My weekend in Pictures

I spent most of my weekend in the kitchen. I loved it!!

I made vanilla cupcakes. The frosting was a bust. But ohemgee... the cake was so yummy! Such a wonderful fluffy texture! I got the recipe from Sweetapolita.  Does anyone have a cream cheese frosting recipe that is stiff enough for cupcakes? I have yet to get one to set... everyone that I try is runny.

For dinner I made homemade calzones. I am in love with my breadmaker. It's cheap and doesn't do the baking job so well... but the kneading dough and making it rise part... awesome!

 

We had a lot of fun just hanging around the house.

I earned major "awesome Mom" points this weekend. :)

The Nail Files... a week of polish

Linking up with Tara and Vicki for the Nail Files. 

I am all over the place this week with my nails. I've probably painted 5 times this week. I'll share my favorites.

My first attempt at using a Konad stamper.

(green) Mint Sorbet by Sally Hansen (white) Eileen by Julep & Raise Awareness by Essie

Snow Me White by Sinful with Fairycakes by butter London

This last image above is what's on my nails right now. It's a very snowy day.
 I wanted some snow inspired sparkle-y fun!

The Nail Files - Jan 18th

Linking up again this Friday with Tara and Vicki for the Nail Files.

I have spent most of the week wearing Can't Let Go from OPI's Mariah Carey line. It's called liquid sand.

I liked it when I first put it on and I loved it more and more with each passing day. 

I took it off and can't seem to decide on anything since. I tried the black/hot pink liquid sand also, 

Stay the Night. I don't love. So I tried it with topcoat. For me, much better. I think I'd love the black without topcoat more if the glitter was black, not hot pink.

Left: no top coat.      Right: SEVERAL layers of topcoat.

This polish has already been removed. My nails are bare and bored. 

I can not seem to decide what to keep on them.

I'm really eager for some inspiration! 

I can't wait to see what everyone else is wearing!

The Nail Files

Yay!! I'm back! I've missed this link up! Can't wait to see everyone's nails and to get inspired for future manicures!! Make sure you link up with Tara & Vicki so I can see what you're wearing!

This week, I attempted something I saw on Pinterest. I need to practice chevron. It's hard!

Inspiration:

image found on Pinterest. Unable to find original source.

My attempt:

Mine

 

 

Hope everyone is having a great day!!!

A new dawn, a new day.... or not

Welcome 2013. I am determined this is going to be my best year yet! 13 is my lucky number and this is probably the only year I'll be alive with a '13' in it.

Not much as really changed around here. Oliver's speech delay is looking more like Childhood apraxia of speech. This basically means his brain and the muscles in his mouth are having some trouble communicating. (Think of a stroke patient... that's acquired apraxia.) He knows what he wants to say but his mouth can't form the words. We are still in the process of testing and there is no exact way to diagnose, just a lot of observation. It's beyond frustrating for him and for me. He is learning basic sign language and is picking up more words. But our ability to communicate is not to the level I'm used to with a child his age. It's hard to know what he wants or needs and he gets so angry when I don't understand him. So, on top of his being in the terrible 2s, we are having trouble communicating.

Tomorrow Joshua and I have an appointment with his doctor as we continue down the path of determining whether or not he has ADHD, and if so, how we will begin to deal with that.

Chloe is 11. Preteen hormonal mess. Don't tell her I said that.

Tyler. My sweet baby boy is walking, running, climbing and always banging his head. Makes me so sad.

image found on Pinterest

 See, not much has changed since October.

Although, here's something fun. I'm going to Paris with my Momma in April!! I'll spend my birthday on the Eiffel Tower!!!
I am so excited and freaked out!!! I'll be traveling to Tampa so we can fly together and visiting my dad a little bit before and after. This trip is going to take almost 2 weeks. Aaack! I have never been away from my kids that long. Well, the two older, yes. But Ollie and Ty, no. I worry for my sweet husband. 2 weeks as a single dad. YIKES!!

