Weekly Love

Happy Thanksgiving Eve Wednesday!

It's time for Weekly Love over at Chicago Cuisine Critique's blog... link up and join the fun!

What I'm Loving this week...

1. I'm LOVING my Booges this week (I love him everyday)

He is getting so big and learning new things everyday. He's trying to crawl and it fun to watch him...

He's so into Mama right now, and I'm cherishing every moment of it.

He has the cutest little dimple

and biggest brown eyes

2. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving... YAY!... my favorite holiday. I love spending time with family and friends, giving thanks and being thankful.

so my dinner isn't going to be big and elaborate... but will be nice (sweet and simple). I'm planning a small dinner for The Man and myself (Booges will feast on baby oatmeal and baby food... sweet potatoes and green beans). Spending the day with my 2 guys makes me HAPPY. We don't get a lot of family time together and I LOVING the idea of a whole day together.

3. I'm LOVING Trader Joe's!! It's been a frequent stop of mine for years (really several times a week). It's on my way home. This year my whole Thanksgiving dinner is from Trader Joe's, and I only spent about $45 (better then the $90 I spent last year). 

Our meal...

turkey breast stuffed with cranberry apple stuffing

sausage cornbread stuffing

maple roasted sweet potatoes

green beans

cranberry sauce

rolls

pumpkin pie

double chocolate cake

a bottle of TJ's Sauvignon  Blanc to wash it down

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

Top 2 Tuesday

It's Tuesday... YAY! Thanksgiving is almost here, and I can't wait!! Head over to Taylor's blog and join in for Top 2 Tuesday... today's topic is...

Top 2 Things on Your Christmas Wish List

Ok, so this one is honestly a little hard for me... I'm not one to make a huge Christmas list for myself. But I'm not gonna lie... there are things out there that I would LOVE to have.

1. I saw the Red by Marc Ecko handbag and just fell in love with it... it's simple, and so me

It's just the perfect size for all my stuff, and still large enough to be a 'mom purse'

 (I tend to collect all of Booges stuff in my purse when I don't feel like carrying lugging around a diaper bag)

2. A new watch... I really REALLY like this Fossil one

I love the mother of pearl look with the crystals... again, simple but pretty

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

So Thankful... Today is a good day!

For those of you who read my blog... you are aware that I haven't had a car for a few weeks. Well.. guess what?!?!!! The Man got it running last night, YAY! We were told by several people that the engine seized and I would either have to fix it or get a new car.. either of which I really wanted to do.
It ended up being a belt that needed to replace, because it wasing moving, nothing worked. I'm so happy that he didn't give up and kept trying different things... I have my car again.
Thank you to the CTA buses, subways and metra trains for getting me back and forth, but I will no longer need your services.
I woke up this morning and thanked God for the many blessings in my life (as I do everyday). I was getting a little stressed out about it all, and today I felt the heavy load lifted.

A huge THANK YOU to The Man... You're The Best!

Thank you for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

more bracelets... and an inspiration

Happy Sunday!!

I spent some time yesterday making these...

I love the sun toggle on this one, and I LOVE these light carnelian stones.

I can see this bracelet being worn with so many different things.

So brown and pink may be so last season... but I still like the color combination.

I found these pink glass beads with the brown swirls and didn't know what to do with them.

Little rose quartz and brown tigers eye... Perfect!

I normally don't make double strand bracelets, but (I think) this one came out so pretty.

Purple crazy lace agate with tanzanite swarovski crystal. This one makes me HAPPY!

I think these little brown snowflake obsidian stones are so cute... it you really look at them, they do look like they have tiny snowflakes on them... I paired them with large sponge coral nuggets.

What do you think?

Then there is this beauty... my new inspiration...

I found this picture looking browsing online.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the different shapes, colors, and textures in this one.

This piece is so inspiring to me, and I am excited to draw from that inspiration and see what I can come up with.

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

Weekly Love

It's Wednesday which means it's time for Weekly Love over at
Chicago Cuisine Critique's blog...

go link up and join the fun!!

What I'm Loving this week...

1. I'm loving my Friend Vianca

This girl has been a wonderful friend this past week, with my car broken down she has been there...

driving me home from work. Thank you V! I LOVE you!

2. I'm loving my new scarf (from Target)

OK, so I got it for my birthday from my friend Tinik, a few weeks ago. But it finally cold enough for it, and I've worn it everyday this week. I LOVE the paisley pattern.

3. I'm loving baby orajel

Booges is teething, and Orajel has been a life saver. I LOVE the person who invented this mouth numbing agent and I LOVE you Orajel.

4. I'm loving my new petal pusher pin from The Pleated Poppy

I got this beauty in the mail this week... I LOVE the vintage look of it.

Lindsey makes the cutest things... got her out her shop and her blog here

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

50 free holiday cards... from Shutterfly

Hello to FREE!!

Shutterfly is offering 50 free holiday cards to blogger, like you!!

Go here and sign up. It's easy!

I was just thinking to myself the other day...

'Renae, what are you going to do for Christmas cards this year?'

I don't know if I'll be able to choose just one design

and so many more...

Go check it out and take advantage of this opportunity.

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love
XOXO,
Renae

Top 2 Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!!

It's Top 2 Tuesday time over at Taylor's lovely blog!! 

Top 2 Favorite Jobs you've had

1. My newest job... a mama! I love being a mom.
It's the most rewarding job, EVER!
When I come home from a hard day at work (which I do love what I do and have been with my company for 9 years) and all I want to do is NOTHING I have this super cute little face looking at me with a BIG smile and I melt.

2. My second favorite job would be Starbucks back in High School

The hustle and bustle of morning 'rush hour' was never a bore... and I LOVED my fellow bristas.

Getting to know the regulars was always fun...

AND

really who can beat free coffee... all you wanted, all day long

not to mention the monthly free pound of coffee.

However, the coffee smelled that lingered in my hair for hours after my shift was over wasn't always the best

and I don't think I'll be able to drink another frappuccino

(good thing there not my favorite).

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

Wishing for the weekend... and Jewelry

Is it Friday yet??? Ok, I know it not good to wish for the weekend (when it's only Monday night) because it's like wishing your life away... But I just love the weekends. It's really the only time I get the spend my days with Booges and being creative.

Here are some pictures of some bracelets I made this past weekend...

Making jewelry is very relaxing to me... it's my stress relief...

What do you like to do to relieve stress?

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

A Giveaway over at Lee La La

Lindsey over at Lee La La is having a fabulous giveaway of Shaggy Baggy totes and handbags, they are all so cute and organic looking. They are handmade out of beautiful fabrics and recycled burlap coffee sacks.

and how cute are these

She is giving away this little beauty

Oh.. the things I could think of using this bag for... what would you use it for?

If you're interested.. enter the giveaway here.

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

Weekly Love (a few days late)

I'm happy to be posting Weekly Love and to be able to link up with Chicago Cuisine Critique. Go check out her blog and see what she's loving this week.

What I'm Loving This Week...

1. This week I'm loving Booges new 'funny' face

This face makes me laugh... EVERYDAY! I don't know where he learned this, but it started this week and and he does it all the time now. It's so funny to me, and I LOVE IT!

2. I'm loving the flowers I received this week...

from my Mom! I LOVE HER and her thoughtfulness!

3. I'm loving that I received an 2 gift cards in the mail this week, one from my grandparents and one from my dad and stepmom for my birthday... as well as an 8 day 15% off shopping pass... all to Kohl's

Kohl's, Here I come!! I LOVE SHOPPING, and LOVE that it's not coming out of my pocket.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

30 day blog challenge - day 30

I really can't believe today is the last day of this challenge. It has been so fun and I have met so many wonderful bloggers. I have enjoyed getting to know all of you, and I look forward to reading more.

Day 30: A Picture

Today I leave you with this picture of a pearl. A pearl is formed when a foreign body enters a mollusk shell, and embeds itself in the small tissue. To protect itself, thin layers of nacre are formed around the object, resulting in a beautiful pearl. As you walk through life, remember it's your layers that make you who you are...

A STRONG BEAUTIFUL WOMAN!

Thank you for stopping by...

Peace and Love
XOXO,
Renae

30 day blog challenge - day 29

Happy Monday!! It really was nice coming into work and it be day light. Driving in to work with it's complete darkness just makes me want to go back to bed.

Can you believe this 30 day blog challenge is just over tomorrow... it's been fun! Reading other's post and seeing all the encouragement everyone had to offer has been inspiring in my own life.

Day 29: 3 Wishes

 

I have many wishes... but here are the top 3...

 

I wish to one day become a make-up artist/massage therapist and open some type of spa. One that will offer reasonable prices for everyone at any income. I think that it's important for women (and men) to take time out for themselves every now and then. And who doesn't like to be pampered??

 

 

I wish that I will be able to watch Booges (and any other kids I may have) grow up to happy and healthy adults, and see grandchildren of my own one day.

 

 

I wish that I will always remember what is really important in life, not to stress so much. And to always ALWAYS remember that things happen to all of us, and even if we don't know the reason at the time... there is a reason behind it and we need to grow from it and stay positive.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by...

 

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae