STEPHEN BONANNO SALE:APRIL 29-MAY 3

O.K.----I'm not one on plugging too many products, but this is an exception. I can't say enough about Stephen Bonanno sandals. Last year I thought I would treat myself to a pair of these babies, and I'm so glad I did. They are so comfortable, I can walk in them all day. I hear they last for a very, very long time, and you can even have them re-soled. You can custom pick your color of leather and stitching. My first pair was Champagne and Mohair. It is endless the color combinations you can come up with. The best part is right now they are having a sale to get $20.00 off each pair. Check out their website: http://www.stephenbonanno.com/ You won't be disappointed, I promise. I'm about to order a new pair, but I can't decide between the: Gunmetal/Silver

or the Platinum/Gold. What do you think? I need some help.

Another color combo, Emerald Blue/June Blue


or Celery/White (pretty)

or Dromedary/Winter Camel

These are just a tiny sample of the colors you can make. Check it out. http://www.stephenbonanno.com/ I know you'll find something, especially with summer coming!! Let me know what you think.

XOXO

Marley & Me Weekend

We had warm, wonderful weather this weekend in Maryland. Friends of ours are really into hunting dogs, and just had a large litter of labs. (9 of those little cuties!) So off I went with my camera to get some shots before they were all sold. They are 7 weeks old.

They really wanted to get out of this pen and play!

So we let them out, and they started to scatter.



Until they found this rope.

Then it was like, follow the leader. Aren't they just so dang cute??

This is mommy. Her name is Carmel. She is 2 years old, and was the runt of her litter. She was so pretty and petite, and oh so sweet. The whole time I was there, she walked around with this deflated soccer ball. Would not put it down!

Finally got the ball from her, so I could get a picture of her pretty face.

This was my favorite out of the bunch. Her name is Carbella. She is also the little runt of this bunch.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

XOXO

Have a Wonderful Weekend

It's that time of year again, the lilacs are blooming! They are my all time favorite. And the smell is out of this world.

Aren't they just beautiful?
I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend.

XOXO

Daily Tidbits

Today, we were in Reading, PA all day (about 1 1/2 hours away) looking at vanities, colors, styles, granite, etc... I brought Stella with us and by the time we got home, she needed a nice break from being in the car a good part of the day. (Mostly driving with us.) So we took her to a beautiful dog park in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.

All the dogs got along so nicely, and there were a lot of dogs. It turned out to be a beautiful day.

My son came with us to the park after he was done working, and stepped in a nice fresh, warm, pile of dog crap. So he rinsed his shoe with a stick in the pond.



Here we are under the beautiful trees.



Then we decided to grab a bite to eat at the Chestnut Hill Grill, although it is still a hotel. They have great food, and you can sit outside with your furry friends. I had awesome pot stickers, a grilled chicken sandwich, with spinach, roasted red peppers, and sharp provolone. We also split a Caesar salad, and some great hot wings with blue cheese.

It is a great old town, where you can walk up and down both sides of the street, and shop in the best stores. Bakeries, cheese shops, doggie specialties shops, cafes, record shops, clothing shops, stationary shops, map stores, book stores, etc...You get the picture. That is my son with Stella in front of where we ate.

My hubby being silly, while waiting for the bill.

XOXO

I've Been Tagged...

I have been tagged by Susan, from http://shabbychicks.blogspot.com/.

Now I'm not a big tagger kind of person, so I'm going to leave this one up to the reader. It might be fun to just go ahead and post your answers on your blog. I would love to read them.

"8 Things I'm Looking Forward To."

1. Going to Kansas City in June for my niece's collage graduation.

2. Going to Reading Pa. tomorrow to look at wood for our new bathroom vanity.

3. When our bathroom is finished.

4. For it to stop raining.

5. The last day of school. (I have summers off.)

6. Spending a lot of time down in Maryland.

7. Having Grandchildren someday.

8. Thanksgiving.

"8 Things I did Yesterday."

1. Took Stella for a long walk with Amy, and the dogs she was watching.

2. Went grocery shopping.

3. Cleaned out the refrigerator, out with the old, in with the new.

4. Started my laundry.

5. Put in a 12.5 pound turkey, and made the house smell great for hours.

6. Watched the movie, Changeling, with Angelina Jolie. It was great!

7. Went to 7-11 to buy the Sunday paper.

8. Brought some dinner to Amy while she was house sitting.

"8 Things I Wish I Could Do."

1. Publish a cookbook.

2. Get my kitchen makeover in Maryland.

3. Cook dinner in the White house.

4. Visit my mom more often in Arizona.

5. Stop hanging on to so much "stuff", and start weeding through my house more.

6. Spend time in Tuscany.

7. Be less judgemental.

8. Keep everyone close, happy and healthy.

"8 Things I Watch On T.V."

1. Rescue Me

2. American Idol

3. True Blood

4. Animal Cops

5. In Treatment

6. Insider

7. News

8. Intervention

XOXO

Doggie Daycare

O.K. I had said my daughter was dog/house sitting this weekend. They have 2 dogs, Wilson, who is 11 years old, and Buddy, who is only 2 years old. This is Buddy. Such a baby, and oh so snugly and always up for a challenge.

