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

Sunflowers in Bloom

I love sunflowers.  I love how big and heavy they get!  I have been growing some different types of sunflowers for about a month and we are really seeing great results!  It looks like we are actually going to have some flowers:

I love watering and checking these babies every day.  They need it.  They weep if they don't get enough water or sun.  When they are happy, their leaves rise to the sky.  It's quite incredible actually.   We have 2 that are almost as tall as my 4 year old.  I'll keep posting pics as they develop :)  TTFN!

Beach Week Photo Fails

Instead of the usual awesome vacation photos, I thought I would put a little spin on this entry with some pictures that will not be making the Picasa album.  We had a really great time, with only a few meltdowns on my part. No one got hurt, no one got sick and there was a lot of beach time and relaxation.  Enjoy!

family picture fail

epic fail of being dragged under a wave with your grandmother

uncle failing to care that niece is desperate to play

camera timer fail and posing fail (we are not sure why we are leaning)

fail to take camera off zoom

family picture fail

fail on a lot of levels

fail to photograph dolphins

somersault photo fail

failure to be excited over lobster

Photo Tour: Beach House Vintage Light Fixtures

Our beach house has some very curious lighting. Follow the tour and see for yourself.

 a plug to the photographer......the light fixtures on the sides of the mirror are classic with flip switch on the botton the the left side.

 

and I saved my personal favorite for last......groovy

 

I love new shoes

I can't wait for these little puppies to arrive for Emmie today!  I live for Adidas Sambas, and there were just two adorable to pass up.......

Zappos.com

Throwback Thursday: Guess the Dictator

Do you remember this game?  I do. I remember hearing about it while living in an apartment with my unamed friend, who I have referenced before, and our then boyfriends, now husbands.  Those were great times.  In between playing Asshole at the dining room table and doing shots of Jagermeister, we did a lot on the computer and watched a lot of t.v.  She and I played "You don't know Jack" all the time on our desk tops that probably weighed more than both of us.  But then I heard about Guess the Dictator Sit-Com Character.  To be honest I did not completely understand it until I played it, BUT even then I didn't quite get it right, which you will see in a second.  You are supposed to have a dictator, i.e. Ho Chi Minh or Sit-Com Character, i.e. Alex P. Keaton in your mind.  The game will 'ask' you a series of questions trying to figure out what you are thinking.  Pretty fun! I even stumped it a few times. So, the first time I played I answered all of the questions about myself, shocking :).  Even funnier, is the fact that at the end the webiste declared "I know! You are Blair from the Facts Of Life!
Wow, that was a reality check.  According the the Wikipedia:

At the beginning of the series in 1979, Blair was played as very rebellious. She was seen smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, and had many boyfriends and was looking to lose her virginity, unlike a lot of the other girls she shared a house with. When the show was retooled in 1980, all instances of Blair's rebellion were either dropped or given to the new character of Jo Polniaczek and she was rewritten as an unashamedly spoiled "Daddy's Girl," whose business alone could have kept Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus afloat.

Seriously dying over here................You can read more about Blair and Eastland School alum here.  

In Summary, you got two throwbacks today.  1. Guess the Dictator/Sit-Com Character and 2. The Facts of Life.  I hope you found my little anecdote amusing, because every time I think about that day it brings a smile to my face.  And a little humility.  TTFN!

Are you too lazy, or too busy?

How about both?  Things have not slowed down since my last entry.  We continue to pack our days with activities.  There is no rest for the weary.  This week I am also packing for the beach.  Last summer we went with my parents and one of my brother's to Rehoboth Beach, DE and had so much fun.  I anticipate this trip being even better.  Last summer, our daughter was only 6 months, so it was a bit of a challenge with her.  This year, as a friend nicely put it, the challenges will be different.  During our visit to my parent's last week, I shared with my mom that we might want to make a schedule of shifts for chasing the 17 month old.  She will be busy!  I really can't wait to see her along the shore line with the tide running up along her toes :) The 4 year old  will be perfectly happy, sitting, digging in the sand and collecting shells.
Also when we return, Dog Adoption Watch will begin.   I have put in two applications with local Rottweiler rescue organizations  for 2 male Rotties.  We are definitely sticking with this breed for many reasons a few of which loyalty, protection, intelligence, and of course they are nice to look at :)  The first is named Zeus and he is about 8 months old.  The other is named Tyson and he is 6  months old.  Both are being surrendered to the rescues due to relocation, not abuse or neglect.  I hope they will  consider our applications, they are super strict!,  and we will get to meet at least one of the boys.  If you would like more information about local Rottweiler Rescue organizations, comment and I will fill you in.
I have also been really wrapped in Verdict Watch and now the sentencing tomorrow for Tot Mom.  I can not even begin to explain my disgust..........I also have recently begun playing Bejeweled on my Ipod.  Big Mistake.  I can't even believe I started playing it in the first place and now I am totally sucked in, along with Words with Friends.
Anywho, stay tuned for Dog Adoption Watch. And if these two gents don't work out, well then it's not meant to be an another will come along.  TTFN!

Good Times

Today was a great day!  I know I have been a little MIA, but getting used to the summer schedule is a heartier task than I anticipated!  We have been really busy meeting up with friends, swimming and visiting family and friends in PA.  I have had a few 'aha' moments this past trip.  I sometimes think my husband and I spend WAY too much time together, being on the same (essentially) teacher schedule, however this past trip made mie realize just how important that is and how much I rely on him.  I always go to my parents house the intentions that I am not going there to have my mom take care of the kids while I eat bon bons.  Sincerely I don't.  My mom has her hands full as well.  I love going there for the change of scenery, the time with my family, the bigger house, and the pool (in the summer).  But it's hard work without my better half.
 As I wrote about in a previous blog, I also feel like I need to make plans with everyone and see those who I don't get to see during the 'work' year.  But I am realizing that I just need to stop.  I just need to stop feeling guilty about everything and who I didn't get to see or spend enough time with.  I need to remember my new leaf and focus on what's important and to me that means that I will put effort where effort is put into me and my family.  Make time for me and I'll make time for you.................  
Ok, so I just went off on a tangent, but it felt good.  That's what this blog a.k.a. online journal is for, right?
The best part of the trip was seeing my children and the children of my oldest and dearest friends play and swim together.  It was truly a wonderful time.
So getting back to today, here's how it went, but I must preface with the fact that I met my mother in law halfway so she could take my 4 year old for a few nights and my husband left this morning to go get him and spend the night, so.................it's just us girls........
Woke up at 8:30, awesome!
Had breakfast
Got dressed (She let me put on her new shoes which I was worried about b/c she fussed when I tried them on in the shoe store)
Went shopping
Got an amazing deal at Bath and Body Works: 3 anti-bac soaps in patriotic scents and 2 patriotic travel anti-bac holders all for under 5 bucks.  I was elated.
Came home for lunch
She napped for about 2.5 hours, I 'sunned' on the deck and read some of Bethenny's A Place of Yes on my Nook.
Went to the pool, she lasted and hour and a half and we had so much fun playing together.
Dinner
Bedtime for her (6:30)
Laundry, water plants, clean up
Now for wine
Read Us Weekly Lauren's (LC) Broken Heart 
Watch t.v. until I fall asleep
Oh! and I also got a package from an AuPair we had growing up with Austrian chocolate (which I have consumer more than I care to admit!) and two little animals (chipmunks?) for the kids complete with yodeling and Lederhosen!
This is not to say that I don't miss the boys, but I loved my day with my daughter and being able to give her my undivided attention.  That is a GREAT day :)