flashback friday

it’s good friday everyone!

romans 5:8 – but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

it never gets old, hearing the story of how Christ died. the story of judas and his thirty pieces of silver…the kiss of death, the garden of gethsemane, peter denies Jesus three times…and so the story goes. it still and always will give me goosebumps and chills to recount how Jesus cried out “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and {mark 15:37} with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. i always shed tears when i listen to this. it’s just so powerful.

holy thursday, good friday, and the easter vigil are three very thought provoking days. it’s the end of our lenten season and easter day brings renewal and hope! easter always feels so bright, fun, and new. i love to dress up in fun florals or bright pieces to signal life and joy. i love to get together with our families for brunch, stories, and laughter.

here we are from 2010, at an easter brunch in the city. we gathered at bin 36 for a delicious brunch buffet. a little over one year before we were married! it’s so cray that there was no olive. my, how life has changed and how full our hearts are with her in our lives now! i loved our days before olive but she brings us such joy and love that we never knew! now, it’s just better overall.

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[check us out…somebody give me a blotter paper!]

anyhoo, i can’t believe easter is right around thhse corner?! gosh, lent really did fly by! well, i hope y’all have an amazing easter with your friends and/or family. eat well, have a mimosa or two, and dig into some delicious easter candy treats! i definitely will!

enjoy my lovies and happy easter to all!

xoxo

ash wednesday

here weeee goooo! it’s the start of the lenten season!

wow…i felt like it just popped up on me. i was so unprepared. it was like boom! it’s time to fast {i’m hungry!}, reflect on our relationship with God, repentance, penitence, basically go back to square one and it came out of nowhere. literally. wednesday came and i was like whaaaaa? it’s ash wednesday?!

anyhoozle, this journey that we embark on every year is about cleansing our minds. it’s a time to think and pray. to challenge yourself to be better, give back, forgive, and think about, truly, how fulfilling your life is. it’s not the material items that complete you but your kind actions, kind words, and kind thoughts that should make your life fulfilling and complete.

annndd, then there’s the part of giving something up. the question is what? what will i give up that will really be impactful? it’s a decision that has so much weight to me. i think about the suffering that Jesus endured for 40 days and nights and it makes me feel like giving up anything is so minuscule! nevertheless, it’s a reminder for us, that even though what we give up is nothing compared to Jesus’ suffering, it our way to bring ourselves close to God.

every year, i love this time because it really challenges me to be a better person. to slow down and appreciate the life all around me. to love the people around me even more. to try, try, try again because i am not perfect. i will stumble and fall. i will get back up to try again to be at my best.

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you are dust, and to dust you shall return genesis 3:19

doesn’t my ashy cross look more like a thumbprint?! ha.

i’m excited to embark on this season of lent. a time to renew myself, work on my commitments, and give back. cheers to a fulfilling and grateful lenten season.

xoxo

love day part 2

on valentine’s day evening, we swung on by my parent’s house for some love day fun. the boys were over and wanted grace and olive to come by to play. plus, we also had their vday gifts to give as well!

we started with a valentine’s day themed meal. we were crazy about anything heart shaped! we ate a heart shaped pizza, finished off our meal with a heart shaped cake on heart shaped plates! natch. the pizza was ordered by kim and the cake was made by terry’s mom, barbara! how sweet!

we munched away at our dinner and then our cake {delish!}, while the kids played and ate…well, mostly played! they were itching to open up their gifts. oh, kiddies…they have no patiences do they?!

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[how adorbs is this heart shaped pizza??]

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[twinning]

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[heart shaped chocolate cake by barbara]

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[b really wanted to be in the picture]

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we finally gave them the green light to open up their gifts. they were super excited! we lined them up and they were ready to go.

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[ready for presents!]

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thuy and the boys gave olive the cutest gifts! pretty outfits, toys, and make up! yes, you heard that right…make up. she loves to watch all the ladies of the house get ready in the morning. that’s her thing…sit on top of the toilet and watch me{us} put on make up and get ready. she loves to brush her teeth {baby toothbrush}, comb her hair, and put on bronzer. so, auntie thuy gifted her with bronzer, make up brush, and a hair brush for her purty hair. so fitting.

