My Little 4-Year-Old!

Let the Celebrations CONTINUE!

Last week, someone shared a thought that was so inspirational.  They talked about how we shouldn't stop at 12 days of Christmas, and how important the 13th day of Christmas was...

Well, for me, that really hit home.

Because, on the 13th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A child.

He is kind

He is smart

He is important... He is SO important.

So, on this 13th day of  Christmas, we do not stand in long return lines, we do not tear down all of the Christmas decorations, nor do we agonize over the many unwanted pounds gained... No, we are far too busy celebrating to do any of that!  Our 13th day is filled with waffles, playing, candles, and wishes!  Oh, and some hulk-tastic fun!  (yeah, that's right, we're hulk fans around here!)

Here is my little Hulk Smash's (he chose his blog name) 4 year photoshoot:

Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta HUG....

As you FLY off, we hope you have a WONDERFUL day!!

Thank you for stopping by!!  

xoxo,

Loo Who

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

HO! HO! HO!

I hope that Christmas Eve finds you with 

*The stockings all hung with care

*Presents all wrapped up tight

*Food all cooked and ready to devour

But, if you're anything like me---

'Twas the day before Christmas, and all through our home..

There was scurrying and hurrying and all sorts of things needing done.

Presents awaiting their final assemble, 

And pictures of side dishes we hope they soon resemble.

But amidst all the chaos and clatter,

We look around and see that none of this matters.

Our bows may not be tied just right,

The wrapping may look like it's gone through a fight.

Perhaps the food is not so picture-perfect,

But, come morning, it will all be worth-it.

For, the best part of Christmas can't be wrapped, bow-ed, baked or bought,

The BEST part of Christmas comes from our 2 tiny tots!

Ok, ok, I'm not the greatest poet- ON WITH THE SHOW!

Today, is MONDAY MUST, with a Christmas twist..

First, I must recap last weeks Monday Must- Roberts was AMAZING!!  AND, Estrella is a VERY close second to Roberts- the flavors of the food are on-point!  They definitely do not disappoint- in fact, when I got home, I told Jeffe that Roberts may be losing it's first place ranking in my fav restaurants category.  Jury is still out- apparently there are a few more dishes I need to try before I cast my final vote.  None the less, Estrella is TOTALLY MUST-WORTHY!

Now, on to Christmas!!

This Monday MUST is dedicated to giving.  I don't care what religion or non-religion you are, there is nothing wrong with stopping and appreciating those around you!  This Monday MUST is a Must-Do, today and tomorrow, I challenge you to give as much love and joy as you can muster to those around you.  Be they friend or foe, family or stranger- we could all use a little more love in our life!

I love Christmas, I really do.  It's a time to turn our hearts to faith, love and family!  I love my little family more than anything!  I love to see those smiling faces! 

Which, brings me to the giving segment of this post.... We, here at Looky Loo, LOVE TO GIVE PRESENTS!!  And we were racking our brains as to what we could give YOU this holiday!  And, what better gift than the gift of  SMILES!

We have shared such touching moments with our fans this year- and we are so touched that you allowed us to be apart of some of your biggest moments!

To give back, we are giving away TWO photoshoots for Christmas.

So, how, might you ask, does one receive such a present?

Well, one family has already been chosen, by us for their immense kindness and giving throughout the year.  The SECOND, will be chose by YOU!

So, here's the scoop.  You email me with your pick of a family most deserving of a free photoshoot.  Tell me what has impressed you, how they have changed the lives of those around them through selfless act of kindness.  And I will give them a FREE PHOTOSHOOT!

Details:

*You can't nominate yourself

*You have two days to email me (today and tomorrow)

*I will pick my winner Christmas night

*It must be a family in SLO County

Ok, those are the details, I'm sure you've already thought of someone who would be perfect, so what are you waiting for??!!  Stop reading this and get to your email asap!  

Well, I am a photographer after all, so I leave you with these smiling faces to send you on your Merry Way....

xoxo,

LooWho

You say it's your Birthday...... It's my Birthday, Too!

Happy Day, Loves!

Today, to change it up a bit and give you a rest from hearing from me, I've enlisted some of my closest friends over the years to give you the inside scoop on Loo Who!

