five on friday:: gratitude projects

i wanted to share with you a few things you can do to express your gratitude.  some of these i have done.  some i will be doing this year.  and some are just plain cute.

1. a gratitude journal

probably the easiest and simplest way to keep a record of all that you are thankful for.  you need a little notebook and a pen.  try and write something everyday, or every chance you get.  you'll be surprised how quickly it fills up. i used a moleskine kraft journal.  i glued pieces of scrapbook paper on top and added the word "gratitudes" on the side.  i use mine to keep gratitude quotes as well.

2. be thankful box

i made this one year that i was feeling very crafty.  i bought the box from michael's.  then i painted, stamped and covered it with scrapbooking paper.  you could just as easily use a simple pre-decorated box or even a jar.

i also made this tag book and put a picture of each of us.  on the back i wrote what each person was thankful for that year.  my goal was to do this every year and thus fill the box, but i moved on to other projects so this is the only book in the box right now.  i'll have to think of other things to fill it with.

3. a gratitude album

i loved this idea from cathy zielske.  last year i printed these simple thank you cards and placed them at each person's place setting.  then everyone wrote what they were thankful for on it.  i also took a picture of each person at dinner.  i printed the photos and place it on the empty space to the left and slipped them into a 4x6 photo album.  so simple.

4.  gratitude poster

photo from becky higgins

this idea came from becky higgins.  i loved it when i saw it so i am doing it this year.  a large white posterboard, letter stickers and a pen.  we will have it somewhere in the house where anyone can write a thank you when they feel inspired.   i hope to find a place to hang it all year long.  that way we can always be reminded of the things we are thankful for.  you can read more about it here and here.  and i will post mine as soon as i have it together.

5. thankful tree

Source: simplyvintagegirl.com via Gioconda on Pinterest

i love this.  and what a cute home decor item.  imagine having this at the dinner table on thanksgiving.  your guests can each write something on a leaf.  don't tell but i'm thinking of giving this as a gift to our thanksgiving dinner hosts this year.  i think they'll love it, don't you?

i hope i gave you some inspiration in case you were interested in doing a gratitude project.

have a great weekend.

five on friday:: trick or treats

today is the school's halloween carnival.  it's the first year i am not on the planning committee.
tomorrow we have a halloween birthday party.
and monday we'll be out with the ghouls and goblins scoring some babe ruths and snicker bars.

needless to say, halloween is here.
i've made a few things over the years that would be perfect to serve on halloween or take to a halloween pot luck.

1. mummy cupcakes

love this idea.  it's so easy if you use a boxed cake mix and store bought icing, like i did.  i made mini cupcakes for the middle school dance last week and they turned out so cute.  i drizzled the icing in a zig zag pattern and used mini m&m's for the eyes.  i ended up with over 100 cupcakes using 2 cake mixes.

2.  apple coffee cake

i know this isn't halloween-ish but it's so good i had to share.  the apple filling was just perfect.  a great, not too sweet treat to have with some coffee. the recipe is quite a process, not an easy one.  but in the end it was worth it.

3. mini pumpkin tiramisus

wow.  these were so good.  cream cheese and pumpkin filling, layered with whipped cream and lady fingers.  and then topped with chocolate shavings.  just a note, i made these for our kindergarten social.  i made them ahead of time and then put them on the serving platter and then drove to the house where we were having the social. i held them on my lap the entire ride over and freaked out as they slid and tipped over.  bobby had to drive 15 miles an hour the whole way there.  BIG mistake. i obviously didn't think this through and will do it differently next time for sure.  but these were definitely worth making again.  find the recipe here.

4. chili and chips

i thought i had this recipe posted somewhere on my blog.  maybe i do and i just can't find it right now.  super easy turkey chili.  cook up the ground turkey with a little garlic salt and then put in your crock pot.  add a can of kidney beans, a can of chopped tomatoes, 2 cans of chili beans and let it go.  no need to add seasoning, the chili beans do all the work.  i top it with shredded cheese, sour cream and green onions.  and look what i found at the store this week.

i'm such a sucker for marketing.

