What is wrong with a little fun?

I am going to post one of my "sappy" blogs, it has been awhile! A few people, well, most people, have looked at me over the years like I am a NUT at times! I choose to throw parties for just about every occasion (I have actually slowed down). I also try to make big deals out of things for my children like birthdays, etc. I believe your birthday whether you are 1 or 100 is the most important day in your life, each year. It's a day to celebrate you. I am addicted to Southern Living products and a way of life! I am addicted to life actually and I want to live it! I don't want to sit back and watch others live it for me! HA! With that said, yes, I go to New Kids on the Block concerts and I am a Twilight mom! I LOVE anything and everything that has to do with Twilight and my daughter does too! I don't care when people tell me the writing is not good, it's for kids, how do you read that crap, etc. HELLO, didn't I just say my ten year old loves it too? I know it's not Shakespeare but sometimes I feel like I am in the movie Fever Pitch, where Jimmy Fallon's character is addicted to anything and everything from the Boston Red Sox (by the way I have been to Fenway and COMPLETELY understand), but he gets made fun of and almost loses the love of his life because it's "weird" to her. Well, I don't really sleep on Twilight sheets or anything (wait, are there Twilight sheets?) but back to my sappy letter, I LOVE LIFE! I love being so excited about something like my childhood boy band that gets back together and not only do I go to their concert (both of them) I get to flipping touch one! I get to read a book series with my daughter that A. gets her reading like crazy, B. gets me reading and C. now we are going to www.twicon.org to meet some of the cast, go to workshops on writing, attend a masquerade ball and so much more in one fun packed Mother Daughter Weekend! Everyone says I am always doing something, well heck, why are you always sitting? I LOVE MY LIFE! My daughter wants to be a marine biologist, so what do we do? Take her to Sea Camp and make it our summer vacation every year. What will I do if we can't afford to vacation there next time? I will still enroll her and drive her to and from each day while I sit in the car waiting for her to get out.

My post is a bit random and really has no point! Just live! That's what I do! Whether it's in your backyard or at a Twilight convention, have some fun!

Goodwill + The Beach = Fantastic

I hit the Goodwill on the island this past week and I was hesitant at first glance because it was very small and crowded. I was already feeling flustered! Then, I saw her across the room and I knew it was SL fate! Southern Living fate that is. This two tiered stand is from Southern Living at Home. I should know, I own one and it is no longer available. She fits the dress me up trays! Well, this puppy retailed at $44.95 and I am sure I earned it free of half priced from one of my one million parties I have thrown, but I had to have another one! It was in PERFECT condition! I went to the front desk, there was no price on her, and I just knew it would be $10 at the minimum. She looked at it and said, $2.99. WHAT WHAT WHAT! She was mine! I must say she loves it here so far! I think my original one is already smitten with her. He has been lonely at all those parties!

Then I saw this guy laying sideways on a shelf. I think he had fallen over and I had to rescue him!

He now has a home in my kitchen! Did I say he was $1.99? He was!

Then there was this basket, for .99! What you can't really see in this pic is that it is off white, a creamy vanilla color actually!

I knew it would be perfect on my shelf in the hallway for those hand towels I just don't know what to do with, but they are great to have on hand for spills, etc. but not pretty enough to make it into my kitchen kind of towels!

Who can say no to any basket?

Lettered Cottage Home

All I can say is WOW! Layla over at The Lettered Cottage has launched a website! You must take a look! www.LetteredCottageHome.com

Galveston, Oh Galveston!

The towels were a huge hit with the kids at the beach this past week!

I plan to make them every summer! Maybe one year I will actually get some stitched! HA!

We did finally wash them again after they were painted and they had a slight fade, but not too much!

It was well worth one week of fun and a lifetime of memories!

My New Fab Find!

"Spritz the bowl before you go and no one else will ever know".

I found this treasure on The Strand in Galveston, Texas this past week. I was in a little boutique when a friend pointed it out to me and told me she not only uses Poo-Pourri in her home, she carries one in her purse! WHAT? I had never heard of this or really paid attention I guess! I snatched one up for my one bathroom home (you KNOW I need this when guests are over) and a little one for my purse in a black velvet bag. I must say IT WORKS! I set it out at the beach house this past week and OH MY! That is all I can say! OH MY!

You just spritz 1-2 squirts in the toilet, do your business, then flush. It smells like lemons every time! AMAZING!

www.poopourri.com

I am back!

I have been at the beach since Monday the 20th and I just walked in today, the 27th! I am tired, there is sand on everything, but we had an amazing time! I hope to start posting some awesome blogs tonight (I hit the Goodwill store on the island, and all I can say is OH MY!).

