Thursday, July 14, 2011

Two Kisses

When something touches your heart you want to share and tell everyone about it, in hopes they will feel the same thing share your same feelings. I just finished this book last night and loved it.
Photo from here

I don't remember when I started following his blog or how I even found his blog but I'm glad I did. Matt Logelin story is a sad one, but also a happy one. With this great sadness came the joy of his daughter Maddy. His wife passed away 27 hours after giving birth to their beautiful daughter Madeline in 2008. This is a story about their incredible love and the incredible loss of his wife Liz. It's a beautiful memoir and truly makes you think of your own love and family. Matt and many of his supporters started a foundation The Liz Logelin Foundation in Liz's memory $7 on the 7th. This worldwide charity  foundation gives support to widows and widowers with young families. 

You can find the book HERE a percent of the book sales also goes to the LLF charity.
You can find his blog HERE
You can find The Liz Logelin Foundation HERE
Follow him on FaceBook HERE

Have a wonderful Thursday! 

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wednesday Hodgepodge



1. How has your hometown changed since you were a kid? What has changed most about the neighborhood you grew up in?

My hometown in NJ where I spent my formative years as not changed much at all. Maybe the grocery store is bigger, my old middle school is remodeled etc....but all in all it feels the same. My old neighborhood the same. It's funny we lived down the street from the middle school and that walk seemed so long. Now when you drive it, it's a blink of an eye long. 

2. What song makes you laugh?

Lots of songs make me laugh, especially the ones I get the words wrong to. Katelyn is pretty good at correcting me but every time I hear the song again I laugh because how can two people hear same song and get such a difference. I'm not really the type of person that knows all the words to any song or who sung  the song....my mind just doesn't retain that info. 

3. Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Read the books? Seen any/all of the movies? Will you be standing in line somewhere close to midnight later this week? For those of you playing along today who live outside the US or UK is Harry Potter a phenomenon in your part of the world?

I have not read HP and have only seen the first movie . I really liked the movie but just never got on the band wagon. Maybe some day! 

4. If the truth hurts, will you tell a lie? Are we better off as a society in a world that allows no form of deception whatsoever?

If the truth hurts I hate to think of it as a lie more like sparing someone unnecessary pain. Seriously if I ask you if I look fat in this outfit ....I know I look fat in it or I would'nt ask....telling me isn't gonna change anything except, be like I can't believe Joyce thinks I look fat in this outfit!!  I certainly think in depends on the situation. I don't think society could exist without deception...it seems second nature to some. To think I could get my car worked on and not be deceived into more repairs than need is unreal!

5. What is your favorite 'sauteed in garlic and butter' food? Or garlic and olive oil if that makes you feel better.

Brown butter tortellini with spinach and pine nuts .....yum! Or for a healthy day veggies in garlic and oil!! Recipe from Joyce at A Perfect Beginning. 

Brown Butter Tortellini with Spinach and Pine Nuts
20 ounces pkg (Buitoni) 3 cheese tortellini or 16 oz. gnocchi
4 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons pine nuts
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 (12 oz) packaged fresh spinach, torn
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Cook tortellini according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.
Heat butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat Add pine nuts to pan; cook 3 minutes or until butter and nuts are lightly golden brown, stirring constantly. Add garlic to pan; cook 1 minute. Add tortellini and spinach to pan; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts, stirring constantly. Stir in salt and pepper. Sprinkle parmesan cheese. Serves 4

6. Attending any reunions this summer/year? High school? family? Other? Do these events stir up excitement or dread?

This weekend heading to the Jersey Shore for my family beach trip/reunion of sorts. My four sisters their spouses, my parents and fifteen grandkids...27 of us in two beach houses. I'm excited and nervous....excited to see everyone, hangout, catch up etc... nervous....27 of us!! Enough said!

7. Lilac, hydrangea, peony...pick one.

This is a tough on love them all....but Hydrangea last longer so I pick that one. We have probably ten bushes in our garden. Planted four new this spring and they are doing well. All the older ones when we moved in last year hadn't bloomed in years the people use to cut them down every fall which is a no no. We didn't and happy to say this summer we are having a few blooms! Yay! 


8. Insert your own random thought here.

I have finally been bit by the reading bug again. In the last years since I started blogging I have only read a couple books. I was bound and determine to start reading again this summer. So far I'm half way through my second book and love reading again. Though my family is feeling neglected because once I start I'm there until it's over. Sorry I didn't hear the timer on the oven go off ....dinner was not that bad.....was it!! Oops my bad! 

