50% OFF

Our trip to the outlets was quick but, efficient! We only made it to Pottery Barn and The Gap! Everything I bought was 50% OFF...can't beat that! My very favorite is a Williams-Sonoma table cloth for $12...TWELVE DOLLARS! And the best deal of all was a throw rug, perfect for the beach house for $6.49...I bought two! I'll take some pictures of the beach house this weekend. We are headed to the shore to open the house for the season and get it ready for our renters! I know you will be on the edge of you seat waiting for those pics! Have a great weekend!

Patience

I am an EXTREMELY patient person...with my children, husband, puppy, and I don't mind waiting for what I want. Case in point...my living room was empty for nearly 2 years b/c I wanted a custom sofa and was willing to wait!

Well, my patience is running out! My "web guy" is blowing my off. My new website was supposed to launch on February 1st. I did all the designing, pictures, content, etc...all he had to do was make it live. I have sent him about 10 emails and left several voice mail messages for the "web guy" and I haven't heard back yet. So my husband, who thinks I am too nice about it, has had it with me complaining and suggest we stop payment...he also "hosts" my website. But, then what? Any suggestions out there?

I have been painting our porch the past few days. I need to prime and paint the entire thing. Luckily, I love to paint...it is relaxing for me. But, I can't wait until this is finished! I am itching to put the screens in, loading it with some comfy furniture, and enjoying a cocktail or too! Specifically, a Southern Porch Slammer, compliments of Monogram Momma!

This afternoon, I am headed to the outlets with one of my friends! I'll let you know what we find!

Nope, too nice!

Way too nice out to do anything inside! I only did 2 things on my list...run and errands. I did wash/dry and pack away all the winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and boot! HOORAY!

I did put the finishing touches on this backpack for our little friend! Lulu was happy to model it fresh out of the bath tub!

Sleep is Overrated

Last night or should I say this morning, sometime in the four o'clock hour, Lulu came into our room. She had a scary dream. I shuffled down the hallway, one eye open, with Lulu back to her room. I cannot sleep with the girls in our bed, so i always deliver them back to their own beds. I get her tucked in, hugs and kisses, and turn to leave. Then, she says, "Mommy, I feel alone." So who needs sleep? My TO DO LIST today! 1. sew...finish up some orders and start new curtain for the powder room 2. run 3. clean out my car...this could take all afternoon 4. think about doing laundry, just think I don't want to commit to anything 5. give Roosevelt, aka stinky puppy, a bath 6. run a few errands I'll let you know what I actually accomplish! It is going to be close to 80 degrees here today, it is going to be hard to do anything!

Yuck!

I LOVE coffee, chocolate, and buttered popcorn!!! I however do not care for them in the form of a jelly bean! A jar of jelly beans currently resides in my car. E won it at a birthday party (estimation, we are so proud!) and she forgot all about it. Unfortunately, I did not!

What Weekend?

Busy here this weekend! I spent most of Saturday afternoon and evening shuttling C and E to and from birthday parties and playdates. We had MBM's younger brother out for the weekend to help with our Spring clean up outside. Ryan, aka Uncle French Fry, is a landscaper and we benefit from his talent. They did a lot on Saturday...cleaned out most of the beds, planted 2 trees, 4 bushes, dug 2 drainage trenches, etc...Ryan is meticulous, we have to beg him to take a break. I was in charge of the planting the pansies...

C and E were on the party circuit...cute party idea... a mystery party! The invitation was printed backwards, so it needed to be read in the mirror. And the big mystery at the party was the missing pinata. They had clues, puzzles, and games that lead them to the pinata...very fun! E then had a "nighttime" playdate...pajamas, movie, popcorn, etc... Lulu played outside all day. Needless to say they were TIRED!!!!

Sunday...I had a baby shower for two of our preschool teachers, which was lovely. Then we had a friend of MBM's and his family over for dinner, which was also lovely. We wrapped up our weekend festivities around 8:30 last night!

What is in store for this week...sewing, painting, and a trip to the outlets! I don't know how it happened but, I am not scheduled to volunteer anywhere this week! It is like a mini vacation!

TGIF

After a busy week and the pending, even busier weekend I am going to take some down time. This is what is in store for my Friday night....

...plus last nights episodes of Grey's Anatomy and October Road(my new favorite show)!

Thursday

Wake up...Big girls off to school...bring Lulu to school...JoAnn Farbris...Costco...volunteer in E's classroom...back home to find this pillow my parents brought back from a recent trip abroad. Looks just like our Westie pup Roosevelt! Thanks Mom and Dad! We love it!

