September and Mo's Fish Tacos

(Darn it)

I'm struggling with you September.  Really struggling.  Why did you have to come so soon?  I still haven't posted most of my favorite beach memories from the summer! Now what do I do?

Just start posting?

Alright then...I suppose my little projects will have to be put on hold for a few more days, and lets start at the beach.

{Choo Choo}
I dare say this was one of Aidan's favorite parts of summer.  And to avoid fits of screaming, he rode the train several times...and loved it. 
He's not joking around when it come to the huff and puff of this little engine...

(Sand)

Some people hate it. Baby's eat it, it gets in your eyes, and its hard not to take with you.

I love it. It usually means that water is nearby. The salty, sandy type of water that calls this little Toad's name. This summer Seaside was hotspot for us, and it was especially fun when we hung out with Travis, Tanya, Trey, & Lucy. Ethan said it was one of his favorite things about our summer.

This could be one of my favorite things about summer, but also about being a mom.  Cuddling and kissing on a cold body straight out of the pool.  Love it.

Ah, Travis, Tanya, Trey, and Lucy.  Tanya is about really to have that baby any day now. Can't wait.

{Fish Tacos...My New Love}
Watchout honey, I fell in love this summer.  I never knew how much I was missing until I had a fresh fish taco.

Mo's at Cannon Beach was the place.

I started with a yummy shrimp salad and thought things were going pretty well.

But then I was introduced to these gems and my taste buds haven't been the same.

My brother Travis couldn't help but poke a little fun at me when I got about 2 inches away from my plate ans starting clicking away.   I guess that's a sacrifice you make when you want to remember something that so great...

oh, and looky here...

someone else may have fallen in love with a dinner dish as well...

how about those closed eyes...just letting his tastebuds so crazy.:) 

(Yeah, I'm thinking this could be a great facebook profile picture!:))

(Fun Times)
I'm forced to say goodbye to you summer. Although you won't be far from my mind.

And don't take it personally September.  Its me, not you.

Your Toad

{Free} Baby Gift Tags & Berries

{Tags}

You can't stop them.  Babies, that is. They just keep coming. 

And since I've embarked on my journey into the world of sewing making little baby things has been one of my favorite learning projects.  They are simple {well, relatively speaking} to make, and I find that babies don't mind the crooked stitches or funky seams my machine seems to produce.

Plus, the mom's like the "handmade" gifts...I think its the way they just mean a little bit more.   They have a little story behind them.

And I've been sewing a few baby "stories" of my own  lately!

A few months ago I made one of the those "Car Seat Canopies" {you know, the fabric gals put over their car seats to carry their little ones around...} and was excited to give it to my sister in law.  {Hope you don't mind if I tell this story "sister-in-law"... you know who you are...;)}  Since I live out of state I shipped it just in time for her baby shower. 

Time passed.  And soon I received a sweet thank-you card from her...stating how grateful she was for the changing pad I had made.

Hmmm....

I called her to explain that it was actually a blanket you place over your carseat, and was sometimes called a "Car Seat Canopy or Tent".  They are a dime a dozen around this family oriented, Mormon baby infested town we live in and so it never crossed my mind that she may never have seen one.

Lesson learned.;)

And from now on, I'm sticking a cute little descriptive tag on every gift I make. ;)

Those of you who have made one of these Car Seat Blankets may have had the same experience since it may not be a familiar site at the baby showers you attend. 

{Sidebar: Yes, some of you may recognize this blanket.  Its the Car Seat Blanket Epattern  I have in my Etsy shop.}

And when you are as proud as I am about making something that actually turns out, its fun to sport a cute little tag anyway. 

Another Sidebar: I'm digging these little pom-poms!  This was the 1st time I used them and it was great.  I just sewed them around a rectangle piece of flannel before I sewed the blanket together.  Let me know if you want me to show you how I did it and I can post about it. 

So, here you go.  In true Toad style, here's a random assortment of cute little baby gift tags.  Tag away.

CLICK HERE for the free download.

{Berries Baby!}

And now for one of my favorite posts of the summer.  Oregon berries. 

The U-pick, stuff your face, and make yummy things with kind.

Within hours of driving to Oregon we were out in the fields on the very 1st day of blueberries could be U-picked at the Fordyce Farm just outside Salem. {Love that farm.}

It was the 1st of approximately 8 trips we made to the fields during our 5 week stay.

Ethan was my steading hand picking.  Aidan was a my "a car is coming" alarm system.   They both filled their faces with berries ate themselves blue.  I call it an inadvertant detox.

I'm powerless against the forces of these berries...

and I'm powerless over the need I have to create yummy things with them.  {Recipe for the best blue berry pie and best crust I have ever eaten via The Pioneer Woman, of course.}

{Red Raspberries}

Moving on to the red variety, let me present to you these tangy little gems from Smith Farms in Hillsboro {just outside Portland}.

Once again, U-picking is the way to go.  Its also great if the berry field supplies you a red wagon to ride in,

or to pull around.

And as with most things in life, these berries are even more fun with friends, or in this case cousins, who share your affinity.

Yep, I'd even say they love them as much as we do.

And once again, the end results provide a tasty treat.  The next morning crepes were on the menu.  {If you need a recipe you can check out this post from way back in 2009.  Its my fave.}

{Tai Berries}

You may remember last year when I talked about Marion Berries {in my Marion Berries 101 post} and we got to know them a little bit better.  This year, I'd like to introduce Tai Berries to you.  Another tart, tangy treat from the blackberry family that is actually an "English" berry from what I hear.  {Hey all of you Brit's out there, correct me if I'm wrong!}

Anyways, my mom planted some a few years back, and we enjoyed picking and eating them. 

{Shake It}

We could talk about berries all day, but I'd better not.  I will however share with you berries used in one of my favorite forms...the fatty shake.  And although these shots may not be of the crazy good creations we love to make ourselves, believe me when I say they were as good as if we had.

Okay, and I just can't leave this picture out.  No way.

{Farewell}

Don't be too sad our season has past, my little blue friends.  Fortunately you are like babies and keep coming. We'll be back next year with the sweet Oregon summer...to pick and to love you.

And for all of you blog reading friends, may you leave this post and find happiness in "tagging" your baby gifts, relish one last berry, and cherish this last week of August. ;)

Love, Toad;)

+Emily Ashby