Friday, July 29, 2011

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!!
I am soooo excited for our weekend.
We have a lot of great things planned and I can't wait to share them with you on Monday.

This week I thought I would share with you my favorite summer meal!!!



Salad!!!
I love to eat salad in the summer. I love that I can go to the Farmer's Market and get everything local.
Everything with the exception of the avocado is local!!!

I love to top my salad with a little protein and on this day we had grilled tuna.
My new favorite drink San Pellegrino.

This is my favorite salad dressing.
I buy a 24 oz of this bottle from BJ's for $2.99.
If you buy this dressing in the grocery store you pay at least $3.79 for a 12 oz bottle.
Just a little tip if you like this dressing but don't want to spend that much on dressing!!

I hope you have a great weekend!!!


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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Thursday Tips

Time again for my Thursday helpful hints.

It's bug season and they really enjoy feasting on Ballerina and Tommy.

I don't  like putting bug spray on the kids so I needed to find another option.

When we went camping a couple weeks ago I was reminded of a good insect repellent.



Dryer Sheets.

You put a new dryer sheet in your pocket. It keeps the bugs away.
Ballerina did not get one bug bite that night!!



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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Heat Is On

I can not get over how hot it was last week. It was so hot we actually had to stay inside.


We sat by the fan a lot.

We put cucumbers on our eyes.

It was so nice and refreshing.

Someone got a little hungry and started eating his cucumber.

We made a lot of bracelets.

The kids beaded and I made bracelets using gimp. It bought me back to when I was in camp.

We've been crafting A LOT!!!!




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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Mantlescape

I looked at our fireplace mantle and realized I still had my patriotic decorations up.

I decided that I needed to change it up a little bit. I thought it would be fun to decorate the mantle for our upcoming vacation.


Tommy painted this picture several years ago. I took this picture of him when we were in Maine at Stonewall Kitchen.

Took this lamp from the kid's old room. I added some sand and shells into a bowl.

I love these!!

I thought it would be a little fun to add some of the kid's old clothes.

There you have our vacation mantle.

I'm starting to plan the September mantle.

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Monday, July 25, 2011

Big Shock

Happy Monday.
I hope you had a great weekend.

We had a very nice weekend with one BIG shock.

On Friday night when I went to bed, I noticed that Speed Racer was not in his bed. He decided that he wanted to sleep in the farm room. (It's the old nursery and the room we use for guests.)

When he woke up on Saturday he informed Tommy and I that he wanted to sleep in the farm room from now on. I wanted to cry. I couldn't believe it I just let it go and then he brought it up again a few hours later.

I said to Tommy I guess that means I need to re-arrange the rooms.

I thought that we would have a least another year until we would have to deal with separating the twins.
I also thought there would be a fight for the bigger room. Boy, was I wrong!!!

On Saturday we spent the day on the lake at my father in law's house and got home really late. We put the kids in their room. Speed Racer was a little upset that he wasn't in the farm room but I told him we would talk about it tomorrow.

As much as Speed Racer was ready to move ou,t there was a certain someone who didn't want him to move out. I thought that maybe he would change his mind in the morning but he was still talking about it.

On Sunday morning we spoke to the kids about being in separate rooms and Speed Racer still wanted to move into the farm room. Ballerina was beside herself. It's hard to make both kids happy and I really wanted to respect Speed Racer's wishes. So, I had to think quick about getting Ballerina on board with this.

I told her that we could make her room girly. She said does that mean pink in my room. I said sure. She was suddenly on board!! I still had to throw one more curve ball at them.

I informed Ballerina that she would be getting the full size bed that's in the farm room. She was not thrilled about losing her bed. Tommy informed her that it was always the plan that our daughter would get that bed. She wanted to know why she couldn't have her bed in her room.

I told her both twin beds would be going into the farm room, because when we have company her room would be used for our guests and she would go into Speed Racer's room and spend the night with him. She is excited to share her room with people that come over to visit us. I also told her that on the big bed we could put flower sheets on her bed. I know the way to get to her.

On Sunday I spent the afternoon moving the beds around. Today I moved Speed Racer's clothes and toys into his room. I promised him that when we get back from Maine that we would paint his room. I hate to paint over the mural that Tommy painted five years ago, but I think Speed Racer has outgrown the whole farm thing.

Here are somethings that I did to Ballerina's room to make it girly without spending any money.


Tommy and I inherited this bed from Nana's sister in law right before we got married. We knew that when we had a little girl it would be for her.  

I bought this bench last year for $5.00 and now it's in Ballerina's room holding her bedroom toys.

I moved the mirror into her room and added some of her favorite dresses and dance costumes. In between her bed and mirror is a cradle that Tommy's paternal grandfather made. Ballerina puts her favorite dolls in there.

She loves looking at herself!!

I convinced Ballerina to get rid of her Little Mermaid Vanity. It was falling apart. I promised her that I would give her a nice vanity that she could sit at. I had this old vanity table sitting around so I thought I would put it in her room. The vanity needed a mirror and I had this mirror hanging on a wall not really doing anything.

This mirror was gold. I had some white and pink ballerina slipper spray paint around the house, so I painted the mirror and rubbed off a little paint to make it look distressed. The mirror looks better now!!

The window had yellow curtains so I needed to find something else to put up in this new girly room.
I had this pink material that I bought last year for 50 cents. It was two curtains, so I cut them in half and then in half again and made valances. I had the sheer curtains on my sliding glass door. The beach scene will have to stay for now until I find a better picture for her room.

I tied her ballet slippers up and hung them up on a hook.

I bought this jewelry box into her room and she organized all her jewelry. I wonder where she gets that from?


Everyone in the house is now very Happy!!! 


