V is for VANCE!

Thinking of my nephew today as he celebrates his 7th birthday!

Came across this picture of these two the other night and had to share...

What do you think could possible be going through Vance's mind at this moment...

"Is this kid really related to me?"
"I sure am glad I only see this kid a couple of times a year"
"Why did our parents take us to a mustard festival?"

Anyway... we sure wish we could see you more Vance and hope that 7 is a great year for you!
Sending lots of love from Texas...XOXOXO

Reasons why I don't clean the skimmer baskets...

We've found live frogs, dead frogs but this is our first bird. 

Must have been karma for pooping in our pool...

Waiting for our first snake-probably not too far off since our next door neighbor found a 4 ft water moccasin  in their garage a couple of weeks ago.

It's officially official-we're not in Illinois anymore...

Turks & Caicos...

Almost but not quite. Ryan hardly ever wants her toes painted anymore. Yes, she is so girly but when it comes to paint on the toes she could hardly care less. I don't think she likes the drying time.

That all changed once she saw this color.

So if your budget or schedule won't let you travel to Turks & Caicos...the next best thing is wearing 

Turquoise & Caicos-

 Plus a great color for Memorial Day Weekend!

Birthday two times the fun!

Wishing I was back in Edwardsville today celebrating with my mom and aunt.

But just because I can't be "home" doesn't mean that I won't toast to you two wonderful ladies tonight!

Happy Birthday and here's to celebrating  a great year!

Love your faces...

Freeze what???

If you love pickles then I have just the right pop for you. Think twice about dumping the pickle juice out when you run out of pickles. Make pickle pops!

Fill up your plastic (yes, they are BPA free) and freeze for 4-6 hours.

Super easy, Super cheap and Super good for summer!

Juicing watermelon and...

LEMONS!

Kelly made this for me last week and I have to share because it is that good and so simple.

I love the taste of watermelon but I don't eat it because of the texture...weird I know. So here's a few reasons to juice watermelon:

- Has high quantities of lycopene

- It's rich in anti-oxidants

- Great source of potassium 

Lemons are one of the best sources of vitamin c which aids in digestion and SKIN-FIGHTING AGING symptoms among a list of others...

So get your juicers out and here we go:

1 baby, seedless watermelon

2 medium size lemons

Cut the rind off the watermelon 

Cut most of the rind off the lemon...leave a little on like this:

Use the low setting and juice away

My kids even love this which is one more reason to make it-

Mother's Day Weekend in AZ = FUN

Guess where I sank my teeth into this In-N-Out burger last weekend?

You guessed it...Arizona! Kelly invited Ryan and I out for a girls weekend and we didn't have to think twice about it! We spent half of Mother's Day flying back but the early morning flight and 6 hours of sleep the whole weekend was well worth it.

Saturday night we attended Maggie McCracken's Miracles Do Happen Charity Event at

Red Revolver Lounge. This foundation raises money for the March of Dimes in honor of their son who was the youngest baby ever born at Scottsdale North Hospital to survive. The theme was black but I'm pretty sure we painted the town red that night...

Our charlie angel's pose on the "black carpet."

Always a good time with Kelly...thanks for the great weekend. Can't wait to do it again..with our make-up consultation night out!!!