Ohhh Angie.

Stunning doesn't even seem appropriate.

I don't love her for a lot of reasons but you can't take away her unbelievable beauty.

I am actually looking forward to reading the article and getting a glimpse into her family life - because they are so facinating. I get that Shiloh is a tomboy (which if I had a daughter who wanted to wear boy clothes, I wouldn't also cut her hair to make it BOYISH) but I am here to tell you - when this child turns 16, 20, 25 OMGGGGG. Watch out world. She just might be the world's most beautiful human being. 

MOVE over Suri Cruise - Shiloh Jolie-Pitt is going to give you a run for your money in the looks dept. and Ms. Salz's title of most beloved celebrity baby.
PS: The mag hits news stands tomorrow.

The Love of Jesus

Ever since I got out of the 10 am church service at Valley Real Life, the only thing I have been thinking about is Pastor Jerry's (guest pastor from The Crossing church) wrap up.

In the middle of my fist pumps, tears flowed. It was the most beautiful, most true, most convicting set of statements - describing the love of Jesus - I have ever heard. It was so powerful that my neighbor was crying, the couple in front of us were both crying and the cute young lady kitty corner to me was crying.

My obsession with this declaration took me to Sunday's sermon where I re-played it 20 times just to capture so perfectly as to never forget where to come to when I am lost, sad, misguided, broken or in need of an eternal hug and some fist pumping-hallelujah-you-say-it-Pastor-Jerry!

When I need direction he's my narrow path

When I need shelter he's my cleft in the rock

When I need a way out he's my open door

When I need illumination he's my light

When I need someone to look after me he's my Shepard

When I get lost he assembles a search party

When I'm caught in a storm he says peace be still

He's the fount of every blessing

He's the crimson flood that washes away my stain of sin

He's the cloud which all the showers of blessings flow

He wrote the songs the birds sing

He's the author of life, giver of life, restorer of life, the resurrection and the life

He makes life abundant, joyful, purposeful, meaningful and eternal

He's the law giver and the grace giver

He's the judge and the defense lawyer

He demands the payment then pays the price himself

He sees my sin but believes in my potential

He has the power to condemn me but he chooses to forgive me

He's the source of all my healing

He makes a demon possessed man a town's only hope

He heals 10 lepers even though 1 comes back to thank him

He calms the sea, raises the dead, feeds the multitudes, teaches the educators, heals the masses, notices the insignificant, restores the ruin, includes the lovely, remembers the forgotten, forgives the condemned, lifts up the humble, brings down the proud, mends the broken and sets the captive free.

His power even flows through the hem of his garment.

I wish I could tell you about him.

Bedazzled Belt + 7months old!

This weekend started off with bunco night. The third Friday of each month 12 of us (my ex-work folk) get together to play a spirited game of bunco. August was Nick and I's month to host so we had 12 (plus Liam, Bianca, Kitty Cat, & Cruz) in our itsy bitsy temporary condo home. Great time. The entire night I was freaking out internally about possibly alerting the condo police and having them barge in with pepper spray....thankfully we totally behaved.

Instead of playing bunco we opted for a game of Celebrity which caused a few of us to pee our pants and made us all laugh the entire night. One of the people in the Celebrity hat - who I will not name - is MAYBE a co-worker, or an ex co-worker for some of us and MIGHT have a history of wearing outrageous outfits including but not limited to: zebra pants, plaid jackets, red cowboy boots and bedazzled tops and accessories.

Highlight of the night was the two words used to describe this person. Bedazzled belt.

Even funnier was Rebecca acting out a person who used to work for "bedazzled belt".

I get that most of you will not think this is funny in the slightest but for those of you who were there - thanks for making this bunco one of the most fun to date. I haven't almost peed my pants laughing in a looonnggg time.

Speaking of bedazzle....

This is what I woke up to on Saturday morning.

The first thing Nick said when he woke up 30 minutes later was, "Why is our son wearing a bedazzled shirt?"

Okay, Okay Nicholas. Maybe not manly boy appropriate but I like really love it.

Cruz is a little rock star. I bet Steven Tyler has like 10 shirts exactly like this one ps and he is loved by every women on the planet. Think about it.

In other very exciting news - Cruzie baby is 7 months old today!!!!!!!!!! I can't get over how sweet our boy is. He smiles more and more, laughs more and more and captures our heart more and more every second.

*Hanging out with dad at Nick's cousin's baby shower.

*Being extra preshy during his Sunday afternoon nap. Dad liked this shirt MUCH better.

I don't know about those of you who have children but as each stage comes and goes, I love it much more than the last. Sure, there are days I want to rewind to 4 weeks old to snuggle my newborn but it only lasts about a second when I think of how fun he is now and how much fun he will be at 1, 2, 3 and 4!

Let me tell you - I tell him I love him about 1 million times a day because I want desperately to hear him say it back PLUS I don't want him to end up on Intervention or start having sex at 13 because he doesn't feel loved. The other day, Nick was holding him and I was in both of their faces confessing my undying love to Cruz when Nick pushed me away and told Cruz, "Your mom can talk to you when she finishes her chores". HAAAAAaaa. RUDE!

What did I do? I ran to the sink, finished washing the 5 bottles that needed a cleaning then ran back to steal my preshy away and continue my love fest.

Nick is CLEARLY so jealous he can't even stand it.

Happy 7 months my love!

Your mom and dad CRAZY love you.

Beautiful Life

1,000 sq foot 2nd floor Condo

15 stairs

Nick

Ashley

130 lb Liam - so another person

Cruz

Bianca

Kitty Cat - who we are watching and trying HARD to love

There are many days I want to jump off the balcony of this said condo.

I can tell you right this second, community living with a Great Dane....yeah, NEVER DO IT. Yesterday we got a call that there have been two complaints about Liam.

1. We are not cleaning up after him

2. He barks too much and his bark is too loud.

Okay, let's think about this for ONE MINUTE.

First off, being that he is the size of a small pony and weighs more than most adult women I know, his craps are the size of horse craps. Remember also me telling you he goes three times a day? RiiiIGghHT. So if we were not cleaning up after his huge #2s, there would be 93 piles of HUGE HORSE/HUMAN crap in the yard. 93 - 3 times the 31 days we have been living in SAID CONDO.

Regarding complaint number 2...

I work part time and am out of the house by 6:30am. Nick then leaves the house about 7:20am with Cruz to get him to day care by 7:30am.

Before Nick leaves he takes the dogs downstairs to do their thing, comes back up, packs up the babe, feeds the dogs and then MUZZLES Liam.

Trust me folks, this is not ideal and frankly - super sucky however, I am here to tell you with 100% certainty that if he was not muzzled, I would come home to find a dead kitty cat and HUGE HOLES in the furniture.

I have to keep telling myself two very important things.

• This is only temporary and all of our sacrifices are going to be worth it when we are able to move into our almost new house.
• What an amazing blessing you have been given - one which allows you to live in a wonderfully quaint space totally rent free.

Sure it is a pain in my @$$ to:

Come home from work, place my screaming child in his crib (cause he is hungry or just whining cause he can't see me), leash Liam, run him down the 15 stairs to the grass, wait till he pees and drops logs, go grab a bag, go back to the logs, pick up the logs, throw the logs in the trash, yell for Bianca, run back up the 15 stairs, feed the dogs their lunch, wash my hands and FINALLY get back to my screaming child....

Hear the neighbors banging on our ceiling at 5pm when Liam is bucking bronco-ing cause Nick just walked in the door.

Have the kitty cat jumping on my face at 3am wanting to be pet.

Hear the Cat Genie (litter box) go off - for what feels like - every 30 minutes all hours of the day and night. It sounds like a leer jet at take off, BTW.

BUT at the end of the day my family and I are together(including big annoying Liam), happy and really, hugely blessed

{Via Here}

It is a beautiful life indeed.

Happy Weekend!

Seeing the beauty out of the ugly

On Tuesday I got a phone call from a sister friend who lost her baby at 11 weeks. This was a call I was not anticipating but was humbled beyond reason to receive.

See, Nick and I lost a baby too.

At the time all I could feel was extreme sadness, dark void and shame for not being able to provide the baby I had been dreaming of my whole life an opportunity to grow healthy and strong. The shear excitement over my Christmas baby that I was able to experience for 3 weeks was a high I know I will never get back or have again. Instead, my mind was filled with guilt, worry, fear and endless questions of why me. At the end of the day I was a mother and no matter if my baby was 6 weeks developed, 2, 5 or 25 - a mother's loss is still a mother's loss - something no one can take away from me.

I know God has a plan and that sometimes the biggest blessings, boldest hearts and strongest faiths come out of ugly tragedy. I never knew how God might use me and the memory of my baby to give comfort, calm fears, build stronger relationships and witness to the fact that our God is holy and that hope and healing is possible. Boy, did he showed me Tuesday.

I was able to cry tears of sadness with my friend and say with 100% truth that no one understands you more than I do.

There was assurance that although life will suck for a while, it will get better.

There was assurance that the memory will never leave but if you lean on Jesus to help you through it and hold on to the beautiful picture that your baby is in a place far better than this earth, sitting on Jesus' lap - there can be peace.

I absolutely believe that everyday Jesus is asking us - Who Am I?

Who are you?

You are the defender of my soul, giver of all blessings, keeper of my fears, prison for my worries, water to my thirst and food to my hunger. You are light, you are love and you are my savior.

Thank you for making beauty of out of the ugly, always answering the smallest of prayers and most important - watching over my baby until I can get there to meet her.

I'm Obsessed

Will and Jada + Quote of the month

Yesterday, my day was 1000% ruined when the celebrity gossip website, TMZ, sent me a text message saying Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith had separated.

I vividly remember the moment I found out my celeb couple crush - Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson - announced they were ending their marriage. It was Thanksgiving weekend and we had just returned from Texas watching Em play in a basketball tourney. I had been without people.com for 4 days so of COURSE first stop after entering the house on Sumner Lane? The den, DUH!

I read the headline and my jaw opened and stayed open for like 2 minutes. Following my shock, I headed to mom's medicine cabinet to shoot some Pepto. My stomach seriously hurt (PS: Anyone else love the taste of Pepto like I do? I could seriously have a tall glass each night with dinner - that and orange Triaminic). Anyway - I had just spend my summer earnings on all three seasons of Newlyweds and bought her wedding book. I was 2 seconds away from buying a replica of her engagement ring and swore my future husband HAD to propose on a yacht in Hawaii.

I am ridiculous.

Hollywood marriages fail and I know that but to hear Will and Jada on Oprah claim the "D" word is not an option - I mean really? Who says that anymore?!?! My favorite is hearing all the ways Jada keeps things spicy. Did you hear about the one time they did the nasty in the limo on the way to the 2010 Golden Globes? COME ON! That is hot and amazing (am I allowed to say I wish my husband could keep up these days? Holy after baby! Marnie, you were soooo right).

The Smiths released a statement late afternoon that they are in fact still together but as my Tri Delta sista, Marnie Jackson, brilliantly put it: Nick and Jessica released the same statement.

Look what happened to them.

Without further ado, here is my new quote of the month by none other than Mr. Will Smith.

First Swim

Cruz is 5 days shy from the 7 month mark - EEKKKK! Among being a little MAN, we went swimming for the very first time yesterday afternoon.

First off, Cruz is obsessed with bath time.

When Cruz came home, I was lucky enough to have my mom with me for the first two weeks. I can't begin to tell you what a blessing that was.

I was so out of it - tired, both physically and emotionally that I swear I couldn't tell up from down. It took three days however for that infamous breakdown. My loves, the Fearsome, came over for dinner to see Cruz. It was three days after Cruz's birth. I remember at dinner, I felt as though I was on the verge of tears but I was able to make it through. Once they left I went upstairs to take a bath and babyyyy...the flood gates opened. I was sobbing. Nick came up to check on me and asked me why I was crying. All I could muster was - I HAVE NO IDEA!!!!!!!

Thank goodness the crazy left as quickly as it came. Woah.

In the meantime, my stud of a mother worked with me and Cruz to establish a routine (SAVIOR!). Part of that routine was two baths - one in the morning and one at night. I get it - against doctors orders but I do NOT love a smelly baby. Nothing is more preshy than Cruz after a vanilla oatmeal bath. I still remember his smell.

SOOO, he started his love affair with the water day 1.

Clearly, swimming is much different than bath time. Although I have to say that the water in the pool yesterday was bath warm. I slid Cruz into his floaty and off we went. This face says it all - 2 seconds after we first got in.

My boy is serious and has been since he came into this world. It was hard to get him to crack a smile - and still to this day he spends most of his time processing. It is pretty cute though - and makes it all the more worth it when he flashes you his incredible smile - reminds me of his daddy, that smile.

Cruz and I plan on soaking up the last of our beautiful summer weather swimming with Em and her babes and spending every afternoon together. I know that before I know it, he will be all grown up with a sibling...sheesh...I don't know how you people do it. Could it be even remotely possible to love another Salz baby as much as I love Cruz?