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Friday, July 22, 2011

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!!

I hope you are having a good week and keeping COOL!!!!

My favorite thing today is a place that I always forget how much I love it until I am there.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to this store because I needed to buy a wedding gift.

Every time I walk into this store I think oh how I could just move right in.

Somebody else with me had the same idea because he slipped off his shoes and made himself comfortable on the sofa and then began fluffing the pillows. And no I don't mean Tommy. That's right Speed Racer had the same idea as me...to move right in.

Are you wondering which store Speed Racer and I want to move in to?

Pottery Barn.


This is actually the sofa set up that Speed Racer was drawn to.
I love that coffee table.

Such a great craft room. Still looking for inspiration for my laundry/craft room.

Just love this table but I would like it a little darker.

I would love to wake up and look at this room every morning.

I love this chair.

This outdoor area would have me outside all the time!!


If Tommy and I could keep that much wine in our house at any given time I would totally have that in my house.

 Of course if I had all the money in the world I would be able to shop there so I will just have to look to Pottery Barn for inspiration!!!

Have a great weekend!!

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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Thursday Tips

I know you have been waiting all week for my tips.

So here it is...


Do you ever wake up in the morning with your eyes looking like this?
I do EVERYTIME I wear mascara!!! I have tried every kind of eye make-up remover out there and nothing gets my eyes clean.

So, one day I looked over at my shelf and saw some Vaseline.

 I put some on my fingers and rubbed it on my closed eyes. I took a cotton pad and rubbed it off and low and behold the mascara came off! I washed my face with my facial cleanser and my face looked clean.

I know I am so awesome for trying new things to share with you.

I also use Vaseline for something else too. Do you want to know?

In the middle of winter when my face and skin are very dry I rub Vaseline petroleum jelly all over myself.

I know I might look like a grease ball for a little bit but it really works. My Nana has been doing this for decades. Decades I tell you!!!!
Give it a try just not when you are going on a hot date maybe before you go to bed!!

Do you have any tips you want to share with the class?


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Monday, July 18, 2011

Disappointment

This past weekend we were looking forward to crossing an activity off my 40 List.

However, with the heat we decided that we needed to postpone the activity to September or October.
I'm going to put it on my calendar ASAP.

Our plan was to drive to Hoboken and take the Ferry over to NYC. From there we were going to walk or take a water taxi to the Brooklyn Bridge. I have always wanted to walk over the bridge and spend sometime wandering the streets of Brooklyn. We were a little bummed but we also figured if we wait till the fall we would be able to go with our favorite NYC family.

So instead we hung out at our development pool. We packed a nice lunch and spent the whole afternoon at the pool. Going to the pool is getting a little more stressful because the kids don't want to swim with their bubbles on anymore. It's weird how stressful this is for me considering I was a lifeguard, but I guess it's different because it's my kids.

On Sunday, we were moving a little slow and we couldn't make up our mind on what to do. I know one person here is fine with doing nothing but there are three of us that want to do things when the other person is here.

Tommy suggested that maybe we clean off our kayak and take it down to the lake. I figured this would be a great idea because I have my heart set on taking our kayak to Maine. I think that since we've had the kids we used the kayak once.

We couldn't find all the straps so we wedged the kayak in my CRV and headed down the lake in separate cars.


Ballerina and I went around the whole lake. I think that someone was surprised that we were gone for so long. Look at Ballerina's oar. She thought to use one of her bigger shovels. She also helped paddle most of the way. I was impressed!! It was nice to have some quiet time with her.

I forgot how much I love being out on the kayak. I usually don't wear my life jacket but I am trying to be a good role model.


Tommy and Speed Racer heading out on their venture.

Tommy did most of the paddling.
Speed Racer just told him to go faster.

This is a nice size lake.

This is our other boat that we've had for four years. Tommy has used it once. Ballerina and I thought we should get Tommy to work on the boat so two of us could go out in the kayak and the other two could use this boat.

Ballerina "sitting on the dock of bay wasting time..."


Ballerina showing off her new shades. She is sooo stylish.

Speed Racer sporting his new shades too.
You can also see how the kayak was wedged inside my CRV.

My goal this week is to get some more straps or find the old ones!!!

Hope you had a nice weekend!!!



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Saturday, July 16, 2011

Boat Ride

Happy Saturday.
We have a great family day planned. I can't wait to share it with you next week.

I'll give you a hint it's something I have on my 40 list.

Anyway, we are heading out the door to go to the Farmer's Market then to our
  adventure.

The kids and I are having a great summer.
My parents are staying at their camper full-time this summer which mean the kids and I get to spend more time with them. I also enjoy the help of having them around. I also enjoy the adult conversation with them.

The kids LOVE going to the camper so we head over there several times a week.

The other day Speed Racer and I had the opportunity to go out on the river on Pop's (my Dad) boat.
Ballerina is not ready for a ride yet. I think she has a hard time trusting my Dad because he is so goofy and crazy. My Dad is one of the few men I would only go out on a boat with.

Anyway, Speed Racer and I had a blast.


Speed Racer just a little nervous. He held my hand the whole time!!

Despite the boat noise I think he likes the peacefulness of being out on the water. He also enjoys the" need for speed."

Our Captain. Pops!!!

The water from the side of the boat.

Ballerina and Grams (my mom) watching us on the boat. They like putting their feet in the water.

The beach we were fishing at the other day.

The front of the boat. I love being on the Delaware River. On one side I see the state I grew up in and on the other side is the state we live in now!!

Ballerina waving to us as we go by.

The campground has a lot of hibiscus trees so I picked a few.

Monkey see Monkey do

Speed Racer and Grams walking back to the camper so we could go to the pool.



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