Our Weekend, on a Monday

Yesterday was about all things Easter, but the rest of the weekend was pretty awesome too. I know this is going to come across as sounding really silly...but once this time of the year rolls around I start to feel so ALIVE. Like "Sound of Music" singing in the hills alive. Not even kidding. I react a bit to seasonal changes, so as soon as it warms up and we're able to spend more time outdoors I always feel happier. Pair that with being sick for a couple of weeks and now feeling better, and then my wisdom teeth being done and over with, I'm positively giddy about just enjoying every day.



My weekend started early this week and on Thursday night Adie and I went and saw Titanic in 3D. It was magnificent. Really and truly. I'm already so in love with Leo and Kate, but to see them together once more on the big screen, and to experience one of my favorite movies in 3D was way too awesome. There were a lot of teenagers in there and Adie and I couldn't help but wonder if this was the first time they'd ever seen it, and if they thought it was beautiful or cheesy. I was so tempted to stop a group and ask them, but didn't want to be a weird stranger over-enthusiastically asking questions so I held back. ;)



Friday morning Henry and I met two friends and their little ones for a downtown stroll. It was such a good time and so nice to spend the morning chit chatting while getting in some exercise too! Afterward Adie came over and we hung out all day, and later that night we all met the Peters' family who was in town for the evening and had our usual Mexican food fest at Hugo's. After dinner I rolled our overly-full selves home, put Henry to sleep, and went to bed early myself while Hank went out for a wild night with his friends! It's funny to me because although he doesn't drink, his friends do, so he always has the best stories and memories from their nights out. It was our friend Dustin's 29th and as usual, craziness ensued, and I had a good time hearing all the details the next day.






Saturday morning I got up and met my friend for a 90 minute hot yoga class at a local studio I hadn't tried yet and ended up LOVING it. It's exactly what I was hoping to find, and I was really, really surprised. Later on I got to have a little afternoon date with Hank thanks to my in-laws. We finally saw The Hunger Games (see my excited pre-movie photo below), and we both ended up really, really loving it. I've read all the books but Hank had no idea what it was even about, and we both said "wow" at the end and truly enjoyed it. I thought it was so well-done and I am anxiously awaiting the next one. The rest of the day was spent running errands- Target and Trader Joe's- and it was another early night!





This weekend was just what I needed to snap me out of this weird mood I've been carrying around with me. I'd call it a funk but it was a bit deeper than that, so I am extra grateful I was able to spend time with so many people I love. That's always the thing that helps me the most when I feel down- I have to get out of the little box I'm in and remember that there's a whole world out there, a bigger picture, so many more important things to focus on.  I hope you had a great weekend too! And if you didn't, luckily there's another one right around the corner. <3

Favorite Things: Instagram Fun (psst...it's on Android now too!)

By noon today everyone I knew in the entire world had signed up for Instagram. Well, not everyone. But A LOT of friends and family. Lucky for them the wonderful, fantastic photo app Instagram made its way to Android users.  I've talked a lot about IG here, but I thought I would share a quick list of some of my favorite, extra things to do with the app.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with so many more people, so if you're on Instagram, come say hi- my user name is danihampton!

Here's my list of favorite IG add-ons:

1. Stickygram

This is probably my most favorite thing you can do with your Instagram photos...put them on magnets! Stickygrams are great quality and make wonderful gifts for friends and family. I've sent sets of Henry to my parents, and thought it would be such a cute idea after a big event too. And right now Stickygram is having a buy one, get one half off sale with code: EASTEREMAIL. Good until the 9th.





2. Blurb books

Blurb makes printing your IG photos into a book so, so easy. You simply log into Instagram via their website and choose which photos, layout, and words you'd like to include. This is a great option for a baby book or just a fun photo album. Blurb books are absolutely beautiful too.

3. Canvas Pop

This site prints your IG photos right onto a square-sized canvas that actually look great! We have a few in our home and I highly recommend them for a fun little pop of fun.



4. Postal Pix

This service allows you to print your Instagram pics right from your phone. I love that you can choose the size, especially since Instagram pics are square and be tricky to order at places like Costco. I just ordered a ton to make a fun collage in Henry's room and I'm hoping to get some more and make little albums of fun events I've documented via IG.

5. Postagram

I LOVE this app. It's simple and quick, and in a minute's time you can send a postcard to anyone, anywhere for just .99 cents! It does all the hard work for you...all you do is choose a photo and write a message. So neat.




Happy Instagramming!

What a weekend!