Now it is 5:24...I still have to unload the car from Costco!!! Bunko tonight...hooray!!! And I think Spring has FINALLY arrived...the snow is almost totally melted!!!!

Procrastination...

Thanks to Libby over at A Study of Schoolbooks and Shoes...I was able to put off work for a few minutes. Now I can really get to work on a positive note!

Before and After

Can you believe two little girls can do this much damage in just one day!

I'll post a picture of the "after" ...after, I get in there with a rake and trash bag!

After some help from the occupants the room was

presentable again!

My husband is embarrassed that I posted the "Before"

The Morning After

We spent our St. Patty's Day celebrating with the Bunko crew! FUN!!! We headed home fairly early...that group can go late, especially, since we have all been stuck in with the weather. I needed to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for my day with Caroline. We went First Communion dress shopping. Sometimes, we have different opinions on what is appropriate for an eight year old girl. But, in the end she picked a beautiful dress. She looks lovely in it and she looks like an eight year old girl, which makes me VERY happy! We did some more shopping and out to dinner and shared a dessert. I don't really get much one on one time with Caroline or Emma so today was nice for me. I can't believe that my baby girl is eight! And our little friend Fiona...the prognosis they received is best case scenario. She started Chemotherapy. If she responds okay to the treatment, she can start outpatient in April. Sweet little baby has been a trooper. A nurse came into draw blood for some test, she explained to Fiona what she was going to do and Fiona responded with a very polite "No Thank You." Our neighbors have really come together for the family,with meals, shoveling and helping however we can. It is so comforting to know that we a surrounded by such giving friends!

Count your blessings

We were in the middle of the morning craziness...brushing teeth, fixing hair, packing school bags, etc....when our phone rang at 7:15 Am. Assuming, with the pending snow/ice storm, it was one of my friends telling me school was cancelled. It was my neighbor, my retired neighbor without children. Her voice was deflated. The dog was barking, the girls were loud, all I heard was hospital. My heart sank, thinking one of "The Jet Set", that is what we call the retirees in the culdesac, was sick or worse. I asked her to repeat herself, "Fiona is in the hospital, it is Leukemia." Fiona turned five yesterday. I have hugged my girls a million times today and plan on a million more before bed...

Work Shmurk...

I totally blew off working today to play outside! Finally, a spring day had arrived and the thought of being cooped up in my windowless studio was dreadful. MBM and I dropped Lulu at school, went for a run in the State Park near our home and then back home. MBM went straight to his office...so dedicated! I on the other hand, poured a cup of coffee, opened every window in the house, sat on the porch and read the new Country Home! After I picked Lulu up we ate lunch outside and didn't come back in until nearly 5:00...I couldn't wait to start "digging in the dirt" as my husband says. Cleaned out some flower beds and prepped all the pots and baskets. We have a few weeks before it is safe to plant annuals but, I will be ready! I do buy pansies on St. Patrick's Day, my Granny always did and so do I! MBM is at class tonight, the girls are in bed, lunches made, outfits picked out for tomorrow, a load in the washer and dryer, dishwasher set to go, I am in my pajamas and I closed all the window I opened ...now my work day starts 8:48pm!

Poodle Palace

Another school project! The assignment...build a 3-D castle, make up a fairytale to go with it, and write five facts about castles. I am a strong believer in just giving guidance, not doing the project. So C designed the castle, found the objects around the house to build it, and painted the dog biscuits. I assisted with the hot glue gun. C is very proud of her creation and so am I!

Back to Reality

Well, I returned from my "Girls Weekend" yesterday afternoon...We had a blast! We ate, drank, shopped, laughed so hard my stomach aches! It is so nice to not be on a schedule. We got up on Saturday had coffee, dressed and out the door for breakfast and shopping. The beach towns are just reopening for the season, so the shops mark everything down to make room for new inventory. I scored a Cape Madras skirt! It was marked down to $44...hooray... and then when I went to pay it was an additional 50% off ! Yes, that is right $22!!!! I also, came home with a really cute purse...for $24! I picked up few other odds and ends for Easter baskets, too!
Everybody found deals, we weren't sure there would be enough room in the car to get everything home! But, of course, where there is a will there is a way!

Pajamas

I made these pj's this afternoon. They are a birthday gift for an eight year old girl. Turned out cuter than I thought. I am not crazy about the dalmatian fabric...my daughter's words were"perfecto!"...her friend loves dalmatians!

Speaking of pajamas...I am headed out at 4:30 for a girls weekend at the shore....hooray!

It will be cold and windy but, I am sure we will get in our share of shopping, eating, drinking, talking and laughing! Hopefully, spending most of our time in our Pajamas!