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[she loves make up and getting gussied up already…]

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[my cute tiffany blue colored pouch from thuy]

after the kids opened up all their gifts and reveled in the goodies, thuy surprised us with a little gift! how sweet and thoughtful! she gave me a beautiful tiffany blue zipper pouch…how cool. i love the color and the bag.

well, that was our valentine in a nutshell {or really in a two part blog 😉 }. we had a wonderful, blessed day celebrating with our loved ones. 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” first corinthians 12:4-8

xoxo

happiness is

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happiness is having hc as my amazing partner.

happiness is coming home to olive.

happiness is eating a delicious meal.

happiness is getting hugs and kisses from olive.

happiness is a sunny day.

happiness is hearing olive giggle.

happiness is having my health.

happiness is being in hc’s arms

happiness is a solid night’s sleep.

happiness is watching olive grow.

happiness is being with family.

happiness is celebrating holidays together.

happiness is having a new home.

happiness is sitting next to my dad, in his arms.

happiness is having wonderful friends.

happiness is having siblings.

happiness is getting a hug and kiss goodnight from hc every night.

i am happy because i have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, and a loving family.

what is on your happiness list today?

for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. psalm 1:6

xoxo

hoppy easter peeps!

it’s a beautiful, sunny, perfect easter day!!! i hope you are enjoying this holiday, whether it be a lovely service at church, a fun easter egg hunt with the kiddos, a charming morning with the family and your little ones, who get so excited that the easter bunny has paid them a visit!

although olive is too young and wasn’t quite sure what the easter bunny is or what to do with her basket of goodies {daddy sure does know what to do with her basket…nom, nom, nom!}. i’m sure she was super excited for it all! just look at that expression on my little lamb down below!

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[hoppy easter everyone!!!! from baby lamb olive]

anyhoo, we’re off to celebrate with the famille! woo hoo! can’t wait for easter brunch!

more to come of this beautiful day in a future blog my lovies!

“Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again”

xoxo

flashback friday

a little something from the past. noooo, i’m not pregnant again!!!

last year {a few days from now…on hc’s birthday and a few days from another soon to be major event in our lives!}, is when i first saw our baby olive. when i first her heard her heartbeat {best sound ever}. i was so amazed, overwhelmed, elated, happy, joyous, that i cried and cried when i saw our baby on the screen. it was a reality and a dream come true.

i almost couldn’t believe that we were pregnant! what a journey we were starting on…how it’s led us to this miracle of ours, our baby girl who amazes us everyday. we feel so blessed to have had a beautiful, healthy baby girl who makes us smile at every moment!

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[olive’s 8 week photo…literally a little peanut!}

 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13

xoxo

ash wednesday

today is the start of the lenten season.

40 days to repent, think on our sins, ponder and strive to do better. it’s a time to reflect on our relationship with God. to consider your journey with Him and challenge yourself to live a more fulfilling life that will give back to those around you.

giving up something for the season is always a big argument in my head. Jesus suffered, so what will i part with to remind me of Jesus’s sacrifices for us? how can i also better myself and become closer with God during this time?

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you are dust, and to dust you shall return  genesis 3:19

mass this morning was wonderful and a perfect start to the day. fr. ken presided over the service; it was a somber and thought provoking hour. i thoroughly enjoyed his homily about life and death…to look up from the grave and appreciate the world around you. don’t fret about the menial, petty things that can cause frustration within you but truly enjoy life in all it’s glory and positive aspects.

i’m excited for this season of lent..i’m looking forward to working on my commitments, the renewal of myself, and the renewal of all the things around me.

i hope your journey this season is a reflective and fulfiling one!

xoxo

a cozy vday in

this year for valentine’s day, we had a cozy night in. in our pj’s that is…it was that cozy! we truly had a wonderful valentine’s day together. it was the best one yet!

my, what a difference a year makes! last year, we spent valentine’s day at one of our favorite restaurants, roy’s. you can read about it here. i wasn’t even pregnant with little olive yet either! now look where we are at! blessed with the cutest little cupid ever!

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[cutie patutie]

this year, we had dinner at home and i couldn’t have asked for more! we waited for hc to come home that evening; he arrived at the door with a bouquet of beautiful flowers and a sweet, sweet card for me! we relaxed for a bit before hc started his cooking magic. he fancied out the dining room table, opened up a delicious bottle of wine {thank you to terry for the gift}, and started to whip up some amaze appetizers {oh em gee!}. i am a lucky gal!

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[the cute card from hc // a few fun, valentine’s from us and others!]

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[gorgeous flowers from cattails]

it was a three course meal totally at our pace and comfort, which i was absolutely loving. the three of us sat down to nibble on the savory appetizers hc had made. stuffed artichoke hearts. they were to die for. so stinkin’ good. dangerously delectable. i wanted to eat the entire dish as my entree but i knew some more yummy goodness was on it’s way!

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[the fancied up table // the amaze stuffed artichokes]

after noshing on some starters, we continued to sip wine, enjoy each other’s company, and chill in our warm abode. all the food was prepped, so once i started to feed the babes, hc started to cook up our entrees. we then sat down for our main course. words cannot describe how piquant the dish was! i was in love with every bite! i couldn’t thank hc enough for the best meal ever!

