emma's letter to santa

Dear Santa,

Please bring me everything on my list from the big toy store and a Zu Zu Pet.

Love, Emma
(Age 5)

turkey talk

"Mommy, this was our turkey before we ate him on Thanksgiving when he was happy.".



Emma - Age 5

happy thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I know my pilgrims did! We ate a ton of pumpkin pie, and discussed the things that we are the most thankful for. We really enjoyed the holiday!

thanksgiving day pilgrims

Emma - Age 5

wedding calligraphy

wedding invitation

I tried to save as many memories that I could from my wedding day, and box them all up so I can look back on them for many years to come. Pulling things out of that box brings me back to the day like it was yesterday. It rained extremely hard all day. Actually, that is an understatement. It was dark and rainy the whole day. It was like the day never came and night continued. It was literally a monsoon outside, but the church was candlelit and romantic, and it was one of the happiest days of my life.

seven years ago today

one week countdown till new moon

One more week until we see these two in action on the big screen. I am going to cram in one more reading of New Moon this week before I see the movie. Truthfully, I will be skipping some of the middle chapters. No Edward.

If you haven't seen the spread from this mag yet, do yourself a favor and google the pics. They are beautiful. I will be seeing the movie on Friday afternoon...on my birthday. I am not doing the midnight thing. I love the series, but I love sleep a little more.

I hope you enjoy New Moon if it is on your agenda. Then we can start the Eclipse countdown.

holiday season gift ideas

100% natural cotton. Made in Brooklyn, NY. Wine, grocery, or miscellaneous size totes at Maptote. A great inexpensive holiday gift. Take a bottle of wine in the tote as a gift this holiday season.

first homework

kindergarten halloween walk

Miss Bassetti's Kindergarten Class Halloween Walk. Okay, so maybe pirate girls don't wear Chucks. Don't tell her that.

wordless wednesday: happy

woody and elizabeth swan

Jack, Em, Josh & Nicholas

The children had an awesome time trick or treating. The rain could have held out a little longer by Emma's request, but in the short amount of time they seemed to have gathered more than enough candy than my household can consume. They went trick or treating with their cousins, and a ghoulish good time was had by all!

happy halloween

halloween bike rodeo

Nicholas's school had a bike rodeo for Halloween. He did a great job following the line on the path for his obstacle course. The children sang Fall songs together in a group when they were done the little bike ride. He did a lot of clapping and jumping, but he wasn't doing the singing because he "didn't feel like it". What he is the most excited for this week is putting on his costume. Every day he wakes up and asks if it is time. I told him trick or treating is almost here! Please pray for a dry day!

late wordless wednesday: Rob Pattinson

Or is it Edward Cullen? So enamored that the lines are now blurred.

another local favorite home #2

wordless wednesday (sort of):

I'm in the kitchen thinking that the house seems quiet all of the sudden....

gingerbread man and a new smile

Life has been hectic since school started. Every school year seems to become busier and busier. The days are filled with school, work, errands, pick-ups, snacks, dinners, homework and reading. It is the never-ending cycle. Emma made a Gingerbread Man at school and brought it home to enjoy, and this week she lost her fourth tooth. She now sports a big empty smile, and another on the top and the bottom will be leaving her soon. When I look back on my pictures, I don't recall my teeth falling out all at the same time.

Talking about looking back on pictures, I want to sit down over the long cold winter and organize my photos. The big question is........With modern technology, and all of the photos that permits us to have now, do you still make up photo albums the old-fashioned way? Or just for special occasions? The children would enjoy looking at the albums over and over, but is that now outdated and obsolete? Hmm...

happy weekend

I hope your weekend is full of all good little things...like smiles, hugs & kisses and L O V E .

philly drive bys

A couple of homes currently on the market in Philadelphia. Thanks Sharon, & Happy Birthday to you...

a day at the farm

wordless wednesday: school birthday snack

happy 4th birthday nicholas

welcome to the fam

Weekend Recap:

Nicholas had an alergic reaction to something. We are working on figuring that one out still. I pray that it is not a nut allergy, because I bake with nuts all the time. We did a little shopping for some more house furniture. Antiques are hard to locate. Funny, because when I was little, it seemed like my Mom was always taking me shopping and I was so tired of checking out antiques. Bored me to tears. Now I can't find any good finds anywhere. I did start collecting vintage Christmas ornaments, so if any of my family members want to unload the ones they never put on their tree, I will gladly take them. I have a long way to go with being able to decorate a tree all vintage. The rest of my weekend was spent watching Adventureland (Is Ryan Reynolds good-looking? I can't tell??). We went to DE on Sunday and purchased a new tv for the bedroom, then we hit the artery-clogging Olive Garden for dinner.

