New Shoes or Teva makes Mary Janes ?

(new Teva shoes -- LOVE them!)

Two years ago I blogged about some adorable OKAb shoes that I bought. I still love those shoes...but last week I looked down at my shoes and realized that the sole of one of them was ripping in half! Not a good look. I crossed my fingers and hoped that my shoes would last until I made it home (they did) and promptly went online and ordered myself some new shoes.

The verdict? I'm in love! I had no idea Teva made mary janes, but I love these! The style is the Teva Westwater 2. They are perfect for running around after my children and for my lifestyle. They run about a half a size or more big (I read lots of reviews that referenced this and my experience backs this up). However, I have BIG feet and these do not make my feet look big...and I love that!

Two thumbs up!

Free Spring Crafts eBook

Allie from No Time for Flashcards recently invited me to have one of my crafts published in a great eBook full of spring crafts. Needless to say, I enthusiastically accepted her invitation! There are 25 crafts submitted by 15 bloggers in this great free ebook! Download your copy and get crafting!

Click here to download your free copy!

I won!

Look what I just won from Today's Creative Blog and Just Ask! It is a Flip video camera! I'm so excited! I think this is the biggest blog giveaway I've ever won!

Happy Mother's Day

...or as we say in our family, "Happy Mama Day!"
Five years ago my little girl gave me a beautiful lilac bush for Happy Mama Day--and this year, for the first time, it is blooming! I took this picture last week because I'm so happy to see it bloom for the first time! It brings back memories of my little girl toddling around the plant nursery in her little pink skirt with her little ponytails sprouting out of the top of her head. So sweet...I miss that age so much!
We had a very good Happy Mama Day. I slept in (well, sort of...my husband did wake me up four times with questions/problems...but that's about as good as it gets around here) and then we went to church. After church we went out for breakfast at a new restaurant in our little town. The weather was gorgeous and we were able to eat out on the deck and watch the sailboats.
My husband got the hints I dropped for him in March and gave me the Lisa Leonard family tree necklace for Happy Mama Day. Ohhhhh, it is gorgeous!! It came with a discount coupon for a future order...this time I'm not hinting--I want to see what he can come up with on his own.
After our brunch, we walked around our little town for a bit before stopping at the bakery and buying cookies for the children which we took to the waterfront to eat.
Yes indeed, it was a HAPPY Mama Day!

Spring Cleaning and Selling!

No, I haven't disappeared--I've been busy cleaning STUFF out of my house! I've been selling things on craigslist, the local children's consignment store, and on eBay. Compiling items, listing items, and meeting people pass off items has been keeping me busy!

My children are really looking forward to summer swim lessons--which will cost me $200 a month--so my goal is to make enough money to cover the cost of their lessons. (My secret goal is to make enough extra that I can buy two barstools for my kitchen counter...but I'm keeping that goal to myself!)

I shared the "paying for swim lessons" goal with my children and they've been cheering me on and they're thrilled I'm already over halfway toward that goal. It has been a wonderful lesson for them in saving and working toward a financial goal. They don't receive allowances, so this is a bit of a new experience for them--especially in this age of debit cards and ATM machines.

My New Lisa Leonard Necklace!

I am now the proud owner of a Lisa Leonard Designs necklace. It is gorgeous beyond all belief and I'm thrilled to bits to have it! I was fortunate enough to win it in a giveaway sponsored by Beth at The Stories of A to Z. The absolute BEST part though, is that I chose my favorite Lisa Leonard design--one that I have wanted since it first appeared on her site. One that I asked my husband for...and didn't receive. (Ahem, husband, order NOW for Mother's Day--I really like THIS necklace and would like all of our names with yours first, mine last, and theirs in between. Let me know if I can be of more help. Mmmkay?)

Anyhow, now that I have that out of the way, look at how beautifully the necklace was packaged! All that crinkly paper cushioned the box in the envelope and the box came ready for gift giving!

Ahhh. G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S.
LOVE IT.

It is even more beautiful than it looks in the picture. I really really REALLY love it. You know, just in case you couldn't tell. Now there are roughly ten kazillion more Lisa Leonard pieces I would love to have.

I want to do family pictures this summer and I've already decided that this necklace MUST be included in the pictures. Nothing like selecting your jewelry before you figure out the clothing.

I was too shy to ask Lisa if she would sponsor a giveaway on my blog. Sorry about that. I can tell you, however, this necklace is gorgeous and you want one. You really really want one. And I want another one. (Ahem, husband...)

Glimpses of Home

Emily at Chatting at the Sky is having a "Glimpses of Home" link. I think this goes along so well with the latest blog fascination with "keeping it real." So often we share pictures like the one above--staged to look pretty and cropping out those pesky details of real life. (The picture above is of my not-so-formal living room decorated for Valentine's Day.)
If I had shifted over just a bit, you would have been able to see this--our playroom tucked behind that not-so-formal living room.
And if I had walked over behind that blue couch and into the playroom, this is what you would have seen. This is what my home really is like--Big Elmo headfirst in a shopping cart with finger puppet gloves on the floor and an abandoned Thomas the Tank Engine Oil Depot waiting for a little boy to come back and play some more.

This is real. This is home.

Remember to enter my 200th post giveaway--I'm giving away a Marshall's giftcard!

Quiet

Sunshine, fresh flowers, napping children, simplicity, beauty, peace

Visit Chatting at the Sky to read more about the appreciation of the little things

Eight Years Later

Happy 8th Anniversary to my Wonderful Husband!

