How cool is this photo by Andrew Miller? It’s actually a combination of many photos pieced together to create one lovely masterpiece. I would love (LOVE!) to have a custom family portrait made. I’m definitely adding this to my Happiness List!

{above photo from A Cup of Jo via Daily Candy}

Why hello! It’s a bit late in the afternoon for a post, but I just had to share with you my new favorite (kid friendly!) drink. Strawberry-Lemon Soda! You can thank Whole Foods for this goodness. All of the recipe ingredients (except fresh mint:) were in our kitchen, so I quickly whipped up a batch after an afternoon of outdoor play. Delicious!

{above photo from Whole Foods}

I love this! Sharpie and US Weekly teamed up to find 100 different ways you can start something with Sharpie. Such a creative list! This would be a fun variety of projects for the kids (and you!) to tackle. My favorites include: color Easter eggs, decorate picture frames, and design a clutch . What fun project would you create with Sharpie?

Last night I watched the season premiere of Project Runway Season 9. Let me start by saying – it was so good! So, so much talent. It’s going to be a fierce design battle until the very end!

The first challenge was a bit of a shocker. Can you imagine creating a design from your sleepwear? That you’re currently wearing? I channel Rachel Zoe when I say “I Die!”

Of course, I’m team Anthony Ryan Auld. (Go Anthony! Bring it on home to the boot!) Anthony’s a cancer survivor, and colorblind. Wow! In my unbiased opinion – his designs scream WINNER!:) He’s an example of why we should never give up on our dreams.

This season I’m prepared for hot drama, hot fashion, and of course, model stealing!

Did you watch? Who’s your favorite designer?

Edited To Add: Do I live under a rock or what? I was lurking around the web when I found a fabulous blog – Blogging Project Runway. I love it!

{above photo from My Lifetime}

My eyes are blurry from staring at striped straws on my iPhone screen all morning. Jordan turns 8 in September, and he would like a “real birthday party” with “real people.” What are we – understudies? Ha! In (my) true party planning fashion everything has to be perfect! Even the straws. Oh, the pressure. There’s a chance I’ll soon morph into a Partyzilla!

{above photo from Kate Spade NY}

Happy Monday! I hope that the weekend treated you all well. We had to cancel our plans due to all the rainy weather. You can imagine all the boredom. I entertained myself by adding a few things to my Happiness List. It will forever be a work in progress, as I am always evolving, but here’s what I have so far:

Start a nail polish collection.

Sell lemonade at a lemonade stand.

Complete our home renovations.

Frame our photos.

Start a postcard collection. Including one from all 50 states.

Create an inspiration wall for my children.

Start a shoe collection.

Make pretty popsicles!

Create a diy project with instant
photos.

Photograph a dolphin.

Take a daily photo of myself for an entire year – starting the date of my next birthday – April 23.

Start a video diary.

Own a bird.

Find a signature scent of perfume.

Fix up a couple of old bicycles with my daughters.

Own a DSLR – and really take the time to learn all the features.

Paint my front door red.

Build toddler beds for the twins.

Paint a piece of canvas wall art with my family and hang it above our fireplace.

Surprise the kids with a trip to DisneyWorld!

Paint my driveway the color of the rainbow.

Build the kids a playhouse.

Learn to speak French.

Learn to speak Italian.

Learn to speak Spanish.

Get a passport!

Learn to swim.

Wear a bathing suit – it does count if I’m wearing a t-shirt over it, right?

Plant a fruit tree.

Donate money to build a well.

Launch a line of tees for kids!

Write a children’s book.

Surprise Michael with a trip to Hawaii!

Go camping.

Unleash my inner “Wifey” and run a marathon!

Give 10 complete stranger $100 to help someone who really needs it.

Paint Kyndle & Brooklyn’s room hot pink as they’ve requested – with a touch of rock and roll!

Own a personal collection of 100
books.

Buy myself an expensive handbag!

Take Salsa lessons.

Take Boxing lessons.

Take Karate Lessons.

Plant a kitchen window herb garden in tea cans.

Attend a NBA game.

Attend a NFL game.

Attend a NHL game.

Have someone take photos of myself and my girls twirling umbrellas in the rain!

Throw a nice dinner party.

Get all dolled up for absolutely no reason at all.

Start a cocktail ring collection.