This weekend was one of the best I've had in a long time. I think the extra-greatness came from a combination of finally starting to feel better, warm, warm weather down in Phoenix, and being able to spend two whole days with my family, both immediate and extended. My Uncle Brian and cousin Daron Grace flew in from New York and we spent the weekend eating way too much, looking at so many old, amazing photos, and catching up. My sister and I also decided we were feeling brave and took Daron shopping for some clothes. Keep in mind that she is 12-years old- that should help you make sense of the "brave" part. I had no idea it was so difficult to find modest length shorts for a little girl!

Saturday was also my sweet mama's birthday, and she turned 58! My Aunt Pat and Uncle Bob came up, and we all celebrated together with a big meal and a delicious ice cream cake. Afterward Henry had a bit of an early Easter and made out like a bandit, thanks to my parents. He's super into Elmo right now and my sister and Abe got him the cutest little singing Elmo doll too. He's a lucky boy.

Some of my most favorite parts- the long walk my Mom, Hank, Henry and I took Sunday morning, the Greek yogurt onion dip my Mom made, watching Henry get so excited over his new treasures, dinner at Nando's Friday night (I could live on guacamole), and seeing how happy my Mom was to be surrounded by almost all of her family. It was such a good weekend. 

We have a busy, busy week ahead and I can't say enough how excited I am to be (almost) back to normal. If you remember I had that crazy food poisoning in San Francisco, followed by that weird prolonged sickness, and then this whole wisdom teeth thing. I'm never, ever sick, so it's been a very weird past couple of months...and to to say I have a new appreciation of feeling healthy and happy is an understatement.

Here are some Instagram photos from the past couple of days. Enjoy!


my still swollen face on Day 9, Mexican food with the whole family, smoothies and shorts- it almost felt like summer! shopping with Laur and Daron, Lauren's "I'm done" smile, the guys and the dogs heading to the park to throw around the football.


the birthday girl, Carvel ice cream cake- so good! Uncle Brian and Daron, our 2nd frozen yogurt trip of the day, our big family Sunday dinner, and Henry zoning out while watching basketball in his new chair from Grandma and Grandpa.

Pieces of Our Weekend

my wild man tearing across our library // a beautiful sunset from our front porch // Henry's breakfast- he'll eat anything right now and I'm loving it // part one of our bedroom makeover - a new super-cozy all-white bed setup // the face of a boy at Kindermusik class, touching every button on the teacher's CD player as I tell him not to. Of course. ha! // our every-changing mantle // my first night back at the gym, post-food poisoning...I was so excited // an evening walk and a stop at the pond in our neighborhood // early morning comfy, cozy Yo Gabba Gabba in bed

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It's been a great weekend and I am so excited about lots of things on the horizon. FOUR of my friends are turning 30 this month (insane right?) but I am really looking forward some great celebrations. I also have some fun dinner ideas to try out and I'm happy to be back in the swing of things. I'm never sick so when I am I feel like it really, really throws me off. Last week was kind of a bust with the whole post-San Francisco illness thing so here's to a healthy week and here's to NOT throwing up. ha.

Oh, and I wanted to write a little about our new bed set up- we originally were going to get the West Elm Cotton Pintuck duvet but then discovered that Target had a remarkably similar one for half the price. We have quite a few WE linens in our home and after seeing both in person I didn't see much difference between Target's version and theirs...so we went for it. I'm totally happy and my wallet is a lot happier too! I've had a lot of feedback on Twitter and Instagram about the bedspread so if you've been lusting over the gorgeous West Elm duvet, totally check out Target's version. 

I'll be back tomorrow with a Music Monday post and a Clean-Eating Challenge wrap up. Until then! xoxo

this past week via Instagram

This past week...

I wore a lot of fall colors,

took Henry to our public library's storytime,

played games and sang Halloween songs with him,

treated myself to a delicious breakfast,

visited baby Zelia and her proud parents (mama Mary not pictured),

made up my own concoction of sea-salt dark chocolate raspberries,

laughed at my toothy, goofy boy and took a lot of walks in the cool mornings,

went to a dinner party at The Molines...

enjoyed homemade soup,

got in some Adie time,

Hank cooked us a delicious vegan meal,

we snapped lots of family photos,

enjoyed the gorgeous fall days,

had an apple slice dipping bar + Hocus Pocus night at our house,

and we bought our Christmas tree! Although we won't be putting it up quite yet!

How about you? Did you do anything fun this past week?

xoxo

Sarah's Wedding via Instagram

Here are a few of the photos from Sarah's wedding last week! The day and night went by in such a blur that photos via my phone were all I could manage. For those who asked, the song in her wedding video is "Anchor" by Mindy Gledhill. The venue was Tre Bella in Mesa, and as soon as her professional photos come in Sar will actually be doing a guest post all about her wedding details and the extensive planning that went into it. She planned her wedding in a very short time span, so she has a lot of great tips and money-saving tricks to share. I'm really excited!

If you have any wedding-specific questions for Sarah, feel free to ask them in the comments below.