SMILE

Winter blahs - not here sister.  Think ICE, ICE BABY!

Saturday night we were settling in.  I was literally at the Redbox searching for our Saturday night flick.  The phone rang (6:00 pm):

Mike:  "Where are you?"
Me: "Redbox"
Mike:  "I have something fun to do tonight" 
[my finger froze]
Me:  "What?"
Mike: "A bunch of friends are going Ice Skating"
Me:  "We're in!"

I rushed home, we all changed and headed out to the rink.  A new adventure for all of our kids.  None of them ever ice skated before.  Mike played ice hockey back in high school with friends just for fun.  I took ice skating as one of my gym classes at Penn State.  Crazy, we had to do a routine as part of our grade.  It's been 20 years since then.

So we get to the ice skating rink, rent and put on our skates.  I step onto the ice --- OMG it is slippery. I thought for sure I would be hanging onto the wall the entire night.  Here's how it played out:

Mike: Rented "hockey skates" and thought he was cool.  Could still do the hockey stop but he fell once (think loud thump)

Me: Slowly got the hang of it and remembered some tricks.  Skating backward, tiny little spins and worked on my forward and backward crossover steps towards the end of the night (did not fall once)

Jack: Complained alot about his skates but overall did good.  He was not intimidated at all by the other middle school & high school hockey players zipping around the ice like mini skating studs.

Matthew: He shuffled his feet the entire time!  He was too funny and just loved it.

Kate: She picked up skating better than anyone.  But she kept falling backwards on her butt.  I thought she was going to break an arm.  But she got up, smiled and kept on going.

Slowly our friends left.  But our family stayed on the ice.  At one point, we all joined hands and did a lap around the rink.  We closed the place --- us and a pile of teens.  

We had smiles on our faces the entire night.

Tracy

This & That

1. Emma thought maybe her dad - Poppa as she calls him - got her a dog souvenir from San Francisco. I said a stuffed dog was a good possibility. Emma said no, a real dog!

2. Bought a new Clinique lipstick to brighten up my winter lips. As I gave Chic Honey by Clinique a whirl, Emma tells me my lips look the same. I hate to admit it, but I agree. Ugh.

3. Back to the cosmetics department with Emma..she spies a photo of a model with smokey eyes and exclaims, "Mommy, that woman looks like a zombie." (Emma may try to look like a zombie when she is a grown up too)

4. As a TGIF treat for the kids, I got a dozen Dunkin Doughnuts. I included every football-shaped, heart sprinkled, heart-shaped doughnut I could find. The guy behind the counter told me it was quite a selection. I told him the kids will love them and they did.

5. I relish in an instance of serendipity. As I opened up a book of quotes I received recently, the page had a quote from Joe Paterno. And, while Grace was researching Marie Curie for a project, she discovered Ms. Curie died on her birthday - July 4th. Last, I visited a school where I know only two students. As I got out of my car on the quiet campus, I immediately bumped into one of the students I know. (spooky bones!}

Tricia

The Bee - again!!!

Photo Friday No. 50

Self Portrait in

New Jersey

Concert in

Pennsylvania

 

 

Downton Abbey I Adore You!

For someone like me who pretty much watches the news on TV, this is BIG! I am completely addicted to the British period drama, Downton Abbey on PBS.(thank you Steph ;) I will admit, I am a bit late to the game ~ using my ipad to catch up on seven episodes of season 1. Season 2 is currently airing Sunday evenings on PBS. The tricky part is trying to savor it while being tempted to have a marathon and watch it all at once. (no joke)

In a nutshell, the lives of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, the Crawley family, and their servants are followed in the town of Grantham, England. The story unfolds with the sinking of the Titanic. There is immediate drama as a third cousin arrives at Downton Abbey with a claim to the title. Of course, the current Earl has three daughters and no heir. Season 2 picks up at the beginning of World War I and season 3 is in production. (huge cheer!)

This is what I recommend: pop some popcorn, download season 1 and hide in a closet for several hours. You will be thankful you did.

