hello 2011

10 things making me smile today…

It snowed in my back yard this weekend. That NEVER happens in this part of AZ!

I made chili for the very first time and the husband rated it a 9! I'm off to a  good start with the resolution.

I got to play with sparklers. Yay for AZ legalizing fireworks in my town. Sky’s 4thofJuly bday is going to be pretty sweet this year.

I’ve been dreaming up a handful of colectibles I want to add to the shop. Inspiration & creativity is plentiful. yay!

I see a snowboarding trip in the very near future.

Found this cool make your pictures pretty site yesterday.

Making lists. What books I want to read, meals I'm going to attempt to learn, etc. For some reason lists make me happy. Most of the time anyway.

Rereading all the notes in my devotional journal for 2010 made me really excited to see what God has in store for me this year.

Laughing at ourselves in home videos.

The husband. I love how every once in awhile we'll be standing across the room from each other and our eyes connect and I still get that feeling.

What's making you smile today?

2010 favorites part 4

My favorite discoveries of the year.

1. Mmmusic to my ears.

This year I found and fell in love with Mumford & Sons, Florence and the Machine, Lovelite, Sigur Ros, The Black Keys, Lighthouse & the Whaler, JJ Heller, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Beach House, Kim Walker, Local Natives, Sophie Madeleine, just to name a few.

It's been a good year for music discoveries.

2. I'm an official momtrepreneur

In September I opened up my very own little shop. It's something I've always wanted to do and I finally had the guts to do it. It's been so much fun. Can't wait to see what new colectibles I'll be dreaming up in 2011.

3. Heart tuggers

Charity water, LOVE 146, Vision Abolition, Amazima,

feed my starving children

True love is shown through sacrifice.

We show tangible love by how we care

for those who are suffering.

All of these organizations above have tugged on my heartstrings and caused us to finally open our eyes to whats going on and stand up and be a part of these amazing groups doing something to stop the injustice in the world.

4. "We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own."

people who have brightened my path this year...

Beth Moore, Francis Chan, David Platt, Corrie Ten Boom, Priscilla Shirer, Mission Community Church.

This year I learned just how important it is to constantly be feeding your spirit with uplifting things. I was so encouraged by these authors above. And my church. We are so so blessed to have found a church that is so passionate about doing justice,

loving mercy and walking humbly.

and of course I met a bunch of new sweet, encouraging friends here. :)

5. I tried something new!

I figured out cheap ways to redecorate my house. 
I'm slowly learning new things to cook.

I kind of learned how to sew.

 I'll be trying to work on those new skills in 2011.

Excited to see what new things I discover next year.

What were some of your

favorite discoveries this year?

photo via

2010 favorites part 3

For today's best of list I scrolled through the blog history and picked out 10 favorite posts. It was kind of cool looking back at memories from the year. It made me really thankful for blogging. It really is a great way of keeping track of the things you want to always remember.

I started writing letters from coco in February so I thought my very first post should be one the list.

One. My first letter

Two. He still WOWs me

I was having one of those awe moments were I just felt inspired by the beauty around me.

P.S. I do not promote taking cell phone pictures while driving but it worked out this time.

Three. 10 things I've learned along the way

Four. No one ever told me

I reblogged this but it was so true it made me laugh.

Five. I laughed so hard I cried

Just a collection of photos that I got a lot of laughs from.

Six. home tour 1 & 2

I had a lot of fun redecorating this summer. Collecting pieces and getting advice from all of you and then getting to show off my home sweet home when I was finished, was really cool.

Seven. Nothing less

Sometimes my heart feels full and I just need to pour out all the amazing things God is doing in my life. This is one of the many posts like this. You can see the others in the I believe section in my old love letters.

Eight. Picture mail diaries

A collection of the strange and random things I found in my phone.

Nine. The husband & the wife

Just something fun I wrote about Stephen.

Ten. It's been a year

An encouraging little post about understanding life.

So these are 10 favorites out of 263 posts (holy cow!)

Hope you had fun going back with me.

I'd love it if you played along.

2010 favorites part two

So I wanted to make a list of my favorite movies from 2010. But then I realized I didn't really lllooovvvee any movies from this year. So sad because I love watching movies. I could only come up with a list of 5 and one of those came out in 2009. ha! So here are the ones I enjoyed most.

One. Toy story 3
Yep I'm so a mom if this tops my list. I really do love the toy story movies and I'm not even going to lie, I still have my favorite childhood toy up in my closet. Seriously who didn't like this one?   

