Now this says love.

This Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake was my present to Nick for Valentine's Day.

He was in heaven.

Just in case you were wondering...

What have I been up to lately?

Take a look.

A little bit of this...
(Apron for Mom's birthday present)


and this...
(Apron for my sis-in-law Christine's Birthday present)

The beautiful Birthday Girl herself modeling her sassy birthday apron.
Doesn't she look smashing?!

some of this...
(A little Valentine's Day Decor lovin' of tissue pom pom flowers...)

...some more Valentine's Day decor seen here

a splash of this...
(Mini heart flower bouquet)


(another view)

And I'm only getting started. So many more projects.

Yes, I WILL craft myself into a coma.

A comfy coma.
And I will love it.

My Almost One-Year-Old

This is my favorite picture of Ruby lately. It makes me giggle every time I look at it. I found her cute little green jacket at Target the other day for $4.98. Doesn't get any better than that. I put it on her every chance I get.

I can't believe Ruby is going to be one in a little over a month! I am mind blown at how fast this first year of her life has flown. She will be 11 months old on February 16th.

Finally. I caught it on camera! This is the face she pulls constantly-- the underbite with her two bottom teeth. It makes her look like a troll or something. Hilarious.

Couldn't resist this rear view.

Playing with a new toy Nick's Aunt Brenda gave us. She can't get enough of this thing. And NO. She's not standing up by herself... she's just lucky she can push her belly against the table for a few minutes to brace herself. She isn't even officially crawling yet, which I'm fine with. Postponing of the baby proofing. She scoots around everywhere, so she'll figure it out soon.

Happy Birthday Grandma Giles!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Here is a little birthday love from Ruby. We love you and hope you have the best day ever!



Love, Carrie, Nick & Ruby

Desert Island

Alright. Let's play Desert Island (any Office fans out there?). One item you couldn't live an hour without.

BURT'S BEES CHAPSTICK.

This stuff is magical. A real necessity. I MUST have at least 3 sticks at all times. One in my purse, diaper bag, and a back up if for some reason Nick has used one and I can't locate it. I seriously start having anxiety when I can't find it or run out. I have been known to apply it for probably 30 seconds straight. It tingles. It's smooth. Your lips will never be the same.

What is YOUR item?

The NEW Rules...

I'm reading a Marketing/PR book called "The New Rules of Marketing & PR" by David Meerman Scott and it is fascinating thus far. I highly recommend it. Having graduated in Marketing & Advertising going on 4 years ago, I realized I'm a little rusty as to new technology and positioning. Since I've been dubbed the Marketing Director for Full Throttle Recreation Club (by The Boss himself), I thought I should get cracking.

This book has been extremely insightful to me since the used-to-be-mainstream forms of advertising just don't work for a lot of businesses, like us. I'm talking about TV, radio, magazines, newspaper, billboards... even online ads. The web has changed everything. I just never realized how powerful it really is to reach your target. Already I've come up with a lot of new ideas on how to more effectively market Full Throttle without spending any $ at all-- and I'm still in the first half of the book! The book focuses on using news releases, blogs, web content, etc. to reach your buyer directly. I highly recommend it!

(Check out Full Throttle's Blog here and Full Throttle's website here. We would LOVE any feedback you have for us, so check it out!)

Fancy & Funk

Here is Ruby in her Christmas dress that Grandma Giles sent her (thanks again, Mom!). She looked absolutely beautiful! I couldn't take my eyes off her. She wore it to church a week late, since the Sunday before I was sick. Nothing says "Merry Christmas" quite like puking your guts out all night after a ward potluck dinner. Never again. I don't care who's offended. Either I'll eat beforehand or I'll bring my own sack lunch.
Can I get a witness on this one?