If you haven't yet donated to the Japan relief effort, this is a great place to do so. Check out Shelterbox and click here to donate!
http://www.shelterbox.org/donate.php
FYI, you donate in pounds, but it converts to US dollars, and 15 pounds equals $24.99.
♥ V :)
Monday, March 28, 2011
Weekend chronicles
In my constant quest to be Out Doing Things on the weekends with the kids, the girls and I went hiking today. I took them to one of my favorite spots, Holliday park, off of the beautiful winding Spring mill road. This park has the most awesome setup for kids I have ever seen, with some serious playground equipment. They had a nature show at 1:30, which I saw advertised in Indy's child. This involved a nice lady laying out some animal skins and the kids petting them. After about 45 seconds of that, Lauren was officially over it and we moved on. Audrey noticed some markers for trails nearby, and we headed out.
Lauren does physical therapy twice a month, as she is a little delayed in her gross motor skills. Any chance I can have her out running around, climbing stairs or doing anything NOT in the house is a plus. Let me tell you, she was in her element and she LOVED being in nature today! She was Nature Punky! She was doing things I had never seen her do before: climbing stairs and rocks with a vengeance, going down hills and walking across bridges. She was awesome! She found herself a walking stick like her big sisters and she proceeded to poke and hit every rock, leaf and mound of dirt she could find. I loved seeing her adventurous side today.
What I loved the most however, was that the girls and I had a very special day together which didn't involve cell phones, Nintendo DS, Webkins or movies. We were unplugged and outside on a beautiful, sunny, breezy spring day.
###
I read the most amazing book last night. First, I have to preface this by saying that poor Ian and I were supposed to have a date night. But before that was supposed to occur, we had Audrey's birthday party from 2-7 and had watched 7 little girls for 5 hours. I was exhausted. I tried to flip over to "fun mom" mode, but it sooooo wasn't happening. I will be 31 in a week, and I know a few things for sure: me going out to a smoky bar and pretending to have fun when I would rather be curled up with a nice book is a recipe for disaster. I'm not exactly good at pretending to have fun when I am not, in fact, having any fun. So, fast forward to me staying in and reading this most wonderful treat of a book I am about to describe.
Oooh, she was a delight! Like a tall glass of water, I downed her like I hadn't drank in a week. Are you ready? Have I built the suspense to where you just can't STAND it any more???? Here it is: "Made for You and Me" by Caitlin Shetterly. I stayed up until 3am until I had finished the last drop. Last call for me last night involved pages, not shots.
Memoirs are my favorite genre, and this book is a memoir of a young mother and her family that got hit HARD by the recession, after travelling across the country from Maine to Los Angeles, and back again. Everything that could go wrong, did. It went something like this: jobs and money dried up, unplanned pregnancy, lost all of their belongings to mold, pet died, came back home, into the arms of their family and friends. With a LOT more heartache in there than I am mentioning. I can relate to a lot of the things she writes about. She loves her new family and manages to find happiness, even though their situation is far from perfect. Because really, when is anything ever perfect? It also has a similar feel of the "Walk across America" books by Peter Jenkins, and she repeatedly refers to the Little House on the Prairie series as they travelled west. I'm not doing it justice here, but just scurry out and get yourself a copy, ok?
I loved it. Our generation has a new reality, unlike any other before us. We are faced with joblessness, inflation, war, a recession, insane costs of education and housing...the list goes on and on. It is what we deal with every single day. We try to do the best for ourselves and our little families. This book will make you feel like you are not alone; like we're all in it together.
♥ V :)
Lauren does physical therapy twice a month, as she is a little delayed in her gross motor skills. Any chance I can have her out running around, climbing stairs or doing anything NOT in the house is a plus. Let me tell you, she was in her element and she LOVED being in nature today! She was Nature Punky! She was doing things I had never seen her do before: climbing stairs and rocks with a vengeance, going down hills and walking across bridges. She was awesome! She found herself a walking stick like her big sisters and she proceeded to poke and hit every rock, leaf and mound of dirt she could find. I loved seeing her adventurous side today.
What I loved the most however, was that the girls and I had a very special day together which didn't involve cell phones, Nintendo DS, Webkins or movies. We were unplugged and outside on a beautiful, sunny, breezy spring day.
