Giveaway #3

So, next up on the month of giveaways is a $15 store credit to my little kids' vintage shop, Revolving Kids Vintage!  $15 will buy your special little one practically a whole new outfit since many items are $15 or less

 in the shop!

Here's how to enter the giveaway!

1.Visit the kid's vintage shop and leave a comment with an item that you would spend the $15 on. Please include your email address in the comments so that I can contact you if you're the winner!

For additional entries:

2. Follow my blog via GFC or Bloglovin'  and leave an additional comment.

3.Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter or share this post on your Facebook page and leave an additional comment.

4. Like my facebook page and leave an additional comment. 

This giveaway is open to domestic and international readers. Giveaway ends on Thursday, December 20th at midnight,  PST.  Store credit can be applied towards shipping cost, also! 

Now, here's the winner to giveaway #2- $15 store credit towards any item in Revolving Styles Vintage! 

Congratulations, Marija!  You're #8.  I will contacting you shortly with further details on how to claim your prize!

Thanks again, everyone, and good luck on the next giveaway!

Some Favorites of 2011

Favorite Dress Sold- miss this dress and wish I could have worn it somewhere.

 

 

Favorite Life Changing Event- I would have put this picture first, but didn't want to scare anyone off.  This was definitely by far my favorite life changing event of 2011.  As you can tell, I'm overcome with emotion after seeing my daughter, Jessie, for the first time.  I am so blessed.

Favorite Family Picture- I know I've already shown this one to you, but I realized that we really don't have very many family pictures and this one's pretty awesome, in my opinion.  This was actually used in our Christmas card this year.  We were the only ones with Grover and Elmo. yes!

New Favorite Online Shop- I love this shop and have bought from it several times this past year.  I love this shop even more because it is owned and run by my good friend, Christy.  Like myself, she has a daughter and son and is passionate about working from home so that she could be the best mom she could be. 

Favorite Item Still in the Shop- pictures just don't do this dress justice.  The quality of the material of this dress and the intricate ruffles and lace details are so sweet.  Also, the cut of the dress is very flattering.

Favorite Dress I Will List in 2012- yes, this may be a bit premature, but this 1950s dress is simply amazing and my friend, Linda, looks gorgeous in it, no?  It is heavy cotton with gold and black painted on it with amazing designs and sequins. I have yet to find such a dress as special as this one.  This dress will be listed next week, but if you are interested, shoot me an email.

I will be back tomorrow with my 2012 goals (not resolutions) but do you have any favorites for 2011?  If you did a post, please post the link in the comments section!  I would love to read it!

MIA

Jessie was so tired, toys didn't even interest her.

I apologize for being so sporadic with my posts the last two weeks.  Both of my little ones were sick, so that left little to no time for blogging.  I sometimes wonder if it's necessary to blog and if I should continue because honestly, I'm really bad at this.  I've weighed the pros and cons and I realized that this blog is a reflection of my life as a stay-at-home mother running a little business from her home.  With most businesses, a blog is somewhat of a requirement and I'm committed to my business. I need to remember that and just commit to this blogging thing and hope I get better at it.

Anyhow, see you guys in blogland sooner than later, hopefully.

Mommy Monday: I Love Happy Babies

Every day of motherhood gets better!  I love my children, and yes, there are some days when the two of them drive me crazy, but my love for them grows each day.  I can't help but crack a huge smile when I see my little daughter laugh at herself when she looks in the mirror.  She probably has no idea that the image is of herself, but she smiles and laughs hysterically!

I feel extremely blessed to have two healthy, happy babies and so even though sales are down in the shop and finances are a bit stressful, I need to remember the good things and thank God every day for such wonderful gifts!

2 things I realized looking at these pictures:
1. My room/work space is quite messy.

2.  My walls are very bare.  I have this fear that things will fall on my head while I'm sleeping if there was an earthquake. What? I live in CA.

Mommy Mondays- H&M for Babies and Kids

I stopped blogging for a while, and updating the shop, wondering if I should continue with both.  I felt very uninspired to continue with the Etsy shop due to some changes in Etsy and just plain exhaustion.  Blogging and finding topics to blog on also proved burdensome.  I forgot why I started this blog and why I started the shop.

Right now, my calling in life is to be a good mom and a good wife and I wondered if blogging and running the shop was taking away from that.  Then, I realized that I started these things to be a stay at home and help my husband out financially, also.  So, I feel revitalized and I'm back!  There will be some great new items added to the shop next week, when I return from vacation, and I'm blogging again with a new perspective.

Every Monday, I want to share some cute baby/kids finds, activities, ideas- just anything that relates to being a mommy because that's who I am and I like finding and sharing these things.  So, here's my first- cute and affordable baby and kid clothing from H&M.  All the tops and jackets in these photos are $9.95!  Can't beat that!

I apologize for the long intro rant on myself and a short 2 sentence description on the actual pictures.  I won't do this anymore- promise.

photo credits: H&M

Haagen Daaz Breastmilk

I've been out of commission for almost two months now.  I decided to give myself a maternity leave because I drove myself crazy even just thinking about running an Etsy shop while taking care of two kids and being a bit sleep deprived.  So, while I was away, I spent more time with my son because his world has been rocked, and I obviously fed my daughter, which you will see in the upcoming pictures. 

With my first son, a friend of mine told me I had Haagen Daaz breastmilk because my son plumped up pretty fast.  Jessie is defnitely not as big as my son, but she's definitely packing on some weight.

6 weeks, with remnants of baby acne.

7 Weeks.  yes, that's drool.

8 weeks- thug fo' life.

9 weeks- what? the camera adds 10 pounds.

I love these 2!

And now pictures of my son and how I've been spending my maternity leave with him...