Well, I finally made a decision on a new camera. The Canon EOS Rebel XS for the family photos. It was long overdue. It will start me out on my journey of learning how to take a better picture. I already have the other lens on my Christmas list, and possibly a new flash. hint, hint...

Other than that, my upcoming week is full of the same old...work, dentist appts, food shopping, laundry, birthday present shopping, cupcake making (snack Mom), school fundraisers, school pictures and birthday cake baking. I am on a mission for Ben 10 paper products, or possibly dinosaurs. It seems to change on a daily basis.

parental error

Umm....Not all kids movies are for all kids. And, with that being said, I will not let my five year old pick a movie out (in a hurry) from the Redbox (under the children's genre) while I am rushing out of the grocery store ever, ever again......without fully reading the description. Oh, and by the way, reading the description wouldn't have even helped, because it doesn't tell you that it is SCARY!!!!

Update: Em woke up at midnight, crying.

wordless wednesday: school/family photo

out of the mouth of a five year old...

....My bus smells like meat and cheese....


....I don't like it when boys braid their hair. Braids are for girls. If their hair is that long, they should just cut it already....


....The teacher doesn't give us any food at school. Just one little snack. I am hungry all the time. They are starving me....

weekend recap

Food shopping, ice cream social, homemade vegetable soup, wash machine repair, haircuts, out to lunch, Ikea, dinner party, Adamstown & MTV awards.

the 3rd tooth bites the dust

Em lost her front tooth this evening. She was watching tv and she pushed it right out of her mouth and it landed on top of the ottoman. It was a clean break! She said she didn't even feel it come out, she just looked down and there it was. Too funny. She is adjusting to the space and the way she sounds when she talks. The tooth fairy is running around the house trying to scrounge up some cash at this very moment. The front one right next to the adorable space is also wiggling. Maybe she'll be singing that Christmas song this year...

first day of Pre-K

Nicholas had his first day of Pre-K at Emma's old school, so he was very familiar with the teachers and the classroom. I was able to stay with him the first day. He was excited to go and meet friends and play with the dinosaurs. They are his favorite toys there. He thinks school is all about free play time and doesn't quite get that it will be a little more than that. He is older in his class, so he did very well. I asked him if he liked it, and he said he did, but he told me that he wanted me to just drop him off tomorrow and go to work. No worries, there...

first day of kindergarten

Class of 2022. Emma's first day of Kindergarten. She got up before the alarm went off and got ready and on the bus with no fuss at all. I did get a little teary as she drove away, waving back at me with such a heightened amount of excitement. When I picked her up, I prayed that she would come out with all smiles. That did not happen, but it was only because she wanted to stay all day and eat lunch in the cafeteria and take the bus home. All in all, it went well. I just have a tired little girl this evening!

big dreamer

Mom....Can I have $3,000 bucks so I can buy one of these?

celebrity braids

I find braids to be classic and timeless, and I love seeing celebs sporting the braid look. It always catches my eye. It has a summery vibe, and it proves that wearing a braid is far from boring. Pretty, pretty hair and pretty, pretty girls...Who's do you favor?

avalon, new jersey

My family tries to spend as many weekends and vacations in Avalon as we can cram in every Summer. Thank goodness for the condo, a block away from the beach, because we could not afford spacious living in Avalon, New Jersey. Check out these unfathomable prices:

The least expensive house for sale right now in Avalon:

$549,000.00. Two bedroom, one bath. It is in walking distance to the beach. They are calling it a "beach cottage". If you park your vehicle in the driveway, it will be longer than the house. I think my shed at home is bigger.

The most expensive house right now in Avalon:

$16,875,000.00. 7 bedrooms, 8 1/2 baths. For 17 million bucks you can live in this house right on the beach. It is only 3 blocks away from the condo, but it is very secluded. Basically I can walk to the bottom of the driveway, but I can't see past the shrubbery. Very private. Very ridiculously expensive. Nothing inside even impresses me. I can only figure the price is reflective of being right on the beach. Wonder how long until it sells...

yes, please

If I received this in the mail, I would cry tears of joy........Pretty, pretty cupcakes made by SWEET.

wordless wednesday: summer morning

dvd review...Nights In Rodanthe

My weekend plans are a wash, but I was able to cozy in and watch a chick flick last night. I watched the Diane Lane & Richard Gere tearjerker, Nights in Rodanthe, based on the Nicholas Sparks bestseller. "Two unhappy people's lives become entwined when they meet unexpectedly"....Usually the books are better than the movies by far, because let's face it, you can only fit so much into two hours. I have to say that I really enjoyed the movie. Don't get me wrong, after reading the book the movie could have been much better. It could have been tweaked a little more, but it was enjoyable. I did feel that they could have had the couple fall in love for a bit more of the movie. It took them a while to get to that point, and then it was over. I have a weekness for any movie that takes place on a beach. All in all, I give it 3 out of 5 stars. If you haven't seen it yet, I won't give anything else away, except to tell you that it is a tear-jerker.