I am becoming more and more and more obsessed with nail polish. I recently counted them and I was somewhere at 160 bottles. whew. I am hoping to get back to blogging more and rejoining the Nail Files linkup on Fridays. I'm late for last weeks but here are the nails I've been sporting...

butter London's The Black Knight.
It's a party on my nails. It's gorgeous!! I used 3 coats to get the opaque I like. I have not used this before so I have no idea how well it will come off. I'm hoping not to difficult. Some glitters are such a pain in the arse (butter's RosieLee but omg it's so worth it!)!

I don't expect I'll be writing everyday b/c I suck like that. But my goal is to be back Friday to share whatever is on my nails. :)

Hope everyone's week is going well. See you soon!

it's been forever.....

I have had nothing to say and too much to say. Ever feel that way? Like your life is so completely overwhelming for a moment and yet completely uninteresting to others?

We are running in circles with speech therapy sessions for my 2 year old who is speech delayed and teacher's meetings and doctor's appointments for my 8 year old who may or may not have ADHD, my 11 year old 'tween is really coming into her 'tude and my baby just started to walk. Eek.

I read so many blogs everyday and I'm so overwhelmed and intimidated. I want to be a cool "blogger". I'm not and that's okay. I'm just mom and I like pretty pictures and need an outlet. So here we are :)

I need to call our insurance company now and argue some more about covering speech therapy so I'll be going now, but I'll leave you with some pictures from our weekend trip to the pumpkin patch.

Have a great day!

Toddlers & Trains

AJ and I took the boys to breakfast and then to the Port Stanley Terminal Rail for a train ride. Port Stanley is about a 30 minute drive from here. I think pictures will describe how much fun we had so much better than my words.

Um, doesn't everyone dip their potatoes and bananas in ketchup? (Gross!)

My little boy is sooo happy to see the trains! (This is his "cheese" face LOL)

 

Mommy and Oliver

 

Mommy and Ty

Daddy and his boys

exploring the old train

an old circus car

happiest kid!

I love seeing him so happy! Both boys had fun, but Oliver understood and enjoyed everything just a little bit more than Ty. Such a wonderful day. I'm looking forward to going back to Port Stanley. The town is adorable. There  were lots of little Inns and restaurants and a beach!

I need to go do my hair before naptime is over. We are meeting friends for dinner tonight which means I have to look presentable. :) Have a great day!

it's Friday!!

I've been missing. School is out. Last week I had all four kids home = no free time for mom. This week is kinda back to "normal" from 9-4. Josh and Chloe are gone for half of the summer. We are on day 5. It's weird having half my kids gone.

Kind of a summary of what's been going on... 

We went to Frankenmuth, MI to meet the in-laws and have a little get away. It was hectic but fun.

We traveled to Columbus to drop off Josh & Chloe. I also got my hair cut and celebrated a friend's birthday. It was a fun weekend!

the birthday boy is on the left, my bff is on the right :)

Time to show off the nails :) Don't forget to link up with Tara & Vicki to show yours too!

I had just the simple peach shimmer (Sephora by OPI's How Cute Is That) and then decided to jazz it up with Color Club's Disco Nap and some re-inforcers.

Umm... I love this SOOOOO much!

and some more..

and gotta have the Starbucks shot! :)

I think I may do my nails like this for a wedding in a few weeks :) In the mean time, maybe I'll try other color combos! No more pictures lol.

Have a fantastic weekend! Hopefully I'll have fun pictures to share next week.

The Nail Files

It's Friday! Linking up with Tara and Vicki for the Nail Files. Today I'm sharing mine and Chloe's nails. We are decked out in red, white and blue for Independence Day!!

Here are Chloe's nails. 

These are mine :)

I used all the same polish on our nails. A generic white polish as the base. I need to get a better one. Any recommendations? The red is Finger Paints (striper) in Restoration Red. I love the color, a perfect match to my China Glaze Ruby Pumps (on my toes!). I hate the consistency and the brush. The polish was clumpy and difficult to work with. The brush... small pieces sticking out of the tip that made it difficult to apply an even line. The blue polish is Blue It from Sally Hansen. Ugh. I love the color but this formula has not aged well either. It's has to be a case of "you get what you pay for"? Usually a good top coat helps that. Usually Good to Go by Essie saves my polishes. I am out. Boo...

