Video Advent 10

This is becoming a family classic for me. I didn't grow up with this movie like so many others, but my husband did. Therefore we now watch it every year and its great. This song has been in my head for the last few days. 

Video Advent 11

I love my Celine. 

Video Advent 12

Ready for some chills? Grab a blanket!

"He will bring us goodness and light"

Video Advent 13

I thought this was pretty cute. 

(and accurate)

Video Advent 14

I'm falling behind SO bad! It's a lot to get ready for Christmas with a 6 month old. But it is so much fun!

This is one of my favorite artists. Who doesn't love the Boss?

You sure did treat me nice. 

Video Advent 15

This is quite possibly the WORST christmas song ever recorded. It will make your core cringe. It will scar your ears. At an old salon I worked at the owner, without fail, would put this on rotation. He said he liked it, but I think he was trying to kill my Christmas spirit, slowly. 

I dare you to listen to the whole thing. But get the barf bag ready. You're welcome. You now have a new Christmas joke. 

Video Advent 16

Video Advent 17

You haven't heard it yet, so don't try to sing along. 

So Don't sing along. 

Video Advent 18

Even the Father of Rock n Roll was a fan of Christmas. 

Video Advent 19

Here's whats on the T.V tonight. 

Video Advent 20

Merry Christmas from Darlene Love.

Theres never been a day in ol' LA. 

Video Advent 21

Video Advent 22

My mom is visiting from East Coast time, therefore she is asleep while I watch the Michael Buble Christmas special on NBC. I love his rendition of this song.

Never thought I would become a fan. woops.

video advent 23

the true meaning of christmas.

Video Advent. 24

I don't think anything can get you into the mood of Christmas, quite like this next video. I implore you to make yourself a cup of tea, snuggle up with some blankets and bask in the soft light of your tree. I give you... A puppy rendition of the classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Video Advent

Some sort of clip or song everyday to get us into the Christmas spirit. 


Last year I did this for just a few days leading up till christmas, and it was a lot of fun. So I'm going to try and do it again. 


"The time is now, The place is Here, and The whole wide world is full of cheer"

Nice. 

craigslist.

Isn't it a gem! No wonder I have friends who are obsessed with checking craigslist over and over.


Here are some of my finds:

We found this dresser and mirror set right before Viola was born. It was such a good deal at $160 for both. It's a pretty big dresser and the mirror is just precious. We couldn't be happier with it. (ok so one day I'd rather it be refinished) Doesn't Vi look so cute up there? Our friend Jennifer Jasso took her newborn photos with the dresser as one of her backdrops. 

We decided to cloth diaper for multiple reasons. (I'll blog about that later) One of the biggest reasons, if not the biggest, was the price. We just couldn't stand the idea of spending that much money on diapers only to throw them away. On a whim I looked up the brand of diapers I liked and ta da! I found 4 absolutely new diapers for only $10 each! (brand new they are about $17 each)

Viola's favorite purchase from craigslist so far has been the bumbo. Brand new... with a tray is about $45-50. I got it with a tray for $25. As you can see... its a hit.


The most recent thing bought is Viola's new crib. I can't wait to get it together and post about it! It was exactly what I wanted. 


Are you obsessed with craigslist? What gems have you scored? 

just heartbroken.

I have been quiet lately due to family heartache. It feels like I am going through a breakup which is no fun. I have lots of ideas for blog entries that I hope to get out...soon as this fog I am in clears up.


Thank the Lord for my sweet little girl who brightens my every morning.

The one thing I can say that I am not novice at is hair. I have been a hairstylist for just over 7 years now. Wow... that sounds like a long time. I guess because when you first start out in the bizz you try to make it seem like you've been doing hair for longer, so you count your year in beauty school. Now that I don't count beauty school, it sounds like enough. 


Today I have an interview with this new salon concept for booth rent. The company I would work under has agreements with salons around town, and me as a stylist can work at any of those salons. I just would book and pay for the time that I am there. It might be a great way for me to build up my more than lacking clientele. I did commission for year and 3 clients is about all that I can take with me, so I can't be worse off going this route. 


