patty-cake

stella was invited a friends birthday party today...it was at a country club. we happily obliged.
the water was uber cold and not meant for mommies. i didn't even bother wearing my suit. i had zero intention of getting wet, there for why bother with the spandex. kwim? luckily my girl wasn't a huge fan of the water and only got as far as her knees. she opted instead to play with her friend kate who she has declared her 'bff'. love hearing that from a four year olds mouth. adorable. sweetly enough miss kate will be in stella's class again next year...phewww!

they had loads to talk about. in between the chatter a few games of 'patty-cake' were played. they marked it with an X and put in the oven for you and me ;)

they look deep in gossipy conversation. i can just picture this exact shot ten years from now. stella pickin' a wedge, smacking her gum, looking over her shoulder at ryan...making sure he's noticing her cuteness. it's SO going to happen.

and off they go. to get cake. because when you're four, going to get cake while holding your best friends hand is all that really matters. especially when the said cake is pink.

peace out.

hello friends...

I'm back.
I needed a little break from life and somehow recounting my day when blogging felt like rubbing the dirt right back in my face.
I'm OK.
I know we all go through the ups and downs...it just sucks, doesn't it!!!!
I've always been a pretty moody person.
Strong personality.
Intense.
Sharp tongue.
I hate that about myself and hate that I have to work SO hard at keeping a lid on my stress level.

Some of my 'fire' lately may be due to the fact that I've tried a homeopathic remedy for my migraines. I was told that some of the rage I've been experiencing could be due to the fact that my body is cleaning itself out.

On the plus side I should have gotten at least three-four migraines since taking this remedy and I haven't!!!! I love the prescribed medication I've been taking for the past year and a half...Maxalt. It's been the only thing that can even touch the intense pain. It just scares me that the long term side affects could be really bad news. I'm all for going the natural route...amen!

Sew. My machine s_it the bed...just when I need it the most. I took it to the Dr. yesterday so hopefully it's nothing too serious. I've become addicted to making patchwork pillows. Addicted! I love them and have already made five and can't wait to make more!!! I've also made some new things for the shop that have yet to be sewn...waiting in the wings.

Camera. I'm ready for a really good camera. Mine is great for certain things but I feel really held back. I need your advice ladies...what kind do you have? Lenses you use most often? I'm only dreaming about getting a new camera at this point but it's good to start looking :)

What's up with the pacifier? The gooky fairy came late Wednesday, May 13th after I had gotten home from a long night at work. She whispered in my ear that Stella would be allowed to hold onto her gooky for a little longer under the condition that the gooky stay on the bed. Guess what? Stella has been doing AMAZING!!! I'm so proud of her and feel like this was the right decision for us. She totally abides by the rules. She had her yearly Dr. appointment on Monday and I didn't even bring it with me knowing there could possibly be a shot involved...thank goodness there wasn't :)

School. FOUR weeks left of school...SAY WHAT? I can't believe it! I've got major, major worries that I may have to pull Zoe out of school for fourth grade. I won't know who her teacher is until the last day...GOD, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she's in the right class. I can't stand that some teachers are allowed to remain teaching long after their time should be up. My thoughts if she doesn't get Mrs. K? Private school, Waldorf school, Home schooling (not by me...are you nuts?), charter Art school? It'll be a scramble not being able to make plans until mid June but I'll do it.

Summer. We've got big plans this summer and I can't wait!!! We're heading out West to visit my sisters who live in Telluride, Colorado!!! I haven't been since getting stranded there during the week of 9/11. Scary stuff. We were actually scheduled to be on one of the planes that didn't make it but our flights got changed :O I still remember that day like it was yesterday. It's taken my this long to fly again.

Ok. I'm off to do stuff :) It's going to be in the 90's today!!! I was tempted to pull Ruby out of school to go to the beach but she had invited a new friend over and I didn't want to cancel on her. I've already got steak tips marinating in some terryaki Soy Vay, fresh corn on the cob waiting to by peeled, and baby mixed greens ready for a yummy salad. Dinner is done and done and it's not even 10:00am yet!

