Sseko Style 2

Sseko's and Keds for the little guy

I pretty much always have a dinosaur or a car with me...

Cardi-Banana Republic, T-shirt and capris-Target, Shoes-Sseko's

We went to a bakery by the water and enjoyed some coffe, hot choco and pastries. I have been trying to really pull myself together. I used to dress with my own personal style but over the last few years I have kind of just been putting on clothes. As a new mother, I felt like I akways needed to be stain proof. This new cardi is not something I would have usually picked out for myself but now its one of my favorite pieces. I love how it goes with everything and I really love the lace detail that adds something special without being to much.

The good old Classic Tie

And last but not least...my lovely Sseko's! I chose navy straps to add a little more color. We also went out shopping after and I was asked, "hey where did you get those, they are so cute?" I of course explained a bit about them and wrote down the website...I love sharing the Sseko story!

Sseko style

First chance to wear them this year...I love my Sseko's!

I am loving the weather up here, spring is spring not crazy hot! I am still working on finding a great spot to take photos with natural light that works well. It takes time and the camera I am using is missing the charger so I now basically have no camera except one on my phone. Not a necessity of life by any means though. I am working on remembering how to re-tie all the ties I came up with last summer so I can create how to videos. If you have not already checked out Sseko Designs, you really should. There are an amazing not-for-profit helping women and they create beautiful sandals and clutches.

The tulip festival 2012

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pure beauty

ducky races

My silly little guy was giving me a slow motion kiss

driving the John Deere, sound effects and all

We had an amazing adventure...we headed off for the tulip festival this morning with my parents, hoping for no rain. It was beautiful, the little guy had so much fun. They have so much for the kids, ducky races, slides, bouncy house, tire swings shaped like tractors/horses, tractors, and even a train with the cars painted into cows! Its shocking seeing so many tulips in bloom at the same time and we were not even there for the craziness. It looks like a lot in the pictures and it is but there are still fields and fields waiting to bloom. The little guy had his first carnival (festival) food, a hot dog, us adults had brawts instead. He took a short nap in the car ride home and we spent the afternoon in the wood shop helping grandpa with his project. A great day!

a fresh change

There are a lot of things up in the air right now in my life, I feel kind of like I'm in an in between place. I want to move forward but have to take it one step at a time. I would really love to just skip forward to the future, wouldn't we all sometimes. One thing I can change right now is my hair! I have been wanting to change up my hair for awhile now but just was not sure of exactly what I wanted. I love the natural color of my hair so dying it was out...so I chopped it.

from this...

to this!

I am loving it...its a long bob, slightly a-line in back. It takes a little more work but I look and feel better. Easy, cute and I can still pull it back to garden! Its kinda weird how a hair cut can make you feel so good...I feel free, fresh and like I cut off a bunch of dead weight. So here's to the new me...my step by step future...moving forward.

One more of me in the garden with the little guy

Favorite things...winter

I am a cold weather person. I have always loved it way more than the heat. I love getting all bundled up.

Watching Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer
The holidays...Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day and my birthday
Knitting by a warm toasty fire
Getting a Christmas tree and decorating the house
Spending time with family
Making homemade Christmas presents

The other day the doctor and I where bored and couldn't figure out what we used to do with all our time...then we realized that we used to be in the garden all the time. Fall/winter gardening is so much less work. :)

Happy Holiday's from Team Dean. :)

Harvest Monday 12/13-12/19 2011

Frosty flowers

The first pea!

An onion popping up under the straw

We didn't harvest much this week, just salad greens and eggs. I have been saving our chard, kale and spinach for a special meal. Yesterday I made sage cheese and ricotta cheese. Tonight I will be making lasagna with the fresh ricotta, chard, kale and spinach for dinner with a close friend. Have a happy Holiday weekend and...

Happy Harvest Monday! We are linking up with Daphne's Dandelions, a place to check out what others around the world are harvesting.

Black friday deals! This one goes through monday!

Sseko Designs just introduced the Pleated Clutch! They are beautifully handmade purses...I can't decide which one to get! On top of that they are offering 20% off all sandals and straps til Monday! Here is your chance to be apart of their growing story...wear it or carry it with you!

If you can't decide what to get the special gal in your life...get them a Sseko Designs gift certificate!

The perfect gift for any gal...

Us gals love shoes and these ones are for a good cause. These sandals are comfy, cute and can be changed up for any occasion...plus they help women. Check out all the different strap colors they have! The Stocking Stuffer Package is $65 and it comes with the soles and 3 pairs of straps...plus exchanges are free! If you need something under $65 just shop Sseko Designs.

Check out some of my other posts about my favorite shoes ever...

Every sandal has story...

Just few awesome things about Sseko's

30 days 30 way Sseko Sandal Challenge

30 days 30 ways Sseko Sandal Challenge the Beginning, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Finished

As you can see, I'm a bit obsessed and once you read the story you will be too! Check out what is coming on Nov. 25th...vimeo!

