happy memorial day + some things.

i hope that all of you are enjoying a long memorial day weekend. our is very low key. baking festive treats. spending some family time poolside. eating outdoors and making s'mores. whatever your plans are today, i hope it's a good one.

and please remember the men and women who have faught for our country and made it the place it is today.

here are some things i've seen that i thought you might enjoy too.

popsicles for grownups. yum.
confetti cookies.
a cute printed tote diy.
loving summer denim right now.
and some summer necessities.

happy memorial day.

yay, for a summer break.

today marks the official first day of summer break. yesterday i was a little somber as the school year came to an end. sad to be leaving the teachers we have come to love over the year.  however, today i woke up excited for what i hope the summer will bring. and now the planning of our summer break will begin. 

i hung my traditional happy summer banner across the front door yesterday just before the bus arrived for the last time. here, here and here are banners from years past. it's a tradition that began when slade first started kindergarten. and now he's headed to fourth grade!

how about you? do you have any last day of school or first day of summer break traditions?

the last day.

i sent them off for their last day of school this morning. today, it made me proud to watch them go. this year, more than ever, i think they have grown tremendously. and as they walked across the street and got on the bus, they seemed as if they had grown years since that the very first day last august. they are not so little anymore.  and although there is a part of me that is so sad seeing my babies growing up, i have this strong sense of gratitude and love for who they are becoming.

it hit me more than ever on mother's day. they gave me cards and stories in their own words. they were so grown up, telling me to find beauty in the day, and to shine and be proud. and elle even wrote "i love you so much i want to cry." at that moment i realized, how grown up they really are and they totally get the unconditional love between mother and child. they know that this bond will never diminish wherever life takes us. they know that i love being a mother and i take so much pleasure in being at home with them. i love watching them as they cross the street to get on the school bus each morning and anxiously wait for them as they get off later in the day.

and so, as i watched them get on the bus for the very last day of this school year. i am very proud and full of gratitude as they have grown and excelled during yet another school year.

the sirens.

did i ever mention how much i dislike the sirens? the awfully loud tornado sirens that blare behind our house when a tornado may be near. at the very moment, they are blaring. it sends a chill through me and puts an empty pit in my stomach. i have now moved myself down to the safety of our basement trying not to think about my children who are at school right now. they are nervously taking cover too. it's during times when i'd like nothing more than to hold them tight and have them by my side.

happy friday.

happy friday! i can hardly believe school was cancelled today due to inclement weather. what?? there is not a snowflake or a drop of freezing rain in the air. it's really crazy to say the least. but, i am enjoying letting my children sleep in this morning and i will really surprise them when they wake up and find out there is no school today. now only if there were some snow then we'd really have some fun! i will keep wishing!!

so, whatever your plans are this weekend, i hope you have a good one. we'll be at home today, starting our weekend off early and enjoying the unexpected day off from school!

it's the perfect weekend to make these biscottis and a latte
funny valentine for kids
diy pendant lighting 
a braid bar craft night
cute friendship bracelet tattoos

happy, happy weekend!! i am glad it's here early! 

{image via here}

lunch at home.

today, i am enjoying one of my lunchtime favorites here at home. fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil on focaccia with a touch of balsamic vinegar, olive oil & sea salt. yum. so simple but so good.

p.s. here's another one of my favorite sandwiches to make at home.

back again.

new year. new week. new day. and this morning, my kids are back at school again. and, i'm back working on my blog again. i know i've been away for too long.  it really seems strange that our house is so quiet. and it's just me again. i have so enjoyed the past few weeks having my kids at home, and no schedules to follow. and having family come and go. i have always loved all the joyfulness and busyness that christmas and the new year seem to bring.

so, today i am saying hello to getting back again. back to some sort of structure again. and back to being organized in my days. it's been too long. it's time to get back to completing projects that have gone undone and accomplishing new things. and back to doing the things i enjoy each day. i really do have lots of ideas and good intentions for the new year.

i'm happy i'm back again. i hope you are too.

{image via pinterest, here}

happy new year.

