It's a Wrap

I was on the hunt for a Valentine's Day gift for my sixth grade daughter. (not a stuffed animal or box of chocolates - hmmm) Then, I spied this towel/wrap/dress at The Bath Junkie in our town. Perfect for a 'tween after her shower..provides lots of coverage, especially since younger siblings often pop into the bathroom while she is showering. (much to her horror)

Upon inquiry with the shop's owner, I discovered the towel dresses are handmade by a Grandma in Tennessee. (how cool is that?) The fabric is hand-picked for both child and adult sizes. In my mind, this kept getting better and better.. In addition to the shower, what a perfect item to have on hand at the pool and beach during the summer. 

Needless to say, Grace loved her gift. It may be my new go-to-gift, so don't be surprised if you receive one too. And, if you stop by The Bath Junkie, it can be your go-to-gift too.

tricia

Photo Friday 98 (on Saturday)

Red Sky in Morning

(sailors take warning)

in New Jersey

View of the Grand Canyon

from Above

SKI

Utah is described as having the greatest snow on earth.  Makes sense because the air is SO dry there is no moisture in the snow, thus powder.  We skied at three different resorts, each independently owned and here is how I would describe each:

PARK CITY

Best all around.  Mountain is very easy to navigate.

The View

Mining Town History

Fun Metal Sculptures

DEER VALLEY

Very high end.  No snowboarders allowed.

Beautiful houses all around the mountain.  Loved it!

Deer Valley Real Estate

Four person gondola with leather seats

A bluebird sky

THE CANYONS

Hip ... think T. Swift and friends hanging here

before the holidays.

Modern

Modern

Modern

No need to compare, contrast and pick a favorite.  They were all great!

Tracy

Birchbox Update

I have been receiving my Birchbox for a few months now and I adore it. The best part is the surprise factor..I never have any clue what will be inside. Who doesn't love a surprise? After the delight of spying my Birchbox in my mailbox, I eagerly open it to discover my treasure trove of goodies.

Some of my favorites have been perfume, face moisturizer, nail polish and shampoo. Little bits of products that were never on my radar. Beauty products are not my forte. (I repeat not my forte)

And, if you remember, I gave our mother (Tess) the gift of Birchbox for her birthday. We have fun comparing our contents over the phone ~ each box has different contents based on the recipient. This month, Tess got a beautiful gray/purple nail polish and I got bright green somehow. Definitely a blooper.

Tricia

WINTER

Fresh back from a winter getaway.  This year we traveled cross country to visit Utah.  I think it could possibly be the driest place in the country, thus the great snow.  I pretty much feel like a shriveled up plant that needs tons of water.  

On our travels, we flew over the Grand Canyon (very cool), we skied, visited Olympic Park from the 2002 Winter Olympics and got to explore the town of Park City.  Upon arriving in Salt Lake City,  you are totally taken back by the beauty of the mountains that hug the city.  It is really pretty.

Park City is an old mining town about 30 minutes outside of SLC.  There are 3 ski resorts within 15 minutes of each other.  All separately owned and each has its own unique vibe.  More on that later.

Old Town Park City is lined with great restaurants, shops and what looks like a good bar scene .  I wish you were with me sister to eat, drink and shop.  I tried to get out of the t-shirt shops as much as possible.  I somehow refrained from buying cowboy boots.  Hmm.

Tracy

Photo Friday (Night)

Auto Art in New Jersey

Metal Snowboard Sculpture

by Pennsylvania

Love is in the Air

How is your Valentine's Day going? It just dawned on me that Valentine's Day has turned into a child centered holiday much like Halloween. Parties, sing-a-longs and card exchanges at school, cards and gifts at home, everyone wears pink or red and it all concludes with a thoughtful dinner and dessert. What happened to a romantic dinner for two?

Here is how it is shaking down in my house..

a beautiful tray of cookies from a friend

thank you Colleen

made my day!

heart-shaped balloons for all of the

children in William's class

Emma's Valentine box

(always brings back fond memories)

and, last, but not least, the aftermath

Sometimes the heart sees

what is invisible to the eye.

-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Tricia