overdue...

Hi girls!!!

I'm still here.

Oh my gosh it's been so long.

Did anyone miss me?

I sure missed checking in with you.

I went a little M.I.A since the kids have been home from school for summer break.

Days have been busy and fun (not to mention scorching HOT here in Phoenix).

The kids and I have been able to spend a lot of time with my sister, Jessica filling up the back of my Denali with all of our finds from thrifting. Can't wait to share with you what I have found.

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We also brought back our Sunday Dinners.

We used to spend every Sunday evening cooking dinner together while the children kept busy playing with one another. Unfortunately...we all get so busy during the school year that we just kind of stopped having them. Jess and I both have mentioned that we would like to get back into habit of Sunday Dinner...so we started again last week!!

The children choose the menu while we were shopping at Trader Joes.

We prepared and served:

My (almost famous) Pesto Sauce on Flat bread with toasted Pine Nuts

Homemade Pizzas

Pepperoni and Cheese

Roasted Broccoli with lemon Basil zest

My Sister Jessica's Peanut Butter Fudgie Drizzled Cookies (yeah...amazing)

We seriously ate so much of the Pesto Flat Bread that we both ended up with a queer belly.

It is so yummy....and so worth having a queer belly for!!

Morgan's turn laying on the sauce.

Oops!

This is what Mr C was doing while we were preparing dinner...

Go back to watching the game, sweetie...

Now...back to the menu...

We used toasted pine nuts throughout the meal...I am addicted to these guys.

My sister brought over this recipe for oven roasted broccoli.

She watched Ina prepare it earlier on The Barefoot Contessa.

It is the best broccoli dish that I have ever tasted.

I will probably never go back to steaming my little florets.

Let me know if you would like the recipe.

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The first week of summer also brought us a football training class at my High School.

(go toros)!!!!

Mikey had been waiting for this night for a month.

It was a lot of fun and I could hardly believe how may kids were there.

About 200 of them!!

I sat in the bleachers and snapped 209 photos.

I'm pretty sure Mikey is still mad at me for that.

I love that he is wearing a Toro Shirt.

I wore those back in the day.

Class of '93 makes me feel old.

This little guy can't wait until next year to join the camp.

I'm going to smuggle him in a year early.

Landon is my little buddy.

I love this kid and I want another one just like him.

What?

(no mother, i am not pregnant)

(but would not mind at all if i was)

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Look at Morgan.

My only girl.

She like big sunglasses like her mom.

This was taken today on the way to the pool.

Our first official 'pooling' of the summer.

Why oh why did I buy the only house in The Valley of the Sun without a pool?

No matter...we went to Grandma's community pool.

(even though she doesn't live there anymore and we broke in and then rigged the lock on the way out so that we can get in tomorrow after the movie)

I mentioned that we have been thrifting like crazy and have filled up the back of my Denali more than a couple of times. We seem to have the best luck when we thrift together. So who am I to stand in the way of that kind of momentum?

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This is an old table...exactly what I have been looking for to put in my family room.

I wanted something 'worn' with a chippy paint look because this is the table the children sit on and color on and eat on and do all other things on even though I ask them not to....

It was thrifted for $15.

I found another vintage suitcase at the Goodwill.

This is my oldest one yet.

Metal hardware on the feet and is a boxy and hard as can be.

It's an old Samsonite and I love it.

It was marked at $10 and I bought it on Goodwill's 50% off day...so do the math ladies...a whole $5 bucks outta my pocket...not bad.

I found this lantern at HomeGoods.

She was on clearance for $15.

I saw one almost identical to this in PotteryBarn not too long ago.

I found this side table at HomeGoods also in the clearance isle.

I plan on using it in our front as a side table.

It goes perfectly with the French Farmhouse look that I am shooting for.

On clearance for $58.

This frame was found at HomeGoods also in the clearance isle for $5.

I haven't even changed the photo inside...I kind of like the picture it came with.

Summer is off to a wonderful start with great menus and great bargains.

I can't wait to share some of the other things going on Decatur Street.

It sure is going to be a busy summer.
Alright...I am promising that I don't let another 2 weeks go by before my next post.

Have a wonderful day, friends.

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p.s...does anybody have a pool I can dip my toes into?

purple iris

Hi there friends! I just wanted to share this lovely vintage jar that my sweet sweet friend, Tara, sent to me over the weekend. She has got to be one of the sweetest gals I know. Last week, she gave me a little heads up about keeping my eyes peeled for something in the post. A box from San Clemente arrived late Saturday and when I opened...I discovered the most wonderful jar under the sweetest hand written card. (im very big fan of handwritten cards and notes)

I was delighted.

