.holiday cards.

with the cold weather taking over our city last weekend, my husband's skiing plans got cancelled as well as my overnight stay at my parents lake house, i found myself with an abundance of extra time on my hands. at first we were super bummed about it, but honestly, it may have been a blessing in disguise as we seemed to finally check off a few items on the ol' to-do list! cup half full, right?! 

i spent the weekend shipping out an insane amount of packages after our black friday sale with The Skinny, then we cleaned and organized our basement, and finally spent the evening doing a little online shopping, including checking out what was the latest in christmas card selections. and i was so stocked when i came across minted! their selection of holiday cards and gifts are by far the best i've seen for personalization and i am seriously having a hard time deciding on which style i want to order for my own this year! here's a few of my fave cards and a few fave gift ideas too!

minted is having a sale now till monday with 15% off all holiday card orders over $150 with code: JOY15 

dots frame || while i don't normally enjoy a frame with any sort of writing or design on it, these gold embossed dots are just too cute to pass up!
happy holidays foil pressed card || nothing like a classic happy holidays in a pretty rose gold embossed colour to brighten your holidays
recipe notebook || i adore this idea of creating a personalized recipe notebook to fill with all of baba's old recipes to be handed down year after year
card & games notebook || last year i gifted each of my family members a personalized notebook with their names on it. inside i explained that each book was to record our family card game nights. see, growing up my grandma had this old tattered notebook filled with the date, who was playing, the score, who won + who lost, and all these great funny notes about that night. it become a journal of sorts and a cherished keepsake. give this with a deck of cards to complete the idea!
more the merrier foil pressed card || obviously this applies to me personally and is a big contender for our x-mas card this year :)
luggage tag card || just adorable! and super unique!!
personalized stationary || what person wouldn't love their own personalized stationary set?! a classic gift perfect for teachers, friends, your momma or even yourself!
personalized 2015 calendar || again, a fave gift of mine to give...especially to the grandparents! minted makes just the best calendars with the highest quality!

from having nothing to do to having gotten so much done it turned out to be a most excellent weekend!

.travel: phoenix, arizona.

we had arrived in sunny phoenix well over two weeks ago and boy oh boy, did that sun feel nice. real nice. i finally fulfilled a blogging dream of writing posts pool side, one of the many whimsical envisions i had while i thought of creating fancy napkin way back when [i mean that's what blogging is all about, right? writing pool side of my exciting adventures?! ha!], and after the last 3 months of go-go-go, i think this little vacation was just what the doctor ordered. 

we stayed in scottsdale, at the links resort for 10 days and enjoyed every minute of sun and paradise before having to head home to a snowy reality in edmonton, late last week.
we choose phoenix for its family friendly atmosphere and hot weather! and had absolutely nothing on the agenda other than lounging in the sun [or shade, in my case], playing in the pool, and perhaps eating some food that we didn't have to cook. seriously a little like heaven to this pregnant girl. 

jack had an absolute awful time [i joke!], and he seriously didn't leave the pool or the spray park the entire vacation. we also learned that saying 'time to go' to a 1 1/2 year old is fun. basically it's like peter telling me we ran out of dill pickles! i mean, the pouting!!
on the trip, peter shared a pretty funny story while i was napping...apparently jack had had enough of sitting in the room so he went into his little suitcase and in one hand grabbed his waterproof diaper and in the other his swim trunks. then brought them both over to peter with a little sad face like 'time to go dad'. talk about supreme guilt trip! haha! what a character!
he also added a few new words to his quickly growing vocabulary, like phlaaane! and baay-be [baby]!  it was quite fun watching him soak up these new experiences and i think he loved having both peter and i around to dote on his every whim.

peter also quite enjoyed himself. he was constantly running after jack, which isn't as good as his usual pumping workouts, but he found the cardio pretty exhausting. i, on the other hand, didn't really leave the loungers. ha! one bonus to brewing two babies is milking the rest and having the hubby do the running! i pounded through six magazines and even started reading a book! a book!!! i haven't finished a book since the birth of jack! needless to say, it was relaxing and warm and all things family. 

one rainy morning we ventured to the new phoenix children's museum, which was kid heaven. i have never seen such a marvellous place for children! the learning, the playing, the experiencing! for all ages too! jack had an absolute blast, and i think daddy might have had just as much fun too. highly recommend!

we also visited the phoenix zoo, where jack hand fed some giraffes! which he obviously adored. the uneasiness to the smiles in about zero seconds was pretty funny. and we got some pretty great toddler leg kicking and screaming when it was 'time to go', so i'd say that meant he was having a pretty great morning.

other than doing a little shopping, lining up a bunch of blog posts for this upcoming week and working on a super fun collaboration which is coming soon, we just hung out as a family. it was needless to say, the most perfectly relaxing vacation.

