Hanging in there

Its officially been 15 days of being on bedrest and boy is this difficult. I've never been one to just sit around all day and do nothing {funny how when we are super busy we dream of being lazy!} so having to physically lay down and try to keep as calm as possible is becoming torturous. My poor husband, he thankfully had this entire time off from work or worked from home during the holiday week but today went back in to the office. Thankfully my Mom is stopping by for much needed tlc around the house...sometimes you just need your Mom. And though I have ample amounts of time for simple things like knitting, blogging and tv watching, I've noticed a major decline in the desire to be any kind of productive. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to take it easy for my little girl to finish growing but its really quite difficult. Anyone else out there go through bedrest before? I can't wait to meet our little one, in fact, with the thought of her coming any day now we rushed to get a car seat just in case and the husband already installed it into the car. But until then its just Uli and I chillin in bed watching hours of tv.

image by our designed life on instagram

Let's be friends

Last Friday I finally got my new iPhone and in less then 24 hours you can bet I had already installed Instagram. I've already started snapping shots, the first one of course had to be my little Uli. If you use Instagram let me know I would love to follow you, there are so many great images to filter through its a bit overwhelming but oh so fun. It sure did make the delay on Muni a whole lot easier yesterday. So far I've already captured my baby belly, Uli watching tv and the husband playing with his new phone; the cutest knobs around for our little girls wardrobe and my creative holiday wrapping. So please, stop on by and give me a follow, I'm bound to post some interesting stuff in the next few months with this baby making her big appearance real soon!

images by our designed life

Happy Thanksgiving

While most folks here in the US are celebrating Thanksgiving by feasting on way too much food its still important to remember why we are thankful in the first place. This last year has been a whirlwind of excitement and merriment with our upcoming bundle of joy growing daily, I didn't even mind waking up at 4:30 this morning thanks to her getting the hiccups. I am so thankful for being able to expand my family and look forward to meeting her in a few short months.

I am thankful for this guy right here, my loving husband. He is my rock, my best friend and my biggest supporter. I swear I don't think I can really do wrong in his eyes and I will forever love him for it. He always keeps me laughing, in fact, I shot this picture because he kept saying take a picture of me. I did and he simply said, there, now I was here! And because of the memory, this is one of my favorite pictures of him, just because he was there.

I am thankful we are able to live in our dream city. Ever since I can remember I always wanted to live in San Francisco and for the last year and a half the husband and I have made that dream come true. Its been a time of some serious ups and a few downs but we managed to stay strong and thrive in our little {big} city. This is the view of my neighborhood and golden gate park- our place is somewhere tucked into those buildings. We can't wait to be able to bring a little one into our busy world.

And of course I can't forget my little Uli, our first "baby". She has been with us for almost 3 years now and I am thankful for such an awesome dog. We saved her from the shelter in L.A and haven't looked back since; spoiling her rotten. As you can see. She is the most patient and loving dog...she even says goodbye and snuggles people on command. She's pretty special.

images by our designed life

I am also very thankful for having such a supporting family and loving friends that have been nothing but supportive throughout the years. So please, before you sit down to gorge yourself silly or perhaps join the masses in black Friday shopping, remember why you are thankful.

Vegan MOFO day 6: Vegans in hotels

Don't you just love when your routine gets all jumbled up? So you know the other day when we woke up with a waterfall in our bathroom...turns out there is way more work to be done to our little apartment that the construction crew that caused the damage put us up in a hotel for a week. While I wouldn't normally mind, I've got a million things to do and just this week have a doctor and dentist appointment. Not the best when you are living out of a suitcase. But it could always be worse. That's been my mantra. So I've been making the best of it, last night the husband and I got to visit a new to us Indian restaurant that was surprisingly delicious and had a variety of veggie options to choose from. So for the next few days I'll be blogging from that chaise in Hotel Kabuki, right in the heart of Japantown. PS, that top photo is from our wrap around balcony- something I thought I could never do since I am super afraid of heights. Lets just say I walked out, snapped the picture and ran back inside before my nerves got the best of me!

Thankfully over the weekend the husband and I attended the World Veg Festival and sat through a workshop on Optimal nourishment on the go with Raw vegan travel snacks {did you know you can open an avocado with your bare hands!? By far the funnest fact I learned all workshop}. I was able to pick up this variety  of snacks from the store a few blocks away {not pictured, rice milk and a fresh loaf of sourdough bread}. I was able to get a giant bowl of granola, rice milk and banana for breakfast and chose a few healthy snacks to hold me over between meals. Apples and celery are perfect snacking items since you can eat them as is and they both have that crunch factor that most of us crave. Plus those Orchard Bars I picked up were on sale and totally vegan! I think Uli just spotted that orange when I snapped that picture, she wont stop going over to it and giving it a sniff or two...lets be honest, I totally picked that up with her in mind. She doesn't really get the whole idea of just hanging out in a hotel room. Poor thing is so bored. 

