We're Expanding!

Okay if you are on Facebook or IG, you probably saw my sneaky pregnancy announcement in the form of an info graphic yesterday

Which I have to admit has been one of my more clever ideas. so pat pat on the back.

We are looking forward to this big adventure! I am still in shock, so any excitement hasn't sunk in yet. Wes was pining for another little about the time Charlotte was about 15 months, so I made an agreement with him, I'd give him a window to try which was October, November, and December, then if we didn't get pregnant I would go on BC. and wouldn't you know it...BAM! pregnant!

How am I feeling? good, tired, and bewildered. I am definitely hungry and peeing a lot as well.
Wes is so excited, he is such a proud Dad, it's pretty endearing and sweet to listen to him talk about the second little.

My Dr's office moves fast- As soon as I did the home test, I called a couple days later and they had me go in for a blood test and an ultrasound. The little peanut was already showing a strong heartbeat at 115 bpm and measuring 6 weeks , 3 days. So my announcement comes at 8 weeks (WHOA- i know some of you are panicking, but my prerogative)

Pretty much how I feel

I made this shirt with one of those DIY iron on things and designed the wreath through pic monkey. I think it turned out cute. We showed Wes' mom and she got it right away and was excited, My father in law didn't get it for a while he was like ' oh that's cute, it says big sister' and then 5 minutes later it hit him. it was funny. 

This Christmas was really fun because we were able to give Charlotte gifts and go do fun winter activities with her. 

First time in the Snow! She wouldn't move an inch in this thing, and wasn't quite sure of the snow.

I was ready to just put her on Santa's lap and have them take a picture, crying or not, but then I started to feel bad as a parent, like I'm just throwing my kid on a stranger in a red suit and some other stranger is taking a picture and making high pitched noises. So no- we made it a good experience for all of us and bribed her with a donut and got in the picture with her. Which I am glad we did, Its a fun family memory we will have.

On Christmas Eve, we did pajamas and had her open a present, she was excited about it and wanted to open more- that was fun to see her reaction to all the gifts  Her jammies were a bit big. so Wes pulled up the pants and it ended up looking cute on her, like a Christmas oompa loompa baby.

Christmas Day at Larissa's, we are all wearing all our new Christmas gifts haha

We don't see these cousins often enough, But I love them and I'm so glad Charlotte has little brown kids she can relate too as well.

Our Christmas card this year was really fun, I had a  friend make a one of a kind watercolor wreath to overlay over our picture and it turned out great! thanks Noelle. PS, if you didn't get a card, I'm so sorry- I don't know why I under ordered, but I did and felt so bad!

I recently had a birthday, totally old, 35! the usual peeps came over for dinner, I made fondue! it was delicious. I like cooking on my birthday and the friends that come over don't seem to mind haha. and then I was treated to brunch a few days later by some great folks. It was a fun birthday week!

2016 will be fun filled for sure! I have another segment coming up on January 8th on The Place, it will be a fun one, so tune in. I have a wedding workshop on the 19th at The Gathering place, so if you know anyone planning their own wedding, have them come to the class. Hopefully I get a couple weddings this year to plan, start putting together my book, and then Baby Miller Dos will arrive just in time!

We hope you have a very Happy New Year!

Talk Shows and My Favorite Girl!

It has literally taken me an entire week to recover from Thanksgiving. Is anyone in the same boat?

It's like the week leading up to the day is planning. making lists, errands and trying not to be mad at people at Costco. So, then the week of,  it's all prepping, cleaning, cooking, oh, and I put the Christmas tree up so it would be festive for the family on turkey day.

And you know what, I didn't even cook a lot for actual Thanksgiving! it was like for other things. I just barely packed up all the dinner dishes up on Sunday, and I finally got all the linens washed and folded on Monday. And my stomach took a week to realize I don't need to eat like thanksgiving anymore.  What I will do again though is the crock pot turkey breast..that was sooo good!

