Garden Update

Things are progressing well with my garden this summer. This is the first time I have ever done anything like this and I am enjoying it so very much! I love seeing these plants grow. I took a few pictures to post and share. I am blessed to have wonderful neighbors and just today one of them gave me a bunch of stepping stones that they don't want anymore and there is more coming! I am so excited about that! My backyard is slowly turning into a wonderful escape!

Basil and Thyme.

Two baby tomato's!

Tomato's, peppers and flowers.

Free rocks!

Dancing and Singing in the Rain

Starting summer off with the sprinkler. These two sweet cousins had a blast playing together! What a memory! While it was hot, the water and the popsicle and the shade kept us all cool.

Fun Times

This video needs no explanation. Just watch and enjoy the laughter.

Hilarious Tea Party from Samantha Harris on Vimeo.

Castles

Yesterday was a castle building kind of day. With gas prices out the roof, I am making an effort to stay home on days when K does not go to school. Sometimes this can be hard for me because I like to GO. But, yesterday was very productive and we even turned some empty food boxes into a castle! K loves playing with it and certainly likes re-creating all the scenes from her current favorite, Tangled. So, all we used was food boxes, hot glue, razor and markers! Easy enough.

BEFORE

AFTER

Lovely Afternoon

We hosted an egg hunt today at the house. We had a great turn-out and I so enjoyed having new friends over. The weather was perfect and the kids and adults had a wonderful time........I think! Everyone stayed till the evening hours, so it must have been a good time! As usual, I did not get a lot of great pictures of all the foods and decorations, but I did take a few. I wish I could post lots of pictures of the day, but I feel bad posting them without permission, so I just included a few. I love hosting parties and the best thing about today's was that it helped to bring many new people together. I was feeling nervous before the guests arrived and I must admit, it is nice knowing that my Mom was going to be here with me. I just feel relaxed when she arrives. Happy Easter!

The Garden

I wish I had taken a before picture so that you could appreciate the after. I mean everyone loves a good before and after, right! Well, this is not really the true AFTER, it is just the in between as nothing is growing yet. I have been working for a month now on clearing out this wonderful garden space to get it ready for planting. I have never been into gardening before, but I am now! I just got it in my head one day that I wanted to plant some vegetables and a month later I have cleared this whole space of weeds, long hanging limbs, lots of grass and all kinds of garden decorations. I have tilled the land and bought bags of conditioning soil to mix in with the regular soil. I have endured poison ivy and hot sun, but it has been fun for me. Kaori and I have enjoyed being outside together so much. She plays all around the yard while I work and she also has fun digging in the dirt. I have bought tomato plants, peppers, strawberries, basil and thyme. I bought some flowers too, but I have no idea what kind they are. I just cannot remember. So, these pictures are mostly for my sisters, as this is the house we all grew up in and I thought they would like to see what the old garden space is looking like these days. Anyone else first time gardeners? Are you excited!

This area tends to get pretty muddy after the rain and also from watering the plants, so I used these stepping stones that belonged to my Grandmother and made a foot path. It is nothing big, I know that. But, to me, it is awesome! Kaori likes to play on them too, so that is always a plus.

I have some flowers coming up that my Mom must have planted in the past. I have also planted some more bulbs to come up around these, so it should be pretty.

Flowers, herbs and vegetables awaiting their new home!

The length of the garden and then the patch at the end will be strawberries. I think that will be fun.

This tree is pretty big, but I am just planning to put flowers under there and some garden decorations. I think it will be okay, well I am planning on it being okay!

Yummy

I got a craving for strawberry milk last week. Yummy! I looked up online how to make it and this is the deliciousness that I found.

Here is how you make it:

Strawberry Milk
serves 2
1 cup strawberries, chopped (you can use frozen ones, I did not)
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 1/2 cup whole milk
In a small pot, heat strawberries, sugar and water until boiling (it's a bit like making jam). Let boil for about 10 minutes; mixture will reduce and thicken slightly. Using a fine sieve or mesh strainer, strain the mixture into a small bowl. You can save the cooked strawberries to add to yogurt or put on pancakes. Set the strawberry syrup aside.

