Scenes from vacay

I'm into abbreviations lately so vacation has turned into vacay.  We're having a lovely time soaking up the Florida sunshine.  It's a good thing.

Tonight we ate the most fabulous meal I've had in a while.  I was a little nervous as to whether my hooligans would behave at a nice restaurant but a glass of Riffault Sancerre calmed my nerves and all was well.  It will be a favorite vacation memory--George's in Alys Beach, you.are.yummy! For the record I had a divine organic salad with fried goat cheese and zinfandel poached pears followed by ginger and sweet chili glazed rock shrimp with black coconut rice and cilantro pineapple coleslaw.  It was as good as it sounds.  Other than our fancy little dinner we've just been relaxing.  Here's proof.

Are we there yet?

A question I answered 567 times yesterday! YES, thankfully we are officially on vacay:) Per tradition we ran down to the beach last night for a few quick pics but it was getting dark fast...

PS! Happy Mother's Day:)

The land of random

• Today was the last day of school for the boys and I cried.  Their teachers made sweet books showing pictures of how they've changed over this school year and boy did they ever.  Here are my cuties planting flowers the other day:

• On the other hand, I'm glad school is out because I'm SO tired of being sick.  Farewell school germs!

• I finished Fifty Shades of Grey (the trilogy) last week and um, it was good.  Okay it was great and I couldn't put it down. To call it racy would be the understatement of the year, but the characters are intriguing and it's a love story. I heard through the grapevine that Ian Somerhalder may play Christian Grey in the movie--and that's okay with me. I approve;)

• I've been using Neutrogena Sesame Oil and I love it. I hate lotion yet I need a moisturizer so this has been my friend.  It smells sweet and clean and fresh. Yum for summer.

• Mac's Viva Glam VI is lovely! The description calls it warm plum with pearl but for me it has been a perfect all around shade.

• More love for Mac: a sales lady recommended Warm Soul as a bronzer/blush and it is so pretty.  I actually wear it with my usual blush (Mocha). It has a pretty shimmer, but it's not overdone with glitter, it's subtle.  I like it!

• My Stella and Dot jewels arrived and I love everything to pieces! SO pretty. Favorite earrings ever:

• And that is all!

Belated Easter portraits

I was determined to get good portraits of the boys in their precious Easter outfits this year.  I want 2 big fancy ones for my dining room.  I took the boys out in the yard one day and gave it a go. After resorting to what usually works for us (threats and bribery) we got some that I'm happy with. The outfits are by Jack and Teddy and I.love.them!

My baby is 5!

It doesn't seem that long ago that I came home from the hospital with this little bitty baby, scared to death and wondering what we'd gotten ourselves into.  Today he's 5! Jennifer told me this once--the days are long but the years are short. I think of that quote daily.  Time is flying by and my little boys are growing so fast.

We celebrated at the zoo with lots of his little buddies and had the grandparents in for the occasion.  It was one to remember:)  He got more gifts than we know what to do with and he loved his Kickboard USA scooter from Mommy, Daddy, and Campbell.  He says its "very cool".  He was pretty over cake today and requested chocolate chip cookies.  I was happy to oblige, I'm a little caked out myself!

Giveaway!

Hey long lost friends! I'm coming out of hiding to tell you to get yourselves over to Jennifer's precious blog and win yourself a gorgeous piece of Stella & Dot jewelry!  She's giving away one of these gorgeous bangles....

Jennifer and I had the pleasure of meeting Kathy not long ago and we became instant friends. Kathy is a Stella & Dot stylist and one of those people you meet that you know you'll end up being great friends with forever.  We had so much fun hosting a Stella & Dot party yesterday, hanging out with girls, drinking coffee and trying on gorgeous jewelry. I've fallen in love with S & D! It's so fabulous!  Here's a link to our party if you want to shop! And here are 2 of my absolute favorites; The Serenity Stone drop earrings and the Bello Bangle--must have!

Here are a few pics from the party! A great big thank you to Kathy:)

Remembering Polly

Aunt Polly and my mom when mom was 18. 

My Aunt Polly passed away yesterday.  My heart hurts so much, even more since I can't be present at her funeral tomorrow.  So as I've been thinking of her and remembering my favorite things about her I felt compelled to write them down and share them.  She deserves that.

Aunt Polly was my Nana's Campbell's sister, my mom's aunt, my great aunt.  She and my Uncle Smitty never had any children.  For most of my life I saw her every Sunday at Nana's for lunch after church.  I often heard her refer to my Nana's children as her own, and to us (Nana's grandkids) as her own too.  I remember as a little girl playing at her house, dancing around in her basement and begging her to turn on that cool disco ball they had down there that made the lights go around, and of course she always did. She laughed a lot and loved to make us happy.  We'd lay out in the sun together (she was a sun worshiper!) and sometimes I'd go to church with her and my Nana when I spent the night with Nana and Papa (she and my Nana lived within a few miles of each other).

Christmas Eves were the best. My brother and I and our cousins Brad and Chad always gathered at my Nana's house and waited by the window, watching taillights go by and hoping the next car was Polly and Smitty.  Once they arrived we could open presents and we just couldn't wait.  She'd arrive so excited and give us homemade powdered sugar rice chex mix (she called it "trash") and an envelope with money in it.

Aunt Polly always called me "her Courtie".  She was the fun one, she let us do cool things, but she'd always try to keep me in line too:)  She was so pretty, I remember always thinking that, even as a little girl.  She was so generous.  She loved to get her hair done.  She always wore red lipstick.  This was my Aunt Polly.

Aunt Pols, I will always love you to pieces.  I will always remember you and miss you.  I'm so grateful you got to see my boys and give them hugs and we're blessed that you were part of us.