Friday Round-up

TGIF! Seems like this week was a long one: long, but very productive. Cleaning, organizing and donating has taken up much of my time this week. But apparently, I also have startitis. Too many things on the needles for my liking. I'm hoping to finish at least one this weekend so I can focus on the big projects.

From top to bottom:

tea leaves cardigan

santa cruz baby sweater...just like leslie's

generic socks...always have a pair going.

Nuss I have a problem with this at the moment, so I've been ignoring it. Maybe it will fix itself and then I won't have to tinker with it.

Back in January I received this wonderful ball of yarn from Rachel. I needed no incentive, but the goodies hidden inside to cast-on, for yet, another pair of socks. I don't remember knitting a pair of socks as quickly as I did these. The result...I'm in love. I have never knitted with Schoppel Wolle-zauberball and know that when I see this yarn (I haven't seen it in my LYS) that I will buy a bit more. Love.it!

The Sartorialist

The Sartorialist is one of my favorite sites to visit. I can't really explain why, since I'm so fashion challenged that I can't recognize any fashionable clothing unless it has a horse or a tory burch insignia on it. I guess I'm just intrigued with what he finds interesting. This picture is of something that I might wear. I love her shoes, BUT, look at everyone...they are outside people, it's cold. I just can't get over how women don't wear hose in the winter. I was the first one to cheer when I saw that tights were making a reappearance. I guess there's a lot to be said about why I live where I do. Jeans, wool socks and sweaters have made up my fashion line-up for the last eight months. Enough said.

Have a great weekend everyone! It's going to be a rainy one here, hopefully it will melt the rest of the snow!

Friday Round-up

I'm here! Just busy hibernating! Attacking things around the house that have needed attacking for a very long time.

The sun finally came out this week, forcing me to dust.

Not sure when everyone thought that I was their maid, but things always need to be placed back in their spot.

With the sun, came extremely cold temperatures. That meant no walks outside, so now I have one bored and angry dog.

During hibernation I decided to make bread. It's time consuming, but so worth the wait. I can honestly say that I am amazed that I made this creation. Even my boys were flabbergasted!

I am knitting, but on small things: a pair of socks and a set of toasts which will be sent to my little sister in chilly NYC.

Speaking of NYC, I would like "Sully" as my personal pilot from now on. What a hero! I said to my husband that all the men standing on the wing looked like him. They were all dressed in my husband's standard work attire of grey pants and either a white or blue shirt. Today we found out that they were indeed from the same company that my husband works for. After years of spending time with them, I can even spot an auditor standing on an airplane wing in the middle of the Hudson River. Joking aside, I'm so glad everyone is safe.

Have a good weekend to all of you and stay warm!

Friday Round-up

We have been very busy over here at Upper Pond this week. The TV has been turned off and many new things have been discovered. Paints have been pulled out, rooms cleaned and sounds of "hey mom! Where did I get this cool snap model of an Apache helicopter? (received two Christmases ago) Can I get more of these? were heard.

More baby goodness was knitted for a friend. I think that's it for awhile which is good because I have a few big projects in the queue for fall.

Chocolate crinkles was the cookie of the week. A term coined by Leslie. Again, I'm the only one eating these and boy are they yummy. I got the recipe from this book. I think that this is one of my favorite MS cookbooks. I like how all the cookies are pictured in the beginning so you can actually see what the cookie will hopefully look like when baked.

What we're reading:

Me: Thought this looked good, but now am reading so-so reviews. I guess I will stick with it.

Matt: Ever since Matt was a pre-schooler and saw a poster in the library of Treasure Island he has wanted to read the unabridged version. He would get it out, cart it home, look at the pictures and wish. Well, this is the summer that he has tried to accomplish his goal. He has read the abridged version so that is helping him immensely.

Ryan: Ry is my binge reader. He won't read a fiction book for a long while, then he picks up one and sits and reads the entire book in one day. Magic Tree House is a popular choice. I think he likes it because history is often times infused into the storyline...and Ry is our history buff.

One of my favorite new discoveries. Love this stuff! It makes my skin feel so soft and smooth!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Is It Over Yet?

Okay...I wrote a really snarky post but then deleted it. Not gonna go where I was going. Let's just say it's been a really long week of activities.

I'm glad it's Friday and that I only have one more lunch to make.

...and one more batch of cookies to make.

...and by Wednesday it will be all over for another year!

picture courtesy of The Sartorialist

Love this outfit! I wish the skirt was a bit longer. Stacy and Clinton would have a problem with an older woman wearing it. At times, I find it comforting that the Satorialist would take a picture of an outfit that I would actually wear. The handbag is fantastic too!

Have a wonder Summer Solstice evening. Hopefully, the sun is shining where you are...because it sure isn't here!

Friday Round-up

Finally, I feel as if I'm getting back into a routine. The dog training has begun, kids are healthy again and all extracurricular activities are coming to a close.

