Are you joking?

How can you find Ronald McDonald at the nude beach?

He's the one with the sesame seed buns!

My kids love this joke, but it's one of the few I can remember so they're really sick of it, so I'm trying it out on all of you!

On Target

You never know what you'll find in the Target $1 section for $2.50.

This beautiful pink/green plaid melamine tray.  Added a Seda France candle and a conch from our recent trip to Mexico and you'd think I was a decorator!

Deal or Steal?

Went to the Kate Spade store to peek at the Hot Pink Quinn.

Kelly said, "Oh, those were from the Resort Collection 09 and we just sent them to the outlet stores."  HMMM.  She volunteered to find one for me because she recognizes a girl with a purse problem and she didn't want to call security.

Well, ladies here's what Kelly found for me: 

Original $395.00

Sale $275.00

Extra 30% off $192.50

Kate Spade Quinn Bag in Hibiscus

There could be better deals out there, but I know this one is authentic, brand new and I feel like I got a great steal.

Signature Scent

I like to put on a spritz of perfume most days and was reflecting on my "signature scent".  Which prompted a walk down memory lane.

6th grade

Loves Baby Soft 

High School

Lauren

College

Still liked Lauren but Liz Claiborne & Giorgio were hot!

Post College, Married, 2 kids

Most days I wear Annick Goutal - Hadrien

It's a clean fresh citrus scent.

I also like Prada, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Chanel No.5

What is your signature scent?

Summer Sipper

Cruz Garcia Real Sangria  

Sangria is the traditional wine of Spain and while living in Spain I had the pleasure of enjoying many glasses, okay pitchers, of sangria and this bottled version is very authentic!  Make sure to serve it cold and to fancy it up, you can add pieces of peach, apple, cherries, whatever fruit you have at home.  It's great for one glass at a time too, because it has a screw cap.  The bottle is an interesting triangular shape and best of all it's about $7.

SALUD!

What are you planting?

First plant five rows of "Peas":

Prayer, Perseverance, Politeness, Promptness and Purity

Next plant three rows of "Squash":

Squash gossip, Squash doubt and Squash indifference

Then plant five rows of "Lettuce":

Let us be faithful to duty, Let us be unselfish, Let us be gentle,

 Let us follow wisdom and Let us love life

Finally no garden is complete without 

"Turnips":

Turn up with a smile, Turn up with new ideas, Turn up with determination to make everything you do count for something good and worthwhile!

author unknown

The Winner is....

W&M choose the winner this morning and it's:

ALWAYS A NORTHERNER

YEAH!!

(please send me your address)

You are the winner of:

 Scout Cooler

Ribbon Tumblers

AND 

a little unexpected extra gift:

Lilly Paper Plate Gift Set 

Thanks to the awesome Preppy Paper Girl for working with me!

We all enjoy great products, great prices and great service, so make sure you visit PPG for all your upcoming gifts.

Giveaway #1 is in the books.

Thanks for all your comments and I am happy to meet so many new bloggers!

My First Award

Thank you to Southern Starlet for passing the Neno's Award onto me! 

The goals of this award are:

1)As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

2)To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.

3)Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.

4)Don't forget to mention the person who gives you the award.

5)Answer the awards question by writing the reason why you love blogging.

6)Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like. 

7)Don't forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

I've been hearing for several years now the positive impact a gratitude journal can have on your life.  Several years has turned into NOW and I have found my gratitude journal in the form of blogging - and I am so happy !  I look more closely at what I do and I am so much more observant of everything happening in my world. Because you never know when you'll find something to put in your Blog. I love reading all of your blogs and I love the comments people take the time to post and it's the kind word that keeps me going.  I'm in this for the long haul and I hope you are all with me! Thanks!

I pass this award on to:

Sweet Tea In A Pink Glass

Up North Preppy

Lulu and Daisy

Princess Freckles

Moments of Delight

Lilly Warehouse Sale Info

This was a note from Lilly on my Facebook page:

"The Early Bird Gets The Worm": aka- THE SPRING/SUMMER WAREHOUSE SALE 2009 IS JUNE 3-6!!!! 

Lilly Warehouse Sale

It's also on the Valley Forge Convention Center calendar.  Click on the link above for date verification, directions, etc.

I've never been before and I'm thinking I may make the road trip -- has anyone gone before?

Dress Up Your Desk

My very own personal space is my home office.  It is filled with functional things and fun things. Anyone could look at my desk and get a great sense of who I am.  Wouldn't this paperweight make any desk look great?  It's your initial - subtle yet prominent.  A personalized piece of art. Best of all it's waaaayyyy on sale, was $65 now $16.25.  Check it out at See Jane Work.  Speaking of work - off I go.....

Lilly Tunes

Hi Lilly Fans:

Check out the Summer 2009 Photo Shoot courtesy of You Tube:

I really liked the song playing and with some searching discovered it is

The Body Politic by The Classic Brown  

I could find it at Amazon MP3 and it was 99 cents.  Not on itunes, but it did import into itunes just fine.  Happy listening :)

Tooth Fairy

My daughter is almost 7 and losing teeth is a really big deal.  There is always debate if the Fairy will acknowledge a tooth not lost at home OR even worse what if the tooth you just lost, gets lost!!  M allowed her teacher (not her mom) to pull her tooth out at school.  M was concerned about the Fairy delivering the goods.  SO to cover her bases, M wrote the Fairy a note and left it with her tooth on her nightstand.  Fairy was very happy to receive the note and Fairy left M a reply and $5.

Lesson learned: There's nothing a note cannot solve :)

Hosting My First Giveaway!