Two.
500 days of summer  
I know it came out in 2009 but I didn't see it until this year. I loved the creativity of this movie. I think I was the only one who completely loathed Summer throughout the whole thing though. And don't get me started on the amazing soundtrack.
Three. Inception
Why? Because whoever could come up with a story like that deserves props. And because my friend Bu would be calling if this didn't make my list. ha!
Four. The social network
This was actually a really good movie. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Five. Eclipse
Don't hate. Yes I'm a fan. This wasn't the greatest movie but I love the feeling you get when your really excited to see a film and this is the only one that gave me that so it makes the list.

What good ones did I miss?

What were your favorites?

my favorites of the year

I don't know about you but I love end of the year best lists. So I decided I wanted to make a few of my own favorites of 2010 starting with the books I loved reading this year. So here are my top 3 books. (in no particular order)

One. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.
Not just another holocaust book. This book is one of the most inspirational books I've ever read. The story of such a selfless, courageous family who go through the absolute most horrendous circumstances with faith and trust in God like I've never seen before. This book completely changed the way I see things forever. If there were ever two women that I would want to be like it would be Corrie and her sister Betsy.

My favorite quote:
"There are no 'ifs' in God's Kingdom. His timing is perfect. His will is our hiding place. Lord Jesus, keep me in Your will! Don't let me go mad by poking about outside it."

Two. Radical by David Platt  
This book changed the way I look at everything. It encouraged me to dive in to scripture and really listen to what Jesus is saying, not just go with what I've been taught all my life, or what I hear in the American Christian world. This book left me convicted and challenged.

Three. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
If you haven't read the first two books in this series then you should. This is the most entertaining, intense, fun reads. I anxiously awaited this final book to come out. I have to say it wasn't my favorite in the series but still some of my favorite books.

Crazy Love & Safe Haven were a couple others I enjoyed.

What were your 2010 favorites?

 comment me if you play along so that I can see your favorites.

Things that make you feel good

So I’m feeling a little under the weather this morning. I think it’s mostly allergies but still no fun and it always seems to pop up when I have a long list of things to get done. So today I’m giving myself a break and cutting my to do list in half and adding some “feel good” things to my list. Such as…

Hot tea. I swear by Throat tea. It always makes me feel better. But my husband (who had tonsillitis last week) used all the tea bags so I’m enjoying earl grey today. It reminds me of my grandma which always  brings me instant happiness. She was my favorite.

Another instant feel better remedy is You’ve got Mail. I could watch this movie over and over.  It just makes me feel good when I watch it. That and f.r.i.e.n.d.s.

I wish I could add naps to this list but I have this weird thing where I ALWAYS feel sick after taking a nap. Its awful! Does anyone else have this problem? So instead of a nap I think I’ll put the boys down for naps early today (nap time=happy hour for mommy) and I’ll read a bit out of an old favorite book. Does anyone else do that? Just read bits of favorite books from time to time?

So that’s the plan for my Monday. I promise another home tour coming this week after I clean my house.

What are some of your “feel good” things?

 P.S. I finally created a facebook page for my little shop. So kindly “like” me if you would.  Speaking of facebook if you haven’t seen the fb movie you should. I really liked it.

(images here and here)

Here's to happiness 2

via

10 things that make me happy today

a bag of all red starburst

used books stores

receiving mixed cds in the mail from blog friends

summer tans

the fact that the last book in one of my favorite series comes out next month

watching friends laugh so hard they cry

dreaming up ideas for a possible future business

a good 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep

arizona monsoons

starting a sewing class with some of my favorite friends

What are some things that
make you happy today?

Ninety-nine experiences

I'm joining in on this fun list that two of my favorite bloggers made.

Check them out here and here.

Highlight the ones that you've accomplished in your life...

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disney

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sung a solo

11. Bungee jumped or cliff jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Been sky diving

66. Visited a Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Gotten a tattoo

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Play along if you'd like.
comment me if you do so that I can take a peek at your list.

Such a sucker

First I want to say thanks everyone for all the really cool ideas and stories on yesterday's road trip post. It looks like Oregon/Washington trip it is. So now to start planning. I'm so excited I can't even begin to tell you. If anyone has suggestions for me, know of any cool places to stop at, etc please let me know. :)

Yesterday I watched Julie & Julia. At first I wasn’t crazy about the idea of watching this “chickflick”. I love almost all girly movies but this one was mostly about cooking which isn't really my thing. But I decided to give the movie a try and I have to say it turned out to be pretty cute. It’s mostly about blogging. Maybe that’s why I liked it. It is a good one to watch when you’re just hanging out with girls. I’m a sucker for love stories. Looovvveee almost all romantic comedies. Here are my top 3 chick flicks & favorite sappy lines from them...

