Summa-summa-summa-time!

Ahhhhh Summer time! It's definetely been a hot one! Luckily both kids did swim lessons, so we were able to cool off somewhat! They both LOVE the pool! Can't wait for more lessons until they're confident swimmers! Love this pic of them on the last day of lessons...

Here is a good one of Doug & Brynn (she has NO fear in the water!)

Recent purchases...

LOVE these shoes for Evan! They're Perry Ellis and made 80% from recycled plastic bottles! They'll be great this fall with jeans for preschool!:)

and had to pick these up for myself, of course!:)

Four of my favorite things from Trader Joes!

( seaweed crackers, freeze dried bluberries, rice crackers & olive oil popcorn )

A case of kombucha....thank you, dougie-fresh! One of my fave thing at Whole Foods!

Recently I've worked on two big wedding invitation orders! Here is one I did for my cousin & his fiance.

Here are some birth announcement mock-ups I did for a friend from highschool....

I love my new hot pink tassel key chain! I bought it at www.shopblithe.com

*The best part is 10% of the proceeds go to the Africa Yoga Project

http://www.africayogaproject.org/

My old one I bought at the Marc Jacob's store in San Francisco (on my first vacation with Doug!)

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Our current house project is THE KITCHEN!:) we antique glazed our cabinets. They're darker & we love it! Here is the after.....

Here is the before (much better after, huh?)

Also, we tiled our fireplace, to give it more of a textured/stone look..we love it!

Here is a shot of my new floral arrangement I whipped up...along with two new paintings hung on top of each other in our dining room.

FINALLY! I am reading "Fifty Shades of Grey." It does live up to the hype!:)

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

xo, Karah

www.bellabykarah.blogspot.com

food...books...and cards!

*Sharing photos of some of our recent eats/snacks/favorites!

 

I just bought this book & it's amazing!! I can't put it down! It really touches on gratitude and bringing out creativity within your children! {I'm highlighting it as I read it!}

*and I just ordered this book on Amazon!

This week I got an order for baby shower invites!

 These are actually postcards.

Gotta love a cowboy theme!:)

This will be my fourth year making Christmas cards for a landscaping company in Naperville, Illinois.  I designed and printed 150 cards & envelopes.

{front}

{inside}

We do a charity program thru Doug's work every year, called "Christmas Cherubs."

 This year we got a brother & sister (ages 3 and 4.) Each child needs 3 gifts. 

I wrapped them & labeled them and an extremely kind lady at Doug's work,

delivers these gifts to the families in need!  

 Doug and I are looking for volunteer opportunities in Kansas City, this holiday season!

A friend asked me to create notecards as gifts. I did 12 of each design.

*Plan to mail our holiday cards tomorrow! :)

I found classes for the kids! The winter classes at the Blue Valley Rec. start in Jan. I plan to sign myself up for a pilates class! Evan will take an art class with me and Brynn and I will take a swimming class! Can't wait! We love this rec. center..it's where Evan took his gymnastics class!

CHEERS TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

 I hope your home is filled with love and joy!

XOXO, Karah

Shoes & Other Things!

 

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My mom bought Brynn a pair of TOMS shoes! When you buy a pair, the company gives a pair to a child in need. The packing is so neat, giving you a bag for the shoes & a sticker! I love the back with the TOMS tag sewn on!

I picked up a pair of MISSONI shoes for Brynn at Target! These were way too too cute to pass up! I wish they had them in my size!:) As the inventory goes down, I think the line is going on clearance! :) Time to stock up before it's gone for good!

The pink mocassins are so warm & so precious (the inside is faux leopard fur!:) And the boots are my favorite! Brynn looks ADORABLE in them! You can pull up the sides for a taller boot, or turn them down, for the faux fur to show!:)

I placed an order for this fabric from Spoon Flower!

I spent quite some time on the site...just lovin' all the different fabric!

I picked this out, in particular, because it's similar to David Hicks "La Fiorentina" fabric,

which I DROOL over when I come across it in design magazines! I wanted this fabric for above my kitchen sink..a lil' homemade curtain..but I ordered quilting weight (not-knowing-what-I-was-doing) and so I need to find another use for it, being SO thin!

These are my dream pillows, by David Hicks. I LOVE this pattern!

I picked up this cutie-patootie cookbook and reminded me of Brynn.

 It's so colorful and has tons of yummy looking recipes!

 

I used fresh rosemary on red potatoes and it was so good, and made the house smell so good! We had asparagus and farm-raised tilapia with them! Everyday around 5 pm, I put on my trusty "Williams Sonoma" pink apron and try to whip up something healthy (& tasty) for the fam! It's been a process, but I have COME TO LOVE COOKING and BEING IN THE KITCHEN! Practice pays off!:)

A good snack that I've made a couple times is spinach & artichoke dip. I loved these MU chips I found at "Price Chopper." I use 2 boxes of "Stauffers" cream of spinach, and add a can of artichoke hearts and top it off with parmesan cheese! IT-IS-SO-GOOD!

My recent Bella by Karah project is working with the event manager at THE BERG! The lovely space where Doug & I had our vow renewal party! I am created the space's personal stationery, as well as, a postcard for them to mail to brides. Here is one of the designs I presented to them.

I have been keeping 3 plants alive in our house! (2/3 are shown here.) I love having something green and lively in each room. One day, we'll do a garden (the kids would love it too!)

A friend I met at Univ. of Iowa, asked me to create baby shower invites, and that they be gender neutral. So I did orange paisley & elephants (which I can never resist!:)

{Thank you for continued support, Emily. You are a top customer at BBK!}

I've used this orange dahlia flower & quite a few invites I have done this fall. These were for a wedding shower.

Brynn was a lil' puppy for Halloween! This was Evan's "Pottery Barn" costume from last year (They have the CUTEST costumes!) Evan wanted NOTHING to do with dressing up this year..but Brynn will wear any accessory...a hat, scarf, sunglasses, bows.SHE IS ALL GIRL!:)

My lil' boo boo is not feeling the best! Praying it's nothing! He's been extra cuddly and sleeping in. Trying to keep him hydrated and giving him fever reducer! xoxoxo Evan Michael!

Cheers to 3 years! Doug & I had the best party on November 1st, 2008!

What a magical night with our family & friends!

Signing off...enjoy your week! Love, Karah