PS: I feel the need to share that I am not sponsored or paid to talk about Sseko's. I just simply love them and am inspired by their story.

favorite things...fall

I love fall and I decided to wait to post this until fall actually arrived...instead of the first day of fall. I feel like it is finally here...I have been leaving our windows cracked everyday, all day long! I love fall and...

being able to enjoy a hot cup of tea on the back porch
the first fire that is almost to warm
wearing my hair down instead of always in a ponytail
wearing my Sseko's with pants
planting our first fall/winter garden
wearing warm ViolaStitchStudio hats
thanksgiving
fall leaves...colors...everything

my favorite season for sure

picture from I <3 Chico on facebook

Neighbors...

What happen to the neighborhood? I was walking to the grocery store everyday awhile ago because the starter went out in our car (now fixed, thanks to the best neighbors anyone could ever ask for...I'm not joking...the BEST). It seems that most people don't think I should be walking...I have almost been run over a few times. Oh and then there are the wonderful "neighbors" who hear your son (two and in the stroller) yelling, "HI...HI...HI!" waving crazily and you saying, "Good morning" and they decide the best they can do is turn their head and start walking faster. What happen to "it takes a village(community) to raise a child"? What happened to common decency? I don't expect you to be my best friend...but you can say Hi! Sorry for the rant...and keep reading.

We are actually very lucky in our neighborhood (those people are not my close neighbors). This is the third house we have lived in on this street because we fell in love with it! We know at least 11 of our neighbors and I would say 4 of them well. I really don't know what we will do if we have to leave this neighborhood, I don't even want to think or talk about it. We also keep meeting more and more wonderful neighbors, this is the best neighborhood!

In our current house we kept our previous neighbor by moving to the house on the other side of him. I would say he is the night-watch-man of the neighborhood. Most people think he is a grump because of this but he is really just a sweet guy. He watches out for everyone, not to snoop but because he cares about the neighborhood and everyone in it. He loves our son dearly.

Our awesome neighbors to the other side of us simply amazing me with how giving they are. I honestly cannot even explain how shocked and amazed I am by them. They are constantly sharing; food, advice, things, and the best of all; their time. I feel that the little guy is getting a taste of "it takes a village to raise a child" because of them and a few other people in our lives. One the latest gift completely astonished me...the woman of the house (I don't want to post their names) had a close friend of hers paint a picture of the little guy and the Doctor...she used a picture I took and the artist captured it in 9 different mediums, perfectly. I was left completely speechless when she left after bringing it over to us...they simply amaze me ever day with their kindness and generosity.

I don't know how put in words how thankful I am for them...

ViolaStitchStudio: Exctied to debut at the Sweet Repeats Sale

Headbands size newborn-Kids

 I decided to participate in the fall Sweet Repeats sale. I wanted to make a lot more, like fingerless mittens and cute fall hats but some family stuff came up and I was only able to focus on finishing 12 headbands. I still plan on making them and finally opening an Etsy shop! Sweet Repeats is an awesome company that has seasonal infant, children, teen and maternity consignment sales. I spent some time going through all of the clothes that no longer fit the little guy and instead of tagging them myself I had the Sweet Repeats crew do it for me!

The sale is this weekend so check it out! Saturday Oct. 8th 9am-5pm and Sunday Oct. 9th 10am-2pm at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Art Center building in Chico, CA. Please check out their website for more information or find them on facebook.

30 days 30 ways Sseko Sandal Challenge: Week 5

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Tie 31- Triangle Slingback

Tie 32- Braided version of Baylee's Diamond slingback

Tie 33- From the garden into my Sseko's-This is another variation of the Classic that you start from the outside front loop.

Tie 34- Tirzah's Zebra Tie

Tie 35- Start with a Bow/End with a Bow Tie

Tie 36- Braided Triangle

Tie 37- Woven Slingback

Well I am past my original goal and still going strong. I know now that next year I can definitely make it for 4 months. Thanks to all of you who voted from me and congrats to Kim from oh sweet joy for winning last weeks peoples choice! This is the last week of the contest and I keep telling myself not to be disappointed if I don't win because that's not the reason I started this thing. I started it to share the Sseko story without even knowing that they had a contest. Of course it would be fun to win! :) Happy Tuesday...I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend!

30 days 30 ways Sseko Sandal Challenge: Week 4

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I love love love this challenge. As of right now I am already planning next year! I really want to start even earlier..mid may and keep it up til the end of the Sseko's 30/30 challenge in mid Sept. Yeah Tirzah! Congrats to the winner of week 2! I love all the awesome ties you came up with and I plan on trying some of them next week. For some reason I was extra inspired this week. I'm lucky because this week is peoples choice week in the facebook contest. First like Sseko's facebook page, then click the like button under the pictures this week if you like the ties. The fans and people participating in the contest are all so creative. I hope you like my ties because I need your help to win! My brain won't quit when it comes to Sseko ties as of late...

