Thursday, March 31, 2011

Life's Little Instructions...

Sing in the shower.
Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
Leave the toilet seat in the down position.
Never refuse homemade brownies.
Strive for excellence, not perfection.
Plant a tree on your birthday.
Learn 3 clean jokes.
Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full.
Compliment 3 people every day.
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
Leave everything a little better than you found it.
Keep it simple.
Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
Floss your teeth.
Ask for a raise when you think you've earned it.
Overtip breakfast waitresses.
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
Say, "Thank you" a lot.
Say, "Please" a lot.
Avoid negative people.
Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
Wear polished shoes.
Remember other people's birthdays.
Commit yourself to constant improvement.
Carry jumper cables in your truck.
Have a firm handshake.
Send lots of Valentine cards.
Sign them, "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
Look people in the eye.
Be the first to say hello.
Use the good silver.
Return all things you borrow.
Make new friends, but cherish the old ones.
Keep a few secrets.
Sing in a choir.
Plant flowers every spring.
Have a dog.
Always accept an outstretched hand.
Stop blaming others.
Take responsibility for every area of your life.
Wave at kids on school busses.
Be there when people need you.
Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
Don't expect life to be fair.
Never underestimate the power of love.
Drink champagne for no reason at all.
Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."
Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
Compliment even small improvements.
Keep your promises no matter what.
Marry for love.
Rekindle old friendships.
Count your blessings.
Call your mother.

by H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Come see what's in store at JmcLaughlin Westport!

One of the things I love about working at JMAC part-time is that there is always something new ... clothes,  decor, visuals... Spring is truly in the air in the museum-like Westport store. The Equestrian and Workshop sections have been dismantled and replaced with an artist's studio and a bike shop! To say the store visuals are wonderful, creative and charming is one thing, but to come in to appreciate them in person is truly something else. I urge you all to stop by!

While the Connecticut weather still is frightful,
the inside of the JmcLaughlin store is delightful!

Tee time?
Or perhaps you would prefer it to be tea time? 

Welcome to the artist's studio!

There's that bamboo clutch again... I should just buy it... shouldn't I?!

PVE's wonderful and whimsical illustrations on the drafting table...
be sure to get a good look! 













Not to forget the men in your life!





The perfect shorts for an afternoon bike ride!

For my boys... Mini Macs!!
They'll be the best dressed kids on the beach in Newport this summer

It's in the bag... now just you wait until you see all the wonderful bags waiting for you!
 

 If by chance you cannot make it into the store... let's say you've broken both your legs... or you live in Indianapolis or Dallas or la Jolla you can always visit the company's website which has just been revamped and is better than ever!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Put your best foot forward?!

In my role as Editorial Director at Sky Blue Events I was reviewing wedding shoes... (There will be many more like posts over there.) I wanted to know if SBE readers and future brides prefer a traditional, classic shoe or a more contemporary one... Well, in my research I came across these which gave me a chuckle!


They are a Stuart Weitzman sandal that I found on the Nordstrom website... I thought they might be more appropriate as a poolside shoe... and when I saw that they were named "On the Rocks" I had to scratch my head and wonder... Did the person in charge of naming this shoe really think it through? Sure, my Gimlet-loving self thinks the name is cute... but then think of a relationship being "on the rocks" and is this any shoe you want associated with a wedding?

I think not!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Hello?


This just makes me laugh every time I see it!
I hope it puts a smile on your face too!
Happy Friday! XOXO

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Dancing in the rain!


Gosh darn it... it's snowing again! It's coming down now... lightly... but not supposed to stop until tomorrow morning! Where is my Springtime? My sunshine? My warmth? My flowers? Where are my sun dresses and sandals and sun-kissed cheeks? Buried under a white blanket... Eeeeeeeeek!

So today... I will not dance in the rain... Today I will dance in the snow! And make hot cocoa with marshmallows... And snuggle under the covers with the kiddos... And after I have finished my assignments and head off to a meeting and the gym and make my necessary phone calls I will put my pajamas back on. I can hardly wait!

So off I go... hurry-hurry... I do think that 5:00 will come much earlier today... Don't you?

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Just this once... Play with your food!

 I decided to bag the gym this morning because Alexander asked me not to go. He didn't have to twist my arm very hard! Since it's still chilly, windy and cool out and we had no plans I thought I would make some pancakes for the kids. I got this fabulous idea from a Pinterest pin... though of course ours came out no where near as nicely as the one I saw. Regardless... the pancakes were delicious and we had so much fun making them!

The trick to these fun pancakes is to pour them into a squeezable container!

Perhaps add some food coloring and serve these up on Valentine's Day?

Alexander's seal of approval!

Getting more creative and talented!

Like little funnel cakes... but healthier!

Oozing with talent... and flavor!

Getting a little cocky!

Designer monogrammed pancakes!
 
Oh Alex, I could eat you all up!

No fighting over these... we know who this one belongs to!

Don't stop til you get enough!

I heart you!


Can't you tell these were made by a 12 year old!

The kids join in on the fun!

Look closely, can you see the smiley face?!

Want the recipe?
Please visit The Entertaining Kitchen!

Monday, March 21, 2011

You may think I have completely lost my marbles...

and that may be the case... but painting with them sure was fun!

We are on Spring break for 2 (verrrrrrrrrrrrrry long) weeks and I need to keep the kids busy and entertained. The snow made for a perfect excuse to lounge around in the morning in our PJs. (Well the kids did. Rebecca babysat while I went to the gym!) We watched Percy Jackson's The Lightning Thief and lunched on popcorn and rice crispy treats!

After the movie I sent the kids up to get dressed and brush their teeth. We started a 500 piece puzzle but didn't get very far. We made Flubber and I will post that tomorrow. So much fun! Then the kids were hungry again... What's new?! This time I insisted on clementines, strawberries, and veggies and dip. In between loads of laundry, emptying the dishwasher (does anyone loathe this as much as I do?!) and other generally boring and tedious household chores we decided to give marble painting a try.

We love to paint unconventionally around here. This was a blast and we were so pleased with the results! Even better was the fact that the mess was kept to a minimum!



Start by placing two marbles in paint... tilt to start to roll!

Alexander's final product!

My final product!
I found this project to be mesmerizing!

Rebecca decides she needs a little bit more color

Rebecca's finished product!

Ingredients:

Assorted washable tempera paints
2 marbles (though feel free to add more!)
White paper (we used copier paper)
Pencil and scissors, used to cut paper
Springform pan, or a large bowl with deep sides
Damp paper towels for wiping dirty little fingers!
2 (or more) small dishes in which to squeeze a dollop of paint.

Directions
Place your marbles in paint and carefully place the paint covered marbles in the center of the paper
Tilt the pan (or bowl) so that the marbles run all over the place.
If you need more paint place the marbles back in the paint and back onto the paper.
Repeat as often as desired
When painting is finished simply remove paper from Springform and place on a flat surface to dry.
Star over as many times as desired!

Deck the halls with boughs of holly because Spring is here!

It's the first full day of Spring. We should be opening up the windows and letting the sun shine in! We should be listening to the birds as they sing gracefully, melodically from the branches beyond our window panes... Instead the heat is on. We're bundled from head to toe. Outside it's snowing. And sticking! And the only sound I hear is that of the metal plows scraping along the streets beyond. Crazy!




Images via Tumblr