Fishing with Daddy

Happy Friday!  I know I've been blogging for awhile!  Our summer got very busy! 

Anyway, my daughter had her first fishing lesson with Daddy the other day!  She loved it!

With her princess pole in hand (at first no hook....just a princess castle bobber) she learned how to cast and reel!  But that wasn't good enough for her...she was determined to get down to the water and start fishing!

After several rounds of casting and reeling the bobber her wanted more!  She saw daddy actually catching fish so she wanted to also!  He put a hook on her pole and let her try....

The little girl caught a FISH!!!  She didn't quite like the fish when it was out of the water...she preferred the process of fishing instead.  Once we the threw the fish back she was ready to do it again! 

Boats

This is our first year in our new house and we are always seeing new things on the lake!

It's great entertainment!

So starting on Friday all these boats started arriving and docking all up and down the boat docks.  Apparently they are apart of something called a "Power Squadron"

Their boats were all decked out in flags and there were a lot of people walking up and down the boat docks enjoying each others company.  They stayed for 2 days (they slept in their boats) and now everyone's gone. But it was sure nice to see all different types of boats!

Happy Memorial Day!

(Ours is a rainy one!)

"Before" and "After" Pictures

I've been busy working on my projects around the house!  The custom drapes are almost done

Before

 After

Before

After

Now I need to concentrate on finding some nice wooden buttons to compliment the drapes like my inspiration picture.  But the hard part is done!

As far as some of the other projects I'm working on....they are coming along

The flower beds have all the mulch removed, grass/weeds pulled, and I put weed killer down.  But have not laid the mulch back down. 

Happy Tuesday!

Green Smoothie

I made a my green smoothie again.  I used to make it a while back up stopped b/c my blender broke (I guess I used it too much).  My energy has been feeling a little low lately so I decided to make the smoothie again!  

It's not exactly the type of smoothie you make for it's taste.  But it sure does give you an excellent lasting boost of energy!

I usually make enough to last a few days since it does take some time to make.  


A lot of people ask my why don't I just eat a salad instead of making this drink.  Honestly you just don't get the same energy boost affect.  


The recipe can be altered many different ways depending on what you have in the house.  This recipe is from Kimberly Snyder who was featured on Good Morning America awhile back.   

If you are looking for a natural energy boost I highly recommend this smoothie!  Just remember don't drink it for the taste.  Also a small tip.....I add WAY more lemon juice than on the recipe.  It really helps cut the taste.  I think I add more like 1/2 a cup.

Recipe:

1 ½ cups of water
1 head romaine
4 stalks celery
1/3 bunch cilantro
1/3 bunch parsley
Juice of ½ a lemon (I use 1/2 a cup)
2 apples
2 pears
1 banana*

•    Blend until smooth**, starting with the greens and moving into the fruits. This makes 4 full cups of the Green Smoothie (which tastes best when served very cold), so is enough for two people for 2 days, or for one person for 3 days. Try to drink at least 16-24 ounces a day, if not more! Stir before you drink!
•    Feel free to mix your greens and fruits, as greens and fruits food combine well together (except for melons). Be sure to balance the light and darker greens, so for instance, if you want to add some kale, be sure to balance with the lighter green of celery. Bill the anchor today, mentioned he didn’t like cilantro. No problem! Just leave it out and use another green instead, or up the quantities of the other greens.
•    * If you are diabetic and prefer to cut out all high glycemic fruit, you can omit the banana.  Otherwise, I suggest keeping it in, as it adds a nice consistency and taste.
•    ** It is important to blend until all “chunks” are removed from the mixture. There are a lot of nutrients encased into the cell walls of the green plants, and these need to be ruptured so full nutrition is available upon consumption without much digestive work. If you don’t have a great blender, you may have to blend longer and the smoothie will get warm. In that case, be sure to make it the night before, so it will be nice and cool by breakfast time!



Happy Monday!