First up, my built-in, lifetime best friend: my sister..

I was racking my brain thinking of memorable moments of you, and I always go back to you as a baby.  You had reddish hair and a sweet round belly.  You loved peaches baby food.  You were such a sweet, happy baby. 

One night, in the house at Harris Ranch when you were still a little baby, we couldn't find you.  We looked and looked, but no Cindy.  You had crawled into your own little bed - too high for us to think you could get into it - and fell asleep. 

On a road trip to Riverside (I think), your dad gave you chocolate and you threw it up everywhere.  Out of all of the vomit I've witnessed in my life, that one has always stuck around.  Who knew you'd be allergic to chocolate? 

When you were a toddler, you wouldn't let me curl your hair.  You would cry and cry, but no curling iron would touch your hair. 

And the soda... your dad told you that soda turns your teeth green.  On a trip back from Idaho, we only had a Sprite in the car, and you were very, very thirsty for milk.  Well, milk doesn't keep well in a car, so we didn't have anything for you.  You were soooo thirsty, and gave in to the soda.  And your teeth didn't turn green - but you were devestatingly certain they would. 

I loved you and took care of you the moment you came home to us in a stocking.

So, yes, I am still allergic to chocolate, go to bed early, and don't like soda- random Loo Who facts 1,2 & 3.  However, I have learned to love a curling iron and no longer fit into a stocking- at least none that I have seen.  

*another fun fact: my first son also got to come home in a stocking!

Fast forward to high school- Lindsey-

I don't even know where to start! Bounce house party at your house, wayyy too many funny girls camp memories, our letter notebooks, Tommy Boy quoting, school dances.. There are very few memories from freshman year and half my sophomore year that don't involve you.

Yes, random fact #4:Tommy Boy is still my favorite movie!! :)

Up Next, another one of my high school best friends and cheer buddy: Amanda.  

So I've been trying to figure out which of our many memories would be best to share. I think the best one has to be the time we decided to start dressing "nicer" or something like that and got all dressed up and went to albertsons( i know we were going somewhere else too, I just don't remember where). Some lady even commented on our outfits!

Yes, "dressing better."  I think I still have this obsession!  Amanda has probably been my girliest best friend over the years- I think this was really when I learned to love all things pink and pretty!  In fact, every time I think of her or those memories, it's an instant: "aww!"  Random fact #5: I have the HARDEST time picking out what to wear, and usually just wear yoga pants!

Ok, the next one is funny, she is the only one of my friends on this list who has lived with me (besides my sister and hubs), so she knows some of my weirdest quirks.. but even funnier, she called me by the wrong name FOREVER.  She is one of my college best friends: Jessica

You hate eating stale cereal and always ended up throwing almost an entire box away.... The first time we went to chili's, you got ordering anxiety because you didn't know what was good... Going to Costco for lunch... You falling in the street and busting your lip and holding q- tips up to it because for some reason the house we were at had no toilet paper. And most of all calling you Courtney for the 1st month we knew each other. 

Well, random facts #6, 7, & 8: I've gotten better about cereal- I just eat oatmeal, I still have ordering anxiety at new restaurants, still love Costco samples (and have passed that love to my children), and she still calls me Courtney (but now as a joke)!

The next friend is funny, because she's actually the mom of one of my best friends from high school, but as I got older and married and had kids, I became close friends with her: Cari

I have lots of memories of you being my daughter, Ren's friend. You were always smiling and laughing together. How funny time is that you have crossed the great divide into wife-Dom and parenthood, and done an amazing job I might add. I treasure our friendship and the wisdom and sparkle you bring to everyone you meet! I also like to get my digs in with Ren by saying well, she is my friend now also!!! She just hates that! My favorite thing you have ever said is "hey, by the end of the day if my kids are still alive......goal accomplished!"

Like Ren, Cari brings out my funny side.  We just laugh and joke, so she gets all of my good one-liners! lol!  Oh ya, random fact #9 ... I may or may not think I'm a comedian!