Tricia

FINALLY

How does the saying go sister, a picture is worth a thousand words.  Here it goes (think snow):

Blue Monday

Today is Blue Monday..dubbed by it's creator as the "most depressing day of the year." In 2005, psychologist Cliff Arnall set out to find which day was the most miserable. He used an elaborate mathematical formula and concluded the third Monday in January is the winner (or loser ;)

Why?
1. dreary January weather
2. failed New Year's resolutions
3. mailbox full of Christmas bills
4. eating and hibernating in force

Yikes! Knowing it is Blue Monday, here is my advice --> do something special for yourself and those around you. There are dozens of tiny things you can do to make a big difference throughout the day. Think random acts of kindness! And, the best part, doing good deeds will make you feel less blue too. ;) Good luck.

tb

We Are / He Is Penn State

A little me&t trivia: both t's graduated from Penn State.  We pause today to mourn the loss of not only a great coach, but a great man.  Joe Paterno dedicated his life to Penn State.  The students and the University were as important to him as the football team.  It seemed as though he was coaching his players to excel on the field and in life.  He never gave up on Penn State, even when they gave up on him.  He led by example until the bitter end.  As the last months of JoePa's life unfolded, a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald comes to mind..

"Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy."

WE ARE  -  PENN STATE!

Tricia & Tracy
Class of '90 and Class of '92

Fall 2009

I love this post on Facebook today:

‎"God gave you one last white out Joe Pa! Penn State Proud Forever"

Beaver Stadium, January 21, 2012

Photo Friday No. 49

Missing Barbie in

New Jersey

Diner in
Pennsylvania

SCORE

I was in search of a recipe for butternut squash lasagna.  I came across a relatively easy one from a food blogger.  In her recipe, she recommends using frozen butternut squash (already cut and cubed --- who knew).  The hard part is finding it!

It was noted that frozen butternut squash can be found at Whole Foods.  We don't have a Whole Foods in our area but we have Wegman's and Fresh Market.  No luck at Wegman's.  Didn't get to Fresh Market.  Stopped in at Target today and score!  I LOVE TARGET!!!!  It is their Archer Farms brand.  And 3 bags for $5.00.

I can't wait to try this recipe.  Stay tuned, I will let you know how it is.

Tracy

Hoping my lasagna looks like this :)

Not so Golden Globes

Dear Ladies of Hollywood,

Every year, I eagerly tune into the Golden Globes, not for the winners or losers, but for the fashion. To be honest, this year was a big yawn. I was tempted to tune into Downton Abbey for a fashion fix instead.(more about that another day) While I am a mere mom critiquing from my sofa in my flannel pjs, I know Valentino from Prabal Gurung. That said, here are a few pointers.

1. Save the headband for the gym because when you wear one, you always look like you just worked out. (and I don't know about you, but headbands give me a headache)

2. Personally, I am not a big fan of the "mermaid" style dress. (I wore a red, mermaid dress as a bridesmaid in the 80's - no joke) Better to go slender or full, but never both in the same dress.

3. Think classic ~ I love old photos of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. Their elegant dresses, hair and jewelry are just as chic and stylish today.

Here is the good news -- > plenty of time between now and The Academy Awards to figure it out. Good luck and don't forget about Grace and Audrey.

Sincerely,

Tricia

{The photo: Grace Kelly in her 1955 Oscar gown, photographed by Life. I came across it reading "A Matter of Style" edited by Valeria Manferto De Fabianis.}

GAMES

In response to your question sister, I do remember all the games we played growing up.  I have to admit I always loved a video game and remember the generic handheld early versions.  There was a pinball game and one with a steering wheel where the cars had to go from one lane to another.  I also loved going to the gas station with Dad and playing the real pinball machine!  Definitely a highlight.

The board game Life was a favorite of mine.  You had to get the family and you would put the little pegs in the cars (blue for boy and pink for girl).  Monopoly was another big one.  LOVED playing with the money.  I took it so seriously.  Then video games evolved into Atari and then the arcade at the mall --- Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Frogger.  