Boy. I sure do wish I had my sewing machine!!!!

xo

ps. Martha Stewart is having a 20% off sale until May 31st online. I just stocked up on some great Halloween and Christmas decorations that were already on sale...pennies spent! Go shop!!!

Only 363 days till Christmas...

We wait all year for Christmas to come...at least the kiddos do. I LOVE buying/making gifts for everyone and seeing family we don't often get to see. However, I can't help but feel like a weight has been lifted once the festivities die down. It's anti-climatic...at least for me. The anticipation of fun is what gets me excited and then once it's here, it's over in too short a time. You do hear what I'm suggesting don't you? Let's bring back the 12 days of Christmas!!! NOT!

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Today's the last day of Christmas in our house! We're expecting family any time now and then it will be officially done....till next year!

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Zoe's trying to bend down to fit next to Stella and little Miss Stella is copying her big Sis :)

This dog is HUGE and Stella loves it!

Ruby got a Nintendo DS and The Littlest Pet Shop Game to go in it.

Santa's cookies and milk.

Just finished playing 'Santa' and the room is ready for the girls in the morning.

I love this retro Rody...the color is yummy.

Notice part of the tree at the bottom is missing ornaments? They were there until our English Mastiff's tail kept knocking them down...I decided to forgo filling it in...what's the point?

more...

and more...

and one last shot.

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A flying heart I got...I love it!

I don't think it's possible to capture how awesome this piece is. I fell in love with it the day we all went shopping for our Christmas tree. It's made by a local artist and is over 3ft tall. Can you tell it's a tree made out of sea glass, broken bottles, shells, bottle caps, rocks? It's amazing! I can't wait for my husband to hang it in our Family Room...I'll see if I can capture a better shot of it in there. Now I just need something for our blank wall in the dining room.

Do you know what this is? Well, it's a clever gift certificate holder from Anthropolgie!!! I luvvvv this shop and can't wait to indulge :)

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Tomorrow we're off to Boston to see Disney on Ice! I'll be back on Monday with a post. I'm looking forward to turning my dining room back into my 'office' so I can get creating again. I'm finding I get very grumpy when not making stuff ;)

xo

goodies!

LOOK what came in the mail for me yesterday!!!! I was dying to post this yesterday but couldn't get around to it with my house full of little girlies!!! I did a swap with some other lovely ladies in blog land...all initiated by Crystal over at this blog. I was lucky enough to swap with Lori an amazing gal from Arkansas. Go check out her fun blog!!! She knew just what to choose for me... I LOVE everything!!!! xoxoxo to you LORI!!!

Got some orders filled and I'm partial to this...

and this...

and this.

Production completed...check.

AND...

this is what happens when you have a severe addiction to fabrics

and...

They came in the mail today :) I can't wait to play!!!

xo

cheers!

Got home from a busy day to find this sweet email from this lovely lady from Ireland. She sure made my day!

Hi there,

I just wanted to say how delighted I was to receive two beautiful little towels in the post today (yes! already... I could hardly believe it myself). I absolutely love them and everything else in your shop! Congratulations on creating such beautiful things! You are an inspiration.Oh, and happy birthday for tomorrow! Saw it on your Etsy profile. Have a lovely day.

Best wishes,

Judith O'Leary

I've also received a couple of really sweet birthday cards this week...thanks ladies, I'm truly touched!

Mel, Mom and I are off to an evening of Cuban cuisine and live Cuban music...oh, and don't forget the Sangria! Can't wait...I'm off to get beautified :)

xo

I took Ruby and Stella for an impromptu visit to The Children's Museum this afternoon. I so love that they are just a few minutes away!