Chill two small glasses in the freezer for about 10 minutes. Add 3/4 cup milk to each glass. Swirl in 3 tablespoons of the strawberry syrup into each glass of milk (more or less, depending on desired sweetness). You will have a little strawberry syrup left over, perfect for pancakes or adding to soda water.

This was truly delicious. Kaori loved it and so did I!

I Did It

On Sunday I ran my first half marathon! It was awesome. It felt so good to accomplish something that I never really thought I would do. I did not train to hard for it, so I surprised myself when I ran the first 9 miles. At mile 5 my right quad started to tighten and bother me some. I knew it would not go away. I stopped to stretch it a few times, but that did not really help. By mile 9, my hips were super sore so I just had to walk. I was bummed because cardio wise, I felt GREAT. I walked 2 miles and then finished strong and ran to the finish line. It was so awesome coming in and seeing all the people there cheering. And then, I hear my sweet girl scream, "Mommy, Mommy"! Awwww, it made me smile to big! There she was with Dave and they were cheering me on. Across the way I could hear my Mom and Doug screaming for me too. It was great! I highly encourage everyone to do it! It makes you feel so good! I cannot wait till my next one! But for now, I am just resting my bones, man I was sore afterwards and today is better but my hips and knees are pretty achy.

Blog Award

I woke up this morning to a nice surprise. I had an email that told me my Adoption Update Blog has been added to BlogFronts Top Adoption Blog List! Cool! There is no sweet prize or anything, just a badge to put on my blog to share my news. Still, I am pretty excited. Who would have thought?

Top adoption Blog

Photo Shoot for Contest......I Want To Win

I entered a local contest with one sole purpose......I want to win! Why? Because everyone likes to win, but mainly because the loot is pretty sweet.

A weekend getaway for two (plus spa treatments!) at the luxurious Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands, NC.

A photo shoot with Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon photographer extraordinaire Summer Adams (of Captures by Summer). Photos from that shoot will appear on the spring covers of LBD/LRW!

A spa refresher package at The Spa at Governors Towne Club ($135 value), which includes an Active Glow facial, followed by Deep Tissue Massage and a protein/vitamin shake.

A haircut, color, design and customized products from the super-posh Avanti Color Salon in Acworth (who, by the way, did Karyn’s hair in the photo above, top left, for last year’s cover).

A full housecleaning from Prestigious Cleaning in Kennesaw (get ready to feel pampered by these great folks!).

A package from Private Gallery @ the East Cobb Avenue, including a handbag, earrings, necklace and bracelets ($100 value). They carry the best brands and styles; this is guaranteed to be some GREAT swag.

A $60 gift certificate for custom children’s clothing with Sweet Designs by Maryum. Adorable designs from this rockin’ Kennesaw mompreneur!
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Isn't this a GREAT prize package! I would love the trip for two alone, but the other stuff just sounds so out of my ordinary routine that I am just as excited about it too. So, I hope I win!

Here is the photo I entered. I took it myself along with a dozen others last week in order to enter this contest. 10 second self-timer. You can vote as many times as you want! I'll be voting for myself!

Vote

Rethink Junk Visit

Yesterday my mom and I went to see this interesting place called Rethunk Junk. We LOVED it! This lady makes some beautiful furniture and we just gawked at how awesome her prices are. She has lots of furniture to pick from! Short ones, tall ones, big ones, small ones, black and white, red and blue. Everything was eye candy to me! I only wish I needed it. But, I will always follow her blog and keep her in mind when people talk about purchasing something new! This place was great. My mom scored three beautiful end tables for $125.00 total!