5. hot dog mummies

i made these last year for the kids but never got a good picture of them.  hot dogs wrapped in breadstick dough.  use ketchup or mustard for eyes.  recipe can be found here.

have fun celebrating or relaxing this weekend.

five on friday

as we celebrate the last day of september i am feeling super excited about october.  october really says fall to me.  and although we don't see a huge change in the weather in so cal, it does cool down just enough to give you that cozy feeling.

what i'm looking forward to:

1. sofia's birthday

my girlie will turn 6 on the 7th.  i can't believe it. she acts like she's 16 already.   i'll be reading to her kindergarten class in the morning.  i know she's looking forward to that. and then family and a few friends over for pizza and cupcakes.  i'm thinking pink would be good.

2. soup

i'm excited about making some soup and enjoying that once a week.  it seems too hot in the summer to eat soup.  but a bowl of delicious chili, chowder or tortilla soup sounds perfect.

3. starbucks pumpkin latte

image from starbucks.com

yummy!  but i am also secretly hoping to have a cup of salted caramel mocha.

4.  changing colors

in the leaves, the fashion and the decor.  orange, brown, rust, gold.  i love them all.  looking forward to a manicure with a dark brown polish.  lovely.

5. halloween

we'll be trick or treating for sure.  plus our school has a great halloween carnival with rides and booths.  it's always a fun time.  i think the kids have settled on costumes so now i have to get to work putting them together.

have a great weekend.  enjoy the end of september and welcome in october.

five on friday:: fall favorites

today is the first day of fall or autumn.  or in california just a milder summer.  it is my favorite season.  i love the crisp air.  the light wind.  the changing colors.  i'm a fan of fall.

and i've been thinking about fall for a while.  even when the weather was 105 degrees, i was thinking about sweaters and boots and pumpkin lattes.  so here we are.  maybe not ready to use any of these but definitely ready to start building up the fall wardrobe.

on my list:


1. skinny jeans.

from old navy

am i late to the party? yeah.  but that's ok.  do i need another pair of jeans?  heck no.  but i could use an update.  dark, slim, perfect for boots.  i'm getting a pair.

2. cream sweater

from jcrew

this is the one must have item for me.  i love a good sweater.  i'm cold all the time.  and i've worn out the ones that i have so it's time for a new one.  and this color, it will go with everything.  so expect to see me in something like this all the time.

3. boots

from nordstroms

brown. flat. calf length. with a pair of jeans. with a skirt. with a dress. that is all.

4. autumn song necklace

from lisa leonard

i've been drooling over lisa leonard's designs for a long time.  but i've never ordered one. this one took me over the edge.  the leaf.  the little stones.  you can see a better picture here.  LOVE it.  and i love this one too.

5. tony bennett duets II

from target

picking this one up today.  i'm sure i'll be playing it over and over.  i might even sing to it. this music makes me think of sitting by the fire, drinking a glass of wine and just relaxing.  or playing it at thanksgiving while the turkey is roasting, drinking a glass of wine and not relaxing.  either way this will be the soundtrack of my fall.

care to add to my list?  i'd love some suggestions.

i'm off to get a pumpkin latte, an iced one. have a warm autumn weekend.

five on friday:: for the home

one of the things i've been thinking about doing with "all that time" is decorating a bit around the house.  i've always had a fear of decorating.  not sure what goes with what.  color combinations.  and what style i really want.

i've been keeping a board on pinterest called "for the home."  i like to pin designs that make me happy.  some of them are for my dream home but there is no reason i can't incorporate that into our current home.

here are five things i have in mind.

Source: theletteredcottage.net via Gioconda on Pinterest

1.  a mantle
the thing is we don't have a fireplace.  but this would look great over our tv in the living room.  it is a great space to decorate for the season but i love this look for year round.  i see us making this happen, and soon.

Source: homegoods.com via Gioconda on Pinterest

2. for the kids' bathroom
we remodeled the bathrooms when sofia was born and they are in need of a little uplift.  this would be so cute along one of the walls with a towel hook for each one.

Source: cocopearl.blogspot.com via elise on Pinterest

3. photo gallery
i love this idea but maybe on a smaller scale.  we don't have a wall this big to do something like that.  but i'm thinking in one of our hallways with 4x6 photos and 8x10 frames could work.