• You’ve got Mail- I really could watch this one over and over. It puts me in a good mood. "Don't cry, Shopgirl, don't cry." "I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly." 
• Gone with the Wind-Scarlett is just so nuts  and there’s just something about Rhett Butler. I think it’s the bad boy thing. "No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how."
• The Notebook-seriously could you make a list like this without it? "So, it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day."

Honorable mentions

Serendipity, When harry met sally, Juno, Love actually

ah there are so many more!
Thanks for reading my really girlie post today.

 What are some of your favorites?

(photo from here)

Come sad, leave happy

One of my 2010 resolutions was to be a more positive person and in doing that I want to keep this blog a happy one. I want it to be a spot in the blog world where people can come and be encouraged or read something that makes them smile.

One thing that always makes me happy is making a fun list. And what better list to make then a list of things that bring me loads of satisfaction. Here are my...

5 most guilty pleasures
some it's ok to luv, others I probably shouldn't.

 A juicy novel. Sookie Stackhouse novels are some of my favorite scandalous reads

A really great TV show. Friends, lost, the office are my favorites. And I dive into a little reality tv now and then thanks to project runway.

Rainy day music. You know mostly acoustics, heartfelt  lyrics, mellow beats.

Day trips-hiking, just going for a drive up north, going out into nature, just getting away from everything.

Sugar! In the form of a sonic slush, chocolate chip cookie dough blizzard, jamocha shake, homeade cookies, chocolate molten cake, watermelon starburst or skittles will do.  Just to name a few. ha!

What are some of your guiltiest pleasures?

(photo found here)

when I was a kid...

Right now Micah is going through this stage where he is fascinated by superheroes. He tells me he's spiderman and that I'm the princess and he's going to rescue me. I absolutely love this. It made me think about what was I doing when I was his age?

5 things I wished for as a kid

1.To be a figure skater or ballerina. I would dance all around the house pretending I was one. Even took ice skating lessons which I don't think is a common thing in Arizona.

2. I wanted to be a teenager so that I could have a boyfriend. Looking back now I don’t know why I would ever wish for that. ha! I was boy crazy at a very young age. Which is one of the reasons why I’m thankful I have two boys. (still hoping for a daddys girl for Stephen someday though.)
3. To be a mommy. I dreamt about being a mommy since I was little girl. sigh* living my dreams.
4. A cupboard stocked with sugary cereals. My mom made us eat healthy cereal, you know the yucky kind with no flavor, and I remember thinking that when I was an adult I was only going to eat the good tasting kind. And now…I eat all the healthy stuff. ha!
5. I wanted my brother to be nice to me. There are two types of older brothers. One who protects you and looks after you, sticks up for you. And the other that torments you and plays pranks on you and constantly picks on you. My big brother was the latter. But he's nice to me now so I can be thankful about that. I think when I moved out he realized how much he missed me. :)

What did you wish for as a kid?

(photo  from here)

about me

 interesting facts about moi...  

• Nicknames include- Cole, Coco, Cocopuff, Colie, Coley-Moley but please never Nikki.

• Middle name is Athena, which is pretty different I think

• There is only one color lipstick I will wear. I can never make myself try another shade. r.i.p :(

• My absolute most favorite thing to eat is a really good grilled cheese sandwich.

• Most beautiful place I have ever been in my life would have to be either Road to Hana in Maui, or Na Pali Coast in Kauai.

• I cannot drive at night. I mean I can, but it’s not recommended.

• I think I am as equally extroverted as I am introverted. I can lead and follow.

• I worked in a haunted house once which is surprising because I am terrified of scary movies.

• First heard the name Micah at camp when I was 15 and knew instantly it was my favorite name in the world and that I would name my son that someday(which I did).  Heard the name Skylar (spelled schuyler) years before he came and new there was something special about that name too.

• I’ve done 6 different types of schooling in a matter of 7 years and I think it taught me how to adapt to change and make friends pretty easily.

• Was the class speaker for my graduating class of I think 20. Haha! Yay for small towns.

• I am the Know all of f.r.i.e.n.d.s trivia. just a little bragging there. ;)

• Grew up watching my grandma read all the time. She always had a book in her hands. I never enjoyed reading before but one year while staying with her, I picked a  book off her shelf  and I have been obsessed with reading ever since.

• Two biggest fears: Fish & Math. 
• My favorite number is 8.
• Can say all the books of the Bible in order in less than a minute...thank you Sunday School.  