It's been so humid here and almost to muggy to be outside....so Katelyn and I have a few really bad shows we have been sucked into watching. I try to walk away but get sucked back in....
Have you watched on TLC  My big fat gypsy wedding??? It's crazy but interesting and a whole lot of disturbing at the same time. Also we have been watching....Hoarders buried alive....omg! I don't know how someone can live like that....! Have you watched? 

Stop over to Joyce at From this side of the Pond and enjoy her answers and many others.....or better yet join the Hodgepodge! 

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Today.....really last night!

I took these pictures last night.....okay I promise I'm not turning into the blogger that post sunsets and flowers! But Katelyn and I are doing the 365 project a picture a day and it's really hard to find something beyond flowers and sunsets....! So here is what my last night looked like TODAY!


Sorry about the quality I took them with my iphone

What's your TODAY looking like?


Travel around the world TODAY

Monday, July 11, 2011

Happy Monday!

Hope you had a great weekend ......it was hot and humid here! I finished my first book of the summer reads and loved it. It was Rob Lowe Memoir- Stories I only tell my friends.
I loved the book, I finished it fast. I loved him in so many movies and TV shows. It was full of great stories and amazing opportunities he had. I like that he breezes over the sex and partying with little detail. It wasn't a tell all book....you figure by the title Stories I only tell my friends most of his friends were there partying with him whats to be told plus I think he has great respect for his family to write that kind of book.

I remember in my younger days he would come to Utah a lot to ski.....spent a many of nights with friends driving around hoping to have a sighting of young Rob! I liked the book....if your a fan you will too.

Okay lets talk about this sunset....I took this picture while at Lake Chautauqua, NY. I did nothing to boost or edit this picture. This is truly how it looked. Since moving to Western New York I have seen some of the most amazing sunsets....Maui sunsets I call them. WNY is no Maui believe me but come on look at this picture isn't it the most amazing. One of the relatives of my friend that lives in the area said they have them all the time, that Cleveland is rated #3 in best sunsets. Okay but we are in WNY...I guess they share the same glow from some 3 hours away in Ohio. I'll take it, especially since I feel like I'm in Maui....minus no palm trees, ocean and fancy drinks!

Happy Monday!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Sunday in My City-July 4th recap!!


I thought for this Sunday in the city I would recap my July 4th in Mayville, New York at Lake Chautauqua. We had such a great time with my childhood friend and her family. You may remember we crashed their family reunion for a couple days. They had a beautiful lake house where we hung out, the kids fished and we relaxed and visited. The next morning was the most impressive 2 hour small town parade. I was surprised they still throw candy out to the kids along the road. I tried bartering and trading with the little ones for their tootsie rolls but none would have anything to do with me!! 

After the parade, down by the lake they had a mini carnival, music and lots of carni food. It was a gorgeous but hot day. We stayed there awhile spending a million bucks before heading to my friend Uncle's house for a BBQ. 
Her Uncle has 42 arces of land with trails and a small lake. Katelyn was in her element driving the kids around in his ATV truck and golf cart......hours of entertainment. After that we head out to fire works and they were just as impressive as the parade. 

Next day more hanging out, chatting and than our goodbyes! It was a wonderful 4th of July. I hope yours was just as memorable! Have a great Sunday! 


Stop by UNKNOWN MAMI for more Sunday in My City! 

Friday, July 8, 2011

Friday Fragments...


TGIF

It's Friday woot woot ! 
I love this kid he cracks me up and does a great lip syncing to some of my favorite artist! This time he teamed up with some of my favorite Glee actors if you have 3 and half minutes to spare watch it! It will make you smile  or at least it did for me! 


My hubby got a new truck this week....his first new car in 16 years...it's not exactly new it's a 2008. Having a new driver in the house he passed his wheels on to her. She is thrilled and so is he. All he wants to do is go for a drive. I drove it last night, it has a lot of power....apparently too much and according to my hubby I have a heavy foot. 
Here is a google image of his new baby....so we live in the country, now drive a pick up.....what's next? John Deer hat, start listening to country music!!! 


Katelyn did a little fishing while visiting our friends over the 4th!  She caught four fish...I love this picture my hubby took....it's true happiness and excitement on her face. I said to her I didn't know you like fishing...she said that's because we never caught any and it's boring when that happens. Hubby said they caught 4 fish using the same worm. 


Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Stop by Mrs. 4444's at Half -past kissin time for more Fragments! 

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Wednesday Hodgepodge


1. What is the most useful book in your house?


My first thought was my Mac Book Pro...maybe my cook books! Every night would be boring dinners without them to spice up.

2. What's worse-being too hot or too cold?


Too hot...I get really cranky when I'm too hot! I really don't know how people survive in humid climates without A/C

3. Share something that made you smile this past weekend.


We were out of town crashing a childhood friends family reunion. Her brother has 6 year old twin boys, seeing them help each other out and play together made me smile and possibly ahhh a few times too. I love that kind of sibling love. 

4. How do you like your hamburgers? Or don't you?


Not burnt and certainly not raw....somewhere in the middle. I like ketchup and mustard, lettuce and tomatoes in it. 

5. What's your summer beach read? If it's not summer in your part of the world then tell us what book you're reading in front of the fire while sipping hot cocoa.


I haven't started my summer read yet, I'm actually heading to the library today. I'm getting Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt and Two Kisses for Maddie and a whole slue of others. We are heading to the beach in 10 days and I plan on reading a lot. 
6. How was your birthday celebrated when you were a kid?


My birthday is the day before Halloween so I seem to always have a Halloween themed party and cake. Always house parties with cake, games and goody bags....when older I had sleepovers. My favorite part was the scavenger hunts and telling stories ( i think that is called gossiping now!)

7. What's something that is totally uncool that you love anyway?


I can't think of anything but it my teenage daughter was awake she would have a whole list of things...! 


8. Insert your own random thought here.


I'm joining Joyce in pet peeves department...We stayed at a hotel while out of town this weekend and on our last morning you know the one morning you decide to not set the alarm or wake up call....our neighbors decide to check out at 6 am slam the doors and than have a loud conversation outside our door and slam the door again. Why are people so rude and inconsiderate while staying in hotels! 


Stop by and see Joyce at From this side of the Pond

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy 4th of July


Happy 4th of July
This is one of my favorite holidays....I have such fond memories of the 4th growing up in a small town. We would be awoken by a loud cannon going off in town starting the day off with a BANG!
Everyone would head to the main ball field and we would have sack races, water balloon tosses, potato on the spoon races etc...The Mom's would do rolling pin throwing contest and the Dad's would play horseshoes. The afternoon would end with the all-star baseball game and a day of hot dogs, soda and candy, swimming! I think there was a parade in there somewhere....and a firework display to dazzle us all.

Today is also a day to celebrate our country, to stand tall and wear the colors of our nation. To honor those who fight for our freedom and remember those who lost there lives for our freedom. It's a day where your Patriotism is abundant and proud. 


Have a safe, fun and glorious fourth of JULY!
What is your favorite 4th of July memory?

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Sunday in My City-July 4th!

Today we are leaving our tiny town to head to another even tinier town. We are  celebrating  the 4th of July with a friend I've had for over 30 years. She grew up in this tiny town until 5th grade when she moved to NJ and we became best friends forever.
This picture was taken the last time I visited her in Dallas two years ago. I'm so excited for our families to get together. We are crashing her family reunion...and celebrating the fourth with them all.

I can't wait to see this tiny town we are traveling to it's on a lake and suppose to be very quaint. So I will be celebrating the 4th small town style....parade in the morning, BBQ and fireworks at night.


Have a wonderful Sunday and 4th of July! 

Stop by and say hi to UNKNOWN MAMI and others this Sunday! 

Friday, July 1, 2011

Friday Fragments...Happy July


Happy Friday and Happy July!! Oh and since we live so close to Canada now it's Canada Day so Happy Canada Day EH!

It's been gorgeous these last several days, really enjoyable out....almost cool in the 70's feels so good out.
If you were to come in our back yard right now your first thought would be wow these people really don't like bugs! We have a japanese beetle aka June bug trap, a wasp trap and a mosquito magnet trap....okay maybe we are freaks....enough said!

Katelyn and I have been playing a mean game of cards daily.....never knew we both were so competitive, we both love to win.  We also have been playing each other in Words with Friends. Do you have that app on your ipad or iphone? So fun.....I have to say I've never really been a scrabble playing girl but I love this game. I suck at it and am limited on my word knowledge apparently. It's addicting....

So happy it's Friday and July 4th weekend...my hubby is off next week so today I'm making the HONEY DO list....!

Hope you have a great long weekend all! 
Stop by Mrs. 4444's Friday Fragments and say Hi!