What I loved most about the movie was the house...

The house in the movie is approximately 30 miles south of Nags Head, North Carolina. It is in the small village of Rodanthe. Also known as Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the Outer Banks. A wooden sign on the opposite side of the road at the house reads "Mirlo Beach." The picture below shows exactly how the house looked in September 2008 (the movie was filmed in May 2007). None of the interior shots were filmed in the house at Rodanthe. The interior scenes were actually filmed in a house in Wilmington, NC. Numerous other scenes in the movie, however, were filmed on the Outer Banks. The Inn at Rodanthe is actually called "Serendipity" by its owners and until recently it was available for rent. A storm with high waters damaged the septic system. They are still hoping that it can pass inspection and once again be available for rent. In spite of the fact that the handsome blue shutters, porch addition, a number of trees, and tons of sand are no longer part of the house, Serendipity still stands sturdy, and beautiful.

I have read online conflicting stories of this home. I've read that the storm damaged the septic system so far beyond repair and that it will deteriorate into the water now without hope. I am not quite sure if that is the case or not, but if so, that is tragic. I have also read that the neighboring homes are having the same issues. The picture below is how the house was returned to the natural state after filming. Seems a little spooky without all the eye candy. For some reason, the permits wouldn't allow them to leave the awnings and the decking from the movie on the house. Either way, it deserves to have people inside once again.

all tidbits and pictures are randomly from the internet. I am sorry for not crediting every source, but if it is a problem...

happy friday

Hope your weekend is full of all good, little things....like fresh peaches, (it is peach picking time!), good company and laughing out loud.

I will be spending my weekend in New Jersey with my kids. I am going to take them to the beach early in the morning for long walks and seashell searching. I am going to find a Jersey farm stand to get a bag of fresh peaches to eat on the beach, and we plan to go miniature golfing. I am also going to hit the local antique store in Avalon to see if I can find any goods. I have two dvds to watch after the kiddies are tucked in for the night. "Nights in Rodanthe" & "He's Just Not That Into You". Reviews on my weekend movies to follow...

What will you be doing this weekend, and what movies have you enjoyed that I can add to my queue?

stepping stone flower

The first picture is the flower that Emma grew from seed that she got from school. Remember this post? We put it in the garden and it grew so big! Zinnia? I am not quite sure what it is, but I can't believe it grew that big considering that we have been ignoring it. Not on purpose, but Summer gets so busy and goes by so fast. I also had a butterfly visitor that let me snap pics of him today. Too bad I still have my old crummy, take a horrible picture, camera. I have to work on that issue. I looked at cameras and got sticker shock, but I am fighting the inevitable.

wordless wednesday: a long, rainy ride home

93 days till New Moon

Okay.....I am counting down to see New Moon. 93 more days to be exact. I am so excited to see it. Given the level of anticipation right at this very moment, I just might not make it. Angie and Katie might have to sedate me to get me there. It comes out on my birthday, and I think I can see it right at midnight on Nov. 20th. That means I can still do something with my husband on my birthday night. Nick's cool with that. Trust me, he knows how I feel....and is tolerant of my addiction. So maybe I do have a little too much free time on my hands right now...but look at him.....*swoon*.....okay, back to reality.....OR NOT......

Seriously, this picture makes me want to do bad things....Do I even have to pinpoint it....that jawline, those eyes...even his hands are sexy.....*still swooning*......okay, okay...snap out of it.

"What? What did you say? You want to do what to me?? Go on....I'm listening.".

weekend recap

How was your weekend? We had a chill weekend. I got a set of vintage white planters for my front steps out front and managed to find enough flowers still for sale to make them pretty. We haven't even mulched our flower beds yet this year because we usually end up either going to the shore or Nick has to work. I have been blaming it on the rain, but when it doesn't get done, the weeds come up rapidly. Saturday night we went out to dinner with the kids to a local Italian restaurant. We had way too much food and then I couldn't sleep. My problem with minor insomnia kicked in this weekend and today I will be paying for it. I just can't get over the whole sleep problem. I just have too much on my mind to get done in life. Plus it doesn't help that my oldest sneaks in my bed in the middle of the night and hogs the whole thing. I should put her back in her room, but staying awake long enough to do that would keep me up from that point on. Sunday was a cleaning day, and more yard work. I am trying to figure out how to put some rock or stones around my shed to make it more visually appealing. We had a big dinner at home Sunday night and settled on the couch for some relaxation when the telephone rang at 8 p.m. My parents broke down on the way home from the shore, 15 minutes from the beach. Needless to say, my wonderful husband went to get them at 8 p.m., and made it to bed at 1 a.m. So, I am posting his face up here today, to say, "Thank you for being such a wonderful guy!". He says, "They would do it for us in a minute if need be. I don't mind". Not even a roll of the eyes or a slight sigh. He is the nicest person in the world.