How do you manage to get in proper nutrition while you are on the go away from your stove and beloved cooking gadgets?

images by our designed life

They say its your birthday {or mine, whatever}

Today I am celebrating my big 2-9 birthday! I remember when I was younger thinking anything past 25 was old but you know what, I was wrong. So wrong. I am in such a great place in life, not only am I growing a little one inside of me, the husband and I could not be any happier with each other and our home even our adorable pooch Uli could do no wrong. We are celebrating by going out to one of my favorite restaurants Gracias Madre with a few friends and I could not be more excited...one for not having to cook and two for being able to live in a city that has vegan Mexican food. Hopefully there will be plenty of room tonight for dessert because this pregnant lady sure does have a thing for sweets. I've never been one of those girls that gets ashamed over my age and I have a feeling I never will. We grow with each and every year that passes and with age truly comes wisdom. And just for kicks I brought back one of my favorite shots of little Uli that I took last year to wish my Mom a happy birthday. She doesn't look too pleased to be posing with a hat but her face is just way too cute not to love!

image by our designed life

Dogs make great models

Dogs really are man's best friend and for jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth not only is Teddy her best bud he {or she} is her best model too. I'm sure all you pet lovers out there just sighed a big awww, I know I sure did. There is just something about putting our pooches in people things, I still think this shot of Uli in the husband's sunglasses is my favorite image of her. But Teddy takes the cake on fine accessorizing!

images via irene neuwirth

Pet love

Sometimes she struggles to get her point across and other times its quite clear. She just can't get enough fetch time in.

image by our designed life

Really Uli?

Walked around the corner to find miss Uli having her way with one of our throw pillows in the afternoon sun. Totally not cool. But still cute. I've come to the realization that when you are a pet lover your things will get covered in hair and will always need to be tossed in the wash. Still worth it though, she's pretty awesome.

image by our designed life

Birthday wishes

This guy is pretty awesome. And its his birthday. 

Happy birthday to my lovely and always adorable husband. 

photos by our designed life

Happy weekend

Happy Friday friends, its been quite the gloomy week around here, poor Uli's done nothing but sleep and walk from one room to the other dragging her toys around. I'm hoping to get at least a little bit of water free skies this weekend, even I'm starting to get a little stir crazy. Though I did manage a trip out for a few flowers to liven up the place, I always hate how grey skies lead to bleak interiors. Something about not having a bit of sun just makes me move a little slower. And how cute are those little owls? The husband surprised me with a little box on my place setting with this 'just because' gift before dinner. What a guy. Hope everyone has a fun St. Patrick's day and eats something green...may I suggest of the healthy variety. Kale chips anyone?

earrings from ambiance, photo by our designed life

Friends

Sometimes all you need is your best friend and your dog. 

photo for our designed life

Feeling better, mostly

Boy its been a week. Every few months my stomach decides to rebel against me and knocks me off my feet but these last few days have been a doozy. Living with GERD is by far one of the most annoying things, one minute you are fine and the next, you can't keep anything down. And lets just face it, its hard for others to really understand a major 'tummy ache'. So for the last week and a half I have been living off of pretzels, hummus, toast and coconut water. I'm still not 100% but as long as I don't have to stand for more then 5 minutes I can tolerate the pain... which feels like someone is constantly sitting on my chest. Though I was in pain I did get to wake up to these loving faces filled with concern, my little Uli was by my side all week and my dear husband did a wonderful job trying to fill my empty stomach.
But oh how I have missed being here and reading all your amazing links and tid bits. I think I even went 2 entire days without even touching my computer, something I never do! So guys, what did I miss?

photo for our designed life

Warning: Gratuitously cute dog post

Sometimes you just need a dose of adorable, and Uli is all kinds of cute in the morning. She's been a bit lazy lately sleeping in till 10 in the morning! This is her 'Bah why are you waking me up?' look.

Followed by the 'ah I'm so tired, must wake up, must wake up' face.

Ending up with the 'I'm ready- lets do this' face. The only way to get her up is to mention a walk, she's such a sleepy head. She actually held this pose for quite a while as I snapped away- she loves the camera and demands the center of attention every time I pull it out.

photos by our designed life

Get inspired

A few months back, my Mom came across a small wooden box and gifted it to me knowing my love to keep things organized.  I've been wanting to do something to the outside, its not quite the right color for my decor, but I could never decide on how I wanted to fix it up.  Then I came across this seemingly easy DIY toy chest makeover on Oh brooke and the ideas just started flowing!  I had originally thought of using fun wallpapers and specialty papers, but the closest art store is a 30 minute train ride.  So perhaps a walk to the fabric store is in order {its only a mile and a half walk!}.

Sadly, yesterday was the final post over on Oh brooke, but the archived posts are a lovely read.

And as you can see, every time I even come close to her toy chest, she guards it with her life.  Until you turn your back then she dives in to play.

Photo of the day, Just imagine

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Oh Uli, she kills me with the cuteness.

Photo of the day, Hands

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Uli learned a new game we like to call Hands.  She's been keeping me company all week long in bed, she's my snuggle buddy.

Photo of the day, She owns this place

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Uli seems to have claimed all the spots in our house as hers, including our new thrifted blanket.  Good thing she is so cute.