I'm famous + a Giveaway

This coming Monday, Jan 30th, the first issue of The Sandbucket magazine is released!
And I have the opportunity of sharing a free digital copy with one of my readers!
(If you guys are still out there)

My cool Aunt Sandi has put this together and got some reallllly awesome contributors, and really fun ideas. And guess what, I'M IN IT! I did a tutorial on turning your boot-cut pants into skinnies.

Intrigued yet? Here's what you can expect:

Join us for the debut issue of The Sandbucket. This issue is chalked full of fun articles. Come be inspired to get reading with your children. Gather new recipes that you'll want to try out for yourself. Get to know Denise Demarchis of Matilda Jane a bit better. Read of the giving adventures of families in Atlanta as they went out to feed the homeless. All this and many more articles that touch upon raising and teaching our children. There is even a fun teen section where we meet some real teens and talk about their talents as well as some fun DIY projects. Each page of the magazine is filled with beautiful and useful content uninterrupted with ads.

The Sandbucket will be available for purchase in both digital and print copies.

What's that??
You want to win a free digital copy?
Um, ok.
Here's what you do:
Leave a comment saying that you are interested and click HERE and "Like" The Sandbucket's facebook page.
The I'll write down people's names on pieces of paper...
...and let Dean pick.

See you on page 82.

(ps.. who else hears the word 'famous' and thinks...
"Oh, Dusty. In-famous is when you're MORE than famous. This man El Guapo, he's not just famous, he's IN-famous"?)

Jogie Pogie

(Jo-jee Poh-jee)

My brother Joel, affectionately known as Joe, Joey, Jogie Pogie, and Poge, has been called to serve a 2 year mission for the LDS church in Scotland/Ireland! He got the call a few months ago and flies out tomorrow! He is headed to the Missionary Training Center in England, then after a few weeks there, will head to whatever part of Scotland or Ireland that they send him!


Joel is: hilarious, fun, clever, quick witted, caring, thoughtful, class (and family) clown, charismatic, loving son, fun brother, and the most caring, loving, silly, fun uncle to our Deano!

We will miss him and are excited to hear about all of his magically delicious adventures!

LOVE YOU PO!

iPhone Famous

I was lucky enough to get a new phone for Christmas and it captured a very high number of pictures and videos... here are the favorites:

Dean is 18 months!

Earlier this month Dean hit the big 18 months!
Here's what he's been up to:

Started Nursery! YAY! He cries at the beginning when we take him in, but warms up and has fun

This kid loves dancing. We turn on music and he goes to town. And for some reason, he especially loves dancing to the music during credits of shows

When we're in the bathroom or our bedroom, Dean loves saying bye and shutting the door behind him. Then he knocks, pokes his head in, then starts the game all over again.

He's finally off bottles and only using sippy cups! But still has his patient bear and bink.

He still hasn't tried to climb out of his crib.

If he's done something wrong he comes and gets us and says "uh-oh." It's really nice.. I hope he keeps that up ;)

Dean LOOOOOVES airplanes. (He must be a Drake) As soon as we pull him out of the car he looks to the sky to try and find airplanes. If he doesn't see one or if it's flying away he says (tries to say) "bye plane"
Looking for planes

Dean knows how to put a DVD in the Xbox. We use it as our DVD player so he sees how we take a DVD out of it's case, put it in the Xbox tray, and push the button to close it. So one night at a friend's house he took a DVD out of it's case (quite softly and gentle), held it on his pointer finger like we do, put it in the tray, and pushed the button.

He likes watching Sesame Street clips on Youtube


This morning while I was in the bathroom getting ready he kicked/dribbled the soccer ball down the hall towards me then back to the living room! Dad will be so proud!

Dean is soft, gentle, and meticulous (totally gets this from Dad). He's not a bam-bam boy who gets excited and hits thing or is rough. Majority of his actions look thoughtful and on purpose. (like the DVD and Xbox trick)


He tries to copy what we say more and more

He gives kisses when someone leaves (especially Dad in the mornings) and when he goes to sleep. He even freely gives them to guests who are here when he goes to bed, so come on over.

When he wakes up in the morning and I go in to get him, he immediately says "Da?" and points out of his room because he wants to go find Alex


When Alex gets home he bends down and asks Dean for a hug. Dean turns his back to him and backs into Alex to get the hug. Not sure why he does that but it's kinda funny

He LOVES "Do As I'm Doing" with the rolling hands action



Words he can say:
hi
bye
mom ("ma")
dad ("da")
Cheese ("teethe" a little lisp-ish)
juice ("doose" and puts his hand up to his mouth, the sign for drink)
uh-oh
bye Jane ("bye Jay" Jane is Dean's Friend)
Bite (sometimes says "bites-ees")
Down ("dah")
Off
Shoes ("sooz")
meow-meow (mee-a-mee)
nose ("nohs")
Dean show ("dee-da" meaning Monsters Inc or Toy Story and points to himself)
Keys
Dog ("dah")
Ice (for Otter Pops/Freeze Pops)
Kiss ("iss" or "niss" with lips puckered)
Ouch
Hot
Yuck


Things he's eating right now:
Otter Pops
Go-Gurts (could/does eat 2 a day)
Bananas (likes eating sliced and with a fork)
Apples
Cuties (Clementines)
Pizza
Mac N Cheese (Original and Kraft Homestyle Creamy Parmesan Alfredo)
Cinnamon Sugar Pop Tarts
Fruit by the Foot
Fruit Loops
Apple Sauce Squeezies
Granola Bars
Edamame
Graham Crackers
String Cheese

Playground Dismount Video:
When we were at the park, Dean would watch the older boys get off this toy by swinging off this bar and onto the ground. After watching a while Dean gave it a try. So cute.
(it's at the beginning)


"Uh-Oh" and Tongue trick


"Cheese" and "Juice"

Halloween Dean

We had a fun and busy Halloween here, and I can't believe it happened a whole 2 weeks ago! October was crazy and we didn't even get our decorations up OR have a "Week of Halloween Costume Parade" like last year (If you missed it, or saw it but want to see it again check it our HERE) BUT we did have a few costumes up our sleeves. Here they are:

Dean Monster
His favorite show at the time was "Monster's Inc." so we thought it was perfect

Dr. Dean Drake

This one made an appearance last year, but this year it actually fit like it should

Skele-dean

Thoughtfully and graciously given to us by a friend last year
Thanks Jan!

'Patient Dean'

Named after "Patient Bear," his favorite toy/comfort item (that grubby thing with the blue shirt in Dean's hand). This is also a repeat from last year

HAPPY BELATED HALLOWEEN
Stay tuned to see if Dean picks his OWN costume next year :)

Another crafty guest blog post

Oh yes I did. Check it out!

http://livelifefabulessly.blogspot.com/2011/11/let-there-be-lamps.html

I promise I'll get something about Dean up here soon!

My new white duvet post

Just in case you missed it on Facebook, check out THIS guest blog post I did about sewing my new white ruffled duvet!

One of my best friends Lauren "Lo" Hathaway started a blog with her sister that features crafts, decor, recipes, tip and tricks, all focused on being thrifty while still living life Fabulessly :) Head over and see some of the clever and fabulous things they've been up to AND stay tuned... I'll be there a couple times a month

Couldn't mention her without some of these gems ...
College crafting. It was fabuless and fun.
But I'd say we've come a long way, wouldn't you?

Talk about coming a long way....

And don't worry. We are much smarter and our projects are much more safe nowadays. And are still crafting with all ten fingers.

For Lo: In my pictures folder, that was titled "Happy Snappy"

Oh. And go Cougs!