Summer Bucket List

I know what you think when you hear "bucket list" but this isn't "that" kind of list.  Just the stuff we plan on doing for summer.  I was thinking a checklist of stuff to do would motivate us to to turn the DVR off and start doing something.  I recently read an article in HGTV magazine about creating a summer list and then read about on http://thehappyfamilymovement.com/.  I love this idea - so cute.  So, me and the Z made our list:

1.       Enjoy an Outdoor Concert
2.     Go See an Outdoor Movie
3.      Bike Ride on a New Trail
4.       Family Game Night
5.     Go to a Flea Market
6.      Go to the Farmer’s Market
7.       Make Popsicles
8.     Make a Pie
9.      Go to Dana Point Baby Beach
10.     Try Paddle Boarding
11.   Meet Friends for Brunch
12.    Take the Ferry to Balboa Island
13.     River Trip
14.   Have a Lazy Day
15.    Enjoy Stargazing
16.     Go Cherry Picking
17.   Paint a New Masterpiece
18.    Read Books Outside
19.     Go Fly a Kite
20.   Go on a Picnic
21.    Visit a Garden
22.     Build a Sand Castle
23.   Go to a Museum
24.    Learn to Hula Hoop
25.     Make Strawberry Jam
26.   Hunt for Sea Shells
27.    Watch a Fireworks Show
28.     Have a Lemonade Stand
29.   Make Bird Houses
30.    Go to an Angels Game
31.     Watch the Sunset
32.   Have a Root Beer Float
33.    Make friendship bracelets
34.     Try a new food
35.   Tell ghost stories
36.    Go for a walk at twilight
37.     Learn to sew
38.   Learn a new card game
39.    Go on a road trip
40.     Have a sleepover
41.   Go to the O.C. Fair
42.    Play Miniature Golf
43.     Go Bowling
44.   Make Donuts
45.    Have a Tea Party
46.     Go Jump at Sky High or Sky Zone
47.   Make a New Craft
48.    Girls Night Out
49.     Visit the American Girl Store
50.  Outlet Store Shopping
51.    Visit the Library
52.     Ice Cream at Farrells
53.   Make homemade waffles and whip cream
54.    Weekend Trip to Laughlin
55.     Make a Scrapbook of Our Summer Fun!

We've already marked a few off the list - cherry picking, lemonade stand and sleepover.  :)

Me & Z are so excited about summer starting and it will be so fun to be like, "what should we do this weekend?" "I don't know - let's check out the list."

HELLO STRANGER

It's been a while - but what the heck I figured I should start doing a lil blogging - especially now that my daughter started her blog.  Did you hear what I said?? My daughter is writing a blog.  It's official - I am old as dirt if my daughter is blogging, right. Okay - maybe not old as dirt, but... Z has been really into craft projects and wanted a place to document her projects.  So cute.  My lil' blogger.  Gush gush. :)  Check it out at http://ducktapediary.blogspot.com/.  Okay so if Z is going to start doing updates I am going to try really hard to do some updates too.  :)  

CONFESSIONS OF A REAL SHOPAHOLIC

9:18am - Just opened up a Plum District email. Oh - how I want to order the cabana service at the Pacific Edge Hotel - only $175 for a weekend day. Z would love this for her birthday. Wouldn’t it be awesome. I can see it now all the kids running around laughing and playing. I can make cupcakes with little sea shells on top.

9:51am - Ideeli - IRENE SUCHOCKI art $70 - $180. This prints are beautiful and would look lovely in my family room. I am already mentally hanging them up.

10:40am - Just received a call from Toyota re: cars wiring problem.  Need to remove engine to get to wires.  Cost for removing engine is $775. Repairs will be additional. Deleted all emails from shopping sites, as now I can not even afford to look at them. :(



　

THE PERFECT SELF TANNER

Summer will be here soon - not soon enough though. Anyways, I found the perfect self tanner - thought I’d share. It’s Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Glow and Steady Daily Moisturizer and Gradual Self Tanner SPF 15 for Body. This stuff is awesome for those of us that are self tanner challenged. (Did that even make sense? You understand me though, right?) I am horrible about self tanners - I never rub them in completely and always miss a spot and then the next day I’m splotchy and orange - not a good look. And they usually have an awful odor. This self tanner does not turn you orange and leaves you with a nice even tan. I don’t know how it evens itself out - but it does. It also doesn’t smell bad. It has a slight self tanner fragrance - but not bad. Thank goodness I found this lotion, now I can wear shorts without people making jokes.

Hey - who knows maybe I will win Brown Day at the river this year.

JANE EYRE - ANOTHER BOOK I LOVE

Have you seen the movie Definitely, Maybe? I recently saw this movie & it was great - a nice romantic comedy with Ryan Reynolds (yum) and Isla Fisher (luv her). Isla Fisher’s character talks about the book, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. So, it peeked my interest and when I saw it at Borders - the cutest little book with a fabric cover and an attached ribbon book mark I had to buy it. Let me just say, this is not the typical book I read. The last time I read a classic was in school when I had to. I usually stick to books written after 1990. The book starts out kind of slow and sometimes I don’t quite understand the phrases used, but now I am about halfway through and I adore it. Last night I was reading in bed and couldn’t put it down - I just had to find out what would happen next with Jane and Mr. Rochester. Oh - I just love it. It gave me the same feeling as when I watched the movie Pride and Prejudice and kept thinking - “You love her - just tell her already.” The build-up you know I hate it & I love it. Well, if you haven’t read this book - you should - I think you will love it too!

MOTHER’S DAY

Hello all. Long time no blog, right? I just had to write a little bit about my Mother’s Day. It was great this year. My whole family got together for a picnic at the park. It was nice, the food was yummy and the kids had fun playing at the playground. It was a little colder than I would’ve liked, but after stealing my sister’s jacket I felt much better.

Z made the cutest cards for me. Love them. She also gave me the cutest frame from Bath & Body. You can record a message on the frame - how clever. Now when Zena’s not feeling up to being a mush ball I can just press a button and hear about how much she loves me. It also came with travel sized lotion and bath wash, which smell wonderful.

After the park, me and Z headed over to Bonnie’s (Rebecca’s mom) house for some cake and wine. Cake for Z and wine for me, that is. We had a wonderful time. Zena played with Rebecca’s son Riley while me and Rebecca caught up on some gossip. Then we all sat down to watch my favorite movie, Mama Mia. We weren’t sitting for long though. We couldn’t help it - we were all singing along with the movie and couldn’t resist jumping out of our seats to dance. It was so much fun.

I hope all you mothers out there had a wonderful day!

VAMPIRE DIARIES

Can you say, “Obsessed?” I am loving the Vampire Diaries on the CW. This show is great - perfect for me, I love anything vampires in a PG-13 way. I am too squeamish for True Blood (although I love the Sookie Stackhouse novels), so Vampire Diaries is right up my alley. And I just love the 3 main characters, Elena, Stefan & Damon. Whoa - that Stefan is nice to look at. Anyways, if you are anything like me and haven’t seen this show you need too. The show is completely addictive though, I must warn you.

Oh - I am also reading the books. Right now I am on Book #5. The first 4 books are really good, the 5th book not so much. :( If you like the show - you should check them out.

P.S. NYLON interviwed the 3 main characters and I had to rush out and buy the magazine, but you can check out a little bit of the online interview here: http://www.nylonmag.com/?section=article&parid=4132

Hello - Nina Dobrev's hair looks amazing. Love it.