So, I haven't been posting regularly lately and there is a very, VERY good reason for it! My computer had/has a virus that I am going crazy in trying to rid it of. I know deep in my heart that a: we either need a new computer...or b: I need to give it up to the experts and be without it for a few days!!!! I just can't do it!!! I attribute this virus with my moodiness lately...DEFINITELY!!! So. We've lost documents. My email system has changed (for the worse COMCAST, for the worse). I can't seem to get my photo program to work...the whole thing is just a mess so please excuse my absence if you were missing me :)

Tomorrow is Halloween in our town/state...why? don't know...it's silly! So we'll be off Trick or Treating till the wee hours (of 8pm) with friends but I'll try and post some pix of the ladies :)

xo

Sparklie's

• We carved our pumpkins tonight and they look really sweet.
• Made THE best coffee cake muffins this morning with Stella...Maybe I'll post the recipe.
• Talked to Andrea for a bit today...she's just a solid good friend and I do love her and her crazy life...she always makes me laugh.
• My sister is flying in from Telluride tomorrow!!!!

xo

pirate gingerbread girl...

gingerbread house 2...

Well, it seems like I haven't posted in forEVa!

We had a pretty mellow weekend: Zoe had her BFF sleep over Friday night. We ordered pizza in and watched a movie. All was quiet at about 10pm. Saturday morning they were up about 7:30 and I could just tell Kristen (the BFF) just wasn't 'right'. I asked her if everything was okay and she assured me it was. Now, I've been dubbed her second Mom...this girl has lived in this house and Zoe in theirs non-stop for the past four years. I knew something was up. I pulled Zoe aside and asked if maybe they had had a spat, 'no'. I let it go for about a half an hour and watched this girl like a hawk. Normally they want chocolate chip pancakes...Kristen wanted plain...HUH? Red flags are going off and I sit down next to her and look her in the eye and told her I knew her well enough to know something was wrong, what was it? Finally she tells me her tummy hurt. I call her Mom and go and tell her. Next thing I know there's projectile vomit all over my couch, rocking chair and floor. Yikes! Poor little thing...she's better now but not the best way to start the day.

In the afternoon we went over to RGS for the Halloween party...The girls had fun dressing up and playing the games. I was a little irritated with the choice of candy they had in the prizes they gave. Fire balls, jaw breakers, peppermint suckers, butterscotch suckers, jolly ranchers (ALL HARD, CHOKING HAZARDS!!!) I had to promise them I'd break open our Halloween candy and trade them out for the chokeables.

Sunday we spent around the house doing 'stuff''. I can't believe I haven't mentioned it yet but I've been fighting a really bad virus on our computer since Saturday. Some backdoor Trojan...I think I've got it all cleared up but it was a doozy! I'll keep my fingers crossed because it really STRESSES me out when I don't have the computer working...Plus, I missed posting!

Made those two tee's yesterday and today. The pic of the girls was taken on Saturday. Hope you had a great weekend!

xo

Sunday's best...

beautiful Lee...

Z was the 'boss'...

Dad the taxi...

Mom the taxi...

Freaky, right?

G.Willikers...

Kicked out...

So desperate, it's cute...

Portsmouth...

Staring contest...

So silly!

Pimp Daddy...

The 'money' shot...

We had a great day yesterday and I so wanted to get this post done last night but was too pooped!

When Daddy got home from work we headed to the most AWESOME corn maze in Lee...We got lost for about 45 minutes in their dragonfly themed maze...the weather was perfect and the girls (especially Z) loved it! C carried R most of the way through and S wouldn't let me put her down for more than a minute so by the time we got finished C and I were ALL SET! The girls wanted to hit the haunted house but it looked way to scary for their ages...maybe in a couple of years. Instead, we let them each pick out the biggest pumpkins they could find for carving later. They were quite content with that.

Next, we headed to Portsmouth to meet up with our friends from Boston. The girls always LOVE seeing 'Uncle' Kenny and this time he brought his beautiful girlfriend Molly...which was a treat (she is such an amazing girl :) We went shopping for a bit and hit the toy store where we got lost in time and held them up in closing...sorry! We left without buying anything which isn't like us (yes, we spoil, often and had no idea they were closed...no one said anything to us!). As you can see from the pix, S wasn't too happy about leaving but she got over it pretty quick.

We all grabbed a bite to eat and had fun having staring contests and joking around about Daddy's love of food :) Before we left Kenny gave the girls some $$$ which always makes any girl happy! R's shot is priceless!!!!

XO