Obsession!

Happy Tuesday, I am still dragging from my fun filled weekend (more of that to come later).  However what I cannot get out of my mind is a conversation that I had with a lady during my 12 hour delay at the Denver airport.  I don't know how/where she came up with this info but she swears that STL is the perfect spot to grow a lime tree.  

I pretty much had lime trees growing in just Florida but now I am obsessed, I need one of these on my back deck.  Each summer I spend a small fortune on limes.

They go in my club soda

and my summertime drinks

they go in some of my favorite summer meals

and of course nothing is better than a homemade key lime pie

so today I am off to the nursery to find me a lime tree!!

Jump Right In!!

To say that I am obsessed with jumpsuits would be an understatement, but I file jumpsuits in the same category as jeans and swimsuits....you have to try on about 50 before you find one that fits and you love!!

Step 1.  Troll the internet and come up with some good contenders...

 via

 one of my favorites

 via

via

via

via

via

Step 2.  Go try on each of these and hope one of them works!!

The hubs and I are going out of town this weekend, I have this one packed

hope it works!!

Life Lessons From The Irish

I never intended to take a month long blogging break but suddenly having an additional child to look after, completely changes your perspective.  We were so lucky with our exchange student, he is kind, polite, considerate, funny, thoughtful, and full of energy.  I did everything in my power to make sure his experience here in the United States was nothing short of amazing.  This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for these 5 boys from Donegal and I wanted to make sure that at least my student, went home feeling like he missed out on nothing.

This was a learning experience for me as well, I walked away from this with a few life lessons


1. Does not matter the age, race, where you live, boys will always need their moms or mums

I took this as a big compliment, one of my Irish son's (Evin) friend hung out at our house so much he started calling me his American mum.

2. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

I was in a very bad habit with my kids of not really making breakfast.  My kids would usually pour themselves a big bowl of sugary cereal then they were out the door.  I knew with a house guest I had to prepare a proper meal, so every morning I would make a big breakfast bacon and eggs, sausage and belgium waffles, etc.  My son asked if I was still going to make breakfast once Evin left, of course now it is part of my morning ritual.


3. High school boys like girls

4. And high school boys like fast cars

pretty much in that order.



5.  We have an abundance of things to do and great restaurants in our city

and all it takes for us to realize this, is an out of town guest.



6. I will never win my war with dirty laundry

Having 1 extra child for some reason quadrupled my dirty laundry.  I found serenity and just accepted the fact that there will ALWAYS be dirty clothes to wash, wet clothes to dry, clean clothes to fold, and clothes to be put away.



7. High school boys have enormous appetites

I have cooked more bacon this past month then I care to remember.


8. You want the house where the kids hang out

You want to know what they are up to, who they are hanging with and where they are going.  If they are at someone else's home you will never know these answers.


9. The best way to have that house,  junk food on hand always

10.  Being a parent is a privilege and should always be a priority