you are kidding, right?

today.  trying on jeans at the gap.  a woman in the room next to me.  i just wish i had captured it on video.  so you could hear.  the sorrow.  the shear sorrow in the woman's voice.  over such a tragedy.  terrible.  really.  just terrible.

sales clerk:  "how are those fitting?"

shopper:  "they are just too big.  i'm drowning in the 2's."

sales clerk:  "oh, ok.  did you try the zeros (yes.  zeros) on?"

woman:  "i have them on now." (opening door) "i am just swimming in these.  swimming."  "what do you think?"

sales clerk:  at a loss for words just mumbled some ohs.  

i couldn't see her. didn't want to see her.  glad i couldn't see her.  a size zero?  swimming on her?  go eat a cookie.  go eat a cookie.

oh.  and by the way.  these jeans.  the boyfriend.  are really cute.  

happy. happy.

it's a special day around here. someone has a birthday today.

happy birthday, mom...thanks for everything.  hope it's a frosting-filled, fun day!

the littles think we should celebrate at chuckie cheeses.  i vote no.  but if you really want to, we certainly can.

i'll admit.

i've been a little sucked in today to the funeral of ted kennedy.  i wasn't always a fan.  but i've always been interested in history.  and the story of the kennedys.  

i think it's been fascinating to watch today.  all the people.  all the politicians. all the family.  an entire plane full of senators.  (was that smart? - well, some would disagree with me i'm certain).

it's really the end.  the end to an era.  there isn't another family in this country like them. well.  sure.  the duggars are probably as big (no pun intended). but they just sell themselves off for the tv.  the kennedys were a real family.  scandal.  deceit. drama. tragedy.  beauty. and wealth.  fascinating.  so fascinating.  and so sad.  so much was lost today.  so much history now gone.  i just think of the things he  knew.  about his brothers.  that we will never now learn.  how much he suffered through as a brother.  sure there was chappaquidick.  sure he was far from perfect.  but think.  just imagine.  he buried three of his brothers, a sister, his parents, two nephews.   that sure makes me think.

rip.  ted kennedy.  

free.

friday is a good day for some chocolate.  

so don't forget to get your free bag of m&m's here.  today only...

after school.

my day for pick up and after school snacks.  we decided on a picnic on the deck.  it was nice and cool  (cool?) for august.  and just perfect to be outside.  since the days seem to be getting shorter and cooler already, i want the littles outside as much as possible.  those too cold to get outside and run around days are coming sooner than i want to imagine.

so outside snack time.  you'd think.  i'd slaved over it all day long. they were all so excited.  but no.  just a spread of individual bowls of popcorn and cool-aid.  spread out the vintage oilcloth and they took their spots.  

i even got "that was the best snack time ever" comment.  can't imagine that. but at this point i'll take it.  those individual bowls make everyone happy.  and who couldn't be happier eating on those cute strawberries?

roaming.

around day.  playing with the nikon.  poking around the garden.  ( i know.  another boring post about the garden.  sorry.  it's a slow day).  haven't had to water in weeks. weeks i tell you.  what's up with that august?  

usually i'm out here once.  twice a day. watering.  and this year? never.  i'm not sure what this means for global warming.  because this seems to be august cooling this year.  73 degrees today.  in august.  we're usually sweltering right about now.

but i'm not going to complain.  too beautiful to complain.  but maybe a little questioning?

dinner.

i think. that this will be dinner tonight.

i know. it's the olive garden. but i'll fess up. i've always loved their salad. and i found the recipe for their salad dressing awhile back. and it's good. and easy. and even dh. thought it tasted like the old garden. so there. try it. it's easy. and good.

olive garden salad dressing.

ingredients:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 tsp vegetable oil
2 Tbls. corn syrup
2 Tbls. Parmesan cheese
2 Tbls. Romano cheese
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
1 Tbl. lemon juice

mix all of the above in a blender. then taste it! if it's a bit too tart (from the vinegar, of course) pump it up with a little bit of sugar - a teaspoon or so. just taste it after you add some so you don't add to much! serve it over the lettuce of your choice. don't forget to add super thinly sliced red onions, crutons and chopped banana peppers and tomatoes and black olives.

couldn't you?