Here is Amy (and old Wilson up on the couch.) eating an ice cream cone, thinking, "how the hell did I give up a whole weekend for this?" Me, thinking I'm so cool bringing Marley & Me, trying to say, "but I heard it was soooo good."

Here I am, tee and sweats, rubbing Buddy's belly, waiting for the movie to start.
The dogs were so good. But like I said before, she is on her own this weekend!
Marley & Me was very good, in fact so good, I'm saving some pics for another post!
XOXO

Quick Hello!

Just passing through to say hi, and I hope everyone had a great day. My daughter is house/dog sitting for some friends of ours, tonight and through the weekend. She asked me to come and stay with her tonight. I figured since it was the first night, and I'm not doing anything, I would bring a movie over and keep her company. She is on her own the rest of the weekend. I rented Marley & Me. Wonder what that's about? I'll get some pictures of their 2 dogs. Have a nice night.

XOXO

Happy Hump Day

Not much of a post today. I'm at work and pretty busy today. It is rainy and miserable out today. I just want to say I hope everyone has a wonderful day, and the weather is going to get better, I promise!!!!

XOXO

CK Bradley Store closing in NYC

I just found out the CK Bradley boutique is closing in NYC. I saw these great belts on sale for only $10.00. Thought that was a pretty good price. Their online shop will remain open.

http://www.ckbradley.com/catalog/default.php

Random pictures from Weekend update

We had a very nice, long weekend. I went down last Tuesday night with Amy, then everyone else kind of trickled in the rest of the week. This is one of the pretty sunsets I caught, but forget which night it was.

Here is Stella out playing Lacrosse with some of our neighbors.



Stella resting with bff John.

John power cleaning the boat and outside cushions, and other chores with Stella tagging along.

Amy chilling with neighbor, Mike.

Busy in the kitchen (which is getting a MAJOR makeover next year), with Mom-Mom.

Easter goodies.

This is the spice cake I made, which was absolutely delicious!! I was so busy putting all the food out, and it was so hectic, I forgot to get pictures of my beautiful spread! Everything was so wonderful. I even got the lamb to complete our feast.

We usually shoo the squirrels away from our bird feeders, but I let him off the hook this time for Easter!

My pretty tulips my neighbors Mike and Amber brought me.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, I know I did.

XOXO

There are many symbols of Easter -The Cross, The Resurrection...Springtime! It's beautiful, brightly colored tulips and daffodils, gorgeous white lilies and the smell of hyacinths. It's fun things like egg hunts, Easter baskets, chocolate bunnies and jelly beans...
Many American families gather together to worship, then celebrate the Springtime holiday with a festive Easter dinner. We are having a house full this year, and I'm looking forward to cooking a wonderful dinner. A whole spiral ham, a big pan of baked homemade macaroni and cheese, corn casserole, sweet potato casserole with a brown sugar & pecan topping, a big salad, a nice spice cake with cream cheese glaze for dessert, among other sweets. If I get a chance, I want to pick up some lamb too. Can't wait. What is everybody doing for Easter this year? I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!!

XOXO

One night alone, not

I was trying to get away for a ONE night mother-daughter get away from P.M.S./menopouse/cranky/no-husband/no son/everything....nice quiet night of watching t.v., talking, studying, but suddenly.... There she is, chin on the the computer, can't stand NOT to be touched, Stella!

So much for our one night girl's get away, before the boys get here, let alone Amy's one study night for praxis!

XOXO

Stranded

I really had an uneventful day today, other that work. I'm tired, and have a headache, and am a little cranky. But, as I was cooking dinner tonight, I was thinking I wish I was alone on an island for a day or two. Then, I started thinking, what if I got stranded.If you got stranded on an island, and could have 5 things, what would they be? It could be anything you wanted, but only 5.

I can think of 3 right now. My first 3 would be, good crusty bread, good cheese, good wine.
(O.K. this is a fantasy, so we could have an endless supply of our 5 things!)
I'll think about my last 2 things, and get back to you.
What would your 5 things be?
XOXO

Have A Wonderful Weekend

Time to put the shovels away! At least around here it is.

The buds are starting to peek out. They are tired of sleeping.


The grass is starting to get green again.

This one is tired of being in the house, and is ready to get out and get some fresh air!

This weekend she will get some fresh air, it is going to be beautiful!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

XOXO

Pasta au la Ronda

Tonight, I made a DELICIOUS pasta dish. I usually have some kind of meat on hand, and tonight I used Italian Hot Sausage. It is kind of like a meat ragu sauce, very easy, but oh so good! I added onion, mushrooms, 2 cans chopped tomatoes, and at the end, added fresh asparagus. First start by cooking the sausage. (Scraped the sausage out of the casings, like ground sausage.)

Then add the onions and mushrooms, and saute until softened and cooked.

Then add 2 cans of chopped tomatoes.

To the tomatoes, I add about 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and about 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir well, and let it hang out and simmer for about 20-30 minutes on low. Start your pasta water if your ready to eat, or turn off the sauce and cover with foil until your ready to eat. (Your sauce is made for when ever you are ready to eat!)

Get your salad ready.




While your pasta is cooking, re-heat your sauce and add the asparagus, toss well.

Can you smell it? Now get the bread, cheese, and salad on the table. Wine, if you want it.

As Rachael Ray would say, YUMMO!!

Bon Appetit

XOXO