• Named the blog letters to you because that’s the title of mine & Stephens first song. Later changed it to letters from coco to add a little more of a personal touch.

Consider yourself tagged!
I want to know some interesting facts about you.

29 before 30

I'm turning 25 in a few months. And I know so many people would slap me if I said that was old so I won't say it's old, its just so mid-twentish. ha! Not sure I like that just yet. I feel like from the second I turned 21 (the same year I became a mommy) the years really started to fly by. Before I know it 30 will be here. So I thought this would be fun- here are 29 things I would like to accomplish before I turn 30. It will be interesting to look back on this in five years and see how many things I can cross off.
Here we go...

1. Buy an old school Polaroid camera.
2. Learn how to cook, really cook
3. Finish our family with baby #3.
4. Go on more missions trips out of the country.
5. Print all the million photos I have stored on my computer and scrapbook them.
6. Actually put money in my savings account and pay off my credit cards.
7. Go on a real road trip.
8. Try something artsy, like paint something for my house.
9. Write a letter to everyone special in my life telling them exactly what they mean to me.
10. Volunteer more.
11. Find more time to be quiet.
12. Go back to Hawaii.
13. Learn to sew.
14. Travel places I’ve never been before.
15. Take a risk. Do something scary & dangerous.
16. Change someone’s mind about something I care deeply about.
17. Have a professional family photo shoot.
18. Have more frequent date nights and romantic getaways with Stephen.
19. Go on a sail boat. I don't know why I've just always wanted to do this.
20. Spend New Years dressed up somewhere spectacular.
21. Read the classics.
22. Play a sport and actually be kind of good at it.
23. Overcome a fear.
24. Go tail gating with friends.
25. Re-learn how to drive a stick shift and remember this time.
26. Be happy with my body after all done having babies.
27. Start an etsy shop.
28. Learn to play an instrument with my boys.
29. Be more eternally minded.

10 things I've learned along the way...

1. "True love is being loved in your most unlovable moments."
2. Never take anyone or any day for granted. Life can change in an instant.
3. Learn to distinguish who in your life makes you better and who you are better off without.
4. You can never hug, kiss, and tell your children you love them TOO much.
5. Only allow yourself 10 minutes to be depressed. Depression hurts everyone around you.
6. You can run but you can’t hide. Be honest, always
7. "When raising kids always love & support them, even when their being idiots." My grandma who raised 8 children told me this before she died. I’m sure I’ll need reminding of this when my kids are teenagers.
8. Getting married and having children doesn’t make a relationship instantly better. It’s the compromising, the sacrificing, taking your eyes off of you and putting it on them, the not always so good feeling stuff, that makes it something pretty great.
9. You’re never going to look back on your life and think: "I wish I had given more consideration to what other people think.”
10. Don’t regret. Don’t look back unless it’s a good view. Keep moving forward.

Here’s to Happiness

I saw this on another blog and thought it was a cute idea.

10 things that make me terribly happy:


1. Finding an old card or note from grandma… how I miss her
2. Cuddling in my warm bed with my 3 boys while listening to the rain pour down outside
3. Etsy.com- I could shop on there all day
4. Reading cards from my husband. Even after 7 years together he still knows exactly what to say to make my heart tingle
5. Finding a great book that hooks me from beginning to end
6. Dreaming up decorating ideas for the new house
7. Quiet mornings of journaling my inspirations from the word
8. Remembering good ol times with close friends
9. The day that movie or book I’ve been anxiously waiting for finally comes. -feels like christmas :)
10. Watching my boys sleep, laugh, pout, discover, smile, be silly, learn, and grow.


One of my 2010 resolutions was to be a more positive person. I don’t think any good can come out of constantly thinking negatively about situations and I tended to do that a lot before. So when I get the blues I try to do a couple things. One being remembering the things in my life that I am grateful for. (See mine above) The other idea is to create a dagger list. It’s a list of scriptures that remind me of God’s promises to me that will help me combat the negative thoughts that the enemy throws at me. Example: Feeling mentally/emotionally exhausted- Psalm 138:7 -“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me.” When I’m feeling alone- Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid, for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” “Every part of scripture is God breathed and useful one way or another-showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live .” 2Tim 3:16-17 Message Bible

I want to purposely fill my mind with His word so that I can fight off all the things the enemy wants to use to distract me and make me stumble. I heard this quote this week that I thought was so very true...
“Whatever consumes you
spills out of your mouth.”

Hopefully this will make you think about what is going in and what is coming out of you.

Oh and one more thing that makes me happy...
having a dog to suck up the crumbs between the couch cushions.  It's the little things in life...

Kula

(photo from here)