Tie 24- Double Knot Cross over

Tie 25- Cardinal Slip on-it reminds me of a compass for some reason, even though it has five points for direction.

Tie 26- Figure 8 SSK(stopper sailor knot) slingback



Tie 27- Double Twist x2

Tie 28- My variation of Aggie's Butterfly tie (not a great picture)

Tie 29- Maritime Slingback- It reminds me of one those life saving rings you would throw to someone who fell overboard. I feel the Starboard strap is the only one that can give any nautical inspired tie justice.

And finally...




Tie 30!- Togo tie (my favorite tie of the week, and favorite so far!)

I made it to Day 30!  I also managed to show off 30 different ties! My favorite tie of all (so far) is the Togo tie!

The Doctor (my hubby) spent four years in Africa with Peace Corps. He is awesome and let me use some of the country cloth he brought back from Togo (in West Africa) to create these straps.

They ended up being almost twice as long as the others but I still managed to come up with something unique! This is not only my favorite tie because of the straps but because of the tie I came up with! Its simple, cute, comfy, supportive and easy to slip on and tie!

Don't worry I'm not done yet...I plan on finishing out the Sseko 30/30 challenge by adding an extra 15 days and 15 ties...

PS: I have been asked for instructions and I promise I will get something up soon. I plan on taking pic after pic of how to and posting them all soon.

30 days 30 ways Sseko Sandal Challenge: Week 3

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I am so excited to be apart of the Sseko movement and happy for the lovely Ashley, the first weeks winner in Sskeo's 30 days 30 ways challenge! Congrats to Ashley! I have decided to try and push myself to come up with 45 different ties...it won't be hard with help from all the wonderful Sseko fans! This is what I came up with this week:


Tie 17- Classic Revisited another variation of the classic that I came up with.

Tie 18- Bohannon's Best Tie

Tie 19- The Grecian two strap ( my fave of this week)

Tie 20- Aggie's Butterfly Tie

Tie 21- Simple ZigZag

Tie 22- The Double cross

Tie 23- The Goddess two strap

I think the Grecian and the Goddess would be so fun for a wedding party. You could use the base color, say ivory and contrast with the main/bold color, say purple! So fun and pretty!

I am a mommy so most of the time I use one of my fave and memorized ties during outings...its quick, easy and supportive and then during nap time I get creative! Of course I complete all my mommy/wife duties like canning, weeding, cleaning, prepping dinner, and etc. This is one of my outlets...I know a little silly but mommies out there know what I mean. I'm a proud Sseko fan!

PS: I had two Sseko sandal dreams this week...so far! :)

30 days 30 ways Sseko Sandal Challenge: Week 2

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The 30 days 30 ways Facebook Challenge started yesterday and I have decided to continue my challenge through Sept 13th! Join in on the fun and you could be a lucky winner of free straps for a year!

Top-left to right:

Tie 9- My variation of Robinah's Diagonal Bow Tie

Tie 10- Teddy's Thong Sandal

Tie 11- Betty Jr's Gift Box Tie

Tie 12- Baylee's Braided Thong Sandal Tie

Bottom-left to right:

Tie 13- Bow tie Beauty

Tie 14- Two Strap Braided Classic

Tie15- Stellar Tie

Tie 16- Two Strap Double Bow tie

I am really loving this challenge, my feet are enjoying it too. Sseko's are comfortable and I have completely lost my terrible sandal tan! YEAH! A few tips from the Sseko facebook crew for care of your straps...

Just throw the solid straps in the wash. And a hint; use a hair straightener after they dry them to make them nice and flat. The pattern straps can usually machine wash, but you need to test them for color fastness first and the specialty straps we recommend you spot clean.

PS: Chico ladies Bridging The Gap By Giving has Sseko's!

PSS: You should also check out Sseko's blog and my lil' sisters blog! :)

Harvest Monday 8/7-8/14 2011

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I just found out about this awesomeness from Urban veggie garden and loved the idea. We are linking up with daphnes dandelions for our first Harvest monday! Yes we added one day...next week it will be only one week.

8/7/2011-

One tiny Japanese eggplant and tomatoes (only 7 pictured, we harvested many more)

 8/9/2011-

Soybeans, even more tomatoes, one zucchini

8/10/2011-

west African millet, drying (we harvested more than pictured) it will be made into beer

 8/11/2011-

Sunflowers, kale, more tomatoes

more zucchini and a sunflower

8/12/2011-

Mohawk tobacco

Yukon gold potatoes, bell peppers and a few bay leaves, and more tomatoes, soybeans, and millet

8/13/2011-

more tomatoes, bell peepers and zucchini

8/14/2011-

again...more tomatoes

we had to take out a couple of tomato and zucchini plants so we have some green tomatoes to work with and some large zucchinis to make into bread or treats for the chickens

and again more tomatoes...we do have about 75+ tomato plants left

Happy Monday!