kidding around

I know I do!

Who can pass up a hand-me-down costume? Especially since my kids have thoroughly enjoyed the “Muppet Show” DVDs they were given for Christmas.

This thing just cracks me up.

Our summer has been full of fun. Lots of reading, friends, swimming, and game playing. I find the kids really love the extra time I spend with them playing Uno, Memory, Connect Four, or Zingo. They actually are at wonderful ages to play- hmm, maybe not all the time. Ellie and Simon still have fierce competitive spirits between the 2 of them, but they are learning!

Anyway, Ellie has been picking up fairly easy chapter books and reading them in an afternoon. Although I am happy to see her enjoying her books, I do like to socialize with this “soon-to-be 10 year old”. And I know she likes our time together as well…

So I found this great activity book at Borders a few weeks back on the clearance rack. I think this is one of my favorite children’s books I have ever purchased (and I have a lot). It’s simple, but has great ideas that are easy and just super cool. (Yes, I know this looks like a totally set-up photo…it is) As I was reading through the book, I found a game “5×5″ and it reminded me of summer evenings with my family playing around the kitchen table. Although I remember it as “categories”.

Ellie and I had a ball playing this game. Such a simple idea, but what a tremendous memory we shared.

Do any of you know this game? You create grid and going along the top you choose 4 letters. Then, down the page vertically you come up with 4 categories and you must come up with an answer using the first letter. Of course to make this all competitive you need to set a time for 3-4 minutes. Whoever has the most original answers- wins!

Today I had one of those unbelievably lucky days when I ventured out to my local thrift stores and struck gold.

I could share photos of all the darling clothes I bought for my kids (mostly winter stuff, I know I am insanely early- you should see the jackets I plan to applique for Ellie and Peppy…oh wait, you will see them once I am finished!). Or the cloth napkins, vintage pillow cases, bed sheet I plan to use on quilt, or books…

but no, I’ll show things that I absolutely do not need and totally love.

Hurrah for good thrifting days and shopping with a friend while my husband watches 7 kids swim in our pool! Thanks babe.

After reading this post some time ago, I have been wanting to make re-usable sandwich/snack bags. This past school year, I was very aware of the sandwich bags that left this house. Although I like to say we reduced our usage, I do think we could do better.

I know school is not starting for another 5 weeks, but man, summer is speeding by and I feel a little out of control…and did you see Target? Back to school supplies! Ellie’s eyes were as big as saucers when she was checking out the notebooks. I would love to make a bunch for this upcoming school year. Not only wraps for sandwiches, but maybe pouches for pretzels and cookies. Thankfully my kids are pretty used to me sending them to school with food in other things besides plastic bags.

ANYWAY, what are your thoughts on using PVC/vinyl coated fabric? I have read this site’s information…I’m not overly nutty about that sort of stuff (maybe I should be). But I am nutty about wasting water, using a trillion plastic bags, and leaving lights on…

Okay, thanks for your help. On with summer living!

Today I finished my book club’s August selection and I realized that I have wanted to share photos from last month’s meeting at my house. I really enjoy hosting which only comes around once a year…makes me think how much fun it would be to have you readers show up and we could nosh on cheese, stuffed peppers and kalamata olive spread.

I’m leading July’s discussion on “The Painted Veil” which I highly recommend…the book, the movie, the audio version are all wonderful…although the book of course is much deeper in character development, the clothes and scenery in the movie are pretty spectacular as well as Edward Norton. Need a summer read? This one is great!

Okay, so back to August’s selection. I read “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy and I have to say I sobbed an embarrassing amount at the end. Don’t worry I didn’t ruin anything- the whole tale is pretty sad and tragic. Man, I love books that you obsess over and can not get out of your mind. Actually, I just really love to read. It’s a wonderful way to escape, you know. Reading and sewing are my escapes and I suppose reading has really taken over!

Anyway, I have been wanting to also share our club’s book list for the year. We all select books in November for the coming year and it’s all done pretty swiftly. Everyone brings a few ideas and we all decide on a few classics, light reads, historical fiction, etc. So here it is…I will put a + or – next to each book I read indicating whether I liked it or not…if a book receives both, it means I can’t decide. I love knowing what people are reading and hopefully a few of you will like to read the list. Here we go:

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (+/-)
Birds in Fall by Brad Kessler (+)
The Optimists Daughter/The Wide Net by Eudora Welty (+)
A Thousand Splendid Sons by Khaled Hosseini (+)
What is the What by Dave Eggers (+)
The Tiara Club by Beverly Brandt (-)
The Painted Veil by Sommerset Maugham (+)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (+)
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (have not read yet)
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian (+)

Happy reading! Let me know if you have read any of these books!

Why is it that summer chores are so much more pleasant than the every day ones?

Watering the garden, hanging laundry and even weeding is so much more satisfying than scrubbing a floor. Feels hardly like work, you know?

This poor little blog hasn’t seen much in sewing. Perhaps it’s because I am totally turning our house upside down and moving everything around and scheming to make our place more livable. I know I will get a lot of nods out of that statement.

So, thanks for checking in. I feel pretty unproductive, but satisfied in the lazy summer sort of way. Although a day of sewing would be pretty exciting. Oh well. That’s what the other 3 seasons are for, I suppose.

Why, yes, Carol…you did!

After seeing this post earlier in the day, I was totally motivated to make something cute with my kids. Well, before you think I am a perfect mom, I am not. I got carried away and before I knew it, I had made them without anyone’s help. I guess the kid in me needed to make something.

Happy Weekend!

Icecream sandwich
+
my oldest coming home from summer camp
=
a happy family celebration