I really miss being behind the chair, and I am looking forward to working for myself again. A friend came over the other night in desperate need for me to fix her recent hair cut. It was just a morale booster for me. Seeing the end result and how happy my friend was priceless. 


The downside of course is that now I am a mom who doesn't want to leave my little. So I'll be starting off working on saturdays so that she can spend some time with just her dad. 


What are you a pro at? 




(Here is a quick before and after.) 

Flore Vegan

Today has been a beautiful Sunday. Slightly overcast, about 73 degrees and such a nice breeze. We didn't make it to church service in the morning, but we wanted to go for the baptism later in the afternoon.


We decided to call in an order at Flore Vegan since we knew we couldn't make it in there before their brunch ends at 1pm. This was only our second experience with Flore but it's blown our socks off both times! 


My husband and I are extreme creatures of habit, therefore we both went with the same thing we got last time; but it's so worth it! Chicken and Waffles is probably one of the best combinations in the world (Up there with chocolate and peanut butter).

Flore's 'Chicken and Waffles' is drool worthy on all counts. The waffle is huge, thin, and tasty. They give you ample amounts of vegan butter and the best pure maple syrup (it has a burnt taste to it almost like carmel). 


I believe the "chicken" to be a gardein cutlet, that is richly seasoned and super juicy. They serve this on a bed of red home fry potatoes with gravy! Holla! (gravy's not pictured...rats! I know)

This time around they forgot to give us two forks. No worries.. I have hands. 


We enjoyed our little picnic all while watching people declaring publicly what God has done inside. It always brings tears to my eyes. 


P.S. Flore also makes some killer cupcakes. (shown here are chocolate/vanilla and chocolate/peanut butter) 

apple salad

My husband loves documentaries. Yesterday we watched Forks over Knives. It shed some interesting light on the health in America and how many of our common diseases are directly related to food.


I have been a vegetarian since I was 19... thats 9 years. (I'll just tell you.. I am 28) My husband has been vegan for 12 years and before that was a vegetarian for a few years. Needless to say we enjoy the way we eat, if we didn't we wouldn't be veggies.


You might be thinking, "What do you eat then?" Or "How do you cook for your husband?" I get those questions a lot. The short answer is that we eat a lot of things, and everything you all eat... I can make vegan.  So the food posts here on Quite the Novice will be focused on the Vegetarian lifestyle and how delicious healthy food can be. I would love to get my friends into making some cooking videos with me to show how easy it is to make some of our favorite food.


To start... I'll show you a quick lunch I made yesterday after church. Nazareth (the husband) was starving and my baby needed my attention, therefore I needed to make something fast.


I started with a block of high protein firm tofu. I get it at Trader Joe's. If you're able to get San Diego Soy Dairy tofu... do it. I like to cut them into bite size pieces so that they cook more evenly. Put it into a pan with some olive oil, teriyaki sauce and some Braggs. I fry it till its nice and crispy. (thats how I like it, and I think it tastes better)


In another pot I had some brown rice cooking.


I then washed and chopped romaine lettuce, added spinach, and chopped up a beautiful, crisp Gala apple.


Right before the tofu finished I added garlic, rock salt, pepper and sesame seeds (all to taste).


For the salad I used a basic vinaigrette.


I looked... and it was gone.

a novice at blogging.

I love blogs. I read them all the time, and I love the idea of common people being able to share what they are good at with the world. There is so much talent out there... and you guys are amazing! I love trying the recipes and crafts you come up with. I love to explore all the fashion and design ideas that I can use for myself.

What am I a pro at? Besides being able to fudge my way through stuff? Not much. I am quite the novice when it comes to most aspects of this modern life.

Ok, now you're wondering 'what is this blog for then?' Well let me fill you in.

I might not be the best at anything... but I know how to wing it. I'm a lot like you... interested in way too many things to try and be proficient in just one area. I wish I could be, and Lord knows I've tried.

I want to explore all my interests and if you want, you can come along. I love company. I'll show you my awesome improvisation skills tackling crafts, cooking and all things pretty. I'm going to want to interview some ridiculously talented friends to glean from their experience. Try to sound intelligent reviewing the books I love. And of course I'll be learning how to be a mom!

So bookmark me, follow me, or subscribe and let me know what interests you!