My Soccer Star

Last week was the end of Emma's soccer season and she had a fabulous season!!! She started of the spring with 4 goals in her first game and she ended with 3 goals in last weeks game!!! I am just so proud of her and I cannot believe that she will be big enough to play with goalies next year. 

In the fall the plan is for her to sick with the same team because they are a GREAT bunch of girls from Emma's school and Daisy troop! The coaches were also amazing!

Here are a few pictures from her season...

Weekend of reading

I think that I might need to raise the number of books that I was planning on reading this summer because a weekend without Emma meant that I have now completed 2 1/2 books on my reading list...

Emma was up in Massachusetts over the weekend and was the prettiest flower girl in the world at her father's wedding. Congratulations to Josh and Samantha!!! Her absence left me with a lot of free time however...

The first book completed was...

Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 10)

Last year for my birthday Matt bought me the starter boxed set of the Sookie Stackhouse novels. He thought that I would be interested in reading them because I enjoy watching True Blood series on HBO and the storyline is based on these novels... I of course was not too excited about receiving books for my birthday and I didn't want to get too ahead of the TV show because Matt HATES it when I'm constantly saying "that's not what happened in the book..." Well, I picked up the first book and quickly ate my words because I LOVED the books and quickly bought the rest from Amazon.

With the 10th book coming out this summer I knew that it would be on my summer reading list and I knew that it would be the first book that I would pick up... however I found myself to be a bit disappointed. Charlaine Harris is an excellent writer and she keeps her reader engaged throughout the whole book which is probably a hard thing to do because NOTHING happens until the very last chapter in this book. In a book with 320 pages I had assumed that there would be a ton of action because that is what I remember from reading the first nine books last summer... but I guess I had nine books of action.

When I put the book down I did enjoy it and I will continue reading the series. I just had a little beef with the lack of action...

home love... purchasing hate

So I have a lot of home purchasing frustration!!! In early February Matt and I had a contract accepted, by the sellers, for a short sale on the BEAUTIFUL home.

Matt and I both fell in love with not only the home but also the neighborhood. There are multiple homes on our street with children Emma's age and the school are great. This isa home that we see ourselves staying in for many many years. There are multiple projects that we are looking forward to tackling so that we can make this home truly ours.

If it is not clear yet... I've become emotionally involved. I know that with short sales it is recommended that buyers not become so attached to a property but how could I not??? It's been about six months since we first found the house and each and every day I come up with new ideas for things that I want to do to the house. I see furniture magazines and home blogs in a whole new light. These are now things that I'm constantly getting inspiration from and picturing in "my home." I know it is not mine yet and I know that there is a very good chance that we will not get it but my fingers are crossed and I would be so truly happy and feel so blessed to be able to walk through those doors one day and call the place ours.

With all the gushing aside I get to the frustrating part... the waiting, the unknown, and the lack of response from our realtor. Our guy has a great personality however as each day goes by I cannot help but think that he isn't following through with the bank the way that he should... I mean I feel we should've heard SOMETHING by now?? Also, I have MAJOR beef with him this week because Matt e-mailed him early that we and we have heard not a word in response...

Photo Session in Traverse City

I'm aware that I failed to write about out Traverse City visit last week.... Well I was waiting to hear back from a certain someone...

Melissa McKolay of McKolay Photography

I heard back from Melissa over the weekend and instantly booked a sunset photography session for the evening of Friday, July 9th!!!

I decided that there was no better place to do our family photo session than Matt's beautiful hometown of Traverse City! After some website stalking of local photographers I settled on Melissa McKolay. This photo session is something that I have ALWAYS wanted to do and I even included it on my 30 by thirty list. The plan is to use a photo from this session on our Christmas Card this December. I'm beyond excited!!!

Now for the fun part... decided where we should do our shoot and more importantly what to wear! I will, of course, be basing all outfit decision off of what Emma will be wearing...

Should I put her in a bold print in a GREAT color

Floral Eyelet Halter Dress

or keep it traditional and stick with white

Pique Button Dress

Both dresses are from Janie and Jack

Summer Reading

I've set my summer reading goal at six books. As I complete each book I plan to write a little review on this blog. I have my reasons for each book and will go into more detail with each review that I complete.
Here are the books that I'm looking forward to reading poolside...

Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 10)

The Wedding Girl

Twelve Rooms with a View: A Novel

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella (Twilight Saga)

Cum Laude

The Passage

I'm now off to Amazon to purchase all my summer reads... This is my birthday present to myself.

On a non summer read note... bellow are two additional "coffee table" books that are also on my wish list/birthday list (hint hint mom)

Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Decor

Flair: Exquisite Invitations, Lush Flowers, and Gorgeous Table Settings

What will you be reading this summer?

Cupcakes!!!

As a cupcake lover I was so excited to come across Ming Makes Cupcakes a few weeks ago. Ever since finding this amazing site I have been dying to come up with a reason to make some… not that you ever need a reason to make cupcakes.

