Just peeking out to wish you a Happy 4th of July weekend!
Jay has tomorrow and Monday off…
TS3 ~ Grilling ~ Pink Lemonade Ice Cream ~ Santa Monica ~ Cocktails ~ Fireworks ~ Pool Time
Celebrating Red, White & Blue all weekend long!
{Patriotic Pics…Wawona, Yosemite ~ 7.4.09}
Please have a sparkly & SAFE holiday weekend!
Today we got together with some friends we hadn’t seen in awhile…
Chloe, Addison & Baby James (who we met for the first time!)
Addison & Holden
In a mood…
Running off some energy:
Chloe & Elliott:
Checkin’ out the wild {t}urkey:
Trying to get all FOUR to look:
Another day at the park…
*****
Check out these super cute festive {T}ootsie Rolls:
Edited to include: Tootsie Rolls are from Dollar Tree!
*****
When we turned onto our street on the way home, a couple cute little neighbor boys were having a Kool-aid/Otter Pop/Hershey Bar Stand to raise money for The Painted {T}urtle.
We stopped and cooled off with a couple Otter Pops and made a little donation.
{Two soon-to-be 4th graders and one soon-to-be 1st grader!}
So cute.
Made me excited for our little lemonade stand down the road.
*****
Alas, {T}aco Tuesday…
Take that, Taco Bell!
Fancier tacos coming up this weekend…
*****
Flip Flop Fitness Update ~ 6.29.10
2 cups coffee w/ 4 tbsp. creamer: 4 points
Kashi with 1/2 cup 1% milk: 4 points
1 cup red seedless grapes: 1 point
1/2 banana: 1 point
Turkey & light swiss on sandwich thin: 5 points
1 cinnamon graham cracker: 1.5
3 crispy tacos with 1/2 cup meat, 1 tbsp. light sour cream, 1/8 cup shredded cheese (lettuce & salsa): 9.5 points
Total points: 26
Workout:
45+ minutes @ 1o on elliptical: 4.26 miles, 500 calories
*****
…have a lemonade stand!
{Tartness…Google Images}
How cute is this one?
You can find the full cuteness here!
I would certainly stop at this stand for some ice cold lemony goodness on the rocks. And I would certainly stay awhile for some refills.
Darling!
Elliott and her girlfriend, Emilie, have been talking about a lemonade stand for weeks.
It’s time.
Perhaps some confections or baked goods to go along?
Researching now!
Another successful afternoon splashing and swimming…
The baby pool will do that to ya!
*****
Flip Flop Fitness Update ~ 6.28.10
1 cup coffee w/ 2 tbsp. creamer: 2 points
Yoplait Greek blueberry yogurt: 3 points
1 cup red seedless grapes: 1 point
Turkey and light swiss on sandwich thin (w/ mustard and tomato): 5 points
1 small banana: 1 point
Safeway Eating Right Sesame Chicken meal: 7 points
Total points: 19
Workout:
Walked long route to clubhouse and home (2+ miles)
Elliptical for 60 minutes: 5.5 miles, 650 cals
*****
I’m back in the blogging saddle again.
I feel like I fell off the horse there for a minute last week and over the weekend!
Also back in the point countin’ and workout saddle, too.
Got derailed after our little overnight excursion, but I did have a good workout yesterday afternoon and will do the same all this week so I can enjoy some good ol’ 4th of July fare semi-guilt free.
I have some good lookin’ recipes coming up and a little cocktail that I’ve been dreaming about!
This week is full of play dates, pool time, TS3, a visit from U-Rod (and a lady friend!) and fireworks!
Starting my week out with this:
Check back later in the week for something else containing blueberries (and it’s NOT yogurt!).
Hope your Monday is filled with antioxidants and a whole bunch of other good stuff!
{Saddle pic…Google Images. Yogurt…yoplait.com}
XOXO
Just returned from an overnight stay in beautiful Montecito.
This 24-hour mini retreat did include the kids, however, I am feeling so revived and renewed and ready for the rest of the summer.
The 4 little ones completely entertained themselves and the mommies were able to sit under the shade of an umbrella on the deck, exchange stories, take in the view and step away from the everyday norm for a minute.
I truly appreciate the chance to be in these breathtaking surroundings even if just for a short 24 hours.
This photo journal says it all…
Thank you, Mel for hosting.
Enjoyed the conversations. The midnight dip in the hot tub.
Just what I needed.
So grateful.
XOXO
This week is off to a MUCH better start.
Thank goodness.
If things didn’t change from last week, it was going to be a LONG, and not in a good way, summer!
Today we packed a quick picnic of ‘wiches, cantaloupe and graham crackers and headed to the pool.
The 1.5 foot deep baby pool was wide open and we staked our claim.
Heaven.
I pulled my lounge chair into partial shade, kicked my feet up and chatted with Hollie while the kiddos splashed, dove and played with the noodle.
It was perfect.
They were safe & happy.
I was relaxed & happy.
A wonderful combination for both parties I must say.
We’ve GOT to do that more often.
I’ve always been nervous to take two non-swimmers to the pool, but if we stay in the kiddie pool, it’s all good in the ‘hood.
They get worn out and I get a break along with a little color.
Hollie kept an eye on Holden while I took the girls into the big pool. Elliott and I practiced her swimming and I am so pleased that she is becoming stronger and stronger and will be on her own by summer’s end, I’m sure.
The icing on the cake was that they exited the pool, dried off, changed and walked to the car without fuss.
