All the Small Things...

WWW...

What Wednesday's Wearing

Hat by me

Sweater and pants by Target

Sock Shoes by Trumpette

WWW...

Summer Days 2011 #10...

Today was Dan's 41st birthday!!!

41!  How is that possible?  We started dating when he was 21!  CRAZY!!!

 

So Dan's big day started off watching his boy take swim lessons.

 

Later that night we went out to dinner at

My crab was SO GOOD!!!

Then we saw

Loved it!  Took me right back to my childhood.

A VERY Dan date.  Give him some seafood and a movie and he's a happy boy.  Not too hard to please, huh?!?!?  :)

 

Now for the creative portion of the blog--

Instead of a cake, Scarlet, KK and I baked Dan some yummy lime pie.  This recipe is unbelievably yummy and unbelievably easy!  Yes, EASY!!!

 

If you don't want to make the tartlets, just use a 10 inch pie crust and bake it for 5 minutes more.  YUM!!!

The Show You Need To Start Watching...

Now, maybe you already are, but if you're not, you need to start watching

OMG- I LOVE it!

It's on the OWN network and it runs about 3 years worth of reruns almost everyday.

It's a show where two of the cutest and funniest and most REAL girls take a cookbook, cook from it and rate the book on many levels.  For example, how user friendly is the book, how tasty are the recipes, how good of a cook do you need to be to use the book, and how nice are the photos and layout of the actual cookbook.  

What I love the most about the show is that it is so REAL.  These are average cooks who screw up in the kitchen just like we do.  They burn food, forget to buy ingredients, start an occasional fire and sometimes end up just dumping what they've made in the trash.  They also make some AMAZING looking food that inspires me to try new things.

 

At the end of the show they decide whether or not to give the cookbook their stamp of approval and it is very surprising what famous books they won't endorse.  In case you don't want to watch the show, they also have a website where you can just see what they put their stamp of approval on and what they have passed on.

Anna and Kristina's Grocery Bag

 

So today I got this in the mail:

 

Anna and Kristina LOVED it!  I can't wait to try it out...

 

 

4th of July Halter Top...

A few years ago I made a fun halter top for Scarlet and I was recently approached by ALLFREESEWING.COM to be part of a DARLING free eBook featuring this top.  

SUPER FUN!

The book has some really great patterns in it-- I HAVE to make the pillows.  I'm kinda obsessed with the George Washington and 1776 one!

To download the ebook for free, head on over JULY 4TH EBOOK.

I have some other patterns featured on their site too, so check them out while your over there...

 

On a side note--- looking at these old pics of Scarlet make me SO sad!  I want that little sass in bows back!  It kind of makes me even more thankful for sweet Wednesday Jones. ♥ my girls!!!!

Summer Days 2011 #9...

 

It's Father's Day.

I can't begin to express how fortunate my 5 are to have these men in their lives.  They have taken the roll of "father & grandfather" to new heights and I am forever thankful that they CHOOSE to do this everyday.

 

Dan:  He's the Dad who never misses an awards ceremony at school.  He's the dad that missed the last baseball game of the season to attend the Brownie Olympics.  He's the dad that makes sure his boy gets his chocky donuts in the morning.  He's the dad that manages to come up with club soccer money no matter how tight things are.  He's the dad that has coached every one of his older kids and can't wait to coach the younger ones.  He's the dad who always offers a soft place to land.  He's the dad that stays up til 3 in the morning typing a paper with their son even though he waited until the last second and didn't deserve the help.  He's the dad that can't stop kissing Wednesday Jones.  He's the dad that sits and watches the game with his boys even though it would be so much more enjoyable alone without all the questions and noise.  He's the dad that treats their mother how their mother wants them to treat their wives.  He's the one we couldn't live without.

 

Pa:  He's the man that picks up Scarlet from school on his only day off and has her run errands with him just to spend time with her.  He's the one that keeps a notebook of all the funny/lovely/amazing things the kids have ever said.  He's the one who has never met a stranger without showing them at least 10 pictures of the 5.  He's the grandpa that has been at every game if he's not working.  He's the one that slips the kids money without me knowing.  He's the one that will call from Costco and ask if we need anything.  He's the one that stops by a couple of times a week for just a few minutes to see the kids and hear about their day.  He's the one that makes my oldest son laugh until he cries.  He's the one that will leave with a crying baby during a performance, so I can see the whole thing.  He's the one who calls me one day out of the blue to tell me how amazing our children are and how they are the greatest blessing in his life.  He's the one that tells the jokes my children repeat over and over again.  He's the one my children never forget in their prayers.

 

My children and I are blessed beyond words to have these fathers in our lives.

 

I could want nothing more than for my boys to be the father Dan is and the grandfather my dad is.  That is my wish this Father's Day.

Summer Days 2011 #8...

It's his FAVORITE day of the year.

TOUCH-A-TRUCK!!!

Once a year the city of Thousand Oaks holds this amazing event where every vehicle you could possibly imagine shows up at the park and children can climb all over them, sit in the drivers seats and even wear the equipment associated with that vehicle.

For a kid like Keiran, it's a literal dream come true!!!

Helicopters, boats, loaders, steamrollers, race cars, cherry pickers, police cars, buses, fire trucks-- like I said, you name it, it was there!    How cool is that?!?!?!?!

KK's favorite vehicle there? 

The dump truck.

 

Summer Days 2011 #7...

I feel bad--  

 

I have no amazing crafts to or sewing projects to blog about.  

 

I haven't made any fantastical summer desserts.

 

I haven't sewn the girls any fab clothes.

 

I haven't celebrated any quirky holidays.

 

You see, I've needed a little break.

 

I've needed to get my house in order.  I've needed to spend more time with Dan.  I've needed to clean out my garage.  I've needed to stay up late and sleep in.  I've needed to rearrange my bedroom furniture.  I've needed to celebrate Father's Day and Dan's birthday.  I've needed to be a little lazy.

And with that being said----

I now NEED to get creative.  I need to craft, sew, bake and celebrate.

I hope you check back to see what I have in store! :)

 

Until then, here are a few bits and pieces... 

Tonight for dinner Dan barbequed some yummy steaks and I made some DELISH oven fries.  You NEED to try this recipe next time you serve up some hot dogs, hamburgers or steaks.  Don't forget to make the sauce that goes with them-- super tasty!!!

Don't forget the sauce!!!

 

Currently...

READING:

COOKING MY WAY THROUGH:

COVETING:

My Favorite Book I Read to KK:

Summer Days 2011 #6...

Today we did a whole lot of NOTHING!

It was amazing.

 

Summer TV shows I'm OBSESSED with:

So You Think You Can Dance (LOVE Melanie!)

Real Housewives of NY & NJ

Top Chef Masters

Million Dollar Decorators

The Next Food Network Star

Watch What Happens Live (Infatuated with Andy Cohen!!!)

Platinum Hit

 

SO excited for:

Big Brother

Dexter Season 4 (on DVD)

Rocco's Dinner Party

 

I confess-- I'm a reality TV junkie.  I love it!  It's what makes folding laundry, feeding the baby 5 times a day and making dinner something a little more entertaining!  

I don't drink, don't smoke, don't take any medication worth speaking of-- I watch reality TV.  It's my fix.