LBI

I'm off!

My two favorite destinations in my two favorite cities.

PARIS.

Musee d"Orsay

Housed in a magnificent old train station. Primarily known for the extensive collection of Impressionist artwork. Kids 18 and under have free admission!

Even the cafe is amazing with wonderful food.

NEW YORK.

The Museum of Modern Art

Located in the heart of Manhattan. Primarily known for its huge modernist and contemporary art collection. Most expensive museum admission price in NYC, but there is free admission for all on Fridays after 4pm. WONDERFUL cafeteria and cafe, think wine and cheese plate around 5pm after a day of walking this huge museum.

A sad goodbye.

My Uncle Bob passed away recently. He was my Dad's  brother and he was my Godfather.

I didn't see him much growing up as he lived in Alaska  and then back in Seattle when we moved to NJ.

He never married or had children. He lived with my Grandmother for many years until her death.

His lifestyle definitely contributed to his death. No exercise, lots of alcohol and all the wrong foods.

I have a few good memories of him. I remember him always making me laugh when I was very little. I remember him giving me a very "mod" yellow vest for  the Christmas of 1969. I think I wore it every day of 4th grade. I also remember him giving a very eloquent eulogy for my grandfather's funeral.

Unfortunately, I also remember how much he worried my Dad and his sisters. I remember how difficult he became as he got older. That he was very demanding and critical of those around him.

What I think I will try to remember is that he was once the cute little blond boy in this picture. That he was a beloved son and little brother. He had pets who loved him and friends too.

I pray that he is back to that person and  back with his parents who knew him as that cute little boy.

Web site recommend for college internship search!

If you have a child/college student that is entering their sophomore year,

Go to this site:

http://www.onedayoneinternship.com/

FAST.

And then make sure they go on!

I wish I and my older kids had known about this site when they were searching for internships.

There is no guarantees of an internship, but plenty of insight put forth in a plain and often times humorous way.

The site is VERY user friendly.

Let me know what you think.

Baseball into the night...

15 innings of Yankee baseball ending at 12:45 am.

They won.

My boy is happy and still asleep.

Don't expect to see him until around noon.

And he will still be smiling.

Kick back

A true summer is finally here for us.

You know, lazy, hazy days with an open schedule. 

Work is slow.

No sports or camps to ferry kids to.

We stay up late talking, eating, and watching TV.

We wake up late and leisurely eat breakfast, read the paper, lingering at the table.

We read. We surf the net. We swim. We play tennis. We nap.

It is a little strange for us, I can't lie.

Go, go, go is what we're use to, not slow, slow, slow.

But, I think we will survive. At least for the two more weeks that we are allowed.

Yup, two weeks. 

Then we get busy again.

Equestrian chic!

The next events I am selling at will be horse shows. With that in mind I shopped the NY Accessory Show looking for items that would appeal to that demographic.

This is what I found!

The stainless steel and leather watches are bangles and sell for $60.
This tote will retail at $80.
And this one will be at $70.

Enamel bangles! $40.

I do have time for you! Watch and see...

And I really do!

 During the holidays I like to sell watches. I try to keep them at a lower price point, so I am always on the lookout for new lines that are classic, preppy, sporty, and well priced.

I found this line at the NY Accessory Show.

It fits the bill.

Classic, go with everything watch band.
If you wear gold, this watch is a casual acoutrement.
Love the black inlay around the watch face. It's all in the details for me.
I LOVE this watch! Big face, blue hands to match the band. Crisp and clean cut.
Besides the fact that green is my favorite color, the stitching and the colored lines/numbers on the face make this watch special.

I expect to have these in stock by September.

What do you think?

NY Accessory Show

I spent yesterday at the NY Accessory Show. It is so much smaller than the gift show and far less overwhelming. I shopped it looking for some new lines to add, specifically looking for fresh, new items. 

Not easy to do.

It seems that in this economy no one wants to take a risk introducing anything new or different. The manufacturers tend to go with what has worked and done well in the past.

Because of this a few companies really stood out.

Spartina

    449

Beautiful bags! Colorful and textural. Great price point.

Another company that has been around, but has really risen to the occasion is,

Nouvella

Socks, socks, and socks

Socks are going to be very important this Fall/Winter, especially knee socks and (believe it or not) over the knee socks. These rugby knee highs are the ultimate trendy/preppy item!

Perfect with Uggs or loafers. Warm and practical. They come in all the usual rugby combo colors. I predict I will be selling these by the boatload.
In two weeks is the NY Gift Show, can't wait!

Summer scarves serve a purpose!

Summer scarves seem strange at first,

especially  seen on the hot, steamy streets of NYC.

Sure, they look fashionable and trendy. And yes, they update any outfit.

But still, in the sweltering heat and humidity, how can anyone stand any extra, unnecessary clothing? (even if it does look cool.)

Until you experience an icy, cold blast of air conditioning when you enter any store or building.