2012 was busy, yet joyful.
and now, i'm looking forward to a brand new year. 
a year of new beginnings. a fresh new start.

i think it's going to be a wonderful 2013. 

hope yours is too.

happy new year!

happy friday. happy weekend! what are your plans for the weekend? my kids have all of next week off from school and i could not be happier. they are looking forward to sleeping in a little later than usual and i am looking forward to being at home together. plus, an extra bonus, we have no sporting events or practices on the calender next week, so we truly will be at home. i actually thought we'd get away to the beach for a few days, but now being at home sounds so much more enjoyable.

whatever your plans i hope you have a great weekend too!

heart touching story that made me really cry

transform your kids art into this

had to share some true sweetness

how simple... a bracelet bottle

stamps made from wine corks

loving this entire line, now at target

happy weekend.

my heart is happy.

there were no tears from this little girl this morning as she crossed the street and got onto the school bus.  after she found a seat, her little face peered through the window and as the bus drove slowly away she waved goodbye with a slight smile.

it made my heart happy.  it was a true moment of my little one's growing independence that i never want to forget.

happy friday + the weekend.

i am happy it's friday! are you?  it has been a busy first full of week of school and i am happy we are finally at the end of the week. my sweet little sia is still adjusting to a full day of kindergarten and i know she will be happy that she doesn't have to go tomorrow. and, i will be happy to see her sweet smiling face in the morning instead of tears as she gets on the school bus.

i am looking forward to making pizza tonight and we have no true weekend plans besides savoring some family time together.  whatever your plans i hope you have a happy friday and great weekend too!!

making these sweets this weekend

hmmm... interesting article

sweet vintage schoolhouse party, perfect for back to school {image above & below}

giant photograph diy

very cool metallic nails

and, loving this bleached shirt technique

  

have a happy weekend! 

 {images via, hwtm}

i'm a lucky girl.

i am such a lucky girl to have the most amazing husband. truly i am.  exactly ten years ago today i married a man who is much more than i ever dreamed of. 

happy 10th anniversary to my compassionate, loving, kind and sweet husband!!

i am so in love with you!! and... thank you for making me one lucky girl!! 

change is okay.

today is a better day. i have never really been good at saying goodbye or with any type of change. however, i am accepting that change is okay. change can be good. and, that the unsettling feeling of letting go and saying goodbye will ease with each day. i know it will.

back to school.

 

this morning slade, elle and sia were all up very early getting ready to go off to school for their first day. i loved their excitement for another school year, as they were all beaming with bright smiles. especially sia, who is riding the school bus this year and going to kindergarten at the elementary school.

i truly tried to hold it all together. i tried to smile as much as i could. i tried not to be nervous. yet seeing all of my children leave me this morning, getting on a school bus (with no seat belts) and leaving home for an entire day was not easy. i know they will all do great and they will have a fantastic day. school is wonderful place to be. but truthfully and honestly, i am sad. they are all growing up so quickly and right before my eyes.

during the past few weeks, so many people have asked me, "what are you going to do now that all of your children are in school?" i do know what i am going to do- i will continue being a mom. the mom i always dreamed about as a little girl. the mom who loves her husband and children immensely. the mom who loves being at home taking care of her family. the mom who loves to bake and cook. the mom who doesn't mind cleaning and laundry and actually enjoys organizing drawers and closets. the mom who has a passion for creativity. the mom who enjoys volunteering at school. this is what i've always dreamed about- being a wife and a mother.  this is what i will continue to do, even now that all of my children are in school all day. perhaps, i will be a little more organized and have a few more quiet moments alone, but truly what i am going to do is not going to change.

and so, although i am a little sad today, i was very happy to see all of their smiles and excitement as they started back to school this morning. i truly do look forward to seeing my children grow and flourish and learn throughout yet another year.  happy first day back to school!!

bento box lunches.

tomorrow marks the very first day of school for us. and, as my children are extremely excited with anticipation of their first day back, i am keeping myself busy prepping and packing lunches. i have found some inspiration here at another lunch and at bentobloggy.

i have one very picky eater heading off to kindergarten this year and i'm trying to find ways to make lunch fun, while hoping she'll try some new things. i love the idea of packing bento box lunches.

 

{images via another lunch}

happy weekend.

do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

this is our last weekend before school starts. so, i think we will savor some pool time. this evening, we have plans for a fun get together with our neighborhood friends. our next meet up will be at the bus stop on wednesday!

i am in love with the idea of having a little cottage in my own backyard

build a picnic table with a built-in cooler

super long candles for your next celebration

add some sparkle to little girl sneakers
 
vintage olympic tees 

a bushel basket lantern ( i think i could make one?)

hope you have a really fun weekend!!

