my little steamer...

Ordered one of these handy dandy steamers a few weeks ago. It's found a home in my upstairs linen closet for quick wrinkle removal on busy mornings. So far it's been great, it heats up quickly and holds a good amount of water, enough to steam several items.

Surprisingly, The Boy likes the gadget so much that he's adopted the chore for me! He even steamed the packaging wrinkles out of my new shower curtain! Bonus!

Love the fun colors, too, but I wimped out and bought the white one. That way it doesn't clash with anything in my linen closet. Sometimes I'm weird that way...

rhubarb...

Mrs. Meyer's Rhubarb scent is my absolute favorite of all her lovely offerings (though I haven't tried Basil yet). Fresh and clean, perfect for spring, which I think is coming at some point! So yummy it makes cleaning chores a bit happier. Anyhoo, it's a seasonal scent that she only offered last spring but you can still get it here and for a great price! I know I'm going to stock up! Put a little spring in your cleaning, try it... I think you'll like it!

halloween...

I can't stop poring over the pages of the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living. So many fabulous Halloween and Autumn ideas! I've marked too many pages. We all know Martha is the Halloween queen and she's rocking it with this issue.

Lots of good stuff or should I say 'good things' for Halloween on the website, too! Go there for a countdown of things to do until Halloween! Crafts, costumes, decorations...

Here are a few of my favorite things...
















The Halloween Hang-Ups. These are so retro and adorable without being scary. They seem easy enough to make and use simple materials. Martha even provides templates for the faces. A friend and I are going to try them for our church Halloween get-together. I'll let you know how it goes!

















How I adore this lovely front porch loaded with pale pumpkins. This is from the article "A Palette of Pumpkins" that showcases pumpkins of every color and shape, even some in a dusky green blue! My favorite photo is the mantel piled with golden gourds on page 141. Many of the ideas will actually carry over as Thanksgiving decor. Gotta love that!

















For a bit of fun how about Marshmallow Bones or a Supernatural Buffet lit with black lights?

















And then the invitations featured in this issue are perfect and easy, too. Just download the templates, cut, attach and go. I love a good template!

I think I'm actually a little excited for Halloween this year, thanks to Martha!

pickin' produce...

Fruit... love it! But how disappointing is it to get that lovely melon home, cut it open and find that it isn't quite as yummy as it looked?

I was thrilled to find these handy tips for choosing produce at The Tip Spot a while back. A cheat sheet for choosing fruit...

image via my recipes

sneaky summer study...

The Boy stomps his feet and pouts, "I'll do my summer math sheets LATER!" Princess zips confidently through a time-telling worksheet and squeals, "What's next Mom? Are there more worksheets!?" That's how skills review goes all summer around here. The Boy procrastinates his work packet until the last week before school starts (misery), forgetting many of his skills in the meantime and Princess just can't get enough.

I think I may have found a way to please them both. While googling the internet for some fun ways to inspire the boy to study I came across this activity page at education.com. I am so excited! Tons of games and activities neatly arranged by grade level with step-by-step instructions and appealing photos. I think The Boy just might get into some of this schoolwork disguised as fun and Princess just might be satiated with activities that incorporate learning. Hallelujah!

Here are some that I'm psyched to try:

Bump - this is a great activity for reinforcing those core spelling words at any grade level!

I'm especially looking forward to this one because both The Boy and Princess can play it together, giving him the opportunity for review and her a fun introduction to future spelling words.

She'll eat it up and he'll be eager to prove his spelling prowess to her!


Traveling ABC's - Another spelling game. What can I say, I'm a spelling freak?!

This one is very straightforward but I think will be so handy for car trips. Princess will adore the aesthetics of this. Now I just need to pick up a couple more sets of letters as I'm sure that Cha-Cha and maybe even The Boy will want in on this activity.




Punctuation Practice - My kids love stickers so this is sure to be a hit with all of them.

The Boy and Princess will both benefit from filling in the correct punctuation and I'm sure I'll come up with a sticker fill-in project for Cha-Cha. Maybe filling in missing letters of the alphabet?