 Or if you go into any restaurant or theater in NYC and experience being really uncomfortable in absolutely frigid temps

Then it is understandable. 

You must be prepared.

Extreme temperature changes at this time of the year call for drastic measures...

OK, summer scarves aren't that drastic. But they are so pretty!

And they transition into Fall so well, don't they?

PS- OHN doesn't this scarf look so familiar? I do believe you purchased the "look alike!"

Update on bee pollen...

In case you were wondering. I have now lost fourteen pounds on this  "crazy" bee pollen stuff!

It is truly hard to believe. I think I need to measure myself as I'm not sure how many inches I have lost. All I know is that I feel great and my clothes are loose.

I keep researching bee pollen to see if there is anything negative or dangerous involved with consumption. I can't believe that taking one to two capsules a day is all I have to do...

I think this is what I needed to kick start my sluggish metabolism. 

Ever since the dreaded peri-menopause came knocking at my door I haven't felt like myself.

I finally do.

This makes me happy...

So you must know that I am an avid tennis player and nothing makes me more happy than having my children enjoy what I enjoy.

This kid has improved tremendously.  This is his second year playing on our club's Jr. tennis team. I love talking to him after his matches. It is a common bond we have.
I like that he is learning "tennis manners" and etiquette from his team experience.
We always have a lot to talk about regarding strategy and he loves to share stories about his opponents.
So far I can still beat him, but I don't know how much longer that will last.

And that makes me happy too.

On Broadway....

Tomorrow night The Frau, my other sis, myself and our daughters will be seeing this show.

Can't wait!

have you seen it?

If so, what's your review?

Twins!

The Frau and I are stylin' with our fancy Fitflops!

Aren't they pretty?

Padel Tennis again.

Yup, Padel.
Padel covers in amazing liberty prints available Here

 I am so interested in wholesaling my paddle/padel products in Spain. I also rep for some gals that sell padel apparel. We want to, need to sell in Spain. Especially Barcelona and Madrid.

Does anyone have any suggestions how we might market ourselves there?

Who Knew? Pinnies.

I am at the last lacrosse tournament of the season, (for me) and it is a boy/girl tournament in Brick, NJ- 

Best of the Beach.

Doesn't that sound good?

And it is a wonderful tourney.

I love when I learn something new and I did today.

Apparently, pinnies are very important, collectibles really. Much sought after.

Guys wear them at the beach. They acquire them at camps, steal them from friends or trade them at tournaments.

Hmmmm. I wonder if this could cross over to the girls?

Did you know about this?

Guess what happened!

Remember this?
Well, I woke up yesterday morning to the cracking of branches and then a large thud. I went into our sun room and saw that a HUGE tree in our backyard had come crashing down, missing our house by two feet!
Guess what's under all that?
If you peek through the leaves in the left hand side of this image you will see... Our beloved/soon to be gone swing set. 

Maybe insurance will cover it?

The Book Thief

This was our Book Club's selection, last month.

I am finally getting to it. Seems good so far.

Have you read it?

If so, What do you think?

Bee Pollen, again

This is the brand of bee Pollen I have been using, Zi Xiu Tang.

If I went on the internet and found it, I wouldn't have bought it as it sounds too good to be true.

Because I buy it from someone that learned of it from her holistic doctor and because she has her shipments brought to a lab to be tested as the pollen should come from an unpolluted environment, I felt confident trying this.

I have lost twelve pounds so far. It seems too good to be true. I feel as though I am still eating the same amount... I am not craving carbs as much and I don't HAVE to have my glass of wine every night. 

But other than that, nothing different- other than taking one capsule a day.

Just wanted to share that.

End of an era

The back corner of our yard will never be the same...

The swing set is being taken down. My husband put it on Craigs list and has already received many calls. The kids are all upset.  (they are ages 25-12)  Even though we can't remember the last time anyone used it, we're talking YEARS.

Still, I know what they mean. 

Our yard won't be a kid yard anymore. 

Sure, we'll still have the soccer net and the lax wall cluttering our lawn... 

but no swing set?

It just seems wrong.

I remember when that was the big purchase and how excited the kids were. I use to have a baby swing on there and spent countless hours pushing someone while the others played on the slides. I would sweep out the little fort to make sure there weren't bugs and hose it down to get rid of pollen. Every couple of years my husband would re-stain and seal the wood.

But, it's time. That part of the yard is going to seem mighty empty though.

Katydids and Cicadas

Are Katydids part of your Summer symphony?

They are a big part of ours. At least in the evening as they are nocturnal.

Cicadas make a lot of noise during the day.

 In some areas they are so loud that they mimic car alarms and can be quite deafening,

Listen here

What are your sounds of summer?

Up to speed...

I'm back and I've missed you all!

I feel as though this summer is speeding by.

So far I have been gone five weekends at tournaments, with one more to go, and then my summer really starts.

The up-side is I've spent a lot and I mean A LOT of time with my daughters. I've met tons of great people in the lacrosse world, made some business connections, and lots of new friends.