{image via pinterest, rebecca peragine}

numbered chairs.

inspired by my love for typography, a few months ago i decided to update our dining room chairs with a little number typography.  the whole process only took me a little more than an hour.  it really was a quick update! and i am loving the way that they turned out.

what do you think? 

would you ever paint on the seat of your dining room chairs?

washing the car.

taking a break from a day at the pool, my children were very excited when i suggested that they wash my car.  as for them, it didn't seem like work at all, but a good reason to make lots of bubbles in our driveway and a really good chance to use the hose to spray one another.

 

or, as it ended up, slade taking great pleasure in spraying his sisters every chance he had.

 

but, in the end, they all worked very hard, my car was very clean, and they had lots of fun!  it was a great day!!!

the weekend.

 

what are you doing this weekend? now that we are settled back in at home from some time away, i am ready to start thinking about heading back to school. my kids go back in just a week and a half. and so, i'd like to spend some time this weekend stocking up on needed school supplies and putting together some back to school outfits. i really don't want the summer to end whatsoever. but, i think my children are anxious and ready to get back. even as i type this i can hear them all playing school together. slade being the teacher and the girls are teenage students. that makes me smile.

whatever your plans are for the weekend, i hope you have a good one. here are some things i have seen recently that i thought i would share with you-

love online shopping here for my girls
cookie dough treats for the kids
love, love, love ikea's new rustic collection
sweet bridesmaid gift
stamps
create lighting from recycled whisks

happy weekend!!

{cute girls' outfits, via garnet hill}

cousins.

 

we don't see them often enough, but it's always so much fun to get together with cousins for a day of fun at the annual family picnic.  thanks mom & dad for a great day by the pool celebrating the fourth of july and family!!

the jersey shore.

 

we just returned home from our annual summer visit to new jersey and spending some of our days by the shore. it is definitely a place i love and a time i look forward to every year. although i have lived many places in my life, somehow the jersey shore always feels like home. and i couldn't be happier to share time together there as a family.

the evening hours, when mostly everyone has gone home for the day are definitely the best

 slade sporting a summer mohawk and relaxing with jeff while the girls enjoy treats from the ice cream man- chipwiches, screwballs and choco tacos are their favorites.

countless hours spent digging holes and building sand castles

 

until next year, i will so miss these simple days of summertime that i love so much and bring me joy. 

 we'll see you again next year!!!!!

happy weekend + some things.

what are your plans for the weekend? jeff and i would like to finish painting our master bathroom. we started the project earlier in the week and have only been able to work on it a few hours each evening. so, hopefully this weekend we will be able to complete the painting phase of our mini bathroom makeover. i'm also hoping we can spend some time outside and by the pool. it is suppose to be very hot!!

whatever your plans, i hope you have a happy weekend and here are some things i've seen that you might enjoy too-

old school house is now this home...(wow!)
my kids would love this orange pushup smoothie
nine jewelry projects to make
these bites look delicious
silly bandages 
you're my forever art

happy weekend!!

rustic + gray and white.

i am loving this image of gray and white tones with a touch of rustic elements.  exactly the colors and the vibe i am dreaming for our master bathroom.  which, is the next room in our home that will be getting a mini-makeover.

{image via pinterest}

first day of summer.

this evening marks the official first day of summer!! yay! it truly is my most favorite season of all.

i hope your summer is filled with lots of ice cold treats! especially ones that are messy and fun!!  today was the perfect day to celebrate with homemade frozen fudge pops!

 

i found the recipe in the latest issue of everyday food. it is definitely one i will be making all summer long!!

happy summer!!

today.

happy flag day!

we celebrated our stars and stripes today!

happy summer.

although it is not officially summertime according to the calender, summer is in full force here. i can hardly believe my kids have been out of school for almost three weeks now.  we've been so busy playing with friends and going to day camps. however,  i am determined to sit down today and write a bucket list of summer goals and things we'd like to do before summer comes to an end!

how about you? is it summertime where you are at?? do you write a list of things you'd like to do during the summer? or is it your goal to just have fun!?


p.s. sia and i made this banner to welcome slade and elle home from school on their very last day... here is the summer banner we made last year and the banner we made the year before!

happy summer!!