Source: decorpad.com via Rachael on Pinterest

4. backsplash
we have a buffet in our kitchen that is a workspace.  i want to add an interesting backsplash to give it a little something special.  i'm a huge fan of subway tile and this is just perfect for that area.  let's forget the fact that it doesn't go with the other tile already in the kitchen.

Source: hgtv.com via Jordan on Pinterest

5.  our bedroom
we recently moved into the smallest room in the house.  and that's all we've done.  i'm thinking of going with a white bedspread and adding color with pillows, throws and decor.  it seems to be the most versatile way to go.  and i love the clean look.

we won't be starting any of these projects this weekend.  we have a school project to do and a wedding to go to. so i'll keep looking for inspiration until the time is right.

you can check out all of my pinterest boards here.

happy weekend.

five on friday:: best things about camping

1. being together

any vacation we take we get to be together.  but there is something about camping that makes us closer as a family.  we work together to set up camp.  bobby starts the campfire, i cook, the kids wash the dishes.  everyone does their part.  we work together to put everything away -  roll up sleeping bags, pack up the tent, put clothes away.  we encourage and support each other - as we swim across a river, hike up a long steep trail or try to get warm in the middle of the night.  it is definitely a bonding experience.

2. taking a break from electronics

we were in a part of the park that did not get reception.  no cell phones or internet.  and of course no tv or video games.  we find other ways to have fun.  yahtzee, swimming, and making up games. or just hanging around and talking. it makes me want to turn the tv and computer off more at home.  these breaks are needed, especially in the summer.  and it makes us all more thankful when we do have them.

3. appreciating nature

that's a given, but it still surprises me how overwhelmed i am by it.  to look up and see the stars.  to walk through a grove of trees that are hundreds or thousands of years old.  to go through a tunnel and feel like i've been transported to another place.  it gives me a huge sense of perspective and appreciation.

4. fun things for the kids

like the junior ranger program.  the kids learn about the park, the environment and it gives them something to work towards.  at the end they get a badge and a pin and they say an oath to protect the parks.  love that.

5. time

to read.  to play. to laugh. to talk. to see. to try. to listen. to snuggle. to experience. to fully take advantage of the day.

*things we don't like:  the mosquitos, the dirty feet and the threat of a bear coming into the campsite because of our minty fresh breath.  but that comes with the territory and we wouldn't have it any other way.

have a great weekend.

five on friday:: favorite blogs

i went through my bookmark categories and picked out my favorite blogs from each.  i've shared some of them here and there.  hoping you find some inspiration.

1. crafting::  elise joy blaha
i love the balance of crafting, cooking and everyday life posts.  her writing is easy and yet i learn something every time i visit.  i also love the graphic look of her site.  she is redesigning her blog, so make sure to check back on monday. check it out here.

2. cuisine:: sunday suppers
i love the concept of this site.  they make dinner on sunday and then the following week they share recipes, entertaining ideas, photography and even flower arranging.  they haven't done a dinner in a while, but look back at their archives for some beautiful ideas.  check it out here.

3. photography:: penny de los santos
she...is....amazing.  if my life had taken a different direction, perhaps this would be me (minus the short hair).  she started as a photojournalist for national geographic.  but her photography has evolved into a storytelling device for culture, food and passion.  she is currently doing a series of videos and pictures all on her iPhone.  check it out here.

4. design:: black eiffel
this category contains blogs for entertaining, graphic design, fashion.  this is a simple blog that posts ideas and inspiration all in one place.  check it out here.

5. inspiration:: ordinary courage
good words, pretty photography, a nice breath in my day.  i've posted her ted videos before.  she is funny but so inspiring.  she talks about the courage to be who you were meant to be.  check it out here.

there you have it.

have a wonderful weekend.

five on friday:: 5 cool things we did

we spent wednesday and thursday in orange county.  our first stop was disneyland and then some time with gigi and great grandpa in laguna woods.