nicholas funnies - 3 yrs old

N: Mama, can I get in the bath ?
Mom: No honey, you had your bath earlier already.
N: I need to because I have seaweed and beetles in my hair.



N: Dad, can you draw me a picture of a dinosaur?
Dad: I'll try...let me see.
N: I don't like it...his foot isn't suppose to be like that. Erase it now. That's horrible.

begging for restore

Did you ever drive past a house and screech on the brakes and stare? Look in your rear-view-mirror and pray no one is behind you so that you can't check it out a little longer? That is exactly what I had Nick do today. I am sad about this property. It is begging for restoration. It is my second favorite house around my area. Located in Kimberton, Pennsylvania, it is currently for rent and I am assuming that offices took over. The far left was a three car garage which was turned into an office. It has a wonderful large circle driveway out front, and a stone wall and patio to the left. There is also a barn and tennis courts on the property. I pray that someone saves this home before it is too far gone. I took a peek inside, and it has fab moldings and doors, but the hardwood floors are covered up with carpet. I daydreamed for a moment of what I would do to it if I had gobs and gobs of cash. It is in a wonderful location and it sits back a tad off of the main road. I does sit on large grounds. I wonder if the person who owns the property loves it as much as I do. Maybe they love it so much that they don't want to part with it, but cannot afford to fix it up, so they are forced to rent it. Maybe it has been in the family forever and they are saving money by renting it and plan to make it absolutely beautiful in the future. If I drive by in ten years and it is falling apart even more so, I will cry.

wordless wednesday: eat my dust

kindergarten camp

It is hard to say that Summer is winding down when it is 94 degrees outside, but in a way, that is what it is happening. Today was the first day of kindergarten camp at Emma's new school, and if it is any indication of what the school year will be, the first word that comes to mind is: hectic. There will be so much running around to do to get everyone where they need to be, and it exhausts me just thinking about it. I am not going to let my mind wander that far yet. Although the school seemed a little unorganized, Em says she loves getting to know new classmates and teachers. There had to be about 75 kids there today ready for kindergarten. Total chaos. Emma will be in the afternoon class, and Nicholas will be entering Emma's old Pre K school class in the morning. It will take two more years until they are both at the same school full time. I hope the next two years go slow though, so that I can feel like I still have little children. I also decided to let Em ride the bus home from school....actually, I was outvoted by a long shot. So, a couple more weeks of relaxation and then it all begins...

dream kitchen #1

One Word: Love

This kitchen is the work of Erika Mcpherson Powell from Urban Grace Interiors of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

sticker fun

Man, Em & I would have a ton of fun with this sticker kit. Make your own stickers. How cool is that? I don't know about my daughter......but I want one! We've been on the go all summer and we haven't been doing a lot of arts and crafts, but with school right around the corner, I am looking forward to hanging new projects on the wall. Love them.
Cox & Cox

wordless wednesday: on the boardwalk

grow your own food

At-home gardening seems to be a growing trend. Even First Lady Michelle Obama is handy with a shovel. (Visit whitehouse.gov and search "garden layout" to see what's cropping up in her beds.)

19% The increase in U.S. households growing their own fruits, vegetables and herbs in 2009 over last year.

54% of households grow their own food primarily to save money on groceries.

$70 spent on planting a food garden can yield $530 worth of produce per season.

This is my first year planting a garden, so my soil isn't up to standards yet, but I didn't have to purchase any of the vegetables that I put in this year. If anything, I have a little too much. Now I just have to improve my soil. It was great to speed past the veggie isle at the supermarket. My favorite thing to grow so far was lettuce. Do you want a salad? Go out back and pick it. It was easy to grow and great to have on hand for dinner!

Source: the National Gardening Association

happy weekend to you

May your weekend be filled with all good little things....Like a trip to the beach, sunshine & dessert.

wordless wednesday

wreck this journal....part 2

out of publication and missed...

I know that it has been several months since publication ended, but I still think of you every time I pull a mag out of my mailbox in anticipation to see which glossy monthly read has come. No one compares to you. Besides being my eye candy, you were the one that gave me the most amount of pull-outs each month, (which by the way I wish I didn't do now), and your ideas were endless. I am so far from being able to decorate, but this monthly mag gave me a folder of ideas. Affordable, colorful, wonderful, inspiring ideas.....Need I go on?

