Lisa Leonard

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it’s a good weekend for

1. sleeping in

2. drinking coffee

3. hanging out with my mom (and the boys)

4. eating pizza downtown

5. browsing the bookstore

6. spotting sea otters at the beach

7. catching up on laundry

8. and catching my breath

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9. what’s number nine???

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around here we think dads are pretty awesome.

and uncles and grandpas, too!

they’re great for playing or just hanging around.

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and dads are also great for kissing and cuddling and a good snooze.

we’ve cooked up some fun stuff for dad this year!

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check out our new custom leather wallet.

there’s a custom inital tag that hangs outside the wallet

and a sterling tag inside the wallet.

customize with names or a phrase.

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three areas to hold credit cards, driver’s license and a photo or two!

the leather is rustic with an organic feel.

perfect for dad!!  check out the new custom leather wallet here.

{quantities are limited so hurry!}

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and our sterling keychain is thick and sturdy

perfect for remembering who you love all day long!

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and our leather cuff is thick and will stand up to every day use.

customize the tag with birthdates (above), kids names or a phrase.

we love the leather cuff!

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deadline for father’s day delivery is june 8th

so get your orders in!!!

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tell us one great thing about a daddy in your life.

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we have a small zoo about a half hour north of us.

it takes about 15 minutes to see all the animals.

and it’s so small i can let the boys run around by themselves.

because there aren’t too many places to go!

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for matthias it’s all about the meerkats.

every day he asks, ‘can we go check on the meerkats? i want to make sure they’re okay’.

so last weekend we checked.

and just so you know, they’re doing great!

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they have so much personality.

and they seem so cuddly.

and we like cuddling.
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so matthias and david would like to know…

what’s your favorite animal in the whole world?

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last weekend we met the college students at the beach for a bonfire.

it was a beautiful evening.

except really cold and super windy.

and windy and sand don’t mix.

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the boys had a blast.

we roasted hot dogs and watched the sunset

and played frisbee and snuggled by the fire.

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have i mentioned i am totally ready for summer?

and warmer weather?

and lazy mornings, and sunshine and slowing down.

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and we’re moving into a new (to us) house in about three weeks.

which is super exciting and overwhelming.

more on that soon!

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would you like another s’more?

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feeling over-scheduled, tired, and a little grumpy over here.

and my computer won’t let me download pics,

so i looked through my archives to find a couple pics to share with you.

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here is an alligator matthias drew last week.

i certainly wouldn’t want to meet up with him in a river or swamp.

he looks even grumpier than me!

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thank you so much for all your kind words about david,

and my anxiety with his upcoming surgery.

i think it is really wearing on me.

and i also think it’s going to be fine.

but this is where i am right now–pulled between the everyday stuff and worry and hope.

and i want to let it be hard–and not try to fix it.

man, i love that kid!

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i’ve got some pretty serious spring fever going on.

i want sunshine.

no wind or rain.

and a few lazy days to soak it up.

i’m so spoiled living in california. i know i shouldn’t complain.

but today, i kinda feel like complaining.

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need to vent? feel free!

what’s bugging you today?

{and happy tuesday!!}

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you are beautiful.

because you are Y O U.

it’s not the color of your eyes

or the length of your legs

that makes you beautiful.

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i’ve known pretty girls who weren’t beautiful at all.

and plain girls who radiate beauty.

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you can see more details for the new beautiful necklace here.

and {exciting} use code truebeauty15 for 15% off your order today and tomorrow.

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share with us.

what do you think makes a person beautiful?

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i’m talking about heart surgery

and fear that makes my knees wobble

and finding hope

over at incourage today.

come on over!

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my computer stopped working this week

i got in a fender bender yesterday (we’re all fine, just a little bummed)

we’re a little sniffly

and tired and ready

for a weekend.

ready for fort building, and sun soaking and

sleeping in and laying around and coloring and piano playing.

ready to rest.

how about you?

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these pics are from last spring

{my computer is getting a tune-up, so i’m using hubbies}

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lately i’ve been thinking a lot about nurturing a grateful heart in my boys.

a few weeks ago, we were standing in line at disneyland

and matthias was complaining about how ‘unfair’ it was that we had to wait.

and he was hot and tired and grumpy.

and i know he’s six, but i was struck by how ungrateful he was acting.

i want to give my boys gifts and experiences and every good thing

but i don’t want them to be indulged and spoiled.

and then i started looking at my own heart (yikes!).

am i grateful?

do i complain when i am {metaphorically} standing in line at the ‘happiest place on earth’?

so to when we’re driving in the car,

i’ve been asking the question, “what are you grateful for today?”

and we each share a few things.

like sunshine and frozen yogurt a and safe home and markers to color with.

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please share your ideas…

how do you nurture a grateful heart?

