happy (fun) weekend.

what are your weekend plans?

we will be enjoying one last summer weekend of fun before the school year begins on monday. yes, monday! can you believe the kids are going back to school already? today, we plan on playing outside and enjoying the pool... all day long! and then saturday plans will begin with a morning trip to the farmers market, more pool time and dinner in the backyard.


simply enjoyable family time shared together in one last summer weekend. hope your weekend is happy and fun too. see you back here on monday after the kids are off to school for their very first day!!

arrived.

last night, jeff arrived.

we are very happy to be together once again. it's been more than three months since our home has been complete with family. since we have been all here together at home. it was so nice to hear laughter and excitement this morning. finally, all sitting down to breakfast and then playing games down in the basement. the kids are more than happy. and as for me... calmness, contentment, and absolute joy now that my husband has arrived home.

happy monday.

3 days and counting...
we are anxiously waiting and counting
until the 5 of us are together again!!


print available at modernpop

lemonade.

yes.. those are squeezed lemon halves thrown in my kitchen sink.

as i was dusting and cleaning and organizing upstairs this weekend, slade decided he would make fresh lemonade for himself and his sisters. so... there i found the three of them- sitting on the kitchen island around a pitcher filled with squeezed lemon juice, water and sugar. it wasn't quite the right proportions, as it tasted more like lemon water with some sugar, but i absolutely love slade's ambition and confidence to try his hand at anything. not to mention, his ability to organize and corral his siblings to work on any project with him.

slade stirring his concoction and making sure there are no seeds

sia was very happy to assist with the mixing and stirring

my favorites on friday: summer desserts.

via marthastewart

one of my favorite summer desserts is strawberry cake. i found the recipe in the june 2005 issue of Martha Stewart Living and has been one of my favorites ever since. it is extremely easy to make and can be ready from start to finish in 90 minutes time. i think it's the perfect dessert to serve after any summer meal. serve it room temperature with a little sweetened whipped cream or serve it warm with vanilla ice cream. leftovers are especially delicious in the morning with a good cup of coffee.

i'm making a strawberry cake today to enjoy after our friday night meal of antipasta and pizza. i'm so looking forward to getting back to making pizzas on fridays. i've missed it while we were away this summer. so, it will feel great to be back in my kitchen this weekend doing what i usually do.

how about you? what are your weekend plans? will you be cooking or baking or enjoying anything sweet? whatever it is... hope your weekend is wonderful.

family rules.

our family rules said just perfectly!!

it wouldn't hurt to hang as a little reminder.
(i am loving this today.)

via barnowlprimitives

my little boy.

my little boy has such a sweet little heart. he is a worker, a planner, an organizer and likes things to be just so. he is wonderfully creative, loves surprises and hates goodbyes. he is not afraid to play house with his sisters, yet loves spending time with the boys riding scooters and bikes and playing sports and video games. he enjoys helping me cook and bake, yet when daddy is home he is always right by his side. he assists him with the yard work and household chores. loves tools, going to home depot and anything with speed. he is a rough little boy with so much energy, yet his heart is so gentle.

this morning he woke up and went down to the kitchen before the girls and i. from the upstairs i could hear dishes and silverware and the microwave running. he yelled up to us to stay upstairs because he had a surprise. of course, the girls ran down anyway, and he begged them not to look in the kitchen until it was time. he had the breakfast table set for all of us with plates and forks and napkins and juice glasses and maple syrup. he had warmed up the leftover waffles from yesterday. on each plate was either a half or a whole waffle and he told us where to sit. he was so proud of his surprise. proud he prepared breakfast this morning for us to enjoy.

this is not the first time my 6-year old boy has prepared us a meal. we've had lunches of crackers and cheese and fruit and snacks delivered in small little bowls.

i love my little boy for a million reasons and more. when i look at him, i know i am seeing his daddy all over again. i know his daddy was this same little boy. the same little boy i am watching grow each and every day. and someday, like his daddy, my little boy with such a sweet heart is going to make some girl so wonderfully happy. just like his mommy is today.

cooking + a summer craft.

i was happily back in my kitchen this morning making waffles for my kiddies and then crafting with them this afternoon.


we tried out a summer craft idea found on eighteen25
using some rocks we found along the shore and crayons.
directions can be found here.


look how cool...
my children were very proud of their newly colored and shiny rocks!

love this.

i saw this awesome image from Ideal Room on CreateGirl. i love all sorts of typography! and love what this says.... "you have my whole heart for my whole life." such wonderful words and a glimpse of a great looking bedroom!

enjoy these things.

good morning monday. where did the weekend go? we arrived home and i instantly became a little under the weather. so unpacking, cleaning and getting back to normal is taking a little longer than i expected. so while i am trying to get healthy and settling back at home, please enjoy a these things today from around the web.

really cupcakes + vintage trailer? what a fabulous idea!

dark cherry crumble cake... yum! can't wait to get back to baking

first beautiful flowers, now this- truly lovely.

great new site for moms

a reminder to break the routine.


happy monday.

saying goodbye.

goodbye new jersey.
and, to the people and places we love so much.

tomorrow, we are going home.

see you back here on monday once we are settled.

i hope you have a wonderful friday
and fabulous weekend too.

10 years ago today.

i knew my life had changed forever 10 years ago today. i met the most wonderful guy on the dance floor at my best friend's wedding. wow! as strange as it may seem, i knew that night, i had met the man i would spend the rest of my life with. i knew it. i believe in fate. i believe we were meant to be. and so thankful 10 years ago today our paths crossed marking only the beginning of our forever.

i love you so much jeffrey. and, couldn't imagine a single day of my life without you.

print available at whimsy studios

memories of home.

i've been thinking a lot lately about home. the way the sun shines brightly into our foyer during the day. and the way the streetlight shines into our bedroom at night. pictures of our children hung on the walls. memories. my kitchen. cooking. baking. sweetness fills the air. pizza night on fridays. and the warmth. our children's bedrooms. the comfort. and a true statement of their personalities. in the last few days, they have been saying how they miss them too. the slamming of the garage door and running down the upstairs hall. nightly rituals and our usual sundays. projects i started and ready to complete. projects i am anxious to begin. i do miss our home. thankful for the time away. but, we are ready to go home.

dreamy cottage.

i applaud those who follow their dreams and can make them a reality. when i came across this quaint little cottage, i fell in love. an old hunting cabin turned into a dreamy retreat in the woods. it is absolutely darling. you can read the whole story here or visit the owner's shabby chic blog.

i can only dream that someday jeff and i will have our own little cottage by the shore. i hope you had a happy weekend. (maybe, you dreamed a little too!)

photos via elementsofstyleblog.... thank you for sharing!