Well, tomorrow we are heading over to a co workers house for dinner and I think this a perfect excuse to pull out my super cute green Kitchen Aid Mixer.

Matt gave me this mixer for my birthday a few years back and I LOVE IT!!

Now for the tough question of which cupcake to make…

Graham Cupcakes with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

Vanilla Cupcakes w/ Strawberry Filling and Milk Chocolate Glaze

Coffee Chocolate Cupcakes and Bailey’s Irish Cream Frosting

Banana Cupcakes with Maple Brown Butter Frosting

Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I’m thinking that I might make an adult cupcake and a kid’s cupcake… I’ll let you know tomorrow what I’ve decided on.

I will be baking the cupcakes after my first Hip Hop Class tonight!!

Mem Rel Ladies

So tonight I will be going out to dinner with some former co-workers. Co-workers however does not seen a fitting title… These girls are friends and GREAT ones at that!

While I LOVE the work that I do in my current job (Minus a few conflicting personalities/beliefs in work ethic) there is something very lacking in my current office environment… OTHER WOMEN!!! I miss the days of comparing clothing wish lists, shoe shopping on-line, eating cupcakes, lunches of guacamole and queso, dissecting boxes of GODIVA chocolate and gossiping. Now if I were to walk into work and talk about a pair of great Michael Kors shoes I would be looked at like a CRAZY person. Work conversations now revolve around defense items and fighter jets.

Often times I find myself missing my girls and feel lucky that we manage to get together frequently. Tricia and Tory are two of the best people to work with and just great people in general!! They will forever be my Mem-Rel chicas!!

Side note… I also miss my friend with Fruit Snack Benefits.

National Cherry Festival

Last week I shared that we will be heading up to Traverse City for a week in July. It turns out that same week is also the National Cherry Festival!
I love the festival website for two reasons. First, I think that the layout of the schedule with descriptions of each event is extremely helpful for the planning of our trip. Second, I’m in love with the countdown at the top of the page because that can also serve as a countdown to the vacation!! Yippy!!

After reviewing the schedule and learning about each and every event that the festival has to offer I think that the best day to head downtown to the madness will be Monday, July 5th. Here are a few of the activities that I am looking forward to participating in…

Kid’s Festival Matinee – Princess Bride

I know that it says that it is a Kid’s Matinee but I’m the one who really wants to see the movie. It is truly one of my all time favorites!!! The 9 a.m. start time is a little off putting but what can I say… I’m willing to get up and out the door early for this AMAZING movie. I’m also hoping that Matt will say “as you wish” and come with us too!

During the festival there is a kid’s movie featured each day at the Historic State Theater.

Clinch Park Marina Train (Spirit of Traverse City)

I would like for us to all take a ride on the SPIRIT OF TRAVERSE CITY, otherwise known as Loco. No. 400, a 4-4-2 Atlantic steam-powered locomotive. The train runs through the old Clinch Park Zoo and the Marina. I think that Emma will really enjoy the ride and it will give us a chance to see some great views of the bay. Apparently this is a “must see” for visitors.

Kids’ Cherry Pie Eating Contest

I cannot pass up this great photo Op… Emma loves Cherry Pie and I cannot wait to see her with the red stuff all over here face… I promise to share the photos!

Princess Tea
Emma can dress up like a princess with the National Cherry Queen, Angela Sayler, and her Royal Court. The tea will include- Tea, coffee and cherry lemonade, along with a bakery buffet. I think that this will be something that Emma will have a blast at.

Kids’ Turtle Race

This is a competitive event for kids, ages 3 - 9 yrs and we will be borrowing a turtle so that Emma can participate in the race. Emma Loves turtles and frequently asks for a pet turtle…

Heroes Day Concert
‘A Salute to Heroes’ on the Bay Side Music Stage where Northwestern Michigan College Community and Jazz Bands, along with the Cherry Capital Chorus will perform patriotic favorites in a pops concert honoring all heroes from military active duty personnel and veterans, to emergency and first responder personnel.

Also at the festival…
Yummy Food
Beer Tent
Rides
Souvenirs
Bingo—I just happen to have a friend who recently won big at bingo so I might just have to give it a try.

Should Make for a Fun Day!!!

Great Savings!

So I have to share a happy moment with you. This morning I was looking at one of my favorite blogs 320 Sycamore and there was a post about a GREAT JCPenney online coupon for $10 of $10 purchase. The code to use at checkout is: DADROCKS

I’m really trying not to spend any money but I just couldn’t pass up these placemats:
Cindy Crawford Floral Placemats - set of 4

So here is my cost breakdown:
Original Cost:
$29.99 + $5.95 Shipping = $35.94
MY COST:
$11.99 - $10.00 + $5.95 Shipping = $7.94

You cannot beat that price!! I’m not usually a JCPenney shopper but this just made my day so I felt the need to share.