This weekend we are going on a mini-vaca to Frankenmuth, Michigan. Can't wait to try the fried chicken at the Bavarian Inn. It'll be nice to get away. There won't be any relaxing. Four kids and a pool = overtime.

Have a great weekend!

The Nail Files

So, it's Friday. Not as excited as I should be. Not really sure what's wrong with me. Kinda grumpy/cranky.

I feel like doing this....

No, not really. This is Oliver's toy hamster. Yesterday, while I was making his lunch, Ollie thought it would be a good idea to float his hamster in my coffee. Instantly I was upset and then just as quickly I was laughing and reaching for my camera. It's a pretty funny site.

Moving right along to one of my favorite parts of Friday, the Nail Files. I just love painting my nails and seeing what everyone else is wearing for inspiration. Don't forget to link up with Tara & Vicki so I can see what you're wearing :)

Kind of like a tie-dye effect. I wanted bright colors and more than one. :)

 It's almost neon in some light! Love!

I used Sally Hansen: Mellow Yellow, Sun-Kissed and Coral Reef and then Rimmel's Posh Pink.

My toes are Sun-Kissed (orange) :)

I hope everyone is having a great Friday!!

Pride 2012

Columbus, Ohio PRIDE! 2012

230,000 people... not bad, not bad at all!!

Lots of Rainbows here. :)

Overall, the parade itself, was disappointing. Not too many floats, not as good as previous years. It seems like the parade is becoming over-run with politicians looking for support. The same crappy politicians who refuse to allow equal rights. They talk a good game but they don't vote that way. How on earth are they allowed in? But hanging out talking with my friends... ALWAYS a good time!!

After the parade we walked over to the festival and ate some "fair food". Yum! It was pretty hot and I forgot to put SPF on. Fortunately, there was some in my makeup!

I thought I was so smart wearing a cross-body bag. Until I saw this fabulous white line on my chest. Nice.

I spent a few hours with my babies, washed my face and redid my makeup and was off! Charlie picked me up and we went to visit friends, grabbed a bite at Union. ( I had the most incredible bacon cheeseburger!!) and then we went to Axis for Drag-a-palooza (HUGE drag show) followed by dancing with some some adult beverages mixed in. I had so much fun with my bestie! One of the best thing about Pride is it brings everyone back home. I got to catch up with lots of friends.

Charlie (bestie) & I

Jimmy & I
Do you like my necklace? I got it at Walmart to hide my sunburn. :)

Jey & I

I love these boys so much! It was a fantastic PRIDE!

The Nail Files - June 15, 2012

Make sure you link up with Tara & Vicki (like I am!) to share what you've got on your nails! 

We ladies love our nail polishes!!

This is what I wore last weekend and most of this week. 

Posh Pink by Rimmel

I love this color so much! It's like Barbie pink :) I love Rimmel polish! It's so durable and long lasting. 

I wish they had more color variety.

Now I have a combination of my last two Friday's posts. I am wearing Fly shown here and an accent nail of Go With the Flow-er shown here.

They matched the crazy fun loud dress I am wearing this weekend to Columbus PRIDE!! Usually it's strictly rainbow themed but Charlie decided this year should be neon and loud. I'm wishing I had bought China Glaze's Flip Flop Fantasy like a week ago. (p.s. I saw this morning it's what Tara is wearing this week!)

I'm really excited for this weekend. It's my favorite!! I'll share some Pride pics from the last few years :)

I hope it's not too many, but I love blogs with lots of pictures! :)

2007

 

2008

 

 

2009

 

2010 (7 weeks after oliver was born!)

2011 ( was 33 weeks pregnant. only went to parade. Only picture I allowed)

I'm pumped for a great weekend! lots of Yay for Gay! 

I really hope you all have as  great a weekend as I know I'm gonna have 

and filled with just as much love too!