It's almost here

I can't say that I'm sorry to see 2012 go. There were lots of very wonderful moments including a trip of a lifetime but for me personally 2012 was a toughie. I like to think I'm a glass half full so I'm betting that 2013 has to be good. 

Wishing you all the best in the coming year!

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Shoulders away from your ears

Not the best title of a post but I say this day in and day out. As a Pilates teacher almost everybody comes into the studio thinking of stresses of their job, their day and family life and naturally their shoulders creep up around their ears. A lot of this is also from the hunched over "I'm on the computer all day" posture but it's also just the worries and anxiety that keep us from feeling our best. Not only do I say this to others but to myself all the time. 

With the sadness and tragedy in Newtown and the stress of the season please take my advice and take a deep breath. Breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, close your eyes and fill the front, sides and backs of your lungs with air. Appreciate today and be grateful for tomorrow.

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Holiday Traditions

Every family has it's own traditions and things that they do to make the holiday season special. Holiday memories are always favorites so I try to do a few things that I remember as a kid and of course every family makes up new things as they go. 

• I make hot cocoa anytime it's requested.
• I waited it out as long as I could, but Jolly our Elf on the Shelf finally made an appearance last year.
• I use my Spode Christmas dishes the whole month of December.
• We do Zoo Lights every year.
• I always spend a lot of time wrapping gifts so they seem even more exciting to open.
• We do the Advent Wreath every Sunday night during Advent.
• Watch lots of Christmas movies.

This is us, I'm curious about other families holiday traditions. There might be something that we need to add!

{all images from Sarah's Fab Day Christmas Pinterest Board}

Least favorite Xmas Tradition

The holidays are approaching and I'm the freak that put their Christmas tree up this weekend. I just love having the four day weekend free so I try to get the jump on it. I won't lie though, I'm also the person that is permanently glued to whatever radio station is playing Christmas music. No, I don't have trees in every room and collection of Studio 56, I just enjoy Christmas tunes. One of my weird little idiosyncrasies. 

Music is a holiday tradition that I enjoy but there are plenty of things about the holidays that drive me nuts. I don't love the business of the season, it sometimes defeats the whole hang with family part of it. But honestly the one thing that makes me really nuts are cookie exchanges. I loathe making cookies! And for cookie exchanges they have to be all fancy and annoying. Don't get me wrong I enjoy a cookie just like everyone else but it seems like a lot of work for tons of calories that let's be honest we don't need around the holidays (don't judge I save my calories for my holiday wine). So tell me what is it about the holidays that makes you crazy? 

PS - If you know me and are having a cookie exchange I will totally come if I'm on the guest list, make pretty tasty cookies with a smile! 

House of Bumble

Again I got sucked into the land of You Tube. It's my biggest time waster ever. This time however I think you might be thanking me. Simple, sweet and pretty styling tutorials for your locks at House of Bumble.

{via Adorn Style Lounge}

Love It :: Union

If you're free today go check out Union. A super hip place at The Biltmore Fashion Park filled with lots of little storefronts filled with some of Phoenix's best local boutiques and shops.  Here is a little sneak peek of what I got to see at the soiree last night. They have oodles of stuff going on all weekend so go and check it out. 

Here are a few snaps from the evening. They have a few of my perennial favorites such as The Willows Home & Garden, Paris Envy and Frances not to mention a few very cool new places like The British Bicycle Company and Bonafide Goods. With the holidays headed our way it's a great place to pick up gifts. In fact that little pumpkin might just make an appearance on Thanksgiving.

Voting Day!!

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Just a quote

Today I'm feeling a little melancholy, maybe it's because I'm on the waaay downside of my 30's, maybe it's the weather change who really knows. But for some reason this quote has resonated with me so much since I saw it on Pinterest. Actually I shouldn't say for some reason, it's a wonderful reason and I love that someone said this out loud. As we get older we drag lots of memories and emotional baggage along with us and letting it go is so freeing. 

So hopefully it will help you feel as good as it did me.

Do you TV?

