Word "less" Wednesday

This was the only way we were able to get ready for work this morning....

Pictures and Decorating

I have a decorating bug and it can't be put to rest, anymore. I also have an infatuation with photography.

If you know me, you know that I love pictures. I love having them taken and I love displaying them. Our upstairs loft is all family pictures. I just love the feel of it and I love seeing how my babies grow. I do switch out the pictures in frames quite frequently because well, I have lots of pictures that need to be displayed.

The other week, Henry broke a picture in our landing. It was just a wall hanging and it was a set of four. It didn't look right when we tried to hang the three back up so I figured I needed something new for the space.On my local sell board on Facebook, someone was selling three large frames, so I scooped them up. I then went to my picture files and decided to do 16x20's of pictures we had done in the Fall. I ordered through mpix and they were running a deal of 50% off large print orders, bonus!

The pictures from mpix came yesterday and I love them. The quality is incredible for the size that they are and I really could not beat the price.

I immediately wanted to get framing. I did have to do a little adjusting to the pictures. The frames were from Ikea so a 16x20 was just a little too large. After a little snip down, I put them in the frames and VOILA!

Sorry, the picture is grainy, I promise they are clear as day in the house. I still have to hang them up but I was too excited not too share.

My decorating bug is here to stay for awhile so hopefully, I can get more rooms done in the house. I'm working on a mirror for our master bedroom and I hope to have that posted soon..

Vacation - Funny picture

Last week we were in Florida. When we arrived the weather was nice but it got colder after that. I'm pretty sure the news told us, it was the coldest south Florida had been in years. Yipppeee. Granted it was warmer then NOVA.

Anywho, Charlie golfed and I told Henry he could not swim in the pool. We heated the pool but even then it was not warm enough for him to go in. He was surprisingly okay with it. Mary crawled the house and they both enjoyed the big tub.

On Monday, we decided that we would take them to SeaWorld. Tuesday morning we got up, packed the car and headed to SeaWorld. Henry had no idea we were even in the land of Mickey and we kept it that way.

We decided to rent a double stroller since we thought Henry would probably not make it all day walking and our backs would not be able to carry him. When Charlie wheeled out the "stroller" it was more like a flat bed. There was no chance Mary was going to nap in that thing and we were right.

Okay - now to the picture.........First up was the dolphin cove. Henry and Mary both liked it and we were right on the wall. Two seconds later the trainer is like "Splash" and WHAM - we were covered. Her notice certainly was not enough time and I really have no idea how I even got this picture.

Henry was not pleased but it was pretty funny.

He loved the rest of the park. He thought the Shamu show was pretty cool and he loved loved the little ride area. At the end of the day we hit up the Sea Lion and Sea Otter show, he thought that show was pretty funny.

All in all it was a great vacation, even if the weather was not very nice. It was great to see Grandpa and Gayle and Gigi and Aunt Pat. Can't go wrong on vacation when you get to spend it with family.

Breakfast with his new friends...

Word "less" Wednesday

Daddy brought his girls roses for Valentine's Day. Yes, we got them yesterday but he wanted us to enjoy them since we are headed to Florida soon.

Of course!

The weather for Florida while we are there.....

FriFeb 15

71^°

53^°

Few Showers

CHANCE OF RAIN:

30%

 

WIND:

N at 7 mph

Details

SatFeb 16

74^°

43^°

Few Showers

CHANCE OF RAIN:

30%

 

WIND:

NW at 8 mph

Details

SunFeb 17

62^°

44^°

Sunny

CHANCE OF RAIN:

0%

 

WIND:

NNW at 17 mph

Details

MonFeb 18

71^°

56^°

Partly Cloudy

CHANCE OF RAIN:

0% 

 

WIND:

ENE at 12 mph

Details

TueFeb 19

77^°

59^°

Partly Cloudy

CHANCE OF RAIN:

0%

 

WIND:

SSE at 11 mph

Details

                                                               














and yes I realize that it is warmer than Northern VA, but c'mon, would temperatures in the 80's be too much to ask for. 

Time to repack the kids.

Be My Valentine

Valentine's Day was probably one of my favorite school holiday days as a kid. I loved making the mailboxes and signing my names to the Valentines. Some things are the same and some are not. Thanks to Pinterest we all get this grand idea to make crazy Valentines  (which I love).

Last year with a one month old, I went all out and made these for Henry's class.

This year since Henry is really into Star Wars, I made these.....

I think they came out pretty good, considering I printed them at home. I found the light sticks in the Target dollar section and of course the print out on Pinterest.

On Friday, we got an email from his teacher asking that we make a mailbox. I have to say I was pretty excited that they asked us to make one. So I rummaged through the house and found a shoe box. We covered it in brown shipping paper and then we let Henry go at it. He had a blast sticking all the stickers on it and writing his name. Which I have to say, I am pretty proud of how well he wrote it.

He was very excited bringing his mailbox to school this morning. What you don't see in this picture is that mom may have added a few red foam hearts to the box to make it a little more Valentineish. I can't wait until Thursday when we can go and read all his Valentine's together.

The Liebster Award is given to bloggers who are fairly new to the blogging world with less than 200 followers. The award is then passed along to other bloggers of the same criterion.

 

The Liebster Award rules:

• Bloggers nominate other up and coming bloggers (with less than 200 followers) for the award.
• If you receive the Liebster, you must:
• Tell 11 random things about yourself.
• Answer the 11 questions the nominator has asked you.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers and make sure you notify them

 

First 11 randoms about me...

1. When I drink from a straw, I stick my tongue out.

2. I was in the marching band at the University of South Carolina.

3. I have been to London, twice, and to Paris for a day.

4. I have the same best friends since I was 3 years old. We even shared yards growing up.

5. I was accepted twice to the University of South Carolina.

6. I've never been to  California - Vegas is the farthest west I've gone.

7. I have to have the bed made. I will not get back into an unmade bed. If it's 9:30pm at night and it was not made, I will make it and then reopen it.

8. I won't use a pen unless the cap is on the top of it.

9. I broke my arm riding a bike because a moth landed on the handlebars.

10. I was president of my sorority.

11. I've never professionally dyed my hair and I've only done it one other time in college.

As if that wasn't enough for you... my nominator asked me...

1. What is your favorite book?     

        I don't really have time to read.

2. Are you a cat or dog person?
      Dog - even though we got had to give Maggie away and we still have our cat.

3. Where do you see your self in ten years?
        In VA but not in our current house.

4. What is your favorite form of social networking?
       I love all of it.

5. What are you most excited about in 2013?
       Watching Mary and Henry grow - going to the beach this summer

6. What is your favorite Holiday?
    Christmas and Halloween and then Easter

7. Do you prefer coffee, tea, or neither?
      Coffee

8. What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
      Craft or Blog

9. Do you have any weird habits?
       Too many to list

10. What's your favorite smell?
    Fall

11. How many siblings do you have?
      One

Word 'less" Wednesday

We put together the toy I bought on super discount at WalMart. Henry found it so we couldn't save it for Valentine's Day. They love it.

Look mom - just like the people at the restaurant - one hand!

Showing Sissy how to use it....

There must not be a no shirt no pants policy - all are welcome!

Grocery Store

As any mom of a toddler knows, going to the grocery store can be a pure and utter hell. Then throw in a 1 year old with the toddler and you don't even have to go to the gym that day. I mean you spend have your time yelling, don't touch that, we don't need that, all while trying to remember what is on your list. Then you get to your car, you don't even know what you bought and you hope those m&m's your 4 year old threw in will be good enough for dinner.

Tonight was different...the grocery gods must have been looking down on me (because on Saturday they were not). I picked up Henry and we headed over to the Harris Teeter. I talked him out of the racecar cart because those things are not easy and talked him into the "shopper" in training cart.

He happily walked through the aisles with me, discussing the items he needed. We talked about fruits and veggies and discussed the meal plan for the week. He put everything into his little cart and we went on our way. Of course we had to have peanuts, watermelon and Star Wars fruit snacks.

Then we passed the beer and wine section and he told me his cart was too small for my wine. Gee, thanks kid, because that is usually the only thing that gets me through these trips.

We went to check out, he loaded the groceries and even answered the cashier when he asked if we found everything we needed. I was impressed. Maybe this is how I need to shop from now on.  Since, he was so good he got the free cookie. I love ending a good shopping trip with a cookie. He told me I could even have a bite.

Here he is with his purchases.

I'm sure this was once in a lifetime but for today, I'll call it a grocery shopping win.

two little birds design

Are you throwing a party? Do you need a banner to hang on your mantle for Valentine's Day or maybe St. Patrick's Day? What about a shower and you need a cute theme? So, you said, yes? Well then I have the shop for you.

Two Little Birds Design is my friends shop that she just launched and she makes AMAZING banners, invites, and other custom work. Contact her for some cute party needs and if you place a new order in February you can get 10% off! Enter the code NardielloReader at check out.

If you don't see something in her shop, just email her and she will work with you.

Go, run, plan that party and get those custom banners ordered.