I will be out of town again this Thursday-Sunday (a quick girls only trip w/my daughter to Dallas) and I will have LOTS of blogs about that! HINT HINT: Twicon.

The kitchen remodeling begins on Monday, we have had a slight delay called life! HA! We have decided to hire a painter to do it all right and the new countertops may have to wait for Christmas, but I am crossing my fingers that it's sooner!

Until we meet again!

Julie

It's The Climb

Beach Fun!

I saw on BJane Brewing that she made towels with some stamps and fabric paint.
I have been wanting to make some towels for our beach trip and I kept putting it off!
So, I ran to Walmart and got the supplies (got the Ralph Lauren bath sheets at Tuesday Morning for $8 each)

I opted for Fabric Pens and stencils to make it quick and painless for me!
I think it looks amazing and I am bringing the stencils and paint to the beach for a craft on the first night for my daughter and her friend!

*great idea for a slumber party w/tshirts or bags.

I am speechless

Bruises on both of my upper thighs.
My feet are killing me.

I can barely talk today.

Lost my sunglasses.

Pushed grown women over.

What does all this mean?

I went to a New Kids on the Block Concert and not only did I get 2 feet from Donnie Wahlberg, he pointed at me and sang to me, I also held Joey's hand and wouldn't let go. Jumping the seats from aisle to aisle because the bodyguards wouldn't let us by was totally worth it! I am still on cloud nine today!

First Time was a great time

(back in 89)

Second Time was a blast

(October 08)

Third Time I fell in love

(July 18th, 2009)

Step 1, We Can Have Lots of Fun...

Guess Where I am going tonight?

Yep, a New Kids on The Block concert! and yes, I went to one when I was 13 and I went to one last fall when I was 33 and yes, I am going again!

I can't describe the fun I had when they came out on stage last fall. It was like I was 13 again for 2 hours. It was amazing and I think everyone should go back in time once in awhile if you can!

Ok, all you NKOTB fans! I know you are out there. Post any New Kids memories you have and/or finish the steps for me in "Step by Step". I already gave you step 1. There are 5 steps!

Here Comes Some More Green!

I hit the Williams Sonoma/Pottery Barn Outlet in San Marcus and got some goodies! These cookbooks are gorgeous in person. (There is another one behind this one).

And, I couldn't resist these towels.


Isn't this chalk board precious!? Home Goods Of Course!


More Green fun tucked away!

While this has nothing to do with my kitchen I had to share the new scrapbooking luggage I got from Tuesday Morning! How Divine!

E-A-T Spells Perfect!

I found these letters at Hobby Lobby last week for half off! They were $5 each! Normally the color would of thrown me off, but wait, I am a spray painter now!
This is Me, Then's Hubby got on the step stool and looked at the canvas!

My "Masterpiece" was complete!

I got the idea off of "The Lettered Cottage".

Julie's Cobb Salad for 2!

Ok, the pics don't do these babies justice! They were gorgeous and the colors were so wonderful. I didn't want to waste time trying to get better pictures, we had to dig in. Salads are such a FUN and Healthy way to eat.

*My friend Buffy once told me that who cares if you can't get off the fatty dressings just yet, you are eating salad!

*My friend Jenny just told me this morning to use some full fat ranch (if that's your vice) with some salsa. Just a spoonful of ranch mixed w/ LOTS of salsa sounds good to me! I can't wait to try it.

*Then I got to thinking, why not half full fat, and half low or non fat!

*Or just use Salsa as your dressing!

*Julie's Cobb Salad for 2

1 head of ice burg lettuce (chopped and divided into 2 LARGE bowls)

2 boiled eggs chopped

1 chopped tomato

1 sliced large avocado

4 bacon strips cooked and crumbled

blue cheese

low fat cheddar

ham cubes

salt and pepper to taste

dressing of your choice (we used ranch)

Just divide it all up and you can't go wrong! Add or take away anything you wish!

Happy 60th Opa!

My brother and I threw my dad a "Surprise 60th Birthday Party".
"Older Than Dirt"
This was the look on his face when he walked in! He thought he was just meeting me and my family and my brother and his girlfriend and daughter! Boy was my dad Surprised!

First he walked straight to his sister!

Then he mingled around the room!

My uncle, cousin and his wife!

Big Sister and Little Brother!

My mom's brother, my dad's ex-brother in law even came to celebrate!

My Aunt and my dad's best friend from High School! I used to leave him contracts and notes at his house every time we would visit him about the child support I needed for my Cabbage Patches! He would always sign them! It was too cute!

Happy Birthday Johnny Angel!