The down-side is I've missed my husband, son, and all those baseball games!  I've eaten in too many chain restaurants and have a very strange suntan. ( think cap sleeves, flip flops, and shorts and you can imagine the lines!)

The weather is finally what you would expect in July, I hear the katydids, see the fireflies, smell the hot dogs on the grill, feel the warm sun on my back, and taste the cool, sweet watermelon.

Yup, it's official. Summer is finally REALLY here for me... well after next weekend's tournament anyway.

All Star Express

I'm off to All Star Express as a vendor and a mother of a player.

Should be good.

I'll keep in touch. Click below if you want to see what the Laxers like!

www.preppyplayer.com

Fit Flops, I'm sold!

So, I saw these crazy looking Fit Flops last year and thought, "Here come the new Crocs."

But, now that any shoe or sandal that is very flat makes my back ache, 

( Dr. says that as we get older our arches fall and blah...blah.. BLAH!)

I decided to give them a try.

They are amazing. The true test was the three day tournament I just worked. I was on my feet for hours and hours and felt great. Normally that is not the case. I always bring a change of shoes for midday when my back begins to hurt...

Didn't need them.

So, I recommend them, big time.

These are the pair I just bought.
These may be the new pair I will buy. Aren't they happy looking?

Do you wear Fit Flops? If so, Do YOU love them?

Approach Clothing

Who is this guy?

This is Chris of Approach Clothing, a vendor at all the tournaments we sell at...

We can't escape him.

He and his partner, Jay, ( business partner. Joey is his life partner and she is a woman) have an awesome sports apparel company.  They have a web site and sell at many sports events:

crew regattas, lacrosse tournaments, volleyball tournaments and track meets.

They are great neighbors to have at any tournament and we consider them friends.

They are on top of the latest sport trends. They will be the go-to guys for Adrenaline Socks!

So if you want to take a peek at their clothing go to http://www.approachus.com/

And if you should ever meet Chris?  Remind him that he featured in a post on my blog.

Lax for the cure- Susan G. Komen

What an amazing weekend.

Not only was I a vendor at this tournament, Lax for the Cure- to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the cure Foundation in New Egypt, NJ , my daughter was also a player there.

This was the second year that we have participated, along with 3,200 girl lacrosse players! 

last year $50,000. was raised. Before the tournament started teams had already raised a whopping  $139,000. I am certain that more money was raised during the tournament as well and I can't wait to hear how much.

 I doubt that there was one club or team at the tournament that hasn't been touched by breast cancer. 

Because of that, the spirit and excitement at this tournament was really unique. Many teams wore pink or Incorporated pink into their uniforms. The Susan G. Komen Foundation had a huge tent with giveaways, ( the girls LOVE that) and raffles. Their main function was education and they had tons of volunteers there to help with that, making everything fun and informative.

 I really can't think of a better audience to educate than  eleven to eighteen year-old girl athletes. They rely on their bodies to perform, they deal with injuries or see their teammates deal with them. Many of them know about doctors and surgeries. It isn't just "stuff" that happens to other people. So, I think they are open and very impressionable in regard to any information that can keep them free of injury or disease.

It was truly a special weekend and many thanks to organisers, Charlie and Jessica Shoulberg, they did a phenomenal job!

Summer salad- so good!

I recently was served arugula,watermelon, and feta salad.

It was delicious!

And I have been making it weekly ever since.

The sweet/salty combo of the watermelon and feta mixed with the peppery arugula is so refreshing. Top with a balsamic glaze and fresh pepper, you are good to go.

1 bag of baby arugula

8 cups of chopped/bite-size pieces of watermelon

1 pack of crumbles feta

3/4 cup of white balsamic vinegar

fresh pepper

Optional: thin slices of onion

• Start with arugula, then add watermelon. Scatter feta liberally over watermelon. drizzle balsamic glaze over top and then add fresh pepper to taste.
• SIMPLE!
•  To make Balsamic glaze: boil vinegar in a small saucepan, occasionally stirring, about 5 minutes. let sit and thicken then drizzle over salad.

Bee pollen

Heard anything about it?

All I know is I have started taking a bee pollen capsule each day and here are my results:

1. My knees don't hurt.
2. Don't really want that glass of (gasp!) wine every night.
3. Have lost (without effort) 8lbs so far.
4. Lots of energy.

Downside?

Nothing really. I am clenching my jaw while sleeping, actually waking myself up. I am eliminating VERY frequently (if you know what I mean.)

So, have you ever tried bee pollen supplements? If so, what was your experience?

Heard any negative info on bee pollen, other than shouldn't take if allergic to bee stings?

I have done my research but I am very interested in anything that you have heard or experienced.

You say fireflies, I say lightening bugs

Either way, it's that time of the year.

Grab some jelly jars and have some fun, remember to poke some air holes the lid.

And don't forget to release them, cuz it's all about the hunt!