My little artist

Irelyn's drawings from Curtoon Time

from top- hockey stick, trash can, bottle, piece of paper

Recipe Wednesday

I haven't done Recipe Wednesday for a while. Click the label below for some other recipes.

Here is today's recipe:

Super yummy spaghetti sauce- serve with your favorite pasta

2 jars Tomato Basil Marinara- Trader Joe's
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 carrots sliced or chopped
2 celery stalks sliced
1-2 cloves garlic
1/2- 1 lb. cooked ground beef, turkey, or sicilian chicken sausage(from TJ's)

Add everything to the crockpot and cook on low for 3-4 hours. 
My favorite thing about this recipe is that it is so versatile.  If you don't have celery- oh well.  If you don't like a lot of garlic- just don't add it.  It is delicious no matter what! Usually I save half and freeze it for another night.

It smells and tastes delish!  Enjoy.

10 things I'm loving in August

• OPI nailpolish
• Macy's sales
• S'mores
• that I cleaned out the garage
• the family time we have been able to spend together
• concerts
• watching Irelyn at gymnastics
• foot rubs
• my bangs

and....

• scallops!

See the world all around you

I remember going through the collecting stage- I'm probably still in it because I recently blamed my Dad for taking some of my coveted rocks from my collection. I actually found the missing ones today in the garage. Sorry Dad. Anyways, Irelyn collects something everywhere we go...the beach, the park, the parking lot, out on the grass, she finds pretty things everywhere:) She made this box for all of her treasures and now she has 2 of my old treasure boxes filled with my rocks, shells and even a film container full of black sand from when I went to Hawaii when I was 11. I cherished these items and still do- I love remembering where I bought them or found them.

She reminds me to find beauty in the little things and to value them for their differences.

Her idol...or mine ;-)

Irelyn and Mia Hamm

A Surprise Vacation

A few weeks ago, on a beautiful Thursday morning, we woke up and went on VACATION! It was a surprise, planned that morning and it was wonderful :) We stayed at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego http://manchestergrand.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp This was our second time staying there(first time with Irelyn)
We were very spoiled on our vacation- eating yummy food, beautiful weather, gorgeous hotel(words cannot explain this place), trip to Coronado, Gaslamp, shopping. We stayed 4 days and had a really great time.
I must say...traveling with a 5 year old is actually pretty fun. She is able to do more which makes all the difference...