Happy New Year! On this last day of 2011 our dear 'Papa' was in a horrible accident. After spending all day in the ER with my Mom and being in pain it seems like he will be okay. We, his children, are counting our blessings. 2011 was an emotional year with ups and downs. We lost a beloved Grandmother, I had a perfect baby boy and my sister is pregnant after many patient days of waiting. It has been an unforgettable year and today has reminded me of the countless blessings our family has received. I have been thinking of New Year resolutions and have gone through the usual "...loose weight, travel, cook more..." but in addition to the usual, I have resolved to live this wonderful life with a heart of gratitude. I resolve to love my side of the grass and relish each day I get to spend with my babies. Ring in the new year! Here we come 2012!

Can I get an AMEN?

I read a fabulous blip in the Jan/Feb edition of Elle Decor.  Five designers comment on 'things that must go'.  Although I was thrilled to read all of them, I will highlight just a couple here.

Richard Shapiro calls the midcentury craze:
"...the monotony of one midcentury room after another, all with predictable, gratuitous, gimmicky accessories."

Mary McDonald:
"I think we all have seen enough garage-sale junk sprayed in high-gloss Skittles colors to last through the next century."

And Sheila Bridges:
Has seen her share of "earthy, handmade concoctions.  Just because it can be reclaimed doesn't mean it should be."

Can I get an AMEN??

Now back to wrapping presents!

Whew! We made it to the weekend!

This has been a long week around here. Much was accomplished, but I think we're all glad to see it come to an end! I spent most of the week at GIRL'S CAMP. Enough said. BRING ON THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

Quotes

Lately, I've been stumbling upon several quotes that have really stuck with me.  They don't have any cohesion, necessarily, but I wanted to share them together anyways.  Sometimes you just need someone else to say things for you. 

First, from one of my new favorite blogs:

"To define a tomboy requires searching far beyond the simple notion of wearing boys' clothing.  Tomboys have influenced the expanses of popular culture including fashion, film, music, and literature.  And although the tomboy is often identified by clothing, what makes her wholly so is an inherent sense of confidence, rebelliousness, and adventure."  Tomboy Style Blog

At the end of a very inspiring TED talk about empathy by Sam Richards this quote from Fyodor Dostoevsky was displayed on the screen:

"While nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer, nothing is more difficult than to understand him."  Fyodor Dostoevsky

Along the same lines as what my grandpa used to say,

"You don't know someone's situation until you've walked in their moccasins."

And from a motivating speech by Gary Vaynerchuk:

“You need to care about everything, and it starts with yourself. Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, What do I want to do every day for the rest of my life? DO THAT…whatever you need to do, DO IT.” Gary Vaynerchuk

“Legacy is greater than currency.” Gary Vaynerchuk

We all need a little motivational speech every once in a while.



Happy Fourth of JULY!! It's been so fun to see the different interpretations of our banner project and to see them hanging in all our homes!

One of my favorite ways to try a new trend is with nail polish. As our family has started to grow, I have tried to save money by not getting a pedicure at a salon and instead doing it at home. And this coming from a girl who used to get a mani-pedi every 2 - 4 weeks. How times have changed.

With the at-home pedicures, I am all about fast and easy. To keep my feet smooth I use a foot scrub and foot lotion everyday. Everyday. If you are prone to cracks and dry heals, then this is my best advice. One of the main reasons I get pedicures is to smooth my feet and this regimen has surpassed any care I received professionally.



Another must to the at-home pedi is to make sure toes are clipped and clean and polished. Wearing no nail polish to me is like not wearing a bra. I try not to leave home without it. I have tried blue, green and every shade of pink and red under the sun. Year-round, these are my favorite shades:

OPI Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ

OPI Lincoln Park After Dark

OPI Dulce de Leche

Essie Really Red

I have another perfect summer pink that I use but the label has been ripped off by my 2 year old. And speaking of my darling 2 year old, the best time, I have found, to polish my nails is at about 10:00 PM right before I go to bed. No distractions, a little down time and I sleep with my feet out of the sheets to wake up with a perfect pedicure. Sounds a little crazy, I know, but it works and allows me to keep my toes lovely while on a budget. 

I have given up drinking.... and it my case that means Diet Coke. I can't promise that this will be permanent, but I was due for a change up. I feel good and so that makes it worth it. I have gained a greater appreciation for water, however sometimes you just need some flavor! So I have been infusing water! My favorite right now is lemon, lime and cucumber. If nothing else, throwing a lemon slice into my water makes it that much better. Other good ones are mint and cucumber, orange and mint and pretty much anything that sounds good. I want to try strawberry and mint next! The flavor will stay good for several hours, but don't leave it over night or try and refresh it the next day... the fruit will become mushy and should just be replaced. Enjoy!