New Projects - "Befores"

I've started a few new projects around the house

1) Grooming the flower beds

My front flower bed has been taken over by grass...when they built the house the landscapers did not do a good job laying down the weed protection fabric

Before

This picture really doesn't show the overtaking very well. A lot of the grass and weeds are in the back plus the picture was taking about a month ago (I forgot to take a picture before I starting taking out my frustration on the flower bed).  I'm making great progress and will post an after picture when it's complete

2) Making my curtains longer

Before

I have really high ceilings in my house (9ft to the ceiling and then it vaults up to like 16ft.) My curtains are the standard height just don't look great mounted so low when you are dealing with such high ceilings.

Soooo, here's my plan.  I'm going to make them longer. I bought some cream linen fabric to sew onto the top.  I will move the rod up to just below the ceiling line.  Then I want to add some large wooden buttons to add to the look.  Here is my inspiration picture (thanks to the wonderful Bonnie who's helping me get over my design hump)

Image from West Elm

I will post After pictures when my projects are completed!

Happy Thursday!

Look at her grow

My little gum drop sized tomato is now bigger than a golf ball!

I'm so proud that I've kept it alive and healthy!

As for the rest of my garden it's flourishing beautifully.  It feels like such an accomplishment to see your hard work pay off!

Gardening sure can wear you out...

Happy Friday!

Enjoying Spring

The weather has just been beautiful this past month an a half!  We just want to spend time outside all the time.

Playing with Bubbles

Watching our first garden GROW!

(I actually have a tomato growing...apparently the yellow blooms are the beginning of a tomato...remember this is my first garden -- I'm still learning)

Digging in the dirt

...why do we buy toys when playing in the dirt can be so much fun

Give her a shovel and a bucket and she'll be occupied for an hour!

and of course soaking up the sun is enjoyable to more than just us

Happy Spring!!

Itching for a Porject!!

I've got the itch to start some projects!

I came across this Etsy site (Maya Made) that has me thinking...(Thanks Bonnie!)

I think I may break out the sewing machine and see if I can whip out these cute burlap buckets!

Now for stenciling something clever on the front....any ideas?

Eggs and Bunny Ears

We had a quiet Easter at home this year.  Unfortunately my hubby and daughter were sick.  But we tried to do as much as we could to make the day special!  

We had an Easter Egg Hunt, made Easter Bunny Ears, and Enjoyed the day together

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Grow Baby Grow

Our Garden

Our first garden is growing!  I'm so excited!  It feels like such an accomplishment to work hard planting and when all your hard work starts to sprout it makes you smile! And I love things that make me smile!

Green Beans

Squash

While I was tending to our garden my little one was tending to her flowers....well they are actually weeds but she thinks they are pretty.  She wanted to help them grow so she decided to blast them with her bubble gun

Coffee Coffee Coffee

For my coffee loving friends --

 

I signed up for my free sample!

Yum Yum

Spring is in the air

Today was another gorgeous day!  I just love this time of year! We planted our first fruit and vegetable garden a few weeks ago and just a few days ago our seeds popped up to greet us!  It's not very big...I figured I would start off small just in case I ended up killing everything.  Ashlynn is just so excited that her garden is growing -- now hopefully it will produce some fruit and veggies!

Rejuvenating Weekend

This weekend has been quite relaxing and rejuvenating!  Our little princess had her first slumber party this weekend.  She is having a blast playing her little heart out!  Mommy and Daddy miss her very much but are enjoying not having responsibilities!

Today I went shopping all day! Something I haven't done in a very long.  I went from store to store just browsing -- so relaxing.  I read magazines and did a pedicure in peace :)

I'm excited for her to come home tomorrow and give her a huge hug!  I'm a refreshed mommy!!! 

Productive Day

Hello Friday, thank you for gracing us with your presence today!  I'm going to make today a productive day -- maybe if I say it aloud it will happen!  I'm going to attempt to go to the grocery store again with my little princess.  This trip is going to be quick and short....last week I spend most of the time picking up groceries she would take out of the basket, convincing her to sit down in her seat, and basically wanting to pull my hair out by the time I was done....any advice on keeping a toddler occupied while shopping would be much appreciated! :)  She is such a good little girl, but when we hit the store I think she forgets...

Then I'm going to attack the dishes and fold the mountains of laundry I did yesterday.  Yes, it's going to be a productive day....I think I may need to say that continually throughout the day so it will actually all happen!

Happy Friday - Make today a productive day!  It always feels good at the end of the day and you've accomplished a lot!