A Milestone

I am celebrating a milestone!  One year ago I gave up Diet Coke.



Sure- that does not seem like a HUGE thing to celebrate but to me it is.

It was due to my wanting to stop caffeine.  Caffeine was bothering me on so many levels (my mood, my mornings, my appetite and it bothered my heartbeat at times).

So, I could have just drank Caffeine Free Diet Coke right?  It was at the same time I decided to do away with the artificial sweeteners.

The Mr. still likes to drink it - so it is in the house and some days I am tempted when he cracks that can open (I can just hear that 'crack') and then he pours it over a tall glass of ice...ahhhhh but I don't want it and I don't even like it anymore.

So what do I drink?  Seeing as Crystal Light, Sprite Zero and Ice Tea all went out the window my drink of choice these days is lemonade mixed with seltzer water.  It cuts the calories, and it still sweet and cold.


Of course there are days when I prefer this but this does not happen often!


Small accomplishments like this make me proud.

Fabulous Friday: S'more Crescents Please

Chocolate.

Say the word slowly: c h o c o l a t e ....

Yes, it is all GOOD!

Even Lulu who is lactose intolerant will never pass up anything that has chocolate.

When the heat broke and I was finally willing to turn my oven on again we needed something fast and good.  We went with an old standby favorite - S'more Crescents.  OK, there are no graham crackers involved but who cares!

I lost my taste for Pilsbury 'Pop n Fresh' when I started on a 'real food' mission a while back.  Recently I have found the Immaculate Baking Co. and I am willing to 'stretch my standards' for simplicity.

First we unroll the triangles and drop in some mini chips and mini marshmallows and roll them up  - this is Lulu's job.



Just be sure to 'pinch them tight'!  Then in the oven for 12-14 mins -

And you break them open, slowly.....

Have a great weekend!!!

A Gift

I mentioned before Lulu has a heart of gold.  Solid gold!  She started growing her hair long because it looked pretty.

One afternoon we were watching TV and saw a show on Locks of Love.  At the end Lu turned to me and said 'I am going to do that'!  And she did! We have spent the last two years growing her hair long.

It was time to cut her hair.  I was ready to have her cut it if she had the right amount to donate or not.  

She donated just about 11 inches.  Her hair is straight but she has so much of it.  There were 2 ponytails that size.

And there, after the cut, there was the most beautiful SMILE!

She looks so happy!

She has the most beautiful hair!

Here we are officially mailing her 'locks'.

at the Post office

  

She looks so grown up now- but I can still see that 'baby face' in there.

Little Girl Dresses

I never really took advantage of sewing adorable little clothes for my girls.  It is a tragedy really.  My machine and energy level were never up for it.  Now having almost a Tween & Teen - they won't have any of it.

THANKFULLY I have nieces and a nephew!

I was able to complete these two dresses for Niece M (she is 5) and Niece E (she is 3) who are SO cute. 

  

I have found that I prefer to follow online tutorials (free ones are best!) and patterns vs. the 'McCalls' type patterns in the store.  Pictures, step by step directions, simple shopping lists.  THIS is the way to SEW!  

I now avoid all that tissue paper and time spent saying 'is that the right side or the wrong side' they are showing me in those black and white instruction pages.  I even LOVE that I can download the tutorials onto my iPhone and take them right into Joanns with me and figure out what I need to bring home or show the salesgirls exactly what I am looking for. 

The dresses I made were from this pattern at That Darn Kat - SO SIMPLE!!  I just wish Lulu would let me make her one. 

I think I really need to invest in some 'LABELS' for my creations...

Festive Summer Bunting

I am SO late on the Bunting Craze but I am glad I waited for Summer.  I made a bunting for Coco's Pool Party and decided to keep it up all Summer.

I do not have on the go photos to share.  And I won't bore you with which tutorial I used - the web is loaded with those already.

My TRICK?  I used Outdoor Fabrics : )  I had so much fun picking out these vibrant colors.  I feel like I always work with the same colors so it was fun to mix it up.

I purchased 5 fabric colors (just a 1/4 yards each)  which gave me two buntings - it was very affordable.

I love just how it came out!  I hung it from our canopy that we keep on the pool deck for shade.

I also love that when we are in the pool it is the first thing you see.  I can also report that it has been hanging for almost a month now and the fabrics are holding up great.  

Why HELLO!

Tip Me Tuesday

Sew Cute Tuesday

OUR Black Dog

For 14 years now I usually have my morning coffee in this mug which I got on my Honeymoon with the Mr.  At the time we had a rescue Golden Retriever (Kaley) and soon after rescued another Golden (Sampson).  The Goldens passed away about 5 years ago.  It never occurred to us that we would have anything but Goldens.   

Fast forward 5 years...

It took us that long to even consider a new dog.  We knew we wanted to adopt another adult dog but I was terrified of all that dog hair again.  The girls were begging daily.  The Mr. would not consider a new dog yet.  So we waited.  And waited.  We came across dogs that were available but we declined.  Was there even room in the 'Little Red House' for another dog?