First Blueprint and now Domino. Feels like a bad break-up. It definitely topped my list in monthly reading indulgences. Another result from a crappy economy. Next you will tell me that In Style Home has been canceled as well. Has it? Come to think of it, I haven't seen one in a long time. All the good ones keep dropping like flies.

bouquets of pretty

These wedding flowers are so beautiful. They make me cheery. The only two things I would have changed about my own wedding.....the photographer and my flowers.

15 things you don't know about me...

1. I was born and raised in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Now I only live in the next town over.

2. Who needs 31 flavors? I only need vanilla.

3. John Mayer is my favorite musician.

4. My least favorite is U2. I shut the radio off when they come on.

5. My first car was a Renault, Encore.

6. The next movie I want to rent on DVD is Little Ashes.

7. My favorite (frequently used) phrase: I am sooo tired.

8. My first real job is the only one I've ever had.

9. I don't know how to do a cartwheel.

10. I never attended college.

11. I don't drink alcohol.

12. Odie was the name of my first and only dog.

13. Christmas is my least favorite holiday because, sadly, it is out of control now. I think everyone forgot the true meaning.

14. I met my husband on a blind date.

15. My middle name is Carmel.


I am going to "Tag" three of my blogger friends to cough up 15 facts we may not know about them. Dish out the info: Kelly, Kelly & Katie. Any 15 facts will do! Come on.....it's fun!

backyard views

Happy weekend to everyone...These are the views from both sides and the back of my yard. Maybe I need to slow down a bit to realize how beautiful it is outside...right around me.

summertime eats

Made a wonderful meal. Trying to use up the garden veggies. Not all above are from my garden; if so, I would be very pleased with myself! I found a wonderful zucchini recipe from here. I was looking for a zucchini bread recipe that was "lighter" than the one I have in my recipe box....sorry Mom. This one will not disappoint. Try it!

wordless wednesday: sharing a story

wreck this journal...part 1

a fun journal

As per the author's, Keri Smith's, website:

I just bought this journal for Emma. We are going to do one page a day together. I actually bought it for my niece and my daughter was able to watch her mess around with it and have a good time completing the tasks. She had so much fun with it, so I decided to get one for Emma and put it away for a later time (since she is only 5 1/2). Emma begged to get started on it right away, so I obliged. With all the silly things that get done to this journal, it will be "wrecked" by the time we have it completed. We will have some fun time together, and isn't that what Summer is all about?

return to sender...

Whimsical return address stamps from lettergirl.

i love etsy

The Soul in Bloom - Bold Edition by Jeweled Blossoms.
I couldn't pass this one up. Purchased two and gave one as a gift to someone very special.

more magazines

My friend, Jenifer, sells magazines at the absolute cheapest price possible. Go ahead, treat yourself! If you don't see the one you want, contact her on the page below and ask. She has tons to choose from, and doesn't have them all listed yet.

There are no hidden fees, and shipping is always FREE. You won't believe her prices, and you will be sad that you ever paid full price out of the magazine or mags website. I just got one for $3.00 a year, that sits and stares at me in the grocery line for 5.00? a pop!

Come and check out her new store at http://bargainsbyjc.auctivacommerce.com/
**Use the code "summer" in checkout now until 7/31/09 and save 10% off of your order!** Let her know when you checkout that "Lisa" sent you.

I know, it's awesome. You're welcome. I try and pass all my good little things on to my friends. Enjoy!

pretty side yard view

hy-dran-ge-a: a shrub with large, showy clusters of white, blue or pink flowers.

.....how about ones with white, blue, pink and purple flowers all at the same time. They are "Endless Summer" hydrangeas on the side of my house.

I have "Nikko Blue" ones across the whole back wall that are not blue, but pink! I have to investigate how to make them blue for next summer. Stupid soil.

happy weekend & cyber-shot is on its way out...

I dream of the Canon EOS Rebel T11. Nick says, "Are you kidding me?....."

Have a happy, happy weekend. I will be camera shopping...without Nick.

guess which movie this house is from?