(Check the dollar store for super cheap address labels)



Multiplication Wizard - Okay, gotta get some math in there. I can definitely use any ideas I can find in this arena. Totally not my forte.

This incremental approach looks promising. A good way to reinforce the multiplication tables since I'm sure The Boy has probably happily dismissed half of them from his memory already. I know I did at that age... ugh those sevens and eights!



Tic Tac Toe with a Twist - This twist on one of The Boy's favorite games could be a hit. Keep those addition skills sharp! Princess can hone her skills with a little tic-tac-toe math, too.

I like this one because, just like good old-fashioned tic-tac-toe, it can be played anywhere. In the sand on the beach, on a napkin at the ice cream parlor, even while resting between bouts in the pool! Ambitious, aren't I?


There are tons more activities, too! I'm just trying not to overwhelm myself. Lots of craft ideas and the ever popular science projects. Even some handy ideas for helping kids get organized once they're back in school!

Okay, that takes care of keeping skills sharp... anyone have some tried-and-true tips for getting The Boy to sit down and do the Math packet without too much pain and agony?!

minty fresh...

Tried MetroMint peppermint water this weekend. Yum! My new favoritest thing! I'm a huge fan of all things minty so I was thrilled to find this. Not sweet, just water with a fresh herbal mint kick. Love it!

a spoonful of sugar...

My skin gets very dry in the winter and I've tried so many exfoliating products. I have a medicine cabinet full of expensive facial scrubs that haven't worked for me. Most just seem to make me break out. A couple months ago I heard Carmindy, of What Not To Wear fame, recommend using a spoonful of sugar as a facial scrub. I tried it and loved it.

I just mix a small amount of sugar with my regular facial cleanser every couple of days and scrub in a small circular motion. The sugar dissolves so it's not too rough and there's nothing left to clog your pores. I keep a little in a jar in the bathroom, can't get much cheaper or easier than that! Sweet!

photo via google images

captivated...

Finished Eclipse last Saturday and hmmmm... I'm still in an Edward fog. Captivated by this series. Slightly disturbed by my fascination with Edward. Not disturbed enough to need one of these...

















but disturbed enough to come across it in my quest for more Edward! Yikes!

These books really got me. Such a surprise, since they're nothing I would have ever expected to be tangled up in. Typically I'm a pretty practical girl. I've never been a fan of fantasy, nevermind vampires of all things. I'm not even particularly a romance reader. Mysteries are more for me. I'm not prone to obsessive fan-dom, I've even been known to chuckle condescendingly at Harry Potter enthusiasts. I don't waste time gushing over beautiful celebrities, yet here I am consumed by this fictional character. Ahhh... Edward, be still my heart.

My sister assures me that this daze will pass, that she was just as preoccupied after finishing the last book, but I'm not so sure... Do I even want it to pass since it's such a nice escape? Ultimately I do, as it's become somewhat time consuming or should I just say consuming. Ahem... here are some of the things I've found in my Twilight pursuits, things that make me unreasonably happy. Maybe they'll make you happy, too -- if you've taken the dive and fallen as hard as I have...

The first chapter of Midnight Sun, Edward's version of Twilight *sigh*

Some outtakes from Stephenie's books... Twilight and New Moon

Playlists from each book... Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse (and a website that's pulled them all up for you to listen to)

The back story of the characters via personal correspondence from the author, herself

Evidence that other adult women are as enamored as I am (possibly even more so)

More details from Stephenie (she's bewitched by Edward, too -- somehow that makes me feel better)

A movie to look forward to (please be true to the book). Edward incarnate. Isn't he beautiful?

Gah! Must. Stop. Is there a twelve-step program for this? Have you ever fallen head-over-heels for a fictional character? Do tell...

edward...

sigh... delicious!

Just finished reading...



