###
I read the most amazing book last night. First, I have to preface this by saying that poor Ian and I were supposed to have a date night. But before that was supposed to occur, we had Audrey's birthday party from 2-7 and had watched 7 little girls for 5 hours. I was exhausted. I tried to flip over to "fun mom" mode, but it sooooo wasn't happening. I will be 31 in a week, and I know a few things for sure: me going out to a smoky bar and pretending to have fun when I would rather be curled up with a nice book is a recipe for disaster. I'm not exactly good at pretending to have fun when I am not, in fact, having any fun. So, fast forward to me staying in and reading this most wonderful treat of a book I am about to describe.
Oooh, she was a delight! Like a tall glass of water, I downed her like I hadn't drank in a week. Are you ready? Have I built the suspense to where you just can't STAND it any more???? Here it is: "Made for You and Me" by Caitlin Shetterly. I stayed up until 3am until I had finished the last drop. Last call for me last night involved pages, not shots.
Memoirs are my favorite genre, and this book is a memoir of a young mother and her family that got hit HARD by the recession, after travelling across the country from Maine to Los Angeles, and back again. Everything that could go wrong, did. It went something like this: jobs and money dried up, unplanned pregnancy, lost all of their belongings to mold, pet died, came back home, into the arms of their family and friends. With a LOT more heartache in there than I am mentioning. I can relate to a lot of the things she writes about. She loves her new family and manages to find happiness, even though their situation is far from perfect. Because really, when is anything ever perfect? It also has a similar feel of the "Walk across America" books by Peter Jenkins, and she repeatedly refers to the Little House on the Prairie series as they travelled west. I'm not doing it justice here, but just scurry out and get yourself a copy, ok?
I loved it. Our generation has a new reality, unlike any other before us. We are faced with joblessness, inflation, war, a recession, insane costs of education and housing...the list goes on and on. It is what we deal with every single day. We try to do the best for ourselves and our little families. This book will make you feel like you are not alone; like we're all in it together.
♥ V :)
See you at the party!
I am so excited for my bridal shower on the 16th. The inspiration behind the party my sister and aunt chose is Audrey Hepburn, after I uh-hm, suggested it. I adore her. I love her cute updo's, how she talked, her movies, just generally everything about her. Also, Ian's oldest daughter is named after her. After he watched Breakfast at Tiffany's in 1997, he decided she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
A couple people have asked if they need to dress in pearls and diamonds for the party. It is not required, but feel free to do so if the mood strikes you!
I love this part in the movie. I love how strange her movies were at times.
She usually dressed in black and pink, my two favorite colors to wear.
Love the coat!
Coffee, pearls, sunglasses and an updo...love, love, love, love!
Beautiful eyes :)
See you at the party. ~♥ V :)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Hump day happy things
Why did I have no idea how beautiful Elizabeth Taylor was until literally the day she died?
While we're talking about beautiful people...hello Ryan ♥
I like decorating with maps. I loved the map in my apartment with pins for all the places I had traveled to. Sometimes I think of it and miss it.
Mmmm red velvet...
This reminds me of my trip to NYC when Amanda and I visited Magnolia Bakery on the SATC tour.
Pretty umbrella for spring showers...
This makes me miss having a kitten...scratchy cute kitten claws...:)
I love Kate Spade! Is it all the kelly green?
This is just toooo cute.
Bye bye...it's almost Friday friends!
♥ V :)
Monday, March 21, 2011
Actual text message convo btwn me and my sis last week :)
Manda: My anxiety is off the charts!!! why is spring break stressful? This work week is like a needle in my eye! And somebody lift this gloomy veil that has taken hold in the sky! 3 darts! *
V: 3 darts!!!! I work my fingers to the bone!!! 845 to 645 punky slapped me in my face on the changing table and and admin yelled at me about sending packages at 5pm. I'm getting delirious and it is NOT funny. It is happening oh yes it is happening.
Manda: Rough...trenches...must...sleep. Punky is intense these days!!
V: Enjoy the beach I am so jealous of your pretty little beach house...
Amanda: My beach house awaits me. Laid out my beach pillow in a little pile tonight. Piles of hope and goodness. Cheated on south beach and wolfed a cadberry egg from CVS...yup sure did!
V: Get ready that diet makes you consume massive amounts of sugar and pasta in scary quantities. But it works!! I'm as big as a house!
Amanda: Just laughed out loud. So true. I did perfect for two weeks now want a piece of chocolate the size of my house and I wanna dive into it like scrooge mcduck in the coins! Is it too late to order a black miracle suit in size 24?
