Sunday, April 26, 2009

Look at the moment I caught






I was taking a nap with Ant and awoke looking everywhere for Frank and Jack. Then I noticed their fishing poles were gone. I walked around to the back of our house and saw the two of them just talking and casting away without a care in the world. I even saw Jack catch "something." I love the look on Jack's face. He's just so happy. They were in heaven and didn't even know I was there, thanks to my super duper long lens. Have a great week!

I could have killed him!

Our boys were at my mother in laws for the night........yipee! So it's date night, right? Frank tells me he's taking me to an "event" and some other people from his work are going to be there. I ask the usual questions, who, what, where, and he fulfills them with appropriate answers so we go. Now to give you some history, we usually "go" with this couple so when we got there before they did, I knew it was going to be a disaster. Frank and I, especially me (remember peep toe pump, Prada purse?), dressed up. It was a date night, remember? Ok, so the people that pulled up next to us, got out wearing cut-off jean shorts and wearing their hat backwards! Yep, I punched Frank! Cuz, then when we walked into the place, EVERYONE was wearing jeans and t-shirts! Apparently Frank didn't get the memo. Panicked, I had him call our friends as I was sure they were coming in jeans. PHEW! They were even more overdressed than we were! Needless to say her husband caught her wrap in his face;) It was a great cause we donated to and we stayed and chatted for awhile, but then we went for sushi at
KIKU in Naperville. TO DIE FOR! If you've never been, try it! Frank has been to a couple of places and would never try it and I don't know if it was peer pressure or because of the "dog house status", but he actually had half of a roll.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Earth Day


So it seems everywhere you go today, everyone asks "What did you do for Earth Day?" It spread so far as my son's school where he helped his teacher pick up all the garbage on the playground. But I found it strange that people find themselves doing something special TODAY, and not every other day. Why not do something every day to save our planet?
At our house, we no longer use paper plates and haven't done so for over two years. We also use many green cleaning products. I'll have to admit, no all are 'green' but most are. We also changed the majority of our light bulbs to CFL bulbs which over the lifetime of the bulb will save you $30 per bulb! I don't know about you, but I'm always trying to save a $ anywhere I can, so that's a pretty good savings;)

What do you do?

Monday, April 20, 2009

DO YOU LIKE GIVEAWAYS??????

Then click the link above and check her out. Samantha Provenzano, that is! She's doing her part, AGAIN, and this time she's offering up some cool stuff, but to get a piece of it, you need to check our her blog.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

10 things

I love........

1.The smell of rain. not necessarily the look of it, but the smell of it, makes me want to curl up on the couch, pop popcorn, and watch a good sappy movie.

2.The way my kids call me "Momma." i've never called myself that, but i find it endearing that they do.

3.A good sale ANYWHERE! i love to shop, with my boys, without my boys, with my mom, without my mom, with Frank....you get the drift?;)

4.My job. yeah it has it's good days and bad days, but where else can you tell people what to do, they HAVE to listen, or else there will be a consequence? Oh yeah, motherhood.

5.A clean house! duh, that's a no brainer!

6.The way my husband calls me "Baby." every time.......on the phone, in passing, it's sweet.

7.Earthly Embrace scented Beanpod Soy Candles. the smell that radiates through my house when they are lit makes me happy!


8.Tulips. the first sign of spring means no more snow!

9.The sparkle in my kids eyes whenever we talk about going to Disney! little do they know we're just as excited...........no one needs a vacation as much as mom and dad!

10.My life! these three men keep me on my toes and i'm lovin' it!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Kite Fun

My mom is always so good to my boys and on the weekend when Frank works, she always has something up her sleeve to keep my boys entertained and today was no different. Wheaton hosted a kite flying event to break the world record for the most kites flown at one time,so she urged me to take them to it. It's always so much fun, because she comes to our house on Saturday, Dunkin Donuts donut holes in hand for them, and then off we go. We never tell them where we're taking them until we arrive and today when they saw all the kites flying, they too wanted to join in! Thanks mom, for the fun once again!



Thursday, April 9, 2009

Marley and Me

This has quite simply become the boys favorite new movie. Yes, it's a terribly sad movie, but here's the kicker......they don't know it because they fall asleep every night they ask to watch it before the end leaving me a blubbering fool! Isn't it sweet??


Wednesday, April 8, 2009

LOVE IT!

Ok, so i'm going to admit that i'm a dork. there it is right up front! but i don't feel well, and i didn't feel like screwing around at all, so just go to the last song in the play list. i'll get it to the top soon, fighting a sinus infection. enjoy! i did and thanks for the input on the fireplace. everyone had a different opinion although no one picked #1! it wasn't my fave either;)
BTW..awesome new pic and header is from sam provenzano. isn't just the coolest;) thanks, sam!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Decisions, decisions.........

