ETSY: Nixon's Nursery (Updated)

I am very excited about my new venture in sewing! After designing and crafting all of the accessories for Nixon’s nursery, I discovered my passion for sewing. Now, after brainstorming ways to supplement our income so that we can comfortably afford for me to stay home with Nixon instead of going back to work, it is clear that an amazing opportunity was staring me in the face! Why not share my new found passion and earn some extra cash at the same time?!

So, here is my checklist:

1. Open my Etsy store. (check)

2. Create a Facebook Page (check)

3. Get all my materials (check)

4. Take some pictures of my products (check)

5. Receive and fill orders! (Just filled my 1st order!)

Lunch with Grandma @ Tia Juana's

After an exciting day at the park with The Mommy’s, Nixon told me that she was hungry and would LOVE to have lunch with her Grandma Julie. As it turns out, GJ works just down the street from the Great Park (we could see her office from the balloon!). A few text messages later and we were enjoying a few Mexican favorites at Tia Juana’s Long Bar and Grill.   

Nixon was intrigued by Grandma’s water glass, so GJ decided to let her try it. It was hysterical to watch, so I decided to share the joy: 

OC Great Park (Irvine)

This morning Nixon and I ventured to the OC Great Park in Irvine to meet up with some of our new friends from The Mommy’s group. Seven moms made it out today, including myself, and we brought along 8 kids! Together, our group of 15 savored the beautiful day by riding the carousel (twice) and taking a short trip (upwards) in the hot air balloon.

All of us were happily surprised that the park doesn’t charge for any of its services; the parking, carousel and hot air balloon are all funded by a private party (probably the Irvine Company), so they’re free of charge.

All in all it we had a great time, and I was happy to make some new friends! 

In case anyone wants some info on the Balloon Rides, here you go: 

Great Park Balloon

Free Flights. All Year. The Great Park Balloon is the Orange County Great Park’s first major attraction. With the ability to hold up to 25 to 30 passengers, and soar up to 400 feet above the surrounding landscape, it also serves as a public observation deck for the Great Park’s development. Upgraded in December 2009 the Balloon’s UV protected envelope can now be illuminated from within.

Hours & Directions Thursday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Monday–Wednesday: Closed Holiday Hours Availability to fly is on a first-come, first-serve basis and dependent on wind and weather conditions. Map & Directions

Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Eager to get out of the house to get some exercise, I asked around to see if any of my friends felt like joining Nixon and me on our walk. Chelsea, who had her baby Adrian late January, decided she too could use a little fresh air and physical activity, and so we were off.

Since I had to drive to Huntington Harbor to pick Chelsea up, we decided to test out a local trail that meanders through the wetlands.

To say that the Bolsa Chica Wetlands was a rough trail would be an understatement. We should have turned back when we realized that it was a dirt path (and Chelsea was wearing flip flops), but instead we braved the dust, stinkbugs, over grown mustard bushes, and potholes.  Then we realized that it wasn’t a loop.

3.85 miles later we made it back to my car, and drove straight back to my place so Chelsea could wash off her disgusting Jesus feet.

Of course, in the middle of the walk we had a little photoshoot. 

(How could we help ourselves with such adorable babies?)

A Visit From Auntie Heather

Tonight, after much anticipation, Auntie Heather stopped by to join the Hunts for dinner.

Really, she came to cuddle our peanut, but we understand how irresistable Nixon is, so we gave her a pass. 

Patience and Forgiveness

Adam and I went to church today at God’s House in Huntington Beach.  I used to attend regularly, before I moved to orange to attend college at Chapman, and I always felt a connection to the congregation and the pastor. Everyone was very tight-knit, and after service every Sunday night we’d all go out to dinner and enjoy fellowship.

About a month ago I ran into the pastor, Pastor Eric, and a bunch of members at In-N-Out. The timing was great, because Adam and I have been trying to figure out where to go to church now that we live so far from Saddleback; it was like God provided the opportunity for me to get back in sync with God’s House.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), Adam has been swamped with work for the past few months, working straight through weekends. I almost never get to spend any time with him, and if, by chance, he ISN’T working on a Sunday morning, he is catching up on much deserved rest. So the reality that God’s House starts late (5:30pm) was absolutely perfect. I made him promise me this weekend we’d go, because we needed to start attending regularly again, and we need to start planning Nixon’s dedication ceremony.

So, after much anticipation, today was the day! The message was about patience, and it made me really think about some ongoing problems in my life that I let drag me down. Pastor Eric reminded us that the first thing the bible says about love is that love is patient. He helped me realize that when I am impatient in my relationships with certain people it has an adverse impact on other relationships as well, including my relationship with my husband.

Pastor Eric also quoted the bible’s direction that you show patience with everyone, not just those who are easy or convenient or profitable to be patient with. I know a few people that I am definitely NOT patient with, so I know I need to work on that. 

Pastor Eric also recapped last weeks message about forgiveness, and I'm sorry we missed it! He pointed out that we should be able to forgive others, but that doesn't mean we have to interact with them or let them back into our lives to possibly commit more harm- forgiveness isn't trust, or faith, it's simply forgiveness.  Forgiveness is letting go of the animosity and hatred and frustration, and Lord knows I could use a little relief from all of those feelings right about now, as they’ve been weighing me down for almost a year now.

While I’m still unsure HOW I’m going to “fix” my issues with forgiveness and impatience, I know now that I need to make a more conscious effort to keep any conflicts I may have from influencing how I interact with my husband. I love him too much to let my impatience with others detract from the quality time we spend together.

I can’t wait for church next week!

Lilly Turns 2

Today was Jordan and Katie's daughter's 2nd birthday party. They had an adorable farm themed party at O'Neil park, and Adam and I were very excited to see everyone, because it had been months since we last hung out, AND no one aside from Jordan and Katie had actually seen Nixon.

Lilly has grown so much, and it was neat to hear her talking and see her running around playing. I can't wait to watch Nixon run around like that, although I kind of just want her to stay small forever.

It was also great to see Adam and Nixon out together, bonding. I'm embarrassed to admit that we don't get out much these days, so it was literally a breath of fresh air to be out in the park. 

This is by far my favorite picture of the day

I took a few pictures with Nix, but I'm sad to report they came out very dark. My flash was being temperamental.

Lunch with Brooke

I met up with Brooke at Wahoo's in Laguna Beach to catch up. After, we headed over to her new place, which, I have to admit, is pretty amazing.

Reglan Worked!

So after spending $100 on a prescription to have the milk producing drug Domperidone compounded for me, and it not significantly increasing my milk supply, I am happy to announce that I tried a different drug, Reglan, and it worked! I am now producing around 8 ounces each pumping! I have a bottle or two in the fridge at all times, and I don't foresee Nixon needed any more formula!

Burning Bridges

We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered. - Tom Stoppard

I heard this quote last night on Criminal Minds and it struck me, not because of the sad overtures that the show weighed it down with, but because of the hope that it somehow offered.

I’ve been known to burn bridges, and am often chastised for my stubborn rigidity, but I don’t think that severing ties is always a bad thing. Why allow the past to haunt you and risk it repeating itself? I think if more people burned bridges the world would be a better place. Smokier perhaps, but somehow more clear as well.

People take bridges for granted anyways. Maybe, if the promise of a bridge weren’t always there, people would respect and cherish the bridges in their lives more.