Ps: Cruz is a rock star in the eating dept. I can pretty much always bet that a banana yum yum or some strawberry/apple puffies will calm my fussy babe. In fact when I pull out the puffy container and shake it, he starts to shimmy and shake like The Wiggles. It is so cute.

Oh and for dinner - yes, we the messiest pair on the face of the planet.

Seriously I could just eat him up even soiled in sweet potatoes and chicken dinner.

That's my preshy for you.

Happy Tuesday

xo

It's funny...

It is funny how 6 years ago I was here.

And now..

Nick, how does it feel to know you are everything I want?

My blonde Kardashian + Asos.com

I am not a fashionista - let's leave that role to my best friend Erin.

Whenever I am in need of that perfect outfit I always go to her. Not only does she manage the Valley Buckle and been in retail for years, she has a great eye for what is hot and what is not. Everyday she looks put together. Even in wet hair on her day off she some how pulls off casual like a Kardashian sister would.

OMG speaking of...brings me back to the time when we were in Las Vegas, at the Palms to be exact, about ready to get our tattoos when a homie in the lobby stopped us to "talk". After asking for our numbers and practically coaxing us to his hotel room, he told Erin she looked like a blonde Kardashian all while licking his lips. Ewww.

*Day we got inked - Sin City, 2009

She has dressed me for photo shoots and special occasions. I also love the fact that when I am in need of a few season necessities - we will coordinate a Fearsome breakfast on Saturday morning at Ihop then head to the Buckle for some private shopping before the store opens.

Erin takes care of us.

This brings me to fashion Friday. I don't plan on doing this every Friday but today I have some fashion website love that I have GOT to share. It is going to give Erin and the Buckle a run for their money.

Asos.com is a global online fashion and beauty retailer. Not only do they sell everything from jewelry to womenswear to menswear to footwear to accessories but they introduce 1,500 new product lines each week. Totally affordable - if you want it to be. Their product ranges from $25 to $500. Asos is taking off like wild fire, an internet sensation and I am totally on board. Actually if you want to know the truth, I am OBSESSED!

Here is what I am LOVING!

Tailored Slim Wasteband Crop Pant

$34

Skater Dress in Dazzling Blue

$60

Hot hot hot!

Pyramid Metal Tip Clutch

$31

Oversize Luggage Tag Tote

$68

My theory - the bigger the better. Love love!!

Vero Modo Cross Front Belted Dress

$55

Villa Mini Skirt with Gathered Frilled Waist

$34

Necklace Halter Top

$43

Totally all the rage...check it out.

Happy Friday my loves.

xoxox

PS: Cheers to the real KK for her wedding to Kris tomorrow. Can't wait to celebrate in October when we get to see it all unfold.

October 9 and 10 to be exact.

Our 5th man

The Salz clan is a clan of 5. We have myself, Nick, Cruz, Bianca - our very first baby Nick gave to me at Clinks for my 24th birthday and while she wouldn't be ready to take home for another 3 weeks, I sobbed all over our garlic bread and chicken dijon...she was all I ever wanted - and Liam who just turned one in April. April 17, 2010 to be exact - the day before Suri Cruise's 4th birthday.

He is 100% our 5th man - LITERALLY our 5th MAN - because he is bigger than most adult women and taller than most little people. Wait, who am I kidding - he is taller than ALL little people. Liam Guy Salzwedel is our Great Dane.

First off, I claim full responsibility for bringing Liam home. I remember sitting on the living room floor of my parent's house on Newman Lake reading the Sunday paper. First mistake. The puppy classifieds no less. Second mistake.

There it was: an ad for blue Great Dane puppies - 11 of them. Reasonably priced in Coeur D' Alene. Ready to go to a loving home.

"NICKKKKK, OMGGG blue Great Danes. Let's go look!"

"Ashley, I don't think that is a good idea."

"OHHHH come on Nick, let's just go LOOK. We don't have to buy."

{HAAAAAAAAAA. I was full of CRAP clearrrrllyyyy. Lesson learned! We are the most impulsive buyers EVER. Rarely do we look and NOT buy.}

Against his better judgement, Nick allowed me to call on the ad, get directions and go visit these blue Dane puppies.

Upon arriving at this house on Harrison street we see the scariest sight ever - a mom and a dad Great Dane. The mom - she is actually on the small side so no biggie. THE DAD however - HOLY MOLY. Not only did his neck and head clear the fence for DAYSSSS but he immediately ran to the back as if to say: no you don't you chumps - let me be the judge of you.