just dig your teeth into these beauties? can you smell the sugary sweetness? the sweet strawberries, the crunchies jimmies on top?


fresh strawberry cupcakes. they just might be my new favorite flavor. good thing that this bakery isn't close by, because i might be tempted too often. way too often.

sunday.

is just that. sunday. and sundays. in the garden this year are for sunflowers. enjoy.

ahh. saturday.

well. finally. it's saturday. a long first week of school. little one came home yesterday and declared that it was "her last day of kindergarten!" i guess she hasn't come to terms with the next 18 years of her life yet. that this is it. summers off. the rest of the year in a classroom. i'm sure reality will sink in soon enough!

we are birthday party bound this am. i love the way the gifts turned out. here's my new way of wrapping:

a pottery barn kids sabrina basket liner (these are smalls) stuffed with tissue paper and the gift with the card attached by the drawstring. i think they are super cute and better than just your usual gift bag. i'm always looking for different ways to wrap and i might stick with these for awhile now!

and look. since a trip to santa fe doesn't seem to be in the cards this fall, i was surprised to find these gems at the grocery this am.

genuine. new mexico green hatch chiles. yum. i'm sure they can't compare to what we get in santa fe nor will we get to smell a big batch of them roasting. but i think they'll be a nice addition to the grill this evening. you do what you can, you know. you do what you can.

looky list.

it's been awhile.  i think. since i've updated my list.  a few new favs.

even though. i don't really listen to the radio all that much anymore.  i'm more of an ipod girl.  this radio.  is adorable.  adorable.

ok. seriously. how cute are these lamps?

and this cool rainy weather has me thinking about fall.  so even though i know we'll be blasted with more hot days to come, this sweater is pretty darn cute. (you knew i had to throw something in here from anthropologie, didn't you?)

this timer.  i'd have to time everything with it.  it's so cool and retro and blue.

and little one loves this cath kidston cowboy robe.  she's all about the cowboy again.

busy.

i've been busy. busy. i know. i hate saying that. everyone is busy. but i've finally kicked myself into gear. i've been sewing up a storm, adventuring, designing and developing.

and i've finally done it...

i've got a website under construction (yeah!) and after lots of friendly pressure, i've opened a shop on etsy. well, let's just say i opened the shop, but i haven't listed anything yet. but you could still stop by, say hello and become a fan.

i'm doing what i've been doing behind the scenes for several years now. collecting, repurposing, designing and creating. cards and stationery, tea towels, pillows, banners, totes and other cute stuff. i'm so excited to actually see it online in a store!

i'll let you know when i get those products listed...and when my site is up. thanks for the support and encouragement!

go away.

rain. rain. go away. 

it has been rainy here. rainy.  and cool. a crazy august.  it poured.  poured buckets on the first day of school.  and it's pouring again now.

so go away rain.  come again another day.  we want some pool time.

so.

we made it through yesterday. and today went fine. i think kindergarten will be good.

our only complaint? spanish. she told a boy "that i don't think this is such a good idea". he apparently gave her a weird (her words) look.

i'm not sure why spanish is her hang up. she learned some in preschool. but that seems to be the only kindergarten issue.

somebody.

became a kindergartener today.


and i survived to tell the tale. she wasn't scared (not really). didn't cry (of course. but i did.). trotted right off to her room. (her back pack was almost bigger than she is).

and already made lots of new friends (i figured she would).

she said it was awesome. but couldn't remember anything they did. go figure.

eek.

little one starts kindergarten in 11 hours.  11 hours.  

where did the time go? 

i'm afraid it will be a tear-fest tomorrow.  on my part.  not hers.  she will probably charge in and take control.  make friends immediately.  and wave to me from across the room.  "see ya mom" will be uttered across the room.  little two will be befuddled.  losing his best friend for a few hours a day.  he'll be lost without her.

more tomorrow.  on the tears.  i'm certain.

toads.

special. before school starts weekends. deserve special "favorite" meals. this was the request today.

classic english toad in the holes. yes. toad in the holes. don't knock 'em till you try them! my littles love these. i top them with cheese.

cut a shape from the center of a buttered slice of bread. "toast" the slice of bread in a frying pan; turn and break an egg into the center of each slice. place in oven. cook for about 10 minutes until egg is done to your liking. top with cheese. and don't forget to toast the hole!

