cocobunga

a simply lovely mother's day weekend...

Ahhh...Mother's Day!

As much as we have to do to prepare for the wedding reception in our backyard in two weeks, yesterday was so very relaxing - especially after Saturday where I hosted a yard sale for some friends.  It was the most exhausting $43.25 I ever made.  I kept reminding myself that one man's trash is another man's treasure so I wouldn't feel humiliated about putting out broken things on my lawn that people actually paid cold hard coins for.  Oh, well, I made enough to buy lunch, purchase my lottery tickets (yes, I'm one of those), and buy myself a cosmo or two later that evening.  In truth, the best part - getting together with my friends and giggling over the items we've accumulated over the years - that folks, was priceless.

Anyway, Mother's Day started with a lovely brunch at The Mansion in Voorhees, New Jersey.  It's a favorite spot of Mr. Jensen, that's Mr. Theodore Jensen, our neighbor who is the closest thing I've ever had to a father.  He's a wonderful man and we're so lucky to have him as our neighbor and friend.  He's a very important part of our family.  He's dad to me.

Mr. Jensen took Gary, Mom, Gabrielle, Blaise and moi to The Mansion for a brunch that was unbelievable.  Ooh-la-la.  Bagels, Lox, Frittatas, Quiche, Chicken and Rice, a Filet Mignon carving station, and made-to-order omelettes...just to name a few my friends.  Oh, and I don't want to forget to mention the Mimosas!  Who doesn't love a good Mimosa at 10:00 in the morning?  Wait, is there such a thing as a bad Mimosa?  Hmm...

Here are some pics from our brunch...

After the Brunch, Gary, Mom and I went to the cemetery to see Gram.  Remember we saw her on Easter as well.  Well, needless to say, the conversation was pretty much the same as we placed more plastic pink flowers on her grave.  Yes, Mom continued with where we will put her name on the tombstone.  Here we go once again Mom.  I think we're good now until Gram's birthday on July 20th.  Whew.

By 5:00, everyone was hungry.  Don't know how that could be after the breakfast, lunch, and dinner we had all in one seating at the Mansion.  Wow, digestive systems are pretty amazing, yes?  Mom decided hot dogs would be the best dinner for Mother's Day.  I'm not a huge fan of the hot dog, but Mom wanted one and it was her Mother's Day as well, so hot dogs it was.

As Gary was preparing our Mother's Day Hot Dog Feast, I lent a hand and helped him out.  Okay, really, I opened the bag of hot dog rolls and grilled them.  Gary was all about honey I'll cook dinner for Mother's Day.  I was all about oh, no, I'll help you dear.  I'm no dope.  We all know Father's Day is after Mother's Day for a reason.  Ha.

So, in closing, I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day.  Personally, I want to thank Mr. Jensen - for the wonderful brunch he gave us when all we gave him in return was a hot dog;  Mom - for not putting me up for adoption over the years;  Gary - for making me a mom five times over;  and last, but certainly not least, MASGB - for the joy they give me every day throughout my life, not just on Mother's Day.

Okay, cut me a break...I'm feeling a little sentimental this morning. 

who doesn't need a little face-lift...

Happy, happy Friday to everyone! 

How would you like to win $3,000 in cash for remodeling and home improvement projects?  You would love it, right?

Well, it's easy to enter to win.  I wanted to share this with you on this beautiful Friday.  Click on this link HGTV's Front Door Home Face-Lift Sweepstakes and remember to enter once a day between now and May 25th.  Hey, you can't win if you don't enter, so hurry!

Good luck to everyone!

what i've learned from m&m's...

This week I had another post published on Momversation.  For those of you who have more than one child, you may understand.  If after you read this, you're all like ew, then congratulate yourself because you are the perfect mom and I send giant kudos your way! 

Here’s a basic example.  My older kids never ever had candy or ‘sugar cereal’ until they were in grade school.  And, soda?  Huge no-no.  Only negligent, irresponsible parents would do such a thing, right?