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bitty blue bird

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baby bum cracks

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blurry pics

i took this pic in the aquarium tunnel at the omaha zoo.

i manually moved the lens to create movement.

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the beach.

and blue water.

and doing nothing for an entire weekend.

(which doesn’t start with b, but it’s sooo inspiring!)

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buckets

for holding all kinds of things. love it.

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blue skies

which we haven’t seen much of lately (it’s been rainy)

but it’s blue and shiny right now!

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and of course my BOYS. the best b word and best inspiration around!

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your turn to share some great ‘b’ words!

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we just looove this new

‘every corner of my heart’ necklace.

it’s hand-cast for an organic, sturdy feel.

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customize the back with a date or short word (up to 6 characters).

the perfect gift for a graduate or teacher.

or, um, yourself!

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check out the ‘every corner of my heart necklace’ here!

okay, we have quite a few winner to announce!!

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faith. hope. amor (3 winners)

what are you grateful for??

JenFlen…My boys - I am grateful for my boys, my hubby and son! We have been through a lot over the past 1 1/2 years - no jobs, no house. But every day we cried, we also laughed - and we certainly loved! Today we have jobs and a house. We still cry. We still laugh. And we always love!

C. Beth I’m thankful that I can sit here with my kids eating homemade bread on a lazy Friday.

Janelle Eller I am most grateful for my family. My husband and kids make it all worthwhile.

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pewter hearts (2 winners)

kristine hanson, tiffany day

petite crest (2 winners)

samantha (all sam’s idea)

emily (16 balls in the air)

$100 gift cert (2 winners)

karen (a photo a day)

tammy hummel

congrats!! email me at customerservice@lisaleonardonline.com to claim your prize!

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matthias started swim lessons last week.

the smile didn’t leave his face for the entire half hour.

he got to wear googles. googles!

he used a noodle, a kickboard, and

swam down to get swim toys from the bottom of the pool.

a half hour of pure joy.

these are the little things that make a mama’s heart sing.

summer is getting close, i can feel it.

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what’s making your heart sing today?

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we were married on july 24, 1999.

11 years this summer {wow!}

i have never been so sure about anything. i knew he was the one.

i had no idea that our life together would be so much harder and so much better than i hoped.

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my wedding budget was $2,000.

i wore my mom’s wedding dress, which was sewn my grandmother.

my friends put beautiful bouquets together for us,

and another friend took our wedding pictures.

my mom and her talented friends coordinated all the food

and dessert was a variety of cheesecakes.

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the centerpieces were antique teapots with potted flowers

that my mom had collected from thrift shops and garage sales.

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that’s my nephew, rhys, giving my bouquet a good sniff.

he’s gonna be in high school soon. crazy!

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the day was filled with family and lot of good friends.

it was a simple party.

but important. one of the most important days of my life.

i love you, babe! i’m so glad i married you.

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{GIVEAWAY}

yay! we are giving away 6 items in celebration of wedding week

which has been sooo much fun!!

2 people will win a pewter heart

2 people will win a petite crest necklace

and

2 people will win a $100 gift certificate

***leave a comment telling us

what colors you chose (or would choose) for your wedding***

blog it, facebook it and tweet for extra entries.

{leave a comment for each entry!!}

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this is such a fun wedding to share

since jessie and charlie are close friends of ours.

and we LOVE them!

it’s so fun to see two people marry, when you know it’s a great match!

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they were married at casa real event center at ruby hill winery in pleasanton,

surrounded by friends and family.

it was such a lovely ceremony and a sweet time together at the reception.

even david and matthias joined us {and had so much fun!}.

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jessica gave each of the bridesmaids a petite crest necklace.

ON SALE TODAY ONLY!!!!

click here to see more about the petite crest necklace.

oh my goodness, the bridesmaids were so beautiful!

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jessie and charlie met in grad school

at a music-in-education class.

jessie thought charlie was cute, so she walked up and said hi.

{i wouldn’t describe jessie as shy!}

after a trip to starbucks, well, the rest is history.

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love how the flowergirl is covering her face.

“too much love-can’t take it all in!!”

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jessie told me her favorite part of the wedding was

turing around to face friends and family after being introduced as husband and wife.

being surrounded by loving friends and family who have profoundly impacted

each of their lives {on such a huge occasion} was just so moving.

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check out the pastor–isn’t he cute??

yeah, that’s my husband!

steve had the honor marrying them. so fun!

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jessie and charlie we love you

and we were so happy to celebrate with you on your wedding day.

may God bless your marriage and help you love each other well.

{click here to see the pewter heart}

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today’s question…

{and btw, yesterday’s comments were hilarious. i was CRACKING up}

What is your all-time, favorite love song?

Mine is ‘You fill up my senses’ by John Denver.

cheesy maybe, but I love it!

okay your turn to share…