Yum! Say what you will about these books but I can't stop smiling since finishing New Moon two days ago. Let yourself go. Read them for what they are... entertainment, a delightful fantasy... you won't regret it. Grin. Thank you Stephenie Meyer. Can't wait to read Eclipse. Maybe next week, I'm still enjoying the high from this one!

sore, cracked...

Most breastfeeding moms are familiar with Lansinoh ointment for it's wonderful healing properties when dealing with the first few months of nursing.

I've been done with breastfeeding for quite some time but I have to share a wonderful alternative use for this product.

My children lick their lips incessantly this time of year, resulting in sore, cracked lips. Lansinoh is the perfect remedy. Ultra-pure, medical-grade lanolin that an infant can ingest. Can't get much safer than that. If your kids are like mine you may have to sneak in and coat their lips while they sleep, but it's worth it. Lips heal in no time! Chapstick never seems to do the trick for us like the Lansinoh does. It's great for windy day chapped cheeks and sore runny noses, too!

It's a bit expensive but those tiny tubes last forever. A little dab goes a long way!

Just thought I'd share, as it's a permanent fixture on our nightstands these days.

better than oreos...

Just tried Trader Joe's Joe Joe's in Chocolate with Vanilla Bean Cream flavor. Rave reviews, my friends, rave reviews. "Better than Oreo's!" said The Husband. Resounding praise from the man known to turn his nose up at knock-offs of his favorite brands and to complain about "healthier" alternatives to junk foods.

The children and I are in agreement, too! Really yummy cookies and it certainly doesn't hurt that I recognize every ingredient on the label. Still a treat and not a health food but something I feel pretty good about! And cheaper than Oreos to boot! Gotta love TJ's!

smooshed fruit...

Loving these Fruitabu smooshed fruit flats the last few weeks. Nice healthy treats. We've tried fruit leathers before and the kids haven't been impressed. Most are a bit dry but these are moist and tasty. Princess and Cha-Cha can't seem to get enough and I'm all for treats that they enjoy and I feel good about! Finds like this make me happy... I'm stocking up!

bring on the razor...

Bathing suit season is here. Alas, no more respite from the razor. Must shave legs daily now. If it must be done, I have found that this product makes the regimen quite a bit more pleasant. Thick, creamy lather and it smells like sugar cookies. Anything that smells like sugar cookies has to be good...

back from the berkshires...

AKA Perfect. Every year we make a getaway to the Berkshires and every year we stay at The Red Lion Inn. We can never get enough! I think we may need to buy a permanent room there!

What do we love about it? EVERYTHING. Okay, here's the short list...

• Lazy afternoons on the full-length covered porch, reading a book or watching the people go by, while a soft breeze blows.



• Comfy evenings in the Lion's Den enjoying unusually delicious pub fare and friendly live entertainment.



• Snuggling in rooms with tons of character AND down pillows and comforters, AND all the amenities, including cushy soft robes to curl up in.



• Eating food that is TO DIE FOR in the rustic, charming Tavern and the perfectly elegant Dining Room.



• Being surrounded by flowers EVERYWHERE... pots on the porch, immaculate landscaping, little vases of daisies and lilacs scattered throughout.



• Melting in the new Outdoor Heated Pool that can be used year-round with it's heated flagstone patio and fabulous hot tub. (This is New England, people, this is exciting)



• Perusing collections of teapots and dishes and antiques and photographs and artwork and fun tchotchkes in every nook and cranny.



• Cozy mornings reading the paper in front of the crackling fireplace in the antique loaded lobby.



• Breakfasts so satisfyingly filled with fresh squeezed orange juice and overstuffed omelets that you forget to eat lunch!
  
  
• Friendly, polite, attentive staff that truly makes you feel comfortable and at home.



• Yummy homemade chocolates and mini books of quirky bedtime stories on your pillow every evening.



• Not to mention all the things to look at and do surrounding this lovely place. Music, shopping, theater, mansions, more shopping, hiking, museums, ogling amazing homes, more shopping...

