So Yum!

photo courtesy of Food Network

In our family, when something tastes delicious we say, "So Yum!". We learned this from my sister in law and have announced on particularly yummy occasions for 20+ years now.

Tonight was one of those nights. I had an incredibly scattered and unproductive day but was determined to make Ina Garten's yummy WHITE PIZZA WITH ARUGULA for dinner tonight.

I started with dough a la Trader Joe's. Let's be real...it's a weeknight and I was not going to make homemade dough! Made the olive oil, grated my cheeses, whisked together the vinaigrette. It was worth every minute I spent on it...absolutely delish!

Try it...you'll like it!

I'll be making at again for lunch with friends tomorrow...so Yum!

Installment #3

So, it's a slow start to the week...we are ALL tired this morning. Especially my hubby after a late football game! To top it off, I'm off to the dentist...so here's another chapter in my favorite shopping days of the year. Installment #3 of 4. We are almost done, I promise.

Lilly sandals...$10

Lilly shirt with really cute ruffles $12

Lilly swim cover up or tunic...$12

Lilly dress $12...not the cutest Lilly dress but so comfy and I thought cute to run around in. And for $12...it doesn't have to be your favorite!

I'm sneaking in a non-Lilly item to see if you are paying attention. Just kidding. I love the ruffle detail at the neckline of this sweater. New with tags.

I love VINTAGE Lilly. At this sale I scored 2 skirts that I LOVE. They might have been a splurge at $20 each.

This was the first item I picked up when I walked in to the sale. Cashmere Lilly tunic sweater for $30.

The other vintage Lilly skirt.

The last item for today is this amazing Tory Burch embroidered shirt. All of that pink detail is embroidered and the shirt is so gorgeous. This lovely was $30!

I promise...only 1 more post and then a giveaway. How about giveaways 2 weeks in a row. One this week from this sale and one next week from the Lilly sale. And big decisions...there's a Boden warehouse sale on Sunday.

What to do, what to do!

Picture Day

Our little one was sick on picture day in September. This past Thursday was picture retake day. I have had it on my calendar for ages and thought multiple times during the week about what outfit she would wear. Thursday morning came and went with a choice from 2 blue shirts and Mom's attempt at a new braided hairstyle. None of which were chosen with picture day in mind. In fact, I am so asleep in the mornings, that I completely forgot picture retake day.

Until 10 am. I called the school secretary and she confirmed that my daughter was having her picture taken at that moment. No chance of an outfit change. I resigned myself to blue shirt and crazy braids with a story tell with my daughter's Kindergarten school picture.

I ran a number of errands and got home just before the bus arrived with my two. The message button was flashing on the phone, I hit play and heard, "we didn't have a check for the pictures today so they were not taken."

Gulp...

"Mom, can I try your jewelry on?"

You see I had been lunching with a friend who had done me a favor. I wanted to treat her to lunch as a thank you. I had on my favorite silver and tortoise necklace and bracelets. I hadn't worn them in ages and always love them.

"Sure...and I'll take a picture because it will be the only pictures taken today."

"How do you feel about going to a portrait studio little one?"

Installment #2

Here is the next installment from last week's shopping expedition...

Brand new Taryn Rose sandals on 1/2 price day...$15

Navy Blue Fall Lilly dress with gold buttons on 1/2 price day...$10

Belgian Shoes I had been eyeing since the first day...thanks to Mom I got them on 1/2 price day for $40.

If you can believe it, there's more.

Are you sick of it yet?

The last installment will include a Burberry offer and giveaway!

Installment #1

Here is the first installment of last week's shopping...

Brand new Red Burberry Trench Coat - $160

I love it...it's roomy and the red is a little out of the box for me. One of the things I love about this sale, the choices are limited and I try things I might not have tried before.

Found this lovely on 1/2 price day...Longchamp messenger bag - $30

Brand new Pierre Deux bag found on 1/2 price day for $15

Found these lovelies for my little one on 1/2 price day - $5

Every year I am surprised by what I find on 1/2 price day that I have not seen the two days before. Either a shopper was holding on to it or it was in the back waiting to make an entrance.