One day a friend told us there was a black lab available and it was too bad we did not want a lab.  I mentioned it to the Mr. and he said 'let's meet her'.  Being no fool I set it up right away.  It was a match made in heaven.  

We brought our newest member of the family home this February.  We renamed her Nora and she has been the best dog ever.  Her dad was an AKC Black Lab and her Mom was a Flat Coated Retriever - we got full history on her and she had been in a home with small children.  She is five years old and has the most wonderful temperament.  Her fur is so soft and silky.  Yes, she sheds - a lot.  

First time through her new home

Honestly, she is like a housecat.  She has no lab traits at all (other than shedding).  She loves to lay and sleep on her bed every day.

On her NEW bed

Sneaking a nap on the playroom couch

 She doesn't even pick up a ball.  Or play with toys.  Or swim.  Or sneak food off the table.  These are all things we have been working on to change!  

Six months later she has come a long way.  She spends her days awake and in the car with me most of the time.  She commands the front seat.  She has made lots of canine friends and because she is so well behaved is invited for playdates.  She is starting to play more and at times - far and few - we get her to play with her 'stuffed squirrel'.  

The biggest change we have noticed - she loves us.  

With her PACK

 

Almost as much as we love her.  

Her most favorite thing to do now is be outside chasing chipmunks & squirrels and investigating the stone wall - which pleases us.  

Lulu said to me one night 'Mom how did we get so lucky to get Nora?'  I told her 'I think maybe Kaley and Sampson may have sent her to us'.  And with that I gave her a kiss and tucked her in.  

If you are considering a new pet - consider adoption.  

A second hand dog often has the most love to give.  

Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue

Nora the dog

Key Fobs

Inside my purse (or pocketbook if you like) is a dark black hole.  Things go in and never come out.  Especially my keys!

When I purchased my iPhone I wondered why anyone would ever want a black phone?  How would you ever find it?

I finally came up with a solution for this:

I used the tutorial I found here at The Idea Room.  It was very simple...and I had a chance to break in my quarter inch with guide foot !!

The key (no pun intended) to this was to make sure everything is lined up straight.  Also, I used home decorator fabric which was VERY thick -but they have held up nicely over previous ones I have made in cotton.  I got the clips at Joanns in the 'purse making' section.

I now also have a bright green cover on my iPhone too!

Made by You Mondays

Girl Scout Camp

Did you go to Summer Camp? Like a sleep away camp?  I went once.  It was the late 1970s.

I have two older sisters who were off doing their own teenage things and I think my parents were thinking 'Hmmm, now is a good time to ship her off'.  And they did.  I went to a Girl Scouts camp which was fine but there was no swimming.  We slept in actual tents and I am pretty sure we cooked a lot of our meals out. That was a LONG time ago.

Fast forward to 2011:

Now that Coco is getting ready for her 5th grade year - her parents are thinking 'Hmmmm, now is a good time to ship her off'.  She is going to a Girl Scouts camp in New England and I made sure there is swimming.  It has a beautiful swimming lake.  The camp is perfect!

She is going with one of her first friends 'Miss A'.  They will be bunkmates.  I feel a slight twinge of envy with her going on this experience.  I guess I only get to experience it from the stories she is willing to share with me.   

SO eager to GO!

Their bunk

I love how their pillows are head to head 

 I am going to miss her - but I think the experiences she will gain will outweigh my needs for her daily hugs.  She was eager to say good bye and send us on our way but kept holding on for one last hug.  So sweet.

Just one more....

Following a terrible heat wave here last week I am thrilled to say that the humidity broke and the overnight temps should be in the 60s.  Again, just perfect!

Keeping Lulu the 8 year old entertained while she is gone is going to be another challenge... but she gets her chance to go to the same camp later in the Summer!

Perfect clear lake : )

Sweet Dreams Coco!  Have fun!

We Interrupt this Heatwave...

for the following message:

  Yes, it gets very hot in New England too!

Cute Christmas Ideas

These are some of my favorite online Christmas Crafts I found this week on 

Tip Junkie Christmas in July

Santa Beards!

  

These would be great for those 'family Christmas card photos!'

Christmas Card Display 

 

In the 'Little Red House' an idea like this goes a long way.  I never have room to display the beautiful cards I receive.  AND I happen to have white cabinets!

Wall Decor

 

I love the simplicity of this.  Just beautiful.

Stocking Stuffer: Magnets 

  

SO cute and fun - plenty for everyone.  HINT: Great teacher gift idea too!!

Stocking Stuffer: Luggage Tags

 

It seems like everyone in my family is going on a trip but ME in the next year.  Great for finding your luggage at the airport too.

Christmas Countdown 

 

Anyone with kids appreciates the value in not having to answer the question everyday in Decemeber 'How many days until Christmas?'

What are some of YOUR favorite ideas for the Holidays this year?????  Leave me a link below!!