February Photo A Day

Today marked the end of the January Photo A Day Challenge that the lovely Chantelle over at Fat Mum Slim started and now she is moving on to a February Photo A Day challenge. I had a lot of fun doing the January one so I'm giving it another go and I'll be posting my pics over on Instagram. (I'm under sassysara if you wanna follow along.) 

Here is the breakdown for February: 

Here's a quick look at my January pics: 

Instagram Friday

Happy Friday folks! I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend since it seems like we've had something going on every weekend since Christmas. Relaxing = good. 

 S'more Cupcake. Amazing.

Play-dough glasses.

Play-dough crown. (We are really into play-dough lately.) 

Pink = Favorite flats! 

Oh the emotions displayed here are just crazy.

My fav is the one with her arms crossed. Hmph. 

What I Wore Wednesday

Remember how I said that I was gonna take a lot more outfit pictures this week, well I took one. Again. Blogger fail. At least it's a really happy outfit! 

 Cardigan: Target

Shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: Old Navy

Flats: Land's End

 I'm in love with these flats. 

This is Sydney's outfit, she picked it out herself. A kitty cat shirt, a tie dye skirt, a hat and mittens for socks. She is one classy little lady! 

The best accessory.....a smile! 

Instagram Friday

I love Instagram Friday...I am seriously addicted to using Instagram, so much so that I don't think I've picked up my 'real' camera in weeks. That's bad. I need an intervention because I LOVE my Nikon but it's so heavy to lug around everywhere. Anywho, I'm super excited about this weekend cause I get to go see 'Wicked'! Last time it was in town, Sydney was a few weeks old and I couldn't stand to leave her yet so this time around I made sure I was gonna get to see it. (Even if I'm seeing it on the very last day.) 

 I-Phone Master. 

We wear cute shoes!

Pretty silhouette & sky at the park.

Taking her temperature. On her eye. 

Playing Ring Around the Rosy with Ringo. He was super excited. 

Yeah, I married that guy. 

Trampoline fun. 

Me on a good hair day. 

Family Pictures

As much as I love photography, I am usually the one behind the camera so we had never had family pictures taken since Sydney was born. I'm actually ashamed that we went this long without having them done! Well, a friend of mine was running a special for the upcoming holidays (we had them done before Christmas) so I jumped at the chance. These are just a few of my favorites from the shoot: 

All photos done by Julie Paisley Photography

What I Wore Wednesday

I am getting SO bad a taking outfit pictures lately! I never have time in the mornings and by the time I get home I am always ready to strip down into my comfy clothes or it's to dark already. I pledge to do better than one outfit photo for the last two weeks or so. But here it is, at least it's super cute! 

Cardigan: Target

Dress: Target

Tights: Target (Merona brand = best tights ever!)

Boots: Target

Noticing a pattern here??? 

2012 Reading Challenge

I love books and I love to read. Always have, always will and now that I have a NOOK, I find myself actually reading more since I can use it in the dark while hubby/toddler sleeps. I also love the Goodreads community. I love being able to keep a nifty list of books I've read, want to read, am reading, etc. and I enjoy connecting with other people and getting suggestions on books I may enjoy. Endless possibilities people! If you love to read and haven't joined Goodreads, you should.

Anywho, they are having a 2012 Reading Challenge where you can set a goal for yourself of how many books you want to read in the new year. I've decided that my goal is 20 new books (so me re-reading The Huger Games series 10 times doesn't count), is my goal for 2012. I've added their widget to the blog sidebar if you wanna connect with me but here a few books I have on my list so far marked to read: 

I've actually started this book, I'm about halfway through and Mindy is super funny and adorable. If you watch The Office, then you are already familiar with Mindy's writing capabilities....she penned my favorite Office episode EVER, The Injury. And if it's your fav too, then we're automatic besties. 

I've been told that this book has a similar dystopian feel to it like The Hunger Games so it's on my list. It's actually sitting on my nightstand since one of my friends just finished it and passed it along to me. She enjoyed it and she has awesome taste in books, so I'm hopeful. 

This story has a circus(Love!), competing magicians(oh, magic!), and a love story(ahhhh)...I find these to be awesome elements for a good book. I've been hearing great things about the breathtaking and magical prose in this novel, so I'm looking forward to a rich storyline. 