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[the prepping of the soon to be devoured entree]

after our main course, we then devoured our decadent dessert from alliance bakery! hc had purchased a red velvet heart shaped cake from one of our favorite bakeries, down the street. we sliced it in half and savored every morsel of this rich, moist, sweet, yummy cake.

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[olive’s first photo bomb // the wonderful, sweet red velvet cake]

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[family selfie! doesn’t olive look amused?!]

it was the best valentine’s day yet. i have had so much fun celebrating it the past several weeks and it ended with a wonderful family night celebration this past february 14 !

much love mes amies!

so now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 corinthians 13:13

xoxo

happy beurffday!

it was my birthday this past 17.12!  my, what a difference a year makes.  last year’s celebration was non-stop.  this year’s celebration was non-stop with the babes!  it was low key and cozy.

obviously, this post if very delayed but nevertheless an occasion.  i had some other vip things to talk about that superceded this post.  don’t get me wrong…i love my birthday!  ever since i have been with hc, he’s always made it important and that means a lot to me. here’s a blast from the past…some photos from last year’s celebration:

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we had dinner at an italian restaurant, la luce, set up by my darling friend andrea and hc.  i was blessed to have some wonderful friends {matt, johann, danielle, dana, andrea, frank,  & kip} and family {kim, thuy, dan, & terry} celebrate with me on that special occasion!

hc commissioned a cake from alliance bakery in the form of a lv gift box!  how adorbs!  i loved the cake…and it was sooo delish.

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[birthday bash from 2012 – coat, vintage burberry]

***

here’s to my wonderful birthday celebration with our newest, adorable addition – baby olive!

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[this is my current look at home nowadays]

i definitely wanted to break out my tiara but it was buried downstairs in the basement 🙁  {i mean, pj’s aren’t quite the tiara ensemble but i’ll rock one for any occasion!}.  oh well, it can always make it’s appearance next year.  a girl’s birthday always deserves a tiara!

we celebrated at home with just the three of us.  hc made a delicious dinner [it’s called order out at mana…so delish] and i made my wish when i blew out my birthday cake candles!  shhh…wishes are always kept secret so they can come true!  hubby charming so thoughtfully gave me a gift from jcrew {a fav store o mine}!  a buffalo check coat…loves!  so outdoorsy chic!

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[mana… a modge podge of goodness]

http://www.manafoodbar.com

[happy beurffday!!!]

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[make a wish]

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[jcrew boxes are always filled with wonderful surprises]

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[my new coat!  woo!  rocking’ my paul bunyan look]

it was a wonderful evening with my family.  i couldn’t have asked for more!  a warm winter’s night with my two loves.

behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.  psalm 127:3

xoxo

heintz baby shower

i felt very blessed to be attending my baby shower hosted by jane and missy!  it was so kind of them to want to throw me a shower!  it was mainly the biondo side of the family and as usual, quite entertaining!

me, grace, and rich started out our day by getting ready for church.  we had to drop off some goodies {sea salt caramel pretzel brownies} i baked for fall fest {a fun event where the programs at church advertise what community work they do & sign up volunteers}.

after mass, grace really wanted to collect some goodies on all the tables, so we patiently waited around while she practically trick ‘o treated all the tables with some homemade goods!  we finally had to reel her in and head on our merry way to grandma’s house!

we arrived just right after 12pm and the party was in full swing…i think we were almost the last to get there [oops!]!  we mingled and gleefully talked a lot of baby talk {hello, it is a baby shower!}.  the food was served and we sat ourselves down to munch on some lunch.

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[hostess with the mostess, jane and missy]

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[pretty pink roses]

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[me and lori]

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[decor]

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[rich, colin, and nancy]

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[kathy, rich, moi, and ruth]

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[sitting down to eat]

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[punch]

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[lunch goodies]

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[sweet treats]

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[dessert time!]

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[yummy cookies]

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[kim’s pov]

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[cake and ice cream]

soon, we proceeded onto the opening of presents!  it was so much fun to open up all the cute gifts for little baby heintz!  so many adorable items for her!  we felt so blessed to be showered with so many clothes, gear, and toys for the little girl!

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[ready to open gifts for baby]

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[how adorbs!]

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[super excited over carrie, nancy, and pat’s gift!!!]

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[missy’s cute gifts]

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[absolutely LOVED grace’s gift!]

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[sisters]

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[kathy and carrie]

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[morgan and darci]

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[aunt vicki]

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[favors]

thank you to everyone for attending and being so kind and generous!  a huge thank you to missy and jane for throwing such a wonderful shower for our little baby girl!

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each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 corinthians 9:7

xoxo