We're revamping the family room. It's always been a goal to do so, but now the carpet is torn and MUST be replaced. The fireplace has always been a want, and now we've saved our pennies to turn into a 2 story. I'm planning on getting new leather furniture, even though I've never had leather, but OMG I saw a set I just can't live without if the family room gets done "right", ya know? Ok, so here' what I need help with. I want the fireplace to be "the" pinnacle of the room and I'm not into the whole traditional looking thing. It doesn't matter what's there now (it's a white deco Italian fire place looking thing, that is now yellow, cause you can't clean it with anything cause I don't know what it is and bleach apparently turns it yellow as does ajax when you try to clean it, duh!) so I'm going for a more stacked stone looked, so I've attached a few. Don't know the color of the carpet yet (probably as sage green or deep yellow (don't cringe it's actually not a puke looking color), as it'll be installed after the fireplace is done, and I can always repaint the walls. Oh yeah, the new furniture is a rustic brown color, if it matters.









She's now 15 weeks!

Yep, it's not me, though I do love babies! My best friend, Megan, is expecting her second bundle of joy in September and how fun it'll be. Her first trimester was a bit like we all remember with morning sickness and such, but now she reports she is doing much better. Ian is her precious 2 year old son who is keeping her on her toes through all of this.

I have known Megan for 20 years. We were inseparable at times; we roomed together in college, lived a block apart after getting married, and now spend time catching up with one another on the phone as our lives often keep us apart more often than we'd like to acknowledge. We did get out to dinner sans husband and children last week and talked for a couple hours, mostly about kids, of course!

Meg....here's my guess now, another boy! You heard it here first;-)

Sunday, April 5, 2009

I've created a monster

in Jack......and in a good way! The boy LOVES to clean. YEAH FOR ME!!!! Today after a good day of outdoor shopping, the boys were pretty much worn down as was I, but we have a ritual here and it's kind of sad that the boys know it. Every other weekend, when Frank is working of course, I clean, from top to bottom. Now, you might think big deal, but if you know me, you know my house is clean, as my husband says "neurotic clean," everyday, so this ritual of cleaning is the kind with toothbrushes and scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees.

Ok, so how does Jack fit into this? He now vacuums like a champ..........he empties the garbage.......he hangs clothes.......he unloads the dishwasher......empties the dryer.......strips all the beds of sheets.........you name it he does it on cleaning day! AND, if I do it instead of him, he cries, which I find hysterical because I know soon I will be begging him to clean!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Love at first sight!

Oh how I love the Kane County Flea Market! My mom and I try to go at least twice a season and today was perfect with sun shining and the semi warm weather. A few of my favorite friends made it home with me........Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, and Coach (all replicas, of course!) I have wanted the Louis Vuitton for such a long time that my mom laughed when I found it because it is such a good looking replica I about died! The black Prada is to go along with my 3" peep toe pumps coming from www.shoedazzle.com, a site one of my girlfriends turned me on to. At shoedazzle, you complete a survey of "looks" you like and after doing so, once a month they send you 5 shoes to choose one from at only $39.99!. I can't wait to put them together and go out on the town! I'm going to have to or Frank is going to have my head for the damage to the pocket book ;) If you haven't made it out to Kane County Flea Market yet, make sure to do so! It's only $5 to get in, free parking, and tons of great finds! I got some beautiful flowers as well, but seeing how it's going to be 30 degrees tomorrow, we'll see how they do! I also picked up a ton of Easter decorations at fab prices. I'm going back for some stools I have my eye on for the kitchen, but I did a pretty good job today. Take a look.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

today is national autism awareness


So, I have a dear friend, Sam, you know the one who took the wonderful pics on our Christmas cards this year? Yeah, those......well, she's always been really good to me and those around me. I call, ask for help and she's there. Well, today it's her turn. I received an email from her asking for us now to do our part and I thought "OF COURSE!" You see her son Dylan, aka "Big D", has been diagnosed, thankfully on the high function end of the spectrum so today is near and dear to her heart. Dylan is Ant's age and Sam I'm convinced, is the reason Ant had a Spongebob birthday party. Anywho, please read and pass the word. There's also a special incentive by donating to the Autism Walk Sam and her family are participating in this year with the link below. Here's what she sent:

today is national autism awareness day here..
1 in 150 children born today will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders
to help us in raising awareness you can do something as little as adding the picture
below to your profile picture!!

as many of you know my son has been diagnosed on the spectrum
thankfully for us is highly functioning... and many others are not as lucky

our jobs as the mommy's and daddy's of these little hero's is to be their advocate... so
here i am doing my job.. spreading the work making many more aware of what this is.. and
ways we can help.. and ways we can hope

we are walking in honor of TEAM BIG D.. if you would like to make a donation in honor of
him we would be so grateful.
CLICK/VISIT HERE TO JOIN OR DONATE:
http://stepupforautism09.kintera.org/teambigd

anyone would walks and/or donates $25.00 or more will automatically receive a $50.00 gift
certificate/print credit from Samantha Provenzano Photography


if you want to know a little bit more about Big D there is a video posted at the bottom
of the page..
he really is quite possibly the coolest lil man out there..
and i know a few people can let you know the same thing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYzgFIjzlgQ