friday + the last weekend.

it's friday. it is our last weekend of summer break before the new school year begins on monday. really. it is so hard to believe we will be back at the bus stop early monday morning. we've already met the teachers and turned in all of our school supplies. and now, we have one last weekend to celebrate summer, relax and enjoy!

do you know how to introduce someone properly?
ten summer looks for hair like mine
a stunning vintage english garden wedding
pencil stamp activity to keep my youngest busy
how many candy bars can you identify?
cookies and cream cupcakes for my oreo lovers
and, summery cupcake stands to make

have a happy friday! and a happy weekend too!

apples + peanut butter.

finally. this afternoon, i convinced all three children to eat one of my favorite sandwiches for lunch- a peanut butter and apple sandwich on cinnamon-raisin bread. i like mine with prunes and a sprinkle of cinnamon too. i just haven't convinced them about the prunes yet! i ate so many of these sandwiches when i was pregnant with slade and it is still a very favorite of mine.

{image via pepperidge farm}

my elle belle.

this past monday morning, i had the chance to spend some alone time with my sweet elle belle. it's not often that i have the opportunity to be with just one of my children. it's very rare and perhaps, i should make certain it happens more often. i love the one on one time.

my little girl elle has such an inquisitive mind and wants to know everything. i love that she asks questions. she loves to sing and dress up and pretend she's on stage, even if it's just our fireplace hearth. she loves to set up an office in her bedroom and pretend she's at school or at work. she loves to be the boss. or the mom. or the teacher. she is very precise and particular about everything. she's a girlie-girl and loves to wear dresses and skirts all of the time. and wishes she could wear high heels. she will pick pasta over any other type of food and loves iced coffee for a treat. recently she has found a love for riding her bike and painting with watercolors.

while we were in new jersey this summer, my little elle belle turned six years old. not only is she very proud of the fact that she is now six, there are many things that happened this summer that she is also very proud of... she got her ears pierced ... she daringly jumped off the diving board... she went fishing with her poppop, put a worm on the hook and even caught the first fish... she ate a mcdonald's hamburger (yes... it was a first!)...and, she saved a baby bunny from the swimming pool.

i love my little elle belle so much. i am so, so proud of her. and, i truly loved the alone time we had together.

happy saturday + the weekend.

happy saturday. are you enjoying the weekend? i settled back into home late last night, woke up early this morning and began baking a variety of banana bread. an entire bunch of bananas became overripe while i was away and it was enough for me to bake six loaves! needless to say, i was very happy to be back in my kitchen with all three of my children helping to crack eggs and measuring and sifting ingredients.

i hope you enjoy whatever you have planned for the weekend. here are some things you might like too-

cool vintage stuff for your nest (like jars above)
this has me thinking a lot about dreams
cute+colorful diy velvet wrapped bracelets
a collection of mason jar craft ideas
copycat recipe i want to try
creating a perfect gallery wall
and, a really sweet vintage sewing party

happy saturday + happy weekend.

{image via jane&spot}

heading home.

in just a few hours i will be on a flight heading back home... boy, do i miss my kids! although we have been talking via skype, i can't wait to hug them all. but now, i have to say goodbye. i will be missing my sweet husband once again. these past few days have been wonderful. side by side we have relaxed and savored every quiet minute together.

now, i am heading home to enjoy the last week of the summer break from school. yes, it's hard to believe, but my kids go back to school in just a week from this monday. the summer has gone by entirely too fast for us!

these pictures were taken during our vacation by the jersey shore. one evening as we walked home from dinner, we came upon an old church with a labyrinth. this man-made maze was formed from white oyster shells. slade, elle and sia excitedly raced to see who could make it to the center the quickest.

without children.

sometime during the middle of last week, i made a quick decision to book a flight to visit my husband in oklahoma. all weekend long i was very excited knowing i would be seeing the man i am completely in love with sooner than we both anticipated. and so, here i am. i arrived today. we'll be spending four days together. and... without children too.

this is the first time, i've ever packed and traveled without children in more than seven years. the first time i have been without children for more than just an evening. a part of me is already missing them so very much. i feel so far away. and it feels very strange. several times today, i've held back tears.

yet, i am loving that jeff and i have some time for just us- without children. it seems like its been forever of just being together. just the two of us. and today feels like the days when we first met. when we lived miles apart and fell in love. the excitement and anticipation of the next time we'd be together again. i am so looking forward the next few days of just being together.