I could go on and on... No one is paying me to say any of this or giving me free accommodations for life (don't I wish)... We just LOVE it!

booty is back...

Around here we go in snack cycles. Everyone loves the same snacks for about three months then they get sick of them and we move on, repeat, and then eventually make the circle again.

We're back to Veggie Booty again after quite a long hiatus. I think we'd all forgotten how good it is. We're in love with it again, probably just until mid-summer, when who knows what will be next. We also love Pirate's Booty but I am more fulfilled by sneaking spinach, kale and cabbage into the children's diet (even in trace amounts). Cheese is not a hard sell around here.

We began buying them when The Boy and Princess were toddlers. They're a perfect toddler food... soft puffs that melt in your mouth, yummy! Big kids and Mommies and Daddies like them, too... making them even better toddler snacks.

If you've never tried them, you must! Check the health food aisles in your grocery store or check out the links above and get them online. Enjoy!

ahh... the sweet smell of clean...

My latest favorite cleaning product! Another one from Method... wood for good polish wipes. They smell like almond (yum)... and they make my furniture shine! Good stuff!

summer's coming...

At least I hope it is! I am done with all the rainy, cold weather... with or without cute wellies! I've got visions of sunshine and beach towels and tall cold lemonades dancing in my head.

Here is one of my all-time favorite summer things! The Wonder Wheeler Deluxe! Looooove it!















What a fabulous invention. We bring it to the pool every day during the summer, heck, this baby made it possible to go to the pool the last few summers. Without it (perish the thought) trips to the pool were pure mother torture.

I know it's early to be thinking about beach trips but this thing is perfect for picnics at the park, memorial day fireworks, spring camping trips, kids soccer games...

Load it up with the cooler, the folding chairs, the picnic blankets, kids jackets and toys, you name it... it can take it. It really hauls piles of stuff! It's got huge back wheels and can roll over rough terrain with ease. It can be pushed with one hand while toting a toddler or more bags with the other. The kids can push it easily (as long as they're tall enough to see over the top of it). It folds up flat so you can keep it in the back of the car.

Wherever we go with it lots of people ask where to get one. You can get it here for only $49.95 (oooh and free shipping). I think I paid about $80 for mine a few years ago and it was worth every penny plus! The latest one also has a detachable tote and umbrella holder that mine doesn't... bonus.














Check out this mom, see what I'm saying?! This is actually a picture of an older model. The newer ones have wheels on the front and back but it is a good illustration of what you can do with it. Here's another shot of an older one but it shows how a cooler packs on it. Five stars from me!!

who knew?

We've become Kashi food lovers. We've enjoyed the Kashi Go Lean Crunch for years, but now we've branched out to their granola bars, crackers, go lean bars, and other cereals. All good! But did you know that they have frozen entrees, too? I was curious about these since I'm trying to convert my husband from going out for lunch every day to bringing lunch. Healthier and cheaper... win, win.
I googled Kashi entrees and found two websites that review frozen entrees! Who knew? So interesting! One just reviews frozen foods, check it out here. The other reviews 'healthy diet foods,' take a look here.

Anyway, the reviews of the Kashi entrees were good so the husband tried them and he really liked them. I have yet to try them, but they do seem like a good healthy, quick alternative to fast food. Handy to have in the freezer and no guilt. I'll take that!

cute, practical & cheap... at a store near you

Remember these great little cups? Well, I was at Target the other night and they have some very similar.

They have a set of six in bright colors for $1.99. Can't beat that... only .40 more than Ikea's set. Works for me! They also have the coordinating plates, bowls, etc....just like Ikea. Check it out... if you don't have an Ikea near you, hopefully you have a Target! Can't imagine life without Target...

PS How cute would these be as party favors for the toddler set? A whole place setting (cup, bowl, plate, utensils) at Ikea only comes to $1.00 for each child! $6.00 total on cute, usable favors for six kids... SUPER! You could even mix up all the colors so each child gets one item in each color... FUN! Plan the whole party around this color scheme, balloons, invitations... I could go on and on...