So, while out today...I stopped by the market for a couple of things and walked out with 2 bunches of purple iris and nothing else that was on my list. I think that I lost all thought when I spotted them and I knew exactly where they would be going! Into my vintage jar. I wish that you could see the blueish green color that the jar has without the water in it. It's so pretty.

(the lid is my favorite part...it has such a wonderful patina on it)

I filled the jar up with water, stuffed my iris in it and then wrapped some burlap string around the neck and dangled a little crystal drop off of the end.

Now really, how sweet is this little arrangement?

Almost as sweet as the girl who sent it!!

Thank you again, Tara!

I love my vintage gift.

She fits in perfectly in my home.

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ps...isn't this world of blogging the most wonderful way to meet and befriend other women?

I spend more time here than in my kitchen.

shhh...don't tell mr c!!

monday's treasures

Today was fun and included 2 of my favorite things.

Spending time with my sister and treasure hunting.

We started off on a mission of sorts.

The goal was to find home goods for sister's abode and a few goodies to add to my collections.

We started off at Ross and here is what caught my eye:

I have actually had my eyes out for a cookbook holder that was attractive enough to leave on the counter tops...and today it was found.

I left the price tag on purposely for the photo...it was a mere $7.99

How do you leave that behind?

You don't.

You bring her home and snuggle her up with a favorite cookbook...mine happens to be one of my Barefoot Contessa cookbooks.

At the Goodwill...we both got our hands on some Reader's digest books in perfect condition.

The binding and covers on these are so attractive.

Almost looks like tapestry on the cover.

They were $2.99 each.

I also found an old Alice in Wonderland book for Morgan.

It was priced at $1.99

That will be #1 on her summer's reading list.

Next: my favorite!

Vintage suitcases.

I always have my eyes peeled for these.

(i think we all have our eyes peeled for these)

The first one is cream on the exterior and perfectly clean.

The inside has beautiful peach colored lining and I don't think it has ever been used.

This one was $4.99

The second vintage suitcase that I bought is by far my favorite find of the day.

I walked past it a couple of times just eyeing her until I picked her up, and then, really fell in love.

It's a very boxy case and again, was in excellent condition.

She was priced at $5.99 and worth every penny.

Look what I found when I opened it up.

The lining looks like vintage wallpaper and had not one scuff or mark on it.

I appreciate who ever took such great care of these.

(thank you!)

They have already found the perfect home in our entry.

I love wondering who owned these before me and where they have been.

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I have had such good luck thrifting today...I almost feel as if I should take advantage of that luck and drag my children out with me now.

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What have you found during your thrifting lately?

p.s. i love you

P.S. I Love You.

This is one of my favorite movies.

I can finally watch it without crying like overgrown sobbing baby.

I have a habit of falling in love with a movie and watching it over and over again.

But watching it for design ideas and not necessarily for the plot of the movie.

(although..a movie with hot irish men who sing is reason enough to watch over and over)

(oh...and a lot of the time, said hot irish man has no shirt...i'm just sayin')

So...back to the movie and design ideas.

I fell in love with Hillary Swank's bedding in this movie.

(have picture but is of poor quality)

You can kind of see the yummy chocolate duvet and shams in this photo.

There is also lovely matelasse on lower half of the bed.

I am a sucker for a lovely matelasse.

(that is why i have 2 of them from restoration hardware on bed)

I have fallen head over espadrilles for this bedding set and have been searching the interweb for my very own yummy chocolate linens with white accent appliques of my very own.

I found that the bedding is 'out of production'...however, I did find the link to the textile company who makes the bedding and ladies....I heard the choir of angels singing when I took first glance.

I know that I want something similar in color to what was in the film...the chocolates and creamy whites are very much in my color palette.

John Robshaw Textiles is where I discovered this bedding that I am putting on my birthday list and Christmas list and any other list that may present an opportunity for asking for a gift.

(is it acceptable to make a memorial day list?)

This is the actual textile company that produced the bedding from the movie.

The coloring on this set is perfectly me.

I would absolutely require all photographed pillows as well.

A girl can never have enough pillows, no?

If you haven't already been over to

John Robshaw's site...jump on over there now.

You will be delighted with what you see.

(photos will also urge you to jump out of your chair and remake your bed so that it is of John Robshaw photo quality...the way these beds are put together is nothing short of stunning)

(i do like to use the parenthesis quite frequently, don't i ?)