{oklahoma wired landscape photograph/wall decal via kieshajean at etsy}

enjoy the weekend.

okay, so i know... it's been more than two weeks since i have written or posted anything at all. however, two and a half weeks ago we returned home from n.j. and found that our refrigerator had been hit by lightning during a storm. luckily, it was the only thing damaged in our home, however, it prompted me to begin looking for and purchasing new kitchen appliances. totally not what i had planned on doing this summer, but a new refrigerator was a necessity.

as i waited for our new appliances to be delivered, i also decided i'd like to strip my kitchen cabinets and re-paint them too. although, it has been quite a process during these past two weeks, i am very happy i dedicated myself to the job. i have just a small section to finish this weekend and i will totally done with my mini-kitchen-makeover.

and so, tonight i took a break from painting cabinets to make pizzas and enjoy some time with my girls. they both had fun taking turns snapping pictures of me as i was taking pizzas out of the oven. it was a great beginning to our weekend.

whatever your plans, i hope you'll have a happy weekend too. i'll share pictures next week of our newly refurbished kitchen! in the meantime, here are some things you might enjoy too-

a garden in rainboots
100 things to do this summer
i've been wanting to do this
brown paper bag stars to hang
and easy lollies to make

have a great weekend!!

new jersey love.

after spending almost a month vacationing in new jersey, we arrived back at home last night. as always, we hated to say goodbye to the family, people and things we love in new jersey. yet, after a 14-hour car ride, we were all very, very happy to be back at home. and so, i will be spending the next few days, unpacking and settling back in.

p.s. i am loving the watercolor paintings of state love found at poppy and pinecone. i think the new jersey state love perfectly represents my love for new jersey. which state would you choose?

{print available from poppyandpinecone.}

happy friday + some things.

we've had such a busy week. i can hardly grasp the idea that it is already friday. my kids have been having so much fun with their cousins. it's been so fun watching them all together. tonight, i am hoping to enjoy a mojito with my sister-n-law while the kids continue to play. and tomorrow we are heading to the shore to enjoy one last day on the beach before heading back home next week!

i hope you have a happy friday. here are some things you might enjoy while we are enjoying our last few days in new jersey-

i am in love with outdoor summer parties
beautiful blair family photos in france
i want a grilled portabella & peach burger for lunch
and a good mojito tonight
this table would be perfect in my dream craft/work room
how fun- free printable photo props and more fun ones here too
do-it-yourself: a 4th of july striped tote
and a cute patriotic idea for kids

have great weekend!!

{images via kitka.ca}

heading to a.c.

today i am headed down to atlantic city. my mom has been a bartender in atlantic city for more than 25 years and this year she has decided to retire. tonight her co-workers are celebrating with a party in her honor and i am lucky enough to be in town to attend. my in-laws will be taking care of the kids for the night and i will be back tomorrow!

have i mentioned that my mom is retiring this week, packing up and moving down south with us until she finds a place of her own? although i know it will be a very big adjustment for my mom, we are all very excited and happy and so thankful that she has decided to retire near our family!

goodbyes + a week at the shore.

this past week we said goodbye again after spending a whole week together as a family, including a few days by the shore. jeff boarded a plane last wednesday and headed back to work and the kids and i stayed behind in new jersey. we spent the rest of the week at my sister's beach house on the shore in sea isle.

we truly spent the entire week on the beach. jeff and i indulged in long walks alone, hand in hand, we talked about our hopes and dreams and what we think our future holds. i actually sat down and was able to read while jeff played ball with the kids. slade, elle and sia found a love for boogie boarding and enjoyed playing for hours in the surf. we were lucky to have both of our parents join us for a relaxing day on the beach too.

and, after long days on the beach, we had dinners of clams, shrimp, ceviche and even rolled out the brown paper one night for a crab feast on the porch. yum! our vacation at the shore couldn't be any more wonderful!

a big thank you to my twin sister lisa for welcoming us to her beach house for the week. we hope it wasn't our last goodbye to the jersey shore for the summer. hopefully we'll be back soon!!

enjoy the weekend + some things.

do you have any plans for the weekend? we plan on heading down to the shore to enjoy some time on the beach before jeff heads back to work on wednesday. i am looking forward to long lazy days in the warm sun, walks along the shore and playing in the sand and surf with jeff and the kids. i can hardly wait. being on the beach brings me such peace and contentment and just makes me happy.

whatever your plans... i hope you enjoy your weekend and some of these things too!!

perfect DIY for those empty wine bottles
reminder to play everyday
sweet gift for father's day
painted votives
i'll be doing this soon
love the new issue of sweet paul magazine
a backyard office

now she's six.

my little elle belle turns six years old today!!!
happy birthday to my sweet little girl...
mommy loves you so, so much!!

today, i am happy, happy.

i am very happy today. jeff arrived (and surprised our children) very, very early this morning to spend a week with us while we are vacationing this summer in new jersey! the five of us are together again for a whole week and today i am happy, happy!!