I also found brand new blue and turquoise Jack Rogers as well as new Cole Haan heels with Nike technology on 1/2 price day for a friend. Grand total for the two... $30. Needless to say, she was a happy camper.

Keep watch...I have a taste of Burberry and a giveaway coming up.

Lamest Class Party EVER!

Buddy's Halloween class party was the lamest ever.

Don't get me wrong, I am Mrs. Lowmaintenanceclassparty. However, this low maintenace was lame. Pictured above was the set up for the third grade party.

Even worse, I am the head homeroom mom and felt totally responsible. To make matters worse, we had a substitute teacher. She really should have been getting hazard pay for teaching on the day of the Halloween festivities in a class of 24 children which includes 17 boys!

I set the schedule and assign one party to each of the four homeroom moms, myself included. Then I step back and let everyone take their turn running the show. They contact the parents who are assigned to bring food, drinks, etc. and organize the details of the party.

I knew when I set the schedule it was going to be a challenging year. Myself and one other Mom volunteered to do games and/or a craft out of 24. Seems internet searching for games is not their forte.

So, I set up the spreadsheet, put ? in the boxes for crafts and games, and sent it out.

Halloween was our first test.

As you can see from the photo...the paper products never showed and the food was lame. The red dish was 5 inches x 5 inches and contained fudge cut in to 25 nickel size pieces. Gee, thanks for your contribution and effort. Then on to the water. There were 24 waters for 24 children. One of the teachers took a water and sent one of the moms into a tailspin because we weren't going to have enough!

I missed that tirade as I hurried out to the K classroom to see if any of the leftovers from our morning party were still there. The leftovers were gone but the afternoon class had a beautifully set table that overflowed with more than the class of kindergarteners could eat. They kindly sent me off with an extra bag of cheetos. The third graders cheered when I came back.

I found out after the party that the paper products were in a boy's backpack. His mother said she told him twice. I asked the children if anyone had them. Hmmm...guess he wasn't listening to either one of us.

Next job...to figure out how to make sure this never happens again. Previous years I have worked with a team of parents I know. Not so lucky this year. So it will be a challenge to find a nice way to send my message. Hmmm....

Happy Halloween!

We had a great time trick or treating with another family. We started with pizza and headed out for a trip around the neighborhood. Things went a lot smoother this year and Buddy listened to my three days of, "please stay with us when we trick or treat and don't run ahead." He did a great job.

The skies opened about 5 houses from home and we got soaked. It was a really mild night so we didn't mind much and we were anxious to get home for the world series. All in all a great night, except for the baseball game :( We need a win tonight!

It's Confirmed

Human viruses are every where. Fortunately, I think we are done with the viruses of the human variety. However, my computer was not so lucky. We have been most recently affected by a irreparable computer virus. A good friend has had my computer all day and can do nothing to repair it. At last count there were 136 viruses that have wormed their way in to my little lap top in the past 48 hours. I will be lucky to retrieve my photos and a few key pieces of information.

How is this possible? I thought we had the best fire wall software and I dabble in so little. Email, Ebay, and some recreational blog reading. Why on earth would the virus pick me? My computer life is so very simple. Let's hope the virus is sorely disappointed by it's findings and leaves to infect elsewhere!

Another Good Year & An Unwelcome Guest

It was another good year at the sale. I can't wait to post details. One of the finds was this Apple Dress from Lilly Pulitzer currently in stores and a few other great Lilly finds...new and vintage! A few other finds...Burberry, Longchamps, Belgian Shoes, Lilly Cashmere, Tory Burch, Pierre Deux, Vera Bradley, J. McLaughlin and many more. I am missing $5 day today - ugh!

Unfortunately, a virus has nested in my laptop and my computer access is limited. It really is unfortunate although well timed. Keeps me more focused on playing teacher, preparing for my stewardship speech at church tomorrow (why oh why did I say YES?) and preparing for tonight's festivities.

Happy Halloween! Keep watch for a giveaway coming soon!

Next...

What's next around here...a CAbi show, of course. Tomorrow morning will be filled with coffee, CAbi and good friends. I'm looking forward to catching up with a few friends I haven't seen in our regular comings and goings.

