Countdown to Summer: Take Four ...

I love suntan lotion.

I love that it keeps me from getting burned,

but most of all I love the smell of it mixed in

with the sun, the sand, and the ocean.

Just the thought of getting a whiff of that makes me happy.

Food Storage and Coupons Are My Latest Obsession ...

This is my latest completed project.

I have been working on my food storage for the

last 4 months.

Last weekend I finally took the time to put

together a shelf,

and organize everything.

I LOVE when things are organized and put in their place.

It is nice to know what I have,

and what I need to focus on getting more of.

In order to get my food storage going,

I have jumped on the coupon train.

And let me tell you ...

It is SERIOUSLY addicting!

Who knew I would find such joy in saving money?

Today I was paid 24 cents

to take 2 boxes of wheat pasta out of the grocery store.

It makes me happy.

And it also makes me happy

to be able to check one more thing off my to do list.

Now, if you don't mind,

I'm off to stare at my nice, organized storage shelf.

(you think I am joking!)

My New Favorite Blog ...

I know this FAB lady named Pam.

I like her.

A lot.

She is an AMAZING cook,

and has now started a cooking blog.

I promise you will find a lot of YUMMY

things to cook on this site.

The brownies are calling my name ...

Shout Out ...

I just needed to give a shout out to the

cute girl scout,

who had to be around 7 or 8,

who stood on the corner on Saturday

in a Samoa cookie costume

doing the Macarena.

She was trying to sell her wares,

and she was REALLY into it.

I had to laugh!

Countdown to Summer: Take Three ...

In summer I love

a good pedicure,

a fun toe nail polish color,

and

the feeling of my toes in the sand.

I can't wait!!!

A Loving Tribute In Memory Of An Old Friend ...

Yesterday as I got ready to get down to some serious Saturday chores,

I realized that my ipod was in my car.

Music is a must when it comes to Saturday chores.

Since I didn't want to subject the neighborhood

to having to watch me run across the street to my car

in my mismatched worn out pajamas,

with no bra and a side pony tail,

I busted out my old friend ...

the CD/tape player.

As I lovingly cleaned all the dust off my old friend,

I pressed play to see what hidden treasure lurked inside.

It was a MIX TAPE!!!

One my mom had made me years ago when I went off to college.

I laughed and reminisced while I folded laundry and

listened to old Sesame Street songs

and the "Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego?" theme song.

(Don't worry I still know every word.)

And I realized.

I REALLY miss the mix tape.

Yes, CD's are SO much better,

and I wouldn't trade my ipod for the world.

I love carrying my entire library of 6,035 songs in my pocket.

But there is something about a mix tape that those things cannot replace.

It can't replace the gritty sound quality from holding up the recorder to

the television to catch a commercial you loved.

It can't replace my 14 year old voice hissing at my little brother

to "BE QUIET STUPID!" while I was trying to tape

the theme song from the Joey Lawrence show.

It can't replace the recording of my now 17 year old sister at 4 years old

imitating me singing and playing the piano.

Remember the days of sitting by the radio waiting for that one song

to come on, so you could press record and add it to your tape?

It was so easy.

You didn't need fancy equipment.

You just needed patience and a record button.

I spent most of the afternoon going through my

stash of tapes.

I found many mix tapes that people had made for me over the years.

It was fun to hear old songs, and hear their voices.

And so,

although I am grateful for technology

and for the advancements that have come in my lifetime,

I do have to say ...

Dear Mix Tape,

In the words of Sinead O'Connor,

nothing compares to you.

Signed,

Missing You

P.S.

And let's be honest ...

John Cusack just wouldn't have looked as cool

holding up an iHome.

P.S.S.

To My Brother David,

Sorry for calling you stupid back when I was 14.

I just REALLY needed to get the Joey Lawrence theme song.

Please forgive me.

Dear Target,

I am REALLY glad that you survived your electrical fire.

I have to say that I kind of secretly loved

shopping with only 40% of your lights on.

It was fun to shop with just the light from the neon signs.

I enjoyed your new ambiance.

Love,

SO happy you didn't burn to the ground