My New Anthem

The Dog Days Are Over.  You must play this song on the playlist to the right as you read this.  It's the last song on the playlist.  It will make you feel amazing.  As soon as I heard this song, I knew my day would come and today is it.  Last week we signed the lease for a new house that has everything on our checklist.Today we closed on our house and did our walk through of the new abode.  Now I have a clear picture of where everything will be placed :).  Yesterday we adopted a new family member and I cried the whole ride home.  I still have 3 more weeks of summer.  That will include packing, unpacking, housebreaking, corralling, visiting Denver, and settling into a new home.  Yowza!  Busy, but so, so exciting.  I finally feel like a semi-normal person again.  This past year was ROUGH.  But the dog days are over..........

Florence + The Machine

Happiness, hit her like a train on a track

Coming towards her, stuck still no turning back

She hid around corners and she hid under beds

She killed it with kisses and from it she fled

With every bubble she sank with a drink

And washed it away down the kitchen sink

The dog days are over

The dog days are done

The horses are coming

So you better run

Run fast for your mother run fast for your father

Run for your children for your sisters and brothers

Leave all your love and your longing behind you

Can't carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over

The dog days are done

Can you hear the horses

'Cause here they come

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/f/florence_and_the_machine/dog_days_are_over.html ]

And I never wanted anything from you

Except everything you had

And what was left after that too. oh.

Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back

Struck from a great height

By someone who should know better than that

The dog days are over

The dog days are gone

Can you hear the horses

'Cause here they come

Run fast for your mother and fast for your father

Run for your children for your sisters and brothers

Leave all your love and your longing behind you

Can't carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over

The dog days are gone

Can you hear the horses

Because here they come

The dog days are over

The dog days are gone

Can you hear the horses

Because here they come

                                                     More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com

iTunes

At my husband's request I have made a top 5 (b/c you know I love lists) Worst Songs in my iTunes Library.  Mind you I started this compilation back in 2003.
1. Aaron's Party- Aaron Carter (seriously, WTH is wrong with me!?)
2.  Aqua- Barbie Girl
3.  Rich Girl- Hall & Oates
4.  This Time- Hansen
5.  Bare Naked-Two of Hearts

YIKES!  TTFN :)

Why Re-Invent the Wheel: Word Clips

I forgot that I scheduled this to publish last week on Wednesday!  Oops.  Basically, I love this idea for my classroom for teaching name recognition, and spelling.  I love it for home too, but my son already knows how to spell and write his name (not to toot my own horn!) and my daughter is not even kind of ready.  If she would sit still that would be a start.   In my program we do a lot of work with names.  Recognizing you name, your friends names, etc.  I plan to take the kids pics when they arrive in September and glue them to a sentence strip on the left like above.  Then I will simply follow the same idea for writing their first name and putting the letters on clothespins.  Love it!  Find more ideas by clicking Word Clips.

**As always and as promised, this idea can be used in the school and home setting. **

Country Living

For years when visiting my sister in law I would peruse her magazines such as Cottage Living, Country Home and Country Living.  I never really realized how much I like Country Living until this past spring.  I started buying it and I really look forward to the new issue every month.  Also, I never really shop at Kmart but at the end of the school year I had run in for something and stumbled upon this quilt.  I had no idea that Kmart carried this line.  I haven't had new bedding since my wedding, so I gathered it was about time to get a new quilt and for $49.99, my husband didn't even complain.  I love both sides and my old quilt looks great folded up on the end of the bed :).  Kmart carries a whole slew of Country Living home goods that are really cute and reasonably priced.  Score for C.L.  TTFN!

You know you're a mom when.....

....one of these is proudly displayed on your station wagon, a.k.a. grocery grabber...........
never did I ever.............

Mom's Tuna Macaroni Salad

Growing up we always had Tuna Macaroni Salad as soon as the weather started to warm up.  Now that is a tradition in my home as well.  We all devour the stuff as soon as it's ready to eat.  My son and I made a batch this morning and couldn't wait to get home for lunch today!  Here is the recipe:

1lb pasta of your choice, I like Rotini

1 large cucumber

1 jar Claussen Kosher Dill pickles (the minis work great!)

Mayo, as needed

2 cans Cento Tuna packed in oil, salt added (glutton!) 

Jane's Crazy Salt

Boil the noodles and drain.  Then soak in about 1 c. of the pickle juice for at least one hour.  

Peel and cut the cucumber into bite size pieces and place in a large bowl

Cut pickles into bite size pieces.  Add to cucumbers.

Drain and add tuna to veggie mixture.  

Add Mayo to your desired texture.  

Add Jane's salt to taste.  

Mix everything together and refrigerate until serving.  Enjoy!  TTFN......................

New Uses for Old Things #7:Vitamin Organizer

I don't know about you but I often use small pouches to bring jewelry on a trip.  Not the best idea for necklaces!  I love this idea taken from Real Simple (of course!).  Pack enough jewelry for a week away. 
The individual compartments are the perfect place to keep earrings, necklaces, and rings safe and tangle free.

borrowed from RealSimple.com