Thank goodness there was a baby gate between the kitchen - where the 11 most DARLING blue Dane puppies were playing - and the back door or I would have ran out the house scared for my life. Winston, aka baby Dane daddy, was on the other side of that baby gate staring us down like we were a fatty piece of pork loin.

For a minute we watch these babies play, Nick asks a few questions and we pick out our puppy. The one in the corner alone with no friends. The chubby one with sad eyes.

Yes, that little chubby loner was our baby.

Nick picked him up and it was love at first sight. We talked some more, and left - a Great Dane is a great responsibility so we needed to think it over for the night. We kissed our little guy goodbye and went to sleep on it.

No kidding, ALL NIGHT I thought about this puppy. I was sad thinking about him not having any friends, about being the loner in the corner with no one to snuggle up to at night, about being abused and about not having a loving home to call his own. That was it. Screw the fact that Nick was not 100% on board and the fact we were living in a town home with a yard the size of daddy WINSTON, he was coming home to our family.

The next day after work, we grab the cash, drive out to Coeur D' Alene and pick up our buddy.

*In the car on our way home. 5 weeks old.

*After his first bath. 5 weeks old.

Due to the fact this was not our first Dane rodeo (we had a harlequin for 9 months before he suddenly passed away) we were able to get Liam through the transition from bio mommy & daddy to forever mommy & daddy rather smoothly. I am sure it was about this time I told Nick I wanted to quit my job and have a Great Dane farm. Excuse me? Was I high? Clearly I forgot what it was like to raise a baby Dane.

*6 weeks

*8 weeks

*6 months

*9 months

*1 year

Most days I want to drop kick him all up and down the 1,000 sq condo we are currently living in waiting to move into our almost new house.

• He barks louder than my car alarm - and it frequently wakes up his sleeping brother.
• His tail is like Indy's whip. He has whipped poor Lucy in the face a few times causing welts. Can't even begin to tell you the accidents he has had with Cruz.
• When he steps on my feet, which he does every two seconds, it feels like a cement block just fell from 50 feet in the air.
• When he barfs, it is like cleaning up a spilled gallon of chunky, spoiled milk.
• His number 2 is the size of a horse crap and he goes three times a day.
• He has ruined multiple hundreds of dollars worth of clothing, shoes, furniture, carpet and yard.
• He has tripped me more times that I care to count.
• I am always finding short grey hairs on Cruz's bottle nipples, binkies and chew toys -SICK!
• He is allergic to grain which means he needs organic, grain free food. Yes, that is 9 CUPS OF expensive grain free food a DAY!

So what stops me besides the fact that he would beat ME up if we got into a fight?

The little chubby loner back in the Harrison st. house, looking at this face and thinking about the fact that Liam has been there through some of our most special moments like the day when Cruz came home from the hospital.

At the end of the day, he is our big baby boy - our little lover, playmate (wrestling partner for dad) protector and who can forget - Cruz's very best friend.

All of those reasons are why Liam Guy Salzwedel is our 5th man.

Print Art

Thinking and dreaming about our almost new house is actually quite exhausting. The more and moe I think about it, the more and more I love it and the more and more I doubt my designs. PS: Gosh, I CAN'T wait to show you pics of the place!

What if we do this!?

We could do this?!

Nick, OMG, do you love this?

I am in love with this?

I am obsessed?

Nick, come here right this second and look at this. (happens at least twice a night)

...at least through the doubting, I am still in love with our almost new pink, 1959 rancher. Coming from a habitual house mover, that is pretty amaze if you ask me.

Print art seems to be all over the place and with good reason. It is a great and inexpensive way to fill empty walls with meaningful, special, colorful art. Visually stimulating and sentimental all at the same time. Love.

While browsing Pinterest, I came across print art by Gus and Lula. More over on Etsy here. Blog here. Not only is this family inspirational and their children...holy stunning! - but Britt has created some fantastic print art I can't wait to slap up in Cruz's almost new room, baby Salz #2's new nursery (when baby Salz #2 is more than a dream) and the children's playroom (see this almost new house has the most terrific basement - kid playroom heaven).

Darling right?!?!?!

What about these next three prints? Would this be fantastic in a guest room?

What about in your kitchen or dining room?

What do you think about print art? Inspire you?!?! A fan?!?! Loathe?!?!

PS - NEED these too.

This one for my walk-in.

This one somewhere...it is AMAZING. Just maybe not on a cup...

This one in my office.

And this in my living room/family room.

{last four images via Pinterest}