I was very excited to find out that Bungalow, over in Scottsdale, does carry some of his product line. I am just hoping that this particular set is in store...would like to give it the 'run my hands accross it' test before potential purchase.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Mr C and I might be making a trip out there sometime soon.

I'll be sure to keep you posted!!

p.s. are there any other amazing must see linen companys or shoppes that i might not know about yet?

if so...please do share.

life on decatur

Just stopping by to wish lovely friends a lovely weekend.

This is last Friday, alone, before children are home for summer break.

I plan to make the most of my day and get lots accomplished.

Will be last chance to run errands without 'unenthused about running errands' children in tow.

Must first head to grocer for supplies for backyard bliss that was just planned with sister.

(backyard bliss sounds more fetching than bbq, no?)

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Also, need to head to bookstore for something inspirational.

I'm thinking a new cookbook for my collection.

Might be nice to also pick up new summer feel good dress today.

(anthropologie is in same lot as bookstore...see where i'm going with this?)

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Still am looking for perfect spot for these ladies.

They were passed to me from favorite bartender at Changs, Barbara.

Thank you, Barbara.

They were the in the window display of Bath and Body last spring and I wanted them so badly.

Mr C and I inquired to the (un)helpful store clerk to purchase them.

We got nowhere.

Then, one night sitting at the bar at Changs (even though Mr C and I don't consume the alchy), lovely Barbara was telling us about her wedding and all of the decor.

We only sit at the bar because of lovely Barbara (and Mr C loves the flat screen tv's above).

She described her table centerpieces.

I gasped.

I knew exactly what she was referring to.

She was able to purchase all of the flower pots from Bath and Body for her wedding and promised me a couple pots after she tied the knot.

Barbara passed 4 pots to me and I passed one to my sis.

Am still looking for perfect spot for them.

They have been moved all around the home.

I'm off now girls...time to run errands solo...before my babies are home from school.

3 o'clock comes quite fast these days.

If I leave now, I might even have time for a nap when I return.

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Cheers to a wonderful weekend ahead of us.

I hope you spend it doing exactly what you want to be doing.

~

best

The best part of my day was spending time in the kitchen with this cutie...my little Morgan. We made lemon muffins and snickerdoodles for the boys.

We didn't just bake...we talked...and it was wonderful.

We had chats about cinnamon...ipods...brothers, lip gloss application and art.

Clearly...the best part of my day...and quite possibly the best part of hers.

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(in (very close) 2nd place best part of my day was undoubtedly my canoodling time with mr c...so glad you decided to stay home from work my darling...canoodling with you is just as sweet as lemon muffins anyway)

(this is my little morgan...only she's not so little anymore...and i occasionally am mad at her for having perfect hair)

dreading.....

My oldest is turning 12 this summer. Not so much a kid anymore...but not quite a teenager. Even the title of 'young man' seems a little off putting and out of place. Mikey is graduating elementary school next week and heading for Jr high in the fall. I, admittedly, am not ready by any means for this change. I have been dreading it ever since he brought home the paperwork for enrollment to Jr High. (it took me 3 weeks to bring myself to fill out the papers) This is really the time that I have been questioning my 'my work' as a parent the most. Have I raised a self thinker? Have I taught him to trust his own judgement and make decisions that are from his own thinking and not from what the other kids in school are doing? I cannot begin to explain the anxiety that I feel for him entering into this new chapter of his life. It is something that I find myself worrying about more and more every day.

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This summer...I will be focused on him the most...preparing him the best that I can. We will have ' the talk' about sex education (although i have no idea how i will even begin this talk...but rest assured...mr c will be called on to assist in this discussion). He will be given more responsibility. This might be the hardest part of letting him grow up for me. I am the mother that still will not let my children walk to their school that is only 5 minutes away from home alone, for fear of what might happen. I am a mother that has been home with my children since day one. This has been the greatest blessing of my life thus far. Letting go a little, and putting so much trust and faith in Mikey and in my parenting is going to be difficult for me. I don't want to hold him back...but I want to be sure. Sure that everything that I have taught him about being kind and good, and not giving into pressure from his peers and thinking for himself all the while knowing how valuable this time in his life is.

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Parenting has got to be the most difficult of jobs. In essence...we are responsible for molding our children. We are responsible for giving them proper guidelines and tools for life. We are responsible for keeping our babies close and helping them develop who they are and then later, knowing when it is time to pull back and give them their own freedoms to develop the rest on their own. This is exactly where find myself with my oldest son. He is ready to start some of the work on who he is...on his own. I'm just not ready for that. Not yet.

I really don't know of any greater challenge or blessing in this life.