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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Ava's 1st Halloween

Today was Ava's 1st Halloween and my first Halloween as a mother. Let's just say a lot has changed! Haha 

Anyways, it was a very fun day filled with laughs from anyone who saw Ava, to taking one too many pictures, and finally..... Ava pulled herself up and stood (holding on) in her pack n play at her great grandma's house today!!!! She's turning 1 on Saturday and now this?! She's growing way too quickly. 
^This was taken later on after that

Very big step for her. I guess the little ones at Mommy&Me class showed her how!



Buckled in and ready to head to Miami 

We go to Miami every Tuesday or Thursday to visit my abuela and abuelo. It worked out perfectly that Halloween fell on our visiting day so that we got to come over all dressed up.  


Ava's great abuela couldn't get enough of the world's cutest giraffe. Besitos (kisses) for Ava 

Our happy little giraffe 


Our 2013 Halloween card. I had fun the day we purchased Ava's costume. She almost fell out of that basket 3 times because she wanted to pick at the grass. Overall, it was a very funny photoshoot. 

Happy Halloween, everyone! Hope that you have a safe night of trick or treating!

Love, 
The McGuire Family 




Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Today's Mommy & Me Class

Hi there! Earlier this morning we had a our first mommy and me class at Amanda's Place. It was an hour and a half of pure cuteness. 

Ava made a lot of new friends and enjoyed wearing her new Halloween "Frankenstein" socks from her Godmother. All of the little ones interacted so well! I always love seeing Ava's expressions and personality when she is around another baby. Too cute. 

A big Thank You to Mark's mother for enrolling us in this 8 week mommy and me class! We are loving it!!! 

 This is Ava and I playing in the waiting area before class started. We were early as usual. 
Our pretty girl 

We even made Daddy a present from his "little bat" for Halloween! 
Her little hands are the bat wings. 

It's clean up time already?! 

But I don't want to leave my new friends...

Now we are back at home and enjoying a snack before our afternoon nap. Yes, that's a snack stuck to her head. It happens. 
Later today, we will go for a stroll and head over to the park. 

Happy Wednesday... Only 3 days until Ava's 1st birthday! 


...Go Ava and Go Seminoles on Saturday!!! Cannot wait!!! 

XO

Christina  

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Our Day at Marando Farms! {Ft.Lauderdale, FL}


Today was a lot of fun! 
My mom took Ava and I to Marando Farms in Ft. Lauderdale. She came across this little, local gem while looking into local farms. She was searching for local and organic food and waa laa!

We decided to head over today because I wanted to learn more about the benefits of raw, unpasteurized cow's milk for Ava vs. conventional store bought cow's milk. 
I am still researching and learning about which  milks we will use to transition to once she is done with the formula at a year old- thank goodness that's almost over! 
I so wish I would have stuck to breast feeding (but that's a whole other blog post!)
As of now, I am looking into coconut milk, almond milk, and unpasteurized cow's milk. 

Here are some photos of Marando Farms!
















raw, unpasteurized:
cow's and goat's milk- yogurt - ice cream

Mom ordering us 2 "Sunshine" smoothies with added Spirulina.
SO GOOD!!! 

They have a HUGE healthy dog food section too



Ava yawning from a long day while I enjoy the Sunshine smoothie and checking out all the amazing local and organic finds. 




Talking to the owner, Chelsea Marando - sweetest lady ever!

Her and her husband, Fred, are the owners and are celebrating their 4th year this month of being open.
Congrats to them!

I will be back VERY soon!
I am already looking forward to my next visit. I will be buying: raw milk, this amazing fruit jam I saw, my produce, and some local, organic granola.
Maybe even some raw, local honey made since most of the honey in the grocery store is not even real honey.
Oh, and definitely buying another delicious smoothie!!!

If you haven't been to Marando Farms, I recommend this place 1000%
It is very easy to miss since it is tucked away. Basically, if you are heading East on Davie Boulevard, you make a right onto SW 1st Ave. It is the right after you cross the railroad tracks. Go all the way to the end of the road and you will see it on the bend where the road turns. It is back in the area behind (west of) Tap42 and Broward Medical.

Here is their website: Marando Farms
and you can "Like" them on Facebook too.

Hope you stop by and like it as much as we do!

XO
Christina






Sunday, October 27, 2013

Snapshots of Today: Rio Vista Pumpkin Patch

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday evening! 

As soon as I got home from Jacksonville today, we decided to take Ava over to the pumpkin patch in Rio Vista. She had to pick out a little pumpkin for her 1st Halloween! We also decided to "mommy and me" match our outfits too. 
We so need to start doing that more often!

 Ava was in a funny face kind of mood today.

 Enjoy !





















Thursday, October 24, 2013

Lights, Camera, Action! {Kyle's Event}

On Tuesday evening, I headed down to Hollywood, FL to meet up with my group of friends, their parents, and the rest of our friend's fans... I'd say there was a group of about 150 of us. Sorry if I'm wrong on the number but we filled up the entire theater! :) 

We were attending an event created to unveil some of our friend's recent film work. 



I had such an amazing time. Whenever I get to the opportunity to meet up with my friends, I jump at the chance. When we are all together again it feels like home. I've known most of my friends since I was about five years old. We grew in catholic school together and we pretty much consider each other siblings (especially me, because I was raised seperate from my siblings). I am super protective of them and they all know it. 



This event was awesome. I could not be more proud of our friend, Kyle. He lives in LA now and is working in the film industry. The new Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood just opened and asked him to fly back and show his latest work. 


His mother and father made sure to extend an invite to his family and friends with a food & drinks portion before of the film portion. We all met up at an Irish bar (which was fitting because they are a fun, Irish family), followed by his work at the cinema, and ended with more good times at the bar next door called Tequila Sunrise.

^at the end of the night: Tequila Sunrise on Hollywood Blvd. 

[*They even had a photographer going around capturing candid moments and posed pictures with Kyle which made me happy... I could just relax and look forward to the professional photos instead of me taking 100 myself. I can't wait to see them!*] 

Knowing that Kyle would be leaving us again in morning to end his 24 hr stay in south Florida, we all caught up with him as much as we could. 

I am so happy that I was able to attend and see his work. I know that Kyle has amazing things in store for him and I feel so lucky to be able to come along for the ride as is proud friend. 

So if you any of you have some awesome film industry connections, you just let me know and I'll introduce you to a extremely talented man! 

I can't wait to celebrate Christmas night  with my family and friends at the annual Shea (Kyle's family) Christmas party. 
One of group's favorite friend traditions... 


^there is a photo of a few of us from 2009 Christmas and the night before I got engaged. 
 

WE LOVE YOU, KYLE! 

XO
Christina