Snow Cones

Have I ever mentioned that I love snow cones? Do you love snow cones? There is something in that sugar sweet nastalgia that takes me back to walking in the hot Texas sun up to the neighborhood Minyard where the snow cone hut stood in the parking lot with Jordyn, Missy and my cousin Keri. There were so many flavors, like 300, in that little tiny stand. So many choices!

Snow Cones in Hawaii

Snow Cone Tongues

One of the most fun parts of snow cone eating is seeing what color your tongue turns. Will it be blue? red? brown? I've considered donating a mirror to Cindy, our local snow cone lady, just so my kids can look at their tongues.

In NYC they had their own take on the Snow Cone with the delectable Frozen Hot Chocolate. Yum! It tasted just like real hot chocolate... only cold and full of snow cone ice.

Frozen Hot Chocolate in NYC

We hit our local snow cone parlor once a week to ensure my kids get a good dose of sugary deliciousness.

Brain Freeze Bell at our local Snow Cone parlor that we visit each Friday afternoon after school.

Glamping

Juliet wanted a camp out for her birthday.

It must have been the perfect time for a camp out. Not too hot; not too cold. I think we got the very last camping site left during spring break in the State of Florida. We camped out in south St. Augustine next to the beach.

Brock was a holy terror but we love him anyway! I put that tent up, btw...

St. Patick's Eve

After putting Juliet to bed, I went in to check on her and found this:

A leprechaun trap.

She was very serious about catching this leprechaun...

But he must have gotten away

Isn't my strawberry pretty? I digress.

Childrens Art

You don't have to tell me that my children are artistic geniuses... I already know : ). I'm not sure if it is my love runnething over, but I find that there is some sort of artist rawness that emulates from the art of children.

They have a boldness and freedom that few adult artist other than Picasso have been able to recapture. We adults feel a need for realism. Subconsciously we believe ducks should be white and look like a photograph of a duck. I love that my child artist believes a duck is just fine in red, yellow or green.

Gorgeous right?

Help! Around the House: A Mother's Guide to Getting the Family to Pitch in and Clean up - Book Review

by Don Aslett

Sheer brilliance. It should be made into scripture, and I should be required to read from it each and everyday. I want to read all of his books as soon as I can.

I have taken about a page of notes for each book I have read on the subject of home management. I took about 10 pages of notes for this one. It was stock full of fresh, innovative, and motivating ideas.

The book is about getting all of the family to take responsibility in the upkeep of the home. Aslett teaches self-reliance and teamwork. "Cleaning creates a pattern of consideration." Who doesn't want considerate kids?

Two quotes I love:

"There is nothing wrong with making a mess. Mess is creativity's constant shadow. The problem is not in making a mess, but leaving it behind for someone else."

"Don't be surprised at how often a home must be de-cluttered. We cannot ask our children to clean the floor or do the dishes if clutter is obscuring the floor or the sink."

I love this book. So good.

Bitches on a Budget: Sage Advice for Surviving Tough Times in Style - Book Review

By Rosalyn Hoffman

This is a great book for millionaires who want to feel like they are getting a deal.  I'm not sure Hoffman really understands what a budget is because she kept giving splurge permission.  She doesn't know my budget and no matter what the item is, she should be directing me to stick to the budget and that is that.

So, what I liked from this book:

She recommends using this poor economic time to acquire original art.  Feed a starving artist.  She suggests never buying a print again and only invest in the real stuff which is more affordable than ever right now.

I appreciate her grooming recommendation: "Razors still shave; tweezers still pluck."  Great frugal advice!

When purchasing towels she recommends only buying white.  My mother did that.  It was a great idea.  They always match and can be bleached.  I personally have all navy blue towels.  They don't show much dirt, but the shades don't match perfectly when I have to buy more.

She brings up alternate modes of transportation.  While the bus isn't practical or money saving for a woman with 3 kids, she brings up bike riding.  I once saw a woman on a bike with two kids in a trailer, one in a back upright seat and one in a front mount seat.  Who needs a minivan!

Overall Hoffman made me feel un-hip and foolish for not recognizing all the artist, designers and labels she tossed around and dropped throughout the book.  How very unchic I am!  But somehow I felt that was her secret intention. 

Thrifty: Living the Frugal Life with Style by Marjorie Harris - Book Review

She lost me at Organic. I'm sorry, but unless that "Organic" is followed by "that I grew in my garden" and not prefaced by "Certified" she has lost all credibility with me.

The only thing that stuck out for me from her book was her definition of a frugal house. I'm sorry, not Harris' definition, but she quotes her friend Margaret Atwood saying, "Keeping a frugal house is about keeping your home in order without having to pay other people to do it and without spending a lot of money. It's about doing things yourself."

What she said that I liked:

Know the difference between your needs and wants. To be thrifty you must be self-aware.

Get organized

Always have a budget for everything.

Get debt under control.

Do your research before large purchases.

Buy well and you buy once.

No shop therapy.

Make the most of what you have: Repurpose, repair, refit, reuse, recycle.

Don't throw good money after bad.

You don't need to spend a lot to create great experiences.

Quell the desire for acquisition. Just get what you need to be complete.

Modest Florida Summer Fashion

As the heat is kicking in down here in Florida, I am reminded that I have NOTHING to wear.  The Florida heat in the summer is like a toasty day that wraps around your body like a hot steamy blanket.  Somehow I managed to get by in Oklahoma with jeans and capri pants in the summer, but that doesn't cut it here.  Most people where cheekers bikinis and whimsical short sundresses each and everyday but that won't cut it for LDS standards.

How's a Mormon Girl to survive!  Knee length shorts are a fashion buzz kill that I find intolerable.  Skirts, while fashionably acceptable, can be binding and accidentally indecent when dealing with a two year old all day.
All I can think to do is invent/design something for me to wear.  If anyone has any suggestions on clothing or websites to keep me modest, comfortable and fashionable at the beach this summer please leave a comment. 
Otherwise I will keep you posted on what I come up with.

Bunny Tea Party

 

North Beach Art Walk

One year ago I tried to enter the North Beach Art Walk. They turned me down and hurt my tender artistic feelings. A couple days ago they called and asked me to participate in their new venue. My pride came close to saying no, but my spirit told me to go for it. I painted a couple new beach signs for tomorrow night.

Juliet painted this one. She calls it "Alligator Eats Surfer."

Bunny Birthday Invitations

Invitations hop out on Monday for Juliet's Birthday Party. Our bunny, Pepper, will be making an appearance.