Wednesday, August 31, 2011

happy un-father's day

 While poking through the pictures that I've taken this last month I keep coming across all these great ones of the two dads that are living here right now- my husband, and our friend Miguel. It is such a blessing to watch these guys do what they do best every day. In the story of Alice in Wonderland the characters have a knack for celebrating un-birthdays (every other day of the year that is not your birthday is your un-birthday). I guess following that logic that would make this "Un-father's Day" (one of many  :)). So let's hear it for Daddy's! If you know an amazing dad then tell him "Happy Un-father's Day" today and make sure you let him know how great a job he's doing!





Tuesday, August 30, 2011

i just love this

What a great little laundry room! C'est chic!

photo credits:
apartmenttherapy.com (of course!)

weekend photos

Just a few random photos from my lovely weekend. How was yours?










my storm free weekend

This was the best hurricane ever! Instead of sitting around with the lights off and sweltering, my family and our friends took off to visit our dear relatives that live near Winston- Salem over the weekend while the storm passed. I have never been to this particular city, and let me tell you, it was a surprise. It's a great little city, relatively clean, and the arts district is chock full of amazing little stores, boutiques, and (slurp) gorgeous little restaurants and wine bars. Just lovely. Here are some fun shots I got of the city. Can't wait to go back.










Friday, August 26, 2011

high water





I just wanted to let you all know that I am evacuating my current location on account of Irene, the old party pooper. But the good news is that I will be holing up with a best friend, her husband, and a few other friends...what better way to spend the weekend anyway? So away we go and I pray you are all safe. Take care, and I will be back as soon as the power comes back on here after the storm!



Wednesday, August 24, 2011

time for a squishy quilt



Anthropologie
I love my room, and I love my bed. I took this shot a few weeks ago and it looks mighty alluring today. I keep thinking it's time to make a bedspread for it. There's this one at Anthropologie that I've been drooling over- it looks like a big pile of pillows...so squishy. Yes, isn't it funny how every time I look at the linens at Anthropologie I can't help but think it's time to sleep under something that didn't belong to Chad while he was in college?

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

my granola!



I love granola. I love it so much that I make a fresh batch each week, and eat it with yogurt and honey most mornings, and milk when it's hot. If you've never poured fresh milk over hot granola that is just out of the oven and watched it steam in your bowl, well, then you've missed something rather good, haven't you? Here is your opportunity to remedy that tragedy. Here is my granola recipe, and as you can see from the photo above, you can toss all kinds of things into it. Be creative, be fearless, and eat it slowly and enjoy every rocky little bite.

Granola

In a huge bowl mix the following:

6 cups of old fashioned oats
1 Tblsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
Coconut

Optional additions:
Raisins
Peanuts
Sunflower Seeds
Flax Seed or Powder

In a small pot heat the following until dissolved:

1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup honey

Now pour the hot mixture over the oat mixture in the big bowl and fold them together well. Use a stoneware cookie sheet (or a metal sheet lined with foil or greased) and spread the mix on the pan. Don't preheat and bake at 375 degrees til brown on top, approx. 14 minutes. Turn over with a spatula and bake 7 or so more minutes...til it all looks crunchy and honey-brown. Enjoy hot with some milk. Store in a ziploc bag for up to 2 weeks.

Monday, August 22, 2011

ride the tide

Norfolk has a light rail! Yes, that is basically a subway, but above ground. We proudly call it "The Tide" in honor of, well, the ocean and stuff.  To celebrate this momentous occasion, the city is offering free rides until August the 28th. This nifty, and brand-spankin new train has a station that is about a 5 minute walk from my house and boy, did we take advantage of it this weekend! Me and the kids wandered down there with our new housemates, and dear friends, to take the train to MacArthur center. Boy was it packed! (especially with all the strollers we had with us.)


At the station

Maybe we are having way too much fun riding public transportation.

Smooshed, but happy.

 One of the best parts about having this train (and having it so close to my home) is that it stops exactly in front of my favorite coffee shop- Bean There- the coffee shop that I rarely went to before because parking was nonexistent, unless you managed to obtain a metered space or park at the mall for a fee.



Atreyu and Miguel playing chess at Bean There.





So if you're in the area be sure to "ride the Tide" this week while it's still free.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

happy weekend

Do you ever feel like you have way more fun than an adult ought to when you're attending  a kid's birthday party? Me too. :)













Happy Weekend!

Friday, August 19, 2011

why do i get hit on by old men?


I'll admit it's nice every once in awhile to be the age that I am and have the number of children that I have and still be noticed by the opposite sex...but does it seem that they always end up being old men? In the store, in the street, in my car at a stoplight. It's not like I'm getting hit on alot, but if we average the number of young dudes to the number of aged men that have managed to hit on me in the last 8 years or so, well, the old guys are far in the lead. Are they out there hitting on all the chicks, or am I a certain type?  Is it just me or does this happen to all you gals? I just gotta wonder.


Photo Credits:
http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p/LRG/29/2988/X9LQD00Z/posters/pin-up-girls-winking-at-dirty-old-man.jpg
artsondiscount.comh

Thursday, August 18, 2011

make your own floorcloths

I just found this great article from Apartment Therapy (yes, I'm addicted, so what?). It's a DIY tutorial on how to make your own floorcloths from an old tablecloth. I love this idea because if you know anything about me you know I've sworn off carpets until my kids are grown. Also I love it because I have a tablecloth that my mother gave me long ago that is just great, but I never use tablecloths on my table...again, with kids it's just a mess- either something gets spilled, or the tablecloth gets pulled onto the floor! So hopefully soon I'll have a really cool floorcloth that looks mysteriously like the tablecloth she gave me. Cool! Check the article out here.
I love how they used this great floorcloth in a pink room!

all the sparkle

Tina Sparkle



I'm goofy for glitter lately. These great pieces have enough shine to make Tina Sparkle happy. Check out these stunners.















photo credits:
http://mm-aboutanything.blogspot.com/2011/05/sequin-outfits.html
www.freepeople.com
www.forever21.com
www.express.com
www.threadsence.com
http://snapdragonsandteapots.blogspot.com/2011/06/twit-lip-colour.html

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

sprinkles

Summer = ice cream = sprinkles. I love sprinkles








.....but only the real ones...the ones that taste like cake frosting and say "Dec-A-Cake" on the container...not the yucky cruchy ones that crunch super loud. See:



Just thought you'd like to know. :)

nom nom nom


 Photo credits:
 http://www.mygofer.com/shc/s/p_10175_27151_033W561145110001P
 http://picworth1000wrds.deviantart.com/art/Rainbow-Sprinkles-42818245

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

treasury

Someone featured one of my pieces in an Etsy treasury! It's really a lovely treasury! See it here!

Monday, August 15, 2011

welcome home

Today my kids and I are rearranging the house. We have to make room! Our place is all abuzz for one special reason: a dear friend of ours is moving to our town- and bringing his new wife and baby to boot (who we have not met yet!) This guy is actually no longer our friend, but has become family to us, and when he's around, it's like home is a little more complete. So welcome home Miguel, Mia, and Alejandro! In honor of this day here's a few great songs that make me nostalgic about the people who make home feel like home.








Saturday, August 13, 2011

speaking of peaches

Here are three great little peachy finds to hold you over until the weekend ends...go wander around the Etsy shops of these great sellers. See you Monday!












Earrings by Still With You





Super cute dress by Riot Siren and the Quiet Collector



Peachy print by Too Many Suitors (love the shop name!)



Have a sweet weekend.