a special day.

since it was little one's last day of freedom from school today. we decided to have a special day.

after we dropped off little two ("i not going mommy?") at grammy's house. we headed out. she was so excited. since it was her day. she got to pick.

she picked out the lunch place. fancy schmancy pizza and sprite. and then gelato. her favorite. well. not really. i shot down the golden arches. said it wasn't very special or fancy. tried to sell her on nordstrom's, but she wasn't going for it.

she loved it.

then we were going to go shopping. but little one wasn't really feeling it. didn't really want to shop. so i headed to the nail salon. she was a bit nervous. "are they going to give me a shot?" "will it hurt?" so concerned. about something so lovely. we had her nails done in pink. "it looks like bubblegum." and she decided as she sat and giggled that next time she would probably "well actually, mommy" go for the blue nail polish.

city kids.

even city kids. need a day at the farm once in awhile.


we are super lucky here. we have an amazing farmstead that we can visit (free of charge, no less). that has wonderful things for the littles to do and see. feed goats. chicken. fish. milk a cow.

pet a pig. see a buffalo (go cu.) and long horn steer. a bald eagle and red hawk. swans and ducks and geese. go fishing. visit a real barn and 1800's schoolhouse. ride a tractor.

go inside an indian teepee. to name a few. it's really amazing when i think it's less than 2 miles from our house.

the littles love going there. it's a battle everytime it's time to go. but we go. and we have fun. and we feed the goats. and let them chew on our shirts. and pretend we are indians and go fishing.

supplies.

we've been all about gathering up our school supplies the past couple of weeks (since someone named, me, forgot to turn in the paper to just buy them at school. lesson learned, ok.)

couldn't you just redo school if you could carry this lunchbox?

(photo courtesy of amazon.com).

or this one? just for a sandwich?

(photo courtesy of oliebollen).

and a cool water bottle. love the saying.

(photo courtesy of oliebollen).

and what about these? gourmet scented pencils (smencils).

(photo courtesy of amazon).


and i always loved my new box of 64 crayons. but now. you can get 150. oh how happy school supply shopping could be now. if you didn't have to buy off a list.

(photo courtesy of crayola).

tuesday's looky list.

don't worry. i'm not in the market for this (well. any of this stuff in this list.) but if i was. wow. this has to be the cutest crib i've seen. love the green apple. so unexpected in a nursery. so cute with chocolate brown and a touch of pink or candy apple red and light blue. yummy.

(photo courtesy of giggle.com)

and then there's this. don't need it. have one (or two) already. but cute. so cute.

(photo courtesy of giggle.com)

hoot. hoot. how fun would this be to store your stuff in?

(photo courtesy of giggle.com)

i know someone who would be tickled to swing on this adorable swing. but right now. little one. is on her first over-night sleep over. of course, she's only one door down the street. but still. i'm not sure how i feel about that. starting kindergarten and a sleep over. seems too grown up for me.

(photo courtesy of oompa.com)

yum.

a beautiful summer day called for a perfect summer magazine-type meal.  so here's a little recipe for you from the barefoot contessa back to basics cookbook.  a great book by the way.  

if you have sweet corn.  you should try this.  it is good.  so good. so delicious. and so easy.  and so adaptable.  i think it could become one of my summer-time "go to" recipes.

get your ingredients ready:

dice half  of an orange or red pepper. (i used red and some diced green chile pepper).

cut the kernels off of about 5 ears of corn.

dice half of a medium red onion.

heat two tablespoons olive oil in a pan.  add the onions and saute for about seven minutes or until soft.

add the red pepper and cook another two minutes.  i also added in a chopped green chile pepper for so additional flavor.

add two tablespoons butter.  melt in pan.  

add corn and cook for seven minutes.  then add two tablespoons fresh chopped herbs.  i added basil and chives.  don't overcook the corn it can become starchy, quickly.  season with salt and pepper.  serve hot.  

and then get out the old bay. and have dh whip up some yummy crabcakes.  and perhaps some sangria.

it might even feel like you're at the shore.  even though you're stuck 1200 miles away. but you'll enjoy.  you will enjoy!