Fast forward and we now play Wii, XBox 360 and the kids got Kinect for Christmas (that is alot of fun).  I have become addicted to some iPad games such as Skee-Ball, Angry Birds and most recently Words with Friends.  As a family, we play Sorry, Zingo, Stratego is big and sometimes even Chess.

Fun trip down memory lane.

Tracy

Game On

Remember all of the games we played growing up? No, not the plugged-in kind, the "real" ones with boards, dice and rules printed on paper. We especially loved cards, Yahtzee, Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit and the likes. Snowy days, vacations and holidays were filled with games, sometimes late into the evening. There were winners and losers and always cherished memories for everyone.

Maybe it is a bit of nostalgia or an attempt to cure of my kids of their electronic addiction, but I have been encouraging a game or two in my house. Some of our favorites are Apples to Apples, Bananagrams, UNO, Battleship, Yahtzee and cards. It seems to be contagious and a game between a pair quickly becomes a crowded table. I love how games secretly work on math, reading, and writing skills, not to mention sportsmanship and following rules.

What games do you like to play in your house?

Tricia

Photo Friday No. 48

Winter Sky in

New Jersey

Fortune Cookie in

Pennsylvania

 

 

AWARDS

People Choice Awards tonight (T Swift performing) | Golden Globe Awards Sunday night (Ricky Gervais is hosting) | Let it Begin!

There are finally some good, quality TV shows back on and you can bet I am watching them:

* Dance Moms
* Kourtney & Kim Take New York
* Jersey Shore

Did I just admit to that? (again)

Tracy

{sorry, no photo - I am stuck on the sofa}



Judge a Book by the Cover

"The light which has been shed on mankind by the art of printing has eminently changed the condition of the world... And while printing is preserved, it can no more recede than the sun return on its course." ~ Thomas Jefferson writing to John Adams

A few things to think about in regards to books:

1. AIGA "What the Book" survey wants to find out what books mean to you. For example, 87% of respondents "silently judge others by their bookshelves." Visit the site WhattheBook.org to participate and see what others think.

2. See the 50 Books/50 Covers of 2010 exhibition in NYC at the AIGA National Design Center until Feb.23, 2012. If you can't make it, view the exhibition online at AIGA Design Archives.

3. My daughter's fifth grade class decided to allow electronic reading devices in the classroom. While it is a valuable form of reading for many reasons, it can never replace the weight of a book in one's hands, the texture of a turning page, the design of the cover, and even the dog-eared pages and scribbles in the margins. I wonder if anyone will be judged by the books on their nook or kindle?

Tricia

{I learned about the AIGA exhibit and survey on a favorite site called "Felt and Wire"}

ART

Love your Find of the Week sister.  I finally bought and actually framed a 20x200 print.  Although it is not hanging on a wall just yet.  But I keep forgetting to check back at 20x200 to find more great art.  I sometimes have a hard time knowing which print is "the one".  I am so indecisive.

And I especially love the Celerie Kemble quotes you put out there.  How much can we relate.  As I look around my house, almost all my artwork is a cheap flea market find!

Tracy

wall of flea market art

Black & White

Black & White (and a bit in between) by Celerie Kemble

This is my newest and most favorite book on my coffee table. It is filled with beautiful photos of Ms. Kemble's designs, as well as that of other decorators. There is, of course black and white with gray and shots of color intermixed. The text reads as a "how to" with great tips on achieving the amazing on your very own. Sigh.

These quotes on flea markets reminded me of us..

"I generally steer clear of anything that's too expensive, because that involves an extra level of authority or a beefy budget. I also don't want to have to stress over the authenticity (or lack thereof) of diamonds while hovering over a table of estate jewelry in a mud-filled field, delirious with flea rapture and dangerously over caffeinated."

"I picked up some of my favorite works (of art) at flea markets for less than what I spent on snacks."

Happy reading!

