insects or wildlife?
2) where do you plan to put the garden. depending on what you are planting you will need to look at how much sun it needs, water source, accessibility. How much space will you need? will you need to sacrifice a sitting area for your garden?
3) What is your budget? Seeds are considerably cheaper than buying the plants pregrown. Look at the packet of seeds and determine if its appropriate for your climate zone.
4) Prep the soil before spring: February in NorCal. You will want to till the soil, bring in more soil if needed, make sure its clean of all trash, large rocks and possible glass. This will make it easier for you and allow your garden to yield more product per sq.ft. Also, spray the ground with vinegar for an organic solution to getting rid of pests. If you aren't concerned about organic, spray with Roundup.
5) Then start to plant. It requires daily care and attention. Pulling weeds, checking the soil, making sure it is plenty moist. The soil should be moist all the time, but not puddly.
6) In most plants you will see a progress within ten days. Check instructions on when to pull your plants and how to keep some growing all year. Enjoy.


Here's an old photo of Nessie in Matt's garden. She was only 14 months :( Miss my baby

Onesie Dress

So today was a rainy a day and of course Pinterest sparked my love for making things with materials I already have at home (I’m learning to be quiet thrifty). I found this wonderful tutorial from Stephanie from Barefoot in the Kitchen on how to make a onesie dress. I don’t have any babies anymore but luckily my friend has a little baby who will fit perfect in one.

It was nice getting the sewing machine out and I even made fabric yo-yos that I’m addicted to. I think I’ll change things up a little using different techniques for next time. I want to make a bunch now.

Here is the finished product:

                                             

Vanessa’s 3rd birthday

Nessa’s third birthday has come and gone. Think she had a pretty good time and it was nice to have all her friends and family with us. Thanks for everyone who was there. We love you all and thanks to Ashley for making Nessie so stinkin cute. Here are some pictures of the day:

		Vanessa’s 3rd Birthday VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Facing the mountain

After the pain subsided, I’m now blogging about my first trail half-marathon experience. I loved it. It was challenging but mentally it kept me occupied the whole time. My mind continuously was racing to figure out which steps to take and things to avoid to prevent a long tumble down the mountain. It was cold when we started but it didn’t take long to warm up. It was nice being able to chat with fellow runners. Even made a few friends along the way. I’m definitely addicted to the trail running bug. But next time I go, I know to better prepare myself.
Things to keep in mind:

1. Have water and snacks handy. There was a point I was very dehydrated and since there aren’t any refueling stations you need to come prepared with water and snacks for your run.
2. Invest in good trail shoes. I ran in ordinary running shoes and you could feel every rock on my souls. Didn’t feel good. Trail shoes tend to have more tread and will grip better.
3. Bring your camera. There were some amazing views I wish I had my camera for. If you aren’t running for time, take a few shots of your run for all your friends and family to see what you experienced.
4. Have your family at the end of your race. Nothing is better than seeing familiar faces at the end cheering you on.

Girls Girls Girls

Had all the girls today. Vanessa got to play with Kaili and mama Lyn with baby Addyson. It was a good day. love my girls