Oh I did try to hold a Thank You open house for some friends, I made food and stuff and 3 people showed up. I tried to do just the text message invite, instead of the Facebook invite, and so I think, which sounds so wierd, was the mistake! We are just used to responding to facebook events anymore, right? or no? I don't know. anyways, luckily Wes and I were happy with the leftovers, and I didn't have to cook for a couple days.

I am Super Stoked for our 3rd annual Christmas Giving Open House ( ahem... Dec 19th from 10 am to Noon) for Primary Children's Medical Center, donations will go to Target gift cards and then mailed off with a Christmas card.

So people are like, 'oh we are already doing something for Primary's" or "we are sponsoring a kid going through treatment at PC" okay..that's great! my feelings aren't hurt, you do you this christmas, and whatever makes you feel good for giving during the holidays, i am all for it. But don't give me an excuse to avoid me. haha, cause i know that also happens.

I am very passionate about this donation drive for PCMC, and it's because I know the impact it makes. When I send those gift cards I know that its going towards games, books, clothes, gifts directly to the kids and families. I can't single one kid out to just 'sponsor' either, cause in my heart of hearts, all those kids needs something, you know. That's why I don't do the Angel Tree either. So, if you need a place to start, please come on over, and if you are already doing something for PCMC or another organization, I'm happy to hear we are all in the giving spirit. And this year I set up a donate link up on pay pal if you can't make it for the goodies.

Now that things have slowed down on the event side, I've been at home, a lot! and I have a good routine going on. Charlotte was going through a growth spurt I think and was sleeping all sorts of weird during the day and eating tons one day and not the next. but I think we are over that. and here are the pics to show off that little bit growth..

I am loving the pony tail on her these days. just a couple more months and i can do braids, I can't even handle it. 

My little bookworm! I am happy she loves the library. I just let her pick whatever and we check them out and she loves it!

I am also happy she's not mean like some other toddlers, so I am giving myself a good parenting pat for that. and you know what I'm saying, some of you mom's have been around those kids who are just mean. And you'll probably be like, 'well they're just kids' or 'they have older siblings' well my kid is just a kid, and she isn't that mean. I witnessed a toddler pick on Charlotte like she didn't even belong in the same space and literally pushed toys on her fingers to hurt her. And then what do you do? do you say something to the kid, to the parent? I still need to figure that out.

Feeding Charlotte is fun now too. She will try most things. and she isn't picky about taste more than she is with texture. I can give her a whole celery and she will gnaw on it, but if i give her cooked celery she will dig it out of her mouth and fling it off her hands, and who knows where it will land. And I am having a love hate relationship with organic pouches. Cause I know i just need to make them myself and save money, but I love that i can buy a pouch and throw it in her diaper bag just in case and it can stay in that diaper bag unopened for two weeks when I thought I gave it to her, but didn't, and was relieved to have it when she got hungry during errands. When you make it yourself, they have to stay refrigerated and are only good a couple days. 

She is definitely going through a phase where she's extra whiney (teething??) and really testing us. I am also an iPad Mom. I let her watch all her shows on the iPad. and she spends a fair amount of her time with the iPad or the TV on , whether she is watching and paying attention is another thing. Whatever, judge me, punish me, roll your eyes at me..I am that mom. and don't try to say I was against it before she was born, that was Wes, not me. 

ALSO, meep!, I've discovered daytime TV! being so busy I never had a chance to watch day time TV, even when i was taping segments for Fresh Living, I had to just wait for the segment online to post and just watch my piece. Now that I am learning this stay at home mom role a bit better I have my 'shows' in the morning I watch Today for an hour or so. I then do my Charlotte thing- feed, play, then do dishes or send emails. then as soon as noon hits, i am glue'd! everyday its The Chew, Rachael Ray, FabLife and Meredith Viera. Anyone else? its a good mix of information, Food, Food and Pop Culture, Lifestyle and trends, Trends and politics.  it's perfect! and i use the word glue'd lightly, I am usually doing cooking and folding laundry or playing with charlotte while these are on, and no i don't pause or dvr any of these shows. So if i miss something, i miss it. 