I have a strong love for this house. Actually, I have a strong love for way too many houses. I could never be a realtor. I would sell, buy, sell, buy all the time. Can you guess what movie it is from? Before I give you the answer, let me tell you about this awesome blog I stumbled upon while doing a house search. It is called Hooked on Houses, and I could spend way too much time on there looking at movie houses inside and out. You can also take a detailed look inside of celebrity homes. What a fabulous blog! Julia did an amazing job on this blog, and she has impeccable taste. Here are a few more movie houses I listed below. Try to guess them before reading the answers. Do you have a favorite movie house? If you don't comment to my blog, send me an email and let me know how many you got right, and if there is a house out there that you are in love with that isn't listed. Of course I knew all of these. Well, except for the last one.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Scroll down for the answers:

1) George Bank's house, of course, in Father of The Bride

2) Diane Keaton's house in Somethings Gotta Give

3) The Family Stone

4) Stepmom

5) Cameron Diaz's house in The Holiday

6) Meg Ryan's house in You've got Mail

cape may county zoo

A very large and beautiful zoo. Admission is a donation.


A few of our favorites.


He looks harmless.


Snuggling in for a nap.


Lisa's thinking, "handbag".


New this year. Ride for $2.00.


Em loves it.


Nicholas is scared of it.

"Whew, that was another fun day. Our mommy and daddy rock.".

beach days

the dunes


view from my beach chair


hard at work


enjoying his day


dad's seahorse


a buried treasure


got my board and I'm ready to go...

We will try to spend all of our free time at the shore until we go back to school. Nothing beats the amazing weather, the beach & our time together. Don't forget the relaxation, the good food and all of our friends here. We will spend as many days here as we can having fun and making family memories. Summer goes by so fast, and we are enjoying every minute of it.

book review

Maybe I shouldn't blog about my reads, because every one's taste in reading is different, but I was disappointed with this book. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice summer beach read because of the setting, but so many people told me to read the book and see the movie. Umm, am I missing something? It had some tender moments, but oh so predictable. I'm giving it 2 stars out of 5, only because it takes place at a beach, and the Inn I picture is very Cape May-ish.

If you haven't signed up for Goodreads yet, it is a wonderful way to document the books you read. Your friends can view how you rated the books you've read, and pick one off your list. I love picking out a new book that one of my friends gave 4 or 5 stars to, so that I do not waste my valuable free time or money on a snoozer. Also, I like to know what my friends are currently reading. The one above didn't do it for me though. Recommendations are welcomed.

good luck, bad luck

Husband goes to the beach. Husband finds 3 bills totaling $75.00 blowing down the street. Husband walks back to his car and has a $33.00 parking ticket. Husband comes back to the condo and breaks mother-in-law's ceramic thingy. Husband goes to the pool and gets 3 hugh bites on his neck from a horsefly. So the question is, is he ahead of the game or jinxed?

country charm

A girl with new construction dreams of a tiny country cottage...

little chef

Sometimes it is hard to have the kids help with dinner. The actual dinner, not just the setting of the table. Usually I am in a hurry to get dinner on the table so that we can all sit and eat. Lunch is an easier task to help with. Em can make sandwiches and we all comply, but dinner requires adult, hands on, get out of the way and I'll call you when it is ready. Sometimes I have to slow down and let her be creative in the kitchen. That means a little more often than icing cupcakes and putting sprinkles on cookies. What is more fun than a taco? The best part is that she loves eating them as much as making them. When she turned four, we didn't have any problems with anything we fed her, other than broccoli. She will even eat Chinese food, and basically anything we put in front of her. Nicholas, loved making them, but not so much eating them. He resorted to some sprinkled cheese and then begged for spaghetti, which we always have on hand. I have one great eater, and one....not so great.

21 years

Today I have been at my job for twenty-one years. I know what you are thinking.....she doesn't look that old (ha).....but the summer right out of high school, on July 11, 1988, I started a part-time job and tried to decide what I wanted to do with my life. Twenty-one years later, I am still busy trying to get it all done by the end of the work week. My job has become such a big part of my life. Sort of like my left arm. I have been working there more than half my life. And today, in this economy, I realize how lucky I am. But jeez, talk about a creature of habit.

happy friday

May your weekend be filled with all good little things....like a completed chore list, a jump in the pool on a sunny afternoon and some juicy watermelon.

why blog?

I feel I got my blog design completed. I had the blog set up exactly how I wanted it to be - very whimsical and fun. Now I am thinking of changing it.....maybe. Anyone that has a blog knows that it isn't as easy to set up as it looks. When I first got the idea of starting a blog, it came from my friend, Kelly, who documents her happy family moments and shares them with everyone to enjoy. (Thanks, by the way, for sharing!). I loved the idea of that. Something for friends and family to see, but also to keep documented for the kids to look back on. But, I couldn't help myself from blogging about other fun and interesting things that I love. So I guess I take it a step further than a family blog. Why? Does anyone really read this anyway?