Tricia

Photo Friday No. 47

Needing Help in

New Jersey

Five Year Old Attitude in

Pennsylvania

MINIMAL

I love your idea of journaling throughout the year.  What fun to read at the end of the year and it could perhaps read like a novel.  Sorry to report that I am not wired like a writer.  I tend to favor numbers.  So while I won't be journaling here are thoughts on improving myself this year (allow me to check my moleskine --- the official keeper of "the list")

Foreword: These are not resolutions but rather personal goals.  I believe the list is supposed to be short in order for it to actually happen. 

"The List" is in no particular order

1.  Attend at least two cultural events this year

(art museum, ballet, etc.)

2.  Make one new good friend

(a good friendship can lift you up in ways you never imagine)

3.  Be the party planner if need be

(don't sit around and wait for the invite because it usually doesn't come ---

make things happen | already organizing a Ladies Night on the Slopes) 

4.  Lose 5 pounds by changing lifestyle

(set exercise program, stick to it and say good-bye to my fave Diet Coke)

5.  Spending freeze!

(I am just so tired of "stuff" --- unless my work pants have a blow-out,

there is no need for another pair.  That goes for shoes, handbags

and everything else).

And my personal motto is:

I am not going to let other people bring me down. 

There you have it sister.  Short and sweet.  I think people try to focus on making external things better (i.e. a better relationship with someone, being a better parent, etc.).  But I think that if you can make yourself better either by the way you feel, look or act, then it simply becomes a domino affect on everything else.  And if I do all of the above it could bring me some extra added happiness.

Tracy

Red Stamp App

The Write Stuff

A new year - a new goal - what is this t going to do? Extra, extra write all about it. I have come to realize I am wired as a writer. When pretty much anything happens, I think in terms of words, sentences and even cliches. A mere thank you note becomes an excuse for a short story.

While I don't have a Pulitzer novel in store, I do have a plan of action I believe I can keep at throughout the next 365 days. I have three journals in mind. Each one is different in purpose, but all are simple. A gratitude journal, a dinner journal and the fill-in-the-blank book pictured below. Wish me luck.

What do you have in store for the new year sister?

Tricia

DIDDO

Greetings sister.  I hope you and the kids are feeling better.

I too had grand plans of starting off the new year organizing, sticking to resolutions, etc.  But here was my day:

Mike and the kids were back to school today and our company was still on holiday.  This has caused great confusion for many.  So me, The Lady and some Lady friends decided to head to IKEA (the Philadelphia store).  We had not been to the store since they moved to a new location many years ago.  We are following the trustworthy GPS.  We pass the IKEA on the highway realizing we need to get off the next exit (but GPS shows we still have a 1/2 hour until we get there --- hmm, we all seem a bit confused).

Just then, my phone rings.  It is the elementary school.  The school informs me that nobody was at the bus stop to collect my daughter (her kindergarten is 1/2 day).  So she is still on the bus on the way back to school.  Confused yet again.  I explain she was supposed to get off the bus at daycare.  They asked quite simply whether or not the daycare was open today.  Hmm, apparently not.  S.O.S. to Buddy who was at my house watching the Penn State football game. 

Back to IKEA ... we are now on a major highway heading toward South Philly.  Clearly going away from the IKEA we passed.  Turns out there are two IKEAS in the Philly area.  Who knew.

What a day.  Kate was happy to see me and claims she did not cry but was on the verge of tears.  Bought lots of organizing things at IKEA.  Hoping everything gets hung, is actually used and was money well spent.

Tracy

bag full of organizing goodies

Off to a Good Start?

Me being me, I had grand plans for my first post of 2012. I could go on forever about improvement, organization, books to read, places to go and a quote thrown in between. Put on the brakes. This t is popping NyQuil while using the Internet to diagnose two of my kids with impetigo :( not to mention the toys, wash and stuffed reindeer engulfing me. Wondering why there isn't a photo? iPhone on the fritz. No complaints..these are minor setbacks, but sincere apologies for my lack of inspiration.

On a bright note, I will leave you with this -- > saw a rainbow this afternoon. Hoping it is a sign of good luck for the new year.

Tricia