Buy an old car and have it restored.

Start a globe collection.

Throw Michael a surprise birthday party!

Have coffee at a cafe in Paris.

Vacation in Australia.

Vacation in Spain.

Vacation in France.

Vacation in Italy.

Vacation in the Bahamas.

Photograph 1000 store signs.

Take a family beach photo.

Listen to 2000 songs.

Photograph my yard filled with balloons!

Commission a family photo by Andrew Miller.

What’s on your Happiness List?

{above image from Jewelz and Glitter}

When I was younger I was an avid reader and collector of books. Even now as an adult I covet entire bookstores. If I could make a bookstore my “literary love-shack” I would. My eldest son inherited this trait. His closet is stocked full of worn books filled with fold lines to remember his “spot.”

That’s why it’s a bit shameful to share that our actual family accumulation of see it-hold it-touch it-smell it- collection of books is sparse. There is no bookshelf in our home. What we do have are several devices that allow us to quickly download and purchase any book that we’d like. After all, we are living in the age of iEverything.

The other day, I passed an old wooden bookshelf thrown out for pick-up. I drove along for a bit thinking about that bookshelf, and thinking to myself that I’m depriving my kids (unintentionally, of course) of one of my fondest childhood memories.

Who here remembers sneaking books from the bookshelf for a bit of late night reading? Entire series of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Little House on the Prairie read under a blanket while holding a flashlight.

I turned my car around. That old bookshelf had found a new home. As a family we plan on giving it a grand redo, equipped with plenty of books and cute little flashlights. I don’t want you to think that I’m bashing ebooks. We own many. As long as children are reading, in whichever format, I am happy. I just think there’s room for both- especially in our home. {Isn’t it rewarding to watch kids enjoy learning? It is never too early to prepare for top universities, online or otherwise. It all starts with a bookshelf.}

Does your family have a large collection of books in your home? Do you read them with your children?

{above photo from A Day in the Land of Nobody} {sponsored links included in post}

Today is Tyler’s 14th birthday! I woke this morning at 6:30 AM to double check the date. Silly, I know, but I just can’t believe how time is zooming along. Pretty soon he’ll be off to college! Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday he was running away from the clowns at his 1st birthday party! That was one of my many newbie parent mistakes.

The entire family waited around for him to wake so we could wish him a great big “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TYLER!” In typical teen fashion he pretended not to care, but we know he really did. I think he was even blushing a bit. We presented him with a birthday gift after breakfast. A copy of The Last Olympian which is part of the Percy Jackson Series. Have you heard about these books? I can’t believe that’s the only gift he requested. For lunch we ate his favorites: tacos and vanilla cupcakes.

This weekend we’re going to surprise him and a friend with tickets to see the final installment of Harry Potter. Of course, I’ll be sitting right next to them. There’s nothing like having your mom escort you to the movies.:) He and I are the Harry Potter fans in the family. Michael and the other kids – not so much. It’s weird to me that Michael would rather sleep than watch a Harry Potter movie. I just can’t relate!:)

When we return home from seeing the movie, his next surprise will be a small party with family and friends. (He thinks only family will be there.) He requested a football cake. I was laughing when I placed the order. My bookworm wants a football themed cake. I tried to talk him into a Harry Potter themed cake in honor of the final movie. He shook his head no. My, how the times have changed.:)

P.S. He did not give me permission to include a photo of him in this post.:) So I thought I’d say a final adieu to some of the cast of Harry Potter. Again- where does the time go?

{above photos from here via The Uber Blog}

I fancy myself an art lover; but thus far my love has only been expressed from afar. It seems I can never find the perfect pieces. Lively, colorful, somewhat humorous pieces – pieces that represent the flow of my family.

Enter CoCo de Paris.

Do you own a piece or pieces of original artwork?

{above photos from Coco de Paris}

I fully support any company that a) loves our earth and b) can deliver on natural products without compromising their principals – and still have myself (and my home) smelling oh, so lovely.

Candy Flavas supports the Green Movement through the products they create. The exotic scented Candle Collections are made from soy wax, lead wicks and high quality essential and fragrance oils.

In addition to candles, their other lines of all natural products include: body scrubs, body lotion, and lip balm.

Do you use natural products on your skin? What about in your home?

{above photo from Candy Flavas}