Shangri-La, I tell you.
The rest of this week and next week is full so I am certain that we are truly turning the corner and on our way to a HAPPY summer.
Just the way it should be.
{Pooped after the pool}
*****
Speaking of HAPPY, check out this sweet, vintage PANCAKE wedding reception!
Such an inexpensive & creative idea…especially since they shared their first date over a stack of pancakes!
So sweet and dripping with maple syrupy goodness.
Love it. Breakfast At Sunset.
Thinking outside the box.
Pure genius.
I want to recreate this oasis in my back patio and eat all our summer meals there! I love the whole “bringing the inside out” look. May just look for an old kitchen table and mismatched chairs at the next community garage sale!
And that old, shabby chic bench…………..
*****
I was going to have Taco Tuesday tonight with some homemade Taco Bell inspired tacos with seasoned ground beef and crispy corn shells……but, I didn’t feel like running to the store and chancing taking the wind out of my Tuesday sails, so we had hamburger hot dogs and cantaloupe instead.
I just took about a pound of ground beef, mixed it with half a grated red onion, an egg white and this seasoning mix.
We had one hamburger bun and 4 hot dog buns, so I formed the “patties” accordingly:
{I know…this pic is a little disturbing. No jokes, please!}
Just fire up your barbie or pull out your grill pan and cook these babies up. Place on the corresponding bun and garnish with your favorite hot dog/burger toppings. We used ketchup, mustard, minced onion and jalapeños. They would be delish as chili cheese hot dog burgers, as well!
Anyway, it’s fun to switch it up a bit and save yourself a trip to the store at the same time!
Plus, there are plenty more summer Tuesdays for tacos.
*****
Flip Flop Fitness Update ~ 2.22.10
2 cups coffee with 4 tbsp. creamer: 4 points
3/4 cup Kashi cereal with 1/2 cup organic lowfat milk: 3.5 points
2 cups cantaloupe: 2 pts.
turkey and light cheddar with mustard on sandwich thin: 4 points
1 small bag mini Oreos: 3 points
2 graham crackers: 3 points {Snacky Snackerson today! ;-( }
1/4 lb. hamburger & bun: 6 points
Total points: 25.5
Workout: Zilch, Zip, Nada
{Shame on me!}
Yesterday Elliott and I went to see her friend, Emilie, star in a little theater production of Alice In Wonderland.
It was the cutest thing ever.
Here is Alice and Cheshire Cat before she drinks the concoction that turns her small:
…and then here is “Small Alice” AKA Emilie Sullivan! She is talking to the door knob:
And you can’t forget Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum:
Besides Miss Emilie, of course, my fave was the Caterpillar. My camera battery died and I didn’t get a pic.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and Elliott LOVED it.
The cutest thing…..during intermission Emilie came out to talk to us and several little kiddos ran up to her and wanted their picture taken. I think Elliott felt “cool” that she knew Emilie and that they are good friends. We also got a “backstage pass” and used the restroom that all the “stars” use! So exciting!
It was just darling and a great feeling to support small community productions like this.
Congrats, Emilie! We’re so proud of you!
Yesterday was Elliott’s first dance recital.
Another big milestone. I’ve been excited about it ever since I ordered her costume in February!
Her little class was assigned to the 9:00am show ~ yes, 9am on a Saturday! That translates to getting up real early which for me is fine because I do it every morning, but for a 5-year old who went to bed at 11pm the night before….it’s not fine.
She had an 8:30 check-in so I worked the timeline backwards in my head and decided she needed to be up around 6am. I know, I’m overly conservative with stuff like this. I don’t like to rush so I figured I needed plenty of time to curl her hair, apply her “make-up”, make sure all the ducks were in a row before I dropped her off with the backstage “babysitter” (who she later told me was Grandma Jean).
Needless to say, she was less than thrilled by her 6:15am wake-up call (I let her sleep in!).
After we successfully, yet not painlessly, got all the rollers in, we applied a little Mac StudioFix:
…some eyeshadow and mascara:
With each cosmetic would come more pouting and whining.
Once everything but the lipstick was applied, I told her “Now whatever you do, don’t touch your face” and turned my back for 20 seconds to grab the hairspray.
Well, what do crazy tired, grumpy kids do?
RUB THEIR EYES.
RIGHT AFTER PSYCHO PAGEANT MAMA JUST APPLIED THE MASCARA!!
Seriously, I went into scary pageant mama mode for a brief sec and I am not at all proud…
I jumped up and down (apparently that was my first involuntary reaction) and yelled, “What are you doing? You just totally messed up your mascara!”
I know. I know. Terrible Mom award right there.
Well, that made her tear up and make things worse.
So, I took a deep breath, grabbed some Q-tips and went over and told her that I loved her and that we will just pile on the blush and lipstick last minute and everything will be OK.
Honestly, I felt so stupid by the way I reacted. Jay witnessed the whole thing. I SOOO could not be a pageant mom.
I just wanted everything to be PERFECT.
And it was…
{She’s 5th from the left}
Overwhelmed by the barrage of flowers:
After the show, our friends hosted a bbq for the dancers.
The tutus were traded for two-pieces for a dip in the jacuzzi:
…but not for long:
They even reapplied their make-up after the swim!
Here is a close-up of the trophy BEFORE it broke into 2 pieces ~ $15 down the drain.
…and here is one tuckered out, vampy make-up wearin’, lollipop eatin’, rainboot wearin’ ballerina.
It was a BEAUTIFUL day!