I suppose I love to blog for the same reasons I love magazines, taking photos, food, flowers, bakeries, and shopping. I am visually inspired by all things pretty. That may be the reason I enjoy blogging in my free time, since I am definitely not into Facebook, My Space or Twitter. Anyway, I am going to change up my blog in the near future. Crazy to change it? Sure, but I need a change.

nicholas gets dressed

"Mom, is it hot out today? Do I need an up-sleeve shirt or a down-sleeve shirt ?".

summer vacation movie

We didn't see it in 3D, just the regular version, but Nicholas loved it so much! Emma was into it, but not as much as a little boy who has a hugh interest in dinosaurs. It is one to buy if you own the others. As a parent, I watched the whole thing without finding it torturous. I would watch it again, too. It had some funny parts in it that Nick & I laughed at that the kids didn't get, but they have to entertain us as well, if we are spending a $32.00 to see a matinee with the kiddies. Oh yeah, take $40 bucks if you want some popcorn. $40.00 is my limit though; I took the bottled water. It was a good movie!

swimsuit season

L-O-V-E this swimsuit from Boden.

wordless wednesday: a "tan" dancer

holiday festivities

We had a fabulous weekend in Avalon, New Jersey for the holiday. The weather was perfect, and the beach was so relaxing. It was a nice, long weekend and we really got to enjoy the kids. Lots of ocean time, and ice cream. Em is a little scared of loud noises, but Nicholas had no problem at all enjoying the 1/2 hr long fireworks display. On the whole island, I never saw one sparkler all weekend. Strange, but safe. There were plenty of glow sticks to go around.

happy friday

May your weekend be filled with all good little things.....like a day off with pay to spend with the ones that matter the most, bake a flag cake for Saturday and let the kids help decorate it, and pull out your camera and take photos of everyone enjoying the fireworks! Happy Fourth of July weekend!!!

first pickins

Okay, okay, so I know it's not much....but it is my first pick of the season. I will have eggplant and zucchini next week, but for now Emma and I had the best strawberry (yes, only one) that I ever tasted. Yes, I split it in half for my daughter. You know when you have kids, you aren't putting any food in your mouth without someone wanting it or asking you, "What are you eating?", and staring at it like you are a criminal stealing the last crumb of food on the face of the earth. Anyhow, I am learning that you have to have a whole lot of beans to have enough for dinner. I must confess that this is my second pick. My first one was three diff. kinds of lettuce. They give you a three day window for eating, and it is hard to go back to store bought lettuce when you are done. So, I stand corrected. This is the second sweep of the garden. The lettuce, by the way, was a success and is already grown to half the picking size again. We'll see how the rest goes...

wordless wednesday: firefly season

second one out

Emma runs in the back door....."Mommy there is blood on my fingers and I don't know where it came from because I didn't cut my hand...I don't think.". Extreme panic sets in as she starts to cry. "Em, it's okay, honey. Your tooth just fell out". A smile emerges through tears and blood. I really thought I wasn't going to be able to find it since she was outside on the deck after dinner enjoying her dessert, but I consoled her and told her we should look for it, and sure enough there it was.....in her popsicle! She was afraid that the Tooth Fairy couldn't find her tooth on vacation because she wouldn't know where Emma was, but the next day she was super excited to find a secret stash under her pillow at the mountain house. After all, the Tooth Fairy is magic.

lake naomi

houses on the lake


nick, nicholas & emma


emma's first time fishing


nicholas wants to fish every day now


enjoying the afternoon, hoping for a fish


nichole, em & nicholas sitting on the hot tub


the view from the bedroom window


our friend in the driveway


We went away to the Pocono Pines for a family vacation with Nick's side of the family. It was some quiet down time with the kids, and they got to experience the mountains for a change. Normally we are at the beach, but this time they got to enjoy the great outdoors in a different way. We saw some interesting critters, a big turtle that hung out in the driveway, and when I went down the road to attempt to get cell phone service, three turkeys were in the middle of the road. That's something you are not used to on a daily basis. All being less than two hours away...it is such a different atmosphere. It was actually chilly on some days, but later in the week the kids got to enjoy the pool. I read 'Nights in Rodanthe' and caught up on my sleep. For all the tired Moms out there.....it doesn't take much to feel caught up on rest. Just travel to where the cell phones and computers can't exist, and in two days you will feel like a million bucks. It is very relaxing, and you can't complain about losing track of the day of the week. By the way, as soon as I got in I jumped right online.....after I hung up my cell phone.

see ya!