That brings me to today.  And, just as I always dreamed, my best friend is my husband.  Here is a video displaying all of the notes he left for me today, set to the song that always reminds him of me- ENJOY!  :)

Hmm, there were a few random facts in there: 10. I cannot read to my children without making crazy voices, 11: I'm a HUGE plan-o-holic, and I'm sure tons more- I'm pretty random and quirky!  But, that's what I love most about these people- they know all of the quirks and still love me!  That alone makes it a Happy Birthday!

Thank you for taking this trip down memory lane with me!  

What are some random facts about you?  

Happy 6 Days until Christmas!! ;)

xoxo,

Monday MUST!

Hello BlogLand... It's me again!

Yes, I'm saying it again- I am BACK and ready to blog regularly!

Looky Loo is ready to be

LEGEN (wait for it) DARY!

(oh ya, I also started watching HIMYM after some prompts from one of my best friends and am obsessed!)

Well, this week is my BIRTHDAY WEEK!  So I will put a birthday spin on most of my posts!  Get ready for some Looky Loo FUN! 

First Stop: Birthday Monday MUST!

Today I am sharing 2 MUST-TRY Things on the Central Coast.  These happen to be the only 2 things I asked my husband for for my birthday- ya, they're that amazing!

First up: Dinner

If you ever find  yourself in Paso, you MUST TRY Roberts.  Everything there is AMAZING.  The food is DIVINE, the ambiance is bliss, and the seats.... the seats really sell it.  They are cushion-y, velvet-y, and a beautiful shabby chic blue.  And the service is on-point!  (ok, I had to add that since one of my friends works there, but seriously, I have never been disappointed!)

After going there only once, it climbed STRAIGHT. TO. THE. TOP. of my favorite restaurants list.  (yes, even above Cheesecake Factory-gasp!)  Which is why, when Jeffe asked what I wanted for my birthday, I said a 3 course meal at Roberts!

Don't get me wrong, it is a little pricey, but the lunch menu is reasonable, and the desserts are DELICIOUS, and totally affordable at $6!  You don't have to break the budget to get the feel of total awesome-ness that is ROBERTS!

(on a totally unrelated note, I am going to their sister-restaurant, Estrella later this week, so I will give you an update next week as to how it ranks compared to my first love..)

Next stop: Movies

 Let me start out by saying that I am not a fan of Atascadero.  Ok, I've said it.  When you grow up in Paso, you are bred to loathe orange and grey!  

With that being said, it takes A LOT for me to go into that town.  I'm talking there must be something downright AMAZING.

When I was a child, that was Captain Kids.  (I'm not going to lie, that would probably still draw me if they hadn't closed down)

As an adult, I haven't found anything to draw me there.... that is, until NOW!

Have I dramatized the intro enough?  Good.. 

Because I solemnly vow to never at least mostly never go to a regular theater again.  

Let me tell you why.  Atascadero decided to put in a new theater in their downtown.  Yawn.  Every town has a movie theater these days.  EXCEPT un-yawn, they decided to add a VIP theater.  One with LEATHER seats at least TWO TIMES the normal side.  And armrests that can ACTUALLY accommodate TWO arms!  (ya, that's right- no more racing to your seat to claim the arm rest!)  Oh, and speaking of seats, you can order your ticket online and PICK YOUR SEAT--- you, know, like on an airline.  Pretty fancy stuff, if you ask me!  Oh, and there is an attached bar and servers- you can order b-soda if you want.  Or, if you're like me, you can get a GLASS of water with ice.  

It was so fancy I thought I would never want to pay the price.  Oh, ya, price- that thing.  WAIT!  The price is the SAME as the regular tickets!  WHAT-THE-WHAT!?!?!  

Yes, you can go enjoy a VIP movie on a Tuesday for FIVE DOLLARS.  

Done and done.

Are you with me??  You MUST try the VIP experience!

I will caution, there are a couple of catches: first, you have to be 21+ (whew, barely made it! lol), second, there it's only one theater, so the options are slim on movie and time.

But, hey, still totally worth it!

That is the second thing I asked for!  I'm not going to lie, this is going to be one AMAZING date night!  I will fill you in on the movie we see- perhaps the next Monday MUST!

As for now... now that I am drooling on my keyboard with excitement.. I leave you with dreams of some wonderful MUST-TRYs on the Central Coast!

Have you seen, bought, wanted, tried, done something that is a MUST??

Tell me about it!

xoxo,