Another Busy Week - Happy Birthday!

WOW! I feel like I have had not a birthday, not a birth week, but a birth MONTH!! We had a big bash here that friends put on for me and another friend who has a birthday my same month...I cant remember the last time I had an actual birthday party!

I have such an amazing family! My DH is hardworking and pampers me like no other! My kids are a work in progress just like me! Everyday I see them grow into the men I hope to see them to be. As I reflect I cant help but wonder where the time has gone!

As is tradition, we had fondue for my birthday dinner! The boys LOVE fondue and it makes me love it even more since it means they will eat anything on their plate because they are cooking it!

It was nice to have a break from my school, my homework, Ryan working 80+ hours a week, they boys school and homework, house duties, business duties, marital duties, family obligations and time with friends I often wonder how it all will fit in. Luckily I have things to look forward to, like family dinners, family fun nights and grown up time with friends!

Ryan is also playing in a softball league with some of our old friends from Fremont and some new dear friends from Ptown!


This year has been so blessed for me I cant imagine what awesomeness our future holds...Except more of the chaos we already have mixed with, baseball, wrestling, la crosse, and music lessons...Ahhhh its good to be busy! How are you spending your 168 hours??

A Few of My Favorite Things

Here are a few of my favorite things...

While I am not a huge fan of wall paper, I found this fun and whimsical wall paper that may have made me change my mind.

If you know me then you know I LOVE white service trays, vases, bowls and even dishes. They make your food pop and feel like home. They are a little modern and a little country.

New trend: Paper Straws - Like they used to have at soda shops. They are fun, come in tons of colors and are biodegradable (since they are paper). What do you like Paper or Plastic?

Of course you all know Me and Mason have a thing...I love mason jars! They are versitile and fun. Sophisticated and laid back. You can dress em up or dress em down...You just have to love mason! Check out Sparkle for her article on the photo above!

Week-End Fun

We got a lot done this week - DH had to work some pretty crazy hours (again). But we managed to find time to pick up a toy for DH and try on some hats at the store. I went to a friends house by my lonesome to have some laughs. Ryan took the boys to boomers before he had to sleep and get up at midnight for another work night.

With all this madness going on we had time to fit in Easy A yesterday before DH had to go BACK to work AGAIN!!

Easy A was smart, fun, sassy, and had an all around great cast. If you haven't seen it and are a fan of big words and quick quips then GO SEE IT ALREADY!

Well onto another week - Just got back from school (we had a test today) and errands. Popped the whole chicken into the crock pot with veggies and now just waiting for the kids to get home so we can handle our homework. Hope your week is starting out as awesome as mine!

Great Chore Idea!

This is such a great idea for chores! I love that you can change it or chose what needs to be done for that day. I think that daily lists are hard since things tend to get dirty in random ways. (aside from the everyday clean your room, make your bed etc.)

How do you implement chores??

Martha, Martha, Martha

I can't imagine Martha doing housework - But I can imagine her having the best way to clean things. Maybe after reading this book I will reconsider getting that house keeper...Or not...

Wanted

Its been a LONG day! School, Homework - Mine and the boys, Dr. Appointments, Niece sitting, Gun Shopping, Work and blogs! All I want to do is climb into this dreamy bed in the center of a peaceful enchanted forest and sleep for at least 8 hours!

I know the DH is right behind me with all the long hours he has been putting in. And well, the kids could go and go and go - but they could snuggle us while playing their DS (quietly) shhhh...Good Night Moon...

** You can find Ditte Isager photography here...soooo dreamy!**

Cupcake Papers

Seriously - This is the best idea! Cupcake liners come in so many colors these days you can create these lights for any holiday!

As Halloween hangers with black orange and white liners, Christmas with red and green liners or GOLD liners would also look great! This is a perfect idea for 4th of July too! Just use red, white and blue! The lights are bright enough to light the way but dim enough to see all the colors of the fireworks!

Fall Inspirations

I am a football fan! Even though I live in the bay area the 49rs and the Raiders are not my fave teams...they happen to be Pittsburgh and Green Bay.

I found this article while looking for some fall inspiration for a client. I was intrigued and wished I lived on the east coast to see all the wonderful change in colors.

This article also gives you menu tips and how tos! Very informative. Hope you enjoy!

Boys and Their Toys...

After our BMX adventure we picked up Hunan Chef for dinner (best Hot and Sour Soup!). While we were waiting for dad to run in the boys checked out their video.

Now I just have to check it out! Maybe some editing software is in order for the near future!

BMX Track

The boys had a fun time today tearing up the track...

I have a feeling we will be spending a lot of time here in the future!

Jake had so much fun and even ventured over to the big boy park!

I assure you he did not want to leave - alas it was a school night and after all that dust we were forced to go home early for showers!

Dad even has fun taking the bike for a spin around the track....

Mom, well she stayed behind the camera! Maybe next time around I will risk the adventure.

Friends

At our friends home for dinner. We missed Clay though. He is in China negotiating land rights for a local non profit he works for. He is a lawyer of the best kind!

Good friends good company - we missed out on the hooka though - next time Rachad!

Natures Gaterade

At a friends dinner party she served aloe water with aloe bits. Interesting...BUT then I tasted it! Sweet, refreshing and not sticky at all! I could probably drink it all day!

Plus...The aloe leaf consists of rind containing sap, the latex layer containing its bitter juice, and the gel layer which is a rich source of over 200 naturally occurring nutritional substances AWESOME!

You can get this awesome drink at your nearest Asian market....

Drink Up!

Keeping Kids Organized

Getting kids organized is a chore - especially when they aren't organized the way YOU want them to be organized! As a mom of a middle school-er I know organization will not only determine how well he does in school - but how his love for school will grow.

This a great little read that will help your already organized little girl or your complete mess little boy!

Check out this article full of things we already know, but if you get just one thing implemented out of the bunch you are already ahead of the game!

Its All Fun and Games!

TAG

The basic rules to Tag are quite simple. All you need is a group of kids and a decent sized backyard. One person is designated as "it", and that person runs around and tries to touch someone else. If they succeed, the person they touch is now "it" and tries to chase everyone else. The game continues until everyone is exhausted or until Mom finishes that batch of chocolate chip cookies!

Baseball Fan? Why not try a game of Pickle...

The rules of the game are pretty simple. You'll need two bases a softball and two softball gloves (if you don't have the gloves just use a ball that's not "hard.") Set up the two bases about 20 feet apart. Two kids would be selected to be "it", one at each base. The other kids would divide and go to the bases. The game started by the two kids who were "it" tossing the ball to each other. The object of the game was to time running from one base to the other without being tagged by the ball. If you were tagged then you were "it" and the game continued, usually until all the kids were too tired to run anymore. The fun of the game was getting the person who was "it" to throw a wide pitch or "steal" the base.

Falling for Fashion

This Fall riding boots are totally in! I have seen this with shorts, jeans, jeggings, skirts, dresses all so cute!

These are are my faves you can find them here or here.

Steve Madden has so many super cute riding boots - I also love the Rebelion, and the Linderr.

Now whose ready to do some boot shopping?

A REALSIMPLE 4 Week Menu Plan

Your Four-Week Dinner Plan

Break out of your recipe rut with this delicious road map to a month of easy, no-repeat meals—wine pairings and shopping lists included.

I know that I definitely have my "go tos" but this makes it so easy - they even layout the shopping list and organize the recipes by perishable so you only need to hit the grocery store once! Just the thing every busy mom wants to hear!

Find the recipes, wine pairings and lists here!