1. pooh's pigout
it's a tradition, you see.  you ride on whinnie the pooh.  there's never a line and it's a cute ride.  you exit conveniently by the candy shop where they have the most amazing confections; chocolate covered pretzel rods rolled in mini m&m's, gigantic cookies and marshmallow bars, marshmallows on a stick covered in chocolate and sugar.  it's the one treat we get all day.  this time around sofia chose the minnie mouse cake pop; red velvet cake mixed with icing and covered in chocolate and sprinkles. (yes, just about everything is covered in chocolate.)  if you get a chance to stop in, they have the most beautiful candy apples that look like mickey and minnie or belle.  they also have a window for you to see how they cover everything in chocolate.  the pigout part is your choice, but we recommend it.

2.  new rides
we went to california adventure and rode the little mermaid ride.  the wait was only 10 minutes, i'm not sure i would have waited more than 20 minutes to try it out.  well, maybe.  sofia was so excited it would have been worth it.  we also went on the new star tours.  we kept an eye on the wait time all day through an app on my phone.  at one point the wait was 110 minutes, a little too long for us. but it got down to 65 minutes and that felt more doable.  it was worth the wait.  the kids loved it and having it in 3d was a bonus.  even sofia enjoyed it.  we can't wait to take bobby.

3. time with gigi and great grandpa
they live in a community for active seniors and we love visiting them when we can.  great grandpa made waffles for breakfast, the kids played with dominos, and i got to visit for a bit.  gigi showed me some of her family's heirlooms.

this beautiful dress belonged to her mother  (or grandmother. i can't remember which.)   look at the delicate handwork and the tiny waist.  it was incredible.  she is hoping to donate it to the historical society soon.  i'm glad i had a chance to see it before she did.

4. an old tree
they took us for a walk to another section of the community that had a trail that ran along a creek.  the trail led to a park with a lot of different trees.  jordan and i figured that this tree was about 440 years old. it was a very cool shape and the thought that it was here at the time of the pilgrims made it even more amazing.

so i let them climb all over it. and take pictures.

one of my favorite things to do is to lie under a tree and look up.  i find so much peace in that.  we could have spent hours here, but our stomachs were ready for lunch.

5. pie at polly's
this restaurant is very close to where they live.  we've heard about it a lot and their rolls are a coveted item at our family gatherings.  we went there for lunch on thursday and of course we had to have a slice of their famous pie.  gigi and i shared a piece of rhubarb and strawberry pie - delicious.  jordan chose the coconut cream and andrew devoured the chocolate silk.  they were generous enough to save just one bite for daddy.  they wanted to bring some of the happiness to him.  and he was happy!

we enjoyed our time together with grandma, grandpa tom, gigi and great grandpa.  we look forward to visiting them again soon.

oh and a bonus was getting a wake up call from becky that baby kendall had arrived happy and healthy.  we are so happy for the new family and can't wait to meet her.

looking forward to another good weekend with friends.  hope you have a good one too.

five on friday:: things i'll be doing this weekend

hey everyone.  i'm off to palm springs for my sister's bachelorette party.  i am so excited to be spending the weekend with the other lovely bridesmaids.  we'll miss you shay!

it's going to be 107 this weekend.  i guess it could be worse.

here are 5 things i will definitely be doing this weekend.

1. swimming 

at 107 i assume we'll be spending a lot of time in the pool.  not the one in the picture.  we are staying at someone's house so we have the pool all to ourselves.

2. trying this hair masque
i saw this a few weeks ago and i've been wanting to try it.  we are putting together an in home spa with a bunch of diy treatments, all natural and organic.  we'll even have a nail bar.  serious girl time.

3. eating at circa 59
i can't wait to go back here after our first palm spring visit last month.  i love this hotel and the food was so good.  not sure we'll indulge in the truffle fries this time though.  and i hope we get the booth outside with the big orange chairs.

4. going to the photo booth at the ace hotel
i seek these out whenever i get a chance.  i hear this hotel is funky with a vintage photo booth in the lobby. we'll have to check it out and report back.

5. going shopping at the outlets
we'll head home after lunch on sunday and make a stop at cabazon.  i really just want to go to the crate and barrel outlet.  but i'll definitely keep my eyes open for more deals.

and taking pictures is a given of course.

one thing i won't be doing this weekend is making a fool of myself or anyone else.  it's going to be a classy event. and i'm not just saying that because i know you're reading bobby...

wishing you a relaxing, but fun, weekend.