When my husband and I got married and moved in together there was one sticky point that we hadn't worked out. It was a little tiff about having a TV in the bedroom.  I was vehemently against it and he was pro-TV all the way. I caved and became pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed having a TV in our room. There's nothing better than a lazy Sunday afternoon spent in your cozy bed watching a movie or the TV lulling you to that drowsy place. Well it's been awhile and lately I haven't been quite as enamored with it. I'll give you a little back story, I have insomnia from time to time and I've found that any extra light in our room wakes me up. So add in the light from the cable box and the DVD player our room is like a regular Las Vegas. 

So I decided to do a little experiment, last week my husband had to take a short trip and I decided that for the few nights he was gone I was going to do no TV. Just reading in bed just like I had always done practically my whole life. Guess what? No problems sleeping or settling down at all. I clued my husband into this little experiment and he said that he's down to try it. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Do you keep a TV in the bedroom and if so has the love waned?

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Dreaming of Sweaters

Ahh, I'm wishing for it.

I could probably wear a sweater until 9 am, then it's all downhill. Still in 100 degree mode here in Phoenix. They say it's supposed to cool down this week. I'll believe it when I see it. 

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Operation Gratitude Candy Buyback

I haven't mentioned it here but I'm the sister of a deployed soldier. My brother who is deployed is 14 years younger than me, so unfortunately for him I've often thought of myself as second -in-command #2 Mom Figure rather than a sister to him. So when he decided to enlist it was very bittersweet for me. Be happy for the man who makes his own decisions while I still think of him as the sweet, crazy toddler with the kissing spot cowlick on the back of his head. 

Can't you tell, this kid wants CANDY!!

Halloween will be here before you know it and our kids will have oodles of candy to spare. Since I know first hand that my brother and his fellow soldiers LOVE sweet treats mailed to them please think about donating some of your extra candy to Operation Gratitude Candy Buyback. Here's a link to find a participating dentist near you. 

Buy it :: For the Hair

When buying hair products for the kids I don't fork out the dough for stuff from the salon. Normally I just grab the Fructis Surf Hair and I'm out. Since I like the Surf Hair stuff so much I thought I would try the Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Straightening Balm. What's the harm for $5? 

Totally love it! If you have longish hair it's good people. Just thought I'd pass it along.

Bowling Party

You know it's bad when your own brother mentions, "What's up with the blog? August 21st?" Oy. Has it been that long? When you have had a blog for several years unless it's your livelihood  it's easy to forget that you might want to post something. When I started this blog the kids were 4 and almost 2, now they're 8 and 6 and I can't believe I've been doing it this long. Back then I was home a lot more, Little was still taking naps and it made much easier to fit it all in. These days I'm back working during their school day and then after school is a flurry of homework, sports and dinner. Not that I don't still love my ole' blog but I probably don't tend to her nearly as much as I should.

So I'll do my best to give it a little tlc. Doesn't this look like the makings of a perfect Fall party? Pizza, beer and bowling? Fun, fun my friends.

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Let's toast!

I love days that end up with a good laugh. Sometimes I feel like the luckiest girl  because I have friends that don't think it's weird when I text to chat about raw apple cider vinegar, completely get my lame sense of humor, make up silly acronyms (#pwlu) and understand the black hole that is You Tube. 

Thanks friends for always being so awesome! So I think a cheers to friends are in order what do you think? Let's make a drink.

The Frenchy

• 1 1/2 oz Pear Vodka
• 3 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz Cranberry Juice

In a chilled rocks glass filled with ice, add your vodka and pineapple juice. Top with a splash of cranberry juice.

Back to School

Just a few things on my mind:

• Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with themselves for watching the Kardashians? It's like crack, I can't help myself.
• Loving these mini herb pots found at TJ's. Thanks Jaim!
• The race is on! School starts tomorrow, lunches, homework, lunches, PTO, sports, lunches. Deep breath.
• Do any of you ever really make any of the recipes on Pinterest? I have it on good authority that the Fresh Cherry Margs and the Honey Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas are good, I must try.

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Home Stretch

This is the last week of summer before the boys head back to school. I won't lie I'm ready for them to go back and for us all to be on a regular schedule. It's been extra long this year because they changed the school year on us and school now begins two weeks later than it used to. So fun for them the kids had a long summer and a little nutty for me.

So one more week and I will be out of the loony bin (and probably complaining about making those damn lunches).

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Olympics

Well done Procter & Gamble, I cry every time I see this commercial.

 Full disclosure, I also cry when talking about this commercial. It's official I've hit complete sapdom.

