The Best Of PA

  The view from above Went to a local fair this past weekend . We ate bar b que, and watched an Elvis impersonator sing and swing. Our oldest daughter checked out the moon bounces, then hopped a hot air ballon with me for a tethered ride. There we are just hanging out in the sky  My first time in a hot air ballon ride, even if only tethered and I'm glad I got to share it with my daughter, and a girlfriend. The views were pretty, I can only imagine how awesome it would be on a real ride! the view from above: looking out

We celebrated my daughter's 4th birthday with a Tinkerbell/Pirate party yesterday! I thought it was a success. 1) When the kids arrived they dressed up for the part! The girls got glitter stars on their cheeks, glitter ribbons in their hair and fairy wings. The boys sported homemade hooks, eye patches and mascara beards. 2) Then it was pin the clock on the croc 3) Followed by a treasure hunt! The kids started by opening scrolled papers each time they wanted a clue to their treasures. (for example crawl through the cave of shadows/under the trampoline/ to find the jewels). Each clue led them to a treasure till they filled up their bags with goodies. 4) One of their treasures was a mask they colored with markers after the treasure hunt. 5) Lunch! Homemade Mac n Cheese, Pizza and homemade applesauce 6)Opening Presents! 7) Eating cake! Kids were entertained, party went smooth, mom was happy :-)

So it's the hot hot summer but I'm gearing up for the fall! Started by making some chicken noodle soup, but did my own spin on it. Let me tell you it's yummy! Creamy Chicken Soup 8 cups of chicken broth 2 cups of half and half 1 package of wild rice (1 cup? Comesin a box with own seasoning) Carrots Onions 3 pieces of cooked chicken 1 heaping tablespoon of chopped garlic Handful of fresh parsley 2 tablespoons of parsley In pot melt butter, add onions, carrots and garlic. On medium heat cover and stir occasionally. Meanwhile, in pan cook wild rice. Add chicken broth and allow to simmer. Stir in one cup of half and half into the pot of chicken broth. Pour the other cup of half and half into a measuring cup, stir together until blended and thickened. Slowly mix in the thickened cup of half and half. Cut up chicken and throw in pot! Last but not least add the rice, allow to heat up and serve with biscuits! Delicious! :-)

Scrapbooking scissors, Faberware magnet clips, coconut and warm ginger hand soap, dish scraper, diet Dr. Pepper, organizer, fuzzwig chocolate mint, coconut lime verbena hand gel from bath and body works

I looove the fall, and so I decorate for my favorite season. You come to my house from September to November and you will find fall leaves draped over every valance. I like to keep the season inside and out. :-). I love the smells of baking and yummy autumn smells. Try out the Vanilla Carmel Yankee candle, it is wonderful! Is there anything better than chocolate, I mean really?!? And if your gonna eat it, you might as well eat it right. Lindt dark chocolate truffles melt in your mouth. My family lives on gum, everyday, especially if we've got bad breath! Extra spearmint gum is the way to go, and the only way we go! We split them in half and share a piece. Lip gloss any kind really, not a fan of lipstick, but shiny yummy smelling lip gloss, the best!

Just went to a "favorite things" party last night.  Lots of fun!!  The concept: bring five of your favorite product items, under six dollars.  At the end of the night you go home with five new favorite products of your friends!      We also discussed favorite movies, books, dates, restaurants, day trips, stores etc. We ate our favorite foods and brought some of our favorite stuff to show off.  My dream list has just expanded!      And here's some things I now want to visit, read, you name it! Day Trips:  Newport Rhode Island Mansions Reading Terminal Market, PA Bushkill Falls, PA Sandy Hook, NJ NY, NY, always! Books: "Goose Girl" Shannon Hale "The Book of 1,000 Days" Shannon Hale "Once Upon A Time" series Y/A "Bloody Jack" series Y/A "#1 Ladies Detective Agencies" Perfumes: Clinique Happy Origins Ginger Up Charlotte Russe Refuge Warm Vanilla Sugar Bath and Body Works Sent from my iPhone Word count:  678    ...

It's that time of the year, to make applesauce! I love when the apples come in. I have been blessed with wonderful neighbors who happen to have a small orchard in their lovely backyard. They have been kind enough to share their fruits and veggies with us. These neighbors are old enough to be our parents and therefore are wiser, smarter etc. Kathy, the wife, taught me how to make applesauce the old fashioned way when we first moved into our home five and a half years ago. They have taught us much, games, gardening and how to make applesauce. And let me tell you, once you've had homemade, you'll never want to go back. So the moral to this story? Learn to make applesauce, get to know your neighbors :-). Some yummy friendships can come from it!

Native American Week We used this Map everyday This summer I decided to ask a couple of parents to join in with me and host a Native American, week long camp for our kids. It turned out to be quite a success. Even us parents learned a bit about the different tribes in the US. Each of us took a tribe in different areas of the country and learned about the food they ate, houses they lived in, rituals they had and thier land. We shared games crafts and food! . I would be more than happy to post pictures on my phone, soong as someone instructs me how to do so on my 3 G phone. They're cute pics! Pin the Arrown on the Buffalo-learning about Plains Indians Linking UP to: http://www.oursimplecountrylife.com/2012/06/hearts-4-home-44.html