V: Scrooge mcduck hahahaha the coins some day I'm going to lose it lets hope it's not tomorrow!
Amanda: I lost a marble today. Done gone. My oscar let out a lout meow from the garage like pepper used to...mrrrooooowwww! Must want a vittle or two. Too bad cat! Momma cat in bed...See...lost it!
V: I'm gonna have to get that Punky a cat or dog. All she cares about. Whole day. Cats and dogs. She better be a veterinarian...small animals though, not like horses or anything.
Amanda: I have a goat she can have. *** She's a punkinarian!
V: Night night country mouse with goats eating your flowers.
Amanda: Niiiight Chance...(insert homeward bound dog voice)
V: Night sassy. **
*This is our reference to Ace Ventura. It is only to be used when we have had it.
**We love the movie "Homeward Bound" and occasionally we act like we are talking in the characters voices. Yes, sisters can be very weird but this is just something that we do on occasion.
***We also refer to ourselves as city mouse and country mouse. And yes, she actually has a goat that roams over from the neighbors yard and eats all of her flowers. She has wacked it with a rake a bunch of times but it keeps coming back. One time it rared on its hind legs at her. We HATE that goat.
I looooove my sister!! ♥ V :)
V: 3 darts!!!! I work my fingers to the bone!!! 845 to 645 punky slapped me in my face on the changing table and and admin yelled at me about sending packages at 5pm. I'm getting delirious and it is NOT funny. It is happening oh yes it is happening.
Manda: Rough...trenches...must...sleep. Punky is intense these days!!
V: Enjoy the beach I am so jealous of your pretty little beach house...
Amanda: My beach house awaits me. Laid out my beach pillow in a little pile tonight. Piles of hope and goodness. Cheated on south beach and wolfed a cadberry egg from CVS...yup sure did!
V: Get ready that diet makes you consume massive amounts of sugar and pasta in scary quantities. But it works!! I'm as big as a house!
Amanda: Just laughed out loud. So true. I did perfect for two weeks now want a piece of chocolate the size of my house and I wanna dive into it like scrooge mcduck in the coins! Is it too late to order a black miracle suit in size 24?
V: Scrooge mcduck hahahaha the coins some day I'm going to lose it lets hope it's not tomorrow!
Amanda: I lost a marble today. Done gone. My oscar let out a lout meow from the garage like pepper used to...mrrrooooowwww! Must want a vittle or two. Too bad cat! Momma cat in bed...See...lost it!
V: I'm gonna have to get that Punky a cat or dog. All she cares about. Whole day. Cats and dogs. She better be a veterinarian...small animals though, not like horses or anything.
Amanda: I have a goat she can have. *** She's a punkinarian!
V: Night night country mouse with goats eating your flowers.
Amanda: Niiiight Chance...(insert homeward bound dog voice)
V: Night sassy. **
*This is our reference to Ace Ventura. It is only to be used when we have had it.
**We love the movie "Homeward Bound" and occasionally we act like we are talking in the characters voices. Yes, sisters can be very weird but this is just something that we do on occasion.
***We also refer to ourselves as city mouse and country mouse. And yes, she actually has a goat that roams over from the neighbors yard and eats all of her flowers. She has wacked it with a rake a bunch of times but it keeps coming back. One time it rared on its hind legs at her. We HATE that goat.
I looooove my sister!! ♥ V :)
Tanning and travels
Random mother discussion for the day: No one tells you when you become a mother that you are going to possibly never be tan again. You take a little thing like your skin being tan and tawny for granted when you don't have children. No one tells you you don't even get tan in the summer. I try to go to the pool, but Lauren is not much of a water baby. She is fair skinned, with blue eyes and strawberry blond hair, so it is probably for the best. And going to the pool while she naps is not very easy as I'm always wondering when she will wake up. Plus, I am always worrying that Ian thinks I am a horrible mother for basking in the sun if she is awake and I am not there. So, there has really been very little sunbathing going on since I had Lauren.
However, now I am so pale that my skin has officially taken on a bluish tint. I am so pale that Ian and I look like an interracial couple.
It is time; time to be tan again. This has gone on long enough.
I detest tanning beds, I detest the tan smell, I hate paying for it and I really don't have the time. But Ian is worried that I am going to be the color of my ivory dress when I walk down the aisle, so we have agreed: it is time. Time for me to get a tan!! Yeah!