On another note.....I made my first goal with my new 31 Gifts business! Yay! Fireworks were going off in my world just two days ago! I am loving my new job and cannot wait till tomorrow when I get paid. First pay check in 3 years. It will feel good. Sadly, we have already spent the money that is coming my way on a NEW BED for my tiny tot. Now that she is getting a new bed, I am getting the itch to re-decorate her room. Which is kinda silly because we have only lived here 6 months and her room has a new coat of paint on it already. Oh well! I am thinking creamsicle for the walls. D is not liking that idea very much though. So, I am on the hunt for new paint and new bedding! Yep, I'm excited.

Rethunk Junk

I know I have not posted about the party yet. I am sad to say that although it was a success, I failed to get some really great photos. I was just to darn busy. I will post a pic of her cute dress though. Once I wash it!

I wanted to share this blog with my readers. I have been following it for 2 years and I just really love what she has to offer. The store is in Marietta, GA which is close to me now that we have moved. Her prices are great and I would pretty much like to have just about every piece of furniture she has to offer. Enjoy this jewel of a website!

Rethunk Junk

Almost Party Time

My little tot turned 3 on Monday and I have been preparing for her party for the past month. It is this Saturday and we are both very excited. I am so thankful that I bought things ahead of time as now would not be the best time to shop. (budget....arghhh) I have lots of decorations and drawings that I have been working on for her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Party. I even made her a party dress (remember that red polka dot thing I mentioned in my previous post), which is cute, not the best made dress out there, but she is still going to wear it. I insist. Plus, she likes it because it has Mickey and the gang on it. I showed it to D and he smiled and then did his arm at angle to point out that it is not perfectly straight along the bottom. We laughed. Oh well, she is only 3! We will look back at the pictures one day and laugh together over her dress. I can hear her now, "Mom, what were you thinking!" So, pictures will be coming soon of her crafty party! Stay tuned!

Lots of Goodies

We have been in the market for a desk. I found this super nice desk at a consignment shop last weekend and I bought it right there on the spot! It was a great feeling and I was so proud of my steal, I mean deal. It was $80.00. I had a $40.00 store credit so I paid $40.00 for this solid wood desk that will last my baby girl many, many a year! Woo hoo! I am thrilled.

Next up, I took FULL ADVANTAGE of my Mother's Day Out today. I found this gem of a thrift store called Clothes Less Traveled. I stayed for an hour and walked through, slowly taking everything in. It was soooo nice. AND, I left with 7 clothing items JUST FOR ME for a total of $22.00!! A Vera Wang dress for $5.00 friends, Ann Taylor sweater for $2.00, Aerpostale Jeans for $3.00, just to list a few names for those brand kind of people. I tried to take some photos of my finds, but this was the best I got. I was not about to put them all on and try to model them for you like some people do. It would take forever, I had a hard enough time taking my cozy feet picture for the header!







Wondering what that cute red polka dot item is lying on top of the desk? Wait and see!!! More to come!!

Debut Party

My debut party with my 31 Gifts Adventure was a success! I had a good turnout and I think come February I will find a little extra dough sitting in my checking account! Hurray! I just wanted to share a few pictures from my party that my friend took for me. If you like what you see, you can always order from my website!

Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest

When I was in college almost 10 YEARS AGO (whew!) It came time for me to make my first "big" purchase. I was moving into an apartment with some friends and I needed a bed. So, I saved up my summer job money and when Fall came, I purchased this beautiful rod iron bed (my Mom, bought the mattress set....thanks Mom). I loved it. It was so perfect. Well, 10 years later, I don't really love it anymore. I don't particularly care for the rod iron. But, we need it for our guest room. We moved here this past September. Slowly I have been able to decorate and purchase a few things for the house. With money being as it is.........I did not want to spend a lot of cash on the guest room. HOWEVER, I have a friend coming next week who will be in need of a room. So, this week I decided to spend some time freshening up the guest room. It is not finished, for I would like to put a few more things on the walls. But, after a merely $20.00 spent on some new bedding, I must say I am pleased with the results. I decided to work with the rod iron instead of against it. I found some old frames that we don't use anymore because they are rod iron and re-purposed them for decoration. I pulled out an old clock that was a wedding gift and hung it on the wall. I made two throw pillows with some left over fabric to add some color to the room. And finally found a home for these used to be awful green curtains I had purchased a few months ago in a frenzy. (when I hung them up, my husband said, "those are terrible, they look like old people curtains".) I still have a set of the green curtain left over and I threw them in my "to be consigned" bag. Which by the way, I have made $12.00 in my most recent consignment experiment! This guest room re-do is not complete, but I am proud to say that I have not had to spend a lot of money so far to make a pleasant room for our guests. Only $20.00.
Cha-ching!