I am going away! (Hopefully on my agenda: fishing, swimming, exercising, reading, sleeping in and dining out...) I am not sure if there will be internet where I am going, but if so, I will be here. Afterall, my kids will be in bed by 9:00, which leaves me grounded. If not, I will be back in no time!

father's day

My children will grow up and be so thankful and happy that they have such a wonderful Father who loves them more than anything. We couldn't ask for anything more. He is a great Dad, (and husband), and today he deserves to be reminded of how proud I am of him. We love you!

welcome summer

Today is the last day of Spring 2009, and hopefully it leaves us with all the rain in came in with. It rains every. single. day! The kids already thought it was Summer, so they aren't too excited about the news. They do want to have a water balloon toss, go swimming, eat popsicles and watermelon and have dinner outside, so come on Summer, enough with the rain......we are ready for ya. Let's pray for a slow, long, dry season so that we can have a lot of fun and enjoy it. Bring on the sun & heat.....come on already!

happy friday

May your weekend be filled with all good little things....like call up some friends, fire up the grill, pull out the blender and make margaritas!


INGREDIENTS:
Salt, for rimming the glass (optional)
Ice
1 1/2 ounces tequila (blanco, 100 percent agave)
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (not from a bottle - from a lime!)
1/2 ounce Cointreau (not Triple Sec)

INSTRUCTIONS:
If using salt, place in a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of a rocks glass with a dampened paper towel, then dip in salt.
Fill the glass with ice; add tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau; and stir a few times until chilled. Serve immediately.

people magazine - hottest bachelor of 2009

Here is People's Hottest Bachelor of 2009.....Chace Crawford. Now I'm not saying that he isn't nice looking, but come on, my pick below made the list, but he should be #1. No introduction needed unless you've been living under a rock....

strawberry picking

I took the kids strawberry picking in Lancaster yesterday. The weather held off until we were finished, and we had a great time. The farmer's market is located literally in the farmer's back yard, and they have enormous crops full of everything imaginable. We were able to pick a ton of berries, and now I am trying to figure out what to bake. Emma & Nicholas were eating as fast as they were picking. The little girls that lived there were so adorable in their handmade dresses, sitting on their Dad's John Deere tractor. They showed us their pet goaty-goats.....Then we weighed our berries and off we went down the road for lunch and to the local market for some homemade "whoopie-pies". Country living at its best!

wordless wednesday: ice cream cones

pretty hair

Can I have her hair? Please? Maybe? No? I didn't think so.....

Is it me, or do these two look mismatched?

gwyneth's NY kitchen

Gwyneth, thanks for sharing your home with us.

My Dad is an Upholsterer, and he did a repair to Gwyneth's ottoman. I don't know who did the original upholstering of her ottoman, but they didn't pull the fabric tight enough and it wrinkled. She wanted it fixed, so he fixed it, and the decorator sent it to NY. Don't know if it is the one shown here, but he said it was "blue-ish".

martha stewart pom-poms

I would love to throw a shower or party and have these pom-poms from Martha Stewart hanging above the food station. How great are they? You can attempt to make your own with directions from her website, or you can now purchase them at Michaels. They come in many colors. Her items at Michaels are what has me stopping in the store when I go by.

brock's birthday

My friend Sherry's youngest boy, Brock, turned one this week and we attended a birthday party for him at their home. There were so many young children there, and she hired a balloon maker to occupy all of them which turned out to be a big hit. She let each kid pick two balloons to have done and take home, and my children picked a Disney princess, a dinosaur and a flower. We had a great time at the party and I am sure that Brock, Reece, Sherry and Keith are absolutely exhausted today. Their new home is absolutely wonderful, and we had the greatest time!

an end of an era

Emma's School


With her teachers - Miss Plummer & Mrs. Hunter

Ashlyn, Johnathan & Emma

Emma and Kaitlyn

Shelby, Em & Trinity

Ash & Em

My little girl is done with Preschool. The only school she has ever known. In September she will start Kindergarten with a class that is three times bigger, and all new children to meet. I don't think it has fully hit her yet that she will be leaving this all behind, because although we don't see many of her friends outside of school very much, she speaks of them often with a real sense of friendship. She will miss her friends and teachers very much once it hits her, and I will miss taking and picking her up from school. She always had the biggest smile coming out of the classroom, with so much excitement every school day as she told me all about her morning on the ride home. She is excited for kindergarten and she thinks every big, yellow bus that passes us by is the exact one she will be riding to school on. I don't have the heart to tell her that I want to drive her in every day. She will be crushed. I am still feeling like she would be too open to all the elements that I may not want to expose her to yet. Maybe that is the wrong way of going about it, but after all, finished PreK or not, she is only five. We'll see....it is still up for negotiation.

happy friday

May your weekend be filled with all good little things....like paint your toes a bright summer coral color, stroll Barnes & Noble and pick out a new book and (in honor of Nick's latest purchase) make some delicious waffles for your family for breakfast.