###
I travelled to San Francisco for a work trip last week. It was a quick trip: left Wednesday morning at 6am and returned home at midnight on Thursday. Note to self: travelling is hard work, and I am not as young as I used to be. I hauled in a bunch of loot, so that was great. Bare Escentuals loaded me up with makeup sets and their new skin care line. And I get 25% off at Gymboree until 2012.
I love the city of San Francisco. Bare Escentuals' office was absolutely beautiful. Their elevators were pink and chandeliers hung in the lobby. There was literally makeup everywhere: stacked in conference rooms, in hallways and on desks. A fake Sephora was set up for practicing displays. Everyone wore jeans. Their conference rooms have makeup brushes for names and Allure and Glamour covers were framed on the walls. I was right at home.
Gymboree's offices were beautiful and different as well. They have chalkboard paint on the walls. Baby and kids clothes strewn everywhere. Their conference room has quirky lime green chairs, and green walls.
We had a great dinner with a table overlooking the Bay at Epic Roasthouse Wednesday night. Good wine and good company.
But I was never so glad to be home to my family. I missed them so much. So, so so much!
###
My mother and sister are in Florida this week without me. I have to save my vacation time for the wedding, honeymoon and the holidays. I will warn all of you that I am hanging on by a fingernail to my sanity as I NEED A VACATION. I need a vacation more than I have ever needed a vacation, and I always go on spring break. It is killing me that I am not on a beach with my family, having our afternoon drink every day. I am so excited for Jamaica, but it is so far away. I hope they have fun but this sad sister is at home in the fetal position! Bah!
However, now I am so pale that my skin has officially taken on a bluish tint. I am so pale that Ian and I look like an interracial couple.
It is time; time to be tan again. This has gone on long enough.
I detest tanning beds, I detest the tan smell, I hate paying for it and I really don't have the time. But Ian is worried that I am going to be the color of my ivory dress when I walk down the aisle, so we have agreed: it is time. Time for me to get a tan!! Yeah!
###
I travelled to San Francisco for a work trip last week. It was a quick trip: left Wednesday morning at 6am and returned home at midnight on Thursday. Note to self: travelling is hard work, and I am not as young as I used to be. I hauled in a bunch of loot, so that was great. Bare Escentuals loaded me up with makeup sets and their new skin care line. And I get 25% off at Gymboree until 2012.
I love the city of San Francisco. Bare Escentuals' office was absolutely beautiful. Their elevators were pink and chandeliers hung in the lobby. There was literally makeup everywhere: stacked in conference rooms, in hallways and on desks. A fake Sephora was set up for practicing displays. Everyone wore jeans. Their conference rooms have makeup brushes for names and Allure and Glamour covers were framed on the walls. I was right at home.
Gymboree's offices were beautiful and different as well. They have chalkboard paint on the walls. Baby and kids clothes strewn everywhere. Their conference room has quirky lime green chairs, and green walls.
We had a great dinner with a table overlooking the Bay at Epic Roasthouse Wednesday night. Good wine and good company.
But I was never so glad to be home to my family. I missed them so much. So, so so much!
###
My mother and sister are in Florida this week without me. I have to save my vacation time for the wedding, honeymoon and the holidays. I will warn all of you that I am hanging on by a fingernail to my sanity as I NEED A VACATION. I need a vacation more than I have ever needed a vacation, and I always go on spring break. It is killing me that I am not on a beach with my family, having our afternoon drink every day. I am so excited for Jamaica, but it is so far away. I hope they have fun but this sad sister is at home in the fetal position! Bah!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday favorites
"She always has her nose in a book..."
Olivia Palermo - the Queen of Mean. Mean just looks so good on her.
I want this pouf. I must have it.
Cupcakes and flowers, the perfect pair!
Wedding inspiration
I want to decorate with a canister of these in the new house...I saw that idea somewhere and it stuck with me :)
The girls and I are baking St.Patrick's day cupcakes all day tomorrow...I have lots of ideas and will probably have more fun than them...
Kitchen with vintage plates...so quaint
Coffee filter wreath! I'm going to make a spring one! I made a glittery white one at Christmas, but...it didn't turn out so well? Must try, try again...
Beach and sunshine...less than 4 months til Jamaica...sunshine, sleep and you know...it's the honeymoon ;)
Green art deco ring, beautiful
Tea Roses, my favorite flower...
Last pretty thing
Good bye til next time
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