Over the weekend I felt like beach season was right around the corner and thought it was time to host my first giveaway.  I love to be the hostess :)  

I'm teaming up with the Preppy Paper Girl to giveaway

a Scout cooler (bottom left) and 2 whimsical ribbon tumblers.

  Perfect for the beach, pool or a BYOB! 

Click over to her blog, she has great gifts, the best service & she's so creative!

Entry Details:

Post a comment on my blog:  1 entry

and

Become a follower: 3 entires

and

Post about it on your blog or sidebar: 5 entries

W&M (my kids) will draw the winner this Saturday, 4/25

This is so exciting.

GOOD LUCK!

Inspiration

The more you give, the more you get.

The more you laugh, the less you fret.

The more you do unselfishly,

The more you live abundantly.

The more of everything you share,

The more you'll have to spare.

The more you love,

The more you'll find

That life is good and friends are kind.

For only what you give away

Enriches you from day to day.

From a volunteer at an honors banquet

Call me Martha....

Oh, I forgot!!

This morning after the bagel run, I decided I would recover the counter stools for the kitchen island.  Found this great fabric at Joann's last wk for about $9 for 1.5 yrs (it was on sale - bonus) and decided today was the day.  I change the fabric every season because my kids seem to think the chair is their personal napkin! Old fabric off, new fabric on, with the help of the staple gun.

Ta Da.....

April Sunshine

Today was an opportunity to be outside all day.  It was sunny and an unbelievable 75+ degrees here in suburban Detroit.  Did some yard work with Hubby, well, he did the work I stood with the gloves on.  Coco was enjoying being in the yard and the kids even got the super soakers out.

What a happy day!

Calling Cards

When I received my order from Kristin Pearce, she had a really cute calling/business card in the box.  I decided it was time for me to stop writing my phone number or e-mail on the grocery receipt or other scrap of paper when I needed to give someone my info.  I ordered 250 calling cards from Vista Print for $3.99 !!  You can upload your own image/design or choose from their templates.  It was so easy and there are many, many products to order.  Can't wait to get my new cards.  Thanks for the tip Kristin.

New Eco Font

In my quest to be more environmentally friendly, I've discovered, via Oprah magazine, Ecofont. Download it for free. The font is studded with tiny holes that you cannot see at 12 point size or smaller. The font claims to use 20% less ink when you print. Yes, it does work with Mac, which is key for me since I use a MacBook. Go green!

Controversy

I'm not referring to the Prince song but to:

conservative controversy - Ann Coulter

I consider myself a moderate Republican and I seem to have a love/hate relationship with her.  Whenever I see her on tv I find her condescending, not flexible and snarky - did you catch her interview with Joy Behar on Larry King Live (YIKES!)  YET, if I get beyond her delivery I think she has some valid opinions.  I've never read one of her books, so I decided to read her latest book while on vacation.  I went to the library to check it out but all 9 copies were out -- HMMMMM

So I ended up with "How to Talk to a Liberal" published in 10/04. It's a compilation of columns she wrote, focusing on the election and other current events of 04.  I did find it interesting and at times quite funny, even to the point of making Hubby read some lines.  She is definitely a bright woman, Cornell undergrad, U-Michigan Law School and she loves to reference LexisNexis as a research resource (I worked there for 10+ years).  

Do I like her?  The jury is out but I've requested a hold for her latest book.

Notice I even put her book picture to the far right :)

Lip Service

I am obsessed with lip balm.  My hands down fav is LABELLO!

I first discovered Labello in the late 80's while skiing in Austria and of course, I only bought one tube.  I was hooked.  Well, until about a year ago it was available in most civilized countries in the world except the U.S.  Ann, who was living in Europe, kept me stocked. 

GOOD NEWS!

You can now buy Labello at Target or CVS under the brand NIVEA, same company, same product, different name.  It's about $2.

While in Mexico I did buy some "real" Labello for old times sake.

You'll find Labello in my car, ski jacket, purse, desk, bathroom, nightstand, beach bag.....

Sun & Sand

We are back from a great week in Mexico.  The resort was about 45 mins south of Cancun & 15 mins north of Playa del Carmen.  It's the first time we've ever done an all inclusive and it worked out well for our family.  "Mom, can I have another pina colada.....Mom, can I have another ice cream..."

 It was sunny and over 85 every day.  The beach was beautiful, the water was turquoise and warm.

  To add some education, we visited the ancient Mayan ruins at Tulum and spent time at the Xel-Ha natural area biking, swimming, snorkeling, inner tubing and yes, M and Hubby even did a cliff jump.  W and I stayed in our tubes :) We also swam in the cenotes.

 It was also fun for me to use my Spanish, my kids were even impressed.  Another vacation in the books.  Hasta Luego 

Hola Mexico

It's finally here, we are leaving for Mexico tomorrow.  My Dad, early bird that he is, will be driving us to the airport for a curb drop at 6:15 a.m.  YEP, that is brutal for me, I'm just not a morning girl.  I packed for W, M, and me.  M said, "Mom, this is a lot of work."  Hubby packed for himself.  Coco, our dog,  is at Granny camp for the week.  Thank heaven for parents. 

Since I don't have international access via my iphone and I'm not taking my laptop, this will be my last post till next Saturday.

Adios Amigos!

Cocktail Hour

It's a sunny day and I'm thinking about beaches, sand, sun and a refreshing beverage.  A simple and delicious drink is the Lanai Lemonade which I became quite fond of last year at the Grand Wailea on Maui.  I think you may like it too:

Absoult Citron

Chambord

Lemonade

Lemon slice or fresh raspberries

Pour into a tall glass 

of ice and imagine the summer breezes......