Reminder

As far as I know, it is still Summer here in the Northeast.
It is August.
The temperature is in the 80's. Every day.
My kids are not in school. Yet.
The katydids are still making a ruckus.
The tennis club is still busy.

And although I am aware that Autumn is just around the corner...
 I am resentful of a certain, lone, Japanese Maple in our neighborhood.
Yes,
Resentful.
Of a tree.
Why?
Because way ahead of time and due to the extremely hot weather/draught we have had this Summer,
The tree has turned. It is a bright, gorgeous, golden orange.
And even though it is in a sea of still, VERY green oak trees, it is a constant reminder of what is to come...

I Am going to miss her!

Off to school with this one.
I will certainly miss her but am VERY aware that she is biting at the bit to get back to her friends, team, life.
And,
it is her senior year.
The LAST year.
I know she will have a good one.

Input needed

I did some "doctoring."
Which photo do you think is best?

Le saboteur strikes again!

This was the only "normal" pic we have of him on our vacation.

He constantly "inserted" himself into other's photos.

Example:
Here we were for a sister pic. We wanted to do another with our eyes more open. Before we knew it...

We had a "new" sister!

At least he is providing us with a ton of blackmail for when he becomes a self-conscious, awkward teenager...
I truly do not know if that will ever happen though.
Love this kid :)

Bungalowco. Scout bags, something different...

This tote, The Napoleon sells for $25. Comes in 8 different designs.
Why are folks buying them like CRAZY?
Turns out they are PERFECT for use as a bathroom caddy for college girls.
A lot of my customers fill them with toiletries and give as a going away gift/graduation gift.
They are light weight, easy to clean, have lots of pockets-including an inside zippered one.
And they are a little different...

What I saw at the Accessory show....

 Lots and LOTS of ruffles.

 ANYTHING plaid.

 Leather bracelets, leather cuffs.

Big rings.
You heard it here.

We're back!

Where have we been?

 Campfires in the Adirondacks? Yes!

Cousins bonding? Yes!

 Swimming? Of course!

 Tubing like crazy? Apparently.

 Quads? I close my eyes.

 Malibu Bay Breeze around the fire? Hey! I wasn't the only one!

 Party barge? ALL. The. Way.

Sisters together? Forever. Miss you Beth! ( one is missing!)

Bungalow Scout Bags- lacrosse stick bags and lacrosse stick backpacks!

They're here...
Next week!

Like, totally random....

My friend over at http://fivegreatkiddos.blogspot.com/  has been posting 10 random things about herself until she has 100 things.
Not easy to do.
I told her I would do the same... about 3 weeks ago :(
So here it is:

I use to hitchhike. ( Don't tell my kids and don't judge... It was the 70's!)

I can still do cartwheels.

I have issues with heights AND when I even think of people who go caving or Spelunking I begin to hyperventilate.

If I could? I would get a massage...  Every. Single. Day

My spirituality is very important to me, but very private.

My husband is my oldest and best friend. ( he is not THAT old sillies. I MEAN he has been my friend longer than any other- since I am sixteen.)

My lucky numbers are 7 and 9. Have been since I was seven years-old. Started as my numbers on my hop scotch markers.

I was a bartender and a waitress. Loved it.

I LOVE babies.

A hot bath or shower always, ALWAYS makes me feel better.

90 more to go...

Join the party and tell me some random things about YOU!

New Fit Flop Fan Fav!

I am living in these right now!
Seriously ladies, if you have foot issues (bunions, plantar fasciitis, arch problems, ect.) these are the sandals for you. I don't own stock in the company and I haven't been asked to plug this brand- I am just a satisfied and foot pain relieved customer.
Trust me and then?
Thank me :)

More from the vault/kitchen junk drawer...

I guess when you are the youngest of five you have to label yourself and he has chosen, "hansomest, bestest, favorite, AND beautiful."
I don't think his opinion has changed and I always tell him he is my favorite youngest son of five in the world! Of course he then says, " but who is of all your sons?" And I just repeat, YOU are my most favorite youngest son of five!"
It makes him CRAZY!

Hunting and gathering...

I am inspired.
When I was at Rice's market yesterday I picked up a ton of fresh produce. Those Lancaster farmers have great prices and delicious fresh vegetables and fruit.
Now... I have to use it all before it goes bad.
The big bunch of green and red peppers will be sauted with the vidalia's and added to some italian sausage and the tomatoes will join some basil and fresh mozz. As for the plums, I think there isn't one left! The green beans will be washed and eaten raw with ranch dressing.

All produce markets are abundant right now and it is so good to eat fruits and vegetables in their season. In fact I think I am going to go out today and buy some berries- breakfast tomorrow?

Funny finds are treasured.

Because we are in the midst of a major kitchen construction our house is topsy-turvy right now- very unorganized.

So, I have been going through all the (gazillion) junk drawers from our old kitchen.

I found these two birthday letters written to me years ago from my two youngest children and I think they are so funny:

And she is right, our suburban's radio/CD player stops if I go over a bump! And do all children believe THEY are truly the family favorite? ( I hope so!)

Her brother's letter had a similar theme:

He obviously has incredible self esteem AND issues with my teeth!

I love reading these letters and that is probably why it has taken all day to empty one drawer.

The letters make me feel loved and remind me how funny my kids are, although I honestly don't think Kevin was trying to be funny. He really does believe he is the best and the favorite!

Trust me, if the house ever goes on fire and I know my family is safe? I am grabbing these letters, all the baby pictures, and their ceramic hand prints because they are my most precious possessions.

Random

I have always been enthralled with the image of the Afghan girl photographed by National Geographic photographer, Steve McCurry. She was about seventeen at the time and her eyes were hauntingly beautiful. 
In 2002 he returned to Afghanistan to find her... and he did!
She is only 32 or 33 years-old in the 2nd image and due to a very hard and typical life lived in the country, she looks much older.
Random, but interesting, no?

Highbrow/lowbrow, semi brow?

Soooooooo.
My goals. Reading more being one.
I thought I would start off slow.
Here are the choices:

1.

2.

3.

The first choice does look interesting...
The last choice? I don't even think I could buy it. (unless I am at an airport and no one knows me!)
It looks like door #2, Vanity Fair wins!
I think Vanity Fair is a mix of all- politics, fashion, opinion, finance with a dash of scandal.
4pm today? Find me outside with an ice tea reading semi brow.

August

and MY Summer begins!
Here are my 10 realistic goals:

1. Read a lot of books and magazines.
2. Visit Storm King Art Center.
3. Catch some fireflies-and let them go.
4. Take walks after dinner.
5. Visit Long Beach Island.
6. Go to the movies.
7. Play A LOT of tennis.
8. Only work until noon the rest of the Summer-gulp.
9. Trip to Buck's County Flea Market.
10. Go to TWO new museums in NYC that I have never been to...

Here is my most unrealistic goal:

Organize thousands of pics into albums....