This book is about Ernest Hemingway and his first love, Hadley Richardson and their tumultuous relationship. Also, I just found out that the author is going to be a Headline Author at the Amelia Island Book Festival, which in my hometown so it would be amazing to meet her. 

I decided to look into this book after a recommendation from my friend Debbie (who reads a TON, seriously) who suggested that she really enjoyed the book and she also said that it was going to be a series so that peaked my interest. This book is about a vampire and a witch and a mysterious manuscript that draws them to one another which is just vague enough to interest me. 

I have already read The Hunger Games trilogy several times but I know I will have to read this one again come March in anticipation of the movie. (I know these are 'Young Adult' books but I'm only 31 so I'm counting that as the younger side of adult.) If you haven't read them, I don't know if we can be friends. Not really, but maybe. Just read them already! 

What's on your 'To Read' list for 2012? I LOVE suggestions! 

'White' Photo Challenge

I haven't entered a Photo Challenge over at The Paper Mama in forever so I'm submitting this photo for the 'White' challenge: 

I love this photo because Sydney looks so serious and deep in thought. Plus her hair rocks in this pic! 

Instagram Friday

Let's hear it for Friday! 

Let me know if you're on Instagram so I can link up to you! Happy snapping! 

Cute sign from Target (my fav place!)

Nature walk at the park

Kitty hugs (or smothering)

Polka dot shoes

Swinging time

Dessert = delicious

Painting helper

Shrimp boats at the docks

The Paci Fairy

At the beginning of December we decided that it was finally time for Sydney to give up the pacifier. But this kid had a real attachment and we knew it wasn't gonna be a simple task. I mean she used to sleep with two paci's when she was younger, one in her mouth and she liked to hold one too. We eventually weaned her down to one just at naptime and at night. She actually started hiding them in her room so she could sneak one in her mouth when we weren't looking! 

So I decided to purchase the book, 'The Paci Fairy' by Melissa Burnett as a first step to paci elimination. The book basically breaks it down to the fact that when you reach a certain age, the Paci Fairy will come get your paci's and give them to a baby that needs them. Then you can ask the Paci Fairy for a toy in exchange for your paci. We read this book for several months in preparation and I would randomly ask her if she was ready for the Paci Fairy to come. 

Well, we eventually decided that it was time for the Paci Fairy to come. The first night was hard, she cried/whined for about an hour but eventually fell asleep. Then for the next several days she would kinda whine at bedtime and do this crazy cry/laugh sound and then tell herself that she didn't need paci's. 

That week, I told her that the Paci Fairy told me that she could pick out a toy for giving away her pacis so we made a trip to the store and she picked out a monkey doll that she sleeps with every night now. After a week, my husband mad her a 'note' from the Paci Fairy, telling her that she was very proud of her for being a big girl and that a sweet baby girl got to have all of her paci's. (See above.) She was so excited and went on and on about what a big girl she was now. We've been happily paci-free for over a month now! 

Now onto Potty Training! Yippee! 

Photo A Day Challenge

The lovely, Chantelle over at FatMumSlim is doing a Photo A Day Challenge for January 2012. I decided to do all of my pics with my i-phone and publish them via Instagram. (also Twitter) It's been really fun so far! 

Day 1: You

 Day 2: Breakfast

 Day 3: Something you adore

 Day 4: Letterbox

 Day 5: Something you wore

I'm @sassysara on Instagram and @SaraSchmalfeld on Twitter. 

Let me know if you're doing it too so I can check you out! 

Christmas Recap

I have been a bad blogger, I have totally spaced out this past week and neglected my little blog. oops. I blame Christmas brain....I just put everything away yesterday so I'm still in the 'holidays' mindset. So even though I am a week late, I couldn't just not post a bunch of Christmas-y pictures, especially because we all need a little Sydney holiday cuteness. 

Yes, we are adorable in our matching aprons, courtesy of my friend Doris. 

This makes me happy, obviously. Sydney said, 'we all have cameras!' 

The tree, my hubs has a thing for blue, extremely bright LED lights. Eh. 

Dr. Sydney taking care of her baby's boo-boo's. 

Homemade berry cobbler and it was a-mazing! 

Syd in her PJ's practicing her t-ball. She's holding that bat like a pro. 

Is the cuteness killing you? Check out her sparkly red TOMS. I'm jealous. 

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!!