Highlights for the weekend include:

Celebrating Ryan's ninth birthday with family and friends

Watching (finally!) the new Indiana Jones movie

mowing the lawn if the sun ever reappears

weeding, weeding, weeding

boys playing a quick nine at the local golf course

relaxing (maybe)

Some favorites that I saw this week out in Internet world included:

These cool glasses. I might order a few and use them as hostess gifts this summer.

Love them!

Photo courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess

This great martini recipe which I found over at Hostess with the Mostess.

This will be on our menu at some point this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess

Pineapple Martini

1 oz. Pineapple Juice

1.5 oz. Vodka.

5 oz. Chambord
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.Garnish with a wedge of pineapple or a pineapple leaf.

And these "if I worked" outfits:

All photos courtesy of The Sartorialist

Have a great extended weekend everyone and please remember to remember those who have served our Country. They are truly heroes.

Friday Round-up

I haven't written a Friday Round-up in awhile so I thought I would share some of my favorites of late.

First up: (since it is Earth Week) is the multitude of Method products. I am a changed person when it comes to laundry detergent. For years I was a consumer of Tide, swearing that it was the only thing that could get my boys' clothes clean and bright. But I have now discovered Method Laundry detergent. This stuff gets my whites super clean. Try it...you just need a little bit too!

I love Joslyn's style and so she helps me spend lots of money when I visit her site. The other day she posted this shirt that she was coveting. So am I! I loved all three items that she posted...but this is the one I think I shall buy!

Two sites that I have enjoyed reading lately are the Housemartin and The Hostess with the Mostess. Housemartin creates beautiful arrangements which makes me think outside of the box when ordering flower arrangements for gifts or for dinner parties at our home.

Photos from the Housemartin site

Hostess with the Mostess just makes me want to have a party every time I stop by her blog. Everything is just so festive!

Picture form Hostess with the Mostess site via Martha Stewart.

Lastly, every year at Seaside we paint pottery. Usually, I don't create anything. But this year the boys persuaded everyone to create some personnel memento of their trip. I painted this vase. The idea for the paint color came from some fabric that I purchased a while back. Daffodils are from my garden. Here's to a great weekend!

An Early April Fool's Joke

Will this ever end? What a messy day. The boy's were delayed two hours, our driveway is a mess, and the birds are confused. It would be very lovely to look at.if.it.wasn't.the.end.of. March!!

Not sure if this is good news yet because I haven't had time to play that much. Finally, Adobe Photoshop has created online editing and storage (and it's free!). It doesn't look like pictures can be uploaded to Flickr though. Let me know what you think after you have time to play. The jury is still out at Upper Pond.

photo from The Sartorialist

If the weather continues to stay cold...I'm putting this outfit together. Love It!

Dreaming of our vacation that is approaching very soon!

Friday Round-up

Lots of things to talk about today so let's get to it!

Book recommendations:

One of our all time favorite Christmas collections is by the infamous Jan Brett. The boys grew up reading The Mitten and The Hat and from there we collected all of her enjoyable and well illustrated books. Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury collects all of her "classic" tales and binds them into a large, one volume book. It is sure to become a favorite in your home during the holiday season.

Another one of my favorites is Eve Bunting's Night Tree. It's a nice story about a family who shares with the animals in the small woods near their town. My kids enjoy reading it each year and then making treats for the animals that live behind our house. We scatter all sorts of yummy treats that the animals love. The boys like imagining that the animals have their own Christmas feast.

Lastly, the boys always enjoyed Who Is Coming To Our House by Joseph Slate. It's a wonderful board book for little hands. All the animals are anxious for the arrival of Baby Jesus so the are sprucing up the barn. It is repetitive and gives parents plenty of opportunity to use animal voices. It also comes in a paperback edition.

Some of my favorites that I look forward to each holiday season has to do with coffee. Last year I was introduced to Peet's coffee. Love it! If you enjoy strong black coffee this is for you. Their holiday blend is outstanding!

My all time favorite holiday treat is Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha! I can't drive by a Starbucks (we only have one on my side of town...go figure!) without stopping and getting my fix. The lady at the counter tells me every year that they can make it all year long for me...but I save it, just so I can have my own Christmas treat each season.

Enjoy the snow....we've had a lot the last few days. It helps make the season a bit more bright!

Friday Round-up

Some new things have come into my life lately. Granted they have been around for awhile but I'm always late to the party!

First: Dansko Shoes! Love them! Where I have been with these? Perfect mom shoes for being on the go. Stylish too!Second: I found this new magazine when I was perusing B/N for vacation reading. It's a perfect magazine for jump starting your organizing around the house.

Third: The Magic Eraser? What exactly is in this sponge? I don't want to know, but after trying many different products in attempts to get the milk off the wall (that has been there since my kids were toddlers) this did it!

Finally: My view from my porch this AM. It was pretty crappy driving today while out and about! Not sure I'm ready for this! Have a nice weekend everyone!