Enjoy the weekend!

Ah.... TGIF! I am so excited for this weekend! 

Warm weather + pool + family = a very happy me!

iPhone Photograph by Robert Lachman © 2011

Just thought I'd share this with you. I've always wanted to ride a hot air balloon. Google gave me an even more awesome idea!  Orange County's Great Park Balloon! It only goes up to 400 ft but it's  high enough for Sammy. This is on my to do list for the month of APRIL! Oh! I forgot to mention that it's FREE! That's what makes it a better idea!

Enjoy the weekend loves!

Since we can't be there this year....

{source}

Cherry Blossom Festival in New York. Two things the Mister LOVES.

Maybe next year.... :)

My dearest Bk,

I love you. 

xx,

R

Thursday Inspiration

Read and be inspired! Happy Thursday loves... it's almost weekend!

Do It Anyway

by Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; 

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may cheat you;

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, someone could destroy overnight;

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it will never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

                                            {source}

Cookie Pops!

Made this delish cookie pops for Sammy's party  giveaways. It's easy to make and a lot cheaper than making goody bags, especially if you have 20+ kids. I also wanted to be different, while little nic nacs can be fun for the kiddos, as a mom I hate throwing away those little toys once my kid is done with it. It feels like throwing away m$ney. So I came up with this! And the kids loved it! I made a lot so the kids can take as much as they want.... and they did. :)

What you will need:

Cookies - I used Trader Joe's Chocolate Vanilla Cream Cookies

Popsicle stick

Nestle Toll House White Chocolate Chips

Double boiler

cookie sheet

Sprinkles

#1 Stick the popsicle stick right in the center of the cookie. I found that the best way to do this is to separate the cookies, place the stick right in the middle of the cookie that has the vanilla cream on it. Then put the other cookie back on then press gently.

I decorated my stick using sharpies. I wrote thank you's so I didn't have to make tags for it. 

#2 Fill your pan with 1 inch of water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Put your chocolate on top of your double boiler or a bowl. Place it over top of the heated water. Gently stir your melting chocolate until its smooth. 

or

You can put your chocolate in a bowl and microwave for a few minutes. 

Instructions on melting your chocolate will be on the back of the bag.

#3 When your chocolate is nice and smooth, gently dip your cookies until its fully covered. Place cookie pop on a clean cookie sheet and start sprinkling!

#4 Let it cool. I put mine in the fridge for a few minutes and it was ready for packaging! 

Viola!

Sammy's idea of helping was eating the "bad cookies". It was a fun project for both of us. 

~enjoy~

Happy Wednesday!

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"If I get married, I want to be very married."

                                     -Audrey Hepburn

Happy Wednesday! I just want to say, dreams do come true. I am so blessed to be married to someone who does not only make me happy, but just effortlessly brings out the best in me. I am very married and I love it! 

Have a sweet sweet day lovies...

Leave a message!

"I don't want to be alone. I want to be left alone." 

                                                   - Audrey Hepburn

Today is my Monday. None stop phone calls, annoying computer malfunctions and never ending follow ups. That's it! I am ignoring my phone until 5pm. I need to finish the mess that is sitting in my desk before I can say hello...  You can however, leave a message.... I will try to get back to you when I'm not busy. :)

SMALL party???

Been so busy lately with planning Sammy's small party. I originally planned it to be just the kiddos, with some food at the park and since there's a playground I really don't need to get a bounce house (especially after seeing the price on those.. its double the price when they set it up in a park instead of your backyard!). Then I started inviting people.. I didn't realize we had that much friends with kids, life is changing!. That's when it all changed! I realized the playground may not be enough entertainment for 20+ kids, the bounce house was still not an option. So we decided to hire a face painter and a balloon twister. Sounds perfect right?! More mellow and calm...(yeah right!) So that is done. Next was figuring out what theme we are doing. Originally, I was just gonna go with pink and orange.... more casual and easy. But Sammy's been into Dr.Suess lately and since it's his birthday month...wait for it..... I decided to make it a Dr.Suess party! Bright idea right?  YES! That's until I realized I just put myself in a lot of work for the next few weeks. This is a problem. See, when I start with an idea, it just doesn't stop there. I tend to get more creative by the minute until it takes over me. This week,  I've made photo booth props, star garlands, wrapping spoons and forks with colored napkins and more. I've got tons of stuff I want to make for the party but I don't have the time and/or the money to make all of it! It's just too crazy. I need to take a breather. I have to stop thinking and dreaming about the party. It won't be as grand as my imagination but it will be really special. I can't believe my baby is turning 5. She is so excited about it, she thinks she can do everything when she turns 5. So adorable. I cannot wait to hang out with friends too. With this busy life it seems like we are always in a rush in everything we do. So hopefully, this party will give us time to relax and enjoy each others company while the kiddos are playing. 

Catching up... part one.

Checking out The Camp! So this was a month ago... I'm still trying to catch up with my to do list. Anyway, we thought is was a pretty cool place. It's small but it has interesting stores and restaurants ...

I love the stairs... Isn't it neat?!

small vintage airstream stores... 

relaxing ambiance 

Pretty date... :)

adorable entertainer 

just one of the tables there ... i think it's pretty awesome. 

the whole place is so "earthy" ... so cool and inviting. 

Definitely on my list to visit again for shopping... :)