Our new home! We had our first actual snow day! I had to take pictures of the house and the kids in the yard and after a very windy weekend down by the water (so long outfit pics! No way I'm taking photos in 40 mph winds and -8 temps.) I just knew this was going to be my Wednesday post. … [Read more...]
It's Friday and time for a little bit of fun. In our house that means it probably has something to do with American Girl. From the moment we moved into our new home the girls immediately set up different parts of their rooms with their dolls. Each set-up, like the dolls, is different and was a way to show how much they love spending time creating worlds and adventures with their special American Girl dolls. The Comedian with Grace Thomas We were so excited when the Girl of the Year, Grace entered our house. The Comedian may have received her but it was TD that devoured the book as soon as it arrived. She couldn't wait to interview Mary Casanova, the author of the Grace series with me. We had fun putting the questions together too. … [Read more...]
While people are screeching about it being a polar vortex style cold when it's really only January we are in total "go" mode. The move is consuming us. Just when I thought I had purged everything I keep finding more stuff to trash or donate. It's a good feeling. We've been very lucky that the owners let us get into the house before we officially own it to do some mold remediation (read demo) and get some of the painting started. It's been a total blessing that the mold was actually insignificant and on the surface only. Every room needs to be painted and patched too. Half the basement needed the walls removed due to mold. All drywall ripped down, carpet removed and mold fogged and gone. Time to rip down the ugly border that plagued the rest of the basement. … [Read more...]
Fashion-wise I’ve gone way down the hill. I spent the last three days waking up before the sun and working 12-hour days to get our house move-in ready. When a home is a rental for four years and you buy as-is, it can be challenging. You want to add rooms, replace carpet, and take out all the late 1990’s paint colors before you live in it? Get ready to work and get dirty. However, now that I’m settling in, I’m also thinking about the most ideal time to rent in Florida for future investments, as the market trends can significantly impact rental income and property value. Additionally, if you need quick, reliable, and competitive financing solutions, then you may consider getting help from the experts like this California Hard Money Lender. … [Read more...]
The holidays are all about being personal. I don't do that very much on TMC, at least not anymore. Call me nostalgic but I get that way about American Girl. When American Girl, then Pleasant Company, debuted in the mid-80's I was ten years-old. My Dad knew that my love of history and dolls would just swoon over the catalog. He was right. It was love at first sight. I earmarked the Samantha pages but loved reading the details about all the dolls, which at the time was only three. My wish for more than a few Christmases was for the Samantha doll. It's one of the many reasons I do an American Girl gift guide each holiday season. Source: museumofplay.org See that girl reading to her Samantha doll? That was what I wanted many a Christmas morning. … [Read more...]
I'm not one for crafts or going crazy with decorations but I do love to dive into books year round. For some reason maybe it has something to do with the start of the a new school year, I become obsessed with new books for the family every fall. Especially if the books have to do with fall. … [Read more...]
Yesterday I took this sweet little girl to her four-year check-up. Yes, indeed time is flying by at a rapid pace. She spent the morning practicing writing her name and chose just the right glittery shirt and matching leggings before her doctor visit. I marveled at how fast she is growing up, especially when she took all her shots, including her flu mist vaccination, without so much as batting an eye. A simple breathe in through the nose, breathe out through the mouth and she was set. One family member down, four more to go! … [Read more...]
Only 6 more days left of summer vacation and we have been packing in the fun. We took a little break though to bring you this super cute back to school set from mini Boden. Can we stop for a minute and have a chat? I'm so in love with Boden. And mini Boden? Well, that is just an extension that has made me glad I have three kids to dress up in the really simple but stylish and well-made clothes. The fabrics are soft, wear well and the kids love the comfy feeling of the denim leggings like no other. I like that each piece can be mixed and matched up with another tunic, dress or pair of pants in no time and can get passed on down the kiddie line and not look worn to death. Indulge me as I post our favorite looks. The wise owl knows good style for the preschool set. The purple denim leggings … [Read more...]
The flyers came slipping out of the Sunday morning paper yesterday, full of brightly colored photos of notebooks, pencils and markers. All shiny and new, ready to be purchased at the lowest marked price. "It's back to school season already!" they shouted. Beckoned really, like a sirens call. I'm not really ready for it. … [Read more...]
Summer is one of the best times to pick up a book and lose yourself for a few hours. I recently read a piece by author, Zadie Smith detailing just how much she likes to read and create memories through books. I felt like I had found a kindred spirit. Books are a vacation to me and never more so than in the summer months. Sitting on my deck in the early morning, curled up on my sunny living room sofa in the late afternoon or nestled in bed at night I'm at my most content when I'm swimming and diving through the pages of a good read. Here is what we are reading right now. … [Read more...]