To Buy Or To Join......That Is The Question

I am VERY excited to announce my new venture! I have become a 31 Gifts consultant and I am pumped! I was introduced to this company through my sisters some time ago and I never gave it much thought until this year. 31 Gifts makes a nice product that pretty much sells itself while I get to eat delicious foods, talk with the ladies and make some moola. Sounds like a sweet deal to me!

Gather round friends and look at this! Here is all of the loot that I will be receiving in a pretty pink box in just a few short days! Jealous? Don't you just love stuff like this? You can organize your life away with cute bags, purses, totes and bins feeing so accomplished when you lay your head down to rest knowing your valuables (or junk) look nice in their cozy new home.

I'm pretty sure that I am the most excited about this huge utility tote to put all K's stuff in the car, or to use when we take our luxury cruise to Morocco (wait........what?), or when I decide to check out 25 books from the library at one time, I mean this thing will hold A LOT!


So, if like what you see, you can order through me! Whopee! Or you can host a parteee, I promise I won't bring Kaoriiiiiiii. You might even win something FREEEEEEEE! Okay, I'll stop.

Here is my website. Feel free to place an order or join my team if you want to start your new year off right just like I did! It is $99.00 for the enrollment kit and then the sky is the limit friends! Come join me!

Cold Hands Be Gone

Last night during all my free time, I was surfing the net, looking at other people's blogs and I came upon this great idea. I have suffered from cold hands my entire life. I guess suffer is too strong of a word, but it is something I have grown accustomed too, these cold hands of mine. When I saw this quick, cute and easy way to warm up those appendages, I wanted to try it ASAP. So, today during nap time, I pulled out an old sweater and chopped off the bottom part of the sleeves, fired up my sewing machine and voila! My hands are warm! The hardest part of this project was photographing my hand wearing the warmer. I took a ridiculous amount of photographs and this was the best I got. Sorry it looks like a dead fish, they all did.



P.S. My fingers are cold.

Apparently, Snow Is A BIG Deal In GA

Hello friends. Welcome to snowy side GA. We got a blast of ice and snow last night and the whole state of GA has shut down. That's right, even government buildings friends. Ca-ra-zy. We woke up to a thick layer of ice. Which made for a lot of crunch, crunch under our feet as we went outside to play. It was not good for making snow angels, but quite appropriate for a bit of sledding. We headed out in the first part of the morning, which was not the best idea, but K wouldn't have it any other way. I gave in.....weak. I ended up making a homemade box sled with a rope which was a total blast. She could sit in it and slide down the icy slope in our front yard and I could pull her up and down the street. It was fun for all. It was time to come in when the icy rain started soaking our clothes. Onto the 2nd activity of the day. Welcome to K's Pizza Parlor! A few weeks ago, husband and I picked up this cardboard playhouse for $15.00 at World Market. I saved it for a day like today. We put in a movie and I colored it while K watched Toy Story. She was supposed to help me, but lost interest after a few minutes. But, I enjoyed coloring it. It was kinda fun. After the coloring was done, we put the playhouse together and she was super excited to play in it. Well, looks like we are going to be stuck inside tomorrow too. I have no idea what we will fill our day with. Gotta get creative, otherwise I will just eat.

Our homemade sled. A box and a rope.




After we all took naps, we made my all time favorite! Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. I went ahead and froze some before I discovered that I had eaten them ALL. Good plan.