Gulp.  Now comes another true confession folks...

To read the rest, click here Momversation.

Ahhh...motherhood. 

  

hgtv landscapers' challenge, where are you...

Today is May 4th.  In exactly 18 days, Gary and I are hosting a wedding reception for 150 people in our backyard for Mimi's daughter, Mia, and her soon-to-be-son-in-law, Colin.  So exciting!  Can't wait.  Love them.

So, for pure selfish motivation, I am posting some pictures here.  Now, I know what you're thinking.  Here we go again.  Didn't she post pictures of her disastrous home office for motivational purposes? 

Yes, yes I did.  Umm...still working on that.  And, yep, my tail is between my legs.  But, but, have faith and stay tuned because updated pics will be coming to a blog near you.  Sooner rather than later, I hope.

I'm one of those people who work better under pressure...well, that's just me.  I live for deadlines and always manage to meet them.  I love a good challenge.  Okay, Gary, except when I run out of gas which I'm kind of known for.  Is that really such a bad thing?  Hmm.

Anyway, I took these pictures last Friday.  Yikes, did I mention that we have 18 days from today?  Well, sit back, take a deep breath along with me and take a look.  Wait, let me get a brown paper bag first just in case I start to hyperventilate.

 

This is my beautiful flower garden?  What the heck happened over the winter.  I'm sure those damn dust bunnies have outdoor relatives they've been talking to.  They must be living under my shed.  Ugh.

 

 

 

You know everyone needs THREE propane tanks, right?  Geesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You mean the candle chandelier doesn't work there on that old darn hook?  Really?

 

 

 

 

 

Somewhere in this mess are the tools I - oopsie I mean Gary - needs to beautify our yard.  Have I mentioned what a wonderful landscaper he is?

 

 

 

 

Well, we have two more weekends to work on this wedding reception venue.  Think we can do it?  The pressure is on.  Mia and Colin...have no fear.

Thinking...so, why exactly did I volunteer to host a neighborhood yard sale this weekend?  AND...where are those scouts for HGTV Landscapers' Challenge when you need them? 

 

pillow talk...

I have always been a down pillow lover.  But lately...not so much.  My pillows seem to have deflated like my car tire did a couple of weeks ago.  Ugh.  That's a whole nother story about living here in Pothole Pennsylvania.

Anyway, I was thinking.  Do you think my friendly dust bunnies come into my bed in the middle of the night and steal my feathers - one by one?  You know...kind of as revenge for my coffee mishap that killed their kin? 

All throughout the night, I'm fluffing, I'm punching, I'm twisting.  It gives a whole new meaning to a pillow fight.  And yet, my beloved pillows are less than plump.  Ah...when they were newer, they were heavenly.  The perfect place for my head to be as I recited now I lay me down to sleep...  Recently, it's been more like now I lay me (blank) to sleep...  The down is definitely missing.

So, I decided to go a googling...again.  Lo and behold, there is a solution.  It's simple - you know how I am drawn to that word - and easy to fluff up your feather pillows so they feel puffy, soft and almost new.  I want to share the details with you.

Things You'll Need:

• Dryer
• Dampened cloth
• Liquid fabric softener
• 3 tennis balls

Step 1:  Place feather pillow(s) in the dryer.

Step 2:  Dampen a cloth with a little bit of liquid fabric softener.

Step 3:  Add the cloth with the feather pillows in the dryer.

Step 4:  Tumble dry in a cool dryer for 10 minutes.  Be sure to use the air dry, not the heat setting.

An alternative way to fluff up your feather pillows is to place them in the dryer along with 3 clean tennis balls. Use the low heat setting. The balls will bounce off the pillow(s) and add some volume.

 

Well, there you have it folks.  It's worth a try before going out to purchase new down pillows - which cost about as much as a new tire.  Trust me.  I know.