{print via farouche}

gone fishing.

today, my children took a break from the pool and went fishing with their poppop. i think my girls have found a new hobby, at least a new one while we are here visiting this summer! from what i hear, they caught a total of eleven fish during their afternoon down by river with poppop and loved every minute of it!

happy friday.

hope you are having a happy friday. i have spent most of the day packing. i really do not like to pack, let alone times four. however, we finally are all packed and the kids and i (and my mom) are heading out very early in the morning for a long drive north up to new jersey. ever since slade was born, we've been spending part of our summers there with the family that we love. i will still be posting while we are away, but until i get unpacked and settled, here are some things i've seen that you might enjoy too. have a great weekend!

try this to patch your jeans
an adorable cookies + milk party
i can't stop staring at these bouncy balls
balloon banner DIY
a really neat way to wrap flowers
a site dedicated to artful pancakes- i'm amazed!
and love this summer list

{image found here}

morning bubbles.

what a happy way to start the day...

my girls decided the perfect thing to do first thing this morning was to blow bubbles in their pajamas on our back deck. they are loving the washable colored bubbles by crayola.

red wine sangria.

the other night i made a pitcher of red wine sangria. it's been so hot and humid lately and i was craving something refreshing to drink after a day at the pool. a good friend of mine stopped by that evening and luckily, i already had a pitcher on hand to share. i love it served over crushed ice and with a straw to sip. here is the sangria recipe i use. i came across it more than 10 years ago in real simple magazine and have been using it ever since. it is so easy to make and so, so refreshing on a hot summer day.

{image via insiders passport}

happy june.

it's the first day of june and already very hot here!

happily i am packing the kids up and we headed out to the pool for the entire day! it's suppose to reach a high of 97 degrees here!!

hope you have a happy first day of june too!

last day of school = summer.

i mentioned on friday that school was officially out for the summer. and while slade and elle were attending their very last day, sia and i were painting a banner to welcome them home and to celebrate the occasion.

how do you celebrate the ending of the school year? we also had popsicles waiting for them and celebrated into the evening with homemade pizzas, ice cream sandwiches and gifts from grandma.

although, elle was not very happy as she got off the school bus. she ran towards me with tears in her eyes and began to cry as she wrapped her arms around me. she was already missing her teacher, classmates and school. she had a hard time saying goodbye. it had been such a wonderful year for her and i am so happy for that, however, it absolutely broke my heart to see my little kindergartener so sad on her last day of school. goodbyes are never easy, are they?

however, the sadness didn't last long. as we walked home from the bus stop and she saw the banner hanging on our front door, she began to smile. and today, she is very content being at home, swimming in the pool and enjoying the first days of the summer break.

i think it is going to be a very happy summer!!

a day to remember.

we spent today with some of our closest friends coming together for an impromptu barbecue. one of the highlights of my day was standing around the kitchen with every child and adult. hand in hand we took a moment of silence to remember all of the reasons we celebrate memorial day.

i hope you found some peace in today and found some time to remember too.

{image found here via mosdurf}

the weekend + some things.

today it's officially the last day of school! i can hardly believe how quickly the year went by. the end always brings a sense of sadness to me as my babies are growing right before my eyes. yet, i am anxious for the care-free days of summer and spending lots of time together without a daily schedule to follow. and it begins, this weekend!!

so, this memorial day weekend marks the beginning of summer for us and a reason to celebrate! i'm hoping the weather is warm and sunny. i'd like to spend some time at the pool, grilling meals outdoors and eating lots of frozen treats!! do you have any special memorial day weekend plans?

whatever your plans... happy memorial day weekend!! here are some things i have seen i thought you might enjoy too-

an awesome beer bash for the guys
and a sweet milk and cookie party for kids
i'm in love with chalk lettering
and chalkboard state maps
happy i bought these for summer
very clever postcard birthday poster
would you go for the neon ombre look?
treats we might enjoy this weekend

hope your weekend is happy!!

{image via shopdirtsa}

sponge balls.

last thursday, sia celebrated her last day of preschool before taking a break for the summer. as she said goodbye to all of her sweet little classmates, she gave each of her friends a sponge ball to have fun with during the summer.

i made the sponge balls using the tutorial found here. after making enough for the entire class, i packaged each of them in cellophane bags and added a tag instructing the children to "make a splash and have a ball this summer!"

finding balance.

during the past couple of weeks, i feel as if i have somehow lost my sense of balance. so many balls have been thrown at me and i graciously have been trying to catch them all. i have hardly taken the time to do some of the things that i enjoy and inspire me. the things that give me balance and give me a sense of self.

when i started this blog, i did so to focus on the simple things that bring happiness to my world each day. the things that make me smile. things that bring me a great sense of gratification. inspiration. happiness. joy. i intended on focusing on all of those things each day. yet somehow, among the busyness of being a stay-at-home mom, i haven't found or made the time lately to even sit down and write a thing or two. i have dropped that ball. i haven't made time for me.

and so, as school is coming to an end this week, i finding my balance again. remembering me, making the time to do the things i enjoy and focusing on the simple joys of each day.

cinco de mayo.

if i were having a cinco de mayo party (and i really wish i were) i would totally make the ruffled streamers that dana of made created. i think they would be so fun and colorful and the perfect decoration for a cinco de mayo fiesta.

do you have any special plans to celebrate today? our only plans include making beef and shrimp tacos for dinner and, i bought some colorful bolis ice sticks for the kids to enjoy afterwards!

happy cinco de mayo!!

all images via {made}