Love it :: Siblings

Sometimes I shake my head and think, "I'm a mom...of boys!" Being of the female species I don't always get their humor or style, but my goodness are they funny! Sometimes I like to eavesdrop on their conversations, they might just mortify you (because they often do me). I just have to laugh to myself because they're quite um, creative with their choice of words/insults/descriptions. Even though sometimes these discussions that catch I snippets are clearly meant for their ears only I try to respect their privacy so they can find their own style of dealing with one another and find those great inside jokes that all siblings have.

I've seen many bloggers throughout the years talk about sisterly bonds but what about those with siblings in general? I have so many memories of me and my brother that I can't even count. Most of them fun and more than a few of them me being the bossy older sister. (Sorry B!)  But seriously, how funny, embarrassing and sweet are some of them when you think back?

{source}

Honey Bear

It's been awhile since I've posted any parties but this shower is so cute. I love that the dessert table looks a little more organic, not just neat rows of candy soldiers. 

The invitations that they sent were perfection for this party and get this, you can get them too on Etsy!

{via A Beautiful Mess}

Love it :: Summer (kind of)

Did I mention that I broke my toe in Italy? Like the kind of fracture that was still so bad when I got home I'm still 6 more weeks in a hideous bootie/shoe thing. It's the world's ugliest footwear. I've decided I don't care and will wear my cute sandals anyway. Hopefully the one shoe won't look more worn than the other but who really cares right? It's not like I'm going to wear a tennis shoe on the opposite foot just to match the oversize clunker on the other foot. Ahh summer dressing with the hideous shoe...fun stuff my friends. I will take this on as a personal challenge.

{all links found here}

Firsts and Gray

It's a first, Big had a friend sleepover. He loved hanging with a friend all day and I loved it that there was no entertaining on my end, only feeding. And lots of it. Eight year old boys are hungry. I'm a little scared to find out how hungry in a few years...

Gray is lovely don't you think? Still totally not sick of it.

{via 1, 2, 3, 4}

Dreaming :: Paris

I know we just got back from Italy but now that I've gotten a bad case of wanderlust and all I can think of is what I've always dreamed of, Paris.

I can't stop.

Maybe I should eat croissants and drink champagne? No I don't think that will do, I know the croissants won't even be close to the authentic ones. So for now I'll just stick with the champers and read HipParis  while wishing it were me there too.

So I'm Paris, where's your dream destination?

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Do it :: Ping Pong

When my husband and I were dating we would battle it out with games like Trivial Pursuit and Sorry even leaving it ready to play if we had to go anywhere. Now there really isn't any of that but I sort of miss it. We have a patio table outside that rarely gets used, pretty much just gets dusty. I wonder if we could attach some sort of ping pong top to it and saddle up for Epic Battles Round 2? Fun times to be had at home for free! Kids optional of course.

Ping Pong anyone?

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My summer list (so far)

I'm still kinda dragging and yesterday didn't help matters. It was a cool(ish) day, unheard of for the 4th that involved bloody marys, bacon waffles and lots of hanging around. Loved it. My kind of day. 

Now I need to wipe those cobwebs out of my brain and make a list of things to do this summer.

1. Little needs a room update. I think he's ready for something a little bit more timeless and big boy. For him it's accessories change out that's needed. I need to think on this.

2. Make homemade pasta, can't be that hard right? This recipe looks good. 

3. The fact that I want a new juicer and a new espresso machine makes me seem like I'm one of those annoying people who agrees with whoever they are with. Maybe I just need to decide if I'm a healthy juicer or a coffee swilling lady of the house. Huh. Something to think about that's for sure.

4. Eat bacon waffles more often. 

That's all I've got for now. Real important stuff I know but hey gotta keep it real yo.

{image via Real Living}

I'm baaackk!

After a debacle at the Rome airport trying to get home we finally made it last night. We're officially in love with Italy. It was the trip of a lifetime. This isn't the best picture but it totally makes me laugh. This is how I will remember the kids on this trip. The kind of kids that surprise you with their patience, ability to just roll with it and still be totally silly.

Now I'm back home with pile of laundry and a very happy dog. How's your summer?

Love it :: Espresso

My latest favorite thing.

It's simple and perfect. One single shot of espresso with a little sugar of course. 

{image via}