.valentine's day gift guide, 2014.

we usually don't make a big deal out of valentine's day, but after leaving christmas to the very last minute this year, i'm feeling the need to do a little making up for that. in other words, the treb household may just get a big ol' dump of hearts and love and warm fuzzy's this month.

basically, the last few days i've been busy crafting up a storm. pinning valentine's images like crazy [although how anyone finds the time to do it all is beyond me!]. and my favourite - sourcing out some pretty rad presents to gift both peter and jack. and lets be honest - a little for myself too ;)

here's a few picks that really stood out.

the tiny's:
kisses sweater
liberty print bow tie
somebody loves you mr. hatch book and also equally awesome, plant a kiss book
heart pyjamas red
polaroid colorblocked earbuds
heart pouf - wild hearts stella & dot
heart stripe pyjamas [on sale!]
ruffle hearts swimsuit
swell water bottle
heart sunglasses

the mister:
mason jar shot glasses
ray ban caravan sunglasses
play comme des garcons red heart shirt for jcrew
cashmere jcrew v-neck sweater 
heart and bows boxers
felt and leather iPad cover
bolle ski/snowboard helmet
chambray and floral tie
movado black watch

the mrs:
brass wire sculpture
lover teacup
maison labiche for jcrew i love you tee
stella & dot sutton necklace - green stone
melanie auld white howlite cuff
walnut hexagon serving platter
poppy barley gold flats
tia mosaic tile stella & dot cross body bag 
overture shift lace dress

.i resolve to:

anyone who knows me or has been following this blog for a while knows just how much i adore lists. they help me de-clutter my mind and accomplish things in a timely manner. while it can be daunting to think of a year full of 'resolutions' or to-do's, i have found that if i break them into quarters or seasons, it becomes more attainable and i don't feel as weighed down with all the tasks i throw at myself. 

so 7 days into the 2014, here are my winter/spring list of resolutions. looks attainable enough, right?!

i'm curious, what are your 'resolutions' this year?

ps. in keeping me accountable [trust me, i'll need it!], here is my daily smoothie concoction in case any of you feel like playing along.

.2013 in review & a happy new year.

"as the world makes a countdown to the new year, may you be wise enough to count only the blessings you have been showered with, the friends you have made, and the joys you've received in the past year" --author unknown

while i completely missed the deadline to get out my annual christmas cards this year [sorry friends!], minted helped me creatively come up with a way to say 'cheers' [and a 2013 recap] with something completely different - happy new year cards!!

brilliant, if you ask me!

and while i probably should have posted this last week when i received them giving you enough time to order your own, i really wanted to share what an incredible product minted created for us. the paper is top notch. the customer service is even more incredible. and it was so easy to use, with super fast shipping. bonus!

i know i'll be creating all my cards in the future with minted and highly recommend! stay tuned for a valentines day edition created by jack :). it's really adorable.

i also didn't want to miss the opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year from my family to yours. we expect big things for 2014, and i can't wait for the fresh start a new year brings.

*i've partnered with minted and affiliate links have been used, however all opinions are my own and i genuinely really like their products!

.gift guide 2013, for pete.

peter is getting more and more difficult to buy for. i find that he isn't into frivolous things, hates 'junk' [aka. trinkets, which i love!], he's not really into gaming or electronics, and buys any clothing items that he needs throughout the year. so when gift giving for him comes around [father's day, our anniversary, his birthday, and christmas] i usually want to hide under a rock.

that being said, here are some very cool items that i think would suit his fancy just fine. unique items that he may not have heard about or something a little extra special.

[one] bose noise cancelling headphones || pete is a music lover. and likes it loud, much to my old ears' dismay. these would solve all issues and keep that man very happy.
[two] shoe shine brush || one of peter's many quirks is how well he maintains his dress shoes. this would also help and be a perfect stocking stuffer for a proper gentleman.
[three] mason jar cocktail shaker || are you as serious about the mason jar trend as we are? this would be most excellent to add to the collection.
[four] belt || this worked in leather belt is lovely.
[five] espresso machine || we've been looking for a espresso/coffee machine for quite sometime and this year we may actually be able to brew more than a single cup at a time! halleluha! however question is, does this crazy machine brew coffee too? anyone? i'm the worst.....but it sure is pretty. and i guess this is kind of a gift for me too ;)
[six] blanket || this throw has such a beautiful hudson bay inspired feel to it and it's also manly enough to display all year long. while pete might not be into decor all that much, i know he'd snuggle under this warm and beautiful blanket night after night.
[seven] forest handkerchief set || ever gentleman needs a hanki. and i'm all about a neatly folded pocket square too, which these could brilliantly double as!

[eight] camo socks || while a little on the pricey side for socks, it would certainly be a treat! and isn't that what presents are all about? treating someone on something they may not normally purchase?

[nine] stubble & 'stache beard moisturizer || i adore my man with a little extra shadow and fuzz on his face and this cream is meant to moisturize his skin underneath the hair, which usually gets a little itchy and forgotten about. a little extra tlc never hurt anyone.

[ten] mug || who wouldn't want to wake up to this? 

*contains some affiliate links, however as usual all opinions are my own.  also - thank you for supporting those companies that help support fancy napkin.