You are one of God's most precious gifts and I love you more than words can say.

Visit Chatting at the Sky for more Tuesdays Unwrapped!

Seven Years!

Seven years ago, on June 30, 2001, my wonderful husband and I were married! The last seven years have been a roller coaster and through it all he has been by my side. God brought me the perfect soulmate and I am eternally grateful.

We had a 4pm Roman Catholic Mass with about eighty people in attendance, followed by a sit-down dinner. I planned our entire wedding myself with little help from anyone and loved doing it! We were blessed in that our family traveled from all across the country to celebrate our marriage. Our wedding took place at my college alma mater which also was where we met during my senior year in college.
I had three bridesmaids and he had three groomsmen and his childhood priest officiated.


This picture of us exiting the chapel doors was put on the cover of a regional wedding magazine.Our wedding was followed-up by a honeymoon to Sandals Dunns River in Jamaica! Ahhh, nothing to do except relax on the beach! My how things have changed!!

MeMe

I've been tagged by Jill at Forever and Ever House for a MeMe! My first time being tagged--woohoo! Go check out her blog and look at the cute bedding she picked out for her daughter's "apple blossom pink" bedroom. It is adorable!

So, about me...

1. What were you doing ten years ago?
Ten years ago it was the summer between my junior year and senior year of college. I was spending my fourth summer working as an intern in the customer service department of our local public utility district. It was a GREAT job that paid well and looked good on a resume. My boss was super nice too. I also was getting ready for my senior year of college--I was the senior class president of my college and had a lot to do to prepare for our senior year!

2. Five things on my to-do list today...um, how about I tell you five things I've already done--I've been very busy this morning because today is the first day of our two day carpet installation!
*cleaned master bathroom top to bottom
*pulled all of the clothes and shoes out of the master closet and piled them on my bed
*three loads of laundry washed
*vacuumed downstairs of house
*diapered, dressed, and fed two children (well, only the two year old is in diapers)

3. What are your favorite snacks?
Here is where I'm supposed to say hummus and carrot sticks with a glass of ice water, right? (See, Jill and I think alike on this one--we *know* what the "right" answer is...our real answers just aren't quite so healthy!) Truthfully my favorite snack is more like reduced-fat Cheezits and Coke Zero. Oh and some chocolate. Chocolate is a food group, you know!

4. Places I have lived
*Mermaid Beach, Queensland, Australia
*Kirkland, Washington
*Marysville, Washington
*South Hadley, Massachusetts
*Hamilton, New York
*Groton, Connecticut
*and now I live in another place :)

5. Five things I would do if I were a billionaire
*Donate huge amounts to cancer research, especially breast cancer and prostate cancer
*Set aside a chunk of money to fund our retirement
*Set up college funds for my children, my niece and nephew, and my cousins' children (who I view as nieces and nephews)
*Pay off our house and car
*Pay off my mom's house and car
*Establish a scholarship fund at my college alma mater
*Donate to my church

Ooops, that was more than five things--I started to get carried away by my new-found wealth.

Now it is my turn to tag someone...so I tag *YOU*! Let me know if you accept the tag and do a MeMe so that I can come over and read your post!

Randomness

• What time did you get up today? 6:15 (courtesy of my two year old)
• Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
• Latest movie in a movie theater? Um, no clue! It was 4.5 years ago in November of 2003--before my daughter was born.
• Favorite TV series? Grey's Anatomy
• What did you have for breakfast? Honey Nut Cheerios
• What's your middle name? Kate
• Favorite food? Chocolate!
• Which food don't you like? Spicy anything...my tongue is wimpy!
• What's your favorite CD at the moment? I'm not a huge music lover...
• What car do you drive? Although I said I would *never* drive a minivan...I drive an 07 Honda Odyssey
• Favorite sandwich? Turkey, lettuce, tomato on whole wheat--no condiments!
• Which human traits can't you stand? Passive-agressiveness
• What are your favorite clothes? I love capris!
• If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Australia
• Favorite clothing brand? Ann Taylor Loft
• Where would you like to retire? Wherever my children are living
• Favorite time of day? Lately it is naptime!
• Where were you born? Southport, Queensland, Australia
• Which is your favorite sport to watch? Gymnastics
• Coke or Pepsi? Coke Zero
• Soccer or hockey? Soccer, I guess
• Are you a morning person or a night owl? I'm a middle of the day person!
• Pedicure or manicure? Pedicure
• Any exciting news to share? Nope.
• What did you want to become as a child? My mom says I wanted to be a waitress so that I could help people. I love that story.
• Best childhood memory? The moment my mom told me we were going to Disneyland!
• Ever been to Africa? No
• Ever rolled anybody in toilet paper? No
• Have you ever been in a car accident? Yes, but not one that was really bad.
• Favorite day of the week? Friday--we have the whole weekend to look forward to.
• Favorite flower? Gerber daisies
• Favorite - Hot dog or Chinese food? Neither! Blech. Although I do occasionally eat a Costco hot dog.
• Do you own a bike? Yes.
• Who was you latest e-mail from? Barnes and Noble advertising a sale
• Where would you like to shop more if you could afford to? Ballard Designs and Pottery Barn
• Bed time? 10 ish
• Latest person to share dinner with? My husband and my children
• What are you up to now? Getting ready to go to bed.
• Favorite color? Red and pink
• How many tattoos? None!