Next up...my favorite sale of the year! My favorite day next to Christmas. I wonder what the sale has in store for me this year? And we all know it's not just one day. I have to go back every day because there is always something new.

Mom came to town to join me as we hunt for treasures. I'll be sure to post!

What's a girl to do?

What's a girl to do when it's pouring rain for the second Saturday in a row? I am sure each of you could answer this a million times over. Well this girl shopped online, of course.

I can't even remember how I got there but I ended up at Le Papier Studio. The home of the most gorgeous silhouettes. Something that I have loved for a long time.

I ended up ordering the silhouette pendant necklace pictured here. Each pendant measures 1". She also has another smaller option with 1/2" pendants. I ordered 3 pendants to wear at the same time...one for each of my children's silhouettes.

She has lots of beautiful silhouettes to choose from that are included in her very reasonable prices. I wanted custom silhouettes of my children (an additional charge of $10 each) and sent off these photos:

Her silhouette will have a bow and her hair will be shoulder length. We had to pull it up in the ponytail to get the best silhouette.

They all have the same distinctive little nose.

I was surprised at how much cooperation I got from my children. Must have been the weather. There wasn't much else to do!

I should receive proofs in the next week or so. Once I sign off it should be a few more weeks for my one of a kind necklace. I love that it looks vintage, I love the larger size of the discs, and hope I love the way it will look when all together and on me. I'll be sure to share more later!

Enter code Holiday09 for 15% off!

ps...I'm not receiving payment for my endorsement...just love the product!

Moving Right Along

What brings a girl out of a rut more than winning a giveaway. Preppy In New England's fabulous Angela Moore Halloween Bracelet giveaway to be exact. Look at the detail! Each bead it cuter than the next.

My sidekick definitely enjoyed opening the box and beautifully wrapped package with me.

She wasn't at all happy with the fact that the bracelet belonged to me and wasn't intended for her!

Thank you to Angela Moore and Preppy in New England for hosting this great giveaway. Now I understand what Tickled Pink and Green is talking about when she refers to her collection of Angela Moore pieces. They are terrific and I will enjoy this piece for years to come!

This is my 500th post. It's not quite the fun post I intended to celebrate. Instead, capturing a moment. Perhaps, mostly a moment of frustration, but a moment in any case.

My daughter to my visiting mother in law, "Nana, will you play with me?"

Nana (reading a book on the sofa) to the grandaughter she sees once a year, "no, not at the moment."

Daughter, "when?"

Nana, "In a bit."

Ten seconds of quiet pass...

Daughter, "Now?"

Nana, "No".

I'm taking a deep breath.

Preppy in New England is hosting a great giveaway...an Angela Moore Halloween bracelet. It is so cute! Stop over and enter to win!

TP&G - I would love to say, "it has your name all over it" but I won't because I want to win!!!!

Thanks HQM at Life with Lulu for the tag...I needed something to post about and am thrilled to play along!


So here are the rules:
You Can Only Use One Word!

Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers!

Alert them that you have given them this award!

Have Fun!



1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? blonde-ish

3. Your mother? cooking

4. Your father? deceased

5. Your favorite food? ice cream

6. Your dream last night? none

7. Your favorite drink? water

8. Your dream/goal? creative

9. What room are you in? Living Room

10. Your hobby? cooking

11. Your fear? death

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? success

13. Where were you last night? dinner

14. Something that you aren’t? skinny

15. Muffins? bran

16. Wish list item? LV

17. Where did you grow up? Maryland

18. Last thing you did? laundry

19. What are you wearing? pajamas

20. Your TV? off

21. Your pets? none

22. Friends? yes

23. Your life? full

24. Your mood? content

25. Missing someone? Ernie

26. Vehicle? minivan

27. Something you’re not wearing? contacts

28. Your favorite store? one?

29. Your favorite color? Green

30. When was the last time you laughed? tonight

31. Last time you cried? last week

32. Your best friend? Laura

33. One place that I go to over and over? school

34. One person who emails me regularly? Lou

35. Favorite place to eat? out!



I tag...mes petit chioux
the entertaining house
tickled pink and green
pink green and southern
Caffeine Court
Love Being a Nonny