.gift guide 2013, for jack.

now that it's the first week of december and about a million other blogs have released some form of a gift guide or another, i figure i might as well jump on the band wagon and post my annual gift guide too!
this is what my sweet jack will be whispering into old jolly st. nick's ear this year. hopefully he's been a very good boy ;)

[one] ski pajamas || this is probably more for jack's daddy than anyone as he loves skiing so much, but i have a feeling our little jack will be a master of the slopes too! and these pj's are just so darn cute.
[two] wood fire station || jack loves his le van toys [he has a pirate ship & double decker bus amongst other things] and this would be just perfect to add to his little collection.
[three] faux fur sleeping bag || as noted above, jack's play teepee needs some homey items placed inside to make it all cozy and snuggly for those reading sessions jack loves. this sleeping bag is just the ticket!

[four] the little yoga mat || i mean?! right?! utterly adorable. and now jack and momma can do a little morning stretch together.

[five] love you more blanket || simply perfect. i actually want this as a keepsake it's so great.

[six] 5 string banjo || my little budding musician would love to play like his uncle luke. this may help.

[seven] camp socks || cozy camp socks. perfect!
[eight] farm to table apron set || my budding little chef already begs to be held while we prep dinner and this little apron set is just the sweetest! not to cutesie and just the right amount of awesome!
[nine] moose || just a really cute stocking stuffer.
[ten] felt campfire || jack got a play teepee for his birthday from momma and daddy. this little felt campfire would be just the greatest thing ever to situate just outside it's front opening. i can just imagine many many camping adventures in our future.
[eleven] boots || jack needs some new boots as his feet keep growing like little weeds. these are warm, lined and awesome.
[twelve] the jungle book by jennifer adams || jack actually has every single one of these books in this series and loves them all. so does his momma, so that's a win win in my books [pun intended!]. this would be a great addition, along with this one too!

*contains some affiliate links, however as always, all opinions are my own! and i thank you for supporting those companies that help make fancy napkin possible!

.thankful.

just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a very happy [canadian] thanksgiving! i know i'm already down one turkey dinner, with 3 more looming before me, which i am both incredibly thankful and incredibly excited for. things just don't get much better than a houseful of loving family and a belly full of turkey. 

in saying that, today i sit here thinking of this exact time last year. i was 10 months pregnant, over due by a 5 days and just ready to meet our sweet, jack. he, in his usual fashion, was late to the party and although we were surrounded by family i remember thinking we were missing one vital piece of that puzzle. our boy. 

now, this thanksgiving, he is here. and almost a year old! goodness! but everything feels so damn right. and so damn great. and i, for one, am so damn happy and thankful for all of it. each and every day i thank god for that little beautiful boy and all the joy he brings me. for my beautiful husband. for my beautiful family. for my beautiful friends. for it all. 

i hope you get to spend a few minutes being thankful for something that brings joy to your life. something that makes life beautiful.

xoe

*photo's by jessica leigh photography

.my very first mother's day.

holy dyna. i sure have one hell of a little family. 

to sum it up, my husband rocks. my baby rocks. and my first mama's day was the best i could have ever dreamed of. it was one of those days that i will remember for the test of time and just thank the heavens for the wonderful people who made me feel so darn special. not to sound overly dramatic, but i must  have pinched myself a dozen times to see if i was dreaming.

when i woke up on mother's day, i was excited! what did those boys have planned? i really had no idea! i mean, i am one hard woman to surprise and it being a day completely about being a mother, i was pretty pumped. i also felt a little like 'darn it, i deserve it'! see, being a momma is one of the hardest jobs ever. the most rewarding, but damn it can be hard. 

so to start things off and being the sweet little gentlemen that his is, jack decided it was a morning to let momma sleep in [we started sleep training last weekend and well things have been rather interesting on that subject, but i digress...].

i felt like singing "hallelujah!". oh, glorious sweet sleep! after awhile, my momma-sense kicked in and i could tell jack needed a morning nap, so he crawled into bed with me and we continued a little snuggle together, and like seriously, how perfect is that?

when it was officially time to get up, poppa served us breakfast in bed. yep, that handsome man of mine is incredible. we chowed on some delicious cinnamon buns, scones and coffee while i got kisses in between bites from my littlest fella. then the gifts started pouring in. and i got positively spoiled! i also got a homemade card, complete with some artwork from jack and daddy. probably my most cherished of the entire pile :)

then we got dressed to meet grammy, grandpa and auntie + uncle for a picnic in the park. and what a afternoon that was! it was hot, the sun decided to shine, the blankets were put out, our shoes were tossed aside, hot dogs + salads + quiches were served, a mad game of bocce was played [ps. the girls won!], and we snapped about a million pictures. it was such a perfect time.

afterwards, jack, peter and myself drove over to the new gelato store that opened up near our house. and boy, was that every tasty! blackcurrent, kiwi and mango were devoured. then another glorious nap was had together as a family. 

for dinner, we headed on over to peter's mama + tata's place for some steaks and wine. as usual, jack got cuddled with love and i got to relax on the patio. always a great time had when we head over to their place. always.

my mother's day was exactly as i envisioned.....actually, it was better.  

thank you to my husband and to my son, for making me the luckiest woman alive.