Friday, May 31, 2013

Girl Friday

Summer weekends are always the best.   When Sunday evening rolls around, my inner child reminds me that even though when we wake up it will be Monday, it is just different this time of year.  There is something that is more laid back and care free.  When I was a child I stayed up late, slept in, swam at our neighborhood pool all day, caught fireflies all night and never had a clue (nor did I care) what time it was, my only rule, I had to be home when the streetlights came on.  I hope I never lose the magic of summer.


My summer weekend will be, a date night with one of my besties...


dining al fresco

and I already know what I am ordering...


also on my schedule, a little of this...


and Dr. Beautiful is cooking me a romantic dinner Saturday night..
my second al fresco dinner of the weekend!!



Sunday I will be spending my time here...



Thursday, May 30, 2013

Summer is here!

This has been an odd week for me, first we had the holiday on Monday, second my youngest still had her last day of school on Tuesday and the other 2 were already out, and finally it always takes me a week to transition from school routine to summer mode.  With that being said, each morning I wake up I am deeper and deeper into summer living.  

A few pictures from pinterest also put me in the mood....























and I leave you with a picture of my 4 year old when I told her school was finished for the year!!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Well Read

I have been on a major reading kick lately and it will only pick up momentum this summer.  Lazy days at the pool and weeks on the beaches on Lake Michigan is the perfect time to loose myself in a good book.  One of my resolutions for 2013 was to read more and this has been a very easy task to accomplish.  Every book I have read for this year has been from the recommendation of a friend, every one has been such a great read so I thought I would share with you.


Still Alice

This book is about a highly educated Harvard professor who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer and her struggle with coping with the complete loss of any mental capacity.   The story is told through her and in my opinion a very raw, truthful and frightening detail of what the disease will do to you.  Of course now I am convinced I might have Alzheimer every time I forgot anything.



What Remains

After seeing Carole on RHONY I had to read this book.  We all know how it ends so no surprise, but it is still a very sad tale.  After reading this I realize what a tremendous loss Carole has lived through and wonder how I would cope.  I wish there was more to the story about John and Carolyn and her relationship with them, but all in all a good book.



The Playdate

If you ever had a friend who you thought maybe did not have your back you will especially like this book.  Lots of twists and surprises and makes you think about your friends; how do you treat them and how do they treat you.



What Alice Forgot

This is a very clever way to write about true love and then losing that love.  A 40 year old woman in the middle of a divorce fall and has a concussion, she comes to thinking she is 28 and a newlywed.  She is struggling to accept the reality of her life and how her marriage got to where it is.  You really want her to work it out with her husband, but as she slowly remembers her life you begin to realize that people change, love changes and sometimes marriages don't work.


Sharp Objects

This is a very dark book.  This is about a dysfunctional relationship between a mother and daughter.  It was very disturbing to read yet I could not put it down.  You read this and realize there really are crazy people out there.  If you are a mom and read this, you will spend the next few weeks thinking about how you interact with your children



A Secret Kept

My all time favorite book, Sarah's Key is by the same author so I knew I would love this book.  This book is about what happens to the people that are left behind when we take a secret to our grave.  What effect will this have on the people in our lives if we don't tell the real story.  A mom had a secret and her son was still dealing with it years after her death.  Loved this book (and it takes places in Paris, bonus)



Dark Places

I thought Sharp Objects was dark then I read this!!  Also by Gillian Flynn I am now wondering what kind of childhood this woman had to write such disturbing stories.  A now 35 year old man is in prison for life for murdering his family with the exception of his sister who not only was the sole survivor but a witness.  The sister who was 7 at the time is now a grown woman is beginning to question what she saw.    Her story is not adding up in her mind and she has a lot of unanswered questions.  I read this book in 2 days.

and now, the best for last...


The Storyteller

When my friend gave me this book and told me I had to read it I was not that interested.  I am kind of over the Jodi Picoult books, they always involve a lawyer, and someone getting off scott free for a crazy crime.  My friend insisted this was different and I would love it.  So glad I took her advice, I seriously could not put this down.  This is the story of a 25 year old girl who becomes friends with an elderly man in her small town in New Hampshire and as her friendship develops she learns he was a SS officer in Germany during WWII.  He pours his heart and soul to her because he cannot live with the guilt and tells her about sending the prisoners to the concentration camps.  To make this story even better, the woman's grandmother is a holocaust survivor and most likely had interaction with this man.  The grandmother tells her story of being in a concentration camp and ultimately how she survived.  Her story is realistic, heartbreaking and infuriating.  I was reading this book and would get sick just thinking that this truly went on and so many people turned a blind eye.  I don't want to give too much away but if I had to recommend only 1 book this would be it!!

You can find all these books here.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Girl Friday

Summer vacation has officially begun!!  Well it actually began for me last night when I met some girls out for a delicious dinner at one of the most charming restaurants in the city...


then we ran across the street to end the night at the champagne bar.



Today we spending the day at 6 Flags...



then I am meeting the hubby for a well deserved one of these...


I am so excited for my Saturday night, 8 couples are doing BarCycle St. Louis.  We basically all sit on a really big bike with a stocked bar and pedal around downtown while drinking.  I have heard this is crazy fun, but I have no idea what to wear.  On one hand, I want to look cute and wear heels but then again I will be sitting on a bike pedaling.





Also this weekend, our pool is opening...


and we have a few BBQ's lined up...


Have a beautiful weekend, and woo hoo it's extra long!!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

So Little Time...

I am a list person.  I like to write out my to-do list or type one in the "notes" section of my phone.  There is something about crossing off or deleting a line that is so satisfying.

Right now I am working on a list title "Before End of School", this is mainly projects around the house because once the kids are home nothing gets done until September.  Some of my unfinished items include

* finish organizing the laundry room

*get guest bedroom walls painted

*hang pictures

(many more but this gives you an idea)

very vague, but nonetheless still things that need to be done.  Tomorrow is the last day of school, you would think that I would be crazy lady working on her list but no I am busy making another list, my wish list from here...

Bauble Bar









and I can cross this one off my list, it arrived the other day

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Here Comes the Sun

The pools are opening in 5 days, time to make sure our pool bag is well stocked.  Year after year I have my tried and true staples that I never leave home without.
First up, my bag.  I got this as a free gift with a makeover at MAC Cosmetics and it is a great bag.  The canvas is nice and thick, the handles are nautical rope, and the bag itself is wide and deep, perfect for storing lots of goodies.



Speaking of goodies in my bag...
EOS lip balm
this stuff is the best, everyone will agree






Olay Complete
I have mentioned this many times in the past, but this is hands down the best sunscreen for your face.  It has SPF 30 and zinc oxide, which are so important to protect your face from sun damage and wrinkles.  Surprisingly many sunblocks have SPF but no zinc oxide






Sun Bum
I discovered this sunscreen a couple months back while in Florida.  Love it and I love the smell.






La Croix Coconut Water
I think I drink about a case of this a week.  My husband think it takes like he is drinking sunscreen






Good Summer Reading
I have been on a reading kick lately, this one came highly recommended by many so I am starting it this weekend.  I actually have a post coming soon about all the books I recommend.





Havaianas
Just a good, standard flip flop.  Of course I recently saw how they spiced them up a little...


How cute are these??!!