Minute by minute...

Did you ever have one of those days that every minute was spoken for? I don't mind them...I feel very productive! I got more done today before 2:00 then Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday combined. A few errands, loads of laundry, a "meeting" with girlfriends, food shopping, pick lulu up at school, stop home for lunch, feed the pup, sew a few seams, run on the treadmill, ship some bags, shower, start dinner, and out the door for parent/teacher conferences. I did manage to stop into Old Navy just to pick up a tank for pj's I am making for a birthday gift. Came out with a bag of stuff for C and E...I always get sucked into the "2 for deals" there! I am not normally a fan of Old Navy, but the had some cute stuff I can "work with" for the girls.

Snow, snow, go AWAY!!!!!

Can you believe it? More snow! I hope this doesn't mess up our day...the girls have early dismissal this week. We have plans to shop and go out for dinner! It is not looking good since I got stuck in the Preschool parking lot. Only held up traffic for 10 minutes or so...not embarrassing at all! And then I couldn't get up our drive way! Anyone interested in a Volvo wagon?

Today is March 6th, right?

My neighbor's house it still TOTALLY decorated for Christmas! Icicle lights, ribbons ties on trees, and a dead wreath on the door! My husband and I are betting when the decor will come down...I say not before April 15th...he says way beyond. One year they were up all summer long! Oh, well.

Calling all moms!

Caroline, our oldest daughter has been invited to a slumber party. She just turned eight...is it too young? She has been invited to others but, we were able to dodge them, for one reason or another. This one is hard to avoid. The birthday girl has been in her class for a few years, I know her parents fairly well, and she really wants to go! To make matters worse...I will be away on a girls weekend. What if she gets homesick and wants to home in the middle of the night and my husband has to wake the other girls up to go get her? Am I over reacting? Is it time to cut the cord? Help!

Sea Shore...

What a weekend! Friday I had a custom handbag party...fun, fun, fun and late,late,late! I got into bed at 3:00 AM and had to be up at 6:00 AM to drive two hours to the "shore" ...Sea Isle City, New Jersey. I am NOT a late night girl...I NEED a full night sleep to function. To my surprise I was quite pleasant all day Saturday. My husband and I have flipped a few beach houses and our latest purchase we have decided to keep for ourselves. It is a 102 year old Victorian beach cottage. Sounds nice, doesn't it? We are the fourth owners, the couple that we bought it from was there for 25 years. We did a ton of work last spring...cleaning it out was the biggest job. They left EVERYTHING...all the furniture, dishes, towels, and even their tooth brushes. We took out 45 bags of trash. Not to mention the furniture, etc...We painted the every room, the kitchen cabinets, basically anything that wasn't moving got a fresh coat of paint. We rent the house for the summer and hope to someday build our dream house on the lot. The house cannot be saved. In the fall, we ripped up all the carpets to expose the original wide plank pine floors. We found 2 layers of carpet, padding, tacks, staple, and glue! So we sanded a few weeks back and this weekend we decided to paint the floors. Saturday morning we primed the floors. Saturday afternoon we put on the first coat of paint. Sunday morning we put the second coat of paint! I think it looks great. So fresh, clean, and cool! I did not take before pictures of the house but, will be sure to post some pictures of the "shack" as we call it when it is all ready for summer! PS...I can't wait for the summer!

March of the Penguins...

The completed penguins went off to school today...C and E were quite pleased with the outcome.

C's "Preppy Penguin" was complete with a shift dress, ribbon belt, purse, and pearl necklace.

E's "Pageant Penguin" had a hand studded tiara and custom sash...E is simpler than C!!!

Tomorrow, the big girls, need to dress like their favorite Dr. Seuss character...I am trying to talk them into Thing One and Thing Two! They are not on board...I can't blame them! Lulu needs to bring a musical instrument...she wants to bring a piano...we don't have a piano...not that that is the reason she can't bring it!

I had a very productive morning helping my friend choose fabric and paint for her husband's "Club Room"...I love paint and fabric! Along the way, I picked up a 3 yard remnant of beautiful horizontal striped silk and a coordinating green silk. Just enough for one curtain...and of course, paint! I can smell a new powder room! Just because we had a few minutes to spare before preschool pick up we ran into HomeGoods...ten minutes and two lamps later we were finished for the day at 11:15...not bad! That's the lamps in the picture price tags still on...not sure they are staying there!

When I returned home, my "boyfriend in brown" had been for a visit and left a package from Morgan and Co. with my new monogrammed hats! Thanks to Melissa over at mcc for that tip! My husband would like to thank her, too! Lulu was so nice to model!

Bye...I need to get some work done!