His new thing is dinosaurs.  His favorite is the triceratops aka Trixie from Toy Story 3 and Sarah from Land Before Time

His dinosaur face.

He's still loving trains though. 

New haircut! 

I recently started updating the shop, also, so please take a look!

I'm Back! and Birth Story

I can't believe it's been a month since my last post!  So much has happened since then and so much has changed.  Our family welcomed this little peanut on May 5, 2011 at 1:06 pm:

Meet Jessie Yesuh Kim- 6 lb 8oz, 19.5 in. long.

I was 5 cm dilated for several days and she just would not come out!  I would have about 3-4 contractions every hour, which lasted several days, but I was still not in labor.  Out of desperation, I called labor and delivery and told them that my water could possibly be leaking (which it wasn't) and after going in at 2 a.m. after eating a slice of pizza with sriracha, they concluded that my water wasn't leaking, but would admit me because I was about 6 cm dilated at that point.  I guess I have a high pain tolerance because the nurse would look at me after a contraction and ask "Do you not feel that?" I would reply, "I do.  Is it supposed to be bad?"  Anyhow, I was still a wimp and quickly asked for the epidural because there was no way I wanted to feel a baby's head pop out of me.

Because she was so tiny compared to her brother, I pushed about 6 times and out she came.  I had a midwife deliver me this time and if I ever have another kid, I will go back to a midwife. 

I'm brave enough to show my swollen self after delivery.  I was just so happy to not be pregnant anymore!  I'm probably already nagging Mo here.

Jonah loves his little sister and smothers her with kisses everytime she wakes up to feed.  He barely kisses us, but demands that he kiss Jessie and have Jessie kiss him back.  There are times where a sliver of jealousy peeks through when his dad holds Jessie, but Jonah seems to be adjusting well and it really is endearing.

He is definitely a proud big brother!

What's amazing to me is how I immediately fell in love with Jessie.  I was concerned about Jonah before giving birth and felt bad for him that he would have to share the spotlight, which is silly.  Also, I felt concern that I would not love another child as much as I loved Jonah.  But, that simply is not the case.  I fell in love all over again and love them both so much!  The sleep deprivation, cold sores, and carpal tunnel have been all worth it!

Now, I'm gradually starting to work again, so please check out my shop and the new goodies I have been listing.  Thanks!

What A Difference a Year Makes

Usually, I post pictures of my son and how fast he's growing, and it's true- time flies. 

This time, I'm referring to myself.  My husband and I were looking through these photos and he told me I looked so young in these pics.  It was only 1 1/2 years ago, a month after I opened my Etsy shop.  I do look a lot younger in these pictures. What the heck?!?! How'd I age so much?  I guess that's what happens when trying to run a business while watching a toddler.  But, it's still been one of the best years of my life and I feel very blessed and thankful.  Plus, I'm sure a facial and shedding my pregnancy weight will get me looking a little younger again, right?  Hope so. Ha.

Also, I wish I still had that vintage cardigan I'm wearing in these pictures.  It was so comfortable and versatile. Why in the world did I sell it?  I have learned my lesson.  If I wear it more than once, I'm keeping it, or at least until another similar item comes along. 

Ok, enough complaining.

Mentally Nesting

So, as shared yesterday, I'm 32 1/2 weeks along in my pregnancy, and mentally, I am nesting. Everyday, I create and re-create a list of things to clean and get ready for Jessie. But, as the picture below will show, I'm not really doing much.

I have lots of white wall space.  I would like to hang some vintage needlepoint pictures I found, preferably not over the crib because I have this fear of things falling on a child while sleeping.  I also have some pretty little vintage girl's dresses from the 1950s and 1960s that seem irrepairable that I would like to hang on the walls, which is an idea I received from Bombshell Bettie .

The most I've done is thrift this cute little shabby chic dresser/nightstand that I still need to clean up a bit.  But, I am proud of myself for finding this at least.

Hopefully, this post will motivate me to act upon my nesting instincts instead of taking naps.  Any other suggestions you readers may have for the nursery (except painting the room.  That is not in our budget at the moment and as you can tell, we really don't have much time.)

Don't Worry, I'm Keeping This

I've been getting several comments on how I should be keeping the little girl's vintage dresses that have been going into the shop.

Well, rest assured, I have at least one set aside for myself and here it is:

It's not the girliest of colors, but I think that's why I like it.  I'm so excited to meet the little girl inside my stomach! Although, I do admit I have anxiety attacks once in a while over silly things like how to do girl's hair or if I should ever let her date or not.  But, seriously, I don't know how to do hair such as french braiding.  Will someone teach me?

End of Year Festivities & Baby Bump

So far, the closing of 2010 has been amazing!  To make it even better, I'm having a 25% off SALE in my SHOP! (Just use code "EndofYearSale" to receive your discount.)

This past Christmas was simply one of the best.  Both my family and my in-laws gathered at our new home to celebrate my little brother turning eighteen, to exchange gifts, and just to spend time with one another.  Then, my family took a short trip to Las Vegas, where there was surprisingly many fun activities for kids.

I can't believe my little brother turned 18 and my son is about to turn 2!

His favorite Christmas gift was this Curious George jack in the box from my brother and sister.

Some more of my spoiled son's spoils, including an antique cash register I got for him. ahha.

My family at Vegas and my baby bump at 20 weeks. This is the first family picture we've taken in years!

White lions at the Mirage's garden exhibit.  Loved it!

Forgot which aquarium this was in front of.  There are so many aquariums at Vegas.

The dolphin exhibit at Mirage.  We were so close!

Love this picture!

Two white tigers sleeping.

The only family picture of the 3 of us at Vegas, courtesy of Mo's extended arm.

Hope everyone has a great New Years!