I'm not trying to down play being a stay at home mom, I am a work at home mom, and I can't do it with Charlotte..she is into everything, talking loudly and throwing fits I have to stay on top of her or something will land in her mouth or something will fall off the table. Stay at home mom's deal with all of that, then have to do all the housework on top of it, and get meals on the table. I don't know how some of you mom's with multiple kids survive during the day when all your kids are home. I don't necessarily agree with those info graphics that break down the role of a stay at home mom, you know those ones that are like 'i'm a chauffeur, a private chef, a maid, a tutor..blah blah blah" every mom, parent for that matter, stay at home or not is that.  I think those infographics are put out there for that one douche bag who always asks "what do you do all day?" you just want to punch them and be like "STFU!"

Last part of this oh so long ramble, Presents. Is it a big deal to get good gifts as you get older? Truly, is it a 'thing' to expect an expensive gift. What if you spent a bit of money and in return, you got something that wasn't nearly as nice as the gift as you gave? This is my opinion- When you are coming from a situation with ample extra dollars to spend on gifts, you're inclined to buy a more monetary valued type of gift, right?  but if you are coming from a situation where you are on budgets, gifts tend to become more of a budgetary item that takes away from a need. So whichever case you are, I want everyone to realize that it's always the thought that counts, not the monetary value. and if you base Christmas on money and 'things' then please consider not everyone can be that way and that you should opt out of anything that involves 'those' people who can't reciprocate, and save yourself from disappointment.

Until next time!

Moo on TV: End Season 1

I have to say, I never thought I'd be featured on so much TV this year. I mean, it seems like i was catapulted into it, right? bam- TV!

This year has been amazing, I know it isn't over, but you know what is over? TV.
I did my last segment on Nov 16 on the Place (P.S they've already asked me back for January- EEP!)

I also had tons of awesome pub in print and online from being involved with The Enterprise business journal, having a written piece published in the magazine, Fibonacci, getting my shoots featured online!

I truly have had quite the PUBLIC year, yes? Not to mention my involvement with the Utah State Fair, and being able to collaborate with Freshly Picked for Tiny Limes!

Now, I focus on building on top of what has happened this year. After co producing Wiggin Out For Charity (amazing turnout by the way) and working with the right people to pull off this event, I think my focus for 2016 will be helping others with similar events, ideas, business ventures. If you guys noticed, a lot of my Segments, I had promoted and worked with companies such as Crate and Barrel, Pier 1, Overstock, Etsy Shops, Native Flower Company, Twelve 30 Creative, Smiths, Freshly Picked, Red Butte Garden, The Knot..etc.

My success isn't monetary..at all.. in fact  I am probably in the hole, that's okay- not all businesses succeed in revenue the first time around. It's about refocusing my energy on what will make it successful, and I think I've found it. And, no I won't be having a talk show or anything. I think my gift is collaborating and helping others out, getting them on the right platform. I've built a decent public profile now and I am ready to just help people out, and maybe pimp out some of my talents and get paid for promoting big businesses like Overstock and such in my design segments and features.

So see you again on the tube in January!

Family Photos: The Millers 2015

Here are our family photos. I thought I'd have them here instead of trying to explode instagram or a fb album. Poor chuck was having a horrible teething week, so her mouth was sore and some of the pics show it..so sad. but she was a trooper! I didn't want to get to involved cause it took me a while just to try and pick out matching outfits..which in the end, we all just wore black.

I didn't want to find a secluded park area or an untouched spot up at the canyon. I just wanted a homey looking place, so I chose Gardner Village. It was fun, but there were a lot of people there too! gah! oh well.

I like to do these every year, even when wes and I weren't with child. because I like to see us in professional photos. Haha. Im not even lying. I think everyone should get away from the iphone and get at least one legitimate professional family photo done every year.

She just learned how to "stomp" so we used it here in this session.

Got a new head shot done, the other one was outdated, plus i have hints of purple still in my hair

and this amazing water color made it on our christmas cards! ask http://fromnoelle.com/ to create one for you, she can get as creative as you want and then use picmonkey to overlay it onto your photos.