I've got mail.

This is what The Commander ordered for me.

This is what I ordered for myself.

I was definately more excited to see one more than the other.

I.Heart.Summer.

This is my time of year! LOVE IT! Today, my laundry is caught up, the house is clean, leftovers are ready for dinner tomorrow, and my clothes are ironed for the WEEK! That NEVER happens. What a great feeling.


The week has started off HOT, HOT, HOT so we've been staying cool in the pool.
Here are a few summer things that I look forward to every year:
Tomato plants
Pepper plants
Flower beds
Seasonal fruit
Grilling outside
Home made salsa. (You can find my recipe here)
The lack of effort in getting ready every day. Summer allows you to go with wet hair, no make up, and have sun kissed skin!
Magazines by the pool
Sonic Happy hour
flip flops

All of that got me wondering. What is your favorite time of year and why?
STay cool and have a great week everyone.
(BTW, My 300th post is coming soon! I'm thinking a give a way is in the works!)

Watch Out Mr. Phelps.

At 6 mos and 1 week, C. can make a mean splash, jump off the diving board, and can almost swim the length of the pool with his tongue sticking out of his mouth.

AND..that's only in the pool. In the house, he's a lean, mean, crawling machine! He can navigate through furniture cruising all over the place like it's nobody's business.
He might very well be the next Micheal Jordan/Phelps combination.

Happy Hump Day!

I have air conditioning. I could not have said that Sunday! We spent a few days this past winter with no heat and a few days this summer with no air. It makes you appreciate the heat and air!! Thankfully it was fixed and wasn't too bad since it was stormy, but I don't think we could have gone another night without it. It was getting pretty warm inside!

I have to admit..today was a really fun day. I told Riley last night that we would do whatever he wanted today (within reason) and it turned out great.
We started out early at the playground by our house.
They have the best toys to play with so it's much better than the park.


Look how Caden is so intrigued by a loud, passing truck.


Next, we went to the library for story time. It was a camping theme. The kids sat next to a fake camp fire to sing songs and listen to two stories. Then they ate marshmellows and pretended to roast them.
Today, it became very evident to me that the boy is NOT SHY! He volunteered all kinds of random facts about himself to the group. When the story lady was asking some of the kids their names, he shouted across the room "I'm Riley" while pointing at himself. Then he later volunteered that he had a red shirt at home when she was telling us that the library was selling shirts (that are not red). She later made a comment about preschool so that struck a chord and everyone was informed that he was going to preschool "to play toys". I'm pretty sure his report card will read
Talking in class: needs improvement.
(Mine said that all through school so he comes by it honestly).
We were home by noon and spent the rest of the afternoon poolside. It's back to work tomorrow. How is your week going?

initial necklaces

I've been looking at some monogram necklaces at Mason's, but they haven't had an A so I started looking on Etsy. Look at these OH SO CUTE handmade necklaces. Jillian, the bachelorette, will be wearing one from RitzyMisfit

This one from ChristinaKober is similar to what I've been wanting.
There are so many cute ones on Etsy to choose from. What style is your favorite?

I really like this one too from SilverMePendants

FREE CHOCOLATE FRIDAYS!

WAHOO!! Don't be silly and pass this up!
Click here to redeem your coupon for a free M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Dove, 3 Musketeers, or MilkyWay. You can register every Friday through Sept.
THANK YOU Fantabulously Frugal for posting about this!

Caden 6 mos.

Can you believe it? Neither can I.
I could literally take and edit pictures all day long, but my family would end up eating stale bread in dirty laundry so please help me decide which picture would look best framed in an 8x10 canvas. I can't decide and there are so many to choose from. Here's a start.


Number 1
Number 2
Number 3
number 4
Number 5

Fabulous Give-a-way!

Stop by

Fantabulously Frugal

and check out this massive give a way of goodies. It's full of fun, girly stuff!

Here's a list of some of the items.
Decorative envelopes from etsy seller Adnagam
Frango Dark Chocolate Mints
Sunshine Yellow Hair Pins from etsy seller creamrose
Purple Rain Amethyst Earrings from etsy seller Sew*Cool Design
Paperchase 8 Folded Cards with Envelopes
Small change purse from etsy seller Made by Hank
Cucumber Melon Salty Soap Scrub from etsy seller Sissy Soap
Soap Nuts from Laundry Tree
Spring Flower Garden Cupcake Liners from etsy seller Layer Cake Shop
2 Vera Bradley cloth napkins
Musings Recycled Notebook in Blue from etsy seller subu
Fleur de Lis Necklace from etsy seller Bumble Beadz
Marc Jacobs key fob
Stationery and small letter-pressed notebook from etsy seller Sarah Drake
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex
Coriander Ivory Small Cosmetic Bag from etsy seller The Sweet Sugar Beet
Smashbox Lip Gloss

Reusable Sandwich & Snack Bags from etsy seller Green Street
Reversible Coffee Sleeve from etsy seller LilE
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
OPI Nail Polish

Stick With Me, Kid Shopping Tote from etsy seller Earth Cadets
As well as MANY MORE surprises!

Interview with a preschooler.

I like to conduct an interview every so often with the preschooler and write down his answers. It's something I think everyone with kids should do for a good laugh. I remember making a recipe book in first grade so I can't wait until we do that.

Q: How old am I?

A: 43

Q: How old is your dad?

A: 45

Q: What is my job at the hospital?

A: you weigh Caden

(can you tell we've been by there a few times on my days off)

Q: What is your dad's job?

A: He buys things and he picks up.

(I got a good laugh from that one! )

Q: how old is Caden?

A: I don't know

The inteview ended abruptly.

"Mom, move i really gotta go pee"

"it's pee time"

Sometimes I look at him and wonder when he got so big. I recently read something to this effect. Enjoy the time you have now. It's truly a gift. That's why they call it "the present".

I'm trying to soak in every second because the months seem to fly by like seconds these days.

New Tales from a Tool Woman...Babe and Rooster.

No, you are not at the wrong site. How do you like the upgrade?

The toddler (oops) I mean preschooler is being entertained by Noggin while "babe" is sleeping so I started revamping the blog.
Have I mentioned that Riley refers to Caden as "BABE"?..always!
"BABE, you can't eat my shoe"
"Stop it BABE!"
"You are too little for that toy, BABE! "
It cracks me up every time. I don't know where he picked it up, but I'm here to tell you that silly nick names stick! What started out as an innocent "Riley Rooster" has been shortened to ROOSTER by all.
Am I going to wear one of those parental sports stickers when he is older that says
"My son is Rooster B. #5"?

We gotta nip the Babe name. I'm just learning from experience here.
BABE and ROOSTER?

Pick me, pick me (or you, or you)

Kathryn is giving away a fun Vera Bradley planner. Go take a look and play along.

4th birthday party.

Riley enjoyed a sweet celebration with his friends this year.

M&M charactors lined the drive way and could be found all over the place.

The kids enjoyed playing pin the M on the M&M, an M&M bean bag toss, decorating their own cookies, and playing with all the outdoor toys.

He loved all his presents that he received and each one has been "the best present ever" at one time or another. He thought L. left her monster truck at his house so I had to explain that she got it for him to keep. HA! I'm sure Miss L. had much rather have a doll than a monster truck any day.

It was such a fun day.